Innholdsfortegnelse for 28th Oct 2025 i Woman's Weekly

"We hear much more about cancer now than when I was young. People are more happy to talk about a diagnosis – perhaps because it is more common (we are living longer, which gives us more chance to develop a disease) and also because many cancers are more treatable today. Turn to page 12 for some great advice on early detection – it could help save your life. My mum lost a breast due to cancer late in life and she decided not to have a reconstruction. But because she lived on for years afterwards, she came to slightly regret that decision. Turn to page 20 to learn about a wonderful reader helping women who did, on their healing journey."…

It’s very difficult not to have a lovely time when you’re in Michaela Strachan’s company. Funny, honest and brimming with fabulous stories, the 59-year-old is always up for a chat on anything from animals to health, to becoming a grandma and her early days presenting children’s TV. We caught up with the host to chat about her upcoming live shows, A Wild Evening, as well as her own tour, Not Just a Wild Life, which kicks off next April. ‘A Wild Evening is basically a celebration of wildlife and presenters that make it come to life. There are me, there’s Gordon Buchanan, Lizzie Daly, and Hannah Stitfall. Gordon and I worked out that we’ve got 70 years of experience between us, so there are so many stories to tell. It’s…

''Asked for my opinion on the latest hit TV show, I used to be one of those people who’d claim ‘I don’t watch much telly’. I’d give the impression I was busy training for a half marathon rather than admit to swerving a David Attenborough wildlife doc for a sneaky peek at something far less revered. For a while now, this has meant Expedition Bigfoot, a US TV series where Bigfoot hunters roam remote mountains in search of the alleged hairy beast. It’s the equivalent of Nessie hunting, with the added jeopardy that the monster might leap out from behind a tree instead of languishing safely mid-loch. It’s crucial to my enjoyment that no one ever finds Bigfoot, but shadows are glimpsed and gasps elicited. Recently, I made the mistake…

Slow-roast pork shoulder Treat your guests to a really impressive centrepiece. SERVES 6 (with leftovers) PREP 20 mins COOK 6 hrs 30 mins ✱ 3-3.5kg pork shoulder joint on the bone (see tip), scored✱ 1tbsp fennel seeds, crushed✱ 1tbsp coriander seeds, crushed 1 Heat the oven to 220C Fan/Gas 9. To achieve crisp crackling, put the pork on an ovenproof rack in the sink. Pour over boiling water from the kettle. Pat dry with kitchen roll. 2 Put the pork on the rack on a baking tray. Push the fennel and coriander right into the gaps in the skin. Rub over a little oil and scatter with sea salt. 3 Bake for 30 mins, then reduce the heat to 130C Fan/Gas 2. Cook for another 6 hrs. After 1 hr,…

Sweetened drink finding According to many experts, sugar-sweetened beverages are harmful to health, including increasing your risk of diabetes and obesity. However, one disease they don’t seem to cause is dementia. Longitudinal data on 11, 000 older people, taking part in large US studies in which sweetened beverage consumption had been assessed by food frequency questionnaires, showed no association between higher consumption and a subsequent diagnosis of any type of dementia. SQUARING THE CIRCLE The Coffer illusion is an ambiguous image that appears either as a pattern of rectangles or of circles, but not both simultaneously. Studying the response of people living in the UK and the US, the vast majority reported seeing rectangles on first inspection. Contrastingly, around half the people living in rural Namibia, where rectilinear structures are…

Bat cupcakes Simple and effective, these cute muffins have a surprise jam centre. MAKES 12 PREP 30 mins COOK 25 mins ✱ 40g cocoa powder✱ 200g plain flour✱ 1tsp baking powder✱ 200g soft light brown sugar✱200g unsalted butter, melted, cooled✱ 3 medium free-range eggs, beaten FOR THE ICING ✱ 200g unsalted butter✱ 400g icing sugar✱ 1tbsp milk FOR THE DECORATION ✱ 12tsp raspberry jam✱ 15 Oreo biscuits, separated, plus extra for crumbling✱ Googly eyes and edible stars, to decorate YOU WILL NEED ✱ 12-hole muffin tin, lined with cases; piping bag with large star nozzle 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Using an electric mixer, beat all the cake ingredients together in a large bowl until smooth. Divide the batter between the muffin cases and bake for 25 mins until risen.…

MAGIC MULCH Mulching does your garden a world of good. It locks in soil moisture, keeps weeds at bay and, as it breaks down, feeds the soil. A mulch blanket also makes borders look neat. Pile it 15cm deep around tender plants like dahlias to guard from frost. For trees, shrubs and perennials, a 5-7cm layer is plenty – just don’t let it touch the stems. Options include rotted horse manure, garden compost, leaf mould or composted bark. VEG AHEAD Get ahead in the veg patch by sowing broad beans and peas. This gives plants time to develop roots before winter bites, ready to sprint away once temperatures climb. Sow hardy varieties, like ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ (broad bean) and ‘Meteor’ (pea), in well-drained soil or pots. When frost is forecast, protect…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS Base approximately 24cm/9½in diameter. Body approximately 34cm/13¼in deep. MATERIALS 6 x 50g (85m) balls of Rico Creative Cotton Aran (100% cotton) in Nature (60)*. Size 4mm crochet hook; leather bag strap in desired length with lobster clasp; 2 x 25mm metal D rings; bag liner approximately 39 x 26.5cm (optional). Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION Not important for this project. ABBREVIATIONS BLO, back loop only; ch, chain; ch-sp, chain space; dc, double crochet; slst, slip st; st(s), stitch(es); tr, treble crochet; yrh, yarn round hook. NOTES This bag is made using Arcade stitch. When working the first fan round on the 21st round, work the tr in the 3ch-sp two rounds below, over the ch-sp from the previous round and enclosing it in the tr st.…

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: Fellow resident. 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 to…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR This may be a period of intense activity with an increased workload. Take good care of yourself to achieve success. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Others may look to you for guidance and direction. While it can be beneficial to share your perspective, encourage them to think for themselves. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Your relationships are in the spotlight this week. Do your best to listen carefully and don’t jump to conclusions. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Explore all areas in your life to grow. You could try changing your diet, for instance, or mixing with inspiring people. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG You may have a lot on your plate, but remember that you also have the inner…

“I was in the Tesco dairy aisle, staring at the yogurts, when he spotted me. Which was unfortunate, because nobody is really at their best when staring at yogurts. ‘Rosie,’ he said. ‘Hello Miles,’ I answered, rather absentmindedly. ‘I was just staring at the yogurts.’ ‘Oh well,’ he said. ‘Everybody should have an interesting hobby.’ Isn’t he a card? ‘I was wondering why everything has to be so complicated these days,’ I said. ‘All these different flavours. And why is there so much cherry yogurt? Nobody likes cherry yogurt.’ ‘I like cherry yogurt,’ Miles mumbled. ‘What I want to know is, what happened to those lovely French yogurts they used to have? You know, not too creamy and simple flavours – raspberry, strawberry, apricot.’ Miles nodded politely, but I could…

EVOCATIVE SCENTS Halloween is round the corner… but not everyone wants to smother their home with skeletons and spiders’ webs to mark it. For a sweet-smelling nod to the occasion, this Pumpkin & Clove candle could be just the thing. Scented with classic autumnal fragrances, it’s £17.95, from Wildrace (wildrace.co.uk). Song of celebration Breeding grounds for endangered songbirds like the nightingale are especially precious, and so it’s a cause for celebration that Kent’s Canterbury Old Park and Chequers Wood have been designated a Local Wildlife Site. The 200-hectare setting is also home to 400 plant species, an incredible 1,000 species of moths, along with butterflies, invertebrates, reptiles and birds. It’s a rich mix of habitats, from grassland and scrub to ancient woodland, and this biodiversity is now protected for the…

For almost eight decades, the Royal Film Performance (known as the Royal Command Film Performance until 1948) has been a firm fixture in even Hollywood diaries, a night when the year’s big film is screened before royalty to raise money for charity. As Oscar-winning producer David Puttnam, whose film Chariots of Fire was chosen in 1981, once said, ‘I can’t remember a star, a director, a producer or a writer who wouldn’t bust a gut to be present.’ As this year’s event approaches, we look at some of its greatest red-carpet moments. A RIGHT ROYAL AFFAIR The first Royal Command Film Performance, A Matter of Life and Death starring David Niven, took place in 1946, with around 50,000 people filling London’s Leicester Square. Police on horseback had to force a…

Uplifting citrus Zesty scents such as lemon and orange are often associated with feelings of positivity and freshness, so can be a great way to bring brightness to your day, no matter what the weather. Look out for perfumes that contain lemon, orange, grapefruit or bergamot, such as Zara Citrus Meze Eau de Parfum, £29.99, Zara, which is bursting with juicy bergamot, grapefruit layered among orange blossom and white musk. Just a couple of spritzes will have you feeling positive all day long. Or try Provenance No.1 Citrus Soleil Eau de Parfum Set, £16, M&S, which is another tangy fragrance designed to boost your mood. It’s made from a blend of mandarin, lemon and neroli. Energising earthiness When looking for fragrances that will invigorate, search for scents that work to…

I don’t know what to do Q My sister has recently told me that she was abused by our stepfather when she was young. I am 10 years older and had left home when he moved in. She has always struggled with long-term relationships and now I know why. I feel guilty that I didn’t know, and want to help her, but she’s asked me not to talk about it with her, so I don’t know how. Name and address withheld A I am sorry. That’s very hard for her, and for you and the family. It’s a very good first step that she has now disclosed this to you, but she will need to take this at her own pace. What you can do is share with her some resources about professional help and…

When Fiona Shoults found out that she had breast cancer in 2005, she had no idea how much her life would change. Having undergone a lumpectomy and chemotherapy to treat the disease, she then discovered her fertility had been affected. ‘I had to have seven rounds of IVF between 2012 and 2015 in order to conceive my daughter, Mireya,’ says Fiona, now 53, from Kent. Despite this, she has come through the experience feeling lucky. ‘I feel blessed to have become a mother despite everything,’ she says. ‘And surviving cancer has given me a new appreciation for life.’ Fiona also experienced a change in mindset following her ordeal. ‘I’d previously worked on a contract basis in the finance sector,’ she says. ‘I’d saved enough money to take time off after…

3 SOUNDS TO... Help you sleep 1 OCEAN WAVES ‘Adding calming sounds to your bedtime routine can bring a comforting feeling and help you drift off more easily,’ says sleep expert Rebecca Swain*. The gentle rhythm of ocean waves has a naturally soothing feel. 2 RAIN The steady, rhythmic pattern of this natural sound has a lulling quality. ‘As we move into autumn, there’s something comforting about being cosy indoors, while the weather outside is harsh,’ says Rebecca. 3 A FAN The repetitive, gentle whirring can create a consistent background sound to mask other sounds, or to distract from thoughts swirling around your brain when you are trying to get off to sleep – and helps your mind to relax. TIME TO TRY... Eating fatty fish to stop cognitive…

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House of Splinters by Laura Purcell (£16.99, HB, Bloomsbury) Thrilled by her new life as lady of the manor, Belinda Bainbridge moves her family to her husband’s remote ancestral home. But the house is not all it seems, plagued by financial issues and whispers of a mysterious death. As her young son becomes fixated on eerie wooden figures called ‘silent companions’, and her lively brother-in-law shares a very different account of the family’s history, Belinda begins to question everything. Are her children safe here? Saltwash by Andrew Michael Hurley (£16.99, HB, John Murray) This Halloween, curl up with the tale of elderly Tom, who visits a crumbling hotel in a decaying seaside town to meet his penfriend Oliver. Both men are terminally ill. But the hotel is filling up with…