The Great Escape Magazine

Having the right tools makes it significantly easier and safer to carve a pumpkin. Many garden centres and supermarkets sell dedicated pumpkin carving kits in the weeks leading up to Halloween. These typically include a small saw-edged carving tool with a rounded tip, a scoop and a poker. They're far safer than using kitchen knives, which can be sharp and harder to control. If you have young children who are excited and wriggly, it's worth having a brief conversation before the tools come out. Explain what's about to happen, who will be doing which jobs and – crucially – that the sharp tools belong to the grown-ups.

Mindful eating forms part of an intuitive eating programme, which is a broader approach to self care. Intuitive eating encourages rejection of fad diets and social pressures in favour of listening to the body's needs. Unlike dieting, mindful eating and intuitive eating do not focus on eliminating certain foods.

Make the most of the season's fresh ingredients with these tasty French recipes for autumn – from cosy soups to roasted veg, casseroles, crumbles and more.

What if living better didn't require a complete lifestyle overhaul? From 7 - 12 September, the 37th week of the year, Novotel is putting that question to the world with the launch of the inaugural Novotel Longevity Week - a new annual global celebration proving that small, simple habits, repeated daily, are enough to help people feel healthier, more energised, and more connected.

What to expect: Boats, islands, beaches, sightseeing   Few destinations in Asia make it easier to spend the day on the water. A speedboat or longtail boat can take travellers beyond Phuket's coastline to nearby islands fringed by white-sand beaches, hidden coves, and spectacular limestone scenery. Destinations such as Coral Island, Racha Island, and Koh Phi Phi offer a chance to explore some of southern Thailand's most impressive coastal landscapes, with time to swim, relax, and discover a different side of the Andaman Sea.

Novotel’s Longevity Everyday vision is built on nearly 60 years of helping people live better, wherever they travel. It rests on four simple pillars: Eat - plant-forward, thoughtfully sourced, nourishing rather than restrictive. Sleep - deeper rest, better rituals, nights that restore rather than just end the day. Move - not intensity, consistency. Everyday movement that fits real life. Meet - connection with colleagues, family, friends and self, built into every stay. None of it is about perfection. All of it is about progress.