Innholdsfortegnelse for 23-Sep-2025 i Woman's Weekly

Smart shopping “Isn’t it amazing how the pace of tech advances keeps increasing. Someone born in 1900 would have seen the advent of the motor car in their early years, and yet it was only by the 1960s and 70s that car ownership became the norm. However, although most households wouldn’t have had any kind of computer device only 30 years ago, now most homes have several – a tablet, a smartphone and often a smart speaker. The internet has also created a vast new marketplace, but the far greater range of online shops can be confusing, with new options easy to miss. So, see page 18 for some new fashion brands to try.”…

When actor and broadcaster Nadia Sawalha arrives for her interview over video call, just after 10am, she has already cleaned her ‘whole house’, started to organise her youngest daughter’s 18th birthday party and hosted an episode of her daily YouTube news show Coffee Moaning, with her producer husband of 23 years Mark Adderley. ‘It’s been like a workout!’ laughs the Loose Women star, admitting she has had a health epiphany in recent years. ‘I abused my body for most of my adult life, before I had kids. I was terrible – I drank, smoked, ate rubbish and didn’t exercise. As I’ve got older and seen those before me getting older, I really get it. Health is your wealth. You have nothing without it.’ Via Instagram, Nadia encourages her 597k army…

“I’ve always been a huge fan of Ed Sheeran. The first time I heard about him was when I was 14; I was in Toronto, Canada, and he was opening a show for Taylor Swift. I first met him in person years later at his first show in Milan, then in 2024 we held a three-day concert celebrating my father, tenor Andrea Bocelli’s 30-year career in Lajatico, Tuscany, the town where Dad was born and raised. On the second night, Ed and my father performed their 2017 duet Perfect Symphony. ‘Love is the engine of the world’ After the show, I spent the evening at my dad’s place with Ed, Johnny Depp and Will Smith’s actor son Jaden Smith. It was, honestly, one of the highlights [of my life], not…

‘In my view, more than one is a collection’ Jane Dorner, 80, lives in Muswell Hill, London. I am a bit of a collector – not a hoarder, though. I’ve collected matchboxes, candlesticks, blue and white ceramics. I was nine or 10 when I first started collecting sugar cubes with pretty packaging. I had over 1,000, but eventually I just ate them! ‘I keep things for the memories they hold’ In this collection I have more than 150 sachets of different varieties of salt. It started as a joke, really, something I did with my daughter, Emily. When either of us went on holiday, we would bring back a packet of fancy salt. We’re both foodies and we’d look for local markets. It was the thrill of the chase in…

3 TEAS... For boosting health 1 BLACK Our favourite brew contains flavonoids and antioxidants, which support wellbeing, including brain function and cardiovascular health. ‘The amino acid L-theanine can be found in black tea, helping people remain focused and attentive,’ says GP Dr Donald Grant*. 2 HERBAL ‘Camomile is lauded for its sedative effects, which makes it a great option for insomnia,’ says Dr Grant. ‘Peppermint promotes digestive function, supporting issues such as bloating and gas. Ginger tea can reduce nausea while supporting the body’s digestive system.’ 3 GREEN ‘Studies suggest antioxidant-containing green tea may be effective in reducing the risk of liver disease, stroke and cognitive decline,’ says Dr Grant. EASY STEPS TO RECOVER FAST AFTER SURGERY Dr Hanieh Asadi is an intensive care doctor**. Know your post-op limitations before you leave hospital Your recovery starts the moment…

The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King (£16.99, HB, HarperCollins) The author’s debut is a lyrical exploration of feminine identity and how the memories of past generations can be inherited. When coding student Monica sets out to reunite her grandmother with a long-lost cousin, she uncovers a family gift: the ability to reclaim stories through pencils. As her grandmother writes to preserve memories of wartime Shanghai, Monica is drawn into a narrative of love, loss and belonging. A reminder of how family ties shape us. The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown (£16.99, HB, Transworld) Following his fantasy about a special book comes another enchanting novel full of mystery, magic and adventure. Magda Sparks, a writer and secret-society member safeguarding magical artifacts, travels to Hong Kong to investigate a…

POIROT’S RETURN When a couple’s idyllic honeymoon on board an Egyptian cruise is shattered by a horrific murder, it’s not long before secrets begin to spill under the watchful eye of Hercule Poirot. Agatha Christie’s enduring murder mystery, Death on the Nile, is back on a UK-wide tour, starring Mark Hadfield as the iconic sleuth. From 26 September 2025 to 23 May 2026. ✱ deathonthenileplay.com Flying start The Montagu’s harrier is the UK’s rarest breeding bird, so it’s a cause for celebration that an English male and French female have raised four chicks with the help of the RSPB at a secret farm location. The charity says birds of prey need more effective government protection. Staff and volunteers also successfully fledged five hen harriers after the parents disappeared. ✱ Call…

With autumn comes a bounty of edible nuts and berries ideal for picking and eating at home. If you would like to give foraging a go, it’s vital to identify each plant with complete certainty before touching, as plants can be poisonous. Many wild creatures rely heavily on hedgerow harvests to build up their fat reserves for winter, so don’t over-pick. With safety in mind, here’s what you can discover in the great outdoors. Rose hips of the Wild Rosa canina The ‘dog rose’, as it is often called, adorns countryside hedgerows in late spring/early summer with its five-petalled single blooms. These give way to scarlet, oblong-shaped hips in autumn, which offer a wide range of health benefits, when ripe. Weight for weight, they are considerably richer in vitamin C…

1 PLUMPING POWDER Great for adding lift at the roots, PS… Volumising Hair Powder, £3, Primark, is designed to create volume and body when applied to your strands. This lightweight powder boosts thickness by creating volume at the roots to fake thickness. Massage into your scalp then brush out for a boost of fullness. 2 MIRACLE MASK Hair masks have so many amazing benefits, but this bargain buy’s main benefit is plumping. Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Watermelon 3-in-1 Hair Mask, £8.99, Boots, is formulated to help boost the volume of fine hair. It’s packed with vitamins C, E and F, to nourish, strengthen and add shine. Use twice a week. 3 GROWTH GUMMIES Sometimes, boosting from within is the best option, and UKhair Hair Vitamins, £20, Boots, is one…

Chicken caponata Enjoy flavours of the Med without the washing-up in this one-dish recipe. SERVES 6-8 PREP 15 mins COOK 50 mins ✱ 1 aubergine, cut into chunks ✱ 1 courgette, cut into half-moons ✱ 2 red peppers, cut into chunks ✱ 2 red onions, cut into wedges ✱ 300g cherry tomatoes ✱ 3tbsp olive oil ✱ 8 rashers prosciutto ✱ 8 skinless boneless chicken thighs ✱ 100g pitted green olives ✱ 2tbsp capers ✱ 2tbsp red wine vinegar ✱ 1tsp sugar ✱ 30g toasted flaked almonds, to serve ✱ Handful basil leaves, to serve ✱ Rice and/or salad, to serve (optional) 1 Heat the oven to 200C Fan/Gas 7. Put all of the veg in a large roasting tray, toss with the oil, season and bake for 20 mins.…

Coping with… GAD This common mental health condition can make you feel very anxious about lots of different things The main symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) are feelings of worry or stress affecting your daily life, which are often difficult to control, and may cause sleep problems, restlessness, irritability and poor concentration. You may feel tired, tense, light-headed and notice stomach problems or palpitations. Mood changes are common, including depression, as are panic attacks or phobias. ‘It is more common in women’ Remember, most people feel anxious sometimes – it doesn’t always mean you have the condition, but normally, anxiety is temporary and doesn’t affect everyday life. GAD doesn’t usually have an obvious cause, but having other anxiety disorders – such as panic disorder or social phobia, having close relatives with anxiety…

Pineapple and tequila cake A sunshine-soaked treat with a boozy twist – perfect for entertaining. SERVES 12PREP 25 mins COOK 55 mins ✱ 2 x 432g tins pineapple slices in juice, drained (half the juice reserved)✱ 250g butter, plus extra for greasing✱ 250g light muscovado sugar✱ 4 medium free-range eggs✱ 175g plain flour✱ 200g self-raising flour✱ 1tsp baking powder✱ 2tsp mixed spice✱ 1tsp grated fresh ginger✱ Zest and juice 1 lime✱ 1tbsp tequila✱ Ice cream, to serve (optional) YOU WILL NEED ✱ 2ltr Bundt tin, greased with melted butter 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Whizz up half the pineapple slices in a food processor. 2 Cream together 200g butter and 200g sugar. Add the eggs one by one, whisking after each is added. Fold in the pulped…

Difficulty level TESTED BY US so they work for you YOU WILL NEED ✱ 30x58cm patterned fabric✱ 30x58cm fusible interfacing✱12x20cm Bondaweb (paper-backed iron-on adhesive)✱ 12x20cm contrasting plain fabric✱ Matching sewing thread✱ One snap fastening 1 Cut the patterned fabric and fusible interfacing into two 15x58cm rectangles. Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric pieces. 2 Enlarge the template by 200% on a photocopier and trace the designs on to the paper backing of the Bondaweb. Fuse the Bondaweb to the wrong side of the plain fabric. Cut out the pieces. Position on one of the patterned fabric pieces, approximately 9cm from the top edge. Press in place to secure; you can zigzag-stitch around the edges too. 3 Pin and sew the two patterned rectangles, with right sides…

Difficulty level MATERIALS 1 x 50g (150m) ball of Sirdar Snuggly Replay DK (50% cotton, 50% acrylic) in each of Dark Orange (Carrot Crush 126), Brown (Base Camp Brown 125), Light Orange (Orange Squashed 111) and Cream (Milkshake Break 101)*. Pair of 3mm (No. 11) and 3.25mm (No. 10) knitting needles; locking stitch marker; 30cm-diameter rattan grapevine wreath; 3m of 2.5cm-wide wire-edge ribbon; small amount of toy stuffing. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION Not critical for this project. ABBREVIATIONS K, knit; p, purl; p1b, p1 through back of st; sl, slip; 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); wrap1, take yarn between needles to front of work after k st 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: Inlaid work. 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 a word. CLUE: Navigational beacon tower Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer. CLUE: Trusting in crook backfires – crime can hurt,…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR No matter how challenging things get, stay the course and don’t give up. If you’re patient, you’ll find the answers. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Don’t be afraid to let go of the old. You’re ready for something much better. New horizons are beckoning you now. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Gathering information is important now. Do your due diligence and it will bring you great rewards in time to come. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL This week is brimming with exciting possibilities. Trust your hunches and act on them whenever possible. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG You may be making some changes to your job or career. An opportunity to make profit from a side income may arise. Look…

‘Well, this is nice,’ said Mr Dear. You could have fooled me. Would you care to guess what we were up to? Were we in a five-star restaurant on the 10th floor of a London tower, enjoying a fine view of the city by night? Or perhaps he had whisked me off for a romantic weekend in Pisa or somewhere like that and he was taking an amusing picture on his phone as I appeared to hold up the leaning tower? Both those options would have been nice, but actually we were washing the dishes. Our dishwasher has broken, and the man can’t come round to fix it until Monday afternoon. I was washing, and he was wiping. ‘We used to have a lot of nice chats in the old…

LOOK WHAT I MADE A couple of months ago you had a lovely pattern for a fabric fish. I kept the pattern but I didn’t get round to it right away. In the following weeks a friend had been saving surplus fabric scraps for my patchworking. Can you believe my joy when I opened a bag of remnants she gave me to find FISH fabric! This was my sign to stitch up a pair of fish. I love their minimal form. I actually think I might make my friend’s cat one and stuff it with catnip as a thank you for the fabric. Sally Roydhouse, Hull GET IN TOUCH WE LOVE LETTERS Woman’s Weekly, Future plc, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR. P.S. It really helps when you put your…

Did you know that approximately half of all women over the age of 50 will break a bone? The statistic might sound scary, but it’s because our skeleton becomes naturally weaker during and after the menopause. ‘In fact, women over the age of 45 will spend more days in hospital due to osteoporosis than they will for type 2 diabetes, heart attacks or breast cancer,’ says nutritionist Dr Emma Derbyshire. The good news? Reducing your risk of an A&E visit is much easier than you think. Try ticking off our bone-boosting tips over the course of a fortnight. You will have tons more energy, and will improve your balance and coordination too. EAT RIGHT Your diet can have a big impact on bone health. ✱ DRINK MILK A large glass…

SAINTANDSOFIA.COM Designed with affordable luxury in mind, this new London label focuses on thoughtfully crafted wardrobe staples and timeless tailoring. Standout pieces include its crease-free Chelsea trousers, sharply cut blazers and handmade leather accessories. NOBODYSCHILD.COM Offering a mix of playful feminine pieces, from pretty puff sleeves and fitted waists to pocket-friendly A-line shapes, this brand pairs style with serious eco credentials. Each garment comes with a digital passport, allowing you to trace its origins and life cycle, from fabric to finish. LINDEX.COM Known for its clean and functional aesthetic, Scandi fashion brand Lindex offers easy-to-wear pieces with timeless elegance. Think loose oversized silhouettes with a cool muted colour palette. KLASS.CO.UK Bestselling pieces come in a wide choice of prints and colours, while inclusive sizing and a variety of flattering silhouettes…

Is a psychic a waste of money? Q I’ve been having a difficult time so I went to see a clairvoyant. I felt I needed to see a brighter future and I hoped that’s what I’d hear. I was told about some lovely things that would happen, and it made me feel more hopeful and energised for a while. Sadly, though, not for long. I am tempted to go again but, as I live on a very tight budget, my family are saying it’s a waste of money. Dot, Amhurst A Which bit was the waste of money: the fact it didn’t last long or that nothing has come true yet? From what you’ve said, the important part is that you felt better for a while. I am wondering if…