Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2017 i Woman & Home

“ I can still hear the sound of the cricket bat on the ball” I certainly love mine – perhaps because I have a summer birthday, as do many members of my family, so there’s always something to celebrate! I enjoy those long, hazy summer days, and while I’m not a sun worshipper, I feel more energised and happier when we have glorious long evenings and clear, blue skies. I agree with Libby Purves (p48), who says the sun always shines in childhood memories – it does in mine. My father was a member of a cricket team, so my mum, dad, brother and I used to travel all over the country every Sunday, from May to September, to watch him play. I can still hear the sound…

As long as your hair is healthy, who cares! I have always liked my hair and considered it one of my best features. But despite knowing this I have never given it the attention, kindness or respect it deserves. I guess I have just taken it for granted! I had my first perm when I was 13. I wanted to look like Brooke Shields from the film The Blue Lagoon but ended up looking like Kevin Keegan! Not only did it look appalling, it had the texture of a dead sea sponge. And it took months before it forgave me and recovered! By 14, my mother was regularly highlighting it for me with something resembling a swimming cap, which she would squeeze onto my head and then pull the hair…

“One secret I’ll share is that a bit of fake tan goes a long way” LORRAINE KELLY , 57, lives between London and Dundee with her husband Steve Smith, a cameraman and photographer. They have a daughter, Rosie, 22. My parents didn’t have much money when I was growing up, but they always made sure my brother and I had a good holiday. Every summer we’d go to the towns of Ayr, Troon or Seamill, or to the Highlands – Oban or Skye; my dad would drive us in his van and it would take hours because the roads were tiny back then. The funny thing is, I always remember it being really sunny. I’m sure I must have subconsciously edited those memories! Steve and I have just celebrated our…

“It’s freedom, the removal of routine, that fires up the brain cells to keep the picture sharp” It’s the wood pigeons that do it for me. Their “coo-cr-ooo”, cutting through the twittering of small songbirds and the distant whooshing of the sea, is as sure a sound of summer as when I could wake up on a July morning decades ago, sleepily realising that it was the first day of the holidays with weeks stretching ahead. These days – living, incidentally, back in the same Suffolk village after half a lifetime’s circuit through city life – the wood pigeons flapping outside also mean erecting defences before they ravage the flowerbed. But still I love them, almost as much as I love the honking geese overhead in winter. That’s a harsh,…

AIDAN TURNER plays Ross Poldark “Ross has matured a lot. He only takes big risks now if he has to, but there will always be an inner rebel trying to get out. It comes from growing inside a relationship, but also from losing a child and having a business fail a couple of times. “We pick up this series with Ross mending his relationship with Demelza – but there’s a lot of tension still in the air. Ross and Demelza’s relationship has always felt very real for Eleanor and I – that’s why it’s so enjoyable to play. We’ve worked together for so long that we’re very familiar with each other and our relationship progresses alongside the one between our characters.” HEIDA REED plays Elizabeth Warleggan “We open the series…

Horizontal stripes add curves… just define your waist with a belt Petite ZAZ GRUMBAR, 42, is 5ft 1in and shoe size 3. She lives in London, teaches yoga and runs regular one-day yoga retreats ( yogawithzaz.com ). • Cheat your way to looking taller by wearing the same colour head to toe – it’s elongating. • You don’t have to buy everything from the petite section. When it comes to denim, with so many cropped versions around you’ll be covered. Don’t forget that clever styling trick: the turn-up – great if you need to shorten your trousers in a stylish way. • If you can wear high heels then go for it, but don’t wear them if you’re struggling. Better to wear a lower heel that you…

Seaspray’s new World Traveller Collection brings together a vibrant mix of inspirational swim and beachwear, designed to create a slimming hourglass silhouette with tailored control panels, flattering draping, and longer lengths to ensure all-day comfort and that second skin feeling. The new collection features enhanced shaping, beautiful embellishments and on-trend colours and original designs in a range of swimsuits, tankinis, bikinis and cover-ups. HOW TO CLAIM To receive your unique code and claim this exclusive discount, go to www.womanandhome.com/seaspray Follow Seaspray on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news, collections and offers. TERMS AND CONDITIONS This offer entitles the reader to 20% off the Seaspray collection using the code WH20 at the checkout. The offer opens on Thursday 1 June 2017 and closes at midnight Friday…

SUMMER STYLE Ponytails are the cool and ageless way to wear hair up in summer. “A loose, pretty updo or ponytail can work for almost any occasion,” says award-winning hairdresser Richard Ward. “Worn smartly during the day they’re polished enough for work, and in the evening wear more undone for a balmy night out.” HOT-HEADED •“Night sweats totally ruin a blow-dry so I inevitably have to wash it by morning. Any tips?” Apply dry shampoo to your roots before you go to bed, then tie hair up into a topknot on your crown, keeping the nape of the neck cool. Try Percy & Reed Radiance Revealing Invisible Dry Shampoo, £12. •“My hair has completely changed texture since the menopause.” “As women enter menopause there is a hormonal shift,” says Sam…

A COOLER CURL Use straighteners, such as this limited edition birthday ghd Original Purple Limited Edition Styler, £109, to create a more stylish kink than that big, bouncy barrel-tonged curl that’s more ageing and mumsy. Pull through hair as usual, then twist out at the jaw. MASK IT When you’ve a mask on your face pop one on your hair too: JOICO Blonde Life Brightening Masque, £17.45, hqhair.com, transforms dull, dry, dreary hair by the time you rinse it through. JUST ONE THING MULTITASK = NO-HASSLE HAIR Strip back your styling regime with Shu Uemura Art of Hair Blow Dry Beautifier Thermo BB Cream, £23.10, a leave-in BB treatment that smooths, yet adds body, and heat-protects while maintaining your style. VOLUME TRICK Spray hair,…

Seaweed is not a plant but different species of macroscopic, multicellular, marine algae. It only lives in saltwater and grows by the coast. Most algae are multicellular, hence our body responds naturally, creating a wonderful synergy. RED ALGAE Found deepest in the ocean to other algae: beauty brands love Jania Rubens to boost hydration; Porphyridium, rich in age-defying antioxidant vitamins and amino acids; and Lithothamnium, used in cellulite products to encourage the breakdown and elimination of fat. BROWN ALGAE Generally the largest, fastest growing seaweed such as Kelp and Laminaria popular for total body detoxification; and Padina Pavonica, a small and fan-shaped that mimics skin’s cell renewal, making it great for anti-ageing. BLUE/GREEN ALGAE Namely Spirulina and Chlorella, a single cell seaweed that reproduces and regenerates super fast and is…

There’s nothing like a holiday to motivate us to shape up. Last year, a survey of 2,000 adults found two thirds of Brits diet and exercise before taking off on average, starting six weeks before they go – and losing 6lb! But sometimes life gets in the way, right? Our good intentions don’t go to plan and we end up feeling conscious rather than confident in our swimsuit! So we come to the rescue with this 48-hour emergency beach body shape up. Our plan focuses on a strict, but healthy, diet to get you looking and feeling pounds lighter. You can follow it over any two days but it’s perfect for a weekend when there’s more time to prepare meals and exercise. Start on a Saturday morning and by Monday…

What we find hard to talk about In an exclusive survey for woman&home, nearly one in three of you said you’d had a health problem you’d been too embarrassed to go to the doctor about. General gynaecological problems were cited as the commonest, vaginal dryness was the second most common issue, and many of you found problems concerning the menopause another area that was sometimes tricky to talk about. Q How will menopause affect my sex life? A After the menopause there is no need to worry about becoming pregnant, and for many women, this brings a feeling of liberation and much greater enjoyment of sex – many women do have wonderful sex lives after their periods finish! However, there are two problems that can rear their heads in the…

The technique is for patients who have had the most severe strokes. Surgeons go in through an artery in the patient’s groin, and guide a small catheter to the brain using X-ray. A wire inside the catheter pulls out the whole clot. Until now, it has only been available at a handful of UK hospitals, including Stoke and St George’s Hospital in London, saving the lives of around 600 people, but this year, it’s being rolled out to an extra 24 hospitals in England. “Without mechanical thrombectomy, patients would have had a high risk of death or being left severely disabled,” says Dr Sanjeev Nayak, a consultant neuroradiologist at Royal Stoke University Hospital, who performed Rebecca’s operation. “It also lessens the burden on hospital beds – it has saved our…

Known as the Frugal Baroness, ANNE JENKIN is passionate about cutting waste. A member of the House of Lords, she is co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group, as well as a trustee of the sustainability organisation Wrap. My parents were war babies – my father was born in 1910 so he lived through both of them. He was always strict about turning off the lights and heating, and that has stayed with me. We had a vegetable garden, scrumped for apples and berries, and only ate food in season. Anything left over went into jams or chutneys. You finished everything on your plate. If the toast was cold, you ate cold toast. Whether it’s food, fashion, water or electricity, I still can’t bear waste of any kind –…

The base for each is the same: 150g digestive biscuits 75g butter 1 Simply whizz up the biscuits in a blender, mix in the butter then press into a 18-20cm pie tin, bringing the mixture up the sides. 2 Leave in the fridge while you make the filling. Each pie will serve 8-10. Chocolate, hazelnut and salted caramel Easy/Prepare ahead/ Freeze • Ready in 30 mins, plus freezing • Serves 8-10 250g chocolate ice cream, softened 250g salted caramel ice cream, softened 60g cream cheese 50g toasted hazelnuts 60g salted caramel sauce 25g dark chocolate, melted 1 Mix the ice creams and cream cheese together. Roughly chop the hazelnuts and add half to the ice cream, together with half the caramel sauce. Spoon onto the base. 2 Drizzle over the chocolate…

EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER Greatest Hits by Laura Barnett (W&N) British singer-songwriter Cass Wheeler chooses 16 songs for a comeback album after disappearing from the music scene decades earlier. Each one propels her back into her past. A captivating read. DARK THRILLER The Child by Fiona Barton (Bantam) The discovery of a child’s skeleton on a building site kicks off a plot that unravels across decades, involving three women, one of whom wants her secret kept hidden. A pacy and satisfyingly serpentine story. TIME TRAVEL The Summer of Impossible Things by Rowan Coleman (Ebury) Luna falls through time to meet her late mother as a young woman. Can Luna change the course of history and save her mother from her future? A life-enhancing, thought-provoking winner of a novel. DOMESTIC DISHARMONY The…

FROM OUR COVER SHOOT Katie Derham reveals the five things she’d tell her younger self. Watch it now at womanandhome.com/katiederham STRAWBERRIES ARE IN SEASON Try our recipe for a super impressive but super easy Strawberry Cheesecake. See how to make it now at womanandhome.com/ strawberrycheesecake HOT CHOCOLATE! Learn how to make chocolate sauce, perfect for drizzling over ice cream or even using as an icing once cool. Check out our video at womanandhome.com/chocolatesauce SO COOL... Who doesn’t love an ice cream sandwich! And they’re such fun to make (kids will love it). Get the lowdown now at womanandhome.com/icecream sandwiches 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…

Guilty pleasure? Jilly Cooper, but I don’t think that’s anything I should feel guilty about! I’m a great reader, anything from sci-fi and fantasy to John Irving and Hilary Mantel. Spender or saver? Spender. I splurge mostly on books. I don’t treat myself to expensive clothes, but am going through a real Cos and & Other Stories phase right now – and I must say a lot of my stuff goes missing thanks to the girls... Last time I felt really happy? The girls were both back home, having been away on different school trips, and we were eating fajitas, which are their favourite thing, and having a real laugh. I remember thinking, “This is what it’s all about.” Last cried? I’m a real weeper. It’s nearly always telly –…

LOUD & CLEAR • Not sure how to work a wow-factor print? Just keep it simple... a low-key tunic cut means you can go overboard with colour. • Oversized earrings are an absolute must. Show how savvy you are about the new season trends. • A statement necklace? Yes... it’s all or nothing. Work it in with a round neck and you’ve got all areas covered. ALL TOGETHER NOW • Easy, elegant and guaranteed to have all eyes on you – a racy red jumpsuit is as glamorous as it gets. • Strut your stuff with the highest heels you can handle. You’ll walk taller and your legs will look longer. • Make it your own with a glamorous gold belt. Luxe details will make you feel even more expensive.…

Last year, on 16 June, Jo Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire, was fatally shot and stabbed outside the library where she was about to hold her constituency surgery. Here, her younger sister Kim Leadbeater talks movingly about growing up with a woman who has become an inspiration to so many. The last time I saw Jo was the Thursday before she was killed – and I am very careful to refer to her death as a murder. It wasn’t a tragic accident. She turned up at my house in West Yorkshire after a day of campaigning for the EU Referendum, and asked to borrow some comfortable clothes. Typically, she was so focused on the bigger picture that she’d often forget the smaller things, so…

“I was that generation who didn’t need to get married… so what changed?’” CARRIE TAYLOR, 56, writes about her decision to marry long-term partner Mark this spring. They live in Kent and Carrie is associate editor on w&h. So I’m trending (at last!)… joining the ever-increasing numbers of 50+ women getting married. So… why? There wasn’t an awful lot of mulling over of the decision to get married… it just happened! I simply came home from work one evening last summer in a bit of a strange mood and, out of the blue (to me as much as to Mark), out it came: “I want to get married.” I’d come in late because I had a couple of appointments in London and in between had half an hour to spare.…

Even if we didn’t discuss much, I would know he was there for me ‘I was a daddy’s girl and my father was my rock’ VERONICA HENRY, 52, writes movingly about the father who was her rock, and his love of Ireland, where he grew up. Every day in the middle of my divorce, when my marriage had fallen apart after 25 years and my world had turned upside down, one man called me every day. “This is your daily comfort call,” my father would say, and even if we didn’t discuss much, I would know he was there for me. Sadly, the broadest pair of shoulders and the twinkliest pair of eyes went from my life overnight when my darling daddy died shortly after his 80th birthday last year.…

EXCLUSIVE OFFER 20% off FOR WOMAN&HOME READERS* TO GET YOUR EXCLUSIVE 20% OFFER CODE, TAKE THIS MAGAZINE TO YOUR LOCAL WHITE STUFF SHOP OR VISIT WHITESTUFF.COM/W&H *Offer terms and conditions: Offer valid until 20 August 2017. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or in White Stuff outlet shops and concessions. Offer applies to full-price items only. Cannot be used to buy gift cards and charity items. Prices correct at time of print.…

Curvy women who love stylish clothes head to Evans: you’ll find the latest looks coupled with a savvy expert fit, so you can be sure to find the right trend to work for you. Knowing your body shape isn’t about what you can’t wear, it’s about knowing what you can wear – forget about anything you don’t feel confident about and focus on all the good stuff, fashion is supposed to be fun! THE LDJ That’s “Little Denim Jacket” – this collarless style is the perfect cover-up for when the sun goes down. We also like it tied round the waist so you can go hands-free! Jacket, £38 THE WHITE SHIRT Every wardrobe deserves one of these – wear unbuttoned and layered over a vest, or…

‘It’s not true that you have to go short just because you’ve hit your forties or fifties’ COLOUR •“I can’t afford the time or money for regular salon colour, but I make a mess of it at home. What’s the best advice?” “We try to have frank conversations about upkeep and many of our clients (especially those outside of London) go for low-maintenance colour that will look expensive for longer, such as balayage,” says Paul. You could do a salon visit every four to six months to get the colour right then do in-between root touch-ups.” •“Any professional tips on colouring my hair?” “There’s no denying it’s tricky,” says Lee. “You really shouldn’t be dyeing your hair yourself if you want to go more than two shades lighter or darker…

You and your hair have been together for a long time and, if like so many of us, your hair is on the fine side, that journey may not always have been smooth. Of course, you benefit from quick drying and easy styling, but nourishing fine hair is a trickier feat. We all love that silky just-conditioned feel, but traditional conditioners can weigh strands down, making it hang flat or appear greasy. So what’s a fine-haired woman to do? New Pantene Pro-V Air-Light Foam Conditioner is a groundbreaking rinse-off conditioner with all the nourishing benefits of traditional creamy formulas in a whipped-up mousse texture that’s as light as air. Pick from three targeted formulas: Repair & Protect, which deeply hydrates fine, fragile hair from within, Volume & Body or Colour…

Warm the product between palms, then knead! • KNEAD IN YOUR SKINCARE Massage using your knuckles. For fresh-looking, radiant skin, this revs up your circulation and boosts lymphatic drainage, to help reduce puffiness. So, whether it’s your aromatic cleansing balm (Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, £40, is a true favourite), face oil (Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour All-Over Miracle Oil, £29), or a dewy skin cream (Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Crème, £51), work in tiny circles, making a fist using just your two “pointer” fingers (index and middle) for a smaller, more targeted “knuckle”. • MORE FACE TIME NEEDED! Prolong your task mask! Yes, unclog your pores with a clay mask, but the trick is to leave it on for up to 15 mins to get the kind of deeper cleanse as…

Delicious homemade pasta, a juicy Florentine steak, fresh aubergine parmigiana, all washed down with a glass of Chianti… Italian food is some of the best in the world. So we’ve teamed up with foodie specialists Flavours Holidays to create the perfect Italian cooking holiday. Our food and wine director, Jane Curran, will join you on this exclusive four-day foodie break in Tuscany. Not only will you eat some of the best dishes the country has to offer and drink some fabulous Tuscan wines, but you’ll also learn how to create them. Staying in a private villa set amid stunning scenery, this cooking holiday will be relaxed, fun and hands-on. Working in small groups in the kitchen of your villa, you’ll be taught techniques and skills by passionate, knowledgeable local chefs,…

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… THE DATES 27-29 October 2017 THE PRICE…

LESLEY FRASER, 52, is married with three children. She is a pharmaceuticals account manager from Worcester. “When my daughter, Elisa, 21, announced she was coming home to live for her final year at university, I was delighted. She was struggling financially, so it made sense and I thought it would be lovely to have her around again. The deal was that she could live at home for free and I’d pay for her food, but she had to finance everything else, including her car, which she did through working one day a week in a shop. The reality was a little different. I’d forgotten what it was like having an extra adult in the house, especially a grown-up child who had had two years of complete freedom to live how…

1 Bread can be used for croutons, bread and butter pudding, or frozen crumbs to top pasta bakes. 2 Cheese rinds are excellent flavour intensifiers for soups and stews – add them to the pot to release their flavours. 3 Blackened bananas can be used for banana bread, but all old root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, pumpkin and squash can be added to make a sweet, moist sponge. 4 Fruit and veg is our biggest food wastage – we throw out more than half – but all of it is good to eat. Use cauliflower leaves in salads, beet leaves as a roll/wrap for a rice salad, broccoli stems in a stir fry. 5 Yogurt nearing its use-by date can be mixed with overripe fruit, popped into a tub to…

Pork satay with peanut sauce The marinade and the sauce follow the same recipe with a couple of extra additions so it’s hassle-free. You can use the same recipe for beef or chicken too. Easy/Prepare ahead • Ready in 30 mins, plus marinating • Serves 4 450g free-range pork fillet 100g salted peanuts, finely chopped for the marinade a large bunch of coriander zest and juice of 3 limes 1tbsp Thai fish sauce 1tbsp sugar 175g smooth peanut butter 200ml coconut milk 1 lemongrass stalk, bashed and roughly chopped 1 red chilli 1 To prepare the marinade, put the coriander stalks (keep the leaves for later) with all the marinade ingredients into a blender and whizz up until smooth. 2 Cut the pork into small cubes and thread onto skewers. Use…

The warm weather is here and it’s time to get into the garden for an easy summer lunch or supper with our inspired recipe with the New York Bakery Co. bagels. Perfect for kids, big or small, who want something delicious that’s quick to prepare and cook. So you thought bagels were just for brunch? Well, think again. They’re also great used in place of burger buns. Bagels have so much flavour and they never go soggy. Barbecues can get a bit samey so it’s time to try something different and rustle up your own easy burger. With this in mind, I thought I’d share this fab recipe for a chicken burger, which is my go-to recipe. It’s so flexible. Sometimes I swap the chicken for turkey. I also add…

When the weather warms up, how fabulous to create a chilled luxe feel to complement summer’s easy living with the Moroccan Luxe collection at Sainsbury’s Home? Perfect against a backdrop of today’s on-trend neutral schemes, build up a sumptuous collection of home accessories. Take inspiration from traditional Moroccan designs with print cushions and rich textured throws, hurricane lanterns with intricate details, metallic tea light holders and cut-out patterned vases. Soft grey tones pull the whole look together, incorporating luxurious velvet and marble with exquisite gold embellishments. FIND OUT MORE The Moroccan Luxe collection is available now at selected Sainsbury’s stores. To see more of the new collections and to find your nearest store, visit sainsburyshome.co.uk…

The bestselling novelist has written 12 novels. Her new novel, The Friend (Century) is out now. When did you start writing? I wrote my first book called There’s a Thin Line Between Love and Hate when I was 13. It was about a girl who met a bit of a bad boy at school. I used to write a chapter a night and then I’d take it into my convent school the next day and pass it round my friends. What do you enjoy writing about now? My novels are about women who have an inner strength that gets them through life. My main characters are always black women because I’m a black woman. People sometimes assume that someone who’s not white will write a literary…

An Act of Silence by Colette McBeth (Wildfire) How far will politician Linda Moscow go to protect her son? Complex and compelling. Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips (Doubleday) Gunshots in a zoo send Joan and her four-year-old son into hiding. A nightmare three hours ensue. Scary stuff. THIS MONTH’S CHOICE Our online book club is free to join and each month we send a book to 25 readers to review. This month we are giving you two books to read: MEET ME AT BEACHCOMBER BAY by Jill Mansell (Headline) is an escapist romantic read set in Cornwall, by a bestselling author who lives in Bristol with her family. THE VERSIONS OF US by Laura Barnett (W&N) has been billed as One Day meets Sliding Doors. Laura is an author and…

TOTALLY TASSELLED Eye-catching accessories will liven up any outfit. Earrings, £12.99; necklace, £15.99, both mango.com HOLD EVERYTHING in this embroidered holdall, £39.50, marksandspencer.com FRINGE BENEFITS Fun in the sun scarf, £39.95; tassel flat sandals, £39.95, both whitestuff.com SADDLE UP A saddle bag with on-trend hoops and chain strap, £30, next.co.uk JUST DISHY Florya mugs, £38 for four; Pasha plates, from £10 each, all oka.com IN THE ROUND From top: £49.95, komono.com; £165, marcjacobs.com POM-POM PILLOWS Kas Chicca cushion (left), £45, johnlewis.com; Abigail Ahern/ Edition cream patterned cushion, £30, debenhams.com FLOWER POWER Liven up your jeans with a pretty embroidered belt, £9.99, peacocks.co.uk FRAGRANT NOTE Limited edition for summer with verbena and petitgrain. Express Your Soul fragrance sticks, £25.50, rituals.com HEAD CASE Tune in, chill out… Skullcandy Knockout headphones, £89.99, argos.co.uk…

JOHN SAYS… When Katie first met me at a university ball, she thought I was security! I was wearing a bomber jacket and was working there – I had a sound and light company – while studying. I noticed she had a really pathetic wristband that she’d obviously made herself, so I suggested that I’d let her in if she snogged me later! I asked her to marry me that night. But then I went travelling and she started going out with someone else. It was two years before we got together – I called her most months saying, “You know you’re going to marry me!” She didn’t know I was a student – I think she thought I was her bit of rough! It was about two years before…

ALL IN ONE Try a trendier take and layer a jumpsuit over a lacey blouse. Jumpsuit, £128, xs-l, Anthropologie. Lace top, £29.99, xs-xl, Zara. Earrings, £76.50, Konplott. Shoes, £18.99, New Look LAVISH DETAILS Be colour confident and go for the clash. Frayed hems, embellished mules and a ribbon tie bag... Jeans, £18, 8-20, Tu at Sainsbury’s. Blouse, £299, 4-16, Whistles. Bag, £130, Kurt Geiger. Shoes, £140, KG by Kurt Geiger SUPER SPORTY Up the luxe factor with top-to-toe white and metallic accessories. Jeans, £89, 6-18, The White Company. Blouse, £19.90, xs-xl, Uniqlo. Top, £16, 6-22, Next. Visor, £2, Primark. Watch, £98, Olivia Burton. Rings, £57.99 for set of three, Gemporia. Silver feather ring, £96, Alex Monroe. Trainers, £45, White Stuff >> OVER AND OUT A shirt dress over jeans? Er……

“It’s a testament to Camilla’s character that she has so many loyal, long-standing girlfriends” The first time I met Camilla Parker Bowles at a party about 15 years ago, I enquired about the pressures of being in the myopic gaze of the media spotlight. Camilla immediately endeared herself to me by revealing how well-meaning American matriarchs, taking pity on her weathered complexion, constantly posted their cosmetic surgeons’ details. Instead of taking umbrage, Camilla chortled, self-deprecatingly, their efforts only serving to give her more laughter lines. I hadn’t expected the future Queen of England to be more disarming than a UN peace-keeping force, but reading between those lines that day, what I saw was warmth, wit, compassion and great strength of character. Camilla would never want a facial expression by taxidermy.…

“I WRITE THE SCRIPTS FOR POLDARK ON THE TREADMILL!” DEBBIE, 61, grew up in Greater Manchester. She began her career in theatre, as a PA at the Royal Shakespeare Company, writing plays in her spare time, before her first play was put on at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, and she became resident writer at the Liverpool Playhouse. Her first TV project was one of her plays, Out On The Floor for BBC Two. She’s now best known for her BBC One salon drama, Cutting It , and for writing all three series of Poldark . She lives with her partner, actor Martin Wenner, in Manchester, and has four grown-up children. One thing I knew we got right from the…

“ I don’t have a favourite property – it’s like having a favourite child” THE NATIONAL TRUST “ We have a lot of leaky roofs!” DAME HELEN GHOSH , 61, is the director-general of the National Trust. The conservation charity, which was started in 1895, preserves and protects historic places and spaces. She lives in Oxford with her husband Peter, a historian, and has two grown-up children, William and Olivia. The National Trust has almost five million members, and I’ve been a member all my life. I enjoyed going with my parents as a child to stately homes. From the research that we’ve done, those who have visited as children will continue to visit, especially when they have a family of their own. Thanks in part to the National Trust,…

One in 20 children is sexually abused in the UK* – it’s a shocking statistic but steps are now being taken to investigate how and why this is happening. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales, established in 2015, is looking at the growing evidence of institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse. As an integral part of the Inquiry, the Truth Project is offering people who’ve suffered sexual abuse as children the chance to share their experiences. With this body of evidence, the Inquiry will be able to make recommendations to the Government, so it can implement changes that will ensure the best possible protection for children in the future. “As someone who has experienced the trauma of sexual, mental and physical abuse in…

TANKINIS Get the best of both worlds; feel confidently covered or roll it up and tan that tummy. SWIMSUITS Choose your most flattering all-in-one IT’S A MIRACLE! The five suits that will make you feel slimmer in seconds BIKINIS Slip into stylish separates and still get the right support. JUST ADD Go from the beach to the bar with these stylish accessories and clever cover-ups.…

Fed up with your hair not looking its best? Serious stress, crazy hormones, an erratic diet and an inability to manage: recent stats say we’ve got the weakest hair ever – 32% of Brits suffer from hair loss, around half find it dry and over 70% also reckon it’s fine and limp. Come on; let’s get positive! Great hair is all about attitude. Switch the belief. You need to feel that confidence, even when you don’t think you have it. Give in on a day when it just won’t behave and what happens… that’s one diabolical day ahead! So pick up that mood. Let’s grasp the best advice out there and boldly go forth with renewed inspiration to love your hair more than ever. Here’s your ultimate guide to hair…

Do you think it’s time for a haircut? Not the usual “just an inch off” tidy-up, but the kind of proper chop that your other half notices. Often these haircuts aren’t about style, more a yearning for change. A big birthday can bring it on, so can smaller shifts like a new season, and of course there’s the break-up haircut, a chop for liberation. If you’ve ever sat wrapped in a papery black gown and said “I just fancy something different,” then you’ve felt it too. So how do you pick the right haircut? As anyone with a hair “don’t” in the archive knows, ignore fashion. A flattering and modern haircut, yes. Fashionable with a capital F, no. Consider texture, face shape and – probably the most important factor –…

Blue is the colour, detox is the game: Track down all oceanic treasures from the deep to make your body the healthiest it’s ever been, inside and out Beauty trends may come and go, but the current obsession with all things aquatic has, let’s face it, been popular for centuries. Deeply therapeutic, a deep-sea cleanser, anti-ager and total body detoxifier (shifting significant water weight in one treatment), marine ingredients are also known to have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. It’s no coincidence in nature that seawater and our own blood plasma are nearly identical in chemical composition in terms of mineral and trace element levels. Add to that the natural osmotic effect of the skin when we’re in seawater, allowing the transdermal free-flow of minerals to a certain degree to boost…

From smiley-face emojis to piña coladas, yellow’s not short of cheery associations, but it’s never been considered the height of chic. Good thing, then, that the mood this summer seems to be stuff being cool. We’ve got an optimism deficit and yellow – the less mellow the better – is just the thing to fill it. Chuck some turmeric in your smoothie, sing along to the La La Land score (that LA sun! That buttercup dress!) and take your pick from this ripe selection of sunny beauty buys. Lipstick Queen Mornin’ Sunshine, £22 , magical balm turns peachy on lips. Jo Loves Mandrine, £70 for 50ml EDP, mouthwatering, with bitter orange. Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster With Pure Vitamin C, £58, drop in your night cream…

The awesome beauty of the Northern Lights makes them one of the great natural wonders of the world. This is your chance to experience nature’s incredible light show in the company of the famous Springwatch presenter Michaela Strachan (pictured above). During your 12-day cruise along the Norwegian fjords, you’ll take part in an exclusive Q&A in which Michaela will share stories about her life and career as a wildlife presenter; enjoy a husky-sledding adventure; and discover the science behind the Northern Lights in an on-board presentation. For an additional supplement for each activity**, you can also go on Arctic excursions, ranging from a sea eagle safari to a Viking feast. Lonely Planet has declared this 12-day cruise across the Arctic Circle “the world’s most beautiful voyage” – this is your…

Nutmeg could help break the “I can’t sleep” cycle… Don’t underestimate mild-mannered nutmeg. It has a long history of use for pain relief, gut health, brain health and especially insomnia – and who isn’t suffering from that these days? Good to know: Known as a temporal sedative, its blood pressure-lowering action may help you get a better night’s rest. “Nutmeg helps break the tiring awake-sleep-awake pattern of transient insomnia and helps you stay asleep if you are prone to waking in the middle of the night,” says herbsmith Sebastian Pole. Good with… other calming herbs and spices, such as saffron and ashwagandha. How much? A pinch is all you need – too much can upset you. Try it in… • Warm milk with a little honey. Or go the whole…

REBECCA, 32, is a full-time mother. She lives in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, with her husband Gavin, a cost consultant, and their children, Joshua, eight, Liam, six, and Libby, two. Last November she had an acute ischaemic stroke. “I had just got my daughter, Libby, up from her lunchtime nap when it happened. I was making her some toast and went to the fridge to get the butter and my legs started to give way. I felt I was on a ferry out at sea and had to grab the fridge to steady myself. Libby laughed, thinking I was clowning around and, strangely, I didn’t feel frightened. I thought it was funny too and kept thinking, ‘Why am I being so stupid?’ Fortunately at that moment, Gavin’s parents, Gill and Don, arrived.…

“Pain and fatigue are most common as they’re the most common symptoms in general” When Dr Suzanne O’Sullivan chose to specialise in neurology, she expected to look after people who had diseases of the brain, nerves and muscles; conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, migraine and epilepsy. She could not have predicted how many of her patients would have no underlying condition at all – their symptoms originated in the mind. Now an expert in the field at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, Dr O’Sullivan’s award-winning book It’s All in Your Head illustrates just how complex the effect on the mind is on the way we feel. Q What is a psychosomatic illness? A It’s when a person gets real physical symptoms…

OUR EXPERTS HELEN WHITE is head of the lovefoodhatewaste.com  campaign, which raises awareness and promotes practical steps we can all take. RACHELLE STRAUSS, founder of zerowasteweek.co.uk , made international headlines when her family managed to produce only one small bin full of rubbish – just five kilos of waste – in a whole year. WHERE TO START To wage war on your waste, you need to know your enemy. Over a week, keep a pen and paper by the bin and record the food you’re throwing out. With this information, what can you tackle first and easily? If you’re constantly throwing out the same items, can you adjust shopping habits? Is there anything so heavily packaged that it’s worth thinking of alternatives? Know your local…

 Behavioural Economist Professor Ivo Vlaev of Warwick Business School talks to Niki Chesworth about how to identify your money type. Most of us fall into more than one category, but try to find the type that closely matches your attitude to money… “Make it a habit to check your credit report each month” 1. THE OSTRICH When faced with a financial decision, does your mind go blank? You know you need an ISA but you don’t know where to start? When your employer gives you a choice of pension investments, do you scarcely read it or just opt for something safe? POSITIVES You are not going to lose any of your hard-earned cash on a get-rich-quick scheme – it’s all safe in the bank. DANGERS Fear and apathy stop you…

Mango & grain mustard chutney Mix together equal quantities of mango chutney and mustard; add some fresh lime. Cream cheese & pepper Mix equal quantities of cream cheese, and red pepper and tomato salsa (we like Tracklements). Horseradish mayo Mix mustard powder and horseradish to taste into mayonnaise with a squeeze of lemon juice and some sea salt.…

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. Lyrarakis, Voila Assyrtiko, Crete, Greece 2016, 13.5%, £11.99, Majestic From a small family winery who discovered the potential of east Crete in the 70s. This Assyrtiko is fresh with crisp apple, stone fruit and a hint of ginger. The palate shows texture with a rich mouthfeel supported by minerality…

Just heavenly, just Jill Fans of Jill Mansell will know that reading one of her books is a joyful experience that entertains and fills you with optimism and happiness. A big claim for something that doesn’t require a prescription? Well, anyone who’s read one of Jill’s stories will know that they have an irresistible feel-good factor, while still portraying real people with real dilemmas. Never read one? You’re in for a treat, and Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay, a glorious heart-warming romantic read, is an excellent starting point. The charm and atmosphere of Cornish seaside town St Carys is conjured up so vividly that you can almost feel the warmth of the balmy summer nights and hear the gentle lapping of waves on the beach. But beneath the apparently tranquil…

One Little Mistake by Emma Curtis (Black Swan) A dark page-turning debut of friendship, deceit and lies. An Italian Holiday by Maeve Haran (Pan) Springtime madness in Italy. A sunny entertaining read. The New Mrs Clifton by Elizabeth Buchan (Penguin) A German bride in post-war London. Gripping and compassionate. The House at the Edge of Night by Catherine Banner (Windmill) 4-generation saga set around a family-run bar. Invincible Summer by Alice Adams (Picador) The relationships between a quartet of university friends shift over decades. Wonderful stuff. The Secrets of Wishtide by Kate Saunders (Bloomsbury) First in series featuring doughty Mrs Laetitia Rodd, fledgling Victorian detective. Cousins by Salley Vickers (Penguin) Family secrets are revealed after a…

“I was most in danger when my name was revealed while the IRA were very active” Dame Stella Rimington joined the Security Service (MI5) in 1968. During her career she worked in all the main fields of the Service: counter-subversion, counterespionage and counter-terrorism. She was appointed Director General in 1992, the first woman to hold the post. She has written her autobiography and nine Liz Carlyle novels. She has two daughters, Sophie and Harriet, and lives in Norfolk with her Labrador, Molly. I was four when the Second World War broke out. After moving from London to Essex, we ended up in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria where my father got a job. That area suffered heavy bombing and I remember seeing search lights and tracer bullets. It was very scary. The…

Star sign of the month CANCER 23 JUNE – 23 JULY Don’t be a wilting violet. Make your move, and preferably on or near the 10th. All change is good and it’s time you looked to new pastures. For weekly updates, call 09058-170544* THE MONTHS AHEAD A change of home or work location will boost your happiness. September is a gold-starred month and December marks the beginning of a series of landmark events that will take two years to complete. To hear a detailed breakdown of the next few months, phone Penny on 09058-170093* LEO 24 JULY – 23 AUGUST Stop worrying about things that will never happen. Plan only for positive developments. The new moon of the 23rd augurs a brilliant opportunity. Weekly update 09058-170545* Six months ahead 09058-170094*…

On Game of Thrones I had stepped away from screen acting for about ten years when I got the audition for Game of Thrones. My agent persuaded me to go up for Bronn. On Simon Cowell Up to 17 million viewers tuned into ITV’s Soldier, Soldier. When myself and Robson Green – who played squaddies – sang Unchained Melody in one episode, retailers were inundated with requests for it. Simon Cowell, who was a sales rep for Sony then, persuaded us to release a single. It’s strongly rumoured that we made him his first million! Simon certainly knows how to sell pop songs. On fame It’s very different from being known as an actor to suddenly being entrenched in pop culture. When our single became the fastest…