Innholdsfortegnelse for 15-Apr-2025 i Woman's Weekly

Easter feasting We like a roast in our family; wherever people are, they always seem to turn up while those special cooking aromas are wafting through the house. And roast potatoes, in particular, never seem quite as good in restaurants as the ones you make at home. Perhaps, unusually I have to say, I also rather enjoy the whole process of cooking it. When we first got together, my wife had only recently given up being a vegetarian, so she wasn’t quite ready to be dealing with large joints of meat, so I took over and have been doing it ever since. We’ll definitely be having a family Easter feast as usual this year; I’m planning to try the recipes on page 22.…

It’s going to be a big year for Russell Watson, as the tenor marks a quarter of a century since his first album, The Voice, was released, and he’s heading out on tour to celebrate. ‘I can’t believe it’s been 25 years, it’s gone so quickly,’ he muses. ‘My first record came out in 2000, and it went to No 1 in the classical charts and stayed there for a year, which became a world record,’ adds Russell, who says his career has been ‘magical’. So, what are the standout moments of his time in the music business? ‘I can’t believe the highlights of my career. I’ve sung with some of my vocal heroes, it’s been phenomenal and I have so many wonderful memories,’ he says. ‘I can’t just pick…

I got to my mid-50s when I truly wondered what life was about. I was a single mum struggling with the menopause, I had experienced family bereavements, and my daughter left home, which I thought was going to be great, but when it happened it hit me hard. I began to wonder what my purpose was, and decided to find out. I still don’t know why I decided to buy a motorhome. I had never been on holiday in one, never driven one, but one morning I woke up and had a eureka moment. Everyone thought I was bonkers. Aged nearly 60, I sold all my belongings and my house, and in 2019, turned the key in the ignition of my new home and drove off. ‘I want to be…

Although she personally raised £500,000 to help build the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Brenda Astin’s most touching legacy is to the 600 families of children and babies with life-shortening illnesses it supports today, including those whose little ones have passed away. From sitting on a plastic garden chair in a tiny office, which was the home and hub of her determined band of fundraisers, to battling planning objections, Brenda has never lost her passion and love for her cause. Even today, after retiring as a director, she can still be found, bucket in hand on Christmas Eve, not taking no for an answer! ‘My fundraising spirit came from what I admit were humble beginnings, where I grew up in a one-up-one-down in a small village…

3 WAYS TO... Strengthen your recall 1 KEEP MOVING ‘Staying active has been proven to boost your psychological health, helping memories stick for longer,’ says clinical psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin. Enhance the effect by making activity mindful – engage your senses as you walk, for example. 2 LOOK AT PHOTOS Research* reveals we have, on average, more than 1,500 photos on our phones, but a fifth of us rarely look back at these. Revisiting them can reinforce memories. ‘It helps us feel connected and secure,’ says Dr Rudkin. 3 REST UP ‘Memories consolidate during our sleep,’ says Dr Rudkin. ‘To remember something that happened that day, think about it before you fall asleep, then leave it up to your brain to process it.’ NEWSFLASH Apple AirPods can be used as hearing…

There are few things guaranteed to raise the spirits more than a plant bursting into bloom. It connects us with the natural world, demonstrates the extraordinary miracle of life and thrills us every time with its beauty. We are a nation of gardeners, with even flat-dwellers often nurturing a balcony flower display if they can, or failing that maybe even just a pot plant or two, as so many of us love growing things. And if that sounds like you, we hope that the expert advice, clever tips and growing inspiration over the following pages will help make this gardening year your very best ever!…

LIGHTING UP Garden lighting can add a whole new dimension to your outdoor experience. Wind these natural Solar Jute Lights around a wigwam or along a fence for a soft, natural glow from the bulbs as dusk falls. At 2m long, there’s plenty to create a lovely effect. ✱ Solar Jute Lights, £18.95, sarahraven.com IT’S A WRAP Whether you need a daytime picnic blanket or a cover-up to keep off evening chills, this rainbow throw is inspired by Indian heritage and feels gorgeously cosy. It’s made from recycled plastic – though you’d never guess from its soft feel. ✱ Darjeeling Rainbow Throw, £75, weavergreen.com SUNSHINE BROLLY Lightweight and easy to pack away, this cheerful parasol measures 2.2m across and is the perfect way to protect yourself from the sun. Great…

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (£18.99, HB, HarperCollins) It’s been decades since the home invasion that upturned Edward and Isabel’s lives, but their attacker is finally standing trial. The trouble is, Isabel has no clue what really happened to Edward that night – as he just won’t open up to her. Told from both sides, their life together is described from the moment they met as awkward teenagers, the early days of their marriage and the aftermath of the horrific event. Chilling and at times difficult, this book explores the connection between an ordinary couple when the extraordinary happens to them. The Moonlit Piazza by Annabelle Thorpe (£9.99, PB, Bloomsbury) In the midst of war, keeping secrets is key to survival. As the Nazis grow ever more powerful…

″You’ll have to imagine that I’m writing this in hushed tones, in the style of a television snooker commentary or something like that. Actually, do they still have hushed tones in snooker? I’ve not really watched since I accidentally caught 10 minutes of Pot Black in the early 90s. Anyway – hushed tones, remember – you join us here at Dear Towers for a tense match in the Dear Family Chess Tournament. Mr Dear, who is mysteriously very bad at chess, is trailing by four games to one, so there is everything to play for. And as it happens, you join us at a crucial moment in the game. ‘I’ve won,’ says Mr D. ‘You can’t move.’ ‘We’ve been through this before,’ I say. ‘You’re supposed to say checkmate.’ ‘It…

GOLDEN GREGORY After being revealed as Dressed Crab on this year’s The Masked Singer, you can now enjoy the distinctive rich, liquid gold vocals of baritone Gregory Porter for yourself on his forthcoming UK tour. Singing jazz, blues, gospel and soul, the Grammy award-winning singer kicks off his tour in Brighton on 22 April. He’s also visiting Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Cardiff, and is playing four nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall. ✱ ticketline.co.uk Powering birdlife You’d be forgiven for assuming that solar farms are bad news for nature, with acres full of panels glinting in the sun. But a new study by Cambridge University, commissioned by the RSPB, has revealed that some can encourage birdlife, with the yellowhammer (pictured right), corn bunting and linnet benefiting. Solar…

Chocolate may be a year-round treat, but at Easter we certainly up the ante – over 80 million Easter eggs are sold each year. British chocolate lovers spend over £16 billion on chocolate treats annually, with Cadbury Dairy Milk being the firm favourite, ahead of Galaxy and Maltesers. Four in every five of us indulge at least once a week. But how did our need for chocolate start? A rich history Wiltshire-born Joseph Fry was a pioneer. Originally trained as a doctor and apothecary, he saw ships laden with cocoa from the New World coming into Bristol port, where he had his shop. As Victorian Quakers disapproved of alcohol and saw cocoa as a more acceptable vice, Joseph began selling cocoa in 1756. He developed a water-powered machine that…

1 DRESS TO IMPRESS A timeless piece that will work hard in your wardrobe. The subtle sheen and simple silhouette makes this an easy option for dressing up or down with a quick switch of accessories. Dress, £22, sizes 6-24, George at Asda 2 IT’S ALL IN THE DETAIL Delicate embroidered flowers in matching chartreuse add subtle texture. This colour looks especially great with denim, cream and brown. Top, £18, sizes 8-22, Nutmeg at Morrisons 3 DEVOTED TO DENIM Relaxed styles are still as popular as ever. Why not try a straight-leg if wider fits aren’t for you? Jeans, £22, sizes 6-24, George at Asda 4 FINE LINES A skirt and a belt for only £20 – what’s not to love! The flattering A-line shape works best worn with tops tucked in or…

Coping with LYMPHOEDEMA This long-term condition causes swelling in the body’s tissues, usually in the limbs The body’s lymphatic network of channels and glands helps fight infection and remove excess fluid. Lymphoedema develops if this fails. The main symptom is swelling in a limb or another body part. Clothes or jewellery feel tight. Initially, swelling may be soft, intermittent, leaving a temporary dent, worsening during the day, reducing overnight and becoming more severe. Other symptoms include aching, difficulty with movement, skin infections, tight or thickened skin, wart-like growths, fluid leaking through, facial or throat swelling, and problems with swallowing and speech. There are two main types of lymphoedema: primary, where faulty genes affect lymphatic system development, often starting during infancy or adolescence; and secondary, caused by damage to the lymphatic system, leading to problems with drainage of fluid resulting…

To succeed, a classic cottage garden needs a very laid-back approach to planting. You can forget rigid colour schemes and carefully ordered beds, and instead opt for random plantings that produce a joyful medley of colour, scent and shape. Extend the flowering season and get a haphazard vibe by mixing annuals, biennials, perennials and bulbs with herbs and edibles. Climbing roses add to the charm. Add in the surprise of self-sown flowers and you’ll capture the essence of this free-spirited style. SIX COTTAGE CLASSICS These plants are staples in any informal planting, used for their colour, scent and habit. 1 Lavender With its heady scent, lavender is a magnet for pollinators, and the fragrant flowers add to the charm of a cottage garden. When planted along paths, they release a…

Dif f iculty level TESTED BY US so they work for you MEASUREMENTS Approximately 7 (9)cm/2¾ (3½)in tall when sitting, excluding ears. MATERIALS 1 x 50g (165m) ball of Sirdar Snuggly DK (55% nylon, 45% acrylic) in each of White (251), Green (Playtime 532), Mauve (Angel 511), Pink (Rosebud 510), Blue (Paddle 534) and Yellow (Lemon 252)*. Pair of 3mm (No. 11) knitting needles; length of Dark Brown yarn for embroidery; toy stuffing. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 26 stitches and 34 rows to 10x10cm, over stocking stitch, using 3mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS B, through back of sts; dec, decrease by working k2tog on a k row and p2tog on a p row; inc 1, increase by working twice into the same st; k, knit; p, purl; skpo, slip 1,…

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: Makes clearer. 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…

Letter of the week Beautiful brides I was sad to read in one of your Here to Help pages, about the woman who had been told by her sister that, at 58, she was too old to be a bride. I just had to write to say, I was 58 when I married my husband. The wedding was a small affair, but I knew exactly what I wanted my wedding dress to look like, and it was not the traditional shift dress and jacket associated with the older bride. Here’s me (right) in my wedding dress – everyone complimented me on it, and I felt so special. And to the woman in question, please wear what you want – after all, it is your day. I hope you have the…

Healthy hips are crucial to staying fit and well, especially as we get older. They connect our upper and lower bodies, while supporting our weight and allowing leg movement to give us stability, flexibility and balance. When things go wrong, they can cause pain and loss of independence – and even raise our risk of death. Fractured hips cost the NHS an estimated £5 million a year, and research* suggests fracturing yours from your 60s onwards can cause a decrease in the quality of your life and raise your chance of dying earlier. ‘Every month 1,150 people die following a hip fracture,’ says nutritionist Dr Emma Derbyshire. ‘Women over 45 will spend more days in hospital due to osteoporosis [weakened bone] than they will for diabetes, heart attacks or breast…

We all know the importance of staying physically fit and active. But it’s also essential to exercise your brain too, especially as we get older. Dementia is the most feared diagnosis for people over 55, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK. The good news is that mentally challenging activities can help improve brain function and memory, and may even lower the risk of dementia. Step away from the screen We’re all guilty of scrolling from time to time. But mindlessly thumbing through social media has been linked to a reduction in concentration skills. Why not try some of our ideas instead? SET ASIDE SOME THINKING TIME Studies show that keeping your brain active builds cognitive reserve. This is the brain’s ability to cope and keep working effectively. One study found that…

Am I being overcautious about money? Q My husband and I have been behaving as if we’re still working. We were in a position where we could treat ourselves within reason, but I don’t think we can continue in the same way. He thinks I’m being overcautious about our future and making it less fun. I don’t want to limit what we can do, but I don’t want to run out of money, either. Ruth, Lincoln A Things are different when we retire, as for most of us there’s less money. Very often, though, our money concerns are not based on reality. I’d guess you’ve always been more cautious than him. I expect he hears your concerns as part of your behavioural pattern, rather than based on facts. I suggest you sit down together and budget. Work…

One of the joys of a holiday is admiring local plants in gardens, beaches and open spaces, introducing you to new flowers and shrubs that you’d like to grow back at home. The good news is that many plants from warmer climates will thrive in cooler, wetter British gardens, you just have to provide them with the right conditions – typically, free-draining soil and a warm, sheltered spot. Or grow tender plants in pots that can live outside in summer and overwinter in a frost-free place. COASTAL CELEBRATION What holiday checklist would be complete without a staycation at the British seaside? Salt-laden winds can play havoc with plants that aren’t adapted to these conditions, but the advantages include more light, and generally warmer temperatures. For height and drama, echiums (Echium…

Flicking through the pages of her magazine, Becca sighed. She usually lapped up the celebrity gossip, short stories and lifestyle features, but today she was too preoccupied to concentrate. She put the magazine on the coffee table, next to the local paper. It still lay open on the property page and the grainy image caught her eye again. Despite the photograph being somewhat blurred, the charm of Bluebell Cottage was evident – the hanging baskets and window boxes, and the carpet of bluebells that filled the border underneath the pretty, leaded windows. It was the kind of cottage you found on jigsaw puzzles and picture postcards – perfect in every way. ‘You’re brooding again,’ Robbie remarked, not unkindly. ‘Shall I put the telly on?’ Becca smiled at her husband. ‘Go…

Dif f iculty level TESTED BY US so they work for you Tip Use up any mismatched buttons you have lying around in your sewing box. YOU WILL NEED ✱ 50x140cm plain pink cotton fabric ✱ Pins ✱ Sewing machine ✱ 20x25cm Bondaweb ✱ Scraps of various cotton print fabrics ✱ Tracing paper and pencil ✱ Matching sewing threads ✱ Fabric scissors ✱ Skein of black embroidery thread ✱ Needle ✱ Selection of small buttons ✱ 30x40cm cushion pad 1 For the cushion front, cut a 33x43cm piece of pink cotton fabric. For the back, cut a 21x43cm piece and an 18x43cm piece. 2 Pin and machine-stitch a 1.5cm hem along one long edge of both of the back pieces. Overlap the back pieces along the hemmed edges, so that…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR Whether you are in a relationship or looking for a partner, this promises to be a favourable week. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY You may be shouldering too many responsibilities. Delegate and ask for help. Lighten your load and you’ll feel better. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Remember to stay calm. If necessary, take a few deep breaths, close your eyes and relax. This will work wonders with all interactions. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Make sure you take time out to rest and recharge. Socially, this can be an exciting time. You’ll be in great demand. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG This is the perfect time for starting anything new. Don’t hold back. Take action, keep moving forward and…