Whenever I am putting up pictures, I always manage to hammer my thumb instead of the nail. A great way to prevent this is to use a clothes peg to hold the nail while you hammer away.

Citric acid has become a staple in our household due to its many uses. We live in an area with hard water so limescale is a big problem for us, but citric acid is a cheap solution. It can be used to descale the kettle and washing machine, and even clean the toilet. 

Founded in 1819, the Travellers Club is holding autumn tours. With much of the original features and furnished in a traditional style, the club boasts fascinating architecture and design. The dates are 8th October and 10th November.

It sounds like an old wives’ tale but, bizarrely, this tip works. I bashed the legs of a wooden table when I was moving house and it marked the wood. A friend said rub a walnut on it then buff the area with a cloth – and, amazingly, the scratch faded.

Metro Deco is a sweet little vintage-inspired tea shop in Kemptown. It has a wide range of teas, including a strong black tea blend called Chrysler Breakfast (my favourite) as well as cakes and food. It is small but decorated beautifully and it also welcomes dogs.

I was looking for a doorknob for my wardrobe and I had my eye on one from a high-street shop which was charging £12. My daughter told me to check on eBay and I found a near-identical style for £1.70. I was absolutely thrilled, now I tell everyone to double-check on eBay.  

Forget about steaming an envelope open with the kettle and risk the paper going soggy, instead put it in the freezer for a couple of hours. You will then be able to open the envelope without damaging it.

The only thing I hate about cooking is the lingering smell left on my fingers after chopping garlic. It just doesn’t go, no matter how many times I scrub my hands with soap. I found out if you rub your fingers in salt, the smell disappears. You can also add lemon, but I find I don’t need to.

Use one part bicarbonate of soda to two parts vinegar. Pour the bicarbonate of soda down the sink and chase it with the vinegar. Once the fizzing has stopped rinse with water.

An easy way to get rid of pet hair from clothes and soft furnishings is to dampen a pair of Marigold gloves and swipe over the dander–ridden area.

In the autumn, you should be thinking about your bulbs for next spring. India Knight, columnist at the ‘Sunday Times’ Magazine, confesses to reading the Sarah Raven catalogue in the bath, ‘in the same way that one would read a blissful novel’. An excellent spot on the web for the green-fingered.

The main attraction of this temple is the extraordinary 46-metre statue of a reclining Buddha. The ringing of coins dropping into the bowls around the temple gives it a strikingly ethereal quality.

From the mountain you have stunning views of the sea and Cape Town’s sprawling suburbs. You can reach the top of the mountain by cable car or on foot. The latter is certainly not for the faint-hearted, but it does make the view that much more satisfying.

One of the many excellent coffee shops in Fitzrovia – and The Oldie’s local. Its coffee is nice and strong, and its selection of cakes and lunch foods is mouthwatering. Its chocolate brownies are to die for.

Aleks Krotoski analyses the digital world’s impact on us in this impressively researched podcast. Each episode examines the continuity between the analogue and digital worlds. As much about psychology as it is about technology, I would recommend this for absolutely anyone.

Kenneth Cranham and Alex Lanipekun star in this fantastic London-based crime drama. Their natural chemistry drives the story and, aided by the lyrical dialogue, delves into justice and injustices.

This former town hall is at the centre of Battersea’s cultural scene. It has many faces: workshop, museum, archive, theatre, café… and it excels at all of them. Always worth a visit, be it for a sandwich or a play.

This original and deeply moving film is about the lives and struggles of the women who kept France’s rural economy afloat during the First World War. Touching on the inevitable tragedy and trauma caused by the war, it gives credit to some of the war’s least sung heroes.

Hosted by the calm and collected David Aaronovitch, this programme brings the wisdom of a broad range of professors, activists and experts to bear on the big issues of the moment. Crucial for the news -minded.

Visit the site of Britain’s most famous monastic community. Visit the ruins of the 7th-century priory and the fortress built by Henry VIII, then settle down for some Lindisfarne Mead. The informal and informative tours are good fun for the whole family.

The remnants of St Augustine’s 6th-century abbey, originally built to house the tombs of Kentish kings, offers a fascinating look back at the history of early English Christianity. With techie headsets, you can see a virtual recreation of how the abbey would have looked in the 15th century.

A good old-fashioned pub, the Wheatsheaf played host to many a great name in the 1930s, including George Orwell, Dylan Thomas and Nina Hamnett. Thomas even met his wife there. A cosy atmosphere, with a fine selection of ales, it is a great venue for a relaxing pint.

This modest-looking pub is hidden away in Hanway Street, off Oxford Street. It’s vibrant paint job allows it to stand out in an otherwise quiet spot. Not at all part of the generic pub chains, it maintains its own eclectic character.

There is nothing worse than being struck by a call of nature as you wander around an unfamiliar city. This amusing website can help alleviate your suffering. It has nationwide coverage of the UK’s public conveniences. You can even add your own.

Holy Trinity Church was the home of the Clapham Sect which, under the stewardship of William Wilberforce, helped put a stop to the slave trade. Tucked away by Clapham Common tube station, it is well worth a visit. It also does a rather good carol service.