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Editor’s letter

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Our cover star, presenter Anita Rani, talks candidly about what really makes her happy

126

60

We share some of our interior design secrets

Bobby Twidale became a student again in her 50s

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Start baking your Christmas cakes, puds and pies with our Triple-Tested recipes

Release your inner strength…

PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID VENNI, MIKE ENGLISH, HELEN MCARDLE, LIZ MCAULAY

W

elcome to this, the November issue of Good Housekeeping, which I think you’ll find is packed to the rafters with great advice and new ideas across all areas of life – from fashion to finance, beauty, recipes, health, home and more. And, aside from getting plenty of practical hints and tips, I also hope you’ll read this issue and come away feeling like you’ve had your inner strength nurtured and your confidence boosted, too. With all that we have to deal with (and particularly with the challenges of this year and last), there are times when women can succumb to the odd wobble!

But there’s plenty of good reading in these pages to provide oodles of support and inspiration.

Anita Rani, our brilliant cover star, gives us an incredibly honest interview, in which she confesses to ‘run at a level of anxiety permanently’, but says that she’s now learning to enjoy the journey of her life rather than always striving for the next goal. ‘I think getting older rocks,’ she declares.

‘Getting older gives you wisdom, power and a deeper understanding of yourself.’ She tells us the things that are key to her mental wellbeing and what she’s learned about happiness (page 16).

Meanwhile, someone we’d never heard of pre-pandemic, local government official Jackie Weaver – star of that overheated parish council meeting, which went viral earlier this year, when she stood up to bullying behaviour – shares her insights into how to have authority and deal with difficult goodhousekeeping.com/uk

situations and tricky people (page 56). I found her thoughts both incisive and entertaining and hope you do, too.

Another feature I’m pleased to bring you comes from Bobby Twidale, who got in touch with me last year to ask for work experience as she was studying for a journalism degree.

But Bobby, as you’ll discover, wasn’t a typical student – not only was she a lifelong reader of GH, but she had gone back to university in her 50s. Here, she tells us just how far out of her comfort zone she pushed herself, but that she wouldn’t change a thing (page 60). If you’ve ever considered returning to study, do read this, as it might just be the impetus you need!

On a totally different topic, I know how many of you are super-organised and like to get ahead, so I’m pleased to share with you the first hints of Christmas, from our get-ahead gift guide (gorgeous limited-edition and personalised ideas on page 75) to Stir-up Sunday recipes (page 170). The smells from the GH kitchen are absolutely wonderful… Enjoy!

Gaby Huddart EDI TOR- IN- CH IE F gaby.huddart@hearst.co.uk @gabyhuddart

z DON’T MISS YOUR DECEMBER ISSUE OF GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, OUT 27 OCTOBER – IT HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS EXTRA-SPECIAL! NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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NOVEMBER 2021

Good style

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14 GOOD IDEAS FOR NOVEMBER 22 COVER THE BIG COVER UP Gorgeous coats to keep the cold at bay

36

COVER

16

COVER

54

56

‘THE WOMAN WHO SHOWED ME HOW TO BE STRONG’

184

Alex Hollywood pays tribute to her remarkable grandmother

187 ‘THE BOOKS THAT MADE ME FEEL VISIBLE’ from Bernardine Evaristo

‘WE ALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY IF WE KNOW HOW TO USE IT’ Jackie

Gift guide

COVER

THERE’S NOWHERE TO HIDE’

After a successful year, Anita Rani

Going back to university in later life

62 OUR SMALL CHANGES TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

A lesson in how to conquer your fear

BEAUTY OILS

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PAGE

TEA TIME

PAGE

75

buying a car and how to save a wet mobile phone, plus safe ways to pay

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A RECIPE FOR INVESTMENT SUCCESS Making money work harder 151 GH GETTING GREENER The eco COVER

choices you can be making at home

Beat the cold with these beautiful pieces

We help you cut through the jargon

Presents with the personal touch

142 GH CONSUMER AFFAIRS Tips for

TOP COAT

What’s next for the Strictly star?

GIFT GUIDE

Good advice

68 ‘I TREASURE EVERY MOMENT WE

JANETTE MANRARA

PAGE

Brilliant buys to get your Christmas shopping off to a flying start

Four women share their eco advice SHARED’ One woman’s heartbreak 71 COVER ‘FINALLY, I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO RAISE MY VOICE’

‘WRITING COMES RIGHT UP FROM MY TOES’ says Elizabeth Strout COVER

75 THE GET-AHEAD GIFT GUIDE

60 ‘IN A ROOMFUL OF STUDENTS,

IT GIVES YOU WISDOM & POWER’

says there is more to come 40 COVER ‘DON’T BE AFRAID OF CHASING YOUR DREAMS’ Strictly’s Janette Manrara on her exciting new role 44 SUSAN CALMAN On being a host 46 COVER ‘THERE’S NOT MUCH WE COULDN’T TELL EACH OTHER!’ We chat to Jane Garvey and Fi Glover

reads, plus Sophie Dahl’s picks

COVER

Weaver on making yourself heard

‘GETTING OLDER ROCKS‥.

180 GOOD LIFE November’s culture fix 182 COVER BOOKSHELF This month’s

journey to the top of her profession

COAT The right style for every body 39 COVER TIME FOR A REBOOT Our

Good reads

THE BEYONCÉ OF THE LEGAL

WORLD Baroness Hale shares her

HOW TO‥. BUY YOUR WINTER

favourite new-season footwear

COVER

Set yourself up for the day with a wellness brew PAGE

116

86

PAGE

22

Good looks 85 86 94

COVER

GH BEAUTY Top tricks and tips GLOW DROPS Skin-saving oils

COVER

MY LIFE IN BEAUTY What’s in

COVER

Elizabeth Day’s make-up bag?

98 LADIES WHO LYMPH Give your lymphatic system some love

104

COVER

CAN YOU REALLY STRENGTHEN

164 170

get started on that festive baking 174 COVER GOURMET GIFTS Make your loved ones some home-made treats

Just for you 13 CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH GH

YOUR HAIR? The GHI investigates

Good health 108 112

COVER

‘MENOPAUSE IS JUST THE

AT HOME WITH MONICA GALETTI COVER SUGAR AND SPICE It’s time to

COVER

join us at Childline’s Christmas concert

38 93

COVER

15% OFF AT CELTIC & CO

COVER

MOLTON BROWN FREE GIFT

Good to go

IMMUNITY BOOSTERS: WHAT REALLY WORKS? Dr Sarah Jarvis

189 GH TRAVEL News and inspiration 190 FAR AND AWAY Long-haul trips

114 GONE WITH THE WIND It’s time we better understood flatulence

116 POUR YOURSELF A CUP OF WELLBEING The benefits of tea

Good homes 123 GH HOMES November’s best buys 126 COVER 21 INTERIOR DESIGN SECRETS Experts share their top tips 134 COUNTRY CHARMER A modernised farmhouse that has kept its quirks 139 PLUMP IT UP! Dreamy cushions

Good food 154 GH FOOD November’s foodie news 156 COVER FREEZE NOW, CHILL LATER Get-ahead meals to pop in the freezer

DISTANT SHORES Our travel editor’s dream long-haul destinations PAGE

190

Your trust is important to us, which is why: every recipe is tested three times in the GHI kitchens. Every product test bearing the GHI logo is carried out to the strict standards laid down by the Good Housekeeping Institute, our leading research centre. Recommendations on our editorial pages are based on the impartial advice of our editors and expert contributors. All health articles are checked

BEGINNING’ says Mariella Frostrup COVER

TRIED, TESTED, TRUSTED

Tried & Tested 85 COVER LED MASKS 104 COVER THICKENING SHAMPOOS 123 COVER TOASTIE MAKERS 142 COVER WALKING BOOTS 154 NUT BUTTER, COFFEE SUBSCRIPTIONS

In every issue 5 EDITOR’S LETTER 10 MEET THE TEAM 12 WORTH SHARING Your letters 82 SUBSCRIBE TO GH 196 GIVE YOUR GREY MATTER A WORKOUT Brilliant brainteasers 226 COVER ME‥. AND MY HOUSEKEEPING! Writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth

for accuracy by the Good Housekeeping Health Watch team of health professionals. All prices are correct at time of going to press.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US! We aim to correct significant inaccuracies in the next available issue. Email us at goodh.mail@hearst.co.uk

ON THE COVER Photography Helen McArdle at Eighteen Management Group fashion director Oonagh Brennan Hair Oskar Pera Make-up Sarah Jane Wai O’ Flynn Suit Temperley London Shirt Zimmermann Earrings Wilson Jewellery

STYLE TIPS How to wear your new coat PAGE

36

GET THE LOOK Inspiration from a country farmhouse PAGE

134

FIGHTING FIT Dr Sarah Jarvis on immunity boosters PAGE

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

MONICA GALETTI The chef shares her family favourites PAGE

164

112 goodhousekeeping.com/uk

DIGITAL Acting Assistant Digital Editor Susanne Norris Senior Digital Writer Bethan Rose Jenkins Junior Digital Writer Elena Chabo Videographer Oscar Hather

GROUP EDITORIAL PRODUCTION Group Managing Editor Ingrid Eames Group Chief Sub-Editor Sue Smith Chief Sub-Editor Gwen Mostyn Deputy Chief Sub-Editors Vicky Deacon, Danielle Woodward, Joseph Bentley, Amy Atkinson Senior Sub-Editor Charlotte Page Sub-Editor Clare O’Dwyer ART Creative Director Jacqueline Hampsey Group Art Editor Lisa Collins Senior Designer Abby Laing Designers Jade Stephens, Sophie Burgham

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Published 29 September 2021. Good Housekeeping, Hearst, House of Hearst, 30 Panton Street, London SW1Y 4AJ. ‘Good Housekeeping’, ‘Tried and/& Tested’, ‘GHI’, ‘Triple Tested’ and the ‘Good Housekeeping Institute Tried, Tested, Trusted’, ‘Reader Recommended’ and ‘Good Housekeeping Institute Approved’ logos are registered trademarks of Hearst UK. Good Housekeeping is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact complaints@hearst.co.uk or visit hearst.co.uk/hearst-magazines-uk-complaints-procedure. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit ipso.co.uk

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Worth sharing

We love to know what’s inspired you in the magazine, and here’s the page where you tell us what you’re thinking, baking and making!

CHERISHING KINDNESS In the article ‘Kindness Is Never Wasted’ (Be Inspired, September), STAR I found a resonance with my own LETTER situation. Being diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2018, I was also subjected to chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. What struck me then was the number of people, some of whom I didn’t know well, who reached out and comforted me with words, time and gifts of kindness. Every connection was cherished and I now ensure I pass this on to others. ROBERTA CHAPMAN

7

' Our Star Letter wins a £50 bouquet.

See below for how to share your views.

PURPLE PATCH As a GH reader who refuses to wear the invisibility cloak that our culture puts on older women, it is heartwarming to read about the company Granny Gets A Grip (Be Inspired, September). Speaking as someone who, to paraphrase the well-known poem, will continue to ‘wear purple’ and many other colours, I am thrilled at the thought I can accessorise my practical aids. ANGELA BADHAM

NEW HAPPINESS I enjoyed reading ‘I’ve Been Given Another Chance At Happiness’ (September). When someone loses their soulmate, it’s likely they will look for another partner, because they have been so happy. Good luck to Laura and Jon, and what mature sons she has, welcoming another man into their lives. GILLIAN ALLAN

IT’S NOSE-WORTHY

Our columnist shares GH reader Karen’s superpower

Susan Calman’s column in September was like reading my life of smell! I have been unable to wear perfume or use air fresheners due to migraines. I can smell odours, such as bonfires, long before others and am called ‘Mrs Smellwell’ by my family. Like Susan, citrus (not orange peel, strangely!) and herb notes are about the only ones I can tolerate. Thank you, Susan, for making me feel not so alone with this superpower! KAREN STOLWORTHY

CASTING ON AGAIN I enjoyed The Healing Power Of Hobbies (September). During the first lockdown, I started knitting again after many years. I have recently had a hip replacement and it’s been great to be creative while recuperating. BARBARA HUTCHISON

BAK E S AN D MAK E S My teenage son enjoyed all his DIY lockdown food technology lessons. He decided to have a go at your Roasted Pepper, Halloumi And Sweet Potato Burgers (September), complete with home-made guacamole. What a treat – dinner made for me and it tasted amazing!

RUTH HOOTON I am not an experienced baker but I baked this cake for my daughter’s birthday, using the Berry Tiramisu Cake recipe in July’s issue. It looked fantastic and tasted delicious! JILL WORTH

WO RTH R E AD I N G Songs In Ursa Major by Emma Brodie is a fabulous read – it’s about two singer-songwriters who fall in love and is ideal if you liked the movie A Star Is Born.

Mary O’Carroll I absolutely loved The Smart Woman’s Guide To Murder by Victoria Dowd. It’s a modern take on the classic whodunnit, but is also very funny.

Nicola Gill Looking for an action-packed psychological thriller with a cool, speculative edge? I’d definitely recommend Sleepless by Louise Mumford. Philippa East

PLEASE SHARE YOUR VIEWS OR WHAT YOU’VE BEEN CREATING. You can contact Good Housekeeping by emailing worthsharing@goodhousekeeping.co.uk or write to Worth Sharing, Good Housekeeping, House of Hearst, 30 Panton Street, London SW1Y 4AJ. If there’s a book you’ve loved, then please do leave a short review on facebook.com/groups/GoodHousekeepingBookRoom

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

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Celebrate Christmas with JOIN US FOR CHILDLINE’S MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS CONCERT

PHOTOGRAPHY: KEVIN LINES, CPG PHOTOGRAPHY LTD, ALAMY. ©THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN 2021. REGISTERED CHARITY ENGLAND, WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND 216401, SCOTLAND SC037717, JERSEY 384

We can’t wait to meet you in person or online for a festive evening of carols, celebrity guests and live musical performances. Good Housekeeping is proud to once again be supporting NSPCC’s annual Christmas concert in aid of their vital service, Childline.

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING IS DELIGHTED TO INVITE YOU TO THIS SPECIAL EVENT Thursday 9 December 2021 at 7.30pm Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Square, London Or join us online from the comfort of your own home VISIT NSPCC.ORG.UK/GOODHOUSEKEEPING FOR DETAILS AND TO BUY TICKETS. PRICES FROM £20

HAPPY FEET HOT STUFF Hottie hot water bottle in Pink, £40, Loaf

Good ideas for

Cashmere bed socks, £50, one size, Boden

November GET SET FOR WINTER WITH THESE COSY AND COSSETING BUYS STAR TURN Necklace, £50, Scream Pretty

GO ALPINE SHOP SMART Recycled Borg shopper, £79, The White Company

Merino wool cardigan, £199, xs-xl, Aspiga

IN THE PINK Rose Caramels, £7.99; Furleigh Estate rosé sparkling wine, £34.99, both Selfridges

LIGHT UP Ombré tealight holders, £45 for a set of 3, Cox & Cox

WRAP UP SOFT SHOE SHUFFLE

Bracken contrast scarf, £14.95, Joules

SITTING PRETTY Stella chair, £299, Next

Shearling clogs, £135, 3-12, Birkenstock

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Good ideas

HEAVEN SCENT Idôle Aura EDP, from £50, Lancôme

BRIGHT IDEA Table lamp and shade, £30, ANYDAY at John Lewis & Partners

TRUE BLUE

COMPILED BY: MEDINA AZALDIN, DAISY BENDALL, GEORGIE D’ARCY COLES, AMANDA MARCANTONIO, ALICE SHIELDS

Coat, £62, xs-xxl, Next

FURRY FRIEND Bligh cushion in Bud, £79, Sheridan

LOUNGE IN STYLE Silk robe, £259, xs-l, Winser London

FLORAL NOTES Notebook, £19.99, Mother of Pearl at Papier

FEELING SNUG Gloves and hat set, £89, one size, The White Company

FLOWER POWER Wonderland bloom diffuser, £34, Floral Street goodhousekeeping.com/uk

TIME FOR TEA Stoneware mug, £10.50, Rose & Grey

NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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‘GETTING OLDER ROCKS...

It’s been a year of triumphs for Anita Rani, with a new role on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and a bestselling memoir but, as she tells Anna Bonet, she feels she’s just getting started Photography HELEN McARDLE

it gives you

S

ome people enjoy relaxing on sunloungers; others are happiest when curled up on the sofa at home. As for Anita Rani? ‘It sounds crazy, but I love climbing mountains,’ she says. ‘There’s such a sweet satisfaction to working your backside off – to feel so pained, wondering if you’re ever going to make it to the top. Then you get there, the view is spectacular, and you think, “Yes, this was worth it”.’

As someone who says it’s in her nature to ‘work hard and keep striving’, the mountain is a fitting metaphor for Anita’s life and, right now, she’s reached a summit. Two decades since the Bradford-born presenter moved to London to pursue her dream of working in the media, this year has seen Anita become co-host of Radio 4’s flagship show Woman’s Hour and a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and publish a Sunday Times bestselling memoir, The Right Sort Of Girl. It tells the story of growing up with first-generation Punjabi immigrant parents in Yorkshire, her rise from working as a TV researcher to becoming a presenter on BBC One’s Countryfile, and beyond. It’s deeply honest, inspiring and joyful.

At 43, Anita says she’s feeling more fabulous and fearless than ever, and it shows on our cover shoot. ‘When I was a teenager, I was really anti-fashion and into grunge,’ she laughs. ‘I wanted to blend in. But now I’m in my 40s, I love getting dressed up like this, because I feel at my most confident.’ Anita lives in East London with her tech executive husband, Bhupi, and their Bedlington Whippet, Rafi. Here, she explains how she’s fizzing with excitement for what’s still to come…

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

It’s been a huge year for you. How does it feel?

It does feel like it’s been a remarkable time. I don’t feel like I’ve stopped.

Getting a gig presenting Woman’s Hour and writing a book in one year is pretty massive! The book is the biggest achievement for me, at least on a personal level. It’s really shifted me into a different sphere. Writing it has changed me.

In what sense?

It’s been an important turning point, because I’ve said all these things that I’ve always been made to feel I should keep to myself; about the expectations placed on women, and the experiences of having to navigate a really white world. I’ve spent so much of my life keeping my head down, working hard, not saying anything, so it’s been liberating to say it out loud.

It’s the most empowering thing I’ve done.

You’ve said you hadn’t done much self-reflection before writing it; how did you find that process?

I don’t think we’re a generation that grew up talking about feelings or doing lots of goodhousekeeping.com/uk

The big interview

wisdom & power’

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

17

ANITA WEARS (THIS PAGE): DRESS, ZIMMERMANN AT THE OUTNET. EARRINGS, WILSON JEWELLERY. RING: ANITA’S OWN. (PREVIOUS PAGE): DRESS, ZEYNEP KARTAL. EARRING (SILVER), BUTLER & WILSON. EARRING (GOLD), WILSON JEWELLERY

Now I love getting dressed up and making bold statements with my clothes, because I feel at my most confident

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ANITA WEARS: DRESS, ZIMMERMANN. EARRINGS, WILSON JEWELLERY. RING: ANITA’S OWN

The big interview self-analysis. Now, there’s a generation who are much more open to it. That definitely wasn’t case for me and maybe that’s cultural, maybe that’s my family or maybe that’s my personality. But I’ve never done it because I’ve been too busy looking forward, rather than thinking about what’s happened in the past.

I found it incredibly cathartic. I wrote it for myself, from the heart, so it was a very intimate process, with a lot of laughter, and a lot of tears.

There’s a real sense of pride about your Punjabi heritage and culture, but you don’t shy away from questioning some aspects...

I wasn’t worried about doing that, because it’s all true.

Even daft things like being in the temple on a Sunday and my friend telling me that we couldn’t serve the food because we were on our periods. I grew up in a world where, from the minute you were born, you were treated differently if you were a girl, and men were allowed to behave appallingly. It might not be everyone’s experience, but it’s definitely mine. So I felt quite bold. I had to say it; I had to just put it out there.

You wrote about self-harming as a teenager to try to regain some control. Was that difficult to confront?

Yes. I didn’t intend to write about it; it just came out when I was writing about my teenage bedroom. All of a sudden, I got a flashback of what being a teenager was really like for me. It was incredibly difficult. I was confused and I was lonely.

I felt I had to put that in because often, when you achieve a certain level of success, people assume it’s all been easy. But life happens to all of us, and my message is that you can still persevere, and you can still do all right.

What was your experience of racism growing up?

It was always around, from the National Front logo being spray-painted on your local bus stop to someone shouting the ‘P’ word across the street at you.

You always knew you were different.

You’ve said you’ve had to work twice as hard to prove yourself, particularly goodhousekeeping.com/uk

in your early career. Did you ever come close to giving up?

Almost. About 10 or 15 years ago, I was convinced I had to go to America because there would be more opportunities there.

I had friends out there telling me how much easier it was to get work. But something made me stay, and I think it was a voice in the back of my mind saying, ‘Why should I give up?’ I didn’t want to let the system beat me down.

You juggled writing your book with a new job on Woman’s Hour. How did that come about?

I’ve spent my life listening to Woman’s

Hour – even my dad was a big fan of it. But I didn’t think that was where I belonged, so the job wasn’t on my radar.

It was my agent who encouraged me to go for it. There was an application process, and I wrote something about sitting in Ubers and always asking them to put on Radio 4. I also mentioned vaginas! But because I didn’t think I’d get it, it made me more relaxed; there wasn’t the weight of expectation.

Do you ever get nervous presenting the show?

As I once said to my husband, my life is about putting myself in one highly

exposing situation after another. I run at a level of anxiety permanently. It’s just part of it, but I also thrive on it. This is the first job in a long time, though, where I’ve felt sick to my stomach with nerves because of what it means to me. I had to have a moment where I explained to myself, ‘They’ve given you the job because they want you there. And you’ve earned your right to be there.

So go and do what you do.’

Who are your dream guests?

Oprah would be amazing. Malala Yousafzai, Billie Eilish, Beyoncé, Bjork...

There are a lot of brilliant women out there. I’ve reached out to a couple via Instagram asking if they’ll come on. There’s an amazing musician called Emma-Jean Thackray, who I love. I just thought, ‘I’m going to message her,’ and she said yes! Some people haven’t responded yet – maybe they’re wondering, ‘Who is this woman and what is Woman’s Hour?’

What did it mean to you to become a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador?

It’s one of the biggest honours. First of all, Goodwill Ambassadors: aren’t they all Hollywood A-listers? When they asked me, I was like, ‘Are you sure? Me, from Countryfile?’ I’d made the BBC Two programme The Refugee Camp: Our Desert Home about the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, and they got in touch with me after that. It’s a real passion of mine.

Migration is very much part of my family’s story, and this has given me a real opportunity to do something good.

What does success look like to you now?

When I moved to London 20 years ago, I thought success was becoming a really big TV presenter and having my own show – and I don’t think that’s it any more. I don’t know whether I feel successful, or whether I ever will. If you ask my husband, he’ll say, ‘She’ll never say she’s successful; it’ll never be enough, she’ll want the next thing and the next thing and the next thing.’ But it’s about the journey, isn’t it?

Do you feel like you’re only just getting started, then?

Yes, that’s exactly how I feel – and NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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I’m just getting started – I have lots more ideas

sometimes I don’t feel I can say that out loud. Ambition can be a dirty word for women. But I do feel like I’m just getting started because, after 20 years, I feel like I’m finally using my platform to say something worth listening to. I have lots more ideas, it’s just getting them going. I’d like to write more, to continue presenting, and to produce some stuff. I want to create opportunities for young women, too.

Do your 40s feel quite empowering?

My 40s rock! I think getting older rocks.

We’ve been sold this lie that it’s about being young, that once you leave your 20s, that’s it, you’re not beautiful any more or desirable as a woman. It’s so superficial and such nonsense. I’m in the pursuit of vitality, but not of staying young for ever because there’s no point.

Getting older gives you wisdom, power and a deeper understanding of yourself.

You’ve been married to your husband, Bhupi, for more than a decade – are you romantic?

He is, I’m not! I set that out from the very beginning. My mum did say to me, ‘Don’t do that, because one day you’ll wake up and wish he’d send you flowers.’ To us, the important thing is spending time together. I’m often away filming, and whenever I’m somewhere beautiful, I always wish Bhupi was there to experience it with me.

Wherever I am, I can’t wait to get home to tell him about it.

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Were there any disagreements during the lockdowns?

Yes! What is it with dishwashers? He will always restack it. We have separate offices, so we’re very lucky we have space, which is essential. But we did the same as everybody else: we drank far too much in the first lockdown, then decided to rein that in. We watched all the Netflix, all the Amazon, all the Disney+ and we did a lot of fixing up the house.

What does being an aunt mean to you?

So much. My niece is three and I spoil her with great clothes. She’s brilliant.

The family now revolves around her; we’re obsessed. Everyone who’s ever had children knows this, but I had no idea. We could just put her in the middle

of the room and everyone would just stare at her. She’s brought so much joy.

The other day, I put her in the bath, then she came into my room afterwards and danced naked to David Bowie in front of my mirror. I was like, wow, look at her loving life, loving herself, loving her body. That joy should never leave us!

Do you spoil your dog, Rafi, too?

Yes, Bhupi and I both do. I have a little moment of communication with her every morning when I look into her eyes, and she puts a paw on my arm.

That moment is really restorative.

Dogs are so intuitive. When I’ve not been feeling very well, she will instinctively know to come to sit with me and give me a cuddle.

What else is key to your mental wellbeing?

My friendships are vital. Traditionally, I’ve not been very good at opening up to girlfriends, I’ve kept my feelings to myself. But the pandemic has given us all permission to say, ‘I’m not okay’.

Before, we were all on autopilot; even if we were having the worst day, we’d say things were great because we bought into this idea that it’s all about productivity. Whereas now we’re all having these really honest conversations; we’re able to share when we’re stressed or worrying about our parents.

What have you learned about happiness?

That it’s found in simple things. Cooking while listening to the radio, or knowing your family and friends are okay is happiness. But I’m still working it out, too. That’s going to be the book I write when I’m 60. I have another 20 years yet to figure out the meaning of happiness!

MY SIMPLE PLEASURES THE LAST BOOK THAT INSPIRED ME… The Indian actor Kabir Bedi’s memoir, Stories I Must Tell. It’s so moving, honest and compassionate.

THE BEAUTY ESSENTIAL THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD… A red lippy or a home-made facemask.

MY FAVOURITE FAMILY TRADITION… Being fed by my mum. On Sunday mornings, she makes paranthas, which are stuffed chapatis. There’s no greater satisfaction than stuffing your belly with those.

MY TV GUILTY PLEASURE… All cooking shows and all quiz shows.

THE FILM I COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER… The Goonies.

I love kids’ adventure movies.

THE SCENT THAT BRINGS ME JOY… Burning wood – it makes me think of the countryside and being in India as a child. y The Right Sort Of Girl (Blink Publishing) by Anita Rani is out now goodhousekeeping.com/uk

ANITA WEARS: DRESS, ZEYNEP KARTAL. EARRING (SILVER), BUTLER & WILSON. EARRING (GOLD), WILSON JEWELLERY. GROUP FASHION DIRECTOR: OONAGH BRENNAN. HAIR: OSKAR PERA. MAKE-UP: SARAH JANE WAI O’ FLYNN

The big interview

The

big COVER UP

Finally, it’s time to get your coat!

Fall in love with winter again in seriously gorgeous outerwear.

From eye-catching, colour-pop checks to elegant faux fur and toasty teddies, we have coat season covered…

PHOTOGRAPHY ANNE TIMMER STYLING AMANDA MARCANTONIO

ALL THE FUN OF THE (FAUX) FUR Grown-up and glamorous, this season’s trophy cover-up evokes a new kind of everyday elegance. L.K.Bennett’s mesmerising evergreen coat is just utter joy. With its detachable faux fur trim (two coats for the price of one), it’s an investment piece like no other. Worn with chunky black leather boots, it will give vintage plush textures and romantic pussy-bows a new tomboy twist and you a ladylike silhouette.

Coat, £459, 6-18, L.K.Bennett. Jumper, £129, xs-s, Winser London. Skirt, £250, 6-16, Cefinn. Cashmere beret, £65, Celtic & Co. Boots, £175, 3-8, Whistles [CONTINUED OVER PAGE]

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Good style

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WHAT A WAIST If there’s one cover-up that does it all, it’s the beloved belted coat. Not so much a trend as an essential, and in versatile inky blue, it looks polished without being too formal. As perfect for office days as it is for weekend lunches, it will even cover evening separates for a dinner date or theatre trip. Give a seasonal update to a favourite wrap coat by switching the fabric belt for a smart leather one.

Coat, £160, 8-16, Great Plains.

Blouse, £75, xs-l, French Connection.

Trousers, £69.99, 8-22, Toga Archives x H&M. Shoes, £349, 3-8, Pretty Ballerinas

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

Good style

FOREVER IN FASHION The classic camel coat, established as a wardrobe hero by Max Mara in the 1980s, remains the pinnacle of effortless elegance. Plus, this sophisticated neutral tone will work with literally everything you own. Classic in every sense of the word, opt for one in quality wool for maximum warmth and longevity. Finish the look with this season’s hero accessory; the endlessly versatile silk scarf, worn in the hair for a touch of playfulness.

Coat, £425, 6-16, Gant. Breton, £17, xs-l, Cos. Skirt, £29, 10-28, Damart. Silk scarf (worn in hair), £140; bag, £275, both Aspinal of London. Pumps, £199, 3-8, Pretty Ballerinas [CONTINUED OVER PAGE] goodhousekeeping.com/uk

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Good style

CANDY COATING All dressed up and somewhere to go? If you already have a coat collection of neutrals, it’s worth considering a colour this year.

Sleek and chic powdery pinks and pastel blue hues are big news and will add a sense of freshness to other wardrobe staples. For a look that’s both feminine and strong, clash pretty pink with bold red and finish with razzle-dazzle earrings to stop your look slipping into saccharine sweetness.

Coat, £65, s-l (also available in petite), Wallis. Dress, £45, 8-22, Marks & Spencer.

Earrings, £34.99, Toga Archives x H&M. Shoes, £189, 3-8, Pretty Ballerinas

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

SNUGGLE UP WITH A TEDDY As the temperature drops, take comfort in a cuddly 1970s-inspired teddy coat. We’ve come to rely on this retro fuzzy friend for delivering on the warmth-factor and also love its ability to be worn casually with denim and trainers or dressed up with an autumnal knit dress and long leather boots. Keep things fitted underneath to avoid extra bulk and try tonal dressing for uptown polish.

Coat, £179, s-xxl, Phase Eight. Dress, £85, xs-l, French Connection. Hat, £8, TU. Bag, £295; phone case, £55, both Aspinal of London. Boots, £145, 3-8, John Lewis & Partners X Erica Davies [CONTINUED OVER PAGE]

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Good style

AT YOUR LEISURE As much as we love to dress up, a decent proportion of any wardrobe is dedicated to practical pursuits, such as dog-walking, grocery shopping and all the other dashing around life requires. For us, that means it’s important to have an off-duty coat that is fully waterproof, has deep pockets, a decent hood and soft furry lining (including the pockets), to keep us toasty. And now we’ve found it! This is a great coat for the great outdoors. You can thank us later.

Coat, £198, 6-22 (also available in petite), Boden. Jumper, £20, s-xxl, La Redoute. Trousers, £125, 6-18, Gant

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THE RISE OF THE OVERSIZE Voluminous shapes, dropped shoulders, longer lengths… this is the coolest coat in town. The easy way to oversize? Contrast the super-relaxed silhouette with softly structured tailoring and let your pussy-bow blouse ties effortlessly dangle in the breeze.

For layer lovers, there’s room for a chunky knit underneath and it can accommodate on-trend puff sleeves, or even a lightweight jacket.

Polish with plenty of comfort.

Coat, £349, 4-18, Whistles. Jacket (underneath), £110, xs-xl, Aspiga. Silk blouse, £249, 6-18, Winser London.

Trousers, £175, 6-18, Ted Baker. Bag, £265, Russell & Bromley. Shoes, £85, 3-8, Dune London [CONTINUED OVER PAGE]

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Good style

OH SEW CHIC Lavish decoration is the order of the day as we embrace a more optimistic mood this winter. Boden’s exquisitely embroidered coat is fanciful and feminine, bringing the joy back to dressing up. Style dreamy detailing with a true wardrobe icon: the crisp white shirt. Then finish with sumptuous velvet slippers to add a final fizz to any outfit, day or night.

Coat, £298, 6-22, Boden. Shirt, £99, 6-18, Baukjen. Skirt, £160, 6-18, Wyse London. Velvet loafers, £170, 3-8, L.K.Bennett [CONTINUED OVER PAGE]

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CHECK THIS OUT Meet the most standout coat of the season. Checks have long been a late autumn favourite, but this season sees them re-worked in a rainbow of colourful shades. Balancing classic with contemporary, they promise to offer all the flexibility of this heritage motif, but with added statement-making impact.

They’ll instantly add energy to wardrobe basics. It’s never been so stylish to be square.

Coat, £149, 6-16, United Colors of Benetton. Rollneck, £24.90, xxs-xxl, Uniqlo. Jeans, £20, 6-22, F&F. Headband, £99, Beverley Edmondson

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STYLIST’S ASSISTANT: JODIE DUNWORTH. HAIR & MAKE-UP: LISA VALENCIA. MODEL: CLAUDIA RABA AT MODELS 1.

PRODUCTION: KARINA DIAL. WITH THANKS TO: THE CRICKETERS, RICHMOND

Good style

HOW TO…

BUY YOUR WINTER COAT CHECKS Checked coats are a classic, so this style won’t date and you can wear yours for years. Mannish shapes give way to more feminine colours, pocket details and dramatic capes. Tie a belt around your waist to accentuate your curves.

TIP Pregnant? Try a bump-skimming cape; great for post-baby, too.

FROM LEFT Belted, £79.99, 8-22, M&Co. Cape, £99, 8-18, Phase Eight. Breast pockets, £40, 8-20, Matalan

PUFFA Comfort was a major trend on the A/W 21 catwalks and it’s easy to see why: we’ve got used to loungewear and these coats resemble the duvets we’ve been hiding under! There are styles for all and a cropped puffa will work for petite frames.

TIP A light neutral colour can help to soften the look of a puffa or quilted coat.

FROM LEFT Short, £69, 10-28, Damart. Belted, £79.99, xs-xxl, Lindex.

Zip front, £185, xs/s-m/l, French Connection

TIP If you’re petite, opt for smaller-sized checks. Want to minimise your waist?

A darker check can be more flattering than brights.

TIP Are you tall or lacking curves? A straight up-and-down body shape can afford to play with pattern, volume and texture.

FROM LEFT Coat, £198, 6-16, Anthropologie. Gold hoops, £39, L.K.Bennett. Bag, £69, Charles & Keith. Boots, £199, 3-8, Jones Bootmaker. Dress, £95, 8-16, Great Plains

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FROM LEFT Jumper, £85, 6-22, Boden. Jeans, £99, 6-18, Baukjen.

Fair Isle beret, £30, Celtic & Co. Gilet, £59.99, xs-xl, Mango.

Cape, £34.99, xs-xl, H&M. Boots, £149, 3-8, Hush

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Shop for your shape If you’ve been inspired to cover up by our beautiful fashion shoot, but don’t know which new-season style will suit you, here are our tips and tricks for finding a perfect fit, whatever your shape and size

CLASSIC

COLOUR

The usual winter coat colourways of camel, beige, grey and our favourite, greige, have had a twist this season.

Simple wool fabrics keep the look expensive and colour blocks look great on tall bodies.

Effortlessly eye-catching, a colourful coat has that feelgood factor. Bold outerwear is the first impression you make, so take your pick from these mood-boosting pastels to get you through the dark winter months.

TIP Double-breasted styles, with a clever layer, boost a small bust.

TIP Cropped peacoats are a petite woman’s best friend.

FROM LEFT Belted, £120, 6-18, River Island. Statement collar, £240, 6-22, Boden. Double-breasted, £139.99, s-xl, Mango

COMPILED BY: LYNDA BELL

TIP A wide collar or statement lapel distracts from wide hips and helps balance your look.

FROM LEFT Dungarees, £149, 6-18, Baukjen. Coat, £235, 8-18, Phase Eight. Pumps, £199, 3-8, Pretty Ballerinas. Knit, £55, 8-18, Sonder Studio. Bag, £79, The White Company

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FROM LEFT Patch pockets, £219, 6-18, Hobbs. Button detail, £65, 6-24, Next. Peacoat, £379, 6-18, L.K.Bennett

TIP If you’re busty, choose a style with a V-shaped neckline.

High necks can make your chest look bigger.

FROM LEFT Coat, £179.99, xs-l, Mango. Bracelet, £29, Mint Velvet.

Skirt, £60, 8-16, Great Plains. Sweatshirt, £25, 6-24, GoodMove at Marks & Spencer. Bag, £12.50, Oliver Bonas. Trainers, £98, 3-8, Boden

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Reader offer

Treat yourself with 15% off at Celtic & Co

From left: reversible coat, £1,145, 8-18; merino alpaca jumper, £165, xs-xl; boots, £195, 3-9. Jumper, £108, xs-xl; trainers, £112, 3-8. Gilet, £445, 8-18; jumper, £185, xs-xl; sheepskin boots, £160, 3-9, all Celtic & Co

IT’S OFFICIALLY COSY SEASON and we can’t wait to wrap up warm in Celtic & Co’s new winter collection, which is inspired by the beautiful Cornish coastal landscape where the company is based. From sumptuous shearlings in neutral tones reminiscent of driftwood and pebbles, to irresistibly toasty knitwear in rich coastal meadow greens and sky blues, Celtic & Co is renowned for timeless designs that are always a pleasure to wear. Made from natural materials, which are renewable and kind to the environment, the brand’s

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

collection is a masterclass in cold-weather dressing, and these pieces are ones you’ll come back to year after year. Take this classic-yet-cool shearling coat (pictured, above left); a luxurious investment piece like no other, it’ll cocoon you stylishly from the elements and is perfect for wearing on long wintery walks. Team it with knitwear and this season’s tough-luxe, sturdy lace-up boots for a look that’s both elegant and practical. So, why not treat yourself to something from the new collection with our exclusive 15% discount?

HOW TO CLAIM To receive your exclusive 15% discount code, visit goodhousekeeping.com/uk/ offersnov21 and follow the instructions. You can redeem your discount at celticandco.com until 27 October 2021.

TERMS & CONDITIONS Offer valid until 27 October 2021. To redeem online, visit goodhousekeeping.com/uk/offersnov21 and enter your name and email address. You will then be emailed a valid discount code to use at celticandco.com.

Offer applies to full-priced products only. Code cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. No substitutions or cash equivalents. Offer is limited to one use per customer.

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Good style

Time for a REBOOT

From haute hikers and riding boots to block heels – these boots were made for walking! Plus, the best new-season styles for curvy calves

THE FASHION HIKER Practical all-terrain boots are moving away from the mountains and into the everyday.

TIP Available in wide fit

£139, 3-8, Kurt Geiger

£49.50, 3-8, Marks & Spencer

£249, 4-8, Pretty Ballerinas

£195, 2-10, DuoBoots

£190, 3-9, Boden

£48, 3-9, Next

THE LUXE RIDING BOOT If you haven’t already invested in a pair of sleek knee-high boots, this could be the year to do so, with so many beauties on offer.

TIP Opt for neutral tones to ensure maximum versatility

TIP Seven calf fittings available

£160, 3-9, Clarks

£195, 2-10, DuoBoots

£109, 3-8, Hush Puppies

£139, 3-9, Hotter

£220, 3-8, Boden

£119, 7-13, Long Tall Sally

THE CHUNKY CHELSEA The classic boot has been reimagined. These tough-luxe designs are like a cool new Wellington.

TIP A Bunion Bed offers extra comfort and cushioning

£155, 3-8, Dune London

£145, 3-8, The White Company

£170, 3-9, Vionic

£189, 4-9, Sole Bliss

£39.50, 3-8, Marks & Spencer

TIP Lighter creams and crisp whites are big news

£59.99, 2-9, Mango

THE POLISHED BLOCK HEEL

COMPILED BY: AMANDA MARCANTONIO

Rich autumnal tones combine with a stack heel for those who crave a bit of height.

TIP The new Tailor Made range has four calf widths

£220, 3-8, Dune London

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£130, 2½-7½, Geox

TIP Wide-fit calf range launching 5 October

£195, 3-8, Jones Bootmaker

£25, 3-8, F&F

£149, 2½-7, United Colors Of Benetton

£299, 3-8, L.K.Bennett

£145, 3-8, John Lewis & Partners + Erica Davies

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‘Don’t be afraid of CHASING YOUR DREAMS’ She’s spent eight years dazzling on the Strictly dancefloor and now Janette Manrara is stepping into the presenting world as co-host of It Takes Two. She talks to Anna Bonet about ambition, love and leaps of faith Photography NICKY JOHNSTON

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messaged me straight away, wished me good luck and said if there’s anything I need, she’s there for me,’ Janette reveals. ‘She’s really supportive.’

A CHANGE OF PACE While the transition to presenting has clearly been a long-held ambition for Janette, 37, she explains that there’s also a personal reason for her decision: the prospect of becoming a mother. She’s been married to fellow professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec, 31, since 2017 and the couple, who live together in north London, have spoken about their desire to become parents one day. Now, Janette says, it finally feels like the right time.

‘My body has been my livelihood,’ she reflects. ‘I needed it to dance. But now, knowing that I don’t have to dance six months of the year doing Strictly gives me a little bit more freedom to hopefully be able to start a family. I could do It Takes Two pregnant if I wanted. That gives me so much peace of mind moving forward.’

Although she describes Strictly as a ‘magical’ job, she says it hasn’t been free of challenges, both physical and mental. ‘As a pro, you have to be a dancer, a teacher, a therapist, a TV personality, a choreographer… so the pressure is really, really high,’ she says.

‘I used to take myself way too seriously and I was very tough on myself. The first goodhousekeeping.com/uk

JANETTE WEARS: JUMPER, JUMPER 1234. SKIRT, COAST

F

rom the moment Janette And she reveals she’s been eager to step Manrara joined BBC One’s into the presenting world for some time.

Strictly Come Dancing as a ‘I always knew that someday I wanted professional dancer in 2013, to present, so I’ve been planting the she thought that Zoe Ball seeds for a while,’ she admits. Six years had the best job in the world. As the ago she began hosting her own show, presenter of Strictly’s spin-off show Janette’s Strictly Peek, on YouTube, in It Takes Two, which draws in up to which she interviewed fellow dancers 3m viewers, Zoe would sit down with and celebrities. This year she’s proved the contestants and chat about dancing a popular stand-in for Kym Marsh – and she got to call it work. ‘If I could co-hosting BBC One’s daytime show do this one day,’ Janette thought, ‘that Morning Live with Gethin Jones. would be the dream.’

It was the latter that became her So, eight years later, when Zoe stepped ‘screen test’ for It Takes Two, although down after a decade at the show’s helm she didn’t know it at the time. The and Janette got the call offering her the producers felt so confident Janette was job of co-host alongside Rylan Clark-Neal, a suitable replacement that there was no she couldn’t quite believe need for a formal audition it. ‘I actually screamed or interview. ‘I know how for joy,’ she says. ‘It feels many people would have like I’m stepping into wanted that job or put a new world.’ themselves forward for it,’ She’s already bursting she says. ‘So the fact that with musings on the the BBC have trusted in show: how Anton Du me to do it is so humbling.’

Beke, who’s taking over Though excited, she from Bruno Tonioli, will admits to feeling a bit make a ‘brilliant’ judge of pressure. ‘Zoe was so (‘It’s about time!’ she good at it, and she’s done laughs) and how she’d it for such a long time; advise celebrities to the show is her baby. I’m Janette’s been ‘throw themselves definitely nervous,’ she married to Aljaž into it, work hard, but says. Fortunately, Zoe is on since 2017 also have a lot of fun’. hand to share advice. ‘She

In conversation

few years, I was always trying to prove myself, because I was the only pro who didn’t have a competitive ballroom and Latin career – I came from musical theatre.’

Looking back, would she do anything differently? She pauses. ‘I think I’d have trusted myself a bit more. I definitely felt the difference when I started to believe in myself.’

AGAINST THE ODDS Janette grew up surrounded by music and salsa dancing. She was born and raised in Miami, along with her two younger siblings, Lesly and Alejandro,

by Cuban immigrant parents. They struggled financially and for a time the whole family shared a single bedroom.

But it didn’t deter Janette from her dreams. ‘I used to turn up to ballet class in my polka dot bathing suit, barefoot, because we couldn’t afford the leotard and ballet shoes,’ she says.

Aged 18, she got a job working at the local bank to help ‘pitch in’ for her family.

‘But my itchy feet were going every day,’ she admits. So, after a few years, and

I’m obsessed with Strictly. I’ll want to be part of it for as long as I can and in any way I can

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In conversation with the encouragement of her parents, she quit her job and moved to Los Angeles to chase that dream. What followed was a bumpy ride.

‘I went from being paid exactly the same every week and having my own apartment, my own car, my own health insurance, to this realm of not knowing what I was doing from one week to the next,’ she recalls. ‘It was a massive leap of faith, and it was really scary.’

She remembers phoning her mum from LA, ‘crying and stressed out’ when she was getting rejections from dance auditions, while watching her bank balance ‘getting smaller and smaller’. ‘There were many times when I thought I could easily give up,’ she says. ‘But those are the moments that really make or break you.’

The turning point was when she was cast in Burn The Floor. The live dance show, which had been a hit on Broadway, brought her to the UK, aged 24, to perform in London’s West End. ‘That was the moment I was like, “This is for real now; I’m a dancer,”’ she says. Five years later, she landed her role as a professional on Strictly.

‘I think my family can’t believe that this little Cuban girl, who grew up in a small town in Miami, is presenting a show on the BBC,’ she muses. What she’s learned, she says, is it’s important to do things that both challenge and scare you.

‘I realise now that you shouldn’t be afraid of chasing your dreams. Life is about putting yourself out there and having the courage to just go for it.’

I used to turn up at ballet classes barefoot as we couldn’t afford ballet shoes

It was in the midst of Janette’s rise, in 2009, that she met husband Aljaž. The pair both happened to be rehearsing in the same dance studio in London, and she fell for his ‘beautiful soul’, though she admits, ‘It helps that he’s gorgeous, too!’

After six years together, Aljaž proposed at the studio where they’d first met. The couple had three weddings – one in Miami and one in Aljaž’s homeland of Slovenia, as well as one in London so they could party with the Strictly family.

Although Strictly is notoriously hard on relationships, with contestants and

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JANETTE’S ESSENTIALS MY MOST TREASURED POSSESSION… My wedding ring.

THE MANTRA I LIVE BY… A quote from Walt Disney: ‘All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.’

THE SONG THAT ALWAYS GETS ME DANCING… Feeling Good

by Frank Sinatra. It was the first song I played when I found out I’d got the It Takes Two job.

WHEN I NEED CHEERING UP… I turn to my husband, Aljaž, who’s my bestie – or call my mom.

MY FAVOURITE WAY TO KEEP FIT… It used to be dance training, but now I’m learning to love the gym.

THE KEY TO MY MENTAL WELLBEING… Taking time for myself every single day.

STRICTLY HAS TAUGHT ME… To live in the moment. professional dancers alike seemingly falling victim to the ‘Strictly curse’, Janette is unfazed. ‘It makes Aljaž and me so much more united in the face of it,’ she says. ‘It solidifies how much we really do love and trust each other.

I trust him with my eyes closed.’

Do they talk about Strictly at the dinner table? ‘I’m a workaholic, so I used to come home and all I would want to do was watch the video of that night’s

dance and get Aljaž’s opinion,’ she laughs. ‘He’d engage with me for a little bit and then be like, “Okay baby, that’s it – no more Strictly talk!”’ The secret to their strong union, she believes, is friendship. ‘The core of our relationship has always been friendship before anything else,’ she says.

As for switching off from work, Janette says she’s learning to make it more of a priority. ‘I did an online course in wellbeing during lockdown and I’m applying those practices to my own life by meditating and doing breathing exercises. They really help when I feel stressed out or upset.’

She counts her former Strictly partners as some of her closest friends and biggest supporters: designer Julien Macdonald went on to make her wedding dress; she goes for dinner at actor Jake Wood’s house; and Peter Andre has been sharing his latest music with her. As for the professionals: ‘We have a WhatsApp group and we all speak all the time,’ she says.

Her career may be thriving but, for now, Janette’s heart is set firmly on Strictly. ‘I’m obsessed with it, and I’ll want to be part of it for as long as I can and in any way I can.’ And if a presenting job ever became available on the main show? ‘Maybe,’ she laughs.

‘That would be a dream… but I’m focusing on this one for now!’ y Janette is a host of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, which airs on BBC Two every weeknight goodhousekeeping.com/uk

STYLING: GAYLE RINKOFF. HAIR AND MAKE UP: SUMMER DYASON. JANETTE WEARS: DRESS, COAST. ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY: BBC, GETTY

STRICTLY ROMANCE

She’s still friends with her 2015 Strictly partner Peter Andre

Point of view SUSAN CALMAN

‘I’m still trying to live up to my hostess badge’ Catering for all your dinner-party guests and their diets has become a whole lot more complicated since our columnist was in the Brownies

I

like to think of myself as a good host. The kind of person against whom people would rate their own hospitality, like a benchmark for buffets. After an evening at mine, they’d say things like, ‘We must make those hot-dog hors d’oeuvres like Susan did. They were so whimsical.’ I suspect my desire to please comes from way back when I got my hostess badge in the Brownies. It seemed that having the perfect dinner party was necessary to be a useful member of society and I’ve spent the rest of my life determined not to disappoint my Brown Owl. Through the years, I’ve thrown many a soirée and developed a cast-iron strategy for them. It’s important to have enough drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) so that a glass is never empty; you must make sure the house is clean (even the bits that, as a short person, I can’t see); the music can’t be too challenging (ABBA is always a safe choice) and don’t let the cats sit on the table when people arrive. I tend to throw very 1970s dinner parties: some chicken and cream-based vol-au-vents to start, perhaps a meat and heavy cream-based main course, and a cream-based pudding (cream is a vital ingredient for happiness).

But my approach to hospitality has changed recently because people have changed and, more importantly, their diets have. I had some people round last weekend and, as I always do, asked if there were any dietary requirements.

Before I knew it, I had a lactose intolerant, a gluten intolerant and a vegan to prepare food for. It sounds like the start of a modern nursery rhyme, but it was, in fact, the start of quite the journey of discovery.

I commenced with a Venn diagram of food, mainly because it’s my favourite way of sorting out a problem. If you can find dishes to suit all requirements, then not only does it cut down the work, but you can label the dishes ‘For everyone’.

And yes, I do label my dishes, so my guests know exactly what they’re eating. I have tiny flags that I can stick in

the food like triumphant displays of culinary success.

It sounds complicated, but it was quite a revelation when I started to really look at what was in my food. I approached the party like Hercule Poirot, analysing each ingredient, making sure I wasn’t accidentally introducing something that could make someone unwell. It was, in truth, quite exhilarating.

I couldn’t rely on my staples; I couldn’t even just bung some mayonnaise on everything, and certainly no heavy cream could make an appearance. After a short period of panic, I calmed down and found interesting new food writers to read. Instagram was very useful, and I found myself excited by just how much help there was available for a child of the 1970s like myself.

I expanded my repertoire of cuisines and created a Mexican(ish) banquet. The dishes were made with gluten-free ingredients or vegan substitutes (which was great for my lactose-intolerant friend) and comprised starters of tostadas with corn salsa. Then for main, a sirloin steak with chimichurri sauce or a cauliflower steak accompanied by a bean salad, and spicy tomato rice. And pudding was a lime panna cotta made with coconut milk and mango. Chef’s kiss all round.

When I presented my guests with my feast, I was delighted (and exhausted). What was even nicer was that people were trying new things. My little flags flew high and even the cats behaved themselves by only jumping on the table during pudding. Without question, it’s more work than just shoving a beef stroganoff on the table, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone to reach new culinary heights. Don’t get me wrong, there was a point where I wondered if I could simply serve crudités and be damned, but it was worth the effort.

It may be more complicated to throw a party these days, but in many ways it’s more fun.

And I remember what I said as a Brownie: ‘I promise that I will do my best.’ Even if that takes eight hours, 16 pans and a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID VENNI. ILLUSTRATION: STEPHEN COLLINS

I have tiny flags that I can stick in the food like triumphant displays of culinary success

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‘There’s not much we couldn’t tell each other’ Broadcasters Jane Garvey and Fi Glover are known to thousands through their successful podcast Fortunately….

They’ve now written a book together and they reveal how they’ve bonded over experiences of divorce, single parenting and internet dating Interview MEL HUNTER

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Special relationships

‘I

don’t think Fi and I would have been friends when we were younger,’ confesses Jane Garvey, of Fi Glover, her co-host on the BBC Radio 4 podcast Fortunately… With Fi And Jane, which owes its extraordinary success in large part to the pair’s frank, witty and undeniably close relationship. ‘We are not really alike in many respects. I am the most risk-averse person in the world and Fi is much more adventurous. I think she would have been one of the cool girls that I would have looked at and pretended not to be interested in, but secretly wanted to be.’

For the many thousands of listeners to Fortunately..., it is perhaps lucky that this friendship was forged at a later stage in the radio presenters’ lives, when any differences proved complementary rather than conflicting. Despite being two of the most prominent women among a relatively small group of well-known female radio presenters, Jane, 57, and Fi, 52, only met properly eight years ago.

Far from being close friends when the podcast started in 2017, the pair’s relationship has deepened through their weekly on-air chats. Fi recalls: ‘Just like all friendships, ours started with thinking: “I really like what that woman is saying. She’s a good laugh and I’d like to see her again.”

We’ve become much closer through doing the podcast. We’ve got to know each other along with the listeners. I don’t think it would have worked if we had already been close friends when it started because we would have known so much about each other already.’

They were first aware of each other when working at BBC Radio 5 Live. They both later moved to BBC Radio 4, but their paths never crossed long enough for a friendship to form. ‘I think we circled each other warily,’ says Jane, jokingly. ‘I wanted to be the small, dark-haired, sarcastic broadcaster who happened to be female. Fi was a bit the same as me, so…’ So you might have thought there wasn’t room for two of you? ‘If I’m honest, I might have thought that in retrospect.

That’s not a nice thing to think, I should say, and I don’t think it would happen now.’

Jane’s opinion changed when the pair were asked to host the Radio Academy Festival together in 2013.

‘I started to think: “This woman is actually very funny.

I’ll give her that!”’

A repeat turn at the Radio Festival the following year cemented the friendship, amid early discussions

about doing a podcast together. The pair pitched the idea to the BBC, but it was another three years until they were finally on-air. The success of the podcast, with two women ‘chuntering on’, as they say, was a surprise hit to some, but it has now established itself as essential listening each week.

It has run for more than 200 episodes, been downloaded 4.5m times, enjoyed a spot at number one in the Apple podcast charts and has picked up a shelf-load of awards, including Funniest Show at the 2018 Audio and Radio Industry Awards (ARIAS).

What sets it apart is that it is not just about Fi and Jane’s friendship, but about every female friendship there ever was and ever will be. Fi, who also hosts The Listening Project on BBC Radio 4, explains: ‘It’s the kind of female conversation you don’t tend to hear broadcast anywhere else. While we’d like to think that Fortunately… has become successful because of our diamond-studded personalities and high-level content, it hasn’t. It’s because we talk how women talk. The shame is that this kind of conversation has been dismissed in radio as something that is not important, just trivial. In truth, it is important because it is trivial.’

The pair cover everything, from Anglo-Russian relations to how many sultanas Jane finds in her bra. ‘Talking to each other for money, is what Fi calls it,’ laughs Jane. She says the podcast has achieved something that not even a programme like Woman’s Hour has managed (which she presented for 13 years until December 2020).

‘Woman’s Hour has many strengths, but I don’t think we were ever able to bring to life the importance of friendships with other women. We did items on it, maybe even whole programmes, but we never did illustrate it as well as a conversation that goes from the utterly trivial to the incredibly serious, via a series of crazed tangents, within the space of three-and-a-half minutes.’

The podcast, often broadcast from the piazza outside Broadcasting House in central London, works so well because there’s no script and no particular structure, other than a guest who joins the chat each week. While cleverly edited ‘so as not to be career-limiting,’ quips Fi, it rambles beautifully through world peace to listeners’ collections of scabs and the antics of Fi’s dog, Nancy, with the input of guests including Laura Kuenssberg and Dawn French revealing some juicy behind-the-scenes gossip along the way. Fi explains: ‘We never discuss what we are going to talk about. Ever. That would

If I had a personal trauma, then definitely I would turn to her

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JANE ON FI

Fi (above, left) and Jane (above, right)

NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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Special relationships spoil it. We have no structure and don’t divvy up questions for the guests or anything like that.

We just tend to see where it goes.’

BONDING OVER DIVORCE Now the pair have written their first book together, Did I Say That Out Loud?. In each chapter, one gets something off her chest and the other responds to it. Much of the book reflects their shared experiences of being women in broadcasting, as well as of motherhood and relationships, with their trademark transgressions and tangents in between.

In the book, as on the podcast, they don’t shy away from talking about being single. Jane’s marriage to broadcaster Adrian Chiles, with whom she has two daughters, ended more than a decade ago, while Fi divorced producer Mark Sandell in 2004 and separated from Google executive Rick Jones, with whom she has a teenage daughter and son, in 2017.

Both agree that this is a bonding factor in their friendship and they support one another. ‘I would definitely ask Jane for advice,’ says Fi. ‘I talk to her about stuff to do with my family, my kids and getting divorced – she is the go-to person on those topics.

I appreciate her wisdom, probably over a bottle of wine, which I might allow her a glass of! Jane is very, very honest with me – bordering on the insanely rude – but I really appreciate it. She is incredibly straight-talking.

‘There is something strangely enjoyable about being able to talk about your circumstances with someone who isn’t going to judge you because they have been there, too. “Enjoyable” might sound like a strange choice of word, because there is not much to enjoy about separating, but being able to be honest with someone about how you are feeling is worth its weight in gold.’

Jane is equally grateful to know she can rely on Fi’s support. ‘If I had a personal trauma, then definitely I would turn to her,’ she says. ‘There is not much I couldn’t say to Fi. Our friendship may have started through work, but it isn’t that any more, and having things in common helps.

There are some things about being a single parent, for example, that only a fellow single parent knows.

It’s not necessarily bad things but it is not easy, even now my children are 21 and 18.’

you feeling. I actually didn’t feel completely the same way and was glad to be able to write a response that felt slightly different.’

Motherhood, and particularly their memories about the younger years of parenting, is another shared experience. Both found the early years of hide-and-seek and ‘windy playgrounds’ tough going.

‘I felt like shouting from the rafters when Jane sent me her chapter,’ says Fi, ‘because I felt really bad about admitting that I didn’t really enjoy those early years. I think I’ve Etch A Sketched those years from my memory bank. It was heartening to read that somebody else has them in their memory bank’.

Fi writes of her forays into internet dating, and Jane laughs, explaining how ‘as the queen of procrastination’, she dithered for years before Fi, ‘who is very proactive about everything’, signed her up to Guardian Soulmates. The dating site promptly shut down three weeks later, to their great amusement.

In the book, as in the podcast, their affection for each other is evident. In the chapter titled ‘Things I wish I’d known before leaving home’, Fi writes that the expression ‘first impressions count’ is nonsense.

She explains: ‘I have close friends whom I couldn’t stand when I first met them. I now love them. Friendship is like feeding broccoli to a three-year-old – you do have to give it at least a couple of tries.’ Indeed, when she first met Jane she labelled her ‘intimidating’: ‘I was definitely in awe of her and didn’t think in a month of Sundays we’d be doing all this together.’

With the success of the podcast and now the publication of their new book, it’s clearly all turned out fine. Fortunately…

• Did I Say That Out Loud? Notes On The Chuff Of Life (Trapeze) by Fi Glover and Jane Garvey is out 30 September

SHARING IS CARING In the book, Jane writes about divorce, talking about the ripple effect on friendships, about how a marriage ending can feel like failure, fearing that the ‘comfort blanket of the steady family life you had as a child will not be something your own children experience’, and about the ups as well as the downs of single parenthood. ‘It’s a beautiful chapter,’ says Fi. ‘It said so many honest things about how it can leave

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FI ON JANE

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PHOTOGRAPHY: SUKI DHANDA

I appreciate her wisdom, probably over a bottle of wine

The BEYONCÉ of the LEGAL WORLD Baroness Hale of Richmond is the self-confessed ‘girlie swot’, who rose to the top of a male-dominated profession by overcoming impostor syndrome and learning to consistently remain the voice of calm, as she tells Jackie Brown

A

s Britain’s most senior female judge, Baroness Brenda Hale often had to make difficult decisions based on complicated arguments. But when it came to deciding on the title of her memoir, there was really only one option: Spider Woman.

The words reference the occasion in September 2019 when, as President of the Supreme Court, she delivered the judgment that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been wrong to advise the Queen to suspend Parliament for five weeks at a critical time for Brexit. Her calm, measured tone seemed at odds with the dramatic silver spider brooch resting on her right shoulder. Large and glittering, it seemed to be sending out a hidden message to politicians.

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Immediately, pictures of Lady Hale were shared worldwide and within hours, T-shirts decorated with spider brooches were being printed to raise money for charity.

Already a superstar in the legal profession, everyone suddenly wanted to know more about her. ‘I had to call my book Spider Woman because everybody asks about it,’ she tells me, when we meet on a video call to discuss her memoir.

‘Really, it was not deliberate at all.

I started wearing brooches to liven up the dark suits and dresses that we are expected to wear in court, just to add a touch of character. Each brooch found its way on to the most appropriate dress

Her spider brooch got the public’s attention

or suit. The dress that I chose to wear that day had a spider [brooch] on it.

There was no message intended by it.’

Dressed casually in a colourful stripey jumper with, sadly, not a brooch in sight, Lady Hale is speaking to me from Richmond, North Yorkshire, where she goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Women who lead possibly could, rather than trying to dredge up the knowledge from the depths of your memory.’

LEGAL TRAILBLAZER

grew up; a place she has always loved.

She had a happy childhood; both her parents were headteachers and she and her two sisters were expected to work hard and achieve much. ‘Oh, I was a girlie swot!’ she says with a laugh. ‘I wanted to be top of the class; I wanted to work hard. And I also enjoyed it.’

She was 10 when she passed the 11-plus exam and started at Richmond High School for Girls, a small grammar school. Three years later, her father died of a heart attack. ‘It was a huge shock.

He died within 48 hours of being taken ill. The amazing thing was how our mother picked herself up even though she was devastated to have lost the love of her life. She dusted off her teaching qualifications and got herself a job as headmistress of the local primary school goodhousekeeping.com/uk

so we could stay in the village and go to the same school. Looking back, I realise what a role model she was for resilience.’

The young Brenda continued to thrive in the classroom and was the first pupil from her school to get a place at Cambridge. She had chosen to study law – one of just six women in her year of 100 students. ‘It had been a dream to go to Oxford or Cambridge, so to get there seemed an amazing privilege,’ she remembers. ‘I made the most of everything, but I think I continued to be quite a swot! You had to work out an efficient way of acquiring as much information at your fingertips as you

She graduated in 1966 with the highest mark of her whole year and began her career teaching law at The University of Manchester, becoming a professor and qualifying as a barrister. She was married to barrister John Hoggett, and academic life meant she could work full-time and be a mother to their daughter, Julia.

‘My daughter always talks about going to sleep to the sound of my typewriter when I was writing my books,’ says Lady Hale. ‘We had a nanny, who was with us during the week to help. My husband totally supported me staying in full-time work. He said: “Well, I wouldn’t dream of giving up work because I have had a child, so why should you?”’

In 1984, she became the first woman to be appointed to the Law Commission, which promotes the reform of the law.

There, she oversaw critical reforms in many areas, including family law – the work she did on The Children Act 1989 was a career highlight. ‘It is the thing I am most proud to have contributed to,’ she says. ‘The state of the law had been in complete chaos, but we were able to turn it into a system that was coherent.

We emphasised that in any decision about the care and upbringing of children, it was the best interests of the child that was the most important thing.’

Having worked as a part-time judge and been made a QC, in 1994 she was promoted to be a full-time high court judge in the family division. Her memoir includes some of her judgments and what strikes me most is how she tried to come up with workable solutions.

‘I think judges who have to make decisions about family lives have to be practical,’ she explains. ‘They have to think what is going to be the least detrimental, the least bad way forward for this particular group of unhappy people, and try to find things that will work.’

Her rise continued. She went to the Court of Appeal in 1999 and the Law Lords in 2004, when it was still the top court for the UK. It was replaced by the

I want to encourage women to be the best they can be

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Women who lead Supreme Court in 2009, and she was the first woman to serve. When she was appointed to the House of Lords, she created a coat of arms bearing the motto: Omnia Feminae Aequissimae, meaning ‘women are equal to everything’.

Early bird or night owl?

Along the way, Night owl, often working. there were changes City or country? I like both, but in her personal life. at the moment I think the Her first marriage was country is winning. dissolved in 1992 and, Introvert or extrovert? I don’t soon after, she married know. I had to learn to be an Julian Farrand, who extrovert because of my career. she’d known for many G&T or cup of tea? Gin and tonic. years and refers to as How do you like to relax? By her ‘frog Prince’. ‘My doing sudoku or jigsaw puzzles. second husband was Your proudest achievement is… very supportive,’ she The Children Act 1989. says. ‘One of the Your life motto is… Don’t let the things he said when bastards grind you down! we got together, after The woman you most admire a very long time, was: from history is… Mary them right,”’ “I want you with your Wollstonecraft, the first she says. future.” Future career woman to write a book that I wanted to was what he meant.’ advocated equality for women. show myself In 2017, she was I could do it, too.’ appointed President She’s always of the Supreme Court, managed to keep a cool head in public, making her head of the UK’s as was shown by her composure highest court. It’s been an incredible delivering that famous judgment on the climb and she remained extremely prorogation. With judges in Scotland unstuffy in the process, to the point that and England at odds she was known as the ‘Beyoncé of the about whether it was legal profession’ for her mentoring of right for Parliament students and pressing for greater to be suspended, the diversity. When she had an official Supreme Court had portrait painted, she made the to quickly come to apparently startling decision to a decision. Now it be depicted smiling, making her all seems quite a the first judge to look cheerful. long time ago, but IMPOSTOR SYNDROME I tell her that I can However, being a legal trailblazer has remember listening to it and how, amid not been effortless. She admits to the sound and fury of Brexit, she came having suffered from impostor across as a voice of calm. syndrome as she was building her ‘Of course, the law is a voice of career. ‘I certainly felt it when I went calm – that is the whole point,’ she says. to Cambridge because I was the ‘Many people find it extremely tedious first girl from my school to go there. and boring to listen to legal argument When I went to The Law Commission, because it can be long-winded, but I wondered if I would be able to do certainly it is very detailed and very it, and again [I felt it] when I started learned, and yes, it is calm. That is the as a part-time judge.’ good thing about it. We are trying to So how did she overcome it? find out what the right answer is in ‘I suppose it was a case of thinking: accordance with legal principles.’

“Well, I’m here, so somebody thinks That judgment was almost like I can do it and I’d better show them a swan song, as a few months later she that I can. I’d better do my best to prove turned 75 and rules dictated that she

had to retire. She had a lot planned, including travel and speaking at legal conferences. As it turned out, not only did she, like everyone else, have to amend her plans because of Covid, but there was also personal tragedy around the corner.

In July 2020, her husband died of a pulmonary embolism, a tragic loss.

‘He was one of those comparatively rare men who was very comfortable in the company of clever women,’ she says now. ‘He was not threatened or frightened by them.

I’m not saying I am particularly clever, but I got a lot of letters from clever women after he died saying how much they had enjoyed his company and what a good, kind, thoughtful person he was.’

Now she’s thinking about the future and possibly taking up her seat in the House of Lords, something she wasn’t able to do while she was a judge. And of course, she has been busy writing her memoir. ‘Lots of people asked me to write the book,’ she says. ‘I thought it would be fun to do and it might do some good in encouraging women not just into the law, but to be the best they can be.’

• Spider Woman: A Life (Bodley Head)

by Lady Hale is published 7 October

The dress I chose that day had a spider brooch, but there was no message intended

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PHOTOGRAPHY: KEVIN LEIGHTON, GARY LEE/© UPPA/PHOTOSHOT, SUPREME COURT/AVALON.RED, GETTY IMAGES

Quickfire

‘The WOMAN who showed me HOW TO BE STRONG’ When she’s going through difficult times, food writer Alex Hollywood remembers her remarkable grandmother, an actor who escaped the Nazis and later taught her how to cook

P

eople often comment on the picture hanging in my sitting room, a portrait of a strikingly beautiful woman with platinum blonde hair in a stylised Marcel wave. The woman is my grandmother, Vanda Vangen, whose life story is one of glamour, adventure and survival.

Vanda was an actor, journalist and UNESCO envoy, who escaped from German-occupied France in 1940 to London, where she joined the resistance group Forces Français Libres.

Her strength of character and sheer determination has been a huge influence and an inspiration throughout my life.

I also owe my love of food and entertaining to her; many of my favourite recipes are hers. She was a talented cook and an exceptional host, but her glamorous exterior belied an inner core of steel.

Vanda had been brave enough to stand up and oppose the Nazi regime and had been placed on Heinrich Himmler's blacklist, but she managed to escape from Paris on the last train, carrying only a pot of face cream, her pearls and a masterpiece by the artist Georges Seurat, which was small enough to fit in a handbag.

I had always heard stories about my grandmother’s life – Mama Vanda, or MV, as she was known, was too glamorous to be called granny – and the tale of her dramatic escape from Paris and others have become treasured family anecdotes.

During the pandemic, with spare time on my hands, I decided to find out more.

Last autumn, between the lockdowns, I went to see my mother and we rummaged through some of her old suitcases and albums, piecing together more of Vanda’s incredible life story.

Born in 1908 to a Scottish father and Norwegian mother, Vanda was obsessed with acting from an early age. She often skipped school in London to audition for films. Her father, Andrew, was furious and packed her off to Paris to a finishing school, but Vanda was undeterred and sought out the theatres and actors there.

As a result, she met her husband (my grandfather), Edmond T Gréville, who eventually became a well-known director.

Vanda was ‘discovered’ when Edmond took her to a dinner party with celebrated French film director Abel Gance.

Wearing a borrowed dress from a fellow actor, pinned up at the hem so that it wouldn’t drag on the floor, the bright and witty Vanda made such an impression on Gance that he cast her in his 1931 film La Fin Du Monde. She became an overnight sensation, was hailed as the next Greta Garbo and featured in society columns and magazines across France.

She was photographed by the avantgarde artist Man Ray and her next film, Le Million, was a hit. At the same time, her husband, Edmond, was also well on the road to film directing success. My mother, Gloria, was born in 1934, and

Her glamorous exterior belied an inner core of steel

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Vanda continued to work and build her career.

The late 1930s were a dark time; both Edmond and Vanda watched in horror as intolerance, hatred and antisemitism swept across Germany. When war was declared in 1939, Edmond was filming in southern France and, a few months later, in the spring of 1940, Vanda returned to Paris, having left my mother safely with her parents in London as German forces began their advance.

When the Germans started bombing Paris, she was caught in an air raid. She escaped with just minor injuries, which she shrugged off, picking shards of glass from her hair.

Because Vanda had been shooting anti-Nazi films, she knew she could be in danger. One morning in June, she received a phone call from France’s intelligence agency, the Deuxième Bureau, warning her that the Germans were hours away and that she was on a Gestapo blacklist.

She needed to get out of Paris fast.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE Vanda grabbed her few possessions and headed for the station, which was heaving with people frantic to flee Paris.

Porters were checking IDs and searching bags, and Vanda was losing hope of being able to leave when she heard her name called. A young man, one of the film crew she’d worked with, climbed out of the window of the train compartment. He battled his way to her, scooped her up goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Alex was inspired to cook by her grandmother, Vanda

This glamorous portrait of Vanda hangs in Alex’s home

PHOTOGRAPHY: LIZ MCAULAY

Alex (right) with her grandmother, Vanda, and baby sister, Liz

and lifted her back through the window, pressing his ticket into her hand just as the train pulled away. Vanda later discovered that this brave, heroic man perished like so many others in a concentration camp. She never forgot his extraordinary sacrifice.

In London, she made contact with many of her friends who had also fled there, including Leslie Beck, who had set up the political intelligence department helping the French Resistance. Vanda was recruited by General de Gaulle and worked with the Free France movement. Her job was to broadcast ‘white propaganda’ to France from the BBC, sending sophisticated messages to the Resistance hidden within the broadcasts and helping well-known citizens out of France.

When the war ended and Paris was liberated more than four years later, Vanda was among the first civilians to return. Her beautiful Champs-Élysées apartment had

been taken over and inhabited by German officers during the occupation and her beloved art collection had disappeared.

Edmond had remained in southern ‘free’ France during the war, but the separation had taken its toll on their marriage and a few years later they parted.

After the war, Vanda was approached by some of her old war colleagues and invited to work as a UNESCO cultural envoy, so she returned to London to promote collaboration between different countries and cultures.

CULINARY SKILLS Mama Vanda continued to entertain, even after she moved from her house in London down to Kent to be closer to us. She’d learned to cook as a child, taught by my Norwegian great-grandmother, who had moved to London to cook for the influential Ingram family. Rather like Mrs

Love & relationships Beeton, she would create fabulous dishes and cater for lavish parties attended by royalty and the famous names of the day. This is how Vanda learned her culinary skills and she, in turn, passed them on to my mother, who passed them on to me.

As she lived close to us, my sister and I adored helping her prepare for lavish dinner parties, often with visitors from London, including a French count and friends from the expat resistance movement.

Many of her recipes are in my books, My Busy Kitchen and Cooking Tonight, such as slow-roasted aromatic beef brisket, which was a favourite of hers, and also Vanda’s Bouillabaisse, which she miraculously recreated after we had all devoured the dish on a holiday in the South of France. Certain foods remind me instantly of her glamour, her style and her incredible joie de vivre.

I vividly remember, aged eight, helping her make chocolate truffles (she favoured having smaller truffles, so our little hands were perfect for rolling them), with her whole kitchen smelling wonderful. As you can imagine, afternoon tea at Vanda’s was always a joy, with home-made cakes and sandwiches laid on with a proper tea stand, cups and saucers.

She was a woman ahead of her time and had a strong sense of right and wrong, and I often wonder what she would have thought of our world today.

When Vanda’s life blew up, she simply brushed herself down, picked the glass from her hair and carried the hell on.

I like to think that I’ve inherited some of my grandmother’s strength of character, resilience and determination, which helped me through a turbulent divorce.

Vanda died in 1997, aged 89, but I still feel her presence strongly when times are tough. She taught me that women are made of strong stuff. I look at her picture hanging on the wall and imagine her saying: ‘You will get through this; it will pass; better days are coming.’ And I think that’s a mantra worth living by. y Cooking Tonight (Hodder & Stoughton)

by Alex Hollywood is available now; Alex’s easy recipes are on Instagram @alex_hollywood1

z Have you been inspired by an amazing woman in your family? If so, please tell us about her by emailing worthsharing@goodhousekeeping.co.uk

‘We all have the

AUTHORITY if we know how to use it’ Jackie Weaver became an overnight sensation when she stood up to shouty men who tried to shut her down. She talks to Mandy Appleyard about how anyone can make themselves heard and ensure they’re never overlooked or made to feel invisible Illustrations SEAN LONGMORE

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Talking point

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mild-mannered, grey-haired local government official with a penchant for knitting makes for an unlikely national hero. Yet Jackie Weaver became exactly that in February this year when a recording of her no-nonsense handling of a gaggle of patronising, shouty men in an overheated parish council meeting went viral – turning her into an internet sensation overnight.

Since then, Jackie, 63, has opened the BRIT Awards, recorded Celebrity Mastermind, launched her podcast Jackie Weaver Has The Authority, with guests including Jeremy Vine and Anton Du Beke, and been immortalised on fridge magnets and in sponge cake.

Next on her list of achievements? Her first book, which is an essential guide to getting things done without fuss, keeping your cool in the face of adversity and pressing mute on the noise. ‘It’s a helpful book for people who are tired of being patronised, talked over or addressed in that “I know what’s best for you” tone,’ Jackie explains.

Surprisingly, given her handling of the rowdy mess that was the Handforth Parish Council meeting, Jackie describes herself as ‘completely conflict-averse’.

Pick your battles Sharing the benefit of her experience and wisdom, Jackie is a shining, if unlikely, example of how women can make themselves heard, noticed and ensure they are taken seriously. ‘My one big piece of advice on that score is to pick your battles, because you can’t deal with everything all the time,’ she says.

‘Whether it’s a work, domestic or social situation you find yourself struggling with, just focus on what is important in the moment. There’s a calm that comes over you when you have clarity of purpose and that is a wonderful feeling.

‘The message given to women that we can and should have it all is a false one, which makes us feel we’ve failed,’ she continues. ‘It’s impossible to have it all, so you have to prioritise. Life is not perfect, families are not perfect, we are not perfect. Spread yourself as thin as Marmite and you will never feel in control. I try to understand other people and where they’re coming from. It helps to be a little kinder to them – it brings out their better nature and it helps me reassure myself that it is not about me.’

Jackie believes age can be a useful bulwark rather than a compromising life goodhousekeeping.com/uk

‘Conflict takes me right out of my comfort zone, so I’d run a mile to avoid it,’ she says. ‘When it happens, as it inevitably does, I have to find different ways of dealing with it because I can’t run away. I refuse to get sucked into the moment, so I stick with the bigger picture. I focus on whatever it is I am trying to achieve and ignore the noise around it. Someone will rattle your cage, but remind yourself of why you’re there and ask yourself, “Should I let this battle go?”’

That quiet, steely focus on the job in hand was how the indomitable chief officer of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils handled that infamous Zoom meeting. She dealt with aggressive male councillors by kicking them off the call, barely blinking as they swore and insulted her, keeping her cool when told, ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about!’ and ignoring the sneers of the remaining men when a female councillor asked them to show Jackie some respect. She took control with another quick click of her eviction button.

Overnight, Jackie, a mother of three grown-up sons, married for 37 years and in the same job for 25 years, became the lockdown icon we didn’t know we needed.

stage that renders women invisible and takes away their authority. ‘Just change the premise – it’s as simple as that,’ she explains. ‘I think it was true in the past that women were perceived negatively beyond middle age, but I’m not sure it’s as true now. There are such positives if we can only recognise them. As we’ve grown older, our responsibilities to our children have diminished, our confidence has grown and we are much less crushed by all the information around us.

‘If I’d been opening the BRITs in my 20s or 30s, I wouldn’t even have wanted to be on the stage with those “empowered” females; I just couldn’t have put myself up there beside them. But, as an older woman, it doesn’t bother me.

There’s no sense of competition, which is completely freeing.’

Jackie, described by commentator Piers Morgan as ‘the greatest feminist icon since Emmeline Pankhurst’, has three further pieces of key advice she believes can help women in all situations: ‘Lead by example, generate respect and

have quiet confidence in your position.

Achieve these and you will put yourself in a very strong position in all areas of your life.’

Jackie may make it sound easy, but her beginnings in life were challenging and this has helped make her into a woman able to take control and calm the chaos.

‘I had a very difficult, angry mother,’ she explains. ‘I could never openly challenge her but I made sure nothing she did was going to make me cry.

Today, I suppose I take on bullies because I have a strong sense of justice and what’s fair and not fair.’

In the Handforth Parish Council maelstrom, the world watched Jackie taking a brave stand.

‘We saw karma – we saw some people doing the wrong thing and we saw consequences to their actions. We often hope for that kind of reckoning in life but we rarely see it played out before us. And, on some level, it is extremely satisfying to watch people totally losing it!’

Lead by example, generate respect and have quiet confidence in your position

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Talking point

Dealing with men Jackie is no stranger to dealing with men, working in male-dominated local government as well as having a brother, a husband and three sons, aged 36, 35 and 30. ‘I certainly feel more comfortable being around men: they’re not as complicated as women; they’re a lot simpler, much more direct, kind and without guile,’ she says.

Jackie laughs loudly, swears here and there, and clearly enjoys asking questions as well as answering them. ‘I don’t take life too seriously,’ she says. ‘I like to greet it with a wry smile. People assume I am always calm and well spoken and they would never expect me to swear, so when I do, people listen. There’s a shock value, which is helpful. If you’re not known for raising your voice, people stop and take notice when you do. If you’re always shouting and bawling, people stop noticing you.’

Asserting yourself isn’t always the right strategy, according to Jackie, who says we need to tailor our approach for the result we want. ‘The way to gain authority is by gauging the cleverest way to get what you need from a situation,’ she explains. ‘So, if the plumber comes round to fix a leaking pipe and you feel you’re being patronised, is there any gain in taking him on? If what you want is to get the pipe fixed, then tell him how grateful you are and, yes, of course you’ll make him another cup of tea. We’re right

back to the wisdom of picking your battles.’

Jackie is honest about her own shortcomings: ‘I’m not good at coping with others’ feelings, and I’m not interested in nature, history, geography or the lives of people I don’t know.’

She adds that she rarely takes holidays and works full time. Relaxing at home sees her engaged in intricate nail art, watching horror films (‘I love anything with zombies and an apocalypse’), knitting, crocheting and playing solitaire. ‘I don’t like playing games with anybody else,’ she confides. ‘I’m horribly competitive, can’t cope with losing and have been known to cry in frustration, particularly during a game of Monopoly or Cluedo.

And I can’t relax unless I feel I’ve earned it by doing what I need to do for work first.’

Jackie’s husband, Stuart, retired from his job as a design engineer six years ago and runs the domestic side of life at home in rural Shropshire. ‘I don’t want to sound big-headed but my husband thinks I’m fabulous!’ she smiles. ‘His role now is very much a supportive one. He likes to get involved in what’s going on if the opportunity is there, for example, if I’m filming something. He knows I’ve

spent 25 years of my life working with parish councils and he’s pleased for me that they are now getting more recognition because of this.’

As for the future, Jackie says: ‘I don’t believe in bucket lists, but I’ve reached an age when I don’t mind making a fool of myself. I’d like to be a contestant on Tipping Point with Ben Shephard and I would love to present Have I Got News For You. I recently jumped at the chance to appear in a promotional video to publicise the new series of The Walking Dead. It was for a competition in which entrants could win the chance to have an actor dressed as a zombie stand in for them on a video conference call.’ It’s something Jackie says she’d have loved to have used in that infamous Handforth Parish Council meeting… y You Do Have The Authority Here! #What Would Jackie Weaver Do? (Constable) by Jackie Weaver is out now

I’ve reached an age where I don’t mind making a fool of myself

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF GETTING THINGS DONE Pragmatism, focus and dogged determination help me get things done. Prioritise what’s important, and remember: z You can’t do it all – let go of some things. z Stick to your guns. z Stay focused. z Don’t waste your day on social media. z Don’t say ‘yes’ to everything.

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IT’S EASY TO BE DIFFICULT From those who hide behind their keyboards to the disengaged and downright rude, difficult people come in many guises, so think about the following: z Try to work out why they’re being difficult. z Talk to them – don’t rely on emails and texts. z Listen and make them feel heard. z Don’t accept unreasonable behaviour. z Develop your own inner voice to drown out the underminers.

ENGAGE, DON’T RAGE Don’t shout or lose your temper. If you want to be heard, engage with people and make them feel you’re on their side so they’re more likely to do what you ask. z Be clear in your own mind about what you want. z Think about what you’re saying and how you say it. z Don’t ever start with ‘I’m just putting it out there,’ or ‘I may be wrong…’ z Don’t start an important meeting or conversation if you’re angry or upset. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: BRUCE ADAMS/SOLO SYNDICATION

Jackie Weaver shares what she’s learned about dealing with difficult situations and tricky people.

‘In a roomful of students, there’s nowhere to hide!’

What’s it like going back to university in later life? Bobby Twidale took a leap of faith when she returned to studying in her 50s

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he idea came in a message from my younger son, Gus, who was a journalism student at UWE Bristol. I was a recently retired French teacher and had just finished building a house. Life, good in many ways, suddenly lacked a goal. Gus said: ‘You should be doing this degree. You’d love it.’ I don’t know if he meant to be taken literally, but soon after, I attended an open day at Nottingham Trent University. I couldn’t imagine myself in a TV studio or busy tabloid newsroom, so, on 1 January 2019, I accepted an offer to study part-time for a master’s degree in magazine journalism over two years – for once, it was a New Year’s resolution I was enthusiastic about.

As the teacher in charge of careers education at school, I wish I had a pound for every time I’d advised a pupil to think carefully about which job may get them out of bed each morning with a smile on their face. Now, I wanted to find the thing that would do the same for me in later life.

In 2019-20, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), there were nearly 77,000 university students in the 50+ age group. Most opted for vocational courses, such as medical or social sciences, business and management or teaching. It seems I’m not alone in wanting to take the skills and experience of several decades in my first career and apply them to a new context.

I knew it was no small challenge I was taking on. I hadn’t written an academic essay in more than 30 years and, socially, I’d be out of my comfort zone; most students were likely to be my son’s age.

Ask almost any older woman and she’ll tell you about the dawning realisation of her growing invisibility. That’s not all bad.

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In my experience It can be liberating. I’d make the perfect spy; no one suspects a middle-aged mum.

But in a group of twentysomethings, there’s no hiding for the 55-year-old with grey hair, even when disguised in jeans, a vintage hoodie and trainers.

On the first day of term, in September 2019, my head rattled with doubts: ‘Are you good enough?’, ‘You’ll never keep up with the workload’, ‘Do you think you’ll be accepted by the other students?’ My heart sank when they formed a WhatsApp group and, of 14 students, I was the only one not included. Maybe they were also unsure how this would work?

NEW STUDY SKILLS I quickly bonded with the lecturers.

I’d experienced the challenges of the job and knew how I’d feel with an ex-teacher in my class. At first, I filtered every contribution I made in class, but the content was so interesting I struggled to keep quiet for long. Everyone says they were always pleased I got the discussion started, but I’m not sure I believe them!

I have a habit of collecting ‘surrogate’ children – the mates of my sons, kids of friends. But while I felt supportive of my classmates, celebrating their successes and wanting to help in difficult moments, it was a relationship of equals. I was ridiculously flattered to be properly accepted by them and invited on a night out. Like Cinderella, I exited the party at midnight – stamina is depleted in your 50s and mornings after are much worse!

What a powerful flashback the whole student experience was. Vicariously, I relived the rollercoaster of emotions that grip your early 20s (swoops of joy and crushing blows) and experienced again the nerves of submitting essays.

One classmate explained their non-binary gender and responded to my confusion of their pronouns with such equanimity that I understood my previous failure to grasp how fundamental a part of identity gender is. It reminded me of my deep affront when, in a dark cinema, someone saw my short hair and addressed me as a man. I thought about how that may feel repeated relentlessly.

In 1984, when I started my first degree, life at the University of Manchester was carefree – friends, the Haçienda nightclub,

discussions in the student union and nursing hangovers in the library.

Unsurprisingly, study has changed a lot in 37 years. Even before Covid, everything was available online. I spent hours in the 1980s searching library catalogues, but today, it’s all accessible from a laptop. My ancient study skills weren’t always a hindrance. I wrestled with technology, but my old-school knowledge of grammar never let me down. We became a tight-knit team, working to our strengths and trusting one another enough to give and take honest feedback.

You progress most by having the resilience to do hard things. At times, I had to take leaps of faith, such as when I stood in front of a camera to introduce my first video story.

Teachers know the most powerful learning happens from making mistakes. The day I had to attach my phone to a tripod with Blu Tack borrowed from my interviewee, I decided never again to go out without checking equipment carefully.

When I started the course, I wanted to write, but I’ve discovered I also love telling stories through video and podcasts. I’m

PHOTOGRAPHY: LIZ MCAULAY. HAIR AND MAKE-UP: MALIN COLEMAN

I’m re-energised and un-invisible and getting out of bed with a smile!

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Bobby with her parents the first time she graduated, in 1988

volunteering for a local radio station and freelancing for a magazine I’ve read since the age of 18. And I’ll never forget the rush of joy when I heard The Times would be printing one of my stories; my first piece in a national newspaper.

To anyone considering joining the 30,000-plus over-35s who, according to UCAS, apply annually to study at a UK university, I’d say, emphatically: ‘Do it!’

Applications are open now for autumn 2022. I’ve spent two years on the edge of my comfort zone; it’s changed everything.

I’m re-energised and un-invisible, and I’ve found the thing that will get me out of bed with a smile on my face for my next, hopefully 30-year, career.

Be brave and choose something you really love

Bobby shares what she learned about being a mature student

DO study a subject you really

DON’T assume a less-than-stellar

love. Mature students rarely drop out, usually throw themselves fully into their studies and often achieve great results. But that doesn’t mean it’s not hard work, and when things get tough, your passion will get you through.

DO be brave. You’re going to learn new skills and do things you’ve never done before. You’ll meet new people and feel out of your comfort zone. Of course, you’ll make mistakes – that’s what you’re there for. Turn every mistake into a learning experience.

DON’T dismiss studying as a mature student on grounds of cost.

If it’s your first higher education qualification, there’s no upper age limit to applying for student finance.

school career will be a barrier to application. Many universities will take professional qualifications and work experience into consideration.

DO keep asking questions and don’t worry about looking silly – you won’t. Enjoy your newly found un-invisibility!

DO take advantage of every opportunity. Say yes to invitations, sign up for extra activities and put your hand up to volunteer.

DON’T ever settle for just good enough. Graft and keep at it until you know you’ve given it your best shot.

DO wear your graduation gown with pride when it comes to an end, as it will do all too soon.

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Our small changes to make the world

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Be inspired Laura has saved thousands by food sharing

‘I can’t bear seeing good food go to waste’ Laura Gaga is a civil servant from London who has transformed her diet (and her finances) with her decision to avoid throwing away usable food.

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en years ago, I noticed a colleague bringing in lunch covered in yellow stickers. He said he shopped in the reduced aisle at the supermarket.

At the time, I was buying expensive packaged sandwiches for lunch and, living alone, I’d spend £50 on my weekly shop.

That evening, I had a good look around my usual supermarket and found some amazing bargains. Some were at their sell-by date, others end-of-line clearances or with damaged packaging.

From then on, I’d pop in after work and head straight to the reduced section.

If there was a lone half-price butternut squash for sale, I’d buy it and worry about what to do with it when I got home. I’d never eaten a radish but when there was a bag for 10p, I bought them and loved them.

I’d take my bargains home, search online for recipes using the ingredients I’d found and start cooking, freezing anything I couldn’t eat. I was soon cooking creatively, saving loads of money and feeling healthier because I wasn’t relying on processed food.

I started reading up about food waste and was shocked to learn that a third of the food produced globally is simply thrown in the bin. In the UK, we waste 9.5m tonnes of food every year – an astonishing amount. Wasting food means we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, transport and package it.

Food in landfill sites rots and produces the greenhouse gas methane, which is one of the biggest contributors to climate change.

I resolved to try harder and came across the OLIO food waste app, which connects people with others who have surplus food.

If you have items you can’t use, you take a picture of them and upload them on to the app – if someone nearby wants them they can request them and pick them up.

The first time I used it, I got lentils, beans and vegetables from a woman who was moving house. I was delighted! Soon, I was using the app and others like it every day,

and my weekly shop went from £50 to around £10. For my 40th birthday last year, I found an unwanted bottle of Champagne on the app and I served it at a party with friends. What a result!

I’ve also volunteered as a Food Hero for the app. You collect food at the end of the day from supermarkets and food outlets that would otherwise go to waste.

There’s always huge demand for the food.

Because I was only buying reduced food, I was eating less meat as that always disappeared quickly from the shelves. I went vegetarian, then three years ago, vegan. I loved the challenge of creating interesting plant-based recipes.

Environmental issues were a concern, too; being vegan reduces your carbon footprint.

Some weeks I don’t buy any food at all because I get all my food from the apps.

I always manage to have three meals a day, plus snacks. I’ve worked out that I’ve saved £20,000 in the past decade. I’m also fitter and healthier; I run and do yoga.

Food is the one thing that connects us all and the amount of waste is appalling.

I hope more people will be inspired to be mindful about the food we throw away.

• Find Laura on Instagram @Reduction_Raider1 and listen to her podcast, Alright Raiders, on Spotify

My weekly shop went from £50 to around £10

Humans are being blamed for the damage to our planet, including drought, famine and extreme weather. As world leaders and experts gather in Glasgow for the climate change summit, four women tell Sandra Walsh what they’re already doing to help goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Laura loves creating plant-based meals from scratch

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She regularly takes home bags of rubbish

Catriona wants us all to stop buying single-use plastics

‘Every time I walk by the coast, I fill a bag with rubbish’ Catriona Mann has tried to make a positive difference since watching The Blue Planet by litter picking and setting up a business producing wax eco wraps.

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alking along the beach, minutes from my home in East Fife, I breathe in the salty air and appreciate how lucky I am to live so close to Scotland’s beautiful coast. I walk here every day and never tire of seeing the waves crashing in or gently lapping at the shore as birds swoop and dive overhead.

Moving here in 2018 was the best decision I’ve ever made, but it was a shock, too, because of the astonishing amount of debris I see washed up on the beach day after day.

I never manage a walk without picking

up rubbish, whether it’s plastic bottles, balloons, fishing debris, such as rope, gloves and netting, which has been carelessly thrown overboard, and, lately, discarded face masks. I’m a fan of year-round sea swimming and sometimes I bump into a plastic bottle bobbing in the waves, which is always so depressing.

Every Sunday, a friend and I walk 10km along the coast and we each take a large bin bag. Every single time we return with the bags full of rubbish. The fact that there’s so much litter on one small beach shows how much there must be in our oceans. It’s horrifying.

I want to keep Scotland’s beautiful coast litter free

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Like many people, my wake-up call was a few years ago watching The Blue Planet, when Sir David Attenborough revealed that 8m tonnes of plastic finds its way into our seas every year, poisoning marine life and entering the food chain. I hadn’t really thought about it before. At the time, I’d just moved to Jersey to work as a manager for John Lewis & Partners. Before that, I’d always been a city girl, but I felt an immediate connection with the ocean. I learned to surf at 50 and regularly swam in the sea.

Then, travelling around New Zealand in a camper van four years ago, I noticed that they were years ahead of us in terms of green living – no plastic bags or plastic bottles in sight. I was particularly struck by the reusable clingfilm made out of beeswax that was used everywhere. Clingfilm can’t be recycled so every piece used since the 1950s is still here in landfill and we use enough of it every year to wrap around the planet 30 times. Having taken voluntary redundancy before my trip, I hatched a plan to bring the beeswax product back home and start my own business.

I was newly single after a separation and moved back to Scotland and Crail, a village I knew from childhood.

There’s a great community and we all try our best to keep our beach clean.

As well as my daily litter-picking trawls, I help clean up after tourists, some of whom leave their rubbish on the beach.

I’m no eco warrior, but I believe a few changes could have a huge impact. If we all stopped buying single-use plastic, it would force big companies to offer alternatives and, hopefully, improve the health of our oceans.

• bplasticfree.com goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Be inspired

‘We’re not eco angels, but we’re trying to make a difference’ Liz Weston from Cambridge reveals how her sons, Elliott, 14, and William, 13, have persuaded her and husband James to make more green choices.

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wo years ago, I was with my family at the cafe we go to every month for a Sunday breakfast when my usual order of avocado and tomatoes on toast arrived. My son, William, piped up, ‘Do you know how many miles that avocado has travelled to get to your plate?’ I was mid-mouthful when he added, ‘It can take 300 litres of water to grow a single avocado.’

From a young age, the boys were very knowledgeable about climate change and the planet. They learned about the environment at school and via Sir David Attenborough documentaries. I watched with them but, whereas they were taking it all in and seeking out more information, I just thought, ‘Oh, that’s awful,’ and carried on with my life.

‘Our eco-friendly changes have become a way of life,’ says Liz

I found sorting through the recycling and food waste time-consuming and boring and, though I always did it, I wondered if it was actually worth the effort. But the boys’ passion pricked my conscience.

We started trying new ways to bring green choices into our lives, using different poo bags for the dogs, experimenting with food waste containers and attempting meat-free Mondays, which wasn’t popular and once ended with a trip to McDonald’s!

Then I lost my marketing job during the pandemic. I was devastated and being unemployed in my 40s wasn’t part of the plan. A few months later, I saw a job

advertised at SaveMoneyCutCarbon, which helps people find sustainable swaps for everyday products. With everything we’d been doing as a family, it seemed like the perfect fit and I was thrilled when I was offered the role.

Work has been a huge eye-opener.

I have learned so much more about the environment and brought home lots of products to test. The first thing I did was replace all the light bulbs in the house with LED eco ones. They’re bright and warm and last 50,000 hours, plus are cheaper to use.

I also have an air-pressure shower head, which replaces some of the water with air. It uses 50% less water and feels like the best hotel shower you’ve ever had. We’ve been growing plants in huge tomato tins I got from my local cafe, and we’ve attempted to grow lettuce in the drainpipes!

Some people think it’s more expensive to be green but we’ve definitely saved money on energy and water use. It’s a way of life now to consider everything we buy and use, but we’ve had failures.

We’re certainly no eco angels. I still enjoy an avocado on toast every month!

My biggest bugbear is loo roll packed in plastic. I wish people realised that it costs the same packaged in paper and there’s no single-use plastic to hang around in landfill for hundreds of years.

I think people just don’t know where to start. My message is to try something, however small, then you can build on it.

Our children’s futures are at stake.

• savemoneycutcarbon.com

We have attempted to grow lettuce in the drainpipes!

Liz with her son William and their dog, Scout

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‘Bees are so important for our future’ Siobhan Penrose-Johnson has become a beekeeper and forager to provide some of the produce for the Peak District pub restaurant she runs with husband, Graham.

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’m most content when I’m at the bottom of the garden tending to my bees and watching them go about their work. They’re fascinating and produce delicious honey, but, more importantly, they’re crucial for our entire ecosystem.

If it wasn’t for bees, our food chain would collapse and the whole balance of nature would be in jeopardy.

Nearly all crops are dependent on bee pollination to grow and a third of all the food we eat has been pollinated by bees.

I was always keen to keep bees, long before it became fashionable. When I was in my 20s, I went on a week-long

beekeeping course. But it wasn’t until Graham and I took on The George in Alstonefield in the Peak District four years ago that I finally had the space to get my first hive. There’s something very spiritual about bees and I feel very responsible for their wellbeing. At this time of year, the bees have gone into hibernation, but I still have to check them regularly to see that they’re warm and dry and that the winter bees are protecting their queen. This year, I took some honey to use in the

You have to tell the bees if there’s important news

Siobhan tends to the restaurant’s kitchen garden two days a week…

…but is happiest with her bees!

restaurant, so it’s important to make sure the bees have enough food themselves to sustain them through winter.

We’re lucky that there’s so much meadow land for the bees to find food around here. But in urban areas that’s not always the case. One-third of bee species in the UK are in decline and loss of habitat is one of the biggest problems.

Pesticide use and drought are some of the other reasons.

I grew up in the countryside, surrounded by people who grew their own produce and tried not to waste anything. I think that’s why sustainability has always been of interest to me.

It’s important to us that we’re serving food in out restaurant that’s produced nearby. The meat is from local farms using higher welfare methods, so you know that the animals have been well cared for and have lived a good life. It makes a huge difference to the quality and taste of the meat.

We’ve rebuilt the disused kitchen garden and I spend two days a week from spring to autumn tending the vegetables we grow, which include artichokes, Brussels sprouts, cabbages and rhubarb. It’s hard work but worth it. We eat the produce and sell it in the restaurant.

I also go foraging in the little local lanes or down by the river. During the autumn that means blackberries, damsons, herbs and nuts.

It’s important to me that our guests are served food that hasn’t travelled miles.

But I’m at my happiest when I’m with my bees. People might think I’m mad but I always follow the ancient folklore that says you have to tell the bees if someone has died or if there’s important news. It’s said that if the custom is ignored, the bees might leave their hive or stop producing honey. Better safe than sorry!

The best thing we can all do is to plant some bee-friendly flowers, even if that means making room for them in a manicured garden or a window box.

You can buy bee mix seed packets or plant buddleia, lavender, alliums and bulbs to feed them in spring.

• thegeorgeatalstonefield.com goodhousekeeping.com/uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: LIZ MCAULAY, SUSIE LOWE, THOMAS SKOVSENDE, CLAIRE WOOD. HAIR AND MAKE-UP: LIZ KITCHINER, CAROLINE PIASECKI, REBECCA SHUTTLEWORTH AT CREATIVES AGENCY

Be inspired

Right: the last picture Lisa had with Chris

Chris as a baby.

Right: Lisa and Chris when they reunited

‘I treasure every moment we shared’ Thirty years after giving up her son for adoption, Lisa Rolland, 55, was reunited with him. But just as they were building their relationship, tragedy struck…

I

never took my son Chris’s hugs for granted. It was always hard to leave him, as it reminded me of how I’d clung to him when he was a tiny baby, knowing he was going to be taken away from me. After spending the day together in May 2019, I held him tighter than ever. Now, I’m so glad that I did.

I was 17 when I became pregnant with Chris. My boyfriend was four years older than me and made it clear that he didn’t want to be a father. I knew my mum and stepfather would be furious. So at first, I wore baggy clothes to hide my growing bump and lived in a haze of terror.

Finally, a friend noticed my changing shape and persuaded me to go to a clinic. The doctor confirmed I was five months pregnant, then he phoned my mum. It was 1982, but there was still real stigma attached to teenage pregnancy.

I wanted someone to hug me and help me, but my mum said, ‘You do know that

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if you decide to keep the baby, you won’t be able to stay here?’

I was sent away from my family in Edinburgh to a home for unmarried mothers in Newcastle. Everyone was really kind, but it was scary when I saw other girls going into labour and being sent off in ambulances all alone to have their babies. I was there for a month, then went to a family in Hexham, where the mum, Irene, supported girls in my situation. She’d gone through the same as a teenager and was so good to me.

Chris was born on 3 October 1982 and I found the birth terrifying. I wanted my own mum. I don’t know how I would have coped if Irene hadn’t been with me. When I asked if I could see my son, the nurse said I could have him in my room. I was

so in awe of this beautiful little baby and I wanted time to stop so I could hold him.

When my milk started to come in, Irene had to bandage me up to stop it, because I wasn’t allowed to breast feed him.

We had four days together before a foster mother took him away. No one would tell me where he was going.

I hid in a toilet and cried and cried, then went back to Irene for six weeks, and afterwards, home to Edinburgh. I hated myself and missed Irene because no one would talk about my baby. He was all I thought about and the pain of losing him was unbearable.

My little sister was just two and I threw myself into looking after her because I couldn’t do that for my son.

Six months later, I had to go back to Newcastle to sign adoption papers. A

We were both so grateful for the incredible bond we had

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Personal journey social worker met me at the station, took me to court to sign the papers and put me back on the train. I was utterly heartbroken and so alone; my family wouldn’t talk about it and I was urged to get on with my life.

My mum enrolled me on a typing course and I started working in a typing pool. I thought about my son often, especially on his birthday and Christmas. The experience came back to me constantly, inflicting pain so raw I can barely describe it. I found it hard to make decisions and suffered bulimia, depression and anxiety.

In the years that followed, I became a single mum to Ben, who’s now 29. When he was four, I met and fell in love with Ogilvie.

We married and had our own son, Jack, who’s now 15. My birth experiences then were so joyful, natural and right; different from my pregnancy with Chris. My husband has two sons from a previous relationship and one was the same age as Chris, so each of his milestones made me think about Chris more. It helped that Ogilvie knew about my past and was supportive and hopeful that one day I’d meet Chris again.

AS TOLD TO: JOAN MCFADDEN. PHOTOGRAPHY: ANTONY SOJKA/TELEGRAPH

TOGETHER AGAIN I wasn’t able to trace Chris, but I desperately hoped he’d find me one day. Finally, in November 2011, I got a letter from social services saying someone born in Hexham was trying to contact me.

I was thrilled but scared I’d let him down and all the shame and guilt came pouring back. ‘Just put together a few sentences and send it off,’ said Ogilvie, so I did.

Chris replied immediately. He told me he’d had a lovely upbringing with his adoptive parents and older sister in Wiltshire and was working as an assistant restaurant manager in a hotel in Cheltenham. For three months, we exchanged emails, sometimes two or three a day, sharing every detail of our lives.

We didn’t phone as he wanted us to be together the first time he heard my voice.

Only Ogilvie and close friends knew.

I wanted to keep Chris all to myself and be in control of our relationship because I hadn’t been previously. I was so happy that I didn’t want anyone to burst the bubble.

In January 2012, we met for the first time at a hotel in Hexham. I was really goodhousekeeping.com/uk

nervous but excited. We hugged and hugged. It felt as if we’d always known each other. Chris gave me an album he’d put together with his adoptive mum, with photos of him at every stage of his life and I was so moved by her kindness.

I stroked all the pictures of baby Chris, then him starting school, unwrapping Christmas presents and other milestones, and I felt I was part of his life at last. We sat together eating dinner and chattering, stunned that we were finally together. The

me of all the worries he’d had over the years, desperate to know why he’d been adopted. We were both so grateful for the incredible bond we had and no matter how much time we spent together, it was never enough. His fiancée, Miranda, picked him up and she told me later that he’d said he finally realised how it felt to be hugged by his birth mother. He was crying and said, ‘I just had the most amazing hug.’ It was so emotional, but also so exciting – as if we now knew everything about each other and life could only get better.

Lisa cherishes A couple of months later, I the time she was on holiday in Portugal when had with Chris Miranda phoned me, emotional and terrified. ‘Chris has had an accident,’ she sobbed. ‘He’s in an induced coma.’ I listened in horror as she told me that he’d been driving home from work and had crashed on a tight bend.

He was in intensive care and nobody could see him apart from Miranda, his parents and sister. I tried not to give up hope, but five days later, Miranda phoned to break the news that Chris had died. I had never felt such agony – it was as if the pain of losing him the first time was unleashed with it. A few weeks later, I met Chris’s parents for the first time. ‘I always thought of you on his birthdays,’ his mum said, which broke my heart because I had never expected anyone to think of me.

The funeral was both heartbreaking and wonderful, with so many people mourning my beautiful boy. I’m so grateful next day, I took him to the hospital where to his parents for giving me my place he was born and to the house where there as his birth mother and I read I’d lived, so he could see where I’d been a poem, I Love You Because You’re Mine. looked after while I was expecting him.

Then, I returned to Edinburgh and tried We were in constant touch over the to put my life back together again, just next few years. He met his half-brother, as I had done nearly 40 years earlier.

Ben. I told Jack about him when he was I’m grateful for my children, stepchildren, 13 and old enough to understand. My grandchildren, husband, health and friends. mum even met him, too. It was strange to Most of all, I am grateful that Chris found see how she accepted him so easily after me. A part of my heart was broken until never mentioning him for decades. Chris we met again and he mended it. I’m so also understood, as his adoptive parents proud of my tiny baby who grew into had always told him how difficult life was such a lovely man. His death broke my for unmarried mothers at that time. heart again and that has been the hardest In May 2019, Chris and I had a thing to bear. I still look at his photos and wonderful evening – our most emotional the Mother’s Day cards he sent and cherish time together. He broke down and told every precious moment we had together.

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My first time

‘Finally I have the

CONFIDENCE to raise my voice’ Primary schoolteacher Farzana Iqbal used to do all she could to avoid public speaking, but with some help from GH and a specialist trainer, she’s now confidently heading into a new role

B

eing a primary schoolteacher, I have no problem speaking in front of children. Teaching is my passion and I love being in the classroom. But when I’ve been asked to give a presentation in front of adults, it’s been a completely different story and I’ve had no confidence at all.

I’ve ended up speaking very quickly, not pausing. I have felt that I’ve just had to get the words out because I thought I was wasting everyone’s time. I have felt like I was being judged. I’ve stumbled over my words and have been visibly nervous; a colleague even suggested I didn’t hold paper notes in my hands because it’s been so obvious that I was shaking.

I’ve been teaching for 11 years and my fear of public speaking has undoubtedly held me back in my career.

I know my next step is senior leadership, but I have not applied for jobs that would involve lots of meetings and leading staff.

I don’t want to stand up in front of people and be awful.

Farzana now has the ability to start that dream job

It is time to overcome it – and I have a big reason for doing so. I’m leaving my home in Manchester to work for a primary school in the UAE. My son, Hamzah, 20, and daughter, Hirra, 18, are staying in the UK and will be caring for my four beloved cats. It is a big adventure and I want to make a success of it.

I stumble over my words and am visibly nervous

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

LACK OF CONFIDENCE

My immediate concern is about making a good first impression when I meet my new colleagues. It is customary to do a short presentation to introduce yourself, and I wanted to work on that with Trevor Penton, who runs The Flourish Academy, coaching people and helping them develop skills for public speaking.

Initially, we spoke on the phone and I was frank about my lack of confidence.

He suggested that I start by writing a five-minute speech about myself and my love of teaching, which we could work on together when we met.

The first thing he did in my coaching session was to ask me to deliver my presentation while he filmed it. He wanted to see what he was working with, which is exactly the same approach I take with children in the classroom. I ask them to do something on their own so I can see how I need to help them.

First of all, we watched the video of my presentation with the sound muted so I could concentrate on my body language. I could see that I was very closed and had made myself look small and nervous. I knew an audience would have had very little NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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My first time trust in what I was saying because of the visible lack of confidence.

Then we listened to my presentation with sound – I was far too quiet and I kept ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’, so I didn’t come across as strong person. And, of course, I was still speaking too quickly.

Farzana and Trevor worked through ways to ease her fears

BECOMING A STORYTELLER

TREVOR PENTON, public speaking coach, says: When I first met Farzana, I saw a confident, warm person and thought, ‘Where’s the problem?’ She was comfortable with me – the discomfort came when I asked her to address the camera.

When she stood up, the confident person disappeared. She was looking at notes on her phone, using it as a crutch. Her voice was quiet, she wasn’t smiling, she wasn’t enjoying herself. She didn’t use her presence.

The result is that an audience won’t listen. She would create a feeling of pity, which is the worst outcome, as everyone then feels awkward.

This is very common – public speaking is in the top three things that people most dread. I think it’s a fear of looking silly. When all the eyes in a room are upon you, there is also a fear of being judged.

As a teenager, I loved drama and, after school, I went to RADA. I worked as a theatre actor, but I changed direction and set up The Flourish Academy to help people to communicate their best selves.

The first thing we tackled was helping Farzana to relax, to bring out her natural warmth. I did that by

asking her to add personal details to her speech so it wasn’t just a string of facts. I made her laugh to see that a smile really makes a difference.

I got her to remember her script so she didn’t have to rely on notes.

It involved her creating key phrases or images that helped her navigate through it and focus more on her audience. I encouraged her to use gestures to emphasise her points, helping her appear more natural.

Another tip was to introduce a pause, taking a breath at the end of the sentence. It helped her stay in control of the pace and would help the audience stay with her.

A pause feels like an age, but it is not and it shows you are in control.

We then made a second video.

There was a marked improvement.

Farzana came across as more confident and there was more eye contact. The main difference was she looked like she was enjoying herself.

She seemed to have dialled down her inner critic and dialled up her confidence. It was so powerful.

Here was a woman with a passion for teaching and wanting to make a difference for children.

z Is there something you want to try for the first time? Email us at worthsharing@goodhousekeeping.co.uk

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

AS TOLD TO: JACKIE BROWN. PHOTOGRAPHY: LIZ MCAULAY. HAIR AND MAKE-UP: MALIN COLEMAN

On the occasions I have had to give presentations, I have spent hours thinking about what I am saying. I was shocked when Trevor told me a statistic about the first impressions of a speaker: only 7% is about the content; the rest is about body language and delivery.

Trevor encouraged me to raise my voice. He also said I had to dramatically slow down the pace, and encouraged me to pause at the end of a sentence so the audience could keep up with me. It is also important that I look at the audience and not at my notes.

I could look down when I was taking a pause, but I had to look up when I was talking.

Of course, what I am saying is important, too, and Trevor told me to think of myself as a storyteller.

In the past, I have kept very much to facts, but he suggested I bring in more colour and personal details.

When I mentioned my children or my cats, he said I should mention their names. I would never have done that in the past as I would have felt it was not what people wanted to hear.

For my final test, I had to write a new speech that had a ‘hook’ to draw in the audience, and a clear beginning, middle and end. I had 10 minutes to write it and I jotted down four points.

My hook was the fact that I am the first person in my family to go to university.

I went on to talk about my passion for teaching and, for the middle, how much I love reading. For the end, I said I was looking forward to hearing other people tell me about their journeys as teachers.

The tips on how to present myself, particularly slowing down my delivery and the importance of storytelling, have been the key things I have taken from my tuition with Trevor. I feel like I now have the tools I need to present properly and it has given me so much more confidence for the future. y For more information, visit theflourishacademy.com

GH gift guide

The

GET-AHEAD GIFT GUIDE

Start your Christmas shopping early with our selection of this year’s most covetable or limited-edition gifts, as well as those thoughtful, personalised presents you need to order in advance…

NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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She’ll never lose this cosy wrap.

Reusable, recyclable and full of goodies!

One to definitely deck the halls with.

Personalised cashmere scarf, £150, Aspinal Of London

ELLE Advent Calendar, £149 (worth over £650), elle.com/uk

Alphabet bauble, £2, Matalan

Simple elegance in 9-carat gold.

Gold initial ring, £250, Liberty London

Give a gift that lasts all year.

GH subscription, from £16.99 (plus they’ll receive The Brilliant Baking cookbook, worth £18.99, for free), hearstmagazines.co.uk/gh-gift

The perfect route to a relaxing Christmas.

Neom Scents of Wellbeing candles, £45 for a set of 3 travel sizes (limited edition). Available from October

Say it with love.

Personalised Heart Liberty bracelet, £49, Merci Maman at John Lewis & Partners

Gorgeous

girlie treats Bags of style.

Monogram Cherry Pebble London purse, from £160, Aspinal Of London

L.K.Bennett launches its first-ever sleepwear range in early October. We predict a sell-out!

A little luxury never goes amiss.

Silk dressing gown, £329, xs-xl; satin slippers, £129, 3-8; silk scrunchie, £39, all L.K.Bennett

This heavenly scent will suit everyone.

Starlit Mandarin & Honey Cologne, £105 (limited edition), Jo Malone London

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

An all-natural home spa set.

Wellness Tent, £52, Bramley goodhousekeeping.com/uk

GH gift guide Comes with complimentary engraving.

For everyday glamour.

Supersonic Hair Dryer, £299.99, Dyson

A chic organiser.

Personalised rose gold heart necklace, £179, Thomas Sabo

Initial card holder, £35, John Lewis & Partners

All the festive essentials.

Bring a timely gift.

Double Serum Collection, £78, Clarins

Limited-edition watch, £95, Timex x Coca-Cola at timex.co.uk

For blush babies.

Holiday High Profile cheek palette, £46, NARS

20% of all sales go directly to the conservation charity

Share the joy.

Advanced Night Repair set, £82, Estée Lauder

Add some animal magic.

Make it personal.

Blush silk Cheetah pyjamas set, £350, s-l, Tabitha Webb x The Aspinall Foundation

Alphabet necklace, £65, PDPAOLA at John Lewis & Partners

Smells good enough to eat.

Monogrammed and oh-so stylish.

Personalised shopper, £200, Rae Feather

Biscuit candle, £60, Diptyque

Keep things cosy.

Personalised slippers, £150, Rae Feather

Treats galore!

For touch-ups on the go.

Make-up bag, £24, Elizabeth Scarlett

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Deluxe Advent Calendar, £80, The Body Shop NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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Start the countdown to Christmas.

Help them look festive in the kitchen.

Advent pillar candle, £8, Next

Night Before Christmas apron, £22, Victoria Eggs

These are a great table centrepiece.

Candle holder, £70 for 2, Petersham Nurseries

A cute Christmas gift.

Personalised bow, £25, Fiona Leahy x Hand & Lock at handembroideryshop. com

Keep your keys safe.

Personalised key fob, £15, Peche Leather

Home & food delights

Hand crafted in the UK by a small business

Chic and stylish.

Candlestick, £20, Raj Tent Club

For that leftover bubbly.

A delicious seasonal scent.

English Pear & Spice candle, £38, Lorna Syson

Comfort and style.

Cushions, £85 (top) and £140 (bottom), both Velvet Linen

Bottle stopper, £12.50, Oliver Bonas

Make them feel special.

Personalised linen napkins, from £15 each, Not-Another-Bill

Tasty festive treats.

Chocolate and Orange fondant fancies, £10.60, Bettys

Take note.

Personalised notebook, from £19.99, Papier

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

Always handy!

Matches, £9, Daylesford

GH gift guide

Pretty and practical.

Cocktail shaker, £26, Rockett St George

For a helping hand with dinner.

Hand mixer, £149.95, Smeg

Help them count down to the big day.

This handcrafted plate will become a treasured heirloom

Advent calendar, £49, Pierre Marcolini

A lovely keepsake.

Personalised, handpainted plate, £58, Notonthehighstreet

Yummy crafting.

Christmas Wreath DIY Kit, £38, Biscuiteers

Serve up a surprise.

Serving plate (can be personalised), from £60.50, Emma Bridgewater

Great for a boozy build-up.

Cocktail Gummies Advent calendar, £49.99, Smith & Sinclair

A sweet present.

Perfect for the table.

Jug, £95, Petersham Nurseries

Chestnut panettone, £16.60, Seggiano

Blends 146 wines and comes with immersive music

Exceptional bubbles.

Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition 75cl bottle, £175, Champagne Direct

Stunning and useful.

Chocoholics will love this.

The Festive Feast Hamper, £300, Hotel Chocolat

Entertaining bar cart, £120, BundleBerry by Amanda Holden at QVC

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An elegant set will raise his game.

Aira playing card set, £248, Pigeon and Poodle at Amara

This traditional gift gets a festive makeover.

Santa Claus socks, £22, Falke

A sweet way to enjoy a morning cuppa.

Made from pure cashmere, this will keep him toasty.

Personalised liquorice mug, from £15.95 plus £1 a letter, Emma Bridgewater

Personalised beanie hat, from £55, Not-Another-Bill

Upgrade his tech.

Personalised AirPod case, from £35, Not-Another-Bill

Cutting-edge technology.

Portable bluetooth speaker, £149.99, Roberts at John Lewis & Partners

A limitededition release.

You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming, £39.95, The Folio Society

Gifts for

men & children

The ultimate in comfort made by skilled artisans

Make sure he doesn’t get cold feet.

Monogrammed slippers, £49.99, Dyefor

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

A cosy set for the festive season.

Pyjama set, £85, s-xl, The White Company

He’ll never get lost again.

Personalised compass, £65, Treat Republic

A stylish way to sip.

Personalised hip flask, from £45, Not-Another-Bill

He’ll hang this up with pride.

Stocking, £48 plus £2.50 a letter, Tori Murphy

The perfect way to store his favourite whisky.

Tank decanter, £100, Tom Dixon

Just the thing to keep him looking sharp.

Shaving and body gift set, £62, L’Occitane goodhousekeeping.com/uk

GH gift guide

For nature-loving little ones.

Growing garden wooden toy, £70, Great Little Trading Co

Their own little home.

Djeco Maison playhouse, £52.95, Tickety-Boo!

100% of profits go to charity

Ideal for baby’s first Christmas.

Jingles reindeer set, £40, 0-3/ 3-6ms, The Little White Company

Give the gift of kindness.

COMPILED BY: MEDINA AZALDIN, CAROLYN BAILEY, LAURA BECKWITH, JAMES CUNNINGHAM, GILLIAN DAVIES, ALEXANDRA FRIEND, AMANDA MARCANTONIO, ALICE SHIELDS. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY

The kindness Advent calendar, £45, inspire.charity

The perfect PJs. Squirrel pyjamas, £24.95-£27.95, 1-12ys, Joules

A fun skill-building game.

Wild wonders balance game, £16.95, Rex London

A nostalgic classic.

The Snowman personalised book, £19.99, Penwizard

Wooden toys look great and are eco-friendly, too.

Tender Leaf Toys wild pines train set, £90, Kidly

Smart and safe.

Neo watch, £99 plus subscriptions from £7 a month, Vodafone

They’ll love whizzing around on this.

Celebrate the 100th birthday of the bear that Inspired Winnie The Pooh.

Christopher Robin’s teddy bear, from £95, Merrythought

Retro roller ride-on car, £107.95, Scandiborn

A cute outfit.

Superhero costume, £53, 3-6ys, Meri Meri

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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GH Promotion for Hada Labo Tokyo

Skincare SECRETS

Beauty experts share the insider tips they’ve learned after years of trialling the latest products and techniques

‘A two-step cleansing routine is essential, especially at night, to remove your make-up and give your skin the best chance of repairing itself while you sleep. Plus, your other skincare products can’t penetrate uncleansed skin.

Always use an oil-based cleanser first, massaging it into dry skin and then removing it with a hot muslin cloth. Follow this with a gel, cream or liquid that contains active ingredients which target your complexion concern.’

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CONSISTENCY ISN’T NECESSARILY KEY

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‘You don’t have to stick to the same skincare routine every day if your complexion is begging for a change. Seasonal or hormonal fluctuations can make it drier or oilier.

If that happens, switching to more tailored products will help. I also think any routine will benefit from the addition of hyaluronic acid because it suits all skin types and gives an extra boost of moisture. It helps to create glowing skin, regardless of age or skin condition.’

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

‘When skin is exceptionally dry, don’t just reach for the richest cream you can find. My favourite trick is to layer several nourishing products.

After cleansing, apply an instantly hydrating lotion or essence like Hada Labo Anti-Ageing Super Hydrator Lotion – a light, watery formula that contains multiple layers of hyaluronic acid, plus retinol and collagen. Let it soak into the skin, then seal it in with a moisturiser containing oils rich in essential fatty acids (e.g. rosehip oil or squalane).

That’s how you get hydration that will last you all day.’ Ingeborg van Lotringen, Freelance Beauty Editor

Hada Labo Tokyo Anti-Ageing Super Hydrator Lotion, £17.45

IT’S THE INGREDIENTS THAT COUNT

‘I prioritise effective ingredients like retinol to speed up skin-cell renewal and vitamin C INSIDER PICK to prevent damage Japan’s number one caused by UV rays skincare brand Hada Labo Tokyo and pollutants. is now available in the UK. Inspired I balance these by the core philosophies of Japanese with hyaluronic beauty, its products are gentle, acid to hydrate nourishing and super-hydrating, and restore the combining four types skin’s protective of hyaluronic acid to barrier. I also wear quench dry and SPF every day.’ dehydrated skin.

Alexandra Friend, GH Hada Labo Tokyo Senior Beauty Editor Anti-Ageing Day Cream, £17.95

Super-hydrate your skin with the Hada Labo Tokyo range — available at Superdrug and Amazon

WORDS: ALISON LYNCH

EVERYTHING STARTS WITH A DOUBLE-CLEANSE

LIGHTER LAYERS CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE

GH BEAUTY BEAUTY THAT WORKS FROM THOSE WHO KNOW

This month’s good advice from beauty director Eve Cameron

ADDITIONAL WORDS: MEDINA AZALDIN. GHI WORDS: CHARLOTTE BITMEAD. TESTING: JASMINE LIM. PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURENT DARMON/TRUNK ARCHIVE

Super serums

Some women buy shoes, others handbags, while I have shelves of serums! In my opinion, they’re the product to spend your beauty ££s on, as they contain high levels of active ingredients to treat myriad skin concerns, from dehydration and hyperpigmentation to wrinkles and more. L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Serum, £24.99, is jam-packed with antioxidants to repair and replenish, for example, while Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate, from £32, works on skin’s overall health, leaving it looking firmer and more radiant. Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum, from £55, stars collagen-building peptides, a retinoid and skin-plumping hyaluronic acid, and shows results after just 10 days, according to the brand’s research. And the best thing I’ve found for ‘mature’ necks is Beauty Pie Über Youth Neck & Chest Super Lift Serum-Spray, £16.45 (for members), which evens out the skin tone while hydrating and tightening. All have earned themselves permanent spots on my shelves.

MUST-TRY MAKE-UP z I rely on strategic use of a good concealer to cover redness around my nose and on my cheeks, as well as any blemishes and pigmentation marks. My current favourite? Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer, £25, which has a built-in primer, so wears beautifully, staying matte without ever looking cakey. z Every item in Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s new Rose Inc line is a gem, thanks to her eye for detail and the latest technology, but my everyday go-to is the refillable Blush Divine Radiant Lip & Cheek Color, £23. Dabbed on with fingers, it leaves me ready to face the world. z Not only do the soft matte shades of Givenchy’s Le Rouge Sheer Velvet Lipsticks, £29.50 each, stay put (a boon with our continued on/off mask wearing), but they’re also supremely comfortable. Couture Cases, £13.50 each.

TRIED & TESTED

LED MASKS Light therapy promises fresher, calmer skin, but can an at-home device deliver?

We put seven through their paces.

The top scorer, with 78/100, was the Cellreturn Platinum LED Mask (cellreturn.co.uk). At £1,899, it’s a major investment, but our testers did notice a difference in the look of lines and wrinkles, with just over half saying theirs had reduced. There was no skimping when it came to radiance either, with 67% reporting a brighter complexion, while some also noted firmer, more plumped-looking skin. Some did struggle with the brightness of the lights, however. To see the full test results, go to goodhousekeeping.com/uk.

9 HOW WE TESTED Over a four-week period, 98 testers tried seven brands of LED face masks to see which ones really delivered results. They noted how comfortable each one was to wear, the brightness of the lights and whether they were happy with the length of the treatments. They also recorded any differences they saw in their skin, including improvements in wrinkles, blemishes, brightness and redness.

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Good looks

Glow drops Liquid gold or just very good moisturisers? Here’s what you need to know about the new generation of face oils

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ou have to hand it to face oils. In the past decade, they’ve gone from special interest to a staple in almost every brand’s range.

Compatible with most other products and effective at nourishing dry and damaged skin, their straightforward appeal offers an easy way for any brand to cater to rising demand for natural skincare.

Sales of premium oils in particular have increased, partly as we embraced self-care at home during the pandemic, but also thanks to the emergence of a new category: the clinically active serum oil.

Advances in cosmetic science have elevated the simple face oil to something capable of doing far more than nourishing. Using the latest extraction processes, these new-generation oils are infused with high-tech ingredients, such as the botanical retinoids in collagen-boosting 320 MHz Age-Repair Sleep Elixir, £78, or processed to bolster the effectiveness of bioactives already present (bioactives are plant compounds with regenerative and anti-inflammatory effects, among others).

Such is the case with the skin-brightening microalgae in The Ordinary ‘B’ Oil, £8.75, for example. The promise is a perfect fusion of nature and science: potent, plant-derived potions that will effect noticeable change.

But can an oil really replicate your precision-engineered anti-ageing cream?

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Face facts

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It’s true that skincare oils are the closest thing to unprocessed, nutritious food for your face. Their key benefit is their omega fatty acid content, says Georgie Cleeve, founder of Oskia Skincare.

‘Because the skin’s barrier is, among other things, made up of fatty acids, adding more of them is a like-for-like replenishment of the skin’s outer niacinamide complex to layer,’ she explains.

Oskia Restoration brighten and glow-ify.

‘The ratios of the different omegas Oil, £75 Mara Algae Retinol (3, 6 and 9) reflect the “thickness” With cell-regenerating Face Oil, £60 of the oils, making different plant oils sea fennel extract and Phytonutrient-rich algae, suitable for various skin types and healing, anti-inflammatory seed oils, amino acids and inspiring many brands to create their turmeric root. a dash of retinol will give own balanced blends.’ But, she points Gallinée Prebiotic you fresher, smoother skin. out, an omega is an omega, whether Face Oil, £35 PSA Skin Gifted Acai & it’s from an expensive plant source Starring volcanic bacteria Sea Buckthorn Vitamin C or a cheap one. ‘Many of the “basic” alongside A* skin soothers Glow Oil, £38 nourishing face oils on the market are bisabolol and oat oil, this A high dose of vitamin C 50% to 80% cheap oil, such as rice, bran will reinforce skin’s crucial from both natural and or olive, plus a tiny percentage of the protective barrier. synthetic sources pricier ones, such as cacay.’ This means StriVectin Super-B makes this a reliably the eye-watering price tags they can Barrier Strengthening glow-giving, carry aren’t always justified. Some Oil, £62 brightening oil. products cost as much as £90 for Prebiotics and what are, essentially, basic blends. nourishing plant oils Oils can also be rich in vitamins and are supercharged offer antioxidant protection against the with a clinically proven effects of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as environmental stressors, such as pollution. But how effective they are depends on how the oil has been sourced and manufactured.

Plus, while some oil-yielding botanicals naturally contain highly potent molecules, such as retinoic acid (vitamin A, present in rosehip oil, for example) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C, that’s enabling a new generation of oils to warrant found in sea buckthorn), you can’t control their the status of ‘serum’, traditionally the most absorbable concentration in a plant, nor its oil, making an oil’s and concentrated step in a skincare regime, delivering an restorative potential an unknown quantity. In the intense shot of skin-regenerating active ingredients. past, this has added up to face oils being a great ‘You can’t assume that just because a product is organic or moisturising staple, either on their own or added to natural that it’s going to do anything targeted for your skin,’ creams or lotions. But for anti-ageing, they’ve been says Paul Berrow, CEO of skincare brand 320 MHz, who points no match for a high-strength vitamin C serum or out that it’s only by applying as much scientific rigour to an niacinamide in their ability to visibly smooth, firm oil’s development as you would to a high-tech, lab-created and even out the skin. For that, the smart money was serum that you can hope to get results. Key to this are the on clinically proven doses of clinically proven active methods by which both the oils and active cells from the ingredients in clinically proven formulas – until now. plants and other botanicals are extracted. ‘We wouldn’t touch industrial solvents, nor would we apply high heat during the oil-pressing process,’ says Joanna Ryglewicz, founder of Oio The rising demand for eco-friendly solutions in beauty has Lab, referring to techniques that are routinely used to extract run concurrently with giant leaps forward in the fields of mass quantities of oil from plant sources. While such methods biotechnology and green science, both focused on extracting can yield large amounts of oil, she explains that their aggressive clinically active compounds from the natural world, and doing nature can damage the delicate plant, destroying most of its so in a sustainable, environmentally conscious way. It’s this vitamins and conditioning properties in the process.

NEW OILS TO TRY

Oil strike

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How effective an oil is depends on the sourcing and manufacture

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THE GOOD OIL GUIDE

While there are new oils that may rival or trump the best serums, they come at a price. So how do you know you’re not paying over the odds? This checklist is a good start.

An oil that ticks every box won’t be cheap – but it should be spectacular.

IS IT SINGLE ESTATE? Like wine and olive oil, a single estate oil with good traceability, preferably organic, which is crucial for essential oils and grape seed to avoid pesticide contamination, means better quality.

WHERE HAS IT COME FROM? Oils and plant extracts that survive in extreme environments (the Sahara, Kalahari, Andes, Amazon, sea bed) tend to be rich with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.

IS IT BIOACTIVE? Bioactives, often derived from seaweeds, algae and shoreline plants, elevate your oil to ‘serum’ performance level. A term such as ‘native plant cell extracts’ should also inspire confidence. The packaging will draw attention to this; the same for clinically proven, liposoluble synthetic actives.

You want scientific rigour, not pretty packaging

WHAT INGREDIENTS TOP THE LIST? If ‘super’ seed oils (lingonberry, prickly pear, moringa, chia, baobab, oat and rosehip) feature first, you’re dealing with a premium product. If the list starts with caprylic/capric triglyceride (a nature-derived but synthesised commodity oil), your oil is cutting corners.

HOW WAS IT EXTRACTED? If the packaging speaks of cold-pressing, steam distillation or enzymatic and supercritical CO2 extraction, you’re on to a good one.

DOES THE SCIENCE STAND UP? Can your brand show in vitro (test tube) and in vivo (on skin) clinical efficacy trials? Is there a complex exclusive to the brand that has been proven? You want to pay a premium for (expensive) scientific rigour, not for raw ingredients and pretty packaging.

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The solution? A reliance on some of the most ancient but plant cell-preserving extraction techniques, such as cold-pressing and steam distillation on the one hand, and a new wave of high-tech techniques on the other.

Enzymatic extraction, which harnesses the natural enzymes in plants, is one example. But it’s a technique called supercritical CO2 extraction, a process that uses carbon dioxide to squeeze the life force out of botanicals, that’s at the forefront of the exponential growth in bioactives. While bioactives aren’t new, historically they were almost exclusively water-soluble, meaning they could only be used in water-based serums and oil-and-water emulsions, like creams. Now, labs across the world are able to create lipid-soluble (those that dissolve in oil) versions of the tried-and-tested water-based actives they supply to the likes of La Prairie and other luxury brands.

Meanwhile, testing and tapping new Amazonian plants and rare microalgae for their ability to effect change in the body is reaping rewards; sea fennel (or rock samphire) is emerging as a viable alternative to hyaluronic acid, and bidens pilosa extract, from a central American perennial herb, mimics the effects of retinol. Increasingly, these are popping up in new-gen face oils.

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But are they really worth the hype? The great benefit of oil is that it requires no synthetic preservatives, since they’re only required if water is present in the formula, which is when bacteria thrive. And while preservatives are carefully regulated so as to be entirely safe in skincare, to Berrow and other proponents of natural active products, they’re anathema. ‘They disrupt the cellular life you’ve so carefully extracted to treat your skin, thereby defying the purpose of your product,’ he insists. ‘Plant extracts and oils are “recognised” by human cells and absorbed for their energy and ability to help regulate cell function. Bring in an industrial preservative, or add a petrochemical solvent, and this delicate cell alignment gets disrupted.’

However, Brian Oh, CEO of Venn Skincare, points out that as skin is made up of alternating water-loving and oil-loving (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) layers, oil-based ingredients can take a long time to reach their target and score results like collagen synthesis.

His solution? An oil fermentation process, used to create Venn Advanced MultiPerfecting Red Oil Serum, £95. ‘Specific microbes break down the particle sizes of the base oil extracts so that they can easily penetrate the skin,’ he explains. ‘These oil particles also obtain water-loving characteristics (a sort of watery disguise) to pull oil-soluble bioactives through the hydrophilic skin layers.’

As no chemicals or preservatives are used, the end result remains 100% botanical. Other brands are adding well-established oil-soluble actives – some nature-derived, others synthetic – to their high-quality base oils.

‘We always put natural actives first, but we make

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exceptions for some synthetics when they have unique properties and high efficiency,’ says Ryglewicz. Oio Lab The Future Is Bright Brightening Facial Treatment Oil With Vitamin C, £62 (oxygenboutique.com), has ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, a synthesised vitamin C compound prized for its ability to penetrate dermal cell walls and boost collagen production; Zelens Power D Vitamin D Concentrate, £95, contains 7-dehydrocholesterol, a precursor of soothing and regenerative vitamin D; while Disciple Dreamy Skin Retinyl Oil, £35, boasts retinyl palmitate, a lipidsoluble retinol precursor. ‘We can dose the ingredient precisely, ensuring it’s included at proven active levels,’ says Charlotte Ferguson, creator of Disciple.

Before you decide to invest in the new generation of oils, know that they’re not for everyone. It can be a case of trial and error to ensure the oils in the blend won’t aggravate your skin, says consultant dermatologist Dr Mary Sommerlad. ‘I wouldn’t recommend using an oil regularly if you have oily skin, as there’s too much

risk of breakouts,’ she says, adding that it can be hard to know which oils in a blend will aggravate oily skin and which won’t. ‘Plant-derived squalane [such as Biossance 100% Squalane Oil, £27] is the only oil I might suggest, as it’s known not to clog pores and has anti-inflammatory benefits.’ She recommends patch testing on your inner upper arm to check for irritation before trying a small amount on your face in the same area for a few days.

Consider, too, that no oil can boost the water levels in your skin – and skin needs water as much as it needs lipids.

Humectant ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid – exclusively watersoluble – will do this, so incorporating a humectant-rich serum or cream into your skincare routine is always a good idea. If your skin is oily, chances are it produces enough sebum to warrant nothing but oil-free serums for hydration; it’s worth experimenting to determine what feels most comfortable. Simply don’t get on with oils? Know that water-based serums can be just as packed with cell-regenerating ingredients as an oil can. Oils may be a new frontier in super-natural, super-active skincare, but they’re not the only one. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

WORDS: INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN. PHOTOGRAPHY: URBANLIP.COM/IAIN PHILPOTT

Back to nature

Reader offer

An exclusive Molton Brown gift for you When you spend £45 or more* FREE* ONE BAUBLE & ONE HAND SANITISER GEL, WORTH AT LEAST £22

MOLTON BROWN HAS LONG BEEN THE GO-TO DESTINATION FOR GORGEOUS CHRISTMAS GIFTS, from luxurious bodycare in stylish packaging to unique fragrances and fabulous candles. In honour of the brand’s 50th birthday, the new limited-edition Jubilant Pine & Patchouli collection reflects the nostalgia and revelry of Molton Brown’s very first Christmas Eve in its South Molton Street salon in 1971. This joyful scent by perfumer Jacques Chabert captures the season’s loveliest things: fresh pine wreaths, shimmering lights,

aromatic cinnamon and luscious red fruits with patchouli woven through to add depth and elegance. The scent is available as an eau de toilette, bath & shower gel, body lotion and festive bauble to put you in the mood for celebrations. Shop for these or other Molton Brown luxury gifts and, if you spend £45 or more on any full-sized Molton Brown products (including the range of crackers, stocking fillers and limited-edition collections), you’ll receive a complimentary 75ml festive bauble and a 100ml Hand Sanitiser Gel, worth at least £22.

HOW TO CLAIM Visit goodhousekeeping.com/uk/offersnov21 to receive your exclusive code for the free gifts and follow the instructions. You can enter the code at the checkout when you add full-priced products totalling £45 or more to your basket at moltonbrown.co.uk. To redeem this offer in Molton Brown stores, take this page with you (or a screenshot for digital subscribers) and present it when you spend £45 or more on full-priced products. Offer valid until 28 October 2021.

TERMS & CONDITIONS: *Spend £45 at Molton Brown UK online or in-store and receive 75ml Festive Bauble and 100ml Hand Sanitiser Gel, subject to availability and while stocks last. Damaged or photocopied pages will not be accepted in-store. Offer valid from 20 September 2021 until midnight on 28 October 2021, or while stocks last. In-store shoppers can select their free Festive Bauble and Hand Sanitiser Gel from the available stock. Online shoppers will receive a pre-selected Pink Pepper Festive Bauble and select a Hand Sanitiser Gel from the available stock. The gift will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to availability. The offer is only valid at Molton Brown stand-alone stores in the UK and online at moltonbrown.co.uk. For store locations, visit moltonbrown.co.uk. Offer not valid in Molton Brown concessions, department stores, outlets or travel retail. Gift cards, delivery charges or already discounted items will not contribute to the minimum spend. The offer can only be used once per person and cannot be redeemed with any other offer or promotional code. The promotional gifts are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed, refunded, re-sold or exchanged for cash or any other product. If you change your mind, Molton Brown’s usual returns policy applies. If any product(s) from the promotional transaction is returned, the gift must also be returned. Molton Brown reserves the right to cancel the offer, to substitute the gift for an item of equal or greater value and/or to amend these terms and conditions without notice at any time.

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My life in

beauty

The novelist and podcast host Elizabeth Day, 43, talks comparison, confidence and lockdown brows My maternal grandmother was the epitome of elegance. She was of a certain generation and very conscious of physique, so she’d notice when you looked good or say, ‘Oh, you’ve lost weight,’ but it was always expressed in a loving way. My mother didn’t really talk about appearance as I was growing up. She just thought there were more important things in life, which is definitely something I strive to emulate in my relationships with young women, even though I’m a big believer in looking after yourself.

My relationship with my appearance was tricky from an early age. I have an older sister who is fairer than I am, with beautiful blue eyes, whereas I have brown hair and brown eyes. She always seemed to me to be the prettier and more popular one, so I was quite comparative from the start. It’s still something I struggle with occasionally, but these days any insecurities are less to do with appearance and more about professional success.

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Confidence has so much to do with surrounding yourself with the right people. I have a wonderful group of close friends, an incredible best friend and now an amazing partner, and they all make me feel good about myself. Not because they’re constantly giving me compliments, but because there are rock-solid relationships in my life.

My husband’s daughter has just turned 12 and she’s so much more sophisticated than I ever was. My mum cut my hair until I was about 18, and I didn’t try make-up until I was 15. I learned everything from teen magazines, following the instructions to the letter and feeling really pleased when I looked okay! Now I enjoy make-up when I have the time to indulge in it, but I’m not watching YouTube videos or doing any contouring!

I err on the side of a minimal look.

I recently found the perfect foundation.

Il Makiage Woke Up Like This, £36 (1), gives nice coverage but is so light and creamy that I don’t feel like I’m caked.

Trinny London is phenomenal, too. The

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Eye2Eye cream eyeshadows, £18 each (7), look so natural and can just be applied with your ring finger; and I’m using the Flush Blush, £20, too. Then concealer by Il Makiage or Clé de Peau, a bit of eyeliner at the corners, Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer, £27.50, and Sensai Mascara 38°C Volumising, £26 – it doesn’t clump, doesn’t run and I love it. My lips are always nude. Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy in Birthday Suit, £12 (5), is a moisturising lip gloss that I like at the moment.

Lockdown was amazing for my eyebrows. I let them run wild and discovered that I like them just as they are. Growing my eyelashes was another of my pandemic achievements; I didn’t make any banana bread, but my lashes have grown massively! I used a lash boosting serum – GrandeLASH-MD, £33 (3), available at uk.morphe.com. It’s really good, as is the brand’s brow serum.

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Good looks

AS TOLD TO: ALEXANDRA FRIEND. PHOTOGRAPHY: JENNY SMITH

I think I look better now than I did in my 20s

I’ve been lucky with my skin. I’ve had eczema and psoriasis since the age of 10, but it meant I started moisturising early, which I’m very thankful for now. I use Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, from £16.50 (2), and Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2, from £18.

I like to feel that a toner does something and this has just the right astringency to leave my skin feeling really clean. I also started using retinol because I’m aware of uneven pigmentation increasing as I get older. It can feel really unpleasant on your skin, but Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment, from £12 (6), works for me, along with a good sunscreen – I’m currently using Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF30, £65.

I’m a massive believer in facial massage. A friend’s mother did goodhousekeeping.com/uk

face yoga for years and her skin is incredible. I’ve had facials at FaceGym (facegym.com) with some regularity, which I feel is the same kind of concept. I’ve seen pictures of myself afterwards and I can genuinely say it works. Everything looks lifted and plumper; it’s brilliant.

My hair’s natural state is between curly and straight. I went through a phase of straightening it every day, which didn’t do much for its condition. Eventually, a hairdresser lopped off several inches and thank goodness he did, because it grew back much healthier and now I quite like my wave. I’m terrible at blow-drying it, though, and usually let it dry naturally or tong a wave in here and there; George Northwood does a great Wave Holding Spray, £15.

I find the majority of fragrances far too sweet. For a long time, my go-to was Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, from £62, because an ex-boyfriend had bought it for me. But while I didn’t love it, other people seemed to like it on me, so I kept wearing it. Then I was given Chanel Gabrielle, from £86 (4), which I much prefer, so I wear that if I’m going out and Sunspel Neroli Sun, £90, during the day, which is fresh and crisp – that’s my favourite kind of fragrance.

I think women are sold a myth that we’re at our most luminous when we’re in our 20s. I actually think I look better now as a result of knowing myself more and finding the right people to help or the right thing to use. And I feel so much better about myself as a result.

If ageing carries a fear for me, it’s because I haven’t yet become a mother.

It’s still something I yearn for, and with every month I get older the dream of having a biological child gets smaller, so when I evaluate a wrinkle, it means more to me than just appearance.

Having said that, I still want to look my best. I drink a lot of water, keep healthy, and I have a good mindset about life, which I think shows itself in your skin.

So I feel that I’m putting in good systems while I can. I also see the acupuncturist Ross Barr (rossbarr.com) every three weeks to keep my engine ticking over.

Ross is so intuitive, funny and warm; I always feel totally enveloped by someone who’s fully on my side.

I firmly believe that there are things beyond our comprehension. I’ve spent a lot of time in LA over the last few years, which is at the forefront of holistic treatments. I’ve done sound baths, infrared saunas – I’ve even had my vagina steamed, which I have to say I got nothing from other than feeling mildly clammy. I’ve also got into crystals lately, which I don’t think have had a noticeable impact, but I like the idea. In London, I have an amazing healer called Clare Cusak (thelifehealer.com), who I’d describe more as an intuitive therapist.

I love a long bath in the evenings.

I could talk for hours about baths. My favourite soaks are Olverum Bath Oil, £36.50, which is incredible for everything from muscle aches to hangovers, and Soapsmith Bloomsbury Bath Soak, £25 (8), which is just beautiful.

• Magpie (4th Estate; £14.99) by Elizabeth Day is out now NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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Ladies who

LYMPH

Giving your lymphatic system some love is the key to looking better than ever, says beauty writer Ingeborg van Lotringen

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hances are you’ve already dabbled in some lymphatic drainage. If you think not, consider the facial massage demo you followed online during lockdown, or the jade roller you bought because everyone else had one… along, perhaps, with a gua sha stone, which became TikTok’s most searched beauty term earlier this year. Social media’s hottest new trend is, as is so often the case, not new at all but rooted in ancient practices that were developed for good reason – that reason being the revving-up of the lymphatic system.

Possibly one of the most undervalued of our bodies’ many awe-inspiring functional networks, the lymph is part of our immune system. Its many definitions, among them ‘the body’s water and waste drainage system’, ‘detox plant’ and ‘centre for disease control’, give you a clue as to how crucial this vast network of channels, ducts and nodes, sitting right under the skin, really is. Its job is to bathe cells in liquid that facilitates delivery of nutrients and oxygen from the bloodstream. But it’s also in charge of transporting foreign pollutants, metabolic waste and toxins away from those cells and into the body’s toxin-processing stations – your liver and kidneys. The lymph and circulatory systems work together as a team, but the blood has a pump (your heart) that moves it around the body, while lymph fluid has to somehow stay in motion without. It relies entirely on movement, muscle contractions, gravity and the breath to keep flowing. If you need a bit of a push to take some more exercise, consider that a clogged, stagnant lymph system is involved in 70% of all chronic disease, says Donna Strong in her book Love Your Lymph (Vital Living Publishing). Or heed lymphovascular medicine specialist Professor Peter Mortimer, who says, ‘Lymph fluid carries immune cells to our lymph glands, where all acquired immunity against infections and from vaccinations occurs. Hence, without a working lymph system, we would not succeed in overcoming infections such as Covid-19.’

Limber up that lymph and you’ll reap not only the health benefits, but also the pleasure of clear, glowing skin that is devoid of puffiness. Unsurprisingly, with the multitude of beauty boons extending to acne control (lymph drainage helps to draw impurities from the skin) and rosacea relief (rosacea is linked to impaired immune function), many beauty treatments quietly include work on the lymphatic system. You just won’t always realise it because the promise of ‘instant sculpting’ and ‘line-plumping’ techniques is so much sexier than talk about moving toxic waste from under the skin.

Here’s our choice of the best lymph-loving treatments – some obvious, some not – which range in cost from pittance to £££s. Your body and your face will thank you for doing all or any of them…

Limber up that lymph and you’ll enjoy the pleasure of clear, glowing skin

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Using your body (and hands) COST: FREE

Moving around more and taking those recommended 10,000 steps a day will have an immune-boosting effect by way of your lymph, as well as other health benefits.

‘Do anything that elevates your heart rate on a daily basis; jumping up and down, bouncing while standing, stretching or doing inversions (lying on your back with your legs up against a wall is just as good as a handstand),’ says Jules Willcocks, founder of Body Ballancer lymphatic massage technology.

She also recommends slow, deep breathing to help move lymph fluid around, and drinking water. Water makes up 96% of lymph fluid and needs constant replenishing: Jules recommends downing two litres a day. As for a free beauty boost, facialist and massage therapist Guendalina Gennari likes to start the day with a simple face de-puffer. ‘Apply a little face oil for “slip” and, starting from the collarbone, work towards the backs of the ears, making little strokes with a flat hand (use your right hand to do the left side of the neck and vice versa),’ she says. ‘Do the same from the centre of your chin, and from the nasolabial folds outwards. Then work from the inner eye corner out to the temples and from the centre of the forehead to the hairline.

Repeat each movement five times.’ Easy!

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A gua sha COST: FROM £10 These elongated heart-shaped pebbles can set you back as much as £155, but inexpensive ones, such as Revolution Skincare’s, at £10, are just as good. The material doesn’t matter, as long as it’s smooth. Professionals use their gua sha vigorously to lift and ‘scrape’ skin, but at home we should only use them with the lightest touch for lymph drainage, says Guendalina. ‘It should be held almost flat as you glide it along the skin, which shouldn’t redden; anything that pulls at the skin is counter-productive.

Use plenty of oil or, if you have oily skin, a mild cleansing milk, and always move the stone from the centre of the face to behind the ears and down to the collarbone, where there are lymph nodes (online demos are handy). Guendalina also likes using cryo sticks (ice-cold metal balls on sticks) for the same purpose, rolling them outwards from the centre of the face. ‘The choice of at-home facial massage tools can be overwhelming,’ she says, ‘but these balls are soothingly cold, so good for sensitive skin.’ We like Oxygen Boutique Cryo Face Tools, £55. Or try a jade roller, such as By Beauty Bay The Jade Face Roller, £12.

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Guendalina Gennari My Sculptural Face Lift

COST: £95

Body brushing COST: £21

Body brushing is a deceptively simple but effective way to keep your lymph moving and cellulite at bay. Brushes can be found for under a tenner, but it’s best to choose one that has firm, natural bristles, such as the Elemis Body Detox Skin Brush, £21. It takes a minute or two to brush your entire body before showering; easy enough to become a habit. Using long, light strokes (remember, too much pressure means you’ll bypass the lymph), work your way up your legs towards the groin. Then brush from the lower trunk, back and hands towards your collarbone, and from the neck down, also to the collarbone. This is because you have lymph nodes in your inner elbows and knees, in your armpits and groin and behind your ears, but the largest ‘drainage portals’ are just under the clavicles. It should feel tingly, not scratchy, and leave you feeling pleasantly invigorated.

A trained pair of hands can truly help to resculpt a face.

Guendalina Gennari (guendalinatheskinsculpter.com), based in London, works on the skin, muscles and ligaments that hold muscles in position. This plumps connective tissues and frees any adhesion of muscle fibres and connective tissue (fascia), so you look less drawn, achieving a visible lift over the course of an hour. ‘I always start with lymphatic drainage before moving on to more vigorous massage techniques, to ensure the nodes are open and active enough to receive the lymph fluid and detoxify the face or body,’ she says.

‘This prevents puffiness the day after the treatment.’ It also promotes brighter, more even-toned and less congested skin, alongside a more sculpted look.

6

CACI Eye Revive COST: £40

4

Vibrosculpt by Endosphères COST: FROM £120

Endosphères Therapy (endospheres. com) is a massage technique that uses a roller device, involving silicone spheres that exert ‘compressive microvibration’. First developed to treat lymphoedema in hospitals, it’s a hi-tech pummelling that somehow targets muscles, circulation and the lymphatic system all at the same time. But don’t expect it to be relaxing! Gentle and pain-free it isn’t, though while you might feel black and blue afterwards, thankfully there’s never any bruising. It also makes heavy legs feel lighter. For the best results in terms of draining excess fluid, reducing cellulite and a more sculpted look, 12 sessions are recommended, at about £1,200 for the course.

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Muscle-toning microcurrent treatments, such as CACI (caci-international.co.uk), often feature lymphatic drainage.

‘It ensures there’s no excess fluid obstructing access to the muscles, as that would compromise the lifting and toning results we’re after,’ says holistic skincare expert Gemma Clare (gemmaclare.com). CACI’s 30-minute Eye Revive treatment uses microcurrent probes to gently contract and strengthen orbital muscles for an ‘eye-opening’ effect, plus extensive lymph drainage massage to tone and smooth skin, using serum-infused rollers.

Eyes look significantly more perky afterwards.

An at-home equivalent is the Foreo Bear Facial Toning Device, £279, which emits microcurrents to tone and sonic vibrations to ‘shake’ stagnant fluids into action. Passing it over the skin for a few minutes a day, working from the inside out, can significantly de-puff and tone the eyes and face. We also like the Skin Gym Beauty Lifter Vibrating T-bar, £64 (beautybay.com). These don’t tone muscle, but their sonic vibrations work to wake up the lymph.

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Good looks

Lymphatic drainage gives a more sculpted look to the face

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Good looks

HydraPresso at the Waterhouse Young Clinic COST: £350 This lymph-loving ‘power hour’ at the Waterhouse Young Clinic in London involves a HydraFacial, which decongests, exfoliates and plumps facial tissues, and a Pressotherapy session to drain the body of stagnant lymph as well as stress. You don a sort of helmet-less spacesuit, inside which inflating air chambers move fluids and oxygen towards your lymph nodes, to relieve swelling, bloating and fatigue.

Meanwhile, your face is treated with a device boasting a ‘vortex’ tip that simultaneously blasts skin with jets of active serum (bespoke to your skin) and applies gentle suction to ‘hoover out’ impurities and perform facial lymph drainage.

Around the UK, HydraFacials cost from £120 (hydrafacial.co.uk), while hour-long Body Ballancer Pressotherapy sessions start at £70 (bodyballancer.co.uk).

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8

Body Ballancer COST: £7,800

Alternatively, you could join the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Chrissy Teigen and buy your very own Ballancer 505 Pressotherapy suit (bodyballancer.co.uk).

It comes up to just below your chest, and you simply lie down in it while its 24 air chambers consecutively inflate and deflate in a mechanical imitation of the ‘Vodder’ manual lymph drainage technique.

It feels hypnotic and utterly relaxing, and the body emerges visibly drained, in a good way. As you can’t permanently ‘fix’ your lymphatic system, this might be the ultimate investment in your wellbeing – even if it is the price of a small car! goodhousekeeping.com/uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: ZOLTAN MIHALY/BLAUBLUT-EDITION.COM. INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN IS THE AUTHOR OF GREAT SKIN: SECRETS THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY DOESN’T TELL YOU (GIBSON SQUARE BOOKS)

7

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W

e all know the power of a great night’s sleep.

Not only is it good for our wellbeing, but it’s also essential for our skin. As we snooze, our skin goes into repair mode, so we can wake up looking refreshed.

To help boost your evening skincare routine, No7 has enhanced its range of night creams. Here’s how the new formulas work to support your complexion while you sleep.

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Can you really

STRENGTHEN YOUR HAIR?

To find out, the GHI asked 500 volunteers to put a range of anti-breakage and thickening shampoos and conditioners to the test 104

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Tried & Tested

WORDS, CHARLOTTE BITMEAD AND TESTING BY JASMINE LIM. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY

W

hether you notice a few more hairs in your brush, thinning around the temples, or a parting that suddenly seems to look wider, you’re not alone in suffering from hair loss. According to the NHS, around 8m women in the UK experience hair loss in some form. There’s no simple answer as to why it happens. Often a number of different factors are at play. Trichologist Nicola Smart says, ‘I see many cases of chronic telogen effluvium, a type of temporary hair loss that can occur due to injury, nutritional deficiencies, illness or emotional trauma, such as bereavement or high stress.’ More excessive hair loss can also be caused by hormonal changes (such as the menopause), but frequent use of heated tools and regular colouring (especially with bleach) can have an effect, too, particularly around the hairline. If the hair loss is significant, contact your GP or a trichologist as there are a range of treatments that can help. At home, you may be tempted to try a targeted shampoo and conditioner, whether you’re suffering from hair loss or would like to strengthen hair that is naturally fine. Anti-breakage shampoos can’t increase the amount of hairs on the head.

Instead, they work by bolstering fragile follicles and reinforcing the hair shaft by plugging gaps in damaged hair.

‘The proteins are absorbed and act like armour, temporarily restoring pliability and strength,’ says Nicola. ‘These formulations are useful for minimising breakage from chemical overprocessing; however, while they can be effective for breakage, they’re unlikely to help with hair loss. Shampoo is on the scalp for such a short amount of time that it can only have a limited effect on hair.’

ARE THICKENING SHAMPOOS THE SAME AS ANTI-BREAKAGE FORMULAS? While anti-breakage formulas strengthen the structure of the hair strand, thickening shampoos make hair appear fuller by creating more body and lift. You may also have seen root-stimulating products. These are mostly designed to clear away product build-up, dead skin or dirt from the scalp to help encourage healthy hair growth. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

TRIED & TESTED

BEST FOR ANTI-BREAKAGE JOINT WINNER

JOINT WINNER

Monpure London Strengthening Silk Protein Shampoo and Strengthening Essence Conditioner, £36 each 86/100 By the end of the trial period, 87% of testers reported less fall-out.

Not only did they notice their strands felt softer, so hair was easier to style and detangle, but 80% agreed hair was left looking stronger. Panel members with naturally curly hair saw fewer flyaways, too.

L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Pro Longer Shampoo, £13.40, and Conditioner, £14.95 86/100 Testers liked the squeaky-clean feeling this left on their scalps, while the conditioner hydrated parched ends. The majority found they reduced hair loss and added volume while tackling breakage, with 73% saying how impressed they were with how much stronger they left tresses.

BEST FOR THICKENING WINNER

RUNNER-UP

Nanogen Shampoo Luxe for Women and Conditioner for Everyone, £10 each, 82/100 With chamomile and aloe vera, these were gentle on scalp and hair. Not all testers saw a big difference in growth, but 86% noticed less fall-out and breakage, with the majority seeing an improvement in thickness, too.

Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Densifying Shampoo and Conditioner, £9.99 each 81/100 Our testers found these relieved scalp irritation, leaving 86% with rejuvenated roots. They noticed an improvement in hair loss and breakage (especially when combing), plus hair looked shinier and more volumised.

BEST BUDGET BUY WINNER Pantene Pro-V Miracles Grow Strong Shampoo and Conditioner, £4.99 each 80/100 This vitamin-infused budget pair was a favourite among our curly-haired testers for adding bounce and shine. They also noted how well it minimised frizz and breakages, but some with finer hair types found the texture too thick, and thought it added weight to their strands.

BEST FOR ROOT-STIMULATING WINNER Umberto Giannini Grow Long Root Stimulating Shampoo and Hair Lengthening Conditioner, £8.25 each 79/100 Impressing testers with its full-bodied results, this duo also helped reduce breakage and boosted hair growth, leaving strands looking thicker.

Some noted the shampoo caused tangles, but this was easily rectified by the conditioner.

7 HOW WE TESTED We gave 500 testers – with a range of hair types and self-diagnosed mild to extreme hair loss or thinning – a shampoo and conditioner set to trial for one month. In total, 36 anti-breakage, hair-thickening and root-stimulating shampoos and conditioners were tested. Each tester noted any improvements to the condition of their scalp and hair, as well as how it felt after each wash. In the GHI lab, we combed through hair swatches treated with each product and compared them to untreated versions. The easier they were to comb, the lower the risk that breakages and fall-out would occur on real hair. NOTE: These products are not designed to treat those with medically related conditions such as alopecia or male/female pattern baldness. Please seek professional medical advice on handling these conditions.

NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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Whatever the

R E H T A E W

When your mornings start in sunshine and end in showers, you need a wardrobe with layers

T

he one constant with the British weather is that it’s always changing. Leave the house in a light jacket and it will be blowing a force 10 gale by the time you reach the shops. So, the art of layering has become a national pastime.

This season, it’s even easier to do, as on-trend slim polo necks, collared shirts, blazers, belts and necklaces can all be worn together for a stylish look. Here, we share our favourite new season layering tips and pick out some multitasking wardrobe essentials.

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OVERSIZED OUTERWEAR

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Once you’ve invested in a puffer coat, you’ll never go back. Lightweight but oh-so-warm, they are still the most popular outerwear choice this season. Think exaggerated shapes, shawl collars and longer lengths that can be worn over smart tailoring for the commute or relaxed leisurewear for early morning walks with the dog.

Don’t get caught out on those cold mid-winter mornings when you can see your breath. Invest in some stylish thermal separates to wear underneath loose trousers and jumpers for an extra layer of insulation. They also double up as cosy winter loungewear when you want to stay inside.

Just add your softest socks.

Top, £25 Trousers, £22 Socks, £9

Layering tip: With an oversized coat, you can always slip a denim jacket underneath for added warmth.

Coat, £119 Trousers, £35

OFFER VALID UNTIL 31 OCTOBER 2021. EXCLUDES ALREADY DISCOUNTED AND SALE ITEMS. FREE STANDARD DELIVERY, USUALLY £3.99. CODE CAN ONLY BE USED ONCE PER CUSTOMER. PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. WORDS: ALISON LYNCH

Hat, £21

TONAL DRESSING The simplest way to pull off a chic layered look is by choosing pieces from the same colour family.

These white cords from online retailer Damart offer style, durability and warmth.

Pair them with tonal cream knits and muted accessories for fresh autumnal days.

GET 20% OFF PLUS FREE DELIVERY AT DAMART Want to update your winter layers?

We’ve teamed up with online retailer Damart to offer you 20% off your purchases, plus free delivery. To get your discount, visit damart.co.uk and enter the code 29513 at the checkout. Terms and conditions apply.

Jumper, £35

Layering tip: For an extra layer when temperatures really start to drop, add a neutral camel or cream Jumper, £32 polo neck Trousers, £25 under your Scarf, £19 chunky knit. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Layering tip: This grey marl co-ord from Damart features the brand’s clever Thermolactyl fibre, which offers an extra five degrees of protection against the cold.

Blouse, £35

SHOWSTOPPER KNITS Whether they’re peeking out from under your puffer or worn layered over a ruffled blouse in place of your winter coat, every autumn/ winter 2021 wardrobe needs a bold, bright feel-good knit.

Layering tip: Not quite ready for your winter coat just yet? Leave it at home and layer a cosy knit over a pretty ruffle blouse instead. It’s the perfect jacket substitute.

For stylish staples designed to keep you warm, visit damart.co.uk NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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‘Menopause

is just the beginning’ For years, women have believed the menopause is something to fear and that it signals the beginning of the end. But it’s time for a rebrand and a more positive approach, says frank-talking broadcaster Mariella Frostrup

Good health

I

liked to think of myself as a level-headed and rational woman, but from the age of 49, I felt as though I was being gradually sucked into a black hole. First, I lost the ability to sleep.

Every night, I woke up at around 3am, with my heart pounding. Worries, both petty and profound – had I booked the dog groomer, was the house insurance up to date – chased themselves around a hamster wheel in my head.

Daytime was no better. I was either anxious or angry and permanently exhausted. Sometimes I wondered whether I’d been body-snatched, with my real self watching the furious and weary shadow-me in horror. I suspected that I might be heading towards the menopause (my periods were irregular, but they hadn’t yet stopped), but like so many women, I believed I ought to just get on with it.

The way our culture perceives and deals with the menopausal experience is horrifying. It’s almost as if the moment your periods stop, you metaphorically melt, like the Wicked Witch of the West, into a puddle of pointlessness. In contrast to men, who become ‘wise’ with age, women become withered. This mindset has existed for centuries, ever since the Ancient Greeks first pointed out that women had periods because we are ‘the wrong temperature’. I’m sure this is why so many women still avoid talking about it and suffer in silence.

But considering 50% of the population will experience menopause, and it’s estimated that 13m women in the UK are currently peri or post-menopausal, the whole biological shift needs a rebrand. As I’ve now discovered, the menopause train doesn’t take you to the end of the line, but heads towards the stations of Better Life, Happier Relationships and Who Cares What They Think.

though it was, was relatively gentle compared to the hell some women go through. For example, I only endured two hot flushes, both of which felt as though I was being set on fire from the feet upwards. I spoke to women who had more than 30 a day; to my amazement, they were still functioning human beings.

Even given my ‘easy’ time, the effects of my pre-HRT menopause permeated every part of my life, including my closest relationships. When I asked my husband whether he had noticed any changes in me, I’m afraid that his response was unrepeatable, so we’ll take that as a firm yes.

It affected my work on live radio, too. I’m far too professional to let personal angst or exhaustion interfere with my job, but the brain fog that descended on me meant that suddenly I’d be grappling to find a word, or panicking that I couldn’t remember an interviewee’s name.

My hair was finer, my once-good skin developed wrinkles like an abandoned apple filmed by a high-speed camera, and my reliable metabolism had ground to a halt.

This, along with the emotional impact, meant that I felt I had lost confidence, and lost myself.

During the day, I was either anxious or angry and permanently exhausted

BOARDING THE MENOPAUSE TRAIN After two years of struggling, I staggered to my gynaecologist. She said I wasn’t ill, but I was perimenopausal; hurtling through the years of hormonal turbulence before my periods would finally stop. She prescribed me the bucketful of HRT in which I’ve bathed daily ever since, and the relief I experienced over the next few weeks, gradually feeling like my old self – imperfect, but a woman I recognised – was incredible.

Having spent the last year writing a book about menopause, I realise that my experience, difficult

TRANSFORMATIVE SOLUTIONS Taking HRT changed everything for me. Once your ovaries stop producing enough of the three vital hormones (oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone), for me, personally, it makes sense to top them up. Oestrogen has receptors around the entire body, from the skin to the heart, bones and brain. Once this starts to fluctuate, you may become awash in the symptoms of menopause, and not just those oft-mentioned hot flushes.

‘Women’s bodies rely hugely on oestrogen,’ says Dr Tonye Wokoma, consultant in sexual and reproductive health and a British Menopause Society recognised specialist. ‘It is a known protective factor against heart disease and osteoporosis, and menopausal brain fog can be partly attributed to a lowering in levels.

It also supports lubrication in the vagina.’

Progesterone protects the womb lining, and anyone with a womb needs some form of this (a progestogen) to protect from the slight risk of womb cancer. And many women also need a top-up of testosterone, though not me, as it just made my face sprout a beard, which I had to have waxed off.

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Good health But health worries have surrounded HRT since 2002, when a large study into combined (oestrogen and progestogen) HRT was halted on the basis that it increased the risk of breast cancer, blood clots and heart disease.

It has since been found that the report was flawed, but an entire generation of women was terrified away from the option of HRT and suffered the consequences. I investigated this for my book and every expert on the subject I spoke to – from the British Menopause Society to Professor Robert Langer, who worked on that study – recommends HRT as both a first-line and a long-term option.

There are still small risks of clots and strokes (from oral HRT), plus a small breast cancer risk. But, says Dr Wokoma, ‘For most healthy women, risks are minimal.’ In fact, she says, ‘The British Menopause Society’s official stance is that there is little to no risk if you take oestrogen-only HRT.’ The newest types of HRT, which are known as ‘body identical’ (in the form of oestrogen gel, patches and spray, and micronized progesterone tablets, which are derived from yams), appear to be the most breast-friendly preparations. Alternatively, the Mirena IUD both provides localised progestogen to the womb and acts as contraception.

Still, not every woman wants to or can take HRT (for example, if you’re going through breast cancer treatment or have active liver disease) and there are many other excellent ways of alleviating menopausal symptoms and improving long-term health.

Taking a stern look at my diet, alcohol consumption and exercise routine made a huge difference to my wellbeing. I replaced wine with vodka (which sounds terrible, but it’s in very small and infrequent quantities).

Aged 51, I started running, which I found boosted my mood, both through the endorphins – happy hormones that were created because I was exercising – and from spending time with friends.

I try to do yoga, or yogalates – a mixture of Pilates and yoga – twice a week. This appears to keep my stiff body as bendy as a young(ish) sapling, and my restless legs are kept in check with magnesium supplements. At night, I do paced breathing to lull myself back to

sleep, counting my breaths in and out. It works most of the time, though I still have a drawer overflowing with sleep aids, from lavender oil to CBD drops and – always the last-ditch option – sleeping tablets (only recommended by doctors in exceptional circumstances).

HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER Having gone through the final moment of menopause – which occurs 12 months after your last period – seven years ago, and emerged on the other side, I can cheerfully reassure you that the post-menopausal years can be the best of your life.

In fact, research has shown that we can be happier, healthier, more determined and more fulfilled in work and relationships. Fans of traditional Chinese medicine often refer to this time as your second spring – all green shoots, fresh leaves and new beginnings.

I think that’s a perfect summary.

Now I’m more confident, physically and mentally. By the time you’re in your 50s, you no longer care for popularity measured by the perfection of your face or body.

Of course, I’m invested in my appearance, but I accept the wrinkles and the sagging (and gravity dictates that everything does sag, so frankly, you may as well embrace it!). It seems to me that walking tall is as attractive as an unlined face.

I am as ambitious at work as ever, but equally passionate about spending time with my family, and feel that I’ve edged closer to that elusive work/life balance (although I’m sure my kids, as usual, would disagree).

Instead of being sucked into that black hole, sitting at the bottom of the abyss, I feel that I’m standing among friends in dazzling sunlight. I believe that almost all women, equipped with the knowledge and the right tools, can follow the same path.

Getting over the hill of the menopause actually means reaching the summit, and realising that there are yet more wonderful pinnacles to climb.

• Cracking The Menopause: While Keeping Yourself Together (Bluebird) by Mariella Frostrup and Alice Smellie is out now

PHOTOGRAPHY: KATE MARTIN

This is my second spring – green shoots, fresh leaves, new beginnings

1

FOUR WAYS TO HELP YOURSELF THINK IT BETTER Cognitive behavioural

therapy is so well-proven for certain menopause symptoms, such as hot flushes, stress, low mood and anxiety, that it’s recommended by official bodies and you can self-refer on the NHS or ask your GP. It’s a non-medical approach that helps people to develop practical ways of managing problems and offers coping solutions.

There is a brilliant fact sheet available, written by Professor Myra Hunter and Dr Melanie Smith in collaboration with the medical advisory council of the British Menopause Society. Find it at womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/ factsheets/cognitive-behaviour-therapy-cbtmenopausal-symptoms.

2

STRETCH OUT It’s never too late

to start moving a bit more, and even walking is beneficial. Ideally, do weight-bearing exercise to maintain bone density.

Yoga – my personal favourite – has many proven health benefits, helping with anxiety and stress while boosting blood circulation and hormone function.

3

EAT A RAINBOW

4

SUPPLEMENT – YOUR CHOICE

Nutritional therapist Rayne Roberts (360fitfood.co.uk) recommends cutting down on processed foods and sugar, and embracing a Mediterranean-style diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain carbohydrates and healthy fats, such as olive oil and avocado. She also advises eating plenty of protein from beans, pulses, fish and some poultry and eggs.

If you are struggling with symptoms of menopause, always speak to your GP.

I love my magnesium, as well as vitamin D (as per government recommendation – great for bones and mood) and B vitamins. Specifically for menopause, many swear by black cohosh for hot flushes, and other popular options (with some clinical evidence) include red clover, agnus castus, evening primrose oil, St John’s Wort for anxiety, and ginkgo biloba for reducing brain fog. Ensure you do your research – there are a lot of strange-sounding solutions with very little evidence.

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CHECKED FOR ACCURACY BY

HEALTH WATCH

IMMUNITY BOOSTERS: What really works?

Over the past couple of years, we’ve all become much more aware of the immune system and the vital role it plays in protecting us against infection. Dr Sarah Jarvis explains how to keep it in fighting form…

Y

our immune system, which protects the body from toxins, bacteria, viruses and fungi, is extraordinarily sophisticated. It relies on a variety of cells, proteins and nutrients to keep its processes running smoothly.

There are two main parts to your immune system – innate and acquired.

Innate (or non-specific) immunity is your body’s first line of defence. It includes the protective barrier of your skin, mucus (which traps bacteria and viruses), stomach acid, enzymes (contained in skin oils and tears) and your cough reflex. It also involves proteins called interleukins and interferons (among others), which aim to defend you against anything recognised as an invader.

Then there’s your acquired immune system, which develops over time by what you come into contact with.

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

produced in the thymus, an immune cell production factory located behind the upper part of your breastbone). They fall into two main groups: ‘helper’ T cells, which help other cells of the immune system (for example, they may activate B cells to produce antibodies), and cytotoxic or ‘killer’ T cells, which kill tumour cells and cells infected with viruses.

Once primed, a few of your B and T cells will multiply, providing a kind of memory for your immune system, which allows it to respond more quickly and efficiently when next exposed to the same antigen. Vaccination provides protection through a combination of antibodies, plus B cells and T cells.

It builds tailor-made defences, including antibodies against specific enemies, known as antigens. Antigens include any toxic or ‘other’ substance that your body recognises as foreign.

In auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease or lupus, your immune system mistakenly makes MOVE MORE, THE IMMUNITYantibodies against part SUFFER LESS: BOOSTING DIET of your own body.

There is strong Give your immune system Many cells, proteins and evidence linking regular the helping hand it needs chemicals work together exercise with a lower to do its job by ensuring in your immune system, risk of infections. your diet includes plenty but among the best known of the following: are your lymphocytes, z SELENIUM: This essential which are a form of white blood trace mineral plays multiple roles cells divided into B and T cells. in maintaining both the innate and B lymphocytes become cells that acquired immune system. In an area produce antibodies tailored to a specific of China where selenium deficiency is antigen. Alongside these, you have common, a study found that selenium T cells (so-named because they’re mostly

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Good health PROTECT AGAINST COVID-19

PHOTOGRAPHY: DAN KENNEDY, GETTY IMAGES

It’s common for the immunity provided by vaccination to wane over time. Studies suggest antibodies from the Covid-19 vaccination drop over the course of months.

And while longer-lasting T cell immunity, as well as antibodies, still help protect, the NHS is offering everyone at highest risk a Covid-19 booster this autumn.

Those at high risk of serious complications – including the over-70s, anyone living in an older adult care home, and over-16s who are considered extremely vulnerable or are immunosuppressed, plus frontline health and social care workers – should have already been offered theirs, or will be very soon.

Next up are all over-50s, people who live with someone immunosuppressed and anyone aged 16-49 classified ‘at risk’ in the first round of vaccinations.

Early results from the University of It’s important Oxford’s Com-Cov study suggest that to still take giving a booster of a different brand from precautions your first vaccines may offer the same or against Covid-19 even higher protection. While a mix of the Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer BioNTech vaccines was studied first, this has now been rolled out to other vaccine combinations, with positive results so far.

supplements completely prevented a form of cardiomyopathy (inflammation of the heart muscle) linked to a virus called coxsackie.

Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, seafood and offal are all excellent sources. z VITAMIN C: A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C supports the function of your innate immune system by strengthening the barriers between cells on the surface of your skin and mucous membranes, preventing viruses getting in. It also helps direct your immune cells towards infecting organisms and builds up in your phagocytes – cells in your immune system that engulf and destroy invaders.

Fill up on citrus fruits, strawberries, blackcurrants, peppers, spinach, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. z TEA: As we’re a nation of tea drinkers, it is likely to be good news to many that a nice cup of tea can help boost your immune system. The key ingredient is L-theanine, an amino acid found in abundance in tea (especially green) and, to an extent, in mushrooms. L-theanine helps regulate the production of immune cytokines, which are small soluble proteins that help immune cells communicate, while also allowing the phagocytes to patrol the immune system efficiently. z BETA-CAROTENE: Responsible for the orange colour of carrots (as well as the bright pink feathers of wild flamingos!), beta-carotene is a potent antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress goodhousekeeping.com/uk

(a harmful imbalance between the production and build-up of by-products of oxygen-involving chemical processes in the body). This, in turn, can help stave off infection, as well as maintaining healthy skin and possibly even protecting against cancer. Along with carrots, it’s found in almost all red, orange or yellow vegetables and fruit, as well as dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, peas and romaine lettuce. z FRUIT AND VEGETABLES: These play a crucial role in keeping your immune system strong. While some vitamins are found in most vegetables, ratios of minerals, trace elements and vitamins vary between species. The best chance of maximising your intake of immuneboosting micronutrients is to eat as wide a variety as possible – in a rainbow of colours. Some experts suggest you aim for 30 different fruits, vegetables, pulses and beans in your diet each week.

Don’t forget flu!

In an average year, flu causes 40-50,000 hospital admissions and kills about 11,000 people in the UK: in a bad year, such as winter 2018, it kills around 22,000. In winter 2020-21, there were just seven hospital admissions and one ICU admission over two months at the height of ‘normal’ flu season.

For most of that time (21 December to 14 February) we were in lockdown, which could explain why. But low rates were also driven by expansion of the NHS flu vaccination programme to new groups (including 50-64-year-olds and children in school year 7) and high levels of uptake, with 77% of over-65s having their vaccination for the first time ever.

This year, there’s real concern that flu cases could be high, leading to more pressure on the NHS if Covid-19 rates also increase. Therefore, flu vaccinations have been expanded further still. All groups eligible last year remain so; anyone over 50, those in long-stay residential care, frontline health and social care workers, children aged two to school year seven, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions.

But now, anyone living with someone immunocompromised, main carers for vulnerable people, The flu jab and children can prevent aged 12-15 will serious also be invited. infection Keeping uptake as high as last year is crucial to prevent hospitals being overwhelmed.

Do more vaccine side-effects = BETTER PROTECTION? Vaccines trick your body into mounting an immune response: recognising and fighting what it sees as infection, while developing long-term B and T cell protection. This response results in inflammation, which leads to side-effects.

You might have heard that the more side-effects you have from a vaccine, the better your protection is, but studies suggest there’s little or no correlation between the two. The side-effects you experience depend on a range of factors, including genetics, age, sex, other medical conditions and even diet.

People who are immunosuppressed may get fewer side-effects, as well as developing fewer antibodies. But the good news is that, while they are less protected after a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine (possibly as low as 4% protection), a second dose boosts protection in this group to 74%.

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h t i w e n o G the wind

Passing wind might be a cause for giggles (or disgust), but it’s a natural bodily function that is worth understanding better, says Tessa Hilton

W

e know everyone does it, yet passing wind is still a taboo in our permissive, modern world. Even finding the language to talk about it can be tricky. Flatulence is the medical term, but we may call it ‘breaking wind’ or ‘passing gas’, while the common ‘fart’, can make children (and many adults) laugh. And it’s often the butt (sorry) of endless comedy sketches.

Passing wind is a perfectly normal bodily function, say the experts, and only a problem if it becomes excessive.

So what is considered ‘normal’?

‘On average, we fart 15 times a day,’ says specialist digestive dietitian Julie Thompson, of Guts UK, the charity for the digestive system (gutscharity.org.uk).

‘An embarrassing fart in public is usually what leads people to worry something is wrong, but breaking wind anything between three and 40 times a day is normal, depending on your diet.’

Despite a lack of scientific research, some experts say that women suffer with more gut wind issues than men, but why? ‘Having babies later, doing more physical activity and living longer,’ says continence nurse specialist Jane Simpson, author of The Pelvic Floor Bible. ‘Spending a third of our lives post-menopause when hormones are challenged puts the pelvic floor under greater strain.’

But while pelvic floor muscles are as much about holding in wind as stopping urinary leaks, avoiding prolapse and side-stepping sexual dysfunction, they are not the whole story when it comes to the gas that accumulates in our guts…

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Women may suffer from more gut wind than men

GULPING GAS The vast majority of wind in our digestive tract comes from swallowing air, in the form of nitrogen and oxygen, and digesting food, which produces other gases, explains Julie Thompson.

‘We take in some air every time we swallow,’ she says. ‘Some people also swallow air without noticing, especially when they’re tense.’

You can, therefore, reduce the amount of air in your gut by being mindful of

habits that encourage air swallowing.

Sipping hot drinks, sucking hard sweets, chewing gum, smoking, mouth-breathing and eating quickly (often on the go), all tend to lead to taking in more air.

Sorbitol, an artificial sweetener often used in diabetic diets and products such as jams, sweets and sugar-free chewing gum, isn’t digested in the small intestine, so can also create flatulence. Meanwhile, fizzy drinks, including beer, also release carbon dioxide into the stomach. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Good health FOOD FOR THOUGHT

This yoga pose massages the internal organs

which can happen for many reasons, see your GP. There are effective treatments. The charity Bladder & Bowel UK (bbuk.org.uk) offers solutions and support.

Be aware that some diet-related problems, where previously tolerated foods cause problems such as bloating and wind, could be due to menopause.

‘Lower hormone levels are thought to change Try this at home the bacteria in the gut,’ says Julie Cornish. She WIND-RELIEVING POSE recommends the app (PAWANMUKTASANA) Bowelle (bowelle.com) Lie on your back, with to track symptoms your feet together and your arms by your sides. and identify triggers.

Breathe in and, on the ‘Stress is a common exhale, bring your knees trigger and plays a big to your chest and hug them. role in the function of Rock your knees gently the digestive system,’ from side to side for she adds. five breaths before releasing.

Take another breath ...AND LETTING and repeat.

A smaller amount of gas, including hydrogen, methane and hydrogen sulphide, is produced in the colon during the digestive process, so it’s not just how but also what we eat that influences flatulence, belching and bloating.

High-fibre foods such as cabbage, cauliflower, onions and pulses contain carbohydrates called oligosaccharides, which can’t be digested in the small around your tummy and intestine and pass into the colon, where moving lower towards an they act as prebiotics or fertilisers, explosive escape. Can nourishing good bacteria for a healthy you hold it for another and diverse gut microbiome. ‘This is a four floors? This social process called bacterial fermentation,’ cliff-hanger all depends explains Julie Thompson. ‘Much of this on the strength of your wind is absorbed into the bloodstream, anal sphincter muscles. but hydrogen sulphide tends to be According to responsible for smelly farts.’ colorectal surgeon Mrs So, if wind is a problem, should we avoid Julie Cornish, consultant the gas-producing culprits? ‘These foods in Cardiff and Vale have useful nutrients, so don’t avoid all of them,’ says dietitian Clare Thornton-Wood University Health Board IT OUT (claretw.com). ‘All adults should be aiming and vice president of Moving and exercise the MASIC foundation for 30g fibre per day, from a mixture of (masic.org.uk), one in three women sustain aid our digestive process, but how can sources, including wholewheat grains, you avoid embarrassing explosions some damage to these muscles during fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and pulses, during a yoga or Pilates class? ‘Practise the birth of their first baby, though not such as chickpeas and lentils.’ a few poses ahead of a class to calm and all will experience symptoms at the time.

Many of these foods are high in release intestinal turbulence,’ suggests FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, ‘I commonly see women in their 60s who say they temporarily lost bowel or bladder yoga teacher and dancer Claudia Silas Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and control after having a baby and then they (stillnessinmotionyoga.co.uk). ‘A pose Polyols). People with IBS may find these called pawanmuktasana actually means were fine, but it has foods contribute to wind-relieving pose, but downward dog become an issue again wind alongside pain Pelvic floor or the bridge can also help,’ says Claudia. since the menopause,’ and bloating. If you power moves ‘I recommend people don’t eat for she says. have IBS, a dietitian TRY THE NHS APP a couple of hours before class but it’s The anal sphincter is can advise on how SQUEEZY (squeezyapp.com) not always about what you eat – for a ring of muscles that you can adopt a low TAKE A TUTORIAL example, women may have more wind keeps the back passage FODMAPs diet while with physiotherapist and when they are on their period.’ or anus closed. Squeeze still maintaining comedian Elaine Miller So what’s the etiquette if audible them tight to hold in an healthy balance. (gussetgrippers.co.uk) wind breaks free mid-class? ‘I would imaginary fart – keep Fibre has the ASK YOUR GP for a referral holding for a count of 10. say, “Oops sorry,”’ says Claudia, ‘but benefit of preventing to a specialist NHS You’ve just started doing yoga is all about trying to create more constipation (a cause physiotherapist. compassion and less judgement, for essential pelvic-floor of flatulence), while SEE A PRIVATE PHYSIO yourself and for others, so do what exercises! also reducing the risk via Pelvic Obstetric & makes you feel better. If that’s ignoring If the rectal muscles of heart disease, Gynaecological Physiotherapy it, that’s absolutely fine.’ have been damaged, stroke, bowel cancer, (thepogp.co.uk) type 2 diabetes and promoting a healthy microbiome. So, instead of cutting out See your GP if you have a change in bowel habits lasting more than six weeks veg, try to exercise regularly to keep food (diarrhoea or constipation), stomach ache or bloating that won’t go away or passing through your bowels. The longer constantly recurs, if you’re losing weight without trying, or have blood in your poo, it hangs around in your system, the more it advises colorectal surgeon Julie Cornish. Too much wind can also be a symptom ferments and will produce smelly wind. of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); coeliac disease, where your immune system HOLDING IT IN... attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten; or lactose intolerance, where the You’re in a lift with other people. There’s body cannot digest lactose, a type of sugar in milk and dairy products. an ominous sensation of gas rumbling

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY

Sign of something more serious?

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Pour yourself

a cup of WELLBEING Reviving, relaxing, memory-boosting! Turns out the right cuppa really can be a wellbeing wonder. Just follow our easy guide to brewing up the best one for you

D

rinking herbs steeped in hot water seems an unlikely way to help support our wellbeing, but ask a naturopath, herbalist or nutritionist and they will collectively rave over the possible benefits.

A great tea bursting with the therapeutic power of plants can lend a hand with anything from stress relief to seasonal ailments, an unhappy gut to a foggy brain, sleepless nights to fretful hormones and more. Here are just a few good reasons why we should be brewing, blending and drinking tea more often… goodhousekeeping.com/uk

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Good health

It’s easy wellness

Hot water extracts compounds from plants and we drink the wellbeing benefits. ‘Caffeine-free and an ideal way to increase your water intake, herbal teas are great on many levels,’ says research herbalist Monica Wilde. ‘You also gain their beneficial properties, including water-soluble vitamins and antioxidants. For example, wild violet and strawberry leaves are higher in vitamin C per 100g than an orange.’

2

It’s simple to make!

It’s super-easy to brew a brilliant herbal tea, says Monica...

O Put one heaped tsp of herbs per mug of hot water into a cafetiere.

O Pour over hot (just under boiling) water, allowing the herbs to circulate.

Put on the lid but don’t plunge yet!

O Infuse for five to 10 minutes, then press the plunger, which acts as a filter. Throw the used herbs on the compost heap.

3

It’s a mindful moment

Or can be, if you take the time to brew it in a special pot with a favourite blend of herbs, rather than rushing.

‘I love the simple ceremony of slowing down to make, appreciate and drink the herbal tea for a moment of calm,’ says Tipper Lewis, herbalist and brand ambassador for Neal’s Yard Remedies.

4

The big favourites are easy to find. They each have their own wellbeing benefits, but also work beautifully in blends. Our experts pick their must-brews:

CHAMOMILE

ROSEMARY

‘It can help relax the nervous system and act as a digestive,’ says Sebastian Pole, co-founder of Pukka Herbs and founder of herbalreality.com.

Said to clear the mind and boost stamina.

‘When I feel myself flagging, a sprig in boiled water peps me up,’ says Tipper.

MINT

LEMON BALM

A real wake-up in your cup! ‘Adds flavour to blends, settles digestion and sharpens the mind,’ explains Monica.

Known as the ‘herbal hug’, it’s a real mood raiser. ‘Perfect when moments of calm are needed,’ advises Dee.

FENNEL

NETTLE

A gentle diuretic and good for the gut. ‘The go-to tea after a large meal,’ says Tipper.

Nourishing and cleansing. ‘A nutritious plant filled to the brim with vitamins, minerals and protein,’ explains Sebastian.

GINGER

LIME FLOWERS

It tastes delicious

Experiment until you find your favourite blend.

You’ll soon discover fresh new flavours. In no time at all you’ll recognise and love individual notes – slightly sweet, a little spicy, maybe savoury and more. If you’re struggling with the flavour, you can always add a spot of honey, a squeeze of lemon or a hint of cinnamon.

GOOD-FOR-YOU BREWS Need help with a wellness glitch? Our experts have a menu of teas to help support your mind and body. z FEELING STRESSED?

z FEELING FLUSHED?

Chamomile + lavender + pink rosebuds. To feel calm. ‘Use about half lavender to the other herbs, as its taste is strong,’ says Tipper.

The blend? 25g each chamomile and rosebuds, 15g lavender. z FEELING BLOATED? Fennel + peppermint + catmint A brilliant after-dinner blend from medical herbalist Dee Atkinson.

Infuse equal parts of each herb. z FEELING LOW? Pink rosebuds + lemon verbena + lemon balm. ‘It’s uplifting, clears the cobwebs and gives you a hug at the same time,’ says Tipper.

Blend 25g of each ingredient. z FEELING WAKEFUL? Chamomile + lime flowers + valerian. ‘Seriously soothing and easy to blend,’ says Dee. Mix the ingredients in equal parts.

Red clover + rose + sage. To help with those menopause moments.

Try Monica’s mix of 30g each of rose and sage with 40g red clover, the classic menopause herb. z FEELING UNFOCUSED? Rosemary + ginkgo + peppermint. To help perk up your brain, mix 25g each of these herbs, suggests Tipper. z FEELING HEADACHY? Rosemary + peppermint + ginger + lime flower. Take the edge off the ache with a bright tea from Dee. Blend equal parts of these four favourites. z FEELING OVERHEATED? Peppermint + lemon balm + lemon peel. If the heat is getting to you, try Monica’s chilled tea.

Mix 50g peppermint, 40g lemon balm and 10g lemon peel.

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

YOUR TOP 10 HERBS FOR TEA

Warms, boosts circulation and aids digestion. ‘I love a strong tea made from grated ginger,’ enthuses Monica.

Perfect for making a smooth, silky tea.

‘Delicate, fragrant, calming to the nervous system and supports circulation,’ says Dee.

ELDERFLOWER PINK ROSEBUDS An immunityboosting herb par excellence. ‘It helps the body fight colds and eases sinus problems,’ says Dee.

Often used for mood swings and cramps.

‘It tastes as good as it smells,’ says Tipper.

‘Add it to other herbs to help wind down.’

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TEA-MAKING Q&A We asked the experts how to brew the perfect cuppa.

Q. TEA BAGS OR LOOSE HERBS? A. Ask an expert and there’s no debate. ‘Loose all the way,’ says Monica. ‘The volatile oils in herbs can evaporate in a tea-bag-filling machine and they lose some of their flavour.’

However, if you aren’t into infusing your own but still like to drink herbs through the day, then a well-crafted bag will tick all your boxes. TIP: For a greener choice, opt for plastic-free, biodegradable or compostable bags.

Q. HERBS-TO-WATER RATIO? A. Don’t worry too much about this. ‘If you’re making your own blend, use 1-2tsp of dried herbs per person, depending on your taste,’ says Tipper.

Q. HOW LONG TO BREW? A. The standard answer? Five or so minutes. But there’s more to it than that. ‘Delicate flowers, leaves and seeds need less infusion time; say five to 10 minutes,’ says Sebastian. ‘Harder fruits, roots and barks need longer; around 10 to 20 minutes.’

Q. HOW MANY CUPS A DAY? A. ‘It depends on the herb you’re drinking. Three cups of a therapeutic tea is usually the maximum,

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but you can drink more of the gentle herbs – rose, chamomile, lemon balm, elderflower – especially if you vary them or use small tea-bag doses,’ explains Monica

Q. WHAT ABOUT USING FRESH HERBS? A. Great idea! ‘They taste so fresh and zingy, so different to dried herbs,’ says Tipper. ‘Fresh herbs have a milder flavour, whereas dried herbs are more concentrated in taste. Use roughly twice the amount with fresh herbs,’ she advises.

Q. WILL A COLD TEA ‘WORK’?

A. It will. Just make your tea as usual and let it cool. ‘Hot or cold, it doesn’t really matter 90% of the time,’ says Dee. ‘For refreshing iced drinks, lemon balm, peppermint, lemon verbena, rose, hibiscus and green tea are just a few that work well,’ suggests Tipper.

Q. HOW DO I MAKE A BLEND? GH TIP A. ‘By making small It’s a good idea to quantities so you check with your doctor can tailor your before drinking herbal teas blend to suit your mood,’ says Tipper. if you are taking any ‘Let’s say you want to wind down. You know you like chamomile tea, which actually goes well with calming lemon balm and lime flower. Take equal parts of each herb (say 10g), then use 1-2tsp of the blend for your cuppa.’

GOT BRAIN FOG? Try chamomile with peppermint and rosemary.

JUST EATEN? Try chamomile with peppermint and fennel.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Cleanse Nurture Restore With Herbal Tea

by Sebastian Pole is the tea-making bible, or read Infuse: Herbal Teas To Cleanse, Nourish And Heal by Paula Grainger and Karen Sullivan for great advice on blending.

medications. Some herbs and plants may interact with them.

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

MY FAVOURITE TEA So what do the experts drink when they want to harness the therapeutic power of plants?

DEE ATKINSON ‘I like to blend elderflower, echinacea and lemon balm. I use equal parts of each dried herb, and drink it either hot or cold. I love its immune-boosting support and the de-stressing qualities of the lemon balm.’

TIPPER LEWIS ‘Freshly picked peppermint, lemon balm and rosemary or lemon thyme.

A mid-afternoon cuppa picks me up and invigorates me, and a wander outside to pick the herbs is a perk, too!’

SEBASTIAN POLE ‘Cup of Love is the perfect tea to soothe a broken heart or when you want a sip of love.

Mix 3g chamomile flowers, 2g each of lime flower and marigold petals, plus 1g each rosebuds, lavender flowers and licorice root.’

MONICA WILDE ‘An equal-parts blend of mugwort, mullein flowers, chamomile and Virginian skullcap taken before bed.

It’s so relaxing, and the mugwort and mullein help enhance lucid dreams.’

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Good health

HERBAL INFUSIONS

These are already blended for you…

STAY CALM: Wilder Botanics Calm & Support has lavender and chamomile in the mix. £15 for 500ml; wilderbotanics.com

KEEP COOL: D Atkinson Cool & Collected features sage and rose to help manage the heat. £7.25 for 100g; deeatkinson.net

HAPPY TUM: Napiers Mellow Mallow includes marshmallow leaf and meadowsweet for a happy gut. £8.75 for 100g; napiers.net

FIND YOUR HERBS…

KEEP WELL: Indigo Herbs

Buying beautiful loose herbs to make tea couldn’t be easier.

Neal’s Yard Remedies – nealsyardremedies.com for loose herbs and courses.

Napiers the herbalists – napiers.net for amazing herbs, remedies and advice.

Dee Atkinson – deeatkinson.net for herbs and unusual blends.

Indigo Herbs – indigo-herbs.co.uk for loose herbs and all things wellbeing.

G Baldwin & Co – baldwins.co.uk is where herbalists shop.

Get Well Stay Well features echinacea, ginger and clove to help boost immunity. £3.95 for 50g; indigo-herbs.co.uk

GET GOING: Try Neal’s Yard Remedies Bright Start tea with nettle and zesty lemon. £4 for 18 bags; nealsyardremedies.com

SLEEP TIGHT: Clipper Snore & Peace is a soothing blend with chamomile and lemon balm in the brew. £2.25 for 20 bags; clipper-teas.com

WORDS: LYNN CARDY. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY

MAKE IT SPECIAL Everything you need for a delicious brew.

It’s a classic A hand-blown

What a scoop! Simply scoop up

toughened glass teapot with built-in infuser for loose-leaf teas and cool summer drinks. £13.79; baldwins.co.uk The big brew! The spacious One Litre Tea-iere allows herbs to flow freely.

Makes four cups of hot or cold tea and has a strainer built in. £35; jingtea.com Take time Teas take different times to infuse – the Tea Hourglass Sand Timer has it covered! £12.95; theteamakers.co.uk One is fun Just the right size if you’re making tea for one – with a little extra for a top-up! The Tea Expert Easy Glass Teapot has an integrated infuser.

From £25.95; theteamakers.co.uk

the herbs, slot them into the Loose Leaf Tea Scoop infuser, then brew your tea right in the cup. Brilliantly clever! £9.95; theteamakers.co.uk Clearly good Make sipping special with a glass cup and saucer. £15; jingtea.com So easy! No teapot? Then make your infusion right in the cup using the Bodum Yo-Yo Mug Tea Strainer. £13; dunelm.com Get heated Set your temperature from 85–100°C for the perfect cup of tea with the Cuisinart Multi-Temp Jug Kettle. £85; cuisinart.co.uk

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Keep

smiling Has oral hygiene slipped off your to-do list? We speak to the experts about how to give your teeth some TLC

A

ccording to the British Dental Association, 19 million fewer dental appointments were booked this year than expected, which could have a detrimental effect on the state of the nation’s teeth. So if you want to improve your smile and reset your oral care routine, we’ve got a few handy tips from the experts.

BRUSH UP ON THE BASICS ‘My biggest tip for brushing properly is to be intentional about it,’ says cosmetic dental expert Dr Uchenna Okoye. ‘People’s minds are often on other things when they brush, so they can scrub too hard or they don’t brush for long enough.’ If you’re guilty of over-brushing, she advises using an

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GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

electric toothbrush. ‘Many of them have an indicator that tells you if you’re pushing too hard,’ she explains.

‘If patients prefer a manual brush, I suggest trying plaque-disclosing tablets which give them a visual aid.

They then just brush away the stain.’

Timing is also key. ‘If you know you’re going to eat something sugary or acidic, brush beforehand rather than afterwards, as you risk spreading the sugars and acids over your enamel,’ advises Dr Okoye.

‘Otherwise, wait 45 minutes to an hour after eating before brushing.’

DON’T FORGET THE 40% Using a toothbrush alone can only clean up to 60% of the tooth’s surface.

To clean between the teeth, you need to use a TePe interdental brush

If you know you’re going to eat something sugary or acidic, brush beforehand rather than afterwards or dental floss. ‘Brushing on its own is not enough,’ says dental hygienist Anna Middleton. ‘Interdental cleaning with floss or brushes helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, which can occur when food and plaque are left lodged between teeth.

‘If your teeth are close together, then dental floss is recommended. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

GH Promotion for TePe

WHITEN UP Not all whitening toothpastes are created equal. ‘Some whitening toothpastes can be quite abrasive, so while they may remove surface stains, they also damage the enamel,’ says Dr Okoye. ‘Then it becomes a vicious circle because you will pick up more stains. It’s best to speak to your dentist to determine the cause of your discoloration and get their advice about the best toothpaste to use.’

A clean with the hygienist can also make a big difference to your teeth’s appearance A professional clean by a hygienist, who can remove any surface staining and plaque deposits, can also make a big difference to your teeth’s appearance. ‘A visit to the dental hygienist is the best place to start if you are looking for a whiter smile,’ says Middleton.

TOOTH TRUTHS

The dental care tips our experts want you to know

Don’t rinse After brushing, spit instead of rinsing so you don’t wash away the beneficial ingredients in toothpaste, like fluoride.

Drink up Drinking water after meals helps wash away debris and dilute acids.

Get chewing Chewing sugar-free gum for 10 minutes after eating stimulates saliva, which helps neutralise harmful acids.

Grab a straw When you’re having sugary or acidic drinks, sip them through a paper or reusable straw – it can help protect your teeth.

*VIA THE MASS BALANCE METHOD **SOURCE: A SURVEY OF 201 DENTAL HYGIENISTS IN THE UK, IPSOS (2019)

EAT YOUR WAY TO HEALTHIER TEETH But, if you have space between your teeth, it can be a lot easier to use interdental brushes like TePe. Always use the biggest size of brush possible – you may need more than one size.’

As well as a range of interdental brush sizes, TePe also offers options with longer handles and angled heads for easier access between the back teeth.

Nutritionist Anita Bean recommends a diet rich in crunchy fruit and vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils, lean proteins, nuts, seeds and dairy to promote strong, healthy teeth. ‘Avoid having snacks between meals to limit the number of times your teeth are under attack from acids,’ she adds. ‘And try to limit sticky foods as these tend to stay on the teeth longer. If you do eat anything sticky, rinse with water afterwards.’

GOOD FOR YOUR SMILE, BETTER FOR THE PLANET This year, TePe launched new versions of its original interdental brush and its long-handled angle interdental brush.

The brushes are now made with pine oil, which has reduced their carbon footprint by 80%*.

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Time your mouthwash Avoid using mouthwash straight after brushing as, again, you’ll rinse away the benefits of your toothpaste. Use it after meals instead.

Say cheese Finishing a meal with cheese restores the pH levels in your mouth and helps prevent damage from acids.

TePe is recommended by 94% of UK dental hygienists**. Find out more at tepe.com NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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GH HOMES

INSPIRATION AND IDEAS TO HELP YOU MAKE YOUR HOUSE A HOME

This month’s new trends and beautiful buys from homes & gardens director Carolyn Bailey

COSY CORNER It’s time to bring warmth into your home with autumnal tones and texture. Add cushions and throws in plush velvet and touches of glamorous gold.

FRINGE BENEFITS Add glamour to a room with a fringed lampshade.

Sofa bed, £400; velour cushion and navy cushion, £6.50 each; green cushion, £35; coffee table, £150; rug, from a selection; plant pot, £55; Tempe lamp, £45; nest of tables, £195; wall light, £28, all Habitat

Lampshade, £70, BHS

DRAW UP A CHAIR Bring some style to your dining room.

Chair, £299 for 2, La Redoute

ANIMAL MAGIC Give your sofa an upgrade.

Cushions, £70 each, Andrew Martin

PATTERN PERFECT FOR ART’S SAKE Add art to your walls with this print by Georgia Elliott.

Into The Fold, £130, The Art Buyer

London-based illustrator Katie Scott is inspired by plants from around the world. Scented

POSH POT This pine-green planter was handmade in Burma.

candle, £49, Polkra x Katie Scott

Planter, from £28, Kalinko

COLOUR RUSH A bold design statement.

Sofa, £975, Furniture Village goodhousekeeping.com/uk

NEAT IDEA For small rooms, try space-saving pieces of furniture, such as this compact nest of tables.

Coffee table nest, £445, Loaf NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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Good homes THIS MONTH, WE ARE INSPIRED BY… BOLD COLOURS Neptune’s new-season paint shade, Clove, makes a statement and works well with warm apricot tones.

Wall painted in Clove matt emulsion, £42 for 2.5L; Chawton glazed base cabinet in Mustard, from £1,390; accessories, from a selection, all Neptune

HOW TO CLEAN A CHOPPING BOARD Prevent food poisoning by keeping your board sanitised with these simple dos and don’ts:

DO remove food stains on plastic chopping boards by rubbing on fresh or bottled lemon juice and leaving overnight. Or use vinegar; mix four parts water with one part white vinegar and soak the board for a few minutes.

Rinse and dry.

DON’T dry your boards with tea towels, to avoid cross-contamination. Paper towels are preferable.

DO scrub in hot, running water or pour freshly boiled water over them to sterilise. If they’re dishwasher-safe, run the cycle on at least 65°C. DON’T prepare raw meat/poultry on the same board as cooked meat/poultry or fruit/veg without washing them thoroughly in between.

DO use disinfectant on boards that have had raw meat on them.

DON’T put wooden boards in the dishwasher or soak them in hot water – they’ll warp and crack.

DO oil wooden boards regularly with mineral oil.

TRIED & TESTED

TOASTIE MAKERS

WINNER Breville VST091 Deep Fill 2 Slice Toastie Maker Amazon; £29.99 89/100 Our winning machine heats up in 2min and 19sec, and takes just 4½min to cook a crisp sarnie. It’s also compact and easy to clean.

RUNNER UP Cuisinart Sandwich Maker GRSM1U Amazon; £59.99 87/100 Variable temperature control, adjustable settings and a deep-fill design means you can experiment with recipes, and it performed the basics well, too.

BUDGET BUY Breville VST057 2 Slice Sandwich/ Toastie Maker Argos; £14.99 84/100 This model made crisp, evenly cooked toasties.

The top plates pushed the edges out, resulting in undercooked crusts, but a great student buy.

HOW WE TESTED We used each machine to make several cheese, ham and tomato toasties. We looked at how quickly each machine heats up and cooks, checking for an even and consistent colour and sandwich temperature. We checked how hot each machine got and then how easy it was to clean.

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TRIED, TESTED, TRUSTED At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our mantra is simple: we don’t take any claims or promises at face value, and any advice we give is impartial.

This forms the backbone of everything we do, from food and product testing to our household, money and tech advice. The GHI tests hundreds of products every month, from steam irons to washing machines, to help you buy the best.

7 To see all our product reviews, visit goodhousekeeping.com/uk/product-reviews

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GHI WORDS: HANNAH MENDELSOHN. GHI TESTING: LUKE RIGG

Which of the 29 sandwich-makers we tested produced the crispiest and most delicious toasties?

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Home is where the heart is, and nothing beats sitting down with a cuppa and taking some time for yourself with our inspiring home and lifestyle titles.

Perfect for those who like to keep up to date with the latest trends, our fashion and style titles offer inspiration and advice, plus fabulous limited-edition beauty boxes.

Get workout ideas from top PTs, plus delicious meals and nutrition tips in our magazines and special editions, which offer the perfect motivation for those looking to achieve their health and fitness goals.

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21 INTERIOR DESIGN secrets Thinking of redecorating? Make the most of every space in your home with the latest advice from our favourite experts Feature JAMES CUNNINGHAM

Wall painted in Paean Black matt emulsion, £49.50 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. For similar furniture and accessories, try Vinterior

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Good homes

Paint the town

Epoch, £42, Graham & Brown

Adding a new lick of paint is the simplest way to instantly transform your home and bring colour to a room. With so many different types now available, and a rainbow of shades to choose from, it’s worth buying paint from a brand with an edited offering that reflects current trends. Farrow & Ball, Fired Earth and Mylands are excellent options for concise ranges that don’t compromise on choice. It’s best to use an emulsion finish on walls and eggshell on woodwork, but consider gloss or satinwood for cabinetry and specialist chalk paint for furniture. If you’re painting a room yourself, invest in good-quality supplies before you get started – Annie Sloan’s flat brushes are great, as are the trays and rollers by Harris.

Peaseblossom, £47, Earthborn

Nicaragua, £51, Edward Bulmer

Delias Secret, £45, Fired Earth

Oxford Blue, £42, Dulux Heritage at Homebase

Brush up This season’s paint colours are deep and rich.

Prices for 2.5L standard matt emulsion.

CHASING RAINBOWS Farrow & Ball’s chief colour consultant Joa Studholme reveals her top paint tips. z It’s vital at the start of a project to make a list of every element that needs to be painted (colour in a room is not just about the walls). From ceilings and architectural goodhousekeeping.com/uk

details through to woodwork and furniture, there are endless opportunities for a splash of colour. z Paint can change the shape of the room, making it look bigger or smaller and the ceilings feel higher or lower.

Let the light in the room be your friend. Work out which way it faces and see how the changing light will affect colour. Rooms you use more in

the evening can be stronger in colour for a snug space. z There is a magical power to paint and I believe that colour can contribute greatly to our wellbeing.

In this spirit, I often look to nature for clues to successful combinations. I’ve always adored purples, pinks and greens together, for example, as these shades often dominate our gardens.

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Good homes

Kitchen party

Whether you’re planning a new kitchen or want to make your existing one better, there are key principles to follow.

First, storage and organisation is vital. Make sure every drawer and cupboard is accounted for and entirely ordered: this way, you’ll know where everything is and cooking will be a breeze. Second, configure built-in and freestanding appliances in a way that makes sense for everyday life; there’s little point having a dishwasher, for example, metres away from the food prep area. For maximum efficiency, your fridge, oven and sink should be laid out in a rough triangle, with one at the centre and the other two at opposing ends.

Looking for an upgrade but don’t want to redo the whole kitchen?

Consider replacing the worktops to give your space a new look.

On the surface These clever buys will bring joy to your cooking space and worktops.

Stoneware canisters, from £30 each, Marquis & Dawe

Autumn Fruits tins, £39.95 for 3, Emma Bridgewater at Annabel James Devine kitchen, to order, Tom Howley

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ISLAND LIFE

z Don’t rule out an island in

Tom Howley, founder of his eponymous kitchen company, explains how good storage can make life easier. z The kind of storage you have in a kitchen should reflect your lifestyle. Even though an island takes up floor space, it will benefit your kitchen by ensuring more storage, prep areas and a place to gather.

a small kitchen, but account for roughly a metre of floor space around it for a comfortable walkway. z To get more out of your drawers and cupboards, keep them organised and don’t allow clutter.

Function does not prohibit beauty, though – attractive canisters, mason jars and bottles will add interest.

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING NOVEMBER 2021

Natural Elements canister, £10.18, KitchenCraft at Amazon

Bees canister, £29.50 for a set of 3, Sophie Allport

Serve oil and vinegar pourers, £55, LSA International at John Lewis & Partners

Romana extending dining table, from £2,495; dining chairs, from £600 each, all Ercol. For similar accessories, try La Redoute

TAKE A SEAT Creative director of Ercol Rachel Galbraith shares her top table tips. z As the biggest piece in the room, the dining table will invariably be the focal point, so place it in the centre for a considered, balanced look. In an open-plan dining space, place the table on a rug to goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Come dine with me The key to a successful dining space lies in the furniture choices. As tables are often utilised as surfaces for working from home and completing projects as much as they are for coming together to enjoy a meal, flexibility and comfort should be priorities. Rectangular tables are useful for squeezing in an extra guest or two and work best in larger spaces, while round ones tend to offer a more social experience, as people face one another. Round designs also often have a central leg, rather than four individual ones, which can offer diners more legroom. If you’re buying the table and chairs separately, it’s important to make sure their heights will work together; for maximum comfort, the seat of the chair should be no less than 25cm below (and no more than 30cm below) the top of the table’s surface.

properly define the area.

Extending tables are ideal for homes where space is at a premium. Look out for tables with simple-to-use extending mechanisms and built-in storage for the leaves, often referred to as butterfly mechanisms. z Make sure there is room for all of the chairs to slide out easily, so no one feels too squeezed in.

A combination of chairs and benches can add interest and create a cleaner, contemporary look, with fewer legs on display. z Wood is a classic choice for dining tables for good reason; it’s best for practicality, personality, craftsmanship and quality. Invest in a solidly built piece and it will become part of your family and heritage, passed down for generations to come.

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Art attack

Whether a picture, painting or photo, art can lift a space and bring a sense of character to your walls. If you are displaying multiple frames in the same room, choosing pieces in similar colours will create a curated look. For prints of classic artworks and more contemporary designs alike, King & McGaw is an expert at printing and framing to bespoke specifications at reasonable prices. There’s a space for artwork in every room; wall-mounted sculptures work well in a bathroom, for example, where they’ll be less affected by moisture and humidity, while the kitchen provides an opportunity to hang rectangular landscape frames above otherwise unused cupboard space.

Eva sofa, £3,105 as shown; cushions, from £52 each; Henley side table, £320, and other accessories, from a selection, all Neptune. For similar wall panels, try OKA

IN THE FRAME Kyra Cosgrove, home designer at Neptune, gives advice on how to choose and display art effectively. z It’s important to choose your art based on your love for it, but you should still think about what colours and themes will work in your space before deciding

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on a specific piece. Abstract or botanical paintings work particularly well in the sitting room or bedroom, as they tend to be relaxing. z Artwork can be a great way to draw the eye upwards and make the most of your ceiling height.

Hang statement rectangular pieces portrait to elongate the wall vertically.

For other styles of artwork or photography, hang at eye level. z More elaborate frames and mounts work well in social rooms, where they can take centre stage. For a bedroom, opt for a smaller mount and a more pared-back frame for a relaxed look. In a hallway, or a darker corner of a room, using a mirror-framed piece of art can help to bounce extra light around. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Good homes

Light it up From pendants to floor lamps, lighting is more than just a finishing touch. Ceiling lights will maximise brightness in a room and are useful for zoning different parts of it – a sequence of spotlights in the kitchen, for example, or a shade over the dining table, will give light where it is needed and a glow where it’s most desired. Table lamps, too, can be used for task lighting on a desk or to make a more decorative statement. For the latter, treat the base and shade as two separate entities: a general rule of thumb is that a shade should be at least twice the width of the lamp itself, but this is less important on particularly plump bases.

Decorative wall lights should be installed roughly at eye level, while practical styles should be positioned to cast brightness over a specific spot.

Mo desk lamp, £168; pendant, from a selection, both Pooky. For similar furniture and accessories, try Heal’s

Lever, £35; with bulb, £42, Lights & Lamps

Type 80, £199, Anglepoise at Heal’s

A new light Illuminate your WFH space with a smart desk lamp.

BRIGHT IDEAS

Pallas, £30, Habitat

Rounded, £75, Cox & Cox Apennin, £15, B&Q

Rohan Blacker, the founder of Pooky, shares his top tips for effective lighting. z Consider your lighting choices early on in the design process, as planning this later can lead to compromise. You can use the position of your lights to dictate the layout of your furniture and accessories and select which you would like to highlight with additional localised light sources. z Bulbs are often an afterthought but are as

important as the lights themselves for creating the right light colour. Check the temperature of your bulb; this will be shown in ‘kelvins’.

The higher the kelvin, the cooler the light. z Always install dimmer switches where you can, to control the light intensity and bring a more balanced glow into a space. If you can, put your overhead lights on separate circuits to the ambient, more decorative feature lighting in the room, so you can control the atmosphere.

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Good homes

Beautiful bathrooms A retreat meant for relaxation, the bathroom should be a space for pampering. For a hotel-at-home look, focus on upgrading the everyday; a chic soap dispenser will elevate handwashing, while a rainfall showerhead will turn the morning routine into an indulgent ritual. If you’re redoing your space, consider a long vanity unit with double sinks to dial up the luxury or a freestanding bath to make your soaks more spa-like. Consider the view from your tub. If you don’t have a window to look out of, frame a vignette that will please the eye and soothe the soul as you lie back and relax.

Palm Springs in Green, £66 a sq m, Porcelain Superstore

Formoso bath, from £2,479, Clearwater. For a similar shade of green paint, try Teal 03 by Lick

MATERIAL WORLD Rebecca Maher, Clearwater’s brand expert, on choosing the right tub. z Let your bath (the showpiece of any home spa) do the talking. A curved silhouette instantly says serenity. z Choose a design made from natural stone. Soft and satin-like to the touch, it will look luxurious and provide durability and longevity. z Stone is celebrated for its heatretaining capabilities, too, helping water to stay warmer for longer.

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Cut shapes New tiles instantly refresh a bathroom.

Add a border to existing wall tiles for a speedy update.

Oska in Jungle Green, from £46.34 a sq m, Mandarin Stone

Cosmati in Bottle Green, £3.65 each, Claybrook

Colonial Quarter Round Brillo border in Sky, £3.49 each, Tiles Direct

Amberley in Orchid, £12.86 each, Topps Tiles

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

The wonder of wallpaper

Prints and patterns add personality to a space, and wallpaper is the ideal way to create a statement.

From pretty florals to graphic geometrics, every motif can be combined with colour to create a layered look. A move on from the classic feature wall, murals are papers that are used on one particular wall to specific dimensions – try Graham & Brown’s online tool for bespoke options at ready-made prices. Wallpaper doesn’t have to dominate a space, though.

Pared-back ombré styles and delicate, abstract designs, for example, will feel elegant and subtle, even when used on all four walls. John Lewis & Partners has a good range, too.

Mandalay mural, £216 a roll; wall painted in Olive Colour matt emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5L, both Little Greene. For similar furniture and accessories, try West Elm

OFF THE WALL Ruth Mottershead, creative director of Little Greene, explains the power of pattern. z Wallpapers can create a sense of intimacy and familiarity, bringing extra layers of pattern and colour. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

The right design will please the eyes and mind every time you look at it. z Larger-scale prints are ideal for spaces such as living rooms, dining rooms or bedrooms, where you can stand back from a design to see the full effect,

as well as sit up close to appreciate the details. z In addition to its decorative quality, some people choose wallpaper for a more durable finish than paint. While standard paints last only around five to six years before needing a revamp, wallpaper can last up to 15 years.

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COUNTRY

charmer

This traditional Cotswolds farmhouse has been cleverly scaled up and extended to host family and friends while retaining its cosy charm

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Good homes WHO LIVES HERE Hollie Moreland, creative director at David Hunt Lighting, her children Ottilie, eight, and Milo, six, and their Norfolk terrier, Wolfie, live in this farmhouse. Dating from 1686, the Grade II-listed building has six bedrooms, a Georgian extension and recent extension. ‘Buying this house felt right; as if we were made for each other,’ says Hollie. ‘We’ve kept original features where possible, and I’ve worked room by room for two years. I think you need to live in a space to understand how it’s used. The house is always evolving and I change things all the time. Sometimes it feels like we live in a cottage, as we don’t use the top floor unless we have family staying. I love that we can scale the house up or down.’

WARM WELCOME ‘We all love sitting around the fire in winter,’ says Hollie, who wanted the space to be both formal and relaxed, so it could be used by her children, as well as for entertaining.

The original oven sits within the fireplace.

COSY AND BRIGHT This room was inspired by William Yeoward fabric that Hollie brought from her previous house. ‘It has a British look with a continental twist,’ she says. ‘I chose comfortable furniture and sofas that the kids can flop on to.’ By the time Hollie updated this room, she felt more confident and introduced orange velvet, which also added texture. The chairs are from Arlo & Jacob, the cushions are Colefax and Fowler and William Yeoward, and the room is painted in Tusk and Mortar from Little Greene.

LIGHT AND AIRY The kitchen is the heart of the house because, as Hollie says, ‘We spend most of our time here or in the sitting room and the space feels super-cosy due to the wood-burning stove.’

The kitchen was updated with a lick of paint and the work surfaces were stripped back to bare wood, which made a huge difference.

SHELF LIFE Hollie, an avid collector of Spode, displays her dinnerware on open shelves. ‘I am not a minimalist by a long way and I love collecting crafts and pottery to surround myself with,’ she says.

For the walls, she chose a versatile background. The walls are painted in Tusk, the cabinets are in Limestone and the panelling is in Mortar, all from Little Greene.

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SPACE FOR EVERYTHING The rear hall, once part of the stables, is now a multipurpose room. It is painted in Sir Lutyens’ Sage from Little Greene; Hollie believes it’s best to decorate dark spaces with dark tones. The Lombok table lamps are by David Hunt Lighting.

MAKE AN ENTRANCE A monks bench takes pride of place in the hall at the front of the property and is upholstered in Wilde by Colefax and Fowler. Hollie made the gingham cushion, to add softness, and crates to store shoes. The walls are painted in Portland Stone, and the woodwork is in Tusk, both from Little Greene.

ORIGINAL FEATURE The hall at the rear of the property features the brick back of the original oven. With low ceilings, Hollie thought it was important to work with the proportions and was pleased to be able to hang a David Hunt Antler chandelier.

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Good homes BLOOMING ROSES For the top-floor bedrooms, Hollie went for full-on pattern.

A huge fan of Colefax and Fowler, as it’s quintessentially English and timeless, she chose its Bowood wallpaper.

FLORAL MASTERPIECE ‘I love the cosy feel wallpaper creates,’ says Hollie. The wallpaper in this bedroom is Alderney

by Colefax and Fowler.

COASTAL VIBE

WORDS: CAROLYN BAILEY. PHOTOGRAPHY: BRENT DARBY. SHOP THE LOOK COMPILED BY: DAISY BENDALL

The blue and white drapes bring a nautical feel to the bathroom at the top of the house.

Cushion, £75, edit58 x Salvesen Graham

Shop the

LOOK Cushion, £35, John Lewis & Partners

TAKE INSPIRATION FROM HOLLIE’S HOME STYLE

Table lamp with shade, £95, Laura Ashley

Double wall light, £180 (without shades), David Hunt Lighting Dresser, £640, The Dormy House

Jug, £82, Burleigh Sofa, £1,265, Willow & Hall

Side table, £360, Neptune

Armchair, £785, Loaf

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Good homes

Citrusträd cushion cover, £3.50, Ikea

Bel cushion, £65, Birdie Fortescue

A velvet cushion will instantly add a touch of glamour Monserrate cushion in Cameo, £70, Designers Guild

Carskiey cushion, £105, Fermoie

Plump it up!

Kersey cushion, £88, Neptune

Choose cushions in deep shades of navy, plum and dusky pink for cosy autumn colour

Sakana cushion cover, £55, OKA

Botanize Heritage velvet cushion, £109, Divine Savages at Heal’s

Choose a statement design to be the focal point of your sofa Bengal tiger cushion in Graphite, £35, John Lewis & Partners

COMPILED BY: DAISY BENDALL

Palm cushion in Burgundy, £50, Haveli

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Little Hamilton frilly cushion, £75, Tori Murphy

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A clean slate

Put in the groundwork for a fresh start to 2022 by changing up your flooring

M

onths of staring at the same four walls may well have you contemplating an overhaul of your interiors.

But before you start planning that loft conversion or knocking through walls, there is an easier way to make a dramatic change: simply switch up your flooring. From coloured carpets to decorative vinyl, we look at how a new floor can lay the foundations for a stylish new year.

ADD EYE-CATCHING DETAIL TO YOUR KITCHEN

Mediterranean 574 Emilia Vinyl, £22.99 a sq m, Carpetright

KEEP IT SIMPLE For a modern finish, pair intricately patterned floors with dark woods, white walls and lots of greenery.

If you often find yourself drooling over pictures of beautiful, intricately tiled floors on Instagram, you’ll be pleased to discover that it’s an incredibly achievable look, thanks to the versatility of high-quality vinyl. Not only is vinyl a water-resistant and durable option — perfect for kitchens and bathrooms — it is also affordable and easy to lay. Plus, you can tap into all the latest trends, from creative mosaics and monochrome prints to polished concrete and reclaimed wood.

For attention-grabbing patterns, take a look at the House Beautiful Mediterranean Vinyl flooring collection at Carpetright. Featuring classic designs in dove greys, off-whites and dark blues, they evoke the timeless elegance of our favourite sunshine destinations.

TRY CHARACTERFUL WOOD IN YOUR LIVING ROOM A gorgeous wooden floor will add instant charm and character to your lounge. Choose a pale wood to maximise light and create a Scandi-inspired space; go slightly warmer and you have an airy, Soho loft-style finish; or opt for a dark parquet for an elegant, country-house

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GH Promotion for Carpetright feel. Built to last, warm under foot and sustainable, high-quality wood floors never go out of style.

COLOUR POPS

BRING COLOUR INTO YOUR BEDROOM The colour and design detail in your bedroom doesn’t always have to come from the walls or soft furnishings. Swapping a beige carpet for something a little bolder can add instant richness to your space, and your bedroom is the ideal place to experiment. A deep grey or jade green will create a luxury boutique hotel feel — just add some slippers at the door — while a delicate pink carpet is a softer, more interesting take on the traditional neutral.

Create an indulgent space of your own with the House Beautiful x Carpetright Saxony carpet collection, which offers a deep, tufted finish you can sink your feet into at the end of the day, along with a choice of shades, from a pretty blush to a warm burnt orange. Struggling to make up your mind? You can order up to four free flooring samples direct to your door from Carpetright.

Keep it luxe with white walls and neutral bedding, adding pops of colour with curtains, cushions and accessories.

Super Sublime Saxony Carpet, £42.99 a sq m, Carpetright

Harbour Beach Saxony Carpet, £44.99 a sq m, Carpetright

*CHOOSE A FREE 12-MONTH DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION TO COUNTRY LIVING, HOUSE BEAUTIFUL, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, PRIMA OR RED. T&CS AVAILABLE AT HEARSTUK.EMAGS.COM/CARPETRIGHT

EASY LIVING Mix herringbone wood flooring with simple furniture, statement art and fresh colour for a contemporary living space.

MORE HOMES INSPIRATION Receive a free 12-month digital subscription to a magazine of your choice* with every purchase from Carpetright’s Country Living or House Beautiful flooring collections. T&Cs apply.

Discover the House Beautiful and Country Living flooring ranges for Carpetright in-store or online at carpetright.co.uk

No one knows more about floors

Seasons Oak Smoke Herringbone Cinnamon Wood, £99.99 a sq m, Carpetright

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GH CONSUMER AFFAIRS TRUSTED ADVICE TO HELP YOU GET MORE FOR YOUR MONEY

Consumer affairs director Caroline Bloor brings you a round-up of this month’s key issues...

The 6 CAR-BUYING

SECRETS every woman should know

We happily spend big bucks on everything from houses to holidays, yet only a third of women feel comfortable shopping for a used or new car alone*. So here are six ways to buy one with confidence...

1

DO YOUR RESEARCH

A lack of information is one of the main reasons why women are reluctant to shop for a car themselves, so take the time to thoroughly research your options and needs. If buying new, check out your local dealer’s website in advance to find out which features are standard and which are optional extras and know before you walk in what suits your budget.

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2

GET THE TIMING RIGHT

Visit a showroom on a weekday morning or early afternoon as sales staff are less busy. February and August are good times to get a deal on a nearly-new car as the new registration plates are just around the corner. Also, look out for cars that are about to be replaced by a new or revamped model as there are likely to be deals on older versions.

3

FOCUS ON PRICE, NOT PAYMENTS

Negotiate the total price rather than a monthly repayment as these can conceal an expensive deal. If buying on finance, ask for a better annual percentage rate (APR); this is the true cost of borrowing. Always consider running costs, insurance, warranties, servicing and breakdown cover. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Good advice

4

DISCOVER YOUR FINANCE OPTIONS

Loans are offered by banks, building societies and credit card organisations, so compare interest rates, terms and conditions. With hire purchase (HP), you pay, by instalments, the total cost of the car, plus interest. At the end of the contract, the car is yours. In contrast, a personal contract purchase (PCP) has lower monthly repayments because you are not paying off the full value of the car; you are essentially leasing the car for three years. Once you have made the final payment you have the option of returning the keys, buying the car outright or negotiating another PCP.

Visit showrooms on weekday mornings and look for deals in February or August

5

KNOW WHEN TO CALL IN THE EXPERTS

For peace of mind, get a used car checked out by an independent expert. The AA and RAC offer a vehicle inspection service (£99 to £239 depending on the level of inspection required). This will tell you if the car is roadworthy and safe, and identify any hidden problems.

*CARSHOP RESEARCH

6

CONSIDER BUYING ONLINE

Websites such as Cinch, BuyaCar, Carwow and AutoeBid offer new or used cars online, while some car manufacturers, such as Tesla, allow you to buy a car direct from their sites. It is always better to test-drive a car before you make a decision, but if you do opt to buy online, you have a statutory minimum cooling-off period. A seller must offer you 14 days, so within that time, you can hand back the keys with no questions asked. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

The safest ways to pay – however and wherever you shop There are so many forms of payment these days, how do you know which one is most secure? We have the answers…

SPENDING OVER £100 ONLINE

AT THE MARKET

Credit or store cards have instant legal protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. You can ask your card company for a refund if a supplier goes bust, goods are faulty or don’t arrive.

‘But for section 75 claims, buy direct, not through a third party (including PayPal), because if the money doesn’t go direct to the supplier, the law doesn’t apply,’ explains Martyn James, consumer expert from issue resolution service Resolver.

Cash is best for ‘haggling’, and some traders do not accept cards. But, if you pay cash and there’s a problem, unless you buy from a regular trader and have a receipt, refunds could prove tricky.

SPENDING UNDER £100 ONLINE

ONLINE MARKETPLACES PayPal’s best for sites such as eBay, Vinted and Depop. If you don’t receive goods, or they don’t match the description, PayPal’s built-in ‘Buyer Protection’ means you can claim for a full refund up to 180 days from payment. This also applies to purchases made with PayPal Credit.

Pay by debit or credit card for protection BANK TRANSFERS under the Chargeback scheme. Unlike While this is a safe and fast way to send Section 75, it’s not enshrined in law but is money, it’s harder to get your money an industry scheme, with Visa, Mastercard back. Being persuaded to pay for and American Express on board. To make holidays by bank transfer is a common a claim, there must be a ‘breach of scam and if there’s a problem, contract’, such as a firm going GH TIP banks take the view that you bust or goods not arriving. In this case, ask your bank to do Always check out ‘authorised’ the transaction so a company’s return they may not help. Instead, pay a Chargeback (this involves reversing the transaction policy before you by card for added protection.

IS IT SAFE TO PAY WITH with the supplier’s bank, so buy online APPLE AND GOOGLE PAY? you get a refund). You may When you add a credit or debit be given the option to pay by card to your digital wallet, details are PayPal, but cards offer more protection, encrypted, not stored on your phone, says Martyn James: ‘Chargeback trumps so are secure. Both Section 75 protection PayPal as it’s more instant, if, say, a firm and Chargeback apply with mobile looks like it’s going to go under.’

SHOPPING ON THE HIGH STREET payments.

Cards give the best protection. But even CAN I PAY WITH BITCOIN? Martyn James says it’s still more of an if you pay cash, if you have a receipt, ‘investment’ than a way to pay, and we’re there should be no problem with refunds years away from it being typical currency. or replacements if items are faulty.

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Good advice TRIED & TESTED

How to save a WET SMARTPHONE Dropped your phone in water? Don’t panic! It may not be the end, if you follow these simple steps...

1

SWITCH IT OFF IMMEDIATELY

Resist the urge to check if it’s working, as this could stop it from doing so further down the line.

2

DRY THOROUGHLY

Afterwards, If possible, take off the back and remove the battery (unfortunately you can’t do this with an iPhone and other high-end smartphones). Eject the SIM card and memory card if you have one.

3

GENTLY SHAKE YOUR SMARTPHONE

ADDITIONAL WORDS: YANAR ALKAYAT, HARRY BULLMORE, SUE HAYWARD, GERALDINE HERBERT. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY

This will help remove any

water in the headphone port, charging socket and other ports.

4

POP YOUR SMARTPHONE IN A BOWL OF DRY RICE Cover it fully, and leave for a minimum of 48 hours.

5

SWITCH YOUR PHONE BACK ON

Only do this after 48 hours, once you’ve checked the ports for rice and removed any grains with a small pair of tweezers. If it works, make sure you back up all your data immediately, in case it stops working again.

Walking boots Modern pairs have many innovative features to keep feet comfortable, cool and dry. Here’s our pick of 21 tested.

WINNER Mountain Warehouse Hike Women’s Waterproof Recycled Boots £79.99, sizes: 4-8; mountainwarehouse.com 88/100 These top-performing shoes are made from recycled fabrics, are waterproof and fit snugly.

The sturdy soles proved comfortable after a bit of breaking in, though the boots are on the bulky side, so are probably best for heavy-duty hikes.

RUNNER-UP The North Face Women’s Vectiv Exploris Futurelight Boots £155, sizes: 3-9; thenorthface.co.uk 86/100 Light in build, these proved very flexible and comfortable after a breaking-in period. They still offer plenty of support on both long and short walks which, paired with their impressive grip, enabled testers to clamber over challenging terrain with confidence.

BEST ECO OPTION

GH TIP You can also pop your phone in the airing cupboard, but beware of overheating

Merrell Women’s Moab Speed Gore-Tex Boots £125, sizes: 2½-8½; merrell.com 86/100 Vegan-friendly and made with recycled materials, these strike a balance between walking boots and trainers, with the soft upper and cushioned sole proving comfortable on a range of surfaces.

Testers’ feet stayed dry in wet conditions, though they would have liked more support for challenging hikes.

7 HOW WE TESTED The boots were worn in dry, wet, warm and cold conditions to see how waterproof and breathable they were. We considered comfort, fit, design, ease of cleaning and performance on a range of terrains when awarding scores.

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Financially fabulous

A recipe for

INVESTMENT SUCCESS Don’t be intimidated by the stock market, says financial journalist Claer Barrett. Here’s how to start investing from just £25 a month Illustrations SARA MULVANNY

I

n over 20 years as a financial journalist, I’ve met thousands of intelligent women who say they would like to invest some of their money but don’t know where to start. You may well be brilliant at managing the day-to-day family finances, budgeting and saving money for a rainy day, but the thought of investing takes you beyond your comfort zone. If that sounds familiar, what’s stopping you?

Typically, what holds many women back is fear. Investment is risky; taking a risk could cause us to lose money. It might feel safer to stick it all in a cash savings account, but rock-bottom interest rates and rising inflation mean we face a different kind of risk – our money not growing at all. To understand the world of investment, we assume we’ll need all kinds of specialist knowledge and mastery of financial jargon. Think of an investor, and you’ll likely picture a middle-aged man in a pinstripe suit speaking a financial language that you don’t understand.

Well, I want to change your mindset. Instead, think of an investor as being more like a cook. We all know how to follow a recipe: select the ingredients; put them in the right pot, give them a stir every now and then, and keep an eye on the cooking time. Well, investing isn’t all that different. Whether you’re a novice or a master chef, the following menu of options will help you to weigh up the risks, and hopefully give you an appetite for investing!

Develop an appetite Cast your minds back to March 2020.

Days before the UK went into lockdown, the rapid spread of the coronavirus caused world stock markets to plunge.

News At Ten bulletins showed images of stock exchange screens flashing red, graphs with plunging lines and traders holding their heads in their hands.

Images like this are hard to forget, and reinforce the view that the stock market

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is a risky place to put your money. But what has happened since then? By early autumn 2021, the UK stock market (FTSE All Share Index) had bounced back by 45% from its pandemic low point. In America, the main stock market index (S&P 500) has fared even better, rising 96%, boosted by large US tech companies such as Amazon, Netflix, Apple and Google, which have made big profits as more of our lives move online.

A rate of 1% interest on a high street savings account is miniscule – yet there

have been few News At Ten bulletins about these less-than-roaring returns!

‘Holding on to cash is a classic female mistake,’ says Charlotte Ransom, founder of Netwealth, an online investment platform. Her business has plenty of female clients who have turned to investing in later life, often after they have received an inheritance or a divorce settlement. ‘As well as feeling insecure about taking a risk, women often don’t appreciate the value of investing – and the terrible risk of not investing,’ adds Charlotte.

Say, for example, that you invest £250 per month. After 25 years, assuming moderate average investment growth of 5% per year, you could have amassed nearly £150,000. But if you had left the money in cash, based on today’s low interest rates, you’d have little more than £75,000.

Feeling that we don’t know enough is another major factor holding women back, but this often boils down to confidence rather than competence.

‘If you ask women and men about their level of knowledge surrounding investments, women are less confident about it,’ says Sarah Coles, personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

‘However, when you ask specific questions about the nature of investment, the difference between the sexes is far smaller – men only know marginally more about investing, but feel much more confident about it.’ goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Choose your ingredients The next challenge is deciding what you want to invest in, and how. This menu of options will help you weigh up the cost, quality and convenience of various approaches, and the level of skill involved. Whether to add a pinch or a peck of risk is up to you.

A READY MEAL For nervous cooks looking to invest, online robo investment platforms, such as Nutmeg, Moneyfarm and Netwealth, are the investment equivalent of a microwaveable meal, offering a quick and easy way to get started.

You’ll be asked a series of questions online to determine your investment goals, how long you’re prepared goodhousekeeping.com/uk

to lock your money away for and (crucially) your appetite for risk.

One, two, ping – within a few clicks, a computer algorithm will serve you up the investment portfolio the platform recommends for you.

Typically, robo platforms will blend together a huge selection of global investment ingredients that will spread your risk across many different areas of the stock market, which can be purchased as an easy ‘all-in-one’ solution. For this, most charge annual fees of around 1% of your pot and require a minimum opening investment of £500 or more. Many investors set up a direct debit to make a regular monthly investment (you can pay in as little as

£25 a month), ‘drip feeding’ money over time rather than investing it in one big lump, in order to ride out any ups and downs. This is a simple, convenient way to invest – but if you need some professional guidance, it’s often possible to pay extra for a session with a financial adviser.

Robo platforms blend global investments that will spread risk

THE SPICE IS RIGHT

A cheap, no-frills option, tracker funds (also known as passive funds or index funds) go up and down with different investment indices, such as the FTSE 100. Ready-made tracker fund ranges, including Vanguard LifeStrategy, BlackRock Consensus and Legal & General’s Multi-Strategy, allow investors to blend the spice of global equities NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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Financially fabulous (another name for shares) with the cooling raita of bonds (less exciting but reliable, as they pay a low rate of guaranteed income). To give you an idea: if a fund containing 100% equities is a vindaloo, one with 80% equities and 20% bonds is more like a madras, and dropping the equity ratio to 40% would be the korma equivalent. Check out fund websites for more information, and how to adjust the proportions.

It’s also possible to select funds yourself through investment platforms,

such as Hargreaves Lansdown or Fidelity – also known as fund supermarkets. Another investment staple to consider is multi-asset funds, which aim to spread risks across an even broader range of ingredients; this could include equities, bonds, property, cash and commodities such as oil and gold. Again, there are plenty of risk-adjusted, ready-made solutions; HSBC’s Global Strategy multi-asset funds range from One (‘cautious’) to Five (‘adventurous’), so there’s something

‘Investing is a fantastic way to earn a living’ Fiona Whiston, 54, from Wiltshire, is a full-time mum and investor.

I

f you hear the ‘clack clack’ of knitting needles coming from Fiona Whiston’s study, she’s probably weighing up whether to buy or sell shares on the stock market. She started investing 14 years ago, following the birth of her third child, as she found she could fit it around the demands of being a mum and her job at a professional services firm.

After reading bestselling investment book The Naked Trader, Fiona was inspired to give it a go. She used an online investment platform to open a stocks and shares ISA, deposited a few thousand pounds’ worth of savings, and started researching which shares to buy. It was then that she discovered knitting helped her keep a cool head as she

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on the menu for everyone. Tracker funds and multi-asset funds can have annual fees as low as 0.1 to 0.2%.

A FANCY FOOD BOX Pound for pound, you’d expect to pay a bit more for the ingredients inside a recipe box such as Gousto, as they’ve been selected and measured out by a skilled expert. The same goes for actively managed funds and investment trusts, where a fund manager picks what they believe to be a gourmet selection of quality shares.

In return for their expertise, you can expect to pay higher investment fees (around 0.75% to 1.25%) – although there’s no guarantee of a better result.

Most funds focus on a theme, such as shares in companies with exposure to a certain geography, such as the US, or a particular industry sector, such as tech, and plenty have eco credentials (funds that are branded ESG target companies with a good Environmental, Sustainability and Governance record).

Others focus on income, targeting shares in companies that pay regular dividends to their shareholders.

Fund managers’ websites explain why they think their investment strategy could be the recipe for success – but you’d be wise to take them with a pinch of salt. Although some, such as Fundsmith and Scottish Mortgage, have delivered exceptional growth in recent years, cheaper passive

looked into potential investments. As a result, her combined passions have generated a six-figure investment portfolio.

Targeting shares in smaller UK companies, Fiona started off with five; then increased it to 10, and now has around 30-40 companies in her portfolio at any one time. Her golden rule is to cut her losses and sell a share quickly if the price starts to unravel. This route isn’t for everyone – buying and selling individual shares requires careful research – but Fiona says: ‘It’s a fantastic way to earn a living and now it’s my main source of income. I only work three hours a day in the week.’

Fiona’s day begins at 7am, when she looks at the stock market announcements and business news on her laptop. At 8am, when the UK market opens, she sees what effect this has on the shares she holds. ‘I also have a watchlist of shares I’m interested in, so I’ll do a final check later in the day,’ she says.

So why does she think so few women share her passion?

‘I think the word “investment” sounds intimidating,’ she says. ‘I like to call it “future planning”. I’m keeping the money inside my ISA to use tax-free in retirement.’

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

CHOOSING THE RIGHT POT Thinking about the pots you’ll put your investments into is a crucial step, as the less tax you pay, the faster your investments will rise.

PHOTOGRAPHY: TWIRLY GIRL PHOTOGRAPHY, SHUTTERSTOCK. ALL PRICES AND DATA CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS

z STOCKS AND SHARES ISAS

funds have performed more strongly than large numbers of active funds, and for a much lower cost.

Get the timings right

AN OTTOLENGHI RECIPE

Timing is essential for both cooks and investors. When investing in the stock market, experts advise a minimum ‘cooking time’ of five to 10 years. To avoid plundering your pot when markets are down, keep a cash emergency fund in the event of an investment disaster.

Unless you’re investing in individual shares, there’s no need to check your portfolio every day. I take stock of mine roughly once a quarter, and consider whether I need to adjust the seasoning.

We all need to develop some aptitude in the kitchen, as feeding ourselves is a necessary life skill. So too is investing, giving women the ability to achieve greater financial independence, enjoy a better quality of life in retirement and hopefully generate enough extra cash to put many meals on the table in future. y Claer Barrett (@Claerb) is the Financial Times consumer editor, and presents the weekly Money Clinic podcast

When you build up more experience as an investor, you may feel confident enough to put together your own portfolio containing more specialist ingredients – buying individual shares in companies you think will rise above the rest. This is much riskier than spreading your money across many different investments in a fund.

Nevertheless, many investors (including Fiona Whiston – see below, left) enjoy taking a more creative approach. You will pay a fee of £6 to £12 when you buy and sell shares via online investment platforms.

ALTERNATIVELY… GET THE CATERERS IN! Amateur cooks may wish to turn to the professionals if the task ahead is too daunting. Like hiring a caterer, paying for the services of a financial adviser or wealth manager is the most expensive option, but could be a wise investment for those who have inherited money, or have a lump sum from a divorce settlement.

Most advisers will offer a free taster session and hopefully the information in this article will give you the confidence to grill them about different investment options, and the fees they will charge. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

UK adults can invest up to £20,000 a year into an ISA, and once invested, the money can grow tax-free – there’s no tax on the investment growth (capital gains tax) or on any income your investments produce (dividend tax). ISAs are flexible, and you can take the money out when you like – and you won’t have to pay any tax when you do. Robo advisers all offer ISAs, as do online investment platforms such as Fidelity, Hargreaves Lansdown and Interactive Investor. z SIPPS You can also use online investment platforms to set up a private pension called a SIPP (selfinvested personal pension). Most UK adults can pay up to £40,000 a year tax-free into a pension (lower limits could apply to very high earners, and those who have already started to withdraw money from their pensions).

To encourage us to save for the future, the Government gives income tax relief on money we invest into our pension pots, and your money grows tax-free while it’s invested. The downside is a pension is locked until you’re at least 55. After taking your 25% tax-free lump sum, you will pay income tax on further withdrawals. z COMPANY PENSION If you have a workplace pension, as well as the tax benefits above, you will also benefit from another valuable ingredient, employer contributions. When you pay money in, your employer will, too. How much depends on the terms of your pension – but often, the more you pay in, the more they will match.

For money-saving tips, news and brilliant advice, sign up to our fortnightly newsletter at goodhousekeeping.com/uk/newsletterff NOVEMBER 2021 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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Slug

GH GETTING GREENER WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU MAKE MORE SUSTAINABLE CHOICES

Consumer editor Emilie Martin is on a mission to help you make smarter, greener choices at home and when you shop.

Help choosing a green energy deal A new rating system could make selecting eco-friendly tariffs easier.

4

ways to MAKE SHOPPING ONLINE GREENER

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY. SOURCES: *STATISTA **THE CENTRE FOR RETAIL RESEARCH

If you’re heading online to do your Christmas shopping this year, here’s how to cut the carbon footprint of all those deliveries.

Before the pandemic, we did just under a quarter of our Christmas shopping on the internet* and last year this rose to around a third**. Buying online is convenient, but have you ever stopped to think about the environmental If you find it difficult to tell how eco-friendly impact of the stream of delivery vans ferrying purchases to our doorsteps? different green energy tariffs really are, ‘Surprisingly, shopping online isn’t always worse for the environment you’re not alone. The Government is than shopping in-store,’ says Dr Niels Agatz from the Rotterdam School reviewing the rules around what energy of Management. ‘When it comes to grocery shopping, delivering orders suppliers can call a ‘green’ or ‘renewable’ to the homes of a number of customers can clock up fewer vehicle miles energy tariff because of concerns that than if all of those customers drove to the supermarket in their own cars.’ some companies are misleading consumers.

His research also reveals that we can reduce the carbon emissions (and Until the rules change, a new accreditation vehicle emissions) of online shopping deliveries by up to 12% simply by scheme from Uswitch, which awards green choosing ‘green’ slots, such as those offered by Sainsbury’s, Morrisons tariffs a bronze, silver or gold rating, could and Ocado, which show a driver is already due to be in your area. To cut help us to compare the eco-credentials of the carbon footprint of your digital spend further, here are three other tips: different energy tariffs.

DO place one order instead of several small ones A gold rating shows that the supplier when you’re buying from the same online buys all its electricity directly from renewable retailer. On Amazon, choose to group energy generators – this drops to two your items into as few deliveries as fifths for silver. Bronze tariffs aren’t all possible when you check out. that green – a supplier only needs to DO choose ‘click and collect’ if you can buy certificates that are issued when One issue, one expert, either walk to pick up the package or renewable energy is generated, but one piece of advice… if you’re making a trip to the location it doesn’t need to buy the energy of the collection point anyway.

‘Wasting food feeds climate change, so itself. Mike Childs, head of science DON’T choose the fastest it’s vital that no edible food goes in the at Friends of the Earth, says: ‘It’s delivery option if you don’t need bin. One easy change is to get your important that the activities of the to, as it leaves retailers with fewer fridge temperature below five degrees, whole company offering the tariff opportunities to plan efficient delivery keeping your food fresher for longer.’ are considered in the scoring system. routes. A longer delivery time is likely to HELEN WHITE, More needs to be done to make this be more eco-friendly and you’ll probably Love Food Hate Waste confusing market more transparent.’ pay less in delivery charges, too.

SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT

FOR MORE IDEAS on greener living, visit goodhousekeeping.com/uk/sustainability goodhousekeeping.com/uk

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THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION AT DFS

An exclusive range of quality sofas designed for modern living

PEACE OF MIND Every House Beautiful sofa comes with a 15-year frame and springs guarantee

See the full House Beautiful collection at dfs.co.uk/house-beautiful

SOPHIA

Designed in collaboration with the interiors experts at House Beautiful magazine, Sophia combines sleek design with supreme comfort to create the perfect contemporary sofa.

Upholstered in hardwearing fabric, Sophia comes in a choice of eight contemporary shades, ranging from delicate Pearl (shown here) and soft Stone to on-trend Steel and rich Purple. Deep foam-filled, fibre-wrapped seat cushions, big enough to curl up on, provide maximum comfort and support with minimal need for plumping – free striped and patterned accent cushions and bolsters take cosiness to the next level.

CREAM COMBINATION

GREY COMBINATION

MOCHA COMBINATION

The Sophia’s low, chunky feet are bang on trend, creating a homely, intimate ambience, and come in light wood, dark wood or a chrome finish to complement any scheme.

PEARL COMBINATION

PURPLE COMBINATION

SKY COMBINATION

STEEL COMBINATION

STONE COMBINATION

GH FOOD

THIS MONTH’S CLEVER TIPS, PRODUCT TESTS AND COOKERY FAVOURITES

Get ready to enjoy November’s seasonal produce, must-eats and best buys, from cookery director Meike Beck

ITALIAN MORSELS If there’s one brand that knows a good nibble, it’s Crosta & Mollica. I recently served the Fennel Seed Tarallini – a Pugliese snack made by boiling then baking rings of dough flavoured with extra virgin olive oil, fennel and local wine – and had to replenish the bowl three times. You’ve been warned! Widely available, £1.90 for 170g.

COOK’S TIP Don’t bin the green outer leaves from a cauliflower – toss them with a little oil and seasoning, then roast in a hot oven until crisp. They make a lovely addition to winter salads or roasts.

TINS OF CONSERVATION New craft beer brand Fauna Brewing’s tins are all inspired by, and created for, African wildlife.

Each represents an endangered species, and Fauna works with small charities to protect those animals. Choose from Wild Dog IPA (4.2%), Cheetah Lager (4.5%) and the lighter Pango Table Beer (2.8%).

Available from faunabrewing.com, £24 for 12 x 330ml.

What’s in season The humble beetroot hasn’t always been bulbous - they used to be long, spindly vegetables, but over the centuries they’ve been cultivated to become the spherical roots we know and love now. Packed with powerful antioxidants, full of fibre and with a whack of vitamins and minerals, thankfully they store well following harvest to become one of winter’s sweet treats. The deep crimson variety (in raw, pickled and ready-cooked form) is widely available, but generally you still have to look a little harder to find the vividly striped Chioggia and sunny-hued golden roots. All are divine roasted, grated raw or made into soups. But have you tried adding them to chocolate cakes and bakes to up the nutrition and squidge factor? Yum.

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you’re proud of a GH recipe you’ve made, snap a pic and send it to us at worthsharing@goodhousekeeping.co.uk and you might feature in a future issue!

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goodhousekeeping.com/uk

TRIED & TESTED

.

NUT BUTTERS

BEST PEANUT BUTTER Manilife Deep Roast Crunchy Peanut Butter £3.75 for 295g; Sainsbury’s 90/100 Manilife roasts its Argentinian nuts in a similar way to coffee, resulting in a deep, intense flavour. This dark, chunky blend contains whole and half peanut pieces, and just a pinch of sea salt.

BEST ALMOND BUTTER Pip & Nut Dark Chocolate & Cornish Sea Salt Almond Butter £3.99 for 225g; Ocado 89/100 Our testers likened this limited-edition almond butter, sweetened with natural agave syrup, to eating a decadent chocolate truffle – high praise indeed.

BEST HAZELNUT SPREAD Mindful Bites Dark Chocolate & Hazelnut Spread £4.99 for 185g; Ocado 74/100 This decadent spread reminded our testers of a rich bar of Bournville, but the initial sweetness fades to reveal good-quality cocoa, punctuated with little pieces of hazelnut.

BEST CASHEW BUTTER Biona Organic Cashew Nut Butter £4.69 for 170g; Ocado 84/100 We’d recommend giving this a good stir before getting stuck in as there was a bit of oil separation. However, the panel enjoyed the sweet, nutty cashew flavour, and thought it would make a delicious waffle topping.

Whether you prefer peanut or cashew, crunchy or smooth, we tested 19 jars to see which nutty spread was the tastiest…

TRIED & TESTED

GHI WORDS: STACEY SMITH. PRODUCTS TESTED BY MELANIE GIANDZI AND CALLUM BLACK. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY

COFFEE SUBSCRIPTIONS Increasingly popular, coffee subscriptions ensure you have the brews you like best delivered straight to your door. We assessed 21 different types, including whole bean, espresso, cafetiere and Nespresso-compatible pods, for quality and flavour, delivery experience and value for money.

WINNER RISE Monthly Coffee Box £16.99 for 2 x 227-250g bags of speciality coffee a month; risecoffeebox.co.uk 87/100 This jazzy box includes fun extras, such as snacks, soft drinks and recipe cards.

Our testers agreed it offers good value for money and an exciting variety of flavours and origins.

BEST POD SUBSCRIPTION Volcano Coffee Works from £26 for 40 pods; volcanocoffeeworks.com 84/100 Our panel described these easy-to-use pods as full of flavour, with notes of caramel and chocolate. The pods come in plastic-free recyclable packaging and are industrially compostable.

RUNNER-UP Assembly Contemporary Coffee Subscription £21 for 2 x 200g bags a month; assemblycoffee.co.uk 85/100 This subscription gives you two bags of ethically sourced ground or whole coffee beans, plus tasting cards and a video with expert tips. Testers found each cup to be great quality.

BEST BUDGET Perky Blenders Flexi Collection £6.50-£7.50 for 1 x 200g bag a month; perkyblenders.com 80/100 Our panel loved the bold, biodegradable packaging and thought this was very well-priced for a freshly ground speciality coffee, though it could do with a little more flavour variety.

goodhousekeeping.com/uk

TRIED, TESTED, TRUSTED Our GHI taste panel blind-tests hundreds of foods and drinks every year, from storecupboard staples to special treats.

We score on appearance, aroma, texture and flavour to find the best products.

7 Visit goodhousekeeping.com/uk/ food-reviews for all our food and drink test results from the GHI.

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Triple-tested recipes

FREEZE now, CHILL later Your future self will thank you for stashing these mouthwatering mains and get-ahead puddings in your freezer – all ready to defrost, heat and enjoy Photography ALEX LUCK

GH TIP Remember to label and date meals destined for the freezer, so a few months down the line you’ve not forgotten what they are!

Pork and Cheddar Cobbler The perfect winter warmer. Swap the thyme for rosemary or sage, if you like.

Hands-on time 30min. Cooking time about 1hr 50min. Serves 6 y 1.5kg boneless pork shoulder y 2tbsp plain flour y 1tbsp English mustard powder y 2tbsp olive oil y 2 onions, finely sliced y 2 carrots, finely chopped y 1 celery stick, finely sliced y 2 garlic cloves, crushed y 1tbsp fresh thyme leaves, roughly chopped y 400ml good-quality cider, we used Aspall y 400ml chicken stock FOR THE COBBLER y 175g self-raising flour y ½tbsp baking powder y 75g mature Cheddar, grated y 1tbsp fresh thyme leaves, roughly chopped y 100ml cider y 2 medium eggs 1 Remove and discard skin and excess fat from the pork, then cut into rough 2cm chunks. Toss the pork chunks in the flour, mustard powder and plenty of seasoning.

Heat 1tbsp oil in a large, shallow casserole dish (that has a lid) over medium-high heat.

Fry pork, in batches if needed, until browned all over. Using a slotted spoon, put on a plate.

2 Add remaining oil to casserole and lower heat to medium. Cook onions, carrots and celery for 10min, stirring occasionally, until softened. Stir through garlic and thyme and cook for 2min, until fragrant.

3 Return the pork (and any juices) to the casserole with the cider, stock and plenty of seasoning. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer over low heat for 1hr, until pork is tender. Remove from heat.

4 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. For the cobbler, in a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, Cheddar, thyme and plenty of seasoning. Add the cider and 1 egg and stir until combined. Spoon on to the casserole in 12 equal dollops.

5 Beat remaining egg and brush a little over the cobbler to glaze. Cook in the oven for 25min, or until piping hot and golden. Serve.

PER SERVING 628cals, 64g protein, 22g fat (8g saturates), 35g carbs (8g total sugars), 4g fibre FREEZE AHEAD Prepare to end of step 4 (no need to preheat oven) and leave the pork to cool completely before topping with the cobbler. Wrap and freeze for up to 1 month. To serve, defrost in the fridge.

Complete recipe, cooking for 30-35min, or until piping hot (cover with foil if cobbler is browning too quickly). goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Duck and Sausage Cassoulet This hearty dish is deliciously versatile. Serve as a stew once you’ve stirred the duck back in (reheating on the hob first briefly, if needed) or, as is more traditional, baked with a crispy breadcrumb topping.

Hands-on time 30min, plus cooling.

Cooking time about 2hr 15min.

Serves 6 y 4 duck legs y 2tsp olive oil y 6 chunky pork sausages y 100g smoked bacon lardons y 1 onion, finely chopped y 1 carrot, finely chopped y 1 celery stick, finely chopped y 4 garlic cloves, crushed y 4 ripe plum tomatoes, about 400g, roughly chopped y Handful thyme sprigs, leaves picked y 2 bay leaves y 500ml chicken stock y 2 x 400g tins haricot beans, drained and rinsed FOR THE CRUMB y 50g fresh or dried breadcrumbs y 1 garlic clove, crushed y Handful parsley, finely chopped 1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Pat duck legs dry with kitchen paper, season all over and arrange on a wire rack set over a roasting tin.

Roast for 1hr 30min, or until the meat is pulling away from the bones. Cool (reserve the fat in the roasting tin).

2 Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large casserole dish (that has a lid) over medium heat. Brown the sausages

all over. Remove to a plate. Add lardons, onion, carrot and celery to the casserole and cook for 8-10min, until softened and starting to brown. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2min, until fragrant.

3 Stir in the tomatoes, thyme, bay leaves, stock and some seasoning. Bring to the boil, then return sausages to the casserole. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 1hr, removing the lid for the final 15min.

4 Chunkily shred the duck meat and skin from the bones, discarding any fatty bits.

Stir shredded duck into the casserole, along with the beans. Check seasoning.

5 In a small bowl mix breadcrumbs with the garlic, parsley, 2tbsp of the reserved duck fat, and some seasoning.

6 Sprinkle crumb mixture over casserole in an even layer and cook in the oven, uncovered, for 45min, or until bubbling and golden brown. Serve with some cooked greens.

PER SERVING 716cals, 54g protein, 42g fat (14g saturates), 26g carbs (6g total sugars), 9g fibre FREEZE AHEAD Prepare to end of step 5. Cool, then freeze cassoulet mixture and breadcrumbs separately for up to 3 months. To serve, defrost in fridge, then return cassoulet to a casserole dish. Reheat on hob for 10min, adding a splash of water if needed.

Complete recipe to serve.

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Triple-tested recipes Chicken, Pistachio and Ham Pie You can serve this pie hot, straight out of the oven (no need for steps 9 and 10), but the method below is more akin to a pork pie for serving chilled or at room temperature.

Hands-on time 45min, plus cooling and (overnight) chilling.

Cooking time about 1hr 30min. Serves 12 FOR THE PASTRY y Vegetable oil, to grease y 700g plain flour y 115g lard, cut into cubes y 115g butter, cut into cubes y 1 egg, beaten FOR THE FILLING y 1tbsp vegetable oil y 1 onion, finely chopped y 650g skinless chicken thigh fillets y 60g pistachio kernels, roughly chopped y 2tbsp fresh thyme leaves, roughly chopped

GH TIP If you can’t find pulled ham, buy thick-cut slices and chop into short lengths or shred.

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y 175g pulled ham, see GH Tip y 1tbsp wholegrain mustard FOR THE JELLY y 200ml chicken stock y 1½ sheets platinum grade leaf gelatine, we used Dr. Oetker 1 Grease a 20.5cm round springform tin and put on to a large baking tray.

To make the pastry, put the flour and 1tsp fine salt into a food processor.

Next, melt the lard, butter and 250ml water in a small pan over low heat.

Turn up the heat and bring to the boil.

2 With the motor running on the food processor, add the hot lard mixture and whizz until the pastry nearly comes together. Tip on to a

work surface and knead until smooth.

3 Break off ⅔ of the pastry (wrap remaining ⅓), roll out and use to line the greased tin, pressing well into the edges and leaving some pastry hanging over the sides (don’t worry if it breaks, just work it back into place, it won’t make the pastry tough). Chill for 10min.

4 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. To make the filling, heat the oil in a small frying pan over low heat and cook the onion for 5min, until softened.

Tip into a large bowl and leave to cool for a few min.

5 Meanwhile, pulse the chicken in a food processor until it resembles mince. Empty into the onion bowl along with the pistachios, thyme, 1tsp fine salt and ½tsp freshly ground black pepper. In a separate bowl, mix the ham and mustard.

6 Press ½ the chicken mixture into the pastry-lined tin. Top with the ham in an even layer, then press on the remaining chicken mixture.

7 Roll out remaining pastry until large enough to cover the filling. Lift on to the tin and press edges to seal. Trim excess then crimp the edges, making sure the crimping sits inside the tin or the cooked pie will be hard to remove. Brush the top pastry with beaten egg (set egg aside).

Poke a hole in the centre of the lid with the handle of a wooden spoon.

8 Cook for 40min, then carefully unclip and remove the outside ring of the tin (leaving the pie on its base on the baking tray). Brush all over with egg and return to the oven for 35-40min to set the sides and cook through.

Take out of oven and set aside to cool slightly for 10min.

9 For the jelly, pour the stock into a pan and lay on the gelatine. Leave to soak (off heat) for 5min. Heat gently, until the gelatine dissolves. Empty into a jug. Using a funnel, or with a steady hand, pour a little stock into the hole.

Keep adding stock until the pie will take no more (you may not need it all).

Leave the pie to cool for 30min, then chill overnight.

10 Allow to come up to room temperature before serving in slices (or serve chilled, if you prefer).

PER SERVING 454cals, 22g protein, 22g fat (9g saturates), 41g carbs (1g total sugars), 2g fibre FREEZE AHEAD Prepare to end of step 9 and freeze cooked pie whole, or in slices, well-wrapped, for up to 1 month. To serve, defrost in the fridge and serve chilled or allow to come to room temperature and serve.

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Cod and Saag Aloo Fish Cakes You can swap the cod for another white fish; haddock would work well, too. Up the quantity of chilli if you like things a little spicier.

Hands-on time 30min, plus cooling and chilling. Cooking time about 35min.

Makes 8 y 500g floury potatoes, peeled and cut into 4cm chunks y 3tbsp vegetable oil y 2tsp coriander seeds, lightly crushed with a pestle and mortar y 1tsp black mustard seeds y 1 onion, roughly chopped y 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped y 2 garlic cloves, crushed y 1tsp turmeric y 250g spinach y 500g skinless cod fillets, cut into 2cm chunks y 2tbsp mango chutney, we used Geeta’s, plus extra to serve, optional

1 Put the potatoes into a large pan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-13min, until tender. Drain thoroughly and leave to steam dry for 5min.

2 Return potatoes to the pan and mash with plenty of seasoning, until smooth.

Set aside to cool.

3 Meanwhile, heat 1tbsp oil in a separate pan over medium heat and fry the crushed coriander and mustard seeds for 2min, until fragrant. Add the onion and cook for 10min, stirring occasionally, until softened. Stir in the chilli, garlic and turmeric and cook for 1min.

4 Add spinach, stir to wilt then cook for 2min more, or until most of the moisture has evaporated. Set aside to cool.

5 In a large bowl, mix the mashed potatoes, cooled spinach mixture, cod,

mango chutney and plenty of seasoning. Shape into 8 patties, arrange on a baking tray lined with baking parchment and chill for 10min.

6 Heat 1tbsp oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat.

Fry 4 fishcakes for 3-4min per side, until piping hot and golden. Lift on to a baking tray lined with kitchen paper to drain briefly. Repeat frying and draining with remaining fishcakes, adding remaining 1tbsp oil to pan first. Serve with salad and extra mango chutney, if you like.

PER FISH CAKE 171cals, 14g protein, 5g fat (0g saturates), 16g carbs (4g total sugars), 3g fibre FREEZE AHEAD Prepare to end of step 5. Stack patties into a freezer-safe container, separating each layer with baking parchment.

Cover and freeze for up to 1 month.

To serve, defrost in the fridge before completing recipe.

Triple-tested recipes

Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni This classic Italian vegetarian main dish can be prepared ahead and cooked from frozen.

Hands-on time 35min. Cooking time about 1hr. Serves 6 FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE y 1tbsp extra virgin olive oil y 2 garlic cloves, crushed y 1tbsp mixed dried herbs y 3 x 400g tins plum tomatoes y 1tbsp balsamic vinegar y Small handful basil, leaves picked and roughly chopped FOR THE FILLING y 500g spinach y 350g ricotta y 50g Parmesan, finely grated y ¼tsp freshly grated nutmeg y 250g dried cannelloni FOR THE TOPPING y 250g mozzarella 1 For the tomato sauce, heat the oil in a goodhousekeeping.com/uk

large pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1min. Add remaining sauce ingredients and some seasoning.

Simmer for 30min, stirring occasionally and breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon, until thick.

2 Meanwhile, for the filling, put the spinach into a colander in the sink and pour over a full kettle of just-boiled water to wilt (you may need to do this in batches). When cool enough to handle, lift up handfuls of spinach and firmly squeeze out excess moisture.

Roughly chop, then put into a large bowl. Mix in the ricotta, Parmesan, nutmeg and plenty of seasoning.

Transfer mixture to a large piping bag fitted with a large plain nozzle (or snip a hole in the bottom).

3 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. To assemble, spread ½ the

tomato sauce in the base of a 2.5 litre ovenproof serving dish, about 35 x 40cm. Pipe filling into each cannelloni tube and arrange in a single layer on top of the sauce. Top with the remaining sauce. Tear the mozzarella into strips and lay on top of the sauce.

4 Cook in the oven for 30min, or until golden and bubbling. Serve with a crisp green salad, if you like.

PER SERVING 462cals, 27g protein, 21g fat (12g saturates), 40g carbs (11g total sugars), 6g fibre FREEZE AHEAD Prepare to end of step 3 (no need to preheat oven), making sure your dish is freezer-safe.

Wrap and freeze for up to 1 month.

To serve, either defrost in fridge then complete recipe. Or, to cook from frozen, preheat oven to 160°C (140°C fan) mark 3, cover dish with foil and cook for 1hr. Remove foil, turn oven up to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6 and cook for 20min more, until golden and bubbling.

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Triple-tested recipes No-churn Crème Fraîche Ice Cream

Earl Grey Treacle Tart The perfumed citrusy aroma of Earl Grey tea pairs wonderfully with the rich, intense sweetness of a treacle tart and sourdough breadcrumbs add even more flavour. This is best served slightly warm, with a scoop of our No-churn Crème Fraîche Ice Cream (see above).

Hands-on time 25min, plus chilling and cooling. Cooking time about 1hr 5min. Serves 8 FOR THE PASTRY y 175g plain flour, plus extra to dust y 2tbsp loose-leaf Earl Grey tea y 125g butter, chilled and cubed y 40g caster sugar y 1 medium egg yolk FOR THE FILLING y 40g butter

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y 400g golden syrup y Finely grated zest 1 orange and 1 lemon, plus 1tbsp juice of each y 150g white sourdough breadcrumbs y 1 medium egg, beaten 1 Make the pastry. Put flour, tea and a pinch of salt into a food processor and pulse briefly until combined and tea has broken down slightly. Add butter and sugar and pulse until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add egg yolk and

1-2tsp ice-cold water, and pulse until pastry just comes together. Tip on to a work surface, shape into a disc, wrap well and chill for 30min.

2 Lightly flour a work surface and roll out pastry. Use to line a 21cm round, 4cm deep loose-bottomed fluted tart tin, leaving excess pastry hanging over the sides. Prick base all over with a fork and chill for 20min, until firm.

3 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Line pastry in the tin with a large sheet of baking parchment and fill with baking beans. Bake for 15-20min, then carefully lift out parchment and baking beans and return tin to oven for 5-8min, until pastry is crisp and pale golden.

While still warm, trim the excess pastry using a small sharp serrated knife. Reduce oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4.

4 To make the filling, in a medium pan heat the butter and syrup over low heat until melted and combined. Remove from heat and stir in the orange and lemon zest and juices, followed by the breadcrumbs and finally the beaten egg and a pinch of salt. Spoon filling into the pastry case (still in tin) and bake in the oven for 30-35min, until filling looks firm when tin is tapped.

5 Leave to cool in the tin for 5-10min, then transfer to a serving plate. Serve just warm or at room temperature with our No-Churn Crème Fraîche Ice Cream (see above), if you like.

PER SERVING 461cals, 6g protein, 18g fat (11g saturates), 68g carbs (40g total sugars), 1g fibre FREEZE AHEAD Prepare to end of step 4 and allow to cool completely. Wrap tart (in tin) well in clingfilm, then foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, remove wrappings and reheat from frozen in an oven preheated to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4 for 15-20min, until piping hot. Complete recipe to serve. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

RECIPES: MEIKE BECK, EMMA FRANKLIN, ALICE SHIELDS, GEORGIE D’ARCY COLES. FOOD STYLING: EMMA FRANKLIN, GRACE EVANS, GEORGIE D’ARCY COLES. TESTING: ALICE SHIELDS, GEORGIE D’ARCY COLES. PROP STYLING: JENNY IGGLEDEN

In a large bowl mix 400g crème fraîche, 300ml double cream, 40g sifted icing sugar, the finely grated zest of 1 lemon, 3tbsp liquid glucose and a pinch of flaked sea salt.

Beat using a handheld electric whisk until the mixture holds firm peaks.

Scrape into a freezer-safe container and freeze for 8hr, or ideally overnight. To serve, allow to soften at room temperature for 30min before serving. Serves 10 PER SERVING 335cals, 1g protein, 32g fat (21g saturates), 10g carbs (8g total sugars), 0g fibre

Chocolate Espresso Fondants This is the perfect get-ahead dessert to impress your guests with, and it has a deliciously tempting gooey middle every time.

Hands-on time 20min, plus cooling and chilling. Cooking time about 20min.

Makes 6 y 150g butter, chopped, plus extra to grease y Cocoa powder, to dust y 150g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), chopped y 2tbsp instant espresso powder y 50ml coffee liqueur, we used Kahlúa y 3 medium eggs and 3 medium egg yolks y 150g caster sugar y 150g plain flour

1 Grease 6 dariole moulds well with butter, then dust with cocoa powder to coat, tapping out excess. Chill until needed.

2 Melt the butter, chocolate, espresso powder and coffee liqueur in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally, until combined. Remove bowl from heat and leave to cool for 10min.

3 Using a freestanding mixer or handheld electric whisk and a large bowl, beat the eggs, yolks and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 5min. Using a large metal spoon, fold in the flour

and cooled chocolate mixture. Divide evenly between the prepared moulds.

Chill for 1hr (up to 24hr).

4 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Put moulds on a baking tray and bake for 10-12min, until well-risen and the tops appear baked. Remove from oven and leave to sit for 1min, before turning out on small plates. Serve with cream or vanilla ice cream, if you like.

PER FONDANT 445cals, 7g protein, 24g fat (14g saturates), 47g carbs (32g total sugars), 2g fibre FREEZE AHEAD Once filled, cover the moulds and freeze for up to a month.

To serve, uncover and bake from frozen in an oven preheated to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6 for 15-17min.

Complete recipe to serve.

At home with Monica In her new book, GH favourite Monica Galetti shares her simple go-to recipes for delicious meals with family and friends Mixed Mushroom Pasta with Marmite I love Marmite so much – especially the version sold in New Zealand, which is much darker and not as bitter as the UK variety. And Marmite loves butter. This quick and easy dish is rich, satisfying and will work a treat with whatever mushrooms you have to hand.

Hands-on time 20min. Cooking time about 15min. Serves 4-6 y 120g oyster mushrooms y 100g baby chestnut mushrooms y 100g button mushrooms y 1tsp olive oil

y 1 small onion, finely chopped y 230g tagliatelle (fresh or dried) y 120g unsalted butter y 1tbsp Marmite y 1tsp honey y Freshly grated Parmesan, to serve 1 Clean the mushrooms by wiping them with a damp tea towel.

Tear the oyster mushrooms into 2 or 3 pieces, depending on size.

Trim and discard the stalks on the chestnut and button mushrooms, then cut into quarters.

2 Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over low heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, but not turning golden. Add the mushrooms and cook until golden.

3 Meanwhile, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Drain, reserving 200ml of the pasta cooking water, and set aside.

4 Add the reserved pasta water to the mushroom mixture, then stir in the butter, Marmite and honey and simmer to form a sauce.

5 Add the pasta to the mushroom sauce and toss to mix. Check the seasoning and serve with freshly grated Parmesan at the table.

PER SERVING (if serving 4) 442cals, 11g protein, 27g fat (16g saturates), 37g carbs (7g total sugars), 3g fibre

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Papy’s Tomato Tart Papy, my husband David’s dad, is our star tomato tart maker.

He is so proud of this recipe, as it was the first thing he made that my daughter Anais demolished in one sitting, when she was about five years old. He still loves making it for her when it’s just the two of them. Papy serves it straight up, on its own.

Hands-on time 20min. Cooking time about 30min. Serves 4 y 1tsp olive oil y 2 bacon rashers, roughly chopped y 1 onion, finely chopped y 2 eggs y 220ml milk y 1tbsp finely chopped fresh oregano, or use 1tsp dried y 320g sheet ready-rolled puff pastry y 5 ripe tomatoes, sliced 1 Preheat oven to 210°C (190°C fan) mark 6½. In a medium non-stick frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Fry the bacon until cooked, then add the onion and fry for 2min.

Set aside to cool.

2 Whisk the eggs and milk in a bowl to combine. Season and add the oregano.

3 Unroll the pastry sheet on to a rough 24 x 34 x 2cm baking tray and press it up the sides.

4 Spread the bacon and onion mixture over the pastry base and cover with a layer of the tomato slices. Pour over the egg mixture, then bake for 15-20min, until golden. Serve warm.

PER SERVING 420cals, 13g protein, 27g fat (13g saturates), 31g carbs (6g total sugars), 3g fibre goodhousekeeping.com/uk

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Anais’s Quick Chicken Curry Cooking with my daughter is a treasured part of my life, as I don’t get to spend as much time with her as I’d like to. So a weeknight together is about the best quality time I can imagine, and an opportunity to teach her life lessons in the kitchen. This, to date, is her favourite curry recipe, and one we created together, so it’s very special to me. I’m not a massive rice fan – not since I had to eat it every day back in the Pacific Islands – but Anais and David love it, so serve it alongside, if you like.

Hands-on time 20min. Cooking time about 30min. Serves 4-6 y 1tbsp olive oil y 1 onion, finely chopped y 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced y 2cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and grated y 1tsp ground turmeric y 1tsp cumin seeds y 1tsp coriander seeds, crushed y 1tsp chilli flakes or powder y 500g boneless, skinless chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite-sized chunks y 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into small chunks y 1 butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into small chunks y 1 small cauliflower, cut into florets, stalk peeled and cut into cubes y 500ml chicken stock y 4tbsp Greek yogurt y Handful roughly chopped fresh coriander, to serve 1 Heat the oil in a large pan over low heat and cook the onion, garlic and ginger until nice and caramelised, about 15min. Add the spices and cook for 2-3min, stirring well, then add the chicken and some seasoning. Stir well to seal the chicken.

2 Add all the vegetables and stir well.

Pour in the chicken stock and stir. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10min, stirring occasionally, or until the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are tender.

3 Stir in the Greek yogurt. Garnish with coriander and serve with rice or flatbreads, if you like.

PER SERVING (if serving 6) 310cals, 26g protein, 6g fat (2g saturates), 34g carbs (15g total sugars), 8g fibre goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Steak, Chimichurri & Burnt Butter Mash Chimichurri and grilled meat are a match made in heaven – add a burnt butter mash and you’re guaranteed a very happy family gathering! I like to keep the seeds in the chillies for extra heat.

Hands-on time 25min. Cooking time about 20min. Serves 6 FOR THE STEAK y ½tsp smoked paprika y 6 onglet or hanger steaks, about 220g each y 2tsp olive oil FOR THE CHIMICHURRI y 50g flat-leafed parsley leaves y 3 garlic cloves y 1 red chilli, deseeded (or not, if you prefer) y Finely grated zest and juice 1 lemon y 1tbsp fresh oregano leaves y 120ml extra virgin olive oil FOR THE BURNT BUTTER MASH y 4 King Edwards or other floury potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped y 120ml double cream y 100ml milk y 160g unsalted butter 1 For the chimichurri, finely chop the parsley, garlic and chilli together.

Mix in a bowl, add the remaining ingredients and whisk together, then

season to taste with salt and pepper.

2 For the mash, cook the potatoes in a large pan of salted boiling water for 15min, or until tender, then drain well. Mash using a potato ricer, if you have one.

3 Meanwhile, rub the smoked paprika and some seasoning into the steaks and leave to sit for 20min at room temperature.

4 Preheat a large griddle pan over high heat. Drizzle the olive oil over the steaks, then fry (in batches if needed) for 2min per side for medium-rare. Leave to rest on a board for 5min.

5 Meanwhile, in a small pan, warm the cream and milk for the mash.

In a separate large pan, cook the butter to a nutty brown. Add the mash and stir. Gradually beat in the warm cream mixture, allowing each addition to absorb well before the next. Season to taste.

6 Carve the steaks and serve with the chimichurri and burnt butter mash.

PER SERVING 948cals, 46g protein, 72g fat (34g saturates), 27g carbs (3g total sugars), 4g fibre

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Good food Portobello Mushrooms, Goat’s Cheese, Beetroot & Walnuts This is a nice quick recipe and we’ve found it is a good way to get Anais eating mushrooms when she says she doesn’t like them. Have the beetroot mixture and goat’s cheese ready to go once the mushrooms are cooked. It’s also a great recipe to cook on the barbecue.

Hands-on time 20min.

Cooking time about 20min.

Serves 4 y 4 large Portobello mushrooms y 1tbsp olive oil y 4 small beetroots, cooked in water for about 30min, then peeled and cut into small cubes (alternatively, use ready-cooked beetroots, not in vinegar) y Handful walnut halves, toasted and broken up y 2tbsp freshly chopped flat-leafed parsley y ½ lemon, for squeezing y 2tbsp extra virgin olive oil y 1 garlic clove, crushed y 1tbsp freshly chopped chives y 100g soft goat’s cheese, such as La Buchette y 1tbsp pickled walnuts, roughly chopped 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6 and preheat a griddle pan over high heat. Drizzle the portobellos with olive oil and season. Place on the hot griddle pan and cook for 2min per side.

Transfer to a baking tray and cook in the oven for 10min.

Remove from oven.

2 Preheat the grill. Meanwhile, mix the beetroot, toasted walnuts and parsley in a bowl. Add a few drops of lemon juice, the extra virgin olive oil, garlic and chives and toss everything together.

3 Spoon the beetroot mixture on top of the cooked mushrooms.

Crumble over the goat’s cheese.

4 Place under the hot grill until the cheese begins to melt. Scatter over the pickled walnuts and serve.

PER SERVING 256cals, 10g protein, 22g fat (6g saturates), 4g carbs (4g total sugars), 2g fibre

Recipes from At Home: My Favourite Recipes For Family And Friends (Aster)

by Monica Galetti is out 30 September.

Photography: Yuki Sugiura. See our interview with Monica on page 180

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Tripled-tested recipes

Sugar and spice Stir-up Sunday falls on 21 November this year, which means it’s time to get ahead and fill your home with the delicious smell of festive baking Photography MIKE ENGLISH

Cherry and Almond Christmas Cake You can use whatever dried fruit you fancy, just make sure you keep the weight the same. Dried cranberries and roughly chopped dates would work well here, too.

For a more intense almond flavour, add ½tsp almond extract to your cake batter.

Hands-on time 20min, plus overnight soaking, cooling and (optional) maturing. Cooking time about 3hr. Serves 20 FOR THE SOAKED FRUIT y 300g sultanas y 200g raisins y 200g dried (sour) cherries, roughly chopped, we used Urban Fruit y 100g dried figs, roughly chopped y 100g chopped mixed peel y Finely grated zest and juice 1 orange y Finely grated zest and juice 1 lemon y 150ml Amaretto, plus optional extra to feed FOR THE CAKE y 200g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra to grease y 175g dark brown soft sugar y 3 medium eggs, beaten y 125g plain flour y 50g ground almonds y 2tbsp mixed spice y 1½tsp ground cinnamon y ½tsp freshly grated nutmeg y 150g flaked almonds 1 For the soaked fruit, mix all the ingredients in a large non-metallic bowl. Cover and leave to soak overnight at room temperature.

2 Preheat oven to 150°C (130°C fan) mark 2. Grease

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and line a 20.5cm round, 9cm deep cake tin with baking parchment. Next, wrap a double layer of baking parchment around the outside of the tin, securing with string – this will help prevent sides of cake from over-browning and becoming dry.

3 For the cake, using a freestanding mixer or a handheld electric whisk and large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 5min). Gradually beat in the eggs. Add flour, ground almonds and spices and beat to combine.

Using a large metal spoon, fold in the soaked fruit mixture (and any liquid) and flaked almonds.

4 Scrape into prepared tin and level. Bake for 2½-3hr, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in tin for 10min, then transfer to a wire rack (keeping it in its baking parchment) and cool completely.

5 If storing, wrap cooled cake (still in its parchment) in several layers of clingfilm, followed by a layer of foil. Store in a cool, dark place to mature for up to 3 months.

PER SERVING 349cals, 5g protein, 15g fat (6g saturates), 43g carbs (37g total sugars), 2g fibre TO STORE AND FEED After 2 weeks, unwrap the cake, prick the top all over with a skewer and pour over 1tbsp Amaretto. Rewrap and store as before. Feed the cake like this every 2 weeks If you like, rewrapping carefully after each addition.

• For inspiration on how to ice your cake, see next month’s Good Housekeeping, out 27 October.

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Tripled-tested recipes Chocolate Orange Christmas Pudding A zesty pudding with added richness from the chocolatey twist.

Swap the dark chocolate for milk if you prefer a sweeter pudding.

Hands-on time 25min, plus overnight soaking, cooling and (optional) maturing. Cooking time 4½hr.

Serves 8

1 Mix the dried fruit, mixed peel, orange zest, orange juice and Cointreau in a large non-metallic bowl. Cover and leave to soak overnight at room temperature.

2 Lightly grease a 900ml pudding basin and line base with a disc of baking parchment. Put a 35.5cm square of foil on top of a square of baking parchment the same size. Fold a 4cm pleat across the centre. Set aside.

3 Add remaining ingredients to the soaked fruit; mix well. Spoon into prepared basin, pressing down to level. Put pleated foil and parchment square (foil-side up) on top of the basin and smooth down to cover.

Using a long piece of string, tie securely under the lip of the basin and loop over top, then tie to make a handle.

4 To cook, put a heatproof saucer in the base of a large, deep pan that has a tight-fitting lid. Lower in the prepared pudding and pour in enough water to come halfway up sides of basin, taking care not to get any on top of the pudding. Cover pan with lid, bring to boil, then simmer gently for 4½hr, checking water level and topping up as necessary.

5 If not serving immediately, carefully remove the pudding from the pan; cool completely. Wrap basin, still with foil lid, in several layers of clingfilm, followed by

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a layer of foil. Store in a cool, dark place to mature for up to 2 months.

6 To reheat, remove foil and clingfilm, as well as the lid. Re-cover as per instructions in steps 2 and 3. Following method in step 4, reheat for 2hr, or until piping hot in centre when pierced with skewer. To serve, remove from pan and allow to sit for 5min. Carefully remove lid and invert on to a cake stand or serving plate. Peel off baking parchment and serve.

PER SERVING 463cals, 6g protein, 11g fat (6g saturates), 76g carbs (61g total sugars), 3g fibre

GH TIP To flame the pudding, heat 50ml fresh Cointreau or brandy in a small pan.

Warm gently, then carefully light the alcohol using a gas lighter or long match and slowly pour over the pudding.

RECIPES: MEIKE BECK, ALICE SHIELDS, GEORGIE D’ARCY COLES. TESTING: ALICE SHIELDS, GEORGIE D’ARCY COLES. FOOD STYLING: MEIKE BECK, ALICE SHIELDS. PROP STYLING: DAVINA PERKINS

y 100g sultanas y 75g raisins y 75g currants y 175g chopped mixed peel y Finely grated zest 2 oranges, plus 50ml orange juice y 100ml Cointreau y Butter, to grease y 1tbsp mixed spice y 2tbsp cocoa powder y 150g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), chopped y 2tsp orange blossom water, optional y 125g dark brown soft sugar y 50g plain flour y 50g fresh white breadcrumbs y 2 medium eggs, beaten y 25g vegetarian suet

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Easy Mincemeat You can use this mincemeat as soon as it’s cool, but it gets better with some age. A jar of it makes for a lovely gift, too.

Hands-on time 10min, plus cooling and (optional) maturing. Cooking time about 15min. Makes about 900g y 100g unsalted butter or vegetarian suet y 400g mix sultanas and raisins y 100g dried cranberries y 200g light brown soft sugar y Finely grated zest and juice 1 orange y 1½tsp mixed spice y 1 large Bramley apple, about 175g, coarsely grated (discard core) y 50ml Cointreau 1 Mix all the ingredients except for the Cointreau in a large pan. Heat gently until the butter or suet has melted, then simmer gently for 10min, stirring occasionally, until the fruit has plumped and soaked up most of the liquid.

2 Remove pan from heat and stir in the Cointreau. Spoon into warm sterilised jars, lay discs of baking parchment directly on to the mincemeat, then secure the lids tightly. Leave to cool completely, then store in a cool place for up to 6 months. Once open, store in the fridge and use within a week.

PER 1TBSP SERVING 54cals, 0g protein, 1g fat (1g saturates), 10g carbs (9g total sugars), 0g fibre

Freeze-ahead Mince Pies Easy to make and far too easy to eat with their crumbly, buttery pastry. Keep a batch of these in the freezer during the festive period for a simple and quick seasonal treat.

Hands-on time 20min, plus chilling and cooling. Cooking time about 20min.

Makes 12 FOR THE PASTRY y 175g plain flour, plus extra to dust y 75g icing sugar, plus extra to dust y 125g unsalted butter, chilled and cubed y 1 medium egg, separated y ½tsp vanilla extract FOR THE FILLING y 400g Easy Mincemeat, or shop bought 1 For the pastry, put the flour, icing sugar, butter and a pinch of salt into a food processor; pulse until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Alternatively, rub butter into the mixture using your fingertips.

Add the egg yolk (reserve the white for glazing), vanilla and ¾tbsp ice-cold water; pulse/mix until pastry just comes together (add a drop more water if the pastry looks dry). Tip on to a work surface, bring together into a disc, wrap and chill for 1hr.

2 Lightly flour a work surface and roll out pastry until it’s 3mm thick. Stamp out 12

rounds using a plain or fluted 8cm cutter (re-rolling trimmings as needed and reserving any remaining pastry). Use rounds to line a 12-hole bun tin and divide the mincemeat between the cases.

3 Re-roll pastry trimmings and stamp out 12 x 6cm stars or 6.5cm circles to lay on top of each pie. Brush a little reserved egg white over pastry tops to glaze. Chill for 15min, to firm up.

4 Preheat oven to 190°C (170°C fan) mark 5. Bake pies for 20min, or until nicely golden. Leave to cool in tin for 5min, then carefully transfer to wire rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature, dusted with icing sugar.

PER MINCE PIE 243cals, 2g protein, 10g fat (6g saturates), 36g carbs (25g total sugars), 1g fibre FREEZE AHEAD Prepare to end of step 3, then open-freeze until pies are just firm.

Keep in the tin or pack into a freeze-safe container, layering between sheets of baking parchment. To serve, return pies to the tin if removed. Complete recipe, baking for a little longer if needed.

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Gourmet

gifts

Show your friends and family how much you care with one of these special home-made treats – or make them all and give them a festive food hamper!

Photography MIKE ENGLISH

Triple-tested recipes Buttered Brazils A toasty nut surrounded by crisp, buttery caramel. Add a sprinkle of flaked salt after coating them in the caramel, if you like.

Hands-on time 30min, plus cooling and setting.

Cooking time about 15min.

Makes about 350g y 200g whole (shelled) Brazil nuts y 200g caster sugar y 75g unsalted butter, chopped y ¼tsp cream of tartar YOU WILL ALSO NEED A sugar thermometer 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Scatter the nuts on to a small baking tray and toast in the oven for 10min, or until lightly golden. Set aside.

Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment.

2 Meanwhile, make the caramel. In a small-medium, high-sided, heavy-based pan gently heat the sugar, butter, cream of tartar and 75ml water over low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.

3 Turn up the heat and bubble, swirling the pan occasionally rather than stirring, until the temperature of the mixture reaches 149°C on a sugar thermometer.

Remove from the heat.

4 Working quickly but carefully, add a handful of the toasted Brazil nuts and swirl to cover in the caramel.

Lift out using forks, allowing excess to drip down. Place on the lined sheet. Repeat with remaining Brazils, re-warming the caramel briefly on the hob if it gets too thick. Allow to set before serving.

PER 30G SERVING 173cals, 2g protein, 13g fat (5g saturates), 11g carbs (11g total sugars), 1g fibre TO STORE Once cool, keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month. goodhousekeeping.com/uk

Peach Pâté de Fruits These treats need you to be attentive to them, but they are still simple and delicious to make.

Hands-on time 30min, plus cooling and setting.

Cooking time about 45min.

Makes about 40 pieces y 400g tinned peach slices in light syrup (drained weight) y 300g caster sugar y 50g Certo liquid pectin y Finely grated zest 1 lime, plus 1tbsp juice (keep separate) y 100g granulated sugar, to coat YOU WILL ALSO NEED A sugar thermometer 1 Put the peach slices and caster sugar into a medium pan and purée with a stick blender until completely smooth (or use a blender).

Cook mixture over low heat until the mixture reaches 110°C on a sugar thermometer (see GH Tips),

stirring frequently with a rubber spatula to prevent the mixture catching. This will take about 40min.

2 Meanwhile, line a small square or rectangular baking tin, about 18cm, with clingfilm (making sure some overhangs the edges to make removal easier).

3 Remove pan from heat and stir in the pectin and lime juice. Return pan to heat and cook, stirring frequently with the spatula, until the mixture reaches 107°C. Stir in the lime zest until distributed.

4 Scrape mixture into the lined tin and tap firmly on a worktop a couple of times to burst any bubbles. Leave to cool and set, about 2-3hr.

5 Using the overhanging clingfilm, lift out the pâté de fruits and invert on to a board. Peel off clingfilm. Cut into bite-sized pieces with

a hot knife (see GH Tips).

Working a few at a time, toss the pieces in a bowl of granulated sugar to coat.

Place on a wire rack or baking tray lined with baking parchment to dry fully. Serve.

PER PIECE 39cals, 0g protein, 0g fat (0g saturates), 10g carbs (10g total sugars), 0g fibre TO STORE Once dry, keep in an airtight container, layers separated with baking parchment, for up to 1 month.

GH TIPS 7 When checking the

temperature, make sure you stir the mixture well first, then check in multiple spots as the readings can fluctuate.

7 Dip a knife into a roasting tin filled with hot water from a kettle, and carefully wipe dry before use. Repeat between cuts.

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Triple-tested recipes Christmas Tree Meringues Kids will love creating these cute trees – and it’s easy to double the recipe if you want to make more for gifting.

Hands-on time 20min, plus cooling. Cooking time about 1hr 30min. Makes about 26 y 3 medium egg whites y 150g caster sugar y ⅛tsp cream of tartar y Green food colouring paste or gel TO DECORATE y Sugar sprinkles, including gold stars y Edible glitter 1 Preheat oven to 110°C (90°C fan) mark ¼. Line 2 baking trays with baking parchment.

2 Using a freestanding mixer or handheld electric whisk and a large bowl, beat the egg whites until they hold stiff peaks. Gradually beat in the sugar; the meringue should be thick and glossy. Beat in cream of tartar and enough food colouring for a festive green, making sure the

meringue still holds stiff peaks.

3 Transfer meringue to a piping bag fitted with a 5mm open or closed star nozzle.

Pipe tree-shaped mounds on to the lined trays, each about 4cm wide at the base and 4cm tall, spacing slightly apart. Decorate lightly with sprinkles and edible glitter, not forgetting a gold star on the top of each.

4 Bake for 1hr 20min-1hr 30min, or until the trees easily peel off the baking parchment.

Cool completely in the oven with the door ajar. Serve.

PER MERINGUE 25cals, 0.5g protein, 0g fat (0g saturates), 6g carbs (6g total sugars), 0g fibre TO STORE Once cool, keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks. The insides of the meringue will become slightly chewier on storing.

Gingerbread Cream Liqueur A smooth after-dinner tipple or add a dash to coffee or hot chocolate for some boozy indulgence.

Hands-on time 15min, plus (overnight) infusing.

Cooking time about 15min.

Makes 1.1 litre y 75g light muscovado sugar y 30g fresh root ginger, peeled and finely sliced y 3 cinnamon sticks y 350ml whiskey or vodka y 397g tin condensed milk y 300ml single cream 1 In a small pan (that has a lid) over low heat, stir the sugar and 200ml water until the sugar dissolves. Add the ginger and cinnamon, turn up the heat and bring to the boil.

Cover, turn down the heat and simmer gently for 10min.

2 Remove pan from heat, stir in the whiskey or vodka and re-cover. Set aside to infuse

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at room temperature for at least 6hr, ideally overnight.

3 Empty the condensed milk into a large jug, then gradually whisk in the single cream, until smooth. Strain in the infused alcohol through a fine sieve (discard the spices), add a large pinch of salt and whisk to combine.

4 Decant into sterilised bottles (see GH Tip p178), using a clean funnel if needed.

Chill well before serving.

PER 25ML SERVING 55cals, 1g protein, 1g fat (0.5g saturates), 7g carbs (7g total sugars), 0g fibre TO STORE Keep chilled for up to 1 month. To serve, shake well to recombine as the cream naturally rises to the top but will mix back in.

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Kendal Mint Cake Bars We’ve turned the Cumbrian confection into dark chocolate-dipped gifts, but milk or white work well, too.

Hands-on-time 30min, plus cooling and setting. Cooking time about 25min. Makes 12 y Butter, to grease y 600g granulated sugar y 3tbsp liquid glucose y ¾tsp peppermint extract y 200g dark chocolate, chopped y 1 candy cane, crushed, to decorate, optional YOU WILL ALSO NEED A sugar thermometer

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1 Grease and line a 20cm square tin with baking parchment. Mix the sugar, glucose and 250ml water in a large pan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves.

Turn up heat to medium and bubble, swirling the pan occasionally rather than stirring.

2 As soon as the mixture reaches 120°C on a sugar thermometer, remove pan from heat. Add peppermint

extract and a pinch of salt and stir well with a wooden spoon for about 3min; this will give the mint cake its signature cloudy appearance.

The mixture should be gloopy and opaque. Carefully scrape into the lined tin and leave to set at room temperature, about 30min.

3 Once set, line a large baking tray with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Turn mint cake out on to a board and

slice into 12 rectangles. Dip ½ of each rectangle lengthways into the melted chocolate and place on the lined tray.

Sprinkle the crushed candy cane, if using, over the chocolate and leave to set before serving.

PER BAR 278cals, 1g protein, 4g fat (2g saturates), 61g carbs (59g total sugars), 0g fibre TO STORE Once set, keep in an airtight container in the fridge, layers separated with baking parchment, for up to 2 weeks.

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