Innholdsfortegnelse for 19-jul-16 i Woman's Weekly

I’d like to ask J S Bach for some musical tips’ How do you take your tea? I’m useless at making tea, so I prefer someone else to do it. The secret is to let the water cool slightly before you pour it over the bag. Who would you most like to have a cup of tea with? Johann Sebastian Bach, the German composer and musician from the Baroque period. I’d ask him for some tips! This is your 20th year playing the Kew The Music festival. What keeps you coming back? There’s something so fulfilling about being outdoors, surrounded by the trees, playing music. It’s an ancient thing that we seem to like. The only drawback is that our dressing rooms are in the bit where they keep the…

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! 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 newsletter. • 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 be original…

‘Apparently the tooth fairy lives in a castle and wears gold shoes’ I’ve been seeing a lot of my granddaughters lately. I can’t say the contact has sharpened my brain: on Easter Sunday I was heard to say, ‘Let’s go in the garden and see if the tooth fairy has hidden any eggs.’ ‘Yes,’ said my daughter with a withering look, ‘and perhaps Father Christmas has been helping her.’ We’ve had custody of Little Miss Bossy – just turned six and gap-toothed. The tooth fairy seems to visit every few weeks. Apparently she lives in a castle and wears gold shoes and they carry on a lively correspondence. When she’s not letting the tooth fairy know that yet another tooth is wobbly, LMB is much preoccupied with relationships. ‘This is…

• DARK CHOCOLATE ‘If you’ve ever craved chocolate when stressed, then here’s some good news: dark chocolate is rich in cocoa, a superfood which is packed with nutrients known to boost your mood,’ says Kate. • COCONUT OIL ‘Many high-smoke-point oils, eg, sunflower oil, are heavily refined, so I recommend coconut oil, which has a moderate smoke point. There are exceptions: avocado oil is healthy with a high smoke point, but it’s best to cook on a moderate heat,’ says Kim. • GREEN TEA ‘Green tea is a source of antioxidants, which combat free radical damage, protecting against premature ageing and certain diseases,’ says Kim. ‘Also L-theanine, which it contains, has been shown to play a role in reducing stress.’ • LIVE YOGURT ‘Full-fat live yogurt – the kind made…

The no-stain tan One look at your white bed sheets can put you off using self-tan forever, but that’s a thing of the past with Xen-Tan Clean Collection Fresh Tanning Mousse, £33.99, xen-tan.co.uk. Their promise is to make the whole experience a bit less, shall we say tricky, with a fresh scent, streak-free finish and a no-stain formula. THE TAN TEST: ‘I found the white mousse a little more difficult to apply, simply because I couldn’t be sure that I’d blended everything in seamlessly, like a tinted foam. But everything else made for a perfect tan. It didn’t smell, didn’t leave a mark on my white pyjamas or bed sheets (trust me, I’m picky!) and left a flawless golden colour that faded evenly after a few days.’ Beauty Editor, Stephanie…

Tangy Beans On Toast 1 Heat the oil in a frying pan and gently fry the onion for a few mins, to soften. 2 Add the pepper, garlic and chorizo and pan-fry for several mins, until the chorizo begins to crisp up around the edges. 3 Add the kidney beans, ketchup, vinegar and 3tbsp water. Warm through for 3 mins. 4 Toast the bread, then spoon the bean mixture equally on to both slices of toast. Sprinkle with feta cheese, to serve. Eggs & Tomato Cook-Up With Avocado 1 Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and fry for a few mins, to soften. 2 Add the pepper…

‘It’s been hard because previously I was so fit and healthy’ Wendy Senn, 81, and her husband Robert, 82, live in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. She has three daughters, two grandsons and a step-granddaughter. She says: By the time you read this, I probably won’t still be here. But I’m spending the last ounces of the energy and life I have left to tell my story in the hope that it might help others. ‘I have amyloidosis of the heart. And if you’re thinking, Amyloid-what?’ you’re not alone. I hadn’t heard of it either. And that’s not really surprising as it’s pretty rare – although there could be many other people out there with it but who are never diagnosed. My doctor says I’m the only patient he’s ever seen with it.…

Devon From lush meadows to rolling moorland, dramatic cliffs to tranquil river valleys, Devon boasts some of Britain’s most spectacular coastline and countryside. And whatever your age and ability, there’s a cycle trail to suit, many of them traffic-free. So put your bikes on a roof rack or ask at Tourist Information Offices about local hire. Lapsed cyclists and families can pedal gently along the Exe Estuary Trail from Exeter or enjoy stunning estuary views on the ‘Tarka Trail’ across North Devon. Or try the Granite Way which offers panoramic views across Dartmoor on an 11-mile stretch of disused railway between Okehampton and Lydford. Level railway routes also provide the framework for Devon Coast-to-Coast, a 99-mile route between Ilfracombe on the north coast and Plymouth in the south. For those…

As I write this, I’ve just returned from a lovely week away. It struck me, looking around at my fellow holidaymakers how many of them were reading books as they lay in the sunshine. And by that I mean actual books, rather than Kindles or tablets. Of course there were a number of electronic devices, but the vast majority of people, of every age, on the beach and around the pool were absorbed in good old-fashioned printed books. It’s telling that sales of Kindles have fallen to such an extent that Waterstones have stopped selling them in most of their shops. Which is not to say there isn’t a place for electronic books. A Kindle is still the most weight-efficient way to take several books away with you on holiday.…

Book Norma Tickets for Vincenzo Bellini’s captivating opera about a powerful druid princess betrayed by her Roman lover go on sale on 19 July. But if you can’t make the journey to Covent Garden, the Royal Opera House will be screening a live performance in cinemas nationwide on 26 September. Call 020 7304 4000, or visit roh.org.uk. To book cinema tickets, visit roh.org.uk/cinemas Celebrate Black Country Day 14 July marks the peak of the month-long Black Country Festival, with a string of events happening across Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton, and Sandwell to celebrate the area’s fascinating industrial heritage. The festival ends on 31 July. To find out more, visit black-country-festival.co.uk black-country-festival.co.uk Place your bets at Sark Sheep Racing Live music kicks off the festivities on 15 July, with locals thronging to…

Singles, Pairs And Sets Decorative appeal has a big impact on value, and having more than one of a given object is often considered more aesthetically pleasing. The vase on the right is from the famous Royal Worcester factory and was painted by one of their top painters, Harry Davis, around 1925. At 18cm, it’s quite small and on its own is worth around £500 at auction. But a pair could fetch anything between £1,200 and £1,800 at auction. Pictured further right are a pair of Meissen ewers, originally crafted by the celebrated German porcelain modeller J J Käendler in 1741. There are four original designs of these figures, each representing one of the elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. These – Air and Earth – are 19th-century copies, still…

2 The GCSEs he passed in Art and Geology (he's dyslexic). 5 The number of pans you need, says Jamie: You should invest in a griddle pan, a couple of good frying pans, a big casserole pan and a good boiling pan. 4 How many really decent knives he says we should have. 8 How old Jamie was when he started cooking at his parents' pub in Essex. He reckons his knife skills were as good when he was 10 as they are now. 16 How many years he’s been married to Jools. 4 children – Poppy Honey Rosie, 14, Daisy Boo Pamela, 13, Petal Blossom Rainbow, seven, and Buddy Bear Maurice, five. Baby number five is due in August.…

Where I’ve been… On a visit to Bristol zoo with Little Miss Bossy, to see the seals being fed. What I’ve seen… A sculpture exhibition in a dreamy garden setting at Asthall Manor, near Burford in Oxfordshire. An absolute delight. Who I’ve met… Our neighbours’ new labrador puppy – aah! What I’ve bought… A book and DVD of The Tap Dancing Mermaid by Tessa Bide – after taking LMB to Tessa’s fantastic one-woman puppet show in Bristol.…

• Smooth skin is a great place to start so shave the day before you tan. If waxing is your hair removal method of choice, then do this 48 hours before to let any potential irritation subside. • The evening before tanning, exfoliate your body to remove any dead skin, so your tan goes on smoothly. We love the ease of Kissed By Mii Exfoliating Wipes, £4.95, kissedbymii.com. • Tan clings to dry skin, so moisturise your elbows, wrists, ankles and knees about an hour before tanning to give it time to soak in. • Apply your fake tan with Velvotan Mitt, £2, Tesco, for an even finish. Start from the bottom working upwards in long, sweeping strokes. Make sure you’ve blended the colour well to avoid unsightly streaks. •…

• Easy-peasy • A Bit More Tricky • Hard–ish • Quite A Challenge MATERIALS • Fat quarter of Fox In The Foxgloves, cut into two rectangles measuring 22 x 18cm and a circle with a 15cm diameter • Fat quarter of Stem Dot in Gold, cut into two rectangles measuring 22 x 18cm and a circle with a 15cm diameter • 18 x 13cm rectangle of Stem Dot in Pink and Turquoise • 8 x 18cm strip of Evening Primrose in Grey • 18 x 18cm square of Evening Primrose in Orange • 13 x 11cm rectangle of Foxgloves in Orange • 1m x 112cm of Cowslips in Pink, cut into one rectangle measuring 58 x 70cm and one rectangle measuring 58 x 18cm • 1m x 112cm of Cowslips…

Woman’s Weekly GP, Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones explains: In amyloidosis, amyloid fibrils (tangled immune-system proteins) are deposited in and around cells, and these gradually damage organs, including the kidney, heart, lungs and nervous system (leading to Alzheimer's). There are several forms but the cause isn't known, although it's commoner in people with inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, cancer or infections, and it is occasionally due to an inherited gene mutation. It also sometimes develops for no apparent reason, usually in later life, and as it's rare (fewer than 1,000 new UK cases a year), diagnosis can be delayed. Amyloidosis is diagnosed using a tissue biopsy (sample) from an affected organ. SAP scans, which detect the serum amyloid P component (SAP) protein that attaches itself to amyloid…

The decision is hers QOur 38-year-old daughter left our grandson’s dad after 14 years together. They’ve been apart for 10 months and she rents a house locally in which she lives with our seven-year-old grandson. She lost her job before Christmas and got a new one in a different town, but won’t move there because of changing schools. We’re sharing childcare with her ex’s mum who offered to help us out as we were doing it all week and it got too much. Her ex has gone abroad for four weeks and told our daughter to stay at the house; she’s still on the deeds. We’ve found out that she’s spending nights with him at the weekends (they don’t have sex). Why is she not moving on? We don’t think…

WW Intern, Yashi Where I went In the middle of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius enjoys a warm climate all year round. Traditions from around the world make up the tiny archipeligo’s culture – French, British, Asian and African. What I did I went on a catamaran trip to explore tiny, uninhabited outlying Mauritian islands. I also visited Casela, a 35-acre nature park, where I went on a safari tour to see rhinos, big cats, giraffes and other animals. But my most exciting must-sees were a real (stuffed) dodo at the Natural History Museum in Port Louis, giant water lilies at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden and coloured earth at La Vallée des Couleurs in 23 distinct colours (the result of past volcanic activity). Where I stayed A…

Over the years my wife and I have discovered the best way for us to avoid wasting food is to not buy it in the first place. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But the willpower needed to see it through is harder than you’d think. Our advice would be to make a list of what you need before you go shopping, and stick to it rigidly. You must ignore the special offers, unless it’s for one of your very regular purchases. And it’s also a good idea to try and cut out as much processed food as possible and switch to more fresh food. That way you avoid leaving tins and packets at the back of the cupboard. As I said, it’s not easy but it can be done, resulting in…

Anna Fiddimore, 68 Tell us about your lookÉ I love wearing bright, bold colours. They just seem to suit me. Pastels make me look washed out! I found this tunic in TK Maxx. It’s such a fab print. My bag is also from TK Maxx – it’s my favourite high-street store. My trousers are from my local charity shop – The Princess Alice Hospice. Nearly my whole wardrobe comes from there! And my sandals are from Clarks. And the best bit of your body? My eyes. You Wore It Well Peggy Healy, 1956 ‘I was on our firm’s day out with my friend Eileen, on the left, and we were both 16. We made our own dresses – Eileen’s was navy with a white collar and mine was lemon with…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 Apr Mars is helping you to accomplish a great deal. Set a clear intention that everything will go easily and watch miracles manifest. Taurus 21 Apr - 21 May Venus is bringing you the possibility of new social connections. This could be in work or in your personal life. Gemini 22 May - 21 Jun Listen carefully to everyone who communicates with you this week and a whole new world will open up. Cancer 22 Jun - 23 Jul Finances get a boost from Venus and Mercury. It’s a good time to negotiate a deal or snag a bargain. Leo 24 Jul - 23 Aug Venus enhances feel-good activities. Get your hair done, buy new clothing – do whatever makes you happy. Virgo 24 Aug…

The Full Skirt This pretty floral A-line shape falls just below the knee and is machine-washable. £50, sizes 8-18, Wallis Wear It Smart Wear It Casual Take The Jacket And Wear It Like This Too STOCKISTS Dorothy Perkins 0344 984 0261; dorothyperkins.com East 020 8877 6543; east.co.uk F&F at Tesco 0800 323 4070; clothingattesco.com John Lewis 0345 604 9049; johnlewis.com Longchamp 020 7493 8500; uk.longchamp.com M&S 0333 014 8000; marksandspencer.com Mint Velvet 0345 456 2200; mintvelvet.co.uk Next 0333 777 8000; next.co.uk Phase Eight 020 7471 4422; phase-eight.com Wallis 0845 121 4520; wallis.co.uk…

‘Stop saying you’re sorry all the time for things you can do nothing about’ Laura didn’t expect any surprises when she met her dad for breakfast in the cafe. They’d eat, then maybe go for a stroll round the park. He’d ask about her kids, including Evie who was off on a play date. He’d complain about his back and Laura would make sympathetic noises. She tried to see him as often as she could since her mum had passed away. Today, in the cafe where they served his favourite bacon and eggs, she gave the table a bit of a knock with her elbow. “Sorry,” she said, as the condiments rocked. Her dad’s brow creased into ridges. On her guard now, she tensed. Had she annoyed him? “Sorry about…

Easy-peasy A Bit More Tricky Hard–ish Quite A Challenge MEASUREMENTS To fit bust sizes 81 (86) (91) (97) (102) (107) (112) cm/32 (34) (36) (38) (40) (42) (44) in. Actual measurements 86 (92) (98) (105) (111) (118) (124) cm/ 34 (36¼) (38½) (41¼) (43¾) (46½) (48¾) in. Side seam 37 (37) (38) (38) (39) (39) (40) cm/14½ (14½) (15) (15) (15¼) (15¼) (15¾) in. Length to shoulder 54 (55) (56) (57) (58) (59) (60) cm/ 21¼ (21½) (22) (22½) (22¾) (23¼) (23½) in. MATERIALS 2 (2) (2) (2) (3) (3) (3) 50g (125m) balls of Debbie Bliss Eco Baby (100% cotton) in Red (22); 2 balls in Tangerine (43); 1 (1) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) ball(s) in each of Burnt Orange (33), Primrose (37) and Ecru (16)*. Pair of…

• If you’ve planted gladioli for indoor decoration, cut the blooms as soon as the first flowers on the spike are open. When cutting the flower, leave at least four leaves on the plant otherwise the corm will fail to flower again next year. • Collect spikes of lavender just as the florets are opening and hang to dry. When the spikes are completely dry the flowers can be rubbed off and stored for use. The leaves can be dried too but they are not as fragrant. • While it’s a good idea to run the hoe through beds and borders every week, those planted with surface rooting plants, such as heathers, should be weeded by hand so as not to disturb the soil.…

We have more than 100,000 hairs on our head and on an average day around 100 fall out. They grow at about half an inch per month until they reach their maximal length, stop, fall out (called the telogen phase) then rest for a few weeks. Of course, they’re all at different stages so we don’t really notice. However, poor growth and excessive fallout can cause genuine and significant distress. An estimated six million UK women suffer from some form of hair loss, although it’s probably under-reported. Normal ageing changes When we start to go grey depends on our genes and environment. The first ‘grey gene’ has already been identified and gene therapy is a future possibility. Men may start losing temple and crown hair from their thirties onwards; this…

3 REASONS to join a choir 1 IT BEATS LONELINESS Researchers from Oxford Brookes University carried out an online survey of people who sang in choirs, sang alone or played team sports. All three activities boosted wellbeing, but choristers experienced the greatest benefit. 2 IT'S A STRESS BUSTER A Swedish study found that a group of singers’ heartbeats synchronised in a similar way to a group who had guided meditation classes. They put this down to the singers having to coordinate their breathing in order to perform the songs in harmony. 3 IT BOOSTS IMMUNITY A recent study found that singing in a choir for just one hour boosts levels of immune proteins in people affected by cancer. What’s This For? * Steripod (pack of two, £4.99, Boots, Superdrug or…

Our Experts • Appliances • Internet • Digital • Animals • Finance/ consumer • Legal QI always seem to overwater my garden. How can I do it better? Overwatering is a great waste – a lawn sprinkler can chuck out in an hour as much water as a family of four uses in a day – and harms root development. New technology can help by delivering exactly the right amount of water to the right places, and the latest systems are surprisingly affordable and easy to use. Q What’s best for a technophobe? The new Hozelock Cloud Controller (below, £115, amazon.co.uk) is a battery-powered, remotely-controlled valve which allows you to control the water flow from your smartphone. To install it, screw the unit into a garden tap and connect the…

‘I’ve had an unexpected attack of adult acne’ It’s my back,’ explained the perfect stranger. ‘Sometimes I think it’s muscular, but then occasionally I wonder whether it’s kidney trouble. What do you think?’ If I were being frank, I would have explained that people who volunteer in charity shops are not usually qualified to diagnose kidney problems and that she would be better consulting, say, a doctor. Instead I gave the customer a sympathetic smile and said that I, too, had a bit of back trouble after standing up in the shop all day. ‘I’ve got blisters, too,’ she said. ‘Do you want to see my blisters?’ All things considered, I did not want to see her blisters. ‘One of them is the size of an apricot. It’s a wonder…