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Finishing other people's sentences, cracking your knuckles and biting your toenails all feature in a chart of Brits' worst habits. More than 90 per cent admit to having at least one bad habit, with one in ten admitting to ten or more weaknesses. Swearing was the most common trait, followed by nose-picking, not listening when others are speaking and biting your nails. Over-using social media, hoarding and not washing your hands after going to the toilet also feature in the...

Council chiefs who were shown a video of a mum struggling to carry her disabled son up 30 stairs still refused her priority housing - because she made it to the TOP. Sharon Arkell, 38, and Richard Mikkelson, 37, live with Tommy, four, and his little sister Susie in a second-floor flat. Tommy cannot reach it unaided as he suffers from muscular dystrophy, a progressive illness which means he'll soon have to use a wheelchair permanently. So mum Sharon carries...

Marie Curie, esteemed physicist, chemist and isotope enthusiast has been named the most inspirational women of all time in a recent poll. Curie, who was the first woman ever to win the Nobel Prize (twice in fact, and in two different sciences, pub trivia fans) bested Florence Nightingale and Anne Frank, who took 2nd and 3rd in the countdown. It's great to see that Curie's contribution to science is still recognised by modern Brits. The inroads she made in the...

Welcoming London’s First Deputy Mayor for Education and Childcare Challenge, Joanne McCartney to discuss the London Childcare Challenge. Have you ever considered childcare to be part of the infrastructure? Well in my book, it’s very much part of a modern economic strategy enabling parents to work, children to learn and thrive and families to be part of local community connections. In London, providing and accessing childcare is challenging. For parents it is cost and accessibility especially when fewer than 20%...

Alison Rooks leads Macmillan Cancer Support’s Energy Advice Team, who offer help to people with cancer with energy worries. Whenever I tell people I work for a cancer charity, they immediately assume I’m a nurse. Everyone knows the terrific work nurses do, yet less well known is the fact that people with cancer need a wide range of support. You wouldn’t think it was the case but people are much more likely to call our support line about financial worries...

Tom and Caroline’s little boy had just turned four when the couple first started thinking about extending their family. Dominic had brought untold joy to their lives and both had embraced parenthood with gusto. As they considered their new addition, their thoughts increasingly turned to the possibility of welcoming their second child through adoption. Caroline said: “Parenthood does heighten your awareness of just how precious children are and we felt that if we wanted another child in our lives, this...

In January 2016 65 year-old, Shelagh Harris  embarked on a unique experience to South Africa to help at child victim abuse charity, a once in a lifetime chance to give something back to the needy, this is her story... I had recently retired when my daughter asked if I would like to go to South Africa with her and volunteer. We had enjoyed a number of weekend breaks together; time for informal chats, pampering and re-charging of our batteries. I...

A dad from South East London are investing heavily into their eight-year-old sun hoping he will make it into international stardom. The boy, Theodore Liang, attends drama, acting and dance classes which clobbers him with a £1,300 a month. In total, taking everything into account he splurges £15k on their son, who they already think has “exceptional” talent. The dad Steffan ia already trying build little Theodore’s brand as an actor and dancer. Next up for Theodore will be his...

I am without doubt one of this massive percentage of people who suffer with stress related problems etc due to their work. I only nominally have a boss these days, but it doesn’t make it any easier, for others with a strict hierarchy it appears they are at breaking point. YouGov surveyed 20,000 workers throughout Britain and they discovered some worry statistics. 77 per cent of those questioned said they have suffered from some sort of mental health issue, and...