Innholdsfortegnelse for 15-Feb-2022 i Woman's Weekly

Look what I made This is my daughter’s little dog, Lola, wearing her Christmas present from me. I knitted it from a pattern entitled ‘Puppy Love’ in a recent issue [9 November 2021]. My daughter has subscribed to the magazine for me for the past few years, and this was especially welcome during lockdown. Deanne Beaver, Surrey Heart-warming Here is my son Rory enjoying a hot chocolate after a long, muddy winter walk. Emma Crane, Norwich Paws for thought My beautiful 12-year-old Tabby cat, Zoe, looks so cute posing for her photograph in the windowsill. Claire Marie Ferris, Warwickshire ✣Got a pet pic that makes you smile? We can give it a good home Get in touch WE LOVE LETTERS Woman’s Weekly, Future plc, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR…

‘Different twists help to ease different sections of your back, so they can be used to relieve lower, middle and upper back pain,’ says Eve. ‘Try this one for your lower back and hips.’ ✣ Sitting with your legs in front of you, take your left foot over your right knee. ✣ Hug the inside of your left knee with the inside of your right elbow and turn to look over your left shoulder. ✣ Hold for a few complete breaths before turning your head back. ✣ Release your right arm and left leg, pausing to notice how both sides now feel – then repeat on the other side.…

When Jenny Green, a former NHS administrator, and her husband David, both 58, downsized and escaped to the country, she pictured a tranquil life pottering in her garden, enjoying long walks or meeting neighbours for coffee. Fast-forward four years and Jenny’s days are anything but quiet. As chair and trustee of St Giles Animal Rescue, she’s at the helm of a charity helping hundreds of abandoned, displaced and abused pets every year. ‘The “rescue, rehabilitate, rehome” journey can be lengthy’ ‘When I first became involved, I had no idea what I was letting myself in for,’ says Jenny. ‘I thought I would play a part-time administrative role, but once you meet the dogs and cats and witness the desperate need, you lose your heart and you’re in it for good.’…

✢Get tested You can find out if you’re a carrier of sickle cell by having a free simple blood test. Check online at gov.uk or ask your GP. ✢Manage your lifestyle Avoid triggers by keeping hydrated, staying warm, avoiding sudden temperature changes and not smoking. Keep painkillers ready for crises. ✢Manage a crisis During a crisis, use a warm towel or a wrapped heated pad to gently massage the affected body part. Try to distract yourself with films or games. ✢Take control Finding out as much as possible about sickle cell disease helps you feel in control. Check online at sicklecellsociety.org for more information and support.…

Gardeners’ friends While no two gardens are exactly the same, in terms of soil type, how much light, shade and shelter they enjoy, and how well (or not!) they are tended, there are plants that seem to do well, whatever the situation. These ‘bulletproof’ plants – vigorous, floriferous and untroubled by pests and diseases – are good news for gardeners, leaving more time to relax and enjoy the garden. Spring stalwarts Wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae AGM) is a striking foliage plant that looks good all year and thrives in dry shade. In April, it produces yellow-lime bracts that make an eye-popping contrast with muscari or bluebells. The perennial wallflower (Erysimum ‘Bowle’s Mauve’ AGM), is a must-grow for colour, which starts in February-March and goes on to September. Grow…

So, what finally made you change your mind about having your portrait painted, Lady Graystone?’ Her Ladyship gave a small laugh. ‘Oh, come now, Sally. It seems a little silly still to be calling me Lady Graystone. Call me Vanessa. Or…’ she added, feeling a little daring, ‘Ness, if you like.’ Lady Graystone knew Sally wouldn’t be so familiar. She also knew that the artist didn’t really care about why she had finally dropped her long-held opposition to having her picture painted. It was just another tactic to keep her sitter from becoming bored or fidgety. But she needn’t have worried. Lady Graystone was quite comfortable reclining on the chaise longue as the artist painted her. And she’d found the whole process so liberating and interesting that there had never…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr This week promises to be quite intense and fast-paced. For you, this can be exciting and stimulating. Enjoy! TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Your creative skills can be amplified at this time. Do anything that gets your creative juices going. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun You may receive some good news about a work opportunity. If it involves a move, take the leap. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul You’re seeking a deeper meaning in your life. Keep looking, researching and connecting with others who are on a similar journey. LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug Looking for the positive in everything is your mission for this week. Allow nothing to mar your good mood. VIRGO 24 Aug – 23 Sep You’re…

“Do you remember the bit at the end of Open All Hours, when Mr Arkwright steps out of his shop and says something like, ‘It’s been an odd day’? Well, it’s been an odd day. It started being odd just after breakfast when Mr Dear put his head on one side, like a dog who has just been asked a difficult question (‘How am I supposed to know who won the Wimbledon Ladies’ final in 1986 – I’m a dog’). ‘What’s that strange noise?’ he said. ‘What strange noise?’ Just as he spoke there came the distant sound of, well, I couldn’t rightly say, but it sounded a bit like an elephant seal trying to summon a taxi. Not that I’ve ever heard an elephant seal trying to summon a…

SATIN SKIRT Team this slinky skirt with a chunky knit or pretty blouse for a chic look all-year round. £24.99, sizes xs-xl, lindex.com SCARLET HEELS Put your best fashion foot forward with a pair of timeless, elegant croc print slingback heels. £90, Dune London PATTERNED DRESS This pretty, flattering button-front frock will give you a confidence boost day or night. £49, sizes 8-20, Finery London at M&S…

WINNIE McFADZEAN, 61 Tell us about your look The myriad colours woven into the fabric of this tweed jacket from Walker Slater are quite amazing. My scarf is Tait & Style from Orkney and was a birthday present nearly 20 yeas ago! My jeans are Ralph Lauren from TK Maxx and the hat with my initial was a fun gift from my sister. And the best bit of your body? My legs. MARGARET OWEN, 72 Tell us about your look I love soft colours such as cream, baby blues and pale grey, as I find them more flattering than black or navy. My padded coat is by iBlues, lacy jumper by Betty & Claude from a local boutique, and the rest of my look is M&S, apart from my Primark…

“I’ve been a water baby for most of my life. Growing up in Blackburn, I learnt to swim as a kid and even swam at club level. My love of ballet and drama took over when I was 11, but I took it up again in my 20s. During theatre stints and when in TV shows like Coronation Street, my go-to place was always the swimming pool. I find that swimming is not only good for my body but for my mind too. A morning session, doing 60 lengths, often every weekday when time permitted, is part of my life, although I couldn’t manage that every day when I was in Corrie. ‘I do get pool rage from time to time’ But I have to confess that I do get…

LAKSA WITH PRAWNS A ready-made paste is a clever shortcut that takes the faff out of making this very spicy Malaysian soup. PER SERVING 470 cals, 28g fat, 21g sat fat, 35g carbs SERVES 6 ✣185g jar laksa paste ✣1ltr (1¾pts) fish stock ✣2 x 400ml cans coconut milk ✣6 garlic cloves, sliced ✣2 stalks lemongrass, split lengthways and bashed ✣Thumb-sized piece ginger, grated ✣4 spring onions, sliced ✣250g (9oz) flat rice noodles ✣200g (7oz) bean sprouts ✣225g (8oz) raw king prawns ✣Juice of 1 lime ✣3 boiled eggs ✣1 bunch coriander ✣1 red chilli, finely sliced 1 Heat the laksa paste in a large pan for 2 mins until fragrant, then add the fish stock, coconut milk, garlic, lemongrass, grated ginger and half the spring onions. Bring to the…

1 Sunset style Be inspired by the warm peachy tones of the setting sun by painting wide horizontal ombré stripes on your wall. No need to use masking tape to achieve crisp straight lines, the secret to this relaxed look is to use uneven brushstrokes where each of the three colours meet. These glowing tones are ideal for adding warmth to a north-facing room. 2 Into the blue Dulux’s colour of the year, Bright Skies™, is a fresh sky blue that will help to breathe life into gloomy rooms. Combine with bright white and a pale olive shade, and have fun using them in bold blocks of colour to add interest to your walls. Java four-seater velvet sofa in Dulux Colour of the Year Bright Skies™, £799, and Java…

MEASUREMENTS To fit chest 51 (56) (61) cm/ 20 (22) (24) in. Actual measurements 59 (65) (71) cm/23¼ (25½) (28) in. Side seam 13 (14.5) (16) cm/5¼ (5¾) (6¼) in. Length 24.5 (27.5) (30.5) cm/9¾ (11) (12) in. Sleeve seam with cuff turned back 15.5 (17) (18.5) cm/6 (6¾) (7¼) in. MATERIALS 5 (6) (7) 50g (106m) balls of Sirdar Snuggly 100% Cotton DK in Light Grey 757*. Pair each of 3.75mm (No. 9) and 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; removable stitch markers or contrast thread; 2 small stitch holders; 5 (6) (6) buttons. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 20 stitches and 41 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over garter stitch, using 3.75mm needles; 20 stitches and 36 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over moss stitch, using 4mm needles.…

A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle (£14.99, HB, Cornerstone) It’s 1924 on the cruise ship Endeavour, where a dead art dealer and a stolen painting set the scene in this murder mystery. Ship’s Officer Tim Birch is tasked with helping tetchy detective James Temple investigate the death and search for clues to the missing artwork. Can they work out the truth before they reach New York? This whodunnit oozes with an atmosphere of golden-era crime. The suspects mount up as the clock ticks down, while twists and turns cartwheel towards a blindsiding finish. The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs (£14.99, HB, Simon & Schuster) Eliza Acton had never even boiled an egg, so how did she go on to become one of the most successful cookery writers of all…

WHERE I’VE BEEN I’ve been busy working and not mixing with lots of people because of COVID rules. WHAT I’VE BOUGHT I found a fabulous iron candelabra stand. I’ve also bought a new kitchen, as we’re renovating our house! WHO I’VE MET My family, at the beginning of January, for my sister’s 50th birthday. WHAT I’VE SEEN Last year, I really loved Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime. Somebody recommended it. I wasn’t sure it was my thing but it’s very funny. I also loved the musical comedy series Schmigadoon!, which is on Apple TV.…

Many propagation techniques are very easy once you know which method suits your plants. Here’s a guide to get you growing. Leaf cuttings Begonias, kalanchoe, African violet, sansevieria and mother-in-law’s tongue Ideal for plants with lots of leaves, cuttings are done by slicing leaves into sections, dipping the cut area in hormone rooting powder, before placing the cut section in contact with the compost. Keep them moist until plants grow. You can root whole leaves of plants like begonias and African violet by cutting the veins on the underside of the leaf and placing the cut side down on the moist compost. In a few months, new plantlets will appear, which can be potted on. Offshoots Cacti and succulents Offshoots are baby shoots that grow off the main plant. When…

YOU WILL NEED ✣Four tea towels ✣Matching sewing thread ✣Scissors and pins 1 Choose four tea towels in similar sizes and colours but different patterns – checks and stripes work well together or try busy floral patterns, which can create a bold design. 2 Wash the tea towels and allow them to dry completely. Cut off any care labels and press flat. 3 Pin a pair of them with right sides together along one long edge and sew with a 1cm seam allowance. Press seams open, then repeat the same thing with the remaining pair. 4 Place the two stitched sets of tea towels right sides together and pin along one long edge. Sew with a 1cm seam allowance and press seams open. 5 Neaten up the sides of the…

Rudbeckia hits its stride in July/August, and dazzles all the way to October, with large, daisy-type flowers in rich yellows, oranges and rusty reds. Yellow-petalled ‘Goldsturm’ is one of the boldest and doesn’t need staking. Shade-loving anemones flower reliably year after year. One of the most generous is ‘September Charm’, its soft pink blooms set off by semi-evergreen leaves. Shrub-wise, evergreen Hebe stenophylla is a great all-rounder, happy in any soil or aspect, and with fragrant white flowers that arrive in July to August. Growing to 1m, it’s easily clipped into a pleasing mound or grown as a hedge.…