Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer Special 2025 i Woman's Weekly Living Series

Welcome to our summer special, here to help you enjoy the sunshine. The ice cream van has been visiting our street since April, its jingle taking me back to sunny afternoons in the paddling pool. There are more memories of summers gone by on p10, and I was thrilled to see my childhood beach, Scarborough Bay, named one of Britain’s best nostalgic spots. I can’t wait to bake (and eat) our showstopper cake for my son’s birthday. My mum taught me to bake a sponge, and I perfected my technique watching my grandmother whip up our birthday cakes. Now I’ll pass on her tips to my own little helper! See p40.…

1 Take the first 40cm of rope, fold in half and pin along the length. Set your sewing machine to a wide zigzag stitch, then place the folded piece that forms the bag’s base under your sewing foot, so that the needle comes down on either side of the join. Sew along the join in the darkest fuchsia pink thread. 2 Stitch to the end of the join, then begin turning the bag base, so that the rope wraps around the previous piece, stitching as you go. Repeat until the base measures approximately 14 x 30cm. 3 Turn the base on a 90-degree angle to your needle plate and continue stitching to form the sides. Swap your threads as you go, from dark to light to form an ombré effect.…

The school bell rings, and the summer holidays stretch ahead in a haze of sun, ice lollies and paddling pool dips. When mid-July arrived, there was no better feeling than anticipating weeks away from stuffy classrooms and school uniforms. Traditionally, children in the UK have been given around six weeks off to rest and recharge before a new school year begins. And didn’t we make the most of them? The Great British BBQ The 1950s saw a ‘barbecue boom’ across the world. Ever since, we’ve jumped at the chance to invite people over to feast on a variety of grilled meats. Whether your parents were charcoal purists or opted for a gas grill, nothing shouted summer more than biting into a barbecued burger bap with a hearty helping of ketchup.…

Veggie scotch eggs Using shop-bought sausages is a clever hack that makes these just as good as the real deal. MAKES 6 PREP 30 mins, plus chilling COOK 10 mins ✱ 7 medium free-range eggs✱ 6 vegetarian sausages (we used Linda McCartney Red Onion & Rosemary, defrosted)✱ ½tbsp Dijon mustard✱ 1 bunch each parsley, chives and sage TO COAT ✱ 75g plain flour✱ 2 medium free-range eggs, beaten✱ 150g panko breadcrumbs✱ Oil, for frying 1 Put 6 of the eggs into a large pan of water, bring to the boil and cook for 6 mins. Run under cold water; when cool enough to handle peel. 2 In a food processor, whizz the sausages, mustard, herbs and remaining egg together. 3 Lay 6 out double sheets of cling film, about 20cm…

Give summer dinner parties a botanical boost with this stunning chandelier. Made from fresh herbs and pretty blooms, it not only creates a stunning focal point for an alfresco tablescape, or indoor dining setting, but the fragrant nature of the herbs will perfume the air and help to deter nighttime insects. YOU WILL NEED ✱ Fresh herbs (see suggestions below)✱ Floral stems✱ Rattan grapevine wreath✱ Twine✱ Coloured ribbon✱ Burlap ribbon✱ Scissors✱ Florist’s wire✱ Rope 1 Create five small bouquets from herbs and flowers. Ensure that each bundle is around the same size. Pair lavender and rosemary for an intense perfume, or gather mint and thyme and for an earthier fragrance. Incorporating some eucalyptus, rosemary or lemon balm will help to keep the mosquitoes and midges at bay – a perfect…

Difficulty level Fabrics For patchwork, choose lightweight cotton fabrics. Use up scraps, buy patchwork fabrics by the metre, or take a shortcut with pre-cut, coordinated fabric squares such as ‘charm packs’ (5 x 5in) and ‘layer cakes’ (10 x 10in). Patchwork fabrics are also sold in ‘fat quarters’ – a quarter of a yard of fabric, measuring 18 x 21in. NOTE Measurements are given in inches because many fabrics sold for patchwork are American and pre-cut to inches. Centimetres are given as a buying guide only. Cutting out Unless using pre-cut squares, make a template by cutting out an exact 5in square from the cardboard. Mark 5in squares on your fabric by drawing round the template with the tailor’s chalk, and cut out 77 squares. Lay the squares out in seven…

Fill Me In Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the answer. Clue: a word that means relating to, resembling or having the characteristics of a member of the bear family. Circle Time What type of shoes were invented and popularised in Italy during a period of trade sanctions because steel for heels was in short supply? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles for the answer. 3 letters GELKEYWADWED 4 letters ACTSAMIDDEARGAPSGEARISLELIDOMATSOMITORESUSED 5 letters CREPEDROOLEXTOLEYRIESTILT 6 letters PUREST 7 letters ACADEMYCENTRESREWROTE 8 letters DESK SHOEMOCCASIN 10 letters WELLINGTON Spiral Xword Analysis of traffic data by a satnav company showed which city was the UK’s most…

The sun is shining, the sea is glistening, and the giggles of children filling buckets with sand drift past. The salty air is mixed with a note of fish batter, and the chimes of the arcade tinkle in the distance. Welcome to a quintessentially British day out at the seaside. A mainstay of British culture, trips to the UK’s glorious beaches became truly popular post-WWI, when the Holidays with Pay Act 1938 made coastal holidays more affordable. Travel abroad was still rare and so, when the sun came out, many would pack their buckets, spades and stripey windbreakers, and flock to the coast. When package holidays became affordable in the late 20th century, seaside towns saw a decline in visitors. But when Covid hit in 2020 and travel abroad became…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 82-87 (92-97) (102-107) (112-117)cm/32-34 (36-38) (40-42) (44-46)in. Actual measurements 98 (108) (118) (128)cm/38½ (42½) (46½) (50½)in. Length to shoulder 49 (51) (53) (55)cm/19½ (20) (21) (21½)in. MATERIALS 3 (4) (4) (5) x 100g (230m) balls of King Cole Bamboo Cotton DK (50% cotton, 50% bamboo) in Fuchsia (536).* Pair each of 3.25mm (No. 10), 3.75mm (No. 9) and 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; 3.75mm and 4mm circular needles for larger sizes; stitch holders. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 24 stitches and 32 rows to 10x10cm, over stocking stitch, using 4mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; patt, pattern; skpo, slip 1, k1, pass slipped stitch over (to decrease 1 st); st(s), stitch(es); patt2tog, work 2 sts together in patt (to decrease 1 st).…

Simple cushion cover NOTE A 1cm seam allowance is included throughout. Stitch seams with right sides facing, and tack seams if you are not a confident machine-stitcher. 1 Arrange the squares into three rows of three. Stitch them together using the method shown for assembling the patchwork on page 50. Press flat. 2 Cut two pieces of co-ordinating fabric for the cushion backs – 47cm deep x 32cm wide. These pieces will overlap down the centre-back of the cushion, to form an opening for inserting your cushion pad. 3 Along one long edge of a back piece, press and tack a 2cm double-turned hem to the wrong side. Machine-stitch in place, close to the first pressed edge. Remove tacking. Repeat with the second back, creating a mirror image. 4 Lay…

With a glittering career spanning seven decades, Dame Joanna Lumley is without doubt a national treasure. And while she began her career as a model in the 1960s, the elegant actor has become known as much for her travel shows as she has for her roles in Absolutely Fabulous and Amandaland. ‘I was born travelling, and I’ve always loved it,’ she says. ‘The more you travel, the more you realise there is to see and know.’ In her 79 years, Joanna has explored the River Nile, journeyed along ancient trade routes the Silk Road and the Spice Trail, and taken a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway, the longest rail system in the world. ‘If you’re scared of something, be brave’ Her documentary work has also seen her immersing herself in…

Not so long ago, when you stepped into a high-street travel agent, you’d be greeted with a rack of colourful brochures promising a week of sun, sea and relaxation at an exotic European destination. From tanned holiday reps ticking off names as you got onto the coach transfer to the glistening blue of the hotel pool and, if you splashed out for all-inclusive, the promise of ever-flowing cocktails, the classic package holiday gave overworked Brits the chance to escape. Our love affair for a neat itinerary of travel, accommodation and board reached its heyday in the 1980s and 90s, but uptake declined after the 2008 financial crisis. However, post-pandemic figures show we’re enjoying an old-fashioned package break again, with more Brits choosing all-inclusive options for their annual holiday. YOUR RETRO…

When Eileen Foster heard her doorbell ring one Friday morning in June 2023, she had no idea of the surprise that would await her. ‘I opened the door to the whole family,’ she says. ‘My daughter Hannah, now 41, my son Daniel, 44 on 11 July, my twin daughters Ashleigh and Bethany, 35 – all with their other halves – and my five grandchildren! They were holding an envelope, and all had enormous smiles on their faces. I thought, “What’s going on here?”’ On opening the envelope – an early 70th-birthday present – Eileen broke down in tears. ‘They’d bought me tickets to Love Supreme, a music festival in July… and although I’d lived for seven decades, I’d never been to a festival before! However, I’ve always been into music,…

Strawberries and cream cake Sometimes you really can’t beat a classic – but we’ve elevated this indulgent summer treat to turn it into a real showstopper! SERVES 12 PREP 40 mins COOK 30 mins FOR THE CAKE ✱ 350g self-raising flour✱ 350g caster sugar✱ 350g butter✱ 6 medium free-range eggs✱ 2tsp baking powder✱ Splash milk FOR THE FILLING AND TOPPING ✱ 600ml double cream✱ 2tbsp icing sugar✱ 3tbsp strawberry jam✱ 400g strawberries YOU WILL NEED ✱ 3 x 18cm round cake tins, greased and lined with baking paper 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/ Gas 4. In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat all the cake ingredients together until they’re smooth. 2 Divide the mixture evenly between the tins, and bake for 30 mins until golden and…

1 RD Blackmore’s late 17th-century romance Lorna Doone was set in a West Country upland region, but which one? ADartmoorB ExmoorC The Quantock Hills 2 Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse was inspired by St Ives in real life, but where was it set? AThe Scilly IslesB Isle of SkyeC Lizard Point’ 3 Emily Brontë’s classic Wuthering Heights is located in which area of the Yorkshire moors? ASouth YorkshireB North YorkshireC West Yorkshire 4 Vet James Alfred Wight, who wrote the All Creatures Great and Small books as James Herriot, based his books around the fictional town of… ADarrowbyB ArrowbyC Barrowby 5 Daphne du Maurier was inspired to write Jamaica Inn after getting lost at night while out horse riding – where is the inn? APenwith MoorsB Bodmin MoorC Goonhilly Downs 6 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The…