Innholdsfortegnelse for 2-Sep-2025 i Woman's Weekly

The ring of silver Ageing is a funny thing. Some embrace it and some fight against it. I’m reminded of Lady Bracknell’s comment: ‘Thirty-five is a very attractive age. London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained thirty-five for years.’ In a similar vein, my mum decided early on that she wasn’t going to go grey and sported a head of richly brown hair until the day she died. But it’s equally possible to embrace the silver as a badge of honour and experience, a rite of passage through this amazing thing called life. If that sounds like you, see page 22.…

1 FIND THE RIGHT SHADE When experimenting with a new colour trend, it’s important to find the right shade to suit you and your wardrobe. ‘The key to mastering brown is embracing its diverse palette,’ explains Alyson Taggart, director of product and publications at Damart. ‘Lighter shades are this season’s biggest trend, with Mocha Mousse named Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2025. These softer brown tones are perfect for extending that summer glow, while deeper chocolate tones help you ease into autumn’s moodier palette.’ Richer tones will look particularly good on warmer skin tones, while cooler tones can pull off lighter shades. 2 SWAP BLACK FOR CHOCOLATE An easy way to incorporate this colour into your everyday look is to swap an existing black piece for chocolate brown. When…

Meatballs al sugo A universal favourite, the meatballs finish cooking in the sauce for a tender and juicy bite. SERVES 4PREP 30 minsCOOK 30-40 mins FOR THE MEATBALLS ✱ 60g stale crustless bread✱ 50ml whole milk✱ 100g pancetta, chopped✱ 400g minced pork or beef, or a mixture✱ 30g finely grated Parmesan, plus extra to serve✱ 1tsp fennel seeds, toasted and crushed✱ 1tbsp finely chopped sage or rosemary✱ ½tsp grated nutmeg✱ 1 medium free-range egg✱ Finely grated zest 1 lemon FOR THE SAUCE ✱ 4tbsp olive oil✱ 3 fat garlic cloves, thinly sliced✱ Pinch dried chilli flakes (optional)✱ 2 oregano or basil sprigs✱ 2 x 400g tins good-quality crushed tomatoes FOR THE GREMOLATA ✱ Zest 1 lemons, finely grated✱ Large handful parsley leaves, finely chopped✱ 1 small garlic clove, crushed 1…

3 WAYS TO... Ease thrush 1 WEAR BREATHABLE FABRICS ‘Thrush thrives in warm, damp conditions,’ says pharmacist Amie Anand*. Wear breathable fabrics, such as cotton underwear, and avoid staying in wet swimwear too long. 2 AVOID SUGARY FOODS Thrush is a common yeast infection, which can feed on sugar. ‘Limiting your sugar intake and incorporating a range of probiotic-rich foods, such as yogurt and kefir, can help you maintain a healthier pH balance,’ says Annie. 3 GET HELP Talk to your GP or pharmacist about over-the-counter or prescription treatments that may help, such as antifungal medications as creams, pessaries or oral tablets. TIME TO TRY… Whitening strips to boost confidence for a special occasion Family wedding coming up? Or an event where you’d like a dazzling smile? Try Advanced 3D Whitening Strips…

Chocolate celebration cake A spongy cake filled with a silky ganache. Dressed up with sprinkles and candles, it’s perfect for a birthday. SERVES 10-12PREP 30 mins, plus coolingCOOK 20-25 mins FOR THE CAKE ✱ 35g roasted chopped hazelnuts✱ 125g unsalted butter, softened✱ 125g caster sugar✱ 2 medium free-range eggs✱ 60g dark chocolate, melted✱ 125g self-raising flour✱ 2tbsp cocoa powder✱ ½tsp bicarbonate of soda✱ 100g soured cream FOR THE FILLING AND TOPPING ✱ 200ml double cream✱ 200g good-quality milk chocolate, broken into pieces✱ 3tbsp jam YOU WILL NEED ✱ 2 x 20cm sandwich tins, greased and the bases lined 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Whizz the hazelnuts in a small food processor until finely ground. 2 Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy.…

Difficulty level SIZE Crown 11cm high, wand 35x12cm, wings 39x37cm YOU WILL NEED ✱ Access to a photocopier✱ Tracing paper and pencil✱40cm of 110cm wide blue patterned cotton fabric✱1m of 110cm wide cream patterned cotton fabric✱1m of 90cm wide medium-loft iron-on fleece✱ 5x5cm square of sew-in Velcro✱35cm length of 6mm-diameter wooden dowel✱ All-purpose household glue✱ Cream acrylic paint✱ 1m 50cm of 7mm wide blue ribbon✱ Small amount of toy filling✱ Air-erasable fabric pen✱ Two pipe cleaners✱ Matching sewing threads✱ Bodkin or safety pin STOCKISTS Beach House Sea Oats fabric, £7.55 per half metre, Sew Hot; sewhot.co.uk. Medium-loft iron-on fleece, £11.50 per metre, Debbie Shore Sewing; debbieshoresewing.com. NOTE Stitch seams with right sides facing, taking 1cm seam allowance unless stated otherwise, matching crosses and dots. MAKING PAPER PATTERNS AND CUTTING OUT…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 82-86 (92-97) (102-107) (112-117) (122-127)cm/32-34 (36-38) (40-42) (44-46) (48-50)in. Actual measurements 96 (107) (119) (131) (142)cm/37¾ (42) (46¾) (51½) (56)in. Length to back neck 54 (55) (56) (57) (58)cm/21¼ (21½) (22) (22½) (22¾)in. Sleeve length All sizes 46cm/18in. MATERIALS 11 (12) (14) (15) (17) x 50g (116m) balls of Sirdar Cashmere Merino Silk DK (75% wool, 20% silk, 5% cashmere) in Society Pink (420)*. Pair each of 3.25mm (No. 10) and 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; stitch holders; 8 buttons. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 24 stitches and 33 rows to 10x10cm, over Irish Moss Patt, using 4mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS Inc, increase by working twice into the same st; k, knit; p, purl; patt, pattern; skpo, slip 1, k1, pass slipped stitch over…

SUPERSIZED SCULPTURE For the first time, the National Trust’s Hidcote is hosting a sculpture exhibition, with 200 artworks for sale. The Cotswolds manor house and Arts and Crafts-inspired garden will show sculptures by 55 artists, including Jenny Pickford’s stunning iron and blown glass flowers. Visit from 1 September to 2 November. ✱ nationaltrust.org.uk Your hedgehogs need you! A year-long campaign is underway, inviting us to help these special mammals. Simply leave a patch of garden untended, allowing visiting hedgehogs to find nesting materials as well as food. A log pile, compost heap and garden pond are all havens too. Record the location at hedgehogstreet.org, and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, together with The British Hedgehog Preservation Society, will use the data to help improve habitats. ✱ Find out more…

The UK is blessed with some of the most spectacular coastline in the world. Dramatic cliffs, soft sandy beaches, hidden coves and secluded bays; we’ve got it all. Better still, with almost 8,000 miles of it right on the doorstep, there’s no need for a passport. So, this year, why not spend some time exploring our home shores? Cornwall From pasties to pirates, our most westerly county has many claims to fame. Not least, its whopping 1,086km coastline* – the longest of any UK county. Every step is met with astonishing views and crystalline water. You could be forgiven for thinking you were in the Caribbean – temperatures permitting! Must-sees include Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula, for its magnificent serpentine rock formations, and Porthcurno – a sugar-soft beach, overlooked…

“Starting over doesn’t have to mean a major life change. It can begin with a quiet decision: to let go. I didn’t realise this until I found myself sitting in the back row of a seminar, which my friend Gail invited me to. A speaker began to talk about forgiveness. I realised that it’s one of the most important things you can do. Forgive yourself and whoever has hurt you, because if you don’t, you carry that bitterness around with you. It means setting yourself free. The reinvention that comes with starting over is probably harder as you age. There’s a confidence that comes with youth. When I was younger, I loved modelling. It’s all I ever wanted to do. Then when I became single I remember thinking, ‘What am…

Rethink your rinse It’s always best to switch out your regular shampoo and conditioners for products designed specifically for silver strands. Grey locks can often feel a little dry, which can affect the texture of your hair and how it reflects light. Designed to deeply clean and top up moisture levels, Noughty Purple Reign Shampoo, £8.99, and Conditioner, £8.99, lookfantastic.com, contain lilac pigment that will cleverly zap any brassiness and cool your colour before you start styling or using heat. Treat with a toner Grey hair contains less melanin, which can make the strands more prone to sun and environmental damage, and often add an unwanted yellow tinge. Thankfully, this can easily be remedied with a toner such as L’Oréal Cool Silver Enhancing Silver Treatment, £11.99, Boots. Apply over hair…

Compliment anyone on their skirt, jacket or top and there’s a good chance they’ll proudly tell you it’s pre-loved – in other words, it’s second-hand. Globally the market is booming, growing by 15% last year. Almost one in 10 items of clothing is bought used, and this isn’t just a trend among the younger generations. One woman in the 55-64 age group told environmental charity Hubbub that she buys more secondhand clothing because the prices are lower. ‘I can afford to be a bit more adventurous with what I buy due to each item costing much less,’ she said. Even celebrities are getting in on the act. ‘I absolutely adore shopping second-hand,’ said TV presenter Cat Deeley when she was ambassador for Oxfam’s annual Second Hand September campaign, which encourages…

Coping with THYROID CANCER This condition affects the different cells of the thyroid gland at the front of the neck The thyroid cancer type depends on the cell type involved. The commonest is papillary carcinoma, usually affecting people under 40, especially women. Follicular carcinoma often affects middle-aged women; medullary thyroid carcinoma is one that may run in families. The rarest, most serious, is anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, usually affecting older people. The exact cause of this kind of cancer is unknown. Your risk is increased if you’ve had certain thyroid conditions, such as inflamed thyroid (thyroiditis) or goitre, but not if you’ve had simple overactive or underactive thyroid. Family history, childhood radiation exposure, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), acromegaly and even simply being obese all increase your risk of developing thyroid cancer.…

A heavy mist rolled in from the sea and a chill wind blew as Lucy made her way towards the old pier. Passing the familiar ice cream booth, she smiled at a group of children pleading with their parents for a late-afternoon treat. She also recognised some of the locals lining up at Baxter’s fish and chip shop, where Ernie was busy greeting his customers with a broad smile. It was almost dark when Lucy reached the ageing structure of the pier, the lights from it giving off an eerie glow. She hoped William would be there. It had been their special place after he retired. Lucy could hear him now. ‘Come on, Lucy, let’s go and see if the fish are biting.’ And they’d pack a bag with their…

Code cracker Cate Blanchett has said she took the role of the elf queen in the Lord of the Rings movies because she had always wanted to wear what in a movie? 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 A 2019 survey revealed that 9% of Brits have what hidden in their sock drawer? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BANGLESBANK CARDBISCUITSCAMERACASH CHOCOLATEDIARYGINIPADKEYS LETTERSMEDICINEPHONEPURSESWEETS Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Big quiz The answers to…

Locking the door of her lovely over-60s town centre apartment, Ellie smiled. She knew she’d done the right thing. For once, she’d followed her head, not her heart. Her new home was much warmer than that old terraced house for a start… but she did miss the garden. Ellie was in the habit of taking a daily walk around the park, determined to do at least 10,000 steps, to keep herself fit. Besides, the gardens were a pleasure. As usual, Ellie saw the groundsmen hard at work. Today, they were busy weeding the flower beds, which were ablaze with colour. ‘Morning!’ she called. She was on nodding terms with most of the gardeners, although there was one particular, slightly older gentleman, who always gave her a smile. ‘It’s looking very…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit a 20cm/8in-diameter lampshade MATERIALS Small amounts of DK yarn in each of Red, Orange, Yellow, Green and Turquoise. Pair of 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; double-sided sticky tape; dining fork for pompoms; sharp scissors. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; sts, stitches. NOTES Yarn amounts are based on average requirements and are approximate. BAND With 4mm needles and Red, cast on 125 sts. K 2 rows Red, 2 rows Orange, 2 rows Yellow, 2 rows Green and 2 rows Turquoise. Cast off with Turquoise. FORK POMPOMS (MAKE 2 IN EACH COLOUR) Cut 25cm length of yarn and thread through middle of fork prongs, leaving ends hanging down towards handle. Wrap remaining yarn around outer edges of prongs to desired thickness. Take up hanging ends, bring together in centre…

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware (£16.99, HB, Simon & Schuster) In this gripping follow-up to Ware’s bestseller The Woman in Cabin 10 – soon to be a Netflix series starring Keira Knightley – Lo Blacklock is now a mum with two children living in New York. But when she’s invited to interview a reclusive billionaire at a Swiss hotel, old faces – and buried secrets – come to the surface. Summoned to Suite 11, Lo must decide whether to risk her peaceful life to confront unfinished business. A compelling read where trust, guilt, and alibis collide once again. Still Got It by Claire Carver (£9.99, PB, Harper Collins) At 60, widowed and feeling invisible, Grace Foreman heads to Greece in search of a fresh start. What she…

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: Species of thrush. 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…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR It’s time to move out of your comfort zone and speak out about something that is important to you. You can do it! TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Your energy may come in spurts over the next few days. Pace yourself and don’t attempt to burn the candle at both ends. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN You may meet some interesting new people during the week. Be prepared to reach out and you’ll be delighted with the positive response. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Focus your attention on the areas in your life that are working well. Other concerns will sort themselves out. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG This is a time to slow down and enjoy the little things…

You join us at a tense moment in Dear Towers. We are seated at the kitchen table, where Mr Dear is attempting to teach me the art of The Daily Telegraph cryptic crossword. It is not going entirely well. ‘All right,’ he says, ‘if you can’t spot anagrams, try 22 Down: Celtic flag hoisted originally (5)’. I gaze blankly at 22 Down. Now, I know there are readers who are probably shouting out the answer, but the thing about cryptic crosswords is that you have to understand the code. You also have to eat a lot of oily fish to keep your brain in tip-top condition, but understanding the code is the main thing. ‘The answer is going to be a word that means the same as Celtic,’ he says.…

Half a crown from your grandparents at Christmas, penny chews from the corner shop and 9d for a copy of Woman’s Weekly… That was back in 1970, before we embraced the seismic upheaval that took place on 15 February 1971. Our ‘old’ money – pounds, shillings and pence – was swept aside, to be replaced by the new decimal system, which counted in 10s and 100s, instead of 12s and 20s. Bank notes stayed the same, but £1 was now worth 100 new pennies, instead of 240 old ones – and shillings were no more. The old 10 shilling note was replaced by a new 50p coin. There were six new coins in total, including the now-defunct new halfpenny. For 18 months, shops and businesses had the option to keep…

As a talented upcycler and lover of vintage clothes, Rachel Stockwell always loved dressing up and showcasing her own, unique style. But when she met a group of like-minded friends a few years ago, the 52-year-old was inspired to join a vibrant new social group – a place for women to share their skills and creativity, to feel fantastic and have a good time. Along with pal Dana Forlano, Rachel can often be seen showing off her outfits on social media as part of the popular ‘Ballgown Blitz’ community. Powered by a passion for making and wearing dazzling, upcycled outfits, the group organise themed meetups where women of all ages can enjoy a day out in thrifted threads. ‘It’s grown into something really amazing,’ Rachel says. ‘We can’t quite believe…

My boss is spineless Q I work with a small group of freelancers on interior design projects. It is one guy’s company and we support him. We work as a collective but he takes a cut from all the work. He’s very good at getting someone else to negotiate the deal, and avoids difficult meetings and discussions. I’m fed up with him taking money and not the lead. I’m not sure how to tell him. But it’s a good source of income so I don’t want to walk away. Beth, Torquay A How would you like it to be if you could choose? It’s important in these situations to identify what you’re looking for rather than what you don’t like. Having worked out how you think it could be better, offer this…