Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2016 i Woman & Home

FROM OUR COVER SHOOT: Baroness Karren Brady explains five things she’d tell her younger self. Watch it now by clicking on womanandhome.com/karrenfivethings JO MALONE’S SECRETS Read our feature on page 63? Now discover five things you didn’t know about Jo Malone at womanandhome.com/jomalone DESSERT IN A DASH You’ll love our super-easy desserts with just three ingredients – view our video now at womanandhome.com/threedesserts LOVE YOUR GREY! We’ve all the expert tricks, tips and how-tos that will make you adore having grey hair – watch it now at womanandhome.com/greyhair EDITORIAL COMPLAINTS We work hard to achieve the highest standards of editorial content, and we are committed to complying with the Editors’ Code of Practice (https://www.ipso.co.uk/IPSO/cop.html) as enforced by IPSO. If you have a complaint about our editorial content, you can email…

1920s   “A magazine of delightful suggestions” is how w&h introduced itself in November 1926. Early issues reflected the lives of a generation of women running a home and family. With few labour-saving devices though, their time was pressured. A cookery course for “the busy woman” who “wants to be a good cook but has NO time for attending classes” strikes a chord with us today. Beauty advice however has come a long way. “Miss Beauty” suggests using pumice stone and bleach to achieve smooth white legs! And the fashion pages in the first issue included a pattern so women can knit their own “dainty” lingerie. Some things never change though... we were just as interested in the Royal Family then as now. One article about the baby Princess Elizabeth…

“How can I achieve a work-life balance, and have you found an answer?” ADELE KARREN Of all the things I do in my career, the juggling is the hardest. My whole life has been: sports day, board meeting, nativity play, board meeting. And when I’m at one, I know I should be at the other. I think guilt is one of the traits that women carry with them. It doesn’t only relate to children either – it could be friends or parents you don’t see often enough. And the last thing on your list is always yourself, and sometimes that’s difficult. I can’t give you a formula that will work, but when you accept that you can only do what you can do, it really helps. Sometimes work is more…

KARREN I’ve worked in a male-dominated business all my life, and I’ve met some of the most aggressive people one could ever come across. Things have changed, but there are some men who will still try to bully you. You always regret the things you don’t do, you very rarely regret the things you do. If someone speaks to you in an inappropriate way, you need to tell them it’s inappropriate straight away. Most people just need a small push-back to stop their behaviour. Make sure you value yourself. Having integrity in everything you do, and conducting yourself in a way where people want to give you respect, is important. w&h…

TALKING TEXTURE Cord? velvet? Those signature 70s must-haves are back. Make them look modern with mini prints and super luxurious faux fur. PRETTY IN PINK Go a little a bit girly for a change and layer up in sumptuous wrapped suede, or a sling-me-on faux fur. Who says you can’t go all out with oversized jewels? FULL FLORAL Going to brave print? Then choose one piece and wear it head to toe. A swishing long-sleeve maxi will see you through the season. Just add strappy, stacked heels and a gleaming gold belt. LUXE LACE It’s the little details that make all the difference. A luxurious lace trim, a cleverly styled layer, eye-popping earrings... look for rich autumnal colours and indulge in pom-poms, sparkle and seriously sexy stilettos. PRINT WORKS Sumptuous…

MEET OUR PROFESSIONAL DANCERS… GIOVANNI PERNICE, 26, is single and joined the show last year performing with Georgia May Foote. This year, he is partnered with presenter Laura Whitmore. JOANNE CLIFTON, 32, joined the show in 2014 and is the younger sister of professional dancer Kevin Clifton. This year she is partnered with sports presenter Ore Oduba, while brother Kevin is partnered with singer and TV presenter Louise Redknapp. “We get the entire production team to learn some of the steps each series so they understand the moves” THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER LOUISE RAINBOW has worked as the executive producer on BBC’s Strictly since 2013. She is married with grown-up twin daughters. Every year, I say to the Strictly team, “Don’t worry about…

1 Know your roots I’ll never stop making music. It has been part of my life since childhood. I grew up in West Ewell, Surrey, but during the War I stayed with my grandparents in south Wales. They were poor but it never felt like that. They lived in a little house that my sister and I thought was amazing. It was stone with no electricity or running water, and there was a loo at the bottom of the garden. Our grandparents spoke little English and I learned Welsh. There was a great sense of freedom. I used to walk down the village street singing. 2 Love the new I couldn’t just be an oldies act, singing the same hits year after year. It’s important to me to perform new…

SIGNATURE DISH Nigel Slater’s lamb, which is roasted over potatoes so all the tasty juices drip down into them. FOOD HELL Grapefruit – it’s the only thing I don’t like. MOST WANTED GUEST Prince William or Harry – I’d love to interview them. ZEN TIME Walking my dogs and sitting by the river where I live. WORST TRAIT Impatience. GREATEST FEAR Pain – physical and emotional. MOTTO If you shake a snow globe just let it settle. The crap will go and the view will be revealed. THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOU Energetic, committed and loyal.…

SWEETS FOR MY SWEET Artisan sweets that are divine. Lavolio Miniature Tin, £5, exclusive to fortnumandmason.com TOP TASTE Award-winning products including balsamic vinegar, black tapenade, preserves lemons, and more. Belazu Christmas Hamper, £45, belazu.com SIMPLY THE BEST The Sturia Tentations gift box has 15g each of top-quality Vintage and Oscietra caviars and two mother of pearl caviar spoons, £59, exclusive to Harrods SHAKE IT UP Black Cow Vodka and gold-plated Yukiwa Cocktail Shaker gift pack, £99, harveynichols.com  and in store THE GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING With a subscription to Le Petit Ballon you get two top bottles of wine every month. From £74.70 for 3 months, lepetitballon.co.uk COVER UP W&H Food Director Jane’s favourite apron: hand-made, heavy-duty and gorgeous from a mother-and-sons…

SKINNY If you’ve got it, flaunt it… slim-cut skinnies will make your legs look their longest THE RULES • Get that extra bit of movement by choosing a super-stretchy denim. • Lift and trim your bottom and thighs and pick some skinnies with secret built-in support. • Back pockets will work miracles – they’ll slim and trim in seconds. THE TWIST One of the biggest AW16 denim trends has to be a super-cool frayed hem. £42, 6-18, River Island THE BELT BAR BOOTCUT They are your go-to saviours that create a slimmer structure for curvier legs and thighs THE RULES • Go for thicker fabrics that won’t lose shape as you wear them. • Smooth out that stomach and choose bootcuts that sit higher on the waist for…

“Think of face oil as a builder tha t works deeper to str engthen skin; a serum is a feeder, working intensively; moisturiser stops moisture from coming out.” Is this my forever eyeliner? When the ultimate indelible eyeliner is created by the Queen of Tattoo, Kat Von D, herself… it’s just gotta last all night, right? Available in the UK for the very first time due popular demand from her obsessed fans, check out Debenhams for this full-on collection that mixes bold with stubborn for the best non-slip make-up money can buy. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, £16. Jo’s just loving… My new baby : the Clarisonic Mia FIT, £155, a super-compact, 60-second mini-sized sonic cleanser thatÕs meant to be six times better than using a…

“I’m thrilled with the results HEATHER GREEN If you could change one thing about your hair, what would it be? It’s true there are as many hair issues out there as products to fix them, but if there’s one great leveller, it’s volume – we all want that. If your hair is fine you’ll know how tricky it can be to create lasting volume without stiffness or overloading fine strands – that’s where John Frieda Luxurious Volume can help. This collection is tailor-made for fine hair, helping every woman achieve “great hair day” confidence all week long. With the 7 Day Volume collection, all it takes is three simple steps to create beautiful, lasting lift through multiple washes, as two w&h readers discovered in our volume-boosting trial… “I generally like…

EVERY DAY you need to do: 15 minutes of incidental exercise. An upper body and a lower body stretch from the Simple Stretch list (overleaf). EACH WEEK must include: 2 x 30-minute workouts. 2 x 5-minute tone-ups. 30+-minute workouts Perfect for raising energy levels, boosting metabolism, burning calories and helping to tone all your muscles, a couple of longer structured workouts should make your weekly to-do list. The rise in endorphins and increased activity within the mitochondria, your muscles’ powerhouses will all make you feel on top of your game. IF YOU’RE HEADING TO THE GYM… Good classes for maximum fitness benefits and energy boosting include: Spinning Circuits Aerobics/Zumba 30-40-minute sessions on cardiovascular machines such as the cross-trainer, treadmill, bike and rower will all work well to get blood and…

When my brother was 16, the madness struck and all our subsequent childhood memories are ugly ones LOUISE, 52, lives in Oxfordshire with her husband, Jonathan. They have three children, Florence, 19, Isaac, 16, and Gregory, 14. My memories of my cherubic blonde brother when we were little are all happy ones. He’s just 15 months older than me, and we formed a united front of games and giggles when our younger sister Helen burst on to the scene when we were four and three. As kids, we were loved and cherished, and neighbours fondly referred to us as “the perfect family”. Ross was startlingly artistic and musical, sketching portraits with photographic accuracy and sailing through Grade 8 on piano and clarinet. But when Ross was 16, the madness struck…

Susan Sutton, 61, from Coventry, is married with three adult children. When I started out, I thought all my family were of fairly humble, if worthy, origins. I knew my ancestors on my father’s side, the Burlinghams, helped build the world’s first Iron Bridge at Coalbrookdale in Telford, which I’m very proud of. I’m also related to the two families (The Gurneys and the Alexanders) who started Barclays Bank although, sadly, my family aren’t very rich! Then, more interestingly, by following my family’s Quaker connections, I found I’m third cousin (six times removed!) of prison reformer and philanthropist Elizabeth Fry, who appeared on the back of the five pound note. Even more excitingly though, I found I’m related to Queen Anne Boleyn. My great-grandfather x14 on my father’s side, William…

Avoid expensive data charges Find it hard to track how much data your phone uses up each month? Onavo Extend can minimise usage and the pesky extra charges that come with it, by routing all internet-related actions through its servers. There, data is minimised where possible, for example by limiting use of apps that use lots of data, before being sent to your device. Free on iOS and Android. Make easy payments between friends PayFriendz is a money-sending app, where you can send and request money, via messaging, from your contacts list – eliminating the need for sort codes and account numbers. Add money to your account using your debit card. Once you’ve added a friend, you can get paid or pay them. Free on iOS and Google Play. Use…

Entrusting your anaesthetised body to a robot might sound like a terrifying prospect, but it happens around the world every day – and for very good reason. One of the most popular robotic surgery systems, Da Vinci, launched in 1999 and has been used on over two million patients so far. Surgeons control the machine from a console, using natural hand movements that are relayed to the tiny robotic instruments in the patient’s body. Since the tools are so small, they can enter the body through much tinier cuts – the machine can remove your uterus through your belly button! – and the surgeon benefits from a 3D view of organs with precision control. Soon, we might not need the surgeon at all. Earlier this year a machine called STAR…

IN SEASON It’s pumpkin season again for lanterns, soups and gratins. Less glamorous is celeriac – eat it raw with a mustard mayo. The game season is in full swing so treat yourself to a roast pheasant or partridge. Apples are still plentiful. Mussels and oysters are great at this time too. BOOK OF THE MONTH ScandiKitchen: Fika & Hygge by Bronte Aurell (Ryland Peters & Small, £16.99). A stunner celebrating cakes and bakes from across Scandinavia. It features classic recipes such as Real Cinnamon Buns to less famous bakes; try Finnish Doughnuts and Swedish Scones. With great Christmas baking inspiration too. NEW KIT Marks & Spencer has launched a new chef range. It looks gorgeous and is robust and practical to boot. We’re lusting after the glam…

Wine bores are some of the most tedious people in the world. Believe me, when you do what I do for a living, geeks are always very keen to tell you about their verticals of this and their horizontals of that. I love wine, but when it becomes a form of vinous stamp-collecting, I lose interest in the subject. That doesn’t mean that wine isn’t worth discussing. In fact, one of the pleasures of opening a bottle (apart from drinking it, of course) is chatting about it with your friends. Some wines are so bad that they’re conversation stoppers, but plenty more have interesting stories to reveal. I’ve selected six wines to get you talking as well as sipping. Each has a different point of interest, whether it’s a literary…

THE WOW FACTOR TOP TABLE LAMPS PERFECT PENDANTS FLOOR SHOW THE NEW CHANDELIERS WORK DETAIL 70s REVIVAL   LIGHT BULB MOMENT No longer a boring necessity, light bulbs have been given the designer treatment – so show your credentials with something funky! As you would expect, they are all low-energy too. Try Gaia 6W 2200K E27 tinted LED, £39, talaled.com ; Short tube coil filament light bulb, £15.60, urbancottageindustries.com , both pictured; Original 001, £22.95, plumen.com ; Vita Idea LED light bulb, £11.70, smallable.com GET CONNECTED: THE LATEST TECH Wireless, app-controlled lighting is the way forward, combining energy-efficient LED lights with intuitive technology to customise your lighting routine from anywhere in the world. It’s no longer prohibitively expensive, and…

QUIRKY PLEASURE Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple (W&N) On the day Eleanor Flood resolves to improve her life in all areas, everything possible goes wrong and sabotages her resolutions – from her bullied son to her missing husband, and a visitor from the past. Wild, wacky and fun. GHOST STORY Thin Air by Michelle Paver (Orion) A mountaineering attempt on Kanchenjunga in the footsteps of an earlier expedition is fraught with superstition and terror. As the tension mounts so does the overwhelming dread. Chilling in every sense. COMIC DELIGHT Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood (Hogarth) In this inspired and witty reimagining of The Tempest, dismissed theatre director Felix Phillip teaches Shakespeare in a men’s prison, and plans to stage The Tempest as a vehicle for his revenge. SPINE-CHILLING CRIME…

1 Style Never Goes Out Of Fashion Cobra & Bellamy make aff ordable, classically designed watches. Pictured is our latest addition to the range the LAMORNA, a ladies watch retro in design easy to read, a joy to behold. Available in Stainless Steel at £115, 21 Carat or Rose Gold Plated at £125 with a black or brown hand stitched leather strap. Th e LAMORNA is the watch we have all been waiting for. www.cobrabellamywatches.co.uk Tel. 01736 732 112 2 Krill Oil - Th e New Super Omega 3 Omega 3 in Krill Oil is in a unique phospholipid structure which reseach now suggests is superior to fi sh oil omega 3 when delivered to the body for maximum omega health benefi ts. Krill Oil also provides astaxanthin a highly…

What can we expect from The Girl on the Train ? The film has this slow burn to it. There are no twists in the classic thriller sense, but there are twists. There’s something beautiful about that way of storytelling. I think people who have read the book will be very happy with it because it honours the book. Did you always see yourself as a performer? I was always acting, doing after-school plays, but I didn’t do well at school, so by ninth or 10th grade, I was going to a boarding school. Washington, DC, is a hard city to grow up in. I couldn’t find my footing there. Also, I got a late start academically, and I was dyslexic. You’ve made a name for yourself…

“Success is not just about what you achieve, but also the way in which you achieve it” Woman&home has always put its readers at the heart of the magazine and I believe this is the secret of its success. Always reflecting the changing lives of women over the past nine decades and championing their achievements – both big and small. Since becoming the editor more than 16 years ago, I’ve been constantly inspired by the women I meet. We share a can-do attitude that’s ageless – we refuse to be defined by a number. I love the way we inspire each other and have made things happen – changing perceptions, breaking barriers and raising more than £10million for Breast Cancer Care. So this month we asked over 1,000 of you…

WORK IT OUT Fitbit Alta tracks steps, calories burned and more, £99.99, fitbit.com REFRESHING SCENT  Shay & Blue Blueberry Musk fragrance, £55 for 100ml, shayandblue.com WRITE ON Purse pen in sterling sliver with diamond-textured lacquer, £135, tiffany.co.uk AND RELAX…  In the Velvet tub chair in Aqua, £445, oliverbonas.com FILL WITH TRINKETS Heart bowl in Aqua, £15, in-spaces.com FOR YOU AND YOUR HOME The Highgrove Signature range – organic, naturally! – from £17.50, highgrove  gardens.com STRIKING PIECE  Susan Caplan Vintage 1960s Trifari Leaf brooch, £125, johnlewis.com DESIGNER STYLE  Kate Spade New York Garden Drive jewellery box, £42, katespade.co.uk TIME FOR TEA Belle tea pot in Duck Egg, £39.50, bombayduck.com A GREAT READ  Treat yourself or a friend to a w&h subscription…

ADELE ASHLEY FILMORE AND UNION TURNOVER: £4 MILLION ADELE, 51, launched Filmore and Union, which specialises in healthy food and catering for people with allergies. A former nutritionist, she’s opened seven restaurants in four years, plus a deli, bakery and a takeaway kiosk. This year she set up a catering service. She now has a staff of 200. filmoreandunion.com DOMINIQUE TILLEN BRUSH-BABY TURNOVER: £1 MILLION DOMINIQUE, 53, is the founder of Brush-Baby, a company that specialises in dental products for babies and children. She started the company eight years ago and its products can be found in major stores, including Boots, Superdrug and Asda. The products are now distributed internationally. brushbaby.co.uk RIKKE ROSENLUND BORROWMYDOGGY TURNOVER: £500K+ RIKKE, 41, launched BorrowMyDoggy in 2012. The website connects…

SUCCESS IN LIFE OVER 80% of you told us it’s important to be considered successful, with almost one in five believing it’s “very important”. Less than one in five of you felt success wasn’t important. & AGE IS NO BARRIER Great news – the vast majority of you don’t think that age is something that holds you back! And just 14% of all of you thought being over 65 was a barrier to success. Your positive attitude to ageing was reinforced by the fact that a mere 3.6% of you agreed having white hair was a barrier to getting on. BE TRUE TO YOURSELF Knowing yourself and being authentic are qualities you rate very highly. More of you (35%) chose “knowing myself and being the real me” than…

BLACK MAGIC Sleek and sexy, up the luxe factor with black and gold… HIP TO BE SQUARE Totally timeless, an angular face is the way forward STEELING BEAUTY Effortlessly elegant? Then make for mother of pearl… TWO-TIMER Mix up your metals… for the woman who wants it all…

JO MALONE, 53, lives in London with her husband, Gary, and their 15-year-old son, Josh. She grew up in Bexleyheath and trained as a facialist with her mother before they went into business together. Jo left the business at 21 and became estranged from her parents and younger sister, Tracey. She launched Jo Malone in 1994, sold it to Estée Lauder in 1999 and, after having breast cancer, in 2006 made the decision to leave the business. She was contractually unable to work with fragrance for five years but in 2011 she opened a new fragrance company called Jo Loves. Her inspirational autobiography, Jo Malone: My Story , is out on 6 October. Writing this book taught me a lot about myself. Before I wrote it I’d…

MELANIE “As smitten as I was, I was in shock for the first few months” MICHELLE “There were times I envied my child-free friends” ALICE “In one year my life changed beyond recognition” LISA “I was fit and healthy and didn’t give age a second thought” “I learned the hard way there are no guarantees when it comes to fertility” A mother in my 40s LISA LENNKH, 47, is an investment banker turned style blogger. She lives in London with her husband Matthias, 47, and their son Alexandre, three. When Alexandre was laid on my chest, I wept tears of happiness. Until that moment I’d held back emotionally, a protective mechanism after my struggle to have him. I never wanted children in my twenties and thirties. I’d seen what happened…

We’ve partnered with British cashmere label Pure Collection for an exciting offer, exclusive to woman&home readers. Boasting the finest selection of cashmere and luxurious essentials, Pure Collection introduces the new season with exquisite designs to create effortless looks for your wardrobe this winter. For everyday indulgence, the Signature cashmere roll-neck sweater is the style staple of the season – in beautifully rich colours, it’s the perfect piece to layer, while light and fluid Gassato cashmere completes a casual weekend look. New for the season, Pure Collection launches stunning silk blouses and dresses in a delicate colour palette – team with a piece of their essential tailoring or a contemporary statement coat for ultra chic elegance. In recognition of the most exquisitely soft and luxurious fabric in the world, Harrogate-based Pure…

We’re delighted to invite you to this special event where w&h Books Editor Fanny Blake will interview Cecelia about writing her novels, her experience in TV and film, and her fantastic new book, Lyrebird . This will be followed by a Q&A session, where you can ask Cecelia questions. Her new book will be available to buy on the night and she’ll be delighted to sign copies. Cecelia’s best-selling novels have been published in nearly 50 countries, with more than 25 million copies sold worldwide. She wrote the international bestseller P.S. I Love You aged 21, which was adapted into a film starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler. Her second novel, Where Rainbows End, has also been adapted into film, and she has created several TV series,…

The festive season is here and to celebrate, we do hope you’ll join us for our annual shopping event with L’OCCITANE en Provence! We invite you to indulge in a relaxing hand and arm massage, discover skincare and fragrances perfect for you, take home a complimentary beauty bag worth over £30 and enjoy 15% discount on purchases*. As well as exclusive offers and limited-edition treats, kick-start your Christmas shopping and discover L’OCCITANE’s beautiful gifts and new products, while enjoying a glass of bubbly and delicious sweet treats. L’OCCITANE will also offer a complimentary gift-wrapping service for your buys while you indulge in a pampering experience and browse the brand’s collections. *TERMS & CONDITIONS 1 Special discount offers only valid in store on the night of the event on purchases over…

AHOY SAILOR! Classic, Breton wool jumper, £99, thenauticalcompany.com FOR FUN Personalised Ladybird Book The Hangover , £12.99, ijust loveit.co.uk DESIGNER STYLE Grab him a piece of Tom Ford: Tobacco Vanille All Over Body Spray, £43, tomford.com ODD SOCKS Always losing one of a pair? With The Sock Exchange Weekend set, they’re all odd! £12.99, totally-funky.co.uk DECKED OUT Denver record player with 20-album The Complete Vinyl Collection, £159.99, amazon.co.uk ON TIME You can engrave this Links of London Narrative Men’s Gold Watch, £225, linksoflondon.com HAPPY TRAVELLER He’ll love the customisable Chalkboard Globe, £19.99, jeremys  homestore.co.uk FOOTIE FAN One cufflink has initials; the other has your footie club’s crest. £24.95, inthepaper.co.uk CLOSE ONE…

FLARES £235, 6-14, McGuire at Harrods. Heels, £30, Dorothy Perkins SKINNY £190, 6-16, DL1961 at Harvey Nichols. Trainers, £120, Kurt Geiger EMBROIDERED £39.99, 6-14, Zara. Shoes, £105, LK Bennett CULOTTES £175, 24-32, Donna Ida. Shoes, £165, Russell & Bromley BOYFRIEND £230, 23-32, Current Elliott at Net-a-Porter. Heels, £79.95, Massimo Dutti BOOTCUT £139.95, 4-22, NYDJ. Boots, £149, Guess…

1 SHAMPOO John Frieda Luxurious Volume 7 Day Volume Shampoo with Caffeine Vitality Complex, gently cleanses and transforms fine, flat hair with alluring volume and touchable softness. Gently massage a 10p-sized blob into wet hair until a rich lather forms, then rinse. 2 CONDITION John Frieda Luxurious Volume 7 Day Volume Conditioner detangles and nourishes without weighing hair down so you can discover naturally soft, touchably full hair. Smooth through mid-lengths and ends after shampooing, leave for one minute and rinse. 3 IN SHOWER TREATMENT Amplify volume through multiple washes with the John Frieda 7 Day Volume In Shower semi-permanent treatment. Apply after shampooing and conditioning for three to five minutes, rinse and blow-dry as normal for volume that lasts up to seven days.…

JANE PLAN is the delivery service that gives you perfectly proportioned meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner – plus snacks – all ready-prepared to make losing weight super-easy. We know that having a larger tummy is one of your biggest body bugbears, so we asked Jane Michell, the founder of the Jane Plan (above), to devise a special W&H Flatter Tummy Box especially for you, at a great money-off price. HOW TO SIGN UP AND SAVE £25 • Go to the menu selector to choose your own food from a range of more than 55 gluten-free meals. • Your selection of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks will be delivered to your door at a time that suits you. • Enter code WHE516 at the checkout (not to be…

THIS MONTH… • CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE • IBD • HEAT Vs ICE Q I started smoking as a teen, and though I gave up ten years ago, in my mid-thirties, I’ve now been diagnosed with COPD. I have a chronic cough, and get breathless when doing exercise, though regular swimming is helping. I have a blue inhaler, which helps a bit, but is there anything else I can try? A In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the airways are permanently inflamed and narrowed, usually due to smoking, and it’s reckoned that there are more than 3 million people with the disease in the UK. It causes breathlessness and a persistent cough, that is often worse in the morning. Treatment has traditionally been with salbutamol, in a blue inhaler, which helps to…

Meet Buddy, your own little R2-D2 Blue Frog Robotics’ BUDDY is a heartwarmingly sweet robot designed to fit into the family, especially at the older and younger ends. He can roll around the house playing hide and seek with the kids, offer medication reminders, detect when an elderly relative has a fall and perform video calls using the camera and screen on his head. He also acts as a security guard, sending smartphone alerts if there’s a fire, flood or potential intruder when you’re away. He’s not the most sophisticated robot out there, but for less than the price of an iPhone, BUDDY is fun, cute and as popular as a puppy at a party. Plus he never needs the vet. Available winter 2016. From £555, adoptbuddy.com Is…

FAST AND COMFORTING Chorizo toad in the hole Use raw cooking chorizo, not the cured and cooked variety. Makes 6 • Ready in 30 minutes • Easy 6 raw chorizo 75g plain flour 1 free-range egg 125ml semi-skimmed milk 2tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley 3tbsp oil YOU WILL NEED: 6 mini (10cm) Yorkshire pudding tins. Ours are by Silverwood 1 Grill or fry the chorizo until lightly browned. Heat the oven to 200C fan, gas 7. Sift the flour into a large bowl, season and make a well in the centre. Break in the egg and beat with an electric whisk then whisk in the milk. Stir through the parsley. 2 Divide the oil between the tins and heat through in the oven. Halve the chorizo and put 2 halves in each…

TRIED AND TRUSTED After 11 successful years, online boutique Amara has launched its own label collection. This is one gorgeous example: Bandol table lamp, £550; vases, £50 each; tea light holders, £60 for three, amara.com RETRO VIBE A great 60s shape and pattern – and comfortable too! Misty armchair, £595, habitat.co.uk HOME CRAFT I love the home- made feel of this pretty embroidered cushion in autumn yellows. Team it with a fab hide one. Embroidered cushion, £16, sainsburys.co.uk; Carnaby cushion, £60, kellyhoppen.com PERFECT PATTERN Marbling, feathering, ink spots… in fact, any surface texture is so on trend at the moment and always looks cool. These beautiful vases by Lisa Firer are exclusive to heals.com, from £70. TWO’S COMPANY A fab new collaboration: high street supremo Next with the heritage furniture…

Feel like you’ve nothing to wear? You know that’s not really true, but when your wardrobe is disorganised and in a muddle, your head gets in a muddle too. Your first step to an organised space is to visualise the end result: picture opening that wardrobe and seeing everything beautifully arranged. Choosing what to wear is no longer a chore, it’s a delight. And you can put your hand on exactly what you want without even thinking about it. So how to achieve this? Give yourself a weekend Take a few days off work/off everything else. It’s going to be hard work – not least because we feel an emotional attachment to our clothes. Make fast decisions so you don’t have too much thinking time: keep going back to your…

The bestselling novelist, Jodi Picoult, is back with a compelling new novel, Small Great Things (Hodder), out on 22 November. Small Great Things , in a nutshell? When a newborn baby dies after a routine hospital procedure, there’s no doubt who will be held responsible: the nurse banned from looking after him by his father. What the nurse, her lawyer and the father cannot know is how this death will irrevocably change their lives, as they explore race, privilege and power. What was the inspiration behind it? I saw a news story about a black nurse who delivered the baby of a white supremacist – who then asked the hospital to remove her from his child’s care. The hospital made a note on the patient…

1 CREEKSIDE COTTAGES Creekside Cottages offer a beautiful selection of self-catering cottages sleeping from 2 to 8. Dogs welcome. All our cottages are situated in stunning locations on the south coast of Cornwall. Available throughout the year, just come and relax. www.creeksidecottages.co.uk  Tel. 01326 375 972 2 STOP SEARCHING START UNWINDING Pride of Britain Hotels, Britain’s leading luxury & boutique hotel collection, have selected and approved 50 of the best independently owned hotels and spas around Britain for you to enjoy. To order gift vouchers or your free hotel directory call Freephone 0808 163 3765 or visit www.prideofbritainhotels.com 3 KENT’S LEADING COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL & SPA Enjoy a relaxing autumn break at Eastwell Manor Hotel & Spa: traditional log fires, a glass of champagne, dinner, bed and…

Star sign of the month SCORPIO 24 OCTOBER – 22 NOVEMBER Facing a difficult choice? The hard decision is almost always the right one. A sentiment that applies first to finances and second a working or romantic relationship. Once done, you’ll be on your way. For weekly updates, call 09058-170548* THE MONTHS AHEAD  Don’t expect the glittering prizes – they start to come in from next September. Your job now is to prepare the ground and plant seeds. To hear a detailed breakdown of the next few months, call 09058-170477* SAGITTARIUS 23 NOVEMBER – 22 DECEMBER The main events take place late in the month. Contact old allies and get as liquid as possible. (We’re not talking Chardonnay!) The week of the 21st represents a watershed. Weekly update 09058-170549* Six…

MINT VELVET We’re already big fans but are even more excited by Mint Velvet’s limited edition premium line launch, MINT – available now. Cashmere knits, lace and double crepe in a monochrome palette, with an understated edge. From £89-£299, Mint Velvet EFFICIENCY CHIC Need to look the business but without looking too corporate? Something that goes from the office to a smart restaurant or party? Libby London ticks all the boxes with its under-£200 collection of tailored dresses, all made in the UK. From £169, libbylondon.com UPCYCLING The Designer Exchange gives you cash when you’re bored with your designer bag. Or use smart shopping tactics and treat yourself to another one with vouchers instead. uk.designer exchange.com PERSPEX PERFECTION Handcrafted in Yorkshire, these bold designs are created in Perspex by…

“Being in your fifties can be an unsettling time” LESLEY SHARP, 56, lives in London with her husband and their two grown-up children. Ice cream, that’s what indulgence means to me. I’m a sucker for salted caramel. But when I want to relax I watch The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills . I’m fascinated by their lives and enormous houses. It’s pure escapism. The women appear to do nothing but totter about in high heels, drink rosé and get on private jets. But the truth is that I’d be at a complete loss living that life where everything is done for you because I really enjoy tidying cupboards and throwing stuff out. There’s nothing I love more than a good sort out. I’ve got friends made through…

Does your to-do list seem never-ending? Always trying to do more, be more, give more? You’re not alone! Evidently, 70%* of us feel under pressure to be the “perfect woman”… but we don’t need to be like this 24/7, we need to let go of all this pressure every now and again. Treat yourself to some top-to-toe pampering with 25% off everything on sanctuary.com. From sumptuous Body Butters to warming Face Masks, whether you’ve got 30 seconds or 30 minutes, take some time out to relax, breathe and #LetGo. TO CLAIM YOUR DISCOUNT Simply head to the website www.womanandhome.com/ sanctuaryspa to download the discount code to redeem online at sanctuary.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS Offer valid until 31 October 2016. Offer only applicable online at sanctuary.com Subject to availability, while stocks last.…

“The truth is, most of what we see actually turns me off sex” MARIELLA, 53, is married to a human rights lawyer, Jason McCue, whom she met when aged 39 and married two years later. They live with their children, Molly, 12, and Dan, 11, in Somerset. I was 13 years old when I first encountered erotic writing. My parents had huge shelves of books and, one day, I stumbled across the diaries of eroticist Anaïs Nin. Turning the pages, I found myself lost in this world where people were lying around in opium dens doing unspeakable things to each other. It was all so wild and depraved. Physically, I wasn’t yet part of it, but hormonally I was. Not long afterwards, I found my dad’s DH Lawrence books and,…

“I don’t become friends with all the guests on my show. Some of them are really hard work!” “I wonder if he’s really as funny as he is on telly,” says my cab driver when I tell him I’m on my way to interview Graham Norton. The answer is yes but also incredibly thoughtful and surprisingly vulnerable as he admits to worrying about how his debut novel, Holding, will be received. Graham, 53, has already published three books, his memoirs The Life and Loves of a He Devil and So Me plus Ask Graham, a collection of his advice columns. He also hosts The Graham Norton Show on BBC One and his Radio 2 show. Graham, who now lives in London, grew up in County Cork, Ireland, where he still…

NIGHT LIGHT Graffiti style Custom Alphabet Light Up Sign, £35, sweetheartdarling.co.uk FAB FOR LITTLE GIRLS Merci Maman Personalised Disc Liberty Bracelet, £29, John Lewis UNDER CAPS Sweet and cosy Reindeer Personalised Hat, £20, charlottecotblankets.com ON SONG My Silver Balloon is a series of personalised music CDs that contain your child’s name sung throughout, £14.99, gettingpersonal.co.uk WELL DONE! A sweet wooden reward box with 20 star tokens to encourage good behaviour, £35, therewardbox. co.uk DEAR SANTA Portable North Pole is a set of toys and games like this Letter Kit, £12; also links to a personal video message from Santa, johnlewis.com JUST LOUNGING So sweet for Christmas morning! Personalised Pink Gingham Robe, £27, myfirstyears.com GONE SWIMMING Personalise…

A touch of glamour • Off-duty doesn’t have to be scruffy – a cashmere sweater always looks smart and makes you feel great. • A long-line gilet adds a luxurious finish to your weekend wear. A shearling version is an investment piece, so why not make it work twice as hard by choosing one that’s reversible. • Choose neutral-coloured separates so that they will be easy to mix in with your other pieces. Shearling gilet, £695, 8-14, Whistles at Harrods. Cashmere jumper, £99, 8-20, Marks & Spencer. Leather skirt, £169, 8-20, Autograph at Marks & Spencer. Suede boots, £425, LK Bennett Sports luxe • The key to achieving that more luxurious sporty look? Rev up your neutrals with one colourful piece. Soft greys are pulled together with a baby pink…

If, like me, you love vintage style, you’ll love the Cath Kidston range new to Specsavers. Fans adore the iconic patterns inspired by a nostalgia for the English countryside, taking vintage prints and updating them for a modern audience. Nostalgic but never twee, the new glasses range features the signature delicate garden blooms and pretty polka dots with on-trend shapes and materials. There are so many great designs to choose from – and since they’re available in Specsavers’ 2-for-1 offer, why hold back! OUT AND ABOUT Meeting up with friends, going for lunch – and maybe some shopping? Show off your style cred with some fun fashion touches like a pop of vibrant colour… TAKING IT EASY Off-duty styling means feeling comfortable in your look – keep your basics neutral…

Fact is, the less you try and make hair look great, the sexier it looks. Your hair is who you are so why change it? Easier said than done, I know, but if we all took a step back from the mirror once in a while, we might appreciate what we’ve got. “I love it when my clients want to embrace their natural texture,” says Ken O’Rourke, Charles Worthington’s brand ambassador. “Fact is, the less you try and make hair look great, the sexier it looks. Your hair is who you are so why change it? I tell my clients to learn small tricks and quick fixes as well as picking the right products that work for their hair texture.” Indeed, in a recent a survey by Charles Worthington, only…

Doctors are taught if you hear hoof beats, suspect horses not zebras! Jane, who works in research administration, lives in Essex with her husband, George. They have three adult children, Charlotte, Joe and Sam. In February this year she was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour (NET), a cancer that was thought to be rare, but is now being discovered more often. The nagging stomach pain that sent me repeatedly to the GPs over four years came and went but was always on my left side and in the same place. Various GPs examined me but none could find anything sinister. Probably reflux or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), was the likely verdict. I was still worried though because the pain was quite insistent, so I kept going back. As so often…

Woman&home is proud to be the media partner of the 2016 Worldpay Retail Ambassadors Programme, of which our Editorial Director Sue James, is a judge. Established in 1999 by Karen Gill MBE and Maxine Benson MBE, everywoman aims to advance women in business, while its Retail Ambassador Programme recognises 12 individuals each year in all stages of their careers. They may be high performers or leading a team like no other, demonstrating the diversity of careers available to women in retail today. ZOE DAVIES Avon Independent Executive Sales Leader CAREER SNAPSHOT Zoe started as an Avon sales leader as she was looking for a flexible business opportunity to fit around a young family. WHAT SHE DOES Developing others in the team to build their own Avon businesses. GREATEST SUCCESS…

freebmd.org.uk A huge ongoing project, transcribing census and parish register indexes from 1837 to put online. It gives birth, marriage and death indexes for England and Wales. freereg.org.uk This continues where the Freebmd website stops. Most parishes kept records going back as far as the 1500s. workhouses.org.uk Provides a fascinating insight into the life of the poor in the 1700/1800s. parishregisters.co.uk Gives a free guide to and history of registers. It sells parish records on CD for around £9.95 each. longlongtrail.co.uk Details the movements of regiments and units during the First World War. britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk Regional papers have been scanned and indexed. familysearch.org Partnered with archives all over the world.…

New ways to cut fuel costs The deterrent for the 17 million households who don’t switch providers is the sheer hassle involved, but several new apps and one website promise to make the process easier… SNAPT This is Compare The Market’s energy comparison app. It was first launched two years ago and is free on Apple and iPhone. You open an account, download the app and scan your bill to get a competitive quote. VOLTZ As with conventional switching sites, you enter your energy supplier, consumption and tariff, and the Voltz app sets the deals on offer and savings. It also checks your account regularly and sends an alert if a better deal comes up. If you want to switch, it’s done with a press of a button provided the…

Cognitive behavioural therapist SARAH STUBBS is the mindfulness expert for Retune London ( retunelondon.com ), whose clients include Tesco and Spotify. What do Google, Goldman Sachs and Transport For London have in common? They’re all businesses that swear by mindfulness to enrich the working lives of their employees. You too can bring a bit of mindfulness into your 9-5. So what exactly does it entail? It’s about paying attention to the present moment in a non-judgemental way. You’re not trying to analyse or change anything, you’re trying to bring about greater self-awareness and get familiar with the patterns of your thoughts and emotions. And when you’re more aware, it gives you the freedom to choose how to respond to a situation rather than having a knee-jerk reaction. Mindfulness…

Pompeii, Capri and the Bay Of Naples Eight days half-board* from only £699pp Selected departures from April to October 2017 • Return flights, taxes and transfers • Seven nights at a three- or four-star Sorrento hotel with half-board* • Sorrento, Capri, Vesuvius, Naples National Archaeological Museum, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and Ravello • Escorted by an experienced tour manager Lake Como, St Moritz and the Bernina Express Eight days half-board from £849pp Selected departures from April to October 2017 • Return flights, taxes and transfers • Seven nights at four-star hotels with half-board • St Moritz, Bernina Express, Lake Maggiore, Bellagio lake cruise, Villa del Balbianello and its gardens • Escorted by an experienced tour manager Dubrovnik, the Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro Eight days half-board from only £849pp Selected departures…

Accessories and cookware you love are a great source of inspiration to find that perfect pop of colour ADD CONTRAST WITH PAINT Paint is fast, easy and the most inexpensive way to make a change. This vibrant red (Crown’s Toffee Apple) is a great energy boosting shade in the kitchen, but with neutral units most brights will work; try one wall first if you're unsure. Headboards are so popular right now and really finish off the room, giving it a boutique hotel feel BRIGHTEN UP YOUR BEDDING This fuchsia pink headboard is a real stunner and makes a statement against a neutral wall. Just add bed linen in matching colours. From the Artisan range at vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk MAKE A STATEMENT WITH WALLPAPER It means you can add both colour…

MAKING IT UP AS I GO ALONG by Marian Keyes (Penguin) Her honest and hilarious observations on life and so much more. THE GYPSY MADONNA by Santa Montefiore (Simon & Schuster) Occupied France to post-war America – an engrossing romantic mystery. PLAYING DEAD by Julia Heaberlin (Faber & Faber) A woman’s struggle to reconcile her past with her present. THE BUTCHER’S HOOK by Janet Ellis (Two Roads) 1763. Dark, surprising and with an unforgettable THE NATURE OF THE BEAST by Louise Penny (Sphere) A missing child sparks an investigation to challenge Inspector Gamache. LITTLE SISTER DEATH by William Gay (Faber & Faber) Classic haunted house story and a chilling study of evil. A WOMAN ON THE EDGE OF TIME by Jeremy Gavron (Scribe) Gavron’s moving and clear-eyed look into…