Innholdsfortegnelse for 1-Jul-2025 i Woman's Weekly

How sweet it is... We’ve been married for more years than I care to remember – suffice to say that two of our children are now into their 30s, so I’ll be revealing no more – and one of the things that makes me smile about being in a long-term relationship is the little loving habits you fall into. It might be always making your partner a cup of tea first thing in the morning, or buying them their favourite bar of chocolate when you’ve nipped out to get some milk, or baking their favourite cake for no special reason whatsoever. I suppose they are tiny giveaway signposts of love. I got to thinking about them when I read our fiction story on page 44. Do take a look.…

Before I became a mum, I was pretty adventurous. I travelled around Africa for three months in a truck and I’ve done lots of island-hopping in Greece; I love that rough-and-ready kind of travel. I’ve been in a helicopter and went in a microlight aeroplane over the Victoria Falls, but as soon as I got pregnant, I changed. I felt like I needed to stay alive, so I became more careful and didn’t want to take risks. I got together with my partner, Ian (former Emmerdale star Ian Kelsey), four years ago, and he has a bike. I’d never been on a motorbike before in my life, but he promised me that he was a very safe driver. I really trust him and now I love going on the back…

Cardiovascular disease update Pregnancy places considerable demands on the maternal cardiovascular system, higher still in twin pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia. A US database study, investigating cardiovascular disease hospitalisations in the year after delivery, shows higher risk for women with twin pregnancies or who developed hypertension in pregnancy, compared with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies. But reassuringly, even after a twin pregnancy, fewer than one in 100 women needed hospital care for cardiovascular disease. BARIATRIC SURGERY NEWS Follow-up data on weight-loss operations show that the type of operation matters, with ‘Roux-en-Y gastric bypass’ the better option for sustained weight reduction and for causing fewer adverse effects. Gastroesophageal reflux was also less common after gastric bypass than sleeve gastrectomy (removal of some of the stomach). But for many, the use…

It’s not too late to change our minds,’ Christina announced to her friends as they stood in a short but orderly queue outside Snobs, picking up on a collective vibe. It had been a few years since they’d stepped inside a club. Twenty, they’d decided earlier. Back then, they’d have gone out far later, burning the candle at both ends. Now, nerves were showing. ‘We could catch that new romcom at the Odeon instead,’ Alana said. Even Naomi, who’d been the one to suggest clubbing, was having reservations as they waited, the door leading down to the dance floor looming ahead of them. They weren’t the oldest people in the queue, but they weren’t the youngest, either. Would they fit in? Did it matter? ‘We’re too old for all this’…

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: Shouted out. Average = 25 More than 45 = well done Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer. CLUE: Misery as wreck’s left at sea (10). EASY CLUES Across 6 Thin pancake (5)7 Openly (2,6)10 Savings (4,3)11 Young pilchard (7)12 Drink containing vermouth (7)13 In dispute (2,5)14 Item of medical equipment (11)19 Functionary (7)21 Dexterity (7)23 Procession (7)25 Organise (7)26 Fragrant (8)27 Glisten…

Today you are in for a treat. I will be whisking you straight to the master bedroom at Dear Towers – and at no extra charge. In the spirit of the age, I suppose I should first issue the following trigger warning. If you are hoping to read about anything unseemly, you are in for the biggest disappointment since Henry VIII was told, ‘Congratulations, your Majesty, it’s a bouncing baby girl!’ On the left, propped up against three pillows, is Mr Thomas Dear. He is reading his Kindle and occasionally muttering to himself. ‘At our age, you can’t be too careful’ For readers who take an interest in nightwear trends, he is wearing a Last of the Summer Wine T-shirt, given to him by a naughty daughter on the grounds…

ONE AMAZING EVENT It’s almost 40 years since Live Aid, the concert organised by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for Africa. Watched by 1.5 billion people worldwide, Bob Dylan, Queen, U2, Sir Elton John and many more artists played. Just for One Day: The Live Aid Musical is celebrating with a special show on 13 July, but if you miss it, you can still see it until January 2026 at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre. ✱ theliveaidmusical.com Island life This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Farne Islands being cared for by the National Trust. The 28-island archipelago off the coast of Northumberland is home to thriving colonies of seals, puffins and other seabirds. The puffins began their nesting season in April, but won’t leave for the…

After 15 years of wearing a drab black dress as Downton Abbey’s housekeeper Mrs Hughes, Phyllis Logan does a total turnaround for her next big role, in Channel 5’s Murder Most Puzzling. She’s ensconced in flowery kimonos and bright orange earrings to play a famous crossword-puzzle writer, Cora Felton. Landing a lead role is overdue for Phyllis, and comes at a time when middle-aged actresses are enjoying a run of lead roles, particularly as crime-busters. ‘There’s Lesley Manville in Moonflower Murders and Samantha Bond in The Marlow Murder Club,’ Phyllis points out. ‘So I was delighted to be in that crowd.’ Phyllis certainly has a supportive team behind her: ‘I’ve got my son, my stepdaughter and my husband, who are all very important in my life.’ Phyllis has been married…

1 SENSORY SCRUB Almost good enough to eat, Sunday Rain Mango & Coconut Polishing Body Scrub, £5.99, Superdrug, is a delightful sweet treat without the calories. Not only does the creamy whipped formula buff away dead skin to reveal silky-soft pins, it also energises and uplifts your mood, thanks to mango extract and coconut oil. 2 TROPICAL TRESSES Fragrance really loves to cling to your hair strands, which is why your perfume always lasts so much longer when it’s sprayed there. Apply Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical, £3.25, Boots, to your roots to help absorb excess oil, and for dreamy-looking and luscious-smelling hair that lasts all day long. 3 FRUITY FOAM Start your day with a sweet-smelling, tropically scented shower, courtesy of Daise Foaming Body Wash in Pineapple Whip, £5,…

Devised by French animator Serge Danot, The Magic Roundabout was first shown on French television in 1964, entitled Le Manège Enchanté. It was initially rejected by the BBC, as it was ‘charming, but difficult to dub into English’. However Doreen Stephens, who was head of Children’s Programmes at the time, asked Joy Whitby to look at it again. Whitby, who was the producer of Play School, felt that Eric Thompson, one of her presenters, might be suitable for the voice-overs. Incredibly, Eric decided to watch the episodes without a soundtrack or translated script, then drily made up entirely new storylines and characters from the images, thus creating a UK TV classic largely from his own imagination. Between October 1965 and January 1977, the BBC broadcast 441 five-minute episodes before the…

Their wedding list is too pricey for us Q We’ve been invited to the wedding of a close friend’s daughter. I’d love to go, as I’ve known her all her life. The problem is there’s nothing on her wedding list we can afford. I can’t go if I can’t take a present. I don’t want to put my friend in a difficult position by explaining the situation. Susan, London A There’s no rule that you have to buy something off the wedding list. People put things on as a guide to what they like, as well as specific items they want. Check the list so you can see their taste and colour scheme, and then find something small that you think they’ll like and will fit with their decor. If there…

Our rivers are home to some of the most diverse species of flora and fauna around. During summer, when the water is teeming with activity and the riverbanks are billowing with plants, take a walk along them and explore their beauty. Bird communities With waterproof feathers and webbed feet, many species of waterfowl navigate the waterways throughout the year. These river dwellers, which include swans, ducks, coots and moorhens, all rely on a healthy ecosystem to allow them to forage for food, build nests and raise their young. They are joined by flying predatory birds, such as kingfishers, herons and intriguing cormorants, which have evolved to fly, dive and swim. LUSH VEGETATION The greenery that makes its home alongside our rivers is comprised of plants that grow above water on…

3 WAYS TO... Healthier teeth 1 BRUSH TWICE A DAY Around 16% of us only brush once a day*. ‘Use a soft-bristled manual or electric toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride at a 45-degree angle to your gums in circular motions for two minutes,’ says dentist Dr Sara Amini. 2 EAT SMART ‘Don’t brush immediately after consuming acidic food and drinks,’ says Dr Amini. ‘Wait for 30 minutes so saliva neutralises the acid, otherwise brushing can remove the softened surface of the tooth.’ 3 DRINK SMART Avoid fizzy drinks and those with a high sugar or acid content. If you must drink them, use a straw to avoid contact with your teeth. And watch alcohol, advises Dr Amini, as it is acid erosive. NEWSFLASH NHS launches five-minute super jab…

1 FILL THE FLOOR A bright and snuggly soft bath mat will feel cosy underfoot, while a fun print adds some joy to the room. ✱ Blue Puffin bath mat, £18, and hand towel, £8, both Next 2 STYLE THE SINK Switching your toothbrush holder, soap dispenser or soap dish for pieces that match your colour scheme can give your sink a polished feel. ✱ Dimple ceramic dispenser, £6, tumbler, £3.99, soap dish, £3, and lidded pot, £6, all George Home 3 SWITCH UP LIGHTING Good lighting is key in a bathroom, especially if there’s a lack of natural light. Banish the gloom in a small bathroom with wall lights on either side of a mirror or use an uplighter to bounce light off a white-painted ceiling. ✱ Callaghan bathroom…

Difficulty level FOR EACH PLACE MAT, YOU WILL NEED ✱ 35x84cm blue cotton fabric✱ 33x40cm interfacing✱ White sewing thread✱ Sewing machine with embroidery stitches 1 Cut the fabric into two 35x42cm pieces. Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of one of the pieces. 2 Pin and sew the two fabric pieces right sides together and 1cm seam allowances, leaving a small gap for turning on one edge. 3 Turn right sides out and press. Turn the gap edges under by 1cm, pin and sew a straight stitch 5mm from the edge on all sides. 4 Select an embroidery stitch on your sewing machine and sew 2.5cm from the fabric’s edge, all the way around. TIP To make a set of place mats, select a different embroidery stitch every time.…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS e-reader case 25cm/10in long and 13cm/5in wide. Glasses case 23cm/9in long and 10cm/4in wide. MATERIALS 1 x 100g (250m) ball of King Cole Cherished DK (100% acrylic) in each of Grey (Nickel 1426), White (1410), Blue (Sky 1412), Navy (French Navy 1427) and Yellow (Mustard 3544), plus 1 ball of Deep Red (Claret 5663)* for e-reader; 1 button for e-reader. Pair of 3.75mm (No. 9) knitting needles. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 24 stitches and 30 rows to 10x10cm, over stocking stitch, using 3.75mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; 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 as stated). NOTES When working from chart, read from right to left on…

The Satisfaction Café by Kathy Wang (£20, HB, Little Brown) Captivating from the first sentence. When Joan Liang’s first marriage implodes, she doesn’t foresee the path her life will take. She certainly doesn’t see herself married to an older, wealthy man and living in California. Cue the challenges that come from trying to fit in and feeling constantly unsatisfied. A beautiful character study spanning an entire life, while navigating the joys, sorrow, mini tragedies and surprises that life throws our way is superbly told without over-sentimentality. Just sublime! Love, Sex and Frankenstein by Caroline Lea (£18.99, HB, Penguin) In this powerful feminist retelling, we meet 18-year-old Mary Wollestoncroft Godwin and her stepsister Claire in 1816 as they flee London and head for Lake Geneva. Along with Mary’s lover, Percy Shelley,…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR There may be many demands on your energy this week. You will need to be firm and clear, so that you won’t feel overwhelmed. Put yourself first! TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY It’s time to stretch yourself and do some new things. Choose something you’ve always wanted to do, but never dared. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN The theme of this week is to take power. There may be occasions where saying no is vital to retain your dignity. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Keep everything simple. It’s the perfect time for sorting out and clearing out. But hang on to the things and people you love. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG You may be considering a move of house,…