Innholdsfortegnelse for 17-Dec-2024 Double Issue i Woman's Weekly

Joyful, all ye nations, rise! Most years are filled with both happy and sad moments. We may have had successes or had failures; we may have lost pets or, worse, family members or friends. But we may have also welcomed delightful new arrivals into the world. These are the milestones that make a life. And I always think Christmas is the perfect time to reflect on that, and celebrate together with loved ones, remembering both the good times and the bad, toasting those we’ve lost, and treating any little ones just starting out on life’s journey. Because life is magical, and what better occasion to acknowledge that than at the most magical time of the year? Merry Christmas!…

Ollie Bemish, 48 Tell us about your look I like clothes that are comfortable and functional, yet elegant. This soft, tan leather biker jacket is a key piece in my wardrobe and works with everything. I’ve teamed it with a cream knit and wide pants, but it also looks great over a dress and boots. Everything I’m wearing is from Massimo Dutti – its style is very me. My trainers are Adidas and the shopper is Louis Vuitton. What’s your favourite thing about yourself? Finding positivity everywhere. YOU WORE IT WELL Sue Springthorpe, 1973 This photograph of me was taken by a Sunday Mirror photographer as part of their ‘Natural Beauty’ competition. Disappointingly, I did not appear in the newspaper! YOU WORE IT WELL Yvonne Smith, 1954, sent in by…

We’re well accustomed to the short days and long nights of winter, so the UK has a world-famous tradition of warm knits, wraps, blankets and more that keep us snug when the cold bites. And there are still crafters using techniques honed over centuries (though sometimes integrating modern twists) to help these traditional skills stay alive. The amount of labour that goes into their pieces means that the finished products aren’t cheap, but their enduring quality will be treasured for years to come. Handmade slippers Start a chilly day by sliding your feet into a pair of sheepskin slippers, and everything feels better. Draper of Glastonbury has been crafting slippers from local Somerset sheepskin since 1937, and every pair is still made by hand, taking four weeks to complete. Slippers…

Travelling is one of my absolute favourite things to do. I know I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to visit a lot of places because it’s my big passion. I don’t like being influenced by what the news wants to tell me about a country or what other people say, I want to experience it myself. That’s me through and through. I like to know that my opinion of somewhere is genuine. I think it’s like anything; if you try a tomato and you don’t like it, at least you can say you’ve tried it and you know one way or the other. And you’ve got to actually go somewhere to know what that place is about. Everyone at work always says to me, ‘Oh, my God, where are you…

Coronation cocktail buns Prawn cocktail with a tasty curried twist. MAKE AHEAD Prepare the prawn cocktail and chill, covered, in the fridge. Assemble up to 1 hr ahead MAKES 10 READY IN 15 mins ✱ 2tbsp crème fraiche✱ ½tsp curry powder✱ 1tsp mango chutney, plus extra for spreading✱ Small bunch coriander, finely chopped✱ ½ small red onion, finely chopped✱ 150g cooked prawns, roughly chopped, some reserved for garnish✱ 10 mini brioche buns, we used St Pierre Mini Brioche Buns, halved✱ 4 lettuce leaves, shredded✱ Bombay mix, to garnish 1 Mix the crème fraiche, curry powder, mango chutney, coriander and onion together. Season to taste, then add the chopped prawns and mix to combine. 2 Spread the base of each bun with mango chutney, then add lettuce and a spoonful of…

Coping with… CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME CFS is a long-term debilitating condition that is still poorly understood Also called myalgic encephalomyelitis or CFS/ME, chronic fatigue syndrome can affect anyone, including children. The cause is unknown. The main symptoms are: feeling tired all the time (making simple activities such as getting to work, school or shopping difficult), and not improving with sleep or rest; sleep problems, including insomnia, sleeping too much, feeling you haven’t slept properly, feeling exhausted or stiff when you wake; and ‘brain fog’, with difficulty concentrating, focusing on more than one thing at a time, remembering events that happened recently, being slow to speak or react, often worse after physical or mental activity, even taking weeks to get better (post-exertional malaise or PEM). Finally, some people have pain around…

STOCKINGS WREATHS ARTIFICIAL TREES TREE TOPPERS CUSHIONS BAUBLES…

Knitting Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 82-86 (92-97) (102-107) (112-117) (122-127)cm/32-34 (36-38) (40-42) (44-46) (48-50)in. Actual bust 93 (104) (115) (126) (137)cm/36¾ (41) (45¼) (49¾) (54)in. Length to shoulder 50 (52) (54) (56) (58)cm/19¾ (20½) (21¼) (22) (22¾)in. Sleeve length: All sizes 33cm/13in. MATERIALS 8 (9) (10) (11) (12) x 50g (116m) balls of Sirdar Cashmere Merino Silk DK (75% Merino wool, 20% silk, 5% cashmere) in Riding Red (404)*. Pair each of 3.25mm (No. 10) and 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; long circular needles in same sizes; stitch holders; 1 button. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10x10cm, over stocking stitch, using 4mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS Dec(’d), decrease(d); inc(’d), increase(d); k, knit; p, purl; skpo, slip 1, k1, pass slipped stitch over (to…

Jumbo wordsearch All the words relating to the cocktails are hidden in the grid. Words may be read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally. BAMBOOBELLINIBLACK VELVETBLOODY MARYBRANDY ALEXANDERCAIPIRINHACORPSE REVIVERCOSMOPOLITANDAIQUIRIDRY MARTINIGIMLETGIN FIZZGRASSHOPPERIRISH COFFEEKIR ROYALLAST WORDLONG ISLAND ICED TEAMAI TAIMANHATTANMARGARITAMINT JULEPMOJITOMOSCOW MULENEGRONIOLD FASHIONEDPALOMAPENICILLINPINA COLADAPINK LADYSALTY DOGSCREWDRIVERSEA BREEZESIDECARSINGAPORE SLINGSNAKEBITESPRITZTOM COLLINSVODKA MARTINIWHISKEY SOURWHITE LADY Linkwords 1 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: Medical care of the elderly. 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. Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues,…

Murdle Junior by G.T. Karber (£8.99, PB, Profile) Murdle, the murder mystery puzzle book, was a huge hit with amateur detectives, securing it Book of the Year at this year’s British Book Awards. Now kids can join in the fun with this exciting junior edition. As they decipher codes, navigate maps, solve puzzles and unravel the overall conundrum of The Deadly Silent Spy Organisation, they’ll love finding out whodunnit. Guaranteed to keep them busy over the festive period. Penguin and Pup! The Perfect Christmas by Hazel Gardner and Nikki Dyson (£7.99, PB, Pan Macmillan) Everyone’s idea of how Christmas should be is different. So it’s no surprise that cautious Penguin is drawn to traditional festivities, while impulsive Pup thinks big. Hilarity ensues as Penguin’s ideal Christmas tree with a mince…

‘Are you happy?’ said Adam, who is the acting manager of our modest charity shop. The question caught me unawares. Although I was behind the counter, in theory poised and ready for action, I was actually staring out of the window and wondering whether I might make a courgette bake for dinner. ‘I think so,’ I said guardedly. ‘All things considered.’ Adam nodded in that way people do when they’re trying to look concerned and give the impression that they care two hoots. Or even three if they’re feeling saintly. ‘You don’t sound very sure,’ he said. ‘No, no,’ I said cheerily. ‘I’m happy enough, I suppose. It’s just that I don’t give the subject much thought as a rule.’ ‘You don’t think happiness is important?’ My sigh in response…

CELEBRATE WITH SIR BRYN Renowned bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel creates his own blend of Christmas magic with four festive concerts in London, Swansea, Manchester and Bristol. Combining carols, seasonal music and traditional Welsh songs, accompanied by the Welsh National Opera Orchestra, Bryn’s Christmas is the perfect celebration for music lovers. ✱ From 16-20 December. Find tickets at eventim.co.uk A glorious garland It takes 12 months to prepare the 60-foot Christmas garland for the great hall at Tudor house Cotehele, but the results are well worth it. All the flowers are grown from seed on the 1,300-acre estate in Cornwall, and they are picked and dried throughout the year until it’s time to select the thousands that will make up this year’s garland. The tradition began in 1956 and you can…

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the dulcet tones of Cliff Richard playing in the background as we do our Christmas shopping. Cliff released his first festive album in 19 years, Christmas with Cliff, in 2022, and his first orchestral album, Cliff with Strings – My Kinda Life, in 2023. Both proved to be massive hits, but he’s decided to take a year off in 2024. Not that it means we won’t be hearing Mistletoe & Wine at every opportunity, though. How many times has he sung the classic Christmas tune over the years? ‘Goodness! Is anyone still counting?’ he smiles. Sir Cliff also laughs when he is referred to as the ‘King of Christmas’. ‘Everybody thinks I own Christmas. I don’t! I’ve had four No 1s, which doesn’t mean you…

Mistletoe mishaps Nothing can ruin a kiss more than a cold sore. ‘Once a cold sore is established, it takes six to 10 days to go,’ says dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh, so it can really put a dampener on Christmas. They’re caused by the herpes simplex virus and Christmas is a prime time for an outbreak. ‘The cold weather, higher rates of colds and flu, excess of alcohol, lack of sleep and stress can mean it’s the perfect storm,’ she says. Fail-safe festive skin tips ‘Don’t wear matt lipsticks,’ says Dr Melegh. ‘Keep lips covered with a thin scarf while in the cold, and avoid sipping hot drinks.’ Apply lip balm three to four times daily to help prevent cold sores breaking out. CHRISTMAS BAUBLE FACE Prone to shiny, greasy…

Chocolate trifle For a big gathering, this indulgent assembly job will be a hit. SERVES 12-14READY IN 25 mins, plus cooling ✱ 3 chocolate Swiss rolls, cut into 2-3cm slices✱ 150ml amaretto✱ 75g Maltesers, roughly chopped, plus extra for the top✱ 750ml pot fresh custard✱ 200g dark chocolate, chopped✱ 800ml double cream✱ 1tsp vanilla extract✱ 1tbsp icing sugar, sifted✱ 3-4tbsp caramel sauce✱ 100g mixed nuts, toasted✱ Handful of popcorn, and cocoa powder, to decorate YOU WILL NEED ✱ Trifle dish (about 1.3ltr capacity) 1 Arrange the Swiss roll slices on the base and edges of the dish, gently pressing to secure. Drizzle over 100ml amaretto. Add the Maltesers. 2 In a medium pan set over a low heat, warm the custard, chocolate and 200ml cream. Stir occasionally until the chocolate…

We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to have the perfect Christmas, which often means spending far more money than we can afford. So this year, rather than scouring the internet or high street for expensive, non-recyclable gifts and festive decorations, invest some time and creativity into making unique and sustainable ones at budget prices – the effort will be much appreciated by friends and family. Switch lights Upgrade your old Christmas lights to LED ones, which use roughly 75% less energy, making them a cost-effective choice over time. Rather than using filaments to produce light, LEDs use light-emitting diodes that never get hot and are therefore a safer option. You also don’t have to worry about replacing the bulbs, as they are made to last for years. Christmas…

We can’t give them treats any more Q My daughter and son-in-law are worried about their children’s weight, as school medicals have shown they are on the 90th percentile for BMI. They’ve asked us to stop giving them biscuits and treats, and to reduce portion size. The children love coming to us as they can have treats. I don’t want them to think we’re mean. Tessa, Oxford A I’m assuming that their parents will have changed some of their meals and portion size. The children are of school age so I expect they’ve explained to them why they’ve done so. Suggest to your daughter and son-in-law that they tell their children they have asked you to do the same. That way, they will know it wasn’t your idea. Can you think…

Short story Say that again?’ Margaret asked as her heart sank. ‘I’m sorry,’ the builder fidgeted. ‘We’ve had supply problems. We can’t hand over the keys until the new year.’ ‘So,’ Margaret repeated slowly. ‘We won’t be in our new home for Christmas?’ She and Doug headed for the nearest cafe and ordered two large hot chocolates and Christmas muffins. ‘There’s nothing we can do about it,’ Doug said, squeezing her hand. ‘I know,’ Margaret sighed. ‘I’ll call the landlord and see if we can extend the lease for another month or so.’ Ironically, they’d sold their home without a hitch! That had been at Easter. They’d known their new house wouldn’t be ready, so they’d put their furniture in storage and rented a flat. After all, it was only…

Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ Stranded cotton as listed in the key✱ Size 26 tapestry needle✱ 13x10cm piece of 14-count red aida✱ 16x14cm piece of 18-count white aida✱ Plastic canvas to fit the template dimensions✱ 5x6.5cm red felt✱ White ribbon✱ Mill Hill petite beads✱ Silver bugle beads✱ Masking tape STOCKISTS Buy the complete gingerbread house kit, £15.95, The Nutmeg Company; 3dcrossstitch.co.uk Cross-stitching the design 1 Each square on the chart (see over the page) represents one cross-stitch worked over one block of fabric threads, and each coloured symbol represents a different thread colour. Using the thread key, cut a 40cm length of embroidery thread, then divide it into two strands or single strands for the silver cross-stitching, backstitching and beading. 2 Cross-stitch the roof design on to the red…

Crochet Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS Headband length 38cm/15in but can be adapted to fit any length. MATERIALS 1 x 100g (295m) ball of Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic) in each of Beige (Camel 1420), Brown (Gingerbread 1806), Cream (1005), Red (Matador 1010) and Green (Cypress 1824)*. Size 4mm crochet hook; child’s headband; small amount of toy stuffing. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION Not essential for this project. ABBREVIATIONS BLO, back loop only; ch, chain; dc, double crochet; dc2tog, double crochet 2 sts together (to decrease 1 st) thus: [insert hook into next st, yrh and pull loop through] twice, yrh and pull through all 3 loops; dtr, double treble crochet; htr, half treble crochet; pic, 3ch, slst into top of previously made st; slst, slip st; st(s), stitch(es); tr, treble…

Horoscopes ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR The stars are favourable for your finances. Gratitude for all the gifts in your life will propel you to greater good fortune. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Think of creative ways in which you can help others. This could be with family members or strangers. As you do this, your spirit and heart will be uplifted. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN It’s a wonderful time for communications of all kinds. A delicate situation may need to be discussed. Listen carefully and you’ll say the right thing. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL You like to stay well within a certain comfort level. However it’s high time to do something you’ve never done before. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Set fresh…

Letter of the week Star of the show Patrick Grant’s comments on how we tend to buy cheaper clothes instead of saving for a key piece or recycling [11 June issue], struck a chord with me. As a little girl I was given the important job of narrator in the school Christmas play. Times were hard (it was the early 1950s). Mum was anxious that I had nothing smart enough to wear, so she set about unpicking a good brown skirt, which she transformed into a box pleat skirt, and unravelled a yellow jumper that my Aunty Lil knitted into a lovely jumper for me. Come opening night, I stood as proud as punch in my ‘new’ outfit – oh, and a yellow bow in my hair! I’m nearly 80…

Images of the nativity story are part of the Christian tradition. They typically show a humble stable, with a star overhead, in which the newborn Jesus lies in a manger, with Joseph and Mary beside him, and angels, shepherds, sheep and other animals all around. Often the wise men are there too, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (even though they didn’t arrive until later). The birth of Christ, told in the gospels of St Matthew and St Luke, has long been celebrated in art, through frescoes, mosaics and sculptures. But Saint Francis of Assisi is said to have created the first ‘living’ nativity scene. In 1223, in Greccio, Italy, he set up a manger with a live ox and ass in a cave, from where he preached…

Every year, in the 12 days before Christmas, Shelly Gill prepares for the festivities ahead – putting up the tree, decorating the house, buying and wrapping gifts for her children Theo, now six, Kieran, 31, and Arron, 33, and organising the food shop. ‘I love Christmas, and the preparations are a big part of it for me. When the light-up inflatable festive dinosaurs are up in the garden, it’s Christmas, we’re ready,’ says Shelly, 50, from Merseyside. ‘But for some reason, in 2022, I decided to start earlier, at the end of November, and it was a good job I did. I had no idea what was about to happen, but it was as if my body and brain knew what was coming.’ ‘I’d been in a coma for three…

3 WAYS TO... Fight festive angst 1 SEE THE POSITIVES ‘Avoid dwelling on what you can’t control and focus on the things you can. Research shows that keeping a gratitude journal can help improve your mental health,’ says Dave Smithson from Anxiety UK. 2 PRIORITISE TIME FOR YOU ‘Exercise, good diet and plenty of quality sleep are as important at Christmas as at any time of year,’ says Dave. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep a night, find 20 to 30 minutes a day to exercise, and stick to foods that love your body back.’ 3 DON’T FORCE YOURSELF Christmas can be a difficult time, and if you’re feeling low, exhausted, stressed or anxious, don’t force yourself to do something that might make you feel worse. Dave…

Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ Four-ply jute twine✱ 5cm-diameter polystyrene wreath base✱ Drawing pins✱ Red and white felt✱ Scissors✱ Pins✱ Silver thread 1 Secure one end of the jute twine to the back of the wreath base with a drawing pin. Wind the twine around the wreath tightly, covering the whole base. Cut off the twine and secure the end with another drawing pin on the back of the wreath. 2 Cut out five red and five white stars from the felt, measuring about 7cm across. Position on the wreath base, then pin them evenly in place, alternating red and white. 3 Secure the end of the silver thread to the back of the base with a drawing pin. Wrap the thread over each star, then across the other…