Innholdsfortegnelse for 21st Oct 2025 i Woman's Weekly

The history girls It has been said you have to know the past to understand the present. Certainly, for the inhabitants of our islands, there’s a lot of interesting past to discover – all the way from the mystical and educated Druids at the beginning of our recorded history, through the intrepid early Christians in Ireland, then Great Britain, invasions, exploits and ultimately the development of a democratic society with a moral compass that has gone on to influence and change the whole world. Perhaps that’s why so many of us are fascinated by history – both within wider society and also of our own families. Turn to page 20 for three readers finding a special joy in studying the past . EDITORgeoffrey.palmer@futurenet.com…

For Davina McCall, the last 12 months have been some of the most challenging, and also rewarding, times of her life. The presenter’s world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with a cyst in her brain that would require surgery. She found out just before she won a Special Recognition honour at the National Television Awards in 2024, knowing she would have to go into surgery six weeks later – although the audience were not privy to that at the time. ‘Everybody else knew why it meant so much. It just meant the world to me, because I wasn’t sure where I was going to be six weeks later, so when I got it, it was the best ever. Hannah Waddingham gave it to me, and I love…

Although I’m a Londoner born and bred, I play a farmer in Emmerdale. It’s not such a stretch of the imagination because I’ve lived in the countryside now for 17 years. I met our local farmer by trespassing! We were out with our dog, and went round a corner – and there was a farmer with his shotgun, his dogs and his tractor. He said, ‘Can I help you? This is private land.’ We apologised and explained we’d been following a footpath. We ended up becoming friends. Twice a year he does a farm walkabout and he explains how he grows crops without pesticide. I’ve met the cows and even been on a combine harvester. If you’d told me I’d be a country girl when I was younger, I wouldn’t…

‘It’s my mission to open people’s eyes, to understand how wars happen’ Vivien Whelpton, 79, is a retired English teacher living in Woodbridge, Suffolk, with her husband Barrie, 75. They have two children. I first became interested in war studies through taking my English Literature A-Level students to the First World War battlefields of the Western Front. I needed them to get a context for the literature they were studying. To be in the place where it happened is important. When I saw those headstones of 18-year-olds in the cemeteries – the age of some of my students, and my own son – I was struck by how fortunate I was to be born into a place and time when I didn’t have to lose my child, and how grim…

3 WAYS TO... Boost your flu jab 1 GET IT ANNUALLY There are different strains of flu virus and they change each year, so to keep up to date with the latest strains, have your jab promptly when invited. 2 GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP BEFORE Being well rested is good for your health generally and your immune system specifically. Research* suggests that it might help protect you from flu complications. 3 TAKE A WALK Another study suggests that a 90-minute brisk walk after the jab might boost its effectiveness**. Researchers think this triggers the release of extra antibodies by your immune system to help defend against viral attacks. NEWSFLASH Bladder cancer treatment breakthrough A new treatment for bladder cancer available on the NHS could help double survival rates.…

1850 Gazing at her new home, Rachael summed it up in seconds, and this was before her Uncle Charles had reached the front door. The most complimentary word she could find to describe the old stone cottage was ‘rustic’. ‘Dilapidated’ also sprang to mind as she surveyed the roof with its scores of missing slates. Uncle Charles turned to her and smiled as he pushed open the door. ‘I know it won’t seem much after what you’ve been used to, Rachael, but it’s your home now, and we want you to be happy here.’ Rachael mustered a weak smile in return. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful. It was good of her uncle and his wife, Jane, to take her in. But to go from a smart villa in one…

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: Roaring. Average = 25 More than 45 = well done 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: The county town of Essex. Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the…

TOYAH’S IN TOWN Marking an amazing 40 years in music, Toyah Willcox is playing two live shows this month, at London’s Union Chapel on 28 October, and Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, on 30 October. She’ll perform all her greatest hits, including It’s a Mystery and I Want to Be Free. With her signature blend of theatricality and powerhouse vocals, Toyah knows how to please a crowd. ✱ ticketmaster.co.uk Eager beavers It’s well known that beavers are expert engineers in wood, and can be helpful in flood control. Their dams slow down the flow of river water, forming pools that create habitats for wildlife. So it’s good news that a licence has been granted – with 67% public support – for beavers to be introduced to Scotland’s Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin…

Red squirrels have lived in British woodlands for the past 10,000 years. Their cute tufty ears, bushy tail and orange coat have led to their inclusion in numerous children’s books, most notably The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter. As a writer and artist, Miss Potter studied these charming little rodents on her travels before publishing her iconic masterpiece in 1903. Sadly, around the same time as the book came out, the population of red squirrels was already beginning to decline. From 1876 onwards, grey squirrels were being introduced from North America, and the more vigorous species began to outcompete the reds for food and habitats. Perhaps more importantly, they brought with them a deadly squirrel pox virus, which was fatal to the reds but had no effect on…

1 CLEAN SWEEP Infused with 20% glycolic acid, these pads are designed to be swiped over your face to gently resurface and brighten skin in need of a pick-me-up. There’s soothing rose water and aloe vera in the mix too, so you can reboot your complexion minus any sting. Pixi Glow Peel Pads, £24 for 60, lookfantastic.com 2 CARING CAMOUFLAGE For a quick fix, opt for a long-lasting concealer that can be dotted over any darker patches as an instant disguise. This one will stick around all day, and will remedy the issue with niacinamide to help create a more unified complexion over time. IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Concealer, £26, Boots 3 PROTECT AND BOOST As well as protecting your skin from future damage with SPF 50+, this…

Pearl barley and mushroom risotto Swapping rice for barley adds texture and helps support digestive health. SERVES 2-3 READY IN 35 mins ✱ 25g dried porcini mushrooms✱ 2tbsp olive oil✱2 banana shallots, peeled and finely chopped✱ 150g pearl barley✱ Splash of white wine or vermouth✱ 500ml vegetable or chicken stock✱200g button chestnut mushrooms, halved 1 Soak the porcini mushrooms in 200ml hot water and set aside. Heat 1tbsp oil in a deep frying pan. Fry the shallots until tender but not browned. Season well. 2 Meanwhile, drain the porcini mushrooms and mix them into the shallots (reserve the soaking water). Cook for a few minutes, then mix in the pearl barley and wine. Bubble for 2 mins. 3 Mix in the mushroom liquid and half the stock. Bring to the…

ADVICE FROM OUR WOMAN’S WEEKLY DOCTOR 7,000 daily steps is plenty Walking 7,000 steps a day can be enough to boost your brainpower and help protect against a variety of serious health issues, including cancer, dementia and heart disease. The often-quoted 10,000 steps guidance was not actually evidence-based but traces back to a 1960s marketing campaign for a pedometer brand before the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The latest study in The Lancet analysed previous research and data on the health and activity of more than 160,000 adults worldwide. FEMALE PATIENTS AND SURGEONS Follow-up of two million patients who had undergone major surgery in the United States has shown that those who were operated on by female surgeons experienced better postoperative outcomes, with slightly lower rates of complications, readmission and…

Fill me in Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the answer. Clue: the time the sun disappears. Circle time Which animals can recognise human faces and also prefer smiles to frowns, according to scientists at Cambridge University? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles for the answer. 3 LETTERS ASH 4 LETTERS ABLEEARLILLSPIPESOOTUPON 5 LETTERS OMEGA PADRE PERIL SLOTH SWANSTREATTYPED 6 LETTERS LENGTHSCOURS 7 LETTERS DINGOES 10 LETTERS LEOPARDSMONGOOSEPLATYPUSTORTOISE SPIRAL XWORD Tourists in Rome have been banned from dressing up as what type of historical figure? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The…

Fabulous chocolate and cherry cake This is an impressive bake, perfect for a celebration. SERVES 8-10PREP 30 mins, plus coolingCOOK 25-30 mins FOR THE GANACHE ✱ 200ml double cream ✱200g Bournville chocolate, broken into pieces FOR THE CAKE ✱ 55g cocoa powder, sifted ✱ 6tbsp boiling water ✱ 4 large eggs ✱225g baking spread, straight from the fridge, plus extra for greasing ✱ 225g caster sugar ✱ 225g self-raising flour ✱ 1tsp baking powder FOR THE FILLING ✱ 6 generous tbsp cherry jam ✱ 300ml double cream, lightly whipped YOU WILL NEED ✱ 2 x 20cm loose-bottomed sandwich tins, greased and bases lined 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Put the ingredients for the ganache in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water and heat until runny.…

Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ A ribbed sock (the size of sock will determine how big the pumpkin is) ✱ Matching sewing thread ✱ Hand-sewing needle ✱ Matching embroidery thread ✱ Embroidery needle ✱ Toy stuffing ✱ Scissors ✱ Twig ✱ Hot glue gun 1 Cut the top and bottom off the sock, so you’re left with at least 10cm from the ankle. 2 Turn wrong sides out. Hand-sew a running stitch 1cm from one end. Pull taut and knot to secure the end. 3 Turn right sides out and fill with toy stuffing. Hand-sew a running stitch 1cm from the other end, pushing the stuffing in as you sew. Pull taut, knot the ends and tuck the seam allowance through the small hole in the top. 4 Thread the embroidery needle with four strands of embroidery…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit clip photo frames 18x13cm/7x5in. MATERIALS 1 x 50g (158m) ball of King Cole Giza Cotton 4 ply (100% cotton) in each of Dark Pink (Blossom 2425) and Light Pink (Fondant 2292)*. Pair of 2.75mm (No. 12) knitting needles; 2 clip photo frames size 18x13cm; 24 small beads. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 28 stitches and 36 rows, to 10x10cm, over stocking stitch, using 2.75mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS B, through back of st; k, knit; p, purl; LB, large bobble worked thus: (k1, yf, k1, yf, k1) all in next st, turn, p5, turn, k5, turn, p5, turn, k2tog, k3tog, pass 2nd st on right needle over end st and off needle; SB, small bobble, worked thus: (k1, yf, k1) all in next st, turn, p3,…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR Keep clear boundaries and don’t let someone take advantage of your generous nature. Be kind, but firm. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY You may be pulled in several directions. Delegate the less important tasks to free up your time. You’ll feel less stressed. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN You’ll have opportunities to connect with new people. This is a good time to upgrade your wardrobe and refresh the way you present yourself. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL You may be coming up with wonderful new ideas. Have a pen and paper handy, so you can jot down all your insights. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG This is a great time for starting something new and building a solid foundation for…

''It was a drizzly, cold sort of day, which meant we were having a rather quiet time in the charity shop. Nobody likes to carry bags full of old clothes through a light drizzle. I was on my own while Wendy went to buy us some jam doughnuts when a woman came into the shop with a bright yellow cushion tucked under her arm. ‘Good afternoon,’ she announced in a booming voice. ‘Do you do swapsies?’ She was tall, probably in her late 40s or early 50s, and built along the lines of a Viking goddess. She wore an elegant tweed jacket and blue jeans, and I couldn’t help envying her silk scarf. ‘Swapsies?’ I said. ‘Yes, I’ve got this floor cushion, as you can see. Well, more of a…

Letter of the week Sunny days Our grandson Louis loves growing flowers and vegetables in his greenhouse. This year he has grown a sunflower with 20 flower heads! Sent in by his proud grandma, Vivien Hull, Doncaster PAWS FOR THOUGHT Here’s a picture of our two rescued kittens, Maximo and Macarena. We have a family tradition that all the cats have Spanish names as my mother-in-law is Spanish (though she has been living in Ireland for over 40 years now). We think they are just so adorable! Linda Spencer, County Wexford, Ireland ✱ Got a pet pic that makes you smile? We can give it a good home LOOK WHAT I MADE As you can see from the photo, there’s been an outbreak of mice in our home! Your Guinness…

BELTED Robe coats are as cosy as your dressing gown but with heaps more polish. The tie waist will cinch you in, creating a gorgeous hourglass silhouette. QUILTED A casual classic, a padded coat is no longer just reserved for dog walks. Opt for soft quilting to avoid adding bulk, and team with fitted clothes to give shape and definition. SINGLE BREASTED This streamlined style is utterly timeless. Add interest with pops of colour and print or keep it simple in neutral hues. Flattering worn open or closed. BARN JACKETS Defined by its contrasting collar, this country-inspired style is cool and practical. The relaxed fit allows room for layering without feeling too oversized.…

Sharing childcare with my ex Q I’m the primary carer for my children, who are nine, 11 and 13. Their father sees them every other weekend. He often used to work away, so that made sense when we set it up. He now has a local job so is around more and he wants to have the children half the time. Am I wrong in not wanting this to happen? I’m used to how it’s been and so are the children. But I know they miss him. Marion, Peterborough A I wonder how you’d feel if the situation was reversed. Your husband couldn’t split the childcare, and now he can. Understandably, your children want to see him, as he’s their father. I know it’s hard for you, as it leaves you on your own more often,…

1 At whose party were Ferrero Rocher chocolates served in the 1993 television ad? A The Diplomat’sB The President’sC The Ambassador’sD The Neighbour’s 2 Winter favourite Army & Navy sweets gained popularity among troops in the First World War and were said to contain which drug? A CocaineB ParacetamolC CodeineD Opium 3 Which are Britain’s oldest type of sweets still in production today? A Pontefract cakesB Harrogate humbugsC Shipley sherbertsD London lozenges 4 In which year was Cadbury’s Curly Wurly launched (at a price of 3p)? A 1975B 1970C 1969D 1976 5 Pink and yellow pear drops are banana and pear flavoured. What chemical gives the pear flavour? A Ethyl acetateB Methyl acetoneC Methyl ethyl ketoneD Ethel Acetaste 6 Quality Street were first manufactured by Mackintosh’s in Halifax in 1936.…

The Pieces of Us by Claire Alexander (£9.99, PB, Penguin) From the author of Meredith, Alone comes this poignant novel that delves into the lives of three generations of women – Minnie, Cat and Ruby McAllister – each confronting life-altering challenges. Minnie battles Alzheimer’s, Cat uncovers unsettling truths about her mother, and Ruby faces a pivotal decision about motherhood. As their paths intertwine, they uncover hidden family secrets and redefine their identities. With themes of resilience, memory and the complexities of womanhood, this novel offers a heartfelt exploration of familial bonds and personal growth. Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards (£16.99, HB, Bloomsbury) Fancy a trip to the remote village of Midwinter at Christmas to solve a whodunnit? A group of writers, podcasters and publishers…