Rome - In Prato they are proud of their famous biscuits; just don't call them cantucci, even if your name is Pope Benedict XVI.

The German pontiff, noted for his sweet tooth, is reportedly a fan of the slice-like, almond-studded confectionary, a passion he shares with among others, former US president Bill Clinton. Designer Giorgio Armani offers them to visitors at his fashion showroom in Milan.

The cantucci or cantuccini (the smaller version) may have conquered palates beyond the confines of their Tuscan town of origin, but back home they all insist on calling them the biscotti di Prato (the biscuits of Prato).

Hamburg - Most women crave fuller hair, but in reality the dream of having flowing tufts is comparatively easy to achieve with the right cut and appropriate hair care.

Even fine, thin hair can be made to look like there's a plenty of it. Getting the right cut is the first precondition.

"Not much can be done to create volume with medium-length, fine

Sydney - Retired couple Lyn Gardiner and Rob Gay are selling their Melbourne home, buying a camper van and joining the tens of thousands of older Australians perpetually on tour in the wide brown land.

It's a lifestyle change that warms the heart of sociologist Bruce Bradbury of the University of New South Wales in Sydney. His research shows that lots of pensioners have little money in the bank but are living in houses worth a fortune.

Bradbury is urging more to sell up, take out a reverse mortgage or opt for any other way they can find of turning bricks and mortar into dollars and cents.

Cologne - The purpose of yoga may be to bring body, mind and soul into harmony, but a lot of people taking yoga classes want to look good too.

Many sportswear makers have recognized this and are offering yoga apparel. Their autumn and winter collections this year follow current fashion trends, especially in the choice of colours.

The new, yoga-wear line by Adidas is almost exclusively in natural colours, dominated by shades of mineral grey and green such as chalk, lava grey and flint, as well as light and dark loam hues. Venice Beach's yoga collection has a similar look, with colours such as limestone and moss green.

Cologne - It's a good idea to check out the fitness machines while visiting on a guest pass before joining a gym.

The quality of fitness machines and their condition should be considered and instructions for proper use should be posted on all machines, said the Cologne office of Germany's technical inspection authority.

In addition, there should be some safeguards to ensure that people who occasionally lift weights cannot injure themselves. To ensure safe training, the distance between the machines should be one metre; two metres between treadmills.

Wiesbaden - Buttons makes a difference: Positioned precisely in upholstery or leather, they give a sofa or chair a sense of dignity.

Known as Chesterfield, the style in which the evenly-spaced buttons form a pattern, originated in Britain. To Ursula Geismann of Germany's furniture industry association it conjures up images of dark and heavy furniture.