Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2021 i Woman & Home

What a brilliant time of year! Buttercups, picnics and gloriously long evenings, hopefully sipping something nice without a care in the world. After all, we deserve a bit of fun and, at long last, maybe, we might be able to have some. Hurray! How about we put aside the anxiety of the past year, relax and enjoy each and every moment as it comes? It’s not always easy, but if you promise to try, so will I. Our outdoor special, starting on page 114, has everything you could possibly ever need or want to make the most of summer. Get inspired by all the fantastic ideas, from building an entire al fresco kitchen to stringing up some pretty lights. And in other news, can we please have a quick word…

1. Mighty multitasker Pacifies troubled skin by soothing dryness and banishing breakouts. Use as a primer or overnight mask. Menopause Faace, £29, cultbeauty.com 2. Night worker Bringing bounce back to tired skins, this overnight stress-reverser plumps as you snooze. Elemis Pro-Collagen Overnight Matrix, £148, uk.elemis.com 3. Quick fix Turn down the heat on hot flushes with a single spritz of this soothing spray. Keep it in the fridge. Avon Adapt Icy Cooling Elixir Facial Mist, £7, avon.uk.com 4. Radiance renewed Anti-ageing ingredients are combined with a hint of colour for a glow. Lancôme Rénergie Multi-Glow Rosy Skin Tone Reviving Cream, £70, johnlewis.com 5. Double duty Roll the applicator over your face and neck to cool fiery, flustered complexions. Prai X M&S MenoGlow Hot Flush Cool Fix Serum, £28, marksandspencer.com 6.…

‘I CAN’T REST UNTIL BADGERS ARE SAFE FROM POLITICS’ Pauline Kidner, 70, is the founder of Secret World Wildlife Rescue. She lives on a Somerset farm with husband Derek, 74. I first realised I needed to do more than care for rescued wildlife in 1988. I’d been looking after a tawny owl in our farmhouse kitchen and was looking forward to watching him fly back to his natural habitat. As I released him, he flapped about and ended up in the pond – I knew then I needed large enclosures and aviaries, so animals could get back into top condition. Derek had inherited our farm from his father, but the milk quotas of the 1980s made our dairy herd non-viable, so we decided to run an open farm tourist attraction.…

From the age of 22, Vanessa Frake worked as an officer at HMP Holloway, a women’s prison in London, dealing with criminals including murderers Myra Hindley and Rosemary West. She thought she’d seen it all, until she transferred to the even tougher world of men’s jail, HMP Wormwood Scrubs. Vanessa went on to make it one of the most secure prisons in Britain and was awarded an MBE for her work. ‘Thanks to TV, everyone thinks they know what goes on in prison. But do they?’ she says. Now retired and volunteering at an animal sanctuary, Vanessa has written a book about her 27-year career. So, what has it taught her? 1 Hard work can get you to the top I didn’t ever set out to become a governor. I…

My favourite… part of the garden Right now (May/June), my favourite area of Perch Hill is the rose garden. We mix roses and herbs, partly because it keeps the roses healthier, but also because they complement one another. A lot of the herbs are evergreen, so in the down months, they hold the area together until the roses arrive. After the roses, the Salvia family (the sages), keep us going until November, and then, as winter gives way to spring, the yard outside my back door becomes my favourite place. We’ve very consciously planted it as a spirit-lifter, and it’s filled with little pots of Iris reticulata. Once the tulips are here in spring, that’s where I hang out. I love the Parrot and Lily-flowered varieties. My favourite… flowers Around…

For a beauty lover, there are few things more thrilling than opening a new product promising glowing skin or glossy hair. And we can’t think of a better way to sample the best of the beauty industry than with our new, completely free, online club, woman&home Beauty Counter. For our launch month we have joined forces with La Mer to bring you this exclusive community – and in the coming months there will be a variety of beauty brands to sample, curated for you by woman&home’s experts and delivered to your door. After testing, send us your feedback and we will refine your next beauty choices to ensure they are a perfect fit. There are no subscriptions, no fees and it couldn’t be simpler to join. Here’s how it works……

Need to know Problem gambling in women has risen more than twice the rate of men over the past five years, according to charity GamCare. And the pandemic has made matters worse. GamCare’s Catherine Sweet says, ‘Isolation, boredom and financial distress are all risk factors. For women, big life events and emotional trauma, such as abuse or bereavement, can be triggers. Gambling becomes a form of escapism. People can lose large amounts of money, straining relationships and finances, and putting their homes, jobs and mental health at risk.’ For practical support, call 0808 802 0133 or use live chat on gamcare.org.uk. You can get free Gamban software that blocks gambling apps and sites. Register for GAMSTOP, which prevents access to gambling accounts, stops marketing emails and texts, and asks your…

FANCY FLATS Embrace the dodgy tan lines and take this everyday sandal from one summer to the next. MODERN MULES Slip into these elegant heels when golden hour hits for a polished finish to your evening look. CARRYALL TOTES Roomy enough for all the essentials while maintaining its sleek and structured silhouette, the tote is as reliable as ever. PLAYFUL TEXTURES Give your summer bag a boho twist with raffia details, beaded designs and woven fabrics.…

HAIRCARE Whatever your hair needs, have these essentials to hand for the ultimate in cleansing and conditioning Colour care WINNER: BEST FOR BRUNETTES John Frieda Blue Crush for Brunettes Intensive Blue Shampoo and Conditioner, £6.99 each, Boots The blue pigments knock out any brassy tones in brunette hair. ‘It’s a perfect way of perking up dull strands without using hair dye.’ Sarah Cooper-White WINNER: BEST FOR THE REST Pureology Professional Color Care Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner, £34.15, lookfantastic.com This duo softens the dryness from dyed hair. ‘Great for keeping coloured hair vibrant.’ Sarah Cooper-White Daily WINNER: HIGH-END Leaf + Seed Root Re-boot Damage Rescue Shampoo, £20; and Root To Tip Damage Recovery Conditioner, £23, wildsciencelab.com Give hair a proverbial shot in the arm. ‘Hair is left feeling soft. I used…

With COVID-19 dominating all things health, essential routines, such as checking your moles, can easily slip down the priority list. But with the summer months approaching, it’s never been more important to know how to inspect moles at home for signs of melanoma. In fact, it could save your life – as 86%* of skin cancer cases are said to be preventable. Here’s what you need to know. WHAT MAKES A MOLE TURN CANCEROUS? Most moles are harmless and will look the same for many years. ‘Yet, in theory, all moles have the potential to change into skin cancer,’ warns Dr Ross Perry, skin cancer expert at Cosmedics UK. So it’s important to check them all – even ones you’ve had since childhood. However, the majority of melanoma cases in…

These simple exercises will help reinforce your foundations – aim to do them daily to get the most benefits. HOLD A PLANK ✢ Get into a ‘press-up’ position, resting your weight on your forearms with elbows below the shoulders, and arms shoulder-width distance apart. You can keep your palms on the floor or clasp your hands together, but your body should form a straight line from shoulders to ankles. ✢ Engage your core by imagining your belly button sucking in towards your spine. This keeps your torso straight and spine in a safe position. Don’t raise or dip your bottom. ✢ Think of the head and neck as an extension of your back. Focus your eyes on the floor, a foot in front of your hands, which will keep the…

Food labels show us the nutrients in products and help us to decipher ingredients in packaged foods so it’s easier to make better choices. But how much of this information do you understand? We asked a dietitian to decode the labels you might see when shopping. WHAT INFORMATION IS ON A FOOD LABEL?  ‘Food labels give us the information we need to buy the type of food that helps us to have a healthy, balanced diet,’ says Sian Porter, a consultant dietitian for the British Dietetic Association. Back-of-packet nutrition labelling is compulsory, and strict rules dictate what can be shown on labels on the front of packaged foods. WHAT DO THE COLOURS ON LABELS MEAN?  The adult Reference Intake (RI) guidelines shown in percentages on the traffic light label is…

Arthritis is a term used to describe swelling, stiffness and pain in the joints. But it isn’t a single condition, and there are several different types. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type and starts with roughing of the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones inside a joint. The body puts a ‘repair’ process in place, and this can lead to extra bone forming around the edges, an increase in fluid inside the joint, and stretching of the joint capsule. OA is more common in women, and starts after the age of 45. It may not cause symptoms to begin with, but as it progresses, pain and stiffness becomes worse. OA is treated with drugs and exercises to help keep the muscles strong, but surgery may be required.…

✣ CHOOSE A SPOT Locate your kitchen reasonably close to the house, to avoid lots of carrying back and forth, but far enough away so cooking smells aren’t a problem. Pick a semi-sheltered spot to give protection from the elements, clear of overhanging greenery and awnings. ✣ ESTABLISH A BASE You’ll need a solid, level patio or deck to set up on, preferably against a brick or stone wall, rather than a wooden fence, which could be a fire hazard in dry weather. Decide on amenities early on, so that if it’s permanent, all the necessary pipes and cables are laid in the right place. ✣ ORGANISE EQUIPMENT Whether you opt for a built-in or free-standing barbecue, grill or pizza oven, organise the rest of your kitchen around it. Equipment…

GO FOR SECTIONAL SEATING Don’t overcrowd a small patio with excess furniture or bulky sofas. Lightweight modular pieces are easy to move and seating can be arranged (and rearranged) to suit the space. This sectional set (right) includes a sofa and two side tables that double as footstools. SET UP AN OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM Enjoy the garden whatever the weather by creating a seating area in a sheltered spot – invest in an awning or shaded pergola if there isn’t natural cover. Arrange furniture to make the most of the view and add a heat source to extend your time outdoors. BRING THE OUTDOORS IN Treat the garden as an extension of your home. Go big with greenery where the two areas meet to blur the lines between indoors and…

Scallops in shell with hazelnut and herb butter This works really well as a starter, cooked after the main course is done and is resting. Have everything ready to go, in the fridge. Serves 4 • Ready in 30 mins Small bunch of herbs, such as flat-leaf parsley, tarragon, chives or thyme, finely chopped 30g skinned hazelnuts, toasted and roughly chopped or crushed 60g softened butter Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon 12 scallops in shell 1tbsp capers, roughly chopped 1 small shallot, very finely chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper Crusty bread, to serve You will need: A lidded BBQ 1 Mix the herbs and hazelnuts into the butter with 1tsp of lemon zest, a squeeze of lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. 2 If…

Jo Spain Crime writer Jo Spain is author of the bestselling Inspector Tom Reynolds series. Her new book, The Perfect Lie, unfolds when wife Erin finds herself in court charged with her husband’s murder, after he walks out of the window of their apartment. I find end-of-chapter hooks are hugely important to create tension. If I leave a scene hanging at the end of the page, the reader needs to keep going; the tension is all in the ‘what next!’ That, and pacing, so the mystery starts slower and then builds. The plot comes to me before any twists. Within that, I’ll work on twisting what the reader expects and pulling the rug out from under them. How I drop in clues is like asking a member of The Magic…

INSPIRATION EARLY BALLET SHOES by Noel Streatfeild For Christmas my husband bought me a first edition of Ballet Shoes, my all-time favourite childhood book. I reread it and it’s just everything you want in a book. And interestingly enough, it’s about the Fossil family – the mysterious Great-Uncle Matthew, who finds these babies and brings them home to a governess. I only clicked recently that this must have in some way created an imprint for the seven sisters. HOUSE GUEST BRIDESHEAD REVISITED by Evelyn Waugh I read it when I was 17 and it was a seminal book about post-war England. It helped that I had a boyfriend at Cambridge at the time. The atmosphere that Evelyn Waugh creates just stays with you. I still feel like I can be…

EMMA JOHN is an award-winning author and journalist, whose latest book, Self-Contained: Scenes from a Single Life, is a funny and beguiling memoir. She gives us an insight into her life as a long-term singleton on p25. What is the most daring thing you’ve ever done? Travelling to the American South to learn bluegrass. When I first walked in to a jam, I didn’t even know the tunes. They made me join in on stage… I nailed it, from then on I was accepted. Writer, broadcaster, moustache-sporter and fashion consultant, CHRISTOPHER LAVERTY is the creator of clothesonfilm.com and author of Fashion in Film. On p26, he shares some style highlights from the silver screen. What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done? Probably being buried alive on Halloween. Once I’d…

Add your pictures by hashtagging #womanandhomestreetstyle or email wandhstreetstyle@futurenet.com to join in.…

We all know that foggy feeling when we haven’t drunk enough water, leading to headaches, lack of concentration and dizziness. ‘The brain is exceptionally sensitive to water losses,’ says Goodwin. ‘It’s about 80% water, whereas other tissues in the body are generally about 60% water. So even small water deficits will impair your mental sharpness.’ Studies have found that at all ages, dehydration has negative effects on people’s short-term memory, their attention span and their mood – and women are more sensitive to this than men. DO IT ‘Don’t rely upon thirst – it is a very poor indicator of water levels in the body,’ Goodwin says. By the time we feel thirsty, we already have a water deficit of more than a litre. As a general rule, to keep…

‘Ican’t believe someone as great as you is still single!’ It’s a comment I’ve heard plenty of times. There might even be circumstances when I’ve said it myself to other women. It’s meant well, and usually gets said in the middle of a discussion about relationships or dating, when I’ve admitted that I don’t have a partner and would like one. Often, people say it without thinking – an automatic response intended to convey encouragement, consolation and support. It can be hard to know exactly how to reply, but I’ve got pretty good at fixing my face with a benign smile and moving the conversation swiftly along. ‘Being single allowed me to spread my wings’ Only recently did I understand why this comment had always made me feel worse about…

If parenting’s taught me one thing, it’s that love and fear go hand in hand. It’s also taught me that kids get all the fun in this world. First, it was those hideous soft play areas (shudder), then parks (yawn), followed by yet more parks (give me strength), then those indoor trampoline centres that look awesome until you remember you’ve had three kids including one, ahem, ‘assisted delivery’. Goodbye, pelvic floor. From ghastly rhyme-times to expensive swimming lessons, all too often, parenting involves sitting on the sidelines with a disappointing coffee, while the creatures you created have the time of their lives. Of course, children should have fun, but now that mine have reached the formidable ages of eight, 11 and 14, I’ve decided it’s time to join them. In…

‘Volunteering in Zimbabwe was my “eureka” moment’ Julie Lovegrove, 61, is a professional photographer with a passion for wildlife, fascinating places and landscapes. She leads photographic holidays (juliesadventures.co.uk), lives in North Somerset and has three grown-up children. I didn’t ever know what I wanted to be when I grew up so, for pretty much all my adult life, I’ve fallen into jobs, including admin and bookkeeping, which have mostly been fine, but that’s all. I’d always had a hankering to travel to exotic and far-flung places, and ‘do something’ with animals. I used to dream of being brave and adventurous like Joy Adamson, Jane Goodall or Dian Fossey. The film Born Free had grabbed my imagination as a young teen. Ever since then, I’d wanted to go to Africa and…

✢ Upstairs, Downstairs (1971 and 2010) The ups, downs, ins and outs of the Bellamy family and staff. ✢ The Barchester Chronicles (1982) An epic power struggle in a small English town. ✢ Jane Eyre (1983) Before he was James Bond, Timothy Dalton donned a cravat to smoulder as Mr Rochester. ✢ Madame Bovary (2000) A bored and adulterous heroine with a coterie of men. ✢ The Forsyte Saga (2002) ITV pulled off a remake of the classic that originally had Britain gripped in 1967. ✢ North and South (2004) A clergyman’s daughter heads to the industrial North for thrills, spills and mills. ✢ Bleak House (2005) A masterful BBC adaptation of Dickens that received 10 Emmy nominations. ✢ Lark Rise to Candleford (2008) Ringlets and rural Oxfordshire, dubbed the…

It’s been a unique and challenging year, so we’ve never been prouder to showcase the incredible achievements of the amazing women who, in midlife, continue to overcome obstacles, defy expectations and alter perceptions. Over the next few months we’ll be revealing the shortlisted finalists for the Amazing Women Awards 2021. This month, the featured categories are: Changing Our Country, Smashing the Glass Ceiling, and Brand New Directions. In our July issue you’ll meet the women refusing to take no for an answer and the stars who use their platform to raise awareness for great causes, while in August we’ll profile the finalists you’ve put forward as heroes deserving of recognition for their work within communities around the UK. Prepare to be impressed, uplifted and inspired. EXTRAORDINARY ENTREPRENEURS Taking risks in…

The transformative power of blusher is not to be underestimated. The perfect puff of pink will distract from tired eyes, inject a healthy glow into lifeless skin, and even vanquish the telltale signs of a hangover. Start with a swirl on the apples of the cheeks and swoosh up towards the hairline in a ‘Nike’ tick fashion. As for finding the perfect shade, think about the colour you would naturally flush on a brisk walk and embrace those tones. So dust off your fluffy brush and swirl, swirl, swirl – it’s time to reignite your love of the pink stuff.…

HATS OFF ✢ Play with textures and team a denim jacket with lightweight linen. It’s the perfect mix for cool summer evenings. ✢ A wide-brim straw hat is timeless and will be your staple accessory. Jacket, £59.95, sizes 6-20, joules.com; dress, £225, sizes 6-18, lkbennett.com; sunglasses, £7.99, newlook.com; earrings, £19.99, pilgrim.net; hat, £6, matalan.co.uk BETWEEN THE LINES ✢ The clever chevron stripes on this linen-blend midi dress are extra flattering, as they draw the eye inward, creating an optical slimming effect. ✢ We especially love the subtle capped sleeves, which offer just a little extra coverage for the upper arms. Dress, £70, sizes 8-22, monsoon.co.uk; shoes, £229, penelopechilvers.com; bag, £250, katespade.co.uk SHIPSHAPE BOILER SUIT ✢ Swap a matching belt for alternative styles to add definition to a jumpsuit. ✢ Look…

Habitual gum-chewer? You could be helping to reduce your stress levels! Professor Andy Smith, director of the Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology at Cardiff University, explains chewing gum stimulates the prefrontal cortex in the brain. This can lead to: a change in the neurotransmitter serotonin, shown to remove negative mental states; stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), which controls our stress hormones; and stimulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), one branch of which controls resting states, leading to greater relaxation. Chewing sugar-free gum after a meal also encourages saliva, washing away food particles and helping neutralise plaque acids that can lead to tooth decay, so it’s a win-win!…

Denise Palmer-Davies, 42, from Surrey. About four years ago, I noticed I had a small, flat mole on my back, which kept on growing. After about a year, I went to see my GP, but I was told it was nothing. I went again after having my second child, as it had grown significantly, but was told it was a skin infection. I then asked a friend, a skin specialist, to take a look. He told me to see my GP again. And on this occasion, I explained it was now irritating me. I also said that my mum had melanoma three times and my grandfather died from skin cancer. This time, pictures were taken of the mole and sent to Dermatology. Less than 24 hours later, I was called,…

Q I constantly have a feeling that there is a lump in my throat, although it tends to go away when I eat, and I have no difficulty in swallowing. An X-ray has excluded a fish bone, so what could be the cause and, more importantly, how can I get rid of it? A The medical term for this is globus, and it’s a surprisingly common condition that can occur at any age. Even when we’re not eating, we constantly swallow saliva, and this involves many muscles acting together, with some relaxing while others contract, and in globus it’s thought that a muscle at the bottom of the throat fails to relax properly. This means that swallowing saliva can become difficult, but when you are eating, food stimulates the inside…

Whatever the size of your outdoor space, make use of a sunny spot and have a go at growing your own. ✢ Strawberries do well in containers – in a tub, stacking planters or hanging baskets – ripening fruit won’t fall on the ground, so is less likely to get muddy or eaten by slugs. ✢ Position your container where it will get plenty of sun, fill with multipurpose compost and plant strawberries so roots are covered but with the crown (or leafy part) resting on the soil. ✢ Feed weekly with a liquid potash feed during the growing season to ensure a good crop. Water often, but don’t overwater; the soil should stay damp but not soggy.…

GO SLOW Master slow cooking on this Kamado-style porcelain-enamelled charcoal barbecue. Summit Kamado E6 Charcoal grill, £999, weber.com CHEF’S CHOICE Electric ignition and charcoal cooking combine in this grill. Everdure By Heston Blumenthal Fusion barbecue, £899, kettler.co.uk PICK AND MIX Choose a combination of equipment. Free-standing stainless steel gas barbecue, from £1,799, myoutdoorkitchen.co.uk QUICK DELIVERY Eat restaurant-quality pizza at home. Delivita outdoor wood-fired pizza oven in Chilli Red, £1,195, campingaz.com…

1 Dine al fresco Extend your time outdoors by focusing on the patio or terrace area first. Festoon lights are an easy way to illuminate a large area and create a lovely ambience after dusk. Secure lights to a fixed point, such as a high wall or fence, then drape from a tree or use to decorate a garden pergola. Extendable globe festoon lights, £60; Ravena dining set, £825, all coxandcox.co.uk 2 Organise a movie night Connect a streaming device to a projector and enjoy a family movie night! Peg a white sheet to a washing line or use a wall as a screen. Black solar lantern, £12; cream lantern, £15; stripe cushions, from £8; bumble bee cushion, £6; plain cushion, £3, all dunelm.com 3 Light the…

Sticky sesame-baked cauliflower Sticky, crunchy, with the right balance of sweetness from maple and acidity and heat from some chilli. Serves 4 For the cauliflower: 120g spelt flour 2 tbsp rice flour A clove of garlic, grated 1 tbsp sesame seeds 1 large head of cauliflower (about 800g) For the sauce: 3 tbsp soy sauce or tamari 2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil 1 tbsp rice vinegar 1 tbsp tomato puree 1 tbsp chilli paste or chilli sauce 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and grated A small thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated 3 tbsp sesame seeds To serve: 300g brown rice 2 heads of Little Gem lettuce, shredded 1 tbsp sesame seeds 4 spring onions, thinly sliced 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6.…

AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (£12.99, HB, Cornerstone) Following the success of Daisy Jones & the Six, which transported us back to the 70s, we now find ourselves in 1980s California with the Rivas, a family of sibling surfers. In the run-up to the ‘party of the year’ hosted by the Rivas, their secrets begin to surface as we see them trying to hold everything together. The siblings’ relationships marks this out as another triumph for Taylor. GONE MISSING Both of You by Adele Parks (£14.99, HB, HarperCollins) With 21 books released in 21 years, Adele Parks knows how to write a page-turner – and her latest novel is no exception. When Leigh and Kai go missing, suspicion falls on their respective husbands, Mark and Daan.…

I loved THE HOUSE BENEATH THE CLIFFS by Sharon Gosling. I became entranced with the array of characters and beautiful surroundings. Melissa Broadbent, York I’m reading THE DUKE & I by Julia Quinn. As much as I loved Bridgerton, I loved the book more for the characters and sparkling dialogue. Liz Fenwick, Cornwall I’ve just finished Fiona Valpy’s THE SKYLARK’S SECRET . Written in two timelines, she whisks you off to a little-discussed World War Two setting. Gorgeous. Amanda Geard, Kenmare, Ireland I highly recommend Lucy Mangan’s memoir, BOOKWORM . With memories of Narnia and The Secret Garden, there’s somewhere to escape to. Charlotte Thorne, London…

The Beast Must Die Jared Harris and Cush Jumbo take the leading roles in this five-part thriller that follows a grieving mother who somehow infiltrates the life of the man she believes killed her son! Britbox Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse This explosive origin story of action hero John Kelly (Michael B Jordan) follows the elite US Navy SEAL seeking justice for the murder of his wife by Russian soldiers. Amazon Prime Video Jupiter’s Legacy Josh Duhamel, Leslie Bibb and Ben Daniels star in this eight-parter that follows the story of the world’s first superheroes, who received their powers back in the 1930s. Netflix…

STAR LETTER The hardest part of lockdown has been not seeing my grandchildren, especially the two youngest, both three. I miss reading to them – just sitting and enjoying books together – and my solution has been to embrace YouTube. I video my own stories so they can hear and see me as often as they like, and this has fed a long-standing ambition to write. I now have a purpose and a focus. Lockdown presented an opportunity and I ran with it. It’s exciting! Pie Louis-Smith, by email MUST TRY HARDER I noticed that a recent expert in w&h was described as a ‘headmaster’. How disappointing. Women fought hard for equality of opportunity and to be recognised as head teachers – I should know, as I was one. This…

Breakfast telly without Lorraine Kelly is hard to imagine and, especially over the past 18 months, many viewers have found her show to be just the tonic we need. ‘I’ve been doing this for so long people feel like they know me,’ Lorraine, 61, tells us. ‘I hope – and I have been told – that they feel like I’m their friend. There’s that trust there, which I think is very important.’ It’s hard not to smile while speaking to the bubbly Scot, as she talks at a hundred miles a minute about everything – from her long and successful career to why she has refreshingly never felt pressured to look a certain way, even while working in television. It’s obvious that Lorraine, who’s been married to husband Steve Smith…

‘We’re still at the beginning of a long, long research journey to unravel sleep’s secrets,’ Goodwin says, ‘but we already know enough to make our lives better.’ Many studies have shown that sleep is critical for re-energising our body’s cells and supporting learning and memory. The most important thing seems to be to stay within your normal rhythms, and to get up and go to bed at the same time every day. Goodwin points out that widespread sleep disorders first started to emerge 50 years ago, when artificial light and other technologies became more common. ‘Today, there are 10 times as many people getting fewer than six hours sleep a night than there were 50 years ago,’ he says. ‘On average, everyone is getting two hours less sleep a night…

They are the outfits that stamp our best-loved films indelibly on our hearts. The white whisper of a frock that made Marilyn Monroe an icon in The Seven Year Itch. The red off-the-shoulder gown rocked by Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. And, of course, Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Each outfit has to breathe life into a role, says film and fashion writer Christopher Laverty, in a new book that celebrates Hollywood costume. Whether it’s a bad-ass jumpsuit worn by Grace Jones in A View to a Kill, or a scary-boss jacket for Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. Fingers crossed, our cinema doors will open this month. Until then, let’s enjoy the moments when fashion met film. Action! AUDREY HEPBURN Sabrina, 1954 Chauffeur’s daughter…

The biggest lesson I’ve learned in life is not everyone is going to like you, but their opinion doesn’t matter. As long as you’ve got your family and your core people, and as long as you love yourself – that’s all that matters. You can’t please everybody, and what a boring world it would be if we could. Acting has taught me how to put myself in somebody else’s position. You really do walk a mile in someone else’s shoes when you’re playing a character. It can be draining, especially when you’re doing something around grief. You must leave that at work, but I wouldn’t change it – I love it. My career has taught me that you never know what’s coming next. One minute you could be sitting at…

Ask a keen gardener to name their favourite green-fingered gurus, and Sarah Raven will be on their list. For more than 20 years, she has been teaching, writing and inspiring us from her garden at Perch Hill in East Sussex, where she runs a cookery and horticulture school. A former doctor, Sarah believes passionately in the wellbeing powers of gardening, and of eating what you sow and grow. Here she explains how her new weekly podcast, Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange, is cultivating those ideas. One of the nicest parts of my job is showing people how gardening can transform their life. Sowing seeds, growing flowers and tending vegetables ticks every box, and I love that light-bulb moment when somebody realises how incredibly creative, physical, engaging and intellectual it can be.…

You’ve interviewed some huge movie names for your Soundtracking podcast [talking about music in film]. Who did you particularly fall in love with? I was genuinely in awe of Thelma Schoonmaker, Martin Scorsese’s editor. She’s in her 80s and is an example of how great female film talent can be. I felt like I was sitting in a room with my nana. The stories she told! She was so generous and warm – a phenomenal lady. What’s your earliest memory of public broadcast? My dad’s got an amazing bit of cine camera footage from when I was six or seven. We were on holiday and Mum went parasailing. While Dad’s filming Mum, I’ve got the microphone. I sing the News at Ten theme tune then I say, ‘Today, there’s a…

I remember a few years ago reading an article about how daughters of stay-at-home mums were less successful and ambitious than those with working mums. I was incensed. I was the person at university who, instead of going out drinking, spent hours perfecting my essays, knowing that anything less than a First would feel like a failure. And I spent my first maternity leave writing my Masters’ dissertation while bouncing on a birthing ball trying to get the baby’s head to engage. I fully support working mums. It wasn’t that I felt daughters of stay-at-home mums were better off; it was that I hated the suggestion my wonderful mum had disadvantaged us in some way. ‘Mum made me feel like I was the most important person in the world’ So…

‘I grow every single thing from scratch’ Hanna Armitage, 37, lives in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, with husband Sam and daughters, Phoebe, six, and Martha, four. In 2018, she transformed an abandoned nursery into Winterbrook Garden Nurseries, a community hub. THE IDEA I was a secondary school art teacher and hated my job. While I loved its creative side, I didn’t love the box-ticking paperwork. When we moved back to my home area, I gave up teaching and we relied on my husband’s salary from the local agricultural college, while I dabbled in my artwork and textile designs, and raised the girls. But I was itching for more. Then, in 2018, a plant nursery my dad had rented out for over 30 years was abandoned by his tenant. Dad and I went…

PLÜMO ✢ If classic comfort and minimalist shapes are your style, bookmark Plümo as your go-to site. ✢ Based in north London, the online store curates a range of brands chosen for quality craftsmanship and fuss-free aesthetic. ✢ Recently, Plümo Studio has launched an in-house label with longevity in mind. Think crisp white shirts, smock frocks and relaxed-fit linen that will be perfect for your wardrobe. ✢ plumo.com TOAST ✢ Promoting a slower way of life, Toast is the answer for simple, modern and functional clothing. ✢ Designed and developed in London and Swansea, there is a passion for traditional textile techniques that endorse durability. ✢ Their team also offer free alterations on items – particularly handy if you need hems adjusted – and repairs on existing Toast items free…

It was sometime back in January that I had my first ‘moment’ while rushing frantically along the aisle in my local Tesco, hunting down nail varnish remover. Something unexpected caught my eye. It was, and remains, the super-soft and sumptuous sweatshirt of my dreams, and undoubtedly my best lockdown purchase. Until that moment, supermarket shopping hadn’t been on my radar, but the F&F section soon became my ‘thing’. Lockdown changed a lot of things for all of us, but this is one discovery I’m grateful for. When chatting to friends, I soon discovered I  wasn’t the only convert. Trudging around the park, Becky nonchalantly announced, ‘I’m out tonight. I  drive 30 minutes to “the big Sainsbury’s” just for the cafe and clothing. A sticky bun and a guilt-free splurge on…

Worried there seems to be more hair in your brush than on your head? Taking hair loss vitamins for women could help. If you’ve tried shampoos and conditioners promising thicker, healthier locks, but your hair still feels thin and fragile, here’s a round-up of what to look for. LOSS WHY DOES HAPPEN HAIR IN WOMEN? Everyone is born with a fixed number of hair follicles on their head – around 100,000 to 150,000. ‘Each hair has its own life cycle, growing vigorously for three to six years, followed by a three to six month resting phase,’ explains Dr Sarah Brewer, medical director of Healthspan. ‘After this, the hair falls out as the hair follicle reactivates and starts to produce a new hair shaft.’ On average, you lose 80 to 100…

I first experienced bladder weakness around 12 years ago. I think it was due to a combination of reasons – I’d had my son via caesarean section five years earlier, put on weight, suffered from stress, and getting older played its part too. I put up with it, wearing daily liners but, after five years, it became an everyday worry. I had to wear really thick pads and was constantly anxious about smelling and leaking – I became miserable. I wanted to wear nice clothes, but I couldn’t because they would get damp and uncomfortable. I would panic every time I laughed, sneezed or even just moved – it took over everything. It was especially difficult when it came to my sex life. I didn’t feel sexy, confident or feminine,…

Pre-Covid, it was common to see people carrying a bottle of water, and I often read about athletes who swear by drinking vast quantities of water during the day. But how much do you need? The reality is, you need to drink enough fluid to ensure that you stay hydrated, and that can vary enormously according to your activity levels, the weather and also what you eat, as foods, especially those that contain a lot of water, contribute to your fluid intake. In general, most people need around 1.2 to 1.5 litres of fluid each day, and milk and other non-alcoholic drinks count towards this. You need more in hot weather and also when exercising. A good guide to whether you have drunk enough water is the colour of your…

1 BUILD YOUR OWN SET-UP If you cook and eat outdoors often and a standard barbecue isn’t cutting it, consider building your own outdoor kitchen. If you have the space for a permanent set-up, plus some basic construction skills, then a DIY brick-built kitchen is an affordable option and can be tailored to your exact requirements. Basic DIY kits start at around £30 (not including bricks) – try argos.co.uk. For masonry barbecues upwards of £400, try keengardener.co.uk Back wall in Tuscan Red (140) Intelligent Exterior Masonry paint, £71 for 5ltr, littlegreene.com 2 CHOOSE TO MAKE IT A MOVABLE FEAST For a more flexible solution, try a portable outdoor trolley. Offering prep space and storage, it’s ideal if you’re short on patio space, and can be wheeled into play when…

Hop across the Irish Sea and discover some of the most gorgeous scenery right on your doorstep. From ancient castles to soaring mountains, there’s so much to experience. And not to forget its myths and legends – kiss the Blarney Stone and you’ll never be short of a tale or two. DINGLE PENINSULA, KERRY Ireland’s westernmost peninsula boasts some of the country’s most spectacular scenery. The area is littered with white sandy coves and fascinating remnants of prehistoric Ireland, including monuments left behind by Bronze Age settlers and Dark Age monks. There are plenty of thrilling walks – take all or part of the 22km stretch from beautiful Dingle town to Dunquin, through green pastures and along the beaches at Ventry Bay. As you round the ragged coastline of Slea…

POMPEII REIMAGINED The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper (£16.99, HB, Head of Zeus) There’s nothing like being transported to a different place and wholeheartedly believing you are there – here we are on the dusty, noisy streets of Pompeii. Amara was once a beloved daughter of a doctor, now she is a slave in Pompeii’s most famous brothel, Lupanar. Sharp and clever, she has become used to hiding her talents, but never stops looking for opportunities for a way out. A story of survival, friendship and courage, Amara and her fellow ‘she-wolves’ are vividly drawn in a fascinating depiction of women at the time. Spellbinding.…

‘I’m the first to laugh or cry at what the sisters do’ Irish-born Lucinda Riley is the bestselling author of many successful stand-alone novels, but it is the Seven Sisters series that became her magnum opus. Based on the legends surrounding the Seven Sisters star cluster, we follow the journey of each adopted sister as they visit their past. In her new novel, The Missing Sister, we finally get to meet the last sister. Lucinda lives with her husband, Stephen, in Norfolk and West Cork. They have seven children between them, a Labrador named Maia and two cats, Murphy and Tiggy. As a novelist, I’ve spent the past 28 years in lockdown of sorts because of the way I write – which is in a solitary state wherever in the…

Is everything all right?’ Martine leaned against the kitchen counter, her blue eyes unblinking. ‘You don’t seem yourself, Anna.’ Anna opened a cupboard door, mainly to hide behind it. She had invited Martine around because she wanted advice, but she was finding it hard to speak up. Once she’d put it in words, it would be real, instead of a horrible, secret fear. ‘Why do you say that?’ ‘You’ve put coffee and cold water in that mug.’ Martine tipped the mixture into the sink. ‘What’s wrong?’ Anna sat at the table. She’d known Martine would interrogate her – that was why she’d invited her over. Anna was too much of a doormat to do anything about her suspicions. Martine was a police officer. She would insist on finding out the…

Postcards From Midlife This chatty podcast covers topics that midlife women will really relate to. Hosted by former editors Trish Halpin and Lorraine Candy, guests like Philippa Perry and Amanda Prowse share insights on health, beauty, careers and relationships. Bunk Bed For a lighthearted, intimate chinwag – the sort you might enjoy with your bestie in bunk beds – try this mellow podcast hosted by writer-broadcaster Peter Curran and comedian Patrick Marber. Each episode features guests like Jane Horrocks, Benjamin Zephaniah and Cate Blanchett. Thinking with Opera In a partnership with the University of Leeds, this Opera North series explores themes within opera. The fascinating episodes include a look at carnivalesque, from Monteverdi to Monty Python, and words and music with poet Simon Armitage and composer Gavin Bryars.…

CANCER 23 JUNE – 23 JULY Romantic Venus in Cancer between the 3rd and 26th brings potential for love and fun. Just watch out for a wobbly moment for partnerships mid-month. Call 0905 789 4153* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates LEO 24 JULY – 23 AUGUST Communication hassles are possible before the 23rd. Check important messages have been received. Around the 11th a misunderstanding clears up. Call 0905 789 4154* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates VIRGO 24 AUGUST – 22 SEPTEMBER Relationships with those closest will perk right up. Meanwhile, the 18th is your best day in months for making proactive moves towards your goals. Call 0905 789 4155* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates LIBRA 23 SEPTEMBER – 23 OCTOBER Don’t overreact to news…