Outdoor bath? Next we'll be returning to outside toilets
Coming hot on the heels of alfresco living rooms and kitchens comes outdoor baths and showers, which are gaining popularity in gardens across the country.
People are immersing themselves in baths or enjoying showers installed on patios and even in the middle of lawns. Relaxing in the bath outdoors, surrounded by greenery and birdsong is thought to bring health benefits, leading to the term 'spa-den' - turning your garden into a wellbeing retreat.
I just hope my neighbours don't turn their veg plots into a spa-den. I don't mind seeing them pottering about in shorts on hot summer days, with their hoes and trowels, but I'd rather they kept their bathroom routine inside the house.
Why can't people enjoy their gardens for what they are? They should be bring a different experience to the one we get inside our homes, yet people seem to want to replicate it with outside living rooms, kitchens and now bathrooms.
When I was growing up, on hot summer days, families brought out a few deckchairs and maybe a sun lounger. Some people, like my parents, had a garden bench and carried out the coffee table when we ate outside.
Now, gardens are home to sofas larger than those in living rooms and with far more cushions. In place of rusty grills barbecues dragged out of the garage every summer come state-of-the-art outdoor kitchens with range cookers and special pizza ovens.
So it's no surprise that the next step is to bring the bathroom outside too. But why? Jacuzzis and hot tubs are commonplace, and have been for some time, so the desire for an actual bath in the garden seems ridiculous.
It's not just a hot soak - outdoor ice baths, in particular, are catching on. Ever practical, my first thought would be 'Where would you store all the ice?' I struggle to find space for anything in my chest freezer as it is.
We have larger, more comfy sofas outside than in our homes. Picture: PA
And I am assuming bathers do so in the buff. It's to be hoped that nobody in the street pops round to borrow a cup of sugar while you're having a garden soak or showering beside the flowerbeds.
I enjoy a bath as much as the next person, but I'll take mine inside, thank you. Likewise with cooking and lounging about on the settee. To me, inside and outside should be different and offer contrasting experiences.
I anticipate the next big thing will be a return to the outside lavatory. My nana had one in her back yard in Normanby near Middlesbrough. During the night she would use a ceramic chamber pot kept under her bed but otherwise went outside to the loo in a small brick outhouse.
Let's face it, during a busy day we all love to close the bathroom door and relax on the loo for ten minutes. Alfresco toilets, where you could sit in the sun, or shade - behind the garage or under a car port, maybe - with the T&A, could be just the thing.
I'm forgetting the bedroom - why not fetch that outdoors too? It wouldn't be too difficult to heft a mattress or two on to the lawn, along with some bedding.
After dining in your outdoor kitchen and winding down in your outside bath, sleeping under the stars in your garden bed would be magical. And with your outside toilet you could have an en-suite.
I've convinced myself now - this outdoor living malarkey is not such a bad idea after all.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Can Opposite Parenting Styles Ruin a Friendship? Here's What Experts Say
What happens when a friend embraces all the basic qualities you value in a friendship, but they parent their kids completely differently than you do? We typically choose friends who we share things in common with, who make us laugh, who we trust, and who we enjoy spending time with. But what happens when a friend embraces all the basic qualities you value in a friendship, but they parent their kids completely differently than you do? For some folks, it's easy enough to ignore differences in parenting styles. In some cases, having a friend who parents differently than you do can be enriching and eye-opening. But other times, these differences end up feeling like dealbreakers, and become very difficult to ignore. Whatever the case, navigating a friendship with different parenting styles can be super challenging. That's why we connected with experts to offer insights about how to manage. Why Parenting Styles Feel Like Core Values One of the reasons being friends with someone with a different parenting style than you can be challenging is because the way we parent can feel deeply tied to our core values as people. There are various different types of parenting styles out there. Stricter parenting styles include authoritative or authoritarian styles. Looser, more touchy-feely styles include gentle parenting and freestyle parenting. Most parents don't necessarily identify with one style over another, but come to parent their kids based on past experiences, and a vision of how they want to care for their little ones—often before they even arrive. 'Even if you are not the type to label your parenting approach or cite specific theorists, chances are you did not stumble into your style by accident,' says Shainna Ali, PhD, mental health clinician and director at The Mental Wellness Practice. Most of us are intentional in our parenting styles, and whether we're fully conscious of every choice we make, our decisions are shaped through the lens of who we are, our cultures and socioeconomic background, what we've experienced, and what we believe, explains Dr. Ali. Parenting values are simply, deeply personal, and tied closely to the way we were raised and how we were parented as kids, says Kim Rippy, LPC, CCTP-II, trauma and anxiety specialist, and practice owner at Keystone Therapy Group. 'Most parents have a couple things they have promised to never do/say to their children because they felt hurt or upset by it as a child.' That's one of the reasons why it can sting so much when a friend parents in a very different way than we do. 'Parenting is about passing on desired values, morals, and cultural norms and challenging the undesired ones,' says Rippy. 'If a friend has a vastly different parenting style, it suggests their values, morals, and cultural norms are actually much different from your own.' "Parenting is about passing on desired values, morals, and cultural norms and challenging the undesired ones. If a friend has a vastly different parenting style, it suggests their values, morals, and cultural norms are actually much different from your own." Kim Rippy, LPC, CCTP-II When Differences Cause Friction in Friendships The way we parent is something that unfortunately gets scrutinized frequently. Family members, and even strangers, seem to have endless opinions about the best way to parent, and may not be shy about sharing these judgments with us. We may think our close friends are less likely to make these types of judgements, but this isn't always the case. 'There is a misconception that strangers are more likely to cross boundaries,' says Dr. Ali. 'In reality, it can be your closest friends who step over the line because they assume the closeness means conversations are unnecessary.' For example, if a friend of yours offers your child a food item you prefer they don't eat, the line that's crossed isn't just that they offered this food to your child, but that they didn't communicate with you about what your preferences were, Dr. Ali says. In Rippy's therapy practice, food is just one of several areas where her clients share that they experience parenting clashes with their friends. Screen time and discipline are other topics where she hears frequent stories of tension among friends. 'A big one that has come up recently feeds directly into respect, and how parents are disciplining their children who are acting rudely/disrespectfully or teaching their children about respecting others,' says Rippy. 'How we view and respect others is such a core value, that seeing a friend allow their children to act disrespectfully towards others can be very difficult for someone to accept without questioning.' How Many Differences Are Too Many? So, how do you know if the parenting differences you're seeing have crossed a line, or are simply too much? Dr. Ali suggests that instead of counting your differences, consider the impact that the differences are having. 'One of the best ways to manage this is to proactively share your parenting values and boundaries,' she recommends. If you notice a concern, name it early on. 'Silence can be misread, and what feels like a boundary violation to you might feel unremarkable to someone else,' she says. Many of the differences you may experience can be best managed with open and loving communication. 'For instance, if one family is screen-free and the other relies on tablets during dinner, is there room to compromise during shared meals or visits?,' Dr. Ali says. It's also vital that you set and share your boundaries with your friend. 'You do not need to hand out a parenting manifesto, but your non-negotiables should be known (for example, 'Please do not physically discipline my child'),' says Dr. Ali. It's equally important to be aware of your friend's boundaries. Looking at these attributes of a friendship—impact of differences, boundaries, and your ability to communicate with one another—can help you gauge how much of a problem these differences are. Keeping The Friendship Alive It's not realistic to think that friendships won't weather conflicts. 'Like any long-lasting relationship, friendship is not defined by a lack of conflict; it is shaped by how you move through those conflicts together,' Dr. Ali says. Dr. Ali suggests trying to keep in mind that it's OK to have tension with a friend over parenting differences, as long as you and the friend are able to work through them in a healthy way. You can also consider if you value the friendship enough to want to do the work of communicating. At times, too, differences in parenting styles can be beneficial for friendships, says Rippy. 'If I tend to be very strict with my children on house rules, and my friend is very relaxed, we can learn from each other to move somewhere in the middle,' she describes. 'I can learn to follow her lead by being relaxed as the children play together, and she can follow my lead by setting boundaries/expectations for safe, respectful play.' When It's Time To Move On Still, sometimes it becomes clear that it's time to move on from the friendship. Everyone will have a different take on what that is. Rippy says that for many parents, the line in the sand has to do with how the differences are impacting your kids. 'My focus as a therapist and a mother is to think about how the parenting or children's behaviors are negatively impacting others,' she says. For instance, if a friend chooses to feed their kids something different than you feed yours kids, that can be OK, as long as what your child is eating is something you're OK with. 'However, if a friend doesn't discipline her children and they're hitting my children or taking books/toys away from my children, that's no longer a safe family for my children to be around, and no longer a safe friendship for me to have,' she says. In addition, these differences may be more of a problem if they tend to happen frequently, and not just once or twice. 'For some, a difference in parenting style is not just a one-time issue—it may be the final sign that the friendship has shifted,' Dr. Ali says. 'After reflecting, you may begin to notice more places where you no longer align.' Eventually, too, you may realize that this person you once thought of as a friend simply doesn't fit that definition anymore. This may be a good time to move on, according to Dr. Ali. 'When conflicts around your children and family values feel heavy and repeated, when efforts to talk through it lead nowhere, and when the friendship starts to feel more draining than fulfilling—those are signs it may be time to let go,' Dr. Ali concludes. Read the original article on Parents Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
How ‘broken' Soho House plans to get its glamour back
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle first met on a blind date in 2016, they chose the discreet location of Dean Street Townhouse, an outpost of private members' club Soho House, for their clandestine rendezvous. The date highlighted the enticingly exclusive appeal of the club, a place where David Beckham, Kate Moss and Leonoardo DiCaprio rubbed shoulders with a host of other A-listers. Such was the buzz around the brand a decade ago that a former director once claimed it had repeatedly denied Kim Kardashian membership because its admittance was too selective. Yet over the past few years, Soho House's glamorous star has faded. Its rapid expansion – it now boasts a not-so-exclusive network of almost 50 locations – as well as a troubled stock market flotation and criticism of overcrowding, has led to claims the brand had lost its way. On Monday, Soho House made its most ambitious move yet to get its mojo back, striking a $1.8bn (£1.3bn) takeover deal led by one of the largest hotel operators in the US. The takeover is expected to breathe new life into the private members' club as it fights to restore exclusivity to its global brand, but success is not guaranteed – can Soho House become the playground of the rich and famous once again? Soho House was launched by restaurateur Nick Jones from a single townhouse on Soho's Greek Street in 1995, with the aim of providing an exclusive refuge for the great and the good of London's creative industries. In the intervening decades, the group jettisoned its more stringent membership requirements and ballooned in size. It now has around 268,000 members in 46 clubs around the globe. Wall Street woes Yet this expansion has come with growing pains as members began to complain of clubs becoming too full, leading to lacklustre service. Soho House briefly stopped accepting new members in London, New York and Los Angeles last year. Jones, who is married to BBC presenter Kirsty Young, said the group was focused on 'making sure our houses don't feel too busy'. It is not just members who have been critical of the company. Soho House has also had a troubled relationship with Wall Street since its listing in 2021 at a valuation of $2.8bn. The company's share price fell sharply during its life as a listed company, prompting Ron Burkle, its billionaire chairman, to complain that the market had undervalued the group and that it had 'all the costs of being a public company with few benefits'. Perhaps most damaging was Soho House's clash with New York-based short seller GlassHouse, which published a damning criticism of the company's 'broken business model and terrible accounting'. Bosses said the report included 'factual inaccuracies, analytical errors and false and misleading statements'. The company has also faced pressure from Third Point, the hedge fund run by activist Dan Loeb, to seek outside investors who would deliver a higher valuation for the business. Burkle appears to have taken heed of the activist's demands, and the chain will now resume life as a private company in a deal spearheaded by MCR Hotels, a sprawling group that operates 25,000 hotel rooms. The $9-per-share deal, which values Soho House at around $1.8bn, represents an 83pc premium compared to the company's stock price at the end of last year. However, it is well below the $14-per-share price tag Soho House was given at its New York stock market float. Other investors in the deal to take the company private include Apollo Global Management and Goldman Sachs, as well as a consortium led by actor Ashton Kutcher. Burkle will roll over his existing stake under the terms of the transactions, as will Jones, as well as restaurateur Richard Caring. Tyler Morse, MCR's chief executive, will become deputy chairman of Soho House, while Kutcher will also join the board. Under Andrew Carnie, who took over as chief executive from Jones in 2022, Soho House has been looking to refocus its efforts on quality. It has upgraded its food and drink offering, introducing new wellness facilities and refurbishing some of its sites. It has invested more in events and experiences such as its London festival and pop-up hospitality suites at Formula One races, while it has recently opened exclusive new outposts, including Soho Mews House and Soho Farmhouse Ibiza. Speaking to the Telegraph earlier this year, Carnie described the club's approach as 'global but local'. 'The goal is always that wherever you are in the world, you walk in and you feel Soho House', he said. 'Feel the environment that we've created, the energy, the members, the way we serve our drinks, the lighting and the music. 'We have a lot of brand principles, but we do want you to have a different aesthetic experience in these houses.' Soho House has also cashed in on its popular homeware brand, which it is increasingly championing within its members' clubs with showrooms. The company now sells more than 30,000 units of furniture a year, up from 1,800 in 2019. There are signs that the turnaround efforts are starting to pay off. Soho House recently posted its first run of consecutive quarterly profits following three decades in the red. In an update published earlier this month, the company said operating profit stood at just under $60m in the three months to July – up from $35m in the previous quarter – while revenues grew thanks to increased membership and higher in-house food and drink sales. The question now is how Soho House will harness its new lease of life away from the glare of the public markets. The next chapter Industry experts believe the step to go private will be beneficial for bosses. Ted Schama, the founder of advisory group One Voice Hospitality, says it will give the company the 'autonomy to pick and choose roadmaps for growth and – during that period – not be penalised for investment and not showing profit'. In MCR hotels, Soho House has a new owner who is unafraid to take on big projects. After buying the BT Tower for £275m last year, the US company has outlined plans to transform the Grade II-listed landmark into a hotel. The group also owns a string of signature sites, including the famous 1960s-themed TWA Hotel at JFK Airport, as well as the High Line Hotel and the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York. Schama says that, with Soho House, MCR is gaining a business that already has an estate of 'blended' sites. Soho House's membership clubs are often located alongside office space – Soho Works – and come with hotel rooms, restaurants and swimming pools. 'Blended offerings are where it's at,' he says. 'I think there is tremendous appeal in that regard on a global scale.' Meanwhile, private ownership will undoubtedly liberate Soho House bosses from the expensive and time-consuming requirements of life on the stock market. Members say they are hopeful this heralds the start of a return to form for the company. One person who has been a Soho House member for the past 20 years says they thought it 'never should have been listed', adding: 'Reporting quarterly earnings is not exactly cool.' Already, there have been signs that it is rekindling its reputation as the place to be seen. In June, Dua Lipa hosted an after-party at Soho House's White City club in West London following her sold-out Wembley shows. With around 111,000 people on a waiting list for membership, cultivating this exclusivity is likely to require a disciplined approach to growth. In a memo to members on Monday, Carnie said the takeover would allow the company to 'think long-term, invest where it matters most, and keep strengthening what makes the houses and our membership community so special'. However, the Soho House boss was keen to stress that exclusivity will be at the heart of this plan. 'This next chapter is about taking the best of what we've built and making it better for our members around the world', he said. What this would mean is that 'membership feels just as special in the years ahead as it does today'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
What To Know TODAY: What Is the 'Japanese Walking' Method?
Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are moving their family to a new home in search of 'a fresh start.' Plus, how the 'Japanese walking' method can give you health benefits in only 30 minutes, and a dietitian shares the change she made to stop her late-night snacking. Here's what to know for Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. Princess Kate and Prince William to Move Family to New Home for 'Fresh Start' Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are planning to move their family into a new home on the Windsor Estate in search of a 'fresh start' after a trying few years that have included the former Kate Middleton being treated for cancer, a royal source told NBC News yesterday. The move from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge is intended to be a long-term switch for the family and will be funded privately. What Is the 'Japanese Walking' Method? The 30-Minute Workout With Surprising Benefits Tired of counting your steps to see if you've reached 8,000 or 10,000 in a day? You may want to try 'Japanese walking,' an interval training method that involves alternating between fast and slow walking. See the benefits that can come from just 30 minutes of using the method. Dietitian Reveals the 1 Habit That Finally Stopped Her Late-Night Snacking In Expert Tip of the Day, a dietitian shares the simple addition to her post-dinner routine that finally got rid of her nighttime cravings. Exclusive: An Inside Look at Clinique's Factory — and a 20% Off Deal for Viewers TODAY's Dylan Dreyer got an exclusive chance to tour the facility where Clinique's bestselling products are made (the first time the brand has ever let a TV crew inside) to see the process from formula to factory floor. Plus, we scored a 20% off discount for TODAY viewers. These four recipes from Joy Bauer, from a chocolate peanut butter smoothie bowl to a jumbo oatmeal pancake, take classic comfort foods and give them a healthy twist without losing an ounce of flavor. This article was originally published on
