FESTIVE FIXES!
REMEDIES TO SEE
YOU THROUGH 
СЖ% MURAD \
off SKINCARE \
FLOWERS » .
Joff AT BUNCHES [
L'OCCITANE
AJoff BEAUTY j
X. T&Cs apply. UK
Make your Christmas magical
ОЕСЕМВЙ
2023 1
\
1
SORTED!
Prep-ahead
MENU
PLUS Join our |
new Wine Club |
and save £108 5
> SEASON'S 
ч cheating”
THE RISE OF OFFICE
I PARTY INFIDELITY
Joanna Page Judy Finnigan
Helen Mirren Nadiya Hussain
Olivia Colman
Christine Lampard
Gaby Roslin Idris Elba Trinny Woodall Clare Balding s ~
Rick Astley Anton Du Веке Sophie Kinsella
1 I
vandhom com
me
МУТН4
, ‘Becoming a
grandma will be
the ultimate gift'
CRACKING
4 READS!
The book lovers
jl gift guide
^COUNTDOWN
TO CHRISTMAS
' Your stress-free plan

HILLARYS
For the window wise
blinds, curtains and shutters. We measure, make and fit fuss-free,
that’s why the window wise come to Hillarys.
hillarys.co.uk
Trustpilot ★ ★ ★ ★ i|
Rated Excellent
SEE MORE
I	hello
п elcoviefy u^h Christina
5“
Christinas can be a double-edged
sword, cant it? On die one hand,
it's busy, often all-consuming and
fairly tiring. On the other, if you're
afestive fan life me. it's die BEST
time of the year, despite die chaos
seeing friends and family, enjoying
lime off with your loved ones and
embracing the magic of the big day.
That's why. in our fabulous
Christmas issue, we want to
make die run-up enjoyable
and, dare I say. stress free. Erom
prep-ahead meals page 133 to
a last-minute gift guide page 71.
we've got this year sorted, so
you can sit back and relax!
Ruth Langsford. our cover star, tells
us what (hristmas is like in her
house page Ki. Iler enthusiasm
is unwavering. and her passion
for work and family is palpable.
Ruth is a 1'1 veteran but her
business rent и re. designing
clothes for real women, has been
a knockout success. This shoot was
so much fun. much like I hope your
(hristmas will be. It hatever
you 're doing hai v a great time.
HANNAH FERNANDO
Group editor, woman&home
hannah.fernando@futurenet.com
P . As you know, my (virtual)
door is always open! Please
do stay in touch via email at my
address above -1 love to hear from you.
And scan the QR code
to enjoy woman&home's
email newsletter sent to
your inbox.
0
woman&home
Internationally
bestselling novelist
VICTORIA HISLOP
wowed readers with
The Island in 2005,
and has just published
her latest novel,
The Figurine. Aside
from writing, she is an
ambassador for the National Literacy
Trust On page 60, she explains how
she will be channelling her mother's
spirit this Christmas.
Are you a good dancer?
I've always loved dancing. After taking
part in Dancing with the Stars in Greece,
I hope Craig would now give me a
10 - even though I can't do the splits!
JOANNA
MOORHEAD,
award-winning
journalist, author
and broadcaster,
investigates why
the Christmas office
party can lead to
infidelity, on page 54.
Are you a good dancer?
There's nothing I love more than
a whirl around my kitchen. I'm not
sure I'm what you'd call a good dancer,
but I'm certainly enthusiastic. And
I once went on a retreat that involved
dance sessions of five hours plus
- and I was the last woman dancing!
ITV News Anglia
reporter ELODIE
HARPER is about to
publish the final part
of her acclaimed Wolf
Den trilogy, which has
been optioned for TV.
She shares the secrets of
her writing on page 215.
Are you a good dancer?
I once went to a musical audition,
hoping for a singing-only role. At the
'basic' dance audition, I managed to
knock other girls out of the line. The
feedback? 'You weren't being modest
when you said you couldn't dance!'
Staff emails: firstname.surname@futurenet.com
Editorial
Croup editor Hannah Fernando
Croup creative director Phil Attaway
Group chief sub editor Emma Badger
Croup celebrity director Hannah Fernando
Celebrity editor (maternity leave) Anna Matheson
Acting celebrity editor Robyn Morris
Junior celebrity writer Ariana Longson
Lifestyle content director Charlotte Richards
Croup fashion director Paula Moore
Fashion editor Hannah Hughes
Deputy fashion editor (maternity leave) Eloisa Johnson
Deputy fashion editor Charlie Bell
Acting deputy fashion editor Sairey Stemp
Senior fashion stylist Becky Joiner-O’Riordan
Croup beauty director Sarah Cooper-White
Senior beauty editor Rhiannon Derbyshire
Beauty editor Stephanie Maylor
Beauty editor Jess Beech
Beauty writer Annie Milroy
Assistant editor, features Kira Agass
Group features director Sharon Sweeney
Features editor Ella Dove
Travel editor Helena Cartwright
Travel editor Alicia Miller
Books and fiction editor Zoe West
Health editor Faye M Smith
Deputy health editor Ali Horsfall
Deputy health editor (maternity leave) Natalia Lubomirski
Senior health writer Tanya Pearey
Health writer Rose Goodman
Home editor Esme Clemo
Croup food director Jen Bedloe
Food editor Jess Meyer
Deputy food editor Rose Fooks
Food writer Amanda James
Junior food writer Georgia Sparks
Design director Simon Maynard
Croup art director Ian Cave
Senior art editor Katherine Stock
Senior designer Katie Simas
Picture director Karen Whitehead
Picture editor Claire Blake
Senior picture researcher Louise Connolly
Head of art production Nicola Tillman
Art production designer Chris Saggers
Art production designer Phil Dunk
Group production editor Stuart Dade
Chief sub editor Susannah Hockham
Senior sub editor Jane Cazzard
Senior sub editor Louise Hodgson
Senior sub editor Andreia Shelley
Senior sub editor Karen Staddon
Digital
Acting editor, womanandhome.com Anna Paul
Management
Senior vice president, Lifestyle, Knowledge and News
Sophie Wybrew-Bond
Executive assistant, management Charlotte Eyles
Managing director, Lifestyle Jason Orme
Content director Laura Crombie
★
Marketing
Head of brand marketing Mary Bird
Advertising
Head of commercial Liz Jazayeri
Account director (Manchester) Tina McCoy
Account director Kathryn Nixon
Account director (maternity leave) Rebecca Underwood
Fashion and beauty director Gemma Swainsbury
Account manager Sophie Lockyer
Account Manager Maria Blyth
Account manager-Classified Debra Greer
Circulation
Circulation manager Natasha Brewer
International licensing and syndication
woman&home is available for licensing and syndication.
Email licensing@futurenet.com or view our
available content at futurecontenthub.com
Production
Production manager Vivienne Calvert
Advertisement production Chris Cozzett
Subscriptions
Senior subscriptions marketing manager Anita Baghapour
For subscriptions enquiries and orders: email help@
magazinesdirect.com or call 0330 333 ТПЗ. Disruption
remains within UK and international delivery networks.
Please allow up to seven days before contacting us
about a late delivery on help@magazinesdirect.com
ISSN 0043 7247 (compact issue ISSN 1753 7932)
We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from
responsibly managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture The
All contents C 2023 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence Al
rights reserved No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or
reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher
Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in
England and Wales Registered office Quay House, The Ambury. Bath BAI
1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and
are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers deectly with regard
to the price of productsAervices referred to in this publication Apps and
websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control We are
not responsible for their contents or any other changes or updates to them
This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the
you own the material andfar have the necessary nghts/permssions to supply
the material and you automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to
publish your submission in whole or in part in anyfall issues andbr editions of
publications, in any format published worldwide and on associated websites.
social media channels and associated products Any mater >al you submit is
sent at your own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor
its employees, agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be kabfe for loss or
damage We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise
stated, and reserve the right to edit amend, adapt all submissions
EDITORIAL COM PLAI NTS We work hard to achieve the highest
standards of editonal content, and we are committed to complying
with the Editors' Code of Practice (https ://www ipso co uk/IPSO/cop
html) as enforced by IPSO. If you hove a complaint about our editorial
woman&home, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W26JR. Please
provide details of the material you are complaining about and explain
FUTURE
Connectors.
Creators.
Experience
Makers.
ThI *44 (0)1225 442 244
Join the . ,
conversation!
WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, SO LET US
KNOW YOUR OPINIONS, YOUR STORIES -
AND ANYTHING THAT MATTERS IN YOUR LIFE
GETTING CRAFTY ЛЮЧ
I left my work as a teacher a № .
couple of years ago due to
stress, and some friends gave
me a pile of old w&h magazines. I snipped
out words and articles that had meaning to
me, and I've made a beautiful scrapbook
for my daughter, full of uplifting quotes,
while giving a hint of the woman I am (not
just her mum!). Thank you to everyone at
w&h for giving me many hours of pleasure.
Rachel
Us:iU1ir . » «• t'lf 'Ki
KM)' i kA “
I AIT ' “Q
MAKE THE CHANGE
As a new subscriber, I knew I had made the
right choice when your September issue
arrived. I have often thought if only I had
had better advice, I would have become an
historian. Your article, 'It's Never too Late'
convinced me that being in my 60s is not
too late. I plan to enrol for a history degree.
Jill
FAN FAVOURITES
I've been reading about Anita Prosser's
obsession with Duran Duran [September],
I became a massive fan of Spandau Ballet
and their singer Tony Hadley in the 80s
-1 saw Spandau in the old days, and in
the past few years, I've seen them again
on their reunion tour. I so agree with
Anita on how the songs take you back.
Kathryn
AUNT ADVICE
I have just read 'Ask Anna' [September].
My 22-year marriage recently came
to an end, and Anna's response to the
letter about helping her friend was
spot on! Her detailed explanation of
the grieving process, the myriad of
emotions and her description of being
in 'survival mode' really struck a chord.
Clare
FROM THE HEART
The article about Petra's transition
[September] and its joyful outcome
resonated with me, having experienced
my daughter's transition when she
was 22. My daughter and I attended
the local Wl, as Petra did, to share our
story, and they were truly welcoming.
Caroline
\l.\ I.IUO\||1.\1\
«/w/yjf/wff M!
BEING THANKFUL
The comment from Alison Steadman,
'Never complain about getting old,'
[September] brought back a memory.
When I moaned about the downsides
of getting older, a lovely colleague
remarked, 'What's the alternative?'
Having lost a number of friends
already, I try to count my blessings that
I've reached my 60s in good health.
Gill
Wl АЖ1©
What's your favourite Christmas film?
SHE SAID IT...
‘You’re able (o pul
things in perspcHive
much more when
you’re older'
Judy Finnigan talks about her
passions and dislikes on page 48
STAR LETTER PRIZE
Our star letter writer this month wins
the Ageless Throat & Decolletage
Day & Night Duo from skincare
brand PRAI Beauty. Worth £48.99,
it's proven
to transform
this tricky-to-
treat area;
praibeauty.
GET IN TOUCH Want to comment on a feature, share an opinion or tell us about your life? Email us at whmail@futurenet.com
or write to w&h Letters, Future pic, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR. Emails and letters may be edited and published.
womanandhome.com 5
w^ii
Great reads
Last-minute
presents for
all budgets
Beauty
treats
to gift
53 'Tis the time for tasteless tat!
Dressing the all-important tree
54	ЧрячппЧ cheating
The rise of office party infidelity
59 How can I help my friend get
back to her pre-pandemic self?
Q&A with Anna Richardson
60 Mum's legacy will live on
Victoria Hislop's family traditions
62 We lived The Holiday in real life
Swapping homes for Christmas |
65 I made friends for life at The Big
Breakfast Gaby Roslin reflects
66 12 ways to spread festive cheer!
Outings, treats and acts of kindness
69 Why does everyone want to meet up
before 25 December? It's madness!
70	гni intdnwn to
Christmas Your stress-free plan
72 woman&home Christmas Live is back
for 2023 Our festive get-together
74 Your last-minute gift guide
Gorgeous goodies to give, from £5
241 Your stars December horoscopes
242 The royal report News from royal
biographer Emily Andrews
Join the conversation! Have your say
Ruth Langsford Becoming
a grandma will be the ultimate gift
When will my kids take over Yuletide
preparations? Columnist Kathy Lette
ЕДПЗЕЕ] Celebrate with the stars
Olivia Colman, Joanna Page, Christine
Lampard, Helen Mirren, Nadiya Hussain,
Idris Elba, Trinny Woodall, Clare Balding,
Rick Astley and Anton Du Веке
Life is different but it can still be
beautiful How becoming a double
amputee last year has made Sarah
determined to treasure every second
This year will be more relaxed
Jennie Bond on a royal Christmas
We make Christmas sparkle! Meet
the women who started planning
for the season way back in January
Peculiar presents Sophie Kinsella
and other famous names on the most
bizarre gifts that they've received
Regret is a complete waste of energy
Broadcaster and author Judy Finnigan
Oh, how things have changed One
family looks back at past Christmases
Ruth Langsford
talks about
Christmas and
her family.
6 womanendhoma.com
Easy entertaining
Fashion
9
15
81
92
94
Smart shopping After-dark shimmer
It's all a bout you! Street style
Шtill ЛТ1 Dress to impress I hink
velvet, sequins, shimmer and shine
Shapewear solutions Figure-flatterers
Keep it chic this party season
Statement trousers for all occasions
Beauty
11 Treat yourself! Pamper time
97 -----------
3 Simple beauty tricks
Prepare to party this season
106 Feel-good beauty gifts Covetable
treats for loved ones - and you!
109 Beauty made easy Tips and tricks
from make-up artist Hannah Martin
Health
Ш	12 festive fixes
Remedies to see you through
the party season if you overdo it
114 Health news Buys, tips and advice
116 The gift of peace Managing family
fallouts so you come out smiling
120 Are you an emotional spender?
Learn how to tackle those splurges
124 Your health With GP Dr Pixie McKenna
127 What happens when... You binge-
watch TV - you might be surprised
Sparkling festive /
। «ЛлгЛ
22<S’
Best winter
attractions
128 The buffet tricks you need to know
How to make sensible food choices
Food
133 ЕПППЕЕЗ Prep-ahead menu
sorted! Your menu for the big day
150 Add some stylish French flair How
to create a festive cheeseboard
152 Come on over! Boxing Day spread
160 Quick and easy canapes Drinks
and nibbles in under 30 minutes
164 The ultimate Christmas taste test
Our choice of the best food buys
172 Food edit Our food director shares
what's new in food and drink
Home
13 House to home Decadent dining
175 Let the festivities begin On-trend
inspiration to update your style
182 Comfort and joy Festive style in the
country, plus howto get the look
188	Deck the halls!
Sparkling ideas for your home
Travel
199 Amazing Oz A guide for first-timers
206 Let it snow! Special ski hotels that
have both on- and off-piste appeal
213 Why I love Bath A local's guide
214 December's Book Club New reads,
plus Elodie Harper's writing secrets
217	Cracking reads!
The book lover's gift guide
225 In conversation with Heidi Swain
Alternative living and life changes
227 Take five Actor and author Richard
Armitage on books special to him
228 Good to know Great entertainment
and what's on over the holidays
232 Puzzle break! Brain-teasers
58
64
77
96
ЕШПШЕ2Ш 25% off flowers at
Bunches Joyful festive bouquets*
EZESSE] Join our new Wine Club
and save £108! A case of 12 wines*
ЕЗПШЕЕ] 15% off L'Occitane
beauty Indulgent products and gifts*
Help skin to lift and glow A box of
specially selected beauty products*
108 K>ilL44*7^J25% off Murad skincare
Includes retinol for youthful looks*
126 Reach your ideal weight with Jane Plan
Healthy meals delivered to your door*

Find our fantastic offer
just for you this month at
womanandhome.com/dec23
womanandhome.com 7
HILLARYS
For the window wise
in your home, so you can say goodbye to chilly draughts trjis winter, we make,
measure and fit fuss-free too, that’s why the window wise tome to Hillarys.
I 1 j I
hillarys.co.uk	;	see more
'Smart SHOPPING
к | L w
Remarkable
Renovations
Transform your existing staircase in 48
hours with a Neville Johnson renovation.
No building work, mess or fuss.
NEVILLE JOHNSON
LUXURY STAIRCASE RENOVATIONS
for our latest brochure
nevillejohnson.co.uk | 0161873 8333
Goutal Eau
D'Hadrien 1
Shower Oil,
£39, harvey
nichols.com
Diptyque Orpheon Cleansing Hand
& Body Gel, £40, diptyqueparis.com
Neom Real Luxury Magnesium Bath Milk,
~ £40, neomorganics.com
EAU
D'HADRIEN
</r t/vtu/ir
V/RTUE
Beauty Pie Le Smash Santal Shimmering
Body Moisture Creme, £19.50 for members
(£50 for non-members), beautypie.com
COLORKKK
ILUMIHAbHbHW
ANTAL
S H i M M t
fresh
LAURA MERCIER
AVRI.VF M FLORAL SCF.NT
I'Occitane Almond and Howers Milk
Concentrate, £44, uk.locdtane.com
Laura Mercier
Almond Coconut
Souffle Hand
Cream, £27,
lauramercier.
co.uk
coNCEHTRE DE Uir •
▲МАЛОЕ ETFiaJtS-ALMOND AMO ROWllS
«UK CONCENTRATE
Virtue Colorkick Illuminating
Mask, £67, spacenk.com
Fresh Rose Morning Body & Hand Wash, £24, fresh.com
l ROSE
[MORNINI
BOD> К HAND WASH
THIS DECISION
COMFORTABLE ONE
SONDER | 3 SEAT POWER RECLINER £1,299
A laid-back thing is the right thing for you. But the way you do it is
anything but casual. Because you bring sophistication to your downtime,
with the Sender. The powered head and footrests and all-round sleek
shape make it a sofa that always feels as good as it looks.
dfs .....
SOFAS | BEDS | DINING
Sender 3 saeier power reckner sofa. Scatter cushions display only. See In

^MNINO J
Walls painted in Inchyra dead flat
emulsion, £75 for 2.5ltr, farrow-
ball.com; chandelier from a
selection, nimmoandspooner.co.uk;
napkins, £8.49 each, linenme.com;
mercury glass tea-light holders, £18
each, thewhitecompany.com; cross
dining table, from £2,290, heals. •
com; Gubi beetle dining chairs,
£299 each, hollowaysofludlow.com
^coxandcox.
co.uk
г
Ripple wine
glasses, £38 for two,
abodeliving.co.uk
Hara baubles,
£25 for four,
nkuku.com

Christmas foliage W
Iights4fun.co.uk
Alexis droplet
chandelier, £495,
sweetpeaandwillow.com
Snow globe place card,
£8.99, gingerray.co.uk
Eichholtz Volante dining chai
in Roche Dark Green, £47^*
sweetpeaandwillow.com
Riley dark grey
ceramic eight-
seater dining
table, £899,

danetti.com
Mistletoe Christmas crackers,
£36 for six, nancyandbetty.com
Double ball glass
candlestick, £14.99,
giselagraham.co.uk
womanandhome.com 1 3
A little design can
make your habitat
GLASSES
£4.75
Each
Й habitat
Sainsbury's -
Subject to availability. Selecteda stores.
COMPILED BY: CHARLIE BELL
Il's all ПЮ1Т YOU

cover story
I * *	>** >	\ *
Christmas
makes me
I haffeC
Ru/h hings/ord shares herJondcsljcs/ire memories, her hopcs/br husband Eamomis
health and explains why becoming a grandma will be the ullimalc gift
appy Boxing Day, now what can
I get everyone for breakfast?!/ beams
Ruth Langsford, stepping out of
wardrobe in a chunky cream knit and
beige tuxedo trousers. Christmas -
despite the surprise 28 degree autumn
sunshine outside - has officially
begun on woman&home's coveted
December cover photo shoot. And
there's no one more suited to serve
up an early slice of festive cheer than
the glamorous TV star, who relishes
the season as much now as she did as
a child, growing up around the world
with a dad in the Army.
'The word "Christmas" makes me
happy. It's festive, it's togetherness,
it's family,' she says. 'When I was young,
some Christmases we might have been
in Germany or Malta and my grandparents
would fly out to where my dad was
stationed. Once we came back and
stayed in my grandma's one-bedroom
council flat in Portsmouth, all sleeping
on lilos and camp beds. It was a squash
but perfect because we were together.
I've got a picture of me wearing pink
fluffy slippers, in my nurse's outfit,
playing with my new Tressy doll. I can
remember it like yesterday.'
Ruth, 63, also recalls with fondness
accompanying her late dad, Dennis, on
Christmas shopping trips to buy gifts for
her mum Joan, now 91. 'He knew Mum's
perfume, her clothes sizes and what she
liked. He bought the tree, wrapped the
presents and was so involved. That's why
at Christmas, I particularly miss my dad.'
This year, notes Ruth, will be a 'hard'
one for her husband Eamonn Holmes,
who turns 64 on 3 December. As well as
battling crippling back pain, he lost his
beloved mum, Josephine, last November.
So at the couple's Surrey home,
plans are afoot for a magical, low-key
celebration with their recently graduated
TV production runner son Jack, 21, and
Joan - a welcome rest from work, which
for Ruth centres around hosting ITV's
Loose Women and building her fashion
collection with shopping channel QVC.
Six years into the successful partnership,
which she labels 'a marriage made in
heaven', Ruth is currently designing her
spring/summer collection and, as she
looks ahead to 2024, three goals are at
the forefront of her mind - happiness,
health and professional prosperity.
'I look at people around me, like
Janet Street-Porter and Gloria
Hunniford, who haven't retired and still
love what they're doing,' she smiles.
'That gives me joy and hope to say, don't
let age hold you back!'
I see Christmas changing every year.
Although Jack's not yet been at his
girlfriend's for Christmas, I'm sure the
time will come. Then I'll have to take a
big gulp and go, 'That's lovely, darling.
Of course, it's absolutely no problem.'
But, of course, I'll be dying inside. »
womanendhome.com 1 7

" У’ A
Where Christmas used to be all about
Jack, and Eamonn's kids, now it's about
Mum. I don't know how many more
Christmases she might have and I value
every bit of time I have with her. It
sounds morbid but everything we do,
I think, ЯЪ15 could be the last dinner
we cook together, the last crossword.'
It's about trying to be in that moment.
When people - often men - say of
Christmas, 'It's just a big Sunday
dinner -1 don't know why people
get so stressed', I want to punch
them in the face! It's not just
Christmas lunch because family
are here or friends are coming, and
it's [not just lunch] it's breakfast, tea,
coffee, [thinking] 'Who wants a mince
pie?', it's bed sheets and towels, it's
[planning] all the other food.
You're lucky if you have a partner
who likes cooking or wants to help.
Eamonn is not that but I don't want
him in my kitchen, he doesn't want to
be there and that's fine. He's very good
at bonhomie, 'Let's have a drink' and
entertaining, which is great because
it gets people out of the kitchen!
cover story
I'm trying to embrace ageing and not
let it frighten me. You can become too
cautious and think, 'Ooh, I'd better not do
that because of my age.' I'm not suddenly
going to go skydiving, I'm just trying to
embrace the life I have. I love working
but the older I get, the longer hours take
more of a toll, so I try to balance that by
eating well, walking and getting fresh air.
I'm 63, pretty fit and healthy, but I look
at my mum, then I look at Eamonn, who's
had his health and back problems, and
it makes you realise how important your
health is, being able to move is and
looking after yourself.
Recently I've started thinking about
pensions. I'm looking at it all the time,
thinking, 'I need to put
more into that pension
fund. How much will
I have? Can I afford
a care home if I need
one?' [Ageing] makes
you suddenly think,
'You cannot bury your
head in the sand.'
'Гт ray much
I urn up ou lime
and work hard
Do I want a prime-
time Sunday night chat show? Of
course! I'm always ambitious. I'm not
chasing jobs but I set my own standards.
I want my clothing range to do well; I put
the hours in, I do my research, I have a
good team, I turn up on time and work
hard. I'm very much a team player. I'm
not a leader, but I like bouncing ideas.
In television, age is not always a
positive [for a woman]. Loose Women
is fantastic and thank God for it, but
often your age can be a negative in TV.
You are at the mercy of programme
controllers. You can have the best agent
in the world and be - in
your opinion - the best
presenter ever, but if
the person at the top
of the chain doesn't
want to use you, you
don't get used.
At QVC, where the
majority of their fashion
customers are 50+, my
age is a positive thing.
The female viewers are all getting older
with me, so I'm basically designing clothes
for myself and they're coming with
me on that journey. The partnership
has been a marriage made in heaven.
I love This Morning but reports that
ITV have recently asked me back aren't
true. I laughed when I saw that report.
I have no idea where these things come
from. It's like when people write a nasty
comment on my Instagram, I find it
amusing. When Twitter [now called X]
first started and I'd read 'you look fat
and ugly', it used to sting, but now I'm
older, I don't care as much, so when
I see [inaccurate news reports] I don't
care because I know it's not true.
If they asked me, I would certainly
consider it. I did a week with Rylan
last year and I wasn't torn because of
Eamonn's situation [turning his back on
ITV]. Eamonn has left ITV, it's done and
dusted. He's got another job, which he
loves. Also, I don't have to ask Eamonn's
permission to do anything, or for him
me, so if ITV said, 'Would you come and
do a week on This Morning?’ and if I was
free and it was with the right person,
I probably would do it
I don't know how much Eamonn's
mobility will improve. We live in
hope. He does the physio but there
might have to be some acceptance
that this might never be 100% right.
' With any care situation - and there are
millions of carers in this country - it isn't
always easy, but if something happens
to somebody you love, you help them
as much as you can. It's testing but »
womanandhomt.com 1 9

*
* COVer Story
we manage as a family.
Jack's around sometimes,
we have got my stepson
who works for us, and we
all do our bit.
Now we have to think
ahead. We've just been up
to Manchester for Jack's
graduation and it was fine.
We just made sure we had a
hotel room that wasn't down
an endless corridor. Like
anybody with a disability,
you deal with it each day.
I'm looking forward to
being a grandparent!
I see other people - friends
- becoming grandparents
and I'm like, 'Ooh! I want
to do that. That's surely
the ultimate gift?' When
Eamonn's son, Declan —
his eldest - had a daughter,
I said to Eamonn, 'What's
it like to see your baby
holding his baby?' and
he said it was the most
extraordinary feeling. I'd
like to think I'd be a g/am-ma!
When Jack was young and we went to
the park. I'd get sad seeing grandparents
with their grandchildren. My dad had
Alzheimer's when I had Jack at 42 and, at
his funeral, at the wake, it was fascinating
watching Jack looking at a picture of my
dad, who was in the motorbike scrambling
team in the army, flying over a hill with his
helmet. Jack never knew that man. He's
very like my dad in stature. He's 6ft 4in
and he's got long legs; sits cross-legged
like Dad did. Those little flashes are nice.
I'm definitely not a resolutions person.
I find them a bit dull. For 2024,1 obviously
hope for Eamonn that his back improves,
he's not in pain and can move around a
bit more. A lot of my hopes are for Jack.
He's just got his first month as a freelance
production runner. Watching him start
his career and enjoy life is thrilling.
It's hard when they go through the
time when they don't talk to you much.
Whenever Jack and I used to hear music
in a supermarket, I used to dance and
he used to think it was really funny. Then,
one day, I danced and he was mortified.
I thought, 'Oh, that's gone now as well.'
My mum used to say, 'Don't worry, he'll
come back' - and he's now coming back.
Jack's moving into a flat in Manchester
so is suddenly going, 'Mum, where do
you get those bath mats from?' He talks to
me about home things and relationships,
while he talks to his dad about football and
work. I can see the adult in him now and
we're connecting in a different way.
I struggle constantly with my weight
but try not to let it consume me. One
minute I go, 'I'm really overweight, come
on, Ruth!' So I walk the dog, I go on the
treadmill, I do weights and I lose a pound.
Then, it'll be a girlfriend's birthday and
we have prosecco and cake. I'm up and
down. However, I try to do my 10,000
steps a day, which keeps me accountable.
Since the menopause, I've filled out
a bit and my waist has gone. There's a
certain amount of acceptance but I'm not
ready to give up, wear baggy clothes. I go
in fits and starts of, 'Come on, get on it!'
Then I look in the mirror and go, 'I might
be two dress sizes bigger but I look OK!'
+ Ruth Langsford's Fashion Collection
is available exclusively at qvcuk.com
Festive food
MEMORY LANE
Red cabbage We discovered it when
living in Germany when I was six or
seven. I thought it was quite exotic!
Trifle My dad didn't like Christmas
pudding so Mum made him 'very
sherry trifle', a tradition I continued.
Eamonn hates Christmas pudding
and loves trifle too. They say you
end up with your father, don't they?!
Sherry Both my grandmas always
had a sherry at Christmas. Now I love
having one with Mum when she visits.
Selection boxes I would eat the
lot on Christmas Day while my sister
would put hers in the drawer. Once,
she pulled it out to find a box of empty
wrappers. I'd stolen her chocolate
and genuinely thought no one would
realise it was me. I was five. It was one
of my biggest in-trouble moments!
Rid/is best ever
CHRISTMAS
PRESENTS
Homemade farmyard My dad
made a toy farmyard from a big
piece of green-painted plywood.
He made little barns and hedges
from wire-steel wool. I can still
remember the excitement of
seeing it for the first time.
Portable record player Given to
me by my parents when I was 13.
My mum made a red PVC case
for it with a big popper button,
which was dead trendy. I carried
it to parties with my albums.
I was into reggae, Marvin Gaye,
Diana Ross and Tammi Terrell.
Writing box Eamonn bought
me a beautiful black leather box,
with little cards and a place for
a pen. It was like a piece of art.
Eternity ring Before Jack was
born, Eamonn and I were in a
jeweller's in Belfast for a watch,
when he said, 'Can we have a look
at your eternity rings?' I tried one
on and the next minute he was
buying it I was a bit overwhelmed!
womanendhome.com 21
 L>
origin
DOORS
WINDOWS
NFA22
WINNER
Complete

creative
INTRODUCING THE
Gable
WINDOW
COLLECTION
The Origin Window Collection consists
of two different systems - the OW-70
Slimline Window and the OW-80
Premium Window. Available in a wide
range of configurations, colours and
bespoke personalisation options, its
versatile nature means it can offer
effortless elegance to your property.
!Ж
yi *:r vr4
View the rest of the range at
origin-global.com
Bi-fold Doors | Sliding Doors Front Doors | Internal Doors | Windows
columnist
KATHY LETTE *
‘When will mv kids take oxer
Yiilet к le । >re] )a rat к mis?’
s I garotte myself on a badly
strung tinsel strand and
dislocate a shoulder trying
to wedge the turkey into
the freezer, I wonder when the time
will come that my kids take over
all Yuletide preparations?
What was Mum's age when my sisters
and I suggested she take a back seat and
leave the turkey-basting and Brussels
working in freelance jobs, on dating
apps and living for the weekend, with
no savings. Many have never left home,
with parents still doing their shopping,
mopping, cooking and cleaning.
Apparently we've brought our kids up
so badly that they're starting university
with no life skills. While choosing college
courses, our mollycoddled offspring
> sprout over-boiling to us? Whenever
it was, Mum must have felt that all her
Christmases had come at once.
My fear is that we'll still be stuffing
walnuts up fowl orifices at dawn when
we're ninety bloody seven.
Why? Well, because we've raised
kidults. At 30, most of my generation
were married, paying off a house, with
a car in the drive and a baby on the way.
Most 30-year-olds today are renting,
are also booking onto Adulting' classes.
didn't even know how to switch on the
oven. Understanding the disadvantages
of eating mould also appeared on this
list of newly learnt abilities. Which can
only lead to one question - why didn't
we kick out our spoilt kids sooner?
As I nurse my tinsel whiplash and
turkey-related torn shoulder, I'm
desperate to let go of the reins - the
reindeer reins. What could be nicer than
I kid you not. This is now a subject
being offered in places as
prestigious as Berkeley and
UCLA in the States to teach
young, inept offspring how
to master life skills like...
being able to tell when fruit
is ripe, DIY, car maintenance,
mending holes in socks,
turning up to a Christmas feast created
Tm
desperate
to let go of
the reins
by your capable progeny?
If you are lucky enough
to have a child preparing
Christmas, don't criticise;
even when handed mint
sauce bottled during the
reign of Henry VIII and
mustard that should be
balancing meals, basic etiquette
and relationship guidelines around
'boundaries, red flags and compromise'.
(Clearly, a course all us parents should
sign up for immediately!)
Studies reveal that the average British
student will pick up 50 vital life skills
during the university years, including
how to do laundry, make spaghetti
bolognese and assemble flat-pack
furniture. Two-fifths of students were
shocked by how little they knew when
they left home. Some revealed they
date-labelled 'When Dinosaurs Roamed
the Earth'. Resist the temptation to bring
their flat up to health standards too,
starting with not pointing out that
the mice are so depressed by the filth,
they're looking for floss to off themselves.
But wherever you're celebrating the
holidays, just remember that Christmas
spirit comes in a bottle. Cheers!
•h Kathy Lette's novels are published
by Head of Zeus and available on
Amazon; @kathylette and kathylette.com
The Strictly touch
I always danced out of key - a useful skill
when ridding my house of partying teens;
some quintessential Mum Dancing repelled
marauding kids faster than a fire alarm.
But Strictly has changed all that. I now
twinkle my toes at all times. Especially
when the Rambo of Mambo pops over.
The best thing about being pals with
Craig? I don't have to be able to dance;
I just hang onto him while he does.
womanandhomt.com 23
Celebrate with
extravagant
CD
сл
си
Е
СЛ
О
о
CD
CD
CD
cn
CD
CD
CD
CD
О
О
О
Triniiv Woodall
The last few years, we've spent
Christmas Day in Spain at my sister's
place. We wake up and my daughter,
Lyla, 19, always has a stocking. It's
quite an extravagant one and she
loves it - she's always excited by
it and I have to hide it like she's 13.
Then, we usually get up and have
huevos rancheros. When my parents
were alive they loved turkey, cranbe
and all the trimmings. Now, we
think about what we actually want
to eat. Recently, we've had goose.
We'll have a small token Christmas
pudding too. We do dress up,
it's pretty smart for our late lunch.
Afterwards, we'll play all sorts
of games. There's one thing we do
that always gets very aggressive, we
call it 'The Hat Game'. You put lots of
names of famous people in a hat and
then you have two teams and you
have to describe as many names as
you can without saying the actual
name in a minute, and then the other
team get to go. We get so loud
and shout! Last year, my sister and
her husband did a brilliant general
knowledge quiz too, which we loved.
On Boxing Day, we'll go for a long
walk. And on New Year's Eve, I try
to get to bed by 10pm. It sounds so
boring, but these days I just don't
see the point in staying up.
24 womanendhome.com
SIMPLE
THINGS
our Christmas
Olivia C olman
Without wanting to sound terribly
cliched, Christmas is a time just to
be together as a family without
the busyness of life getting in the
way. It's the simple things that
are so special. I mean, how many
other times in a year do families
sit down and play games
together? But at Christmas it's
one of those things that happens
that I cherish so much. We all try
to do little bits so not one person
is in the kitchen doing everything.
The key to a simple Christmas
Day is a little bit of preparation
and maybe a little bit of corner
cutting as well. As for Christmas
dinner, I think it is one of the few
things that shouldn't evolve - it's
pretty great as it is!
I am a big fan of walking after
dinner with the dog. Not only is
it nice to have a walk after dinner,
but there is something about
passing people in the street on a
Christmas Day walk - everybody
seems that much happier. There is
nowhere like London at Christmas.
We aren't formal when it comes
to dressing up - but Christmas
is absolutely the time for a jazzy
jumper; that and getting all
snuggly on the sofa as a family
and watching a Christmas film are
two of the real guilty pleasures
of the Christmas period.
New Year's Eve is definitely
an excuse for a few drinks - but
I don't think it always needs to be
a big affair. A local pub or having
friends round for drinks and food
is a great way to spend it. »

u
В(Ч11<2

Anton Du Веке
Christmas is all about family, it's
absolutely brilliant. We're all at
home together, Christmas trees
all over the house. Because the
children are so young [Anton's
twins, George and Henrietta, are
six], it's just magical. I remember
that excitement as a child, waking
up ridiculously early, but we
weren't allowed to open any
presents until our parents were
awake. So we'd wake up, wait
for them to wake up, then go
downstairs and have breakfast
and the wait was torture! But then
we'd get round the tree and open
presents - it was brilliant.
I love Christmas, it's the best.
I love Christmas trees, I love going
off and buying Christmas trees. My
wife Hannah and I always get into
a disagreement about how many.
I want about half a dozen, she
wants two - we usually compromise
with four! I want one in every room.
She won't let me decorate them,
though, she says I do it awfully.
So it's mostly Hannah doing the
decorating, but the children get
involved and it's amazing.
I got engaged to Hannah on
Christmas Day and that was the
most wonderful present, when
she said yes.
+ The Paris Affair by Anton Du Веке
(£20, HB, Orion) is out now.
WIND DOWN
aii(
cake, always insisting, 'No, you are not
Nadiya I lussain
Growing up in Luton, my dad's restaurant
was always open on Christmas Day and
it was his busiest time of year. In the early
hours of Boxing Day morning, Dad would
return home carrying all the restaurant
Christmas decorations and two cold
Indian-spiced turkeys. Once we'd packed
the decorations away in the garden
shed, we'd tuck into the turkey leftovers
but that meal had nothing to do with
Christmas. It was just us, as a family,
enjoying food together.
As Muslims, my family and I don't
celebrate Christmas in the traditional
sense because it's a Christian holiday
and not part of our religion. We don't
have a Christmas tree or give presents,
but we do enjoy festive perks, like the
jolly atmosphere in all the shops, having
a day off on Christmas Day, the forced
period of wind-down, enjoying time
off with friends and family and, of course,
eating lots of cheese, crackers... and
birthday cake!
My birthday falls on Christmas Day, the
day after my sister's, but as Muslims we
don't celebrate those occasions either.
As a child, I never once had a party but I
didn't feel like I was missing out because
if you've never had something, you don't
miss it. These days, I still don't like fuss,
although in years gone by, plenty of
family have descended on our house
over 25 and 26 December to enjoy the
holiday time together, eating turkey,
nut roast and always a good curry too.
My kids, husband Abdal and sisters
often give me a present each and, as well
as a fruit cake that I make, which I feed
making your own!'
Last year, though, we changed the
rules. I absolutely hate the cold so
when the weather becomes miserable,
I love seeking out a bit of winter sun.
Spontaneously deciding to escape the
country and fly to Tenerife was the best
decision we could have made. I didn't
expect to enjoy the holiday as much as
we did, but with the beautiful coastline
and gorgeous weather, it was a perfect
break. We spent loads of time on
the beach, eating delicious food, and
on Christmas Day, the hotel laid on a
beautiful, posh Christmas buffet, which
I loved. Nobody knew it was my birthday
so I got dressed up and secretly
pretended all the extravagance was
for me! Our Christmas getaway is now
a new family tradition and this year we're
planning another last-minute holiday,
either to Egypt or Tunisia!
In the next two years, my eldest will be
off to university, followed soon enough
by the next two, so I hope that in years
to come, we'll continue to enjoy family
trips away over Christmas, the one time
of year that everyone's off. It will be our
annual end-of-year reunion!
When I was younger, I used to buy into
New Year's resolutions, but every year
I'd pledge to lose weight, which wasn't
good for my mental health. I'm now older
and wiser so I've stopped putting myself
under such pressure, and when January
arrives, as opposed to cutting things out,
I commit to learning something new.
This year I got into archery and I turned
out to be good at it. Abdal describes
me as a serial hobbyist -1 love to start
something new, only then I never finish!
So for 2024, my next goal is to learn how
to play the piano. I bought myself a piano
a few years ago and never got started, so
I'm now desperate to learn!
+ Nadiya has co-created nine products
including recipe kits, mixes and
seasonings with the flavour experts at
Schwartz, which you can find at major
supermarkets now. »
womanendhome.com 27
Helen Mirren
The thing I love about Christmas is the
sense of community it brings out in
people. Meeting up for dinners, drinks,
gift-giving, it just creates this wonderful
community spirit. Christmas is a great
time to give back, to think of others and,
if we are honest, most of us get so caught
up in our own world and issues that the
rest of the year we might not do enough
for others as we'd like. Christmas is
a great time to try and put that right.
No matter where I live I will always
consider myself a Londoner and there is
nowhere quite like London at Christmas.
We can spend it in LA, which is always
great fun - but I will never get used to
it being 80 degrees on Christmas Day
- for a Brit it just doesn't feel right.
Christmas is for eating and drinking, not
spending in the kitchen. Food and drink
are not things I deny myself anyway, but
at Christmas, excess feels that bit more
acceptable. There is something I think in
the make-up of humans about coming
together over food and drink. This isn't
just a Christmas Day thing, but a Christmas
period thing. Invite those neighbours over
for a bottle of bubbles just because it's
December and the day ends in y!
It is still surreal that it is no longer the
Queen's speech - she was such a big part
of our lives for so long and was somebody
who I admired immensely. We will still
watch the King's speech, but it doesn't feel
quite right without her on Christmas Day.
There is something quintessentially
British about there being something
special on the TV on Boxing Day that
you know the whole country is tuned
into. Something like a Doctor Who special
that people can get excited about.
Some of the best New Year's Eves I've

had are in local pubs, especially in London.
In the US there isn't that local pub feel so
much - people tend to hold parties more
at their houses.
28 womanandhomt.com

Christine kunpard
I love everything about
Christmas. I'm thinking about
it constantly in October and
November. I'm that person
that everybody hates
because I get excited too
early, but I think having
children has changed things
for me and made it even
more exciting. It's so nice
when we can all do the tree
together and my family from
back home are there too.
It's rare for that to happen
and that makes it even more
special. My husband Frank is
rarely at home for Christmas
Day because of the football,
so decorating the tree
together is something we
always make time for.
Christmas is about food
and family, from start to
finish. For the past couple
of years, I've managed to
get my family over from
Northern Ireland - as long
as I'm with the people
I love and Elf is on the telly,
I'm happy.
Christmas Day starts with
us waking up really early and
checking to make sure that
Santa has delivered the
presents. Then we shout
'Santa's been!', and the
kids and anyone else who's
staying with us comes
running in. The place is
a total mess within five
minutes, with presents being
unwrapped and Christmas
music on in the background.
If my sister is staying, the
champagne and mimosas will
be poured quite early doors.
Then the cooking starts and
the absolute farce that is
our Christmas dinner starts
coming together. We always
cook far too much but we
do eat it all and nothing ever
goes to waste in our house.
We start early, and take a
whole day making and eating
Christmas dinner.
I love decorating the
Christmas table and I'm a bit
of a geek when it comes to
that. It must be my A-level
art coming out. I really like
planning and having a bit of
a colour scheme, and making
everything look the best
and as pretty as I can, with
little lights and candles and
all the rest of it.
We redo the Christmas
dinner on Boxing Day with
the addition of whatever
anyone fancies, so it's a bit
more relaxed. Back home in
Northern Ireland, Boxing Day
was always a big party day. It
was bigger than New Year's
Eve because it feels like all
the hard work is done so you
can let your hair down and
have a glass of something and
dance the night away. »
‘I laving
children
made Christmas
MORE
EXCITING’


‘I <ю berserk
jftliisTIME
of YEAR’
Joanna Page
I'm a massive Christmas person. I get so
excited, I normally want to put the tree
up halfway through November!
When my husband James and I bought
our first house together in London in
2003,1 put up two trees in our not-so-big
living room. I go berserk for Christmas
because I love everything about it - having
family round, cooking loads of food,
playing board games, drinking booze	(	,
and listening to all the Christmas songs.
I buy all of the kids' presents and start
in September so that I can get every one JI
wrapped before 1 November. Then I can
relax and enjoy November and December. В ‘
I moan that I find it difficult buying all	JI
of the presents but if James says he's seen
something he wants to buy, I go, 'No, you
can't!' because I need to be in control!
On Christmas Eve, I always make my
signature gin cocktails, and now we're
living in the countryside, we go for a
big walk, then another in the woods on
Boxing Day. I've also been sucked right
into the whole matching pyjamas trend!
Last year, I got us all elf PJs, and another
year, when my parents were over, I
bought a medium-size pair for my mum,
then size XL for all the men. When James,
who's 6ft 1 in, came down on Christmas
morning, his pyjamas were completely
skintight. I'd accidentally given him my
mother's set!
On Christmas Day we're up by 3.30am
because the kids wake us up. James
goes downstairs first to light the fire,
then we all stand outside the sitting
room and count to three before going
in to see if Father Christmas has been.
Then we sit and open all the presents.
James or my dad Nigel, 70, like to
cook Christmas dinner - turkey with
all the trimmings - which suits me
fine because I love nothing more than
relaxing, drinking Buck's Fizz and
playing with the kids' presents!
James is brilliant at choosing gifts but
every year I remind him that I don't want
anything practical, just really nice things.
It's so exhausting being a mum of four
children, even if I won't wear jewellery or
a nice dress all the time, it's nice to feel
like I've been treated. One year I asked
James to get me a Nintendo Switch!
When I was a child, my mum Susan, 70,
would save and save for Christmas and
buy treat food, which she'd store upstairs.
Nobody was allowed to touch anything
until the food made its grand entrance
on Christmas Eve. I'd be so excited, I'd
become hysterical for the entire day.
I was an only child so now I'm a mum
of four, it's incredible that we always
have a big family Christmas. Even if I'm
completely exhausted by the end of it!
+ Joanna is an ambassador for RSPCA.
30 womanandhomt.com
~**0лс*
‘Christmas Day
with the Elhas
NAUGHTS
Idris Elba
Now Christmas is about being with
my family - but when I was a kid,
it was the presents. I will always
remember this Christmas when I was
about 10 and my aunt, who was living
in Washington DC, sent me over
some trainers that were not available
in the UK. I loved my trainers then
as much as I do now - it's a present
I have always remembered.
I can remember my mum being
in the kitchen from Christmas Eve
- she really is a sensational cook.
The kitchen was the social hub
at Christmas and I like it that way.
I do help her out in the kitchen now.
While we do keep it traditional, my
mum has a lot of African influence in
her cooking, so everything she does
is with a bit of a twist.
Once everybody has eaten, the
music gets turned up and the booze
continues. Christmas Day with the
Elbas has actually been known to get
a little naughty!
The family will be over, and there's
lots of eating, drinking, laughing and
singing - maybe even a little dancing.
It always depends on how wild our
Christmas Day gets, but Boxing Day
is perfect for a tasty brunch and some
Christmas movies.
When it comes to New Year's Eve,
unless I am DJing, I am all about
keeping it intimate with good wine
and even better company. »
I






r

“It doesn’t
HAVE TO BI
anything
BIC?
Clare Balding
As long as I don't have to cook
Christmas lunch, I'm happy! Usually,
we go to either my sister-in-law's or
my parents' house. Mine and my wife
Alice's role is to entertain the kids
and play games. We have a really fun
Christmas Eve with some friends who
live locally, where we'll play games.
On the day, we wake up fairly early and
Alice and I do a stocking for each other.
At lunch, we have a traditional turkey
with all the trimmings and bread sauce
- you have to have bread sauce!
This year, though, we may go away
for the Christmas holidays, which
I wouldn't mind but we'll see. If we're
at home, after lunch we always watch
the monarch's speech. And then the
evening is all about games. We play
things like Rummikub with the kids,
watch telly, and then on Boxing Day,
we'll watch all the sport that's on.
I'm happy to go out for New Year's
Eve but, actually, last year we stayed
in. I love to be out with friends but
it doesn't have to be anything big,
just whatever arises.


Then Christmas Day and Boxing
Day is pretty much leftovers, and we
usually have a couple of friends round
and open a bottle of wine again. We
normally watch a movie and go for a
walk - it's just a hang-out day, really
- and we open a couple more presents.
So it's not a normal Christmas Day
because we've already celebrated.
Then for New Year's Eve, we watch
Hootenanny like half the country.
And we have a nice dinner and push
the boat out. We don't usually go out
on New Year's Eve, although last year
we were at Rick Stein's restaurant in
Cornwall, which was great.
+ Rick Astley's new album, Are We
There Yet?, is out now on BMG. For
tour details, go to rickastley.co.uk
Rick Ast In
We always celebrate on 24 December
wherever we are because my wife,
Lene, is Danish and that's what they
do. Our daughter, Emilie, hasn't lived
at home for 12 years - she lives in
Denmark - so when she comes home
for it, that's really nice. We sometimes
go there too. We might go there this
year, as Lene's mum doesn't want to
travel so much any more.
It doesn't feel like Christmas until
you've put your bags down and gone
'Right, let's relax'. But I'm usually
thinking about the wine a couple of
weeks before and pairing them up
with the different courses we'll have.
Christmas dinner is great. I always
try and make sure we've got
something fantastic to drink with it
- I've probably developed slightly
better taste in wine over the years
-and Lene's an amazing cook. She
makes pork with crackling, which is a
very Danish tradition, with brunede
kart of I er, which are brown potatoes
cooked in caramelised sugar. If you
pair them with red cabbage it's so
good. Because pork's not my go-to
thing, Lene sometimes cooks a little
duck or goose for me. I like to get
aquavit involved as well, which is
a Danish schnapps. Then we have
risalamande for pudding, which is
rice pudding with bits of almond '
in and one whole almond - whoever
finishes and then gets a prize. It's
a little tradition.
It's the gradual build-up to
Christmas that I like. On Christmas 
Eve, we'll get up and have something
-nice for breakfast. We usually
decorate the tree on Christmas Eve,
which Emilie and I always go and
buy together. We have some friends
who have a big party on the
afternoon of Christmas Eve, so we
very often go to that. Lene's already
got things in the oven and we sit
down to have our big meal about
7pm. Then we do presents after
dinner, so we can be opening
presents at 1am sometimes! I've got
used to that over the years because
gets that has to hide it until everyone I grew up doing things differently.
iny daughters
I'd be home
p Z */	•	* for me to come home.
!())' ( hriStllKlS Thinking of them kept
• '	mp foci	I was act it
‘I Tie is
DIFFERENT
but it can still be
BEAUTIFUL
Last year, Sarah de Lagarde, 45, became a double amputee
This Christmas, she's determined to cherish every moment
ast Christmas, my
Camden home was
a tinsel explosion, an
all-white colour scheme
of twinkling lights
and paper snowflakes
adorning every window. As I sat
around the table with my husband,
Jeremy, and our daughters Chloe, then
12, and Daphne, eight, the air around
us seemed to shimmer with a magical
glow. It was the glow of being alive,
because I am so lucky to still be here.
Looking back, 2022 was set to be the
best year of my life. I had a career I loved
as global head of communications at
an investment management firm, and in
August that year I'd achieved a lifelong
dream of climbing Kilimanjaro with
Jeremy. For seven hours, we ascended
in total darkness in temperatures of
-20 degrees. I remember picturing the
shame I felt when I was 12 and school
bullies spat in my hair. I was so unsure of
myself then. Yet standing on top of that
mountain, my jaw frozen in a massive
smile, I was euphoric. 'Look at me now,'
I wanted to shout. 'I'm as strong as I will
ever be.' I felt invincible.
A month later, everything changed. It
was a weekday evening and I was on the
Tube in London on my way home from
work. Recovering from COVID-19 and
feeling exhausted, I closed my eyes.
When I woke up, I'd missed my stop -1
was at the end of the line in High Barnet
Rain pounded down as I stepped out
onto the wet platform. Realising that
the same train was going back towards
Camden, I turned round to get back on.
But I slipped in a puddle
and fell against the Tube
carriage, hitting my face
hard and sliding sideways
into the gap between
the platform and train.
I remember the feeling
of tumbling into the
darkness. Lying on the
track in the hard, black ’
gravel, my first dear thought was, 'I'm not
supposed to be here.'
Frantic, I screamed out, 'Somebody
please help me. My name is Sarah. I don't
want to die.' I tried to roll away from the
underside of the train, but it began to
move. I remember thinking, 'I can't feel
the right side of my body.' Then I looked
at my right arm, and I realised that it was
gone. Strangely, I couldn't feel any pain,
my adrenaline blocking it out. I managed
to retrieve my phone from the tracks,
but it wouldn't recognise my face or
fingerprints because I had broken my
nose and two front teeth, and there was
so much blood. I continued to shout but
still no one heard me. I was stuck against
the side of the platform.
There was fear behind my adrenaline
- but there was also anger. I didn't climb
Kilimanjaro to die in
a ditch. In a moment,
I had gone from the
top of the world to rock
bottom. In my mind's
eye, I saw the faces of
my daughters, waiting
me focused. I was acutely
aware that if I didn't get help, another
train would come in.
And then, it did. The sight of the two
headlights coming doser towards me
and the rushing sound of the train still
haunts me. I tried to roll away, but this one
ran over my leg. I knew I'd lost a lot of
blood; yet somehow, I was still conscious.
I was on the tracks for 15 minutes before
someone heard my cries for help, but it
took another 45 minutes before the air
ambulance arrived on the scene.
I was airlifted to the Royal London
Hospital in Whitechapel, and rushed »
34 womanandhomt.com

new beginnings
into surgery. When I came round,
the only thing I could think about was
getting through to Jeremy, but my
phone battery had died and I couldn't
remember his number. It was 3am
when I finally reached him. 'Jeremy,
I'm in hospital,' I said. Drowsy with pain
medication, the words didn't feel real.
'I've been run over by a train.' A doctor
took my phone and told Jeremy that
a police vehicle would pick him up.
After arranging for a neighbour to
sleep on our sofa for the girls, he was
driven to the hospital, where he spent
an agonising 15 hours waiting for me
to come out of surgery. At that point,
all he'd been told was that my injuries
were 'life-changing'. Thinking of him
sitting alone in that waiting room
upsets me more than anything. I feel
so guilty about inflicting that anxiety.
Stayingjbcused
My injuries resulted in the amputation
of my right leg below the knee and my
right arm above the elbow. Surgeons
told me I could have died more than
10 times that night. Seeing the huge
bandages around my amputated limbs
was a shock, but I was so grateful to
be alive; my children still had a mother.
I spent three weeks in hospital and
another six at a specialist amputee
rehabilitation centre in Lambeth, where
I was given my first prosthetic leg and
slowly learnt to walk again. Jeremy and
the girls visited me regularly, but one
night my youngest,
Daphne, phoned me in
floods of tears. 'You're
never coming home, are
you Mummy?' she wept.
'Of course I am,'
I soothed her. Til be
home for Christmas.'
The thought of getting
back to my girls drove me
7Лич i you're
nearty died,
nothing
scares you
to spend hours in the physiotherapy
gym, to speak to a psychotherapist,
and to take all the support I was offered.
And it worked. On 1 December 2022,
I clutched my walking stick and walked
out of the rehab centre, smiling. As
we pulled away, I felt like I was in a film.
I really was driving home for Christmas.
Of course, it wasn't all joy and glitter.
Being back home presented numerous
challenges. Climbing my stairs felt as
J6 womanandhome.com
mountainous as Kilimanjaro. Everyday
tasks became harder as I trained myself to
wash, to cook, to make coffee and to put
up Christmas decorations using one arm.
We kept our festive celebrations small;
just the four of us, with visits from a few
friends. I think I went over the top with
decorations because I had no idea what
the future would hold. My emotions were
so volatile. I assured the girls
that it was OK to cry, that
Mummy needed to let it
all out. I tried to be strong
in front of them, but every
night I would go upstairs and
dissolve into gut-wrenching
sobs. Jeremy held me
tightly, reassuring me that
everything would be OK.
As this Christmas approaches, I'm in a
better place. I'm back at work three days
a week, I’ve been on several holidays
and I've become a motivational speaker,
which I never imagined I'd be able to do.
After extensive crowdfunding and the
generosity of family, friends and strangers,
I have raised more than £250,000, enough
to fund a bionic arm that allows my brain
to send signals to it so that I can open
and close the fingers. I can fill a glass
of water, cut a watermelon and
even eat an oyster.
The kindness I have received
has humbled me. I'm determined
now to help others, including my
friend Tatiana Timon, who I met
at rehab, a dancer in her 30s who
lost all her limbs after contracting malaria.
Like me, Tatiana is fundraising for
state-of-the-art prosthetics. I would
love to see her dance again one day.
New perspective
My perspective on life has shifted. When
you've nearly died, there's nothing that
scares you. I want to run on a running
blade, to swim, to hike and to say yes to
every opportunity. This Christmas, I want
to make memories that show my children
that while life is different now, it can still
be beautiful. My story shows that the
worst of accidents can happen in the
most mundane situations. We can either
bubble-wrap ourselves and stay at home
forever, or we can go out and live.
This Christmas, know that you don't
need a Ferrari or the latest phone to
be happy. Enjoy your coffee, stroking
your cat, the feel of a blanket on a chilly
evening. Because none of us know what's
around the corner. Within these little,
almost insignificant moments, there is
so much happiness to be found.
+ To support Tatiana's fundraising, visit
gofundme.com/f/donate-to-help-a-girl-
to-dance-again
we create the
FLAVOUR
DISCOVER MORE AT OPIESFOODS.COM
SCAN HERE FOR
RECIPE DETAILS
but you (mai
CREAMY
FISH PIE
WITH GHERKINS
i/us year
WILL BE'
RELAXED’
Royal expert Jennie Bond tells
us what will be going on at
Sandringham this Christmas
If I asked you to conjure up
a picture of King Charles, what
would it be?
Mine would be of him chatting
(probably with a total stranger in the
crowd), making a joke (undoubtedly a
rather corny one) - and pointing in jest
as, chortling, he rocks back on his heels.
Charles is a man with an unsophisticated,
absurd sense of humour, like The Goons.
He wants to put people at their ease and
finds that laughter always helps.
And that's one reason why Christmas
for the Royal Family under his reign is
likely to be a slightly more relaxed and
boisterous affair than in the time of
the late Queen.
Ijglil-liearledJim
Not that Queen Elizabeth suffered
from a sense of humour bypass:
she thoroughly enjoyed the daft gifts
the family traditionally exchange on
Christmas Eve... the more useless,
the better. She was said to have loved
a plastic, singing sea bass given to her
once by Prince Harry. And both she and
Charles saw the funny side of a white
Clockwise from left: King
Charles, Queen Camilla, the
Waleses, the Duchess of
Edinburgh, and Princesses
Eugenie and Beatrice with
their husbands. Below:
St Mary Magdalene Church
38 womanendhomt.com
royal life
leather loo seat gifted to him by his
sister. Princess Anne.
That tradition of outdoing one another
by giving silly presents will continue.
Indeed, the King has already shown
that he's in no hurry to make radical
changes to the way his mother ran the
royal ship. It's just that because Queen
Elizabeth was held in such awe, even by
her own family, the celebrations hosted
by Charles and Camilla might seem more
informal and free-flowing.
(clebraHng together
This year - the second with Charles
at the helm - the family will gather
again at Sandringham. The King has
made it clear that, although he wants a
leaner core group of working royals, the
extended family will always be welcome
under his roof. And that's why his siblings
and their families, his nephews and
nieces, along with Camilla's children
and grandchildren, will all be invited.
Eyebrows might be raised that
Prince Andrew is included, but he
has consistently been invited to family
gatherings like this, in spite of the
Jeffrey Epstein scandal. And it would
be churlish to exclude his ex-wife and
'bestest friend' Sarah, especially when
she is still recovering from breast cancer.
Besides which, Sarah is good fun;
a vibrant addition to any party, and
it would be heartless to separate her
from her daughters and grandchildren
at Christmas.
The elephant in the room... or rather,
very much not in the room - will, of
course, be Prince Harry and his family.
And that will remain a great sadness for
the King, who loves his son, in spite of
all that has happened.
With the ever-expanding gang of
royal babies, Sandringham will be full
of giggles, toddler tantrums and pure,
rollicking joy. There will be nannies on
hand, and the children generally eat
Christmas lunch in a separate dining
room from the rest of the group, but
I'm sure the whole
family will find the
youngsters' excitement
irresistibly contagious.
Before they can
let their hair down,
though, they will
make their traditional
appearance for the
crowds who gather faithfully each year
to see the family go to morning service
at St Mary Magdalene's, the 16th-century
parish church that's just a stone's throw
from Sandringham House.
The King will lead his family on
a walkabout, just as his mother did for
so many decades. He will probably be
dying for a dry Martini by this time, but
“ The extended
lamih will always
be welcome
under his rool"
he knows how much this means to the
loyal fans who have waited all morning.
During my many years following him
around the world, Charles loved to mock
my footwear (admittedly white stilettos
were usually hopelessly unsuitable for the
given terrain). He would lean out of his
car, pointing at my feet.
'Ah, the wrong
shoes again, I seel' he
would chuckle.
It was a bit of harmless
fun - and made me
feel noticed.
And, in just that same
way, the King will make
his Sandringham fans feel appreciated,
and their Christmas complete, when
he stops to chat, tells a joke, points and
rocks back on his heels.
With the wife he so clearly adores at
his side, and most of his family around
him, the King has every reason to enjoy
his Christmas and look back on the first
year of his reign with justified satisfaction.
★
(.com 39
ттт>'	V '  
Ис такс
CIIRISTM. IS
SR IKIxl.l'
Meet the women whose plans for the
season started way back in January
in our experience
TM NEUER SHORT OF INSPIRATION'
Sharon Dean, 58, visitor experience
officer at Powis Castle & Gardens,
transforms the National Trust
property into a festive wonderland
every Christmas. Sharon has four
grown-up children and lives in
Shropshire with her husband Tim,
three dogs and a chicken.
As we grow up, Christmas loses a bit of
its magic. I like to think that experiences
such as Christmas at Powis
help to bring back that
lovely, festive feeling. It's one
of the best bits of working in
the visitor experience team,
being able to bring the
castle's 700-year-old history
to life for guests of all ages.
I joined the National Trust
as a guide in 2015, having previously been
a florist. Christmas at Powis is a huge part
of my job and takes about six months
to plan. I'll start getting ideas in January
and we begin making things in the
summer. A small team starts dressing the
rooms in early November to get the castle
‘The gardeners
help carry in
/he massive
l8~/ool trees’
ready for 1 December. The gardeners
help carry in the 18-foot trees, and our
wonderful handyman builds us frames
and installations. It really is a team effort.
The theme changes yearly. The depth
of history in every room means I can
always find something exciting. This
year the idea is 'A Treasured Christmas'.
We have taken inspiration from unique
treasures in each of the rooms.
In our Blue Room, for
example, I've focused on
the stunning 17th-century
black, red and gold
lacquered Chinese screen.
We have a gold dragon
wrapped around the
tree, the mantelpiece is
covered in red silks, there
are parasols and fans, and music too.
I use up all my big extravagant vibes
at Powis, so when it comes to decorating
my house, I keep things low-key: green
foliage, candles and just plain lights.
Having spent so many special
times with my family in National Trust
Top tips
properties over the years, I feel lucky that
my job enables me to give some of that
joy back, especially at Christmas. »
Powis Castle's
treasures have
inspired this year's
Christmas theme,
says Sharon

4* For wreaths, use foliage and
berries from the garden to keep
costs down. Make it personal with
handmade elements like knitted
or felted creations - even little
Lego models can be great.
4* Think of a theme and try
to build on it yearly with real
quality decorations. I'm a firm
believer in quality over quantity.
womanendhome.com 41
AFFORDABLE LUXURY
FINANCE
Up to
7 years
interest
free credit'
kitchen
r all seasons
The warm wood tones of Aimee’s Milano
Ultra Nero Crain kitchen can be dressed
up or down for any occasion
MULTI-BUY
Up to
60% off
kitchen &
bedroom units
Like this kitchen?
Scan to book a free design appointment,
or visit wrenkitchens.com/book-an-appointment
л Multi-buy offers apply whan you buy 5 or more kitchen units or 3 or more bedroom units. » Wren Kitchens Limited, The Nest, Falkland Way, Barton
Upon Humber, DN18 SRL is a credit broker and not a lender. The lender is Creation Consumer Finance Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the
Financial Conduct Authority. Subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Minimum spend, deposit and eligibility criteria apply.
Visit wrenkitchens.com/rmance for full details.
venue a little bit more because we have
WE START DESIGNING THE BLENHEIM
PALACE LIGHT SHOW IN FEBRUARY
Zoe Bottrell, 49, MD
of Culture Creative,
designs and installs
festive light trails,
including the world-
famous Blenheim
Palace Christmas
"Hie illamiiialcd
trail is a bit like
afestive roller-
coaster ride
spectacular. Zoe lives with her
husband Martin and their black
Labrador Dewar in the Highlands.
I created my first light installation in
2005. Working for
our local authority in
Northumberland, I had
been tasked to increase
tourism in the winter.
As one of the darkest
counties in the UK,
I figured lights were the
answer, so created an
event called Northumberland Nights.
After moving to work for the Forestry
Commission, I received a call from
Kew Gardens in 2013 and found myself
designing the first Christmas at Kew.
My company now installs 27 light trails
worldwide, everywhere from China to
Texas. This is our eighth Christmas light
installation at Blenheim Palace, and it
doesn't get better than designing an
outdoor experience in its Capability
Brown-landscaped grounds.
The Blenheim Christmas design
work starts in February, beginning with
the visuals, then audio. We work with
artists from all over the world to source
innovative showpieces that haven't been
in the UK before. A new piece this year
involves chandeliers that are five metres
tall. But no matter how much I spend
on new international showstoppers, the
Blenheim Light Cathedral still features
on Instagram more than anything!
The light trail is a bit like
a festive roller-coaster
ride. We give you highs
and lows, quiet and loud
moments, bright flashes
and contemplative
experiences. We work
hard to ensure that
everyone will enjoy it
It can feel as if we live in the Palace for
months in the run-up to the event! The
final build starts at the end of October,
but the gardens are open to visitors
throughout, so a team of about 25
people carefully work around them.
I'm conscious that Blenheim Palace is a
World Heritage Site and a Grade l-listed
building, so we're careful only to leave
behind footprints and memories. I love
seeing families excited about the Palace
and gardens, and understanding the
reinterpreted it in a new way.
In December, I finally get to decorate
my own house. I'm surrounded by natural
beauty, which I like to use indoors.
However, my neighbours wouldn't let me
get away without decent outdoor lights.
They see all my work on social media
so once I'm home for Christmas the first
thing they say is: 'Come on - we need
our light display now!' »
Top tips
+ Think of your own 'landscape'
and who will be visiting your
house at Christmas. Accentuate
the elements you love and that
you think will bring the most joy.
4* Make sure your outdoor
lights are waterproof and don't I
rely on solar-powered lights.
We just don't get enough daylight I
in December to make it worthwhile. I
womanandhomt.com 43
in our experience
* TORTNUMS PROPS ARE ALL CREATED FROM*
SCRATCH BY TALENTED ARTISTS’
Sallie Smith, 40,
works as the head of
visual presentation
at Fortnum & Mason
and is responsible
for their Christmas
transformation every
'You niig/d .see
Ay ing golden
winter. She lives with her
twin boys and partner
Dave in Harlow, Essex.
I'm so glad I listened to
the careers adviser who said
I should work in something
creative. I chose visual
merchandising and started
at a local department store
in Essex. I was excited about
the industry instantly, and my next job
was as a junior at Harvey Nichols.
I've been at Fortnum's for 17 years.
I lead the team that designs the internal
look and feel for the stores around
the world, and I personally design our
Piccadilly flagship store, which has to
look amazing.
For Christmas we go all out - it's a
huge part of my job. Throughout the
0
year my brain is half focused on plans
for the festive season.
I take inspiration from everywhere. I'm
always thinking about potential schemes
or crafts that I'd like to incorporate. And
I love to look back through the Fortnum's
archives for creative starters.
This year's theme is
'When Christmas Comes
Alive'. We're imagining
what happens behind
the closed doors of
Fortnum's with an extra
giaill (/irisluui.s
...., j. If. ., *	from scratch by talented
piHllll	artists and they're pretty
unique - everything from flying golden
hampers to giant Christmas puddings.
The store's transformation starts
around Halloween, with hundreds of
elements to install over a very busy
couple of weeks. Seeing shoppers'
excitement when they walk through our
doors is such a rewarding feeling.
Once Fortnum's is done, it's time to
go all out with decorations at home. I
find it hard to do anything 'just a little bit',
so my Christmas tree is always far too
big. I decorate the front door, bannisters
and hallway, as I love walking in and
feeling all festive. Christmas is magical,
there's nothing I don't love about it.
2
2
.2
!!
from my friend's garden. Place
some decorations further into the
tree branches to give depth.
+ Use layers when dressing your
table. Chargers, plates and napkins
- and add a repeat decorative
element like sprigs of holly and
a holly motif for standout appeal.

Peculiar
PRESENTS
If you've ever received a bizarre gift, you're in good
company, says author Nina Stibbe
Oh, you shouldn't have. No
really, you shouldn't have../
Finding out what presents
your family and friends
received is part of the fun of
Christmas; the perfect, the dull and,
best of all, the dismal fail. My 'add-
on' gifts of food bag sealing clips,
allegedly for the third year running,
made me the butt of many jokes. An
error I rode out by saying, 'Yeah but
you can never have too many Clip-its!'.
A common cause of 'wrong gifts'
can result from wish fulfilment, as
happened when my siblings and
I bought our mother a portable
picnic table. When I saw the look
of bewilderment on her face I realised
we'd slipped into a fantasy in which
she was a willing picnicker!
Closely related is the 'improving'
gift, such as when my sister gave
me colour-coded chopping boards
designed to prevent contamination
in the kitchen. Yet the biggest
misfires are often the most well
meant. Take the fluffy polar bear
onesie my daughter bought me
one year. She was so proud of her gift
that I wore it as much as I could, even
though it gave me shocks and a rash.
Recently, I had my sister on the
phone; would I mind holding off on
Clip-its this year? It seems that she
had found a novelty carrot-shaped
version online, and accidentally
ordered in bulk. They arrived from
Japan with such hefty import duty
they're going to be everyone's main
present. 'But they are useful,' she
added, 'and you can never have
too many Clip-its.' I feel vindicated.
4* Nina Stibbe's
latest book, Went
to London, Took the
Dog: A Diary (£16.99,
HB, Picador), is out
on 2 November.
CRAIG REVEL
L	HORWOOD,
CHOREOGRAPHER,
ACTOR AND
J ~ PRESENTER
One Christmas, my
friend from Australia sent me a tea towel
with a picture of a bird on it - and I had to
pay £20 import tax for it! It was obviously
special to them, but not so much to me!
+ Craig is starring in
the UK tour of Annie;
anniethemusicaltour.uk
festive fun
LUCY PORTER,
COMEDIAN
In 1992, my
mum's friend
Margaret gave
me a Thighmaster
for Christmas.
I was disappointed, but not surprised.
Margaret was a devout Catholic with
traditional values - and she worshipped
fitness guru Rosemary Conley.
I was aware of the Thighmaster
- two bits of cushioned metal with
a hinge - marketed to women as a way
to eradicate lumps and bumps in the
upper leg area. When I unwrapped it,
I was faced with a split-second decision;
I could either tell her I hated it,
or embrace the gift and reject
my feminist principles.
My mama didn't raise no fool,
but she didn't raise a spoilt brat
either. I tore the device out of
its box and said, 'Oh Margaret!
Thank you so much. This is
amazing!' Then I started pressing
it between my arms and chest,
saying, 'This will help me get
really muscular biceps and
triceps.' I felt like I'd made
my point.
4* Fingers on Buzzers by Jenny
Ryan and Lucy Porter (£14.99,
HB, John Blake) is out now.
p
it

8»
ц
GILL SIMS, AUTHOR
Walking through
Edinburgh in my л
first term at university
with my new
boyfriend, we saw
some pink pigeons.
I was most taken with them (at a distance)
and remarked so. 'We have some at
home,' he said. 'You can bring me one
back,' I laughed, as a throwaway remark.
I had forgotten about this conversation,
until term started again and my boyfriend
presented me with a box full of holes. Yep,
inside was a pink pigeon. 'I brought it on
the train from Wales,' he told me proudly.
I was horrified. In the end, my friend
and my boyfriend had to release the
(fortunately homing) pigeon. Why
couldn't he have just bought me a book?
+ Why Mummy Drinks at Christmas
by Gill Sims (£16.99, HB, HarperCollins)
is out on 26 October.
 a spatula that |
played Christmas songs. I was like,
'You bought me a spatula - why?' I
Then there's the fact it only plays
Christmas songs so, at any other time
of the year, I can't use it I think she was
just going through a phase circling
things in the catalogue. I didn't have
the heart to throw it away but I've never
used it. Maybe I'll whip it out this year!
TOM
CHAMBERS,
ACTOR
When I was in my 1
mid-20s, my auntie knew
I enjoyed two types
of drinks: craft ales and
peanut butter milkshakes.
In her wisdom, instead of ale, she gave me
12 industrial jars of peanut butter to make
my own shakes! It took me so long to finish
them, it put me off them altogether!
к + Tom stars in Elf The Musical at the
Dominion Theatre, London from
15 November; elflondon. A
JOSS STONE.
year, my younger
brother Harry gave my dad edible
underwear for Christmas, clearly
not understanding the purpose.
All the adults laughed and the kids
looked wholeheartedly confused!
4* Joss has co-written the music and
lyrics for The Time Traveller's Wife:
The Musical at the Apollo Theatre,
London; timetravellerswife.com
к
SOPHIE
KINSELLA,
AUTHOR	1
My children used
to love wrapping up,
so much so that one
Christmas the youngest two, aged then
six and four, wrapped up random objects and
gave them as 'presents'. I received a half-used
roll of Sellotape, an old CD and a moth
Ltrap. Needless to say, I exclaimed
in delight over each of them. A
•T Sophie's latest novel, The
. Burnout (£22, HB, Bantam),
is out now.
к
JACQUELINE
WILSON,
CHILDREN'S
AUTHOR
It was the
Christmas
I'd just turned
14.1 hoped Mum would give me
money for clothes -1 longed for
a cool black baggy sweater, black
trousers and black pointy boots.
Instead, she bought me a bright
turquoise fake fur cape. I just about
died. But I didn't want to hurt
her feelings, so I wore it all winter,
even though I got called Batgirl,
Swimming Pool and other less
wholesome alternatives.
4е The Best Sleepover in the World
by Jacqueline Wilson (£14.99, HB,
Puffin) is out now. *
к
KAREN
SWAN, AUTHOR
A few years ago,
a memo must have 1
gone around my family
because - as a former
fashion editor and lover
of Prada - that year
I got a blender and food processor from my
mother and mother-in-law. When my husband
presented me with a food vacuum-packer,
I almost had a tantrum, only to be given
к one last gift, a necklace I had coveted, j
4- Christmas By Candlelight by
Karen Swan (£8.99, PB, Pan
Macmillan) is out now.
manandhomt.com 47
|_теш irialmU * *
‘Regret is a complete
WASTE OF
. ENERGY1
Broadcaster and novelist Judy Finnigan, 75, lives
in North London with husband Richard Madeley, 67
What are you like in the morning?
Slow and sleepy. I'm not a natural early
riser. I've always hated mornings. When
I was doing This Morning and having to
be up at 6am, it was not easy. Now I'm
back to a much more relaxed schedule.
What's your worst habit?
My husband will probably say that I'm not
tidy but that's because he is compulsively
tidy. I am quite untidy and he can't stand
anything - even a book or a cup - on a
table, it has to be tidied up straight away.
If you were at home alone, what
would you do?
I'd read. I read all the time, either in the
garden if the weather is fine or in our TV
room or in bed. It's my favourite thing.
I do it both for work with the book club
and as a hobby.
Who or what makes you happy?
My family. My children and now my
grandchildren are the most important
things in the world to me. When we're all
together it's absolutely my happiest time.
What scares you the most in life?
Anything happening to any of my kids.
The idea of a serious illness or an accident
happening to one of your children is
worse than the idea of it happening to
yourself. That's what scares me the most.
48 womanandhomt.com
Do you have any regrets?
I don't think so. Life is a long process of
making decisions, isn't it? You have to
make decisions about everything and
once you've made them, then regret
is just not worth it. It's just a complete
waste of energy. I mean, you make the
decisions, you make them as well as you
can and you live with them.
What are the best and worst things
about getting older?
I think that you are able to put things into
perspective when you're older, you have
fewer practical worries about your job
or money. When you get to my stage of
life, most of that's resolved. But the worst
thing about ageing is that you do not
have as much time ahead of you. It's just
starting to hit me, you can see the horizon
coming closer and closer.
Did you have a plan B?
No, I've never had a plan В because
I never had a plan A. I started working
©WCMIRE ©UliSTlONS
Favourite cake? Fruit cake.
Hobby of choice? Reading.
Favourite colour? Blue.
Favourite holiday? I he hills of the
in television. I did English and drama at
university, and I was keen on theatre so
I thought I'd work in drama but I was pulled
towards current affairs and it just went
from there. I've been incredibly lucky. My
only plan was to have a big family.
What's the most embarrassing thing
you've ever done?
That has to be that awful time when my
dress fell down at the National Television
Awards. In the end the only thing
you can do is see it as funny but it was
embarrassment on a global scale.
What's something that people might
not know about you?
I hate talking on the phone. In my family I
am known as phone phobic. I love writing
long letters or messages but I'm just not
good on the phone. It makes me freeze.
+ Roseland by Judy Finnigan (£20,
HB, eBook and audio, Sphere) is out
on 9 November.
£
I
South of France near Nice.
Nickname? At school they called
me 'Squeaky' because I had a high-
pitched voice.
I thought I'd
zvorh iu drama
but I was pulled
towards current
affairs. li e been
incredibly /иску
1ПЮЫПЮ?
Oh, how
I things have
' changed
From wartime treats to reindeer food, one
family looks back over Christmases past
Grandmother Valerie
Edwards, 82, lives
in Birchington, Kent.
She is mother to Gayle
(and Louise and Paul).
Mother Gayle
Broadbridge, 59, lives
in Minster, Kent with
husband, Gary. She
is mum to Sophie.
Daughter Sophie
Smalinsky, 37, lives
in Margate, Kent with
her children, Joshua,
16, Arthur, 11, and
Ivy-Rose, three.
'Our (hristmas
angel mis made
from an empty
loo roll tube
(йп/<А ( hrist maxes ffvuwg «Р
uviv и bigjamify affair
^ah^hadhersiblmgy
(ind cousins around her
J That are your earliest
memories qf( hrislmas?
Valerie My memories of the late war
years are vivid. My father was away in the
army, and we stayed with
my grandparents, aunt and
cousins. I remember three
of us tucked up in a double
bed, too excited to sleep.
We'd hang our stockings
and there was always fruit,
a clockwork toy and a book.
There was no Christmas
tree. For lunch, we'd eat a chicken that
had been reared in the garden.
Gayle My mum made everything fun.
We'd spend hours
crafting paper chains.
For a long time, we
didn't have a tree.
When we did get one,
our tree topper was a
Christmas angel made
out of an empty loo roll
tube. For lunch we'd
have capon, which was
cheaper than turkey.
Sophie Christmases
were hosted by Nanny
with loads of relatives.
It was happy chaos!
II Irnl livre
your 'll Iivalsf
Valerie We didn't have a TV - we'd
listen to the King's speech on the radio.
Gayle When we were young, Mum
rented a TV - black
and white, then
eventually colour, and
we'd watch Morecambe
and Wise or the Top
of the Pops Christmas
Spedal. Nowadays
it's likely to be Strictly.
Sophie When I was younger we'd watch
The Vicar of Dibley Christmas Special
but now we don't really watch much TV.
If /ml was your
farourile present?
Valerie A neighbour used to make
crackers and my gran would put sweets
inside. Sometimes we would be sent
chocolate from family in America, which
would be doled out square by square.
Gayle Mum gave me and my sister dolls
the Christmas she had our brother so
we'd all have a baby to cuddle that year.
Sophie A Barbie house with a swimming
pool and a diving board. Last year my
children had virtual reality headsets.
50 womanendhomt.com
II lutl hind gf( hrislmas
cool; arc von?
11 ha I s your fai 'ourile
/'(•slice song?
Valerie When a Child is Born
by Johnny Mathis.
Gayle Bing Crosby singing
White Christmas.
Sophie I love traditional Christmas
carols, Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody
and Band Aid's Do They Know
It's Christmas.
Ноге have games changed?
Valerie We'd play charades when
I was a child and Twister later on.
Gayle When I hosted, we'd play
board games like Trivial Pursuit.
Sophie A few years ago it was Pie Face, I
which involved Russian roulette with t
squirty cream, but everyone's happy
playing charades or the Post-it game.
Hhich Iradilions
mean I he most I о you?
Valerie When my children were young,
I started the tradition of ringing a bell
as I crept into their bedroom with their
Valerie I used recipes passed down
from my gran and my mother. Then,
when Gayle was in her teens, we clipped
recipes from magazines -1 used plenty
stockings in the hope they'd think it was
Santa's sleigh bells. Gayle continued that.
Gayle I loved watching Sophie, and now
my grandchildren, put out mince pies
H ha/ does ( hrislmas
mean Io you?
Valerie Children make Christmas special
from magazines like woman&home!
Gayle I watch cookery programmes with
chefs like Jamie Oliver for inspiration.
Although I'm a vegetarian, I'll serve up
traditional fare for the family. I alternate
with Sophie, and we'll sit up on Christmas
Eve prepping the veg and might have
a drink. Mum still loves a snowball, which
takes me back to Christmases past,
whereas I prefer a glass of champagne
and Sophie likes a prosecco.
Sophie I love cooking - everything is
homemade and I keep it traditional.
I've adapted an old Christmas pudding
recipe, Mummy's Christmas Pud, which
I will hand down to my kids. I do Nigella's
gammon in Coke on Christmas Eve,
and we listen to carols and classics
while we prep the Christmas lunch.
for Father Christmas and carrots for the
reindeer. Now, of course, they've upped
it a notch with sachets of reindeer food
scattered on the lawn. I used to read
The Night Before Christmas to Sophie
on Christmas Eve - and now I read
it with my grandchildren.
Sophie Stir-up Sunday, when we get
the Christmas pudding prepped. My
kids leave their devices and all pitch in!
-1 become one of them, listening out
for Father Christmas. Last year, I changed
into an elf outfit to surprise everyone.
You have to work harder to find the
magic, but it can still be done. This year,
my daughter and granddaughter have
arranged for us to go away for Christmas
in this gorgeous old farmhouse. I can't
wait to sit in front of a roaring fire,
watching my great-grandchildren open
their presents. I really hope it snows!
Gayle Christmas means family time
to me - always has, always will. We're
looking forward to fulfilling one of
Mum's dreams this year.
Sophie Having lost my daughter Nelly
at birth in 2015, I'm aware of the fragility
of life. Christmas creates the opportunity
to give thanks for those close to you.
womanandhomt.com 51
TO W^H Feel Good You
1 YEAR FOR =£21.99
an issue
FeelGQPd
жДЛ
/«r
Good You
III li 'I H	—ftsss
iux)st "	,.«=^
«ave
carbs?
it hut
<*1г*£яь
r^” •tipplrn
+ 6 issues a year
conveniently home
delivered 4- Pay less than
in the shops - only £3.67
an issue!* 4 Health,
wellbeing, beauty, diet and
mindfulness tips to help
you feel and look your best
(tvtt/c
лоте
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
womanand home.com/B38T
CALL 0330 333 III3 and quote code B38T
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Offer doses 31 October 2Э23 Offer
open to new subscribers only. DirectDebit offer is available to UK subscribers only. * £21.99
payable by annual Direct Debit Please allow upto eight weeks for delivery of your first
subscription issue (up toten weeks overseas). The full subscription rata is for 12mor*hsf6 —
issues) and indudes postage and packaging, fthe magazine ordered changes frequency
per annum, we will honour the number of issues paid for, not the term of the subscription.
For full terms and conditions, visit wwwmagazinesdirect.comAerms. For enquines and
overseas rates please call +44©) 330 3331113. Lines are open Mon-Fn 8 30am toTpmend-
Sat 10am to 3pm UK time or e-mail: help©magazinesdirect.com. Calls to 0330 питЬедимй.
be charged at no more than a national landline call, and may be included in your phone
provider's call bundle.
modern life
’Tis the time for
TASTELESS TAT!
™	4 >
V *• Becky
ВТ. ? A Dickinson
explains
why she'll still be fl
rocking around her
Christmas tree this year
It's time to deck the halls with an
expensive, yet effortlessly elegant,
Scandi-themed Norway spruce.
Or perhaps a glittering Douglas
fir, dressed with carefully selected
Venetian glass baubles and lights.
Real or artificial, Christmas trees have
come a long way since the days of tinsel
and foil angels. These days, it's all about
making a statement with a simple-yet-
striking scheme. Unfortunately, this is one
aspect of adulting I have yet to achieve.
My partner and I inherited our
Christmas tree 17 years ago, when
we moved into our first house. It was
December and I was eight months
pregnant with our first baby, so getting a
tree wasn't high on my list of priorities. But,
as luck would have it, the previous owners
had left an artificial one in the loft, along
with a box of (unanimously horrible)
decorations. Think: purple tinsel, shiny
Santas and lurid baubles. There was even
a clear globe containing a miniature train.
You plugged it into the fairy lights and the
train went round and round, like a goldfish
in a bowl. It was weirdly captivating.
These festive heirlooms weren't a gift -
just unwanted. But hey, one couple's trash
and all that... and voila, our first Christmas
tree! The result was less Ideal Home,
more like a collision between a hedge
and a box of Quality Street, but still.
The next year I vowed to do better. But
I didn't quite get round to it. Or the year
after that. Two more Christmas babies
followed (family planning was never my
strong point), and every year the tree and
all the naff decorations would make a
reappearance, along with more festive tat
- thanks to the stuff the kids would make
at school and nursery.
One year, when I still
thought craft activities were
worth the effort, we made
'stained glass' decorations
using melted boiled sweets.
Whoever came up with that
idea clearly didn't have three
young kids and a dog. Our
attempts looked nothing
like the ones in the book,
but we hung them up anyway. Sadly, the
book forgot to mention that sweets and
fairy lights weren't a good combo, and
our 'stained glass' melted all over the fake
branches. We binned those decorations
but the tree is still sticky to this day.
( hirtree looks
like a hedge
collided with
a box of
Quality Street’
When we finally moved house, I couldn't
bring myself to leave the tree and its
bulging box of accessories behind. Like
a smelly old dog, it had become
part of the family. Every year, I'd
к admire other people's curated
I evergreens, and think, 'Oh,
perhaps we should have one
like that.' But then I'd get out
the box from the loft and the kids
would rummage through with squeals
of 'I remember this one!' and 'this one's
my favourite'. And every year, we'd end
up with something that was less John Lewis
2023 and more Woolworths circa 1985.
Yet going through that box, filled with
echoes of our first Christmas, and all
the stuff the kids have made, is probably
my favourite part of Christmas. As my
children get older, I treasure this 'junk'
even more - a Christmas tree made out
of green pasta, a hand-stitched robin
with stitches the size of rulers, a baby
Jesus made out of lolly sticks (before
my daughter decided aged seven that
she was an atheist).
Once you decide that you just don't
care about taste and decency, you can
ignore all the rules. Tinsel,
baubles, Haribo-coloured
fairy lights, bring it on.
And who says you have
to have a single angel
or a star at the top?
One year we had three
lopsided, wingless angels
vying for position just to
avoid arguments. Another
year, we had a unicorn.
So no, I won't be upgrading it for
something that would look better on
Instagram. Because what my terrible
tree lacks in kerb appeal, it makes
up for in joy and memories. For me, it
embodies the true spirit of Christmas.
womanendhome.com 53
 Seaams
die; ft i n
Come all ye unfaithful: why does the office Christmas partyg
often lead to infidelity? We explore the reasons behind it "
or many of us, December
J means an office party.
You've bought a
gorgeous dress to wear,
treated yourself to a manicure,
and the fizz is flowing freely.
Perhaps there's even a little
flirting. Because isn't having a bit
of fun what workplace shindigs
are all about? Yet things can
easily go too far.
According to research, a
surprising number of us have
cheated on a partner after an
encounter at an office Christmas
party: one survey of 1,000
people found a third of those
questioned admitted to it.
The study, carried out by the
website Illicit Encounters, found
December is the peak time
for starting an affair, with 57%
saying they'd cheated with
a colleague, and 68% blaming
drink for things going too far.
'The Christmas party gives a
workplace fling an extra-exciting
dimension, but remember that
there's going to be long-term
fallout,' says Dee Holmes,
couples counsellor and clinical
services manager for Relate. 'If
it's just a fling, you're going to
be presented with the memory
of it every day at work. And your
job is your livelihood, for both of
you - changing it isn't easy.'
As two women reveal, a festive
fling can cause lasting damage.
THE OFFICE PARTY GATE US
THE PERFECT LAUNCH PALY
Zoe* shares how the Christmas
celebrations at work were the
catalyst to her six-month affair.
After 22 years of marriage and a
recent divorce, I found myself newly
single and, looking back, probably
a little lonely. Perhaps that's why
I started to see one of my colleagues,
Ben*, differently. I was 47; he was 35,
a young dad with a toddler, desperate
for escape from the domestic drudge.
We were working on th^same project
and started having longer and longer
lunches, and then
drinks after work. Soon,
we were getting closer
and closer. The office
Christmas party gave
us the perfect launch
pad for our affair: we
both knew that night
would be it. When he
whispered in my ear
that he'd meet me in 10 minutes
under the bridge, it felt like the most
romantic moment of my life.
We continued the affair for six
months. I guess for him, it was mostly
about the sex, and for me, it was
about having a younger lover who
made me feel alive and hopeful for
a better future. It didn't impact as
seriously on my life; but it definitely
undermined his. Finally, he ended it
7/ was about
haring а lorer
who made me
feel (dire
with me. He'd never confessed to his
wife, and I wonder about the impact
on their family. Do I feel guilty? Not
really: it was his decision as well as
mine to have an affair, and I wasn't
the person cheating on anyone else.
We still work together - we tried
to leave our jobs, but then COVID
came along and we were working
at home anyway - and we both love
our work, so neither wanted to quit.
Because of COVID, we didn't see
one another for three years. There
were no office parties,
and we managed to
avoid being in the office
on the same days. So at
last year's office party
we ended up having a
huge row, out of sight of
our colleagues because
none of them knew
about what happened.
The alcohol fuelled us trading a few
home truths: I feel he abandoned
me; he seems to feel I should have
resisted him because he was married,
which seems a bit weak. Thankfully,
we're not on the same projects any
more, but we see one another in
meetings and there's always a slightly
sour dimension to our relationship.
I'm not sorry we had the affair, but I
am sorry we still work together. »
54 womanandhomt.com

I noticed a female colleague's name pop
up on his phone, and I just knew - he'd
mentioned this woman a lot in the past,
and I knew he thought highly of her.
I challenged him about it, and he admitted
they'd had lots to drink and had sex at the
office party a few weeks earlier. He promised
not to see her again outside of work.
but I knew they would
have opportunities.
For a long time it
played on my mind,
torturing me. She lived
in another city, so when
she was working at head
office, she stayed in a
local hotel, which gave
7 don't know
if hen had
a fling with
anyone else
them chances to be together. Once,
he was out late and she was in town,
so I called her hotel and asked to be
put through to her room. There was
no answer. When she left the company,
I breathed a huge sigh of relief. The truth
is, I don't know whether it continued, or
whether he's ever had a fling with anyone
else. But I know I'll never entirely trust him
again. Five years on, I'm happy I stayed
with him: we love one another, and we're
raising two children together. But what
happened at that Christmas party broke
something that can't be mended.
TIWTATCIOtN
'If you feel you're building towards
an affair, recognise that it's a learning
opportunity for your main relationship:
take it, rather than being dazzled by
the thrill at the office party,' says Dee.
'Address issues in your relationship,
or find a way of having more intimacy
or date nights with your partner.'
TRY THESE TIPS TO
AVOID A FLING
+ If you know you're at risk, don't
even go to the party, or if you do
go, take your partner.
4* Try not to drink too much.
Intersperse alcoholic drinks with water,
don't let others top up your glass and
always make sure you eat before drinking.
4- Get out while the going is good.
Set a time to leave - book a cab, arrange
a lift or set a reminder on your phone.
That way you'll avoid the inevitable
messy end to the celebrations.
Work the room. Make it your mission
to get to know Amy from accounts or
Craig from marketing. By broadening
your circle, you won't just hang around
with the people you work with the most.
WHAT
'Whether you confess to your primary
partner is complicated,' says Dee.
'Sometimes a partner will suspect
anyway. The important thing is to
think about why you're confessing:
if it's in the hope of triggering
positive changes in your relationship
that's one thing; for others, it can
be more about absolving yourself of
the guilt - in which case think about
whether it's fair to your partner
to offload that onto them.' In other
words, it might be better to absorb
the guilt, keep your transgressions
to yourself, and work on improving
your primary relationship.
'If you think your partner has had a
fling, try to remain calm, and talk to
them about it,' continues Dee. 'Look
at the big picture: were you concerned
about your relationship before, or has
this come out of the blue? Think about
counselling: if you're going to stay
together, you both have work to do
on your relationship.'
i L
0
ie
4- For advice and support,
visit relate.org.uk
56 womanendhomt.com
* *
5UI?R.
NATURAL
BRITISH
(91УМВ1Й
♦CANADA
TRAILFINDERS <
THE TRAVEL EXPERTS
DISCOVER THE SPECTACULAR
SPLENDOURS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Morfee Lakes, British Columbia
WEST CANADA WONDERS
British Columbia is where the Pacific Ocean is met with cosmopolitan cities
and towering forest; where soaring snow-capped mountains give way to
icturesque valleys, and where lively urban life blends in beautifully with the
nature that surrounds it.	_ _
020 7368 1506
Tailormade Travel Worldwide
020 7938 0213
First & Business Class Travel
Truly excellent: patient,
friendly, helpful and
a mine of knowledge,
tips and advice."
Prices are per person based on a twin/double share & valid lor selected May departures.
Offers are subject to availability & restrictions may apply. Prices correct at lime of going Io print 28 Sep 23.
BEAUTIFUL BRITISH COLUMBIA
I6 NIGHTS FROM £3,599
Direct flights. 15 days fully inclusive car hire, 13 nights
3* to 4* hotels, 3 nights West Coast Wilderness Lodge incl half
board, a self-guided hike to Skookumchuck Rapids & a scenic cruise
to Princess Louisa & Jarvis Inlets, Kelowna Wine Tasting Tour and
ferry transfers between the mainland and Vancouver Island
Embrace Vancouver's diverse neighbourhoods and exciting restaurant
scene, take in a plethora of outdoor activities in Whistler and enjoy
spectacular hiking opportunities in Sun Peaks.
• West Coast Wilderness Lodge
• Whistler • Sun Peaks • Okanagan Valley
Saving over £300 per couple
I6 NIGHTS FROM £l ,929
Direct flights, 2 nights Air Vancouver hotel, 14 nights
motorhome hire (that sleeps up to 5 adults) ind 2,300km,
Ultimate Rockies Explorer Ticket incl the Banff Gondola,
Banff Lake Cruise, Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure
& Glacier Skywalk and Whistler Bear Viewing Tour
Marvel at the towering Rocky Mountains, admire glistening
lakes and wanderer around stunning alpine vistas, all
with the flexibility to stop off wherever you wish.
• Wells Gray Provincial Park
• Whistler • Vancouver • Banff • Jasper
Saving over £250 per couple
ALL YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS TAKEN CARE OF IN ONE PLACE
reader offer
SAVE 25% on festive
flowers at Bunches
Why not bring seasonal joy to a loved one?
A s we embrace the spirit
W	of the upcoming festive
W season and are spending
Л. more time indoors, it's
the perfect time to deliver a dose
of great joy to someone special,
whether that be to celebrate
Christmas itself, a family birthday
or to simply let a friend know you're
thinking of them. A gorgeous
bouquet will help you to mark the
occasion, so send fabulous flowers
to deliver your sentiments.
Bunches has been in the business of
delivering happiness for over 30 years,
sending beautiful bouquets, long-lasting
houseplants and gourmet gift hampers
all over the UK. They are committed
to making a difference to the world we
live in, as well as the people in it - being
there for you in life's most meaningful
moments. Their commitment to
becoming a plastic-free, more sustainable
business makes them the ideal choice
for sending gifts this festive season.
Treat yourself or send a wonderful
bouquet and save 25% at this well-loved
family business with this exclusive
woman&home discount.
HOWTO REDEEM
To save 25%, simply enter
code WHDEC23 when
you checkout online at
bunches.co.uk/womanhome or call
01623 750343 and quote WHDEC23
Qpbunches
TERMS & CONDITIONS 25% discount is valid from
26 October until 15 December 2023. Offer not valid
on subscription gifts or hampers. Only one promotional
code per order. Bouquet shown is called Christmas
Indulgence and is subject to availability. UK only.
58 womanendhome.com
Our relationships^
expert Anna 1
Richardson will
help solve your J
problems

1SK.1XX1
agony aunt
that seems daunting to her, then that's
something to be celebrated, and will
cement her resilience. Finally, your friend
would benefit from starting to do some
daily relaxation techniques, including
COVID-19 updates on the nightly news,
checking the death rate and the latest
rules and regulations.
Living in a constant state of high alert
with cortisol and adrenaline flooding our
/	1 I know the pandemic seems
у * like a long time ago, but
e I have a friend who can't seem
to get back to being her pre-COVID
self. She used to be so outgoing and
was always on trips or volunteering.
Now she makes excuses not to go out
and still wears a mask in public. With
Christmas looming, I know our mutual
friends will want her back in the fold
to go and enjoy festive outings. How
do I help her feel normal again?
A I'm glad you've raised this
Ж question because it's close to my
X V heart. My mum, a retired teacher,
could put me to shame pre-pandemic
with her social diary. Every day, her time
was filled with volunteering at the food
ofc
p
II
2i
‘Rebuild her
confidence
and resilience
slop by step’
bank, supporting refugees,
going to her exercise class
or completing her Latin
GCSE. Just listening to her
schedule was exhausting.
Now, though, I've noticed
a reticence to leave the
house, an anxiety that is
growing, and an inner confidence that
has disappeared. So what's going on?
Just mulling your question urged me
to do some research, and I came across
a shocking report from Age UK about
the impact of the pandemic on older
people. Although staying at home may
have protected older people from the
virus, the isolation led to other serious
health conditions, from loss of mobility
and balance, to psychological issues
due to the stress, uncertainty and
loneliness of being 'locked down'
- often completely alone.
You don't mention whether your
friend has a partner or family, but for so
many of us, the effects of the pandemic
were unspeakably profound: isolation,
bereavement, grief, financial worries,
fear - the list goes on. I don't know about
you, but I was constantly tuning in to the
bodies 24/7 had a huge impact. It meant
that as a nation, we were overly anxious.
In 2022, the World Health Organisation
announced a 25% increase in anxiety
and depression globally. For some, this
has turned into an anxiety 'disorder'.
So how do you help your friend be
herself again? The key is to rebuild her
confidence and resilience step by step.
Firstly, prepare your pal for a small
Christmas outing - it could be to
a local festive market, or simply round
to a friend's house for drinks. What's
important is that you allow
her to find little ways to
control the situation, so
that she feels comfortable.
Our brains like certainty,
and human beings
feel safe when the
stresses we're facing
are predictable. Reassure her that you
understand that she may be feeling
nervous, and that you're there to support
her. Suggest car sharing to the social
event, so that she's not alone. If she
wants to wear her mask, then that's fine.
And if she feels uncomfortable once
there, let her know it's fine to leave. The
point is to reassure her that she is safe.
It might help her to rehearse
the situation first - perhaps taking
a few practice trips out, to familiarise
herself with the routine.
Secondly, celebrate the small
wins. It might seem foolish
to you that she fears
being out, but
if she can
overcome
a little
challenge
mindfulness, to manage the physical
symptoms of anxiety as well as keeping
her grounded in the present moment.
There are some fabulous resources
at nhsinform.scot/long-term-effects-of-
covid-19-long-covid or it may be worth
her seeing her doctor.
+ Anna Richardson, journalist and
qualified cognitive hypnotherapist,
presents Naked Education for Channel 4,
and hosts a new advice podcast, It Can't
Just Be Me, to help solve love, sex and life
dilemmas. If you'd like help with a problem,
write to askanna@futurenet.com* or leave
a voice note at itcantjustbeme.co.uk and
mention you're a woman&home reader.
I Mmia rig/u :eilh her imirh loml
For Victoria Hislop, her mother's festive spirit is the
best gift she could have hoped for
A t Christmas, more
W than any other
W time of year, most
А .Ж. of what we do
as a family is dictated by
enduring traditions passed
down from a previous age.
There is a lovely sense of
continuity if they are carried
out, year on year.
Many of our Christmas habits
were adopted from my mother
and grandmother, and how
many generations they go back,
I couldn't say. Tree lights in white
only (never coloured), game
casserole (made by my mother)
on Christmas Eve, carols from
King's College Cambridge
on the radio (always), putting
a carrot and a glass of
sherry for Santa by the fire
before bedtime, stockings
for everyone, regardless of
age, pausing lunch to watch
the monarch on TV (Queen
60 womanendhomt.com
' *
family traditions
♦
Elizabeth, of course, who was exactly the
same age as my mother Mary) and so on.
In my family, all our Christmas
traditions came from my mother's side.
My parents divorced 45 years ago,
and my father died in 2006, meaning
my mother was the central figure
at Christmas for the first 60 years of
my life - and, for the first 25, so was my
grandmother. The latter would always be
sitting quietly in the corner, with her best
pearls on, and Cherry Red lipstick by
Yardley on her lips (her gift from myself
and my sister every year). These days
were the highlight of our year, full of food
I
2
I
m
z
i
and laughter, and spent with my aunt and
uncle and members of older generations.
keeping the memories
My mother moved to a residential home
in 2018, and was a victim of COVID. In the
space of a week, many of the residents
passed away. Perhaps it's best not to
get sidetracked by the circumstances,
but she was 92, and I need to believe
she was 'ready' in her own way.
The first Christmas without her felt
very strange. Up until she moved to
the nursing home, she more or less did
all the Christmas cooking for our family,
which we hosted from mine and my
husband Ian's home each year. The
only thing I helped her with was lifting
the turkey, as it was heavy! Not only was
she a palpable absence after her death,
but I found myself almost mirroring
her actions. In doing so, I was keeping
memories and habits alive. Rather
than mournful, it felt positive. It was
a time appropriately full of humour,
mostly at my expense, as the family
finally realised who had been doing most
of the work all these past years. I found
myself grumpily peeling the veg on my
own, fretting over whether the turkey
was cooked or not, burning the gravy
and serving up brandy butter scraped
from a tub, rather than homemade.
The real giveaway was that our children
(Will and Emily, now in their late 20s) had
never tasted anything but homemade
Christmas cake, lovingly baked by my
mother in early autumn and regularly
dosed with brandy over many weeks.
The dry, shop-bought version did
not match up. Now in my 60s, I have to
acknowledge that I am now at the top of
the generational tree and
will attempt one myself.
The three days of
Christmas celebration
were and are the only
ones of the year with
a fixed routine and
schedule, unrecognisably
different from the pattern
in which we live the rest
of our lives. In the last few
decades, one of the great
joys of this was knowing
that my children and I had 'Grandma'
all to ourselves, with her dry, sometimes
‘She made sure
that none of us
look ourselves
too seriously'
wicked, humour, her intelligence and her
love of all games.
On the plaque over Mum's woodland
grave are the words: 'Gloriously elegant
and witty', though she
was much else besides.
She hated posing to
have her photo taken, but
there are a few that show
her very well dressed
with her paper crown
from a cracker, worn
throughout the afternoon
and evening, or a silly Christmas pudding
hat on her head. She made sure that
none of us took ourselves too seriously.
On the other hand, she'd always wear
something glamorous for the day, and
I maintain that tradition for myself. No
jeans or black Lycra on 25 December.
There is always a wonderful lull after
Christmas lunch, when the washing-up
is done and everyone goes to flake out
in the living room. This is not to sleep or
watch TV, but to browse through books
that we have given each other. This is
one of my favourite moments, a precious
hour of silence with just the sound
of turning pages. I always gave Mum
the latest gory crime novel (an unlikely
passion of hers), and she would begin her
new Patricia Cornwell or Karin Slaughter
and get hooked. The book browse
still happens, and it reminds me of her.
I have a sense that my mother is still
the spirit of our Christmas. Not in a
ghostly way, but in a vibrant, happy
one. She's the person we have to thank
for so many of the things we did - and
do-together.
In the first few months after we lost
her, all I could think of was what she
,l(r Christmaspuddi^/un
had been like at the end. But within nine
months (around early December), as time
moved forwards, my memories moved
backwards and I had only memories
of her in her earlier, younger days. Even
at 90, she had still been
gorgeous. A woman who
turned heads with her
beauty and elegance
returned to the front of my
mind. Her wicked one-liners
and ripostes are what I think
of, her jewel-coloured
clothes, her big smile,
and her quick-wittedness. I have been
so happy to find that these are the true,
enduring memories.
Among other presents, I always gave
my mother a gift set of LAir du Temps by
Nina Ricci, and I admit to having paused
at its counter when I went Christmas
shopping, in order to spray myself
with her favourite perfume and bring
back happy thoughts of her.
Familiar with a twist
Earlier this year, we undertook a revamp
of our living room. I didn't realise the
significance of it at the time. But this
Christmas, I can see it clearly when I sit
in a particular armchair - the one that
my mother always sat in. The chair is still
there, but newly reupholstered in a new
fabric (one that my mother would have
loved, modern and less chintzy-she
hated floral patterns). This seems like
a good metaphor for our forthcoming
Christmas. Everything is a little different.
But underneath, exactly the same.
+ Victoria Hislop's new novel, The
Figurine (£25, Headline Review), is out
now in hardback, audiobook and eBook.
womanandhomt.com 61
7 J e Hi 'ed
THE ПОПИЛ
What's it like to swap homes for Christmas?
Kate McAllister and Hazel Barton found out - and
loved their very different experiences
'W' 'W' ye've all dreamt of
Ж Ж Christmas tucked away
Ж Ж in a cosy cottage, a la
V V Cameron Diaz in The
Holiday, or breaking with tradition
and heading for a winter sunspot.
In these cash-strapped times, house-
swapping is a great, low-cost way to
create magical holiday memories that
relies on trust, sharing and goodwill.
Earlier this year, HomeExchange,
which lists properties across 187
countries, said the number of
exchanges finalised per day in the UK
is up 181% compared to the previous
year. And while real-life home swaps
may not offer Jude Law on your
doorstep, there are other attractions
to switching homes over the festive
period, as these two women attest.
The McAllisters
Former air traffic controller Kate,
54, runs themeadowglamping.co.uk.
Her husband Pete, 52, is an air
traffic controller. Their children are
Archie, 15, and Max, 13. Their home,
Meadowbrook, near Stockbridge,
Hampshire, dates back to 1580.
We love our home at Christmas -
roaring fires, carols on Christmas Eve,
turkey with all the trimmings, and our
loved ones around us. But when Hazel
contacted us in September last year
suggesting a Christmas exchange
to Costa Rica, we knew it would be an
incredible experience.
We've house-swapped
many times in the past - my
husband had reservations at
first but our first one was so
good, we've now done lots.
When we arrived at the
Bartons' gorgeous villa on
22 December, we were blown
away. It's a stunning, open-plan
mountainside home, with huge glass
doors opening onto an infinity pool and
incredible views to white sand beaches.
Hazel had arranged a tree - fake
because there are no real ones in
(liristinas
Day stal led
with an
early sidin'
The Bartons
Hazel, 54, was born in the UK but
now lives with her IT executive
husband Hugh, 61, and four children,
in Austin, Texas. For three years, Costa
Rica was home. Their modern villa,
Villa Palmera, sleeps eight, and boasts
an infinity pool and ocean views.
WORDS: HELEN RENSHAW. MAIN PHOTO: ALAMY
Costa Rica - a lovely gesture.
Christmas Eve was spent making a
simple meal and playing cards by the
pool. At home, I would have been peeling
spuds and stressing about the
slog ahead. I love hosting, but
this time the boys saw their
mum relaxed and having fun.
Christmas Day started with
an early swim, a walk through
the forest, brunch and opening
small gifts by the pool. In
the evening, we went to a
restaurant on the beach, and sat under
twinkling fairy lights with our feet in
the sand, monkeys in the trees above
and cocktails in our hands. Magical!
Over the holiday we took in a
coffee-making tour, jumping into
In 2022, we decided to spend
Christmas in the UK because my parents
were too elderly to travel, and two of our
daughters are working and studying there.
We didn't want to stay in a hotel - we
wanted somewhere that felt like a home.
The McAllisters' place stood out
on the HomeExchange website
straight away. It was big enough to
accommodate nine, close enough to my
parents, and felt like a set for the perfect
British Christmas.
Arriving at the
house, we were
greeted by a
stunning real
Christmas tree,
decorations, and
a hamper packed
with mince pies
and local produce.
In the words of
my eldest daughter
Tara's boyfriend,
alternative Christmas
waterfalls, slathering
ourselves in mud at hot
springs, and meeting
some adorable sloths.
But the highlight was
a 1,000ft-high zip line
through the forest!
We loved our
alternative Christmas and
had such a fabulous time
that we're going to do
a Christmas home swap
somewhere new every
other year. We've agreed an exchange to
Vietnam for 2024 and can't wait. We would
recommend house-swapping to anyone.
+ Meadowbrook sleeps 10 in the winter
and 16 in summer, when glamping is
available; themeadowglamping.co.uk
INSPIRED?
Here are some options if you're
thinking about home-swapping:
+ The McAllisters and the Bartons
swapped homes through the
HomeExchange website, which
charges around £180 a year;
homeexchange.com
+ Home Base Holidays has several
membership options, including a free
two-week trial, a six-month (£35)
L or one-year membership (£49); J
homebase-hols.com
Dustin, who was in the UK for the first
time, everything was 'AWESOME!'.
The local villages were charming and
we got into the festive mood walking
through twinkling lights at the Sir Harold
Hillier Gardens and eating at a country pub.
We opened our stockings first thing
on Christmas Day, drinking Buck's Fizz.
After that, Hugh set the fires, while I laid
out our Christmas breakfast.
One of the beauties of the McAllisters'
home is that it has two living rooms,
so my parents could escape noisy
grandkids and watch the King's
Christmas speech in peace. And our
turkey with all the trimmings lunch could
have been the scene of a medieval feast.
My dad sadly died five months
after the house swap, and it means so
much to have the memory of that last
wonderful family Christmas together.
womanandhomt.com 63
We know that a great
bottle of wine can make
any occasion special,
so we're thrilled to
introduce the woman&home Wine
Club, a quarterly subscription of
12 outstanding quality wines, each
case offering incredible value.
We've partnered with Naked Wines,
who support independent winemakers
in creating truly exceptional and
award-winning wines. Together, our
Wine Club features exclusive bottles
you won't find on the high street, all
at excellent prices. In each case, you'll
discover delicious new favourites with
a story behind every bottle.
64 womanandhome.com
//I1. ITS 1XSIDE?
Our carefully curated first case will
cover all your key festive moments.
It includes a sparkling Cremant to kick
off the day while opening presents on
Christmas morning. Stefano di Blasi's
rich and robust Montepulciano, and
the sublime French white from award-
winning British winemaker Katie Jones
will make the perfect accompaniments
to your Christmas lunch. While you can
savour Carlos Rodriguez's medal-winning
Rioja on a cosy night in over the winter
months. Plus we know you'll enjoy
trying all the other wines in this specially
selected festive case.
JOIXTIIECIIB
Enjoy 12 bottles for just £65 on
a case worth £173, with no tie-in*.
Go to www.nakedwines.com/
womanandhome or scan the QR code
below to claim your £108 discount.
Share your wines with us
using the hashtag
#womanand homewineclub
woman&tome I® naked
my life in a picture
‘I made
friends
lor life at
7 lie Big,
Breakfast'
Gaby Roslin reflects
on her career-defining job and what
it meant to her - and the viewers
I vividly remember the day my
mum told me there was going
to be a new breakfast show. She
read about it in the newspaper
and casually mentioned it. I didn't
think anything more of it, until my
agent called me to go for a screen
test. All she said was, it's a new
breakfast show set in a house. I had
been working on a children's show
called Motor-mouth, which I loved.
It was live and spontaneous. I wanted
more of that, but every day.
I had a number of screen tests for
The Big Breakfast. My first one was with
this guy called Chris Evans. I fell for Chris
instantly, we just got on. He had already
been signed to the show and I knew
I wanted to work with him. When they
finally told me I had the job, I wasn't
allowed to tell anyone. I remember
walking out of the office to my car
and screaming, before driving straight
round to my parents and bursting into
tears with excitement
It was 28 September 1992 when the
first episode went live. I was so ready for
a new adventure. Right from the start,
there were no scripts, just key notes -
who we'd be chatting to, what we might
be chatting about and when the news
Tfell lor
Chris
instantly'
would be - but apart from that, it was
impulsive, chaotic and so much fun.
When we had our Family of the Week
in, I suggested they get married live
on air. Three days later we had our first
live wedding. That's the joy of a show
like The Big Breakfast -you just went
with things.
Chris and I were very lucky.
From the moment we met,
we knew it was going to work.
Everyone talks about chemistry;
we didn't have to try, we each
knew when the other was going
to speak and what the other one was
thinking. We are still great friends now.
We love each other dearly. It's said
having good friends makes you better
at your job and I can believe that.
I was star-struck working alongside
the likes of Paula Yates and Bob Geldof.
Bob co-owned the production company
that made the show. As a couple, Paula
and Bob were huge at the time. It just
couldn't have been further away from
my life. I was a children's TV presenter,
who was suddenly working with the
most rock 'n' roll couple on the planet.
The whole team just worked. Chris and
I would come in every day and say, 'Is this
not the best job in the world?' There
were no airs and graces - no dressing
rooms, just a curtain to get changed
behind - and we weren't driven to work.
It wasn't until a few weeks later, when our
boss said we'd just hit two million viewers,
that we realised how successful it was.
We wanted the viewers to feel as much
part of the party as we were. So many
people tell me even now how much
the show brightened up their mornings.
It wasn't just news, news, news, the
programme really did bring
something different
It was sad when Chris left,
and then when I left, but
I still see Chris all the time,
and I recently had lunch with
one of the editors. The Big
Breakfast launched a lot of careers.
TV feels too tame these days, but I still
love it. Like anything, it's ever evolving
and you have to go along with the way
things are. I wanted to be a TV presenter
from the age of three because I wanted
to make people happy - and I hope
I'm still doing that now - but from what
people tell me, we certainly achieved
that with The Big Breakfast. People
have such joyful memories of watching
the show - and just how
wonderful is that!
+ Spread the Joy by
Gaby Roslin (£18.99, HB,
HarperCollins) is out now.
womanandhomt.com 65
/ 4/ wavs to
7^spread _
FESTIVE'
CI IEERI
It's the season of goodwill, so add some sparkle with these
ideas for outings, treats and acts of kindness
lirmvsc a
( hrislmas market
With up to 300 crafted chalets
and market stalls selling everything
from mulled wine to vegan pigs in
blankets, continental-style Christmas
markets are a top festive destination
in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Chester,
Manchester, York, Newcastle,
Birmingham, Nottingham, Bath,
Winchester, Kingston upon Thames
and London's South Bank,
among others.
2
liny local. buy organic
Support farmers' markets selling
locally sourced produce. Foods are
likely to be organic and, according to
the Soil Association, organic farms
support 50% more bees, insects,
animals and plants than others.
Get creative with a luxury make-your-
own wreath kit. Highgate Florist and
Flower School offers one that includes
moss, home-grown foliage and
decorations, so you can add a
personal festive flourish to welcome
visitors. Kits can be ordered
now and will be posted out to you
at the end of November.
£70, highgateflorist.co.uk
4
Plant a tree
November is the best time to plant a
tree, establishing root growth over the
winter. You'll be providing food and
a habitat for animals and birdlife. The
Woodland Trust advises sourcing a tree
grown in the UK, to avoid introducing
disease. Or dedicate a tree, bench or
an area of woodland as a festive gift,
at woodlandtrust.org.uk, from £20.
5
Lend a helping hand
It's been a tough year for many people.
Help if you can, by picking up extra
items when shopping, for donation
points at supermarkets or food banks.
The Salvation Army has a Christmas
gift appeal for toys and games, with an
Amazon Wish List that allows you to
deliver items directly to the charity, or
drop off new, unwrapped items at your
nearest centre. Or donate a cosy coat
you don't need to WrapUp London,
which distributes coats to vulnerable
people. If you're able to volunteer on
Christmas Day itself, consider helping
at Rotary Christmas lunches for
elderly people who would otherwise
be alone. See: salvationarmy.org.uk;
handsonlondon.org.uk; rotarygbi.org
66 womanandhomt.com
seasonal joy
Hare a nigh I он/
Be enchanted by song and dance.
The Royal Ballet's production of
The Nutcracker, with Tchaikovsky's
irresistible score, dazzling costumes
and beautiful sets, is on from
6 December at the Royal Opera
House, and live in cinemas nationwide
on 12 December. Or indulge your
Strictly obsession with Janette
Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec's show,
Dancing in a Winter Wonderland,
touring from 21 November.
Kids' classic Shrek is on a stage tour,
or you can shed a tear at A Christmas
Carol, from 11 November at
The Old Vic. See: roh.org.uk;
dancinginawinterwonderland.com;
shrekuktour.com; oldvictheatre.com
8
Treat yourse//
Take some time for you. Indulge in a
pre-Christmas spa day with a friend,
or squeeze in a mani-pedi to look and
feel your best on the big day.
Illuminating the winter darkness with
light trails and projections has become
a festive tradition. Children will enjoy
Blenheim Palace's Sleeping Beauty-
themed event, with Kew Gardens, the
Wimpole Estate and RHS gardens also
set to glow. See: blenheimpalace.com;
kew.org; christmasatwimpole.
seetickets.com; rhs.org.uk
11
Paws/dr /hough!
If humans need help, so do animals.
Buy Christmas cards from Street Vet,
which treats pets whose owners are
homeless, knit a jumper for a dog at
Many Tears Animal Rescue or make tree
decs for The Donkey Sanctuary. See:
streetvet.co.uk; manytearsrescue.org;
thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk
Mak e memories
The best gift for children or
grandchildren is your undivided
attention, so set aside time to make
festive food and crafty decorations
with them. You'll find great ideas
on goodto.com, including tasty
gingerbread tree decorations. A block
of marzipan and basic food colouring
is all you need to create 'fruit' to
decorate the Christmas cake. Pop on a
Christmas soundtrack while you make,
whether it's traditional carols from
King's College, Cambridge, or Mariah
Carey's All I Want For Christmas is You.
P/ay it for laughs
They might groan when you suggest
silly games, but classics, such as
charades, are guaranteed to get
everyone laughing. Buy kazoos and try
your luck at 'Name That Tune', or dig
out board games, such as Cluedo or
ludo. Plan a treasure hunt, hiding clues
round the house, with chocolate gold
coins as glittering prizes. And indulge
in personalised Christmas tops: try
designs from oakdenedesigns.com
lie an ice queen
What could be better than gliding (or
stumbling) across the ice at an outdoor
rink? Landmarks such as London's
Somerset House form spectacular
backdrops; somersethouse.org.uk
womanendhome.com 67
ZERO
хше GREAT TASTE
*rjj °
NOW ON THE GO
8hloer/J^
AVAILABLE IN 4 x 25OML
A re you ready for Christmas?'
/Ж my hairdresser asks. Is he
Ж having a laugh? With so much
X	Ж. to cram in, I don't believe
anyone is ever truly 'ready'. Obviously,
gargantuan amounts of shopping
must be done. Plus, if you're hosting,
the house must be tidy, gleaming and
beautifully decorated. On
top of all that? Everyone
says, 'We must meet up
before Christmas!'
It makes no sense at all.
Bars and restaurants are
jammed, everyone's drunk,
and some sweaty man in a
suit is trying to lick your ear.
All of which might be endurable-just
about - if you weren't too exhausted to
enjoy the company of friends. Yet still
we persist, cramming in those dates
- 'batching friends', as one pal puts it,
in order to see several in one night.
Normally, spending time with friends
is my favourite thing in the world. I want
to savour and enjoy it over long, wine-
fuelled nights or, better still, a weekend.
I don't want to join the crush in a bar filled
Thisyear.
I’m already
saying
sorry, no'
with inebriated Santas and elves. And
I definitely don't want to be batched.
Why do we persist with this terrible
tradition? We wouldn't call the painters in
a week before Christmas. Yet, at precisely
the busiest time of the year, we attempt
to achieve the impossible and see
everyone we know, face to face.
It's a hangover, I think, from
our younger days, when we
had acres of time to enjoy the
festive build-up. Back then,
we weren't worried about the
logistics of hosting, embroiled
in debates over who'll be
ferrying a cantankerous
relative about. We didn't
feel responsible for project managing
Christmas - our sole 'obligation' was to
drink and have fun.
These days, the run-up to Christmas
isn't like that. Instead, I'm tearing around
a joyless shopping mall, wondering
what the heck a 26-year-old wants in
his stocking. And why he would want a
stocking anyway? Then there's the issue of
sourcing the 'right' kind of tree lights (last
year's were 'retina-searing', according to
my family). Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure
out how many people will be coming to
stay and fretting that our guest pillows
whiff a bit. Should I buy new ones?
'But it's nice to wish each other Happy
Christmas in person,' one friend points
out. Come on - this is 2023. It's not as
if electronic devices don't exist. We're
not even meeting to exchange presents
because we've all trimmed our gift lists.
This year, I'm already saying sorry, no,
I can't meet before Christmas. Let's save
it for those bleak January days when a
night out feels like a treat.
We'll get together to giggle about that
terrible guest who criticised the potatoes
and - in my case last year - stood at the
kitchen door, barking loudly, 'Are you sure
you're managing in here?'
That's how I'd like my friends to see
me. As my normal self and not an
exhausted husk. So, yes, I am up for
festive socialising, but only when the
tinsel and baubles have been packed
away. For me, that's when the fun starts.
4- Fiona's latest novel, The Man I Met
on Holiday (£8.99, PB, Avon) is out now.
womanendhome.com 69
Countdown to
THE BIG 11 tY
Crack this year's Christmas
planning and organising
with this fail-safe guide
from writer Tanya Pearey
K, so there's no need
to panic. Depending
on when, precisely,
you're reading this,
there are less than 60
days until Christmas.
Yes, I'm as horrified as
you. I even downloaded a countdown
app that also ticks off the hours,
minutes and seconds. So there really
is no excuse for not knowing exactly
how long is left until Christmas Day.
Every year, no matter how 'on it'
you think you are, there will be times
during the run-up when we all get
caught out. However, you have it
covered, thanks to this infallible
countdown-to-Christmas planner.
Laie October to early Xoreiaber
a
Book your supermarket delivery slot
Most supermarkets open their delivery
times for Christmas week now. Add a few
bottles of fizz to secure the slot if you
need to, then go back and edit it nearer
the time, when you know exactly what
you need. Click-and-collect slots may not
be available until the end of November,
but make sure you're on it swiftly, as
they'll get booked up soon.
Do a freezer audit What's lurking
in those frosty depths? Can you use it for
Christmas or eat it before the festivities
to make room for your frozen fare?
How about fish fingers and Viennetta
for tonight's supper?
Sign up as a volunteer I lelping at a
food bank, preparing Christmas dinner
for the homeless or answering helpline
calls are great ways to give something
back to your community. Let a charity
know now if you can help over Christmas
when need may be the greatest, or make
a donation to support their work.
Book your travel Visiting relatives? You
can save, on average, a whopping 61%
if you're going by train by booking your
tickets this far in advance, according
to travel website thetrainline.com.
Tickets are released around 12 weeks
before departure, so December
fares are already on sale.
70 womanandhomt.com
festive planning
Mid late
November
Stir-up Sunday This Victorian
tradition - when the Christmas
pudding is made on the last
Sunday before Advent - falls
Ear/у December
on Sunday 26 November this
year. Each member of the family
gives it a stir and makes a wish.
Make your Christmas cake and
homemade mincemeat now too,
to give flavours time to mature.
Set a budget I Don't just pluck a
figure out of the air: look at what
you have to spend and work out
what you need to buy so you can
try to stick to it. Write a list of who
you're buying presents for and
ideas, with a price limit, then
estimate other costs, such
as food, decorations and
entertainment. Start
gift shopping now to
spread time and cost.
Buy advent
calendars It's up
to you whether you
pop a chocolate
one in your trolley
during the weekly
shop or get more
imaginative with
the massive range
available, from
beauty and health to
gin and tea. Or you
can make your own.
My daughter showed me a
TikTok reel where someone
made a book one - 24 numbered
titles, beautifully wrapped and
boxed. I'm hoping that's what's
winging its way to me this year.
Make a Christmas playlist
Perfect for getting the whole
family involved, Spotify has a
'collaborative playlist' feature
where you send a link to others.
No need to feel restricted to
1
Christmas tracks - last year's
most downloaded tune of the
season was Ed Sheeran's Perfect,
which has no link to Christmas.
Order your turkey If you're buying from
somewhere other than a supermarket,
such as a farm supplier, place your order
now. This is also a good time to buy your
Christmas drinks and non-perishable foods,
such as snacks and treats, as part of your
weekly shop, to save you grappling with
the masses later on. Don't forget to pop
a couple of items into the food bank
donation basket, if you can. You should
have acres of space for frozen foods if
you followed the earlier advice and have
spent the last five weeks eating your way
through the contents of your freezer.
Wrap presents as you buy them
But keep a list, so you don't forget
what you've wrapped.
J Plan your final shop This list will include most of
the fresh fruit and veg, but some fresh foods, such as
dairy and meat products, might have a later use-by date
than you think. They can be bought a week before to save
a bun fight at the supermarket on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th.
Offer up help Does an elderly neighbour or relative need
help with shopping or cooking, or fancy a trip to the panto?
Your support or company can be invaluable to some around
this time. Inviting them along to a family Christmas show
or picking up extras on your shop needn't be too taxing
Lfor you, but could mean the world to them.
Deep-dean the house And plan where
all your Christmas visitors will sleep.
Borrow camp beds and inflatable
mattresses if needed.
F
( hrislmas Ere
Prep lunch I’eel the veg, prepare
the stuffing and set the table. A few
well-placed chores now will free up
more time for fun tomorrow.
Final clean A flick of a duster and a
once-over with the vacuum is all you'll
need after your previous deep-clean.
Then it's out with the presents, a mince
pie for Father Christmas, and whatever
Christmas Eve rituals your family enjoys.
Write Christmas cards and messages
Visit postof f ice.co.uk/l ast-posti ng-dates
to check the posting deadlines for the
UK and abroad.
Decorate! Always a massive debate in
our house about when, exactly, the tree
and decorations go up. You'll have your
own thoughts and fights
about this one, but allow
plenty of time to get it
out of storage... and
to buy new tree lights
when you discover
yours no longer work,
having spent five
hours wrestling them
around the tree.
у Top tip:
Plug your
lights in to check
they work as soon
as you unpack
к them. A
Do your Christmas baking Get
ahead with mince pies, a Yule log
or gingerbread shapes for the tree.
Forgotten something? Visit the
supermarket in the days before
Christmas, going early or late in
the day to avoid the busiest times.
Last-minute mop up Presents to
buy or wrap? Chores that slipped
the net? Now's your chance to nail it.
Write a rough timetable It doesn't
have to be military-style, but working
out timing will give you a loose structure.
. hid don'tforget...
to pour yourself a
and enjoy the
Jesticities. Told
yon. yon had
it covered.
womanendhome.com 71
WOMAWHOME
CHRISTMAS LIVE
is back for 2023!
Take a look at what's in store at our festive get-together
Following a hugely successful
event last year, woman&home
Christmas Live is back for
2023, with an even bigger
line-up of festive fashion, beauty,
food and drink. It will be the perfect
way to kick off this special season
with friends.
Taking place at London's eta venues
County Hall on Saturday 18 November
2023, celebrate and relax in this lovely
riverside setting.
The event will feature our Main Stage
with an exclusive celebrity line-up, our
Beauty and Food Stages, as well as
a festive Christmas market in partnership
with Great Taste, a bar and cafe, and
the much anticipated goody bag,
packed with incredible make-up and
skincare products worth up to £200*!
Plus we are delighted to announce
the return of The Beauty Lounge in
partnership with No7. This beauty
wonderland is not to be missed!
For those of you who have tickets,
we hope you will enjoy this wonderful
Christmas event - we'll see you there!
Join on г editorial team and celebrity guests on the Main Stage
Popular broadcaster,
presenter and
bestselling author
FERN BRITTON
will be in
conversation on
our Main Stage,
sharing anecdotes from
Award-winning author
RACHEL JOYCE
will reveal how her
bestselling novel. The
Unlikely Pilgrimage of
Harold Fry, was turned
into a major film, and
discuss her newest novel,
her latest novel. The Good Servant.
Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North.
We are delighted to announce that
No7 will be joining us again, this year
on the Main Stage. No7 will be revealing
the secrets to glamorous looks for the	$
festive season, and recreating some
iconic looks live on stage.
+Visit the website below for our full
line-up of speakers - we are announcing
some surprise guests online only!	?
Find out more at womanandhomechrist mas.com
w&h reader event
PARTNERSHIP
* j
woman&home
18th November
County Hall У
London .s' A
EXCLUSIVELY
FOR Wc?H
® naked!
The
nelkmily Beauty
Lounae
Hosted by No7 and	"У C
hMrbnhiawi*
open to all visitors,
you'll step into a
beauty wonderland,
with wow-worthy moments and dream
gifts to tick off your loved ones' wish lists
- or your own! You will be able to purchase
NEW limited-edition products.
BEAUTY PIE
/ wW & Drink Stage
ENJOY FESTIVE TIPPLES WITH
NAKED WINES
Join Naked Wines to sample the best
wines to enjoy over the festive season,
with a suggestion to cover all bases,
such as reds and whites to pair
with the Christmas lunch,
and something sparkling to
pop open on New Year's
| Eve. We're delighted
I that Naked Wine's wine
director and Master
у of Wine, Ray O'Connor,
will be hosting these
fabulous tasting sessions.
READERS
PLUS!
Capture the
moment in our
festive photo booth in
partnership with Canon.
Have your photo taken
professionally - with
k. one of our special
guests!
s H Are THE
M AGIC OF
-NV
>
Beauty Pie are
offering you a FREE
membership (worth
£10). Shop at their
exclusive members'
prices for a whole
monin mimu get
£10 off your first order. Just scan
the QR code to activate your
membership and get
shopping**!
•Deluxe ticket holder's goody bag value is £200; VIP ticket holder's goody bag value is £100. **Offer subject to minimum spend of £60 (Member's Price). After 30 days, your annual
membership will start. This membership automatically renews. Cancel any time in My Membership. Only one free trial allowed per customer. Offer applies to new customers only and is
subject to a maximum of one redemption per customer. Offer excludes delivery and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer expires 30/01/24; see website for full T&Cs.
EXPLORE
MORE FROM
ТПЕЕГЕХТ
licanty Stage
Beauty Pie founder	Ml «•
and skincare authority
MARCIA KILGORE
will be sharing beauty
philosophies and
tips with award-winning
broadcaster LORRAINE
KELLY CBE.
Monogram candle, £5, next.co.uk
Whale glass, £10,
yvonneellen.com
Candleholder,
£5, dunelm.con
’ Silver knot
headband,
£8, matalan.
к co.uk
THE MIXER’S
MANUAL
Underwear, from £7.50
for the briefs, sizes 8-18,
matalan.co.uk
v Family 1
r pyjamas, ’
from £8,
tesco.co.uk
Still ticking off your
Christinas list? We've
picked presents to .
suit every budget
Hat, £10, tudothim
sainsburys.co.uk
«HOUR
blent
£4.99 for a
set of two,
hm.com
^ISTAf^
£10
&UXDEE
gift guide
By Terry
Opulent Star
Baume de Rose
Lip Care, £16,
byterry.com
Earrings, £12,
Scarf, £12.99, mango.com
j Knitted hot
fc||water bottle,|
|£18, next.co.ul
Shoes, £24,
tudothing.
sainsburys.
co.uk
Sylvanian Families
eindeer family, £23,
thetoyshop.com
Quick & Simple Air Fryer
Cookbook, £15, waitrose.com
and magazinesdirect.com

No7 Men Energise
Wash Bag, £20,
boots.com
Ceramic
eight- cup
cafetiere,
£17.50,
habitat.
dachshund s/q^
Elements Lena sewing basket,
£20, dunelm.com »
ipencer Bear soft toy, £15,
marksandspencer.com
womanandhoma.com 75
Boucleme Curls Redefined Discovery
Set, £42.50, boucleme.co.uk
£35.99,
mango.
Assorted seafood side plates, £49.99
for a set of four, souschef.co.uk
[Skirt, £35.99,
«sizes xs-xl,|
Top, £49.50,
sizes 6-18,
oliverbonas.com
HAYMAN*
Airbrush Flawless
Lip Blur, £27,
charlotte
। tilbury.com
CoOKc^

Hayman's London Dry Gin, £28, waitrose.com
iCookeez Makery
^Oven Playset,
£39.99,
smythstoys.com
Slippers, £26, next.co.uk

Scarf, £30,
frenchconnection.
ris & Co Blackthorn pet box|
d, from £45, dunelm.comB
76 womanandhomt.com
Name**
Address
GIVE П IE GII
OF JOY with
L’OCCITANE
A t L'OCCITANE, we grow
Ж	and harvest the finest
W sustainably sourced
X .Ж. ingredients with which
to craft our indulgent beauty
products and gifts, perfect for the
festive season. It was the 1970s
when L'OCCITANE founder Olivier
Baussan established the traditions
that still define our guiding
philosophies: joy, love and a fierce
devotion to protecting nature.
This year, our festive collection
is illustrated by artist Steven
Wilson. His 1970s-inspired
designs remind us of our roots,
bringing to life the colourful
freedom and sense of infinite
possibility of this decade.
From our award-winning, skin-
renewing Divine Cream, to the
indulgent Almond Shower Oil and
the ultra-nourishing Shea Butter
Hand Cream, get ahead of the
festive rush with L'OCCITANE's
beautiful selection of gift offerings,
carefully curated to delight your
loved ones. As an added treat,
L'OCCITANE is offering w&h readers
15% off full-sized products, plus a
free Mini Hand Cream Discovery
Collection when you spend £35.
Simply mention WHXMAS15 in store
or add this code at the checkout on
uk.locdtane.com.
Postcode
... Email**
Telephone-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would you like to receive L'OCCITANE communication by: Email □ PostD SMS □
“These fields are mandatory. By ticking the box/es, you are invited to become a L'OCCITANE VIP. This entitles
you to receive invitations to VIP-only events, previews of new products and exclusive offers. L'OCCITANE
will not pass your details to any other company. For information on L'OCCITANE's privacy policy, please visit
uk.loccitane.com/privacy-policy. Terms and conditions: 1. Visit uk.loccitane.com and use WHXMAS15 to claim
your discount online. 2. Save 15% on all full-sized products plus get a free Mini Hand Cream Discovery Collection
when you spend £35.3. The offer is valid from 26 October to 24 December 2023.4. Please take the page into the
store and verbally quote the code WHXMAS15 to redeem the offers. 5. Please use WHXMAS15 when checking
out online to redeem your discount. 6. Offers are for one transaction per customer only. 7. The 15% discount is on
full-price items only and excludes: Advent calendars, special value gift sets, and discounted items. 8. These offers
exclude the following boutiques: Bicester Village, Cheshire Oaks, Portsmouth, Ashford, all department stores,
airport stores and any other independent L'OCCITANE stockists.
9. Offers subject to availability. 10. L’OCCITANE reserves the right
to substitute this gift. 11. Offers cannot be used in conjunction
with any other offer, cannot be exchanged for cash and no
alternative product can be chosen. 12. Valid in the UK only.
L’OCCITANE
EN PROVENCE
Will it look good
on my drive?
THE NEW
VAUXHALL CORSA
Fuel economy and СОг results for the Corsa Electric Ultimate 115kW (156PS)i Mpg (1/lOOkm): N/A. СОг emissions Og/km, Electric range up to 246 miles (WLTP)
The range and electric consumption figures mentioned comply w«h the WLTP test procedure on the basis of which new vehicles are type approved from 1 September 2018 They may \ery depending on actual conditions of use
and on deferent fac tors such as vehicle load, ac c es series fitted (post registration! speed, thermal comfort on board the vehicle. driving style and outside temperature Please contac t your Vauxhali Retailer for further information
VAUXHALL

rieker
Devolution
I IFF FFFI S RFTTFR IN COMFORTARI F SHOFS
The World’s Leading AntiStress® Footwear Brand I www.rieker.com


fashion inspiration
T.1IL0R-M1DE
+ A tuxedo dress is a tailored take
on the high-hemline trend for
party season. A pussy bow blouse
will add a touch of festive fun.
+ Look for styles in luxury finishes
such as velvet or high-shine
metallics for a chic party option.
+ This style of dress looks best
with bare legs, but low-denier
tights will offer coverage without
compromising on style.
Dress, £199, blouse, £159, both
sizes 6-20, hobbs.com; shoes,
£60, next.co.uk; earrings, £85,
dowerandhall.com; ring, £130,
lucyqdesigns.co.uk; wrapping
paper, £12 for a set of three, velvet
ribbon, from a selection, both
rowenandwren.co.uk; green ribbon
v and leaf-print wrapping, £8.50,
next.co.uk; Christmas tree, from
a selection, dobbies.com »
Dress, £309, sizes xs-xl, celiab.com
shoes, £139, phase-eight.com;
earrings, £249, thomassabo.com;
' bracelet, £89, coeur-de-lion.org;'
rings, £14, accessorize.com
RED.1LERT
Ч-Tor all-out sparkle-season
glamour, it doesn't get more,
festive than red sequins.
4- This fit-and-flare dress features
a nipped-in waist that makes the
most of your shape, delicate
butterfly sleeves that skim over
your upper arms, and keyhole
detail that offers just a hint
of decolletage - all making for
a really flattering fit.

fashion inspiration
Dress, £110, sizes 8-24,
monsoon.co.uk; earrings, £15,
matalan.co.uk; necklace, £95,
twisted bangle, £130, both
hotdiamonds.co.uk; hammered
bangle, £275, dowerandhall.com;
ring, £130, lucyqdesigns.co.uk; 6ft
Christmas tree, £229, and baubles,
£25 for 42, both johnlewis.com »
GO FOR GOLD
+ Molten metallics are guaranteed
to get you in the Christmas spirit!
4* The pleated waist detail will
draw attention to your narrowest
point before flaring gently over
your lower half.
4* Keep your accessories simple -
a delicate necklace and stacked
gold bangles will let this frock
do the talking.
womanendhome.com 85
fashion inspiration
TRAILBLAZER
4- A velvet blazer can be used to
dress up jeans and heels, or temper
the most dramatic party outfit.
Throw it over your favourite dress
for a borrowed-from-the-boys look.
Love pushed-up sleeves but
can't get them to stay up? Add
a fine hairband in the same colour
as your blazer at the elbows,
and ruche the fabric over for the
perfect, nonchalant cool look.
Blazer, £149, sizes 6-26, phase-
eight.com; dress, £207, sizes s-l,
Hofmann Copenhagen at
theoutnet.com; shoes, £189,
hobbs.com; necklace, £185,
sifjakobs.uk; large striped mirror
balls, £55 each, rockettstgeorge.
co.uk; large silver baubles, £45,
thewhitecompany.com; small glass
baubles, £25 for 42, johnlewis.com
86 womanendhomt.com
SMOOTH
OPERATOR
-I- Swap your LBD for this gem
of a velvet dress, which features
gorgeous statement bow sleeves.
+ Teal is a cooler tone, so warm
up your look with gold jewellery
and accessories.
4* Add extra inches to your legs
with a pair of metallic heels - the
reflective surface acts as a neutral
and will merge with skin for an
uninterrupted optical line.
Dress, £110, sizes 8-24, monsoon.
co.uk; shoes, £195, camillaelphick.
com; earrings, £10, next.co.uk;
bangles, £145 and £275,
both dowerandhall.com;
ring, £115, sifjakobs.uk »


Coat, £99, sizes 6-24,
marksandspencer.com; dress,
£228, sizes xs-l, Nicholas at
theoutnet.com; boots, £275,
duoboots.com; bag, £239,
radley.co.uk; earrings, £95,
dowerandhall.com; necklace, £60,
lilycharmed.com; pinky ring, £65,
screampretty.com; other rings, £75
and £130, both lucyqdesigns.co.uk
CHECKMATE
4- Up your outdoor look and keep
the chill at bay with a colourful
checked coat as an alternative to
classic black or navy.
4* The deep pink of this dress and
burgundy accessories echo the
colours of the coat for a tonal look.
4* Duo boots offers a variety
of calf widths, lengths and
heel heights for a custom fit at
a fraction of couture prices.
fashion inspiration
womanendhome.com 89
90 womanandhomw.com

SIL 1 PI JII MR
This party season, feel amazing from the inside out with our pick of the
TRIChl \EC1\ELXES
Available
for bigger
cups
Strapless bra, £48, sizes
30A-42H, skims.com
Magicwear shorts
Bra, £47, sizes 30C-36F,
wacoallingerie.com
Shorts, £50, sizes xs-xl,
woffordshop.co.uk
Dress, £89, sizes 6-16,
frenchconnection.com
Asymmetric tops and dresses can
pose a problem with traditional bras,
but bandeau, strapless and multiway
versions provide invaluable solutions.
Bra, £25, sizes
30F-42G,
marksand
spencer.com
Strapless bra, £40,
sizes 32B-38E,
wacoallingerie.com
THEDEEP-r
JI MPSl I T
THE LONG
RIR'TY DRESS
£299, sizes 6-26, phase-eight.com
For a full-length dress, wear your own
bra with a shaping dress to sculpt
your figure naturally. Alternatively,
shaping shorts will smooth out hips.
Bra, £35, sizes 3OD-4OHH,
Wear
with your
own bra
[Slip, £32,
Isizes 10-20
Shaping shorts,
£44, sizes s-xxl,
wacoallingerie.com
THE I ETR I SMOO TH DRESS
£165, sizes 8-18, Vivere by
Savannah Miller atjohnlewis.com
A body-skimming dress requires
the correct undergarments, from
a smoothing body to a moulded bra.
Control shorts are handy to have too.
Bra, £25, sizes
30C-38D,
prettypolly.co.u
Bodysuit, 
£66, sizes 1
8-18,	1
uk.triumph.
92 womanandhomt.com
S( )1.1 ГК )NS
best underwear to flatter your figure and your outfit
THE ЕОП-RICK.
PLINGELIIONTDI^SS
OXESHOL LDEREI) TOP
Bralet, £24.99,
sizes x-xl,
monki.com
£25, sizes 8-22, very.co.uk
If you're bigger busted, there are
plenty of bra options available, from
one-shouldered bralets to handy
multiway bras where you can swap
and remove straps to one side only.
Bra, £48, sizes
32B38D,_
Wonderbra at
johnlewis.com
Bra, £26, sizes 30B-38G,
Definitions at
pourmoi.co.uk
THEPHRIYTROLSER
THE SILKY SPLIT SKIRT
Ideal to
avoid
chafing
£130, sizes 4-16, Reiss at setfridges.com
Silky fabrics can cling to all the wrong*
places, so a shaping brief is a must.
A shaping skirt works wonders to smooth
thighs and create an hourglass shape.
Briefs, £54, sizes s-xl,
Chantelle at
zalando.co.uk
Shaping skirt,
£89, sizes 6-24,
myfigur.com
Shorts, £14.99,
sizes xxs-xxl,
hm.com
womanendhome.com 93
ей comwBJCS
Keep il chic
THIS PARTY
SEASON
Fancy pants are a great style
option for all occasions
I love jeans and a nice top
as much as the next woman,
but sometimes I like to
flip this winning formula
on its head. Keep the top
half pared-down and jazz up
the bottom half with a pair
of fancy pants. For those
festive occasions when I want
to look chic and understated,
this is a pleasing recipe.
A neat vibe shift.
Drinks with friends? Pull on a
tuxedo jacket and a statement
necklace. Popping round to a
neighbour's for mulled wine and
mince pies? Try party pants with
a leather shirt and standout scarf.
Christmas Day at home? Wear
snazzy trousers with a cashmere
jumper and velvet slippers.
Dialling it down a notch is the
low-key approach to dressing
up. And I'm here for it.
As a 1939 Vogue feature
advised, 'There is immense chic
in restrained evening elegance.
There's immense charm in the
robustness and shrewd common
sense of day clothes.'
We all have something sparkly
or decorative hanging in our
wardrobes - and I really do
believe that downplaying a party
outfit by juxtaposing one swanky
piece with everyday wardrobe
essentials beats overdressing,
whatever the season. If you're
Leather shirt is an old
style from hobbs.com
- similar available, £295,
sizes 6-18, wyselondon.
com, or £179, sizes 6-24,
Autograph at
marksandspencer.com;
Jacquard trousers are
very old Jaeger - try
zadig-et-voltaire.com,
lkbennett.com or
jigsaw-online.com
for fancy pants; mules
are an old style from
lkbennett.com but
lemondeberyl.com has
a range of colourful
velvet slippers; scarf, £50,
universalworks.co.uk;
earrings, £130,
aureejewellery.com
94 womanendhoma.com
style advice

я
S
i
i

§
I
I
I
i
s
2
worried about not looking
festive enough from the waist
up, sling on a pair of shoulder-
scraping earrings or a sparkly,
showpiece necklace.
Casual glamour is the
phenomenon of blending
day and evening wear for an
effortless, go-everywhere outfit.
This is the fashion formula
I come back to again and again.
To me, comfort is the most
important thing - and I always
feel cooler and more relaxed
when I combine the outstanding
with the everyday.
Slipping a snazzy jacket over
a slouchy jumpsuit. Wearing
blingy jewellery with a normcore
sweatshirt and jeans. Dressing
down a pair of fancy pants with
a denim jacket. Mixing it up for
maximum style.
Whether plain or patterned,
capri pants are a universally
flattering wardrobe staple. One
of my year-round essentials.
This oh-so-versatile garment
looks good with an oversized
shirt, a silk blouse or a simple
cashmere sweater.
Inspired by J.Crew-era Jenna
Lyons, I've had this jacquard
Jaeger pair for years, and they
work for both casual and formal
occasions. Jacquard is the
name given to a decorative
form of weaving developed
by the French inventor Joseph
Jacquard in the early 19th century.
Who knew?
Dressing for comfort with a
sprinkling of glitz and glamour
this Christmas can bring joy,
increase style confidence and
freshen up our image. And the
good news is, when you find
the right party trousers, there's
no need to worry about buying
special underwear or new
hosiery. Take the edge off festive
fashion pressures by shopping
your wardrobe for those much-
loved glad rags. It's time to
liberate your partywear!
+ Read more from Alyson at
thatsnotmyage.com
WiA^^ STATmmT ПОУЖ
Layer up
Add a cotton shirt for a classic
look. Wear the shirt open over
a slinky T-shirt (plain white or
striped), and then add a bright
cardigan or knitted tank top.
Colourful trousers are a great
wardrobe building block and can
sit alongside stronger colours.
Tank top, £50, sizes xs-xl, boots,
£160, both boden.co.uk; shirt,
£75, sizes 8-18, phase-eight.com;
trousers, £269, sizes 8-20,
marc-cain.com; bag, £175,
jigsaw-online.com
Elevation station
If you're opting for wide-leg, fancy
trousers, avoid tripping over the
hems by teaming with a platform
sandal or chunky trainers. Low-
heeled ankle boots and a belt look
neat with a cashmere sweater and
party pants. Keep the volume
down with a more fitted top half.
★
Earrings, £19, phase-eight.com;
jumper, £29.50, sizes xs-xl,
marksandspencer.com; trousers,
£130, sizes 6-22, boden.co.uk;
bag, £45, shoes, £75, both
monsoon.co.uk
reader offer
Help skin to
LIFTOGLOW
Treat yourself with this brilliant Beauty Box for just £39.99*
SAVE
OVER
£90*
Give yourself a perk me up with
this month's fabulous Beauty
Box, worth £131. This specially
curated set features products
that will help lift your face and neck, and
tackle signs of dull, wintery skin, adding
radiance and glow. The set comprises
Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial
(RRP £75), Darphin Stimulskin Plus
Absolute Renewal Eye & Lip Contour
Cream (RRP £35), Rodial Dragon's Blood
Hyaluronic Jelly Face Mask (RRP £12)
and BareMinerals Ageless Phyto Pro-
Collagen Anti-Age Cream (worth £9).
Buy just one or subscribe none
You can purchase this Beauty Box for
£49.99 on its own or subscribe and save
a further £10 on each box at £39.99 - it's
up to you. There's no contract, there are
no strings attached, and you can pause
or cancel at any time.
П hat is a Beauty Ba i
The TOYL beauty subscription box is
a monthly beauty, spa and wellness treat
curated for you. When you subscribe,
you receive a box of beauty goodies
every month worth over £100, for £39.99.
The box will arrive packed with different
products each time, and
you can pause, or cancel,
the box to suit you,
making sure that you are
in control of exactly how
many boxes you receive.
Scan to find out more
Our promise to you, including
pause/cancellation
The Beauty Box is a subscription box. This
means after your first payment, every month,
a further payment of £39.99 will be automatically
made by you and the next box will be sent to your
door There is no contract, so you can cancel
or pause at any time - we only want you to get
the boxes you want. Available in the UK only
Delivery and returns
The Beauty Box is delivered by EVRI 72-hour
service, with the dispatch of each just-released
box starting on 28th of the month. If you order
after the 28th, your first box will be dispatched
on the first working day after your order Should
you wish to return your box for any reason, it
must be returned within 14 days of receipt. If you
wish to do so, please email info@toyl.co.uk and
instructions will be sent on the return process.

PARTY
PROOF
YOUR

MAKEUP
Whether you've got a glam
do to attend or you're cooking
up a storm for friends and
family at home, you want to
feel stylish and put-together,
with make-up that's not sliding
off within minutes. These steps
will guarantee your look really
goes the distance.
PREP A primer will help your
foundation go on better and stay
on for longer. Milk Makeup
Hydro Grip Primer, £35,
cultbeauty.co.uk, is very aptly
named - it grips make-up to your
skin all day - and all night - long.
APPLY EXPERTLY You might be
tempted to paint a thicker layer of
foundation so it lasts, but that will
look too heavy and mask-1 ike on
your skin. Instead, apply a couple
of light layers, building it up
gradually. Clarins Tinted Oleo-Serum,
£39, clarins.co.uk, evens out your
complexion, leaving it glowing.
SET A setting spray will lock make-up in
place - try Morphe Continuous Setting
Mist, £17, boots.com For extra
durability, spritz after your foundation,
then again once you've added your
bronzer, blush and eyeshadow.
GEAR I NS
A smoky eye is always a party 'ffig
r	classic, but it can be tricky to know	&*
what shades will work together.
One of the easiest ways to
guarantee this is to pick a palette
of ready-matched shades. We love
к Bobbi Brown City Glamour
Eyeshadow Palette, £55,
bobbibrown.co.uk, which has
4^	a mix of wearable and striking
colours. Make your look last by
applying an eyeshadow primer first,
such as Hourglass Veil Eye Primer,
£29, spacenk.com. And don't
overthink your application. Have
a few different eyeshadow brushes
> to hand; the general rule is to apply
K a light or medium shade all over
the lid, then your darker shade
Tinted
Oleo-Serum
Stfrum teint£ bonne
along the top and bottom lash line,
r and in the eyelid crease. Use your
I	fluffiest brush to blend everything i
I	in, and follow on with Anastasia j
I	Beverly Hills Lash Sculpt J
Г"**” Mascara, £26, boots.com.
False eyelashes tend to be \
a step that most of us dread, but
they do really make a difference.
Ardell Magnetic Accents Lashes,
£14.99, sephora.co.uk, are the ideal
solution - there's no glue or shaky-
handed-application, just click the top
and bottom set over your own natural
к lashes, and tiny magnets will hold
them in place until you want 2*
to remove them.
98 womanandhoma.com

1 Ciate London Plant Pots in Moondust,
£10, ciatelondon.com
2 Essie Nail Lacquer in Penny Talk,
£8.99, boots.com
3 Dior Vernis in Osee,
£26, selfridges.com
4OPI Nail Lacquer in Blame the Mistletoe,
£14.90, johnlewis.com
5 Chanel Le Vernis in Sequins,
£29, chanel.com
N4ILIT
& shimmering manicure or pedicure is
the grown-up way of doing glitter.
But give yourself plenty of time to
apply the colour and let it dry properly,
to avoid smudges and duvet marks.
LE VERNIS
CHANEL
* beauty inspiration
THE GLOIU GUIDE
If you're baring legs, arms or
decolletage in a party dress, then a tan
will boost your confidence. Practise
applying a few times beforehand
to avoid any dramas on the day.
Fora believable, long-lasting tan, we like
Bare by Vogue Self Tan Foam, from
£22.50, barebyvogue.co.uk. Use a mitt
and buff in for a gentle dose of colour.
For a subtle, buildable look, Isle of
Paradise Gradual Self-Tanning Butter,
£17.95, beautybay.com, gives skin
a boost and is ultra hydrating, too.
. For long-lasting colour that washes
off, try Tan-Luxe Instant Hero
Illuminating Skin Perfector,
£24, selfridges.com
Scrub up
It's essential to exfoliate before any
fake-tan application, for a smoother,
even finish, and shave your legs 24 hours
before to avoid patchy colour. Try
Neom Super Shower Power Body
Polish, £28, neomorganics.com
Glow-getter
No time to tan? Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse
Golden Shimmer Dry Oil, £20,
cultbeauty.co.uk, is the ultimate quick fix.
A shimmery, gorgeously scented body oil,
this will come to the rescue when you have
30 seconds before you have to rush out
the door. Apply to legs and decolletage,
and anywhere in need of a bit of a glow.
I 'anishing acl
Erborian CC Body Perfecting Tinted
Cream, £44, lookfantastic.com, uses the
same principles as the brand's cult classic
CC cream. It blurs imperfections and
cheats a 'your skin, but better' finish for
your whole body. It's ideal for concealing
any scarring, bruising or veins on legs.
Smooth operator
If you have keratosis pilaris, also known as
chicken skin on your arms, Ameliorate's
brilliant lotion makes a big difference. But
now Ameliorate Transforming Body
Lotion illuminating Glow Formula,
£24, ameliorate.com, is even better
-with its radiance-boosting shimmer.
Ki ко Milano Invisible
Lip Liner, £5.99.
sephora.co.uk, will work
with any lipstick shade
* If you only have
the budget for one
- thing to update your
festive make-up, buy a
lipstick. Wear it round the
house for a few weeks before
your party to get used
L to it. You want to feel
confident, not shy!
1 L'Oreal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance in Wine Not?, £11.99, superdrug.com
2 Gucci Rouge de Beaute Brillant in Goldie Red, £37, gucci.com 3 Guerlain
4^. Rouge G Lipstick No 234, £32 (plus choice of case), guerlain.com 4 Nars Starlight
Powermatte Lipstick in Too Hot to Hold, £26.50, narscosmetics.co.uk
5 Charlotte Tilbury Rock Lips in Ready for Lust, £29, chariottetilbury.com »
womanandhomc.com 101

<8
ь>

SO
HI
Ш
01
ш
й|§
III
ih
ill
M
Pl
SIMPLE
FESTIIE
STYLES
The party pony
Ponytails aren't just for the
gym, they can look super
glam and are the perfect
style for day-old waves
that are beginning to drop.
Boost volume and add
texture first with Living
Proof Dry Volume and
Texture Spray, from £15,
cuhbeauty.co.uk, and
then simply sweep all your
hair to one side and fasten
with a hair elastic. Try a
velvet ribbon wrapped
around the band. Easy!
The undone bun
Forget complicated
chignons with 1,000 grips
to keep everything in place.
You can't get easier than a
messy topknot, especially
on two-day-old hair - if it's freshly
washed, it's just too slippery and will fall
out, so use plenty of texturising spray if
it is. Even on short hair, this is a look that
will work. Just gather all your hair back
into a ponytail, as high or as low as you
like. Twist it into a coil (or a nub if there's
not a lot of length), using a band to fasten
in place. Then pull pieces of the bun
out and bits that frame your face. Voila!
. h/d pizzazz to short hair
Shorter locks can be just as versatile as
longer lengths; it's just about finding
new ways to style them and have fun!
Something as simple as an ear tuck
with a glitzy clip looks chic and keeps
wayward strands out of your eyes.
Or add some gel to your hair when
it's wet and slick it back - a great look
to combine with a dramatic smoky eye.
Alternatively, invest in an embellished
headband (our model above wears one
from Primark, £3.50) and simply push
your hair back off your face. This works
particularly well on short pixie cuts.
* * *
beauty inspiration
Easy-breezy
wares
Whether your cut is
long, medium or short,
everyone can master
waves. It's the perfect
style to update your
locks for a party.
FOR LONG HAIR The
easiest way to get loose
curls is using the 'heatless
waves' technique. Put your
hair in a centre parting
and then try wrapping
your hair round Kitsch
Satin Heatless Curling
Set, £12.99, amazon.
co.uk, before bed. You'll
wake up with lovely loose
waves without any effort!
FOR SHORT/MEDIUM
HAIR Don't have those
extra inches? You can still
create glamorous waves.
Use a mousse or texture
spray first to give your hair
some grip. Avoid using a
small barrel or you'll end
up with tight curls. Instead, try a tong with
a clamp as it will allow you to grab shorter
pieces of hair more easily. We like Babyliss
Slim pearl
headband, £12,
accessorize.com
Pro Ceramic Dial-a-Heat Tong 24mm,
£42.50, justmylook.com. Shorter hair
is best when the curls are a little messy,
so don't be scared to scrunch and tousle
Shimmer & sparkle
THIS PARTY SEASON
with No7
Inspired by the galactic glamour trend, No7 has everything
you need to sprinkle a little stardust on your make-up routine
products.
1	1 —	~ o7 has gone galactic
this party season, with
three looks built around
gorgeous limited-edition
______________ products. You're in great hands,
as every look has been designed by No7 Global
Makeup Artist Emily Simms, with some key
favourites loved by No7 Christmas Brand
Ambassador Christine Lampard.

STELLAR
DREAMS LOOK
A flawless base sets off a metallic
eye and shimmering neutral lip.
YOU WILL NEED
No7 Stay Perfect Foundation, £14.95
No7 Multi-Purpose Highlighting
Stick, £9.95
No7 Pale Pink Eyeshadow Quad, £12.95
No7 Stay Perfect Liquid Eyeliner, £9.95
No7 Full 360 Mascara, £14.95
No7 Lip Liner in Starry Nights, £7.95
No7 Lipstick in Starry Nights, £12.95
No7 Lip Glaze in Luna, £9.95
GET CHRISTINE LAMPARD'S LOOK
1	Apply an even layer of Stay Perfect
Foundation to your face. You can use
a brush, a sponge or your fingers.
2	Sweep the Multi-Purpose Highlighting
Stick across your cheekbones, brow
bones, the bridge and the tip of your
nose, and your cupid's bow. Use your
ring finger or a sponge to softly blend.
3	Apply the shades from the Pale Pink
Eyeshadow Quad to your eyes, keeping
the Heavenly Gold shade in the centre.
4	Line your upper lash line with Stay
Perfect Liquid Eyeliner, extending it up and
out into a small wing at the outer corners.
5	Apply three coats of Full 360 Mascara
to your lashes to add length and volume.
6	Carefully line the outer edges of your
lips with Starry Nights Lip Liner.
7	Smooth the matching lipstick onto
your lips, working within the lines you
have created to fill in the gaps.
8	Apply a slick of Lip Glaze in Luna for
a glossy finish and gorgeous sparkle.
Sidestep traditional eyeshadow
shades of black, grey and brown
in favour of a flattering palette
of burgundy tones and soft pinks.
YOU WILL NEED
No7 Multi-Purpose Highlighting
Stick, £9.95
No7 Burgundy Eyeshadow Quad,
£12.95
No7 Stay Perfect Liquid Eyeliner, £9.95
No7 Full 360 Mascara, £14.95
GET CHRISTINE'S LOOK
1 Apply the Multi Purpose Highlighting
Stick to the cheekbones and brow bone
using your fingers or a small brush.
2 Using an eyeshadow brush, apply
the Saturn shade from the Burgundy
Eyeshadow Quad all over your lids.
Follow with the Galactic shade in the
centre of your lids.
3 Next, take the Celestial shade onto
a clean brush and circle it over the outer
corner and into your eye socket.
4 To add definition, take an angled liner
brush and the Midnight shade along
your upper and lower lash line, allowing
them to meet on the outer corner.
5 Working as close to the lashes as
possible, draw on a narrow line of
Stay Perfect Liquid Eyeliner across
the upper lash line.
6 As the final flourish, apply No7 Full 360
Mascara to the upper and lower lashes.
The more coats you apply, the fuller and
more intense your lashes will look.
QSTIRGLAZIXG
4LIP LOOK
'J A glamorous, glossy lip is the
centrepiece of any party make-up.
YOU WILL NEED
No7 Lip Liner in Infinity, £7.95
No7 Lipstick in Infinity, £12.95
No7 Lip Glaze in Infinity, £9.95
GET CHRISTINE'S LOOK
1	Use the tapered tip of the Lip Liner in
Infinity to define the edges of your lips.
For a precise, wobble-free finish, it's best
to start with the cupid's bow on the top lip,
and the centre of your bottom lip, working
out towards the corners of your mouth.
2	Apply the Lipstick in Infinity directly
from the bullet, all over the lips. For a
more precise application, use the No7
Lip Brush (£11.95) to create a crisp shape.
3	For the perfect finishing touch and
a glass-like sheen, add a layer of the
coordinating Lip Glaze in Infinity.
0XL1XEAXI)
I X BOO TS
STORES ХОГГ!
No7 beauty.co.uk
womanandhomc.com 1 05
Brush
Treat loved ones (or yourself)
to these dreamy delights
Bern
bauble
Molton Brown
Merry Berries & Mimosa
Bath & Shower Gel,
£15, moltonbrown.co.uk
The perfect stocking filler
к for anyone in need
of pampering.	j
Bobbi Brown Best of
Artistry 5-Piece Brush Set,
£85, bobbibrown.co.uk
Update a make-up kit
with these expert-approved
brushes, to create make-
up-artist-worthy A
looks.
Parly x,
pout
Chanel Allure L'Extrait
in Midnight Red, £46,
chanel.com
We'd be thrilled to find this
under the tree. It's perfect to
pair with shimmery golden
\ eyes and glowing /
Zingy scent
Jo Malone Orange Bitters
Cologne, 100ml, £124,
jomalone.co.uk
This delicious cologne packs
a serious punch. Bursting with
juicy orange, a splash of bitter
orange and rich sandalwood,
it's the unisex fragrance of
tor
MOLTON
BROWN
ROUGE
999
Mistletoe
muni
Dior Vernis Nail Polish
in 999 Rouge,
£27, dior.com
Red nails shout festive
party, so treat someone
to this indulgent polish.
The glossy finish
creates a salon-worthy
manicure every time.
106 womanendhomc.com
beauty buyer's guide
NEOiVT
palette
Nars All That Glitters
Light Reflecting
Cheek Palette, £59,
narscosmetics.co.uk
While technically a cheek
palette, we think it works
. just as well on
the eyes. ./
/ Newflame
Jo Loves Christmas Trees
Scented Candle, £55, joloves.com
Notes of pine and lavender will
fill your home - a welcome change
from heavy faux Christmas smells.
Little star
Neom Diffuser, £5, neomorganics.com
A ceramic star to spritz with your chosen
essential oil blend then hang anywhere.
Handbaghero
Gucci Limited-Edition Cushion
de Beaute, £47, selfridges.com
This stylish little gem is a cushion
foundation - but best of all, it's Gucci.
.It's great for adding a flattering, sheer
\ kase, then topping up on the go.
AERIN
ROSE
у Heaven
scent
Aerin Rose de Grasse
Rouge Eau de Parfum,
50ml, £120, selfridges.cor
Combining roses with
honeycomb, this perfume i
. the marriage of floral and
sweet aromas. л
GRASSE
Nail it
Lily England
Manicure
, Set with
Luxury Travel
Case, £9.99,
amazon.co.uk
Everything
you need for
groomed nails,
all in one stylish
' pouch. Quality
tools at an
amazing price.
Lavish lather
L'Occitane Shower Oil,
£19.50, uk.loccitane.com
Add a touch of luxe with this
nourishing shower oil. It
leaves skin feeling soft and
delicately scented.

L’OCCITANE ..й m
BN PROVINCE . 1 ПД*
hairl
available in A-Z
- it's the perfect
little stocking
filler.
Pretty pouch
M&S Alphabet Cosmetic Pouch,
£6, marksandspencer.com
Even the most tricky to buy for
will love this chic on-trend bag.
womanandhomc.com 1 07
Real retinol Real results!
SAVE 25% AT
MURAD.CO.UK
Why not try Murad's Retinol Youth Renewal skincare range?
Put your best face forward
with award-winning skincare
and save 25% exclusively with
this w&h offer.
Murad is the dermatologist-developed
brand with clinically proven, cruelty-free
products that meet the meticulous
standards for safety, efficacy and care
you would expect from a doctor.
If you're looking for a retinol that's
impressive but not aggressive, trust one
of Murad's next-generation formulas.
Designed to visibly smooth deep wrinkle
lines and improve the skin's texture, while
boosting a healthy glow, Murad's Retinol
Youth Renewal range balances a fast-
acting retinoid, delayed-release retinol
and a retinol booster for rapid results,
while still being gentle on the skin.
Try Murad's cult-dassic Retinol Youth
Renewal Serum - a fast-acting serum that
visibly improves key signs of ageing in
just two weeks.
Tackle the eye area (including the lids!)
with Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum
- 83% of people saw improvement in
the signs of ageing around the eye area*.
Finally, for youthful contours, more
supple and firmer skin and optimal
hydration, reach for the award-winning
Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream.
HOWTO REDEEM
To claim your 25% discount, please
visit murad.co.uk and use the code
WHRETINOL at the checkout.
Murad.
TERMS & CONDITIONS Offer valid from 26 October
to 7 December 2023. The discount is valid on your first
order and cannot be combined with any other coupon
offer. One offer per customer. Offer applies to regularly
priced merchandise only. Offer does not apply to
sale items, value sets, travel sizes and our new launches
including Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Treatment, Rapid
Relief Sulfur Mask, Targeted Pore Corrector and Targeted
Eye Depuffer. Offer is valid on UK orders only.
108 womenandhome.com
BEAUTY
made easy
Hannah Martin reveals her holy grail
products and application tips
'W' 'W' уorld-class make-up
Ж Ж	artist Hannah
Ж Ж	Martin boasts
V ▼	an impressive
portfolio. Counting Dame
Helen Mirren, Nadiya Hussain
and Princesses Beatrice and
Eugenie as clients, Hannah
has worked with many famous
faces. She was also resident
beauty expert on Channel 5's
revamped 10 Years Younger.
She shares with us her most-
loved beauty products and the
expert tricks that have got her
where she is today.
HYDRATING
HERO
Shiseido Eudermine
Activating Essence, £60,
lookfantastic.com
F
11 ( h
Don t assume the most
expensive foundation will
miraculously make your skin look
flawless. You need to prep it well first.
Before you whack on your moisturiser,
I would apply an essence twice, let
your skin drink it up, and then go
in with your face cream. It's all
about helping your skin hold
your products better.
'Dame Helen Mirren
asked me/br a toothpiek
on-set and 1 didn't hare
any. She replied. "Bn!
People underestimate the
power of an essence as
the first step in your
skincare routine. I am
obsessed with this one,
it's a game changer.
HIGH
SHINE
Westman Atelier
Super Loaded Tinted
Highlight in Peau de
Rosa, £69,
cultbeauty.co.uk
This is the best. It's a solid
balm that just melts into
the skin, whether you're
wearing make-up or not.
SMUDGE
STICK
Hildun Beauty Silk to
Set Kajal Liner, £16,
hildunbeauty.com
These are incredible -
super smudgy and make
eyeliner so easy to apply.
Just pop it on, smudge
it out, and then once it's
buffed, it sets beautifully.
darling, the make-up
artist ahvays has
a toothpiek!" I тле
alicays hare toothpieks,
wherever I go.'
IF YOU HDD
ONE THING
TO} OUR ROUTINE...
Clarins Natural Lip Perfector in Toffee Pink, £21, johnlewis.com, is just heaven! It's
a really beautiful tinted lip balm that looks stunning, feels amazing and has a gorgeous,
mild vanilla scent. I have a real obsession with lipsticks and this is onfe of my favourites.

wellwoman
'Wellwoman helps
support me for the
busy days ahead."
Tess Daly
wellwoman
VITAMINS
wellwoman
50+
24 nutrients
Torwtpmartsm
health & vitality
VWti Mb Be & 812. rnaonasun & iron
wtnch contribute to normal
energy release
П
VITABIOTICS
26 nutrients
health & vitality
Pantothenic «ей whch contribute
to the reduction of
tiredness & fatigue
n
VITABIOTICS
Original
50+
No.1 women’s vitamins*
From	о, HoHandOBarrett, supermarkets,
health stores, pharmacies and wellwoman.com
•^•Nielsen GB ScanTrack UK Total Coverage Value & Unit Retail Sales 52
w/e 15/7/23. To verify contact Vitabiotics Ltd, 1 Apsley Way, London, NW2 7HF.
Wellwoman
supports
OFWOMEN 4 tFmES^INNER VITABIOTICS
HEALTH
II e сан help you lire your IhsI life
Tis the season to
celebrate, but it's
easy to peak too
soon. One too
many soirees can leave you
desperate to slip under the
duvet and hide until 2024.
'Lack of sleep from late-
night shopping, wrapping and
partying, the stress of planning,
dashing about and potentially
financial pressures impacton
our immune system's ability to
protect us,' says GP Dr Helen
Wall (@drwallbolton).
The good news? Our tips
can help take the pain out of
the party season. »
The cures of
CHRISTMAS
Lost your festive spirit? Here's our alternative
take on the popular song, with 12 easy remedies
FESTIFE FIXERS
Planning on going full throttle? These simple measures will help to ease the pain when it's time to recover
*
On the 1st day of Christmas,
mx true love sent to nu
Ice to ease achy feet
Walked for miles scouring the shops
for perfect presents to put under
the tree? Swollen feet and ankles
are caused by excess fluid, but
applying ice for 10-20 minutes
will constrict the blood vessels
to reduce swelling and pain.
A bag of frozen peas will mould
around your foot far better than
a hard ice pack.
ипшЕшавл
Lemongrass for blisters
Party shoes can make you feel fantastic
one minute, then in agony the next.
Friction from tight shoes can cause
fluid to collect between layers of skin.
Woken up with blisters? Soak them
for 15 minutes in warm water with an
essential oil, such as lemongrass, to cool
feet and help with the healing process,
boosting circulation and blood flow.
Tennis balls to
help bach pain
Decorating the tree can leave you with
aches and pains - but this trick can help.
Pop two tennis balls inside a sock, then
lean against the wall with it tucked into
your lower back. Roll the balls down and
up the wall by bending and straightening
your legs, to help relieve tight muscles.
On the I th dax.
Pen and paper
to erase worries
It might be sold as the
most wonderful time
of the year, but 20%
of Brits say Christmas
feels 'completely
overwhelming'*. With
so much to organise,
it's no wonder the
period can be fraught.
If you're feeling the
pressure, write out
your worries, your fears
- whatever's on your mi nd
- then, after five minutes, stop.
Destroy or stow away your notes.
The point is to get what's bugging you
out of your head.
хшпшшгтл
Breakfast to
solve a hangover
Almost two-thirds** of us admit
to overindulging with alcohol
during the festivities, but a good
breakfast can help. You'll likely
wake up with low blood sugar
after boozing, which is why
eating carbs can pep you up,
says Professor David Nutt. Eat
eggs, which contain a lot of the
nutrients you need, and top with
spinach to replenish B-vitamin
stores. Fancy a juice? Swap
orange for tomato - it's less acidic
so won't irritate your stomach.
иШШШПЕВЛ
Peppermint to
soothe a sore throat
Not just a breath freshener, this
remedy works wonders after
having to shout over loud music.
'It contains anti-inflammatory
compounds that may help
inflammation,' says GP Dr Nina
Aslam. Place dried peppermint
Magic fingers to
hall a headache
Head throbbing? With one hand, press
the shallow indentation at the base
of the skull. At the same time, with the
thumb and forefinger of the other hand,
press into the upper hollows of the eye
socket, where they straddle the bridge
of the nose and meet the T of the
eyebrow bridge. Press softly at first, then
more firmly, and hold. Try for three to
five minutes, and repeat if you need to.
32
И I
112 womanendhomc.com
wellbeing
On the mil (lax.
1177Т//7Я
Л bright outfit
for instant energy
Guests arriving and you need a speedy
energy boost? A quick change into more
colourful clothing may work wonders.
'Wearing items in vivid colours, like cherry
red or cobalt blue, instantly makes you
feel more energised,' says stress expert
Professor Cary Cooper. Not keen?
Try switching up your nail
colour instead.
Beal hot flushes
It's the last thing you want when
cooking up a feast. Feel a flush
coming on? Coherent breathing is an
effective way to manage menopausal
hot flushes, says breath coach Stuart
Sandeman. Breathe in for four
seconds, breathe out for six -
gently. Repeat for 10 minutes.
/1 ripe banana
for heartburn
Although bananas are not typically
associated with Christmas, and do
not have the same festive charm as
clementines, they contain natural
antacids - ideal if you've eaten rich food.
'One a day can help counteract add
reflux and heartburn,' says nutritionist
Jenny Chu. 'Plus they're rich in pectin,
a type of fibre that keeps food flowing
happily through the digestive tract'
Л lummy massage
for trapped wind
Eating, drinking and being merry
is a must at this time of year, but the
after-effects can leave you bloated.
'The festive season brings with it lots
of vegetables - such as sprouts - that
can cause more digestive gases,' says
Jenny. Suffering? After a warm bath,
massage your tummy in a circular motion
to relieve wind, suggests massage
therapist Andrea Valls.
ШЕНЕЕЕВЯ
Л enrol (or two!)
to relieve tension
Not in the mood? Singing releases
endorphins, which give us a sense of
euphoria; oxytocin, to make us feel
connected; and serotonin, to help with
sleep and digestion - which is especially
important at Christmas, explains Emma
Baylin, founder of sharedharmonies.co.uk.
'Singing while cooking Christmas dinner
or encouraging a few carols when family
tensions rise can really help.'
womanandhomc.com 113
Health NEW rS
All this month's best buys, news and must-know health and wellbeing tips
Time to ditch
the slippers?
Fluffy slippers on your Christmas wish
list? It may be time to strike them off.
Yes, they may be cosy but open-back
shoes can impact your posture - and
they put you at risk of tripping over.
The good news? Walking barefoot
has a whole host of benefits. Padding
around on various surfaces means our
foot muscles contract, pumping blood
and nutrients around the rest of our
body, and strengthening our calves
and ankles, says senior physiotherapist
Alex Huntly from Nuffield Health.
And it's not just your physical
wellbeing that benefits. 'Your feet have
a higher density of sensory nerves than
most other parts of your body, which
connect to the sensory cortex in your
brain; so ditching the slippers gives
your mind a workout too,' adds Alex.
Stick to walking on dry or carpeted
surfaces to avoid injuries.
Get your flex on
If you wake feeling stiff, especially in the
colder weather, collagen supplements
could help make your joints feel younger
again. Studies* have found that Nourished
Collagen-»- Joints &
Recovery can improve
joint health by more
than 50% in just one
month. They also include
vitamin C, to help fight
off winter colds. Win-win.
£44.49 for 28 gummies,
get-nourished.com

Everyone's
talking about...
THE NEW WAY TO CARE FOR
'DOWN THERE'
When it comes to looking after things
'down below', probiotics could be the
supplement you're missing, especially
if you've noticed more discomfort after
the menopause. This is, in part, due
to vaginal dryness, which can disrupt
natural defences against infection.
So, how do probiotics help? 'They can
support vaginal health as certain strains,
particularly lactobacillus, have been
found to reduce the risk of infections,
such as bacterial vaginosis and thrush, by
maintaining healthy pH
levels in the vagina,' says
GP Dr Sara Kayat. We
rate Vida Glow
Gut Pro, £30
for 30 capsules,
Г	VIDA GLOW
uk.vidaglow.com
MUSIC CAN MAKE MEDS IU0RK HARDER
Scientists asked 12 patients undergoing
chemotherapy to listen to their favourite
music for 30 minutes each time they
took anti-nausea medications. They then
played music any time they experienced
nausea over the five days following
treatment. The study in Clinical Nursing
Ki"..
of Brits feel lonely every day.
every fiv days, or every week
what’s new

Keep warm on winter adventures with these must-haves
THE HAT
Columbia Unisex City
Trek Heavyweight
Beanie, £22,
columbiasportswear.
co.uk
This comfort-stretch,
reversible hat will lock in
heat and protect you from
the elements. It comes in
a choice of colours.
THE TOP
Endura Women's
BaaBaa Blend L/S
Baselayer, £54.99,
sizes xs-xl,
endurasport.com
Naturally antibacterial
and fast-drying, this
merino blend keeps
odours at bay and
your body toasty.
TOP TIP
Beat seasonal latigue
with a cheese plant
they increase oxygen
levels, helping to hex>s(
energy. Greenery
indoors w ill lift your
iikxxI loo.
Research showed a reduction in nausea
severity ratings plus reduced distress.
Jason Kiernan, an assistant professor
on the study, points out that pain and
anxiety are experienced in the brain,
so music, which releases the happy
hormone in the brain, can soothe them.
THE SHOES
New Balance
Fresh Foam X
1080v12, £160,
newbalance.co.uk
These will let you tackle
trails with confidence,
thanks to a sticky grip
rubber outsole, and will
keep feet cool and dry
when striding out.
Oral-В iO3 Electrical
Toothbrush, £160, boots.com
WHY WE LIKE IT
The round brush head has
micro-vibrating bristles, which get -
into all the gaps and crevices to	।
give a super-clean feeling, while
the smart pressure sensor alerts
you if you're brushing too hard, r-
helping to protect your gums.
We found the two-minute timer
ensured we didn't skimp on time,
either. Your dentist will be happy!
BONUS
Sensitive teeth? You can
personalise your brushing
by opting for 'Sensitive',
one of the three settings,
for a pain-free experience.
womanandhome.com 115
Ah, Christmas - a time of joy, love and tension, says Debra Waters.
Here's how to manage family fallouts while keeping a smile on your face
116 womanandhome.com
five-minute therapy
1
Do you recall those halcyon
Christmases of childhood?
Of gifts galore and eating
your body weight in sugar?
When your only worry was getting to
sleep on Christmas Eve?
Fast-forward to adulthood and
Christmas is a very different experience.
The amount of organising involved
could make a CEO sweat, and keeping
everyone happy can take UN levels of
diplomacy. Instead of anticipating
the magic of Yuletide, you're
in a heightened state of
anxiety before you've
even made it to
December, as
you attempt
to juggle your
extended family's
requirements with
a gift list as long as
your arm and a food
budget big enough to
feed the Isle of Wight.
Family 'negotiations' can start
months before the supermarket aisles
are filled with tinsel and turkeys - mine
started in July. And your steely resolve
that it'll be 'just us this year'? Yet again,
you find yourself wavering as a sense
of 'duty' and some clever guilt-tripping
come into play (example: 'This may be
your last Christmas? You said that last
year, but well-played, Auntie Pat!').
My festive sob story? The blissful
Italian-themed Christmas I planned
has been supplanted by a 500-mile
round-trip, complete with service station
sandwiches, to see every living relative.
And it's not just the lead-up. Christmas
Day itself can bear witness to an array
of emotionally manipulative tactics, from
passive-aggressive eye-rolling to epic
door-slamming. My blood pressure has
gone up just thinking about it.
Fortunately, there are ways to
circumnavigate this. The first?
Remember one thing - while you
can't change your nearest and dearest,
you can change your mindset. What
will help you weather festive storms is
not trying to be all things to all people,
but understanding yourself-your
boundaries, triggers and limitations -
and managing your own expectations.
'Christmas is always a time of great
expectations,' says Lucy Blake, author
-F Z I о
~ of Brits say
seeing certain
family nienilwi’s ;il
Christmas causes
them stress*^
F
of Home Truths: The Facts and Fictions
of Family Life (£9.99, Welbeck Publishing).
'Not only do we strive to feel connected
to family members, we often think
that the time we spend together
should be positive and meaningful.
If we're not decorating the tree, we
should be watching Christmas films
together.' But we often expect too
much, adds Lucy. 'If we think that
Christmas is a time when we should
feel loved and loving, calm and
in control in every moment
of every day, that's an
impossible reality
to achieve.'
You see, we don't
change just because
it's Christmas.
'Establishing our
needs is the first
step in identifying
our boundaries and
communicating them,'
explains psychotherapist
Mark Vahrmeyer, from Brighton
and Hove Psychotherapy. 'It is far
better to face the reality of what you're
able to offer and to ring-fence that with
boundaries to keep the peace, than
to risk resenting yourself and others,'
he says, adding, 'Even if you have family
members who are unwilling to respect
your boundaries, you can set these for
yourself and hold them.'
Discuss concerns
Small ways to express your boundaries
include not saying yes to every single
invitation, task and request. For
example, it's OK to say you're too tired
to come over on Boxing Day. And if
you're hosting, you're doing exactly
that - you're not staff. Guests with fussy
children can bring some of their own
food, in-laws can fix their own drinks,
siblings can contribute to lunch, and
the kids can put discarded wrapping
paper in bin bags.
In the lead-up to the holidays, start
by discussing any concerns with your
partner or a close family member, as
they can encourage others to muck in
- and give them a proverbial 'kick up
the bum' - and act as a buffer between
you and difficult relatives. 'Asking
them to support you in steering
conflictual remarks or topics of
conversation onto safer ground can be
a helpful approach,' says Mark.
And talking of conflictual remarks, these
are often fuelled by booze. A variety of
characters, with a dose of alcohol thrown
in, can become a rather volatile mix,' adds
Mark. 'If your family is prone to creating
an environment that feels explosive, then
adding alcohol will only impair your ability
to look after yourself.' While it's much
harder to prevent other people from
drinking, you can keep an eye on your
own intake - particularly if you're more
emotional after a few glasses of eggnog.
J J hip in kindness
Ultimately, self-care doesn't stop simply
because it's Christmas. 'If and when
conflict does happen, perhaps the most
important thing is to wrap ourselves in
kindness,' says Lucy. 'Family relationships
are complex, and although we don't
see it on social media feeds, arguments
between family members are common.'
Rather than trying to have a perfect
Christmas - or perfect family - she
advises accepting that mixed feelings
about relationships are natural. Being
related to someone does not mean you
have to like them, but you can tolerate
them for a short period of time and show
the same respect you expect others to
show you. Knowing this, and that their
presence is only temporary, should help
to fill your heart with a little festive joy. »
ТОИЖ
HAPPINESS
MATTE IRS
A lifetime of blurred boundaries
with family members may
manifest as, 'lots of worrying
and guilt felt for others/ says
integrative psychotherapist
Billie Dunlevy. As much as we
try to put loved ones first, it's
helpful to remember that you
are not responsible for the
feelings of another person.
TL RN 01 ER FOR THE
PRACTICAL TIPS THAT
CAN HELP...
tips can help to keep everyone (including yourself)
at peace this Christmas
j
к
о
о
о
3
IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, SEE YOUR G₽
о
Feel like you're going to explode?
Box- (or square-) breathing reduces
anxiety quickly. If someone is getting
on your nerves, try this:
Close your mouth. Breathe in
slowly and deeply through your
nose, counting to four.
Hold your breath for
four seconds.
Through pursed lips, breathe
out for four seconds.
Pause for four seconds, repeat.
MAKE A PLAN
Hosting? Email or text a plan - so it's
there in black and white - to minimise
festive stress and reduce unwanted
communication. 'That way, people j
know what's happening and what's I
expected - for example, do they
need to bring food, who's doing I
what,' says Dee Holmes, clinical ’
services manager at Relate (relate.
org.uk). Allow for flexibility, though, as
guests may need to feed children, take
medication or rest. The same applies
to gift-giving - a competitive sport for
some. 'A major source of conflict around
Christmas is spending on presents,' says
Mark. 'Anticipate this and attempt to
reach consensus on a budget, or state
your budget in advance, so others know
what to expect.'
TAKE A BEAT
There are strategies that could be
helpful to have ready, says Lucy. 'For
example, if your uncle is going to talk
about a contentious political issue, stay
calm by taking deep breaths and trying
not to engage in that conversation.'
Breathing exercises are tried-and-
tested ways to relieve anger or A
anxiety - see left for our
recommendation.
FIND AN ALLY
On the verge of telling your belligerent
brother-in-law to go suck an egg? A
subtle moan in a trusted person's ear or
texting a friend can alleviate frustration.
But be cautious of focusing on just one
person. 'You may have favourites, but
it's good to not show that!' says Dee.
USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE
If you can't avoid an event, you can limit
the amount of time you spend there. Think
about how you say it. Try to phrase things
positively,' says Dee. Aim to convey excitement
about seeing loved ones, but include a succinct
explanation as to why your visit will be short.
Dee suggests statements such as 'I enjoy
l seeing everyone but I'm not an evening
person so won't stay late' or 'It'll be J
better if we come after the baby's
nap, so we can enjoy the	J
afternoon together.'	jr
BE THE BIGGER PERSON
In potentially explosive situations,
backing down isn't a sign of weakness.
'Decide whether it's in your best
interests to try and win the fight with
that drunk uncle, or to remain calm and
focus on how to spend the rest of the
day once family are out of your hair,'
। advises Mark. 'There's no guarantee
conflict won't be on the table,' adds
Lucy. 'But we cannot control others,
we can only try to control ourselves.'
CREATE SOME SPACE
A short walk, lie-down, or even
daydreaming during conversations
can be the difference between coping
and losing your cool. 'Taking time out,
whether slowing down and disengaging,
or physically taking a breather outside,
are ways of creating emotional and
psychological space,' says Mark. Keep
visits with tricky relatives under three
hours. If you've travelled a long way,
consider a hotel rather than staying over
- peace of mind will justify the cost.
о
I
118 womanandhomw.com
Efamol
NEW ZEALAND
Meet one of our
Rigel Evening
Primrose Farmers
Perfected
Efamol
We've grown our unique Evening Primrose seeds at the same
farms in New Zealand and the Netherlands for the last 40 years.
Their unique climates and nutrient rich soil create the perfect
growing conditions for our pure GLA rich golden oil.
Trusted by 1000's of women every month.
Pure Evening
Primrose Oil
Find out how you can trace
5 our Pure Evenin9 Primrose Oil
И ' bock to the farm it grew on
I Only Efamol uses
our unique Rigel
seed containing
33% more GLA
ULTRA STUB NOT*	|
Pure Evening
Primrose Oil
• a •	LOOKING SKIN
- Llf inCELMtOWIWlXMOer II
30 X 100OMG CAKUU	jjq M 500MC
3 for 2 at Boots
Instore | boots.com | App
Cheapest	МкиогаШИу AwttfcM tarper tabs»» The o< used saret>eKraded trow яеоаЬа»«кйдвЫп1чРп1пие the stsds of wW cont» «ttJJSiw
Food su»iew«s ihoJc not tie used к a sutetrue •a t Marred Ж t> ъмч Westyle
★
. Ire you an
EMOTIONAI
SPENDER?
Learn your triggers to get a handle on those splurges
etting swept along with
festive stress and massively
overspending? Hitting the
high street to soothe your
frazzled nerves? You're not alone.
More than 40%* of us say we feel
pressure to make Christmas 'extra
special' - and while most of us can't
avoid the checkouts this month, it's
even easier to fall into a cycle
of purchasing highs, followed
later by lows of guilt, worry,
sadness and shame. Take i
the test to see how your Л
feelings control your bank I
balance, and learn the
tricks to stop emotional ’
shopping in its tracks.
of Brits admit they have 'no
idea' how much they spend
on impulse purchases
that are fuelled by
к their feelings**. J
TAKE OUR QUIZ
Circle the answer that most sounds like you, then add up your score.
IHow do you feel when
looking at your bank
account this month?
A Embarrassed by how much
you've gone into the red.
В Happy. You're managing to
stick to your budget.
C Who really looks at their
bank account?!
(Jb Do you find
yourself getting
1 X into arguments with
your partner about your
spending habits?
A Rarely.
В Sometimes.
CAII the time.
2 You're feeling
overwhelmed by
tasks, and a little
run-down. What do you do?
A Phone a friend for a chat.
They'll help you to put
everything into perspective.
В Buy yourself a gift! A bit
of spending helps to calm
you down.
C Take the family out to a fancy
restaurant. Splurging on good
food improves your mood.
4 If you're going
shopping for a
Christmas party
outfit, how do you decide
what you will buy?
A It depends on how you're
feeling, really, and whether or
not there's a sale.
В You simply get whatever
looks amazing on you.
C You'll only tend to buy
something new if there's
nothing suitable in your
wardrobe that you can wear.
W What type of saver
"X are you throughout
1 the year?
A OK. You make regular
payments into a savings
account, although perhaps
not every month.
В Good. Without fail, you save
the same amount each month.
C Hopeless. You never seem
to be able to save anything.
How do you feel when
к you're ticking off your
" festive shopping list?
A Slightly excited - you love
buying gifts, tree decorations,
the works!
В Het up - your heart is racing
and your palms are sweaty.
C Calm and collected
- everything is a carefully
considered purchase. »
120 womanandhomc.com
health quiz
'It's easy to fall
into a cycle of
purchasing
highs, followed
by lows of guilt
and shame
THE RESULTS
Check just how much you think of your credit card.
A2, BO, C1
C1
7Ге all buy things
based on how
zverejeelingfrom
time to rime
Yoii'ivpirtly iniie/i under control
You stick to your budget and buy what you need rather than
spending money to deal with difficult feelings. Want to stay on
track with your Christmas shopping? Check your gift list before
you head out and avoid 'just looking' in any other shops that
catch your eye. We all buy things based on how we're feeling
from time to time, but the key is to make sure that it's not
happening too often and becoming a habit we can't afford
or that makes us feel bad. 'Spending becomes dangerous
when we use it as a coping mechanism to regulate our
emotions,' says consultant psychologist Dr Elena Touroni***.
'Some people shop to mask difficult emotions such as stress,
boredom, anxiety and self-esteem.'
) bn let emotions get the better of you
Being more mindful and understanding the root cause of
overspending is the first step to breaking the cycle - work
out whether you're subconsciously trying to cover up certain
feelings. Are you buying unnecessary items to deal with grief?
Have you had an argument with your partner? Or maybe the
chaos of Christmas is getting too much. 'Getting an idea of your
triggers will help you to understand what emotions you're trying
to mask,' says Dr Touroni. If you realise that you're shopping to
avoid feelings, take a step back - whether that’s leaving the
shop to call a friend, or turning off your device and getting
outside for a walk. A breath of air or connecting with loved ones
can help clear your mind and boost feel-good hormones, which
will dampen down your desire to spend for emotional release.

О I
Your spending is triggered by your mood
When we treat ourselves or indulge others, levels of our reward
neurotransmitter in the brain surge. 'Shopping gives us a
dopamine "high" in much the same way as drugs like cocaine,
opiates and nicotine,' says Dr Touroni. That's why, for some
people, it can become addictive.' The problem comes when,
after this momentary rush, overspenders are left with a sense of
guilt that makes them feel much worse. Dr Touroni suggests
writing a 'pros and cons' list and mulling over your purchase.
Creating a coping 'toolbox' can help you to avoid the
temptation. Fill it with inexpensive items that will soothe
you, such as a relaxing candle, a book and a warming tea.
I
P
i?
h
38
0
11
Advertisement
Cool Joints+ helps Angela to keep moving
We all know the importance of keeping active
and mobile. However, forthose burdened with
joint discomfort, the thought of increasing
activity levels may seem daunting.
Certainly retired secondary
school teacher, Angela
Finch, 72, from Oxfordshire,
felt that way.
'I read about Cool Joints*
and wanted to give it a try
as I was interested to learn
more about Boswellia and
how it can help support
joints. I also really liked
the science behind the
supplement.
‘I really noticed the
difference in my hands in
particular, which can be
quite uncomfortable and
stiff when I wake up in the
mornings.
After taking Cool Joints* I
really noticed they felt much
more relaxed, I feel it really
helps keep me moving. I can
pinpoint how effective it is
as I noticed the difference
after about three weeks -
it's amazing.'
Cool Joints* contains
a highly absorbable
combination of sunflower
lecithin and Boswellia
serrata, a natural extract
from the Indian frankincense
tree that can help to keep
joints cool and comfortable *
Dr Miriam Ferrer PhD, head
of product development
at FutureYou Cambridge,
the company that created
Cool Joints*, explains:
'Boswellic acids are poorly
absorbed by the body, so we
have combined them with
lecithin phospholipids which
increases absorption by up
to four times compared with
other standard extracts.
They can also get absorbed
15 to 2 hours faster.'
FREE joint supplements
Leading Cambridge company offering
scientifically proven joint supplements for free.
* Just pay £1.50 towards postage.
FutureYou Cambridge, the
nutraceutical company known
for its highly-researched
nutritional supplements, is
offering the first box of its
health supplement, Cool
Joints*, to new customers
for free.
Happy customers have been
taking to Trustpilot, the
independent online review
platform, to confirm the
products effectiveness
‘I take this everyday in the
morning.. Absolutely so
‘I take this everyday in the morning... Absolutely so delighted. I can actually
do 10,000 steps now where I couldn't even walk around the block.*
delighted. I can actually
do 10,000 steps now
where I couldn’t even
walk around the block.'
said one five star
reviewer. 'Very good
product. Does what it
says on the packet.' says
another.
on developing support for
people's joint health, and it’s
great to see more people
now becoming aware of
the untapped potential of
boswellia. Too many people
suffer in silence with hot joints
Adam Cleevely,
FutureYou Cambridge’s Chair,
explains the thinking behind
the offer:
'We've focused much of our
time, energy and expertise
FutureYou
Coo» Joints*
HOWTO
CLAIM YOUR
FREE PACK
To claim your free
28 day Cool Joints+
subscription trial pack
worth £19, visit
FutureYouOffers.co.uk
or freephone
0800 808 5740
quoting code
CJF398
Your first box is free (just pay £1.50
pottage) and you wiH be enrolled into
a flexible subscription coating £19
every 28 days, which you can cancel
at anytime, without obligation.
Letterbox
Friendly
Developed
In Cambridge
Science you
can trust
1OO% satisfaction,
guaranteed
Award-winning
Customer Care
★ Trustpilot
□ □□□□
EXCELLENT
Over 8,500 reviews
FutureYou
CAMBRIDGE
’Cool Joints* contains Boswellia «errata RESIN which helps to keep joints cool and comfortable [on hold claim ID:4000] and
manganese, which contributes to the normal formation of connective tissue. Introductory offer valid for new UK customers only. Offer
expires 30th November 2023 Cancel any time, without obligation See FutureYouHealth com/CJF398 for full terms and conditions
та §
Got a medical problem or need health advice? Ask GP Dr Pixie McKenna
STATINS MUST BE TAKEN AT NIGHT
FACT ©Gt FICTION?
ys seem to get cystitis at
tmas. Is there any way to
id it or should I ask my GP
for some advance antibiotics?
s new girlfriend is coming
stmas dinner. She's coeliac.
never catered for her before
pride myself on my festive
you advise?
+ Festive cystitis
+ Winter
vomiting bug
+ Coeliac guest
101U'
HEALTH
Thankfully, turkey is gluten-free!
But, after that, it gets tricky. Gravy
(from a stock cube), stuffing and
cocktail sausages may all contain gluten.
But, don't panic - plan. You can still offer
her 'turkey and all the trimmings' if you
buy gluten-free produce in advance.
Look for the gluten-free symbol on
the packaging. If a product contains
gluten, by law it has to be declared.
Beware the print is often small, so make
sure you don't misinterpret or misread it.
If you haven't time or have already
bought your Christmas rations, just
Taking meds at night can sometimes
lead to patients missing a dose
if they have been up late socialising
or travelling - two common
activities at Christmas.
The time you take your statin
and how effective it will be is very
much dependent on the type of
statin. Drugs called Rosuvastatin
and Atorvastatin have longer
half-lives (the amount of time it
takes for half the dose to leave
make sure you give your guest
gluten-free stuffing and gravy, and
avoid offering pigs in blankets.
If you have already made or sourced
your pudding, mince pies and
Christmas cake, then you will need
a gluten-free alternative for your
coeliac guest. It might seem
annoying but a rogue breadcrumb
or a contaminated serving spoon
could set off a chain reaction.
Where your turkey is concerned,
if it's pre-stuffed, it's not suitable for
coeliacs. In an ideal world, if you have
a coeliac guest, do a coeliac Christmas
dinner, then nobody is in doubt and
I can assure you the other diners won't
be able to taste the difference. This
means you'll have less washing-up,
as otherwise it's double the amount
of pots, pans and cooking utensils
if you want to avoid cross-contamination.
the body), so they stay in your
system longer than Simvastatin,
Pravastatin and Fluvastatin.
Your body makes most
cholesterol at night, so it would
make sense to have the peak
dose overnight. So, while you can
potentially take Rosuvastatin and
Atorvastatin at any time of the day,
you should ideally take the others
at night to make them most
effective at lowering LDL 'bad' fat.
Cystitis is a bladder
inflammation usually due
to infection - something
incredibly common at this time
of year. Alcohol, citrus juice,
caffeine, exhaustion, intercourse
and 'holding on' when you should
be taking a pee, can all predispose
you to it if you are prone.
Avoiding the aforementioned
triggers will help to prevent it
or at least enable it to pass faster.
Drink lots of water or cranberry
juice. While every piece of research
doesn't endorse its benefits,
it does no harm to drink it
- especially if it has worked before.
Remember to empty your
bladder after intercourse and, when
wiping, wipe from front to back.
You can buy cystitis sachets at
the pharmacy, which help neutralise
your urine and reduce symptoms,
while you wait for it to resolve
- normally a few days.
Blood in the urine, fever or severe
pain suggest you need to see the
GR However, if your symptoms are
solely those of frequent urination
and mild discomfort, you should
be able to manage with cystitis
sachets and fluids alone - pop
a paracetamol for any discomfort.
и
i

h
I!
1 24 womenandhomc.com
тог
way for a weekend and have
ck with a stomach bug.
t sure how I caught it, but my
end has had the winter vomiting
lly need to shake this,
given the time of year!
A Norovirus is one of the most
/Ж common causes of a stomach
X Ж. bug and it peaks during winter
- hence its name, the winter vomiting
bug. Sickness, vomiting and diarrhoea
come on a couple of days after you've
been in contact with the infection, and
they tend to last for 48 hours.
Any contact ranging from a handshake
to sharing a towel with an infected
individual can make you vulnerable
to norovirus. Coming into contact with
contaminated surfaces or foodstuffs
can also result in you falling victim to it.
Sadly, there's no cure, but rehydration
is key, so consider getting some
rehydration sachets from the pharmacy.
Give antidiarrhoeal medicine a miss,
as it may do little more than serve to
block you up as you start to get better.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap
and water, and deep-clean the bathroom.
Unless you want to ruin everyone's start
to 2024, keep a low profile for 48 hours
after your last loose stool.
Q&A
MIXING MEDS WITH
CHRISTMAS DINNER
The festive season is well and
truly upon us and, for most, the
pinnacle is that big family feast.
While I am no cordon bleu chef,
I do know it's important to 'know
your audience'. Those sat around
the dinner table can often be a
mixed bunch, with various medical
ailments and dietary needs.
When dishing out alcohol, avoid
topping up the glasses of elderly
or diabetic guests. They usually
know their limits and are much
more sensitive to the side effects.
Avoid cranberry and grapefruit
juices, as they can interact with
medications, ie some cholesterol-
lowering drugs, so stick to soft
drinks, ideally decaffeinated and
sugar-free. Carbonated water may
be in vogue but for IBS sufferers,
it often worsens symptoms. Opt
for plain tap water with no ice.
Red cabbage and cranberry
sauce may irritate IBS sufferers'
guts or make reflux symptoms
worse, so have an alternative on
offer where possible. The same
is true for the bowel-stimulating
Brussels sprouts, so be prepared
for bloating and flatulence.
Don't pile plates high and give
guests time to savour their food
rather than scoff it. If you are
a fan of spice and rich food,
remember everyone may not
be. Have something like boiled
potatoes or fruit salad ready for
those not wanting to overindulge.
Finally, when it comes to wine,
the higher the concentration of
substances called congers in the
fermentation process, the greater
the hangover. They also pose a
greater risk if you are a migraine
sufferer or prone to hives. The
best advice is to sip not slug!
womanandhome.com 125

Reach your ideal
weight with
JANfe PLAN
w&h readers save on healthy, balanced
dishes delivered to your door
STARTYOUR HEIGHT-LOSS
JOURNEY HTML.
+ Delicious, perfectly portioned,
100% preservative-free meals - you
simply heat and eat.
+ Ongoing support from friendly,
professional nutritionists.
+ A monthly plan, which includes 28
breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks.
+ Over 100,000 happy Jane Planners who
have enjoyed more than 30 million meals.
i (I loose a plan that suits
I vour weight-loss needs
P~.............-..............
i WEIGHT-LOSS RECOMMENDED W&H
GOAL	PLAN PRICE
A few lbs or more 1 MONTH £259 £309
2st or more 3 MONTHS £349 £269
3stormore 6 MONTHS £249 £199
SAVE £100
PLUS
AN EXTRA
£50 FOR
W&H READERS*
Use the code WH1223
at janeplan.com
or call 0800 612 8268
TERMS AND CONDITIONS *Save £100 offer applies to six-month plan. An extra £50 off for w&h readers applies to all Lose and Learn plans, and indudes free
standard delivery. A surcharge may apply to Highlands, Islands and weekend deliveries. Code cannot be combined with any other offer and doses 29 February 2024.
Offer operated by and your resulting contract is with Jane Plan Ltd, a business wholly independent of woman&home, published by Future pic.
L
&»
ll
S
й
ll
У
'W' Ж- Tetching too much TV
W W gets a bad rep, but we
Ж Ж	all know that a huge part
▼ ▼	of Christmas is plenty of
sofa time with your favourite films on
repeat. The good news is that being
glued to the box this month can bring
surprising wellbeing benefits. Ready
to grab the remote and ditch the
guilt? Here's what you need to know.
1 IT CAN HELP
1 YOU RELAX
Spend December racing
around? Flopping in
front of the TV can be
an antidote for festive
burnout. 'Watching
television serves as
a form of escapism and
can provoke a sense of
calm/ says Smriti Joshi, lead
psychologist at Wysa. 'Studies
indicate that it can lower cortisol levels
- elevated levels of this hormone in the
body are associated with stress and
One
/ноге episode?
Avoid staying up too late
to watch TV. Adequate
shut-eye is essential for
mental and physical i
health. Z
anxiety.' Interestingly, even high-drama
shows can offer de-stressing benefits.
Cl YOU WILL FEEL
Z COMFORTED
Watching your favourite Christmas
classics again and again gives a sense
of comfort and predictability, in
an otherwise unpredictable world.
'Knowing the outcome of a story
provides a feeling of safety, triggering
warm feelings of nostalgia,'
says Smriti. Your favourite
films and shows can also
create a strong sense
of connection, helping
to beat loneliness, says
research*. More so if they
revolve around relatable
situations or characters
that feel like old friends.
Q IT COULD INCREASE
О EMPATHY
'Television gives us insight into different
perspectives, cultures and experiences,'
says Smriti. All without leaving your
home. 'Seeing characters navigate
emotions, relationships and situations
that are different from our own can boost
our practice of empathy, leading to more
of it in real-life interactions.'
| YOU MAY SNACK MORE
1/ While having one hand in the
tub of chocs is perfectly reasonable
at Christmas, research shows that we
overindulge when eating in front of
the TV, leading to unwanted weight
gain. Keen to limit your grazing? Eat
your evening meal before you settle
on the sofa and, if you do want to nibble,
choose healthier snacks, such as plain
popcorn, nuts and vegetable sticks.
r YOU CAN HAVE
<7 A GOOD GIGGLE
Need a boost? Choose a comedy.
'Laughing out loud to funny movies
releases endorphins, the chemicals
that promote feelings of pleasure
and also reduce pain,' says Smriti.
womanandhomc.com 127
w^h
The buffet tricks
YOU NEED
TO KNOW
This month, our expert Annie Deadman
shares her tips for making sensible food
choices - and enjoying the Christmas fun
If you're no stranger to this
column, you'll know that I'm a
great believer in keeping an eye
on our health, strength, fitness
and shape - most of the time. That's
so you can avoid doing one of those
unrealistic, miserable, restrictive
diet plans to purge yourself of
your supposed sins. For we, lovely
readers, are devotees of moderation,
occasionally saying 'no thanks',
making sensible food choices, going
large on protein and light on sugar,
then throwing caution and control to
the wind now and then, and ordering
what we like.
Obviously, we're all human and there
are times throughout the year when we
tighten things up, apply more discipline
and control to get a) back on track and
b) into our favourite trousers. But, yikes,
December is looming. Any minute now,
our early nights, gym routines, three-
meals-a-day-no-TV-snacking pledges
and 20-minute daily yoga practice
will be replaced by parties, drinks
dos, neighbours' annual
invites, loafing, lounging,
scrolling, anything and
everything 'because
it's Christmas'.
It's a time for the
untightening of belts
(metaphorically and otherwise), and the
cherry on the top of that lot is the festive
buffet. The help-yourself. The no one's
looking. The not-really-hungry-it's
’Pile it up
and eat
once and
only once'
just-because-it's-there
buffet. This is when we have
to call on our powers of
purpose and self-restraint.
It's easier than you think. Try
these simple steps:
1 TAKE TWO In the week
running up to the
occasion, eat just two meals
per day. A brunch and a dinner. Plenty
of protein and veg. Two pieces of fruit
a day and one dose of complex carbs
like oats, wholegrain rice or potatoes
with skins on. That will give you some
credit in the calorie bank.
MOVE IT Keep to your usual
fitness regime and your daily step
count. Moving your body keeps your
motivation and resolve stimulated
through this potentially tricky time.
HEAP IT HIGH On the day of the
party, eat normally during the day
(it's fatal to arrive hungry), then
when it's time to attack the
aforementioned buffet,
take a plate, pile it up and
eat once and only once.
Avoid the temptation
to finger-dip all evening
(anything nicked off your partner's plate
falls into that category).
1 CHOOSE WISELY Pastry foods
4 will obviously score highly on the
bloat-o-meter, as will that
'no-idea what's in it' punch.
No one's asking you
to nibble on a radish
all evening, just give the
beige stuff a wide berth.
EASE UP Glugging
back the fizz when you
arrive will hit your resolve
on the back of the knees, so consider
something low-alcohol to start until you
can line your stomach. If you're anything
like me, two glasses on an empty turn,
and you can't remember whether you're
hungry or not, nor do you care!
GSAY NO TO A WEIGH-IN Lastly,
stay away from the scales. They
are an incorrect way of assessing
both weight gain and weight loss, but
they will do a magnificent job of messing
up your head.
+ Annie is a fat-loss and fitness coach,
and creator oftheblastplan.com, which
is an online programme of exercise
and nutrition guidance aimed at midlife
women. Follow her on Instagram
@anniedeadman for health tips and
lots of laughs too.

Get into the habit of going for a brisk
walk after dinner. This will not only
reduce blood glucose levels (a win for our
health and fat stores), but it also helps
draw a natural line under eating for that
day and avoids TV snacking habits. Striding
through well-lit streets at the end
of the day is a great way to catch
up on podcasts or your latest
audio book.
JNMESJYS
Cinnamon is
an antioxidant.
Sprinkle some on
breakfast to help
defend against
Tvinter illnesses.
3 MOLES FOR PARTY-DRESS ARMS
These three simple exercises help firm up shoulders and sculpt arms. Choose a weight to challenge
you and do 10-15 reps per exercise, two rounds, two to three times a week.
1 First up, bicep curls. Hold dumb-
bells by your side with palms facing
forwards. Keeping the elbows still
and upper arms glued to your ribs,
bring the weights slowly up towards the
shoulders and slowly back down, tensing
your tricep at the end of the rep.
i	Next, tricep extensions. Either
j	kneeling or standing, hold two
dumb-bells above your head
i then, keeping elbows above shoulders,
; bend the arms to take weights slowly
: behind your head. Straighten arms,
; tensing your tricep, to finish the rep.
(Jb Finally, lateral raises. Start with
your arms by your side, then
Я. J slowly lift them up to just above
collarbone height. Return slowly without
touching your leggings, so that the
tension remains. Squeeze glutes to
protect the lower back.
womanandhomc.com 129
г
Complete this coupon and send to:
FREEPOST Future Publishing Limited
(No further address needed. No stamp required - for UK only)
YES! I would like to subscribe to woman&home
Magazine size: Tick for travel version □ Tick for standard version □
Please tick your preferred payment method:
□	UK Direct Debit Pay only £39.99 every
12 months, saving 42% (full price £69.60)
□	UK 2-year cheque/cash/credit or debit card: Pay only
£79.99, saving 42% (full price £139.20)
□	UK 1 -year cheque/cash/credit or debit card: Pay only
£44.99, saving 35% (full price £69.60)
YOUR DETAILS
Mrs/Miss/Ms/Mr:	Forename:
Surname:
Address:
Postcode:
Home tel no (inc area code):
Mobile:
Email address:
By submitting yow information, you agro* to our Privacy Policy available at www.futureplc.com/privacy51olcy/.
Р1еам keep me up to date with (pedal often and newt from woman&home and other brands within the
Future Pubfishing Ltd Group by □ emai. □ post, □telephone and/or □ SMS. You can unaubacrbe at any time.
JTelcome to
/ woman&home!
Ш Ш / I hope you are
w	Ш	enjoying this issue,
▼	»	packed with
beauty, fashion news, expert health
advice, style tips, recipes, great
reads and so much more. At woman&home we aim
to celebrate, empower, represent and inspire real
women like you. So, why not become part of
our family and treat yourself to woman&home
delivered to your door every month? Even better, it's
a fantastic deal. We can't wait to hear from you and
have you on board.	।	।
I WOULD LIKE TO SEND A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION TO
M.atHloelbathltemeealutott&tMiaeadthe'Wdetib-wdwadwwtofwa.aowthaaonaluIncnp.an.piMiegiwaidnMdaMtoaa
«pear sherl
Mrs/Miss/Ms/Mr:Forename:
Surname:
Address:
HANNAH FERNANDO
Group editor, woman&home
hannah.femando@futurenetcom
_______________________________________Postcode:_____________
Choose from three easy ways to pay:
1	CHEQUE PAYMENT (SEE PRICES. ABOVE)
I endose a cheque/postal order made payable to Future Publishing Limited
for the total off_________
2	CARD PAYMENT (SEE PRICES. ABOVE)
Please debit £from my:
□ visa Dvisa Debit О MasterCard ПЛтех
с-иппншшпшп] Е«₽;гУа...т/ш
SUBSCRIBER
BENEFITS
+ The gift of woman&home
month after month
Signature (I am over 18):Date:
3 UK DIRECT DEBIT: PAY ONLY £39.99 EVERY 12 MONTHS,
SAVING 42% (FULL PRICE £69.60)
IwoHkauMoniyOngmitor sMarence 17JSM
Name of bank:
Address of bank:
______________________________________Postcode:____________________________
Name of account holder:____________________________________________________
Sort code: Ш-Ш-Ш Account no: Г~1 I I Д I Д
hstru(»onto^urbjnko<huJdnq®(H, Heaupa,M(guineDiie<tiromthriaain<M^edo(ti<sln4rvc1io№iibpdtothrsdr9uards«w<e<il>,
IhrDmclDthtGiaiM*» lurximt»dth»nharntn»<*mnuyrwiuinw*h»*4*rn<it>rr<Hnd.iho.<kUihwdb«p«i«lrirctran<rilytow,binla
hridwfswwty
Inspiring women like you...
*
+ Pay less than you would
in the shops
+ Never miss an issue with
convenient home delivery
+ Delivered in plastic-free
paper wrap

Signature (I amover 18):
Date:
Q Plea$4 keep me up to d at e with special offers and news just by email from carefully selected
companies. Your personal details will not be shared with those companies - we send the emails and
you can unsubscribe at any time.
Offer closes 31 January 2024. Offer open to new UK subscribers only. *£39.99 payable every 12 months
by UK Direct Debit Please alow up to six weeks for delivery of your first subscription issue. The full
subscription rate is for 12 months (12 issues), and indudes postage and packaging. If the magazine
ordered changes frequency per annum, we will honour the number of issues paid for. not the term of the
subscription. All gift subscriptions wil start with the first available issue on sale after December 2023. If
you would like your gift subscription to start with an earlier issue, you can choose an earter issue Mien
ordering or you can contact customer services. Orders purchased for yourself will start with the next
available issue. Forful terms and conditions, visit www.magabnesdirect.com/terms. For enquiries and
overseas rates please call: *44 (0) 330 333 1113. Ones are open Monday-Friday 8 30am-7pm. and Saturday
10am-3pm UK time, or email: helpOmagazinesdirect.com.
Calls to 0330 numbers will be c barged at no more than a national landline call and r—-	-
may be included in your phone provider's call bundle	I XWHCODEXJ71
Home ideas
Gorgeous fashion
Makeyour ('hristnuu пни
<25л
25л
fCOlSTDOHS
'Of CHRISTM1S
F Your stress-free pbn
CRACKING
BREADS!
b IIm ImmA knrr's
fifcflfili guide
LA JSF \Dq
‘Bcconinga
ртап<1та will Ik*
|Im* ultimate gift
SORTED!
PLUS Jon our I
This supercharged Swiss developed
anti-aging cream is an all-in-one facial
rejuvenating best-seller. It's enriched
with wrinkle-rewinders, instant lifters,
complexion brighteners, elasticity
enhancers, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants,
pollution-blockers, moisture-plumpers,
free radical battlers, stem cell
re-energizers and powerful plant actives.
Suitable for all skin types to help
regenerate skin.
ULTIMATE ANTI-AGING CREAM
VISIBLY LIFTING FIRMING FLUMFlhlG
WITH FLANT HOACIIVtS & HYALURONIC ЛС.Й,
SUBSCRIPTION OFFER
YEAR FOR T39.99
Exclusively for woman&home readers, Beauty Pie, the members club
r FREE
GIFT
WORTH
<£120
BEAUTY PIE
SUPER HEALTHY SKIN
ANTI-AGING CREAM
revolutionising the way we shop for beauty, are offering one month
membership for FREE (worth £10) and £10 off your first order
so you can enjoy up to 70% off award-winning luxury skincare,
make-up, bodycare, haircare, nutrition and more! Just scan the
OR code to activate your membership and get shopping!

SUBSCRIBE NOW
VISIT WOMANANDHOME.COM/DEC23
COMPLETE THE FREEPOST POSTAL COUPON TO THE LEFT
OR CALL 0330 333 1113 AND QUOTE CODE XJ71
Lines open Mon-Fri 8.30am-7pm. and Sat 10am-3pm, UK time. Calls will be charged at no more than a national landline cal and may be induded in yoir phone provider's cal bundle.
THE MtKT Dear GIARANTU This Guarantee в offered by all banks andbaiMIng societies that accept ers (ructions to pay OeeclOetets llthereare urf changes to the amount, dale or frequency of your Direct OebiL Magazines Direct null notify you 3 working
day tin advance of your account being drbiied or as oihermse agreed llyou request Magazines Direct to coked a payment. <onflrmatron of the amount and date ml be given toyou al the time of the request (an «rar is made in the payment of у our Dited Debt
by Magazines Direct or your bank or build mg society, you are entitled Io a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. I you receive a refund you are not entitled Io. you must pay it Nek «Aen Magazines Deed asks you to.
you can caned a Direct Debrtat any time by simply contacting your bank or building society Written cootrnation may be required Please also notify us
From the makers of
wnman»hnmA
100+ recipes Light bites & delicious lunches
Family dinners made easy Tasty sweet treats
4- Speedy snacks & sides
Huy urne in ha rd buck'.. ! railable a!
WAITROSE
amazon.com magazinesdirect.com
Tasty recipes & amazing ideas
FOOD
Much of our menu can be prepared in
advance, leaving you time to sit back with
a glass of fizz and enjoy the festivities
Treacle lari
mince pies
Treacle
tart mince
pies
Warming ginger
adds a hint of spice.
MAKE AHEAD Make up to 3 days
ahead and chill - serve cold or warm
them in the oven.
Makes 12 • Prep 30 mins, plus chilling
and cooling • Cook 25 mins
For the pastry:
100g unsalted butter, softened
50g caster sugar
1 medium free-range egg
200g plain flour
For the filling:
100g brioche, blitzed to fine
breadcrumbs
200g golden syrup
Zest 1 2 3 4 5/2 lemon
1 medium egg, beaten
1 ball stem ginger, finely chopped,
plus TZztbsp of the syrup from the jar
8tbsp good-quality mincemeat
Icing sugar, for dusting
You will need:
12-cup muffin tray, 10.5cm round cutter
1 For the pastry, cream the butter and
caster sugar together until pale. Add the
egg and, once combined, mix in the flour
until smooth. Chill for 30 mins.
2 Roll the pastry between 2 sheets of
baking paper to a 3mm thickness. Cut
out discs; re-roll and repeat with the
offcuts. Ease each round of pastry into
the muffin tin and freeze for 20 mins.
3 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6.
Mix all the filling ingredients, except
the mincemeat, in a bowl.
4 Once firm, trim the tart cases flat and
; fill each with 2tsp mincemeat then top
with 2tbsp treacle mixture. Bake for 25
mins until set and the pastry is golden.
5 Cool in the tin for 20 mins, then transfer
to a cooling rack and cool completely.
Serve dusted with icing sugar, if liked.
Per mince pie: 266 cals, 9g fat, 5g sat fat,
41g carbs
1 34 womenandhomc.com
Smoked salmon
latkes
This impressive canape is a guaranteed
crowd-pleaser. Serve with a glass of fizz.
MAKE AHEAD Cook the potato up
to 3 days ahead and reheat in the
oven prior to serving.
Makes 36 (4-6 per person) • Prep 1 hr,
plus cooling, and overnight setting
• Cook 1 hr
For the potatoes:
750g Maris Piper potatoes, peeled
and sliced to 2mm with a mandoline
3tbsp chives, snipped
200ml creme fraiche or double cream
Oil for shallow-frying
For the assembly:
100ml creme fraiche
100g smoked salmon, cut into strips
1tbsp caviar (optional)
You will need:
1.2ltr (19x9cm) loaf tin, lined
with baking paper
1 Heat the oven to 190C Fan/Gas ЬУг. Put
the potato slices in a bowl with the chives,
creme fraiche, 1tsp fine sea salt and a few
grinds of pepper. Carefully toss together.
2 Build up layers of potato in the lined tin
so each slice overlaps. Cover with baking
paper and then foil. Bake for 1 hr.
3	Remove the foil and set aside to cool
for 30 mins. Chill and compress the
potatoes overnight by weighing the top
down with something heavy. We used
another loaf tin filled with jars.
4	The next day, turn the potato out onto
a board. Peel off the paper, cut 1cm-
1.5cm slices then cut each slice in thirds.
5	Го shallow-fry, cover the base of a
frying pan with oil over a medium heat.
Once hot, fry the potato in batches for
2-3 mins on each side until golden. Avoid
moving them as they cook. Adjust the
temperature so the oil sizzles, but
doesn't smoke. Or cook in an air fryer
at 200C for 15 mins.
6	Arrange the potatoes on a serving
plate and top with a dollop of cream and
a piece of salmon and caviar if you like.
Per canape: 65 cals, 5g fat, 2g sat fat,
4g carbs »
I IP Use a
mandoline or the
thinnest slicing
discon a food
processor to
cut (he potato



the main event
Chicken
liver
terrine
A truly impressive
Christmas starter.
Serves 8 • Prep 25 mins • Cook
1 hr 10 mins, plus overnight chilling
30g unsalted butter
1	shallot, finely diced
2	garlic cloves, finely chopped
75ml brandy
600g rindless, boneless pork
shoulder, cubed
300g chicken livers, sinew removed
15g sage, very finely chopped
2tsp pink peppercorns, crushed
Zest 1 lemon
1 medium free-range egg, beaten
2 x 80g packs prosciutto
100g pistachios, roughly chopped
50g dried apricots, roughly chopped
50g dried cranberries, roughly
chopped
1tsp olive oil
Baby salad leaves, cornichons,
caperberries, mustard, to serve
You will need:
1.2ltr (20x11cm) loaf tin, lined with
cling film; meat thermometer
1 Melt the butter in a pan over a medium
low heat. Add the shallot and a pinch of
salt, and cook for 5 mins or until softened.
2 Add the garlic and brandy, and cook for
30 secs until the brandy has cooked off
slightly. Turn off the heat and set aside.
3 Put the pork into a food processor,
and pulse a few times. Add the shallot
mixture, chicken livers and sage.
Pulse until you have a coarse texture.
4 Tip the mix into a large bowl, then
stir through the peppercorns, lemon
zest, egg and a large pinch of salt.
5 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/ Gas 4. Lay
all but 2 prosciutto slices into the lined
tin, making sure they overlap. Ensure you
leave an overhang.
6 Press half of the mixture into the tin.
Sprinkle over the pistachios, apricots and
cranberries. Add the remaining mixture.
Press down firmly then lay the remaining
2 prosciutto slices lengthways across
the centre of the terrine. Fold the
overhanging edges into the middle of
the tin, so that the entire mix is encased.
7 Cover the top tightly with foil, and place
into a deep roasting tray. Pour in boiling
water so that it reaches halfway up the
sides of the tin. Put into the centre of the
oven for around 1 hr 10 mins. Test with a
meat thermometer; it should read 68-70C.
8 Cool slightly, remove from the tray and
pour away the fat from the tin. Firmly
weigh the terrine down, we used another
loaf tin filled with jars. Chill overnight.
9 To serve, take the terrine out of the tin,
remove the cling film and slice.
Per serving: 307 cals, 14g fat, 4g sat fat,
7g carbs
Simple salad to start
Fig and
Gorgonzola
salad
Kick off the meal with
a refreshing salad.
Serves 8 • Prep 15 mins
• Cook 3 mins
8 figs, sliced
240g Gorgonzola or Roquefort,
chopped
3-4 chicory leaves, separated
100g rocket
2 oranges, peeled, thinly sliced
150g pitted green olives, halved
100g blanched hazelnuts, toasted,
roughly chopped
For the dressing:
100ml olive oil
2 small shallots, finely chopped
2tbsp runny honey
2tbsp sherry vinegar
1tbsp finely chopped rosemary
1	For the dressing, heat the oil in a small
frying pan. Add the shallots and cook
for 2-3 mins over a medium heat until
softened. Stir in the honey, vinegar,
rosemary and a pinch of salt.
2	Assemble the salad ingredients on a
platter. Drizzle over the dressing; serve.
Per serving: 390 cals, 32g fat, 9g sat fat,
12g carbs
-1 Ical-li ve s/кпс stoppei'
Veggie Wellington
Serve this and wait for the oohs and
aahs. It will win over the meat eaters too.
Serves 8 • Prep 1 hr 5 mins
• Cook 40 mins
800g mixed beetroot, cut into 2.5cm
chunks (no need to peel, scrub well)
1 red onion, roughly chopped
Oil for drizzling and frying
1tsp ground allspice
2 bay leaves
100g chopped walnuts, whizzed in a
food processor to make rough chunks
200g baby chestnut mushrooms,
chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
250g pouch cooked puy lentils
50g semi-dried apricots, chopped
50g prunes, chopped
6 sage leaves, chopped
20g pack parsley, chopped
2tbsp pomegranate molasses
2tbsp cranberry sauce
Zest 1 lemon
250g halloumi, grated
2 x 320g sheets all-butter puff pastry
1 medium egg yolk, beaten
1	Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6. Put
the beetroot, onion, allspice and bay in a
roasting tin, with a drizzle of oil. Roast for
40 mins, tossing once or twice, until tender.
Transfer to a bowl; discard the bay.
2	Heat a frying pan and toast the walnuts.
Add to the bowl of veg, then add a splash
of oil to the pan and fry the mushrooms
until golden. Add the garlic for 2 mins, then
add to the veg. Stir in the lentils, dried
fruit, herbs, pomegranate molasses,
cranberry sauce, lemon zest and halloumi.
3	Unroll one sheet of pastry onto a lined
baking tray. Arrange the roast veg along
the length of the pastry in the middle,
leaving a border around the edge. Brush
the border with egg, then lay the second
sheet of pastry on top. Trim and seal by
crimping with a fork. Chill for 20 mins.
4	Brush with the beaten egg. Trim the
edge and use a sharp knife to score a
pattern into the pastry, being careful not
to cut through. Chill until ready to cook.
5	Cook at 180C Fan/Gas 6 for 40 mins.
Per serving: 652 cals, 39g fat, 16g sat fat,
52g carbs »
138 womanendhome.com
the main even'
*
(_ '/assic roast and allllic trinnningx
Turkey with port gravy
Cook the turkey upside down to avoid adding additional fat. The fat in the meat renders, making it extra succulent and juicy.
MAKEAHEA Prep the bird the
day before, taking it out of the fridge
2 hrs before cooking.
Serves 8-10 • Prep 20 mins • Cook 2 hrs
10 mins-2 hrs 35 mins, plus resting
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 whole turkey (a 4-5kg to serve 8-10)
1 lemon, halved
75ml white or red port, or wine
1	Put the sliced onion in the centre of
a large, deep-sided roasting tray. Make
sure any giblets are removed and check
the weight, then season the turkey with
sea salt, remove the trussing and put
the lemon halves inside. Place the turkey
breast side down onto the onions and
cover the tray with a foil tent.
2	Allow 1-2 hrs for the turkey to come
to room temperature. Heat the oven
to 160C Fan/Gas 4. To calculate the
cooking time, allow 25 mins per kg plus
30 mins (plus resting), so a 4kg bird will
cook for approximately 2 hrs 10 mins.
3	Two-thirds of the way through the
cooking time, turn the bird over and
baste, re-cover with the foil.
4	Half an hour before the end of the
cooking time, baste the bird again and
discard the foil. The best way to check
if the meat is cooked is to use a meat
thermometer: insert the probe into the
thickest part of the meat between the
leg and breast It's ready to take out of the
oven when the internal temperature reaches
at least 65C. Pour the juices from the cavity
into the roasting tray (keep for the gravy)
then transfer the turkey to a carving board
and rest, covered with foil, for 40 mins.
5	For the gravy, put the roasting tray onto
the hob over a high heat, bring the liquid to
a boil, add the port and reduce to a simmer.
Mix with a sauce whisk to scrape any
cooking bits from the tin. Add a ladle of
cooking water from the sprouts (or another
green veg) and mix. Simmer for 2 mins to
reduce the sauce and taste. Spoon the fat
off the top and strain into a gravy boat.
+ Turn to our Food edit on page 172 for
our leftover turkey tips.
Per 150g serving: 261 cals, 7g fat,
2g sat fat, 1g carbs
Large poultry like turkey and
g(X)se will stay hot lor 2 hours.
Resting the meat only makes it more
succulent so no need to rush
the main event
Cranberry sauce
Homemade cranberry sauce is
easy to make and not as sweet as
shop-bought versions.
MAKE AHEA Make 3 days in
advance, and store in the fridge.
Makes 250g • Ready in 15 mins
200g frozen cranberries
Zest and juice 2 oranges
50g muscovado sugar
50ml port
Put all the ingredients in a pan and
simmer for 15 mins until the sauce
is thick. Mix regularly to pop the
cranberries. Transfer to a dish to cool,
and store in the fridge until Christmas.
Per tablespoon (20g): 19 cals, 0g fat,
0g sat fat, 4g carbs
Bread sauce-stuffed onions
A simple side packed with flavour - and it looks pretty too.
MAKE AHEA Finish up to step 3,
re-warm the onions and grill with the
bread sauce before serving.
Makes 10 • Prep 30 mins
• Cook 1 hr 35 mins
5 small red onions, each approx
120-160g, unpeeled
30g unsalted butter
3 fresh bay leaves
For the bread sauce:
50g ciabatta or white bread, tom
into small pieces
200ml whole milk
50ml double cream
Large pinch ground allspice
half through the base. Peel off the papery
skin and pull out the inner petals leaving
3 or 4 outer layers intact. Arrange them
snugly in a dish, dotting the butter and
bay leaves between them.
2	Pour 50ml of just boiled water into the
dish with the onions. Cover with foil and
bake for 1 hr 30 mins.
3	When the onions are tender, remove the
foil and baste with the liquid in the dish.
4	Put the bread sauce ingredients in a
pan with !4tsp fine sea salt. Warm, while
mixing occasionally, until the bread is
soggy and you have a lumpy sauce.
5	Fill the middle of each onion with the
sauce. Grill on high for 4-5 mins to toast
the sauce. Transfer to a plate and spoon
over a little of the cooking sauce.
Per half onion: 106 cals, i.
4g sat fat, 10g carbs »
1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Trim
the stringy roots and cut each onion in
Spiced red
cabbage
Best ever
roast potatoes
Root veg
gratin
Smashed
sprouts with
pangraltato
4
*
Bacon-
wrapped
stuffing
balls
Pigs in blankets meets stuffing balls
- be warned, these are addictive.
MAKE AHEA Make the stuffing
the day before and chill until ready
to cook. This will help them to hold
their shape as they cook.
Makes 12 • Prep 45 mins
• Cook 25 mins
1tbsp olive oil
1	red onion, finely chopped
2	garlic cloves, crushed
Vitsp fennel seeds
1tsp ground allspice
250g pork mince
100g ciabatta or white bread,
crumbled as small as possible
12 small sage leaves
6 streaky bacon rashers
1	Heat the oil in a frying pan over
a medium heat. Add the onion, cooking
for 10 mins until caramelised. Mix in
the garlic, fennel seeds and allspice,
cooking for a further 2 mins.
2	Put the pork and breadcrumbs into
a large bowl, season with J4tsp fine
sea salt and mix together. Add the
onion mixture and mix again.
3	Snip the bacon in half so you have 12
short rashers. Lay these out and put a
sage leaf on each. Top with a walnut-sized
ball of the stuffing and stretch the bacon
around it, positioning the seam at the
bottom. Cover and chill until ready to cook.
4 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6 and
cook for 25 mins.
Per stuffing ball: 110 cals, 6g fat, 2g sat fat,
5g carbs
1 11* Smok'd or
unsmokcxl bacon
works here
unsmoked looks
redder w hen cooked
Smashed
sprouts
with
pangrattato
A Christmas essential, and here's how
to elevate your sprouts this year with
a crispy and flavoursome crumb.
MAKE AHEAD Boil and crush your
sprouts then chill and make your
pangrattato a day ahead. Store in
a sealed container or jar.
Serves 8 • Prep 15 mins
• Cook 25 mins
600g Brussels sprouts
3tbsp olive oil
For the pangrattato:
70g pack prosciutto
75g ciabatta
1tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 sprig rosemary, leaves stripped
and roughly chopped
1	Put a large baking tray into the oven
at 180C Fan/Gas 6.
2	Bring a medium-sized pan of salted
water to the boil, add the Brussels
sprouts and cook for 10 mins.
3	Drain put into a medium-sized bowl,
toss with the olive oil, and season with
salt and pepper. Remove the hot baking
tray from the oven, tip the sprouts onto
the tray and use the base of a jar or tin
to flatten the sprouts. Cook for 20 mins,
tossing halfway through.
4	Meanwhile, make the pangrattato.
Fry the prosciutto over a medium heat
for 2-3 mins each side until crisp.
5	Whizz the ciabatta and prosciutto in
a food processor to form fine crumbs.
Heat the oil in the frying pan over a
medium heat. Add the garlic and cook
for 2 mins then add the breadcrumbs
and rosemary. Cook for 5-10 mins until
golden and crisp, and season to taste.
Remove the sprouts from the oven
and top with the pangrattato.
Per serving: 136 cals, 8g fat, 2g sat fat,
7g carbs
Root
wg
gratin
К beautiful way to
serve the roasted roots, it can be made
and served in the dish it's prepared in.
MAKE AHEA Arrange the veg and
cheese in the dish the day before,
pouring over the stock and cream
and cooking to order on the day.
Serves 8 • Prep 30 mins
• Cook 1 hr 20 mins
2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
1.2kg mix root vegetables (such as
sweet potatoes, parsnips, beetroot),
thinly sliced
100g Gruyere, finely grated
40g Parmesan, finely grated
1 vegetable stock cube dissolved
in 100ml water
250ml double cream
2 sprigs rosemary, leaves picked,
finely chopped
You will need:
Shallow 30cm round cast-iron pan
1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4.
Sprinkle the garlic into the pan. Arrange
the vegetables around the dish in
a circular pattern, alternating them,
and standing them on a bias.
2 Nudge both cheeses in between
the vegetables as best you can, so that
you can still see the pattern on top.
3 Pour over the stock and cream, sprinkle
over the rosemary and season with pepper.
4 Tightly cover with foil and bake for 1 hr.
Remove the foil, increase the heat to
180C Fan/Gas 6 and cook for a further
15-20 mins. The gratin should be
bubbling around the edges and the veg
tender. Sit for 10 mins before serving.
Per serving: 370 cals, 23g fat, 14g sat fat,
31g carbs »
Til* We used a
mandoline set to
1.5mm to slice the
vegetables evenly
144 womenandhomc.com

Best ever
roast
potatoes
The perfect roasties:
crisp on the outside,
fluffy on the inside.
Serves 8 • Prep 25 mins
• Cook 45 mins
1.5-2kg Maris Piper potatoes, peeled
and cut in half
100ml rapeseed oil
4 bay leaves
1 lemon, pared
1 bulb garlic, cloves separated and
bashed (skin on)
1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Put
the oil into a baking tray; heat in the oven
for 10 mins. Put the potatoes into a pan,
cover with cold water, season with salt
and bring to the boil. Cook for 10 mins.
2 Drain the potatoes and return to the
pan. Put the lid on the pan and shake
the potatoes to create rough edges.
3 Remove the oil from the oven. Add the
potatoes, ensuring they are coated in oil,
and cook for 20 mins, tossing occasionally.
4 Increase the temperature to 180C Fan/
Gas 6 and return to the oven for 25 mins.
5 After 10 mins, drain the oil from the
tray and add the bay, lemon and garlic.
Return to the oven for the final 15 mins.
Per serving: 300 cals, 9g fat, 1g sat fat,
47g carbs
Spiced red
cabbage
Cranberry sauce and
balsamic vinegar give
traditional braised red
cabbage a delicious
sweet and sour note.
MAKE AHEAD Make up to 2 days
in advance and chill, or freeze for up
to 1 month. Reheat in the microwave
or on the hob; add a splash of water
if it needs it.
Serves 8 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 45 mins
1tbsp extra virgin olive oil
30g unsalted butter
1 red onion, core removed and
thinly shredded
1 red cabbage, shredded
1Z»tsp ground cloves
Vitsp ground nutmeg
1 cinnamon stick
3tbsp soft dark brown sugar
100ml port
3tbsp good-quality cranberry
sauce
2tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 Heat the oil and butter in a large
saucepan over a low/medium heat.
Once the butter has melted, add
the red onion with a pinch of salt.
Cook for around 5 mins, until the
onion has softened.
2 Add the cabbage to the saucepan,
along with all the spices, the sugar
and port. Cover with a lid, and cook
for around 20 mins, stirring regularly.
3 Stir through the cranberry sauce
and balsamic vinegar. Cook for another
20 mins until the cabbage is tender
and glossy. Season with salt and freshly
ground pepper to taste, and serve.
Per serving: 128 cals, 5g fat, 2g sat fat,
15g carbs
| 77/c altenuilirc roast |
Roast
beef with
mushrooms
If you fancy a change
from turkey this
year, why not try our
roast beef? Using topside is a thrifty
alternative to a more expensive rib.
MAKE AHEAD Make the sauce up
to 3 days ahead. Cover and chill, then
reheat to serve. Prepare the beef
ready for roasting the day before.
Serves 6-8 • Prep 30 mins, plus
resting • Cook 1 hr 5 mins
50g fresh breadcrumbs
30g Parmesan cheese, finely grated
1tbsp each finely chopped thyme
and rosemary, plus extra 2 sprigs
each
1.4kg boned and rolled beef topside
joint, at room temperature
3tbsp olive oil
2tbsp Dijon mustard
6-8g shallots, peeled
1 garlic bulb, halved
400g mixed mushrooms, large ones
sliced (we used a mix of king, oyster
and girolie)
150ml Madeira wine
Knob of unsalted butter
For the Bordelaise sauce:
Knob of unsalted butter
6 shallots, chopped
8 garlic cloves, bashed
10 peppercorns
6 thyme sprigs
750ml full-bodied red wine (ideally
Bordeaux)
1ltr good-quality beef stock
2 beef marrow bones
1 For the sauce, melt the butter in
a wide saucepan or saute pan. Add
shallots and garlic and fry over a medium
heat for 5 mins until softened. Add
the peppercorns, thyme and half the
wine. Bring to a boil and reduce to
a thick glaze. Add the remaining wine,
stock and marrow bones, then simmer
for a further 30 mins until reduced to
250ml (it should lightly coat the back
of a spoon). Strain through a fine sieve.
Finely chop any bone marrow that
hasn't melted and stir through the
sauce. Season to taste and set aside.
2 Heat the oven to 1800 Fan/Gas 6.
Mix the breadcrumbs, Parmesan and
chopped herbs on a plate. Heat a frying
pan over high heat. Rub the beef with
1tbsp of the oil and season well. Brown
on all sides, then brush with the mustard
and roll in the breadcrumb mixture.
3 Toss the shallots, garlic and remaining
herb sprigs in a large roasting tin with
the remaining oil. Put the beef on top
and roast for 45 mins for medium-rare,
or until cooked to your liking.
4 Remove the beef from the roasting
tin and set aside to rest, loosely covered
with foil. Increase the oven temperature
to 200C Fan/Gas 7.
5 Add the mushrooms, Madeira
and butter to the roasting tin.
Season and roast for 20 mins until
the mushrooms are golden and tender.
6 Slice the beef and serve with the
mushrooms, shallots and sauce.
Per serving (for 8): 453 cals, 17g fat,
7g sat fat, 8g carbs »
1 46 womanendhomt.com


the main event
Normandy-
style pork
and apple
casserole
It's great to have a one-pot dish to hand
for Christmas Eve or the in-between
days. This one is extra warming with
the addition of apples and Calvados.
MAKE AHEAD Cook up to the end
of step 4 and store in the fridge for
up to 3 days, or freeze. Defrost in the
fridge overnight. Gently reheat on
the hob before finishing the recipe.
2g
О
Wx
Я1
Йй
Р8
ф
g§S
§2*
?в|
ро
a. z е
Й
Serves 6-8 • Prep 30 mins • Cook 3 hrs
Olive oil for frying
1kg pork shoulder, cut into 3cm cubes
400g shallots, peeled
200g pancetta or bacon lardons
60g butter for frying
2 small red apples, sliced
1 onion, chopped
2 celery sticks, chopped
250ml medium-dry cider
Splash Calvados
450ml chicken stock
1tbsp cornflour
100ml creme fraiche
2tbsp Dijon mustard
Handful fresh chopped tarragon
Mashed potato, to serve
1 Heat the oven to 130C Fan/Gas 2. Heat
a glug of oil in a large casserole, add the
pork and, in batches, brown for about
5-6 mins. Using a slotted spoon, transfer
to a plate. Add the whole shallots
and cook for 2-3 mins until browned,
then transfer to a separate plate.
2 Add a drizzle of oil to the casserole
and fry the pancetta or bacon lardons
for a few mins until crisp, then scoop
out with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Add half the butter and fry the apple
slices until golden. Set aside.
3 Put the onion and celery in the
casserole with the remaining butter,
then cook gently for 6-8 mins over
a medium-high heat until softened.
4 Return the pork and bacon to the pan.
Pour over the cider, Calvados and stock,
bring to the boil, then turn down the
heat. Cover the casserole and transfer
to the oven for 114 hrs. Add the shallots
and apples then cook for another
1-116 hrs until the pork is tender.
5 Mix the cornflour in a small bowl
with 1tbsp water, add to the casserole
and cook for 5 mins, stirring, to thicken
the sauce. Stir in the creme fraiche,
mustard and most of the tarragon, then
season and add a splash more Calvados.
Serve, scattered with the remaining
tarragon, with mashed potato.
Per serving (for 8): 415 cals, 27g fat,
12g sat fat, 8g carbs
TIP Put the shallots
in a bow l ol’boiling
water to soften
their skins and make
them easier topeel
G inger p udding
cake with chocolate
butterscotch sauce
If you’re not a fan of traditional pudding,
you'll love this sticky toffee-meets-
gingerbread number.
MAKE AHEAD Make the cake and
sauce up to 3 days ahead, then reheat
gently just before serving.
Serves 10-12 • Prep 15 mins
• Cook 1 hr
225g unsalted butter, melted, plus
extra for greasing
375g Medjool dates, pitted, roughly
chopped
5 balls stem ginger in syrup, drained,
finely chopped, plus 6tbsp syrup
6 medium free-range eggs, beaten
1tbsp treacle
1tsp bicarbonate of soda
225g self-raising flour
2tsp ground mixed spice
175g dark muscovado sugar
50g crystallised ginger, roughly
chopped, to decorate
Pouring cream or ice cream, to serve
(optional)
For the sauce:
120g unsalted butter
200g soft light brown sugar
300ml double cream
75g dark chocolate, chopped
You will need:
22-24cm Bundt tin, well buttered,
dusted with flour
1 Heat the oven to 150C Fan/Gas 314.
Whizz 200g of the dates and 100ml
boiling water in a food processor until
smooth. Pour into a large bowl and
stir in the remaining dates, chopped
ginger and syrup, eggs, treacle and
a pinch of salt.
2 In a separate bowl, sift together the
remaining ingredients, then fold into
the date mixture until well combined.
Pour into the prepared tin and bake
for 1 hr until risen and a skewer comes
out clean. Cool in the tin for 15 mins,
then turn out onto a wire rack and cool.
3 For the sauce, melt the butter in
a saucepan then continue to cook,
swirling the pan, until the butter is
a deep golden colour and smells very
nutty (about 5 mins). Stir in the sugar
and cream and bring to a boil. Cook for
5 mins, then remove from the heat and
cool for 10 mins. Stir in the chocolate and
a pinch of salt. If not using straight away,
cover and chill until ready to serve.
4 Го serve, transfer the cake to a plate
and drizzle over some of the sauce.
Decorate with crystallised ginger
and sparklers, if liked. Serve with extra
warm sauce and cream or ice cream.
Per serving (for 12): 749 cals, 42g fat,
25g sat fat, 84g carbs
Brow ning (he
but ter gives the sauce
a delicious nutty
llavour and tempers
the sweetness. Sene
lefto\ers w ith ice cream
womanandhome.com 1 49
Add some\
FRENCII
FLAIR
Raymond Blanc shares his secrets for creating
a successful festive cheese selection
★
у о French dinner is complete
^k without cheese and it
^k should be extra special at
1 Christmas time. I always
choose a selection of soft, hard and
blue cheeses from my home town and
elsewhere. Presentation is key and,
for a touch of luxury, I have an apricot,
vanilla and Jura wine compote, plus
a big glass of Pinot Noir. Joyeux Noel.
R AYMOND’S TIPS
/Before serving, leave the
cheese out of the fridge for at
least 90 minutes in order to release
the full flavours, aromas and texture.
Z Ъ Make sure you use a board
that won't harm the delicate
flavours of the cheese - metal
plates and trays are a big non.
Offer a diverse selection of
options that complement each
t J other in terms of taste and
texture. At a minimum, make sure you
have at least one soft, one hard and
one blue cheese, but to really impress
your guests, five is the magic number.
/ For something a little different
/у you could brings together
Z cheeses from a specific region,
such as the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes.
Choose from Tomme de Savoie,
a semi-hard cheese; Reblochon, a soft
washed-rind and smear-ripened cheese;
Abondance, a hard cheese; Saint-
Felicien, a bloomy-rind soft cheese;
and for the blue, Bleu d'Auvergne.
W' Provide a knife for each cheese
A to avoid cross-contamination
t >Z of flavours, and leave enough
space between them to allow for guests
to cut and remove their portion easily.
Z > Arrange the cheeses from
ш Л the mildest to the strongest in
V >Z a clockwise direction - this helps
people to taste in the best sensory order.
Use your creativity and add a
/few decorative touches to your
platter. Try dried and fresh fruit,
fruit jellies, oil, seeds, aromatic herbs or
edible flowers.
150 womanendhome.com
the cheeseboard


easy entertaining
Brown sugar-
spieed nun ham
Poaching the joint in
cider adds a lovely
fruity sweetness
and tenderness to
the meat.
MAKE AHEAD
Once cooked, chill
the ham in the poaching liquor for up to
3 days to keep it moist. Remove from
the liquid, bring to room temperature,
then continue with the recipe.
Serves 8 • Prep 1 hr 30 mins, plus
cooling • Cook 45 mins
2-2.5kg boneless unsmoked gammon
joint, tied
1	Hr medium-dry cider
2	bay leaves, plus extra to decorate
2 sticks celery
1 onion, cut into quarters and
skin left on
Clementines, halved, to decorate
For the glaze:
150g dark brown sugar
150ml dark rum
100ml honey or maple syrup
1tsp ground ginger or cinnamon
1 pinch chilli flakes (optional)
1 Soak the ham in water overnight,
if required.
2 The next day, drain the water and put
the ham in a saucepan large enough to
hold it comfortably. Pour over the cider
and fill with water to just cover. Add the
bay leaves, celery and onion. Bring to a
gentle simmer and cook for 1 hr 30 mins.
3 Once the ham is cooked, allow it to cool
in the liquid. Meanwhile, put the glaze
ingredients in a saucepan, mix and bring
to a simmer; cook for 2 mins to allow the
sugar to melt. Remove from the heat.
4 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Take
the ham out of the liquid and put on a
baking tray lined with foil. Cut the skin off
the ham, leaving as much fat attached to
the ham as you can. Score the fat to mark
out a diamond pattern. Spoon over half the
glaze and pop the ham in the oven for 20
mins until the glaze starts to caramelise.
Spoon over the remaining glaze and
return to the oven for another 15-20 mins
to finish. Add a splash of water to the pan
if it's starting to burn.
5 Remove the ham from the oven, put on
a serving platter with clementine halves
and a few extra bay leaves, then serve.
Per serving: 500 cals, 19g fat, 6g sat fat,
29g carbs
Grilled cauliflower
with citrus
dressing
Roasting a
cauliflower chars
the edges to bring
out the caramel
flavours, so don't
worry if it goes a
bit darker golden.
MAKE AHEAD Roast the cauliflower
up to 2 days ahead, then gently warm
and dress to serve.
Serves 8 • Prep 20 mins • Cook 1 hr
1	whole cauliflower
1tbsp olive oil
1tsp sumac
10g parsley, finely chopped, to serve
20g toasted flaked almonds, to serve
For the sauce:
200g Greek yogurt
1	garlic clove, crushed
Zest and juice Vz lemon
For the peppers:
2tbsp olive oil
290g jar roasted red peppers, drained
and finely chopped
1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4.
Put the cauliflower on a baking tray and
sprinkle with olive oil and sumac. Roast
for 50 mins. Add the cauliflower leaves
if you like and cook for a further 10 mins.
2	For the yogurt sauce, mix together the
ingredients and season to taste. For the
peppers, mix the oil into the peppers
and season to taste.
3	When the cauliflower is cooked, spread
the yogurt sauce over a large plate.
Spoon over the peppers and top with
the cauliflower. Serve with the parsley
and almonds.
Per serving: 127 cals, 9g fat, 3g sat fat,
6g carbs
★
T / /	+
Геаг-ond-share
cheesy bread
A rich, savoury wreath bread, this is a
welcome addition to any party spread.
MAKE AHEAD Use cold water, omit
the activation in step 1, then prove
the bread overnight in the fridge.
Serves 8-10 • Prep 20 mins, plus
proving and rising • Cook 40 mins
7g sachet fast-action yeast
1tsp honey
500g plain flour
1tsp fine sea salt
120g chutney (onion or tomato both
work well)
225g mature Cheddar cheese, grated
50g Parmesan cheese, grated
1 beaten egg or 2tbsp milk, to glaze
1tsp poppy seeds
Herbs, to garnish (optional)
1 Measure out 350ml warm water and
sprinkle the yeast onto the surface. Stir
in the honey, then set aside to stand for
5 mins, to let the yeast activate.
2 Using the dough hook on a stand
mixer, mix the yeast mixture into the
flour, then add the salt and knead for 5
mins to form a soft dough - add a splash
of water if it needs it. Cover and set aside
to rise for 1 hr or until doubled in size.
3 Knock back the dough and knead to
loosen again. On a well-floured surface,
roll out the dough to a rectangle
measuring 30x40cm.
4 Spread the chutney over the dough,
then sprinkle with the Cheddar and
Parmesan. Roll the dough up lengthways
to form a log. Bring the 2 ends together
and press to make a ring. Place on a
greased or lined baking sheet.
5 Using scissors, snip the upper part of
the ring 12-14 times. Brush the ring with
beaten egg or milk and sprinkle over the
poppy seeds. Allow to rise for 20 mins.
6 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6. Bake
for 30-35 mins until golden brown and
cooked through. Cover with foil for the
final 5 mins if the top starts to look too
brown. Serve warm, garnished with
herbs, if using.
Per serving (for 10): 324 cals, 11g fat,
6g sat fat, 43g carbs »
1 54 womanandhomc.com

1 11’ rhe chutney and cheese
work welt but you can go
lor something more fancy if
you prelln; such as sun-blushed
tomatoes, olives and mozzarella
Adding leftover sprouts to the sausage roll filling not only ups the flavour, but saves food waste too.
MAKE AHEAD Make the rolls 1-2 days
ahead, store in an airtight container
in the fridge then reheat to serve.
Or freeze them for up to 3 months.
Makes 20-24 bite-size sausage rolls
• Prep 15 mins • Cook 20-25 mins
50g whole almonds, roughly chopped
400g sausage meat or the equivalent
squeezed out of your favourite
sausages, skins removed
125g leftover sprouts, thinly sliced
3 spring onions, sliced
50g dried figs or 3 dried figs, cut into
1cm pieces
Zest and juice 1 lemon
320g roll puff pastry
1 free-range egg, beaten, to glaze
2tbsp sesame seeds
.4	' , -Sr	\ .
1	Heat a saucepan over a medium-high
heat, then toast the almonds for 5-6
mins until golden, f
2	In a large bowl, mix the almonds,
sausage meat, sliced sprouts, spring
onions, figs, and lemon zest and juice.
3	Heat the oven to'200C Fan/Gas 7. Roll
outthe pastry a few times until it's the
thickness of a £1 coin. Cut the pastry
in half lengthways, then spread the
mixture down the’ centre of each strip.
4 Brush the pastry edges with beaten	•’
egg, fold over and seal. Brush e^ch logg
roll with beaten egg and sprinkle over
the sesame seeds. Cut each roll into
10-12 pieces,.put them bn a baking tray
and bake for 20-25 mins until golden
brown and cooked through. Leave to
cool slightly before serving.'	M A
Per sausage roll (for 24): 134 cals,
10g fat, 3g sat fat, 7g carbs
156 womanendhomt.com
easy entertaining
few
200g vermicelli rice noodles
150g cooked/leftover red cabbage
(if you have it)
150g red cabbage, sliced
3 small cucumbers, thinly sliced into
rounds on an angle
1 red chilli, sliced, res<
slices for garnish (opti
Serves 8 as part of a spread
• Prep 25 mins • Cook 10 mins
2 carrots, peeled and thinly ribboned
1 mango, peeled and cut into strips
100g roasted peanuts, to serve
3 spring onions, sliced, to serve
For the dressing:
15g bunch mint, finely chopped
15g bunch coriander, finely chopped
1 stalk lemongrass, outer leaves
discarded and inner finely chopped
100ml fish sauce
Zest and juice 3 limes
2tbsp brown sugar
1tbsp olive oil
MAKE AHEAD This salad is served
chilled so can be made 1-2 days
ahead, and the taste only improves.
1 Cook the rice noodles according to
the packet instructions. Drain, set aside.
2 In a large bowl, whisk together the
dressing ingredients. Then toss through
the noodles, veg and fruit. Spread onto
a serving platter and top with the roasted
peanuts, sliced spring onions and a few
slices of chilli, if using, to serve.
Per serving: 251 cals, 9g fat, 2g sat fat,
31g carbs »
Rice noodles Vietnamese salad
A quick salad to put together that's packed with flavour. Just what we all need on Boxing Day - something fresh and zingy!
I IP Leftover shredded
turkey orany coolaxl
sealixxl would be a
delicious addition to this
I IP Lining the tin with cling
Him gives a lestive ‘unironed’
ppearance and makes it much
easier todeniould
* Christmas ice
cream wreath
This makes the most of a pack of
vibrantly coloured frozen berries.
MAKE AHEAD Start this recipe up to
a week in advance - keep the ice cream
well covered to prevent it absorbing
other flavours from the freezer.
Serves 8-10 • Prep 45 mins, plus
overnight freezing • Cook 10 mins
For the citrus layer:
3 medium free-range eggs, separated
300ml double cream
180g caster sugar
1tbsp vanilla paste
1-3tbsp Cointreau (optional)
50g mixed peel
For the cassis layer:
2 medium free-range eggs, separated
200ml double cream
80g caster sugar
3tbsp cassis or Ribena
For the sauce:
50g caster sugar
100ml cassis
200g frozen berries
You will need:
23cm ring mould lined with cling film
1 For the citrus layer, beat the egg whites
until stiff peaks form, then set aside. Beat
the cream until softly whipped, then set
aside. Beat the egg yolks and sugar until
£	pale. Whisk in the cream, vanilla paste
and Cointreau, if using. Then fold in the
egg whites and stir in the mixed peel.
*	Pour into the mould and freeze overnight.
21	2 The next day, prepare the cassis layer.
Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form,
& 5 then set aside. Beat the cream until softly
whipped, then set aside. Beat the egg
q yolks and sugar until pale. Whisk in the
о < cream and cassis. Fold in the egg whites,
ш 2 then pour into the lined tin on top of the
ш	citrus layer and freeze overnight.
^2	3 For the sauce, heat the sugar and
£ vj	cassis with 100g berries over a high heat
g 5 until syrupy, 3-4 mins. Set aside to cool.
4 Turn the ice cream out of the mould
Й | and top with the remaining berries. Serve
with the sauce.
Per serving (for 10): 472 cals, 30g fat, 18g
£ st	sat fat, 37g carbs
Clementine lemon possets
Sssh! There's nothing quite as simple to make as a posset and these beauties can be
made way in advance.
MAKE AHEAD These can be made
up to 2 days ahead. Leave covered
in the fridge until ready to serve,
topped with the clementine syrup.
Serves 8 • Prep 15 mins, plus setting
• Cook 10 mins
Zest 3 of clementines and juice of
6 (around 175-200ml juice)
200g caster sugar
600ml double cream
1tbsp vanilla paste
Zest and juice 1 large lemon
Shortbreads, to serve (optional)
1	For the clementine syrup, in a medium
saucepan, heat the clementine zest and
juice with 60g of the caster sugar over
a high heat to thicken, 4-5 mins. Remove
from the heat, pour the syrup into a
jug, then set aside to cool.
2	Rinse out the saucepan then, over a
medium heat, heat the cream with the
vanilla paste, lemon zest and remaining
sugar. When the cream starts to simmer,
time 2 mins and keep an eye on it to
make sure it doesn't simmer over the
top, then remove from the heat.
3	Stir in the lemon juice and 2tbsp of
the clementine syrup, then mix well.
Divide the mixture between 8 small
serving glasses or ramekins.
4	Allow the mixture to cool before
covering with cling film and placing in
the fridge until set.
5	To serve, pour a small amount of
the clementine syrup over each of the
possets, then serve with shortbreads,
if using.
Per posset: 481 cals, 40g fat, 25g sat fat,
28g carbs
womanandhomc.com 159
01ICE E IS]
CANAPES
Using seasonal ingredients and simple cheats, you can
make these tasty drinks and nibbles in under 30 minutes
Coronation
cocktail buns
A new way to serve prawn cocktail
- and these cute brioche buns will
go down a treat with your guests.
1tsp mango chutney, plus extra for
spreading
Small bunch coriander, finely
chopped
V2 small red onion, finely chopped
150g cooked prawns, roughly
chopped, some reserved for garnish
Season to taste, then add the chopped
prawns and mix to combine.
2 Spread mango chutney in each bun,
then add lettuce and a spoonful of the
prawn mixture. Top with Bombay mix.
Per serving: 93 cals, 3g fat, 2g sat fat,
11g carbs
160 womanendhomt.com
Crispy dumplings and dipping sauce
Jazz up shop-bought gyozas with this simple trick that creates a frilly, crispy base - addictively good!
MAKEAHEAt Chill on a baking
tray, covered, then reheat in a hot
oven to serve.
Makes 12 • Prep 5 mins
• Cook 20 mins
2tbsp vegetable oil
12 gyoza (meat or veggie), we used
Ajinomoto Chicken & Vegetable
11/ztbsp rice vinegar
2tsp plain flour
2tsp cornflour
For the dipping sauce:
2tbsp soy sauce
1tbsp honey
1tbsp rice vinegar
1tsp sesame seeds
1 spring onion, thinly sliced,
plus extra to garnish
V2 red chilli (optional),
thinly sliced, plus extra
to garnish
You will need:
21cm lidded non-stick
frying pan
£
Spiced cidet
MAKES 1
On a plate, mix together Vztsp
cinnamon and 1Zitsp sugar. Run a wedge
of lime around the rim of a glass and
dip in the sugar mix to coat the rim.
Add 100ml apple cider, 50ml spiced
rum to the glass and top up with
ginger beer, stirring to mix.
Garnish with sliced apple
and a cinnamon stick.
1	Heat 1tbsp of the oil in the frying pan
over a medium heat Arrange 6 of the
gyoza around the edge of the pan and
cook for 1 min.
2	Meanwhile, in a jug, combine the rice
vinegar, plain flour and cornflour with
120ml water and a pinch of salt. Mix to
form a smooth batter. Pour half of the
batter into the frying pan, tilting the pan
to make an even layer. Put the lid on the
pan and leave to cook for 8 mins.
3	Meanwhile, combine all of the dipping
sauce ingredients.

4	Remove the lid from the pan and
continue to cook for 5 mins or until the
batter is golden. Invert onto a plate and
repeat the process with the remaining
gyoza and batter. Serve with the
dipping sauce.
Per serving: 66 cals, 3g fat, 0g sat fat,
8g carbs »
Smoked salmon bagel
Make this to serve with a glass of fizz at any time of
It would make a lovely breakfast on Christmas morning.
Serves 5-10 (depending on the
occasion) • Ready in 10 mins
165g pack Philadelphia cream cheese
1tbsp chopped dill, plus extra fronds
to serve
1tsp Dijon mustard
Zest and juice 1/г lemon, plus extra
wedges for squeezing
1 red onion, finely sliced
1tbsp red wine vinegar
Pack 5 bagels, split and toasted
200g smoked salmon
% cucumber, deseeded and sliced
into half moons
Caper berries, to serve
1	Put the Philadelphia in a bowl and mix
with the dill, mustard, and lemon zest
and juice. Season with black pepper.
2	In a separate bowl, mix the onion and
vinegar with a large pinch of salt and
sugar. Set aside to quick-pickle. Rinse
off the excess (or leave it on).
3	Cut the toasted bagel halves in
half and arrange on a platter with the
smoked salmon, caper berries, lemon
wedges, and in 3 bowls, the cream
cheese mix, cucumber and red onion.
Scatter with extra dill and a good grind
of black pepper.
Per half: 206 cals, 7g fat, 3g sat fat,
25g carbs
Я1
Jingle
bells martini
MAKES 1
Put 75ml Aldi Haysmith's
Cranberry & Clementine Gin
and 25ml vermouth bianco into
a cocktail shaker with ice.
Strain into a coupe and
garnish with a twist
of lemon.
festive party
Mini rarebits with
red onion chutney
Whip up for a crowd and serve with any drink.
MAKE AHEAE Cool
completely, then
chill, covered, on the
baking tray. Reheat in
a hot oven to serve.
Makes 36 • Prep 10
mins • Cook 8 mins
200g Cheddar, grated
1 medium egg yolk
2tsp Dijon mustard
1tbsp Worcestershire
sauce
50ml dark ale
4tbsp caramelised
red onion chutney
6 slices (1cm thick)
sourdough, toasted
4 chives, snipped
1	Heat the grill to
medium. Put the
cheese, egg yolk,
mustard and sauce
in a food processor and
whizz together. Keep
the motor running and
gradually add the ale
to form a thick paste.
2	Spread half of the
chutney on the toasted
sourdough. Top with
the cheese mixture
then add the remaining
chutney. Transfer to
a baking tray and grill
for 8 mins or until the
cheese is golden and
bubbling. Cut each
slice into 6 squares
and serve sprinkled
with chives.
Per serving: 50 cals, 2g
fat, 1g sat fat, 5g carbs
TIP Swap the cheese
and chutney to what
you fancy. Try Marmite
or mango chutney
under the cheese.

§
h
Is
Si
Sprout remoulade and
prosciutto crackers
These morsels are irresistible. Try swapping the
ham for smoked salmon or thinly sliced beetroot.
MAKE AHEAD
Chill the remoulade
mix in the fridge
and assemble up
to 1 hr ahead.
Makes 24
• Ready in 10 mins
6 large seeded
crackers, each
broken into 4 pieces
(or use 24 smaller
crackers)
6 slices prosciutto,
each torn into 6
pieces
For the remoulade:
200g Brussels
sprouts, cored and
thinly sliced
Small bunch parsley,
finely chopped
2tbsp creme fraiche
1tbsp mayonnaise
2tsp Dijon mustard
Squeeze lemon juice
11n a medium bowl,
mix all the remoulade
ingredients together
and season to taste.
2 Put a spoonful of
remoulade onto each
cracker then top with
a piece of prosciutto.
Per serving: 27 cals, 2g
fat, 1g sat fat, 2g carbs
Festtvejixn
MAKES 1
Put 25ml Chambord Raspberry
Liqueur in a coupe or flute.
Top up with sparkling wine,
and garnish with frozen
raspberries and a sprig
of rosemary.
CHRISTMAS
CLASSICS
Deer-licious Sticky Toffee
Pudding, 600g, £10,
waitrose.com
Crowned with gingerbread
antlers, this showstopper
will prove popular with the
whole family. The sponge
is moist and light, with
a warming hint of ginger.
Top with the accompanying
butterscotch sauce for
a bit of tabletop theatrics.
guarantee
you the
tastiest
Yuletide ever
Our expert
food team
have tested
over 500
products to
□ring you the
best buys of
2023 and
woma№home
Traditional Yule Log,
1kg, £54.95, patisserie-valerie.co.uk
If you're planning a large gathering,
this big beauty is made for the
limelight. It easily serves a crowd
of 16 or more and is delivered
frozen for ultimate convenience.
Iced in silky Italian buttercream and
dressed up with sweet edible
decorations, food director
Jen Bedloe loved
this nostalgic bake,
commenting, 'It's
rich, chocolatey
and delicious!'
Rosebud Preserves Mince Pies, pack
of 8, £12, rosebudpreserves.co.uk
Filled with almond and orange-scented
mincemeat, we loved these for their
classic look and well-balanced spice.
The pastry was the best we tried, being
buttery and crumbly. Finished with a
crunchy sugared top, they tasted even
better warmed. Lovingly handmade,
these couldn't be beaten on flavour.
Traditional Christmas Pudding, 908g,
£30, cartwrightandbutler.co.uk
If a flaming pudding is essential at
your table, you can't go wrong with
this classic. Praised for a well-balanced
flavour and appealing shape, it's filled
with plump, amaretto-soaked fruit, and
has a pleasing hint of salt.
Iced Christmas Round Cake, 700g,
£20, cartwrightandbutler.co.uk
Laced with sweet cherries, almonds and
a good lick of brandy, judges were won
over by the well-balanced flavour and
moist texture of this artisanal cake.
Deputy food editor Rose Fooks noted
that 'there's a generous layer of quality
marzipan, and the reusable tin makes it
perfect for gifting'. »
Best
artisanal
mince pie
Best
traditional
pud
womanandhome.com 1 65
STUNNING STARTERS
*MAINEIENT
#=
The Best Flavoured Smoked Salmon, i
150g, £4.99, morrisons.com
Scottish salmon for the whisky fans! ;
With a hefty dose of smoke and
pleasant balance of salty and sweet, :
this was a standout for tasters. With a j
drier texture than many we tried, the ;
thick slices make for an impressive :
starter or Christmas brunch spread. i
Specially Selected Scallop & Prawn
Ramekin, 240g (2-pack), £5.99,
aldi.co.uk
An elegant oven-to-table bake, these i
make for an splendid starter. The seafood i
is succulent and the creamy sauce i
pleasingly winey. The ceramic dishes-^.!
can be reused too, so there's no waste. i
Shimmering Salmon Mousse,
300g/600g, £7/£15, waitrose.com
This super-impressive showstopper
tastes as good as it looks. The salmon
mousse is creamy and spiked with
lemon for a well-balanced flavour.
Great for sharing, we think this will
be a hit, even with those who wouldn't
normally go in for fishy dishes.
The Best King Scallops with a
Champagne Sauce, 140g (serves 2),
£5.50, morrisons.com
Served in a shell, these scallops are
sweet and succulent. Doused in a
creamy wine sauce and topped with
a crisp Parmesan crumb, they make a
sophisticated start to your festive feast.
Organic KellyBronze Turkey, Large (6-
7kg average), £125, abelandcole.co.uk
The judges were blown away by this
turkey, which will leave you with plenty
of leftovers. Food editor Jess Meyer
said, 'The meat is flavoursome and I was
impressed that the breast and leg meat
were perfectly cooked - and the delicious
pan juices would make the best gravy.'
Grass Fed Boneless Rib of Beef,
1kg, £48, pipersfarm.com
A great option for those catering for a
smaller group, this easy-carve roast is
effortless and delivers delicious, tender
meat. Jen noted that the pan juices
would make a superb gravy, and
suggests pairing with truffle pesto for
a knockout main.
166 womanandhomc.com
Best
rc^ie
main
Butternut & Spinach
Filo Pie, 425g, £8,	W
marksandspencer.com
This vegan pie impressed,
with a hearty veggie filling that'
boldly flavoured with garlic and
warming spices. Topped with crispy
filo, this would make an magnificent
veggie main or would also work well
as part of a spread.
Collections Lightly Smoked
Salmon en Croute, 1kg, £30,
marksandspencer.com
Judges were impressed with this fishy main.
Finished in crisp pastry, the salmon was
juicy and full of flavour. Jess said that 'the
prawns are a nice touch, making it feel
extra special', while Rose noted the sauce
was 'light, lemony and perfectly seasoned'.
Cranberry Glazed Ham with Pork &
Cranberry Stuffing, 1Zz ham (min 2kg),
£82, dukeshill.co.uk
Hands down the best ham of the season.
Made using a traditional Wiltshire cure,
the ham is fully cooked, ready to slice
and serve. Jen said, 'This is an amazing
product! Buy this beauty and invite the
family over - it will not disappoint.'
FOOD
AWARDS
___i __
ALL THE
TRIMMINGS
Boxing Day Chutney, 250g,
£8, cartwrightandbutler.co.uk
We were blown away by this mouth-
watering chutney. A versatile
addition to your festive basket,
this lightly spiced condiment
is filled with apples,
cranberries, apricots
and cider. It works
well with everything,
from your cheeseboard
to the main event to
its namesake - the
Boxing Day spread.
The Jolly Hog Caramelised Onion
Pigs in Blankets, 274g, £4.50,
ocado.com
These couldn't be
beaten on flavour.
Made with British
outdoor-bred pork,
the meat is perfectly
seasoned with a
hint of spice, while
the bacon adds a
smoky sweetness.
JODY ।
H G !
Plant Kitchen Vegan Gravy, 400g,
£3, marksandspencer.com
Rich and savoury, this has
an aroma of porcini
mushrooms, which
gives the gravy
depth. Great for
the veggie guests,
but its meatiness will
make this a hit with
everyone else too.
Sada Truffle Pesto, 90g, £3.35,
ocado.com
Add a little luxury to
canapes and bring
leftovers to life with
this rich pesto. It works
well with roast beef and
can be used alone or
swirled into sauces for
a flavour boost. »
womanandhomt.com 1 67
Tesco Finest High-Wall Cheesecake,
600g, £10, tesco.com
Delivering on style and taste, this baked
beauty is flavoured with ginger and
orange for a festive twist. It's topped
with an orange gel, and there's a lovely
orange surprise running through the
middle too. We loved the high-sided
design and size - perfect for 6-8.
Finest Dark Chocolate and
Honeycomb Ganache Bar, 640g,
£13, tesco.com
Chocolate lovers rejoice! This ultra-
chic dessert combines a rich mousse
with a crisp base, giving it a satisfying
crunch. Serve with a dollop of cream
and some luscious mulled berries to
Taste the Difference Home
For Christmas, 780g,
£12, available from 20
December, sainsburys.co.uk
milk chocolate mousse cake. Rich
and indulgent, it's filled with silky,
salted caramel sauce and comes
with several tasty choccie trees
Best
chocolate
dessert
make it extra fancy!
168 womanendhomc.com
Taste the Difference Sticky Toffee Rum
Liqueur, 50cl, £15, sainsburys.co.uk
Warming, sweet and gently spiced,
this reminded judges of buttered rum.
Serve over ice with a twist of orange
for a cocktail-in-one, or dribble over ice
cream for a perfect pud. It also comes
in a beautiful bottle for easy gifting.
Bathtub Gin, Damson & Bay,
70cl, £34.95, masterofmalt.com
: A cracking alternative to traditional
: sloe gin, this delicious tipple is rich
; with the flavours of jammy, juicy plums
j and warm, winter spice. Serve it neat or
: add a splash to your favourite cocktails
for a festive twist.
Hot Apple Gin-gle, 700ml,
£15, the-cocktail-co.com
If mulled wine doesn't float your
boat, this zingy spice gin and apple
number will keep your mitts toasty and
spirits high. Simply heat gently and
serve, preferably with a warm mince
pie on the side.
Collections Tiramisu Irish
Cream Liqueur, 50cl, £12,
marksandspencer.com
• Irish cream gets an Italian twist with
: this luxurious liqueur that will satisfy
: Baileys devotees and coffee fans alike.
: Flavoured with Belgian chocolate and
I a hint of espresso, it's a dessert in a
; glass. The team loved it served straight
i over ice, or drizzled over ice cream for
j an easy and decadent pud. »
womanandhome.com 1 69
PARTYTIME
Dickinson & Morris X Calum Franklin
Pie, 1.12kg, £40, porkpie.co.uk
A festive showstopper, this is an
exceptional pie that's made to feed a
crowd. With crisp, flavoursome pastry
and a well-seasoned filling, it has a lovely
handmade feel, without the effort.
Paneer Fries, 191g (pack of 8), £6,
waitrose.com
A little sweet, spiced and nicely salted,
these Indian-style bites are a crowd
favourite. They come with a delicious
mango chutney dip and can be cooked
in the oven or the air-fryer.
Taste the Difference Baos of Holly,
280g (pack of 8), £6, sainsburys.co.uk
Steamed buns were popular this year,
and these were our pick of the pack.
Great for nibbles, they're soft and fluffy,
filled with a full-of-flavour veggie mix and
finished with an adorable festive design.
Tempura Prawns, 175g (pack of 10),
£4, amazon.co.uk
With a light batter and packed with
succulent prawns inside, these were a
real hit with our team. Serve with a quick
homemade sauce or sweet chilli to make
the dish your own. Finger food at its best!
MUST-HAVE
HAMPER
Provisions Hamper, £40,
provisionslondon.co.uk
Offering exceptional value for money,
this lovely hamper is like a party in a
box. Delivered straight to your door,
it contains everything you need to get
the party started and put together a
stellar grazing board, including cheese,
pate and wine. Rose praised it as
'an authentic taste of France'. It would
also make a great-value gift for family
and friends.
SPECIAL
RECOGNITION
AWARDS
Every year, our team awards the
brands and retailers with the very
best festive offerings
Best artisanal supplier
DUKESHILL
Famous for its traditionally made hams,
Dukeshill offers a brilliant handcrafted
range, from cheeses to mince pies and,
of course, its award-winning, royally
approved pork products. If you're in
the market for a foodie gift for a special
someone, we'd highly recommend the
build-your-own hampers. Plus there are
gift vouchers, from £25; dukeshill.co.uk
Best independent
retailer
PARSON'S NOSE
We loved every product we tried from
this exceptional butcher. As well as free-
range turkeys and other centrepieces,
you'll find an excellent selection of British
seafood, cheeses and deli products. With
impressive ethical farming credentials and
nationwide delivery, it also offers gift cards
and subscriptions; parsonsnose.co.uk
170 womanendhome.com
•
FOOD
AWARDS
Best calces and bakes
BETTYS
For sweet treats with a generous
sprinkling of nostalgia, Bettys'
outstanding selection really stood out
from the crowd this year. Expect
Best Christmas
supermarket
MARKS & SPENCER
Whether cooking from scratch or looking
for an easy fix, M&S offers exceptional
quality and value, nailing the balance
between tradition and innovation. We
were impressed with the wide range of
veggie offerings and showstopper puds,
along with the festive drink offers for a
spectacular party season.
Best edible gifts
DAYLESFORD ORGANIC
Whether it be tasty stocking fillers or a
knockout hamper, the selection of foodie
gifts impressed us. The generous hampers
and advent calendars (below) were
a real highlight, plus the online shop
makes gifting a breeze; daylesford.com
buttery shortbread, spicy gingerbread
and, of course, timeless puddings,
cakes and mince pies. Handmade
with love, everything comes beautifully
boxed, making for easy and
thoughtful gifting; bettys.co.uk
Food EDU'
Food director Jen Bedloe shares her best food and drink buys this month
Star appeal
Each year I join the Great Taste
judging panel, the largest and most
trusted food and drink accreditation
scheme in the world, to blind taste
and award stars for excellence.
It culminates each year with its Golden
Forks ceremony and this year, Roussas
Galotyri PDO, a soft Greek cheese
made from sheep and goats' milk,
was crowned the supreme champion.
A worthy recipient, the uniquely
sharp, tangy flavour and creamy
texture tastes gorgeous spread on
crostini or stirred through pasta.
You'll find Great Taste at this
year's woman&home
Christmas Live
market -1 hope to
see you there!
To try it for yourself,
you can buy it
from odysea.com,
£3.99 for 180g.
II IL IT'S GOOD XOir... Creamy sprouts with
crispy bacon: pomegranate seeds scattered orcr rich
spiced slews: honey roast parsnips with pecans
172 womanandhomc.com
what’s new
Ъу these...
Two treats to give you a pick-me-up!
BETTER THAN THE TAKEAWAY
Chicken Ruby &
Jewelled Rice, 380g,
2 for £7.50, Tesco
clubcard price
New to the Tesco
Finest range is this
rich chicken number
with fruity rice.
finest
CHOCOLATE ADDICT
Pump Street, Winter
Collection, £6.75,
pumpstreetchocolate.com
Our favourite in the test
kitchen, choose from
gingerbread, panettone
or maple pecan, or buy a
gift box of all three flavours.
Thermapen
Baker's Bundle
Why we like it In this pack you get two
essential tools, the Thermapen One sugar
thermometer and Stainless Steel Oven
Thermometer - a great gift for any foodie.
Designed for professional chefs, the
Thermapen probe can be used to test
the temperature of everything from
sugar, tempering chocolate or testing
your bakes. It's the most accurate we've
found and gives one-second readings.
The bonus The handy oven
thermometer has a large, easy-to-read
dial with clear, colour-coded display,
which can be stood or hung
from the oven rack.
в wa»	те w j
Find this gorgeous trio in our woman&home wine dub box
in partnership with Naked Wines. Find out more on page 64.
1 FABULOUS FIZZ
Cremant is a more
affordable alternative
to champagne. This
one has aromas of white
flowers and is full of juicy
fruits with a hint of honey.
Martial Richard
Cremant de Limoux
2019, £13.99 Naked
Angel price, or £18.99
| 2 GREAT WHITE
: A classic white that's full
: of zesty lemons, limes
; and grapefruit wrapped
i up in a velvety coat of
: toasty, vanilla spices.
: Arabella Reserve
; Chardonnay 2022
i South Africa, £10.99
; Naked Angel price,
j or £14.99
j 3 THE BIG RED
: An Italian red from iconic
i winemaker Stefano di
: Blasi. Full of bright red
: fruit and dark chocolate.
: Ideal for Christmas Day.
i Stefano di Blasi
; Montepulciano
\ d'Abruzzo DOC 2021,
\ £10.99 Naked Angel
j price, or £15.99
FOOD
DIRECTOR S TIP
Cant face leftover
turkey? Don’t let it
go to waste strip
from the carcass,
(hen chop in bite-
sized pieces and
freeze ready Io use
in a stir-fry, pie or
curry another day.
f ТОУМ
If you're all about the cheese course, try
Sharpham's popular mixed hamper, which
includes rich and buttery Sharpham Brie,
delicate Ticklemore, velvety Sharpham
I Rustic, their own sourdough crackers
к and a bottle of Sharpham Dart Valley
Reserve 2018.
£40, sharpham
cheese.co.uk J
promotional feature
IX)()K
Crafted Lustrous
Metallic Finish in Entice
Crafted Luxurious Flat
Matt Finish in Ivy Grey
Ma
r Y
Add a little luxury with the
timeless Crafted paint
collection from Crown
"W ‘W’ Tith the cosy season upon
Ж /Ж USf now s the perfect
Ж Ж. time to create a warm,
▼ V welcoming space that's
also personal to you. Paint is a simple
and cost-effective way of making
over a room to change not only the
look and mood, but the way you
might use a room as we head into
Christmas. The indulgent Crafted by
Crown collection is inspired by British
artisans, working with the highest
quality natural materials to create
something truly special.
With over 200 years of paint heritage
at Crown, Crafted is a beautiful, timeless
collection of hand-
selected hues,
expertly curated
to add a touch of
decadence to any
space. With 62
sumptuous shades
and three quality
finishes in the
Crafted collection,
CRAFTED
CRAFTED
there's plenty to inspire your next
project. The star in the collection is the
rich and creamy Luxurious Flat Matt
Finish, which glides effortlessly onto
walls, ceilings and woodwork, perfect for
jumping on the colour-drenching trend.
If you are looking for something a little
different, try the Suede Textured Finish.
As its name suggests, this finish adds
depth and dimension with a subtle,
organic brush-stroke effect using natural
ground olive stones. Or for those rooms
in need of an extra highlight, opt for
the Lustrous Metallic Finish, which adds a
striking metallic touch to walls and wood.
Can't decide on a colour? You can try
before you paint with innovative paint
swatches from Crown, which
are paper samples coated
in real paint (they are
100% recyclable too).
These brilliant swatches
remove the mess and fuss
of paint sampling, plus
you can pop them in your
handbag when you are
shopping for coordinating fabrics and
accessories to finish your scheme.
Wherever you use the Crafted collection,
it will add a layer of warmth and depth to
your home this cosy season and beyond.
II
££
П ПЕПЕ TO Bl Y
Visit crownpaints.co.uk, Crown
Decorating Centres, Homebase,
Wickes and independent retailers.
Crown is giving 10% of proceeds*
from its Crafted range to the
Queen Elizabeth Scholarship
Trust to support the training
of aspiring craftspeople.
CRAFTED
by CROWN
as
2 «
₽ d
SS
h
si
ai “
s*
II
174 womanandhome.com
Inspiration for a beautiful abode
HOMES
FESTIVITIES
bungalow.dk; green velvet
stocking, £22, diborxo.uk :
Similar Teddy sofa, from £2,630,
sofa.com; gumdrop footstool,
£705, loaf.com; Antoinette
mustard throw, £20, ikea.com;
Pegu rattan tray, £90, Zomi high
ball glasses, £52 for four, both
kalinko.com; Three Wise Men
Choose your
favourite Christmas
style from these
on-trend looks
Festive decor offers a canvas
for unique creativity and
charm, encompassing styles
that can be adapted and
extended over time. From
* classic forest greens to fun
and frivolous fuchsia pinks or
* the country-style favourite
; . 4- cherry red, explore how
to infuse your home with
a touch of holiday magic.

Cake baubles, £6 each,
heavenlyhomes
andgardens.co.uk
* &
Tinsel fringe garland,
£24, roseandgrey.co.uk
1 I I 11 I Hl k-f
PINK
Decorate with shades of pink to add an
on-trend twist to traditional holiday decor.
Start with a bold fuchsia on a tablecloth
or a ribbon trim, adding softer pinks
to create a fun, feminine ambience.
Include pink stockings and floral
arrangements for a playful
yet elegant look.

Orelle 4ft tree,
£10, diy.com
HANG GARLANDS
Sweep paper chains
from a central ceiling
light to all four corners
of the room, or drape
them casually over
a fireplace, to add
colour and interest.
Fabrics from a
selection, from £108m,
soft furnishings from
a selection, from £98,
all mollymahon.com
Plum pressed gin glasses,
£17 for four, habitat.co.uk
Gold
candleholders,
£26.99 for two,
wayfair.com J A
HU
ж ж
ж ж
Muse velvet
tub chair, £114,
therange.co.uk
Kip& Do
set, £49,«
I л я
М 11 Г я
) Ик marble сф1сгу
antipodream.tt.uk
Side plate, £65
for six, sazy.corr
176 womanandhomc.com
Glass
GO BOLD WITH BAUBLES
Add a modern accent - mosaic mirrored baubles
reflect and bounce back light for extra twinkle.
Disco ball Christmas decorations, £10 each,
rockettstgeorge.co.uk
Honeycomb paper balls, £7.99
for three, gingerray.co.uk »
Glass vase, £45,
thewisteriatree.co.uk
mercury
[decoration,
£9 for four,
diy.com

DINE IN STYLE
Infuse a sense of fun
into your table with
a colourful cloth. Stack
it with crystal glassware,
flowers and a flourish
of cascading ribbon.
For similar: Laura
Ashley Shamley
chandelier, £220,
Iights4living.com;
Nachtmann Noblesse
goblets, £60 for four,
divertimenti.com;
other items,
stylist's own
PUT ONA
LIGHT SHOW
Make a wow moment:
traditional foliage meets
modern neon in this
festive creation that will
create a show-stopping
display in any room.
Joy custom neon sign,
price on request,
londonneon.co.uk;
flower explosion,
price on request,
titaniasgarden.co.uk;
other items, stylist's own

womanandhomc.com 177
Wickens tapered candles in Forest
Green. £16 for two. Ioaf.com
Star wooden
tea-light holder, £5
bmstores.co.uk
Ipapei, from £9.95 Tor five sheets,
greathousefarmstores.co.uk
S3
EVERGREEN
Choose a natural palette to create a classic
look this Christmas. Include plenty of foliage
with wreaths, garlands and a statement
tree, and accessorise using objects
inspired by nature, such as ceramic
pine cones and acorn print wrap.
This timeless look evokes the .
spirit of Christmas.
MIX AND MATCH
FURNITURE
Find a spot for some
true comfort and joy
by mixing a modern-
yet-cosy velvet sofa
with a sleek Scandi-
style rocker.
Costello two-and-a-
half seater sofa in
Olive Velvet, £2,300,
Taylor coffee table,
£540, both sofa.com;
Alleman rocking
chair, £279.99,
wayfair.co.uk; cream
hand-blown baubles,
TRY DIFFERENT
TEXTURES
Use a mix of materials
to add depth and
interest to your scheme.
A selection of paper,
ceramic and glass is a
wonderful combination.
Large textured glass
baubles, £23 for
three, green paper
decorations, from
£22 for three, white
ceramic decorations,
from £19 for three,
all layeredlounge.com
Eucalyptus *
garland, £24.99,
Iights4fun.co.uk
[Trees napkins,[
,£19 for set
tof four, sophie
ilallport.com
Olivia scalloped dinner
plates in Green Filet,
£134 for set of 4,
rebeccaudall.com

I Mushroom
' decoration, £9,
nataliawillmott.co.uk

GET COSY
Create a relaxed
dining area by draping
sheepskins, and
making a ceiling-
mounted centrepiece
by hanging a length
of fir from ribbons
above the table.
Sheepskin rugs, from
£95 each, Portobello
collection china, from
£10, optic tea-light
holder, £15, Orford
swirl tumblers,
£58 for four, Marne
cocktail glasses,
£48 for four, Stanton
candleholder, from
£25, pre-lit tree,
£35, all thewhite
company.com
Longwool sheepskin
rug in Grey, £64.95,
limelace.co.uk
Bovey
chair in Moss
Green Velvet, £59,
cultfurniture.com
ining
Glass and raffia
table lamp, £250,
roseandgrey.co.uk »
Fabulously full 8ft fir tree,
£525, coxandcox.co.uk
Red glitter
berry Christmas
garland, £25.99,
homescapes
online.com
Candleholder, £32,
thefindstore.co.uk
Happy Christmas
matches bottle, £14.95,
annabeljames.co.uk
Camper van
bauble, £6.99,
dobbies.com
шМеггу ChristmasM
8^ ’ 1 land, £14.99,
(giselagraham. co.uk
Aurora
lamp, £95,
with 35cm
straight
empire
shade in
Crimson
Tulasi, £58,
pooky.com
OVER-THE-TOP TRIMMINGS
Coordinate cheerful baubles and
ribbon bows with soft furnishings.
Finish with presents wrapped in
vibrant printed papers to match.
Chair upholstered in Madeaux
Berber fabric in Desert Rose,
£172m, janeclayton.co.uk; Mildred
table lamp in Hot Chilli, £76,
lampshade in Flame Linen, £54,
both pooky.com; for a similar
mirror, try ball round wall mirror,
£152, johnlewis.com; Ely rug in
Rosy Brown, £2,995, oka.com
r FOLK*
Embrace a modern folk-style Christmas by
combining rustic charm with contemporary
flair. Incorporate handmade ornaments,
painted furniture and ribbon-trimmed
decorations. Mix bold patterns, colourful
stripes and geometric motifs. Opt for
l a subdued colour palette as a base,
k and add bright pops of red, blue
y jL,	and green for the perfect
festive feel.
1
DELIGHT YOUR DINERS
Embrace the joy of a personalised table setting
with a characterful handcrafted display. Candles
and decorations, all Iights4fun.co.uk
f (Kintaro dinner	Ricrac napkins, £68 for
plates in Indigo and four,
Cochineal, £95 for
four, oka.com
roseandgrey.co.uk
GO BIG ON WRAP
Opt for bright, block
print wrap tied with
contrasting ribbons.
Block print stamps
in Oak Leaf and
Charleston Dot,
£7.50 each, molly
mahon.com; paper
chain garland kit,
£22, theshopfloor
project.com; for a
similar lamp, try Bay
A WARM WELCOME
Create an enchanting
entrance with a handmade
wreath and ribbons.
Ribbon, from a selection
at hobbycraft.co.uk;
glitter crown, £24, meri
meri.co.uk; wrapping
paper, from £2 per
sheet, papertreenook.
co.uk; door painted in
Purbeck Stone exterior
eggshell, £81 for 2.5ltr,

Festive foliage is combined with cheerful country fabrics
and relaxed vintage furniture in readiness for Christmas at
Rebecca Lovatt's atmospheric thatched cottage


SITTING ROOM
A large rug provides a hit of
pattern and acts as an anchor
for the red and white fabrics
dotted about the space.
Antique rug, similar around
£2,000, rugandcarpetstudio.
co.uk; Chartwell jacquard table
runner, from £10, dunelm.com,
is a good match; try wayfair.
co.uk for similar check cushions
r Я here's something
Я magical about spending
Я	Christmas in an old
Я	property, and Rebecca
Lovett's Grade Il-listed
timber-framed house
in Suffolk, built in 1650, definitely
ticks that box. 'Stepping inside
our thatched cottage is like being
enveloped in a warm embrace,' says
country aficionado Rebecca, a lifestyle
writer and stylist who has created
a wonderful home to share with her
husband, Jamie, and their two children,
Freddie, 14, and Verity, 12.
'Our house is especially cosy in winter,
and during the festive season, it's lovely
to gather with family and friends around
the Aga, or the inglenook in the sitting
room. I love to prepare mince pies and
other festive treats with the children;
then my florist friend Karen Attwood will
help me adorn every surface with fresh
seasonal arrangements; and for very
special gatherings, my friend Lucy Hoyle,
who's a professional caterer, will whip
up some of her delicious party nibbles
for us all to enjoy with plenty of fizz.'
The family moved 10 years ago from
Cheshire to be closer to friends and
family. Their three-bedroom property
also comprises an old stable that had
been converted into two bedrooms and
a bathroom, ensuring the cottage is the
perfect home for hosting in the holidays.
Since the move, Rebecca has
become very aware of nature and the »
h.illh:iy
A festive welcome awaits in
the entrance hall, with its original
Cambridgeshire brick flooring injecting
warmth. Rebecca has created a pretty
display with a vintage sledge, snug
sheepskin and natural foliage.
Similar Icelandic sheepskin rug, £70,
johnlewis.com; similar sledge, from
£62.50, Vintage Sled Sledge at etsy.com
womanandhomc.com 183
environment around her, as well as being
influenced by the changing seasons.
'We are completely surrounded by
farmland, so we're in tune with every
development, from the crops in the fields
and the flowers in the
hedgerows to the position
of the sun,' she explains.
When Rebecca
embarked on decorating
the house, knowing how
the light moved around it
proved to be very useful.
'The house had been
unoccupied for 18 months
when we bought it, so we knew it would
need a fair amount of TLC,' she says. 'The
kitchen consisted of little more than the
Aga and a cheap sink unit - there wasn't
a cupboard in sight, and every room was
painted in beautiful but dark colours. I do
love rich, cosy interiors, but I'm a person
‘Were in tune
with the crops
in the fields
and Howel’s in
the hedgerows’
who needs natural light, so living in a
cottage with an overhanging thatch, I knew
I'd have to add colour in other ways.'
Rebecca spent a year living with the
existing decor to help her decide on
the colour palette for the
house. As well as hoping
to create a brighter interior,
Rebecca also wanted to
draw attention to the wealth
of architectural features,
such as the ancient wooden
beams and exposed brick
fireplaces, so she chose
a range of warm whites to
complement them and create a calming
feel. The lighter colours are also the
perfect backdrop for her collection
of pretty textiles. Checks, stripes and
ditzy florals combine with painted
furniture and vintage finds to evoke
a traditional country scheme. 'I love »
1 84 womanandhomc.com
festive inspiration
KITCHEN
The Aga came with the house and is
a key ingredient in the classic country-
cottage kitchen. Copper pans hang
on either side, injecting a period touch
in keeping with the age of the house.
Handmade kitchen units painted in
Old White estate eggshell, £74 for 2.5ltr,
farrow-ball.com; cushion in Podge linen,
£97m, cabbagesandroses.com; similar
pink stripe oven gloves, £28, and tea
towel, £12, both samwilsonstudio.com;
similar stripy teapot cover, £8.99,
homescapesonline.com
SITTING ROOM
Bespoke bookshelf joinery frames
the window, without affecting
the integrity of the listed building,
and incorporates a window seat,
creating a cosy book nook.
Blind in Roses fabric, and middle
cushion in Octavia, both £120m,
kateforman.co.uk; velvet pouffe,
from £245, grahamandgreen.co.uk
Л/. ИХ BEDROOM
Books are used to level the e^gant '
caned bed because the original <	<
oak floorboards are very undent
Similar caned ^ustavian bedffrom
£2,445, susiewatsondesigns.co.uk
classic English style with floral curtains,
ginger jars, shelves of books and old
rugs dotted everywhere, and I've tried
to recreate this in our home,' enthuses
Rebecca - who shares her inspiring ideas
@myenglishcountrycottage on Instagram.
The look works beautifully at Christmas,
when natural foliage enhances the rustic
feel, and a roaring fire in the inglenook
fireplace, twinkling fairy lights and
flickering candles cast a lovely glow that
adds to the magical ambience. Rebecca
and her family have found their forever
home, and now can't imagine living
anywhere else. 'I love that I can tell when
it's going to rain as I watch the clouds
gathering across the fields; and I know
when and where to expect the first
snowdrop in January, the climbing roses
in June, the blackberries in September,
and the berried ivy in December,' she
says. 'I find this all very reassuring, feeling
part of nature, and I love to reflect that
in the way I decorate the house, ready to
welcome friends and family once again.'
2
I
I
z
BATHROOM
Tea-light candles and greenery bring
Christmas cheer to the space.
Bath panel in Shaded White modern
eggshell, £81 for 2.5ltr, farrow-ball.com
FERITY'S ROOM
'Verity has inherited my love of
florals so I knew that she would like
the fairy feature wall,' says Rebecca.
Similar wallpaper, janeclayton.co.uk
186 womanendhomt.com
iPersbol armchair,
1(199, ikea.com
Gold metal Christmas tree,
£38, ellajames.co.uk j
Embroidered cushion,
£14, next.co.uk
I
Tea-light holders, £4.99
each, ivylinegb.co.uk
^Berry wreath z
with eucalyptus
X £19.99, Z
gdobbies.com
SHOP
SHOO'l
+ Use soft lighting to create a warm
and welcoming ambience. Consider
using dimmer lights, candles and
fairy lights to cast a gentle glow.
+ Incorporate natural elements
like pine cones, garlands and real
or faux evergreen branches
for a rustic but fresh feel.
+ If you have a fireplace, light it up.
Or create a cosy nook with a faux
fireplace, or using a digital fireplace
video on a TV to mimic the effect.
+ Opt for plush blankets, throws,
cushions and soft rugs to add
warmth and comfort to your space.
Choose textural fabrics like
linen and wool.
Crafted by Crown
Luxurious Flat Matt
Emulsion in Family
Tree, £36 for 2.5ltr,
crownpaints.co.uk
Personalised Christmas]
stocking, £30, ЯЛ
soph iea 11 port.comЦ
Oko baubles,
£22.50 for 4,
nkuku.com
|Larnbswool blanket in Stewart
Д Royal Antique Tartan, £79,Д
ta rta n bla n ketco.comp ®

St Ermins grey
rattan coffee
table with
storage, £497,
escape logy
home.co.uk
womanandhome.com 187
DECK

Fill your tree with an abundance of dazzling decorations
1 Champagne gold spotty, £1.59,frierange.co.uk 2 Glittered star glass JC25 for six, coxandcox.i
glass, £12, rockettstgeorge.co.uk 4 Glass blush candy, £27.99 for sixJwayfair.co.uk 5 Sequin
6 Matt ^hic glitter, £1.99, therange.co.uk 7 Yee-haw cowgirl boot, £18, fiveanddime-interiors.com
bmsto es.co.uk 9 Onir giant in Slate Blue, £22.50, nkuku.com Iflfrir berries, £3, bmstores.
oliverbonas.com 12 Two-tone fuchsia, £4.99, giselagraham.co.uk 13 Hanging glass trees, £13 each, he<
14 De, oupage marble, £2.75, tesco.com 15Soh ni shell, £25 for four, nkukil
Monochrome stripe
50, whitestuff.com
ler^ury mushroom, £2.50,
.uk 11 /I mb^llished negroni, £7.50,
andgardens.co.
188 womanandhomc.com
4 Metal star, £12, johnlewis.com 5 Starburst, £18, johnlewis.com 6 Navy star, £28, next.co.uk 7 Paper snowflake, £6, bmstores.co.uk
8 Red glass folk art, £15.99, giselagraham.co.uk 9 Bell star, £6, tesco.com 10 Mouse, £10, next.co.uk
womanandhomc.com 189
Ensure your Christmas dinner goes off with a bang
1 Multi jewel, £19.99 for six, giselagraham.co.uk 2 Christmas stag, £32.50 for six, sophieallport.com
3 Dark blue woodland, £20 for six, talkingtables.co.uk 4 Cocktail luxury, £45 for six, rockettstgeorge.co.uk
5 12 days of Christmas, £24.95 for 12, annabeljames.co.uk 6 Beyond Christmas Amaris, £26 for 10, johnlewis.com
7 Regency partridge luxury, £76 for six, nancyandbetty.com 8 Christmas cottage 12 days of Christmas, £28 for 12, johnlewis.com
9 Christmas lady, £55 for six, chaseandwonder.com 10 Joyeux reusable silk, £30, millesaisons.co.uk
I
festive touches
Create a warm welcome
to greet guests
1 Shooting star wreath,
£20, johnlewis.com
2 60cm pre-lit Christmas wreath,
£99.99, Iights4fun.co.uk
3 Beaded half wreath,
£35, johnlewis.com
4 Pre-lit winter fruit wreath,
£39.50, marksandspencer.com
5	Mistletoe pine cone wreath with
green bow, £35, dunelm.com
6	Bauble wreath, £35, next.co.uk
7	Pine cone, berry and poinsettia
wreath, £24.99, dobbies.com
8	Peacock feather wreath,
£49.99, giselagraham.co.uk
9 Orange and berry wreath,
£10, tesco.com
10 Mistletoe and pine pre-lit wreath,
£75, coxandcox.co.uk »
womanandhomc.com 191
. JUJ ^bestheating com
Radiator in
the winter.
Beautiful all
year round.
With fast & free delivery as standard,
you might be closer to cool than you think.
To curate your space, visit bestheating.com.
★ Trustpilot
RATED EXCELLENT
festive touches
Stockings
Stuff them with presents and treats forthe whole family
1 Edelweiss dove, £75, janconstantine.com 2 Festive stars fleecy, £25, coxandcox.co.uk
3 Chunky knitted pom-pom, £9.99, dunelm.com 4 Velvet and silk pom-pom, £72, rebeccaudall.com 5 Striped red,
£12.50, marksandspencer.com 6 Velvet patchwork, £25, oliverbonas.com 7 Dresser check, £48, torimurphy.com
womanandhomc.com 1 93
Go faux with these truly realistic buys
1 BH Nordmann fir with candlelight dear LED, 6ft, £749, balsamhill.
2 Snowy Evergreen pencil, 7ft, £55, dobbies.com
3 Ultimate lights pre-lit, 7ft, £595, coxandcox.co.uk
4 Imperial, 6ft, £59, dobbies.com
5 Lighted artificial fir, 7.5ft, £539.99, wayfair.co.uk
6 Green mixed tip pre-lit, 4ft, £40, george.com
7 Hampton pre-lit, 7ft, £499, johnlewis.com
8 Woodland pine, 6ft, £24, diy.com
9 Nevada spruce, 7ft, £180, homebase.co.uk * * 4
10 Slim alpine with wooden base,
6ft, £79, dunelm.com
Women & Home Christmas Live is back for 2023 in
partnership with No.7
Back for another year, enjoy festive food and drink, all
things beauty and an incredible stage line-up including
popular broadcasters; Fern Britton, Rachel Joyce and
Christine Lampard at Women & Home Christmas Live.
Join us at 18th November 2023 County Hall, London
Bring on the festivities and get in the spirit of Christmas!
R MM Ml
Bring the
LIGHTS
When interior designer	\
Suzie Tipple wanted new	\
blinds and curtains ahead
of the festive season, she
enlisted the help of Hillarys
The Echo Silver Voile curtain
can allow you to filter the
light and also the low rays
of winter sunshine too
The Harper Almond electric
blackout Roman blind
makes this a cosy corner to
retreat to in the evenings
promotional feature
In Suzie Tipple's dining area,
bi-fold windows overlook the
garden. 'The space is so bright,
but a lot of the time it ends up
being just too bright,' says Suzie. 'We
needed something to keep out the
sun, but to allow the light to come in
because it's a lovely, convivial space.'
Luckily, our Hillarys advisor Kevin was
on hand to come up with a year-round
solution. 'The honeycomb design
keeps out the heat in the summer,
but it keeps the heat in during winter,
ш while the voiles soften the look,'
g explains Suzie.
| Helping hand
| In the corner of the room, a nook was
£ transformed into a snug, ready for the
winter months. 'It's a nice little cosy
space to retreat to in the evening,' says
Suzie. 'I especially love it because we
have these blackout blinds, which make
the space feel even more cosy and
comfortable to be in.'
By working alongside the Hillarys
experts who visited and advised on her
unique home, Suzie could take her pick
from a variety of colours, patterns and
sustainable choices, as well as technical
details such as the no-drill blinds and
motorised control.
Happy home
Hillarys helped to take the stress out of
choosing curtains and blinds for Suzie,
and she's absolutely thrilled with the
end result. 'It's an old house and we
have some slanty frames, but the
Hillarys process is so simple, and the
best bit is that they come back and
they fit everything,' says Suzie. 'They
really do take care of everything.'
FORMORE
INFORMATION
To see the full Hillarys range
and to arrange a free, in-home
appointment, visit hillarys.co.uk
HILLARYS
For the window wise
womanandhomc.com 1 97
woman&home
xvomanandhome.com
Life 4- Fashion + Beauty+Health & II ellbeing+Food + Travel
TRAVEL
l-Mlingways Io gd awayfiwn il all
Get a s|jce of winter
sun on an epictrip
Down Under - here's
your first-timer's guide
'W' ew countries in the world
I j are as vast - or as enchanting
I - as Australia. From the buzz
Jk of Sydney to the tropical wilds
of Queensland, the baked desert of
the Red Centre to the shiraz-rich wine
regions, this diverse country has it
all. You won't see it all in just one visit,
so first-timers need to be selective
with their choice of highlights. Here
are 10 unmissable experiences to add
to your 'must-see' list, for an ultimate
Down Under trip of a lifetime. »




Above: Sydney's
iconic city skyline
features the Opera
House and Sydney
Harbour Bridge.
Bottom right: The
Twelve Apostles
Star/ in Sydney
With its spectacular harbour setting,
Sydney is breathtaking, and a must-see
for any visitor. Its diverse neighbourhoods
and friendly nature make travellers feel
at home, whether you're in the bohemian
bars of Newtown, the buzzing streets
of Chinatown or the LGBTQIA+ rainbow
areas of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst.
You'll already know the highlights - the
Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge,
Darling Harbour and Bondi Beach - but
add historic district The Rocks, the Royal
Botanic Garden (botanicgardens.org.au)
and Museum of Contemporary Art (mca.
com.au) to your list. Explore the country's
indigenous culture too, for a different
view on the city (barangaroo.com).
Take the tvor/d's
^realesl road h ip
Winding its way 151 miles across
Victoria state from Torquay (just west of
Melbourne) to Allansford - and lending
uninterrupted views of the majestic
Southern Ocean en route - the Great
Ocean Road is a scenic drive so epic
it will create memories for a lifetime.
Snow-white waves crash out of the deep
blue sea onto the limestone stacks and
jagged cliffs of the Twelve Apostles.
Caramel swirls of sandy beaches are ripe
for surfing and sunbathing. Along the
way, stop in towns like Anglesea to kayak,
or visit Great Otway National Park to
hike through the rainforest to waterfalls.
Keep an eye out for wallabies and koalas,
which call the sea-facing forests home.
Di.seorer die
Red ( eidrc
For a deep dive into Australia's ancient
past and thriving indigenous culture,
head to the country's geographical and
spiritual heart-the Red Centre. Here in
the Northern Territory, you'll find some
of the most spectacular landscapes on
Earth, unique wildlife, and the chance
to immerse yourself in the world's oldest
continuing living civilisation.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is home
to the Anangu people and some of the
most sacred Aboriginal sites in Australia,
including the iconic monolith Uluru and
the 36 ochre stone domes of Kata Tjuta.
Arriving by road involves a long but
unforgettable drive on sealed highways
though the desert; or fly to Ayers Rock/
dream destination
The sacred site
of Uluru. Below:
aerial view of the
Great Ocean Road
Connellan Airport from cities including
Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns.
The township of Yulara is just 25
minutes from the national park. Ayers
Rock Resort (ayersrockresort.com.au)
has a broad range of places to stay,
from the luxurious Sails in the Desert,
with its gum-tree-fringed pool and
Red Ochre Spa, to the budget Outback
Hotel & Lodge, and a campsite.
Tour companies including SEIT
Outback Australia (seittours.com) offer
four-wheel-drive adventures and
indigenous interpretive walks in the
national park, or sign
up for a unique sunrise
or sunset desert dining
experience or display,
including British
artist Bruce Munro's
mesmerising Field
of Light-or the dazzling
new Wintjiri Wiru drone,
sound and light show.
A few hours away, Watarrka National
Park and Kings Canyon offer incredible
hiking and views from the canyon's
soaring cliffs, while Munro's Light-Towers
installation shines modern-day magic
across this beautiful wonderland.
'SIGN LT
TOK THE
WINTJIRI
fHRL SHOW
H ander through
ancient rainforest
Rooted in the north east state of
Queensland for 130 million years,
Daintree is one of the oldest surviving
rainforests in the world. Known for
its exceptional biodiversity, this is the
place to visit if you want to wake up
to birdsong and lush greenery. Vines
wrap around towering trees, epiphytic
plants hang off branches, and ferns
fan out among the undergrowth
with their dense foliage.
By day, hike through
the forest and learn
about indigenous culture,
particularly that of the
Kuku Yalanji people, the
traditional owners of this
land (mossmangorge.
com.au). At night, extend
your adventure by booking
a guided tour in search of nocturnal
animals that call this jungle home, such
as the green-eyed tree frog or the musky
rat-kangaroo, which you won't see
anywhere else (daintreerainforest.com).
Have plenty of insect repellent handy
though - this is as wild as it gets. »
womanandhome.com 201
Enjoy sublime beaches
It may be Australia's most famous
stretch of sand but, when it comes
to beaches, the country has far more
on offer than just Sydney's Bondi.
Around much of the coast you'll
find idyllic bays, secluded inlets and
stunning islands offering sublime
spots to surf, snorkel or sunbathe
the days away. For example, New
South Wales' Northern Beaches:
enticing golden ribbons that run
from Manly to Palm Beach, a short
ferry ride from Sydnt
In Queensland, the Whitsunday
Islands lay claim to one of the 'world's
best beaches', with Whitehaven's picture-
perfect curve of talcum white sand.
Further south, Seventy Five Mile Beach
on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed
K'ganis a glistening freeway for four-
wheel-drive adventures on the largest
sand island on Earth.
Western'Australia is beach-blessed
from north to south. Broome's Cable
Beach is famed for incredible sunsets,
Perth's city beaches are perfect for picnics,
and the bays around Margaret River are
a magnet for surfers and swimmers.
You'll find miles of fa mi ly-friendly
sand near Adelaide in South Australia,
pristine bays on the state's Eyre and
Fleurieu Peninsulas, and in Victoria,
incredible beaches abound around
Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula
and the Great Ocean Road.
Even in the Northern Territory, where
saltwater crocodiles and box jellyfish
kee^its beautifulbeaches orfl die
swimmingjist, you can safely dip at
Darwin's Waterfront Precinct lagoon,
and enjoy the coastline as you sip
champagne on a sunset cruise from
the harbour (spiritofdarwin.com.au).



dream destination
POSITITEL}
BURSTING
II TUI LIFE
The Whitsunday
Islands. Above:
A clown fish
swimming in
the Great Barrier
Reef. Below: Aerial
view of the Great
Barrier Reef
THE GREAT
BARRIER



Stviin in the Great Barrier Reef
Spanning 1,429 miles along the
north-east coast of Australia,
the Great Barrier Reef is positively
bursting with life. Take a scenic flight
from Airlie Beach (oceanrafting.com.au)
and your horizon will be filled with
its intricate network of corals set
against the aquamarine sea. But dive
beneath the waves and it becomes an
underwater garden of staghorns, giant
platters and boulders, in shades of
moss green, aubergine purple and
bark brown. This muted backdrop is
where over 1,500 species of fish and
30 species of whales and dolphins
stage their jaw-dropping performance.
The sheer size and diversity of the
reefs mean experiences are vastly
different depending on where you
are. Short on time? The nearest reefs
are just 45 minutes' boat ride from
Cairns on the Queensland mainland.
Swim with hawksbill turtles off Green
Island or spot red bass around the
outer reefs. Have time to spare? Head
south to somewhere remote like
Lady Elliot Island, where manta rays
glide through the depths and giant
green turtles come to nest on the
shores (ladyelliot.com.au).
Wherever you are on the reef, you'll
spot yellow-hued sergeant majors with
their statement black stripes, rainbow-
coloured parrotfish nibbling at the coral,
and electric blue damselfish darting in and
out of crevices. Have your waterproof
camera ready at all times! »
Kangaroo
Island is a
haven for
Explore the wild west
Those who make it to the sprawling
coastal state of Western Australia are
rewarded with a greatest hits reel of
Aussie delights, from broad and soft
beaches to unusual wildlife and haunting
rock formations. One of the highlights
is UNESCO World Heritage-listed
sanctuary, Ningaloo Reef. Running
160 miles along the Indian Ocean coast,
Ningaloo's nutrient-rich waters host the
world's largest whale shark aggregation,
drawing between 300-500 from March to
July, along with other marine megafauna
including manta rays, humpback whales,
turtles and dugongs. Operators such as
Exmouth Dive & Whale Sharks Ningaloo
(exmouthdiving.com.au) lead excursions.
Back on dry land, relax on the dreamy
beaches around Exmouth and Coral
Bay, or visit the Margaret River wine
region, a charming foodie corner just
south of state capital Perth.
204 womanandhomc.com
Sip wine
among old lines
With its broad rolling hills, valleys
softened by morning mist and world-
famous red wines, Barossa Valley
is easy to confuse with, say, Tuscany.
But then you spot kangaroos hopping
between the vines at dusk, and you
know you're in Australia.
An hour's drive from Adelaide in
South Australia, this scenic wine region
produces the country's best shiraz, bold
and fruity with a hint of spice. Among the
well-known brands offering cellar door
experiences — usually a tour with tasting
- are Penfolds (penfolds.com) and
Yalumba (yalumba.com), while plenty
of others have small B&Bs where you can
stay for sundowners between the vines.
For something a touch more budget-
friendly, Adelaide Hills-just half an
hour outside of the city - makes for
a charming alternative. Plus, there are
plenty of one-day tours departing from
central Adelaide if you don't want to
drive. Best known for chardonnay
and pinot noir, the region's visits here
are usually coupled with a gourmet
lunch overlooking the vines; The Lane
(thelane.com.au) is a firm favourite. Also
worth seeing is Hahndorf, a Lutheran
town known for its German architecture
and quaint boutiques selling handmade
crafts like cuckoo clocks.
. idrenlure on die rails
Journey back to the golden age of train
travel with a four-day expedition on
The Ghan (journeybeyondrail.com.au).
Running between Darwin in the Northern
Territory's 'Top End' to Adelaide in
South Australia, this iconic rail route cuts
through the country's vast interior, and
offers guests the chance to hop off and
explore the outback. Highlights include
the legendary frontier town of Alice
Springs, the rugged natural beauty of
Nitmiluk Gorge and the underground
opal-mining town of Coober Pedy.
There are plenty of on-board gems to
enjoy too, with meals served in the train's
elegant dining carriages and live music
in the lounge bars. Lie back and read
a book in the comfortable cabins
- or just take in the timeless landscapes
passing outside your window.
/ isil a wildli/c-
paeled island
You'll find wildlife everywhere in Oz
- but certain destinations really put it
first. Located eight miles off the coast
of South Australia and accessible via ferry
or flight, Kangaroo Island is a postcard-
pretty landscape of forests and desert
dunes, cliffs and ravines, beaches and
lagoons. The stunning diversity of
habitats - all compacted into an area
a little bigger than Somerset - have
made this gem a haven where icons
of Australian wildlife like kangaroos
and koalas are as easy to spot as
daffodils on a spring day.
Instead then, arm yourself with
a checklist of the rarer animals that call
this part of the world home; for example,
leafy sea dragons, a seahorse-like
creature that's endemic to the
southern coast of Australia, or echidnas,
a quill-coated creature you might
mistake for a hedgehog but is actually
doser to a platypus. Some of these
can be hard to spot so book a tour
with the experts - like local operator
Exceptional Kangaroo Island (exceptional
kangarooisland.com) - to help maximise
your chances. Elsewhere, Kangaroo
Island is also home to a resident seal
population, seen at Admirals Arch,
while Australian sea lions nest at the
(confusingly named) Seal Bay. Come
between May and September to spot
whales off the north coast. Humpbacks
and southern right whales pass as part
of their annual migration, but you'll also
have a chance to spot sperm whales,
orcas and dolphins.
%
E
I
6
S
F
£
I
о
I
§
s
dream destination
'Иtrains
THREE TRIPS
TO TRY
+ Australian Sky has a 12-night
Australian Highlights escorted tour
from £5,129pp, including international
and domestic flights, transfers,
B&B accommodation, some meals
and guiding; australiansky.co.uk
+ Audley Travel has a 20-day Wine
and Wildlife tour from £10,755pp,
including international and domestic
flights, car hire, accommodation and
some activities; audleytravel.com
4- Trailfinders has a 41-night Grand
Australian Walkabout tour from
£6,059pp, including accommodation
and some activities, meals and car
hire. International/internal flights
extra; trailfinders.com
dreamy beaches
vineyard in
Adelaide Hills.
Above: One

Lei it
SN( )W!
Glide off this winter to one of these very special ski hotels,
which have major appeal both on and off the slopes
ski adventures
DISC EXTR.IL
. Austria
THE SKIING Suitable for all the family,
snow-sure Solden has high alpine
altitude as well as modern snow-making
systems, spelling a luxuriously long
ski season lasting from October right
through to May. In fact, Solden is
the only ski area to have three peaks
above 3,000m accessible by mountain
gondolas. Whether you are embarking
on your very first ski trip or are ready
to tackle an advanced black run, the
144km of pistes here are ready to deliver.
THE HOTEL In the heart of Solden,
family-run Das Central is just under an
hour from Innsbruck airport and boasts
a warm feel, accentuated by the way host
Angelika Falkner gets chatting to guests
each evening. All of the 125 rooms are
individually designed, culminating in a
jaw-droppingly opulent presidential suite
with its own private spa, fitness room
and outdoor whirlpool. An extensive
breakfast buffet will fuel you ahead of
a day on the slopes, while come evening,
five-course meals or fondues are washed
down with tipples from the 30,000-bottle
winecellar.
BOOK IT Double rooms from £344 per
night, half-board; central-soelden.com »
womanandhomc.com 207
woman&home
TRAVEL OFFERS
Warwick Castle
Just
:o Hotel
Staying at
©WARNERLEISUREHOTELS
deposit _ |
Worcester
Christmas Fayre

Blenheim Palace
Lights Trail
Studley Castle
Warwickshire
4 nights from £849pp
£50pp deposit
27 Nov to 1 Dec 2023
INCLUDED:
• Sparkling Welcome Reception
• 4 nights stay at 4-star Warner
Studley Castle Hotel
• 4 breakfasts & 4 dinners
• Half a bottle of house wine per
person with dinner each night
• Entertainment every night

•	Escorted excursions by coach
to: Stratford Upon Avon with an
RSC Theatre tour and Christmas
Lunch Cruise onboard The
Countess of Evesham: Warwick
Castle's Christmas Market and
lights: Worcester’s Victorian
Christmas Fayre.
•	Escorted by a Tour Manager
Staying at
@WARNERL EISURE HOTELS
Heythrop Park
Cotswolds
4 nights from £899pp
£50pp deposit
4 to 8 December 2023
INCLUDED:
•	Sparkling Welcome Reception
•	4 nights stay at 4-star Warner
Heythrop Park Hotel
•	4 breakfasts & 4 dinners
•	Half a bottle of house wine per
person with dinner each night
•	Entertainment every night
•	Escorted excursions by coach
to: Blenheim Palace with
afternoon tea, Christmas market
and lights trail; Oxford with
guided walk; Bourton on the
Water with time to visit the
Christmas shop; Hook Norton
Brewery tour and tasting; Gin
tasting at the hotel.
•	Escorted by a Tour Manager
deposit or (Ul amount if booing less than 12 weeks to departure
Call 01895 83 33 33 @ABTA% W,NNER
' 1997 9am to 5.30pm weekdays. Full details at www.gnholidaysxom ioo% financial protection
ski adventures
complimentary Tesla transfers, striving
from Gstaad's rail station. Spacious
rooms blend cosy alpine woods and
flickering fireplaces with high-spec
furniture and sweeping views over
the landscape. A Six Senses Spa is the
perfect spot for a post-slope unwind,
ahead of a Michelin-starred dinner and
whisky nightcap.
BOOK IT Double rooms from £1,078
per night, including breakfast;
thealpinagstaad.ch
QTIIE.lEPIXl
Z GST. 1.11)
Switzerland
THE SKIING One of the most storied
of European ski resorts, celeb-magnet
Gstaad marries chocolate-box good
looks with intermediate-level slopes and
one extremely glam hotel scene. Tackle
rthe tree-lined terrain at Rinderberg or ?
an open glacier - you have 200km of
slopes to choose from, some skirting s*
3,000m in altitude, so there's no getting
bored. When your legs are starting to
tire, kick off yOur skis and tuck into the
sophisticated apres, ranging from fizz at
snow-carved bar Iglu Dorf to raclette at
Michel's Stallbeizli.
THE HOTEL The Alpina Gstaad is
all wow factor from the moment you
arrive - in the grand lobby, a fresco
§wirls overhead, large stairs lead
to contemporary art installations
^nd swish guests step out from their
QCLLB MEI)
О TIGXES Erance
THE SKIING With a jewel-blue lake
as its centrepiece, Tignes ranks as the
second-highest ski resort in Europe,
nestled at 2,100m. Hop on the funicular
- the mountain train that whisks you
up to the Grande Motte Glacier in
just seven minutes - and arrive at the
3,000m summit, where you will need
a quiet moment to breathe in the
outstanding postcard-worthy scenery.
Pit stops are a must, and La Ferme
des Trois Capucines, a mountainside
restaurant housing a cattle and cheese
farm on site, is a firm favourite for a
traditional Savoyard lunch.
THE HOTEL Whether you're new to
skiing or live for the slopes, brand-new
all-inclusive hotel Club Med Tignes is
a winner. Not only is (excellent) food and
drink thrown in, but so are ski lessons,
lift passes and ski gear, all fully organised
by the hotel. Inside, you're immediately
drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows
with uninterrupted views of the snowy
peaks; sip a vin chaud (hot red wine
available on tap) in the contemporary bar
before heading up to your room. Non-
skiers will be in their element with yoga
and fitness classes throughout the day,
a majestic spa area, guided mountain
treks and first-rate evening entertainment.
BOOK IT Seven-night all-inclusive stay
from £1,728 per person; dubmed.co.uk »
womanandhomt.com 209
ski adventures
14'ERJ 'IXL I
CRIST. 1LL0 SI\I
RESORT Italy
THE SKIING Boasting views of the
iconic Matterhorn and a record of
excellent-quality snow, it's little wonder
that high-altitude Cervinia is so popular.
With a long ski season from November
to May, its 160km of beginner and
intermediate Aosta Valley slopes are
linked with neighbour resort Zermatt
- home to good off-piste skiing - so it
suits all classes of snow bunnies. The ski
schools are first-rate and so is the lively
apres scene, which combines the best
of Italy (for example, sublime pizza) with
live music and cocktails.
THE HOTEL Smartly designed
Cristallo is actually two hotels in one:
a design-forward five-star and a slightly
more minimalist four-star. Either way,
you'll get warm wooden furnishings,
large windows overlooking the Alps
and soothing neutral colour palettes.
Multiple contemporary restaurants,
ranging from a mixologist bar to an
a la carte restaurant showcasing local
ingredients, welcome all guests. As does
the social, cosy lobby space studded
with a big fireplace.
BOOK IT Double rooms from
£208 per night, half-board;
valturcristallo.com
^COPPERHILL
Эмосхтпх
LODGE Sweden
THE SKIING Though more British skiers
head to the skyscraping peaks of central
Europe, the approachable snow-dusted
hills of Scandinavia are peppered with
appealing resorts that suit beginners and
intermediates. Just 350km south of the
Arctic Circle, Sweden's top resort, Are,
is set across three separate ski areas
linked by photogenic wilds of low peaks,
pine forest and an icy lake. Its low-key
atmosphere is perfect for families who
want to kick back and enjoy a skiing
break with Scandi flavour, featuring
Icelandic pony treks, husky sleigh rides
and visits to a frozen waterfall, Tannforsen.
THE HOTEL A vision in glass and warm
metallics, Copperhill Mountain Lodge
swaps the chalet-kitsch of traditional
alpine hotels in favour of Scandi-style
sleekness. Perched at a ski-in, ski-out
vantage point at the top of Forberget
peak, its design puts the alabaster
landscapes on full show through big
windows, while simultaneously promoting
a cosy atmosphere. Visit the spa, where
mirror-like pools overlook Areskutan.
BOOK IT Double rooms from £108
per night, including breakfast;
copperhill.se
TRAVEL OFFERS
woman&home
16-day escorted tour from £4,995pp
Japan Unveiled
Departs October 2024 to November 2025
Fly from these airports. Prices from
Heathrow £4,995pp
A tour of Kyoto
An excursion to Nara and
wagashi making experience
A ferry to Miyajima Island
A tour of Hiroshima
A tour of Osaka
IT"
From electric futuristic metropolises, incandescent and thrilling, to ancient
shrines and gardens, hushed and serene, it's the extremes and the in-betweens
that will enthral and amaze.
Whether cloaked In cherry blossoms and drapes of wisteria, or enveloped In rich autumnal
shades, this country exudes its spectacular charm throughout every season. Embarking
on a thoughtfully paced journey commencing in Tokyo, a guided tour delves Into the
vibrant core, aglow with neon signs. Discover solace in the historic downtown district,
where behind shrouds of incense, pagodas, palaces and the art of a traditional Japanese
tea ceremony can be observed.
Tour Highlights & Inclusions
13 nights’ bed and breakfast
accommodation In a series of good
quality hotels In Tokyo (3 nights), Mishima
(1), Matsumoto (2), Kanazawa (1), Kyoto
(3), Hiroshima (1) and Osaka (2)
12 breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner
A tour of Tokyo and tea ceremony
A visit to Hakone, cruise and cable car ride
A visit to Oshino and Lake Kawaguchi
A tour of Matsumoto
A visit to Takayama and Shirakawa-go
A tour of Kanazawa
Two bullet train journeys to
Hiroshima and Osaka
Return flights to Tokyo and from Osaka
Transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly,
experienced tour manager
TO BOOK J 0333 3441461 QUOTING IWH It IWH.NEWMARKETHOLIDAYS.CO.UK
Please note: These holidays are organised and operated by Newmarket Holidays Ltd. ABTA V7812. ATOL 2325 Offers are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at anytime.
Single supplements apply Standard phone charges. Prices do not indude travel insurance Prices correct at time of going to press. Based on two people sharing a twin room.
К Newmarket
Jy HOLIDAYS
•O- WINNER
1QYEARS ZUI А8ТОТЖ ©ABTA O', ScanHereFor
W 1U IN л ROW	Ч&) Current Offers
I
20% OFF' BASE PRICE - USE CODE HOME20
Over 50s
Travel Insurance
with Superior
Coronavirus Cover
2
/ Voted UK's No.1 for Customer Care
/ Up to £25k 'Superior' rated Covid
Cancellation cover3
/ Up to £15 million emergency medical
cover for Covid with 24/7 helpline
/Trusted by millions for 20+ years
defaqto
EXPERT RATED
' Trustpilot
Rated Excellent
85,000+ reviews
AHCleaftf
Call our UK Call Centres FREE
0800 640 4855
AIICIearTravel.co.uk
’ 20% ciscount applies to base premium of AHClear branded polices only. Discount expires at 2359 on 31/12/2023 2 Based on The British Insurance Awards 2021 3 Covid cover rated Superior by
a leading independent UK Consumer Champion Covid cancellation and curtalment cover only available on AllCtear branded products. Remember to check the policy documents for each product
for foil details of cover For an extremely small number of policies a system generated dscount will supersede promotional discounts. This may apply for a new as well as returning customer For
more information please refer to Terms and Conditions at allcleartravel co uk
WNY ] LOW
BATH
Illustrator Finola Stack applies
her talents to stationery, gifts,
children's products and textiles
INTERVIEW: NICK REDMAN. PHOTOS. CHRIS NORTH, COLIN HAWKINS, GETTY
Christmas in Bath
is enchanting. The
city is famous for its
festive market, and
stalls cluster around
the Abbey and flow into
York Street, Abbey Green
and the aptly named Stall
Street, with fabulous lights
and a giant Christmas tree.
I love inhaling the aromas
of gluhwein and the
sizzling gourmet outlets;
bathchristmasmarket.co.uk
Few tourists experience
the view from Alexandra Park,
but you should. My daughter
turned 10 during winter
lockdown, so we went to the
park after dark with a flask of
hot chocolate. Watching the
city glittering with Christmas
lights was magical.
Bath's most fascinating
historic building is the Abbey
- its grandeur and beauty are
impressive, with its soaring
stained glass windows and
stone-carved angels. Take a
tour up the tower for fantastic
views; bathabbey.org
Spend a Friday evening with
cocktails at Tivoli's art-house
TOPPING & COMPANY
cinema, with its decadent
1930s-style bar. Order a gin
balloon from staff before or
during a film, as you sit on lamp-
lit sofas with cushions. The
Parmesan and truffle fries are
delicious; tivolicinemas.com
On Saturday, stroll along the
Kennet & Avon Canal - join
the towpath at various points
for a peaceful walk, dodging
the odd speedy cyclist.
Beyond Sydney Gardens,
prestigious properties line
the way; canalrivertrust.org.uk
My favourite place to relax
for the best toasties in the
south-west; parkfarm.co.uk
Another spot for Sunday
lunch is the Hare & Hounds,
on a Sunday is The Boathouse.
Right on the River Avon, it's
dog- and family-friendly, and
the food - all the pub classics
- is good. Watching rowers
pass as you sip your wine
is very Wind in the Willows;
boathouse-bath.co.uk
If you like a leisurely hike,
follow the Cotswold Way from
Weston to the top of Kelston
Roundhill - you can see to
Wales on a good day. Head
to the Bath Soft Cheese Co
with foamy Bath Ales, views
down the valley, and blankets
for those sitting outdoors;
hareandhoundsbath.com
For something really cosy,
try Thermae Bath Spa. Some
of my fondest memories have
been made here, relaxing
in the rooftop pool while
imagining the Romans
doing more or less the same
in winter, millennia earlier;
thermaebathspa.com
4* finolastack.co.uk
Qgkejt
О LITTLE
SHOES
BOOKSELLERS
toppingbooks.co.uk
Insider knowledge, the range
of books - spread over two
floors and a gallery - and
regular events make this indie
store a rainy-day must-visit.
THE SAN FRANCISCO
FUDGE FACTORY
sanfranciscofudge.co.uk
Fill a fudge box to-go with
100% handmade goodies.
Flavours range from
raspberry pavlova to
Belgian chocolate chunk.
BATH AQUA GLASS
bathaquaglass.com
Sort your Christmas shopping
in one fell swoop at this cute
curiosity, selling paperweights,
rings and blown glass.
ОПЕКЕ
T0ST1Y
THE ROYAL CRESCENT
HOTEL & SPA
This elegant property has
pride of place on Bath's
Georgian sweep. Check in
for bright and airy bedrooms
with sherbet-coloured
dashes, full-on afternoon tea,
and soporific spa treatments.
Doubles from £375, including
breakfast; royalcrescent.co.uk
womanandhomc.com 213
* . * тЧ *	/ • >
Decembers
BOOKCLUB
Our books editor Zoe West gives us her favourite picks for
the month, plus Elodie Harper shares her writing secrets
POIGNANT YET HOPEFUL
гиг
misrmAs
Water by John
Boyne (£12.99,
HB, Transworld)
Boyne not
only opens up
conversations, he
writes beautifully and
sensitively. Water
is the first part of a
novella quartet. In
it Boyne unravels
the past of Vanessa Carvin, a woman
who arrives on a remote island having
fled Dublin, cut her hair and changed her
name. As Vanessa faces up to demons of
the past she questions just how complicit
she was in what went before. This novella
feels hopeful despite the difficult subject.
/IDeodSarrta.
Evt.T'jOnt’i « Susptct...
к AMATEUR
I DRAMATICS
r The Christmas Appeal
by Janice Hallett
(£12.99, HB, Profile Books)
All Sarah-Jane wants is to put on the annual
Christmas pantomime and raise money to
repair the church hall's roof. Unfortunately,
the other members of the Fairway Players
are more interested in power struggles,
hiding props with asbestos, OBE's being
'accidentally' omitted from the cast list and
making sure people from the 'new estate'
don't join in. But when a body turns up, talk
of 'Who's going to be cast as lead next time?'
is replaced by 'Whodunnit?'. Laugh-out-loud
funny with an entertaining storyline.
A HERO RETURNS
MOHNG MYSTERY
youVr got to be я player
Tackle!
Tackle! by J illy
Cooper (£22,
HB, Transworld)
Inspired by a
lunch with Sir Alex
Ferguson, Cooper's
new novel tackles
the money, passion
and politics that
drive professional
football. Its hero is
The Leftover
Woman by Jean
Kwok (£14.99,
HB, Profile Books)
When Jasmine
Yang finds out her
presumed dead
daughter was sent
to America - a
result of China's
one-child policy
- she flees to find her. In New York,
publishing editor Rebecca Whitney has
it all, including a Chinese daughter she
loves - until an industry scandal threatens
RELATABLE READ
Good Material
DOLLY Ul
by Dolly Aiderton
(£18.99, HB,
Penguin)
A break-up novel
told from the
perspective of a
heartbroken man,
Good Material
combines
Aiderton's wit and
her original and best - racehorse trainer
and reformed rake Rupert Campbell-
Black, who is persuaded to buy a
flagging football club. Packed with jokes,
inimitable puns and sinister plot twists,
Tackle! also revisits Rutshire characters
fans will know like old friends, and
introduces an array of players and WAGS.
to topple everything. Two women on
a collision course hurtle through twists
and turns to a high-octane ending that
will have you tearing through the pages.
eye for detail with a beautiful depth of
emotion. Struggling comedian Andy still
loves his ex, Jen, and becomes deeply
obsessed with solving the puzzle of their
relationship in the hope it might bring
them back together. But what Andy
hasn't considered is Jen's side of the
story, which may just change his mindset.
214 womanandhomc.com
HOUSE OF SECRETS
Roseland by Judy
Finnigan (£20,
HB, Little, Brown)
A follow-up to
Eloise, Roseland
whisks us back
to Cornwall, to
a rambling family
estate shrouded
in long-held
secrets. Cathy
hasn't been to the ancestral home of her
long-passed friend, Eloise, in years, but
she's drawn to return when Eloise's former
husband Jack announces he's remarrying.
Who is the mystery bride? It doesn't take
long for past ills to bubble to the surface.
PACY PAGE-TURNER
RUTH KELLY
THE
THE GRANDER
by Ruth Kelly
(£8.99, PB,
Pan Macmillan)
When Adele and
boyfriend, Jack,
are offered the
chance to live
in a chateau in
France for free,
theyjumpatit-
it's an opportunity
to impress Adele's YouTube followers.
When the pair 'go missing', it's up to
Adele's estranged sister, Erin, to discover
why they were ever gifted the chateau
- and whether it has cost them their lives.
GARDENING GURU
The Gardening
Book by Monty
Don (£28,
HB, Ebury)
A handsome
guide aimed
at those who
have fallen in love
with gardening
but need an
experienced,
soil-smudged hand to guide them.
It starts with a basic question - what
do you want from your garden? - then
zooms in on practical elements (what
to grow, howto do it), design principles
and wider concerns, such as working
with nature. Expect elegant design
coupled with Don's soothing prose.
mow a wm
elodie h
painting than a photo;
you are giving a sense
of everything, from a
character's perspective.
I'm incredibly grateful the
Wolf Den series has done
well. This was a big source
of encouragement while
writing, but finishing the
last book did bring some pressure.
I was conscious of wanting to satisfy
readers who are invested in the story.
Elodie Harper
Journalist and author Elodie Harper
created the spellbinding historical
Wolf Den series, set in the brothels
of Pompeii. Reimagining what life
would have been like for the women
who worked there,
we meet Amara - a slave
who is owned by a man
she despises. In her latest
novel, The Temple of
Fortuna, the last in the
trilogy, we reach an
explosive end - as
Mount Vesuvius erupts.
fortun
In The Temple of Fortuna, Mount
Vesuvius erupts. Fortunately, we have
an extraordinary eyewitness account
written by Pliny the Younger, the
nephew of Pliny the Elder, who is
a fictionalised character in my trilogy.
This is full of precise, human detail.
people fleeing with
pillows tied to their
heads, and carrying
torches in the smothering
darkness even though
it was daytime. I drew
on Pliny's account
when imagining how my
characters might have felt. A major
focus of my book, though, is what
happened after the eruption, as this
is fascinating. I wanted to explore how
it changed people.
I was
conscious
ofwanlingto
satisfy rear lei’s’
I research more than I use - but not
more than I need. When describing a
Roman street, I think about how I might
describe my own street, including the
obvious details we all 'see' but don't
mention, and apply the same principle.
Writing is more like an impressionist
I research first but
occasionally choose
to overrule this in the
interests of plot. What
I try never to do is anything outlandish,
or to put modern ideas - like feminism
- into an ancient character's mind.
If you want to write historical fiction
choose an era and subject you feel
passionately about, and immerse
yourself in the details of that time.
Then become increasingly focused
in choosing what you read or visit.
I also think it's important to read the
words of people from
your chosen period,
to get a sense of the
psychological landscape
they inhabited. My books
are hugely influenced
by Latin authors and
Pompeii's graffiti.
The first draft is the toughest part
- especially a third of the way through
when I cannot imagine finishing it!
I don't reward myself at the end
of the day. I plan fun things in advance
to punctuate busy periods, though.
It keeps me more productive.
+ The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie
Harper (£14.99, HB, Head of Zeus) is
out on 9 November.
ffe Chi/rtiwM Mtw
rfctrfc(far\£4M cjMpttt?
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER,
ISAKAHf
MORGAN

'Г/’г
Д WtCW’J?
XI ....
CURL UP WITH THIS SEASON’S COSIEST READ
• HirpcrCollim/’nWuAm Ljj 0 О
ои
Available in selected stores
Available at TESCO

Unforgettable childrens reads
OH MAYA GODS!
by Maz Evans
(£7.99, PB,
Chicken House)
Fanswill lap up this
spin-off (the first
of three) from the
popular Who Let
the Gods Out?
series. There's
U t чп u
® ONE ”
OFUS
IS
BACK
KAREN M. McMANUS
x штии ufrM »ом at m к ИВ6
ONE OF US IS
BACK by Karen M
McManus (£14.99,
HB, Penguin
Random House)
A heart-thumping
condusion to the
One of Us trilogy,
this book has all
the juicy plotting,
THE ICE
CHILDREN by
MG Leonard
(£12.99, HB,
Pan Macmillan)
Perfect for curling
up with on a frosty
day, this curious
tale follows Bianca
as she goes on a
mayhem all round when God Squad
veterans Vesper and Aster navigate
the Maya underworld, and tackle the
immortals. An epic romp that covers
unlikely territory (chocolate and human
sacrifice) and is packed with jokes.
pin-sharp characterisation and explosive
reveals we've come to expect from the
queen of teen crime. This time around,
THE CHRISTMAS
CLUB-THE
CHRISTMAS
CARROLLS
by Mel Taylor-
Bessent (£7.99,
PB, Harper Collins)
Holly Carroll and
her crazy-about-
Christmas family
high-school friends the Bayview crew
are menaced by a mysterious and
malevolent person from their past.
When one of the crew disappears,
it's dear things have got serious, and it
seems everyone's a target. Teenagers
may be notoriously difficult to buy for,
but the final book in this phenomenal
YA series is sure to be a winner.
quest to discover why her little brother
has been found frozen. The doctor says
his heart is beating, but no one can wake
him. She suspects a sparkling library
book has something to do with it, but it
has since vanished. As more children
are found frozen, time is running out for
Bianca to rescue her brother and the
other Ice Children, and uncover the truth.
are crossing the pond to spend the
season in New York - and to lead the
Christmas Parade. But things turn tricky
when they're invited to join the exclusive
Christmas Club and a mysterious white
reindeer appears. A funny, warm-hearted
read that gently reminds its readers of
the true meaning of Christmas.
GIGANTIC by
Rob Biddulph
(£12.99, HB,
Harper Collins)
He may be the
smallest whale
in the ocean,
but Gigantic is
fine with that.
He just keeps
FLY BOY by JJ
Bola and Clara
Anganuzzi
(£12.99,
HB, Simon
& Schuster)
This beautiful
picture book
delivers a
MAX MAGIC:
THE GREATEST
SHOW ON
EARTH by Stephen
Mulhern and Tom
Easton (£7.99,
PB, Templar)
This is the second
book about Max,
a boy with magical
himself busy, flipping and somersaulting
with his friends. Big brother Titan isn't
quite so confident in his little brother's
abilities and taunts him about his size,
but when Titan gets stuck in the sand,
could Gigantic and his friends be
the unlikely saviours? With delightful
rhyming prose and stunning illustrations,
it's a perfect book for children and
parents to enjoy together.
JJ 1<ХА «й CLAKA AMGANUZZI	Г |
powerful
message. Fly Boy doesn't always find it
easy to manage his feelings, and wishes
his red, angry wings would whisk him
away from all the madness. Could
Thomas, with his sky-blue wings, teach
him something about believing in himself
and flying free? This is a great book to
encourage talk about mental health.
powers, co-authored by magician and TV
presenter Stephen Mulhern. Kidswill be
swept along by the mystery and mayhem
that ensues when Max enters a national
talent show and encounters a sinister
masked magician, Mr Mysterio. Then
there's a snoopy reporter asking Max's
gran questions. A feel-good page-turner
with a dyslexic-friendly layout.
‘A beautiful
picture book
that delivers
a powerful
message’
WELCOME TO
THE MUSEUM:
CHRISTMAS
POP-UP
ADVENT
CALENDAR
by Emily
Carter (£29.99,
HB, Bonnier)
Grown-ups and
kids alike will relish counting down to the
big day with this richly coloured advent
calendar in a book. Let little ones adorn
the pop-up tree with the decorative
(and removable) cardboard ornaments,
hidden in compartments at the bottom
of the tree. The joy of this calendar is
it can be displayed year after year,
becoming a much-loved family treasure.
218 womanandhomc.com
festive books
JAY
BLADES
DIFFERENT
ASPECTS:
A MEMOIR
by Michael Ball
(£25, HB, Bonnier)
Some people
can pinpoint the
life-defining --
Сеймом
Wisdom and Wit from
Life’s Ups and Downs
changed
everything. For musical theatre
superstar Michael Ball, that was
landing the lead role in West End
musical Aspects of Love in 1989. Now,
as it gets a London revival, Michael
reflects on the show that made him a
household name, alongside the stage
fright and panic attacks that accompanied
it and threatened his career. Love, laughter
and tears abound in this warm, entertaining
FLEETWOOD MAC:
EVERYWHERE by Mike
F Evans (£25, HB, Palazzo Editions) ’
A celebration of the beloved band that
fascinated everyone with elegantly crafted
music and backstage dramas - break-
ups, drug addiction
and cults. Brimming
with photos,
reviews and
к interviews, this is
one for fans to
pore over.
FLEETY/OOD MAC
*

LIFE LESSONS: WISDOM AND WIT
FROM LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS by
Jay Blades (£14.99, HB, Pan Macmillan)
'Life is not a problem to be solved,
but a reality to be experienced.' So
says beloved TV star and inspirational
motivator Jay Blades, who is here to
help you reframe your mindset and live
life to the fullest. With his signature wit
and warmth, The Repair Shop presenter
shares lessons from his adventures that
have helped him to make the best of
his circumstances. This is the perfect
read for anyone looking to shape a
more positive future.
read about the musical legend.
TV. BIG ADVENTURES ON THE
SMALL SCREEN by Peter Kay
(£25, HB, HarperCollins)
No one does observational comedy
quite like Peter Kay, and we love him
for it. This latest side-splitting book
- his third memoir - is a love letter to TV.
From making tea at Granada to stardom
in Channel 4's Phoenix Nights and
Car Share with Sian Gibson, the lovable
comedian shares anecdotes and stories
from throughout his career. It's a
welcome return and a fabulous gift for
anyone in need of a laugh this Christmas.
GEORGE
HARRISON:
THE RELUCTANT
BEATLE by Philip
Norman (£25, HB,
Simon & Schuster)
A deep dive by the
acclaimed Beatles
biographer paints
a revealing portrait
of perhaps the most undervalued band
member. While he was considered a
Secrets of the stars
SPREAD THE
JOY: SIMPLE,
PRACTICAL WAYS
TO MAKE YOUR
EVERYDAY
LIFE BRIGHTER
by Gaby Roslin
(£18.99, HB,
HarperCollins)
Broadcaster and
presenter Gaby Roslin is blessed with
a sunny disposition but she also has
the knack of looking for the good in
everyday life. In this guide she shares
heart-warming stories, hilarious
anecdotes, tips and tricks that will
help you do the same, and maybe even
enrich your soul in the process. Based
on her popular podcast. Reasons to
Be Joyful, this makes a special gift for
anyone in need of a bit of a lift.
minor talent alongside John and Paul,
George composed such masterpieces as
While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Here
Comes the Sun, as well as funding Monty
Python film, Life of Brian. A fascinating
story about a man of contrasts, and
a must-read for fans of the Fab Four.
BEHIND THE
SHOULDER PADS
by Joan Collins
(£22, HB, Orion)
Who wouldn't want
to be one of Dame
Joan's confidantes?
The stories,
the gossip, the
glamour! Discover
it all and more as she shares moments
from her life - from her early career
in the golden age of Hollywood to the
Dynasty years and beyond, it's bursting
with household names. Slip on your high
heels, pour yourself a glass of fizz and
get ready to share in her adventure. »
womanandhomc.com 219
Festiveflavouredfiction
FLYING
HOME FOR
CHRISTMAS by
Helen Whitaker
(£9.99, PB,
Hodder &
Stoughton)
Curl up with a
novel that has
more festive
feeling than a glass of eggnog. Thea
is trying to get home to see her family
on Christmas Eve but her flight to
London has been grounded by a
snowstorm. The next flight out is on
Christmas Day, so she finds the last
available room at the nearest hotel
• Flying. •
Home for •
Christmas
and heads for it. However, Logan
has beaten her to it What to do? The
only option is to share with the tall,
attractive stranger...
0
Emma Heatherington
THIS CHRISTMAS
by Emma
Heatherington
(£8.99, PB,
Cornerstone)
What do you do
when you simply
can't face Christmas
with your family?
That's the dilemma
facing Rosie, until she hits on a plan to
escape the festivities by hunkering down
in a cottage in Donegal. Events take an
unexpected turn when stranger Charlie
opens the door to Sea View... As cosy
as a log fire, this 'will they, won't they?'
romantic comedy is a delicious page-
turner that you'll devour as quickly as
a plate of mince pies.
CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT
by Karen Swan (£8.99, HB,
Pan Macmillan)
There's nothing quite like a Karen
Swan novel to get you in the festive
mood - and, even better, it's set
at a grand family estate. Libby and
her boyfriend reluctantly attend
a university reunion hosted by
heartbreaker Archie Templeton.
When they become snowed in,
it's fun - at first. Then the power
goes out and, as the group starts
to reminisce, secrets and tensions
begin to surface by candlelight.
Seasonal escapism at its best.
ONE CHRISTMAS MORNING
by Rachel Greenlaw (£8.99, PB, HQ)
When workaholic Eva returns to her
childhood bolthole for a party with
her husband and old friends, she does
so under duress. She's too busy, plus
the house holds painful memories. Eva
struggles to join in and leaves early but
her beloved gran has different plans
for her - which is a shock in itself, as she
passed away three years ago... Rachel
Greenlaw's haunting debut offers a
fresh twist on the Scrooge parable, with
a pinch of Groundhog Day, as Eva is
forced to relive Christmas Day over and
over, each time waking in the body of
a different party guest. Will she learn the
lessons she needs to?
THE CHRISTMAS
LETTER by Emily
Stone (£9.99, PB,
Headline Review)
Christmas is a time
Holly dreads - ever
since she and her
now-estranged
sister were in a
life-changing car
accident. She finds solace in a letter-
writing club, where lonely people write
anonymously to a stranger. When she
recognises the name of a cafe in a letter
from a cancer patient, she decides to
meet the writer. It's the same cafe she
visited just before the car crash, and it's
the one where she bumped into Jack. Is
the universe trying to tell her something?
—	— BESTSELLER
Karen:
Л «7
Swan
CliriStHS
Snowed in for the holidays.
THE CHRISTMAS
BOOK CLUB
by Sarah Morgan
(£8.99, PB, HQ)
Best friends Anna,
Claudia and Erica
meet up every
year for their
book club
holiday. Erica
picks a cosy country inn this time,
but innkeeper Hattie seems to be at
breaking point. She's been struggling
since her husband died, leaving her
with a mountain of jobs, plus a young
daughter. As the week passes and
tensions begin to surface, could this
be a new chapter for all of them?
rewards, you'll be
planning your
к next garden
visit in no
time.
SECRET
3^ GARDENS OF
- F CORNWALL by Tim Hubbard
*	(£22, HB, Frances Lincoln)
Your own garden might be in hibernation
but you can still flick through the
sumptuous photography of these beautiful
places. Complete with their own stories,
challenges and
220 womanandhomc.com
festive books
Stuff the ir stockings
COLOSSAL
BOOK
INGjSiBLE
FACTS
CURIOUS
MINDS
51)00 STAGGERING FACTS
ON SCKHCt NAVURt HISTORY. W0VH5
*ияс UNIVtRSt IND М0ЯГ
THE COLOSSAL
BOOK OF
INCREDIBLE
FACTS FOR
CURIOUS MINDS
(£16.99, HB,
Octopus
Publishing)
Dive into this
fact-filled tome and
surface with an array of startling facts
that will wow friends and family. Covering
science, history, music and nature, there
are 5,000 facts to amuse, confound and
inform, from which key do houseflies
buzz in (F, apparently) to why pandas do
handstands (it's all about scent marking).
India
Knight’s
BEAUTY EDIT
INDIA KNIGHT'S
BEAUTY EDIT:
WHAT WORKS
WHEN YOU'RE
OLDER by India
Knight (£20,
HB, Penguin)
This is an essential
guide for anyone
who wants practical
advice on looking and, therefore, feeling
good. The Sunday Times beauty
columnist has simple, reassuring advice
so you won't waste cash on creams that
don't work and make-up that looks meh.
If you're worried about thinning hair or
whether to update your eye look, this
book is for you.
THE
HEBRIDEAN
BAKER AT
HOME by
Coinneach
MacLeod (£26,
HB, Bonnier)
If pictures of a
winsome, kilted
Coinneach
MacLeod on a sandy beach don't win
you over, then let's talk Sticky toffee
Orkney broonie or Hebridean hygge
cake. This is packed with fabulous
recipes for bakes, savouries, cocktails
and treats, alongside stories, songs and
snippets from locals. It's enough to make
you want to up sticks!
IM «uinaaueitcwT mruiui
RiCHARD
OSMAN
THE LAST DEVIL
TO DIE by Richard
Osman (£22,
HB, Penguin)
Hailed as Osman's
best yet, the
fourth novel in
the bestselling
Thursday Murder
Club series has
everything you've come to expect -
intrigue, humour, and more twists and
turns than a country road. The death of
an old friend, and the disappearance
of a package that he was protecting
are what mobilise Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron
and Ibrahim this time. As they navigate
a world of fraudsters, drug dealers and
forgers, and the body count rises, has
their luck finally run out?
CAROL
VORDERMAN'S
PERFECT 10
QUIZ BOOK by
Carol Vorderman
(£14.99,
HB, Ebury)
How's your
'Carolateral'
thinking? Find
out with this new book from quiz queen
Carol, based on her successful podcast
of the same name. Divided into 40
sets of 10 quick-fire brain-scratchers,
including anagrams, riddles, general
knowledge and number puzzles, it's
a fun way to fire up the synapses - to
educate, entertain and irritate. It makes
a great gift for families to enjoy over
the festive season, or for anyone hoping
to start the new year feeling sharper
and smarter.
* This racy read
w ill have you
watching S/ric/ty
in an entirely
new light’
«Л DOG ADAYr?
.	.	.I
A DOG A DAY
BY BATTERSEA
DOGS & CATS
HOME (£14.99,
HB, Welbeck)
A gift that goes
on giving - 365
cockle-warming
stories about smart,
loyal and lovable
four-legged friends. Read about Pal, the
expressive-eyed, silky tressed hero of
Lassie fame, and Pickles, the black-and-
white collie who helped save the 1966
World Cup. And every copy bought
helps to support the rescue and
rehabilitation work of Battersea itself.

SHIRLEY
BALLAS
MURDER
(kf
DANCE FLOOR
MURDER ON THE
DANCEFLOOR
by Shirley Ballas
(£14.99, HB,
HarperCollins)
The debut novel
from the Strictly
judge and Latin
ballroom queen
is a sequinned-
spattered crime caper set in the world
of Blackpool Tower Ballroom's Dance
Festival. As the competition hots up,
rivalries take a malevolent turn, and it's
up to dancers-tumed-sleuths Lily and
Susie to track down a murderer. Packed
with intrigue, this racy read will have you
watching Strictly in an entirely new light.
PAINTED
TRAVELS
by SJ Axelby
(£35, HB
Pavilion Books)
The perfect
antidote to
the dark days
of winter, this
latest collection
of watercolours takes you on a colourful
tour of the world without having to
step outside your front door. You'll be
transported to 60 of the quirkiest cafes,
museums, restaurants, gardens, trains
and more, from the San Domenico
Palace Hotel in Sicily to Hollywood insiders'
escape Parker Palm Springs. »
womanandhome.com 221
Time well spent
CRAFT YOUR
Sara Davies year with
MURDLE
\ 100 FIENDISHLY FOUL /
MURDER MYSTERY X
, LOGIC PUZZLES f
B.T. KARBER
MURDLE: 100
FIENDISHLY
FOUL MURDER
MYSTERY LOGIC
PUZZLES by GT
Karber (£12.99,
HB, Profile)
It's sudoku meets
Cluedo in this
collection of
Crafting Bible
SARA DAVIES
(£20, HB,
Transworld)
Whether you're
a crafting newbie
or a seasoned
stitcher, you'll
find plenty of
the famous and well-dressed, from
actor Stanley Tucci (who favours a narrow
stripe) to writer Nora Ephron (her mantra:
everything matches black), and Jarvis
Cocker's love of jumble sales. Rather
than seeing fashion as mere surface froth
and frippery, this reveals the depths to
which our clothes underpin everything,
from our emotions to our creativity and
sense of identity.
mini mystery puzzles. Challenging you
to find out whodunnit, following clues,
interviewing witnesses and completing
a grid to catch the culprit, this book will
satisfy any amateur sleuth - especially
when everything falls into place. With
puzzles varying in difficulty, Karber, the
creator of popular online daily mystery
game murdle.com, has produced
the ultimate casebook. Fabulous fun.
tempting makes in Sara Davies' first
book of craft. The Dragons' Den star
and entrepreneur (she founded Crafter's
Companion, a craft supply company,
while still at university) has compiled
70-plus crafts with a seasonal twist - think
Christmas wreath, Valentine's Day gift,
Halloween treat bags. Step-by-step
instructions and photos will help you
perfect each stage and technique.
CRX .FALS
ГО
ANIFEST
‘Revealing I he
depths to which
(’lotlies underpin
STYLE AND
SUBSTANCE:
WHY WHAT
WE WEAR
MATTERS
by Bay Garnett
(£20, HB,
John Murray)
Compiled by
style guru Bay
CRYSTALS TO
MANIFEST
by Emma
Lucy Knowles
(£16.99,
HB, Ebury)
If you've ever
been intrigued
by the world
of crystals
and how they can heal, energise and
empower, then this is the book for
you. An accessible guide written by
This Morning's crystal expert and
clairvoyant to the stars, it outlines how
even ’tiling*
r
THE DOOR-
TO-DOOR
BOOKSTORE
by Carsten Henn
(£14.99, HB,
Bonnier)
Unexpected
friendships abound
in this delightful
book about books.
Garnett, this is an insightful delve into
the wardrobes and fashion dictates of
*	•—
100 NOVELS THAT CHANGED
THE WORLD by Colin Salter
(£22, HB, Harper Collins)
Cataloguing 100 important novels, this
book takes the reader through seminal
works and the earliest examples of
the novel, through to postmodernist
bestsellers. You will find authors you
know, and perhaps a few you don't
too, alongside an analysis of how a
to clear your body of what is blocking
you and call in positive energy from
different types of crystals to help you to
transform your life - whether that means
upping your romance rating, boosting
your career or improving your health
and friendships.
Literary delights
DAYS AT THE
MORISAKI
BOOKSHOP by
Satoshi Yagisawa
(£10.99, PB,
Bonnier)
Every book lover
knows that books
are a little bit
special - 25-year-
Carl is a young-at-heart 72-year-old
who delivers books by night. He sees
his customers as friends, as he carefully
selects stories for them. But he is lonely
- until he meets nine-year-old Schascha,
who invites herself along on his rounds.
Soon an unlikely friendship develops,
but when Carl's job is threatened, can
he and his new friend turn things around?
A heart-warming novel about books and
their power to unite people.
1OO
NOVELS
THAT CHANGED
THE WORLD
chosen book
measures up
to the rest of
that author's
output. An
enjoyable
way to
become
well read
in just 224
pages.
old Takako isn't one of them, even
though the Morisaki second-hand
bookshop in Tokyo has been in her
family for three generations. Her unde
Satoru has devoted his life to it since
his wife left him five years earlier, but
when a break-up sees Takako move into
the small room above the shop, she's
surprised to find more among the books
than she could imagine: the healing
power of new worlds in their pages.
222 womanandhomc.com
festive books
Inspire & uplift
N BARTLETT
THE
DIARY
OF A
CEO
t 33 LAWS OF
ESS & LIFE
STRONG
WOMEN
SO STORIES OF INSPIRATIONAL ATHLETES
AT THE TOP OF THEI^GAMES
SUZANNE
ЫЦАСК
THE DIARY OF
A CEO by Steven
Bartlett (£20,
HB, Ebury)
Raw, honest and
emotional - that's
the tone of the
latest offering
from the youngest-
ever Dragon on
Dragons' Den. Bartlett distils his years
of business experience into 33 core
principles that can help anyone lead
a more fulfilled and successful life.
Founded on psychology and
behavioural science, there are also
pearls of wisdom from entrepreneurs,
experts and thought-leaders, taken
from interviews on his chart-topping
podcast of the same name. Meaningful
and accessible advice from a self-
made businessman.
ET VOILA!
A SIMPLE
FRENCH
BAKING LOVE
STORY by
Manon Lagreve
(£22, HB,
Welbeck)
If you dream of
buttery brioche
and crunchy macarons, this
introduction to the delights of
French baking is for you. The
debut cookbook by the Great
British Bake Off contestant aims
to demystify French patisserie and
bakes, so even novice cooks can
whip up a millefeuille and more.
STRONG WOMEN: INSPIRATIONAL
ATHLETES AT THE TOP OF THEIR
GAME by Suzanne Wrack (£15.99,
HB, Welbeck)
The path to the winner's podium has
been long and arduous for women in
sport, but this book celebrates their skill
and determination. Featuring 50 athletes,
it covers early pioneers such as Betty
Chapman, the first black woman to
become a professional softball player, to
more recent stars like Emma Raducanu,
who stormed up the rankings after
winning the US Open in 2021. Revealing
and uplifting in equal measure.
FINCH BAKERY
DISCO CAKES
& PARTY
CAKES by
Lauren and
Rachel Finch
(£20, HB, Dorling
Kindersley)
* Get ready to
indulge. When it
DISCO BAKES & PARTY CAttfe
comes to decadent desserts, the
Winter
LONELY
PLANET: YOU
ONLY LIVE
ONCE (£19,99,
HB, Lonely
Planet)
Whatever
your age, and
whatever you're
looking for
- a cold-water plunge in icy depths, a
sustainable safari, trekking a rainforest
or visiting a literary location - there are
plenty of experiences for a lifetime of
adventures. With tips on how to face
your fears, it's time to and seize the day.
Finch twins adopt a no-holds-
barred approach to sugar - and
we love it From sumptuous loaf
cakes to rainbow cookie pies, the
cakes are standout. An easy-to-
follow step-by-step guide, it's a
pure delight from start to finish.
RHSTHE
WINTER GARDEN
by Naomi Slade (£25,
HB, Dorling Kindersely)
This celebration of the oft-overlooked
season should be required reading for any
keen gardener. Be inspired by photos of
winter schemes, discover the bulbs that will
bloom and brighten
up dreary days, and
learn how to create a
garden that thrives j
rather than
survives in
// Garden winter.
Everything is
Extraordinary
Cole
Moreton
EVERYTHING IS
EXTRAORDINARY
by Cole Moreton
(£16.99, HB, Hodder
& Stoughton)
A collection of
interviews with
well-known (and
not so well-known)
people, this is as
much a meditation on life and what it
means to be alive. From Nelson Mandela
to Scarlett Johansson and Vera Lynn,
award-winning journalist and author
Cole Moreton explores life through his
interactions with people. A wonderful
storyteller himself, this is a gorgeous
book to dip in and out of.
THE GREAT
BRITISH BAKE
OFF: KITCHEN
CLASSICS
(£22, HB,
Sphere)
Filled with bakes,
cakes and more,
every kitchen
should have a
book like this. With recipes from
Prue Leith, Paul Hollywood and
the bakers from the 2023 season,
it's a mouth-watering combination
of classic recipes with a fresh twist,
chocolate inventions and biscuits
and breads galore. If you've ever
wondered how you'd fare in the
GBBO tent. Kitchen Classics is the
perfect place to start.
womanandhome.com 223
KNOW
SOMEONE
WHO’S NUTS
ABOUT
NATURE?
Give a special gift to someone
you love and help nature thrive
by dedicating a tree in one of
our woods.
To say thank you, we’ll send a
personalised certificate, map
and wood information about
your chosen wood by post or
instant email.
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/
dedicatexmas
Advertisement
COMPARE
WE’VE GOT
THE OPTIONS
YOU MAKE ц
THE CHOICE.*
Car, home and travel insurance plus
broadband, breakdown cover and
more. Get more info or compare quotes,
for over 40 products, at go.compare
author interview
Iii conversation with
HEIDI
SWAIN
The Sunday Times bestselling author talks to Zoe
West about alternative living and major life changes
Hailed as the 'Queen of
feel-good fiction', Heidi
Swain's heart-warming
novels have made her
a much-loved figure in the world of
romantic fiction, exploring friendship,
community, love and second chances.
Heidi's latest book, That Festive
Feeling, sees a return to Nightingale
Square. Holly is house-sitting for
friends and wants to keep to herself,
but the residents have other ideas.
Heidi lives in Norfolk, and has
two grown-up children and a cat
called Storm.
Holly, my new character, is at
a crossroads in her life. She
has just got divorced, has no
house and is dissatisfied with
her job. She's using her time
in Nightingale Square to think
about her next steps. When
she meets someone while out
walking her dog, everything she thought
was important in life goes out the window.
Whenever I revisit a setting from
previous books it feels like getting
into a car and driving back there.
That Festive Feeling is the fifth book
in the Nightingale Square series, and
everything feels familiar. I love going
back to Wynthorpe Hall in Wynbridge
too. I get the most letters about it -
everyone wants to go there for Christmas.
I have written about intergenerational
friendships for a long time. It started
with The Christmas Wish List. It was
inspired by my own friendship with a lady
in her late 70s. We've been friends for 15
I never
take my
job lor
granted'
years. There's no subject we can't talk
about, and she's got this wealth of life
knowledge. I have younger friends too.
Holly befriends May in That Festive
Feeling -an older, flamboyant lady.
She is not responsible for Holly's journey,
but she sets her off in the right direction.
Alternative living is big news at the
moment and I have dabbled with the
idea myself. I moved out of our marital
home a year ago. It was my 50th birthday
and I had a huge work deadline. I had
to really think about what would work
for me. I follow lots of gorgeous accounts
on Instagram - people living on canal
boats and in horseboxes - but,
eventually, I knew it wouldn't
work for me. I didn't have the
confidence to take it on. At
least in the novel I could explore
the prospect of doing it.
When I was younger I would
often see Jilly Cooper with her
husband and greyhounds in the pages
of magazines. She would talk about
her writing life, and I knew I wanted that.
In my mid-30s I decided it was 'now
or never'. I had this light-bulb moment
that no one else had to see my book,
but I needed to see if I could do it.
It's an honour to do the job I dreamt
of for so long. I decided to write full-
time after book four. I had two teenage
kids, a job as a teaching assistant, and
had been asked to write two books a
year. I knew I wouldn't be able to juggle
it all and that's when I took the leap.
I remember that first day, thinking, 'this
is my job now.' I never take it for granted.
I love the term 'feel-good fiction'. I want
to provide an escape for people. Someone
wrote to me saying they'd read my book in a
few hours. My mum asked me if that upset
me, after working on it for months. I said
it's the biggest compliment you can get.
I love that people read my books so quickly.
Some reviews say romantic storylines
are predictable, but that's the point.
You're supposed to know who ends up
with who. The exciting part is how they
get there. Readers can feel so cheated
if they want a couple to get together,
only to see them go their separate ways.
The best writing advice I could give
to those starting out is not to wait
until the right time. And, not to wait
until they have more time - because
that's a fantasy. Just get on with it, even
if it's only 10 minutes three times a day
- that's still half an hour a day. You have
to find a way to make
it work. If it's something
you want that badly, you
can't keep putting it off.
+ That Festive Feeling
by Heidi Swain (£8.99,
PB, Simon & Schuster)
is out now.
womanandhomc.com 225
petGuard
Serious pet insurance
Lifetime cover for
your cot or dog
3 levels of annual vet fee cover up to £12k
It s easy to claim. Vet bills paid to your vet
		
. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
I
Over 37 years of experience
protecting the UK’s cats and dogs



discount off
specialist pet
insurance*
Specialist pet insurance
that you can trust
What happens if your cat or dog hurts themselves or becomes
unwell? No pet owner wants to think about it, but injuries or
illness can strike at any time. Our cover helps you manage the
cost of vet bills as well as additional related costs, including vet
transportation, complementary treatments, emergency boarding
and more. Get In touch for a quote today.
•Terms and conditions apply: Available to new UK customers aged 16 and over.
Applicable to first years premium.
In partnership with
woman&home
Get a quote online
www.petguard.co.uk/woman-and-home
or call us on:
0345 450 7042
petGuard is a trading style of Thistle Insurance Services Ltd. Thistle Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FRN 310419. Registered in
England No. 00338645. Registered office: Rossington’s Business Park. West Carr Road, Retford. Nottinghamshire, DN22 7SW. Thistle Insurance Services Limited is part of the PIB Group. PIB
Group is a trading style of PIB Group Limited. PIB Group Limited is registered in England & Wales. Registration number 09900466. petGuard is underwritten by Covea Insurance pic and Ageas
Insurance Ltd. Registered office, Norman Place, Reading, RG1 8DA. Registered in England and Wales No. 613259. Covea Insurance pic is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and
regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Register number 202277. Ageas Insurance Ltd, Ageas House, Hampshire Corporate Park, Templars Way,
Eastleigh. Hampshire, SO53 3YA. Registered in England and Wales No. 354568. Ageas Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial
Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Financial Services Register No. 202039.
Take I II L
Actor Richard Armitage on books that changed his life
A LIFE 'S JOURNEY
David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens
We studied this book at drama
school, and then took an
adaptation of it around Europe,
in which I played Uriah Heep.
It's the seminal epic novel
of a man that goes from birth
to death. I think Dickens covers
grief in a brilliant way and writes
incredible characters. He's such
a vivid storyteller. I have also
narrated this book for Audible.
PHILOSOPHICAL
MUSINGS
Meditations
by Marcus Aurelius
The private diary of a Roman
senator, never intended
to be published, has such
a core element of life.
I even use it as a
bit of a self-help
book. I realised
when I was
taking part in
Chekhov's Uncle
Vanya on stage that
Chekhov may have read
Meditations; he was using
similar sentiments that our
MORAL DILEMMAS
Crime and Punishment
by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
I was fascinated by this book
during my first year at drama
school - looking at that moment
people do terrible things. There's
a brilliant passage when a murder
takes place. It's an exploration
of a criminal who can't live with
himself without unravelling his
own narrative. It's such deep, rich
writing too, raising the question
of whether people are born evil.
6
deeds may well be forgotten in generations to come,
encouraging himself to live in the moment. You can dip
in and out of this book and always find one or two gems.
AN EPIC FANTASY
The Lord of the Rings by
J.R.R. Tolkien
This was the first huge book
I looked at. I was 11 and read
it cover to cover over a number
of weeks. It was the first time
I grieved for characters, upset
that I would never encounter them
again. I had dreamt of being one
of the Fellowship. I think this was
when I realised that I wanted to
be an actor. That dream came true
when I played Thorin in The Hobbit.
POSTMODERN
MISTERPIECE
The French Lieutenant's
Woman by John Fowles
This was on the reading list for
А-Level English. I watched the film
in an attempt to get under the skin
of the male and female characters.
I loved how the author stepped out
of the period and commented on
the present day, talking about the
hypocrisy of the Victorians. It isn't
just a love story, it's political too.
JOHN FOWLES
The French
Lieutenant’s
Woman
READ RICHARD ARMITAGE S ROOK
Geneva (£16.99, HB, Faber & Faber)
Nobel prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier is showing
signs of dementia. Reluctant to attend an event in
Geneva, her neuroscientist husband persuades her.
There, the couple are celebrated, but a controversial
blogger is watching her, and Sarah's symptoms are
getting worse. A high-octane thriller laced with lies.
womanandhomt.com 227
GOOD to KNOB '
YOUR MONTHLY ENTERTAINMENT ROUND-UP
A ©AY
та! off of
Barbara Taylor
Bradford
The international bestselling author,
now 90, lives in Manhattan, New York
WAKE UP At my apartment, I get up
at around 8am. I'm an early morning
person, maybe because I had to be at
my first job as a reporter at the Yorkshire
Evening Post. The first edition was out on
the streets by 10.30am.
BREAKFAST My housekeeper Daniella
makes me my breakfast at around
8.30am. Usually I have a cup of English
breakfast tea, a toasted English muffin
spread with peanut butter, and a banana.
I watch the news and read the British
newspapers. I like to have paper in my
hand rather than read everything on
a computer. I'm a newshound at heart.
On weekdays, by around 9.30am I'm in
my happy place - my office, surrounded
by my favourite pictures, including
several of my late husband Bob [US film
producer Robert Bradford, who died in
2019[. The room is full of natural light and
busy bookshelves.
I spend half the day sitting on my
ottoman thinking about the book I’m
working on, then the next half writing.
Historically, I have always used a
typewriter, but I wrote my new book,
The WonderofltAII, entirely by hand.
LUNCH I have an alarm clock on my desk
to remind me to get up and walk every
two hours because I've developed back
pain from sitting for too long. If I don't
appear for lunch by 2pm, my housekeeper
knocks on the door with a sandwich
or salad. Sometimes I have lunch in the
kitchen, standing up. A
AFTERNOON I try to finish work by
5pm. Once I turn off the office lights and
go 'home', I put my feet up in another
room and look again at the daily papers.
DINNER At 7pm or 8pm, I either go out
to a nice restaurant with friends or my
housekeeper will leave me a shepherd's
pie to heat up. I've been an American
citizen for more than 30 years but I'm very
much an Englishwoman living in New York.
EVENING I love watching films.
I recently rewatched Casablanca. It has
everything going for it - an exotic city,
the wartime backdrop, a group of
extraordinary actors and a moving,
passionate love story.
BEDTIME Unless I'm out, I like to goto
bed between 10pm and 11pm, and I take
off my make-up without fail. I have good
skin, but that's from a good diet, little
or no alcohol, not smoking and staying
out of the sun. Charlotte Tilbury's Magic
Cream is the only one I use. Over the
years I've grown into my skin and like
what I see in the mirror.
+ Barbara Taylor Bradford's The Wonder
of It All (HarperCollins, HB, £20) is out
on 9 November.
228 womanandhomc.com
£2
EVERYONE’S
TALKING ABOUT...
ABBA VOYAGE
Step back in time and into
the future to experience
an ABBA show like no
other. Using cutting-edge
technology, the famous
four are reunited on stage
for the first time in more
than 40 years. Avatars - or
should we say ABBAtars?
- of Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny
and Anni-Frid appear on
a 65-million-pixel screen,
offering an unforgettable
night as they 'perform'
20 of their hits alongside
a 10-piece live band.
Futuristic lights, strobes
and laser shows transform
the purpose-built
arena - located
at Stratford's
Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park
- into a nostalgic
disco, giving fans
the opportunity
to sing and dance
along to tracks
including Dancing Queen,
Mamma Mia, Waterloo and
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
(A Man After Midnight).
But how does it work? The
band were highly involved in
the lengthy process, which
was designed and created
by Industrial Light & Magic,
the company founded
by George Lucas. Each
ABBAtar was made by
blending five weeks of
motion-captured films of the
band members today with
those of a younger body
double, engineered to look
like the Swedish stars during
the 70s. Add 500 moving
lights and 291 speakers, and
you have a groundbreaking
spectacle that will entertain
fans of all ages. It's the
perfect present and ultimate
night out this Christmas.
+ For ABBA Voyage tickets
and more information, visit
abbavoyage.com
Ц
II
h'
p
I5
h
p'
Й£

Tess Daly
With the nights drawing in and
the weather getting colder, it's
harder to leave the comfort of
your sofa on a Saturday night
Fortunately, with Strictly Come
Dancing on our screens injecting
glitz and glamour into the bleak
winter, we don't have to. Now
into its 21st series, watching
celebrities battle it out on the
dancefloor for the glitterball
trophy has been a staple of
our Saturday and Sunday nights
since 2004, and Tess Daly is
right at the heart of the show.
From keeping the late Sir Bruce
Forsyth on his toes to becoming
one half of the first all-female
presenting team to host a prime-time
Saturday night show, alongside Claudia
Winkleman, our weekend evenings
wouldn't be the same without Tess telling
us to 'keep dancing'.
+Watch Strictly every Saturday and
Sunday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. »
womanandhomc.com 229
It л beeinnh ш to look a lot like »
CHRISTMAS
TO GET YOU INTO THE FESTIVE SPIRIT, W&H HAS
ROUNDED UP THE BEST SEASONAL ATTRACTIONS
SKATE AT
SOMERSET HOUSE
London
For a wintry treat, head to Somerset
House, where the spectacular
courtyard is transformed into a huge
ice rink. Novice skaters of all ages
can take daytime lessons at the Skate
School before the rink livens up with
DJ sets at night After showing off your
skills on the ice, unwind with a glass
of Whispering Angel's Rock Angel
Provence rose and Swiss mountain-
inspired food from Chalet Suisse by
Jimmy Garcia; somersethouse.org.uk
IJ INTER
WONDERLAND
Hyde Park, London
Since it began in 2005, this has become
a must-visit festive destination. Enjoy a
day out ice-skating and exploring
Santaland or a night at the ice
bar and Bavarian village.
See the city lit up
from the top of the
70-metre wheel,
then tuck into
churros and
chestnuts from
the Christmas
markets;
hydeparkwinter
wonderland.com
HOGHARTS IN
THE SNOW
Leavesden, Hertfordshire
Have yourself a Harry Christmas as
you experience the magical world of
Hogwarts under a blanket of snow.
Follow in the footsteps of Harry, Ron
and Hermione by attending the Yule
Ball and walk the iconic halls. Keep an
eye out for authentic decorations and
Christmas cards made by the crew
during filming, and enjoy the festive
hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley before
getting cosy in Gryffindor common
room. Plus stop by the Christmas
shop for gifts for the Potterheads
in your life; wbstudiotour.co.uk
LA ГЫ ND
RHSGLOW
Multiple locations, including Surrey,
Devon and North Yorkshire
Who needs snow when you can let it
glow?! See these famous gardens in
a new light as you wander along
enchanting light trails, viewing
the installations and
illuminations. Warm
up with food and
drink from festive д
chalets, serving	>
everything from
bratwurst to hot
chocolate, before ZL—
discovering the
decorations and
gifts in the garden
centres; rhs.org.uk
Ascot, Berkshire
Take the kids on
a magical festive
trip. Each child
invitation from
₽.	Santa, asking them
to journey to Lapland
to help the Elves make
toys. Once they arrive, they'll
decorate gingerbread men, enjoy
performances amid winter scenery
and then meet reindeers and the
big man himself; laplanduk.co.uk
DANCING INA II INTER
WONDERLAND
U'illi Aljaz Shorjancc and Janelle Manrara
UK tour with multiple locations including Portsmouth, Belfast,
Glasgow, Liverpool and Nottingham
Former Strictly professional dancers, the husband and wife team will bring
a sprinkle of Christmas magic to a stage near you. Get ready to jingle those
bells and rock around the Christmas tree as they perform to your favourite
festive hits in this cracker of a show; dancinginawinterwonderland.com
EDINBURGH
П INTER I ESTH AL
Multiple locations in Edinburgh
This would get even Scrooge into the
festive spirit! With Christmas
markets, an ice rink, Christmas
tree maze, rides for all ages
and the chance to meet
Santa, you won't want to
leave. Grab a hot
chocolate or mulled
wine and festive treats
to eat as you watch
live events and marvel
at the castle's stunning
light display;
edwinterfest.com
CHRISTMASAT
CHATSWORTH
Bakewell, Derbyshire
A spectacular light trail,
seven-metre trees, opulent
decorations, a Christmas
market, crafting workshops
and the chance to indulge in
a festive tea ensures this has
something for everyone. The
Palace of Advent theme sees
24 of the historical house's
rooms transformed with
mistletoe, handmade
stockings and candy
cane-adorned archways;
chatsworth.org
Puzzti BREAK!
Give your brain a workout with these teasers
jy c&mw»©
Read down the letters in
the shaded squares to spell
out a sandwich filling (6,6).
ACROSS
1 Travelled by bike (6)
4 Identify (9)
9 Parts of a flower (6)
15 Step (5)
16 Stretchy thread (7)
17 Land units (5)
18 Illuminated (3)
19 Inventory (4)
20 Therapy (9)
21 Most recent (6)
24 Professions (11)
26 Monarch's
daughters (10)
29 Invertebrate (6)
31 Country (6)
32 Ambition (5)
33 Playing cube (3)
35 Ridiculing (11)
36 T heory (10)
40 Intensity of colour (10)
42 Expressing regret (11)
44 Concealed (3)
45 Numbers (5)
47 Edible bird (6)
48 School session (6)
50 Specific (10)
52 Presenting (11)
56 Seas (6)
57 Backpacker (9)
59 Backless shoe (4)
62 Speck (3)
63 Prove innocent (5)
64 Frocks (7)
65 Different (5)
66 Spatter (6)
67 Exploit (9)
68 Pursues (6)
DOWN
1	Fortress (6)
2	Vintage (7)
3	Deserve (4)
5	Delete (5)
6	Remarkable (11)
7	American coin (6)
8	Dispersed (9)
10	In another place (9)
11	Map books (7)
12	Location (4)
13	Uncommitted (7)
14	Diction (13)
22 Hitting with a fist (8)
23 Burnt remains (5)
25 John Lennon album (7)
27 Spell-caster (5)
28 2.54 centimetres (4)
30 Blended (7)
33 Flowers (7)
34 Noble (13)
37 Trailblazer (7)
38 Proof (8)
39 Growing older (5)
41 Takes a seat (4)
42 Organisation (11)
43 I arge vessels (5)
45 Pests (9)
46 Exhausted (9)
49 Destination on the
front of an envelope (7)
51 Musical
performance (7)
53 Zeros (7)
54 Doorknob (6)
55 Card suit (6)
58 Not the winner (5)
60 Appends (4)
61 Insect (4)
232 womanandhomc.com
puzzles

То solve the puzzle, each row, column and
3x3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
No single digit can appear twice in any
one row, column or 3x3 box.
	8		1				9	
9		4		3	6			5
5			8					3
4			9		2		8	
	5	2					4	
	9		6		5			
1		8		6				2
			5	8		7		4
	7				9		1	
You have 15 minutes to find
as many words as possible
using the letters in the grid.
Each word must contain
four or more letters, one
of which must be the central
square. No proper nouns,
plurals or foreign words
are allowed. There
is one nine-letter word
in the grid, for which
the clue is: aggrieved.
8  average.
More than 16 = well done
(HIAUF & NAL₽
GNVd :H3MSNV
SXNVd '3A1VA
'avNm :nmog Базза
'NOIAN 'азлп :SSO8DV
J1VH QNV dlVH
1NVN9IGNI :H3MSNV
9NINNI1 '9NI1 '9NIGI1
'9NINNV1 'NINNV1 '9NV1
'9NINNI 'N9IGNI '1VN9
1NVI9 'NIV9 '9NI1NIG
'1NIG '9NINNIG ‘9NINIG
'9NIG '9NI1VG '9NVG
'ONLLNV'LLNV '9NICJIV
3SIMGdOM
азила inNV3d ^3msnv
H1ON L9SGGV09
H3SO1 8S S1HV3H SS
31GNVH VS S1H9DON ES
iviD3a Lssssaaavev
G3a3J_LVHS9V
S39NVSIDN SV SdIHSEV
lN3H39NVaaVEV
S1IS LV9NI9V6E
39N3GIA3 8E H33NOId LZ
G3HSICI9NLLSIG VS
S3ISIVG EE
G3adllSOE H9NI8E
НЭ11М ZE 3N/9WV/ SE
S3HSVEE 9NIH9NCId EE
NOIlVIDNClNOdd VL
IVdlDdN EL 31IS EL
S3SVHV LL 3d3HM3S13 OL
G3d311V9S 8 -|3>9IN L
9NIGNVlSinO93SVa3S
NMV3 E 9ISSV39 E
311SV9 L :NMOG
S3SVH989
3dniN3AGV £9 HSVldS 99
d3Hios9S3ss3aav9
dV339 £91OG E9 ЗЗП1Л16S
аЗПЗЛХОН £S SNV39O 9S
9NI9naOdlNI ES
aVTOLWVd OS NOSS318V
АЗХУГ11 £V S3NIN SV
GIH w 9NISI9OTOdVEV
ss3NiH9iaaov
SIS3HlOdAH 9£
9NISI9llia9S£3IG SE
3AldG EE NOLLVN LE
193SNI6E S3SS39Nldd 9E
SNOLLVdCIDDOVE
1S3M3N LElN3IAIlV3aiOE
ISn 6L1П 8L S3H9V £L
9I1SV33 9L dIVlS SL
STV13d 6 3SIN9O93d V
G319A9 L :SSO8DV
31ZZnd О81Л1ПГ
□DQQBDQQD
□□□□□□□□□
□□QBDQQDD
□□□□□□□□□
□□□□□□□□□
□□□□□□□□□
□□□E1QBDDQ
nxoans
Discover Europe
with Riviera Travel
imviERA
^j^RAVEL
travel
OFFERS
At Riviera Travel, we have a passion for giving you the best
experience possible, and our European tours are no exception.
Each tour is fully escorted, with an expert tour manager
who will travel with you, fulfilling the tour and giving local
knowledge of the history, culture and other information to
make your holiday that bit more special. We also promise no
hidden charges, an eye-opening itinerary and a friendly face
at every turn.
i 4 1
Price includes:
✓ Return flights from a range of UK airports or
departures by Eurostar*
/ Programme of insightful tours and excursions
/ Stay in hand-picked hotels with selected meq
/ Services of an experienced tour monag
>5»
»c,.
To request a brochure, for more information or to book
Visit rivieratravel.co.uk/wah
Call 01283 742 348 (Quote WAH)
Bruges
4 days from £399pp
There can be few places left where you can totally switch off for a few
days from the pressures of modern day living as completely as you con
in Bruges. Its beauty and tranquillity are outstanding as befits the most
perfectly preserved medieval town in Europe.
•	Return standard-class reserved Eurostar seats from London
St. Pancras, plus hotel transfers
•	Return rail available on selected dates from over 50 regional stations
•	3 nights in three- to four-star superior accommodation, with daily
breakfast
•	The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager
Your included experiences
•	Guided walking tour of Bruges
•	Visit Ypres and Tyne Cot Cemetery
•	Learn how the world's finest chocolates are made
Departures in December 2023 & March to December 2024
Paris
4 days from £419pp
Paris was, is and always will be somewhere rather special. Why not try it
with this superb four-day holiday? This inexhaustible city has something
for everyone - whatever your taste. It is everything you imagine it to be -
romantic, inspiring, vibrant even outrageous, but best of all Paris
is unique.
•	Return standard-class reserved Eurostar seats from London
St. Pancras, plus hotel transfers
•	Return rail available on selected dates from over 50 regional stations
•	3 nights in three- or four-star accommodation, with daily breakfast
•	The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager
Your included experiences
•	2 guided tours including Paris by day and Paris by night
•	Visit the town of Versailles and the artists' quarter, Montmartre
Departures in December 2023 & March to December 2024
Spain's Basque Country, La Rioja & Burgos
8 days from £1,349pp
Experience fascinating Basque culture, captivating towns and cities
along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, spectacular scenery,
Rioja wines, an inspired gastronomic heritage, ond one of the world's
most avant-garde museums.
•	Return flights from a selection of regional airports with hotel transfers
•	7 nights in four-star accommodation, with daily breakfast and
one dinner
•	The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager
Your included experiences
•	4 guided tours including Bayonne, Burgos, Pamplona and San
Sebastidn
•	Ascend to the peak of La Rhune mountain by vintage cog railway
•	4 visits including the Guggenheim Museum, Santillana del Mar,
Altamira cave Museum and one of Rioja's traditional vineyards
with tasting
•	Sample delicious pintxos at a traditional bar in San Sebastian
Departures from April to October 2024
Sicily
8 days from £1,499pp
Dominated by snow-capped Mount Etna, blessed with abundant
sunshine and unspoilt landscapes and coastlines, Sicily is a truly
beautiful part of Italy, but with a character all of its own. Ruled by
different civilisations for millennia, there are countless architectural
ond archaeological riches to explore, from Piazza Armerina’s stunning
Roman villa, Monreale’s cathedral and Agrigento’s Valley of the
Temples.
•	Return flights from a selection of regional airports with hotel transfers
•	7 nights in four-star accommodation inclusive of all local taxes, with
breakfast and dinner, plus 1 lunch in a rural restaurant
•	The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager
Your included experiences
•	3 guided tours including the Valley of the Temples, the Roman Villa
in Piazza Armerina and Monreale Cathedral
•	4 visits including Palermo, Taormina, Mount Etna and Siracusa
•	Enjoy authentic Sicilian food at a local agriturismo restaurant
Departures from April to October 2024
TERMS & CONDITIONS: Additional entrance costs may apply Prices are per person, based on two sharing and subject to finite availability
Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL
3430, a company wholly independent of Woman and Home, published by Future pic. Prices correct at time of going to print See website for full
details and meal plans fSupplement may apply.
©ABTA
Xurtx АЖТА Ne.V4744
Discover the world
with Riviera Travel
gMjVIERA
^j^RAVEL
travel
OFFERS
At Riviera Travel, we have a passion for giving you the best experience
possible, and our worldwide tours are no exception. Each tour is fully
escorted, with an expert tour manager who will travel with you, fulfilling the
tour and giving local knowledge of the history, culture and other information
to make your holiday that bit more special. We also promise no hidden
charges, an eye-opening itinerary and a friendly face at every turfl.
Price includes:
/ Return flights from the UK
/ Programme of insightful tours and excursions
/ Stay in hand-picked hotels with selected meals
/ Services of an experienced tour manager

To request a brochure, for more information or to book
Visit rivieratravel.co.uk/wah
Call 01283 742 348 (Quote WAH)
Highlights of Australia
17 days from £4,999pp
Visit some of Australia's main cities ond experience the country's unique
natural beauty with trips to the Blue Mountains, the Great Barrier Reef
ond more on this Highlights of Australia tour.
•	Stay in handpicked four- and three-star hotels, with daily breakfast
and 1 lunch
•	Return scheduled flights from the UK
•	The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager
Your included experiences
•	Stay in some of Australia's greatest cities - Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns
and Melbourne
•	Experience the country's natural beauty in the Blue Mountains, on the
Great Ocean Road coastal drive and on the Puffing Billy steam train
•	Get up close with local wildlife with a visit to a koala sanctuary, and
to Phillip Island to watch the famous penguin parade
•	Discover the amazing rainforests around Cairns on the Kuranda
Scenic Railway
•	Enjoy a full day catamaran cruise to the Great Barrier Reef
Departures from January, March, October & November 2025
New Zealand
21 days from £5,799pp
You'll quickly become attuned to the Kiwi lifestyle as you travel through the
country's magnificent national parks, vibrant towns ond landscapes.
•	Stay in hand-picked four-star and three-star accommodation, with daily
breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner
•	Return scheduled flights with Premium Economy upgrades available
•	The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager
Your included experiences
•	Experience the sub-tropical climate of the stunning Bay of Islands
•	Cross the Southern Alps on the TranzAlpine train
•	4 visits including Те Puia, Christchurch, Arrowtown and Hamilton Gardens
•	Cruise awe-inspiring Milford Sound
•	3 guided tours including Napier, Auckland, Wellington and Nelson
•	Cruise along Abel Tasman National Park's coastline
•	Vineyard visit and tasting in the Marlborough wine region
•	Enjoy a helicopter flight around the iconic Franz Josef glacier, with an
amazing alpine landing
•	Get close-up views of Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak
Departures from January to November 2024 & January to June 2025
South Africa
16 days from £2,999pp
South Africa offers spectacular scenery with arguably the finest wildlife
on earth and no less than 11 official languages - it is truly a world-class
destination.
•	Stay in hand-picked four-star and three-star hotels with daily
breakfast, 2 lunches and 3 dinners
•	Return scheduled flights with Premium Economy upgrades available
•	The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager
Your included experiences
•	2 guided tours including the Zulu War battlefields of Isandlwana
and Rorke's Drift
•	Full-day guided safari in the Kruger National Park
•	Enjoying a cellar tour and tasting at a 300-year-old wine estate
•	Explore Cape of Good Hope and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
•	7 visits including the Congo Caves, Oudtshoorn, Blyde River canyon,
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Hermanus, the Winelands and
Boulders Beach
California & The Golden West
15 days from £3,299pp
Explore the world's most famous national parks, intriguing Native
American culture, amazing desert landscapes, the lush forests and
lofty peaks of Yosemite and vibrant, pulsating cities. There are few
places in the world that generate more iconic imagery than California
ond the western USA, and even fewer live up to it in reality! The sights
and amazing natural wonders just roll off the tongue, with probably
nothing more aptly named than the Grand Canyon.
•	Stay in hand-picked three and four-star accommodation
•	Return scheduled flights from London with premium economy or
business class upgrades available at a supplement
•	The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager
Your included experiences
•	5 visits including the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Valley of Fire
State Park, Monument Valley, Yosemite National Park
•	2 guided tours including San Francisco and Los Angeles
Departures from March to November 2024
Departures from January to November 2024 & 2025
TERMS & CONDITIONS: Additional entrance costs may apply Prices are per person, based on two sharing and subject to finite availability
Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel Offer operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL
3430, a company wholly independent of Woman and Home, published by Future pic. Prices correct at time of going to print See website for full
details and meal plans
@ABTA
Xurtx АЖТА N»V4744
don’t forget to visit www.womanandhome.com
FASHION
COTSWOLD
COLLECTIONS
womanshomeDiRECTORY
GO ONLINE OR CALL
US TODAY AND CLAIM
USE CODE X23WH
AT CHECKOUT
GREAT REASONS TO ORDER
• Exclusively designed in the UK
Supporting British manufacturers
• A fit to suit you, made to last
• Excellent customer service
• Premium fabrics and yarns
IU OFF
YOUR FIRST ORDER
Classic pearlised bead necklace JH917 £59 Rose Merino jumper JH106 £89 Pink Heritage pleated skirt JH351 £149 Fuchsia m Jti
Raglan lambswool cardigan JF128 £95 Fuchsia Merino turtleneck JF118 £79 Silver Grey Clip earrings JH908 £45 Silver
SEE OUR FULL COLLECTION ONLINE TODAY COtSWoldcolleCtiODS.COm/wh

ORDER YOUR FREE CATALOGUE CALL 01242 536723
•Only applies to the Christmas Catalogue Cannot be taken in conjunction with any other оЯег.
To advertise here please call 07526 904793
don’t forget то visit www.womanandhome.com
FASHION
HOMES IDEAS
KITCHENS
Д Pineland
•	100% solid wood kitchens - no MDF, chipboard or ply
•	Dovetail jointed drawers - mortise and tenon joints for carcases
•	Free design service. Individual hand drawn plans
•	Non-standard sues. at no extra cost, to suit your kitchens dimensions
•	Fully assembled units; no annoying flat-pack assembly
•	Straightforward, easy to understand costing - prices include VAT & delivery
•	Primed, or primed and painted units can now be provided
Visit our website; www.pineland.co.uk Email: en<|uMM^piMhnd.couk or cal our offices:
CLEOBURY MORTIMER, SHROPSHIRE	01299 271143
NORTHWICH, CHESHIRE	01606 41292
DIRECTORY
To advertise here please call 07526 904793
woman&home Travel Offer
2nd person from
£6995o
Wine Tasting
Buy One - Get One Half Price
^'Tast^of Tuscany
& Florence
Tuscan countryside & two wine.tastings
Florence, Pisa, Lucca,
using voucher code WHHALF Discount offer ends 30th November 2023
Special buy one get one half price offer to all Woman & home readers
3 Star Hotel Cappelli,
Montecatini Terme
8 days, departing in May, June, September & October 2024
Half Board & Included Excursions | Flying from 9 regional airports
Tuscany is home to beautiful scenery, historical cities and some of the best food and wine in Italy.
On this special holiday to Tuscany experience genuine Tuscan cuisine, visit vineyards where you will
taste classical Chianti wines, explore Florence on a guided walking tour and visit other gems in Tuscany
including Siena, San Gimignano and Lucca and see the amazing Leaning Tower of Pisa. Experience all
of this and more on this fabulous food and wine tasting holiday to Italy.
Your Holiday Includes:
•	Excursion to Florence
•	Excursion to Pisa and Lucca
•	Excursion to the Chianti Countryside,
and Siena and San Gimignano
•	Two vineyard visits with wine tasting
•	Cheese and olive oil tastings
•	7 nights accommodation staying at the 3 star
Hotel Cappelli in Montecatini Terme or upgrade
to the 4 star Hotel Boston in Montecatini Terme
•	7 buffet breakfasts & 5 evening dinners in the hotel
*	1 dinner in a local restaurant
•	Lunch at Vicchio Maggio Wine Estate and vineyard
•	Return flights to Pisa including luggage
•	Return transfers between the airport and hotel
•	Twin or double bedroom with en-suite bathroom
•	Air-conditioned coach on the excursions
•	Services of a Mistral Holidays Tour Manager
•	ATOL Protected
The 3 star Hotel Cappelli is well located
in Montecatini Terme, close to the
thermal spa and within comfortable
walking distance of the resort centre
The facilities in this modem, family
owned hotel include a restaurant,
lounge bar and outside terrace with
tables and chairs. Free Wi-Fi is available
in the public areas.
All of the Cappelli's comfortable bed-
rooms have an en-suite bathroom,
hairdryer, telephone and TV. The hotel’s
restaurant serves traditional Italian
and international cuisine.
Please note that on certain peak dates or
with high demand, we may use other quality
3 and 4 star hotels in Montecatini Terme
To book or for more information visit www.mistralholidays.co.uk/wh
о al 01352 756864 quoting WHHALF
(Monday-Friday 10am-5pm)
Operated by Mistral Holidays. ABTA V0669 and ATOL Protected 6900. Subject to availability and full Т&СЧ apply. Single room supplements apply and flight
supplements apply from some airports and dates. Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a twin/doubie room.*Discount offer applies to new air holiday
bookings only and applies to the base holiday price and excludes any supplements. Offer expires 30/11/23. Discount codes cannot be used in conjunction with any
other discount codes, promotions or offers and can only be used with the holiday shown above. Prices shown are inclusive of current discounts. Prices are correct
as of 20/09/23 and are subject to change without notice and will be confirmed upon enquiry, see our website for latest pricing. Please note that on certain peak
dates or with high demand, we may use other quality 3 and 4 star hotels in Montecatini Terme. For full terms and conditions please see our website.
^Mistral
Holidays
•ABTA ®
ABTA NO.V0669
Й Уоиг STARS
Astrologer Wendy Bristows
predictions for the month of December
CAPRICORN
22 DECEMBER -19 JANUARY
The key to a happy Christmas is
communication. Check everything
because mid-month misunderstandings
happen. It builds to a head on the 27th.
Call 0905 789 4159* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
AQUARIUS
20 JANUARY -18 FEBRUARY
Partying on the 5th? You could get an
interesting offer under the mistletoe,
so listen up. Friends are feisty all month,
especially when on the mulled wine!
Call 0905 789 4160* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
PISCES
19 FEBRUARY - 20 MARCH
Need to talk something through to get in
the Christmas spirit? Do it around the 8th
to 10th, or it will get worse as December
proceeds. Shopping? The same applies.
Call 0905 789 4161* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
ARIES
21 MARCH -19 APRIL
This may not be the most relaxing
Christmas. So when someone messes up
arrangements, keep that warrior spirit in
check - after the 25th as much as before.
Call 0905 789 4150* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
TAURUS
20 APRIL-20 MAY
Actions speak louder than words and this
could be a romantic Christmas. Gestures
are everything. A fabulous surprise
on the 21st might involve naughtiness...
Call 0905 789 4151* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
Star sign
of the month
SAGITTARIUS
22 NOVEMBER - 21 DECEMBER
With Mars in Sagittarius, the
days before the 21st are easiest
- but avoid a Christmas row.
Plan something new on the 12th.
YOUR MONTHS AHEAD
The first half of 2024 is busy but
progress is possible. A change
from June will see partnerships
pick up. Travel with a close friend
in later months is fun. Call 0905
789 4158* and choose weekly,
monthly and yearly updates.
horoscopes
GEMINI
21 MAY-20 JUNE
It's a month when communication goes
AWOL and there's potential for confusion.
Arrangements need precision planning.
The 22nd brings a serious realisation.
Call 0905 789 4152* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
CANCER
21 JUNE-22 JULY
Is your partner driving you mad? Be
careful what you say, as December is a
tinderbox for confusion, so double-check
everything. You're emotional on the 27th.
Call 0905 789 4153* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
LEO
23 JULY-22 AUGUST
This Christmas could rival a soap opera.
If it kicks off, it may not involve you - so,
like a true queen, stay regally neutral.
Call 0905 789 4154* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
riRGO
23 AUGUST - 22 SEPTEMBER
Your ruler's creating havoc on the
communication front and it's hard
to avoid a misunderstanding. Take
everything slowly. Delegate on the 25th.
Call 0905 789 4155* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates.
LIBRA
23 SEPTEMBER - 22 OCTOBER
Money's on your mind, which might
make for an anxious December. Plan and
budget. With a family drama around the
big day, think twice before you speak.
Call 0905 789 4156* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
SCORPIO
23 OCTOBER - 21 NOVEMBER
Christmas shopping? You find more for
yourself than others because you need
a booster, so treat yourself to something
sparkly. The 10th is good for relaxing.
Call 0905 789 4157* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
•CALLS COST 80P PER MINUTE PLUS YOUR TELEPHONE COMPANY'S
NETWORK ACCESS CHARGE WEEKLY & MONTHLY CALLS LAST APPROX S
MINUTES. YEARLY UP TO 15 MINUTES YOU MUST BE AGED 18 AND OVER.
AND MUST HAVE THE BILL PAYER'S PERMISSION. WEEKLY STARLINES ARE
UPDATED EVERY SATURDAY SERVICE PROVIDER SPOKE. 0333 202 3390
READER INFORMATION
womar&home, ISSN 0043 7247 (compact issue ISSN 1753 7932),
e published monthly by Future pic, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace,
Paddington, London W2 6JR, England. Swtchboard: 01225 442244.
• woman&home, incorporating Essentials, Living and Woman's Journal.
Distnbuted by Marketforce (UK) Ltd, 121 141 Weslbourne Terrace,
Paddington, London W2 6JR; email mfcommunications0futurenetcom
• Wo never accept unsolicited manuscripts, including fiction, or
pictures, and if submitted, we cannot return them • Pnces quoted
in the magazine are RRP, checked at the time of going to press
•	Pnnted by Walstead UK Limited • Sole Agents: Australia and New
Zealand. Gordon & Gotdi Ltd; South Africa, Central News Agency Ltd
• woman&home will not, without the wntten consent of the publishers
first given, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise disposed of by way
of trade at more than the recommended selling price on the cover,
and shall not be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise disposed of in
a mutilated condition or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade
or affixed to, or as part of, any publication or advertising, literary or
pictorial matter whatsoever.
•	BACK ISSUES Email: helpOmagazinesdirect.com, go to
magazinesdinect.com, or call 0330 333 1113 (from the UK) or «44 330
333 1113 (from overseas). Lines are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm UK time.
•	SUBSCRIP TONS For any enqumes and orders, email
help@magazinesdirectcom, go to rnagazinesdirect.com, or call 0330
333 1113 (from the UK) or +44 330333 1113 (from overseas). Lines are
open Mon-Fri 8.30am 7pm and Sat 10am-3pm UK tone, woman&home
magazine one-year full subscription rate 2023 (12 issues, including P&P):
UK £69.60. EUR €145. USA $164. Rest of world £159. Airfreight and
mailing in the USA by agent named Worldnet Shipping Inc., 156-15,
146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jama^a, NY 11434, USA Periodicals postage
paid at Jamaica NY 11431. US Postmaster: Send address changes to
woman&home, Worldnet Shipping Inc., 156-15,146th Avenue, 2nd
Boor, Jamaica. NY 11434, USA. Subscnptio-
recoids are maintained at Future pic,
121-141 Westboume Terrace, Paddington,
London W2 6JR. Ar Business Ltd is acting
as our mailing agent.
Recycle
77/rA
ROYALw
REPORT
By royal biographer Emily Andrews
"W 'W' That do you buy the man
 1 who has everything?
Ж/ Ш/	That is the conundrum
▼ V for Queen Camilla this
month as she ponders what to buy
her husband for his 75th birthday.
I helped organise a party for the
then Prince Charles' 70th birthday
in my role as royal correspondent
for one of the national newspapers.
What struck me was that he wasn't
really interested in his own birthday
- what most interested him were
the 'ordinary' people we were inviting
to the party who were also celebrating
their 70th birthdays on or around
a personalised fly fishing rod and his
favourite episodes of The Goon Show.
I told her what we, the royal press
pack, had bought for Charles for his
his (14 November).
He was charm personified
- and worked the room
like a total pro, making
Poor Queen Camilla had already
told me that she had really worried
‘He was charm
everyone laugh and
drawing out interesting
personified
about what to buy him
for this landmark birthday.
For his 60th she had
either made or sourced
70th (a bottle of squirrel repellent after
he had written in Country Life that the
squirrels liked to come into his Scottish
home of Birkhall and scare the birds
away from the bird tables).
She thought it was hilarious -
details from everyone
to whom he spoke.
As I trailed in his wake,
it was a masterclass in soft
making
everyone laugh'
power diplomacy!	The presents, a real
He made everyone feel special,	'labour of love', included
despite the fact that it was his birthday. a pair of walking boots,
60 small special presents
that meant a huge deal
to him - one for every
year of his life.
so I would have thought something
humorous will be the order of the day.
Usually King Charles works on his
birthday, and I expect this year will
WNAT TNI ЮОТМАМ SAW
The Prince and Princess of Wales are revolutionising
the royals by hiring a CEO to run their household of
60 staff. Traditionally, the most senior courtier is the
Prince's private secretary, but the CEO will answer
directly to William and Kate - not their private
secretaries, who have long held the power.
be no different.
Now he has the job for which he
has waited his entire life,
and, like the late Queen,
he celebrates his
official birthday
in June at Trooping
the Colour.
But I do hope
this month he enjoys
a lovely
birthday cake
- organic,
of course!
О
§
2
242 womanendhomt.com
The Greatest
Classical Music
global
Alexander Armstrong
Weekdays from 9am
ca RADIO	global PL AY ER B“PLAY CLASSIC FM”
NEW
DO MORE
WITH JUST ONE JAR
DAY CREAM
DEFY 10 SIGNS
OF AGEING
Niacinamide 99% purity
PROTECT
FROM UV RAYS
Lightweight, non-greasy SPF30
OLAY
’'"^CINAMIDE +SPF^
HYDRATE
INSTANTLY
For up to 24 hours
OLAY
FACE ANYTHING
) Christmas
EXTRA r
MAGAZINE
FROM
SI IOWSTOPPERS
ZERO
same GREAT TASTE
NOW ON THE GO
airy dust,
sparklers, silver
baubles - the
w&h food team has
thrown everything at
these 25 showstopping
festive desserts, bakes
and puds. And because
we know that time is
precious, almost every
recipe has a clever
make-ahead tip woven in.
On the big day simply add a few
finishing touches to your masterpiece
and... voila! Has Christmas cooking
ever been sweeter?
IIЕЕСОМЕ
*
Meet the /cain
Jen Bedloe
Group food
director
Jess Meyer
Food
editor
Rose Fooks Amanda James
Deputy food	Food
editor	writer
Georgia Sparks
Junior
food writer
Contents
4
14
23
24
30
Celebration desserts
Impress your guests with these
sensational puddings, induding our
Forest fruit pavlova cover star
Special bakes Christmas cakes and
biscuits with the wow factor
ES’.I / .1 Save 20% on festive
table and cookware
Glorious and gluten free Classic
cakes given a gluten-free makeover
Sugar and spice Irresistible German
treats, from Linzer torte to stollen
Group specials editor
Michelle Hather
Recipes and words w&h food team
Art editor Katie Simas
Chief sub editor Susannah Hockham
Senior sub editor Karen Staddon
('debration
I )ESSERTS
Scnsaliona/ Pl DDIXGS
Chocolate trifle *
If trifle is something
of a tradition in
your house, then
look no further
than our fancy
chocolate twist.
Serves 12-14 • Prep 30 mins, plus
setting • Cook 5 mins, plus cooling
3 chocolate Swiss rolls, sliced into
2-3cm slices
150ml amaretto
75g Maltesers, roughly chopped, plus
extra for the top
750ml ready-made fresh custard
200g dark chocolate, chopped, plus
extra for the top
800ml double cream
1tsp vanilla extract
1tbsp icing sugar, sifted
3-4tbsp caramel or butterscotch,
melted (optional)
100g mixed nuts, hazelnuts, almonds,
pecans, toasted
Handful of popcorn, to decorate
1tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
You will need:
A large trifle dish (about 1.3ltr capacity)
1	Put the sliced chocolate Swiss rolls,
swirl-side showing, into the serving dish
and gently push to the bottom and sides
to cement Pour over 100ml amaretto
then top with the Maltesers.
2	In a medium pan set over a low heat,
pour in the custard, chocolate and 200ml
cream. Gently heat until fully melted
and combined. Take off the heat and
leave to cool for a few mins. Pour the
mixture over the Swiss rolls then transfer
to the fridge for at least 1 hr until the
custard is set.
3	Pour the remaining cream into a large
bowl with the vanilla, icing sugar and
remaining liqueur. Whip together until
soft peaks form.
4	Once the custard is set, dollop the
cream over the chocolate custard. Drizzle
over the caramel, sprinkle over the nuts,
popcorn and remaining Maltesers, then
top with a dusting of cocoa powder and
a grating of chocolate. Serve.
Per serving (for 14): 672 cals, 43g fat,
24g sat fat, 58g carbs
Forestjruit pavlova
\Ne've given this
summer classic
a rich winter twist
with boozy berries.
Serves 8 • Prep 45
mins • Cook 2 hrs
For the meringue base:
4 free-range egg whites
240g caster sugar
1tbsp cornflour
For the topping:
500g mixed frozen berries
50g caster sugar
5tbsp Grand Marnier
Other fruits such as clementines with
the segments peeled, figs, physalis,
red grapes (optional)
300ml pot double cream
1tsp vanilla bean paste
1 Heat the oven to 170C Fan/Gas 5. Using
an electric mixer whisk the egg whites to
soft peaks. Add the sugar 1tbsp at a time
while whisking on a high speed. Continue
until the mixture is thick and stiff- about
10 mins. Stir through the cornflour.
2 Line a baking tray with paper and
draw a 22cm circle in the centre. Scoop
the mixture into the circle, then use
a palette knife to make a dip in the
middle and smooth the edges. Put in
the oven and reduce the temperature
to 120C Fan/Gas 1. Bake for 2 hrs. If
time allows, turn off the oven, leaving
the meringue inside to cool. Once cool,
store in an airtight container.
3	Warm the frozen berries over a
medium heat for 10 mins with the sugar
and Grand Marnier until defrosted. Use
a slotted spoon to transfer 350g of the
fruit to a bowl, leaving behind as much
of the juice as possible.
4	Bring the juice and fruit in the pan to a
boil, then reduce to a simmer for 5 mins
while mixing to break down the fruit and
thicken the sauce. Pour the sauce over
the fruit in the bowl. Stir through any
other fruit you are using.
5	Put the meringue on a serving plate.
Whip the cream and vanilla to soft peaks
and pile on top, then top with the fruit
and serve.
Per serving: 392 cals, 20g fat, 13g sat fat,
47g carbs
Tiranii-choux
Our favourite French and Italian
celebration desserts combined with
a little Christmas trifle magic!
Serves 8-10 • Prep 1 hr, plus overnight
chilling • Cook 35 mins
For the caramel sauce:
100g granulated sugar
100ml double cream
2tbsp sweet Marsala or Amaretto
For the cream:
4 medium free-range eggs, separated
100g caster sugar
200ml double cream
500g mascarpone
1tsp vanilla extract
For the rest:
60ml strong black coffee
25ml sweet Marsala or Amaretto
30 unfilled choux buns
25g dark chocolate, finely grated
For the decoration:
Cocoa powder, for dusting
1	For the caramel sauce, cover the base of
a small pan with 1cm water. Add the sugar
and cook over a medium heat until the
liquid has turned a rich caramel colour.
2	Off the heat, use a balloon whisk to stir
in the cream, a little at a time. Once the
bubbling subsides, add the Marsala and
a pinch of sea salt, mixing until smooth.
Set aside to cool.
3	Once cooled, make the cream. Whisk
the egg whites to firm peaks. Put the
yolks into a separate bowl with the sugar
and beat until very thick and pale.
4	Put the cream, mascarpone and vanilla
into your largest mixing bowl and whisk
until firm. Fold through the egg whites
and yolk mixtures until smooth.
5	Mix the coffee and Marsala for the drizzle.
Reserve 5 choux buns for the top (store
them in an airtight container). Divide the
rest into 3 even piles. Arrange one pile in
the base of a trifle dish. Drizzle over 4tbsp
drizzle then 3tbsp caramel sauce. Sprinkle
over a third of the grated chocolate. Spoon
in a third of the cream mixture. Repeat
until the cream is used up. Chill overnight.
6	Before serving, place the reserved choux
buns on top, dust with cocoa powder then
drizzle over the remaining caramel sauce.
Per serving (for 10): 552 cals, 44g fat, 27g
sat fat, 31g carbs »
6 womanendhoma.com
Sciisafiona/ Pl l)l)l\GS
MAKE AHEAD
Make and roll the cake the
day before, then keep well
covered. Assemble up to
a few hours ahead and chill
until ready to serve, adding
the mango just before.
Mango colada
while chocolate
roulade
Scii.^i/ioiia/Pl l)l)l\GS
Caramel is infused with whisky and a touch of bitters for a warming, lightly spiced take on a crowd favourite.
Serves 12 • Prep 30 mins, plus
overnight chilling • Cook 50-60 mins
2 x 232g packs white chocolate
digestives
50g toasted chopped hazelnuts/almonds
2 tsp ground ginger
160g unsalted butter, melted
500g full-fat cream cheese
150g mascarpone
200g golden caster sugar
100ml soured cream
4 medium eggs, beaten
1tbsp vanilla bean paste
50g plain flour
200g caster sugar
100ml whisky, brandy or Cointreau,
or use orange juice instead
Few dashes Angostura bitters
(optional)
8-10 seedless oranges/dementines,
peeled, segmented or sliced
20cm deep-sided loose-bottom cake
tin, the bottom and sides greased and
lined with baking paper
1	For the base, whizz the biscuits, nuts
and ginger in a food processor to fine
crumbs. Add the butter and pulse until
well combined. Tip the mixture into
the lined tin, and press firmly and evenly
into the base and up the sides. Chill
for 30 mins.
2	Heat the oven to 140C Fan/Gas 3.
In a large bowl, beat together the cream
cheese, mascarpone, golden caster sugar
and soured cream until smooth. Beat
in the eggs, one at a time, followed by
the vanilla and flour.
3	Spoon the filling into the chilled case
and smooth the top. Bake for 50-60 mins
until set, but with a bit of a wobble in the
middle. Turn the off oven and cool the
cheesecake inside, with the door cracked
open, then chill overnight.
4	For the caramel oranges, cook the
caster sugar in a medium pan over a high
heat, shaking the pan until fully melted
and a deep amber colour. Carefully add
the alcohol/juice (it will bubble), and stir
over a medium heat until the caramel
melts again. Add the Angostura bitters,
if using. Put the oranges/dementines in
a bowl and pour over the caramel, then
cover and chill until needed.
5	To serve, carefully remove the
cheesecake from the tin and put on a
serving plate. Top with the oranges and
drizzle over some syrup.
Per serving: 600 cals, 33g fat, 18g sat fat,
65g carbs »
Mango colada
white chocolate
roulade
Tropical sunshine
meets winter
in this moreish
cocon utty treat.
Serves 12 • Prep 40
mins • Cook 15 mins
For the sponge:
40g desiccated coconut
3tbsp coconut rum
4 large eggs
100g caster sugar, plus 3tbsp
80g self-raising flour
2tbsp cornflour
For the mango filling:
350g frozen mango chunks, thawed
3tbsp caster sugar
2tbsp lime juice
For the ganache:
200ml double cream
300g white chocolate, finely chopped
2tbsp coconut rum
For the cream:
300ml double cream
2tbsp coconut rum
To decorate:
75g shredded coconut
White chocolate stars (optional)
Silver shimmer dust (optional)
¥2 fresh mango, sliced
You will need:
24x34cm Swiss roll tin, lined with
overhanging baking paper, lightly oiled
1 Heat the oven to 170C Fan/Gas 5. For
the sponge, stir together the coconut and
rum; leave for 10 mins to soak Meanwhile,
whisk the eggs and 100g sugar in a stand
mixer on high for 4-5 mins until pale and
fluffy. Sift in the self-raising flour and
cornflour, add the soaked coconut, then
fold well with a metal spoon. Pour into
the prepared tin and level the surface.
Bake for 10-12 mins until golden and the
cake springs back a little when pressed.
Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins.
2 Scatter the sponge surface with 3tbsp
caster sugar, then turn out onto a 50cm-
long piece of baking paper. Gently peel
the baking paper off the back of the
cake, then fold the edge of the new
sheet of baking paper over the short
edge of the cake, and tightly roll up. Set
aside to cool completely.
3 For the mango filling, put the mango,
sugar and lime juice in a medium
saucepan and roughly crush with a
potato masher. Cook over a medium
heat for 6-8 mins, stirring often, until the
mango has cooked down and resembles
a chunky jam. Set aside to cool.
4	For the ganache, heat cream in a
saucepan until it begins to simmer.
Remove from the heat and add the
chocolate. Leave for 2 mins, then stir until
all the chocolate has melted. Stir in the
coconut rum and set aside for 1 hr to
cool and thicken.
5	When ready to assemble, whisk the
cream to soft peaks. Add the coconut
rum and a third of the cooled ganache.
Whisk again to soft peaks.
6	Gently unroll the cooled cake and
spread over the mango filling, leaving
a 1cm gap along the long edges, and a
3cm gap along the short edge. Repeat
with the cream, then roll the sponge
back up. Put on a serving plate with the
seam underneath.
7	Spread over the remaining ganache,
and scatter with the shredded coconut,
pressing lightly onto the surface. Add
chocolate stars dusted with shimmer
(if using), and fresh mango slices. Cover
and chill for at least 2 hrs before serving.
Per serving: 550 cals, 37g fat, 23g sat fat,
47g carbs
Tattrfrutti ice
cream bombe
No cooking required for this 'all fruit'
dessert. With a few simple ingredients
found in your store cupboard, you’ll be
able to whip this up in no time.
Serves 8 • Prep 30 mins, plus freezing
2 cherry Madeira loaves, sliced
600ml tub vanilla ice cream
100ml Baileys (optional)
100g Italian mixed peel, plus extra to
decorate
100g glace cherries, plus extra to
decorate
50g cranberries, plus extra to
decorate
50g raisins, plus extra to decorate
50g pistachio kernels, chopped, plus
extra to decorate
For the topping:
50g dark chocolate, plus extra to
decorate
50g milk chocolate
20g salted butter
1tbsp light soft brown sugar
120ml double cream
Cocktail cherries, festive decorations,
sprinkles and sparklers, to decorate
You will need:
An 18-20cm pudding dish lined with
2 layers of cling film
1	Line the pudding dish tightly with the
cake so that it fully covers all edges of the
bowl and no leaks can come through.
2	In a large bowl, add the ice cream with
the rest of the ingredients and stir until
just combined - you don't want to melt
it too much. Pour into the pudding dish
until it comes to the top and cover tightly.
Transfer to the freezer for at least 4 hrs,
preferably overnight.
3	When ready to serve, prepare the
topping. Add the chocolate to a
heatproof bowl set over a bowl of
simmering water. In a separate pan, melt
the butter with the sugar and double
cream. When the sugar has dissolved,
combine with the melted chocolate.
Leave to cool slightly.
4	Take the bombe out of the freezer, turn
upside down onto your serving plate
and pour over the chocolate sauce. Top
with extra fruit, cherries and sparklers or
any extra festive decorations.
Per serving: 652 cals, 29g fat, 17g sat fat,
93g carbs	*
To make (his
dairy free, swap the
vanilla ice (Team
and Baileys for a
coconut-basal vegan
alternative, and use
coconut cream and
dark chocolate in
the topping
1 0 womanandhoma.com
Sensational Pl DDIXGS

II you
can’t find a
pandoro list
a panettone
HI
MAKE AHEAD
The pandoro can be fully
assembled, meringue and
all, up to 1 day ahead.
Keep loosely covered
in the freezer until
ready to serve.
Black' Forest pan
These clever pud utilises a ready-made Italian cake to create the wow-factor!
Serves 12 • Prep 40 mins, plus
overnight freezing
1 pandoro, 750g-1kg weight, we used
Carluccio's Pandoro Classico
125g black cherry conserve
2tsp lemon juice
2tbsp amaretto or cherry liqueur
For the ice cream:
397g can sweetened condensed milk
100g dark chocolate 90% cocoa solids,
finely chopped
600ml double cream
2tsp vanilla paste
100g frozen sweet pitted cherries,
roughly chopped (keep frozen)
3tbsp smooth almond butter
For the meringue:
230g egg whites (8 medium eggs)
300g caster sugar
1Zztsp vanilla bean powder (optional)
You will need:
Digital or sugar thermometer, piping
bag fitted with a large star nozzle
1 Remove a thin slice from the bottom of
the pandoro, about 1.5cm thick, and set
aside. Using a sharp knife, hollow out the
pandoro, leaving about 1.5cm around
the edge. (Freeze the discarded bread
to use in trifles or other puddings). In a
food processor, whizz the conserve,
lemon juice and amaretto or liqueur.
Reserve 3tbsp for the ice cream, then
brush the rest inside the pandoro. Cover
and freeze for at least 1 hr.
2 Gently heat 3tbsp condensed milk, the
chocolate, 125ml cream and the vanilla
in a pan, stirring until the chocolate has
melted, then set aside to cool for 15 mins.
3 In a large bowl, whisk the remaining
cream to soft peaks, add the remaining
condensed milk, and whisk again to soft
peaks. Dollop in the ganache, and ripple
very gently. Remove the pandoro from
the freezer, and spoon in about a third of
the cream, add some frozen cherries and
drizzle in a little of the cherry sauce and a
spoonful of almond butter. Repeat twice
more. Cover the filling with the reserved
slice of pandoro and freeze overnight or
until solid. If you have any ice cream left
over, freeze to serve alongside.
4 For the meringue, put the egg whites
and sugar in a large heatproof glass bowl.
Set over a pot of gently simmering water
(don't let the bowl touch the water), and
stir until the sugar dissolves and the
mixture reaches 71C on a digital
thermometer. Transfer the mixture to
the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with an
electric mixer and whisk on medium
speed until very thick, glossy and cooled.
Mix in the vanilla powder, if using, and
transfer the meringue to a piping bag
fitted with a large star nozzle.
5	To assemble, put the pandoro on a
serving plate, pipe rosettes all over, then
caramelise slightly with a blowtorch, if
liked. Serve straight away or freeze until
ready to serve.
Per serving: 803 cals, 45g fat, 26g sat fat,
90g carbs
>5
H
£ S
28
Ji
0

Ujx
1 2 womanendhoma.com
Scnsationa/ Pl DDI XliS
Negroni jetty with orange panna cotta
A retro jelly with a modem update and irresistible creamy panna cotta.
Serves 8-10 • Prep 20 mins, plus
cooling and setting
For the jelly layer:
2 x 135g packs orange jelly, broken
into cubes
75ml gin
75ml Campari
75ml red vermouth
Pinch edible glitter/shimmer
For the panna cotta layer:
ЗУ2 leaves gelatine
450ml double cream
4tbsp caster sugar
Zest 2 oranges
150ml whole milk
You will need:
1	.5-2ltr jelly mould or bowl, lightly
greased with vegetable oil
1	Put the jelly and 400ml boiling water
into a large measuring jug. Stir for a few
mins until fully dissolved, then stir in the
spirits and top up with cold water to
make 900ml.
2	Cool the jelly to room temperature for
1 hr, then stir in edible glitter or shimmer
and pour into the jelly mould or bowl.
Chill until set - about 4 hrs.
3	For the panna cotta, soak the gelatine
in cold water for 5 mins to soften.
Meanwhile, warm 300ml cream, the
caster sugar and orange zest in a
medium saucepan until the sugar
dissolves and the mixture is steaming.
Remove from the heat. Squeeze the
gelatine to remove excess water and stir
into the hot cream until dissolved. Stir in
the remaining (cold) cream and the milk.
4 When the jelly layer is semi-set,
carefully pour over the panna cotta
mixture. Chill for 3-4 hrs more or until
fully set.
5 To serve, briefly dip the jelly mould
into hot water to loosen the edges and
turn out onto a serving plate.
Per serving: 390 cals, 25g fat, 15g sat fat,
27g carbs

MAKEAHEAD
Bake the cakes up to
1 month ahead, cool, wrap
in cling film then freeze.
Defrost and assemble
with the filling to serve.
Scan here
for the {
template '
for the
cuckoo clock
Serves 8-10 • Prep 2-3 hrs, plus cooling
and overnight setting • Cook 12 mins
For the gingerbread:
150g unsalted butter, softened
175g dark brown soft sugar
550g plain flour, plus extra for
dusting
1tbsp ground ginger
100g golden syrup
75ml water
For the decoration:
Cocktail sticks, one cut to 3cm
1 medium egg white
250g icing sugar
Small piping bag
Jelly Tots, or other sweets
Small decorative bird
200g marzipan
smallest circle. Stick this in place. Poke
this through the hole in the front panel,
from the back to the front. Thread on
the largest circle, then the remaining
circle, sticking with icing. This will
become the clock face.
9 Snip a small end of the piping bag and
use it to decorate the front with icing and
sweets. Once set, thread the hands, then
a sweet onto the cocktail stick to secure.
10 Stick the front panel onto the back,
securing at the sides and under the
rafters. Cover and leave to set overnight.
11 Stick a decorative bird in place
and roll out the marzipan to a 2mm
thickness. Cut out rounds to use
as roof tiles. Starting from the
. bottom, stick these with icing
• in alternating lines until
jfeb	both sides of the roof
are covered. Finish by
'	covering the ridge.
Per serving (for 10):
• *	600 cals, 18g
At	fat, 9g sat fat,
АиЙ \	107g carbs
6 Meanwhile, make the icing. Using the
paddle attachment on a stand mixer,
beat the egg white until foamy. Sift over
the icing sugar and mix in. Mix in 1tsp of
water at a time to give you a thick icing.
Beat for 5 mins until smooth and glossy.
Transfer some to a piping bag and the
remainder to a Tupperware container,
cover with a damp kitchen towel and chill.
7 Lay the back panel flat with the
best-looking side facing down. Position
the long side of the roof panels against
the outside rim of the back panel so
the tops align to make a ridge. Spread
icing over the inside seams to stick .
them in place. We used	r
tins of food to keep the
gingerbread in place while the
icing dried. Attach the long
edge of each side panel to-
the back panel and the iuj
short side to the roof.
8 Thread the J
cut end of the ;.
3cm cocktail 'Лг
stick into the
hole of the	MF
Gingerbread cuckoo clock
A festive project that doubles up as decoration that's sure to wow.
1 For the gingerbread, beat the butter
and sugar until soft. Add the remaining
gingerbread ingredients and combine.
Wrap and chill for 30 mins.
2 Meanwhile, download and print the
template from goodto.com/recipes/
gingerbread-cuckoo-clock, trace and
cut out the shapes on baking paper.
3 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6. On
a flour-dusted worktop, roll out half the
dough at a time to a thickness of 3mm.
4 Transfer to a baking tray and use the
stencils to cut out the dough, doing the
front, sides and roof twice. If you have
round cutters, use these to stamp out
the circles. Peel away the offcuts; re-roll.
5 Use a cocktail stick to poke a hole
through the centre of each circle, the
end of the clock hands	___
and the front panel
where the 'x' is. Emboss
the dough with shapes,
if liked, before baking
for 12 mins. While warm,
re-pierce the holes with
a cocktail stick, then set
aside to cool.
*
Baileys chocolate
gateau
A simple all-in-one
cake gets a glam
makeover for the
holiday season.
Serves 12-14 • Prep
30 mins, plus cooling
• Cook 20-25 mins
For the cake:
425g self-raising flour
250g unsalted butter, softened
250g caster sugar
3 large eggs
100ml Baileys, plus 6tbsp
100ml milk
1tsp vanilla paste
For the ganache:
375ml double cream
270g medium dark chocolate
such as Bournville, finely chopped
4tbsp Baileys
For the cream:
450ml double cream
2tbsp Baileys
To decorate:
White Lindor or Baileys truffles
Bronze and gold shimmer dust
(optional)
Gold leaf (optional)
You will need:
3 x 20cm round loose-bottomed
cake tins, greased and lined with
baking paper
1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Put all
of the cake ingredients in a large mixing
bowl and whisk with an electric mixer for
3-4 mins until pale and creamy. Divide
between the tins and level the surface.
Bake for 20-25 mins until pale golden and
just springy to the touch when pressed
in the middle. Cool in the tins for 10 mins,
then transfer to a wire rack. Remove the
base paper and cool completely.
2 For the ganache, heat the cream gently
in a saucepan until simmering. Remove
from the heat and add the chocolate.
Leave for 2 mins, then stir until smooth.
Stir in the Baileys and leave to cool.
3 To assemble, drizzle each sponge
with 2tbsp of Baileys, and put one on a
serving plate. Roughly portion out a third
of the ganache (leaving two-thirds for the
cream), and divide this between the
sponges, spreading just to the edges.
4 For the cream, whisk with a hand
mixer until it forms loose peaks, add
the remaining Baileys, and whisk again
until it forms soft peaks. Dollop in the
ganache, and ripple very gently. Spoon
a third onto each of the sponges, then
stack neatly to form the gateau.
5 Dust the chocolates with differing
colours of shimmer, if using, and place
on top. Add a little gold leaf if you like.
Per serving (based on 14): 645 cals, 42g
fat, 25g sat fat, 60g carbs
TIP Ifyou’iv not a
Baileys Ian, swap for
Xutella or another
favourite liqueur
Snowy Christmas
Cake
If you've not made a traditional cake, this
one can be made without any lengthy
soaking or maturation, or technical icing.
Serves 20 • Prep 30 mins, plus cooling
and overnight setting • Cook 3 hrs 30
mins
500g dried mixed fruit with cranberry
and apricot
200g pack natural glace cherries
100ml each amaretto and brandy
(or rum), plus 1tbsp extra of each
2tsp ground mixed spice
Zest 1 large unwaxed orange, plus
50ml juice
Zest 1 lemon
200g unsalted butter, at room
temperature
300g plain flour
200g light brown soft sugar
50g ground almonds
4 large free-range eggs
11 2 3/2tsp baking powder
75g flaked almonds
For the decoration:
Cornflour, for dusting
500g pack white marzipan
1tbsp smooth marmalade, apricot jam
or honey
2	large egg whites
2tsp lemon juice
500g pack fondant icing sugar
Mixed white edible pearls, to
decorate
Edible shimmer spray (optional)
You will need:
20cm-deep, round, loose-bottomed
cake tin, double-lined with non-stick
baking paper; a sheet of foil with a
3cm hole torn in the middle
1 Put the dried mixed fruit, glace cherries
and any syrup, the 200ml alcohol, ground
mixed spice, and citrus zests and juice in
a lidded saucepan. Heat gently for 5 mins
until steaming. Remove from the heat,
stir well, cover with a lid and leave for 30
mins until just warm.
2 Heat the oven to 130C Fan/Gas 2. Put
the butter, flour, sugar, ground almonds
and eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer.
Mix for 3-4 mins until pale and fluffy. Fold
in the cooled fruit and any juices, then
fold in the baking powder and flaked
almonds. Spoon into the prepared tin
and level the surface. Cover very loosely
with foil and bake for 3 hrs 30 mins-
3 hrs 45 mins, or until the cake is just firm
to the touch, and a metal skewer inserted
into the middle comes out clean.
3	Remove from the oven and place on
a wire rack. Drizzle over the extra 2tbsp
alcohol and leave to cool for 1 hr.
Remove from the tin and leave to cool
completely before decorating.
4	To decorate, lightly dust a surface with
cornflour. Roll the marzipan into a ball,
then roll out into a circle roughly 35cm
diameter. Put the cake on a serving plate
or board, then brush with marmalade.
Add the marzipan, smoothing over the
top and sides, trimming any excess.
Any small holes can be patched up
with of fcuts.
5	For the icing, put the egg whites in
the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk to
soft peaks. Add the lemon juice and icing
sugar, and whisk until completely smooth.
6 Working quite quickly, use a palette
knife to spread the icing over the top
and sides of the cake, ensuring it is fully
covered. Swirl the palette knife through
the icing to create a swirly pattern, then
scatter over edible pearls and lustre dust,
if liked. Leave the cake to set overnight
before slicing.
Per serving: 542 cals, 19g fat, 7g sat fat,
84g carbs »
1 6 womanandhoma.com
MAKE AHEAD
Once made it can be
eaten straight away,
or it will keep for
several weeks if you
want to get ahead.
belbrc icing
an airligiy
cohkiinerlor
Red velvet festive layer cake with Swiss meringue buttercream
No fancy ingredients required. Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up this moist chocolatey red velvet number ahead of time.
Serves 16-18 • Prep 1 hr, plus setting
• Cook 35 mins, plus cooling
270ml vegetable oil
4 medium free-range eggs
270ml buttermilk
IVztbsp vanilla extract
4-5tbsp red food colouring (or until
it's red enough for your liking)
200g caster sugar
MAKE AHEAD
Bake the cakes up to
1 month ahead then wrap
in ding film and freeze.
Defrost, then assemble
when ready to serve.
200g light brown sugar
370g plain flour
2tsp baking powder
1tsp bicarbonate of soda
IVztbsp cocoa powder
50g milk chocolate, melted
For the filling:
200g salted butter, softened
500g icing sugar, sifted
200g soft cheese
For the buttercream:
200g free-range egg whites
400g caster sugar
600g unsalted butter, softened and
cubed
1tsp vanilla extract
For the decoration:
Festive sprinkles, crushed meringues,
desiccated coconut, Christmas figurines
and any other decorations you like
You will need:
2 x 20cm baking tins, greased and
lined with baking paper
1 Heat the oven 160C Fan/Gas 4. In a
large bowl beat together the oil, eggs,
buttermilk and vanilla extract until fully
combined. Whisk in the food colouring.
2 In a separate large bowl, sift then whisk
together the sugars, flour, baking powder,
bicarbonate of soda and cocoa powder.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry
ingredients and fold through. Stir in the
melted chocolate until incorporated.
3 Divide the batter equally between the
baking tins and bake for 35-40 mins until
a skewer comes out clean. Remove from
the oven and leave to cool completely
before transferring to a wire rack.
4 For the filling, combine the ingredients
until smooth. Using a serrated knife, gently
cut the cakes in half horizontally. Put one
of the sponges onto a serving plate and
add a layer of filling. Top with another
sponge and more filling until you've
stacked all the sponges, leaving enough
filling for a crumb coat. Cover the cake
in a thin layer of the filling to create a
crumb coating, pop in the fridge to set.
5 For the buttercream, put the egg
whites into a large, clean heatproof
bowl set over a pan of simmering water,
ensuring the water doesn't touch. Add
the sugar and gently whisk until the sugar
has melted. Take off the heat and, with an
electric whisk, beat together until you get
meringue, about 5 mins. Gradually add
the butter until smooth. Beat in the vanilla.
6 To finish, spread the buttercream over
the cake until fully covered in a thick layer.
Top with all the festive decorations.
Reserving (for 18): 853 cals, 52g fat,
^q sat fat, 95g carbs
red food colouring Io
(he filling mix, then
pipe alternately lor
a can(h cane look
Giant cinnamon
swirl
Go large with this XL bun, filled with
sweetly sliced apples and made using
shop-bought brioche dough to speed
things up.
Serves 12-14 • Prep 30 mins, plus
rising and cooling • Cook 1 hr
4 x 220g balls of brioche dough,
we used the Northern Dough Co.,
defrosted if frozen
For the apple filling:
4 large Cox's or Braeburn apples,
peeled, cored and diced into 6-8mm
pieces
40g unsalted butter
75g pecans, chopped
50g light brown soft sugar
1tsp ground cinnamon
Vitsp ground allspice (optional)
Zest ¥2 orange
50ml brandy or Calvados
For the cinnamon butter:
75g unsalted butter, very soft
100g light brown soft sugar
2tsp ground cinnamon
For the drizzle:
100g icing sugar
Zest У2 orange
2tbsp brandy or Calvados
You will need:
23cm loose-bottomed baking tin,
lined with non-stick baking paper
1	For the filling, put the apples and
butter in a large frying pan and cook over
a medium heat for 6-8 mins until deep
golden and beginning to caramelise.
Add the pecans, sugar, spices and
orange zest, stir for 1 min until dissolved.
Carefully add the brandy and continue
cooking for 1 -2 mins until syrupy. Set
aside to cool.
2	For the cinnamon spread, in a bowl,
cream everything together with a
wooden spoon until well combined.
Set aside.
3	Lightly flour a 100cm stretch of work
surface. Gently stretch the dough into
a long, evenish piece around 75cm long.
Use your hands to continue to stretch and
flatten it a little so you have an almost
rectangle around 80cm long and 15cm
wide. Lightly dust with flour, then use
MAKE AHEAD 1
This is best eaten on the
day it's cooked, but you
can make each element a
few days ahead. Assemble
when ready to serve.
a rolling pin to roll it a little thinner, so
it's 90cm long and 20-23cm wide. Don't
worry if it isn't perfectly rectangle.
4	Scatter the apples along the length
of the dough, around the middle third
section. Fold up the bottom third of the
dough and press lightly, then fold down
the top third to encase. Prick the dough
with a fork approximately every 4-5cm,
then press down with your fingers to
release any air bubbles.
5	Spread the cinnamon butter along the
entire surface. Loosely roll up the dough
from one end to the other to form a large
spiral. Transfer to the prepared tin (don't
worry if it looks small, it will expand).
Cover and leave in a warm place for
30-45 mins, until it has just filled the tin.
Heat oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6.
6	Brush the top with milk, avoiding the
cinnamon butter. Bake for 20 mins, then
cover loosely with a tent of foil before
cooking for a further 30-40 mins until
cooked through. Press the middle and
it should spring back. Remove from the
oven and leave to cool for 15 mins.
7	Whisk together the icing ingredients
until smooth. Transfer cake from the tin
to a cooling rack, and drizzle over the
icing. Leave to cool completely.
Per serving (for 14): 410 cals, 18g fat,
9g sat fat, 58g carbs »
womanandhomt.com 1 9
Nutella tree
Quick, easy and perfect for festive snacking! Use your favourite chocolate for dipping.
Serves 8-10 • Prep 20 mins, plus
proving • Cook 25-30 mins
500g ready-made puff pastry
Plain flour, for dusting
200g Nutella or hazelnut spread
2tsp allspice
25g hazelnuts, chopped
1 medium free-range egg, beaten
1tsp demerara sugar
1tbsp icing sugar, sifted, for
dusting
100g white chocolate or Caramac,
melted, for a dipping sauce
You will need:
40x35cm baking tray and 2 sheets of
baking paper
1	Put the baking tray in the oven then
heat to 180C Fan/Gas 6. Divide and
weigh the pastry dough equally. Roll
both out onto a lightly floured surface
into roughly two 21x35cm rectangles.
2	Lay one on top of the other and cut
off the top corners equally to make
2 triangles, then trim and cut the bottoms
to make a stump shape. Separate and
transfer onto 2 large pieces of baking
paper. Either freeze any leftover dough
or use it to make mini trees or stars.
3	Meanwhile, gently melt the Nutella
over a low heat with the allspice and
hazelnuts, then take off the heat. Evenly
spread over one of the pastry trees, then
evenly lay the other pastry tree over the
top to match.
4	Carefully slice down each side of the
tree in a diagonal motion to create
branches, ensuring you leave enough
room in the middle for the trunk. Twist
the pieces of dough together to create
the branches.
5	Take the hot baking tray out of the
oven then gently transfer the pastry tree
with the baking paper on. Brush with
the beaten egg and sprinkle over the
demerara sugar. Bake for 25-30 mins
until golden.
6	Dust with icing sugar and serve with
the dipping sauce.
Per serving (based on 10): 382 cals,
23g fat, 10g sat fat, 37g carbs
I IP Shape and
cut the remaining
pastry into .stars and
tree decorat ions,
bake lor 15 mins
until golden (hen
slick to the tree
%'lcs/iiv Л/Л/
TIP Make sure the
Bundi tin is well
llounxl to prevent any
mixture getting stuck



MAKE AHEAD
The cake can be made
up to 3-4 days ahead,
then stored in an
airtight tin. Or freeze
the whole cake for up
to 1 month.
Mince pie Bundt cake	'«
All the flavours of a mince pie in cake form. Serve warm as a pudding with custard, if you like.
Serves 8-10 • Prep 20 mlns, plus
cooling • Cook 45 mins
250g unsalted butter, softened,
plus extra for greasing
200g golden caster sugar
Zest 1 orange, plus extra to
decorate
4 medium free-range eggs, beaten
250g self-raising flour, plus extra
to dust
!4tsp bicarbonate of soda
Vztsp fine sea salt
50g ground almonds
4tbsp whole milk, as needed
250g mincemeat
Handful flaked almonds, toasted,
to decorate
For the brandy butter glaze:
100g icing sugar, sifted
20g unsalted butter, melted
1-2tbsp brandy, to taste
Juice 1/г orange, as needed
You will need:
2.4ltr capacity Bundt tin, greased
and dusted with flour
1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. In a
large bowl, beat together the butter and
sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the orange
zest and mix in. Add the eggs, one at a
time, beating well between each addition.
2 Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of
soda and salt, then fold into the butter
mixture, followed by the almonds and
enough milk to make a soft dropping
consistency. Lightly ripple the mincemeat
through the cake batter, then pour into
the tin. Bake for 45 mins until a skewer
comes out clean, except for mincemeat.
3 Meanwhile, mix together the glaze
ingredients. Cool the cake in the tin for
10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack
and cool completely. Drizzle with the
icing and sprinkle over some flaked
almonds and extra orange zest, if liked.
Per serving (based on 10): 545 cals,
28g fat, 15g sat fat, 68g carbs
womanandhomt.com 21
Makes 26-30 • Prep 1 hr
• Cook 15 mins
For the biscuits:
200g unsalted butter
100g caster sugar
300g plain flour
1tsp ground cardamom
For the icing:
2 medium free-range egg whites
300g icing sugar, sifted
Drop of orange extract
Green and red gel food colouring
You will need:
Cookie cutters, a cocktail stick,
3 piping bags, ribbon
MAKE AHEAD
The biscuits will keep
for up to 2-3 weeks or
freeze the dough for
up to 1 month and
bake to order.
1 Cream the butter and caster sugar
until pale and fluffy. Mix in the flour
and cardamom to make a soft dough.
Shape into a ball, wrap up and chill
for 20 mins.
2 Heat the oven to 150C Fan/Gas ЗУ2.
Dust the dough with flour and roll
between 2 sheets of baking paper
to a 3mm thickness.
3 Use cutters to stamp out shapes and
put on lined baking trays. Cook for
12-15 mins until golden. While warm,
poke a hole into each for the string.
4 When the biscuits are cool, make the
icing. Using the paddle attachments on
a stand mixer, beat the egg whites at
full speed until completely foamy and
white. Add the icing sugar and mix at
the lowest setting for 5 mins. Mix in the
orange extract to taste.
5 Put a third of the icing into a piping
bag. Colour half of the remainder red
and the other green, and put into
piping bags.
6 Flood the biscuit with one colour and,
with another colour, pipe dots or lines
of icing. Use a cocktail stick to feather
the icing then return to the baking tray.
7 Heat the oven to 100C Fan/Gas У2.
Cook the biscuits for a further 5 mins
to speed up the drying, pierce the hole
then leave to set fully before threading
with string or ribbon.
Per biscuit (for 30): 140 cals, 6g fat,
4g sat fat, 22g carbs
Biscuit baubles
Package up as sweet gifts for friends
and family or use to adorn your tree.
reader offer
S. II E 20% on
FESTIVE TABLE
COOKWARE
SAFE 20% al dexam.co.uk
This beautiful
Mistletoe print from
Dexam, designed in
partnership with the
Royal Horticultural
Society, features
across a range
of kitchen textiles
and ceramics to
create the perfect
Christmas table!
Visit dexam.co.uk
and useWHDEX20
at the checkout for
20% off sitewide,
dexam
at the heart of your kitchen
SAFE 20% atjinamill.co.uk
FinaMill's patented
electric grinder is an
easy way to grind
spices, regardless of
their shape, size and
hardness. Simply fill
an interchangeable
pod with the spice,
attach to the FinaMill
and, in a couple of
clicks, voila! Visit
finamill.co.uk and
use womanand
home at the checkout
for 20% off sitewide.
finamiir
Offer valid from 26 October to 7 December 2023. Cannot be used in conjunction
with any other offer. Delivery charges may still apply. UK only.
Offer valid from 26 October to 7 December 2023. Cannot be used in conjunction
with any other offer. Delivery charges may still apply. UK only. For more terms and
conditions, visit finamill.co.uk.
SAFE 20% on all Litton
passes al amazon.co.uk
Don't let melted ice
dilute your cocktails!
Keep these glasses
in the freezer until
needed - each has
Chill-Charge System™
embedded 'peaks',
which will chill your
drink in 18 seconds!
From £30 per pair. Visit
amazon.co.uk and
search for Liiton and
useW&H20 at the
checkout for 20% off.
LIITON®
SAFE 20% on Saveur Selects
cookware at kttchensquare.co.uk
Award-winning Saveur
Selects cookware
is now available via
kitchensquare.co.uk.
They are practical,
innovative kitchen
tools that anyone,
induding chefs, would
delight in owning! Visit
kitchensquare.co.uk
and useW&HSAV20
at the checkout for
20% off sitewide.
SAVEUR
SELECTS*
Offer valid from 26 October to 7 December 2023. Cannot be used in conjunction with
any other offer. Delivery charges may still apply. UK only. Gift sets and decanter available.
Offer valid from 26 October to 31 December 2023. Cannot be used in conjunction with
any other offer. Delivery charges may still apply. UK only. For more terms and conditions,
visit kitchensquare.co.uk. Stay connected Okitchensquareuk on Instagram and Facebook.
Chocolate
orange
FREE
All your Christinas
. classics get a makeover
ж ei vnone will love
(,/iitcn I'KEI.
MAKE AHEAD
Freeze (without the
cream and decoration),
either whole or sliced
in an airtight container
for up to 3 months.
ehet^ca/ce
★
• • ***
Chocolate orange ’к
yule log
Two seasonal
favourites combine
in this teatime treat.
It's surprisingly
simple and freezes
well too.
Serves 10 • Prep 30
mins, plus 1 hr cooling • Cook 9 mins
For the sponge:
100g caster sugar
4 large eggs
2tsp orange extract
65g gluten-free self-raising flour
14tsp xanthan gum
40g unsweetened cocoa powder
Small handful chocolate orange treats
(ensure gluten free), to decorate
For the icing:
250g unsalted butter, softened
250g icing sugar, plus extra for
dusting
250g dark chocolate, melted and
cooled
2tsp orange extract
You will need:
33x23cm Swiss roll tin, greased and
lined with baking paper
1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6. For
the sponge, using an electric mixer, whisk
together the sugar, eggs and orange
extract in a large bowl until light and a
little frothy. Sift in the flour, xanthan gum
and cocoa powder and gently fold in
until fully combined (don't over-mix). Pour
the mixture into the prepared tin and
spread to the edges, as evenly as possible.
2 Bake for 9 mins - the sponge should
come away a little bit from the sides of
the tin and be slightly risen. Invert onto
a piece of baking paper, lightly dusted
with icing sugar, and peel away the
baking paper on the bottom.
3 While warm, roll the sponge up from a
short side (with the dusted paper inside
it as you roll), then cool completely.
4 Meanwhile, make the icing. Using an
electric mixer, beat the butter on a high
speed for 5 mins, until a much paler
yellow. Add the icing sugar in 2 stages,
mixing each addition for 3-5 mins before
adding the next. Add the melted, cooled
★
chocolate and mix until fully combined,
followed by the orange extract.
5 Carefully unroll the sponge and
remove the baking paper. Spread a layer
of the icing 1cm thick on the unrolled
sponge, leaving a 5mm border around
the edge. Roll the sponge back up, as
tightly as you can for the best swirl, and
transfer to a serving board.
6 Cover the rolled-up sponge with the
remaining icing and use a fork or sharp
knife to make a bark-like pattern. Dust
with icing sugar for a snowy finish, if liked,
and top with some orange chocolates.
Per serving: 531 cals, 31g fat, 18g sat fat,
56g carbs
Freeze whole
or sliced in an
airtight container
for up to3 months.
Defrost al room
temperature before
serving
White chocolate
and gingerbread
cheesecake
Creamy with a
fiery ginger kick,
this no-bake number
is the perfect
prepare-ahead
dessert to feed
a crowd.
Serves 8-10 • Prep 20 mins, plus
at least 5 hrs chilling
For the base:
320g gluten-free ginger biscuits
150g unsalted butter, melted
For the filling:
500g mascarpone
100g icing sugar
1tbsp ground ginger
300ml double cream
250g white chocolate, melted and
just cooled
To decorate:
100ml double cream
1tbsp icing sugar
50g white chocolate, grated
8 mini gluten-free gingerbread men
(optional)
50g gluten-free ginger biscuits,
crushed
You will need:
20cm loose-bottomed or springform
cake tin
Piping bag with an open star nozzle
1 For the base, whizz the biscuits in a
food processor to a crumb-like texture.
Put in a large bowl and pour in the
melted butter. Mix well to combine.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared
cake tin and compact into the base in
an even layer. Chill in the fridge while
you make the filling.
2 Using an electric mixer, beat the
mascarpone, icing sugar and ground
ginger on a low-medium speed for 10-20
secs, then add the double cream. On a
medium speed, mix for 2 more mins, until
it begins to firm up. Add the melted
chocolate and briefly mix until combined.
Don't over-mix, as the mixture can split;
it should be thick and spoonable, but
not pourable.
3	Spread the filling evenly over the
biscuit base and chill for at least 5 hrs,
but ideally overnight.
4	When ready to serve, whip the cream
and icing sugar together in a large
mixing bowl until stiff. Transfer to the
piping bag with the open star nozzle.
5	Remove the cheesecake from the
tin and transfer to a serving plate. Pipe
8 blobs of whipped cream around the
edge of the cheesecake. Sprinkle over
the grated chocolate and top each blob
ofcream with a mini gingerbread man,
if liked. Sprinkle the remaining crushed
ginger biscuits in the middle of the
cheesecake and serve.
Per serving (for 10): 907 cals, 73g fat,
46g sat fat, 56g carbs
For best results,
starl this recipe the
day before you w ant
to serve it
26 womanandhoma.com
MAKE AHEAD
The cake and ice cream
parts can be frozen for
up to 3 months; or the
assembled bombe can be
frozen for several days.
Neapolitamiked Alaska
Add some retro flare to your festive table with this mostly make-ahead showstopper
hr, plus freezing and
ding • Cook 25-30 mins
2-litre tub Neapolitan ice cream
For the sponge base:
110g unsalted butter, softened
110g caster sugar
2	medium eggs
1Zztsp vanilla extract
85g gluten-free self-raising flour
14tsp xanthan gum
25g unsweetened cocoa powder
For the meringue:
100g egg whites (about 3-4 egg
whites)
200g caster sugar
45ml water
1Z>tsp cream of tartar
You will need:
18-20cm glass mixing bowl lined
with 2-3 layers of overhanging cling
film; 20cm round cake tin, greased
and lined with baking paper;
digital/candy thermometer;
blowtorch (optional)
1 Remove the ice cream from the freezer
so it softens a little. Scoop the vanilla ice
cream into the base of the prepared bowl
and compact it down to create a flat
layer. Put this (and the ice cream tub) into
the freezer briefly to firm up. Remove
the tub from the freezer again so it
softens a little, then layer the strawberry
ice cream on top of the vanilla in a flat,
compacted layer. Finally, do the same
with the chocolate ice cream. Place in the
freezer to fully firm up for at least 2 hrs.
2	For the sponge, heat the oven to
160C Fan/Gas 4. In a large mixing bowl,
beat together the butter and sugar
using an electric mixer, until light and
fluffy. Add the remaining ingredients
and mix until combined.
3	Spoon the mixture into the cake tin
and bake for 25-30 mins until risen and
cooked through. Cool in the tin for 5 mins
then turn out onto a wire rack to cool
completely. If necessary, trim the sponge
to the same size as the ice cream base.
4 For the meringue, put the egg whites
in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted
with the whisk attachment.
5	Put the sugar and 45ml water in a
medium pan and warm over a medium
heat to dissolve the sugar. Heat to 118C
(use a thermometer to check).
6	Meanwhile, add the cream of tartar to
the egg whites and whisk on a medium
speed until soft peaks form. Carefully
drizzle the sugar syrup into the egg whites,
while whisking. Try not to get the sugar
syrup on the sides of the bowl, as it will
instantly crystallise. Continue whisking
until the meringue is stiff, glossy and cooled.
7	To serve, put the sponge base on a
serving plate. Remove the ice cream
from the freezer and turn out onto the
sponge. Peel off the cling film. Spoon
on the meringue to cover the ice cream
and sponge.
8	Use a kitchen blowtorch to brown
the meringue and serve straight away,
or freeze until ready to serve.
Per serving: 602 cals, 32g fat, 19g sat fat,
67g carbs »
womanandhomt.com 27
‘Not a Christmas
pudding
A traditional festive fruit pud might
not be everyone's cup of tea, but
this chocolate sponge, topped with
a rich chocolate sauce, is a real
crowd-pleaser.
Serves 6-8 • Prep 15 mins
• Cook 2 hrs 30 mins
120g gluten-free self-raising flour
1tsp gluten-free baking powder
IZitsp xanthan gum
30g unsweetened cocoa powder
150g caster sugar
1tsp vanilla extract
150g butter, softened
3 medium eggs
For the chocolate sauce» .'ЧЧ'Ч'
150g chocolate, broken into pieces
150g double cream
1tsp vanilla extract
25g golden syrup
You will need:
1 Hr pudding basin, greased and
the bottom lined with a circle of
baking paper
1	Put all the ingredients for the
pudding into a large bowl and mix until
well combined. Tip into the prepared
pudding basin and cover. If your
pudding basin doesn't have a lid, cut
a circle of foil and baking paper about
4cm larger than the basin. Put the
circles together and fold a pleat down
the middle. Cover the basin with the
'lid', baking paper-side down, and
secure with string.
2	Put the pudding basin in a large
saucepan and add boiling water to
come a third of the way up the basin.
Cover the pan, bring to the boil and
simmer gently over a low heat for
2-214 hrs. Keep an eye on the water
level and add more if it's getting low.
3	Put all the sauce ingredients in a pan
and gently heat, stirring until the
chocolate melts (don't let it boil).
4	To serve, turn the pudding onto a
plate, remove the circle of baking paper
and pour over the hot chocolate sauce.
Per serving (for 8): 514 cals, 34g fat,
20g sat fat, 45g carbs
ahead. Freeze in
separate airtight
containers for up to
3 months.
28 womanendhomw.com
Crumble orfrangipane-topped mince pies
With a foolproof pastry and choice of two easy toppings, these are great with a cuppa or post-dinner sherry.
Makes 12 • Prep 20 mins
• Cook 30 mins
400g store-bought mincemeat
For the pastry:
300g gluten-free plain flour
IVztsp xanthan gum
145g very cold butter, cut into
1cm cubes
3tbsp caster sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
For the frangipane topping:
125g caster sugar
125g unsalted butter, softened
2 medium eggs, beaten
125g ground almonds
1tsp almond extract
25g gluten-free plain flour
Vztsp gluten-free baking powder
Flaked almonds, to decorate
For the crumble topping:
110g cold unsalted butter, cubed
220g gluten-free plain flour
90g light brown sugar
1tbsp ground cinnamon
4-5tbsp icing sugar, plus extra for
dusting
You will need:
12-hole muffin tin, lightly greased
1 For the pastry, mix together the
flour and xanthan gum in a large bowl.
Add the cold butter and, using your
fingertips, rub the butter into the flour
to a breadcrumb-like consistency. Stir
in the sugar, then the beaten egg, until
it comes together. It should form a ball
and not be crumbly. Wrap the dough in
cling film and chill for 30 mins.
2 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6.
Remove the pastry from the fridge.
Lightly flour a rolling pin. On a large
sheet of non-stick baking paper, roll out
the dough to a 3mm thickness. Cut out
12 x 9cm discs and carefully ease them
into the holes of the muffin tin. Spoon
1-2tsp of mincemeat filling into each hole.
3 For the frangipane topping, cream the
sugar and butter until pale. Gradually beat
in the eggs, then fold in the remaining
ingredients. Spoon the topping over
the pies and sprinkle with a few flaked
almonds. Or, for the crumble topping, rub
the butter into the flour until it resembles
breadcrumbs. Mix in the remaining
ingredients, then sprinkle over the pies.
4 Bake for 15-20 mins until golden. Cool
in the tin, then dust with a little icing
sugar for a snowy finish.
Per serving: 700 cals, 36g
fat, 18g sat fat, 83g carbs
+ Extracted from
Gluten Free Christmas!
by Becky Excell
(£22, Quadrille).
womanandhomt.com 29
traditional
German bakes
will fill the
kitchen with
the aromas
of Christmas
Cicrman TRE. ITS
Marzipan biscuits
These are Vecy easy to prepare and keep very
well, making an ideal bake for gifting.
200g marzipan, cut into pieces
100g ground almonds
75g icing sugar
40g plain flour
1 medium egg, plus 1 yolk for
glazing
1tsp almond extract
100g blanched almonds,
halved, to decorate
1 Put the marzipan in a large
bowl. Add the ground almonds,
icing sugar, flour, whole egg and
almond extract, and knead by
hand until a smooth ball forms.
Cover and chill for 30 mins.
2 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/
Gas 4. Divide the chilled dough
into 40 pieces about the size
Makes 40 biscuits
• Prep 15 mins, plus chilling
• Cook 20 mins
of a big cherry or walnut, tftben
roll into balls. Decorate each
ball with 3 almond halves, with
the tips pointing into the centre.
3 Put the biscuits on a lined
baking tray and glaze with the
egg yolk. Bake for 20 mins until
' , ^tf)e tops are golden. Cool on
the,tray before serving.
t Per serving: 66 cals, 4g fat,
0.5gsat fat, 5g carbs »
MAKE AHEAD
The biscuits will
keep in an airtight
container for
several weeks.
German THE. ITS
Linger forte
The pastry for
this tart uses an
all-in-one method
for an easy yet
impressive bake to
serve guests around
the festive season.
Serves 12 • Prep 20 mins, plus chilling
and cooling • Cook 30-40 mins
240g plain flour, plus extra for
dusting
20g cocoa powder
200g cold unsalted butter, cubed,
plus extra for greasing
175g caster sugar
200g nuts, ground (hazelnuts or
almonds, skin on)
11 2 3 4/ztsp ground cinnamon
1/ztsp ground cloves
1 medium egg, plus 1 yolk for glazing
1tbsp kirsch
400g raspberry jam
Icing sugar, for dusting
You will need:
25cm springform or sandwich tin,
greased
1 Put all the ingredients, except the jam,
egg yolk and icing sugar into a large
bowl. Mix swiftly with your hands to bring
together, form a ball and wrap in cling
film. Chill for at least 2 hrs.
2 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6.
Reserve a third of the dough. On a lightly
floured surface, roll out the remaining
dough to 1cm thick, slightly bigger than
the tin, then use to line the tin, making
sure there is a rim about 2cm all the way
around. Trim any excess and use it to
patch any tears. Prick the bottom with
a fork. Fill the tart with the jam.
3 Roll out the reserved pastry to about
4mm thick. Cut out star shapes and
arrange on top of the jam. Alternatively,
cut strips and weave into a traditional
lattice finish. Brush the rim and
decorations with egg yolk, trying to
avoid the jam, then bake for 30-40 mins,
covering if the pastry is getting very dark.
4 Cool the tart for 10 mins before
removing from the tin, then cool on a
wire rack. Dust with icing sugar to serve.
Per serving: 465 cals, 24g fat, 11g sat fat,
54g carbs
Black Forest
gateau
All the elements of this showstopper can
be made in advance for easy assembly.
Serves 12 • Prep 1 hr 30 mins, plus
cooling, chilling and overnight soaking
• Cook 35 mins
For the cherry filling:
450g pitted morello cherries or black
cherries in syrup, drained (reserve the
syrup)
60ml kirsch
40g cornflour
120g caster sugar
For the kirsch syrup:
60g caster sugar
60ml kirsch
For the shortcrust pastry:
100g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
30g caster sugar
80g unsalted butter, cubed
1tbsp beaten egg
1/ztsp vanilla bean paste
For the chocolate sponge:
90g plain flour
55g cornflour
30g cocoa powder
6 medium eggs
160g caster sugar
2g salt
50g unsalted butter, melted, plus
extra for greasing
For the cream filling:
500ml double cream
30ml kirsch
40g icing sugar, sifted
To finish:
Apricot jam, warmed
300ml double cream
10g icing sugar, sifted
6 glace cherries, halved
Chocolate shavings, to decorate
You will need:
2 x 25cm springform cake tins, the
bottoms lined with baking paper;
2 large piping bags, 1 large round
piping nozzle, 1cm star piping nozzle
1 For the cherry filling, soak the cherries
in the kirsch overnight, then drain,
reserving the kirsch. Drain again and add
enough of the reserved syrup to the kirsch
to make 300ml. Dissolve the cornflour in
2tbsp water and add to the kirsch mixture
in a saucepan. Add the sugar and bring
to the boil, stirring. Once thickened, stir in
the cherries. Set aside to cool completely.
2 For the kirsch syrup, put the sugar and
60ml water in a small saucepan and bring
to the boil while stirring. Once the sugar
has dissolved completely, take it off the
heat and leave to cool completely. Add
the kirsch.
3 For the shortcrust pastry, put all the
ingredients in a bowl and mix with your
hands until the dough is smooth. Wrap
in cling film and set aside in the fridge
for about 30 mins until the dough is just
firm enough to roll out. Heat the oven to
180C Fan/Gas 6.
4 On a floured surface, roll out the
dough to a circle 3mm thick. Transfer to
a prepared tin; trim to fit. Prick the pastry
all over; bake for 8-10 mins until golden.
Increase the oven to 200C Fan/Gas 7.
5 For the sponge, sift the flour, cornflour
and cocoa powder together in a bowl.
Using an electric mixer, whisk the eggs,
sugar and salt in a bowl, set over a
saucepan of simmering water on medium
speed until the eggs reach 43C. Off the
heat, continue to whisk on high until cool.
6 Fold the sifted flour mixture into the
eggs, then stir in the melted butter. Pour
the batter into the second tin and bake
for 15 mins until a skewer inserted into
the centre comes out clean. Cool in the
tin, then cut into 3 even layers, trimming
the top if needed.
7 For the cream filling, whip everything
together to make stiff peaks, then put in
a piping bag fitted with the round nozzle.
8 To assemble, put the pastry disc on
a plate and brush with some apricot jam.
Put a sponge layer on top and brush with
kirsch syrup. Pipe 2 circles of the cream
mixture and a bullseye in the middle. Fill
the gaps with some of the cherry mixture.
Repeat with remaining 2 sponges, syrup,
cream and cherry mixtures.
9 To finish, whip the remaining cream
and icing sugar to soft peaks. Put half
the cream in a piping bag fitted with the
star nozzle, then cover the cake with the
remaining cream, smoothing the surface.
Pipe 12 rosettes ofcream around the
cake and top each with a cherry half.
Cover the top and sides with chocolate
shavings and serve. Assembled, the cake
will last for 2-3 days in the fridge.
Per serving: 717 cals, 48g fat, 29g sat fat,
56g carbs »
32 womanendhomt.com
we
Christmas stollen
Enriched and laden with rum-soaked
fruit, this festive speciality is the German
equivalent of Christmas cake. It's best
made several weeks ahead for the
flavour to fully mature.
Serves 20 • Prep 30 mins, plus chilling
and proving, start 2 days ahead
• Cook 1-1 hr 30 mins
For the starter:
250g bread flour
7g fast-action yeast
250ml double cream
For the dough:
250g each raisins, sultanas, currants
100ml rum
100ml boiling water
250g bread flour
500g plain flour
125g caster sugar
7g fast-action yeast
2g each ground mace, cardamom and
cinnamon
Zest 2 lemons
500g unsalted butter, softened,
plus 250g melted, for coating
200g mixed peel
200g ground almonds
250g icing sugar for coating
1	Mix the starter ingredients together
in a bowl. Rest at room temperature for
1 hr, then chill overnight. Put the dried
fruit and rum in a bowl with enough
boiling water to cover the fruit. Cover
and leave to stand overnight
2	The next day, prepare the dough. Mix
together the starter, both flours, sugar,
yeast, spices and lemon zest in a large
bowl. Add the butter and knead. This
might seem impossible at first, but it will
come together nicely. Drain the dried
fruit and add to the dough, along with
the mixed peel and ground almonds,
and incorporate into the dough.
3	Form the dough into a rectangle and
fold lengthwise onto itself. Use a bit of
flour if it gets too sticky. Make one large
stollen or a few smaller ones, at least
800g each. Put on a lined baking sheet
and leave to prove at room temperature
for 2 hrs. It will hardly rise.
4	Heat the oven to 170C Fan/Gas 5.
Bake the stollen for 1-114 hrs, depending
on size, until dark golden brown. If it
browns too early, cover with foil.
5 While hot, brush with melted butter until
saturated. Cool, then cover in icing sugar.
Keep in an airtight container for at least
3 weeks before cutting. It will last for
several months in an airtight container.
Per serving: 714 cals, 34g fat, 18g sat fat,
90g carbs
v"
4- Extracted from
German Baking
by Jurgen Krauss
(£26, Kyle Books)
£
Й2
г|
I
34 womanandhomt.com
Only,
•'the
finestexpert pasta makers with
over 100years’ experience create
Tesco Finest Gigli Pasta.
...All that, so you can
say ‘al dente’ in an
Italian accent.
Serving suggestion Available in the majority of larger stores
Excludes Express and Whoosh
TESCO >
finest
we create the
FLAVOUR
DISCOVER MORE AT OPIESFOODS.COM	RECIPE DETAILS