Innholdsfortegnelse for 23-Nov-2021 i Woman's Weekly

Spirit of the season Welcome to our bumper preparefor-Christmas issue. For many of us, traditions matter at this time of year. We have our own family traditions, but we also enjoy those of wider society, be it carol singers, cards and seeing friends, or for some, midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. This month sees the 110th anniversary of Woman’s Weekly, which was first published in November 1911. And throughout that time, we’ve kept the tradition of celebrating Christmas, and doing all we can to help our readers prepare for the festivities. I do hope you’ll find, with this issue, that we properly continue that tradition today.…

I make the Woman’s Weekly Christmas cake recipes for my family to enjoy at my annual Christmas party. The cakes always take centre stage as the Christmas showstopper. They are delicious, and I shall be making another creation this year! Bernie Skirt, Cumbria A few weeks before Christmas, I buy cheap supermarket olives and make a marinade with olive oil, garlic, rosemary and chillies, which I keep in the fridge. I then fill recycled jam jars with the ‘posh’ olives, and add a label and a Christmas paper napkin on top. They make great gifts to hosts you’re visiting over the festive season. Harriet Sharpe, Yorkshire I love Christmassy smells, so I press cloves into an orange, roll it in orris powder and cinnamon, then tie it in a handsome…

Who doesn’t love a panto? Singalongs, screaming ‘He’s behind you!’ and sweets thrown by the dame… And there’s fun for children too! The roots of these uniquely British shows te, a can 16th-century be traced back to the Commedia dell’ar Italian enter tainment featuring music, dance and acrobatics. In the 18th century, Commedia characters, such as Harlequin and Columbine, star ted to appear on stage in London. Early shows y, were set to music but without speech, but by the 19th centur pantomimes had evolved into theatrical extravaganzas, with elaborate scener y and fabulous costumes. The Christmas panto became – and remains to this day – a much-loved festive treat for the whole family . Here is a look at some panto classics. Jack and the Beanstalk This traditional fairy…

Jess: ‘The black jumpsuit felt so nice on. I love the sheer sleeves with the velvet belt. I’ll keep these pictures with my daughter forever’ Jane: ‘It was an amazing day getting dressed up with my family. I felt glamorous and beautiful, and I want all the outfits!’ Tina: ‘I usually wear jeans and shirts but will definitely consider buying something more glamorous for special occasions. I wish all women could do this – it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ Tillie: ‘I love my pink sparkly dress; I want to wear it on Christmas Day!’ Harriet: ‘My family all looked and felt amazing, and I’m sure we’ll all have the pictures framed to remember the fun day’…

POTTED CRAB WITH TOASTS A great starter that can also work well as a light lunch over the festive period. PER SERVING 371-278 cals, 31-23g fat, 18-13g sat fat, 5-4g carbs SERVES 6-8 ✣200g (7oz) unsalted butter ✣2cm (¾in) piece of ginger, very finely grated ✣Pinch of cayenne pepper ✣Zest of ½ lemon ✣50ml (2fl oz) white wine ✣600g (1¼lb) crabmeat (50/50 white and brown) ✣2 spring onions ✣Chopped chilli and parsley, to garnish ✣Toast, to serve You will need: ✣ 6-8 ramekins 1 In a pan, melt 130g (4¼oz) of the butter. Add the ginger, cayenne, zest and wine. Remove from the heat. Add the crab and spring onion. Mix together, being careful not to break up any large chunks of crab. 2 Divide the mix between the ramekins…

Avoid glitter Glitter loses its sparkle when you know it’s a microplastic that’s harmful to wildlife, so steer clear of cards, wrapping paper and gift bags sprinkled with it. Bin off batteries Batteries have a limited lifespan and might not be replaceable, so opt for plug-in versions of items such as fairy lights instead. Recycle existing batteries in any store that sells them. Choose plastic free Do look out for any plastic-free alternatives for festive favourites, such as Christmas crackers. Charities like Oxfam and RSPB sell eco versions.…

Blackouts can have many causes and can affect people of all ages. The commonest cause is a simple faint or vasovagal attack. Presyncope occurs when a person almost, but doesn’t actually lose consciousness, but has a reduced flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. Symptoms include feeling dizzy, light-headedness, vertigo, blurry or narrowed vision, nausea or vomiting, headache, palpitations, sweating, headache and confusion. Syncope is when a person loses consciousness as the result of reduced oxygenated blood flow to the brain. Warning signs may occur from seconds to minutes before the person blacks out, including presyncope; buzzing or ringing in the ears; a feeling of disorientation; fading vision, or feeling hot or sick. If the blood flow to the brain is reduced slowly, these warning signs can occur for a…

What do you mean, “my entry for the Christmas Tree Festival?”’ Kate queried, leaning against the counter in her mother’s coffee shop. ‘I haven’t entered.’ ‘Aunt Fiona’s the organiser,’ her sister Sophie said. ‘If you hadn’t been so busy pining because that rat Ben dumped you, you’d have known that.’ ‘I know about the festival,’ Kate retorted, tossing her blonde ponytail. ‘And I haven’t been pining.’ ‘We thought you should enter this year,’ her mother smiled. ‘It’ll take your mind off things.’ ‘I don’t even understand what a Christmas tree festival is,’ Kate sighed. ‘Why would I enter one?’ ‘They’re like flower festivals, only with Christmas trees,’ her mother explained patiently. ‘Don’t you remember last year?’ Kate guiltily recalled her family asking her to come for the weekend, but she…

Stephanie squeezed her Mercedes-Benz between the rows of cars in search of a parking space. As luck would have it, she spotted a florist’s van pulling out just ahead. Flicking on her indicator as a warning to the young lad in the souped-up Subaru behind, she manoeuvred her car into the empty space. The Subaru driver glared at her and roared past. Switching off the ignition, she gazed at the nondescript, red-brick semi opposite. ‘It’s a boy!’ screamed the blue and silver banner across the white front door. Blue and white balloons attached to the knocker bobbed in the breeze. Stephanie’s stomach clenched anxiously and, for a few moments, she actually contemplated turning her car around and heading back home. After all, her son David had made it quite clear…

Ralph grumbled, ‘I didn’t find much,’ as he came downstairs. As he strode off towards the dining room, Sally looked around sadly. She was going to miss popping to Aunt Dora’s for a chat or a game of Scrabble. Her cousin was the only family she had left. Ralph lived 20 miles away, but it might as well have been the moon, the number of times he visited. He was only there today because the house was about to be cleared and he wanted his share of the spoils. She followed him into the dining room where he was inspecting their aunt’s writing desk. ‘Be careful,’ said Sally. Ralph ignored her. He pulled the desk away from the wall, looked at the back and frowned. ‘I thought it might be…

1 Stitch the face to the trimmed outer stocking. Snip the curves. Press the seam towards the face. Pin each brown ear to a pale pink ear. Stitch the notched edges. Clip the corners and snip the curves. Turn the ears right side out. With the pale pink ears inside, fold the side edges to meet, matching the dots. Tack across the raw edges. With the pale pink ears facing the face, pin and tack the ears to the face, matching the dots and crosses. 2 Press interfacing to wrong side of the other outer stocking, matching the straight edges. Pin and stitch the outer stockings together, leaving the upper edge open. Pin and stitch the linings together, leaving the upper edge open and a gap between the notches on…

Pine marten miracle To the delight of conservationists, pine martens have returned to the south of England. New populations have been recorded on wildlife cameras hidden in the lush woodlands of the New Forest. These rare mammals were once widespread throughout Britain, but habitat loss reduced their populations to fragmented areas in the north of the UK. Forestry England will continue to monitor populations, identifying individuals by the uniquely shaped cream bib on their neck. CARBON-BUSTING COMPOST Is your compost planet-friendly? The RHS says every gardener could save over 19kg of carbon a year by making their own compost. Get a compost bin, then aim to fill it with 50% green materials (grass, weeds and kitchen vegetable waste) and 50% woody material (prunings, cardboard, dead leaves). Find out more at…

FOOLPROOF EYELINER Eyeliner applied correctly defines your eyes and Harriet’s make-up is a great example. Get it wrong, though, and it can look overdone, or like your eyes are droopy. Here’s our no-nonsense guide to perfect eyeliner… Start with a brown, grey or plum shade of eyeliner. Black tends to be too harsh for most skin tones, whereas warmer, softer shades make your eye colour pop. Apply it on the outer corners of both your top and bottom lash lines. Take a short, densely bristled eyeliner brush and blend the liner to diffuse it. This leaves a more flattering finish. Finish with a slick of black liquid liner across your top lash line. It doesn’t have to be super thick, and you don’t have to extend it out to a…

The well sat right in the middle of the large triangular green, the focal point of the village and a reminder of times gone by, when it had been the sole source of water for the village of Nether Fallow. It was covered, of course, as a safety precaution. Too many people had thought it sport to lean over the side in an attempt to hear their penny drop, though legend had it that the well was bottomless. However, it was still the recipient of people’s hopes and dreams, a circle having been left in the wooden slats that rendered it safe, and where coins were still poked through. From her vantage point behind the bar one moonlit evening, Ally looked through the open pub doorway across at the old…

1 REDUCE Loathe it? Then lose it. Sugared fruit or sherry, crackers or cards – don’t waste money and resources buying what no one wants. If asked your reasons, explain you’re trying to be more sustainable – they might follow your example. 2 REUSE Why buy gift wraps when you can simply use newspaper, magazines or brown paper. Could you rope in some children to get creative with potato print? And ditch modern plastic sticky tape in favour of old-school string, wool or ribbon, which look lovely and can be reused. 3 RECYCLE Stash any packaging you’re unsure about recycling in one box. Check later rather than during the fun of Christmas Day.…

Glasgow A friendly and artistic city, it has a reputation for fine food and drink, cultural opportunities and high streets overflowing with high-end shops. DO/SEE The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of Scotland’s most popular free attractions; glasgowlife.org.uk/museums. Or take a walking tour of the city that showcases the life, work and influence of its most famous artist and designer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh; walkingtoursin.com/mackintosh DON’T MISS The city centre has two markets displaying their festive wares. The Christmas Village at St Enoch Square (6 November-23 December) has everything from mulled wine to craft beers, alongside delicious street food and handcrafted gifts. A short stroll away is George Square Market (25 November-31 December), with vintage fairground rides, authentic German bars and live entertainment; whatsonglasgow.co.uk STAY Native Glasgow is an…

Bare all From now until February is the perfect time to plant bare-root roses. The widest choice is via mail order and prices are often more competitive than container-grown plants. Best of all, if planted now, your roses will be ready to flower in summer. To prevent roots from drying out, get them in the ground as soon as they arrive. Alternatively, store them in a bucket of moist compost until you’re ready to plant. Budding stars Few plants say ‘English summer’ as beautifully as roses. They add sumptuous flower power to borders and pots and, as most modern varieties are resistant to disease, are easy to care for. Add delicious fragrance into the mix and you can’t go wrong. Try these scented favourites: ✢ ‘Gabriel Oak’ Deep-pink blooms with…

Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED FOR EACH ELF ✣Access to a photocopier to enlarge diagram ✣Tracing paper and HB pencil ✣15cm square of skin tone cotton fabric ✣25cm square of green striped cotton fabric ✣12cm square of black or brown felt ✣30cm square of red cotton fabric ✣Black and pink stranded cotton embroidery thread ✣Matching sewing threads ✣Washable toy stuffing ✣Pink rouge and cotton bud ✣6cm of 5mm-wide elastic ✣Four 6mm white buttons (optional) ✣One 10mm bell (optional) ✣Pinking shears (optional) Finished size: 23cm tall without hat Stockists: Kona cotton fabric, £2.15 per fat quarter, Emma’s Fabric Studio (emmasfabricstudio.co.uk ). The Good Life Stripe Green fabric, £2.93 per fat quarter, The Sewing Studio (thesewingstudio.co.uk). 6mm buttons, £1 for 15; 10mm gold bells, £1 for 16, Haberdashery and More (haberdasheryandmore.co.uk). MAKING…

THE STORY SO FAR: After a weekend of deliberation, Ingrid braces herself to resign from work, despite a recent promotion offer. Undeterred by the disbelief of her manager, she completes the awkward call and is overcome with relief at the prospect of never returning to the office. Walking on the beach, Ingrid is disappointed to not see Rose but returns home rejuvenated and ready to phone her son, Ethan. Overjoyed that he’s returning home from university the following week, Ingrid allows herself to speculate on how well the year might end for her family. That evening, she broaches a new, difficult subject with her husband, Jack. They talk about her elderly father, Bob, moving in with them. During the night, unable to sleep, she sits in the lounge and is…

1 Fruit cuttings Now is the time to take 20-30cm hardwood cuttings from fruit bushes, including currants, blueberries and gooseberries. Snip horizontally just below the bud. 2 Prune trees To control their size and to ensure a good cycle of fruiting wood, prune your free-standing apple and pear trees once they are dormant. 3 Sow spring  onions For winter and spring harvests, sow hardy varieties, such as ‘Performer’, in pots. Protect them from frosts in a greenhouse or under a cloche.…

Eat cheese Yes, really! Recent research suggests that it may help cut your risk of heart disease, so there’s no need to panic at the sight of the cheeseboard this Christmas. The Swedish study, which followed participants over a 16-year period, showed those with a high intake of dairy fats had a lower risk of strokes, heart attacks and other serious circulatory events. Researchers think the fats in some dairy produce can help protect your heart. Save our sprouts! An estimated 150 million sprouts get binned over Christmas. Many of us think we don’t like them because we’ve only eaten them overcooked. So boil them quickly, or steam, or try frying with a little olive oil and garlic, and add onion, pancetta and chestnuts. ‘Sprouts are packed with vitamin C…

The winemaker Emma Rice, 47, is head winemaker at Hattingley Valley in Hampshire. She was the first woman to win the UK Winemaker of the Year award in 2014 – and she won it again in 2016. I started working in wine totally by accident. When I was at school, I worked in the local pub and, one evening, I was lucky enough to taste a Krug 1979 Champagne. From that moment on, I was hooked! When I was 29, I took a BSc in Viticulture and Oenology (the study of wines) at Plumpton College in East Sussex. Then I joined Hattingley in 2008, helping the owner, Simon Robinson, build the winery from scratch. We are now a major producer of award-winning sparkling wine. I love the variety of my…

The food-waste scheme that HELPED ME CONNECT When my husband Peter and I planned early retirement from our jobs as secondary school teachers last September we had lots of plans – taking in foreign students for the local language school, travelling and catching up with friends. But the pandemic put paid to that. Suddenly we were stuck at home, like the rest of the country. But without the usual business and structure to our days, we felt isolated and miserable. It was a difficult change. But we knew plenty had it worse. I thought volunteering would help – us as well as others – so I offered my services to the food waste app Olio. As a volunteer, I collect food about to go out of date from local…

Is this child my granddaughter? Q My son had been living with a girl for three years; they moved in together when she found she was pregnant. The daughter is now two years old. Very sadly, my son was killed in a motorbike accident. I’ve never liked the girlfriend and I’ve never been sure my son was the father. My other children say I need to stop what they call a ‘witch hunt’ and accept things as they are. My son loved ‘his’ daughter and partner. Name and address withheld A I’m very sorry for your loss and I know this must be very painful for you. Sometimes, when we’re really hurting, we lose sight of reason and find ourselves fantasising about ideas we’ve created in our mind. It’s unfortunate…

Scottish spectacular With its roaring fires, luxurious rooms and an extensive whisky menu, Kinloch Lodge on the Isle of Skye offers a decadent taste of Scottish hospitality. Its sumptuous restaurant offers the best, local seasonal ingredients the area has to offer, from freshly caught langoustine and rope-grown mussels from Loch Eishort to sea herbs and homegrown vegetables. And make the most of your fabulous surroundings by taking a ‘wilderness experience’, such as a guided foraging session. ✢ One night DB&B in a cosy double at Kinloch Lodge costs from £160pp. Wilderness experiences start from £240 for two people; kinloch-lodge.co.uk Artic explorer Search for the Northern Lights on an incredible cruise along the Norwegian coast. Get uninterrupted views of the Arctic sky at night from the vessel’s lounge, with its glass…

Four years ago, I started to lie to her I feel forgotten. Obliterated Hello, anyone at home?’ I recognise my best friend’s voice, of course. Diane and I have been besties for 33 years. We met on our first day at the local comprehensive. Thrown together through a lottery of names, we stayed together because we made each other laugh until we felt sick. Even now. Sometimes. She has a key to my house and has let herself in. I hear her drop her handbag on the hall floor. I know her habits as well as my own. Next, she’ll hang her long, multicoloured scarf on the banister (it makes her look eccentric, which she likes), she’ll shrug out of her bulky coat, throw that over the banister, too, then…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr If you break everything into bite-sized pieces you will feel much more productive. Focus on one thing at a time. TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Your love life is looking promising. Whether you are single or in a relationship, harmony can return as you open your heart. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun Your awareness is needed this week. Ensure your senses are finely tuned to what is going on around you and magic will happen. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul Home and family are the focus now. Make yourself a sacred space where you can retreat and relax. LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug It’s time for you to take on a leadership role. Be prepared to speak out for what…