Innholdsfortegnelse for 10-Jan-2023 i Woman's Weekly

Keeping warm as toast When I was young, I’d pad around the house barefoot in the middle of winter without a second thought, happily leap into a cold bed and just wait for my body’s warmth to heat it up, or regularly go outside thinly dressed, tone-deaf to my parents’ exhortations to put on warmer layers. However, as an older adult, I’ve finally understood the error of my ways. The joys of a cosy jumper and a thick winter coat have become well-appreciated, the treat of a bed warmed by a hot-water bottle truly enjoyed, and the pleasures of a pair of slippers finally acknowledged! (Find out how to knit your own on page 47.)…

Letter of the week RAISING AWARENESS I read your feature, ‘Simple steps to boost your memory’ [27 September 2022 issue] with a heavy heart. While many of us can become forgetful, dementia is a whole different ball game. It’s cruel and doesn’t discriminate. Last year, on 21 September, World Alzheimer’s Day, my father-in-law passed away after several years of suffering with dementia. The irony was not lost on me. Thank you for your article and for highlighting when people should seek help. Justine Machin, Lancashire Look what I made Growing cacti and knitting are two of my best-loved pastimes, so I was thrilled to discover your knitted cacti project [19 July 2022 issue]. I had to make a few changes, as it’s not always possible to find the exact materials…

These days, it can often seem we’re racing to make things larger than life: the tallest skyscraper, the biggest car, the longest bridge. But big isn’t always better! From a church with six seats, to a library in a postbox, all that’s needed is a little space and a lot of imagination. Petite police station Ello, ello, ello, is that Britain’s smallest police station? Hidden away in a hollowed-out lamp post plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square, you’d be forgiven for walking straight past it. The miniature station was built in 1927, replacing a temporary police box, and arrow slits were carved in the side so the officers could peep out on toings and froings in the square. A light was placed on the top, and when the officers inside needed…

Scalp reset If your hair constantly feels greasy and weighed down, even when you’ve just washed it, your scalp may need a reset. Do this with a scalp exfoliator. By gently scrubbing your scalp, you remove excess product and dirt that could be contributing to the problem. It also stimulates blood flow, which helps feed your hair with the nutrients it needs to grow stronger and healthier. We love The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, £14.99, sephora.co.uk, which you apply with its nozzle over the scalp before shampooing. It’s packed with gentle exfoliating acids that break down residue and build-up. Use it once every few weeks or when your scalp needs extra TLC. Supplement growth If you’ve set yourself the goal of growing your hair to a certain…

There’s a whole world of podcasts waiting to be discovered, from those that will keep you entertained through long dark evenings, to series devoted to a little self-improvement. Here are some of our favourites. You’re Booked Join author Daisy Buchanan as she interviews writers, and snoops around their bookshelves to get an insight into the books and authors they love. With warm-hearted chat, guests include the likes of Adele Parks and Lucy Mangan. ✣ Available on: Acast, Apple Podcasts, Podtail, TuneIn Money Clinic with Claer Barrett If you’re mystified by mortgages or perplexed by pensions, the Financial Times consumer editor has it covered. As well as money-saving tips, you’ll discover things you didn’t know about finances, in ways that anyone can understand. ✣ Available on: Audible, Apple Podcasts, Player FM…

I’m worried about my husband’s medication Q My husband has been given medication by the GP that I think has some contraindications with another condition he has. I looked it up on the internet and told my husband, and he said he’s sure the doctor knows what he’s doing and he’s going to take them. I’m worried and wonder if I should I talk to the doctor myself. Margi, Tewkesbury A The internet has a lot to answer for. The doctor went through 10 years of training to become a GP and I’m sure you’ll agree that you’ve only been a lay research doctor for a few minutes. Remember, the internet isn’t right about everything. But that said, doctors can make mistakes, so ask your husband whether the doctor knew…

HOT CHOCOLATE There are few things more warming than a mug of hot chocolate after a winter walk. And it goes very well with a biscuit! THICK SOCKS These are my wife’s new favourite thing, and not only for the day. We like a cold bedroom, so also for night-time toes. A REAL FIRE Obviously not an option for many of us, but is there anything more cosy than sitting in front of a fire, reading a book?…

TANIA WALSH, 55 Tell us about your look It’s a cosmopolitan mix! My jacket is PJS by Parajumpers, my cords are Max Mara and my trainers are by Be Kind. Underneath I’m wearing a print jumper from Bimba Y Lola (a Spanish label), and my beret is by an Italian company, Doria. What’s your favourite thing about yourself? I have had four daughters, so I’m proud of everything. IRENA ALFIMOVA, 66 Tell us about your look Today it’s cosy and comfortable. My sweater and crop faux-leather trousers are both from Zara. I bought my oversized jacket-style coat in Lithuania. It’s perfect for shrugging on over layers and chunky jumpers. I also love these soft, neutral colours. What’s your favourite thing about yourself? I am just thankful for everything. TRACY COOPER,…

With five children, Nina Severn’s life was a busy one. For many years, her house was happy chaos, with Hannah, now 34, Laura, 33, Thomas, 28, Ellie-Mae, 25, and Hollie, 23. But as they started to leave home, moving in with partners and having children of their own, Nina’s home and her life quietened dramatically. ‘I was born to be a mum,’ says Nina, 53, from Nottinghamshire. ‘I loved everything about having children – the noise, the hustle and bustle, the school run and chatting with the other parents. We had a bouncy castle in my garden, and I’d lay out jam sandwiches, so all the children in the street would come to play.’ Nina and her children’s father split up in 2001, when Hannah was 12, and a few…

My fail-safe remedy Getting outside for a walk, tech free. If I’m feeling overwhelmed or need time to think, it’s my go-to. I like to explore different places and to watch the seasons change. Sometimes I also listen to podcasts on my walk if I need to switch my mind off. My favourite meal I love a Sunday roast, as it’s not just about the food but the occasion. It’s so comforting – something to look forward to in the dark Scottish winters together as a family. I don’t eat meat, so while my family has chicken, I’ll have salmon or a vegetarian dish, with all the trimmings. How I keep fit and healthy I walk frequently after I drop the children at school and at lunchtime. Taking part in…

LILY LOVE If the weather is mild, lay the ground for a sizzling summer display by potting up lily bulbs, like ‘Garden Party’ (H. 35cm) or ‘Mona Lisa’ (H. 45cm). Add a layer of drainage to the bottom of a deep pot, then fill one-third with peat-free compost. Arrange bulbs with their pointy ends upwards, leaving 5cm gaps between them. Cover with 10-15cm of compost, then move the pot to a frost-free place until spring. TREE-CYCLING Now the festivities are over, you can put your Christmas tree to good use (assuming it’s a real one!). Cut off the branches and lay them around borders as a mulch – this is especially beneficial for acid-loving plants, such as rhododendrons, as pine needles are slightly acidic. Or stack branches in a quiet…

Difficulty level TESTED BY USso they work for you Instructions overleaf MEASUREMENTS To fit A medium-sized female foot – size UK 5 to 6. YOU WILL NEED 1 x 100g (196m) ball of Stylecraft Special Aran (100% acrylic) in Meadow (1065)*. Pair of 5.5mm (No. 5) knitting needles; short length of matching ribbon. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 16 stitches and 23 rows, to measure 10 x 10cm, over stocking stitch, using 5.5mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; ktbl, knit through back loop of st; p, purl, skpo, slip 1 st, k 1 st, pass slipped st over knitted st (to decrease 1 st); sl, slip; st(s), stitch(es); tog, together (decrease by working as many sts together as stated); yo, yarn over (to make 1 st). NOTE To make a…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Do your best to release all expectations. You may find that things turn out much better than you could ever have anticipated! TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Pursue more of your natural talents now. You have many latent skills that are ripe for exploring. Go for it! GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun A whole new social circle can come into your life. Stay open and be prepared to make wonderful friends. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul This is a time to create positive habits. It may take discipline, but if you persist it will pay off, and you’ll feel more fulfilled and happier. LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug Bring more meaning into your world. Even just a kind word or…

Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop by Alba Donati (£14.99, HB, Orion) It sounds like a dream – and many thought it was just that – but when book publicist Alba Donati had enough of feeling like a woman on the run and instead opened a tiny bookshop in the Tuscan hills where she was born, that dream became a reality. Lucignana is home to just 180 people, but this is where she wanted her bookshop. As the saying goes, ‘If you build it, they will come’ – and they did. A life-affirming story of resilience. Age of Vice by Deepti Kappor (£20, HB, Little, Brown) This vivid read, set in Delhi in the early 2000s, follows the highs and lows of life in an Indian mafia family. Told from multiple…

LEMON AND THYME CHICKEN The garlic and herbs round the flavour in this recipe, while the lemon adds a delicate zing. PER SERVING 856 cals, 25g fat, 9g sat fat, 80g carbs SERVES 4 PREP 20 MINS COOK 1 HR 35 MINS, PLUS RESTING ✣ 2tsp thyme leaves, finely chopped, plus a few sprigs ✣2 lemons, zested, then halved ✣ 50g butter, softened ✣ 1.7kg whole chicken ✣ 4tbsp olive oil ✣ 2 x 400g tins cannellini beans, rinsed and drained ✣ 100ml white wine ✣ 400ml chicken stock ✣ 1 bay leaf ✣ 1tsp Dijon mustard ✣ 1 garlic bulb, plus 1 clove ✣ 80g spinach ✣ 1 ciabatta, halved lengthways and toasted You will need: ✣ Roasting tray ✣ Foil 1 Heat the oven to 170C Fan/Gas 5.…

Advice from our Woman’s Weekly doctor A hernia can occur anywhere in the body cavities or between tissue layers, but the commonest occur in the chest or abdominal cavities. It may cause no or few symptoms, although you may notice a swelling or lump in your abdomen or groin. The lump can often be pushed back in or disappear when you lie down. Coughing or straining may make the lump appear. See your GP if you think you have one. They’ll examine you to identify the hernia type and may refer you for an ultrasound scan to confirm it and determine whether surgery is needed. This depends on several factors, including the type of hernia and what’s in it (such as part of your bowel, fat, muscle or other tissue…

Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✣ 2.1m of 12mm natural single-twist string ✣8.4m of 5mm braided string ✣ One pair of cord ends with clasp and extension, 9mm hole ✣ Masking tape ✣ Brush or comb ✣Crochet hook/weaving needle ✣ Strong glue/glue gun ✣ Scissors PREPARATION Cut one 60cm length of 12mm natural single-twist string; one 55cm length of 12mm natural single-twist string; two 45cm lengths of 12mm natural single-twist string; three 1m lengths of 5mm braided string; and six 90cm lengths of 5mm braided string. INSTRUCTIONS 1 Plait the three 1m braided strings to make a braid about 60cm long. Temporarily fix the ends of the plait with masking tape. 2 Tie the six 90cm strings onto the middle of the braid using the lark’s head knot. 3 Take…

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: Swindler. 15 = average. More than 35 = well done SUDOKU To solve this puzzle, fill in the grid so that each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column contains the numbers 1-9. 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…

It’s a Wednesday afternoon and I am celebrating International No Chores Day, an occasion that I invented, ooh, about two hours ago. You find me curled up with a detective story in a comfortable armchair in front of a crackling log fire. There is a mug of hot chocolate – with whipped cream topping – on the floor and almost certainly too close to my feet. I should probably reach down and move it, but I’m too involved in the adventures of Lord Peter Wimsey. He and his wife, the crime novelist Harriet Vane, are in Oxford, where there have been a series of murders and near misses. All of these appear to be based on the plots of Harriet’s novels. The murders seem to be connected with a piece…