Q. Happy Winter Solstice. Perhaps you, too, ventured out into the cold: a rainy walk by the ocean, a snowy hike up a wooded trail. The best way to cap off the day? A hot drink by a crackling fire. What’s your go-to hot winter drink? . A. We can

Q. In a world streaked with madness – and budgets at full stretch – many will not be travelling far this holiday season. What ways do you find to escape at home? What say others? . A. In 2023, Savanta polled 2,271 adults from the UK about their favourite forms

Q. If someone calls you ‘out of the blue,’ it is unexpected, a complete surprise. Where does the ‘out of the blue’ phrase originate? . A. An ‘out of the blue moment’ today could be positive or negative – it’s an emotionally neutral phrase. Its 19th century origins – ‘A

Q. Stare all you want. No self-respecting cat is about to show you its real secrets. What luck have  renowned artists had at unlocking feline truths? . A. Let’s see… Goya. Manrique de Zuñiga. 1787-88 . Marguerite Gérard. The Cat’s Lunch. ~1800 . Marguerite Gérard. La Dame avec son Chat.