Innholdsfortegnelse for 31-Dec-2016 i Woman's Weekly

How on earth do I sum up this past momentous year? To say it has been a time of change would be an impressive piece of understatement. We’re all only too well aware of the enormous changes that have happened in the wider world and here in the UK. All of us at Woman’s Weekly have been feeling the winds of change as well. As you read this, we will be settling in to our new headquarters building in Canary Wharf (see below, left) and enjoying the fact that we’re surrounded by over 300 shops and food outlets (dangerous for our pay packets, though!). Through all the upheaval Woman’s Weekly has stayed as steadfast – and successful, for which we thank you – as ever. A beacon of constant inspiration,…

‘There’s a strength, a unity, an energy in silence’ ‘My grandchildren are my life’s greatest joy’ At an age when nobody would blame her for confining herself to grandchildren and gardening, the unsinkable Sheila Hancock is as busy as ever. She has a leading role in the new Sky 1 drama Delicious , playing Dawn French’s outspoken ex mother-in-law. And she’s planning a volume of memoirs. It doesn’t end there. ‘I’d love to do more documentaries,’ she says. ‘I did one on the Brontës, one on watercolours and another on the suffragettes. I love the combination of research and presenting something I feel passionate about.’ All this and she’ll be 84 in February. Not that you’d know it. Spend any time in her infectious company and you’re quickly caught…

This week’s columnist: Nina Myskow New Year can be a funny old time. It’s rarely as you imagine: champagne and fireworks, kisses at midnight. Even if all that’s in place, what you can never count on are the emotions. Often you’re looking back with sadness and forward with trepidation. How rare it is that you look back thinking, ‘Fabulous!’ Then, ‘Wonderful! Yet more fabulous to come!’ No wonder people have a glass in hand. No wonder they want to watch joyous rockets exploding, their own spirits rising along with the trajectory, even if only in the moment. And they want to be with friends. If I ever had a plot in life, I lost it long ago. Never really planned anything. But the first time I saw the New Year’s…

Mincemeat & Apple Strudel Serves 6 Calories: 465 Fat: 11g Saturated fat: 6g Carbohydrates: 85g 1 Put the apples in a pan with the sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and 1tbsp water. Cover and heat gently for 15 mins to soften the apples. Stir in the mincemeat and leave to cool slightly. Heat the oven to 180°C or Gas Mark 4. 2 Take 2 sheets of filo pastry, overlapping by 8cm (3¼in), on the baking sheet. Brush all over with melted butter. Repeat twice with the remaining filo pastry. 3 Scatter over the breadcrumbs. Spoon the apple mixture down the middle of the pastry, along the seam. Roll up the pastry around it, folding over ends and making sure the…

This is a great way to use up scraps of your favourite fabrics, as well as helping to keep you organised and brightening up pot plants, too! • Easy-peasy •A Bit More Tricky • Hard–ish • Quite A Challenge Time to make: 1-2 hours YOU WILL NEED • Outer fabric: two pieces of cotton fabric measuring 20 x 18cm • Lining fabric: two pieces of cotton fabric measuring 20 x 18cm • Matching sewing thread • Disappearing dressmaker’s marker pen • Ruler • Sewing machine NOTE: To fit a plant pot measuring approx. 9 x 9cm Use 1cm seam allowances, unless stated otherwise. 1 Take one outer piece then, using a ruler and fabric pen, mark 4.5cm squares on both lower corners of the longest edge and cut them out.…

The story so far Harry Hedgehog (H for short) lives with his mum, HILDA, dad, HORATIO, and little sister, HELEN, in Hedgetown. He loves to play naughty pranks to annoy his mum. She owns Shiny Spines, the salon in the High Street. Just before Christmas, she holds a spine-colouring evening for special customers. Harry secretly mixes up the colour packets! Later, he slips down a hill and through a large hedge. On the other side, everything seems huge to him – it seems like a world of giants – and he makes friends with Tom, a boy who longs to play football but whose parents won't let him. Tom has to sing in a school concert that afternoon and Harry insists on coming, too. The story now concludes Harry’s dad…

We all overeat at times, particularly around Christmas. But if we have binge eating disorder (BED), we’ll frequently eat excessive quantities of food in very little time – and may even plan our bingeing. BED is a common form of eating disorder and affects up to 3% of us (including men) at some time – often in early/ mid-adulthood. But unlike anorexia and bulimia nervosa, people with BED tend not to compensate by vomiting or using laxatives, although they do feel distressed/out of control, and are often (but not always) overweight. The cause isn’t fully understood, but food-related brain and gut hormones may be disturbed, and there may be a genetic link. The trigger may be depression, anxiety, stressful experiences, low self-esteem or trying to stick to a strict diet.…

‘Finally A Cure For My Underarm Sweating’ I noticed a problem with excessive underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis) about 12 years ago. I was working for a large UK company as a software trainer delivering in-house courses and I was horrified to discover I was sweating five minutes after putting on my deodorant. It was a nightmare. Standing in front of a class of students, I couldn’t even raise my arms to point or write on the whiteboard for fear that they would see the damp patches under my arms. I struggled on for a while, wearing loose-fitting tops and trying various deodorants and antiperspirants, but nothing seemed to work for me. So I resorted to ‘sweat pads’ in my clothes. Unfortunately, these would work their way down my sleeves or even…

So Long, Farewell There are lots of things we’ll miss about the building that has been our HQ home for the past 10 years, not least its proximity to St Paul’s Cathedral (directly across the river). I took these pics of the famous landmark in and through various sculptures on a sunny lunchtime walk in our final week before the move. Home, New Home And here is our new HQ building in London’s Canary Wharf (taken on a not-so-sunny day). If it appears to be floating on the water, that’s because it’s built on what’s effectively a huge pontoon, so we’re surrounded on three sides by water. Apparently there’s a seal who visits the quay. We’ll let you know when we spot it!…

Diane Hodge, 61 Tell us about your look… I love fashion and am always on the lookout for something a little bit different. I bought this knit in Zara and love the sequin pocket. My skinny jeans and boots are M&S. My coat is by designer Clements Ribeiro and was a fabulous find at TK Maxx. I shop everywhere, from Primark, Marks & Spencer and H&M on the high street, to charity shops and vintage fairs. I also love big, bold jewellery. And the best bit of your body? My hair, followed by my slim legs and ankles. Paola Hanna, 54 Tell us about your look… My look changes all the time, but I’d like to think it’s always glamorous. I adore colour and print, and I love anything that…

DAWN FRENCH ‘It’s not about two women fighting over a man. Everyone’s got a secret. It’s hard with Gina because, the minute you think you have a handle on her, she does something to surprise you.’ IAIN GLEN ‘Leo is a professional chef who runs a flagship enterprise in Cornwall and, to all appearances, he’s highly successful. He’s charismatic and charming, an unfaithful man – but it takes two to tango. He’s a lovable rogue without a malicious bone in his body.’ EMILIA FOX ‘This is a complex story about the relationship between two women, polar opposites, who love the same man. Having children of similar ages and living in the same area, they’ve had to coexist for many years. Ultimately, it becomes about the survival of them both.’ SHEILA…

Much to her consternation, there were tears running down her face If Jean Wilton had known first thing what she learnt later in the day, she’d have bid a fonder farewell to her son, William. And another issue she’d have considered would have been why people in shock were given hot, sweet tea. Why not a decent cup of tea and a slice of homemade apple pie, for instance? But the hot, sweet tea was for later. After she’d washed the clothes and run them through the mangle; after she’d shopped for the evening meal, or ‘tea’ as she’d describe it; after she’d done a little deadheading among the roses and some vigorous dusting in the living room. So, after all that, it was mid-afternoon, while Jean was having a…

Using the same technique as last week’s matching beret, this tartan knit is smart in more ways than one! Garter-stitch stripes with strands of yarn threaded through stitches produce the overall tartan effect. Easy-peasy A Bit More Tricky Hard–ish Quite A Challenge MEASUREMENTS To fit bust sizes 76-81 (86-91) (97-102) (107-112) cm/30-32 (34-36) (38-40) (42-44) in. Actual measurements around base 142 (152) (161) (173) cm/ 56 (59¾) (63¼) (68) in. Length to back neck 66 (68) (71.5) (74) cm/26 (26¾) (28) (29) in. MATERIALS 7 (7) (8) (8) 50g (75m) balls of Drops Nepal (65% wool, 35% alpaca) in Dark Purple (4399); 6 (6) (7) (7) balls in Purple Mix (4434); 4 balls in Deep Red (3608); 2 (2) (2) (3) balls in each of Light Olive (8038) and Cerise…

Dodgy Kits Give Dodgy Results Seasonal festivities can lead to unprotected sex, and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a warning about unreliable/fake condoms and self-test kits for sexually-transmitted infections/ HIV, especially those bought online. It recommends checking for the CE mark. I’d suggest seeking medical advice instead if you’re worried. True Or False? Diluted manuka honey solutions can prevent dangerous bacteria from accumulating on surfaces. True, according to UK researchers who say they could be developed as germ deflectors for use in medical equipment, such as urinary catheters (but don’t try this at home!). Chronic Health Support People with long-term conditions are to be offered psychological therapy in 30 English GP practices. The scheme, which could eventually result in 3,000 extra therapists, is aimed at…

Explain why this is important for all Q My family is originally from Cyprus but I grew up here. My parents, who are in their late seventies, are still very traditional in their thinking and lifestyle. My children find them difficult to connect to, although they love them dearly. Now they want to take the kids to Cyprus for a week’s holiday to meet some of the family and to share their home place with them. They want to do this before they feel too old. My two teenage children are refusing to go. I don’t want to force them but would like them to see where they came from. Marina, London A It’s hard, if not impossible, to force anyone to do anything, so, if you want your children…

Where I went I’d never hiked the Cumbrian fells, so this year it felt high time to tick them off my list. I arrived by rail at Grange-over-Sands and then it was a short bus journey to Cartmel. Located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this idyllic village is peppered with artisan food shops and jam-packed with scrummy local produce, including a very cheeky pie shop, Higginsons (higginsonsofgrange.co.uk), which contained lots of meaty gourmet delights. What I did I went on a hike to one of the highest viewpoints in the Lake District, known as Hampsfell Hospice. It was very windy up there but we had panoramic views over Morecambe Bay and the River Derwent. The absolute highlight, though, was The Predator Experience (predatorexperience.co.uk). We booked the Walking With…

To enjoy the full benefit of this special column, you will need the following: 1) A crackling fire. 2) A comfy armchair. 3) A pot of tea and a modest plate of your favourite biscuits. On second thoughts, let’s live a little – make that a slice of chocolate cake and a small sherry. You’re now ready to enjoy Olde Rosemary’s Almanac. Frankly, I’d have preferred Ever-So-Slightly-Middle-Aged Rosemary’s Almanac but we can’t expect miracles from Nivea. Please note that Olde Rosemary’s Almanac cannot predict the big events of 2017. We cannot say with any certainty that Brexit will be Brexit, that Prince Harry will marry Lady Gaga, or that Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May will be discovered enjoying a romantic holiday together in the Maldives! However, we can predict what…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 Apr This is a good year to move home or to make some changes to your environment. Opportunities to meet new friends and to make new relationships will arise, often quite by surprise. Taurus 21 Apr - 21 May Expansion and growth in your work is favoured this coming year. If you’re not satisfied where you are, spread your net and look for something else. Learning a new skill could bring promotion, a raise in earnings, or even a brand-new career direction. Gemini 22 May - 21 Jun Your creative energies are waiting to be ignited. Do as many of the things you truly enjoy as you can. Jupiter brings you the possibility of a new love, romance and great excitement. The more you enjoy…

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1 YOUR MAKE-UP Swabs revealed that face and hand cream were the most bacteria ridden cosmetic items, followed by lipstick and mascara. 2 YOUR CARPET The average carpet harbours 200,000 bacteria per square inch, making it 4,000 times dirtier than the average toilet seat. 3 YOUR PHONE In tests, there was up to 10 times the amount of bugs which can cause nausea and stomach problems than were present in a lavatory. (Not surprising when one in 10 of us now admits to taking the phone into the loo!) 4 YOUR PILLOW Up to a third of the weight of your pillow could be dead skin, dust mites and their faeces – an ideal breeding ground for infections. 5 YOUR CASH Scientists at the University of Oxford discovered that the…

1 Plan and buy food for healthy meals in advance – willpower is easier when you're not hungry . 2 Stock cupboards with healthy easy-prepare ingredients, to avoid resorting to takeaways when you're tired or busy. 3 Don't allow many instant-comfort foods into the house – keep sliced carrot, celery and sugar-snap peas in the fridge, for emergency snacking. 4 Know your triggers – stress, boredom, delayed/skipped meals – and plan ways of coping. 5 Drink a large glass of water if you feel hungry, you may actually be thirsty. Water before a meal can also pr event overeating. 6 Share your pudding – a couple of sweet mouthfuls may be all you really want. 7 Eat two small pieces of 70% cocoa solids dark chocolate instead of a pudding…

Expert Q&A This Week CHRIS PARTRIDGE is a digital expert and writer. He’ll answer your questions on anything from computers to mobiles. Our Experts • Appliances • Internet • Digital • Animals • Finance/ consumer • Legal Q Do they still make instant photo cameras? Yes, but things have changed since the old Polaroid company went bankrupt in the digital revolution, and the instant photography market is now dominated by Zink paper, sold by a new company under the Polaroid brand, and Instax, a format made by Fujifilm. Q So what’s this Zink? Zink stands for Zero Ink – instead of the traditional chemical film or printing ink, the 2 x 3in prints are embedded with heat-sensitive crystals to create the images. The cameras are effectively digital cameras with a…