Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2023 i Woman & Home

It’s hard to believe that Strictly Come Dancing is back on our screens already. The show, for me, symbolises cosy nights in, as the leaves fall and the weather turns chilly. One of the first Saturday-night shows my girls loved to watch with us, it’s almost irrelevant who participates because it’s the joy of dance that seems to seep through the TV screen, rather than any celebrity-star wattage. This month, we talk to five women who explain why having a good shimmy is so good for us (page 40). Chatting to GBBO’s Nadiya Hussain was a real treat (page 18). What an interesting and, at times, very difficult life she has had. Her determination and passion is inspiring, but her humble personality is heart-warming. Not many as successful have their…

AUTUMNAL SCENTS…

Any woman who says she gets ‘high’ on housework has inhaled waaaayyy too much cleaning product. But sadly, my generation, who thought we were going to ‘Have It All’, have ended up ‘Doing It All’. I used to think that the ultimate proof of female superiority was the fact that women live longer than men. But I’ve now realised that’s just so typically male – leaving all the cleaning up to a woman! Latest research reveals that women are still doing the majority of the chores and childcare. Apparently, giving a room a sweeping glance is the closest most men ever come to housework. Yep. It would seem that the enlistment of labour on a subsistence basis is now forbidden in Britain, except in one state – the holy state…

What are you like first thing in the morning? I’m a nightmare! I wake up early – about 5.30am. My children say I’m like [the robot] R2-D2 from Star Wars because I hit the ground running. What is your worst habit? I’m massively chaotic. I’m not very good at dealing with my packing and unpacking. I spend a lot of time travelling for work and I’ll get home, take out what’s dirty and put it in a big pile, get another suitcase out and put clean stuff in it. I then forget to clean up the stuff from the first suitcase. I’m just not organised! If you were home alone, what would you do? It depends on the time of year. I would either be in my dressing gown in…

The cost of living has risen, incomes are plateauing, savings are dwindling… is now the time for your biggest asset – your home – to start paying its way? Equity release – a way to live in your home while accessing some of the money in its value – may seem like a great idea, but it hasn’t always had the best reputation. In the past, some lenders have made it difficult for borrowers to treat their home as their own. Today’s heavily regulated market means this no longer applies, and loans are more popular, says Martin Wade, adviser and director of specialist company Access Equity Release. Counting the cost ‘At 55, you may be able to borrow up to 20% of your home’s value,’ says Martin. ‘This rises to…

My parents divorced when I was two, and Dad – handsome as he was – left. We didn’t really see him after that. Every Sunday he promised he’d come to visit us and we’d get all dressed up, but he’d never arrive. It was quite heartbreaking, which is why this picture is so precious, because on this particular day he did show up, and it’s the only photo I have of us two together when I was a young girl. I remember the dress clearly. My mum said it was ‘designer’ and paid a fortune for it. The material was quite itchy as far as I remember, or maybe it was that I just wasn’t used to snuggling up to my dad. That day he took my brother and I…

Looking stylish has never been so easy Warm WHITES There’s nothing more luxurious than a head-to-toe outfit in the palest shades of off-white and cream. Envelop yourself in layers of chunky knitwear and soft wool separates, with a sturdy boot thrown in. Cool CLASSICS Invest in standout pieces that form the building blocks of a timeless winter wardrobe. A great bag, an elegant shoe, a well-cut trench coat, a tailored trouser – all designed to stand the test of time. These investment buys will elevate your existing staples. Heritage KNITS Fashioned from pure wool, alpaca, Shetland or even a wool mix, you’ll be glad of a warm and cosy knit. Traditional motifs and Fair Isle patterns add interest, and look stylish worn with weekend denim and thick corduroy, or piled…

Harness the power of poetry Surprised to hear that a poem a day could help keep the doctor away? If you’re feeling stressed and anxious, and have struggled with other remedies – such as breathing exercises or mindfulness – it could be your cure. ‘In many ways, reading poetry is like meditation, the rhythms and words help slow us down to concentrate, and the noisy business of our brain gets a break,’ says poetry curator Allie Esiri, author of 365 Poems For Life (£22, Bluebird, on sale 5 October). ‘It can also help create a connection with others – a shared poem can help explain to someone how you’re feeling.’ Hated poetry at school? It doesn’t have to be as serious as back then. ‘You can find a moment to…

Q&A Q I recently experienced a terrible journey – our flight from Tenerife got caught up with delays due to air traffic control, and we ended up being in the air for six hours, then had a two-hour bus journey back to Kent. My right leg has now swollen up and, although I wore travel socks, I’m worried about deep vein thrombosis. I smoke about 20 cigarettes a day – am I at risk? A Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) affects one in 1,000 people in the UK each year. It’s potentially lethal, so if your leg has become swollen, painful and red following air travel or a long car journey, it’s essential that you go to the doctor’s for a check-up. Just because you haven’t gone on a long-haul flight,…

MENU TO S ERVE 6 TO START ✢ Warm halloumi salad with crunchy garlic crumbs FOR THE MAIN EVENT ✢ Beef and Guinness pie ✢ Creamy potato and celeriac mash ✢ Steamed greens with hazelnut and lemon butter FOR PUDDING ✢ Sticky fig and ginger puddings with whisky caramel sauce TO START Warm halloumi salad with crunchy garlic crumbs Salty, sweet and deliciously crunchy, this makes a generous starter – you can slightly up the quantities for a veggie main. Serves 6 • Prep 15 mins • Cook 5 mins 3tbsp olive oil1 garlic clove, bashed1 sprig rosemary, lightly bashed75g fresh white breadcrumbs2tbsp plain flour1tsp smoked paprikaPinch cayenne pepper2 x 225g packs halloumi, cut into1cm-wide batonsSunflower oil, for shallow-frying100g pitted black olives50g rocket leaves For the dressing: 2tbsp extra…

Ready, steady, cook! After seeing a growing interest from customers in cooking their favourite Japanese restaurant dishes at home, Waitrose & Partners has launched a new range of ready meals and cooking ingredients, featuring an impressive 200 products. Our favourites include Waitrose Japan Menyū Slow Cooked Chilli Miso Beef, £7.50, Waitrose Japan Menyū Chicken Katsu Curry, £5, and Waitrose Japan Menyū Vegetable Steamed Buns (Veg/V), £2.50. DRINK OF THE MONTH Boozy hot chocolate SERVES 1 READY IN 10 MINS 250ml whole milk1tbsp cocoa powder2tbsp Cointreau45g (6 segments) chocolate orange, finely chopped, plus1 extra segment, for the topping1tbsp whipped cream Chocolate sprinkles (optional) Put the milk and cocoa powder in a pan; bring to a simmer while whisking to dissolve the cocoa. Off the heat, stir in the Cointreau and chocolate.…

Exciting ways to get away from it alldream destinations ISLAND-HOPPING IN FRENCH POLYNESIA Alicia Miller discovers the tropical Marquesas on-board a dual cargo/passenger vessel From my mountainous pinnacle, I see all of Fatu Hiva island carpeted beneath me: rolling hills of lime green, mammoth black boulders, elegant coconut palms. As I pause in the sunshine to drink from my water bottle, wind tickles my hair and rustles the grass lining the switchback road I’ve been following on my hike. Below, a few small houses dot the landscape, and beyond, the Pacific Ocean glitters in abundance. And I do mean abundance: there’s almost nothing else around for 3,000 miles. Craggy and volcanic, the Marquesas archipelago is one of the most remote places on the planet. Part of French Polynesia, this collection…

This year, bestselling author Elly Griffiths retired her most famous character – for now. Set in Norfolk, the Ruth Galloway series blends intricate plots, great characters, vivid landscapes and a much-loved heroine. Elly has also written standalone crime novels and a non-fiction book on Norfolk itself. Her latest book, The Great Deceiver, is the seventh of the Brighton Mysteries, and follows the murder of two magicians’ assistants. Elly lives near Brighton with her archaeologist husband Andy and cat Pips. She has two grown-up children. One of the privileges of writing a series is seeing the characters develop. There are 15 Ruth Galloway books so, over the years, as I changed, so did my characters. With the Brighton Mysteries, which are set in the past, you can jump forward a lot.…

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF Victoria Derbyshire The BBC broadcaster and newsreader, who turns 55 on 2 October, lives in west London with her husband Mark Sandell, their two sons and two dogs. WAKE UP If I’m working, I wake up at about 7.30am. I put the radio on straight away and listen to Radio 4, and look on the BBC News app just to get up to date. After that I’ll go downstairs, cuddle my cocker spaniels and make a cup of tea. MORNING I have breakfast at 10am, before our 10.30am Newsnight Zoom meeting. I’ll either have Greek yogurt and berries or bran flakes. Then it’s into the meeting, where we talk about ideas and what we might cover on that night’s programme. On my days off…

When Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior royals and left the UK to make a new life in North America, they seemed to have the world at their feet. It’s easy to forget, but back in the heady days of 2017 and 2018, Meghan was hugely popular. Prince Harry, too, as the younger son of Diana who had bravely fought for his country during two tours of Afghanistan. The late Queen intended for the couple to capitalise on their global popularity. She gave them prominent roles (President and Vice-President) at the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, and allowed them to carve out charitable causes in areas such as the military (the Invictus Games), mental health and disenfranchised communities. There was such promise. ‘Harry and Meghan are now under pressure’ The Queen…

Bestselling crime author ELLY GRIFFITHS talks about the Ruth Galloway Mysteries, the Brighton Mysteries, magicians and Norfolk on page 179. What is your most treasured possession? My dad gave me his beautiful violin when I started lessons at school. It deserved a child prodigy but, sadly, I was terrible and soon gave up. Years later, I passed it on to my son Alex, who became an excellent pianist and violinist. I’m so happy there’s another musician in the family. JULIE POWELL is a health writer, editor and consultant. On page 46, she finds out how to give your marriage an MOT. What is your most treasured possession? A small silver necklace with ‘Vita’, the Latin word for life, written on it. I was given it just before I gave birth…

HOTEL LUXURY…

Suited and booted This Roland Mouret suit looked gorgeous on Kate, worn with a pink pussy bow blouse, during a visit to Boston last December. She chose the same suit a month later for a reception for England’s wheelchair rugby league players. Pretty in pink This elegant Beulah shirt dress was first worn by Kate at SW19 back in 2021. But the Princess dusted it off again this year to officially open the Young V&A, teaming it with white Gianvito Rossi stilettos. A fancy frock These pictures were taken four years apart. The Princess styled the dress the same way at Ascot in 2019 and the Coronation garden party this year – with silver heels, a silver clutch and her hair tied in a side bun. She even wore the…

In 1969, Gucci’s Horsebit loafer made an appearance at Cannes. The late Jane Birkin looked effortlessly chic on La Croisette in white jeans, a crocheted crop top and designer slip-on shoes. If there had been an award for the best-supporting accessory, it would have gone to the now-legendary loafer. This year, Alexa Chung confessed that, for her, Jane Birkin was ‘It’. As a teenage model, she discovered Birkin in Michelangelo Antonioni’s 60s film Blow-Up and instantly fell for her tomboy style and low-key glamour. Admitting that she ‘recklessly pilfered outfit ideas from Birkin’, Chung is known for her gamine looks and is regularly seen in Birkin-approved essentials: the navy peacoat, an oversized men’s shirt, flared jeans and a white T-shirt, to name a few. These are the easy-to-wear, everyday clothes…

HOW CAN I KEEP MY BLONDE COLOUR LOOKING BRIGHT? Used once a week, new PRO:VOKE Touch of Silver GO:ICY Platinum Effect Shampoo and Conditioner, £4.99 each, provoke.co.uk, are a great way to stop blonde hair going warm. This intense treatment combo has purple and blue pigments to keep colour cool and bright. Whether you go to a salon or dye at home, it’s an affordable way to care for your colour. HELP! TOO MANY GEL MANICURES HAVE RUINED MY NAILS Damage is usually down to bad removal. Picking off polish is bad news, as it removes the top layers of your nails, leaving them weak and damage-prone. Have a rest from gels, and boost nail health with a treatment base coat. I like Manucurist Base S.O.S., £16, uk.manucurist.com, with AHAs,…

Last week, I’d just come back from doing the weekly shop when my husband asked me what I had planned for his dinner because, seeing as I’d be out, I’d not be serving it up (quite literally) on a plate for him. I told him the cupboards were now full so he could take his pick, but he made a comment about me ‘not considering’ him and went and sat in the shed. In that moment what I wanted to do was tell him to sort his own dinner for once (with a few expletives chucked in), but what I actually did was apologise and quietly head back to the shops to pick him up something specific, calling a friend on the way. ‘I feel like I have no voice,’…

One-pan lasagne This cheats’ lasagne is a doddle to make, leaving you more time to do something else instead! Serves 6-8 • Prep 20 mins • Cook 10 mins 2tbsp olive oil250g frozen soffritto mix, defrosted300g chestnut mushrooms500g pork mince3 chorizo cooking sausages, skin removed1tsp smoked paprika400g tin chopped tomatoes200ml beef stock2tbsp Worcestershire sauce2 red peppers, sliced6 fresh lasagne sheets, roughly torn2 large vine tomatoes, sliced For the cheese sauce: 250g ricotta150g Cheddar, grated, plus extra for sprinkling on top125g ball mozzarella, torn¼tsp ground nutmeg100ml milkBasil leaves, to serve (optional) 1 In a large casserole or high-sided frying pan, heat the oil over a low heat. When hot, add the soffritto mix, season and cook for 5 mins until soft, stirring occasionally. 2 Meanwhile, put the mushrooms into a food…

With the latest trends and must-have buys hitting the shops and dropping online, it’s time to think about refreshing your home. Whether you want to update it or go for a new look, we have plenty of inspiration. Iggy chaise armchair in brushed linen cotton, £1,200, sofa.com; other items, stylist’s own LOOK 1 DAMSON DRENCH Fill your home with a wash of warm, plummy reds for a look that’s both decadent and cocooning. Go all out with a colour-drenched backdrop, from dark wood flooring to damson walls and ceilings to make a real statement. Classic shapes and traditional pieces are key to keeping the look composed. LOOK 2 BLOOMSBURY BLOOMS With a nod to the aesthetic made popular in the early 20th century by artists and writers of the Bloomsbury…

NEW MANTRA I absolutely love the sentiment Anita Rani makes in the article, ‘I think women get better and better with age’ [August]. ‘The more confident you become and the less you give a s***, the more spectacular you are.’ What a mantra, and so true. I have just turned 60, and I’m happier and more confident than I’ve ever been. Karen NHS SAVIOUR A couple of days after my husband died, I received a bowel screening test. I wasn’t in the mood for doing it – I’d lost weight and was tired, as I’d been nursing my husband. But I did it and I had bowel cancer. It was operated on quickly and my second colonoscopy has come back clear. Had it not been caught, I’d have died within…

‘IT HAS NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT I’M TOO OLD TO DO ANYTHING!’ Former seamstress and running coach Mimi Anderson, 61, is an endurance athlete and motivational speaker. She is a mum of three and lives in Kent. I first started running aged 36 – initially, out of vanity to tone my legs. I had never run in my life – apart from around a netball court at school – and I remember standing on a treadmill feeling terribly self-conscious, thinking, ‘I’ll try a mile.’ Before long, I was managing three, then 10. Working as a seamstress and raising my children, life was hectic. However, it felt amazing to have running as an outlet. Eighteen months later, I found myself on the start line of the Marathon des Sables, preparing…

‘Our biscuits are works of art’ London-based mother of four Harriet Hastings, 58, used her skills gained from working for a top London PR agency to create her renowned hand-iced biscuit business, Biscuiteers. THE IDEA I had run out of steam as a brand director, had just had my fourth child and wanted more control of my time. The light-bulb moment came in early 2007, during a weekend in New York, when I saw some iced biscuits. I realised that biscuits were a blank canvas, they had a great shelf life and could be posted. So Biscuiteers was born, offering online collections of beautifully hand-iced biscuits. My husband Stevie had a catering business, so initially I used his industrial kitchen, where we baked and tested recipes and designs. I employed…

FASHION FAVOURITES Luxe looks for the most stylish wardrobes BEAUTY LOVERS Glamorous buys to perfect and pamper STYLISH HOMES Bold ideas for the interiors obsessed TASTE MAKERS Gourmet gifts and flavours to suit every palate MODERN GENTS All that he wants and more TRENDY TEENS Fun finds for the hard-to-please COOL KIDS Keep tots entertained with these toys and treats PAMPERED PETS Let’s not forget our four-legged friends Stocking fillers - £10 and under…

Find your new style favourites with an exclusive discount at Seasalt Cornwall. Designed in Falmouth, each carefully curated collection is designed to mix and match, resulting in an effortless capsule wardrobe. Rich colours and hand-drawn prints are inspired by the wild landscape and artistic heritage of Seasalt’s coastal Cornwall home, while vibrant accents are given depth on tactile fabrics that will cocoon you through autumn and beyond. Shop stylish separates and easy silhouettes designed for freedom of movement, ready to pair with chunky knitwear, durable denim and soft velvet as the weather turns cooler. HOW TO REDEEM To claim your 20% discount, show this page in-store when purchasing, or use code WHSS20 online at the checkout at seasaltcornwall.com TERMS & CONDITIONS Offer applies to full-price items online at seasaltcornwall.com and…

62% of people are worried about the long-term side effects of weight-loss jabs* Would you be tempted by a weekly injection that would make you look slimmer in your slinky dress this party season? Recently approved by the NHS, semaglutide injections are the prescription weight-loss drug behind hundreds of UK headlines. The likes of Sharon Osbourne and Boris Johnson have tried it, but with mixed success. While the former Prime Minister was able to stop ‘raiding the fridge at 11.30pm for the Cheddar and chorizo’, losing 4-5lb per week, he stopped taking the drug after he claimed it made him ill. Likewise, Sharon lost an astonishing 30lb, but said she was crippled by nausea for weeks. Severe vomiting and diarrhoea are among other reported side effects. Yet no amount…

Losing an hour of daylight is unavoidable as winter arrives and, for most of us, the nights drawing in doesn’t exactly fill us with joy. In fact, 76%* of Brits would like to see the clock change scrapped – with seasonal depression, poorer health and being stuck indoors common reasons why. But it isn’t all doom and gloom – and there are ways to embrace the time switch. Here’s what you can expect. 1 A BEDTIME ROUTINE WILL BE EASIER ‘During winter we are exposed to less light and longer periods of darkness in the evening. This increases the release of the sleep hormone, melatonin, helping you to feel sleepier earlier,’ says physiologist Luke Cousins**. Shifting your evening routine back by an hour the week before the clock change can…

Joining something new like a book club, singing group or an adult-education class takes bravery. But entering a room full of unfamiliar equipment, where body aesthetics and fitness are the driving force for most of the members, is potentially terrifying. Thing is, most people aren’t bothered by what you’re doing – they’re too focused on their own workout to read the huge flashing sign above your head saying ‘NEWBIE!’, which you’ve imagined is there for all to see. So, here are my tips for getting over this ‘gymtimidation’. 1 On your first visit, ask an instructor how the treadmill works. Get on it and do 20 minutes of uphill walking while you check out the surroundings. Then find a spot and do some stretching. Brilliant, first workout done. You engaged…

Nutella babka A little like a brioche, serve this chocolatey bread with coffee or afternoon tea. Makes 1 large loaf (10 slices) • Prep 20 mins, plus proving and chilling • Cook 50 mins 200ml whole milk, warm40g caster sugar7g fast-action dried yeast1 medium free-range egg, beaten, plus 1 egg white (or milk)200g plain flour100g strong white bread flourZest 1 lemon½tsp fine salt80g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra to grease160g Nutella or other chocolate spread, warmed to loosen50g pistachios, roughly chopped You will need: 1.2ltr loaf tin, the base and sides lined with baking paper 1 Put the milk, caster sugar, yeast and egg in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix to combine, then add both the flours, the lemon zest and salt, and…

SERIAL-KILLER JUSTICE Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (£16.99, HB, Pan Macmillan) Inspired by true events, this thriller unites two women to bring a killer to justice. In 1974, Tina’s best friend was kidnapped and assumed dead. In 1978, when Tina learns that Pamela saw the fleeing murderer of two students, she suspects the same man is responsible. Teaming up, they delve into the misogyny of a justice system they believe has already allowed the killer to escape custody twice. A captivating, empowering novel. PROFOUND AND HEALING Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum (£14.99, HB, Bloomsbury) A word-of-mouth bestseller in Korea, this delightful novel invites you into Yeong-ju’s bookshop – a safe space for people to rest, heal and learn about themselves. Yeong-ju opens the shop having burnt…

TIMELESS CLASSIC Little Women by Louisa May Alcott I never grow tired of Little Women. I still find the passage where Beth dies unbearable. ‘On the bosom where she had drawn her first breath, she quietly drew her last’ is one of the saddest lines in the English language. I found it comforting as a child, the way they live in a strictly moral universe where everyone knows the rules – and I find it comforting now. THE GREAT OUTDOORS Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer This is the story of the ill-fated 1996 Everest attempt, when eight climbers died on one day. Jon Krakauer was there. As well as being utterly thrilling, it is a chilling investigation into how ‘truth’ works, something more valid than ever these days. And…

SAGITTARIUS 22 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER From the 10th, communication planet Mercury is helping conversations and resolving conflict. It’s more peaceful than after the 24th, when you’re impulsive. Call 0905 789 4158* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates CAPRICORN 22 DECEMBER – 19 JANUARY A process of change needs one last push between now and the end of 2023. On the 6th, it’s clear what needs to happen – plus you get help with it. Call 0905 789 4159* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates AQUARIUS 20 JANUARY – 18 FEBRUARY If a savings plan hits the buffers, give it another try. Around the 20th is an especially productive time, when you make headway with just about anything. Call 0905 789 4160* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly…