Innholdsfortegnelse for 3-Nov-2020 i Woman's Weekly

Kindness matters Did you know there was a World Kindness Day? I didn’t! It’s on 13 November every year and has been up and running since 1998, when it was launched by the World Kindness Movement. Thanks to the pandemic this year, it’s growing rapidly, as more countries adopt this date to make the world a better place by highlighting good deeds in the community. So now’s the time to put that date in your diary – this year it falls on a Friday – then turn to page 25 to find out how you can do your bit for your family and friends, local community and even people abroad. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself too!…

Edith Hay and Christine Nicholls, 1961 I was 17 and on holiday with Mum and Dad on the Isle of Wight. My mum made my white lined jacket and I made the box pleated dress with her help. I loved the purple flowers. ✣ 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.…

Get herbal help Try AvenaCalm (£10.50 for 50ml, from independent health food shops or avogel.co.uk). It contains extract of avena sativa, a herb used to relieve anxiety. ‘Long-term stress and anxiety can have a negative effect on the body,’ says herbalist Dr Chris Etheridge. ‘It’s important to lessen anxiety, whether through physical means or using herbal medicines for short-term relief.’ Cut back on coffee Caffeine raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Try decaf, chicory coffee or ginger tea instead. Munch on magnesium ‘Magnesium has a relaxing effect on muscles and helps to reduce the effects of stress, making it especially helpful if you’re feeling anxious,’ says GP Dr Sarah Brewer. Try avocados, wholegrains and almonds. Work through worries ‘Write a list of worries and address them at that time,’…

‘Yoga helps reduce stress and the fight-or-flight response by stimulating the rest-and-digest (parasympathetic) system,’ explains yoga expert Hannah Barrett (hannahbarrettyoga.com). Try her relaxing move to unwind: Child’s pose (Balasana) ✣ Kneel on the floor with your big toes together and knees about hip-width apart. If this feels too much, your knees can come together. ✣ Exhale as you lay your torso between your thighs, keeping your spine long. ✣ Stretch your arms forward, feeling a stretch from your tailbone and out through your fingertips. ✣ Alternatively, bring your arms back alongside your body with your palms facing up, releasing the fronts of your shoulders towards the floor. ✣ Rest here for five slow breaths or longer if required. ✣ Savour the moment of stillness, anchoring yourself to the now using…

GREAT-FITTING JEANS Straight-leg and boot-cut styles don’t cling like skinny jeans if you prefer a looser fit around your leg. Look out for brands that really cater for curves, with design features such as longer in the body and wider through the thigh, both of which will provide you with the best fit. WIDE-FIT ANKLE BOOTS Ankle boots will work well with most items in your existing wardrobe. Whether you choose a flat pair or a style with a small heel, comfort is key! Lots of brands offer a wide-fitting range if you need a bit more room. PRINTED DRESSES It’s a well-known styling trick that busy prints hide a multitude of sins, disguising lumps and bumps. You can’t go wrong with a shirt style or belted dress, which will…

PRAWN, PEPPER AND COCONUT NOODLE SOUP Red peppers are high in vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that can prevent infections by helping your body form beneficial antibodies. SERVES 2 ✣ 60g (2oz) rice noodles ✣ 1tbsp Thai red curry paste ✣ 400ml can reduced-fat coconut milk ✣ 100g (3½oz) extra-large cooked prawns ✣ 5 spring onions, trimmed and chopped ✣ 1 red pepper, deseeded, and sliced into strips ✣ Finely grated zest and juice of ½ lime ✣ Dash of fish sauce ✣ Pinch of caster sugar ✣ Coriander leaves, to garnish 1 Put the noodles into a bowl and pour over boiling water to cover. Leave for 4 mins until they swell in size. 2 Meanwhile, put the Thai curry paste into a pan with the coconut milk.…

Tinnitus can sound like ringing, humming, buzzing, hissing or throbbing – or even music or singing. It can seem to be in one or both ears, or in the middle of the head, and may be constant or intermittent. As it can feel like it’s nearby, it may drive you to look for a radio left on or machinery vibrating when actually it’s the brain falsely perceiving noise. A different problem, hyperacusis, where everyday sounds are uncomfortable, is mistaken by some as tinnitus. It’s not, but should be reported to your doctor. Around one in three of us will experience tinnitus at some point, but for one in eight it’s a persistent problem. Most can continue with daily life but for some, it’s hard to ignore. The exact cause is…

MOSTLY VIRAL Self-care is best – drink plenty of clear fluids, rest and take painkillers regularly, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. GARGLE Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Gargle then spit it out afterwards, don’t swallow it. Repeat as often as you like. MOUTH CARE Suck ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets, or see your pharmacist about medicated lozenges or anaesthetic sprays to reduce the discomfort. SEE THE DOCTOR If it lasts more than a week, you have immunity issues such as diabetes, or are on chemotherapy, or have a persistent high temperature.…

Tapping into trends Sales of houseplants are booming, thanks to a trend for leafy interiors and a desire for people to connect with nature, especially those who don’t have a garden. As well as being lovely to look at and fun to grow, studies show that houseplants are good for our health and wellbeing. Some improve air quality and help lower blood pressure, and may reduce fatigue and headaches. Location, location The secret to happy houseplants is choosing the right plant for the right place. That means matching a plant to room temperature and light levels across the seasons. Humidity is another consideration – a dry, centrally heated living room won’t suit damp-loving ferns, whereas a steamy bathroom will keep them looking lush. Remember that few plants like major temperature…

MEASUREMENTS To fit teddy 36cm/14in tall. Actual chest measurement 30 cm/11¾in. Side seam 13cm/5in. Length to shoulder 20cm/8in. Sleeve seam 2cm/¾in. MATERIALS  2 x 50g (158m) balls of King Cole Giza Cotton 4ply (100% cotton) in Red (2202) and small amount in Cream (2191) for embroidery*. Pair each of 3.25mm and 3mm knitting needles; 3 press stud fasteners, waist length of narrow elastic, 36cm (14in) tall teddy. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION  28 stitches and 36 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over stocking stitch, using 3.25mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS  K, knit; p, purl; st, stitch; tog, together; inc, increase (by working twice into same st); dec, decrease (by working 2 sts tog); ss, stocking st (k on right side and p on wrong side); gst, garter st (every row k);…

For 28 Oct-3 Nov with Bracha Goldsmith yourastrologysigns.com ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr You may find yourself spoilt for choice this week. Many opportunities are coming your way. Keep your eyes and ears open. TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May This is a time to pace yourself and conserve your energy. Focus on one thing at a time and you will accomplish a great deal. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun You may be feeling extra sensitive now. Don’t allow others to pressure you into making an important decision. Trust your gut. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul Financially, you may be making some big changes. If your strategy is conservative rather than speculative, you’ll feel emotionally calmer. LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug This is a wonderful time…

“‘And then she said the final straw was when he decided to became a nudist.’ My charity shop colleague, Grace, and I are sitting in the window of The Nice Little Coffee Shop In The High Street, which has managed to survive lockdown by the skin of its teeth. Life here has almost returned to normal, although from time to time somebody shuffles past the window in a mask, looking depressed and very obviously fearing that the disease is hot on their trail. Luckily for them, the disease seems to be having a day off, dawdling and window shopping, so if the shufflers could only put on a turn of speed, they might survive until next week’s exciting episode. ‘Is that really such a bad thing?’ said Grace. ‘Lots of…

‘Diaphragmatic breathing exercises (where you breathe deeply through your belly), will halt the stress response,’ says psychologist Dr Megan Arroll. Try this simple 15-minute breathing exercise: ✣ Lie down with your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. ✣ Put one hand on your upper chest, and one on your tummy. ✣ As you breathe in, allow your tummy to rise. As you breathe out, allow your tummy to flatten. There should be little or no movement in your chest. ✣ Establish a regular rhythm for a few minutes before you slow down your ‘out’ breath, pausing slightly, before breathing in at the same rate as before. Continue this for several minutes. ✣ When you’re ready to end, take a few deeper breaths in and open your eyes slowly, before…

“Luck was on my side when I first met Victoria Wood. It was a torrential night in Edinburgh in 1975 and I’d offered her a lift back to her hotel. I was editor of Jackie, the teenage magazine. Victoria, who had won the TV talent show New Faces the year before but wasn’t yet a household name, had been performing at the Festival. ‘We laughed about being on diets’ We’d been introduced after the show when she told me that one of the first songs she’d written was about Jackie. I was thrilled. She may not have been famous but she was already hilarious. We laughed so much about being fat and on diets that, as we set off in lashing rain, I didn’t notice that the windscreen wipers had…

As a call comes in and the alarm bells begin to ring through the fire station, Cath Homan, 55, grabs her helmet and runs towards the fire truck that is ready to leave. As she bundles inside with her colleagues, she feels the familiar rush of adrenaline – and pride too. ‘At 55, I’m finally doing a job I love that’s making a difference to people’s lives,’ Cath says. Cath started working for Battersea Fire Station in 1997, but not as a firefighter – she was working as a cook to the crew. A new mother to her daughter Matilda, then 18 months, the part-time job fitted perfectly around childcare and, while her mum Josie looked after Matilda at the weekends, Cath would work in the fire station kitchen. ‘It…

✢ Relaxation techniques, such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing or mindfulness, will all help reduce the perception of noise. Look online for exercises. ✢ Avoid silence. Have something in the background – listening to soft music, low-level radio programmes or sounds all help distract from the tinnitus. ✢ Sleep may be disturbed – avoid alcohol or caffeinated drinks, keep active in the day, then try relaxation exercises to help before going to bed ✢ Ask your GP about local support groups or call The British Tinnitus Association on 0800 018 0527 or visit tinnitus.org.uk…

Christmas won’t be the same this year Q I’m really in a quandary about Christmas. My family always get together at our house and we’d like to do the same this year. It feels risky to allow them all to come as normal, as there’s no way we can all be socially distanced. I could have one sibling and their family, but how do I decide? Lizzie, Bournemouth A This Christmas is not going to be the same for any of us. I think we probably need to have a few plans up our sleeves, as things are very fluid and we don’t know what the rules will be by then. Christmas decisions belong to all the family, not just the host. Everyone will have a view on what they…

A Lie for a Lie  by Julie Corbin (£8.99, PB, Hodder & Stoughton) As with any good thriller, we like to be kept in suspense. Cue Corbin’s new book – a roller coaster of a read that will take you down many avenues. When trusted school nurse, Anna Pierce, is accused of hitting a pupil, Tori, shock and disbelief ensues. Anna wants to clear her name before her career is ruined, but when Tori is found dead, suspicions mount. This riveting read will indeed keep you guessing. When I Come Home Again  by Caroline Scott (£16.99, HB, Simon & Schuster) When a World War One soldier with complete memory loss is discovered in Durham Cathedral, more than one woman steps forward to claim him as her own. But the past…

KATIE WILLIAMS, 42 Tell us about your look I live in skinny jeans – they’re my wardrobe essential. These are from Mint Velvet and my top underneath is also from there. My jacket is by Yerse – I love the colours and print. It’s lightweight and the perfect transitional piece for autumn. And the best bit of your body? My arms. SALLY GREENSLADE, 61 Tell us about your look I have had a big wardrobe sort-out and fallen in love with items that I’d forgotten I had! This faux-suede jacket from M&S is definitely vintage, but I love it again. My blouse is Massimo Dutti, my jeggings are M&S, and my new suede trainers are by Collection Weekend at John Lewis. And the best bit of your body? My legs.…

Elisa Roche, Food Director For the Love of the Land: A Cook Book to  Celebrate British Farmers and their Food*, compiled by Jenny Jefferies (£22, HB, Meze Publishing) I’m very lucky in this job to receive lots of new cookbooks, but this one caught my eye because of its mix of recipes and anecdotes from British farming families. If you’re hooked on shows like All Creatures Great and Small, this book is the real deal. It’s warm and charming, and a way of supporting the hard-working people who keep us fed. Catherine Westwood, Editor-in-Chief The Other People by C J Tudor (£12.99, HB,  Michael Joseph) C J Tudor – a relatively new female author from Salisbury – captured my attention with her shocking first novel, The Chalk Man. The Other…

‘Planning is always essential to avoid stress, beginning well in advance, and covering all aspects of the festivities,’ says Woman’s Weekly GP Dr Gill Jenkins. Here are her other top tips: ✣ Shop ahead Buy one gift or storable food item each week in the run-up to Christmas. It will help spread the financial burden and mental stress. ✣ Let go of perfection Forget trying to please everyone, or providing the ultimate Christmas. Enjoy the little moments, celebrate small achievements and don’t feel responsible for everyone. ✣ Plan a post-Christmas treat It doesn’t have to be big, just something to get you through any Christmas pressure and light up your life in that grey post-Christmas period.…

The safest place to enjoy fireworks is at a large public display, but that’s unlikely to be possible for many people this year. If you are planning on a firework display at home, ensure you only buy fireworks that carry the CE mark, keep them in a closed box and use them one at a time. Read and follow the instructions carefully on each firework and never return to a firework once it has been lit. If you’re planning a bonfire, never use paraffin or petrol as fuel, and make sure the fire is out and the surrounding area is made safe before leaving it unattended.…

What you need to know about WOMEN’S CANCERS The main cancers in women’s health are of the cervix, womb and ovaries, and can affect young women with regular periods or those who’ve gone through menopause. You can’t change some risk factors (family history or genetic background), but others, such as smoking or being overweight, can affect your risk, so watch your diet, and exercise regularly. If someone in your family has had womb, ovarian, cervical or breast cancer, speak to your GP. Practicing safe sex and getting the HPV vaccination if you’re eligible can protect you from high-risk HPV type, commonly associated with cervical cancer. Examine your breasts regularly and attend a mammography if you’re called, as well as cervical screening (a smear test), as some gynaecological cancers can…

A Fabry is a genetic enzyme disorder caused by deficiency of alpha-galactosidase A, needed for disposing of waste cellular fatty acids. This builds up within skin, eye, kidney, heart, peripheral nerves and brain, causing progressively severe disorder. Babies show few effects but, as more cells are damaged, symptoms appear. Affecting males in many racial groups, the gene responsible is on the X chromosome, with almost 200 mutations. Female carriers exist exhibiting mild-to-moderate symptoms, which may progress in middle age. Symptoms are variable, affecting any organ with burning pain and tingling, which may be triggered by temperature change, fever, sun or physical exertion. Fatigue and weakness are common. Reduced sweating, extremity swelling, visual changes, arrhythmias, angina, heart failure and brain damage may occur, with gastrointestinal upset, kidney damage and hypertension. The…

SPICED PUMPKIN AND CARAMEL CAKE Flavoured with warm spices and topped with a gooey caramel frosting, this cake will have you going back for seconds. SERVES 12 ✣ 400g (14oz) pumpkin or squash, peeled ✣ 175ml (6fl oz) sunflower oil ✣ 250g (9oz) light muscovado sugar ✣ 2 medium eggs ✣ 175g (6oz) self-raising flour ✣ ¾tsp bicarbonate of soda ✣ 1tsp ground ginger ✣ ½tsp each ground cinnamon and ground mixed spice For the frosting: ✣ 200g tub of cream cheese ✣ 397g can Nestlé Carnation Caramel ✣ 60g (2oz) crystallised ginger, chopped You will need: ✣ 20cm (8in) ring tin, greased 1 Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Put the pumpkin flesh into a bowl with 1tbsp water. Cover with cling film, pierce, then microwave on high for…

YOU WILL NEED: ✣ Wrapping paper ✣ Washi tape or double-sided tape ✣ String or twine ✣ Festive sticker 1 Cut out a square of paper – ours measures about 20cm. With the pattern side of the paper showing outermost, curl and shape into a cone, making sure the pointed end has no gaps and the outer edge of the paper finishes at the back. 2 Stick in place with either decorative tape or double-sided tape for neatness. Before adding the gift, fold down the top corner to enclose the gap, then fold back and put the gift inside. 3 Place a length of string or decorative twine inside across the top, securing in place with tape. Fold the top down and keep in place with a festive sticker. Finally,…