Innholdsfortegnelse for 9-May-2023 i Woman's Weekly

Family memories When we were reasonably impoverished young parents, and our eldest son was under the age of one, we rented a run-down cottage on the north side of Majorca for a summer holiday. I’d never been to the island before, so we were astonished by the unexpected beauty of that coastline and its scenic villages. The break was memorable in so many ways, but not least because it was there that our son learnt to crawl, and our lives were never the same again! So, I’ve been really enjoying our latest serial, which is set in Sóller, just up the coast from where we stayed. Turn to page 50 for the next instalment.…

Claire Sweeney is Liverpool’s most famous songbird since Cilla Black, so it’s only fitting that she features in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest held on Merseyside. With 2022 runner-up the UK hosting the songfest in place of winners Ukraine, proud Liverpudlian Claire will cover the event for BBC Radio Merseyside. ‘Eurovision has been part of my life since I was a kid,’ enthuses Claire, 52, in her familiar lilt. ‘There’s a lot of musical heritage in Liverpool and I wanted to be involved in Eurovision somehow. I’ve been working on Radio Merseyside since the pandemic, hosting Claire Sweeney Meets, and this is the icing on the cake.’ Claire’s popularity is down to a mix of raw talent and relatability – she is refreshingly down to earth. In January, she earned…

I do yoga every single day – anything up to an hour. If I don’t do it, I get twitchy and I miss it. As a result, I am very supple! I am currently playing Mary in Emmerdale, a role I absolutely love. We had to do a stunt the other day on set, and they asked me if I wanted someone else to do it for me. They were concerned, as they thought my 72-year-old body wouldn’t be able to cope! They insisted on a double for the actual tumble, but the run-up and aftermath I actually found quite easy. The yoga definitely helped and I was rather impressed with myself. What’s great about Emmerdale is that they do create such amazing parts for older women. I have done…

Technology is advancing rapidly, however that doesn’t mean the machines of yesteryear don’t have an important part to play in our lives today, believes Rosie Hourihane. Rosie runs the Museum of Technology: The History of Gadgets and Gizmos, in Throckenholt, near Spalding, Lincolnshire, with her partner Trevor Cass. Here they exhibit thousands of rare and unique items dating from 1850 to 1980. Their collection traces the progress of telegraphy, telephony, warfare and communications, as well as scientific and domestic electrical equipment, which they use in reminiscence therapy – helping people with dementia by accessing long-term memories – and to wow younger visitors. ‘We have a lot of unique things here, although it’s a little bit niche!’ says Rosie, 77, a former secretary. ‘We have some great resources for the older…

IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, SEE YOUR GP 3 mistakes... We make with sunscreen 1NOT USING ENOUGH The NHS recommends adults apply two teaspoons of sunscreen when covering your head, arms and neck; two tablespoons for your entire body while in a swimsuit. Reapply it regularly too. 2FORGETTING YOUR FACE You need a broad-spectrum cream of at least SPF 30, preferably year round. Skin cancer is common on the face, including ears and neck, so don’t forget those areas. 3ONLY USING WHEN ABROAD ‘Sunburn is something that can happen all year in the UK,’ warns GP Hilary Jones. ‘Last summer, we enjoyed record temperatures. We can no longer say, “it’s only Britain, we don’t have to worry!”’ NEWSFLASH Bachelors are twice as likely to die of heart failure…

Rosie walked as if there was still purpose in her life. She went past the sweet-smelling lilac bush and the spindly raspberry plants, which looked fragile next to the resilient curled leaves and red sticks of rhubarb that had unfurled from the earth. There was a swirl of doves from a nearby cote crossing the sun in a blue sky. The sweetbay magnolia was covered in creamy white flowers, the undersides of its leaves flashing silver in the breeze. Rosie should have been thrilled by this stirring of spring life on the allotment. But this time of year was bittersweet, bringing back memories of Mike. She had lost him in the springtime. One of the hardest things had been opening the door of his shed after he’d died. His gardening…

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: Roman commander. Average = 25 More than 45 = well done Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer. CLUE: Time to get comforted, essentially missing being loved (9). EASY CLUES Across 1 Buys (9)5 Inflexible (5)8 Particle (4)9 Sight aid (10)11 Extraordinary (7)13 Washing (7)15 Egg on (9)17 Intrigues (9)19 Forgot to mention (7)21 Perceive (7)23 Terrified (10)24 Firearms (4)25 Short poem (5)26…

STEINBECK ON STAGE George and Lennie are migrants, who dream of a better life in the Great Depression era in the US. But tragedy soon leads to that vision crumbling. Catch the spellbinding stage adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel, Of Mice and Men, which was written more than 80 years ago, but with familiar subjects of migration, friendship and prejudice. ✱ On at the Leeds Playhouse from 11-27 May. Book tickets from £14 at leedsplayhouse.org.uk Seabird success Record numbers of puffins were recorded on the islands of Skomer and Skokholm off the Pembrokeshire coast last year. Almost 39,000 of these charismatic birds were counted by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, marking a 240% increase in Atlantic puffin populations there in the past 10 years. With puffin…

Like it or loathe it, there’s nothing quite like Eurovision. It’s a multi-spirited cocktail of glitz, glamour and bizarre songs, topped off by presenter Graham Norton’s spiky wit. This year, it’s our patriotic duty to spend the first half of May in front of the TV. There’s the coronation (6th), the two Eurovision semi-finals from Liverpool (9th and 11th), then the Grand Final on Saturday 13 May. HAPPY TO HOST Why is the UK holding the contest when last year’s entrant, blonde bombshell Sam Ryder (left), came second? The answer, as every good pub quiz team will know, is that the 2022 winner was Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, with their haunting hip-hop/folk song Stefania; the Russian invasion has made it impossible to hold it in their mother country. The BBC and…

1 BARGAIN BUY This conditioner combines the richness of Palmer’s famous Cocoa Butter with hair-healing biotin, to give intense nourishment while improving hair’s health. The result is shiny, bouncy locks that smell delicious. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Length Retention Conditioner, £4.99, Superdrug 2 STRENGTH TRAINING Bond-building ingredients such as those in L’Oréal’s new range help to strengthen the bonds in your hair, and can actually repair damage. This impressive pre-wash treatment is good enough to rival a much more expensive brand. L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Rescue Pre-Shampoo, £14.99, Boots 3 SMOOTH OPERATOR A leave-in conditioner is a handy extra step to keep your hair hydrated and healthy without much extra effort. This one smells heavenly, won’t weigh ends down and will prevent frizz from forming when you’re air-drying. Apply…

Mac ’n’ cheese This crowd-pleaser, with the addition of ham, has never been easier to make. SERVES 4 READY IN 30 mins ✱ 250g macaroni ✱ 125g broccoli florets, cut into 4cm pieces ✱ 30g butter ✱ 30g plain flour ✱ 2tsp English mustard powder ✱ 450ml milk ✱ 125g light garlic soft cheese ✱ 90g smoked ham, roughly chopped ✱ 30g mature Cheddar, grated ✱ 20g breadcrumbs ✱ Garden peas, to serve YOU WILL NEED ✱ Ovenproof baking dish 1 Cook the macaroni in a pan of boiling salted water for 4 mins. Add the broccoli and cook for a further 4 mins. Drain and set aside. 2 Melt the butter in a pan, and stir in the flour and mustard to make a paste. Cook for…

Antidepressants and pain relief Newer antidepressants may help with pain relief, according to recent studies. Some older medications, such as amitriptyline, have long been used in pain management, but 26 studies with more than 25,000 participants have compared newer antidepressants with a placebo. Evidence was found in 11 comparisons (seven of which looked at SNRI-type antidepressants, including duloxetine and venlafaxine), demonstrating reduction in musculoskeletal pain (chronic low back pain and osteoarthritis), fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain conditions (peripheral diabetic neuropathy). HEART NEWS Thick calcification developing around artificial heart valves increases the risk of complications, including heart block, valve leakage, aneurysm and separation of the aorta or the atrium from the ventricle. An ultrasonic calculus-disintegrator has been developed to remove calcified deposits. The portable, robust, easily sterilised, inexpensive instrument provides nebulised water…

Strawberry shortbreads Always popular, this simple combination of flavours are made for each other. MAKES 10 PREP 15 mins, plus chillingand coolingCOOK 25-30 minsFOR THE SHORTBREAD ✱ 180g plain flour ✱ 60g icing sugar ✱ 65g cornflour ✱ 180g unsalted butter ✱ Zest 1 lemon FOR THE FILLING ✱ 200ml double cream ✱ 2tbsp caster sugar ✱ 75g creme fraiche ✱ 300g strawberries, washed and sliced ✱ Icing sugar, to dust YOU WILL NEED ✱ 10 x 8cm round, fluted tartlet tins 1 Whizz the shortbread ingredients in the food processor until the mixture comes together. Divide it into 10 even-sized balls. Place one into each tartlet tin. Use your fingers to press out the dough to the base and slightly up the sides. Prick each with a fork and…

✱ Plain white table runner ✱ Masking tape ✱ Leaves ✱ Hand-sewing needle and thread ✱ Stencil brush ✱ Fabric paint in dark green 1 Start by protecting your work surface, either covering it with a wipe-clean tablecloth or newspaper. Lay the table runner on top and use masking tape to section off the areas you want to paint. 2 Arrange clean, dry leaves in each masked area – tacking them in place with needle and thread makes painting much easier. Working quickly, use a stencil brush to stipple green stencil paint inside the masked areas and around the leaf edges. 3 Allow the paint to dry completely, then remove the tape, tacking thread (if using) and leaves. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for fixing the fabric paint. Difficulty level TESTED…

MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 82 (86) (92) (97) (102) (107) (112) (117)cm/32 (34) (36) (38) (40) (42) (44) (46)in. Actual measurements 90.5 (96) (101.5) (107) (112) (118) (123) (129)cm/35½ (37¾) (40) (42) (44) (46½) (48½) (50¾)in. Length to back neck 57 (58.5) (59) (60.5) (61.5) (62.5) (63.5) (64.5)cm/22½ (23) (23¼) (23¾) (24¼) (24¾) (25) (25½)in. Side seam All sizes 37cm/14½in. Sleeve length All sizes 46cm/18in. MATERIALS 9 (10) (11) (11) (12) (12) (13) (14) 50g (112m) balls of West Yorkshire Spinners Elements (60% Lyocell, 40% wool) in Fresh Water (1106)*. Pair each of 3.25mm (No. 10), 3.75mm (No. 9) and 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; stitch holders. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 22 stitches and 28 rows, to 10x10cm, over stocking stitch, using 4mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p,…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APRTry to forget the past. Your power is in the present moment. This is a time for action and gaining forward momentum. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAYYou may have some major decisions to make. Activate your intuitive voice, which will guide you in the right direction. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUNSaying no, although not easy, is the best way to protect yourself from being overwhelmed and stressed. Put your needs first. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Don’t allow fear of failure to prevent you from moving forward. You’re stronger than you think. You can achieve your dreams by taking baby steps. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUGRemember to find the joy in the little things of life. You have a natural…

Letter of the week Honeymoon to remember The short story, Doubts in Paradise [7 February issue], reminded me of my own honeymoon, and made me chuckle. I’d asked my husband-to-be to book us a ‘surprise’, thinking we would go to a perfect destination, like in the tale. He booked us 10 days in Cyprus – which was surprising, but not half as surprising as when we discovered our hotel room only had single beds! Just like in the story, we learnt that communication is key – if you don’t say what you want, chances are you won’t get it. Jennie Gardner, Bath PAWS FOR THOUGHT My friend encouraged me to send you this photo of my dog Tyke. I adopted him from The Ark Rescue & Rehoming Centre in Ashbourne,…

1 CHEW SUGAR-FREE GUM People who chew regularly develop 28% fewer cavities than those who don’t, according to 2019 research by the Faculty of Dentistry at King’s College London. ‘The equivalent percentage for using fluoride toothpastes and supplements was 24%,’ says dental expert Professor Liz Kay, from the University of Plymouth. Just make sure you choose a sugar-free gum as part of your oral health routine. 2 Go easy on the scrubbing Brushing the plaque off your teeth is important, but scrub too hard and you’ll remove enamel too, causing sensitivity. Use medium bristles, don’t press too hard and never brush straight after eating, when acid weakens enamel. ‘Try rinsing with mouthwash or sugar-free gum after meals to bring the pH balance down,’ says Susie Lloyd from Bupa Dental Care.…

PLAYFUL PRINTS Don’t be afraid to mix your patterns to make a statement. Try teaming striped trousers with a jazzy top – all you need is a pair of red sunglasses to brighten things up! UPDATE YOUR DENIM The heavyweight jersey fabric of this loose-cut top is both cool and comfortable. Wear the bag across your body for extra style points. SPECIAL OCCASION WEAR Pop a smart white blazer over this pretty tea dress and add some chic accessories to make the perfect outfit for a summer wedding. AN EASY ALL-IN-ONE Ideal to wear for the coronation celebrations, replacing this jumpsuit’s tie belt with a patterned scarf will give it a twist.…

I struggle to be organised Q For as long as I can remember, I flit from one thing to another, and I find it hard to stay focused on anything. I’ve read a lot recently about ADHD and think that’s what I have. My family are saying I’m now trying to make an excuse for my behaviour. They mind that I’m often late and forget things. I think a diagnosis will help. Jane, Bristol AIt sounds as though you’re taking a sensible approach and that getting a diagnosis (and, if appropriate, some medication and therapy) is a good idea. Your family may not understand that you are looking for ways to solve an issue that affects both you and them. I’m sure they’ll be delighted if you find a way…

Book club A Gift of Poison by Bella Ellis (£16.99, HB, Hodder & Stoughton) Haworth, 1847. Beastly workhouse master Abner Lowood comes knocking on the Brontë sisters’ parsonage door. His wife has been poisoned, and Lowood himself has narrowly escaped an attempt on his life. He knows the quick-witted sisters Charlotte, Anne and Emily represent his only chance at tracking down the murderer. A shocking investigation ensues in the fourth and final instalment of the Brontë sisters’ crime mystery series. A sheer delight. The Birthday Girl by Sarah Ward (£9.99, PB, Canelo) Former police detective Mallory Dawson takes on a job as a night manager of a boutique hotel. The Cloister is nestled on the Welsh island of Eldey, a stunning, desolate place where nothing much happens. Until one night,…

As it’s quiet,’ said Grace, my charity shop colleague, ‘may I pop to the bookshop to get some fuses?’ ‘Fuses? When did the bookshop start selling fuses?’ ‘They don’t sell them, silly. Lovely Chris has a spare box that he’s brought in for me. I’ve run out at home and the lights keep fusing for some reason. And who keeps spare fuses?’ ‘Apart from Chris, obviously.’ ‘Obviously.’ ‘Don’t mind me. I’ll be fine. Lonely, but fine.’ The following things then happened: Grace disappeared in search of fuses. Suddenly, the shop was awash with customers. It was as if they’d been hiding outside, waiting to spring once they spotted we had a temporary staffing shortage. ‘This jacket doesn’t have a price.’ ‘I have two boxes of books in the car. Can…