Innholdsfortegnelse for 12-Dec-2017 i Woman's Weekly

By the time you’re reading this I will be up near Newcastle, Whitley Bay to be precise, visiting my boyfriend Harry’s family for the festive celebrations. This year is particularly special as Harry’s brother and sister-in-law are expecting their first child, a boy, and it’s due right about now. Reading about how actress Alison Steadman is enjoying being a grandmother for the first time on page 8 has made me even more excited to greet this bundle of joy, I couldn’t wish for a better Christmas gift. An Adorable Handmade Gift I’ve knitted this cute Baby-gro for the new arrival from a Woman’s Weekly pattern in subtle grey-and-white stripes. You can find the pattern by going to theknittingnetwork.co.uk/babygro. Party Ready While we’re up North, I’ll be getting my glad rags…

‘My daughter almost burst into tears when I went blonde!’ Samoan-born chef Monica, 42, landed a job as commis-chef at the two Michelin-starred Le Gavroche in 1999 and rose through the ranks to become senior sous-chef at Gavroche des Tropiques in Mauritius. In 2017, she opened her own restaurant, Mere in London, with her husband, David, who’s a sommelier. For the past nine years, Monica has co-judged MasterChef: The Professionals. How do you have your tea? I drink buckets of green tea. I have to keep my energy levels up because nobody likes a grumpy chef. Who would you most like to have a cup of tea with? My head chef Renee Miller. Sometimes we get so caught up with the restaurant that it’s rare we get to chill and…

Sharon Bullock, 61 Tell us about your look… I’d say my look is smart-casual, but I always love to add a splash of colour! I’ve just bought this jacket from H&M. It was such a good price I couldn’t resist. My silk scarf is by Hobbs. It goes with everything. My top is Oliver Bonas and my skinny jeans are Primark – a bargain and such a good fit on me. I love wearing trainers – these are from M&S. My bag is Russell & Bromley. You can’t beat a good black leather bag. And the best bit of your body? My bottom! Iryna Palamarchuk, 41 Tell us about your look… I’m a big fan of Spanish brands such as Zara, Mango and Massimo Dutti. I think they have a…

‘Debts from Rachel’s studies meant she just couldn’t afford a place of her own’ ‘We get on so well now. Gone are the stroppy teenage tantrums’ I’ll never forget the day my daughter Rachel, then 22, told me she was going to move back home. It was June 2015, and she’d been studying for a degree in chemistry at Hull University. After living away for a few years, she wanted to come back to resit some exams and complete an internship. She stressed it was only temporary but then, after graduating, she decided she fancied a career change and signed up to a fast-track course in journalism. It meant her moving back home permanently, until she was earning. After accumulating debts from her studies she just couldn’t afford a place…

★The turkey has defrosted quicker than expected Once thawed, a turkey can be kept for up to two days in the fridge. Place in a roasting tin, cover loosely with clingfilm and store below 4°C. ★The turkey won't fit in the oven or in a roasting tin Cut the legs off, then cook the breast as a crown. Cook the drumsticks separately once the crown is ready. ★Can't fit it all in the oven Cook sausages and stuffing balls after the turkey has come out. If you let the turkey ‘rest’ it makes it easier to carve. ★Can't get the potatoes crispy Only open the oven when really necessary to avoid the temperature dropping. You can also brown spuds under the grill for a few minutes. ★Too much leftover turkey…

Jude, Lincoln Tell your sister how she made you feel QI went to visit my sister in Canada recently. I hadn’t seen her for over 10 years. I’ve lost four stone in that period and become very fit. I was always the ‘fat’ sister! This time, the tables were turned and she didn’t like it. She was rude to me on several occasions and introduced me to her friends as her fat sister who isn’t at the minute. I felt really hurt and lost. She’s my only sister, so I want a relationship with her, but I also want her to apologise before we carry on as before. A It sounds like she was envious of you and that her nose was out of joint because she couldn’t any longer…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr This is an excellent time to focus on what brings you pleasure. Try to do three things a day that make you feel good. Taurus 21 Apr – 21 May Your relationships may need more energy and effort. Decide which ones are most important to you, and give them your undivided attention. Gemini 22 May – 21 Jun A new and interesting person can come into your life this week. Your social life promises to be active! Cancer 22 Jun – 23 Jul This is a good time to get any jobs done around the house. You’ll feel great once they’re all finished! Leo 24 Jul – 23 Aug Networking and socialising are under favourable aspects for you. It’s a good week to negotiate…

Really? You’re kidding me’, Jeremy Clarkson might say. Perhaps with some slightly more colourful language thrown in. That’s how I feel he will have greeted the recent news that by 2040 we’ll no longer be able to buy a new diesel or petrol car, only electric. And if he were also given cold meat instead of a hot meal on the day of that announcement, you might have needed a very fast electric car to move to a safe distance! It is also proposed that extra taxes will be imposed on the most polluting diesel vehicles as soon as 2020. Don’t worry though, that’s not 20 past eight this evening, so if you don’t fancy paying extra, you still have two and a half years to replace the diesel car…

‘I like finding out about people. It helps with my job’ People tagging along on his Saturday Ghost Walks was fairly common. Jim didn’t mind; sometimes, if he had a quiet group, it spiced things up. ‘Yeah, right.’ A voice – low but distinctly female – came from behind a man swathed in scarves. Jim ignored the sarcastic comment and carried on. ‘Here on Brighton’s Old Steine, ladies and gentlemen, beware the spectre of John Robinson, mercenary and adventurer. ‘He gave the group his best ominous stare. ‘Over 200 years ago, fighting in Persia, Robinson found himself on the losing side. On the orders of the victorious ruler our unfortunate soldier had his eyes gouged out.’ Several of the group grimaced, and a few giggled. Jim wrapped his long black…

Knitting Editor Teresa Not tried knitting socks before? This pattern is the perfect way to start. It’s a good introduction to short row shaping and the socks are worked on straight needles, rather than circular ones. Fun bright shades make this the perfect gift set. A Bit More Tricky Instructions overleaf MEASUREMENTS To fit an average man’s foot. Length of foot from toe to back of heel 28.5cm/11¼in. Ankle/leg circumference 23.5cm/9¼in. Length from top of sock to base of heel 29cm/11½in. MATERIALS 3 x 50g (226m) balls of Sirdar Country Style 4 Ply (40% nylon, 30% wool, 30% acrylic) in each of Lime Green (Key Lime 641) and Navy (Light Navy 441) and 2 balls in Red (Bakewell 621)*; pair of 2.75mm (No. 12) knitting needles; stitch holder. Yarn is…

Our bodies have more than 600 named skeletal muscles. These contract individually or in teams to help our bodies move in all directions, perform acts of great strength or fine precision, and signal our emotions. These voluntary movements are controlled by the motor cortex in the brain, which works out what we need to do and sends signals down to junction boxes in the spinal cord. These spread out along motor nerves to our muscles, where they turn into chemical signals, and trigger contractions that bend or straighten our joints. Our brains constantly monitor and adjust our muscle activity, so we often notice a fine tremor, especially after an adrenaline surge. Our muscles are also coordinated by other brain areas that help us to balance, adapt our movements to our…

‘Start small by eating more fruit and veg’ I never planned to do this job, and I still can’t really believe I’m doing it. I used to be a corporate lawyer, but my change of direction is all because of my eldest son, Amman, who is now 21. He was born with severe food allergies and during the first few years of life was in and out of hospital. As soon as he ate anything, he’d get really ill – his skin would flare up, crack and bleed, and he would struggle to breathe. He went into anaphylactic shock, had to be resuscitated and was in intensive care in a coma. It was terrible. Eventually, Amman was diagnosed with allergies to dairy, gluten, fish, eggs and nuts. But there wasn’t…

That is very unfortunate and I can see it’s both disappointing and frustrating. I presume you’ve talked to them about it, which is how you know you can’t be refunded. If the course is still going and they feel they are doing a reasonable job, they might well maintain it was your choice to leave and therefore they weren’t responsible. If, however, parts of it were cancelled, they’d need to look at a refund. The challenge here is to focus on what you can learn from the situation. As a manager in your present job or in any new position, you’ll be faced at times with things that don’t go to plan. Observe the organisation you’re training with and see where you think they’ve gone wrong; then make a note…

Chilly nights bring about dramatic changes in the garden. Evergreens bergenias and mahonia, for example, exchange their green livery for sumptuous plumy tones suffused with claret shades and the variegated euonymus that takes on pink tones after the leaves get seriously frosted. Don't be too eager to tidy the veg plot. Leaving the roots of beans in the ground after harvesting and they will naturally help refuel the soil with the essential leaf-making nutrient, nitrogen. Propagate favourite shrubs, such as buddleja, forsythia, dogwood, willow and flowering currants from hardwood cuttings. Simply make the cutting 20cm or so in length, from the ends of the stems of the plants and push the ‘twig’ into a V-slit trench in moist soil and grow them in situ or plant them in a large…

We love letters Woman’s Weekly, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP PS. It really helps when you put your details in capitals We do not return photos (apart from ‘You Wore It Well) 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! If you’d like updates on wonderful project ideas, video tutorials and all the news about our upcoming craft workshops, it’s simple to subscribe to the Woman’s Weekly news letter. • The sign-up box is easy to find on the home page of our website. Just pop in your email address. womansweekly.com Important! All contributions to Woman’s Weekly must…

‘My boys still have a stocking, even though they are in their 30s!’ On Christmas Day, Alison Steadman is looking forward to holding the special present she has dreamed about for so many years: her four-month-old grandson Freddy. ‘I can’t think of a better gift. At last I’m a grandmother, and I love it, love it, love it!,’ says the 71-year-old star. After 50 years of playing memorable characters – from outrageous Beverly in Abigail’s Party to excitable house-proud Essex mum Pam in Gavin & Stacey – Alison is enjoying every moment of the real-life role. ‘I cried with happiness when I first held him. I’m besotted. I just say to people, “I’m going to bore you now” as I show them pictures. I don’t care! ‘I was beginning to…

Heaven scent To introduce those warming Christmas scents into your home without spending a fortune on expensive candles, simmer a pan of water on the hob filled with thickly cut orange slices, cinnamon and some rosemary. Better yet, replace the water with red wine and invite guests in for a warming mug of mulled goodness! After Christmas is over, don't let unwanted gifts go to waste. Donate food items to your local food bank, presents to charity shops and send toys to a women's refuge. Esme Clemo, Home Editor Get ready to face the day While putting out the mince pies for Father Christmas, why not treat yourself to an overnight face mask? You’ll wake up on Christmas morning fresh-faced and dewy, ready to tackle the big day ahead. Maxine…

Espresso Martini Triflemisu SERVES 12                       1 Sprinkle the gelatine over 3tbsp cold water in a small bowl. Leave to soak, following the instructions on the packet. Add the gelatine to 300ml (½pt) boiling water from the kettle and stir until dissolved. Stir in the espresso powder and then add the espresso martini. Put half the amaretti biscuits in the base of a large trifle bowl and pour over half the coffee jelly. Chill in the fridge until set. 2 Whisk together the egg yolks and sugar with an electric mixer until thick and creamy. Whisk in the mascarpone until smooth then add the vanilla bean paste and cream and whisk until thick. Spoon half the mascarpone mixture over the…

How Are You? One in eight men – but only a third as many women – are ‘10 years older’ than their hearts. This is according to Public Health England, which has published results for over a million people from its Heart Age Test, first launched in 2015. The newly updated quiz, entitled ‘How Are You?’, takes three minutes to do and provides useful resources to help you ‘lose’ any extra years. Try it at nhs.uk/oneyou/hay. True Or False? Husbands are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if their wives are overweight, but not the other way round. True, according to research going back to the 1990s. But researchers admit that women did more of the shopping and cooking then, so the results may be linked to more traditional…

Copenhagen, Denmark For a chic city break bursting with life, look no further than the Danish capital, guaranteed to please all the senses with its sights, music and excellent cuisine. Copenhagen has become a popular tourist draw with attractions for all ages, most within walking distance of the city centre. Numerous festivals each year ensure the city is always buzzing, including the Copenhagen Cooking & Food Festival. Every August the entire city showcases its finest dining experiences. But you don’t need to be a festivalgoer to enjoy a holiday here, as there’s something to suit all tastes. Spread over two islands, Copenhagen has five miles of beaches. Alternatively, the harbour front has several public baths, popular in summer for cooling off after hours of shopping or sightseeing. Enjoy strolling the…

This Week FRANCES QUINN is a journalist who specialises in finance and consumer issues. She’ll answer your questions on everything from savings to shopping. Q Can a shop refuse a refund on a faulty item bought in a sale? It depends. When you buy goods in a sale, you have exactly the same consumer rights as you have at any other time. That means that, under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the item must be as described, of satisfactory quality, and fit for purpose. If it’s not, you have the right to return it. If you do so within 30 days, you’re entitled to a refund; after that, the retailer can opt to repair or replace it instead. However, this doesn’t apply where there’s a fault in the item that’s…

‘I think the truth about ghastly Alan has finally dawned’ Many years ago, when Mr Dear and I were slim and fresh-faced and hadn’t even heard of backache, we were keen on the theatre. Occasionally, as a bit of treat, Mr D would take me to London to see a play. Almost always, he chose a farce. Perhaps it reminded him of life behind the counter of his hardware shop, I couldn’t say. Before I explain why I’m bothering you with this, let’s first talk about trousers. There are, say, three things that everybody over a certain age knows about farce. The first is that every farce starred comic actor Brian Rix, by law. The second is that a vicar must play some part in the plot. The third, and…