Innholdsfortegnelse for 02-Apr-2019 i Woman's Weekly

When I was a teenager, I found a dusty old Victorian wall clock in our loft, which turned out to have been rescued by my father from an office. I cleaned it up, got it working again and it now hangs on our wall. Like my lovely dad, it’s still going and it gives him great pleasure to see it – that wartime generation never liked throwing good things away. But there’s something special about a ticking clock – homely and hypnotic. My grown-up children argue good-naturedly over who’ll get our much-loved timepiece when we’re gone, so I can understand why Christine Mowbray wanted so much to rescue the grandfather clock she remembered from childhood – read more on page 28. Group Lifestyle Director geoffrey.palmer@ti-media.com Spring in your step…

Alison Ritchie, 47 Tell us about your look… I love to shop at a chic local boutique called Feather & Stitch. My bright orange coat is from there, along with my ‘lightning bolt’ design sweater worn underneath. I love bright reds and oranges, but my default colour is navy. My jeans are Paige, my ankle boots are Keith Scarrott and my scarf is Accessorize. My khaki leather bag was a sale bargain from Jigsaw. I don’t think anyone else wanted it! And the best bit of your body? My legs. Nicky Bell, 64 Tell us about your look… I bought my jacket at a craft fair. It’s nicely fitted in a soft boiled wool. I prefer fitted rather than loose or baggy. My jeans are Debenhams, which I find are…

Mix your favourite fabric softener with warm water to clean up woodwork. It’s a gentle mix and won’t affect your paintwork. Rubber gloves come in handy when tackling pet hairs around the home. Just pop them on and rub across fabric – any hairs will stick to them naturally. Use bicarbonate of soda to deodorise your mattress. Simply sprinkle all over and leave for up to eight hours. Then vacuum up the excess and your mattress is as good as new.…

She may be 72, but retirement isn’t on the cards any time soon for actress Hayley Mills, as she explains, ‘When one is working, that imposes discipline – so that means it’s not dependent on my wavering will power.’ Having just starred in BBC1 drama, Pitching In, it’s clear she hasn’t lost any passion for the job. ‘I’m still not that person who is happy to strip off’ ‘The show is set in a caravan park in North Wales which has seen better days,’ she reveals. And Hayley’s character, Iona, has a soft spot for the park owner, played by Gavin & Stacey’s Larry Lamb. But while Hayley may be spoken for off screen – she’s been with writer Firdous Bamji for 21 years – she is full of praise…

Have your feet been hidden away in socks all winter? Time to get them ready for their big reveal. SOAK THEM When it comes to good-looking feet, it’s all in the prep. What better way to start the process than with a relaxing home foot spa? Just add half a cup of Epsom salts to a bowl of warm water or your bath water, for maximum relaxation, then soak for 10-15 minutes. The benefits of Epsom salts are endless, from removing toxins to zapping foot odour. Westlab Alchemy Recover Epsom Salts with White Willow & Eucalyptus, £6.99, have been blended to soothe everyday aches and pains. EXFOLIATE For the smoothest of soles, post-foot soak, remove hard, dry skin. The Body Shop Peppermint Reviving Pumice Foot Scrub, £7.50, is our favourite,…

✿ Do not smoke. Visit nhs.uk/smokefree or call Smokefree National Helpline on 0300 123 1044. ✿ Monitor your symptoms and know what to do if you have a flare-up. For example a ‘rescue pack’ of antibiotics and steroids on standby at home. ✿ Avoid work/home chemicals (cleaning products, air fresheners). Stay home with closed windows when it’s cold, or air pollution/ pollen levels are high. ✿ Eat a balanced diet for a healthy weight – it reduces strain on the lungs. ✿ Get immunised against pneumococcus and have an annual flu jab. ✿ Advise your children to be tested if you have A1AD. ✿ For more information, visit blf.co.uk or call the British Lung Foundation helpline on 03000 030 555.…

Gill, a personal wellbeing expert and author of The Positive Thinking Pocketbook (Capstone, £8.99), tells how she boosts her health and wellbeing My go-to reMedy Sleep – everything is better after a good sleep! My favourite Meal I don’t have one favourite meal – but I love Italian food. It’s fresh, simple, colourful, imaginative and interesting. How i liKe to Keep fit and HealtHy When it comes to exercise, I love to go walking or for a good hike. At meal times, I choose to keep to small portions. I have a couple of French friends and a few years ago I noticed that when out for a meal with them, they never say no to anything – they eat everything, but less of it! My…

1 Prolific mallow Hardy annuals like the mallow (Malope trifida) are easy and cheap to grow – you don’t need special equipment or know-how. Poor soil is best, as this encourages plenty of flowers rather than lots of leaves. Scatter seed in rows in a sunny spot, and thin seedlings to let the plants develop. 2 Cheerful marigolds Pot marigolds or calendulas, which come in apricot, orange and yellow, are quick to bloom. One of the best is Calendula ‘Indian Prince’, which is deep orange with crimson buds and backs of petals. They take just eight weeks to flower from a spring sowing. Sow in autumn and they'll be in ready to pick by early May. 3 Glorious cornflowers Cornflowers…

Hello, there. Are you alright?’ The jumping-out-of-skin cliché does not begin to describe my reaction. ‘Sorry – I didn’t mean to startle you.’ She’s short and despite a broad hat, her conker-coloured face speaks of days spent outdoors. ‘We don’t get many visitors here in the herb garden. Nowadays they all go up to the house to see the dig.’ ‘Yes – I – just wanted to be on my own,’ I say, immediately wishing I’d put it less personally. ‘Ah.’ It’s a knowing ‘ah’, but she doesn’t pursue it; I’m grateful. ‘I didn’t know this was a herb garden.’ ‘It used to be.’ Her tone is wistful. ‘Neglected since my husband died but I try to keep it in order.’ ‘You’re a gardener, then?’ She nodded. ‘I’m Audrey.’ ‘Hannah,’…

MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 81 (86) (91) (97) (102-107) cm/32 (34) (36) (38) (40-42) in. Actual measurements 89 (95) (102) (107.5) (113.5) cm/35 (37¼) (40) (42¼) (44¾) in. Side seam All sizes 43cm/17in. Length to shoulder 61 (63) (64) (65.5) (67) cm/24 (24¾) (25¼) (25¾) (26¼) in. Sleeve seam All sizes 45cm/17¾ in. MATERIALS 12 (13) (14) (15) (17) 50g (104m) balls of King Cole Merino Blend DK (100% merino wool) in Cinnamon (3298)*. Pair of 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; 2 cable needles; one button. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 26 stitches and 32 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over rib slightly stretched, using 4mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; st, stitch; tog, together; sl, slip; dec, decrease (by working 2 sts tog); inc, increase (by working…

Cousin love My two amazing grandchildren, Nylah and Arlo, are cousins born last March, exactly a week apart. The joy they are bringing has me lost for words! Vicky Turner, Wiltshire Emotional goodbyes The short story, Postcards from Granny, in 5 February issue brought back memories for myself and my husband. Three years ago my daughter, her husband and my two beautiful grandchildren went to Australia. My son-in-law had been offered a four-year contract. We went through all the same emotions, had a final dinner all together. We also decided against an airport goodbye! All being well they will be home this time next year. Thank you for a lovely story, although it did make us cry! Susan Garvey, Southampton Time to declutter I enjoyed Rosie’s column ‘Spring Cleaning’. I…

Box-set bliss Set in the 1960s, the show follows Endeavour Morse in his early years as a police constable. Working alongside his senior partner DI Fred Thursday ✿ Amazon.co.uk, from £19.99 Tote-ally fabulous Proudly hand-sewn and printed in the UK, these totes are a fashion must-have! ✿ ltmuseumshop.co.uk, £14.99 each Proud Mary Currently a hit at the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End, the cast of Tina have recorded the songs for you to enjoy at home. ✿ tinathemusical.com, £12.99…

There’s a buzz of excitement in the air as we await the birth of a royal baby to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. He or she will be our 92-year-old Queen’s eighth great-grandchild and a very welcome addition to the royal clan. By 2024, 18 million people in the UK will be over 60, which means we are seeing a rise in multi-generational families, with more and more great-grandmas at the helm. One such is Gladys McDonagh, 80, from Leamington Spa. She’s been married to Frank for 62 years and is a mum to four children, grandma to eight and great-grandma to 11. Great-grandmother Gladys ‘Little did I imagine getting a telegram from the Queen!’ I’m lucky to have my family living nearby and it’s wonderful having so many…

Jay Blades, 48, is The Repair Shop’s general foreman, a professional furniture restorer and upcycler. It was a video of Jay at work, teaching disadvantaged young people how to restore and revamp old furniture, that went viral and brought him to the attention of The Repair Shop’s producers. ‘I loved the format of the show, and how it wasn’t based on competition, humiliation or money,’ says Jay. ‘It’s about old things that are dear to people’s hearts.’ Cast alongside a team of Britain’s finest crafts people, Jay spent weeks filming at the Weald & Downland Living Museum in West Sussex, where The Repair Shop is based (it isn’t a real shop). People came with cherished heirlooms, including clocks,…

1 eat berries women who eat high amounts of blueberries and strawberries are 34% less likely to have a heart attack. 2 ditch the salt too much can cause high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart problems. we have around 9g a day, instead of the recommended 6g. Use herbs and spices to flavour food instead. 3 go for a walk Sitting for more than eight hours a day raises your risk of dying early from heart and artery disease. But an hour’s physical activity, such as a brisk walk, is enough to reverse the effects.…

YOU WILL NEED ✿ 50cm of 140cm wide 35-count linen fabric in Pale Rose ✿1 skein of Anchor stranded cotton embroidery thread in 254 Lime Green, 240 Mid Green, 264 Light Green, 140 Mid Blue, 160 Light Blue, 36 Mid Pink, 10 Light Pink ✿ Size 28 tapestry needle ✿ Matching sewing thread ✿ 40cm square cushion pad Finished size: 40 x 40cm Time to make: 8 hours COLOUR KEY 254 Lime Green 240 Mid Green 264 Light Green 140 Mid Blue 160 Light Blue 36 Mid Pink 10 Light Pink Embroidering cross-stitch Each cross-stitch is taken over four threads of the fabric, using three strands of embroidery thread in the needle. Each square on the chart represents 4 x 4 threads of the fabric. Bring the needle to the…

Gourmet GadGetry CHoColate Fountain, £32.99, lakeland Ideal for children’s parties and adults alike, plug in to heat chocolate to the perfect melted temperature. Get dipping with fruit or indulgent marshmallows. Boska CHoCo CHoColate Fondue marie, £25, John lewis & Partners There’ll be no need to rush out to find a dessert for your dinner party with this easy-to-use fondue set. A great conversation starter and who doesn’t like chocolate? VelVetiser, £99.99, Hotel Chocolat If it’s the ultimate hot chocolate in 2½ minutes you’re after, look no further! This beautiful gadget made by Dualit gives you just that. Easy to clean in seconds and the results are dreamy.…

The Binding by Bridget Collins (£12.99, HB, HarperCollins) They say never judge a book by its cover, but we can honestly say this is a novel that’s as beautiful inside as out. Collins’ prose pulls you into the magical world of Emmett Farmer, whose apprenticeship with a bookbinder sees him capturing and erasing memories in the pages of the books he makes. A story that asks you to imagine what it would be like if you could erase your grief, it’s a sensational debut. Run Away by Harlan Coben (£20, HB, Cornerstone) Simon Greene’s daughter is in desperate need of help. Hooked on drugs from an abusive boyfriend, every attempt at help fails. When she flees again, Simon is forced to enter the shadowy world she calls home to try…

✿ PLANT ASIATIC AND ORIENTAL LILIES in pots to have a ready supply of flowering plants to fill summer containers and gaps in the flowerbeds. Pot the bulbs so that they have at least 7cm of compost beneath them and 10-15cm above. ✿ GROW BORAGE on light, well-draining soil in a sunny spot. Sprout the seed on a windowsill indoors and as soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, plant them outside. Use the flowers to garnish summer drinks and salads. ✿ TO MAKE LAWNS MORE DURABLE for heavy foot traffic or extra parking in the front garden, lay ribbons of grass in-between paving slabs. Set the slabs so they sit slight lower than the level of the turf so that the mower will glide across with ease.…

✿ Vitamin A – A key ingredient for helping protect the retina and cornea. Try: kale and carrots ✿ Antioxidants – They protect the body against free-radical damage and keep cells healthy, so can reduce the risk of cataracts and glaucoma. Try: green tea, turmeric and garlic ✿ Zinc – High levels of zinc are found in the retina, so keeping these levels healthy is thought to help maintain good eye health. Try: avocado, raw almonds, lentils and sunflower seeds…

I’ve started going to the cinema again. This may not seem like a big deal, but from being an ardent film buff in my day, I grew sensitive to such deterrents as the often-spotted sweet bag rustler and chatterboxes behind me talking throughout the entire film (‘What was he in again? He has the look of a young Burt ReynoldsÉ’) However, a couple of innovations have brought me back to the big screen. First off, they now make announcements, telling ‘patrons’ to shut the heck up before the film starts. Secondly, the ‘surround sound’ system is so deafening, you’d be lucky to hear a coachload of off-peak OAPs rustling their two-for-one vouchers. I shouldn’t be rude about off-peak pensioners. My friend Ruth is among them, attending a weekly Monday matinee…

Baked blueberry cheesecake This timeless decadent classic is rich, tangy and ever so delicious. PER SERVING: 664 cals; 46g fat; 26g sat fat; 50g carbs SERVES: 8 ✿ 400g (14oz) plain digestive biscuits ✿ 100g (3½oz) butter ✿ 284ml pot soured cream ✿ 4 medium eggs ✿ 100g (3½oz) caster sugar ✿ 550g (1lb 2oz) full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature ✿ 200g (7oz) fresh blueberries 1 Break up the digestive biscuits and blend in a food processor until finely crushed (or put in a clean plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin). Melt the butter in a pan and stir in the crushed biscuits until well combined. 2 Spoon the mixture into a greased 23cm (9in) diameter round springform tin, spreading evenly over the base and halfway up…

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) inflames and narrows airways and damages tiny lung air sacs, making it harder for oxygen to reach the bloodstream. It affects over a million people in the UK – there are around 115,000 new diagnoses a year, and one in 20 deaths, usually after the age of 50. But it can start in the mid-30s and is seriously under-diagnosed; two-thirds of people with mild/moderate COPD don’t realise they have lung damage, and need urgent protection. The causes Inhaled toxins, particularly smoking and air pollution outside, at work and at home are the biggest single cause. It’s more common with age, and in women. It’s also linked to lung diseases such as asthma, severe childhood infections, developmental problems, and the genetic disorder, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD).…

1 Check your lifestyle Are you eating a healthy diet, are you getting enough sleep (6-8 hours), and turning off screens an hour before bed? See nhs.uk  for tips. 2 Make time for exercise Being active gives you energy even if you think you’re too tired. But don’t leave it until late evening, and limit meals and caffeine after 6pm. 3 Reduce your stress levels Find practical ways to relax, as stress can be draining. See Feeling Stressed at rcpsych.ac.uk and avoid alcohol, which can cause fatigue next day. 4 See your doctor They can rule out physical causes (such as diabetes, anaemia, thyroid or hormone problems, rarely cancer) or depression and advise ways to help.…

My mum wants my nine-month-old to stay overnight QI don’t know how to tell my mother that my child is mine and her father’s and not hers. I’ve tried to explain gently but she doesn’t get it. She’s nagging to have my nine-month-old over to stay and I think she’s too young. Mum is forever doing things I don’t agree with and saying she thinks she knows better. Name and address withheld A It sounds as if your mum has done what many do and fallen head-over-heels in love with your baby, just as she did you. She therefore wants to spend every minute with your daughter and hasn’t really accepted her role. But she’s your child and you have the right to say what you want for her. Others…

This lovely cushion front kit is easy to stitch with a large-holed canvas with 4.5 holes per inch, and so easy on the eyes and fingers! The kit contains all you need to complete your 40 x 40cm cushion front – simple-to-follow instructions, hand-painted 100% cotton canvas and 100% acrylic yarn and needle, all for just £34.99. There’s also a 100% cotton cushion back with a zip for just £12.99 and pad for £9.99 to finish off your project. TO ORDER, CALL 01858 345108 QUOTING CODE WW68 OR VISIT STITCHKITS.CO.UK/WW68…

1 In debt already? Transfer your balance to the Santander Everyday Credit Card, with 27 months at 0% interest, hopefully you should be able to make a dent in what you owe. 2 Curb your spending and come up with an affordable payment plan for outstanding debts. Call your credit cards to explain your situation and help you come up with a solution. 3 If you can, pay off your monthly balance in full or at least pay off your minimum spend. Interest piles up quickly and you can find that you’ll end up paying more, than you initially spent in interest. 4 If you’ve more than one credit card, prioritise paying off the one with the highest interest. Set up a direct debit so you are never penalised if…

Small Island  by Andrea Levy (£8.99, PB, Headline) The story: Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction, Small Island is a superbly crafted account of the Windrush generation. It is 1948 and Hortense arrives in England from Jamaica to join husband Gilbert, who dreams of being a lawyer – but she's bitterly disappointed both in Gilbert and the home he  has found with landlady Queenie. Our verdict: A gripping story capturing the tangled links between Jamaica and the UK. The new National Theatre production is broadcast live to cinemas on 27 June. You can still enter our short story competition in the WW Fiction May issue, out 28 March!…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr This is a time of new beginnings for you. Any new projects are under favourable aspects. Taurus 21 Apr – 21 May Don’t rush. Do one thing at a time and give it your full attention. That way, you’ll be most productive. Gemini 22 May – 21 Jun Travelling and meeting new people are in your stars this week, and you may be surprised who you meet. Cancer 22 Jun – 23 Jul Do anything that soothes your soul. It could be cooking a meal that’s healthy and nourishing. Leo 24 Jul – 23 Aug This is a creative period. Allow your imagination to roam free and you’ll come up with some great ideas. Virgo24 Aug – 23 Sep Relationships are in focus. Listen…

As the poet Tennyson might have observed if he’d been visiting our neck of the woods recently, it is in the spring that a charity shop manager’s fancy turns lightly to thoughts of love. No-one would blame Mrs Beasley, who runs the shop where I am a volunteer, for letting her mind stray in this direction. Thoughts of love, after all, are much more fun than wondering how we’re going to shift a pair of 1970s-style mug trees. Mug trees might have been quite the thing in the 1970s, but they are now about as popular as hot pants, inflation, and the test card in black and white. Being very modern and bang up to date, most people now seem to store their mugs in the cupboard, or on hooks.…