1. Thou shalt not take thy iPad to bed
You'll stay up too late, wake up too early and doom scroll too much.
2. Thou shalt not leave a voicemail
Seriously, it's 2024. Nobody even knows how to listen to their voicemail anymore. Send a text or a WhatsApp message.
3. Thou shalt not have thy phone's ringtone set to 'loud'
Unless someone you love is in hospital or you're outside in a storm awaiting your exam results.
4. Thou shalt not keep the television on when a guest is visiting
If you're reading Country Life, you probably don't need to be told this. However, it's worth repeating anyway.
5. Thou shalt prefer sunshine to screen time
An exception can be made for vampires and those with skin conditions exacerbated by direct exposure to sunlight. Everyone else, go outside and touch some grass.
6. Thou shalt keep thy mobile device clean
Do we really need to spell out where you've been using it?
7. Thou shalt remember that a phone can be used to make voice calls
Bonus point for initiating those voice calls. But also, remember point 2.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness about 'being terrible with technology'
That nonsense might have washed in 1988, but not anymore. If you can tie your own shoelaces, you can use a mobile phone or a laptop
9. Thou shalt be patient when awaiting a reply to thy WhatsApp message
Just because the little blue ticks say it's been read, doesn't mean I have the time or headspace to reply within eight seconds
10. Thou shalt not consider thy voice assistant a meaningful relationship
If you're calling out a woman's name in the bedroom, it shouldn't be 'Alexa'. This applies even if they are actually called 'Alexa' — you don't want the neighbours' devices to be listening in at that particular moment
The Last Word: 'Portmeirion’s charm is rooted in eccentricity and this is why I love the place'
Pamela Goodman travels to north Wales in a rusty Land Rover Defender, where long walks, wild swimming and a visit
Credit: Simotion via Getty Images/iStockphoto
To Oliver Walston: A visionary, a farmer and a friend
Carla Carlisle writes of her friend Oliver Walston, who was often known for 'thinking the unthinkable and saying the unsayable'
Curious Questions: Why do we still love pirate stories, 300 years on from Blackbeard?
Tales of swashbuckling pirates have entertained audiences for years, inspired by real-life British men and women, says Jack Watkins.
Credit: Getty
'Water was coming in through the roof, the windows and the stone walls. It caused mushrooms to grow in the bedrooms, and sizeable bits of the ceiling to detach themselves without notice'
Water, water everywhere for Jonathan Self — especially in the places where you'd least want to have it.
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It's a perfect storm for the revival of eclecticism, and we're in the middle of itIn design, periods of purism are often followed by a dramatic new mood. Now, the scene is set for an exciting revival of eclecticism.
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How good is your Claudia Winkleman trivia? Find out in The Country Life Quiz of the Day, October 13, 2025What secrets lurk beneath that fringe?
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Agromenes: Evolution, not revolution, is what we need for a green and sustainable futureThe short-term pain of a green transition will be worth it in the long run. What we need is some bold vision to get there.
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The proposed National Gallery extension is a ray of light in a stormy sectorThe announcement of a new wing for one of the nation's top art galleries 'is a transformative initiative undertaken through private philanthropy to clear and universal benefit. What is there not to celebrate?'
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Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, don't blame it on the good times, blame it on the batsBats and newts are an easy target, but can they actually be blamed for not building enough houses?
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Agromenes: Why is our tax money not being spent on British food?A Freedom of Information request reveals that many of our local councils and government departments aren't buying British-grown food. It's an insult to our farmers.
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Affordable, sustainable, rural: How a group of volunteers embarrassed the government and built some of the best new homes in the countryHazelmead has won almost every RIBA award going. The development on the outskirts of Bridport might be a springboard for a rural housing revolution, much like the Arts-and-Crafts movement more than a century ago.
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William Hanson: Why etiquette must evolve to suit modern lifeNoodle slurping and the left-handed taboo. The king of modern manners details the evolution of proper conduct in his latest book.
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Athena: In the eyes of Government, will the Arts always be last?After a year of Labour rule, life doesn't seem to be getting any better for Britain's cultural institutions.
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Agromenes: 'See it. Say it. Sorted. This is truly where Britain is broken'Country Life's Cultural Crusader rails against the constant annoying reminders of how we should live our lives.
