Yorkshire lass
’Appen as like, trouble at t’mill, nowt so queer as folk, cobber – the soap opera Emmerdale (starring the Australian actress Emily Symons) celebrates its 35th birthday this week. Fewer lambs and tractors these days, more murder and bed-hopping. It's filmed around Leeds, including the 18th-century stately home Harewood House, in case you fancy some soapy star-spotting (www.yorkshire.com).

Big in Japan
Japan Airlines (www.jal.com) is introducing a premium economy cabin on flights to Tokyo from December. Passengers will get 20 per cent more legroom than in economy, separate check-in, inflight champagne (and instant noodles), and be able to use the business-class lounge in Japan.

Dutch treat
Going Dutch in Beijing (Profile Books, £9.99) is a guide to etiquette around the world. Avoid eye contact while saying “cheers” in Germany and you’ll be told to expect seven years’ bad sex, for example, while the Japanese avoid the number nine, which sounds like the word for agony.

Palm pilot
Satski is a touch-screen colour GPS system for skiers that uses real-time updates to plot routes on a piste map as well as recording stats such as average speed and distances covered. Snowline (www.snowline.co.uk) will rent one to clients for £28 a day in Val d’Isère, La Tania, Méribel and La Plagne this winter. It also lists info on mountain restaurants, après-ski promotions and even – gulp – emergency contact details.

Turning turtle
Explore the Galapagos Islands in style. A sumptuous new three-bedroom villa with attached guest cottage is available to hire on Santa Cruz (www.pkworldwide.com). “Escalesia”, located in Puerto Ayora, comes with an infinity pool, library, gym, and, more important for latterday Darwins, its own yacht and private guide. A week with full board costs from £2,800pp when ten share, excluding flights.

Web of the week
www.sleepinginairports.net

When you have to slash the budget, search here for airports that will let you kip on a bench before your 5am departure and those that will clean around you as an unsubtle way of telling you to get lost. Sleepers rate their best and worst experiences – Charles de Gaulle in Paris comes out bottom.

Will Hide

News in brief

Beatles reunion
The Museum of Liverpool wants to hear from people who remember St Peter’s Church Hall in Woolton as it was when John Lennon met Paul McCartney there in 1957. Details: 0151-478 4573, www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk.

Ryanair to us?
Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, is talking to American airports about expanding the airline’s no-frills flights to the US. “It is a real live prospect,” he said.

Chocs away
The Chocolate Hotel opened in Bournemouth this week, with chocolate-themed rooms “filled with bars of high street chocolates” from £90 and “chocolate workshops”. Details: 01202 556857, www.thechocolatehotel.co.uk.

Malta medical
The Malta Tourist Authority has launched a website, www.medicalmalta.com, offering affordable surgery and dental treatments to “help relieve the NHS buckling under the weight of sheer demand”.

Tom Chesshyre