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INSIDE
THIS ISSUE...
hen Amanda Bowden set off on
her Channel swim in September,
she requested two essential items
for the crossing: a steady supply of custard
creams and her favourite MAC lipstick. The
latter (transported in a waterproof bag) was
used to apply a swipe of pink to match her
swimsuit as she waded out onto the beach
near Calais, to a cheering crowd. Now that’s
what I call an entrance! After getting introduced
to open-water swimming by a student, sewing teacher Amanda
became hooked on a new hobby in her 50s. The inspiring story of
her iconic marathon swim (p18) is proof that it’s never too late to
dream big and have a new adventure.
If your new year’s goal is to build a healthier, happier life, you
can achieve it with the help of our 30-page health and wellbeing
special. Turn to page 35 for our expert tips on how you can look
and feel your best ever!
W
REAL LIFE
21
56, fuelled by custard creams
How a lockdown project
brought people together
STAR CHAT
COVER Marriage is a leap of
faith, says Jenny Agutter
12 COVER Why Vanessa is more
body confident at 61
14 Graham Norton on being 60
16 Sharon Osbourne says her
kids like her to be cuddly!
127 Robson Green on Grantchester
LIFE & STYLE
27 COVER Snug, stylish fashion
30 Four steps to glowing skin
35 COVER 30-page health and
Caroline Reid, Editor
ONLY IN YOURS EVERY ISSUE…
74
Touching
real life stories
and chats with
the stars
36
38
40
44
54
56
58
63
64
wellbeing special
Why Dr Ranj dances every day
Get fit in five minutes
Winter vitamin MOT
Supercharge your sleep
Vital veggie guide
Relax and unwind
Walking for better health
Home health gadgets
How to boost your immunity
GOOD TO KNOW
84 COVER Save cash by switching
92 Get smart about art
95 Spray mops on test
NOSTALGIA
100 Were you a Jackie girl?
103 Remember childhood diaries?
Tips to help
you add style
to your home
LEISURE TIME
70
72
76
78
80
98
124
Get Yours every fortnight wherever you are
Subscribe to Yours and get exclusive rewards and
content today! See page 90 for details
WRITE TO US: Yours, Bauer Media Publishing UK,
The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL
EMAIL: yours@bauermedia.co.uk
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COVER ‘I swam the Channel at
10
See you next issue
16
18
Comfort food for January
COVER Slow-cooker recipes
New year garden cheer
Make a pretty plant pot
Knit a stylish jumper
Up and coming destinations
What to watch this fortnight
YOUR FAVOURITES
Cover pic: Rich Gold/Alamy
Stock Photo
ONLINE: yours.co.uk
Yours magazine ISSN 0957-9850 (USPS 8720) is published fortnightly by H Bauer Publishing Ltd, The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road,
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8 Meeting Place
105 Short story
109 Join the Yours
Book Club
110 Catch up with
friends
113 Puzzles and prizes
129 Horoscopes
WIN
A HOLIDAY
IN GREECE
119
The
GLOWING SUPPORT
from Yours
Our round-up of the funny,
fascinating and unusual
stories this fortnight
Britain’s kindest plumber will be able to keep
even more of his customers warm this winter
after a surprise £20,000 donation popped
into his account from Hugh Grant and his
wife Anna.
James Anderson (56), from Burnley,
Lancashire, began fixing heating and
plumbing systems for free for poor and
elderly locals who couldn’t afford to pay, and
has since become something of a celebrity.
His community interest business, Depher
CIC, was founded in 2017, and has so far
supported more than two million people,
Jean Shrimpton’s hotel,
The Abbey, overlooks
the harbour in Penzance
Sashaying on
As the world’s first
supermodel, Jean Shrimpton
(now 81) was a swinging
Sixties icon whose face graced
the covers of British, American
and French Vogue simultaneously.
Apparently though, The Shrimp
‘never liked being photographed’
and had retreated to a quiet life in
Cornwall within ten years.
Now another new chapter is opening
for her – the hotel she bought with
hubby Michael Cox in 1979 is up for
sale for a cool £1.9 million.
Retire for a happier,
healthier life!
It may not come as any
surprise to those of you who
are finding a whole new lease
of life since you’ve stopped
working – but a new study
of more than 20,000 people
aged 50 to 80, across ten
European countries, has
discovered that retiring
transforms your life.
German university
researchers concluded that
retiring can actually roll back
the years, making us feel
happier and healthier.
Former office workers,
in particular, may become
significantly fitter as they take
more walks and exercise.
Retired people are more
likely to say they feel in ‘good’
health than those with jobs.
Make a splash
Hugh and wife
Anna made a
generous donation
according to its GoFund Me page. He and
his supporters don’t just stop at sorting
heating. They run a food bank and deliver
food shopping for those in need.
Now a national hero, James described
the donation as ‘wonderful and humbling.’
Determined to be more active
this year? Let former Olympic
swimmer Duncan Goodhew
MBE inspire you to take a dip by
signing up to Swimathon 2024.
The weekend event, which
takes place at local pools between
April 26-28, encourages swimmers
of all ages and abilities to take part
and raise funds for Marie Curie and
Cancer Research UK.
Simply pick your date and venue and choose to swim
400m, 1500m, 2500m or 5000m (or any other distance) as
part of MySwimathon. Entries are now open.
■ swimathon.org
BABY FOOD
Inspiring move
A sculpture to honour
Vera Lynn is planned
at the National
Arboretum
n To make a donation visit justgiving.com/
campaign/dameveralynnmemorialstatue
ANYWHERE
FRYING TONIGHT ?
Here’s a fact from Calgary
University to impress any young
grandchildren – the last meal of a
7.5-million-year-old dinosaur has
been revealed... and it was two
baby dinosaurs!
Academics say the dinner
discovery inside a tyrannosaur
called gorgosaurus – a close
cousin of the better known T-Rex
– has shed new light on how the
predators lived.
The hind legs of two small,
bird-like creatures were visible
beneath its ribcage supporting
“solid evidence that they
drastically changed their diet as
they grew up”, according to
Dr Darla Zelenitsky. Anywhere
frying tonight?
Fish and chips fan
Keith Richards
PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Forces sweetheart Vera
Lynn is a step closer to being
immortalised after senior MPs
backed her fans’ campaign to
erect a £1.5m sculpture of her.
The proposed 10ft wide
circular work, to honour the
wartime singer who died in
2020, is being designed by Paul
Day, who created the Battle
of Britain Memorial. It will be
erected at the National Memorial
Arboretum’s 150 acre visitor site on the edge
of the National Forest in Staffordshire.
Dover MP Natalie Elphicke said: “This
sculpture will be an inspiration to girls and
women for generations to come.”
The problem with being a successful
rock star is that, if you go into tax exile
abroad, you can’t always find a decent
chippy for your supper…
Or that appears to be the case for Rolling
Stone Keith Richards, whose yearning for good old
English fish and chips made recording an album
near Nice tricky.
“Living in the south of France was a challenge
– Keith wanted fish and chips with HP sauce,”
revealed former band member Mick Taylor.
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
5
It’s
It’s not just children who get excited
about icy escapades, these cute
creatures look delighted too…
Coming, ready or not!
These grizzly cubs could
be enjoying a game
of snow-seek!
Say fetch!
This adorable pup is loving
a frosty game of chase!
6
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
in the picture
Going nuts
This cheeky red
squirrel has found
a tasty winter
treat!
Be A r
nEcEsSiTiEs
Snow day? More like sn
ow
play for this polar bear!
Prancing pony
Just horsing around, in
a winter wonderland!
Cool cat
PICS: GETTY IMAGES
Looking ready to pounce, this
pretty kitten clearly isn’t afraid
to get its paws chilly!
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
7
tures & wise words…
Our pick of your best letters, pic
Meeting
Soft touch
(Can’t) keep
dancing
r This is me
with the very
talented
Strictly Come Dancing
£10 cheque
judge, Shirley Ballas. I met
for every letter her recently following an
appearance at a book festival.
published
She was very friendly and up
for a chat. I’m sure she would
have shown me a few rumba moves
too, only the hips aren’t up to it!
r Oh dear, in conversation
with my mother about
the recent budget, she
mentioned the time when
my Dad gave her extra
emollients… I had not the
heart to disabuse her. She
meant emoluments!
Maria Marston, Chesham
Charity
overwhelm
K. Williams, Honiton
Time-shaving tip
r Spray your oven with
shaving foam and let it
soak in. After 30 minutes
simply wipe with a damp
cloth and some hot water.
It is a cheap, effective
way to clean your oven
and will save you hours
scrubbing away all of the
grease and burnt residue.
Beverley Lindfield, Kent
Festive footwear
r I made these Christmas shoes out of
last year’s Christmas cards to give to
friends and neighbours. I put a couple
of chocolates in them and they look lovely
hanging on the Christmas tree. My father,
who I lost in 1987, made the original pattern
and I can remember him making them in
the early Eighties.
Maureen Flower, Burton Pidsea
STAR LETTER
A swing and a miss
✪ I enjoyed the letter in issue 442 entitled Don't
Act Your Age. A few years ago my friend and I were
walking in the park where we saw children in the
play area. We decided to go on the swings and
slide. We received a few sighs from other people
but were having a great time until my friend
decided to push me really high. I leant forward
and fell off. The landing was not soft, hence a
journey to A&E where the outcome was that I had
broken my wrist!
Perhaps at nearly 70 I should leave the games to
the children.
Beatrice Richards, Pembrokeshire
Yours says: We hope your inner child will come out to
play again (safely!) in the future
8
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
r Our star letter will
receive a stunning
Lush Lilacs bouquet
with chocolates from
our friends
at Flying Flowers.
To place your order
with free delivery
visit www.flying
flowers.co.uk
r These are the seven
charity requests that
came with my post
today. They’re all
good causes, but it’s
impossible to donate
to them all. So on this occasion I’ll
pick one that means something to
me. Surely the money spent by all
these charities, plus the amount of
paper used, must outweigh some of
the donations.
A Perry, Shipley
A secret benefactor
r Further to the letter A
Helping Hand, I had a similar
experience. During my first visit to
a restaurant on my own, I ordered,
duly paid and was told to take a
seat. Along came my order and the
waitress gave me my money back
and told me that someone in the
queue had paid for my breakfast.
I thanked her and looked round
to see if I could recognise the
person. No sign. I enjoyed my meal
but worried whether I looked in
need. I vowed that I wouldn’t go there
again. However I was mollified by
my daughter who said that most
likely I reminded someone of their
grandparents, or maybe they just felt
generous. I am 94 so maybe she is
right. So, thank you to the unknown
person, I enjoyed the meal very
much, but you did have me worried.
Midge, Northants
your letters
Another loud
concert!
r Sixty years ago
The Beatles came to
The Globe theatre
in Stockton on Tees.
Somehow I got a ticket
to see my idols and
was a few rows from the
front. The trouble was
I couldn’t hear a thing
for all the screaming
fans! I sat there with my
arms crossed and had
such a temper thinking
to myself: “I bet they’re
not singing at all, just
mouthing the words.”
Getting home after that
night came the news
that John F. Kennedy
had died, which really
put life into perspective.
I must admit I cried.
Fast forward to this
November, exactly 60
years to the day The
Beatles were at The Globe,
and Stockton Sings put on
an event with choirs from
the area singing Beatles
songs. I was there with
The Globe theatre,
Stockton on Tees
the singing group I’m in,
called the Latte Singers,
and we sang From Me
to You. It was absolutely
fantastic. Standing on
that stage and looking
out to a packed theatre,
singing a Beatles song.
Afterwards in the
interval we made our
way into the theatre itself
to watch the second act.
There was a tribute to
JFK with John Lennon’s
Imagine, which was
quietly and respectfully
sung by the whole
audience. The icing on
the cake was the Globe
Choir leading the whole
audience in a rendition of
Hey Jude. I didn’t want to
go home.
Jean Brown, via email
Th at ’s go od to kn ow
Support with energy bills
As winter arrives, many people might be
worried about their energy bills. For people
living with a terminal illness, energy bills
can be higher. If this is a concern for you,
get in touch with Marie Curie’s Energy
Support Officers for practical information
and guidance. Call free on 0800 090 2309
or visit mariecurie.org.uk/energy-bills
r I realised
my six-yearold daughter
had been
watching lots
of wildlife
programmes
when I asked
her why she
was rubbing
her bottom
on the
piano keys
and she
replied:
“I’m scentmarking
the piano.”
(she was
fully
clothed
I have to
say!)
Helen Evans, Chester
Photo I’ll always treasure
r I love this photo of me
standing proudly by my first car
shortly after passing my driving
test in 1986. I absolutely loved
my Mini. I named it Tonto, and
this photo brings back happy
memories of the feeling of
freedom from having my own
car, even if it was prone to
breaking down!
Val Johnson, Woking
Sara Unsworth,
Somerset
GET IN
Please email letters to
yours@bauermedia.co.uk
Don’t have access to email?
Please write to the address
on page 3
Or contact us at
facebook.com/pages/
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yoursmagazine
TOUCH
■ Sadly, we
cannot reply
to every letter
and photo we receive.
They may be used
here or in other Yours
publications. Please
write your name and
address on the back of
photos and don’t send
your only copies of
precious prints.
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
PICS: GETTY IMAGES, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Come together
(again)
r Your article about Cliff
Richard brought back a
happy memory for me.
I turned 21 in December
1968 and, as a celebration
with friends, went to
the Empire Theatre
in Liverpool where
Cliff was appearing.
He was fantastic
and wore a shocking
pink shirt and tight
black trousers.
Unfortunately, we
couldn’t hear
some of the
songs as the
girls in the
audience
were
screaming so
loudly. However,
that stopped when
it was announced his
next song would be Living
Doll, only to continue
when that song ended. He
was fantastic then and is
still fantastic now.
9
EXCLUSIVE
By Jane Jones
n Call the Midwife, the
relationship that means most to
Sister Julienne is her closeness
to God. Of course, as an Anglican
nun, she has never married – and
her alter ego Jenny Agutter readily
admits there was a time when she
also couldn’t imagine she would ever
walk down the aisle. By her mid-30s,
she had carved out a successful
Hollywood career, but was happily
living alone in LA – and hadn’t
found Mr Right.
“I was very apprehensive about
relationships,” Jenny (71), tells Yours.
“I didn’t know how it could work to be
with someone through your life and
not find things boring or difficult.”
But that all changed when Jenny
met hotelier Johan Tham (who
she calls Jon because she can’t
pronounce Johan in Swedish) at
an arts festival in Bath in 1989.
Suddenly she was open
to the idea, especially
when he wooed her with
love letters.
“What was lovely is
that we didn’t live in the
same place,” explains
Jenny, who was still in
LA. “So we wrote letters,
and his letters were
wonderful. I think it’s very
revealing, getting to know
somebody when they’re
not there. With letters you
find out what their head’s
I
Jenny’s learnt a
lot from playing
Sister Julienne
10
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
star chat
Call the Midwife star
Jenny Agutter opens up
about finding lasting love,
becoming a grandmother
and the joy of playing one
of her best-loved roles…
about and what they think about
things and their sense of humour.
He was funny and delightful.”
Trans-Atlantic letters blossomed
into a whirlwind romance, and the
couple married in August 1990.
Their son Jonathan was born on
Christmas Day that year.
“Once my son asked, ‘How
does one know that you found a
person you can live with forever?’”
continues Jenny. “I said, ‘I really
don’t know! You take a leap of faith,
but it’s a leap of faith you might not
have been able to take
another time.’ For me at
that time, it was a leap
I was willing to take. I’d
found someone I could
be totally myself with.”
Jenny and Johan
have been married 33
years. “I find my husband constantly
a surprise, which is the one thing
that always worried me when I
was younger. There’s a lot Jon and
I share. We love music and art. We
may have different tastes, but we
like exploring the same things.”
(Sister Monica Joan), Helen
George (Trixie Franklin) and
Laura Main (Shelagh Turner),
many of whom have become
firm friends. “Our closeness
and camaraderie translate to
the screen,” she says. “Seeing
how everybody’s lives have
changed during these 13 years
is amazing. Helen has two
little girls now and Judy has
moved house, which I was
filled with admiration about,
because she’s on her own
and moving house is a big
deal. I went to see Laura in
Shrek and she made the most
amazing princess.”
Jenny married
Jenny also reveals that
Johan in 1990
the cast enjoy light-hearted
moments on set. “Megan
[Cusack, who plays Nurse
So, Jenny has been doubly
Nancy Corrigan] gets terrible giggles
successful, enjoying a happy
if I swear when I’m wearing my nun’s
home life and busy career that’s
habit,” says Jenny with a chuckle.
spanned 60 years. Since her stint
“We laugh a lot while we’re sitting
in Hollywood, she’s filmed two
around the dining table
remakes of The Railway
at Nonnatus House. We
Children – she starred in
always have these big meals
the iconic first film aged
in front of us and wonder
17 – as well as Spooks and
who’s going to dare to eat
The Alan Clark Diaries.
anything, because if you eat
Hollywood also came
during a take you have to do
calling with roles in two
it over and over again.”
Marvel Movies in 2012 and 2014.
It sounds as if Jenny has every
But she’s currently best known
reason to be enjoying her 70s. Her
for Call the Midwife, which returns
star still shines bright at work, and
this month for a 13th series. “When
she loves being grandmother to
I started, I didn’t think I’d be staying
Oliver, three, and Lyla, four months.
beyond the first year!” she laughs.
“When I turned 60, it worried me,”
“You keep thinking the show will
she admits. “It seemed like it was
have its time, but it doesn’t
seem to. I’m thrilled to be going old. But turning 70, I didn’t feel any
different. I can enjoy new things, like
into the next year, which will
being a grandparent and working on
take us into the Seventies.”
a series that keeps changing.
What keeps Jenny
“I used to get more stressed about
coming back are creator
things, like ‘will I work again?’ and
Heidi Thomas’ storylines.
now I don’t. I find there’s always
In fact, the opening episode
a lesson in playing Sister Julienne.
of this series finds Sister Julienne
She’s not me but she has some fine
in a heart-wrenching plot, when
qualities. I think, ‘I could use a little
someone from her past returns
bit more of her tolerance and care
and she is forced to look back at
and commitment!’”
a tumultuous time. Of course,
Jenny also enjoys working with the
n Call the Midwife starts Sunday,
cast, which includes Judy Parfitt
January 7 at 8pm on BBC1
‘We laugh
a lot at
Nonnatus
House’
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
11
BY JANE JONES. PICS: BBC, GETTY, SHUTTERSTOCK
‘I find my
husband
constantly
a surprise’
NOW
’ve been queen of the
yo-yo dieters. I’ve
rocked a generous size
22 and occasionally
strutted my stuff in a size
10. I’ve been so ecstatic to have
spent a year dieting and exercising
five stone away I’ve celebrated
with a bowl of chocolate mousse
and put the whole lot back again
in what feels like minutes. I’ve
come back from holiday to find my
ballooning bottom billowing from
my swimming costume, snapped by
paparazzi and emblazoned across
the front page of a publication –
described in print as “the woman
who ate her audience”.
All my weight loss and gain
happened in the full glare of
I
She adores her
grandchildren
Showing off her
svelte figure
star chat
THEN
From not being able to buy
clothes in a ‘normal’ shop
and struggling with her
self-esteem, our columnist,
Vanessa Feltz, reveals how
she’s transformed into
a model at 61
publicity. In 2004 I even shed two
stone on TV’s Celebrity Fit Club.
Jubilantly hoovering up the canapés
at the wrap party, most participating
celebs had put on four pounds before
the car arrived to take us home. It’s
hard to be body confident
when strangers are yelling,
“Vanessa move away from
that Twix”. It feels as if
the entire nation thinks
you’re an out-of-control
fatty, who should check in
to a clinic and have her jaw
wired together. Having to
fly all the way to the USA
to find enough plus-size outfits to
wear on my Oprah-style ITV Vanessa
Show didn’t help. Not being able to
walk into a “normal” shop and pick
up a dress that fits plays havoc with
your self-esteem.
It’s well-documented that in 2010
I had a gastric band fitted and in
2019, when it became embedded
in my liver, I had it removed and a
gastric bypass instead. I simply knew
I was losing the battle and needed
reinforcements.
Now, if you factor in the broken
relationship of January 2023, which
succeeded in squashing my appetite,
Vanessa in 2009
before she had
a gastric band
operation
I’m a generous size 12 or
smallish 14. At 61 my body
confidence is higher than
at any time since my 20s.
To my surprise though, it
has little or nothing to do
with my weight. I am
just happy to be alive,
healthy and energetic.
I’m grateful for the
vitality that allows me to
dance, run and play with
my grandchildren.
Nothing has boosted
my body confidence quite
like launching my own
Vanessa 4love range of feminine
pretty dresses for women of
a certain age. I am amazed to
find myself, at a mere 5ft 2ins
(and a quarter) the model for
the collection and watching the
clothes flying off the shelves.
Check it out @4love_uk.
If you’d told me ten or even
five years ago that I’d be a model
in my 60s, I’d have laughed
uproariously. But today, I give
my hips a wiggle and my saggy
knees, love handles and all
strike a pose that Madonna
would be proud of.
PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK, @VANESSAFELTZOFFICIAL / INSTAGRAM
‘I am just
happy to
be alive,
healthy and
energetic’
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
13
star chat
Don’t envy the young
Turning 60 was much
better than I anticipated.
The nice thing about it
is that you did it, you got
this far. By the time you
get to 60, you know a lot
of people who didn’t make
it this far in the race, so
you realise there’s nothing
to complain about. And
I don’t know about you,
but I never look at young
people and the stuff they
worry about and think,
“Oh, I wish that were me.”
I’m not remotely jealous.
Never fear failure
It might have been nice to
have success in the States
[Graham’s attempt to crack
America didn’t work out],
but we gave it our best
shot; it didn’t work and
you’ve got to make your
peace with that. I certainly
would have regretted never
trying, but a failed attempt
doesn’t seem like anything
to be ashamed of.
There’s more time
than you think
My books [Graham
published his fourth novel,
Forever Home, last year]
14
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
are quite quiet. They’re
not exciting. One of the
things I like about that bit
of my life is I didn’t start
it until I was 50. I loved
waking up at 52 being a
debut something. It was
a good reminder that
there’s more road than we
think. I have just turned
60; my mum is 91. That’s
30 years. It’s a long time to
coast. Starting the writing
just reminded me, you’re
not dead yet.
Keep perspective
I was stabbed [in 1989
Graham was attacked on
a London street] and that
MY
LIFE
changed
my outlook.
I lost half
my blood and it
was touch and go if
I’d survive. When I went
back to drama school,
I felt different. People
would see the casting for
a play up on the board
and what part they’re
playing. They’d run into
the toilets, slamming
doors and crying, and I’d
be giving it a big old eye
roll, like, “Who cares? It
doesn’t matter!”
I wouldn’t wish what
happened to me on
anyone, but in terms
lessons
of how my life has
panned out it was a
very good thing. It was
the precise time when
it would have been easy
to go down the rabbit
hole of forgetting what
was important. Having
a worst-case scenario is
quite good, because you
realise that this is the
worst case and I can cope
with it. Anything else is
not so bad.
Be a good listener
I think I have always liked
giving advice, asked for or
not. What’s useful when
you’re advising people is
not to see their part, but
to see what’s driving the
other person. When it’s for
romantic problems, you
just listen then reinforce
what the person already
knows. Don’t shed light
on anything, because
otherwise you get blamed.
And if they break up and
get back together again,
you can’t unsay what’s
been said!
BY SOPHIE BARTON. PICS: BBC/SO TELEVISION/PA MEDIA/MATT CROSSICK, GETTY IMAGES
The Wheel of Fortune and Graham Norton Show
host on the joy of being 60, surviving a near-death
experience and becoming a novelist later in life
Sharon Osbourne talks to
Yours about regrets, friendship
and husband Ozzy’s health
struggles…
By Richard Barber
he turns 72 later this year,
so you’d be forgiven for
thinking Sharon Osbourne
might start taking life a
little easy. But far from it. In fact,
the TV personality is on the move,
both in her personal and her home
life. Alongside husband Ozzy (75),
she is relocating back from LA,
where they have lived for more
than 25 years, to their house in
rural Buckinghamshire.
So, why is Sharon
returning to her roots?
“It’s just time,” she says.
“I still feel very English –
I’ve never felt American.
More of my adult life has
been spent there, but I’ve never
acquired an American accent. I’m
British and I want to come home.
I look at the years and years I’ve
lived in LA as being permanently
on holiday. But America is
changing, it’s becoming more
scary. Everywhere feels jittery right
now, but the UK perhaps less so.”
No doubt the decision hasn’t
S
been straightforward, partly
because it involves moving further
away from family. Sharon and Ozzy
are parents to Aimee, Kelly and Jack,
and grandparents to Jack’s four girls
and Kelly’s one-year-old son, Sidney.
“They’re the best thing about
getting old,” says Sharon, who adds
that Ozzy feels “a little anxious”
about the impending distance
between him and his brood. The
rocker, who was diagnosed with
Parkinson’s in 2003, is
also struggling with his
own health issues. At first
his condition progressed
extremely slowly, but that
changed when he got up in
the night five years ago, tripped over
in the dark and fell flat on his back
on the tiled bathroom floor. He has
now had five major operations on
his spine.
The fall also acted as a trigger,
sending his Parkinson’s into
overdrive. “He’s gone through
terrible depressions,” admits Sharon.
“And, when you’re not in a good
‘I’m British
and I want to
come home’
16
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
Sharon is a proud
Grandma to five
little ones
state of mind, it’s hard for the body
to heal. It’s not been easy watching
someone you love go through such
agony, physically. It’s heartbreaking.
You can’t even put it into words. But
he’s getting there. His mental state is
much improved.
“I think it will help him to be UKbased because, once he gets home
and feels the love that’s here for him,
he’ll find that very healing. And the
grandchildren can come and visit.
It’s not like he’s never going to see
them again.”
For Sharon, the move also brings
exciting professional opportunities.
The BBC is putting together a
documentary charting their
move, and she’s set to become a
panellist on a show called The Talk
on TalkTV. She is also embarking
on a mini-tour in London and
Birmingham with her one-woman
show, Cut the Crap.
“This show is really about my life
story,” she says. “And I’ve
certainly lived a lot of life
in my 71 years, so there are
a lot of stories. My life has
been like a Jackie Collins
novel – or so I’m told.”
By her own admission,
Sharon is a magnet
for drama. And it’s got her into a
number of scraps down the years.
So, does she have regrets?
“To have regrets is a part of life
and growing,” she says, wisely. “I
often think, ‘If I could only do that
again’, but you can’t. All you can
do is try to make sure you don’t do
whatever it was another time! I’m
someone who’s always said what’s
on her mind, and then it’s gone.
But other people won’t let it go.
They don’t like confrontation and
they don’t like it when I challenge
a situation.”
Sharon is certainly
a formidable
powerhouse,
and her
strong
character
has stood
her in good stead
during her years in
the music industry.
It is famously cutthroat, especially for
young women, but she
says she has never
been targeted by
men. “Certainly not,”
she laughs. “I used to
think, ‘Why does no
‘To have
regrets is a
part of life and
growing’
man ever try it on with me’, but
they were afraid. Throughout
the Sixties and Seventies,
nobody laid a finger on me. It
was so disappointing!”
Joking aside, she adds, “I
can take care of myself. But a
lot of women haven’t been as
privileged as I have. I’ve been in
positions where people work for
me, not the other way around.
But, if you’re a young innocent
girl, someone’s employee or
assistant – and not just in
the music industry – you’re
vulnerable to abuse by men,
both mentally and physically.
I can’t stand to see it.”
Of course, Sharon is still
putting her strength of opinion
to good use today, popping up
on TalkTV, often with friend
Piers Morgan. “He’s funny and
brave, I love him,” she says.
“He’s a loyal friend. We fight,
we don’t agree on everything,
but he’s big enough for that
and so am I.”
So, what of Sharon herself?
She recently revealed she had
turned her back on surgery,
after her fifth facelift went
awry. Meanwhile, she also
had a spell taking weight-loss drug
Ozempic, which fools the body into
thinking it’s full.
“It did what it said it was
going to do,” she says. “In four
months, I lost 42lbs – that’s
three stone – but it was
too much. Now I can’t
seem to put weight
on. I weigh just over
seven stone and
I’m about five foot
tall. My kids like
me to be a bit
more cuddly, and
so does Ozzy.”
n See Sharon’s
one-woman show on
January 21 and 28 in
London and January 24 in
Birmingham. For info, visit
sharonosbournelive.co.uk.
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
17
PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK, INSTAGRAM @KELLYOSBOURNE
star chat
Now I headed to the beach for a dip
most days, making sure to look
obbing up and down on the the part in one of my handmade
cossies – and a slick of matching
water, I felt a bit icky. I’d
waterproof lippy. My husband,
always loved swimming,
Tim, and our grown-up kids, Gideon
but in the past, I’d stuck
and Ella, thought I was batty, but I’d
to the local leisure centre pool and
fallen for open swimming hook, line
the odd lido. Until I met Louise, an
and sinker.
open-water swimmer, who’d come
Louise, who I affectionately
along to one of the workshops I
nicknamed Fish Face, was an openran as part of my business, The
water swimming coach and, over
Swimming Seamstress. It was
where I taught women to make their the next months, she tutored me in
endurance and technique. I loved the
own bespoke bathing suits.
challenge and signed
Intrigued, I’d gone along with
up for a few 5k swims
her in the sea at my local beach in
Felixstowe, Suffolk. Feeling cold and and then a 10k one.
Despite being a size
a bit seasick, I’d only lasted seven
minutes but it made me feel so alive! 18-20, my weight didn’t
matter in the water. In
On my next attempt, I managed
fact, having a few extra
to stay in the water for 12 minutes.
pounds kept
me warmer for longer in
Swimming the
the freezing cold.
gruelling 21 miles
Soon, my new hobby
across the Channel
inspired me to swim the
English Channel and with
Louise’s support, I trained
hard for the 21-mile swim
to France. In September
2023 I booked a support
boat, which would carry
the officiator overseeing
my attempt and my
support gang – my friends,
Sophie and Deborah, and
of course, Fish Face.
By Jade Beecroft
B
Amanda Bowden,
56, was taking on the
English Channel with
a packet of biccies and
her favourite pink lippy.
But would she make it
to France?
When we arrived in Dover, we
had an early shepherd’s pie supper,
then I slathered
myself in Factor 50
before going to bed
at 7pm. Then, at
1am, I was up to coat
myself in another
thick layer of
sunscreen, followed
by a layer of Vaseline for the
chafing. Two hours later, we were
at the marina in the pitch black, to
meet the support boat.
Channel swimming rules meant
that I had to begin and end my
swim unaided on dry land and not
touch the boat at all during my
attempt. So once the others were
aboard, I stood on the shore alone
at Shakespeare Beach, dressed
in a blue costume patterned with
orange crabs. I could see the boat
ahead and, when a klaxon sounded,
I plunged into the water.
‘Despite being a size
18-20, my weight
didn’t matter in
the water’
All smiles during
a training session
21 miles and, as I waded out on
to Wissant beach, near Calais,
strangers dining in restaurants
along the shore began cheering.
I knew what I had to do…
Fish Face bobbed over a
waterproof bag with my favourite
MAC lipstick inside, so I hurriedly
applied a swipe of pink to match
my swimwear. “Bonjour, bonjour!”
I shouted, smiling and waving.
Then I spotted a familiar face
waiting to congratulate Channel
swimmers – Patrice Chassery. He
runs a Channel Swimmers group
on Facebook and, being extremely
supportive, tries to meet as many
swimmers as possible when they
land. Heading over to him, I planted
a lipsticky smacker on his cheek.
“Madame! You’re the first person to
come out of the sea and give me a
kiss that leaves a mark,” he gasped.
I noticed two middle-aged
French ladies looking at me. “How
old are you?” one asked. “I’m 56!”
I bellowed triumphantly. That
got another huge cheer! Next, the
officiator confirmed that I’d done
it – I’d swum the English Channel,
and in 15 hours and 53 minutes.
I felt astounded at my own ability.
Just so proud.
Now, I can’t wait for my next
challenge. People often doubletake when I tell them I’m a Channel
swimmer. Many have judged my
body over the years, but just look
what it can do!
n Find Amanda at
theswimmingseamstress.co.uk
Every swimmer has their own
individual support plan and mine
involved stopping to eat every hour.
The crew held up a sign from the back
of the boat, telling me it was time to
stop, and then floated a snack and
a drink out to me, which I knocked
back while treading water. I’d chosen
snacks that would cheer me up,
including custard creams, Mint Aero
and Jelly Babies.
After about three hours in the
water, I hit a wall. But I powered
through. By the five-hour mark, my
worries had turned to euphoria – the
sun was making the sea sparkle
around me.
I had no sense of the time
passing. It was only when
I saw Fish Face getting into
her cossie that I realised
I must be close, because we’d
agreed she’d swim those last
20 minutes with me. By this
point, I’d been swimming
for over 15 hours. I’d swum
PICS: INSTAGRAM/THE SWIMMING SEAMSTRESS
real life
Amanda with
husband Tim
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real life
The Smuggler’s
Notch
A lockdown project for
Janet Griffiths’ husband
ended up becoming the
local community hub…
Janet and Tim
By Miyo Padi and Niamh Shackleton
Why not make a memorial and
pay homage to traditional British
pubs at the same time?
Tim built a six-foot long timber
frame in our garden, insulating it
with reclaimed polystyrene. A friend
let us have two tonnes of pallets from
his business. We’d break
up the pallets by hand,
cut them to length
and I’d stain them all
before Tim nailed them
back together.
We then had someone come in
to upholster a bench that seats six.
In all, our back garden pub took
two years of work and cost £5,000 –
far cheaper than if we’d outsourced
labour or bought wood.
“Why don’t we name it the
Smuggler’s Notch?” Tim
suggested when we’d
been through countless
names with nothing
feeling right.
Smuggler’s Notch
is an area in Canada
where liquor was
smuggled to the US
during prohibition. The
name stuck and we
opened to friends and
An upholstered
family a year ago.
U
bench gives
a cosy feel
Initially, we intended it as a space
to enjoy with our loved ones. But the
Smuggler’s Notch soon became a
hub for the community. We now host
meetings for our Neighbourhood
Watch and the associated Street
Watch group from our pub.
I’m also part of a
ukulele group. While
our bigger meetings
are held at a larger fully
licensed premises,
small groups of us meet
at the Notch for rehearsals. We’ve
also held community gatherings for
Christmas and Burns night.
Remaining true to its aims
as a memorial, the Notch is full
of treasured family mementos,
including photos of mine and Tim’s
grandmothers, our parents’ books
and old photographs.
Tim even designed a stained-glass
window featuring a rose as Rose was
his mother’s middle name.
No one can quite believe our little
garden pub and we’re so proud of it.
Though I’m keen to remind people
there’s no payment here. We buy
all the alcohol we offer. We invite
people in to raise a glass simply
because we’re keen to share with
our incredible community.
‘Why don’t we
name it the
Smuggler’s Notch?’
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
21
PHOTOS: KENNEDY NEWS & MEDIA
pending a piece of wood, I
hammered out the old nails
embedded in it. Each one
satisfyingly dropped into
a tin at my feet, ready to be recycled.
A retired teacher, I was rolling
up my sleeves for a project with my
husband Tim, a former architect
illustrator. We had decided to build
a memorial three years ago when his
mum passed away.
Tim, now 68, had grown up with
a home bar where his parents hosted
friends and we decided to make our
own version in our back garden in
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.
Many traditional pubs have closed
in recent years. Our nearest pub
serving Tim’s tipple of real ale is
more than two miles away.
For the
love of
animals
From pampered pets to birds, bugs
and wild beasties we celebrate
all creatures great and small…
Seal You
Later!
Grey seal pupping
season is coming
to a close, and the
colony at Blakeney
Point is the largest
it’s been in 25
years due to an
abundance of
fish and a lack of
predators. By the
end of January,
the baby seals will
have moulted their
fur coats, their
parents will have
left them, and the
last of the pups will
head out to sea.
Pets
of the
fortnight
NATURE NEWS
Scientists have discovered
that elephants are the
first non-humans to call
each other by names after
noticing that elephants
were using specific calls for
each other. Researchers in
Kenya made the discovery
and believe it could vastly
improve our understanding
of language evolution in
animals.
r My grandchildren’s
lovely Labrador, Chip,
is five months old and
very sweet. He’s having
a good rest after a very
hard day.
r This is my lovely Bengal cat, Larry.
He is three years old, loves playing
hide and seek with me, and can be
quite a cheeky cat. In the mornings he
touches my face gently with his paw to
wake me up as he wants his breakfast.
r Our cat Kevin is seven
and a half years old and
has been with us for four.
He loves watching football
and snooker on TV, people,
cuddles and waking me in
the morning very early for
breakfast.
Abby Smart, Wokingham
Jennifer Lazzari, Suffolk
GET IN
TOUCH
22
Send us a picture of your pet with personality, tell us their likes,
dislikes and age and if we print it you’ll receive a £10 cheque
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
A new study from the
University of Bristol suggests
that skunks may lose their
famous black and white
stripes as they’re no longer
at major risk of predation.
The stripe is a warning to
predators that the skunk
can spray in their defence,
but they may evolve without
this as they are no longer
under threat.
BY SARAH O’BYRNE PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK
Patricia Pock, by email
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hen you think of a
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49 PAGES
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After the excesses of Christmas, the first step to
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cleanse. Q+A Niacinamide Gentle Exfoliating
Cleanser, £7.50, is highly effective at removing
make-up and impurities. It also gently exfoliates.
Follow with a gel-based cleanser to leave skin
feeling fresh, like Simple Smoothing Gel Cleanser,
£8. This product will leave skin refreshed without
drying it out. To take your cleanse to the next
level, massage the gel cleanser into your skin
using Boots No.7 Radiant Results Revitalising
Sonic Action Cleansing Brush, £29.95. This
pushes the product into your skin, making
your chosen cleanser work harder, while also
stimulating blood circulation. It will leave your
complexion soft, smooth and squeaky clean.
EXFOLIATE
If your skin is looking dull, a
gentle exfoliation will remove
dead skin cells to get it back
to its pre-party season best.
Buff Filorga’s Scrub & Detox
Intense Purity Foam Exfoliator,
£33, into your skin in circular
motions before rinsing to reveal
a glowing complexion. It contains
detoxifying charcoal, which
purifies, and volcanic spheres
to rebalance your complexion.
If you suffer with sensitive skin
a scrub may cause redness, so
add an exfoliating tonic to your
routine instead. Ren Ready
Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic,
£16, combines alpha hydroxyl
acids to gently buff away dead
skin, with balancing aloe vera
to calm and prevent redness.
If you’re prone to breakouts,
a salicylic acid toner is also a
great option. Soak a cotton pad
in Nivea Derma
Skin Clear Toner
with Salicylic
Acid, £4.99, to
combat spots and
refresh skin.
REPAIR
Next, apply a serum to help draw out any further
impurities such as bacteria and toxins, all of which
can lead to breakouts. In the morning, apply Avène
A-Oxitive Antioxidant Defence Serum, £33, which
is packed with antioxidants to fight stressors on
the skin. Charcoal is also a wonder ingredient for
fighting toxins, so at night apply Garnier Skinactive
4% AHA BHA and Niacinamide Charcoal Serum,
£12.99, to soothe and treat skin as you sleep. If you
suffer from dry skin, try an overnight oil to ensure
your skin is hydrated and happy. Beauty Pie Super
Healthy Skin Sleep Oil, £22 (members’ price),
regenerates and detoxifies skin for a lovely,
even complexion.
REHYDRATE
Alcohol and late nights can
leave your complexion feeling
parched. Combat this by applying
products packed with hyaluronic
acid to nourish and hydrate skin.
The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid
2%+B5, £7.50, can be layered
30
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
over your night time serum to
add an extra hit of hydration.
If you suffer from stubborn dry
skin or flaky patches, La RochePosay Hydraphase Hyaluronic
Acid Light Moisturiser, £19.50,
is deeply moisturising without
feeling sticky. Apply daily for
plump, nourished skin. To
rehydrate skin after you’ve
applied make-up try Eucerin
Hyaluron Mist Spray, £13.99.
It also contains minerals to
balance and calm the skin.
PIC: GETTY IMAGES
your beauty
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
31
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YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
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30-PAGE HEALTH
AND WELLBEING
SPECIAL
Make this your
HEALTHIEST
YEAR…
EVER!
Fit in 5 minutes
Winter vitamins MOT
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+ BOOST YOUR ENERGY + MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES + BEAT WINTER BLUES
SCHEDULE WORRY
O’CLOCK
TV presenter and NHS doctor Ranj Singh
reveals his favourite wellness tips…
e became known
as the ‘dancing
doctor’ thanks
to his star turn
on Strictly, but Dr Raj Singh
(44) has more recently had
to cope with the debilitating
effects of Long Covid. Here,
the TV presenter shares his
advice on how to look after
your wellbeing, from coping
with memory loss to keeping
anxious thoughts at bay and
taking time out for yourself.
H
36
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
We live in a fast-paced, pressurised
society and we’re always connected via
technology, which can make it hard to
switch off. This can be a trigger for inducing
stress and feelings of anxiety, which are
a normal part of life, but when they start
getting in the way of day-to-day activities,
then you urgently need to address them. If
you get anxious a lot throughout the day,
setting up daily ‘worry time’ can be really
helpful. Box out 30 minutes to sit down
and face those feelings fully, so they don’t
impact the remainder of your day.
Know what your triggers are,
try not to avoid them but face
them gradually and attempt to
build up your resilience. If you
have unhelpful thoughts, it’s
important to reframe them,
and put them into the bigger
context. When we’re worried
about something, we often
catastrophise the future.
Try not to do that, because
often the worst-case
scenario never ends up
happening anyway.
NEW YEAR
GET DANCING
Taking part in Strictly [in 2018] was
one of the most anxiety-inducing
experiences I’ve ever had, yet
dancing helped me diffuse that
stress. Since learning just how
effective dancing was for my
mental health, I’ve chosen to
carry on and practise it daily –
I don’t think I could live without
it now.
We’re all taught the physical
benefits of exercise for our
musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular
system and overall general fitness, yet
what many people don’t realise is that
activity is massively beneficial for
our psychological wellbeing too.
In fact, fewer than half of adults
are aware that it’s proven to
reduce symptoms of anxiety,
stress and distracts from
negative thoughts!
It’s really good to instil
these healthy behaviours in
your children from a young age,
to ensure that daily movement
becomes a natural way of life. The
key is that there isn’t a right way to
exercise, as long as it’s fun, enjoyable and
doesn’t feel like a chore. Start small, build it up
and practise as a family as a way of encouragement.
If you can get outside or gain access to a green
space, that’s really helpful for soaking up some
Vitamin D too.
KEEP A
NOTEBOOK
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
Lots of people experience brain fog for
different reasons. Long Covid [Dr Ranj
was diagnosed with it in 2021] is one of
the big ones, as well as anyone going
through menopause. My tip is, firstly,
to slow down. Try not to multitask or
overload yourself. Instead pace yourself,
prioritise the tasks that are important. Take
regular breaks and give your brain pauses
to process everything. If you struggle with
memory loss, or finding the correct words,
having prompts and keeping a notebook and pen
with you at all times can be really beneficial. Make
notes on things as you remember details.
DEVELOP HEALTHY
SLEEP HABITS
If you’re struggling to sleep, start by looking
at your sleep environment. Is it dark? Is it
comfortable and quiet? Get into a bedtime
routine that signals to your body that it’s time
to go to sleep. For me, having a routine is so
important. I try to go to bed at a similar time
every night. I always avoid electronic devices
for the hour before and instead spend that time
preparing my body for rest. Technology is terrible for
stimulating our brains and preventing us from getting a good
night’s sleep. Being active during the day helps us to feel tired
at night, but try to do exercise earlier on in the day, as doing it
too close to bedtime can leave us feeling restless. Build these
habits into your routine and your sleep quality will improve.
BE SELFISH
good hormone dopamine.
I’ll sit down, plug in my
headphones and stare out
of the window. It really
helps me to switch off.
Traditionally, self-care
was gendered, and we
commonly gave women
permission to do these
sorts of things, but it’s
a ritual that everyone can
benefit from.
BY: HELENA HOLDSWORTH. PICS: ALAMY, GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK
Give yourself permission
to regularly do something
for yourself that makes
you feel good. We all need
a reminder that it’s OK to
stop and step away from
our routines to take time
to look after ourselves.
I certainly practise selfcare regularly, I’m a big
fan of listening to music
as it releases the feel-
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
37
Bite-sized workouts are easy to squeeze into your day,
and they’ll have you feeling healthier in no time…
hen you’re tired or
busy with work and
chores, it’s easy to
put off exercise, but
breaking it up into less daunting
bite-sized portions could be the key
to keeping you on track. Known as
exercise snacking, this is a slightly
more relaxed approach to fitness
that’s easier to work into your
day, but still delivers great results.
It might sound like an excuse to
grab a sneaky biscuit while you’re
doing your squats,
but it really means
doing short bursts of
exercise that you can
‘snack’ on throughout
the day. It might be
helpful to think of
exercise snacking as similar to
snacking on food. But instead of
reaching for a banana to keep you
full, you’re snacking on movement
W
to stay fit. This type of workout
is ideal for those who are limited
on time, struggle with lengthy
workouts or prefer exercising in the
comfort of their own home instead
of the gym. It’s also great for women
from midlife onwards, because it
won’t leave you feeling fatigued,
and you can opt for low-impact
movements that are easily done
around the house.
Dean Zweck from health
club Total Fitness says this way
of exercising can be
extremely effective.
“Exercise snacking is
the phrase for bitesized workouts you can
perform throughout
the day. These bursts
of exercise can be as brief as a few
minutes, and they add up over the
day. The idea of exercise snacking
is to keep your body moving
You can opt
for low-impact
movements to do
in the house
The plank is good
for your core
consistently, even if it’s just for a few
minutes at a time.”
Mood boosting moves
While this way of exercising is great
for improving fitness, it also has
many other upsides. “The benefits of
exercise snacking include breaking
up prolonged periods of sitting, which
is excellent for overall health and
keeping your body active,” adds Dean.
“This repetitive activity aids in weight
management and, if you’re sitting
at a desk all day, it could even help
improve your posture.”
When it comes to the type of moves
you choose to snack on, you can
grab a bite of whatever you feel most
comfortable with. “You can sneak
in some squats or gentle push-ups
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
BITE-SIZED ACTIVITIES
TAKE THE STAIRS
Simply opting to take the stairs over the lift is a good
way to keep your body moving, without taking up extra
time during your day.
VACUUM WITH VA VA VOOM!
Kill two birds with one stone by cleaning up
your house and getting a mini workout at
the same time. Vacuuming a few rooms in
your house will increase your heart rate
and burn calories.
USE THE AD BREAKS
Watching TV might not get you fit, but the
ad breaks are the perfect reminder to get
moving. Stand up and do squats or jumping jacks
before your show comes back on.
PARK AWAY
When running errands or going to the supermarket, park
your car in the furthest spot away from the shop. That
way you can squeeze in some extra steps.
Short workouts
can be surprisingly
effective
during TV breaks or Zoom meetings,
using your spare time to enhance
your fitness throughout the day,”
says Dean. “These brief workouts
boost your metabolism, resulting in
additional calorie burning. They can
also elevate your mood and boost
your energy.”
The great thing about exercise
snacking is that there are no
strict rules and you
can go at your own
pace. Dean suggests
starting out with just
a few minutes a few
times a day and take
it from there. “Try
three to five minutes of bodyweight
exercises, such as planks, lunges or
wall sits. Then gradually increase
the duration
and frequency
as you get more
comfortable. The
key is consistency
– aim for several
‘snacks’ a day,”
he says.
“These mini workouts engage
various muscle groups, improving
tone and increasing calorie
burn. They can also help some
people to control cravings
and increase energy levels.”
Alongside exercise
snacking, there are also
certain day-to-day activities
that can help you stay fit without
you even noticing. These contribute
to something called Non-Exercise
There are no
strict rules and
you can go at
your own pace
Doing gardening
burns calories
Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT),
which can help you burn calories.
“Think about activities like
walking, standing, fidgeting,
or even gardening,” says Dean.
“Simple choices like tidying up the
house contribute to NEAT. In fact,
it plays a more significant role in
calorie burn than exercise itself,
with five per cent coming from
exercise and a substantial 15 per
cent from NEAT.”
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
39
How to make sure
you’ve covered
all bases, plus we
reveal the best
supplements
to take
id you know that many
of us are deficient
in nutrients? The
four most common
vitamin deficiencies in the
United States are Vitamins D
(bones and muscles), B6
(brain health) and B12 (red
blood cells and nerve cells),
and folic (red blood cells
and pregnancy), as well
as iron, iodine, calcium
and magnesium.
In the UK, around one
in six adults and almost
20 per cent of children
have Vitamin D levels
lower than government
recommendations,
with older people,
the housebound and
those from black
and South Asian
communities more
likely to have a
deficiency.
So what can we
do to boost our
vitamin vitality?
D
THE PROBLEM
A Western-style diet high in processed food,
red meat and foods high in saturated fats, salt
and sugar are the main culprits for vitamin
deficiencies, alongside not getting enough
sunlight exposure, a natural source of Vitamin D.
Even if we do have fresh produce in our diet, it
might not be giving us what we need. Intensive
farming and soil degradation over the past 50
years has affected the quality of many fruits and
vegetables, meaning they’re not as nutrientand mineral-rich as they once were.
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
SUPPLEMENTS
SECOND
HAIR
Dark leafy greens, such as
spinach, kale and rocket, are
concentrated in nutrients
important for hair health,
such as B vitamins and
Vitamin C. Studies show
that a diet rich in fresh
vegetables, such as dark
leafy greens, may help
improve hair growth in people
with hair loss. Sunflower seeds
are rich in plant-based protein and
Vitamin E, two nutrients necessary for
healthy hair growth, while pumpkin
seeds also provide zinc, copper and
iron. Lentils are another proteinrich plant food we can include
more of in our diets.
Good-quality supplements can
play a part in bumping up our
vitamin quota, but experts
recommend they should
be an extra, rather than the
main solution. “The science
suggests that, unless you
have a deficiency diagnosed
by your GP, you are best off
getting your vitamins through
diet rather than supplements,” says
nutritionist Genevieve Hallam. “If you
absolutely must take something, take
a multivitamin as an insurance policy.
The only exception being Vitamin D,
which we should all take from October
to April as most of us won’t get
enough from diet and sunlight.”
Read on for your top-to-toe
vitamin MOT…
EYES
It’s true: eating carrots is good for
your eyes. They contain beta-carotene,
a substance that the body converts to
Vitamin A, which is an important nutrient
for eye health. Omega 3 is also good, as
well as Vitamin E, which can be found in
sunflower, chia and flax seeds. Zinc helps
to protect our eyes against damaging blue
light, with poultry, small amounts of red
meat, fortified breakfast cereals and egg
yolks all good sources.
BRAIN
Around 60 per cent of our brain
is made of fat, and half of that is
made up of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 helps to slow mental
decline and ward off Alzheimer’s
disease, as well as helping with
depression. Oily fish such as herring, pilchards,
salmon, sardines, trout and mackerel are good sources of
Omega-3. The NHS suggests aiming for at least two portions a
week. Also, have an orange. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant
that helps fight off the free radicals that can damage brain cells
and lead to mental decline. One medium-sized orange will give
92 per cent of the daily Vitamin C you need.
TEETH
Vitamin C strengthens our gums
and the soft tissue in our mouth,
as well protecting against
gingivitis, the early stage
of gum disease. As well
as citrus fruits, for strong
gums and teeth load up
on Vitamin-A-rich fish, egg
yolks and liver. Vitamin A
contributes to our immune
function, vision and saliva,
and helps to keep mucous
membranes healthy, which
prevents dry mouth and
aids healing.
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
41
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
JOINTS
SKIN
A Vitamin D deficiency is linked
to rheumatoid arthritis. The
best food sources are oily fish,
including salmon, mackerel
and sardines, says the British
Heart Foundation, while
other sources include egg
yolks, red meat and liver.
Citrus fruits – like oranges,
grapefruits and limes – are rich
in Vitamin C. Research shows
that getting the right amount of
this vitamin helps to prevent
inflammatory arthritis and maintain
healthy joints with osteoarthritis.
Don’t forget magnesium, too,
which plays an important role in
things like bone health and sleep (a
deficiency can cause osteoporosis).
Magnesium-rich foods include
dark leafy greens, avocados,
bananas, nuts and seeds, edamame
beans and dark chocolate.
Beta-carotene, found in orange fruit and
vegetables such as carrots, sweet
potatoes and pumpkins; and lutein,
found in kale, papaya and spinach, are
both important for normal skin cell
development and healthy skin tone.
Vitamin E plays a key role in protecting
the skin from oxidative (cell) damage
and photoaging. Foods high in Vitamin
E include almonds, hazelnuts, pine nuts
and sunflower seed oil. Monounsaturated
and polyunsaturated fats, found in avocados
(often called the good fats), improve elasticity.
Don’t forget the fatty fish and Omega-3s: the
building blocks of healthy skin, they’re
anti-inflammatory and may help alleviate skin
conditions such as eczema.
GUT
BONES
Calcium is one of the most common
deficiencies. We need 700g daily says the NHS
(there are around 250g calcium in a pint of milk).
Good sources include yogurt, cheese and other
dairy products as well as green leafy vegetables
(aside from spinach as it contains oxalate, which
reduces calcium absorption). Tofu, soya drinks with
added calcium, unprocessed bread and anything
made with fortified flour are also good sources.
“When it comes to supplements,
more is less,” says wellness expert
and founder of Neom Organics,
Nicola Elliott. “If you’re at the start
of your journey choose two to three
rather than taking loads at once,
otherwise you won’t know what is
working.” Always choose good-quality
supplements that have proven, science
backed claims. “A lot of mass-market
brands use fillers and binders in their
products and that’s reflected in the
price point,” says Nicola. “It’s a better
health investment spending more on
one or two good-quality brands.”
42
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
Tr y these
BetterYou D3000
Vitamin D Daily Oral
Spray, £5.99
Available at
Superdrug
Scan this
QR code
to shop
Nutri Advanced Multi
Essentials for Women
Multivitamins,
£19.96 for 30 tablets
amazon.co.uk and
nutriadvanced.co.uk
Bare Biology
Omega 3 Fish Oil
Daily Capsules,
£31.95 for
60 tablets
barebiology.com
BY: JO CARNEGIE. PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Supplements
If we had to name one super vitamin,
the Vitamin B family would be it. Made
up of eight vitamins, they’re responsible
for carrying out vital processes in our body,
from converting food into energy, cell repair
and maintaining healthy brain and skin cells.
Gut issues can cause Vitamin B deficiencies, so it’s
important that we keep on top of it. Probiotic and fermented
foods are the best way to restore balance to our guts. Include
things such as natural yogurt, kefir, pickles, sourdough bread
and some cheeses, including cheddar, Edam and cottage
cheese. For the ultimate gut boost, try sauerkraut. In addition
to its probiotic qualities, it’s high in sodium and contains iron
and potassium, as well as Vitamins C and K.
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Something keeping
you up at night?
Here’s how to deal
with nine common
sleep saboteurs…
ne sleepless night can
trigger up to a 30 per
cent rise in emotional
stress levels and regular
poor sleep can put you at increased
risk of serious medical conditions,
such as obesity, heart disease
and diabetes. Getting
a decent night’s rest is
vital for good health,
but there are many
reasons so many of us
struggle to achieve this
most basic human need.
In a recent report by Chemist4U,
28 per cent of respondents said
stress and anxiety kept them
awake at night, while 11 million
O
Brits are kept up with financial
worries. “Many of us experience
feelings of pressure, tension and
nervousness and these feelings can
be more prominent at bedtime,”
explains Martina Della Vedova,
nutritionist at Nature’s Plus
(naturesplus.co.uk).
“If we don’t get enough
sleep, we can find it harder
to adapt to challenging
situations and, when we
can’t cope as efficiently
with stress, it can be harder to have
a good night’s sleep.”
Physical factors might be at play,
too – with back pain and headaches
commonly cited as reasons we
Physical
factors might
be at play
44
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
can’t settle. Kiera Pritchard, sleep
expert from Eachnight Mattresses
(eachnight.com), says “If you have
existing back pain, you might be
getting less sleep because you are
being woken by the pain. The lack of
sleep can also contribute to back pain
because your body does not have
enough time to restore its tissues.”
Whatever is stopping you sleeping
well, here’s how to overcome it…
Bad bedding
What we sleep on can contribute to
our aches and pains, and registered
chiropractor Christian Caswell of
topchiropractic.co.uk) suggests
we check our pillows. “A good rule
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
SWITCH YOUR SLEEP POSITION
“Only 10 per cent of people sleep on their backs and most have had to train
themselves to sleep this way comfortably,” says sleep expert Kiera Pritchard. But
this position can reduce aches and pains. She suggests the following process…
Back sleeping can
help reduce pain
1
It may feel unnatural to sleep on your back at first, so try doing
something enjoyable in this position for several nights. For
example, listen to your favourite album or podcast while lying
comfortably on your back. These exercises will help train your
mind to associate this position with comfort.
Use pillow props. You can feel vulnerable when sleeping
on your back, but you can counteract this by recruiting an
array of pillows to support you. Most people feel supported
with one pillow under each arm and one under the knees.
Be persistent. Even if you fall asleep on your back, you will
likely wake up in a different position. When you wake up,
just flip back to your back and try again. Eventually, you will
spend most of your time sleeping on your back.
2
3
of thumb is to buy a pillow that
is low and firm,” he says. “Your
head should be at the
same height as the rest of
your body.”
Find out what mattress
could be best for your pain,
too. “For example, if you are
experiencing back pain a memory
foam mattress might be best to
align your spine,” adds Christian.
positions for back pain, as it puts
unnatural pressure on your spine,”
adds Kiera Pritchard. “It
forces your neck to rotate
and this can compromise
the flow of blood, lymph
and spinal fluid and may
cause joint pain.”
So, what is the best position
to sleep in? “Everyone’s body is
different, and some positions may be
better for you based on your height,
weight or previous injuries, but back
sleeping is the most recommended
position for those with back pain,”
says Kiera. “That’s because the
vertebrae in your back can align
in a neutral position, without any
Buy a pillow
that is low
and firm
Poor position
“If you sleep in an unnatural
position, your muscles can become
locked, which can lead to pain,”
explains Christian. “Sleeping on
your stomach is one of the worst
kinks or curves. Side sleepers are
encouraged to use a pillow between
their knees, which aligns the hip
flexors and neutralises the spine.”
Christian adds, “47 per cent of
people sleep in the foetal position,
with the spine curled up, which
could cause back pain over time.”
The wrong routine
How you move during the day can
have an impact on how comfortably
you sleep at night, too. “Look into
different ways to help strengthen
your muscles, to prevent pain,”
advises Christian. “For example,
Pilates and swimming help with
muscle strength.”
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
45
Wind down with
a warm bath
Simple stretching exercises
might also help. “Regular stretching
can have a positive impact on the
body and mind,” says Luke Hughes,
personal trainer at OriGym. “Aching
muscles can cause discomfort and
keep us awake at night, but adding
stretches into your night-time
routine will keep this pain at bay. It
can also improve blood flow, muscle
tension and help the body fall into
a state of relaxation.”
A bath or shower might work
wonders, too. “Not only does the hot
water soothe tension in our muscles,
but when we dry off and
the water evaporates
off our body, our
temperature drops,” says
Anna Campkin, life coach
and Neuro-linguistic
Programming practitioner for online
health and wellness community
Goldster. “This mimics the natural
drop in temperature we experience
before we sleep, making us sleepy.”
“Diet, alcohol, hydration,
movement, screen time,
stress levels and even
the weather can cause
headaches. Apply a cold
compress to the forehead
Incorporate
and wrists, use an eye mask stretches into
your day
to block out the light, and
peppermint and lavender
essential oils can also help.
“Ensure your passageways aren’t
on your back can also be factors.
congested from a cold and try
If your sleep is disturbed by
nostril breathing to help alleviate
snoring – either your own or your
tension headaches. Close off the
partner’s – try to stay calm and
right nostril with the right thumb
compassionate. Consider sleeping in
and breathe in slowly
separate rooms, wearing earplugs,
through your left nostril.
using soothing background noise
Then close the left nostril
or trying a targeted product such as
with the right forefinger
Snoreeze Anti-Snoring Throat Spray
and breathe out through
(£9, Tesco).
your right nostril. Repeat
this for a few minutes, changing
nostrils after each exhalation.”
Remember that you cannot force
yourself to sleep. “Rather than
toss and turn for long stretches,
if sleepiness simply isn’t coming,
Snoring is caused by your tongue,
get up and move rooms,” advises
mouth, throat or airways in your
Suzy. “Try a guided relaxation or
nose vibrating as you breathe.
meditation session, calming audio
It happens because these parts
book or soothing music. With
of your body relax and narrow
regular practice, these things can
when you sleep. It occurs more
form a key part of your pre-bedtime
frequently in overweight people
wind-down routine and aid better
but smoking, alcohol and sleeping
BY JO CHAPMAN. PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK, ALAMY
A simple bath or
shower might
work wonders
Headaches
“Regular headaches should be
noted down in a journal to see
if there are patterns that cause
them,” advises Suzy Reading, sleep
expert and Chartered Psychologist.
46
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
Trying too hard
Loud snoring
NEW YEAR
sleep in the longer term.
Alternatively, read quietly, or
do some yoga, stretching or
breathing exercises.”
Too much stimulation
“Be mindful of your levels of
stimulation throughout the
day and pay attention to how
the combination of visual
and auditory stimulation
impacts your health,” says
Suzy. “Avoid anything that
overloads or unsettles your
nervous system, such as
scrolling through social
media or regularly checking
the news.”
If you’re working
from home and short
of workspace, don’t be
tempted to make your
bedroom double up as
an office. “Avoid placing
a TV or working in the
bedroom,” adds Mark Newey,
psychotherapist and founder
of Headucate.me. “The
bedroom is for sleeping.”
“Outside noise and light
need to be blocked as much
as possible,” adds Suzy.
“Wear earplugs at night, invest in
blackout blinds or curtains and
ensure any chinks of light are
covered, or wear an eye mask. Keep
the windows closed to prevent
traffic noise and turn off electronics
before bed to prevent blue light
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
Tackle insomnia
According to the NHS, you have
insomnia if you regularly find it hard
to go to sleep, wake up several times
during the night, lie awake at night or
wake up early and cannot go back to
sleep. Daytime signs include feeling
tired after waking, feeling tired and
irritable during the day, struggling to
concentrate and finding it difficult to
nap even though you’re tired.
Insomnia can be a temporary
problem caused by stress or a
traumatic experience, or become
persistent or chronic, meaning you
have trouble sleeping at least three nights a week over
a three-month period.
It’s important to seek help as soon possible.
Unaddressed sleep problems tend to get worse and
harder to treat as they become more habitual.
Sleeping tablets are a treatment option but shouldn’t
be seen as a long-term solution. “As any doctor will tell you, sleeping tablets
won’t work forever,” says Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, Silentnight’s sleep expert.
“I would recommend trying organic methods to help with your insomnia before
turning to prescribed medication.
“Try following my ‘five non-negotiables’ for seven days and see if your sleep
quality improves and insomnia eases. First, always have breakfast within half an
hour of rising. Second, moderate your caffeine intake as it has a direct impact on
reducing sleep quality. Third, keep hydrated with at least 1.5 litres of water every
day. Number four, reduce your technology activity 60 to 90 minutes before bed
and, finally, commit to going to bed by 10pm at least four or five times a week.
Unaddressed
sleep problems
tend to get
harder to treat
emittance which can be disruptive
to sleep.”
Erratic timetables
“Commit to a consistent prebedtime routine, to address any
physical tension
and worries,” says
Suzy. “This will
also help calm your
mind. A pre-bedtime
ritual of soothing
activities primes
the mind and body
for rest. Journalling
before bed helps us
work through our
emotions or events
of the day.”
The timing of your
bedtime routine is
important, too. “Get
up and go to bed at the same time of
day, and that includes the weekend,”
says Mark. “Routine is vital for good
sleeping patterns.”
Diet disruption
What you eat and drink in the
evenings can upset your sleep cycle,
too. “Avoid coffee or caffeinated
drinks after 4pm,” warns Mark.
“Coffee has a long afterlife and needs
to be out of your system before you
go to bed. Also, make sure you finish
eating by 7pm – your body needs to
be in digestion mode before you go
to bed for you to relax deeply.”
And don’t turn to alcohol as a
sleep aid. “It’s a stimulant,” explains
Mark. “Even though it may seem to
knock you out, the stimulant kicks
in after a few hours and destroys
your sleep.”
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
47
These clever
products are
designed to help
you get a better
night’s rest. We put
them to the test…
here’s nothing worse than staring
at the bedroom ceiling for hours,
feeling exhausted but struggling
to sleep. And, with insomnia on
the increase, it’s no surprise that there’s
an endless array of products promising to
help us improve the quality of our shut-eye.
We put some of them through their paces,
to see if they really did help us nod off, stay
asleep and wake up feeling refreshed.
T
MORPHÉE SLEEP AID
This beautiful pod not only looks
stylish on your bedside table, it’s
also a relaxation and meditation aid
that is loaded with guided audio
sleep sessions. There are three keys
on the device. You turn the first to
control which relaxation technique
you’re using (there is everything from
body-specific meditations, to guided
breathing, relaxing music and nature
sounds); the second to decide your
training session (each programme
has eight options); and the third to
opt for an eight-minute or 20-minute
session. You can easily adjust the
48
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
volume, pause the track and flip
between a male or female voice.
DID IT WORK?
It’s super-easy to use and a great
way to relax your brain and get
it into sleep mode. We loved
the breathing exercise, and the
meditations were a great way to stop
any racing thoughts and focus your
mind on your body. We tried a variety
of the programmes and, although
we weren’t snoring by the end, it
didn’t take long to drop off to a deep,
uninterrupted sleep.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND IT?
This is a device you’ll benefit from
the more you use it, as you gradually
train your brain to switch off. It
isn’t cheap, but it’s very easy for it
to become second-nature in your
evening wind-down routine.
n Morphee.co.uk, £89.95
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
WEIGHTED BLANKET
Like a calming hug, weighted blankets
are said to help reduce anxiety. Made
from 100 per cent quilted cotton with
silent, hypoallergenic glass beads, this
is heavy! There’s no doubt you’ll reduce
the amount of tossing and turning you do.
DID IT WORK?
When you first climb under it’s a bit of
a shock to the system. It’s important to
buy the right weight of blanket to suit
your size and, at 6.8kg, ours felt like it
was weighing us down. But we fell
asleep easily, although we did stir a few
times in the night,
most probably because it was an
unusual sensation.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND IT?
While weighted blanket fans can’t
praise them highly enough, we felt we
might struggle to incorporate it into
our regular sleep routine. However,
setting aside 20 minutes or so each day
to have a lovely lie under it would
certainly give you the opportunity to
switch off and meditate.
n Kallysleep.com, £109.99
BED OF NAILS ECO MAT
Acupressure mats may look like
torture devices, but the plastic
spikes are designed to hit certain
pressure points, easing chronic
pain and releasing endorphins.
DID IT WORK?
Lying on this felt strange at
first – our instinct was to
avoid a bed of nails,
plastic or otherwise! But,
once we’d let go of the
apprehension, it was
relaxing. By lying
and concentrating
on our position
– ensuring our
weight was
evenly distributed – we found it
really did take us out of our own
headspace. We also spent 10-20
minutes each night focusing on
our breathing, which put us into
a deeply relaxed state.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND IT?
We felt more relaxed and,
surprisingly, could even have
drifted off on the mat. We also
woke in the mornings feeling
more refreshed. It might seem a
strange concept, but we think this
is a great buy for anyone looking
for a new way to relax before
climbing into bed.
n Amazon.co.uk, £100
PURESPORT CBD OIL
CBD oil is the chemical
compound that’s derived
from cannabis plants, but
not the chemical that will
give you a high. Research
has found it to be effective
in calming the anxiety in
your brain, helping you
feel drowsy and ready
for sleep.
would struggle to settle,
we felt drowsy almost
immediately and fell
asleep as soon as our head
hit the pillow. We did stir a
few times in the night, but
were able to get straight
back to sleep pretty easily,
when normally we'd be
tossing and turning.
DID IT WORK?
We put two drops into
our mouth about ten
minutes before lights out.
And, while we normally
WOULD WE
RECOMMEND IT?
It’s a solid yes. It really
was great at helping us get
to sleep and we woke up
BACH RESCUE
SLEEP MELTS
Containing all-natural
ingredients, we were
sceptical that these tiny
pellets would have any
effect. You simply put one
on your tongue and let
it melt, releasing five flower
essences that are designed to
switch off repetitive thoughts.
DID IT WORK?
If you've ever woken in the middle
of the night and started whizzing
through an endless to-do list, this
will help. Within minutes of popping
one of the capsules we had drifted
back off to sleep. We also tried
them at the start of the night, when
the ‘Sunday night dread’ was
setting in, and they did help us fall
asleep – and stay asleep.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND IT?
Yes. These are a great emergency
go-to if you do have those racing
thoughts – but we’re not sure how
effective they would be if you used
them every night.
n Boots.com, £10
the next morning feeling
well rested.
n Puresport.co,
£40 for 100ml
Scan this
QR code
to shop
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
49
Pepperoni pizza macaroni
Makes: 4 portions Ready in: 20min
CALORIES
PER
PORTION:
460
B 250g dried macaroni
B Low-calorie cooking spray
B Pinch each of sea salt and freshly
ground black pepper
B 1 onion, finely diced
B 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
B 1 red pepper, deseeded and finely diced
B 45g sliced pepperoni
B 400g can chopped tomatoes
B 1tsp dried basil
B 1tsp smoked paprika
B 1 beef stock cube
B 160g reduced-fat grated mozzarella
1 Par-cook the macaroni in a saucepan of
salted boiling water for 5-6min.
2 Meanwhile, spray a large frying pan with
some low-calorie cooking spray and place
over a medium heat. Add the onion and fry
for 2min until softened, then add the garlic
and pepper and fry for a further 2min.
3 Slice 3 of the pepperoni slices, add to
the pan and stir, then add the tomatoes,
basil, paprika, salt and pepper. Crumble in
the stock cube, reduce the heat to low and
simmer for 5min.
4 Drain the macaroni, add to the frying pan
and stir through the sauce, then simmer
for 5min. Take the pan off the heat and
top with the mozzarella and the rest of the
pepperoni slices.
5 Place the pan under a hot grill until the
cheese is bubbling.
Quick, tasty &
These deliciously
healthy dishes
are perfect for
days when time is
short – all under
600 calories
Smoky bean burrito bowls
Makes: 5 portions
Ready in: 25min
EDITED BY: HAYLEY MERRICK; RECIPES: LATOYAH EGERTON; PHOTOS: UYEN LUU
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
50
B
B
B
B
B
Low-calorie cooking spray
1 onion, finely diced
1 garlic clove, finely diced
1 red pepper, deseeded and
finely diced
400g can red kidney beans,
drained
400g can cannellini beans,
drained
2 x 400g cans chopped
tomatoes
2tsp garlic granules
2tsp chilli powder
2tsp ground cumin
4tsp smoked paprika
Pinch sea salt and black pepper
TO SERVE
CALORIES
PER
PORTION: granules, chilli powder, cumin
520
and paprika, and season with
B 220g or 250g pack of
microwave longgrain rice, cooked
B 40g reduced-fat Cheddar
cheese, grated, per portion
B Shredded lettuce
B 15g tortilla chips per portion
B Coriander leaves
B Lime wedges
1 Spray a frying pan with some
low-calorie cooking spray and
place over a medium heat. Add
the onion, garlic and pepper and
cook for 3min until softened, then
add the two cans of beans and fry
for 5min.
2 Add the tomatoes, garlic
the sea salt and black pepper.
Lower the heat
and simmer
for 10min until
reduced to
a thickened
sauce.
3 Pile the hot
chilli onto
the rice and
top with
the cheese,
lettuce,
tortilla chips,
coriander and
lime wedges
for squeezing.
NEW YEAR
COOK’S
TIP
This recipe
works best
if you have a
metal-handled
frying pan that
you can put
under a hot
grill at the end.
If not, wrap the
handle in foil.
Biscoff truffles
Makes: 23 truffle balls
Ready in: 5min, plus chilling
B
B
B
B
B
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
CALORIE
S
PER
TRUFFLE
:
50
100g Lotus biscuits, crushed into fine crumbs
3tbsp quark
Dash of vanilla extract
50g white chocolate
1tsp Lotus biscuit spread
1 Mix most of the crushed biscuits (set aside a
teaspoon of the crushed biscuits for finishing the
truffles) and quark together in a bowl, with the
vanilla extract, then roll the mixture into small
balls – approx. 23 balls.
2 Break the white chocolate into pieces, place in
a microwaveable bowl and microwave in 10sec intervals until melted, then stir in the Lotus
biscuit spread.
3 Dip the truffles in the melted white chocolate,
then lay them out on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the
truffles with leftover biscuit crumbs and place in
the fridge to set for 10min.
COOK’S
TIP
Once cooked,
allow to cool,
then refrigerate
for up to five
days, or pour into
freezer bags and
freeze for up to six
months. Defrost
and reheat fully
before serving.
These
recipes are taken
from Slimming and
Speedy by Latoyah
Egerton (Quercus,
£22)
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
51
Flexible, delicious
recipes from
health and weight
management
programme Noom
CALORIES
PER
SERVING:
342
Saucy pizza-stuffed chicken breasts
Serves: 4 Ready in: 1hr
EDITED BY: HAYLEY MERRICK RECIPES: NOOM INC PHOTOS: C WATERBURY NOOM.CO.UK
FOR THE SAUCE
B 1tbsp olive oil
B 1 medium onion,
chopped
B 1 large garlic clove,
crushed
B 1tbsp tomato puree
B 400g can chopped
tomatoes
B 2tsp dried oregano
B ½tsp salt
B ½tsp red wine vinegar
FOR THE FILLING
B 150g fresh baby spinach
leaves, large stems
removed
B 60g reduced-fat
mozzarella, grated
B 30g Parmesan, finely
grated
B 30g thinly sliced
pepperoni, finely
chopped
B 1tsp garlic, finely crushed
B 1tsp dried oregano
52
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
B 1tsp sweet paprika
B ¼tsp freshly ground black
pepper
B ¼-½tsp red pepper flakes
FOR BAKING AND SERVING
B 2 large (225g) boneless,
skinless chicken breasts
B Salt and freshly ground
black pepper
B 2tsp olive oil
B Sweet paprika
B 2tbsp mozzarella, grated
B Freshly chopped basil
1 Make the sauce: Heat the
olive oil in a small saucepan
over medium heat. Add the
onion and cook, stirring,
until lightly golden, 8-9 min,
adding 1½tbsp water after
5min to prevent the onion
from sticking. Continue to
cook for about 8-9min total.
2 Add the garlic and
continue to cook, stirring,
for 1 more min. Add the
tomato puree and cook,
stirring, for another 1min,
then add the tomatoes,
oregano, salt, and vinegar.
3 Bring to a low boil, then
reduce the heat to low and
simmer until the sauce
thickens slightly, 13-15min,
stirring frequently to
prevent sticking. Remove
the sauce from the heat and
cover to keep warm.
4 Make the filling: Preheat
the oven to 180°C/gas 4.
Place the spinach in a large
microwave-safe bowl, seal
tightly, and microwave on
high until the spinach is
wilted, about 3min. Uncover,
let the spinach cool enough
to handle, then squeeze out
as much liquid as you can.
Finely chop the spinach
and put in a bowl with
the mozzarella, Parmesan,
pepperoni, garlic, oregano,
paprika, black pepper, and
red pepper flakes.
5 Stuff and bake the
chicken: Using a sharp
knife, cut a pocket into the
side of each chicken breast
that runs the length of the
breast, making it as deep as
you can without cutting all
the way through. Season the
pockets with some salt and
pepper, then stuff half the
filling into each breast half,
close it, and secure with a
toothpick.
6 Arrange the chicken
in a 23cm square baking
tin. Brush with the oil and
sprinkle with some paprika.
Bake until the chicken is just
cooked through and juicy,
about 25min.
7 Pour the sauce over the
chicken, then sprinkle over
the mozzarella. Return to
the oven and continue to
bake until the cheese is
melted and bubbly, about
5min. Remove from the
oven, cut into 2.5cm slices,
and garnish with the basil.
NEW YEAR
Oven baked lemony
Parmesan fries
Serves: 6 Ready in: 40min
CALORIES
PER
SERVING:
216
B 675g russet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1cm planks,
then 1cm strips
B Finely grated zest of 2 lemons
B 60ml olive oil
B ¾tsp kosher salt
B ½tsp freshly ground black pepper
B 5tbsp finely grated Parmesan
B Handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 6. Submerge the potatoes
in a large bowl of ice water for 5min, then arrange them on
clean kitchen paper and pat them dry.
2 Transfer the fries to a large bowl and add all but 1tsp of
the zest, the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat well. Add
4tbsp of the cheese and gently toss to coat again.
3 Arrange the fries on a rimmed baking sheet in a single
layer. Sprinkle any cheese mixture remaining at the bottom
of the bowl over the fries. Bake until crisp and golden, 3035min, turning every 10min or so to avoid sticking and to
ensure even cooking and browning.
4 Transfer the fries to a large serving dish, and garnish
with the remaining cheese. Sprinkle with the parsley and
reserved lemon zest and serve hot.
COOK’S
TIP
The purpose
of submerging
the potatoes
in ice water is
to wash away
some of the
starch in the
potatoes, which
helps to make
fries crispier.
Fudgy two-bite brownies
Serves: 12 Ready in:
1hr, plus cooling
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
CALORIES
PER
PORTION
:
118
B Cooking oil spray
B 175g peeled and
cubed raw sweet
potato
B 40g dark chocolate
(at least 70 per cent
cacao), chopped
B 175g black beans,
drained and rinsed,
then drained again
B 50g coconut oil
B 40g plain or rice flour
B 3tbsp unsweetened
plain or vanilla
almond milk
B 3tbsp lightly packed
dark brown sugar
B 2tbsp caster sugar
B 2tbsp unsweetened
cocoa powder
B 2tsp vanilla extract
B ½tsp baking powder
B ¼tsp fine sea salt
B Flaky sea salt, for garnish
COOK’S
TIP
These brownies
will keep, in a sealed
container, in the
refrigerator for up to
four days.
milk, brown sugar, caster
sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla,
baking powder, and salt.
Process, stopping and
scraping down the sides
of the processor bowl if
necessary, until very smooth,
30-45sec.
4 Bake and serve the
brownies: Using about 1
generous tablespoon of
batter for each brownie,
evenly divide the batter
among the muffin holes
and bake until the tops are
crackled and shiny, 30-35
min. Move the tin to a wire
rack and cool completely
to allow the centres to set
before releasing them from
the tin, about 30min.
5 Garnish the brownies
with the flaky sea salt, if
desired, and serve at room
temperature, or refrigerate
and serve later.
1 Preheat the oven to
190°C/gas 5. Lightly coat
24 holes of a mini muffin tin
with cooking spray. Place
the sweet potato in a small
saucepan, add about 2.5cm
of water, bring to a boil over
high heat, cover, reduce the
heat to low, and simmer
until the sweet potato is
tender, 12-13min. Drain well,
cool, then mash into a paste.
2 Prepare the brownie
batter: Place the chocolate in
a small bowl and microwave
on high, stopping to stir
every 30sec, until melted
and smooth, about 1min
30sec.
3 Add the mashed sweet
potato and
melted chocolate
to a food
These recipes
processor along
are taken from The
with the beans,
Noom Kitchen by Noom
Inc, (Headline Home,
coconut oil,
£30, hardback and
flour, almond
ebook).
Keen to eat less meat but not sure
where to start? Nutritionist Juliette
Kellow reveals her easy advice for
adopting a vegetarian diet…
here’s no bigger trend
right now than plantbased diets. But for many
people, avoiding all animal
products may be a stretch too far.
Enter vegetarian diets, which skip
meat and fish but still include dairy
products, and often eggs.
It’s estimated six per cent of
Brits enjoy a vegetarian diet and it’s
a huge step in the right direction
for our health and the planet.
Research from the University of
Oxford suggests if everyone in the
world switched to a vegetarian diet,
by 2050 there would be 7.3 million
fewer deaths and a 63 per cent drop
in greenhouse gas emissions!
Cutting out meat and fish may seem
While vegetarian diets
simple, but to prevent dietary deficiencies,
can be a stepping stone to
it’s vital to replace these foods, and the nutrients
a vegan diet – eight out of 10
in them, with alternatives – and this needs careful
vegans said they followed
planning. The Vegetarian Society (vegso.org.uk) is
a vegetarian diet before
a good source of advice. At the same time, improve
switching to no animal
your current diet by eating more vegetables, fruit,
products – it’s easier to
wholegrains and healthier fats, and gradually switch
ensure nutrient needs are
some, or all, of the meat in your diet for beans,
met when dairy and/or eggs
lentils, chickpeas, tofu, nuts and seeds. As well
are still on the menu. Here
as providing protein, these are packed with
are some tips to help you enjoy
many vitamins and minerals found in
a healthy vegetarian diet…
meat, poultry and seafood.
T
STEADY
CHANGES
54
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
OPT FOR
MEAT-FREE SWAPS
Meat-free foods are typically made from soya,
mycoprotein, wheat or pea protein and have
a similar taste and texture to meat. That makes them
ideal for recreating vegetarian versions of family
favourites such as lasagne, Bolognese, chilli, cottage
pie and curries. Tofu is also a great choice for a
protein boost – it’s made from soya, which contains
all the essential amino acids (protein building
blocks) needed for good health. Tofu can be
bland, but it soaks up flavour, so is perfect
for curries and stir fries. Experiment
with pulses, too. Beans, lentils, and
chickpeas are great in soups, stews
and curries, and can be added to
salads or blended to make dips.
PREPARE VEGGIEFRIENDLY SNACKS
Biscuits, chocolate, cakes, sweets
and crisps are already veggiefriendly but that doesn’t mean it’s
a free licence to eat loads of them.
Snacks can be a great way to add
vitamins and minerals to a vegetarian
diet, so pick nutrient-rich foods and skip
those high in saturates, added sugar and
salt. Great choices include houmous with
vegetable sticks, fruit and plain yoghurt,
avocado on rye crispbreads, peanut butter
on seeded toast, wholemeal pitta with
tzatziki, a handful of unsalted nuts and
raisins, or a bowl of wholegrain cereal with
milk and berries.
For vegetarian recipes from celebrity
chefs, download the free booklet from
nationalvegetarianweek.org/recipes
CHECK THE LABEL
Going veggie isn’t an automatic ticket to
better health. Many vegetarian products
such as ready meals, pizzas, burgers, and pastry
products can be high in saturated fat and salt, so check the
nutrition panel and choose products containing healthier,
less processed ingredients. Don’t be tempted to smother
everything in cheese, either. Yes, it’s rich in protein, but it’s also
high in saturates and salt, so choose reduced-fat varieties and
stick to 30g portions. Don’t assume vegan cheese is better –
it’s usually made from coconut oil so can be packed with as
much saturated fat, if not more, than regular cheddar. Finally,
make sure you’re getting five-a-day. Beans, chickpeas, and
lentils count as one portion but many
plant-based burgers, sausages, and
mince contain no vegetables, so
don’t count.
IRON OUT DEFICIENCIES
Including dairy and/or eggs
makes it easier to get enough
calcium, iodine and Vitamin
B12, but it’s worth paying
attention to iron. Red meat is
a key source, so intakes can dip
when switching to a vegetarian
diet, increasing the risk of
anaemia, symptoms of which
include fatigue, shortness of
breath, palpitations and poor
concentration. Eggs, pulses,
nuts, seeds, dried fruit, bread
and green leafy veg all contain
iron, but it’s in a form (non-haem
iron) that is less well absorbed
than the iron in meat (haem
iron). Vitamin C-rich foods
such as citrus fruits, peppers,
and berries, come to the rescue
by aiding iron absorption when
they’re eaten at the same meal.
Perfect partners include a bowl
of branflakes with a glass of
orange juice, houmous and
pepper sticks, or a handful of
nuts and a satsuma.
Getting enough omega-3 fats
– important for our heart, brain
and eyes – can be challenging
with a vegetarian diet as
seafood is the richest source.
While, the body can convert
short-chain Omega-3 fats in
plant foods such as flaxseed,
rapeseed oil, walnuts, chia seeds
and soya beans into long-chain
Omega-3s (the type in fish),
this process isn’t very efficient,
so consider taking a veggiefriendly Omega-3 supplement.
Put a spring in
your step, with
these wellbeing
escapes...
SUNSETBAY
RETREATS, WALES
THE LIFE
RESET
This retreat in southern Snowdonia runs
a series of three and five night breaks
throughout the year, all designed to give
you the chance to meet like-minded people, laugh
and come away feeling relaxed and happy.
Hosts Maggie and Graham (and Smudge the dog)
are friendly, enthusiastic and passionate about what
they do. You will feel instantly at home in the comfort
of the converted Gothic chapel, which is a short walk
from the unspoilt beach. To help ease away any tension,
a complimentary treatment awaits you on the day of
arrival – choose massage, reiki or reflexology. You’ll find
a hot tub and firepit to enjoy too.
Throughout your break, a team of wellbeing experts
are on hand to offer you a fabulous programme of
activities. These include expert yoga classes, stunning
56
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
coastal walks, holistic workshops, paddleboarding
on the Dovey estuary, sound baths, life coaching,
meditation and mindfulness workshops. Expect
to go to bed sleepy and utterly relaxed.
Nutritious, seasonal and satisfying meals are
served from morning until evening, all expertly
cooked by a variety of plant-based chefs. Even
if you’re not vegan, you will enjoy every morsel
and definitely not go hungry. Tea and coffee
are on hand all day, and you can enjoy a glass
of wine with your evening meal. You can even
take part in a cookery class during your stay,
should you so wish.
Retreats run over long weekends and
midweek, including Summer Solstice, Autumn
Equinox, and a long Nourishing Winter Yoga
Retreat in November.
n Prices from £800pp. For more information, go to
Sunsetbayretreats.com
NEW YEAR
ADVENTURE YOGI,
PEAK DISTRICT
STRETCH
& SOOTHE
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
Whether you’ve done yoga for years or you’d like to give it
a try, Adventure Yogi offers restorative retreats at venues
across the UK. Their three-night retreat in the Derbyshire
Dales includes morning and evening yoga classes and
guided walks, suitable for all levels, through stunning
countryside. There’s also plenty of time to sip on a hot
chocolate by the firepit in the evenings and admire the
night skies.
You’ll stay in an en suite bedroom in a beautiful,
modern building (it’s a converted cattle barn) with lush
valley views. There are plenty of light-filled communal
spaces too, with a log burner and lots of comfy seating to
help you relax.
The food is a mix of vegetarian and vegan, and carefully
created to keep you energised
for those country walks.
Expect brunch, lunch and a
2-course evening meal – of
course packed lunches are
provided if you’re out and
about too.
Retreats run throughout
the year in the Peak District, as
well as Norfolk, Cornwall and
the Brecon Beacons.
n Prices from £445pp, for
more information, go to
adventureyogi.com
This stylish retreat in North Cornwall
was created with the concept of
healing through nature at its heart.
Their focus on yoga, breathwork
and really experiencing the great
outdoors has meant they’ve become
very popular with people suffering
with a range of issues, from burnout to
Long Covid. Plus, the surroundings are
very special – you’ll stay in beautiful
wooden “koyts”, which are triangular
cabins set in secluded
meadows. Each one is
kitted out with luxury
bedding, toiletries and
a log burner.
You’ll also have
access to a communal barn, which
houses bathrooms, a library, screening
rooms and a bar, as well as airy
studios for classes and the Pigsty
Spa. Activities include nature walks,
tree planting, sea swimming, sound
baths, woodland saunas and, of
course, yoga. There’s also the
opportunity to meet the on-site
beavers, who are wittily named
Sigourney Beaver and JeanClaude Van Dam.
BACK TO
NATURE
PICS: ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, INSTAGRAM/ @ADVENTUREYOGI,
@SUNSETBAYRETREATS, @CABILLACORNWALL
CABILLA, CORNWALL
n Two-night ‘Dirty Weekend’ stays
take place in February and August
and cost from £425pp, inclusive of
meals and activities. For more info,
go to Cabillacornwall.com
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
57
Grab a pair of
boots and start
your journey to a
better mind and
body this winter
hen the weather
outside is frightful
it’s easy to stay
curled up on the
sofa, but stepping outside can
work wonders for your mental and
physical wellbeing. “As long as you
are wrapped up warm, walking in
colder weather can help to amplify
all the benefits,” says Jeannie
Cranfield, from The Ramblers.
“Colder temperatures help to
burn more calories and winter air
can blow out mental cobwebs that
have built up over long periods
indoors.” Jeannie adds, “Walking
can also help with specific health
conditions, from slowing mental
decline for those living with
dementia to strengthening our
hearts and preventing future
heart problems.”
Here’s how walking can help
you this winter…
W
58
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
A LONGER LIFE
You don’t need to go for long runs
or hit the gym to keep your heart
healthy. According to research
published in 2022, walking 10,000
steps a day could lower the risk of
dementia by 50 per cent and the
risk of heart disease and cancer by
30-40 per cent. A 30-minute walk
a day cuts your risk of a stroke by a
third, while research suggests that
a 20-minute walk each day could
increase your life expectancy too.
Studies have also shown that
exercising in the cold leads to
better aerobic fitness, as your
lungs, circulatory system and
heart have to work harder, helping
increase your endurance.
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
BETTER
MOOD
Taking a winter walk does
wonders for tiredness. When
it comes to boosting your
alertness, getting out in the
natural light in the morning is
particularly powerful, because
it kickstarts your body clock. It also
helps to boost your levels of Vitamin D,
which is known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’
and is vital for bone and muscle health.
Squeezing a walk into your day
can help you sleep better too, and
we all know that a better night’s
shut-eye improves our energy levels
and mood. A brisk morning stroll
could lead to an enormous 75 per
cent increase in the amount of deep,
restorative sleep you get each night,
according to the Sleep Foundation.
Perhaps not surprisingly, regular
walkers are also happier than those who
don’t walk much, according to scientists from
the University of East Anglia. This is no doubt
partly because walking lowers stress levels,
improves circulation and sparks feel-good
hormones. It could even lower your
risk of depression, help you feel
more positive and support
your memory too. Research
suggests that being close to
nature is calming and good
for your mood, plus it can help
your cognitive powers too.
OVED
IMPROVED
NA
STAMINA
AND SIGHT
Walking strengthens your muscles
and improves stamina and balance,
helping you to stay active and reducing
your risk of falls. That’s particularly
important given that one in six deaths
in the UK is caused by inactivity.
Getting out and about also
helps to protect your joints,
because it sends healthy blood
and nutrients to your knees
and hips, oiling your joints with
synovial fluid and helping keep
your cartilage healthy. Going
for moderate strolls can even
help your eye health too, with
research suggesting it can lower
your risk of cataracts.
REDUCED FAT
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QR code
to shop
It’s quite normal to eat more over the winter, since
our bodies require more calories to keep warm.
Thankfully, the cold weather on a brisk winter walk
helps burn these extra calories – just three hourlong walks a week could help you lose an inch off
your waist by the end of winter.
You’ll be helping to lower your insulin levels
too, so could reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes
at the same time. If you need any more inspiration
to get outside, remember that walking one mile
burns 100 calories!
LIGHTWEIGHT
This low-cut style is
lightweight, so ideal for
daily use. The boots dry
quickly, give good foot
support and perform
well across different
terrains. Karrimor
Bodmin Ladies
Weathertite, from
£33, Amazon
CUSHIONED SOLE
These waterproof
leather boots are
designed to shield from
water, while allowing
airflow. The cushioned
footbed makes them
ideal for longer walks.
Brasher Women’s
Country Master,
£144.50, Amazon
WASHABLE
Rubber boots that
aren’t just waterproof,
but vegan too! They’re
washable, have anti-clog
soles and are cottonlined, with extra ankle
padding. The Harris
Dryboot, £81.99,
thedrybootcompany.
com
SHOCK ABSORBING
BY LIZZY DENING, GABRIELLE ALBERT AND SOPHIE BARTON. PICS: ALAMY, GETTY, SHUTTERSTOCK
5 OF THE BEST WALKING BOOTS
GREAT VALUE
Breathable hiking boots
with a waterproof lining
and a shock-absorbing
mid-sole. The powerful
grip makes them a great
option for slippery or
muddy terrain. Peter
Storm Millbeck Walking
Boot, £125, PeterStorm.
com
These waterproof boots
are reinforced at the toe
and designed to give a
sturdy grip. An excellent
purse-friendly option.
Mountain Warehouse
Rapid Waterproof
Boot, £34.99,
mountainwarehouse.
com
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
59
Cold water swimming is said to
have a host of health benefits.
Fancy a dip?
t’s the latest wellness activity
that has seen devotees raving
about its life-enhancing effects,
while famous fans include
David Cameron and Amanda
Holden. Popularised by bearded
ice god Wim Hof, cold water
swimming has been linked to a
number of health benefits, from
better circulation and reduced
inflammation to more energy.
“There is a large amount
of experiential and anecdotal
evidence that people report
reductions in symptoms of
anxiety and depression, and relief
from pain, albeit temporary,” says
Heather Massey, cold water expert
and Senior Lecturer in Sport,
Exercise and Health at the
University of Portsmouth.
“People also indicate
that they’ve had
reductions in symptoms
of menopause. Some
even report reductions
in migraine and
Raynaud’s.”
Cold water swimming brings
about a temporary stress reaction
in the body, said to boost the
immune system and regulate our
fight or flight stress response.
Studies show that cold water
I
swimmers report
fewer and milder
infections. Immersion
in cold water also
prompts the release of
endorphin and dopamine,
the feel-good neurotransmitters.
Aim for a water temperature
between 0-10°C (32-50°F). There are
lots of swim spots
throughout the UK, from
lidos to rivers, while Bake
Off judge Prue Leith, 83,
(pictured above) is reported
to have her own swimming
lake on her Oxfordshire estate!
Health benefits aside, cold water
is also popular for the camaraderie
that comes from joining volunteerrun outdoor swimming groups, with
increasing numbers of women in
their 60s and beyond taking it up.
It’s said to boost
the immune
system
60
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
Whether you’re
a newbie or a convert,
it’s important to
exercise some caution.
“In terms of the science,
we have limited scientific
evidence that cold water
swimming has benefits,” says
Heather. “Age is not a barrier to
swimming outside, but being unwell
and certain medical conditions are.
There are a number of medical
conditions for which cold water
immersion or swimming would
likely be harmful.”
These include heart conditions,
high blood pressure, asthma and
chest infections, and avoid it if you
are taking certain medications. “The
best advice would be to seek advice
from medical professionals if you
are unsure,” adds Hannah.
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
‘I feel so much happier’
Wendy Adams, 61, is from north Cornwall. She took up
cold water swimming two years ago
“In July 2021 I had a medication review with my doctor. I had
been taking HRT and antidepressants for over 10 years and he
advised I should think about stopping HRT. He suggested that
I look into cold water swimming to help me.
“I found the Bluetits Chill Swimmers on Facebook and
joined my local group. In September 2021 I went to meet
them at my local beach; we had a dip in the sea, followed by
coffee and cake.
“At first I went once a week,
but found I missed the feeling
of euphoria afterwards, plus
the chatter and laughter with
fellow Bluetits. I continued and
I now swim virtually every day.
I look forward to each dip with
great gusto.
“I stopped taking HRT, reduced
my antidepressants and feel so
much happier.”
Wendy has now
stopped taking
HRT thanks to cold
water swimming
If you fancy trying it or want to
join a club, do some research. The
Outdoor Swimming Society (OSS)
is a great resource for all levels and
lists nationwide swimming clubs
and local events, as well as
information on how to swim safely,
what kit to buy, and how to avoid
catching waterborne diseases.
Once we’re in, how
long should we aim for?
The OSS says that
immersion times vary
from person to person,
and advises staying in
for as long as feels comfortable.
“Short dips in cold water are better,”
says Heather. “Staying in too long
will lead to cold water incapacitation
and hypothermia.”
Aim for a few minutes and then
build up. “Initially, stay in for the few
minutes it takes for the cold shock
response to subside, which is about
five minutes,” Heather says. “With
repeated immersions you will find
the cold shock response declines
and you might be able to stay in a
little longer. But, as the water cools,
your immersions should get shorter.”
If starting this winter feels a bit
too extreme, make a New Year
resolution for 2024.
“Start swimming during
the summer months when
the water is warmest,” says
Heather. “Get into the water
gradually and allow for the cold
shock response, which results in
a big gasp and rapid breathing. This
peaks in the first 30 seconds of
immersion and gradually subsides.”
Which leaves you free to start
enjoying your swim. Brrr!
Aim for a few
minutes and
then build up
BY: JO CARNEGIE. PICS SHUTTERSTOCK
n For more information visit:
outdoorswimmingsociety.com
and thebluetits.co
Scan this
QR code
to shop
A CHILLY DIP AT HOME
Try cold dipping from the comfort of your
own home with a cold water therapy tub.
Take your pick, from inflatable and foldaway
ones to standalone ones you can have in the
garden. Simply fill up with cold water, or cold
water and ice, and lower yourself in. Have
something cosy to climb into afterwards!
OUR TOP CHOICES…
Polar Recovery
Tub, £89.99,
amazon.co.uk
BEST BUDGET BUY
Smonter Portable
Ice Bath, £40.99,
amazon.co.uk
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
61
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
Home health
GADGETS
TENS machines are small, battery-operated
gadgets that can help relieve pain caused
by conditions including arthritis and
sports injuries. They use sticky pads called
electrodes, which you attach to your skin.
They then emit tiny electrical impulses,
which can help relax muscles. Omron E3
TENS machine, £34.67, Argos.co.uk
An electrocardiogram (ECG)
monitor checks your heart’s
rhythm. Personal-use ECGs tend to
have sensors built into them – you hold
a couple of fingers against the sensors or even
wear them on your wrist or body to pick up your
heart’s activity and detect for abnormal rhythms.
While personal-use ECGs can be very accurate,
the clinical ones you get at the hospital are more
sensitive. Omron Complete Blood Pressure
Monitor with ECG, £154.99, Very.co.uk
Look after your
wellbeing with
these simple
devices
Everyone should get their
blood pressure checked
regularly, and one of the easiest
ways is with a home monitor.
These are simple to use and,
if your blood pressure is high,
your healthcare professional
will advise you what to do.
Salter BPA-9200-GB Automatic
Blood Pressure Monitor,
£19.99, Amazon.co.uk
If you have
diabetes, you’ll
know just how
important it is to
do daily blood
sugar testing.
Glucometers
help to
accurately read
your blood sugar
levels, so you
can keep on top
of your needs.
Accu-Chek
Instant Blood
Glucose System,
£29.99,
Boots.com
BY: EMILY GILBERT AND SOPHIE BARTON. PIC: GETTY IMAGES. IF YOU’RE
THINKING ABOUT USING ANY HOME HEALTH GADGETS, WE RECOMMEND
YOU SPEAK TO A GP FIRST.
A pulse oximeter is a small device that
you put on the tip of your finger, to
check your oxygen levels and pulse
rate. It measures your blood oxygen
levels by transmitting light through
your finger. Beurer Smart Bluetooth
Pulse Oximeter, £62.99, Boots.com
Scan this
QR code
to shop
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
63
roadly speaking, January
isn’t a month for feeling
our best, health wise. On
the back of Christmas
indulgence, a few months of
winter bugs doing the rounds, the
cold weather playing havoc with
aches and pains, and not being
able to get outside as much as
we’d like, it can all start to take
its toll on our immune system.
“As we grace our sixth decade and
onwards, our immune system
isn’t quite as effective as it once
was in warding off seasonal
viruses and infections,” says GP
Dr Louise Randall. Taking steps to
boost our wellbeing not only pays
dividends now, but helps to set us
up going forward into a happier
and stronger spring. Read on for
Louise’s tips on staying on top of
our immune health during
the colder months.
It might sound obvious,
but sometimes we overlook
basic elements of our
health and then wonder
why we feel under the weather. Use
this time to do an MOT on your
health habits. “Good nutrition,
hydration and sleep are essential
Stay on top of your
health this winter
and beyond with
these expert GP tips
B
Cuddling your pet
is a great way to
lower stress levels
for good overall wellbeing,” says
Louise. “A healthy diet should
include plenty of vegetables, fruits,
lean proteins and healthy fats.”
When it comes to
boosting our immunity,
don’t forget the Omega
3s. “Omega-3 fats are
especially beneficial to
the immune system and
good sources include oily fish like
sardines and salmon, nuts and seeds
and certain plant oils like flaxseed
and canola oil,” Louise says.
Also, are you drinking enough?
“Staying well hydrated is also
vital for proper functioning of the
immune system, so try to keep
up with drinking water and noncaffeinated beverages throughout
the day,” says Dr Louise [the NHS
‘Omega-3 fats
are especially
beneficial’
Meet the expert
n Dr Louise Randall
is an NHS GP and
works as an aesthetic
doctor at the River
Wellness Clinic
riverbanksclinic.co.uk
64
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
recommends six to eight cups of
fluids per day]. Lastly, look at your
sleep. “It’s essential for the body to
repair itself,” she adds. “If you are
someone who struggles to sleep
and sleep hygiene hasn’t worked for
you, then consider contacting your
GP to see if you are able to access
any online Cognitive Behaviour
Therapy-based sleep programmes.”
Another thing we need do to
is dodge the viruses. “While it is
not possible to completely avoid
contact with viruses, it is possible
to reduce your exposure to them,”
says Dr Louise. “Practise good
habits like hand hygiene and avoid
close contact with someone who
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
Simple steps
can help you
feel healthier
come spring
can have a negative effect on
the immune system, which can
be counteracted by feel-good
hormones such as oxytocin,”
explains Dr Louise.
To reduce stress, she
suggests finding time to do
things such as practising
mindfulness, deep
breathing, physical touch,
spending time with loved ones,
cuddling a pet [we love this one!]
or listening to music. Use nature’s
prescription as well. “Getting out
in the morning and getting some
natural daylight can help with your
circadian rhythm, which can also
promote better sleep.”
Spend time
with loved
ones
PICS: GETTY IMAGES
is unwell.” Of course masks are
no longer compulsory, but you
could consider wearing a face
covering in high-traffic areas
such as public transport.
“To reduce your risk of
becoming seriously unwell
if you do become ill, make
sure you are up to date
with the vaccinations you
are eligible for,” she adds.
As we get older and become
post-menopausal, we may feel that
our hormones don’t play such a
big role in our health. But, aside
from our reproductive hormones,
there are others still at play. “Stress
and cortisol, the stress hormone,
If you’re less motivated to
move at this time of year, you’re
not alone. Miserable weather and
plunging temperatures see us
naturally inclined to huddle up at
home. But as much as adequate
rest is important for a strong
immune system, we need to keep
up our fitness levels, too.
“Exercise makes us feel mentally
better and strengthens the body,
improving our resilience to any
illness,” says Dr Louise. “It also
helps to improve circulation,
which has a positive impact on
your immune system. It’s a double
whammy if the exercise also helps
you de-stress.”
Our health can need a helping
hand in the winter months.
Vitamin D has been shown to have
an effect on the immune system
and helps the body to fight off
bacteria and viruses.
“Most of the Vitamin D we use
is produced by the body after
exposure to UV light,” Dr Louise
says. “In the spring and summer
months 10-20 minutes of sun
exposure is usually adequate for
most people, but during the winter
months it is generally advised to
supplement your diet with Vitamin
D3. A dose of 10 micrograms of
Vitamin D3 a day is advised.”
n See page 40 to read more about the
role of supplements
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
65
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
Is your blood pressure
Hypertension can lead to heart
attacks and strokes, but it can be
prevented and controlled…
igh blood pressure
affects one in four of us,
causing 60 per cent of
strokes and 50 per cent
of heart disease. Despite causing an
estimated 75,000 deaths a year in
the UK, it’s initially symptomless,
hence why it’s often called ‘the
silent killer’.
So, what happens when
your blood pressure is too
high? “When your heart
beats, it pumps blood
round your body to give
the tissues energy and oxygen,”
explains Dr Pauline Swift, from
Blood Pressure UK. “As your blood
moves along, it pushes against
the sides of the blood vessels.
The strength of this pushing is
your blood pressure. When blood
pressure is too high, it puts extra
strain on your arteries and your
H
heart, which can lead to a stroke or
heart attack.”
Dr Swift adds that everyone
should get their blood pressure
checked regularly, either by their
GP, at a pharmacy or using a home
blood pressure monitor. “A normal
reading is 120/80mmHg,” she says.
“The standard advice
for those with normal
readings is to have it
checked every five years.
From 50, you should have
it checked yearly.
“If your blood pressure
is high, your healthcare
professional will
advise you what
to do.
“Most people’s
blood pressure can
be controlled with
medication.”
‘A normal
reading is
120/80mmHg’
Limit alcohol
“Too much alcohol raises your blood
pressure over time,” says Dr Swift. “Keep
to the recommended 14 units of alcohol
a week for men and women.”
Eat well
Fruit and veg, like leafy greens, berries
and citrus fruits, can lower blood pressure.
“Plant foods are full of vitamins,
minerals and fibre,” says Dr Swift.
Be more active
“Exercise three to five times a week for
30 to 50 minutes, to a level where you’re
out of breath,” says Dr Sayan Sen, a
consultant from oneheartclinic.com.
“Cardio, combined with weight or
resistance exercise, can help lower
blood pressure by reducing blood vessel
stiffness, so blood can flow more easily.”
Stop smoking
“Nicotine raises blood pressure,” says
Dr Sen. “Smoking can contribute to the
narrowing and hardening of the artery
walls, restricting blood flow.”
Manage stress
“Our fight or flight
responses increase the
adrenaline load, making
blood pressure spike,”
says Dr Sen. “Techniques
such as yoga and
meditation are great for
lowering blood pressure.”
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
67
BY: LUCY HUNTER. PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK
5 WAYS TO LOWER
BLOOD PRESSURE
Yours promotion
Find someone special to
share exciting times with
during 2024
PICS: ISTOCK PHOTO
New year, new beginnings!
L
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
et’s talk about that magical sweet spot
between Christmas and New Year – the
time when the Christmas tree lights
are still twinkling and you’re wondering if the
leftover stuffing is still good. It’s like the cosy
aftermath of the festive whirlwind, and it
can also be the perfect time to find someone
special to share the good times with in the
year ahead.
The dating scene can feel like uncharted
territory at times. But fear not! This time
of year is the laid-back setting you need for
rediscovering the joy of a new love, with
Yours Dating.
Picture this: a leisurely stroll
Met your
through a winter wonderland
partner
on
followed by a cuppa by
Yours
Dating?
the fire. No need for big
We’d love to hear your
gestures, just the simple joy
story. Write to us at
of being together.
the
address on page 3
The festive season also
marking
your letter
gives you the perfect excuse
‘Yours
Dating’
to try something new together.
From checking out local markets
to catching a concert, there’s a
host of activities to enjoy. These experiences
become the building blocks of something
special, creating memories that’ll have you
air as everyone embraces new beginnings
smiling well into 2024.
and a chance for fresh start, so where
And speaking of the New Year, there’s
better to start than meeting someone new?
something so hopeful and optimistic as we
So, as the year winds down, let the
approach January 1st that makes this time
festive spirit guide you in embracing
particularly
something exciting to enjoy in 2024.
special. There’s
Head to yoursdating.co.uk and see
that extra dash of
excitement in the
what your future holds…
Trusted Yours service
Safe and reliable
Free to join
Easy-to-use website
You stay in control!
Curiou s?
Visit yoursdating.co.uk to
see how easy it is and to find out more...
NEW YEAR
HEALTHIEST
YOU... EVER!
SENSITIVE SCALP
Philip Kingsley Overnight
Scalp Barrier Repair £27
This relieves a dry, itchy
scalp, reviving thirsty skin
with an intense burst of
moisture. Aloe vera and
AHAs gently exfoliate,
defending against
flakiness, while gently
dispersing excess sebum oil
and product build-up.
DAMAGE
CONTROL
PS Pro Bond
Pro-Repair
pair Intensive
Hair Mask £4.50
A weekly leave-in treatment
that makes strands stronger
and helps reverse signs of
damage. With avocado oil
and hyaluronic acid this mask
will bring moisture back to
your hair, swelling follicles
and giving thin hair density.
Healthy hair
SUPERHEEROES
Products
guaranteed to
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your locks
ENERGISING
Straand The Miracle Worker
VOLUMISING
£20
Scalp self-care is at the root
of healthy hair. If hair follicles
become dry or blocked because
of dandruff and dead skin cells
or the scalp becomes inflamed,
you’re creating an environment
where your hair cannot flourish.
Treat your scalp to a scrub once a
BANISH
week to optimise its function.
DANDRUFF
Living Proof
Full Dry Volume
& Texture Spray
£16
A quick fix for
limp, fly-away hair
is to use a product
that lifts from the
root and holds
all day. Choose
a volume spray
that promises to
texturise your hair
– disguising any
sparse patches.
NOURISH &
CONDITION
Nanogen Thickening
Treatment Conditioner
for Everyone
£8.95
The right conditioner
will deliver a hit of
hydration, helping the
hair follicles to swell
with moisture, while
boosting volume.
This is also packed
with keratin proteins
– a key ingredient for
nourishing the roots
at the scalp.
GREAT FOR
MATURE HAIR
John Frieda Profiller+
Thickening Shampoo £8.99
To help avoid hair shedding,
use a gentle shampoo,
specifically designed for
mature hair. Experts suggest
massaging the shampoo into
your scalp; once you get a
lather, let it run through to
the ends of the hair.
Scan this
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to shop
brushes
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
COMPILED BY: KATE MARTIN
Noughty Get Set, Grow
Tonic £9.99
As we age, the number
of follicles able to grow
new hair declines and the
diameter of hair fibres
shrink. Infused with the
brands own pea complex
tonic, this will wake up
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follicles, encouraging new
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69
Hearty,
comforting and
purse-friendly
food – perfect
for a chilly
January day!
Into the
Hearty sausage casserole
Serves: 4 generously
Takes: 2hr 45min
n These recipes
are all taken
from Comfy by
Chris Collins
(Penguin Michael
Joseph, £22)
70
Cost per
serving:
£2.21
B Olive oil, as needed
B 12 thick pork sausages
(approx 800g)
B 4 slices of back bacon
(smoked or unsmoked, approx
100-120g), chopped
B 3 carrots (approx 200g–250g),
finely chopped
B 1 large white onion, sliced
B 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
B 2tbsp tomato purée
B 120ml dry red wine
B 750ml beef stock
B 400g can chopped tomatoes
B 2 small bay leaves (or 1 large)
B 1 large sprig of fresh rosemary
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
B
B
B
B
2–3 sprigs fresh thyme
400g baby potatoes, halved
2tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Salt & black pepper, to taste
1 Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a
large, deep casserole dish over
a medium-high heat. Add the
sausages and fry until deep
golden and lightly charred, then
remove and set aside.
2 Add the bacon to the leftover oil
and fry until it begins to brown.
Add the carrots and onion and fry
for a further 3-4min until the onion
has softened. Add the garlic and
fry for another 1min. Stir in the
tomato purée and fry for 1-2min,
then pour in the red wine. Simmer
for 2min until it reduces slightly.
3 Pour in the stock, then add the
tomatoes, bay leaves, rosemary,
thyme, potatoes, Worcestershire
sauce and sausages. Stir, scraping
off any flavour from the bottom
of the pan, then bring to a gentle
simmer. Once simmering, turn the
heat down to low, pop on the lid
and leave to gently bubble away
for 1hr 30min. Remove the lid, give
it a stir, then simmer for a further
20–30min, or until the sauce
thickens.
4 Pluck out the rosemary and
thyme sprigs and the bay leaves.
Check for seasoning and adjust
with salt and pepper if needed.
Serve with buttered bread, if liked.
your recipes
Serves: 2-4 Takes: 25min
B 230g medium egg noodles
(typically 4 nests)
B 1tbsp sesame oil
B 2tbsp vegetable oil
B 2 red peppers, deseeded
and thinly sliced
B 100g baby sweetcorn,
quartered lengthways then
halved (smaller ones just
halved lengthways)
B 100g mangetout
B 2 cloves of garlic, finely
chopped
B 1tsp finely chopped fresh
ginger
B 200g beansprouts
B 4 spring onions, thinly sliced
B Sesame seeds, to garnish
FOR THE SAUCE
B 60ml light soy sauce
Cost per
serving:
£2.30
B 2 heaped tbsp brown sugar
(light or dark)
B 2tbsp sriracha
B 1tbsp oyster sauce
B Juice of 1 lime
B ½tsp dried chilli flakes, plus
extra to garnish if desired
B ¼tsp white pepper
1 Cook the noodles according
to the pack instructions
(typically simmered in boiling
water for around 4min). Drain
and toss with the sesame oil.
2 Meanwhile, mix together
the ingredients for the sauce
in a bowl.
3 Heat the vegetable oil in a
wok over a high heat. Add the
peppers and baby sweetcorn
and fry for 2min until they
start to soften very slightly,
then add the mangetout and
fry for a further 1min. Add the
garlic and ginger and fry for
around 30sec until they just
begin to colour.
4 Take the wok off the heat
and add the noodles a few
portions at a time (so they
don’t clump up), then pour
in the sauce. Place the wok
back on the heat and toss
the noodles until just coated,
then add the beansprouts
and spring onions. Toss for
another minute or so to warm
everything through, thicken
the sauce and soften the
beansprouts slightly. Garnish
with sesame seeds (and more
chilli flakes, if you dare!).
Harissa halloumi skewers
Makes: 8-10 Takes: 35min
Cost per
skewer:
£1.35
B 2 x 225g block halloumi
cheese, each patted dry
and cut into 20 small cubes
B 90g harissa paste
B 2 small courgettes, cut into small halfmoons (no thicker than 1cm)
B 2 large red peppers, deseeded and cut
into bite-sized pieces
B 2 large red onions, cut into bite-sized
pieces
B 2tbsp olive oil
FOR THE YOGHURT & MINT SAUCE
B 240g full-fat Greek yoghurt
B ½ bunch of fresh mint (approx. 15g),
leaves finely chopped
B 1½tbsp extra virgin olive oil
B 1tbsp fresh lemon juice
B 1 garlic clove, crushed
B Salt & black pepper
TO SERVE
B 8 pittas or small flatbreads
B Lettuce & sliced gherkins
1 Preheat the grill to as high as it goes and
line a large baking tray with foil.
2 First, make the yoghurt and mint sauce.
In a small mixing bowl, combine all the
ingredients, check for seasoning and
adjust if needed, then cover and set aside .
3 In a medium mixing bowl, combine the
halloumi and harissa paste. Take a piece
of halloumi and carefully push it onto the
sharp end of a skewer and move it to the
base. Add a piece of courgette, followed
by a piece of red pepper, followed by a
piece of red onion. Repeat the process
until you fill the skewer. You should end up
with about 4-5 pieces of halloumi. Place
on the baking tray, then repeat with the
remaining skewers.
4 Add the olive oil to the bowl with the
leftover harissa. Mix, then brush half the
harissa oil over the top of the skewers.
5 Place the tray under the grill on the
middle rack and grill the skewers until
they start to lightly char (4-5min). Take
out the tray, flip the skewers, then brush
with the rest of the harissa oil. Place back
under the grill until lightly charred
on the other side, with the halloumi
very soft. The veggies should be
softened and a little wrinkled. Brush
over any juices on the tray, then serve
in flatbreads or pittas with lettuce and
a drizzle of yoghurt and mint sauce.
COOK’S
TIP
If you’re using wooden
skewers, soak them in water
for at least 1hr ahead of time.
This will help prevent them from
burning. If you’re using metal ones,
be careful as they’ll be hot!
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
71
EDITED BY: HAYLEY MERRICK; RECIPES: CHRIS COLLINS PICS: HAARALA HAMILTON;
ALL PRICES AND TIMINGS ARE APPROXIMATE
Firecracker noodle stir-fry
These delicious slow-cook dishes use the best
seasonal produce and will warm the cockles!
BACON, CABBAGE & BEAN SOUP
Serves: 4 Takes: 40min
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
1tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 sticks celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 medium potato, chopped
200g bacon lardons, or use thick
back bacon, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
Small handful of fresh oregano,
chopped
3 fresh or dried bay leaves
2tbsp tomato purée
400g can cannellini beans, drained
and rinsed
1ltr hot vegetable stock
½ green cabbage, sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Cost per
serving:
£1.30
1 Heat the oil in a large saucepan
over a medium heat. Cook the
onion, celery, carrot and potato for
4-5min, stirring often, until starting
to soften. Add the lardons, garlic,
oregano and bay leaves and cook for
8min, stirring occasionally until the
lardons are browned.
2 Stir in the purée for 1min, then
add the beans and stock. Bring to
the boil, then lower to a simmer and
cook for 20min. Add the cabbage,
stir well and cook for a further 15min
or until the cabbage is cooked.
3 Season with salt and pepper and
serve straight away with toasted
crusty bread, if liked.
COOK’S
TIP
Kale works
just as well as
cabbage in this
dish. Just remove any
tough stalks and shred
the leaves.
your recipes
Celeriac & parsnip soup
Serves: 4 Takes: 1hr 10min
B 400g parsnips, cut
into small chunks
B 500g celeriac, cut
into small chunks
B 3tbsp olive oil
B 1 large onion, finely
chopped
B 1 celery stick, finely
chopped
B 1 garlic clove,
chopped
B 1tbsp freshly
chopped thyme,
plus extra to garnish
B 1.5ltr hot chicken
stock
B 100ml double
cream, plus extra
for drizzling
B Salt and freshly
ground black
pepper
Braised beef stew with Guinness
Serves: 4-6 Takes: 3hr 15min
850g stewing steak, cubed
2tbsp plain flour, seasoned
2tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, sliced
2 sticks celery, sliced
3 carrots, sliced
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 sprigs rosemary, leaves
chopped
1 Preheat the oven to 220°C (fan 200°C/
gas 7). Line an oven tray with foil. Toss the
parsnips and celeriac in 2tbsp of the olive
oil and spread out on the oven tray. Roast
for 30-35min or until golden, shaking the
tray half way through.
2 Heat the remaining oil in a large saucepan
over a medium heat. Cook the onion, celery
and garlic for 3-4min, stirring often, until
softened. Add the roasted parsnip and
celeriac and thyme. Pour in the stock and
bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer and
cook for 15min.
3 Remove from the heat and use a stick
blender to blitz until smooth. Or use a
blender, then return the mixture to the pan.
4 Stir in the cream and return to a medium
heat for 2-3min until piping hot. Divide
between serving bowls, top with a swirl of
double cream and garnish with the extra
thyme leaves. Serve with a sprinkling of
finely chopped apple and crusty bread,
if liked.
Cost per
serving:
£2.76
B
B
B
B
B
B
1 fresh or dried bay leaf
2tbsp tomato purée
3tbsp Worcestershire sauce
500ml can Guinness
250ml hot beef stock
3 potatoes, chopped
into chunks
B Salt and freshly ground
black pepper
1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan 160°C/gas 4). Toss the beef in
the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess. Heat half the oil In
a large heatproof casserole dish over a high heat. Brown the
meat in three batches, for 3-4min each. Transfer to a plate.
2 In the same casserole dish, heat the remaining oil. Cook
the onion and celery for 4-5min, stirring until softened. Add
the garlic, rosemary, bay leaf and tomato purée and cook for
1-2min, stirring. Return the beef to the casserole along with the
Worcestershire sauce, Guinness and stock.
3 Cook in the oven, covered, for 2hr, stirring half way. Add the
potatoes and cook, uncovered, for a further 1hr or until the
meat is tender and potatoes cooked. Season with salt and
pepper. Serve straight away with crusty bread.
COOK’S
TIP
EDITED BY: HAYLEY MERRICK. PHOTOS: STOCKFOOD. ALL PRICES ARE APPROXIMATE
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
Cost per
serving:
74p
This is the perfect recipe to cook in a
slow cooker. Read the manufacturer’s
instructions before doing so.
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
73
MELLOW
MARIGOLD
This appealing
colour is set
to be a big hit
throughout
2024. Perfect
for bedrooms,
kitchens and
dining rooms,
it’s a delightful
shade that’s
both warm and
welcoming but
adds a cheery
hue when the
sun comes out.
£20,
Mint May
TWISTED
CANDLES
£4.99,
for two
Gisela
Graham
£30,
Walton
& Co
£29,
Palava
£43
JJTextile
Colour me
SCALLOPED
MAT
£50,
Rose & Grey
We predict the top interior
shades for 2024
SOFT
PINK
If you’re after a
cool, calming
colour scheme
them Dulux’s
colour of the
year, Sweet
Embrace, is for
you. A subtle
shade that
works in any
room, but we
think it looks
great in the
bedroom.
74
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
£37.99,
Perkins &
Morley
KIDS’ MINI
COCK TAIL CHAIR
£59,
Dunelm
Sweet Embrace
matt emulsion,
from £20, Dulux
your home
Fern Folk ochre
reversible
duvet cover and
pillowcase set
from £16, Dunelm
MOODY
BLUE
Embrace the
beautiful Blue
Nova hue from
Benjamin
Moore’s paint
pallete and their
colour of the
year. It’s strong
and bold and is
a great accent
colour for your
home, especially
during those
summer months!
ABSTRACT
PRINT
£15,
Ink & Drop
£25,
Pooky
ENAMEL-COATED
TR AY £32,
Garden Trading
£25
Pagazzi
£10
Garden Trading
Blue Nova
matt emulsion
from £20 per 0.94l,
Benjamin Moore
£14 for four,
La Redoute
COMPILED BY ZOE BISHOP
FAUX SHEEPSKIN
RUG
£52,
Rugsdirect
£26,
La Redoute
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
75
Try our pick
of the most
beautiful plants
you can buy
right now
3 ALGERIAN IRISES
IRIS ‘WALTER BUTT’
This variety of Iris unguicularis has the
largest flowers, with scented blooms
in delicate shades of lavender and
ice-blue from
December
through to
February.
n Height 45cm
Spread 30cm.
n bethchatto.
co.uk
n £6.95/1L pot
76
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
IRIS ‘PELOPONNESE SNOW’ IRIS ‘MARY BARNARD’
Give these beautiful white flowers
with lilac-blue markings a warm spot
and they’ll flower for several months.
The foliage is
evergreen too.
n Height
45cm Spread
30cm.
n bethchatto.
co.uk
n £6.95/1L
pot
Enjoy divine deep purple-blue, with
show-stopping golden markings in a
sheltered sunny spot that doesn’t get
too wet over
winter. Tidy
the foliage by
pulling out old
leaves.
n Height and
Spread 30cm.
n dorset
perennials.co.uk
n £7/1L pot
your space
BRING COLOUR TO YOUR PATIO
AUSTRALIAN FUCHSIA ‘DUSKY BELLS’
Start 2024 as you mean to go on
with a bountiful pot of intensely
red, nodding Correa blooms
brightening your winter patio.
Give it a sheltered spot and pop
ADD SOME TEXTURE
Instant impact plants are just what’s
needed in January to bring some
longed-for loveliness to your outside
space. Create a container to cheer
your plot with colour and texture,
lifting your garden (and mood!)
whether it’s dusted with snow
or catching the glittering winter
sunlight. It combines dark, glossy
skimmia leaves and cream-coloured
buds, zingy conifers and gently
cascading ivy for a fabulously fresh
look. Keep it super-modern with a
grey-coloured container to show off
all those lovely greens.
These plants need good drainage,
so pop bits of broken pot in the base
of the container to stop compost
blocking the holes. Choose a lightly
shaded spot.
a fleece cover over it during
frosty weather.
n Height 75cm Spread 2m.
n ashwoodnurseries.com
n £10.50/3L pot
SKIMMIA ‘FINCHY’
Dark, glossy leaves are the perfect foil
for the creamy-white buds that last
through winter.
■ Height and Spread 80cm.
■ ben-reid.co.uk
■ £10.99/13cm pot
ENGLISH IVY ‘WHITE WONDER’
This Hedera helix has lush, variegated
foliage with bright creamy-white edges,
perfect for trailing over the edge of a pot.
■ Height and Spread 5m.
■ crocus.co.uk
■ £5.99/8.5cm pot
LAWSON’S CYPRESS ‘IVONNE’
The zingy, yellow-green needles of this
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana have a lovely
fragrance.
■ Height 2.5m Spread 1.2m.
■ ashwoodnurseries.com
■ £9.99/3L pot
EASTERN CYCLAMEN
WINTER HEATHER
BRASSICA OLERACEA
The silver-marbled, dark green
leaves are joined by dainty blooms
in shades of white, pink and red from
winter to
early spring.
Erica carnea ‘Pink Spangles’ is robust
with tiny, rose-pink flowers January
through to March. Needs ericaceous
compost.
Architectural shapes and vibrant
shades, intensified by cold weather,
make ornamental cabbage a great
choice.
n Height
15cm Spread
45cm.
n ashwood
nurseries.
co.uk
n £2.50/9cm
pot
n Height
15cm Spread
30cm.
n plants
galore
online.co.uk
n £2.99/1L
pot
n Height
and Spread
10cm.
n dejager.
co.uk
n £5 for a
9cm pot
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
PRICES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. PICS: GAP PHOTOS, SHUTTERSTOCK, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
3 PLANTS FOR WINTER BASKET HEROICS
77
your space
Use old juice cartons and
quick-set cement to make
these trendy planters
C
78
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
Make a
shallower pot
using a washed-out
dip carton and pop
in a tealight
YOU WILL NEED…
Cement and
old washing-up
bowl/bucket
Stick
Cooking oil
Juice cartons,
tops cut off
Plastic cups and
a handful of
pebbles
Drill and
masonry
drill bit
Sandpaper
Paintbrush,
gold paint &
masking tape
1
2
3
Follow the instructions to make up the cement in the
washing-up bowl, using the stick to mix.
Brush the inside of the juice cartons with cooking oil to
stop them sticking to the cement.
Carefully pour cement into the cartons so they’re
three-quarters full then immediately push a plastic cup
into the middle of each until around three-quarters of the
way down. Put pebbles in the cups to keep them in place
and leave to set overnight.
4
Carefully remove the
cartons from the pots.
Turn upside down and
drill a hole in each base.
5
Sandpaper any
ridges, then paint
on your design using
masking tape to get
straight edges.
PIC: FUTURE PUBLISHING LTD ALL PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF PRESS
oncrete will bring any
space bang up to date,
but pair it with gold
and it’ll never get old!
These sleek, grey cement mini
planters will bring an on-trend
look to your windowsill or a
patio table, where the lustrous
metallic accents will reflect
the sunshine. They’re at their
best planted with super-cute
succulents – these plants
will appreciate a spot on a
windowsill for now, then you
can move them outside once
the risk of frost has passed, if
you wish.
Once you’ve mastered the
technique, raid your recycling
bin for different-sized cartons
and plastic containers and
experiment! Just remember
that the bigger the planting
pocket, the more pebbles you’ll
need to use to weigh the inner
container down. You could
make your very own range of
planters, unique to you and
your garden. Or why not make
a set for your houseplants and
a matching pot for outside?
Our b u d g et
Blue Circle Multip
urpose
Concrete Tub ____
_____
wickes.co.uk
£12/5kg
Rust-Oleum Painte
r’s Touch
Gold Multi-purpos
e
Paint __________
____ £3.75/20ml
diy.com
TOTAL: ________
_____£15.75
Chosen by Nick and Judy Holdsworth of Independence Limited
Easily open jars
Carry drinks and dishes one-handed without spilling
Ref M3611
4 in 1 Jar Opener
This soft rubberised
finish grips jar lids like a limpet. Just turn and they
come loose. Four different circles for all sizes of jars.
£6.25 each
Very sturdy, light and well balanced, this tray makes it easy to carry
things upstairs as you can carry everything with just one hand and
use the other to hold the handrail or open doors.
Folds flat for easy storage. Non-slip mat available separately.
Ref M3605 One Handled Safety Tray
Colour: White.
Size:18 x 12” (45 x 30cm).
Weight: (approx) 1½ lb (600g).
£24.50 each
Ref M3606 Rectangular Non Slip Mat
Add our advanced technology non slip mat to
help prevent dishes and
cutlery sliding. Colour: Beige.
Size: 10 x 14” (26 x 36cm)
£22.00 each
Reach every itch
Do not use on tender skin.
You can really get a good grip on this ‘handy’
back scratcher as it has a large, non-slip cushion
handle. The telescopic arm is made from strong
stainless steel and extends from 8 ½” to 27½”
(22 - 70cm) so you can reach your whole back.
Ref M2595 Telescopic Back Scratcher
£6.50 each. Buy 2 for £12.00 (save £1)
Pull out plugs with ease
It takes just seconds to clip
on one of our strong, flexible
handles, making plugs easy
to pull even if you have weak
grip, rheumatism or arthritis.
No tools or rewiring needed.
Unlike other plug handles
these are extremely thin so
they don’t interfere with the
electrical contacts.
No need to replace existing plugs
Simple to attach without rewiring
Ref M3601 Plug Pulls
1 pack of 10 £12.00
Buy 2 packs for £21.50 (save £2.50)
Safety pants with sewn in pads
Safety pants have a lightly padded gusset
and waterproof lining to provide total
security for occasional minor leaks, without
the need to wear an additional pad.
They look and feel just like ordinary
underwear. Absorbs up to 175ml of
liquid (about a teacup).
Ref M2450
“Cecil” All-in-One Safety Pants
White
White
Machine washable. Colour: White.
Ref M2445 “Carrie” Cotton Safety Pants
Classic Y-front style with fly opening.
100% cotton (except pad).
Sizes S to 5XL Waist 30 to 54” (76-137cm)
1 garment £15.75
Buy 3 garmenst for £44.25 (save £3)
Machine washable. Colour: White.
Cool 100% Cotton (except pad).
Sizes S to 4XL. Waists 26 to 60” (66-152cm)
1 garment £16.25
Buy 3 garments for £45.75 (save £3)
Comfy knee high
pop socks
A helping hand to pick things up
Lightweight to wear under trousers,
these knee highs have a deep ribbed
top which holds securely without
cutting in or leaving ugly marks.
Ref M0140
15 Denier Pop Socks
One size fits 4-7.
Save bending and stretching with our lightweight reacher.
A gentle squeeze on the trigger handle operates strong
grabbing jaws which hold objects firmly even if you have a
Easy to use
trigger
poor grip. Pick up small metal objects with the magnetic tip.
Ref M3723 Helping Hand Reacher
Standard 26” (66cm) £25.00 each. Buy 2 for £46.00 (save £4.00)
Colours: Black,
Honey or Mink.
Pack of 3 pairs
(all one colour) £6.50
Buy 6 pairs for
£10.00 (save £3)
Ref M0145
40 Denier Pop Socks
One size fits 4-7.
Colours: Black or Natural.
Pack of 3 pairs
(all one colour) £10.00
Buy 6 pairs for
£17.00 (save £3)
FREE catalogue
with every order
Black
Magnetic tip
Strong jaws
Relief for the balls
of your feet
Feel the difference as soon as you
slip them on. Special silicone gel
pad gives excellent cushioning yet
is still slim enough to wear with
your regular footwear, under socks
or hosiery.
Washable and reuseable.
Please state shoe size.
Ref M2427
Gel Ball of Foot Cushion
Shoe sizes 4-11 up to E fitting. 1 pair £12.00
Buy 2 for £22.00 (save £2)
When you mention our code MY0224
If you order by mail post to
Independence Ltd. Dept. MY0224,
5E Lancaster Way, ELY CB6 3NW
Write on a plain piece of paper and make
cheques payable to ‘Independence Ltd’
Free returns and full refund
if you are not satisfied.
n All materials
and pattern
available from
Hobbycraft.co.uk
Knit this stylish oversized
jumper – perfect for staying
snug all winter
YOU WILL NEED
YARN
Rowan Big Wool in shade
Prize 064
S-8, M-8, L-9, XL-10,
XXL-11 x 100gm balls
NEEDLES
Pair 10mm (US 15)
needles
9mm (US 13) circular
needle, no more than
40cm long (or set of 4
double-pointed needles)
TENSION
9 sts and 13 rows to 10cm
measured over patt using
10mm (US 15) needles
ABBREVIATIONS
Foll(s) - follow(s); meas
- measure; patt - pattern;
RS - right side; st(s) stitch(es); WS - wrong side
n Can’t get this yarn? Find an
alternative at yarnsub.com
Sizes
Sizes
To fit bust
80
S
M
L
XL
XXL
81-86 91-97 102-107 112-117 112-127
32-34 36-38 40-42 44-46 48-50
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
cm
in
your free pattern
Body (worked in one piece,
beg at right cuff edge)
Using 10mm (US 15) needles cast on
39 [41: 43: 45: 47] sts, placing marker on
centre st. Work in patt as folls:
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Rows 2 and 3: Knit.
Row 4: Purl. These 4 rows form patt. Work
in patt for a further 12 rows, ending with WS
facing for next row.
Shape right side seam
Keeping patt correct, cast on 35 [36: 36:
37: 38] sts at beg of next row (for back side
seam), and 30 [31: 31: 32: 33] sts at beg of
foll row (for front side seam). 104 [108: 110:
114: 118] sts. (Note: Front is 5 sts shorter
than back). Work a further 28 [32: 36: 40: 44]
rows, ending with WS facing for next row.
Divide for neck
Next row (WS): Patt 54 [56: 57: 59: 61] sts
and slip these sts onto a holder (for back),
cast off next 2 sts, placing marker on first
cast-off st, patt to end. 48 [50: 51: 53: 55] sts.
Work on these sts only for front as folls:
(Note: All front and back neck shaping is
mainly worked on WS rows).
Dec 1 st at neck edge of 2nd and foll alt
row. 46 [48: 49: 51: 53] sts. Work 17 rows,
ending with WS facing for next row. Inc 1 st
at neck edge of next and foll alt row. 48 [50:
51: 53: 55] sts. Work 1 row, ending with WS
facing for next row. Break yarn and leave sts
on a holder. Return to sts left on holder for
back, rejoin yarn with RS facing, work 2 tog,
patt to end.
Work on this set of 53 [55: 56: 58: 60] sts
only for back as folls:
Dec 1 st at neck edge of next row. 52 [54:
55: 57: 59] sts. Work 21 rows, ending with
WS facing for next row.
Inc 1 st at neck edge of next 2 rows,
ending with WS facing for next row. 54
[56: 57: 59: 61] sts. Join back and front.
Next row (WS): Patt across 54 [56: 57:
59: 61] sts of back, turn and cast on 2 sts,
placing marker on first of these cast-on sts,
turn and patt across 48 [50: 51: 53: 55] sts
on front holder. 104 [108: 110: 114: 118] sts.
Work a further 29 [33: 37: 41: 45] rows,
ending with WS facing for next row.
Shape left side seam
Keeping patt correct, cast off 35 [36: 36:
37: 38] sts at beg of next row (for back side
seam), then 30 [31: 31: 32: 33] sts at beg
of foll row (for front side seam). 39 [41: 43:
45: 47] sts. Work a further 13 rows, ending
after patt row 1 and with RS facing for
next row.
Cast off knitwise, placing marker on
centre st.
Making up
Press.
HERE’S WHAT
YOU’VE BEEN
MAKING…
r I knitted these poppies for
Remembrance Day and took some
to the cathedral where I live.
Joan Marriott, Sheffield
Neckband
With RS facing and using 9mm (US 13)
circular needle, pick up and knit 30 sts
along front section of neck shaping, beg
and ending with marked sts, and 22 sts
along back neck edge. 52 sts.
Round 1 (RS): *P2, K2, rep from * to end.
Rep this round until neckband meas 5cm.
Cast off in rib.
Fold garment flat, folding along line
indicated by all 4 markers. Mark points
alongside seam edges of back 11 sts in
from row-end edge. Mark corresponding
points alongside seam edges of front
6 sts in from row-end edge (as front is
5 sts shorter than the back).
r Do you like
this reversible
Christmas
cot blanket
I made for a
very special
little friend?
Ann Laity,
via email
r I made 60 Christmas cards for friends
and family last year! I love making them
and people look forward to getting them.
Dorothy Potter, Stockport
GET IN
TOUCH
We love to see your makes.
Please share your creations
with us using the contact
details on page 3.
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
81
Spend less time
worrying about
your bills
t more
Find ou
Make more time for your loved ones. If you’re living with
a terminal illness – or caring for someone who is – and
you’re concerned about energy costs, we’re here to help.
ÜIJɥƆșIJƭɥŊƭIJIJɥIJǧƪIJƭǁɥƵljƪƪƆƭǁɥćźīɥŗźŊƆƭŸćǁŗƆźɥƆźɥǁŒIJɥźćźĤŗćůɥ
ćƵƵŗƵǁćźĤIJɥǁŒćǁɥĤƆljůīɥģIJɥćǡćŗůćģůIJɥǁƆɥǨƆljɥƵƆɥǨƆljɥĤćźɥŊƆĤljƵɥůIJƵƵɥƆźɥģŗůůƵɥ
ćźīɥŸƆƭIJɥƆźɥƵƪIJźīŗźŋɥƬljćůŗǁǨɥǁŗŸIJɥǢŗǁŒɥǁŒIJɥƪIJƆƪůIJɥǨƆljɥĤćƭIJɥćģƆljǁɩɥ
Visit mariecurie.org.uk/energy
Or call our Support Line on 0800 090 2309*
*
Please check our website for opening times
PARTNERED WITH
Charity reg no. 207994 (England & Wales), SC038731 (Scotland) M047d
¼ŒŗƵɥǢŗůůɥǁćŬIJɥǨƆljɥǁƆ
ŸćƭŗIJĤljƭŗIJɩƆƭŋɩljŬ IJźIJƭŋǨ
HELPFUL
HINTS
to KNOW
Expert advice on saving you time & money
HOW TO
MAKE MONEY
FROM ART pg 92
SWITCH TO
SAVE CASH pg 84
SPRAY MOPS
TESTED pg 95
89 Look out for energy
reward schemes.
98 Take a break in some
on-trend destinations
PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK
PLUS:
BY SWITCHIN
Start the year as you mean to go on, by keeping
tabs on your suppliers. Reaping cash rewards
is simpler than you might think…
S
adly, these days loyalty
rarely pays when it comes to
costs such as your landline,
mobile phone, broadband
and insurance. Switching suppliers
for big household bills is one of the
easiest ways to save hundreds of
pounds, without affecting your
lifestyle, and the process can be
much smoother than you expect.
Here’s how to make 2024 the year
you seize the chance to save…
Focus on the savings
The savings from switching
suppliers aren’t to be sniffed at.
For example, more than half of
consumers could save up to £523
on their car insurance, up to £177
on their home insurance and up to
£154 a year on superfast broadband,
according to number crunching by
Money Supermarket.
Don’t let contracts auto-renew
Never assume auto-renewing is the
cheapest option. From utility bills to
insurance, always check if you can
find a better deal elsewhere. One of
the easiest ways to see a range of
offers from different companies is to
pop your details into a comparison
website.
ert Faith
Our money advice exp
ing money
nn
-wi
Archer is an award
Much
at
er
gg
blo
journalist and
deputy
s
wa
th
Fai
s.
Les
h
Wit
More
The Daily
at
personal finance editor
She aims
io.
rad
C
BB
r on
Telegraph and is a regula
dgeting,
bu
ily
fam
as
h
suc
to make money matters
to understand
pensions and tax easier
TOP TIPS FOR BIG BILLS
HOME INSURANCE
To estimate the cost of
rebuilding your home,
use the calculator
commissioned by the
Association of British
Insurers from the Building
Cost Information Service
(BCIS). For contents, go
room by room, totting up
the value.
ENERGY
Check your bills to work
out your actual gas and
electricity usage in kWh,
rather than relying on
estimates. Make sure the
filters on the comparison
site show all available
deals, rather than only the
ones you can switch to via
that website. Then see if
your money
‘I CUT COSTS BY OVER £700’
LESLEY RACKLEY (70)
G
After sitting
down with her
daughter-in-law
for a session on
the computer,
Lesley saved more than £770,
by switching three of her bills.
Lesley, a retired mother-of-two
and grandmother who lives in
Burgess Hill, West Sussex, halved
her broadband costs and saved
£520 by moving from BT to an
18-month contract with Sky
Superfast. She also cut £106 by
moving her car insurance and
breakdown cover, and lowered
her home insurance by £100.
Lesley said, “I keep my bills
from the previous year, so I can
see what deals I can get for the
following year. Switching wasn’t
really difficult or hard work, but
you do need confidence with
the internet. Sitting down with
Kara made it easier, because she
is tech savvy and knew what she
was doing.”
Even though
Lesley couldn’t cut
all her bills, she was
still delighted with
the savings. “We
didn’t do the energy
bill because we couldn’t find
anything cheaper, and I use
a pay-as-you-go mobile so
that wasn’t relevant,” she said.
“Saving £700 was higher than
‘I hate saying
it, but loyalty
doesn’t pay’
Seek support
Use several sites
If you are nervous about going
online, see if a trusted family
member or friend will sit down and
help you through the process.
In an ideal world, try
to use more than one
comparison website.
Different sites will
feature different deals
and rarely include
all the offers out
there. Some of the biggest
comparison websites for household
bills include Money Supermarket,
Compare the Market, Uswitch,
Confused.com and GoCompare.
Dig out paperwork
Collect copies of your current bills,
so you can plug in details such as
your current supplier, product,
usage and payments. You will get
more accurate quotes using the
correct information.
your current supplier is
offering any alternatives,
as, right now, some of
the best deals are only
available to existing
customers.
MOBILE PHONE
& BROADBAND
Look at your bills to see
what you use, so you can
focus on tariffs where
I expected though.” By switching
using the Money Supermarket
website, Lesley also earned £45
cash through its reward club,
SuperSaveClub. Added to that
was a Free Days Out Annual Pass,
which is worth £160 and gives
unlimited access to thousands of
venues across the UK
for 12 months. Lesley
intends holding on to
the extra money, so
it can act as a buffer
if she gets any nasty
surprises from her energy bills.
“I hate saying it, but loyalty
doesn’t pay,” she says. “I would
absolutely recommend looking
to see if you can get better deals.”
you aren’t paying for
data or speeds you
won’t need, or being
charged extra for going
over your allowances.
Scope out which
companies offer the
best coverage in your
area, using the Ofcom
mobile and broadband
checker.
CAR INSURANCE
Dig out your MOT
documents to work out
how many miles you drove
last year. Then adjust
the total if you expect
your driving patterns to
change. For the cheapest
prices, search for quotes
three to four weeks before
your policy ends.
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
85
shop with us!
yours.co.uk/life/shopping
Abundant
Aquilegia
Incredibly tough
& easy to grow
SHOPPING
WE GUARANTEE: ✔ Carefully selected
products ✔ Safe reliable service ✔ Delivery
straight to your door ✔ Yours customer
care helpline ✔ Reputable & trustworthy
Pink Barlow
Black Barlow
Bordeaux Barlow
Barlow White
More commonly known as ‘Granny’s
Bonnet’, Aquilegias are an essential
of the cottage garden. Flowering all
the way through spring and summer,
frilly blooms with layers of petals nod
in the breeze above petticoats of
clump-forming, grey-green foliage.
Easy to grow,
these incredibly
AQUILEGIA
tough plants
will cope well
COLLECTION X 6
with most soil
conditions and
are slug resistant.
AQUILEGIA
Supplied as bare
roots, delivery
COLLECTION X 18
from March.
£15
£24
My order
PRODUCT
PRICE
QTY SUBTOTAL
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include financial products such as
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back on 31 October. If you would
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by post, you will need to ring the
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200 3610 to request a paper copy of
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Start by checking that you can
access the online form at gov.
uk/log-in-file-self-assessmenttax-return. Track down your
Government Gateway account user
ID and password, or register asap if
you need to set up an account.
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income info and receipts for
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pension statements if retired. If
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and dividends earned. Don’t
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Go through the tax return
form one section at a time. At
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return. This could apply
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receive income from
property such as a buyto-let, or have made capital gains.
Double check the whole return
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Money
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Helping you spend wisely and save
more, with money expert Faith Archer
EMBRACE ENERGY
REWARD SCHEMES
The energy price cap dropped
in October but ticked up again
last month. Prices were set to
rise by five per cent, and the bill for a typical
household will go up from £1834 to £1928 a
year, according to the energy regulator Ofgem.
However, the cap limits the maximum amount
charged rather than the total bill, so if you use
more, you will pay more.
Save a little, by taking part in the schemes
offered by some energy companies, which
reward customers for cutting energy use at
certain peak times. Last winter, 1.6 million
households and businesses took part. Around
three per cent earned over £50, while 16 per
cent got more than £20 and one in three
earned less than £5 overall, according to
research by Money Saving Expert.
MAKE MORE
OUT OF LESS
Octopus Energy
customers reported the highest average
savings, followed by Ovo Energy and British
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Fancy spotting the next Banksy?
Buying a painting or sculpture you love
could prove to be a profitable hobby
f you love art, why not invest
in some? It’s not as crazy an idea
as it sounds. Financial advisors
unbiased.co.uk say that over
the past 50 years,
contemporary art has
delivered an annual
return of 7.5 per cent to
investors. Art specialist
Oliver Gormley has an
interest that was first sparked in the
Eighties: “I used to own shops such
as newsagents and sports outlets,
and then opened an auction house
to offload stock.
“One day a Charles McAuley
painting came up for auction and
I
Think about
your long-term
goals
BY LUCY HUNTER: PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK
Meet the expert
n Oliver Gormley owns
Gormleys Fine Art & Art
Auctions, with galleries
in Belfast and Dublin
92
sold for £1,200. The lady who sold it
had paid £50 some 30 years before,
so she was pleased. But the buyer
was also delighted and felt it was
a bargain. I thought, ‘We’re
on to something here’.
My wife had studied art,
so I started reading her
books.” From here, Oliver
discovered a passion and
a talent for discovering art. These
days, he trades the likes of Damien
Hirst and Keith Haring, as well as
emerging talent.
Here, Oliver passes on his tips
on how to enjoy and invest in art.
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
Consider what you want
to achieve
Knowing why you want to purchase
is a good place to start. Are you
buying solely for a financial return,
or looking for something aesthetically
pleasing? It’s important to think
about your long-term goals and what
you hope to achieve. Research
exactly what it is you are buying.
Art is not just painting or drawings
– maybe you’d like to go for a
three-dimensional artwork, such
as a sculpture, ceramic or print?
Visit a lot of galleries and
affordable art fairs and shows. If you
THE THREE STAGES
Artists can generally be categorised into
three stages based on their career. Buying
artwork from an emerging artist can
prove to be profitable over time, but this
category carries the highest risk. There
will be no market to sell on to for the
artist’s work. However, collecting works
by new artists can be hugely rewarding
as you will be supporting the career of a
potential star of the future.
good to know
Be realistic about
what you can afford
THINK
BUDGET
Talk to artists and
gallery owners
about your budget
and see what they
recommend for you
to consider. Not many
people can afford
Blue Chip artists and,
of course, emerging
art is generally more
affordable than works
by established artists.
respected sources for information.
If you’re buying from a gallery, ask
to have the work on home approval.
If the artwork doesn’t feel right,
bring it back. Most reputable places
will change it for something else.
Not all art will increase in value
use social media such as Instagram,
you can use this to look up artists,
although it can be more satisfying
to view pieces in real life.
Understand what
you are buying
Look into the artist, check pricing
and sales history and speak to
A mid-career artist will likely have
a reasonable collector base and the
backing of a reputable gallery. Purchasing
their work will offer less risk than that of
an emerging artist, and you may see an
appreciation in value in 15 years.
Then there are the pricey Blue Chip
artists, such as Banksy; those that
hold or increase their economic value,
regardless of the market ups and downs.
Art is not always a good investment
financially and beware of
salespeople who tells you
otherwise. Over time,
artwork can increase in
value, but this is not
always the case. Ask
questions and get honest advice
about the art you are buying. There’s
no substitute for having a passion
for an artist’s work or an artistic
interest; this can be much more
rewarding than any financial gain.
Keep all your receipts
Remember to keep receipts and
invoices. This is especially
important if you have made a
significant investment.
In the art world,
provenance is important.
It may be important to
show the journey of an
artwork from artist to
owner in the future – and consider
insurance, too, if a piece is valuable.
Not all art
is a good
investment
Research is key
to making a wise
investment
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YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
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yours.co.uk/life/shopping
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How to order...
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By post: Send the coupon (left) to:
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Closing date:
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YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
97
BY LUCY BROWN
n Robert Dyas
Our pick of this year’s
best up-and-coming
destinations
Foodies will
love Melbourne
Take in Austria’s
beautiful scenery
Wander round
Lisbon’s old city
BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Known for endless hours of sunshine, vast outbacks,
beautiful scenery, magical wildlife, and some of
the best diving reefs in the world, Australia is a real
bucket-list destination.
And this year the city of Melbourne is the place to make
dreams come true with exciting new experiences, stylish
hotels and glam restaurants. It’s also a haven for foodies,
roof-top bars and shopping, with the Fitzroy district
the place for street markets and retro diners. If you’re
looking for one of the best places to eat, we’d recommend
Melbourne’s iconic Studley Park Boathouse. Situated on
the Yarra River this old boat has been transformed into
a dining, drinking and entertaining space.
n Stay at the Vibe Hotel Melbourne, room-only from £1820pp,
for seven nights in January 2024, including return flights, with
Travelbag.co.uk.
your escapes
FLYING SOLO
SALZBURGERLAND, AUSTRIA
Often thought as a winter destination,
the region of SalzburgerLand
is becoming more on trend in
recognition of the changing climate.
This means more people are inspired
to visit the mountains for the warm
sunshine, cooling breeze and the
sustainability factor, which is great for
mental health too. One location for
wellness is Leogang, a pretty village
at the foothills of the Leoganger
Rocky Mountains, that is becoming
the go-to destination for beautiful spa
hotels with stunning al fresco lakes
that are perfect for wild swimming,
and the surrounding mountains are
a rambler’s dream.
Alternatively, you can visit Salzburg
City and take the Sound of Music tour,
where you’ll explore all the classic
locations from the film. The city has
a relaxing café culture, with nothing
more rewarding than tucking into
a cup of creamy coffee and slab of
chocolatey sachertorte.
LOMBOK, INDONESIA
Indonesia has long been
a go-to destination for
those looking to explore
independently, but for those
craving an experience similar
to what Bali used to offer
before mass tourism and
travel influencers, Lombok
is the place to go. It’s known
for its stunning natural
landscapes, including pristine beaches,
waterfalls and lush greenery.
Its tourist infrastructure is taking
shape, boasting a recently expanded
and modernised airport with regular
connecting flights from Singapore, plus
a wave of new hotels and resorts. One
of the most popular is Senggigi beach.
Not only is it a surfer’s paradise, it’s also
a hot spot for nights out, while those
wanting a more rugged adventure
should head to Mount Rinjani, to
explore the active volcano.
n Stay at the 5* Pullman Lombok
Mandalika Beach Resort on an all-inclusive
basis, for seven-nights, from £1277 per
person in April 2024. Price includes flights
from London Heathrow, 20kg of hold
luggage and transfers. Book online at
Tui.co.uk.
Sit on Frigate Bay Beach
to watch the sun set
n Stay at the Naturhotel Forsthofgut,
with its chemical-free lake, infinity pool
and floating Finnish sauna, from £185
a night in May 2024, book online at
Forsthofgut.at/en. Flights from London to
Salzburg, from £138, with Jet2.com.
CITY BREAK
LISBON, PORTUGAL
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YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
WORDS: ZOE BISHOP
SUSTAINABLE ESCAPE
99
1960s
1970s
Were you a
Sixty years on from its launch we
remember the magazine that became the
unlikely bible for generations of young teenagers
Jackie girls were up
to date with the latest
fashion and beauty trends
anuary 11, 1964 was
an auspicious day for
all adolescent girls in
the UK. The first ever
edition of Jackie magazine
hit the newsstands. At last
there was a magazine just
for us, with pin-ups of our
favourite stars, and advice
on everything from how to
kiss to what to wear. Plus
romantic illustrated stories
full of long-haired girls who
all shared a flat in London
and fancied
dishy boys.
Until then
there had
been nothing between
Bunty and Judy, with their
smudgy schoolgirl stories,
and Woman's Own, full of
housewifely advice.
Sixties Britain was
changing and, amazingly,
it was a sedate Scottish
publisher, D.C. Thomson,
that realised there was a
J
huge untapped market of teenagers.
Not that their readers knew they
were in Scotland. If you wanted to
write in, there was a trendy London
address. So we imagined Samantha
(letters page), Pete (pop gossip) and,
of course, Cathy and Claire (problem
page), sipping frothy coffee in the
King’s Road with Cliff or Ringo,
before visiting Carnaby Street to
check out the latest fashions for us.
Of course now we know that
none of them existed. Cathy and
Claire were a whole team of problem
solvers coping with the
400 letters a week that
poured in, while the
first editor was Gordon
Small, a fatherly former RAF engine
fitter – about as uncool as you
could get. And, according to Wendy
Rigg, Jackie’s fashion editor in the
Seventies, there were just two phones
in the entire office: one on the editor’s
desk and another in a cubicle. You
had to make calls after 2pm when it
was cheaper.
No matter. For 10 years – with its
Everybody read
it, including boys
your memories
POP STAR PIN-UPS
biggest sales in the mid-Seventies
– Jackie was the best-selling teen
magazine in the UK. No wonder that
if you flick through old issues you can
discover a letter from a young Emma
Thompson asking them to publish
a photo of her Magic Roundabout
father Eric Thompson, who she
thought was better looking than
most pop stars.
In the true-life photo
stories that were so
popular in the Seventies
and Eighties you can spot a 15-year-old
Fiona Bruce, who answered an ad
for models in the window of her local
newsagent, not to mention the young
Lesley Ash, Hugh Grant, George
Michael and even Nick Clegg.
Everybody read Jackie – including,
secretly, boys, which is how comedian
Vic Reeves came to win a Jackie
competition after entering a drawing
of Marc Bolan under his sister’s
name. At a time when there were no
others, Jackie was a bible that united
adolescent girls (and their brothers)
from all classes and parts of Britain.
There were the personality
quizzes, the horoscopes (made up in
the office!) and the popular free gifts
– blue eyeshadow anyone?
We dedicatedly followed the
fashion page, which until 1977 was
illustrated. Mini and maxi skirts,
bell bottoms and afghan coats all
drawn on long-legged, doe-eyed girls,
happily called dolly birds (feminism
was never part of Jackie’s appeal).
Then, of course, there was the
beauty advice, a lot of which centred
around getting rid of or disguising
spots. After nearly taking off the
top layer of skin with
pHisohex, you then
applied a thick layer of
Rimmel Hide n Heal
medicated pan stick. In the evening
you wiped it all off with Anne French
cleansing milk, which seemed to be
mentioned every issue.
Jackie was very clear: nothing
that bad could happen to you if
you always took your make-up off
at night. And there would be no
problem with you doing that because
you always went to bed alone. S-E-X
never really got much beyond
kissing in Jackieland. That
was the official line anyway.
In fact, the majority of
letters that poured into
Cathy and Claire wanted
information about this
tricky subject. But while the
team ended up producing a
series of leaflets they could
send out, the questions on
Once a Jackie girl,
always a Jackie girl
Cover stars David
Cassidy (left) and
David Essex
the problem page itself generally
played it safe. It was only when the
magazine got its first female editor,
Nina Myskow, in 1974, that they
finally introduced a Dear Doctor
column to address what were called
“below the waist” concerns.
Jackie never really moved on,
however, and when tastes got
more explicit in the Eighties, sales
started to decline steeply. When
circulation dipped to 50,000 in the
early Nineties – from a high of over
600,000 – the plug was pulled.
But anyone going through
puberty in the Sixties or Seventies
will probably now own one of the
Jackie compilation annuals that
appeared recently and became
runaway bestsellers. Once a Jackie
girl, always a Jackie girl.
1980s
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
101
BY VALERY MCCONNELL. PICS: ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, SHUTTERSTOCK, D.C. THOMPSON
Back then we only saw our favourite stars once
a week on Top of the Pops, so pop star posters
were a big part of its appeal. The first issue had
Cliff Richard on the cover, while other pretty
boys – including Paul McCartney, Davy Jones,
Barry Ryan, Peter Frampton, David Essex,
David Cassidy, Donny Osmond and Les McKeown
– were frequent pin-ups.
Jackie also came up with the clever idea of
printing your favourite star in three parts over
three weeks. Not only did you get an extralarge poster to kiss goodnight that way, but
the magazine made sure you bought it every
week. Their best-ever selling issue was a special
edition that coincided with the 1972 tour of
David Cassidy.
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your memories
the time
Carole Richardson recalls forming a childhood diary habit
stocking. Oh, the excitement and smell of
ithin my own family,
a blank page just crying out to be filled with
I’m a laughing stock for
secret information about my life.
starting a new diary every
Dutifully, throughout January I’d fill it
January. “Surely, by now, you
in daily with detailed accounts of what I’d
use an online one?” tut my three grown-up
done at school and Brownies; what tunes
children with annual regularity.
I’d mastered on the recorder (Three Blind
Old habits die hard though as their
Mice, God Save the Queen, Go and Tell Aunt
father, who keeps quiet while surreptitiously
Nancy); watched on telly (Blue Peter) and had
updating his battered Eighties leather
for breakfast, dinner, tea and supper.
Filofax, knows.
Needless to say, by February it had
My diary habit is one that was
got a bit tedious. The life of a junior
formed in my childhood when
school child in my day was pretty
every year I’d receive a new
straightforward and my entries
one complete with
WRITE TO US
grew fewer and fewer. Until the
tiny lock and key
Tell us your
next one came along…
in my Christmas
childhood
memories! Send
them to the address
on page 3
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, GETTY IMAGES
W
103
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short story
Debbie is suspicious of the new
neighbour’s strange behaviour
D
“Not often,” Paul scoffed. “You’ve
been watching too many crime
documentaries. If he’s burying
anything, it’s probably a dead pet.”
Debbie’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yes, it
could be. Maybe their little girl had
a guinea pig that died
and he’s burying it
while she’s asleep.”
“Yes, and then he’s
going to buy another one that looks
exactly the same. Do you remember
when we did that with Katy’s hamster?
She never spotted the difference,”
Paul smiled at the memory.
“True,” Debbie replied. “But
he’s taking a long time to bury
something that small.”
“Well, maybe you should go
and ask him what he’s up to,” Paul
suggested, lying down again.
“Oh, I couldn’t do that!”
“In that case, you’ll just have to
live with the mystery.”
“I suppose so,” she agreed as she
got back into bed and tried to sleep.
It was two hours before the alarm
was set to go off, but sleep
didn’t come. She tossed and
turned, dwelling on some
of the other strange things
their neighbours had done since
they moved in.
At first everything had seemed
fine, but one day she had seen the
man acting suspiciously. He had
pulled up, taken a cardboard box out
of the boot, then looked carefully all
round before rushing into the house.
Debbie couldn’t help wondering
what was in the box, and why he had
acted so furtively.
Was something
illegal going on?
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
105
PIC: SHUTTERSTOCK
ebbie said: “You’ll
never guess what our
neighbour’s doing.”
“No, I won’t,” Paul agreed,
pulling the duvet over his head.
“He’s digging in the garden! At five
o’clock in the morning!”
Paul sighed. “Well, there’s no law
against that as far as I know.”
“But it’s pretty weird,” she said,
lifting the curtain. “It’s dark. Why
would he be digging at this hour?”
“I don’t know,” Paul said, sitting up.
“Maybe he suffers from insomnia.”
“Or maybe he’s burying something.
Maybe he had a body in the garden
where they lived before and he’s had
to bring it here.”
“What?” Paul stared at her in
astonishment. “Are you mad?”
“Well, these things happen.”
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short story
Was something illegal going on
right under their noses?
The next incident happened when
she was hanging out the washing.
The woman next door had raced out
into the garden, shouting: “Tammy!
Tammy! Where are you?”
She had sounded petrified, but
then Debbie heard a little girl’s voice
and the woman calmed down. She’d
been in such an awful state that
Debbie speculated the whole family
might be living in fear, possibly
under witness protection.
Eventually she drifted
off into a troubled sleep.
Later, as they were having
breakfast, Paul asked: “So
have you phoned the police?”
“Of course I haven’t. I still think
it was suspicious though.”
“Look, there’s bound to be an
innocent explanation. If you’d gone
round and introduced yourself when
they first moved in, you might have
a better idea of what, if anything,
is going on.”
“That’s true,” Debbie admitted.
“But you know I’ve always been shy
around new people.”
Paul grinned. “Well, you don’t
seem to have a problem with talking
to me at five in the morning.”
At that moment, there was a loud
ring on the doorbell. Debbie jumped.
“Oh, who can that be?”
“I’ve no idea,” Paul shrugged. “But
there’s only one way to find out.”
Cautiously, Debbie opened the
door to find the man next door
standing there. He smiled. “Hi, I’m
Adam. I’ve come to apologise.”
“Apologise?” Debbie repeated.
“Yes, for waking you up when
I was digging earlier on. I saw you
looking out of your window. You
must have wondered if I was getting
rid of a body!”
“I didn’t think any such thing!”
Debbie protested, blushing red.
Adam said: “Well, let me put your
mind at rest anyway. I was actually
digging up some plants. Nelly, my
wife, asked me to do it ages ago but
I hadn’t got round to it. As I woke up
early and couldn’t get back to sleep,
I decided to get up and surprise her.”
“Oh, I see. Um, why were you
digging the plants up?”
“Because they are lilies and toxic
to cats,” Adam explained. “We
surprised our daughter by buying
her a kitten for her birthday. We’ve
kept it indoors until now, but the
time has come to let it out.”
“Oh, right,” Debbie murmured,
remembering the cardboard box.
“Mind you, Tammy gave us a
scare because she escaped into the
garden once. Luckily, my
daughter Lucy retrieved her.”
“Oh, right,” Debbie
murmured, remembering the
frantic calls for Tammy. A kitten,
not a little girl.
Seeing her confused expression,
Adam said: “Look, why don’t you
come round and meet the family,
including the kitten? Nelly keeps
saying we should have introduced
ourselves when we moved in, but we
were busy getting organised.”
“Well, it was probably up to us
to introduce ourselves first,” Debbie
replied.
“The kettle goes on for coffee
at 11am, so why don’t you come
round and bring your husband. See
you later.”
Debbie watched Adam retreating
down the path before rushing into
the kitchen to tell Paul the whole
story. He laughed and said: “So no
need to alert Special Branch about
the strange goings-on in Acacia
Avenue then?”
“No,” Debbie admitted. “And
promise you won’t breathe a word
about any of that over coffee?”
“As long as you promise not to
wake me at five o’clock next time
you’re on Neighbourhood Watch?”
Debbie blew him a kiss: “It’s a deal.”
‘It was
suspicious’
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Chief Financial Officer Bauer Magazine Media:
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and Entertainment: Helen Morris
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Meet our author
Susan Wright lives in Sussex
with her husband and two
cats. She has been writing
since she was a child.
Yours is published by H Bauer Publishing,
company no LP003328, registered address
The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London
NW1 2PL
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
107
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BOO K
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£16.99)
What you’re reading....
Sweet Little Lies
by Karin Nordin (Harper Collins, £9.99)
THRILLING
by Sarra Manning (Hodder & Stoughton, £20)
If you enjoyed TV drama Big Little Lies…
ROMANTIC
The Escape
by Ruth Kelly (Pan, £8.99)
...then you’ll love Every
Happy Family by Sarah
Stovell (Harper Collins,
£8.99). Minnie and
Bert are over the moon
to have their three
grown-up children
home for the first
time in a decade. But
one of them is about
to throw a grenade
into everything and
the past is about to
come crashing into the
present. A hilarious
and touching
family drama.
GRIPPING
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can get an extra 10 per cent off with free delivery.
GET IN
TOUCH
For more book inspiration and discussion, join
our friendly Yours book club at facebook.com/
groups/yoursbookclub. Alternatively write or
email to tell us what you’re reading
– the address is on p3.
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
109
BY SHARON REID. PIC: ALAMY
“Perfectly paced with an interesting
twist,” says Debbie Rodgers. Struggling
couple Adele and Jack are amazed when
a mysterious benefactor gifts them a
crumbling French chateau. It’s the lifeline
they need to leave all their troubles behind.
But the chateau is not all it seems and the
local community is far from welcoming.
Joe-Nathan thrives on
predictability but he’s about to
learn that remarkable things can
happen when you leave your
comfort zone, and that you can
do even the hardest things with
a little help from your friends.
Joe is a good friend, he’s good
at his job, good at making things
and good at following the rules,
and he’s learning how to do lots
of things by himself. His mother
knows there are a million things in life he isn’t prepared for
so she writes notebooks full of advice about the things she
hasn’t told Joe yet, things he might forget and answers to
questions he hasn’t yet asked.
Applying her wisdom in his own unique way, Joe’s life
quickly becomes more of a surprise than he expects.
Charming and life-affirming, you’ll fall
in love with Joe and his unique view of
the world.
The Man of her Dreams
“Just the right mix of humour and romance,”
says Linda Baxter. Theo is handsome,
sexy, funny, kind and is a great cook. He’s
literally the man of Esme’s dreams. But
Esme’s sensible enough to know that you
can’t just manifest your perfect boyfriend
then have him turn up on your doorstep.
Or can you?
Book Editor’s Pick
Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life
Here are our recommendations – and yours
– of what to enjoy reading this fortnight
“I was on the edge my seat throughout,” says
Caroline Winter. Sisters Lexie and Amber
were close and shared everything. But
then Amber is brutally murdered, and
Lexie's high-school boyfriend is sentenced
to death for her killing. Everyone thinks
Lexie knows more about that night than
she ever let on – and they’re right...
Our Books Editor introduces her
current favourite read
After recovering from a stroke,
Rose Griffiths decided to help
a charity that supported her
hen Rose Griffiths
woke up in intensive
care, several days
after suffering a
stroke, doctors told her she might
never talk or walk again.
Paralysed down one side and
diagnosed with aphasia, a language
disorder caused by the stroke,
the crossword-loving gran from
Liverpool was distraught.
“It was frustrating and horrible,”
recalls Rose (now 74). “ I understood
what people were saying and I had
the words to reply. I just couldn’t get
them out.” With early intervention
therapy from the hospital, she
slowly learnt to walk again and to
write using her left hand, but her
speech failed to return.
A year later, Rose visited the
headquarters of The Brain Charity
W
TEST YOUR METTLE!
PICS: SHUTTERSTOCK
If you’re looking for a challenge that
pushes you right out of your comfort
zone, becoming an emergency response
volunteer with the British Red Cross
could be a role you’d relish.
When a crisis unfolds – and that
could be anything from fires to floods or
severe weather problems – you’re likely
110
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
after another
patient with
aphasia told
her they had
a choir for patients like her.
“When I first went there I could
only say hello and goodbye but, to
my surprise, I discovered I could
sing!” Performing with the choir
boosted her confidence and with
free speech and language therapy
provided by the charity, she finally
got her speech back, albeit not in
her previous scouse accent.”
“At first people said I sounded
Russian; now I talk in a posh accent
like the Queen!” laughs Rose, who’s
so grateful to The Brain Charity
that she volunteers for them twice
a week. One day she assists in their
Brain Food Cafe and on the other
she runs an aphasia support group.
to find yourself on the scene providing
vital practical and emotional support
and information for those involved.
You could be called out to help with
anything at any time, as the charity
responds to an emergency in the UK
every four hours.
Being an emergency response
volunteer is an important role and it
Patiently, she tells her story to
others with aphasia, showing images
of everyday objects to prompt their
speech. “I love helping others. The
charity has been marvellous to me
and it’s nice to give back. I’ll go on
volunteering here until I drop.”
will test your mettle. But you will be
helping people during some of the most
challenging times of their lives, which is
incredibly rewarding. And never dull!
Full training and support will be
given whoever you are and wherever
you’re from.
n Visit redcross.org.uk for more
information
n We’d love to hear about any volunteering
projects you take part in or support. Mark
your envelope ‘Yours Community’
Friends of Yours
These readers are looking for like-minded
penpals, companions or someone special
Lesley, late 60s, is looking for
a gentleman friend to become
a travel companion. She loves
the outdoors, reading, theatre,
meals out and driving out on day
trips. Yorkshire area and nonsmoking preferred. JAN1-101
Sheila, 65, is looking for male/
female penpals or phone friends
in any area. She loves animals,
cats, reading, audio books
and making cards. All letters
answered. JAN1-102
new friendships with both
male/females. A non-smoker,
she likes dancing, theatre,
cruising and country and
western music. JAN1-107
Cheerful Mary, 74, from
Tavistock is looking for new
male/female friends to meet
up with for coffee and trips out.
Mrs B, from Gosport, is 74 and
a widow. She has lots of lady
friends but would like to find a
gentleman for companionship.
Slightly disabled so unable to
walk far. She drives and prefers
to be out and about. Not a soap
fan. JAN1-103
Divorced Ms H, 81, would like to
meet a gentleman for friendship,
maybe more, from the Kent area.
She likes reading, holidays in the
UK, day trips, animals, walking
and meals in/out. JAN1-104
WhY NoT
VoLuNtEeR?
Lonely Mr M, mid-70s and
slightly overweight, is looking
for new friends up to their 90s,
male/female in the Suffolk area.
JAN1-105
Catherine, 60s, from Southport, is
looking for pen pals male/female
from any area. She likes Sixties/
Seventies music, soul and rock
’n’ roll, most crafts, especially
knitting and art. JAN1-106
Fit and healthy Joan, 73, from
Chesterfield is looking to make
To place an appeal
There’s no need to be
lonely – we can help!
Friends of Yours is a
completely free way to make
connections and help tackle
loneliness. Whether you’re
looking for a new penpal,
someone to talk to on the
phone or over coffee; perhaps
to share a holiday with – or
even a new romance – you just
need to take the first step!
Young at heart Sue, 63, a widow,
would like to meet a gentleman
to make her laugh, mid-50s-60s.
She likes travelling, meals out,
theatre, dancing and dog walks.
She is a non-smoker; drives and
is good humoured. Would prefer
the Exeter area. JAN1-111
Jacqueline, 59, from East Sussex
is looking for pen pals from any
area. She likes music, reading,
days out, writing and email. All
letters answered. JAN1-112
She walks with a stick but can go
long distances. She loves dogs.
JAN1-108
Sandra, 70s, is looking for
cheerful female friends in the
Liverpool/Merseyside area. She
loves animals, walking, theatre,
seaside, meals out, shopping
and a chat. All letters answered.
JAN1-113
John, 59, from Lancashire, is
looking for a special lady. He is
easy going, a non-smoker and
likes music, reading and walking.
JAN1-109
Diane is looking for pen pals
to support her in her weightloss journey. She is a member
of Slimming World. She likes
Zumba, yoga and walking.
JAN1-114
Caring Ms S, 60s, is looking for
a caring gentleman who is kind
with a sense of humour, active
and easy going. She loves life,
animals, nature, the beach and
cosy nights in. JAN1-110
Jane, 64, is looking for Mr Right.
He must drive and have a nice
personality. She likes the seaside,
country walks with her pug,
cooking, gardening and crafts.
West Midlands area. JAN1-115
Don’t
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replies
Simply write a letter or send
an email introducing yourself,
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interests along with the kind of
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will get people’s attention. We’ll also need
your contact details but these won’t be printed
in the magazine – for confidentiality, your
appeal will be allocated a box number. Write to:
Friends of Yours, Bauer Media Publishing UK,
The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1
2PL or email yours@bauermedia.co.uk including
‘Friends of Yours’ in the subject line.
To respond to an appeal
Simply write a letter introducing yourself,
including your contact details. Write the box
number on the outside of the envelope and
send it to: Friends of Yours, Bauer Media
Publishing UK, The Lantern, 75 Hampstead
Road, London NW1 2PL
The small print The editor reserves the Right to refuse publication. Appeals are restricted to over-50s. Space is limited;
we cannot guarantee publication. Allow three months from posting your appeal before applying again. Your details will
be used to administer Friends of Yours and are not kept on file or passed to a third party. We will forward letters to box
numbers on a regular basis from issues less than two months old. Unused appeals will be destroyed.
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ANSWERS
ON PAGE
120
Wordsearch
Go west and see if you can find all these places that
are located in Somerset.
B R A T T O N S E Y M O U R T U R U
M O N K T O N C O M B E A W S D E N
U K G O N N O T P B H L T E F A O D
H T A B S N O M I
S A T A N D T C O
E B M O C O R C R E E B A G G S Y W
B Z W V P S K O V R U M M N D L A N
G N E D U N L E S E T D
I O N O W H
L M H Y O C R B E R Y L S H N O N E
C J C L L C Y S O R L A A O D E E A
T S L H R R E P U E E R T N C G E D
S E L E A
I D B W C D T U L G R R R
R O E R M R N N M I O A A R A L G N
U C R
I
A O A U N O M O E W C N E P
H P K H T H D G W T C
I
I
A D
I
A Y
T F C S R T T H N S V H S N P A S
A R A D O O G C
I
O L M M N I
E U F E L N T
G I
I O G E
N M E A
I
A C T S E P B O V
I
I O A M R
T T R L O I
X U O L E W N P C V U N S M I
G I
A
Y
O O T H P O L A E M E V O J X E N H
R U L C T D R T S Y R E H T O T T E
B N R X A Y A L M O T E E R T S S
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PORTMAN
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I
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H C R
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OTHERY
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TRULL
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WELLS
WIN
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WHERE
IS SAMMY
SQUIRREL?
Find where he’s hiding
in this issue of Yours
and you could win
£100. To enter, fill in the
Competitions answers
coupon on page 120.
Closing date for entries
is January 29, 2024.
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YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
113
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WIN
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1
2
3
4
9
TWO £50
PRIZES
5
10
12
7
1
3
4
Prize crossword
5
For this puzzle we’ve provided two sets of clues,
each giving the same answers. One set of clues
is cryptic, one is quick. It’s a good way to hone
your skills because it gives you two ways to crack
the crossword! Once complete, the letters in the
shaded squares, when read from top to bottom,
left to right, will spell out a word – this is your
prize answer. Write it on the entry coupon on
page 120 and post it, email it or enter online. Two
winners will be chosen randomly from all correct
entries and whichever set of clues you follow,
you have an equal chance of revealing the prize
answer and winning!
6
18
20
1
22
24
3
5
6
7
28
29
1
0
2
Quick clues
DOWN
1 Mood as pronounced in Middle
English (6)
2 Shifted in crate on vessel (9)
3 Paradise is England’s capital,
where people meet in secret (4)
4 Tell-tale sign the writer of a Gospel
was seen after death, finally and
completely (8)
5 Spot a tomb containing Spud (6)
6 Weep about moment ruined by
a critique (10)
7 When nuisances encompass
tedium (5)
8 Pine covers half of estate for
the greatest distance (7)
14 It shows something’s missing,
perhaps too unexpectedly (10)
17 I follow fellow cast member outside
of Canada to find another state (5, 4)
18 Upbeat woodsman’s machinery? (7)
19 Carefully root out odd ones
from ploy (8)
22 Forge remix of my hits (6)
23 Confusion from former PM over
the man mentioned at first (6)
25 Parasite left nothing to exploit (5)
27 Sit about before resistance
cause trouble (4)
ACROSS
1 Shakespeare tragedy (7)
5 Pointed fence post (6)
9 Cooker (5)
10 Abraham’s nephew in the Bible (3)
11 Tropical fruit (5)
12 Having little fat (4)
13 Small amount, dash (10)
15 Motivate (7)
16 - - - up on, amasses (6)
20 Belief at odds with religion (6)
21 One who keeps a journal (7)
24 Sacred journey (10)
26 Radio - - -, Queen track (2, 2)
28 Provide with gear (5)
29 Viscous substance (3)
30 Cut of chicken (5)
31 Cure (6)
32 ‘The sun’s over the - - -’, saying (7)
ANSWERS
DOWN
IN ISSUE
1 Esprit de corps (6)
447
2 Receptacle (9)
3 East of - - -, novel by
John Steinbeck (4)
4 Stamp indicating the quality
of precious metals (8)
5 Edible tuber (6)
6 Sports pundit’s description (10)
7 Feeling of boredom (5)
8 Greatest in duration (7)
14 Punctuation mark (10)
17 Central American republic
bordering Panama (5, 4)
18 In good spirits? (7)
19 Cautiously (8)
22 Metalworker’s shop (6)
23 Chaos (6)
25 Bloodsucking insect (5)
27 Mix with a spoon (4)
SOLUTION TO PRIZE CROSSWORD: ISSUE 443/December 12, 2023
Across 1 Remark, 4 Accurate, 9 Pagoda, 10 Business, 12 Ooze, 13 Malta,
14 Adze, 17 Cantankerous, 20 Frankenstein, 23 Teen, 24 Throw, 25 Noah,
28 Arkansas, 29 Banner, 30 Nonsense, 31 Extend.
Down 1 Reproach, 2 Magazine, 3 Rude, 5 Countertenor, 6 Unit,
7 Agenda, 8 Easter, 11 Talking Heads, 15 Carry, 16 Quest, 18 Denounce,
19 Anchored, 21 Attain, 22 Beckon, 26 Ante, 27 Faux.
Prize word REACTOR
Entering is easy!
ONLINE: Enter at Yours.co.uk/competitions
BY POST: Send the coupon on page 120
with the answer created by the shaded
7
9
Cryptic clues
ACROSS
1 Play gong in class in a US school (7)
5 Select sci-fi film to boycott (6)
9 Losing the way from unusual hills (5)
10 Auction item is a fortune (3)
11 Give him instruction to start food (5)
12 Slight slant (4)
13 Twitter takes on subject of little
knowledge (10)
15 Provide positive encouragement
within one section of the church (7)
16 Shares punishment (6)
20 Introducing the onset of youthful
nonconformity (6)
21 Pepys maybe said it in different way,
but that’s about right (7)
24 Holy mission took back border
before period of gloom (10)
26 Bats regularly goad goat (4)
28 Issue direction with witty remark (5)
29 Following the revolution, traitor
becomes sailor (3)
30 Beginning to tense near the top
of the leg (5)
31 Half of medics, before the end
of surgery, will go after concerning
treatment (6)
32 Part of the ship’s three feet in
front of a marine (7)
6
squares above to: Yours Issue 445
(January 9) Crossword, PO Box 504,
Leicester LE94 0AE
n The first two correct entries drawn
at random from all entries will win.
Yours competition rules are on p120.
Closing date: January 29, 2024.
book with us!
We select our partners to ensure that we only offer breaks
of good quality, to make sure you have a great time every time
TRAVEL
Number Cruncher
Time to test your mental arithmetic! You have just 60 seconds to try and solve
these three sums – can you beat the clock?
ANSWERS
ON PAGE
120
Beginner
DOUBLE
IT
x4
HALVE
IT
÷6
+24
-3
x9
1/
3
OF THIS
+75
5/
6
OF THIS
÷30
TRIPLE
IT
1/4
OF THIS
x15
21
+1
-23
x2
Intermediate
23
SQUARE
IT
DOUBLE
IT
-65
Genius
52
2 /3
60%
OF THIS OF THIS
÷2
+26
20%
OF THIS
Arrowword
Sudoku
Fill in the answers following the direction of the arrows.
Medium Grid
Fill in the squares in the
grid so that every row,
column and each of the
nine 3x3 squares contain
all the digits from one
to nine.
High or
low card
Express
sorrow
Shiny
silk
fabric
With a
set end
Country
of South
America
Steal
Gentle,
easy-going
SOS
Woodwind
instrument
Bog fuel
Least
amount
US
political
assembly
Garden
entrance
Tummy,
abdomen
13
Radical
Funny and
clever
Faucet
Top of
a jar
Indian
stretching
exercise
Route
Bitumen
substance
Red
planet
Mimic
State,
claim
Unit of
heredity
Compete
Harbour
for pleasure boats
Badger’s
burrow
More prizes to win
at yours.co.uk
2
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
3
8
8
8
7
8
9
8
8
8
-27
7
9
4
8
3
8
5
6
8
3
8
6
1
8
5
2
4
8
9
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
5
8
4
7
6
8
3
1
8
8
8
2
3
8
5
8
7
9
8
8
8
8
3
8
7
8
8
8
6
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
1
Hard Grid
Our harder grid has 16 4x4 squares to challenge you!
Tendon
Stir up
TRIPLE
IT
Rodent
with a
long tail
6
8
12
10 16 4
1
15
11 14 3 10
6
8 16 4 1 14 15
12
12
10 3
1
7
1 15
16 11
13 5
3
2
13
5
15 1 11
16
6
3
8
1
6 4 5
9 15 10 13
2 5 13 6
9 12 4
15
11
9
8
6
10 4 2
14
11 9
6 16
14 10
5 2
7
9
4 15
5
8
4 13 6 3 10 15
10
14 13 1 9
8
6
12 11 5
8
16
14 13
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
117
book with us!
We select our partners to ensure that we only offer breaks
of good quality, to make sure you have a great time every time
Get ready for
your next great escape
TRAVEL
16 UNIQUE
DESTINATION
S
ACROSS
TH E U K
With the new
year here,
now’s the time
to discover the
difference of a Warner
Hotels break. With a
choice of 16 stunning
locations, including The
Runnymede on Thames
opening Autumn 2024,
there’s so much to enjoy, and so
Yours EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS
much already included within
the price.
Save £10 per person on
Spend your days doing as much
any 3 or 4-night break,
or as little as you like, take a dip in
plus on select breaks
the pool, or steam off in the sauna,
indulge in a little fine dining,
save up to £40 per person
then settle in for a night of great
entertainment. The choice is yours,
it’s all here, and all under one roof,
you just need to decide where to
go and who to take with you.
To book or for further information...Call Warner Hotels on 0333 202 0304
Quote code
or visit warnerhotels.co.uk/yours
WHYOURS
Terms and Conditions: Save a minimum of £10 per person on
any 3 or 4 night dinner, bed and breakfast break arriving in 2024.
Plus, exclusive monthly offers with up to £40 per person on
selected breaks. These offers are time and availability limited.
The code WHYOURS must be applied at the start of your break
search, and the discounts are not valid on Christmas or New
Year breaks. Prices are ‘from’ per person, per break, based on
two people sharing Standard accommodation. Supplements
apply for room occupancy, upgrades, views, balconies, patios,
ferries, spa treatments and other activities not included in the
price of your break. Discount applies to new bookings only,
cannot be combined with any other offer or discount, and are
only applicable on bookings of up to 19 people. All guests must
be aged 18 or over. Full terms and condition of booking on
Warner website. Warner Hotels reserves the right to change or
withdraw any offers without prior notice. Calls to 03 numbers
from any line type cost no more than calls to geographic (01
or 02) numbers. Bourne Holidays Limited (trading as Warner
Leisure Hotels) is a company registered in England and Wales
with company number 01854900 whose registered address is 1
Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4YL.
£850 PWROIZRETSHTOOFWIN!
Bumper
PRIZE
giveaway
WIN A 7-NIGHT STAY FOR TWO
at the Zante Star Apartments
with Olympic Holidays
Scattered across the azure Med,
Greece’s 6,000 islands and islets are
the stuff of travel daydreams and
thanks to Olympic Holidays, one
lucky reader is in with the chance of
winning a week on the picturesque
island of Zante.
Staying at the Zante Star
Apartments, the accommodation
overlooks lush green hills and is
located on the outskirts of Tsilvi,
a popular resort town known
for its beautiful beaches, vibrant
nightlife and variety of activities and
amenities. The apartments benefit
from a well-equipped kitchenette,
en suite shower room and balcony or
Relax by the
pool and soak
up the sun
WORTH
£650
terrace area. While
away the days
with a cold beer or
glass of wine by the
sparkling pool and enjoy
evening entertainment including a
Greek night, BBQ’s, quizzes, and
karaoke nights. Olympic Holidays are
insider experts with invaluable local
knowledge and a passion for the
Greek Islands, and one of the team
will be on hand to personally plan
your trip. Want to extend your stay?
Speak to Olympic about designing
a tailormade island-hopping
experience and twin Zante with
nearby Kefalonia!
T&C’s: Accommodation only, subject to availability, valid for travel May, June & October 2024
and excludes school holiday periods. No flights or transfers included.
WIN a “Bottom Gear”
Baby Travel Bundle!
Win a gift set
from Seraphic Moon!
We all deserve some
‘me time’ and what
better way than
WORTH
by indulging
in an exotically
scented candle
and finding your
zen with a gift box
from serapicmoon.co.uk?
We’ve got two of these gift
sets up for grabs for two lucky
Yours readers. The prize will include a
glass and luxury tin candle and a pot
of melts, all handcrafted from soy wax
and infused with high quality fragrance
oils. With candles for every mood and
wonderful essences, each will bring
inner peace and calm
£100
ENTERING IS EASY!
BY POST: Send the coupon on p120
ONLINE: yours.co.uk/competitions
Seraphic Moon is a luxury soy
wax candle and gift company from
Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The inspiration
for their products has come from the
divine magnificence of the universe and
all the beauty and magical things that
it holds. Each candle is hand poured
in small batches. This ensures that all
candles are finished to the highest
quality and standard. Each scent
has been thoughtfully chosen and
thoroughly tested.
Travelling with a baby or toddler is
no small task! Mum & You, the ecofriendly baby care company, have
teamed up with My Carry Potty and
created the essential “Bottom Gear”
travel bundle. Each bundle includes
a My Carry Potty portable potty,
12x packs of Mum & You plastic-free
biodegradable baby wipes (now
available in Tesco), 2x Face The Day
baby face cream sticks, 3x packs
of Mum & You eco nappies or pants
(choose from newborn to size 6) and
top travelling tips from toddler
expert and founder of My
Carry Potty, Amanda Jenner.
WORTH
£100
TEXT AND BY PHONE!
Turn the page for details!
Turn the page to enter
Closing date: January 29, 2024
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
119
Yours
PUZZLES
& PRIZES
ISSUE
445
PUZZLE ANSWERS
Wordsearch (p113)
Closing date:
Midnight, January 29, 2024
M O N K T O N C O M B E A W S D E N
How to enter
by text, online, phone or post...
BY TEXT to 65115
50p*
TO SEND ALL
YOUR ANSWERS
BY TEXT
BY POST:
R O E R M R N N M I O A A R A L G N
U C R I A O A U N O M O E W C N E P
H P K H T H D G W T C I
I A D I A Y
T F C S R T T H N S V H S N P A S I
A R A D O O G C I A C T S E P B O V
O L M M N I E U F E L N T I O A M R
G I N M E A I O G E I T T R L O I A
R U L C T D R T S Y R E H T O T T E
Text message
Medium
2 8 7 3
6 3 9 8
1 5 4 6
5 7 2 1
8 6 3 9
4 9 1 5
9 4 5 2
7 1 6 4
3 2 8 7
9
1
2
4
7
8
6
3
5
5
4
7
6
2
3
1
8
9
1
2
3
8
5
6
7
9
4
4
5
9
3
1
7
8
2
6
6
7
8
9
4
2
3
5
1
B N R X A Y A L M O T E E R T S S I
W E A T E T L
I L N R P Y U S I L T
S P H O L E T N A C N O T L
I H C R
Arrowword (p117)
65115
Sudoku (p117)
A
S
C L A
P E A T
M I
S E N
N
G A T E
G
X
W I T T
T A R
A P E
T
M
G E N E
F
P
R I N E T
N
R
N I MUM
A T E
A
B E L L Y
L I D
Y O G A
WA Y
Y
M M
A V E R
A R I N A
S E T T
Hard
13 15 6 3 5 7 2 8 1 11 12 9 14 10 16 4
4 1 7 5 15 9 12 11 14 3 16 10 2 13 8 6
2 8 10 16 13 4 1 14 7 15 6 5 9 12 3 11
14 9 12 11 6 10 16 3 2 4 8 13 1 15 5 7
9 12 14 10 3 1 15 7 8 16 11 4 6 2 13 5
3 4 2 8 12 13 14 16 5 9 7 6 15 1 11 10
15 5 16 13 10 11 6 2 12 14 1 3 7 4 9 8
1 7 11 6 4 5 8 9 15 10 13 2 16 3 14 12
8 3 1 14 11 2 5 13 6 7 9 12 4 16 10 15
11 13 15 7 9 16 3 12 10 8 4 1 5 6 2 14
5 10 4 2 8 6 7 15 3 13 14 16 12 11 1 9
6 16 9 12 1 14 10 4 11 5 2 15 13 8 7 3
7 6 13 9 16 3 11 10 4 2 15 14 8 5 12 1
16 14 8 1 7 12 4 5 13 6 3 11 10 9 15 2
10 2 3 4 14 15 13 1 9 12 5 8 11 7 6 16
12 11 5 15 2 8 9 6 16 1 10 7 3 14 4 13
Where’s Sammy Squirrel? Issue 443: Sammy was on page 43.
The winner will be notified by post
ONLINE:
yours.co.uk/
competitions
BY PHONE:
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✁
T S L H R R E P U E E R T N C G E D
S E L E A I D B W C D T U L G R R R
S R C S W S U T T O N M A L L E T S
YRS445
J Smith 19
AB1 2CD
DVD JUMPER
MIRROR
COFFEE GIN
Send the coupon (right) to:
Yours Competitions
Issue 445, PO Box 504,
Leicester LE94 0AE
E B M O C O R C R E E B A G G S Y W
X U O L E W N P C V U N S M I G I Y
You can enter as
many competitions
as you like.
Beginner 26
Intermediate 158
Genius 12
B Z W V P S K O V R U M M N D L A N
G N E D U N L E S E T D I O N O W H
O O T H P O L A E M E V O J X E N H
Example only
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C J C L L C Y S O R L A A O D E E A
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*
In your text message, type:
YRS445 then a space followed by your
name, house number/house name
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giveaway words and competition
answers you wish to enter, all separated
by a space to: 65115, eg YRS445 J Smith
19 (or house name eg Old Mansions)
AB1 2CD then all the giveaways you wish
to enter (see example, right).
Handy hints…
Number Cruncher (p117)
B R A T T O N S E Y M O U R T U R U
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COMPETITION RULES:
Competitions open to residents of the UK
(including Channel Islands and the Isle of
Man), Eire or BFPOs, aged 18 or over, except
Bauer Media employees, its affiliated
companies, any promotional partners, or
their families and anyone connected with
the competitions. Enter by text, online,
phone or post. No purchase necessary.
Answers must be the product of own work.
Unless expressly stated, travel expenses
and spending money is not included. There
is no cash alternative to prizes and no
alternative holidays can be offered. Prizes
are not transferable. No responsibility can
be accepted for entries that are delayed,
damaged, mislaid or wrongly delivered, or
for any loss in service of the online entry
mechanism or for entries lost, delayed or
corrupted due to computer error in transit.
Only one entry per person. A winning entry
is the first correct answer drawn after the
closing date. For a free entry enter online
at yours.co.uk/competitions Prizewinners
will be notified by post on headed paper or
by official email. The results are published.
Winners must agree to the publication of
their names, age and photos. The Editor’s
decision is final and no correspondence
can be entered into. Your information will
only be used to administer promotions in
accordance with our privacy policy. Entry
implies acceptance of these rules.
Promoter: H Bauer Publishing.
Full T&Cs can be found at bauerlegal.
co.uk/competition-terms.html
EVERY TEXT, ONLINE ENTRY, CALL OR COUPON HAS AN EQUAL CHANCE OF WINNING!
Yours Issue 445 Puzzles & Prizes entry coupon
PRIZE CROSSWORD (p116):
SAMMY SQUIRREL:
What word is created
by the shaded squares?
On which page did you
see Sammy Squirrel?
_______________
_______________
PRIZES TO WIN (p119): Tick all that
you would like to enter
ENTER THIS
WORD BY
TEXT
■ Olympic Holidays 7 night stay for 2
GREECE
■ Seraphic Moon gift set
CANDLE
■ Mum & You baby travel bundle
120
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
BABY
TITLE
PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT
FIRST NAME
SURNAME
ADDRESS
POSTCODE
HOME TEL NUMBER
EMAIL ADDRESS
✁
Simply Yours
Help!
My stairlift has
made a massive
life changing
EJŢFSFODF
.ST5BZMPSTPO $VNCSJB
A family business offering a friendly service specialising
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YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
121
TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CALL CATHERINE WHITEMAN ON 01733 979440 OR EMAIL CATHERINE.WHITEMAN@BAUERMEDIA.CO.UK
…is at
hand as
you write
and publish
your life
story.
Simply Yours
TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CALL CATHERINE WHITEMAN ON 01733 979440 OR EMAIL CATHERINE.WHITEMAN@BAUERMEDIA.CO.UK
HOLIDAY
APARTMENTS,
LONG MELFORD, SUFFOLK
Cruise in England
Paignton, Devon
Spacious comfortable peaceful
retreat. Level walk through
Victoria Park to seafront and town
centre. All apartments have fully
equipped kitchens, free wifi
and on site parking; some are
wheelchair friendly.
For brochure tel: 01803 558430
or website:
www.alpenrose-apartments.co.uk
Delightful 1838 cottage,
near the Church on Upper Green,
sleeps 2/3, regret no pets.
From £300 to £500 per week.
Why journey
to the Rhine
when 98% of
our guests
recommend us?
Free Brochure: Call 01452 410 411
www.englishholidaycruises.co.uk
Please contact:020 7267 3653 or 07702 954701.
markashleythomas50@gmail.com
Holiday
Accommodation
NORTH DEVON, NEAR CLOVELLY
FOXWOOD HOLIDAY
ACCOMMODATION
To Advertise
Call Catherine on
catherine.whiteman@
bauermedia.co.uk
CORNWALL
Marazion
Small barn conversion sleeps 4
(WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY).
Small cottage & timber lodge
both sleep 2/3
Near Penzance
Lovely 1 bedroom bungalow,
sleeps 2/3. No pets. No smoking.
Spectacular Sea Views of
St Michaels Mount (the castle on the
island) and the Bay.
All set within 12 acres of
idyllic surroundings only 2 miles
from pub & shop.
Private parking, and only a few
minutes walk from the beach and
village with shops and restaurants.
www.foxwoodlodge.co.uk
Free colour brochure
Tel: 01736 710247
e: foxwoodlodge@outlook.com
tel: 01237 431324
www.tregew-marazion.co.uk
The normal size Walk-in Bath
you can lie down or shower in!
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100% watertight door - Available either side
of the bath O Low threshold
O Optional powered seat
O Wide, roomy interior
O Thermostatic taps
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FITTED IN
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handset!
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For a free
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FREEPHONE
0800 316 9798
ASK FOR EXT. 65334
122
Old fashioned values...
Quality, Price, Service
*Based on a straightforward fitting.
**Not in conjunction with any other offer.
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
Emergency
Installations
& Repairs
FROM £1,295
*Straight Stairlifts
inc. 2 years warranty
Rent or Buy
Straight & Curved Stairlifts
Family run British company
Free survey or quote by phone
Open 9am to 9pm every day
FREEPHONE: 0800 652 9562
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Stairlifts Installed and Repaired
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Simply Yours
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Bathe in luxury,
comfort and safety
once again!
Enjoy
Bathing Safely
in your Own Home.
Direct from the Manufacturers.
No expensive alterations needed.
Keep the bathroom & bath that you love.
Save money, Buy direct, Stay independent
Can be fitted to ANY bath and wall.
Available in both battery or mains.
Lightweight Battery Model
30-40 lifts per charge. Charges quickly.
INTEREST FREE CREDIT
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For the BEST
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MADE IN
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25 YEARS
1
Lightest Battery
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2
• British designed and manufactured
• Safely lowers and raises you at the
click of a button
• Battery operated, no wiring or cables
just recharge every 7-10 days
• Belt retracts into cassette for normal
bath use for other family members
Call us today for a brochure:
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sa
is
m
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u
&
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Catch up on the latest TV new
Antique
Crime Trip
If you prefer your whodunits to be a
little more light-hearted than those in
Silent Witness, Sally Lindsay is here to
oblige with the new series of The Madam
Blanc Mysteries. It finds antiques expert
and amateur sleuth Jean tackling cases
including the death of a marine biologist
who made an exciting find, and a man
who was seemingly killed by a fencing foil.
n The Madam Blanc Mysteries, Channel 5, Thursday, 9pm.
Began January 4, catch up on My5
SPECIAL
DELIVERIES
SCHEDULE DETAILS ARE CORRECT AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRESS
We had the Christmas
special to tide us over,
but now a new series
of Call the Midwife
is beginning. Sisters
Julienne and Monica
Joan are back, along
with Phylis, Trixie and
Shelagh, but there are
also four new pupil
midwives – and they are
not going to be eased
in gently.
Jenny Agutter
returns as
Sister Julienne
124
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
■ Call the Midwife, BBC1,
Sundays, 8pm. Begins
January 7, catch up on
BBC iPlayer
Fancy a spin?
Hot on the heels of Jeopardy! and Deal or No
Deal, Wheel of Fortune becomes the latest classic
gameshow to be revived by ITV1. Graham
Norton is taking the wheel (a
position previously held by
Nicky Campbell and Bradley
Walsh) as he invites
contestants to test their
luck and skill in the
hopes of spinning their
way to a jackpot.
■ Wheel of Fortune,
ITV1, Saturdays, 6pm.
Begins January 6,
catch up on ITVX
DON’T MISS
John Hannah
joins Emilia
this season
Book
Nina Stibbe found literary
fame with Love, Nina, a
delightful collection of the
letters she wrote when she
moved to London from
Leicestershire at the age of
20. Her latest book, Went to London,
Took the Dog: Diary of a 60-yearold Runaway, wryly reflects on her
experiences returning to the capital
after two decades in Cornwall.
Cold cases
Emilia Fox returns for the staggering
27th series of the forensic drama
(although she’s only been in it
since series eight). The team will be
tackling five more two-part mysteries,
beginning with a case that bears all
the hallmarks of a notorious serial
killer. Has the murderer returned, or is
Nikki on the lookout for a copycat?
■ Silent Witness, BBC1, Mondays &
Tuesdays, 9pm. Begins January 8, catch
up on BBC iPlayer
HOME MAKEOVERS
If your New Year’s resolution is to update
the most important rooms in your
house, then you may want to watch this
new series first. Mark Millar comes to
the aid of families who are looking to
renovate their kitchens or bathrooms,
offering them advice on how to make
their budgets stretch further without
skimping on style or practicalities.
■ PIcador, priced £16.99
Cinema
Christmas may be over
but there’s a chance
to feel festive all over
again with the release of
the acclaimed comedy
drama The Holdovers. Set in 1970,
it stars Paul Giamatti as a grumpy
teacher at a New England boarding
school who is forced to stay and
chaperone the pupils who can’t go
home for the holidays.
■ Released January 19
Music
Dream team
Bryan Brown and Greta
Scacchi make a great double
act in a new drama set in
Australia. He plays laid-back
former cop Jack Darby,
who has hit the open road
to escape his past, while
she’s Joan, a tightly wound
English nurse who is on a
mission to find out more
about her husband’s death.
When the pair collide in the
Outback, they are forced
to team up – and become
embroiled in a mystery.
■ Darby and Joan, Drama,
Thursdays, 8pm. Begins
January 11
Wet Wet Wet and Go West are
hitting the road together for what
they are calling the Best of Both
Worlds Tour. Both groups have
promised to play their seminal
songs, and with 36 top 40 singles
between them, they will have
plenty of hits to choose from.
n Begins Cardiff St David’s Hall,
January 21, then touring
Theatre
Call the Midwife’s Helen George
is used to working plays
governess Anna in the
Dominion Theatre’s
revival of Rodger and
Hammerstein’s classic
musical The King & I.
n nederlander.co.uk/
whats-on
PICS: BBC, ITV, CHANNEL 5
■ Your Dream Kitchen for Less, Channel
5, Thursdays 7pm. Begins January 11
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tv chat
We caught up with Robson Green, as he reprises the role of
DI Geordie Keating in the latest series of Grantchester
R
What keeps you coming
back to Grantchester?
As I’m in the last third of
my life, I want to work with
people I love working with
and do projects that make
me genuinely happy and
push me creatively. I want
to have fun doing what
I love. And Grantchester
caters for those needs. I’m
an executive producer, and
at the beginning we knew
we had something special
and that would float the
audience’s boat, but
we never realised
how popular it
would be and how well it
would be received.
How does it feel to be
the elder statesman
on set?
I do feel a responsibility.
I want anybody who comes
on the show to feel at
home. I want to make sure
they have fun and enjoy
the process. The industry
can be stressful, but in
the end, we’re making
television and that’s a
privileged position to be in;
we should enjoy ourselves.
Can you tell us about
your relationship
with Tom Brittney
off screen?
Robson Green is in
awe of Tom Brittney’s
ability to learn a lot of
dialogue in one go
127
YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
We love each other. We
stay in contact all the time.
When I was in Australia
filming my fishing show, he
texts me, “How’s it going?”
and sends me a picture of
himself next to Cameron
Diaz – he’s working with
her on a film [called Back in
Action] – and all I can send
him is a picture of me with
a big tuna.
What sort of reaction
do you get from fans?
I just came back from
doing a fishing show in
Australia. In the outback
I was with what I’d call
really stereotypical
Australian blokes who
run a cod hatchery, who
told me Grantchester was
their favourite show! It was
just the most bizarre and
surreal accolade. I had the
same reaction in Alaska,
when I was filming on
a glacier and a bunch of
Americans started going,
“It’s Geordie! It’s Geordie!”
Wow. I feel honoured and
privileged to be part of
something that is enjoyed
around the world and
proud to be part of such
a talented team.
n Grantchester, Thursday
January 11, ITV
BY CAROLINE BLIGHT. PICS: ITV
obson Green (58),
returns as DI
Geordie Keating,
but it looks like
his career might be over
soon. Tom Brittney is
back as Reverend Will
Davenport and is facing
a crisis of his own which
sends him on a downward
spiral. Exploring
faith, forgiveness, and
redemption – series eight
of Grantchester tests Will
and Geordie to the limit.
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busy on a cosy afternoon. Or why
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of tea and enjoy our charming
short stories and wonderful
reader memories, sure to take you
down memory lane. The Yours
annual is jammed with great tips,
quirky facts and so much more
that will keep you entertained
this year!
your stars
Astrologer Lynne Ewart
predicts what’s in store
for you this fortnight
HOROSCOPES
JAN 9-22
SAGITTARIUS
NOV 23-DEC 20
Matters financial and physical are the
focus of significant efforts, and something
pivotal is settled once and for all.
If it’s your birthday this fortnight...
You are born under Capricorn, the stoic persevering
mountain goat, also associated with the myth of
Amalthea, the sea goat who protected Jupiter
from his devouring father Saturn.
n For a weekly update call 09044 705708
CAPRICORN
DEC 21-JAN 20
n Famous Capricorns celebrating this fortnight
include Claudia Winkleman, Catherine, Princess of
Wales, Dolly Parton, Michelle Obama and Rod Stewart
(both pictured).
You’re fired with determination to make
things happen, perhaps making up for
‘lost’ time. There’s no holding you back!
n For a weekly update call 09044 705709
AQUARIUS
JAN 21-FEB 18
GEMINI
MAY 21-JUNE 20
VIRGO
AUG 24-SEPT 22
n For a weekly update call 09044 705710
You seem poised, ready to do what
it takes with gusto, to press on into
a liberating new 2024 chapter.
As old obstacles dissolve, is it time to
take the plunge into a new chapter, to
follow your own star?
PISCES
n For a weekly update call 09044 705702
n For a weekly update call 09044 705705
FEB 19-MARCH 20
The cosmos is power charged with make
it happen ‘now or never’ energy, and
a cherished aim could become real.
n For a weekly update call 09044 705711
ARIES
MARCH 21-APRIL 19
Everything’s getting a move on, with
a big cosmic ‘push’ – back-burner plans
are at last firing into action.
n For a weekly update call 09044 705700
TAURUS
APRIL 20-MAY 20
You mean business, with bucket list plans
in hand! Someone close could slot into
a new educational or overseas chapter.
n For a weekly update call 09044 705701
CANCER
JUNE 21-JULY 22
LIBRA
SEPT 23-OCT 23
Team work makes the dream work,
perhaps bringing settlements. Watch for
a familiar face returning and for secondtime successes..
There’s a sense of things shifting at the
core of your life at the moment, with
moves and additions, from this time
onwards.
n For a weekly update call 09044 705703
n For a weekly update call 09044 705706
LEO
JULY 23-AUGUST 23
SCORPIO
OCT 24-NOV 22
You’ll be super busy, with a view to
a new, yet long talked about, personal
chapter that’s about to unfold.
There is a now or never feeling around
a decision, an appointment, a special
date, with a big nudge forwards!
n For a weekly update call 09044 705704
n For a weekly update call 09044 705707
PICS: ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
From the 12th there is progress with
what’s been awaiting action. A liberating
development could be afoot.
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YOURS EVERY FORTNIGHT
129
in the picture
DOLLY
PARTON
Fans will have high
hopes when the
queen of country
turns 78 this month.
Last year, Dolly,
pictured here with
friend Miley Cyrus,
treated us to a
brand new song on
her 77th birthday!
THE PRINCESS
OF WALES
Kate is 42 on January
9 and might well be
expecting a homemade
cake – the family are big
fans of baking!
PICS: GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK
These famous faces will be
getting the new year off to
a great start, as they celebrate
their birthdays…
OPRAH WINFREY
CELEBRATES HER TH
MILESTONE 70
TAKE THAT’S
GARY BARLOW
WILL BE TURNING 53
STRICTLY STAR
D
CRAIG REVEL HORWOO
TH
ON
M
– 59 THIS
KATE MOSS
FORMER FIRST LADY
MICHELLE OBAMA Y 17
IS 60 ON JANUAR
It’s hard to believe,
but Kate Moss
turns 50 this
month. “I don’t
feel it,” said the
supermodel, who
has swapped parties
for meditation and
wild swimming.
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