Innholdsfortegnelse for 24-Oct-2023 i Woman's Weekly

Woodland wonders There’s an ancient steep-sided wood alongside our home, part of what remains of the Atlantic rainforest, found predominantly in the west of the UK, in areas near the sea with high humidity. It teems with lichens and luxuriant ferns, sprouting out alongside long-fallen trees, boulders and rocky outcrops. For our dog, it’s something akin to heaven, as he bounds around, faithfully following the scent of the wood’s many nocturnal visitors, while occasionally flushing a pheasant or two. But particularly at this time of year, there’s a new wonder - extraordinary fungi bursting out of the rotten trees. See page 10 for more.…

Thank you, Rosemary I was interested to see a reference to Linguaphone on a recent Rosemary page [1 August issue]. I worked at the Linguaphone Institute in Regent Street, London, for 10 years in the 1950s. We taught language by records and I learnt Italian while I was there. I made many friends and we used to wave across Regent Street to the men working in the drawing offices of Short Bros & Harland! Mrs Joan Hackett, Radlett PAWS FOR THOUGHT Here is great-uncle Monty with great-niece Maisie, ready for a walk. Monty is so good with Maisie, teaching her well. Susan Lyttelton, Sheringham ✱ Got a pet pic that makes you smile? We can give it a good home GARDEN READING On a trip to London to spend time…

THE VEST Excellent for layering, a knitted vest will add warmth and style to your look. Sleeveless, with a V-neckline and side slit detail, this chunky cable knit can be worn with multiple outfits. Wear it with smoother fabrics like silk, cotton and denim to create a contemporary contrast. THE JUMPER This boat neckline gives an otherwise simple jumper an understated yet elegant feel. Wear with a floaty metallic midi skirt and a pair of statement earrings. Whether you opt for heels or flats, keep everything tonal for an expensive look. THE DRESS An easy and versatile addition to your existing wardrobe, cosy jumper dresses work well for both smart and casual occasions. Team with a classic trench coat and a pair of leather knee-high boots for a sophisticated style…

How can they just leave me? Q My son-in-law has been offered an amazing job in Australia, and he and my daughter have decided  to go for at least three years. They have three small children aged one, three and five. I’m devastated. They know I’m terrified of flying so I can’t visit. My daughter says they’ll come back once a year. I will miss them so much. Sally, Aberdeen A I know this must be very painful for you, but this is a fantastic opportunity for a young family and, I’m sure, if it was in the UK, you’d be thrilled for them. If you want to maintain a relationship with your adult child then it’s important to allow them to do what they need to do in their…

Laila, you and Adi should partner up,’ the tutor, Chiara, instructed. It was Saturday night, and the Argentine tango class was in full swing, the familiar strains of La Cumparsita making Laila’s heart sing. Having the right partner to practise with was crucial. At least shy, dark-haired Adi had a more natural flair for the dance than some of the others, even though he was a novice like herself. Laila had discovered Argentine tango after seeing it performed in a West End show and was instantly smitten. Mesmerised by the intricate footwork, two dancers locked together in a passionate communion, the yearning music captured exactly the way she often felt. Always restless, Laila was constantly searching for an elusive something she couldn’t explain to anyone, least of all herself. As…

Look what I’ve bought!’ Carol held up an elegant purple swimming costume dotted with mauve flowers. The silky material shimmered like the silvery scales of a fish. ‘Are you going on holiday?’ asked Heather. ‘No,’ Carol said. ‘I’m hoping you’ll give me a lift to aquafit on Monday.’ ‘At last, you’ve seen sense,’ laughed Heather. She’d been enthusing about the exercise class for months and, until now, Carol had been resisting. ‘I hope it’s as good as you say because this cost me an arm and a leg.’ ‘No pressure then!’ Heather laughed again. ‘Seriously, you’ll love it. Jane’s the instructor. She’s our age and her music choice is great. All 80s stuff, ABBA, George Michael…’ ‘Sounds like a concert. Can’t wait!’ Carol beamed. Monday arrived but Jane the instructor…

Books The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman (£22, HB, Penguin) Hailed as Osman’s best yet, the latest novel in The Thursday Murder Club has everything you have come to expect from the bestselling series – intrigue, humour, and more twists and turns than a country road. The death of an old friend, and the package he was protecting now missing, is what mobilises the gang this time, as they navigate a world of fraudsters, drug dealers and forgers. As the body count rises, has their luck run out? The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett (£12.99, HB, Profile Books) All Sarah-Jane wants is to put on the annual Christmas pantomime and raise money to repair the church hall’s roof. Unfortunately, the other members of The Fairway Players are more…

A TRAGIC TALE Theatre legend Kenneth Branagh directs and stars in a new production of Shakespeare’s play King Lear, about a monarch who loses his beloved youngest daughter, his mind and his kingdom. The cast features RADA graduates. ✱ Limited to 50 performances from 21 October at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre, with tickets from £20, kinglearbranagh.com Ratty’s return Thanks to Kenneth Grahame’s novel The Wind in the Willows, the water vole – ‘Ratty’ in the story – is among the best known of our river creatures. Yet it’s also Britain’s fastest-declining mammal, with loss of habitat and predation by non-native American mink causing numbers to fall drastically. Now, 365 water voles have been reintroduced into the Lake District National Park as part of a conservation project by Eden Rivers Trust. They’ve…

It’s hard to be in Jenny Eclair’s company for more than five minutes without bursting into laughter at one of her observations on the absurdity of life. Whether she’s ranting about traffic or gushing about her baby grandson, she somehow manages to do it all with finesse. She’s come straight to our interview after performing nana duties for her one-year-old grandson, Arlo. ‘Oh, he’s the light of my life. Because of various holidays and being out gigging, I hadn’t seen him for nearly three weeks,’ she explains. ‘I was getting really anxious about him not recognising me and not wanting to be with me, but we had a sweet reunion and I think he still loves me,’ she says, beaming. ‘He’s still very smiley. I only ever had one daughter…

"My wife Louise and I visited Chester last year. We had a bit of food, walked the walls and, when I went through the cathedral door, I immediately said, ‘I feel like I need to sing.’ One of the curators came over and said, ‘Are you who I think you are?’ I said, ‘Who do you think I am, Brad Pitt?’ We had a laugh and got talking. I said I felt compelled to sing, but it was during a quiet period when people pray and he said, ‘It probably won’t go down well.’ I said, ‘I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a bit of the Bach/Gounod Ave Maria…’ Anyway, I did eventually get to sing there – a year later – after he said, ‘Do you fancy doing a concert?’…

Looking back on her teenage years, 74-year-old Ruth Lowe recalls with great fondness the fabulous nightlife of the Swinging Sixties. Dressed in their latest Mary Quant-inspired homemade outfits, Ruth and her older sister, Lys, now 76, regularly visited the clubs in their home city of Birmingham to watch the latest bands perform. Those happy times, centred around music and fashion, were to have a lifelong effect on Ruth, and would eventually lead her to a new and rewarding career at the age of 60. ‘My sister seemed to know everybody who was anybody so she could get me into the nightclubs from about the age of 14. It was absolutely fabulous!’ Ruth recalls. Like many teenagers of the time, her sister was heavily into fashion, and she helped and encouraged…

3 WAYS TO... Achieve healthy winter hair 1 PROTECT Fight the harsh winter weather by wearing hats and using moisturising hair products. Manage hair-damaging stress with relaxation techniques and exercise. 2 EAT Maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. An iron deficiency can cause hair loss, says hair expert Burak Ersoy*. ‘Other deficiencies like vitamin D and zinc can have an impact, so make sure you include eggs and fatty fish to boost hair growth.’ 3 CLOVES Use them in your shampoo. ‘They have antifungal and antioxidant properties,’ says Burak, which can contribute to a clearer scalp, particularly if you suffer from a dry, itchy scalp or oily hair. NEWSFLASH Orange juice can help lower blood pressure Drinking a small glass of orange juice every day can help…

MORRISONS MATALAN NEXT…

Word wise 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: furrowing. Average = 10 More than 20 = well done 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: An edible sea snail, or a purple-blue flower. Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the…

On your next walk through the woods, or while pottering in the garden, keep your eyes peeled for extraordinary fungi and slime moulds. Both types of organism play an important role in decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients back into the soil. Colourful frills, bulbous protrusions and jelly-like growths are just a seasonal bonus. Wolf’s milk slime mould Lycogala epidendrum Slime moulds are unrelated to fungi or animals, despite exhibiting several similar characteristics. They vary greatly in appearance, live either as single-celled organisms or bunched together to form larger structures. Wolf’s milk is an easy-to-identify slime mould as it resembles tiny, coral-coloured baked beans, clustered together on rotting logs and tree stumps. As these orange, ball-shaped organisms reach maturity, they turn brown and release their spores. COMMON PUFFBALL Lycoperdon…

1 WINTER WARMER This feels like a cashmere blanket in a bottle – it’s just the thing to lure you out of your cosy bed into a chilly morning. That’s thanks to the combination of spices, including cardamom and cinnamon, blended with comforting notes of cedar and sandalwood. Apothecary Warmth eau de parfum, £10 for 50ml, M&S 2 HEAVEN SCENT This makes the iris its centrepiece, made with a concentrate using the entire flower. The addition of juniper and cedarwood adds depth. It’s made using 91% natural ingredients, and the bottle is made from recycled glass. The Body Shop Full Iris eau de parfum, £42 for 75ml, The Body Shop 3 PETAL POWERED This lovely new floral launch combines magnolia flower, may blossom, bergamot and peony notes with almond and…

Buttery butter bean stew with kimchi and sausages The sourness and fire of the kimchi is softened by the butter and the pleasing blandness of the beans. SERVES 1 PREP 5 mins COOK 15 mins ✱ 2 pork sausages (about 130g)✱ 20g butter✱ 80g kimchi✱ ½ x 400g tin of butter beans, drained and the liquid reserved✱ Flat-leaf parsley, chopped 1 Fry the sausages in a small frying pan with a drizzle of oil. Turn often, for about 15 mins or until cooked. After they have browned on both sides, put the lid on but check them every couple of mins. 2 Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan or frying pan. Add the kimchi and stir for 1 min. Add the beans, plus half their liquid. Simmer…

ADVICE FROM OUR WOMAN’S WEEKLY DOCTOR Skin areas most at risk of pressure ulcers are those with little body fat and in direct contact with supporting surfaces, such as a bed or wheelchair. If unable to get out of bed, you’re at risk of ulcers on shoulder blades, elbows, head, ears, knees, ankles, heels, toes and spine. Wheelchair users are more vulnerable on buttocks, back of arms/legs and hips. People with normal mobility don’t develop pressure ulcers, as they automatically make hundreds of regular movements, preventing pressure building up. Pressure on the skin interrupts the blood supply to affected areas, without which oxygen and nutrients can’t reach the tissue. The skin also no longer receives infection-fighting white blood cells, leading to infection. Ulcer severity is graded – the higher the…

Don’t touch that!’ Janneke could tell that her father was trying not to shout. Trying to sound firm but reasonable. Trying to seem unperturbed, just annoyed, as any merchant would. The soldier reached forward and pulled bags from the wagon, spilling flour and onions onto the ground. ‘We have to eat that!’ Janneke said angrily. It had been hard enough finding the food she wanted in this tiny Turkish town, and it was still a day’s journey to Smyrna on the Aegean coast. The year was 1642, and she and her father had been on this trading trip for nearly 12 months. ‘By the time we get back to Holland, I will be a year older,’ she thought. ‘Time is ticking and I want to be wed to Thomas.’ The…

Fill me in Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the answer. Clue: An essential oil derived from the blossom of the bitter orange tree, one of the most widely used floral oils in perfumery. Circle time In Iceland, if you want to threaten someone you might use a phrase that translates as, I will find you on a… What? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles for the answer. 3 letters EAREGORANSEETAPTOO 4 letters ARCHAVOWCHATCREWEACHEDITLAWNREEFSAGOTALL 5 letters AT SEAAWASHBIDETREACTSOBER 6 letters BEWARECHANCEDANGERHAZARDPONCHOTHREATWINKLE 8 letters WATCH OUT SPIRAL XWORD What did an employee at Kodak invent in 1975, but was told not to tell anyone about…

Witches’ fingers Would you dare eat these ghastly biscuits? MAKES 45 PREP 25 mins, plus chilling and cooling COOK 10-12 mins ✱ 100g unsalted butter✱ 100g caster sugar✱ 1 medium free-range egg✱ 1tsp vanilla extract✱ 225g plain flour✱ ½tsp baking powder✱ 45 blanched almonds, halved✱ 5tbsp strawberry jam 1 Whizz the butter and sugar in a food processor until pale. Add the egg and vanilla, and blitz in the processor again. Sift in the flour and baking powder, and pulse to form a soft dough. Chill for 30 mins. 2 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/ Gas 4. Divide the dough into 45 pieces then roll each into a finger shape. Put on lined baking trays. 3 To make knuckles, press the back of a knife a few times across…

TESTED BY US so they work for you Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ Two 20cm squares of patterned orange fabric✱ Stuffing✱ Matching embroidery thread✱ Embroidery needle✱ Matching sewing thread✱ Hand sewing needle✱ Circular plate to draw round✱ Ruler, cutting mat and rotary cutter✱ Green felt NOTE Sew with right sides together and 1cm seam allowances throughout. 1 Use a rotary cutter and ruler to divide each square into quarters. Take one quarter in each fabric, pin and sew them together along one straight side. Open the seam and press. Repeat for the other six quarters. 2 Take two of the now rectangle pieces, pin and sew together along the long straight side. Open the seam and press. Repeat for the other piece so you have two squares. On the…

TESTED BY US so they work for you Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit ages 6-9 (9-12) (12-24) (24-60) months. Chest 51 (56) (61) (66)cm/20 (22) (24) (26)in. Side seam 10 (11) (12) (14)cm/4 (4¼)(4¾) (5½)in. Length to back neck 21 (23) (25) (28)cm/8¼ (9) (9¾) (11)in. Sleeve seam 17 (20) (24) (29)cm/6¾ (8) (9½) (11½)in. MATERIALS 1 x 50g (165m) ball of Sirdar Snuggly DK (55% nylon, 45% acrylic) in each of Red (Flamenco 242), Pink (Spicy Pink 350), Turquoise (Aqua 490), Navy (Light Navy 224), Blue (Paddle 534) and Pistachio (Pea Shoot 512)*. Pair each of 3.25mm (No. 10) and 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; 5 buttons in assorted colours and shapes. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 21 stitches and 44 rows, to 10x10cm, over garter stitch, using…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR You may be making some financial adjustments. This is the perfect time to create a plan for your future security. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Your health may be in need of extra attention. Whatever effort you put in now will be worth your while in the long run. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Communications of all kinds are under positive stars – this is a very opportune period for networking and for making new connections in general. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Stillness is your ‘magic wand’. If you can calm your body and mind, you will receive the answers to all your current challenges, easily and quickly. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Your work or vocation may…

"When Mr Dear was watching the Test match over the summer, he suddenly had a good idea. ‘I know,’ he said. ‘The cricket club should have a charity game.’ ‘What a good idea,’ I said. ‘There’s no need to say it like that.’ ‘Say it like what?’ ‘As if it’s not actually a good idea.’ ‘What was it in my tone of voice which suggested that I wasn’t completely and utterly impressed?’ ‘I don’t know – bitter experience.’ That’s the trouble with husbands – they can’t take yes for an answer. We organised it for a date in July, which turned unexpectedly to be right in the middle of the British rainy season. So we postponed until August, which was also right in the middle of the rainy season. ‘Didn’t…