Mail on Sunday

Welcome to You ; Editors Letters

See you next week. If 's one thing that makes me feel lucky in life, it's that my age of fashion awareness coincided more or less directly with the opening of Biba on London's Kensington High Street. I vividly remember making the pilgrimage to the old Derry and Toms store, transformed as it was by the creative genius of Barbara Hulanicki, and wandering through the mirrored rooms with their feathers, hats and suede shoes, before eating blue ice cream in the Rainbow Room.

Fashion Fixer

Q Is there one particular item of clothing that will see me through spring and into summer? A This is the season of the dress. And it's a welcome trend because a good summer day dress is a wardrobe staple that will last for years, not just months. This season, almost anything goes as long as it's bold think floral and vintage-inspired or white and 60s shift-dress style with a very modern edge. Bright colours and strong prints are also the order of the day. Gucci produced really beautiful f...

Dr Ali's Essential Health for Women ; in Our Second Exclusive Extract From His New Book, You Columnist Dr Mosaraf Ali Explains How to Treat Problems Connected with the Menstrual Cycle, Libido and Pregnancy - Including Great Tips On Diet, Massage and Stress Relief

MENSTRUAL CYCLE Period pains and cramps Follow these simple guidelines for cosseting yourself and reducing stress both before and during your period.

My Drug-Free Childbirth ; Mind Over Labour Currently One Woman in Five Opts for an Epidural As a Means of Pain-Free Childbirth. But the Royal College of Midwives Believes This Figure Is Too High and Is Proposing to Charge for Them. Forty Per Cent of Women Who Have Epidurals Require Further Intervention, Such As Forceps or Ventouse. You Columnist Alice King Describes Her Drug-Free Birth Alternative

I Iam floating in a calm sea. I can feel the water gently lapping over my huge swollen tummy and feel the fine spray cooling my sweating brow. I can smell the sea air and see the sun glinting on the waves. As I feel my tummy tighten I begin to ride the oncoming wave, slowly at first and then increasing to a crescendo as I reach the crest of the high wave which is taking me closer to the shore. The wave passes, the pain decreases and I lie back, relaxing as I regain my breath. The waves get bi...

Cook's Confidential

Is this the new sound of recipes? A podcast that talks you through the assembly of a lamb sandwich, with recipe and voice by chef Peter Gordon, from www.theultimatelambsandwich.com. The approach may be antipodean (cheese and pickle as well as New Zealand lamb steaks? That adds up to thick blokeishness), but the idea itself is perfect HOUSEWORK, MOI?

High Sobriety

It's my birthday and I am having a tea party. Yes, cups of tea, sandwiches and cake. A friend has bought me a hand-painted Alice in Wonderland tea set as a present. The plates say 'eat me' and the milk jug says 'drink me'.

10 Ways to Detox That Really Work ; Summer Is Almost Here, but Are You Bikini-Ready? There's Still Time to Detox, and You'll Emerge Pounds Lighter, with a Smoother Skin, Sparkling Eyes, a Clearer Mind and a New Zest for Life. We've Selected the Best Detox Destinations From Around the World, Plus a Regime to Try at Home

1 BARBERYN BEACH AYURVEDA RESORT, WELLIGAMA, SRI LANKA Situated on a long, sandy beach in the south of the island, this airy little hotel is staffed by ayurvedic- as well as Western- trained doctors. Buddhist monks come in to give weekly lectures, and the food is vegetarian and locally-grown.