Innholdsfortegnelse for 18-oct-16 i Woman's Weekly

See Miss Saigon: The 25th Anniversary Performance For 25 years, Miss Saigon has had audiences weeping into their handkerchiefs over the ill-fated romance of an American GI and a Vietnamese bar girl. Now, on 16 October, a new film of the West End show will hit cinemas to celebrate its anniversary. To book tickets, visit misssaigon25th.co.uk Support The Ashfords Great West Run Cheer on the runners in this 13.1-mile charity race on 16 October, which tracks a course through Devon’s lovely country lanes and into Exeter’s city centre. To find out more details, visit www.thegreatwestrun.co.uk Visit Isle Of Wight Literary Festival A N Wilson, consultant on the ITV series Victoria, will be taking to the stage of this annual literary festival at the stately Northwood House, in Cowes, to talk…

‘I’ve always wanted to write a novel and I’m 53. So I realised, this is my moment of saying: ‘Shut up and do it!” The great thing about Graham Norton is that he has no airs and graces. What you see is what you get. He may charm Hollywood A-listers to his TV sofa week after week with his witty blend of cheeky questions and bubbly banter but, deep down, he remains the salesman’s son from County Cork. A boy who honed the skill of befriending new people when his family moved house a whopping 13 times in 17 years. ‘My parents moved a lot,’ says Graham, ‘not because the bailiffs were coming to the door but because my father – who worked for Guinness – was transferred a lot.…

Ask for help: I could never have achieved what I have without the support of others, especially people at college and my husband. Expect to fail sometimes: I’ve failed many times. I failed my English O level five times before getting it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t: My school report said, ‘Sonia will never pass her English O level.’ Keep communication and IT skills up to scratch: They’re crucial in the modern workplace. Try open college or university courses. Challenge yourself: Go outside your comfort zone. Develop interests outside the workplace or family – whether it’s a community choir, sports club or the school’s PTA, it’s important to progress and establish yourself in a different way outside your daily routines. Find yourself…

CRAB & AVOCADO TOASTS Crab is a flavoursome seafood and avocado is rich in fats, so the wine will need to also have punchy flavours with high acidity to cut through the avocado. SAUVIGNON BLANC is a great variety for this as it is both aromatic and refreshing, try a French version from Sancerre or one from Marlborough in New Zealand. VEGETABLE STEW The vibrant flavours and creamy texture needs a distinctive wine that will provide freshness. CHENIN BLANC supplies ample fruit character and if it is slightly oaked, the toasty/ nutty flavours will complement the food as well as give the wine texture to match the dish. South Africa makes great examples in this style, particularly from the coastal regions of Swartland and Paarl. SLOW-COOKED LAMB SHOULDER WITH BALSAMIC…

Easy-peasy A Bit More Tricky Hard–ish Quite A Challenge Time: 1 hour YOU WILL NEED • Terrariums • Succulents and cacti • Gravel • Soil suitable for succulents • Spoon • Gardening gloves if handling cacti Copper, glass and iron terrariums (in foreground), £12 and £8, B&Q (diy.com). Metal votive, £15, Amara (amara.com). Succulents, cacti and soil, available from Wyevale Garden Centres (wyevalegardencentres.co.uk). 1 Clean the terrarium thoroughly with soapy water and dry with a clean tea towel. 2 Pour in some gravel, as this is essential for drainage. You can use any type of gravel – we’ve used white stones from an aquatic centre as they tend to have a more decorative selection. 3 Either pour the soil into the terrarium or use a spoon for ease. Once you’re…

You’d know how she tore her skirt: chasing the boy who called me ugly The first secret I ever had: Abby climbed up on the kitchen counter to pinch the chocolate spread on the high shelf while Mum was out of the room. She scooped it out of the jar with her fingers and licked them clean. The last: when Abby moved out last week, she pinched Dad’s wok and all the vegetable knives. Both times, and every time in between, Abby looked at me gravely and said, with the solemnity of a judge, “Don’t tell, Rose.” These are the secrets you keep for your big sister. I’ve never told anyone that Abby only went out with Sam Holland because his big brother didn’t ask her. I’ve never mentioned to…

NATASHA WEAVERS, 39, is married with two children and works as an administrator for a property development company in Cambridgeshire. She suffered agonising period pains for years Period Pain And How To Beat It! I’ve always had really bad period pain, but it has worsened over time – particularly during the night. I’m not exaggerating when I say the dragging abdominal pain was similar to labour contractions – easing off before building up again. I’ve taken various painkillers over the years, but they can take up to 20 minutes to take effect and, even then, only took the edge off the pain. And, every month, my period affected my mood – I felt grumpy, emotional and irritable. I didn’t bother seeing my GP as I assumed it was just something…

Where I went Portugal’s coastal capital is the oldest city in Western Europe. It was consistently recommended to me as a great destination for a cheap city break – and it didn’t disappoint. It has a fantastic history – for example, most of the Portuguese voyages of the Age Of Discovery set off from there, and this is commemorated by a statue remembering the explorers called the Monument To The Discoveries. In 1755, a great proportion of the city was destroyed by a major earthquake that killed almost 40,000 of the then 200,000 inhabitants. Following the disaster, Lisbon was rebuilt with a more modern, urban design – it’s this elegant look that dominates the centre of the city to this day. What I did There’s so much to do we…

This is the time of year when I traditionally write about the Women of the Year lunch, so far be it for me to break with tradition. I’m fortunate enough to be on the Management Board of the organisation and I’ve been going to the lunch for more than a dozen years. So you’d think there might be a chance I’d be a bit jaded about it all. Well, let me tell you, that would be impossible. If there’s a gathering of more remarkable, inspiring, courageous, down-to-earth and downright wonderful women anywhere else, I’d like to know about it. To get a flavour of what kind of people they are, have a look at page 10 and read Sonia Blandford’s extraordinary story. Sonia is one of the 400 women, from…

Ellie Sherrington, 65 Tell us about your look… I love clothes shopping. Always have! I just go for anything that catches my eye. It could be the colour, print or a quirky design detail – but there has to be something special about it. This dress is from Wallis. I was actually going into the store to buy something else but I spotted this amazing print and had to have it! My sandals are by Gabor and my black ‘going out’ bag is by River Island. And the best bit of your body? I’m comfortable in my skin and not unhappy with anything, really. YouWore It Well Kathleen McCabe, 1960 (sent in by her daughter, Maureen McCabe) ‘This is my mum photographed in the English countryside – a few years…

RICHARD AND JUDY: The former This Morning couple and founders of the Richard & Judy Book Club have put pen to paper themselves. Judy’s first novel, Eloise, became a Sunday Times bestseller in 2012, and Richard has written novels and a memoir about his family history. HUGH LAURIE: His first and only novel, a rollicking thriller called The Gun Seller, published in 1996, received great reviews. STEVE MARTIN: Not only an actor, comedian and musician, he’s written children’s books, plays, a memoir and novels. STEPHEN FRY: Hugh Laurie’s erstwhile comedy partner has published four novels and three volumes of autobiography, plus numerous newspaper and magazine articles. FERN BRITTON: Since stepping down from This Morning in 2009, Fern has produced seven well-received novels.…

‘I spent the time crouching on a mat and drinking wine through a straw’ You know that moment when you realise for certain you should be fitter than you are? It comes when you walk up some stairs and have to keep your mouth shut in case people can hear you wheezing. Or when you catch sight of yourself sideways in the window coming out of the sweet shop. Still, you comfort yourself – at least you’ve got a nice pair of leggings standing by should you wish to venture on to some gym machinery and exert some muscles. I know I should do a tad more, but the sheer thought of having to get out of breath somehow puts me off, and I never quite manage the drive to…

Miss Romney was kind to everyone, but he felt somehow special to her Fiction Editor, Gaynor It’s easy to misunderstand life when you’re young and unsure, as this tender story shows Did you see that fireman?” The door bursts open. “What fireman?” Harry hates that he has to share his quiet time these days. Walter throws himself into the armchair opposite. It creaks like something rude. “The one who got me out of the railings. D’you not remember?” “Ye-es… it was just last week.” “Well, he’s brought a big bunch of flowers to the door. He must be serious about somebody.” Harry doesn’t look up from his reading, doesn’t bother answering. “They’re probably for that Miss Rommy. I think he’s sweet on her.” “The fireman?” Harry shakes his head. “Don’t…

Making a really low offer on a semidetached house that was in need of serious renovation, Vanessa Seddon expected it to be refused. It wasn’t! She had become the owner of a dilapidated 19th-century three-bedroom house in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire. ‘I was amazed when the owner agreed but I had to think long and hard whether I was brave enough to take on the challenge of renovating it. Eventually, I said to myself, ‘Yes, you can do it!’,’ she says. It was just before Christmas and, incredibly, Vanessa moved into the property in its neglected state. Within hours, a local builder got to work so Vanessa could accommodate her family who were planning to visit. ‘I only had a couple of weeks to make it habitable. So after an…

• Now is a good time for planting lilies – cover the bulbs with about 10cm of soil, as most lilies enjoy a well-drained rich soil of neutral pH. For any established clumps of lilies that have become overcrowded, it’s best to dig them up, divide and replant, otherwise flowering will suffer. • Set borders alight this winter with dogwoods. Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Beauty’ (also sold as ‘Winter Flame’), produces lots of stems in shades of orange-yellow, orange-red and red, which from a distance look like flickering flames. • Use lighting to give the night view of your garden a more dramatic look than the day view – make sure you pick out the key features to illuminate rather than floodlighting the entire surrounding area, and use solar lights, which…

Hormone replacement therapy can relieve symptoms of the menopause and/or perimenopause as periods become less heavy or frequent before they finally stop (always report irregular or unexpected bleeding as there may be another cause). Your symptoms may be mild to severe and last for months or years, but like all medicines, HRT can have side effects and risks; new research says it can raise our breast cancer risk more than previously thought. Menopause symptoms HRT abolishes the main ones – day/night hot flushes and sweats, and vaginal dryness caused by low oestrogen levels (detectable using blood tests). It often helps linked symptoms such as tiredness, sleep disturbance, aches and pains, irritability, low sex drive, urinary irritation/ incontinence, anxiety and/or depression (sometimes these are actually due to thyroid or other medical…

We love letters Woman’s Weekly, 110 Southwark St, London SE1 0SU. PS. It really helps when you put your details in capitals We do not return photos (apart from ‘You Look Great!’) so please do not send originals Email us Womansweeklypostbag @timeinc.com  Tell us your full name, address and daytime phone number, please Fancy a chat? Log on to facebook.com / womansweekly We can’t wait to hear from you! If you’d like updates on wonderful project ideas, video tutorials and all the news about our upcoming craft workshops, it’s simple to subscribe to the Woman’s Weekly news letter. • The sign-up box is easy to find on the home page of our website. Just pop in your email address. womansweekly.com Important! All contributions to…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 Apr Try not to jump to conclusions. Most situations can be discussed and differences ironed out. Taurus 21 Apr - 21 May Your work is getting a boost this week. Your aspects favour any kind of communications in writing or verbally. Gemini 22 May - 21 Jun You may feel torn in two directions. Do whatever appeals the most to you and leave the rest for later. Cancer 22 Jun - 23 Jul A move of home or office is favoured. There could be a new addition to your close circle of friends and family. Leo 24 Jul - 23 Aug Be open to new approaches and you could have many light-bulb moments. Your mind is moving into a new gear. Virgo 24 Aug -…

Sonia Blandford was 15 when she had the first of two light-bulb moments that changed her life. It was during a visit to the independent Stowe School, in Buckinghamshire, on a week-long trip for disadvantaged teenagers. ‘The buildings were magnificent and I’d never seen so much grass,’ says Sonia, now 58. ‘There were lakes and massive halls and performance spaces – I’d never seen anything like it. There was such a sense of space and freedom.’ Space and freedom were in short supply in Sonia’s life at that time – she was brought up in a council home on a housing estate in West London, and was working from the age of 12 to help her family afford the bare basics. By 15, she was juggling three jobs – as…

Switch your current account for the most competitive interest rates: TSB Classic Plus account: 5% interest on balances up to £2,000 and £5 a month cashback on debit card spending. Nationwide FlexDirect account: 5% on balances up to £2,500 for the first year and then 1% thereafter. Lloyds Club Lloyds account: 1% on balances up to £1,999, and 2% between £2,000 and £3,999. Tesco Bank 3% on balances up to £3,000. Bank of Scotland Vantage account: 3% interest on balances between £3,000 and £5,000. Santander 123 account: 1.5% on balances up to £20,000, and up to 3% cashback on bills paid from the account (this account charges a monthly fee of £5, so you need to work out if what it pays you will cancel that out). If you’ve got…

The Jacquard Trousers These tapered trousers are a flattering fit and come in four different leg lengths. Handwash only. £42, sizes 6-22, Next Wear It Smart Wear It Casual Take The Blazer And Wear It Like This Too STOCKISTS Debenhams 0844 800 8877; debenhams.com Evans 0344 984 0262; evans.co.uk H&M 0344 736 9000; hm.com Laura Ashley 0333 200 8009; lauraashley.com M&S 0333 014 8000; marksandspencer.com Matalan 0333 004 4444; matalan.co.uk New Look 0344 499 6690; newlook.com Next 0333 777 8000; next.co.uk Nica 01252 533 561; nica.co.uk Oliver Bonas 020 8974 0110; oliverbonas.com Primark 0118 960 6300; primark.com Simply Be 0871 231 5000; simplybe.co.uk Wallis 0345 121 4520; wallis.co.uk Zara 0800 030 4238; zara.com…

Menu Crab & Avocado Toasts Vegetable Stew Slow-cooked Lamb Shoulder With Balsamic Vinegar Baked Creamy Celeriac & Potato Gratin Rocket & Beetroot Salad Autumn Puddings Starter Crab & Avocado Toasts Serves 6 Calories: 323 Fat: 16g Saturated fat: 3g Carbohydrates: 32g 1 Heat oven to 200°C or Gas Mark 6. Cut the baguette into 18 thin slices. Arrange on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle over sea salt. Bake for 5 mins until pale golden. 2 Combine the crabmeat, lemon juice, Tabasco and mayonnaise. Stir and season with black pepper. 3 To serve, quarter the avocado, remove the stone and mash with a fork. Mix together with the crab. 4 Spread on toasts and serve with…

6 Scented Perennials Drop them into gaps in the border or fill a whole new bed with this autumn planting perennial collection. There’s something for every part of the garden in this elegant mix. Supplied as garden ready plug plants. Buy 6 (1 of each variety) for £9.99 (TCB62691) Hydrangea ‘Glam Rock’ Formed by dozens of red florets with blue centres, each petal tipped with an extraordinary shade of lime green. A superb addition to borders or large patio containers. Height and spread: 120cm (48”). Supplied as a 9cm potted plant. Buy 1 for £9.99 (TCB10121C) Allium ‘Big Impact Mixed’ ‘Big Impact Mixed’ will give you a wonderful assortment of flower shapes, sizes and colours that are superb for cut flower displays. Height ranges from: 60 -90cm (24-36”). Spread: 15cm…

Easy-peasy A Bit More Tricky Hard–ish Quite A Challenge MEASUREMENTS Approx 35cm/13¾in in diameter. MATERIALS For the set: 3 x 50g (155m) balls of Sirdar Country Style DK (40% nylon, 30% wool, 30% acrylic) in Cream (411) and 2 balls in each of Amber (394), Black (417) and Dove Grey (630)*. Size 4.00 crochet hook, a 35cm-diameter cushion pad for each cushion or washable toy stuffing. ABBREVIATIONS Ch, chain; st, stitch; dc, double crochet; slst, slip st; dc2tog, work 2dc together thus: [insert hook in next st, yarn round hook and pull through] twice, yarn round hook and pull through all 3 loops on hook; dc3tog, work 3dc together thus: [insert hook in next st, yarn round hook and pull through] 3 times, yarn round hook and pull through all…

Calamagrostis is a spectacular, ornamental grass for any mixed garden border. With arching leaves and bronze, feathery panicles during summer, this is a useful border plant that’s quick to emerge each spring. It can be planted to form a soft, yet effective screen, and is fast-growing and easy to maintain. Height: 1.8m (5.9ft) Spread: 50cm (19in). Supplied as a 1ltr garden-ready potted plant. Buy 1 for £11.99 or 2 for £18.98 – saving £5! T&Cs £1.95 postage. Plants dispatched from November 2016. Contract of goods is with Thompson & Morgan, a company wholly independent of Woman’s Weekly, which is published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd. Visit www. thompsonmorgan.com/wwk2125za  to order or call 0844 573 6057 and quote WWK2125za.…

Get Your BP Readings Right Home monitoring machines that check your blood pressure at the wrist can give falsely high readings, according to Italian researchers, who say they could cause unnecessary health worries. BP readings for diagnosis and home/GP surgery monitoring should be taken using upper-arm devices, as these are the basis for UK treatment guidelines. The British Hypertension Society lists recommended devices at bhsoc.org/bp-monitors/bp-monitors True Or False? Coffee ‘addicts' may be genetically different from other people. True, according to Dutch researchers, who say they’ve identified a genetic variant that inhibits caffeine breakdown. If we lack this, we may need to drink more coffee to get the same caffeine ‘hit’. Alzheimer’s Finding A good night’s sleep may help our brains to avoid amyloid protein deposits (plaques) linked to the development…

It's important to keep receipts Q I’m so upset. I ran a charity fashion event for our local Women’s Institute last year. It was very successful and I was asked to do it again this year, which I did willingly. I deposited the money last year in an ATM and gave the WI treasurer the slip to verify this. This year, as I did a bank transfer, there is a record of this transaction. But I’m being accused of stealing last year’s money as there’s no record of it having been paid. The treasurer says I didn’t give her the slip, but I know I banked it. Name withheld A That does sound unpleasant and it needs to be resolved. The charity must have a record of money coming…

This Week FRANCES QUINN is a journalist who specialises in finance and consumer issues. She answers your questions on everything from savings to shopping Our Experts • Appliances • Internet • Digital • Animals • Finance/ consumer • Legal Q Why should I switch supplier? Because it could save you a lot of money. Electricity and gas companies tend not to reward loyalty, and if you’ve been with the same supplier for years, you’ll almost certainly be paying more than new customers, who are offered lower tariffs to attract their business. Almost everyone can switch if they want to – even if you use a prepayment meter, or have debts, you can switch and get a better deal. You don’t have to own your home, either – renters can switch…

‘No friends. No family. Two months he’d been there before he was discovered, Casey’ The rug had cost her double the price she’d admitted to Dom and even the lower price had shocked him ‘They’re always complaining about the late nights, like I’m some little kid who doesn’t know about time management’ Casey spotted Gail from the corner of her eye just as she was counting out her change to pay for her coffee. Remembering she’d been to the Coroner’s court this morning, and knowing how little she’d been looking forward to it, Casey reckoned her best friend and colleague was going to need cheering up. “Do you mind if I just pop back and grab a cake?” The girl at the till glowered at her. “You’d better be quick,”…

‘I suppose you want me to be an ugly sister’ Before we pitch in to the main business of the week, would you bear with me for a moment? I’m just consulting my new Oxford Dictionary Of Quotations, which I picked up recently for £3 on eBay. Pretty good, no? That’s just £3 for 1,140 whole pages, plus a nice picture of The Lady of Shalott on the front cover, sitting in a boat and looking as if she’s just discovered that The Lord of Shalott is spending a weekend in Great Yarmouth with the parlour maid. I had wanted to begin this week’s episode with a quotation, but no sooner was I poised over the keyboard when I hit what we might agree to call Snag A – I…