Innholdsfortegnelse for 21-Mar-2023 i Woman's Weekly

I’ve always been amazed by simnel cakes. The younger me was never quite so keen on eating them, as I hadn’t yet acquired a proper appreciation of marzipan, but their look and their symbolism fascinated me. Whether they had 11 balls (one for each apostle, with the obvious exception of Judas) or the rarer 12 (still no Judas, but including Jesus), this historic bake with a quirky medieval name had me captivated. Of course these days, I love eating them as much as admiring them. If you feel the same, check out our recipe on page 23. But if you’ve no time for baking, see our pick of the shop-bought ones, below.…

ALISON SHIELDS, 59 Tell us about your look I love colour and bought this pink-and-grey check coat at a Christmas fair in Harrogate. I also found the scarf there – it was such a good match. My black jeans are from Hobbs and my boots are by Sebago. What’s your favourite thing about yourself? Being 59¾ – it’s a brilliant age to be! DEBBIE METCALFE, 57 Tell us about your look My style is normally casual and comfy. Today I’m meeting a friend after work, so I’ve swapped trousers for a wrap jersey skirt from Zara worn with an M&S cashmere sweater and heeled boots from Next. So, a little dressier than usual! My camel coat was a great buy from H&M, and my bag is from M&S. What’s your…

Are you a bit of an addict when it comes to the sweet stuff? You’re not alone. Most of us eat double the recommended healthy limit*, which is bad for our teeth and waistlines, as well as raising our risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes. Take this quiz to find out how your character traits might be playing a part – and the best tactics for cutting back. The quiz 1 The hardest thing about quitting sugar is… A The cravings. B My friends always say ‘yes’ to dessert. C Controlling myself – one bite and I need the whole thing. D It makes me feel like I’m missing out. 2 There’s a buy-one-get-one-free offer on boxes of chocolates. Do you… A Buy them without a second thought.…

Jane Fonda Throughout her six-decade career, Hollywood royalty Jane has always defied her age, but these before and after looks show the transformative role a haircut can play. Although she always looks amazing, the short bob she wore to Cannes in 2018 (inset, right) wasn’t particularly modern. But with her new lighter blonde shade, on-trend side fringe and some glam curls, she looks remarkably younger. Dame Emma Thompson A block-cut bob had the double-Oscar winner looking beyond her years. The one-length, above-the-ear cut meant that her hair looked flat and her face slightly drawn. When she added some layers and height to her style in 2022, the difference was huge. Despite being a few years older and embracing her gorgeous greys, the ebullient star looks relaxed and renewed. Catherine O’Hara…

Help! We can’t decide about meals Q My granddaughter won’t eat all of her main meal and asks to leave the table. I let her, as I remember how unpleasant it was being forced to stay at the table until everything was eaten. But 10 minutes later, she says she’s hungry and wants a snack. I don’t want her to be hungry so I give in. My daughter is saying I give her too many snacks. I’m not sure what to do. Jo, Farnham A I think there are two parts to your question. The first is that you and your daughter need to agree on which snacks and treats are fine for you to give your granddaughter. This really is your daughter’s decision as her mother; I know grandparents…

Plate power A strong immune function is fuelled by nutritious food. Limit ready meals and unhealthy treats, and aim for a balanced diet with good hydration. ‘Eat at least five to seven fruit and vegetable servings a day, and choose fish, eggs and pulses over processed meat products,’ says nutritionist Suzie Sawyer. ✣ Eat zinc Zinc plays a role in immune health as it’s important for the development of white blood cells, which helps the body to fight infection, says GP Dr Nisa Aslam. Good sources include beef, pumpkin seeds, fortified cereals and oysters. ✣ Oily fish It’s the best source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help protect against respiratory infections. Eat at least one portion a week – tinned is as good as fresh. ✣ Seasonal veggies ‘Eating…

Chances are your skin will have taken quite a battering over winter – but, with spring finally in the air, now is the perfect time to review and revise the way you treat it. ‘Skin that’s dry and chapped isn’t getting enough moisture – and that is often as a result of the winter weather it has been exposed to,’ explains Dr Adil Sheraz of the British Association of Dermatologists. And have you noticed this is more of a problem now than it was in the past? Well, that’s no coincidence, says Dr Sheraz. ‘As you age, the barrier function on your skin becomes weaker, making it more susceptible to irritation when it comes into contact with the elements. ‘Skin is also highly sensitive to hormonal changes. Post-menopause, you may…

Q WHY DO I STILL GET HORRIBLE ALTERED TASTE AND SMELL FOLLOWING VIRAL INFECTIONS? THESE AREN’T TO DO WITH COVID, BUT THEY DID START HAPPENING AFTER I HAD IT IN 2021. A During COVID infection, around half of people report altered taste and smell (parosmia). Oddly, though, about 25-75% develop it while in the recovery phase – even months afterwards, especially when suffering from another viral illness. It’s not known what triggers it, but it can also be caused by the common cold or influenza, head trauma, medications, and neurologic diseases such as Parkinson’s. It is thought that the nasal nerve receptors are damaged, changing your perception of smell, which affects taste. It’s usually temporary, as 90% regain smell within two years. Patients who are female and younger seem to…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Your energy may come in waves right now. Be sensitive to your body’s needs, and you’ll stay in balance and accomplish a great deal. TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Ready for a change? Be prepared to try out fresh ideas and meet people. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun Your internal world is very important. Make sure you devote periods in your day to reflective thinking. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul This can be an exciting week filled with new possibilities. Envision what you want to create and it may well manifest quite quickly! LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug It’s essential to speak out when needed. If you can’t, don’t let your emotions…

The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden (£16.99, HB, Penguin) It’s 1852 and young widow Margaret Lennox gladly takes a position as governess to Louis at Hartwood Hall. Isolated from the village, the country house is a strange dwelling. Figures melt into the shadows and mystery shrouds Louis’ mother. Though Margaret finds respite in a relationship with the gardener, she is convinced something sinister lurks within the walls. A creepy, captivating gothic mystery. The Close by Jane Casey (£14.99, HB, HarperCollins) Behind closed doors, sinister secrets lurk in the neat suburban houses of Jellicoe Close. While children play in the street and friendly residents chatter away, a criminal with murderous plans lies in wait. Going undercover as an unassuming couple, DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent move into…

Coleen Nolan has done some scary things in her time. She’s sung in public since she was a toddler. She’s broadcast live for 23 years on Loose Women. She’s survived two stays in the Big Brother house. She has also braved the frozen dangers of Dancing on Ice – and she’s even dared to bare all in The Real Full Monty. Surely baking a cake holds no fears? Coleen might have donned her apron for the new series of The Great Celebrity Bake Off in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, but the 58-year-old admits, ‘It terrified me. Leading up to it, I woke up having the worst nightmares. I don’t bake. I don’t really cook. I burn toast by looking at it.’ ‘I got bullied into it by my…

Being a grandparent is the best job in the world, and I know, having recently become one myself. You can spoil, support and nurture your grandkids and then hand them back. It brings back many memories of my own grandmother, Agnes (also known as Lillian), who was such an amazing lady. Living in a Welsh mining village in Mid Glamorgan, daughter of a coal miner and married to a coal miner, she was the centre of her community and was absolutely devoted to us kids. My mum moved from Wales to Birmingham to train to be a teacher and, having met my dad, never moved back, but we are a very close family and we would visit my gran every school holiday. ‘Any innate talent has to be nurtured, directed…

I first started experiencing symptoms of the menopause a couple of years ago, during lockdown. Firstly, I was just feeling tired all the time, with a real lack of energy. I thought I was just too busy with my job. When the brain fog started, I knew it was more than just feeling tired. I contacted my doctor to have my bloods checked, and they confirmed that I was in the early stages of menopause. I decided to find out how I could combat my issues holistically. I discovered the Doctor Seaweed’s range when listening to a podcast, and decided to try the Menopause+ capsules. They contain the health benefits of seaweed, such as managing a healthy thyroid function, as I needed focus to beat MENOPAUSE BRAIN FOG well…

We’ve teamed up with Slimming World, the UK and Ireland’s leading weight-loss organisation, to give you a delicious eating plan that will help you get back on track as winter turns into spring. It’s based around Slimming World’s flexible Food Optimising eating plan, which means you’re in control and nothing is off limits. From pasta dishes to your favourite fakeaways, there’s bound to be plenty to tickle your tastebuds while helping you shed the pounds. HOW IT WORKS Choose one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner every day and feel free to repeat any meals you particularly enjoy. ✣ Because Slimming World’s eating plan is based on the science of energy density and satiety (how filling a food is), it helps you to cut calories without having to count a…

For your liver Don’t drink over 14 units a week Why? Regularly having more than this can damage your liver – the largest organ in your body. And while it has an amazing capacity to regenerate itself, it can only do this so much. Make sure that you have at least two or three alcohol-free days each week too. For your teeth Cut back on sugar Why? ‘It’s one of the most common causes of cavities,’ says orthodontist Dr Khaled Kasem, from orthodontics chain Impress. ‘The most obvious sugary foods, such as sweets and biscuits, should be kept to a minimum. Other foods that contain less of it are easier to wash away with saliva, and are less likely to cause damage.’ Drink plenty of water too – aim for…

FLORAL CARPET Ground-cover plants not only inject low-level loveliness but, by spreading over bare soil, they prevent weeds from taking hold. For evergreen foliage with bee-friendly spring flowers, look for Pulmonaria ‘Dora Bielefeld’, which has dainty pink tubular blooms and silvery-spotted leaves, or Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’, with its mini blue spires and dark, glossy leaves. SALAD DAYS Crunchy lettuce leaves are simple to grow from seed. Plus you can choose the textures and colours you love, like frilly red ‘Lollo Rossa’ and sweet butterhead ‘Tom Thumb’. Sow a few seeds every couple of weeks in modules on a sunny windowsill and pot on when they’re big enough to handle. For quick results, ‘Cut and Come Again’ is ready to pick in about six weeks. 3 of the best… glamorous…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 89-94 (97-102) (107-112) (114-119) (122-127) cm/35-37 (38-40) (42-44) (45-47) (48-50) in. Actual measurements 100 (109) (117) (126) (135) cm/39½ (43) (46) (49½) (53) in. Side seam All sizes 36cm/14in. Length to shoulder 55 (56) (58) (59) (60) cm/21¾ (22) (23) (23¼) (23¾) in. Sleeve seam 44 (44) (45) (45) (45) cm/17¼ (17¼) (17¾) (17¾) (17¾) in. MATERIALS 9 (10) (11) (11) (12) 50g (158m) balls of King Cole Giza Cotton 4ply (100% cotton) in Turquoise (2208)*. Pair each of 2.75mm (No. 12), 3mm (No. 11) and 3.25mm (No. 10) knitting needles; stitch holder; 8 (8) (9) (9) (9) buttons. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 28 stitches and 36 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over stocking stitch, using 3.25mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS Alt, alternate; beg,…

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: Dwelling. 25 = average. More than 45 = 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. YOU CAN WORK IT OUT... 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…

It is a typical morning at Dear Towers. I am gazing at my reflection in the oven-door glass, and wondering when it was that I turned into my great-grandmother. Mr Dear is sitting at the kitchen table, working his way through a mug of coffee and the crossword. ‘Is it just me, or do you think I’m suddenly looking old?’ I said. ‘Glass slipper,’ said Mr D pensively. We will take the deep, disgruntled sigh for granted, along with the words, ‘Men, honestly!’ muttered under my breath. ‘What sort of answer is that?’ I said. ‘This could be blooming thing Cinderella lost,’ he read out, oblivious to my crow’s feet, tired eyes and skincare worries. ‘That’s the clue. Five and seven letters.’ ‘I’ve always thought I looked young for my…

For hundreds of years, beasties and mischievous fairy folk have inhabited our imaginations. Lurking in our woodlands and lakes, and along our seashores, they are said to sometimes show themselves to humans. Here are just a few of the otherworldly characters that populate our legends. Selkies While mermaids are often malevolent in folk tales, luring sailors to their doom, selkies are more likely to be gentle figures. Usually female and found in the mythology of the Northern Isles of Scotland, these shapeshifters come ashore as seals, then shed their skins to become pretty women. There’s a story that tells of a man who stole a selkie girl’s sealskin and, as a result, trapped her on land. She was compelled to marry him and they had several children. But one day…

1 SPRING FLOWERS Wear this midi dress now with a denim jacket and trainers, then switch to bare legs and sandals as the weather gets warmer. Dress, £18, sizes 8-28, George at Asda 2 SHOWER POWER Keep dry in this rain mac, which has a hood for extra protection, and a drawstring waist to create shape. Coat, £32, sizes 8-24, Nutmeg at Morrisons 3 CANDY COLOUR Add a pop of pink to your closet with this cable cardigan – great over a white T-shirt and jeans. Cardigan, £18, sizes 8-24, Nutmeg at Morrisons 4 SHAPE UP High-waisted jeans will hold in your tummy and define your waist – great for apple shapes. Jeans, £22, sizes 8-22, Tu Clothing at Sainsbury’s 5 FANCY FEET Trimmed with…

MARBLED EASTER BISCUITS Get the kids involved for a sweet gift idea that’s easier to make than it looks. PER BISCUIT 206 cals, 7g fat, 4g sat fat, 33g carbs MAKES APPROX 28 PREP 30 MINS, PLUS COOLING AND DECORATING COOK 12-25 MINS ✣ 225g cold unsalted butter, diced ✣375g plain flour, plus extra for dusting ✣ 75g cornflour ✣ ½tsp salt ✣ 125g golden caster sugar ✣ 2 medium eggs ✣ 1tsp vanilla extract ✣ Zest 1 lemon For the icing: ✣ 3 medium egg whites ✣ 500g icing sugar, sifted ✣ 1-2tsp lemon juice ✣3 different food colourings of your choice You will need: ✣ Easter-themed cookie cutters in various sizes ✣2-3 large baking trays lined with baking paper ✣Piping bag fitted with a fine writing nozzle (optional)…

Dr Gill Advice from our Woman’s Weekly doctor An unexpected vigorous jerk of the head damages the neck ligaments and tendons. It’s been strained rather then broken, but may take months to heal. Symptoms include pain, stiffness and a temporary loss of movement in the neck, plus headaches, muscle spasms and pain in the shoulders or arms. You may also experience numbness, or pins and needles, in the arms and hands, dizziness, tiredness, difficulty swallowing, blurred vision, vertigo and tinnitus. Whiplash is most common after car accidents, where a collision has jolted the head violently, or after a blow to it, such as during contact sports or a fall. Inflammation and bruising in the neck muscles won’t be obvious initially, taking six to 12 hours to develop. Pain and stiffness…

Difficulty level STITCH THE DESIGNS For the banner, mark the centre of the evenweave fabric lengthways and across the width with a line of tacking stitches. Each coloured square on the chart represents one cross-stitch worked over one block of fabric threads. The colour key shows the colour of embroidery thread to be used. When complete, remove the tacking threads and press the work face down on a towel. FABRIC BANNER Create a handmade sign to hang in your hallway YOU WILL NEED ✣ 28-count white evenweave ✣ Two 32x43cm pieces of patterned fabric ✣ Two 25x40cm pieces of wadding ✣ Bondaweb ✣ 1m pastel blue ric rac ✣ Four small pastel buttons ✣ 45cm white-painted dowel ✣ 65cm of ribbon ✣ Embroidery threads (listed in key) 1 Back your…