Innholdsfortegnelse for 09-Jan-2018 i Woman's Weekly

Things happen at the New Year. There’s something in the air, an expectation of change and renewal. More relationships and careers start or end around 1 January than at any other time. So in the afterglow of quaffed bubbles and midnight celebrations, let’s all seize on that renewed energy in the most positive way possible by rebooting our health. Find out how to do it on page 10. And if you’d also like to lose a few pounds over the coming year, don’t miss next week’s issue, to discover how to lose weight not just temporarily, but forever. I’d like to wish you all a happy and healthy 2018! Best Bakes Baking can be fun – both my wife and daughter love it – but what’s even better is sharing…

Mira Westsmith, 45 Tell us about your look… I love comfortable, relaxed clothes in all shades of grey – my favourite colour. Most of my outfit came from Zara, although bought over a period of time. I also like Cos and Benetton. Stylish boots are key – these are from Russell & Bromley, and my Osprey bag is from TK Maxx. And the best bit of your body? My brain. Kasia Elvin, 72 Tell us about your look… My jacket is faux-sheepskin and was passed on to me by a friend. My hat is rather special, as my mother knitted it. My cardigan is from South America – I like things that are original. My trousers and boots are both M&S. I like to add a little colour and this…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr Take action on those New Year’s resolutions. Make a list and do at least one thing every day. Taurus 21 Apr – 21 May Relationships are highlighted this week, with opportunities to learn. If something upsets you, ask yourself why instead of blaming someone. Gemini 22 May – 21 Jun You may decide to deepen an existing relationship and take it on to a more intimate level. Cancer 22 Jun – 23 Jul Any changes you decide to make will have long-lasting effects. Think carefully before you act. Leo 24 Jul – 23 Aug Your work is under the spotlight. Don’t be afraid to make necessary changes to get what you want. Virgo 24 Aug – 23 Sep If you’re willing to work at…

1 Set a realistic goal and timeframe. You can work out what’s genuinely achievable by researching on the internet, and talking to experts and people who’ve been successful. 2 Break it into manageable chunks. Don’t say: ‘I’m going to lose three stone’, say ‘this week I’ll eat healthily for three days’. Your brain can’t cope with being motivated for long periods. 3 Build ‘healthy’ habits. Instead of making drastic changes in one go, steadily introduce useful routines – like having a green tea when you used to have a cigarette break, or reducing the potatoes on your plate and increasing the green veg. 4 Visualise your success. What will it be like when you achieve your target? See yourself dancing around with the grandchildren once you’ve given up smoking, or…

Life on the road as a member of The Fizz (we’re not allowed to call ourselves Buck’s Fizz any more… long story!) is so glamorous. NOT! Mike Nolan, Jay Aston and I had two gigs earlier this year; the Shildonbury Festival near Durham and Jack Up The 80s on the Isle of Wight. We left on a Saturday morning, mid-August at 9am for the 9.30 meet at Godstone on the M25, but our tour manager, Marcus, wasn’t there. He’d forgotten to turn off the alarm at work and the police turned up while he was rifling through the expensive sound equipment. I can just imagine the conversation: Policeman: ‘Hello, hello, hello! What’s all this then?’ Marcus: ‘Ah! I know what it looks like, officer, but I work here and I…

I enjoyed Dad’s birthday party right up until Mum asked me to do my so-called ‘party piece’. Carl, my boyfriend, turned all bug-eyed and amazed when she explained its roots. ‘You were in an advert once, Becca? You never said. Is it on YouTube?’ Everybody’s on there these days, aren’t they, doing silly things? So why does everybody (who doesn’t know already) still gather round whenever Mum mentions my ad on the telly? ‘No, it’s not on the internet,’ I said to Carl. ‘It happened years ago. I was only eight. The agency doing it came to our school. They did a little casting session in the hall one evening. They wanted somebody natural, not trained.’ ‘Go on, do it, Becca. Do your catchphrase,’ my mum urged with a glint…

MEASUREMENTS To fit ages 6-12 months (1-2) (2-3) (4-5) (6-7) years. Actual measurements 50 (55) (60) (66) (71) cm/19¾ (21¾) (23¾) (26) (28) in. Side seam 15 (18) (23) (26) (31) cm/6 (7) (9) (10¼) (12¼) in. Length to shoulder 28 (32) (38) (42) (48) cm/11 (12½) (15) (16½) (19) in. Sleeve length 17 (20) (24) (29) (33) cm/6¾ (8) (9½) (11½) (13) in. MATERIALS 3 (4) (5) (6) (7) 50g (135m) balls of Stylecraft Lullaby DK (55% nylon, 45% acrylic) in Orange (Clementine 1767)*. Pair of 3.25mm (No.10) and 4mm (No.8) knitting needles and 3.25mm (No.10) circular needles (80cm); 4 (4) (5) (5) (5) buttons. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk ABBREVIATIONS St(s), stitch(es); k, knit; p, purl; psso, pass slipped stitch over; sl, slip; b, through back of loop;…

Statins Do You Need Them? These cholesterol-lowering drugs reduce heart attacks and strokes. But they’re not for everyone Forty years after statins were launched, they’re still controversial. British researchers say fewer high-risk patients have started taking them since the latest guidance from NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), while people in lower-risk categories may be over-treated with statins. Why does cholesterol matter? It’s essential for digestion and making body hormones – we manufacture it from dietary fat. It circulates in the blood as LDLcholesterol and HDLcholesterol (attached to low/high-density lipoprotein molecules). LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C /‘bad’ cholesterol) is linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cholesterol and blood-clotting cells (platelets) form deposits (plaques) that narrow artery linings, restrict blood flow, and can become inflamed and/or rupture, triggering a heart attack, stroke,…

My children never pay me a visit QI have three adult children who have young families. All of the parents work, although some only part-time. I know they’re busy but I’m on my own and I miss seeing them. They all live close by and I’ve suggested numerous times that they come over. They say they will then something happens and they don’t turn up. I don’t have many friends so I’m alone a lot of the time. Name and address withheld A Think back to when you had small children. Were you working or at home with your children? If you weren’t working, take a minute to imagine how that would have impacted on your available time. Did you have time to visit people? Did you consider your parents’…

Life in the Ice Age This exhibition, at the Saffron Walden Museum in Essex, unveils the secrets of the ice ages, exploring the ice sheets and glaciers that formed as the temperatures dropped. Real animal remains are on display, including a woolly mammoth tusk, as well as models of a sabre-tooth tiger, a European wolf, and one of our own ancestors. • Runs until 14 January. For more info, visit saffronwaldenmuseum.org. The Greatest Showman Inspired by the ambition and imagination of PT Barnum, The Greatest Showman tells the story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerising spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. Starring Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams and Zac Efron, this is one to watch this festive season. • In cinemas nationwide from 26 December Guys…

Monday • Start the week with a major saving; if you have put off switching your energy supplier because you think shopping around for a cheaper deal online seems too complex, did you know you can find the best tariffs over the phone as well? One service is energyhelpline.com (0800 074 0745) where an adviser will talk you through your options. If you haven’t changed suppliers for several years, the savings could be huge. Saving: Up to £100s per year • The Meat Free Monday campaign was launched by Sir Paul McCartney and daughters Mary and Stella in 2009, to raise awareness of the impact on the environment of eating meat. But not only is going veggie one day a week good news for the planet, it will also make…

Billionaire’s Shortbread Serves 12 1 Heat the oven to 180°C or Gas Mark 4. In a food processor, whizz together the unsalted butter, 75g (2½oz) sugar and the flour until just combined. Tip the mixture into the baking tin, press lightly into an even layer, and prick all over with a fork. Bake for 30-35 mins until pale golden. Cool in the tin. 2 Put the salted butter, remaining sugar, golden syrup and condensed milk into a pan, and whisk over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins, whisking continuously, until it turns a golden caramel colour. Stir in the vanilla extract and pour over the cooled shortbread.…

Dear Keren My husband and I ar e arguing all the time at the moment. W e have a few things to sort out which are hard but I think we’re making it harder than it need be. I think w e both find it difficult to listen to each other. He interrupts and gets cross and it never feels as though he’s listening to me. I really do try to listen to him but he doesn’t seem able to see this. If this goes on much longer, our marriage will be in trouble. Name and address withheld It sounds like you’ve stopped really communicating with each other. When we’re anxious about something, we become so focused on our own needs that we’re unable to really listen. It would help…

‘There should be a Vera clothing line’ Brenda Blethyn, OBE, 71, the Oscar-nominated actress who made her name in the 1996 Mike Leigh movie Secrets & Lies is back on Sunday (Jan 7) in the eighth series of the ITV police drama Vera. How do you take your tea? White with no sugar. The producer of Vera bought me some lovely leaf tea and a big china cup and saucer. I have that in my trailer with me when I’m filming. Who would you most like to have a cup of tea with? The actress Bette Davis. I bet she’d have a story or two to tell. I like the look of the woman. She could play Vera but she also played glamour roles too. Do…

THE AZTEC CHOCOLATE BAR Children of the 70s will definitely remember the Aztec! One look at that iconic purple wrapper and we can almost taste the caramel-nougat centre. It was made by Cadbury and it had a big impact! Displays in shops included a life-size cardboard Aztec warrior, while a lavish TV ad was filmed at a real Aztec temple in Mexico. Alas, the mighty bar was conquered in 1978, but for many, its memory lives on. Nowadays, Mars is probably the closest chocolate bar that you can buy, but if we're honest, it's just not the same! Got something you’d like featured? Then drop us an email.…

Licences are required to keep wild cats, primates, wild dogs such as wolves, certain types of pig such as wild boars, and marsupials. If you're not sure, seek advice from your local council. For a full list of animals that require a licence, visit gov.uk/  licence-wild-animal. Owners are also required to provide proper care for any animal they keep as a pet. Anyone failing to do so risks an unlimited fine, up to six months in prison and could also be banned from owning another animal in the future.…

BA Bit More Tricky TAKES 5 hours YOU WILL NEED (For a 22 x 34cm hot-water bottle) 30x85cmpiecewool felt in mustard A4 sheet of wool felt in white Embroidery thread in white Embroidery needle Scissors Pins 2ltr hot water bottle Paper and pencil Ruler STOCKISTS 1mm thick 100% wool felt in mustard and white, £7 per 50 x 80cm, Wool Felt Company (woolfeltcompany.co.uk). Anchor embroidery thread, £1.09 per skein, Minerva Crafts (01254 708 068; minervacrafts.com). Multicoloured check throw, £65, Habitat. 1 Place your empty hot-water bottle on a piece of paper and use a pencil to draw around the edge. With a ruler, straighten the lines at the neck of the bottle, using our image as a guide. Add 2cm around all the edges of the hot-water bottle to…

We’re delighted your daughter accepted,’ Hari said. Beside him my little girl glowed. Other than matching happy expressions, they looked so different. He’s far taller, broader, darker; a brooding mountain of a man. My Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled brighter than the tiny chips of diamond in her ring. Reminding myself she wasn’t still 13 years old and this was her decision to make, I smiled and said, ‘Congratulations’. My husband Simon saved the situation with his enthusiasm. He hugged them both, then fetched glasses and champagne. My hugs were less than Simon’s. I didn’t miss a word out there, they were less everything. I’m much smaller, so my hugs were, too. Following after his, naturally mine were less spontaneous and, as he was already offering glasses overflowing with froth, they had…

If you usually… eat durum wheat pasta Try this instead… gluten-free vegetable pasta Made from red lentil or green pea flour, these new veggie pastas count as one of your ‘five a day” and are a good source of protein and fibre. Made by Napolina, they cost £2 for a 250g bag. Available from Sainsbury’s and Morrisons. My Healthy Life • Life coach Sarah Alexander reveals how she boosts her health and wellbeing My go-to remedy Amatsu – it’s a Japanese soft-tissue therapy. Whenever I’m feeling off kilter, this helps. It brings my body back into alignment, releases any emotional and physical blockages and leaves me feeling balanced and whole again. My favourite meal Smoked salmon, king prawn and avocado salad, enhanced with a tangy Marie Rose sauce. Delicious! How…

Our Experts • Appliances • Internet • Digital • Animals • Finance/ consumer • Legal This Week CAROLINE RODRIGUES is a home economist and interiors writer. She’ll answer your questions on home appliances. Stoves Q Should I consider a woodburning stove? There’s no beating the appeal of a real flame, which is why a stove is the on-trend winter warmer. Stoves are far more efficient than an open fire and wood is considered eco-friendly because it’s a carbon-neutral fuel, but stoves have been in the firing line recently, since the emissions contribute to air pollution. If you live in a Smoke Control Area, and many of us do, you must buy a Defraexempted appliance which is guaranteed to burn cleanly, such as Morsø’s 7449 woodburning stove, 4.3kW, £2,000. As an…

My little sister Deb is having some work done to her kitchen, and for all I know has also called in a team of specialist cushion plumpers to tackle any cushion emergencies around the rest of the house. As she is not the sort of person who can live in a house with no kitchen – or indeed premises that are swarming with cushion plumpers – she is staying with us for three weeks. We not only have a kitchen, but our cushions are so plump that they’re considering the 5:2 diet. As I have mentioned here before, Deb is used to the finer things in life. She married an accountant who made a bit of money working in the Middle East. When they divorced, she got the house and…