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21 January 20 0

BOOST YOUR NITY! IMMU RAL way

The NATU

SUSAN BOYLE

Fay Ripley on why her Cold Feet character makes her cry

on her Asperger’s diagnosis

Superfood

SUPPERS Delicious goodfor-you recipes

The only

MAKE-UP PRODUCTS you REALLY need!

Inside this issue

Hello!

A taste of Scotland

I’ve long had a soft spot for Burns Night – though, in truth, any event that combines Scotch whisky with an oaty savoury pudding would be a winner with me, even before we got to the poetry. While I concede that a haggis doesn’t strike the most aesthetic pose on a plate, from the moment I first tasted one (with chips, I guiltily admit, from an Edinburgh fried-fish shop), I was smitten. But for those who don’t share my love for the great chieftain o’ the puddin-race, though still fancy celebrating Robert Burns’ memory with food, look out for our sweet Scottish puds on page 34. And discover more about the great poet on page 10.

Geoff

Group Lifestyle Director geoffrey.palmer @ti-media.com

ON THE COVER

8 Cover star: Fay Ripley: ‘Why my current role makes me cry’ 12 Health: Immunity-boosting habits, foods and activities 15 It’s a funny old world: Singer Susan Boyle 18 Beauty: Best buys for a capsule make-up kit 22 Cookery: Superfood suppers to nourish your body 32 Homes: Add colour for under £15 50 Serial: Resident Ghosts

2 Craft: Jazz up bedside table th découpage 7 Crochet: osy, chic and earable slippers

ICTION

GREAT READS

4 Good to share 10 Celebrating Britain: Why we love Burns Night 17 Fashion: A sparkling jumper 20 Real life: Why three women took up their amazing hobbies 25 Good to know: How to get the best holiday bargains 38 Travel: Cruise the Douro River through Spain and Portugal

YOUR HOME

34 Cookery: Scottish puds for your Burns Night festivities 41 Gardening: Growing chillies

3 of the best… Scottish islands

COVER PHOTO: PA. PHOTOS: ALAMY

37 Short story: Rainy Days and Mondays 44 Short story: The Green Door 57 Book club

HEALTH

27 Your wellbeing: Rethink your diet for the menopause 28 Dr Gill: Coping with… Not getting your pills 31 Here to help: Keren Smedley answers your letters

LAST BUT NOT LEAST…

53 Your weekly stars 54 Puzzle time 56 What’s on 58 Rosemary

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BARRA Head west from the white, sandy beaches and next stop is Canada. Its airport is also a beach, so planes can only land at low tide!

IONA A very special place for both birdwatchers and pilgrims – St Columba’s ancient abbey houses the spiritual Iona Community.

JURA A stunning wilderness with only 200 people but 5,000 deer. Off its coast is the fearsome Corryvreckan whirlpool.

Call 0330 333 1113 and quote AXK9 or visit womansweeklysubs.co.uk/AXK9. *When paying by UK Direct Debit. After six issues, your payments will then continue every three months at £11.49, saving 28% on the full price of £15.99. Offer open to new subscribers only. The price is guaranteed for the first 12 months and we will notify you in advance of any price changes. Final closing date is 3 February 2020. For enquiries and overseas rates, please call +44 (0)330 333 1113 (phone lines are open Monday to Saturday, 8am-6pm, UK time). For full terms and conditions, please visit magazinesdirect.com/terms Woman’s Weekly

o t d o Go

E R A SH Top dogs, better From sleep and beating us to food waste! you Midlife bucket list A new study commissioned to coincide with Hidden Hearing’s Switch Life On campaign has found the UK’s over-45s are desperate for adventure and open to new experiences. Top bucket list experiences include skydiving, visiting the seven wonders of the world and getting a university degree.

SLEEP EASY According to a Facebook poll by British Nightwear brand Pour Moi, for the best night’s sleep, you should be on the right-hand side of the bed and you should wear a full matching pyjama set. But there’s still a fifth of us that simply prefer to sleep in the buff! What are your ideal sleeping conditions?

Over 53,000 tonnes of surplus or DID ‘imperfect’ apples are wasted in YOU KNOW? the UK annually, according to charity WRAP. London-based Oddbox is trying to change this by rescuing such produce. Visit oddbox.co.uk for more details.

On this day in history On 16 January 1979, Life on Earth: A Natural History by David Attenborough first aired in the UK, showing viewers a ‘behind the scenes’ view of nature. Now aged 93, Sir David continues to push boundaries. News has been released that he’ll front a new BBC1 series called Green Planet in 2021, tracking unseen plant behaviour.

4 Woman’s Weekly

This week Too busy to socialise? From homeware to holidays, it looks like we’re now spending more time shopping online than socialising with friends and family, according to research from Meraki Travel. On average, we’re spending 16 hours a week, or 832 hours a year, researching and purchasing things to buy online. Do you shop online or hit the high street with friends?

TOP DOG NAMES

The most popular dog names, both in the UK and globally for this year, have been revealed. Based on data from over two million pet owners worldwide*, Bella and Alfie took the canine crowns in the UK for 2019. Food and drinks feature in the list, with Cookie, Peanut, Prosecco, Champagne and Gin all appearing, and prominent royal names come up too, with Archie, George, Harry, Pippa and Louis making the list.

Have you heard? More than half of over-65s have a pot of money stashed away to support adult children through financial difficulties, a survey by Saga Savings has found. The average amount thrifty parents have put aside for their grown-up children stands at £11,500.

Almost 900,000 people had emails, texts and calls from fraudsters pretending to be from HMRC in the past year. The most common scam concerned bogus tax rebates, while another threatened arrest if a bogus tax bill wasn’t paid; find out more at gov.uk

For your diary The organisers of the Manchester Beer and Cider Festival will be hoping resolutions of Dry January will have been broken by the time this event returns to Manchester Central from 23-25 January. Visitors can hear talks from experts and, of course, sample some of the very best beers and ciders from the UK’s booming industries. Visit mancbeerfest.uk for more information.

WORDS: HELENA CARTWRIGHT. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY. *RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY ROVER.COM

BEWARE TAX SCAMS Treat of the week Containing 96% naturally derived ingredients, including sweet whey powder sourced from British cows, this new range of luxury body washes is a great addition to your daily routine. Byre products are exclusive to Sainsbury’s and, until 21 January, cost £4 per item (RRP £5).

Woman’s Weekly

o t d o Go

E R A SH

Where I read mine

I took my copy on holiday to Bora Bora in French Polynesia. The perfect view, with the perfect way to relax on the beach! Paula Smith, Darwin, Australia ✣ We’d love to see where you read your copy of Woman’s Weekly. The more exotic the location, the better!

t a h w From r a e h to e v lo We y o o u to s , to p u n e e b e you’v us do get in touch!

Look what I made!

I made these teapot covers for family and friends this Christmas. I have just turned 90 and I continue to look forward to reading Woman’s Weekly every week. Mrs B. Halton, Ireland

Letter of the week

Get in touch WE LOVE LETTERS Woman’s Weekly, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. P.S. It really helps when you put your details in capitals.

PHOTO (POSED BY MODELS): ALAMY

IT’S GOOD TO TALK

I recently lost my husband and I really don’t know how I would have coped without my wonderful network of friends and family. However, so many people say ‘I don’t know what to say’, but I don’t mind – anyone who has taken the trouble to see me, ring me or even text me have all been a great comfort. Never be afraid to check on someone who has lost a loved one, even if it’s only a text saying ‘just checking in’, because it warms the broken heart. Tina Andrews, Norwich

We do not return photos (apart from You Wore It Well) so please do not send originals.

Paws for thought Our son works away from home and we are glad to know his dog Honey is there with him. As you can see she is a real sweetie! Christine Taylor, Lancashire ✣ Got a pet pic that makes you smile? We can give it a good home

Important! All contributions to Woman’s Weekly must be original and NOT duplicated to other publications. £25 will be paid to the writer of the ‘Letter Of The Week’ for all rights in each letter printed. The Editor reserves the right to modify any letter. TI Media Limited reserves the right to reuse any submission to Woman’s Weekly in any format or medium, including social networking sites. We regret that we cannot enter into personal correspondence. Photos of children under 18 must be accompanied by written permission of a parent/legal guardian. All details correct at time of going to press.

6 Woman’s Weekly

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This week

What you’re

WEARING JULIA TOWNSEND, 56 Tell us about your look I found this smart coat at River Island. My trousers are from H&M, my ankle boots are Dune and my bag is Mulberry – it was a Christmas present to myself last year. My gloves are M&S and my scarf is Mint Velvet, one of my favourite brands. And the best bit of your body? My small waist. I’m just learning to accentuate it!

KAYLEIGH BOWER, 31 Tell us about your look I spotted this check coat on a mannequin at Sainsbury’s. I took a photo of myself wearing it, showed it to my friends, and they all said I should buy it. It’s quite brave for me as I normally live in black or plain white. Underneath I’m in my usual Topshop black jeans and T-shirt, with boots from Primark. My black rucksack is also from Topshop. And the best bit of your body? My legs.

You Wore It Well KIMBERLEY WATSON, 60 Tell us about your look I love to mix things up! My coat is by Jeremy Scott at TK Maxx, and my trousers are by Paul Smith – my friend found them for just £10. My floaty top is from M&S, I think my scarf was from Primark, and I found my shoes in a local store for £10. My bag is TK Maxx as well, and my necklace is vintage Butler & Wilson. And the best bit of your body? My long silver hair!

LAURIE DAVIDSON, 43 Tell us about your look I love floaty skirts and dresses. This pleated skirt is from ASOS and my jumper is H&M. My lilac coat is also from ASOS – I usually go for bold or dark colours but recently got into winter pastels. My boots are from Zara and my bag is M&S. And the best bit of your body? My brain and my heart.

Jose Hatch, 1960 This is me and my husband Laurie on our wedding day. I designed my dress and my mother made it. I bought the satin fabric from a department store in Regent’s Street, London. Sadly, my husband died 11 months later. ✢ We’d love to see how great you looked in any era up to and including the 1980s. Please send a good-quality photo with your name, address and daytime phone number clearly written on the back, to: Fashion Dept, Woman’s Weekly, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. Photos will be returned.

Woman’s Weekly

‘Why my current role makes The

ME CRY’

interview

Cold Feet actress Fay Ripley opens up on why Jenny’s storyline really matters to her

n the 23 years Fay Ripley has starred in Cold Feet, her character Jenny Gifford has been through many trials and tribulations. But Fay reveals that playing Jenny this time around has been her biggest challenge to date. In the upcoming series, Jenny has just finished her treatment for breast cancer, and Fay, 53, explains how she felt a duty to tell the story accurately – especially as her stepmother has the disease in real life. Struggling to hold back the tears, Fay says, ‘She’s in recovery and if I even talk about it, I’ll cry, because she’s so incredibly sweet about it. ‘She’s fine, she’s good, but

The Cold Feet cast from the original series

she rings me after every episode as it’s so hard for her to watch.’ Fay continues, ‘The added responsibility of not wanting to get it wrong means you definitely try a bit harder. Let’s say it’s a party scene, and you’re drunk and you’re having an affair – you can’t get it that wrong. But suddenly, if you’re playing someone with breast cancer and you’ve talked to thousands of people about their journey, whether it’s on social media or on the street, or with your friends and family, it really matters.’ Fay tells us that her onscreen son, Adam, is exactly the same age as her daughter, Parker, 17. This is because Fay was eight-and-a-halfmonths pregnant when they filmed the first series, so they made her a mum in the show. In this series, there is a scene where Adam wishes Jenny was dead, which Faye found very tough to film and she fought to get

it ‘softened’ from the original script. Fay explains, ‘I’m a mum and I have a kid, and I know my child says, “I hate you”, and I know Fay with her on-screen my child says, husband Pete (John Thomson) “I wish for a new family”, but I don’t think, when your mum has cancer, you’d say the very I’m just embarrassed. It’s all on a manageable level though, no thing you’re most scared of.’ one’s pretending I’m Madonna!’ And Fay believes it’s these But there are two people elements of caring and duty who aren’t fans of seeing her that has made Cold Feet so on the telly — her children, successful — and is perhaps Parker, 17, and the reason it’s still Sonny, 13. And on our screens with their dad, after 23 years. Daniel Lapaine, Talking about starring in The her co-stars, Fay Durrells, it gets explains, ‘We’ve even harder. all been on the ‘My eldest journey together, freaks out when she watches and it may mean we care too me on the TV because of much in a way — if there is such a thing. We don’t just turn the lovemaking! ‘She doesn’t like to see up, it’s not just a job any more.’ her dad doing it either,’ Fay But the success of Cold Feet laughs, before adding, ‘I have also has a downside for to say, my husband gets a lot Fay — when it comes to more action than I do! He’s fans asking her for photos. never out of the bedroom!’ ‘Most of the time, people It’s the ‘lovemaking being are very nice,’ she says. ‘My very good’ that Fay jokes is only criticism is if you can the reason her character Jenny, see I have no make-up on, and John Thomson’s character please don’t take a picture.

‘My husband gets a lot more action than I do!’

Celebrity

With husband Daniel Lapaine

‘The responsibility of not wanting to get it wrong means you try a bit harder’

Pete, are still happily married 23 years on from the first episode of Cold Feet. She says, ‘I think the audience feel that Jenny and Pete have been through lots of ups and downs. ‘They’ve been together since they were 15, and there is longevity to their friendship. ‘How do you define a good marriage anyway? Theirs is as good as anyone’s.’ And with the ongoing success of Cold Feet, Fay says she can’t see any reason why we won’t be still be watching Jenny and Pete in their 70s! She finishes, ‘It’s down to ITV, but certainly, with what’s happening at the moment, it looks like there will be some life beyond this series, so watch this space…’ ✣ Cold Feet continues on

Sunday, ITV Woman’s Weekly

WORDS: HAYLEY MINN. PHOTOS: ABACA/PA, GETTY, ITV/BIG TALK

Parker, Fay and Sonny

Celebrating

BRITAIN

Why we love BURNS NIGHT

Scotland’s most famous poet has left a legacy enjoyed far and wide

hat better way to brighten a winter’s night than to gather friends for haggis, poetry and a wee dram? On 25 January each ns’ birth – we year – the anniversary of Robert Bur ns Night was celebrate Burns Night. The first Bur sest friends to held in July 1801 by nine of his clo th. The event mark the fifth anniversary of his dea ame a lively, was a resounding success and bec ated to this day. annual Scottish event that’s celebr

Who was Robert Burns?

Fondly known as Rabbie, Burns was born in 1759 in Alloway, Ayrshire. The son of tenant farmers and one of seven children, he grew up working hard on the farm. Despite the family’s poverty, Burns’ father recognised the value of education and encouraged his children to read and write. Burns wrote his first love poem at the age of 15 and went on to write hundreds of songs and poems that have been enjoyed for over 200 years. Many of his poems were dedicated to women and the celebration of love – he was fond of the lassies and fathered 12 children. Despite his fame, he remained an ardent advocate for social equality. Burns died aged only 37 from a bacterial infection and is buried in St Michael’s Churchyard, Dumfries.

Burns’ mausoleum in Dumfries 10 Woman’s Weekly

The manuscript of Burns’ 1791 song Ae Fond Kiss

The Great Bard’s most famous poems and songs

Did you know...

✣ Burns boosts the Scottish economy to the tune of approximately £150 million every year. In 2009, on the 250th anniversary of Burns’ birth, £9m of haggis was sold in the UK. ✣ The Robert Burns museum in Alloway is the second-most visited UK writer’s museum (only Shakespeare’s in Stratford-upon-Avon beats it). ✣ Burns has more statues dedicated to him than any other non-religious figure, part from Queen Victoria and Christopher Columbus. There are 14 in the USA – one in New York’s Central Park. ✣ Despite his success, at the time of his death Robert Burns The statue worth was only of Burns in valued at £1. Central Park

Bob Dylan is a big fan Dancing is often part of Burns Night

Burns Night festivities Traditional Burns Night suppers are held in homes, restaurants and special venues in Scotland and around the world. Following a format, firstly the host recites The Selkirk Grace – a prayer of thanks used by Burns. A hearty meal is served and guests read aloud Burns poems, including the Address to a Haggis. There’s usually an adaptation of A Toast to the Lassies, followed by (watch out chaps) a Reply to the Toast to the Lassies. Festivities end with a rousing chorus of

‘Auld Lang Syne’, some bagpipe music or traditional Scottish dancing. Most Burns suppers start with cock-a-leekie soup. Then haggis – a combination of sheep’s heart, liver and lungs with onion, oatmeal, suet and spices, wrapped in the sheep’s stomach – is served with neeps (swede) and tatties (potatoes). For some delicious Scottish pud ideas, turn to page 34. ✣ For all the info you need to host your very own version of a Burns Night supper, go to visitscotland.com.

WORDS: CLAIRE CANTOR. PHOTOS: GETTY, ALAMY

Burns wrote more than 550 poems and songs, from the epic Tam o’ Shanter to A Red, Red Rose, a lyric Bob Dylan says had the greatest impact on his life. Auld Lang Syne is sung the world over on New Year’s Eve and is a song of hope that encourages us to raise a cup of kindness to our neighbours, to put last year behind us and look forward to the year ahead.

Haggis is essential… …as are toasts Woman’s Weekly

Boost your

IMMUNITY naturally! Try these no-drug ways to build a strong immune system and keep fighting fit in winter and beyond

ave you dodged the worst of the lurgies this winter? Or do you pick up every bug going? You can give your immune system a chance to fight back with simple changes to your diet and lifestyle. One of the simplest is getting enough sleep. Aim for seven to eight hours a night, says Woman’s Weekly GP Dr Gill Jenkins. ‘Sleep deprivation decreases production of protective immune proteins

called cytokines and infectionfighting antibodies and cells, making you more prone to inflammation, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.’ Another is eating breakfast within an hour of waking. Avoiding bloodsugar highs and lows helps fight inflammation, says nutritional therapist Yvonne Bishop-Weston (optimumnutritionists.com). ‘Eat every four hours if you can and have protein with every meal.’

AVOID ANTIBIOTICS

Time to love your gut ‘Your gut contains a richer diversity of life than a rainforest,’ says TV doctor Michael Mosley, author of The Clever Guts Diet (£8.99, Short Books). And your gut’s microbiome (the 2kg of bacteria, fungi and viruses living in it) is crucial in regulating your immune system – 70% of which resides in your gut.

It’s not known yet exactly what makes up the perfect microbiome, but the belief is that the more diverse your range of bugs, the better. Help it flourish by eating a wide range of foods, including plenty of fibre (wholegrains, fruit, veg). Foods high in fibre act as ‘manure’, which helps ‘good’ gut bugs grow. Pre- and probiotics are also important. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts (often called ‘good’ or ‘friendly’ bacteria), usually added to foods such as yogurt or taken as a food supplement. Prebiotics are a type of dietary fibre found in foods such as leeks, onions and garlic, which feed the friendly bacteria in your gut.

Overuse of antibiotics destroys your gut’s beneficial microbes and reduces your body’s ability to fight harmful bacteria.

Cut out bad habits Cigarettes and alcohol both suppress your white cells’ ability to multiply, affecting immunity. And stress decreases your immune system’s effectiveness. ‘Under stress, your body can only deal with major emergencies like injuries,’ explains nutritional therapist Ali Cullen. ‘Colds and coughs become less of a priority, so your body shuts down the production of lymphocytes and antibodies that would normally fight them, making you much more susceptible to anything doing the rounds.’ And don’t be a couch potato. Regular exercise is key to keeping your immune system healthy. Just a 20-minute walk a day can improve circulation, upping the ability of your immune cells to fight infection.

Health GET OUTSIDE

This increases your exposure to a variety of microbes and vitamin D, which helps gut flora to flourish and white blood cells to fight infection. Try for 15 minutes of sunshine a day on unprotected skin – be careful not to burn.

health-boosting habits

✣ Singing London scientists have found that it can boost the immune system (through the release of immune proteins cytokines), and may even help your body fight cancer. Singing encourages you to breathe, and it reduces stress hormones such as cortisol. ✣ Cycling Studies have found that it may help improve your immunity. As we age, an organ called the thymus, which makes T-cells needed for immunity, shrinks. But in a paper published in Aging Cell, Professor Janet Lord, director of the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham, explained findings that older cyclists produced as many T-cells as young people.

✣ Meditation It can boost immunity by helping reduce stress, which weakens your immune system and drastically lowers your resistance to winter bugs. American research found that people who practised regular meditation for eight weeks had fewer colds.

Fabulous food fighters

Boost your immunity year-round with what you pile on your plate. Make sure you eat plenty of these foods.

If you have a healthy, well-balanced diet, you probably don’t need supplements. But if there are gaps in your nutrition, or you think your immunity may be low, a supplement could help. Unbeelievable Nature’s Way Bee Prepared Alive! Immune Daily Defence Support, £14.99 Immune Formula, £12 for 60 chewables, for 30 capsules, Boots Holland & Barrett A.Vogel LloydsPharmacy Echinaforce Zinc 15mg Echinacea Drops, tablets, £2.99 £4.50 for 15ml, Tesco for 60 tablets

1 2

3 4

Woman’s Weekly

WORDS: TANYA PEAREY. PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): GETTY

4 supplements to try

✣ Oily fish ‘Their omega-3 fatty acids are naturally antiinflammatory,’ says Harley Street nutritional therapist Yvonne Bishop-Weston. Non-fishy poorly by the body and sources include walnuts, and eliminated quickly.’ flax, chia and hemp seeds. ✣ Red or green peppers Their ✣ Yogurt The ‘good’ bacteria vitamin C content is key for in yogurt (probiotics) feed immunity, thanks to its role in cell your immune-boosting gut health and wound healing. Also microbiome, and are believed to eat lots of citrus fruits, broccoli help restore the balance of gut bacteria after it has been affected and potatoes. ✣ Shellfish It has high levels by illness or antibiotic treatment. of zinc, another important ✣ Turmeric A great antimineral for immune health. ‘Zinc inflammatory, turmeric is best contributes to normal immune eaten with a pinch of pepper. function, helping to defend the ‘Piperine, an active ingredient body against bacteria and in black pepper, has been viruses, and help aid faster found to be a “bio-enhancer”, wound healing,’ says which makes turmeric LloydsPharmacy more medicinally CUT BACKÉ beneficial,’ says Rachel … on processed foods. pharmacist Pareena Patel. Landon, author of Artificial sweeteners, It’s also found Superherbs (£12.99, flavourings and in meats and Piatkus). ‘Otherwise preservatives kill off it can be assimilated ‘good’ gut bugs, which dairy foods. boost immunity. 13

It’s a funny old world

Column

‘I still live in the same house I grew up in!’ This week’s columnist: Global classical singer Susan Boyle

If you had told me 10 years ago that I would have released eight albums, travelled the world and was about to embark on my fourth tour, I would have thought you were having a carry-on. Most people will remember me for walking onto that Britain’s Got Talent stage, with wild hair, looking like I’d got dressed in the dark, and everyone expecting a joke audition. Then I sang, and in that moment I symbolised the old adage ‘never judge a book by its cover’. I didn’t expect the turn of events that happened. Over the years leading up to that audition, I’d entered into many local competitions and never won, always came second. So while I had hoped for the best when I went to the BGT audition, taking six buses and getting lost on the way, I honestly expected it to amount to nothing. But at least I could say I’d given it a go and stood by my promise to my deceased mother that I would try and make something of my life. I didn’t own a computer and I had no idea what Twitter or YouTube were, but thanks to Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher, who shared my performance

on social media, suddenly I had the world’s press on my doorstep. The rest, as they say, is history. I’ve still never won a competition, but coming second in the final of BGT changed my life forever. I went from lonely unknown, broke, struggling to keep the electric going, to the very opposite in the blink of an eye. I get to live my dream of performing and recording, I’ve been to places in the world that I never thought possible, I’ve made wonderful friends and I never want it to end. Fame and fortune hasn’t changed me, I still live in the house I grew up in. In fact, I bought it with the first cheque I made. I like to shop in Tesco and Zara, and now, most importantly, I don’t have to worry about paying the gas or electric bills. I was finally able to get the correct diagnosis for Asperger’s. My parents were told I was brain-damaged at birth, but academically I did well at school, so that never sat well with me. That was my ‘ahhhh’ moment. It all made sense. I decided to keep it quiet and learn about what it meant and then, in 2013, I spoke about it publicly because I felt

I never want this to end

that I could help people with autism understand there are no barriers in life. I wanted to make people aware, and to use this platform for good and show what is possible. I also wanted people to have a better understanding of me and why I do the things I do. I think people with disabilities – and I don’t like to use that word about myself, but others do – need to prove themselves all the more. Don’t give up. I think that’s what I have done – shown what is possible. Ten years ago, I lived alone with a cat. Nobody knew me. Now everybody knows me, and I don’t feel alone any more.

✣ Susan Boyle will be on tour in March 2020. For dates and tickets, visit susanboylemusic.com

PHOTOS: NICKY JOHNSTON, GETTY

My Funny Old Week WHERE I’VE BEEN Glasgow, in the studio! I’m currently in full rehearsals for my TEN tour. WHAT I’VE BOUGHT Gowns for the tour. I use a great store called Frox of Falkirk. They look like I’ve spent a fortune, but you know me, I like a bargain. WHO I’VE MET The band and choir for the TEN Glasgow calling! tour, as well as all the wonderful behind-the-scenes crew – it takes a village to get me on stage! WHAT I’VE SEEN The inside of a studio, quite literal are all eating, breathing and sleeping these rehearsals, to make sure it’s the best show we’ve done.

NEXT WEEK Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

Fashion

How to wear

A jazzy JUMPER

Bag, £60, Dune London

Ring, £39.50, Oliver Bonas

You can wear this sparkling knit in so many different ways

Available in short and long lengths

Coat, £59, sizes 6-24, M&S

Trousers, £22.50, sizes 6-24, M&S

Jeans, £28, sizes 8-24, M&Co

£36, sizes 6-26, Next

Skirt, £44.95, sizes 4-18, Gap

Order a size bigger than usual

Bag, £34, Next

Earrings, £85, Fiorelli at La Redoute

COMPILED BY: BECKY JOINER-O’RIORDAN

Shoes, £55, Carvela at John Lewis

Watch, £86, Rotary at thewatchhut. co.uk Shoes, £45, M&S

Available in wide fit Woman’s Weekly

Find your

CAPSULE MAKE-UP KIT

You only need a handful of products to guarantee looking great all day long

TOP TOOLS

You can apply foundation with your fingers, a sponge or a brush. If you like full coverage, opt for a brush – apply a small amount of foundation to your face and simply buff out. The Real Techniques Custom Complexion Brush, £9.95, is a 3-in-1 make-up brush featuring an adjustable slider spectrum to deliver varying levels of definition. If you prefer a sponge, try Beauty Blender, £17, for build-able coverage and a flawless result that lasts all day. Wet your sponge before using it, it allows for even distribution.

Flawless foundation If you like sheer coverage that’s super hydrating and packed with a cocktail of skin boosting ingredients, try No7 HydraLuminous Moisturising Foundation, £15. For something a little more long lasting we recommend Estée Lauder Double Wear, £27, that has 44 shades to suit all skin tones.

18 Woman’s Weekly

BEST BLUSHERS We all look better with a little cheek colour! For fair skin, use dusty pink and peach, while pinky coral and terracotta with a hint of shimmery gold will help warm up medium skin tones. Darker skin can carry bolder shades – try burnt orange, deep coral and magenta. For a dewy glow, try a gel or cream like Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips & Cheeks, £22.50, it’s pricey, but a little goes a long way. For a natural look, wear it on the apple of your cheek using a tapping technique with your ring finger. If you prefer powder, try Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush, £4.28, which adds natural radiance.

Beauty

AMAZING EYES

Good news – one hardworking palette is all you need. We recommend the soft peachy and pink tones in E.L.F. Rose Gold Eyeshadow Palette, £10, which are perfect for creating an every day look. If you want something that makes more of an impact, try Lottie London The Rusts, £4.95, which offers nine wearable smoky shades in creamy matte finishes.

Magical mascara There are many options for lashes – whether you want to lengthen, darken, or add volume. If yours are short, try like Pixi Lengthy Fiber Mascara, £16. The brush has comb-like bristles to apply the formula onto your lashes, gliding it through from root to end. For a volumising effect, the brush has to be more dense to really pack on the formula and plump individual lashes. Try Nars Climax Mascara, £21, and apply multiple coats one after the other. Curl straight lashes with The Body Shop Eye Lash Curler, £5, then apply Rimmel Supercurler Mascara, £5.27.

BRILLIANT BROWS

WORDS: SOPHIE CULLEN PHOTO (POSED BY MODEL): GETTY

Lovely lips During the cold weather a nourishing, hydrating balm with a hint of colour, like Lanolips Tinted Balm, £8.99, is a great choice. For a soft dose of colour, Rimmel Lasting Finish in Birthday Suit, £4.79, is deeply pigmented, long-wearing and glides on effortlessly. Or make a statement with a rich, creamy vibrant red like Max Factor Colour Elixir in Cherry Kiss, £8.99.

Defined eyebrows help structure your face and add a much-needed lift if you get it right. If your brows are a little sparse or you’ve over-plucked them and they never grew back, try Benefit Gimme Brow, £21.50, which contains tiny microfibres that adhere to your skin and make your brows look instantly thicker. Additionally, Soap Brows, £12, beautybay.com, will help thicken and ‘set’ your brows. Apply either on top of a tinted brow definer or on its own and brows will stay in place all day.

Our labours

OF LOVE Three women reveal the emotional reasons behind why they took up their incredible hobbies ‘It gave me a way of coping’

‘I find it very therapeutic’ Mia Hansson, 45, lives in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, with partner, Eddie, 48, and stepson, Tom, 26 My grandmother taught me to cross-stitch when I was young. I had a natural talent for it. Over the years, I took on more complex work, such as re-enactment costumes and items for museums. But when I became a full-time carer for my stepson, Tom, who has cerebral palsy, I wanted a bigger project, something to work on while at home with him. ‘What’s bigger than the Bayeux Tapestry?’ I thought. So I began a replica. I did my research, as I wanted my version to be as authentic as possible. I’ve tried my best to find threads as close to the original seven colours used, and I’m working on a linen backing. Mia wanted a big project

20 Womans Weekly

I’ve got an excellent book – The Bayeux Tapestry by David M Wilson – which helps me create templates. Working on one image at a time, I draw a pencil outline before adding the design freehand, then stitching over it. I find it very therapeutic and work on it most days, sometimes for half an hour, sometimes for 10 hours. I think it’ll take 10 years to complete the full 69 metres. There have been reproductions before, by groups, but as far as I know, no one has done it alone. I don’t think anyone’s been crazy enough! Since starting, I’ve given talks to groups like the WI. When it’s finished, it’ll be too big to hang up at home. So I might sell it or rent it to museums. Or I’ll keep it rolled up. After all, it will have given me 10 years of fun. ✣ Follow Mia’s Bayeux Tapestry Story on Facebook

Jenni Dutton, 68, lives in Wiveliscombe, Somerset When my mother was diagnosed with dementia in 2008, I realised I was going to be heavily involved in her care. I gave up my art studio and worked from home to be closer to her, and began researching ways families could deal with the illness. As I began to get more of an understanding of how dementia manifests itself, my mother and I started to explore ways of engaging with the past, often looking at old photo albums. That’s when I first had the idea of stitching the faces of family members onto pieces of conceptual clothing I was making. Mum recognised these familiar faces and enjoyed watching me create the portraits – it was good for her memory. After I’d finished, I decided I wanted to create a bigger piece, so I found an iconic photo of my mum in her younger days and embroidered her likeness. It was large, the size of a wall-hanging and looked amazing. From there, I began

making more – 15 in total – all depicting her journey through dementia, capturing the emotions, expressions and reality of that journey, both for good and for bad. The more I made, the more

Real life ‘If I can make a difference’

Jenni’s work is about everyone’s loved ones

refined my technique became. Each piece was very timeconsuming, taking about four months to complete as I worked from a photo and built up the picture on the canvas. But at the same time, it was all about me spending time with my mum, and it gave me a way of coping. She passed away in 2015, but I decided to continue my work. Now, The Dementia Darnings have been exhibited all over the country and I’ve

found they really do speak to people. They’ve become about everyone’s loved ones, all those who are going through the same thing. Working on the Darnings gave me a real focus of who my mum was; it was a celebration of her life and stopped me feeling resentful of the dementia. I can only hope this series will serve as a testament to her life and spirit. ✣ jennidutton.com alzheimersresearchuk.org

WORDS: KATE CHAPMAN. PHOTO: ANNA HAGBERG

Sheena Powell-Bevan, 45, lives in Rugby, Warwickshire, with her son, Ellis Brooke, 19 When my dad had to go into hospital in June last year, I’d visit him every Suitcase Trains into hospital day for a few hours. And, when he was admitted and as I sat chatting to him had to leave his at home. in his hospital bed, It made a daunting I remember seeing lots situation more bearable of other older men lying and less scary for him. there with nothing to do. One mum wanted one It was really sad. Many for her son so she could of them didn’t seem to show him there were other have any visitors and they things they could do looked so lonely. together, rather than him I remember thinking, just playing on his tablet. ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we Another lady contacted could sneak something in me because her grandson to cheer them up?’ spent his school holidays I’ve always loved arts designing his own and crafts so, inspired by Suitcase Train and wants a friend’s dad who had to visit my workshop and a model railway in his show me his pictures. garden, I had a go at They’ve touched so many making a portable more people than I ever train set in a vintage thought possible. suitcase – and it worked! And that’s what it’s all It was a bit of trial and about – if I can make a error at first, seeing if small difference to people’s I could pin a track to a happiness, or give them board to fit inside a case some inspiration of their that would be functional own, then that’s wonderful. as well as portable. ✣ suitcasetrains.com Once that was done, I made some scenery, so it was authentic. It’s fiddly work, especially things like trying to stick in tiny animals, but people really seem to love the finished sets. I’ve made 16 so far, with more commissions coming in. One elderly gentleman, who lives alone and is Sheena’s Suitcase a miniature-railway Trains have touched enthusiast, took so many people one of my bespoke y

Have supper with

SUPERFOODS

Nourish your body with these healthy, antioxidant-rich recipes

PER SERVING

SWEET POTATO CURRY

A beautifully spiced veggie curry that’s rich in antioxidants.

Put the sweet potatoes on a non-metallic plate and microwave on high for 5 mins,

or steam them for 5-8 mins. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the mustard seeds and chillies until the seeds begin to pop. Add the onions to the pan and fry until soft and starting to brown. Stir in the garam masala and tomatoes and fry for 5 mins. Stir in the sweet potatoes, yogurt, coconut and 200ml (7fl oz) water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 mins, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender. When everything is cooked through, stir through the spinach. Garnish with coriander and lime wedges.

PER SERVING

400 cals, 30g fat, 8g sat fat, 17g carbs

TIP Sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin A, essential for preserving good eye health.

BAKED BEETROOT AND FETA SALAD

A health-boosting beetroot salad packed full of flavour. SERVES 2 ✣ 6 small beetroot, scrubbed ✣ 3tbsp oil ✣ 2tbsp balsamic vinegar, plus extra for dressing ✣ 60g (2oz) feta ✣ 2tbsp pumpkin seeds ✣ 50g (1¾oz) watercress

Heat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Cut the beetroot into wedges and

arrange them on a baking tray. Mix the oil and balsamic vinegar together and drizzle over the beetroot, tossing to coat fully. Roast for 15 mins, or until the beetroot is tender. Allow the beetroot to cool, then mix with the feta, pumpkin seeds and watercress. Drizzle with more balsamic.

COMPILED BY: KEIRON GEORGE MURPHY. RECIPES AND PHOTOS: TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

SERVES 4 ✣ 800g (1lb 12oz) sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks ✣ 2tbsp sunflower oil ✣ 1tbsp black mustard seeds ✣ 3 red chillies, sliced lengthways ✣ 2 onions, sliced ✣ 1bsp garam masala ✣ 500g (1lb 2oz) large tomatoes, peeled and quartered ✣ 500ml (16fl oz) natural yogurt ✣ 75g (2½oz) desiccated coconut ✣ 100g (3½oz) spinach ✣ coriander and lime, to serve

514 cals, 22g fat, 13g sat fat, 60g carbs

Cookery

TIP Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli are rich in nutrients, and higher consumption can help protect against diseases, including some types of cancer.

PER SERVING

SUPERFOOD CHICKEN SALAD WITH MINTY DRESSING

568 cals, 21g fat, 4g sat fat, 37g carbs

This wonderfully fresh yet filling chicken salad is perfect for a midweek supper. SERVES 2 ✣ 2 chicken breast fillets ✣ Juice of 1 lemon ✣ 1 garlic clove, crushed ✣ 100g (3½oz) quinoa ✣ 100g (3½oz) broccoli, cut or broken into florets ✣ 100g (3½oz) frozen peas ✣ 2tbsp chopped fresh mint ✣ 2tbsp reduced-fat mayonnaise ✣ 1tbsp mixed seeds

✣ 1 small ripe avocado, peeled, stoned and chopped

Heat the oven to 200C/ Gas 6. Place the chicken breasts in a small roasting tin. Mix half the lemon juice with the crushed garlic and spoon over the chicken. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper, then roast

in the oven for 25 mins until cooked through. Meanwhile, cook the quinoa in a pan of boiling water for 15 mins, adding the broccoli florets for the final 5 mins, until tender. Drain. Cook the peas in a separate pan of boiling water for 3 mins. Drain, rinse under cold running water

2 3

then drain again. Blend the peas in a food processor with the mint, mayonnaise and remaining lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Place the quinoa and broccoli in a serving dish with the mixed seeds and avocado, and mix well. Slice the chicken, place on top and serve, with the minty pea dressing in a side bowl.

Woman’s Weekly

woman’s weekly plant offer

Plant a Carpet of Colour Guaranteed to flower in the first year from planting • Aconites: A springtime carpet of golden/yellow blooms that will quickly multiply • English Bluebells: The nodding, violet-blue flowers of these hardy, native bulbs attract insects to their delicately scented flowers • Snowdrops: Drifts of graceful nodding snowdrops signal winters end with an understated elegance • Height: up to 25cm (10in) • Spread: up to 8cm (3in) • Flowers: January-May

Aconites

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Order online

www.thompson-morgan.com/womansweekly TERMS AND CONDITIONS Offer available to readers on the UK mainland only. Offer subject to availability. Your contract for supply of goods is with Thompson & Morgan, a company wholly independent of Woman’s Weekly, published by TI Media Limited. **Calls cost 7p per minute plus your telephone provider’s access charge. Regretfully we are unable to ship live plants to the following areas: HS, IV41-IV56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR25, ZE1-ZE3. Images for illustration purposes only. Closing date: 29th January 2020. Items despatched from February 2020 onwards. All orders will be acknowledged by letter or email, advising you of the expected despatch date.

Good to know

Seal the

DEAL

Cashsmart tips to send your travel costs packing!

Booking a holiday? Here’s our round-up of how to get the best bargains

3 ways to fly for less

WORDS: LAURA MILLAR. PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES/HOXTON. *OPODO CO UK/BEST-TIME TO BOOK FLIGHTS

Deals on wheels Omio (omio.co.uk) is an easy-to-use app and website for planning and comparing prices and journey times for bus and train travel (it does flights too). It can also link up different elements of your trip – for example, if you get a train across the Channel, then continue by coach. George Charles from moneysavingheroes.co.uk says, ‘Coach and rail travel are similar – opt for a randomly selected seat to keep costs down and try not to travel at peak times if you can help it. Sometimes after you travel with a company, they send you an offer for when you next book with them, so it’s always good to keep these to hand.’

Awesome online packages ✣ Signing up to travel sites with free membership means you’ll get advance notice of deals and offers that aren’t found elsewhere. Popular sites include travelzoo.com, which sends a weekly email to members; groupon.co.uk, with a tab for holidays under £99; and lastminute.com, which has daily top deals listed for a 24-hour period. ✣ Use cashback sites to earn back money on your holiday booking. Sites

like topcashback.co.uk offer money back on purchases from hundreds of travel retailers – for example, you could earn up to 8% cashback on hotel bookings with Expedia, or 10% on all new customer bookings at hotels.com. ✣ Some companies offer occasional discounts, so keep your eyes peeled. For example, in the past, Sandals and Beaches Resorts have run a 2-for-1 sale on select Caribbean breaks.

Check for January sales Most airlines hold these, just like other retailers. They’re often advertised in newspapers, on TV or on posters, but it also pays to check the airlines’ websites, as well as their Twitter and Facebook feeds. Airlines that often have sales include British Airways (ba.com), Emirates (emirates. com), Norwegian (norwegian.com) and Ryanair (ryanair.com). Know when to book Research from flight finders Opodo* (opodo.com) found that, on average, Sunday is the cheapest day of the week to book your flight. For short-haul domestic flights, it pays to book around 50 days in advance; for long-haul flights to the US, the best prices are found by booking 31-36 days in advance; and for flights to Asia, it’s 26-30 days in advance. Download specialist apps Secret Flying (secretflying.com) allows users to make savings on air travel by notifying them of error fares, cheap deals and unannounced sales. Meanwhile, The Points Guy (thepointsguy.co.uk) has advice on how to accumulate and make the most of credit card points and air miles.

Woman’s Weekly

Health

Your wellbeing Latest health solutions for your mind and body

WORDS: TANYA PEAREY. PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS, EXCEPT KIM PEARSON ): GETTY, GETTY/ISTOCK. IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, SEE YOUR DOCTOR

Time to rethink your diet at

Kim Pearson is a Harley Street nutritionist

MENOPAUSE?

he menopause can play havoc with your waistline. I work with a lot of women going through it – they’ve managed to maintain their weight throughout their lives, then the menopause hits… During this time it’s more important than ever to eat a nutrient-dense diet to help your body cope with such big hormonal changes. Eat lots of fresh veg, and moderate portions of low-sugar fruit. Good-quality protein is crucial, as are healthy fats such as omega-3s, to keep skin supple. To avoid placing additional demands on your body, limit processed and sugary foods, refined carbohydrates and alcohol. One of the biggest problems I see in menopausal women is sleep, and alcohol

w rse it s not conducive to sleeping well. A healthy diet is important throughout your life. But at key times, like the menopause, it’s vital. There’s a lot of conflicting information, especially from influencers on social media who are paid

o promote products. But if you ant nutritional advice, you eed trusted sources, such qualified nutrition experts. I qualified at London’s stitute for Optimum Nutrition 2008, after a three-year gree. I’ve always loved od and my mum was a rial dieter, so I was body nscious from a young age. It’s probably no surprise at I’ve ended up specialising in weight loss. I now have my own nutrition clinic in London’s Harley Street (020 7632 7574, kim-pearson.com) and I love helping the clients who come to me for advice.

LOSE WEIGHT This lowers your risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Reduce fat and sugar, eat a healthy diet high in fruit and veg, and get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.

Costly, overly cushioned trainers may cause more injuries, says vein expert Prof Mark Whiteley. ‘Your foot needs to spread when you put weight on it,’ he says. This activates the pump in your calf, sending blood to the heart and keeping veins healthy. ‘Too-cushioned shoes may hamper this. You need to keep tendons, muscles and bones active during exercise.’

NEW READ

3 ways to... look after your liver CUT DOWN ON ALCOHOL Drinking more than 14 units a week can damage the liver cells. Have at least three alcohol-free days a week; see britishlivertrust.org.uk

If you usually… buy expensive trainers Try this instead… buying cheaper ones!

GE If you’re going abroad, get vaccinated against blood-borne viruses hepatitis B and C. They can cause permanent liver damage and raise your risk of liver cancer.

FIVE MINUTES TO A HEALTHIER YOU (£12.99, OCTOPUS BOOKS) Can you spare five minutes? From simple stretches in the morning to mini mindfulness in the evening, this book offers more than 70 small exercises to fit into your day, which will have a big impact on your health.

Dr Gill

Advice from our Woman’s Weekly doctor

Coping with

Bitter veg Researchers have found that a dislike of vegetables may have a genetic cause. Inheriting two copies of the bitterness taste gene TAS2R38-PAV may give an unbearable level of bitterness to foods like broccoli and sprouts, as well as to beer, coffee or dark chocolate. This could explain why some people find it impossible to eat an adequate amount of veg. Possibly, we taste bitterness because, in evolutionary terms, sensing bitter tastes may protect humans from consuming something poisonous.

NOT GETTING YOUR PILLS

Certain meds are in short supply and you may have difficulty obtaining them

his is not just a UK problem, nor is it just Brexit related. There is a worldwide shortage of many medications, with supply variation in each country for different reasons. In the UK, over 900 medications have had supply problems over the past few years, for a variety of reasons. From some contraceptives and HRT, to serious shortages of certain blood pressure medications, diuretics and epilepsy medications, pharmacists are having difficulty obtaining enough for patients.

The causes

There are many background causes. Firstly, manufacturing, a complex process for most drugs, is regularly affected by problems with supply of ingredients or even difficulties for the producer in getting hold of the base substance they are held together by. Curiously, pigs are still used for the economic production of a bloodthinning medicine called heparin, and an Asian-wide epidemic of swine flu has Look on the bright side and you’re likely critically reduced production. There are to live longer. You have a greater likelihood synthetic versions of heparin but they of reaching 85, even adjusting for baseline are very expensive for the NHS. health, according to two large long-term Secondly, simple basic economics US studies – the Nurses’ Health Study and the create shortages – as the pound Veterans Affairs Normative Ageing Study – has devalued, it has reduced and other health data-tracking, scoring levels our purchasing power, and for optimism and longevity. It’s suggested pharmaceutical companies may that optimists react better to life’s stresses prefer to sell what supplies they and recover faster. have to other countries where they can make a greater profit.

STAY OPTIMISTIC

28 Woman’s Weekly

Ways to be prepared ✣ Order well in advance for your next supply of regular medicines in case they take time to source. But don’t stockpile. It makes the problem worse. ✣ Liaise with your GP and pharmacist about what other options could be substituted. There are usually several medications in each ‘family’, and an alternative may be in better supply. ✣ Make sure your doctor prescribes ‘generically’ – by the chemical name. Branded drugs are dearer and it may be harder to ensure availability. ✣ Your doctor should review all your medicines at least yearly. Don’t order repeats if you’ve stopped using certain medicines, just tell the doctor why. Thirdly, contamination issues have affected supplies, or caused products to be withdrawn for long periods, for example an issue with some bloodpressure medication. A further factor is that once medicine formulas have reached the end of their patent, they can then be manufactured by any company, as generic non-branded products, pricing of which in the UK is very competitive. Although this may have economic benefits for the NHS, margins can become so tight that manufacturers

PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS: GETTY. DR GILL IS UNABLE TO OFFER INDIVIDUAL ADVICE OR SEE INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS. ADVICE GIVEN HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY. SEEK HELP FROM YOUR GP IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL PROBLEM

Dr Gill Jenkins has more than 25 years’ experience as a GP

Health

My friend says fibromyalgia is all in my mind. So why am I in such pain?

Fibromyalgia is poorly understood and hard to diagnose. And it’s certainly worse if you’re stressed. But that doesn’t mean it’s just in your mind. There is emerging evidence that there are changes going on that we previously haven’t been able to test for. A recent German study of people with the condition showed widespread abnormal small nerve fibre function in the skin and the cornea of the eye. The severity of people’s symptoms correlated well to the degree of dermal nerve damage. Management is still based around analgesia, rest and exercise programmes, with general advice including a healthy diet, limiting alcohol, not smoking and weight management. Psychotherapy, CBT and relaxation techniques may be helpful. For some, medications, including antidepressants and certain anticonvulsants, offer relief.

decide to stop production. The NHS has started to issue ‘serious shortage protocols’ – for example, over certain dose sizes of the antidepressant fluoxetine, and pharmacists may have to use combinations of tablets to achieve the correct dose or offer the medicine as a liquid if they have supplies of that only. Brexit may, or may not, affect supplies and also costs, but as many of our medicines are imported, it is possible there may be importation issues delaying delivery and increased costs. It’s worth talking to your pharmacist, or trying other pharmacists, who may use distributors with different stock reserves.

Sitting on radiators causes piles TRUE FALSE. The risk of piles is related OR to increased abdominal pressure, FALSE? as when constipated, straining, being overweight or pregnant. There is also a familial tendency. Reduce your risk by eating plenty of fibre, avoiding becoming overweight and drinking enough water. A recent German study found a hot bath at least once a week also reduced risk.

4 fixes for... tinnitus RELAXATION

MUSIC

SOUND THERAPY

SEE YOUR DOCTOR

Mindfulness, deep breathing and yoga may help. You can buy relaxation recordings or find therapy support online, or see a psychotherapist.

Don’t live in total silence. Make sure there’s gentle background music or other sounds, but avoid very loud music as this will worsen things.

Buy a sound-therapy system to block out the audible symptoms of tinnitus, using pillow speakers and headphones for a good night’s sleep.

To have your ears checked and discuss medication. Look at the British Tinnitus Association website for ideas that have helped others. Woman’s Weekly

Woman’s Weekly Travel Offers

FULLY ESCORTED TOURS

8 days half-board from only £999PP

8 days half-board from only £699PP

Lake Maggiore, Orta & The Matterhorn

Lake Garda, Venice & Verona

Departures from May to October 2020

Price includes: ● Enjoy a full day exploring beautiful Lake Garda, both on land and by boat ● Explore Venice, the medieval world’s richest city, on a tour with a local guide – choose between the ‘classic’ and ‘undiscovered’ tours ● Walk into history among the Roman ruins of Verona, guided by a local expert – choose between the ‘classic’ and ‘undiscovered’ tours ● Marvel at the breathtaking alpine scenery of the Dolomites on a full-day tour ● Enjoy two free days to explore further at your leisure ● Visit a local vineyard, with a guided tour of the cellars and a tasting of the superb wines ● Return ﬂights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers ● Seven nights in a choice of conveniently located accommodation rated three-star to four-star superior, with breakfast and dinner ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout ● Complimentary airport security fast track*

Departures from April to October 2020

Price includes: ● Cruise Lake Maggiore’s enchanting Borromean Islands, with a guided tour of the Baroque palace on Isola Bella ● Travel through the Simplon Pass to Zermatt and the Matterhorn ● Visit picture-perfect Lake Como ● Enjoy a full-day tour visiting Cannobio and Locarno, with a journey on the Centovalli railway through spectacular alpine scenery ● Tour one of Italy’s most exquisite stretches of water, Lake Orta, and its medieval village of Orta San Giulio ● Return ﬂights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers ● Seven nights in four-star superior or four-star accommodation, with breakfast and dinner ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout ● Complimentary airport security fast track*

8 days half-board from only £899PP

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Pompeii, Capri & The Bay of Naples

Sicily

Departures from March to November 2020

Price includes: ● Marvel at astonishing Greek ruins in the Valley of the Temples on our guided tour of one of the UNESCO World Heritage site ● Admire Palermo’s medieval and Baroque centre, Italy’s ﬁnest outside of Rome ● Explore the stylish hilltop town of Taormina and its stunning ancient Greek theatre ● Take a guided tour of the Roman villa in Piazza Armerina and see some of the best-preserved mosaics and frescoes from antiquity ● Experience the majesty of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe ● View the gold and glass mosaics in Monreale cathedral on a guided tour ● Visit Siracusa, one of the Greek empire’s richest cities and home of Archimedes ● Enjoy authentic Sicilian food at a farmhouse ● Return ﬂights from a selection of airports, plus all hotel transfers ● Seven nights in four-star accommodation, with breakfast and dinner ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout ● Complimentary airport security fast track*

Price includes: ● Explore the amazingly preserved Roman town of Herculaneum with a local guide ● Take a boat trip to the stunning island of Capri ● Discover the mysteries of Pompeii on a guided tour ● Spend a full day touring the Amalﬁ coast, with a visit to charming hilltop Ravello ● Stay in elegant Sorrento and enjoy a walking tour of this stylish resort ● Enjoy a walking tour of Naples old town with a local guide and enjoy a sample of the authentic Neapolitan street food ● Return ﬂights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers ● Seven nights in a choice of conveniently located accommodation rated three- to four-star superior, plus breakfast and dinner† ● The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout ● Complimentary airport security fast track*

Departures from April to November 2020

To book, go online at travel.womansweekly.co.uk or call 01283 742396 quoting code WWE Offers may be withdrawn at any time and are subject to availability. Single supplements apply. Offers operated by, and your resulting contract will be with, Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430 – a company wholly independent of Woman’s Weekly, published by TI Media Limited. Prices are based on two people sharing and are correct at time of print. *See our website for full terms and conditions. †Stays at the Hotel Mediterraneo and the La Badia are on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

Health

Here to help Let counsellor Keren lighten your load

Can I sit in on my daughter’s therapy?

My 15-year-old daughter has been very moody and we thought she was depressed. The GP suggested she had some therapy. The therapist wants to see her on her own. I feel uncomfortable about this, and I think I should be there. Janet, London What are you worried about? Is there something you don’t want the therapist to know? The therapist will have assessed the situation and will have decided it’s better for the two of them to talk together alone. That said, it may be useful for you to have a chat with the therapist with your daughter there so you can talk about the situation from your viewpoint. Your daughter can then see you’re part of the situation and prepared to give her space to share her issues. It would mean the therapist has a fuller picture. After they’ve talked, the therapist may well ask you and your daughter to come in together so you can look at ways to support her through this tricky patch. If you’re concerned about the process, I suggest you call the therapist to discuss it. It’s important you daughter feels you’re happy for this to happen so she can be open with the therapist.

We don’t get on

I have three daughters-in-law. I get on well with two, but one doesn’t like me. I don’t know what to do to make it easier between us. I get so anxious before she comes round and feel as if I’m walking on eggshells. Lucie, Sheffield Your being anxious won’t help. It will make her anxious too. Without knowing what the problem is, you’re trying to rectify it, so it’s unlikely you’ll come up with what’s

Should I have turned her away?

I had a birthday party for my eight-year-old and we invited the friends she wanted. But one girl turned up with her six-year-old cousin, who’d unexpectedly come to stay. Her mother hadn’t phoned to ask us if it was OK. I couldn’t turn her away but I didn’t have a party bag, and the games were arranged for the number we had. She was so clingy she spoilt the party. Hilary, Sunderland to manage it. I think it would It must have been a bit have been very scary for a six-year-old hard to send her to be with the older girls away on your doorstep! when she knew no one. Of course, the friend’s With some warning, mother should have called you and given you you could have the opportunity to say no suggested her mum stayed with her. because, even if you still All you can do now is felt you needed to say mention it to the friend’s yes, you’d have had mother and tell her it time to work out how

needed. The only way to find out is to talk to her. Ask her how she feels about your relationship and tell her how you feel. That should help to break the ice. You can then have a frank discussion and change the way you communicate.

Should we trust him?

My first husband was an alcoholic, which is why I left him. He has since got his act together and says he hasn’t drunk for over 10 years. My daughter has reconnected with him and he sees our grandchildren. He’s asked if he can have them to stay

was awkward and ask her to let you know if this should ever happen again. ✣ Keren welcomes your letters, emails and texts, but she cannot reply to individual cases and will select correspondence at random for publication.

for a weekend. I don’t think they should go. I told my daughter and she was furious with me and said I held grudges and was on my high horse as usual. Name and address withheld I understand why you’re feeling concerned but your daughter is right – people can change. If your ex-husband is now a recovering alcoholic and managing his life, there’s no reason he can’t have his grandkids. Your daughter knows his history and she’ll have made a considered decision in relation to her children seeing him. Hard as it is, I think you need to leave this up to her.

Woman’s Weekly

PHOTO (POSED BY MODEL): ALAMY

Our relationship expert Keren Smedley has over 20 years’ experience

Photo frame, £15, River Island

Frames, from £3 each, hanging hexagon shelf, £10, all Dunelm

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Colour

CRUSH

Grab a bargain on your next shopping trip with these home updates Waffle throw, £15, JD Williams

COMPILED BY: ESME CLEMO

Mirror, £8, George Home

Mugs, £5 each, Maxwell & Williams

32 Woman’s Weekly

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Burns Night

PERFECT PUDS

Remember the celebrated Ayrshire poet and finish your supper with one of our traditional and delicious Scottish puds

PER SLICE

Dundee cake is the queen of fruitcakes, thanks to its distinctive crown of almonds. SERVES 12 ✣ 175g (6oz) butter ✣ 150g (5oz) soft brown sugar ✣ 1tsp black treacle ✣ Finely grated zest of 1 orange and ½ lemon ✣ 30g (1oz) ground almonds ✣ 4 large eggs, beaten ✣ 250g (9oz) plain flour 1tsp baking powder 350g (12oz) sultanas 30g (1oz) blanched almonds, split u will need: 18cm (7in) round deep cake tin, lined with baking parchment Heat the oven to 140C/ Gas 1. Cream the butter

This simple, irresistible traditional Scottish pud is a great way to use up leftover cake.

34 Woman’s Weekly

PER SERVING

CRANACHAN MAKES 4 ✣ 75g (2½oz) pinhead oatmeal ✣ 45g (1½oz) soft light-brown sugar ✣ 275ml (9fl oz) double cream ✣ 1tsp honey ✣ 2tbsp whisky ✣ 100g (3½oz) cake, crumbled (we used

and sugar until light. Beat in the treacle, citrus zests and ground almonds. Add the eggs a little at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift in the flour and baking powder, then mix in the sultanas, and spoon into the tin. Smooth the top. Arrange the split almonds in concentric rings on the top. Bake for 1 hr 45 mins or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Check after 1 hr and cover with foil if the top is browning too fast. Cool in the tin for 10 mins. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight tin or tightly wrapped in baking parchment.

leftover Christmas cake) ✣ 125g (4oz) berry compote ✣ 100g (3½oz) fresh raspberries, halved ✣ Chopped nuts, to serve

Heat a heavy-bottomed pan until hot. Add the oatmeal and sugar, and toast until golden. Tip the mixture out onto a baking

555 cals, 38g fat, 23g sat fat, 42g carbs

tray; leave to cool. Whip together the cream, honey and whisky to soft peaks. In 4 glasses, layer up the oats, whisky cream, crumbled cake, compote and raspberries. Keep chilled until ready to eat, then sprinkle with chopped nuts just before serving.

2 3

COMPILED BY: ROSIE BENSBERG. PHOTOS: TI-MEDIACONTENT.COM

DUNDEE CAKE

275 cals, 8g fat, 3g sat fat, 69g carbs

Cookery

Discover more about Robert Burns’ poetic legacy on page 10.

PER SERVING

MARMALADE AND WHISKY BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING

588 cals, 40g fat, 24g sat fat, 44g carbs

A dash of warming spirit gives a lovely rich twist to this classic dish. SERVES 8 ✣ 45g (1½oz) butter, softened ✣ 1 round loaf of crusty white bread, sliced ✣ 4tbsp Seville orange marmalade ✣ 4tbsp whisky ✣ 500ml (16fl oz) milk ✣ 100ml (3½fl oz) double cream, plus extra, to serve

✣ 6 medium eggs, beaten ✣ 75g (2½oz) golden caster sugar

Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Butter one side of each slice of bread and spread thinly with marmalade. In a baking dish, arrange the slices, marmalade

side up, so they overlap, and drizzle with the whisky. Beat the milk, cream, eggs and sugar together, then pour over the bread. Place the dish in a baking tin half-filled with boiling water. Bake for 35-45 mins until the top is golden and the custard has set. Serve the pudding with cream, if liked.

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y tonight?!’ I gasp to my boss. ‘Sorry, Emily. Management wants us all to attend this productivity course tomorrow. But they still want this first thing Wednesday.’ What a great Monday. ‘How can I do that when I’m losing a day on training?’ My colleague shrugs sympathetically at me. ‘I’m taking my lunch now,’ I say, slamming my laptop shut. ‘I need fresh air. I’m going out.’ He looks surprised. ‘You never take lunch normally. Besides, it’s raining.’ But I grab my coat and head across the road, into the park. Scowling, I stomp the wet pathways, my bad mood surrounding me like a cloud. Of course, it’s when I’m in the centre of the park that rain hits monsoon levels. I dash for the Edwardian bandstand. Rain drums on the roof. Above its rhythm, I become aware of footsteps running up behind me. ‘That was sudden, wasn’t it?’ A man, seemingly around my own age, joins me. I stare at rain-lashed, leafless trees. ‘I’m Luke,’ he says. ‘Hi.’ I don’t give my name. There’s an awkward pause, while I wish he’d go away. ‘You know, in a way it’s beautiful,’ Luke says. ‘Yeah, right.’ ‘Soothing – like a meditation background tape.’ Great. Of all people to be stuck with, it’s someone who’s enjoying Miserable Monday. I move back. He must have noticed, because he steps away and gets out his phone. ‘Not what the weather forecast said…’ His eyes sparkle and they’re very blue. It’s such a ridiculous comment, I can’t help but laugh. ‘That’s better,’ Luke smiles.

RAINY DAYS and Mondays The last thing she wanted on this miserable day was to be waylaid by a strangerÉ

‘We British are comfortable talking weather, aren’t we?’ I relax. He’s cute and we’re not isolated: the park is full of people rushing by. I’m only not joining them because I spent hours straightening my hair. ‘Seriously,’ Luke says. ‘See how the bandstand’s light glows on rain spilling over the roof – like an illuminated fountain in Las Vegas.’ ‘But not as glamorous,’ I laugh. ‘Have you been?’ ‘Nope. But I will one day.’ ‘Me, too.’ There’s a pause while we digest this common ground. ‘Warmer there, too.’ Luke nods like I’ve said something profound. I laugh again and so does he. It feels lovely after all the office stress. It’s an oddly intimate situation, enclosed as we are by the rain curtain – a barrier we could cross any time. ‘I’m Emily,’ I volunteer. ‘Great to meet you, Emily. Now, your turn. Find something beautiful about today.’ ‘Oh, please! What are you? A psychologist or something?’

‘Just someone who learnt to train his mind to see the good.’ ‘That’s very deep,’ I giggle, embarrassed by his seriousness. I mean, I barely know the bloke. I’m not up for a life-the-universe-andeverything conversation. ‘Not really. I had an accident a few years back – made me review everything. That’s when I decided to start looking on the bright side.’ I resist the temptation to launch into the Monty Python song, because he looks so genuine. Then his serious face disappears and he grins. ‘Anyway, don’t change the subject. Your turn to find something beautiful in this rain-sodden park.’ ‘OK… the berries on that bush. They’re sparkly, with the raindrops on them.’ ‘That’s good. Now close your eyes.’ ‘What? No!’ I squeak. Way too weird! ‘Two seconds,’ he says. I can’t explain why, but I trust him. Anyway, he’s hardly

Short story oing to pounce and ag-snatch in two seconds. At once, I’m aware f stuff I wasn’t before: irdsong; a sweet scent. ‘What’s that smell?’ I ask. ‘Great, isn’t it? I think s the bush with the pink owers. I love the ones at bloom in winter.’ ‘The optimists?’ We laugh. He’s cute, I think – but still a total stranger. The downpour is easing. ‘Look,’ I say. ‘I’d better go.’ ‘To work?’ ‘Yeah.’ I nod towards the building, where my laden desk awaits. ‘Well, I’ll probably see you tomorrow, then.’ ‘Huh?’ ‘I’m running a course there: Mindfulness and Productivity. I was going there when the rain started,’ he says. ‘No offence, but if it’s all “stop-and-stare” stuff, I don’t think our management will be impressed. They think the course is about productivity.’ ‘Most of my company’s clients don’t know what mindfulness is, but they like the results. Their staff are more productive.’ ‘Your company?’ ‘Yeah. I set it up when I got well again.’ ‘So you’re a bit of an evangelist?’ I tease him. He laughs. ‘I hope not quite as scary.’ The smile we share is like a physical link that I don’t nt to break. Must go,’ I say. See you tomorrow, then!’ As I stride back across the et park, I do feel better. Maybe there’s something this mindfulness stuff. Or aybe it’s the thought of ending the whole day with ke tomorrow that’s brought ch a smile to my face? THE END Lydia Jones, 2020 Woman’s Weekly

Travel

River of GOLD Linking Spain and Portugal, the Douro flows past picturesque vineyards and hillside villages

s I sip Champagne and sink into the red velvet armchair topped by a regal crest, I reflect that there are few occasions in life when you can say you’re travelling like the Queen. However, this is one of them.

Lush landscapes

While Her Majesty never sat in this throne-like seat, she did enjoy exactly the same opulent surroundings that I, along with a group of her fellow subjects,

Great for

CULTURE VULTURES

are now enjoying as we set sail on a cruise along the Douro, said to have been dubbed the ‘River of Gold’ by the Romans who first settled along its banks. The sinuous waterway rises in Spain, winding through the green landscapes of northern Portugal to the city of Porto on the Atlantic coast. It might not be as well known as some of its other European counterparts, such as the Rhine and Danube, but in keeping with its maritime past, when seafarers including Prince Henry the Navigator (born in Porto in 1394) set sail to explore the

A day trip from Barca D’Alva visits the ‘golden city’ of Salamanca, Spain’s oldest university town, where it’s fun to try and spot the tiny frog hidden in the ornate college façade which is said to bring students good luck during exams. 38 Woman’s Weekly

The luxurious Spirit of Chartwell

world, the river offers a fascinating modern-day voyage of discovery.

Sail away

As Spirit of Chartwell slips under the double arches of Porto’s landmark Dom Luís Bridge, we begin cruising in style on board a unique vessel that stands out from the crowd. For in 2012 our floating home, which carries just 30 passengers, was the gilded barge that carried the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at the head of a magnificent flotilla

Salamanca’s historic centre

of 1,000 boats along the River Thames during the Diamond Jubilee Pageant. Today, it might have lost some of its elaborate exterior decorations – our captain explains they had to be removed as they snagged the mooring ropes – but still retains its elegance. The cream and chocolate livery resembles a Pullman railway carriage from the golden age of travel, a theme continued inside where the decor is little changed since the pageant. Our journey is leisurely as we sit back and take in the Unesco-listed Douro Valley’s

Great for

SPIRITED ADVENTURERS

Take a trip around the city with Porto Sidecar Tours. You can ride in the sidecar or as a pillion passenger on a historic Russian Ural bike as you are whisked through quaint narrow streets to places of interest.

dramatic wooded slopes and vineyards that produce the country’s famous port wine. Ships are only allowed to sail during the day, so we never missed the passing sights.

WORDS: JEANNINE WILLIAMSON. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY

Sightseeing

Each day we set off on coach excursions. The next morning, the 18th-century pilgrimage church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios was a highlight – built in 1750, it overlooks the pretty town of Lamego. After the visit we walked down the wide stone steps leading to Lamego, flanked by fountains, statues and dazzling blue azulejo tiles that adorn everything from palaces and monasteries to homes, park benches and railway stations. I bought some individual tiles to bring home, as they make great souvenirs and presents. The next afternoon brought the delightful medieval walled

Explore Porto’s streets in style

town of Castelo Rodrigo, where we sampled local olives and almonds, and on the following day we visited Mateus Palace, depicted on the curvaceous bottles of the namesake rosé wine. Of course, port also runs through the region, and we were taken to family-owned quintas, or wine-producing estates, to learn about – and taste – the fortified tipple. In Portugal it’s drunk at all times of day and throughout the year, not just after dinner or at Christmas! During our time on board we sat on the sun deck, mingled in the lounge and enjoyed wonderful meals in the dining room – buffet breakfasts and a served four-course lunch and dinner, along with excellent Douro wines that most of us had never tried before. Back in Porto at the end of our trip, we said a reluctant goodbye to the Spirit of Chartwell after travelling like royalty on a cruise fit for a queen.

Getting there

The steps at Nossa Senhora dos Remédios

✣ Titan Travel offers a seven-night Douro cruise on the Spirit of Chartwell priced from £3,099, or nine-night holidays with a two-night stay in Lisbon starting at £3,199. Fares include all meals on board, wine with lunch and dinner, excursions, flights and Titan’s VIP home pick-up service. Call 0808 274 2725 or visit www.titantravel.co.uk

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Gardening

Tips, tricks & buys

GARDEN

notes

Planting ideas and pretty daffodils CHILLI TIME

Sow chilli peppers now, and they’ll have ample time to ripen over summer. Fill a pot with compost and sow seeds thinly about 5mm deep. Gently spray with water, then cover with a plastic bag, held in place with an elastic band. Put somewhere warm (an airing cupboard is perfect) and, when the seeds emerge, remove the plastic and move to a sunny windowsill.

Things to do

THIS WEEK

Twee

Birds such as blue tits will soon be searching or nesting sites, so entice them into your garden with a bird box. You can make a fine avian abode with the RSPB’s free downloadable plan (rspb.org.uk), or try a Bird Nest Kit, made in forestry-approved arch, that comes with a bag of sheep’s wool or nest lining. £15 from chimneysheep.com

WORDS: CHRIS MORLEY. PHOTOS: GETTY, ALAMY

3 of the best… daffodils

EARLY CHEER Mini ‘February Gold’ has swept-back petals around a long trumpet. Plant in pots to display from February.

VASE BEAUTY ‘Erlicheer’ has around 6–8 white flowers per stem from March to April. Cut when open and enjoy indoors.

WOW FACTOR ‘Thalia’ is an old variety, now back in fashion. Its delicate, white flowers look fab planted en masse.

FORCE RHUBARB Harvest slender, pink rhubarb stems 2–3 weeks early by covering the crown with straw, then topping with an upturned bucket or bin to cut out light.

PLANT OUT FORCED BULBS Give spent indoor bulbs a second life: after flowering, store in a shed or garage till spring, then plant in the ground with a handful of fertiliser. HYDRATE HOUSEPLANTS Combat desert-dry air (thanks, central heating!) – spritz plants with a mister, and stand them on pebble-filled saucers topped up with water. Woman’s Weekly

Top

Difficulty level

TABLE Transform a charity-shop piece of furniture into a stylish bedside table. Here’s how...

YOU WILL NEED ✣ Bedside table – we found ours in a local Emmaus charity shop ✣ Sandpaper and cork sanding block ✣ Wood filler and filler knife ✣ Furniture primer ✣ Chalk paint ✣ Découpage paper ✣ Matte finish Mod Podge ✣ Decorative drawer knob ✣ Cloth ✣ Ruler and pencil ✣ Paintbrush ✣ PVA glue ✣ Pin or skewer

STOCKISTS: Violet Macaroon chalky finish furniture paint, £5 for 125ml, Rust-Oleum. Botanical gift wrap - Summer Garden by Catherine Lewis Design, £2.50 per sheet, notonthehighstreet.com. Glass rod drawer knob, £3.95, Graham & Green. Mod Podge, £5 for 236ml, Hobbycraft.

1 WORDS AND MAKE: ESME CLEMO. PHOTOS: BARRY MARSDEN

Remove the old knob and drawers from the bedside table. Using some sandpaper and a sanding block, remove any paint and smooth out any chips on the surface. Don’t forget to do the drawer too.

With the wood filler and filler knife, fill any holes or indentations in the surface. Allow to dry completely, then sand away any excess filler.

3 4

Remove the dust from the bedside table with a slightly damp cloth.

Prime, then paint the bedside table and drawer, following the manufacturer’s instructions for the amount of coats and finishing techniques. Allow to dry completely. 42 Woman’s Weekly

Craft

Measure the drawer front and base, and transfer the dimensions to the reverse of the découpage paper.

Apply the PVA glue to the surfaces which you are going to apply the découpage paper and leave to go tacky for a couple of minutes. Position the paper over the top and push down to secure. Keep an eye on the paper as it dries, to remove any wrinkles in the paper that might appear.

Once dry, apply a coat of matte Mod Podge over the top. Allow to dry.

Tested by us so they work for you

Using a pin or skewer, push a hole into the découpage paper on the drawer front where the previous knob was. Screw the new knob onto the drawer front and replace the drawer in the bedside table. Woman’s Weekly

hen two more vans arrived the day after his new neighbour moved in, Arthur couldn’t believe his eyes. It wasn’t just furniture they were unloading, there were plants too. There were so many tubs and containers that he quickly lost count. It was as if she’d brought an entire garden with her. It was no better at the weekend. Hammers, drills, thumps, bumps and thuds – the racket went on for hours. He wondered why people always had to change things. The previous owners had ripped out a perfectly good kitchen mere weeks after moving in. When they tore out the original fireplaces and dumped them in a skip, it almost broke his heart. On Saturday afternoon, all kinds of thuds and noises were still coming from next door. It sounded as though a herd of rhino had moved in. He decided to go to the library for a bit of peace and quiet. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong time to leave. His new neighbour was in the front garden, watching as a man painted her door a deep shade of green. Arthur preferred the door the way it was; white like everyone else’s. She gave him a friendly smile. ‘Hi. I’m Rachel Burrows. You must be Arthur. I’m sorry about the noise. The worst will be over in a couple of days.’ ‘It’s Mr Brown,’ he replied as he hurried down the path. He hadn’t meant to be rude, and regretted his snappiness the second the words left his mouth. It was lucky his daughter 44 Woman’s Weekly

The Green

DOOR His new neighbour had brought nothing but noise and disruption, yet there was something about her that still drew him in

hadn t heard him, she would have told him off something rotten. Sometimes, he could hear her voice in his head. ‘You’re turning into a grumpy old man. You need to get on with your life. It didn’t end when Mum ran off.’ Of course she was right, but the divorce had hit him hard, denting the little confidence he had. His daughter had signed him up for a speeddating event and he’d been on various internet sites, but

with no success. The problem was, he’d always been shy about talking to women. If his wife had waited for him to ask her out, they would never have got together. As the days went by, he shuddered to imagine what Rachel was doing to the house as a constant stream of tradespeople came and went. He had visions of more walls being knocked down, making all the rooms open plan… and as for the garden, what

He regretted his snappiness the second the words left his mouth

as going on there, e had no idea. A line of tall plants nd trees had appeared longside the fence. t night, he could ee the glow of lights. e wondered if she’d e having barbecues nd parties every ve minutes. There was so much oise, he was glad to et to work. It had taken im 20 years to reach he position of deputy anager of a stationery holesaler. There, hey did things the ld-fashioned way; he was always Mr Brown or Sir. Nobody would have dared to call him Arthur. When the workmen left, eace returned, but it didn’t ast long. He was reading one night when he heard music. Rachel was playing Green Door by Shakin’ Stevens. Other 1980s hits followed, some of which he remembered from school discos. When the music stopped at nine o’clock, he was surprised to find that he felt a tiny bit disappointed. The next day, a card opped through his door. ‘Rachel Burrows invites you to her housewarming party on Saturday, eight ‘til late. Bring a bottle.’ A housewarming. Arthur wondered why she bothered. These days, people liked to keep to themselves. He certainly did. He was about to throw the card in the bin when he noticed it said ‘RSVP’, so he wrote ‘no thank you’ and pushed it back through her door on his way to work. She called round to his house that evening. ‘Sorry you can’t come to the party,’ she said. ‘I wanted to warn you about the noise. It

might go on a bit late. I hope that’s OK. It’s only one night.’ He nodded. It wasn’t all right, but at least she’d taken the trouble to warn him. On the night of the party, people started arriving from seven o’clock. Soon the whole road was full of cars. When the music started, Arthur called his daughter. ‘Can I come over to yours? Next door’s having a housewarming party.’ ‘Of course, Dad. You know you’re always welcome.’ Julie welcomed him with a hug. ‘It seems a bit mean, not inviting you. Surely that’s the point of having a housewarming party, getting to meet the neighbours.’ ‘Actually, she did invite me. I said no.’ Before Julie could say anything, he stopped her. ‘I know. I’m a grumpy old man. I should have said yes.’ She smiled. ‘You’re not grumpy, Dad, and you’re 58, so you’re not old either. I know it’s difficult for you, but you could have gone round, at least for a few minutes.’ Arthur frowned. He’d thought she’d be on his side. ‘So what’s she like, this new neighbour?’ Julie asked. ‘Her name’s Rachel. I’m not sure how old she is. Five feet four, give or take. Blonde hair. Grey eyes, nice smile.’ Julie’s eyes twinkled. ‘Is she on her own?’ ‘Don’t start. She’s not much older than you. There was a man painting her front door but it’s hard to tell if they’re together.’ He told her about the various workmen. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it. She even brought trees.’ He looked round the room. ‘Where is everybody tonight?’ ‘Jim’s at the gym,’ Julie giggled. ‘Sorry, Dad, it makes me laugh every time I say it. The twins are at a sleepover and Sarah’s out with her

boyfriend. This is the first night I’ve had to myself in ages.’ Arthur felt a twinge of guilt. He noticed a book, open on the table. His daughter loved to read. With three teenaged children, she didn’t get much time to herself. He thanked her for the tea and biscuits. ‘I should go before it gets dark.’ He gave her a kiss and headed home. Even before he reached his road, he could hear the party. As he passed Rachel’s gate, he stopped. In the light of the street lamp the green door shone like a beacon. From the noise, it sounded like people were having fun. In the end, the shy part of him won and he went indoors, but there was no escaping the music. By ten o’clock, he’d had enough. He marched round and knocked on the green door. Nobody answered, so he tried again. And again. Eventually it swung open. ‘Hello, Mr Brown. I’m so glad you decided to come.’ When Rachel tried to steer him inside, he shrugged her off. ‘I’m not here for the party, I’m here about the noise.’ ‘I see. It will be over by midnight, I promise.’ She looked so apologetic, Arthur regretted being abrupt. He was deciding what to say, when the man he’d seen painting the door appeared. ‘Is everything OK, Rachel?’ She nodded. ‘We’re fine, Pete. I was hoping I could persuade Mr Brown to join us. There’s no need to bring a bottle, there’s plenty.’ Arthur shook his head and went back indoors. If the party wasn’t over by midnight, he’d have something to say. At half past ten, Green

Door started playing. It was so loud, he could hear every word Shakin’ Stevens was singing. As he listened to the lyrics, they struck a chord. It was all about a man who was desperate to find out what was going on behind a green door, but the people who lived there wouldn’t let him in. Only Arthur had been invited. His daughter’s words came back to him. Before he could talk himself out of it, he went round. The green door opened before he reached it, and several people emerged, smiling and laughing and saying their goodbyes. ‘Thanks for coming,’ said Rachel. When she saw Arthur, she gave him a hesitant smile. ‘The party’s not over yet, Mr Brown, if you’d like to join us.’ ‘Thank you,’ he said. The moment he stepped inside, Arthur knew that he’d got it all wrong. Rachel hadn’t been hacking the house to pieces, she’d been restoring it. French doors had been installed between the living room and dining room, and she’d even found original 1930s fireplaces. It looked wonderful. ‘What would you like to drink?’ Rachel shouted above the music. ‘Coffee, tea? Or there’s wine, beer or lager.’ He was about to say tea, then changed his mind. ‘A glass of red wine would be lovely, thank you.’ As he sipped his drink, he felt far more comfortable than he’d expected to. It helped that most of the music was from the 70s and 80s. Soon his feet started tapping. The wine was good too. ‘Would you like to see

They might have been the only two people in the entire world

the garden?’ Rachel asked, as she topped up his glass. Arthur nodded. As Rachel led the way, she told him the story behind the garden. ‘My dad died three years ago. Mum wanted to be closer to her family, but she couldn’t bear to leave his garden behind, so when I moved, I offered to take it on, with Pete’s help, of course.’ Arthur allowed himself a smile. He was right; there was something going on between the couple. When Rachel opened the back door, he was lost for words. The garden had been transformed into an enchanted forest. There was a water feature, mirrors, statues and mosaics, all perfectly placed amongst the plants and trees and set off by beautifully arranged lighting. He was transfixed. Rachel must have noticed, because she smiled. ‘It has that effect on people. I should get back to my guests. My mum’s just arrived. She’d love to give you a tour.’ Arthur nodded, still staring at the beautiful garden. Moments later, Rachel’s mother joined him. ‘It’s so lovely to meet you, Mr Brown,’ she said. ‘I’m Gloria.’ As she closed the door, the music from the party faded into the background; they might have been the only two people in the entire world. Gloria’s green eyes were so warm and deep, Arthur could happily have dived into them. ‘Are you ready for the grand tour?’ she asked. When Gloria slipped her arm through his, he thought his heart might burst with happiness. ‘Yes,’ he said softly. ‘But please – call me Arthur.’ THE END Linda Lewis, 2020 Woman’s Weekly 45

Short story

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Crochet

HAPPY feet Turn basic granny squares into something both chic and wearable

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MEASUREMENTS To fit shoe sizes: 4-5 (5-6). MATERIALS 3 x 50g (104m) balls of King Cole Merino Blend DK (100% pure new wool superwash) in Teal (Adriatic 1985). Size 3.5mm and 4mm hooks. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 18 stitches and 10 rows, to

10x10cm, over treble, using 4mm hook. ABBREVIATIONS Ch, chain; dc, double crochet; st(s), stitch(es); tr, treble crochet; chsp, chain space; tr2tog, without making the last wrap of each, work 2tr, yarn round hook and pull it through all 3 loops on hook; cl, cluster (make the stated number of stitches without making the last wrap of each, yarn round

hook and pull it through all loops on the hook); slst, slip stitch. NOTE Yarn amounts are based on average requirements and are therefore approximate. Instructions are given for the small size. Where they vary, work figures in round brackets for larger sizes. Instructions in square brackets are worked as stated after 2nd bracket.

Instructions overleaf Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Weekly

Crochet SECOND SIDE 1st row: With right side of motif facing and with 4mm hook, miss next 5 tr, 3ch, 5tr at corner and next 1-chsp, join yarn in next dc, 3ch, work tr2tog and 1tr in 3-chsp, 1tr in 1dc, 1tr in 1-chsp, 1tr in each of next 3 tr, tr2tog over next 2 tr, 1tr in 3-chsp – 10 sts. Turn. 2nd row: 3ch (counts as 1tr), 1tr in each of next 8 sts, 1tr in 3rd of 3ch. Repeat 2nd row, 12 (14) times more. Fasten off.

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SLIPPER (make 2) SOLE With 4mm hook, make 4ch. 1st row: 5tr in 4th ch from hook – 6 sts. 2nd row: 3ch (counts as 1tr), 2tr in next tr, 1tr in each of next 2tr, 2tr in next tr, 1tr in 3rd of 3ch – 8 sts. 3rd row: 3ch, 2tr in next tr, 1tr in each of next 4tr, 2tr in next tr, 1tr in 3rd of 3ch – 10 sts. 4th row: 3ch, 2tr in next tr, 1tr in each of next 6tr, 2tr in next tr, 1tr in 3rd of 3ch – 12 sts. 5th row: 3ch, 2tr in next tr, 1tr in each of next 8tr, 2tr in next tr, 1tr in 3rd of 3ch – 14 sts. 6th row: 3ch, [1tr in next tr] to 3ch at end, 1tr in 3rd of 3ch. Repeat 6th row, 4 (6) times. 11th (13th) row: 3ch, tr2tog, 1tr in each tr to last 3 sts, tr2tog, 1tr in 3rd of 3ch. Work 3 rows straight. 15th (17th) row: As 11th (13th) row – 10 sts. Work 6 rows straight. Next row: As 11th (13th) row – 8 sts. Turn. Edging round: 1ch, 1dc in each of next 8 sts, now work 2dc around the stem of each edge stitch along side of sole to point at front, 3dc in point, work 2dc around stem of each edge stitch along other side of sole, slst in ﬁrst dc. Fasten off.

FRONT MOTIF With 4mm hook, make 5ch, sl st in 5th ch from hook to form a ring. 1st round: 4ch (counts as 1tr and 1ch), [1tr in ring, 1ch] 11 times, slst in 3rd of 4ch – 12 tr. 2nd round: Slst in next chsp, 3ch, 2-st tr cl in same chsp, 3ch, [3-st tr cl in next chsp, 3ch] 11 times, miss 3ch and slst in top of ﬁrst cl – 12 cl.

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3rd round: Slst in ﬁrst chsp, 1dc in same chsp, [5ch, 1dc in next chsp] 11 times, 2ch, 1tr in ﬁrst dc. 4th round: [3ch, 1dc in next chsp,1ch, work 5tr, 3ch and 5tr in next chsp, 1ch, 1dc in next chsp] 3 times, 3ch, 1dc in next chsp, 1ch, work 5tr, 3ch and 5tr in next chsp, 1ch, slst in 1tr. Fasten off. FIRST SIDE 1st row: With right side of motif facing and with 4mm hook, join yarn in next corner space from fasten off, 3ch (count as 1tr), work tr2tog in next 2tr, 1tr in each of next 3 tr, 1tr in 1-chsp, 1tr in 1dc, work 1tr and tr2tog in 3-chsp, 1tr in 1dc – 10 sts. Turn. 2nd row: 3ch (counts as 1tr), 1tr in each of next 8 sts, 1tr in 3rd of 3ch. Repeat 2nd row, 12 (14) times more. Fasten off.

TOP EDGING With wrong sides together, join sides by oversewing the single outside strands of the last row. With right side facing, and with 3.5mm hook and starting at the seam, join yarn, 1ch, work 2dc around the stem of each edge st to the motif, miss 1-chsp, work 1dc in each of 5 tr of motif, 3dc in 3-chsp, 1dc in each of remaining 5 tr of motif, miss 1-chsp, work 2dc around the stem of each edge st of second side, slst in 1ch. Fasten off. BOTTOM EDGING With right side facing and with 3.5mm hook, join yarn at back seam, 1ch, work 2dc around the stem of each side edge st to the motif, 1dc in corner chsp, 1dc in each of 5 tr, miss 1-chsp, 3dc in 3-chsp, 1dc in next 1-chsp, 1dc in each of 5 tr, 3dc in corner chsp, 1dc in each of 5 tr, 1dc in 1-chsp, 3dc in 3-chsp, miss next 1-chsp, 1dc in each of next 5 tr, 1dc in corner chsp, work 2dc around the stem of each side edge st of second side, slst in 1ch. Fasten off. TO MAKE UP With wrong sides together, pin bottom edging to sole edging and sew through both layers.

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RESIDENT Ghosts

The show could save them, but with the weather turning treacherous, things were falling apart

s she pulled the curtain back and looked out into the darkness, Caroline commented, ‘It’s a filthy night, Jessica.’ The rain was coming down hard and fast and she heard a rumble of thunder in the distance. ‘I hope it doesn’t put them off coming.’ ‘Are you kidding?’ Jessica laughed. ‘This is perfect. They’re filming a programme about a haunted rectory, not a holiday destination.’ ‘Not yet, anyway,’ Caroline said ruefully. Not for some time to come if she was honest with herself. ‘And that’s another thing,’ Jessica said. ‘When you open this place up as a B&B, you’ll be able to advertise it as seen on Resident Ghosts.’ She put up her fingers as quotes. ‘You know what people are like. They love the paranormal. They’ll be queuing up to stay here and you can give the place a plug on the show.’ Caroline sighed. She hoped it didn’t backfire. Popular as the subject was, she wanted to attract families and couples to the Old Rectory B&B once it was up and running. The whole idea was to have a warm, friendly atmosphere, not scare guests witless. ‘Please tell me you’re not having second thoughts?’ Jessica said. ‘Too late for that,’ Caroline

50 Woman’s Weekly

replied. ‘But let’s see how the week goes before we decide whether to advertise the fact that we were on TV.’ ‘If it goes well,’ Jessica said. ‘We’ll have to work harder than ever to open while it’s still fresh in people’s minds.’ Bless her, Caroline thought. Jessica was an eternal optimist. But most people wouldn’t have heard of the show. She hadn’t until the location agency contacted her. ‘And don’t forget the Americans,’ Jessica added. ‘The show has quite a following in the States. They’ll be flocking here in droves. You might have to turn the back garden into a runway!’ She laughed. It was a ridiculous thought of course. Caroline laughed too, but she couldn’t keep the harshness out of it. This was what happened when you didn’t tell people about yourself. Caroline kept smiling as she mumbled something and hurried into the study, closing the door behind her, shutting Jessica out. ‘Breathe,’ Caroline reminded herself. How stupid to fly into a panic over a few innocent words. But what if someone

did come to stay from the States and they recognised her? She couldn’t bear the sympathetic looks which would be inevitable. Her husband, David, was piloting a small plane when it crashed into the Alaskan mountains, killing him and his four passengers. Once the lawsuits had been settled, all Caroline had left was her half share of a property they’d owned in the UK. It had to be sold, but it would have been unthinkable to live there without David anyway. With capital, but no way of getting a mortgage, Caroline had her eye on a modest house with an affordable guide price at auction. She fully intended to buy it, do the work necessary and start rebuilding her life. She’d viewed the house, but at the auction, the price just kept going up and up. Then the Old Rectory came up. The room fell silent and Caroline raised her paddle. She waited for someone to bid against her, but no one did. It was only when she saw the house for the first time that

The idea was to have a friendly atmosphere, not scare guests witless

SERIAL PART ONE she realised why. The Old Rectory was battered and bruised and in need of a fresh start. Rebuilding the house was like rebuilding her life and as the Old Rectory gradually recovered, so did she. There was still a long way to go and much to be done before she could open to guests, but the end was almost within her grasp. It had been far more than just a cosmetic job. At first, it seemed that every day she uncovered another problem. At least one good thing had come of it: her friendship with Jessica. Jessica’s ex-boyfriend, Ed, had rewired the house and on his last day, asked if he could bring Jessica along with him. She’d taken to Jessica at once and it had nothing to do with the flowers and bottle of

Serial

wine she brought with her. ‘I love this house,’ she said as she walked through the door. ‘I’m so glad you saved it before it ended up being knocked down.’ ‘I love it too,’ Caroline said. Jessica helped Ed as he worked and when they sat down for lunch, Caroline asked what work she did. ‘Clerical work,’ Jessica replied. ‘Nothing grand.’ ‘Don’t put yourself down,’ Ed said, then he turned to Caroline. ‘She did just about everything at that place. They never saw her worth.’ ‘What a shame,’ Caroline said. ‘Would you be interested in helping me out here until you find something else? There is so much to do. I’ve done some plastering and minor repair work, but the place needs decorating.’ ‘Are you offering me a job?’

Jessica’s eyes widened. ‘I’m sorry,’ Caroline said. ‘Forget I spoke. It was just a thought.’ ‘An amazing one, thank you,’ Jessica said. ‘I would love to help out here for as long as you need me.’ Caroline and Jessica became very close over the following weeks. She told Jessica that David had died in an accident, but didn’t go into detail. It came to the point where she almost hoped Jessica wouldn’t get another job because she’d miss her. It was Jessica’s idea to register the Old Rectory with a location agency after reading an article about it. ‘They’ll pay to use your house as a location for all sorts of things,’ Jessica said eagerly. ‘TV series, movies!’ ‘I think you’re being a bit

over optimistic,’ she said. ‘We might end up on a show about how to stop squirrels living in the attic and 10 ways to tackle rising damp, but movies? I hardly think so.’ ‘Well, who knows? You may as well try to make some money out of it until you can open your business,’ Jessica had said. ‘Go on. Email them. You’ve nothing to lose.’ ‘I’m willing to try anything,’ Caroline said thoughtfully. She forgot all about it until a production company contacted her with a view to hiring the rectory for a week as a location for their series, Resident Ghosts. And the fee they were willing to pay was more than she expected. Resident Ghosts was on a channel Caroline had never heard of. It was shown five nights a week and the regular presenter, the flamboyant

Emmanuel Hunter, was joined by a glamorous medium, Hermione Dove, and a surprise celebrity guest. She watched a few episodes and found it unexpectedly entertaining. They used the word celebrity loosely when it came to the guest star. The only snag was that Caroline would have to provide beds for the production team, but she’d been assured that folding beds would be fine. Meals would be provided by an on-site catering truck and all Caroline and Jessica had to do was an occasional piece to camera talking about ghostly encounters. Not that they’d had any. There was a tap on the door and Jessica came in. ‘Are you OK, Caroline? Did I say something to upset you?’ ‘Not at all,’ Caroline said, her mood much improved. ‘Are you sure you want me here this week?’ she asked. ‘I don’t want to get in the way.’ ‘You’re joking! This was your idea, of course I want you here. Besides, if I hadn’t met you, I’d have given up months ago.’ ‘Thanks,’ Jessica said. She still looked drawn, but not as bad as she had a few days ago when she’d turned up at the rectory red-eyed and upset. ‘I’ve broken up with Ed,’ she’d said. ‘I didn’t know where else to go.’ ‘You were right to come here,’ Caroline had told her. ‘You can move in with me until you decide what you want to do next.’ Caroline secretly hoped that Jessica and Ed would patch things up and felt that a little time apart might help. Suddenly, a crack of thunder made them both Continued overleaf Woman’s Weekly 51

jump, then Caroline began to laugh. ‘Better and better,’ Jessica said as the rain came down even harder. ‘I hope the roof doesn’t leak,’ Caroline looked up at the ceiling as if expecting a cascade of water to pour down. That was exactly what had happened just after she moved in and repairing the roof had eaten a huge chunk of her remaining capital. ‘Of course it won’t,’ Jessica said as a chirpy tune began to play. Caroline dug into her jeans pocket and saw who was calling. ‘It’s Angelique.’ ‘Mrs Watson? Hi, this is Angelique from Resident Productions. I’m Mr Corbett’s assistant.’ ‘Hi,’ Caroline said. There was a short pause, then Angelique said, ‘Unfortunately, myself and the rest of the production team are unable to make it. We’ve been advised that some of the roads in the area are impassable due to flooding. I’ll be in touch to reschedule filming for another time. Is that all right?’ ‘Yes, yes of course,’ Caroline said. ‘I hope you’re all OK.’ ‘That’s very kind of you,’ Angelique said. ‘Yes, we’re fine, but it would have been reckless to continue. I’m still trying to contact others who may be on their way, so if anyone should turn up, I’d be grateful if you’d let them know about the change of plan.’ ‘I will,’ Caroline said. ‘Thanks for letting me know.’ ‘What’s happened?’ Jessica asked when Caroline finished the call. ‘They’ve decided to cancel filming for this week.’ ‘Oh, no,’ Jessica groaned. 52 Woman’s Weekly

‘What are we going to do?’ Caroline liked the way Jessica said ‘we’, as if it was her problem too. Not that it was a problem really. ‘There’s not a lot we can do,’ she said. ‘We’ll carry on with the painting.’ ‘OK, but I’ll drive down the hill to check if the road into the village is flooded,’ Jessica said. ‘And if it isn’t, I’ll pick up extra supplies, in case we get cut off.’ ‘Is that likely?’ ‘It’s happened before. Last time was about 10 years ago. The rectory was cut off for five days. There was someone living in it then. An old lady, all on her own.’ ‘How awful,’ Caroline said. ‘Poor lady.’ ‘Yes. Legend has it that when it rains, her ghost rushes up and down the stairs looking for an umbrella.’

She saw a man in her car headlights, standing right in front of her Caroline choked on a burst of laughter. ‘Is any of that true?’ ‘There was an old lady,’ Jessica said. ‘I don’t know what happened to her.’ ‘If you want to go back to the village for good, I won’t mind,’ Caroline said. ‘No, thank you, but Ed and I are definitely finished.’ Oh, what a shame, Caroline thought. The first thing to hit the man when he woke up was the cold. It took a few seconds to gather his thoughts, but he couldn’t recall how he’d ended up in a ditch. The last

thing he could recall was coming to a section of road already under several inches of water and thinking he ought to take care as it was too late to turn back. He moved his arms, then his legs. There was pain, but nothing terrible. He unfastened his crash helmet and slung it aside and the sudden onslaught of cold rain helped clear his head. As he groped his way in the darkness and tried to haul himself out of the waterlogged ditch, he found his bike. It was partially submerged. Even if he could get it out, he’d never get the thing started. It was a shame. It was a good bike. He’d done a good few miles on it too. He realised he was lucky to have been thrown off the bike when it left the road. Standing on the bike to help lever himself out of the ditch, he felt it sink deeper into the mud and was momentarily stopped by a feeling of regret before common sense took over and he made one last effort to get out. He collapsed onto the road, struggling to get his breath back. He didn’t even know which way to go, but figured that uphill would be sensible, given the rising flood water. And he remembered where he was heading: the Old Rectory. He was meant to be filming. He hauled himself to

his feet and started up the hill, sure he could hear flood water surging behind him. He stopped for a moment to look back, but there was nothing to see in the darkness, until a clap of thunder shook the ground and lightning lit up the sky. The road was flooded. He wondered what on earth he was doing here on a night like this. Why had he thrown away a perfectly good career as a vet to do this? When he turned to start up the hill again, the lightning made sparks appear in his vision, until he realised it was a car’s headlights coming towards him. Relief flooded through him as he lifted his arms to signal the driver to stop. But the car didn’t slow down, the driver didn’t seem to see him. At the last minute, he threw himself to one side, bracing himself for the impact he knew was coming. Jessica jumped and gripped the wheel tighter as lightning flashed. She lifted her foot off the accelerator slightly. She thought she’d glimpsed something at the side of the road as she drove slowly down the hill. For a split second, she took her eyes off the road and when she returned her attention to the windscreen, she saw a man in her car headlights, standing right in front of her, his arms raised. She swerved violently and the car spun out of control. There was a sickening jolt as she hit something. She rammed her foot on the brake pedal and the car stopped, the engine stalling. ‘Oh, God,’ she cried. ‘What have I done?’ CONTINUES NEXT WEEK Teresa Ashby, 2020

Serial

Your stars For 15 – 21 January with Barbara Goldsmith

yourastrologysigns.com

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr You may be rethinking or restructuring your work and career. This is a good time for starting a new project. TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May You might be working behind the scenes. If you can be patient and consistent, all your hard work will pay off. GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun This is a good time to put energy into your health and wellbeing. Pay attention to what your body is telling you and you’ll feel stronger. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul Before you agree to further responsibilities, think very carefully. You need time for yourself – make it a priority. LEO 24 Jul – 23 Aug Creatively you are coming into a powerful phase. You can be artistic in so many ways. Explore your gifts! VIRGO 24 Aug – 23 Sep Home and family are under positive influences for you this week. It’s a great time for renovating, upgrading and beautifying things.

LIBRA 24 Sep – 23 Oct This is a wonderful week for learning, studying, teaching and sharing information. You may come across something very valuable indeed. SCORPIO 24 Oct – 22 Nov Financially this is a very favourable time for you. Taking a calculated risk could pay off handsomely. SAGITTARIUS 23 Nov – 21 Dec Mars in your sign is making you charming, persuasive and even more magnetic. Take advantage of it! CAPRICORN 22 Dec – 20 Jan This is a time of growth and expansion. What new skills would you like to attain? Commit to serious learning. AQUARIUS 21 Jan – 19 Feb Anything connected with networking and meeting people is well-starred now. Get out there and mingle. PISCES 20 Feb – 20 Mar Venus and Neptune in your sign are wonderful for romance and the fulfilment of your dreams. Creatively you are also on a high.

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On sale 22 January Editorial Complaints We work hard to achieve the highest standards of editorial content, and we are committed to complying with the Editors’ Code of Practice (https://www.ipso.co.uk/IPSO/cop.html) as enforced by IPSO. If you have a complaint about our editorial content, you can email us at complaints@ti-media.com or write to: Complaints Manager, TI Media Legal Dept, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. Please provide details of the material you are complaining about and explain your complaint by reference to the Editors’ Code. We will endeavour to acknowledge your complaint within five working days and we aim to correct substantial errors as soon as possible. Woman’s Weekly

PHOTOS: GETTY

JUMBO PUZZLE ACROSS: 1 Slouch 4 Lock up 8 Refilling 14 Long ago 15 Tension 16 Rub-down 18 Irritation 19 Stress 20 At sea 22 Rural 24 Romance 25 Torte 27 Songs 30 Drama 33 Dress 36 All the same 37 Timekeeper 39 Avenge 42 Crazy 43 Cannon 45 Half a dozen 46 Underskirt 47 Treat 51 Santa 53 Steel 56 Obese 58 Symptom 59 Elect 62 Truth 63 Poetry 64 Alternated 67 Dwindle 70 Origami 71 Cordial 72 Plummeted 73 Dredge 74 Dollar DOWN: 1 Soldier 2 Owner 3 Chattels 5 Outdoors 6 Kind 7 Paintings 8 Rendered 9 Forest 10 Lob 11 I do 12 Gunmaker 13 Pontoon 17 Ditto 21 Emir 23 Railway line 25 Tavern 26 Responsible 28 Ocean 29 Glaze 31 Arena 32 Vanish 33 Descent 34 Enlarge 35 Stay put 38 Rebate 40 Elapse 41 Groan 43 Cadet 44 Nurse 48 Remarried 49 Acts 50 Totted up 52 Asteroid 53 Smelling 54 Essence 55 Leonardo 57 Satin 60 Tiddler 61 Upbeat 65 Twirl 66 Tale 68 IOU 69 Dim Answer: NEWCASTLE CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1 Recedes 5 Studio 10 Drone 11 Apertures 12 Estimates 13 Each 15 Limpid 17 Strident 20 Souvenir 21 Carpet 22 Mesh 24 Ready-made 28 Forestall 29 About 30 Rapier 31 Bye-byes DOWN: 1 Rudderless 2 Croat 3 Dreamlike 4 Scant 6 Tithe 7 Dirt cheap 8 Oust 9 Density 14 Statuettes 16 Mousetrap 18 In any case 19 Sierras 23 Haste 25 Ad lib 26 Agony 27 Afar Answer: BRISTOL LINKWORDS POCKET, STRIKE, SECOND, MEMORY, STRONG, SIGNAL, SCREEN, SECRET, SPIDER, SPEECH Answer: MANCHESTER WORDWISE Aced, acid, acne, acted, antic, cadet, cadi, cain, candle, cane, caned, cant, cate, cent, citadel, cite, cited, clad, clan, clean, cleat, client, cline, clint, dace, dance, decant, dialect, dice, eclat, edict, elicit, enact, iced, incite, incited, indicate, indict, italic, lace, laced, laic, lance, lanced, lancet, licit, nice, talc Answer: IDENTICAL

PUZZLE TIME 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: London station

SECONDARY

LANGUAGES

CLAW

HOME

BEST

LEMON

CITY

OUT

SEVILLE

PEEL

CHARTER

PATH

WANTED

PAINT

SMOKED

PINK

STEM

Wordwise

B E L A T X C I E

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 Average = 18 More than 28 = well done clue is: Highly strung

SNAP

PEARL

SUIT

Crossword

Try the easy or cryptic clues and then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer. Clue: River lair in part of London

Easy clues

ACROSS

1 French castle (7) 5 Doubter (7) 10 School near Windsor (4) 11 For sampling with an option to buy (2,8) 12 Elevate (8) 13 Observer (6) 14 Abridge (a text) (4) 15 Chip in (10) 17 Act of letting in (10) 19 Gusto (4) 20 Page fastener (6) 22 Approximate judgement of number (8) 24 Canvas shoe with a rope sole (10) 25 Immature herring of northern European seas (4) 26 Earth mound over an insect nest (7) 27 Being watchful (7) 54 Woman’s Weekly

DOWN

2 Impetuous (3‑6) 3 This evening (7) 4 Heavenward (5) 6 African island state, capital Praia (4,5) 7 Adage (7) 8 Picture (5) 9 Sewing implement (7,6) 15 Chief church of a diocese (9) 16 Extreme contest (9) 18 Accuse (7) 19 Baffled (7) 21 Mike _, former boxer (5) 23 Rome’s famous fountain (5)

Cryptic clues

ACROSS

1 Cat by water in French castle (7) 5 One doubts Conservative in rotten situation (7)

10 College film showing (4) 11 No obligation to buy having less than one commendation (2,8) 12 On drugs, say, number to increase (8) 13 One watching six sheep by river (6) 14 Alter some printed items (4) 15 Study the testimony and make a donation (10) 17 Entry made intact somehow (10) 19 Vigour of life involves resistance (4) 20 Paper fastener made from twisted petals (6) 22 I am going into property evaluation (8) 24 Rope‑soled shoe to sell paired perhaps? (10)

25 Young herring is killed every now and again (4) 26 Could be all thin insects in here (7) 27 Looking after daughter at home, surrounded by porcelain (7)

DOWN

2 Fiery chief journalist is rash (3‑6) 3 Drunk holding on this evening (7) 4 In the rear of ship, look up above (5) 6 Country’s upper limit always needs some French (4,5)

7 Saying prayer initially for dog, black (7) 8 One new game shown on the TV (5) 9 Ended learning about sewer’s device (7,6) 15 Little girl read out first of lessons in big church (9) 16 Sporting threesome? (9) 18 Bring charge against little devil, and individually (7) 19 Puzzled to find Australian birds in bed! (7) 21 Boxer stony broke (5) 23 Diverting back round fountain (5)

Puzzles Just for fun!

Jumbo PUZZLE

Read down the letters in the shaded squares to spell out an area of London.

ACROSS

1 Forbidden (6) 5 Dress in, clothe yourself in (3,2) 8 Officially, ceremoniously (8) 14 Unit of weight used for gems and gold (5) 15 Person who borrows from others (9) 16 Piece of written journalism (7) 17 Leave out (4) 18 Knitted garment (6) 19 Add together, calculate (3,2) 20 Cheeky or racy (5) 22 Avoidable (8) 23 Dazzles (6) 25 Curved, bent (6) 28 Hired killer (8) 30 Shameless, bold (6) 31 Variety of sugar (6) 35 Organised assembly (7) 37 Location or position (5) 39 Hooting birds (4) 40 One of a pair of identical children (4) 41 Compass point opposite west (4) 42 Large town (4) 43 Tailed heavenly body (5) 45 Dickensian miser (7) 48 Equipment for quick tanning (6) 49 Ought to (6) 51 Keep information in the mind (8) 55 Middle Eastern kingdom bordering Syria and Israel (6) 57 Marked correct (6) 58 Untidiness (8) 62 Nearly vertical (cliff face) (5)

63 Model Campbell (5) 64 Chide (6) 65 Edge of a pavement (4) 67 Stumped, unable to proceed (2,1,4) 68 Tinned or frozen yellow vegetable (9) 69 Crowd’s cry of approval (5) 70 Short lengths of material (8) 71 Guide (a vehicle) (5) 72 Share out equally (6)

DOWN

2 Minutes spent talking on a mobile phone (7) 3 Minim or quaver, eg (4) 4 Supplies (medicine) (9) 5 Part of a sentence (6) 6 Genuinely, really (5) 7 Melodious bird (11) 8 Example of what’s to come (9) 9 Come back into view (8)

10 Avoiding the company of others (10) 11 Instructional talk (7) 12 Descriptive report (7) 13 Blue‑green gem (5) 21 Acid’s opposite (6) 24 Zodiacal sign represented by the Scales (5) 26 Pretty quick (6) 27 Shrank back in embarrassment (7) 29 Wife’s child by a previous marriage (7) 32 Cable for pulling a vehicle (3‑4) 33 Dunk (7) 34 Addition sign (4) 36 Material scattered on icy roads (4) 38 Dove’s soft cry (3)

39 Loud protest (6) 43 Crispness when eaten (11) 44 Gnat‑like fly (5) 46 Light‑hearted love film (6) 47 Cut of beef (10) 50 Conservatories (9) 52 Made damp (9) 53 All together (2,6) 54 Paying of money in exchange for corrupt favours (7) 56 Control the functioning of (a machine) (7) 59 Pool section for strong swimmers (4,3) 60 Customary (5) 61 Body protection against weapons (6) 64 Go for a swim (5) 66 Security camera system (inits) (4)

✢ The answers to all this week’s puzzles will appear in two issues’ time.

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Woman’s Weekly

What’s on Top entertainment for going out or staying in

Just Mercy

Out 17 January Crusading young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B Jordan) takes up the cause of death row prisoner ‘Johnny D’ McMillian (Jamie Foxx), aided by an idealistic local woman, Eva Ansley (Brie Larson). Johnny D is clearly innocent, but he is a black man in Alabama accused of murdering a white teenage girl, and the system is stacked against him. Powerfully acted by Jordan, Foxx and Larson, this is a rousing courtroom drama Film based on a shocking, shameful true story.

Star Trek: Picard

Show

Amazon Prime Video Sir Patrick Stewart reprises his iconic role of Jean-Luc Picard, who he played in seven series of Star Trek: The Next Generation from 1987 to 1994. This new spin-off, set in 2399, follows the former captain of the USS Enterprise on the next chapter of his life as he reconnects with old friends for a terrifying new battle.

Emmerdale

Grease Returns

After the success of its acclaimed 2019 tour throughout the UK and Ireland, with nightly standing ovations and its status as the first new production of the popular musical in 25 years, the iconic Grease is back by popular demand in 2020. With dates on offer throughout the warmer months, tickets are on sale for many of the early showings so you don’t miss out on the perfect way to spend those summer nights. Visit greasethemusicalontour.com

ITV There’s a big whodunit in the Dales when Graham is murdered by one of his many enemies. The drama unfolds throughout the week when the same day is played out from the different perspectives of Charity, Marlon, Andrea, Jamie, Kim and Jai — who all have motives to bump off Graham. Who will be revealed as the killer at the end of the week? 56 Womans Weekly

WORDS: JASON BEST, MICHAEL DARLING, EMMA SHACKLOCK, ZOE WEST. PHOTOS: CBS, ITV

Relaxing

Book club

Our pick of the best reads around Who Did You Tell? by Lesley Kara (£12.99, HB, Transworld) Following on from her bestselling crime debut thriller The Rumour comes the twisty new novel we’ve been waiting for from Lesley Kara. Recovering alcoholic Astrid is trying to turn her life around, regularly attending AA meetings in a quiet seaside town. Only Astrid has a past that’s not so easily forgotten. Someone knows exactly what she is running from, and they won’t stop until they get their revenge. Lesley Kara deals sensitively with the complicated issue of alcohol abuse in this gripping mystery.

Book of the week

The Telephone Box Library by Rachael Lucas (£7.99, PB, Pan Macmillan) Who wouldn’t want to escape to the picturesque Cotswolds? Lucy certainly does. Taking a sabbatical from her job as a history teacher, she moves to a tiny cottage to relax, but it seems the local villagers have other ideas. A transporting and heartfelt story with some truly memorable characters.

Mr Nobody

The Norfolk and Norwich Festival

Event

by Catherine Steadman (£12.99, HB, Simon & Schuster) When a man washes up on a Norfolk beach with no memory of who he is or how he got there, it’s up to neuropsychiatrist Dr Emma Lewis to find out. This could be the pivotal case of her career – but is that what she wants? Perfectly paced with an exciting race to the end, this is one clever novel.

Celebrating all things East Anglian, the annual Norfolk and Norwich Festival returns this spring, and has already announced some of the first shows and events ahead of the full programme launch in February. This year will feature live art displays, circus acts, a play and concerts from the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra and, for the first time, will also run two stages in Chapelfield Gardens. The festival returns from 8-24 May and for your chance to book your tickets now, visit nnfestival.org.uk Woman’s Weekly

Rosemary

My lost WEEKEND

A hush has descended over Dear Towers. The sounds of a man attempting to play Snooker Loopy by Chas & Dave on the piano are entirely absent. Neither is there anybody practising – if that’s the right word – My Old Man Said Follow the Van on the ukulele. The contents of the shed are enjoying a few days of untroubled peace. Cans of three-in-one oil and WD-40 are dozing gently. As far as the electric drill is concerned, God is in his heaven and all is well with the world. Mr Dear, you see, is absent from the premises and enjoying what he still refers to as a boys’ weekend. He’s somewhere in Yorkshire, probably wondering who is going to cook his dinner. There are five of them, all so far from the first flush of youth that it could barely be detected by radio telescope. Each year they pick an area of the country – usually rural, and usually dotted with excellent pubs and restaurants – and give that area the benefit of a visit. What do they do? This is not entirely clear to me, but I guess it’s something like this: ‘Youngsters today don’t know they’re born.’ ‘Don’t know they’re born.’ ‘They’d laugh if you told

them we had outside lavvies.’ ‘They’d laugh.’ ‘And tin baths in front of the fire.’ ‘I remember tin baths.’ ‘They’ve got no drive.’ ‘No drive.’ ‘And no determination – they’ve not had to struggle.’ ‘No determination.’ ‘Or stamina.’ ‘No stamina, nor any staying power.’ And then they all fall asleep in their armchairs until it’s time to go to bed. The question is: how to make the most of being home alone? My first thought was to organise some sort of girls’ weekend. Well, if not a weekend, then a light lunch. I imagine the conversation would go something like this: ‘Men, eh?’ ‘Don’t know they’re born.’ Etc, etc. However, my charity shop colleague Wendy said she was busy pruning apple trees and forcing her rhubarb (which, of course, cannot be done at any other time). Grace, our latest volunteer, said she’d been invited away for the weekend by her personal trainer, which didn’t surprise me in the slightest.

My two closest chums from the operatic society both had flu, or whatever. The WI had apparently gone into hiding. My daughter Rachel, who now lives nearby, was shopping for a fancy-dress party on Saturday evening, but said she might be able to make it if I was cooking Sunday dinner. ‘Right then,’ I told the dog, ‘it looks as if lunch is off.’ The dog gave a whiny little sound in reply, and who can blame him? No dog likes to hear that a meal has been cancelled. What to do, then? The garden chores were up to date. The bathroom was sparkling. The kitchen could have been posing for a glossy magazine. Wait a minute, though – what better opportunity to read my new book? Ah, except Mr Dear took it with him for the train journey. So I took the dog for a walk. It rained. Now, you will probably be thinking, ‘Buck up, Rosemary love, we don’t pay our Woman’s Weekly subscription to learn how you failed to clean the house, didn’t read a book, and then went for a walk. We want

My two closest chums had flu or whatever. The WI was in hiding

action, we want drama.’ Right then, action and drama it is. Come with me to the park, where the dog and I are both wishing I’d thought to bring an umbrella (this isn’t the action and drama, by the way). Regular readers might remember that in the middle of our park, there is a rather cosy café, from which I could hear the definite call of coffee and walnut cake. Once I was inside, though, another voice called out to me instead. ‘Rosie!’ the voice said. ‘Over here.’ There, sitting at a table and wearing a warm jacket and a scarf and a bobble hat, was Graham, known to the same regular readers as The Man Who Once Spent an Evening Chatting to a Much Younger Rosemary on a Hay Cart, Thus Getting Her Hopes Up, Before Accepting a Better Offer. ‘I don’t suppose,’ he said when I’d explained I was at a loose end, ‘that you might be free for dinner this evening?’ The question now is: when the cat’s away, is it acceptable for the mouse to accept dinner invitations?

Rosie x

WOMAN’S WEEKLY ® is a registered trademark of TI Media Limited, and is sold subject to the following conditions, namely that it shall not, without the written consent of the publishers first given, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended selling price shown on the cover, and that it shall not be lent, resold or hired or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or affixed to or as part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever. © TI Media Limited, 2020

ILLUSTRATION: JOY GOSNEY

A failed lunch leads to an encounter in the park café

Woman’s Weekly Travel Offers 8-day river cruise from only £1,199PP

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Duration

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Rhine Cruise to Switzerland

8 days

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Rhine & Moselle

8 days

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Rhine, Strasbourg & Heidelberg

8 days

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The Blue Danube

8 days

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Vienna, Bohemia & Treasures of the Danube

8 days

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Cruise the Heart of Europe

15 days

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Burgundy, the River Rhône & Provence

8 days

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Amsterdam, Kinderdijk & the Dutch Bulbﬁelds

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Bruges, Medieval Flanders, Amsterdam & the Dutch Bulbﬁelds

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The Seine, Paris & Normandy

8 days

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The Douro, Porto & Salamanca

8 days

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Budapest to The Black Sea – Gems of Eastern Europe

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Articles inside

Book club

Short story

Your weekly stars

Crochet

Puzzle time

What’s on

It’s a funny old world

Cookery

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