For many people showering daily is as ingrained as a morning cuppa, but is it necessary, and could it actually be beneficial to shower less? Looking back in history where water wasn’t so easily available, people bathed far less frequently. A weekly bath was the norm for many in the 1960s/1970s. However, with the convenience of showers becoming commonplace, our washing frequency has increased. Is it becoming as addictive as a cup of tea? How often do we really need to shower? I’m not sure when I started to relax my daily showering habit Maybe it was during the 2020 lockdown when a YouGov survey ..read more

How to recognise it, how to treat it, and why are numbers increasing… In the first quarter of this year, five babies died of whooping cough in England, which is a pretty shocking statistic to hear in 2024. According to recorded numbers, between January and March 2024 there were 2,793 cases of whooping cough in England. This is a stark comparison to the total number of 858 cases in England in all of 2023. But why is whooping cough back? As whooping cough remains a significant public health concern, what symptoms should you look for, how is it treated, and why are cases so high in 2024? What is ..read more

Family barbeques, long days, beer gardens… the perfect time for summer quizzing! Gather everyone around and test their knowledge on British sport, summer events, and the UK’s favourite beer. Take the Silver Summer quiz. Silver summer edition quiz This quiz is packed with fresh fruit, general British knowledge, and plenty of fizz and bubbles for the summer. Start Quiz Question Your answer: Correct answer: Next You got {{SCORE_CORRECT}} out of {{SCORE_TOTAL}} Your Answers Still got the quiz itch? Sunday Roast Dinner Quiz The post High days and holidays – the Silver summer quiz ap ..read more

Drama, excess, and the shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England… Finally, we have a first glimpse of the avidly-awaited eight-part series made for television, Rivals, based on the celebrated novel by Dame Jilly Cooper. And yes, we are VERY excited. For those of you who don’t know (where have you been?!) Rivals delves headfirst into the ruthless world of independent television in 1986. It’s part of Cooper’s bestselling ‘Rutshire Chronicles’, the iconic literary series packed full of wit, romantic entanglements, sex and unforgettable characters. It’s like Dynasty with ..read more

Yes, there’s still time to get out there and get picking It’s pretty much coming to the end of wild garlic season now, but you’ve still got time to forage and eat this delicious plant. Both the leaves and the flowers are edible, and below are some of my best wild garlic recipes. Chosen particularly for leaves picked later in the season. Like this… As with any foraging, for heaven’s sake be sure you can ID the plant properly! And only pick from places where the supply is plentiful. Leave enough for wildlife, and avoid damaging habitats or pulling up the bulbs. Many animals rely on plants for s ..read more

Tourette’s is not always about streams of profanity, and a ‘hilarious’ life of upsetting people with my tics… Lili Lowe on the realities of living with Tourette’s syndrome, busting a few myths and calling for better understanding about a condition that is a magnet for misinformation. Can you tell us about your journey with Tourette’s syndrome? I remember being maybe 10 or 11 and when I started making weird, uncontrollable grunts. They were really annoying. I’d have this odd feeling in my chest, like something needed to come out –and until it did, it almost hurt. After a few years, that particu ..read more

Post-pandemic, how are people choosing to travel again? A while ago, here at Silver we undertook some research, delving into our readers’ travel habits, amongst many other things. And whilst the only option to achieve a 100 per cent score was ‘I holiday in the UK’, (no wonder our retreats are a hit!), a very close second for those over 50 was adventure travel. The box they ticked said ‘Jump on a plane and work it out when we get there.’ You crazy kids! Our respondents were keener on adventure travel than cruising, all-inclusive holidays, or the increasingly-popular 3G (multigenerational) trave ..read more

Injuries are a natural part of life. But serious injuries can work to derail your life when you least expect it. Whether an accident at work or one of the 82 road traffic injuries that take place each day. Your next serious injury could have you worried about your future. The following steps are vital to recovering from injury. Doctor’s orders First and foremost, your recovery from a serious injury should be entirely guided by the orders you receive from medical professionals – be they hospital doctors, nursing staff, pharmacists or your local GP. You may be tasked with attending regular appoi ..read more

Motoring can be a very expensive thing. Not only do you have to find the money to buy (or rent) a car in the first place: you’ll also need to deal with ongoing costs. Road tax, insurance, maintenance and fuel can all add up, particularly if you’re covering great distances. Here’s how to reduce your cars running costs. How expensive is it to drive? Data from the ONS reveals that the cost of motoring has been steadily rising over recent years. Over the last ten years, according to the numbers, all motoring costs have risen by around 46% – which maps closely to the Retail Price Index. The cost of ..read more

Time to hit the road, and go it alone? Planning some solo travelling? The concept of solo travelling has significantly evolved and appeals to a broad demographic. With over a third of Brits expressing a preference for solo travel, the trend has witnessed a remarkable surge. Emphasising the desire for independence, adventure, and self-discovery among older adults. Solo travel offers a unique opportunity to reboot lives and explore new interests. And enrich the lives of mature travellers, who often have more time available, offering experiences that could only be dreamed of. In this article, we ..read more