19dfvdfv by yuiyuiyxcvxcv

Welcome

Find something that’s

SO YOU!

It’s that time of the year when, like it or not, we have to embrace autumn. In our homes, on our supper tables, on our dressing tables and in our wardrobes, we’ll be ringing the changes and introducing seasonal design touches, ingredients, colours, skincare and clothes. So in this issue, we’re bringing you the latest trends hot off the high street for all areas of your life, plus advice on how to make them work for you. Flick through these pages and I promise you’ll find something that’s so you! Whether it’s new cushions and lamps for your living room, delicious recipes for dinner (and note, all the ones we’re bringing you cost less than £5 for four people – bonus!), a fresh make-up idea or a new outfit, you’ll find just the thing (and probably lots of them!) to fit into your life. And don’t for one minute think that finding nice buys and ideas is just froth! As our cover star, Caroline Catz, so aptly puts it when talking about her passion for fashion: ‘Enjoying clothes and dressing up may seem frivolous, but it taps into humour and playfulness, which gives the world a sense of hope. There’s nothing frivolous about that.’ Hear, hear! As a confirmed Doc Martin superfan, it was great to meet Caroline, who shares her thoughts on everything from clothes and music – David Bowie being a particular icon – to Cornwall and Martin Clunes. I do think you’ll really love getting to know her and receiving a little taster of the new series. I also hope you’ll enjoy all the extras we’re bringing you in this issue, including savings on some brilliant brands to help make your money go further. Personally, I can’t wait to try one of the new Elemis Biotec facials – and I sincerely hope I’ll be looking years younger next month!

102

112

GABY HUDDART, EDITOR

Don’t miss the November issue – OUT 29 September! PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 3

October 2017 42

90 28

72 14

48 ‘I’ve got away with murder

Your autumn style starts here This season’s musthave colours, shapes and pieces

26 Step this way... Fall head

over heels for these booty-full boots and shoes

On the cover The Prima autumn 2017 curve edit Look fantastic,

whatever your shape or size! Bag yours now! Pick up a high-street handbag

On the cover

10 best blouses

Treat yourself to a trendy top

INSPIRING READS 8

On the cover My recipe for joy... Doc Martin, music, family & fashion Actress Caroline Catz on

the passions that light up her life

22 shortcuts to happiness and wellbeing SureOn the cover

ﬁre ways to lift your mood and life

42 We’re all in this together Being part of a community can bring lots of joy, say these readers 4 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

66 Let’s welcome autumn Kazia

for 25 years!’ The Queen

On the cover

of Crime, Martina Cole, on the secret to writing killer novels Life is what you bake it! Get ready for Bake Off! Here’s the hero from behind the scenes Did someone say spa? Author Sophie Hannah reveals why she is partial to a bit of pampering

56 ‘Our redundancies sparked great start-ups’ Meet three women who turned their job losses into opportunities to try something new

60 ‘I love the sensitivity, honesty & humour of women’ TV presenter and stylist Gok Wan shares his passion for fashion

154 The soundtrack to my life Caroline Quentin on the magic of music and how a well-loved tune can turn back time

BEAUTIFUL YOU 62 Brows that wow Go bold or go home, say the experts

Pelka on how to tweak your beauty routine to match the time of year

On the cover The new season at a snip! Four readers model the

latest looks – and each item costs £50 or less!

YOUR HEALTH 72

On the cover What’s your body trying to tell you? Naturopath

Rick Hay on what’s best to take when you’re under the weather

77 How you could save a life Dr Sarah Brewer reveals all you need to know in an emergency

80 How to cut your risk of cancer The simple lifestyle shifts that can dramatically lower your risk

GREAT ADVICE 84 Surprise! Your grown-up kids are back! Sound familiar? Here’s how to navigate a crowded house

86 Gadgets to get you through the day Time-saving tech

Cover photo: Nicky Johnston Hair & make-up: Victoria Nugent Styling: NJ Stevenson Caroline wears: Vintage Ossie Clark dress with Celia Birtwell print. Clothing from C20 Vintage Fashion Collection of Cleo and Mark Butterfield

YOUR FASHION

62 66 102 36 56

35 88 Which insurance do you really

117 Cook it, eat it, love it! The latest

need? Don’t just run for cover – here’s our guide to help protect you, your family and prized possessions

134 Heavenly foodie holidays

foodie must-buys and know-how

MAKE IT This month’s Prima pattern

122 Let’s welcome autumn Pretty

127

charming Hertfordshire cottage

94 It’s autumn, bring it on!

131

Sarah Beeny’s seasonal loves

96 Fabulous & affordable new

102

EVERY MONTH

high-street buys for your home

On the cover

132 Your time off & time out

Feed the family for

that are easy to make and utterly delicious – trust us! On the cover

Sweet sensations

Tasty treats for chilly afternoons

Prima loves Unleash your inner baker with cute kitchen kit

a ﬁver! Budget-friendly meals

112

Give a plain sweatshirt a bit of pizzazz with a needle and thread Embrace the new season Knit a waterfall jacket or lacy sweater Sew it, make it, love it! Craft fairs and creative inspiration

looks A round-up of the hottest

COOKERY

37 Fashion! 20% off 65

makes to brighten up your home

125 Lisa Comfort customises it!

HOME STYLE 90 Modern classic One reader’s

YOUR BUMPER BONUS

120 Your ultimate autumn dress

– there’s one for you! Fancy a gastro getaway where you can learn to cook like a local? Our guide will give you food for thought

139 151 153

A guide to this month’s ﬁlms, TV programmes and live shows Get into the good books Nina Pottell’s must-reads of the month Where to buy Stockist details Stars October’s horoscopes

101

WOW! A MAZING OFFERS

at Bonmarché and Owen Barry Beauty! 20% off Elemis Biotec facials Homes! 20% off Myakka, plus 15% off Flying Flowers

116 Win £5,000 to spend on your dream kitchen Revamp the heart of your home

118 Crafts! Get £10 off when you spend £30 at Create and Craft

140 Subscribe A fantastic deal on Prima magazine

143 Win! Win! Win! Fab goodies 144 £100 prize For your story 147 Puzzles Win cash prizes! PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 5

Published monthly by Hearst, 33 Broadwick Street, London W1F 9EP Tel: 020 7312 3887 Email: prima@hearst.co.uk

EDITOR Gaby Huddart EDITOR’S PA Sandra Tear

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

PRIMA MAKES EDITOR

WORKFLOW DIRECTOR

MANAGING EDITOR

Gary Irwin

Sue McNeill

Carly Levy

Ingrid Eames

ART & PICTURES

FASHION & BEAUTY

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES

ART DIRECTOR Jacqueline Hampsey ACTING ART DIRECTOR Roger Browning ART EDITOR Andrew Pye DESIGNER Aasawari Bapat Kale PICTURE EDITOR Jo Lockwood

SENIOR FASHION EDITOR Amanda Marcantonio (maternity leave) ACTING SENIOR FASHION EDITOR Wendy Rigg DEPUTY FASHION EDITOR Jo Atkinson FASHION ASSISTANT Ellie Attwell BEAUTY EDITOR Sabine Wiesel

020 7439 5645 SALES DIRECTOR Ben Giles BRAND AMBASSADOR Angela Decube HEAD OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Lucy Porter BUSINESS MANAGER Kelly Chapman REGIONAL DIRECTOR Lisa Bhatti REGIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Karla Simcock HEAD OF DIGITAL SALES Hayley Cochrane

SUB-EDITORS CHIEF SUB/PRODUCTION EDITOR Clay Johnson SENIOR SUB EDITOR Hannah Reay

FEATURES FEATURES & HEALTH EDITOR Karen Swayne DEPUTY FEATURES EDITOR Nikki Osman FEATURES WRITER Ella Dove LIFESTYLE FEATURES ASSISTANT Karan Rai

HOMES & GARDENS HOMES STYLIST Carolyn Bailey LIFESTYLE ASSISTANT James Cunningham

CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

ART DIRECTOR Clare O’Sullivan MANAGERS Kelly Gerbaldi (maternity leave), Rosalind Matchett PROJECT MANAGER Karen Whitehead ART EDITOR Laura Passmore

COOKERY Elizabeth Fox, Heather Whinney PATTERNS Janet Palmer KNITTING Rosy Tucker DIGITAL EDITOR Rachel Liddle

With special thanks to... Caroline Quentin Columnist Caroline reveals the soundtrack to her life (p154) – from Chopin and The Beatles to Peter Frampton and Les Mis, she loves how tunes turn her into a time traveller.

Gok Wan Our favourite fashion guru shares his styling tips for readers (p60) and declares: ‘I much prefer female to male company. I love the sensitivity, honesty and humour of women.’

Martina Cole The Queen of Crime talks exclusively to Prima (p48). ‘Scary as it sounds, I know so much about that world now that if I premeditated a crime, I could probably get away with it!’

LIFESTYLE GROUP PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Sharon Douglas PUBLISHING DIRECTOR & LICENCING EXECUTIVE’S PA Sinead Murphy 020 7339 4537

MARKETING & CIRCULATION

PRODUCTION

HEAD OF CONSUMER SALES & MARKETING James Hill HEAD OF SUBSCRIPTION MARKETING Karen Sharp CUSTOMER MARKETING MANAGER Georgina Pearson SUBSCRIPTIONS MARKETING EXECUTIVE Kimberley Cooper

DIRECTOR John Hughes PRODUCTION MANAGER Pavel Pachovsky ADVERTISEMENT CONTROLLER Carl Latter

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Claire Blunt HR DIRECTOR Surinder Simmons CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Duncan Chater DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Lisa Quinn HEAD OF PR Karen Meachen JOURNALIST ENQUIRIES media@hearst.co.uk

PRESIDENT AND CEO James Wildman

DISTRIBUTION 01895 433600

CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER Paul Cassar CHIEF OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Clare Gorman MARKETING & CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Reid Holland DIRECTOR HEARST BRAND SERVICES Judith Secombe SUBSCRIPTIONS/BACK ISSUES 01858 438844 EMAIL hearst@subscription.co.uk

CFO, GENERAL MANAGER & SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF HMI Simon Horne 6 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

MEASURE UP We all need an essential little helper. Measuring spoons, £10, Dee Hardwicke for the National Trust

Bake Off’s back on our screens, so let’s get cracking in the kitchen with these baking buys BE A SHOW-OFF A stunning bake deserves to be displayed in style. Daisies & Roses cakestand (left), £30, Cath Kidston. Songbird cakestand (above), £40, Amaroni Home

THROW SOME SHAPES Perfect gingerbread men, every time! Cookie cutters, £1.50 for 3, Wilko

TAKE A STAND We think this is a recipe for success! Book stand, £13, Sophie Allport

A REAL PIEFUL! Sweet or savoury, bake yours in a Katie Alice Cottage Flower pie dish, £17, Creative Tops

PRETTY AS A CUPCAKE Dress up your treats in Frills & Frosting cupcake cases, £1.49 for 100, Talking Tables

FULLY COVERED Make a splash and carry on in the cutest pinnie. Pink apron, £4.99, HomeSense

We couldn’t agree more!

WELL BEATEN Keep it strictly traditional with a wooden spoon set, £6 for 3, National Trust

DISH OF THE DAY From oven to table, keep it pretty in pink. Square oven dish, £25, The Contemporary Home

Compiled by: Hearst Lifestyle Network

IN THE MIX Get set, bake with this super-cute Bloomville mixing bowl, £12, and rolling pin, £14, both Sainsbury’s Home

Good things come in threes! ALL THINGS NICE...

TIME FOR TIERS! The ideal centrepiece for a tea party. Tiered cake stand, £60; cake slice and knife, £20, both Pip Studio at Daisy Park

For where to buy, see page 151

Shake it over like a pro. Enamel sugar sprinkler with Charlottes Cupboard print, £6.99, Sisters Guild PAIR

SAFE OF HANDS

We adore this ﬂoral double oven glove, £5, Sainsbury’s

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 7

My recipe for joy…

Doc Martin, music, family & fashion Caroline Catz tells Prima about her love of vintage clothes, her passion for Cornwall and why working on Doc Martin is a dream for an actress

aroline lives in London with her husband, actor Michael Higgs, and their two children, Sonny and Honor. The RADAtrained actress has enjoyed roles in ﬁlm, theatre and TV. Most recently, we’ve seen her in DCI Banks and I Want My Wife Back. This month, she returns in the new series of Doc Martin to once again star alongside Martin Clunes as Louisa, one half of TV’s mostloved ‘on again, off again’ couple.

LIFE ON DOC MARTIN I ﬁnd the relationship between the Doc and Louisa fascinating. The fact that it keeps changing is one reason I look forward to returning to the show. They’ve ﬁnally decided to make a go of it, so it’s no longer a ‘will they, won’t they?’ situation. They drive each other crazy, but they’re bound by genuine love and by a child whose wellbeing is paramount. Louisa has also conceded that, despite craving a normal family life, there’s probably no such thing. Despite their problems, she and Martin are determined that they are going to make their family work. Louisa and Martin are an extreme example of incompatibility. But if you look around, it’s not that unusual. You often see unlikely couples and wonder how on earth they stay together. But,

somehow, people do. In the case of Louisa and Martin in this series, the viewer is a ﬂy on the wall in their home as they battle through the miscommunication that remains in the relationship. It’s funny to watch, but how exhausting it must be to be in their situation. I’m happy to say that my marriage is a little bit less complicated! Louisa is going through some changes in the new series. She’s faced with a dilemma, which may lead to her having to leave her job as headmistress of the local primary school. She’s considering a new career in child therapy, which is secretly motivated by her fear that their son, James Henry, might develop Doc Martin’s traits. She can’t change Martin – his curmudgeonly behaviour, his lack of social skills, his phobias – but, perhaps, if she studies child development, she can prevent her son from becoming as socially awkward as his father. We’ve got through a lot of babies ﬁlming Doc Martin! We started with seven playing James Henry as a newborn, four in the last series and just one set of twins in this series because he is now much more recognisable. It’s fair to say that the twins are more interested in being toddlers than being actors! But they are absolutely gorgeous.

Becoming a parent changes you profoundly. No one can prepare you. It adds layers to an actor and you can relate to parts in new ways. The roles became more interesting after I had my children. Doc Martin is a unique job for an actor. The fact we make the series every two years gives us a chance to work on

Caroline wears: Vintage Celia Birtwell-print dress, Ossie Clark. Shoes, Caroline’s own.

Meet your cover star

other projects and come back feeling refreshed. It also means there’s more time for the writers to work on the scripts, develop characters and ﬁnd meaty storylines for them. I’m sure it’s why the show has had such longevity. As an actor, you can often ﬁnd yourself in some grim locations. But the reverse is the case on Doc Martin. We get to

spend the summer in lovely Port Isaac. It’s one of the reasons the cast and crew love returning and it has created a special family feeling on set. For the ﬁrst time ever, we already know there’ll be another series. It will be in 2019 and it will deﬁnitely be the last – although we’ve said that before! I love working with Martin Clunes. He’s

the opposite of the Doc: funny, charming, empathetic and gregarious. Problem is, he’s starting to believe he’s an actual doctor, giving me unwanted diagnoses if I have so much as a cough or sniffle. A trivial bruise on my hip recently warranted a scan, in his opinion! He’s also been known to write me a fake prescription from the prop pad on the Doc’s desk.

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 9

We ﬁlm Doc Martin in Cornwall, which is like another character in the show. I’m sure that the beautiful backdrop is part of the show’s appeal, but it’s also an ever-changing landscape. It can be a beautiful sunny day – all ice cream and beaches – and then, suddenly, the sky goes dark, a seagull swoops and nicks your chips, and a torrential storm drenches you to the bone. It’s a perfect metaphor for the show itself, which can be light one minute and dark the next.

MY FASHION PASSION During breaks in filming, I spend a lot of time on eBay. It’s my latest resource for vintage clothes. At one time, you could hardly get a mobile phone signal in Port Isaac, now we’re fully connected to wi-fi. It will be the ruin of me! I love the clothes I’m wearing in these pictures for Prima. It’s like wearing my fantasy wardrobe. I chose them with my friend, the stylist and fashion historian, NJ Stevenson. We had a day with Cleo and Mark Butterfield – an amazing couple who have curated the most astonishing collection of vintage clothes at C20, their company in Devon. They have thousands of items, from Victorian gothic pieces to 20th-century attire. We chose beautifully cut dresses and skirts and exquisite blouses by fashion icons, such as Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell. I could have lived in that place! We chose the clothes for both their beauty and glamour. The Ossie Clark creations, for example, are not just beautifully cut, they also have a rock ’n’ roll edge, which I find so appealing. It’s astonishing, too, that all the clothes still look as fresh and fantastic as the day they were made. It’s one of the reasons I’m such a passionate vintage collector. 10 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

I especially love clothes from the late 1960s and early 1970s. From the age of 10, I pored over posters, record covers and pictures of musicians of the era. My teenage bedroom had wall-to-wall posters of my absolute idol, David Bowie. I love how glam rock made fashion available to everyone, not just the elite, and how musicians and artists took clothes from the past – including austere Victoriana – and wore them in a different way. It was a way of reclaiming history while being playful and subversive with it. I’d have loved to have spent a day walking down the Portobello Road in 1973. It’s where Cleo Butterﬁeld started her collection and she told me how, at the time, she bought vintage treasures, such as beautiful hand-printed chiffon dresses from the 1930s, for next to nothing! You could own the most gorgeous things without breaking the bank. It was when the concept of recycling fashion and dressing up for fun began.

CAROLINE IN A NUTSHELL Signature dish? Strawberry cheesecake is big in our house. Technology – friend or foe? Mostly friend, although having to upgrade any of my devices drives me crazy. The last book you read? Stranger Than We Can Imagine by John Higgs. I’m also carrying round Jerusalem, the hefty tome by Alan Moore. I should get a Kindle, but I do love a book! The last movie you saw? Weiner Dog – a funny, touching ﬁlm about a cute dachshund puppy who’s shuffled from one oddball owner to the next. Who would play you in the movie of your life? Martin Clunes in drag. He does fab impressions of me. Guilty pleasure? Enjoying a cup of tea and biscuits while looking at eBay on Friday nights. Favourite simple pleasure? The smell of roses always cheer me up.

I’ve just discovered London fashion designer Justine Tabak. Her clothes are based on the romantic 1970s look, but with a contemporary twist. The fabrics feature historic prints sourced from an archive in Manchester (my home town!), while her clothes are made by British manufacturers, too. I was thrilled when Justine asked me to work with her to create a Louisa/Caroline dress for her autumn collection. She’s looking through my vintage collection for inspiration. I’d like to say that I have a special room for it all, but it’s more of a chaotic cupboard where everything gets squished. I’m not exactly a hoarder, but once I’ve bought an item, I fall in love with it and ﬁnd it very hard to part with! Louisa gets to wear one of Justine’s creations in the new series. Giles Gale, Doc Martin’s brilliant costume designer, and I fell in love with a 1940s-inspired blue wrap dress with white embroidery from her collection that’s just perfect for my character, Louisa. Justine made some minor adjustments – the little popped sleeves are now a bit more puffy and slightly longer because I need to cover a tattoo of a rose on my right arm. You’ll spot me wearing it at the very end of episode eight.

MY ROLE MODELS I’ve loved working with Dame Eileen Atkins. She plays Doc Martin’s aunt Ruth. In our downtime, we talked a lot about clothes. I tried to convert her to my eBay habit, too, after she challenged me to ﬁnd a particular bag she liked on the site. I succeeded and we’ve been in deep negotiations with Yvonne from Northampton ever since! I absolutely adore Eileen – she’s funny, irreverent, sharp as a tack, a keen walker and an absolute powerhouse. She also looks fantastic. I’d love to be just like her when I’m older.

➺

Caroline wears (this page): Vintage wool suit; vintage Celia Birtwell-print blouse, both Ossie Clark Opposite: Vintage satin blouse; vintage Celia Birtwell-print skirt, both Ossie Clark

If we knew what has made the series such a success – both at home and abroad – we’d bottle it. But maybe it’s about the relationships, the sense of community in the village and the quirky characters. It’s also to do with Port Wenn, of course – a place that’s a world within itself that runs at its own pace.

Meet your cover star ‘I love the clothes I’m wearing in these pictures for Prima. It’s like wearing my fantasy wardrobe’

Meet your cover star

SPECIAL PLACES

I love London, but I’m a Mancunian at heart. When I ﬁrst went to drama school, I was so homesick. There was so much to miss about my old life – the club nights at the Haçienda and the Ritz, a beautiful Art Deco dance hall. We’d dress up, pay a quid to get in, get a free bottle of lager and dance to amazing music, with a fag in one hand and a bag of chips in the other. I felt blessed. Awful things have happened in both cities recently, but it makes me so proud to see Londoners and Mancunians responding to terror and tragedy with such dignity and love.

I’m very close to my mum, too. I credit her with my love of fashion. When I was growing up, she had an amazing hat shop in Manchester selling hats by Phillip Treacy and Stephen Jones. My idea of helping out was to stand in the shop window with a hat on pretending to be a dummy, just to see if I could pull it off. My mum has always looked fantastic. Growing up, I’d study old pictures of her in the 1960s looking so Dusty Springﬁeld, with her hair piled high and wearing immaculate eyeliner. In the 1980s, I recreated that look when I went to the clubs in Manchester. I never thought, ‘Why would I want to look like my mum?’ To me, she looked amazing. As a kid, my parents’ wardrobes were a big fashion resource. My dad’s was especially useful, because he never chucked anything out. There were shirts, sheepskin coats and gabardines. I still wear some of his T-shirts from the 1970s, including one of his favourites 12 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

– a red scoop neck with an appliquéd Dennis The Menace! I’m not as good at making things as I’d like to be. I have a sewing machine and have made cushion covers, but I’d love to be able to make a simple shift dress, for example, or a little cape from one of the many dress patterns that I collect from the 1960s and 1970s. In fact, my daughter and I are about to have sewing machine lessons together. I’m also learning to crochet. This is thanks to Maggie, our medic on Doc Martin. She’s an expert and got me started with a little crochet square along with a video of her demonstrating the stitches. I watched it and practised on the journey between Cornwall and London. In the past 20 years, Maggie has made 300 blankets, and each one starts with a length of wool from the last, so it’s a continuous train. She was crocheting a beautiful blanket throughout ﬁlming – which she then gave me as present. It’s so wonderful.

I’m as obsessed by music as I am by fashion. It began when I found my parents’ old Dansette record player. I used it to endlessly play their eclectic collection of mono records – including tracks by The Beatles, The Hollies, The Kinks, Buddy Holly, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. At 11, I discovered David Bowie and bought my ﬁrst record – The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust. I took one look at that image of him looking like a psychedelic alien and he became my No 1 idol. My children have had no choice but to love him, too! They’ve grown up in a house full of Bowie memorabilia. They view him as the relative they never met – uncle Dave, on the wall, in his glitter suit and big red platform boots! In the end, it’s all about joy – whether you get it from music, work, family or fashion. It’s about waking up every morning and ﬁnding enthusiasm for things, especially when there’s so much sadness in the world. Enjoying clothes and dressing up may seem frivolous, but it taps into humour and playfulness, which gives the world a sense of hope. There’s nothing frivolous about that.

Feature: Daphne Lockyer Photos: Nicky Johnston Hair & make-up: Victoria Nugent Styling: NJ Stevenson Caroline wears: Vintage Faye silk dress, Thea Porter. Clothing from C20 Vintage Fashion Collection of Cleo and Mark Butterfield

Cornwall is such a special place for our family. Michael grew up there, his mum still lives there and our ﬁrst holiday together involved the two of us walking the 30 miles from Fowey to Padstow. It was incredibly romantic trekking across that beautiful landscape, especially as we didn’t encounter another soul.

Seasonal trends

Pearly queen Look out for pearls and studs this autumn – on sweaters, shoes, bags and earrings. Pair with leather-look, tie-belted cropped trousers and killer heels for a dash of rock-chick cool. Jumper, £38; trousers, £150, both 8-20, Wallis. Stacking bangles, £6.99 for 5, New Look. Heels, £25, 3-10, Missguided

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 15

Modern heritage A shot of bright orange lifts the classic camel coat and check trouser combination. This cover-up is a great staple and will work just as well with neutrals, or you could try head-to-toe colour for a polished look.

16 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Coat, £98, 6-18, Oasis. Top, £22, 8-22, M&Co. Trousers, £98, 6-20; shoes, £40, 36-42, both Boden. Bag, £149, RI2K

Seasonal trends

Shearling delight ( faux, of course!) Soft, sumptuous fabrics in shades of cream and neutrals will always look expensive, even when the price tag is very reasonable! It’s the cheat’s way to luxe up your look – we won’t tell if you don’t! Coat, £40, 8-18; jumper, £14, 8-18; trousers, £16, s-xl, all Matalan. Ring, £4.99 for 6, New Look

➺

Well suited The trouser suit is an essential buy this autumn. The boxy jacket is a real ﬁgure ﬂatterer and, paired with slim cropped trousers, makes the perfect statement when you need to impress. Change it up by wearing the jacket with a rollneck and black trousers, or team the trousers with a smart blouse for no-fuss style. Trousers, £25; blazer, £38, both 6-22 Dorothy Perkins. Top, £5, 6-22, Marks & Spencer. Loafers, £99, 3-8, Lisa Kay

18 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Seasonal trends

Seventies vibe Laura Ashley is remembered fondly for its sprig print dresses in the 1970s, and here’s the 2017 update. Soft frills and ﬂorals will add a touch of femininity, and you can accessorise with a faux-fur scarf, tall boots and a saddle bag for that retro feel. Dress, £95, 8-20; wrap, £45, both Laura Ashley. Bag, £94.90, Smith & Canova. Boots, £170, 3-10, Dune

➺

Seasonal trends

Colour splash Ladylike and luxe, red is the hottest hue right now. A scarlet skirt with a print blouse is chic and smart for a lunch date or a trip into town. The top would also look great with your jeans for off-duty cool. Blouse, £69, 8-16, Biba at House of Fraser. Skirt, £49, 8-18, Debenhams. Ring, £17, Newbridge Silverware. Bag, £18, Dorothy Perkins. Boots, £40, 2-10, Marks & Spencer

20 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Victoriana moment For contrast, pair a pretty lacy Victoriana blouse with smart checked wide-legged trousers. A versatile buy, you could also wear the top with jeans and your favourite boots for a different look. Top, £78, 6-16, Paisie. Trousers, £22.99, 6-16, New Look. Earrings, £33; ring, £17, both Newbridge Silverware. Pearl ring, £5.99 for 12, New Look. Shoes, £95, 4-8, Jones Bootmaker

➺

Seasonal trends

Sports luxe This casual style gets an update with an injection of metallics for daytime. Trainers, a slouchy knit and a pleated skirt can be your go-to look when you don’t have time to think about what to put with what. Fabulously easy! Skirt, £35, s-l; jumper, £45, s-l, both Marks & Spencer. Trainers, £26, 3-8, Oasis

Feature: Wendy Rigg Assisted by: Ellie Attwell Photos: Sean Cook Hair & make-up: Emma Robertson

Check it out! Throw a check coat over sleek, dark berry shades for an instant autumn update. Culottes always add a modern edge – especially when paired with chic accessories! Jacket, £25; culottes, £14, both 8-20, George. Rollneck, £79, xs-l, Winser London. Ring, £30, Karen Millen. Bag, £142.99, RI2K. Boots, £225, 36-41, Jigsaw

For where to buy, see page 151

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 23

SHOES, GLORIOUS SHOES Extra comfort

Red hot This statement shade will give a fashion-forward edge to just about anything! £55, 3-8, Lotus

£149, 3-9, Sole Bliss

£15, 3-9, George

£30, 3-8, Next £45, 3-8, Monsoon

STEP this way… Kick-start your autumn wardrobe with standout shoes and boots £85, 3-8, Dune

£29.50, 3-8, Marks & Spencer

£49.50, 3-8, M&S Collection at Marks & Spencer £169, 3-8, Pretty Ballerinas

£79, 3-9, Hotter

Fab flatforms Meet your new go-to ﬂats. Style, comfort and height rolled into one shoe.

Velvet crush

£40, 3-8, River Island

£35, 3-8, V by Very

Dip your toe into the sumptuous velvet trend (literally) with plush heels, trainers, ﬂats and slingbacks. £130, 2-8, KG by Kurt Geiger £32, 3-8, Debenhams

Give your wardrobe a boudoir-worthy twist with feathers and ﬂuffy pompoms.

£12.99, 2-9, Shoe Zone £16, 3-8, Matalan

26 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Furry-nice £32, 3-8, Dorothy Perkins

Best foot forward

BOOTY-FULL BOOTS £45, 3-8, Miss Selfridge

£199, 3-8, Hobbs

Star-studded

£169, 3-8, Vince Camuto at House of Fraser

Black studded boots will add a cool-girl edge to feminine outﬁts. Invest now, love for ever!

£45, 3-8, Dorothy Perkins

Razzle dazzle Not just for night... Jazz up weekend jeans with a pair of sparkly disco boots. £69, 3-8, Faith at Debenhams

A touch of twinkle!

Slouchy style Relaxed, ruched boots are the perfect partner to autumn’s hero buy – the ﬂoaty, ankle-skimming dress.

£125, 3-8, Dune

£65, 2-9, River Island

£99, 3-8, Autograph at Marks & Spencer

Feature: Amanda Marcantonio, Ellie Attwell

£45, 3-8, Miss Selfridge

£45, 3-8, Dorothy Perkins

£64.99, 3-8, Tamaris

£50, 3-8, V by Very

£88, 3-8, Office

£79, 3-8, Monsoon

Winter blooms Break away from plain black. Bring wardrobe staples to life in blooming good boots.

For where to buy, see page 151

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 27

THE AUTUMN 2017 E V R EDIT U C Super-ﬂattering and super-chic, we’ve rounded up the most stylish new-season fashion from all your favourite curvy brands. And our gorgeous size 16 model proves that great style doesn’t have a size limit!

SUIT YOURSELF If there’s one thing every fashion editor is buying this season, it’s a trouser suit. Not just for 9 to 5, it’s now your shortcut to smart-casual style. Add relaxed layers, cotton T-shirts and boyish brogues for a fresh take on tailoring. Time to suit up! Linen suit jacket, £34.99; trousers, £34.99, both 18-28, H&M. Grey coat, £130, 14-28, Live Unlimited. Rollneck, £69, 6-18, Baukjen. Earrings, £7.99, New Look. Platform brogues, £49.50, 3-8, Marks & Spencer

TEXTURE TWIST Bring your neutrals up to the minute with a little texture mixing. Lace, embellishment, pleats and frills… Go all-out and try it from top to toe or, for a more subtle look, choose one statement piece – a bejewelled jumper is a great place to start. Lace skirt, £49.99; embellished jumper, £35.99, both 14-22, Violeta at Mango. Earrings, £5.99, H&M

28 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Chic for your shape

SPORTS DELUXE Pared back and practical, we love the sports luxe trend. Think silky joggers, relaxed silhouettes and super-cool trainers for on-the-go days. Don’t want to work this trend from top to toe? Get yourself a pair of embellished trainers – they’ll give you an instant style boost! Silk blouse, £39, 14-26, Elvi. Tapered trousers, £36, 18-28, River Island. Statement earrings, £17.50, Marks & Spencer. Bag, £49, John Lewis. Diamanté trainers, £85, 3-8, Dune

➺

MONO MOMENT What’s not to love about monochrome? An easy rescue remedy for nothing-to-wear days, this tried-and-tested combination exudes grown-up style. Add one hero piece, like this superstar skirt, to take your outﬁt from bland to beautiful. Pleated skirt, £45, 14-26, Elvi. Blazer, £99, 12-26, Studio 8 at Phase Eight. Poloneck, £17.50, 6-24, Marks & Spencer. Earrings, £8, Accessorize. Tights, £11, s-l, Calzedonia. Heels, £179, 3-8, Lisa Kay PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 29

RISE AND SHINE Dressed up or down, a showstopping sequinned T-shirt will add just the right amount of sparkle to any outﬁt. So versatile, you can glam it up with tuxedo trousers and head-turning heels, or make it daytime-worthy with off-duty denim and trainers. Top, £36, 18-28, River Island Curve. Velvet trousers, £22, 14-32, Evans. Ring, £7.99 for 3, H&M

LUXE LAYERS There’s a lot to love about a cover-up that will work wonders on both your wardrobe and your figure! A cape is the chicest way to transform your outfits from simple to standout. It’s also a fab figure fix if you’d rather keep a tummy and upper arms confidently concealed. Throw on, look great – easy! Cape, £65, 14-32, Evans. Check trousers, £35.99, 14-22, Violeta at Mango. Rollneck, £22, s-xxl, Juna Rose. Suede heels, £130, 3-8, Lisa Kay

WEAR THE TROUSERS Our favourite fashion formula for autumn? Rollneck + widelegged trousers = looking chic without even trying. Perfect for pear shapes, a wider leg is great for easing over hips and thighs in the most flattering way. A statement necklace adds a final flourish. Wide-legged trousers, £35, 8-22, Kaleidoscope. Rollneck, £16, xs-xl, Bonmarché. Necklace, £15, Marks & Spencer. Snakeskin shoes, £32, 3-9, Next

For where to buy, see page 151

Chic for your shape

Relax into autumn with soft, breezy layers!

Faux-fur coat, £65, 18-28, Asos Curve. Pink jumper (just seen), £12, 14-32, JD Williams. Earrings, £7.99, New Look

COSY UP This autumn, go for all-out glamour in a super-soft faux-fur coat. Make it figure-friendly by keeping the rest of your outfit form-fitting.

SWISH LIST Fashionable and curve-friendly, pleated skirts are your fast track to figure flattery. The fitted waistline and hip-skimming flare will give you a better shape in seconds. Simply tuck in a top and twirl!

Feature & styling: Helen Johnson Photos: Neil Marriott Hair & make-up: Carolyn Wren

Pleated skirt, £45, 6-22, Next. Blouse, £18, 10-32, JD Williams. Bag, £55, J by Jasper Conran at Debenhams. Tights, £10.99, s-l, Charnos at SockShop. Suede boots, £99, 3-8, Dune

COVER STORY This cocoon-style topper is smart enough for the office and off-duty, and will work with everything in your wardrobe. Did we mention that the easy ﬁt is a genius tummy disguiser? What more could you want?

Cocoon jacket, £125; lace dress, £130, both 12-26, Studio 8 at Phase Eight. Belt, £3.99, s-l, Accessorize. Stacking rings, £5.99 for 3, H&M. Swiss dot tights, £11, s-l, Calzedonia. Floral boots, £55, 3-8, Faith at Debenhams

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 31

Fabulous bags

BAG YOURS NOW!

What a carry on! These are the high-street beauties you need on your arm LADYLIKE TOP-HANDLES Flirt with 1950s Jackie O-style boxy bags Louis Vuitton A/W 17

Red is the colour of the season £75, Dune £12, Primark £15.99, New Look

SUPER-SIZED TOTES Ladies rejoice! Bigger is better this season

£16, George

£39, Kin by John Lewis

£179, Kurt Geiger London

Giorgio Armani A/W 17

Bling up any outﬁt with a metallic bag

CIRCULAR SHAPES Chloé A/W 17

There’s a new shape in town – and it’s perfect for rounding off an outﬁt!

Neutral colours provide versatility

£25, Accessorize £69.95, United Colors of Benetton

£89, Whistles

RING DETAILING Feature: Amanda Marcantonio, Ellie Attwell

Stay chic and sleek with metal hoop designs

The perfect partner to sports luxe separates £40, Therapy at House of Fraser

For where to buy, see page 151

£25, Accessorize

£30, Next

Eudon Choi A/W 17

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 35

Trendy tops

£40, 6-20, Nine by Savannah Miller at Debenhams

£16, 8-20, George

£65, 8-20, Laura Ashley

£55, 8-16, And/Or at John Lewis

£85, 10-22, Gerry Weber

Feel free to keep neck ties open and let the ends hang effortlessly

10 best blouses £39.50, 6-20, Autograph at Marks & Spencer

On-trend, ﬂattering and exactly what your wardrobe needs right now!

£65, 8-20, Laura Ashley

£39.50, 6-20, Autograph at Marks & Spencer

Trousers, £28, 8-22, Tu Clothing

Wear them with...

Earrings, £7, M&Co

£85, 10-22, Gerry Weber

Skirt, £29, 8-22, M&Co Bag, £65, Dune

Shoes, £85, 3-8, Dune

For where to buy, see page 151

Feature: Amanda Marcantonio

£155, 6-18, LK Bennett

Great fashion savings for you

WOW! A MAZING OFFERS

Top with necklace, 10-24, £28

Treat yourself to a new outﬁt or bag with these amazing discounts

Enjoy off AT BONMARCHÉ Biker jacket, 10-24, £40. Orientalprint dress, 10-24, £35

We’ve teamed up with Bonmarché to bring you an exclusive discount. If you’re looking to refresh your autumn wardrobe, Bonmarché’s new collection is brimming with wearable pieces for any occasion. Featuring an on-trend colour palette of rich reds combined with eyecatching Oriental-inspired prints, the range has effortlessly stylish essentials in sizes 10-24. And if you spend over £25 in-store or online, you’ll receive 20% off. Happy shopping! Enter code PR20 at the checkout at bonmarché.co.uk to receive your 20% discount or present this page in-store. Valid between 23 August and 1 October 2017.

Embroidered cardigan, 10-24, £28

Trousers, 10-24, £22

Dress, 10-24, £35

Not valid on sale items. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. For full T&Cs, see page 151.

Mathilde in clay softee leather, £179

Riggster in ocean suede with silver acido cowhide star, £119

% EXCLUSIVE off OWEN BARRY BAGS We’ve teamed up with Owen Barry to bring you an fantastic discount. From totes and cross-body bags to clutches and purses, Owen Barry has an array of gorgeous bags for you to choose from. The award-winning brand is a family business based in Somerset that’s been making bags for more than 80 years. All its suede and leather is ethically sourced and is a byproduct of the food industry. What’s more, each bag has a lifetime guarantee. Enter code PR20 at owenbarry.com to claim your 20% discount. Plus, as a Prima reader, you also get free P&P. Valid between 23 August and 1 October 2017. Veris in brown ciga spot cowhide, £235

For where to buy, see page 151

Not valid on sale items. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 37

22 shortcuts to & Hold on to the feelgood feeling of summer all year round with these subtle shifts that really work – and most won’t cost you a penny!

HAVE A ‘ME’ DAY When was the last time you set aside a whole day to do your favourite things, whether that’s going out in the fresh air or visiting an art gallery? ‘Taking time for yourself shouldn’t feel like an indulgence, it’s a necessity,’ says GP Dr Juliet McGrattan, author of Sorted: The Active Woman’s Guide To Health (A&C Black Advantage, £16.99). ‘Focusing on something you love will help you relax and distract you from life’s stresses.’

Boost your mood

SLEEP WELL

Most of us have experienced the mood-plummeting effect of a night spent tossing and turning, and it can be even harder to get to sleep if you’re too hot or cold. The best way to feel just right is to sleep with wool, which can regulate body temperature. Research by the University of Leeds showed that wool bedding was far more effective than feather and down at keeping the body comfy during the night. Classic wool duvet, from £59.99, The Woolroom

USE YOUR IMAGINATION ‘If you wish to be happier and healthier, this is the place to start,’ says Janet Jones, author of Happiness Millionaire (£16.99, happinessmillionaire.com). ‘Treat yourself to a few minutes, three times a day, to consciously visualise the life you wish to have. Imagination is free, and fun to play with.’

DRINK MORE GREENS

Making up a smoothie is a great way to stay healthy and happy on the go. For the optimum health boost, add a vegetable (such as avocado or spinach) for every two pieces of fruit, says nutritionist Will Hawkins (pushdoctor.co.uk). ‘This creates a smoothie that’s better for you than fruit juice because it’s not stripped of its ﬁbre – an important nutrient that’s vital for a healthy digestive system.’

WORK OUT WITH A RESISTANCE BAND

Forget paying over the odds for a gym membership – buy a resistance band for less than a ﬁver and you can use it at home to strengthen your whole body, says personal trainer Julia Buckley ( juliabuckleyﬁtness.com). ‘Bands are an effective strength training tool because muscles are forced to work harder through all phases of the exercises.’ Try YouTube for lots of great workout videos.

WATCH A TEAR-JERKER

It might not seem like the best way to boost your mood but researchers have found that watching a sad ﬁlm can actually make us happier. The theory is that seeing others go through a hard time makes us count our own blessings.

CHOOSE FACE TIME OVER FACEBOOK

People laugh 50% more when they talk in person rather than via social media, according to a recent study. If you can’t meet up, then using a webcam can be just as effective. ‘Our relationships are not dependent on the quantity of our communication but on the quality,’ says Dr Sam Roberts, lecturer at the University of Chester, who led the research.

MAKE A SONG AND DANCE ABOUT IT

You know that feeling when you belt out a tune at the top of your voice and dance likes nobody’s watching? Yes, that one! It feels great because it releases endorphins, and is such a mood boost that researchers have (somehow) found dancing makes people as happy as getting a £1,600 pay rise!

LEARN TO MEDITATE

Meditating will lower stress levels, says ﬁtness coach Laura Hoggins (lifted.ﬁtness). ‘For me, it’s essential to plan just 10 minutes every day to sit and breathe deeply. I also like the Headspace app – download it on to your phone so you can use it at home, or on your work commute.’ (£4.99 a month for an annual subscription).

MOVE MORE

Fitness coach Laura says being aware of how much we’re moving every day can make all the difference to our activity levels. ‘It’s not just about smashing a workout for maximum calorie burn, it also means taking the stairs instead of the lift, getting off the bus a stop early, or taking a lunchtime stroll to raise your heart rate and clear your head.’

GET ON YOUR (ELECTRIC) BIKE!

Cycling is a great way to get out and about, but if you’re worried about getting out of puff, then jump on board the new electric bike revolution. You’ll get the beneﬁts of cycling, with a bit of extra help for hills and tired times. The new Pendleton Somerby Electric Bike (£750, Halfords), designed by Olympic medallist Victoria Pendleton, is stylish and lightweight, and has a three-power motor that makes pedalling feel effortless. Mudguard, luggage rack and comfy saddle help make it practical, too.

SPIRALISE! Avoid the energy slump that comes with overdoing the carbs by swapping spaghetti for spiralised veggies. ‘Vegetables contain less sugar than pasta, as well as more water, nutrients and ﬁbre,’ says nutritionist Karen Austin (topazﬁtnessacademy.com). ‘They’re ideal if you’re watching your waistline and balancing blood sugars.’

JUMP TO IT

Skipping is an easy way to release endorphins. ‘I’m a big fan because it builds speed, agility and power,’ says Julia. Using a weighted rope will make the upper body work harder, and therefore burn more calories. ‘The Domyos rope (£14.99, Decathlon) is great – you can add and remove the weights to vary workouts.’

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 39

Boost your mood

Nutritionist Will Hawkins says powdered fruit and veg should never fully replace whole fruits and veggies in our diet, but for an occasional shortcut, you can add them to water for a boost of vitamins and antioxidants. He recommends beetroot powder for extra energy and stamina, and acai berry powder to improve the immune system. Powders, from £2.99, Nutriseed

CREATE A PACKED LUNCH

It might be convenient to grab a ready-made sandwich for lunch but it’s not just costly for your wallet, it also makes for a dull meal. ‘Eating at the same outlets every day means you’re getting a narrower pool of nutrients. Variety is the spice of life, and the key to good health,’ says Becky Alexander, author of Packed (Nourish, £12.99), which is full of quick and nutritious ideas for home-made packed lunches for grown-ups.

LOVE LAVENDER Lavender has been used to soothe the mind and body for centuries, aiding sleep and relaxation, says aromatherapist Emma Coleman (inner-soul.co.uk). ‘I burn lavender oils around the house, and apply a lavender-scented balm to my face and pulse points if I’m having a busy time.’ Healing Night Balm, £25, Inner-soul

GET UP EVERY HALF HOUR

Having an office job means many of us are desk-bound for hours at a time, which is harmful to our health. Get up and move around for just two to three minutes every 30 minutes, says Dr Juliet McGrattan. ‘It will help stop harmful free radicals from causing damage in your cells. That’s a great reason to go and make yourself a coffee, collect some stationery or have a walking meeting with a colleague.’

DITCH YOUR PHONE AT MEALTIMES

If you’ve ever been guilty of looking at the beautiful plate of food in front of you and pointing a camera at it for Instagram, resist the urge. Researchers found that people who looked at photos of their food before they ate it enjoyed it less, as they experienced ‘sensory boredom’. So put down the phone, pick up a fork, and live in the moment!

SMILE AT STRANGERS

Avoiding eye contact is standard practice for commuters, but a study found that those who struck up a conversation with a stranger on their journey felt happier. Life coach Sam Sahota says this is because it combats the loneliness that can be felt when living in a city. ‘Knowing we have made an effort to speak to someone and they have reciprocated is satisfying,’ he says.

BE GRATEFUL

Being appreciative beneﬁts our wellbeing in so many ways, says happiness coach Natalie Savvides. ‘It shifts feelings of negativity over what we don’t have to feelings of gratitude for all that we do have.’ Being thankful makes you more positive, and studies have found that optimists live longer than pessimists.

SAY NO!

We’re all guilty of saying yes to too much. Author and psychologist Susan Scott says we shouldn’t be afraid to say no, whether that means turning down an invite to a friend’s party or not working overtime. ‘People pleasers struggle to say no because of what they believe the consequences will be. The ironic thing is that absorbing these extra demands puts them in a position of risking burnout and, if this happens, relationships become strained, careers stall and the feelings of helplessness are far worse than a momentary feeling of guilt.’

TUCK INTO MOOD-BOOSTING FOODS EVERY DAY

Eating chocolate feels so amazing because it releases the happy hormone, serotonin, into our brains. Sadly, the sugar content means it’s not healthy to indulge in it on a daily basis, but there are lots of healthier foods that you can eat every day to boost your mood, such as walnuts, bananas and eggs.

Feature: Lucy Waterlow Photos: Getty. For where to buy, see page 151

TRY POWDER POWER

WE’RE ALL IN THIS

together

When life seems hard, there’s so much comfort and joy to be had in being part of a community of like-minded people. As these four women found, together we can do great things…

‘We’re mums on the run!’ Mel Bound, 44, lives in Bristol with her husband, Ian, and children, Lyla, seven, and Raffi, three.

‘L Mel’s running community is going from strength to strength 42 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

acing up my trainers, I can’t wait to get out in the fresh air. The great thing is, I know I won’t be alone: there will be dozens of us running together, enjoying the exercise and, more importantly, grabbing the chance to do something purely for ourselves. Since setting up This Mum Runs, our

community of active parents has grown to around 17,000 runners, with 250 group leaders. The idea of getting ﬁt outside with a group of like-minded women seems to have struck a chord, and we’re going from strength to strength. Growing up, I’d always been active. I did a sports science degree at university and went on to work in gym management, ﬁnding time for a run most days. But all that stopped when I had my two children. I loved being a mum, but it

Women like you

‘The best thing is the sense of camaraderie,’ says Mel

was full on, and when I had to have surgery for a slipped disc, it became harder still to get out and do some exercise. I felt tired all the time, and I’d lost so much conﬁdence that I didn’t think I’d be able to run even if I tried. Feeling despondent one evening after I’d put the kids to bed, I poured my heart out in a post on a Facebook page for local mums. I wrote about how low I felt, how badly I wanted to get back on track, and asked if anyone fancied being my running buddy. I hoped I might get a couple of replies, but the response was overwhelming. It was clear my message had connected with many others. I planned to meet people by the gates of a nearby park at 7.30pm the following Wednesday. When the day arrived, it was a cold, dark November evening, and I was sure no one would

turn up. Then, through the winter drizzle, I saw a couple of women arrive. It was a relief to know I wouldn’t be alone. However, to my amazement, more and more women arrived. Before I knew it, there were 75 of us, all looking to me to lead them on a gentle run! All we did on that ﬁrst evening was run to the end of the road and back. It was only 10 minutes’ running, but it felt like a huge achievement, and we were all cheering each other on. It was an extraordinary moment. With our Wednesday evening run a regular ﬁxture, our group began to grow. Within a month, there were 300 of us, and women began to get in touch from all over the city. Determined to help others experience community running, I started to train other mums to organise their own events. We called them Run Angels, and they branched out from the Bristol area to Bath, and then London. One of the things I realised early on is that women have massive issues when it comes to exercise. So many women come along and ask, “It’s not going to be like PE at school, is it?” But the beauty of running outdoors is that anyone can do

‘The beauty of running outdoors is that anyone can do it’

it. Once the emotional barriers are taken away, they quickly progress and embrace the friendship and support that running in a group brings. I never would have imagined my heartfelt plea for a running buddy would have grown into such a huge network. My plan now is to get as many women running in the UK as possible and I’d love to hear from anyone wanting to join us. It’s great that so many mums are getting ﬁt, but the best thing is the sense of camaraderie. It’s hard work being a mum, and so many women have told me that the group gives them a few blissful minutes away from their hectic family lives, a time when they can rediscover their old selves from before they had children. If anyone is having a challenging time, we have a thriving Facebook group where there is always masses of encouragement and understanding. That’s what our running community is all about.’

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 43

Women like you

Amber and her neighbours love their little patch of green in the middle of bustling London

‘Planting an orchard has brought us together’ Amber Alferoff, 33, lives in London, with her partner, Sean, and children, Taya, 15, and Finn, 10.

‘T

he trees in the orchard are laden with fruit, and children are running beneath the boughs while friends and neighbours enjoy the autumn sunshine. I can’t help feeling proud, because this lovely scene isn’t played out in the countryside but in the centre of my bustling city housing estate. It’s been hard work getting us to this point, but when everyone comes together to enjoy the little oasis of nature, I know it’s all been worth it. When I moved into a ﬂat on a large estate in Islington, north London, with Sean and our two young children eight years ago, I couldn’t have been happier. There were people of all ages and from all walks of life, and everyone was so friendly that I quickly felt at

44 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

home. I joined the residents’ association and soon got to know my neighbours. The one thing I felt was missing from my life was a garden. I longed to have somewhere to sit and relax, where the children could play and where we could invite friends and neighbours. When I talked to other residents, it was clear that many of them shared my view. Looking around the estate, I came across several small patches of land that weren’t being used. Known as “grass deserts”, they were mostly fenced off behind locked gates, sometimes to keep anti-social behaviour at bay or simply because they had fallen into disuse. I wondered if we could use one of them as a community garden. I contacted local authorities and

looked into grants that might be available. It took a while and there were plenty of knockbacks, but ﬁnally, a year later in 2011, I was given good news – we could use a strip of land near the railway line for an orchard. I was thrilled. There was enough space for ﬁve trees, so my neighbours and I chose to plant four apples and one pear. For the planting ceremony, a big group of us gathered, celebrating with tea and apple muffins! We set up a committee to share watering duties, and a few of us went on a course to learn how to tend the trees. Soon the garden was being used for all sorts of parties and celebrations. We had a big event for the Queen’s 90th birthday last summer and we’ve held parties for the children at Halloween.

‘I longed to have somewhere to sit and relax, where the kids could play’

The garden gives everyone a chance to get together. With a further grant, we were able to buy window boxes for the people on the estate who, like me, live in flats. Sean helped to install them, and it’s lovely to see flowers growing amid the concrete. Setting up the garden also led to an unexpected career change. I’d been working in the charity sector but I was offered a job working as a project officer for the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, an organisation that promotes gardens and farms in city communities. It’s a role I love and it’s made me realise how little city children know about the countryside. Some of them have never seen a farm animal before, and it’s lovely to see their faces light up. Our garden has been open for six years. Since that first planting ceremony, we’ve added two more apple trees, plus gooseberries and blackcurrants. You can’t beat a piece of freshly picked fruit! Having a thriving community is so important. I love the fact that children can play outside and neighbours will keep an eye out for them. Having a garden has been particularly good for the elderly residents, too. Some of them would stay in their flats alone because they had nowhere to go. Now they can wander up to the garden for a chat and perhaps enjoy a juicy apple. Being close to nature is great for everyone’s wellbeing.’

Children from the local ﬂats, including Amber’s son Finn, can now play outside

The whole village worked together to reopen their local shop

‘I saved my local shop from closing – now it’s a village hub’ Helen Keron, 41, lives in New Galloway, Scotland, with her husband, Toby, and children, Noah, eight, and Sanna, six.

‘N

othing makes me happier than a queue in my village shop, whether it’s children choosing sweets after school or older residents buying newspapers. If it wasn’t for all the villagers working together, we wouldn’t have a shop to go to, or a happy and thriving community. I moved to the remote village of New Galloway in the south west of Scotland 10 years ago, when Toby and I decided we wanted a fresh start and a different pace of life. I’d been working as an oil engineer in Aberdeen and I gave up my job when I had my second child. Set among beautiful rolling hills, the village proved to be a complete change of lifestyle, and I loved it. The heart of the community was a solitary little shop selling a few groceries. But it had been up for sale for years and the lovely couple who ran it were about to retire. Aware that an important part of the

village would be lost if the shop closed, I had an idea. We could source some funding, buy the property and turn it into a shop for the whole community. When I told friends and neighbours about my plan, they thought it was a great idea. So, with me appointed as project manager, a group of us set to work three years ago, trying to get the grants needed to keep the shop open. We applied for funding and our plan grew. As well as a community shop, we would create two ﬂats to be let out. We’d also employ a community worker to bring the whole village together and rejuvenate its economy, while supporting the more vulnerable people living here. Attending meetings, writing letters and speaking to residents involved a lot of work but, in April this year, we learned we’d been awarded over £800,000 from the National Lottery’s Big Lottery Funding. We were all thrilled, but the condition was that we had to raise £20,000. Since there are only 450 villagers, I wondered if it would be possible. But, after launching a share offer,

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 45

Helen plans to sell as much local produce as possible

where residents could buy shares in the new shop for as little as £10 each, we easily managed to beat the target. The great thing was that the fundraising really brought the community together. In little Scottish villages like ours, people get used to things being taken away, such as the local post office. This time, we were getting something back. There was a real buzz about the place, as people began to believe that they had the power to change things. In July this year, we took on full ownership of the shop. It will have a refit in the new year and we’re planning to sell as much local produce as possible. And if people want to donate the veg they’ve grown, they can bring that to the shop, too, knowing it will be enjoyed and appreciated by everyone. This community spirit has since seen other schemes pop up. A duo of “guerrilla gardeners” flower-bombed the high street, placing planters filled with bright flowers outside every single house. Meanwhile, the town hall organised an “antiques roadshow”. I’ve made so many new friends since I moved to the town, but the best thing is seeing how everyone has embraced village life. Everybody wants it to look the best it can and people say it’s great that we’ve all got to know each other. On one occasion, an elderly person was taken to hospital just in time because someone noticed they weren’t following their usual routine. We look out for each other, just like the communities in days gone by.’ 46 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

From a muddy mess to beautiful wetlands

‘A park for everyone to enjoy has become my passion’ Toni Guiver, 61, lives in Enﬁeld, north London, with husband Paul. She has two grown-up children.

I know that it’s all been worthwhile. I first lived near Firs Farm in Enfield when my children were very young, and they’d play in the woods, coming ost days, I visit the beautiful home covered in mud but happy. After park I’ve helped create just moving away, we returned to the area in 2013, and I was shocked to see the round the corner from my state of it. It was a muddy mess only home. Sometimes I sit on one of the newly installed benches and watch the being used by brave dog walkers. The children playing; often I’ll have work to woods that my children had played in were full of rubbish and fenced off. do planning the next phase. It’s fair It all seemed such a waste. to say it’s taken over my life, but when I started to think how wonderful it I see families walking in the woodland would be if the land was fit for the trails or strolling around the wetlands,

‘M

Women like you having the path named after me. When the park opened last year, hundreds of people turned up. We had fairground rides and a tug-of-war. It was an amazing day and my heart was ﬁlled with pride to see so many people there. Now I’m working on refurbishing the football changing rooms and trying to get funding for all-inclusive club rooms,

‘When a community comes together, it’s a power to be reckoned with’

Feature: Sandra Walsh Photos: Alice Hendry, Dean Belcher, Martin Hunter, Chris Lobina

so that those with Alzheimer’s and disabilities won’t be left out. It’s going to cost us a lot of money, but I know we will make it happen. I’ve learned that when a community comes together, it’s a power to be reckoned with. So many people use the park now. The other day, I met a dad who was with his son, a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy. He told me how great it was that he could wheel his son around the wetlands on the walkways and enjoy the fresh air and open space together. I also met a man who told me he used to spend most of his days alone in his ﬂat, but now he has the park to visit. “These days, people say hello to me and I don’t feel so lonely,” he told me. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.’

whole community to use. Chatting to friends and neighbours, it seemed everyone agreed, so I started to put a few calls in to the council. My husband Paul was so supportive, encouraging me as I hand-delivered thousands of letters to residents, knocking on dozens of doors and setting up a marquee in the ﬁelds for a consultation day. When it came to public speaking, I felt out of my comfort zone but, to my surprise, I was so passionate about the idea that I overcame my fear. We set up a committee and applied for grants. Between the meetings, calls, letters, delays and disappointments, it took over my whole life. But with the end result in mind, I kept on going.

It was heart-warming to see the response. When I organised litter-picking days, dozens of people would arrive early in the morning to work; when we had to clear the woodland, dozens of families came to help. The community really wanted to get the project off the ground. We put in a pond with a pond-dipping platform for the children, walkways through the woods and a wetland area for wildlife. Schoolchildren started having outdoor lessons there, and I was touched – and a little embarrassed – when neighbours surprised me by

Toni even had a path named after her!

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 47

Queen of crime

‘I’ve got away with MURDER for

25 YEARS!’

Dubbed The Queen of Crime, Martina Cole has written a book a year since her first crime novel, Dangerous Lady, in 1992 to her latest book, Damaged. Now 58, she reflects on her amazing life. I hated school, but always loved books. I’m from a big Irish Catholic family, the youngest of five, and I went to a convent school. In my spare time, I was an avid reader, and I’d sit at home and write poems for hours, but at school, there was a very strict regime. I had to wear a horrible uniform, with a straw boater, a sash and big red knickers. I felt like I had no freedom, so I became very rebellious. I was eventually expelled at the age of 15. A nun threw an O-level physics textbook at me – so I threw it back. As you can imagine, that didn’t go down too well! When life got tough, writing was my escape. My younger years weren’t exactly conventional. I got married aged 16, divorced at 17, and was pregnant with my son, Chris, by the time I reached 18. We lived in a little flat in Tilbury, Essex, and money was tight. I worked every hour God sent doing lots of different jobs – in pubs, an off licence and supermarkets. At weekends, I earned a bit of extra cash by going round to people’s houses and dismantling their cookers to clean 48 PRIMA.CO.UK | September 2017

them. I’m a neat freak, and I’ve always found housework strangely relaxing. We couldn’t afford a TV, so I wrote in my spare time. It was a way of exploring new, exciting and faraway places without leaving the sofa. I wrote Mills & Boon-style romances for my neighbour, who paid me in cigarettes. However, I was particularly fascinated by crime, and read every newspaper I could. I’d sit and wonder what had happened in the murder cases – making up characters and theories. I’ve always lived inside my head. I still do!

‘I didn’t think anyone would ever be interested in what I had to say’ It took years before I sent Dangerous Lady to an agent. In my thirties, I was working for a nursing agency, and had built up a stable enough income to move house. I was clearing out my ﬂat, and tucked away in a cupboard was all my writing. There were three novels, half a dozen comedy scripts and a few plays. Deciding that part of my life was over, I vowed to burn it all the next day. But then I saw the manuscript for Dangerous Lady. Some part of me felt

curious to rediscover the writing of my 21-year-old self, so I sat on the ﬂoor with a cigarette and a glass of wine, and began to read. ‘This ain’t half bad,’ I remember thinking, ‘I’d actually buy this!’ So I chose an agent at random – Darley Anderson, purely because I liked his name – sent it off, and he rang me the next day. I was offered a £150,000 advance – back then it was the largest amount that an unknown author had ever been paid. It felt like a dream. If there’s one thing I could tell my younger self, it’s to have faith and believe. I wasted so much time wondering, being negative about myself and afraid to take a risk. Back then, I didn’t take myself seriously enough. I didn’t think anyone would ever be interested in what I had to say – I was an unmarried mother with an unremarkable life. Even when Dangerous Lady did well, I never thought there’d be a second success. But then my next book sold even better than the ﬁrst – and so it went on. Here I am now, 25 books in, and I can’t believe my luck. I have a beautiful medieval house in Kent, a holiday home in northern Cyprus, and several bags that cost more than I care to admit! I’ve worked very hard to get to where I am. I’m no stranger to graft and I’m not always extravagant,

➺

Martina wears: Jacket, Vilagallo. Cami, Eileen Fisher. Trousers, Damsel In A Dress. Earrings, Pebble London. Necklace, Claudia Bradby. Cuff, Mishanto London. Shoes, New Look

Once upon a time, a literary agent called a blonde from Essex and said: ‘You’re going to be a star!’ And that’s exactly what Martina Cole has become

MARTINA’S TIPS TO WRITE A KILLER NOVEL O Write for yourself. Don’t try to copy other authors, because if you’re not interested, chances are an agent won’t be either. It’s important you write what you want to read. O Don’t follow current trends. The market changes quickly and, by the time your book reaches publishers, the popular genres may be different to what they were. O Listen to your instincts. If you think an idea’s good, go for it! O Be nice! It’s a small world, so treat everyone you encounter with respect – you never know when you might meet them again. O Never fear failure. If you don’t try, you’ll never know.

Queen of crime

I’m the most stolen author from bookshops – and to me, that’s the ultimate compliment! In parts of east London, they have to keep my books behind the counter for fear of them getting nicked! I’m also the most read author in prisons. But the way I see it, if the people I write about want to read my books, I’m doing something right. Whether it’s murders, bank robberies or prison breakouts, I do a lot of research, so I know exactly how something would happen. Scary as this sounds, I know so much about that world now that if I really premeditated a crime, I could probably get away with it!

‘I love the process – if a character gets on my nerves, I can kill them off!’ To this day, one of my favourite parts of the job is doing writing workshops in prisons. I’ve met some fascinating people. Over the years, I’ve seen the system change a lot. When I ﬁrst started out, I’d come up against a lot of opposition – people saying ‘why go and talk to them? They’re criminals.’ Now, the focus is much more on life skills and education, as it should be. If you can’t write your name, you can’t ﬁll out a job application, so a life of crime becomes a vicious circle. We shouldn’t send a person out of prison in a worse state than when they went in. I think that’s why offenders like my books. I write from an emotional standpoint, exploring the characters’ backstories. Family, relationships and motivations are central themes. I aim to get to the heart of why people act in a certain way. Family is the most important part of my life. I love my own company, and would rather poke my eyes out than get married these days! I like nothing 50 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

It works out well when I look after the grandchildren, because I’m a real night owl. I’ll put the little ones to bed, then sit and write, often until 4am. I go to bed at 4.30am, but am up and alert by 7.30am, ready to make croissants with them on Sunday morning. It was the same when my children were little, too. I’ve always resented sleep – ever since I was a teenager, I’ve felt like it’s a waste of time. Generally, I average three or four hours a night.

more than my own bed, my own TV and my own chocolate. However, I’ll always cherish family time. My son, Chris, is now 41, and my daughter, Freddie Mary, is 19. I also have three grandchildren, Lewis, 20, Talia, 10, and Little Chris, 6, who I absolutely dote on. Almost every Saturday night, they’ll come and stay with ‘Nannio’ or ‘Nanny Teen’, as they call me. I always do a lot of cooking with the younger two, baking cakes or making jam.

Stories will always drive me. It’s the thrill of wanting to know what happens next – I love the entire process. In 25 years, I’ve never felt bored. For so long, I got up and went off to do a job I hated, purely to pay the bills. Now, I’m always excited about the next chapter. I love creating characters – giving them lives to live, cars to drive, even choosing how to decorate their homes. It’s like playing God and, if they get on my nerves, I can kill them off! Of course, it’s not always that brutal. I do give second chances… sometimes. • Martina’s latest book, Damaged (Headline, £20), is out on 19 September

Prima’s essential Martina Cole reads Where to start? Books editor Nina Pottell picks her three best page-turners

The one for ﬁrst-timers Dangerous Lady

The one from the telly The Take

Meet Maura, the sassy, toughas-nails protagonist in this exhilarating read. With her brother beside her, Maura becomes Queen of the Underworld in Martina Cole’s ﬁrst fab novel. You’ll be riveted. A 25th anniversary hardback is out now.

Even if you’ve seen the brilliant Sky series starring Tom Hardy, reading The Take will let you delve deeper into the tumultuous lives of one of East End’s biggest gangster families, headed up by Freddie Jackson. A family saga with a criminal plot!

The one written from the right side of the law The Ladykiller This is the only one of Martina Cole’s novels written from the viewpoint of the police – and it’s a riveting read. Take a twisting journey with DI Kate Burrows as she tries to hunt down a killer. How far will she go to ﬁnd out the truth?

Feature: Ella Dove Photos: Angela Spain Martina wears: Jacket, Yacco Maricard. Cami, Eileen Fisher. Trousers, Damsel In A Dress. Necklace; bracelet, both Pebble London

but I do believe in reward. Everyone deserves a little treat now and again!

LIFE IS WHAT

Paul Hollywood, Faenia and Prue Leith on set

BAKE

et’s be honest, most of us would be the size of a suburban semi-detached if we worked on The Great British Bake Off. Woman cannot live by bread alone – and she doesn’t have to when there’s peanut salted caramel and chocolate tart going begging! But the truth is, you can have too much of a good thing. Take it from Faenia Moore. She has the deﬁnition of the perfect job, if you want a licence to stuff yourself silly. For almost eight years, she’s been home economist on the nation’s favourite TV show. Not a post for the fainthearted, it takes military levels of organisation and knockout baking know-how. And it’s not, apparently, work you can do while in a carb coma! That’s why Faenia rarely, if ever, eats any bakes on Bake Off. ‘Well, I might if it was bread week, but it’s a rocky road,’ says the 35-year-old, who lives in Bristol. ‘I’m not really into sugar, and I’m already oversaturated with sugar, butter, eggs and ﬂour from casting the contestants, because I have to taste what they make. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate what’s baked on the show. What the bakers create is really amazing. And everything is eaten – there’s plenty of crew and they’re locusts!’ Faenia favours lighter bites while on set. ‘Ryvita, tomatoes and avocado is my staple food. If you’re working 16 hours a day, I found out the hard way that eating carbohydrates at lunch is not a good idea – all my energy was zapped.’ Here, Faenia whets our appetite for Bake Off’s return with a look behind the scenes…

AUDITION TIME ‘Thousands apply and, ﬁrst of all, we carry out phone interviews. You immediately get a feeling if someone knows what they’re talking about. I start meeting people with the casting team in December. Each potential contestant brings a 52 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Meet Faenia Moore – the unsung heroine behind the nation’s favourite TV show

Bake Off exclusive

YOU

sweet and a savoury bake. My job sounds like one of the most wonderful in the world, but when you’re meeting 50 people at a time, tasting 100 things over 10 hours, the novelty can wear off. We see hundreds over a couple of months and I have to keep up my energy. It’s like marking an exam: you want the ﬁrst person to receive as much attention as the last, so there’s a lot of digging deep and palate cleansing. I take minuscule bites, but I can kind of tell just by looking at a bake if it’s going to taste amazing.

IT!

DING, DING – ROUND TWO Next, they bake something. This is to see how they cook and if they’re going to be comfortable in front of the cameras. If someone’s shy but their food is astonishing, then fine. People like this can gain confidence. It’s up to the big bosses to choose the final 12 and it’s totally based on ability. That’s why the programme is a success. It’s not about filling demographics or choosing someone with a sob story – all the contestants can bake.

THE VITAL INGREDIENTS I source and order all the ingredients for the show. We get a lot delivered at once to be as environmentally friendly as possible and try to buy large quantities wholesale, so we don’t have to buy five million packets of something. If a challenge involves a 1kg of ground almonds, for instance, that could mean buying 10 packets from a supermarket, so we buy in bulk instead. Our eggs come from a local farmer, our flour from a local mill and our butter from a local dairy. Contestants might say: “I’d like tinned peaches from Tesco” or “I’d like Waitrose Strong Flour” because that’s what they’ve used to prepare for the show. It makes a difference, so we go with it. I’m pretty good at resolving issues, so nothing has been detrimental to filming so far. In the second series, the freeze-dried raspberries didn’t arrive in the post. My assistant and I ended up buying 30 packets of Special K cereal and picking out the freeze-dried raspberries!

THE CHALLENGE OF CHALLENGES GETTING STARTED Before filming, I spend a month organising wholesalers and checking equipment. You have to be organised. There’s a team of three home economists and we’re a pretty slick unit at this stage. Each week during filming, I have my office day, then an on-site prep day in the kitchen. We decant ingredients into jars and put fruit in bowls – it’s got to look pretty, and we dress the tent to make sure it looks nice. The night before filming, everything is put in place: contestants have a fridge shelf with their picture on it, plus everything is labelled and their specialist equipment is ready. By the next morning, we’re good to go.

STANDING THE HEAT We buy new ovens every series and these are calibrated by the people who make them. If you set one to 180°C, then it heats to exactly 180°C. A sponge is baked in every oven before each episode, so that we know that nobody’s has a hotspot. Those cakes are then used for dressing the set. All tasks need lots of equipment. For the technical challenges, everything has to be identical. If one baker had a disaster while another did well, one might say: “But she’s got a different whisk…” It sounds ridiculous, but it might happen.

Food producer Lucy has to come up with The Challenge Grid this year with judges Prue and Paul. It gets harder each series. You want familiar bakes, but also new things to test people. You don’t need too many prinsesstårta, though. That was intense! With 124 ingredients, it’s the most complicated bake we’ve done. That was a long prep day. I thought: “Can we not do beans on toast? That’d be a great technical…” Next series, maybe.

KEEPING UP WITH TRENDS Bakers have requested lots of ﬂaked coconut this year and they’ve been using airbrush guns, for which you need special paint. We have somebody using a spice called Grains of Paradise, too – it’s a bit like peppercorns. I source ingredients like this from specialists online.

SUPERMARKET SWEEP We have somebody on standby at the supermarket in case we need anything during ﬁlming. We buy so much at a time. Whenever supermarket staff ask: “What are you doing?”, I make up stuff. I once said: “I’m cooking for the village fair…” Another time I said it was for a surprise birthday party for my sister. We never say it’s for Bake Off.’

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 53

Bake Off exclusive

What the judges say

PRUE LEITH: ‘What you need is someone deadly efficient and endlessly cheerful. It’s easy to get one or the other, but you need a Faenia to get both. What I admire most is that she’s always calm and cool at the most stressful of times. She’s always rushing round helping bakers. She’s one of the unsung heroes of Bake Off.’ 54 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Faenia has become an integral part of the Bake Off team

‘Mine is an accidental career. It wasn’t planned, although I love cooking. I have an arts degree, in philosophy and history of art. After university, I moved to London. I needed a job and could cook, so I worked at a catering company. After that, I ran a cafe in Chelsea Harbour for 18 months, then I met a food stylist, who arranged food for photoshoots and TV. I didn’t know such a job existed, but I found it really interesting. One day, I did some work on Great British Menu, covering someone on holiday. I ended up working on it for four years – then came Bake Off. I wouldn’t like to be in front of camera myself; I prefer being in the kitchen. That’s where I feel really at home.’

My best Bake Off bits ‘The best Bake Off winners for me were Nadiya Hussain and Frances Quinn. Nadiya was a really good baker, but also fun. Remember the can-of-fizzy-pop cake? She was thinking what her children would like because she was at home cooking with them. They’d want something that tastes like bubblegum. And it was very moving to witness her confidence increase when she was so shy to start with. Frances’s problem at the start was style over substance. Her bakes looked incredible, but didn’t taste amazing. She soon sorted that out and was such a perfectionist. The cake she won with had butterflies made out of dried pineapple. Just beautiful. My favourite ever moment on the show was Mary Berry’s emotional reaction when Nadiya won. It was extremely touching

Nadiya Hussain receives the 2015 winner’s trophy from Mary Berry

and brought a lump to everyone’s throat. The funniest moment? Well, there’s so much comedy in the tent, but it does happen that sometimes things look like other things. Are we talking phallic? Possibly. We’re all thinking the same thing, but nobody wants to say it. You try to avoid looking at other people, but – eventually – somebody will burst out laughing and you all feel like you’re about 15.’ • The Great British Bake Off returns this month on Channel 4.

Feature: Katherine Hassell Photos: Mark Bourdillon, Wenn, Shutterstock

PAUL HOLLYWOOD: ‘Faenia’s a pivotal person. I’d liken her to a duck: serene on top, with little legs ﬂipping about underneath, making it all happen. Bake Off is so diverse in all aspects of baking that, as a home economist, you have to be extremely knowledgeable. Faenia’s knowledge has really grown. That makes a big difference to Bake Off. Most home economists are au fait with general baking, but one specialist area is bread-making. Faenia has worked with me on some of my books. I always want to make all the bread myself, but I have to delegate. Faenia is at the level now that I know she will do it and it’ll be just how I would’ve made it.’

HOW I GOT THE JOB

That’s life!

Did someone

SAY SPA? When it comes to pampering treatments, it’s full steam ahead for author Sophie Hannah, even if they don’t always live up to expectations

Photos: Getty

have a confession to make: I’m a spa addict. The more time I spend in a white ﬂuffy robe and towelling slippers, with skin so infused with aromatherapy oil I smell like a lavender ﬁeld, the happier I am. No matter that the robes are uncomfortable, I always lose the belts and the massage oils give me a headache – nothing will stop me worshipping at the altar of the spa. Like members of a religious cult, us addicts cannot go long without a day spent in the scented steam, where the silence is interrupted only by tinkly instrumental music. We hope for spa vouchers every birthday, Christmas and Mother’s Day, and cling to them as if they were rosary beads. After my visit, I leave restored: there is new space in my head, I breathe more deeply, I have perspective once more. When you’re a devout follower of the spa religion, you give thanks for the good times. Obviously, a spa that’s attached to a posh hotel is the Holy Grail, but you also know that the bad experiences are as important as the good ones in your spiritual journey.

And for every luxe experience, there are others that are decidedly less so. There was the dingy city centre hotel where the ‘spa’ included a ﬁzzing puddle of tepid water in a cramped closet, officially called ‘the Jacuzzi’. Worse still, the puddle was right in front of a window that overlooked a busy shopping street. The receptionist assured me that it was one-way glass. I started to suspect otherwise when someone pointed right at me and mouthed, ‘Why’s that angry woman sitting in a bucket of water?’ How could I forget the deep-tissue massage that was so deep, it made my two C-sections seem like hands-off Reiki healing sessions by comparison? Then there was the ‘chocolate treatment’ a friend bought me that was, quite frankly, too ridiculous to be relaxing. I was dunked in chocolate, which was then smeared around a little, after which I spent four-and-a-half hours scrubbing the damn stuff off. For weeks afterwards, however

diligently I washed, tiny chocolatey crustations fell from my hair and the backs of my knees. Of course, if you’re not feeling all that tranquil, even a spa can’t save you. I once wept all the way through a 90-minute massage because someone had made a bitchy comment to me just before I went in. However, these ﬂawed experiences didn’t put me off. Nor did the massage from a beautician who stank of cigarettes; nor the woman who advertised herself as a ‘spa’ when all she had was just a few bottles of oil in her conservatory and a penchant for loud rock music… In fact, after many years of ‘research’, I decided to set my latest novel in a ﬁvestar spa resort. To me, it’s the perfect setting for a crime novel: a peaceful place where people walk around in white robes, which can be seen as incredibly calming but, maybe, also sinister. In my novel Did You See Melody?, an exhausted mother of two escapes to a spa, where she comes face to face with the most famous murder victim in the country – except the girl’s not dead, and nobody believes her. I gave the spa in my new book a crystal grotto very much like the one at the Enchantment Spa in Sedona, Arizona – a cool, dark cave with benches all around it and a silver pot with pencils and strips of paper beside it. You’re supposed to drop your worries into it and, in doing so, make them disappear. I wrote, ‘My name is Sophie and I am a spa addict.’ Like magic, my worry disappeared. Now I wear my addiction with pride. • Sophie’s novel, Did You See Melody? (Hodder & Stoughton, £12.99), is out now. PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 55

‘Our redundancies SPARKEDgreat

START-UPS’

There’s nothing more daunting than being handed your P45. But, as these women prove, it can turn out to be the opportunity to become an entrepreneur

JO’S BUSINESS TIPS If you need to learn new skills, look at what courses your local college offers. To make your business stand out in a saturated market, you need a USP that sets it apart. Spend wisely. Redundancy money can provide you with a ﬁnancial platform, but don’t blow it by overspending.

Ladies who launch London. They were packaged beautifully and posted next-day delivery. The box would ﬁt through a letterbox, so there was no need for a customer to be at home when they arrived, and they could make their own arrangement.

BEAUTIFUL BOUQUETS

Jo found a gap in the market for an online ﬂorist – and now business is blooming!

‘There’s something emotional about arranging flowers’ Jo Lambell, 37, lives in Ingatestone, Essex, with her partner, Luke. She runs online ﬂorist Beards & Daisies.

‘L

ooking at the photo my mum sent me, I felt so disappointed. I’d ordered her birthday flowers online the day before, but they arrived looking wilted, battered and nothing like the image on the website. “I could do better than this,” I thought. And, just like that, my business was born. I’ve always loved flowers, and feel happiest when my home is filled with them. I once signed up to do an evening floristry course, but had to pull out due to work pressures. My job as a regional business manager for a retailer was busy and stressful, particularly after the company went through some major changes, so it actually came as a relief when I was made redundant in May 2015. I wanted to seize this opportunity to do something different. Doing some research confirmed that there was a gap in the market for an online florist that sold unusual but affordable flowers, packaged beautifully. In September 2015, I began a oneyear diploma in floristry at a horticultural

college in Enfield, north London. It cost £2,300, which I paid for with my redundancy money. The diploma was three days a week, so I could also do unpaid work experience with a local wedding florist. It was strange being the girl who swept the floor after having a high-flying corporate career, but the placement was valuable preparation for running my own business. I invested around £10,000 of my redundancy pay-off into employing a design agency to create my branding, getting a photographer to take professional photos of arrangements done by a qualified florist and having a website designed. I spent time perfecting the packaging for my flowers, trialling different types to find one that was durable, but luxurious. I’d post flowers to friends and family, and ask for their feedback. In February 2016, my website went live, just in time for Valentine’s Day. I was still training, but I didn’t want to miss this big event in the floristry calendar. I paid for newspaper advertising to market the site, and used social media. At first, I offered “letterbox flowers”, which I selected from a supplier I’d found in New Covent Garden Market,

‘Being made redundant gave me the opportunity to have this career’

But within six months, once I’d finished my training and felt confident in my skills, I expanded to selling hand-tied bouquets, too. A courier service collects and dispatches all my flowers and, provided I receive an order by 3pm, it can be delivered the next day. Prices range from £25-£35, and my turnover is £120,000 a year. I now work from a rented unit on a local farm, which has a workshop, a cool room for storing flowers and a photography space. My partner, Luke, is relieved as, before I moved here in August 2016, our home was permanently filled with flowers! Like all florists, my hectic times are Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Christmas, but the rest of the year is busy with other events, too. There’s something very emotional about arranging a beautiful bunch of flowers, knowing they’re going to be received by a new mum or someone celebrating a milestone birthday. I feel grateful that being made redundant gave me the opportunity to have this incredibly satisfying career.’ • beardsanddaisies.co.uk

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 57

Ladies who launch

‘Craft helped me to relax – now I’ve turned it into a career’ Claire Gelder, 44, lives in Wakeﬁeld, West Yorkshire, with her partner and her two children, aged 20 and 18. She’s the founder of Wool Couture Company.

‘W

hen I took voluntary redundancy from my job as an NHS director in 2015, some people wondered what on earth I was doing. Although making the decision was scary, I felt the time was right. A crafting business was an obvious choice for me. I ﬁrst picked up a crochet hook when I was seven and, since then, have always turned to crafts as a way of relieving stress. I’ve suffered from anxiety-related depression throughout my life, but always found it therapeutic to create something from scratch. A few months after leaving my job, I decided to set up an Etsy shop. It was a risk-free way of getting started, as I didn’t have to pay anything up front. I used materials I already had and Etsy would

take a 3.5% commission from any sales. South Africa, and then get it dyed I began by selling chunky scarves knitted locally. To my delight, the DIY kits were a hit with existing customers. from merino wool, and I was thrilled Last summer, I was stunned to receive when the first one sold within a few days. a call from a buyer at John Lewis, who Spurred on, I expanded my range to wanted to stock my DIY kits online and in include cushion covers and pet beds, their flagship London store. They’d found all knitted to patterns I created myself. my Etsy shop and loved my products. I approached Notonthehighstreet.com and, after sending them samples of my To have the backing of a household products, they approved me as a seller, name was surreal, but wonderful! As a result, I moved the business taking 20% from each sale. Although the business was doing well, from my home to dedicated premises customers were increasingly getting in in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, where touch to ask about my patterns. This I have 2,000sq ft for production, plus gave me the idea to create ready-made storage and a packing room. I also DIY kits, containing a pattern plus the launched my own website, where I could wool and knitting needles or crochet make sales without a third party taking hooks needed to make it themselves. a commission. A DIY scarf kit to make I invested some of my profits into one of my scarves costs £20, and a buying the equipment to make giant ready-knitted blanket starts from £65. wooden knitting My turnover is now needles, hooks and around £400,000 CLAIRE’S weaving looms myself. a year, with 40% of my BUSINESS TIPS I source my wool from orders coming from the Trust your employees’ South America and US and Canada, and skills – you can’t do the rest from the UK. everything yourself. I have six employees Look for selling sites involved in creating and that only charge a small packaging items, but I’m commission as a way to still very hands-on, too. test your products. It’s hard to believe Know your customer, so all this has happened you can create products since I sold my very with them in mind. first scarf. It’s given me a huge confidence boost, and made me ambitious to grow the business even more. Leaving the stability of a full-time job was scary, but it was the best decision I’ve ever made.’ • woolcouturecompany.com Claire’s chunky knitting needles are a huge hit

58 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Mandira’s ready meals are extremely popular

MANDIRA’S BUSINESS TIPS Keep your start-up costs as minimal as possible; less ﬁnancial risk means less stress. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool, so use friends, family and social media to spread the word for free. If your workload ﬂuctuates, use casual staff instead of hiring permanent ones.

‘My hobby became a foodie business’

Feature: Eimear O’Hagan Photos: Rebecca Bradbury, Rob Whitrow, Claire Davies

Mandira Moitra-Sarkar, 46, lives in Guildford, Surrey, with her husband, Samin, and their daughter Mahera, 15.

‘T

he smell of fragrant spices ﬁlls the air as I stir a huge pot of ingredients. There’s nowhere I’d rather be. It’s a world away from my old career as a management consultant, dealing with endless paperwork! When I moved to the UK from India in my twenties, I craved the dishes I’d grown up eating. Learning to cook using recipes from my mum and grandmother evolved into a real passion for food. Cooking was my way to unwind after a busy day, and I got so much pleasure from hosting friends and family. Then, in 2015, I was made redundant.

After 17 years in the same role, I panicked. My redundancy pay-off was enough to keep me going for only ﬁve months. My husband was incredibly supportive, but we needed a second salary to help pay bills. I began to apply for similar roles but when a friend asked if I’d give her and some others a cookery lesson, I was happy to help. Passing on my knowledge gave me such a buzz that I wondered if I could turn this into a business. To keep start-up costs low, I hosted cooking classes and supper clubs at my home. I spent £750 on Indian thalis – metal serving platters – and ingredients, and got the word out via Facebook. After my kitchen passed an inspection from the local council, I was ready to go. With help from my family, I came up with

the name Surrey Spice. I charged £35 for a cookery lesson or to attend a supper club, held in my living room. They were so popular that I also began to host supper clubs at local bars, feeding up to 40 people at a time. It was amazing to see so many people tucking into my food. By late 2016, I wanted to expand, so I created a range of nine frozen ready meals. I sourced packaging from an online supplier, worked with a local designer to create a logo, and got approval from Trading Standards. I contacted farm shops in my area and now my range, including Goan chicken and lemon rice, is stocked in 10 of them. I now dedicate two days a week to cooking, packaging meals and delivering them to shops and have also launched an online delivery service, shipping to anywhere in the UK. Two casual members of staff help me prep and cook for events, plus my daughter and her friends serve and clear dishes for pocket money. Earlier this year, I invested £6,000 having a small kitchen installed in my garden. It was a lot of money out of my £55,000 a year turnover, but it’s been worth it to have my own space to work in, and it means I can keep growing my business. It’s hard to believe that just two years ago I was made redundant. Now I’m my own boss, and I’m making a living doing what I love.’ • surreyspice.com PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 59

Our fave fashion guru, Gok Wan, gives us an insight into his life and loves, and shares some failsafe style advice Stylist and TV presenter Gok, 42, is adding another string to his bow: this autumn, he’s on a nationwide theatre tour with his revealing and hilarious one-man show, Gok: Naked And Baring All. Raised in Leicester, he’s the son of an English mother and a Chinese father. He is single and lives in London. My fashion career has revolved around women. I was always bored with the ‘shirt and trousers’ idea of styling men. But being able to get under the skin of a woman, to dress her and watch her change and feel fabulous, is an amazing gift and a real pleasure. I found it very hard to let go of the women after my TV series How To Look Good Naked. By the end of it, it was as though I had a whole football team of women in my head 60 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

and I was attached to every one of them. I think I’d make a good counsellor. I never judge anyone, I’m never shocked and I genuinely like people. I hope all of that will come across in my new stage show, too. I was at the height of my eating problems during How To Look Good Naked. I was underweight and massively controlling what I ate, but I was too afraid to own up in case I lost my job. I now see so much of the empathy I had for my women came about precisely because I knew exactly what they were going through. If I’d been perfectly okay, we’d have had a very different show.

In conversation I much prefer female to male company. I love the sensitivity, honesty and humour of women. They’re more on my wavelength. It’s why I have so many more female friends than males. I only found the conﬁdence to do a live show quite recently. When I turned 40, something happened: I suddenly stopped caring about what everybody thought of me. Now my conﬁdence is at an all-time high – I’m ready to go on stage and tell it exactly as it is without blushes, self-doubt or feeling the need to censor myself. I intend to talk about everything, from my work to my eating disorders, with relationship stuff and being a gay, single man thrown in. The stage show won’t be dull. There’ll be lots of laughs, too, and

stories about the wild and wonderful things that have happened in my life. I’m a magnet for colourful people and vivid experiences. I still run my life in a childlike way – if there’s anything going on that’s a little bit naughty and really shouldn’t be happening, you can probably ﬁnd me at the centre of it all. I get it from my father, who’s a very naughty 76-year-old, going on 16.

‘When I turned 40, I stopped caring what everybody thought about me’ My life has turned out in unexpected ways. I should have been delivering prawn crackers for my dad’s takeaway

Gok’s style tips for Prima readers

You have to have a relationship with your body. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a great relationship, or even one that’s based on love. But it has to be an accepting relationship.

Feature: Daphne Lockyer

Take a good, long look at your reflection in the mirror, and work out the pros and cons of your body. If I ask women, ‘What do you love about your body?’ they might give me two things. And if I say, ‘What do you hate?’ I get a list for a year! It’s okay to hate your bum and your legs, but maybe you have great boobs. If so, celebrate that and work on your top half first. It’s a way to build your confidence and to help

you accept the things you don’t like so much.

Commit to your own sense of style. Nobody has the right to tell you what is best for you. What we like to wear and what we feel good in is as subjective as how we view a painting or a ﬁlm. When you’ve found your sense of style, embrace it and work it to the max.

Don’t fall into the tracky bottoms trap… no matter how comfy they are! Once you’ve worked out your sense of style, make the effort to dress accordingly. It’s possible to feel both comfortable and good about yourself at the same time. If you make the effort on a daily basis, it won’t be long before your conﬁdence soars.

Do your research. Read magazines for inspiration, then cut out any images you like and put them in a folder. You can even make mood boards for yourself – anything that builds a picture of the look you want for yourself and how you are going to achieve it.

Don’t waste time in shops that don’t reﬂect your style. Be aware that Zara and Topshop, for example, are not the same thing and your style might be much more one than the other. Know where you are heading before you leave the house and make a beeline for it.

Chinese restaurant until I was 70. But, somehow, one day the planets aligned and I saw a little tiny window of escape in the form of applying to drama school, and later a career in fashion. I jumped not knowing what floor I was on or how far I might fall. My life would be completely different if I hadn’t. There is love in abundance in my family. It means that, if necessary, I can pick up the phone, or visit, or, at times, scream for love and it’s always there. Mostly, that’s a wonderful thing, although it can be suffocating and it can also stop you working to resolve things. I think that sometimes it might be better not to have that safety blanket. I grew up with an elder brother and sister in a bustling household. It was also full of ‘cousins’ – anyone in Leicester who looked a little bit Asian! They would flock to our house where my mum would give them cuddles and noodle soup, and my dad would tell them off. It was a wonderful, warm sort of upbringing. I was seriously bullied as a child and as a teenager. I was targeted for being overweight, half Chinese and gay. It gave me greater empathy, not just for the bullied but, in time, for the bullies themselves. I had to get inside their heads, and I realised they’re not the happiest people. In some ways, I felt sorrier for them than I did for myself. When I perform my show, I want my mum and dad to be in the audience. But maybe not at one of the first few shows. These will be raw, exciting and on the edge, and I’d rather they see it when I feel more in control of the material. In the end, I’ll be revealing things even they don’t know. It will be the most undressed I’ve been in front of them since I was a baby. It’s not called Naked And Baring All for nothing! • Gok’s tour kicks off in Norwich on 30 October. For tickets, visit gokwan.com PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 61

BROWS

Bold, deﬁned brows will transform your face and knock off years, too

THAT We live in the age of the ‘bold brow’ – it’s thick, arched and groomed using a range of gels, waves and pencils. And it seems that everyone from actresses to the Duchess of Cambridge has brows that make as much of a statement as their hair and clothes. Here’s how to style yours...

THE ANTI-AGEING TRICK For those of us over 30 who grew up either ignoring ours or plucking them into thin tadpoles, this brow revolution can feel daunting. But it’s worth embracing, because a bold brow is a great anti-ager. ‘I think we underestimate the huge transformative impact that a fuller-looking brow has,’ says Lisa Potter-Dixon, Beneﬁt’s head make-up artist and brow expert. ‘It adds a youthful appearance to your face in a way that wearing a bright lipstick just can’t compete with.’

trying to enhance what you have naturally, but sharpen and thicken it, too,’ says Lee. ‘Build up the intensity of the colour and shape gradually, as it may take time to adjust to seeing yourself with a bolder brow.’

GET INKED PAY A PRO Alternatively, have a session with your local brow therapist. We recommend those at Shavata in House of Fraser (from £18), because they’ll work with your individual face shape and brow structure to get the best results. Beneﬁt also offer brow styling treatments (from £11.50).

TOP TREATMENT STEP BY STEP Taking the leap is best undertaken in baby steps. It’s deﬁnitely not a look to try on a Monday morning when you’re running late. To begin with, make-up artist Lee Pycroft suggests simply experimenting with an eyebrow pencil. We like Deﬁning Pencils (£15 each, Shavata). ‘You’re

volume and thickness. It takes around 30 minutes, and is waterproof for up to three weeks. Long enough, we think, to not only get used to, but to learn to love what a bolder brow could do for you.

If over-plucking or age has left you with no brows, try Hi Brow Expert (from £35, Lash Perfect). Our tester was shocked – in a good way – at the difference the service made. The professionally applied semi-permanent tinted gel formula is put directly on the skin and adheres to individual hairs, rebuilding shape,

Have you heard of micro-blading? There’s a real beauty buzz around this new semi-permanent make-up technique, as it looks more natural than previous tattooing methods. It involves a trained technician using a wand containing tiny microblades that embroider tiny strokes of pigment on to the brow one by one to mimic the effect of real hair. It’s pricey (from £250 upwards), but worth it if you have thin brows or none at all, and it does last 12-18 months before a refresh is needed. If you’re thinking of making the investment, we advise you to do your research and get trusted recommendations.

➺

GUESS THE CELEB BROW Which famous faces do these face-framing brows belong to? Turn the page to discover the answers 62 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Get the look

5 DIY STEPS TO BETTER BROWS

FAKE SOME FULLNESS Temporarily boost thin brows with a tinted volumising gel that contains hair-thickening fibres. ‘Brushing it back into the brows ensures the colour is deposited at the roots, which gives the most realistic, volumised look,’ says Lee. We love Benefit Gimme Brow (£20; above) and Eylure Brow Amplifier (£9.95; below).

EASY TWEEZING

To work out where brows should end, hold a make-up brush so it runs from the edge of your nose to the outer corner of eye and up to the brow, suggests Lisa. ‘Mark this point with an eyebrow pencil so you know how far to extend your brows.’ Mimic the natural shape of the hair by ﬁlling in with light, curved strokes of L’Oréal Paris Brow Artist Xpert (£5.99, Boots).

The right brow shape adds definition and structure to your face. We recommend having them shaped professionally at first, and then maintaining them at home with tweezers (always in daylight!). Tweezerman Slant Tweezers (£22.95, Feel Unique) have a slanted tip that grips hairs more effectively than straight or pointy ones. ‘Keep brows level when tweezing,’ says Sumita Batra, eyebrow therapist at Urban Retreat. ‘Pulling them up distorts the shape, so you could take too much off.’ Unibrow troubling you? Hold a pencil vertically against the outer edge of the nose. Brows should start where the pencil meets the brow line. Tweeze any hairs that fall in the unflattering unibrow territory.

Save

TAME UNRULY BROWS Trimming away longer, coarser hairs is the fastest way to maintain brow shape. Comb hair upwards and, using Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Scissors (£16, Cult Beauty), trim the longest hairs evenly in line with the top of the brow. ‘For the most natural effect, stagger the length by cutting the hair closest to the temples slightly shorter,’ says brow expert Shavata Singh.

FAIR BROWS? ‘Grey and blonde brows blend into skin, making our features look unbalanced’, says Lee. ‘A soft brown shade subtly disguises light hairs but won’t overpower the rest of your face and, as tinting makes brows look more pronounced, it can also divert attention away from ﬁne lines around the eye area, too.’ We love Eylure Permanent Brow Tint (£9.95) in Mid Brown.

THE WOMEN BEHIND THE BROWS Did you guess correctly? Here are our three star brows... 64 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Susanna Reid

Holly Willoughby

Duchess of Cambridge

For where to buy, see page 151

Feature: Sabine Wiesel Photos: Gallery Stock, Getty

Spend

ADD LENGTH

Just for you

20% off ELEMIS BIOTEC facials

The British luxury brand is offering Prima readers this fab discount AT HOME... If a stressful pace of life is reﬂected in your complexion, you’ll love the Biotec range of products. Our beauty editor, Sabine Wiesel, is a big fan of the Biotec Skin Energising System, a revolutionary patent-pending skincare collection (including a day cream, night cream and cleanser) that wakes up the skin and is scientiﬁcally proven* to help increase cell energy for optimal skin function and vitality.

WOW! A MAZING OFFERS

*Independent clinical trial results after 14 days

IN THE SALON OR SPA... For a real youth boost, you’ll love the range of Biotec facials, and there’s no excuse not to treat yourself to one this month with 20% off. The treatments combine ground-breaking technology with high-potency active ingredients and hands-on therapy. The pioneering innovation of the Biotec machine works to switch the skin back on, increasing its natural cellular energy for visibly healthy and energised skin. And there’s a facial to suit every skincare concern, from the Biotec Firm-A-Lift – to ﬁrm and tighten your cheeks, neck and jawline – to the Biotec Sensitive Skin Soother that de-sensitises and calms delicate skin. If you’re feeling generous, you could even treat the man in your life to the Biotec Super-Charger for Men.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR DISCOUNT Visit elemis.com/Prima to ﬁnd your nearest participating spa or salon. Call to book in from 1 to 30 September 2017, quoting ‘Prima’ when booking, then take this page along to your appointment. TERMS AND CONDITIONS Valid in participating spas and salons only. Visit Elemis.com/Prima to find a participating spa and salon near you. Offer valid for full Elemis Biotec Facial treatment bookings from 1 September to 30 September 2017. Excludes The House of Elemis and department stores. Please take this offer page with you and quote ‘Prima’ when booking. Discount cannot be refunded, exchanged or redeemed against another brand or offer. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Please check with the spa and salon where you redeem this offer for any additional terms and conditions which apply.

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 65

Let’s welcome

AUTUMN As we move from summer to autumn, we need to adjust our beauty routines to ensure we stay looking our best. Here are Kazia Pelka’s nine top tips

Shed the skin Time to kiss any lingering traces of tan goodbye and step into autumn a little paler and a lot more polished. Introduce a weekly body exfoliation with a rich, balm-like exfoliant. Simply apply to skin before you shower, using gentle circular motions, and work a little longer on elbows, knees and heels, before rinsing off. TRY REN Atlantic Kelp And Magnesium Exfoliating Body Scrub (£26, Feel Unique).

Bump up nail colour Bye bye brights – it’s time to introduce a grown-up shade to your ﬁngertips. Full-on darks are better suited to winter, so now’s the time to opt for deep reds or shades of grey and taupe. A big trend this season is for negative space nail polish, where only part of the nail is painted with colour. Leave a space the same shape as the half moon on your nail – only make it a little bigger, then paint above it. Your nail will look like it’s been dipped in colour.

TRY Leighton Denny Nail Colour in Winter Garden (£12, Marks & Spencer) 66 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Clinique Aromatics Elixir EDT (£40 for 45ml)

Guerlain Mitsouko EDT (£59.50 for 50ml)

Beauty for grown-ups

Switch your fragrance I love light, fresh fragrances with low alcohol formulations in summer so that I can spritz safely in the sun to cool and freshen. As autumn approaches, I look to warmer, spicier scents in stronger formulations, and the chypre family of fragrances is my favourite. These warm, dry perfumes, with woody, mossy notes infused with bergamot and patchouli, make me feel stylish and sophisticated. I want to wrap myself in cashmere and sit in front of a roaring ﬁre with a glass of Merlot!

Book a trim This is the most important time of the year to lop an inch or two off your hair! Get rid of those sun-scorched dead ends and see an immediate result in added bounce and vitality. Take it a step further with a luxurious mask to revive thirsty locks and add gloss. TRY Maui Moisture Revive & Hydrate + Shea Butter Hair Mask (£8.99, Boots).

Light-textured face washes are great for cleansing during the summer months, but don’t provide enough nourishment for when the temperature drops and skin produces less natural oils. Switch to an oil-based gel, balm or cream to get supple skin that’s deep-down clean. The same applies to moisturising creams – falling temperatures can leave complexions feeling tight and dry, so switch to day and night creams with richer textures. TRY Pure Rose Cleansing Balm (£12, Marks & Spencer).

Ditch the bronzer

Add antioxidants

Bronzer can look too orange in the soft autumn light. Instead, perk up your cheeks with a pop of colour blush. Pinks tend to look fresh and pretty at this time of the year after a summer of tan-toned colours. Place the colour high on your cheekbones and complement with soft grey shadows on your eyes.

Ramp up the antioxidants in your beauty routine to stave off the effects of ageing and improve the condition of skin that saw too much summer sun. They’re highly effective at counteracting free radicals, helping to protect the skin on a daily basis from the sun’s UVA/UVB rays, pollution, stress and other aggressors, while also smoothing ﬁne lines and promoting a more radiant complexion. Your diet can also play a key role in helping you achieve a gorgeous complexion during the cooler months – so make sure yours is rich in vitamins C and E, and drink plenty of green tea. TRY Caudalie Vine(Activ) Glow Activating Anti-Wrinkle Serum (£36).

LOVE THOSE LIPS Photos: Claire Collins

Change your skincare routine

Avoid chapped lips in the coming months by following these simple tips… Keep a nourishing lip balm or cream with you and apply throughout the day, every day. At night, rub your lips gently with a warm, damp ﬂannel after cleansing your face and apply more balm before bed. TRY Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant (£20, beauty counters nationwide). For where to buy, see page 151

Body care for central heating You may not be sunbathing at this time of year, but central heating can leave skin dehydrated – and wearing lots of layers can exacerbate the problem. Use a body lotion or, better still, a body oil after every bath or shower – regularity is key here, so no cheating! TRY L’Occitane Fabulous Oil (£26).

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 67

Team T-shirts with tailoring Sarah Pacitto, 51, from Manchester, is a patient co-ordinator. If your outﬁts are usually ultra classic, adding casual separates to the mix is a simple and inexpensive way to shake up your style. A T-shirt adds a fashionable twist to Sarah’s tailored jacket and trousers. Try styling trainers or denim with smart suiting for other easy ways to give yourself a modern makeover.

This fab jacket could easily pass as a designer buy!

Blazer, £32; trousers, £40, both 10-32, Topshop

THE NEW Jacket, £39.99, 6-32, Bon Prix. T-shirt, £20, 12-32, Simply Be. Trousers, £20, 6-18, Dorothy Perkins. Neckscarf, £15, Accessorize. Shoes, £28, 4-9, Simply Be

Striped T-shirt, £28, 8-16, Sugarhill Boutique

SEASON ! p i n s a t a

A fresh, budget-friendly wardrobe is within reach. Just add a few high-street steals to your basics to bring your look bang up to date

Prima makeovers

Add a colourpop coat

Ruche up the sleeves for an of-the-moment styling trick!

Sandy Hughes, 59, from Tenterden, in Kent, is a business manager. The perfect pick-meup for cooler weather, a colourful coat is a great way to prep your autumn wardrobe. What’s more, it doesn’t have to cost the earth – these trendy toppers are all under £35! Choose high-octane brights – such as red, cobalt, yellow or pink – and give your camel coat the season off!

Yellow, £34.99, 8-20, New Look

Pink, £30, 8-20, Matalan

All items £50 or less!

Coat, £25, 6-22, Primark. Top, £29.99, xs-xl, Mango. Skirt, £50, 8-24, RJR.John Rocha at Debenhams. Necklace, £7.50, Matalan. Bracelet, £6.99, New Look. Clutch, £15; shoes, £30, 3-9, both JD Williams

➺

Cobalt, £30, 8-22, George

Dress, £49, 6-18, Warehouse at House of Fraser Sandals, £30, 4-9, Simply Be

Layer like a pro Paxidia Chirawu, 39, from Bromley in Kent, is an orthopaedic nurse. Want your wardrobe to look ultra modern? Layering existing pieces in unexpected ways turns everyday outﬁts into style statements. Here, a white shirt gives a sleeveless top a fresh look. Team with a pair of this season’s wide-legged trousers for your shortcut to chic.

Layering gives your sleeveless summer tops extra mileage!

Top, £29.99, xs-xl, Mango. Shirt, £39, 8-18, John Lewis. Trousers, £25, 6-16, Asos. Earrings, £1.50, Primark. Bag, £25, Accessorize. Shoes, £39, 3-9, Topshop 70 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Feature: Helen Johnson Photos: Angela Spain Hair: Julie Read Make-up: Anna Durston Styling: Sharna Valentine Assisted by: Olivia Parker

Rollneck, £10, 8-20, Bonmarché

Prima makeovers On a tight budget? A little jewellery can go a long way!

Go tonal from top to toe Emma Hounsome, 50, from Pinner in Middlesex, is a learning adviser. Mix and match clothes in the same colour family for a look that’s easy to throw together and gorgeously chic! Make it work by adding interest with contrasting textures and fabrics. Did we mention tonal dressing is the easiest way to look taller and trimmer? Oh, how we love!

Jacket, £30, 8-24, George. Top, £18, 8-22, Peacocks. Skirt, £32.99, 6-32, Bon Prix. Necklace, £8.99, H&M. Clutch, £10, Matalan. Heels, £16, 3-8, Primark

For where to buy, see page 151

Tapestry bag, £27.50, Marks & Spencer

Silk blouse, £39, 8-20, J by Jasper Conran at Debenhams

Wide-legged trousers, £28, 8-22, M&Co

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 71

What’s your

BODY trying to

‘My skin flakes...’ That snowstorm of papery skin when clothes come off isn’t from cold weather – it’s a sign of what you’re not getting! WHAT TO TAKE ‘Omega 3s are brilliant for this, as they help support

tell you?

Those sores, skin ﬂakes and mystery bruises can signal you’re missing out on vital vitamins – and naturopath Rick Hay has the answers. It’s time to love our bodies!

‘My hands and feet are so cold…’ Less-than-brilliant circulation, thyroid function or iron levels can cause this chilliness – in fact, even stress can hinder circulation. WHAT TO TAKE ‘The heat from peppers and ginger are both good additions to your diet in teas, soups and smoothies,’ says Rick. ‘Then maybe rev things up with a supplement featuring herbs linked with vein and circulation health, like diosmin, horse chestnut, ginger or gotu kola.’ TRY Diosmin Plus, £26 for 60 capsules, Victoria Health. WHAT TO DO Try rubbing a cream or oil featuring naturally warming herbs, such as chillies or ginger, into hands and feet to up circulation. TRY Capsicum & Ginger Warming Cream, £9 for 100ml, Victoria Health. It really does the job!

‘My legs won’t keep still…’ Low iron levels can be the cause of those night-time restless legs and there’s a whole stack of remedies that can help. WHAT TO TAKE ‘Start tucking into iron-rich foods, such as turkey, chicken, beef, seafood and lentils,’ says Rick. ‘Then add a duo of supplements – a great daily multivit with iron and some magnesium with calcium nightly to help calm nerves and muscles.’ TRY Swisse Women’s Ultivite Multivitamin, £17.99 for 60 tablets, Boots. Multi Essentials Complex, £20.50 for 90 tablets, Fushi. WHAT TO DO Create some pre-bed calm by spraying legs with magnesium oil – to ease restlessness – and sipping a cup of herbal tea, such as passion ﬂower, lemon balm or valerian. It’s a no-brainer for relaxation and great sleep. TRY Magnesium Oil Goodnight Spray, £12.20 for 100ml, BetterYou. Pukka Night Time Tea, £2.49 for 20 sachets, Ocado.

Your wellbeing skin structure, and reduce lines and dryness,’ says Rick. ‘Fish, ﬂax or algae – you can take your pick, but take them regularly! Plus, drink more water.’ TRY Swisse Maximum Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil Capsules, £24.99

for 60 capsules, Boots. WHAT TO DO Slather skin with coconut oil – it really works and, alongside your omega 3s, it’s a skin bonus! TRY Lucy Bee Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, £12 for 500ml, Holland & Barrett.

‘I have bumps on my arms…’ And they’re in an obvious place at the top of your arms – yes? ‘This can signal a fatty acids deﬁciency,’ reckons Rick. WHAT TO TAKE A really good all-round fatty acid supplement. TRY Ultra Omega 3.6.9, £9.95 for 60 capsules, Vitabiotics.

WHAT TO DO The keratin build-up in follicles creates those hard ‘pimples’. Don’t scrub, but use a body lotion that has high levels of lactic acid to gently remove debris. TRY Transforming Body Lotion, £14.50 for 100ml, Ameliorate.

‘Why these bruises?’ They could be a sign of… age (sorry!), fragile blood vessels, or you may be low in vitamins C and K. WHAT TO TAKE ‘Vitamin C has been shown to help prevent bruising, and most of us are short of it, anyway,’ says Rick. ‘It’s essential for healing and great skin, so taking it is always a good idea.’ Vitamin K2 is beneﬁcial for healthy blood vessels, bones and memory. Take a cocktail of vitamin C and omega 3s with added vitamin K2. TRY The Synergy Company Pure Radiance C, £27.99 for 90 capsules, Nutrimarket. Vitamin K2, £34.98 for 60 softgels, Wiley’s Finest. WHAT TO DO Arnica is the go-to herb for bumps and bruises. Try a spray for ease – getting it on fast helps prevent a bruise forming. TRY Arnica Bumps & Bruises Spray, £6.25 for 20ml, Weleda.

‘Ahhh, the bloating…’ This could be a sign that your digestive enzymes – which help break down food in the gut – aren’t up to snuff. Stress, rushed eating, an out-of-kilter diet and ageing can put the brakes on them, giving you gas, wind and bloating. WHAT TO TAKE ‘Eating a balanced diet will help,’ says Rick. ‘Include whole, raw and fermented foods and take a digestive enzyme supplement to help things along.’ TRY Udo’s Choice Ultimate Digestive Enzymes Blend, £21.99 for 60 capsules, Revital. WHAT TO DO Drink tum-deﬂating herbal tea, such as peppermint, fennel or ginger. TRY Yogi Tea Organic Stomach Ease, £2.39 for 17 bags, Revital.

‘I can’t shake these colds...’ You’re probably low on vitamin C and zinc, and your immunity is on the fritz. You know the drill – it’s time to build yourself up ready to face the winter. WHAT TO TAKE ‘There are so many remedies out there, but I have my favourites,’ says Rick. They are... OLIVE LEAF ‘Research shows that olive leaf extract, with its antibacterial properties, can bolster immunity and fight colds and flu viruses.’ Take it as liquid or capsules – it’s your choice. TRY Olive Leaf Extract Immune Support, £24.98 for 60 capsules, Comvita. PROBIOTICS ‘Everyone should take one daily. Immunity starts in the gut, and happy gut flora mean a boosted immune system.’ TRY Optibac For Every Day, £11.99 for 30 capsules, Revital. MANUKA ‘The honey with great nutritional cred. Packed with enzymes, vits and minerals, it’s said to boost immunity as well as deal with sore throats, allergies and more. Eat it from the spoon or add to hot water and drink. TRY Watson & Son Manuka Honey 16+, £43.95 for 250g, G Baldwin & Co. ELDERBERRY ‘A real classic, and a top antiviral and immunity booster. Naturally high in vitamin C, B6 and more, it can help shorten colds and flu.’ TRY Immune + Elderberry, £21.99 for 60 tablets, Swisse. They’re a great energy booster, too!

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 73

‘The corners of my mouth are cracked…’ And probably a bit sore, too. After the tongue, it’s one of the classic places that reveals a nutritional let-down. ‘It’s a sign that your body isn’t getting enough B vits, and it’s often due to a diet heavy in sugar and reﬁned foods,’ says Rick. WHAT TO TAKE ‘Start by eating more wholefoods, then add B-rich eats, such as salmon, eggs, porridge, nuts and seeds,’ suggests Rick. ‘And start taking a really good vitamin B complex to plug any gaps.’ TRY Terra Nova B Complex with vitamin C, £24 for 100 capsules, Planet Organic. WHAT TO DO Dab a little aloe vera gel or some coconut oil on the ‘corners’ daily to keep skin hydrated and supple. Plus, they help prevent cracks.

‘Another cold sore…’ If you’re a slave to them, it’s all down to a dormant virus that ﬂares up. What kicks up the action? Low immunity, stress and sun. WHAT TO TAKE ‘L-Lysine helps prevent the virus replicating itself and strengthens the immune system,’ says Rick. WHAT TO DO Dab on essential oil. There are lots that help topically, but Melissa seems to speed-heal the little devils. Start dabbing on as soon as you feel the tingle! TRY Melissa 2% Essential Oil Blend, £17.50 for 10ml, Napiers. 74 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

‘My eyes feel scratchy…’ Dry eyes could be your body’s way of telling you to step away from the screen for a bit! That’s just one reason – others include the Pill and certain medications. WHAT TO TAKE Something that’s known to moisten things up. ‘Omega 7 could be your go-to supplement,’ says Rick. ‘Found in the oil from sea buckthorn berries, it’s an essential fatty acid that you may never have heard of, but that supports skin and mucous membranes in the eyes,

‘My lips are soooo dry…’ And no amount of salve can sort it, right? Chances are, you’re dehydrated. WHAT TO TAKE ‘Water, of course!’ says Rick. ‘A couple of litres downed daily will see off the dryness in short order – no vitamins required. The trick is to spin out lots of small glasses through

For where to buy, see page 151

Your wellbeing

Feature: Daisy Gough Photos: Getty, Alamy. Consult your GP about any specific concerns and before following any medical advice on these pages

‘Ouch! More mouth ulcers...’

‘Ooh, my aching head…’ Headaches are a sign that something is wrong somewhere. Finding the cause can help us sort the remedy. Yours could be due to…

Why we get them is a mystery. Anything from zealous tooth brushing to food sensitivities have been blamed. So where to start? WHAT TO TAKE ‘I feel it’s an immunity, gut and stress thing, so taking probiotics or aloe vera gel daily is a good start for those plagued by them,’ says Rick. ‘Previous research has revealed that taking vitamin B12 sublingually can help prevent them.’ TRY Solgar Methylcobalamin 1,000mcg, £11.99 for 30 nuggets, Revital. WHAT ELSE Once ulcers appear, act fast by swishing a spoonful of coconut oil around your mouth. Its anti-inﬂammatory action really helps. Or dab on a little honey – also antibacterial! TRY Bye Mouth Ulcer, £8.95 for 15ml, Revital.

LOW BLOOD SUGAR

TOO MUCH FIZZ

Yes, that headache will come with a side order of anxiety, foggy brain and maybe hunger, too. ‘Chromium can help level out those headachecausing blood sugar troughs – especially when dieting,’ says Rick. TRY Viridian Chromium & Cinnamon Complex, £25 for 60 capsules, Victoria Health.

‘It’s been said that downing too many diet drinks with artiﬁcial sweeteners can start a headache,’ says Rick. ‘Try skipping them for a while and hydrating with ﬁzzy water spiked with fruit juice.’ TRY Glow Food Superfood Powder, £18.95 for 200g, Healthista. Drop a teaspoon in a bottle of water and sip – antioxidants with a lovely berry taste!

throat and more personal places. Start taking it now and it should start working in about three weeks.’ TRY Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil 1,000mg, £18.95 for 60 capsules, Nature’s Best. WHAT ELSE Give eyes a soothing steam bath. Fill a bowl with hot water, throw in a chamomile tea bag, pop a towel over your head and the bowl. Open your eyes and let the steam soothe them. Not too close, though!

SCREEN HEAD

the day, not one or two huge ones – that just sends you to the loo!’ WHAT TO DO Use a home-made lip scrub that whips off dry skin and leaves moisture behind by mixing 1tsp each of coconut oil and honey. Simply rub over your lips and then wipe off the excess. Easy!

FATIGUE If doing too much and staying up late is the norm, then so are those headaches. Try something other than painkillers. ‘I suggest adding spirulina to juices to help boost energy and reduce headaches.’ TRY Synergy Natural 100% Organic Spirulina Powder, £19.99 for 200g, Planet Organic.

CAFFEINE OVERLOAD Sorry, no sympathy or supplements forthcoming. ‘Cut down on caffeine by easing off slowly. Start with green tea (just a tiny kick of caffeine), then go all-out herbal.’ You can kiss caffeine-heads goodbye!

That ache behind the eyes can be caused by eyestrain from focusing too hard and for too long. ‘Taking regular breaks and supporting eye health with the right supplement can help prevent them. Look out for the nutrients zeaxanthin and lutein.’ TRY Vitabiotics Visionace Plus Omega-3, £15.99 for 56 tablets, Boots.

STRESS ‘It hasn’t gone unnoticed that headache sufferers are often low in magnesium. Taking some regularly could help reduce the number you get and help ease stress and tension.’ TRY Floradix Magnesium Mineral Drink, £10.49 for 250ml, or Together Natural Marine Magnesium, £5.99 for 30 capsules, both Holland & Barrett.

All about Rick… Rick is a nutritionist, naturopath, supplement formulator and director of healthista.com. An updated version of his hit book, The Anti Ageing Food & Fitness Plan (£10.99, Clink Street), is out now. For more on Rick’s work, visit rickhay.co.uk.

Best of health

HOW YOU COULD

save a life Would you know what to do in an emergency? Dr Sarah Brewer reveals all you need to know to act quickly in a crisis

The recovery position You may remember learning this as a child, but it’s useful to refresh your knowledge of this simple technique. If you know the recovery position, you can keep an unresponsive person’s airway open until medical help arrives.

If they are on their back, straighten their arms and legs. Kneeling beside them, lift the arm nearest to you sideways at right angles to their body. Lay their forearm and palm upwards, parallel with their head.

Bring their other arm across their chest and put the back of that hand against their cheek nearest to you. Hold it there with the ﬂat of your hand. Lift the knee farthest from you so that their foot is on the ﬂoor, next to their other knee.

Asthma attack

A potentially life-threatening asthma attack occurs every 10 seconds in the UK. The airways of asthma sufferers are sensitive to triggers, sending them into spasm, Pull the bent leading to coughing, wheezing, tightness of the knee towards chest and difficulty breathing. During an attack, the you, so the lining of the airways swells, which can cause a person rolls towards second bout of wheezing six to eight hours later. If you on to their side, someone has an attack, sit them down and ensure almost face down. they take slow breaths and remain calm. Help them Tilt their head back take one puff of their reliever inhaler (usually to open the airway to blue) every 30-60 seconds, up to 10 puffs. If drain vomit or saliva. they don’t improve, or they deteriorate, Position the top leg 90 call an ambulance. If paramedics don’t degrees to their body arrive within 15 minutes, try so it stops them rolling inhaler again. on to their stomach.

O Don’t move someone if you

suspect they have a spinal injury, unless their breathing is affected or they need to be removed from danger.

Cardiac arrest When someone’s heart stops beating during a cardiac arrest, blood is no longer pumped around the body. But if you can keep circulation moving until help arrives, you can boost their chances of survival. Check for a response by gently shaking their shoulders. If they don’t respond, call for help but don’t leave them. Tilt their head back, then lift their chin. Check if the person is breathing normally by looking for chest movements, listening for breathing and feeling for breath on your cheek. Look, listen and feel for 10 seconds.

If the person isn’t breathing, is gasping, or if you’re not sure if their breathing is normal, start CPR. Push hard and fast on the centre of their chest – using the heels of your hands and interlocking your ﬁngers – at a rate of two pushes per second. Give 30 compressions.

The gold standard of CPR is to give rescue breaths – where you open their airway, pinch the nose closed and breathe into the mouth. Give two rescue breaths after every 30 chest compressions. But if you’re not trained in CPR, just doing compressions is far better than doing nothing.

O Keep going until paramedics arrive, or the person wakes up – in which case,

place them in the recovery position. There’s a really helpful video featuring the ex-footballer Vinnie Jones. Visit bhf.org.uk and search ‘hands only CPR’.

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 77

I last dealt with anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction) in a car park. The lady didn’t have an adrenalin shot, because she’d never had a reaction before, so I gave her antihistamines, which stopped her deteriorating until she received full treatment. Symptoms develop when an allergen (foreign protein) causes the release of histamine. A cascade of potentially catastrophic symptoms can occur, some of which are immediate; others are delayed by half an hour or more. Without emergency treatment, these can be fatal. Triggers include foods (especially nuts, milk, seafood, egg, soy and wheat); insect venom (such as bee stings); antibiotics (particularly penicillin); drugs (including ibuprofen and aspirin); and hair dye. In many cases, no cause is found. You may see rapid swelling of the tongue and airways, wheezing and breathing difficulties, heart rhythm abnormalities and a fall in blood pressure. The person may also collapse. Rapid treatment with adrenalin, antihistamines and corticosteroids is life-saving in 98% of cases. Call an ambulance, remove any trigger (such as a bee sting) and lie the person flat or let them sit if they’re having difficulty breathing. Administer their adrenalin auto-injector, if they have one (you’ll find instructions on the side), or help them do this themselves. If symptoms don’t ease, give a second injection after five to 10 minutes. Even if the person seems to recover, they will need hospital treatment to prevent a relapse several hours later.

Severe bleeding Recently, a friend knocked on my door and held up his ﬁnger, which had been severed by his dog’s lead outside my house! I placed it in a bag, kept it cool and drove to A&E. If someone is bleeding heavily, either from a cut or another cause, such as miscarriage, call an ambulance. Lie the person down and check for any obvious wound. Apply continuous pressure over it with your hand, using a clean pad, if possible. If blood seeps through

Choking

If the person can still breathe, encourage them to cough, as this will help to loosen the object.

Stand behind them, put an arm across their upper chest and bend them forwards. Give up to ﬁve sharp blows between shoulder blades, using the heel of your hand.

If this fails, lean them forwards and place a clenched fist against their upper abdomen just above their belly button. Hold this fist with your other hand, and pull firmly inwards and upwards to dislodge the object. If this doesn’t work, repeat up to five times. Continue this until you clear the object or you have to start CPR. O Don’t give abdominal thrusts to babies

under one or pregnant women. Lay infants face down on your lap while supporting their head and give up to five blows on their back. If this doesn’t work, perform chest thrusts by placing two fingers on the middle of their breastbone and giving up to five sharp compressions. For pregnant women, if back blows don’t work, try chest thrusts by placing your fist against their sternum rather than the abdomen and push inwards up to five times.

the pad, don’t remove it – apply another on top so you don’t disturb the wound. Maintain pressure until bleeding stops, then bandage wound firmly. If something is embedded in the wound, such as glass, don’t remove it. Instead, press firmly on either side of the object. If a finger has been severed, place it in a sealed plastic bag, keep it cool (for example, place the bag inside another bag containing iced water) and give it to paramedics – it may be possible to reattach it.

• Thanks to St John Ambulance for its help. For more ﬁrst aid advice, visit sja.org.uk 78 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Photos: Getty Illustrations: St John Ambulance

Allergic reaction

HOW TO CUT YOUR RISK We all know someone who’s been affected by cancer, so it’s no surprise it’s top of our worry list. But with many of the risk factors within our control, here’s how you can ease the anxiety

ere’s an astonishing – and rather reassuring – fact about cancer that you may not already know: a massive nine out of 10 cases are caused by lifestyle. This means that, in many cases, your health is in your own hands, and by making small tweaks, you can safeguard your body right through to old age. Cutting-edge research is helping to discover new ways to limit our

Get on your feet We’re a nation of sitters. According to recent research, those in midlife spend more time sitting down than pensioners – 45- to 54-year-olds clocked up an average of 7.8 hours per weekday sitting down, compared with just 7.4 hours for the over 75s. ‘A sedentary lifestyle increases your cancer risk partly because being inactive is linked to obesity, but it’s a risk independent of that, too,’ says Dr Crosbie. ‘Women who are active have a lower cancer risk than those who are equally as overweight but also sedentary. Womb cancer is particularly impacted by too much sitting, and being 80 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

of cancer

cancer risk, and they’re often as simple as changing what we eat or adding a few minutes of the right kind of activity to our days. So when we read the scary statistic that cancer rates will increase nearly six times faster in women than in men during the next two decades, we shouldn’t panic, say medical experts. ‘The predicted rise in female cancer rates is mainly down to lifestyle, most obviously obesity, but also alcohol, smoking, too much sitting and low uptake of cancer screenings,’ says Dr Emma Crosbie, cancer surgeon and member of wellbeingofwomen.org.uk. A few simple lifestyle shifts can dramatically lower your risk of a whole host of female cancers. Here’s how…

active is very important when it comes to postmenopausal breast cancer.’ You don’t need to be sweating it out in the gym day after day to see the benefits of exercise. Researchers recently analysed studies involving 12 million women and found that, after menopause, moderate activities – such as gardening – can cut the risk of breast cancer by 13%. ‘Little and often is beneficial,’ says Dr Crosbie. ‘You don’t have to be in gym kit to be active. Just walking for 20 minutes five times a week is great. Count your steps and try to increase them gradually. If it takes less than 20 minutes to walk somewhere,

13% The rate moderate activities, such as gardening, can cut the risk of breast cancer

Health report ‘Women who are active have a lower risk of cancer. You don’t have to go to a gym – just walking is great’ always walk. Get off the bus a stop early, cycle to work, take the dog out for a little longer. Cleaning and grocery shopping count – anything that gets you moving.’ There’s a lot of hype around standing desks, too, but the best option is an adjustable desk, where you can alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day. When researchers gave people sit-stand desks, it reduced their sedentary time by more than three hours a week. If you work in an office, make an effort to incorporate more activity into your days – print at the furthest printer, go to the loo on the next ﬂoor, take half an hour of exercise at lunchtime. It all adds up.

GET THE DRINKS BALANCE RIGHT It’s easy to get into the habit of relaxing with a glass of wine at the end of a long day. But it seems we’re not stopping at just the one. Historically, men have been far more likely to drink alcohol in quantities that damage their health but, in recent years, the amount women drink has crept up, and now the gender gap has shrunk so much that we’re catching up with men in alcohol consumption and its associated harms. The issue is that we have a high fat to water ratio, so the alcohol is more concentrated. We also have smaller livers with which to process it. But our livers aren’t the only thing we’re damaging. ‘Excess alcohol is also linked to head and neck cancer, and heavily linked to breast cancer,’ says Dr Crosbie. It’s thought that as many as 12,000 cases of breast cancer could be avoided if women drunk no alcohol at all.

We’re not saying you need to go teetotal, just to be aware. One 175ml glass of 14% ABV wine a night adds up to nearly 17 units a week and, let’s face it, one often leads to another! ‘It’s easy to lose track of units at home, especially if you’re sharing a bottle of wine,’ says Dr Crosbie. ‘Units can be hard to calculate, but the total number is printed on the back of a bottle of wine, so make sure you look.’ Experts agree that having two or three back-to-back boozefree nights a week allows your liver to regenerate. And, when you do drink, buy a goodquality wine that you will take your time over. It’s not about abstaining, but adjusting.

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 81

When a letter arrives inviting you to a health screening, it can feel like one more thing to add to a never-ending to-do list. But cervical screenings (previously known as smear tests) are thought to save around 5,000 lives a year in the UK and prevent eight out of 10 cancers from developing, while mammograms save 1,300 lives a year. The most obvious advice is to go for your screenings whenever you’re called, but aside from that, keep an eye on worrying symptoms. When it comes to checking your breasts, check your armpit and up to your collarbones for lumps, swelling or thickening of the skin. The more you know what’s normal, the more conﬁdent you’ll be to spot differences, like a change in size or shape. Always see your GP about unexplained, constant pain in your breast or armpit, too. Eight out of 10 lumps are not cancerous, but you only know by checking. Other signs to look out for when it comes to female cancers are pelvic pain, unusual discharge or bleeding – such as after sex – changes in bathroom habits, persistent bloating and itching or burning ‘down there’.

‘Losing as little as 10% of body weight reduces the risk of a wide range of illnesses’ STUB OUT CIGARETTES FOR GOOD It’s hard to quit but giving up smoking is the single most important thing you can do for your health. ‘Substances in smoke damage DNA and cause mutations, which can lead to cancer – and not only lung cancer. Cervical, head, neck, stomach, pancreatic and bowel cancers are all linked to smoking,’ says Dr Crosbie. Research has shown that people who smoke 82 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

20 cigarettes a day are 26 times more likely than non-smokers to get lung cancer, but even three cigarettes a day makes you six times as likely. But quitting has a major impact: 10 years after you’ve stopped smoking, your lung cancer risk is half that of someone who has continued to smoke, and just a year after quitting, your chances of getting heart disease drop to about

half that of a smoker. Vaping gets the thumbs up from Cancer Research UK, based on what we currently know. Researchers found that people who swapped cigarettes for vaping had lower levels of cancercausing substances in their bodies after six months, while a review by Public Health England found that e-cigs are 95% less harmful than tobacco. But because

both vaping and e-cigs are relatively new, more research is needed. If you don’t like the idea of vaping, take a look at the free NHS Smokefree app, which gives practical tips and daily messages of support to help you quit.

Feature: Laura Potter Photos: Camera Press/Backup, Getty. Consult your GP about any specific concerns and before following any medical advice on these pages

Be a slave to your screenings

Health report

Follow the holiday diet

HEALTHY HABITS THAT YOU CAN ADOPT... TODAY! ENJOY A BREW Researchers have found that drinking tea more than three times a week gives you 27% less chance of developing any digestive system cancer. LOVE YOUR VEG Research has shown that you can lower your cancer risk by 13% by munching 10 portions (800g) of fruit and veg a day. Go colourful! The best options are green veg, such as green beans; those with a yellow or orange hue, like peppers; and cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli or cabbage. BECOME AN ACTIVE COMMUTER Leave the car keys at home – you cut your cancer risk by 45% when you cycle or walk to work. Even being active for some of your commute will have an impact. GET INTO GARDENING Before the menopause, vigorous exercise, such as running, has the biggest impact on your cancer risk. But after menopause, moderate exercise, such as gardening and walking, is thought to cut your risk of breast cancer by 13%. FALL FOR FAKE TAN If you want a golden glow, get it from a bottle, not a sunbed – people who use them are 20% more likely to develop melanoma. Fake tan is so good now, why risk it?

only takes a few simple shifts to shed We all know we should lose that spare tyre around the middle, but so often our the 1-2lb a week that GPs recommend diets seem to start next Monday! Yet the as the healthiest way to slim down. When it comes to what you eat, added risk of carrying just a bit of extra weight may make you think twice before there’s lots of advice pointing to a Mediterranean diet of lean tucking into that extra muffin. meat, fish, olive oil and ‘Obesity is second only plenty of vegetables, to smoking as the nuts and seeds. Think biggest preventable of it as eating like cause of cancer,’ you’re on holiday! Emma explains. ‘Fat If changing your tissue produces Lower your cancer risk diet completely feels oestrogen, and by this amount by too difficult, ease having lots of munching 10 portions yourself into it. Start oestrogen floating of fruit and veg a day by keeping a food around is one of the diary for a week. ‘Use it most important factors to spot when you eat treats,’ in female hormone-driven says Dr Crosbie. ‘You may snack cancers, such as womb, on chocolate at 4pm every day, so postmenopausal breast and colorectal.’ substitute this for something healthier, But losing as little as 10% of body like fruit or nuts. Often, overweight weight significantly reduces the risk people skip breakfast, then eat of a wide range of illnesses. And while high-calorie foods in the afternoon, you might think you need to overhaul your whole lifestyle to lose weight, it so always have a healthy breakfast.’

13%

Family matters

Surprise! Your grown-up kids

ARE BACK!

says Kate Webb, head of policy and research at Shelter. ‘Young people at the start of their careers or in low-paid industries are being forced to fork out more and more of their monthly income just to keep a roof over their heads. And when paying rent is like being stuck on a hamster wheel, it’s no surprise that so many are choosing to move back in with their parents.’ Of course, we can’t turn our cherished offspring away – but living under the same roof isn’t easy. So what can we do to prevent a descent into a bigger version of the teen wars we thought we’d left behind?

When your children leave home, you don’t expect them to return! But that’s what a whole ‘boomerang generation’ is doing. Here’s how to live in harmony

nce, it was straightforward: after successfully raising your children (and having the worry lines to prove it), you could put your feet up, have some me-time, and take a bath in peace. Today, it’s a very different scenario. Those fledglings you waved goodbye to not so long ago are likely to fly back again. Millions of parents are now putting a roof over the heads of the so-called ‘boomerang generation’. As many as one in five working adults

84 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

aged 20 to 34 moved back into their parents’ or grandparents’ home between 2014 and 2015, according to research from Shelter. And it’s thought that four in 10 young people currently live at home, thanks to a combination of high housing costs, rising debt and stagnant incomes. ‘The sad fact is that millions of people are being forced to put their lives on hold because there are nowhere near enough affordable homes available,’

You may have a great relationship when you see each other once a month, but living under one roof again will take some adjusting to. ‘Both parent and child will feel like their wings have been clipped,’ says clinical psychologist Linda Blair. ‘Parents love their kids, but often feel “it’s my time now”. Don’t feel guilty about that anger. It shows you’ve adjusted to one change and therefore are able to adjust to this next change.’ Bear in mind that the returning child is likely to feel like they’ve failed and, though your instinct will be to make everything better, you need to let them solve their own problems. ‘The more you treat them as a child, the more you’ll reinforce that feeling,’ adds Linda. So how you can you build a new dynamic that works for everyone? Ground rules are key, says Linda. ‘Draw up a contract. For example, agree that they’re free to come and go as they please, but that they must respect the timetables and needs of other family members,’ says Linda. ‘Above all, talk to each other like adults rather than slipping into old habits of telling them what to do.’

Feature: Elayne Nunan Photos: Getty

Finding a balance

Advice for you Keeping the peace

Money matters The question of rent is a sticky one and, because each family’s circumstances are different, there is no set answer. But it’s worth knowing that the price of a stay-at-home child is close to £3,750 a year, according to a 2014 survey of over 2,500 people, with returning children contributing an average of just £51 a week to the household pot. ‘You may be willing to let your child live rent-free so they can save, but don’t leave yourself short in order to do so,’ says Sally Francis, from MoneySavingExpert.com. Some parents like to stash the cash they get from their children in a savings account to give to them in the future; a great idea if you can afford it. ‘Alternatively, ask for a contribution towards expenses only – food and bills, for example – or for them to help out in other ways, like cooking. Just make sure you both know what the expectations are upfront. This means talking about everything from the gas and water bills

‘We know this won’t be for ever’ Alison Hughes, 54, from West Sussex, is married and has two daughters. Her eldest, Becky, 30, returned home four years ago. ‘When Becky decided to come back home, I didn’t really think about what it would mean for me. She’d been living independently for six years, ﬁrst at university, then moving to London to be an events organiser. But I knew she was unhappy and stressed, so I was relieved

to food and broadband,’ adds Sally. However, Linda strongly suggests treating returning children like you would a lodger. ‘See it as a business arrangement rather than a homecoming,’ she says. ‘It’s vital they feel independent, so ask them what they’re earning, show them the household bills and ask what they think is a fair contribution. The amount is irrelevant, but if you’re not getting any payment, the temptation will be to worry about the washing-up and curfews, while they’re made to feel like teenagers again.’

When you’re all living under one roof, it’s inevitable that arguments will occur. ‘There will be ﬂare-ups and old tensions will resurface,’ says Linda. ‘But shouting never resolves anything, so just remember the golden rule – the power of silence. Don’t say anything there and then, give it time, then decide later whether or not it’s important enough to raise. If it is, discuss it when everyone’s feeling calm. ‘If you can negotiate a peaceful co-existence, you might be pleasantly surprised to ﬁnd an unexpected bonus – spending quality time with your child.’

HOW TO MAKE IT WORK Don’t help them get a job You’ve done your job raising them, now it’s up to them to take responsibility. Don’t feel sorry for them Let them buy their own groceries. Don’t ask questions They’ll tell you as much

as they want to. Err on the side of caution! Don’t let things irritate you If they keep leaving smelly food in the fridge, for example, don’t bring it up until you’re feeling calm. Do give lots of hugs Show your support.

she was taking a proactive step. It was certainly an adjustment. My husband Michael and I were used to having the place to ourselves. But we could all see that Becky returning to live with us was the best thing for her. After a few temporary jobs, Becky now works in equine therapy – using horses to help people through personal issues. She is much happier doing this. But because she’s on a low income, we have decided not to charge her rent. Her salary places enough restrictions on her as it is, and we want her to be happy. We don’t have a formal arrangement in place. We all eat dinner together most nights and Becky pitches in around the house. The hardest thing I’ve found is coping with all the extra belongings! But Becky and I now spend much more quality time together than we used to, going to pub quizzes and the cinema.

Do review the contract regularly If they’re not upholding their side of the bargain – for example, paying rent late – speak up. Do look out for signs of depression If you’re worried, seek advice from your GP.

We all know this arrangement won’t be for ever. I worry that Becky feels guilty for living with us, but I don’t begrudge her. I just feel sad that she’s not living the independent life she’d like to.’ BECKY SAYS ‘When I moved back, I was burned out from a demanding job. Moving home felt like the only option for my health. It was, of course, a huge adjustment. At first, I got lots of: “Where are you going and who with?”, which felt like an invasion of my privacy. But they’ve learned to give me my own space, and I’ve come to accept that they only ask because they care. I do miss having my own place but, financially, it isn’t possible right now. My parents appreciate that things are difficult for my generation, and I tell them often how grateful I am. I’m saving hard so that next time I fly the nest, it will be for good.’ PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 85

Tech savvy

GADGETS TO GET YOU THR£UGH

THE DAY Our pick of the best time-saving tech to help make your life just that little bit easier every day

TURN UP THE HEAT The Nest Learning thermostat gradually works out your schedule until it knows what you need. After noticing you’ve been tweaking the temperature up a few degrees in the mornings, it will adapt and do that for you. Wi-ﬁ connected, it detects your presence via the app on your phone, so knows when you leave the house and – like a hungry cat – when you’re walking up the path in the evening. The thermostat will automatically set to an eco-friendly temperature when you leave and then make the house cosy for your return. This third generation Nest also controls your hot water and will automatically switch it off after you’ve been away for a few days. £279 with installation, Nest 86 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

BREW AND GO Wake up and smell the FIND YOUR KEYS coffee... on the way to the kitchen! If you ransack the house to find The Nespresso Prodigio is linked to an your keys most mornings, then app so that you can schedule it to brew take control. Attach the Tile Mate your morning caffeine hit – ideal if you need Bluetooth Tracker to your keys to grab it and go. The water only takes and, if you lose them, your 25 seconds to heat up. phone will track them down Just make sure it’s filled for you via the linked app. Just the night before and press ‘find’ and the Tile will sound that there’s a capsule loudly. If it’s your phone you’ve in the machine. mislaid, double-press the Tile and £199.99, your phone will play a tune – it’ll even Lakeland override the silent setting. £23, John Lewis

Advice for you

LEAVE YOUR DESK There’s nothing like a ﬁtness tracker to shame you into action, and it’s amazing how many steps a walk around the block can clock up. The Garmin Vivosmart 3 will remind you to get moving when you’ve been sedentary for too long, even if it’s just a twominute walk to the printer. £129.99, John Lewis

MAKE EVENING PLANS If you love a night out with friends but hate the admin that comes with trying to ﬁnd a mutually convenient date, Doodle is a free scheduling app that takes the palaver out of planning. Simply create an event, select several date options, enter your friends’ email addresses and send off the invite. They then click on the calendar dates they are available, so that you come up with the magic free night. Phew.

BEAT THE MIDAFTERNOON SLUMP If you’re flagging at work, try a hit of oxygen. Boost Oxygen is 95% oxygen and 5% aroma – just inhale it three to five times when you need a boost. The Menthol-Eucalyptus variety is designed to stimulate blood flow to the brain and assist with mental performance and memory. £17.99, Boost Oxygen

Feature: Lindsay Calder Photo: Getty

BLOCK SPAM CALLS If infuriating calls are interrupting your day, block the call on your mobile. On an iPhone, go to the recent calls list and press the ‘i’ by the number – on the bottom of the next screen, you’ll ﬁnd ‘block this caller’. Android phones vary, but new Samsungs, for example, have a blocking option in the menu at the top right of the caller list page.

For where to buy, see page 151

USE A SMART DOORMAN

TIDY UP

By the time you’ve given out keys to kids, neighbours and the dog walker, it’s easy to lose track of them. To make things simpler, install an outdoor key safe. The Masterlock Select Access Smart gives you total control. You can open it via the app or a number combination, cancel or add permissions at any time, and give people access for a limited period. Great for giving a key to trusted builders or Airbnb guests without having to stay home or hide it under a plant pot. It’s also a godsend if you get locked out! Easy to install, the lock has ‘military grade’ encryption and you’ll get a tamper alert if there is any suspicious activity. £179, Amazon

If you like giving orders in the kitchen, here’s a bin that will do your bidding. Just say ‘open sesame’ and the voice-controlled Simplehuman bin will open up for you. Crucially, the sensor detects your presence so the lid will stay open until you walk away, with no danger of it shutting in the middle of a plate scrape. It’s a goodlooking, 58-litre bin in stainless steel. Batteries need to be replaced every six months or so. £229.99, Simplehuman (from November)

MEET YOUR NEW KITCHEN ASSISTANT The free Salter Cook app is like a digital sous chef. It’s loaded with its own recipes and you can import others from certain websites. But the clever bit is in the tweaking. If you want to scale a recipe up or down, it will reconﬁgure the ingredients for you. If you want to adapt it to make it your own, it will save the amended recipe for next time. You can also strike through each step of the recipe to ﬁt as you go. If you want to go totally tech, you can link Salter’s Bluetooth scales and cooking thermometer to the app for speedy pro-style cooking. Bluetooth Pro scales and thermometer set, £129.98, Salter

OPEN UP THAT BOTTLE!

SET A

For an instant glass of vino without WAKE-UP CALL grappling with the corkscrew, enlist This glam radio, with Lulu the help of a pro. Like a seasoned Guinness’s iconic lips design, is sommelier, this Quick a boudoir multitasker. As well as a Charge corkscrew will DAB radio, it works as a have the cork out in Bluetooth speaker and seconds. With a sleek, alarm. Too exhausted to rubberized design, it’s a stretch out a hand to pleasing bit of kitchen kit operate it? Just use the and will open 60 bottles VQ control app on on a single battery charge! your phone, darling! If the battery is ﬂat, don’t £89.95, John worry, you can do a quick Lewis charge in 90 seconds. Cheers! £29.99, NSAuk PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 87

Brilliant money moves

WHICH INSURANCE DO YOU

TOP TIP Check, check and check the small print. Nearly half of us don’t know what our insurance covers.

really

NEED?

Insurance isn’t the sexiest subject, but get the right policies in place and your money will go further FIND THE RIGHT FIT We all need car, buildings and contents insurance. Beyond that, tailor cover to fit your family and your finances. ‘If you have dependants, you really need life insurance,’ says Kevin Pratt, insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket.com. ‘Travel insurance is essential, as the financial consequences of falling ill abroad can be devastating. Life events, like weddings, may also be worth covering – especially as the average one costs around £30,000.’ Claudia Hammond, psychologist and author of Mind Over Money, says: ‘Work out if you’re paying to insure against the financial impact of something happening or whether you’re paying out so you won’t kick yourself if you haven’t got insurance.’ TIP Carefully read each policy. Only 11% of home contents policies automatically cover personal possessions, including jewellery and other valuables, outside of the home. 88 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Don’t double up Before you take out a new policy, check you’re not covered elsewhere. Contents cover, for example, may include holiday baggage. You may have to pay extra to add valuables to a general contents policy, so compare that against the cost of taking out separate cover. You may also have a packaged bank account or credit card with phone cover. TIP Before you rely on travel insurance packaged with your bank account, check each year how much it would pay and what’s excluded.

LOOK AFTER NUMBER ONE As well as insuring your possessions, think about yourself. ‘My two go-to policies would be life insurance, because you need to think about what would be left behind if you died, and income protection, because I think there could be a chance of being out of work for more than six months during my working life,’ says Raluca BoroianuOmura, head of protection and health at the Association of British Insurers. But just 39% of mums have a life insurance policy, and fewer than one in 10 would be able to pay three months of bills if they or their partner lost their income. You’re even more vulnerable if you work for yourself. ‘If you’re selfemployed with ﬁnancial commitments but no safety net, income protection – which pays out a percentage of your earnings – could be very valuable,’ says Gareth Shaw, money expert at Which. TIP Some employers will help out if you get ill, or pay out for death in service, so you won’t need as much insurance. Check what’s on offer.

Avoid auto renewal A quarter of us automatically renew our home insurance instead of shopping around, so we miss out on savings of up to £59 each. Since April this year, renewal documents have had to remind people what they paid last year and what they will be charged for the current one. They also include reminders to check cover and shop around. TIP ‘Companies tend to keep their best prices for new customers, and once they’ve got you, they can easily sneak through increases,’ says Kevin. ‘Over time, that could mean you paying a lot more than if you shop around.’

Advice for you

Drive down cost

Feature: Mel Hunter Photos: Getty. Mind Over Money by Claudia Hammond (Canongate, £14.99)

Pick a pet policy Pet insurance gives you peace of mind that you can look after your four-legged friend, with a record £1.8m now being paid out in claims every day. But you have to do your homework to ﬁnd the right policy to suit your pet and your purse. ‘There are some policies that look really cheap, but what they actually pay out on is minimal and once your pet has had a particular illness or

injury, it will be excluded going forward,’ says Gareth. TIP An annual policy may look better value, but if your pet is treated during the year, you’ll be stung at renewal time. Most owners go for costlier lifetime cover (this still needs to be renewed each year).

CHOOSING THE PERFECT POLICY Avoid insurance pitfalls with these tips from the Money Advice Service’s Andrew Johnson. Read the terms and conditions, checking for exclusions to your policy and additional charges. Shop around to make sure you get the best deals to suit your family and ﬁnances. Take note of the eligibility criteria for individual policies. Check the insurance

cover meets your needs and that any pay out will cover what you’ve lost. Don’t buy on price alone. A cheaper policy may not cover your complete claim if you need it. Be honest with the details you give so that you disclose relevant information. Check the excess that applies to your policy. • For more advice and information, visit moneyadviceservice.org.uk

Car insurance premiums are at record levels and if you have new drivers in your family, you’ll be feeling the pinch more than most. One way around this is telematics, where the insurer ﬁts a tracker to a car to monitor driving. ‘If you demonstrate you are a responsible driver, you’ll be rewarded with a lower premium,’ says Kevin. More than half of parents would consider saying that they are the main driver of a vehicle that is mostly driven by their child to save money. ‘But if the child is doing the bulk of the driving, you’ll be committing a type of insurance fraud called “fronting”, which can land you in court,’ says Kevin. Insurers can also refuse to pay out for damage to the car and cancel the policy. It can also leave you with a criminal record. TIP You may be quoted a lower price a month before the renewal date on your car insurance than the day before, so do your homework to lock in the price early.

DON’T MISS THE PPI DEADLINE Around 45 million payment protection insurance (PPI) policies were sold over 20 years from 1990. They were designed to cover loan repayments if the policyholder fell ill or lost their job, but PPI was massively mis-sold to people who didn’t need it or would not be eligible to make a claim. Millions of people have already received payouts and now a ﬁnal deadline for claims has been set for 29 August 2019. If you’ve got a niggling feeling that you could be entitled to compensation, there’s lots of help available. ‘There’s no need to use a claims management company – which will skim off up to 40% – there are lots of simple online tools you can use instead,’ says Gareth. Which.co.uk and Resolver.co.uk can guide you through the process. PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 89

MODERN

CLASSIC

COSY CORNER The squashy leather sofas are a favourite place for sitting and chatting to guests (for similar, try Darlings of Chelsea). Sam had the ﬁreplace built from reclaimed bricks, and it’s in constant use in winter. The mantelpiece is an old railway sleeper.

F FULL OF CHARM Sam and Philip fell for the charming mid-Victorian cottage before they’d even set foot through the front door. 90 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

inding your dream home isn’t easy, but when Sam Breckner spotted a Victorian cottage for sale in a local magazine, it seemed to tick most of the boxes on her wish list. ‘My husband Philip and I were after a period house in a rural setting, close to decent transport links for commuting into London,’ says Sam. The house, a semi-detached former gamekeeper’s cottage, is at the end of a long, winding track on the outskirts of a Hertfordshire village, with only one

neighbouring property – an adjoining cottage. ‘I loved the house and thought the setting was idyllic – and, fortunately, Philip agreed,’ says Sam. ‘Although it was too small and rather dated, we intended to extend and put our own stamp on it. And the big garden, framed by mature trees, was an added bonus. ‘The kitchen was tiny and had a tatty conservatory tacked on the end, so we decided to remove it and add an extension across the back of the house, doubling the room’s size and

No place like home Both stylish and comfortable, Sam Breckner’s home skillfully blends vintage furniture with cool contemporary touches

WINE & DINE Sam and her beloved German shepherd, Saskia.

The dark grey wall (painted in Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball) provides a dramatic backdrop for the contemporary wooden dining table, which Sam has paired with vintage Bentwood chairs.

ROCKIN’ DISPLAY Even though Sam’s daughter Georgia has outgrown her rocking horse, everyone’s so fond of it that it’s proudly displayed in the living room.

SOCIAL HUB

lengthening the living room next door,’ says Sam. They had no problem getting planning permission, but had to give up the idea of adding more bedrooms, as the local planning department wouldn’t agree to a two-storey extension. With building work underway, Sam focused on shopping for furniture and accessories, while keeping an eye on how work was progressing. Inspired by her home’s age and setting, she went for country-style decor, but with modern twists. Rooms were decorated in soft,

➺

The TV room’s grey walls (painted in Farrow & Ball’s Plummett), cream sofas (from Ikea) and piles of cushions make this the most modern part of the cottage. The odd bright cushion contrasts with surrounding neutral tones to really lift the scheme. For similar reclaimed wood ﬂooring, try Havwoods. The cream armchair is from B’s Yard, while the lamp is from Sainsbury’s.

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 91

No place like home

HEART OF THE HOME ABOVE & BELOW In the kitchen, functional storage – in the form of full-height cabinets and a central island – was the priority. Sam opted for distressed grey and red painted units for visual interest. Bricks were left exposed to create an attractive feature wall behind the range cooker, while terracotta tiles were a practical choice throughout. They look good, are hardwearing and don’t show up dirty paw prints from the family’s German shepherd, Saskia!

muted tones and furnished with a mixture of secondhand ﬁnds – sourced from antique fairs, markets and auctions – and a few new high-street pieces. The once poky and gloomy kitchen is now generously-sized and ﬁlled with light, thanks to the extension and the addition of French windows leading on to a patio. ‘I wanted it to have a homely farmhouse feel, and hired a local joiner to make the solid wooden units and island,’ says Sam. Reclaimed French terracotta tiles continue into the hall. The open-plan room, adjacent to the kitchen, stretches the entire length of the house. Folding wooden doors in the centre enable it to be divided into two sections when privacy’s required. Upstairs, Sam has kept the decor pale 92 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

and simple to prevent the main bedroom and daughter Georgia’s room looking cluttered. ‘We don’t spend much time up here during the day as the rooms are so small,’ says Sam. ‘Although we couldn’t make them bigger, we moved the bathroom into what was originally a box room, as there was only a shower up here.’ Once the cottage was ﬁnished, Sam decided to use her experience to set up B’s Yard (bsyard.com), selling vintage furniture online and at fairs. ‘I’ve always enjoyed decorating and dressing rooms, and it was wonderful to have a whole house to play with, as well as make a living,’ says Sam. ‘This is a very cosy and welcoming country home that’s warm in winter, plus cool in the summer – when the garden also looks amazing.’

SIMPLY STUNNING Small but perfectly formed, the bathroom includes a freestanding rolltop bath with a shower cubicle at the opposite end, plus his and hers basins with storage underneath. Sam picked an unusual muddy brown shade for the upper walls, which contrasts perfectly with the pale tiles.

Sunburst mirror, £168, Puji Throw, £15, Matalan

Pompom cushion, £14, Sainsbury’s Home

Miller ﬂoor lamp, £149, Made

BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMS RIGHT Georgia’s bedroom is girlie without being garish – Sam has teamed white-painted furniture with pretty floral bedlinen. BELOW A pared-down, off-white scheme keeps the master bedroom calm and relaxing. The antique school radiators fitted throughout the house were bought as a job lot at an auction, and had to be flushed and resprayed before fitting. You can find similar at The Old Radiator Company.

Get Sam’s modern cottage look

Grey button back chair, £199.99, Studio

Knitted pod, £38.99, Heart of House at Argos

Twig heart decoration, £7.95, Live Laugh Love

Feature: Andrea Dean Photos: David Giles Get the look compiled by: James Cunningham

Wooden dining chair, £132.99, Derry’s at Wayfair

Textured yellow cushion, £6, George Home

Storage basket, £12, John Lewis

For where to buy, see page 151

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 93

Sarah Beeny’s

Love yourHOME

IT’S AUTUMN, bring it on!

There’s lots to love right now, from nature’s greatest show to exciting things around the corner, says Sarah

utumn’s such a beautiful time of year. Expectation is high in the build-up to Christmas – sometimes, looking forward to a party is often better than the event itself! I also love the differences in colour, as the late-summer greens turn into rich reds. Here’s how you can embrace the new season...

Home comforts & joy SOFA SNUGGLES

Chunky pompom throw, £50, Dunelm

My seven-year-old son said the other day, ‘I love autumn, Mum, because there are always rugs and throws on the back of the sofa.’ And he’s so right. Come autumn, there’s nothing nicer than getting cosy on the sofa, when the season’s soft accessories come out again from hibernation and we have log piles on the hearth. Wholeheartedly embrace the new season, rather than long for the one that’s just been – that way, you’ll enjoy the year all the way through.

FINDING THE RIGHT LIGHTING Table lamps, standard lamps and picture lights, as opposed to harsh downlighters, are having a massive resurgence and all give off a warm glow that’s perfect for shorter days, so I recommend you ﬁll your rooms with these. Choose carefully, though – you shouldn’t buy a lamp of any sort unless you’re certain you’ll still want it around in 30 years. It really pays to save up and buy lighting that’s well made – you’ll be grateful in the long run.

YOUR LIGHT-BULB MOMENT As the evenings draw in, the colour of your light makes a huge difference. Make sure all bulbs give off a warm white glow rather than the bluer cool white one, as this is more like candlelight and will make your home feel much cosier. Astro table lamp, £100, Oliver Bonas

94 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Out & about THE SIMPLE PLEASURES Blackberry picking and collecting conkers is a great British tradition. We also collect acorns and turn them into little men – forerunners of the Minions, I think! Sweeping up leaves is a great pastime for all the family, too. I always slightly struggle with Halloween, as it wasn’t a big deal when I was young, but the children love it. They always carve pumpkins and pester our neighbours for sweets!

PLANT A CRACKING CROP Don’t ignore your veggie patch – I always plant perpetual spinach in the autumn, which crops until the following summer, as there’s nothing nicer than eating fresh veg through winter. Onions and garlic have a long growing season, so popping some in the soil now will mean that you can enjoy them next summer when they’re ready.

Things to make you go mmm... It may feel a bit cold to be sitting out in the evenings but a fire pit and some hot chocolate is a perfect way to end a day of gardening. TIME FOR TREES

The colder months mean replacing summer’s cottons with comfy textures. Tartan comes into its own this time of year, and looks amazing on soft brushed cotton bedlinen. There are also some lovely knitted throws and cushions around now. But a word of warning: check the washing instructions. If you’re going to regularly use an item, say, on a sofa, practicality should come ﬁrst – handwashing a knit every week (no matter how gorgeous) would be a real palaver! Checked bedding set, £25, M&Co

Photos: Nicky Johnston, GAP Photos/Geoff Kidd, Getty

LET’S TALK TEXTURE

Plant, plant, plant is my mantra for autumn. It may feel odd, but any trees or shrubs established now will be able to root down over the winter and, come the spring, will be growing like mad without the need for watering. In fact, it’s my mission to leave behind as many trees growing in as many different places as I can. I give trees as presents and often plant them in memory of things. I’m sure future generations will be grateful, just as I am for the trees planted 300 years ago. For where to buy, see page 151

THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT October is the ideal time for planting spring-ﬂowering bulbs. My motto is ‘the more, the merrier’. My favourites are good old daffodils, snowdrops and bluebells – plant them wherever you can and watch them bloom next year. PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 95

SEATING ARRANGEMENTS

Luxury FOR less

CLASS ACT Don’t discount supermarkets’ online offerings – just double check the sizes ﬁrst! Carrington sofa, £599, Tesco ARMCHAIR THEATRE A statement chair will bring a room to life. This one ticks all of this season’s style boxes – orange, velvet and with a winged shape. We love it! Veronika armchair, £399; Alton cushion, £22; 8-aperture photo frame, £25; Hansen media unit, £275; all other items, Dunelm

COMFORT ZONE This dusty pink sofa will stand the test of time. Worth the investment. Thankster sofa, £1,195, Loaf

Fabulous & affordable

SMALL SPACE SOLUTIONS Thinking of downsizing? Take a look at the fab new range of sofas at DFS – ideal for smaller living. Cleo lounger, £699; Lull sofa, £499, both DFS

NEW LOOKS

We’ve hit the high street to bring you the hottest, best value and most gorgeous buys for your home ❶

❷

❸

❹

❺

CUSHY NUMBERS 5 of the best cushions for a speedy transformation 1 Tasselled, £19, M&Co 2 Moody ﬂoral, £6, George 3 Feather motif, £8, Tesco 4 Colourwash, £19.50, Marks & Spencer 5 Geometric, £12, Sainsbury’s

Home trends WONDER WALLS

A BIT ON THE SIDE

Dress your four walls to perfection with an eye-catching clock or mirror

What’s not to love about these side tables? The colourful enamel tops are hardwearing, stackable and look fantastic. Moroccan hammered tables, £69 for 3, JD Williams Home

Hexagonal shelf mirror, £149, Marks & Spencer

Genius idea!

Gold starburst mirror, £15, Very

STATEMENT STORAGE

Luxury FOR less

The world traveller trend, inspired by design from faraway places, is one that’s going from strength to strength. Mix and match styles for eclectic effect. This Oriental-style cabinet is stunning. Chinoiserie cabinet, £375; Devonshire chair, £275, both Kaleidoscope

LIVING ROOM IDEAS This season’s all about luxury and comfort – think gorgeous fabrics, rich colours and subtle patterns

Vintage hanging mirror, £15, Fox & Ivy at Tesco

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Pocket watch clock, £55, Very

Get creative with foliage – real or faux – and style it in beautiful vases. LEFT Flower arrangement, £49; large vase, £35; small vase, £15, all Kaleidoscope. BELOW Lilac mercuryeffect vase, £22; mercury glass trinket box, £6; mercury footed hurricane vase, £8, all Fox & Ivy at Tesco

Geometric clock, £60, Kaleidoscope

Go Greek! GRECIAN-STYLE JUG CERAMICS Ypperlig vase, £18, Ikea. Jindalee jug objet, £45, Habitat

Sunburst clock, £50, Dunelm

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 97

KITCHEN & DINING IDEAS It’s so easy to create a quietly chic and conﬁdent kitchen area NATURAL BEAUTIES Bring some Scandi practicality to your kitchen with wood, metal and marble.

Wood and marble-effect coaster set, £12 for 4, Fox & Ivy at Tesco

Wooden clock, £15, Sainsbury’s Home

Geo salt and pepper set, £39, Cult Furniture

Wallace wire shelf, £40, Tesco

Try a trend MAKE IT MARBLE Keep those surfaces free from clutter with chic storage. These up-to-the-minute marble pieces do the job in great style! Marble storage jars, from £18; print jug, £27.50; mug, £12.50, all White Stuff

SIMPLY CHIC Modern, laid-back styling and natural ﬁnishes work best in a kitchen – these cool stools combine elegance with an on-trend industrial edge. They work beautifully with copper accessories. Stools, £59 each; copper light, £10; casserole dish, £35 for 3.5l; Liquorice 12-piece dinner set, £10; all other items, George Home

CAST-IRON GUARANTEE Great news – cast-iron cookware is no longer the preserve of high-end stores with high-end prices. We adore these funky orange ones! Go Cook orange cast-iron casserole dishes, £45 each, Tesco

Luxury FOR less

FINE DINING Put on the glitz any time of year with delicately patterned china plates and gorgeous cutlery. Affordable luxury you’ll love. Jardin 12-piece dinner set, £50, Sainsbury’s. Gold-effect 16-piece cutlery set, £25, Dunelm 98 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Luxury FOR less

Home trends KEEP IT COSY

Luxury FOR less

Snuggle up when the weather’s colder with soft and stylish layers... Knitted pompom throw, £40, Fox & Ivy at Tesco

X-FACTOR FURNITURE Only the best will do for personal possessions. FROM L-R Floral chest of drawers, £229.99, HomeSense. Amelie 5-drawer chest, £499, Dunelm. Camille bedside table, £249, Marks & Spencer

Stitch-detail quilted throw in plum, £25, JD Williams Home

Quick transformation Get ahead and change the look of a divan bed with a fab new headboard. Wicker double headboard, £109, JD Williams Home

... And add in a cosy co-ordinated cushion for good measure. Heather cushion, £8, George Home

BEDROOM IDEAS Rest your head in a stylish sanctuary

Luxury FOR less BEST-DRESSED BEDS There’s always a place for plain bedding, but to create a brand-new look and feel cosy, too, try patterns – and with these reversible covers, you get two looks for one. Win win! FROM L-R: Falling leaves reversible duvet set, from £10, Matalan. Geometric-design duvet set, from £8, Kaleidoscope. Iris cotton duvet set, £65 for a double, RJR. John Rocha at Debenhams. Falling Petal reversible duvet set, £18 for a double, Tesco

➺ PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 99

Home trends

BATHROOM IDEAS Turn your bathroom from strictly functional to strictly gorgeous! A TOUCH OF CLASS IT’S CURTAINS FOR YOU! The easiest bathroom revamp? Change your shower curtain from drab to fab! Shower curtain, £16.99; Egyptian cotton 4-piece towel bale in soft blue, £32.99, both Argos

Make your bathroom beautiful with a few well-chosen accessories... Raffia & seagrass baskets, £45 for 2, Marks & Spencer

Coconut & Almond and Lemongrass, Black Pepper & Ginger soaps, £5 each, White Stuff

Luxury FOR less Ceramic tumbler, £6; soap dispenser, £8; soap dish, £6, all JD Williams

Vintage hanging mirror, £100, Marks & Spencer

MODERN LIVING The brilliant new accessory range from Joseph Joseph maximises space and minimises clutter. Easystore toothbrush caddy, from £10; Flex Plus toilet brush and storage caddy, £25, Joseph Joseph

A brilliant way to soften edges in a bathroom is to have gorgeous ﬂoor furniture! FROM TOP: Tasselled bath mat, £16, Debenhams. Cable knit striped bath mat, £8, George Home 100 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Keen on mustard!

KEEP IT CO-ORDINATED Matching storage and towels? Now you’re talking. We love the grey and mustard tones – a hot colour combo for autumn. Towels, from £4; wooden storage tower with rope-handled drawers, £40; all other items, Matalan

For where to buy, see page 151

Feature: Gary Irwin

TIME FOR TEXTURE

Great home savings for you

WOW! AMAZING OFFERS

Treat your house to a fabulous new look for less with our fantastic discounts Beautiful textiles, like this Zameera kilim rug

Eye-catching storage, from tall units to chunky trunks

% Enjoy off AT MYAKKA

Contemporary pieces, such as this nest of tables in sheesham wood

If you love ﬁnding distinctly different ideas for your home, you will adore Myakka. All its unique furniture and accessories are ethically sourced and you can choose from hand-crafted, solid wood furniture collections, colourful upholstery and rugs, and unique lighting – Myakka is a treasure trove of inspiration to make your home more gorgeous. And with this fabulous discount, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Enter PRIMA20 to claim your 20% discount at myakka.co.uk or in-store (see online for details). Valid between 1 September and 1 October.

15% our

Make your home beautiful!

off

exclusive range of Prima flowers! We’re thrilled to bring you this great offer on Prima’s exclusive range of brilliant bouquets, perfect for bringing a gorgeous, fresh feel to your home. They also make a wonderful gift to a loved one, showing how much you care. There’s free delivery on all orders, and all bouquets come with a free pop-up vase! To order, visit flyingflowers.co.uk/prima and enter the code PRIMA15 at the checkout for your 15% discount. Offer ends 31 October 2017. Visit flying flowers.co.uk for full terms and conditions.

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 101

FEED THE FAMILY

for a fiver!

Â£4.86 Total cost

Cook smart You loved our Brexit-busting budget recipes so much that we thought we’d bring you some more brilliant meal ideas that are low cost and utterly delicious. Let’s tuck in!

Stuffed pork steaks with pears Experiment with different types of cheese – the softer the variety, the oozier the end result. SERVES 4 PREP 20min COOK about 25min • 4 thick pork loin steaks, excess fat trimmed • 75g (3oz) blue cheese, we used Gorgonzola • 1tbsp vegetable oil • 4 ripe pears

1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Cut a pocket through to the middle of each steak (going through a side but being careful not to cut all the way through). Fill each steak with a quarter of the blue cheese. 2 Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the pork steaks for 5min to brown, turning once. Transfer to a roasting tin (set aside the empty pan) and cook in the oven for 15-20min, until the pork steaks are cooked through. 3 Meanwhile, peel, quarter and core the pears. Put the empty pork frying pan back over medium heat and fry the pears (adding a little water if the pan looks too dry). Cook until golden. Set aside. 4 Serve the pork steaks with the pears and a green salad or some seasonal vegetables, if you like. PER SERVING: CALS 333; FAT 15g; SAT FAT 8g; CARBS 16g

£5

Creamy prawn & pea penne Tangy Greek yoghurt is brilliant for making low-fat creamy pasta sauces. SERVES 4 PREP 15min COOK about 15min • 300g (11oz) wholewheat penne pasta • 150g (5oz) frozen peas • ½tbsp oil • 2 medium leeks, thinly sliced • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 275g (10oz) cooked king prawns • Zest and juice of 1 lemon • 100g (3½oz) low-fat Greek yoghurt

1 Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according

Total cost

to the instructions on the packet, adding the peas for the ﬁnal 2min of cooking. 2 Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan and gently cook the leeks for 10min, then add the garlic and prawns and cook for 2min, until the prawns are heated through. Stir in the lemon zest and the Greek yoghurt. 3 When the pasta and peas are cooked to your liking, reserve one cupful of the cooking water and then drain. Stir the pasta and peas into the leek mixture. Add enough of the reserved pasta water to make a smooth sauce. Season well, adding lemon juice to taste. Serve immediately. PER SERVING: CALS 392; FAT 5g; SAT FAT 1g; CARBS 64g

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 103

Turkey meatballs with barbecue sauce This dish also works with beef or pork mince, if you prefer. SERVES 4 PREP 15min COOK about 20min • 500g (1lb 2oz) turkey mince • 2tsp ground coriander • ½-1 red chilli, deseeded and ﬁnely chopped • ½tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, ﬁnely chopped • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 400g tin chopped tomatoes • 2tbsp soy sauce • 3tbsp tomato ketchup • Fresh coriander, chives or parsley, to garnish

£3.34 Total cost

£3.81 Total cost

Tuna fishcakes This recipe is full of simple shortcuts – and is all the better for them! These ﬁshcakes are easy to make and full of delicious ﬂavours. SERVES 4 (MAKES 8) PREP 15min COOK about 20min • 2 x 450g tubs fresh mashed potato (look for these in your local supermarket’s chiller aisle), at room temperature • 2tbsp tartare sauce • 100g (3½oz) frozen peas • 125g (4oz) dried breadcrumbs • 2 x 130g tins tuna steak in spring water, drained • 2tbsp vegetable oil 104 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Empty the mash into a large bowl and stir to soften. Stir through the tartare sauce, peas and 25g (1oz) of the breadcrumbs, then add some seasoning. 2 Fold the tuna through the potato mixture and shape into eight patties. Put the rest of the breadcrumbs on to a ﬂat plate and press both sides of each patty into them. 3 Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and brown the ﬁshcakes on both sides (turn only once, as they are fairly soft). Transfer to a baking sheet and heat through in the oven for 10-12min, until piping hot. Serve immediately with a green salad on the side. PER FISHCAKE: CALS 483; FAT 18g; SAT FAT 3g; CARBS 63g

Cook smart 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6 and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Put the turkey mince into a large bowl and mix through the ground coriander, chilli and plenty of seasoning (using your hands is easiest). Form into walnutsized meatballs – you should have about 20. 2 Arrange meatballs on tray and cook in the oven, turning midway, for 20min or until golden and cooked through. 3 Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add onion and fry for 10min until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1min, then add tomatoes, soy sauce, ketchup and seasoning. Bring to the boil. Simmer for 10min until thickened slightly. 4 Add meatballs to the sauce; stir gently to coat. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve with wholegrain rice. PER SERVING: CALS 281; FAT 10g; SAT FAT 3g; CARBS 10g

£3.86

Cheats’ chilli Using a ready-made salsa cuts out the need for lots of different sauces and jars. Easy peasy! SERVES 6 PREP 10min COOK about 12-15min • 1tbsp vegetable oil • 1 onion, ﬁnely chopped • 500g (1lb 2oz) lean beef mince • 2 x 226g jars mild salsa • 400g tin kidney beans, drained and rinsed • 2tbsp tomato purée • ½ x 198g tin sweetcorn

• Handful of fresh coriander, optional

Total cost

1 Heat the oil in a pan over mediumhigh heat. Add the onion and mince, and fry – breaking up the mince with a wooden spoon – for 10-12min until the beef is well browned. 2 Stir in the salsa, kidney beans, tomato purée and sweetcorn, and bring to the boil. Stir through the coriander, if using, then season. Serve with boiled rice (or quick-cook microwave rice, if you want to save time), corn tortillas or jacket potatoes. PER SERVING: CALS 416; FAT 16g; SAT FAT 6g; CARBS 34g

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 105

Bolognese pasta pie Kids – and big kids alike – will love this tasty twist on our favourite pasta dish! An easy midweek meal. SERVES 6 PREP 25min, plus cooling COOK about 50min • 1tbsp olive oil, plus extra to grease • 400g (14oz) beef mince • 350g jar tomato & basil pasta sauce • 375g (13oz) spaghetti • 40g (1½oz) Italian hard cheese, ﬁnely grated (we used Grana Padano) • 3 large eggs • 3 basil sprigs, leaves picked and roughly torn • 100g (3½oz) cherry tomatoes, halved

£3.43 Total cost

Lentilstuffed squash

Although the squash takes a while to cook, it’s worth the wait and makes a hearty vegetarian dinner. SERVES 4 PREP 15min, plus cooling COOK about 1hr • 1 butternut squash, about 1.1kg (2½lb) • ½tbsp olive oil, plus extra to drizzle • 400g tin green lentils, drained and rinsed • 75g (3oz) vegetarian Lancashire cheese, crumbled • 75g (3oz) Greek yoghurt • Large handful of baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped • ½-1 red chilli, to taste, deseeded and ﬁnely chopped • Large handful of fresh parsley, chopped

1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Halve the squash lengthways, 106 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

scoop out seeds and discard them. Rub the oil over the cut sides of the squash, season well, then put cut-side down on a baking tray. Roast for 45min, or until just tender. 2 Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together the remaining ingredients along with plenty of seasoning, setting aside a little of the chilli and parsley to garnish. 3 Remove squash from oven and leave to cool for 5min. Turn each half over carefully and scoop out a little of the ﬂesh lengthways along the middle of each to create a shallow dip. Stir the scraped ﬂesh into the lentil mixture to combine, then spoon half the mixture into the cavity of each piece of squash. 4 Roast for a further 15min or until the topping is piping hot and golden. Scatter over the remaining parsley and chilli. Divide each squash piece in two, then serve with a salad and some crusty bread. PER SERVING: CALS 281; FAT 10g; SAT FAT 5g; CABS 36g

1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil for the spaghetti. Grease and line base and sides of a 9cm (3½in) deep, 20.5cm (8in) round loose-bottom cake tin with baking parchment. Set aside. 2 Heat oil in a large frying pan and brown mince all over. Mix in pasta sauce, check seasoning and set aside to cool for 10min. 3 Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in boiling water according to pack instructions until al dente. Drain and leave to cool for 5min. Return to pan and stir in half the cheese and two of the eggs. 4 Spread half the spaghetti over base of prepared tin in an even layer. With two forks, build remaining spaghetti up around sides of the tin, making a central well about 5cm (2in) deep for the mince. Stir remaining egg and most of basil into mince mixture. Spoon into well in pasta. 5 Dot with cherry tomatoes (cut-side up) and scatter over remaining cheese. Cover tin with foil and cook in oven for 15min. Remove foil and cook for a further 20-25min until lightly golden. 6 Transfer to a serving plate or board. Scatter over remaining basil and serve pie in slices. PER SERVING: CALS 508; FAT 21g; SAT FAT 7g; CARBS 50g

➺

Cook smart

ÂŁ3.95 Total cost

Chicken gratin Warming and comforting, this is perfect for longer, cooler nights. SERVES 4 PREP 30min COOK about 1hr 10min • 75g (3oz) butter • 1 onion, finely sliced • 500g pack chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite-size pieces • 150g (5oz) frozen peas • 50g (2oz) plain flour • 500ml (17fl oz) milk • 3 thyme sprigs, leaves picked • 1tbsp wholegrain mustard • 2 medium floury potatoes

1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Melt 25g (1oz) of the butter in a large pan and gently fry the onion and chicken for 10min, until onion is softened. Stir in the peas, and then empty mixture into a sieve set over a bowl to drain excess moisture. 2 Set aside 1tsp of the remaining butter, and then add the rest to the empty pan and melt over medium heat. Add the ﬂour and cook, stirring, for 30sec. Take pan off heat and

gradually mix in the milk until smooth. Return pan to heat and cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened and smooth – about 5min. 3 Add the thyme leaves, mustard and plenty of seasoning. Pour into a large ovenproof serving dish and stir in the drained chicken mixture. 4 Cut the potatoes (unpeeled) into 5mm (¼in) rounds. Arrange slices over the chicken mixture in a single layer, overlapping slightly. Melt the remaining teaspoon of butter, then brush lightly over the potatoes. Season with some freshly ground black pepper. Cook in the oven for 45-50min or until the potatoes are lightly golden and tender. Serve with steamed greens, if you like. PER SERVING: CALS 555; FAT 31g; SAT FAT 15g; CARBS 34g FREEZE AHEAD Complete the recipe. Cool completely, then cover and freeze for up to 1 month. To serve, defrost overnight in the fridge. Uncover and reheat in an oven preheated to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4 for about 40min or until piping hot.

£4.14 Total cost

Stuffed chicken roast Use chicken thighs in this all-in-one meal – they’re packed full of ﬂavour and cheaper than chicken breasts. SERVES 4 PREP 10min COOK about 45min • 8 chicken thighs, skin on • 200g (7oz) hard goats’ cheese, sliced • Small bunch of thyme • 1½tbsp olive oil • 750g (1lb 10½oz) new potatoes, halved if large • 700g (1½lb) cherry tomatoes • 2tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Use your ﬁngers to gently pull

Cook smart

Lentil, bean & banger stew Hearty and nourishing, this stew is sure to banish the autumn chill. SERVES 4 PREP 20min COOK about 45min • 1tbsp olive oil • 8 pork sausages • 1 onion, ﬁnely chopped • 1 garlic clove, ﬁnely chopped • 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes • 400g tin lentils, drained and rinsed • 2 rosemary sprigs • 400g tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 Heat the oil in a large deep pan and fry the sausages until golden, turning every so often. Lift the sausages out of the pan, leaving

any oil behind, and then set aside. 2 Add the onion to the pan and fry for 10min until softened, then add the garlic and fry for 1min. Stir in the tomatoes, lentils, rosemary and 200ml (7ﬂ oz) water. Return sausages to pan, bring mixture to the boil and simmer for 20-25min, until sauce is thickened. 3 Stir in the cannellini beans, heat through and check the seasoning. Remove and discard the rosemary sprigs and serve with some crusty bread, if you like. PER SERVING: CALS 463; FAT 23g; SAT FAT 7g; CARBS 40g FREEZE AHEAD Complete recipe but don’t heat once the beans are added. Cool, then transfer to a freezer-proof container, cover and freeze for up to 2 months. To serve, defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat to serve.

£3.61 Total cost

£4.42 Total cost

up the skin from each thigh to create a pocket. Stuff slices of goats’ cheese under the skin of each thigh with a small sprig of thyme. Rub the tops of the chicken thighs with ½tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 2 In a large roasting tin, toss the potatoes with the remaining 1tbsp oil and thyme leaves and plenty of seasoning. Place the chicken thighs among the potatoes and roast in the oven for 30min. 3 Meanwhile, toss the cherry tomatoes with the balsamic vinegar to coat. Remove the roasting tray from the oven after 30min and scatter in the tomatoes. Return to the oven for a further 15min until chicken is cooked and potatoes are tender. PER SERVING: CALS 701; FAT 38g; SAT FAT 15g; CARBS 36g

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 109

£5 Total cost

Cauliflower & chickpea curry If you fancy a little heat, add a ﬁnely chopped red chilli (or a few dried chilli ﬂakes) along with the other spices. SERVES 4 PREP 25min COOK 15min

Chicken fajita pasta Super-speedy to whip up, this fusion of Mexican and Italian will be loved by the whole family! SERVES 4 PREP 20min COOK about 25min • 275g (10oz) penne pasta • 1tbsp olive oil • 500g (1lb 2oz) chicken thigh ﬁllets, skinless and cut into bite-size strips • 1 onion, ﬁnely sliced • 3 mixed peppers, deseeded and sliced • 35g pack fajita seasoning mix • 1tbsp tomato purée • 2 x 200g tubs fresh tomato salsa • 60g (2½oz) mature Cheddar, grated • Sour cream, optional, to serve 110 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

1 Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook pasta according to pack instructions until al dente. Drain. 2 Meanwhile, heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry chicken for 5min until cooked through. Lift on to a plate with a slotted spoon. 3 To the empty pan, add onion and peppers and fry over medium heat until softened and beginning to caramelise, about 8min. Add fajita seasoning mix, fry for 1min, then return chicken to pan with tomato purée, salsa and 50ml (2ﬂ oz) water. Simmer for a few minutes, then add drained pasta and check seasoning. 4 Preheat grill to medium. Spoon pasta into a 2 litre (3½ pint) ovenproof dish, sprinkle over cheese and grill until bubbling and golden. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, if you like. PER SERVING (WITHOUT SOUR CREAM): CALS 671; FAT 24g; SAT FAT 8g; CARBS 69g

1 Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the cauliflower florets for 5min or until tender. Drain well; set aside. 2 Meanwhile, heat the oil in a separate large pan and gently cook the onion for 10min until softened. Turn up the heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is golden brown. Stir in the garlic, garam masala and cumin. Cook for a further 2min, then stir in the coconut milk, 200ml (7fl oz) water, the chickpeas and cauliflower. 3 Heat until piping hot, then stir through the spinach, mango chutney and most of the coriander. Check the seasoning. Garnish with remaining coriander and toasted almonds, and serve with some boiled rice, naan or crusty bread. PER SERVING: CALS 423; FAT 28g; SAT FAT 16g; CARBS 30g FREEZE AHEAD Prepare to end of step 2, then cool completely. Transfer mixture to a freezer-proof container, cover and freeze for up to a month. To serve, defrost overnight in the fridge. Reheat gently in a pan (it will look curdled at first, but the heat will bring it together) and complete recipe.

Feature: Hearst Food Network Photos: Steve Baxter, Will Heap, Gareth Morgans, Maja Smend, Kate Whitaker

• 500g (1lb 2oz) cauliflower florets • 1tbsp vegetable oil • 1 large onion, finely sliced • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 1tbsp garam masala • 1tsp ground cumin • 400ml tin full-fat coconut milk • 400g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed • 2 handfuls of spinach • 2tbsp mango chutney • Large handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped • 25g (1oz) flaked almonds, toasted

Cook smart

ÂŁ2.68 Total cost

HOW WE PRICED THE RECIPES We used a combination of supermarketsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; own-brand products and market leaders. Prices were taken the week beginning 6 May 2017 from tesco.com. We only calculated the ingredients used but all were taken from average-size packs, not special offers.

Sweet sensations

Our tempting autumn treats are perfect for a chilly afternoon with a cup of tea, or served with custard in the evening â&#x20AC;&#x201C; theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all purse-friendly, too!

Bakes on a budget!

112 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Cook smart

Sticky toffee cake A soft and moreish treat that’s sure to become a family favourite. SERVES 10 PREP 30min, plus cooling COOK about 1hr 5min • 125g (4oz) butter, softened, plus extra to grease • 250g (9oz) self-raising flour, plus extra to dust • 200g (7oz) dates, stoned and finely chopped • 250ml (9fl oz) hot tea, freshly brewed • 200g (7oz) light brown muscovado sugar • 2tbsp golden syrup • 3 medium eggs • 1tsp bicarbonate of soda FOR THE ICING • 100ml (3½fl oz) double cream • 75g (3oz) light brown muscovado sugar • 25g (1oz) butter • 1tbsp golden syrup • Fudge chunks, optional, to decorate

1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Grease a deep round 20.5cm (8in) cake tin and dust with flour (tap out excess). Put dates into a bowl, pour over hot tea and soak for 10min. 2 Put butter and sugar into a large bowl and beat together using a handheld electric whisk until light and fluffy, about 5min. Whisk in the golden syrup, followed by the eggs, soda, flour and date mixture (it may look a little curdled, but don’t worry). Pour mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 55min or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool completely in the tin. 3 Meanwhile, make the toffee icing. Put all ingredients except the fudge chunks into a pan. Heat gently until melted and smooth, then turn up heat slightly and simmer gently for 7min until thickened. Pour into a bowl, lay a piece of baking parchment on the surface to stop a skin forming and leave to cool completely. 4 Remove cooled cake from tin and transfer to a cake plate or stand. Spread icing over top of cake and scatter over fudge chunks, if using. Slice to serve. PER SERVING: CALS 451; FAT 20g; SAT FAT 12g; CARBS 62g TO STORE Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Blackberry Bakewell pudding This delicious dessert is full of fruit and flavour. Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free plain flour instead of the plain flour. SERVES 6 PREP 15min COOK 45min • 225g (8oz) blackberries • 50g (2oz) blackberry jam • 175g (6oz) unsalted butter, softened • 75g (3oz) caster sugar • 3 large eggs, beaten • 175g (6oz) ground almonds • 40g (1½oz) plain flour • 50g (2oz) icing sugar • Juice ½ lemon • 2tbsp flaked almonds, toasted

1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. In a medium bowl, mix together the blackberries and jam. Spread evenly over the bottom of a 1 litre (1¾ pint) baking dish. 2 In a large mixing bowl, beat the

butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs gradually, then gently fold in the almonds and flour. Spoon this mixture over the blackberries and smooth the surface. Bake for 45min. 3 Sieve the icing sugar into a small bowl and whisk with just enough lemon juice for a runny yet thick icing. Use a teaspoon to drizzle over the bake and top with toasted flaked almonds. PER SERVING: CALS 642; FAT 46g; SAT FAT 18g; CARBS 43g FREEZE AHEAD Bake up to the end of step 2, leave to cool completely and then wrap well in clingfilm and freeze. Defrost thoroughly at room temperature overnight. The dessert can be enjoyed at room temperature or warm. To serve warm, preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4 and bake on the middle shelf for 25min. Decorate with icing and toasted flaked almonds before serving.

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 113

Salted chocolate cookies These flourless cookies are deliciously chewy. The salt flakes add a sophisticated flavour to the dark chocolate, but you can leave them out, if you like. MAKES 16 COOKIES PREP 20min COOK about 16min

Plum & almond traybake Serve at room temperature with a cup of tea or warm with ice cream for a comforting dessert. CUTS INTO 15 PREP 30min, plus cooling COOK about 50min • 350g (12oz) unsalted butter, plus extra to grease • 325g (11½ oz) light brown soft sugar • 2tbsp apricot jam • 9 plums • 4 large eggs, beaten • 1tsp almond extract • 275g (10oz) self-raising ﬂour • 2tsp baking powder • 75g (3oz) ground almonds • Icing sugar, to dust

1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20.5cm x 30.5cm (8in x 12in) roasting tin with baking parchment. In a pan, gently heat 100g (3½oz) butter with 100g (3½oz) brown sugar. Once butter has melted, stir in jam and 114 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

simmer for 3min, until the caramel comes together. Pour into the cake tin and leave to cool for 10min. 2 Halve and de-stone the plums. Arrange cut-side down in the caramel and then set aside. 3 In a large bowl, whisk remaining butter and sugar until light and ﬂuffy. Gradually add eggs, beating well after each addition. Beat in almond extract. 4 In a separate bowl, combine ﬂour, baking powder and ground almonds. Fold into the egg mixture. Spoon on to plums and spread to level. Bake for about 45min or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. 5 Remove from the oven; cool in tin on a wire rack for 15min. Invert on to a board; remove tin and baking parchment. Serve warm or leave to cool, dusted with icing sugar. PER SERVING: CALS 395; FAT 24g; SAT FAT 13g; CARBS 40g TO STORE Place cooled cake in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment. 2 In a large bowl, mix together the icing sugar, cocoa, cornﬂour and ﬁne salt. In a jug, combine egg, egg whites and vanilla. 3 Mix egg mixture into dry mixture (don’t worry, it will come together) and fold in chocolate chips. 4 Space heaped tablespoons of dough roughly 5cm (2in) apart on the baking sheets. Sprinkle over a little sea salt, if using. Bake for 14-16min, until puffed up and cracked. Cool on the baking sheets, then remove using a palette knife. PER SERVING: CALS 184; FAT 5g; SAT FAT 3g; CARBS 32g

Recipes: Hearst Food Network Photos: Sam Stowell, Charlie Richards, Kate Whitaker, Myles New

• 375g (13oz) icing sugar, sifted • 100g (3½oz) cocoa powder, sifted • 1tbsp cornflour • 1tsp fine salt • 1 large egg, plus 2 large egg whites • 2tsp vanilla extract • 175g (6oz) dark chocolate chips • Maldon sea salt flakes, optional, to decorate

Cook smart

Blackberry meringue roulade Swirled blackberry purée adds ﬂavour – and a pretty pattern! SERVES 6 PREP 25min, plus cooling and chilling COOK about 25min • 525g (1lb 3oz) blackberries • 225g (8oz) caster sugar • 3 large egg whites • ¾tsp white wine vinegar • 1tsp cornﬂour • 50g (2oz) icing sugar • 300ml (½ pint) double cream • 1tsp vanilla bean paste

1 In a small pan, mix 225g (8oz) blackberries, 50g (2oz) caster sugar and 50ml (2ﬂ oz) water. Bring to boil; simmer for 5min until berries are soft. Blend until smooth; strain through a sieve into a bowl (discard seeds). Cool.

2 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Line a 23cm x 33cm (9in x 13in) Swiss roll tin with baking parchment, so parchment is 5cm (2in) above top of tin. 3 In a grease-free bowl, beat egg whites to stiff peaks with a handheld electric whisk. Beat in remaining 175g (6oz) caster sugar gradually, whisking to stiff peaks after each addition. Quickly beat in vinegar and cornﬂour. Spread into tin, smoothing to level. 4 Set aside 75g (3oz) blackberry purée. Dollop the rest over meringue. With a knife, swirl it through. 5 Bake for 15-18min until puffed and set. Cool for 10min in tin (meringue will sink). Using parchment, lift out of tin on to a wire rack to cool completely.

6 Lay parchment on a work surface and then invert the meringue on to it. Peel away lining parchment. 7 In a medium bowl, whisk icing sugar, cream and vanilla to soft peaks. Spread over meringue. Lightly mash rest of berries; dot over cream. Using a knife, score a line about 1.5cm (⅔in) in from one of the meringue’s short sides. Using parchment, roll up roulade, using the line to help begin the roll. Transfer to a serving plate. Mix 1tbsp water into reserved purée; serve with the roulade. PER SERVING: CALS 469; FAT 27g; SAT FAT 17g; CARBS 52g GET AHEAD Make roulade up to 3hr in advance. Keep roulade and loosened purée chilled.

Seasonal favourite

PRIMA.CO.UK | September 2017 115

Kitchen survey

Planning your dream kitchen? WIN £5,000

Complement your all-white kitchen with copper accessories...

...go for open shelving and a striking splashback...

IT TAKES JUST MINUTES10 FILL OUT TO T SURVEYHE

...or add a splash of bold colour

ENTER AT THISSURVEY.COM/DREAMKITCHEN NOW!

hether you long for sleek, modern, handleless cabinets with granite worktops or prefer a more classic look with in-frame doors, we’d love to know which kitchen style is your idea of perfection. And when it comes to choosing where to buy, would you rather rely on the

expertise of a local independent retailer or opt for the vast choice available at a well-known national brand? Investing in a new kitchen involves a lot of thought and planning, and we’d really like to know what you – our readers – look for in terms of design, price and service. The survey will only take about

10 minutes to complete and, to thank you for taking the time to ﬁll it in, every completed questionnaire will be entered into IN ASSOCIATION WITH a draw to win a £5,000 voucher to spend on a new kitchen at a retailer of your choice*.

For your chance to win, visit thissurvey.com/DreamKitchen BY MIDNIGHT ON 22 JANUARY 2018 116 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Photos: GAP Interiors/Piotr Gesicki/Loft-factory.com/Agata Olszewska; Mark Scott; David Brittain. *The prize is redeemable against a kitchen purchase only. Please see website for details.

IN OUR PRIZE DRAW

All the latest foodie delights and kitchen shortcuts from LIZZIE FOX

Share a meal with Selasi Everyone’s fave chilled-out Bake Off star, Selasi Gbormittah (left), has teamed up with World Vision to raise money for projects in Uganda, where a staggering 10% of children don’t reach their ﬁfth birthdays – with many dying of malnutrition. To support this worthy cause, simply donate the value of a meal shared with family and friends between 16 September and 16 December. By doing so, you could also win a meal with Selasi himself. Visit worldvision.org.uk/shareameal.

love it! Cook it, eat it,

Kitchen SOS Stale bread needn’t go to waste – here are some fresh ideas… To refresh a stale baguette, spritz with water and put in a hot oven for 5-10min until it’s crusty on the outside and soft inside. Tear stale bread into chunks, toss in oil, and bake in a hot oven for 10 to 15min, turning halfway, to make croutons for salads and soups. Use stale pittas in a fattoush salad (toss with oil, tomatoes, spring onions, parsley, cucumber and mint); or stale crusty bread in panzanella, the Italian bread and tomato salad.

Kit worth buying Tesco Go Cook The supermarket’s new range of cookware, utensils and bakeware is excellent value and beautiful enough to display outside kitchen cupboards! We particularly love the Copper Collection of pans. Available in-store or online from 18 September – it’s time to update your kitchen. From £3, Tesco

Zyliss Control Knives The Zyliss Control Knife Collection is just fabulous. The ﬁve-piece knife block comes in stylish acacia wood and its sturdy knives are all dishwasher-safe, so they will stay sharp wash after wash. £139.99, Zyliss

BEST NEW COOKBOOKS Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients – Quick & Easy Food (Penguin, £26) Need some midweek meal ideas? Jamie to the rescue again! Containing just ﬁve ingredients, these no-fuss meals will satisfy even the busiest of cooks. We can’t wait to try the Roast Tikka Chicken and Plum Tarte Tatin! Mary Berry’s Complete Cookbook (DK, £30) If you have one classic book on your kitchen shelf, make it this one. With over 650 of Mary’s failsafe recipes, this beautifully photographed new edition includes everything from midweek meals to dinner party showstoppers. You’ll use it again and again.

PIZZA THE ACTION! Move over Chicago-style pizza! Marks & Spencer is the ﬁrst UK retailer to stock the Detroit-style pizza. Known for its rectangular shape, it’s ideal for those who love a deep, crispy base with gooey toppings. Perfect for indulgent Friday nights in. Choose from six tempting ﬂavours, from buttermilk chicken to barbecue pork and even Italian-style meatballs. Delish! £6 per pizza, Marks & Spencer For where to buy, see page 151

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 117

Exclusive offer

Time to get

CRAFTY

WOW! AMAZING OFFERS

Get £10 off * when you spend £30 at Create and Craft We’ve teamed up with award-winning TV craft channel Create and Craft to bring you an amazing money-off offer that will lift your makes to the next level

Choose from lots of great screen-print designs Get your hands on the biggest brands in cookery

s a craft lover, we know how much you enjoy your creative projects – from knitting and sewing to baking amazing cakes and creating fabulous cards – so we’re delighted to team up with awardwinning TV craft channel Create and Craft to bring you this great offer. Simply explore the brilliant craft categories at createandcraft.com and claim a fantastic £10 off your order when you spend £30 or more on your goodies. Take your pick from handy sewing machines and kits from the Sewing category, top-notch knitting kits from the Knitting category or creative card-making buys from the Papercraft category. If food is your passion, then you can pick up anything from food mixers to edible cake decorations from the Baking category. There’s also plenty more to spark inspiration, including amazing screen-printing kits! Each category also has a Top Brands section that features the ﬁnest equipment, including Singer sewing machines, knitting kits and Disney card-making kits. Simply enter PRIM1030 at the checkout to claim your £10 discount* when you spend £30 or over. 118 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Stencil and die cut

Take a look at what you can buy & do! Try pretty papercrafts

Try your hand at sewing

*TERMS & CONDITIONS Visit createandcraft.com/gb/competitions-and-promotions for more information. The promotion is valid on orders placed on createandcraft.com between 00:01 BST on 28 August 2017 and 23:59 BST on 28 September 2017. The promotion is available to all customers on the Create and Craft website. The qualifying code is redeemable against all Create and Craft orders through the website when a customer spends over £30, excluding P&P charges. The code cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion code and can only be redeemed once per customer, per household. The code can be used to purchase via the Create and Craft website createandcraft.com. Ideal Shopping Direct Limited reserves the right from time to time and at any time to cancel, discontinue, temporarily or permanently, or amend the promotion or these rules, with or without prior notice (including, without limitation, in the case of anticipated, suspected or actual fraud).

See over the page FOR our fab 11-PAGE makes SECTION PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 119

EXCLUSIVE PATTERN Call charges apply*

Your ultimate autumn dress

In sizes 10-20

Be a picture of elegance and sophistication in one of our easy-to-make dresses – ideal for work or weekend

❶ From bags and shoes to coats and dresses, this autumn it’s time to be bold and make a statement in red. Bag, £60, Dune. Shoes, £32, 3-8, M&Co

120 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

❷ Look effortlessly chic by wearing your dress with ankle boots and a cross-body bag. Turn a strip of leftover fabric into a skinny scarf for a modern twist. Bag, £24.99, Bon Prix. Boots, £85, 3-8, J by Jasper Conran at Debenhams

Make it your way

Need to know WOMEN’S SIZES 10-20 The dresses have a wrap-front bodice with above-elbow-length or long sleeves elasticated at the wrist and a ﬂared skirt in a choice of three lengths. All fasten with a centre back zip. FABRICS We used printed polyester for dresses 2 and 4 from John Lewis. The red printed polyester and red polyester crepe for dresses 1 and 3 are both by John Kaldor at Minerva Crafts. INSTRUCTIONS The pattern pieces, cutting layouts and sewing instructions are all on the Prima pattern. FRONT

BACK

❶

❸ Go just a little bit

❷

sexy by layering your dress over a lacy cami. Going from office to wine bar? Then pop on heels and add a co-ordinated clutch.

❸

Cami, £26, 6-16, The White Company. Bag, £16, Simply Be. Heels, £85, 3-8, Dune

❹ ❹ Weekend away or an autumn wedding? This is your failsafe dress. Gorgeous in a plain fabric or pretty patterned print. Earrings, £10, Accessorize. Heels, £80, 3-8, Dune

TO ORDER THIS MONTH’S EXCLUSIVE PATTERN, call 0900 140 1001* (or, from the Republic of Ireland, 1560 716 141*). If you’re a subscriber and have opted in, the Prima pattern will be included FREE every month with your copy of Prima. *Calls cost £1.50 per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge (ROI €1.28 per minute) and should last no longer than two minutes. You must be over 18 to call. UK SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390. ROI SP: Phonovation/Spoke, 014378815. Lines close midnight, 31 October 2017. PLEASE ALLOW 28 DAYS FOR DELIVERY.

Feature: Janet Palmer Photos: Beth Crutchﬁeld at Hearst Studios Styling: Ellie Attwell Assisted by: Mica Narraway Hair & make-up: Anna Durston Illustrations: Terry Evans

For where to buy, see page 151

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s welcome AUTUMN These pretty ideas will bring the new season into your home in style

122 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Get making

PRETTY DAHLIAS Make paper versions of these fashionable late-ﬂowering blooms and they will last all winter!

Y wiLL n d • White crepe paper • Drawing compass • Scissors • Watercolour paints • Artist’s paintbrush • Craft glue • Flower pips (for the centre of the ﬂower, try Fred Aldous) • Florist’s stub wire in 25cm lengths • Green ﬂorist’s tape • Cardboard

To make ❶ Fold a 24cm-deep length of crepe paper in half and, using a drawing compass, mark out 4 circles (each one smaller than the other). For our 10cm ﬂowers, the circles had a radius of 5cm,

4cm, 3.5cm and 3cm. For the smaller flower, the circles had a radius of 4.5cm. 4cm, 3.5cm and 3cm. Cut out the circles so that you end up with 2 in each size. ❷ Keep 2 together and fold in half, then in half again. Take each folded piece and trim the curve into a scalloped edge. Snip down the edges of the scallops to approximately 2cm from the pointed end to form petals. Open the folded shape out and also snip the top, bottom and sides 2cm from the centre, so that you have a pair of flat flower shapes with 16 petals. Repeat this with the other 3 pairs of circles. ❸To hand paint the petals, use diluted watercolour paint to paint gently from the centre of each circle outwards to the tips of the petals, then apply a circle of darker colour in the centre. Alternatively, you can apply a diluted colour to the tips of the petals (this is best done while the circles are still in their folded form), allowing the watery paint to seep down the petal to create a realistic effect. Open out and leave to dry.

❹ When petals are dry, take each one and gently fold it in half along its length, creasing it down the middle. ❺ Build the flower by layering each circle on top of the other, starting with the largest one, making sure you place it so that the petals alternate. Apply a dot of glue to the centre and add the next circle until you have built up all 8 circles. ❻ Take 4 flower pips (these are for the stamen of the flower) and fold in half. Using scissors, make a hole in the centre of the flower and poke the folded ends of the pips through the hole so that the pips poke out the front of the flower at slightly varying lengths. ❼ Make the stem by binding together 2 lengths of florist’s wire with the florist’s tape. Cut a circle of cardboard with a diameter of 4-5cm. Tape the stem to the back of the circle of cardboard and glue this to the back of the flower to give it strength and cover the back of the pips. Place the flower in your vase. Flower painting, from £75, Vintage Flower Paintings

Transform a table Decoupage a simple side table with brightly coloured, cascading maple leaves.

Y wiLL n d • Unﬁnished blank wine table (try Scumble Goosie) • Off-white matt emulsion • Coloured patterned/textured paper • Leaf punch (we used a maple design Woodware craft punch in large and regular sizes) • Craft glue • Medium and small paintbrushes • Polyvine varnish (we used a 50/50 mix of matt and satin varnish)

To make ❶ Paint table with two coats of matt emulsion paint. ❷ Choose a selection of patterned and textured paper in a mix of colours. From each sheet of paper, cut approximately 10 large and 10 small leaves using the paper punchers. ❸ Position large and small leaves in chosen design on the surface of table top. When you’re happy with the pattern, apply glue to the back of each leaf and stick ﬁrmly in place. Glue varying colours and sizes of leaves on the legs of the table to get a cascading look, if you wish. ❹ Allow glue to dry then, using a 50/50 mix of satin and matt varnish, paint the entire table to seal and protect the surface.

➺ PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 123

Get making

A corking idea Protect your table with these luxe metallic cork mats.

Y wiLL n d • Pencil • Paper • Scissors • Spray adhesive • A3 sheet of 6mm cork sheet (try Fred Aldous) • Scalpel and cutting mat • 10p piece • Liquid Leaf gold paint in Classic • Artist’s paintbrush • Ruler • 1.5cm and 0.5mm washi or masking tape

To make paper measuring approximately 18-20cm at the widest points. Cut out shapes from paper and, using the spray adhesive, stick them to the back of the cork sheet. Place the cork on to a cutting mat and, using a scalpel, carefully cut around the paper shape and through the cork. Remove excess cork to reveal the leaf shape. ❷ Now decorate the mats. For the dot design, take a 10p coin and draw around it with a pencil, repeating to

decorate the mat at roughly equal intervals. Following manufacturer’s instructions, stir and shake the gold leaf paint and, using a ﬁne paintbrush, paint the circles, applying a couple of coats. ❸ For the diamonds, apply parallel lines of tape at an angle to the mat. Use a ruler and 1.5cm-wide tape, leaving a gap of 75mm between the tape lengths. Paint between the unmasked lines with a couple of coats of paint. Wait for the paint to dry, then apply another set of

tape lines at an angle to the original lines with the same gap measurement. Again, paint in the unmasked lines. When the paint is dry remove the tape. ❹ For the stripes, again apply tape lines parallel to each other with an equal gap, this time using the narrower 5mm-wide tape. Paint in the unmasked areas. When dry, remove tape. Frayed-edge linen table cloth, £66; Aran cuffed glasses, £16 each; woodland table scatters, £18, all Rowen & Wren.

spookY Halloween garland The children will love joining in with this bat-tastic project.

Y wiLL n d

To make

• Bat template (see below) • Scissors • Black card • Sewing machine • Black thread

❶ Using the template, cut out 15 to 20 bats from the card (or more or less depending on the length of your garland).

❷ Then, using a large-length stitch on your sewing

machine, sew the bats together in a line until you reach the desired length. Leave threads at each end so that these can be used for hanging the garland.

Enlarge to desired size

Feature: Lisa Brown Photos: Mark Davison

❶ Draw simple leaf shapes on to

Make it your way

Lisa Comfort Customises it!

Embroidered sweatshirt You will need • Sweatshirt • Embroidery threads • Embroidery needle • Scissors

Got a plain sweatshirt that’s a bit blah? Give it a bit of ta-da with a needle and thread! All the stitches on this sweatshirt are essentially simple running/tacking stitches, or variations of them. You can choose to copy my design or have fun with your own – go for it! The key is to keep your stitches evenly sized and spaced, and the same along each row of stitches, so that the sweatshirt looks chic once ﬁnished.

THE Steps

Photos: Thomas Skovsende

❶ Starting at the top, sew

Top tip You should now wash your sweatshirt inside out to protect the stitches.

a row of simple running stitches along the edge of the collar. I stopped at the shoulder seams, but you can continue all the way around the neckline, if you prefer. ❷ For my second row, I stitched little upside down V shapes in a variation of backstitches. Start by coming up from inside the sweatshirt and sew a diagonal stitch, taking the thread back inside. ❸ Come up on the other side of the V, level with where you started, and take the thread back down again at the point of the V. Repeat to complete the row. ❹ The third stitch I used was a cross-stitch. To create one, simply sew two diagonal stitches over each other, one after the other.

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 125

Join this autumn! CLEAR YOUR DIARY for an event you won’t want to miss!

PATRIZIA 2½ – 8½

ACHING FEET? NEVER AGAIN! MOBILS SHOES WITH ALLOVER SOFT PADDING ALLOVER SOFT PADDING Avoids pinching and rubbing.

SOFT-AIR MIDSOLE

Provides soft and supple walking comfort.

EXTENSIVE COMFORT

30 November An evening of Beauty & Bubbles with Prima Join the team for a glam evening full of fun and laughter. Enjoy express beauty treatments, expert advice and lots of ﬁzz! British actress and beauty expert Kazia Pelka will be on hand to answer your beauty-related questions. 6.30-8.30pm

For maximum wearing comfort.

REMOVABLE FOOTBED

Can be replaced to accommodate custom orthotics. To request your free catalogue please write to: MOBILS INTERNATIONAL, Contact: Peter Ashton,

C/O Ashton Associates, 1 Brent Hall Road, Finchingﬁeld, CM7 4JY, England PR

Name First name Street Zip/City E-mail

www.mobilsshoes.com

To book and ﬁnd out more details on all of our events, visit hearstlive.co.uk

Knitting pretty!

Embrace the new season Add a splash of colour to your outﬁts with this striking waterfall jacket

MEASUREMENTS To ﬁt bust 81-86(92-97:102-107:112-117) cm. Finished measurements: Width across back 48.5(53.5:58.5:63.5)cm; Length to shoulder 56(58:60:62)cm; Sleeve length 46(47:48:49)cm. MATERIALS 8(9:10:11) 50g balls of Debbie Bliss Rialto DK in Berry 84. Pair of 4mm knitting needles. 4mm circular needle. TENSION 24 sts and 34 rows to 10cm square over patt using 4mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS beg beginning; cm centimetres; cont continue; foll following; inc increase; k knit; p purl; patt pattern; rem remaining; RS right side; st(s) stitch(es); WS wrong side.

PrimSaIVE EXCLU ! design

TURN THE PAGE FOR FULL INSTRUCTIONS

➺

BACK With 4mm needles, cast on 117(129:141:153) sts. 1st row (RS) K1, [p1, k1] to end. 2nd row P1, [k1, p1] to end. 3rd row As 2nd row. 4th row As 1st row. These 4 rows form the patt and are repeated. Cont straight in patt until back measures 37(38:39:40)cm from cast on edge, ending with a WS row. Shape armholes Cast off 6 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 105(117:129:141) sts. Cont in patt until work measures 56(58:60:62)cm from cast on edge, ending with a WS row. Shape shoulders Cast off 25(31:37:43) sts, with one st on needle after cast off, patt across next 54 sts, then cast off rem 25(31:37:43) sts. Leave centre 55 sts on a holder.

o Not toKY TRIC

RIGHT FRONT With 4mm needles, cast on 89(95:101:107) sts. 1st row (RS) P1, [k1, p1] to end. 2nd row K1, [p1, k1] to end. 3rd row As 2nd row. 4th row As 1st row. These 4 rows form the patt and are repeated. Cont straight in patt until front measures 38(39:40:41)cm from cast on edge, ending with a RS row. Shape armholes Cast off 6 sts at beg of next row. 83(89:95:101) sts. Cont in patt until work measures 56(58:60:62)cm from cast on edge, ending with a WS row. Shape shoulder Next row Patt 58, slip these sts onto a holder and cast off rem 25(31:37:43) sts.

128 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

SLEEVES With 4mm needles, cast on 57(59:63:65) sts. Work in patt as given for Back and at the same time, inc and take into patt, 1 st at each end of 6th row and every foll 8th row until there are 91(95:101:105) sts. Cont straight until sleeve measures 46(47:48:49)cm from cast on edge, ending with a WS row. Place a marker at each end of last row. Patt a further 8 rows. Cast off. COLLAR Join shoulder seams. With WS facing

and 4mm circular needle, patt across 58 sts of left front, patt across 55 sts of back, then patt across 58 sts of right front. 171 sts. Working backwards and forwards in rows, cont in patt until collar measures 5cm, ending with a WS row. Cast off in patt. TO MAKE UP With centre of cast off edge of sleeve to shoulder, sew sleeves into armholes, easing to ďŹ t and with row-ends above markers sewn to sts cast off at underarm. Join side and sleeve seams.

LEFT FRONT With 4mm needles, cast on 89(95:101:107) sts. 1st row (RS) P1, [k1, p1] to end. 2nd row K1, [p1, k1] to end. 3rd row As 2nd row. 4th row As 1st row. These 4 rows form the patt and are repeated. Cont straight in patt until front measures 38(39:40:41)cm from cast on edge, ending with a WS row. Shape armholes Cast off 6 sts at beg of next row. 83(89:95:101) sts. Cont in patt until work measures 56(58:60:62)cm, ending with a WS row. Shape shoulder Cast off 25(31:37:43) sts, patt to end, do not cut yarn.

Knitting pretty!

Thrill of the lace Snuggle up in this soft-tothe-touch lacy sweater MEASUREMENTS To ﬁt bust 81-86(92-97:102-107)cm. Finished measurements: Bust 137(145:157)cm; Length to shoulder 74(76:78)cm; Sleeve length 42(43:44)cm. MATERIALS 14(16:17) 50g balls of Rowan Softyak DK in Shell 247. Pair each of 3.25mm and 4mm knitting needles. 3.25mm and 4mm circular needles, both 40cm long. TENSION 23 sts and 32 rows to 10cm square over patt using 4mm needles.

our Use y LS SKIL

ABBREVIATIONS beg beginning; cm centimetres; cont continue; dec decrease; foll following; inc increase; k knit; p purl; patt pattern; psso pass slipped st over; rem remaining; rep repeat; RS right side; skpo sl 1, k1, pass slipped st over; st(s) stitch(es); st-st stocking stitch; tog together; yf yarn forward to make one st between k sts; WS wrong side. NOTE Ensure each patt decrease is matched by an increase, if there are insufficient sts to work both, work end sts in st-st.

TURN THE PAGE FOR FULL INSTRUCTIONS

➺

Knitting pretty!

130 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 1st size Back & Front 3rd size Back & Front 2nd size Back & Front 1st size Sleeve 2nd size Sleeve 3rd size Sleeve Key

k on RS, p on WS

k2tog

rem sts, patt to end. Complete to match ﬁrst side of neck, reversing shapings. SLEEVES With 3.25mm needles, cast on 42(42:47) sts. Work 17 rows in rib as given for Back. Next (inc) row (WS) Rib 3(3:1), m1, [rib 3(0:4), m1] 12(0:11) times, [rib 3, m1, rib 2, m1] 0(7:0) times, rib 3(4:2). 55(57:59) sts. Change to 4mm needles and work from chart between lines for correct sleeve size, repeating the 22-st patt rep twice and repeating the 16-row repeat throughout. Taking inc sts into patt (see NOTE), inc 1 st at each end of 3rd row and every foll 4th row to 69(75:79) sts, then on every foll 6th row until there are 93(97:101) sts. Cont straight in patt until sleeve measures 42(43:44)cm, ending with a WS row. Shape top Keeping patt correct, cast off 6 sts at beg of next 8(6:2) rows, then 7 sts at beg of foll

skpo

2(4:8) rows. Cast off rem 31(33:33) sts. COLLAR Join shoulder seams. With RS facing and 3.25mm circular needle, pick up and k22(22:25) sts down left front neck, k across 17 sts at centre front, pick up and k22(22:25) sts up right front neck, 9 sts down right back neck, k across 25(25:27) sts at centre back, then pick up and k 9 sts up left back neck. 104(104:112) sts. Round 1 (RS of body, WS of collar) [K1, p2] to end. Rep this round 14 times more. Round 16 [K2, p1, m1, p1] to end. 130(130:140) sts. Round 17 [K2, p3] to end. Rep the last round 13 times more. Round 31 [K1, m1, k1, p3] to end. 156(156:168) sts. Round 32 [K3, p3] to end. Change to 4mm circular needle and rep the last round until collar measures 25cm from pick up round. Cast off in rib. TO MAKE UP Place markers on front and back, 21(22:23)cm down from shoulders. Sew on sleeves between markers, easing to ﬁt. Join side and sleeve seams.

FRONT Work exactly as given for Back until 18(18:22) rows fewer have been worked than on Back to start of shoulder shaping, so ending with a WS row. Shape front neck Next row (RS) Patt 70(75:82) sts, turn and cont on these sts only, leave rem sts on a spare needle. Keeping patt correct, dec 1 st at neck edge of next 6 rows, then on 3 foll RS rows, then on 1(1:2) foll 4th rows. 60(65:71) sts. Patt 1 row, so ending with a WS row. Shape shoulder Cast off 9(10:11) sts at beg of next row and foll 1(2:2) RS rows, then 10(11:12) sts at beg of foll 3(2:2) RS rows, at the same time, dec 1 st at neck edge of 3rd and foll 4th row. Patt 1 row. Cast off rem 10(11:12) sts. With RS facing, slip 17 sts at centre front onto a holder, rejoin yarn to

22-st rep

Feature: Rosy Tucker Photos: Beth Crutchfield at Hearst Studios Model wears (first pattern): Blouse, Bon Prix. Skirt, M&S Collection at Marks & Spencer. Earrings, Accessorize Lace sweater taken from Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 61, £12.50

BACK With 3.25mm needles, cast on 16 157(167:182) sts. 1st row (RS) P2, 14 [k3, p2] to end. 2nd row K2, [p3, 12 k2] to end. These 2 rows form 10 rib and are repeated a further 8 8 times, dec 1 st in centre of last row in patt for 3rd size only. 6 157(167:181) sts. Change to 4mm 4 needles and work from chart 2 between lines for correct size and garment piece, repeating the 22-st patt rep 7(7:8) times and repeating the 16-row repeat throughout. Working correct chart rows, cont until back measures 71(73:75)cm from cast on edge, ending with a WS row. Shape back neck and shoulders Next row (RS) Cast off 9(10:11) sts, patt until there are 57(61:66) sts on right hand needles, turn and leave rem sts on a spare needle. Keeping patt correct, dec 1 st at neck edge of next 8 rows, at the same time, cast off 9(10:11) sts at beg of 2nd and 0(1:1) foll RS row, then 10(11:12) sts at beg of foll 3(2:2) RS rows. Patt 1 row. Cast off rem 10(11:12) sts. With RS facing, slip 25(25:27) sts at centre front onto a holder, rejoin yarn to rem sts, patt to end. Complete to match ﬁrst side of neck, reversing shapings.

Get creative with SUE McNEILL, editor of Prima Makes

Quilty secret The Quilter’s Guild was formed in 1979 for those passionate about quilting and patchwork. But its new range of fabrics has been designed to create pieces of the future – and all the colourful fabrics work beautifully together. Devon County fabrics, £17.25 a metre, Q Shop

FRENCH FANCY After a furniture paint for your latest upcycling project? Frenchic comes in 45 beautiful shades, glides on easily and has a unique wax infusion so there’s no need to seal your upcycled piece. From £6.95 for 100ml, Frenchic

Sew it, make it,

love it! DATES FOR YOUR DIARY KNIT WIT These knitted slipper socks from the Queen of Craft Kirstie Allsopp are just the thing to keep feet nice and cosy. They’d also make an ideal gift for a keen knitter. Each kit includes bamboo needles, yarn, buttons and pattern. Kits, £10 each, Hobbycraft

WRITE STUFF Calligraphy’s a big new trend and if you’re itching to get writing, take a look at this set for beginners that includes all the items you need. It’s perfect for older children, too. £9.95, Dotcomgiftshop For where to buy, see page 151

19-22 October Made London See madelondonmarylebone.co.uk for tickets.

ONLY £3.99!

Out now

Keen stitchers will love the extra sewing projects in the next issue of Prima Makes. Full of inspiring ideas, there’s something for everyone. On sale now, nationwide.

26-29 October Crafts For Christmas SEC, Glasgow See thecraftshows.co.uk for tickets.

What’s in store London’s iconic department store Liberty is famous for its fabulous fabrics, and now you can enjoy a revamped haberdashery section that’s packed with irresistible accessories for knitters, crafters and stitchers. Worth a look! PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 131

That’s entertainment

Your time off

& time out THIS MONTH’S BEST TV, FILMS, LIVE SHOWS AND MORE

An evening out at the movies

Coming to a venue near you MICHAEL BALL AND ALFIE BOE: TOGETHER AGAIN TOUR

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

Will Tilston plays the young Christopher Robin

THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US In this part-thriller, partunlikely love story, Kate Winslet (below) and Idris Elba are strangers who charter a light aircraft to get them back to New York as an approaching storm cancels all commercial ﬂights. The plane crashes in the mountains of Utah and together the two survivors face a struggle to survive. Out 6 October

Domhnall Gleeson is brilliant as author A.A. Milne, who returns from the First World War and creates the Winniethe-Pooh books as a way to bond with his son, Christopher Robin (Will Tilston). The much-loved stories became a worldwide phenomenon and thrust the little boy reluctantly into the spotlight. Margot Robbie and Kelly Macdonald also star. Out 29 September

Two of the world’s greatest voices also happen to be the best of friends, and the relationship between them is all part of the magic in this unique tour. Having spent the summer singing to outdoor crowds at historic venues, the duo are taking it inside, performing in arenas around the country in the run-up to Christmas. Book now! Visit livenation.co.uk

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

MOTHER!

HOME AGAIN

There’s an all-star cast in this psychological thriller from Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky. Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem play a couple whose perfect life is under threat when uninvited guests turn up at their beautiful home. Other stars include Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kristen Wiig, who all lend their talents to one of autumn’s most spooky cinematic experiences. Be afraid. Very afraid… Out 15 September

Life begins at 40, or so it seems for Alice Kinney, played by Reese Witherspoon in this modern romcom about a recently separated mother of two daughters who moves to LA and takes in three handsome, twentysomething male lodgers. The new family dynamic is going wonderfully until her ex, Austen (played by Michael Sheen), shows up and decides he wants her back. There are laughs and life lessons in this movie about the difficulties of starting over. Out 29 September

If you didn’t get to see this awardwinning musical during its two-year London run, now’s your chance as it takes to the road in a nationwide tour. Bronté Barbé plays the legendary songwriter who started out composing for others and ended up as one of the world’s most iconic solo artists. Expect to hear all the famous songs that form a soundtrack to the 1970s, including Tapestry and You’ve Got A Friend. Booking at venues across the country until summer 2018. See beautifulmusical.co.uk/tour

A QUICK TWIRL WITH...

Arlene Phillips Jessica Raine stars in BBC One’s The Last Post

What’s on TV THE LAST POST BBC ONE Set in 1965, in the shimmering heat of Aden (Yemen), this six-part series centres on a unit of Royal Military police officers and their families. They are all a long way from home and living in claustrophobic proximity both to each other and to the dangers of a war raging around them. Written by BAFTA winner Peter Moffat, the series looks likely to be one of the ﬁnest TV dramas of the autumn.

SAFE HOUSE ITV Ex-copper Tom Brook (played by Stephen Moyer) has been living a quiet life with his partner Sam (Zoe Tapper), running a police safe house on Anglesey. But the idyll is shattered when he realises a chilling crime is the familiar work of his old adversary, a psychopath nicknamed The Crow. This four-part thriller will have you on the edge of your seat.

COLD FEET ITV

Feature: Daphne Lockyer Photos: BBC, Rex Features

The reboot of this iconic show after a 13-year absence was described by ITV as the most successful drama launch of 2016. No surprise, then, to learn that the Manchester-based clan of friends are back again in a new series. Exact storylines are closely guarded, but the writer, Mike Bullen, has promised the usual dramas that superglue these mates together.

DOCTOR FOSTER BBC ONE The ﬁrst series of this explosive tale of inﬁdelity and revenge earned Suranne Jones (right) as wronged wife GP Gemma Foster, a wellearned BAFTA. And the second looks just as promising. It picks up the story two years after her separation, but the effects of ex-husband Steve’s adultery are as toxic now as ever.

Dance doyenne, Arlene, 74, is starring in her own show, Arlene! The Glitz, The Glamour, The Gossip. She has two grown-up daughters and lives in London with her partner, Angus Ion. It’s a very full life, Arlene! How are you going to cover everything in one show? Sensibly, I’ve asked my friend and fellow dancer Jackie Storey to sit on stage with me and ask me the questions. She covers everything from growing up near Manchester, right through to the world of music and dance. I talk about the early days, setting up Hot Gossip, the stars I’ve worked with (including Elton John and Whitney Houston), the musicals I’ve choreographed (including The Sound Of Music and Starlight Express), the battles, the joys, the triumphs and the disasters. No show would be complete without talking about Strictly Come Dancing. Do you discuss what happened when they replaced you? I talk about being on Strictly… and being off Strictly and the way I felt about it. It was a bad time for me, in general; my beloved manager passed away just before it happened. I just went, ‘Okay. Put on the blinkers and go forward!’ Any tips for Strictly’s new head judge, who’s also an older woman? Older woman? I don’t think so! Shirley Ballas is 56, which isn’t that old as far as I’m concerned. How old was Len Goodman? (Answer: 73!) Either way, she’s a professional who knows what she’s doing. She’ll be fabulous. You had a reputation on Strictly for being a straight talker. Was that the real you or was it all just an act? Not an act, because it did show the real side of me that can be very demanding and strict if I think it will help someone improve their performance. I’ve been called The Queen of Mean as a result, but in

truth, there’s another side to me that is very loving, giving and maternal. And hopefully, that will come through in the stage show, too. I’m sure your daughters, Alana, 37, and Abi, 26, have been on the receiving end of the softer side? I certainly like to think so. What I will say is that, of all the things I’ve achieved in my life, having my girls is the absolute pinnacle. I adore them and I think they know how much. Was it tough to combine a career in dance with being a mum? It wasn’t always easy. But, although working mothers are maligned, I do believe that’s it possible to do both and still be a good mother. I’m proud of the way I brought up my girls. Your mum died from leukaemia when you were just 15 – it must have had a deep impact on you. It did. It was awful, at that age, to lose the person who could wrap her arms around me and make the worries of the world disappear. I think it’s why I’m forever hugging my own daughters, and possibly why I’m often the person people come to for advice. When you lose that nurture early on, somehow, you develop it in yourself. It’s sad that your mum didn’t live long enough to witness your success. What do you think she’d have enjoyed the most? She’d have loved all of it, but I would especially have loved for both my mum and dad to be with me when I picked up my CBE in 2013. I can’t imagine what they’d have thought of me being presented with the award by the Queen! • Arlene! The Glitz, The Glamour, The Gossip is touring the UK until November. See emmabrunjesproductions.com. PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 133

The posh one Iconic Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in Hampshire has launched a new cookery school and restaurant, both overseen by celebrity chef James Martin. The 12-station cookery school, under chef tutor Rob Cottam, features a selection of courses and demos, including Middle Eastern and James Martin’s Perfect Puddings. Chewton Glen’s gardens provide most of the vegetables, fruit and herbs, and guests are encouraged to forage.

COOK ’N’ STAY Half-day and full-day classes range from £45 to £225, and there are also kids’ courses at weekends and during the summer holidays. Garden rooms at Chewton Glen start from £325 per night. Visit chewtonglen.com. Put on your apron for cookery school

Kinloch Lodge is surrounded by natural beauty

The gourmet one For a luxurious gourmet getaway on the stunning Isle of Skye, an island with a blossoming food scene, head to Kinloch Lodge Hotel & Restaurant. Here, a three-night foodie stay fast tracks you to the island’s best food hot spots. Kinloch’s Cookery Workshops allow guests to peek behind the doors of a top-ﬂight professional kitchen and see some of the Michelin magic. Hosted by chef-director Marcello Tully, there are lots of tastings and chat while Marcello guides and shares tips from his years working with chef royalty, including the Roux brothers. You’ll also meet local producers and

artisans and sample the best island eateries on the self-guided Gastronomic Tour. Find yourselves right by the shore, learning how to cultivate oysters and tasting them fresh out of the sea, before heading for a tour and whisky tasting at Talisker Distillery. You’ll ﬁnish off with a tasty lunch at the OysterShed – order a plate of Hebridean scallops in garlic butter or fresh lobster. Both are delicious. The gourmet break ends with Kinloch’s seven-course tasting menu dinner.

COOK ’N’ STAY Three nights cost from £819 per person, based on two sharing a double or twin standard sea view room. Call 01471 833 333 or visit kinloch-lodge.co.uk.

Pick up tips from Kinloch’s Marcello Tully

Great escapes

Learn new skills with celeb chef Rosemary Shrager

The celebrity one Celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager, who starred in Soapstar Superchef, has her own cookery school in The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells. The school runs half-, one- and two-day courses, focusing on everything from butchery to the perfect Christmas table. Stay a stone’s throw away in The Tunbridge Wells Hotel, full of gorgeous antiques and quirky artworks. You can also mooch around The Pantiles – a colonnaded stretch of shops in the heart of this pretty spa town.

COOK ’N’ STAY A one-day course at the Rosemary Shrager Cookery School costs from £160. Visit rosemaryshrager.com. A luxury double room at The Tunbridge Wells Hotel costs from £149 per night with breakfast (thetunbridgewellshotel.com). Mmm… Enjoy bubbles with your afternoon tea!

Belle Isle Castle champions Northern Irish cuisine

The group one

such as ﬁshing and canoeing, as well as stunning walking trails to enjoy.

Belle Isle Castle Estate in beautiful County Fermanagh is a fabulous place to go with a group of like-minded foodies to enjoy its state-of-the-art cookery school. From international cuisines to summer barbecue masterclasses, the cookery school is the ﬁrst of its kind in Northern Ireland. Embark on a bespoke cookery course, learn more with culinary demonstrations or book a group dining experience. The estate also has a number of activities to complement the cooking,

COOK ’N’ STAY Stay on the estate in the self-catering Cathcarts Lodge Castle, which sleeps six and costs from £680 for ﬁve nights. For larger groups enjoying a special occasion, book Belle Isle Castle itself, which sleeps up to 26 guests and costs £1,580 per night. Cookery courses start from £85 per person. Visit belle-isle.com. Aer Lingus ﬂies three times daily from London Heathrow to Belfast City from £50.99 one way (aerlingus.com).

The homely one A foodie getaway with Cheshire Country Holidays reveals there’s a lot more to Cheshire’s culinary scene than cheese. Its three-day gastronomic experience allows you to taste traditional foods of the Cheshire region while staying at 17th-century Grade II-listed Brookbank Farm, which has views of the world-famous Lovell Telescope. With breakfast, dinner and a ‘Taster’ lunch provided by the awardwinning local Yellow Broom restaurant, there’s also a wine and cheese tasting, as well as a hands-on cookery class at

The Lovell Telescope

the Speckled Hen Cookery School – intro to bread making, anyone?

COOK ’N’ STAY From £329 per person, based on 12 sharing. Visit cheshirecountryholidays.co.uk.

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 135

The rural one Discover Andalucía’s rural region, the High Alpujarras, on a seven-night holiday, with foraging walks, paella demonstrations, a stroll around Almería market, a wine tour of an award-winning bodega (wine shop) and visits to cheese and olive oil producers.

COOK ’N’ STAY

Foreign flavours Stay under the Tuscan sun with Flavours Holidays

a Perfect your paell

Chapters Holidays’ Insight to the High Alpujarras tour costs from £1,285 per person on a half-board basis (with picnic or tapas lunches), including ﬂights, transfers and local transport. Visit chaptersholidays.co.uk.

The Tuscan one Italy is known as one of the best foodie destinations in the world. Head to Tuscany with Flavours Holidays for the perfect mix of cooking, eating and exploring the region. A chef hosts three cooking lessons, teaching you a range of mouth-watering local dishes, such as ribollita (a hearty vegetable stew) and pici (spaghetti with wild boar or rabbit sauce). You’ll also have time to lose yourselves in Florence’s ancient streets and enjoy a private wine tasting.

COOK ’N’ STAY These foodie short breaks are hosted in a small selection of hand-picked villas and honey-coloured farmhouses. A three-night trip costs from £899 per person, including all activities, meals and wine. It also includes £100 towards the flight, along with transfers from Pisa Airport. Visit flavoursholidays.co.uk. Easyjet flies from London Gatwick to Pisa from £28.99 one way.

Whip up a healthy ribollita 136 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

The picturesque Résidence Provence Country Club

The Provençal one Chef a la Maison is the brand-new COOK ’N’ STAY experience with Summer France’s Summer France offers a four-night stay self-catering holidays in Provence. at the Résidence Provence Country Club from £123 per person, based on It involves local chef eight sharing. Return ﬂights Eric Viens preparing from London a three-course meal for a group of friends or family to Marseilles in their accommodation cost from £62 at the Résidence with Ryanair Provence Country Club (ryanair.com). located in the Luberon Cookery demos Le mountain range, while cost from £17.50 traditiona arn to cook l bouillab aisse also passing on his per head. The food recipes and skills. Try your hand at bought for the bouillabaisse, for instance, the divine evening costs extra, and Eric can also traditional Provençal ﬁsh stew. You’ll show guests around the local markets learn everything you need so you can and vineyards for an additional cost. replicate the dishes back home. Visit summerfrance.co.uk.

Great escapes

Blue Palace Resort’s Flame restaurant overlooks Spinalonga island

The island one If you love Greek food, head to the Blue Palace Resort & Spa on the island of Crete, where couples can now take part in a Greek cooking class. With the focus on local ﬂavours, Enjoy fresh-from- you’ll learn the-sea ﬁsh everything from the aromatic dolmadakia (vine wraps with rice and herbs) to how to whisk up a prawn saganaki. Great recipes for impressing dinner party guests back home!

COOK ’N’ STAY Elegant Resorts offers seven nights at Blue Palace Resort & Spa from £1,325 per person half board, including ﬂights, private transfers and UK airport lounge passes. Visit elegantresorts.co.uk. Cookery classes cost from around £110 per couple. Visit bluepalace.gr.

The Scandinavian one If you just can’t get enough of Danish food, book at culinary trip to Meyer’s House of Food (Meyers Madhus) run by Danish chef Claus Meyer, founder and co-owner of the renowned Noma of Nørrebro, Copenhagen. There’s a class in New Nordic Cuisine teaching you how to master his innovative form of cooking or, more traditionally, a class in bread making, where you learn how to make Danish rye bread and cinnamon rolls. Yum! Visit the Meyers Madhus cookery school

Cohenhagen’s pretty har bour

COOK ’N’ STAY Courses at Meyer’s House of Food cost from £150. Visit meyersmad.dk. Stay at the nearby Hotel Kong Arthur by Peblinge Lake with double rooms from £122 per night (arthurhotels.dk). Flights to Copenhagen with Ryanair from Luton, Stansted, Edinburgh and Liverpool (starting 31 October) from just £9.99 one way.

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 137

Unique fusions Relax on Riad Star’s marvellous roof terrace

The spicy one Marrakech is a hot spot for culinary creativity, and staying in a stylish riad is a fabulous way to soak up the local ﬂavours. The beautiful Riad Star has opened a new cookery demonstration space where local chefs share their love of traditional Moroccan dishes. A three-night Flavours of Marrakech break includes a private half-day guided walking tour of the medina checking out the spice and food markets, a bakery and traditional

meshwi lamb ovens. This is followed by a half-day cookery course at Riad Star learning local dishes, such as zaalouk aubergine salad or lamb tagine. And don’t forget to buy yourself a ceramic tagine in the medina, Tuck in to tradition al so you can do it all Moroccan dishes again back home!

COOK ’N’ STAY The package costs from £199 per person, including meals and airport transfers. See marrakech-riad.co.uk. Fly to Marrakech with easyJet from London airports, Manchester and Bristol (easyjet.com).

Explore the quaint side of Benidorm

The surprising one Despite having a reputation for full English breakfasts, Benidorm – in the Spanish region of Valencia – has a strong local food scene, if you know where to look. Benidorm Cooking Experience offers a Buy, Cook and Eat Like a Local hands-on foodie trail, which begins with a visit to the local markets where chefs will show you Spanish Benidorm has never tasted so good!

The winter one For a culinary winter treat, head to the Icehotel in Swedish Lapland. During your three-night stay, you’ll learn the art of kokkaffe coffee brewing, forage for food in the wilds and sample the ﬂavours of the north during a starlit dinner, while enjoying the art and design of the magniﬁcent Icehotel. A Wilderness Camp in Lapland

138 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

Snuggle up in the Icehotel

delicacies, such as Serrano ham. You’ll then head to the nearby cookery school, where you’ll learn to create some of Spain’s most popular dishes, such as gazpacho and classic paella. Finish the day with a glass of Spanish wine and a meal you cooked yourself!

COOK ’N’ STAY

Discover the World offers the Icehotel Culinary Adventure from £1,340 per person, including two nights in a warm Kaamos Room and one night in an Ice Room, plus return ﬂights from Heathrow. Departures between December and April. Visit discover-the-world.co.uk.

Benidorm Cooking Experience offers local cooking experiences for around £55 per adult and around £25 per child up to 13 (benidormcookingexperience.com). Thomson Holidays offers seven nights half-board at the four-star Port Benidorm from £398 per person, including ﬂights from London Gatwick (thomson.co.uk).

Feature: Jane Anderson Photos: Getty, Alamy, Adam Lynk, Christos Drazos, Angus Bremner, Martin Kaufmann, Alan Keohane, Trevor Richards, Asaf Kliger. Prices correct at the time of going to press

Great escapes

Happy reading!

Get into the GOOD BOOKS Books editor Nina Pottell recommends six new page-turners to keep you enthralled this month

AMERICAN WAR

MARIA IN THE MOON

by Omar El Akkad (£14.99, Picador) Starting in 2074 after the Second American Civil War breaks out, we follow six-year-old Sarat as she grows up in troubled times. This is an outstanding book – 1984 meets The Handmaid’s Tale – that feels closer to reality than it possibly should. Out 7 September

by Louise Beech (£8.99, Orenda) Catherine Hope volunteers for a crisis helpline after her home is destroyed in catastrophic ﬂooding. The calls she receives make her query her own past and unlock thoughts buried long ago. A beautiful and compassionate read. Out 30 September

MY MOTHER’S SHADOW

THE BREAK

by Nikola Scott (£7.99, Headline Review) A year after her mother’s death, a stranger turns up on Addie’s doorstep claiming to be her twin sister. Will they discover the truth about what happened on 14 February 1960? This is a delightful debut about family and secrets. Out 21 September

by Marian Keyes (£20, Michael Joseph) Amy is shocked when her husband, Hugh, tells her he’s taking a break from their marriage and their life to go and ﬁnd himself in south-east Asia for six months. How will she cope and does that mean she’s on a break, too? Hilariously wise. Out 7 September

THE POOL HOUSE

THIS IS GOING TO HURT

by Tasmina Perry (£14.99, Headline Review) Jem and Dan are enthralled when asked to spend the summer at a swanky house in the Hamptons. Then Jem ﬁnds out about an incident that took place the summer before and is determined to ﬁnd out the truth. A brilliant page-turner. Out 7 September

by Adam Kay (£16.99, Picador) These are the hilarious journals Adam Kay kept on his journey from junior doctor to senior registrar. It’s also a complete eye-opener to the NHS, doctors, and gynae and obs, which he specialised in. Best to read this after you’ve had a baby... not before! Out 7 September

Plus, four more eagerly awaited reads...

Photos: Getty

HOW HARD CAN IT BE? by Allison Pearson (£14.99, Borough Press) Kate Reddy is back – this time with teenage children and an errant husband. Out 21 September

GOOD FRIDAY by Lynda La Plante (£18.99, Zaffre) Head back to 1976 and the start of Jane Tennison’s police career. Full of twists. Out now

KEEP YOU SAFE by Melissa

I AM, I AM, I AM

by Maggie O’Farrell (£18.99, Hill (£12.99, Tinder Press) HQ) Parenting nightmares over An astonishing vaccinations are and heartfelt at the root of this compelling memoir from one of our story. Out 21 September best-loved writers. Out now

FOR MORE BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS, HEAD TO PRIMA.CO.UK

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 139

Making life simple for the modern woman Subscribe to the digital edition of Prima magazine for instant access to advice on how to look and feel your best, time and money saving solutions, quick and easy food, beautiful homes and gardens, and above all everything you need to get the most out of life.

GREAT REASONS TO GET DIGITAL! Enjoy a 30 day free trial on any subscription deal. Get instant access to the latest issue even when you’re on the move Choose from the options below and enjoy a 30- day free trial of Prima for your iPad or iPhone. Your digital subscription starts with the most recent issue. 3 months £7.99 6 months £15.99 12 months £27.99

Prima is also available on

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

STYLISH LIVING

STEP INTO A STILTZ HOMELIFT Designed to make your life easier, a Stiltz HomeLift travels safely and effortlessly between ﬂoors. A unique, technologicallyadvanced, free-standing rail and drive system allows the lift to be ﬁtted almost anywhere in the home. Taking up minimal space,

and with the smallest footprint of any domestic lift, the stylish Duo and Trio HomeLift ranges offer homeowners ﬂexible installation options, helping to maximise living space. For more information or brochure, call free on 0808 223 0113.

STYLISH WIDE FITTING SHOES

THE UK’S PREMIER TEXTILE EVENT IS BACK! Immerse yourself in creativity at The Knitting & Stitching Show at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace from the 11th – 15th October. The show features extraordinary galleries from international textile artists, an extensive programme of workshops and talks, demonstrations from celebrities of the stitching world, and over 350 specialist exhibitors selling fabric, luxury yarn, silk ﬁbres, dressmaking patterns, sewing machines and more. To book visit: www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/london Quote PRIMA and get £2.50 off your ticket. (T&Cs and booking fees apply).

Wider Fit Shoes Ltd offers stylish, affordable shoes to fit you perfectly – whatever your width. Today, they are the leading supplier of wide-fitting shoes in the UK, offering footwear from EE through to 8E fittings. Their entire range of shoes and slippers are adjustable, durable, lightweight and flexible and every purchase is backed by their no-quibble guarantee. No wonder they’re recommended by foot health professionals nationwide. For a free colour catalogue or more information, please call 01933 311077 or order securely online at www.widerfitshoes.co.uk Please quote PRX1735M for 10% off your first order.

Fun for you GIVEAWAYS, PUZZLES AND A FAB SHORT STORY!

It’s so easy to win!

Enter by phone, text or post

Amazing three-night hotel getaways in the UK

Compiled by: Jacqui Bartley. †For terms and conditions, see page 151. Entries will be drawn at random. The competition is open to UK residents over the age of 18 only and the usual rules apply (see General Competition Terms and Conditions on page 148).

Two lucky readers can win a fantastic three-night stay for two at a Holiday Inn or Crowne Plaza hotel of their choice, worth £1,000†! So, if you fancy taking in the sights of London and hitting the shops on buzzy Oxford Street, the Holiday Inn in Regent’s Park is the place to stay. Or take a trip to see Edinburgh Castle or a sightseeing river cruise in Oxford – the choice is yours! LHM UK manages a portfolio of 18 fully serviced Holiday Inns and three stylish Crowne Plaza hotels across the UK. This exclusive prize includes a stay for three consecutive nights with bed and breakfast, plus dinner one evening at the hotel’s restaurant for winners and their guests. The winners can redeem their prize at any of the eight central and greater London properties or the remaining 13 hotels around the UK. For a full list of hotels, visit lhmuk.com. Call 0905 789 1010 (80ppm)*. Text PRIMAWIN2 to 84010** (£1.50). Please leave your full name and address when entering. Write to Prima/LHM GVPRAL17380***.

A luxury handmade bed It’s a well-known fact that we all need a good night’s sleep to lead a healthy life, which makes a fabulous bed a must-have item. To celebrate its platinum anniversary, Millbrook Beds is giving away a 5ft mattress and handmade divan set worth £2,000 to one lucky reader in a colour of their choice†. Millbrook creates mattresses using only the ﬁnest natural materials – such as Hampshire wool, silk and cashmere – to provide the ultimate in sleep luxury. What’s more, this mattress contains 2,000 individually hand-nested pocket springs, which relieve pressure points on the body and support the spine to help you get a perfect night’s sleep! For more information, visit millbrook-beds.co.uk. Call 0905 789 1009 (80ppm)*. Text PRIMAWIN1 to 84010 (£1.50)**. Please leave your full name and address when entering. Write to Prima/ Millbrook GVPRAL17379***. HOW TO ENTER: Call the 0905 number, or text PRIMAWIN followed by the number of the giveaway you wish to enter, then a space and your contact details, to 84010 (£1.50) by midnight, 31 October 2017. For example: text PRIMAWIN1 Jane Smith, 1 The Cottage, London AB1 2CD. ***Or, send your name and address on a postcard to: The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT, preﬁxed by the offer name and code, by 3 November 2017. A separate stamped postcard is needed for each offer. Please leave your full name and address details when entering. *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge and will last no longer than two minutes. **Texts cost £1.50 plus your usual network operator rate. Lines close midnight, 31 October 2017. If you phone or text your entry after the advertised closing date, you will not be entered but you will be charged. Winners will be selected at random after the closing date. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390. DATA PROTECTION: we will use the information you supply to process your competition entry. For Hearst’s data policy, visit hearst.co.uk/dp.

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 143

Relax with READER SHORT STORY

Bake off!

WIN £100

Can a cake contest ever lead to more than one winner?

ven though she knew it off by heart, Mae checked the well-thumbed schedule again before switching on the food mixer. This year’s Victoria sponge – ‘one cake, split, raspberry jam filling, no decoration’ – was going to be her best ever. She always looked forward to the local Country Show, and had won the Home Produce Cup three years running. That is, until last year. She could still remember the familiar feeling of excitement and anticipation as she went back into the marquee after the judging had finished, and how quickly it had turned to bitter disappointment as she took in the seconds and thirds where before it had been firsts. And the same name by the coveted red cards time after time. ‘Who was this L. Martin?’ Mae wondered. ‘An off-comer more than likely,’ her friend had sniffed, though Mae had the uncomfortable feeling that she was secretly pleased Mae had not triumphed yet again. Somewhat churlishly (as she admitted to herself later, while nursing a very large G&T), Mae avoided the presentation of the cup. But if this L. Martin had recently moved into the area, she knew she would bump into her sooner or later – it was that sort of small, close-knit farming community after all. At that moment, though, if their paths never crossed, she wouldn’t lose sleep over it. Now, a year on, Mae was more than a little ashamed of her reaction. Nevertheless, she had a fierce competitive streak, and she was more determined than ever to regain her home baking crown. She had really rather liked seeing her name neatly engraved on the huge ornate silver cup even though, rather bizarrely, the winner had to pay to have that done themselves. But it was a small price to have your name preserved for posterity along with those dating back to the 1930s, and she felt a sense of pride that she was carrying on traditions enjoyed by generations before her. Carefully folding in the flour, Mae smiled to herself. This

year, it was all-out war! The jams and chutneys had been made several weeks before, as had the rich fruit cake that would mature nicely in time for Christmas, albeit with a small slice missing courtesy of the judges. Today’s mammoth baking session – shortbread, chocolate cake, savoury flan, gingerbread and traybake – filled the kitchen with delicious aromas as they cooled. She would make her scones first thing in the morning. ‘Always best made fresh on the day’, her mother had instilled in her. Ha! See how you like that, L. Martin! Sliding the cake into the oven, Mae’s mind wandered. She thought, as she often did, about how much her life had changed since the last show. Who would have thought that in the space of four short months that she of all people – a thirtysomething singleton with, in her opinion, very average looks and a decidedly unhappy dating history – would have embarked on a whirlwind romance and got married? It had certainly given the local gossips plenty to talk about in a community where everyone knew everyone else’s business (and what they didn’t know, they made up). But most people had been sincere in their congratulations, if a little bemused. She hugged herself gleefully. Sometimes even she could hardly believe it. The kitchen door opened and her husband strolled in, smiling broadly and casting an amused eye over the chaos that prevailed as he planted a kiss on her nose. ‘How goes it in the nerve centre?’ he asked. ‘Fine,’ she grinned, ‘I’m almost done.’ ‘Good,’ Liam replied, reaching for the apron hanging on the door and throwing her a theatrical wink, ‘Because I need to get to that oven right now to create all my winning entries.’ ‘No chance,’ Mae laughed, as she took the textbookperfect Victoria sponge out of the oven. ‘This time, it’s going to be M. Martin, not L. Martin on that cup!’

DO YOU HAVE A WAY WITH WORDS?

Based on my experiences of entering my local Country Show, This month’s winning author is I wanted my story to show that Barbara Jarvis, from Cumbria, positives can come from negatives.’ who wins £100! She says: ‘I’ve For your chance to win, email your been writing since I was a teen but entry of 800 words maximum to: I never thought I’d be published! yourwinningstory@hearst.co.uk or

post to: Your Winning Story, Prima Features, 72 Broadwick Street W1F 9EP, including your name, address, phone number and a good-quality photograph. Please note that, unfortunately, Prima cannot return any photos or stories.

COMPETITION RULES: Prize is £100. Entry to the competition and acceptance of the prize constitutes permission to use the winner’s name for promotional purposes and for publishing within Prima without additional consultation. Entries may be edited for publication. This competition is not open to employees of Hearst or their direct family members. The most deserving entry, in Prima’s sole opinion, will be chosen as the winner. Only the winner will be contacted personally. The prize is as stated, although Hearst reserves the right to change the prize in the event of unforeseen circumstances. If it is in Hearst’s opinion that no entries are deemed of a publishable standard,

Illustration: Emma Block

‘She felt a sense of pride that she was carrying on traditions enjoyed by generations before her’

Hearst reserves the right not to award any prize. Hearst does not accept any responsibility for lost entries. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. Hearstâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision is ďŹ nal in every situation, including any not covered above, and no correspondence will be entered into. Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and agreed to be bound by them. Hearst shall be permitted to exclude any entrant at any time at its sole discretion. By entering the competition, you agree that the copyright and all other rights in respect of the entry shall be assigned to Hearst.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

TREAT YOURSELF POLYGALA PURPLE PASSION Two tone ﬂowers carry a fragrance of Tutti Frutti Sweets throughout the spring. Easy to grow and incredibly hardy to minus 350C. Buy one potted plant for £18 or three for £24 SAVES £30. Hayloft Plants offer great customer service as you receive a no quibble guarantee on all purchases. Their beautiful website is full of rare, unusual and exciting plants. Prima Readers receive a 20% online discount* and can also sign up for future special offers. Visit Hayloft.co.uk and enter PRIM20 at checkout. *Discount code valid until 31st December 2017.

Autumn Morning

Simply Freesia

SPECIAL OFFER – SAVE 12% PLUS FREE DELIVERY!

FINE FASHION – MADE IN ENGLAND

Enjoy the glowing oranges, golds and pinks of a glorious, late summer sunrise with our pretty bouquet ‘Autumn Morning’, its warm tones will make you think of the Indian Summer we’ll all hope for this year. For a wonderfully perfumed gift that is sure to be welcome, choose ‘Simply Freesia’ – a classic, much loved by our customers. Both are made up of excellent quality flowers and give great value for money. Flying Flowers are giving Prima readers an exclusive 12% OFF* all orders, simply use code PRIMA0109 to claim your discount. And you’ll receive FREE delivery AND a FREE pop-up vase on these and the other bouquets you’ll find on flyingflowers.co.uk too! With our great value prices and over 30 years’ experience you can rely on Flying Flowers to deliver. Please quote offer code PRIMA0109. Order online flyingflowers.co.uk or call 0333 003 0709. Please hurry! Offer closes 1 January 2018. Offer applies to Flying Flowers bouquets and excludes other floral gifts. See full terms and conditions online.

We all want to look and feel fabulous, and it’s never been easier to achieve, thanks to David Nieper’s new collection of timeless classics, luxury knitwear and stylish separates. Each piece is lovingly made in their Derbyshire studios from the finest quality fabrics. Expert designers and seamstresses create styles to fit all sizes, each finished with the greatest of care for comfort, quality and style. Soft Jersey Dress £159, style 6093. Shop online at davidnieper.co.uk or call 01773 83 6000 for a catalogue. Quote code PR62.

Fun with

Puzzles for you to enjoy Three pages of fun – with cash prizes to win!

WIN

ACROSS 3 A new ___ sweeps clean, saying (5) 6 Drink of which Assam and orange pekoe are varieties (3) 7 Dutch cheese with a red wax rind (4) 8 Took long strides (5) 10 Magical incantation (5) 11 Zodiac sign that covers most of October (5) 12 Inform, tell on (slang) (5,2) 14 There are 10 in a decade! (5) 17 You’ve got to be in it ___ it, expression (2,3) 20 & 3D Strictly Come Dancing’s new head judge (7,6) 23 Lowest rank in English nobility (5) 24 Legal excuse (5) 25 Mistake (5) 26 Common name for sodium chloride (4) 27 Employ, utilise (3) 28 Expresses tiredness or boredom (5)

DOWN

CROSSWORD 1

7 8

1 Vision (8) 2 Greek goddess who is equivalent to Minerva in Roman mythology (6) 3 See 20A 4 Several songs played or performed as a continuous piece (6) 5 ___ Streisand, revered US diva whose hits include Woman In Love (6) 9 Nickname for a clercial worker whose job involves a lot of paperwork (3-6) 13 Glide down the piste (3) 15 Part of the body where you’d ﬁnd the malleus and stirrup bones (3) 16 Window in a roof or ceiling (8) 18 Capital of Poland (6) 19 Highest number called in a game of bingo (6) 21 Greek hero who ﬂew too close to the sun (6) 22 Hang about with intent (6)

£50

24 25

27 28

7 ACROSS

13 DOWN

19 DOWN

Call with your answer on 0906 470 1007* Solve the crossword in the usual way. When completed correctly, the yellow squares, reading top to bottom, left to right, will spell out your prize answer (rainbow colour, 6). Call 0906 470 1007* and leave your name, address and the answer. All calls cost 65p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than two minutes. You can also write in – see HOW TO ENTER (on the following page).

➺

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 147

Fun with

WIN £50

CODEWORD 1 6

21 9

22 24

3 4

5 2

6 1

17 26

23 5 10

20 8

20 4

10 13

16 11

5 5

4 5

10 9

7 22

25 20

22 12

14 17

9 21

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

C H R

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

9 22

4 14

GENERAL COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS: The competition is only open to UK residents over the age of 18. Entry to the competition and acceptance of the prize constitutes permission to use the winner’s names for promotional purposes without additional consultation. This competition is not open to employees of Hearst, the promoters or their family members. The prize winners will be selected from the entries received by an independent panel. Only the winners will be contacted. Prizes must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred, although Hearst reserves the right to change the prizes in the event of unforeseen circumstances. There will be no cash alternative. Hearst does not accept responsibility for late or lost entries. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. Hearst’s decision is final in every situation, including any not covered above, and no correspondence will be entered into. Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them. Hearst shall be permitted to exclude any entrant at any time at its sole discretion. Where Hearst runs a competition with a promoter such that the promoter is responsible for the selection and/or the provision of prizes, then Hearst shall not be responsible for, or have any liability for, the provision of such prizes. If there is any conflict with these rules and the specific competition rules, then the latter take preference. For winner(s) names, send a stamped addressed envelope to Hearst, 72 Broadwick Street, London W1F 9EP. Hearst reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time without notice. Data Protection: Hearst may pass your personal information to the promoters of the competition (where it is not Hearst) and their data processors. However, we always demand that any such parties adhere to the same security procedures that we follow ourselves. For our privacy policy, visit hearst.co.uk/dp.

16 26

18 3

17 25

22 1

4 7

1 2 3 4 I

11 4

8 3

7 17

You can contact Prima at 72 Broadwick Street, London W1F 9EP. Tel: 020 7312 3887. Email: prima@hearst.co.uk. Prices and availability were checked at the time of going to press, but we cannot be held responsible for any later changes. ©2017 Hearst ISSN 0951 8622, 72 Broadwick Street, London W1F 9EP. Published monthly. All rights reserved. No part of Prima may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Not to be resold, lent, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended retail price (subject to VAT in Republic of Ireland) or in a mutilated condition. Printed by Quad/ Graphics Europe in Poland. For existing subscription enquiries, change of address and back-issue orders for Prima, please call our enquiry line 0844 848 5203†, email qualitymagazines@subscription.co.uk, or write to Prima, Hearst, Tower House, Sovereign Park, Lathkill Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9EF. Please quote your subscription number in all correspondence. For new and renewal orders, please call 0844 848 1601†, or visit qualitymagazines.co.uk. Phone lines are open weekdays, 8am-9.30pm; Saturdays, 8am-4pm. †BT landline calls to 0844 numbers will cost no more than 7p per minute; calls from mobiles and other networks usually cost more. Prima magazine, ISSN 0951 8622, is published monthly (12 times per year) by Hearst c/o USACAN Media Corp 123A Distribution Way Building H-1, Suite 104 Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Periodicals Postage paid at Plattsburgh, NY. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Prima Magazine c/o Express Mag, PO box 2769, Plattsburgh, NY 12901-0239. The Publisher, editors and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services that may be advertised or referred to in this issue or for any errors, omissions, mis-statements or mistakes in any such advertisements or references.

YOUR KEY GRID:

20 26 15 14 3 26 14

Call with your answer on 0906 470 1008* numbers with the Win £50 puzzles), leaving your name and address. Or you can write in – send your answer on a postcard with your contact details to: Prima Puzzles, /PUPRAN17470 (for the Crossword), /PUPRAN17471 (for the Codeword) or /PUPRAN17472 (for the Arrow-word), The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT. The closing date for phone entries is midnight, 31 October 2017 (three working days later for postal entries). Only one entry per person. If you call to enter after the closing date, you will not be entered but you will be charged. Entries will be drawn at random. The competition is open to UK residents only and the usual rules apply (see right). DATA PROTECTION: We will use the information you supply to process your competition entry. For our privacy policy, visit hearst.co.uk/dp. SP: Spoke, call 0333 202 3390.

148 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

LAST MONTH’S JUST FOR FUN SOLUTIONS SUDOKU

HOW TO ENTER *YOU CAN CALL WITH YOUR ANSWERS (see

7 8 5 9 3 4 2 6 1

9 3 4 2 1 6 7 5 8

1 6 2 5 7 8 3 9 4

6 2 9 3 8 7 4 1 5

3 1 8 6 4 5 9 7 2

5 4 7 1 9 2 6 8 3

4 9 3 7 5 1 8 2 6

8 5 6 4 2 9 1 3 7

2 7 1 8 6 3 5 4 9

EASY PEASY

8 5 9 7 1 2 3 4 6

2 1 6 3 4 8 9 5 7

4 3 7 5 9 6 8 1 2

5 2 3 6 8 7 4 9 1

7 8 1 9 3 4 6 2 5

6 9 4 1 2 5 7 3 8

3 7 5 2 6 9 1 8 4

1 4 2 8 7 3 5 6 9

9 6 8 4 5 1 2 7 3

TOUGH STUFF

JULY 2017 PRIZE SOLUTIONS ARROW-WORD Mr Greedy CROSSWORD Pastime CODEWORD Mystery

✽ Solutions to this month’s prize-winning puzzles will be in the January 2018 issue.

ARROW-WORD

WIN

Put your feet up and win £50 at the same time!

£50

Fill in the grid according to the arrows. When done, the shaded yellow squares will reveal the answer to the following question: What is unusual about a hippo’s sweat when it’s upset? (2,5,3) ___ Moyet, singer

Long- Audience Burst (a balloon, necked address river bird (in a play) eg)

Little devil

Kitchen cupboard

Go on to say

Glass Involuntary sheet in muscle a window spasm

Delicacy of pickled sturgeon roe

Room on a ship

Gemstone

Go by

Roars (an engine)

Made a copy of Catches sight of

Batman’s punch!

Genetic material (1,1,1)

Erase

Writing fluid

Rice field

Fire debris

___ Vorderman, maths whizz

Maiden name indicator America (1,1,1)

Climax of a show

Join in and WIN

Liquid measure

£50

Eagle’s nest

Secret hoard

Witnesses

Compiled by: Cheryl Foreman Photos: Getty

Call 0906 470 1009* and leave your name, address and the answer. All calls cost 65p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than two minutes. You can also write in – see HOW TO ENTER (opposite page).

1 7 3 8 5

7 5 8 6 8 4 9 3 7 4 9

___ out, made last

___ Baldwin, US film star

Pack (of playing cards)

Feeling of sickness

6 4 1 2 9 7 4 3 5 9 1 6 8 4 7 5 2

Ladies’ fingers

The grass is always ___ etc, saying

Network of wires

4 7 9 2 3 9 3 6 1 2 2 9 7 4 8

In the US, the Big Apple (3,4)

Measure of weight

Mouse’s noise

Killer whale Scrub hard

Indigenous New Zealander

Tightly packed food fish

Test

At an unspecified time to come

Court hearing ‘He was ___ in my hands’ saying

Hammer or chisel, eg

US state

Breathe out

Aboriginal Wise name for person Ayers Rock

Latin word for ‘water’

Wild ox

Wild Lunges rabbit-like suddenly creature

Crime against your country

Fill in the answers to the clues and the letters in the 10 shaded squares will spell out your prize answer

Tardy

Tempest

Drink delicately

Snake

Consumed food

Ancient Spinal drug Peruvian for women Regulation in labour Indian

Down payment

Taxi

6 3

7 1 2 6

7 1 4 2

Call with your answer on 0906 470 1009* 8

2 4 3 5

SUDOKU 7

4 1 2 6 8 3 9 2 4

Place the numbers from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so that each column and each 3 x 3 block contains all the numbers from 1 to 9.

Just for

FUN

8 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 149

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

FASHION ESSENTIALS

KEEP SWOLLEN FEET WARM AND DRY Don’t let rain stop play! Specially designed for wide or swollen feet, Cosyfeet’s 100% waterproof and breathable footwear lets you enjoy the great outdoors, whatever the weather. The cleated sole offers good grip while the microporous structure

stops water getting in to keep feet dry. The boot called Moose, and Minnie shoe are available in sizes 4 – 9. Buy from www.cosyfeet.com or ring 01458 447275. QUOTE PRIM0917 FOR FREE DELIVERY.

TIMELESS JEWELLERY FOR ALL OCCASIONS 1

SARESS® – The Ultimate Beach Dress – £10.99 Say goodbye to the awkward sarong. No knots or ties, just a loop at two corners so you slip it around your back, thread opposite arms through for an elegant ﬂattering beach dress in seconds – it’s sensational! Slimming, cool and comfortable. Nineteen designs, ﬁve sizes, two lengths. Tel: 01902 750657. www.saress.com As seen on TV.

CONTINENTAL WIGS High Quality and Lightweight Wigs Our wigs range from something for the casual wearer to real hair wigs for the most demanding of customer requirements. For details of our approval service or to request a copy of our available wig range catalogues call 01455 559 679. www.continentalwigs.co.uk

Eternal Collection offers beautiful costume jewellery and accessories at prices you will love. They have a fantastic selection of enamel, exquisite pearl, Venetian glass, gemstone, fashion and Swarovski crystal jewellery to suit all tastes and a vast range of clipon and pierced earrings. No quibble guarantee and free returns. For your FREE catalogue call 03453 707071 or visit www.eternalcollection.co.uk 10% OFF your ﬁrst order when you QUOTE PR37. *Excluding Postage & Packing. Not valid with any other promotion.

Where to buy A

Accessorize uk.accessorize.com Amaroni Home amaroni.com Amazon amazon.co.uk Ameliorate ameliorate-skincare.com Argos argos.co.uk Asos asos.com

Baukjen baukjen.com/uk Beneﬁt beneﬁtcosmetics.com/uk Boden boden.co.uk Bonmarché bonmarche.co.uk Bon Prix bonprix.co.uk Boost Oxygen boostoxygen.life Boots boots.com B’s Yard bsyard.com

Habitat habitat.co.uk Halfords halfords.com H&M hm.com Havwoods havwoods.co.uk Hobbs hobbs.co.uk Hobbycraft hobbycraft.co.uk Holland & Barrett hollandandbarrett.com HomeSense homesense.com Hotter hotter.com/gb/en House of Fraser houseoffraser.co.uk

I Ikea ikea.com/gb/en J JD Williams jdwilliams.co.uk

Napiers napiers.net National Trust shop.nationaltrust.org.uk Nature’s Best naturesbest.co.uk Nest store.nest.com/uk Newbridge Silverware newbridgesilverware.com New Look newlook.com Next next.co.uk NSAuk nsauk.com Nutrimarket nutrimarket.co.uk Nutriseed nutriseed.co.uk

Jigsaw jigsaw-online.com John Lewis johnlewis.com Oasis oasis-stores.com C20 Vintage Fashion Jones Bootmaker jonesbootmaker.com Ocado ocado.com c20vintagefashion.co.uk Joseph Joseph Office office.co.uk Calzedonia uk.calzedonia.com josephjoseph.com/en-gb Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com Caudalie uk.caudalie.com Juna Rose junarose.com/gb/en Owen Barry owenbarry.com Claudia Bradby claudiabradby.com Kaleidoscope kaleidoscope.co.uk Paisie paisie.com Clinique clinique.co.uk Karen Millen karenmillen.com/gb Peacocks peacocks.co.uk Comvita comvita.co.uk Kurt Geiger London kurtgeiger.com Pebble London pebblelondon.com Creative Tops creative-tops.com Planet Organic planetorganic.com Cult Beauty cultbeauty.co.uk Lakeland lakeland.co.uk Pretty Ballerinas prettyballerinas.co.uk Cult Furniture cultfurniture.com Lash Perfect lashperfect.co.uk Primark primark.co.uk Laura Ashley lauraashley.com Daisy Park daisypark.co.uk Puji puji.com Lisa Kay lisakayshoes.com Damsel In A Dress damselinadress.co.uk Live Laugh Love livelaughlove.co.uk Q Shop quiltersguildshop.org.uk Darlings of Chelsea Live Unlimited darlingsofchelsea.co.uk Revital revital.co.uk liveunlimitedlondon.com Debenhams debenhams.com RI2K ri2k.com LK Bennett lkbennett.com Decathlon decathlon.co.uk River Island riverisland.com Loaf loaf.com DFS dfs.co.uk Rowen & Wren rowenandwren.co.uk L’Occitane uk.loccitane.com Dorothy Perkins dorothyperkins.com Lotus lotusshoes.co.uk Sainsbury’s sainsburys.co.uk Dotcomgiftshop dotcomgiftshop.com Salter salterhousewares.co.uk Dune dunelondon.com Made made.com Scumble Goosie scumblegoosie.co.uk Dunelm dunelm.com M&Co mandco.com Shavata shavata.co.uk Mango mango.com Eileen Fisher eileenﬁsher.com Sheratons sheratonkitchens.co.uk Marks & Spencer Elemis elemis.com Shoe Zone shoezone.com marksandspencer.com Elizabeth Arden elizabetharden.co.uk Simplehuman simplehuman.com/uk Matalan matalan.co.uk Elvi elvi.co.uk Simply Be simplybe.com Minerva Crafts minervacrafts.com Evans evans.co.uk Sisters Guild sistersguild.co.uk Mint Velvet mintvelvet.co.uk Eylure eylure.com Smith & Canova smithandcanova.com Mishanto London mishanto.me Sockshop sockshop.co.uk Farrow & Ball farrow-ball.com Missguided missguided.co.uk Sole Bliss solebliss.com Feel Unique feelunique.com Miss Selfridge missselfridge.com Sophie Allport sophieallport.com Fred Aldous fredaldous.co.uk Monsoon uk.monsoon.co.uk Storm stormwatches.com Frenchic frenchicpaint.co.uk Myakka myakka.co.uk Studio studio.co.uk G Baldwin & Co baldwins.co.uk Studio 8 studio-eight.com George direct.asda.com/george Sugarhill Boutique Gerry Weber gerryweber.com/en-gb sugarhillboutique.com Guerlain guerlain.com/uk/en-uk Talking Tables talkingtables.co.uk Tamaris tamaris.com/en-GB Tesco tesco.com The Contemporary Home tch.net The Old Radiator Company theoldradiatorcompany.co.uk The White Company thewhitecompany.com

Q R

The Woolroom thewoolroom.com Topshop topshop.com TU Clothing tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk

United Colors of Benetton gb.benetton.com Uno de 50 unode50.com

Van Peterson vanpeterson.com Very very.co.uk Victoria Health victoriahealth.com Vilagallo vilagallo.es/en Vintage Flower Paintings vintageﬂowerpaintings.com Vitabiotics vitabiotics.com

Wallis wallis.co.uk Wayfair wayfair.co.uk Weleda weleda.co.uk Whistles whistles.com White Stuff whitestuff.com Wiley’s Finest wileysﬁnest.com Wilko wilko.com Winser London winserlondon.com

Y Yacco Maricard yaccomaricard.com Z Zyliss zyliss.co.uk Prima is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s 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-ukcomplaints-procedure. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit ipso.co.uk.

Terms and conditions: Millbrook Beds: Bedlinen, headboard and accessories are not included in the prize. Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels: Prizes are subject to availability. The three nights must be taken consecutively and be redeemed within six months. Travel is not included. Bonmarché: 20% off when you spend £25 or more valid from Wednesday 23 August until Sunday 1 October 2017. Discount available at any Bonmarché store, online at bonmarche.co.uk or via the telephone orderline on 0330 026 2728. This voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount voucher, offer, code or sale items. Discount is not valid on the purchase of gift vouchers/cards. Photocopied, damaged or defaced vouchers will not be accepted. The cash redemption value of this voucher is 0.001p. Discount code: 20PRIMA. Online and telephone orderline customers enter/quote 20PRIMA at the checkout. Discount may only be used once.

PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017 151

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

HEALTH & WELLBEING NEW NOVISYN+ WORKS TO KEEP YOU MOVING

IT'S NOT JUST A PLATE…

Our tried-and-tested Novisyn has just got better. New Novisyn+ still includes 17mg of pure Hyaluronic Acid but now also has added Vitamin C, nature’s powerful healer! Together they create a science-led formula that contributes daily to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage, or in other words helping to maintain healthy joints. Introduce new Novisyn+ into your health and beauty regime and literally feel the difference. 7000 Facebook followers and growing. Try Novisyn+ today with our Prima offer. Add three boxes to your cart and get the third free. Use code Prima342. www.novisyn.co.uk or call us on 01480 869456.

THE SPECIALIST SERUM’S advanced Retinol formula minimises facial lines, wrinkles, crepey eye tissue, sun and skin damage, helping to transform the future of your skin. 30ml £29.95, 50ml £44.95, 100ml £79.95, 200ml £149, free p&p. Apply code PRIMA10 at checkout for exclusive reader 10% discount. www.regentiv.co.uk To speak to a Regentiv advisor or order 01923 212555. For exclusive offers email enquiries@regentiv.co.uk

…but an easy weight loss programme managed just by the eye. Lose weight eating anything you love! And for the modern woman, join the Diet Plate®online, to lose weight on the go with the latest technology. thedietplate.com/the_diet_plate_online • The Diet Plate online – join now. • Diet Plates for all the family. • Made from fine earthenware in the UK. • Proven 6x's more weight loss. • 3x's more control over T2D. • Plates £17.99, Bowl £14.99 exc. p&p. • Online £1.92 a week 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. Buy from www.thedietplate.com or call us free on 0800 644 0166.

SBC’S NEW LEMON MYRTLE & THYME COLLECTION

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR BONE SMART – STRESS INCONTINENCE THE NEW SUPER WITH A PELVICTONERTM BONE SUPPLEMENT

SBC often consider our wellbeing when developing their collections, their blend of effective sensual ingredients and natural origins leave us feeling uplifted and our skin healthy and glowing. SBC’s new Lemon Myrtle & Thyme collection does just that, the Skincare Gel and the Bath & Shower Crème leaves skin revitalised, smooth and radiant with a fragrant lemony zest aroma from top to toe. Visit www.sbcgels.co.uk and follow @sbcgels

Embarrassing leaks are a symptom of a weak pelvic floor – the good news is they can be stopped with simple exercises. This is where the PelvicToner can help. It is clinically proven to help strengthen your pelvic floor, NHS approved and available on prescription. It can also be purchased without prescription for only £29.99 delivered. Designed to be used at home without supervision, it comes discreetly packaged with everything you need to start exercising straight away. So what’s stopping you? To find out more, or to purchase a PelvicToner™, visit pelvictoner.co.uk or call 0117 974 3534 today.

LOOK YOUNGER LONGER WITH REGENTIV

Brings together all the crucial nutrients required for bone health in one handy capsule. No binders, unlike tablets – just pure bone nutrition. Includes the four key bone nutrients Vitamin K2 (as Menaquinone 7-Natto) the most highly biologically active form of Vitamin K2, Vitamin D3, Magnesium, Calcium and ten other vitamins and minerals associated with bone health. Suitable for vegetarians. Bone Smart RRP £10.97 – Prima Offer – 20% discount only £8.77 + p&p (1 months supply) plus Prima readers also get a free home spa face mask with their ﬁrst order. Online order/ more info www.silvertownhealth.co.uk or Tel 24 Hour Order Line – 0345 0956903.

Your stars

for October

with Lori Reid

Libra 24 September – 22 October You’ve enjoyed a period of expansion over the last 12 months. And, although things haven’t all been plain sailing, you’ve learned a lot and grown in status. Now, you can begin to capitalise on that experience. Talks behind the scenes pave the way for the future. A new energy makes all the difference.

Scorpio 23 October – 22 November Much is changing for the better, but making the best of things requires a fine balance between activity and rest. Social affairs dominate the first week when you’re meeting people and buzzing all over the place. But slow down to avoid exhaustion. Lucky Jupiter will be opening up new opportunities for you.

Sagittarius

23 November – 22 December After all your efforts, you deserve the glory and financial rewards now coming your way. Finish off a project in the first week and take time to enjoy that sense of achievement. Socially, October is filled with meetings and greetings – chances are, you could meet a soulmate.

Capricorn 23 December – 20 January Raise your profile – this is an outstanding month for career and public affairs. With an opportunity coming

your way, it’s a perfect time to rethink your goals. Aim higher than ever before – apply for a promotion, join groups, meet people. A working relationship could grow into something more.

Aquarius 21 January – 19 February At last, after a sluggish period, life’s on the move again. Jupiter, the planet of success, shines a light on your worldly endeavours. Here comes your once-ina-decade opportunity: believe in yourself and take that leap. Put the serious aspects of life aside and enjoy yourself.

Pisces 20 February – 20 March If ever there was an ideal time to deepen existing affections or to start a new romance, it’s now. Amorous meetings and attractions are sparked. Physically and financially, you are refining, decluttering, pruning and getting your health and affairs into shape.

Aries 21 March – 20 April A transformative new moon on the 19th is potentially life-changing – who you meet romantically and who you team up with professionally will have an important bearing on your affairs from now on. At work, the relentless pace eases, freeing you up to pour your passion into a partnership.

Taurus 21 April – 20 May One dream comes to an end on the 5th but, with Jupiter (the planet that expands hopes and horizons) moving into your relationship skies, you’ll soon be mixing with a bigger crowd. In business or in love, partners bring you luck over the next 12 months. A stream of stellar blessings herald a new chapter for you.

Gemini 21 May – 21 June Geminis like to have fun and, on balance, you’ve had a ball this year. Although the good times, creative pleasures and romance will continue, you’ll now want to step up at work, broaden your spectrum and get your teeth into a new job. Home and family keep you busy, too. But your attention turns to nurturing others.

Cancer 22 June – 23 July Romantic involvement, fun times and artistic pleasures will be your focus this month. Happy meetings

early on kick off the action. If luck has been eluding you, expect your fortunes to improve. It’s time to spread your wings and fall in love.

Leo 24 July – 23 August October brings fresh momentum. You may have had a run of expenses but a wave of prosperity sweeps through your domestic affairs. It could involve a move to a more prestigious address, a happy addition to the family or the setting up of a lucrative business at home.

Virgo 24 August – 23 September Whether you have some big purchases in mind or financial negotiations underway, money matters this month. Once you’ve sealed the deal, you can start heading in a different direction. Intellectually, you’re firing on all cylinders: teaching, learning and communicating. Romance, friendships and creative projects will also be on the menu by the end of the month.

m y life

his morning, while listening THE FAB FOUR to the radio as I scrambled ‘You think you lost your love, eggs for the kids, I travelled Well, I saw her yesterday. back in time. The DJ played It’s you she’s thinking of – the Peter Frampton hit, Show Me The And she told me what to say. Way. Magically, it was 1976 again: She says she loves you...’ As soon as I hear this, it’s 1964 and I’m I was no longer a middle-aged mum at nursery school, proudly holding up in Devon – I was a 16-year-old girl, my gift to the class: an off-cut of Beatles with my best friend sitting beside me wallpaper from the recent redecoration while we revised for our O levels. of my teenage sister’s bedroom. My Peter Frampton was on a poster classmates and I gaze in wonder at the above my desk, wearing tight, white repeat pattern of the Fab Four placed satin, being hugely sexy with a guitar. on a cream background, so they can The toast popped up unnoticed and I could feel the breeze blowing through ﬂoat around the beds of thousands my waist-length brown hair. ‘I wonder of teenage girls as they drift off how you’re feeling. There’s ringing in to sleep, dreaming of John or Paul or my ears…’ Peter sang and, for three George or… well, John, Paul or George. minutes and 33 seconds, that long, I don’t think poor Ringo got a look in! hot summer was more real to me than the present day. PIANO KEYS As I was jolted back to the A Chopin 21st century by the prattle Prelude in of the presenter, I realised C minor and it’s that music does for me 1963. I hear it crackling, what Marcel Proust’s needle on black shellac. madeleines did for him My mum cried as – it dissolves time. For I danced around the coffee table, aged three. that moment, my limbs I now realise she was were supple and tanned, crying because her own and adulthood stretched mother had died shortly ahead of me, just out of before I was born, and reach, glimpsed through Mum was doubtless a haze of patchouli, Peter Frampton wishing that she’d lived hope and hormones. takes Caroline

154 PRIMA.CO.UK | October 2017

back to her youth

longer to see me dancing, just as next week – when I watch my 17-year-old daughter sing and dance in a musical at her sixth-form college – I will shed a tear for my mum, who died ﬁve years ago, wishing she was still here to share the joy.

LES MISÉRABLES ‘Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!’ It’s 1985 and I’m in the rehearsal rooms of the Royal Shakespeare Company. It’s the ﬁrst day of rehearsal for a brand-new musical. Claude-Michel Schönberg is at the piano and the company, of which I’m a proud member of the ensemble, hears the score of Les Misérables for the ﬁrst time. I turn to a woman and whisper, ‘It’s a bit gloomy, isn’t it? Don’t think it’ll get much of a West End run.’ Nearly 40 years later, I admit I may have been mistaken!

FAMILY FUN ‘Who loves you, pretty baby? Who’s gonna help you through the night? Who loves you, pretty mama? Who’s always there to make it right?’ It’s London in 2016 and I think of our fab family outing to see Jersey Boys, the musical story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. We all LOVED it, and, from that day forward, my son, daughter, husband and I have performed a dance routine in our kitchen every time we play the song. We’ve got all the right moves – and none of the high notes! Music is such an important part of our lives and I love that it’s now so accessible through Spotify, iTunes, Deezer and the rest. It’s so easy for us all to share our musical passions. Thousands more musical memories are being made every day, which brings me to the music I’d like at my funeral. It will have to be Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson. And I want everybody on their feet and DANCING.

Photos: Nicky Johnston, Getty, Alamy Caroline wears: Earrings, Uno de 50. Necklace, Van Peterson

The

There’s no better way to bring back a memory than by hearing a much-loved song. Caroline Quentin reveals her favourite tunes to turn back time

k trac

n u o s d