Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2022 i Woman & Home

Here at woman&home we’re all about celebrating midlife, and there’s no better way of doing this than through our Amazing Women Awards, in partnership with No7 (p48). We’ve dedicated a whole section to the outstanding achievements of 13 remarkable women. We hope you’re as inspired as we are reading their incredible, uplifting stories of how they are unafraid to pursue their passions, many to the benefit of others. From science to culture, sport to the environment, to supporting children and charities – this really is a truly impressive collection of women we’re proud to feature! We couldn’t resist celebrating another very important woman in this issue – Her Majesty the Queen. So, to mark her Platinum Jubilee, we’ve highlighted her iconic style over the decades (p26), created a delicious fruity…

1. Ocean-friendly Organic, eco-friendly filters defend your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Caudalie Vinosun Ocean Protect Lightweight Cream SPF50+, £19, uk.caudalie.com 2. Glow up Blended with a vitamin C-rich marine plant to help prevent photoaging and add a radiant glow. MARA Sea Kale Sunscreen Sérum, £45, cultbeauty.co.uk 3. Finishing touch Think of this SPF like the top coat in a manicure, sealing in the goodness while preventing burning. Bondi Sands Sunny Daze SPF50 Moisturiser, £12.99, Boots 4. Best for ageing This nifty SPF50 features a ground-breaking protective filter. La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+, £18, Boots 5. Sensitive types A multipurpose vegan formula that’s unscented, non-sticky and enriched with hyaluronic acid. Lucy Bee SPF30 Face Serum Drops, £22.50, lucybee.com 6. Suits you! Find mineral SPF too thick?…

You’ve no doubt heard the old adage that a healthy body is a healthy mind. Well, doctors and therapists increasingly agree with that statement. Certain seemingly mundane aspects of modern life – such as blood sugar swings, inflammation and chronic sleep deprivation – can cause a physical imbalance that manifests as anxiety. Here are some common culprits that may be contributing to your anxiety. OUR EXPERT Dr Ellen Vora is a holistic psychiatrist and author of The Anatomy of Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming the Body’s Fear Response. 1 KEEP BLOOD SUGAR IN CHECK The modern diet of refined carbohydrates and coffee drinks that are secretly milkshakes leaves our blood sugar swinging wildly up and down throughout the day. When our blood sugar crashes, it causes a stress response in…

Dear kids, You were born in the 90s, or thereabouts. Four of you. Four kids! What were we even thinking? Most of our friends stopped at two. A few went for three. Not many were daft enough to go for four. Partly for practical reasons, perhaps, but for some, no doubt – the greenies and visionaries – because of a prophetic sense of responsibility to the planet and what it could sustain. ‘We are recycling like it’s going out of fashion’ Not us though, not then. It was mostly about what the contents of the fridge could sustain. Besides, we enjoyed it. I say ‘enjoyed’. We got through it. Tumbled more or less cheerfully through years of chaos. It was lovely. You all had each other to play with. I…

‘ The best adventures happen when we get outdoors’ Alice Morrison, 58, is a former media chief executive from Edinburgh. Following redundancy, she moved to Morocco in 2014, and five years later, began her biggest adventure. When I told my mum I was yearning for adventure, she wisely observed, ‘Adventurers have to adventure.’ I owe my intrepid spirit to my parents, who moved us to Africa when I was six weeks old. It is by their example that I believe there’s nothing I can’t do. I moved to Morocco in January 2014 to train for the Marathon des Sables, which I’d signed up for on my 50th birthday. I fell in love with the country and decided to stay. Four years later, I felt a need to be in the…

Thrifty trick With the cost of living rising at its fastest rate in 30 years, the squeeze on household finances has really taken hold. In April, the energy price cap kicked in, adding 54% to gas and electricity bills, while National Insurance hikes of 1.25% mean less take-home pay – plus food costs are rising. Here are some ideas to save cash and ease the pressure on your household budget: ✢ Check your direct debit and stop paying for unused subscriptions. Check your mobile too, to see if you are paying for app subscriptions you no longer need. ✢ See if you qualify for a council tax reduction. You could get a 25% reduction if you are the only adult living in your home. Find out more at gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction ✢…

LESS IS MORE Flatter your figure by sticking to clean lines in neutral shades and invest in a waist-cinching black swimsuit for maximum confidence. Look for belted designs and piping to streamline your shape. COLOUR POP To make a style statement, opt for bold colour blocks and 50s-inspired swimwear. Choose primary shades. High-waisted styles will show off your waist, while dark panels create a slimming effect. BREEZY BOHO Frills and delicate floral prints paired with raffia accessories and earthy tones create a laid-back, bohemian beach vibe. Pair swimwear with loose, flowing skirts and dresses. Ruffles add volume to smaller busts. SIMPLY CHIC Blue and white are guaranteed to show off a tan and look effortlessly stylish. Swap classic nautical stripes for splash prints and shell motifs. Try a high-leg swimsuit…

Best daily regime WINNER: HIGH END Alterna My Hair My Canvas Me Time Everyday Shampoo, £26.49, feelunique.com ‘I really enjoyed using this. It has a really nice consistency and my hair felt lovely afterwards. I’d definitely recommend it for daily use.’ Sally Brooks WINNER: HIGH STREET Garnier Ultimate Blends Coconut and Aloe Hydrating No Rinse Conditioner, £6.99, Boots ‘Quick and easy to use after you get out of the shower, this no-rinse formula left my hair smooth and knot-free.’ Emma North Hydrating shampoo WINNER: HIGH END Ameliorate Clarifying Shampoo, £16, lookfantastic.com ‘I loved the scent and it left my hair feeling clean and fresh. I  associate clarifying shampoos as being quite stripping, but this was gentle and left my hair feeling soft.’ Sarah CW WINNER: HIGH STREET The Hair Lab…

Treatment serum WINNER L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic Moisture Plump Serum, £12.99, Boots ‘I loved how silky, shiny and bouncy this spray-on serum left my locks. Serums don’t often agree with my fine hair, but this one feels light and non-silicone-y, plus it smells wonderful.’ Charley WH Hair mask WINNER Color WOW and Chris Appleton Money Masque, £39.50, lookfantastic.com ‘Love the scent, love the consistency, love how easy it is to brush through, love how silky and smooth my hair looks after styling. Well worth the splurge.’ Stephanie Maylor Hair oil WINNER Kérastase Elixir Ultime Oil, £37.70, feelunique.com ‘The entire beauty team loves this. Leaves my hair soft, shiny and frizz free. It’s a luxe buy, but lasts for ages.’ Sarah CW Intensive conditioner WINNER: HIGH END Monat Damage Repair…

Best sustainable product WINNER Hairstory New Wash, £44, hairstory.com ‘Left my hair feeling clean and shiny, without the need for a separate conditioner. Saves on product, uses less water, is formulated with environmentally friendly ingredients and the packaging saves on plastic too.’ Stephanie Maylor HIGHLY COMMENDED We/Do Moisture & Shine No Plastic Shampoo Bar, £14.95, lookfantastic.com ‘Love the packaging, love the concept, love the results! A great sustainable swap.’ Sally Brooks Best vegan range WINNER Pacifica Vegan Silk Hydro Luxe Shampoo and Conditioner, £13, cultbeauty.co.uk ‘A great range with ethical ingredients. My hair felt brilliant after use, and I loved the fragrance too.’ Sally Brooks Best natural range WINNER Rahua Rainforest Grown Beauty, prices from £6, rahua.com ‘This range smells divine, contains natural ingredients and made my hair feel so…

Actor Lesley Sharp shares how her father’s dementia diagnosis helped the whole family. My wonderful father, Jack, lived with vascular dementia for several years until he passed away in 2008. At the time of his diagnosis, he became very particular in daily life, and his reactions to things seemed different. One year I’d organised something special for his birthday – I thought he’d be thrilled, but it didn’t seem to register. As the family’s concern grew, my stepmother and sister – who lived nearby, took him to see the GP, who then referred him to a memory clinic. Dad was in his late 80s and he’d progressed to a stage where he was unable to have conversations about the condition. His diagnosis was therefore more helpful for us because it…

Journalist and presenter Angela Rippon shares what she learnt when caring for her mother with dementia. I was worried when my mum, Edna, became forgetful, but it wasn’t until she was seen by her GP and local psychiatric clinic that I became aware it was dementia. It was 2004 and, being a journalist, I researched everything. Navigating Mum’s changes in behaviour (which included agoraphobia and aggression) was a learning curve. She remained in her home in Devon, attended a local day care twice a week, and I organised meals on wheels so she ate properly. Eventually, a carer moved in. Being busy with work was my outlet, and when at home with Mum, life took on an entirely different pace to fit around her. Towards the end of her illness…

Fact! Your eyes and body will thank you for having breaks from a screen throughout the day. Looking at screens all day can worsen dry eyes, but actually the strain of near focus is the same whether you are looking at a screen or reading, both of which can lead to eye strain as the muscles in the eye become overworked. Try the 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes look up from your screen, or book or sewing etc, and focus on something 20ft away for 20 seconds to allow your eyes to relax. Be sure to blink as you do this, to help lubricate the eyes to prevent dryness. Getting outside is also good for eye health, as you tend to concentrate on things further away when outside. In…

KITCHEN AREA SET UP YOUR IDEAL SERVING STATION Organise an outdoor kitchen with neat modular pieces that can be arranged around a barbecue or pizza oven to give extra worktop space and storage. Stone tops are hard-wearing, while deep drawers give plenty of room to stow away cooking tools and utensils. PLAN PREP SPACE Hard-working surfaces are key, as they’ll need to do duty for cooking and prep work. Barbecue food and cooking equipment gets greasy and hot, which will mark worktops, so these need to be stain- and heat-resistant, as well as durable enough to handle downpours, direct sunlight and frost. Opt for materials like natural stone, quartz, concrete and porcelain. GET ORGANISED If you entertain regularly or simply love having dinner outside with the family when it’s warm,…

✢ Create a cohesive look in your indoor and outdoor space by using similar colours, like subtle pastels in blush pink and blue. ✢ Add interest to a foliage-filled border or planter with a decorative garden stake topped with birds or bees. ✢ Pot up colourful plants to display on patios and attach window boxes to sills to add personality to a new-build exterior. ✢ Hang a set of simple festoon lights over a dining area so you can enjoy your garden even after the sun sets.…

GRIPPING DEBUT That Green Eyed Girl by Julie Owen Moylan (£14.99, HB, Michael Joseph) Julie Owen Moylan expertly places her readers in a New York apartment, where you feel the heat and hear the tinny radio. It’s 1975 and as 15-year-old Ava dreams of a boy, her chain-smoking mother is falling apart. A mysterious package arrives that sets Ava on the path of discovering the truth about the apartment’s former occupants, who hid a secret with devastating consequences. There’s a cinematic quality to this novel; the characters are deftly drawn and emotionally engaging, and the plot develops at the right pace, with unexpected twists. An accomplished debut.…

‘Scottish-Italians were seen as enemies due to their lineage’ Adriana Trigiani is a multi-award-winning author, playwright, film director, TV writer and producer, but she is probably best-known for her heart-warming books drawing on family, work, craftsmanship and love – most notably, the popular Big Stone Gap series. In her epic new historical novel, The Good Left Undone, Matelda Cabrelli faces the end of her life and is determined to share a long-held secret that sees us take a dazzling journey through Italy, France, Scotland and England. Adriana lives in Greenwich Village, New York, with her husband. She has a grown-up daughter, Lucia. The way I work on story ideas can take years. My new book, The Good Left Undone, began in 2018, when I went to direct a movie in…

There is nothing Veronique doesn’t worry about. This is what she is thinking as she sits here, now, the evening darkening to charcoal beyond the consulting room windows. Whether she has offended somebody so badly at work that they had complained to HR; if she might get caught parking so badly on CCTV that she goes viral, every single person in the world laughing at her. What if she falls asleep with a candle left alight and so burns the house down? All their possessions, gone? Veronique has always been this way, until this past year, when it’s elevated from worrying to something… something beyond that. The therapist gazes at her now, across the lamplit room. Veronique wonders how they must look to the darkening world outside. A doll’s house…

Watching Anything that’s comedy, really – I love Ted Lasso on Apple TV, Curb Your Enthusiasm and After Life. I  love documentaries as well, but if I  want to veg out it’s comedies I watch. Listening I’m an avid Radio 4 fan and then I sort of switch in and out of LBC. I  also like Eddie Mair, and Jessie Ware’s podcast Table Manners – I  think she’s great. Reading Ian Rankin is one of my favourite authors. I’m just reading his first Rebus book Knots and Crosses. I’ve read it before but I want to get out of the habit of listening to the news and watching Netflix late at night. Scrolling I do a bit for work, but I don’t post as much as I should! It’s important,…

Obi-Wan Kenobi Ewan McGregor is back as Obi-Wan Kenobi in this spin-off series that takes place 10 years after he’d left baby Luke Skywalker with his aunt and uncle on the planet Tatooine. Disney Plus Stranger Things The sci-fi series reaches its fourth series, set six months later. This time, the pals from Hawkins face a new mystery that might put an end to the horrors of the ‘Upside Down’. Netflix Under the Banner of Heaven Andrew Garfield plays Detective Jeb Pyre. Set in 1984, the series follows his investigation into a Mormon community when a woman and her baby are murdered. Disney Plus…

has penned 20 books, plus she wrote and directed the film of her debut novel Big Stone Gap. On p173, she tells us about her latest epic, The Good Left Undone. What’s the wildest adventure you’ve been on? That’s motherhood. Unpredictable, unnerving, exciting, routine, terrifying and anxiety-producing. It’s a wild hayride of emotion, full of hope – and ultimately, completely satisfying. Fashion stylist KAT FARMER is part of BBC1’s You Are What You Wear team and writes successful blog@doesmybumlook40. Turn to p40 for her tips on finding which style tribe you’d like to follow. What’s the wildest adventure you’ve been on? It has to be life – with all its ups and downs. Life is short, so you have to make the most of every opportunity and accept that everything…

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

Throughout her life, the Queen’s trusted style formula has been an inspiration to women of all ages, and it is her striking ‘regal uniform’ for official duties that we have grown to love over the past 60-plus years. The distinctive look – think colourful fitted coats and dresses, a matching hat, her trademark Launer handbag, a string of pearls, a brooch and sensible shoes – has served her through countless tours, official engagements and royal weddings. While Her Majesty has impeccable taste, credit must be given to Angela Kelly, her personal assistant and senior dresser since 2002, and designers Norman Hartnell, Hardy Amies and Stewart Parvin. The fashion houses and brands she has worn for years are all awarded with a Royal Warrant. The Queen was once quoted as instructing…

Are you that person who has a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear? Or do you ever look in the mirror and think, that’s not the person I want to see looking back at me? If you do, take comfort in the fact that you are NOT alone. Up and down the country there are women who love clothes but never quite love their outfits. Perhaps you belong to the tribe who lost their fashion way or never quite found it in the first place. ‘Life is too short not to feel fabulous’ Now, frankly, life is too short not to feel fabulous. There IS a way to find the new you, and while I can’t be the fairy godmother who clicks her magic wand, I can be…

Incorporate social fairness into every decision and consider how your product or service can have a positive impact. Know your business through and through, from sourcing to production and distribution. That way you won’t be left high and dry if someone decides to leave. Just keep going. Running a start-up has amazing highs and unbelievable lows, so enjoy the highs and get through the lows. I suffer from huge self-doubt when the lows happen, but I tell myself I’ve succeeded before and I’ll also succeed with this current issue.…

Something about the warmer weather makes us want to get a bit more playful with make-up. Now is the time to swap matte for sheer; shimmery for soft. A tinted lip gloss adds a pop of colour without the heaviness and maintenance of a bold lip. We love these affordable eye shimmers for a touch of grown-up sparkle. The new season is when to swap foundation for a lighter, more sheer base like a BB cream. Pair with a luminous blusher and a warm bronzer, you’ll cheat that ‘just back from holiday’ radiance in an instant. Clockwise from top: NARS Afterglow Cheek Palette, £46, lookfantastic.com; Erborian Super BB, £39.50 each, spacenk.com; Milk Makeup Rise Mascara, £13, cultbeauty. co.uk; 17. Powder Pigments, £3 each, Boots; Chanel Les Beiges Oversize Healthy Glow…

I love summer and the plethora of prints that run riot on the runways and filter down to the high street. At Erdem, the inspiration came from the Bloomsbury set, where floral print dresses and skirts were paired with brogues. Isabel Marant’s beachy collection mixed floral prints with metallics and sporty detailing, while Ulla Johnson celebrated the natural world with botanical prints. I’m a fan of every type of print, from the ditsy Laura Ashley and Liberty florals to big blooms, and ‘holiday’ watercolour scenes. This season, there’s plenty to choose from, and how you wear it is up to you. Wear prints with plain items, or you can mix it all up. It can be challenging to pair different patterns together, and there really aren’t any rules. Leopard print…

Dry shampoo WINNER: HIGH END Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo, £23, spacenk.com ‘I love it. It makes my hair feel freshly washed and provides body. And it doesn’t leave hair looking powdery.’ Sarah CW WINNER: HIGH STREET PS Pro Dry Shampoo, £2.50, Primark ‘Banishes greasy roots without leaving any residue. You can’t go wrong for the price.’ Charley WH HIGHLY COMMENDED Klorane Dry Shampoo with Organic Flax, £9.50, Boots ‘Smells like clean laundry and disguised my “day two” hair!’ Fiona McKim Curl definer WINNER: HIGH END Trepadora Papaya Slip Taming Potion, £24, trepadora.com ‘Another great product from Trepadora. Curls feel smooth and silky, and it smells great too.’ Jennie Roberts WINNER: HIGH STREET Noughty Hey Curl Scrunching Jelly, £7.99, lovenoughty.co.uk ‘A brilliantly affordable and fuss-free product.…

Styling brush WINNER Cantu Updo Natural Bristle Brush, £7, Boots ‘I love a natural bristle hairbrush – it’s amazing for smoothing hair, and gentle on hair that needs more care. A great little brush.’ Ben Cooke Straightener WINNER Dyson Corrale Straightener, £399.99, dyson.co.uk ‘Amazing design and packaging – feels high-end and is easy to use. Hair looks and feels super smooth, and the temperature is  perfect.’ Christel BH HIGHLY COMMENDED Nicky Clarke Infrared Pro Straightener, £129.99, Boots ‘This is a great tool. It doesn’t get too hot, which is good, and the hair was left with a smooth, shiny finish.’ Ben Cooke Hairdryer WINNER Glamoriser Lightspeed Dryer, £149.99, glamoriser.com ‘This was incredibly lightweight, which made it easy to control. It had great heat adjustments, and I also really rated the…

Nose constantly running? Itchy eyes making you miserable? Swapping your usual cuppa for nettle tea could be the solution. That’s because – according to research from the University of Maryland Medical Center – it can help alleviate those irritating hay-fever symptoms. ‘Nettles help by inhibiting the activity of histamine, the chemical that causes the itchy eyes and runny nose,’ says wellness and nutrition expert Penny Weston* . The good news? You can simply buy nettle teabags from your local supermarket, but if you want to make your own brew, it’s easy. ‘The oldest-looking leaves make the sweetest tea – cut off as much of the stalk as possible, wash thoroughly and infuse in a saucepan of boiling water,’ says Penny. ‘It’s best to use two cups of water for every…

Although dementia is reportedly on the rise, it’s not inevitable. According to Alzheimer’s Society, around four in 10 cases can be prevented by avoiding smoking, excessive alcohol, and eating foods high in saturated fat and sugar. Cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, all increase the risk of memory loss, thinking problems and dementia. ‘But you can help protect your brain with some of the same strategies that protect your heart,’ explains Dr Pixie McKenna. Keeping heart and blood vessels healthy – through a healthy diet and regular exercise – reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, according to a report by the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH). We reveal what foods should be filling your plate, plus other brain healthy habits you…

A common misconception people have about exercise is that it’s going to be horrible. In fact, it MUST be horrible for it to ‘work’. So, let’s get to grips with this word ‘exercise’. Roughly speaking, there are two camps. There’s strength training, which is work using body weight or equipment to provide a stimulus for your muscles to become stronger. And there’s cardio exercise, which raises your heart rate and is often rhythmic, like running, walking or hill climbing. Your heart and lungs are challenged over time, and will become more efficient at delivering oxygen to your muscles. At first, the heart might knock out rapid beats per minute to get the oxygen-rich blood to the working muscles quickly, but soon it will adapt and do fewer beats per minute,…

Premature ovarian insufficiency is the medical term for early menopause, which occurs under the age of 40. It isn’t uncommon – about one in 100 women will go through the menopause under the age of 40, and it often runs in families. There are lots of reasons why it may happen, from having your ovaries removed surgically (perhaps from cancer surgery), to having an autoimmune condition (where the body’s immune system attacks itself in error), after a particular infection (such as mumps), or after puberty, tuberculosis or malaria. In some cases, no cause is identified. If you don’t have a period for six months (and aren’t pregnant), or even if you do have periods but have symptoms of the perimenopause, then see your GP. Blood tests are not used in…

Classic tuna Niçoise The most iconic of French salads, this is ideal to enjoy for a relaxed lunch in the garden. Serves 4 • Ready in 25 mins 500g small new potatoes, halved if large 200g fine green beans 1 small red onion, thinly sliced 2tsp red wine vinegar ½tsp sugar 4 eggs 4 tuna steaks 1tbsp olive oil 12 cherry vine tomatoes, halved 50g wild rocket 50g black olives 2tbsp capers, drained and rinsed 4 anchovy fillets in oil, drained and chopped, plus 1tbsp oil from the can 2tbsp fresh dill leaves, chopped 1 Cook the potatoes in a pan of lightly salted boiling water for 10 mins. Add the beans and cook for a further 3 mins until tender. Drain and refresh under cold water, then drain well. 2…

Melanie Blake Celebrity agent and author Melanie Blake has worked with some of the biggest names in showbiz – the world in which she set her 2021 glamorous thriller Ruthless Women. In her new novel, Guilty Women, four actresses gather on an island to start filming. Their fifth member is missing… There’s definitely a case for writing what you know. My novels are often closer to fact than fiction, which considering how outrageous the people and their lifestyles are, tells you a lot about the career I had. I always start with the characters. Once I know who they are, they come alive in my head and tell me their stories. I often feel like Whoopi Goldberg’s ‘medium’ in Ghost . Being kind to yourself is the most helpful thing…

LIFE LESSONS WALDEN by Henry David Thoreau This book -– a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings – is a primer for life. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do for a living – if you’re searching for love, getting through grief, letting go or just clinging on, read Walden. THOUGHT-PROVOKING JOURNAL OF A SOUL by Pope John XXIII This is one of my favourite go-to books. It’s an autobiography in essays, letters, sermons and observations of the first peasant pope, who happened to be in a family deeply connected to mine. He was the real deal and The Good Left Undone came from a triptych in his church in Sotto il Monte. It’s the frame of the entire novel because it’s about what happens when we…

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Thank you for the article Global heroines [May], which celebrated International Women’s Day. While I was aware of most of the women featured, the article introduced me to some amazing women. Women are indeed a force to be reckoned with and we need to embrace that power. I’ve now volunteered at a food bank – not a global act but something I can do to help. Christine UNFINISHED BUSINESS I was inspired by Lisa Watson in Marvellous makers [March]. Her beautiful, traditional pieced quilts reminded me that I had an unfinished patchwork quilt that needed love and attention after 30 years of neglect. It was intended for my daughter, but now my aim is to finish it for my new granddaughter. There is still a lot to…

A rosy-cheeked Michaela Strachan breezes into our shoot location house after catching two trains, riding the London Underground and walking a mile on foot. But forgoing a taxi was not just about being environmentally mindful. ‘There’s nothing worse than being stuck in a car in a traffic jam,’ says Michaela, 56, gratefully accepting a mug of steaming tea. ‘I’d rather travel for longer on public transport and keep moving forwards.’ And 35 years after her 1986 television debut on ITV’s Wide Awake Club, the wheels of her career also continue to roll. A regular fixture on BBC Two’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch – known collectively as The Watches – Michaela has sewn herself into the fabric of British wildlife programming after presenting CBBC’s The Really Wild Show, where she forged…

✢ FOR STRESS AND ANXIETY: KNITTING Knitting was identified as the most relaxing hobby in one study† , which found the resting heart rate of participants, lowered by 18.75% to 65bpm, on average. Fishing, blogging, calligraphy and painting followed closely. ✢ FOR LOW SELF-ESTEEM: READING Enjoy immersing yourself in a romance or love the pace of a thriller? A report by The Reading Agency revealed those who read more had increased self-esteem, empathy, and wellbeing, and reduced symptoms of depression, along with a lower dementia risk. ✢ FOR LOW MOOD: GARDENING As well as providing a full-body workout, research consistently shows that gardening boosts mood, and reduces anxiety, stress and depression. Being in nature is also a form of ecotherapy, which is now used as a social prescription to treat…

Elegant eveningwear The Queen wore this striking floral satin dress to the Haymarket Theatre in 1956. This high-glamour look, paired with fur jacket and open-toed sandals, broke with tradition because she’s not wearing elbow-length gloves. With pin-curled hair and pearl jewellery, she was rapidly becoming a style icon. Standout lace Her Majesty looks effortlessly stylish in this white lace pencil dress and wide-brimmed hat, created by Hardy Amies for her tour of Australia in 1953-54. The slim silhouette was a change for her, as she normally favoured fuller skirts. Amies started designing for the Queen in the early 1950s, and continued to dress her until his death in 2003. Off-duty classic Seen in the gardens of Balmoral Castle, the Queen wears a classic 1940s suit with fitted jacket and pleated…

What’s your earliest memory of music? I was born in England and moved to the Gold Coast in Australia when I was six. We were the only Greek – in fact, the only ethnic – family in the area, and I used to get beaten up at school. When I was 13, local schools were competing in a talent contest. I sang Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called to Say I Love You with the school band. It was my first performance and in front of 1,000 people. We came second and in that moment I knew music was what I wanted to do. I found something that I could be accepted in. What’s the best decision you have ever made? Entering Australian talent show New Faces in 1989 when I…

The most important lesson I’ve learnt in life is basic first aid. When Hero was a toddler she choked on a luminous star [Myleene and Simon live with their son Apollo, two, and her daughters Ava, 14, and Hero, 10. Simon’s two children from a previous relationship live with them part time]. She went blue and didn't make a sound. I’d done two first-aid courses by then but have never felt adrenaline like it. She didn’t react for the first two pats on the back then, on the third attempt, she coughed it up. It was terrifying. I’ve learnt a lot from my dad, who is a very pragmatic Royal Navy captain. A lot of my new book is dedicated to what he taught me, from lighting the boiler pilot…

This is me, aged 21, wearing a saucepan on my head during a spur-of-the-moment camping trip in the south of France. It was the summer of 1989 and I had graduated from university. Goodbye student life – exams, mildew-spotted shower curtains and crunchy carpets. Next stop, a real job, a Filofax and so many shoulder pads. But not quite yet. A long summer stretched ahead of me and I intended to make the most of it. I was young, free and single, and made a conscious decision to say yes when opportunity knocked. It wasn’t just holidays that I said yes to. First, I had to earn a wage. And so, in an exceptionally hot week in June, a friend and I started the night shift in a tinsel factory.…

✢ Start-up costs: £30,000 of credit and loans, covering design, marketing, formulations to be regulated, ingredients and packaging. ✢ Turnover: £3m beautykitchen.co.uk ✢ Start-up costs: £8,000, covering stock, packaging design and registering rights. ✢ Turnover: £196,000 sugarcoatedhairremoval.com ✢ Start-up costs: £20,000, consisting of £15,000 product development, £4,000 product photography, £500 logo design, £500 website and domain hosting. ✢ Turnover: £150,000 happierbeauty.com…

THE RIGHT STRIPES ✢ Timeless stripes can be slimming – invest in a dress where the lines draw the eye inwards. ✢ Chunky fisherman knits are perfect for adding a relaxed, daytime feel to a silk dress. ✢ Pointed flats elongate your legs. Cardigan, £69.99, sizes 6-16, superdry.com; dress, £359, sizes 6-18, lkbennett.com; shoes, £59.99, zara.com With thanks to thelobstershack.co.uk SEASIDE CHIC ✢ With its soft ruffled sleeves, waist-cinching belt and full-flowing skirt, this dress is oh-so-flattering for all. ✢ Swap the belt for a tan style or bold pop of colour to add some individuality to your outfit. ✢ Flatform sandals are perfect for when you’d like a little extra height without the pain of heels. Dress, £140, sizes 8-18, phase-eight. com; shoes, £129, penelopechilvers. com; hat, £22, laredoute.co.uk >>…

Toner WINNER Jerome Russell Bblonde Blonde Toner, £4.49, Boots ‘Refreshed my hair colour after one use. Any yellowness disappeared, leaving a  bright blonde.’ Charley WH Instant colour WINNER Clairol Colour Gloss Up, £8.99, Superdrug ‘Whether you want to perk up your blonde or have some fun with colour, this range is perfect. It makes your hair super shiny too.’ Sarah CW Root touch-up WINNER Schwarzkopf Root Retouch Spray, £7, Sainsbury’s ‘It’s so easy to use and has great, natural-looking pigments that blend well into the roots of my hair. Other judges said it covered greys in a flash too.’ Emma North Permanent dye WINNER Garnier Olia Glow Permanent Hair Colour, £7.99, Boots ‘I’ve used Olia for years. This new Glow collection imparts beautiful iridescent tones, which brunette hair often lacks.’…

Best for scalp WINNER: HIGH END Sachajuan Scalp Treatment Duo, £38, feelunique.com ‘The packaging is fab and the fragrance very pleasant. The formula didn’t disappoint either, and left the scalp very refreshed.’ Christel BH WINNER: HIGH STREET Bouclème Dry Scalp Serum, £20, lookfantastic.com ‘Always great ingredients and science from Bouclème. This is no exception – great for flaky scalps.’ Jennie Roberts Best for volume WINNER Absolute Collagen Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner Duo, £34, absolutecollagen.com ‘Smells fabulous, and leaves hair looking and feeling thicker and bouncier. It’s a must for those with fine or thinning hair.’ Sarah CW Best supplements WINNER Viviscal Hair Health Programme, £51.99, viviscal.co.uk ‘It takes a few months before you see results, but it’s worth the wait. I  don’t see as many strands in my brush.’ Emma…

Greater awareness, coupled with the fact that as a nation we’re living longer, means most of us will be touched by dementia at some point. In fact, more than half of UK adults know someone who has been diagnosed with dementia, and the number of people living with it is expected to top one million by 2030* . Our risk of dementia doubles every five years over the age of 65, and by the time we reach 80, it increases to one in six** . It’s also more common in women – 61% of those with dementia are female*** – and is, in fact, the leading cause of death for women in the UK† . This is partly because we tend to live longer than men, but the loss of female…

Smart devices and gadgets can assist those living with dementia and provide a little peace of mind for carers. ✢ Ravencourt Living Talking Time Pal, £9.99, Boots Designed to make telling the time easier, this key ring announces the time and date at the press of a button. ✢ Buddi Clip & Wristband Set, £248 and £4.99 a week, buddi.co.uk This wearable GPS-monitoring wristband activates a personal emergency response service and has automatic fall detection. ✢ TabTime Super 8, £17.50, alzproducts.co.uk Remove the stress around taking daily medication with an electronic pill-time reminder box.…

✢ Leafy greens They contain folate, lutein, vitamin E and beta-carotene – all of which protect your brain. Folate helps reduce homocysteine levels in the body, which are linked to degenerative brain disorders** . ✢ Salmon ‘Eating essential healthy fats promotes optimum memory, concentration and mood,’ says nutrition health coach Amy Wright. ‘Clinical trials show that omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish can improve cognition and the structure of ageing brains.’ ✢ Blueberries Deeply coloured berries are a rich source of anthocyanins, which are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. These fight inflammation, which can contribute to brain ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. ✢ Turmeric This yellow spice may help improve memory in people with Alzheimer’s, as well as help clear the amyloid plaques – the proteins that play a central role in the…

Q I am in my late 40s and have recently started getting migraines, which are worse when I have red wine. Are there any other foods I should avoid? I’m also having really bad hot flushes – can I still have HRT if I have migraines? A Migraines are common and tend to follow the same pattern: a premonitory stage where people might feel tired, have food cravings or be irritable, followed by the ‘attack’. About one third of people will also have aura before the headache, which can include disturbances to vision or hearing, pins and needles or numbness. The pain is throbbing, and often associated with nausea or vomiting. Sleep can often help end an attack, which is then followed by a recovery phase. Around one in 10…

Swing in the shade with a summer read or bask in the sunshine on lazy days. Installing a hammock is easy with these simple steps… ✢ Invest in a solid wooden stand for the easiest hanging solution, perfect for patios and decking. All you’ll need to consider is storage, as it’s a bulky piece of kit. ✢ For hanging from trees, you’ll need a pair of sturdy trunks that the full length of the hammock fits between. Loop a set of tree-swing ropes or straps around each tree and suspend your hammock in place with heavy-duty carabiners. ✢ If attaching to an external wall, buy specialist hardware to install hanging hooks. ✢ Always do a safety test before sitting down on it. Try the tension with a long, firm push…

Spring onion and feta filo spiral Spring onions have a milder flavour than their rounder cousins and work a dream in this flaky tart. Serves 6 • Ready in 55 mins 60g butter 4tbsp olive oil 3 bunches spring onions (approx 350g), cut into 5cm lengths 300g spinach 200g feta, crumbled 50g Pecorino cheese (or vegetarian alternative), finely grated 20g fresh dill, chopped 2tbsp fresh breadcrumbs 270g pack filo pastry 2tbsp sesame seeds Tomato and basil salad, to serve You will need: 20cm springform cake tin, and baking parchment 1 In a large pan over a medium heat, melt 30g of the butter with 1tbsp of the oil. Fry the spring onions for 5 mins until softened and slightly caramelised. Stir through the spinach to wilt. Remove from the heat and…

THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah is a powerful story about a mother-daughter relationship in the US Dust Bowl. I was rooting for them. Joss Conner, North Yorkshire I have just read FRENCHMAN’S CREEK by Daphne du Maurier. I took every path travelled with the lead character, Lady Dona St Columb, and couldn’t put it down. Sally Tobyn, Essex I’ve just finished THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid on audio. It was magnificent – a great story with glamour and intrigue. Pernille Hughes, Buckinghamshire I recently read MOTH by Melody Razak, a captivating story of a family around the time of partition in India. Harrowing but incredible. Tilly Fitzgerald, West Sussex…

Conversations With Friends After Normal People, Sally Rooney’s debut novel gets an adaptation. It follows former lovers Frances (Alison Oliver) and Bobbi (Sasha Lane), whose friendship is tested when they get involved with a married couple. BBC3 Silent Witness Amanda Burton returns as pathologist Sam Ryan after 18 years. She joins Emilia Fox as Dr Nikki Alexander for six new episodes to mark the crime drama’s 25th anniversary, as we discover what Sam’s been up to. BBC1 The Time Traveler’s Wife Audrey Niffenegger’s 2003 novel got the movie treatment in 2009, and has now been made into a TV series starring Rose Leslie and Theo James as Clare and Henry, whose relationship is complicated by time travel. Sky Atlantic Witness No.3 Nina Toussaint-White stars in this thriller as hairdresser Jodie,…

Downton Abbey: The Official Podcast With Downton Abbey: A New Era out in cinemas, here’s your chance to step behind the scenes with hosts Anita Rani and Jacqueline Coley. Talking Heads – A Gardening Podcast Ever gazed at your own plot and wondered how professional gardeners on a large estate manage? Talking Heads has the answer, as head gardeners Saul and Lucy share their tips and tricks on everything from sowing to extreme weather. Refreshingly honest and inspiring in equal measures. The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry Can hair turn white overnight? How does Wi-Fi work? And why do teenagers struggle to get out of bed? These are some of the questions that Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Hannah Fry investigate. You’ll be fascinated by their scientific sleuthing.…

CANCER 21 JUNE – 22 JULY The sun enters Cancer on 21st for a solstice worth celebrating. Between now and the Cancer new moon on the 29th make your own luck. Call 0905 789 4153* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates LEO 23 JULY – 22 AUGUST Before the 21st everything is about communication and getting an important message across. After then, you may not want to talk at all. Go with it. Call 0905 789 4154* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates VIRGO 23 AUGUST – 22 SEPTEMBER Highlight the 7th and quit sweating the small stuff to go after something you want. Things feel like they’re settling after some chaos. Bar a blip on the 10th. Call 0905 789 4155* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly…