Innholdsfortegnelse for 12-Mar-2024 i Woman's Weekly

Off the beaten track "My daughter went to university in York. It’s an extraordinary city, built on the ancient Roman road of Ermine Street, full of historic buildings, picturesque lanes and an amazing medieval minster, seat of an archbishop. However, in the summer particularly, it is packed with tourists. But travel a little over 60 miles south of York and you’ll come to Lincoln, also built on Ermine Street, also extraordinarily historic, with, if anything, an even more impressive medieval cathedral – for a lot of the Middle Ages it was the tallest building in the world. Strangely though, it’s much less visited. Find out why it’s worth a look on page 38."…

A year ago, I started having a cold shower every day for three minutes after being inspired by Wim Hof. It has transformed my life. Yes, it’s freezing when you step in but I am buzzing afterwards. I am such a fan of cold showers now that I even complained recently that the shower was too hot in a hotel I stayed in! They did laugh and say, ‘We don’t normally get these kinds of complaints!’ For me, leading a healthy life is so important. As well as taking cold showers, I’ve also taken up meditation, and I try to walk every day too. My husband and I love climbing mountains, and my new role in Casualty has seen us move to a little village just outside of Cardiff. It…

When Christine Shaw was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system – she thought it was the worst news she could ever get. That was until, more than 20 years later, her 11-year-old son George was diagnosed with leukaemia. ‘I cannot explain how I felt when the doctor told me. I was physically sick and heard myself screaming,’ says the 57-year-old from Nottingham. ‘It had taken most of my adult life to have my two boys and now I could potentially lose one of them. The fact we are both here today is just incredible – it’s something I’m grateful for every single day.’ Christine met husband Steve, now 61, back in 1983, when she was 16 and he was 20. Even then,…

3 WAYS TO... Help you sleep 1 PEANUT BUTTER Full of key nutrients and heart-healthy fats, it contains the sleep-inducing chemical tryptophan to help you relax. Almonds, walnuts and cashews also promote a healthy sleep schedule thanks to their mixture of melatonin, magnesium and zinc. 2 CHEESE Packed with fats and proteins to satisfy your hunger and cravings through the night, cheese is slowly digested by your body for a peaceful night’s rest. It also gives you a dose of tryptophan to help you fall asleep quicker. 3 DARK CHOCOLATE It can help promote the production of serotonin, a chemical that is directly linked to calmness and relaxation. It can also reduce stress levels before bed, thanks to its inclusion of antioxidants and flavanols. SIGNS THAT YOU SHOULD GET YOUR…

1 SPRING GREENS Small pops of bright colour can have just as much impact as big and bold ones, like this striking green pattern. Opt for matching soft furnishings, pairing cushion and curtain fabrics, then pick out the key colours in the rest of your accessories. ✱ Mori Evergreen curtains in collaboration with Margo Selby, from £125, including measuring and fitting, cushions, from £21 each, all Hillarys; other items, stylist’s own 2 PRETTIEST PASTELS A go-to for spring and summer months, bring together pastel pinks, blues and greens to freshen up a room. Stay away from colour on walls and woodwork; instead use bright white as a blank canvas to show off your palette. Be adventurous with your choice of accessories, mixing together plain and patterned pastels items. ✱ Calabasas…

Excited?’ my best friend Sue asked as we sipped our coffees in Luca’s. I nodded. ‘I’ve wanted this for so long, and now it’s finally happening. I can’t wait to see the finished article and hang it on the wall. I’d always assumed we’d put it in the hall, but Conor reckons we’d just walk past it on the way to somewhere else. He thinks it would be better in the family room.’ ‘Imagine – a proper family portrait snapped by a real professional,’ Sue said. ‘I’m jealous. All I have are a few shoeboxes of pics from when the kids were little and then the rogues’ gallery on my phone, which I never get round to printing out.’ ‘We’re only able to do this thanks to a cheque from…

A Trace of Sun by Pam Williams (£10.99, PB, Legend Press) When Cilla follows her husband to England in search of a better life, she makes the heartbreaking decision to leave her son Raef behind. Seven years pass before they are reunited. Seeing each other again, they feel like strangers. The scars left by years of separation run deep – so deep that they threaten to tear the family apart. How do you rebuild a life when you are holding on to secrets from the past? Spanning three decades, this spellbinding debut novel explores mental health, identity and family, and is partly inspired by the author’s experiences of migration from the Caribbean. All Us Sinners by Katy Massey (£18.99, HB, Little, Brown) A masterful crime novel transporting readers into the…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR A family member or close friend may need to talk. Just listening and being there will be very helpful and soothing. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY You have a strong will and now is the time to exercise it for something positive and constructive. Don’t give up – you can do it! GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN You may be tempted by many alluring distractions this week. Keep your focus on whatever is most important and you will not get sidetracked. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL You have a kind, loving heart. Every act of goodness has a positive effect on your family – and around the world. Keep it up! LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Your creative abilities…

A CRACKING SHOW Gavin and Stacey writer and star Ruth Jones dons a nun’s habit to play Mother Superior in Sister Act, The Musical, alongside Beverley Knight as Deloris. It’s a role that couldn’t be further from her hard-living TV character Nessa Jenkins, but Ruth can’t wait for the challenge, saying, ‘Who knew wearing a habit could feel so fabulous!’ From 15 March to 30 August, Dominion Theatre, London. ✱ sisteractthemusical.co.uk Nessie to get a national park? The Scottish government has committed to creating a new national park by 2026. One of the bids includes Loch Ness – famous for its fabled ‘monster’. It also encompasses Glen Affric and the Trees for Life rewilding centre in Dundreggan. It’s hoped that as well as protecting and preserving biodiversity, the new national…

The endearing sight of baby lambs frolicking in lush green fields or the first glutinous bubbles of frogspawn jiggling around in ponds heralds the imminent arrival of spring. It’s the season of renewal and rebirth, and our cue to wave goodbye to winter by getting outside and witnessing the miracles of new life in the natural world. FOX AND CUBS Fox cubs are born blind and deaf in litters of four or five. They spend the first few days of their lives snuggled up to their mothers in the safe environment of a den. During April and May, when they are around four weeks old, the fox cubs can be seen engaging in playful combat with their siblings as they explore the outside world. At this stage their adorable blue…

1 BEAUTIFUL SHADES This tinted balm is matte and incredibly hydrating thanks to the hyaluronic acid-infused core, which sinks into the lips as you apply the colour. It comes in 15 shades, from deep berry to posy pink. Avon Hydramatic Matte Lipstick in Ruby, £10, avon.uk.com 2 BARGAIN BUY This silky formula is infused with healing vitamin E and jojoba oil to intensely nourish your pout. We particularly love the rich, jammy shade, which would pair well with shimmery gold eyeshadow. Also available in peach and pink. PS… Tinted Lip Balm, £2.50, Primark 3 DESIGNER DOUBLE Lip oils are big news this year, with lots of brands trying to replicate the cult classic Dior formula. This is a very good match at a fraction of the price. It’s rich, non-sticky,…

ADVICE FROM OUR WOMAN’S WEEKLY DOCTOR The knee is held together by four ligaments – two collateral side ligaments and two cruciate ligaments inside. Most commonly the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is damaged, a tough tissue band joining thigh bone to shin bone, running diagonally inside of the knee, giving stability. Sports injuries, such as skiing, tennis, squash, football or rugby, tear the ACL if your lower leg extends forwards too much or your knee, or lower leg, are twisted when stopping or changing direction suddenly. Tears destabilise the knee. The decision for knee surgery depends on the extent of damage, other knee damage, knee stability, age, occupation and activity level, and the effect on quality of life. Surgery isn’t always suggested – for example, if your knee remains stable…

Mini simnel cakes These individual treats are the perfect gift to give, just tie a bow around them. MAKES 10 PREP 40 mins, plus overnight soaking COOK 45 mins-1 hr ✱ 300g mixed dried fruit✱ 50g candied peel, chopped✱ 100ml warm Earl Grey tea✱ 175g unsalted butter✱ 175g light muscovado sugar✱ 3 medium eggs✱ 420g golden marzipan✱ 250g plain flour✱ 1tsp baking powder✱ 2tsp mixed spice✱ 50g flaked almonds✱ Zest 1 lemon✱ Freeze-dried raspberries or strawberries, blitzed to a powder (optional)✱ 2tbsp apricot jam, warmed YOU WILL NEED ✱ 2 x 6-hole muffin tins, 10 of the holes greased and lined with baking paper that exceeds tin height by at least 3cm✱ 5.5cm cutter 1 Soak the dried fruit and candied peel in the Earl Grey tea, cover and set…

YOU WILL NEED ✱ Card blank and envelope✱ Green and yellow patterned paper✱ Plain brown paper✱ Plain white, pink and green card✱ Brown fine-liner pen✱ Sticky pads✱ Glue stick✱ Scissors 1 Fold the card blank in half, widthways, then glue a panel of green patterned paper to the card front and line the inside with yellow patterned paper. 2 Using our photo as a guide, cut a large bunny shape from brown paper. Add faux stitched details around the edge with a fine-liner pen. Stick it in place, then cut the card away around the ears and part way down the body of the bunny, as shown. 3 From the white card, cut a large circle for the tail. Add faux stitched detail around the edge and use sticky pads…

MEASUREMENTS Wreath 43cm/17in in diameter. MATERIALS 2 x 20g (43m) balls of Sirdar Happy Cotton DK (100% cotton) in Bright Green (Wicket 781), and one ball each in Red (Lippy 789), Blue (Yacht 786), Purple (Currant Bun 756), Orange (Juicy 792) and Mid Green (Treetop 780)*. Pair of 3mm (No. 11) knitting needles; cable needle; 43cm rattan grapevine wreath; 1.2m of 4cm-wide hessian tape or ribbon. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION Not critical for this project. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; p2togb, p2tog through back loops; skpo, sl1, k1, pass sl st over (to decrease 1 st); sl, slip; sskp2o, insert needle into 2nd st then 1st st on left needle and sl these 2 sts tog, k1, pass 2 sl sts over (to decrease 2 sts); ssp3tog, place…

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 or foreign words are allowed. There is one nine-letter word in the grid, for which the clue is: Previously mentioned. 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: Bird that can be green or great spotted. Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the…

You join me in the middle of a large field on a Saturday morning. Nippy, isn’t it? There is a light but persistent drizzle. If sunny intervals are coming in from the west, as faithfully promised, then they are jolly well taking their time about it. ‘What do you think of this one?’ says Mr Dear. His friend Mike plods over. ‘Nah,’ he says. ‘I wouldn’t bother with that one. Are you sure you won’t have a turn, Rosie?’ ‘Thank you, but I’m quite happy here in charge of the Thermos.’ We are here – with a flask of coffee and some Jaffa Cakes – because Mr Dear is having his first attempt at metal-detecting. This is his latest craze, and at least it’s not as annoying as the banjo…

Letter of the week Give it a whirl! Gaby Roslin’s piece about keeping your inner child alive [17 October 2023 issue] reminded me of putting that into practice when I was in York last year. My husband, myself and two ladies from the Isle of Wight – who we met on the trip – went on the lovely carousel they had outside the Castle Museum. It was a wonderful ride that brought back lots of memories and we all had a good laugh. The only problem is that getting off is not so easy at our age! Sandra Williams, Poole PAWS FOR THOUGHT Here’s my precious pet, who I took in after his human mummy passed away. He’s still quite a ‘scaredy’ cat, having lived most of his life indoors,…

IF YOU ARE PETITE, TRY WIDE LEG Roomy through the entire leg, these are great leg-lengtheners. Avoid swamping your figure by teaming them with a more fitted top half – a slim blouse or cropped blazer. IF YOU ARE CURVY, TRY SKINNY Hugging your figure from hip to ankle, this stretchy style will contour your curves in all the right places. Look for tummy-control detailing for extra support and offset with a relaxed top. IF YOU ARE PEAR-SHAPED, TRY FLARED This retro silhouette is universally flattering, helping to balance out hips and thighs. Lean into that 70s aesthetic and wear with a crochet knit and chunky heels. Boot-cut and kick flares offer a subtler shape. IF YOU ARE TOP-HEAVY, TRY STRAIGHT Bridging the gap between skinny and baggy jeans, this…

Stuck in a pattern Q There are so many things I’d like to do with my life. I get really close to doing them but then I back off. It’s a bit like climbing up to the top diving board, standing there for a while and then walking back down. I really do want to face some challenges, like travelling on my own or in a group, but I somehow just end up staying at home. Amy, Broadstairs A I wonder what happens between the wanting to go and the staying? My hunch is that you start to think of all the things that could go wrong and then feel anxious, deciding staying put is safer. This type of thinking is a habit for many people. Next time it happens, say ‘stop!’ Then create a picture of…

Shaking her head in disappointment, Charlotte ended the call. ‘Beth can’t do it. Her mother’s sprained her ankle, so she’s had to go and look after her.’ ‘Oh, poor woman,’ Jenny, Charlotte’s mum, sympathised. ‘If only she didn’t live so far away,’ Charlotte added wistfully. Charlotte ran a small bakery shop in town, where she also provided a cake-ordering service. Birthday cakes were the most popular, and she was fine with icing them. But when it came to wedding cakes, she enlisted her friend Beth’s help. Being a professional cake-icer, her skills were outstanding. Earlier that morning, Charlotte had received a phone call from a very upset bride-to-be. Her wedding cake had been ruined in a flood and, unable to replace it in time for her big day, she had…