Innholdsfortegnelse for 8-Nov-2022 i Woman's Weekly

Aren’t we lucky to live on islands with such varied and beautiful landscapes? I suppose that’s partly explained by the extraordinary mixture of different geologies under our feet, causing our countryside to sometimes change radically within just a few miles. In fact, the academic study of geology largely started here for that very reason – explaining why some early periods of the earth’s existence, like the Devonian and the Cambrian, came to be named after areas of the British Isles. But as well as being beautiful, our countryside can be truly inspiring – see page 10 for how it has affected some of our most celebrated writers.…

EMI TAKO, 49 Tell us about your look My mac is Barbour, top and skirt by Spic & Span, and my trainers are Adidas by Stella McCartney. I love to be comfortable and I like easy, simple pieces in neutral colours. I was wearing jeans earlier (for work), but swapped them for this long floaty skirt, as I’m meeting a friend. I’ve added a silver bag by J&M Davidson and some pearls. And the best bit of your body My hair, as I still don’t have any grey. ELLEN McKEAG, 33 Tell us about your look I love tailoring and bought my green trouser suit at Zara. I’ve teamed it with a Cos T-shirt and Veja trainers. My mac was from Asos – the check inset panel makes it more…

It’s even more important to keep your heart in good shape when the weather takes a turn. Blood vessels in the body constrict when the temperature drops, causing the heart to pump harder, and an increase in blood pressure as the body tries to stay warm. ‘Heart attacks and angina are both more common in cold weather,’ says Dr Boon Lim, consultant cardiologist and author of Keeping Your Heart Healthy (£9.99, Penguin Life). But the good news is there are things you can do to help your heart during the winter months. With a few simple lifestyle tweaks, you’ll not only feel fitter and healthier day-to-day, you’ll also be helping to prolong your life. ‘Even a small change in nutrition or exercise can be transformative,’ says Dr Lim. ‘The heart…

THE WRAP DRESS A timeless wrap dress is a universally flattering silhouette we can always rely on. With a waist-cinching belt and a flowy skirt, it’s elegant and effortless. Experiment with bold hues and punchy prints, and team with sleek heels. THE SAVVY SHAPEWEAR It’s what underneath that counts, so create that perfect base with some smoothing shapewear. With tummy-control technology and supportive fabrics, these essentials are comfy and clever. THE BELTED JACKET The belt will pull you in at the waist to create an hourglass silhouette. From chic faux-leather styles to statement checks, layer over dresses, jeans and everything in between. THE MAGIC JEANS These everyday jeans have clever technology to help lift and sculpt your shape for a figure-enhancing fit. Whether you like a boot-cut or a straight…

Can I just tune out all the bad news? Q I read the newspaper every day and I catch the news on social media, the radio and television throughout the day. I’ve always thought it was important to be informed about the world. But these days it’s so full of dire predictions for the world economy, and the Ukraine war, that I find it all so depressing. Even if I wake up feeling quite hopeful, by the time I’ve finished breakfast, I feel miserable. I’m wondering if I should just become ignorant of world events. Lily, Berkshire A I understand that some of the news makes you feel worried and unhappy. I agree it’s important that we keep ourselves informed, but it sounds like you’re become a little too affected…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Be bold and to go for what you want. No more procrastinating! Take your first step this week. TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May You may have challenging choices to make. Look at all possible outcomes before making your final decisions. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun Financially, this can be a positive time. Focus on the abundance around you and the money will follow. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul It’s time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour. Instead of going onto the next project, wait and look at your accomplishments. LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug This is a wonderful time for planning a trip or for going on a spontaneous outing. You need a change to give you…

I’m going to sell the house,’ announced my sister Deb. ‘I want to downsize.’ Regular readers will know that Deb did very well out of a divorce. The last time I counted, her house had seven bedrooms, most of them unused since she moved in. Then there’s the garden, which is so large that you half expect David Attenborough to hurry past the rose border in hot pursuit of a herd of wildebeest. So, of course, she wants to downsize. If she wanted to upsize, she’d have to move into Blenheim Palace. ‘What’s brought this on then? I thought you loved your house.’ ‘I’ve been there a long time now. I’m getting itchy feet.’ ‘You can get antifungal powder for that.’ ‘And there’s the sheep.’ ‘The sheep? What have sheep…

A lot of people don’t know I went to drama school and acted for many years before I moved into writing for television and novels. I remember my RADA audition well – I was only 15 and it was my first time in London. I went to my audition wearing white high-heeled shoes and a skirt with a very wide belt, and a frilly underskirt – it was the late 1950s. At the theatre, I was about to throw myself on my knees to depict Saint Joan, when I stopped and asked if it would be all right if I take my shoes off? So I did, and I then asked, if I could I take my skirt off? A disembodied voice from the panel of tutors again said yes,…

Plan ahead to deal with grief THIS CHRISTMAS Christmas can be a difficult time if you’re grieving, especially if this is the first festive season you’ve spent without that someone special. But there are ways to prepare in advance so your Christmas is more about joyful memories rather than sadness. ✣ Mark their memory Think about what’s significant and meaningful to you. That might be lighting a candle or making a donation to charity. Acknowledging your grief and remembering that person can be important to help you process your loss. ✣ Make plans Where do you feel comfortable? And with who? What do you feel happy doing? Think about what you’re going to enjoy – not endure. And consider what to say no to. It’s OK to say no. ✣…

YOU WILL NEED ✣ Tape ✣ Jam jars ✣ Liquid glue ✣ Eco glitter ✣ Twine ✣ Decorations ✣ Sand or plant mica ✣ Candle 1 Tape off a section of glass at the bottom of the jam jar, apply glue and dip or shake into a pot of glitter, making sure it’s evenly covered. Allow to dry and remove the tape. 2 For extra detail, dress the top of the jam jars with a piece of twine knotted around the neck. Thread on small Christmas decorations, like a few wooden stars. 3 Fill with sand or plant mica above the glitter line and pop a candle in place. For extra wow factor, dip a large glass vase in glitter, and add sand and a pillar candle to create a…

MEASUREMENTS To fit a 45 x 45cm/18 x 18in cushion pad insert; front and back pieces measure approximately 43 x 43cm/17 x 17in before blocking. MATERIALS 2 x 100g (225m) balls of West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab DK (100% wool) in Silver Grey (137) and 1 ball in each of Crimson Red (556) and Arctic White (011)*. Pair of 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; 45cm x 45cm square cushion pad insert; optional zip fastener of appropriate length. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 22 stitches and 28 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over stocking stitch, using 4mm needles; 23 stitches and 26 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over colour pattern, using 4mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; st(s), stitch(es); ss, stocking stitch (k 1 row and p 1 row); rep,…

LINKWORDS Fit 10 words into the grid so that each links with the end of the word on its left and the beginning of the one on the right. Then unscramble the letters in the shaded squares to make a word. Clue: An informal name for an accordion or concertina (7,3). BUTTERNUTDOCUMENT SHIPJIGSAW OPENSUPPORT SIGOURNEYSOLAR LEGMOON COURTCHAINNECKBOOKMATERIALBATHBIRDADMINISTRATORLYRICALSCIENCE Wordwise You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words are allowed. There is one nine-letter word in the grid, for which the clue is: Spiky shrub. Average = 15 More than 35 = well done Crossword Try the easy or cryptic…

Letter of the week CORGIS IN COMMON While my dear husband Alan was browsing through past copies of Woman’s Weekly, he saw a corgi, called Ianto, in a photograph sent by Rosemary Martin-King [7 June issue]. He recalled that his first pet was a corgi called Ianto too, and they had some great times together as he lived in the country. Here is a photo of him with the dog, taken about 72 years ago. Jen Williams, Llanelli Look what I made Thank you for the seaside cross-stitch pattern [31 May issue]. I really enjoy cross-stitch and found this one very enjoyable to make. It also reminds me of a lovely holiday in Devon last year with our son and grandchildren. Margaret Henderson, Houghton-le-Spring Blast from the past A few…

Good writers not only create gripping plots and convincing characters but often also a powerful atmosphere of landscape. From windswept countryside to bustling cities, these authors all have strong links to distinctive areas, giving their stories an extra-special appeal. Daphne du Maurier’s Cornwall ‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again’ is the famous opening line of Daphne du Maurier’s gothic novel, Rebecca. Manderley was inspired, in part, by Menabilly, a dilapidated grand house near Fowey that the author restored and lived in for 25 years. She loved Cornwall’s rugged beauty and used actual places in her books: a real inn on Bodmin Moor for Jamaica Inn; the wooded banks of the Helford River for Frenchman’s Creek; and Tywardreath, which means ‘house on the beach/strand’ in Cornish, for…

COOL DOWN Maria Nila Silver Shot, £9.65, sallybeauty.co.uk, works in minutes to cancel out dull, brassy tones and replace with a veil of shine. GREAT CONDITION After rinsing your shampoo, apply John Frieda Shimmering Silver Conditioner, £5.99, Superdrug, to the lengths and ends. It enhances silvery hues, and smoothes unmanageable strands. GET THE GLOSS With age, our oil glands produce less sebum, which coincides with hairs turning white. This means silver hair loses its natural lustre and doesn’t offer much reflection. Finish your blow-dry with Andrew Fitzsimons Prism Shine Hair Spray Smoothing Mist, £11, Boots MASK IT Sun exposure, pollutants and heated styling tools can leave grey hair with a yellow tinge. Reinstate a cool, crisp tone with Pro:voke Touch of Silver Go: Icy Intensive Toning Hair Mask, £6.99, Superdrug…

During gastroscopy, a long, thin, flexible tube with a small camera inside is passed into your mouth, down your throat and into your stomach to view tissues and take biopsy samples, or sometimes to treat conditions. It’s performed either in a hospital day ward or an outpatient specialist centre. Generally, you’ll go home the same day. On the day, you’ll need to stop eating at least six hours before the test but may be allowed small sips of water. Bring along details of your medicines, following instructions the hospital gives you about taking them. When you arrive, a nurse or specialist will discuss what’s going to happen and any risks, they’ll ask questions about your health and medical history, then offer you something to make you more comfortable, such as…

Favourite flowers Topping the charts as the nation’s favourite bloom, a rose is the ultimate feel-good flower, gifting us colour and scent all summer long. If you’ve been thinking of buying one, now is a great time to do it. For a dizzying selection at reasonable prices, choose bare-root roses, preferably from a rose specialist. These are freshly dug from a field and sent out while dormant. They can be purchased and planted any time between now and March. Small wonders For containers, choose compact patio roses that have abundant small flowers, like ‘Queen Mother’ (50 x 50cm), which has light-pink blooms with gold stamens, set off by dark green, glossy leaves. Use terracotta or ceramic planters if possible, rather than plastic ones, which can heat up in the sun…

Bournville by Jonathan Coe (£20, HB, Penguin) The Birmingham suburb created by the chocolate manufacturers forms a backdrop to this tale of ordinary folk divided into key events in British history, from VE day in 1945 to 2020. At its heart is Mary Clarke, who progresses from child to grandmother, raising three sons who all forge different paths in life. Touching on race, gender, identity and politics, this is a tender portrayal of the state of the nation through the prism of ordinary families’ relationships. The Prisoner by BA Paris (£16.99, HB, Hodder & Stoughton) When two men violently kidnap Amelie in the middle of the night, holding her hostage, she tries everything in her power to escape from the pitch-black prison. Switching between present day and the weeks leading…