Innholdsfortegnelse for 11-Mar-2025 i Woman's Weekly

Spring’s green shoots “I love all the seasons but for most people there’s something extra special about the advent of spring – and if you’re a gardener, it’s doubly so. My wife and I have had three gardens in our time, starting off with a postage stamp-sized inner-city space. We’ve ended up with a mini version of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a totally overgrown hillside garden created long ago, which was once no doubt immaculate. It’ll probably take us years to get it into some sort of order but we’re having fun doing it! Now, every plot we’ve looked after has had problem areas for planting, but none more so than the current one, so I read our feature on page 42 with great interest!”…

Sally Lindsay has been a fixture on our screens for years in hit series like Coronation Street, Phoenix Nights, Mount Pleasant and The Madame Blanc Mysteries. Now 51, which used to be a tricky age for female actors, Sally says it’s her best decade yet. For starters, she’s feeling fantastic. ‘I’ve got my HRT right now, the right balance,’ admits Sally with disarming frankness. ‘I’m perimenopausal and it’s no walk in the park, is it? ‘I went to an amazing doctor, Dr Naomi Potter [a menopause specialist], because I didn’t get any answers from a GP. Now I’ve got a one-to-one with one of her amazing superhero women doctors every six weeks, and they say, “How are you doing?” and I say, “I’m going well – maybe a little bit…

“I retired two years ago and I’ve been enjoying doing other things. I wrote my autobiography and a second book. It was nice to put my career and everything down on paper to look back on, although I don’t think I’ll write another one. I don’t have any set routine, so for the first time in my life, my time feels like my own. It is far less structured, every day is like a weekend for me now. It’s a new experience. I go to London for a few days a month and do charity things, which is rewarding. I love doing charity work and fundraisers, it’s all about giving something back to causes close to your heart. Every year that goes by, you almost become more retired and I’m…

A mother’s intuition can sense when her child is in danger, when something isn’t right, when they need her help. Mum of three Tracey Roberts knows the feeling all too well, of wanting to be there for her eldest daughter Jade, and of knowing with unexplainable certainty when something was wrong. But Tracey, now 57, can’t shake the idea that there was more she could have done. ‘I wish I’d been better informed. It haunts me every day when I think how alone Jade must have felt,’ says Tracey, from Liverpool. ‘But it’s also why I’m doing the work I am today. Although I couldn’t help her, there are thousands more Jades out there.’ Growing up, Jade was like any other little girl. She loved playing with friends and her…

3 WAYS TO... Boost your iron levels 1 EAT SMART ‘Iron is found in two forms – haem iron from animal products (red meat, poultry and fish), and non-haem, which is found in plant-based foods (lentils, chickpeas, tofu, fortified cereals and dark leafy greens),’ says Isabela Ramos, nutritionist for MyHealthChecked. 2 PRACTISE PAIRING ‘To help your body absorb iron, pair iron-rich foods with those high in vitamin C,’ says Isabela. ‘For example, squeeze some lemon over a spinach salad or add strawberries to your cereal.’ 3 LIMIT THESE Certain foods can reduce iron absorption. ‘Calcium, found in dairy products, and caffeine, present in tea and coffee, are common culprits,’ says Isabela. ‘Wait at least two hours after consuming iron-rich foods before having calcium or caffeine.’ LOW LEVELS Worried about your…

PRIMARK B&M NEXT…

TESTED BY US so they work for you Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ 1m of 2.5cm-wide satin ribbon✱ Patterned pillowcase✱ Sewing machine✱ Matching thread✱ 150cm of 1.5cm-wide satin ribbon✱ Safety pin✱ Scissors 1 Cut the 2.5cm-wide ribbon to twice the width of the pillowcase, plus an extra 2cm. Fold over and press 1cm to the wrong side at each short end of the ribbon. 2 Starting and ending at one side edge of the pillowcase, position the ribbon 5cm down from the top open edge and tack in place all around. Machine-stitch close to both edges of the ribbon to form a channel, leaving the folded edges at the side open. 3 Cut a length of 1.5cm-wide ribbon in a contrasting colour to twice the width of the pillowcase,…

TESTED BY US so they work for you Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS Width 35cm/13¾in. Depth 30cm/12in. MATERIALS 2 x 100g (140m) balls of Stylecraft ReCreate Chunky (40% wool, 30% acrylic, 30% polyester) in Blue (Sky 1946), 1 ball in Teal (3375); approximately 20g of Stylecraft ReCreate DK in each of Green (Avocado 3189), Yellow (Dijon 1947), Pink (Rose 1945) and Red (Cherry 1942)*. Pair each of 5mm (No. 6), 5.5mm (No. 5), and 3.75mm (No. 9) knitting needles; Petersham ribbon; 3 buttons; strip of stiff cardboard. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 16 stitches and 24 rows to 10x10cm, over pattern, using 5.5mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS Dec(‘d), decrease(d); k, knit; p, purl; sl, slip; ss, stocking stitch (k on right side and p on wrong side); ssk, one by one, sl next…

The Island Getaway by Lucy Diamond (£16.99, HB, Quercus) Celebrating second chances, unlikely friendships and the importance of putting yourself out there, we follow the lives of those guests who have checked into The Ionian Escape hotel. Each guest around the pool is there for a different reason, but the goal remains the same – enjoy time away from reality. When disgraced soap star Miranda Vallance makes an unlikely ally in 82-year-old Evelyn Chambers, the pair find friendship and mission in their loneliness. Meanwhile, celebrity chef Frank Neale is hiding from a media storm. The perfect holiday read, it’s impossible to put down, drawing readers into the magnetic pull of island life. Madame Matisse by Sophie Haydock (£18.99, HB, Doubleday) This enchanting, evocative novel, inspired by a true story, opens…

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: faulty. 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. CLUE: A casual pullover made of thick, soft cotton. Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer. CLUE: Excited Dad is with…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR New and exciting doors are opening up for you. You may find yourself spoiled for choice. Everything is within your reach. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Clear, honest communications are needed now. Don’t be afraid to speak out and clear the air. It may be what’s needed to take a relationship to a deeper level. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN If someone from your past gets in touch, it might be a chance for closure or to renew a connection. Writing or reading are therapeutic. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL This week promises surprises and unexpected events. Your social life can perk up, bringing comfort and joy. A new encounter may have a profound impact. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG…

The United Nations adopted International Women’s Day on 8 March 1975. But its roots go back to New York in 1908, when 15,000 women marched for shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote. German socialist activist Clara Zetkin proposed the idea of an International Women’s Day (IWD) in 1910, and the first IWD was held in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland in 1911. In many parts of the world today, women face challenging times. From the overturning of Roe v Wade in the USA to the repressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan, women’s rights are being rolled back at an alarming rate. So there’s all the more reason to celebrate the most notable and groundbreaking achievements for women over the past 100 years. 1908 First woman professor in…

1 BLUE SKY Nervous about trying a new shade? At less than £4 a bottle, this bargain H&M polish is the perfect ‘why not?’ price – and a beautifully vibrant colour for spring. One coat gives a good amount of coverage, but you’ll want two or three for a salon-worthy finish. H&M Nail Polish in Sky High, £3.99, H&M 2 TEAL TREAT No more struggling to get the lid off your favourite polish – this one has a patented gripper cap that makes opening it a doddle. The teal shade has a hint of white in it for a high-impact finish. It’s a vegan formula, so is cruelty free. Orly Nail Polish in Dear Abby, £12.99, Superdrug 3 MATCHA MANI Looking for planet-conscious beauty choices? This polish is certified by…

ADVICE FROM OUR WOMAN’S WEEKLY DOCTOR Dark chocolate and diabetes Some 111,654 participants, initially without diabetes, were studied for type 2 diabetes risk by intake of chocolate subtypes as part of the Nurses’ Health Studies and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. After adjusting for personal, lifestyle and dietary risk factors, those eating five or more servings a week of dark chocolate surprisingly showed a 21% lower risk of diabetes. However, increased consumption of milk, but not dark, chocolate was associated with long-term weight gain. Further studies are needed to understand this. OMEGA-3 AND OSTEOARTHRITIS Previous studies gave inconsistent results about taking omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) supplements for osteoarthritis. However, results from nine relevant randomised controlled trials now show that n-3 PUFAs supplementation does offer anti-inflammatory effects, can significantly relieve arthritis pain – compared to placebo – and also improves joint function with no severe treatment-related adverse events. Pericarditis is usually…

Right, love, I’m off to get my hair done.’ ‘What did you say?’ Mr Dear, as I probably should have mentioned, is up a ladder. He’s not that far away, in the grand scheme of things, and should have been able to hear me, but perhaps it’s a bit breezy up there. ‘I said I’m off to get my hair done. What are you doing anyway?’ ‘I’m cutting back the ivy.’ ‘Oh.’ ‘So the rats can’t climb up.’ ‘Have the rats been climbing up?’ ‘Not yet, but you can’t be too careful.’ He stops attacking ivy fronds – if fronds is the word – with his secateurs and peers down at me. ‘Why are you having your hair done? I like it like that.’ ‘It’s untidy. And I feel scruffy.’…

Letter of the week Fashion that’s never out of date I loved the look of Mary Burke’s outfit in What You’re Wearing [7 January issue]. Her jacket was from the 1960s and her trousers were 35 years old – and she looked amazing!Throwaway fashion is a false economy and bad for the planet. Mary’s mum had the right attitude – buy the best clothes you can afford and look after them. Jenny Evans, Heath, Cardiff PAWS FOR THOUGHT It’s been some years since I’ve had a cat, and I had forgotten how much they love feet! Here is my four-month-old kitten, Romeo, lying in wait at the end of the bed, hoping my toes will wiggle under the covers so he can pounce. He is a Lilac British Shorthair. Philomena…

THE KNIT The red and blue trim gives this cardigan a preppy feel, a big trend this season. Layer over a tank top or T-shirt and team with denim. Complementary accessories add a vibrant pop of colour. THE SWEATSHIRT Not just for exercising, the humble sweatshirt adds balance to smarter pieces and looks great with tailored trousers. Logo sweats are fun, but a plain design in a classic colour is more versatile. THE POLO SHIRT This classic collared design is enjoying a resurgence, bringing a relaxed feel to any outfit. Plain, buttonless styles have a modern, minimal feel that nods to the sports-luxe trend. THE TROUSERS Part jogger, part trouser, these strike a balance between smart and casual. Team with denim shirts or cosy knits. Casual footwear works best, especially…

There are times when even the cleanest homes get a whiff of something unpleasant – and getting rid of the cause is step one. Next, create a welcoming scent. ELIMINATE ODOURS Baking soda A cheap cupboard staple, it’s brilliant for absorbing bad smells. ✱ Fridge Pop two tablespoons into a bowl of warm water and use with a cloth to clean your fridge. Leave an egg cup of baking soda inside to absorb smells. ✱ Bins After cleaning with hot water and disinfectant, put some baking soda in the bottom to absorb moisture and smells – add citrus peel for a fragrance boost. ✱ Dishwasher Once you’ve cleaned your filter, place white vinegar or lemon juice in a cup on the top shelf. Run on empty on the lowest setting.…

Running out of birthday ideas Q My friend and I have given each other birthday presents since we met in our early 20s; we’re now in our 70s. We have everything we need and don’t want more stuff, so it’s hard to choose a present. Recently, we have given each other shop vouchers, which seems impersonal and not a treat. I don’t want her to think I don’t care any more. Sandra, Sunderland A How lovely that you and your friend still celebrate each other’s birthday. From what you’ve said, though, that tradition has run its course, so what could you do differently? Take a moment to think about what she likes that you could offer. For example, a visit to a National Trust property or a meal out – or perhaps a fancy tea. There must be…

How long do you think you spend on screens?’ Zoe stood in the doorway and looked at the back of her grandmother’s head. ‘Screens? Hardly any time,’ Granny Coleen said, not turning round. It was nonsense, of course. Zoe knew that her grandmother checked her emails several times a day and used several social media platforms. She ordered things online constantly, and liked videos of the wildlife spotted in people’s gardens. ‘Rubbish,’ Zoe said. ‘Are you coming to the coffee shop?’ ‘That’s on Thursdays,’ Coleen replied, tapping madly at the keyboard. ‘It is Thursday.’ ‘Oh.’ Coleen slid the swivel chair round. ‘You may be right.’ Zoe laughed. ‘Get your coat.’ ‘I’ve just got a few emails to shoot off.’ The few emails took 20 minutes. Zoe lay on the sofa…