Innholdsfortegnelse for 11-Dec-2018 i Woman's Weekly

In the 1980s, some friends and I formed a cabaret group, and we used to go into old peoples’ homes to perform for the residents, singing nostalgic songs from the era of WW1 to WW2, as well as reciting well-known monologues from the period. I was young and green then, so it was only when I started talking to them afterwards that I began to truly appreciate that our frail and sometimes poorly audiences were actually made up of people who had often led extraordinary or passionate lives, and who had gripping stories to tell. Reading the wonderful feature ‘Our Remarkable Lives’ on page 12 about three current care-home residents brought it all back. Comfort and joy Is there anything nicer than a home-made present – especially an edible one?…

YOU WILL NEED ✿ White air-drying clay, £3.75, Hobbycraft ✿ Alphabet stamps, £6, Hobbycraft ✿ Wrapping paper, £4 for three rolls, Ikea ✿ Twine, £2 for a set of three, Ikea ✿ Rolling pin ✿ Star and tree cutters ✿ Needle ✿ Black watercolour pencil ✿ Small paintbrush 3 ROLL OUT the clay to 3mm thickness. Using a star or tree cutter, cut out a couple of Christmas shapes – or copy our tag shape by cutting out a rectangle with a curved end. Create a hole in the top of the tags with a needle. 3 STAMP the recipient’s name or initial onto the tag and set aside to dry for at least 24 hours. 3 ONCE DRY, use a watercolour pencil to mark the outline of the stamped…

Tongue in cheek Box Of Favours is a gift box full of favour cards with a cheeky contract to sign. The concept is simple. You give someone special a Box Of Favours and when they give you back the card, you fulfil the favour. Think of it as a box of IOUs. amazon.co.uk , £9.99 Luxury hamper Cartwright & Butler has a selection of hampers that include chocolates, sweets, fudge, traditional mince pies and Christmas puddings. cartwrightandbutler.co.uk , from £38 Christmas tipple The countdown to Christmas Day will be merry, warming and aromatic with this Edinburgh Gin Advent Calendar of 25 mini 5cl gin bottles. Enjoy a variety of tastes including clean, fresh and spicy on-the-nose gin. johnlewis.com , £120…

When I was a young child – in a previous century – Christmas was the highlight of the year. I mean, who wouldn’t be excited at the prospect of unwrapping a shiny, new pogo stick, a trendy, gonk pyjama case or a blonde, curly wig and leather jerkin for dressing up in? It was a time of abundance, chocolate money and jolly grown-ups… Fast forward several decades, and I’m fretting about entertaining people for Christmas lunch – not to mention the state of my cupboards – from as early as October. It started with a rather unfortunate Christmas Eve supper party, when I was accused of poisoning my own family. Somehow my pre-cooked turkey had been left on top of the oven by someone (I have always protested my innocence),…

Dementia activity People living with dementia at home spend more time sitting, and less time being active, than people without the condition, according to international researchers It could be because they are less motivated or have fewer opportunities for physical activity. Helping them become more active could have significant health benefits, as sedentary lifestyles and lack of exercise both increase hazards and death rates for many conditions, including dementia. GENE CONTROL Our bodies may age because of inappropriate genetic activity, rather than being worn out by external forces, according to UK scientists. They say processes that are useful when we’re young can become harmful after their sell-by date; for example, extracting calcium from bones helps to fuel breast milk but can lead to osteoporosis in later life. Finding ways to…

Yoga helped to calm my cancer ANXIETY I was totally floored when I was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. I had the tumour removed, then eight months of chemo and radiotherapy. We had three girls under five but we managed. I didn’t react too badly to treatment and my life was filled by appointments and family. It was when the treatment ended that I became quite ill, mentally. I was consumed by the idea that my cancer would return and I wouldn’t see our daughters start school. My cancer was very aggressive so there was a high risk of it returning early. I started getting lots of physical pain – in my hips and chest – and I couldn’t breathe. My consultant told me I was in remission…

Don’t let the strain of Christmas take its toll, either in terms of your time and money or the future of our wonderful planet. Here’s how to minimise the damage and maximise the pleasure of the season. 1 Save time Making the most of Christmas Day isn’t easy for the cook, so do some prepping the day before. Parboil potatoes, peel veg, assemble the cauliflower cheese or other special sides, and set the table. You’ll be a few steps ahead for the big feast. 2 Save money Set up a separate email account for signing up to shopping websites. This way, you can make the most of all the discount vouchers and codes and ignore the spam mail. 3 Save the environment Recycle old cards as parcel tags, steer clear…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr It could be your lucky week. Trust your intuition and you’ll have some very pleasant surprises. Taurus 21 Apr – 21 May This is a good time for increasing home comforts. Cook a delicious meal, sort out your wardrobes, create a soothing environment. Gemini 22 May – 21 Jun Wheeling and dealing are under favourable aspects for you. If you’re buying or selling, you may get a fantastic deal. Cancer 22 Jun – 23 Jul The aspects are encouraging you to do something nice for yourself. You might even splash out on a luxury item. Leo 24 Jul – 23 Aug It promises to be a busy week, so you’ll need to remember to plan some down time. Remember, it’s OK to do nothing…

Back to his roots I had to chuckle when I glanced at the front cover of your 23 October issue. The picture of the lovely Alan Titchmarsh next to the line How to get thicker looking hair suggested there could be a gardening solution to this dilemma. I suppose Alan might recommend raking in a little compost or applying a good all-round fertiliser to the roots. And regular pruning would help, as would clipping the edges and a dusting of insecticide at the end of the growing season! I’m sure Mr T would see the funny side! Sue Bull, Syston Tip-top peppers To keep peppers fresh for longer, wash and slice them into quarters, dry and wrap each piece in kitchen paper and store in an airtight container in your…

Debbie Doyle, 60 Tell us about your look… My coat is from M&S – I love the colour. I’m often stopped and asked where I bought it. My scarf is Gap and my purple shirt is from White Stuff. My green trousers are Next and my blue suede boots are Clarks. I love being adventurous with colour and accessories, and I enjoy putting different looks together. And the best bit of your body? My hair. Sue O’Neill, 58 Tell us about your look… My jacket is by Boden. I love the cosy faux fur lining. It’s removable – making it very practical for when the seasons change. My pink cashmere cardi is from M&S and my red stripe jeans are by Tommy Hilfiger. I’ve got slim legs and struggle with…

...Book Beverley Knight The UK soul singer/songwriter is celebrating 25 years in music. To mark the occasion, she’s performing with a live orchestra at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Thursday, 23 May 2019. ✿ Tickets on sale now from ticketmaster.co.uk ...Watch Chicago Winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, the sassiest and most sophisticated Broadway musical in history is celebrating 22 years of standing ovations in style. The tale of murderess Roxie Hart, her cellblock rival Velma Kelly and smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn with classic songs Razzle Dazzle, and All That Jazz. ✿ Visit chicagothemusical.com/london ...Explore Croxteth Hall and Gardens A magical, illuminated adventure The Secret Winter Garden – awaits in the beautiful Victorian surroundings of Croxeth Hall and Gardens, from 13 to 22 December. Uncover…

‘I’m proud to have done my part’ Freda Terry, 93, trained as a meteorological assistant with the Women’s Air Auxiliary Force during WWII Despite growing up on a busy farm in Bushley, Worcestshire, Freda Terry was always encouraged to focus on her schoolwork and gained her school certificate at 17. An achievement that would stand her in good stead when she was conscripted to the war effort in 1942. ‘I had no idea what the work entailed’ ‘A role as a meteorological assistant came up at the Women’s Air Auxiliary Force,’ recalls Freda. ‘Although I had no idea what the work entailed the training was in London, and I wanted to get out and meet people.’ Her eight-week course with the Met Office began in March 1942, But navigating Blitz-ravaged…

Blue cheese and oatmeal biscuits Cheese lovers will welcome these glorious complements to their festive cheeseboards. MAKES 50-60 ✿ 75g (2½oz) rolled oats ✿ 200g (7oz) blue cheese ✿ 100g (3½oz) unsalted butter, softened ✿ 2tsp mustard powder ✿ 2 egg yolks ✿ 100g (3½oz) plain flour ✿ 50g (2oz) spelt, rye, or wholemeal flour 1 Preheat oven to 200C/Gas 6 and toast oats on a baking tray for 20 mins, or until just golden. Leave to cool. 2 Mash cheese, butter, mustard and egg yolks with 1tbsp cold water until smooth. Add oats, both flours and ½tsp fine salt, and work to a smooth dough. On baking paper, roll into a cylinder 5-6cm (2-2½in) in diameter. Wrap in the paper, twist the ends tightly and chill for at least…

A this time of year, it’s tempting to overdo the food and drink – we consume around 6,000 calories on Christmas Day alone! It can also be hard to stick to foods that suit us best when we’re away from home or working around other people’s needs. But easy measures can avoid or help unexpected discomfort, although if they don’t, if symptoms are severe/ persistent, or you take other medicines/have other medical conditions, you may need to seek medical advice – call 111 when the surgery is closed or you’re away from home. Indigestion and heartburn Eating or drinking too much causes stomach distension, and can force open the valve that closes the bottom of the oesophagus (gullet). Food and stomach acid can then reflux back up to the throat;…

I’m still grieving for my late mother Q My mother died two years ago and I thought I’d be all right this Christmas. Time is meant to heal, but it doesn’t feel like that. I’ve been all right, but Christmas brings it all back and I find myself crying in the shops and when I’m wrapping presents. My husband thinks I’m being pathetic and should be focusing on my family. Leila, Nuneaton A I‘m sorry you’re finding this so hard. Your behaviour is certainly not pathetic – it’s understandable because, first, it’s only two years on and, second, times like Christmas reawaken our sense of loss. This is a very common phenomenon known as chronic grief. It’s when feelings are triggered by something in the present and we feel just…

MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 81-87 (91-97) (102-112) cm/32-34 (36-38) (40-44) in. Actual chest measurements 112 (124) (136) cm/44 (49) (53½) in. Side seam 26 (27.5) (29) cm/10¼ (11) (11½) in. Length to shoulder 46 (49) (52) cm/18¼ (19½) (20½) in. Sleeve seam All sizes 43cm/17in. MATERIALS 1 x 100g (80m) hank of Erika Knight Maxi Wool (100% wool) in each of Teal (Mallard 205), Mustard (Artisan 206), Lilac (Wisteria 215), Black (Pitch 203), Blue (Classic 209), Lilac (Pretty 212) and Pale Blue (Iced Gem 216)*. Pair of 10mm (No. 000) knitting needles; 4 stitch holders; two 50cm lengths of 4cm wide black velvet ribbon. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 10 sts and 13 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over stocking stitch, using 10mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS St(s), stitch(es); k, knit;…

A Gift from the Comfort Food Café by Debbie Johnson, (£7.99, PB, HarperCollins) Just like one of the many delicious treats from the eponymous café, you’ll devour this book in one go. The latest in the popular series focuses on single mum Katie and her son Saul. Since childhood, Christmas has never been Katie’s favourite time of year, but finding solace in the village of Budbury has offered her hope. Then a gorgeous newcomer arrives. Is the future looking brighter? So you Think you Know It All? by Cris Warren (£7.99 PB, HarperCollins) Did you know that Hitler wanted to change the rules of cricket, or that a 61-year-old once stole a £1m portrait from the National Gallery in protest at his TV licence? These are just two true stories…

‘Well,’ said Mrs Beasley, the manager of our charity shop. ‘This is nice.’ You can always tell when a social event isn’t really going with a swing. Somebody will always look around at the gloomy, dissatisfied faces, at the people glancing slyly at their watches, and say, ‘This is nice.’ The occasion that is not going with a swing is the Annual Charity Shop Christmas Dinner, which is in one of those places that used to be a rather seedy pub but which now pretends to be a popular family restaurant. Everybody else, to be fair, seems to be having a ball, which of course makes our own rather downbeat affair even more annoying. ‘We should have party hats,’ says Mr Dear, who was invited along in the interests of…

Jean Andrews 1946, sent in by her daughter Helen Whitaker This photo is of my mother and me. It was taken at the Cooroy Agricultural Show in Australia. My mother’s pale blue cotton dress was made by her mother Anna Mowat. The stylish navy hat and my beret set off our outfits! We’d love to see how great you looked in any era up to and 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.…

1 HAVE A HUG It doesn’t even have to be with another person. Cuddling a pet works too. Recent research has also shown that it can help calm you after an argument. 2 DO A GOOD DEED It could be as simple as sponsoring someone who’s running for charity if you don’t want to sign up for the run yourself. The more good deeds you do, the more you’ll benefit. 3 LEARN a language, a musical instrument, a new word or a place on the map. 4 Read a book 5 Have a massage 6 SING Do it with others and you’ll boost the benefits even further. 7 TALK TO A FRIEND Face-to-face is best but phone, FaceTime or text can…

After meeting care home residents in 2015, the chief executive of the Lilian Faithfull charity Martin Hughes was so astounded by their achievements that he knew he had to get their stories heard. So began the ‘Remarkable Lives’ project. The aim was to change perceptions of older people in care homes. Since then, the project has unveiled accounts of Churchill’s former secretary, and a worker at Bletchley Park. In August 2018, the project released a book, Celebrating Remarkable Lives , detailing the histories of Donald, Freda and Mary. ✿ For more information, visit Faithfull Care Homes at lilianfaithfull.co.uk.-…

1 Eat smart  Avoid spicy, salty and/or crispy foods and hot/acidic drinks. Rinse often with a glass of warm water containing half a teaspoon of salt and use a softer toothbrush. 2 Medicate  Ask your pharmacist about glycerine lozenges, chlorhexidine mouthwashes, and protective coating pastes; big, infected ulcers may need antibiotics. 3 Identify triggers Common ones include stress, being rundown, sharp teeth/ dentures, sodium lauryl sulphate in toothpaste, food allergies, and certain medicines. 4 See your doctor If an ulcer, lump or red/white rough patch lasts more than three weeks or keeps recurring, your GP may need to exclude cancer, skin diseases or vitamin deficiency.…

We should heat various rooms in our homes to different temperatures, says the Government. Living room and bathrooms need to be kept at 21C to feel cosy. Kitchens can be 20C and bedrooms 18C, as a cooler room leads to better sleep. Aldi Easy Home Heated Throw, £34.99 Snuggle under this supersoft throw. Its overheat protection and auto-off function mean you needn’t worry if you drift off with it on. Tuck it under your duvet to warm your mattress on chilly nights. Top marks! Argos Home 11.5m Heated Electric Indoor Clothes Airer, £40 Winter weather puts paid to line-drying, so this electric, heated airer is ideal. Small items dry in minutes, and the extra heat helps warm a room. Robert Dyas 1200W Halogen Heater, £19.99 With approximately 8,000 hours of…

The story Set in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi, this is the story of African-American maids working in white households, told through three women – Aibileen, a middle-aged maid who recently lost her son; Minny, a sassy maid with a sharp tongue, and Skeeter, the daughter of the white family they serve. Returning from university, Skeeter is curious about the disappearance of her beloved maid Constantine, who brought her up. In seeking the truth, she discovers what it’s really like to be a black servant in the Deep South. The three women start a movement that will put them all at risk – but they have a story to tell, and tell it they must… Our verdict This emotional tale, set in segregated Mississippi, is, by turns, savagely humorous, uplifting and optimistic.…