Innholdsfortegnelse for November 10, 2015 i Woman's Weekly

Hitting The Right Note We often write about the benefits of getting involved in a hobby or activity. There’s the social boost of interacting with and getting to know other like-minded people. The mental advantage of challenging your brain by learning new skills, and the satisfaction to be had from mastering and/or improving them. The psychological plus of getting you out of your home and into a different environment. And the pure fun of doing something you enjoy. On page 8 of this issue, we talk to someone who could definitely be described as the patron saint of one particular pastime that has rocketed in popularity since he formed his first televised group in 2006. Gareth Malone has literally brought choral singing to the masses. Of course it isn’t remotely…

Help! My daughter has developed an allergy to wheat and one of her favourite treats is a homemade Christmas pudding. Can you give me a gluten-free recipe that we’ll all enjoy? Pamela Evans, Blackpool Don’t Worry Pour 375ml mulled wine over 1kg of dried vine fruits. Leave for three days. Add 200g halved glacé cherries, 250g dark muscovado sugar, 60g gluten-free plain flour, 150g gluten-free breadcrumbs, 200g light chopped vegetarian gluten- and dairy-free suet, 1tbsp ground mixed spiced, 4 beaten eggs, 4tbsp brandy and a pinch of gluten-free baking powder. Stir together to combine. Spoon into a greased 1.25ltr pudding basin. Cover securely and steam for five hours. Store in a cool place. Steam for one hour on the day to serve. Got a burning cookery question? A problem shared…

Designs and the times With furniture, fashions and designs are constantly shifting. There are stark contrasts, for example, between wooden pieces made during the time of the Jacobites, the Stuarts and the Georgians, all periods that saw radical changes in what was popular at the time. Fig. 1 shows an exquisite bureau from around 1700. Its decoration is known as endive marquetry, performed by a highly talented cabinetmaker. Fig. 2 reveals the interior – another vivid work of art. The underframe has been altered at a later date – perhaps 40 or 50 years ago. This would not have been a problem for collectors in the 1970s and ’80s, who would have paid up to £8,000 for the piece. However, the ’90s saw a steep descent in this bureau’s value,…

Visit The National Pet Show At Birmingham ’s NEC this weekend (7-8 November) you can celebrate all things animal, from the cute and cuddly to the weird and wonderful, with stalls, displays and activities. For details and to book tickets, call 0333 300 3010 or visit thenationalpetshow.com Plan ahead Lumiere Durham From 12-15 November, a group of international artists will transform the nocturnal cityscape of beautiful, medieval Durham with spectacular artworks – all made from light. Entry is free, but the central area is ticketed at peak times. For more details, visit lumiere-festival.com Reflect Remembrance Sunday This Sunday, 8 November, events will take place across the country to honour those who lost their lives during the First World War and other conflicts since. The Queen will lay wreaths at the…

Not for the first time in our conversation, Gareth Malone breaks energetically into song. ‘Da dah da dah da dah, da da dum da dah dump ah pah…’ he sings with gusto, in his typical infectiously enthusiastic style – although in fairness, it probably works better when you’re there. Gareth’s remarkable, high-speed career began in 2005. He was running the London Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Choir when he was spotted by a keen-eared TV producer. Since then, the popular chorister, who turns 40 on 9 November, has enjoyed an uninterrupted string of emotionally stirring TV hits, including The Choir [2006], Boys Don’t Sing [2008], Military Wives [2011], Sing While You Work [2012] and most recently The Naked Choir, his search for the country’s most talented a cappella [it’s Italian for ‘in…

Heuchera Its vibrant foliage adds a unique splash of colour to winter containers or front garden borders. It’s a super ground-cover plant with semi-evergreen hardy perennials that hold their foliage well into the winter months. Woman’s Weekly readers can choose from two fantastic collections or buy both and save an additional £10. Supplied as well-developed plants in 9cm pots that can be planted directly into position. Collection A Stoplight (lime green with distinct brown-veined leaves) Spellbound (silver top on reddish brown leaves), Cuties Blondie (distinctive shades of tan/light brown foliage with yellow blooms) Collection B Fire Alarm (vibrant red), Ginger Ale (vibrant golden orange/ginger) Green Spice (silver green with brown-veined leaves) Coronilla glauca ‘Citrina’ This RHS-award-winning, citrus-scented beauty is currently smothered in rounded clusters of dual toned, pale-lemon, pea-like blooms.…

Mustard & Leek Trout Serves 2 Calories: 790 Fat: 29g Saturated fat: 6g Carbohydrates: 90g Not suitable for freezing 1tbsp oil 2 prepared (European farmed) rainbow trout, heads removed if you prefer 3 leeks, trimmed and sliced 2 banana shallots, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1tbsp plain flour 150ml (¼pt) fish or vegetable stock 2 lemons – reserve 4 slices and take the juice from the remainder 2tsp Dijon mustard ½tsp coarse ground black pepper Few sprigs of thyme 1tbsp chopped flat parsley 1 Heat the oven to 200°C or Gas Mark 6. Heat the oil in an oven-safe frying pan or casserole big enough to hold both fish. Brown the trout until golden, then set aside. 2 Turn down the heat and sweat the leek, shallots and garlic…

Easy-peasy A Bit More Tricky Hard–ish Quite A Challenge MEASUREMENTS To fit bust sizes 81 (86) (91) (97) cm/32 (34) (36) (38) in. Actual measurements 89 (96) (102) (106) cm/35 (37¾) (40) (41¾) in. Side seam (all sizes) 37.5cm/14¾in. Length to shoulder 57.5 (59) (60) (60.5) cm/22½ (23¼) (23½) (23¾) in. Sleeve seam (all sizes) 42cm/16½in. MATERIALS 4 (5) (5) (6) 25g (210m) balls of Rowan Kidsilk Haze (70% mohair, 30% silk) in Marmalade (596). Pair of 4mm (No.8), 4½mm (No.7) and 5mm (No.6) knitting needles. One tube of Gütermann flat, round 10mm sequins in Metallic Gold (1925). TENSION 24 stitches and 27 rows to 10 x 10cm, over pattern, using 4½mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; st, stitch; tog, together; p2togb, p2tog through back of sts; dec, decrease…

Keep Warm And Well Drawing our curtains at dusk is a great way to keep in precious warmth (aim for room temperatures of at least 18º C). Draught excluders at the bases of doors will help, too. These long, dark winter evenings can be lonely and isolating for people who live alone or are caring for somebody with dementia. If you know anyone in this situation, try popping in or phoning them regularly, even if you can only spare a few minutes, because social contact is good for our health. True Or False? Antibacterial handwashes containing triclosan eradicate more germs than ordinary soap. False, according to Korean scientists, who say soap is just as effective for a typical 20-second hand wash using water at ‘hand-hot’ temperature (40º C). Help For…

1 Keep a ‘waste’ diary. Write down or take photos of every food or drink you bin in a week. Once you know your weak spots it’ll be easier to stop wasting food. 2 Plan a weekly menu and use it to write your shopping list. You’ll be less likely to overbuy and end up with unused, out-of-date food. 3 Do a stocktake before shopping. You may already have food that needs using up. 4 Get your fridge priorities right – soft drinks and unopened ketchup don’t need to be chilled. Most veg will last longer if refrigerated. 5 Get date-savvy – bin anything past its use-by date as it may no longer be safe to eat. But it’s fine to consume food past the ‘best before’ date (this relates…

Don’t be afraid of speaking up Q Some young men have recently moved into the flat next door and I think they must be practising for The X Factor or something. They sing from dawn until dusk. Some of it’s lovely, but it’s too much. I struggle to talk to my friends when they visit and sometimes can’t get to sleep. I don’t want to put them off, but I need a bit of peace. Margaret, Swansea A I think you need to say to them exactly what you’ve said to me. You aren’t asking them to stop, because you like listening to them, but you can have too much of a good thing! They need to practise between certain hours so that you can enjoy some peace and quiet.…

Where I went The picturesque city of Winchester – England’s ancient capital on the edge of the South Downs National Park. A treasure trove of English heritage buildings, the city centre is dominated by a huge bronze statue of King Alfred the Great. What I did A visit to Winchester is not complete without a tour of the cathedral. Originally built in 1079, it is the place of internment for many monarchs, bishops and Jane Austen. Then we took a fascinating walking tour with a local guide along the beautiful River Itchen that runs through the city. Where I stayed Holiday Inn Winchester is just a short taxi ride from the city centre (holidayinn.com). We relaxed in its ultra-modern surroundings – and, after a long day pounding the pavements, the…

Om waited until darkness, then she swam to the yacht. The stars twinkled in the sky, the sea was calm. The name of the yacht seemed prophetic: Freedom Blue . She hauled herself up with ease to find food still left on the table. It was hard to feel bad about stealing it when she was so hungry. And, earlier, the seagulls were taking it. She crammed in strange-tasting cheeses, salads with mushrooms, curious, dried, salty meats; intense tastes, all new. She stuffed food inside her shirt and a large bottle of water. The couple on the boat, whom Om had scrutinised for hours, had become so drunk the night before, singing and dancing, that she believed they would remember nothing when they woke up the next morning. The alcohol…

Aries 21 March - 20 April You may have to rein in your independent ways. Working with a partner will have benefits. You have a knack for living in the moment, but that shouldn’t keep you from preparing for the future. Building a nest egg will give you more independence of thought and action. For more, call 0901 609 2591* Taurus 21 April - 21 May If you’re single, your chances of meeting someone special are looking good. Play hard to get with someone who shows an interest – you’ll only fan the flames of their desire. Already in a relationship? Your partner will offer you a sentimental token of their love and affection. For more, call 0901 609 2592* Gemini 22 May - 21 June Taking time away from…

Your article on the National Lottery Awards Arts category winner, Ministry Of Stories [25 August] was excellent. I taught in a junior school for 26 years, and loved taking English lessons. I didn’t find it easy to encourage story writing, so I can see how beneficial an organisation like the Ministry is to kick-start children’s imaginations. My technique was to take a word and use each of the letters to begin a sentence, similar to an acrostic poem. It gives a great head start for a story. K A Cooke, Tanworth-in-Arden We admit, you had us reaching for our dictionaries there! We love to hear from you , so please do get in touch if you have something to say…

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…

What makes me happy Seeing my four children and four grandchildren. I can’t live without My sight and my hands, because I love to do crafts. My best piece of advice Think about other people but also have ‘me’ time. My favourite bit of WW I like the technology page. Tell us about yourself by answering the questions above and give your age and occupation. Send them to us, with a daytime phone number and a good-quality photo/jpeg of yourself (see address, below, right). You’ll win this beautiful Spring Rose and Germini bouquet, worth £26.99. For more bouquets from just £9.99 with FREE delivery nationwide, call 0844 453 3777 or visit flyingflowers.co.uk…

Galway. It’s such a lovely, historic and friendly city by the sea. It’s a great place to live. ANNE CAREY Gornal, in the Black Country. The people here are just uniquely wonderful. KAYE HIGHWAY There’s lots to do in Nottingham. Plenty of culture, art and history and it’s not too far to some stunning countryside. LINDA CHAMBERS Bo’ness is the home of the Barony Theatre, the Hippodrome cinema and the biggest children’s fair day of the year. A very welcoming place to settle. POLLY GONE The Norfolk coast. We have the beautiful Broads, vibrant Great Yarmouth AND the sea with wonderful beaches. SUSANNA GREENWOOD I live in Wokingham. It was voted nicest place to bring up children – and I absolutely love living here. LINDSAY PARTRIDGE Kilkenny in Ireland. It’s…

Advertising was born when the printing press was invented – one of the earliest known adverts was a handbill printed by William Caxton in 1477 for the ‘Pyes of Salisbury’ (clerical rules) about setting the dates for Easter. More prosaically, a notice for the recovery of 12 stolen horses – published in The Kingdom’s Weekly Intelligencer in 1647 – is often considered the first newspaper advertisement. The advantage of newspapers over handbills was that newspapers were kept and distributed by coffeehouses, booksellers and inns instead of being thrown away. Quack doctors were quick to pick up on the benefits and pioneered modern marketing – branding and publishing their (mostly ineffective!) products far and wide via newspaper ads. William Tayler opened the first advertising agency in 1786, contracting himself to newspapers…

1 MULTITASKING MASCARA Curled lashes help eyes look less tired. Rimmel 24HR Supercurler Mascara, £6.99 , has a curved wand and a perm-like ingredient to curl. 2 SKIN SMOOTHER Nothing warms you up like the scent of Meacher, Higgins & Thomas Apothecary Lilac & Sage Body Butter, £9.50 , M&S. The stylish tin will look lovely on the side of your bath, too. 3 PERFECT POLISH Apply Barry M Sunset Daylight Curing Nail Paint and the matching Topcoat, £4.99 each, and expect a high-gloss manicure that stays chip-proof for days. 4 MAGIC MASK Cleanse your face with Nspa Treat Warming Detox Mask, £1.59 , Asda. The self-heating treatment draws out impurities for a deep clean that leaves skin glowing. 5 GLOW GETTER Fight signs of tiredness with blusher. Cream cheek…

Easy-peasy A Bit More Tricky Hard-ish Quite A Challenge YOU WILL NEED For all three cards, you will need: • Strips of paper • Cocktail stick • PVA glue What is quilling? Quilling has been practised for centuries, but it’s only in recent years that a choice of pre-cut narrow paper strips have been readily available for use in this craft technique. Quilling paper strips are available in 3mm, 5mm and 1cm widths, or you can cut your own from a sheet of paper, either using a ruler and craft knife, a guillotine or a paper shredder. Once the different widths and lengths of paper are rolled into coils, they can be shaped into squares, diamonds, triangles, hearts, teardrops, hearts and swirls. You can buy specialist quilling tools, which have…

“ So, here between the clavicles, the pit of the neck,” Polly murmured, remembering what she’d been taught in figure drawing as she sketched the area delicately with her pencil, “above the manubrium, which leads down to the… don’t tell me…” “I’m not saying a word,” Ross said, barely breathing. “The sternum!” she said triumphantly, following the line down the centre of the chest towards the navel. “So,” Ross said, looking up from the point of her pencil against his naked skin to meet her eyes hotly, “when are you going to start drawing?” It hadn’t always been like this. They were both in their late fifties now and it was probably somewhere in their late thirties that Polly had last seen quite so much of her husband. And in…

Q My skin is always itchy, but there’s no rash and my tests are normal. How can I get relief? A Chronic itching, especially at night, can be caused by skin conditions, stress and a wide variety of diseases that may also cause weight loss, fever or sweats. These include diabetes, thyroid, liver, kidney or neurological problems, blood disorders, scabies and iron deficiency anaemia, so I’m glad your tests are normal. Many medications can cause it, too, so check information leaflets. Itching is triggered by histamine in the skin, which can be released by heat, cold weather, exercise, showering, swimming or scratching. We may also feel more itchy as our skin becomes drier with age. Find a cheap moisturiser (emollient) that suits you and use it frequently. Lotions (which are…

My medical training stirred a passion and curiosity about the human body and how it works. I was fascinated by the question, ‘How do we help the body stay functioning as it should and are drugs the only solution to the body’s ills?’ After graduating, I became increasingly aware of the role of lifestyle as medicine. I studied Nutritional Medicine, learning about how foods and exercise can help reverse disease. Using this philosophy to treat patients as a GP in North London, I saw type 2 diabetes, weight gain, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol reversed – without prescribing additional medication. I simply coached patients on the lifestyle habits they needed to adopt to get their bodies back to a normal balance. A healthy lifestyle also equips you to fight…

‘ They’ve got a new date and walnut cake that is to die for,’ says Wendy. ‘But I think I’ll have chocolate fudge cake instead. That’s heaven too.’ We are in the little coffee shop on the high street and I’m beginning to think that, friends or not, it’s easy to go off people. Regular readers will know I’m experimenting with my own particular version of the 5:2 diet. For five days, my greed knows no bounds. The other two days, I cast lingering glances at the cupboards and try not to be too bad-tempered. But today – O, joyous day! – is a ‘5’ day, so I can give my full attention to both dates and walnuts. Incidentally, anybody who thinks I am not serious about my diet should…

Arm Circles Stand with feet slightly apart, arms down by your side. Raise your arms up above your head and hold for five seconds. Slowly lower your arms behind you, then bring them round in an arc to the front of your body. Hold them out in front of you for five seconds, or clap your hands five times. Then raise them above your head again and repeat for five. Well done! TIP If you find your arms ache doing this exercise, march on the spot swinging your arms to help loosen them before and after.…

Veronica Homewood, 67, Gravesend Tell us about your look… I’d say my style was quite casual. I wear a lot of trousers but my husband and I have just started dance classes together, so I wear dresses for that. I try not to wear too much black and I like teal, beige and red. My jeans, cardi and bag are from M&S and my top is from Tu at Sainsbury’s. My favourite shop is Wallis – they always seem to have something I like. And the best bit of your body? My legs. Patricia Boyes 72, Rochester Tell us about your look… I usually wear trousers but I bought this knitted dress and scarf from M&S and they are so comfortable. I’ve always loved clothes and…

My mother had a special face she saved for snaps. Unless you caught her in an unguarded moment when she was laughing, she affected this pursed lips sort of po-face at the sight of a camera. We used to tease her about that and her telephone voice – a posh version of her Scots accent that she used in case it was someone important (no such thing as caller ID in those days). Either way, she wanted to establish the fact that she was a cut above. But was she any different from anyone today? Look at all those selfies, posed and pouting, carefully arranged – it’s not just the Kardashians, everyone’s at it. We project the image we want and we control it. It’s no longer a case of…

Vicki Simms from Northamptonshire Like many people, I’ve always wanted to be fitter, joining various gyms and classes over the years, but I always seemed to slip back into bad habits. I’m also incredibly clumsy – I can fall over just by looking at fresh air – so my mother discouraged me from running as a child. I grew up feeling I couldn’t – or shouldn’t – run. But when my daughter-in-law, Sabrina, 33, fell pregnant in 2013 with my first grandchild, Hector, now one, it provided the push I needed. My mother had been an active ‘supergran’ to my kids, so I wanted to emulate her. Feeling like a fraud, I visited a running shop, had myself fitted for my first running shoes and took to the road. I…

“Gran, look what I’ve found.” In the kitchen, Charlie turned over the soil-clad oval in his fingers. I took it from him and rinsed it under the tap. It didn’t come up sparkling. It was dented and mottled. It had come from my veg patch and had likely been struck by a spade a few times, or had collided with stones being turned over in the earth. “It’s a marble,” I said, handing it back. “I bet I played with it when I was little. It might even have been one of your great-grandad’s.” No. 14 Tulip Lane had been in my family for a lot of years now. As an only child, I’d inherited it when my mother died. I smiled at Charlie. I was trying my best to…

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Heart disease is often seen as a male problem, but in reality we’re not far behind the men. And although coronary heart/artery disease (CHD) doesn’t usually affect us until after the menopause, younger women can have heart attacks too. Pregnancy complications, such as raised blood pressure, early-onset pre-eclampsia (toxaemia), high blood sugar and premature delivery, may be early warning signs for some women, according to recent US research. And we can’t do much about our family history (for example, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol or blood pressure levels), although you should mention these to your GP. But most heart diseases take years to develop and it’s never too late to make healthy changes that can really help and which will reduce your risk of stroke, kidney damage and other circulatory…

Every year we throw away seven million tonnes of food and drink – enough to fill around 97 million wheelie bins, or around one and a half wheelie bins for every person living in the UK. It's a huge amount, accounting for almost a fifth of the food we buy. It means a typical family with children throws away a massive £700 on food and drink each year. But what's truly alarming is that 63% of what we bin could actually have been eaten. Food being past its use-by date (think bags of leaves and pots of yogurt), cooking too much food and not using up leftovers are some of the main reasons we waste food. But that's not all. Many things we automatically throw away when we're preparing food…

3-in-1 Leaf Blower, Vacuum & Shredder This garden helper will put an end to the dull task of sweeping up leaves. £ By combining a shredder with a vacuum, the leaf volume collected is boosted by up to 90% for faster clearance, and the fine mulch (great for compost) is collected into a 25ltr bag. You can use it on the lawn, patio or drive, clearing your outside spaces in a fraction of the time it takes with a broom. Weighing only 8kg, it comes with 33ft of cable and front and back wheels for easy manoeuvring. Also available: Spare collection bag, extension cable for large gardens and an RCD power breaker socket. Bird Feeding Station Create a safe haven for wildlife and an eye-catching focal point for your garden…

Q I’m looking for a new pet – can I find one online? It’s always exciting to get a new pet and thousands of animals can be found online with only a few clicks. However, with such easy availability, it’s even more important to do your research. There are plenty of unscrupulous breeders online whose priority is big profits – never good for you or the animals. Sites like Gumtree will have a huge number of pets for sale, but I’d advise avoiding them. Instead, search for people and companies with an ethical approach. Pets Corner (petscorner.co.uk) has stringent rules about the pets it sells and is proud that it makes no profit at all on rabbits. If you’re looking for a dog breeder, the Kennel Club (kennelclub.org.uk) has a…