Category: Wellness

I was out by the old flint wall behind the rectory last Saturday—a fine bit of 19th-century masonry, though the mortar is perished in places—trying to reset a few loose stones. Halfway through, I felt that familiar, sharp twinge in my lower spine, the kind that makes you realise you aren’t twenty-five anymore. Now, you […]

I remember sitting on the stone bench by the old mill pond—the one built back in 1842, though the foundations are much older—trying to make sense of the silence after Margaret passed. People tend to offer these polished, expensive little platitudes, as if you can solve a loss by buying a self-help book or attending […]

I was clearing out the old potting shed last Tuesday—the one built back in 1954, mind you, though the roof tiles have seen better days—when I found an old, tattered book on “holistic wellness.” It was full of nonsense about expensive retreats and mindfulness apps that cost a monthly subscription just to breathe properly. It […]

I saw a glossy magazine in the waiting room last Tuesday suggesting that the secret to mental longevity is a subscription to some expensive, flashing brain-training app on your phone. It’s absolute nonsense. If you ask me, staring at a digital screen trying to match coloured shapes isn’t the same as actually engaging with the […]

I was out near the old tithe barn last Tuesday—the one built around 1740, with the lovely flintwork that always seems to be shifting—when I caught myself doing a sort of frantic, uncoordinated jig just to stay upright on a patch of moss. It wasn’t a graceful movement; it was a sudden, jarring realization that […]

I saw a glossy magazine in the waiting room last week suggesting that the secret to a vibrant life is joining an expensive, high-end golf club or embarking on a luxury cruise around the Mediterranean. It’s absolute nonsense. If you’re looking for a manual on how to stay social after retirement that involves a membership […]

I sat in the waiting room at the surgery last Tuesday, watching a young man pace the linoleum floor like a caged animal. He’d clearly spent the morning scrolling through some wellness blog, convinced he needed a three-page manifesto to explain his symptoms. It’s a common mistake, and quite frankly, a waste of everyone’s time. […]

I’ve spent most of my life looking at the structural integrity of things—checking if a foundation is settling or if a roof timber is rotting—and I can tell you that humans are no different. Lately, I see people everywhere trying to solve their problems with expensive scented candles or those fancy mindfulness apps that cost […]

I was standing in the hallway of a lovely Victorian terrace in Salisbury last Tuesday—a fine bit of masonry from about 1885—and I could feel the chill seeping through the floorboards despite the radiator being cranked up to full blast. It’s the same old story: people spend a fortune on smart thermostats and fancy gadgets, […]

I saw a glossy advert in the post yesterday for a “smart” walking shoe that costs more than a decent set of garden shears, claiming it would revolutionise your fitness. It’s absolute nonsense. You don’t need a computer in your heel or a subscription to an app to understand how to build a walking routine […]