Innholdsfortegnelse for 01-mar-16 i Woman's Weekly

The start of this year was a shocking period for celebrity deaths. No sooner had we recovered from the stomach punch of music superstar David Bowie’s unexpected (to the public, anyway) death, than the news broke that the great actor Alan Rickman had died. And then, just when we hoped that must surely be it, broadcasting legend Terry Wogan’s family announced he had passed away. As sad as it is when an icon like Bowie or a star like Alan Rickman dies, there was something much more personal in our sense of loss at Terry’s death. His professional genius was to make you feel, especially when you were listening to him on the radio, that, somehow, he was talking just to you. We embraced him into our lives and he…

Seed Earrings Push a crewel needle up through the middle of a large seed – we used a pumpkin seed. Paint the seed with red acrylic paint and leave to dry, then paint the details with black paint and add two white eyes. Leave to dry. Apply a coat of varnish or clear nail polish. Thread a small bead on to a head pin, then thread through the painted seed followed by another small bead. Bend the head pin over to form a loop and nip off any extra wire with wire cutters. Attach it to a fish-hook ear wire using round-nosed pliers.…

We love letters Woman’s Weekly, 110 Southwark St, London SE1 0SU. PS. It really helps when you put your details in capitals We do not return photos (apart from ‘You Look Great!’) so please do not send originals Email us Womansweeklypostbag @timeinc.com  Tell us your full name, address and daytime phone number, please Fancy a chat? Log on to facebook.com/  womansweekly We can’t wait to hear from you! Important! All contributions to Woman’s Weekly must be original and NOT duplicated to other publications. £25 will be paid to the writer of the ‘Letter Of The Week’, and the ‘Good To Meet You’ contributor will receive a gift or similar as stated at time of publication of contribution, for all rights in each letter printed. The Editor reserves…

‘The sexes have always had problems interpreting what the other really means when they ask a question, and even our friend the ‘New Man’, so readily in touch with his feminine side, can be foxed by the simple female question ‘Does my bum look big in this?’ Those of us who have been tried and tested, nay, toasted, in the forest of matrimony, know that this is an easy one, to which there is only one answer, a resounding denial: ‘NO’! This must be delivered without pause, hesitation or deviation of any kind, otherwise it will lead to further more intense questioning and, inevitably, end up as a nasty domestic incident.’ ‘The older generation has got to get it out of its head that just because the body is slowing…

Classic Violet Soft, sweet and powdery, Crabtree & Evelyn Venetian Violet Flower Water, £45, is truly elegant. It smells like retro sweeties. Bright Bluebell Penhaligon's Bluebell EDT, £67, penhaligons. com , transports us to a woodland path lined with bluebells. Think fresh, green and dewy. Garden Rose Did you ever soak rose petals in water as a child to create your very own scent? Well, this is exactly what My Little Chloé Roses de Chloé EDT, £30, reminds us of. It’s light, pretty and refreshingly uncomplicated. Pretty Peony L'Occitane Pivoine Flora EDT, £39, is a bright, pure-smelling fragrance with peony at its heart. It’s soft and unassuming enough to make a great gift for someone. Herbal Lavender There’s a fresh, almost herbal-like appeal to Woods…

Buttermilk, Strawberry & Rhubarb Pudding 250g (8oz) self-raising flour 1tsp baking powder 150g (5oz) golden caster sugar 200ml (7fl oz) buttermilk 1tbsp milk 125g (4oz) unsalted butter, melted 3 medium eggs 1tsp vanilla extract or ½tsp rose extract Icing sugar, for dusting FOR THE SAUCE: 200g (7oz) golden caster sugar 300g (10oz) rhubarb, cut into 4cm (1½in) lengths 200g (7oz) strawberries 2ltr (3½pt) ovenproof dish, greased 1 Heat the oven to 180°C or Gas Mark 4. Make the sauce first. Mix 2tbsp of the sugar with 2tbsp water in a wide pan. Bring to the boil, reduce to a gentle simmer and add the rhubarb; allow to poach gently for 6-8 mins. Puree half the rhubarb with all of the cooking juice and half the strawberries, pass through a sieve…

Some oriental lilies are too tall for patio pots and need staking and support, but not so with the ‘Romance Collection’. The stems are short, yet long enough for producing cut flowers. This new series of easy-grow lilies produce almost every shade of pink and red, some with spots and some with stripes. And, with eight blooms per stem, your garden will be filled with fragrance each summer! Lily ‘Romance Collection’ is perfect for beginners and those with little time. Height 40cm (16in). Spread 25cm (10in). Supplied as size 13/14 bulbs. Buy 6 (1 of each) for £12.99 Buy 12 (2 of each) for £19.99 (RRP £25.98) • SAVING £5.99 • Don’t Forget To Add... This set of colourful plant pots for the patio includes two pink and two purple…

Back Pain Exercises Training muscles that control and support the lower spine can help to relieve chronic non-specific low back pain, according to Australian researchers. They say that ‘motor control exercises’ – based on everyday activities, followed by more complex exercises to train muscles in the trunk – can improve coordination and stability, as well as improving pain and disability, especially when accompanied by health education. However, other forms of exercise or physiotherapy may be just as effective and the researchers suggest individual patients and their therapists should choose whichever treatment seems to work best for them. True Or False? Scary films really can curdle our blood. True, according to Dutch researchers who say blood levels of our natural anticoagulant, Factor VIII, increase after watching horror…

‘I felt desperate to find a remedy’ I’ve always had a delicate stomach but, 15 years ago, I developed chronic indigestion and heartburn. A gastroenterologist diagnosed gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and a hiatus hernia, where the stomach protrudes through the oesophageal opening into the diaphragm. But the prescribed drugs either had little effect or side effects, such as a pounding heart and dizziness, so I stopped taking them. By the start of 2015, my heartburn was ruling my life. At night, I had to sit upright in bed and was constantly exhausted through lack of sleep. I was also getting episodes of acid reflux asthma – where the acid irritates the oesophagus so much you can’t breathe. It was terrifying and so bad that, on several occasions, I was taken…

Q I’ve got a spare room – can I earn money out of it? I’ve talked about Airbnb before – the service allows anyone to rent out their spare room or their whole home for a night or two here and there, or more regularly. The website and app guide you through the process of setting yourself up as a host – you’ll need to upload good pictures – and then your accommodation will be visible through searches when people are looking to stay in your area. If you choose to rent a spare room and stay in your home at the same time as your guests, you could meet people from all over the world and from all walks of life. Pretty amazing. There’s also Wimdu, which operates similarly,…

Support 100 Leading Ladies Over the course of two years, award-winning international photographer Nancy Honey shot portraits of 100 of Britain’s most respected women over the age of 55, from academics to entrepreneurs, fashion designers (such as Wendy Dagworthy, pictured) to composers. The result is this inspiring exhibition at Bradford’s Cartwright Hall Art Gallery until 10 April. For more information, call 01274 431 212 or visit bradfordmuseums.org Visit Bath Literature Festival ‘Coming of age’ this year and running from 26 February to 6 March, the festival’s 2016 theme is Forever Young. Explore between the lines with some of the UK’s bestselling authors, including Tracy Chevalier, Sebastian Faulks and Marian Keyes, and discover the work of exciting new writers as well. There are dozens of events, including talks, debates, masterclasses, comedy…

WW Chief Sub-editor Heather read The Silk Merchant’s Daughter: ‘Give me a historical event and a character with whom to empathise and, for me, it makes the ideal book. Dinah Jefferies’ novel has both. Set in French Indochina in 1952, a turbulent time when Vietnamese militants are rebelling against French rule, the story follows 18-year-old Nicole, who has to make difficult life choices and who finds herself not knowing who to trust, including her family. Always wanting to know what happens next, together with the description of the period and characters, all make this a compelling read.’ The Silk Merchant’s Daughter by Dinah Jefferies (£12.99, Viking) is out on 25 February.…

Betty Friday, 78, Birmingham Tell us about your look… I tend to wear separates as I find it hard to get a dress that’s a good fit. I like white and bright colours. I bought this jacket from The North Face, the skirt is from Next and the shoes are from John Lewis. I think it gets much harder to buy clothes as you get older, so I shop around – a favourite is M&S. And the best bit of your body? My eyes. Ann Bartlett, 64, Hornchurch Tell us about your look… I mostly choose quite neutral colours and I like to be smart but comfortable. I wear a lot of trousers and leggings, and prefer to wear them with blouses rather than T-shirts. I…

I let the male sex down recently when I hired a white van in order to collect a settee I’d purchased on eBay. All went smoothly until it was time to fill the van with fuel upon its return. I elegantly pulled in alongside the pumps and descended from the cab. Confidently, I headed for where I thought the petrol cap would be. Nothing. I looked the other side. Again, nothing. I looked around, about, above, below, and around again but I couldn’t find the stupid petrol cap anywhere. I checked the glove compartment for a manual, but there was nothing to help me. At this point, it’s worth taking a moment to mention an unwritten rule of the road. Generally speaking, in this chauvinistic dominion, it’s deemed forgivable if…

We’re holding more of our fiction workshops at our London office. Learn how to write fiction or poetry in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. What are you waiting for? Book your place now! ABOUT OUR TUTORS Gaynor Davies is our Fiction Editor and Fiction Special Editor Della Galton is a novelist, short-story writer and journalist Suzanne Ahern writes serials for us under her own name and pseudonyms Simon Brett has written over 90 books and is an award-winning author Alison Chisholm is an expert tutor who has had hundreds of poems published Writing A Short Story With A Twist Monday 18 April, Friday 8 July and Friday 28 October With Gaynor Davies and Della Galton 10am MEET AND GREET, with tea and coffee 10.30am TALK Writing for the Woman’s Weekly…

Give an old table a new lease of life by using a dip-dye effect with gold paint. Home Editor, Emily Dawe Easy-peasy A Bit More Tricky Hard–ish Quite A Challenge YOU WILL NEED A table Tape measure Pencil Masking tape Small or medium paintbrush Chalk paint – we used Annie Sloan Old White (01865 713 089; Soft clear wood wax Non-scratch sponge scourer Newspaper Metallic gold spray paint Cotton rag 1 Measure approximately 20cm up each table leg, mark with a pencil, then wrap a strip of masking tape around, just below the pencil mark. 2 Turn the table upside down and paint the underside and legs with at least two coats of chalk paint, leaving each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next. 3 Turn the table…

Over half of us are now overweight in early adult life, and almost two thirds of us are overweight or obese by our mid-fifties. Obesity is becoming such a problem that the Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, says these latest figures pose as big a risk to our health as terrorism and climate change, and that we must take urgent personal and national action to protect future generations and to avoid overwhelming the NHS. Diabetes UK says over four million of us now have diabetes, which, like high blood pressure (also obesity-linked), can lead to heart attacks, strokes and circulatory diseases. Cancer Research says obesity will cause 670,000 extra UK breast and other cancers, and cost the NHS another £2.5 billion a year by 2035. Obesity also damages our…

The Book Of YOU: Daily Micro-Actions For A Happier, Healthier You byNora Rosendahl, Nelli Lähteenmäki and Aleksi Hoffman (£8.99, Penguin) ‘Your life is the sum of the small actions you do every day and every choice you make is significant,’ say the founders of the successful wellbeing YOU-app. Each micro-action comes under one of four categories – food, mind, move and love – and empowers readers to make change happen, one small choice at a time, in order to maximise health and increase happiness.…

Like its fictional heroine resident, Lorna Doone, Exmoor is both wild and gentle, and it’s easy to see why author R D Blackmore chose it as the setting for his famous novel. At just 21 miles by 15, it’s one of the smallest national parks, and although it isn’t devoid of bleakness and harsh vistas, there is an overriding softness, exemplified by the smooth, gentle curves of the hills and meandering streams heading for open sea. Its rich, green landscape ends abruptly at its northern edge on reaching precipitous cliffs, the tallest sea cliffs in England. In places, the coastline is so remote no landward access exists for miles. Exmoor is a joy to explore year-round, especially in spring, when flowers bloom across the landscape, and in autumn, when swathes…

Aries 21 March - 20 April You may not get much work done, but that’s fine. It’s important to engage in flights of fancy every now and again. Developing a creative project will be a change of pace. It’s good to take time out and smell the roses. The world can carry on without you for a short while. For more, call 0901 609 2591* Taurus 21 April - 21 May An exciting opportunity to make a public presentation will arise. Don’t be nervous. Instead, enjoy putting together an outfit in which you feel and look great. It will be so much easier to project an air of confidence if you are happy with your appearance. You can then relax and have fun. For more, call 0901 609 2592* Gemini…

‘This voice suddenly popped into my head’ Janet Ellis How do you take your tea? No sugar, a little milk, and always PG Tips. Who would you most like to have a cup of tea with? Julie Andrews. Growing up, my sister and I insisted on acting out her films scene by scene. Our poor parents! What inspired you to write your debut novel, The Butcher’s Hook ? It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but never had the courage until I signed up to a course with Curtis Brown Creative. I wrote the first chapter as part of my application. Where did the idea come from? It all started with my heroine, Anne Jacobs. I was scribbling away in my notebook one day when this voice…

Sitting or standing, hold your left hand in front of your chest with the palm facing outwards. Bend your fingers and grasp it with your right hand (back of hand facing outwards). While exhaling, pull your hands apart without releasing your grip. Feel the stretch along your shoulders and chest. Inhale as you relax your arms. Repeat six times, before swapping your hands over and repeating. Well done! TIP Increase the stretch in your shoulders by keeping the lower arms diagonal instead of horizontal. Wicked Wit ‘Vacation – a period of travel and relaxation when you take twice the clothes and half the money you need .’ Anonymous…

Courtesy of Sable Colby in Dynasty, Stephanie Beacham, 69, is indelibly fixed in the public consciousness as a byword for glamour. But from Tenko to Trollied, and Bad Girls to Boomers – back soon on our TV screens – she has enjoyed great success in much grittier roles. Long divorced from actor John McEnery, she brought up their two daughters, Phoebe and Chloe, single-handedly. She also has a teenage grandson, Jude, who calls her ‘Glamma’ (a name she adores). She loves him, she says, ‘almost to the point of pain’. This year, after being in relationships with younger men, she will marry Bernie Greenwood, a seventy-something doctor. Here, Stephanie looks back down the years, both personally and professionally, to reflect on what life has taught her… Speaking as someone who’s…

Do you agree with Anne or Bel? Tell us what you think at facebook.com/womansweekly ‘The happy nights were all I had’ YES ‘Without sex, we might as well have just stayed friends,’ says broadcaster and novelist Anne Atkins Life had been tough for a while. Some years earlier, my husband Shaun had taken a dream job, which, as dreams sometimes do, turned into a nightmare – for the whole family. When the inevitable happened and Shaun had a breakdown, the doctor broached the dreaded question. What about medication? My heart sank. Could it affect his sex drive? It might, she confessed. But our situation was so desperate. Sex was the only thing that still put a spontaneous smile on my face. Would she take even that…

The Jacquard Trousers This ankle-skimming style is a comfy mid-rise fit and is machine washable. £29.99, sizes xs-l, Zara Wear It Smart Wear It Casual Take The Jacket And Wear It Like This, Too STOCKISTS Debenhams 0844 800 8877; debenhams.com Dune 0333 240 7306; dunelondon.com Gerry Weber house-of-gerryweber.eu Lipsy 0333 777 4588; lipsy.co.uk M&Co 0800 031 7200; mandco.com M&S 0333 014 8000; marksandspencer.com Next 0333 777 8000; next.co.uk Oliver Bonas 020 8974 0110; oliverbonas.com River Island 0344 576 6444; riverisland.com White Stuff 020 3752 5360; whitestuff.com Zara 0800 030 4238; zara.com…

It didn’t matter that it rained a lot in Wales. It was cosy when the drops rattled on the caravan roof We’ve been 40 years wed and you’re still my beautiful bride. I lean over the bed and kiss you. Lightly, because I don’t want to wake you. Then I tiptoe out of our room, past the spare room where Mattie sleeps when she keeps you company, and on downstairs. The early starts can be grim in winter, when I have to scrape ice off the cab, but at this time of year – summer – it’s pleasant. I like the quietness before dawn and the gradual wakening of light and life. Proper grand, it is. My first pick-up is in Adeline Road. I know where that is, so there’s…

Knitting Technical Editor, Tina Knitted in tweed effect aran yarn this gorgeous gilet has cables worked on a background of reverse stocking stitch with double rib edgings. Easy-peasy A Bit More Tricky Hard–ish Quite A Challenge Cable panel (worked over 36 sts) 1st row: P6, k4, p4, k8, p4, k4, p6. 2nd row: K6, p4, k4, p8, k4, p4, k6. 3rd row: P6, k4, p4, c8b, p4, k4, p6. 4th row: K6, p4, k4, p8, k4, p4, k6. 5th row: P6, [cr5lt, p2, cr5rt] twice, p6. 6th row: K7, [p4, k2] 3 times, p4, k7. 7th row: P7, cr5lt, cr5rt, p2, cr5lt, cr5rt, p7. 8th row: K8, p8, k4, p8, k8. 9th row: P8, c8b, p4, c8b, p8. 10th row: K8, p8, k4, p8, k8. 11th row: P8, k8, p4,…

• Repot houseplants if the roots are filling the pots. Water plants before attempting to remove the existing pot. Gently tease out a few of the roots and pop the plant in a pot that is only one size larger than the existing container. • Keep your eyes peeled for perennials shooting and put down beer traps to protect them from the ravages of slugs and snails. As soon as they reach a few inches, put in supports to prevent the summer growth flopping over – you can use the twigs you’ve collected while tidying up. • Keep vegetable plots tidy, removing leaves and debris that could encourage slugs and snails. Dig up and destroy old brassica plants that could be harbouring the grubs of cabbage root fly.…

Q How can I ensure that my wishes about care and treatment are respected if I can’t speak up for myself? A Many of us worry about becoming too ill to make ourselves heard. But we also have a wide range of views about when life might not be worth living, whether we’d want doctors to do everything possible, or when we would prefer nature to take its course. The answer may depend on the actual condition, our age, family/ friends, religious beliefs or current health, and of course none of us can predict the future. So it’s definitely worth discussing your preferences with loved ones, and writing them down. More formally, you could draw up an advance decision to refuse treatment, or an advance statement of your wishes (living…

£452 – the amount Brits admit they would spend to instantly lose a stone. 75 % of Brits would completely give up social media for the year to achieve their desired weight loss. 5 % would even cut ties with their own mother for 12 months in a bid to lose excess weight! One-third cited their partner as the worst influence in their desire to diet, followed by friends and family (26%),then work colleagues (14%). 36 % break their diet because of boredom, 19%blame the weather and 17%cite stress at work as the culprit. Source: research to mark the launch of Whitworths’ Willpower Workout (a London fitness class…

Think very hard before you speak Q Like many of us, my friend has become hairier as she’s aged. Most of us do something about our facial hair but she hasn’t. I know I sound harsh, but I have to say, it’s difficult looking at her with all that hair. My husband says it’s none of my business and it’s my problem that I don’t like looking at it. I wonder if it would be kinder to tell her. Judith, Luton A No one has to change their appearance because the world doesn’t like it. If that’s your motive, then you’ll have to live with it and say nothing. Your husband is right: it’s not your business. It’s entirely up to an individual to decide if they want to remove…

Where I went The charming city of Toulouse – also known as La Ville Rose – in the Midi-Pyrénées. A real maze of cobbled streets and pretty squares packed with petite cafes and boutiques, it’s ideal for anyone wanting to experience the hustle and bustle of everyday life in south-west France. What I did Hired a bike and cycled along the green banks of the Garonne river, jumping off for a mid-morning coffee and croissant at 4 Z’Arts restaurant. I also explored the tranquil Japanese Garden, chatted to locals in Place Saint-Georges and took in the Gothic architecture of Cathédrale Saint-Étienne. Where I stayed Within walking distance of the main tourist attractions, Novotel Toulouse Centre Wilson made a great base. A modern hotel with a spa to unwind in after…

Those couples who’ve never had a cross word? That’s not us Would you mind if I asked you a personal question?’ asked my friend Wendy. I was on my hands and knees at the time, trying to retrieve a pen that had dropped under the charity shop counter. So I failed to notice the expression on Wendy’s face. It was the expression that teenagers adopt when they are being told off. You know, the one that says, ‘I’m not really listening to any of this, but if I put on a serious enough face then I can think of something else and it will soon be over.’ This is Wendy’s Very Serious Face, and if I’d not been under the desk then I wouldn’t have given my instinctive reply to…