Innholdsfortegnelse for 24-May-2022 i Woman's Weekly

The family business It’s funny how often our working lives are influenced by what our parents did. Many miners were the sons of miners, and bakers are the sons and daughters of bakers. And the same goes for more high-profile professions. Is it a coincidence that the famous astrophysicist from Northern Ireland, Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s father helped design a planetarium? But sometimes it’s the other way – with people determined not to pursue the same path as their parents. I was interested to read in our interview on page 8, that Emilia Fox (daughter of Edward Fox) initially resolved to never be an actor!…

The pandemic bumped last year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show into September , but this year normal service has resumed. From 24-28 May , real-life showgoers plus millions of TV viewers will be able to enjoy the much-loved annual hor ticultural treat once more. Garden inspiration Up to 142,000 visitors are expected to attend the five-day show, all eager to see 39 gardens that represent the very best in current design. And, with this year’s focus on native hedgerow, woodland and meadow plants, it’s hoped that the public will be inspired to transform their own green spaces into wildlife-friendly havens. While there’s always plenty to see, it’s the Show Gardens that draw the crowds and make the headlines. Built from scratch in just 19 days, and as large as 10 x…

The first signs of shingles include a tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin, headache or feeling generally unwell. After a few days a rash may appear, usually in a stripe around one side of the chest or abdomen, but it can appear anywhere on your body, including on your face, eyes and genitals. The rash starts as blotchy patches, which develop into itchy blisters that ooze fluid. A few days later, the blisters dry out and scab, but may last several weeks. The skin may remain painful after the rash goes. If the shingles rash is on your face, around your eye or ear, see your doctor, as it needs to be checked by an eye specialist because it could damage your sight. Shingles is caused by…

I’m completely fed up Q I’ve been feeling really down lately. As soon as I think things are improving in the world, we go through another crisis, be it COVID-19 or something else. I find it hard to shake this off and end up wasting time, and then feeling more fed up. I have seen therapists before so I’m looking for other ideas. Marcia, Stevenage A I’m an advocate of therapy and while, of course, there are other ways to cheer oneself up, I’m not sure if they solve the underlying problem. But see what appeals to you out of this list: 1 Plant some summer-flowering plants, even if they’re just in a pot. They will cheer you up as they bloom. 2 Create a warm, soothing atmosphere by getting…

Windsor Castle, Berkshire Windsor was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and is now an official residence of the Queen, her standard flying from the Round Tower whenever Her Majesty is at home. Visitors can explore the beautiful State Apartments, lined with paintings by the likes of Rembrandt, Rubens and Holbein, and be enchanted by Queen Mary’s Doll’s House, made for the wife of George V. Finish with a visit to St George’s Chapel, location of many royal weddings. Tickets from £26.50; rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle Where to stay Practically on the castle grounds, The Castle Hotel has rooms from £174 per night, castlehotelwindsor. com Hampton Court Palace, Richmond upon Thames Originally built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII’s chief minister, Hampton Court Palace became one of Henry’s most beloved…

Beloved by bees – and children who love to squeeze the flowers to make them ‘snap’ – snapdragons (Antirrhinums) are reliable plants with long-lasting, scented flower spires from June to October. ✣ Taller types, such as pink-and-peach ‘Costa Apricot’ or delicate pink ‘Appleblossom’ (both 90cm tall) make lovely cut flowers, but will need staking and regular deadheading. ✣ Shorter and sturdier, ‘Mini Cherry Cola’ (30cm tall) has dark leaves and fragrant flowers that bring a blast of rich, purple-red to patio pots or borders.…

A boost for blossoms As our spring blossom season comes to a close with hawthorn and elderflower bursting into bloom, the National Trust has vowed to boost the number of blossom trees, which are vital for supporting nature. It will be planting four million of them as part of its commitment to plant and establish 20 million trees across England, Wales and Northern Ireland by 2030. It’s also planting new traditional orchards across the UK, as its recent research revealed that there are 80% fewer traditional orchards in England and Wales than in 1900. ROLL UP, ROLL UP! Gifford Circus is touring its brand new Mexican-themed show until 19 September. Called Carpa!, which originates from the Spanish word for tent, it promises to evoke the sights and sounds of rural…

Staying fit and healthy doesn’t need to cost much in time or money. We’ve devised a simple routine to get you started, with advice from fitness expert and personal trainer Hannah Dudley (wfitness.co.uk) and physio Phil Evans (urbanbody.co.uk). All you need is 10 minutes each day to begin your journey to better fitness and wellbeing. ‘To boost your health, there are four types of exercises that you need to be doing,’ advises Hannah, ‘endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance.’ We’ve combined these in the following week of exercises. But remember… NHS advice is to do a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate (heart-rate raising) activity five days a week and two days of strength training. So aim towards that for maximum benefits. DAY ONE Child’s Pose 1 Start on your hands…

Browse the beauty, wellness, food or drink shelves and you’ll likely spot a CBD-based product. Holland & Barrett, for instance, stocks more than 200 different ones. But what is CBD and what are its benefits? Cannabidiol, not cannabis CBD stands for cannabidiol. It’s an extract from the cannabis plant. While cannabis is illegal in the UK, cannabidiol is not. This is because cannabidiol contains less than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the element that gets you high. This extremely low percentage means CBD is not addictive. Experts at the World Health Organisation, for example, report that pure cannabidiol ‘was not found to have psychoactive properties and presents no potential for abuse or dependence.’ Skincare and stress relief Humans have been using plant extracts in skincare for centuries. CBD, which is…

Interventions, like masks and distancing, intended to interrupt COVID transmission, led to striking falls in the incidence of common seasonal respiratory viral infections, plus unexpected falls in the acute exacerbation of pre-existing respiratory diseases, such as asthma and bronchitis. Many interventions may not be sustainable, but it’s worth considering how changed habits post-pandemic could help the population’s health by potentially reducing the risk posed by apparently trivial colds to vulnerable individuals.…

THE STORY SO FAR: Escaping to Cornwall on the night before her doomed wedding was the best move Ava ever made. Living in Hydrangeas, her family’s old holiday house, has brought back happy memories. Plus, the play complex she has opened in the garden has become a treasured community hub. A chance re-encounter in the sea with dishy Mark Pendower, an old childhood friend, has made her forget her vow to steer clear of men forever. To top it all, she and Auntie Beth, her late mother’s only sister and a wise confidante, have managed to lure Ava’s sister Sophie to the West Country for a few days, unbeknown to her overbearing husband Simon. Late one evening, Sophie breaks down, admitting to Ava that her marriage is miserable, but she’s…

It’s T time This is my son Ross, posing in his Mr T jumper that I made when he was two. I surprised him by knitting it again when he was 35! I think he likes it. Elizabeth Watson, Moray Look what I made I made the owls from your recent magazine, dated 22 February, and they are the first stuffed toys I’ve ever made. I used up a lot of scrap material on the bright patches, then added a small amount of lace on their heads to give some detail. Nichola Lamb, Sunderland Important! All contributions to Woman’s Weekly must be original and NOT duplicated to other publications. £25 will be paid to the writer of the ‘Letter of the week’ for all rights in each letter printed. The…

As the star of Silent Witness, we’ve watched Emilia Fox age gracefully before our eyes. After joining the forensic pathology drama in 2004 when she was 30, during her long tenure in the role of Dr Nikki Alexander, Emilia has lived a full life on screen and off – she’s married and divorced, become a mum, and found love again. Now 47 and having matured into the role of Nikki, Emilia says she is embracing this stage of her life. Certainly, it’s looking good, with a solid career in the much-loved TV series and a new love – TV producer Jonathan Stadlen. Emilia had been married to Chernobyl actor Jared Harris between 2005 and 2010, and later had her daughter, Rose, with ex-partner and peace campaigner Jeremy Gilley. As Emilia…

Magic tape cured a lifetime of ECZEMA PAIN I’ve had eczema since I was a baby, and was admitted to hospital when very small to try and control it. I had tried everything but, while some products and medicines worked for a time, I had never found the solution to managing it totally. My eczema isn’t just itchy, it can be very painful and unsightly and causes me a lot of stress. I get it on my hands and body, and when it flares up, the tips of my fingers get really sore, split and bleed. I cover it up with clothing but that can make it worse, as scarves and gloves rub and irritate my skin. Stress and anxiety cause flare-ups and the pandemic didn’t help, as using…

Jean heard the familiar creak as the front door opened, and put down her knitting just in time to see a small dark shape fly along the hallway, past the living-room door towards the kitchen. At the front door, smiling apologetically, stood Erica. ‘Hi, Mum. Er…’ They both turned to the sound of canine paws scrabbling back. Before she knew what was happening, Jean had been pushed onto the little chair she kept in the hall. A black, fluffy dog was wriggling around on her lap and, to her horror, licking her face. ‘Oh no!’ Clutching the animal to her chest, Jean attempted to stand up and hand her back to Erica, but it was too late. Her daughter was already halfway down the garden path. ‘It’s only for a…

Jolly hollyhocks These lofty cottage-garden classics are covered in pretty saucer-shaped flowers in shades of pink, cream, apricot and red, from early summer to autumn. They’re perfect at the back of a sunny border, but allow them room to breathe. They need good air circulation to prevent rust, a fungal disease that produces orange-brown spots on the leaves. Easy to grow from seed or planted as plugs, they flower best in the second year of growth. ✣ For jewel-like colour, try cream-and-burgundy Alcea rosea ‘Crème de Cassis’ (1.8m tall), or rust-resistant ‘Halo Red’ (1.8m tall), which has raspberry red blooms with custard-yellow centres. Showgirls Slow-growing and long-lived, herbaceous peonies are worth the wait for their showy, scented blooms, up to 20cm across, in May to June. Their foliage is good-looking…

Tess sat at her kitchen table surrounded by friends. They were busy planning this year’s annual Oak Apple celebrations. ‘I love your poster,’ said Martina, Tess’ new neighbour. ‘Your photo of the oak looks great. Why can’t I take good pictures like that?’ ‘I had to go out early one morning to get the right light,’ Tess replied, then frowned. ‘What’s up?’ ‘Well, I’d forgotten about it, until now, but there was a man with a clipboard and thick glasses snooping around. I had to ask him to move away from the tree because I didn’t want him in the picture.’ ‘So, what did he want?’ ‘I didn’t ask,’ Tess admitted. ‘I just wanted to get my photos before it clouded over. Once he’d moved away, I forgot about him.’…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr It’s time to see the funny side of life. Don’t dwell on something unpleasant. New beginnings and opportunities are waiting for you. TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Look at the richness that’s all around you, especially in nature, and take time to appreciate it and be grateful for it every day. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun Your relationships are going through huge changes. Let them go if needed and allow new ones to come along. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul Your home will probably be the focus for you this week. Do whatever you can to make it a joy to inhabit. LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug This is the perfect time for sorting, cleaning and decluttering your space. You…