Innholdsfortegnelse for 21-Jan-2025 i Woman's Weekly

Seeing stars ”I remember the first time I truly noticed the night sky; we were out as a family and my father started pointing out the different sights, like the North Star and the Big Dipper constellation. But to be honest, it all seemed a bit confusing when I tried to identify them on my own later. Anyway, most of my early life was spent in towns, where street lighting makes viewing the stars difficult. Where we live now, though, is a long way from any street light, making night-time dog-walking a bit challenging, but viewing the stars, seeing the Milky Way and studying the moon much easier! If you fancy going somewhere with a clear view of the heavens, turn to page 70.”…

“Life’s never dull in a veterinary surgery. Every week a dog comes in having eaten something strange. Only this week we had a dog who’d swallowed a piece of corn on the cob off a barbecue and needed urgent surgery. Dogs aren’t too concerned with what they eat, which can cause havoc. Take new puppies, for example. We had one who swallowed a pack of party poppers. We weren’t sure how he had eaten them. If whole, they could cause a blockage; if chewed, there was the risk the poppers would explode inside the dog. The little lad who owned him came in with a list of things he thought the puppy had eaten. He looked very pleased with himself. It included a pair of cufflinks. Fortunately, the puppy was…

Steak and Stilton pie Comfort food at its best, this unctuous option is perfect on chilly nights. SERVES 6-8PREP 25 mins, plus coolingCOOK 2 hrs 30 mins ✱ 2tbsp olive oil✱ 1 onion, chopped✱ 2 sticks of celery, chopped✱ 2 carrots, peeled and chopped✱ 1 garlic clove, crushed✱ 600g diced beef stewing steak✱ 2tbsp plain flour✱ 1tbsp English mustard powder✱ 2 bay leaves✱ Few sprigs thyme, leaves picked✱ 1tbsp tomato puree✱ Large glass red wine✱ 600ml beef stock✱ 375g roll puff pastry✱ 200g Stilton, crumbled✱ 1 small free-range egg, lightly beaten 1 Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrots and garlic, and fry for 15 mins. 2 Mix in the meat and sauté for 5 mins, stirring to seal on all…

Norovirus vaccine trials An mRNA vaccine is to be trialled against norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, and occasionally more severe illness. The highly contagious winter virus often closes hospital wards. The vaccine, containing three of the commonest norovirus strains, will be tested on 25,000 adults, mostly over-60s, in more than six countries over the next two years. If successful, it would reduce the number of vulnerable adults in hospital during winter. AI USE FOR FRACTURE DIAGNOSIS People with suspected fractures could have their X-rays examined by artificial intelligence (AI). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states there’s evidence that AI may reduce variation in care across the country, reduce the number of fractures missed at initial presentation (3-10% of cases), and prevent further injury…

Lisa couldn’t remember the last time she’d received a postcard. She knew her friend Simon was backpacking around Europe. Her mother had run into his aunt in the bakery the other week and caught up with his news. An enviable month helping with a grape harvest in France, followed by a stint of barista work in Barcelona. And now? His postcard was sent from Positano. Simon was sunning himself in Italy while she was freezing here. How she wished she could swap the grey waters of the English Channel for the azure Mediterranean Sea. But why had Simon written her a postcard? She allowed her thoughts to drift into ‘what if?’ territory. But soon she found herself thinking of reasons why she shouldn’t read anything into it. So what if…

DUNELM GEORGE HOME HABITAT…

Instructions overleaf Difficulty level TESTED BY US so they work for you WOMAN’S WEEKLY 79 HEART SQUARES (MAKE 24) 1st round: Wind Contrast Colour (see Notes, above) around index finger of left hand to form slip ring, insert hook in ring, yrh and pull loop through, 3ch (counts as 1tr throughout), 11tr in ring, slst to top of starting 3ch, pull end of yarn tightly to close ring – 12 sts. 2nd round: 3ch, 1tr in same st, [2tr in next st] to end, slst to top of starting 3ch – 24 sts. 3rd round: 3ch, 2tr in next st, [1tr, 2tr in next st] to end, slst to top of starting 3ch – 36 sts. 4th round: 1ch (does not count as a st), 1dc, (1htr, 1tr) in next st,…

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: Newspaper article. Average = 25 More than 45 = 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.…

A SWANNIVERSARY It’s 30 years since Sir Matthew Bourne’s groundbreaking all-male interpretation of the ballet Swan Lake was first performed. The show went on to feature in the film Billy Elliot, and now Bourne’s New Adventures company is taking a celebratory new production of the piece to 19 venues around the UK. Currently at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre until 26 January, the show is then on tour until summer 2025. ✱ new-adventures.net Taking flight With daylight hours still limited, a wintry walk not only lifts your spirits but is a great time to spot birds, especially among leafless trees. With less food available, you could even see a majestic barn owl hunting in daylight over open countryside at a reserve like Bempton Cliffs. If you enjoy watching birds in your…

‘Every kilt tells a story’ Paula Duncan, 54, from Elgin, Scotland. I’ve been kilt making for nearly 20 years. My grandmother was a dressmaker and her father a tailor, so sewing is in my blood. I got my first sewing machine from Santa aged nine and made outfits for my Sindy doll. I trained as a dressmaker and studied fashion at college, but didn’t discover kilts until my 30s, when I moved to New Zealand. I felt this patriotic need to learn traditional kilt making so signed up for a course – and bam! I’d found my purpose. It’s amazing to take eight metres of flat fabric and, without cutting shapes into it, create a body shape with measuring and meticulous hand-stitching. Returning from New Zealand, I taught kilt making…

Drying laundry can be a problem when it’s cold and wet outside. Cover radiators with it and you’ll make your house colder with condensation, plus your heating has to work harder. Drape it on an airer and it can be hanging around for days. Fortunately, there are some smart solutions – no tumble dryer required! Before you hang Remove as much water as possible prior to hanging clothes. An extra spin in your washing machine works well, although it uses additional energy (12-20p per cycle, depending on the machine’s rating and cycle length). Lay delicate fabrics on a clean, dry towel then roll up the towel and squeeze away excess water. Hang strategically How you hang on an airer can help laundry to dry faster. Items shouldn’t be touching, so…

How to deal with unkind comments Q I take my grandchildren to a netball class after school once a week. My youngest granddaughter has some physical issues, so she isn’t very good. At the end of the class, the groups play a game with another team. I was watching and heard two mothers say that my granddaughter shouldn’t be allowed to play as she holds the team back and makes it less likely they’ll win. They are nine years old. She isn’t a help and sometimes gets in the way, but she has every right to be there. I didn’t know what to say. Tammy, Leeds A That is horrible and very unkind and discriminatory. Have you talked to her parents about this? I know you don’t want to upset them, but they need to know…

Fill me in Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the answer. Clue: Piece of equipment used for taking photos and making films, and TV shows, which is often now included as part of other digital devices. Circle time Tryptophan, a chemical found in chocolate that affects the brain and causes euphoria, is also found in what food? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles for the answer. 3 LETTERS ATEELMOUTPAYPEWTAG 4 LETTERS KINGKITEKIWIMENURATEROOTSINKUGLYWELL 5 LETTERS ALLOTEARLYINERTINGOTLOCALMISEROWINGSTARSWATER 6 LETTERS WINTER 7 LETTERS POPPERS 10 LETTERS EXCITEMENT SPIRAL XWORD A report revealed that the British chip had been left an inch shorter after what event in 2018?…

Alighting from the train, Rebecca hurried along the platform. Travelling into London for a weekly work meeting was always such a rush. Then there was the onslaught of noise. If it wasn’t station announcements blaring out, it was people shouting into their mobiles. As she sailed down the escalator, a different sound drifted upwards. ‘Is that a piano?’ she wondered, straining to recognise the tune. It was a gentle melody that seemed to speak to her soul, cajoling her into slowing her pace, but she had to keep moving. As she headed towards the Underground, she saw the piano, tucked behind a pillar on the concourse. Why hadn’t she noticed it before? Rebecca also caught a glimpse of the dark-haired pianist, his head bowed in concentration as he played. For…

TESTED BY US so they work for you Difficulty level SIZE Project basket 25x20cm, scissor keeper 16x7cm, needle case 11x10cm, pincushion 11x11cm YOU WILL NEED ✱ Sharp HB pencil, ruler and paper✱ 50cm of 110cm-wide floral fabric✱ 50cm of 110cm-wide striped fabric✱ 50cm of 90cm-wide fusible medium loft fleece✱ 30x20cm rectangle of cream felt✱ Wood shavings or toy filling✱ Matching sewing thread NOTES Take 1cm seam allowance. Stitch seams with right sides facing, matching dots and notches. STOCKISTS Tilda Creating Memories Harper Blue and Woven Stripe Blue fabric, £3.99 per fat quarter, The Homemakery; fusible medium loft fleece, £2.42 for 25cm, Cotton Patch Making paper patterns Refer to the basket diagram to draw a pattern. On a photocopier, enlarge the scissor keeper pattern by 200%. Cut out the patterns. Cutting…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR It’s vital to make time for peace, quiet and solitude. You’ll find even a few minutes every day will make all the difference. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY You may be delving into the mysteries of life. You’re looking for answers. Very often they are inside you. Make a habit of listening to your inner voice. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Slow and steady wins the race. While you tend to want immediate results, this is a time for consistent and persistent action. It will bring results. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Learn a new skill or improve an existing one. Whatever sparks your interest, pursue it – you’ll be glad you did. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG It may…

Letter of the week Hooked on books I really enjoy the ‘Great reads’ page and would like to congratulate Zoe West for her choices. It is the first thing I turn to. It’s partly so that I can put an order in at my local library for the books I want to read, but the main reason is that my eyes are opened to books I may never have read otherwise. Quite often, I find that a particular featured genre or author I haven’t tried appeals to me. Incidentally, you must have a lot of readers where I live because I am often on a lengthy waiting list when I order a book! Adrienne Dench, Paraparaumu, New Zealand PAWS FOR THOUGHT This is our new rescue dog, Jude, looking a…

THE SIMPLE EATING TRICK THAT CURED MY HEALTH PROBLEMS Sarah Bayliss is from Bristol. My job in marketing was full on. It was stressful and I wasn’t looking after myself. In my late 30s, everything began to take a toll. I was having digestive and hormone issues, anxiety and weight issues. I was tired and fatigued. I had no energy. But when I switched jobs to a more structured position, my symptoms started to improve. My altered hours meant I was having breakfast every morning, lunch in the canteen and then returning home every evening to a proper meal. Previously, I’d not really been eating proper meals – grabbing snacks where I could to keep myself going but never having time to plan or prepare proper meals. I’d been skipping…

It all started with Janine, as most mad projects Anne found herself involved in usually did. Which was how she came to be surrounded by mountains of boxes and bags of old clothes one Friday morning, with no idea of how everything had once fitted into her little two-up-two-down country cottage. ‘It’s the start of a new year, the perfect time for a big clear-out,’ Janine had declared one morning as the two friends chatted over their garden fence. ‘It gives a wonderful sense of achievement and it’s good for the soul, apparently. I read all about it in my magazine,’ she added, waving the publication in the air. ‘Listen to this…’ she instructed while adjusting her glasses, pushing her auburn hair from her eyes and clearing her throat. ‘Get…

They looked like any normal tourist family, Ellie thought, going down the hotel steps into the biting cold New York street – Ellie, Josh, Jessica. But they weren’t, not really. Ellie and Josh had been together for two years, married for six months. Jessica, 13, was Josh’s daughter with his first wife, who had died when Jessica was 10 years old. Josh and Jessica had been a tight unit – until Ellie came along. ‘See you later, at the Rockefeller Center,’ said Josh, kissing them both lightly as they got into a yellow cab. ‘Have a good time, girls.’ The atmosphere in the cab was as chilly as the weather. Jessica sat quietly. She always sat quietly. Never quite rude, just utterly distant. Almost as if Ellie didn’t exist. For…

1 Julie Andrews, of Mary Poppins fame, brought out a children’s novel in 1971. What was it called? A MillyB MollyC Mandy 2 TV presenter Lorraine Kelly’s debut novel, The Island Swimmer, was published last February. On which Scottish island was it set? A Muckle FluggaB OrkneyC Mull 3 Andy Murray’s mum Judy took her first foray into fiction – with help from an experienced author – basing it, not surprisingly, in the world of tennis. What was it called? A The Wild CardB Aces HighC Caught in the Net 4 Countryfile presenter Anita Rani’s debut novel Baby Does a Runner is about a Punjabi young woman who’s dissatisfied with her life and uncovers a family secret that takes her to India. It opens in Anita’s home town of… A…

Brecon Beacons As Wales’ first officially designated International Dark Sky Reserve, the Brecon Beacons mountain range offers remote landscapes with some of the most awe-inspiring stargazing in the UK. Dark Sky Wales offers group, family and couple stargazing sessions, as well as one-to-one telescope tuition – a great way to spot constellations and meteor showers under the guidance of top astronomers. Find out more at darkskywalestraining services.co.uk. STAY AT Aber Glamping. This organic farm’s stargazing tents have clear ceiling panels to watch the twinkling sky. Pre-pitched tent from £80 for a two-night stay; glamping geodomes from £238 for a two-night stay. ✱ aberglamping.co.uk Yorkshire Dales This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Yorkshire Dales’ Dark Skies Festival, and organisers are teaming up with local businesses to mark the occasion…

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao (£18.99, HB, Transworld) On the same day her father retires and disappears, Hana inherits his mystical pawnshop in Tokyo, where lost people sell their life choices and deepest regrets. When Kei, a stranger from another world arrives offering help, the pair begin a whimsical quest through time and space, seeking the truth across dreamlands filled with magic and wonder. Their voyage drifts through realms of fantasy and shocking trickery, generating conflict, betrayal and punishment… all designed to test their commitment. A story about the choices we make, the regrets we have and how to live with them, it’s a bewitching journey meant to mesmerise. A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay (£16.99, HB, Headline) With a shared lust for blood and killing,…

‘I feel very silly and awkward,’ whispered Mr Dear. This is nothing to write home about. Mr Dear would feel awkward at an evening class full of middle-aged men who have spent the past six weeks studying How Not To Feel Silly and Awkward. This time, though, he might have a point. He is at a memorial service and he is wearing his traditional dark suit over a rugby shirt. In fact, virtually everybody is wearing a rugby shirt. Apart from the vicar. In my experience, the clergy are allergic to fancy dress. Mind you, there was one time when the vicar (two before the current chap) came to a neighbour’s New Year party with his wife, and they were dressed as Batman and Robin. She was Batman and he…