Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2017 i Woman & Home

1 THE DRESSED-DOWN LBD • It’s loose. It’s longer. And it has a low-key finish you can work around the clock. • Look for sportier details to make your new dress modern. What’s not to love about a drawstring waist? • Luxe it up for evening with statement heels or go more street-style with slip-me-on sneakers. 2 THE FUN FAUX-FUR • It has instant feel-good factor and it’s not often you can combine cosy and chic in one. • Look for patchwork styles in bold colours… come on, it’s time to try something different. • Keep the rest neat. Understated separates ensure that smart finish. 3 THE SUPER-SIZED BAG • As we roll into spring the rules are changing. It’s mini or maxi… but to be truthful we’re going to…

My vision is that sporting activity is integrated, accessible and attractive. Sport England is rolling out a plan to locate activity facilities alongside community facilities. There’s one complex in Warrington where you’ve got doctors’ surgeries, a café, library and community policing together with the swimming pool, crèche and playing fields. The idea is that it helps integrate activity into people’s lives in a non-threatening environment. Since it was opened the number of women being active has quadrupled. IN 2017 I’M GOING TO… Go on safari to see cheetahs, my favourite animal. I’ve been promising myself I’ll go for years. BUT I’M GOING TO STOP… Eating so many Maltesers. I’ve loved them for as long as I can remember. Every Christmas I get a family-size box that never lasts long enough.…

Passwords will become a thing of the past. At Microsoft I use facial recognition to log in to my computer. I simply look at the screen and it doesn’t matter whether I have my hair up or down, or whether I’m wearing my glasses. IN 2017 I’M GOING TO START… Enjoying my new home. I recently moved to the west coast of America so I want to enjoy everything from skiing and hiking to watersports. BUT I’M GOING TO STOP… Sweating the small stuff. I need to remember, once again, to prioritise the important things in life.…

1 Think of a sugary food you feel out of control around, and imagine eating it mixed with the food you find most disgusting. Imagine chewing it and swallowing. Do this whenever a craving strikes. 2 Imagine yourself at the end of your life. You’ve continued eating a lot of sugar and you’re ill. Think about what advice the sick, older you would give you now. Then picture yourself as elderly having controlled your sugar intake. You’ve lived a long, healthy life because you made that change. 3 To defend against adverts for sugary foods and drinks, when you see one, recast the slim, beautiful people in it with the overweight, unhealthy people they’d be if they regularly ate or drank the product. 4 Spend a week “sugar spotting” by…

At 54 how many solvent, single and sane men was I likely to meet? When my eight-year relationship came to an end I was heartbroken. Though it was the last thing I felt like doing, I reluctantly joined a dating site. My friends had advised a period of reflection, but I reasoned that at my age I’d better get on with it. And, as they say, the quickest way to get over a man is to get under another, so I signed up to eHarmony and my inbox was soon deluged by messages from attractive men. I perked up, I’d obviously stumbled across the planet of lost men. But, disappointingly, although I was being contacted by about five men a day, all they were doing was sending me endless questionnaires…

• VINTAGE FLOWERS: Create a vintage-style arrangement with old-fashioned blooms and containers. One day, £220, academyofflowers.com • SHORT STORY WRITING: Sift, select, edit polish – write your short story, or edit and craft your selection. Five days residential, from £710, arvon.org • BUILD YOUR ANTIQUES PORTFOLIO: Buy to sell, invest wisely and learn how to read the antiques market and what the experts do. Online course, two weeks, £185, learningwithexperts.com • RAKU POTTERY: One- and three-day courses covering all aspects of pottery, including Raku fired in a 1,000 degree kiln, £100 a day (accommodation an optional extra), vinegarhillpottery.co.uk • CROCHET: Love those vintage crochet square blankets? One-day intensive course, £45 in Worcester. Six-week course available too, stitchandsteele.com • PSYCHIC SKILLS: Develop your intuition and ability to read other people. Online…

On a shopping trip When you’re carrying a couple of heavy bags and feel like your arms are being yanked out of your armpits, use this time to get mindful and build up some muscles. As you’re walking, lift the bag in your right hand up towards your shoulder and hold for a count of ten. Focus into the area where you feel the ache and breathe into it. Scan your body for tension – we’re used to lifting our shoulders up or tensing our bodies when we carry something heavy. Now repeat with your left arm. At the office At your computer, tune into the sensations of tapping your fingers on the keys and keep returning to the feeling in your fingertips. Notice if your shoulders are hunched (I…

SACK BEING STILL Incorporate movement during everyday moments when you’re normally still – waiting for the microwave to ping or the kettle to boil, says Cecilia Harris, owner of FitnessLadies.co.uk. “Get into the habit of doing some squats while brushing your teeth, for example,” she says. “If you brush for at least two minutes twice a day, that’s four minutes a day of squats – sorted.” BEAT YOUR PERSONAL BEST Walking is a great exercise, so do more of it when you can. Pick up the pace by setting challenges, suggests Jon Denoris, author of The Pop-Up Gym (Bloomsbury). “Pick a route and walk for 20 minutes. Now, turn back, but try and beat the time it took you to go out.” Wear a pedometer or…

Choose a supplement that’s right for your needs With thousands of supplements elbowing for room on health store shelves it’s easy to be guilt-tripped into taking handfuls every day. Fine if you have the cash and the time for lengthy swallowing rituals, but we reckon just a few well-chosen basics can keep us humming along healthily. What we all really need – 3 great basics Chosen to cover most of our wellbeing bases whatever our age or life stage… 1 A GREAT MULTIVITAMIN If we do nothing else for our wellbeing, a daily multi is a must to cover imperfect diets, stress and energy drainers. Food state multis are the buzz, as they closely match natural foods and are easily maximised by the body. Try: My Favourite Multiple Energiser, £17…

1 DISGUISE A FULLER BUST and drape a printed silky scarf over a basic blouse or knit. Super cinchers 2 LIFT AND NIP YOURSELF IN with our fave shapewear items – from simple nude to lingerie-inspired lace, feel fully supported this season! 3 SLIM DOWN YOUR SILHOUETTE. Contrast panels give you a leaner line in an instant. 4 LAYER YOUR WAY TO A SIZE SMALLER. Yes you can wear skinny leather trousers. Team them with a long-line shirt to cover your sides and bottom, then layer up with a sleeveless knit to nip you in where it counts. 5 SHIFT THE ATTENTION away from your body with eye-catching earrings. They turn a simple outfit from drab to fab in seconds. 6 HIDE THAT TUM. Tap into the loose cami dress…

Scandi “hygge” hair is the ideal – stylish, cool, chilled Nordic style. “I love cool, bright hair tones with fair skin, almost a Scandinavian blonde, with sections of ice-white tones to lift hair and give it some dimension,” says Nicola Clarke, creative colour director for Color Wow and John Frieda Salons. BLEACHING IS BIG Leading hairstylist Guido persuaded more than half the Alexander Wang SS17 models to bleach their hair, opting for choppy blonde shags, blunt fringes and lobs (long bobs). It makes grey look more bright and stylish too. Think more bleachy than beachy “if you’re tired of the softer, ‘girl next door’ blonde,” says stylist and legendary blonde Lisa Shepherd. “Try an edgier, sharper blonde. The soft and gentle balayage approach works well over winter when we’re covering…

Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20, £34 , THE tinted moisturiser that anyone who has ever tried it just obsesses about. Apply just where you need it; you’ll never look too caked. Windflush Colour Powder for Cheeks & Eyes, £29 ; beautiful big blush that can be worn on eyes too for an easy-wear, harmonious make-up look. Editorial Eye Palette in Intense Clays, £38 , cream-to-powder textures that allow you to go graphic or smoky, with a sheer white powder to set: so it’s not going anywhere once you’ve played with it. Velour Lovers Lip Colour + Metallic, £22 , a new highly pigmented yet moisturising lip colour that builds up then stays on like crazy without looking heavy.…

Karren Brady says... I love encouraging new businesses but for me to support a fledgling business there needs to be a good reason. What I really liked about School Reviewer was that it creates a community between parents, who can communicate about their school in a way that’s purely for the benefit of other parents. That’s so valuable – and could make all the difference when it comes to finding the right school for your child. I’m all too aware of the importance of finding the right school as I went to six schools before I left at the age of 18 because my family moved around a lot. There is more to a good school than academic results. Moving schools also left me with a sense of how valuable…

Don’t bin VHS tapes – rare ones are potentially the collectables of the future! FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS Scandi designs may make you a killing right now, but hold onto dark wood antiques. Top prices are fetched for anything unusual and quirky – funky lamps, old school desks, coal scuttles – as well as retro Danish and teak designer furniture from the 1960s and 70s. Names to look for include: Arne Jacobsen, John and Sylvia Reid, and Avalon (check eBay under “retro furniture” for an idea on how much you can expect to get for your piece). G Plan had its moment last year but is still selling (£100 for a good quality teak sideboard). Go to the-saleroom.com the-saleroom.com to check out current prices and if you have any paintings or limited…

BUY FRESH, IN SEASON... Produce that’s available now is perfect for an immune-system boost – just what we need in these dark days. Blood oranges and clementines from southern Europe will give you a shot of vitamin C. Shellfish such as oysters, mussels, clams and cockles contain essential zinc and are high in protein as well as being good value. Leafy greens – kale, cabbages and purple-sprouting broccoli – are full of antioxidants, and perfect with a hearty winter stew or soup. For pudding, our forced rhubarb from Yorkshire is a treat not to be missed. TEACH YOURSELF A NEW TRICK! Making marmalade with Seville oranges is a therapeutic and warming cooking moment, and makes your home smell divine. You can follow our step-by-step video on our Facebook page and…

BREAKFAST SCRAMBLED EGGS A filling start to the day with scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast with grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and spring onions cooked in low-calorie cooking spray. LUNCH JACKET POTATO WITH TUNA MAYO Super filling and super simple! Top a large jacket potato with a generous serving of tuna mixed with sweetcorn, red pepper and a level tbsp of extra light mayonnaise. Enjoy with plenty of crispy salad, a bunch of grapes and a fat free yogurt. DINNER CHICKEN CHOW MEIN A delicious homemade meal of crunchy vegetables, chicken breast pieces, noodles and an authentic oriental- style sauce. Just as good as the takeaway version! SNACKS Loads of fruit, a 2-finger KitKat and a small packet of Walker’s French Fries. For more information, including our delicious chow mein recipe, visit…

Shtum by Jem Lester (Orion) Heart-wrenching and thought-provoking story of a family coping with an autistic child. Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave (Sceptre) Addictive love story set during Second World War. Superb. Foxlowe by Eleanor Wasserberg (4th Estate) Gothic coming-of-age novel set within the grounds of Foxlowe House. Not Working by Lisa Owens (Picador) Quitting her job doesn’t bring Claire the peace she wants. Hilarious. The Stopped Heart by Julie Myerson (Vintage) Chilling ghost story revolving round a couple who move to a house with a history. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (Vintage) Moving memoir about being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. Rise by Sian Williams (Orion) Powerful guide to surviving tough…

Let It Shine Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc co-host this new Saturday night talent show, which seeks the cast of a West End musical based on Take That’s biggest hits. BBC One Silent Witness Our cover star Emilia Fox is back as forensic pathologist Dr Nikki Alexander – and it’s the series’ 20th anniversary, so expect it to be big. BBC One Taboo In this eight-part drama, an adventurer (Tom Hardy) returns to Britain from Africa to seek vengeance after the death of his father. Tom Hollander also stars. BBC One Tina and Bobby The story of football hero Bobby Moore and his childhood sweetheart, Tina, is told in three parts – from their humble beginnings to superstardom. ITV No Offence Joanna Scanlan revives her role as DI Viv Deering…

1 TRX2 Molecular Food Supplement for Hair TRX2 Molecular Food Supplement for Hair is an innovative development of Oxford scientist Dr Thomas Whitfield, DPhil (biochemistry) and his team of Oxford Biolabs scientists. The idea of creating TRX2 hit Dr Whitfield when he was in Oxford, researching the process of hair loss. TRX2 is based on organic compounds which, when compared to some medicinal products, has no side effects. It’s the first hair loss treatment to contain potassium, Carnipure™ tartrate (L-carnitine – L-tartrate), BCAA and nicotinamide, and is delivered via a proprietary potassium channel-stimulating complex. Moreover, three of the key ingredients in TRX2 – selenium, zinc, and biotin – are officially recognised by the European Commission as contributing to the maintenance of normal, healthy hair. Hair treatments oft en promise a…

CELEBRITY INSIGHTS Our bumper edition of things celebs would tell their younger selves. Stars include: Emilia Fox, Darcey Bussell, Julia Sawalha, Dawn French, Zoë Ball, Julie Walters, Twiggy, Anita Rani, Clare Balding, Karren Brady and Ruth & Eamonn! TONE THOSE BINGO WINGS In just two minutes a day – seriously easy moves that will seriously tone you up! Watch how to do it at womanandhome.com/ danceworkout FAT Vs SKINNY We know you love our Normandy pork casserole… here’s our healthier take, still full of flavour! Check it out at womanandhome.com/ porkcasserole EDITORIAL COMPLAINTS We work hard to achieve the highest standards of editorial content, and we are committed to complying with the Editors’ Code of Practice (https://www.ipso.co.uk/IPSO/cop.html) as enforced by IPSO. If you have a complaint about our editorial content, you can…

CHOCOLATE OR EXERCISE? Oh, chocolate. DREAM DINNER PARTY GUESTS? Dawn French… Dawn French… Dawn French! We’ve just worked together on Delicious (Sky), as well as on another project. She’s fantastic in every way. FAVOURITE WAY TO UNWIND? Reading. I always have a pile of books by the bed. SECRET SKILL? I can make my right nostril droop! And I’ve got a great memory. I can remember details of things that happened years ago. SPENDER OR SAVER? I’m a spender! HABIT YOU’D MOST LIKE TO STOP My coffee habit. HABIT YOU HATE MOST IN OTHERS? Bad manners. WOULD YOU DO STRICTLY ? I am obsessed with Strictly and I’d love to learn the dancing, but I’m way too shy to…

Family and friends are especially important To change something, and change it for the better are two different things. And boy, are things changing all the time. And I don’t just mean changes that are happening both nationally and internationally. We now have a female Prime Minister (yeah!) and Donald Trump is the President (OMG!). We are leaving the EU, and things are about to be a whole lot different in the world. Change can be scary because even if you want change, uncertainty is unsettling, and frankly it’s unnerving that we do not know if the changes that are happening in the world are for the better, or for the worse and only time will tell… and in the meantime, there’s very little we can do except wait and…

There will be more focus on people taking responsibility for their own health. Women need to check their breasts, and turn up to cervical screenings and mammograms. Men need to check their testicles. Any changes in bowel habits should be checked out. Our plans show that people should be able to see their GP 12 hours a day seven days a week in the future. They should have support to stay at home as long as possible before going to hospital. Some major services may need to be centralised, as it’s unrealistic for local hospitals to do everything. IN 2017 I’M GOING TO START… Being much more disciplined about booking time off for holidays. BUT I’M GOING TO STOP… Working too late. So two nights a week will be reserved…

A sense of contentment envelops me Here I am, sitting with my eyes closed as Paul McKenna, the world’s most famous hypnotist, asks me to imagine how chocolate cake – my favourite indulgence – would taste mixed with cabbage, the food I hate the most. “As you bite into the cake, mix its flavour with cabbage,” he instructs me. “The texture, the taste, is cabbage. And there’s some hair in there from the floor. Chew it. Really taste it on your tongue. Now swallow it.” We’re sitting in Paul’s book-lined study, performing this frankly disgusting exercise, known as The Craving Buster, in a bid to break my sugar addiction. I start my morning with a fix, in my tea and via the peanut butter on my toast, and crave several…

Ryan was a very conscientious student Liz is married to professional woodwind player, Dick Mitchell, and lives in Los Angeles. She has two sons, Eric, 21, and Kevin, 23. Liz has been playing jazz piano since she was a teenager and now runs classes at a local school, as well as producing her own music. When I received an email asking if I’d be interested in teaching Ryan Gosling to play the piano for a new film – well, how could I say no? It turned out I’d been recommended by The Colburn School, where I teach classes. I was looking forward to meeting him, but before anything was made official, I actually had to have my own “audition” with Ryan. I was invited to meet him at his home…

Serves: 2 • Carb count: 18g per person 100ml dill pickle liquor, strained from the pickle jar 50g butter 2tbsp yellow mustard seeds 1tbsp cracked black pepper 2 thick slices of good butcher’s ham (200–250g each) Large dill pickles, diced 2 banana shallots, finely diced ¼ cucumber, deseeded and diced 2 pickled green chillies, chopped ½ bunch of dill (about 10g), chopped 1 Pour 100ml water into a large frying pan, add the pickle liquor and butter and bring to the boil. Add the mustard seeds and cracked pepper, then place the slices of ham in the pan and turn the heat down to low. 2 Gently warm the ham through and let the liquid and butter emulsify. 3 While the ham is cooking, in a bowl, mix together the…

HELEN GEORGE, 32, who plays Trixie Franklin, says, “The 60s were a really interesting time for Trixie. In terms of fashion you see the silhouette of the woman change; it becomes less of the big skirts and pointy bras, and it becomes a much more feminine, slim, fitted outline. And I love wearing things like that. The make-up also changes. You get a bit more eyeliner and the flick starts getting larger and I’m hoping that we get to 1967, so I can do the Twiggy thing at some point. And also the hemlines are getting shorter and shorter, so it’ll be the mini-skirt soon – fingers crossed!”…

If you’re looking for love visit w&h’s safe, secure online dating website – it’s designed for women like you, is free to join and has thousands of members who are vetted by us so you can be confident of finding a like-minded potential partner. It’s easy to get started – upload a picture and enter a few details about yourself and what kind of person you’re looking for. You can view matches for free, then when you’d like to start communicating sign up from £10.50 per month. JANUARY OFFER One week’s free membership at dating.womanandhome.com/s/jan17  and enter code W&HJan17.…

Our expert Jinder teaches meditation classes and has worked as a healer for over 20 years. In addition she has produced, directed and written documentaries and television dramas, and is currently writing her first fiction novel. I’ve trained my mind to think positively THERE IS NO MAGIC FORMULA that can make you ready to begin the quest to find your “inner self”. It’s a choice. My own journey began when I realised there was no point taking care of my outer physical body if I wasn’t going to be kinder to my inner self. THINK OF YOUR CONSCIOUS AND SUBCONSCIOUS MIND like a super-computer with information going in and out. It is the way we navigate through life without even really thinking about it. Emotions, behaviours and feelings are driven…

Most people can relax watching TV or at a wine bar with friends. But when you’re about to give a speech or have an interview for a job, you can’t watch TV to calm yourself. Try this breathing exercise instead: 1 Widen your focus by tuning into every thought in your mind and just letting them rip: the good, the bad, the ugly. After about a minute, let it go. 2 Narrow your focus to the pinpoint sensation of breathing. Zoom in on a full breath through the nose, throat, chest or abdomen, feeling your lungs expanding on the in breath and contracting on the out breath. After about a minute, let it go. 3 Widen your focus to your breath filling your whole body, from the top of your…

THE BARRE QUEEN PAOLA DI LANZO, 45, from London, is better known for Paola’s BodyBarre, which incorporates Barre, Pilates, HIIT and boxing classes. The one item you need for barre work? “Our grippy socks are essential for support and hold,” Paola says. YOUR ESSENTIAL KIT THE WALKER NADINE KAYSER, 42, lives in London and is the co-founder of animal welfare charity Wild At Heart Foundation. She loves spending time walking her two dogs, which she rescued from Romania and a dog pound in the UK. She says: “The one item you need for walking is proper walking boots – normal trainers just don’t cut it.” You can donate to the charity or rehome a dog at wildatheartfoundation.org YOUR ESSENTIAL KIT “Leggings are key – go for…

In my kit? “I’ve always got a pot of Decléor Aromessence Neroli Hydrating Night Balm, £34, backstage. I use it like a healing balm on every model’s dry patches, redness or blind spots.”Wendy Rowe, international make-up artist YOUR MUST-TRY NEW TRICK! THE EASIEST SMOKY EYE EVER Take a fat eye crayon, such as M&S Autograph Ultimate Wear Cream Shadow Stick, £9.50; Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, £15.50; or Bobbi Brown Long- Wear Cream Shadow Stick, £21, and draw a hashtag over the outer corner of your eyelids. Then grab a shadow brush and buff it in. Done! THE NEW MEN IN YOUR LIFE… I recently bumped into Peter Thomas Roth, skincare genius whose brilliant collection is in Selfridges. I urge you to try his Peter Thomas Roth…

Think Saks, think amazing hair. Their latest collection is all about favoured styles of today – from Get Shorty to Big Hair Don’t Care, Texturise Me and Bit of a Do – plus unbelievable colour and nourishing treatments for a look that’ll be just for you. There’s something for everyone on the Saks beauty menu… facials and peels, 3D-lipo body contouring, massages to bliss out or perk up, IPL and waxing hair removal, tanning and glam brows, lashes, nails and make-up. Saks has been around since 1974, and when you head in today, you get all the above and more. The best of British hair and beauty, a warm welcome, all the goss (they’ve raised over £75,000 for gynaecological cancers so far), and the chance to win £100 with #ILOVESAKS!…

We’re all now familiar with the idea that a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria – or microflora – is vital to gut health. But what you may not realise is that properly balanced microflora are just as important for health “down there”. In fact the urogenital system – which includes the vagina and urethra, the tube from the bladder – is home to more than 50 different species of bacteria and other micro-organisms. And according to latest research, when it comes to keeping this system healthy and fending off infections such as cystitis, thrush and bacterial vaginosis (BV), probiotics could be your biggest ally. Q&A… …with world leader in probiotics for urogenital health, Professor Gregor Reid. Q How do probiotics combat urogenital infections? A In multiple ways –…

AUCTIONEERS All charge commission (around 18 per cent plus VAT in a local auction house). But they will give you a valuation and handle the sale. Pick an auctioneer that sells lots of similar items. Even eBay takes 10 per cent. SELLING ONLINE Protect your purse by setting up a PayPal account. Always pay for a confirmed postal delivery (so the buyer cannot say the goods did not arrive). And always use the messaging service of the site, rather than private messaging. Give accurate descriptions or goods could be returned. FACE-TO-FACE Gumtree, which is free, or local small ads, enable you to hand over goods for cash, but remember, don’t let strangers into your house. ELECTRICAL GOODS You could be liable if they are faulty but paying for an electrician…

WEEKEND TREAT Sticky toffee puddings with salted butterscotch sauce Yes these are incredibly naughty… but it’s all about keeping the portion tiny! Easy/Prepare ahead • Ready in 45 minutes • Makes 8 175g dates, finely chopped 1tsp bicarbonate of soda 75g butter, softened 175g unrefined caster sugar 3 eggs 1tsp vanilla extract 255g self-raising flour for the sauce 100g caster sugar 25g butter 300ml double cream you will need 8 metal dariole moulds, buttered 1 To make the sauce, gently melt the sugar in a pan until it forms a caramel, then whisk in the butter and cream. The caramel will harden – just keep it over a gentle heat, stirring occasionally until it melts. 2 Put the dates in a bowl with the bicarbonate of soda and add 300ml boiling…

“If you’re one of four sisters, there’s constant conflict but underlying is love” Nadiya, 32, lives in Milton Keynes with her husband Abdal, an IT manager, and three children, sons aged ten and nine, and a daughter, six. Writing is the one thing I did before baking, before I had access to a kitchen. I won a national poetry competition when I was seven – with a poem about being in the bath and getting soap in your eyes! From then on, my dad was always buying me pens and paper, saying, “You’ve got to keep writing – because if you write, maybe one day you’ll get to meet the Queen!” My parents didn’t read to me as a child – it just wasn’t something that happened. The emphasis on…

• Perfect day off? We’d have a lazy family morning in bed playing Plants vs. Zombies (our shameful addiction!), then I’d cook Sunday lunch, before watching a nature programme narrated by David Attenborough. Rhashan and I might open a bottle of red wine once the children are in bed. • The skill I wish I had? I’d love to be able to sing. I thought I was quite good until I met my husband – he’s made it very clear that, actually, my singing is unbearable! • Plan B? I’d secretly love to be a quantum physicist – admittedly, I’m not very good at maths or science though. All I can do now is try and force my children to be quantum physicists instead. • Guilty pleasure? I’m a bit…

I cherish moments with family and friends the most You’re currently filming a fourth series of Vikings , how’s it going? I’m having fun on set exploring new ways to show different sides of my character, the shieldmaiden Lagertha. After four years playing the same role, it’s always a challenge to try to discover new aspects of the character that haven’t been exposed yet. But I welcome the challenge. It’s wonderful to be able to portray such a strong, formidable character who still embraces her femininity as a woman. When did you know you wanted to be an actress? During my high school and university years, I trained actors in martial arts on various movie sets. I was mesmerised by the set designs, the costumes, and all…

Star sign of the month AQUARIUS 20 JANUARY – 19 FEBRUARY  Treat the weekend of the 11th as a curtain-raiser on a new chapter of life. Whether you step up the pace of change or events do the job for you, it’s never too late to follow your passion. For weekly updates, call 09058-170551* THE YEAR AHEAD  You can go far in 2017, both in terms of travel and your ambitions. April and September bring unexpected opportunities in a year of steady growth. To hear a detailed breakdown of the year ahead, phone Penny on 09058-170100* PISCES 20 FEBRUARY – 20 MARCH There’s nothing like a solar eclipse in your sign (26th) to get you out of a rut. Don’t take too long to accept an offer –…

BE FIRST TO LOVE... Sosander – a hot new label from a former fashion mag editor and publisher, with easy-to-wear pieces that are feminine and chic. We’re particularly taken with the fab outerwear. Coat, £129, 8-18; jumper, £69, xs-l; jeans, £49, 6-18; trainers, £109, all sosander.com BUY DESIGNER FOR LESS… Who’s got lots to spend after Christmas! The Outnet – our favourite for past season pieces at low prices. Bicester Village – the pop-up store The Bridal Gown launches in Feb. TK Maxx – over 350 stores across the UK and Ireland, with discounts up to 60%. Vente-privee.com – a flash sale site with labels from high end to high street. NEW YEAR, NEW HANDBAG We’re sure you’ll adore Fashionette.co.uk ,…

If there’s one thing we can all do in 2017 it’s be more curious about others, especially given the political changes there have been this year. There’s a natural human tendency to be fearful of difference and we’ve created a culture where people are so fearful of saying the wrong thing that it’s easier to say nothing at all. So have a conversation with someone new. What’s the worst that could happen? IN 2017 I’M GOING TO START… Going to the gym at least 3-4 times a week. I have a photo of Halle Berry on my fridge and in my head I think that with a bit of training I could look like her! BUT I’M GOING TO STOP… Saying “yes” to things all the time. That would help…

DAY 1 I almost put sugar in my tea, but catch myself. It tastes bitter, and porridge is bland, but I make it through the day. DAY 2 I feel tired, but when a birthday cake is passed around the office, I think about the taste of cabbage and decline. DAY 3 I slip up when I eat a chocolate digestive. It tastes too sweet and I don’t enjoy it, so I vow not to give in again. DAY 4 The next time I feel tempted, I imagine myself in the near future, feeling happy. The image gives me a boost and I eat a few almonds instead of a biscuit. DAY 5 I look at labels on ready-meals and notice how many contain sugar. The easiest way to avoid…

MEL The Flood. I’ve always been very impressed by Take That. Even when they were just starting out, they came across as very genuine, nice lads. • Who was your teen band? For me, it was all about Soft Cell, Gary Numan, ABC and Bowie. • Big break moment? I suppose for us, it was Light Lunch – although it was a classic Mel-Sue shambolic, no-strategy manoeuvre. Our agent frogmarched us to the audition and we just messed about. When we got it, I was terrified that we’d tank so badly. • New Year’s resolution? I’ve been surrounded by buff boy band performers for months. Springy, bendy, twangy, twinkles in the eye. My resolution is to get some kind of muscle definition in some part of my body. GRAHAM Back…

“None of my children knew I was having problems as my husband protected them” Ruby Wax has a glittering CV: she has interviewed everyone from the Duchess of York to Donald Trump for her TV series, has written bestselling books, and was the script editor for Absolutely Fabulous . A long-term sufferer of depression and bipolar disorder, in 2010 Ruby took a Masters in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy at Oxford. Her latest book, A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled , is the follow-up to Sane New World , which explained neuroscience and mental illness clearly and wittily. She was awarded an OBE for services to mental health in 2015. Originally from Illinois, Wax arrived in Britain in 1977. She lives in London…

LINDA BASSETT, 67, lives with her husband, journalist Julian Foster, in London and plays midwife Phyllis Crane in the series. The 60s was an extraordinary decade for me – I was ten at the start and 20 by the end. In the 50s and the start of the 60s, children were dressed in smaller versions of adult clothes. I remember wearing a bodice, twinsets and A-line skirts. My mother, her friend, her daughter and I all went to the same hairdresser and had exactly the same style – like the Queen, curled and set. I looked appalling! As a teenager though I had a front row view of the fashion revolution. We lived in Chelsea and my school was on the end of the King’s Road. At the beginning of…

1 Journal writing Buy yourself a book that you can write in and set aside ten minutes a day or one day a week to express your feelings. My night-time ritual is to light a candle, and write a page or two, particularly when I am feeling junked up emotionally. Sometimes the pages are full of my anger or resentment and on others I may be grateful. I find it helps to release these emotions and by the time I finish writing, a solution appears to my problems. I also colour and draw in my journal. Do not correct or censor yourself. The idea is to expose consciously or subconsciously what is holding you back. Try writing questions with your dominant hand and then answering them with your non-dominant hand.…

Any activity is better than no activity! Working out your workout Any activity is better than no activity, but different kinds of exercise have, of course, different benefits and will appeal to different people. WHAT BENEFITS DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE? Aerobic exercises such as cycling, walking, running and playing tennis will benefit cardiovascular and muscle health, help with weight loss, and improve your immune system and stamina. They’re also good mood-boosters, as aerobic exercise releases endorphins, the “happy hormones”. Anaerobic exercise such as weight training will give you stronger muscles, improve joint function, give you a leaner body and decrease the risk of osteoporosis, as well as developing co-ordination and balance. Swimming falls somewhere in the middle of these two as you have to keep moving, and because water…

SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH SMOKED SALMON Heat ½tsp vegetable oil or butter in a small pan, add 2 beaten eggs and 25g chopped smoked salmon and cook until scrambled. RASPBERRY, BLUEBERRY AND MANGO SMOOTHIE BOWL Put 150g 0% fat Greek or Skyr yogurt, 100g fresh or frozen raspberries, 1tbsp oats and 1tsp honey or calorie-free sweetener (optional) in a blender and blitz. Spoon into a bowl and decorate with 30g blueberries, 30g raspberries and 30g fresh mango slices. COCONUT AND APRICOT PORRIDGE Put 60g ready-to-eat dried apricots with 100ml orange juice and 100ml water in a small pan, bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes, transfer to a blender and purée (makes 3 servings). Put 25g oats in a pan with 150ml coconut water, 150ml skimmed milk, 1tsp skimmed…

Great sports bras forÉ TOP TOPS 3 quality hoodies THE BEST SPORTS BAGS TRIED & TESTED LEGGINGS How to keep it chic? Minimise your colour palette HOT TRAINERS A-list adds…

There’s never been a time like now, when we expect so much, so fast. We’re “always on” 25/8, it’s like no one wants to wait – and if something is going to take a while to dry or set, before you can do another thing, chances are we’re going to be even less inclined to do the “essential beauty stuff”. So to help you plan your pampering, here are my favourite fast-track beauty treatments, from salon to home, to help limit your “dwell time” without compromising on style. Grab a seat, I won’t take long! 1-MINUTE TRICKS For you to try yourself at home, any time you’ve got a moment. INSTA-LIFT FACIAL MASSAGE Work Supermood One Minute Facelift, £69 at Space NK, a tightening serum with birch sap, well into…

Make skincare more simple and less aggressive Provence-born Laura Mercier first trained as an artist before switching canvases from painting fabric to faces. Loved by the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts and Madonna, she created her first make-up collection in 1996, aimed at creating a “flawless face”: a look that’s still her trademark. My make-up philosophy has always been about making women look as beautiful as possible while still looking like themselves. Right now I’m loving new textures in make-up. We’re in a period where technology is giving make-up a whole new twist in subtlety: textures that are neither dead matte, nor full-on shiny: somewhere in-between and so refined. When I think back to the craze for shine in the 90s, we had too much. Now we’re getting…

Dementia is a broad umbrella term to describe a range of conditions affecting brain function. There are several different types, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common, affecting around 60% of those with dementia in the UK. Some people have a combination of two or more types of dementia. Alzheimer’s is more common in those over 65, with incidence rising with age, so one in six of those over 80 are affected to some degree. It’s twice as common in women than men and though in many cases there’s no obvious cause, those with a family history may be more at risk. It can occasionally occur in younger people. The cause is thought to be due to the abnormal accumulation in the brain of amyloid and tau proteins, which gradually…

It’s a website that allows parents to share information about every UK school, allowing them to communicate on forums. It also provides information about catchment areas for every state school in the UK, many of them with their academic data and Ofsted/ISI reports. The website offers access to free SATs exam papers with accompanying video tutorials. Parents can also choose to pay to access past 11 Plus, GCSE papers and downloadable online tutorials, which cost £4.99 for an annual subscription. It recruits tutors, helping parents find the right tutor for their child. Tutors are listed for free with no commission. There is a buy and sell section that allows parents to sell old, outgrown and no longer needed school items. See schoolreviewer.co.uk…

SCHEDULE FUN Balanced helps you prioritise what you love to do instead of what you have to do. Choose your treats, such as “see a friend” or “book a massage”, set how often you’d (ideally) like to do it, such as twice a week to once a month. The aim is to help you be more aware of when, and how often, you’re doing the things that bring joy into your life. Free on iOS and Android SHED POUNDS Lose It! tells you how many calories are in your everyday foods, such as eggs, chicken breasts or even salad dressing, and tracks how many you consume per day. A unique feature is that you can also take photos of your meals, and…

QUIRKY HOMEWARE ‘We turned our passion for interiors into an online business worth millions’ JANE ROCKETT, 47, and Lucy St George, 42, set up rockettstgeorge.co.uk , an online interiors boutique selling unusual and eclectic homewares, wallpaper and furniture. Jane lives in Sussex with her partner and has three children; Lucy lives in London and has two children and a stepson. Jane says… • THE IDEA We met at a party about 15 years ago and just hit it off. I was a PR and Lucy worked in retail, but we both had a passion for interiors. We’d have coffee and pore over interiors magazines, get up early every Sunday and go and rummage at car boot sales and flea markets for unusual, quirky furniture and bric-a-brac, then…

MAKE THIS THE YEAR YOU... ...spend more time with your family. If you don’t have a spare bedroom, then invest in a sofa bed that’s both stylish and comfortable. Buttermere two-seater sofa in Country Linen Zinc, £1,265, willowandhall.co.uk KEEP IT SOFT Ambient lighting is so much more relaxing than a harsh overhead light, so choose a floor lamp like this new tripod style from Ikea. Lauters floor lamp, £30; Jära shade, £7.50, both ikea.co.uk YOU’RE IN THE KNOW... • Marble is a fabulous trend that has been appearing everywhere this season. We love this pretty box and its bargain price. Aria trinket box, £29.50, marksandspencer.com • Peacock colours and finishes are so now. Tap into the look with the Peacock feather frames, from £70 each, wingfielddigby.co.uk Keep warm…

The seventh in his series of novels featuring Coroner Jenny Cooper, A Life to Kill (Pan Macmillan) is out now Your new novel in a nutshell? In Afghanistan, a 19-year-old British soldier goes missing. Another young soldier is killed and several injured during an ill-fated rescue mission. When the grieving relatives don’t get straight answers from the Army, it falls to coroner, Jenny Cooper, to find out the truth. What was the inspiration? I met an old friend who worked in military intelligence and was in charge of justice in Helmand. He introduced me to a recently returned officer who had commanded a platoon of young soldiers. The more I heard about their war, the more I knew I had to write about them. Why choose…

I have my own weird little routine when choosing what to read next. I read the first chapter first, the blurb on the back second – and then if I like it, I’ll read the book. Once I’ve started, even if I’m not enjoying it, I’m one of those people who really doesn’t like giving up. Someone has gone to the effort of writing it – I feel too guilty to reject it, unless I can persuade someone else to read it instead! My all-time favourite is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Picador) I love the way it’s narrated by someone who isn’t even there – Susie Salmon was murdered, and is now watching her family and how they fall apart after her death. I…

I loved the 40s costumes and my input was: “More bling please!” She struggles as a mum, and her two sons break her heart Olivia Williams, 48, leads the cast of The Halcyon , a new eight-part drama set in a five-star hotel at the centre of London society during World War Two. She plays Lady Hamilton, who is left to run the hotel when her husband dies unexpectedly. Olivia lives in London with her husband, actor and playwright Rhashan Stone, and their two children, Esmé, 12, and Roxana, nine. She tells Nathalie Whittle more about the series… If you think The Halcyon paints a picture of the dreary Blitz-ridden London we’re used to hearing about – you’re wrong. Of course, London…

1 TINTERN ABBEY COTTAGE Across from the magnificent Abbey, unsurpassed views. Idyllic Wye Valley Welsh borders. Fully renovated, warm 18C cottage. Sleeps up to 6 in 3 bedrooms. Two smart bathrooms, whirlpool bath, cosy woodburner, CH incl., range cooker, sheltered garden, parking, WiFi. Easy M4/M5, close to castles, racing. Excellent golf, walking, eating. Pet welco me. 5 star. Winner Best Place To Stay. www.monmouthshirecottages.co.uk  01600 860341 2 Yoga & Wellness Holidays Canary Islands Yoga Island Retreats offer exclusive relaxation holidays to pamper your body and mind, de-stress and learn yoga. You will learn how to meditate, treat your body to rejuvenating massages and reset your internal batteries in a boutique spa. Gift vouchers available. www.yogaislandretreats.co.uk  relax@yogaislandretreats.co.uk 0208 1233 163 3 STOP SEARCHING START EXPLORING Pride of Britain Hotels, Britain’s leading luxury…

On returning to The Voice … I’m delighted to be continuing The Voice, and being a voice of direction and guidance for the usual suspects. They asked me if I’d go back while we were doing the BBC show and when it finished, I said, “Is Tom [Jones] doing it?” I told them, “If you bring Tom back, I’ll be cool, I’ll consider that.” On his own music… apl.de.ap [will.i.am’s best friend and Black Eyed Peas bandmate] and I were always “practising” music. From 15 to 22, we’d get together and dance, freestyle, write rap. I knew back then if I kept talking about something every day, then it’s going to be a reality. On his family… I was born and raised in East Los Angeles…