Innholdsfortegnelse for 2-Jan-2024 i Woman's Weekly

Slimline tonic “We bought a long, thin mirror for our bathroom recently, and what we didn’t realise before we took it home, is that it makes you look slightly thinner than you are in reality. Strangely, no one in the family is in any way put off by that! In fact, my daughter calls it the Mirror of Erised, which is the name of the magical looking glass in the Harry Potter novels that shows you what you want to see. And I guess the truth is, most of us would be happy to be just a touch more svelte than we really are. Back in the day, people wore corsets to create that effect, but luckily, now there’s pain-free control underwear to do the same thing – see page…

Karen Sunderland, 43 Tell us about your look I like modern/classic tailoring and was very much a Karen Millen girl, but now I prefer Reiss. My skirt is by Oasis. I’ve had it for years. It actually has a cute fitted top to go with it (which I’ll wear this evening), but I’ve teamed it with a Ted Baker top for work. My shoes are Dune and my bag is Aspinal. I like to add a splash of colour alongside black, even if it’s just a bright nail colour. What’s your favourite thing about yourself? The natural grey streak in my hair. It defines me. Cate Taylor, 35 Tell us about your look I bought this cosy faux sheepskin gilet from a fantastic boutique in Tunbridge Wells called Kitch. It’s…

MULTIWAY BRAS For tricky necklines, invest in a multiway bra that can be worn in several ways. For one-shouldered dresses, wear with one strap removed; for halter tops, wear with the straps around your neck; and for strapless designs, remove them completely. POWER BODIES To add a layer of extra warmth, a light knit can be worn over a smoothing, high-necked body. When wearing a smart dress, a supportive contour body is invaluable, to create a svelte silhouette. SUPER SLIPS For extra-special dresses, control slips that you can wear with your own bra offer support while creating a smooth and flattering shape. For side-split dresses, a shorter-length slip with bust support is equally effective. CONTROL PANTS Brilliant for wearing with bias-cut midi skirts, wrap dresses, jersey dresses and wide-leg party…

Shorter days, gloomy weather and less time spent outside is enough to get anyone in a funk. But for around a third* of us, it goes deeper than that. SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, is also known as winter depression because its symptoms are more apparent or severe during this season. These can include a persistent low mood, irritability, difficulty concentrating and lethargy. Which is why SAD lamps, or light therapy lamps, are becoming increasingly popular to chase away the winter blues. Ultra bright, they replicate the role light plays in regulating our sleep-wake patterns. ‘Light is a powerful synchroniser of the body’s circadian rhythms,’ explains Jonathan Cridland, CEO at Lumie. ‘Strong light signals to the pineal gland to stop the production of sleep hormone melatonin during the day, and…

He’s just not listening Q I’ve been trying to talk to my husband about some issues we have. But whenever I bring something up, he changes the subject and makes it about him, negating my feelings. I then feel dismissed and put down, and nothing ever changes. Margy, Romford A If you’ve tried something a few times and it doesn’t work, doing the same thing again won’t change the situation. You might need to find a different way to approach this, such as asking him first about his thoughts – then adding yours in response to his comments. That way, he will feel listened to and then might be more ready to listen to you. Alternatively, you could find a counsellor who can help the two of you to have…

Books The Rich by Rachel Lynch (£9.99, PB, Canelo) From the bestselling author of the DI Kelly Porter series, Rachel Lynch’s newest novel is a psychological thriller that will draw you into a suburban nightmare. Every week Dr Alex treats Henry, Gracie and Carrie – Cambridge’s elite and reformed. But, when a neighbour is murdered, she must confront the truth that anybody is capable of murder if they’re pushed hard enough. As the investigation continues, secrets unravel and friendships are tested. A refreshingly intriguing thriller that will leave you guessing. The Christmas Letter by Emily Stone (£9.99, PB, Headline Review) Christmas has come to be a time Holly dreads since she and her sister found themselves in a life-changing car accident and are now estranged, which means she spends Christmas…

FLYING HIGH Take flight with a brand new version of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan, at the Rose Theatre in Kingston upon Thames. With an accompanying cast from the Rose’s youth theatre, Peter and Wendy soar skyward to find pirate ships, mermaid lagoons, and of course, Neverland. Peter Pan runs until 7 January 2024; visit rosetheatre.org. Happy New Year! One of the UK’s most breathtaking new year spectacles is a Norfolk beach packed with grey seal mothers and pups, rolling contentedly on the sands. Grey seals flock to Blakeney Point and Horsey Beach, where around 4,000 youngsters are born in the most unforgiving months of the year, between November and the end of January. The fluffy white pups drink enough milk to pile on 2kg every day for their first three…

Becoming a mother, let alone one of two children, was something 39-year-old Faye Welch, from Devon, wasn’t sure would ever happen for her. At the age of 14, she was diagnosed with a rare condition known as uterus didelphys, which meant she had two wombs, two cervixes and two vaginas. ‘I was late starting my period compared to my friends,’ remembers Faye. ‘Until one day, I suddenly felt an odd popping sensation and found blood in my underwear. My mum took me to hospital because the bleeding was so heavy and doctors suspected a burst cyst.’ But scans revealed the alarming difference in Faye’s reproductive organs, and that she’d in fact started her period already but a blockage caused by the condition meant she hadn’t known. Doctors also broke the…

3 WAYS TO... Support those who are grieving 1 LISTEN WELL Just listening without judgement can be so supportive. Let the speaker guide the conversation and express their emotions and thoughts. Try to avoid clichés such as ‘time’s a great healer’. 2 OFFER PRACTICAL HELP ‘Grief can make day-to-day tasks challenging,’ says family therapist Cai Graham*. ‘Offer to help with groceries, cooking, childcare or any tasks that may be overwhelming.’ 3 CHECK IN REGULARLY ‘Grief doesn’t have a set timeline,’ says Cai. Continue to contact a grieving loved one even after some time has passed – they may still need your support. Be mindful of dates such as birthdays and anniversaries, which can be particularly challenging. NEWSFLASH Daily glass of juice lowers blood pressure Drinking a small glass of orange…

Craft Dif f iculty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ Preserving jar and lid (with a flat disc within a metal screw ring)✱ Cardboard or felt✱ Small piece of fabric✱ Cotton wool or stuffing✱ Hot glue gun 1 Unscrew the lid, separating the flat disc and screw ring. Place the ring to one side. 2 Cut a piece of cardboard or felt slightly smaller than the flat disc. Then cut a circle of fabric at least 2.5cm larger than your lid. 3 Place the fabric circle right side down. Put the cotton wool or stuffing on top, then lay the lid disc face down on top of that. Fold, tuck and glue the fabric around the lid to form a soft, domed pin cushion. 4 Glue the circle of cardboard or…

Knitting Instructions overleaf Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS One size, to fit any neck. MATERIALS 1 x 50g (158m) ball of King Cole Giza Cotton 4ply (100% cotton) in Calico (2427)*. Pair of 3mm (No. 11) knitting needles. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION This isn’t important as the ties can be adjusted. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; st(s), stitch(es); tog, together (decrease, by working as many sts together as stated); wrap1, take yarn between needles to opposite side, slip next st onto right-hand needle purlwise, take yarn back to original position, return st to left-hand needle; yf, yarn forward (to make 1 st); yon, yarn over needle (to make 1 st). NOTES When working yon at beginning of a row, place yarn over right-hand needle before working the first st (to…

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: substitute. Average = 15 More than 35 = 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: A rewording of something written or spoken. Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded…

S hakespeare and Stonehenge, Big Ben and The Beatles, the UK has an almost uniquely rich landscape, culture and history. But it’s also home to some surprising attractions, many of which you’d never expect to find in this green and pleasant land. Fancy a quirky day out? Read on and be inspired. Dans Le Noir? London Picture complete darkness. Now imagine choosing ‘meat’, ‘fish’ or ‘veggie’, then sitting down for a gourmet three-course meal with no idea exactly what you’ve ordered and, of course, not being able to see it. This is the dining experience at London’s Dans Le Noir?, one of a worldwide chain of restaurants where blind or visually impaired waiters lead you to your table for a meal like no other. The restaurants’ ethos is that by…

All under £10 1 LET IT BURN If you don’t have time for a full pamper session, try lighting a candle to set the mood. It seems simple, but burning a candle can help you feel calmer. This one is blended with soothing fern and cedar, so your house will smell lovely too. George Breathe Fern and Cedar Blended Small Candle, £2, Asda 2 COMPLEXION RESCUE Use this biodegradable sheet mask to inject some moisture into your face. Alcohol, stress and late nights can all affect our skin’s health, so choose a mask with soothing chamomile, calming wild rose and nourishing hyaluronic acid. BeautyPro Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask, £4.99, Superdrug 3 HAPPY HANDS Infused with a blend of wild rosehip, geranium and patchouli essential oils, this hand cream…

Grand Manhattan When your guests arrive, offer them this fruity cocktail. MAKES 1 ✱ 45ml bourbon✱ 10ml orange liqueur✱ 10ml dry vermouth or Noilly Prat✱ 30ml freshly squeezed orange juice or blood orange juice✱ Ice cubes 1 Put the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice. Seal and shake. 2 Strain into a Martini glass and serve with straws. PER COCKTAIL 130 cals, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 5g carbs COOK’S TIP If you don’t own a cocktail shaker, stir the ingredients in a jug with a handful of ice cubes. Smoky Parmesan melts Pass these cheesy bites around with the drinks. MAKES Approx 50 biscuitsPREP 10 mins, plus chillingCOOK 10 mins FOR THE BISCUITS ✱ 125g plain flour, plus extra for dusting✱ ¼tsp baking powder✱ ¼tsp…

ADVICE FROM OUR WOMAN’S WEEKLY DOCTOR Sleep paralysis can be scary but it’sharmless and most people will only get it once or twice in their life. It’s normal for the body to be paralysed during sleep, as this prevents people acting out their dreams and putting themselves in danger. As you transition between asleep and awake, however, the body may remain paralysed while the mind awakens, leading to the frightening sensation of not being able to move or speak, despite trying to. The sensation is often accompanied by sensory hallucinations or vivid dreams. During sleep paralysis you may feel awake but cannot move, speak or open your eyes. You may feel as if someone is in your room or that something is pushing you down. These frightening feelings can last…

You’re going to bingo!’ yells Janice. ‘Don’t tell the whole office,’ I mouth. ‘Sorry, Shelley. It’s just that you don’t seem like a bingo person,’ says Janice. ‘What is a bingo person? Anyway, I’m doing some detective work,’ I whisper, as if I’m a younger Miss Marple. My investigations will centre on my Auntie June. She’s given me a roof over my head after the so-called love of my life evicted me at short notice when he found another woman. Auntie June’s back bedroom, a symphony of yellow, has become my sanctuary. She goes to bingo every Monday afternoon… ‘He’s a lovely man.’ Her face was pink as she spoke. It was Tuesday, and we were eating one of June’s homemade chicken pies. ‘Who is?’ I asked. ‘Eyes down for…

Fruit bursts Berrying plants are winter’s gift, providing bursts of colour to jazz up the mainly dull tones of a sleeping garden. They’re also energy-rich mini bites for birds and small mammals, to help get them through the lean months ahead. Whether you go for rosy hips, fruiting trees and shrubs, or berried climbers, plant them within easy sight so that you can appreciate these glistening gems before they disappear. Rare finds Blue and violet berries are striking. One of the best is purple beauty berry (Callicarpa ‘Profusion’, HxSp: 3x2.5m), which has fistfuls of amethyst-coloured fruits that jump out against bare stems. It will grow in partial shade, but a sunny position will give more berries. Another showy shrub is harlequin glorybower (Clerodendrum trichotomum, HxSp: 4-8m), with blue-black fruits hugged…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR This is a week for taking action and for moving forward. Even if it’s just a baby step every day, you will feel productive. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Financial changes are on the horizon. Think carefully about your wants and needs, and distinguish between the two, to help you make decisions. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Be flexible with your plans, as there may be last-minute changes. Going with the flow will make life easier. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Relationships are in the spotlight. Your listening skills will be handy, creating greater harmony into all situations. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Often you are giving to others and you forget about yourself. Do whatever you can to…

‘Shall I give you some advice?’ said my little sister, Debs. ‘Can I stop you?’ ‘You could put your hands over your ears and hum the national anthem, but otherwise probably not.’ We are having coffee and biscuits in her flat, and having a good moan about Christmas, New Year, winter, and the gloom that grips the soul when looking out of a window and watching a light drizzle fall steadily over the park. Oh, do forgive me. I know you visit this page in search of bonhomie and cheer, and I try my best to deliver it. Especially at this time of year. In our defence, we did eventually look on the bright side. We thanked the Lord for the life and work of Dr Sidney I Russell. In…