This much I know: Mike Golding
Mike Golding. Photograph: Fabian Marchandise I've broken records I didn't even know about. Some say I've crossed the equator 27 times – I don't know, I don't count [Golding has done three nonstop solo...
View ArticleQ&A: Heston Blumenthal
Heston Blumenthal: 'I am obsessed with the smell of unbroken eucalyptus leaves.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi Heston Blumenthal, 45, was born in London. At 16 he tried unsuccessfully to get a job...
View ArticleHow not to lose it
Lost property: there should be a place for everything. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images I once knew a girl who when she lost anything was told at her convent school to pray to St Anthony, and then...
View ArticleKeeping on top of things
'Some think it’s absolutely fatal to have two diaries … ' Photograph: Garry Weaser About diaries there are two opposing theories – apart from the recommendation common to both that you don't fill in...
View ArticleMind your manners
Stairway to heaven: a helping hand on the underground shows London's more civil face. Photograph: Antonio Olmos for the Observer I think I may owe an apology to the British public. How often have I...
View ArticleSex leaves me feeling violated so I haven't slept with anyone in two years
I'm 25 and have never had a relationship. Sex leaves me feeling vulnerable and violated, though every man I've slept with has been caring. It has got to the point where I have been in bed with someone...
View ArticleThis much I know: Michael Roux Jr
"I have a temper. I’m a chef, of course I do. But for the most part I am angry with myself, not someone else": Michel Roux Jnr at Le Gavroche. Photograph: Phil Fisk for the Observer Most of my early...
View ArticleA room of my own: James Cracknell
James Cracknell: 'It’s my job to keep this room as untidy and stinky as possible'. Photograph: Antonio Olmos for the Observer Rower James Cracknell, double Olympic gold medallist and father of three,...
View ArticleThe beauty spot: lip gloss
Fabulous but quite serious: YSL's new gloss. Do you know what, I'm thinking about getting back into lip gloss. I know! Sure, it can make your mouth look like an overripe melon, and sure, I know it's...
View ArticleNigel Slater's classic pork scratchings
'The best pre-dinner "nibbles" of all': Nigel Slater's classic pork scratchings. Photograph: Jonathan Lovekin for the Observer Little sharps of crisp pork skin, which were often present in a bowl on...
View ArticlePatriot gains
The 2012 Olympics men's time-trial race winners pose at Hampton Court. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian An old Observer hand who lives near Hampton Court and occasionally acts as an official...
View ArticleThe best pink lipsticks
La vie en rose: the pick of the pinks. This season your lips will be pink. They will be pale rose, or glossy cerise, or the pink of a blushing child. They will be diluted carmine, crushed carnation,...
View ArticleKitchen apps: Riverford
What is it? Riverford are best known for their organic fruit and veg deliveries. Having started in Devon, they now operate across England. This app is just as substantial, offering more than 770...
View ArticleRoom of my own: Kathy Lette
"As writer-in-residence at the Savoy hotel, she created her own cocktail – the Kathy Cassis": writer Kathy Lette in the study of her London home. Photograph: Antonio Zazueta Olmos for the Observer When...
View ArticleWhat should a campaigning journalist wear?
Jeremy Clarkson: first there's that shiny jacket … Photograph: SAV/FilmMagic I would like to get into campaigning journalism. What should I wear? Mark, by email Really? A campaigning journalist, Mark?...
View ArticleThis much I know: Gavin Turk
Gavin Turk: 'As an artist you have to balance being clever enough to have an idea and stupid enough to make it a reality'. Photograph: Suki Dhanda for the Observer People tend to attach an artist's...
View ArticleThis much I know: David Hasselhoff
'Being me is nonstop': actor David Hasselhoff. Photograph: Rex Features I have fun with Twitter. When I see something in the press I think, "Now I can respond to that garbage." But the press isn't...
View ArticleCold comfort: in case of emergencies, please contact my fridge
Shopping list, kids' pictures, last will and testament … Photograph: Terry W Eggers/Corbis The news story was about a woman who was paralysed, artificially fed, and could move only her eyelids. Those...
View ArticleBen Ainslie disqualified from World Championships after TV row
Ben Ainslie arrives back with his boat at the Royal Perth Annexe after being involved in an incident on course during a Finn class race at the World Sailing Championships in Perth. Photograph: Greg...
View ArticleBen Ainslie disqualified for camera rage after one-man boarding party
Ben Ainslie remonstrates with the skipper of the TV boat covering the World Championships in Perth, Australia. Photograph: Mick Anderson/Sailingpix Ben Ainslie, Great Britain's most successful Olympic...
View ArticleCamper gets off to flying start in Volvo Ocean Race opening leg
Retired French footballer Zinedine Zidane (2nd left) holds tight on board the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team during the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Photograph: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images The New...
View ArticleWines of the week
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Fairtrade Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa 2011 (£7.99, sainsburys.co.uk) When it comes to coffee and chocolate, the Fairtrade logo has always been associated...
View ArticleOnion rings recipe
Onion rings at 34, London. Photograph: Jan Baldwin for Observer Food Monthly Onion rings red onions 2 white onions 2 malt vinegar 250ml sunflower oil for frying plain flour for dusting, seasoned white...
View ArticleGay Dad
Flower power: picking daffodils leads to a spot of carefree abandon. Photograph: Frank Krahmer/Getty Images My mum forced me to return to London with bunches of daffodils freshly picked from her...
View ArticleNigel Slater's classic chocolate truffles
Ultra luxurious: Nigel Slater's classic chocolate truffles. Photograph: Jonathan Lovekin for the Observer A Christmas treat that is as easy to make as it is delightful to receive. The recipe Chop 225g...
View ArticleBreakfast with Courtney Love
Courtney Love: enthusiastic sushi eater Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImage Courtney Love remained in bed throughout my audience with her in a small hotel room in west London in 1987. She had attached a...
View ArticleThe best gold nail varnish
All that glitters: go for the gold. If there's one time of year when it's acceptable, no crucial, to wear gold nail varnish, it's now. When our diets are composed of meat and cake, and our lives are...
View ArticleNigel Slater's classic salsa verde recipe
'That deep green, piquant quality': Nigel Slater's classic salsa verde. Photograph: Jonathan Lovekin for the Observer Literally "green sauce", this cold accompaniment is made from olive oil, parsley,...
View ArticleThe best colourful mascaras
Bright eyes: add some colour to your lashes. Photograph: Observer In beauty, what Chanel says goes. If Chanel told me to wear my eyebrows on my chin for spring, or rouge-noir my canine teeth I'd jolly...
View ArticleMy boyfriend has been meeting another girl. Should I give him a second chance?
I have been with my boyfriend for eight months. Recently I found out that he has been meeting up with a girl from work: I accidentally found messages on his laptop, dating back to a month ago when...
View ArticleThe beauty spot: dark metallic nails
Fingersmith: try Butter London's old-gold varnish. Photograph: Observer Nail time! Sometimes it feels like a body isn't quite big enough for all the jewellery you want to hang on it. You've got, what,...
View ArticleThe short, unhappy life of Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond with his fellow, taller, Top Gear presenters James May and Jeremy Clarkson. Photograph: Stephen Simpson/Rex Features Without further ado, I am thrilled to announce a new occasional...
View ArticleA letter to … my wife, who died in 2007
I have told this story to a few people now, but at 3am this morning, it hit me that the person I really want to tell is you. Who would understand it and enjoy it more? I can imagine you smiling,...
View ArticleHow not to give
People constantly do daft or strenuous things to raise money for charity – climbing unlikely mountains, singing for 24 hours (maybe those really making the sacrifice were the listeners), crossing the...
View ArticleHow do I get…
The cast of 1990s TV sitcom The Upper Hand. Photograph: ITV / Rex Features Oh for goodness sake. We're solving serious problems here, not pandering to your whimsical demands for retro entertainment. I...
View ArticleWines of the week: David Williams
Pick of the bunch: harvesting grapes in France Photograph: Owen Franken/Corbis Brown Brothers Tarrango, Victoria, Australia 2010 (£7.49, Waitrose) This old Australian favourite, a staple of the...
View ArticleI'm a lesbian but haven't enjoyed sex as much since I slept with a couple of...
When I still thought I was straight, I slept with a couple of men. Since then I haven't enjoyed sex as much. (Posed by a model.) Photograph: Annie Engel/Getty Images/beyond fotomedia RF I'm a lesbian...
View ArticleObserver sudoku
Fill the grid using the numbers 1 to 9. Each number must appear just once in every row, column and 3x3 box. For a helping hand call our solutions line on 09068 338 228. Calls cost 60p per minute at all...
View ArticleLulu Guinness: this much I know
'I never thought I’d be one of those women who talks to her dogs. But here I am': designer Lulu Guinness. Photograph: Richard Saker for the Observer You don't have to be all things to all people. When...
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