Innholdsfortegnelse for 10-Jun-2025 i Woman's Weekly

Bagging a bargain When I first moved to London after college, I lived for a while in Fulham – then a rough-and-ready, affordable neighbour to glamorous Chelsea (although no doubt far more chic and unaffordable these days). I used to spend a bit of time on the King’s Road, eating at the cheap and cheerful Stockpot cafe and gazing at the shops, which got increasingly stylish as you neared Sloane Square. Back then, there were a few second-hand clothes stores at the shabbier end of the street. One cold winter, I bought a thick overcoat there, which I kept and loved for many a year. These days, happily, buying pre-loved clothing is all the rage again. See page 20.…

1 TAKE YOUR TIME From scrolling through the internet to rummaging through the rails in your favourite charity shop, second-hand shopping can be time-consuming, but it’s worth the effort when you finally find your dream piece. You can cut time by visiting vintage stores that have already edited a small selection, such as One Scoop Store, which stocks a beautifully curated line of pre-loved finds. ‘Have a wish list on your phone and keep adding to it – that way you can search online quickly and easily,’ says Holly Watkins, pre-loved fashion expert and founder of One Scoop Store. ‘Remember that second-hand shopping can take a little longer to find the perfect piece – that’s also the joy of it!’ 2 PLAN AHEAD When creating your wish list, keep longevity…

Cheese and date sausage rolls A twist on the classic, filled with rich Stilton, tangy Cheddar and sweet dates. MAKES 8PREP 20 mins, plus chillingCOOK 25 mins ✱ 1tsp fennel seeds✱ ¼tsp peppercorns✱ 1tbsp cooking oil✱ 1 onion, thinly sliced✱ 400g sausage meat✱ 1 small handful parsley, roughly chopped✱ 100g Stilton, crumbled✱ 50g Cheddar, grated✱ 50g dates, pitted and chopped✱ 320g ready-rolled sheet puff pastry✱ 1tbsp English mustard✱ 1 medium free-range egg, beaten✱ 1tsp nigella seeds 1 Dry-fry the fennel seeds until aromatic. Using a pestle and mortar, crush them along with the peppercorns. Heat the oil in the pan and gently fry the onion until golden. Cool before adding to a mixing bowl with the sausage meat, parsley, cheese, dates and crushed fennel/pepper. Mix until combined. 2 On a…

HANDY TIPS TO HAY FEVER-PROOF YOUR HOME Dr Zoe Williams is an NHS GP. Around one in five of us now lives with hay fever, according to the Met Office, and as the warmer months arrive, this can mean weeks of pollen-filled air causing sneezing fits, itchy eyes and restless nights. Hay-fever symptoms can make it difficult to work, concentrate and generally enjoy day-to-day life. Many people are concerned with air pollution outdoors, but there can actually be up to five times more air pollution indoors. So here are some ways to try to reduce exposure to pollen and make life that little bit easier when the warm weather arrives. ✱ Clean using a damp cloth or mop, which helps to remove pollen. But avoid using harsh chemical cleaners that…

Code cracker What alias does American singer Fergie use when making bookings to avoid too much publicity? To find out, solve the puzzle... Fill in the grid. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a number from 1 to 26. The shaded squares will spell out the two-word answer. We’ve given you five letters to start you off. Wordsearch Until 1950, weather forecasters in the US were forbidden from predicting or even mentioning what? The answer is the one that’s missing from the grid. BLIZZARDDOWNPOURDROUGHTFROSTGALE HOARICELIGHTNINGMONSOONRAINBOW SLEETSMOGSTORMSUNSHINETORNADO Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Solve the puzzle and the numbers in the highlighted squares form the answer. Big quiz The answers to all these…

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: confused. 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…

IRREVERENT REVEREND Richard Coles is the only vicar to have had a number-one record, and the ex-Communards performer is now on a tour modestly titled Borderline National Trinket. He’ll be sharing stories from his time on I’m a Celebrity and Strictly, his life in the church, and his early days as a chart-topping pop star. Until 17 July. ✱ Book at richardcoles.seetickets.com/tour/reverend-richard-coles Growing together Community gardens enrich the lives of local people, and this year the National Garden Scheme (NGS) has funded 117 of them in the UK, including the TWIGS therapeutic garden in Wiltshire, The Fathom Trust in the Brecon Beacons, and the Rhubarb Farm in Nottinghamshire. Gardener Danny Clarke – an NGS ambassador – says, ‘These spaces can bring people of all generations, cultures and backgrounds together, to…

Britain may be a nation of dog lovers – Queen Victoria famously had more than 80 in her lifetime, and our late Queen was famous for her corgis – but sadly, more and more are facing abandonment and neglect. The last three years have seen a 30% increase in abandoned dogs, thanks to a perfect storm of events. Many people got a dog in lockdown, then the Ukraine war soon afterwards contributed to a cost-of-living crisis that saw some owners struggle with food and vet bills. Rehoming centres are reporting a crisis now, as more dogs are coming in than are being rehomed. For our canine companions, this means waiting a long time for the right owner, or worse, having to be euthanised. The RSPCA has called on people to…

“I had what is called a ‘milestone birthday’ a couple of years ago and everyone kept asking me how I felt, as though I should feel sad or anxious. I think that for women, particularly, we are obsessed with losing our value as we age, which is rubbish – because, actually, we become wiser. The more experiences we have, the more sure we become of ourselves, and we can’t let people write us off. There’s real power in getting older, and not everyone likes that. As we shun a lot of what we are being sold, we become less marketable. Unfortunately, social media can negatively impact us, as we’re pressured into looking young all the time. It’s good to do some housekeeping – follow more positive people and unfollow those…

Coping with… BACK PAIN Lower back pain is very common, and often due to muscle strains. Here’s how to find relief There are many causes, and pain often starts for no obvious reason. The spine is usually strong, and back problems are rarely due to any serious disease or damage. It often gets better on its own, improving within a few weeks, but can sometimes recur or last longer. A common source of back pain is a mild injury such as a pulled muscle (strain), which is very painful but isn’t dangerous. More serious medical conditions include osteoarthritis, a slipped disc, sciatica (a trapped nerve), ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory arthritis and, rarely, bone fractures, infection or cancers. Pain can also be referred from internal organs such as the heart, pancreas, gall bladder, kidneys or ovaries. ‘Keep as…

B&M JOHN LEWIS GEORGE HOME NEXT M&S DUNELM…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS Width 32cm/12½in. Height 37cm/14½in. MATERIALS 1 x 100g (280m) ball of Hayfield Bonus DK (100% acrylic) in each of Blue (Azure 824), White (961), Orange (Bright Orange 981), Yellow (Cornfield 574), Green (Pea Green 583), Purple (Grape 568) and Black (965)*. Pair of 3.75mm (No. 9) knitting needles; small amount of washable toy stuffing; zip fastener of appropriate length. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 23 stitches and 30 rows to 10x10cm, over stocking stitch, using 3.75mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS Inc, increase by working twice into the same st; k, knit; p, purl; skpo, slip 1, k1, pass slipped stitch over (to decrease 1 st); ss, stocking stitch (k on right side and p on wrong side); st(s), stitch(es); tog, together (decrease by working as many sts together…

A meadow is one of the UK’s most stunning natural spectacles, and a haven for wildlife. Alongside hay and grasses, up to 50 different wild flowers can establish themselves in an area of just one square metre. Wild flowers are tough, with deep roots that help them resist drought. Annual favourites include corncockles and corn marigolds, while perennials such as red campion and field scabious come back year after year. Our rich and biodiverse meadows have declined since the 40s, with farming changes accounting for the loss of around 97% of them, but there is hope for the future. Farmers, gardeners and local authorities are recognising the value of meadows not just as havens for nature, but as a way of uplifting the human spirit. The National Trust aims to…

When it comes to romantic settings, a candlelit restaurant or a moonlit walk on the beach might spring to mind. But for Emma Ball and husband Clint, their romantic backdrop couldn’t have been more different. In fact, the couple, who wed in 2011, fell in love in the unlikely setting of a hospital kidney ward. Emma, then a single mum to young son Daniel, was visiting regularly for dialysis as she waited desperately for a kidney transplant, while Clint was working on her ward as a healthcare assistant. When he told her he’d had a transplant himself, Emma, now 55, thought at first it was a chat-up line. ‘Clint and two friends he worked with used to try and make me smile,’ recalls Emma, from Stoke-on-Trent. ‘Having them to chat…

‘I’m like a child; I find it really exciting’ Alison Morgan, 60, lives in Nottingham with her husband Adrian, 64. My first cruise was on the Atlantic, 16 years ago. Sailing to New York sounded amazing. I’ve done a dozen now, to different places. The minute you get to the ship everything is taken care of and nothing is too much trouble for the staff. The ship is beautiful, the food is fantastic, everyone is polite and pleasant. When you leave port there’s a band playing. I just love it. I’m like a child, I find it really exciting. On that first cruise, we had a few stops – the Shetland Islands, Iceland, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, then New York. But we had a horrendous storm that lasted two-and-a-half days.…

I’m furious with my son’s high-flying wife Q My grandson has sadly been diagnosed with cancer. but it will be a long process. My son has been amazing and has taken him to all his appointments. He has asked us to help. His wife has done nothing. She’s a high-flyer and has just continued to work regardless. I’m furious with her and find it hard to be around her. My son has asked me to say nothing – he says they’re doing it their way. Name and address withheld A It must be a worrying time and your family. Remember that everyone manages their stress in different ways. From what you have described, your daughter-in-law is clearly coping by avoiding things. Being furious with her isn’t going to help. I think this is a moment for compassion for a…

I’ve loved the Beatles for more years than I care to mention. But one afternoon a while ago, when I heard their song Help! on the radio, it had a strange effect on me. I was left with the feeling that something was missing from my life. My job as a teaching assistant made me smile every day, and I had a loving family and amazing friends. My marriage had ended in divorce four years before, but it was all very amicable. I was perfectly content on my own. When the song had finished, I called my mum. She’s my go-to person whenever I’m troubled. We had a brief chat, then it all came pouring out – that I realised something was missing from my life. ‘The problem is, Mum,…

Lemon and pistachio tiramisu terrine A citrus zing replaces coffee in this showstopper. SERVES 10PREP 30 mins, plus overnight chilling FOR THE PISTACHIO PRALINE ✱ 50g caster sugar✱ 50g pistachios FOR THE LEMON CREAM ✱ 300ml double cream✱ 2 gelatine leaves, soaked in cold water for 5 mins✱ 3 medium free-range egg yolks✱ 100g caster sugar✱ 250g mascarpone✱ 160g lemon curd✱ 1tsp vanilla bean paste✱ Finely grated zest 1 lemon, plus extra to decorate FOR THE SPONGE LAYER ✱ 150ml limoncello✱ Juice 1 lemon✱ 1tbsp caster sugar✱ 30 sponge fingers TO DECORATE ✱ Finely grated white chocolate (optional) YOU WILL NEED ✱ 10x20cm loaf tin (1.6ltr volume), the sides lined with cling film 1 For the praline, slowly melt the sugar in a pan to a deep-golden caramel. Stir in…

Have a go at this beach hut cushion and coastal sampler Difficulty level BEACH HUT CUSHION SIZE 29x21cm YOU WILL NEED ✱ Access to a photocopier✱ Tracing paper and pencil✱ 60x40cm rectangle of duck egg blue ticking fabric (stripes parallel with short edges)✱ 30x20cm rectangle of coral plain fabric✱ 20x10cm rectangle of orange plain cotton fabric✱ 10x10cm square of red plain cotton fabric✱ 20x20cm square of cream plain cotton fabric✱ 30x30cm square of bonding web✱ Toy filling✱ Matching sewing threads SUPPLIER Cotton ticking, £16m, Raystitch; raystitch.co.uk. Making the pattern On a photocopier, enlarge the pattern by 170%. Trace the pattern on to tracing paper. Mark the details and arrow. Cut out the pattern. Cutting out and preparation 1 Cut out one pair of cushions. Trace the roof, outer door, outer…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS Approximately 20x22cm/8x8¾in, excluding handle. MATERIALS A lightweight, multicoloured, polyester, single duvet cover cut into 1cm-wide strips, joined with a reef knot and used double. Pair of 10mm (No. 000) knitting needles; knitting wool sewing needle. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; rss, reverse stocking st (p on right side and k on wrong side); st(s), stitch(es). BACK With 10mm needles, cast on 19 sts. Starting with a k row, rss 28 rows. Cast off. FRONT With 10mm needles, cast on 19 sts. Starting with a k row, rss 28 rows. Handle: Next row: K4, cast off 11 sts, k4 – 8 sts. Next row: P4, cast on 20 sts, p4 – 28 sts. Rss 4 rows more. Cast off. TO MAKE UP With wrong sides facing, using a…

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (£20, HB, Headline) Settle in for the long-haul with this smouldering historical novel that’s filled with as much beauty as it is with intrigue and magical realism. World War Two has come to America and June, the manager of a luxury hotel, finds herself playing host to captured Nazi diplomats in the mountains of West Virginia. Between clashing loyalties and Tucker, an FBI agent, listening at the walls for secrets, June’s delicate balancing act threatens to come unstuck. One Cornish Summer with You by Phillipa Ashley (£9.99, PB, Cornerstone) Living in the seaside town of Porthmellow, sand artist Tammy is grieving the loss of her father. She has learnt to protect her heart at all costs, but when she meets gorgeous solicitor Ruan, that might…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR Break destructive habits, such as overworking or overeating, and replace them instead with positive, life-enhancing ones. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Many demands may be placed upon your time and energy. Make sure you choose carefully and don’t overcommit yourself. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Communications of all kinds are under favourable stars now. Positive outcomes are indicated for all negotiations. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL The focus is on your home and your environment. You have a real knack of making a space beautiful and inviting. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Everything around you is gathering speed. Things that have been stuck for a long time begin to move, so get ready for an exhilarating ride! VIRGO 24 AUG…

Fate occasionally has a cruel and mischievous streak. If you ask me, Fate didn’t spend enough time on the naughty step during its childhood. That’s why, when you are bumbling along quite happily and enjoying life, Fate will drive at high speed through the large puddle by the pavement and shower you with water. Then Fate will reverse the car, stop, wind down the window and suggest that you should have worn a proper raincoat. I blame Fate, then, for the fact that I am standing behind the counter of the charity shop next to my newish neighbour Geraldine, known to Mr Dear as The Human Megaphone. It’s been a busy morning, and I must say that Geraldine has been brisk and efficient. Customers who fancied a second-hand Agatha Christie…