Innholdsfortegnelse for 18-May-2021 i Woman's Weekly

An honour and a privilege What’s become known as ‘imposter syndrome’ is a surprisingly common human emotion – a feeling that we don’t deserve the job, role or relationship that we are in. But, for me, as the first-ever male editor of Woman’s Weekly, it’s particularly acute. In spite of my 22 rewarding years here so far – with a grandmother, mother, wife and daughter all having been readers – it still feels more than my gender deserves. Nevertheless, having devoted half my working life to celebrating and championing the values of this wonderful magazine, I can assure you that being its editor is the greatest honour in publishing.…

1 Get water ready Begin collecting rainwater in a water butt or in a watering can so it’s easily accessible to water your plants early in the morning and late at night. 2 Plant summer bedding Now that the risk of frost has passed, plant summer bedding, such as busy lizzies, petunias, lobelias and begonias in borders. 3 Give shrubs a prune Cut back tender shrubs such as fuchsia, penstemon and caryopteris for blooms later in the summer. Remove weak or dead growth while you’re at it.…

Not many people can say they get to live and work with their partner, but Sally Carman can. The 39-year-old actress is best known for playing mechanic Abi Franklin on Coronation Street, and she also happens to be engaged to her co-star Joe Duttine, 50, who plays Tim Metcalfe. But, while the pair are obviously very much in love, having got engaged during lockdown last year, Sally confesses she dreads seeing Joe’s name crop up in any of her scenes. ‘I absolutely hate working with him,’ she laughs. ‘He’s awful, he doesn’t behave, and he thinks it’s funny. ‘I do that horrible thing where you start sweating because you can’t get your lines out and people are starting to look at you like, “Can we get on with it, please?”…

I’m working too much QI live on my own so during the lockdowns I spent a lot of time working. It suited me as it gave me something to do, and I like my job. I’ve realised, now things are a bit easier, I don’t really want to do anything else. I’m working too much and always have done. I am clocking 50 to 60 hours a week, but I just don’t know how to stop. Roberta, Ayrshire A Being a workaholic is an addiction and the first step is to recognise it, which is what you’ve done. It can lead to anxiety, depression, insomnia, an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and, in some cases, suicide. It sounds like you haven’t anything else in your life, so this is…

1 Head for Hobbiton Just outside the town of Matamata on North Island, film producer and writer Sir Peter Jackson found the perfect place to create the village of Hobbiton and The Shire – a region of Tolkien’s Middle-earth from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. The area’s lush, green pastures and rolling landscapes epitomised Tolkien’s vision, and the spectacular movie set remains. 2 Relax on Hot Water Beach At Hot Water Beach on North Island’s Coromandel Peninsula, visitors can create their own jacuzzi in the wet sand during low tide. Buy a spade at the nearby shop and start building a private hot pool with a stunning ocean view. From deep within the earth, naturally heated mineral water bubbles to the surface through the beach’s golden sand.…

BACK With 3.75mm needles and Purple, cast on 82 (88) (93) (98) sts. Beginning with a k row, ss 7 rows. K 1 row for fold line. Change to 4mm needles. Beginning with a k row, ss 8 rows. Decrease row: K2, skpo, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2 – 2 sts decreased. Decrease 1 st at each side as set on 9 (10) (11) (12) following 8th rows, and at the same time work in stripe sequence as follows: 3 (3) (3) (5) rows Purple, 10 (12) (12) (12) rows Bright Pink, 10 (10) (12) (12) rows Lime, 10 (10) (10) (12) rows Purple, 8 (10) (10) (10) rows Bright Pink, 8 (8) (10) (10) rows Lime, 8 (8) (8) (10) rows Purple, 6 (8) (8) (8) rows…

READING IN THE BATH Wear glasses to read in the bath? To stop them steaming up, dunk them in the water for a minute or so first. RE-PUFF PILLOWS Wash in the washing machine as a delicate, with an extra rinse, then tumble dry with a couple of clean tennis balls. DROPPED SOMETHING? If you’ve dropped, say, a contact lens and can’t see it, shine a torch across the floor – the diagonal light will pick it out.…

When landscape painting first became popular in Britain in the 18th century, classical-inspired scenes and por traiture were considered the height of fashion. But ver y soon an uniquely British style of landscape painting began to develop. Initially as a backdrop to por traits of wealthy patrons – and with Gainsborough in the 18th centur y, followed by Constable and Turner in the early 19th – British landscape painting finally flowered into a world-class genre all of its own. Here are a few stunning representations of our beautiful countryside and coastline – and how they look today . Sennen Cove by Dame Laura Knight With her loose, naturalistic style and vigorous brushwork, combined with an acute awareness of light, Laura Knight created some of the most evocative works of art…

In the pyramid of life priorities, sleeping should be right at the top, with loving relationships and good health. Aside from sleep’s known physical benefits, anyone who has experienced disturbed nights will agree that quality kip is also essential for mental wellbeing. Most of us know what we should  be doing – less technology and caffeine, more consistent bedtimes – but are you aware that your beauty routine can help too? These expert tips and soothing buys can help you achieve your best beauty sleep ever. Soothe in the shower We associate showers with the morning, and shower products tend to have zingy get-up-and-go scents. But there’s no reason you can’t aid relaxation just because you’re standing up. Neal’s Yard Remedies Beauty Sleep Shower Oil, £19.50, is a soothing ylang…

Help for pain A UK biobank study of 22,000 patients with type 2 diabetes showed that the 58% using metformin had lower odds of reporting recent back and knee pain, chronic back, knee and neck/shoulder pain and multisite musculoskeletal pain compared with those not taking metformin. These findings suggest that metformin, offered to all as the initial drug treatment in type 2 diabetes, may have a protective effect for musculoskeletal pain, which appears to be stronger in women than men. Around 2% of all UK adults have psoriasis. The patches normally appear on elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can occur anywhere. The cause is unknown, but it’s probably linked to the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy skin, causing increased cell production. Cells are normally made and replaced every…

My husband, David, and I are both from Manchester but had moved to Essex for work back in 2005,’ says Anita. ‘We actually rented this place for a year before the owner decided to put it on the market and, after looking at several other properties for sale, we put in an offer, which was accepted. The interior of the house was dated and every room needed redecorating – something I was keen to get started on as soon as possible. We began by knocking the three downstairs rooms at the back of the house into one large kitchen-diner and refurbishing the kitchen itself. The new open-plan layout is fantastic for our family, and it immediately made the whole space feel bigger and brighter. We cook, eat, play, entertain and…

Sarah was gulping down a coffee in the station buffet when he walked in. ‘Sarah!’ he cried. Her heart missed a beat. She turned. Rob! She could hardly believe her eyes. ‘It is you!’ he said. ‘I thought it was! Fancy seeing you after all these years!’ Sarah smiled and stood up. ‘Rob!’ she said unsteadily. ‘Well! How are you?’ ‘Fine.’ He stepped forward, as though to kiss her on the cheek, then he changed his mind. Instead, he just stood there, awkwardly. ‘Sit down!’ said Sarah. ‘I’ll have to go in a minute, but please…’ She indicated the chair opposite. They both sat down. ‘I can’t believe it!’ said Rob, still grinning. ‘I was only thinking of you yesterday as I drove past our old offices…’ Sarah shook her…

THE STORY SO FAR: It’s 1941 when Sarah, a secretary from Tyneside, joins the Women’s Land Army, in part to escape her parents, who have grown distant and seem unhappy. Sarah is assigned to a training farm in Northumberland and, while her father has agreed to her going, her mother angrily declares that Sarah will be back in a week. Uncle Charles, a family friend, sees her off at the station, admitting her parents are going through a sticky patch but blames it on the war, and tells her not to worry. On the train, Sarah’s able to relax and looks forward to exciting times, but trouble on the line causes a lengthy delay, and she arrives exhausted and hours late. She’s met by another Land Girl, Morag, who has…

Bee friendly World Bee Day falls on 20 May, which is a timely reminder that, with the wild bee population in decline across Britain, we need to help save our planet’s pollinators. Giving bees a boost is incredibly easy. Avoid using pesticides when gardening, allow time for grass to grow longer before mowing your lawn and plant flowers bees love. For a free packet of bee-friendly wild flower seeds, go to justbeehoney.co.uk – pay 99p to cover postage or get them free if you buy some honey. GRAPE DAY OUT Treat yourself and a friend to a tour of the beautiful vineyards of Gusbourne Estate in Kent. You’ll be able to see how their finest grapes are grown, then sample their award-winning wines. Round off your afternoon with an artisanal…

Don’t skip sleep Too little shut-eye puts extra stress on your body and your ability to cope. It can also lower levels of leptin, a hormone that tells your body it’s full, and raise levels of ghrelin, which triggers hunger signals. Follow a calming wind-down bedtime routine, advises hormone medic Dr Sohère Roked (drsohereroked.co.uk). ‘Supplements like magnesium before bed can help relax you for sleep.’ Eat for happiness Certain foods activate your body’s natural happy hormones. Spicy foods trigger a release of soothing endorphins, and eating eggs, beans, yogurt and low-fat meats are thought to raise dopamine levels. Serotonin boosters include cheese, turkey, chicken, tuna, nuts and seeds. Be grateful Whether you keep a gratitude journal or simply list three good things each day, a positive outlook has been shown…

Kelly Lindsay, 40, has always had a strong connection with older people. From as young as nine years old, Kelly, the founder of Norfolk intergenerational charity Friend in Deed, would visit the care home near her school because she loved chatting to the residents, and her involvement with the older generation flourished after university when she volunteered for Age Concern. But the real turning point came when her beloved nan, Marga, started to become unwell with Alzheimer’s disease. Eventually Marga had to go into a home. Kelly admits it was an excellently run place with staff who were genuinely kind and caring, but she was aware that there was no interaction with people younger people were not given the opportunity to learn how to be kind and empathetic to others. Having…

My go-to remedy I’ve found that I get the most energy by dividing my day into fasting times and eating times. I’ve been keeping to the 16/8 intermittent fasting cycle for more than 35 years now. It has helped me maintain peak health and my concentration is sharp. As a doctor and author, my schedule is demanding. I find I do my best work while I’m fasting because I can really focus. During mealtimes, I make sure to give my body all the nutrients it needs, as well as the time it needs to properly digest and metabolise. My favourite meal I eat fresh veg, seasonal fruit, and each day I have a portion of legumes. I like these foods because they’re nutrient-dense, and give me the amount of fibre…

Driving into the car park, Julia could see Eric Gamble outside the entrance of Flowering Meadows Retirement Home. He was standing beneath the canopy over the front door, presumably sheltering from the rain. Julia parked, grabbed her bag from the passenger seat and scampered across. ‘Hiya, Eric!’ ‘Hello, Julia! Lovely to see you. Nice weather, isn’t it?’ ‘Well… could be worse.’ ‘But not much.’ Eric grinned. He was at least 80 and, with his wild hair and moustache, resembled Einstein. ‘Here to see Frances?’ he said. ‘Brought her some magazines and chocolate.’ Frances was Julia’s great-aunt. ‘Can’t stop long, though. My shift starts at 11.’ ‘Eh-up!’ Eric stiffened. ‘Here comes the governor.’ Julia looked round. Alma Catz, umbrella up, was stalking round the side of the building. She was rake…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr This promises to be a busy week. Pace yourself and take frequent rests to keep up your energy levels. TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Your health and physical wellbeing are the focus this week. Do what you can to take more care of your body. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun You may be feeling a bit unsettled at this time. Living with uncertainty isn’t easy, but it’s a necessary step until you find the direction you’re looking for. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul Trust and faith are your key words this week. No matter what’s happening, there is a higher force at play that is acting in your interests. LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug This is an excellent time for…