Innholdsfortegnelse for 7-May-2024 i Woman's Weekly

Have dog, will travel "We used to own one dog, a brown spaniel called Cocoa. Then, in her later years, Albie, a black spaniel puppy, arrived and led her a merry dance before they became a team. But as is the way of life, Cocoa eventually passed away and we had one dog again, until last autumn a new nibbly, naughty little ball of energy, Mabel, came into our lives. Perhaps remembering with a little bit of karma guilt his puppydom antics with Cocoa, Albie put up with the little monster with great restraint, and now she’s older, they are a team again. So as a dog owner, I read our feature on page 38 with great interest."…

Matt Baker may be a well-loved presenter and successful TV producer – the mastermind behind Our Farm in the Dales and Travels with Mum and Dad – but the job title he values most is that of farmer. ‘It’s interesting how the general public sees me sitting on The One Show and thinks, “Oh, now you live in a town,”’ says Matt, 46. ‘But I’ve only ever lived six months of my life without a flock of sheep, and that wasn’t a happy six months. I have never left that world of farming, working and being out there. I love that tough life and I have actively gone out to find it.’ Those six months were when Matt first moved to London over two decades ago to host Blue Peter.…

"I finished the Strictly Come Dancing tour a couple of months ago, which was wonderful. It was a surreal experience walking out into arenas in front of thousands of people, then dancing live. The tour marked the end of my Strictly journey. I’ve done jobs before where you don’t want it to end, but this one felt particularly special. I became close to my TV dance partner Johannes Radebe, and so did my children Amber, 29, Lily, 25, and Charlie, 28 – he’s been over to our house for supper many times and after the final, neither of us could bear not to speak every day! My tennis background steeled me well for Strictly. Unlike some contestants, for whom criticism was new territory, I always took what the judges said…

‘With a background in farming, I’m returning to my roots’ Zena McFadzean, 48, a flower farmer at Flouer Flowers and YA author, is from Kelso, in the Scottish Borders, where she lives with husband Iain, 48. ‘I want to put my mark on it,’ I told my husband when we were given the opportunity to take over a farm in the Scottish Borders. We both come from farming backgrounds and wanted to return to our roots one day. I’d been a florist but found it difficult to make my job fit my health, as I suffered with bowel condition ulcerative colitis. I started writing but still liked the idea of having an American-style flower farm one day. Then in 2018, due to a family death, we got the chance to…

3 WAYS TO... Spot a heart attack 1 DISCOMFORT IN YOUR CHEST It happens suddenly and doesn’t go away, and can spread to either arm or your neck, jaw, back or stomach. Other signs include tightness, heaviness or a burning indigestion-like pain. 2 FEELING SICK Being sweaty, lightheaded or short of breath are other possible symptoms. Signs can vary, but if you suspect a heart attack, always dial 999 for immediate help. 3 COUGHING/WHEEZING This can be caused by a buildup of fluid in the lungs. Other symptoms include a sudden feeling of anxiety, similar to a panic attack. ✱ To find out more, visit bhf.org.uk or call 0808 802 1234. NEWSFLASH Play an instrument or sing to stave off dementia Playing a musical instrument or singing in a choir can…

1 SOFTEN FLOORING For the ultimate spa feel, turn your attention to the floor. A fluffy bathroom rug will feel so luxurious underfoot, or opt for a bath mat with plenty of texture and a deep pile. Turn up the luxury on your towels too, choosing large bath sheets in good-quality cotton over smaller bath towels. ✱ Cotton textured bath mat, £14, Habitat 2 DECORATING DECISIONS There are no limits to how you can decorate with the availability of specialist wallpapers and paints that can cope with the steamy setting. Think about the colours that help you to feel zen. Often it will be soft and subtle colours, or deep and dark hues, but it really is down to your personal taste. If you want to incorporate pattern, buy wallpaper…

Gran! You were a punk!’ Not sure how to react to her granddaughter’s enthusiastic greeting, Liz settled for ‘Hello, love’. Jenny hugged her. ‘An actual punk!’ Liz glanced over her shoulder. Her husband Ed was still snoring after lunch. ‘Let’s not wake Granddad, eh? Come into the kitchen, and I’ll make us a cup of tea.’ While Liz set about making a cuppa, Jenny sat at the table and pulled her laptop out of her rucksack. ‘I’ve converted those old tapes you gave me to video files.’ ‘Oh, good! Thank you.’ Liz began to understand and suddenly felt uneasy. During a recent spring clean of her loft, which Jenny had helped with, they had come across a box of old VHS tapes. Without thinking, she’d accepted Jenny’s offer to ‘digitise’…

IT’S PARTY TIME Immerse yourself in the glamorous world of Priscilla the Party! at Here on London’s Charing Cross Road. Based on the Oscar-winning movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – about three friends who travel across Australia’s outback in a battered tour bus to perform their drag act – and the subsequent Priscilla musical, the show features 500 costumes, plus classic floor fillers like It’s Raining Men. You’ll be singing along with the best of them. ✱ Until 29 September, book tickets at priscillatheparty.com The high life Majestic, elegant and magnificent in flight, cranes grow to a height of 1.2 metres, making them far and away the UK’s tallest bird. They thrive in wetland areas, and numbers have had a boost in recent years, thanks in part to an…

The UK has an amazing culinary heritage that many chefs feel doesn’t get the attention it deserves. And we also have our fair share of divisive dishes. MARMITE ‘Love it or hate it’, the well-known slogan proclaims – and oh, how we do! Since its creation in 1902, this dark, sticky vegetarian spread has divided public opinion. Packed with vitamins and minerals, it was part of the rations for troops during World War One to help combat outbreaks of beriberi and other deficiency diseases. In the 1930s, it was used by English scientist Lucy Wills to successfully treat a form of anaemia in millworkers in Bombay, India, owing to its folic acid content. Nowadays, as the ‘love it or hate it’ debate rages on, Marmite fans can even treat themselves…

1 DREAM CREAM Deeply hydrating, glow enhancing and pigmentation fading, this daily face cream is bursting with the ingredients that lacklustre skin craves, such as shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins B, C and E. Glow Hub The Super C Slayer Vitamin Enriched Priming Moisturiser, £14, Sephora 2 MICELLAR MAGIC Sweep this make-up remover over your skin to remove product, dirt and grime. The refreshing vitamin C formula targets dull, tired and lacklustre skin to help overhaul your complexion. It’s vegan and cruelty-free too. Revolution Skincare Vitamin C Brightening Micellar Water, £6, Boots 3 ILLUMINATING TONIC Want to supercharge your skin’s natural luminosity? Then use this lightweight and refreshing toner after cleansing. It’s packed with vitamin C, which works to fade dark spots, improve radiance, and keep you and your…

Broccoli and anchovy pasta The broccoli creates a creamy sauce while keeping the calories lower. SERVES 4PREP 10 mins COOK 20 mins ✱ 1tbsp oil✱ 1 head broccoli, stalk thinly sliced, florets finely chopped✱ 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced✱ 8 anchovy fillets✱ ½ chicken stock cube✱ 250g trofie or other pasta shapes 1 Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the broccoli stalk slices and garlic, and fry for 3 mins. 2 Add the anchovies, stirring until they break up. Then mix in the florets and cook for 5 mins. Add the stock cube with 200ml cold water, bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10 mins until the broccoli is cooked through. 3 Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to pack instructions.…

Health ADVICE FROM OUR WOMAN’S WEEKLY DOCTOR Health anxiety is when you spend so much time worrying you’re ill, or going to get ill, researching symptoms or checking to see if you have them, that it starts to take over your life. It’s a form of anxiety related to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). You may have health anxiety if you worry constantly about your health or are frequently checking your body for signs of illness, such as lumps, tingling or pain. You may start asking people for reassurance that you’re not ill, worry that your doctor may have missed something or that medical tests are inaccurate. You start looking obsessively at health information on the internet or in the media, and may avoid anything to do with serious illness, such…

Tropical sundae Homemade mango ice cream layered with tropical fruits makes a fantastic summer pud. SERVES 6 READY IN 25 mins, plus freezing ✱ 3 large, very ripe bananas, peeled, chopped (and frozen ahead)✱ 350g frozen mango chunks✱ 250ml light coconut yogurt (or use regular)✱ Zest 1 lime✱ ½tbsp vanilla bean paste✱ 2-3tbsp runny honey (optional)✱ 4tbsp passion fruit curd, plus an extra drizzle to serve✱ 400g mixed diced tropical fruit (use tinned)✱ Light squirty cream (optional)✱ Toasted coconut flakes (optional) 1 Spread the sliced banana on a lined tray and freeze for 1 hr or until solid. 2 In a blender or food processor, whizz the frozen banana, mango, yogurt, lime zest and vanilla bean paste until smooth, scraping the sides as needed. Taste, then if you like, add…

TESTED BY US so they work for you YOU WILL NEED ✱ 45x60cm floral cotton ✱ 45x60cm pink cotton ✱ 70x90cm Vlieseline 272 Thermolam wadding ✱ 150cm pink cotton bias binding ✱ Oven mitt template – enlarge to fit your hand size ✱ Matching sewing thread 1 Fold the wadding and fabrics in half and, using the template, cut two pieces (one reversed) from each fabric and four from the wadding. 2 Place a printed fabric piece wrong side up and layer two pieces of wadding on top, followed by a pink piece, wrong side down. Pin and tack together. Quilt as desired. Repeat for the other cutouts. 3 Pin and sew the two glove pieces, printed sides together, with a 1cm seam allowance. Trim the excess fabric and clip…

TESTED BY USso they work for you Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS Length excluding handles 30cm/12in. Width 30cm/12in. Depth 10cm/4in. MATERIALS 2 x 50g (125m) balls of Scheepjes Catona (100% cotton) in White (Bridal White 105) plus 1 ball in each of Yellow (Saffron 249), Bright Pink (Shocking Pink 114), Pale Pink (Tulip 222), Blue (Cyan 397) and Maroon (Tyrian Purple 128)*. Size 3.5mm crochet hook; tapestry needle; 65cm white faux-leather bag handles. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION Each square measures 10x10cm, using 3.5mm hook. ABBREVIATIONS BLO, back loop(s) only; ch, chain; dc, double crochet; FLO, front loop(s) only; slst, slip stitch; st(s), stitch(es); sp(s), space(s); tr, treble crochet; yrh, yarn round hook. NOTES You may want to line the bag with fabric, to add structure and prevent small contents escaping.…

Books The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton (£20, HB, Bloomsbury) A deadly fog has destroyed the world, except the idyllic island where 122 villagers and three scientists live, protected by a security system that lets them live in harmony. When one of the scientists is found stabbed to death, the security system is lowered. If the murder isn’t solved in 92 hours, the fog will smother everyone on the island. A clever, dystopian thriller set against a ticking clock. It’s another twisty masterpiece from the Sunday Times bestselling author. The Lifeline by Libby Page (£18.99, HB, Orion) Coping with a newborn and relocating from London to Somerset has turned Kate’s life upside down. Overwhelmed by loneliness and isolation, she’s too embarrassed even to confide…

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: Keyboard instrument Average = 8 More than 16 = well done Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer. CLUE: Suck up to show’s lead character, sticking 100 in flowers (10) EASY CLUES Across 7 Non-interfering (5-3)9 In a keen way (6)10 Painful (4)11 Writers (10)12 Liqueur (6)14 Hats, etc. (8)15 Mishap-inclined (8-5)17 Extremely complex (8)19 Identifying (6)21 Nearing defeat (2,3,5)22 Male rabbit (4)23…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR This is the perfect time for being brave and for moving forward with something you’ve been procrastinating about. Go for it! TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY You’ve many inner resources that are as yet untapped. Instead of relying on others, connect with your internal guidance – you won’t go wrong. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Financially, this promises to be a favourable time for you. If you’ve been working on a project, it can come to fruition. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL You might well find yourself returning to something, or someone, from the past. It could be a great opportunity for resolution and completion. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Your home and family are the focus this week.…

DOUBLE UP Don’t be afraid of head-to-toe denim. No longer a faux pas, you can try mixing different washes for a more subtle approach. The pleated sleeves on the shirt offer an extra flattering finish. FABULOUS FROCK Give the hard-wearing fabric a feminine update with this embroidered dress. The perfect day-to-night style, it will become your new, well-worn favourite. Pair with a cropped jacket to highlight your waist. COOL COVER-UP A denim jacket makes for stylish, light outerwear during the warmer months. Layer over a dress for a more casual feel and add in a denim accessory for a low-key take on the double-denim look. STYLE STAPLES Just as versatile as your jeans but with a more polished finish, a denim skirt is worth adding to your rotation. Wear with…

Health I’m struggling to move on Q A few months ago, my son took his life. None of us had any idea he was depressed or considering this, but he had clearly planned it for a while. How could we have missed it? I feel so guilty and such a bad parent. I’m struggling to move on, and this is affecting my relationship with my other children. Name and address withheld A I’m so sorry – that’s a horrible thing to have happened. At times like this, it’s natural to blame yourself but it isn’t helpful. The last thing you need right now is to make life hard with your other children. That said, this is something difficult to get over by yourself. I would strongly suggest some professional help…

After she’d found a place to park, Cathy picked up her phone and called her daughter. ‘Hi, Mum,’ Rachel said. ‘How’s my cat?’ ‘He’s fine,’ Cathy replied as she watched a woman carrying a puppy across the car park. ‘They didn’t have to do all the tests in the end. It was a blade of grass that was making him cough.’ ‘A blade of grass?’ ‘Yes. It was lodged in his throat. They pulled it out. Sylvester’s got to take some pills for a week, but he’s much better now. I’m about to pick him up.’ ‘Thanks for taking him, Mum,’ Rachel said. ‘I couldn’t get out of that meeting at work.’ ‘That’s OK, love. I only wanted to tell you I’d got him to the vet’s.’ Rachel chuckled. ‘Was…

"You’ll doubtless want to know why Mr Dear is standing on a chair in the kitchen while dressed as Kermit the Frog. Let me first explain the chair. It’s all to do with smoke alarms, which at Dear Towers are our sworn enemy. Yes, I know we should be very grateful to our smoke alarms for their service through the years. They have maintained a ceaseless vigil and kept us safe from fire (although that hasn’t been a particularly demanding task, as we’ve not had anything remotely resembling a fire). It must be a dull and monotonous job, just waiting for years on end to spring into action. Which is obviously why smoke alarms amuse themselves by going off at awkward moments. About three times a year, we are woken…