Innholdsfortegnelse for 24-Jun-2025 i Woman's Weekly

The history girls "Lots of people dream of living in a brand-new house, and out of choice would never opt for anything else. I can understand the appeal; everything spick and span, with no wear and tear from previous residents. But we’re the opposite; we love living in older houses, feeling their history and imagining the lives lived there long ago. It’s the same with objects; the old chair I’m sitting on as I write, found long ago by my antique-loving mum (see page 10 for places to find treasures) was made just after 1800, so how many crinoline-clad bottoms have sat on it before ours? But while imagining lives from history is fun, would you want to inhabit it? See page 20."…

“How I dreaded the school run with my own children! I was always running late, either because of writing deadlines or because I hadn’t allowed for sheep crossing the lane. Yet now I’m a granny, I love it! I still have the same deadlines, but I am never, ever late for collecting my grandchildren. Actually, I almost feel more responsible for them than my own children, and leave at least 20 minutes earlier than necessary. I already have drinks and healthy snacks in my bag, and a full tank of petrol. Back in the 90s, one of my three was almost late for an exam because I ran out of fuel. The joy of arriving early is that I’m usually first in the queue. This is a novelty, since in…

Harissa chicken and rice salad A lightly spiced marinade transforms chicken thighs into a special main course. SERVES 6 PREP 20 mins, plus marinating COOK 30 mins ✱ 4tbsp harissa paste✱ 4tbsp olive oil✱ Zest and juice 1 lemon✱ 4 garlic cloves, crushed✱ 6 large skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs✱ 1 red onion, sliced✱ 1 bunch spring onions✱ 300g thick asparagus, trimmed✱ 300g cooked rice, cooled✱ Handful each parsley and mint, roughly chopped, plus extra to serve✱ 75g whole almonds, toasted and chopped✱ 50g dried sour cherries/sultanas✱ 2tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 Mix the harissa, 3tbsp olive oil, the lemon zest and juice, and garlic in a mixing bowl. Reserve 2tbsp for the rice dressing, then toss the remainder with the chicken and red onion, and season. Cover and chill…

Coping with MACULAR DEGENERATION This common eye condition causes damage to part of the retina and reduces vision At the centre of the retina, the macula is responsible for central vision, most colour vision and fine detail. Its high concentration of photoreceptor cells detect light, sending signals to the brain. Macular degeneration (age-related macular degeneration or AMD) affects the central visual field in one or both eyes, usually in people aged over 50. The cause is unclear, although it’s more common in smokers, those with high blood pressure or who are overweight or who have an AMD family history. It affects central, not peripheral, vision and though it doesn’t usually result in total blindness, it causes problems with everyday activities like reading, watching television and facial recognition. There are two main types. Dry AMD is…

TESTED BY US so they work for you Gem necklace YOU WILL NEED ✱ 3 freshwater pearls, 4-6mm✱ 2 cherry quartz chip beads✱ 1 turquoise howlite chip bead✱ 1 pink opal nugget bead✱ 1 Amazonite oval beaded charm✱ 1 moonstone beaded charm✱ 80-100 ocean apatite chip beads✱ 1 lobster claw clasp, 12mm✱ 10-16 open jump rings, 4mm✱ 1 closed jump ring, 4mm✱ 4 clamshell bead tips, 3.5mm✱ Length of chain, 6-8cm. I have used a drawn cable chain, 8.75mm✱ 6-10 26-gauge ball headpins, 40mm long✱ Clear beading cord, 0.3mm diameter✱ Round-nose pliers✱ Square-nose pliers✱ Cutting pliers 1 Unravel 30cm of clear beading cord and cut from the roll. Set up your jewellery with a clamshell at one end. Thread the ocean apatite chip beads on until you have 12cm of…

THE WONDER OF WAKEHURST Located near Haywards Heath in West Sussex, Wakehurst is Kew’s 535-acre botanical garden. It’s a great destination for a fun day out this summer, with a packed programme of walks, talks and activities for families. Roam ancient woodlands in the Loder Valley, take the kids bug hunting at the Children’s and Community Garden, enjoy outdoor art or join a willow weaving workshop. ✱ kew.org/wakehurst Box clever Swifts are back, darting and swooping through our summer skies, after their 6,000-mile journey from east Africa at speeds of up to 70mph. These amazing birds spend most of their life on the wing, but a lack of nesting sites has put them at risk. A group of neighbours in Manchester, led by Suzanne Pendleton, has built 81 swift nesting…

There’s something about rummaging through an antique market for vintage jewellery, first-edition books or a forgotten piece of pottery that’s deeply nostalgic, yet thrilling. They take place all over the UK, but here are some of our favourites: from the charming Portobello Road Market to the sprawling Hemswell Antiques Centres, which draws collectors from all over the world, it’s time to lose yourself in the past! Sunbury Antiques Market Surrey Held at Kempton Park Racecourse in Sunbury-on-Thames on the second and last Tuesday of every month, this exciting family-run antique market has been running since 1979. From its humble beginnings – when its owner Sue Cruttenden borrowed £100 from her grandmother and started the market with just 20 stalls – you will now discover over 700 stalls selling ceramics, fashion,…

When looking for an eco-friendly way to tackle laundry stains, look no further than your local woodland. English ivy (Hedera helix), a plant that grows in abundance around the UK, can be transformed into an effective, natural laundry soap that’s gentle on the environment and tough on stains. As well as being an eco-friendly choice, English ivy soap is free to make – a perfect way to embrace sustainability and save money. Here’s how to enjoy the process of foraging, making and using an environmentally friendly cleanser. FORAGING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Before collecting your English ivy, it’s wise to take precautions: Wear gloves English ivy can cause skin irritation for some, so always protect your hands. Follow foraging rules Check local regulations, as there may be restrictions on…

I’m constantly assessing myself Q I’m 78 and I find myself worrying about ageing. I assess everything I do in relation to how I was when I was younger and wonder if I’ll be able to do the same task next year. I can’t live like this for possibly 20 more years. Pat, Lichfield A You can’t! You’re right – there will be things you can’t do because you’re older and some things that you can do and know because of your age. I think it would be helpful if you started to practise acceptance. Acknowledging and accepting where we are in life is important. A couple of things that can help you is to ignore your inner voices – tell them that they don’t know the future and ask them to be quiet!…

Private Lives by Emily Edwards (£16.99, HB, Transworld) It’s another thought-provoking, ‘discuss and debate’ novel from Emily Edwards – a beachside read that will prompt you to ask anyone nearby what they would do. Seb has just landed his dream job as a head teacher at the local school, and is happily married to Rosie. But when single mum Abi turns up looking for a fresh start in the small town of Waverley, it seems Seb’s happy domestic life may be about to unravel. Should his private life remain his business or should it become a public scandal? Fast-paced with fantastic dialogue, we loved this. We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter (£22, HB, Harper Collins) When teenagers Cheyenne and Madison go missing in the town of North Falls,…

LOOK WHAT I MADE Each week, I look forward to receiving your magazine as I love the knitting and crochet patterns. I live in a residential care facility in Adelaide and love to knit or crochet something special for new mums and dads, like this pretty baby set. Lynne Joyce, Glenelg, Adelaide, Australia GREAT GARDEN INSPIRATION I recently took up my weekly subscription after cancelling at my previous address. I am delighted that the first edition that dropped through my letter box has a wonderful gardening extra section. It is full of lots of lovely ideas for my new garden. Thank you, Woman’s Weekly. Rose Sice, Urmston, Manchester PAWS FOR THOUGHT Here is my beautiful daughter with her new puppy. Luna is a sable cocker spaniel, and my little girl…

‘The clothes from the 30s, 40s and 50s are so glamorous’ Hair and make-up artist Natasha Smith, 59, lives with her husband Jay, 54, in Hove, East Sussex. My love of vintage comes from an early age. My dad Walter was an actor and he introduced me to all the old black-and-white movies, so when I was young, we would watch the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films together. It was a few years later that a friend took me to a club in London where you could dance with a partner, just like Fred and Ginger. Going there, I met people who knew where to get the original clothes. I realised I could be Ginger Rogers! For me, clothes from the 30s, 40s and 50s are very glamorous and…

RUNNING HAS HELPED EASE MY BACK PAIN Lucy Evans, 51, from Halifax, Yorkshire. Ten years ago, I picked up a bag of compost from outside my home and my back just ‘went’. I had to crawl back inside on my hands and knees. I couldn’t move for three months – it was horrific. I couldn’t sleep or go upstairs. I was told to rest and take painkillers, but they barely helped and made me feel like a living zombie. As soon as my back started improving, I’d do something like lose my footing, jolt myself and be back to square one. After six months, I tried steroid injections and epidurals on the NHS, and had my nerve endings cauterised every year – that helped manage the pain. Doctors told me that fluid had leaked from…

3 OF THE BEST... Cushions STYLE TIPS 1 USE FLORALS SPARINGLY Faded, vintage-style florals are all over the high street this season, but don’t overdo it. Choose florals for a key piece, like curtains or a bedding set, then add hints throughout the rest of the room. 2 OPT FOR SUBTLE SHADES Choose muted shades for a rustic, relaxed feel, rather than a sugary sweet palette. Match light neutrals with natural materials such as rattan and seagrass for a homespun effect. 3 PICK A PRETTY WALLPAPER For an instant country vibe, match a subtle wallpaper colour with wood panelling painted in a contrasting shade, like this rose pink (left). 4 COMPLEMENTARY FURNITURE Look for pieces with pretty details to elevate the country aesthetic – think metal bed frames, spindle-leg chairs…

NIFTY NIBBLES It’s not too late to plant quick-growing edibles for late-summer and early autumn harvests. Plant out young courgettes, tomatoes and pumpkins in a sunny bed or greenhouse, and sow seeds of fast-maturing crops, such as carrots, spinach and rocket. ‘Mignon’ carrots are pickable in 8-12 weeks, lettuces (try ‘Little Gem’) in 6-8 weeks, and beetroot (‘Boltardy’ is reliable) in 12 weeks. DANCING QUEEN An exciting new sweet pea was launched at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Named after professional dancer Amy Dowden MBE, it is, like its namesake, elegant and resilient. It has frilly, soft pink petals and a scent reminiscent of vanilla and roses. Another bonus is that it carries at least five flowers on each stem (most sweet peas have only up to four). ‘Amy…

TESTED BY US so they work for you MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 81-86 (91-97) (102-107)cm/32-34 (36-38) (40-42)in. Actual measurements 89 (101) (112)cm/35 (39¾) (44)in. Side seam All sizes 44.5cm/17½in. Length to shoulder 62.5 (64.5) (66)cm/24½ (25½) (26)in. Sleeve seam All sizes 44.5cm/17½in. MATERIALS 4 (4) (5) 100g (330m) balls of Patons 100% Cotton 4 Ply (100% cotton) in Candy (1734)*. Pair of 2.75mm (No. 12) and 3.25mm (No. 10) knitting needles; a 2.75mm (No. 12) circular knitting needle; stitch holder. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 24 stitches and 36 rows, to 10x10cm, over pattern, using 3.25mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS Dec, decrease 1 st (by working k2tog on a k row and p2tog on a p row); inc, increase by working twice into the same st; k, knit; patt, pattern; p,…

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: interviews. Average = 15 More than 25 = 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…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR Is everything speeding up around you? Stay centred and grounded to take advantage of opportunities occurring. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Approach your work with cheerfulness and enthusiasm. You’ll find doors opening that were previously blocked. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Keep focused on what you want. Don’t allow anyone to draw you into negative thinking. If you stay the course, you’ll be pleased with the results. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Take care of your body. Make sure you get enough sleep and treat yourself to something both calming and soothing. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Let go of situations you’re unable to change. While it may feel uncomfortable in the short term, in the long run, you’ll feel…

“One thing I’ve learnt over the past week is that I wouldn’t last long under torture. Especially if that torture involved a man in his later years singing the same song over and over again while accompanying himself on a ukulele. A couple of weeks ago, Mr Dear happened to catch a comedy on Radio 4 Extra called Robin and Wendy’s Wet Weekends. Very good it was too, but I would like to have a serious word with whoever chose the theme music – Little Boxes. Older readers will certainly remember this: it’s the one about ‘Little boxes on the hillside. There’s a pink one and a green one, and a blue one and a yellow one. And they’re all made out of ticky-tacky and they all look just the…