lifestyle
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I am – and I will enjoy itFor the past few years Michelle Dean has spent most of the holiday by herself, amid concern over her wellbeing – even if she is doing it for practical reasons
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I may have caused my father's deathWhen my father died in 2007, I carried the burden with me for years. About a year ago, it occurred to me that I didn’t have the full story -
It was a date we’ll never forgetIn January, a survey that claimed to make people fall in love swept the internet. Two Guardian writers went on a date to put it to the test. Did they live happily ever after?
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christmas
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Six rules for choosing the perfect bottleIf you’re willing to part with a few extra dollars – and a few extra minutes – here’s how to make your recipient’s holiday extra special
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The kitsch lights of one Baltimore neighborhoodKnown as the ‘Miracle on 34th Street’, Hampden pays homage to all the things that make Baltimore great
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One batch of glazed ham, four different recipesA flavourful glazed ham deserves pride of place on your festive menu. Roast an enormous joint and gradually turn it into a spicy nasi goreng, restorative eggs benedict, and a decadent toastie
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The procrastinator's Christmas gift guide that protects the planet in no time flatIf it’s taken you until now to realise that Christmas is on Friday, all is not lost. Don’t just buy the first thing you see: consider these ideas for gifts with real meaning
talking points
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Spent all night avoiding lecherous colleagues? Been told you’re too ‘hot’ to work in the tech team? Such sexism is common at company parties – and employers must do more to tackle the problem at sourceHarassed by your boss at the Christmas party? You're not alone
recipe of the day
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Four canape recipes for feeding a festive crowdFew things are as effective at crowd control as a platter of canapes. The ultimate in party food keep appetites at bay and needn’t be fussy or stressful. This foursome are a doddle to make and even easier to eat. Start 2016 on a food high ...
regulars
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Blind dateBlind dateBlind date: ‘He kept looking at the waiter’Alexandra, 28, teaching assistant, meets Raffaele, 42, sales executive
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ExperienceExperienceExperience: I saved a man while dressed as SantaThe first two police officers on the scene laughed as they jumped out of their patrol car. ‘What’s happened here, Santa?’ one of them asked
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Sali Hughes on beautySali Hughes on beautyBeauty: perfume – so much more than a last-minute Christmas presentThere are few lovelier treats than a new bottle of good scent
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Mid-life ex-wifeMid-life ex-wifeA man texts me a picture of his erectionStella Grey receives an intimate selfie late at night. And then the man’s wife calls her …
pictures & video
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Making the most of your eyebrowsStrengthen your eyebrow look by faking it till you make it. By Eva Wiseman
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10 of the best hair accessoriesEasiest way to zhush up your look in less than 14 seconds? A fancy hair accessory – it’s a bit Prada, and a bit of fun
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10 of the best pieces already on saleIt might feel premature to start sale shopping before Christmas, but some of the best sales have already started. Here are 10 pieces Melanie Wilkinson is buying now
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Men's cardigansHow to work men’s cardigans, whatever your age. Stylist: Helen Seamons. Photography: David Newby
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Spanish church transforms into skateparkA group of skateboard enthusiasts called Church Brigade and a Madrid street artist Okuda San Miguel have converted the abandoned Santa Barbara church in Llanera into a mural-covered skatepark
advice
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Problem solvedProblem solvedMy partner is angry and abusive – if I say I’m going to leave, he threatens to kill meWhen I packed, he said his death threats were just a joke. How can I make him see that his behaviour is unacceptable? Annalisa Barbieri advises a reader
people
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Jonathan Freedland on his sister’s farewell Desert Island DiscsJonathan Freedland always turned to his older sister Fiona for advice. When she knew she was dying, she turned to him for one last favour: would he record her Desert Island Discs?
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My father sexually abused me – but he betrayed my mother tooA father – now in prison – abused his daughter for two years. The mother and her daughter each describe how his actions have affected them
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No one expects people with disabilities to have childrenCerebral palsy didn’t rob Aideen Blackborough of the desire to become a mother – but she faced other obstacles, from prejudice to logistics, and her own fears
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Ten years ago our civil partnership made historyIn December 2005 Gino and Mike Meriano became one of the first gay couples to tie the knot. They talk about what has changed – and what remains to be done
puzzles
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Crossword blogCrossword blogCrossword roundup: wordfights and fighting swordsLanguage might be a weapon, but swords give way to words: the best (and most festive) cryptic clues
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you may have missed
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You share your festive traditionsFrom tree games to bathing in jelly, this is what you get up to with your family over Christmas
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Children living with extreme allergiesUntil recently, Elian could only eat six different foods. Eggs, dairy, nuts or lentils could kill him – and he’s far from alone. What’s behind the explosion in childhood allergies?
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The year Dad and I went to India and forgot it was ChristmasAfter her mother died in a car crash, Emily Eades thought life could never be normal again. And Christmas would be the biggest hurdle of all
the big picture
Basic The biggest insult of 2015