Innholdsfortegnelse for 27-Jul-2021 i Woman's Weekly

Out of town Do you remember Jack Hargreaves? A TV natural, he presented a series of programmes on the countryside, and created the children’s show How. As a youngster, he seemed ancient to me, although he was probably no older than I am now, but his utterly relaxed, avuncular style made his show a big favourite of mine and all my school friends – girls and boys. However, the girls preferred the sections on horses to those on his other passion, angling, as in those days fishing seemed a rather male pursuit. Happily, as with so many things, society has moved on. Have a look at page 20 to hear more. I think Jack would have been thrilled. Editor geoffrey.palmer@futurenet.com…

Created for the cultivation and classification of medicinal plants, our beautiful botanic gardens were first known as physic gardens. Displaying the splendour of their hor ticultural specimens, these were places of wonder ment for the public – and they still are to this day , though the focus now is on conser vation and education. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Founded as a physic garden in 1670 by two doctors, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was Scotland’s busiest attraction last year, with almost half a million visitors. Even though its 10 incredible glasshouses were closed due to restrictions, people still flocked to enjoy the beautiful grounds. During the garden’s long history, one of its most famous attractions wasn’t a plant at all. Granny, a smooth sea anemone, drew the crowds between…

‘It brings out my competitive side!’ Lyn Bent, 70, is retired and lives in Sheffield. ‘That’s 10 fish,’ I teased my friend. ‘I’m definitely going to win!’ Ever since I was little, I’ve always had a bit of a competitive side, and when I’m fishing it’s no different. I am part of a women’s group who meet up every fortnight, and about once a month we take part in a group activity arranged by Maxwell Ayamba, an environmentalist who works with us. We’re always up for something new – we’ve done walking trips, horse riding and foraging. Even so, when I suggested fishing, everyone thought I was crackers. But I’ve always fancied giving it a go. Our first trip was to Aston Park Fisheries in Sheffield, in summer 2016, and…

During perimenopause, the main female hormone, oestrogen, rises and falls unevenly, in addition to fluctuating levels of other important hormones, all of which leads to a long and varied list of potential symptoms. These include fatigue, mood swings, anxiety, brain fog, poor sleep, irregular or heavy/painful periods, PMS, low libido, joint pain, weight gain and hot flushes or night sweats. But there are ways to help. ✣ Eat Hormones need a variety of nutrients to function properly, so it’s important to eat whole, nutrient-dense foods including protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. Lots of vegetables at each meal will help to crowd out not-so-healthy foods, and supply plant nutrients and fibre. Healthy fats – including avocado, oily fish, olive oil, nuts and seeds – will help to keep your blood-sugar…

I’ve been working with Louisa for ages now. She started at the sandwich shop just after I became manager, and we get on well most of the time. Only, she has always been far too interested in my private life. When we first met, she asked me all sorts of questions about my divorce, and she’s been demanding to know if I fancy anybody ever since. But I’ve never told her how I feel about Mr Egg-and-Cress because I’m scared she’ll embarrass me. It was bad enough when she told Mr Panini I was single because I used to laugh at all his jokes. Thankfully, he saw the funny side and told us cheerfully he wasn’t available because he had a husband at home. But I was mortified, and it…

My stomach lurched when I received the letter, and I almost threw it in the bin. But once I’d got over my knee-jerk reaction, I phoned Shanice. ‘Jeremy’s written to me,’ I said, my jaw tense. ‘He wants to meet up.’ ‘What? How dare he!’ My best friend’s indignation was on a par with mine, which wasn’t surprising, considering she’d been the one I’d turned to after he left. ‘He says he’s sorry.’ She made a scoffing noise. I read out his words. ‘The past year has given me time to reflect.’ I took a deep breath. ‘He says he wants to see me in person to apologise. That he’s had professional help and hasn’t gambled in months and he’s determined never to go down that road again.’ ‘Hmm, and…

Good writers create gripping plots and convincing characters, but also, often, a powerful sense of place. From windswept countryside to bustling cities, these authors all have strong links to distinctive landscapes, giving their stories a unique flavour and appeal. Thomas Hardy’s Wessex Hardy’s tales of 19th century rural life conjure bucolic images of country farms, winding rivers and pretty byways. His novels and poetry are set in a fictional Wessex – an area covering the south and south-west of England. Many of his towns are recognisably real. In The Mayor of Casterbridge, for example, Dorchester is the real ‘Casterbridge’, and in Jude the Obscure, Christminster is Oxford and Melchester is Salisbury. Dorset is the heart of Hardy Country, and both his thatched-cottage birthplace in Bockhampton and Max Gate, the Victorian…

Maybe it was a midlife crisis. I was certainly thinking about ageing. It had been so sudden – the flesh of my wrists forming into little lines, my eyes retreating. I hated it, and felt people were looking at me. They were noticing the elasticated trousers I had succumbed to, my poor attempts to adapt my make-up to an older face, the way my knees seemed to be losing their identity. I felt unattractive and – quite frankly – uninteresting. ‘Do something new,’ a friend said. ‘That helps.’ So I took a drawing class, wondering if being creative might give me a lift. It was difficult, particularly the life drawing, and I was terrible at it. But I kept going, as I’d paid for six sessions and I hadn’t money…

THE STORY SO FAR: The Jamaican wedding Kirsty has spent months planning looks set to fall apart when she finds out that Phoebe and Ash, the bride and groom, want to cancel it. She’s not surprised, as the couple have been very unenthusiastic about the whole thing. Phoebe’s parents, Linda and Fred, have spent a fortune on the wedding, so Kirsty wants Phoebe to break the news to them herself. As far as Kirsty is concerned, Phoebe and Ash’s happiness is the most important thing, but she is dreading Linda’s reaction. Their families and a large number of guests are already at the hotel, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the couple. Kirsty manages to get a seat for her partner, Will, on the same flight so he can ensure they…

Super marine Celebrate the weird and wonderful creatures of our underwater worlds this National Marine Week, from 24 July to 8 August. The Wildlife Trusts are delving into the lives of coastal wildlife – from pregnant seahorse fathers to spider crabs that decorate their shells with seaweed. Get involved across the country by going on a rock-pool ramble in Blackpool, a guided snorkel safari around Devon’s Wembury Bay and a picnic with a porpoise in Anglesey. Book ahead at wildlifetrusts.org HARROGATE HARMONIES Head to RHS Garden Harlow Carr to unwind on a summer’s evening, listening to live music, which is on every Thursday and Sunday. Or join a fascinating demonstration on beekeeping on Saturdays. Nestled in the Yorkshire countryside, the garden features heavenly floral displays, subtropical beds, lakeside trails and…

With 18 different areas based on geographical or botanical themes, there is plenty to see at this lovely garden. Opened in 1836, and covering 19 acres, the garden is home to the Grade II-listed Glass Pavilions, which house temperate zone plants. A hit with children is the Bear Pit, where real bears were kept in Victorian times. The pit is the finest surviving example in the UK, and nowadays a bear sculpture stands in tribute to its – ahem – fore-bears! ✣Free to visit; sbg.org.uk…

WHERE I’VE BEEN Home Restaurant in Leeds – a long overdue December birthday celebration for a friend. It was cancelled because of lockdown. WHAT I’VE BOUGHT Overhead midge nets with clear visors so we can see. We’re off to Scotland for a week in the summer. Fingers crossed there’s a breeze or we’ll be eaten alive! WHO I’VE MET Pals for lunch. WHO I’VE SEEN Our neighbours for a couple of drinks in the garden between thunderstorms – ha ha!…

THEY CAN BEAT LONELINESS Owning a pet offers companionship, as well as comfort and motivation, helping you to reduce your risk of depression and anxiety. THEY’RE GOOD FOR YOUR HEART Research from the American Heart Association links pets to a reduced risk of heart disease and lower levels of unhealthy cholesterol. THEY LIFT YOUR MOOD Pets raise levels of our feel-good hormones. They also help to build healthy habits and routines, such as regular exercise when walking your dog.…

Permission to speak, Sir?’ ‘Oh, very well – what is it, Jones?’ ‘It’s your moustache, Captain Mainwaring – it’s all skew-whiff, Sir. I’d like to volunteer to straighten it, Sir.’ ‘Thank you, Corporal Jones, but I am perfectly capable of straightening my own moustache.’ ‘I thought, what with you being a lady, Sir, and not greatly experienced in the wiles and stratagems of gentlemen’s moustaches…’ Elaine Farthing sighs, takes out a make-up mirror from her battledress and carefully adjusts the moustache in question. It is, after all, one of the touches – along with the little round glasses and the homemade uniform – that transform her into Captain George Mainwaring of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard. ‘Is that better, Corporal?’ ‘Very smart, Sir. Very smart,’ says Jones, played by Barry Chambers,…

Let me set the record straight. The prospect of undergoing cosmetic surgery has always filled me with misgivings. Two reasons. First of all, I’m terrified of needles. Secondly, is it right to tamper with nature in trying to regain our youthful looks? My husband, Dermot, takes the opposite viewpoint. He reckons when you hit middle age, it’s not so much tampering as enhancing nature. ‘After all, who doesn’t want to look more youthful and presentable? Come on, Hannah, admit it, I’m right.’ We’ve had so many arguments about it, I’ve lost count. I’ve even discussed it with my colleagues at work. And the majority of them are on Dermot’s side. They’ve no objection to removing the odd wrinkle and inserting a few fillers. I’ve listened patiently to what they have…

Take back control of your sleep this summer with our cooling and calming tricks and tips. Invest in your rest by making smart choices when it comes to your bed and bedding, and focus on creating a relaxing atmosphere to lull you into slumber. There are plenty of ways to improve your sleep during the summer, here’s how… 1 Start with the basics When it comes to mattresses, always invest in the best one you can afford that feels most supportive to you. If you can, test out a few before you make your choice – a decision made even easier by the 60+ night trial that most companies offer free of charge. For the best mattress that we tested, try the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress, £1,049, dreamcloudsleep.co.uk. It…

The waves crash on the distant coral reef. A gentle breeze fans my face. Above, I can hear the sound of rustling palm leaves. Below, I can feel the soft warm sand between my toes. Looking out to sea, I watch the evening sun slip below a shimmering aqua horizon. ‘And reeelaaax…’ breathes my yoga teacher Karine Kleb. It’s not difficult. I’ve never felt so calm in my life. Yoga in Witham village hall on a wet Wednesday will never be the same again! To be honest, none of my relaxation experiences will ever be the same again after my trip to Mauritius. I was staying at Heritage Le Telfair, located at the beach edge of Bel Ombre, a village in the less developed south of the island, and this…

It was Book Club night and Marion was hosting it at her house. She had bottles of white wine cooling in the fridge, red standing on the side, and she had made enough finger food for the 15 women who had said they would come. Fifteen! She couldn’t understand it. She’d been to three book clubs since moving to Duke’s Avenue six months ago, and each time, only six or seven members had turned up. Peter, Marion’s husband, had never been a natural fit in Duke’s Avenue. The residents of the other 15 houses were very sociable. Apart from the book club, there were drinks and parties and dinners and barbecues, but Peter didn’t like going to any of those things. When Marion first met him, over 20 years ago,…

1 Plant bulbs for autumn colour Autumn-flowering bulbs, such as crocus, nerine, dahlia, sternbergia and colchicum, are now ready to be planted along garden borders or in containers. 2 Refresh your pots Terracotta pots are porous and can dry out quickly due to evaporation. Dampen them regularly during hot weather so the plant roots inside are kept cool. 3 Collect cuttings Take softwood cuttings from shrubs, such as spiraea, hydrangeas and pyracantha. Choose young, flexible shoot tips, which root readily and collect early in the day.…

Ruby Wax shot to fame back in the 90s by saying the unsayable. In her raucous TV interviews with the likes of Donald Trump and Madonna, she earned legions of fans by taking the mickey out of the rich and famous. Ruby’s brash American approach made her seem utterly fearless. But it turns out that Ruby is more human than her TV alter ego. Today, Ruby admits that when the pandemic hit in 2020, she was gripped by fear. ‘I seized up in terror, where I’d see kids and I’d scream at them to keep their distance and I’d hide in bushes, thinking they were [COVID-19] carriers and they’re trying to kill me,’ admits Ruby, 68, in that trademark midwestern twang. ‘And I did hoover my house obsessively until I…

The tree You can perform this stretch facing a wall to lightly rest your hands for extra balance. 1 Stand up straight, making sure that your weight is distributed evenly through the soles of your feet. 2 Transfer all of your weight onto your right foot and place the sole of the left foot against your right inner thigh or calf, 3 with the knee pointing out to the side. Bring your hands to a prayer position. Hold for five complete breaths. Repeat on the other side. The cat This posture enhances flexibility by keeping the spine agile. The movement of the pelvis will subtly improve mobility through the hips and upper thighs too. Repeat 10 times. 1 Begin on all fours with your hands under your shoulders and your…

The time had come for a new start. Giving up wine during the week had been hard, but she’d done it. Giving up the cakes had been harder, but she’d done it. Just. Taking out the gym membership had been the hardest of all. And that was when it had all begun to unravel… It was supposed to have been a step forward, but the second Becky entered the changing rooms of the Venus and Adonis Gym and Health Club, she felt as if she had stepped back in time. ‘Becky French! Is that you?’ squealed Janice Parker. ‘We haven’t seen you since school!’ shrieked Susan Gregg. Alice Trent smiled slyly. ‘You haven’t changed a bit.’ And suddenly Becky felt unbearably self-conscious. The way she’d felt 20 years before as…

Mary looked out of the window as the taxi glided along the tree-lined avenue. Suddenly, the chateau came into view, and Mary smiled. Everything looked just as she recalled. In the hotel foyer, the cream carpet was immaculate, and Chopin’s preludes played quietly from discreetly hidden speakers. Freshly cut lily-of-the-valley sprigs had been arranged in vases. The side tables were grouped around the comfortable armchairs Mary remembered. Those chairs must be rather old now, she thought, but they had been reupholstered perfectly. ‘Welcome to the Chateau de Mayonne. How may I help you?’ the receptionist asked. ‘We have a double room booked in the name of Mason,’ Mary replied. ‘Mr Mason will arrive separately. We weren’t due to arrive until this afternoon, but…’ ‘No problem,’ the receptionist smiled. ‘May I…

Caroline found a window table in the supermarket cafe. She deserved a treat after all that shopping. Sipping gratefully at her latte, she was spreading a thick layer of butter on a toasted teacake when she spotted Henry heading over and groaned. Now the divorce was a few years behind them, they were perfectly amicable, but he still irritated her with his patronising superiority. She stared intently at her newspaper in the vain hope he would leave her alone. No such luck. ‘Caroline. How marvellous to see you!’ he boomed. ‘That looks good. Think I’ll join you, stay out of the rain for a while. Let me buy you another.’ She indicated her overflowing cup and politely declined. As he went to the counter, she sighed and folded her paper.…

Lauren stood in the doorway, enjoying the breeze coming in off the sea. Beyond the sea wall, ripples nudged at the shingle and a handful of yachts bobbed like bath toys on the sparkling water. She stepped outside and turned to face the shopfront. Though she said it herself, Gary’s Gallery was looking much better since her arrival. Gone were the salt-spray splashes and advertising flyers that had obscured the window, and the sky-blue paintwork was now fresh and clean. Suddenly, her ears pricked up at the sound of a disagreement nearby. ‘The dog looked distressed,’ said a firm man’s voice. ‘I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.’ ‘I left the window cracked open,’ came a sharper one. ‘I was only gone a minute.’ ‘Five minutes,’ the first man…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr It’s a week for shining the spotlight on you. So often you focus on others. This is your time. Pamper yourself! TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May You may receive some very good news from afar. Remember that another’s success is also yours. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun It’s all about timing this week. If it doesn’t feel quite right, wait. Patience is key. Don’t rush anything and it will all fall into place for you. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul Remember to smile, to have some fun. Sometimes you get awfully serious when it’s not necessary. You inner child wants to come out and play! LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug Your work may need to take a new direction. Don’t…