Innholdsfortegnelse for 04-Dec-2018 i Woman's Weekly

It’s strange how some things I change over time. Nowadays, from the beginning of December, many people are already putting up decorations. Someone from the 17th century would be very confused by this . Back then, Christmas lasted for 12 days, but it only began on Christmas Day, and ended on 5 January – Twelfth Night. And yet, other things don’t change. The core values of friendship, giving and good cheer have remained over many centuries. In fact, holly, ivy and mistletoe date back to pre-Christian festivities, which began before the Romans. But, however or whenever celebrations begin, everyone in our family is getting excited already, and I hope you are, too! Deerly beloved… Everyone in the office loves this delightful deer family on page 45. Why not have a…

We We love love letters letters Woman Woman’’s s Weekly Weekly, , 161 161 Marsh Marsh Wall Wall, , London London E E14 14 9 9AP AP PS PS. . It It really really helps helps when when you you put put your your details details in in capitals capitals We We do do not not return return photos photos ( (apart apart from from ‘You You Wore Wore It It Well Well) ) so so please please do do not not send send originals originals Email Email us us womansweeklypostbag womansweeklypostbag@ @ti ti--media media..com com Tell Tell us us your your full full name name,, address address and daytime and daytime phone number phone, number please ,please Fancy Fancy a a chat chat? ? Log Log on on…

Party ready Remington Advanced Colour Protect Intelligent Straightener has in-built sensors to regulate the temperature of this sleek styling tool and reduce the damage that causes colour fade. ✿ Available exclusively from boots.com, £99.99. Make merry! For adults only, these decorative, booze-filled Christmas baubles will add an extra dimension of merriment to your tree. ✿ Pickering’s Gin Baubless,, gettingpersonal.co.uk, £28.99. Festive scent The White Company’s Winter home fragrance range will indulge your senses with its spicy notes. Curl up in an armchair as sweet cinnamon and clove add warmth to your room. ✿ thewhitecompany.com, from £8.…

THE HABIT: You tend to buy low-fat foods THE BOOSTER: Look for low-salt and low-sugar on the packaging too It’s good to limit your intake of unhealthy fats, but in order to maximise taste, many food companies add salt, sugar and artificial additives to low-fat foods, rendering them less healthy – and more calorific – than ‘regular’ versions. TRY TO: Make a point of reading the ingredients lists to check that low-fat versions do contain less calories than their ‘regular’ counterparts. THE HABIT: You eat a healthy breakfast THE BOOSTER: Include protein A good breakfast will kick-start your metabolism, but adding protein will  supercharge your day. Nutritionist Cassandra Barns says, ‘Eating protein helps slow digestion, leaving you feeling satisfied and fuller for…

Idon’t know about you, but I try to creep through the festive season without disturbing the Christmas imp. If I make it through to Boxing Day without disaster, I’m deeply grateful to whichever angel is looking after me. I have a long history of courting Yuletide catastrophe. One year, I woke up with acute strep throat and couldn’t move my head at all. Instead of going to my sister’s, where the red carpet was being rolled out, I went to my empty flat and gibbered for days. And when I say empty, I mean empty. I ate tinned tomatoes for a week. The tradition of calamity started the year Dad decided we’d kick off the festivities with Champagne cocktails. Mum had three in a row. Forget Jägerbombs – these babies…

I never thought I’d... be a stand-up comedian ‘My legs were trembling as I walked on to the stage…’ Mandy McCarthy, 57, from Leeds, is mum to two grown-up children. People have always told me I was funny and I loved to make them laugh, but becoming a full-time comedian was something I never dreamed I’d do. For years I worked in healthcare and hospitality while bringing up my two children, now 24 and 26. I still enjoyed getting people to laugh, though – Victoria Wood was my idol. So if I thought of a good joke or a funny anecdote, I’d jot it down in a notebook. Then, around eight years ago, I started thinking about doing stand-up. The idea was thrilling, but terrifying as well. I…

✿ Nurses must carry out pressure ulcer risk assessments on patients who are admitted to a hospital or care home. Community nurses can perform assessments at home after discharge, or if the patient becomes immobile, uses a wheelchair or is confined to bed. ✿ Keep skin well nourished. This can be achieved by not smoking, drinking plenty of fluids and eating a healthy diet containing plenty of vitamins, minerals and protein. (See nhs.uk.) ✿ When sitting or lying, change position regularly to take the pressure off specific areas – or immediately if there is any discomfort. In bed, you may need assistance or preventive equipment to be ‘turned’ every hour or two. Make sure damp or soiled pads, clothing or sheets are changed promptly. ✿ Skin checks should be carried…

Food should be nourishing, not just physically but for your soul. Mealtimes are that moment in your day when you slow down. It may look different to everyone – for some it’s putting on the radio and sitting quietly in the kitchen enjoying supper on your own. For others, it’s plonking everything in the middle of the table for everyone to dive into when they get home. Whatever it looks like, it’s a moment when the pace changes. I left school knowing I wanted to cook. I went to Leith’s Cookery School [now called Leiths School Of Food & Wine], back when Prue was still there, and it ignited my passion for food. I worked as a food writer, creating recipes, before setting up the food company Higgidy, in 2003…

MEASUREMENTS Large deer approximately 15.25cm/ 6in tall. Small deer approximately 12cm/4¾in tall. MATERIALS 1 x 100g (295m) ball of Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic) in each of Gold (1709), Camel (1420), Buttermilk (1835) and Cream (1005)*. Oddments of Black DK yarn. Pair of 2.75mm (No. 12) knitting needles; short length of contrast yarn to use as markers; large-headed pins for sewing up; toy stuffing; tweezers for filling small areas. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. ABBREVIATIONS St(s), stitch(es); k, knit; p, purl; ss, stocking st (k on right side and p on wrong side); k2tog, k 2 sts together (to decrease 1 st); up1, pick up loop lying between needles and k into back of it (to increase 1 st); ssk, slip 1 st, slip next st, k these 2 sts…

How old were you when you first started writing, and did your own childhood inspire your works? I’ve always loved writing stories, and still have a tatty notebook with one I wrote when I was just 9 about a family with problems. I’ve always striven to make my writing realistic, and present authentic characters. Which of your characters do you feel resonates the most with your audience? I have two favourites! Tracy Beaker is a lucky one for me. I admire her fun approach to life and her feistiness. I also love Hetty Feather. What’s your working week like as a writer? First thing in the morning, no matter what else I’m doing that day, I get up and write for at least an hour. What’s been your favourite book…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr This is a week to have some fun. Even if you’re busy, take time out to smell the roses. Taurus 21 Apr – 21 May Financially, your aspects are looking up. Focus on what you’re grateful for and everything else will fall into place. Gemini 22 May – 21 Jun Your social life is about to take off. If you want to meet new people, it’s the time to make the extra effort. Cancer 22 Jun – 23 Jul Your inner world is of prime importance. Taking peaceful time out now will recharge your energy stores and revitalise you. Leo 24 Jul – 23 Aug This is a good time to plan a trip or go on a spontaneous outing. Drop everything and give…

Ann Ellington, 83 Tell us about your look… My jacket is from Wallis. I think a faux-leather jacket is an easy, effortless way to keep things modern. I found my scarf on a market stall – I love the colours. My sweater is a bargain from Primark, my trousers are M&S and my boots are by Russell & Bromley. I’ve just bought this bag from Zara. I always find things in there. And the best bit of your body? My smile. Helen Lyon, 47 Tell us about your look… I’m super-busy with two kids and a graphic design business, so I do tend to shop online. I love double denim – a great shirt with jeans and boots is my go-to outfit. I’m in M.i.h jeans today, with a shirt…

...Watch Pinocchio A stint in the circus with a donkey, a huge whale and a fishy blues band are all part of the puppet’s adventures in a show full of acrobatics and magic (2-29 December). ✿ Visit thealbany.org.uk/shows/Pinocchio ...Explore RHS Garden Wisley Glow 2018 offers the chance to explore RHS Garden Wisley after dark and see some of its most iconic features spectacularly lit. The event, which is being reprised after its success last year, leads visitors on a twinkling trail around the Surrey garden. You’ll see larger-than-life botanical illuminations with some musical accompaniment. ✿ Visit rhs.org.uk/wisley ...Support Smile Train The children’s charity Smile Train is hosting its Christmas Carols Concert at London’s Grosvenor Chapel on 6 December. Proceeds will help children living with untreated cleft lip and palate in…

Elaine Paige turned 70 this year and, even after 54 years at the forefront of musical theatre, she has no plans to slow down. When we sit down to talk to Elaine, who originated the roles of Eva Perón in Evita and Grizabella in Cats , she opens up to us about loneliness in later life and how you can cope with it. She tells us, ‘If you lose your loved one or partner, you can find yourself at home alone, and I think it’s important to learn something new, to keep your mind alive, to keep active, to learn the piano for example, or learn a language. Meeting other people helps too. ‘If it’s worth seeing, listening or doing, then see,…

Where I’ve been... On a baking course! For four days, I kneaded, proved, and unravelled the mysteries of yeast. What I’ve seen... The miracle of sourdough. Over days, you make your own raising agent, called a ‘mother’, which can you use in your loaf and save a bit for the next one. Who I’ve met... Emmanuel Hadjiandreou, the genius who took the bread-making course. What I’ve bought... A grignette – a natty little tool for making lovely, clean cuts in dough. NEXT WEEK Helen Lederer…

Pressure ulcers, or bedsores, are caused by damage to skin and underlying tissues, and can develop alarmingly quickly. The NHS has prioritised them, as they can be very painful, dangerous and expensive, with cases costing an estimated £2 billion a year. But, although new cases have fallen by more than a third since 2010, there are still 110,000 new ones each year in hospital and many more in the community. How they develop Pressure ulcers can develop anywhere, especially over bony areas, such as hips, the bottom and heels. They start with reddish-purple skin discoloration, warmth, and discomfort, and may then blister, break the skin, become deeper or even reach muscle and bone. If not treated properly, they can rapidly expand to several inches across, become infected or trigger anaemia…

1 Avoid overload Being overweight and doing heavy work can quadruple the strain on knees, increasing pain and damage. Lose weight if need be, and ask about a change of duties. 2 Walk regularly Joints need regular exercise to maintain normal protection, and ease pain and stiffness. Walking poles can reduce the strain on knees and hips by 20% or more. 3 Practise exercises Strengthening muscles, tendons, ligaments and balance can help stabilise your knees. Seek advice from a physio or visit arthritisresearchuk.org  for information. 4 Use heat and ice A heat or ice pack, over-the-counter painkillers or rubbing gels can help (ask your pharmacist). Or ask your GP about stronger drugs or joint injections.…

CLASSY CONTAINERS 1 WHITE CHRISTMAS Dress up your doorstep for a ‘white’ Christmas with a large pot of white and cream flowers. Erica Springwood White, Helleborus niger Potter’s Wheel and the pale-yellow Hyacinth City Of Haarlem (pictured) will impress visitors. Limited space? Plant a small pot with white Miracle mini cyclamen. 2 WINTER BLOOMS White blooms look great in silver planters, especially when planted with ornamental kales or cabbages, dusty millers and trailing  variegated ivy. By April, Miracle acle cyclamen are looking tired and the leaves begin to yellow and die, so for late winter, change the cyclamen for pansies. If you want displays that peak in February and March, then plant Iris reticulata Natasha, which is just 15cm tall and has beautiful ivory white flowers, veined blue with a…

What should I keep out of reach? Q I’ve heard some plants are bad for pets – is there anything I should be particularly careful about around the house at Christmas? A The plant that’s a real danger to cats is lilies. All parts of the plant are very poisonous to cats and sadly are often fatal. If your cat eats part of a lily, comes into contact with the pollen, or even drinks the lily’s water, then phone your vet immediately. In general if you have a cat, it’s probably best not to have any lilies in the house. As for other plants, poinsettias are less dangerous than people sometimes think, but can still cause a mild stomach upset, so it’s worth keeping your cat or dog away from…

My little sister Deborah just happened to be passing the other day and thought she might drop in, an event that could not have been more suspicious if she had climbed over the back wall wearing a stocking mask and carrying a large bag marked ‘Swag’. It took two cups of coffee – proper stuff from a cafetière, my sister has no truck with instant – and four digestive biscuits before I managed to prise the reason for this visit from her reluctant lips. ‘What are you doing for Christmas?’ she asked. ‘Anything special?’ As it happens, we aren’t. All of the family are off doing their own thing this year, and it would be rather a treat to spend it at Deb’s place. Deb, as regular readers will know,…

QI want to store apples from my garden for using in packed lunches during the winter. What’s the best way to go about it? Teri Winstanley, via email A You need a dry, dark, frost-free place and clean trays – leave new, wooden trays outside first to absorb moisture, otherwise they’ll draw moisture from the fruit, causing it to shrivel. Pick the fruit just before it reaches maturity and when it easily separates from the spurs. Make sure apples are blemish-free and, ideally, have a stalk. Wrap fruits individually in tissue paper and arrange in single layers. Q I’d like to plant a forsythia hedge. How many plants will I need for a 3.6m run? Jo Cunningham, via email A Ideally, you should have 45cm intervals between plants to make…

Rosamond Ellis, 1957 Sent in by her daughter Jayne Hardy This is my mum and granddad on Mum’s wedding day. She wore a grey suit with a pale blue hat and blouse. Her smart, black court shoes completed the outfit. Her pearl earrings are in my jewellery box now, and I have worn them myself on many occasions. We’d love to see how great at you o looked looked d in n an any era era up p to to and and d including the 1980s. Please send a good-quality photo with your name, address and daytime phone number clearly written on the back, to: Fashion Dept, Woman’s Weekly, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. Photos will be returned.…

If you have a grubby mug with stubborn coffee stains, get them off with toothpaste. Just give it a good rinse before you next use it. Did you know you can use tinfoil as a scourer? Scrunch it into a ball and give pots and pans a scrub – it’s a great way to recycle food wrapping and save yourself money. Got a hole in tights or socks? Don’t throw them away – give them a wash and use them as a duster. This is a particularly good use of odd socks, which we always seem to end up with, despite careful sorting!…

Over 50 years since Irena De Voy’s parents bought her little sister Teresa home from the hospital, she can still remember the first time they met. ‘She looked so perfect, with these sweet, little blonde curls,’ says Irena. Teresa was the youngest of the three Newham girls – Kathy was the eldest daughter, Irena was in the middle – and like most babies of the family, Teresa quickly stole the limelight. Irena recalls one day at primary school when Teresa launched a lump of disgusting, grey mash at the school canteen ceiling, miraculously escaping the notice of the eagle-eyed dinner ladies. ‘Seeing that photo, I thought my heart might burst with pride ’ ‘We could barely stifle our laughter as Teresa triumphantly presented her clean plate and was let out…

High shine Master the art of distraction by wearing sequins, either on your top or bottom half, to deflect attention away from a fuller bust or wider hips. Team with a single-breasted blazer to nip in your waist and flatter your bust. All about the A-line This skirt shape is perfect for pears as it falls over the hips and thighs. The extra fabric calls for the top to be tucked in, which highlights a smaller waist. Detail, such as embroidery, draws the eye away from problem areas. Slimming suits Tailoring can streamline your silhouette if you choose bottoms that flatter your figure. Wide legs balance curvy hips, while a slim leg with heels can make you look taller. Lift a suit with accessories that add pops of colour. The…

Gorgonzola and polenta lasagne Although Gorgonzola isn’t vegetarian, this is a tasty meat-free version of the Italian classic. SERVES 8 ✿ 500g pack ready-made polenta, thinly sliced FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE: ✿ 3tbsp olive oil ✿ 750g (1½lb) ripe vine tomatoes, halved ✿ 6 garlic cloves, peeled ✿ 150g (5oz) kalamata olives, sliced ✿ 4tbsp chopped, fresh oregano ✿ 1tbsp sun-dried tomato paste FOR THE CHEESE SAUCE: ✿ 200g (7oz) pack baby-leaf spinach ✿ 250g tub ricotta cheese ✿ 100g (3½oz) toasted hazelnuts, chopped ✿ 200g (7oz) Gorgonzola YOU WILL NEED: ✿ 2ltr (3½pt) baking dish 1 Preheat the oven to 190C/ Gas 5. In a roasting tin, drizzle oil over tomatoes and season. Roast for 30 mins. Add garlic, olives and oregano and roast for 15 mins. Put into…

Drivers should be compelled to have regular eye tests, says a Welsh optical specialist. This follows the death of a man killed by a driver who’d ignored his optician’s advice to give up driving. We have to pass a sight test when we take our driving test, but after that it’s our personal responsibility to ensure we continue to meet legally laid-down eyesight standards, and to stop driving and inform the DVLA if not.…

Think about how you would act if a similar situation arose Q I was in a gift shop the other day and I saw a young woman with two small children picking up and putting down several items having looked at the price. She then picked up two items and put them in her bag, and walked out of the shop. I’ve been worrying ever since if I was part of the crime, as I didn’t report her. Name and address withheld A If you’re asking me about your legal obligation, you don’t have one as long as you’re not actively party to the crime. However, I think what you’re writing about is that you don’t feel you did the right thing. I wonder what held you back from reporting…

YOU WILL NEED ✿ 50cm x 60cm hessian fabric ✿ 50cm x 60cm neutral cotton fabric ✿ 22cm x 22cm red stripe fabric ✿ 1m cream ricrac ✿ Red felt ✿ Red twine ✿ Matching sewing thread ✿ Hot glue gun ✿ Cricut maker (optional) Time to make: 2 hours Stockists: Ticking stripe cotton canvas in Cherry, £10.99 per m; plain ivory cotton, £11.99 per m; ricrac trim in natural, 79p per m; luxury hessian fabric, £5.99 per m, A4 acrylic felt sheet in Cherry Red, 69p each, all minervacrafts.com. Cricut maker smart cutting machine, £379.99, amazon.co.uk. Note: Use 1.5cm seam allowances throughout. 1 Photocopy the template by 375%. Using the template, cut out two stocking shapes from the hessian and two from the ivory lining fabric. For the cuff,…

The Plus One by Sophia Money-Coutts (£12.99, HB, HQ) Journalist Polly feels disillusioned with the way her life is going. At 31, she’s single and working for Posh!, a society magazine in which double-barrelled surnames seem to dominate every page. Sent to interview the eligible, yet notoriously unfaithful Jasper Milton, Polly is prepared for many things, but not to fall for him. With best friend Lex’s wedding approaching, could Jasper be her plus one..? This had us snorting with laughter! The Coordinates of Loss by Amanda Prowse (£8.99, PB, Lake Union Publishing) Rachel Croft wakes up on her family’s boat in Bermuda to yet another glorious day. But then she diiscovers discovers her her 7-year-old son Oscar is missing. As she and her husband James deal with their grief, we…