Innholdsfortegnelse for 25-Apr-2023 i Woman's Weekly

Out with the old… Our very old tumbledown home sits on the side of a hill, and had a hugely overgrown front garden, leading down to a narrow lane. We cleared a lot of undergrowth and overgrown shrubs, then, regretfully, nature also gave a helping hand by blowing down two aged trees in a gale. Suddenly, we have a number of vacancies, ideally for easy, colourful plants that might wish to take up residence. So, my attention was drawn to our feature on page 42, which is full of great ideas. By the way, look out for the next Woman’s Weekly Healthy Living magazine, which is in the shops now.…

It all started when a friend told me that a certain company had invented a new shade of green. Everyone in our postcode was talking about it. ‘What kind of green?’ I asked, as I made good work of my avocado on toast, nestled on a tastefully pale green plate. (Was this a sign?) ‘The kind of green that just says ‘I’m powerful’, she responded. ‘You know?’ I didn’t, but I felt I should. Personally, I’ve never been drawn to painting a whole room green as this is only for the very brave – but I was keen to see what this new shade offered. I tracked it down on the internet. Sure enough, it was, well, powerfully green. I immediately sent off for a sample. A few months before,…

ADVICE FROM OUR WOMAN’S WEEKLY DOCTOR Dental infection is common but often settles if mild. Symptoms include pain in the area or specifically when biting down on the affected tooth, headache, bad taste or breath, and swelling of the gums. See a dentist if you have a toothache that lasts more than two days and doesn’t go away when you take painkillers, or if you have a high temperature, pain when you bite, red gums, a bad taste in your mouth or if your cheek or jaw is swollen. Don’t go to your GP, as they won’t be able to give you dental treatment. If you feel it’s serious and immediate action is required, consider going to A&E, especially if you have toothache plus the area around your eye or…

YOU WILL NEED ✱ Sideboard ✱ Screwdriver ✱ Old sheet or cardboard ✱ Fine-grade sandpaper ✱ Masking tape ✱ Paint in four different shades ✱ Paintbrush or mini roller ✱ Varnish 1 Remove the sideboard doors, using a screwdriver, and lay them out on the floor on an old sheet or some cardboard to protect the surface beneath. 2 Plan out four equal sections on the doors and assign a paint shade to each. To achieve an ombré effect, use the darkest colour on one end of the doors and work towards the lightest colour on the other end. 3 Use fine-grade sandpaper to create a key (a slight roughness) on the surface and wipe down with a cloth to remove any dust particles. 4 Mask…

Difficulty level TESTED BY US so they work for you MEASUREMENTS Approximately 83x87cm/32¾x34¼in. MATERIALS 1 x 100g (295m) ball of Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic) in each of Purple (Magenta 1084), Pink (Pomegranate 1083), Peach (Apricot 1026), Yellow (Citron 1263), Pale Green (Pistachio 1822), Bright Green (Grass Green 1821), Pale Blue (Duck Egg 1820), Teal (Sage 1725) and Blue (Denim 1302)*. Size 4mm crochet hook; thick card for tassel making. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 4 pattern repeats and 9 rows, to measure 10x10cm, over pattern, using 4mm hook. ABBREVIATIONS Ch, chain; chsp(s), chain space(s); blo, back loop only; dc, double crochet; htr, half treble crochet; slst, slip stitch; st(s), stitch(es); yrh, yarn round hook; 4trcl, 4 treble crochet cluster stitch thus: [yrh, insert hook into st or space…

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: Five-pointed star. 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: A raincoat. Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer. CLUE: Musical instruments terribly sharp with one group of notes…

Do you come here often?’ I’ve been asked this a few times over the years, but never in a hospital waiting room. ‘Oh,’ I replied. ‘Something like every six months. Just routine. Could be worse. How about you?’ My new friend was a man in his mid-70s, at a guess. He had rather wild hair, and eyebrows that could probably be seen from space. He was wearing dark red corduroy trousers, and a V-neck pullover with holes in it. And he was very chatty. ‘I tried not to think about his waterworks’ ‘Oh, I’m always here,’ he said. ‘I might as well set up a bed in reception, and take my meals in the coffee shop. If it’s not blood tests, it’s my eyes, and then there’s the clinic for…

A KNOTTY PROBLEM Can you recognise Japanese knotweed? Knowing what to look for is important, as the invasive species spreads quickly and damages buildings. Its reddish-purple shoots emerge in spring, resembling asparagus spears, while its rolled-up dark green or red leaves open out into heart shapes with pointy tips, and flower tassels appear in late summer. If you spot it in your garden, find out how to treat it at gov.uk Baby boom The ringed plovers of Alderney have had a golden year, with a record number of fluffy chicks born at the last breeding season. This outcome is largely due to newly protected areas for nesting sites. Nine chicks from six breeding pairs fledged successfully. The population is the last in the Channel Islands, and it is hoped that…

With summer just around the corner, the UK’s historic paths and National Trails are a great way to enjoy stunning scenery and visit some famous sights. Here are a few of the trails you can take – whether it’s a leisurely stroll for part of the way or as the setting for a full-on hiking holiday. Scottish National Trail Taking in two national parks, the 537 miles of this stunning trail run the length of Scotland – from the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders in the south to Cape Wrath in the wilds of the far north. As well as taking in the capital city Edinburgh, the gentler early stages pass sights such as the magnificent Melrose Abbey (pictured), founded in the 12th century. Further north, the glens and…

1 CHILL OUT Skin icing has many benefits – around the eyes, it will soothe and de-puff. Keep Botanics Ice Rollers, £16, Boots, in the fridge, then massage around the eye socket first thing, after applying an eye cream to help the globes to glide. 2 WAKE-UP CALL Like a double espresso for tired eyes, PS… Caffeine Eye Serum, £3.50, Primark, stamps out signs of fatigue. Caffeine is the star ingredient, and kick-starts sluggish circulation to help drain excess fluid so bags look less puffy. 3 ENERGY BOOST Skin cells get lazy as we get older. The decrease in cell activity spreads to newer surrounding cells, accelerating the ageing process. Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Triple Correction Eye Cream, £30, Boots, has ingredients that help to stop the spread. Haritaki extract…

I’m a people pleaser Q I always take on too much and say yes to people. I struggle to say no unless I have a good reason. I find myself feeling resentful and wishing I had more time to myself, so I need to do something about it, but what? Hilary, London A You’re not alone in struggling to say no. What happens when someone asks you to do something? Do you say to yourself you want to please them – or that you don’t want to upset them? My hunch is it’s the latter. If it’s the former, you’re unlikely to feel resentful. I have a few ideas of things you can do. The first step is to work out what you want and what space you need for…

Letter of the week A salute to Cicely Many Woman’s Weekly stories bring a smile to my face, but ‘Flower Fairies’ [14 February issue] topped them all. The Book of Flower Fairies was given to me when I was five (I am 90 now!) by a wonderful aunt who shared her love of flowers with me through Cicely Mary Barker’s beautiful pictures and poems. Anyone who doesn’t know Cicely’s books should get one right away – I still enjoy mine. Valerie Ruddle, Sevenoaks PAWS FOR THOUGHT I absolutely live for my dogs. The eldest is Princess Kizzy; her daughter Rosie is the shy one. Then there’s Honey and, last but not least, Jaffa (a chocolate-orange colour, hence his name). I can’t seem to get a proper photo of the four…

‘Accepting my hearing aids took time’ Josie Gamble, 45, Founder of Gamble Designs and Christian Creative Directory and Network, lives in Wolverhampton with her husband Ben, 42, and their three daughters, aged 15, 12 and nine. ‘Hey, me too!’ I say, lifting up my hair to show the waitress my hearing aid. She touches her own, grins at me, and an understanding passes between us. In that moment, I realise I’ve finally embraced who I really am. Mum noticed my hearing loss when I was a toddler; I was diagnosed at the age of three and I received my first set of hearing aids in primary school, aged nine. I hated them instantly – it was hard to adjust and everything seemed so loud. Plus I felt embarrassed that I…

3 ways to... 1 Help tinnitus PROTECT YOUR HEARING ‘Prolonged exposure to loud sounds is the most common cause of tinnitus,’ says audiologist Rob Ormerod*. And it can aggravate symptoms too, so reduce the volume when listening to music through headphones to the lowest setting. 2 TRAIN YOUR BRAIN Cognitive behaviour therapy and muscle relaxation are techniques that can help train your brain to ignore the sound in your ears. See your GP for a tinnitus diagnosis. 3 PLAY MASKING SOUNDS White noise or waves, rain or forest sounds can distract your brain from the ringing in your ears. Have regular hearing checks – find out more at bayfieldsopticians.com NEW READ THE MIND MANUAL (£14.99, ASTER) Mental health matters! Learn how to assess yours, as well as learn some simple…

PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF WRITING 1 ADD GREENERY Pop to your local garden centre to pick up some moisture-loving houseplants that don’t mind low-light conditions. Try air plants, ferns and philodendrons to get started. Don’t fancy the upkeep? Look to faux greenery to recreate the botanical look in your bathroom. ✱ Potted faux fern, £19.99, Gisela Graham 2 BATHE IN STYLE Nothing’s better than a long, hot soak in the tub. Set up a space to relax whenever the mood strikes, with a bath rack piled with salts, oils and scrubs. Don’t forget a candle, with an aromatherapy-oil base to set the scent. ✱ Bath rack, £66, Himalayan salt glass wax warmer set, £23.99 for two, storage jar, £13.99, all wayfair.co.uk 3 UPDATE TOWELS If you don’t want to…

Great reads The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller (£16.99, HB, Fig Tree) Neffy, a patient in a sealed medical unit, wakes from illness to find a virus has wiped out almost everybody. So far, so scary. Four others have survived too – but can Neffy trust them, and what happens when their food runs out? A gripping page-turner, this apocalyptic tale is given warmth and depth by the portrayal of Neffy, a young woman with a complicated past to which she returns to escape the horrors of the present. The Half Burnt House by Alex North (£14.99, HB, Penguin) In 2000, teenager Chris Shaw survived a brutal attack, leaving him not only with physical and mental scars, but on a downward spiral into drugs and crime. Over the years,…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR This is a good time to explore new work opportunities. Do your research and you could be onto a winner. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Your home is the highlight for you right now. You may be making changes or upgrades, or simply doing a great deal of sorting out. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Creatively your energies are productive. Whatever you enjoy can be turned into a business with some focused attention. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Give yourself plenty of time between all appointments and schedules. That way you can relax if any delays occur. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG You may be planning a trip to somewhere completely different. Search out new people and exciting cultures.…