Innholdsfortegnelse for 7-Dec-2021 i Woman's Weekly

Change down the years Before my father passed away he gave me a small curio – a little locket containing six silver Georgian coins. I’ve no idea where he’d got it from; although he loved old objects, he wasn’t any kind of collector, so I imagine it was a gift from long ago. Presumably some 18th-century man or woman would have originally worn it around their neck to keep their money safe. Now, each year, we put one of the coins in our Christmas pudding, with the promise of good luck to the finder, and as a reminder of those who can no longer join us. To find out more about the quirky coin-in-the-pud tradition, have a look at page 10.…

I stand at the gate of the field andwatchRabbits scuttling home to their burrowsbefore dark.In the corner by the hedge I see anold- fashioned plough,Rusting, its working life over –discarded, not needed now.I watch as the daylight slowly fadeson this quiet autumn night,So quiet, as quiet as the wings of abarn owl on its evening flight,The silence only broken by theoccasional hoot of an owl,And in the far distance I get the quickglimpse of a fox on the prowl.The night air grows cooler, I’velingered too long.As I head home, I see the first frostbeginning to glisten o’er the fields likea thin sprinkling of snow.And suddenly, summer seems along time ago. Maureen Law, Edinburgh…

Many of us look forward to celebrating a ‘traditional’ Christmas with family and friends. But do we ever stop to consider how these long-held traditions actually came about? Here’s your chance to find out. Advent calendars Gerhard Lang, from Swabia in Germany, is considered to have invented the printed Advent calendar, and his first commercial calendar was produced in 1908. He recalled how, as a child, his mother had sewn 24 sweet treats onto the lid of a box, and he’d looked forward to being allowed to eat one each day during Advent. In 1958, the first Advent calendar containing chocolate was produced, with Cadbury’s first version in 1971. Advent calendars are now filled with scented candles, miniature drinks, toys, cosmetics and even cheese! Carol-singing A carol was originally a…

When I caught COVID at the beginning of 2020, I lost my taste and sense of smell, and was so fatigued, I couldn’t even walk to the end of the street. It took a serious toll on my mental health. I’d try to fight it, but it did impact me severely. I was still struggling months later, and was diagnosed with long COVID. By this time, I was also getting uncomfortable and persistent bowel and digestive issues. I didn’t seem to be getting better, so I started doing my own research online to find things that might help. I came across Probio7 AB21 (£22.99, for 30 capsules, probio7.com). It’s a supplement containing four live strains of bacteria, plus vitamin D3. I used to be a nurse so I was familiar…

A UK Biobank study of 502,000 people aged 37-73, spending one-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hours in daytime outdoor light, showed associations between length of light exposure and lower lifetime risks of major depressive disorder/ antidepressant use. There was also positive association with mood, sleep, greater self-reported happiness, lower neuroticism, less low mood, greater ease of getting up, fewer insomnia symptoms and tiredness. Research continues to better understand the role of light in mood and sleep pathophysiology.…

The wind might be nipping at my nose, but I feel nothing but warm. The lights laced through the streets in the Old Town are twinkling above me, the smell of sweetness from Warsaw’s paczki (rose marmalade-filled doughnuts) bakeries fills the air, and all around me are happily chattering and doing their Christmas shopping. I step off the train from Chopin airport – named for Poland’s virtuoso national hero – at the central station, and I’m immediately greeted where Christmas decorations adorn every doorway and corner. The star attraction is the panorama over the city. I pass the notorious Vodka Museum on my wander into the Old Town, where you can taste-test (and learn how to make) Polish moonshine, if you’re brave enough. Soon, wide and modern boulevards give way…

‘Now, you will take good care of Miss Tibbles? She’s a very sensitive cat.’ With a stupid name. Mark gave his best smile. ‘Yes, Aunt Jayne.’ She eyed him, suspiciously. ‘You’d better, young man. I remember when you looked after my tortoise and painted a glow-in-the-dark spot on his shell.’ ‘Ah, but you never lost him again,’ said Mark. ‘Besides, I’m older now. More responsible.’ That was true, but he feared Aunt Jayne would always see him as a small boy with grubby knees. ‘Where is the cat?’ Aunt Jayne squinted at the garden. ‘There.’ Mark looked where she was pointing and saw a black cat, half-hidden in the shrubbery. ‘Her food is here,’ said Aunt Jayne. ‘And she only drinks filtered water.’ Mark had seen the cat drink out…

New highs for Highlands Up to half-a-million acres of Scottish Highlands are set to be rewilded as part of a recently launched initiative by Trees For Life. Over 30 years, the charity aims to restore peatlands and reintroduce lost woodlands all the way from Loch Ness to Scotland’s west coast. As well as connecting habitats and boosting species diversity, the Affric Highlands project will create local employment and bring communities closer to the wonderful wildlife on their doorsteps. Find out more at treesforlife.org.uk/affric-highlands LET’S SEAL-ABRATE An adorable common seal pup found stranded on South Bay Beach has made a remarkable recovery thanks to help from a rescue team at Sea Life Scarborough. Now known as Buzzard, the rehabilitated youngster will return to Yorkshire’s coastal waters once she’s reached a healthy…

1 No wind-down routine It’s one of the most common causes of sleep problems because our modern lives constantly stimulate our brains. ‘Most of us flop into bed after a busy day without giving our brains or body a chance to unwind,’ says sleep expert Dr Neil Stanley. Try to establish a 30-minute wind-down routine each night before bed to programme yourself – mentally and physically – for sleep. Try a warm bath, meditation, yoga or listening to soothing music. It doesn’t really matter what it is, so long as it’s soothing rather than stimulating. Switch off your phone. A brightly lit screen fires up, rather than calms, your brain, and the engagement of social media or messages triggers the release of wakeful hormones such as adrenaline and dopamine. Write…

SALTED CARAMEL PECAN PRETZEL HOUSE Fed up of gingerbread houses? Our cake take is easier to assemble than you think and the ultimate centrepiece. SERVES 20 ✣400g (14oz) butter ✣400g (14oz) caster sugar ✣ 8 eggs ✣325g (11oz) self-raising flour ✣1tsp baking powder ✣100g (3½oz) pecans, roughly chopped For the buttercream: ✣75g (2½oz) soft butter ✣150g (5oz) icing sugar ✣50g (1¾oz) salted caramel sauce, or caramel sauce with a pinch of sea salt flakes For the decoration: ✣150g (5oz) pretzel sticks, we used M&S ✣300g (10oz) pecans ✣3 wafer curls ✣Tube of white piping icing or some royal icing You will need: ✣1.5ltr (2½pt) loaf tin, measuring 16.5x10x8cm (6½x4x3in), greased and lined with parchment 1 Heat the oven to 180C/ Gas 4. Cream the butter and sugar together for 5…

I want a tattoo Q I’m turning 50 next birthday. I’ve always wanted a tattoo and this seems like a good time to get one. My husband says that he hates tattoos and has asked me not to have one. Surely it’s up to me what I do because it’s my body? Theresa, Guildford A Of course it is up to you what you do with your body, but remember you don’t live in isolation of others. You need to have a conversation with your husband about this and find out why he feels the way he does, and then tell him the reason you want a tattoo. Once you understand each other’s viewpoints, one of you may change your mind. If not, you will need to make your decision…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit ages 6-12 (12-18) (18-24) months. Actual chest measurements 58 (62) (65) cm/22¾ (24½) (25½) in. Length to shoulder 29 (32) (35) cm/11½ (12½) (13¾) in. Side seam 18 (20) (22) cm/7 (8) (8¾) in. Sleeve seam 19 (22) (24) cm/7½ (8½) (9½) in. MATERIALS 100g (282m) balls of Emu Classic DK; 1 ball in Red (Ruby 120) and 1 (2) (2) balls in Cream (102)*. Pair each of 3.25mm (No. 10) and 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; stitch holders; stitch markers; 8 (8) (9) buttons. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 22 stitches and 30 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over stocking stitch, using 4mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS G-st, garter stitch; k, knit; p, purl; st(s), stitch(es); beg, beginning; patt, pattern; rep, repeat; ss, stocking stitch…

For 1-7 December with Bracha Goldsmith yourastrologysigns.com ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr This is an exciting time for you. Many new opportunities are coming your way. Get ready! TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May You’re planting new seeds. It may take time for them to produce results, but know that eventually they will, and better than you could ever imagine. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun Give yourself plenty of self-care this week. Others may be tugging at your energy and you need to keep yourself strong to stay on top of things. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul Financially, new opportunities are arising all the time. Keep your eyes and ears open, and don’t be afraid to reach out and test the waters. LEO 24 Jul – 23…

It’s a wrap Do you guess how much wrapping paper you need, then cut too much or too little? Instead, use a piece of string to measure around the gift, then use its length to gauge the correct amount of paper. ✣Stop your roll unravelling between gifts, or when you’re done, by wrapping an empty toilet roll, split down one side, around it. ✣Hate wrapping? Use gift bags and add scrunched-up tissue paper to hide the present. Speed up cleaning Set yourself a limited slot to clean each room with a checklist, so that you don’t get sidetracked by tasks that aren’t essential. Prioritise the kitchen, bathroom and living room – save the whole house blitz for January. The big freeze If you’re entertaining, reorganise your freezer ahead of time…

The words eczema and dermatitis are often interchanged to mean a group of conditions causing skin to become dry and irritated. Causes include allergens (substances causing an immune response in the skin) and irritants (substances directly damaging the outer layer of skin). Atopic dermatitis, or atopic eczema, caused by allergens, is commonest, runs in families and links to other atopic conditions including asthma and hay fever. Varicose eczema (on the lower legs) is due to blood-flow problems through leg veins. On first contact with an allergen, your body becomes sensitised to it, but doesn’t react until you’re exposed to the substance again, when the skin becomes red and itchy. Allergens include plants, cosmetic ingredients (such as fragrances, preservatives, hair dye and nail products), and metals such as nickel in jewellery.…

Excuse me… Oh, whoops! Sorry,’ said Sarah as she struggled through the crowds in the cafe trying to spot her sister. She wasn’t sure whether she’d actually stepped on the scowling man’s foot, but it was hard to get anywhere without incident when your glasses were steamed up, and you were trying to carry 12 shopping bags and a winter coat. So much for being organised and doing everything online. What, with the fiasco with the parcel depot and forgetting to click the ‘deliver in time for Christmas’ button, she was just where she didn’t want to be – battling last-minute shoppers, with festive songs jangling on an endless loop. Why on earth had she agreed to meet Joanne when she still had so much to do? And where was…

THE STORY SO FAR: Following pressure from her family to ‘branch out’, Louisa signs up for a ‘Christmas prep’ evening course. However, it is overbooked and she ends up doing a DIY course instead. She is still fretting that no one seems to have remembered her approaching 45th birthday on Christmas Eve – including her teenage children Ellie and Harry, and her builder boyfriend Ben. Louisa has also been feeling off colour lately, which she talks about with her best friend Diane. Louisa puts it down to the start of the perimenopause. Still feeling ill, Louisa agrees to single-handedly run the dry-cleaners where she works. When I said I’d look after the dry-cleaners for a week, I’d forgotten how stressful the run-up to Christmas is. True, the turkey is ordered…