Innholdsfortegnelse for 3-Jun-2025 i Woman's Weekly

Intercity sightseeing “My wife Claire and I have very different approaches to train travel. Living as we do, a long way from London, we often find ourselves going up to the capital on a long-distance service because our children live there, but whereas Claire likes nothing better than whiling away the time watching programmes on a tablet, I’m an inveterate starer out of the window. I can’t resist watching the countryside, villages and towns slip by, with a chance of spotting people on canal barges waving, deer bouncing across fields or a glimpse of the horse cut into the white chalk on a hill above Westbury, in Wiltshire. So, I was very interested in our feature on page 10!”…

Martin Clunes is one of Britain’s most successful actors, a national treasure who has appeared in some of our best-loved series, from Men Behaving Badly to Doc Martin, and who has starred in smash-hit films such as Shakespeare In Love. You’d think he’d bask in the accolades and popularity that keep him at the top of Britain’s showbiz tree, but Martin admits that it’s only recently he’s begun to feel more confident in his abilities. ‘As someone who’s sort of had a lot of imposter syndrome throughout my life and felt slightly peripheral or in the wrong place, I think, “You’re in your 60s now and that earns you a little something,”’ he confesses endearingly. ‘It’s like, “No, I’m OK. I can be here.”’ How surprising, I say, that an…

“People today are suffering badly because of food poverty and it’s so sad. The problem is worse when you don’t know how to cook properly. Food is especially expensive when you buy pre-cooked meals. It’s great now we’re heading towards summer that we don’t have to put the heater on but many are still feeling the pinch. People shouldn’t feel embarrassed about using food banks. I have, myself, been in a situation where I didn’t know where the next meal was coming from. I know what financial difficulty is like. It’s very scary. ‘If you don’t use it, you lose it’ I’m an ambassador for Hendy Foundation, an independent charity associated with Hendy Group – a multi-franchise car dealership based on the south coast. They’re raising funds to support charities…

‘It’s important to educate people on farming life’ Lorna Burdge, 42, farms at North Waterhayne Farm in Honiton, Devon, where she lives with her husband Jim, 46, and their three children. We have 350 Friesian and cross-bred dairy cows across our two farms. They’re fed a grass-based diet and their milk – which contains high levels of butter fat and protein – is sold to one of the UK’s leading cheese manufacturers. We also have a micro-dairy where we pasteurise the milk. It’s then sold in a special vending machine – Daisy’s Dairy – on one of the farms, and is supported by locals as well as holidaymakers. I take part in Farmer Time – regular video calls with a primary school covering daily farm life – and go into…

3 WAYS TO... Stop hair loss 1 GET ENOUGH SHUT-EYE ‘During sleep, your body does most of its repair work, and that includes your hair,’ says pharmacist George Sandhu*. ‘Consistently poor sleep can lead to increased stress hormones such as cortisol, triggering thinning and even hair loss over the passage of time.’ 2 WATCH YOUR STYLE Avoid tight hairstyles such as high ponytails and buns, and use soft scrunchies rather than elasticated hair ties. Sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce breakage. 3 EAT SMART Good food is essential for healthy hair. Make sure you’re getting a balanced diet including plenty of protein, iron and vitamin D. Consider supplements if you think you may not be getting enough. NEWSFLASH Having a pet is as good for your mental health as…

This year is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth (16 December), sparking countrywide celebrations. In Bath, where Jane lived for five years, the line-up of events includes an Austen Festival and Regency Parade (12-21 September), and three themed balls. What better time, then, to hotfoot it to this grand metropolis, its neoclassical architecture so complete, it’s Britain’s only city to be crowned a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stepping out To get a sense of Jane’s world, I traced her steps accompanied by Theresa, a costumed guide who’s every inch the romantic heroine in a red velvet cloak and ribboned bonnet (strictlyjaneausten.com). Passing through colonnaded avenues, we stop at the Theatre Royal, a former casino where ‘gamesters’ lost fortunes. ‘Bath was the Las Vegas of the 18th century,’ explains Theresa.…

The Tradwife’s Secret by Liane Child (£9.99, PB, HarperCollins) Madison March seems to have the perfect life, fully embracing the tradwife lifestyle with a picture-perfect family and growing social media following. But behind the curated posts lies a web of betrayal and hidden secrets. As her flawless facade begins to unravel, Madison is forced to confront the truth. With the tradwife trend gaining popularity, this delves into the dangers of maintaining an online persona and the hidden costs of perfection. A gripping thriller about deception and self-discovery. Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz (£22, HB, Cornerstone) If you loved Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders, then you’ll be more than satisfied by Anthony Horowitz’s thrilling conclusion to this trilogy. Susan Ryeland is the eagle-eyed editor who can’t seem to fully put…

COASTAL CULTURE See the coastline around Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in a whole new light through a new series of walking trails covering arts, culture, history and wildlife. Literary buffs can explore the landscapes that inspired our greatest writers, including J. R. R. Tolkien, who had close associations with Bournemouth’s East Cliff. ✱ Find out more at explorebcp.co.uk What’s big and green? Get set for this year’s Great Big Green Week, which runs from 7-15 June. It’s a chance to join your local community and share practical ways to help nature, wildlife and the world around us. The theme is Let’s Swap Together for Good. Events could include clothes swaps, repair shops, planting up waste ground to create a haven for pollinators, joining a nature walk or sharing your own…

With the pioneering train engineer George Stephenson at the controls of Locomotion No 1, carriages packed with passengers puffed down the 26-mile line on the Stockton and Darlington Railway 200 years ago this year. It was the first such public ride, sparking the beginning of a train boom. Today, Britain has around 10,000 miles of tracks. Here are four of my favourite journeys. Welsh wonder train Designed to transport slate from hilltop quarries to the ships that exported it across the Irish Sea, the railway between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Porthmadog in Gwynedd covers 13½ miles on narrow gauge tracks. It was opened in 1836. For 27 years, gravity was used to roll loads down and horses to pull wagons up, before steam trains were introduced. The line closed in 1946…

1 A HINT OF TINT If you prefer lighter make-up in summer, Supergoop! Protec(Tint) SPF 50, £40, sephora.co.uk, is one to invest in. It’s a powerful sunscreen with a buildable tint of coverage in a light-as-air formula. Think of it as a supercharged tinted moisturiser, which leaves skin protected, smooth and glowy. 2 STICK IT OUT Sunscreen sticks are handbag-friendly and the solid format will appeal to those who don’t like the sticky feeling of some lotions. Apply E.l.f. Suntouchable Invisi-Stick SPF 50, £14, elfcosmetics.co.uk, across your face, paying particular attention to places that burn, such as the nose, ears, hairline and parting. 3 LET US SPRAY For an easy and more convenient way of topping up your SPF, try a spray-on product. St Moriz Sunscreen Body Spray SPF 50, £12.99, Superdrug, feels…

Pasta primavera A green medley of seasonal vegetables sing in this creamy pasta sauce. SERVES 4READY IN 20 mins ✱ 350g dried pasta, such as trofie or penne✱ 1tbsp olive oil✱ 1 courgette, cut into 1cm cubes✱ 4 asparagus spears, trimmed and chopped into thick discs✱ 2 garlic cloves, chopped✱ 150g peas✱ 150g broad beans, podded and de-shelled✱ 125g mascarpone✱ Zest 1 lemon and juice ½✱ A handful flat-leaf parsley and mint✱ 50g Pecorino cheese 1 Cook the pasta according to the pack instructions. 2 Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan on medium heat. Add the courgette and cook until it begins to colour. Add the asparagus, then the garlic, and cook until tender. Reduce the heat and mix through the peas, beans, mascarpone, and lemon zest…

Tirzepatide diet injections update The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) recommends pregnant women do not use weight-loss injections (GLP-1 agonists) such as tirzepatide during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should use effective contraception, but patients on tirzepatide should switch to a non-oral contraceptive method. There’s no evidence yet that other GLP-1 injections – semaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, dulaglutide or lixisenatide – affect oral contraception, so there’s no need to change method with those. NEW DRUG FOR MS Cladribine, already used for patients with more severe, highly active multiple sclerosis, will now be offered to those with the active relapsing-remitting version of the disease. Broadening access to the drug, which can slow the disease, easing symptoms, reducing relapse frequency and severity, will allow patients to manage…

Blueberry muffins A light and fluffy cake with a pop of berry in every bite. MAKES 12 PREP 20 mins COOK 30 mins ✱ 60g gluten-free plain flour✱ 1tsp xanthan gum✱ Pinch of cinnamon✱ 100g ground almonds✱ 225g golden caster sugar✱ 60g white chocolate, grated✱ 200g blueberries✱ 1tsp vanilla extract✱ 175g unsalted butter, melted✱ 6 medium free-range eggs, lightly beaten✱ Icing sugar, for dusting YOU WILL NEED ✱ 12-hole muffin tray, lined with paper cases 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/ Gas 4. Put the gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, cinnamon, ground almonds, sugar, white chocolate and blueberries into a mixing bowl. Add the vanilla, melted butter and eggs, mixing just to combine. 2 Divide the mixture between the muffin cases and bake for 30 mins or until an inserted…

Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ 80x85cm striped cotton fabric✱ Matching thread✱ 15cm elastic cord NOTE Sew with right sides facing and 1cm seam allowances unless otherwise stated. 1 Cut the striped cotton into one 40x85cm piece for the bag front and a 40x75cm piece for the lining. For the straps, cut out two 10x65cm strips. Fold the straps in half and sew together along the long open edge, turn right sides out and press. Topstitch 5mm from either side. 2 Fold the bag pieces together and sew together along the sides. Clip the corners and press the lining right sides out. On the bag front, fold the top edge down by 1.5cm, and wrong sides facing, stitch in place 1cm from the top edge. 3 Place the bag front…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 82-86 (92-97) (102-107) (112-117)cm/32-34 (36-38) (40-42) (44-46)in. Actual measurements 96 (107) (118) (129)cm/37¾ (42) (46½) (50¾)in. Length to shoulder (including edging) 50 (51) (52) (53)cm/19¾ (20) (20½) (21)in. Sleeve length (including edging) All sizes 33cm/13in. MATERIALS 7 (8) (9) (10) x 50g (120m) balls of King Cole Finesse Cotton Silk DK (77% cotton, 23% silk) in Cream (2811) and 3 (3) (4) (4) balls in Pink (Fondant 2825)*. Size 3.5mm, 4mm and 4.5mm crochet hooks. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 20 stitches and 21 rows to 10x10cm, over pattern, using 4.5mm crochet hook. ABBREVIATIONS Ch, chain; ch-sp, chain space; dc, double crochet; dc2tog, double crochet 2 sts together (to decrease 1 st) thus: [insert hook into next st, yarn round hook and pull…

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: Emerges again. Average = 20 More than 40 = well done 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: Belonging to the past. Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR Although work is very important to you, this week, remember to have some leisure time. A trip somewhere new will be uplifting. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Magical synchronicities are all indicated for you. Appointments may change at the last minute, but see this as an opportunity for an exciting encounter. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Whatever difficulties you face, remember the saying, ‘Every cloud has a silver lining.’ You’re building strength and resilience to help overcome obstacles. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL You absorb other people’s emotions. If you notice a change of mood, to clear your energy field, go for a walk in nature. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Set yourself some new targets regarding your health. Providing…

“They do you well on a private jet. Seconds of champagne came round just as the captain began speaking. ‘Ladies and gentleman,’ he said, ‘This is just to let you know that we’ll be landing at our exotic Caribbean island destination in about an hour. ‘The weather is warm, but not so warm that you have to worry about heat rash, Rosie. There are clear skies, beautiful beaches, and we’ll be there in time for lunch.’ I was just settling back in my seat when George Clooney leant across the aisle. ‘Rose,’ he said. ‘Can I interest you in another sausage on a stick?’ And then, of course, I woke up to find myself in the sitting room at home, where George Clooney had turned into Thomas Dear, retired shopkeeper.…

Letter of the week Cynthia saves the day I am very grateful to one of your readers, the lovely Cynthia Frank [18 February issue]. She was kind enough to share her pattern that she devised for her beanie, using excess wool from the Fair Isle jumper that she had knitted. I was making this novelty beanie for my friend’s granddaughter and lost the pattern! Cynthia saved the day, as the original pattern was so complicated for me to remember and I’d given up at a stalemate. Thank you, Cynthia! Elizabeth Coumbis, Mapleton, Australia PAWS FOR THOUGHT Here is my not very bright, best friend Addy, who’s outgrown his deckchair from when he was a kitten. Kaye Richards, Worcester ✱ Got a pet pic that makes you smile? We can give…

Feeling your age? Or maybe years older or younger? We can’t stop the passage of time, but our lifestyles can affect how old our bodies look and feel. Uncover your true body age by answering our questions about diet, weight, sleep habits and activity levels. Don’t worry if you come out older than your actual age, as there are things you can do to make a difference. TAKE THE TEST Start with your actual biological age. Then answer the questions below and add or subtract years from your age to find out your final result. How would you describe your weight? A I’m overweight and need to slim +2 yearsB I’m the right weight for my height -2 yearsC I’m underweight +1 year Carrying excess pounds increases the risk of…

COTTON As easy as a Breton, the classic striped cotton shirt will go with pretty much everything casual in your wardrobe. Make it dressy by pairing it with an A-line skirt, and don’t be afraid to mix stripes with print. COLLARLESS For those who love quiet luxury, the streamlined silhouette of a collarless shirt makes a subtle fashion statement. Micro-thin stripes and the unfussy collar make this ideal for layering. Try adding a quilted waistcoat. BEACH Designed to be longer for modest coverage, the relaxed fit of a beach shirt always looks effortless and stylish. Think coastal cool – undone buttons, rolled sleeves, oversized sunglasses. Look for styles in easy-care fabrics. LINEN Naturally breathable and quick drying, linen is ideal for warm-weather dressing. Invest in a colour you love and…

How can I shake off tiredness? Q Whatever I do, I’m always tired. I go to bed early and I eat healthily but I still feel bad. I don’t have an exhausting lifestyle, so I’m unsure why I can’t shake this off.Jude, Ipswich A If you’ve tried all the self-help tips you can think of, visit your GP. Tiredness can be caused by over-exerting yourself or by a physical condition. It can also be triggered emotionally. It’s important to have your health checked. Once any physical cause is ruled out, you can then discuss with a doctor or counsellor the next steps. Can I trust my friend again? Q A close friend fell out with me about five years ago because she believed some gossip. I told her…

What are you doing?’ Carla, my granddaughter, is looking over my shoulder. She’s nosy, like her mother. ‘Writing a letter.’ ‘You’re joking! What’s wrong with email or text?’ Her jeans are full of rips and holes, like she’s found them in a skip. ‘Because I’ve always written. Marguerite and I have exchanged letters for the last 50 years. She’s my pen pal.’ Carla looks puzzled. ‘Pen pal. Is that part of PayPal?’ It started when I was 16, as a way to improve my French. And boy, I needed some help! I’d done badly in my latest exam. ‘I wasn’t bottom of the class!’ I said to my parents as they scrutinised my school report. It had one theme… ‘Could do better’. ‘No, next to the bottom,’ Dad said. He…