Of all the onion tribe, shallots take us pleasantly by surprise each year by ripening early in the season. Once the foliage has turned tawny and subsided, gently tug the clumps out of the ground to begin the drying process necessary for ripening. Then, bring them under cover so that air can circulate and the afternoon sun can get at them. In time, rub the soil off the roots, pull the individual bulbs apart and settle down to a quiet evening cutting off the top growth and hanging the finished product up in nets, or, more admirably, stringing them with raffia.
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Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expectThe four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
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Sign of the times: In the age of the selfie, what’s happening to the humble autograph?When Ringo Starr announced that he was no longer going to sign anything, he kickstarted a celebrity movement that coincided with the advent of the camera phone and selfie. Rob Crossan asks whether, in today’s world, the selfie holds more clout than an autograph?
