Innholdsfortegnelse for 21-Nov-2023 i Woman's Weekly

Preparing to celebrate Welcome to our bumper get-ready-for-Christmas special issue. I hope you’ll find everything you need inside to create a fabulous festive celebration for you and your family. And if I wasn’t excited enough before, I have to say that preparing this magazine for print has got me buzzing for the big day. I love a family feast, and I usually do most of the Christmas cooking (helped by my daughter), so our recipes on page 38 have given me some great ideas. Do remember, though, that this edition has twice the amount of editorial pages as normal, so it’s on sale for two weeks, and our next issue is in the shops on the 22 November.…

Anne Thomas, 63 Tell us about your look I wear white jeans all year round – these are from Gap. I usually team them with pale grey pieces in winter. Today, I fancied a splash of colour and threw on this red coat, bought a few years ago in Primark. My oversized sweatshirt is stolen from my son, my bag is from Tarelle and the boots are New Look. I rather like this black, red and white combo. What’s your favourite thing about yourself? I’m happy to go with the flow. YOU WORE IT WELL Ida Doyle, 1933, sent in by her granddaughter Gillian Doyle I love this photo of my grandmother, Ida, out walking in Ilford, London, with my grandad Joseph and baby son (my uncle) in his wooden…

‘Christmas can heighten suffering – and we offer hope’ Joy Hibbins is the founder and CEO of Suicide Crisis, a charity that works to prevent suicide. She runs the Suicide Crisis Centre in Cheltenham and is the author of The Suicide Prevention Pocket Guidebook. In 2012, I’d had a family bereavement, followed by a traumatic experience, which led to a deterioration in my mental health. Feeling suicidal, I went to an out-of-hours GP, who involved the psychiatric crisis team. Their approach didn’t work for me – and that was the driving force behind setting up an alternative crisis service. I felt that what was needed was a place where someone could be supported any time by a small, trained team. We offer a combination of the Suicide Crisis Centre, home…

Life on a farm teaches you many things – one being that you can’t plan anything. Especially at Christmas. You wake up in the morning with a job list and within 10 minutes it’s gone wrong. One Christmas, when I was about five, plans changed quite spectacularly. I lived in a farmhouse with my older sisters and parents. We were all in bed and in the middle of the night, when a real gale was blowing outside, there was a huge crash – the house literally shook. We ran into the corridor at the top of our stairs. Mum was calm and suggested we have a cup of tea. Dad ventured outside with his torch and saw a large beech tree had fallen into the side of our house, smashing…

Head girl There’s no easier way to look glam in seconds than to pop on a sparkly headband. The beauty of this particular hair accessory is that it works whatever your length or texture. Accessorize Diamanté Headband, £26, accessorize.com, and Asos Design Faceted Bead Detail Headband in Blush, £13.50, asos.com, add a gilded touch to short, midi and long styles. Go long If you’re looking for a dramatic restyle for the festive season, invest in some clip-in extensions. Lullabellz 5-Piece Clip-in Hair Extensions, from £28, lullabellz.com, are available in curly, wavy and straight textures, with a huge shade selection. You can even be colour-matched by uploading photos before you buy. Clip in at the roots to completely change your look in seconds. You don’t have to go for extra-long wefts,…

Ah, right. So Phil can’t take you? Well, I can drive you and Jack to the Christmas tree place, Tara,’ my new neighbour Nick offered. ‘Oh, that’s a kind offer. I know it’s a bit early, but we like to go before the best trees are snapped up.’ He nodded. ‘That’s fine.’ I smiled. ‘After I’ve collected Jack from school, we can head out, if that’s OK?’ ‘Of course it is! I’ll pop round later this afternoon, about 3.30pm.’ ‘See you then!’ I waved, as Nick ambled away from the front doorstep. I was so relieved that I didn’t have to disappoint my six-year-old son Jack. Visiting the plantation and choosing a tree (to be delivered to our home later) every year was one of our favourite family Christmas traditions.…

Daily multivitamins Two recent trials suggest daily multivitamin supplements are beneficial for cognition. Firstly, among 3,500 older adults randomly assigned to vitamin supplements or placebo, episodic memory (tested by ability to learn and recall lists of unrelated words) was better after one year and three years in those taking supplements. The second trial assessed the effect of both multivitamins and flavanol supplements; multivitamins improved global cognition, episodic memory and executive function, while flavanol supplement were without effect. YOUR GUT AND PARKINSON’S Gut problems, including constipation, difficulty swallowing and irritable bowel syndrome without diarrhoea, may be early warning signs of Parkinson’s disease in some people, a new, multicentre study suggests. The study adds more evidence to the idea that brain and bowel health are intimately linked. Being able to predict Parkinson’s…

GYO DECORATIONS A popular festive plant, mistletoe is a semi-evergreen shrub that hitches itself to the branches of a host tree, such as apple or hawthorn. Try growing your own from its pearly white berries. In late winter, squish some fresh berries and press the sticky seeds onto the side branches of trees. Tiny leaves can appear in weeks but you’ll have to wait three to four years to get a substantial clump. HEAVEN SCENT Keen to plant a flowering shrub this autumn? Where most philadelphus flower for a brief, glorious window in spring, new variety ‘Pearls of Perfume’ blooms again in summer, its branches smothered in fragrant flowers from tip to toe. Plant in well-drained soil, in sun or semi-shade. With a slim, upright profile, it’s a shoo-in for…

Knitting Instructions overleaf Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit ages 2-3 (3-4) (4-5) (5-6) years. Actual chest 66 (70) (73.5) (77)cm/26 (27½) (29) (30¼)in. Length to shoulder 35 (39) (43) (47) cm/13¾ (15¼) (17) (18½)in. Sleeve seam 24 (26) (29) (32)cm/9½ (10¼) (11½) (12½)in. MATERIALS 4 (4) (5) (5) 50g (104m) balls of King Cole Merino Blend DK (100% wool) in Red (Scarlet 009), 1 (2) (2) (2) ball(s) of White (001) and 1 ball of Charcoal (Graphite 702)*; oddments of Blue and Yellow double knitting yarn of similar fibre content; pair each of 3.75mm (No. 9) and 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; stitch holders; 3 buttons. 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, purl;…

Jumbo wordsearch All the words relating to winter warmers are hidden in the grid. Words may be read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally. AEROBIC EXERCISEAPPLE CRUMBLEBALACLAVABEANIEBOBBLE HATCANDLESCARDIGANCOCOADUVETEARMUFFSEIDERDOWNELECTRIC BLANKETFLANNEL SHEETSFLEECEGILETGINGER TEAHOODIEHOT-WATER BOTTLEJOGGINGLANTERNSLAYERSLONG JOHNSMACARONI CHEESEMITTENSNIGHT LIGHTSONESIEOPEN FIREPARKAPOLO NECKPORRIDGEPUFFER JACKETRISOTTORUGRUNNINGSCARFSLIPPERSPUMPKIN SPICED LATTETHICK SOCKSSOUPSTEW AND DUMPLINGSTHERMAL UNDERWEARTOASTED CRUMPETSNOW BOOTSSPEEDWALKINGWOOLLY JUMPER You’ll find the answers on page 105 Linkwords 1 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: Alcoholic drinks consumed at the end of the day. SUDOKU To solve this puzzle, fill in the grid so that each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column contains the numbers…

Gigantic by Rob Biddulph (£12.99, HB, HarperCollins) He may be the smallest whale in the ocean, but Gigantic is fine with that. He just keeps himself busy, flipping and somersaulting with his friends. His big brother, Titan, isn’t so confident in his little brother’s abilities and taunts him about his size, but when Titan gets stuck in the sand, could Gigantic and his friends be the unlikely saviours? With delightful rhyming prose and stunning illustrations, it’s great for children, parents and grandparents to enjoy together. Different Aspects: A Memoir by Michael Ball (£25, HB, Bonnier) Some people can pinpoint the moment that changed their life. For musical theatre superstar Michael Ball, it was landing the lead role in West End musical Aspects of Love in 1989. Now, as the much-loved…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR New opportunities are waiting to come into your world. Widen your horizons and take some risks. You’ll be very glad you did. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Creatively, this is a wonderful time for you. Follow your passion, take daily action, and you will be amazed with the results. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Financially, you may be making some changes. Keep a positive mindset and know that you can overcome any challenges. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL This is a great time to meet new friends, socialise and extend your network of connections. Make sure you mix only with those who uplift your soul. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG You have great strength and the willpower to achieve…

AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF DANCE A dazzling new production of Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands opens in Plymouth on 25 November before a London season and UK-wide tour. Based on Tim Burton’s 1990 film, it tells the story of a gentle boy, created by an eccentric inventor who died, leaving him unfinished. Love, acceptance and separation all follow. ✱ Book at new-adventures.net Flying high Gatekeeper, Holly Blue (pictured), Speckled Wood… these evocative names belong to butterflies spotted in last summer’s Big Butterfly Count, organised by Butterfly Conservation. The results show an encouraging increase in the numbers recorded by volunteers compared to four years ago. But overall, butterflies still need our help. This spring, remember to leave a wild space in your garden for butterflies and caterpillars to thrive, and include…

Graham Norton is feeling lucky. In April, he blew out the candles on his 60th birthday cake and today he is in a philosophical mood, reflecting on just how blessed he is. ‘Turning 60 was much better than I anticipated,’ muses Graham. ‘The nice thing about it is that you did it, you got this far. By the time you get to 60, you know a lot of people who didn’t make it this far in the race, so you realise that there’s nothing to complain about. ‘And I don’t know about you, but I never look at young people and the stuff they worry about and think, “Oh, I wish that were me.” I’m not remotely jealous about it. I mean, that’s true now, while I can still do…

THE PARTY TROUSERS A well-cut evening trouser is a super alternative to a dress. Look for wide-leg styles, especially in luxurious fabrics like velvet and dressy sequins for a burst of sparkle. THE EVENING SHIRT A special shirt can be worn over dark jeans, black trousers or tucked into A-line midi skirts for perfect party twist. Wear them loosely for extra comfort, or open like a jacket, layered over a camisole top, accessorised with gold chain necklaces. THE PARTY CO-ORD A matching top and bottom in a sumptuous fabric is an impactful way to dress up for an evening event. Embellished shirts, sequin tees and silky blouses that skim rather than cling can be matched with midi skirts and embellished trousers, and paired with party heels. THE SEQUINNED PARTY DRESS…

Real life As Jess readies her daughter Yasmin for this year’s visit to Father Christmas, it’s hard to tell which of them is more excited. Because both cannot wait to show the man in the red suit just how far this brave five-year-old – once stricken by cancer and so poorly that she was given just a 5% chance of survival – has come in the past year. ‘We booked our Santa tickets nine months ago. It’s a big deal for us because Yasmin’s annual visit to Santa has become a sort of milestone of her progress,’ says single mum Jess, 32, from Worthing, West Sussex. ‘In 2021, she was in a wheelchair; in 2022, she could stand up in her ankle supports and totter a few steps; this year,…

I don’t want the confrontation Q My husband died a year ago. We’d been married for 40 years. He didn’t leave a will and he’d recently inherited some valuable items from his parents and some money, as had all his siblings. They are now demanding that I give these things back – and the money. I’m sure this is not right but it is making me feel bad. My children say I need a lawyer and I need to fight them. I don’t like arguments. Name and address withheld A Your children are right. By law, your husband’s possessions are rightfully yours, as you are the surviving spouse. I can’t say often enough how important it is to have a will, as it makes it so much harder for someone to dispute what’s happened. A lawyer…

Knitting Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS Approximately 30cm/12in high. MATERIALS 1 x 50g (145m) ball of King Cole Big Value DK (100% acrylic) in each of Green (Emerald 4050), Red (4029), White (4020), Black (4053) and Pink (Blush 4058)*. Pair of 3mm (No. 11) knitting needles; washable toy stuffing; stitch holder. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION Not essential for this project. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; skpo, slip 1 st, k 1 st, pass slipped st over knitted st (to decrease 1 st); st(s), stitch(es); ss, stocking st (k on right side and p on wrong side); tog, together (decrease by working as many sts tog as stated); up1, pick up loop lying between needles and work into the back of it (to increase 1 st). NOTES Yarn amounts are based…

Clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack. Sigh. That is the sound of my friend Wendy pacing up and down the wooden floor of our charity shop in her new clogs. Wendy is not what you’d call a short person, unlike me, and clogs give her an extra two inches at least. If she were any closer to the thin upper atmosphere, oxygen masks would descend from the overhead lockers (please put on your own mask before helping your children). ‘I am so furious,’ says Wendy. ‘Don’t take on so,’ I say, sounding like my grandmother. ‘She’s really not worth it.’ If you’ve been kind enough to drop by over the last few weeks, you can probably guess that we are talking about Amanda and the great battle of the charity…

Letter of the week A Christmas poem My lovely 11-year-old granddaughter Lily wrote a poem entitled A Silent Christmas – and it’s very atmospheric. Here’s the first section. Hope you like it as much as I do. On a silent Christmas I saw Trees looming over me The path concealed in a winter blanket of snow And reindeer, galloping in and out of the sombre darkness. Joyce Dunn, Chelmsford PAWS FOR THOUGHT Here’s my chilled 12-year-old cat Tom helping me wrap a few Christmas presents. He just needs a pen to write out the labels… if he can muster the energy, snuggling as he is on my newly washed tablecloth! Liz Goulds, Chesterfield ✱ Got a pet pic that makes you smile? We can give it a good home GET…

Winchester 17 November – 21 December 2023 Attracting nearly half a million visitors every year, this huge market features more than 100 traditional wooden chalets, all hand-picked for their unique and exclusive products. Join the bustling atmosphere and stunning location in the Cathedral’s historic Inner Close, where you’re sure to be tempted by the seasonal treats and gorgeous Christmas gifts on offer. At the heart of the market, there’s also a spectacular covered ice rink too. Visit on 18 November to enjoy the opening ceremony followed by a spectacular lantern procession and firework display. ✱ winchester-cathedral.org.uk CARDIFF 9 November – 23 December 2023 For nearly 30 years, the Christmas Market in Cardiff has filled the main pedestrian streets of the city centre. With its focus on artists, craftspeople, and artisan…

‘All the decorations hold a memory’ Vanessa Buck, 51, is a vision board mentor and founder of visionboardsforall.co.uk. She lives in West Sussex with her husband Chris, 52, and has two children, Harriet, 25, and Toby, 22. Each year, I look forward to picking out a new decoration to add to our Christmas tree. It’s something my mum, Gail, did and, since we lost her in December 2012, it’s a tradition that has become an even more important part of our annual festivities. It makes me feel closer to her, and keeps her at the heart of our celebrations. When it’s time to decorate our tree, along with the new decoration, I will also bring out our older, much-loved trinkets that we’ve collected over the years – the Tinkerbell that…

Champagne skin Give your panstick and powder a break over Christmas and let your skin take on a radiant, expensive-looking champagne finish befitting of the season. It’s a great look for dry skin. Use products that are going to enhance, not mask, your natural glow. Mac’s new Studio Radiance Serum-Powered Foundation, £39, maccosmetics.co.uk, will bring your face to life, made with pearlescent particles for luminous cover. Add a fresh, youthful highlight to the tops of your cheekbones, using e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, £14, elfcosmetics.co.uk, to capture every flash of light. And a final flourish of Collection Filter Finish Liquid Blush Light Wand, £5.99, Superdrug, on the cheeks will give you a healthy-looking complexion. Seductive eyes Warmer, richer and more wearable than the traditional steely smoky eye, eyeshadow takes its…

3 WAYS TO... Ease joint pain 1 ASK FOR HELP Cold weather and present-wrapping can play havoc with joint pain in your hands, says consultant rheumatologist Dr Rod Hughes. If you’re having difficulty, enlist friends and family to help – the perfect excuse for a get-together. 2 SUSTAINABLE SWAPS Consider wrapping materials such as gift bags, boxes or colourful tissue, which can be easier than traditional wrapping paper to manipulate around small gifts. And canvas bags can also be reused. 3 TRY A SUPPLEMENT GoPo Joint Health is an anti-inflammatory treatment proven to reduce joint pain and swelling. ‘Studies show it can improve joint mobility and reduce the need for standard painkillers,’ says Dr Hughes. GoPo Joint Health, £18.75 for 120 capsules, Tesco. NEWSFLASH Free NHS hepatitis C home test…

I’m sorry, Carol. I love spoiling you, but I think we should forget about buying each other Christmas presents this year.’ Sean rehearsed his speech throughout the 20-minute drive home, but whichever way he said the words, they still sounded wrong. He found a place to park and gazed up at the house. It was a small, two-bedroom terrace but it meant so much to him, it could have been a palace. They had struggled to save a deposit for six years. There were times he thought they’d never get there, but somehow they did. The previous owners had moved in when it was new, back in the 1960s, and from the looks of things, they hadn’t done any decorating since. The walls were covered in paper that was much…

Seasonal shift In the mellow days of autumn, it can be hard to picture the harshness of winter in your garden. Yet it’s worth looking ahead and doing a few small jobs now that will help it cope with freezing temperatures, lashing rain and high winds. Then, when the weather is too chilly to venture outdoors, you’ll be happy that you’ve mulched, tidied, protected and secured, so your garden is ready for spring. Protect and store When Jack Frost flexes his icy fingers, it’s really game over for annuals and tender perennials, such as dahlias. Frost causes stems and leaves to blacken and collapse. If you live in a mild area and have well-drained soil, dahlias can be left in the ground and heaped with a blanket of thick mulch.…

Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ Access to a photocopier✱ Tracing paper, pencil and ruler✱ 30cm of 110cm-wide patterned fabric✱ 30 x 60cm rectangle of medium-weight wadding✱ 30 x 30cm square of heavyweight calico fabric✱ 30 x 30cm square of firm, flexible iron-on interfacing✱ 30 x 30cm square of sew-in heavy, firm interfacing✱ 30 x 30cm square of lightweight white cotton fabric✱ 1m 80cm of 1.8cm-wide bias binding✱ Matching sewing thread STOCKISTS Tilda Bloomsville Flowertangle cotton fabric, £3.75 per fat quarter, Sewing Direct; sewingdirect.co.uk. Heavy, firm sew-in interfacing £3.99 per metre and firm, flexible, iron-on interfacing, £7.99 per m, both Minerva Crafts; minerva.com NOTE Slippers are size 5; see right for lengthening and shortening the pattern. Making paper patterns On a photocopier, enlarge the patterns by 130%. Trace the patterns…