Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2019 i Woman & Home

My husband Adrian and I are at opposite ends of the tidy scale. I would love to live in a clutter-free home with beautifully curated shelves and well-organised pots for pens and pencils. Adrian, on the other hand, has an emotional attachment to stuff. He’s not a hoarder or anything extreme like that but he says things like, “I can’t get rid of that table [dark brown wood, been in the garage for decades] because my granny used to eat her dinner at it.” I feel I can cherish the memory of my grandparents without keeping every item they ever interacted with, but Adrian would feel he was betraying Granny Christine if he put that table on eBay. It just goes to show that clutter is complicated, which is why…

1983 Her first major screen role opposite Michael Caine in the film Educating Rita 1986 Julie stars in the parodic soap opera Acorn Antiques 2003 Helen Mirren and Julie star in British comedy Calendar Girls 2014 Julie as housekeeper Mrs Bird in Paddington 1981 Victoria Wood and Julie perform their TV sketch show, Wood and Walters 1987 She plays a brothel madam in the film Personal Services 2000 Julie as a dance teacher in Billy Elliot alongside Jamie Bell 2018 Christine Baranski and Julie reunite in the musical romcom Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again 2019 In her latest role as Marion in comedy-drama Wild Rose…

LABEL WE LOVE The contemporary Bohemian spirit and beautiful hand-drawn prints make London label Lily and Lionel one of our go-to brands come wedding season. Invest now and wear forever – the timelessness of their designs mean they’ll be wardrobe favourites for years to come. Items are available in sizes xs-l. UNTOUCHED BEAUTY Championing real women and natural beauty, JD Williams has ditched the airbrushing for its spring campaign and donated the money that would have been spent on retouching to its official charity, The Silver Line. The results are fabulous! BAGS OF STYLE We’re lusting after the new-season offerings from Lulu Guinness. Staying true to the brand’s playful spirit, the collection takes inspiration from quintessential Britishness, and celebrates the essence of a summer fête with its beautiful floral tones…

Standout shoes and bags are the easiest and most stylish way to breathe new life into last season’s buys “Keep your look interesting by mixing in different textures – from breezy raffia to playful tassels”…

Dreaming of warmer climes? This season we’re taking inspiration from Italy’s Amalfi Coast courtesy of Matalan’s gorgeous new collection. Think chambray fabrics, feminine florals and elegant detailing, all with a thoroughly modern edge. Layer floaty separates with light-wash denims and bright cable knits for an effortless weekend look – finish with Western-style accessories like a tasselled bag, beaded jewels and flat ankle boots or stylish sandals. Our spring must-have? A brightly coloured cover-up such as a lightweight mac or biker jacket to help beat back any lingering winter chill. Spring is definitely in the air… JAYNE MARSDEN Lifestyle Director “Animal prints aren’t going anywhere this season. The busy print on this dress hides a multitude of sins, and the tie-waist detail makes the most of your waist – what’s not…

BEST CHILDHOOD PRESENT? KERRYN My first bike – that was exciting. SANDRA A Dolly Designer – a little plastic doll with clothes that you painted and stuck on. I wanted it so badly for Christmas – and got it! HERMINE I didn’t get presents. My lifestyle was very different but my aunt used to sell toys, so I got to play with the dolls. I just didn’t get to keep them. FIRST HOLIDAY ABROAD? KERRYN I was nine and Grandma took me to Miami. I remember Disney World and eating ice cream for breakfast! SANDRA Detroit with my mum when I was 17. HERMINE I was 43 – and it was back to Jamaica. FAVOURITE FOOD? KERRYN Desserts – I just love a good trifle! SANDRA Ackee and saltfish –…

“Don’t ignore the warning signs – that can lead to big trouble. Instead, take a long, hard look at your partnership and focus on your particular concerns” Of course you love each other and life together is good. Yes, there may be some dissatisfaction, disappointment, even doubt from time to time. But every couple experiences that, so surely you shouldn’t take it too seriously? I disagree. As a relationship coach, I see many couples who hesitated to take a long, hard look at their partnership – and in the end, slid from mild dissatisfaction to serious disillusionment. On average, couples wait six whole years from the first hint of problems to attempting resolution. By that time, it’s often too late. Which is why I’m a fan…

What is your earliest memory of food? I was fortunate and grew up on a pig farm where we ate stuff that we produced at home. So my early meals were always made up of the secondary cuts of meat that we couldn’t sell; the head-to-tail stuff like snout, trotters, liver and all that. What was your first job? I cooked my first big meal at about eight years old. I was doing a gourmet dinner at a place called The Mallyan Spout in Goathland, near Whitby. My parents used to know the owners and because I was a wannabe chef they let me in the kitchen at a very young age, working with amazing people like Brian Turner and Keith Floyd, and that was my first ever serious dinner,…

The woman&home Diet by Jane Plan is the diet delivery service that provides you with meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner – plus snacks – all ready-prepared for you. We know what it’s like not to feel confident in what you’re wearing, which is why we’re here to help – and with a great money-off offer. Choose a plan that suits your weight-loss needs SIGN UP NOW & SAVE £25 Use the code WHP0419 at janeplan.com or call 020 3489 4770 *Prices quoted for the first month of the plan include £25 introductory discount. Not combinable with any other code. Post and packaging charges may apply. Offer operated by and your resulting contract is with Jane Plan Ltd, a company wholly independent of woman&home, published by TI Media Limited. PLUS!…

Combat crepey eyelids “Your skin is at its finest here,” says Nadine Baggott, 56, a YouTuber whose Beauty For Grown Ups channel has 87,000 subscribers. “So it’s the first place to show signs of ageing. How does it affect your make-up? “Well, it’s hard to apply liner,” says Nadine. “You can end up with a juddery line.” But she’s adamant you shouldn’t skip this step. “You need the definition here!” HER ADVICE? “Take a super-soft pencil, and apply it as close to the lash line as possible. Then blend it with NARS Smudge Brush #45. Afterwards I recommend a matte powder shadow to add further definition and set it. You can also work the pencil up and underneath the lashes to add more definition.” Another challenge on more mature lids…

1 BASE Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow Hydrating Tinted Moisturiser, £35 I repeat-buy this as it gives me light, natural coverage and an instant radiance boost. I also really like her Beach Sticks, £30 each, they’re so versatile and give a natural, subtle-looking glow. 2 SKIN Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant, £28 I always carry this in my handbag, it’s my go-to for keeping my lips hydrated and is a perfect dry skin saviour. 3 HAIR ghd Platinum+ Styler, £179 I couldn’t live without my ghd hair straighteners. My hair is naturally quite wavy so they help tame the frizz and keep things looking sleek. 4 FACE Votary Cleansing Oil Rose Geranium and Apricot, £45 When I wake up I cleanse my face with this. It’s really nourishing…

We’re a nation of people who can’t throw things away, with 28% of us admitting to being hoarders, while one in 10 Brits say they haven’t decluttered for over five years*. But, when it comes to the contents in your medicine cabinet, having a clear-out could save space, cash and even stop you getting sick. “Any medication past its use-by date is dangerous,” warns Stuart Gale, chief pharmacist and owner of oxfordonlinepharmacy.co.uk. “They may be ineffective or could cause further harm as a result of degraded ingredients.” Can’t find an end date on the packet? Check for changes in appearance (has a liquid separated or changed colour?) and texture (tablets becoming softer, crumbling or sticking together). “Remember that some items, such as eye drops, can have limited expiry once opened,…

Reading keeps your brain young. With every page, our brain works to store and retain more information. Researchers from Emory University, US, discovered heightened connectivity in the left temporal cortex (in charge of memory storage) after participants read a book over nine days.…

1 WATCH A WEST END SHOW Catch Matthew Broderick making his West End debut in The Starry Messenger at Wyndham’s Theatre. 16 May-10 August; from £12.50; starrymessengerplay.com 2 ENJOY AN OPERA For stunning operas, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden is a must. Our tip for this year is Bryn Terfel (above) in Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov. 19 June-3 July; roh.org.uk 3 SEE A PLAY IN AN ICONIC LONDON THEATRE Experience plays as an Elizabethan would have done at Shakespeare’s Globe on the South Bank. The season runs from May to October and this year includes Henry IV, Henry V and A Midsummer Night’s Dream; shakespearesglobe.com 4 MARVEL AT THE BALLET The world-famous San Francisco Ballet company is back in London with pieces by some of the most exciting contemporary…

Explore the teeming, colourful cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on this superb-value Indian holiday. Step into a landscape said to have inspired Kipling as you spend two nights “on safari” in Ranthambhore National Park, the home of the legendary Tigers of Ranthambhore, and see the Red Fort, the Palace of the Winds and the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal. It’s the perfect introduction to one of the world’s most fascinating and alluring destinations, and you’ll be escorted by a tour manager on this 10-day trip. Your itinerary Day 1 FLY OVERNIGHT TO INDIA Day 2 INCLUDED QUWWAT-ULISLAM MOSQUE EXCURSION Arrive in Delhi to be greeted by your tour manager, then transfer to your hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, you have a chance to explore the ruins of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque…

Jacqui Smith, 58, from Cotes Heath, Staffordshire, has worked as an air steward, in sales, and as a vet’s assistant. In 2018, she capitalised on her passion for dogs and set up a business that helps wedding couples to share their big day with their four-legged guest of honour. ✢ THE IDEA It all came about in July 2015 when my daughter Rachael, now 32, wanted to have Spencer, her Flat-Coated Retriever, at her wedding. Spencer was a big part of Rachael’s life and it didn’t seem right not to have him there. In fact, she wanted him to be the ring bearer! So as the mother of the bride I was also responsible for making sure Spencer was well-behaved, looked good (he wore an embroidered lace collar made by…

Speckled egg Easter chocolate cake Four layers of chocolate heaven guaranteed to impress your guests! Serves 20 • Ready in 2hrs 240g unsalted butter 240g vegetable oil 100g cocoa powder 2tsp bicarbonate of soda 720g caster sugar 720g plain flour 4 eggs 240ml buttermilk 2tsp vanilla paste for the icing: 1kg icing sugar 500g unsalted butter, softened 2tbsp milk 2tsp vanilla paste a few drops of green food colouring 50g dark chocolate, melted “This is a real showstopping centrepiece and thankfully isn’t as tricky as it might look to put together” for the speckles: 1tbsp cocoa for the nest: 1 vermicelli pasta nest 75g dark chocolate, melted a handful of chocolate eggs (we used Hotel Chocolat Gianduja Eggs, and mini eggs) you will need: 4 x 18cm sandwich tins, greased…

The exact time I started to draw is hard to pinpoint. For as long I can remember, I was drawing, always drawing, to the exasperation of my parents. I drew on anything and everything: cereal boxes, books, official documents, letters from school complaining about me always drawing at school… As I approached my teens, my work became a little less about the destruction of all plain surfaces and more about channelling it into a portfolio. Now, I just want to keep drawing until I can no longer hold a pen. I moved to London in 1996, straight after my studies, and ended up staying for 21 years – I now live in the French Alps – but my French background definitely influences my art. My first influences came from French…

✢ For a classic country look, mix up patterns such as checks with florals, or stripes with chintz. ✢ Go for open storage and shelving in the kitchen to display your crockery and glassware. Mismatched dinnerware adds to the relaxed feel. ✢ Choose accessories made of natural materials such as wood, wool and wicker – anything with a rustic texture that evokes the countryside. ✢ Decorate with subtle, muted shades such as duck egg blue, buttercream yellow or sage green, and keep raw wooden beams natural rather than painting them white or cream.…

There’s nothing like those first rays of spring sunshine to highlight the need for a deep clean. And there’s nothing like the satisfaction of when the house is sparkling, there’s a fresh vase of daffodils on the table, and you’ve got your feet up with a well-earned cup of tea and nothing to do but enjoy it. Here are some tips from the experts on how to make the process as quick, easy and painless as possible using natural ingredients and cleaning innovations… Perfect pairing Whether you have laminate, tiles or vinyl, most floors would rather not get too much of a soaking. The Vileda SuperMocio 3Action XL Mop and Bucket with Torsion Wringer (RRP £6.99 each) is the number 1 bestselling mop and bucket brand in the UK*. The…

1 How Was It For You? by Virginia Nicholson (Viking) An insightful look at how things altered for women in the 60s, and the real impact these changes had. 2 Everybody Died, So I Got a Dog by Emily Dean (Hodder & Stoughton) Grief, love, family and an adorable Shih Tzu called Ray are at the heart of this poignant memoir. 3 The Secret Civil Servant by Anonymous (Headline) An astonishing look under the lid of the UK civil service, all set against the backdrop of Brexit. 4 A Cotswold Family Life by Clare Mackintosh (Sphere) Thriller scribe Clare switches to memoir writing for this enchanting set of musings on country life. 5 I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (Faber & Faber)…

The Durrells It’s the last ever series of the Corfu-set drama. This time, after Spiros’s wife makes an unexpected return, Louisa (Keeley Hawes) channels her heartbreak into opening a guest house, while Margo (Daisy Waterstone) starts her own beauty salon. ITV Cheat A four-part psychological thriller that stars Katherine Kelly as university professor Leah, who ends up dangerously involved with her student Rose (Molly Windsor). This case of academic deception has fatal consequences. ITV Comic Relief The stars of 1994 film Four Weddings and a Funeral  are reuniting for Comic Relief. Meanwhile, Lord Sugar will be setting the business tasks in The Celebrity Apprentice. BBC One Mother- FatherSon Richard Gere plays charismatic American media magnate Max, who owns a newspaper in this political drama. He’s starring alongside Helen McCrory, who…

Watching… The third season of True Detective. I was absolutely hooked on the first two, and am loving this new series too. Reading… Michelle Obama’s Becoming. It has been Amazon’s number one bestseller for record time and from the chapters I have read so far, the autobiography promises to be just as inspiring as she is. Listening to…The soundtrack to A Star is Born. I was really impressed by the movie and Lady Gaga has such an incredible voice. Eating at…The Real Greek restaurant in Muswell Hill, London. It’s one of my family’s favourite places to eat and it has such delicious food. Scrolling…Through the new Smooth Radio App on Global Player. It basically allows anyone to be their own DJ with all the great tunes that I get to…

TAURUS 21 APRIL – 21 MAY Your birthday month begins on the 20th, just in time for a few days when you need your wits about you. Painful news takes you by surprise but you can fix it. Call 0905 789 4151* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates. GEMINI 22 MAY – 22 JUNE Action planet Mars bombs into Gemini on the 1st and you’re very much not the April Fool. Your temper (as well as libido, by the way) gets hot, hot, hot. Call 0905 789 4152* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates. CANCER 23 JUNE – 23 JULY The 12th is busy, but anything you tackle then looks set for success. If someone’s selfishness has been driving you nuts, you might just crack and tell them.…

Daniel lives in London with his wife, make-up artist Louise Burton, and their two children, Mylo and Dixie. My earliest memories… I grew up in Essex and my childhood was kind of sports mad to begin with. My dad is an electrician to this day, and my mum was a bank cashier and she’s now my dad’s secretary – we weren’t particularly well off, but my dad was very hardworking and provided for us. As one of four boys, you had to shout to be heard, but home was really loving and supportive. My rise to fame… I always knew I was going to do performing in some sort of capacity. I was always jumping around, doing impressions, trying to make people laugh. I was the class clown. I mean,…

LAURA MILLAR is an award-winning travel writer who attributes her love of “abroad” to spending the first 16 years of her life holidaying in France every year, thanks to her French mother. Since then she’s ramped up the wanderlust and visited places as diverse as Iran, Haiti and Patagonia. She reveals the best places to explore nature in the UK on p116. Tell us about a time you tore up the rule book? Let’s just say that when you’ve found The One, why wait until the third date? ELISA ROCHE, w&h food director, started her culinary career on Channel 4’s Jamie’s Kitchen , in which Jamie Oliver taught 15 young people to cook as they launched east London restaurant, Fifteen. Jamie and Elisa became great friends, and have cooked together…

Moving house last month meant that I got to do the Mother of All Spring Cleans. Here was a chance to cast off the stuff I had been lugging around for half my adult life like one of those peasant women you see in a Bruegel painting pulling an ox-cart through a lake of mud. I was looking forward to releasing my inner Marie Kondo after my friend Claire gave me a tour of her own bedroom. Claire’s wardrobe rail was hung with a few well-chosen pieces, unlike mine, which was so crowded that multiple garments shared a single hanger and I could never find what I was looking for. I particularly liked the drawer in which Claire’s recently Kondoed pants were rolled up small and cute, like sleeping hamsters.…

Material girl Give your outfit extra appeal and opt for silky fabrics that add instant luxe. The contrasting burgundy panel helps add definition to your middle, while the matching top brings the look together. It’s guaranteed to turn heads at any spring fling. Shape-shifter The classic shirt has been given a cool, contemporary update with the injection of a bold geometric print. Make it the main event and keep the rest of your look simple, teaming it with sleek tailored trousers and colour-contrasting heels for a look that can take you straight from work to the bar. Boho beauty Pull out all the sartorial stops in a floor-sweeping maxi dress. The high neck and long hemline add to the drama. Minimal styling is needed with this showstopper, so keep accessories…

Celebrate in style with 20% off Phase Eight’s new season occasionwear. A spirited collection that encapsulates the feeling of dressing up and having fun, these beautiful pieces promise to be as memorable as your most important events. Dresses, jumpsuits and jackets are created in a zesty palette of watermelon, lime and pomegranate, with classic polka dot and blossoming floral prints. Feminine details add a romantic finish, and from summer weddings to garden parties and days at the races, these are clothes and accessories to feel fabulous in. Plus, if you need advice on getting that special occasion outfit, why not book a complimentary personal styling appointment to help you find the perfect look? Go to www.phase-eight.com and search for “personal styling”. HOW TO REDEEM For your 20% discount, visit…

It used to be said that “behind every great man there’s a great woman”. Yet these days, increasingly, the person in the limelight is the woman herself. More women than ever are the higher earners, and in public life, more often, the A-list celebrity half of a couple is female. So far so obvious. But how do the other halves of high-profile women reconcile themselves to their spouse’s success? And in the 21st century, should it even be an issue that one half of the partnership is more high-profile – and has greater earning power – than the other? Well, the answer seems to be... yes. “There’s still a whiff of outdated sexist attitudes hanging around the husband-of-a-successful-female relationship,” says body language expert Judi James. “This is often reflected in…

BEST CHILDHOOD PRESENT? MEGAN A Furby – an American robotic toy that wouldn’t be quiet! He drove my parents insane but I still remember how excited I was. SALLY A Tiny Tears doll. She could cry, she could wee – I’d always wanted to be a mummy. In fact, we still have her. DIANE My father was a fireman and when the War was on, a bomb must have destroyed a shop and he brought home a dummy baby that had been in its window. It was enormous – bigger than a real baby, and he made a cot for it too. FIRST HOLIDAY ABROAD? MEGAN Orlando, Florida, when I was two. SALLY It was when I was 17 and went to Spain with my girlfriends. DIANE I was 45.…

These issues mean your partnership is under threat and a simple MOT will not fix that. Relate ( relate.org.uk ) can help you answer the difficult questions. 1 NO SHARED GOALS Originally you had common aims. You were both totally career-focused but now one of you wants to drop everything and travel. Or the opposite – you planned to wind down with age but now one of you has discovered an all-consuming passion. Do you need a new partner who shares your new goals? 2 NO COMPATIBLE SEXUALITY Very often, medical advances and therapeutic support can help with sexual problems between couples – psychosexual counselling, for example, has a very high success rate – but many people instead walk away without even trying to get help. And some…

Founded by dermatologist and pharmacist Dr. Howard Murad, Murad delivers skin wellness through its unique science of water. The company continues to innovate high-performance technologies and formulas so their products, like your skin, just keep getting better. Known as the Father of Modern Wellness, Dr. Howard Murad’s impact on healthy living reaches far beyond his legendary skincare line. He showed us that skin is the window to wellness and coined the term “cultural stress”. Cultural stress is the unnecessary man-made stress we subject ourselves to in our attempt to live up to expectations. He says, “Our hyper-connected, fast-paced society triggers damaging stress hormones like cortisol that fatigue our bodies, and could show in our skin as dehydration, sallowness, roughness and deep expression lines. I have formulated Murad Revitalixir™ Recovery Serum…

Spring is here! Au revoir chilblains (am I the only person in the 21st century afflicted?) and hello rosé. How early is too early for rosé, anyway? Spring also means that soon I will have to bare my legs for the first time this year and, even with a hasty application of Dove Gradual Tan, they will be so blindingly white that passers-by will risk retina damage. ‘Your keyboard is 20,000 times dirtier than your toilet seat… I think mine is 50,000’ Traditionally, the start of spring also means it’s time for a clean. A major clean. You know what I mean – skirting boards, between the radiator panels and backs of cupboards that haven’t been exposed to light since the last Labour government. It’s time to de-clog the washing…

When you think about it, there’s a perfect high-low combination in every area of life: spendy handbag, high street dress; organic steak, cheap chocolate. In beauty, budget mascara is pretty unbeatable but it pays to spend on foundation. This is for obvious reasons – it goes all over your face – and, less obvious, liquid foundation sales rose 7% last year, so brands are investing big on developing sophisticated formulas like this bright spark here. Not just a looker, Guerlain L’Essentiel succeeds where so many bases fail, in being both sheer and skin-like yet seriously hard-wearing. It comes in 30 glowing shades, includes SPF 20, and has been proven to brighten pigmentation over time, meaning you can lowball your next concealer spend. High five to that. Guerlain L’Essentiel Natural Glow…

THE PLUS-ONE TEENAGE DAUGHTER Executive editor Miranda McMinn visited London’s Mandarin Oriental Spa for some mum and daughter togetherness to celebrate Lucia’s 18th birthday. ✢ First impressions The spa is located in the fabulously smart Mandarin Oriental – opposite Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, pretty much the poshest postcode in the country! Gold and lacquer abound and orchids are artfully placed everywhere. In the changing room there are lots of thoughtful touches, like a jewellery tray inside each locker. ✢ And… relax The spa is serene and the surfaces are soothing dark stone. In the dimly lit relaxation room, recliner beds each have their own reading light and there is a supply of nuts, fruit, tea and water, as well as stress balls and “mindfulness” colouring pads. ✢ The treatments I…

Never be lured into paying more to stock up on big-name brands. “With medicine, the name and brand is irrelevant to how well it works,” says James O’Loan, director and superintendent pharmacist at doctor-4-u.co.uk . “They all must be manufactured to the exact same standard.” ✢ PAINKILLERS Own-brand painkillers contain the same active ingredients as branded ones. In Panadol, it’s paracetamol. In Nurofen, it’s ibuprofen. SAVE around £1.90 ✢ SORE THROAT Gargling with a 300mg tablet of aspirin dissolved in water is as effective as a pricey anaesthetic spray. SAVE £6.10 ✢ ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION “Viagra is a household name,” says James. “But the drug itself is Sildenafil. It’s identical in every way, apart from the price.” SAVE £5 ✢ ECZEMA Aqueous cream contains the same liquid paraffin…

Q I’ve had heartburn for years, and investigations show I have a hiatus hernia. Lansoprazole helps my symptoms, and my doctor has said I should take it long-term, but is this safe? I’ve read it might increase my risk of having a broken bone. A When you have a hiatus hernia there is a weakness in the diaphragm, the large muscle sheet that separates the chest and abdominal cavities. This means the top part of the stomach protrudes into the chest cavity, making it easier for strong acid digestive juices in the stomach to reflux back up the oesophagus towards the throat, causing heartburn and pain behind the breastbone. Rarely, the cells lining the lower oesophagus become inflamed, and this can slightly increase the risk of developing oesophageal cancer. The…

1 EAT Neon Pigeon is such a cool restaurant and the Japanese-inspired fusion food is my favourite. Try the Tokyo houmous and soft shell crab; neonpigeonsg.com 2 DRINKS Cocktails at ATLAS Bar on the ground floor of Parkview Square. It’s like a stunning Art Deco palace and you will feel as though you are in a movie. It has one of the best collections of spirits and Champagnes in Asia, and is one of the top 50 bars in the world; atlasbar.sg 3 BRUNCH PS Cafe in Dempsey. Sit outside and enjoy the gardens and wonderful food on a lazy Sunday morning; pscafe.com 4 GET ACTIVE A short ferry trip takes you to Pulau Ubin Island. Hire bikes and cycle around the island, enjoying encounters with cheeky monkeys; wildsingapore.com/ubin/ 5…

1 TAKE IN A FASHION SHOW The V&A’s Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition traces the history of one of the 20th century’s most influential couturiers. From £20, until 14 July; vam.ac.uk 2 GO TO AN OPEN-AIR GIG Hyde Park plays host to some massive concerts as part of this year’s Barclaycard British Summer Time, including Bob Dylan and Neil Young on Friday 12 July, and Robbie Williams on Sunday 14 July; bst-hydepark.com 3 EXPERIENCE IMMERSIVE ART Get your modern art credentials up to date at Tate Modern’s Olafur Eliasson exhibition of captivating installations. From £17, 11 July-5 January; tate.org.uk 4 BOOK A HISTORY TOUR Join Fortnum & Mason’s official archivist and historian on a 90-minute private tour of one of the world’s most beautiful grocery stores, stopping off to…

IN SEASON It’s a bumper time for salad crops right now, with rhubarb, radishes, lettuce, sorrel, Jersey Royals, broccoli and spinach all ripe for the picking. And three spears for asparagus! The vitamin-packed British veggies are now popping up until summer solstice on 21 June. FRUITY FRIES With two bananas in every bottle, Rubies in the Rubble’s Top Banana ketchup is the sunniest way to perk up fish and chips or veggie burgers. Even better, all of Rubies’s condiments are made from “wonky” fruit and veg that would otherwise go to waste. £2.99, Ocado or order from rubiesintherubble.com EXTREME EGG Clarence Court ostrich eggs are back this month! Weighing in at nearly 2kg each, one egg is roughly equivalent to 24 large hen’s eggs and takes around 45 minutes to…

THE DIETARY SPECIAL Handmade in Cornwall, this vegan-friendly chocolate orange egg is gluten and dairy free. Buttermilk Free From Choc Orange Egg, £6 for 185g, Sainsbury’s THE BIG BUNNY Fans of white chocolate will enjoy this handsome beast! Moulded in a traditional style with thick chocolate, it weighs in at 440g. Hopping good value, £6, Sainsbury’s MOST NOSTALGIC The Jazzie Egg is a simple but quality milk chocolate egg covered with hundreds and thousands, and comes in a jolly polka dot box at a bargain price. £4 for 150g, M&S THE TALKING POINTS Not strictly an egg, Heston Blumenthal’s chocolate teapot comes with cocoa nib “tea leaves” and melt-in-the-mouth “sugar cubes”. The Chocolate Teapot, £20 for 240g, Waitrose Meanwhile, Hotel Chocolat’s sandwich is made from white chocolate, caramel milk and…

SPRING FLING This gorgeous new print of lush green cacti, pastel pink pots and a chirpy bird friend from Thornback & Peel gives me the perfect excuse to update my kitchen textiles for spring. DESIGNER DUO Furniture favourite Ercol has teamed up with textile brand Flock to create limited-edition chairs. Two new Flock fabrics upholster Ercol’s award-winning Marino chair, which has been given a fresh new look in Forest Green and Indigo Blue, creating an iconic design that’s sure to have you sitting pretty. BREATH OF FRESH AIR Supporting the mantra of “no more nasties” in our cleaning products, Method and Wilton London are two brands that are dedicated to using all-natural, biodegradable ingredients. They’ll keep your home sparkling clean all the while looking far prettier too! Multi-surface cleaner in…

As the days get lighter and brighter, and we all emerge from our winter slumbers, it’s time to throw open the windows, pack away the heavy knits and give your home not just a spring clean, but a spring makeover too. The Easter weekend provides the perfect excuse to decorate your home with fresh fragrant flowers, pretty pastel colours and whimsical rabbit characters for a little seasonal cheer. “Choose decorations that can be kept up around your home throughout spring and summer, such as faux flower arrangements and pretty floral bunting”…

PICK OF THE MONTH Reasons to be Cheerful by Nina Stibbe (Viking) Nina Stibbe is an author of such effortless wit that she could turn a shopping list into a bestseller, but happily she’s gone to the trouble of writing a novel instead. Her latest offering follows the pragmatic Lizzie who, at 18, has just accepted her first job at a dentist’s surgery and moved away from her alcoholic mother – a decision that may or may not be a wise one. Well-observed and genuinely funny. MODERN ROMANCE The Day We Met by Roxie Cooper (Ebury) At first glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was simply another light-hearted slice of “will they, won’t they?” romantic fiction – but it offers so much more in terms of emotional…

What’s trending now… Nothing says spring like flowers, so enjoy the season’s finest. The Woodland Trust lists its top bluebell-carpeted woodlands, such as Duncliffe Wood, near Shaftesbury in Dorset, which has waymarked trails and is packed with wild flowers (woodlandtrust.org.uk). For a meander with retail therapy, the RHS Cardiff Flower Show will have daffodils galore, talks and demos (12-14 April; rhs.org.uk), while the Harrogate Spring Flower Show will have inspirational show gardens (25-28 April; flowershow.org.uk). For a light-hearted look at life as an adult, what could be better than comedians? In the BBC’s GrownUpLand podcast, Mae Martin, Bisha K Ali, Ned Sedgwick and Steve Ali discuss subjects as diverse as friendship, exercise, music, trust and being cool. It has all the warmth of having a chat with your friends and…

ARIES 21 MARCH – 20 APRIL The new moon on the 5th is a power moment. Great for starting projects and being proactive. Mid-month (19th), love reaches a turning point. YOUR MONTHS AHEAD  Have you undervalued yourself? Not given yourself credit for talents or achievements? Opportunities to increase your self-esteem are coming and money’s involved. Like wondering if you deserve what you have (you do). Call 0905 789 4150* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates.…

She’s been in the industry for over 40 years, so it’s no wonder Julie Walters has become picky when it comes to taking on new acting jobs. But while she’s reluctant to take on any hard-hitting roles at 69, Julie admits she’ll never retire fully. “I’ll always do little bits,” she says. The actress’s latest role in Wild Rose is playing a struggling Glaswegian mum to Rose-Lynn, a young aspiring country singer, played by Jessie Buckley, who Julie describes as “such a talent”. Rose-Lynn was recently released from jail, during which time Julie’s character, Marion, had been looking after her two young children – and she’s not keen for her daughter to run off to Nashville to pursue her country singing dreams. For Julie, relating to…

Your phone’s beeping reminders at you, you’ve got 57 unopened emails, three birthday cards to send and urgent bills that won’t pay themselves. Bang goes that coffee date or walk in the sunshine. Once again, your free minutes are squeezed to nothing as you ask yourself, “Where did the day go?” Don’t despair! We’re here with seven smart moves to free up quality time and space to do something you love. 1 SIMPLIFY YOUR TO-DO LIST If you “to do” by phone, keep stress levels down by using basic Notes rather than Reminders, which will keep pinging all the time. If you get a “real-time” admin request, for example a friend asking for someone’s email address, do it there and then. If you prefer to write, invest in a beautiful…

WELL TAILORED Enjoy the versatility of the classic blazer and trouser combo – wear together as a suit, or mix and match with other items. We’ve dressed it down with a simple T-shirt and loafers for a casual run-around look. Or wear with heels for added sexiness, perfect for evening drinks. STYLE TIP Don’t spend a fortune on a white tee as the colour is difficult to keep pristine OFF-DUTY CHIC A forever biker is a key investment. For longevity we recommend sticking to timeless black, navy or brown. A sweatshirt is perfect for relaxed weekends – try teaming one with wide-leg trousers, a great alternative to jeans. STYLE TIP Go hands-free with a small cross-body bag just big enough for the essentials DRESSED UP A midi dress with sleeves…

A full outfit with minimal effort required, a silhouette-skimming printed midi dress will solve any sartorial dilemma. A striking green hue and a striped jacquard print gives this dress day-tonight potential. Complete with a waist-whittling knot detail. The voluminous sleeves add a dose of drama to this pretty floral number while the high neckline gives it a vintage twist. With a nipped-in waist and a flowy skirt allowing for plenty of movement, this dress will have you hitting the dance floor. There’s never a better time to don romantic ruffles, and this unapologetically feminine frock ticks all the boxes. This wrap dress will look just as chic with sandals as it would with boots – cost-per-wear potential upped. Florals are a cheerful choice and no one does it better than…

The next royal baby, Harry and Meghan’s firstborn, will be the Queen’s eighth great-grandchild. It sounds remarkable, but Her Majesty is by no means alone – this is a golden age for great-grandparenting. Because the baby boomers tended to have their babies in their mid-twenties and are also living longer, they’re more likely than ever before to become great-grandparents. So what does that mean for a family? Firstly, today’s great-grandparents could fill the role we traditionally associate with grandparents. With the average age of becoming a grandparent now at only 49, they might well be busy working when the next generation arrives. “It might be the great-grandparent who has the free time to provide a safe pair of hands, and have fun with the children,” says consultant psychologist Dr Andrew…

Sheila Hancock, CBE, 86, lives in London. She has three daughters – Melanie, Joanna and Abigail, who are all actresses. NIVEA CREAM I hardly wear any make-up, and I’ve heard the older you get the less you should wear because otherwise it just gets into all the crinkles. I find it worrying when people try to look younger – it never works. A BEAUTIFUL WORK BASKET I remember one Christmas when my parents didn’t have much money. My dad was in the shed for weeks on end, secretly making me a beautiful work basket. GIVING THINGS AWAY I’ve given away loads of clothes. What I’m wearing today is a jacket I bought from a charity shop in Edinburgh and a blouse I’ve had for 40 odd years – I live…

Is your relationship running smoothly or are there bumps in the road? Take our quiz for a headline judgement on the health of your relationship – and how to approach your own partnership MOT. Compared with five years ago, how much time do you spend together? a) You spend less time together and that worries you b) You spend as much or more time together and are happy with that c) You spend less time together and you prefer that You would describe your mutual communication style as: a) Functional or fraught – you’re fine talking about tasks but emotional conversations can be difficult b) Rich and regular – you talk a lot and can say anything to each other c) Sparse and strained – to be honest, you don’t…

What makes a dinner party super stylish? How do you create an elegant table setting with minimum effort? And how do the truly chic pick out the perfect finishing touches? For some tastemakers, all these things are second nature. These are the women who fashion brands, celebrities and designers use to dream up their events. So we asked three of these influential experts to share their know-how and give us the low-down on the easy ways we can all sprinkle some of their stardust over our lives… TABLES & FLOWERS Tastemaker: Fiona Leahy Creative director and event designer Fiona Leahy originally worked in fashion – as assistant creative director at Garrard alongside Jade Jagger – before she decided to venture into events, dreaming up some of the most beautiful parties…

BUDGET BUY Natural Collection Volume Mascara, £2.49 at Boots, gives glossy, full lashes, doesn’t smudge and costs less than a coffee! THIS MARCH... I’M PLUMPING UP  MY SKIN with Balance Me Tri-Molecular Hyaluronic Serum, £30. NIXING BLEMISHES with Epionce Purifying Spot Gel, £36. LINING MY EYES with Lord & Berry Smudgeproof Waterproof Eyeliner, £14 at Next. SMOOTHING WRINKLES with Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream, £62. OLD FAVOURITE Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Roller Ball, £18 , is like instant Zen. And breathe…. NEW LOVE YSL Touche Éclat High Cover Radiance Concealer, £26 , is genius at subtly concealing spots in one click and swipe. Goodness in, nasTies ouT New from Clarins are nine vegan products infused with 88% natural ingredients including fruits, floral waters and plant extracts to hydrate,…

1 BEST FOR: CURLY HAIR Color Wow Dream Coat For Curly Hair, £24 Hair type Made for very curly hair. If you thought gels and creams were your only salvation, think again. How to use Spray through wet hair before leaving to dry naturally. Benefits Beautifully shiny, distinguishable curls with bags of shine, and not even a smidgen of product residue. 2 BEST FOR: HEAVY-DUTY SLEEKENING Lee Stafford Coco Loco Coconut Balm, £6.99 Hair type For coarse and/or curly hair that’s crying out for moisture. How to use Apply with a light hand to your ends, which tend to be drier and more porous. Use on wet hair or to sleeken dry hair on the hop. Benefits This beauty nourishes as it smooths. 3 BEST FOR: FLYAWAYS Toni&Guy Flyaway Taming…

JUST BEFORE Deep-clean before you apply for maximum absorption. This gentle foamy cleanser contains 55% soothing cica (centella asiatica), a healing plant that acts as a pre-emptive strike against any irritation. It’s Skin Tiger Cica Calming Cleanser, £20.99 JUST AFTER Wait 15 minutes after applying retinol then hydrate. This is incredibly sophisticated, with technology to combat the effects of stress on skin and boost receptiveness to active ingredients. It plumps and protects from pollution too. Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream, £75 THE NEXT DAY No prizes for guessing SPF is crucial. This launches in March, and has robust UVA/UVB protection, plus a fresh watery texture that sits nicely under make-up. Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel SPF50, £28 w&h…

JOY DANSETTE, IN HER SIXTIES, FROM OXFORDSHIRE I was busy working full-time as a secondary school teacher. I went to the gym and swimming four times a week. I was healthy – or so I thought – although always quite tired at the end of the day. When I turned 60, the NHS screening kit came through the post. I thought it was pointless to complete it as there was nothing wrong with me, so I left it for two weeks. But then, while I was off work, I decided I may as well take the test. I was then sent a letter asking me to go for a colonoscopy, a camera test to look inside my bowel. In the recovery room after the procedure, I was told they’d found…

Best for... STUNNING SEASCAPES PORTLOE, CORNWALL Sitting at the tip of the Roseland Peninsula, and one of the prettiest villages in Cornwall, Portloe is home to several steep-sided valleys with cliffs that tumble down into the sea. Its photogenic good looks have seen it star as a film location over the years, in the likes of steamy drama The Camomile Lawn . Smuggling was rife here in the 18th and 19th centuries, with fishermen bringing home French brandy and hiding it in various coves. Today, more legal pastimes include visiting the picturesque Caerhays Castle, or the nearby fishing town of St Mawes. Where to stay Surrounded by cliffs and windswept headlands forming a beautiful part of the Cornish Coastal Footpath, The Lugger Hotel sits in the heart of Portloe, right…

Soak up all that Europe’s most cultured river has to offer, with its wealth of grand baroque architecture, medieval cities, picture-perfect towns and the sights that inspired Strauss and Mozart. Stepping aboard, you will appreciate the superb surroundings of your floating luxury hotel for the next seven nights, with spacious and well-appointed cabins or suites, private bathrooms and meticulously prepared fine cuisine. Cruises depart April to October 2019. From Budapest, we slip our moorings and head on our journey north to Esztergom, spending the morning exploring its historic centre, before continuing westwards to the beautiful old town of Bratislava. Navigating through Lower Austria, we then reach the romantic town of Dürnstein, where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned. After, we visit the remarkable monastery in Melk, with its 200m-long Emperor’s Gallery,…

If you’re married or in a civil partnership, and one of you is a basic rate taxpayer on less than £46,350 a year, while the other doesn’t earn enough to pay tax, you can claim free money. Everyone can earn a certain amount each year without paying tax,  known as the Personal Allowance. The Marriage Allowance transfers 10% of the Personal Allowance between spouses, so the taxpayer pays less tax. That’s worth £238 this year – but you can go right back to April 2015, totting up to a hefty £900. Go to gov.uk/marriage-allowance…

Scotland was where I’d always wanted to live, so when my husband Alan asked if I wanted to move there, I was overjoyed,” says Rebecca Checkley-Mills. The opportunity to relocate came about when Alan, who had been in the RAF in Oxfordshire, got a job working for a commercial airline based in Edinburgh. “My grandfather was Scottish,” says Rebecca, “so I had happy memories and roots here. Scotland has always been my second home as we used to come during the summer holidays.” So Rebecca, Alan and their daughter Eliza headed north. At first, the family rented outside Perth and waited for the right house to come up – it took a year. “The search was dictated by the distance to the airport as we needed to be within an…

01 IDEAL FOR: A SMALL SECOND BEDROOM If you’ve barely room to move in a guest bedroom, but still have lots of clothes that need a home, try a wardrobe with a sliding door. This one features a rail on one side, and on the other, five drawers plus a half-height wardrobe with removable shelves. Malvern Mink large wardrobe with sliding door, £999, The Cotswold Company 02 IDEAL FOR: KEEPING A LID ON CLUTTER Perfect for the foot of the bed, this glamorous storage bench will stow away everything from books and magazines, to shoes, bags and cushions from the bed each night. With gas piston hinges for a soft-close action, keep clutter and chaos at bay. Asare storage bench, £199, Made 03 IDEAL FOR: STORING EXTRA BEDDING Made from…

Rosanna Ley is the bestselling author of eight novels. The former creative writing tutor lives in Dorset. Her new book, The Lemon Tree Hotel , (Quercus) is out now. A typical work day for me includes writing and a decent walk – usually along the cliffs where I live to get some sea air and hopefully some inspiration. If I write a scene from scratch and do a first revision in one day, I’m ecstatic. Writing evolves in a way that is both surprising and exciting. I used to go with the flow, but lately I have become a meticulous planner. But creative writing is also about spontaneity, so I prefer things not to be written in stone. My writing room has a sea view. My…

After life Ricky Gervais plays nice guy Tony, whose life changes when his wife (Kerry Godliman) dies. He then decides to punish the world by doing whatever he likes and not caring about the consequences. Netflix Turn up Charlie A new comedy that sees Idris Elba play failed club DJ Charlie who gets employed as a nanny to spoilt problem child Gabby (Frankie Hervey), the daughter of a mega-rich actor (JJ Feild). Netflix American Gods This drama, following the battle between the traditional Gods and their modern counterparts like Mr Wednesday (Ian McShane) and Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle), is back. Amazon Prime…

✢ Celebrate the Bard’s birthday on 23 April by going to see The Taming of The Shrew at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. Running until 31 August; rsc.org.uk ✢ Opening on 1 May, Opera North’s new concert staging of Verdi’s Aida is a spectacular Egyptian fantasy of war, love and conflicting loyalties. On until 11 June; operanorth.co.uk ✢ Kew Gardens is the setting for a fabulous exhibition of glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly. Book now for day and magical night-time experiences. From 13 April-27 October; kew.org…