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Brexit 50p enters circulation from today

Around three million coins are entering circulation, with another seven million planned for later this year. Around three million Brexit 50p coins will start showing up in people’s pockets and wallets when they enter banks, post offices and shops from today. Another seven million of the coins, minted to mark the UK’s departure from the…

Scrabble at 82: The word game that never grows old

Do you know your zyzzyva from your athodyd? We takes a look at the history of the most popular game ever to rely on a dictionary. The archetypal ‘family board game’, Scrabble already has a legacy to rival that of a small European nation. At least 150 million sets have been produced in more than…

10 things you should know about the flu virus

Health experts explain why now is the time to get vaccinated – and how to avoid catching flu. The flu season is just around the corner, and with cases of the virus already starting to appear, now is the best time to get yourself protected. Flu is a nasty and potentially dangerous infection, and its…

How much exercise should you be doing over the age of 50?

As you get older, there are new things to think about when it comes to exercising. Here’s what you need to know. As we age, increasingly, barriers can stand in the way of us being able to run, jump, skip or dance like we used to, but the benefits of staying active in older age…

Quiz: Do remember the currencies these European countries had before the Euro?

The Eurozone celebrated it’s 21st birthday this January, but it still feels only yesterday that millions of Europeans queued up at banks around the continent to enter a new economic era. Twenty national currencies have now been killed off by the Euro, stretching from the Atlantic shores of Portugal to the Russian borders of the…

Ozzy Osbourne diagnosis: What is Parkinson’s disease?

The three main symptoms of Parkinson’s are tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and rigidity (muscle stiffness). Ozzy Osbourne has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after spending the last year in “constant” pain. – What is Parkinson’s? Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition caused by the death of nerve cells in the brain…

Pam Ayres: ‘Writing is a great way of offloading troublesome feelings’

With a new poetry collection out, Pam Ayres talks to Gabrielle Fagan about ageing, family life and the joy of gardening. Affectionately known as ‘the people’s poet’, Pam Ayres is famous for her comic verse delivered in her distinctive rural accent. Her acute observations, expressed in rhyme, highlight life’s mundane irritations and common experiences –…

Six ways to treat menopause symptoms – without taking HRT

If you don’t want to or can’t take HRT for some reason, there are other ways to help ease unwanted menopause side-effects. Lots of women experience symptoms due to menopause, many of which can be very unpleasant. Caused by fluctuating and lower levels of oestrogen as the ovaries stop producing eggs, these can include hot…