Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2022 i Woman & Home

Welcome to the new-look editor’s letter – the first of many pages that have had a mini facelift as a result of your feedback. Earlier this year we ran a survey where we asked you, our readers, what you liked and disliked, and we’ve taken lots of your comments on board and made a raft of changes – do let me know what you think at the email address below. One of the clear messages from our reader research was that you wanted to see a wider range of price points – and so where better to start than the editor’s letter? I love a bargain, so have rounded up some of my favourites this month to share with you. And don’t miss the 37 ideas under £10 in our…

Little Lilibet Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, the adorable first child of the then Duke and Duchess of York, was born at her maternal grandfather’s house in Mayfair, London. Little did they know the history she would go on to make. A prosperous princess Following her uncle Edward’s abdication, Elizabeth’s life is changed forever aged 10, when her father ascended to the throne as King George VI. She grew up watching him navigate WWII and the dissolution of the British Empire, no doubt learning valuable life skills. Love of a lifetime A 21-year-old Princess Elizabeth married her ‘strength and stay’, Philip Mountbatten, in 1947. They remained together for 73 years up until his death last April. Wearing the crown Becoming the first female British monarch since her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria,…

Get ready for red-carpet glamour, fancy frocks and polished trophies. That’s right, awards season is upon us! Hollywood’s biggest names are preparing for annual sparkling ceremonies, including the BAFTAs and the Oscars. So what better time to celebrate those who have changed how women are perceived in a male-dominated industry? These talented women have faced their fair share of obstacles throughout their rise to global fame, from gender inequality to being slated for the way they look. Despite some of their hardships, they’ve all managed to break through and become the successful stars we know and love today. We take a look at their glittering careers and gongs, as well as their forthcoming films. MERYL STREEP The three-time Oscarwinner is known for her varied roles, from carefree Donna in Mamma…

When it comes to celebs, even the best-dressed men have off days, but for the most part, those who have cameras and paparazzi on their backs also tend to have an army of wardrobe assistants and a bank balance to keep them on top of their fashion game. Not so, your common or garden male. Unlike us, they don’t seem to have had the memo that says, as the years creak by, we don’t have to entirely give up on how we look. What they need is a nudge in a more elegant direction. While you might know one who has commandeered most of the wardrobe and fancies himself as Croydon’s answer to George Clooney, in my experience, there are generally two fashion traps men find themselves falling into. You…

FASHION FAVOURITES Luxe looks for the most stylish wardrobes BEAUTY BUYS Presents to perfect and pamper Stocking fillers - under £10 STYLISH HOME Chic buys for the interiors-obsessed FOR FOOD LOVERS Delicious ideas to tickle their tastebuds Stocking fillers - under £10 MODERN GENTS All that he wants and more TEEN DREAMS Even hard-to-please teens will love these Stocking fillers - under £10 TINY TOTS Toys and treats to keep little ones entertained Stocking fillers - under £10 FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS Let’s not forget our beloved pets Stocking fillers - under £10…

How to look your best every day! WITH THANKS TO OUR JUDGING PANEL SKINCARE See the difference with these recommended buys Best mask Perricone Chlorophyll Detox Mask, £61, perriconemd.co.uk Excellent for deep cleansing and purifying. Best brightening treatment Kora Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask, £45, cultbeauty.co.uk Creates a flawless, glass-like finish. Best essence Pat McGrath Labs Rose 001 The Essence, £81, patmcgrath.com A joy to use, for hydrated, dewy skin – worth the investment! Best AHA exfoliator Gatineau Radiance Enhancing Enzymatic Gommage, £45, gatineau.com Gentle yet effective and makes skin silky smooth. Best eye mask Dr Zion x Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Masks, £40 for five, murad.co.uk Amazing results – immediately smooths and firms. Best moisturiser for dry skin Lumene Nordic Hydra Intense Hydration Moisturizer, £21.90, lookfantastic.com Fabulous…

THIS MONTH ✢ Viagra and eyesight ✢ Healthy weight ✢ Power of nostalgia Q I know you can tell if you are a healthy weight by calculating your body mass index (BMI), but I have also been told it’s good to measure your waist. Which is the most accurate? A That’s a great question! And it’s complicated. Neither are perfect nor calculate your health, which is, in itself, complicated to define. BMI is a ratio of your height and weight, and is calculated by dividing your weight in kilos by your height in metres squared. A BMI of about 20-25 is considered ‘healthy’, but this measurement isn’t ideal, as it doesn’t take body fat into consideration. For example, it will be incorrect in people with a high amount of muscle…

Lamb with peppers, dates and chickpeas Use best end of neck chops for a super-tender result with heaps of flavour that also comes in at a great price. Serves 6 • Prep 25 mins • Cook 2-2½ hrs 1kg lamb neck chops 3tbsp olive oil1 large onion, finely chopped2 red peppers, sliced4 garlic cloves, crushed1tsp ground coriander1tsp ground cumin1tsp cinnamon½tsp ground ginger400g tin chopped tomatoes500ml beef stock2tbsp tomato puree75g pitted dates, roughly chopped2 x 400g tins chickpeas, drained and rinsed2tbsp chopped fresh parsley Crusty bread, to serve 1 Heat the oven to 140C Fan/Gas 3. Season the chops with salt and pepper. Heat half the oil in a large flameproof casserole over a high heat, and fry the lamb in batches for 5 mins until browned. Remove from the pan…

A cut above In lockdown, you may have developed a love of sourdough, but who has the time to fold and shape their own loaf now? Thankfully, third-generation bakers, brothers Robin and Christian Jones, at the Village Bakery in North Wales, are supplying M&S Food with a new collection of freshly baked sourdough baguettes, rolls and loaves. Each loaf takes around 36 hours to make and is baked on marble for a deep, dark crust and soft middle with an open texture and signature air bubbles. They use stone-milled heritage wheat flours from Marriage’s, along with a traditional folding technique to build up protein. As well as loaves, look out for Collection Crafted Vintage Red Fox & Barbers Vintage 1833 Cheddar Sourdough and Collection Crafted Olive Sourdough Stick. COCKTAIL OF…

✢ Opt for muted soft furnishings and soothing wall colours to create a relaxed and restful backdrop. ✢ Paint fixtures and fittings in heritage paint shades to complement period features. ✢ Mix classic furniture pieces with vintage treasures and salvaged finds for an eclectic look. ✢ Warm chilly flagstones with cosy textured rugs and runners in natural coir, sisal or seagrass.…

favourite reads SCENE SETTING The World of Phyllis Haylor and Ballroom Dancing, edited by Bryan Allen Sometimes it’s about a page or an excerpt that stays with you, and for me, it’s the prologue by Nerina Shute in this book. The prose paints a picture of a happy, more innocent time before World War One. This was the world into which Phyllis Haylor was born. It had a big effect on my writing and understanding of ballroom dancing. A DANCE ICON Steps in Time by Fred Astaire Fred Astaire is a massive hero of mine. Born in 1899 before musical theatre, he did a screen test and the feedback was, ‘Can’t sing, can’t act, can dance a bit.’ Of course, he become a great movie star. I love that story…

RACHEL JOYCE is the author of bestsellers including Miss Benson’s Beetle and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, which is being made into a film. Discover her emotional journey to writing the story of Harold’s wife Maureen on p189. Are you a saver or a spender? It depends what we’re talking about. If it’s money, I’m a spender. I don’t want to be, but I am. If it’s postcards, tickets, things I wore when I was 20, my children’s first shoes, as well as second, third and fourth, or my father’s watch, I am a saver. Strictly Come Dancing star ANTON DU BEKE juggles showbiz with writing novels awash with ballroom secrets and glitz. He reveals which five books made an impression on him as a reader on p191. Are…

NEW SEASON MAKE-UP…

Communication between the sexes has never been something we’re good at. Subtlety can often fall on deaf ears, while even great big hints go unheard. For example, when a woman says, ‘I’m fine,’ she most certainly is not; and she’ll require a lot of chocolate to get over it. When she says, ‘Sure, just do what you want,’ this means, ‘If you dare do what you want, I will impale you on this knitting needle.’ When a woman replies, ‘Hungry? Not much,’ that means ‘If you don’t feed me immediately, I’m going to gnaw your leg off.’ ‘Don’t get me anything special for my birthday’ clearly translates as ‘Buy jewellery’. And when you don’t – ‘I forgive you’ means, ‘It’s going to be a very long time before you get…

I was very keen on my Spiderman outfit aged seven. It wasn’t the first time I’d been photographed as a superhero because, thanks to a friend of Mum’s, I’d also appeared as Batman in the children’s party section of a Jane Asher cookbook. I was the eldest of four so I got the new toys first. I remember creating lots of Duplo and Lego spaceships and rockets, which I would throw downstairs, hoping to see them fly, but of course, they just damaged the banisters and the paintwork. ‘Gallows humour was a coping mechanism’ My father was a GP: subliminal messages about becoming a doctor began as a toddler when I played with specimen pots and syringes in the bath. We all thought it was completely normal to have medical…

DOUBLE-BREASTED Tailored styles are more versatile than you might first imagine, and look just as good paired with denim pieces as a floaty midi dress. The less formally you wear this style, the more modern it will look, so keep those trainers and a slouchy scarf to hand! COOL CHECKS SOFT TOUCH Faux fur and shearling adds a feeling of luxe to a coat, and is practical and stylish. Opt for snuggly fabrics if it needs to feel like something you want to hibernate in, but for less bulk, choose a design with furry detail or a teddy style. PADDED AND PRACTICAL We’ve been seeing versions of quilted jackets for several seasons now, and there are more styles than ever. Longer styles are ideal if you plan to spend…

We all want to buzz with non-stop energy during the day, sidestep hunger pangs in between meals and feel our best whatever comes our way. These aren’t overambitious goals – in fact, feeling good is totally achievable. The simplest way to revolutionise your diet isn’t counting every calorie or eating a rainbow. Looking and feeling great isn’t necessarily dictated by what we pile on to our plate, but HOW we eat our food. So, if you often feel sleepy after eating dinner or hungry soon after lunch, it could be time to switch things up. In her new book, Glucose Revolution*, French biochemist Jessie Inchauspé uncovers the ultimate diet tools that could be the secret to improving our lives. Here’s what you need to know. >> WHAT ARE THE GLUCOSE…

Enjoy those early nights Do you struggle to get a good night’s sleep? Sadly, your age could be to blame. That’s because the physical changes after midlife promote wakefulness, according to new research carried out by Stanford University. It’s all down to hypocretins, brain chemicals that play a role in maintaining alertness. Scientists found that while around a fifth of hypocretins degrade, the remaining become hyperactive as you get older – which can cause havoc for your sleep patterns. The best solution? If you feel sleepy in the evening, never fight it. If that means tucking yourself in at 9pm and switching off Netflix, don’t feel guilty – do it. Other ways to counteract deteriorating sleep quality include focusing on your sleep hygiene. One way to do this is to…

Keep hearing about women taking testosterone? It’s no wonder. Dubbed the ‘Davina effect’, Channel 4’s eyeopening menopause documentary in 2021 was responsible for a 30% rise in demand for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) * . Earlier this year, she began championing the benefits of testosterone, which many see as a male hormone, alongside more traditional oestrogen and progesterone for menopausal women with reduced sexual desire. ‘We do need far less testosterone than a man, but a little goes a long way,’ says GP Dr Sohère Roked ** . Feel it could work for you? Here’s how your body and brain might respond. 1 IT COULD REVIVE YOUR SEX DRIVE ‘Testosterone causes spikes in desire and increased sexual responsiveness,’ says women’s health specialist Dr Ghazala Aziz-Scott***. But…

Vietnamese-style chicken and noodles The sweet, salty dressing makes the chicken and noodles sing, plus we’ve packed in the veg. Serves 4 • Prep 20 mins • Cook 10 mins 200g vermicelli rice noodles2tsp oil2 free-range chicken breasts, cut inhalf horizontally to make 4 thin fillets30ml soy sauce2tbsp honey1 red chilli, finely choppedJuice 1 lime2tbsp fish sauce2tbsp rice vinegar1 carrot, finely sliced, or use a julienne peeler½ cucumber, cut into half moons250g radishes, finely sliced200g mangetout or sugar snap peas, finely sliced2 spring onions, thinly sliced Handful fresh mint and Thai basil leaves (or use regular basil)30g roasted peanuts, finely chopped 1 Put the noodles in a pan and cover with freshly boiled water from the kettle, then set aside to soak until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water,…

Inspiration for a beautiful abode The weather is getting colder and the evenings darker, so our attention is firmly back on our homes. And with the latest trends and must-have buys hitting the shops and dropping online, it’s time to think about a new look. Whether you hanker for a rustic Scandi abode, a glam party-inspired pad or a classic country vibe, here are six ideas to help you. LOOK 1 DARK COUNTRY Classic country style takes on a darker twist with a colour palette of forest greens and dusky blues for a modern edge. Nature-inspired patterns are key, with florals, woodland prints and botanicals, mixed with ginghams, stripes and dark plains. Furniture takes on a more refined finish, with polished woods, painted pieces and upholstery in sultry tones. LOOK…

Exciting ways to get away from it all FOR KEEN FOODIES Cruises are a dream for the food-obsessed. Not only is there a raft of dining options to sample a few steps from your cabin door, most meals are included in the price. Now there’s another reason for gourmets to get excited: P&O Cruises offers culinary-inspired Food Heroes holidays featuring Marco Pierre White, Olly Smith, José Pizarro, Shivi Ramoutar and Kjartan Skjelde. The chefs, along with wine expert Olly, accompany certain cruises to give demos and talks, and to host dinners as well as curate menus. On P&O’s Iona, for example, sailing along the Spanish coast to Portugal, José champions Spanish cuisine with his bespoke tapas menu in The Glass House (with wine pairings from Olly), plus street food dishes…

GOTHIC STORY The Ghost Woods by CJ Cooke (£14.99, HB, Harper Collins) Celebrate spooky season with this gothic thriller. When Pearl Gorham arrives at Lichen Hall in 1965 to have her baby, she knows immediately something is amiss. The Whitlocks are a troubled family, there’s a mysterious mother and boy roaming the grounds, and a sinister presence in the woods. Cooke has mixed the darkness of reality with a magical realism that will have you gripped. PSYCHOLOGICAL TALE The Favour by Nicci French (£16.99, HB, Simon & Schuster) Successful doctor Jude comes face to face with her first love Liam after 10 years. He knows her inside and out, and so, when he asks a small favour of her, how can she refuse? It’s only when Liam is found murdered…

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF Phil Vickery The TV chef, 61, lives on a farm in Buckinghamshire with his dogs. WAKE UP I get up early, 5am, and listen to Steve Allen on LBC. I’ve always woken up early, even as a kid – I have to be up and doing stuff. MORNING If I’m not filming for This Morning, I’ll go to Costa and sit there with a cappuccino. I check my emails and write a list for the day. I then go back, feed the animals and walk my dogs. BREAKFAST I’ll have porridge and fruit. I’m at an age where I do try to be careful what I eat, but I find I’m always hungry an hour later! WORK I go into the office around 9.30am.…

Famous Scorpios: Thandiwe Newton, Nadia Sawalha, Gerard Butler, Debbie McGee Star sign of the month SCORPIO 23 OCTOBER – 21 NOVEMBER There’s amazing news around the Full Moon on the 8th, and relationships are exciting. But, if anything’s ending, let it go. YOUR MONTHS AHEAD It’s hard to make headway with a situation before mid-January. Close friends spring surprises, and there could be a new family member next year. Call 0905 789 4157* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates. SAGITTARIUS 22 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER As your birthday month starts on 22nd, exciting developments come in. Lovely news could send you in a new direction. Partners, meanwhile? All over the place. Call 0905 789 4158* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates CAPRICORN 22 DECEMBER – 19 JANUARY Despite…

DON’T MIND THE GAP I read Elizabeth Noble’s feature, My Daughter with an Older Man? [September], with interest. I married a man 18 years older than myself, who already had a child. We celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary this year! To Elizabeth, I’d say as long as your daughter is happy, that’s all that matters. Penny LIFE-AFFIRMING It was so nice to read about cover star Fiona Bruce in August’s issue, and where her career has taken her since studying languages at Oxford University. I work at the faculty where she would have studied, and it’s lovely to discover how our students have gone on to follow varied careers. It really inspires the next generation. Sarah WHEELCHAIR WOES I have a progressive neurological condition and am now dependent on a…

GO BOLD…

What are you like first thing in the morning? I’ve got better. I’m not a natural lark, but I’ve now done early-ish radio for quite a long time [Kaye hosts the morning show on BBC Radio Scotland], so I’m definitely better. I’m a bit dozy, but reasonably good-natured, not snappy! What’s your worst habit? My kids say that in conversations I dart off on to another topic, saying ‘look at this’ or ‘look at that’. They get quite irate and tell me to pay attention, but that’s the wrong way round, as it’s them who aren’t keeping up. I call it multitasking, but they don’t see it like that! If you’re home alone, what would you do? I would be wearing my beloved dressing gown. I’d have a cup of…

From the price of a weekly shop to soaring energy bills, the cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on our lives. Budgeting can stretch our money, and it’s prudent to consider investing spare cash, rather than leaving it in the bank. Investments can make your money grow faster, help beat inflation and build your financial resilience. You can invest in anything from shares to designer handbags or fine wine, and if it’s something you have a passion for, all the better. Plus, you don’t need a lot of money to get started. BALANCING THE FACTS Many women are missing out on the benefits of investing, usually put off by the risks involved. Experts agree investing money for at least five years is more likely to deliver a…

‘Every baby saved has made the battle worthwhile’ Joanne Thompson, 37, took her nine-month-old daughter Millie to nursery on 23 October 2012. Later that day, Millie choked to death on her lunch. Joanne lives in Stockport, Greater Manchester, with her sons Leo, seven, and Asher, five. My first, perfect, happy baby was on her third day at nursery. That morning, I kissed Millie goodbye and went to my job as a surveyor. At 11.30am I received a call to say she’d been taken to hospital with breathing trouble. I headed straight to A&E and was led to a room where Millie was lying still and silent on a bed. My baby girl was dead. The trauma was overwhelming. All her dad Dan and I knew was that she had choked…

Welcome to woman&home Christmas Live, a brand-new boutique event taking place at London’s etc.venues County Hall on 19 November – it will be the perfect way to begin the festive season with friends. Celebrate and relax at this lovely riverside setting, from where you can enjoy views of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye. The woman&home Christmas Live experience will showcase creative demos, festive food and drink tasting, beauty treatments, inspiring fashion, crafts and a luxury Christmas market. Expect to see experts and celebrities presenting top fashion styles to help you find the perfect party outfit, plus big beauty brands with their best gifts for the Christmas season. And our event wouldn’t be complete without our much-anticipated goody bag, packed with make-up and skincare products worth…

It’s natural to want to feel cocooned and cosy during the winter months – and these days, I’m all over garments that give me a great big hug. Of course, there is good reason to envelop yourself in comfortable clothing. ‘Soft clothes feel good physically and help us to feel good psychologically,’ says behavioural psychologist and author of The Psychology of Fashion, Dr Carolyn Mair. ‘Which is why we like wearing something soft – it can comfort us and help us to relax.’ ‘It is no surprise the cardigan is trending’ Coming from a military background, the cardigan hasn’t always had a cosy image. It’s named after the Seventh Earl of Cardigan, James Thomas Brudenell (1797-1868), who donned a knitted wool, collarless jacket to lead the Light Brigade at the…

1 RETHINK YOUR BREAKFAST The morning is the most crucial time to ensure our blood sugar is balanced – our bodies are more sensitive to glucose first thing, when we are in a fasted state. ‘Sweet foods for breakfast (cereal, fruit juices, pastries) give us pleasure, but don’t give us energy,’ says Jessie. ‘Sweet breakfast foods lead to big glucose spikes, which have big negative effects on our physical and mental health.’ An ideal breakfast for steady glucose levels contains a good amount of protein, fibre, fat and optional starch and fruit (ideally, eaten last). Go for toast with avocado or Greek yogurt with 2tbsp nut butter, followed by a handful of berries. 2 HAVE A DESSERT! Want something sweet? Opt for a dessert rather than a snack in the…

I’m rolling up my sleeves and standing on my podium (OK, an old Amazon box), and I’m ready to hold forth. It’s October, and we have long, gorgeous months of positive change and self-discovery to look forward to. That, my friends, means out with the old and in with the new. Breaking old habits and – ta-da! – welcoming healthy new ones. The colder months are a perfect time to work on ourselves. After all, summer bodies are made in winter – not two weeks before we catch the plane. But I’m not going to talk endlessly about eating more protein, less sugar, more water, fewer lattes (although that is a brilliant start), but more about ruts we can climb out of. Let’s start with love. Familiarity can eat away…

Malted milk chocolate mousse with caramel popcorn Dive into our ultimate sharing dessert! Serves 10 • Prep 20 mins, plus at least 4 hrs chilling 250g good-quality milk chocolate, broken into pieces50g salted butter6 medium free-range eggs, separated600ml double cream2tbsp malted milk powder (such as Horlicks)4tbsp caster sugar150g salted caramel sauce For the popcorn: 50g salted butter100g brown sugar80g golden syrup1tsp vanilla extract¼tsp bicarbonate of soda80g popped popcorn 1 For the mousse, melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Set aside to cool for 10 mins, then mix in the egg yolks. 2 Combine 150ml of the cream and the malted milk powder. Whip to soft peaks and fold into the chocolate mixture. 3 In a very clean bowl, whisk the…

Oxford-born-and-raised Rebecca started her career in the city’s hospitality scene. After a successful stint running her own restaurant in Spain, she returned to her hometown to take up the role of Director of Operations at The Oxford Collection – a suite of charming, independent restaurants and hotels (theoxfordcollection.co.uk). Mention Oxford and most people think of the university. But for me, it’s the River Thames – it’s beautiful and really undersold. We are surrounded by such open greenery, so it’s great if you like to spend time outdoors. The town is beautiful too – and it’s the perfect size for exploring – you can walk it in a day. There’s a goldenness to it. I spent some time living in Spain – the sunny life by the coast – but I…

Rachel Joyce is the international bestselling writer of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, now being made into a film due to be released early next year. Her other novels include The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy and Miss Benson’s Beetle. Her latest offering is Maureen and the Angel of the North, which follows the moving story of Harold’s wife. Rachel lives near Stroud, in Gloucestershire, with her husband, five sheep, several hens and ducks, two dogs and a cat. She has four grown-up children. I resisted writing this book for a very long time. I knew that Harold Fry was part of a trilogy, but I just felt I couldn’t write Maureen’s story. There was unfinished business between her and me, though. When I wrote the screenplay for…

William and Kate have undergone an astonishing transformation since the day they walked down the aisle. After more than a decade waiting in the wings, they are now the jewel in the crown of the British monarchy. And as the second Elizabethan era ends, the couple will soon hold the future of the institution itself in their hands. King Charles’ position will only ever be a transitional reign. But when William ascends to the throne, he is likely to face years, if not decades, longer in the role. He knows the job of winning the public hearts and minds started the day he was born. When they celebrated their 10th anniversary on 29 April last year, their prominence within the Royal Family started to explode. From glamorous red carpet appearances,…