Innholdsfortegnelse for 22-Jan-2019 i Woman's Weekly

One of the advantages of having a dyslexic but enquiring child is you end up reading a lot of children’s books (out loud) that you might not otherwise have come across. That’s why I now love the Harry Potter novels, and it’s always seemed sad to me that a few in the Christian community condemn them, because you couldn’t find a storyline that better celebrates kindness, decency and family values – after all, Harry (spoiler alert) only cheats death through the astonishing power of his mother’s love. But I hadn’t realised how much inspiration author JK Rowling found for the books in the alleys and monuments of Edinburgh. Find out more on page 42. Sad but uplifting How I admire Olive Munro, facing dementia in such a brave and extraordinary…

✿ VARIEGATED EVERGREEN SHRUBS like eleagnus can be taken over by vigorous, all-green shoots, which should be traced back to their point of origin and pruned out. ✿ ANY STORED GLADIOLI CORMS and dahlia tubers should be checked over for any signs of rotting or damage by mice. Before planting mail order bare-root trees and shrubs, prune off any roots that are damaged using a sharp pair of secateurs. Soak the roots in water for an hour or so if they’re dry when you unpack them. ✿ SOW BEDDING GERANIUMS 13mm deep in pots of seed compost and place in a well-lit position at a minimum temperature of 18C. After the seeds sprout, prick them out into 9cm pots and grow them on. Wait until the last frost before planting…

...Book Victoria Northern Ballet is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria with a ballet telling her story through the eyes of her youngest child, Beatrice. The ballet will have its world premiere in Leeds on 9 March before touring to seven locations around the UK until June. ✿ Book now at northernballet.com/victoria ...Watch Mary Queen of Scots Based on royal cousins Mary and Elizabeth, whose bond quickly became a rivalry, the film follows their turbulent lives. Stars Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie. ✿ In cinemas 18 January ...Explore London Art Fair Whether you’re an art connoisseur or just curious, this fair – running from 16 to 20 January – has something for everyone all under one roof. ✿ Visit londonartfair.co.uk for more information Important! All contributions to…

For Fay Ripley, filming the new series of ITV’s Cold Feet was one of the most challenging times she’s had to face. While her character in the popular comedy-drama, Jenny Gifford, was having tests to check for breast cancer, behind the scenes, the actress was dealing with her own private grief as her father sadly passed away. ‘It’s been a difficult year. Unfortunately my father died while I was filming Cold Feet . So I spent my time as Jenny filming in a hospital, and then travelling to hospital to visit him,’ she says. ‘He was at the other end of the country, and I was filming up North. But everybody in the cast was so supportive. There was a lot of: “Let’s get Fay’s scene…

Prawn coconut noodles This dish is packed with protein and takes no time at all to put together. SERVES: 4 FOR THE MASTER STOCK: ✿1.5ltr (2½pt) stock (we used chicken) ✿ 2 stalks of lemongrass, bruised ✿ 2 large red chillies, chopped ✿ 2 garlic cloves, sliced ✿ 4 lime leaves, lightly crushed ✿ Large knob of fresh ginger (10cm), peeled and sliced FOR THE PRAWN SOUP: ✿ 200g (7oz) sugar snap peas ✿ 200g (7oz) asparagus tips,sliced ✿ ½ ripe pineapple, chopped ✿ 250g (9oz) raw prawns ✿ 300g (10oz) straight-to-wok udon noodles ✿ Zest and juice of 1 lime ✿ 1tbsp soy sauce ✿ 2tsp Thai fish sauce ✿ 2tbsp chopped fresh coriander 1 To make the master stock, put all the stock ingredients into a pan. Bring…

✿ For viral infections, get plenty of rest, and drink extra fluids. ✿ Soothe coughs with warm honey and lemon drinks (see nhs.uk/conditions/cough). ✿ Ease a blocked nose and cough by inhaling steam from a bowl of boiled water (take care!) with a towel over your head. ✿ Ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter remedies, mentioning any current medication you’re taking. ✿ Seek urgent medical advice if you’re breathless, coughing up blood, have chest pain or feel faint or confused.…

I’ve been a library assistant all my working life and, while working with the public is very rewarding, it exposes you to a lot of bugs and colds. I used to feel run-down and generally under the weather. I also found that I regularly had styes in my eyes, which were sore and uncomfortable. I suspected my immune system may not be as strong as it could be. So when I discovered, during a routine cervical smear, that the HPV virus had been present in my body for three years running, and that I needed treatment, I decided to do something to try and boost my immunity. My pharmacist suggested I try bee propolis – apparently it’s a great natural immune booster. So I started taking a supplement called Unbeelievable…

Although it’s still chilly outside, there’s plenty to look forward to as we move closer to spring – and bulbs can always be relied on to create a heart-lifting splash of colour. Sensational snowdrops Honey-scented snowdrops create jaw-dropping displays on crisp winter days, and look beautiful teamed with violas and aconites, which have golden petals surrounded by a frilly collar of green leaves. When planted en masse, snowdrops really pack a punch when breaking through frosted leaf litter or snow under trees and shrubs. Snowdrops are excellent for naturalising in the lawn, but they’ll also grow happily in patio pots, producing flowers that will dance on even the coldest of breezes. While you can plant snowdrops as bulbs in autumn, it’s best to wait until after they’ve finished flowering and…

MEASUREMENTS To fit a small to medium-size dog. MATERIALS 1 x 400g (840m) ball of Hayfield Bonus Aran (80% acrylic, 20% wool) in Green Heather (934)*. Pair of 4.5mm (No. 7) & 5mm (No. 6) knitting needles; a cable needle; stitch holders. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 18 stitches and 24 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over stocking stitch, using 5mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; st(s), stitch(es); dec, decrease (by taking 2 sts together); up1, pick up loop lying between needles and work into back of it; c4f, cable 4 front (slip next 2 sts on to a cable needle and leave at front, k2, then k2 from cable needle); c6f, cable 6 front (slip next 3 sts on to a cable needle and leave at front,…

Between the Lies by Michelle Adams (£8.99, PB, Headline) Michelle Adams’ novel asks us to imagine what it might be like if you lost your memory altogether. When Chloe Daniels has a horrible accident, she can’t even remember her own name. So, when she is released to her family who she doesn’t recognise, she finds it hard to know what to believe, especially when she suspects they may be keeping secrets from her. This is an unsettling, dark drama with some hard-hitting revelations. When All Is Said by Anne Griffin (£12.99, HB, Sceptre) It is the twilight of an 84-year-old man’s life, and as he takes his place at a hotel bar in a small town he toasts the five people who have made an impact on him. Although he…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr This is a great week for pursuing career goals. If you have a new business idea, launch it now. Taurus 21 Apr – 21 May A significant change may be needed in a relationship. Be prepared to let go. Gemini 22 May – 21 Jun It’s the right moment for doing some research and getting to the bottom of something. You may make a valuable discovery. Cancer 22 Jun – 23 Jul Relationships are in the spotlight for you. Someone new may come into your life. It could be romantic or business. Leo 24 Jul – 23 Aug See if you can reach a compromise with someone. Don’t dig your heels in, and know that a creative solution is at hand. Virgo24 Aug –…

Andrea Simon, 30 Tell us about your look… I’m wearing Zara from top to toe! I rarely shop anywhere else. I love all the latest shades of brown and tan and I’m layering them for a tonal look that’s quite classy! I’m also into animal prints – I really love this snakeskin print shirtdress. I’ve layered it over a thin polo neck to keep me warm. And the best bit of your body? My slim ankles! Beverley Kemp, 55 Tell us about your look… My mustard coat is a recent buy from New Look. I really like the colour and it makes a nice change from black. My jumper is also New Look. My floral-print skirt is Topshop. I bought it in the summer sale but it looks good with…

Will I make real friends again? QI’ve moved cities as my husband wasn’t able to get work where we lived and has been offered a good job here. I’ve joined some clubs and met a few people but I’ve not made any ‘real’ friends. Someone told me that we never make friends again like the ones we had when we were young. I don’t want to be hankering after my old friends and feeling lonely. Cherie, Taunton A Your friend’s comment has some validity as the people we met years ago will know us differently from the ones we meet now. But that doesn’t mean they’re better nor that we can’t meet people at any age who can become really close friends. You’ll find that new friends will have had…

Cut out pieces 1 From the Dresden blades fabrics, cut 81 blades by drawing around the template. 2 From the Dresden centres fabric, cut nine quarter-circles by drawing around the template. 3 Construct your own outer circle template from a piece of paper 16½ x 16½in. From one corner, using a compass, mark a quarter-circle with a radius of 11in. Cut out and discard the inner quarter-circle so you're left with an outer circle template. Cut out nine outer circles from the grey background fabric. Make the blocks 4 With RSF, machine stitch nine blades together per quarter. Press seams open and sew the inner circle by matching the centres and pinning RSF. Press the seams to the outside and trim down the straight edges to a perfect 90-degree angle…

Refresh your PENSION The Department of Work and Pensions’ tips to help you boost your retirement 1 Check what you can expect to get The amount of new state pension you will receive depends on your National Insurance record. So you need to check what you’ll get. Anyone of working age can request a state pension statement at gov.uk/check-state-pension. Find out if you’re eligible for National Insurance credits. These can be available to people who are out of work for a taking time out to raise a child aged under 12 and can count towards their state pension entitlement. 2 Add some more National Insurance contributions If you have gaps in your National Insurance contributions record, there are times when you might benefit from filling them with voluntary contributions. You…

Uplifting songs The soundtrack to Mary Poppins Returns , sequel to the Disney classic, features performances by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep. ✿ £10.99, amazon.co.uk Classy cuppa Whether you go for a flat white or hot chocolate with extra cream, drink in style with this decorative mug. ✿ £12.50, whitestuff.co.uk Custom gifts If you’re on the look out for a birthday, wedding or anniversary gift, you can choose from a vast array of gorgeous hampers. ✿ Prices start from £25, buildmygift.com…

Time to ’fess up. I have never owned more than three pairs of shoes at any time. I can only gawp at those telly ads where women display walk-in wardrobes, complete with row upon row of shoes. (Wouldn’t that whiff a bit, though? Just asking.) I never planned it thus. I just don’t have room for excess footwear and my lifestyle means I only require the following: trainers for all-purpose walking, boots for dodging winter puddles, and dressy heels for popping to the beach with Victoria Beckham – who was recently pictured by the sea in red stilettos. I also do a bit of seasonal rotation, replacing trainers with deck shoes in the summer. I learnt my lesson a few summers ago, attending a wedding in my heels. Imagine the…

Chatter and laughter shattered the silence of a normally quiet Saturday morning. Emily glanced up from her book. Hesitantly, she stood up, carefully placed another log on the fire and stepped towards the frosted window. Outside, she saw children attempting to build a rather rotund snowman, but they’d got distracted by a snowball fight. They tumbled around in the snow, squealing and laughing, and Emily couldn’t help chuckling at their antics. Could now be the time? She just wanted to try… At one point, a little boy with very rosy cheeks accidentally kicked the half-made snowman, and its head fell to the ground with a thud. The small carrot they’d found for a nose got unceremoniously trampled, and the black buttons they’d used for eyes got lost in the flurry…

Pneumonia means inflammation of our lung cells (alveoli). Their walls become swollen with fluid that makes it harder for oxygen and carbon dioxide to exchange in the bloodstream. Around 1% of us get community acquired pneumonia (CAP) each year – 100,000 people are admitted to hospital in England alone. This is only a tiny proportion of the millions of us who get coughs, colds or bronchitis. Usually self-treatable (see Ways to ease a new cough , right), they occasionally require antibiotics. Causes and risks Most pneumonias are caused by inhaled bacteria. Some are due to ‘flu, other viruses or rarer infections such as legionnaire’s disease. We’re more likely to develop CAP if we’re older, frail, smoke or drink heavily, already have diabetes or existing cardiovascular, lung or…

1 Avoid gulping Eating too quickly, mouth or teeth problems, chewing gum, having fizzy drinks and anxiety can all make us gulp air that temporarily distends the tummy. 2 Identify triggers Eating certain foods, including sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, onions, garlic, gluten (in bread, pasta or grains) and dairy foods can result in bloating. 3 Plan ahead Decide what you’re going to eat and how much – and regulate your portion sizes so you can’t continue to eat so much that you end up over-full. 4 See your doctor If bloating is new, painful, frequent, persistent or linked to weight loss or a change in bowel habits, urination or periods, make a GP appointment.…

YOU WILL NEED ✿ 2yds orange fabrics for Dresden blades ✿ 1 strip 4in x WOF of grey fabric for Dresden centres ✿ 1½yds background fabric in grey shades ✿ 55 x 55in backing fabric ✿ 55 x 55in wadding Finished size: Approx 45 x 45in ✿ ½yd grey binding fabric ✿ Rotary cutter ✿ Cutting mat ✿ Compass ✿ Quilter’s ruler ✿ Hand-sewing needle ✿ Matching sewing thread Notes and abbreviations: WOF: Width of fabric. RSF: Right sides facing. Seam allowances are ¼in unless otherwise stated. Press all fabrics well before cutting and press seams open, unless otherwise instructed.…

Q I’ve got several pensions from different jobs, plus a number of investments I’ve made over the years, and with retirement on the horizon, I would like an expert to look over all of them for me. How much would that cost me? A Consumer journalist Frances Quinn says: On average, independent financial advisors charge around £150 an hour, and retirement advice can run into hundreds or even thousands of pounds – but if it’s good advice, it can save you as much as it costs. A good first step would be to take the free pension check offered by the IFA organisation Unbiased, a 30-minute session with a local IFA, looking at what your retirement income is likely to be, and whether there are ways that you can improve…

If you’ve thought about joining a book club, why not join one with a difference? Charity Shelterbox will send you stories from around the world. All profits go towards disaster-hit families. How does it work? As a member, you can vote on a book from three titles. When you receive the winning one, you can join in the discussion online. Celebrities have been showing their support by recalling the books that changed their lives. Dame Judi Dench said, ‘I remember having tonsillitis very badly as a child and my brothers had the entire set of Richmal Crompton Just William books. I laughed so much, which was not too good for the tonsils, but they made me an avid reader.’ For more information on how you can join the Shelterbox reading…

Primary school teacher Fran’s husband Nick has become remote and uncommunicative, but she suddenly has far bigger concerns when her mother Marianne goes missing. Usually so practical and reliable, this is completely out of character for Marianne and, after discovering that her mother has set out on a mysterious journey to Devon, Fran resolves to get to the bottom of things once and for all by following her down there. However, before she has a chance to set off, Fran’s world is shaken once again when she discovers Nick hasn’t worked at his office for several months. It’s clear he’s been lying to her – and, with a pregnancy test result showing positive, Fran struggles to feel optimistic about their future together. The story continues……

As a special treat, you join me this week in the master bedroom at Dear Towers. It is dark, the bed is occupied but there is really no need to avert your eyes because we Dears are respectable folk. The bedside lights are off, but there is a vague glow from the other side of the bed, where Mr D is reading his Kindle. He is a recent convert to the Kindle, having discovered that he can download old detective novels for 99p. His latest mystery involves a policeman called Inspector Knollis, who is hot on the heels of a murderer who strangled a doctor in his surgery with a piece of washing line. I’m lying awake, staring at the ceiling and thinking about something my sister mentioned on our…