Alexandra Shakespeare

How do you feel about your fiancé asking for your dad’s permission before proposing – respectful tradition or just plain wrong? Here are both sides of the argument

While some experts have warned that letting children watch childbirth could be traumatic, some mothers believe it to be a positive and life-affirming experience for their offspring....

Everyone hopes their wedding will be their one special day – but sometimes life doesn’t work out like that. Alexandra Shakespeare shares her experience of walking down the aisle twice

In these tough times, more and more people are dealing in skills rather than cash. So is it possible to barter your way to a better life without money changing hands?...

It's been 10 years since Nicola Massey's little sister Lisa May was swept away during the catastrophic disaster...

Mum-of-two Emily Bain, 41, was eating loads but dropped to 7st. Now she has overcome her life-crushing illness and is a fitness convert...

HOW TO LIVEN UP YOUR HALLWAYS WITH CHARACTERFUL ......

Clutter control: how to downsize your worldly posse...

Ten years since her little sister Lisa May was swept away in the devastating tsunami of 2004 Nicola Massey is still coming to terms with the loss say Gemma Aldridge and Alexandra Shakespeare...