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News.com.au
5 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
‘Pay me back': Internet divided over common coffee act
Few rituals are as sacred to Aussies as the coffee run. Whether you're ducking into your work's cafe before tackling the 9-5 grind or taking a quick break with colleagues for a 3pm pick-me-up. Yet, why, for something so central to our daily lives, do we never quite know how to handle that awkward little negotiation with friends about who pays? In an era where every dollar counts, how should we deal with the humble coffee shout? There are three main approaches: 1. Shout your mate and expect nothing in return. This is the classic act of generosity, and considering coffees are around $5-$6, many believe it's a small price to pay to avoid having to talk about it. 2. Take turns shouting. This method depends a lot on trust and works best when you catch up regularly and know it'll balance out over time 3. Just pay for your own coffee. No fuss, no tracking, no IOUs – just pay for your own and move on. A recent TikTok has blown this debate wide open. The short clip, which has over 8.8 million views, shows a woman in her 20s sitting in a cafe sipping an iced latte: 'I don't know what friend gave you PTSD but you do not have to pay me back for a coffee'. Clearly striking a chord, thousands of cafe-goers commented to share their thoughts. Some believed keeping tabs was essential. 'You ALWAYS have to pay back,' insisted one. 'It's not even about friends giving you PTSD. It's financial PTSD from parents,' added another, touching on the fact that money anxiety can stem from a person's upbringing. Others agreed with the poster, but with some exceptions. 'Yes, until they start to take advantage,' said one. 'It's all fun and games until every time you go out, you're the one paying,' another commented. Many, however, echoed her selfless approach. 'The whole point is DO NOT give with the expectation of reciprocity,' said one. 'If someone owes me under $10, I wouldn't ask for it,' said another. 'It doesn't even count'. The video was shared by a content creator in London, making me wonder what people think about this issue in Australia, where coffee prices have risen 37 per cent from pre-pandemic levels and now average $5.50. So, I conducted some very serious, peer-reviewed research by polling my Instagram followers. Out of 80 responses, 23 per cent said 'I shout, no need to pay back,' 61 per cent said 'We take turns,' and 15 per cent said 'We pay for our own'. Less than one per cent responded 'Other,' and that person explained their simple rule: 'Whoever is closest to the register pays'. To add a touch more credibility, I consulted an etiquette expert – the only one in the world with a Master's thesis on modern manners – no less. Jo Hayes, founder of told that for a simple coffee, it's actually best to shout. 'As a general rule, if it's just a coffee, no extras like brunch or snacks, one of the duo should shout the other,' she said. 'This small gesture of kindness doesn't break the bank but fosters friendship, kindness, and goodwill.' She also mentioned that if you're both ordering at the same counter, most reasonable folk agree it's 'a bit tight' for both to pay for a coffee separately. The key to pulling off this move in a classy way, as many commenters suggested, is expecting nothing in return. 'This is what gifting is,' she added. A simple, discreet 'I've got it,' with a friendly smile, is the best way to handle it. 'Don't make a big deal of it, and quickly switch the topic,' she advised. 'One doesn't want to dwell on money talk longer than necessary.' She also noted that with regular coffee catchups, you should take turns paying. 'Most of us remember who paid last time and, wanting to show mutual generosity, step up to offer the shout,' she explained. If you notice you're always covering your friend's coffee and they never reciprocate, Hayes warns this is a serious breach of etiquette. 'I would reconsider that friendship,' she said. 'Such stinginess raises questions about their character and shows a lack of social courtesy'. If that feels too harsh, try subtle cues next time, like hanging back when it's time to pay or letting them order first. She reminds us that a golden rule applies here, and in all areas of life: 'We reap what we sow'. If we're generous, we'll see generosity return, if we're stingy, that's what we'll get back.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Australian supermarket olives taste test: ‘I want to draw a still-life painting of these'
Imagine the best and worst olive. Take a second. Maybe close your eyes to immerse yourself in the exercise. What does the best olive look like? How about the worst? What is the texture of the best olive? How does the worst olive taste? I ask myself questions like this before every taste test, a mental exercise to help calibrate all the scores I'm about to give. But sometimes there are surprises, things so exceptionally good, bad or different they exist beyond the imagination. Things I thought weren't possible in a supermarket product or maybe at all. This taste test was full of them. The taste test was done blind over multiple rounds, each featuring whole olives of a different ripeness – green, purple and black. The tasters – 15 friends – tasted 22 olives (some pitted, some not), scoring each on appearance, texture and taste. I ate about 55 olives in 90 minutes. So, that best and worst olive you imagined: you probably came close with the best. There are sadly no big surprises at that end of the supermarket. But, unless you're wildly imaginative, or you've eaten the exact same olive I have, you're probably way off the mark on imagining the worst. Sandhurst Sicilian Whole Green Olives, 280g, $4 ($1.43 per 100g), available from major supermarkets Score: 7.5/10 Usually when I eat an olive, I feel as though my mouth has just won a fight – satisfying but it's still a bit of a violent experience. These olives are more like rolling down the gentle slope of a flower meadow while wearing head-to-toe cashmere. Other reviewers said they tasted like green tea, artichokes and various white cheeses. Two related it to the Cantonese and Teochew concept of gan, or unsweet sweetness (written 甘), which you'd use to describe tea. 'I want to draw a still-life painting of these and compose a thesis on their depth of flavour,' another wrote. Oddly, the three reviewers who didn't like them all mentioned medicine, carpet or both. Ceres Organics Kalamata Olives, 320g, $10 ($3.13 per 100g), available from Woolworths Score: 7/10 Unlike the green olive round, there were no standout purple olives, which is why this uncontroversial 7/10 olive is one of two winners. As one reviewer wrote: 'Strong, salty but kind of straight shooting – no real funk or gasoline vibes.' That's talking about how they taste, anyway. Texturally, they were all over the place, some firm but some disconcertingly flabby, like eating a partly mushy strawberry. Drop a handful in a pasta and it won't matter much, besides the fact it cost $10 to do so. Macro Organic Whole Kalamata Olives, 350g, $3.30 ($0.94 per 100g), available from Woolworths Score: 7/10 There was a strong correlation between salt and nuance. While the saltiest olives were powerful and sometimes snackier, they sacrificed some character to get there. Macro's olives are a great example. They have almost half the sodium of other products, and reviewers described them as balanced, funky, vegetal and 'unapologetically olivey'. Some thought that was a 9/10 feature, others a 5/10. They're also a beautiful dark shade of purple, like Grimace emerging from a pool in a racy teen romcom, the moonlight glistening on his hair. Deli Originals' Whole Kalamata Olives, 350g, $2.49 ($0.71 per 100g), available at Aldi Score: 6.5/10 Salty, sour and uncomplicated. A classic mid-range kalamata but a bit uglier. What you want to cook with, not serve on a platter for guests worried about your financial security. One reviewer wrote: 'Doesn't have a strong sense of self.' While true, I'm happy for its purpose to be a soldier in the grocery coalition that's fighting for my hope of one day owning a home. Muraca Whole Italian Large Olives, 580g, $8.95 ($1.54 per 100g), available at select grocers Score: 7/10 I recently had a dream where I was an alien living on Earth, masquerading as a human, and the only way I could ever hang out with my friends was at dress-up parties. These olives are always at the dress-up party. While they look like olives, they're unusually enormous, they've got a juicy, meaty texture and a nutty, grassy flavour that I haven't tasted in any other olive. In my dream, it didn't really matter whether I was human or another organism – I found enough people to like me. Same with these olives. As one reviewer said: 'Sticking out into its own territory but I'll follow it there.' Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion Always Fresh Olives Pitted Sicilian, 230g, $4 ($1.74 per 100g), available at major supermarkets Score: 6.5/10 Always Fresh sells two kinds of green olives: these weirdly green ones (more like a moss green than any olive you'd find on a tree) and another less green variety that's way bigger and more expensive. Although we gave the huge ones a better score (7/10), I think there's use for both. The bigger ones are for maximalists and hedonists. They're sour, salty and, thanks to the novelty size, fun. The smaller ones are fruity, nuanced and delicate – they have no vinegar and less salt than any other olive we tried. These are for people who prefer baroque covers of pop songs over the real thing. Penfield Olives Australian Pitted Green Olives, 250g, $4.49 ($1.80 per 100g), available at select grocers Score: 6/10 On texture, these were the highest-scoring olives of the day. Many reviewers described them as meaty, firm and almost crunchy. But it's hard to give a nuanced description of their taste due to the 4,750mg of salt in the jar (that's a whopping 1,900mg per 100g). Their kalamatas are similar but a bit fattier. Are they good olives or bad olives? I don't know, depends on your salt tolerance. I'd be careful cooking with them, but if you like your martinis in leather pants with the crotch cut out, this is worth a try. Wicked Pitted Kalamata Olives, 450g, $4 ($0.89 per 100g), available at Coles Score: 6/10 Listening to the other reviewers progressively eat and describe this was akin to reading internet commentary about child rearing: how are there so many radically different opinions about this? One said they tasted like cherry pie filling, another like petrochemicals. I thought they were quite wine-like in flavour, while others said anchovies and menthol. The only similarity is the intensity of all those flavours, which makes sense as they were also the most sodium-dense product of the day (1,990mg per 100g). My favourite comment was: 'Straddling the line between exciting and disturbing.' Like meeting your clone – you won't know if you like it or not until you experience it. Mount Zero Organic Kalamata Olives, 300g, $9.70 ($3.23 per 100g), available at select grocers Score: 5/10 The first thing I wrote on my scorecard was: 'What is this?' I knew it was an olive, a kalamata specifically, but I had no idea how an olive could be bitter and sweet in the way wine is (sort of hinting at sweetness but no actual sugar content) while also kind of nutty and oily. One reviewer said it 'tastes like a failed fine dining dessert', which I thought was apt, because like all great art, fine dining should be divisive. I think many people will love them, but few will feel neutral. Always Fresh Black Olives Pitted, 220g, $3.50 ($1.59 per 100g), available at major supermarkets Score: 5/10 Each score is an average of all the reviewers' scores, but a 5/10 average could be made up of 6/10 and 4/10 scores, or by 1/10 and 10/10 scores, and those are very different things. This was the latter. 'Notes of petrol', 'taste like soggy bread' and 'battery acid', said the dissenters. 'Weirdly ersatz floral', 'pleasant fruitiness' and 'nostalgic blandness, giving Pizza Hut vibes but with a hint of creaminess', said their opposition. I thought it was faintly floral and buttery, like tasting an olive through a cloth. Somehow, I still gave them a 7/10 – but maybe even the most minimal, weird Philip Glass song feels special after listening to 21 tracks of hardcore EDM. Monini L'Oliva Leccino Pitted, 150g, $4.90 ($3.27 per 100g), available at Coles Score: 3/10 I have eaten many terrible things in my life and both Monini's green and black olives are right up there with the worst. Like primary school orchestra dissonance, early AI videos and my grandparents' cooking, they're bad in a creative way, so much so I would have no idea how to recreate the experience. Had I not been in an olive taste test, I could have easily guessed them to be a non-olive entity. One reviewer wrote: 'Conduct a study into the psychology of people who knowingly buy this. Or perhaps give them a Covid test.' Which is exactly what I'd like to do to the two people who gave them a positive score. Green Valley Pitted Kalamata 6.5/10 Coles Whole Green Olives 6.5/10 Always Fresh Pitted Giant Green 7/10 Always Fresh Organic Kalamata Olives Pitted 6/10 Sandhurst Pitted Kalamata Olives 6/10 Penfield Olives Pitted Kalamata Olives 5.5/10 Woolworths Pitted Whole Kalamata Olives 5.5/10 Ceres Organics Green Olives Pitted 5/10 Coles Pitted Kalamata Olives 4.5/10 Monini L'Oliva Bella Di Cerignola Pitted 3.5/10
WebMD
2 days ago
- Health
- WebMD
How I Prep for Big Life Moments When My Skin Isn't Cooperating
Last month, I flew to Brazil for a trip I'd been planning for months. It was meant to be a getaway full of joy, beach days, sightseeing, and reconnecting with friends. What I didn't plan for was having an eczema flare-up days before my flight. The timing couldn't have been worse. My skin was irritated and inflamed, and I was concerned about what a long flight, sun exposure, and unfamiliar products might do to my already flaring skin. I thought about canceling. But I also thought about how many moments I've missed before because of my skin. This time, I didn't want eczema to win. So I made a plan. Prepping for big life moments when my skin isn't cooperating starts with adjusting my mindset. I remind myself that I deserve to show up, even if my skin isn't perfectly calm. I talk to myself like I would to a friend, gently but firmly, and I give myself permission to enjoy what's in front of me, even if I don't feel 100%. Then I go into logistics mode. I pack backup moisturizers, barrier creams, and anything I know will bring me comfort. I also bring clothing that makes me feel confident and protected, like soft fabrics, breathable materials, and silhouettes I can move in without friction. For that Brazil trip, I brought my full skin care kit in a carry-on just in case my luggage got lost. I kept an antihistamine on hand and made sure I stayed hydrated during the flight. I also booked accommodations with laundry access so I could control what detergents were used. On the day of big events like weddings, presentations, or reunions, I give myself extra time to get ready. Not to cover anything up, but to make space to move at my own pace. I prep my skin carefully, use a little makeup if it feels good, and choose an outfit that lets me feel free. That trip to Brazil turned out to be beautiful. I didn't hide my skin. I showed up in sleeveless tops, took photos on the beach, and danced through the heat. I had moments of discomfort, yes. But I also had moments of ease, laughter, and connection. And those are what I remember most. Living with a skin condition doesn't mean you have to sit life out. It just means you learn how to show up differently, with extra care, more patience, and a lot of resilience.
Times
2 days ago
- Times
22 of the best treehouse stays in the UK
There's nothing quite like climbing a ladder or crossing a rope bridge as you approach your cosy perch for the night to zhuzh up some childhood nostalgia. But there are plenty of other reasons to book a stay in a treehouse — whether it's soaking yourself in nature and birdsong, unplugging from modern technology, or admiring the way these woodland homes allow their owners' architectural and artistic creativity to flow more naturally than it would in a commercial hotel. And nowadays you don't have to sacrifice creature comforts either, as many come equipped with swanky coffee machines and sound systems. Thanks to acres of pristine woodland and a legacy of craftsmanship, the UK is one of the best places to find tranquil tree-hugging boltholes. Follow our guide to the best treehouse stays in the UK. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 8 This contemporary-styled treehouse in North Yorkshire is perfect for big families or groups of friends. It sleeps up to eight people across a three-bedroom main cabin and secret separate pod accessed via its own bridge. There's super-fast wi-fi so you can host a film night, and the kitchen, equipped with a Nespresso coffee machine, dishwasher and large fridge-freezer, could be straight out of a showroom. The little details have been considered too, like soft bath robes for stepping out of the outdoor hot tub. It's part of a wider holiday camp which offers in-cabin spa treatments, home-delivered meals and kayak or cycle hire. • Best hotels in Yorkshire £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 At this treehouse you can play act at being lord of the manor by taking your very own boat out for a row on your private lake. Inside, the property is similarly full of sweet touches and the hosts even provide milk and breakfast cereals on arrival in case you don't have time to pick some up. But if it's pure luxury you're after, be warned: this is not it. The treehouse is totally off-grid, so fresh drinking water comes from a bowser, the cooking facilities are a gas camping stove, and if you need the loo, you'll have to head to the composting loo among the trees. Oh and there's no shower. It is, however, well located with knockout views. Both Dartmoor National Park and the rugged north Devon coast are a short hop away. • Cornwall v Devon: which is better? ££ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 5 A country house hotel for our times, Wildhive Callow Hall, outside Ashbourne, has an indoors-outdoors approach that extends to the accommodation. As well as 15 bedrooms in the main house (appropriately decorated in soft botanical colours and leafy fabrics) there are 11 one-bedroom suites peppered through the woods. For ultimate woodland escapism, however, the ones to book are the hotel's two treehouses. They're geared more towards self-catering than the one-bedroom Hives, with open-plan sitting rooms and kitchens, outdoor copper baths, two en suite bedrooms each and a pup-friendly policy. • Lake District v Peak District: which is better? £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 10 If walkers and mountain bikers go down to the woods at Garwnant they will be in for a big surprise. As well as the kingfishers and otters they're used to spotting at Coed Taf Fawr — the large forest area that Garwnant belongs to — they will see much larger visitors; Forest Holidays opened a site here in 2023, covering 400 acres and including three Golden Oak treehouses. These four-bedroom cabins on stilts have a further treehouse suite reached via a rope bridge. Looks-wise they veer more towards Dunelm than Grand Designs, but they're an oak-solid option for multigenerational groups. • Best beaches in Wales £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 This wonky house at the top of an old oak looks like something that's been magicked together by one of the fairies in Brian Froud's paintings. Shelves built into the tree's gnarled trunk, straw-bale walls, off-kilter staircases winding up into the branches, a skylit master bedroom accessed via a steel ladder — you'll find them all here, as well as hand-carved benches, a cob fire and a wood-fired Japanese-style hot tub. It's properly off-grid, with a composting loo, solar lighting and zero wi-fi — but there are few more bewitching places near the Welsh borders. • Most luxurious places to stay in Herefordshire ££ | Sleeps 4 With its conical roof, arched windows and lofty cedar rafters, there's a hint of Harry Potter about this charming little treehouse near Mayfield. A winding boardwalk leads up to the cabin, lodged in its own area of private woodland. Inside, there's space for a lounge (with sofa and wood-burner), and a light-dappled kitchen and bathroom, while the master bedroom is just about big enough for a family of four, with a couple of extra beds in the loft (accessed by ladder). The decked terrace makes an ideal spot for breakfast, with birdsong providing a bucolic soundtrack. • Best luxury hotels in Sussex £ | Sleeps 2 The outside may whisper 'Squirrel Nutkin' but this treetop hideaway in Anglesey is surprisingly slick inside: its fitted kitchen, modern wood-burner and galaxy of downlights wouldn't look out of place in a conventional holiday cottage. Roughly circular in shape and ringed by a wooden deck, it sits overlooking fields at the end of the owners' garden. Inside, the standout feature is a central glass column that frames the branches of an oak tree: it's a handy reminder to pick up the binoculars and bird-watching guide provided and explore the local wildlife. • Best things to do in Wales £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 4 Tarzan would get a bit more luxury than he bargained for if he were to shimmy up the branches into this Devon treetop retreat, which has a hot tub, pizza oven and copper bath tub on wheels (soak indoors or slide out for an alfresco wallow). Set on a 20-acre estate within the Unesco-designated North Devon Biosphere reserve, the cosy timber hideout is tailor-made for parents seeking romance. As well as a king-size bed with a view, there's a second bedroom with bunk beds and a large projector screen for post-pizza cinema nights. • Best campsites in Cornwall £ | Sleeps 4 Imagine a human-sized bird box shaped a bit like ET's head and you get a pretty close picture of Living-Room's arboreal abodes. Its six two-bedroom treehouses are perched among oak, larch and Scots pine trees outside Machynlleth. There's also a separate treehouse shop. Spiral staircases have been built for five of the treehouses; their rustic style is so in keeping with the surroundings they look as though they've been woven by squirrels. Enjoy bluebell-fringed walks, spring water showers and the chance to do some dark-sky gazing just that bit closer to the stars. ££ | Sleeps 2-4 Cotswolds tree-huggers have been able go one step further and embrace their inner tree-sleeper since six treehouses opened in 2023 at Elmore Court, a sustainable wedding and events venue just west of Gloucester. Don't expect tipsy partygoers to conga through the nearest clearing late at night though. Sleeping between two and four, the high-rise cabins speckle the edge of the estate's woods, well away from wedding parties. Gaze out from your wraparound deck while you wait for your pre-ordered breakfast hamper to arrive, and you can soak up tranquil scenes of the estate's rewilded land. £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 4 This heart-shaped treehouse perches amid Laverock Law's handful of holiday rentals, inland from Holy Island. Crafted from local wood and sheep's wool, it's peppered with low-impact luxuries like organic bedding, hand-thrown crockery and homemade cake. Romantics can wallow in sunrises, sunsets and starry skies with the help of skylights, portholes and even a little heart-shaped pane in the front door, while a bunk room and a sister business offering family-friendly activities such as cooking classes and wild walks make it a good family option too. £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 10 A prow-like RIBA award-winning house, wedged into a wooded slope on the oak-lined Chevithorne Barton estate, Verte is one for those who like to enjoy the high life — in all senses. This towering larch-clad lair dispenses with whimsy in place of elegant, contemporary design and luxury fittings. A circular fireplace takes centre stage if you want to boost the building's geothermal heating, and there's a Sonos sound system. Wood is the focus, though; as well as bosky views and that larch cladding, the house's dining table and spalted stairs are both made from a storm-felled beech tree. £ | Sleeps 2 A collection of hobbit house-like burrows, summer houses and pint-sized cottages on a farm near Dunblane, Craighead is as close as Perthshire gets to Tolkien's Shire. Among its storybook rentals is Ash Tree Howf (not a Hobbitish spelling of house but a Scots word for a haunt), built into an old ash tree. While some treehouses are essentially suites on stilts this is the real deal, its hand-crafted, higgledy-piggledy form topped by little shingle-roofed turrets and embellished by viewing platforms spinning off into the tree's branches. The enchanted forest approach continues inside with a sink set on twig-like legs and a dedicated star-gazing window. • Best unusual places to stay in the UK• Best Airbnbs in the UK ££ | Sleeps 2 Herons, hares and showboating pheasants are amongst the wildlife that call Red Hurworth Farm home. There are plenty of places to spot them during a stay here; on a walk around the wildflower-bracketed reservoir as the sun dips or — perhaps more tempting — as you soak from your hot tub in one of the farm's two treehouses, Nuthatch and Wren, which overlook a natural pond. Despite being cocooned by fields as far as the eye can see, the cedar-clad treehouses are ultra-modern inside with Sonos speakers, underfloor heating and a basket of treats including popcorn and hot chocolate. Should you wish to overlook the reservoir you can also book one of the lakeside lodges — complete with hot tubs and swish, suspended log burners — instead. ££ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 4 Treading a neat line between blingy and bucolic, this two-bedroom treehouse may be off-grid, but solar power and bottled-gas heating mean it's not short on frills; on the decking there's a wood-fired hot tub and a zellige-tiled outdoor shower, while inside you'll find a huge stone bath, Minirig speakers and even a Nutribullet blender. Decorated in soft, muted tones, it has pops of colour to add a playful element, especially in the first floor 'tent' bedroom, which was designed by the interiors company Côte de Folk. It's accessed via a hatch and comes with billowing colour-block curtains and candy-striped bed linen. ££ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 Near Gargunnock, on the fringes of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the four treehouses at Leckie may be clean-lined and contemporary in style but the big idea is minimal impact on the surrounding landscape as it transitions from traditional sporting and farming estate to a more wildlife-focused setting. Each treehouse is built into the canopies of sycamore or oak trees, using timber sourced from the estate, and air-source heat pumps provide heating and hot water. For an alternative warm-up, try a hike around the estate's Leckie Broch and waterfalls. • Most beautiful places in Scotland £ | Sleeps 2 You don't need a particularly good head for heights to stay at this new tin-roofed treehouse a few miles northwest of Penrith. Set on a working farm on the fringes of the Lake District, its position part-way up a hillside means you can walk in at ground level but enjoy sweeping views from its lofty front decking as the land drops away below sturdy birch balustrades. There's a homely, handmade feel to the furnishings: an outdoor bathtub is filled from taps upcycled from copper piping and kitchen cupboards are colourfully mismatched. • Best campsites in the Lake District ££ | Sleeps 2 They've taken the arboreal theme and run with it at the Treehouse at Bainland Lodge Retreats. One of more than 30 different accommodation options in an upmarket 45-acre holiday park, it's a true dendrophile's den with cosy timber walls, a hot tub with a view of the park's lake and trees, and the rustic good looks of a kind of souped-up Swiss Family Robinson homestead. You'll find a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, gym, farm shop and range of bookable activities on the site, which is within walking distance of Woodhall Spa; for a night out on terra firma, take in a screening at the village's legendary Kinema in the Woods. ££ | Sleeps 2 One for those who grew up reading about the mice in the Brambly Hedge children's books, whose multi-storey country houses were hewn into the trunks of old trees. The Old Oak is built around the boughs of a mighty old Essex oak tree, with some of those boughs snaking up through the floors and walls, and staying here is as close as you'll get to a visit to the Old Oak Palace of Lord and Lady Woodmouse. There may not be pantries stuffed with acorns or thistledown carpets, but there is a roof terrace for stargazing, a bath with a view and twin hammocks on the balcony for gazing up at spinning leaves. £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 Exeter may be within 40 minutes' drive, but city life feels magically far away when you gaze from the balcony of this small treehouse cabin just south of Exmoor. Overlooking 24 acres of woodland, it's perched on the edge of what was once a quarry. In the 200 years since they stopped extracting iron here, nature has reclaimed the land, turning the tumbling landscape below into a rainbow of dappled greens: a view best soaked up from the outdoor bath. One other important feature is the cabin's accessibility. Unlike many treehouses, this one is fully wheelchair-friendly; there's even a hoist for that outdoor bath. £££ | Sleeps 2 It's all about the thoughtful details at this simple A-framed treehouse, surrounded by two acres of private woodland. Featured on Channel 4's Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig, a barrel sauna, outdoor bath and cocktail trolley set a celebratory tone while the mezzanine bedroom's ceiling-to-floor window allows for easy leaf-peeping, or bird-watching, from bed. Home-made sloe gin and shortbread are provided, and breakfast hampers and BBQ boxes can be ordered in advance. Go wild swimming in the Wye, visit nearby Tintern Abbey or light the floating fire and snuggle into the green velvet sofa to gaze at the flames. ££ | Sleeps 2 The chic, minimalist Pinwheel is a treat for architecture lovers with a layout designed to mimic a child's pinwheel toy. It's in an area of outstanding natural beauty and one-way glass allows guests to appreciate wildlife up close without scaring animals off. The compact space ticks plenty of boxes, including shard-like floor-to-ceiling windows that give views onto the leafy surroundings while maintaining privacy, as well as a wood-fired pizza oven, a terrace with a swing and a hot tub. You can reach the Jurassic Coast in 25 minutes by car; and if you fancy a change from self-catering, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage is a 20-minute drive away. Additional reporting by Marianna Hunt, Yasmin Choudhury and Lucy Perrin • Best luxury glamping in the UK• Best romantic weekend breaks with a hot tub in the UK• Best campsites in the Cotswolds What's your favourite UK treehouse stay? Please share in the comments below
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
I've had an affair in EVERY decade of my marriage: In my 20s it was revenge. In my 30s I wanted someone who listened. In my 40s I needed a boost. And then my 50s betrayal changed everything...
Sitting in the kitchen of our oldest friends' house – somewhere we could talk away from the children – I watched, detached, as my husband Andrew tried to defend his affair. 'It was just sex,' he said. 'It didn't mean anything. I know how you must feel, but please believe me when I say that.'
