Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2017 i Woman & Home

“ We’ve been friends for so long I can’t remember which one of us is the bad influence ” It certainly is for me and, although have a wide circle of friends, there are only five who I’d call my close girlfriends. Yes, they occasionally drive me mad (as I’m sure I do them) but that’s probably because we’re such kindred spirits. They know when my life is frantic and all I want them to do is listen and agree with me while I unwind. We’re never lost for conversation – we laugh, we occasionally cry and I couldn’t be without them. That’s why throughout this issue women discuss why friendship is central to their lives. Isn’t it often the case that we have friends for different reasons?…

“Damian is my best friend. I love him to bits and I respect his opinion” Helen McCrory enters the w&h studio in a head-turning outfit of top-to-toe tartan. It’s a sartorial homage to her Glaswegian father who’s staying with her, a mix of “Vivienne Westwood and Topshop; punk-rock Scottish.” She’s been up since 6am managing the kids and walking the dog, but you’d never guess. A veritable ball of energy, Helen can’t wait to see the clothes rail as, she explains, “I have three premieres coming up and might find something for the red carpet.” This is an actress in demand. We’re here to talk about Fearless , the new ITV six-part political thriller written by Homeland writer and executive producer Patrick Harbinson in which Helen plays the lead, Emma…

Here comes the sun… Lighten up in weightless frames or go for gold with warming tones of toffee, cream and honey…

Clever cocoon • Ideal for concealing a rounder middle, as the loose shape will glide over your tum. It’s the go-to cover-up for occasion dressing. On-trend trench • Perfect for day or night, you can cinch in that waist to emphasise your hourglass figure. Choose a lighter fabric that moves with your curves. Practical parka • Luxe up your daywear with a brightly coloured parka. Longer styles in a finer fabric will suit curvier hips, while petites should opt for shorter finishes.…

IDENTIFY THE GAPS Don’t attempt to “fill the loneliness gaps” until you’re certain where they are. You may have an active social life yet feel painfully alone – so squeezing in more activities isn’t the answer. When do you feel most lonely? At work, where you somehow don’t fit in? Coming home to an empty house? What social contact do you have and what are you missing? While being married tends to buffer loneliness for men (who are more likely to confide in their partners), this isn’t the case for women (who tend to confide in friends). Perhaps you spend so much time with your family that close friendships have been allowed to drift. Understand what’s lacking before making changes. GO LOCAL When turning acquaintances into friends, try to “go…

• Being an ancient does mean you have to be well groomed. I don’t mean perpetual vampish lips and nails. Clean and tidy is my watchword. Wildly unkempt is sexy when you are young. Looks forgetful when you can remember The Everly Brothers. • Small handbags are useless. At this stage my face and hair require constant running repairs, so my handbag needs to contain the largest beauty bag possible. Preferably, for speed, it should be transparent. • Eyelash curlers are an essential. I never used them in my youth but Shu Uemura ones seem to “open” your eyes. At this stage, a good look. • I’m never going to go grey. I am not a natural blonde but my highlights are now part of what I think of as…

We are so excited to be supporting Alzheimer’s Society’s Cupcake Day for the second year running on 15 June. It’s a day to unite against dementia with the small but mighty cupcake, aiming to raise funds to support all those affected by dementia and for vital research into finding a cure. 850,000 people in the UK have dementia and this is set to rise to over 1 million by 2025. Taking part in Cupcake Day is a fun way to support the work of the UK’s leading dementia charity and, with your help, this year we’re hoping to raise £750,000. Taking part is easy! You can host a Cupcake Day anywhere you like – whether you take them to work for your colleagues, organise a sale at your local school…

Pick one power feature You know the fashion rule about legs and cleavage but never both? Same goes for lips and eyes. Make one pop, keep the other minimal. Now, which to pick? • Lipstick: Faster than a smoky eye, rose lipstick works for day-to-night, being pretty but not self-consciously “statement”. For a modern matte finish with staying power, try a new liquid lipstick. Go a few shades punchier than your natural lips, swipe straight from the tube and fence in for the day with Max Factor Universal Lip Liner, £4.99. Try Buxom Wildly Whipped Lightweight Liquid Lipstick in Wandress, £15, or sell-out Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in WSM, £15.50. • Soft smoky eyes: Takes a bit more skill, but you can eat, drink and chat without smear paranoia.…

Definitely no OTT sparkly highlighter or iridescent shimmer here, thank you, just the latest trend in “last stage”, selfie-ready, skincare make-up tech, each guaranteed to smooth away a few telltale signs of ageing. Under, on top, or “instead of” make-up – flawless never got so easy, says Jo GB. THE BODY BLUR For darker skins, Vita Liberata Body Blur in Mocha, £29.95, with its reddish tinge, creates a flawless healthy glow when buffed onto arms, legs and collarbone. THE TREATMENT PRIMER Estée Lauder Double Wear 3 Minute Priming Moisture Mask, £8 each, or £52 for 8 , an oil-free primer-in-mask with algae and cucumber that calms, soothes and smooths in one, helping to boost radiance and make make-up look so much better. Great for a date night. THE…

TOE THE LINE... “I don’t often gel my nails but I always have a gel polish on my toes – I feel complete. I always remove dry skin with a foot file once a week before a bath and apply a thick moisturiser before bed every night.” Jenni Draper COLOUR OF THE MOMENT Lilac fresh – a pretty, on-trend neutral that suits all skin tones 1 Orly Gel FX in As Seen On TV, £12.95 2 Nails Inc Cambridge Grove, £11 3 OPI Fiji Nail Colour in Polly Want a Lacquer, £12.50 4 Margaret Dabbs Treatment-Enriched Nail Polish in Lilac, £14 FREE, GREEN AND VEGAN Irritation around the eyes and lips is common but rarely put down to the potentially toxic ingredients found in standard polishes, but if you…

Saying lips are “on trend” is a bit like claiming The Beatles are back, wrongly implying some historic blip in popularity. You might have a vast lipstick collection in various stages of stubbiness or one tinted balm rolling around the bottom of your bag, but just about everyone uses a lip product. And as Mintel estimated, we spent £306 million on them last year, up 7.5% from 2015, this isn’t likely to change. What is new is new products, a ton of them. Nearly every major brand is launching huge lip ranges, averaging 30+ shades in myriad textures and some excellent new formulations. Liner – long-time friend of feathered or thinning lips – is also having a moment, with sales at Superdrug up 30% year on year. Most excitingly, proper…

A CALIFORNIAN ROAD TRIP If there’s one holiday most likely to trigger Hollywood daydreams (in HD of course) it’s a road trip. Bikers, beat poets, and lovers on the run have covered endless miles of empty US highways in pursuit of the open road. California is about the size of Britain, so it can be daunting working out a route. I started in Los Angeles because it was our honeymoon and I was desperate to stay in Chateau Marmont (seen most recently in La La Land ). As we also wanted to include Yosemite in our two-week adventure and drive south down the Big Sur (the best direction to do it so you’re on the right side of the road for the views), we caught an internal flight to San…

David Rogers, who has over 20 years’ experience, is currently involved in large research trials relating to back pain and is based at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham and stpaulsphysio.co.uk . Whether it’s an agonising short, sharp shock or a dull, nagging discomfort, most of us have suffered the misery of back pain at some point. Our natural response is to reach for painkillers but latest research – including one study that examined 35 trials involving more than 6,000 people – has concluded that, for most of us, these won’t work. Instead the way to a pain-free and strong back is old-fashioned stretches and exercises. Sounds counter-intuitive when you are in agony? David Rogers says there are rare cases where lower back pain can be a…

Got a medical problem or need health advice? Ask GP Dr Rosemary Leonard THIS MONTH… • UNDERACTIVE THYROID • EXERCISE RISKS • ROSACEA NEW: hope for eczema sufferers Atopic dermatitis, often referred to as eczema, affects up to 10% of adults and 30% of children, with 20% of these severely affected, suffering severe dryness, inflammation and itchy skin. Moisturisers combined with steroids reduce inflammation, but long-term use of steroid creams can lead to noticeable thinning of the skin. Now a new treatment, dupilumab, is on the horizon. It works on specific cell receptors and in trials it significantly reduced inflammation and itching within a couple of weeks. It is given once or twice-weekly as an injection, which can be self-administered by either the patient or their carer. It will hopefully be available…

With so many adult children still living at home in their thirties or paying high rents, which leave little scope for saving for the kind of hefty deposit required to buy, it’s no wonder the bank of mum and dad is increasingly seen as the only way to get them on the property ladder. So how to do it without leaving yourself low on savings or retirement funds? 1 Take advantage of government cash The new Lifetime ISA (LISA), available from all major banks and building societies, is a great start. Available only for those under 40, these new tax-free savings schemes enable you to save up to £4,000 a year (you can help your children by gifting them the cash). The Government then provides a 25% bonus – or…

1 If you’re the bride, write wedding thank you notes as soon as you get the presents, to avoid a huge task later. 2 Put together an emergency bag for mothers, brides, bridesmaids etc to share – lipstick, deodorant, face wipes, Rescue Remedy, tissues, perfume, eyeliner, hairspray and dry shampoo, mints, safety pins, sewing kit, list of phone numbers for suppliers, eye drops, paracetamol. Put a trustworthy guest in charge of it and make sure it’s handy. 3 Don’t assume everyone just “knows” what to do. Write down what’s expected of the main players and give them a cue card. 4 Over-estimate things like Champagne, chairs and wedding favours. Give yourselves room for manoeuvre. 5 Don’t underestimate how long it takes to get to places – build in an extra…

IN SEASON We’re excited about the arrival of home-grown asparagus! With such a short season, we eat it at home at least three times a week. I prefer it steamed, served with a knob of butter, sea salt and a spritz of lemon juice to bring out its flavour. Though you could chargrill or roast it too, and it’s delicious in a risotto. • Our other gorge-fest is for the new season’s Jersey Royals. Again, don’t gild the lily. They do have a more intense flavour if you can find them still in the soil rather than pre-washed and it doesn’t take much effort to give them a light scrub. Steam until tender then serve with butter or your best olive oil and a sprinkling of sea salt. Try our…

FLOWER POWER Florals are set to be huge this season – this classic armchair in soft grey, beige and white makes just the right style statement. Maison Isabelle chair in Ashley Rose Sage, £1,088, parkerknoll.co.uk GO GREEN The colour du jour is a vibrant grass green that’s really fresh and perfect for spring. Palms cushion and Leaves (abstract) cushion, £25 each, artrookie.co.uk  Caracas merino blanket, £59, urbanara.co.uk SWITCH ON Love these pendant lamp shades with tassel trim – their African vibe taps into the global trend. Kauai lantern, £78, oka.com PLATE UP Fancy some new tableware? These two new designs will style up your dining table. You can mix and match too. Perdita (spotty) and Rohani, £10 each for a dinner plate; £8 for a side plate,…

“The garden flows seamlessly from the kitchen, with zoned areas for work, rest and play” After working in advertising, Jane left her job to start a family then, when her son began school, she set up a small garden maintenance business with a friend. Clients began to ask for design advice so Jane headed back to university and took a garden design degree at Hadlow College and the University of Greenwich, graduating in 2007. She has been running her own design consultancy, Mulberry Garden Design, ever since. Here, Jane shares her gardening advice… The garden has become an extension of our house, often described as an “extra room”. We now want our gardens to perform many functions, for example extra seating areas, cooking spaces, children’s play areas, vegetable patches. And…

The Escape by CL Taylor (Avon) A stranger’s threat to her family is the start of one woman’s nightmare. A terrific page-turner. The Stopped Heart by Julie Myerson (Vintage) Past and present blend in this addictive, heart-stopping tale. Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty (Penguin) What happened at the barbecue? Character-led and deliciously twisty. Peggy & Me by Miranda Hart (Hodder) The adventures of one very funny woman and her dog. The Museum of You by Carys Bray (Windmill) How a bereaved 12-year-old comes to terms with her grief. Bewitching and tender. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena (Transworld) A child is missing – are the parents to blame? A tense, unsettling read. Before the Fall…

Costa Brava Knitting May Bank Holiday Knitting/ Spa Retreat Enjoy daily knitting workshops, nightly knit-alongs and sightseeing excursions. Pamper y ourself at the hotel’s Ay urvedic spa. Make new friends, and knit as much or as little as y ou like. www.costabravaknitting.com email: costabravaknitting@gmail.com STOP SEARCHING START EXPLORING  Pride of Britain Hotels, Britain’s leading luxury & boutique hotel collection, have selected and approved 50 of the best independently owned hotels and spas around Britain for y ou to enjoy . To order gift vouchers or y our free hotel directory call Freephone 0808 163 3765 or visit www.prideofbritainhotels.com Dart Valley Cottages South Devon A super collection of holiday homes from cosy cottages for 2 to family houses for 10. Lovely beaches and countryside, Dartmouth and Dittisham 2017 brochure available…

• EXPERIENCES • TOURS • HOLIDAYS The new w&h travel service with bespoke holidays and unique experiences chosen for you THE NORTHERN LIGHTS See nature’s phenomenal light show on this once-in-a-lifetime cruise of Norway with Springwatch’s Michaela Strachan MAGIC OF MYANMAR Take our 12-day luxury tour of this enchanting country with 10 exclusive experiences included for a journey you’ll never forget SUNSHINE SPA Relax, unwind and recharge on a five-star wellness break personalised for you in Portugal’s Algarve…

Last time I took public transport? All the time! I don’t drive – it doesn’t bother me as I’m happy to take public transport. If I’m just sitting there with no make-up, curly hair, jeans and a T-shirt, you can see people doing triple takes wondering if they recognise me. It can take a while. Why I keep my hair short? I like it like that and it’s naturally curly, but I wear wigs for many of my parts, including Emma in Fearless . Ever been arrested? No – but almost. I was Interrailing around Europe and woke up in Innsbruck with “Das is verboten!” being shouted at me for sleeping in a park. But no one could be bothered to fill out the forms in the police station. Best…

JEAN QUEEN Matalan are looking hot in the denim stakes – culottes, embroidered, panelled and distressed – they’ve got all the trends covered from just £16. NOT DISCOVERED LINDEX YET? Our fashion team has loved everything we’ve seen this season, from embroidered bombers to sports luxe sweaters. Jacket, £59.99, xs-l; shirt, £29.99, s-l; trousers, £29.99, 8-22, all lindex.com THE ALL-ROUNDER Whatever the occasion, Finery have you covered. We love their simple shapes in quality fabrics with a twist; be it a ruffle or asymmetric hem, they make high street look high-end. Top, £75; culottes, £59, both 6-18. BAGS OF STYLE Accessorize have a range of Saffiano camera bags for just £15! Charles & Keith’s lattice duffle (£59) can easily pass for designer, and for buttery soft leather in…

Dr Rebecca Nowland, psychologist and lecturer at the University of Bolton, has spent years researching loneliness, and points to numerous reasons for the rise – from divorce rates and the number of people living alone, to our highly mobile population, which can isolate us from communities, and our increasingly automated society with less human interaction in day-to-day activities. Life transitions can be key triggers, such as divorce, retirement, starting university or having a baby. Dr Rowland explains, “If you’re a new mum, you may be socially isolated – you don’t have the freedom to engage with your old life. At the same time, you’re joining a new group where you may not feel truly connected to anyone.” Similarly, although university may be full-on, frantic fun, it does not always provide…

‘The Fringe is the biggest platform on earth for freedom of expression’ EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE ‘Art gives you a different perspective on life’ SHONA McCARTHY, 49, is chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the organisation that underpins the world’s largest arts festival, which is 70 this year. The festival has launched the careers of many household names, including Rowan Atkinson and Jo Brand. Shona splits her time between Edinburgh and Ballycastle in Northern Ireland, where she lives with her partner, Bobby, and teenage daughters, Toraigh and Dara. I’ve been in charge of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society for a year now, and it’s a huge honour. People talk about the scale of the festival – more than 50,000 performances over 25 days – but what makes it so…

“We fell in love during a student production of Fiddler on the Roof – our first kiss was on the last night of the show” “Our real life second chance story” CATHY UNDERWOOD, 50, tells how she reconnected with first love Andrew Dolittle, 53, after 30 years apart, and the couple are now engaged to marry this year. Cathy, a yoga and dance therapist, has two sons, and runs yoga4mums.com Andrew and I are in a rare position. We may be getting married in midlife, but we first met and fell in love in our teens. Finding each other after years apart, and then falling back in love, has been like something out of a novel. We first met when…

MAGGIE lives in London with her music producer husband. In 2001, she was awarded an OBE for her services to education in the UK. I’ve had a fairly eclectic career, but everything I’ve done has a common thread: I don’t sign up to anything I’m not passionate about and don’t believe in. I’ve always done more than just my day job and I don’t necessarily do things for payment. I do things for the good, and everything I do is about improving society and people. Along the way, I’ve always tried to help people, particularly women. And women in particular have been very helpful back to me. My father was born in British Guiana, which was part of the British Empire in South America. One good thing to come from…

• Autism is a spectrum condition, meaning all autistic people are affected differently. However, girls seem to be better than boys at masking autistic traits and find it easier to copy their neurotypical peers. • Autistic women and girls will often seem younger than their neurotypical peers and are generally less disruptive than boys with autism. Often they have special interests. They may not be very different in nature to other girls’ interests but will pursue them much more intensely. • Facial expressions may be slightly off, but autistic women tend to have better eye contact than autistic men and boys. Another marked characteristic is a tendency to have a strong sense of social justice.…

Don’t know what to wear? You do now. Here’s our edit of EVERYTHING you need to know. You’ll be the best dressed without even trying... MAKE THEM MATCH Shoes, bag, belt, watch? Don’t hold back! ADD A PRINTED SCARF... just tie it your way EVERY LAYER COUNTS... so don’t forget your cover-up FLORAL? No really, you can. Wear it every which way GO OVERBOARD with embellishment – a sprinkle is never enough! TRY A JEWELLED HEADBAND instead of a hat Simple dress? Add WOW FACTOR HEELS STEAL THE SHOW with dazzling jewellery…

In the bag The little lifesavers you’ll be thankful for ✣ STICKY HEELZ Will give you that extra grip so your shoes don’t slide off. £6.99, Boots ✣ FOLD-UP SLIPPERS Change into these when those high heels start to hurt. From £25.99, Zara ✣ ADHESIVE BRA Total support for even the most revealing outfit. £49.95, A-C, Magic BodyFashion at Harrods ✣ RACER-BACK CLIPS Hide those straps. £4, for a pack of 3, Next ✣ LOWER BACK CONVERTER Yes you can go backless. £65, Boux Avenue ✣ SILICONE GEL PETALS Keep everything covered. £12, Fashion Forms at Net-a-Porter Super sets…

Shimmer, sheen, lustre and tan: the texture of your skin is the key to a more radiant-looking you. So whatever your skin tone, here are the best ways to get healthy-looking skin that makes you feel more confident, sexy and desirable than ever. SUPER-FAST FORMULAS that deposit colour in no time so you can “dress and go”. •BODY   “For a lightning fast tan there are now express options with instant results,” says top tanner James Harknett, Fake Bake Global Creative Consultant. One of the speediest is Fake Bake 5 Minute Mousse Self Tan, £21.95. Ideal for “tanners on the go” and last-minute invitations, this non-transferable foam dries in a flash, leaving a rich golden tan. “Smooth over the skin in sections and don’t ‘over disperse’ the mousse,” warns…

UPDATE YOUR DENIM DENE MOORE, 51, lives in London. She loves wearing jeans, but would like a smarter look for weekends. • A crisp white shirt instantly smartens up denim without trying too hard. • A soft three-quarter-length jacket gives just the right amount of coverage and a belted version lets you cinch it in at the waist. • Pull it all together with metallic details – keep them all in the same tone. If you’re a jeans girl, you’ll love… LET LOOSE IN STRIPES NANCY NJAGI, 54, is a mental health nurse and lives in Watford. Being in uniform all day, she loves to embrace off-duty fashion. • A one-piece that you can dress up or down is the ultimate in easy chic. • Layer a sleeveless blazer…

EATING TO AGE WELL Your breakfast, lunch and dinner should all include foods that will: • Support MUSCLE TONE • Enhance and de-age THE CONDITION OF YOUR SKIN • Boost YOUR METABOLISM Foods to support MUSCLE TONE • Dairy products are an excellent source of protein, essential for supporting muscle tissue: a study in the Journal of Applied Physiology discovered eating 20g of protein multiple times a day decreased participants’ body fat and increased muscle mass, with or without exercise. The calcium found in dairy also helps muscle health, as calcium is vital to muscle contractions. • Omega-3 foods such as salmon, sardines and walnuts help with exercise recovery, aid in protein synthesis (which has a positive knock-on effect to your muscles) and help to fight inflammation. • Veggies…

Touch your toes: TO TEST ARTERY HEALTH “Flexible” or “supple” arteries allow blood to flow freely through the body, whereas “stiff” arteries need the heart to work much harder to push the blood along them. Arterial stiffness can lead to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. TAKE THE TEST University of North Texas researchers say that a simple “sit and reach” test could indicate artery flexibility in people over 40. Sit on the floor, legs outstretched in front of you, then lean forward and try to touch your toes. TEST RESULTS If you can’t reach your toes, you may be at increased risk of arterial stiffness, so get your blood pressure checked. Also try stretching exercises like yoga and Pilates. They may help make your arteries – as well as…

Kerry Wilkinson, 46, a nurse, lives near Birmingham. “I thought my back pain may have been my job – the lifting and supporting. I’d also had surgery on varicose veins – and the pains began afterwards at the base of my back. At times it was agony – I couldn’t lie flat, so I started sleeping on a recliner settee. I’d cry in the night with the pain. It went on and on and I had to start missing work. At first, my GP thought it was brought on by the operation, then I was diagnosed with sciatica, then a slipped disc. For the next five years, I was prescribed high levels of painkillers, given MRI scans and two operations – for a slipped disc and then a decompression to…

‘After I careered into a door frame and split my lip,I changed my doctor’ Erin, 40, is married with two daughters. Her novel The Poison Tree was a Richard and Judy pick and made into an ITV drama, and her fifth novel, He Said/She Said , is out later this month. I was expecting my second baby when I began to experience episodes of extreme dizziness. I’d be standing completely still and would suddenly feel like I was on the waltzer at a fairground, a horrible feeling that would culminate in about six hours of vomiting. My GP put it down to pregnancy and then later postnatal exhaustion, even though I mentioned it was something I’d briefly experienced in my twenties. It…

• Exclusive: save £25 on your first month • Lose weight from £5.32 a day Woman&home Diet by Jane Plan is the diet delivery service that gives you perfectly proportioned meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner – plus snacks – all ready-prepared to make losing weight super easy. We know that having a larger tummy is one of your biggest body bugbears, so we asked Jane Michell, the founder of Jane Plan, to devise a special Flatter Tummy Box especially for you, at a great money-off price. HOW TO SIGN UP • Go to janeplan.com, click on Flatter Tummy Box on the home page and select your plan. • Choose the duration of your plan (minimum one month); remember the four-month plan equals the greatest weight loss and offers the…

WHAT’S IN YOUR FOUNDATION WARDROBE? Get smoothly through summer and beyond! THE LITTLE & OFTEN DIET Eat six meals a day and still lose weight! GARDENS SPECIAL Inspiring ideas for your outdoor room W&H BONUS A BETTER BODY NOW Face, eyes, neck, breasts & more The tweakments, lasers & home gadgets that really work! JUNE ISSUE ON SALE 4 MAY…

‘A chance meeting with a Costa Rican medicine man led to a natural skincare range now stocked in Waitrose’ THE SKINCARE GURU CATKIN BODMER, 53, is married with three children and lives in West Sussex. She is the founder of BRYT Skincare. THE IDEA I’ve always been interested in plants and beauty. I was working as a marketing executive and, as a fluent French speaker, was asked to translate some product leaflets for a beauty company. I had to look up a lot of complex botanical definitions, which I found fascinating. This coincided with the trip of a lifetime with my husband to Costa Rica. At one of the villages I visited, I talked at length to a medicine man through an interpreter. I found it inspiring. He used naturally…

PERIOD MYSTERY A Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys (Doubleday) It’s 1939 and Lily is en route to Australia for a new start as a chambermaid. But she and her new shipmates all harbour secrets beneath the glamour and fun. A well- plotted, absorbing read with a whiff of Agatha Christie. DIZZYING THRILLER Based on a True Story by Delphine de Vigan (Bloomsbury) A new friendship turns nightmare as L begins to take over Delphine’s life. Already a bestseller in France, this extraordinary story of a toxic relationship is mesmerising as fact and fiction blur. MESMERISING READ The Valentine House by Emma Henderson (Sceptre) A mystery lies at the heart of the Valentine family: one that will take Mathilde, a maid at their house in the French Alps, decades to solve.…

If Only It Had Sleeves The underdress sleeves can be worn under sleeveless dresses and tops without compromising the style. Available in over 40 colours, 3 sleeve lengths, 7 different fabrics and numerous designs. www.camiconfidential.com Contact 0161 427 1881 for a free brochure FLOPZ Beautifully colourful flip flops with a unique massaging sensation. These colourful and comfortable flip flops will revolutionise your holiday footwear. Find them online at www.flopz.com £30 Comfy Clogs Are handmade in Sweden and available in a range of the latest fun and funky styles and colours. Sizes for women and children. Perfect and practical for pregnant women and useful in the house and garden! Real skin Clogs available in a variety of styles. Call Cecilia on 07815 750340 or 020 8780 9767 Visit them at www.comfyclogs.net…

FROM OUR COVER SHOOT Helen McCrory reveals the five things she’d tell her younger self. Watch it now at womanandhome.com/helenmccrory COURGETTES ARE BACK IN TOWN! Try one of our favourite recipes – courgette fritters for a light lunch or perfect with grilled lamb chops for a simple supper. See how now at womanandhome.com/fritters WE LOVE CHOCOLATE If you’re in our camp, learn to master the art of the chocolate fondant with our neat little video at womanandhome.com/fondant AND RELAX… with our stress-busting smoothie with superfood ingredients – takes seconds to blitz in a NutriBullet. Check it out at womanandhome.com/smoothie 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…

We’re all too busy focusing on the future This year I will be 48 years old. Frankly it’s hard to know where the years have gone – decades, like the 90s, have passed in a blur. What a waste! In some ways the sense that I am now more than halfway through my life is gutting. It’s quite strange how age creeps up on you. One day you’re wearing a floaty Missoni dress looking fashionable and cool. The next you put it on and you look like you’ve been let out of the asylum for the day because you’re wandering around in your nightie! Specs have become a way of life and you finally realise that nothing in a jar is going to reverse the wrinkles. Overnight little mounds of…

MAKE IT MODERN • Less is more… even a minimal dress can make a massive impact. • Keep it modern with a monochrome finish and an elegant below-the-knee cut. • A sporty rucksack will tick the on-trend box and show you know exactly what you’re doing. PLEATS PLEASE • Reinvent a pleated maxi skirt by choosing a bold block colour. • A striped waistband gives it an instant update… just tuck in your top, sling on a bomber and add silver slides. TIE THE KNOT • What gives your pencil skirt that up-to-the-minute spin? A drawstring waist and tapered trim. • Side pockets are always flattering… add a textured top and oversized sunnies that are guaranteed to get you noticed. BLOCK PARTY • When one colour simply isn’t enough, go…

“Glo and I don’t always agree on everything, but we’re able to laugh about it together” “Underneath Angela’s efficiency, there’s a wonderful empathy” Angela Rippon & Gloria Hunniford ANGELA RIPPON, 72, is lives in London. She presents BBC One’s consumer show, Rip Off Britain , with Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville. When you meet someone, you either immediately know you’re going to get on or you know you wouldn’t care if you never saw them again – with Glo, it was the former . We first met in a corridor at the BBC’s headquarters where we both worked at the time, and I remember thinking how funny she was. In fact, she was about to go on a skiing holiday and she made…

Hannah, now 23, who started at Royal Holloway university in 2012, describes how she felt: “I was surrounded by a new community of strangers, acquaintances and potential ‘friends’, but I still felt apart and empty. I wasn’t worried about starting university – that’s why I was so shocked by the loneliness that hit when I got there.” Her enthusiasm for her psychology degree faded so although she went out drinking like all students she says, “I didn’t feel passionate about anything or connected to anyone. It was a horrible, dark time.” Little by little, Hannah forced herself to find a community by throwing herself into things she’d never dreamed of trying before, like the radio station and cheerleading try-outs. “The more I felt part of something, the more the old…

“Wildly unkempt is sexy when you are young. Looks forgetful when you can remember The Everly Brothers” What can I tell you? I have a Freedom Pass. Although I never, ever feel my age. There are many days I feel 27. Very dangerous! Carefully harvested money, saved to pay for my old age, my funeral, or annual ovarian ultrasounds, sadly not available on the NHS (my mother died of ovarian cancer), or raised flowerbeds in the garden – they’ve already been raised once – or the rare gigolo if I am widowed, can be squandered in a twinkling. On new clothes, ridiculously plunging bras or ultra-trendy restaurants with only high tables where someone with a better back than mine can perch for hours on minimalistic stools…

Anna is a 40-year-old teacher from Surrey who is married with three children. Jake was my first proper love. We met when I was 14 and had a glorious summer. Afterwards, he went back to boarding school but we wrote sporadically. The following New Year’s Eve, a friend and I met up with him and his mates in London. Hard to bear was him greeting me that night with the words: “You’re not as pretty as I remember.” We’d meet sporadically at discos and he always seemed to charm me. We then went off to university and didn’t meet again until I was invited to his 30th birthday. I had just got engaged, but was aware of the old attraction clicking in. I couldn’t stay long at the pub for…

• DISCOVER YOUR PASSIONS If you are stuck in a rut and aren’t sure what you like or want to do, think about what makes you happy. When you talk about a hobby, plan or dream, what makes you smile and your eyes light up? Find what really motivates you: remind yourself that money is only one aspect of life. Look for volunteering opportunities where you can use your passions and hidden talents for the good of your community. • BRANCH OUT Everyone has transferable skills; it’s just a question of identifying them and matching them to opportunities. So if you love bringing neighbours together to work on a community issue, consider volunteering to chair a local council or board. Draw a mind map with you at the centre and…

Try a new take on the twinset An elegant coat will get everyone talking…

Ultimo Even your undies don’t need to break the bank to look expensive. Ultimo have launched a bridal lingerie collection that will guarantee you feel sexy and confident from the inside out. From £20 Ted Baker ...have launched their new Tie The Knot collection of beautiful bridalwear, available to try on with your own one-to-one appointment. From £799, 6-16 PHASE EIGHT For a timeless gown that looks effortlessly elegant, check out their 12-piece collection. From £275, 6-18 JOHN LEWIS For the time-saving bride that wants to bag everything without hitting the high street, johnlewis.com  is your one-stop shop. JD WILLIAMS Want a more flattering finish? For a stretch gown with ultimate embellishment, pick a piece from JD Williams. From £50, 10-32 WHISTLES Whether you want a…

The trend for nails all summer long is much less about colour . (extremes from nude to lilac purple reign supreme, with a dash of coral red) and more about a glossy, gleaming, glimmering texture – which means everything on show is under scrutiny... here’s how to care at home. NO MORE HANG NAILS DO Soften skin with a cuticle balm. TRY Butter LONDON Quickfix Moisturizing Cuticle Balm, £15, a gel-cream with the buff-ability of a rubbery massage head to work it right in. NEATER EDGES DO Push back with a cuticle remover. TRY Soigné Botanique Emollient Pour Cuticules, £15, a fast-acting formula to gently loosen and remove excess skin in just two minutes. GET HEALTHY DO Cut back on over-wearing gel manicures. TRY OPI Gel Break, £25, a three-step…

You know that cliché about the doctor at a dinner party, happily tucking into Ottolenghi’s six-hour lamb only to be presented with two mystery rashes on the side? Most of us have taken advantage of “out of hours” advice from time to time, and it’s safe to say hairdressers are hot property for social cornering too. What would you ask if you had the country’s top hair talent at your disposal? Read on to discover the ultimate A-List solutions for amazing colour, volume, smoothness and strength. THE SUPERSTAR STYLER Hairstylist Errol Douglas MBE Q How can I get natural- looking waves? “Wash your hair before bed, roughly towel-dry and pull into a loose single or double plait. When you wake up, clamp down over the plait with straighteners on a…

“Details like pin-tucking, embroidery and ruffles up the luxe factor on this cotton top” DENIM DREAM Team relaxed light denim with a cream cotton top for a classic combo. Of-the-moment panelled jeans keep the look fresh – showcase those frayed hems with pom-pom sandals. GO GRAPHIC Who said you can’t wear shorter skirts over 30? Not us! Keep it classy with a looser top. A block midi-heel gives you those all-important extra few inches. SHORT STORY Make your holiday shorts city smart with a matching top. Neutral accessories pull it all together. A chic cover-up takes your outfit into cooler summer nights. FLORAL FANCY Off-the-shoulder tops are still going strong – wear with utilitarian khaki pants to stop the look going too girly. Add the fun factor with a tassel…

WE ALL LOVE A GLASS OF FIZZ and where better to enjoy it than in the Champagne region of France? This autumn, we’re hosting the first ever Festival of Champagne for woman&home readers, starring presenter and wine critic Oz Clarke. During this unique w&h trip you’ll enjoy: a private tasting tutorial with Oz; a magnificent dinner held in the vaulted crypt of the medieval Palais du Tau, where wines and Champagnes will be personally selected by Oz; the first ever w&h Champagne Festival, where you will taste more than 30 wines and Champagnes; and a behind-the-scenes tour of one of Champagne’s top vineyards, where you can buy discounted Champagnes and wines. This holiday is a fantastic chance to raise a glass in style… w&h experience: what’s included A dinner in…

Our meal ideas here tick all your nutrition boxes and you should lose a steady 2lb a week at least, depending on your starting weight and exercise levels. Once you get the hang of the ingredient mix you can start coming up with your own combinations. Caffeine is okay in moderation; limit alcohol to 4-5 drinks (units) a week. You’re also allowed two snacks a day: 1tbsp houmous with a few carrot batons; piece of fruit; 6-7 Brazil nuts; 2 rye crispbread with cottage cheese and sliced apple; yogurt with 1 sliced banana; handful of toasted seeds. Breakfasts • Oat and honey smoothie: 1tbsp oats, 1tsp honey, 1tbsp yogurt, 1tsp sunflower seeds, ½ banana • Ruby breakfast shake: grapefruit, strawberry, watermelon, banana, a little low-fat yogurt and honey • Overnight…

BETTY BOSSI VEGETABLE SPIRALIZER Simply wind the easy-turn handle (suitable for left and right-handed users) to produce ribbons or spirals. There’s no mess, either, as everything spirals into the large container. £34.99, lakeland.co.uk VITAMIX PERSONAL BLENDER & MUG We love the neat size of this powerful 10-speed blender – the 600ml cup is perfect for smoothies and doubles as a travel cup. The larger 1.2 litre jug is ideal for soups. £299.95, johnlewis.com JOSEPH JOSEPH NEST STEAM SET This “in pan” steaming pod set lets you steam a range of foods at the same time. The pods are stackable, so space-saving too. £15, josephjoseph.com KILNER SALAD ON THE GO JAR Perfect for lunchbox layered salads and crudités, this has an inner pot to keep a dressing or dip separate from…

• Ménière’s is a long-term progressive condition, affecting balance and hearing, thought to be caused by a build-up of fluids causing pressure on the inner ear. • Attacks have a trio of symptoms: spinning dizziness (vertigo), noises in the ear (tinnitus) and hearing loss in the affected ear. The symptoms experienced can change over time. • It tends to appear in midlife and affects women slightly more than men. • Triggers vary but can include caffeine, alcohol and fatty food, and also flying. • The cause is unknown but it could be hereditary. • Medication can be taken as a preventative measure, as well as to combat attacks. • In extreme cases, surgery is available to combat vertigo but at the risk of total hearing loss. For more information, visit…

Female support is so important at work – and building your own network can help you achieve your goals. Your first step should be signing up to the everywomanNetwork, aimed at working women. Their videos, workbooks, webinars (seminars conducted over the internet) and articles are invaluable. Best of all, you can test it for FREE for a month at everywoman.com/womanandhome Editorial Director FREE 1st MONTH’S TRIAL SIGN UP NOW! ‘Your support group can help you get your dream job’ Melanie Eusebe is executive producer of the Women of the World Festival at the Southbank Centre, London, and chair of the Black British Business Awards. She previously worked as a management consultant at IBM and Ernst & Young. To get the most out of networking you need to consider what your…

ABOUT OUR EXPERT Christelle Guibert was brought up in the Loire Valley. Following stints in the wine department at Harrods and on the Waitrose wine buying team, she is now the Tasting Director at Decanter , overseeing all the tastings for the magazine as well as for both the annual Decanter World Wine Awards. She also tends one hectare of Melon de Bourgogne in Muscadet, where she produces 2,000 bottles a year of Terre de Gneiss, her first wine. WINE of the month Salomon Undhof, Grüner Veltliner, Hochterrassen, Austria, 2015, 12%, £12.50, leaand sandeman.co.uk The perfect everyday drinking Grüner, showing white pepper and herb flavours with some citrus hint. This is one of the best years they have had. The palate is light, fresh…

Spring is finally here and of course we all want to brighten up our homes. For a fabulous bedroom scheme, watercolour florals are a key look this season – pretty and feminine, they add a fresh, modern feel. Taking inspiration straight from a country garden, classic blooms on fresh white bed linen and cushions give a wonderfully relaxed and spring-like feel. Add texture and interest with chunky sage green throws and cushions with a marl finish to give it even more of a country look. Complement this look with mango wood accessories like a sweet chest of drawers to add that rustic touch. Fragrance is really important – use scented candles and a jar of pot pourri in a delicious blend of jasmine, freesia and bergamot to give a fresh…

Your new novel in a nutshell? Cornwall 1943, two sisters join the Wrens, and in the midst of the war they both find love, but one betrayal will rip them apart and echo through the generations. What was its inspiration? My mother-in-law was a Wren telegraphist in the War but rarely spoke about it. Then one evening after something had appeared in the paper about Exercise Tiger (one of the rehearsals for the D-Day invasion of Normandy that took place on Slapton Sands in Devon), she mentioned that she had been working with the Americans that night and she had heard the men die. I shivered then and I still do now. I wondered how you hold something as traumatic as that inside for years. How much research was involved?…

GEMINI 22 MAY – 22 JUNE You’re not reading the signs as well as you might, so near the 10th hold your fire. By the 30th you’ll know what’s real and what never had a chance. Weekly update 09058-170543* Year ahead 09058-170092* CANCER 23 JUNE – 23 JULY The more prepared you are to try something completely different, the better. Near the 29th do not allow the voice of your fears to colour a situation. Weekly update 09058-170544* Year ahead 09058-170093* LEO 24 JULY – 23 AUGUST Happiness lies further afield, whether it’s jobs, romance or personal life. Travel, or a project that takes you places in figurative terms, could be in the mix. Weekly update 09058-170545* Year ahead 09058-170094* VIRGO 24 AUGUST – 22 SEPTEMBER Your world is opening…

On his father… My father, Joe, was a farmer, and regularly appeared on Animal Magic. His father was the film star Leslie Henson, and he was born out of wedlock, so he was kept a secret. My father found solace when he started working, as a 12-year-old, on a farm. He was an amazing dad but sadly died in 2015 while I was writing my book, Like Farmer, Like Son, which made it hard to continue. My three sisters and my mum encouraged me to keep going. On his farm… Bemborough Farm (cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk) is the same 650-hectare farm that I grew up on. We specialise in rare breeds, which is something my father started in 1973. It showed great foresight back then, and I want to preserve his legacy. On…