Innholdsfortegnelse for 3-Oct-2023 i Woman's Weekly

It’s good to talk “If you’ve never really experienced loneliness, it can be difficult to imagine how unpleasant it is. But the way of life for many in the modern world probably makes it more common today than in the past. Closer family groupings back in the day, with fewer population movements, meant that even people who had lost their lifetime partner usually had friends and relatives nearby, very frequently in the same dwelling. Nowadays that’s often not the case. The situation is even more acute in rural areas, with the loss of local shops and limited public transport. See page 64 for a great charity doing its best to help.”…

Amanda Holden is a poster girl for middle-aged women. At 52, she steals the show on Britain’s Got Talent in head-turning frocks, and is full of the energy required for her daily pre-dawn stints on Heart Radio, with enough left over to renovate houses on Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. And she does it all while looking effortlessly glamorous in chic outfits. Although Amanda is at an age when some women in showbiz have had trouble getting work, she’s too busy defying expectations to notice. She first rose to our attention as an actor in series like Cutting It and Wild at Heart in the early 2000s, before pivoting to presenter mode after Simon Cowell chose her to be a judge on Britain’s Got Talent in 2007 after Cheryl Cole…

“My wife and I couldn’t get through a day without doing The New York Times’ Spelling Bee. The object is to make as many words as you can with seven letters – it’s completely addictive. You then get ratings. You can be ‘Genius’, which is good, or ‘Queen Bee’ when you get every possible word. If we don’t get ‘Queen Bee’, we genuinely can’t relax for the rest of the day. Even today, I’m doing this column but I know we’re three words away from Queen Bee and I can’t wait to get back to it! ‘Puzzles are how I get my competitive fix’ I also do The New York Times crossword with my wife and my daughter. I still find it unbelievable that you can send it by email…

In the autumn, as the weather turns cooler, we tend to notice humble house spiders invading our homes. As they scuttle out from behind furniture or lurk in the corner of the bath, they terrify the arachnophobes among us. But these creepy-crawlies do more good than harm. Why do they venture inside? It’s worth knowing that it isn’t the cooler, wetter weather outside that entices arachnids into our homes. In fact, they’d much rather stay outdoors, as there’s less food inside for them, and it’s too clean and dry. Instead, it’s the urge to find a mate that brings spiders inside and, because the females rarely leave their nests, males have to scurry around to find them. After mating, the female will produce a series of egg sacs, with each…

Jealousy is getting to me Q We live about five hours away from my son and his wife. We see them every couple of months. They are expecting their first baby soon. Her parents have decided to move near to them and have bought a house two doors away. We are very happy where we live, but I find myself feeling envious, as they will be in the child’s life and we’ll be visitors. I don’t know how to feel all right.Esther, Newark A I understand that this arrangement means you will see your grandchild less often. I assume from what you said that you don’t want to move nearer, so it is a choice you’ve made. But it’s understandable that you may also feel pangs of envy that the…

1 INFECTIONS While a little exposure to bugs helps keep our immune system working well, viruses can weaken immunity. PRIORITISE PREVENTION Minimise your risk of getting poorly by practising good hygiene habits. Wash your hands regularly, sneeze or cough into your elbow not your hand, and bin used tissues immediately – encourage all your family to do the same. EAT VITAMIN C ‘Vitamin C helps fight off colds and keep bugs at bay,’ says dietician Lola Biggs. ‘Because your body doesn’t produce or store it, you need to add vitamin C into your diet each day.’ That’s easily done by eating a wide range of fruit and veg. TAKE ANTIBIOTICS SPARINGLY They can reduce your microbial diversity, which is essential for a healthy immune system, so take only when…

PLUS Join Slimming World for free! Making better food choices can often be tricky, especially when the weather starts to get colder. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Slimming World to provide you with this healthy eating plan. It’s filled with tasty and nutritious meals to help you make sustainable lifestyle changes – so the weight comes off and stays off! So whether you’re just getting started or looking to get back on track with your goals, follow this plan for two weeks and you could lose up to 7lb*. TIPS FOR SUCCESS Research of 1.1 million slimmers found that regularly attending a warm and friendly Slimming World group helps members to lose weight – and the more often they attended the more weight they lost*. See page…

We all have a secret soft spot for certain baby pictures of our children, and one of Sue Maughan’s favourites is a photo of her son Dan, taken as he lay across her shoulder. ‘He’s three months old in the picture, and so cute,’ says Sue, 54, a school alumni coordinator from Radlett, Hertfordshire. ‘But I knew, when the picture was taken, that it was the last time he would ever look like that.’ Dan had been born with a cleft palate and his top lip split in two places. The photo was taken on the eve of an operation to repair his lip and help him feed more easily. When he came out of it, he would look completely different. ‘I loved him so much just the way he…

HANDY GARDENING Planning some autumn clearing? These gardening gloves from Feverfew Garden Company are designed with women’s hands in mind – so not big and baggy – and clip together to avoid getting lost. Plus the touch-sensitive fingertips mean you can take snaps of your garden favourites, or answer a phone call. £22.95, sizes s-l, feverfewgarden.co.uk Protecting Cumbria Red squirrels, water voles and rare pied flycatchers are just some of the natural wonders that will be encouraged to flourish by the Cumbria Connect project. It’s a huge endeavour bringing together farmers, landowners and conservationists to protect and manage an area equivalent to 46,000 football pitches across the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, including the beautiful Haweswater reservoir. Using nature-friendly farming, Cumbria Connect aims to create new habitats, as well as…

In the 1800s, Britain became the birthplace of the modern railway, thanks to the invention of steam locomotives, which replaced ancient horse-drawn wooden wagonways. Before railways, the most ambitious of journeys were 10 miles to the local market town. By 1852, there were over 7,000 miles of railtrack, allowing people and goods to travel hundreds of miles in just a few hours. Our railway stations remain among the most architecturally innovative and beautiful in the world. Here are just some of our favourites. Cardiff Central Renowned Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel famously diverted the flow of the River Taff in the Welsh capital city to create the original station, which opened in 1850, preventing it from flooding. A 1930s rebuild introduced an impressive art-deco entrance building and Portland stone waiting…

XL liner Take your eyeliner to the next level to dramatic effect, like actor Lucy Liu. Overline your way to an impressive XL liner look with the help of NYX Professional Makeup Epic Wear Semi Permanent Liquid Liner, £9, lookfantastic.com, by adding an exaggerated line to your lids and smudging out for a softer finish. Make sure to wear a lipstick with a pop of colour to help balance out the heaviness of the eyes. Punchy pout A hot-red lip will never go out of fashion, but now is the ideal time to try out the trend for yourself. Choose something vivid like Emma Thompson’s, by opting for a blue-toned shade. Try Maybelline SuperStay Vinyl Ink Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Wicked, £11.99, Boots, which promises a long-lasting matt finish.…

3 WAYS TO... Stop sugar spikes 1 LINE YOUR STOMACH WITH FIBRE Or protein. ‘By eating in the right order, you are prioritising foods that slow down digestion and reduce the impact on blood-sugar levels,’ says nutritionist Ashleigh Tosh*. 2 AVOID BREAD BEFORE A MEAL Eating starch on an empty stomach can result in a big glucose spike. If you wait to eat the bread alongside your protein, fats and vegetables, you can flatten the glucose curve. 3 MOVE AFTER MEALS Even a little exercise after eating reduces the accumulation of glucose in the body, helping to prevent cravings and post-meal snacking. Blood-sugar levels spike an hour after eating, so move your body soon after finishing a meal. NEWSFLASH Do puzzles to preserve memory in older age Older people who…

“Worried about winter? Don’t be. There are plenty of simple tweaks you can make to your life to prepare your mind and body for the colder, darker days, so you stay fighting fit. Over the next 29 pages - in our Woman’s Weekly Healthy Winter Special- we’ve pulled together the best expert advice to help build your immunity, boost your mood and feel fitter, as well as winter-proofing your skin. Plus we’ve got an exclusive eating plan from Slimming World that will help you not overeat when the cold weather really kicks in. Winter wellness? Bring it on!”…

Q Does my body burn more calories in the winter? A Exposed to cold water or air, your body responds with adaptive changes. Depending on how low your temperature gets, and personal factors, such as weight, genetics and any health conditions, studies show that being cold can increase your energy expenditure (calories burnt) by up to 48%. When you get cold, your body has two main ways to produce heat: shivering and non-shivering ‘thermogenesis’. Non-shivering is from norepinephrine (noradrenaline). This hormone and neurotransmitter also regulates mood, attention and arousal, and is produced by the sympathetic nervous system and sent into your brown fat cells, causing them to burn fat and sugars and produce heat. Shivering burns more calories, with muscles contracting and relaxing in quick succession to raise core temperature, also…

What’s not to love about cycling? Being low-impact, it’s a fantastic way to keep fit as an older adult – and it’s also a proven mood booster, says Jonny Kibble, head of physical activity at Vitality. ‘It’s particularly good for cardiovascular health, and studies show that you will reduce your risk of death from cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease if you cycle regularly enough. ‘Once your cardiovascular health has started to improve, and the cycling bug has kicked in, you should also start to notice your weight move in the right direction. ‘As a mood booster, raising your heart rate increases your levels of the feel-good brain chemicals serotonin and endorphins – and there’s also the fact that cycling gives you a sense of purpose, something to improve on each…

3 OF THE BEST... STYLE TIPS 1 MAKE A STATEMENT WITH LIGHTING Look for curved shapes, starburst pendants and bubble designs to bring your lighting scheme to life. Choose table lamps, floor lamps and pendants that boast an interesting form to look at, whether it’s in use or not. 2 CREATE THE LOOK WITH SEATING Whether you find an eye-catching armchair or a statement sofa, introducing mid-century modern-style seating into your living space is the best way to set the scene. 3 INTRODUCE BURSTS OF COLOUR Yellow, red and blue – the primary colours – really stand out against a white backdrop and wooden tones. Search for accessories, such as artwork, tableware, throws and vases, to help your scheme pop. 4 TRY RETRO-INSPIRED WALLPAPER From geometric patterns to Scandi-inspired florals,…

MEASUREMENTS To fit an average teenage girl or woman’s hand. Each finished glove is 17cm/6¾in long across palm and 7.5cm/3in wide measured flat. MATERIALS 1 x 50g (104m) ball of King Cole Merino Blend DK (100% wool) in Pink (Fuchsia 787), plus a small amount in Green (Thyme 3492)*. Pair of 3.75mm (No. 9) knitting needles; stitch holder. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 24 stitches and 29 rows to 10x10cm, over stocking stitch, using 3.75mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; ss, stocking stitch (k on right side and p on wrong side); st(s), stitch(es); up1, make 1 st by picking up and working into back of loop lying between needles; yfwd, yarn forward (to make 1 st). NOTES Yarn amounts are based on average requirements and are approximate.…

Books Letter from New York by Helene Hanff, introduced by Jean Hanff Korelitz (£18.99, HB, Manderley Press) Best known as the author of 84, Charing Cross Road, Helene Hanff was a quintessential New Yorker. In this gorgeous new edition of her 1992 book, we’re reintroduced to talks she gave to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour about life in New York City. From her friends to neighbourhood dogs, the vignettes are composed for a British audience, laced with easy-going humour. The Book of Beginnings by Sally Page (£8.99, PB, HarperCollins) Jo Sorsby steps in to look after her uncle’s flailing stationery shop. Well, it provides a good distraction from the life she left behind. Nursing a broken heart, she opens up to new friendships with a vicar guarding a secret, an…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR It’s a good time for launching a new product or service. You have many gifts that are waiting to be expressed. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY You’re extremely strong and resilient. No matter what crosses your path, you have the ability to work through it. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Be proactive and go for what you want. Wise actions that are consistent and ethical will bring the results you are seeking. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL There may be many demands on your time and energy. Choose wisely and don’t overcommit yourself right now. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Romance is on the cards for you this week. It might be in the form of a relationship, or…

“I’ve often wondered,’ said my friend Wendy, completely out of the blue, as we strolled through the woods, ‘who put the ram in the rama lama ding dong?’ This marked a surprising turn in the conversation, as we’d previously been discussing which of our friends makes the lightest pastry. ‘And what is the rama lama ding dong, anyway,’ she continued. ‘It’s something that’s occasionally bothered me.’ We are not far from the hotel, where we are spending a long weekend, courtesy of the owner, Wendy’s sister-in-law Phoebe. We have been ordered by Phoebe to relax and enjoy ourselves, so naturally we have set off on a five-mile route march through the surrounding countryside. Wendy has a knob-handled walking stick, which she found in the hotel’s umbrella stand. She doesn’t actually…

Letter of the week Love for bugs I was really interested to read about the bug train station created by artist Alice McCabe [11 July issue]. I built my own bug hotel with my grandson several years ago, using materials we found around the garden or on walks in the woods. This year, I added another two storeys, inspired by the decorative roof tiles I found in a builder’s reclamation yard. It just goes to show that you don’t have to be an artist to create something beautiful in a small corner of your garden... and the bugs love it too! Beryl Smeaton, Perth WRITTEN IN THE STARS Isn’t it interesting how just a few words can change how you feel? Feeling rather despondent, I took my copy of Woman’s…

Got an issue that needs attention? Your doctor isn’t your only option. Your local pharmacy could help, thanks to increasing services and regulations. Around a third of us don’t make best use of our nearest pharmacy*, but they’re a one-stop shop for good advice on minor illnesses, medication and treatment for many ailments, from athlete’s foot and earwax to diarrhoea and indigestion. ‘If your symptoms suggest that there is something more serious, a pharmacist can then raise a red flag and say whether you need to see a GP,’ says pharmacy manager Shirin Alwash**. Here are some health worries that can be sorted on the high street. NEW ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIBING You’ll soon be able to get antibiotics for these seven common health conditions from your local pharmacist, without the need…

ADVICE FROM OUR WOMAN’S WEEKLY DOCTOR Wisdom teeth (third molars) usually grow through the gums during the late teens or early 20s, often once the other 28 adult teeth are present. This means there’s inadequate space for them to grow properly, forcing them to emerge at an angle, get stuck and only partially emerge. These are called ‘impacted’. Wisdom teeth removal is one of the commonest UK surgical procedures. You should see your dentist annually, but make an early appointment if your wisdom teeth are causing severe pain. The dentist will check your teeth, take an X-ray for a clear picture of the position of them and advise whether they need removal. They don’t always need removing even if they’re impacted. If they aren't causing problems, there’s no proven benefit…

Stress buster: Take a break Taking regular breaks from taxing mental tasks helps keep your brain sharp, according to a recent study from Australia’s University of Sydney. It found that those who took regular five-minute breaks increased performance and productivity in subsequent tasks by more than 50%. The research supports the Pomodoro Technique which recommends a five-minute break after every 25 minutes of concentrated work. What’s that? It’s a way to make your teeth whiter – overnight! Simply use the Colgate Max White Overnight Pen to paint your pearlies, then kick back and nod off. The enamel-safe, hydrogen peroxide-based gel works its magic while you sleep, and you clean your teeth in the morning as normal to remove it. It promises to shift years of stains in just one week.…

Size: 30x40cm YOU WILL NEED ✱ Tracing paper and pencil ✱ 60cm of 140cm-wide royal blue linen fabric ✱ 43x43cm embroidery frame ✱ White carbon paper for fabric ✱ Masking tape ✱ 1 Skein of stranded cotton embroidery thread in lilac, orange, pale turquoise, bright pink, yellow, pale pink, lime green and cerise ✱ Size 9 crewel embroidery needle ✱ 150cm of pale pink small bobble trim ✱ Matching sewing thread ✱ 40x30cm cushion pad STOCKISTS ✱ Lightweight linen, £11.50 per m, lushfabric.com✱ Carbon paper for fabric, £1.25, stitchdoodles.com✱ Small bobble trim, £1.20 per m, ricketyrose.co.uk MAKING TEMPLATES On a photocopier, enlarge template by 375%. Trace image onto tracing paper. PREPARING THE CUSHION FRONT 1 Cut a 60x60cm square of fabric, and draw a 43x33cm rectangle centrally on the square…

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 words are allowed. There is one nine-letter word in the grid, for which the clue is: stated. Average = 15 More than 25 = 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 the shaded…