An apartment in the basement

DEAR DEIDRE: I’M going out with a real mummy’s boy. His parents won’t let him do anything on his own and he allows them to constantly interfere. Get in touch with Deidre today My team and I are working safely from home but we are here to help you as always. Send an email to [email protected] . Every problem gets a personal reply, usually within 24 hours weekdays. You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page. Follow me on Twitter @deardeidre. They beg him to go over at weekends, which he does. He works for them at their garden centre and they pay him well for doing very little. They came on holiday with us when we first got together and followed us everywhere. I’m 25 and my boyfriend’s 27. His mum manages his finances and always wants to know what we’re doing and how much it’s costing. He even does their food shop and drops it off at their house. Even though I don’t see them any more after snapping … [Read more...] about My boyfriend’s parents barely let him out of their sight and control his finances

Election fever has hit Benin. In the economic capital, Cotonou, more and more posters advertising the April 11 presidential election appear daily. One image, though, dominates: that of the current president, Patrice Talon. Against a blue background, he and running mate Mariam Chabi Talata are visible to every one of Cotonou's 800,000 residents. Like the United States, the West African country nominates pairs to run for the presidency, and if Talon is reelected, Chabi Talata will be vice president. "We have come a long way, we will go far" is the pitch by Talon and his running mate For Flora Agoudavi, this is a foregone conclusion. She and hundreds of other supporters have come to a campaign rally in front of the congress buildings on the coastal road Boulevarde de la Marina. They wave flags bearing their candidate's face, and wait patiently for his address. "When the president kicks off his campaign, I have to be there," she said. For Talon's next term, Agoudavi hopes … [Read more...] about Benin’s democracy hangs in the balance on election weekend

A heartbroken Queen Elizabeth was comforted by her three sons who rushed to be by her side after the sudden death of Prince Philip . The Duke of Edinburgh may have been in delicate health recently and recovering after a month in hospital, but his death on Friday morning still came slightly unexpectedly. He is thought to have been alone with his wife and a small group of staff at Windsor Castle when he passed away, before his sons quickly arrived. Prince Andrew was the first son to get to the castle to console the Queen and he was joined by Edward and then Charles. Following a flurry of police activity at around 10.40am, Andrew, who lives closest at Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, arrived at the back entrance to the Elizabeth’s private apartments, just five minutes later. By 11.15am, another family member believed to be Edward, had also arrived to be by his mother’s side. Prince Charles, facing a longer journey from Highgrove, his Gloucestershire estate, got to … [Read more...] about Queen’s three sons rushed to console ‘devastated’ mother after Philip’s unexpected death

A petition calling for a statue to Prince Philip following his death yesterday aged 99 has already been signed by thousands of people. Save Our Statues launched a change.org campaign calling on Boris Johnson to erect a monument to the Duke of Edinburgh in London . The page has been signed more than 4,000 times since it was set up last night and heartbroken signatories left tributes to the Queen's husband. Prince Philip died yesterday morning - with the Queen reportedly at his bedside - following nearly eight decades of public service. Thousands of people have signed the petition for a permanent memorial to the Duke of Edinburgh, who died yesterday at 99 He was the nation's longest serving consort and passed away in his private apartment just two months and a day before his 100th birthday. The Save Our Statues petition said: 'The Duke of Edinburgh served our country for 78 years, serving 13 in the Royal Navy and then 65 as Britain's longest serving consort, … [Read more...] about A statue for Prince Philip: Thousands sign petition calling for a monument to be built in tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Charles has paid tribute to his "dear Papa" the Duke of Edinburgh for the first time since his death on Friday. Speaking from outside his country home Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, Prince Philip 's eldest child said his father was a "much-loved and appreciated figure". "My father for I suppose, the last 70 years, has given the most remarkable, devoted service to the Queen, to my family, and to the country and also to the whole of the Commonwealth," said Charles. Prince Philip dies - Live reaction from UK and around the world "And as you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously - he was a much-loved and appreciated figure, and apart from anything else, I can imagine he'd be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world in the Commonwealth who also, I think, share our loss and our sorrow. "And my dear Papa was a very special person who I think, above all else, would have been amazed by the reaction and the … [Read more...] about Prince Philip: Charles pays tribute to ‘dear Papa’ and says he was a ‘much-loved and appreciated figure’