Innholdsfortegnelse for 05-Apr-2016 i Woman's Weekly

There are several women I admire in this week’s issue. The first is the incomparable Imelda Staunton. I’ve always respected and enjoyed her impressive range of film and TV roles (Vera Drake and Cranford count as my stand-out favourites) but my regard for her reached a whole new level when I saw her on stage in the musical, Gypsy. It’s miserably inadequate to describe her performance as the overbearing, pushy-but-devoted Momma Rose as barnstorming. She was sensational and if she doesn’t win an Olivier Award for the role, there’s no justice in the world. How she managed to deliver a performance of that intensity and huge vocal power seven times a week, I can’t even begin to imagine. Find out more about this wonderful actress – and wonderfully warm, down-to-earth…

The Bureau This functional furniture item grew steadily in popularity throughout the Georgian period, 1714-1830. The example (below) circa 1730, is in walnut. What’s lovely about this one is the size – 64cm wide – and today’s market likes ‘small. It needs a good dusting and a coat of beeswax to bring the surface to life. The interior (above, right) is surprisingly complex with a recessed well for inks and some attention is needed here, but this is how a buyer obtains their best buy – improvements are largely cosmetic and its fair condition is reflected in its auction value of about £600-£800. The larger bureau (above right), made some 50 years later, circa 1785, is different in size and timber, but the form is the same. It has added…

Janie Hooper, 69, Crowborough Tell us about your look… My style is fairly classic. I like bright things and wear a lot of clear colours like pink and blue. I’m a fan of accessories as they are an easy way to change the look of an outfit – I particularly love scarves and handbags. I bought this skirt from M&S and my bag and jumper were gifts. My favourite places to shop are Fenwick’s and Phase Eight. And the best bit of your body? My legs. Debbie Heard, 57, Rochester Tell us about your look… I like things that are quirky and colourful. I’m wearing jeans today because I’ve been to work but I usually wear dresses as I find them more flattering. I’m wearing a…

Nature has to be the most amazing source of inspiration with endless shapes, forms and colours to explore,’ says artist Daisy Fletcher, creator of Birdtopia. ‘But I can also be inspired by fashion, textiles and anything elegant. Flower, bird or beast, I want to draw it! ‘When I’m looking for ideas, inspiration can come from anywhere – often from something small and unexpected. Ideas tend to lead on from one another. I have a rough sketch or idea of a final image; then, as soon as I think it might work, I get straight on to drawing as this stage takes a long time and I love doing it. ‘Once each element of the image is drawn I scan them into Photoshop on my computer. This gives me the freedom…

‘Luckily, no one has asked me if I am Andres’ grandmother yet’ What if we had a baby?’ Asking that question at 43 changed everything I knew about life. I was nervous, as until recently I’d considered it too late for me to start a family. My boyfriend, Esteban, who was in the kitchen of our shared flat, smiled and continued to cook. ‘Yeah, of course,’ he said. It felt like a door which had been padlocked was suddenly open and full of light. There’s a level of shame attached to saying ‘I want to be a mother,’ especially as you get older, so as the years passed, I had to come to terms with my childless future. To some extent, it had worked. When I turned 40, I was…

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Blueberry Vanilla Cheesecake Serves 16 Calories: 278 Fat: 13g Saturated fat: 8g Carbohydrates: 36g Suitable for freezing For the shortbread base: For the cheesecake: For the topping: 1 Heat the oven to 180°C or Gas Mark 4. To make the shortbread base, sieve the flour into a bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingertips to make crumbs. Tip in the sugar and mix together until combined to a firm dough. 2 Roll out the dough on baking parchment. Use the base of the tin as a guide to cut out a shortbread round. Lift up paper and upturn shortbread into the tin's base; remove parchment. Press in well and prick with a fork. Bake for…

Vintage Baby Essentials Knitting Pattern, £3.99 WOWE14GH0000 Spots And Stripes Baby Set Knitting Pattern, £4.99 WOWE14FH008K Candy-Coloured Baby Set Knitting Pattern, £4.99 WOWE14FH006C Baby Teddy Bear Comforter Knitting Pattern, £3.99 WOWE14FH006J Toy Ball Knitting Pattern, £1.99 WOWE14GN0000 Christening Robe Knitting Pattern, £4.99 WOWE14FH0078 Three-piece Baby Set Crochet Pattern, £4.99 WOWE14FH008J Striped Baby Set Knitting Pattern, £4.99 WOWE14FH006A…

A world exclusive collection of distinctly different sweet-pea flowers – we believe ‘Sweet Dreams’ to be the best mixture ever. Each and every one, including many award-winning varieties, has been selected for outstanding fragrance, exhibition-standard blooms and superb growing performance. Height: 18m. Spread: 30cm. Supplied cell-raised with an average of five sweet-pea plants per cell. Pinched and ready for planting out. Buy 6 Premium Plugs (30 plants) £9.99 Buy 12 Premium Plugs (60 plants) for £14.98 (RRP £19.98) saving £5 WW Gardening Magazine Editor’s Tips ‘These cottage-garden favourites are superb for cutting and the more blooms you cut, the more they’ll flower! Pop a few stems in a vase to fill a whole room with fragrance. Grow sweet peas against a sunny fence or trained on a free-standing…

We can’t wait to see what we know is waiting for us inside Hold hands and don’t let go!” says Mum as we leave. My brother and I quiver with excitement. He is seven, I am 10, and we are off on our twice-a-year adventure. We are going all the way up to central London to visit the Museums. On our own. I am in charge: I have my satchel stuffed with our packed lunch, two clean hankies and my little silver purse with the fare money. We are both in our raincoats, gloves dangling from our wrists like phantom hands. Our real hands are hot and sticky from the start, almost as though we are glued together. We walk to the bus stop and join the queue. We get…

Did You Know? 200 days are lost over the course of our lives to hay fever and allergic rhinitis 82 % of people asked said they avoid gardening and working outside One in four can’t play outdoor sports 40 % of brides worry that symptoms will stop them looking their best 20% of students said they had taken up to three days off during hay fever season Two in 10 of us take medication all year round to tackle non-seasonal allergens Source: Poll of 1,000 people by A. Vogel herbal remedies. (Download the free A. Vogel Symptom Tracker from www.avogel.co.uk/symptom-tracker /) Dr Carrie Ruxton, nutritionist and dietitian, on how she boosts her wellbeing My favourite meal Spaghetti bolognese – it’s quick, healthy and the whole…

It’s A Sign These two signs – outside a mixed merchandise shop and on a Virgin train made me smile and laugh respectively. On The Shelf Another pair of smile-inducing sights from my week. The Treat Kitchen (top right) is an award-winning chain of shops in Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, that sells – among other hopelessly irresistible sweets, chocolates and fudges – perfectly packaged servings of individually flavoured jelly beans. Also available online at thetreatkitchen.co.uk . And this row of sweetly coloured flavoured sugar (right) caught my eye in a shop in France, where I went for the weekend. The flavours are (from l-r) chocolate, raspberry, cinnamon, nuts, blueberry and lemon. Never miss an issue of Woman’s Weekly . Subscribe now from £10.99* and…

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 don’t 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…

‘Playing Rose in Gypsy wasn’t just a question of going out and singing some lovely songs. It was a tough gig’ ‘I want to keep doing the job to my utmost. It’s all I was ever taught’ Imelda Staunton makes no bones about it. ‘Gypsy is the toughest gig I’ve ever done...’ Even so, she has been nominated for Best Actress in a Musical at this year’s Olivier’s. The results will be televised live this Sunday. Does winning matter? ‘Well, it does and it doesn’t,’ she says. ‘The work’s the thing and I’m a strong believer in all those people who worked so hard on the production being celebrated.’ She admits that Momma Rose (the ultimate in stage mothers) is a complicated woman. ‘It wasn’t just a…

1 Exercise is making you fat ‘The truth is, exercise doesn’t burn as many calories as we like to imagine it does – and too often we ‘reward’ our efforts with extra calories,’ explains Dr Sally Norton, NHS Weight Loss Consultant and founder of vavistalife.com. What to do about it: Don’t stop exercising! The benefits are numerous, from boosting your mood to reducing heart disease and cancer risk. But for fitness, toning and weight maintenance, you need to mix cardio, like cycling or running, with weight training or resistance work. This helps burn calories and maintains muscle mass. ‘Drink lots of water and choose post-workout snacks wisely,’ advises Sally. Athletes might need power bars and plates of pasta, but you don’t! 2 Your scales are lying to you Scales measure…

Journalist Yvonne Roberts says: ‘I had my daughters at 36 and 46 – the second a surprise and with none of the poignant struggle that Sarah describes. More and more women are opting for motherhood in the second half of life. In 1981, 4.9 live births per 1,000 were to women aged 40 and over. Today that figure has almost trebled to 14.7 per 1,000. But why are women delaying having children? Lack of money, the wrong man or woman and work worries are on the list. Then there’s the fact that adoption and a biological birth have been joined by a number of alternative methods like IVF (sometimes using frozen eggs) that allow a woman, theoretically at least, to become a first-time mother whenever she chooses: 40, 50, 60…‘…

Who knew working with gold leaf could be so satisfying? This is a fun craft to try, just follow my tips to achieve the best results. Craft Editor Emily Dawe Easy-peasy A Bit More Tricky Hard–ish Quite A Challenge You will need • Imitation gold leaf • Gold leaf size • Glue brush • Soft paintbrush • Scissors • Washi tape • Imitation gold leaf comes in individual sheets attached to a piece of backing paper – a booklet of around 25 sheets costs about £7. • Size (also called gilding paste) is the name given to the specialist glue that bonds the gold leaf to a surface, it comes in both water-based and oil-based solutions. You can apply gold leaf to a variety of surfaces, including wood, card, ceramics,…

Get your diary out and plan a day out at one of our needle-felting workshops run by our felting experts Judy Balchin and Roz Dace. These workshops are fabulous for complete beginners or for anyone keen on needle-felting, which is an easy technique to pick up. You just need a needle and a pile of fluff and, once you’ve learnt the basic method, you can make almost anything. D Judy is a designer who’s written numerous craft books and articles. She attended Cardiff and then Maidstone College of Art, where she studied graphic design, before starting work as a designer at the BBC. D Roz has always loved creative writing, drawing, painting and all crafts. For many years, she was Search Press’s editorial director, commissioning practical art and crafts books…

My garden delights • Make a standard bay the centrepiece of your herb bed arranging other herbs in circles or grids around it. Try an outer edging of thyme then rows of French tarragon, golden marjoram and parsley to have all the ingredients to hand for making a bouquet garni for flavouring stocks and stews. • Mulch around the sprawling ground-cover plants in spring to encourage them to fix loose stems into the soil with tiny roots so they create a tight-knit ground-hugging mat that will help trap moisture in the soil.…

One in 10 of us is a carer – that’s around 7 million of us, saving the UK an estimated £132 billion a year. And 60% of us will act as unpaid carers at some time for relatives or friends who need support for physical or mental health problems, disabilities or addictions. But caring can affect our own health, work, finances and relationships – even our ability to carry on – so it’s not selfish to look after ourselves, too. Physical health Carers often have poorer health. You may ignore symptoms because you’re too busy, or worried your health will stop you being a carer. Simply finding time to go to the doctor, hospital or dentist, having no one to step in while you’re out, or feeling embarrassed to ask…

Give her the time she needs to regroup Q A few months ago, I met a friendly woman at my exercise class and we quickly became emotionally close. What I hadn’t realised was that she’s a lesbian and she assumed I was, too. When she made her desires known to me, I explained that I didn’t fancy her as I’m heterosexual – but I told her I wanted to stay friends. She said she wasn’t sure she could. She’s since stopped coming to class and won’t answer my calls. Isobel, Brighton A It sounds as though your suggestion was something that she isn’t able to take up at the moment. Remind yourself of a time when you felt rejected by someone – it’s very painful. Put yourself in her shoes…

Where I went The Irish capital is just a short flight from UK airports (I flew from Stansted), and it’s the perfect place to get a condensed experience of life on the Emerald Isle. What I did Culture vultures might want to see the art at the National Gallery, or visit the Guinness Storehouse to find out more about Ireland’s best-loved tipple. I have family in Dublin, so my weekend mainly focused on eating, drinking and chatting – although I did go for a wander through the lovely Trinity College. Where I stayed The Drury Court Hotel (drurycourt hotel.ie) is close enough to the thriving Temple Bar area (pictured above) to be convenient, without being so close that the late-night revelries will keep you awake. What I ate We had…

ABOUT OUR TUTORS Clockwise, from right to left: Gaynor Davies is our Fiction Editor and Fiction Special Editor. Suzanne Ahern writes serials for us under her own name and pseudonyms. Della Galton is a novelist, short-story writer and journalist. Simon Brett has written over 90 books and is an award-winning author. Alison Chisholm is a tutor who has had hundreds of poems published 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 by phone or by coupon! 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…

‘Have you booked that little French place that overlooks the river?’ There comes a time in a woman’s life when she glances at the mirror and sees the unforgiving gaze of her mother staring back. If that’s happened to you, consider yourself lucky. I looked in the mirror this morning and was slightly alarmed to see my grandmother. So I’m now feeling rather old. If this feeling occasionally slips into this week’s adventure, such as it is, please accept my apologies. If my grandmother happens to be reading this, wherever she is, it’s nothing personal, Gran. This year marks what now feels like our 3,500th wedding anniversary, and so Mr Dear suggested we should celebrate in some way. ‘Ooh, are you taking me to Paris?’ ‘That wasn’t quite what I…

‘Graham Norton’s voice is difficult’ How do you take your tea? I’m an Earl Grey man. I always remember Boy George saying he preferred a cup of tea to sex. Nice to have a choice, I say. Who would you most like to have cup of tea with? Graham Norton, so I could fine-tune my impression of him. He’s a hard one to do. I’ve got the laugh down, but his voice is really difficult. What can audiences expect on your latest tour, Taking The Mimic ? It’s a stand-up show, with a lot of music, impressions and audience participation – so if you’re shy, for goodness’ sake, don’t sit in the front row! Were your parents supportive of your decision to become a comedian? My dad…

Watch Eddie The Eagle Cast your mind back to 1988 when Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards represented Great Britain in the Calgary Winter Olympics as the underdog ski jumper. Now his story has inspired this film. Watch Eddie (Taron Egerton) take on the winter sports establishment with the help of his coach, played by Hugh Jackman – out on 28 March. Visit A Flower Show The Cornwall Spring Flower Show (2-3 April) at Boconnoc House near Lostwithiel promises a glorious display of colour among its competitive classes, including rhododendrons, camellias and ornamental shrubs. Adult entry, £8; under-16s, free. or more information, call 01208 872 507, or visit boconnoc.com/ spring-flower-show Enjoy Springfest Bring the whole family along to this food and drink festival near Balloch on the banks of Loch Lomond (2-3…

WW Website Editor Beverley Watts says, ‘I’ve always liked former Monty Python star Michael Palin’s TV travel shows and accompanying books, but I hadn’t realised he’s also a novelist – and a good one. The Truth draws on Michael’s own trips to remote parts of Asia, but it’s far more than a jolly travelogue. We follow the adventures of disillusioned environmental journalist Keith Mabbut, who rediscovers his idealism when he’s commissioned to write a biography of his hero – the reclusive anthropologist Hamish Melville. Tracking him down in India, Keith admires him all the more, but nothing is quite as it appears.’ The Truth by Michael Palin (£7.99, W&N).…

Five years ago, artist Johanna Basford had a brainwave. Sitting in her home studio (in a converted farmhouse near Aberdeen), Johanna was mulling over a request to create a new colouring book for children. Suddenly it struck her that it wasn’t just children who enjoyed messing about with crayons and felt-tip pens. Grown-ups were always telling her how much they loved to colour in her creations too. ‘So what about a colouring book for adults?’ Johanna asked the publishers. Sceptical eyebrows were raised. ‘They weren’t sure if colouring for adults was silly and if there would be any demand,’ says Johanna. But inspired by the idea of producing more intricate designs than would be suitable for small hands, Johanna started sketching a series of pictures based on her childhood memories…

I try to look forward with hope, rather than back with regret (a sudden glimpse in a rear-view mirror in an M&S changing room, for instance, can be a nasty shock). But recently I’ve been nudged back into the past. Checking in online for a flight, I had to fill in my date of birth – day and month fine, but then the year. I clicked on the drop-down box and suddenly I was in free fall, the cursor going down and down and – my God! – still going down until it finally settled. All those years! A bit rattling to say the least. And then, out of the blue, something entirely unexpected happened: I was made Editor-in-Chief of Jackie The Musical. Extraordinary, firstly, that there would be a…

Funny how you fall into roles once married, isn’t it? And jog along happily, in the main Julia only had a tiny twinge of guilt that she was enjoying her journey along French roads without her husband. This time. Last time, like all the other times, had been different. “We’re drifting, we’re drifting, keep right, keep right, else there’s a wing mirror gone. Or a front wheel.” This had been his usual refrain during their family trips to France. He’d clutch her arm with one hand, and the strap above his shoulder with the other, eyes tight shut. Despite the high drama, Julia always knew she was perfectly safe driving in France. In fact, she loved it. “Are you determined to kill us before we’ve left Calais?” he’d cry, even…

Technical Knitting Editor Tina These cushions are crocheted in rows of half trebles, changing colour after every row, and edged with a vibrant bobble braid. Easy-peasy A Bit More Tricky Hard–ish Quite A Challenge Instructions overleaf Woman’s Weekly TESTED BY US So They Work For You MEASUREMENTS Small cushion: 26 x 26cm/10¼ x 10¼in. Large cushion: 33 x 33cm/13 x 13in. MATERIALS Small cushion: 90g of DK yarn in various colours (allow about 2.6m for each row); 25 x 25cm cushion pad; 105cm of bobble braid. Large cushion: 110g of DK yarn in various colours (allow about 3m for each row); 35 x 35cm cushion pad; 150cm of bobble braid. For both cushions: Size 4.00 crochet hook; sewing needle; sewing thread; matching braid. TENSION 15 stitches and 13 rows, to…

Depth illusion Use plants with warm colours, such as yellow and orange, at the front of the garden and those with lighter or cooler shades, such as blue, green and purple towards the back. The theory is darker colours recede, giving the illusion of depth, while light colours will appear to be closer. Brighten walls In gloomy urban gardens enclosed by high walls, aim to brighten up the space with light-coloured paving or gravel and by painting the walls off-white or in a pale colour. To make walls less overwhelming, decorate them with delicate climbers – especially ones with fine textured leaves trained along horizontal wires. Lines & angles A good starting point to a larger-looking garden is to create a simple yet bold style based on strong geometric shapes.…

Gene Detectives Target Cancer The 100,000 Genomes Project has started recruiting patients who have cancer to find out how our genetic make-up (genome) affects which diseases we are prone to, and how we may respond to treatment. It’s hoped the test, which compares patients’ cancer cells with healthy cells in their blood/saliva, will show how DNA changes develop and lead to better-targeted treatments. The project has already sequenced complete DNA sets from people with rare diseases and their families. True Or False? True or false? Watching kitten videos online is a time-wasting distraction. False, according to Japanese researchers who say looking at ‘cute’ pictures of baby animals can improve our attention, concentration and performance in detailed tasks! Type 2 Diabetes Tips Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have had this condition…

Q What can a cordless vacuum cleaner offer? I use my cordless cleaner much more than my corded vacuum because I can whizz around the house with it and there’s no need to stop and plug and unplug it for each room. Powered by rechargeable batteries, cordless vacuum cleaners or ‘stick’ cleaners work on both hard floors and carpet, although on carpet, they can’t match the power of a corded version. They’ll clean for anything between 10 and 40 minutes. The Vax Air Cordless Lift Solo Upright U85ACLGBA, £179.99, will keep on cleaning for 30 minutes before a three-hour recharge is needed. Its cylinder lifts out so that you can tackle the stairs with ease. Q What should I look for in a handheld model? Handy for those little mishaps…

Aries 21 March - 20 April A power struggle with an authority figure will be the cause of considerable stress. You have to decide whether it’s more important to win this argument or turn the other cheek. Learning to keep quiet in the face of adversity will be a difficult but worthwhile lesson. Learn to be patient. For more, call 0901 609 2591* Taurus 21 April - 21 May Worried that you lack some up-to-date know-how or knowledge or maybe modern thinking about certain issues? Now is your chance to get yourself back up to speed and learn a new skill – you’ll be able to spend more time on the activities you enjoy this week. For more, call 0901 609 2592* Gemini 22 May - 21 June If you…