Innholdsfortegnelse for 31-Oct-2023 i Woman's Weekly

Shaggy-dog stories We have a new puppy in our family. She is a black sprocker (half cocker spaniel and half springer) and is the great-niece of our old dog Cocoa, who we lost a couple of years ago. When she’s not in someone’s arms, the little, cuddly ball of energy is forever by the side of our other dog, Albie, who is four. For most of the time Albie puts up with her incessant hassling with good grace (perhaps he’s remembering with embarrassment the merry dance he led Cocoa when he was a puppy) and they are just starting to play together properly now. Having a dog is such a privilege. Clare Balding clearly feels the same - see page 8.…

Preserving your memories for others On your Here to Help page [20 June], I read a letter by a woman who has been told by her daughter that it’s morbid to write her life story. My friends and family strongly disagree. I am 77 and recently, my husband paid to get my life story professionally printed for my birthday. I had been writing memories down for some time and a friend suggested making a book of it. I gave copies to my daughter and granddaughter, and other copies have been doing the rounds of members of an art group I go to. Everyone is very positive, and the general consensus is that all these interesting bits and bobs would be lost otherwise. Robin, please go ahead and do it! Pat…

Sticking to a decent, well-balanced diet isn’t easy. There are plenty of barriers to it. And it’s not just about time and money – appetite and life generally often get in the way. And it can be trickier as we get older, when our nutrient absorption changes, alongside our hormones. But research after research shows that a good diet is crucial for our health, so it’s worth spending a bit of time getting it right. But many of us don’t, according to new data* which found lots of us in the UK are lacking in key nutrients, with potentially harmful effects on our health. Here’s what you can do… 1 IODINE WHAT IT DOES: ‘Iodine plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormones, essential for vital bodily processes,…

1 APRES SKI Brighten up a grey day with this statement knit. Minimal styling needed – wear with some simple leggings to let it pop. Jumper, £25, sizes 8-24, Tu Clothing 2 BOOT BRIGADE Wear these western-inspired knee-high boots with a denim midi skirt for a glamorous daytime get-up. Boots, £28, George at Asda 3 CROC EFFECT This designer-inspired bag will add a subtle dash of colour to your outfit. Bag, £17, Tu Clothing 4 RETRO DENIM Team with a tucked-in polo neck to highlight the waist and offset the wide leg. Jeans, £20, sizes 8-24, Tu Clothing 5 TAKE OFF This faux fur-lined jacket will keep you toasty this autumn. The relaxed fit allows room for layering. Jacket,…

Sticky caramel chicken This is inspired by the addictive flavours of Vietnamese food, where hot, sweet and salty flavours combine perfectly. Serve with rice for a filling supper. SERVES 4PREP 15 mins COOK 35 mins ✱ 2tbsp vegetable oil✱ 8 free-range skin-on chicken thighs✱ 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped✱ 2tsp freshly grated root ginger✱ 1 small onion, finely chopped✱ ¼tsp ground black pepper✱ 80g soft brown sugar✱ 250ml chicken stock✱ 4tbsp fish sauce✱ 2tbsp light soy sauce✱ Jasmine rice, grated carrot, coriander leaves, sliced red chilli, crispy fried shallots and lime wedges, to serve 1 Heat the oil in a deep, non-stick pan that has a lid and brown the chicken pieces over a high heat for 5-6 mins on both sides. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon…

I can’t help raise her child Q My daughter has decided to have  a baby on her own and has asked  if she can come and live with us  for the first year, as she needs  support.  I really don’t want to bring up another child – I am in my early 70s. I also don’t want to deny her having a child. I’m not sure what to do. Yvonne, Guildford A From what you’ve said, I don't think your daughter is asking you to bring up her baby – she’s just asking for some support. I think you need to sit down and talk to her. Ask her what she’s looking for from you and then tell her what you can offer. Agreeing the boundaries upfront will save you both…

3 OF THE BEST... Cushions STYLE TIPS 1 DARE TO GO DARK For an instant transformation, a lick of paint works wonders. If you’re used to four white walls, start with a simple feature wall in a dark grey or navy. Consider painting your ceiling too – it will create a cosy, snug-like feel. 2 PICK YOUR PATTERNS Steer clear of the classic cream colourways and traditional prints in favour of bold florals, and painterly watercolours in tonal teal shades. 3 SOFTEN THE SCENE Work in plenty of texture, with chunky cable knits, sisal fabrics, and woven accessories to soften the industrial feel. 4 CHOOSE NATURAL MATERIALS Stone, wood and metal elements are key to the look and feel of this outdoorsy aesthetic. Highlight any natural features in your home,…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR This is a wonderful time for creating new relationships of all kinds. Harmonious interactions are indicated in your aspects. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Your finances may receive a boost. Something unexpected might come up that could be very lucrative for you. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN It’s going to be a very busy time. Remember to breathe, to relax and to smile and you’ll accomplish everything easily. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Sometimes you want to hold onto the past. Now is the time to release it, to allow yourself to fly and to pursue new avenues and exciting possibilities. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG You have many talents that are not yet fully developed. Choose something you love…

The secret to cooking great-tasting meals comes down to one factor – the quality of your ingredients. Top chefs agree it’s top-notch ingredients that take your meals up a level, rather than how skilled you are as a cook. Our star chefs Jean-Christophe Novelli and Shelina Permalloo are fanatical about sourcing good food. Between them, they have years of experience of doing just that in restaurants, for cookbooks and on TV. They loved delving into the Tesco Finest range and coming up with special but easy-to-cook meals just for you. Their only dilemma was what to make – they were spoilt for choice! That’s because Tesco goes to great lengths for taste and quality across a wide range of culinary choices – dairy, meat, fish, fruit and veg, and wine.…

IMAGINATIVE LEAP Encouraging a child’s imagination is important, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Research* reveals our imagination grows and changes throughout adulthood. The older we get, the more active it becomes – and the most original ideas come from people aged 60 plus. So if you need an excuse to dress up for Halloween, rest assured – it’s just your flourishing imagination at work. Grecian glory Have you been on a honeymoon? If so, it probably lasted a week or two at most. But in the early 19th century, Sir Charles Monck spent two years exploring Greece with his bride. As a result, he designed a beautiful Grecian-inspired house, Belsay Hall in Northumberland, alongside an existing medieval castle. Today, after a major project by English Heritage, the house and…

Start with your scalp We rarely pay much attention to this area, but creating a healthy environment is vital. Brand president and consultant trichologist at Philip Kingsley, Anabel Kingsley, explains. ‘Scalp health has a profound influence on hair health. After all, one supports the growth of the other. Weekly targeted scalp masks and scalp toners are fantastic in this instance.’ Scalp scrubs teamed with massage techniques are great too, and will help dislodge follicle-blocking dead skin cells that can prevent new hair from making its way through. If you’re tempted to try a toner, we like Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Scalp Toner, £24, M&S, or if you prefer a scrub, go for The Body Shop Tea Tree Purifying & Balancing Hair & Scalp Scrub, £18, The Body Shop. Choose…

3 BENEFITS OF... Strength training 1 BOOSTS MOOD It triggers the release of feel-good hormones dopamine and endorphins. ‘Incorporate exercises like squats, dead lifts and bench presses, which engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously,’ says exercise coach Rachael Sacerdoti*. 2 INCREASES SELF-ESTEEM Set realistic goals to keep you motivated and give you a sense of accomplishment, says Rachael. ‘This can be as simple as gradually increasing the weights you lift or aiming for a certain number of repetitions. 3 HELPS YOU SLEEP And to concentrate better, because strength training promotes the release of serotonin, a vital neurotransmitter that stabilises our mood, enhances cognitive function and improves sleep quality. SIMPLE TRICKS TO EASE WINTER MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS Dr Gail Busby is a gynaecologist Seasonal changes can be hard to deal…

I blame Strictly Come Dancing for making me join the gym. When I signed up, it came as a surprise to my wife Morwen… ‘You’re not really athletic, are you, Ivor?’ she said. She’s right, I think now as I turn up the treadmill’s speed, panting in time with my feet. Thirty seconds will be enough. Don’t want to overdo it. With a towel draped around my neck, I mop my brow. My feet are hurting already. These new trainers are pinching. Shouldn’t do, mind. They were £20 in the sports shop. I’ve all the right gear, see. In my head, I’m not baker Ivor Evans. I’m Usain Bolt or Sir Mo Farah. I’m going for gold. For Wales. I notice we’re always left out of the medal tables when…

The Great Deceiver by Elly Griffiths (£22, HB, Quercus) The seventh in the gripping post-war, Brighton-set mystery series, and we are back with magician Max Mephisto, divorced and living in London. When he hears from past fellow performer Ted English, whose assistant has been found dead in her boarding house, Max gets in touch with his old friend Superintendent Edgar Stephens. What he doesn’t know is that the family has hired private investigators. When a second assistant is killed, Max is called in to take over the show – and acquires an unlikely assistant. A magical crime series novel that can be read as a standalone, we loved it. Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum (£14.99, HB, Bloomsbury) A word-of-mouth bestseller in Korea, this delightful, reflective and heart-warming…

I am writing this at the end of a slightly peculiar day, which began when Mr Dear got into an argument with his breakfast. You might think that ‘slightly peculiar’ is a polite description for that sort of behaviour, but I could not possibly comment. ‘Tell me,’ he said. ‘Why are there so many crumbs in a packet of Weetabix? Look at this, there are more crumbs here than actual Weetabix.’ The really peculiar feature of this complaint is that he appeared to be addressing the Weetabix packet. He was wasting his breath, of course. Packets of Weetabix are notoriously surly at breakfast time. The only message from the packet was that thousands of footballs could be won, plus football shirts, and that a two-biscuit serving contains 136 kcals. ‘Do…

Cooking from scratch or popping a slow-cooked casserole in the oven that simmers away for hours isn’t always an option on weeknights. On such days, you don’t want to spend ages preparing supper, you just want simple dishes elevated with the finest flavours. With smart shortcuts and a handful of carefully chosen ingredients, you can have a luxurious meal on the table – in just 30 minutes. Our star chefs Jean-Christophe Novelli and Shelina Permalloo share their secrets for making a great meal fast. It starts with quality ingredients and, of course, having smart cook’s tips up your sleeve for maximum flavour from very little effort. Together they’ve devised a genius cavolo nero orzotto. It’s a speedy, delicious twist on a traditional risotto using some well-chosen Tesco Finest ingredients. Their…

Falling leaves in hues of flaxen yellow, russet and burnished gold tapped me on the shoulder as they rained down from deciduous trees on my woodland walk. At one point I paused to take a photograph of a squirrel tucking into a tasty mushroom on the edge of the path. He was so focused on his meal that he didn’t seem to notice me at all. But crouching down among the squelchy foliage allowed me to breathe in the sweet scent of the forest floor – a delicious combination of damp moss, fungal spores and the soil’s microbial bacteria, which nourishes the soul. My garden week I refuse to use any weed-killing products, so spent most of the morning digging out weeds from the gravel path in my front garden.…

Do you believe in ghosts? Many people think it’s nonsense, but could these spine-tingling stories just change their minds? Pluckley poltergeists In 1989, the Guinness Book of Records declared Pluckley in Kent to be Britain’s most haunted village. Famously the setting for the BBC’s The Darling Buds of May, Pluckley also allegedly has a cast of ghosts. Among them is a woman who gathered watercress from the river and sold it to villagers. One evening she fell asleep smoking her pipe and burnt to death. Visitors report seeing her on Pinnock Bridge. Other ghostly characters supposedly include a highwayman, a schoolmaster and a monk, while visitors have also claimed to hear screaming in Dering Wood. ROYAL REVENANTS Home of King Henry VIII, London’s 500-year-old Hampton Court Palace is ripe for…

Doctor Gill ADVICE FROM OUR WOMAN’S WEEKLY DOCTOR Caused by damage to melanocyte cells in the skin, which produce melanin pigment, vitiligo affects any skin area – but most commonly the face, neck, hands and skin creases, including armpits, groin and genital areas. Lack of melanin turns hair in the affected area white or grey. Vitiligo starts as a pale skin patch that gradually turns completely white centrally with pale pink skin around it. The patch edges may be smooth or irregular, sometimes red and inflamed, or even the opposite – brownish discolouration (hyperpigmentation). It doesn’t usually cause discomfort, but may be itchy. Some people have few small patches, others develop larger areas that join up. There’s no way of predicting how…

Cancer can leave you reeling, but money worries could make things even tougher. Research by cancer support charity Macmillan Cancer Support found four in five people with cancer spent almost £900 a month more than before. Extra costs can include travelling to hospital appointments, higher energy bills as you recover at home, and clothes or extra toiletries to cope with the side effects of your treatment. So it’s important to know about the help available. Free prescriptions Although free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you usually have to pay for prescriptions in England. However, if you are being treated for cancer or the effects of cancer, you can apply for a medical exemption certificate so there’s no need to pay for any of your prescriptions – including those not…

Craft Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ 14 patterned fat-quarters✱ 108in x width-of-fabric (WOF) of backing fabric✱ 54in x 66in batting✱ 18in x WOF binding fabric FINISHED SIZE ✱ 48in x 60in approx NOTES ✱ Use ¼in seam allowances unless otherwise noted Cutting out 1 Trace the main, left and right triangle templates (overleaf) onto template plastic and cut out. 2 Cut each of the 14 fat quarters into 7in-wide strips along the longer side – this will give you three strips per fat quarter. 3 Using the templates, cut out 80 main, 80 left and 80 right triangles from the fat quarter strips. Each 7in strip makes two main triangles and four left/right pieces. Making a block 4 A block is formed from two main…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS Approximately 39.5 x 39.5cm/15½ x 15½in. MATERIALS 1 x 100g (282m) balls of Emu Classic DK (100% acrylic) in each of Teal (Seafoam 144), Blue (Peacock 138) and Pink (Bubblegum 126)*. Size 5.5mm crochet hook; 40x40cm cushion pad; tapestry needle. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION Each finished square measures approximately 19x19cm, using 5.5mm hook. ABBREVIATIONS Ch, chain; dc, double crochet; htr, half treble; slst, slip st; st, stitch. NOTES Yarn amounts are based on average requirements and are approximate. Figures in square brackets are worked as stated after 2nd bracket. Surface chain stitches are embroidered to create our cushion’s plaid effect. FRONT Square (make 4): With 5.5mm hook and two strands of Teal held together, make 13ch. 1st row: 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, [1dc…

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, plural words are allowed. There is one nine-letter word in the grid, for which the clue is: Crushing. Average = 15 More than 25 = 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: In a rigid, trancelike state. SUDOKU To solve this puzzle, fill in the grid so that each 3 x 3 box, each row and…

Need inspiration? Want to mix-up your midweek recipe repertoire or impress your guests at the weekend? Check out our exclusive recipe collection by Jean-Christophe Novelli and Shelina Permalloo, in collaboration with Tesco Finest. You can get the wow factor with these amazing recipes put together by the award-winning woman&home food team, using the Tesco Finest range. Delicious meals for every occasion that are simple yet spectacular. ‘These easy, but inspiring recipes will make the most of your everyday food moments,’ says our food director Jen Bedloe, who adds, ‘Introducing just a handful of quality ingredients from the Tesco Finest range to your recipe is an effortless way to make a meal truly memorable.’…

Nibbling a melt-in-the-mouth savoury snack while sipping a glass of chilled white wine or fizz is a winning start to any casual get together. So why not serve this match made in heaven the next time you host friends or family? Make your guests feel special by making our easy home-made cheesy Gruyère twists – which you can add ham to, if you like – instead of buying ready-made snacks. Using the finest ingredients will make your food stand out – and these are so delicious, your guests will probably want the recipe! Our star chefs Jean-Christophe Novelli and Shelina Permalloo have helped create these moreish canapés from just four quality ingredients from Tesco. All you need are Tesco Ready Rolled Puff Pastry, Tesco Finest Gruyère, Tesco Finest Finely Sliced…

When you want to enjoy meals with an extra touch of class every day, you’d be surprised – all it takes is having the best ingredients within easy reach. That’s why Tesco Finest is the go-to range when it comes to making every meal memorable. Each carefully sourced product delivers great flavour as well as being beautifully presented and packaged. The Tesco Finest range has all those key ingredients you need in your store cupboard, fridge and freezer, so you can make tasty dishes any time of the day or week – and with the minimum of effort. And yet, it’s not just food that Tesco go to great lengths for to ensure the quality of their Tesco Finest range – Tesco has been named International Wine Challenge Supermarket of…