Innholdsfortegnelse for 16-Sep-2025 i Woman's Weekly

Last trip to the Abbey “Have you noticed that in Hollywood films, wealthy characters are often nasty or idiotic, but poor characters are more likely to be salt-of-the-earth lovely? The 1997 film Titanic is a case in point. In reality there were inspiring stories of self-sacrifice from all classes in that tragic disaster, yet everyone from First Class is shown to be awful, and all the Third Class are portrayed as decent and honourable. I suppose few of us feel rich, so producers think we’re more liable to like a film if the characters similar to us are nice. The real world isn’t so simplistic, though. Maybe that’s what made Downton Abbey so unusual and enjoyable, with believable characters from all levels of society. See page 8.” EDITOR geoffrey.palmer@futurenet.com…

“I was raised with a simple rule: when you accept an invitation, you honour it. Whether it’s a childhood birthday party or a casual coffee date, the first invitation you accept is the one that holds weight. It’s a bit like fidelity – if you commit to someone, you try to follow through. But as the kids have flown the nest and life becomes busier with social invitations, there’s more opportunities for double booking, and I’ve often found myself caught in the classic social conundrum: what happens when a more enticing invitation arrives after you’ve already committed to another? This weekend, for instance, I have a 50th birthday party in my diary, but a close friend is also hosting an intimate gathering. Would I be missed at the bigger party?…

3 HEALTH BENEFITS Playing golf 1 BOOSTS HEART HEALTH ‘Given that a round typically takes around four hours, the low-intensity cardiovascular exercise can help reduce blood pressure and improve circulation,’ says GP Dr Asimah Hanif*. 2 STRENGTHENS BONES ‘The gentle, yet sustained, loading of your skeleton when playing golf stimulates your bones and may help slow the natural loss of bone density during and after menopause,’ says Dr Hanif. 3 EASY ON YOUR JOINTS Golf puts less pressure on joints than running or racket sports, and builds supportive ligaments and tendons throughout your body, but particularly in glutes, legs, core and calves. MY HEALTHY LIFE Rosie Drage is a mental health nurse. My fail-safe remedy I’m lucky to live in Hove, so whenever I feel overwhelmed, I simply take a…

3 OF THE BEST... Cushions STYLE TIPS 1 GO ALL OUT Take the maximalist approach, drenching your space in matching patterns across curtains, cushions and throws. Balance the look by painting the walls in a colour pulled from the pattern, like this gorgeous green shade, a plum red or a grounding navy. 2 LIGHT IT UP Choose eye-catching and unconventional light fixtures to bring moments of fun to your scheme. 3 MAKE A FOCAL POINT A bold colour palette like this one needs furniture to match, so choose a hero piece – a statement sofa or chair – that stands out among the other decor. 4 INTRODUCE TEXTURE Consider using embroidered velvet, rattan and other tactile materials to create a sensory experience. The interplay of textures can add depth, as…

Well, This is Awkward by Esther Walker (£16.99, HB, Bedford Square Publishers) Mairéad, single and child-free, seems to have it all figured out. She may not have seen her sister for nine years and has had a string of bad dates, but apart from that life’s ticking along nicely. That is, until her off-grid sister sends along a mysterious niece named Sunshine. This prompts Mairéad to question everything: relationships, career and whether her life really is as ‘sorted’ as she assumed. Full of intergenerational tensions, wit and clever observations. The Wish by Heather Morris (£20, HB, Zaffre) Beautiful connections can form in the most unlikely circumstances. Though desperately ill, 15-year-old Jesse is overflowing with love for her friends and family. Perhaps her dearest love of all is playing video games.…

TO THE RESCUE Even ancient trees can struggle with our increasingly hot summers, which is why the Great Oak in RSPB Sherwood Forest is getting extra help, water and nourishment. Dendrometers have been installed to monitor its health, and impacted soil around its roots has been painstakingly loosened to allow better absorption of nutrients. ✱ Visit rspb.org for more details Downton in bloom Book now for a glorious Downton Abbey-inspired exhibition coming up at Kew Gardens, to celebrate the cinema release of a new film. Some of the show’s favourite characters are reimagined in stunning arrangements of fresh flowers by Fleurs de Villes, based on costumes from the film. Along with live demonstrations and a chance to choose your favourite character, the show takes place in a marquee at Kew…

Some streets offer more than just a scenic stroll; they tell stories. Why not wander through York’s The Shambles, once a bustling butchers’ market; or climb Lincoln’s historic Steep Hill, home to some of the UK’s oldest residences; or explore Portobello Road, London, with its pleasing pastel facades? Each street reveals its own distinct charm, culture and quiet magic, and is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Lower Gate Street, Conwy Strolling down this pretty street in the medieval town of Conwy in North Wales, you’ll soon be reaching for your camera. With views of Conwy Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the majestic mountains of Snowdonia in the distance, it’s a photographer’s dream. Lower Gate Street is also home to amazingly well preserved ancient medieval walls, independent…

1 BARN JACKET Perfect for countryside jaunts, dog walking and everything in between. Jacket, £39.50, sizes 6-22, F&F at Tesco 2 THE RIGHT STRIPES Great for mid-season layering, wear with simple denim or culottes. Top, £20, sizes 8-22, Nutmeg at Morrisons 3 DENIM DELIGHT Make this tunic a cool co-ord by layering it over wide-leg indigo jeans. Dress, £22.50, sizes 6-22, F&F at Tesco 4 CREAM DREAM A classic shape that wouldn’t date. Also available in black and chocolate brown. Bag, £24.50, George at Asda 5 COSY CARDI Add an affordable pop of colour to your wardrobe with this chunky knit cardigan, finished with luxe hammered gold buttons. Cardigan, £29.50, sizes 6-22, F&F at Tesco 6 THE CURVE Try out a barrel-leg jean – it’s the new style of…

Spanish omelette Make this ahead, then warm it to serve with other tasty nibbles to start. SERVES 6 PREP 20 mins COOK 40 mins * 30ml olive oil* 500g waxy potatoes, unpeeled, sliced* 1 onion, finely sliced* 1 sprig rosemary* 1 garlic clove, bashed* 6 large free-range eggs* 2tbsp whole milk* Shaved Manchego, flaked sea salt, chopped parsley and garlic mayonnaise, to serve YOU WILL NEED * 20cm frying pan 1 Heat the oil in the frying pan over medium heat. Add the potatoes and fry for 10 mins, stirring until tender but not coloured. Add the onion, rosemary, garlic and some salt, and fry for 10 mins to soften. 2 In a bowl, beat the eggs with the milk and season. Tip in the potatoes and onion, discarding the…

Coping with NASAL POLYPS These are fleshy growths in the nose, around the openings to the sinus cavities A developing polyp appears pearly white, translucent and teardrop-shaped. When mature, it looks like a peeled seedless grape. Sometimes you can see them blocking your nasal airway simply by looking in the mirror. Unlike polyps in the colon or bladder, nasal polyps aren’t malignant and don’t have an increased risk of cancer. They result from inflammation, although there may be a family history. They are more likely to develop in those with allergies or asthma, causing allergic rhinitis – chronic inflammation in the nasal cavity and sinuses, with nasal obstruction and congestion. Acute and chronic infections (especially chronic rhinosinusitis), aspirin allergy and cystic fibrosis all predispose to the formation of nasal polyps, but polyps are rare in children.…

Tiramisu fridge cake All the flavours of the classic Italian dessert made in a handy loaf tin! SERVES 8 READY IN 15 mins, plus 4-6 hrs chilling ✱ 150g shortbread biscuits✱ 40ml espresso coffee✱ 1tbsp Amaretto liqueur✱ 3tbsp caster sugar✱ 8-10 amaretti biscuits✱ 250g mascarpone✱ 1tsp vanilla extract✱ 250ml double cream✱ 150g cream cheese✱ Cocoa powder for dusting YOU WILL NEED ✱ 1lb loaf tin, lined with cling film overhanging each edge 1 Crumble the shortbread over the base of the tin to cover. Put the coffee in a shallow dish with the Amaretto and 1tbsp caster sugar. Add the amaretti biscuits and set aside to soak. 2 In a bowl, beat the mascarpone to loosen with the vanilla and remaining 2tbsp caster sugar. Add the cream and cream cheese,…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 82 (87) (92) (97) (102) (107) (112) (117)cm/32 (34) (36) (38) (40) (42) (44) (46)in. Actual measurements 92 (98) (103) (109) (115) (120.5) (126) (132)cm/36¼ (38½) (40½) (43) (45¼) (47½) (49½) (52)in. Length to shoulder 55 (56) (57) (58) (60) (61) (62) (63)cm/21¾ (22) (22½) (22¾) (23½) (24) (24½) (24¾)in. Sleeve length All sizes 45cm/17½in. MATERIALS 1 (1) (1) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) x 100g (400m) ball(s) of West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 Ply (75% wool, 25% nylon) in each of Dark Blue (Pacific 1007), Mid Blue (Blue Raspberry 333) and Blue Stripe (Seascape 873), and 1 ball in Cream (Marshmallow 011)*. Pair each of 3mm (No. 11) and 3.25mm (No. 10) knitting needles. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 28 stitches and…

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: Trifle, trinket Average = 15 More than 35 = 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…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR You’re extremely resilient. No matter how many times you get knocked down, you always come back stronger. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY This is a great time for creating new, healthier habits, such as eating better or getting to bed earlier. Set yourself a goal. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN You may have important decisions to make, so look at all the possible consequences before making a decision. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL This is the week to step outside your comfort zone. Consciously shift the energy and you’ll manifest miracles. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Be kind to yourself. Do whatever is nurturing and soothing for your soul. All creative endeavours are under positive stars for you. VIRGO 24…

“When I looked out of the kitchen window, Mr Dear was shouting at the hedge. He often shouts at the hedge. It was the sort of baking hot Sunday mornings when the park is full of men in Panama hats, dozing in deckchairs. I often think they are put there by the council, to lend a bit of tone to the place. Mr Dear had already mown the lawn. Before that, he mowed our neighbour Carolyn’s lawn because she’s away for a fortnight. Now he was cutting the back hedge, and it looked as if he’d had enough. Five minutes later, the fifth emergency service had arrived on the scene. ‘Here you are, love,’ I said. ‘I’ve made you a nice Pimm’s.’ ‘Everybody we know seems to be living it…

Letter of the week Honouring a computing trailblazer My mother died this June and I have since found a short story entitled A Computer Isn’t Everything, which she submitted to Woman’s Realm (which later merged with Woman’s Weekly). Mum must have submitted the story 60 years ago. She worked on the first computers in the UK in the 1950s, an amazing job for a female at the time. Seven months after leaving school in 1958, she started as an assistant experimental officer (AEO) at Aldermaston, a post she was referred to by her headmistress at Portsmouth Grammar School, as her maths was outstanding. Mum worked on the very latest state-of-the-art computer, the IBM 704 mainframe, of which there were only two in the country. Dr Victoria Holt, Bath GET IN…

The neighbours are exhausting Q We have recently moved to live in a cul-de-sac and have found that our neighbours are very friendly with each other. They meet at least once a month – if not more – for a meal, and spend hours chatting on doorsteps. I am an introvert, as is my husband, and we are finding this very exhausting. We don’t want to be rude but we want to be able to come and go without someone talking to us all the time. Lynn, York A I think you just need to tell them. Explain how delighted you are to have moved into such a friendly place. Then say that you really do want to make friends and socialise when there is a fixed event. Other than that, you’d rather just wave…

GETTING STARTED ACORN TEMPLATE YOU WILL NEED ✱ Thumb and finger guards✱ 38-gauge felting needle✱Dyed wool tips in a variety of colours✱ PVA glue✱ Acorn shell cups✱Hot-glue gun and transparent glue sticks✱ Rustic wreath It’s best to find your own way to comfortably hold the felting needle, but holding the needle between the thumb and the first two fingers achieves the greatest control and the best results. Holding the needle, gently poke it in and out of the wool at the same angle. It takes practice to make sure the needle doesn’t bend while you’re stabbing. Also, you don’t need to stab too hard or stab the needle in too deep. If you look at your needle where the barbs (notches) are, stabbing any deeper is a waste of energy.…