Innholdsfortegnelse for 20-Jul-2021 i Woman's Weekly

Crafts from the marsh For several years, my brother and sister-in-law lived on the edge of the Somerset Levels, the low-lying area of former marshland where King Alfred supposedly burnt the cakes while hiding from the Vikings. The builders of their village knew what they were about, as it never floods, but looking out from its medieval parish church every winter, the Levels are often submerged in water. That makes it the perfect place to grow willow, which loves a bath, so for hundreds of years it’s been a centre for willow basket weaving – and happily it still is today. For more on keeping traditional crafts alive in the UK, see page 10.…

CRAFTY IDEAS I read with interest your Good to Share article about 60% of Brits redecorating their homes during lockdown. During the first lockdown I was very enthusiastic about decorating. One of my projects was to redecorate and repurpose a spare bedroom into a craft room. I bought some chalk paint and painted an old pine wardrobe, then, using a roll of retro wallpaper from the 80s, I wallpapered the panels. I was so pleased with the result, I went on to decorate a cupboard and drawers to match. I even painted the flower knobs. I’m really enjoying recycling and reusing. Pamela Andrews, Flintshire…

WHERE I’VE BEEN Go Outdoors superstore to replace camping equipment! WHO I’VE MET One of my favourite things about camping is who you get talking to in the shower block and, being from Stoke-on-Trent, you always meet someone who knows someone who went to school with Robbie Williams. This was no exception. WHAT I’VE BOUGHT A melamine dinner service of Carry on Camping scenes. Babs in her bikini; Sid James with a mallet – worth every penny! WHAT I’VE SEEN Cruella, finally. Fashion, frocks and two of my favourite Emmas (Thompson and Stone]. Wonderful!…

Like many of us, Vicki Owens, 49, still remembers exactly how she felt when Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the country was going into lockdown, amid a terrifying coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. ‘It was really scary,’ Vicki, who lives in Holyhead, on Anglesey, Wales, says. ‘I have psoriatic arthritis, and the medication I take to manage my condition represses my immune system, putting me straight into the “vulnerable” category. ‘Throwing myself into my role gave me purpose’ ‘I always knew my chronic health condition came with a few disadvantages, but being more susceptible to a killer virus during a worldwide pandemic wasn’t something I ever thought I’d need to consider,’ Vicki says. ‘A phone call with my Rheumatology department and the dreaded letter from the Welsh Government confirmed…

1 KEEP COOL Take shorter baths and showers, limited to 5-10 minutes. Use warm, not hot, water, adding bath or shower oils or emollients. 2 CLEANSE Use gentle, non-soap unscented cleansers. Dry yourself after bathing by patting your skin dry with a soft cotton towel – avoid rubbing and scratching. 3 MOISTURISE Moisturise your skin while it’s still damp, by sealing in moisture with an oil, cream or lotion. Try different products. Wear cotton clothing. 4 PROTECT Put on protective gloves if using household products. Make a diary of symptoms and triggers, such as dietary causes and chemicals.…

MEASUREMENTS Approximately 39 x 28cm/ 15½ x 11in (excluding fringe). MATERIALS 20g (43m) balls of Sirdar Happy Cotton DK (100% cotton); 1 ball in each of Fuchsia (Jammy 755), Grey (Stomp 774) and Gold (Juicy 792); 2 balls in each of Purple (Currant Bun 756), Pink (Piggy 764) and White (Dolly 761). A 4mm crochet hook; wooden dowelling approximately 35cm in length; 0.5m of thin matching ribbon. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 19 stitches and 21 rows, to measure 10 x 10cm, over double crochet, using a 4mm hook. ABBREVIATIONS St(s), stitch(es); ch, chain; dc, double crochet thus: insert hook into st, yo and pull loop through (2 loops on hook), yo and pull through 2 loops; yo, yarn over. NOTE Just one stitch is used throughout with colour…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Your answers come from inside. Take time to meditate, and to be peaceful, and your next steps will unfold easily. TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Financially you may need to make some adjustments. This is a good time for planning for the future. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun Creatively you’re being encouraged to explore what you love in more depth. You’re about to go on a new adventure. Get ready! CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul The more you appreciate what you do have in your life, the more you’ll manifest what you’re looking for. LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug Your family and friends are in focus this week. Reach out to someone who may need a bit of attention and…

MARLEY ISAAC, 69 Tell us about your look These dungarees from FatFace are a new look for me – comfy and good fun to wear. The stripe top is from M&S and my cardi is vintage Jigsaw. White trainers are Superga and I’ve had my tan leather bag for ages – it goes with everything. And the best bit of your body? My slim ankles. CAROL MACDONALD, 75 Tell us about your look I like classic, well-made clothes. My jacket came from Max&Co two years ago – the tie neck is a bit different. My top is Dior and my leggings are Joseph. The Dior trainers are four years old, and my Russell & Bromley bag is 30 and I still love it! And the best bit of your body?…

GAMBAS WITH AIOLI A tapas classic. Cooking the prawns with both their shells and heads on boosts the flavour. SERVES 6 ✣18 prawns (with head and shell on) ✣2tsp smoked paprika ✣50ml (2fl oz) extra virgin olive oil ✣2tbsp sherry vinegar For the aioli: ✣2 large garlic cloves, crushed ✣Juice of ½ lemon ✣1 egg yolk, lightly whisked ✣2tbsp light olive oil ✣2tbsp flat-leaf parsley, to serve (optional) ✣Lemon wedges, to serve 1 Toss the prawns with the paprika and set aside to marinate. For the aioli, place the garlic, lemon juice and egg yolk in a bowl. Slowly add the oil, using an electric whisk, until the mixture becomes thick and creamy. Check the seasoning and add more lemon juice or garlic if necessary. 2 Heat the oil in…

The Victory Girls by Joanna Toye (£7.99 PB, HarperCollins) Joanna Toye is back with the fifth book in her much-loved World War Two series. Set at Marlow’s Department Store, it’s spring 1944 and Lily wants to do her bit. But where does her duty lie? With her best friend Gladys facing having her baby alone and Beryl run off her feet building her bridal-hire business amid the bomb damage, it’s a busy time at the shop. But what does fate have in store for Lily? A wonderful testament to friendship as the Allied Forces push on towards victory. The Wedding Night by Harriet Walker (£14.99, HB, Hodder & Stoughton) How far would you go for friendship? That’s the question Lizzie and her best mates, Effie and Anna, have to ask…

Ask Sally Dexter if she would rather have her youth back, with all its angst and worry, and the popular Emmerdale star is very quick to answer. ‘Given the choice, I would rather keep what I have now than have that time back; I was terrible in my youth!’ she laughs. ‘They say, be a warrior, not a worrier. In my youth I was more of a worrier; now I’m more warrior!’ Sally, who has played Emmerdale matriarch Faith Dingle since 2017, has had a wonderful career spanning more than 30 years. Since winning the Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer in 1987, her credits have included acclaimed roles in West End shows as varied as Oliver!, Sister Act and Billy Elliot the Musical. But it’s now, having reached the…

“I’m emptying the shed to locate all our camping stuff. We’re off on our jollies tomorrow and we’ve not had the tent out since last July, when our five days in Dartmoor was ruined by rain. I pull out the bodyboards and windbreak, and I can smell the tent. This is not a good sign. ‘I pull out the windbreak, and I can smell the tent’ I spend the day cleaning all our kitchen stuff. I find rusted cutlery, cracked plates and chipped mugs. I pick up the cooler box and the handle comes away. The kettle houses a large spider. I stomp off upstairs to sort out the sleeping bags. We realise that our daughter seems to have grown 2ft since last year, so her sleeping bag looks no…

FLATTERING SWIMWEAR Look for swimsuits with shaping fabrics and clever ruching to help you feel body confident. High-waisted bikini bottoms have a smoothing effect, while padded cups on tops are extra supportive. For cover-ups, focus on areas you’re self-conscious about. For example, choose a loose kimono to conceal upper arms, or sarongs to skim over your middle. WEEKEND BASICS Fill your wardrobe with staples that you know suit your shape. A pair of slim-fit trousers will go with everything, while a smart blazer that falls to your hips will graze over a wider bottom. Versatile Breton tops and basic thin-knit midi dresses are reliable options that mould to curves. WAIST-CINCHING WONDERS The waist is often the narrowest part of your figure, so clothing that cinches in the middle creates an…

BISCUIT TIN BROWNIES Gooey in the middle, but with lovely crunchy bits from the biscuits. SERVES 16 ✣150g (5oz) unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing ✣300g (10oz) dark chocolate, broken into pieces ✣ 3 eggs ✣250g (9oz) caster sugar ✣2tbsp freshly brewed coffee ✣60g (2oz) plain flour ✣2tbsp cocoa powder ✣75g (2½oz) Lotus Biscoff Spread ✣16 of your favourite biscuits You will need: ✣25cm (10in) square tin, lined with parchment paper 1 Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Gently melt the butter and chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. 2 Whisk the eggs and sugar until thick and pale. Fold in the melted chocolate mixture, then the coffee. 3 Sift the flour and cocoa powder and fold into the mixture. Pour the batter into the…

YOU WILL NEED ✣45 x 56cm Vlieseline H250 medium fusible interlining ✣45 x 56cm of blue and peach cotton fabric ✣1m peach bias binding ✣ Sewing thread ✣ 2cm-wide peach button ✣ Paper and pencil ✣ Ruler ✣ Dinner plate ✣ Scissors ✣ Pins ✣ Sewing needle 1 To make the template, cut out a 28 x 45cm rectangle from the paper. Fold the paper in half lengthwise. On the side opposite the folded edge, measure and mark 23cm from the bottom. Take the plate and draw around it, from the mark to the top edge, leaving about 2.5cm from the fold. Cut out along the curved line and unfold to reveal the pattern. 2 Fuse the interlining to the peach fabric, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Using the pattern, cut…

“Sometimes it’s the little things that divide the generations. I was talking to a young friend in WHSmith the other day about nothing in particular when a man in a tweedy jacket, grey flannel trousers, brown shoes and a slightly familiar face walked past. As he turned round to ask his wife to keep up, I suddenly remembered who he reminded me of. ‘Look,’ I whispered to Jess. ‘It’s JR Hartley.’ ‘Who?’ she said. ‘JR Hartley – the man in the advertisement.’ ‘What advertisement?’ ‘Oh, the name?’ I said, putting on what passes round here for an educated accent. ‘J… R… Hartley.’ ‘Rosie,’ said Jess. ‘I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.’ It struck me later that Jess, who is in her mid-20s, wouldn’t have been born when…