Innholdsfortegnelse for 21-Dec-2021 i Woman's Weekly

Star quality As a little girl, my mum was evacuated to Ilfracombe during World War Two. But what’s surprising is, so was Dame Joan Collins! And yet, 76 years after the war finished, she still has no plans to slow down and retire. Read more about our evergreen cover star on page 10. It’s never nice to have to announce a price rise, but unfortunately, because of the steep rise in costs, the normal issue of Woman’s Weekly will go up to £1.50 from the next issue (although the price of our monthly bumper issues will remain the same). On behalf of everyone who works on the magazine, I’d like to wish you all a very happy Christmas.…

SMOKED SALMON Native Hebridean Smoked Scottish Salmon, 900g, £35, scottishsalmon.com This salmon has an oaky flavour and is perfectly seasoned. The chunky strips make it a versatile option to either cook with, serve on a platter or pair with scrambled eggs for breakfast. Supermarket smoked salmon The Best Smoked Salmon, 300g, £6, Morrisons Ultra-thin slices that melt in your mouth and a pleasantly smoky flavour make this a great option if you are on a budget. READY MADE STARTER Bloody Margaret Prawn Cocktails, 2-pack, £6, Waitrose This twist on the classic is the best way to start your feast – with a gin-based jelly and prawns in a creamy sauce. Potted Shrimps, 6-pack, £28, dukeshillham.co.uk Rich, indulgent and utterly divine. TURKEY Parson’s Nose Turkey, 4-5kg, £90, Parson’s Nose This bird…

4 simple moves to help A BAD BACK Try these moves to increase flexibility in your spine Spine Curl To relieve back pain, lengthen out and realign the spine. Lie on your back with your feet hip-width apart and your knees bent. Breathe in and, on the exhale, tuck the tailbone under and lengthen out your lower back. Using your glutes, peel the spine off the mat one vertebrae at a time, until you reach a bridge position, resting your weight across the shoulders and into your feet. Inhale and roll down in reverse as you exhale back to neutral position. Cobra To help correct rounded shoulders and bad posture. Start by lying on your front with your elbows bent, hands in line with your head. Open your feet…

With travel back on our agenda after so quiz is appropriately On The Move. All the many restrictions, the theme of this year’s answers are on page 66. We hope you enjoy it! Round 1: Bicycles Cycling is ever popular, so it’s a good place to start! 1 In 1870 an English inventor created a bike with a large wheel and a small wheel. Name it. 2 This type of bike was used as the logo for a place called ‘The Village’ in which cult 1960s TV series starring Patrick McGoohan? 3 What is the annual bicycle race that takes place across mainly French territory, includes a section in the Pyrenees and Alps, and finishes at the Champs-Elysées in Paris? 4 What do you call a bike that’s designed…

Lena gazed at the Christmas tree standing at the edge of the ice rink, resplendent in all its finery. The coloured lights entwined around its branches flickered on and off, casting shadows on the opaque ice. Baubles of gold and silver twinkled underneath shimmering tinsel of red and green as skaters glided over the ice to the sound of Elvis singing Blue Christmas, and were then urged to go faster by the husky tones of Brenda Lee belting out Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. Skating was Lena’s first love, with Christmas following close behind. After weeks of pleading with her parents, they’d finally caved in and allowed her to go to the Christmas Eve session at the ice rink. She had been overjoyed – not just for the thrill of…

It’s been a long haul, with many twists and turns since the global cruise industry effectively shut down in March 2020. Cruise ships normally filled with the sound of laughter and the popping of champagne corks have lain idle, anchored off the Dorset coast, or bobbing around in a forlorn flotilla off the Bahamas. Crew, after a massive repatriation effort to fly tens of thousands home during the height of the pandemic, have had to find other jobs. Loyal passengers, ever hopeful of a revival of travel, have had to face one disappointment after another, credits for future cruises building up. Ships may have been sat empty but cruise line executives have been working flat out to find a safe way forward. New health protocols have been agreed with destinations,…

THE STORY SO FAR: Feeling under the weather, exhausted and tearful, mum of two teenagers Louisa is convinced she is going through the perimenopause. She discusses her symptoms with her friend Diane, who is dating Louisa’s brother Matthew. Diane tells Louisa’s sister Annabel that Louisa is pregnant. Louisa denies it, but her partner Ben encourages her to do a test. Louisa is reluctant and it ends in a row, after which Ben vanishes. However, a test does reveal Louisa is expecting. But has she lost Ben? She is also worried that everyone has forgotten her 45th birthday on Christmas Eve. Ben turns up on her doorstep after he learns about the baby from Diane. He is thrilled and makes Louisa beans on toast. Maybe, unlike her ex-husband Joe, who left…

A feast of colour The RSPB is calling on gardeners to brighten up their outdoor spaces with jewel-bright berries and flowers this winter, in a bid to support garden wildlife as temperatures plummet. Scarlet rowan berries make a nutritious snack for hungry waxwings (pictured), and shiny crab apples provide attractive fruit for redwings and fieldfares, while purple winter heathers are packed with pollen and nectar for bumblebees. And red holly berries are always a hit with birds. Find more easy ways to encourage wildlife at rspb.org.uk/yourdoorstep CHRISTMAS CLASSIC You will be swept away by White Christmas, Irving Berlin’s toe-tapping musical about love and friendship. It features memorable songs like Blue Skies, Sisters and, of course, the festive favourite White Christmas. Catch the UK Tour at Plymouth Theatre Royal until 11…

Tis the season to be jolly. But being busy with Christmas preparations this year in such uncertain times as we emerge from the pandemic, it’s no surprise we might start to feel a bit overwhelmed at times too. ‘It’s important that you build in me-time – with plenty of opportunities for doing what you enjoy,’ says nutritionist Rosie Millen, who specialises in stress management. Key to dampening down your stress levels is fuelling yourself with the right foods. Unwise choices will simply feed your stress, while good choices can help boost your mood and reduce anxiety. Eat happy Two key nutrients for fighting stress are protein and healthy fats. Protein foods, such as chicken, fish, quinoa and lentils, don’t affect blood glucose, which means your mood will be improved. ‘Protein…

‘The worst Christmas ended up the best’ Emma Davies, 42, is a lawyer and lives with her husband Darren, 41, and their children Toby, eight, and Chloe, four, in Exeter. Christmas has always been my favourite time of year. As a child, I dressed up as an elf with my younger brother and put on Christmas concerts. Then, when my children, Toby and Chloe, were born, I was determined to make their festive season sparkle. I’ve always been a positive person, so when I discovered a lump under my right breast in June 2019, I wasn’t worried. I felt healthy and had recently lost 3st. ‘I’m in the best shape of my life,’ I told my husband Darren, then 38. But when a mammogram and biopsy revealed I had breast…

EASY VEGGIE SAMOSAS Spiced veg, mango chutney and flaky pastry… need we say more? PER SERVING 170 cals, 6g fat, 2g sat fat, 24g carbs MAKES 24 ✣2 large potatoes (approx 400g/14oz), peeled and cut into 2.5cm (1in) cubes ✣240g bag mixed carrots, broccoli and cauliflower ✣3tbsp vegetable oil ✣ ½tsp mustard seeds ✣1 small onion ✣1 garlic clove, minced ✣1tsp fresh ginger, minced ✣75g (2½oz) frozen peas ✣1tbsp ground coriander ✣1tsp cumin seeds, bashed ✣1tsp fennel seeds, bashed ✣1tsp curry powder ✣Juice of ½ lemon ✣Small bunch fresh coriander, chopped ✣24 filo pastry sheets ✣100g (3½oz) butter, melted ✣Seeds, for sprinkling ✣Mango chutney, to serve You will need: ✣Baking tray lined with greaseproof paper 1 Cook the potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water for 10 mins. Chop…

Christmas is full of so many pleasures and time with loved ones, yet it can also be stressful. Here’s how to create peace at home and within. Declutter spaces A good tidy-up before the holidays begin will have a positive impact on your inner peace and give you more time to enjoy yourself on festive days. Focus on communal spaces that will see the most activity at Christmas. Save the rest of the house until January! Think ahead Help feel more prepared by setting aside time to plan, bearing in mind the people and things that most matter to you. Think about gifts, menus, visits or outings, phone calls to be made and even outfits to wear. Planning creates time and space, both for self-care and in case something unexpected…

The rotator cuff is a muscle group joining the shoulder blade and arm, stabilising the shoulder. On lifting your arm, the rotator cuff tendon that connects muscles to bone passes through a narrow space called the subacromial space. Impingement occurs when the tendon rubs or catches on nearby tissue and bone on lifting the arm, causing shoulder pain, inflammation and stiffness. The pain spreads down the arm and up the neck during everyday tasks such as reaching up or carrying. Risk factors include obesity, diabetes, injury, previous tendinopathy or steroid use, rheumatological disease and ageing. Rotator cuff syndrome may start suddenly or develop gradually, often improving in weeks or months, especially with exercises; occasionally, it becomes an ongoing problem. The tendon becomes swollen, thickened or torn, due to an injury,…

I like Christmas songs, but that one…’ Jeff shuddered as Jingle Bells filled the shop. Again. ‘I love it!’ Helen replied. ‘It’s such a cheerful tune.’ ‘You wouldn’t say that if you were here six days a week. I must have heard it a thousand times.’ As the last bars faded away, Helen’s phone rang. Jeff flinched. ‘Jingle Bells! I don’t believe it,’ he said. ‘Sorry. I changed the ringtone last week, for Christmas.’ Helen hurried out the back to take the call. The toy shop was busy with last-minute present buyers so Jeff didn’t notice the next couple of times the song played. At closing time, it wasn’t only Jeff who sighed with relief. The entire shop seemed to as well. When the last customer had left, he turned…

Keen to find a new home for herself and her sons, Jack and Ned, Colleen drove up to the house knowing she wanted to live there. ‘It was near the boys’ schools in Harrogate and was in an ideal location for my business, West Barn Interiors,’ she says. ‘The house had been neglected and needed everything doing to it, but my ex-husband and I had done a lot of work on my previous home – a converted barn – so having to renovate didn’t faze me. I just wanted it all finished in time for Christmas. First steps Despite the state of the house we moved in straight away, in January 2019. The walls were painted in a ghastly yellow, the carpet was threadbare with holes on the stair treads,…

England, 1803 When Flora saw her sister sitting on the garden seat, it was a relief to see she’d remembered her gloves at least. All day, Hester had been distracted, favouring solitude over companionship, indolence over industry. Yet she added a dash of colour to the garden, in a pale emerald dress, a darker green pelisse and matching ankle boots. And those deep chestnut curls escaping from under her bonnet. Utter perfection on this, her 16th birthday. If only she could be happier. If only she would try. ‘Do you remember,’ Flora said, sitting next to her, ‘when we first came here? When we first saw this place? I was positively enchanted by it.’ She gazed around the garden, contented with its winter starkness. ‘By everything, in truth.’ Having lived…

1 Feed birds Stock up bird feeders and place them near your rose bushes – this will attract hungry birds, which in turn will eat any overwintering pests on your flowers. 2 Plant shrubs It’s the time to plant deciduous shrubs, such as bare root roses, azaleas and forsythia, as well as ornamental trees. Avoid planting in frozen or waterlogged soil. 3Monitor bulbs Keep a close eye on bulbs and corms that you are storing over the winter months. Throw away any that show signs of rot.…

BRING THE OUTDOORS IN Getting out into nature is great for mental health but if that’s tricky, bring the recharging power of plants into your home. TRY Plant Shelfie Bundle, £50 for five succulents, thelittlebotanical.com HERBAL HELPER A collection of plants named adaptogens, such as ashwagandha and rhodiola, can be beneficial, says nutritionist Lola Biggs. ‘They allow respite for the body, and can help you respond more positively to stressors and become more resilient in times of stress.’ TRY Together Health Ashwagandha Full Spectrum Extract, £9.99 for 30 capsules, ocado.com POP A MULTIVITAMIN ‘Vitamins C and D, and zinc are great for supporting a healthy immune system,’ says Boots chief pharmacist, Marc Donovan. ‘Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement if you feel you’re lacking these nutrients from your diet.’ Try:…

Have you seen this article?’ Jane’s mother-in-law demanded, the moment Jane opened the front door. ‘I haven’t been able to think of anything else since I read it!’ As Carol bustled through the front door, Jane felt her heart sink. On her day off, she’d been looking forward to dunking a few digestives in front of Homes Under the Hammer. And then getting the stepladder out to do some Christmas decorating. She followed Carol warily into the living room, hoping she wouldn’t comment on the lack of festive touches on display, beyond the wonky string of cards from organised well-wishers that had been hung over the mantelpiece. Luckily (or possibly unluckily), Carol plonked straight down on the sofa, waving a cutting from a newspaper. ‘Jane, this is of the utmost…

Bath University researchers have developed a ‘Fastball EEG test’ that measures recognition memory, allowing early Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Individuals view rapidly presented images and an electroencephalogram (EEG) assesses their brain’s automatic ability to differentiate between images based on previous exposure, such as old/new. No behavioural memory response, comprehension of the task or physical response is required, the subject passively watches the screen – the way the images are manipulated will show what their brain can or can’t do.…

I want to do this Christmas differently Q Christmas shopping increasingly becomes a chore, especially as all my family have what they need and the children are overwhelmed on the day. I suggested to my family that we stopped adult presents and I took the kids out for a treat instead. They thought that it would be a pity, as there wouldn’t be presents to open. Lily Leeds A It sounds like a lovely idea to me and something different. I wonder how you can meet everyone’s needs? If you get something consumable for the adults that they wouldn’t normally buy, they can have a treat and still open something. Maybe you could make a voucher for the children, so they have an envelope to open that lets them know…

Aries LOVE You’ve gone through deep personal changes in the past year, and you’re ready for something new in your love life. You’ll have an opportunity for more intimacy than ever before. Your heart is more open, and you are wanting harmony and stability. The coming year has many positive seeds for you to build new relationships and to renew existing ones, and the stars are favouring new, exciting couplings. Make your boundaries clear and magical synchronicity will happen. February and October are starred. FAMILY AND HOME You may find that certain family relationships need more space for growth. Focus on your inner journey and let others go their own way. That way, you will stay sane through all the changes coming. You may move home or update your existing…

Can it really be the festive season again? Wendy needed to get the Christmas decorations out of the loft. She wondered whether to attempt it on her own, but on consideration, it wasn’t worth the risk. The stepladder needed to be strategically placed at the top of the stairs. She didn’t want to bother her husband, who was engrossed in the TV, but she did need his help. ‘Martin, darling, would it be OK to get the Christmas decorations out of the loft? I’ve got the ladder out ready. I know it’s a pain, but it won’t take long.’ Martin grunted his agreement and got up. Half an hour later, all the boxes were on the landing. ‘Thanks, my love, I’ll take it from here. You go and relax.’ The…

Pearly plumes Grasses, along with herbaceous perennials that have architectural seed heads, such as Turkish sage (Phlomis russeliana), look spectacular with an outline of frost to show off their structural shapes. The 2m-high plumes of Miscanthus sinensis ‘Flamingo’ fade from pink to silvery-grey in winter, and look like outrageous quiffs. Grow this deciduous grass in full sun and well-drained soil, and cut dead leaves and stems to ground level in March. Snowy flowers When it’s gloomy and grey, white blooms catch the eye and give a cheery wave. Plant goblet-shaped hardy cyclamen, scented snowdrops and crocuses in large clumps. They will light up dull corners and bare soil under trees and shrubs, or you could cram them into pots. They’ll flower from January onwards. Another option is winter heather (Erica…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr It’s time to streamline. Get rid of anything you no longer use. Make space for the new opportunities coming. TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Financially it’s a great time for coming up with creative solutions. Collaboration could be beneficial. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun You’re in the process of letting go of the old. Don’t hold on. Release, surrender and accept whatever you cannot change. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul This is a proactive time when you can accomplish a great deal. Set yourself clear goals and every day take a baby action step. LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug Your creative abilities are in the spotlight. Get out those paints, start singing, dance to your favourite music. VIRGO 24 Aug…