Lifestyle

What Consumer Reviews Actually Tell Us About Product Quality

High star ratings aren't everything. Here's how to read consumer reviews properly and spot what actually reflects product quality before you buy.

Full story

Backpacking across Asia: how to cross borders without losing connection

Embarking on a backpacking journey across the vast and diverse landscapes of Asia is a rite of passage for travelers seeking adventure, culture, and the thrill of the unknown. From the humid jungles of Southeast Asia to the arid steppes of Central Asia, the experience is defined not just by the destinations, but by the movement between them. Border crossings in this continent are legendary;...

Ashbury Dental Practice Hosts Free Children’s Open Day to Support Local Families

Ashbury Dental Practice in Budleigh Salterton opened its doors to local families on Friday 20th February during the half-term holidays, offering free dental check-ups and fluoride applications for children in the community.

The Children’s Open Day was created in response to the ongoing challenges many families face in accessing NHS dental care for children. The Ashbury team wanted to...

Tags:

Ashbury Dental Practice

Devon

Walking the Coast in Comfort: Choosing Shoes for Active Days Out

There’s something truly special about a day spent by the sea. Fresh air, sweeping views, the sound of waves and the simple joy of moving outdoors can lift the mood instantly. Whether you’re strolling along a sandy beach, exploring cliff-top paths or wandering through seaside towns, the right footwear makes all the difference. A well-chosen pair of women's comfortable shoes allows you to focus...

Traditional Banks vs Fintech Lenders in the UK and the US

Financial problems don’t depend on location and don’t wait for the right moment. Whether it’s a broken laptop, unexpected travel, or a rent gap, people on both sides of the Atlantic find themselves in a situation where money is needed urgently. That’s where the differences become obvious — it is not the issue itself but the route people take to solve it.

In both the UK and the USA,...

Final new homes released at award-winning Devon development

WITH three quarters of properties at a Devon development now sold, Edenstone Homes has released the final phase for sale.

The Orchards is an award-winning 60-home scheme, taking shape across 10 acres of land off Higher Town in Sampford Peverell. The development has been designed to reflect the character of the village while creating a new neighbourhood centred around green space and...

Tags:

Edenstone Homes

Some of the team at Peninsula Private Medical

Private GP service launches amid rising demand for appointments

As demand for GP appointments continues to rise across Devon and Somerset, a new private medical service is offering same-week access and longer consultations.

Peninsula Private Medical operates from the purpose-built Waterloo Court Health and Wellbeing Hub near Uffculme, bringing together experienced clinicians and a range of health and wellbeing professionals under one roof....

Tags:

private GP services

fast GP appointments

Pension inequality after divorce still leaving women behind, warns family lawyer ahead of International Women’s Day

With International Women’s Day 2026 approaching, Rachel Buckley of The Family Law Company is urging divorcing couples to pay closer attention to pensions, warning that women continue to face a significant shortfall in retirement savings after separation.

Although pensions have been recognised as a matrimonial asset in England and Wales since pension sharing was introduced in 2000,...

Tags:

IWD

pensions

family law

Recycled plastic picket fence, brown, flat top

Rethinking Traditional Garden Fencing

In many British gardens, fencing is simply part of the background. It marks a boundary, keeps pets in, offers a bit of privacy from next door. Yet anyone who has replaced a fence more than once knows it’s rarely a small job. Panels loosen, posts lean, and before long the whole structure begins to look tired. Given how damp our climate can be, it’s hardly surprising.

The Problem with...

Tags:

Queues Around the Corner as Harman Bagels Celebrates Successful Totnes Launch

A much-loved Devon bagel brand has officially opened its doors in Totnes - and the response has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Harman Bagels launched its second location at 12 Ticklemore Street on Friday 20th February, with queues forming well before the 8am opening time. By mid-morning, lines of customers stretched around the corner as locals and visitors alike gathered to get...

Tags:

Harman Bagels

totnes

Devon

Devon man to ride length of country for charity

A software engineer, from Cullompton, is to retrace a Land’s End to John O’ Groats journey he undertook with his late father, to raise funds for a military charity and to spread his dad’s ashes.

Stuart Douglas, 42, was joined by his dad, Iain, in 2008, on a 1,014-mile motorcycle trek by A and B roads, as the latter possessed only a licence for a 125cc bike. The journey raised more...

Tags: