Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 319 i Yours Magazine

I’ve never been much of a gardener. Until last summer our patch was somewhere to be avoided – an overgrown source of guilt that felt too overwhelming to even know where to start. Then last year, spurred on partly by my feeling healthier and more energised and partly by the amazing weather (and willing assistance from my husband) we finally managed to make some progress and create a little woodland oasis in our inner-city garden (right). We are very much learning as we go and have had a few failures along the way (turns out rhododendrons don’t like our soil!) but I can’t wait for the evenings to get a little lighter and the weather to get a little brighter so I can get out there and keep up the…

✒ My grandson was enjoying his lunch with me and I told him I had made it from scratch. He asked where his mummy could buy ‘scratch’ so she could make it too! Susan Joseph, Glos ✒ I just had to share this photo of my dear great-granddaughter Fliss. She has just turned two and is such a poser! Mrs Brelsford, East Yorkshire ✒ One Sunday, while having a cuddle on the sofa with my six-year-old great-granddaughter she said: ‘Great-mamma, where have the good old days gone?’ What can you say? Vivian Oakland, Nottingham Every original contribution published gets a £10 High Street voucher, so keep all those letters and emails coming in.…

Do you have a treasured photo and an interesting memory to go with it? Whether the picture is of a much-loved friend or relative, a happy holiday snap, your old home, or a special occasion such as a wedding or a christening – whatever the subject matter – we would love to include it in the next Yours Yearbook. Please send your photo with your story (which must be 200-250 words long), clearly marked ‘YEARBOOK 2020’ to the address on page 3. If published, you will be sent a £10 High Street voucher.…

You wouldn’t really want to be friends with academic Leah Dale, the character Katherine Kelly plays in Cheat. Beneath Leah’s principled and high-achieving exterior, she’s too complicated, too obsessive and too unpredictable to be the kind of person you’d enjoy a chat and a cuppa with. Katherine, however, is a different matter altogether. We’ve met her a few times before and have always been struck by how friendly and down-to-earth she is. She’s a woman who’s stayed true to her south Yorkshire roots and indeed, some of her closest friends are the ones she went to school with back in the Eighties and Nineties – including former rugby player Mike Tindall, husband of the Queen’s granddaughter, Zara. “Friends are so precious. I’m still very firm friends with half a dozen…

Do you wake up every morning ready for a good breakfast, or do you begrudgingly face the first meal of the day because you’ve been told it’s better for your health and waistline? If you can’t face eating first thing you will be happy to hear that breakfast might not be the most important meal of the day when it comes to long-term health and a slimmer waist – in fact, the very latest research suggests that putting off your morning meal could help you to live longer and lose weight faster. “Eating breakfast sounds like sensible advice,” says nutritionist Judith Wills, author of The Food Bible (£25, White Owl). “You’ve had nothing to eat for up to 12 hours, so when you get up in the morning your body…

HAYFEVER HELP Reduce your risk of streaming eyes and a runny nose by eating these foods that contain quercetin to help reduce the release of histamine in your body... Brain training vs eating your greens While sudoku might help keep your brain sharp, eating plenty of fruit and veg could definitely make a difference. US researchers found that eating large amounts of leafy greens, red and dark orange vegetables, berry fruits and orange juice could significantly reduce your risk of a decline in memory and thinking skills. 48% of us are too embarrassed to talk to our friends about bladder weakness, despite it affecting one in three of us!* Sharing might help you to find a solution. *RESEARCH ONTEX HEALTHCARE Long vs short workouts You can no longer blame a lack…

Daily shine boost For killer shine plus silky locks, we love this new range from Dove. Both the Dove Advanced Hair Series Shine Revived Shampoo and Conditioner contain macadamia oils and collagen to leave your locks soft, hydrated and with a radiant gleam. Perfect for transforming tired, dry tresses, it’s gentle enough to use daily and smells amazing too! ■ £6.65/250ml each Protect and perfect Prevention is definitely better than cure, so always use a heat protection product before using your heated hair appliances. Lee Stafford’s Heat Protection Shine Mist contains antioxidant green tea extract to protect your tresses and also helps fend off static, leaving you with gleaming hair. ■ £6.49/200ml Grey and gorgeous If you have grey (or blonde) hair, then chances are you’ll be fighting off hair-dulling…

Estate agent fees can range between 0.75 per cent and 3.5 per cent of the final selling price – which can amount to thousands of pounds. You’ll typically pay more if you appoint more than one agent to sell your property. So, if properties are moving quickly in your area, stick with one to reduce the cost. Alternatively, look at doing it yourself. There are now a number of online agents – such as www.purplebricks.co.uk  and www.emoov.co.uk – who charge a flat fee (around £900) instead of a percentage cost. They’ll also list your property on online search engines such as Rightmove and Zoopla, but you’ll have the responsibility of arranging viewings and negotiating with buyers. Once the move is going ahead, avoid stress by being organised. Make a…

The YoursGuide to Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney is designed to help you get your affairs in order. It explains the types of LPA and their features and why you need them, and also the importance of having a Will and what happens if you don’t make one. What do LPAs do? LPAs allow you to appoint a person or people you trust to make important decisions on your behalf should you ever be unable or unwilling to do so. There are two types: a Property & Financial Affairs LPA and a Health & Welfare LPA. Setting them up means decisions about your future health or money are in safe hands and gives you total reassurance – no one has the legal right to make decisions on your behalf…

Guide to Wills & LPAs This updated guide has all the latest essential information on Wills and LPAs and why they’re so important. Peace of mind for you and your family is vital – that’s why Yours has partnered with Key and produced this guide to help you make informed decisions. The Yours Guide to Wills and LPAs Call free: 0808 252 9468 Write to: Key, Yours Retirement Services, FREEPOST NWW201A, Preston PR2 2TF with your name, address and phone number and which service interests you most. Guide to looking after yourself as a carer If you’re caring for someone who’s living with a terminal illness, it can be hard to find time for yourself. This useful guide is full of tips and information to help you take care of…

Are you a keen writer with a genius idea for a short story up your sleeve? If you think you can spin a page-turning yarn that Yours readers would enjoy when they put their feet up with a cuppa, we are inviting you to take part in our brand new short story competition. This is your chance to see your story published in the Yours Fiction Special. The best three story writers will also each receive a cheque for £50. We are looking for stories from 500 to 1,500 words long – they can be any genre but we’d particularly love to receive stories that fit the categories of: Mystery, Romance, Nostalgia, Thriller or Historical Saga. Most important, though, is that they have a gripping opening, an absorbing plot with…

1869 25-year-old Henry John Heinz starts selling his mother’s homegrown horseradish in a transparent bottle to showcase its quality. 1886 Heinz sells his famous  tomato ketchup to Fortnum & Mason in London, marking the UK launch of Heinz in the UK. 1901 The company’s famous baked beans reach the UK, soon becoming a national favourite. 1910 Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup is imported to the UK. 1914 Tasty Heinz Salad Cream is the first Heinz product to be developed exclusively for the UK. 1931 Heinz helps fight the Great Depression by adding ready-to-serve soups and baby food to the Heinz range, quickly becoming bestsellers as they helped feed  families looking for good value. 1939 With key ingredients in short supply during the war, Heinz Tomato Ketchup disappeared off shelves until…

Here I am, half hidden by our family Labrador, Danny, who never accepted that he was too big to be a lapdog. Dad reckoned he had a cheeky sense of humour because when told to ‘sit’ before crossing a road, Danny would promptly obey – but with his back to the traffic, making the person on the other end of the lead look pretty silly! Like Danny, Freda Minns’ dog Jack loved to join in every aspect of family life: “I liked to dress him up and take him for a walk in my doll’s pram. As he got older he liked to play football with my brothers. When it was our meal time, mam would say to Jack, ‘Go and fetch the children’ and Jack would run down the…

I’ve just found out who coined the saying, ‘The first thing I do in the morning is open my newspaper and look at the obituary column. If I’m not in it, I get up!’ It’s attributed to a famous old actor, AE Matthews OBE who was nearly 90 when he died. Matty, as he was known to everyone, was a very witty chap and acted in TV, films and on stage for eight decades. He wasn’t good at remembering his lines but always got himself out of trouble – and got the actors who were on stage with him into trouble! Once, he was playing an old earl and his butler brought him a telephone into which he was supposed to give a long monologue. He couldn’t remember what he…

1 Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show | April 6-7 Set in the Royal Cornwall Showground, this event hosts horticultural delights and stunning spring displays. Nurseries and retailers will be selling plants, bulbs and garden goodies. ■ 0753 092 0585/www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk/spring-flower-show 2 RHS Flower show Cardiff | April 12-14 Welcome spring in style at the beautiful Bute Park in the heart of Cardiff city centre. Showcasing the best of springtime, this show will inspire gardeners to learn, grow and creatively use their outdoor spaces. ■ 0203 176 5800/www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events 3 The Newark Garden Show | April 20-22 See Newark Showground burst into bloom as its annual garden show returns for the 16th year – celebrating the very best of gardening, home and lifestyle. Oodles of inspiration and to give your home and…

CATCH UP MIDSOMER MURDERS The homicidal residents of Midsomer are still managing to dream up new, ever more unusual ways to murder each other. Luckily, DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon), is on the case, along with new character, pathologist Fleur Perkins (Annette Badland), pictured below. ■ Sunday, March 17, ITV. Catch the first episode first shown on March 10 on the ITV player Cooking up a comedy classic The family sitcom Robin’s Nest is returning to the small screen. First shown from 1977 to 1981, Richard O’Sullivan plays bistro owner Robin, Tessa Wyatt is his girlfriend Vicky and Tony Britton is Vicky’s dad (pictured right). ■ Starts on Monday, March 18 on Talking Pictures (Freeview 81, Freesat 306, Virgin 44 and ky 328) and airs every week day at 5.30pm…

This macrame hanging chair would be a wonderful place to relax under the shade of the trees £69.99 www.dobbies.com0131 561 6406 Gardening is much easier when you have the right tools for the job and these Kent & Stowe hand tools are just perfect. From £9.99 each www.dobbies.com I love the scent of sweet peas and this Triangular Cane Support Planter makes the job of growing them easier. £12 www.wilko.com08000 329 329…

Fabulous photos ✒ I agree with the reader who wrote about bringing back real photos. I have always been interested in photography since I bought my first camera – a Kodak box brownie. Having taken thousands of photos over the years, my grandchildren love looking through the many albums I have made. I’m concerned that young people now won’t have photos of their childhood to look back on. Even though hundreds of photos have been taken on mobile phones and digital cameras, they are never printed. As 21st birthday presents for my grandchildren, I’ve made them photo scrapbooks of their first few years – and they love them. Sylvia Dent, Peterborough Flower fakes ✒ Does anyone else, like me, buy bunches of flowers from the supermarket – only to get…

1959: Here I am with two of my sisters in the park. Our dresses were made by my older sister using red and white checked gingham. We wore them with hand- knitted cardigans, frilled ankle socks and open- toe sandals. My mum always loved to dress us in matching outfits! Margaret Crossan, Glasgow 1963: This is me, aged six, showing off my very first school blazer. It was navy blue with a white trim and looked very posh. I was so proud of it that I occasionally wore it with my fancy white pleated skirt for Sunday best. Linda Kettle, Hants…

Much-respected actress Sarah Lancashire has faced some challenges in her illustrious, award-winning career. She played a grieving social worker in Channel 4 drama Kiri, an under-pressure police sergeant in Happy Valley and a long-suffering daughter in Last Tango in Halifax. But she has never had a challenge quite so extraordinary as working with a Hollywood big hitter and global heart-throb to boot on MotherFatherSon. There can’t be many women out there who didn’t swoon over the one and only Richard Gere in – among other classic movies – Yanks, An Officer and a Gentleman and Pretty Woman. So, is Sarah one of them? Or rather, one of us? “Working with Richard was such a thrill. We had a lot of fun,” she says. “Our characters in the drama are quite…

■ Be open to change Creating and writing the series Widows for Thames TV in 1983 changed my life. I studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and worked as an actress for many years for the RSC and on television. I got tired of playing the same roles so I decided it was time to shake things up and started scriptwriting. When Widows came out, it was a smash hit and was seen as groundbreaking at the time as it had four women as the main leads; the wives of dead armed robbers teaming up to finish the job. My latest book, Widows’ Revenge, picks up with the girls again. They are characters I truly love, and have always loved. It’s wonderful the books have been so…

This Willows Cat Bowl, from Pets at Home, is made of heavy stoneware to help prevent the bowl from tipping. It also has thicker sides to stop the bowl from chipping and helps keep food cooler for longer. Dishwasher safe. ■ Rrp £4. Available in-store or online at www.petsathome.com carrot design fabric covers this Rosewood play tunnel and hideaway for rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and rats. Kittens might enjoy it too. It is fitted with handy Velcro tabs which allow for a number of tunnels to be connected together. ■ Rrp £12.99, available from amazon.co.uk…

For years it’s been a much-loved staple of our favourite TV-watching to see Mary Berry happily demonstrating a recipe behind her kitchen worktop – or tasting cakes in a big white marquee. But for the first time, we’re about to see Mary Berry as you’ve never seen her before as she steps out of her comfort zone for a brand-new show. Mary Berry’s Quick Cooking takes her around the world, from the manic medinas of Marrakech to the buzzing backstreets of the West End, the high-pressure kitchens of airport restaurants to the hectic galleys of a Naval warship, all in the name of learning about making tasty food in breakneck time. “There were a lot of firsts for me, but it was very exciting,” says Mary. Her adventures begin in…

Feeling tired and bloated, Gill Kelly was taking a five- minute break and lying down to watch the teatime news before cooking the family dinner. She’d been on her feet all day doing her demanding job as a special needs teaching assistant. But for months, she hadn’t been feeling or looking her best. Aged 52, she had put it down to her age and the start of the menopause. “I thought it was something I’d just have to get used to at my age,” recalls Gill who lives in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with husband John and grown-up children Joe and Amy. Suddenly, her peace was disturbed when Humbug, the youngest of Gill’s three cats, leapt on to her, making her cry out in pain. “Get to the doctor now!” ordered…

1 The stylish spring coat While the weather may be undecided, we’re certain this gorgeous cornflower blue coat will take you through the seasons in style. £69 6-24, M&S Collection 2 The figure-flattering blouse This blouse is great for petites as the clever draping helps create curves, but the soft v-neckline is also really flattering for those with bigger busts. £22 10-24, Bonmarché 3 The classic trouser High-waisted trouser styles like this pair will help cheat a smaller-looking waist while disguising problem areas and lengthening the legs. £22 8-20, M&Co Navy makes a chic alternative to black and has all the same figure-fixing benefits 4 The smart blazer A loose-fitting blazer makes a great and smart alternative to a cardigan. £35 6-24, M&S Collection 5 The wear-it-anywhere dress We love…

We have many fond childhood memories of reading favourite books such as The Famous Five, Malory Towers and The Railway Children. Writing your own children’s book can be incredibly rewarding, from letting your imagination run wild on paper to creating a personalised book for your grandchildren. Here’s everything you need to know: Finding your inspiration Ideas can come from almost anywhere, whether it’s a pet, your grandchildren or even the wildlife in your garden. It’s very important to read and research a range of books before writing to give you a good idea of the kinds of tales that have been written before. Best-selling children’s author Julia Donaldson, believes research is very important. “If you seriously want to write for children it’s important to be clued up on what’s out…

Driving dogs safely Dog owners are risking fines for not securing their dogs properly in their cars. Research by Ford shows that almost a third of owners (32 per cent) don’t have their dogs safely restrained by a harness, dog guard or crate – and that’s against the law. If your dog’s not restrained, it also increases the risk of injury to both the animal and passengers, if you need to brake suddenly or – worse still – are involved in an accident. You could get a £100 on-the-spot fine if you’re stopped, which could rise to £5,000 if you don’t pay it. And if you’re involved in an accident and need to claim, it could invalidate your car and/or your pet insurance. The law doesn’t say how you should…

CRAB CAKES WITH HOMEMADE MAYONNAISE SERVES: 4 PREP: 20 MINS COOK: 10 MINS chef shares some 400g (14oz) white crab meat dishes… 400g (14oz) cooked potato, pushed through a ricer 6 spring onions, sliced Small bunch of chives, chopped Juice of ½ lemon 1 egg yolk Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 25g (1oz) plain flour, for dusting Olive oil, for frying For the mayonnaise: 3 egg yolks 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 1 tbsp white wine vinegar 200ml (7fl oz) vegetable oil Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper To serve: Small bunch of watercress 1 lemon, cut into 4 wedges 1. Make the mayonnaise by whisking the egg yolks, mustard and vinegar together in a bowl until smooth. Slowly add the vegetable oil, starting with a little drizzle…

Frosty days are mostly over, the weather and the soil are warming up and fresh growth can be seen everywhere. Spring is all about celebrating new life, so here’s our guide to some inspiring projects, as well as those essential routine jobs, to start the gardening year Perfect projects to get your trowel stuck into! Plant something in flower now For instant colour and life, take a trip to the garden centre and buy a few flowering plants to pep up your patch. We tend to think about planting things that will look good in a few months’ time, but seize the day and add something that looks great now. You could choose pulmonaria, pulsatillas (pasque flowers), bergenias, magnolias or primulas, to name but a few. Use your trip to…

Editor: Sharon Reid Deputy Editor: Claire Tapley Associate Editor: Jenny Cripps Admin Manager: Karen Griffiths Reader Care Editor: Rosie Sandall Senior Contributing Writer: Carole Richardson Deputy News Editor: Katharine Wootton Art Director: Christine Curtis Art Editor: Della Smith Deputy Art Editor: Karen Booth Picture Editor: Davina Dunn Picture Researcher: Joanne Brooks Fashion & Beauty Editor: Michelle Nightingale Features Assistant: Gabrielle Albert Contributing Health Editor: Rebecca Speechley Fiction Editor: Marion Clarke Junior Writer: Lorna White Production Editor: Sam Hendley Deputy Production Editor: Kate Hardy Marketing: Charlotte Walsh Advert/offer queries: Angela Whenman (01733 468444) Brand & Commercial Director: Flora Macmillan (0203 879 2086) Creative Solutions Director: Sara Jubb (0203 879 2225) Display Advertising: Andrew Slizys (0203 879 2226) Manchester sales office: Katie Kendall (0161 288 5053) Telesales Account Manager: Bliss Handley (01733…

Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Heinz Baked Beans and Cream of Tomato Soup have been long-time favourites in Britain and their top-secret recipes haven’t changed since they were first created. For example, its Tomato Ketchup still uses the same mix of just five ingredients, including sun-ripened tomatoes, as it did in 1876. The first Heinz product to make it onto British shelves back in 1901 was Baked Beans. They were considered a luxury, costing 9d per single can, equivalent to £2.15 in today’s money. The original recipe for Heinz Beans contained pork, but with shortages during the war the pork was removed. Instead, they were sold as vegetarian beans. And of course the can of Cream of Tomato Soup has always been there to enjoy with a crusty roll. Each day in…

Kong wild knot bear Soft and cuddly on the outside, durable and strong on the inside. Result? One stimulated pet • www.petsathome.com0800 328 4204 Pawbo Life wi-fi pet camera Use your mobile phone to keep an eye on your pet and even dispense treats when you’re not at home! • www.amazon.co.uk Hide ‘n’ treat Secrete a treat in this durable Kong toy or close to make a ball. • www.fetch.co.uk0345 600 6070…

We can help you find… ■ Like-minded friends ■ A new romance ■ Long-lost friends & family ■ Just about everything Seeking friendship Find a like-minded penpal or companion for outings Widow, 68, non-smoker, good sense of humour, works with (and loves) dogs, enjoys walks, films, interested in nutrition, looking for a sincere man for friendship. Any area MAR1-101 Gent, very shy, 63, single, still working, drives, likes markets, antique shows, music, travelling, holidays, outings, would like a lady penfriend. Any area MAR1-102 Male, homely, quiet nature, 65, retired, likes Folk and Blues music, walking, documentaries, countryside, not into pubs, seeks a similar homely female for friendship. Shrops/Telford area MAR1-103 Widower, 83, seeks an intelligent, like-minded male buddy for fun times, doesn’t drive, good conversation essential, to converse on most…

■ Changes to eating and drinking habits can help people with Parkinson’s manage their symptoms. Download Diet and Parkinson’s from www.parkinsons.org.uk or call 0808 800 0303. ■ Swollen feet are common with people who have limited mobility. The Easylife Group (www.easylifegroup.com) has a range of suitable gadgets to stimulate circulation which you can use while sitting in your chair. Call free: 0800 055 7766 ■ If you, or someone you know, has recently been diagnosed with dementia, The National Dementia helpline 0300 222 1122 offers free, confidential advice. Visit www.alzheimers.org.uk If you’re caring for someone with a life-limiting illness, this free guide is full of useful tips to help you take care of your own needs, too. • Call free: 0800 716 146…

IN CINEMAS FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS Fisherman’s Friends tells the real-life story of the part-time Cornish sea shanty group who were singing in their village pub when a music executive on holiday walked in – and gave them a million-pound record deal which led to a top-ten hit. A joyful story, filmed in the beautiful Port Isaac. ■ Fisherman’s Friends is released in cinemas nationwide on March 15, 2019 ON TOUR NORTHERN BALLET With no news yet on when the new series of Victoria will air, you can now see her in another guise! The Northern Ballet is telling the monarch’s amazing story in a new touring production to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria herself. ■ Tours nationwide March 9-June 1. To book, contact your local…

PISCES FEB 19-MARCH 20 Awaited revamps and family reconnections happen under the current backtracking of Mercury, with heartfelt hopes highlighted. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705711 ARIES MARCH 21-APRIL 19  Quiet plans may be hatching, altering the way money is handled or earned. Watch for a rejigged, improved proposition. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705700 TAURUS APRIL 20-MAY 20 Cosmic light is on unfinished business, as you work through a list of long stated intentions, possibly involving friends. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705701 GEMINI MAY 21-JUNE 20 Your ruler Mercury is retrograding, so double-check details and documents. You just might benefit from that extra effort. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705702 CANCER JUNE 21-JULY 22 March could see you spreading your…

EGGSTRA ORDERS! A surge in egg sales has been linked to increasing numbers of Britons giving up meat. A record 7.2 billion eggs were bought in supermarkets last year, 240 million more than the previous year. Experts say people ditiching meat for a so-called ‘flexitarian’ diet boosted sales. JOAN & JACKIE DRAMA The lives of iconic British sisters Joan and Jackie Collins (left and below) will be adapted into a six-part drama, made by the producers of the hit Netflix royal series, The Crown. The biopic will chart their journey from teenage bedrooms in post-war London to dazzling careers – Joan as an award-winning actress and Jackie as a bestselling author. There is no transmission date as of yet. REWIND FOR CASSETTES First it was vinyl records to make a…

‘Brave stranger saved my life’ ✒ I was just 15 when I almost lost my life on Blackpool beach, stranded on a sand bank, trying to reach friends playing beach ball. The tide had turned and was coming in fast. Attempting to return to the safety of the beach, there were deep channels full of water and, being unable to swim, I went under the surface several times and was panicking and exhausted. Then, to  my amazement, a guardian angel appeared in the form of a young man who had realised I was in dire trouble. He pulled me from the water and rescued me. I was very thankful but Our star letter will receive a stunning Elegant Rose and Freesia bouquet with chocolates from our friends at Flying Flowers.…

✒ Out for a meal with some friends at a local pub, my friend asked what I would like to drink and I said a J20, a combination of fruit juices. She then went up to the bar and asked for two JCBs! We all laughed about it, especially as there was a JCB parked outside the pub! Teresa Curtis, Isle of Wight ✒ Visiting my friend in her upstairs flat, she told me there was a pigeon outside, unable to fly. She’d tried to feed it by throwing down some bird seed, but it hadn’t moved. She has mobility problems so couldn’t go down to ‘rescue’ it. When I looked out, she’d actually been feeding a plastic bag! How we laughed! Lorna Ridgway, Milton Keynes • Every original contribution…

■ Born in 1949, in Philadelphia his full name is Richard Tiffany Gere. ■ He enrolled at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst on a gymnastics scholarship. ■ He has a passion for playing the trumpet and became a musician after leaving university. ■ Richard’s first major acting role was in the original London stage version of Grease in 1973, but it was the film American Gigolo which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol. ■ In 2003 he won a Best Actor Golden Globe for his role in the film musical Chicago. ■ He is married to Spaniard Alejandra Silva, 33 years his junior. They have a baby son. He also has an 18-year-old son.…

Otters in the UK are enjoying a comeback less than 50 years after they were said to be on the brink of extinction. Scientists from Exeter University say there are now more than 11,000 in the wild. Cleaner and healthier rivers are one of the main reasons for their resurgence. A track of pure birdsong is being released for the first time ever on May 5, International Dawn Chorus Day, as part of the RSPB’s Let Nature Sing project. It wants people to stream or download the song to feel its healing qualities and to highlight there are 40 million fewer birds in the UK now than 50 years ago.…

£20 of every sale goes to support Marie Curie Stockists: Accessorize 0203 372 3052; Damart 0871 200 9000; Hotter 01695 213 213; M&S 0333 014 8555; Neal’s Yard 01747 834698; Pixi available from M&S; White Stuff 0203 752 5360…

During Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month this March, Ovacome, the ovarian cancer charity, is highlighting the main symptoms of the disease in its easy-to-remember BEAT acronym: B is for bloating that is persistent and does not come and go E is for eating difficulty/feeling full more quickly A is for abdominal or pelvic pain that is persistent and you feel most days T is for toilet changes, bladder or bowel If you have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, while it is unlikely you have ovarian cancer, it is worth getting checked out by your GP. ■ If you are concerned about ovarian cancer, contact Ovacome’s freephone support line on 0800 008 7054 or visit www.ovacome.org.uk…

Teacup candles Try using different fragrances of wax to create your own scented candles Time: 20-30 mins Skill: Beginner Materials: Candle wick with metal end Vintage cup and saucer Ruler Small piece adhesive putty or sticky tack Scissors Lolly stick Candle wax beads Old saucepan 1. Measure the depth of the cup, add approx 5cm (2in), and trim the wick to match this measurement. 2. Using a small piece of adhesive putty, fix the metal end piece of the wick to the bottom of a cup. Press firmly in place. 3. Gently wrap the excess wick around the lolly stick so that the wick stands upright in the cup. Balance the lolly stick on the rim of the cup to keep the wick in position while the wax is poured…

I took a deep breath and rang the bell. The door opened and my neighbour Peter asked grumpily: “Yes? Can I help you?” “Sorry to bother you,” I said, “but have you seen my cat? I’m moving house today and I don’t want to leave him behind. Usually he comes when I call him, but this time…” He cut me off abruptly. “He’s the black-and-white cat, isn’t he?” “Yes, that’s Tommy.” “Okay, I’ll keep an eye out.” A moment later I was looking at the closed door. As I walked away, I muttered to myself: “Typical! No ‘good luck’ or ‘keep in touch’ or ‘sorry to hear you are moving away’.” Our houses backed onto each other, but there had never been long chats over the garden fence. I had…

The phrase ‘Showbiz Trooper’ could have been coined with Jan Hunt in mind. While her big break came in 1973 when she successfully auditioned for popular children’s TV show Crackerjack!, London-born Jan, now 80, had been performing for most of her life. “I had my first dancing lessons when I was just two and my first professional gig in the theatre when I was 11. I appeared in countless shows, musicals and pantos. I’d just come out of Showboat at the Adelphi Theatre, London when I auditioned for Crackerjack! The producer wanted me to start immediately so I went from the audition straight to the Crackerjack set. It was Christmas and the show was doing a version of Aladdin. “I remember one time when I was dressed up as Queen…

During the war my mother was in the ATS – the Auxiliary Territorial Service. She joined the Royal Corps Signals and was posted to York – she came to love the city but not then. The Minster was covered in sandbags and the parade ground a quagmire of deep, squelching mud. The men were stationed on one side of the quagmire and the women on the other. The huts were grouped together with a corridor through the middle and they called it ‘the spider’. The sergeant came into their hut one night, asking for 23 volunteers for a secret mission. My grandfather had drummed it into my mother to never volunteer for anything in the army. But she hated where they were stationed, so she shot out of bed and…

When Val Staff lost her beloved husband, she made a vow to herself that she would make the best of her life. Although she repeatedly told herself to be strong, she admits she spent many hours weeping after his death. “I’m not pretending it was easy when John died. It wasn’t, but I knew I owed it to him to be strong and to get on with life,” says Val. Now Val wants to encourage other people who have lost a loved one that it’s possible to enjoy life again after a bereavement. Val and John married in 1960 and, in 2001, they both retired and began to enjoy having some free time. John loved his allotment and Val enjoyed line dancing and helping at a cat sanctuary. They loved…

…you are born under Pisces, the fishes, in your element when close to water, sailing, cruising, swimming, or having a soak in the shower or bath. You can lose yourself in a lovely view, in a good book or movie and you benefit from taking time out to recharge your batteries in a peaceful location. ■ Famous people celebrating this fortnight include Liza Minnelli, David Neilson, Glenn Close, Ivana Trump, Michael Caine and Penny Lancaster (both pictured)…