Innholdsfortegnelse for 30-Jul-2024 i Woman's Weekly

"I went to a church service the other day at the tiny hamlet of West Anstey on the south side of Exmoor. These days, most congregations in this sparsely populated and remote part of the world are small, barely filling the many medieval churches scattered across the landscape, built for what was once a much larger farming population. But this time the church was packed for a special service and everyone was smiling. It made me reflect on how social get-togethers are so good for our health and happiness. Modern life provides too few such opportunities and our wellbeing is the worse for it. But there are things we can do to improve that – see page 12."…

The biggest difference you notice between Claire King and her no-nonsense alter ego Kim Tate is the laughter. While withering one-liners and hard stares tend to be Kim’s forte, Claire has a tendency to see the lighter side of life and her conversations are punctuated with self-deprecating chuckles. Not that she doesn’t enjoy every second of playing someone so different. ‘I’m a little biased, but I think she’s the best character on TV, so I’m very grateful,’ Claire smiles. ‘She’s got the balance of everything. She’s got the soft side, the hard side, and she’s big and bold and ruthless. We’ve both got an interest in horses and we’re both loyal to our families, but otherwise I’m nothing like her.’ ‘I don’t get that angry, I just get on with…

"There is something very special about the [summer] Olympics and if my body was able to, I would love to be able to give competing another go. As you get older, I think you would also appreciate everything a lot more. People talk about the pressures of being an athlete in the Olympics, but actually, there are pressures in life all the time and for me, it’s such a privileged pressure to represent your country at the Olympics. ‘I’m getting excited about Paris’ As this year’s Games loom, I am getting excited. Paris isn’t far away from the UK, it’s in the same time zone and I have got quite a lot of confidence it is all going to be brilliant. It is going to be a family affair for…

3 WAYS TO... Protect your eyes from the sun 1 HIT THE MARK Choose sunglasses with a wrap-around lens or wide arms with the CE Mark and British Standard Mark 12312-1:2013 E. 2 CHOOSE SMART Opt for sunglasses that fit comfortably. ‘Particularly on the [nose] bridge fitting and over the ears,’ says Michelle Fazzini*. ‘The glasses shouldn’t slip off or feel too tight.’ 3 SHADE YOUR FACE Wear a wide-brimmed hat and never look into the sun. Take extra care around water and on the beach, when reflected sunlight is especially harmful. AN OIL TO EASE MY ARTHRITIS FLARE-UPS Kim Checkley, 62, from Warwick. I’m currently waiting for an arthritis diagnosis after suffering flare-ups of pain in my lumbar region, elbow, toes, hands, fingers and knees for the last two…

Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ 60x112cm plain cotton fabric✱ 38x48cm patterned cotton fabric✱ Matching sewing thread✱ Small side plate (to draw around) 1 From the plain cotton fabric, cut out two 38x48cm rectangles and a 10x180cm strip (you will need to join the short ends of the 10cm-wide strips to create a long enough piece) for the waistband. You can adjust this length to fit your waist. 2 On the patterned cotton rectangle, use the small circular plate to draw around on the top two corners at approximately 12cm down and 15cm across from the edges to create the pockets. Pin and press the edges under by 1cm, then another 1cm. Topstitch to secure. 3 Sandwich the patterned piece between the two matching plain pieces with right sides facing.…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 81-86 (91-97) (102-107)cm/32-34 (36-38) (40-42)in. Actual bust 106.5 (115.5) (129)cm/42 (45½) (50¾)in. Side seam All sizes 40cm/15¾in. Length to back neck including hem edging 68 (70) (72)cm/26¾ (27½) (28¼)in. Sleeve seam All sizes 42cm/16½in. MATERIALS 13 (13) (14) x 50g (85m) balls of Rico Design Creative Cotton Aran (100% cotton) in Smokey Blue (31)*. Pair of 4mm (No. 8) and 4.5mm (No. 7) knitting needles; red and blue stitch markers; stitch holders. TENSION 18 stitches and 24 rows to 10x10cm, over stocking stitch, using 4.5mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS Dec, decrease (by working 2 sts tog); inc, increase (by working twice into same st); k, knit; p, purl; skpo, slip 1, k1, pass slipped st over (to dec 1 st); ss, stocking st (k on right…

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: Eating at the same table. Average = 20 More than 40 = well done Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer. CLUE: I think for every boyfriend (10). EASY CLUES Across 7 Utilising (5)8 Fiery mountains (9)10 Adjacent to (6)11 Tooth specialists (8)12 Rigorously (8)13 Converge (4)15 Haggle (7)17 Deeds (7)20 Land area unit (4)22 Gaseous element (8)25 Machine controller (8)26 Opulence (6)27 Stinging…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR This is a really good time for completing outstanding projects. Take it one step at a time and you’ll accomplish a great deal. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY You may be faced with some important decisions. Weigh up all the pros and cons carefully before making your final choice. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Taking time out to be silent and peaceful will be beneficial for you now. Being in nature will feel nourishing and uplifting. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL This promises to be a busy week with many demands on your time. Set clear priorities and you’ll breeze through it. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG You may feel you are in a holding pattern. Look carefully and…

HEAD FOR EDINBURGH Edinburgh is the UK’s cultural capital in the month ahead, with its International (2-25 August) and Fringe (2-26 August) festivals taking place. Literary fans will also be treated to a packed programme at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, from 10-25 August. Director Jenny Niven (pictured) has chosen the theme Future Tense, with 500 events and authors, including Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, from over 40 countries. ✱ edbookfest.co.uk Celebrating Borrowdale When King Charles III came to the throne, a celebratory commitment to establishing new National Nature Reserves began. Over five years, 25 were to be announced as part of an initiative known as the King’s Series. The latest to be revealed is Borrowdale in the Lake District, which is a particularly special area, as it’s home to…

From thrilling high-speed roller coasters to gentler rides for little ones, theme parks are fun for all generations. What’s more, during the summer months, many of them hold special events – meaning it’s the perfect time of year to plan an exciting day out for the family. Oakwood Theme Park, Pembrokeshire Oakwood Theme Park is the biggest theme park in Wales. It boasts white-knuckle roller coasters, such as Speed, the fastest ride in Wales, at 59mph; Vertigo, the UK’s tallest swing; and Drenched, which takes thrill seekers 100ft up in the air before dropping them into a tidal wave. Less-daring visitors and younger children will love the Peter Pan-inspired Neverland Chase. There’s also a host of after-dark events. ✱ oakwoodthemepark.co.uk PLEASURE BEACH RESORT, BLACKPOOL Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Resort opened in…

1 FEELING PEACHY A unique mix of almond, peach, sandalwood and cacao come together to deliver a fresh and playful scent that then settles with a much earthier finish. It’s a gorgeous choice for summer evenings. H&M Personal Muse EDT, £8.99, hm.com 2 HOLIDAY VIBE You’ll feel like you’re lounging on the beach every time you mist this papaya-filled tropical treat. As well as smelling good, the aloe juice and glycerin-infused formula has a cooling and soothing effect on skin. PS Refreshing Body Mist, £3, Primark 3 BRILLIANT BLOOMS This calming body mist has a very gentle bluebell aroma that makes a nice change from your usual petal-powered perfumes. The formula is made up of 98% natural ingredients and is certified vegan too. The Body Shop Bluebell Fragrance Mist, £12,…

Coping with… A COLONOSCOPY This procedure allows a specialist to look at the inner lining of your large intestine A thin, flexible tube and camera called a colonoscope is used to look at the colon, to help identify conditions such as ulcers, colon polyps, tumours or areas of inflammation. It’s also used to explore possible causes of abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, chronic constipation or diarrhoea, or other intestinal problems. People over 50 may also be offered a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer. In the week before having one, eating a low-fibre diet helps keep your colon clear. The day before your colonoscopy, you’ll be asked to drink laxative sachets to empty your bowels. You’ll get diarrhoea for a few hours after taking the first sachet – this is meant to happen – so it’s best to be at home all day,…

"Never go to bed on an argument. That’s the advice, isn’t it? But does it apply when he’s miles away and you’ve had words over the phone? When I went to bed on Saturday night, I was steaming. How could he? Has he taken leave of his senses? Or what used to pass for his senses. (Answer on one side of paper only, please.) You might remember that Mr Dear is enjoying a long weekend in Scotland with some chums. You might also remember that he phoned on Saturday evening. It was halfway through our conversation that the bombshell dropped. ‘I’ll be back very late on Monday,’ he said. ‘In fact, I might even stay over on Monday night.’ ‘Enjoying yourself that much,’ I said, raising a sceptical eyebrow that…

Get moving All the evidence suggests that you’re more likely to live a longer, healthier life if you exercise regularly and stick to a healthy weight, says Tim Allardyce, clinical director at Surrey Physio. ‘Being active is vital for heart, lung and brain health, and if more people exercised, we’d see less back and joint pain,’ he says. ‘But the vast majority of us get nowhere close to the NHS’s basic recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate activity – such as brisk walking – across a week, and more than a third (37%) of us are now overweight.’ ✱ If you can’t manage 150 minutes, at least try to go for a daily walk, with one extra activity – such as swimming – every week. ✱ As well as helping…

SPORTS LUXE Metallic hues and a shoulder pouch bag give a sporty edge to an all-neutral look. THREE-PIECE Fine pinstripes in a linen mix keep you looking smart and feeling comfortable when it gets warm. POOLSIDE CHIC Dial up the glamour in a stylish swimsuit and oversized shirt. BEAUTIFUL BRODERIE Nothing says summer more than crisp broderie anglaise. Keep it modern in a relaxed trouser set. TEXTURE TWIST Mix fabrics to add interest to your outfit. MIX AND MATCH Use your co-ord to create multiple holiday looks – dress down the shirt with jeans and the trousers with swimwear. EASY ELEGANCE Seasonally versatile and non-crease, a cotton knit maxi dress is a great investment.…

I’ve been demoted at work Q My boss has decided to change my role in the company. It is, in effect, a demotion, as I will no longer manage a team. (My salary remains unchanged.) I’ve questioned this but I’ve been told it’s best for the company. It certainly isn’t good for me. I don’t know what to do. Name and address withheld A This doesn’t sound like a good situation for you. Your boss is making a statement (without saying it) that he doesn’t see you as leadership material and has moved you sideways. I understand that will be upsetting. The company is being prioritised over you. It’s unfortunate that your boss didn’t clearly explain their reasoning, but you’re clearly not in a position to be dismissed, as you haven’t done anything wrong. If this…

Books Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (£20, HB, Wildfire) In 1980, a wealthy businessman, Carl Fletcher, is kidnapped. After his wife pays a ransom and he returns home, the family expect their privileged lives to return to normal. But the suppressed trauma of the event reverberates through the decades. In this fast-paced, insightful and acerbic novel, every member of the family is impacted by the crime – matriarch Ruth, neurotic son Nathan, his self-destructive brother Beamer and their sister, rebellious Jenny. Though they’re all corrupted by wealth, you’ll find yourself sympathising with their struggles to find a place in the world. Think Twice by Harlan Coben (£22, HB, Cornerstone) Greg Downing died of a heart attack three years ago. His former rival-turned-boss, Myron Bolitar, read a eulogy at his…