Innholdsfortegnelse for 29-Oct-2024 i Woman's Weekly

With a pinch of salt... “As the world changes, lifestyles that seemed everyday to one generation all of a sudden become historical curiosities to the next. My children can remember life before the internet and it first appearing in our home. But no doubt many years down the line, when they in turn are talking to their own grandchildren, those young faces from the future will show stunned incomprehension that such a part of their lives was not always present in the world! On a much more amusing level, my own kids can barely believe that packets of crisps from my childhood had a little wrapper of salt in them, thinking it a bizarre idea! See page 10.”…

She’s been an agony aunt for over 32 years, but even award-winning broadcaster Vanessa Feltz doesn’t have the answer to one big, burning life question… ‘What’s the secret of a lasting relationship? Because I don’t seem to have managed to have any of those, do I?’ she asks. ‘Maybe it’s finding somebody with the same neuroses as you, who’s worried about the same things, so they glue you together rather than separating [you]. I think trustworthiness is a really big thing. You must be where you say you are and if you’re thinking of straying, you should say, “Look, I’ve had enough of being faithful, goodbye,” because if you’re full of deceit, everything’s built on shifting sand, and it’s horrible and very unkind. Just be kind and decent to the…

“It was during one of the Strictly shows in November 2023 that my beautiful grandson Banksi entered the world. I had trouble getting hold of my son Mark that day, which I thought was odd. I think he was holding off telling me because he knew I’d announce it to the world. Banksi is just the cutest. He’s already trying to walk and says, ‘Daddy’ and ‘Mummy’. It was overwhelming when I first held him. I had my son when I was 25 and in the middle of my career. He came everywhere with me and we were always in a rush, as I was on a tight schedule. Seeing Banksi took me back to that time. Everything was decided for me then, as I tried to get back to…

Working as a Grief and Sudden Loss Recovery Coach, Julie New specialises in helping others navigate a new life after trauma. She’s brought comfort to hundreds of people whose lives have been turned upside down by tragedy. But her favourite saying – ‘change is forever, but the pain doesn’t have to be’ – was one she struggled with, yet knew she must repeat to herself when, 12 years ago, she suffered her own devastating loss. ‘My mission is to give my clients hope,’ says Julie, 57, from Willington, Bedfordshire. ‘They need to know that they really can find true happiness again – even after the most terrible heartbreak. But when my wonderful husband Rob died, aged 52, I honestly thought I’d never feel joy or laugh properly again. We’d had…

3 REASONS TO... Eat pumpkin 1 THEY’RE GOOD FOR IMMUNITY Packed with vitamins A and C, they can help you fight infections and encourage wounds to heal. Pumpkins are also a great source of vitamin E, folate and iron to support immunity. 2 THEY CAN HELP BOOST YOUR EYESIGHT They’re rich in beta-carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A to help you see and keep your eyes healthy. Plus research suggests the squash’s lutein and zeaxanthin help lower your risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. 3 THEY’RE GOOD FOR YOUR HEART Like all veg, they’re full of fibre and antioxidants that help in fighting heart disease and cancer. They also contain potassium, which has been linked to lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of strokes. THE…

3 OF THE BEST... CUSHIONS STYLE TIPS 1 TRY TONAL SHADES Liven up a monochrome scheme with a range of green shades. Balance out a dark forest green with a mid-tone olive and a soft sage. Accents of zingy teal will keep it fresh. 2 BRING THE OUTDOORS IN Plants will help to create a green scene, but fabrics and wallpapers that reference trees and leaves will go one step further to a calm, forest feel. 3 PAINT A FEATURE WALL A great way to ground pops of colour in a room is to use a similar shade on the walls. If you’re feeling brave, colour-drenching all four – even five if you include the ceiling – will create a cosy, snug effect, but a feature wall can be just as…

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, for which the clue is: Final demand. Average = 6 More than 12 = 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 to make a word.…

TO DO AT KEW A stunning ceramics display showcases the monumental porcelain work of artist Felicity Aylieff, from 26 October to 23 March 2025 at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery in Kew Gardens. There’s also a fascinating exhibition about endangered plants until 17 November. And if you’re in a mystic mood, visit the Halloween light trail, featuring spooky trees and fire performers, until 3 November. ✱ For details, visit kew.org Get glowing Carving a pumpkin to create an eerie jack-o’-lantern is a long-standing British tradition, although turnips were originally used before we imported pumpkins from North America. These days 15 million pumpkins are grown each year in the UK, with many destined to light up spooky Halloween celebrations. At the Rhug Estate in North Wales (rhug.co.uk), thousands are being harvested on…

Despite the fact that we Brits pack away 186,000 tonnes of crisps a year, our love affair with fried potatoes has humble beginnings. Just after World War One, an enterprising man named Frank Smith took over a garage behind the Cricklewood Crown in London, where he and his wife Jessie fried potato crisps to sell to the pub’s customers. Before long, Smith was selling them all over the capital in greaseproof paper bags from his pony and trap. Smith’s Crisps went from strength to strength, beating off almost all competition until after World War Two, when Walkers and Golden Wonder joined the race. (Smith’s and Walkers were both eventually taken over by Nabisco, and the Smith’s brand quietly withdrawn in the UK, though it still thrives in Australia.) That, essentially,…

1 PICK A SILHOUETTE Firstly, you need to understand what pieces make you feel your best, so open your wardrobe and pull out items that you wear on a daily basis. It may be a blazer, a wrap dress or some wide-leg jeans – around 10 pieces you reach for on repeat. This will help you discover what shapes and designs you like best. Stick to these silhouettes and you can then switch up other details such as colours, patterns and fabrics. 2 CREATE A PALETTE As well as shapes, it’s worth knowing what colours you like too. If you limit yourself to a smaller palette of around three or four shades that all work well together, it will make it easier to mix and match your wardrobe to create…

Prawn lettuce cups Zingy and refreshing, these cups are great to share and deceptively filling. SERVES 4PREP 20 mins COOK 10 mins ✱ 100g vermicelli rice noodles✱ 3 x 165g packs raw king prawns✱ 2tbsp sesame oil✱ 2 dolce romana lettuce, 10 outer leaves picked, the rest shredded✱ 1 red chilli, thinly sliced✱ 2tbsp roasted peanuts, roughly chopped✱ Small bunch coriander, leaves picked✱ ½ lime, cut into wedges✱ 3tbsp sweet chilli sauce, to serve FOR THE SAUCE ✱ 3tbsp fish sauce✱ 3tbsp kecap manis✱ Juice ½ lime✱ 1cm ginger, peeled and grated✱ 1 garlic clove, crushed✱ Pinch chilli powder 1 Cook the noodles according to the pack instructions, and drain. Mix the sauce ingredients. Set both aside. 2 In a blender, whizz 300g of the prawns with 2tbsp of the…

Coffee and blood pressure Coffee drinking has no effect on blood pressure or developing hypertension, according to an Italian study. Among 1,400 participants, observed for 10 years, habitual coffee drinkers showed similar blood pressure changes to those who never drank coffee, with no differences between moderate or heavy coffee consumers. Coffee drinkers were no more likely to develop hypertension. Indeed, previous studies show coffee consumption inversely associated with the risk of hypertension in a dose-response manner. LARKS AND OWLS The saying ‘early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise’ was disputed by a 1998 study, finding little evidence that larks (early risers) lived longer or were financially better off than owls (those staying up late). Now, of 26,820 participants in the UK biobank database,…

Cinnamon streusel loaf cake Filled and topped with a nutty crumble, this simple loaf is utterly delicious. SERVES 8-10PREP 20 minsCOOK 40-45 mins, plus cooling FOR THE STREUSEL CRUMBLE ✱ 75g light muscovado sugar✱ 50g plain flour✱ 1tbsp ground cinnamon✱ 50g cold salted butter, cut into cubes✱ 30g pecans FOR THE CAKE ✱ 120g unsalted butter, softened✱ 150g golden caster sugar✱ 2 medium free-range eggs✱ 2tsp vanilla extract✱ 120g soured cream✱ 165g plain flour✱ 1tsp baking powder✱ ¼tsp bicarbonate of soda✱ 1-2tbsp whole milk YOU WILL NEED ✱ 1.2ltr loaf tin, greased and lined with baking paper overhanging 1 Heat the oven to 170C Fan/Gas 5. In a food processor, pulse all the crumble ingredients except the nuts, until the mixture forms rough clumps. Add the nuts and pulse again…

FREE SHRUBS Take hardwood cuttings from your favourite shrubs to propagate new ones. ✱ Select a healthy shoot from last year’s growth and cut into 15-30cm lengths. Trim the top of each at an angle, just above a bud, and the bottom end straight across, below a bud. ✱ Push the cutting into a pot of compost mixed with grit, leaving about a third of the cutting poking above the surface. ✱ Place outside and protect from frost. By next spring, cuttings should sprout new growth. FLORAL WAVES Get wave after wave of flowers by making a bulb lasagne. Use a pot at least 30cm wide and deep, and add 10cm of compost. Arrange the first layer – the biggest and latest flowering bulbs, like tulips. Cover with at least…

Crochet MEASUREMENTS Width 11cm/4¼in. Length 15cm/6in. MATERIALS 1 x 100g (282m) ball of Emu Classic DK (100% acrylic) in each of Orange (Pumpkin 115), Dark Red (Garnet 118), Navy Blue (Navy 134) and Grey (Fog 121)*. Size 4mm crochet hook. TENSION One completed square measures 10x10cm, using 4mm hook. ABBREVIATIONS BLO, back loop only; ch, chain; dc, double crochet; FPtr, front post treble thus: [yrh] twice, insert hook from front to back to front around post of st, yrh, pull up loop, [yrh, pull through 2 loops on hook] 3 times; htr, half treble crochet; slst, slip st; sp, space; st(s), stitch(es); tr, treble crochet; yrh, yarn round hook. NOTES Yarn amounts are based on average requirements and are approximate. Figures in square brackets are worked as stated after 2nd…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR This is a wonderful time for creating new, healthy habits. What’s the one thing you know you need to change? Do it now! TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Instead of constantly seeking more. Focus with appreciation on the gifts you currently have, and more will come your way. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Resolve to declutter and to make space for the new. Sometimes you hang onto relationships and possessions well past their sell-by date. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Magic appears when you allow the child within you to express itself fully. You’ve a fun-loving side waiting to be discovered. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Don’t allow your mind to be consumed with fear and doubt. Put your…

Letter of the week A keen reader! I thought you might like to hear about Anita, the mum of my friend Sue. Anita is 95 years old and she loves her Woman’s Weekly magazines, which she reads avidly from cover to cover. She still knits and crochets beautifully. Recently she knitted a sleeveless pullover – from one of her WW patterns – for her favourite employee in the care home she lives in. She made a perfect job of it, and he wears it with pride! Anita is a wonderful lady, who is loved by all who are fortunate enough to meet her. Pauline Cooper, Caldicot, Monmouthshire GET IN TOUCH WE LOVE LETTERS Woman’s Weekly, Future plc, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR. P.S. It really helps when you put…

Collagen Our skin is packed full of this important protein, which is responsible for giving it firmness, strength and elasticity. Unfortunately, as we get older, our natural levels of it start to deplete, which is why mature skin can often feel thinner, drier and a little saggy. It’s never too late to incorporate this bounce-boosting ingredient into your routine, and using a light cream, such as Q+A Collagen Face Cream, £12.50, Boots, will target wrinkles and looser skin, to add a smoother and firmed-up feel over time. For an intense treatment, try using a face mask like Me+ Collagen Sheet Mask, £2.99, Superdrug, once a week, to strengthen and replenish your skin. Vitamin C This vitamin has plenty of benefits for your complexion, including improving the appearance of sun damage…

Health My sister says I’m unfeeling Q My mother died recently and my sister and I are managing this loss so differently. She’s weeping and wailing, and I’m feeling relieved that I no longer have to relate to someone I found to be harsh and difficult to be with. The problem is my sister can’t accept my position and thinks I am being unfeeling. I love her and don’t want to fall out with her, but how can I address this? Name and address withheld A It is not unusual for family members to have experienced their childhood differently and have different feelings when a parent dies. I’m wondering why you and your sister think you need to feel the same? I am sure you can empathise with a friend, without sharing their pain. Supporting each other is important. Focus on…

YOU WILL NEED ✱ Plain coloured oven mitt✱ Calico fabric✱ 14-count waste or soluble canvas✱ Red and white embroidery thread✱ Embroidery needle✱ Embroidery hoop✱ Scissors 1 Place the waste or soluble canvas over the calico fabric, and secure within the embroidery hoop. 2 Cut a 40cm embroidery thread length. Take two strands from the length and work cross-stitches, following the cross-stitch chart. Each coloured square on the chart represents one cross-stitch. 3 Once the cross-stitched areas are complete, add the backstitch lines in one strand of red or white embroidery thread. When the design is finished, undo the embroidery hoop and remove the waste or soluble canvas. 4 Trim the square to 10cm, or to a size that will fit your oven mitt. Turn the edges under by 1cm and…

Book club The Everyday High Protein Handbook by Scott Baptie (£22, HB, Hodder & Stoughton) With everyone talking about protein – one of the major building blocks of life – it’s no wonder we are all looking for ways to include it in our diets. And this super-easy book shows you how to do just that. Baptie not only presents us with 60 brand-new, protein-packed dishes but also 20 favourites seen on his popular YouTube channel. Using few and simple ingredients, tasty creations such as Cuban pulled beef and Diet Coke chicken are sure to delight the whole family. Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands by Bella Osborne (£9.99, PB, Bloomsbury) Olivia Bingham is sick of being ghosted. Having been let down by more men than she can count, she is…

It was about 11.30pm and I was settling down for the night after half an hour with a dashing 1930s police inspector on my Kindle. I say ‘settling down’ but there is a certain ritual to be followed. Head on the pillow. Head under the pillow. Wriggle, wriggle. Face the window. Wriggle, wriggle. Face the centre of the bed. Wriggle, wriggle. Face the window again. It was cold and I couldn’t get comfortable, but halfway through the second ‘wriggle, wriggle’ there was a sudden movement from the other side of the bed. There was swatting at the pillow, and waving of arms, and grumbling. ‘What are you doing?’ ‘There was a buzzing noise right by my ear,’ he said, blearily. ‘Woke me up. Sounded like a mosquito.’ ‘You don’t get…