2 2 ‘
heart to heart
I owe so much to Mum and Dad’
Stephen with dad Brian and his late mum, Josephine
Actor Stephen Tompkinson, who plays the title role in popular ITV crime drama DCI Banks, tells Yours why he’s so grateful for the support of his parents By Alison James t’s proof of Stephen Tompkinson’s acting ability that he manages to portray a dour, introverted, glasshalf-empty character like detective Alan Banks with such authenticity. In real life, Stephen is personable, friendly and outgoing. The former Ballykissangel, Drop the Dead Donkey and Wild At Heart star is also extremely loyal and has never forgotten the debt he owes his parents – retired bank manager father, Brian, and his late mother, Josephine, who passed away ten years ago. “Acting wasn’t in the family and they initially wanted me to go to university before drama school so I’d have a degree to fall back on,”
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Stephen recalls. “But then in Sixth Form they came to see me playing John Proctor in a school production of The Crucible. Mum and Dad obviously saw something in me because they decided it would be OK for me to go straight to drama school. I got a place at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London but I couldn’t get a grant, so Mum and Dad supported me for the first two years. They backed me all the way – even though, for those two years, they didn’t see me perform in anything and had to take
❙ star chat ❙
Stephen with long-term partner Elaine, and right, with young daughter Daisy
says. “Thanks to Youtube, we’re able to watch footage of the musical hall acts who inspired me and we also watch films together. I first showed her a DVD of Monty Python and the Holy Grail when she was about six and she totally got the humour on her own. I didn’t have to explain any of it so I guess it must be in the genes.” So much so that Daisy has some ambitions to act herself. “Yes, she likes acting – unfortunately,” he half grimaces, half grins. “I’m very protective and have pointed out the pitfalls – such as doing two shows on a Wednesday in front of a half-full theatre and all that – but she hasn’t been put off. She adores it. “She’s been bitten by the bug but she seems to manage the balancing act of doing drama and school work very well. I am very proud of her and if acting is ultimately what she wants to do and she feels she could make a go of it, I couldn’t be more delighted.” Stephen and Daisy’s mum, Nicci Taylor, separated in 2006 and he’s been with long-term girlfriend Elaine Young since 2007. “Elaine’s made the most enormous difference to my life,” he says. “She’s calmed me down and made me worry less about the future. I used to be a
terrible worrier – about my career, about life in general – but she’s helped me realise you can’t enjoy the here and now if you’re always thinking about what might happen tomorrow.” Back to DCI Banks and, four series in, Stephen is still enjoying it. “What makes Banks so extraordinary is his ordinariness – it’s the situations he finds himself involved with that are out of the ordinary. “People like to believe in the justice system and they admire Banks’ dedication and work ethic. If you were in trouble or something happened to you, you’d want a detective like Banks on your side, wouldn’t you? I think the viewers have warmed to the fact that the show is gritty and unglamorous – like much of real life. There’s also the voyeuristic element of police and hospital-based dramas. We want to witness what goes on but don’t want to end up there ourselves.” Stephen’s hoping a fifth series of DCI Banks will be on the cards but in the meantime, he’s working on something completely different – playing Brian the pharmacist in the fifth series of the supermarket sitcom Trollied, which will be broadcast this summer on Sky 1. “It’s what I need ✢ DCI Banks is on after several months playing Alan Banks,” ITV on Wednesdays at he smiles. “I always 9pm. Catch up on hanker after comedy any missed episodes when I’ve done on ITV player drama – and vice versa. Variety is what it’s all about.” Left to right: Stephen as unethical TV reporter Damien Day in satirical series Drop the Dead Donkey; as the struggling young Roman Catholic priest in Ballykissangel, along with co-stars Dervla Kirwan and James Nesbitt; and in the role of wildlife vet in popular drama Wild at Heart YOURS
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PICS: GETTY IMAGES, REX FEATURES, BBC, ALAN DAVIDSON/THE PICTURE LIBRARY, DAVE M BENETT/GETTY
my word for it that I was doing all right. “They had such faith in me and were so trusting. There was a sense in me that I had to succeed because they’d invested so much. I’ll always be grateful to them. Fortunately I enjoyed some success before Mum died and so I was able to spoil them rotten – to say thank you for everything they’d done for me.” Family has always been of great importance to Stephen (49). The younger of two brothers – “my big brother John is a lollipop man and I’m very proud of him,” he says – the boys were brought up in Lytham St Anne’s, although their roots were in Stocktonon-Tees where they were born and where their extended family lived. “Mum and Dad both had lots of siblings and, in fact, Dad’s eldest brother married Mum’s eldest sister,” Stephen reveals. “There were always loads of kids around and it was during this time, when I was a child, that I became fascinated by entertainment. I would watch old Laurel and Hardy films with my granddad and he’d always say, “Never mind Ollie, watch Stan”. Stan Laurel seemed to be doing little on the surface – it was Oliver Hardy who got all the obvious laughs. I’d watch Stan and saw what my granddad meant – it was Stan propelling the laughs. His humour was gentle, rather like Granddad’s in fact.” Fast forward a generation or two and Stephen now introduces his favourite comedy shows to his daughter, Daisy (14). “We share a love of them,” he
‘I learned to paint in 45 minutes’ If you feel like you haven’t got an artistic bone in your body but would love to take up painting, read on and be inspired! By Alex Frisby ’m chatting on the phone to a lovely person from the Society for All Artists (SAA) who is telling me that anyone can learn to paint in no time at all. What, even someone like me, whose attempt at a self-portrait years ago ended up looking more like a squashed orange? I find myself agreeing to a visit from the SAA’s Managing Director Richard Hope-Hawkins, and watercolour artist Matthew Palmer – who assures me that at the end of a 45-minute lesson I’ll have produced my very own masterpiece. It’s all part of the SAA’s drive to get more of us painting, with beginners’ classes in UK libraries throughout March and April to tie in with the BBC’s new show The Big Painting Challenge – a bake-off style series seeking the nation’s top amateur artist. “There seems to be an assumption with art that you can just do it or you can’t,” says Richard. “But if you
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Above, Alex shows off her completed painting and inset professional artist Matthew talking her through the process
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❙ TV talk ❙
Alex begins with washes of colour for the sky, trees and foliage (left), all set above a line marked with tape, which will later become the snowy hill. Then she moves on to stippling, an effect created by using the tips of the brush to make leaves for the bushes and trees.
Next Matthew shows Alex how a plastic bank card or similar can be used to scrape away paint. This gives the appearance of the tree trunk and branches.
Actress Una Stubbs, who presents the BBC’s new painting show
Halfway there! A hair dryer helps speed up the drying process, then it’s time to start work on another wash for the snow (right), and add shadows.
when a painting works – and the more you practice, the more likely that feeling is. You can go off into your own little world and time disappears. “And it’s much more social than you might think. Art lessons aren’t just about painting.” “That’s right,” says Richard. “But as well as bringing people together, painting can make a huge difference to dementia sufferers, for example. Art is open to all, irrespective of age. As long as you can hold a brush in some way and see what you’re doing, it can turn your life around.” ✢ To find an SAA class near you, call 0845 877 0775 or visit www.saa.co.uk. The Big Painting Challenge is on BBC1 at 6pm on Sundays.
And finally: time to finish with some snowy path markings, having added reeds to the bottom corner using the stippling and scraping methods.
Top watercolour tips:
✢ Use tube watercolour paints instead of hard square cakes, for more colour. ✢ Use the best quality paper you can afford. It’s not too expensive, and you can also erase mistakes more easily. ✢ Be patient. Paint the sky, then leave it to dry (have some tea!). It will soon look great; don’t be tempted to tinker. YOURS
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PICS: RICHARD FAULKS
were learning piano, you’d expect to take lessons, and practice. Think of painting like music – follow the instructions, practice, and you’ll get a result. Even better, it’s like watching a magic trick. When the magician shows you how it’s done, suddenly it all makes sense.” Matthew nods in agreement. “People are scared of a blank piece of paper,” says the artist, “but once you’ve got your method, and you pick up tips each time you paint, everything comes together.” Matthew has been in love with watercolour painting since childhood. “It was the cheapest way to get going, when I was reliant on pocket money!” he laughs. “All you need is a pocket travel journal, a set of paints and you’re away. And it dries quicker than oils. For me, there’s no greater feeling than
Style notes
Meet the experts Antonia Burrell is a skincare expert and facialist. Visit www.antoniaburrell.com
Wise
beauty buys
Annette Close is the General Manager for Australian Bodycare Ltd. Visit www. australianbodycare.co.uk Victoria Waite is a make-up artist. Visit www.arkskincare.com
Where to save – and where to splurge – on make-up and skincare!
WHEN TO SPEND MORE
By Lizzy Dening
Cleanser
Night cream
Face wipes may be cheap and convenient, but according to skincare expert Antonia Burrell, they’re not good for our skin. “Cleansing wipes strip skin of natural oils, which can be ageing,” says Antonia. “It really is worth spending more on a good cleanser.”
“Skin goes into repair mode at night so it’s worth investing in a night cream with retinol to speed up cell regeneration and make skin look brighter,” says beauty expert Annette Close. “A more expensive night cream will have a higher concentration of retinol than cheaper products, so you’ll see results more quickly.”
✢ Try Antonia Burrell’s Natural Glow Cleansing Oil (£29.50/50ml) with antiinflammatory castor seed and Tuscan cypress oil
✢ Try Philosophy’s Help Me Retinol Night Treatment (£38.50/30ml), available at John Lewis, which releases retinol gradually overnight
Day Cream “Sun damage is impossible to repair and is very ageing, so it’s essential to use a moisturiser with a high SPF,” says Annette Close. “Cheaper products tend to have a lower SPF and a higher water content, meaning they evaporate more quickly on the skin and the protective benefits are more short-term.” ✢ Try Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily Defense SPF 50 (£31/60ml), available at John Lewis, for UVA and UVB sunscreen protection
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By Foundation Lizzy Dening When it comes to make-up, it pays to invest in a good base. “Expensive products tend to contain more pigment, so they last longer as you get the same coverage using less,” says makeup artist Victoria Waite. “Liquid foundations tend to work best on mature skin, but apply with a light hand and gently build-up coverage. Look for products that say ‘illuminating’, ‘radiant’ or ‘hydrating’.” ✢ Try Chanel Vitalumiere (£36/30ml), available at Boots, for a dewy, youthful finish
WHERE TO SAVE Exfoliator
Mascara
Regular gentle exfoliation (every two to three days) can keep skin looking younger and fresher. “Choose a facial exfoliator with fine particles, so as not to damage your skin,” says Antonia.
“As mascara should be replaced often (every two to three months) and the high street has some great formulations, it doesn’t make sense to splash too much cash,” says Victoria. ✢ Try Maybelline Great Lash (£4.99/12ml) from Boots for a perfect finish
Toner Designed to remove traces of make-up and refresh skin, an inexpensive toner won’t differ much to a pricey product. “Look for one low in alcohol, so it doesn’t dry out skin,” says Antonia. ✢ Try Simple Soothing Facial Toner (£2.19/ 200ml) available at Boots, alcohol-free
Nail varnish
Eyeshadow If you often find your eyeshadow disappears after a few hours, using a premium brand may be the answer. “A more densely pigmented shadow means you can apply less and still get great colour and a longer-lasting finish,” says Victoria. “Matte shadow tends to be more flattering on mature eyes, but don’t be afraid to put a dab of shimmer in the inside corner of your eyes to make you look wide awake.” ✢ Try Mac Eye Shadow pots (£13/1.5g) in suit-all shades Yogurt or Omega. The highly pigmented formula will last all day. For a palette which packs a punch, try Charlotte Tilbury’s The Sophisticate (£38/5.2g), which contains four subtle shades designed for easy blending
“The cost of expensive nail varnishes is often in the packaging,” says Victoria. “A cheap varnish will have a similar formula to a pricey one – it’s how you apply it that gives it staying power. Wipe nails clean with a cotton pad soaked in nail varnish remover to eliminate oil. Then apply a base coat to stop staining, and finish with a top coat to protect.” ✢ Try Sally Hansen Double Duty Base and Top Coat (£5.25/13.3ml), available from Superdrug
STOCKISTS: Antonia Burrell 0207 788 7514 www.antoniaburrell. com; Boots 0345 070 8090 www.boots.com; Charlotte Tilbury 0203 696 0496; George 0800 952 3003 www.asda.com; John Lewis 0345 604 9049 www.johnlewis.com; Mac 0870 034 2676 www.maccosmetics.co.uk; Superdrug 0345 671 0709 www.superdrug.com Details correct at time of going to press
Win all of the products featured here on yours.co.uk
Blusher and lipstick Lower-priced blusher will leave you in the pink, as long as you follow one simple rule. “Powder blush isn’t flattering for mature skin, so opt for a cream formula,” says Victoria. “Apply to the apples of your cheeks and blend out and up towards the hairline. You can also use it as a lip colour.” If you still want a lipstick, aim for a creamy formula between matte and gloss. “You don’t need to spend much as again, the formulas are similar and you’re paying more for packaging,” says Victoria. “The trick is to use a lip pencil first on the lip line and blend onto the lips to stop lipstick from feathering.” ✢ Try Bourjois Little Round Pot Cream Blush (£7.99/2.5g) from Boots. For lipstick, try George Moisturising Lipstick (£3.50/3.5g) in suit-all Blossom
✢ NEXT ISSUE Facial exercises and massage to help you look younger YOURS
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✢ Try Nivea Gentle Exfoliating Scrub (£4.09/150ml), available at Boots, enriched with Vitamin E
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Good to KNOW... FURNITURE AND W
How to...
Recycle yourrubbish
Avoid a trip to the tip and make cash from clutter By Katharine Wootton
e all know that feeling of relief when we’ve finally sorted out that pile of unwanted items we’ve been meaning to tackle for ages. But what to do with the things you want to get rid of? We could ship them off to our local charity shop, but not all items, such as electrical goods, are accepted.
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Our useful guide explains how you can make your clutter go further by recycling, selling on and donating the things you don’t want. Whether it’s your broken-down fridge or vinyl records gathering dust in your attic, save yourself a trip to the tip with these smarter solutions – they could help you support your favourite charity, or just earn you a little extra cash.
Your unwanted items could bring a smile to someone’s face!
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DONATE: Large, heavy items can be hard to sell and councils charge for collection. The British Heart Foundation collects furniture, white goods and some electrical items, such as old televisions, for free, to sell on in BHF shops. You can book your collection on 0808 250 0030 or visit www.bhf.org.uk/shop/ donating-goods. You can also list anything you’re willing to give away for free on www.recycle.co.uk. When you buy new electrical items or white goods, government regulations mean that retailers have to collect the old goods
CDS, DVDS AND VINYLS MAKE CASH: If your CD and DVD collection is well overdue a sort out, motivate yourself with the thought of making money from it! Musicmagpie.co.uk will offer you cash in exchange for between ten and 500 second-hand CDs, DVDs and games. They send you a box to pack them up in and postage is free. If you no longer have the space to store all your LPs, see if a vinyl collector would like them. Ratrecords (www. ratrecordsuk.net) buys vinyl and collects nationwide, so contact them for a quote. At least you’ll know they’re going to a good home!
Retailers should take back old electrical items in-store or fund your council’s household waste recycling centres. So if you’re buying a new fridge for example, it’s worth asking the retailer to take the old one away.
CLOTHES & SPECS MAKE CASH: Get rewarded when you donate or recycle your clothes. By taking a bag containing at least one item from Marks & Spencer into an Oxfam shop, you’ll receive £5 off a £35 spend in M&S. Oxfam’s Tag Your Bag scheme also gives you Nectar points when your donations are re-sold. You get 100 points just for joining the scheme (fill in a form at your nearest Oxfam store), then get two Nectar points for every £1 of clothes donated. DONATE: Take worn and torn clothes, towels and bedding into H&M (none of it has to be Why not bought from its stores) and they’ll give you a organise a ‘swishing £5 voucher to redeem on a purchase of £30 or more. You’ll find the recycle boxes next party’ in your community to the cash desk. where everyone brings For old glasses, Vision Aid Overseas sends specs to children in developing unwanted clothes to swap countries. Many opticians and all Vision – a great way to create Express stores are happy to pass your old spectacles onto them for you. a new wardrobe!
MOBILE PHONES AND LAPTOPS MAKE CASH: Many phone shops offer a discount on a new model when you trade in your old phone, so always ask when you upgrade (you can do this at the end of your contract). Carphone Warehouse will give you money for an unwanted phone, even if you didn’t buy it from them. Visit your local store or get a valuation online at www. carphonewarehouse.com/mobiles/trade-in. Currys PC World offers money or gift cards for working and broken phones and will recycle old computers for free. DONATE: If you want to help a good cause, Water Aid turns mobile phones into money for third world countries. If you arrange your phone donation to Water Aid through Fonebank you can split the Take care money between a share for with your data you and a share for Water Always make sure you’ve wiped Aid. Visit www.fonebank. all information from your computer com/wateraid or call 0207 and mobile before you give it away. 404 6440 for more info. Currys offer a data-wiping service for When it comes to £30 or you can get programmes to computers, Dell will give you do it yourself, such as Disk Wipe money off your new purchase (free to download at when you hand in your old www.diskwipe.org). model, as long as it works and is no more than five years old.
BOOKS MAKE CASH: Selling on Amazon (www.amazon. co.uk) is a great way to get a good price for your old reads. It’s easily done too – you only need the ISBN number (on the back of the book) and Amazon will come up with the rest of the selling details for you. If you like the idea of sharing books, join www.readitswapit.co.uk. It’s a swap shop for bookworms, where you can exchange your last novel with the one you’re dying to read. It also uses a ratings system, like eBay, to help you decide who are the most reliable users to trade with.
Local libraries may take books off your hands DONATE: Red Cross charity bookshops and local libraries may also take books off your hands, especially if they don’t already have the book you’re donating.
PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK, MASTERFILE
D WHITE GOODS
✢ NEXT ISSUE How to tell your family your final wishes
You’ll find more ways to declutter your life at www.yours.co.uk/consumer-advice
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Pretty knitting bag This design is perfect for springtime – use it for your knitting, as a shopping bag, or turn it inside out for a totally different look! DIFFICULTY RATING
★★★
Compiled by Claire Williams
Materials: ✢ Two rectangles of fabric in pattern 1 measuring 51x25.5cm (20x10in) ✢ Two rectangles in pattern 2 measuring 51x25.5cm (20x10in) ✢ Four pieces of contrast fabric for the top of the bag measuring 33x7.5cm (13x3in) ✢ For the handles, two strips measuring 51x7.5cm (20x3in) ✢ A saucer to use as a template ✢ A pencil
Do the same with all four sides, keeping the pleats in the same place on each section. Sew across the top of the pleats to keep them in place when the pins come out, then neatly top stitch about 7.5cm (3in) down each pleat.
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Sew all the way round, leaving a gap of about 7.6cm (3in) at the base for turning. Snip into the curves to make the seams lie flat.
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The bag can easily be made larger or smaller, with longer or shorter handles, so you could make a matching set!
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LADDER STITCH Used to close an opening. Make stitches small and even by taking the thread evenly from one side of opening to the other, gently drawing up to close the opening.
HOME
& craft
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Pin the handles to the top of each pattern 1 side, in line with the pleats, facing inwards.
Turn bag right way out. Sew across the opening with a ladder stitch (see below).
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Take pattern 1 and pattern 2 bag sections (four pieces), draw round the saucer on each bottom corner and cut to round off the corners.
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Lay a top strip of fabric onto your table. Place the bottom section underneath; it will of course be wider. Pinch four pleats at equal distance from the centre of the bottom section, until it is the same width as the top. Pin.
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Sew one side of pattern 1 to one side of pattern 2, right sides together, across the top. Repeat with the second side.
Place the two bag sections right sides together, pattern 1 to pattern 1 and pattern 2 to pattern 2.
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Push one side of the bag inside the other, and press.
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✢ Project from Half Yard Home, by Debbie Shore, published by Search Press, £9.99
There’s more pretty bag patterns to be found at www.yours.co.uk/knitting-and-craft
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Turn inside out for a different look! Decorate with fabric flowers if you wish. Pin it on so that you can wear it on either side.
✢ NEXT ISSUE Make a peg bag from a tea towel!
PIC:
For the handles, take each long strip of fabric and press in half lengthways. Press the two long sides inwards, fold in half so you don’t see the raw edges, and top stitch down both sides.
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y your stars y
horoscopes ght
Astrologer Lynne Ewart predicts what’s in store for you
this fortni
Between March 17 and March 30 What a fortnight! The last of seven cosmic clashes of radical change between Uranus and power planet Pluto is followed by a solar eclipse on the 20th, heralding the Spring Equinox and suggesting that many stuck situations are just about ready to be released.
PIC: REX FEATURES
If it’s your birthday this fortnight…
… from March 21 you are Aries like Poirot actress Orla Brady, born March 28, 1961. Aries women often find themselves cast in the role of leader, even if they didn’t intend it, and they can be incredibly courageous, sporty and adventurous. Orla’s chart suggests that being artistic is in her DNA, and that she swings between being dreamy and idealistic and sometimes rushing at a challenge with too much haste! This is a phase where she is redefining her world, and a period role with emphasis on healing, mystery or art would suit her nicely.
ARIES
LEO
SAGITTARIUS
Mar 21-Apr20 Your intuition is high and while it’s good to consider the ideas of others, it’s important to be true to yourself as you make new plans. Thought for the fortnight: A sweeping change could bring hidden assets to the fore. B For a weekly update call 09044 705700
July 23-Aug 23 You do tend to love the liberating feel of a spring Equinox, as that’s when the world widens once more. Expect reassuring news. Thought for the fortnight: A choice made as March closes favours you. B For a weekly update call 09044 705704
Nov 23-Dec 21 The more you encourage a loved one to make their own choices, the more likely they are to make wise decisions. Thought for the fortnight: March 25 looks like a day of solutions. B For a weekly update call 09044 705708
TAURUS
VIRGO
CAPRICORN
Apr 21-May 21 You could be looking into alterations to your surroundings – the cosmos suggests connections with an expert around March 25. Thought for the fortnight: Someone close could be thinking of a new career path. B For a weekly update call 09044 705701
Aug 24-Sept 22 The solar eclipse marks a new era that links you to another. One commitment might be concluding, perhaps with a touch of stress, but then another door opens. Thought for the fortnight: A new challenge appears! B For a weekly update call 09044 705705
December 22-Jan20 You may be contemplating a new title or address as these all-change planets make one final ‘shake it up’ aspect, before leaving you in peace! Thought for the fortnight: Just when you feel stuck, a wish is granted. B For a weekly update call 09044 705709
GEMINI
LIBRA
AQUARIUS
May 22-June 21 This powerful solar eclipse highlights heartfelt ambitions that connect to a situation where you want to detach yourself from chapters of the past. Thought for the fortnight: A professional pal could be a great help. B For a weekly update call 09044 705702
Sept 23-Oct 23 A fresh-start plan may involve a working partnership or you committing yourself to a venture that takes courage and determination, but good preparation brings success. Thought for the fortnight: It’s good to be open-minded about those all-change ideas. B For a weekly update call 09044 705706
Jan 21-Feb18 The cosmos seems to be reminding you not to stand in the way of your own progress, in an area where you perhaps hit a stumbling block last autumn. Make that appointment! Thought for the fortnight: Time for that change. B For a weekly update call 09044 705710
CANCER
SCORPIO
PISCES
June 22-July 22 You seem poised and ready for a big push forward. It’s an excellent time to get organised with career, property and family duties. Thought for the fortnight: Green lights flash around March 27. B For a weekly update call 09044 705703
Oct 24-Nov 22 The solar eclipse marks closure over one rather personal area, enabling you to press on with new activities. Thought for the fortnight: A youngster will see the tide turning at last. B For a weekly update call 09044 705707
Feb 19-Mar 20 You are on the brink of a chapter of lifestyle improvements. Family connections could feature in your masterplan. Thought for the fortnight: You could do better than you dare hope. B For a weekly update call 09044 705711
Calls cost 66p per minute from a BT landline. Calls from other operators and mobiles may vary. Weekly readings last approx five minutes, monthly readings approx nine minutes, year ahead readings approx 13 minutes. For entertainment purposes only. Users must be over 18. Service provider: Spoke. Customer services helpline: 0845 270 8302 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm). www.lynneewart.com YOURS
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