Innholdsfortegnelse for 23-Jul-2024 i Woman's Weekly

What goes around... Isn’t it funny how society’s attitudes to things change in waves through time? For example, the Georgians were rather laissez-faire when it came to morals, only to be followed by the Victorians who were pretty prim (although perhaps surprisingly, not Queen Victoria herself). Then everything became much more relaxed again through the 20th century. Likewise, my parents’ generation hated waste (they lived through wartime shortages), but the generation who followed were often pretty profligate. Now, though, for my children’s era, I’m pleased to say that saving money and resources has become fashionable again. See page 25.…

Gabby Logan is a former Commonwealth gymnast who has fronted BBC Sport’s coverage for over 15 years. Her dad, Terry Yorath, played football professionally for Wales, and she’s married to Scottish ex-international rugby player Kenny Logan. So, it’s little surprise that the 51-year-old is in peak health, and puts diet and exercise at the top of her priority list. Even though the mum of two looks incredible, she admits that midlife and menopause took their toll and ultimately led to her starting her podcast, The Midpoint, which involves her interviewing experts and fellow stars about their experiences of getting older. Now, she’s gathered all the amazing wisdom together for her new book, The Midpoint Plan. ‘I’ve been doing The Midpoint podcast for four years and recorded over 100 episodes. Not…

Friends come into your life at different points, and some know just what you need. When I was grieving for both my father at a young age, and my partner, Matt, in 2017, I found it hard to express myself, especially when I was in a lot of pain. But, I’d encourage people to be as honest as they can. What I really needed, and still need, from friends and family was for them to be OK with me not being OK. It’s more frightening when people are awkward around your sadness and try to cheer you up or ‘fix you’. A lot of friends would start talking about anything other than my loss, as if they thought that if they didn’t mention it, I wouldn’t think about it. The…

Ginger chicken rice bowl The finished dish isn’t a soup as such, but there is just enough broth to make every mouthful deliciously juicy. SERVES 1 PREP 10 mins COOK 20 mins ✱ 1tbsp sesame oil, plus extra to serve✱ 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced✱ 10g fresh ginger, chopped into matchsticks✱ 300ml water✱ ½ chicken stock pot✱ 1tsp soy sauce✱ 1tsp rice wine vinegar✱ 55g basmati rice✱ 1 chicken breast, cut into 2cm thick slices✱ 55g broccoli (regular or tenderstem), chopped into small pieces✱ 5g fresh coriander, finely chopped✱ 1 spring onion, sliced diagonally into chunks 1 In a pan, heat the sesame oil over a medium heat. Fry the garlic and ginger until they have softened slightly and smell fragrant, but haven’t coloured too much. 2 Add in the…

Coping with GANGLION CYSTS These are fluid-filled swellings that usually develop near a joint or tendon Ranging from pea to golf-ball size, ganglions create a smooth lump under the skin and occur alongside any joint in the body, but usually on the wrists, hands and fingers. It’s not clear why they form but they do when the thick, jelly-like synovial fluid cushioning and lubricating joints and tendons during movement leaks out, collecting in a cyst. Ganglions are harmless but can sometimes be painful. If not causing discomfort, they can be left alone and may occasionally, disappear without any treatment over several years. Treatment is usually only recommended if the cyst causes pain or reduced movement. As they are harmless, most integrated care boards – the NHS organisation responsible for managing…

Instructions overleaf MEASUREMENTS Diameter at base 10cm/4in. Diameter at rim 12cm/4¾in. Height 10cm/4in (excluding hanging chains). MATERIALS 1 x 71g (109m) ball of Lily Sugar ’n Cream Original (100% cotton) in Soft Ecru (01004)*. Size 4.5mm crochet hook; plant pot measuring 10-12cm x 10cm. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 12 stitches x 8 rows to 10x10cm, over treble crochet, using 4.5mm hook. ABBREVIATIONS Ch, chain; slst, slip st; sp, space; st(s), stitch(es); tr, treble crochet; tr2tog, treble crochet 2 sts together (to decrease 1 st) thus: yrh, insert hook into next st, yrh and pull loop through, yrh, pull through two loops, yrh, insert hook into next st, yrh and pull loop through, yrh, pull through two loops, yrh and pull through all 3 loops; yrh, yarn round hook.…

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: Having two leaves. Average = 15 More than 25 = well done SUDOKU To solve this puzzle, fill in the grid so that each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column contains the numbers 1-9. 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…

OLIVER’S BACK FOR MORE In Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist is a friendless boy caught up in London’s underworld of thieves and killers, but Lionel Bart’s joyful songs made Oliver! one of the all-time-great musicals. Directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, this new production plays from now until 7 September at Chichester Festival Theatre, then at London’s Gielgud theatre from 14 December. ✱ oliverthemusical.com Squirrels make the leap Squirrels are natural tree planters, helping to expand existing pine forests by forgetting where they’ve buried winter stores of nuts and seeds. In Scotland, red squirrels have survived competition from greys, but can’t reach many areas of woodland because it would mean crossing open spaces. So, since 2016, Trees for Life has gradually reintroduced 235 red squirrels to 12 suitable woodlands in…

The Great British Sewing Bee is back on our TVs, and it seems more and more of us are catching the dressmaking bug. Last year, John Lewis reported a massive 61% increase in sales of haberdashery products compared with the previous year. So if you want some inspiration for your own stitching projects – or just a fascinating day out – a visit to a fashion or textile museum is a must. Here are a few to make a beeline for. Blandford Fashion Museum, Blandford Forum, Dorset This gem of a museum was founded by local fashion collector Betty Penny in 1996. Since then, the vast array of clothing and accessories – known locally as the Cavalcade of Costume – has almost trebled in size and continues to grow. There…

Make it a part of your routine We might sound like a broken record, but you really should be wearing SPF on your face every day. Your skin is susceptible to sun damage all year round, so it’s best to include protection as part of your daily routine. Use an SPF product designed for the face, as these will be less greasy and will contain complexion-boosting ingredients. No7 Future Renew Defence Shield SPF 50, £24.95, Boots, is super-fast absorbing and breathable, making it great for sitting underneath your make-up. Over time, UV exposure can cause pigmentation to appear on your face. If that’s a concern for you, opt for L’Oréal Paris Dark Spot UV Fluid SPF 50+, £19.99, Superdrug, which is designed to lessen the appearance of pigmentation while protecting…

We all know just how expensive the weekly shop can be. But while we can’t control living expenses, we can save money by extending the life of things for another purpose or by being canny with our food. Try some of these tips. Repurpose items Old pants, socks with holes and T-shirts that aren’t good enough for the charity shop all make cleaning cloths, wipes and dusters. And old toothbrushes are great for scrubbing around taps and between tiles. You can also make use of junk mail by holding on to free envelopes and using the backs of letters for scrap paper and shopping lists. Finally, that water from your steamed veg or boiled eggs, and your hot-water bottle, is perfect for your plants. Go halves If you’ve ever forgotten…

I’m scared of dating Q My marriage ended four years ago and I think I’m ready to meet a new partner. I’m frightened, though. How do I know it won’t go wrong again? I have started looking online and, when I am just about to press the button, I get cold feet. I really need to get over this, as the alternative is a lonely old age. Karen, London A I understand you want to be in a loving relationship but I’m not sure I agree with your alternative. Many people are happy and fulfilled living on their own. That said, there is no reason, once you manage your fear, that you won’t meet someone new. Your concern that it could ‘go wrong again’ is, I believe, a barrier to your finding…

This is fun!’ exclaimed Mavis, as we enjoyed the lively summer community festival in the local park. ‘Ooh, a proper ice-cream van! Come on, Dee-Dee.’ She grabbed my arm and we headed for Mario’s Ices, to join the snaking queue. ‘This takes me back,’ she beamed. ‘What was your favourite when you were a kid?’ ‘Mr Whippy, every time,’ I giggled. ‘Zoom lolly or Mivvi for me,’ said Mavis. ‘Happy childhood memories,’ she sighed. ‘I miss how simple life seemed growing up in the 60s and 70s.’ ‘A different world,’ I agreed, wistfully. ‘No internet or mobile phones.’ ‘And only three TV channels,’ said Mavis. ‘Fave programme?’ ‘Follyfoot. I remember spending every weekend at the stables behind the scrapyard, mucking out for free rides. I wanted a pony of my…

Seahorses and starfish YOU WILL NEED ✱ 22x24cm fabric (for one seahorse)|✱ 15x30cm fabric (for one starfish)✱ 2mm-wide blue cord✱ Matching thread✱ Hand-sewing needle✱ Stuffing✱ Black embroidery thread✱ Embroidery needle✱ Pink pencil 1 Enlarge the templates by 210%. Fold the fabric in half with right sides facing and cut out two starfish or seahorse pieces. 2 Cut a 14cm length of blue cord for the hanging loop, fold in half and sandwich it between the two fabric layers, with the raw ends just poking out. 3 Pin and sew the fabric pieces together with a 1cm seam allowance, leaving a small gap for turning through. Snip into the seams around any corners, then turn right sides out and press. 4 Stuff the seahorse and starfish until plump, then slip-stitch the…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR Actively look for the good in each person you encounter. Love is in the air for you this week in all your relationships. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Listen, watch and observe how you act in all situations. You’ll have some inspiring and revealing ‘aha’ moments. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN You’re coming into a new chapter. During this transition you may need to release the past in order to move forward. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Explore all your options carefully. There are solutions to the issues you’ve been facing, especially if you are willing to be creative. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Your finances may need some restructuring. Look at areas in your life that could be…

You join me at the breakfast table, where I am eating Coco Pops and I don’t care who knows it. This is a rare treat at Dear Towers because in the normal course of events, I cannot eat Coco Pops without a constant flow of rude remarks from Mr Dear. ‘What are you? Six years old?’ he says. ‘Coco Pops indeed. You’ll be eating Pop Tarts next, and then where will we be?’ He probably has a point, to be honest. This is just one of my guilty pleasures, but I am safe this morning because he is not here. For this reason, I am still in my dressing gown, I have my elbows on the table, and I have completed one whole clue in the Daily Telegraph crossword, which…

A weekend of gardening, lifting something heavy or simply twisting the wrong way – we all know how easy it is to get a bad back. Millions of us are suffering every day. ‘One in six of the UK population currently has back pain,’ says GP Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy. ‘Fewer than one in 100 cases will be due to a serious cause, and about 50% of these people will be pain free after six months. But there are important red flags to be aware of.’ Location, location, location Most back pain is in the lower back, often due to spending too many hours in the same (usually sedentary) position – and that’s a classic sign that you need to be more active, says chartered physiotherapist…

When Ryan began stumbling over his words, unable to get full sentences out, his fiancée Maria, a highly experienced nurse, knew straight away that something was seriously wrong. ‘Before we’d got together, Ryan had had surgery to remove a brain tumour,’ recalls Maria Smith, 52, from Ightham, Kent. ‘But he rarely mentioned it – and I hadn’t given it a second thought, until now.’ Was this sudden change in Ryan’s speech a sign that the cancer had come back? Maria hoped her fears would be allayed, and – buoyed by six years of remission and reassuring check-ups – Ryan didn’t seem too worried about it. However, when he started having seizures, the diagnosis was confirmed and – after just four very happy years together – their life was about to…

3 WAYS TO... Clear earwax 1 OLIVE OIL ‘Simply add a few drops into your ear each day to soften wax and help it fall out of the ear naturally, avoiding blockages,’ says audiologist Rob Ormerod*. 2 CLEANSING SPRAY ‘Over-thecounter earcleansing sprays made from sterile water or saline can also be an effective and simple way of rinsing wax out of your ears at home,’ suggests Rob. 3 AVOID COTTON BUDS ‘This can push earwax further into the ear canal, leading to impacted wax and potential damage to the eardrum,’ warns Rob. Ear candles or ear vacuums may also cause damage, and there’s no scientific evidence that they work. MY HEALTHY LIFE Dr Cate Shanahan is a family doctor and author. My fail-safe remedy Cutting back on harmful oils. I tell my patients that the most important step to take for good health is to know what you’re…

3 OF THE BEST... STYLE TIPS 1 GO TONAL Green might be the go-to shade for this scheme, but rather than colour drenching – which might overwhelm a space in such a vibrant hue – try adding different tones of green to bring the look to life. Think forest greens mixed with lime accessories. 2 PICK A THEME The botanical trend encompasses a lot of different greenery, so you can choose one that suits your style. Do you prefer big, bold tropical fronds or more delicate,countryside motifs? Whatever you’re drawn to, use it to influence the rest of your decor – exotic shades and shapes or softer tones for the latter. 3 ADD NEUTRALS With so much colour, pick an off-white, cream or beige to help anchor those brighter shades.…

Books Redemption by Jack Jordan (£16.99, HB, Simon & Schuster) Hit-and-run driver Aaron Alexander is newly released from an 11-year stretch in prison, unaware that grieving Evelyn Moore, the avenging mother of nine-year-old Joshua, is intent on murdering him in cold blood. Trying to avert a tragedy, her husband Tobias is hot on her trail, but through a series of reckless catastrophes finds himself a fugitive from sadistic drug dealers. For Evelyn the situation is crystal clear – an eye for an eye. For Tobias it’s a moral dilemma – support his wife’s act of revenge or protect the man she intends to kill? This heart-stopping race against time will test your conscience. Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo (£20, HB, Orion) From the author of the hugely…