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 MY WISH
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Editor, woman&home £15.99, opiuk.com
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Regarding electric cars, there aren’t WE ASKED
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womanandhome.com 7
 W&H IN THIS ISSUE
21
22
Nadiya Hussain
opens up
Great reads
22 ON THE COVER Nadiya Hussain
On confidence, raising teenagers
and giving up on perfection
26 Who wants to be perfect? Embrace
and accept any flaws you have
28 Hand-free therapy Self-care
without the physical contact
31 From the heart: Columnist
Coco Khan Happy as I am
32 Songbirds Female singers with
a special place in our hearts
36 Wild about rewilding Ordinary
people doing their bit for nature
41 The way I am: Angellica Bell
My advice is: don’t wait
42 Best friends forever Former
Wham! girls Pepsi & Shirlie
44 Later-life mums Women share
their journeys to motherhood
49 What I’ve learned: Paul O’Grady
I never told my mum about
Lily Savage
50 How long does grief last? Coming
to terms with the loss of a brother
52 Meet Britain’s most amazing
women Announcing the winners
of this year’s w&h awards
61 My life in a picture: Lucy Mangan
My sister and I were different species
62 Brand New Directions: Our dream
businesses Helping others to sleep
69 ON THE COVER Festive special:
Your Christmas planning sorted!
Nine pages of great gift ideas
8 womanandhome.com
Real-life
fashion
62
Fashion & beauty
83 If you buy one thing this month
Invest in a classic watch
84 Buy, wear, repeat Wardrobe staples
you wouldn’t be without of sleep
88 ON THE COVER Get your coat!
69
The best buys: from budget to luxe
94 The new suits Be relaxed and
glamorous, from day to night
100 ON THE COVER Relax and pamper
Decadent body treats just for you -
106 ON THE COVER Cult beauty brands presents
Celebrity-backed ranges that work to give
111 What I really use: Paula Begoun
Author and founder of Paula’s Choice
Health & wellbeing
117 If you try one thing this month
Practise self-compassion
118 I had a UTI for 10 years How one
woman cured her urine infection
119 Flour power Healthy alternatives
120 Can you really cut your cancer risk?
Preventative measures could help
*TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY
122 ON THE COVER Beat those winter
sugar cravings How to reduce them
125 Cellulite? Who cares! Annie Deadman ON THE COVER:
looks at the infamous body hang-up NADIYA HUSSAIN
PHOTO: DAN KENNEDY.
126 Ten ways to boost your winter STYLING: NATALIE READ.
MAKE-UP: HEATHER MARNIE
workout Revive your exercise mojo AT ARLINGTON ARTISTS,
USING FENTY BEAUTY.
128 Your health Medical queries sorted DRESS: ASOS. SCARF:
RICHARD ALLAN LONDON.
with GP Dr Philippa Kaye EARRINGS: PEBBLE LONDON
 52
Our inspiring
winners
168
Your ultimate
cruise guide
Home, food & travel In every issue
133 If you do one thing this month
See autumn colour at Winkworth
Arboretum, in Surrey
134 ON THE COVER Homes inspiration
Make your house beautiful with
158
the hottest new interiors trends
144 Country bound A cottage renovation,
plus how you can get the look
152 Freeze-ahead feasts Warming
dinners for last-minute entertaining
Edible 158 ON THE COVER Festive special:
goodies Your Christmas planning sorted!
Edible presents to make now
165 ON THE COVER Festive special:
Your Christmas planning sorted!
Brilliant cake and pudding recipes
168 ON THE COVER Cruise extra News
updates, fab holidays to book and real
stories – ‘We’re addicted to cruising!’
176 Brilliant UK city breaks Explore a
new place on an indulgent getaway
Time for you
176
180 November’s Book Club Plus Heather
Morris on her secrets to a good story
183 In conversation with Richard
Osman The joy of his writing success
186 The Painter by author Elodie Harper
Plan a UK 188 The Riches of Jessie by author
city break Milly Johnson
190 w&h weekend Great entertainment
134
Latest trends
for your home
7 Join the conversation! Have your say
11 High street heroes Autumn refresh
15 ON THE COVER Heavenly scents
A chic fragrance for every occasion
17 Mood of the month Modern country
21 It’s all about you! Street style fashion
67 Smart with money Cash-saving tips
151 Green made easy Expert advice
201 Your stars November horoscopes
202 Town & Country Kathy Lette and
Katie Fforde on the real differences
between the sexes
Offers
59 ON THE COVER 15% off at L’OCCITANE
Plus free gift on their fragrant range
60 The Jane Plan Diet A great discount
81 ON THE COVER 20% off at Damart
Treat yourself to new-season styles
97 ON THE COVER 15% off flowers at
Bloom & Wild Beautiful bouquets
130 Subscribe to woman&home*
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womanandhome.com 9
 W&H
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womanandhome.com 21
22 womanandhome.com

NADIYA
Queen of cooks Mum of three Nadiya Hussain talks to Gemma Calvert
about raising teenagers, growth in confidence and why
striving for perfection is not worth the agony
e’re on location
n north London
Nadiya Hussain
rflowing with
tips. Clocking
d perennial in
the kitchen, she observes, ‘That’s
a taro plant. It’s the most eaten veg
in Bangladesh and also a natural
laxative!’ She explains that, when
boiled, the root and stalk are edible.
Conversation darts to Nadiya’s
17 pumpkins and another vegetable
she cultivated from her garden in
Milton Keynes during lockdown.
‘I grew okra this year,’ she declares.
‘If you overcook it, it’s slimy. Toss
it in egg whites and rice flour and
deep-fry it. It’s so good! Trust me.’
It’s impossible not to. Six years on
since winning The Great British Bake
Off in 2015, Nadiya, 36, is now one
of the country’s most acclaimed
and accomplished cooks. On top
of a memoir, homeware collection
and a children’s fiction series, she
has released bestselling cookbooks,
including Nadiya Bakes and Nadiya’s
Family Favourites. In her latest,
Nadiya’s Fast Flavours, and on the
accompanying BBC2 TV series, she
shares quick-to-cook family meals.
Today’s shoot is a break from the
norm. Back in Bucks, sons Musa, 15,
Dawud, 14, and 11-year-old daughter
Maryam are making stir-fry for dinner.
‘They’re very competent in the
kitchen,’ smiles Nadiya with pride,
although the same can’t be said for
her IT consultant husband, Abdal,
40. She describes herself as ‘a proper
1950s housewife’, but she insists on
‘no specific gender roles’
in her household – and in
her profession as one of
A
‘ s I’ve grown
the few women of colour
and faith on prime-time older, I’ve
TV, Nadiya is doing
things her way. Continue become better
at looking
to watch her rise…
As a family, we’ve
emerged from lockdown
stronger. As much as we
after myself’
love each other, it’s important to
spend time apart. There were moments
when the novelty wore off and I thought,
‘I would love my normal life back, where
I’m working and the kids are at school.’
We are raising strong-willed human
beings. They will fight you first in order
to be ready for the world and then,
eventually, will emerge like butterflies
cover story
and then you’ll have your wonderful
children back. When you’re planning
to have children, you don’t think about
what it’s going to be like when they’re
teenagers. If I had, I’d have never had
two on the trot!
My ovaries pulsate every time I see
a new baby. But I quite like sleep now.
We’ve got two cats, chickens, a budgie
and fish, and we do not
need any more children.
I used to worry about
ageing. Of course, I look
at myself and compare
myself to others but
that’s the joy of getting
older. I can look at social
media, park it and think,
‘Actually, this is not real.’
Since winning the show, the biggest
personal change has been a growth in
confidence. The confidence to exist in
my skin, to know that brown is beautiful,
and to believe that I’m good at my
job and not to constantly be in a state
of gratitude. I am grateful for every
opportunity, but I’m also very good at
my job. It’s taken a long time for me to
say that. A woman saying that out >>
womanandhome.com 23
 cover story
loud is often misconstrued as ‘She’s
cocky’ or ‘She’s not humble’, but for
a man, it’s ‘He’s so confident’.

Striving for perfection is not worth

the agony. Now I’m easier on myself.
Like all of us, I have flaws – I’m stubborn,
I love a good fight and a good debate,
and I can go from zero to 60 quite quickly
– but flaws make us who we are.

Growing up in an immigrant household,

we had to do new things that our
parents were unsure about. I wanted
to go to university and my mum initially
said ‘No way’ because nobody in our
family had gone to university. It was like
I was asking to go to the moon. If my son
said to me ‘I want to go to the moon’,
I wouldn’t like it, but I wouldn’t stop him.

We have a mantra in our house –

elbows out. I tell my kids that throughout
life they will feel like they don’t fit in but
PHOTOS: DAN KENNEDY. STYLING: NATALIE READ: MAKE-UP: HEATHER MARNIE AT ARLINGTON ARTISTS, USING FENTY BEAUTY. PREVIOUS SPREAD: DRESS,

THIS SPREAD: COAT, MARC CAIN; DRESS, MONSOON; SCARF, RICHARD ALLAN LONDON; BOOTS, MODA IN PELLE; EARRINGS AND NOSE RING, AS BEFORE

they have to create space for themselves

BOMBSHELL HQ; POLO NECK, ASOS; HAT, CAMILLA ROSE; SCARF, RICHARD ALLAN LONDON; EARRINGS, PEBBLE LONDON; NOSE RING, NADIYA’S OWN.

because in doing so, they’re creating

space for others. I work in a very male,
Caucasian-heavy industry, but I’ve
learnt to be OK with that. It’s about
representation. Lots of people out there,
like me, will look at mainstream media,
publications, books, literature and
say, ‘Am I a part of that narrative? Do
I see myself in here?’ Like me, loads
of people won’t see themselves. By
being in this space, I’m telling other
people, ‘I exist and so do you.’
Had I not entered Bake Off, I’d
probably be a social worker. At the
time, I was finishing my degree and
I wanted to do a job that was meaningful
and that helped. I know there’s a
glamorous side to this job, but I do get
to help. Being the minority representing
people like myself is a big responsibility.
I straddle two different worlds.
I’m British, but also Bangladeshi, and
I’ve spent my whole life trying to prove
how British I am. I get asked all the
time, ‘What makes you British?’ It’s so
exhausting. Then being Bangladeshi, it’s,
‘How Bangladeshi is she if she’s making
pies and stews, and isn’t cooking
curries?’ I am happily in a grey area,
where those of us who don’t really fit
in anywhere else sit. I am not a purist.
‘Had I not
entered Bake Off,
I’d probably be
a social worker’
I mix the recipes that I love and I have
complete creative licence to do that.
The mind can forget trauma, but the
body doesn’t. I experienced sexual
abuse as a child and was bullied at
school, and what happened has stayed
with me. I’ve had therapy and found
ways of dealing with what happened, but
I need to be much more consistent. As
I’ve grown older, I’ve become better at
looking after myself because I’ve realised
that if I look after my mind, I look after
my body and, ultimately, I’m the best
version of myself for me and my family.
I pray five times a day. It’s both
mindfulness and meditation, and that
spiritual focus really helps me. Apart
from cooking, I love drawing, writing
poetry, and trashy television, especially
Married at First Sight Australia.
It was a pinch-me moment when
newsreader Jon Snow recognised me.
He said, ‘You’re doing wonderful things.
Keep doing wonderful things.’ The
moment when Mariah Carey knew me
by name on The Graham Norton Show
was also cool. She asked me about my
Christmas. My daughter was impressed!
This is the only job that has felt
completely natural. I love being in a
creative headspace, and my best ideas
come in the middle of the night. My
latest book, Fast Flavours, is as much
about being quick in the kitchen as it
is creating flavour fast and knowing
how to use an ingredient. Whether it’s
a breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert or a
snack, there’s something for everybody!
✢ Nadiya’s Fast Flavours (£22, Michael
Joseph), is out on 28 October.
womanandhome.com 25
 Who wants
TO BE
PERFECT?
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– and learn to CEEGRVCNN[QWTDGCWVKHWNKORGTHGEVKQPU

W
GCNNJCXGCNKUVQHƃCYU
YGOGCUWTGQWTUGNXGU
against, and they often
VCMGEGPVTGUVCIGKPQWT
OKPFUQWVUJKPKPICNNQWTQVJGTVTCKVU
CPFUVTGPIVJU6JKPIUNKMG+VCNMVQQ
OWEJ+oOVQQUGPUKVKXG#O+FQKPI
GPQWIJHGGNKPIJCRR[GPQWIJ!
Wouldn’t it be easier to be a little
kinder to ourselves, and accept we are
still lovable and successful regardless
of our imperfections? Here, we help
you escape that cycle of ‘undeserving’,
when you judge and berate yourself
for not measuring up.

OUR EXPERTS
Cheryl Rickman is the author
of You Are Enough (£10.99,
Summersdale). She is a
qualified positive psychology
practitioner who specialises
in writing empowering, practical books
to help people fret less and flourish more.
Sarah Gregg is a psychologist
and published author who
specialises in the psychology
of happiness and flow.
Her latest book is Choose
Happy: Easy Strategies to Find Your Bliss
(£13, Rock Point).
Anna Mathur is the author
of Know Your Worth (£14.99,
Little Brown). A mum of three,
experienced psychotherapist
and psycho-educator, she
specialises in working with, and helping,
women; @annamathur
1
LIVE IN THE
PRESENT
Be honest with yourself and
understand who you are right now
rather than who you think you’re
supposed to be. Psychologist Sarah
Gregg recognises that we often
perceive happiness as something
that has to be earned rather than
something we deserve. So we tend to
put our lives on hold, ‘waiting until we
lose 10lb, meet a life partner or get
a great job’. Sarah advises us that we
can only live fully when we choose
to let go of these ideas, these parts
of ourselves that we consider
incomplete or flawed, and accept
that we are actually enough, just as
we are in this moment.
DO IT Make a decision today that
WORDS: CHERYL RICKMAN. PHOTOS: GETTY,
you are enough and focus on what
you have now rather than a fixation
LISA ROGERS @ANDTHENSHECLICKED
on a future fantasy ideal. Find the
balance between ambition and
appreciation by celebrating the little
wins along the way. Go out for a nice
meal if something went well at work
– you don’t have to wait for the big
promotion to feel gratitude.
2 LET DOWN
YOUR WALLS
We all have a few ‘flawed’ personality
traits that we will often try to tame or
disguise, but psychotherapist Anna
Mathur reminds us that our needs,
feelings and opinions are just as valid as
anyone else’s. If we keep trying to fit in
– by people pleasing and keeping parts
of our personalities back in case others
don’t like them – then we will end up in
a lonely place, where ‘the only person
who truly knows you, is you.’
DO IT Experiment with showing your
vulnerability by picking one or two
trusted people to confide in, and tell
them how you are really feeling. By
making your own needs a priority, you
can stop ignoring yourself to please
others. Anna believes that ‘showing
and sharing your inner self to someone
is a choice’ that will have an impact
on your self-esteem and your future.
3
CHALLENGE
YOUR INNER
CRITIC
Master your mindset and talk back to
your inner critic – when you hear your
inner critic’s voice reeling off your flaws,
jot down those thoughts and learn
to unpick or to question them. It’s not
always easy to reframe thoughts as they
happen, but it’s a useful skill to learn.
Surely we can’t be all the things that
we are accusing ourselves of – too
sensitive, too keen, an overthinker,
forgetful and so on?
DO IT Cultivate positivity ‘By using our
own compass
– this will enable you to turn
your inner critic into your
inner cheerleader and to
flip negative thoughts on to navigate life,
their head. As an example,
by doing this, ‘I am too we can regain
control’
sensitive’ will become
‘I have an ability to show
real empathy’. And try to focus on those
things that have gone well, rather than on
the things that have gone wrong. When
you hear any negative mind-chatter say,
‘STOP’ and dispute the evidence by
taking those thoughts to court, placing
them on the stand and then giving them
a good grilling.
life tools
4 ADJUST YOUR
EXPECTATIONS
Instead of feeling the need to be
perfect or popular, positive psychology
practitioner Cheryl Rickman says we
should be truly faithful to ourselves.
Rather than being shackled by ‘I should
haves’ or falling into the comparison
trap and convincing ourselves that
everyone is performing better than
us, Cheryl says that, ‘By using our
own compass to navigate life, we can
regain control of our thought patterns.’
DO IT Set your own standards, which
are more authentic.
✢ Choose different metrics. Set
your own benchmarks of success,
and identify small achievable goals
that really matter to you personally.
✢ Learn to fail well. Shift how you
view failure and see every mistake
you make as a lesson.
✢ Revise your expectations. ‘Accept
that things don’t always go to plan,’
says Cheryl. ‘Real life is about solving
problems and overcoming obstacles,
and that’s where we’ll find our strength
and sense of accomplishment.’
5
FLAWS CAN
BE FLAGS
Anna sees our perceived flaws as
prompts. They can serve as a flag to
highlight feelings that need to be
addressed to resolve issues holding us
back. ‘Our feelings can often make us
feel unworthy of good things in life,
fostering thoughts like,
“If I feel this way, then it
must be true,”’ she says.
DO IT Remind yourself
that feelings aren’t facts.
Use Anna’s ACT technique
to reframe your guilt, or
whatever flaw is holding
you back.
A = ADDRESS THE GUILT
Consider what the belief is – what have
you actually done or not done?
C = COMPASSION You can still hold
yourself responsible but with compassion
and perspective.
T = TWEAK SOMETHING Change the
way you think about it, or try to talk about
it until you can leave it behind.
womanandhome.com 27
 57%
The number of UK adults
who say prioritising
self-care makes a positive
difference to their
mental health and
wellbeing*.

Hands-free
THERAPY
If you’re nervous about
close contact with
strangers, but still want
some self-care, this new
therapy trend could
be the answer

28 womanandhome.com

M
ove over, massages.
Farewell, facials. Well,
maybe not completely
sDWVKHNKMGQPGKPƂXG
women, you still feel anxious about
human interaction*, then opting for
a touchless therapy session could be
ideal if you’re longing for a little TLC.
‘Over the past 20 months,
understandably, some people have
become increasingly concerned about
physical contact,’ says Dr Sophie
Shotter (drsophieshotter.com). ‘But
that doesn’t mean they don’t still
YCPVVJGDGPGƂVQHJCXKPIVTGCVOGPVU
without stepping outside their comfort
zone, which is where touchless
therapies come in.’
THE BENEFITS OF
GOING HANDS-FREE
There’s no doubt the growing trend
for touchless therapies has come out
of the pandemic, when salons had to
pivot services to stay operational. Yet,
coincidentally, many of these therapies
provide both physical and emotional
healing, which feels essential right now.
‘Touchless therapies offer something
different,’ says holistic therapist Maria
Cooper-Gomes (mariacoopergomes.
Vœ“®°¼œÀiÝ>“«i]>yœÌ>̈œ˜Ì>˜Ž
gives such deep relaxation it’s like
having 100 massages. And Reiki healing
leaves you feeling physically lighter,
WORDS: FAYE M SMITH. PHOTO: ALAMY. *ELIXINOL
mentally clearer and truly relaxed on
a very profound level. It provides
a quieting of the mind, as well as
relaxation of the body.’
This means the rise in demand for
touchless therapies won’t be slowing
down just yet. ‘Touchless experiences
will continue to be popular beyond
COVID-19,’ says Helena Grzesk, chief
œ«iÀ>̈˜}œvwViÀœv̅i ÀˆÌˆÃ… i>ÕÌÞ
«Ãœ“Ã>Ì«œ`Ã
Council. ‘The desire to reconnect with
more natural ways of enhancing health
and wellbeing will push the call for these
therapies.’ Not sure which ones to try?
Here’s what you need to know.
SOUND HEALING
Sound healing can help shift brainwaves.
‘Gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, tuning
forks or the voice are used to create
vibrational sounds that can release
energetic blockages, lowering feelings
of tension and depression,’ says Helena.
‘The adult body is more than 70%
water, so it makes sense that the human
body is a great conductor for sound
vibration. Sound healing, or sound baths,
can be conducted alone or as group
sessions, but they don’t require
any physical touch.’
REIKI
With this Japanese energy healing
technique, a practitioner will hold their
«>“ÃœÛiÀޜÕ]ÌÀ>˜ÃviÀÀˆ˜}i˜iÀ}ÞyœÜ°
‘It can help with anxiety, depression,
stress, recovering from physical illness,
emotional issues, low self-esteem,
bereavement and much more,’ says
Maria. The therapist may be close, but
doesn’t need to touch you at any point.
It can even be done from a greater
distance. ‘Reiki healing can also be sent
to you remotely,’ says Maria. ‘It’s just
as powerful as a face-to-face treatment.
During lockdown, many of my clients
ÌÀˆi``ˆÃÌ>˜Ì…i>ˆ˜}vœÀ̅iwÀÃÌ̈“i>˜`
were amazed by the results.’
SALT CAVES
‘These are rooms that are either made
of Himalayan salt, or which use a special
type of machine to blow salt into the
air,’ says Dr Shotter. There’s no contact
with a therapist – all you have to do
is sit and relax. Plus, it’s great for lung
health. ‘Salt caves draw our irritants
from the respiratory system, reducing
ˆ˜y>““>̈œ˜>˜`LÀi>Žˆ˜}`œÜ˜“ÕVÕÃ]
and can help with conditions such as
asthma and the common cold,’ says
Helena. ‘It also helps to relieve stress,
allergies, infections and high blood
pressure, and improve sleep quality.’
INFRARED SAUNA
‘This type of sauna uses light to generate
heat, and you need zero contact with
a therapist,’ says Dr Shotter. They are
cooler than a traditional sauna for those
܅œw˜`̅i…ˆ}…Ìi“«iÀ>ÌÕÀiÃ̜œ…œÌ
̜…>˜`iqޜÕÜÀi>«̅iLi˜iwÌÃ
without the extreme heat. ‘This type of
light therapy may help reduce blood
pressure, aid sleep and relaxation, and
ˆ“«ÀœÛi`i̜݈wV>̈œ˜>˜`VˆÀVՏ>̈œ˜]
plus help sore muscles and relief from
joint pain, such as arthritis,’ adds Helena.
feel good you
IV DRIPS
‘This therapy involves the insertion of a
small needle into the arm, allowing the
delivery of micronutrients directly into
the bloodstream,’ says Dr Shotter. ‘It can
be targeted to individual concerns, such
as boosting energy or immunity. Your
practitioner will need to touch your arm
to insert and remove the cannula but,
apart from this, you will be in your own
space for the duration of the treatment.’
HYPERBARIC
CHAMBER
Feeling calmer and healthier could
be as easy as breathing pure oxygen
in a pressurised environment. ‘The
increased pressure in the no-contact
chamber means that your lungs can
…>À˜iÃÃÈ}˜ˆwV>˜ÌÞ“œÀiœÝÞ}i˜̅>˜
usual, allowing your blood to become
more oxygenated – which may enhance
…i>ˆ˜}>˜`…i«̜w}…̈˜viV̈œ˜Ã]½
says Dr Shotter.
COMPRESSION
THERAPY
Lying inside a special garment,
compressed air at controlled pressure
can stimulate circulation, which supports
Þ“«…>̈V…i>Ì…°¼ i˜iwÌȘVÕ`iiÃÃ
water retention, reduced cellulite, and
better digestion and skin tone,’ says
Helena. It requires no contact and units
can be used at home (bodyballancer.
co.uk). ‘Massage techniques will vary
LiÌÜii˜̅iÀ>«ˆÃÌÃ]LÕÌ܈̅̅i œ`Þ
>>˜ViÀ̅i«Àœ}À>““ˆ˜}܈Li
consistent, and so will the results from
treatment,’ adds Dr Shotter.
FLOAT THERAPY
¼œ>̈˜}ˆ˜Ü>ÌiÀ‡wi`
without light or sound will restore your
health and refresh your mind,’ says
Helena. ‘It can improve sleep, aid
anxiety, depression and stress, plus
…i«V…Àœ˜ˆV«>ˆ˜]ÃÕV…>ÃwLÀœ“Þ>}ˆ>°
Sessions require no contact and are
usually in a private room.’ And, if you
have trouble sleeping, it could be worth
a try to ease those painful symptoms.
‘It’s like having a week’s worth of
sleep,’ adds Maria.
womanandhome.com 29

HAPPY
as I am
Work isn’t all that matters, argues Coco Khan
A
s women navigating working
life, we will often find
ourselves at a career
crossroads. I’m lucky – the
signs I wasn’t meant to take one
particular route were there early on:
that I’m not cut out for management.
It all started some years ago. I was 18
and working in a shop wondering what
to do with my life, my then-work wife
(we all have one – the colleague that
becomes your bestie and partner in
professional scheming) persuaded me
‘We don’t
to apply for management
training. I know why
need to be
I agreed: peer pressure.
Wifey had been accepted
and I wondered how I’d
survive the three hours the boss
a week if she was in a
seminar. The thought of to feel like
lunchtime without her by
my side to share a packet a boss’
of Skips seemed unbearable. Plus, the
supervisors got to wear a yellow shirt
and yellow has always been my colour.
I attended an interview where I was
asked situational questions – ‘a customer
has come in with an item you stock but
has no receipt’ (my answer: see if we
can find their receipt on our system),
PHOTO: SOPHIA EVANS/THE GUARDIAN/EYEVINE
or ‘a staff member has asked to swap
their shift with late notice to see their
child in the school play’ (my answer:
do everything I can to make the swap,
even if it means doing the shift myself).
Even now I look back on my answers
proudly – they had an honesty that is
rare in interviews. I was still young and
hadn’t learnt to play the game. With
hindsight, I think I could have used more
management speak, and talked about
customer loyalty and staff morale, rather
than saying ‘being nice is cool’ and
‘unhelpful people are just the worst’.
So it was a surprise when I got a letter
telling me I hadn’t been successful.
‘I guess you’re just not management
material,’ consoled my wifey. ‘They
could probably tell you’re a pushover.’
These days, my mind often returns
to that moment. I’ve reached an age
where many of my peers are now in
supervisory positions. They’re all vastly
different in their approaches. Some rule
with an iron fist, which there is
no way I could pull off, while
others take a more nurturing
approach. Apparently, this
latter way mostly involves
having lots of uncomfortable
conversations – ‘So, Cheryl,
I noticed your punctuality is
slipping and wondered how
I can help you get it back on
track.’ Not only have I never had the
steel to sit through awkward talks, I also
muddle through life from a default
position of guilt. If I bump into the door,
I say sorry to it, which would probably
be unhelpful in any staff evaluation.
I imagine the script running, ‘James, it
seems like you’re underperforming by
every measure, which I’m sure must be
my fault as the manager. I will therefore
be recommending that I be fired.’
And then there’s the strange fact that
if you’re promoted for doing a good job,
it often means doing the job itself less.
Teachers who become senior spend less
time in class, and writers who become
editors miss picking up the pen.
No matter which way I look at it, the
thought of becoming a manager is just
from the heart
not for me. Is it bad to admit that? Is
it laziness that makes me not care to
climb the pole, or is it immaturity, and
shirking from responsibility?
I’ve come to realise it’s none of those
things. I am just content with my current
lot – although I may not have everything
I want, I have everything I need.
Far too much of how we assess our
position in life is in comparison to others
– that if so-and-so has done this or that,
I must, too, or I am failing. Putting aside
pay and salaries, which vary in levels
of fairness, why do we believe that the
only shape of a good working life is an
upward curve, when in reality it can be
ups and downs, even flat? There’s no
one-size-fits-all. You don’t need to be
a manager to set a great example and
win the respect of your colleagues. And
while it’s always nice to see someone
posting about their promotion on social
media, I wish people would post other
achievements, too. Like, ‘This is my 10th
year in the same job. And I still love it.’
Let’s just say I would give such a post
a big thumbs-up.
So, I accept I may never be a manager
– well, not in the workplace. I suspect
managing the kids and husband is a job
I cannot refuse. Because we don’t all
need to be the boss to feel like a boss,
and work isn’t the only thing that
matters. And because there is truly
a great feeling of freedom in saying,
‘No thank you. I am happy just as I am.’
womanandhome.com 31
W
hether they’re
our childhood
heroines,
jazzy legends,
ballad-boomers or pop
princesses, all are legends.
Our celebration of some
of Great Britain’s favourite
songbirds comes with the
happiest of memories – and
an earworm guarantee.

ADELE
Managing to combine pop
popularity with critical acclaim,
she’s sold over 120 million
discs, made £140 million and
appears in the Guinness World
Records several times over.
Not bad for the girl born in
London’s Tottenham, who
took the music world by storm
when her fellow teenagers
were likely still asleep in bed!
ICONIC SONG
Someone Like You
I NEVER KNEW
Aged 16, Adele wrote her
debut hit Hometown Glory
KP  OKPWVGU

SONGBIRDS
Their voices are in tune with love, life and loss – and that’s why these
brilliant British singers have a special place in our hearts
 celebrating women

DUSTY
SPRINGFIELD
Her unique mezzo-soprano
voice, peroxide-blonde
beehive hairstyle, thick black
eyeliner and Hollywood-
glamour gowns made her an
icon of the Swinging Sixties
on both sides of the Atlantic.
When she died of breast
CHRISTINE cancer in 1999, just before
her 60th birthday, Elton
McVIE John declared she was ‘the
The mover and shaker behind greatest white singer there
some of Fleetwood Mac’s has ever been’.
biggest hits, she was born ICONIC SONG You Don’t
Christine Perfect in the Lake Have to Say You Love Me
District village of Bouth. I NEVER KNEW She
Her mum was a psychic, her hated her knees and
granddad a Westminster Abbey chin, complaining she
organist, and the interesting looked like movie star
genetic combo led to a career at $WTV .CPECUVGT
the highest peak of rock and roll.
ICONIC SONG You Make
Loving Fun
I NEVER KNEW In 2004,
she said she rarely listened
VQ RQR CP[ OQTG RTGHGTTKPI
Classic FM.

ALISO
ON MOYET
Musically intellige
ent and adventurous, she is
open about her b bipolar disorder and weight
battle. Her mainsttream career began in 1982
when she and Vincce Clarke formed synth-pop
duo Yazoo. Her debut solo album Alf was
a hit, though he er cover of That Ole Devil
Called Love was h her highest-charting single.
ICONIC SO ONG All Cried Out
I NEVER KNE EW *GTƂTUVVJGCVTKECN
role was in 200 01 as Mama in Chicago.

LULU
At just 15, the Scottish pocket rocket belted
o
out the Isley Brothers’ Shout and landed in the
UK top 10. Fifty years later, she performed
the same song at the closing ceremony of
Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games. She turns
73 this year, but the bubbly blonde babe will
somehow never grow old.
ICONIC SONG Boom Bang-a-Bang
I NEVER KNEW When touring, Lulu won’t
speak until midday to protect her voice. >>
 SHIRLEY BASSEY
Dame Shirley, born in Tiger Bay,
Cardiff, is a particular favourite
of the Royal Family for her rich,
expressive voice and ultra-glam
stage presence. She will be
forever associated with James
œ˜`w“Ã>vÌiÀLiÌˆ˜}
out the title tunes for SUSAN BOYLE
œ`w˜}iÀ, Diamonds Are Our Susan was catapulted
Forever and Moonraker. into superstardom at 48
ICONIC SONG Big Spender as a contestant on Britain’s
I NEVER KNEW Burn My Got Talent with her moving
SADE CandleJGTƂTUVUKPINGYCU performance. Judge
Helen Folasade Adu was banned by the BBC for its Amanda Holden described
born in Nigeria and raised suggestive lyrics. the audience’s reaction to
in Essex from the age of the shy Scot as ‘the biggest
four. Her album Diamond wake-up call ever’.
Life was the backdrop of the ICONIC SONG
1980s. Hear her sultry voice I Dreamed a Dream
now and be transported I NEVER KNEW SuBo has
back to the era of dinner no children, her ‘biggest
parties, Margaret Thatcher regret’. In 2019, she spoke
and the miners’ strike. of her hopes to become
ICONIC SONG C|HQUVGTRCTGPV
Smooth Operator
I NEVER KNEW Formula

WORDS: CHRISTABEL SMITH. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY

One’s Carlos Sainz Jr is
known for singing Smooth SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR
Operator after races. 6JG OWO QH ƂXG UQPU UKPIGT UQPIYTKVGT OQFGN
and Strictly Come Dancing contestant found
another outlet during lockdown, live-streaming
Kitchen Disco concerts on Instagram.
ICONIC SONG /WTFGT QP VJG &CPEGƃQQT
I NEVER KNEW She topped Melody Maker’s
‘sexiest people in pop’ poll when with indie
band Theaudience, even though the videos
were directed by her dad!

KATE BUSH
With her experimental
music, lyrics and image, Kate
Bush is the Unconventional
ANNIE LENNOX Queen of Pop. This year,
$QTPKP#DGTFGGPUJGUVWFKGFƃWVG she was nominated for
piano and harpsichord at London’s induction in the Rock and
Royal Academy. Switching to pop, Roll Hall of Fame.
she blew the world away in 80s band ICONIC SONG
Eurythmics with her orange hair, Wuthering Heights
androgynous look and strong voice. I NEVER KNEW
ICONIC SONG Sweet Dreams Training at karate club as
(Are Made of This) a kid, she was known as
I NEVER KNEW She is Glasgow ‘Ee-ee’ because of her
%CNGFQPKCP7PKXGTUKV[oUƂTUV squeaky voice.
female Chancellor.
 celebrating women

AMY
WINEHOUSE
As a child, she dreamed of
becoming a rollerskating
waitress, but obscurity
wasn’t an option once
the world heard her sing.
Her extraordinary jazz
voice, steeped in whisky and
tobacco, was groundbreaking
and nostalgic all at once.
Tragically, her addictions
overwhelmed her and
she became one of the ’27
Club’, the group of revered
musicians who died at that age.
ICONIC SONG Rehab
I NEVER KNEW Her
favourite song, performed
at her funeral, was Carole
King’s So Far Away.

JOAN ARMATRADING
Her music draws on rock, folk, jazz, blues,
soul and reggae. She says her emotionally raw
songs are about what other people are going
through, or ‘I’d be so embarrassed, I don’t
think I’d be able to walk out the front door’.
ICONIC SONG Me Myself I
I NEVER KNEW Joan appeared in comic
strip Tom, Dick and Sally in a 1983 edition
of The Beano.

womanandhome.com 35
 WILD
about
REWILDING
The planet needs our help, so let’s get inspired by ordinary
people doing their bit for nature
 in our experience

H
ave you noticed
how road
verges are full of
grasses and wild
flowers? From a storyline
in The Archers to the
meadow now gracing the
once-manicured lawn of
King’s College Cambridge,
rewilding is reshaping our
environment, mindsets
– and often our gardens.
These four women are all
taking small steps to bring
nature back to life.

HOW TO
REWILD YOUR
URBAN BEEKEEPER GARDEN
Andrea Ku, 43, is director of B 4 beekeeping with their families, which ✢ Let weeds go wild: Nettles,
Biodiversity, a group that raises is a great feeling. I launched B 4 thistles and dandelions provide
awareness of urban Biodiversity in 2013 homes for interesting bugs.
biodiversity. She lives
in Merseyside, where ‘We can all to share knowledge,
expertise and skills with
✢ Less mowing, more growing:
Mow a lawn’s edges or a strip.
she keeps bees.
Since learning how improve and communities, schools
and groups, to help
✢ Sow wild flowers: Even a small
window box will encourage bees.

enhance the
to keep bees 10 years
ago, I have introduced
natural world
beekeeping to over 300
people, between the
ages of four and 89, to
help them to appreciate
the now and to slow around us’
down. I’ve even taught
prisoners at HMP Altcourse as part of
their reform, and have been told that
students who have since left prison have
beehives in their gardens and enjoy
people and nature. ✢ Ditch pesticides: Stop using
Together with volunteers, chemicals and watch bees thrive.
✢ Just add water: A watertight
we run educational,
practical and container, with gravel and stones
creative projects. lining the base, and rainwater
By working together
and taking small steps,
and pond plants, will create a
home for frogs, snails and newts.
we can improve and ✢ Welcome mess: Overgrown
enhance the natural world around us. shrubs provide shelter, decay
And there is no better place to do this produces ‘bug hotels’, and worms
than from our own doorstep. can do your digging for you. >>
✢ Find out more at b4biodiversity.co.uk
womanandhome.com 37
Annie, inset,
grows herbs

WILDLIFE
GARDENER
Annie Martyn, 55, volunteers as
a marine mammal medic, and has
just started a rewilding project at
her Norfolk home.
I lived abroad for 10 years and, as
a diver, was saddened by the sorry state
‘Rewilding
of our oceans, so when I returned to
Norfolk permanently this year, I became has given
a volunteer with the British Divers
Marine Life Rescue, tending to injured me a sense
of calm’
or stranded seals, dolphins and whales.
I also wanted to do something with
Bees are
my own patch of Norfolk, so I have
plentiful
combined rewilding, wildlife gardening
on the pl
and self-sustainability. My husband Kevin
and I are fortunate to have a house that
sits in 1.2 acres. We have ancient oaks
that stand like grand old guardians of
the plot and are home to much wildlife. WETLANDS REVIVER
The simple act of adding some water, Jane Sears, 60, is a senior ecologist for are beyond saving but, through careful
leaving a small area for nettles, and the RSPB, which she has worked for conservation, many can thrive again.
since 1989. She
‘My greatest
having some bird feeding stations We have been putting
is reaping rewards. We regularly see lives in North the wiggles back into
nuthatches and woodpeckers, and Hertfordshire and a stream that was
occasionally red kites swoop down for
prey. Great-crested newts, slow-worms,
is now rewilding in
the form of beaver
passion is straightened in the past,
at Swindale Beck on
adders, frogs and toads are bountiful on
our plot, as well as hundreds of bees and
reintroduction.
Through my work seeing beavers our Haweswater reserve,
restoring shingle banks

return to
bugs, plus larger animals too. We grow with the charity RSPB, and riffles to benefit wild
organic food, and culinary and medicinal I’ve been helping trout and salmon, and

the rivers
herbs, and have an area for chickens. to restore wetlands the insects they feed on.
Rewilding has given me a sense of in the floodplains Peat is a crucial wildlife
calm, promise and freedom, as well as of rivers. Over one habitat and carbon
the headspace and confidence to do
a BSc in wildlife and conservation. I have
million hectares of
wetland was drained in Britain’ store, so we’ve also
blocked or removed
nature to thank for giving me the balance in the 1970s for agricultural pipes that drain our upland wetlands,
that I’ve long sought. improvements or for housing. Some and dry out or erode it over summer.
✢ Find out more at bdmlr.org.uk
38 womanandhome.com
 in our experience

GREEN TOURISM INNOVATOR

Celeste with
zebu cattle
Celeste Goschen, 50, is founder of reconnect with nature. We have a
Wilderley, a staycation farm centred herd of alpacas and goats that graze
around green tourism with a large areas of the land, playing an important
rewilding project at its heart. ecological role.
She lives on-site with her partner Over the years, we’ve been lucky
Sergei. They are enough to have a
also members
of Rewild in ‘I longed to growing community
of volunteers and
East Anglia.
My mother rediscover the ‘rewilders’ who knock
on the door to tell

feeling nature
ignited my love of us about exciting
nature. Growing new finds. Last week
up, we cycled past it was a pair of red
hedges, ancient
woodlands, fields
had given me kites, a crested newt
and a group of blue
and vast Suffolk
wetlands. After a as a child’ mushrooms. The digital
age has created a
career in the city, disconnection from
I returned to Suffolk, longing to nature, and I feel rewilding is a reaction
rediscover that feeling nature had to mitigate that.
given me as a child. Sergei and I took ✢ Find out more at wilderley.com
WORDS: JULIA SIDWELL. PHOTOS: ANN-MARIE MARTYN,

on a 38-acre farm that had been

well-grazed over decades and used
mainly for agricultural purposes,
GETTY, JOEL GOODMAN, KERRY WILMOT

so developing areas where native

butterflies, fungi, hedgerows and
meadow flowers can re-establish
has been an astonishing experience.
Our unique ‘staycation’ retreats,
built from repurposed materials from
the farm, each have their own patch of
wilderness and pond where children
Plantation trees
and grown-ups alike can explore and

My greatest passion is seeing beavers

return to the rivers in Britain, something Jane at a
I’ve been working on since 2012. beaver lodge
Through their frenetic dam-building and
digging of channels, beavers can restore
thriving wetlands, which support birds,
frogs, toads, and specialised
plants and invertebrates.
Over a thousand
beavers now live
on rivers in lowland
Scotland, and they have
colonised two RSPB
reserves. In England, a
trial on the River Otter in
Devon has been successful
and, following a government
consultation, we hope to establish
more wild populations.
✢ Find out more at rspb.org.uk
With a cygnet
womanandhome.com 39

‘My advice is: don’t wait’
TV presenter Angellica Bell lives in Kingston upon Thames, with
her husband, Michael Underwood, and their two children
Tell us about your
new podcast.
We’re in an era where people
need to start thinking about
money. It’s something we’re
trying to encourage people
to think about, to consider the
future. With Rewirement, the
idea is to challenge these
stereotypes about retiring and
encourage people to think
about it. It’s about enjoying
your life now, but also looking
to the future so that you have
a healthy, happy retirement in
which you’re financially stable.
Do you think it’s ever
too early to think about
the future?
When I was at CBBC, I worked
on a show called Short Change,
and even at that stage, it was
about empowering people
to shop around. It’s important
we’re making sure young
people understand what to do
with their money, that they’re
always informed and making
the right choices for themselves.
We can’t control life; sometimes we
have to take a detour or a stop or
change. But as long as you feel like
you’re making the right decisions up
until that point, you’ll always feel much
INTERVIEW: GEORGIA FARQUHARSON. PHOTO: GETTY
more content and able to deal with
what comes your way.
You have been on TV for years now
– what was your plan B?
I have a degree in politics and I applied
to do law, so I did want to be a lawyer.
I think that’s why I’ve enjoyed TV more
– because I knew that if it didn’t go to
plan, I could be something else. It’s just
having that cushion. I go with the flow
and enjoy it while it happens.
THE WAY I AM
Do you have a confidence trick?
The only thing I can control is me. So once
I’m prepared, I just relax. If I worry about
what other people think of me, I’ll always
be second-guessing myself.
What’s the best decision you’ve
ever made?
Going to university. I was the first person
in my family to go to university. I studied
in Bristol and I met some amazing people
who are still my friends now. I’d never
travelled round the country or anything
like that until I went, but they looked
after me. They were a part of a moment
in my life where I grew and found
confidence, and did things I never
thought I would do. I took
a leap of faith, went to a place
I didn’t know and I loved it.
What is the best advice
you’ve ever been given?
Always go for your dreams. It
might not happen, but at least
you went for it. I’ve always got
a list of things I want to do and
I tick them off. This summer I
wanted to learn to roller-skate.
When I was little I wanted
to do it but I didn’t have the
confidence. My advice is: don’t
wait. If you think you want to
do things, do them now.
What else is on your
bucket list?
I want to do my grade four
cello. I started learning when I
was younger but I was rubbish.
I just didn’t get it, but I kept the
cello for years, and I remember
looking at it and thinking,
‘You’ve got the better of me.’
It’s hard when you’re older
because you’ve got
commitments. I used to have
to put in ‘practise cello’ in my diary. I had
my grade three cello exam the same week
I had the final of MasterChef. The stress
levels were intense, but I got a distinction.
I hate things getting the better of me. We
can always overcome them. That was a
real lesson for me. I’m an eternal optimist.
Finally, what is your most
treasured possession?
My MasterChef trophy! It’s the first thing
I’ve ever won. A lot of toil went into that
and it’s also just a really good trophy.
✢ Listen to Rewirement with Angellica
Bell and Legal & General on Apple,
Spotify and all podcast providers
womanandhome.com 41
 Best friends
FOREVER Former Wham! girls Pepsi & Shirlie share
the highs and lows of fame and harmony
W
hen Shirlie Holliman met
Helen ‘Pepsi’ DeMacque-
Crockett at London’s
Finsbury Park tube
station in 1982, it was friendship at
first sight. They had no idea of the
stardom that lay ahead at the centre
of the 80s pop explosion with Wham!,
nor the happiness and heartache
that fate had in store. Here, they
share their secrets and tell how
they’ve stayed besties for 40 years.
How we met
Pepsi All I wanted was to sing and
dance, and as a teen I’d go to daytime
sessions at a club in Soho. All I’d drink
was Pepsi, so the nickname stuck as my
real name, Helen, was left behind. I was
juggling odd jobs with singing and met
Simon Napier-Bell, Wham!’s manager, at
an audition. He invited me to a rehearsal
and said Shirlie would pick me up at
Finsbury Park tube. I’d seen her dancing
Pepsi, left, and
Shirlie first met
almost 40 years ago
with Wham! on Top of
the Pops, this incredibly
cool punk pixie with
white-blonde hair.
I was so nervous, but
when she played my
demo tape on the car
stereo, she said, ‘You
sound like Shirley
Bassey!’ Both our
fathers loved Shirley
Bassey and, by the
time we arrived, In Wham! with George
Michael and Andrew Ridgeley
we were best mates.
Shirlie George
Michael and Andrew
Ridgeley were in the year below me at infectious. Hearing George sing Careless
school and I’d barely noticed them. After Whisper was deeply moving, something
we’d left, I bumped into Andrew, who between falling in love and falling off a
introduced me to George. We used to 40-storey building! No wonder it brought
go clubbing, and when they got their the house down night after night. We
first gig, they asked me to dance on felt like a postal service for the fans, who
stage with them. Their chemistry was were passing us cards for the boys. We
undeniable and when I heard George’s knew there were girls who’d pay millions
voice, I knew he to be where we were.
belonged on a stadium
stage. After we’d shot
‘When we started Shirlie I took each day as
it came. I was just happy
the Club Tropicana
video in Ibiza, we
chatting, the ice to be with my friends,
watching things get
needed another dancer,
someone glam and
didn’t just break, bigger and better. The
best thing in my life
gorgeous. Waiting for
Pepsi at the station was
it melted away’ was Martin [Kemp], the
sweetest man I’d ever
like a blind date. When she tapped on met. I didn’t care that he was in Spandau
my car window and we started chatting, Ballet, I’d have fallen in love with him no
the ice didn’t just break, it melted away. matter what. When he gave me his number,
I was too shy to call, so George played
Wham! and the 80s Cupid, rang him and passed the receiver
to me. Martin and I were both touring all
Pepsi I had no idea of the hysteria over the world, and spent a small fortune
the Wham! boys induced – it was on phone calls. I’d burst into tears when

I hung up, but Peps was wonderful, saying,
‘Let’s cheer up and order room service.’
Staying grounded
Pepsi Staying balanced and down-to-
earth was our superpower. Wherever we
went, we aimed to make it feel like home.
After a show, we’d get into our dressing
WORDS: CHRISTABEL SMITH. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY
gowns and drink hot chocolate. We
missed each other when we came off
tour. We’d call for a gossip or go dancing,
and Shirlie would hop on a bus so we
could go to our favourite Italian restaurant.
Shirlie The press assumed we were living
in Club Tropicana, but I’d always choose
a cup of tea over a pina colada. While the
boys made it big in America, Peps and
I signed our first record deal and reached
number two in the charts with Heartache.
My longing for a baby was growing.
I suffered endometriosis and Peps was
constantly kind, ready to listen or distract
me. When I finally had the news I yearned
for, she was beside herself. She adored
baby Harley, and George was like a
doting uncle.
Losing George
Pepsi By Christmas 2016, I was living
back in St Lucia with my husband James.
I was checking the turkey when I saw
Shirlie calling my phone. But it was
Harley, breathless and crying, telling
me George had died. Shirlie was too
distraught to speak.
Shirlie I felt sorry for Peps because she
was so far away, but once the initial shock
was over, it made us talk even more. The
following year, Pepsi, Andrew and I paid
tribute to our friend at the BRITS. When
W&H
EXPLORE
Pepsi & Shirlie’s
GUIDE TO
FRIENDSHIP
✢ History beats geography
No matter how many oceans
separate you, find a way to keep
special friends in your life.
✢ Celebrate your similarities
and differences Great friendship
is all about balance.
✢ Wax and wane You don’t have
to speak daily and everyone needs
space at times.
✢ Grieve together No matter
how painful, loss is the price we
all pay for love.
✢ Snack Those who munch
together, stay together.
✢ Dance together You get to know
a lot about someone when you’re
boogying to ABC’s Poison Arrow.
✢ Give those flowers now!
Don’t wait to tell your friend they’re
amazing and you love them.
Peps flew in for that, she fell into
my arms. The reunion was sad, but
special and joyous too.
Friends for life
Pepsi Our lives are different
now – I am in St Lucia and run a sailing
business with my husband. He soon
found out how close we are. We’re like
sisters, so we squabble sometimes, but
we laugh at the most ridiculous things.
Shirlie I enjoy the quiet of family life.
Being with Peps makes the years roll
away, and Martin, Harley and my son
Roman love seeing us together, howling
away at something daft. From day one,
we’ve boosted each other’s confidence,
supported each other, and shared the
highs and lows.
✢ It’s All in Black and
White: Wham!, Life
and Friendship by
Pepsi DeMacque-
Crockett and Shirlie
Kemp, is out now
(£20, HB, Welbeck).
womanandhome.com 43
 LATER
LIFE
mums
Three women share their at-times difficult but ultimately
rewarding journeys to motherhood

44 womanandhome.com
 in our experience

‘I gave birth with a donor embryo’

Carolyne Ness, 62, gave birth to
her son, Javed, when she was 58.
Originally from Fife, Scotland,
Carolyne and Javed now live in
Sydney, Australia.
Some 24 years after I started trying
for a baby, I heard the words I had
longed for. ‘You are pregnant’, confirmed
my doctor. I placed a protective hand
over my stomach as she
reminded me I was an older
mum with an extremely
‘I thought I
high-risk pregnancy. was too old,
through the menopause and could
potentially carry a child.
The International Fertility Centre, New
Delhi, offered the procedure to women
my age, so I booked my trip for March
2017. From a list of potential donors,
I picked a 21-year-old Indian woman who
seemed sweet and kind. The clinic sent
me a detailed breakdown of how they
supported the egg donor
through the process, and
I felt confident that she was
looked after, with health

but a miracle
I spent my 20s travelling,
returned to Fife when
I was 30, and met a man I’d
later marry and try to have happened’
children with. But, we were
eventually told we had unexplained
infertility. It was a crushing
disappointment that tore us apart.
Divorcing when I was 40, I settled
in Sydney, Australia, and worked as
a receptionist, but never met anyone
I could imagine starting a family with.
Although the longing never abated,
I was happy. I had wonderful friends
and spoke to my sister, Rhona, regularly.
I didn’t feel old, but time was running
out. A friend suggested ‘embryo
adoption’, using an egg and sperm from
younger donors. I’d been on HRT for
years to prevent hereditary osteoporosis,
which meant I hadn’t technically been
Carolyne
Ness, left,
used a donor
egg and
sperm to
conceive
Javed, right,
now a happy
little boy
checks and support through
her decision to donate.
I chose an American sperm
donor, 6ft tall, with dark hair
and brown eyes.
Rhona was supportive but some friends
were initially sceptical, asking if I was ready
for sleepless nights. They were now
grandmothers, but I’d never experienced
the joy they’d had decades before.
Arriving in New Delhi, I felt full of
anticipation. Three embryos were
transferred and I was given progesterone
to boost the chances of implantation.
Two weeks later, a blood test back home
confirmed that, incredibly, I was pregnant.
I thought I was too old to become a mum,
but a miracle happened. The £5,500 cost
was the best money I’d ever spent.
I was monitored closely by a
supportive medical team. One nurse did
a double-take when she saw my date of
birth but I found it best to wear my age
with pride. Javed was born by C-section
on 6 November 2017 and he was perfect.
Now a happy little boy, Javed has so
much energy. Although keeping up with
him is tiring, I’m a better mother than
I would have been when I was younger.
I have life experience, patience and time.
Javed loves it when I dance with him, and
he loves riding his bike through puddles.
I had forgotten those simple joys, but
seeing the world through his eyes is
beautiful. When he tells me he loves me,
I feel like crying because I would have
missed out on so much.
I’ve been mistaken for his grandmother
but I don’t get offended. I asked Javed if
he thought I was old recently and he said,
‘No, you’re not old, Mummy!’ I’ve started
telling him I went to India to get him
and brought him home in my tummy.
His life started with an adventure and
that’s how I want him to see it. He has
made my life complete. >>

‘I’m a better mother

than I would
have been when
I was younger’
womanandhome.com 45
 ‘I adopted Lucy when she was six’
Margaret Reynolds, 63, adopted Lucy
when she was 51 and Lucy was six.
They live in the Cotswolds.
I was in my 40s
when a moment in
a restaurant sparked
my journey to
motherhood. On
holiday in Sicily, I was
watching a little boy
interact with a waiter,
his mother looking
on proudly. I felt a
longing for a child to
accompany me on life’s
adventure. I’d been
married to a man for
10 years before having
a 12-year relationship
with a woman. By this
time I was single, and
a biological child was an
impossibility, as I’d been
through menopause, but
I felt there was a child in ‘It’s a
the world who needed me.
I was inspired to adopt from
privilege to
China, as friends had, but
after 18 months of interviews
call her my
and references, a panel
denied my application after
daughter’
finding a reference online to my previous
same-sex relationship, barring me from
adopting from China. I was devastated
but determined, starting the process
again. There were more false starts and
rejections. My sixth application, to an
independent adoption agency in the UK,
46 womanandhome.com
After four months, Lucy called me
‘Mum’ for the first time. She’s been by my
was accepted. By then I was 51, which side for every adventure I’ve had since.
meant I could not be matched with Now Lucy is 18 and it’s my turn to be
a baby. I realised that an older child would by her side as her adventures begin.
have experienced pain Sometimes, I’m reminded of our age gap.
and rejection. I vowed We’ve taken a few walking challenges and
to accept and love my she has marched off ahead. She’s starting
future child. university and we laugh at how different
In 2008, I found my university experience was, in the 1970s.
the child destined to The benefits of being an older mum
become my daughter. outweigh the drawbacks. My career
Lucy was six, with was established and I was ready to
long hair, big eyes and devote myself. Curiosity about her birth
a bright smile. That family caused Lucy a few difficult years
August, we met at in her early teens, and being her mum
Lucy’s foster home. hasn’t always been easy, but it’s a
She was wary of privilege to call her my daughter. Lucy
new people. On our has filled my life with love. She is my
first trip out alone, greatest adventure.
a waitress told me
what good manners ✢ The Wild Track:
my daughter had. Adopting, Mothering,
I hoped one day, Belonging by Margaret
Lucy would feel that Reynolds is published by
I was her mother.
When the big day came,
Doubleday.
Lucy cried from the moment
we left the foster home.
Her life had been chaotic,
so I focused on settling her
into a calm routine. Rather
than overload Lucy with new
experiences, we’d walk to the village
pond every day, feed my hens and have
dinner at the same time. I wanted Lucy
to feel safe, her life finally consistent.
Margaret
Reynolds has
had many
adventures
with her
daughter
Lucy, who was
six when she
was adopted
‘I focused on creating
a calm, stable routine’

‘I had IVF at 46’
Ellie Stoneley, 57, gave birth to Hope,
now nine, when she was 47. Ellie and
Hope live with Ellie’s mum Hilda, 94,
in Cambridge.
In my teens, I imagined living in
a cottage with roses around the door,
surrounded by my children. But life
doesn’t always go to plan. I was delighted
for friends when they started having
WORDS: KIM WILLIS. MAIN PHOTO (POSED BY MODELS): GETTY
children, but felt wistful when I held my
brother’s babies. While friends were
raising families, I seized opportunities
to live in Australia and America. I had a
miscarriage in my early 30s. And my
partner died – another devastating blow.
I met my husband and we tried for a
baby but I had another miscarriage. Then
in my mid-40s we decided to try IVF.
I gave up everything that might increase
risk of miscarriage – hair dye, alcohol,
coffee and red meat. I had the IVF in
May 2011, and a few weeks later, a scan
confirmed I was pregnant. Because of my
‘Even as
Hope was
handed to
me, I scarcely
believed she
was here’
age, I had extra scans, but
I never suffered issues many of my
younger friends had, from swollen ankles
to pre-eclampsia. I delighted in being
pregnant, walking every day.
As a particularly ‘geriatric’ mum, I was
given a C-section in January 2012. Even
as Hope was handed to me, I scarcely
believed she was here. I hadn’t dared to
buy baby things as it felt like
tempting fate.
‘It’s about
Before Hope was born, I
travelled the world, doing
charity work and following
being the
bands. When she was tiny,
Bruce Springsteen toured the
best mother
UK. I was so busy I happily
missed the tour. When Hope
I can be’
was four, I took her to see him in Oslo and
she sang on stage with him! Life became
more joyful because Hope was in it.
Normally confident, I found our first
visit to a playgroup terrifying. I was one
of the oldest, and the youngest was 18.
But it turned out we all had the same
in our experience
Ellie Stoneley and
her daughter Hope,
now nine, live
with Ellie’s mother
Hilda, 94, below
issues – we were all exhausted and
happy to realise we were not alone.
Sadly our marriage broke up, and Hope
and I moved in with my mother, an artist
and geologist. She taught Hope to paint
and to identify fossils. Hope enjoys a flexi
home-school day once a week – we’ve
been to the British Antarctic Survey to
learn about her grandfather's
polar experiences, and taken
an impromptu trip to Calais
to buy patisseries in French.
Now nine, Hope is happy,
kind and high-spirited. She
loves skateboarding, cats and
the piano, and her intrepid
character amazes me. Do
I wish I’d had her younger? She’s here
now. It’s not about being an older mum,
it’s about being the best mother I can be.
✢ Milky Moments by Ellie Stoneley
(Pinter and Martin) is on Facebook
@MilkyMomentsBook
Follow her blog @MushBrainedRamblings
womanandhome.com 47
 WHAT I’VE LEARNED
‘I never told my mum
about Lily Savage’
Paul O’Grady, 66, is a television presenter and author.
He lives in Kent with his husband Andre, 40
Be calm in a crisis.
The bigger the drama, the
better I am at coping. I was in
Borneo filming in September
2015 when I turned on the telly
and saw that my dear friend
Jackie Collins had died of
breast cancer. When I came
down the crew were white as
sheets and said, ‘Do you want
to film?’ I replied, ‘Of course. If
I didn’t, Jackie would go mad.’
Offer help when you can.
Cruelty or neglect to kids and
animals is my soft spot. In my
20s, I worked for social services
and helped a lot of vulnerable
people, and I still do what I can
when I see suffering. When
I was in Africa with Save The
Children in 2008, I went to
a refugee camp in an old tyre
warehouse. It was shocking.
One mother had made a cot
out of a tyre and had wedged
her baby in the middle. These
people had nothing, so I went
to the local supermarket with a friend
and spent about a grand, and the
supermarket delivered it in a van.
INTERVIEW: GEMMA CALVERT. PHOTO: KIRSTY MATTSSON
Writing has helped me hone tenacity.
It’s great when you get an idea. You go,
‘Woo! Fabulous!’, then you’re on a roll
because that idea leads to something
else. Writing my children’s book, Eddie
Albert, I’d reach a crossroads with
the plot and parade around the house
fretting about what direction to go next.
Some days I couldn’t even be bothered
to write. In those moments, I’d stick with
it, knowing that a new idea would come.
Then I’d be writing for four hours!
Stand up for what you believe in.
My dad Patrick was Irish, so didn’t need
to go to war, but joined the Royal Air
Force because he hated fascism. He and
my mum hadn’t been married long when
he went to Dunkirk, so he sacrificed a
lot for what he believed. I admired him
hugely. I was 17 when Dad died from
a heart attack. My mother had had a
heart attack and, when Dad went to visit
her in hospital, he was told she probably
wouldn’t last the night. That evening,
he got sick and my mum survived. The
doctor later said, ‘If I could put a broken
heart on the death certificate, I would.’
It’s sad, isn’t it?
Don’t let fear hold you back.
When I first got up as Lily
Savage in my early 20s,
I couldn’t get over the reaction.
It was amazing. The biggest
secret I’ve ever kept is never
telling my mother about Lily
Savage. I’d created Lily on the
London cabaret circuit and was
still living at home while I was
performing at all the pubs up
north. I thought, ‘I can’t breeze
into my mother and say, “I’m
dressing up as a prostitute to
go around the working men’s
clubs in the north of England.”’
A balance of personalities
builds a strong marriage.
My marriage works because
I can be lazy. I’ll say, ‘I don’t
want to go on holiday, I’m
happy to sit here.’ I can’t be
bothered with the preparation,
the packing. Andre will say,
‘Come on, we’re going,’ and
afterwards I’m always glad
I did. He motivates me.
My grandkids are the greatest reward
of fatherhood.
I became a dad at the age of 17 and didn’t
really get to see a lot of my daughter
[Sharyn Mousley, 47] when she was little,
but I did with the grandkids [Abel, 14, and
Halo, 11]. Watching them grow up is just
wonderful. I think, ‘My god,
I’ve kept the chain going!’
✢ Eddie Albert and the
Amazing Animal Gang
by Paul O’Grady (£12.99,
HarperCollins Children’s
Books) is out now.
womanandhome.com 49
 How long
does
GRIEF
LAST? Her little brother was loud, loving and
funny. But after he was murdered,
Helen McGinn struggled for years
to come to terms with her loss

M
y brother Tim was larger
than life. I know it’s a
cliché, but he really was.
He was tall with dark hair,
a large grin and loud. Really quite
loud. Funny, caring, always up for
whatever life threw at him. Except for
what happened one January evening,
2002. He wasn’t ready for that. None
of us was ready for that.
I’m the eldest of three siblings. My
sister Alex was born a few years after me
and then, shortly after, along came Tim.
We grew up in idyllic surroundings in
50 womanandhome.com
the small and very beautiful village of
Beaulieu in the New Forest. My father
worked at the National Motor Museum
and our house sat in the grounds of
Palace House, the local stately home.
There was a monorail and a vintage
bus in the ‘garden’ the three of us rode
on, for free, endlessly. After the visitors
went home, we had the place almost to
ourselves, riding bikes and roller-skating
down the long empty roads.
Growing up with two older sisters
wasn’t always easy for Tim, I’m sure, but
despite the standard sibling teasing we
were close as teenagers, a real team.
In our 20s, Tim and I lived in London at
the same time, and shared friends and
packets of crisps in the pub. I adored
his company, knowing the lunch would
always be long, or the evening filled with
laughs and fuelled by shots of sambuca
(he loved springing those on people).
When I got married, he cried like a baby
when my husband Ross and I left the
party at the end of the evening. Still, that
didn’t stop him snaffling the last of the
booze and shipping it to a nearby barn to
finish it off with friends until dawn.

That January evening almost
20 years ago was like most other
Sunday evenings at that time. Ross
and I were on the sofa in our flat,
watching a film. The one with
Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda,
where she wins the lottery. Funny
what you remember, isn’t it? The
phone rang. It was Tim’s girlfriend,
Jemma. ‘Tim’s been stabbed.’ My
mind raced. I tried to make sense of
what she was telling me. Had he been
in a fight? An altercation outside a pub?
The next thing I heard was a stranger’s
voice telling me to go to St Thomas’
Hospital. Tim was in an ambulance
and being taken straight there.
I remember sitting in the car on the
way to the hospital, my husband telling
me to gently move my fingers when
I told him they’d gone numb. They felt
as if they belonged to someone else.
I had to call my parents and tell them
what little I knew. My sister too. As it
turned out, Tim had been carjacked.
He’d been followed back to his road in
PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY, KI PRICE
‘The three
of us were
close as
teenagers,
a real team’
Battersea after picking up his girlfriend
from the station. After parking his car,
he’d been approached by two people.
Seconds later, he lay on the pavement
having been stabbed multiple times.
One of them had pierced his heart.
The next few days went by in a blur
as we waited in the small
hospital room for news
of his condition. I saw him ‘No screams or
one last time before the
life-support machine was sobs, no falling
switched off. As we left
the hospital, I remember
to the floor. Just
thinking, it’s so quiet.
No screams or sobs,
stunned silence’
no falling to the floor. Just
stunned silence. My little brother, larger
than life but suddenly no longer here.
Nothing made sense.
Grief affected us all quite differently.
I didn’t feel particularly angry, just
desperately sad. I clung to the comfort
of our shared friends, needing to be with
people who knew Tim as well as I did.
My husband had known my brother since
childhood (we met when we were four,
that’s another story), and Tim absolutely
loved him. Again, that helped, I think.
One night, I googled ‘How long does
grief last?’, wanting to know when it
would stop hurting so much. Mostly, I felt
the honest truth
like I was underwater, seeing and hearing
life going on around me but not quite
able to connect with it. Of course, I now
know the answer. Grief lasts forever.
It just took me a while to get my head
around that. Years, in fact.
Slowly I came back to the surface,
a process speeded up somewhat by
having children, although that took time
after Tim died. I honestly think my mind
and body weren’t ready
so didn’t allow me
to get pregnant for a
few years, just without
telling me.
It also took time to
realise that everyone
dealing with death
in different ways is
just how life is.
There’s no wrong
or right way to do grief,
only your way.
Now, 20 years on and
three children later, our
house is full of pictures
of Tim. In fact, one of my most treasured
possessions is a picture of him painted
by my husband.
I’m sad the children didn’t get to meet
their uncle, but we talk about him often.
I know Tim would have loved them so
much (and spoiled them rotten).
I still see lots of his
friends. His nickname,
rather fittingly, was Rocket
Robinson. He’d claim
that was down to his skills
on a ski slope but when
I see the rocket emoji
in messages exchanged
with family and friends, it
captures him so perfectly.
Full pelt, full of energy and with the
promise of adventures ahead.
He left an enormous hole in our
lives when he died, one that will always
be there. But he was here as my brother
for all those years and for that I am
forever grateful.
Life goes on and I’m
determined to live it
as fully as I possibly
can, not least for Tim.
✢ Helen’s book, In Just
One Day, is out now
(£8.99, Boldwood Books).
womanandhome.com 51
 AMAZING
WOMEN
AWARDS
MAKING LIFE EASIER
FOR STRUGGLING MUMS
Tracey Davis, 51 2021 CREATING
A SOCIAL HUB
Veronica Wells, 72

Meet Britain’s most

AMAZING
WOMEN We are delighted to
announce the winners of the
woman&home Amazing
Women Awards 2021

F
irst the long list, then the
shortlist… Now, months after
beginning our annual search
for women who inspire, motivate,
trailblaze and campaign, we present
our winners of the woman&home
CHANGING Amazing Women Awards 2021. From
OUR COUNTRY their charity work, to their vision,
Kate Griggs, 58 dedication, entrepreneurship and the
support they offer our communities,
we celebrate the many achievements
of these exceptional individuals. >>
 SPREADING
JOY THROUGH
LAUGHTER YOGA
Amy Meera Gill, 50

SMASHING THE
GLASS CEILING
Michelle Vickers, 56

DON’T TELL ME I CAN’T…

CELEBRITY Angela Middleton MBE, 59
DOING GOOD
Meera Syal CBE, 59

EXTRAORDINARY
ENTREPRENEUR
Rachel Clacher CBE, 53

CARING FOR VULNERABLE

STEERING FAMILIES YOUNG WOMEN
THROUGH GRIEF Valerie Duff, 78
Nicola Graham, 50
womanandhome.com 53
 SMASHING THE
GLASS CEILING
Michelle Vickers, 56
CEO of the Head and Neck Cancer
Foundation, she has enjoyed a
stellar career in not-for-profit
organisations.

What does this award mean to you?

More than I imagined it would.
Reliving my improbable journey and
acknowledging it fully, I am so proud

DON’T TELL ME I CAN’T…

of myself.
Which woman inspires you? My
amazing friends, and Michelle
Obama – for the way she balances Angela Middleton MBE, 59
commitment to family and hard Transformed her body with world, and all while being a loving

work. I find her empathy, strength
and dignity overwhelming.
What are you proudest of and
what would you like to achieve? I am
most proud of being contented. I feel
tranquil, happy and at peace with
myself, which has taken a while.
What is your shout-out to midlife
women? Realise that you can have it
all, you just need to know what ‘it all’ is.
My theory is that ‘all’ is not ‘everything’
but that it’s ‘enough’. Find out what
your ‘enough’ is and let go of the rest.
What qualities do you most admire
in others? Height and diplomacy.
What would your superpower be?
The Jedi superpower of persuasion.
From ending wars and prejudice to
getting the waste bins taken out or
the dishwasher emptied, I think it’s
a powerful quality.
54 womanandhome.com
weight-training and created a
bespoke programme, Your Body
Means Business, to help others
achieve their fitness and
‘Your best
business goals.
What does this award years are
mean to you? It’s an
absolute honour to receive always ahead
it and also a surprise,
seeing all the wonderful
of you – just
women nominated. It
inspires me to continue to
believe it’
do more and be more impactful…
we’re never finished!
Which woman inspires you? The late
American lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg,
who rose to become Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court. She achieved
so much for herself, for women of the
ANGELA: JACKET, & OTHER STORIES, TOP, COAST, JEANS, KAREN MILLEN. RACHEL: DRESS, HOBBS
PHOTO OF MEERA: ELISABETH HOFF/LICKERISH SYNDICATION. MICHELLE: JUMPER, JD WILLIAMS.
wife and parent.
What are you proudest of and
what would you like to achieve? I’m
proud of being in business
for 40 years, excelling in
competitive markets, and
impacting the careers and
lives of so many. I’m also
proud of my own physical
transformation and want to
continue to support other
women to do the same.
What’s your shout-out
to midlife women? Your best years
are always ahead of you – just believe it.
What qualities do you most admire
in others? Resilience, resourcefulness
and reliability.
What would your superpower be?
To spot that in others and draw it out.
 AMAZING
WOMEN
EXTRAORDINARY AWARDS
ENTREPRENEUR
Rachel Clacher CBE, 53
2021
Co-founded the globally successful
Moneypenny and launched WeMind
TheGap to change lives of youngsters
who lack opportunities and support.

What does this award mean to you?

It means that the world is noticing the
forces for good that Moneypenny and
WeMindTheGap have become, thanks to
the amazing individuals I’ve worked with.
Which woman inspires you?
Every woman, every human, inspires me.
Everyone has their own story to learn from.
What are you proudest of and what
would you like to achieve? Of having
learnt to put my trust in others – to
watch Joanna Swash, Group CEO of
Moneypenny, growing our business, and
Diane Aplin leading WeMindTheGap
is humbling. What we need now are
powerful national conversations about
purpose, opportunity and social mobility.
What’s your shout-out to midlife
women? All we have is now. If you
never try, you’ll never know.
What quality do you most admire
in others? Patience.
What would your superpower be?
To remove ego. The world would change
if everyone made the best decisions
for each situation rather than the best
ones for them.
CELEBRITY DOING GOOD
Meera Syal CBE, 59
The actor is Ambassador for the would you like to achieve? Of making
charity, Alzheimer’s Society (AS). a living out of what I love and balancing
that with a happy home life.
What does this award mean to you? What’s your shout-out to midlife
I feel touched and delighted. I’ve been women? These are the ripe years when
an AS ambassador since my father was we truly blossom. Stay healthy and
diagnosed with dementia in 2012 – the curious, say yes to new experiences and
work I do for AS is in his memory. The adore every wrinkle and scar – they tell
AS was a great source of support and the story you have lived, laughed, cried,
information for us, and I have been learned and survived!
honoured to help spread that message. What quality do you most admire
Which woman inspires you? My in others? Practical empathy.
mother, for her unending devotion and What would your superpower be?
patience with my father during his illness. Giving everyone the ability to stand in
And my daughter – her resilience and someone else’s skin for an hour. That,
wicked sense of humour keep me going! or being able to transfer the hair from
What are you proudest of and what my chin to my head! >>

womanandhome.com 55
 CHANGING OUR
COUNTRY
Kate Griggs, 58
Founded Made By Dyslexia and
works tirelessly to transform and
improve perceptions around those
with the condition.

What does this award mean to

you? It’s a wonderful reminder that
the work I’m doing is all worth it and
I’m making a difference.
Which woman inspires you?
Fellow dyslexic Erin Brockovich, the
environmental activist who built and
won a successful lawsuit against an
energy giant.
What are you proudest of and
what would you like to achieve?
Of having written two books,
Xtraordinary People and This is
Dyslexia, which show how dyslexic
minds think differently, creating
unique skill sets.
What’s your shout-out to midlife
women? Midlife is an amazing time
to follow your dreams. We get so
much wiser with age, and experience
is a brilliant talent resource. Whatever
it is you’d like to do, give it a go.
What quality do you most admire
in others? I love people who just
dive in and try things. COMMUNITY
What would your superpower be? MAKING LIFE EASIER HERO
South East &
FOR STRUGGLING MUMS
Simplifying and explaining things. And
a relentless drive for positive change. South West
Tracey Davis, 51
Founded the charity Guiding Hands of my children! But I’m also proud of
to support families in need. the mums I have helped over the years.
I’d like to close the widening gap
What does this award mean to you? between those who have support and
I spend 80% of my time working with those who don’t.
Guiding Hands, so it’s fantastic to What’s your shout-out to midlife
be recognised for it personally. It’s a women? Do ‘me time’. Get together
wake-up moment that you are impacting with friends at least once a month, and
on others’ lives. I can’t thank everybody also binge-watch a series with your
enough for ‘seeing’ me. children – it’s important bonding time.
Which woman inspires you? Mothers, What qualities do you most admire
in general, inspire me. Seeing the in others? Loyalty, determination,
vital role they play in shaping the next commitment and dedication.
generation motivates me for the work What would your superpower be?
that still lies ahead. To be like an iron woman – coming
What are you proudest of and what to the rescue, sorting people out and
would you like to achieve? I’m proudest trying to help them.
56 womanandhome.com
 AMAZING
WOMEN
COMMUNITY
HERO AWARDS
SPREADING JOY THROUGH
LAUGHTER YOGA
East Midlands
& East Anglia
2021
Amy Meera Gill, 50 become – I have overcome what I once
Provides wellbeing services to thought I couldn’t. In the future, I’d
the local community, helping those like to publish a book – my journey
struggling with mental health issues. from 50 to 60.
What’s your shout-out to midlife
What does this award mean to you? women? Take every end as a
It’s an honour that strengthens my beginning. When I had to relocate,
purpose further. I’d like to thank I had no idea what I was going to do.
my daughter Sandy for nominating A decade on, I am loving life and have
me, my son Zac for supporting me this award. If I can do it, so can you!
and my husband for believing in me. What quality do you most admire COMMUNITY
Which woman inspires you? My in others? Patience resolves conflicts, HERO
mother – she is 76 and radiates issues and misunderstandings. It’s the Wales &
positivity and joy. key to happiness. West Midlands
What are you proudest of and What would your superpower be?
what would you like to achieve? Gratitude – it helps me maintain CREATING
A SOCIAL HUB
I am proud of the person I have a content, loving and positive life.

Veronica Wells, 72
Established the Prestatyn and
Meliden Community Action Group
pop-in centre supporting young
people and families in crisis.

What does this award mean to you?

It’s fantastic but the best part will be
sharing the news, and celebrating with
the autism and additional needs group
who nominated me.
Which woman inspires you? Civil rights
DRESS AND NECKLACE, BOTH WOOLOVERS. VERONICA: DRESS, HOBBS, NECKLACE, WOOLOVERS

activist Rosa Parks, who showed that

segregation, discrimination and bigotry
TRACEY: BLOUSE, TU AT SAINSBURY’S, JEANS, YOURS CLOTHING, NECKLACE, SEASALT. AMY:

are profoundly wrong. She proved that

one woman’s actions can make positive,
lasting change.
What are you proudest of and what
would you like to achieve? Watching
pensioners enjoying lunch in good
company, seeing young people grow
in confidence and witnessing parents
of additional needs children obtain the
services and education their children
have a right to expect, makes me so
proud. My dream is to expand the centre
– we need £130,000. It will happen!
What’s your shout-out to midlife
women? Do what gives us joy. Try
volunteering – it can be so rewarding.
What quality do you most admire in
others? The ability to give things a go.
What would your superpower be?
I would make loneliness disappear. >>
womanandhome.com 57
 AMAZING
WOMEN
AWARDS
2021
STEERING FAMILIES THROUGH GRIEF
Nicola Graham, 50
Founded and runs the charity
Reuben’s Retreat, following
the death of her youngest son,
supporting families who have
lost children and those of
children with complex illnesses.
What does this award mean to you?
I’m humbled and grateful that being
involved might mean we reach more
families needing our support.
Which woman inspires you? My
mum is a real champion of people,
and throughout her working career
has been a voice for others and an
advocate for positive change.
What are you proudest of and what
would you like to achieve? I am
proud of both of my boys. Isaac has
coped incredibly well after losing his
58 womanandhome.com
COMMUNITY
HERO
North East, North
West & Yorkshire
brother and continues to be such
a rock for us. Equally, I feel blessed
to walk hand in hand with my angel
son, Reuben, every day, delivering
his legacy.
What’s your shout-out to midlife
women? Embrace ageing. It’s a gift that’s
not afforded to some, so embrace
every new day and be thankful for it.
What quality do you most admire
in others? Friendliness, which has the
ability to put people at ease and open
up opportunity.
What would your superpower be?
I agree with my son, Isaac, who’s 13,
that ‘healing’ would be our superpower.
Many of our families say our retreat
holds a beautiful healing energy,
so this is also Reuben’s superpower.
coming through.
CARING FOR
VULNERABLE
YOUNG WOMEN
Valerie Duff, 78
AND TRACEY’S HAIR & MAKE-UP: SHERRIE WARWICK. RACHEL AND NICOLA’S HAIR & MAKE-UP: ALISON CHESTERTON. AMY’S HAIR & MAKE-UP:
JESSICA GOODALL. VERONICA’S HAIR & MAKE-UP: SARAH ROBERTS/MACH MANAGEMENT. VALERIE’S HAIR, PAUL KISBY, MAKE-UP, SAMANTHA
WORDS: STEPHANIE CLARKSON. PHOTOS: ANNE-MARIE BICKERTON, CLAIRE WOOD. STYLING: ANNA WOODHAM. MICHELLE, ANGELA, KATE
Runs the Waakisa Ministries Trust
WEIGHTMAN/MACH MANAGEMENT. NICOLA: BLAZER, ZARA, DRESS, WINSER LONDON. VALERIE: JUMPER, NEXT, NECKLACE, OLIVER BONAS
Northern Ireland, dedicating her
time to supporting vulnerable
women both locally and in Uganda.
What does this award mean to you?
It is exciting on a personal level, but it
means most for the charity.
Which woman inspires you? The
‘Go for it –
Queen, who
inspires us all to
think of others first.
What are you make your
proudest of and
what would you dreams
like to achieve?
I’m proudest of the
a reality’
steps to independence for all the young
women supported by Waakisa that
become possible through support,
love and kindness. I hope to continue
to build on the work of the past 20 years.
What’s your shout-out to midlife
women? Go for it – make your dreams
a reality with a small step today!
What qualities do you most admire
in others? Kindness and being
understanding of difference, which
is a lovely thing.
What would your superpower be?
Everlasting energy!
COMMUNITY
HERO
Scotland &
Northern Ireland
 W&H
EXPLORE

C
hristmas is when the
simplest things bring us
joy. The thought you put
into your presents, the
care that comes with wrapping
them, and the tangible gesture
of handing it over to a loved one.
This Christmas, L’OCCITANE
celebrates its producers, whose
passion is infused into every product,
with the highest-quality ingredients.
A gift has the power to transport a
loved one to a moment in time, and
L’OCCITANE aims to do just that, from

FREE gift and

̅iwi`Ãœv*ÀœÛi˜Vi̜ޜÕÀ…œ“i°
From eco-gifting options and limited-
edition scents to baubles and crackers,
there is a festive treat for everyone.
Get ahead of the Christmas rush
and embrace the beauty of nature this

15% off full-price Christmas with L’OCCITANE’s gifts,

beautifully presented in recyclable gift
boxes and reusable soft tissue.
As a treat, L’OCCITANE is offering

products at w&h readers 15% off full-sized products

and a free gift throughout October!

HOW TO CLAIM

L’OCCITANE Give the magic of Provence

Present this page at checkout at
L’OCCITANE boutiques or use offer
code WH15 at uk.loccitane.com.
Offer valid between 30 September
and 31 October 2021.

TERMS & CONDITIONS 1 The FREE Christmas gift and 15% off promotions are valid from 30 September to 31 October 2021 when you spend £20 or more
in store and online at uk.loccitane.com 2 Magazine page or offer code WH15 must be verbally spoken to redeem your offers in store, or offer code WH15 must be added to
basket when checking out online 3 Offers are for one transaction per customer only 4 15% discount on full-price items only and excludes: Advent Calendars, Reset Serum,
Reset Eye Serum, Special Value Gift Sets, Prestige Relaxing Candle, Kit Luciole, Diffuser Sticks, Home Perfume Diffuser and discounted items 5 These offers exclude the
following boutiques: Bicester Village, Cheshire Oaks, Portsmouth, all department stores, airport stores and any other independent L’OCCITANE stockists 6 Offers subject
to availability 7 L’OCCITANE reserves the right to substitute this gift 8 Offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, cannot be exchanged for cash and no
alternative product can be chosen.

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Enjoy this offer right now. Turn to page 5 to discover
how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
 W&H OFFER

THE JANE PLAN DIET

Get £15 off every month
Enjoy deliciously healthy
dishes that are perfectly PLUS!
WOMAN&HOME DIET
portioned, beautifully SUPPORTS YOU ALL THE WAY
with weekly email and
balanced and delivered telephone support to
help you keep
to your door on track

T
he woman&home Diet
by Jane Plan is the diet
delivery service that
provides you with meals
for breakfast, lunch and dinner
– plus snacks – all ready-prepared
for you. We know what it’s like
PQVVQHGGNEQPƂFGPVKPYJCV[QWoTG
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great money-off offer.

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your weight-loss needs
WEIGHT-LOSS RECOMMENDED 1ST
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LOSE 2st 3 MONTHS £214

LOSE 3st 4 MONTHS £194

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calories a day), food diary and personalised menu.

SAVE £15 EVERY

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Use the code WHCPA1121
at janeplan.com
or call 020 3489 4770
*Prices quoted have applied £15 discount.
Not combinable with any other code.
PHOTO: ALAMY

P&P charges may apply.

Offer operated by and your resulting
contract is with Jane Plan Ltd, a company
wholly independent of woman&home,
published by Future plc.

‘My sister
and I were
different
SPECIES’
Author Lucy Mangan
ponders how she
ended up with such
an organised sibling
T
wo words sum up the look
on my face as I meet my baby
sister for the first time: mixed
emotions. It was 1977 and
I was three, sitting on my mum’s bed in
Lewisham Hospital, south London, just
after Emily had been born. I remember
the air of excitement in that room and
Mum beaming, partly because she’d
been on an alcohol drip and was still
half drunk. I felt apprehensive, sensing
times were changing.
With me is my beloved grandma, who
had jumped on a train from Preston in
Lancashire the moment she
heard Mum was in labour. ‘ I wondered
if she was
I loved having her around
because she would play the
piano and take me for walks
around Catford, where my having secret
family lived. My grandpa
had died, leaving her with life classes’
five kids aged under seven, and she’d
been even stricter than my mum, but
Grandma was lenient with me, teaching
INTERVIEW: CHRISTABEL SMITH
me card games and saying ‘of course you
can have sweeties’. Mum is now a soft
touch with my 10-year-old son, letting him
use quilts from the bed as a cape. If I’d
done that, I’d have been maimed! That’s
the real circle of life and it takes at least
three generations to play out.
Baby Emily was a good doll. I would
look at her and go ‘aah’, but as we grew
older, we got on each other’s nerves. ‘Will
you two stop bickering?’ Mum would say.
I was a slothful bookworm, whereas Emily
was a time-and-motion expert
like our gynaecologist mother.
She was practical, efficient,
laser-focused and able to
see seven steps ahead, while
I’d struggle to remember to
shower. As she built a scale
model of Sizewell B power
station in Lego, I’d hide behind the sofa,
nose in a book. I took after Dad, a stage
manager at the National Theatre, and was
good at reading and writing. At primary
school, Emily excelled at everything. Her
design of a desk was so brilliant, the head
couldn’t believe it was her own work. ‘Who
did you copy it from, your sister?’ she
demanded. Emily was aghast, thinking,
‘Have you met my sister?’
W&H
EXPLORE
Lucy with her
grandmother
and baby sister
She knew how to do so many things,
I wondered if she was having secret life
classes. I didn’t envy her because that
would be like envying a tree or a dog.
We were simply different species.
After graduating from Cambridge with
an English degree, I trained as a solicitor,
but I was a fish out of water at the law firm,
finding the work both boring and difficult.
Thankfully, after work experience at the
Guardian, I got a job as a columnist. Emily
virtually ran Bristol University as a student
and now has an important job in
computers. I can’t describe what she
actually does because I’ve asked at least
20 times and it doesn’t sink in (it might be
something to do with databases).
If I need to put up shelves or cut the
grass, I Facetime my sister, who knows
everything about houses, gardens and
B&Q. ‘Dip your brush in the sealant,’ she
will instruct, watching me. ‘No, take the
lid off first.’ She sighs a little, but she likes
to be needed. I like not to be needed.
Forty four years on from this photo,
she and I still don’t understand what
makes each other tick, but we get on
well, possibly because I’ve accepted that
I am the lesser mortal.
✢ Lucy Mangan is an
author, journalist and
TV critic. Her latest book,
Are We Having Fun Yet?,
is out on 14 October
(£14.99, HB and ebook,
Souvenir Press).
womanandhome.com 61
 BRAND NEW DIRECTIONS

OUR DREAM
BUSINESSES Helping their customers sleep more soundly has proved
a good move for these entrepreneurs

‘At first, I saw Gemma

Colao

CBD as a launched
OTO in 2019

“dodgy” substance’
Gemma Colao, 40, a former fashion
designer for the likes of ESPRIT and
Donna Karan, lives in Chiswick, west
London, with her husband James
Bagley, and sons Leo, four, and Benji,
one. In September 2019, she launched
OTO, a lifestyle brand of premium
CBD products derived from cannabis
sativa, including those designed
to enhance sleep. OTO is stocked in
department stores, including Harrods.

THE IDEA
Working in the fashion industry was so
stressful, I struggled to sleep at night. I left
the industry, but ended up back in it, as
head of the womenswear design team
at Sears, after moving to San Francisco,
when my husband secured a role with
Naked Wines. But stress returned,
along with sleep problems, and when
I mentioned my struggles to a colleague,
she recommended CBD, a derivative
of cannabis sativa. After looking into it,
I found that this ‘dodgy substance’, as
I saw it, was a miracle product – CBD
Sleep Drops – that helped me sleep.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

In February 2018, after two years in
California, we returned to the UK with our
62 womanandhome.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

new baby son Leo, to be closer to our of OTO’s sleep products was confirmed
families. I had become used to in a consumer trial – 92% of users of BUSINESS BREAKDOWN
using CBD in the US and our award-winning Pillow Spray ✢ Start-up costs:
so was pleased when it reported feeling better, while Staff and general overhead
became legal in the UK, 88% of Sleep Drops users costs: £100,000
in November 2018. But
I was disappointed
TOP TIP told us their sleep quality
had improved.
Branding: £25,000
Product and scientific
Strive for excellence,
with the CBD products research and development:
not perfection, which BREAKTHROUGH
available, as they £175,000
can lead to MOMENT
didn’t contain enough ✢ Investment costs: £300,000
burnout
milligrams per dosage to Definitely our window display – we sold our home and put
have a beneficial effect. So, at Selfridges, for one week in the proceeds into the business,
I teamed up with a group of July. It featured 200 delicate origami and got a loan of £27,000
like-minded friends, including two hemp leaves morphing into free-flying ✢ Current turnover:
scientists, to create OTO. The quality birds, to represent the leaves breaking £2m per annum
free from the stigma and celebrating this otocbd.com
powerful legal ingredient.

STEEPEST LEARNING outreach events, where we give out

CURVE
Although CBD is legal and a natural
ingredient, it has a strong stigma
attached to it, due to its association with
cannabis. I even had one investor refuse
to put money into the business because
he ‘doesn’t invest in drugs’! So our
biggest job is education, which we
provide through the press, virtual
consultations via our website, and
samples of our products.
WHERE ARE WE NOW
OTO is a leading premium CBD brand.
We got to this point by expanding from
CBD oils (such as body oils), to skincare
and sleep products. Our customers
include people who value wellness or
began to have difficulty sleeping, brought
on by the uncertainty of lockdown. >>

Gemma and
James with
the display ‘Stress was
at Selfridges
disturbing
my sleep’

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Find out more about these businesses. Turn to page 5 to
discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
‘For many women, a headscarf at night is essential’
Former social worker Lisa Pitters, a light-bulb moment and the concept
54, lives in Sutton, Surrey, with her of aesthetically beautiful nightwear with
husband Lee and children Leshon, 23, matching headscarves was born.
and Dante, 20. Last year, she teamed
up with her cousin Jacqueline Crooks, WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
55, from south Croydon, Surrey, Jacqueline says Lisa told me about the
to launch LJ Signature, a business idea, and a survey among family and
that provides stylish nightwear friends confirmed women would buy our
with matching headscarves. Lisa nightwear. We came up with a timetable
and Jacqueline were born and raised for the design concept, the customer
in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. profile, and the product development
plan of a collection for women and girls.
THE IDEA Having worked in fashion as a designer Jacqueline, left,
Lisa says One day while walking through for companies that supply retailers such and Lisa are
the lingerie department of Selfridges, my as Marks & Spencer, I had experience of working together
husband made a joke about mismatched brainstorming ideas for collections and
nightwear and headscarves. For many working to tight timescales. We met with the UK representative in
women of colour around the world, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, and we now
wearing a headscarf at night BREAKTHROUGH have a great working relationship and
to protect and maintain their MOMENT a beautiful first collection.
hair is essential. It’s an act Jacqueline We found an
passed on by our mothers
and grandmothers. I had
TOP TIP offshore manufacturer to
produce our collection,
STEEPEST LEARNING CURVE
Jacqueline Learning about
Lisa: Don’t be afraid to try not only the quantity we manufacturing. When you work in
something new. When you required, but the quality fashion, you work in your designated
do, be kind to yourself by finish we wanted. We areas. My area is design, but now with
simply learning from started with a desire to Lisa, I’m responsible for every area
any mistake you use a UK manufacturer, but of the business, from sourcing buttons
make. they only wanted to do the to inserting labels on garments.
manufacturing. An ex-colleague
said he knew of a manufacturer in Sri WHERE WE ARE NOW
Lanka who would do everything, from Lisa We launched our business in
supplying hangers to providing boxes. December 2020 and sales have been
slow but steady. We’re continuing to
market our first collection through
press and social media, while working
LJ Signature on our second one. Going forward,
is promoting we plan to source sustainable fabrics
its first and implement lessons learnt from our
collection first collection, such as the importance
of marketing through the press and
various social media platforms on
an ongoing basis.

BUSINESS BREAKDOWN 
✢ Start-up costs: £20,000
(self-funded) – this went towards
branding, creating a website,
fabric, manufacturer, packaging,
labels, models, social media,
photographer and videographer
✢ Current turnover: Up to £5,000
ljsignature.com

‘My duvets have been
recognised as a new invention’
Joan Johnston, 54, lives in Elgin, near
the Highlands, with her husband Alex
and their children Niamh, 13, and Isla,
10. She launched her luxury bedding
business, Ava Innes, in September 2019.
THE IDEA
WORDS: ADELINE IZIREN. PHOTOS: ADDIE CHINN, BADIU PHOTOGRAPHY,
After over 20 years in the luxury fabric
industry, I wanted to build a business
focused on sustainability. I spent 17 years
JEFF MOORE, JOHN PAUL PHOTOGRAPHY, PAUL CAMPBELL
at Stephen Walters, silk weavers to
Burberry and Polo Ralph Lauren, and at 32
became the first female board member.
After my children were born, I began work
as a fashion communications lecturer at
Northumbria University. Five years later,
I returned to industry as creative design
director for Johnstons of Elgin, the largest
cashmere producer in Scotland.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
After two years I left to set up Ava Innes,
after realising that cashmere guard hair,
W&H TAP TO EXPLORE
Joan, right,
has created
luxury
bedding
TOP TIP
Surround yourself with an
inspiring support group
to boost your chance
of success in
business.
a by-product of cashmere used in low-cost
products such as shampoo, would make
the perfect insulating fabric for luxury
bedding. It has been ignored by the fabric
industry as it’s too straight to knit or
weave. After finding a suitable UK-based
manufacturer, I sought and secured places
on two Scottish business programmes
– Climate-KIC, a six-month programme,
and Unlocking Ambition, a prestigious
year-long programme. I received grant
funding – around £5,000 from Climate-KIC
and £45,000 from Unlocking Ambition. I’m
part of an Unlocking Ambition WhatsApp
group, where we support each other,
offering advice and sharing experience.
BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT
After research and trials, I realised that
I had not just created luxury duvets, but
duvets that helped people sleep better.
Couples commented that their duvet
met their different temperature needs.
Find out more about these businesses. Turn to page 5 to
discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
W&H
EXPLORE
Cashmere guard hair works with your
body temperature, too, by adjusting to
individual temperature needs.
STEEPEST LEARNING CURVE
Having created an amazing product
and invested in design and marketing
I thought the orders would roll in – after all,
who wouldn’t want a better night’s sleep
under cashmere! However, recognising
Ava Innes was an unknown brand in a sea
of established large companies, I began
to engage in social media every day,
work on the website and approach eco
accommodation providers, as well as
hotels. Perseverance and hard work,
with my team of freelancers, including
an ecommerce consultant, is paying off
and now we fulfil 50-60 orders a month.
WHERE WE ARE NOW
After starting with our unique cashmere
guard hair-filled duvets and pillows, Ava
Innes now offers a range of sleep products
including Scottish wool-filled pillows,
cashmere throws and cashmere socks.
The pandemic has slowed our growth
plans, but we’re positive about the future,
especially now our duvets are patent
protected, after the Intellectual Property
Office recognised them as a new invention.
BUSINESS BREAKDOWN 
✢ Start-up costs: £70,000,
comprising...
Materials: £20,000
Brand development: £20,000
Website: £18,000
Testing and trials: £12,000
✢ Current turnover: £120,000
avainnes.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

SMART
with money
Faith Archer’s top tips
on how to spend smarter –
and save money – this month

Treat yourself
If you are keen to see films
on a big screen again after
being starved of the cinema
during lockdown, you can
pick up fistfuls of cheap
or free cinema tickets
along with your banking,
insurance or mobile.
✢ Open a Club Lloyds
current account, and you
can choose six free Odeon
or Vue tickets each year.
✢ Buy insurance via Compare
The Market, and benefit
from two-for-the-price-of-
one cinema tickets every
Thrifty trick
Few things are more
frustrating than bagging a
bargain, only to find the price
is slashed just afterwards.
Take advantage of price-
match promises to shop
earlier in the month, knowing
you can claim a refund for the
difference if the cost drops
during the Black Friday
or Cyber Monday sales on
26 and 29 November.
At John Lewis, you can
claim a partial refund if you
find the same product
cheaper elsewhere within 28
days of buying it. (This doesn’t
apply to internet-only stores.)
Other shops offer a seven-
day price-match promise,
including Halfords, Currys PC
World, Blacks and AO.com.
Currys PC World will price
match against any UK retailer
and also matches discount
codes. Blacks will refund
the difference plus 10%.
NEED TO KNOW
Is your child due a windfall worth over £2,500? Around
6.3 million Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts were
opened after their launch in 2005, of which 4.5 million
were started by parents and 1.8 million were set up
by the Government, after parents failed to do so.
CTFs were designed to encourage parents to save for
their children’s future. Children born between 1 September
2002 and 2 January 2011 were sent vouchers worth between
£50-£1,000 to be used to open a savings or investment
account – but more than a million accounts lie forgotten.
Someone who got two £500 vouchers, at birth and age
seven, which were invested in the FTSE All-Share Index, could
now have a pot of £2,535 even if nothing else was added,
according to calculations by investment company AJ Bell.
You can stash up to £9,000 each tax year in CTFs or their
replacement, Junior Individual Savings Accounts (Junior
ISAs). The money grows tax-free but can’t be touched until
the child turns 18, when it can be withdrawn or transferred
to an adult ISA. Find lost CTFs through gov.uk or via the
Child Trust Fund Register at findctf.sharefound.org

This month I’m… Firing up the slow cooker.

Tuesday and Wednesday
PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): ALAMY, GETTY

for a whole year.

✢ Every week, Vodafone
offers two adult Vue
Save money by preparing winter-warming food in a slow
tickets for £7, to be used cooker rather than an oven. Using an electric fan-assisted
on any night, through
oven costs 46p an hour on average, compared with a tiny
the Vodafone app.
✢ O2 users can get one 3p an hour for a slow cooker, according to energy company
free Monday night Odeon Utilita. Soups, stews and curries all benefit from long
ticket a month via the
O2 Priority app. cooking times, and make great use of cheaper cuts of meat.

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Visit Faith’s money-saving blog. Turn to page 5 to

discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
 Industrial trolley, £155,
roseandgrey.co.uk; bird, £8.95,
vvrouleaux.com; similar marble
wrapping paper, £4, next.co.uk;
Pine Cones wrapping paper,
£9.95, and grosgrain ribbons in
Emerald and Gold, £5 each, all
nancyandbetty.com; similar
leopard print wrapping
paper, £5, and similar botanical
wrapping paper, £2.50, both
notonthehighstreet.com;
star fairy lights, £15.99,
lights4fun.co.uk >>

YOUR
Christmas
GIFT GUIDE
Get ahead with our pick of this season’s must-have
presents to please absolutely everyone on your list
 Bag, £119, radley.co.uk
Cardholder, £18.50,
oliverbonas.com

Wa
Scarf, £139,

tch,
marc-cain.
com

£40, lex
Shoes, £179,

on-design.co
lkbennett.com

Jumper, Leather
WARDROBE WONDERS
£110, sizes gloves,
xs-xxl, £75,
aligne.co uk.coach.
com
Dress, £119, sizes s-xl, east.co.uk

Skirt, £100, sizes 6-16,

wolfandbadger.com
Stylish gifts every fashion lover will treasure

Earrings, £300, Tada

and Toy at khoeo.com

Bra, £77, sizes

32A-38E, and briefs,
£38, sizes xs-xl, both
hanro.co.uk

Blouse, £50, sizes 8-22,

monsoon.co.uk
70 womanandhome.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

BEAUTY BUYS
Glam ideas to perfect and pamper Cloud Nine Limited Edition
The Airshot Hairdryer, £149,
Lumene cloudninehair.com
Nordic Ageless
Radiant Youth
Night Wonders
Set, £56.90,
johnlewis.com

Ruby Hammer Magnetic Brush Set 02, £28, rubyhammer.com

Givenchy Le De Givenchy in Shade 9.07, Oribe Beautiful Color Travel Set, £25, spacenk.com
£61, givenchybeauty.com
k
9, dyson.co.u

Dolce & Gabbana Solar No7 Indulge and Relax Indulgent Bathing
ler Set, £449.9

Glow Illuminating Duo, Gift Set, £25, boots.com

£55, lookfantastic.com GHD Gold L
imited-Ed
ition St
yler Gi
ft Set,
£159,
ghdh
air.c
wrap Hair Sty

om
Aromatherapy
Associates
London Mini
Moment Deep
d Edition Air

Relax Bath & Elemis Limited Edition

Shower Oil, £12, Supersize Deep
aromatherapy Cleansing Balm and
associates.com Headband, £75,
Dyson Limite

elemis.com >>

&KQT&KQTKƂE
NEOM Organics London Vernis in
Christmas Wish Candle, £32, Poppy, £22.50,
neomorganics.com dior.com

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Items on these pages are shoppable. Turn to page 5 to
discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
 Wild Crane framed print, £175, coxandcox.co.uk
Fringe shade,
from £215,
wandalust.co.uk

Christina Lundsteen Suki multi cushion,

Scallop trim linen napkins, £92 for £95, couvertureandthegarbstore.com
set of six, matildagoad.com

Paloma Opera
crystal glass
champagne saucers,
£10 for set of two,
johnlewis.com

Wellbeing Pod

HAPPY mini in Nude,

£50, neom
organics.com
Bla
ck
ba
ll h
a

HOME

nd
-ca
rve
dm
irror, £
Bold buys for the interiors-obsessed
Oyoy tall vase in Caramel Rose, £55, made.com

200, johnle
Splatter mugs, £18 each, notanotherbill.com

wis.co
m
Gilt candle, £55,
Maxime star boujeebougies.com
coasters, £68
for set of four,
uk.jonathan
adler.com

Speckled
cake stand,
£39.95, Lambswool blanket in
cielshop Lilac Candy Stripe, £125,
interiors. tartanblanketco.com
com
72 womanandhome.com
 E

Christmas Hamper
Biscuit Tin, £35,
biscuiteers.com
Leith’s ‘Basics to baker’ 10-week
course, £495, leiths.com

Gingerbread Chai Tea,

£6.25 for 15 tea bags,
TASTE MAKERS birdandblendtea.com

Christmas pudding
popcorn, £4,
popcornshed.com Forest and Forge 20cm Cook’s Knife with
Olive Ash Wood Handle, £124.99, lakeland.co.uk
Cuisinart
Gourmet gifts to tickle their taste buds

Cordless Panettone
4 in 1 clementine,
automatic £19.95,
wine carluccios.
opener, com
£80,
cusinart.
com

Cena Terracotta
Measuring Cups
Set of Four, £24.50,
Christmas butter cookie oliverbonas.com
chocolate coated
liquorice, £18,
harrods.com and
lakridsbybulow.com

Alw
ays Pan, k
£140, fromourplace.co.u

Lagoa Salt Pig, £19.99,

souschef.co.uk Le Creuset salt and pepper
Italian Christmas Hamper, £150, macknade.com mill set, £48, qvcuk.com >>

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Items on these pages are shoppable. Turn to page 5 to
discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
 , £449, b
nes

ho

an
adp

g-o
l he

lufsen
Beoplay porta

.com
Rapha long-sleeve
cycling top, £70,
johnlewis.com Viktor & Rolf
Spicebomb
Extreme eau
de parfum, £65,
debenhams.
com
#OC\ƂV64GZ2TQ Custom-
Smart Watch in made map,
Steel Blue, £139.99, £16.99,
argos.co.uk shop.
ordnance
survey. Brushed cotton dressing
co.uk gown, £85, sizes xs-xxl,
boden.co.uk

Lambswool
chevron hat, £30,
scarf, £49, and
MODERN GENTS

gloves, £26, all

celticandco.com Musgo Real
9, apple.co
g, £2 m Classic Scent
rTa shaving cream,
i
eA

£24, liberty
omething special for the man in your life

london.com

Golf ball holder

and tee holder in
Navy Pebble,
£75 each, both
CURKPCNQƃQPFQPEQO

Rolltop
backpack in
Ocean, £130,
eu.got-bag.
com

ingle malt whisky, £30, It’s All Good Gift Set,

aberfallsdistillery.com 95, barberpro.com
74 womanandhome.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

Mini Boden Fair Isle Reindeer Jumper,

£40-£45, sizes 2-12 years, boden.co.uk

T-Racers
Turbo Wheel,
£7, thetoy
shop.com
Lion costume, £45,
merimeri.co.uk
Wooden rainbow
toy
,£
22
,j

oh
nle
wis
Kids Concept play tent in Star

.com
Rust, £31.95, scandiborn.co.uk
CoComelon
Deluxe Interactive
JJ Doll, £39.99,
smythstoys.com

Raleigh Molli
bicycle, £230,
COOL KIDS Keep little ones entertained
raleigh.co.uk
with these toys and treats

Rainbocorns
Epic Golden
Egg, £49.99,
argos.co.uk Kindi Kids Unicorn
Carnival set, £29.99,
smythstoys.com
Exploding Minions
card game, £15,
Tamagotchi Pix explodingkittens.com
in Pink, £59.99,
very.co.uk

Squeakee The
Interactive
Balloon Dino, Globber Flow 125
£79.99, scooter, from £69.99,
smythstoys.com plumplay.co.uk >>

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Items on these pages are shoppable. Turn to page 5 to
discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
 TRENDY TEENS
The hard-to-please will love these!
MAC Art Library: It’s Designer eyeshadow
palette, £39, maccosmetics.co.uk
Oculus Quest 2 all-in-one virtual reality headset
and controllers, from £299, oculus.com

Hat, £20,
carhartt-wip.com

Hoop
earrings, £6.99
for set of two,
hm.com
Trippy by Uzma Bozai
Oh So Happiness
Graceful sweatshirt, £185,
phone case, khoeo.com
from £38,
casetify.
com

Polaroid Go instant
camera, £109.99,
Polo Ralph uk.polaroid.com

COMPILED BY: ESME CLEMO, JESS BEECH, EMMA WHITE, ANNA WOODHAM AND ROSIE BENSBERG.
Lauren joggers,
£79, sizes 7-14,
johnlewis.com

PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF WRITING. PHOTOS: FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM, GETTY

Urbanears Alby in
New Blue, £59.99,
urbanears.com

$GPGƂV$KI$TQY.QXGG[GDTQYRGPEKN
and gel set, £30, debenhams.com

Impala roller skates Canal Studio Creator

in Forest Green, £110, Video Maker Top Down Kit,
impalaskate.eu £26.99, smythstoys.com
76 womanandhome.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

Cards Against Humanity oses by Cath Kids

bury R ton
family edition, £24.99, d ,£
Ca 9.9
johnlewis.com

9,
all
major retailers
£6, sassandbelle.co.uk
Brass star tea diffuser, Toasties merino wool
slippers, £134,
smallable.com

Dog Fair Isle

jumper, £40, sizes
s-l, boden.co.uk
STOCKING FILLERS

Silk eye mask, £36,

LGUUKECTWUUGNNƃKPVEQWM
Jewelled
hair slide
Classic 5oz set, £35,
NGCVJGTJKRƃCUM boden.
Hot-water bottle, £18, johnlewis.com

in Burgundy, co.uk
£55, aspinalof
london.com

Nutcracker
apron, £18,
joules.com
Fun ideas for all the family

Glitter fabric star

crown, £18,
merimeri.co.uk
British Colour
Standard candles,
£10 per pair,
notanotherbill.com

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Items on these pages are shoppable. Turn to page 5 to
discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
 Feel cosy,
LOOK COOL Stock up on quality winter warmers from
Damart, designed for comfort and confidence
78 womanandhome.com
 promotional feature

W
rap up in style
this season with
Damart’s thermal
wardrobe essentials.
As the temperature drops, you
can rest assured these key pieces
will help you dress with confidence
while feeling stylishly snug.
With over 60 years’ textile
experience, Damart’s in-house
team uses clever Thermolactyl
technology that works with
your body to keep you warm,
but not too hot.
The innovative heat-retaining
fibres are designed with your
unique needs in mind, to help
you get your cosy on, without
compromising on your look.
Choose the must-have padded
coat – perfect for keeping toasty
as you blow away the cobwebs
and brave the elements on a
blustery winter walk. Or try versatile
lightweight knitwear as the ultimate
layering option for when the cold
snap arrives.
Snuggling up on the sofa?
Super-soft fluffy socks and leggings
are guaranteed to have you
lounging in pure comfort. Plus,
there are boots and trainers that will
ensure your feet get a treat too.
The Damart autumn/winter
collection is here and it’s all
you need to perfect your
winter wardrobe…

Padded coats are big news this

season, so bag your Thermolactyl
design and make the street your
catwalk. Wear over any outfit and
you’ll feel instantly stylish.
Coat, £119, and trousers, £39,
both sizes 10-28, damart.co.uk;
hat, model’s own >>
Sumptuous, rich tones
are great for this time
of year, which is why a
caramel cardigan is a
must-have. Team with
grey jeans or wear over
your favourite midi dress.
Cardigan, £35, sizes
10-28, jeans, £45, sizes
10-24, and scarf, £19,
all damart.co.uk
 W&H
EXPLORE

Exclusive offer:
20% off at Damart
Enjoy this fantastic discount and treat yourself to some new-season styles!

D
amart is offering
woman&home readers
an exclusive 20% off plus
free delivery when you
go online at damart.co.uk and use
code 68496 at the checkout.
Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid
from 30 September until 30 November
2021. Excludes already discounted
and sale items. Free standard delivery,
usually £3.99. Code can only be used
once per customer. Prices correct at
time of going to press.

Staying in is the new

going out, so make
sure you’re kitted
out with luxury
loungewear that
will keep you at the
perfect temperature.
Just accessorise
with a hot chocolate!
Jumper, £32, sizes
10-28, leggings,
£22, sizes 8-28,
and socks, £9,
all damart.co.uk

Right: Boost your

mood in a bold red
jumper that will
brighten your day in
seconds. Layer over
a denim shirt for a
look that just radiates
positive vibes.
Jumper, £35, shirt,
£35, and trousers,
£35, all sizes 10-28,
damart.co.uk;
earrings, model’s own

womanandhome.com 81
 W&H
EXPLORE

FASHION & BEAUTY

If you buy one thing this month

INVEST IN A
CLASSIC WATCH
WORDS: JOELY CHILCOTT. PHOTO: TIFFANY MUMFORD. STYLING: BECKY JOINER O’RIORDAN

Roll up your sleeves, the time has come to

treat yourself to a style statement.
Metallic straps are timeless and practical,
so go for gold if you often wear warm tones
like caramel, red and cream; or if you prefer
cooler shades, including blue and grey,
opt for a silver colourway.
Either way, a chic watch will become
one of the items you wear the most, so
we’ve rounded up four of our favourites
to showcase the best arm-candy
this season. Or why not put one on
your Christmas wish list? We have!
From left to right:
% £149, coeur.uk
% £200, Michael Kors at watchshop.com
% £239, uk.mondaine.com
% £249, rotarywatches.com
Trench coat, £199, sizes 6-20,
hobbs.com

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Items on this page are shoppable. Turn to page 5 to
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 CHECK IT OUT
%An investment piece of the
highest order, a classic coat
will stand the test of time and
be worn season after season.
%Aftercare is so important.
A wooden hanger provides much
needed support, remember to
brush regularly and clean before
storing in a sealed garment bag.

Coat, £350, sizes xs-xl,

scotch-soda.com; dress, £16,
sizes 6-22, F&F Clothing at
next.co.uk; boots, £365,
fairfaxandfavor.com; bag,
£255, russellandbromley.
co.uk; earrings, £49,
wolfandzephyr.com

BUY,
WEAR,
REPEAT
Need some inspiration for
your next investment piece?
Here are the ultimate
wardrobe staples that you’ll
be wearing again and again
84 womanandhome.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

PERFECT
PAIRINGS
✢ Versatile co-ords look equally
good styled as a matching set or
worn separately.
✢ Comfort has become the number
one priority for many of us and you
can’t go wrong with this lightweight
viscose-mix ensemble – fab for
weekends spent at home, as it is
for a shopping spree.

Jacket, £69.99, and trousers, £59.99,

both sizes xs-xl, shop.mango.com;
alpaca wool jumper, £327, sizes xs-l,
Ulla Johnson at theoutnet.com;
boots, £85, charleskeith.co.uk;
earrings, £49, and ring, £115,
both wolfandzephyr.com >>

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Items on these pages are shoppable. Turn to page 5 to
discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
fashion inspiration

RELAXED
CHIC
✢ Rolled-up legs add a modern
touch to corduroy trousers.
✢ If you’re looking to add more
shape to your look, half-tuck a
slouchy jumper into your
waistband.

Jumper, £165, sizes xs-xl,

navygrey.co; trousers, £39.50,
sizes 6-24, Per Una, belt, £9.50,
both marksandspencer.com;
shoes, £199, lkbennett.com;
earrings, £79, aniahaie.com

RETURN OF SOLE MATES

THE MAC ✢ A pair of chunky boots is the
hero footwear of winter.
✢ The trench is timelessly cool ✢ Wear with textured fabrics such
and infinitely versatile. as wool or tweed to balance
✢ Add statement accessories the heavy style.
for a polished look.
Cardigan, £59.99, sizes xs-xl,
Coat, £65, sizes 6-22, shop.mango.com; dress,
next.co.uk; jumper, £69, sizes £69, sizes xs-xl, KIN at
xs-xl, KIN at johnlewis.com; johnlewis.com; boots, £365,
jeans, £175, sizes 4-16, russellandbromley.co.uk;
meandem.com; boots, £145, bag, £85, charleskeith.co.uk;
jonesbootmaker.com; bag, £32, earrings, £79, and ring, £89,
Principles at debenhams.com; both aniahaie.com; watch, £64,
sunglasses, £149.95, Timex at watchshop.com
scotch-soda.com; earrings,
£79, aniahaie.com; watch, £64,
Timex at watchshop.com

86 womanandhome.com
 W&H
EXPLORE
SENIOR STYLIST: BECKY JOINER-O’RIORDAN. ASSISTED BY: AOUN ALI. HAIR & MAKE-UP: JULIE REED

THE IT KNIT
AT CAROL HAYES, USING BUMBLEANDBUMBLE.CO.UK AND DIOR.COM. REAL MODEL: MONICA

✢ When buying an investment piece,

PHOTOS: KASIA CLARK. ASSISTED BY: LARA MILLER. FASHION DIRECTOR: PAULA MOORE.

choose a classic shape in a muted shade

that will stand the test of time.
✢ Check the care label, as not all
cashmere has to be dry-cleaned.
I simply pop mine into a pillowcase and
hand-wash in cold water, with a drop
of baby shampoo for extra softness.

Cashmere jumper, £325, sizes xs-l,

broraonline.com; trousers, £185, sizes
6-16, meandem.com; trainers, £89,
hotter.com; bag, £199, radley.co.uk;
sunglasses, £15, accessorize.com;
sunglasses chain, £39, jimmyfairly.co.
uk; earrings, £79, aniahaie.com;
watch, £65, Radley at watchshop.com

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Items on these pages are shoppable. Turn to page 5 to
discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
 Timeless
TAILORING
This classic shape is not
QPN[ƃCVVGTKPIDWVUWKVUCNN
occasions. The collared styles
skim over curves and generally
HCNNVQVJGMPGGQTNQPIGT
GNQPICVKPI[QWTƂIWTG1RV
HQTUKPINGDTGCUVGFUV[NGUKP
an array of prints and colours.

£298,
sizes 6-22,

36
DQFGPEQWM
£144, sizes
xs-xl, donna £399, sizes 4-18,
karan.com whistles.com

GREAT
JASON WU

COAT
IDEAS
£179.99,
sizes xs-xl,
mango.
com

£65, sizes 6-24,

next.co.uk
From transitional shackets to cosy
RCFFGFWUGQWTFGƂPKVKXGIWKFGVQ
DCIVJGDGUVPGYUGCUQPEQCVU
COPENHAGEN FASHION WEEK

£239, sizes s-xl,

desigual.com

£22, sizes 6-24,

direct.asda.com

£50, sizes xs-xl, Vero

Moda at freemans.com

88 womanandhome.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

£64, sizes 6-24, £59.99, sizes

COPENHAGEN FASHION WEEK

next.co.uk xxs-xxl,
mango.com

£169,
sizes 4-18,
whistles.
com

Practical
PADDED
Padded jackets have
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DWVYTCRRKPIWRKPC
FWXGVNKMGFGUKIPECPDG
daunting. The key is to keep
[QWTQWVƂVWPFGTPGCVJ
more streamlined so as not
VQCFFOQTGDWNM0GWVTCN
shades add sophistication
to this sporty style that
will keep you warm when
DTCXKPIVJGGNGOGPVU £59.99, sizes 6-18,
£89, sizes 8-18,
johnlewis.com newlook.com

Defining
BELTS
If you often feel
coats can look
CNKVVNGDQZ[
QP[QWTHTCOG
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styles. Nipping
PARIS FASHION WEEK

KPCVVJGYCKUV
the tie creates
an hourglass
UKNJQWGVVGYJKNG
the wide lapels
£50, sizes 4-20, £119.99, sizes xxs-xxl, £59.99, sizes 6-18, £499, sizes 6-18, perfectly frame
primark.com mango.com newlook.com NMDGPPGVVEQO CHWNNGTDWUV

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE +VGOU QP VJGUG RCIGU CTG UJQRRCDNG 6WTP VQ RCIGVQ
FKUEQXGTJQYVQDTKPIYQOCPJQOGVQNKHGQP[QWTRJQPG
 Necklace, £130,
racheljackson
Jumper,
london.com
Chic CAPES £39, sizes
This dramatic cover-up is 10-26,
XGTUCVKNG 6JG JGCX[ HCDTKE Cape, £94, damart.
Shirt, £29.50, OCMGU C DQNF UVCVGOGPV one size, co.uk
sizes 6-24, FTGUUGF WR YKVJ JGGNU DWV desigual.
marksand looks cosy and relaxed com
spencer.com with trainers and jeans.
Wear a long-sleeved top
underneath for added
coverage on your arms. Earrings, £15,
Cape, £349, one size, accessorize.com
whistles.com

Jeans, £39.50, sizes

6-20, marksand
spencer.com

Trousers, £35,
Bag, £199,
sizes 10-28,
radley.co.uk
damart.co.uk

Bag, £25,
PARIS FASHION WEEK

The Drop at Boots,

amazon.co.uk £140,
CHRISTIAN DIOR

vionic
shoes.
co.uk

Trainers, £59, AND/OR

at johnlewis.com

£80, sizes £55, sizes 10-24, £49.99, sizes

6-22, kaleidoscope. xs-xl, lindex.
laredoute. co.uk com
co.uk

Stylish SHACKETS
The shirt-jacket has cemented
KVU RNCEG KP QWT YCTFTQDGU 6JG £28, sizes
PARIS FASHION WEEK

KFGCN QWVGTYGCT HQT KPDGVYGGP 6-24, direct.

YGCVJGT VJG[oTG FGUKIPGF VQ DG asda.com £198,
worn slightly oversized. Wear sizes 4-18,
alone or under an overcoat thewhite
for an extra layer of warmth. company.
com
 W&H
EXPLORE

£65, sizes
10-22,
Principles at
FGDGPJCOU
com £140, sizes
£59.99, 6-22, DQFGP
sizes 6-18, co.uk
newlook.
com
£235, sizes 6-16,
Selected Femme at
Double anthropologie.com
BREASTED

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

This classic style Teddy TREND
has an androgynous Super-soft shearling
feel and can help wins the fashion crown
CHRISTIAN DIOR

VQDTQCFGP PCTTQY HQT VJKU UGCUQPoU EQUKGUV

shoulders. Wear with EQCVU 6JG ƃGGEG VGZVWTG
on-trend loafers £180, and pastel hues give
CP[ QWVƂV C HGOKPKPG £75, sizes
QTEJWPM[ DQQVU sizes 6-22,
touch. Leave it undone 10-26,
to further toughen DQFGP
CPF [QWoNN NQQM EQQN damart.
up your look. co.uk
while feeling warm. co.uk

£198,
sizes 6-22,
DQFGP
co.uk

£59, sizes 6-24,

£65, sizes marksand
8-20, spencer.com
next.co.uk
£79.99,
Fab FAUX sizes s-xxl,
lindex.com
FUR
+H VJGTGoU C EQCV
to take you from
Cosy
QUILTING
COMPILED BY: ELOISA JOHNSON. PHOTOS: GETTY

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PARIS FASHION WEEK

ƃCODQ[CPV HCWZHWT # YKPVGT GUUGPVKCN

EQCV +VoU KORQUUKDNG this lightweight
not to smile when version of the
draped in one of padded is perfect
these textured if you want the
JASON WU

PWODGTU 2QR QXGT practical elements £150,

CP[ OKPKOCN QWVƂV of the warm winter sizes xs-l,
£199, sizes
and let the coat EQCV DWV YKVJ NGUU arket.
xs-xl, Jakke at
steal the spotlight. of the volume. com
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W&H TAP TO EXPLORE +VGOU QP VJGUG RCIGU CTG UJQRRCDNG 6WTP VQ RCIGVQ
FKUEQXGTJQYVQDTKPIYQOCPJQOGVQNKHGQP[QWTRJQPG
 The new
SUITS Relaxed and glamorous,
suits are the easy way to
take your outfit from day
to night, says Wendy Rigg

A
s soon as I saw
that Gucci’s AW21
collection included a
version of their 1996
red velvet trouser suit, as
worn by Gwyneth Paltrow
and designed by Tom Ford,
I was on a mission to find
something similar. I mean,
that is a suit with swagger, is
it not? As I write this, I’m sure
the high street is revving
up for a flurry of velvet suits
that are as near to the Gucci
version as legally possible.
The red suit I picked is
double-breasted with a
cropped trouser. Although
I was unsure about the shorter
length at first, I found them FROM
flattering. It’s a leg length RUNWAY
you can wear with trainers TO YOU
GUCCI

for day and heels by night.

Tailoring is back, and trouser
suits also were seen at Stella
McCartney, Victoria Beckham
and Nina Ricci. Whether for
the office or worn with jeans,
a double-breasted blazer
is always stylish. Choose a
lightweight fabric and check
the shoulder area fits well.
Oversized styles and heavier
weight fabrics will swamp
petites, and double-breasted
can be tricky if you have a larger do, but there are plenty of
bust. Semi-fitted or fitted
is flattering and elongating.
94 womanandhome.com
We’re all more than ready
to embrace a bit of tailoring.
Look out for a tuxedo suit and
the LBD made a comeback English tailored
on runways, in micro form boyfriend jacket, £399,
or with cut-outs. Both can be sizes 6-16, and high-
tricky for anyone who isn’t a waisted trousers, £129,
skinny 20-something model. sizes 12-14, both
If you want to go short, then winserlondon.com;
Veja Campo leather
options around with a more sneakers, £115,
wearable hem length too. net-a-porter.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

1 BOHO
BEAUTY
#V%JNQÅFGUKIPGT)CDTKGNC
Hearst put sustainability at
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pencil skirt can be paired with
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VJCVYQWNFYQTMHQTCRCTV[QT
EQPUKFGTCVKQPHQTCNNQHWUYJGP HQTFTKPMUCHVGTYQTM
OCMKPICRWTEJCUG#URKICKU Pencil skirt, £110, sizes
CDTCPF+NQXGPQVQPN[HQTVJGKT 6-18, thewhitecompany.com
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4 VELVET
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or polluting. The ruching and INCOQWTKVIGVUPQDGVVGTVJCP
HTKNNFGVCKNIKXGKVCXKPVCIG VJKUR[LCOCUV[NGVYQRKGEG

2
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on-trend. Pair with high-waisted FGVCKNKPICFFUCVQWEJQH
ƃCTGUCPFDQQVUHQTCEQQN NWZGVQVJGXGNXGV/CZ/CTC
day-to-evening option. #TOCPKCPF)WEEKCNNHGCVWTGF
Bohemian blouse, £115, UWORVWQWUXGNXGVKPVJGKT
sizes xs-xl, aspiga.com AW21 collections. Midnight
DNWGKUOQTGƃCVVGTKPIVJCP

2 WITH
THE BAND
DNCEMHQTQNFGTUMKPUCPFKV
is ultra-sophisticated. Wear
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Hair accessories are very
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and easy way to create a well-
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under control. Pearl hair bands
and ponytails were seen at
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the changes.
Zena shirt, £80, and
trousers, £98, both
sizes 6-22, boden.co.uk

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NCTIGTGVTQDCPFUHGCVWTGF
at Casablanca. Stacked
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5 FINISHING
TOUCH
Elevate your look with
hair at Schiaparelli and sparkle IQTIGQWUGCTTKPIUsVJG[oTG
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4
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Tonya Harding. Slip on a #ETQUUVJGDQCTF
UVCVGOGPVJCKTDCPFCPF designers accessorised
[QWoTGRCTV[TGCF[KPUGEQPFU with sparkly earrings.
Hairband, £25, boden.co.uk Whether you like to wear
ƂPGLGYGNNGT[QTRTGHGT

3
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Woo! Get ready to party. shoulder-grazing
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5
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ENCUUKEUKNJQWGVVGUYJKNGEQQN you can pair huggies and studs
party girl style at Isabel Marant with longer chandelier earrings.
KPXQNXGFOGVCNNKEUNGCVJGTCPF Earrings, £60 (for the pair),
GODGNNKUJOGPV )Q CNN QWV QT IQ carrieelizabeth.co.uk >>

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Items on these pages are shoppable. Turn to page 5 to
discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
W&H
EXPLORE

6 STARRY
NIGHTS
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evening style. Or wear a
blazer over the waistcoat
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guaranteed to work.
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about the waist rather than
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given way to styles that
bring the waist back into
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7 Trousers, £69.99,
sizes 4-18, mango.com

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 W&H

Create some
EXPLORE

AUTUMN
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W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Enjoy this offer right now. Turn to page 5 to discover
how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
PHOTO: JO WEBSTER. ART DIRECTION:
SARAH COOPER-WHITE. STYLING: BECKY JOINER
O’RIORDAN. HAIR: IAN MCINTOSH. MAKE-UP:
RUTH WARRIOR. MODEL: LUCY BRADLEY

Have a
GREAT
HAIR day!
Want fuller and stronger hair? Of course you do.
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hair and counteract menopausal hair loss
WHAT CAUSES
THINNING HAIR?
Our hair is intrinsically linked to our
identity. We all know how much a bad
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what if thin, weak hair is your everyday
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thinning hair is an important matter in
their lives. It’s no coincidence that many
of us experience the dispiriting reality of
dwindling volume in our 40s.
During the menopause, oestrogen
levels plummet, which can spell bad
news for hair growth. Pre-menopause,
it’s this female hormone that protects
the hair root from the negative impact
of the male counterpart, testosterone.
But when hormone levels can become
imbalanced during the menopause,
hair can thin out and shed prematurely,
hairlines recede and our scalp
becomes more visible.
Plantur 39 – for
hair over 40!
promotional feature
WHAT ARE THE
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The good news is there’s plenty you can FOR MORE
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the negative effect of menopause on hair INFORMATION
growth. Plantur 39 is an effective solution For more about the Plantur 39
whether you’re currently suffering from Phyto-Caffeine range, including
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WPKSWG2J[VQ%CHHGKPG%QORNGZsVJCVoU plantur39.co.uk.
caffeine cocktailed with zinc, niacinamide Plantur 39
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UEKGPVKƂECNN[RTQXGPVQJGNREQWPVGTCEV shampoos and
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Start by upgrading your shampoo are available
to Plantur 39 Phyto-Caffeine Shampoo, at Boots
which promises to energise the roots, and Tesco.
support growth and prevent shedding
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style hair as normal. The Phyto-Caffeine
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womanandhome.com 99
100 womanandhome.com
 Pamper
THERAPY
Searching for the feel-good factor? Introduce some positive energy
to your beauty routine, and feel relaxed, rejuvenated and optimistic

T
here is something wholly
pleasurable about discovering
an excellent beauty product
that triggers a small burst
of joy, or the unwavering happiness
(or is that relief?) you feel when the
DCVJTQQOFQQTENQUGUCPF[QWƂPCNN[
have some time alone. Maybe it’s
a luxurious bath oil that upgrades
your daily soak to something more
heavenly, or you’ve unearthed the
perfect fake tan that makes you
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highlights that can make the biggest
difference to our wellbeing – so here
are our suggestions to turn your routine
into a full-blown experience. >>
BATHTIME
BLISS
How do you want to feel?
Here’s how to get more from
your bathing routine.

RELAXED
There’s nothing quite like a long soak to
reset the senses – it’s the perfect ritual
before bed, helping you have a good
night’s sleep (a hot bath followed by
being in a cool bedroom is known to
help the body prepare for sleep and
tricks you into feeling drowsy). Aid those
relaxing sensations with Apothecary
Calm Bath Oil, £8, marksandspencer.
com, which nourishes skin and helps
you switch off. Or, if you’re feeling tense,
FQPoVWPFGTGUVKOCVGVJGDGPGƂVUQH
a salt bath. They can help with muscle
aches and pains, leaving you feeling
soothed and relaxed. We love
Mauli Rituals Himalayan Healing
Salts, £49, net-a-porter.com

DE-STRESS
Feeling restless and anxious? Run a
bath and choose products packed with
calming ingredients, such as Oui Chill
Pills Bath Bombs x 6, £25, cultbeauty.
co.uk, or Dr Hauschka Moor
Lavender Calming Bath Essence,
£17, feelunique.co.uk. As you soak in
the scented bath, practise breathing
deeply into your abdomen to relax and
calm your mind. If you struggle to stay
focused, it can help to imagine you are
IGPVN[KPƃCVKPI[QWTVWOO[NKMGCDCNNQQP
CU[QWDTGCVJGKPVJGPUNQYN[FGƃCVKPI ‘Bathing is a brilliant
it as you breathe out. The warm water
will aid those feelings of relaxation. opportunity to give
UPBEAT
your body what it
If you need a reboot, try adding a few
needs, and your mind
drops of an uplifting essential oil – juniper
is effective in stimulating a positive
a moment to reset’
mood – or pop in Chanel Chance Wellbeing expert
Eau Tendre Scented Bath Tablets, Susanne Kaufmann
£53 for 10, John Lewis & Partners,
to give your bath a sensuous twist.
And light a candle to uplift your senses
– we adore NEOM Happiness Scented
Candle, £46, neomorganics.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

Comforting
massage
As well as treating skin, use your evening regime as
a chance to unwind. ‘Turn your cleanse into a moment
of mindfulness,’ says acupuncturist and facialist Annee de
Mamiel. ‘Face massage helps you unwind, but it’s also a
reminder to begin to switch off from the day. Plus it doesn’t
cost a thing!’ Start by warming your cleansing oil in your
hands and inhaling the essential oils. Choose something
with a soothing scent, like Bobbi Brown Soothing
Cleansing Oil, £35, lookfantastic.com. As you
massage, you will increase circulation, boost oxygen
and detoxify your skin. ‘You’ll be surprised how
the texture, volume and radiance of your
skin will improve in such a short
time,’ adds Annee.

Beauty buys guaranteed

to lift your spirits
%This Works Deep Sleep Pillow
Spray, £19.50, lookfantastic.com Just
one extra hour of sleep can make people
happier, according to the University Of
Surrey’s Sleep Research Centre. So avoid
sleep deprivation and boost your zzzs.
%Sensory Retreats Luna Eyes,
from £3.95, sensoryretreats.com These
self-heating eye masks are velvety soft
and scented with lavender to help soothe
overtired eyes and calm overactive minds.
%Bloom & Blossom You Glow
Girl Performance Body Oil, £35,
bloomandblossom.com Cocoon
yourself for antioxidant argan oil to
hydrate, tone and create a gorgeous glow.
%Glow Recipe Watermelon
Glow Pink Dream Body Cream,
£25, cultbeauty.co.uk Buttery,
nourishing and a pleasure to use –
skin will be left feeling velvety-soft.
%Legology Lymph-lite Boom Body
Brush, £16, legology.co.uk For big
TGUWNVUQPNKOKVGFKPRWVsSWKEMDTWUJƃKEMU
from the toes up stimulates the lymph
for a deep, energy-rush cleanse. >>

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W&H
EXPLORE
Put a spring
in your step
There’s nothing that makes
your self-esteem skyrocket
more than when you feel
comfortable in your own skin.
The best way to achieve this is
pretty simple – invest in a good
fake tan and learn how to apply
it properly so that you achieve
a natural, streak-free glow.
%Create a smooth canvas by
removing any dry, dead skin as well
as shifting any residual fake stuff,
by exfoliating at least 24 hours
before application.
%Use a mitt (no one likes stained palms!)
and work in sections, starting from the
HGGVƂTUVYQTMKPIWRVJGDQF[$WHHC
small amount carefully into your face,
blending well into the hairline to avoid
any harsh lines.
%Gradual tan gives you far more control
over the end shade, and is nice and easy
to maintain too. Apply every day until
you’ve reached your desired glow,
then top up every few days.
%DHA, the key ingredient in most
self-tans, is often drying, so double down
on moisturiser to keep skin happy and
healthy. We’d recommend The Body
Shop Avocado Body Butter, £18, for
its ability to be both intensely nourishing
and non-greasy all at once.
‘Give heavy legs the Scandi spa
treatment by using the shower head to
alternate warm (not hot) and cold water
over feet, ankles, legs and buttocks’
Kate Shapland, founder of cult leg-care line Legology.
Do 20 seconds on each, repeating three times – the
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W&H TAP TO EXPLORE
RELAX &
REPAIR
Name an easier way to treat your
skin than by wearing a face mask,
while you take a little time out.
%&4;5-+0 Decree SOS
Revitalising Mask, £20,
cultbeauty.co.uk
This calming mask contains rose
extract to soothe, hyaluronic acid to
hydrate and amino acids to restore
and repair the skin barrier, giving
your face a plump, juicy glow.
%5'05+6+8'5-+0 Avène
Antirougeurs Calm Mask,
Happy scents
£17.50, boots.com It’s been discovered that
9JGPUGPUKVKXGUMKPƃCTGUWRNGCXG smelling citrus for 10 minutes
this cooling mask on for 10 minutes can enhance your
then swipe away with a cotton pad mood for up to half an
HAIR & MAKE-UP: JULIA WREN. STYLING: HARRIET DAVEY. REAL MODEL: EMMA GALLAGHER
VQECNOƃWUJGFVKIJVHGGNKPIUMKP hour. Mandarin is one
WORDS: CHARLEY WILLIAMS-HOWITT AND SARAH COOPER-WHITE. ART DIRECTION:
%&7..5-+0 Evolve Organic of the most evocative
SARAH COOPER-WHITE AND CHARLEY WILLIAMS-HOWITT. PHOTOS: CAT HARBOUR.
Beauty Bio-Retinol Gold Mask, scents, while rose
£26, evolvebeauty.co.uk encourages calm,
Calming, restorative and brightening vetiver minimizes stress
ingredients in this gold mask will and lavender oil helps
restore your skin to its former glory. with sleep. It takes
moments to inhale a
mist of perfume but
it can transform your
mood for the whole
day. We love the zesty
hit from Beauty Pie Orange
Absolute Eau De Toilette,
£100, beautypie.com,
and have fallen for the
cheerful and happy notes
of (NQTCN5VTGGV5WPƃQYGT
Pop Eau de Parfum, £60,
ƃQTCNUVTGGVEQO
+VGOUQPVJGUGRCIGUCTGUJQRRCDNG6WTPVQRCIGVQ
discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
 promotional feature

The new night

WORKERS Supercharge your time spent snoozing with
No7’s newly reformulated night creams

B
eauty sleep isn’t a myth,
it’s the key to a glowing
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asleep, let one of No7’s
enhanced night creams do its work. Sleep your
Each cream in the range is powered
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that’s proven to provide 24 hours of
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carefully selected blend of actives,
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vitamin A, hyaluronic acid and
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No7 night creams now also have a
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Each No7 Night Cream works in harmony
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the Night Concentrate, include SPF in
your morning routine with No7 Day Cream.

Which cream is right for you?

No7 Protect & Perfect Intense
ADVANCED Night Cream
Recommended for ages 35-45
A night cream you can see working, for
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that appear reduced. It’s all thanks to
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work magic for younger looking skin.
No7 Lift & Luminate TRIPLE ACTION
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Recommended for ages 45-60
This cream targets three key signs
of ageing to concentrate on the
appearance of wrinkles, uneven skin
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Matrixyl 3000+ ™, hyaluronic acid and
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VJCVKURNWORKPIƂTOKPICPFRTQOQVGU
a more even-looking skin tone.
No7 Restore & Renew Face & Neck
MULTI ACTION Night Cream
Recommended for ages 60+
In addition to reducing the appearance
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looking visibly reduced, this night
ETGCOUOQQVJUCPFƂTOU[QWTPGEM
The stars are Matrixyl 3000+ ™,
vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, plus
a skin-fortifying cast of amino acid,
calcium and ceramides. This trio
delivers nourishment, hydration and
OWNVKCEVKQPDGPGƂVUVQVJGUMKPHQTC
beautiful ‘just how does she do it?’ glow.
womanandhome.com 105
 Celeb beauty brands
THAT REALLY WORK
Don’t dismiss THE
celebrity-backed GREATEST
Creme Cheek Blush, £16.
brands, says Natural shades that you can
build, from sheer to opaque,
Fiona McKim, these easily blendable and with
excellent ranges from C ƃCVVGTKPI FGY[ ƂPKUJ

famous faces are truly

worth trying

S
how me a beauty editor who
isn’t a brand snob and I’ll
show you a unicorn. But
one industry development
that’s forced us to about-face on
our prejudice is the rise of celebrity
beauty. The space once occupied by
UWICT[VGGPHTCITCPEGKUPQYJGNFD[
entrepreneurial women, as adept at
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VJG[CTGCVWPGVJCVoNNIGVGXGT[QPG
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(CPE[DGKPIVQWEJGF
by the hand of fame? FOR THE GENUINE TOUCH
These brilliant celeb
beauty brands would Honest Beauty You might
wonder why
convert any cynic. When Hollywood actor Jessica this matters to
#NDCJCFJGTƂTUVEJKNFUJGUVCTVGF us Brits, from
to worry about chemicals, the our position
THE regulation of which verges on of legislative
LATEST Wild West status in the US (only 11
cosmetic ingredients are currently
privilege? Simply
because the
Prime + Perfect Mask, £20.
Ideal for when you actually banned by the FDA, compared products are
PGGF VQ IQ UQOGYJGTG CHVGT with around 1,300 in the UK). And great. They are
OCUMKPI 6CMGU ƂXG OKPWVGU VQ so, four years ago The Honest effortless, keenly
ly priced and
OCMG UMKP HGGN UQHV INQY[ Company was born, offering formulated with the best intentions by
and plump, but doesn’t infant and household products. someone who really cares. The cause
NGCXG [QW CNN ITGCU[ Honest Beauty later joined the may be worthy, but these sheer lip
or slick. party with 83 products, mostly tints, glossy, non-clumping mascaras
make-up and a bit of skincare, and water-based skin hydrators have
and all made without 1,000+ a lightness of touch that’s impossible
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FKUEQXGTJQYVQDTKPIYQOCPJQOGVQNKHGQP[QWTRJQPG

FOR SOPHISTICATED
MAKE-UP
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Of course a woman with the vision and grit to
recast herself from pouty pop star to revered
fashion designer can pull off a similar
THE coup with beauty. Victoria launched
LATEST her eponymous beauty range in 2019,
sensibly teaming up with industry
Posh Gloss, £24. A fun
uber-exec Sarah Creal, of Tom Ford
name for a clever product.
7PUVKEM[ JKIJUJKPG NKR INQUU Beauty pedigree. The main shtick is
sophisticated, grown-up make-up.
with skincare actives, it
6JKPMƃCVVGTKPIPGWVTCNUJCFGU
comes in a clear shade,
+EG OCMKPI KV JKIJN[ luxurious textures and horn-patterned
versatile. packaging. VB Beauty ignores trends
that nobody wants in favour of considered
essentials you’ll use forever. Like
VJGRGTHGEVOCVVGDTQP\GTKPƂXGUJCFGU
to suit every skin tone, or a smudgy
kajal liner with a useful blending
sponge. Everything is cleanly
formulated, sustainably
packaged and yes,
OK, it’s posh.
THE
GREATEST
Lid Lustre, £30. This sheer,
iridescent eyeshadow is like
PQVJKPI GNUG QP VJG OCTMGV
The creamy texture blends
YKVJ C ƂPIGT HQT C
luminous wash
that lasts.
W&H
EXPLORE
FOR TRAILBLAZING
COSMETICS
Fenty Beauty THE
The phrase ‘game changer’ GREATEST
is bandied around a lot in 2TQ (KNVoT 5QHV /CVVG .QPIYGCT
beauty, but the arrival of Foundation, £27. Brilliantly
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna KPENWUKXG TCPIG CUKFG VJKU KU UKORN[
in 2017 was a watershed
moment. The music
C DTKNNKCPV HQWPFCVKQP .QPINCUVKPI
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artist-turned-business FT[KPI QT FTCII[ /CVVG PQV [QWT
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mogul launched 91
products, most notably a .QPIYGCT (QWPFCVKQP
foundation in 40 shades ‘so JCU C LWKEKGT ƂPKUJ
that people everywhere would
be included’. Cue: global
sell-outs, huge queues at
THE
retailers and an industry- LATEST
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catering for skin tones they Lip Luminizer + Plumper
had underserved. Fenty Pro in Cherry Bomb, £19. A sheer
Filt’r Foundation now has 50 red tint with vinyl shine and
shades, but that’s not the whole RNWORKPI VKPING HTQO
IKPIGT CPF RGRRGT
story. This brand also excels at
punchy liquid lipsticks, glowy GZVTCEV *QV UVWHH
highlighters and a nice line in
skin-blurring SPF and luminous
body lotion via Fenty Skin. The
aesthetic leans towards statement
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basics with great staying power too. >>
womanandhome.com 107
W&H
EXPLORE
FOR A-LIST WELLNESS
goop
Say what you like about Gwyneth
Paltrow and her vagina candles,
but there’s no denying this
woman knows her market. From
a homespun wellness newsletter
in 2008, the Oscar-winning actor
has built a wildly successful
THE goop lifestyle empire, and
often recommends clean
GREAT
TEST beauty products on
)6QZ *KOCNNC[CP 5CNV goop.com, so naturally
Scalp Scrub Shhampoo, £38. her own clean skincare
This works innto a velvety range followed. It
lather and smells like a includes body scrubs,
dream. Expe ect deeply massage rollers, bath
ENCTKƂGF UQ
QHV JCKT soaks and super-powder
and scaalp. supplements for your
smoothie, all made without
THE ingredients deemed
LATEST suspicious by Gwyneth
and co. The vibe
)QQRINQY )NQY .QVKQP
is fresh, modern
 6JG RGTHGEV NKIJVYGKIJV
and very LA – with
moisturiser for anyone who
a focus on high-
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performance actives
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for the face, uplifting
present and nicely
aromas and pleasing
dewy.
textures for the body.
W&H TAP TO EXPLORE
FOR SKINCARE WITH HEART
Keys Soulcare
True story – on blind-testing Keys Soulcare,
I was convinced that the luxurious formulas and
packaging could only belong to one of those
hyper-expensive cult brands sold in snooty
concept stores. More fool me. Launched in
2020, this skin and body collection by musician
Alicia Keys is a great example of celeb beauty
that truly represents its founder.
The singer took a public break THE
from make-up as a stand
GREATEST
against oppressive beauty
standards. Keys Soulcare Be Luminous Exfoliator,
is all about feelings, with  # ƂPG RQYFGT GZHQNKCPV
every product described that works into the most
as a ‘soul-nurturing ritual’. IQTIGQWU ETGCO[ NCVJGT
Translation: it’s a joy to use
e. Skin is left peachy-soft
Think highly sensuous bod dy CPF INQYKPI
oils, gentle yet effective faace
creams created with THE
dermatologist
Dr Renée Snyder,
LATEST
5CETGF $QF[ 1KN 
and hand-poured
Baobab, jojoba and
aromatherapy
marula oils offer spa-like
candles. Ethically,
nourishment for the skin
PHOTOS: GETTY
it’s A-list, too, with
and hair with a pleasant,
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 W&H
EXPLORE

PAULA BEGOUN
You may not immediately
My desert
recognise the name, but
you’ve probably heard
island
of (and have most likely must-have
bought a few things from) +JQRG+PGXGTƂPFO[UGNHQP
her eponymous, results- a desert island without my
driven skincare line, skincare products because
Paula’s Choice. Before just one product is never
founding the brand in enough. Having said that,
1995, Paula started out as my hero would have to be
an investigative journalist SPF 30-plus sunscreen. One
and became known for of my picks is IT Cosmetics
her no-nonsense beauty CC+ Cream with SPF 50,
critique. She has also £32.50, as it gives coverage
penned 21 books, selling and protection. Without sun
more than 2.7 million protection your skin doesn’t
copies. Here she shares stand a chance.
the secrets of radiant skin.

My
make-up
essential
My skin
saviour What I Lipstick, and the
brighter the better!
I wear Revlon Super

REALLY
I have a complicated Lustrous The
skin type with different Luscious Mattes
concerns, including Lipstick in Crushed
oily patches, clogged Rubies, £8.99.

USE
pores, signs of ageing, I always get
breakouts and a little compliments on
rosacea. Paula’s the lipstick I wear,
Choice 10% Azelaic which is a wonderful
Acid Booster, £37, boost to my ego,
paulaschoice.com,
The author, businesswoman and I love the
helps keeps redness and ultimate beauty way it brightens
under control. my appearance.
truth-sayer reveals all

Speedy Beauty Body

grooming bargain booster
/[UMKPECTGTQWVKPGVCMGU I use the least I use a prescription-
CDQWVƂXGOKPWVGUCPF expensive shampoo only oestrogen
my make-up application and conditioner I can cream on my arms,
the same. I won’t leave ƂPF /[ HCXQWTKVGU hands and neck.
%1/2+.'&$;56'2*#0+'/#;.14

the house without are Dove Hair It has eliminated

mascara – it makes Therapy Daily the crêpey skin.
me look more awake. Moisture Shampoo Cerave Moisturising
I wear L’Oréal Paris and Conditioner, £2 Lotion, £12, Boots,
Unlimited Pro each. I use a serum is great for long-
Volume Bendable and style smooth lasting rehydration
Mascara, £10.99. YKVJ C ƃCV KTQP of the skin too.

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Great skin
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promotional feature

CLEANSE
Cleansing is the first, and
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114 womanandhome.com
 TREAT
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womanandhome.com 115
 HEALTH
If you try one thing this month
& WELLNESS
PRACTISE SELF-
COMPASSION
Louise Chunn, founder of therapist-
matching service welldoing.org,
says, ‘Self-compassion is about
tending to you, understanding you,
treating you with kindness, rather
than criticising yourself as a means
of self-improvement.
‘Many of us bad-mouth ourselves
internally, criticising everything,
from how we look, to what we have
achieved. The trend for “compare
and despair” is all too pervasive.
‘The easiest way to work towards
self-compassion is by focusing on it
with meditation. On YouTube, you
ECPƂPFUJQTVXKFGQUD[-TKUVKP0GHH
and Tara Brach, as well as eight-week
programmes that help you build
the practice, so treating yourself
with kindness becomes natural.
‘It doesn’t mean you’ll never be
critical of yourself, but it won’t
be your default setting.’
PHOTO: GETTY

womanandhome.com 117
health confidential
‘I had a UTI for
10 YEARS’ Trudy Warren, 58, from Plymouth,
always suffered with a urine infection.
Here, she shares how she cured it
A
s I approached the
menopause I began to
have very heavy bleeding, so
I had a Mirena coil fitted to
try and solve the problem. From that
point forward I developed a recurrent
urinary tract infection (UTI) – it was
so frequent that I was eventually
referred to a urology consultant.
The doctor said I had a slight prolapse
of my womb, which stopped my bladder
from emptying. The coil was removed,
but the infection was established. I then
began a cycle of taking antibiotics,
almost constantly. They would ease my
symptoms for a short while, but I would
soon have another bout, with unbearable
burning urine and lower abdominal pain.
Life at that time was miserable. If I had
a night out with friends and shared a
few bottles of wine, I feared how I would
feel the next morning. I’d have to drink
gallons of water to dilute my urine –
although it rarely helped. I couldn’t even
go away for the weekend without having
✢ UTIs affect the bladder, urethra or
kidneys. Symptoms include the urge to
pass urine often, with urine that stings,
smells, looks cloudy or has blood in it.
✢ Urinary infections are common
because bacteria can easily travel
along the urethra to reach the bladder.
‘The menopause also increases
vulnerability to UTIs, as do conditions
that impair immunity, such as diabetes
118 womanandhome.com
a standby course of antibiotics ready
to deal with a flare-up. Before I retired,
I worked for years as a nurse. On the very
bad days I would be doubled over in
pain and had no choice but to call in sick.
The only positive was that the infection
didn’t progress to my kidneys.
Years passed by and I felt like I was
a ticking time bomb, to the point that
I thought it may even kill me in the end.
UTIs eventually develop resistance to
treatment and I was staring down the
barrel of being in hospital having IV
drugs. I also felt uneasy about taking
prescription drugs for so long, and was
desperate to find a solution that would
enable me to live my life normally again.
What eventually saved me from
another decade of discomfort was
discovering a herbal supplement that
contains the key ingredient D-Mannose
– which is a form of glucose found in
fruits that helps bacteria leave the body
through urine and other plant extracts.
At first, I was sceptical it could work
NEED TO KNOW
or when having cancer treatment,’
says GP Dr Gemma Newman.
✢ Drinking water, cranberry juice and
taking cystitis sachets from the chemist
can help. Antibiotics may be needed
if symptoms persist, although one
third of E.coli UTIs display resistance
to key antibiotics*.
✢ ‘Avoiding long-term medication
use is infinitely better,’ says Dr
because I’d lived with infections for so
long. But I was willing to give anything a
try. I took an initial course of four tablets,
three times a day, for five days. By the
end of that period I was miraculously
out of the woods and could tell that
something had changed. I no longer
had that stinging feeling when weeing,
which was really unusual for me.
Now, I take two tablets, twice a day,
and I haven’t needed any other medication
for over six months – so it seems this
supplement really has been my saviour.
If it means I’ve eradicated the problem
and will never experience a horrendous
UTI again, I’d be happy to take it for the
rest of my life.
Newman. ‘Clinically researched
WORDS: ALI HORSFALL MAIN PHOTO: GETTY.
*ACCORDING TO PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND
plant extracts, such as D-mannose,
boswellia, turmeric, green tea
polyphenols and pumpkin seed
extract can have a beneficial effect
– potentially allowing women to
avoid bladder symptoms and
ongoing antibiotics.’ Try Uralix,
£29.90 for 60 capsules,
bluegreenhealth.co.uk

+$5 VJKU ƃQWT OC[
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 Can you really
CUT
YOUR
CANCER
RISK?
Someone is diagnosed with this deadly disease
every two minutes, but taking these preventive
steps could help stack the odds in your favour
I
t’s not something any of us
want to dwell on, but terrifying
statistics show that one in two
Brits born after 1960 will be
diagnosed with some form of cancer
during their lifetime*. What’s more,
due to NHS screening and diagnosis
delays during the pandemic, experts
have predicted that cancer fatality
figures are set to rise.
However, despite these sobering facts,
a more positive report by the University
of London reveals that with greater
awareness and better treatment,
premature cancer deaths could, in
fact, be wiped out by 2050. And there
120 womanandhome.com
are certainly things you can do to
protect yourself. We take a look at the
cornerstones of cancer prevention and
how they could significantly lessen your
chances of developing the disease.
Cut down on booze
Drinking alcohol may have helped us to
survive lockdown, but it was also linked
to 3% of female cancer cases in the UK
last year**. ‘Alcohol can increase the risk
of a range of cancers, particularly mouth
and oesophagus cancers, bowel, breast,
prostate and liver,’ says NHS consultant
oncologist, Professor Robert Thomas.
GET
YOUR
10-A-DAY
Scientists found that women who
ate plentiful portions of fruit and
veg had a lower risk of breast
cancer recurrence than
those who stuck to
five-a-day.
**INTERNATIONAL AGENCY FOR RESEARCH ON CANCER. ***THE LANCET
WORDS: ALI HORSFALL. PHOTO: GETTY. *CANCER RESEARCH UK.
Keep your weekly intake below 14 units
by having booze-free days.
Get up and move
A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk
of inflammation and cancer cell growth.
‘Cancer starts when cells divide and
multiply out of control,’ explains Natasha
Paton, health information manager at
Cancer Research UK. Evidence suggests
that physical activity is an effective way
for postmenopausal women to increase
their chances of avoiding breast cancer**.

‘Regular exercise can also reduce the
risk of bowel cancer by moving food
and harmful chemicals through
40%
the body more quickly, and
reducing inflammation in the
bowel,’ says Natasha. Offset
your sofa sessions with
30-40 minutes of moderate
intensity activity a day.
Quit smoking
Puffing on cigarettes not only causes
lung cancer. ‘Smoking is linked to an
increased risk of lung, head and neck,
oesophagus, stomach, liver, breast,
bowel, bladder, kidney and skin cancers,’
explains Professor Thomas. ‘As well
as nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar,
tobacco smoke contains more than
4,000 different chemicals, many of
which are carcinogenic.’ The good
news is, it’s never too late to give up,
and there’s an NHS support service to
help you. Call the Smokefree National
Helpline on 0300 123 1044.
Watch your weight
Obesity is the second biggest
preventable cause of cancer in the
THE BIG 5
These are the most occurring cancers
among UK women:
1
BREAST
The risk of dying from breast
cancer has dropped 39% since
the 1970s, but there are still over
150 daily diagnoses. The likelihood
of getting it increases with age, so
if you’re between 50 and 71, you’ll
be invited for a mammogram every
three years, and this screening
aims to find breast cancers early.
Examine your breasts regularly to
check for unusual changes – visit
breastcanceruk.org.uk to learn how.
2
LUNG
Advances in treatment mean a
more positive outlook for lung
cancer, despite it claiming the lives of
16,000 UK women a year. Worryingly,
non-smokers account for 15% of all
UK, and keeping your weight at a healthy
level reduces the risk of 13 types
of cancer, says Natasha. ‘Extra
fat cells send out signals to
the rest of the body,’ she
of cancer explains. ‘These signals can
cases in the tell our cells to divide more
UK are often, which increases the
preventable. chances of cancer cells
developing.’ Check your
Body Mass Index with the
NHS BMI calculator app at nhs.uk
Eat cancer-fighting foods
Consuming a wide variety of fruit and
vegetables may offer protection
because each type contains different
phytochemicals – substances that
stop the spread of cancer cells.
‘Phytochemicals protect us from the
damaging toxins we eat,’ says Professor
Thomas. ‘The biggest group,
polyphenols, are especially effective,
and are found in leafy green veg,
herbs, spices, broccoli, turmeric,
green tea, tomatoes, pulses, soya
and onions.’ To help reduce the
risk of bowel cancer, eat plenty of
high-fibre foods, and limit red and
processed meat.
cases, with air pollution, passive
smoking and workplace exposure to
carcinogens such as asbestos, being
major causes of the disease. See a
doctor if you have the most common
symptom of a persistent cough, or
coughing up blood – also if you’re
experiencing chest pain, recurrent
chest infections, or unexplained
weight loss and tiredness.
3
BOWEL
This cancer is treatable and
curable if diagnosed early, says
Bowel Cancer UK. Be aware of these
symptoms, and visit your GP if things
don’t feel right:
✢ Bleeding from your bottom and/or
blood in your faeces.
✢ A persistent and unexplained
change in bowel habit.
✢ Unexplained weight loss and
extreme tiredness.
✢ A pain or lump in your tummy.
health report
WHAT ELSE?
✢ Sleep for seven to nine hours.
Sleep deprivation can lead to DNA
damage, which increases cancer risk.
✢ Avoid the sun. Take a vitamin D
supplement rather than risking
overexposure to UV rays.
✢ Ditch toxic cleaning products.
Many have carcinogenic properties
that scientists have linked to
some cancers. Look on labels
for benzophenones, triclosan,
bisphenol A, alkylphenols,
phthalates and parabens. Go
back to basics with soap, water,
vinegar and baking soda instead.
THE
CANCER
ROAD MAP
The NHS England Long Term Plan outlines
the commitment to detect 75% of cancers
at an early stage by 2028 – allowing for more
treatment options and a higher survival rate.
New scientific developments that could help
find cancers early include a routine blood
test that can detect slightly raised levels
of platelets that may indicate cancer;
and genome research, which
studies the DNA of cancer
patients.
4
UTERINE
Womb cancer is the most
common of the five
gynaecological cancers, with over
9,300 UK diagnoses every year.
It mostly affects postmenopausal
women, with a common symptom
being abnormal vaginal bleeding
– see your GP with any concerns.
5
MELANOMA
Risky sun exposure and
increased diagnosis has
seen melanoma cases shoot up
by 300% over the past 40 years***.
Skin cancer usually presents itself as
a mole or mark on the skin, so if you
notice anything, get it checked out.
womanandhome.com 121
 Why we get
winter sugar
CRAVINGS
As the temperatures dip, our desire for the sweet stuff soars. We
find out why this happens and how we can suppress these urges
I
t’s staring at you, beckoning you
with its soft, crumbly sponge
and luscious folds of whipped
buttercream. One look is enough
to kick-start your salivary glands,
and before you know it you’ve
inhaled the entire slice. So what
is it about that piece of cake that
we find so hard to resist? And why
do we find it particularly difficult
to curb these sugary cravings
during the winter months? According
to the scientists, tiredness, our
hormones and even the sunshine
(or lack of it!) could be to blame.
It’s time we took a closer look.
LOW ENERGY
LEVELS
The colder winter months are often
associated with tiredness and lethargy.
In nature, winter is definitely a time
for snoozing – after all, if you’re a bear,
a bat or even a bee, you’re hibernating
at this time of year.
For us humans, as the days become
shorter, our sleep/wake cycles become
disrupted. The lack of sunlight means
that our brain produces more of the
hormone melatonin, which makes
122 womanandhome.com
us sleepy. But what’s this got to do to stabilise our mood and
with coveting that pack of Hobnobs? boost feelings of wellbeing and
Well, according to Hannah Braye, happiness – can be sensitive to the
nutritional therapist at Bio-Kult, we often seasons, with levels dropping in winter.
crave sugar when we’re tired: ‘Sugar So how do falling serotonin levels
(glucose) is used preferentially by the lead to cravings? There’s a strong
body and brain as a quick source of link between carbohydrate cravings
energy. This could be why we and mood. ‘Many people
WHAT
have the urge to reach for report an increase
refined carbohydrates in positive
and sugary foods
when we feel tired IS A mood shortly
after eating
and sluggish.’
Unfortunately, CRAVING? a carbohydrate-
rich meal,’
this can lead ‘Food cravings are intense and says Hannah.
to blood-sugar specific,’ says Hannah. ‘They are This is
crashes, making strong urges for a particular food because
that are hard to resist, and often
tiredness worse simple
and potentially associated with feelings carbohydrates
perpetuating the
sugar-crave cycle. But
of guilt once the food
is eaten.’
and sugars
can increase our
fatigue isn’t the only thing we serotonin levels. While
have to contend with in winter. serotonin is made in the brain
from amino acid tryptophan,
HAPPY HORMONES carbohydrates are crucial in helping
this process along. They cause
Keeping these guys content is a full-time our body to release insulin, which
job. Having just a slight hormonal removes all amino acids – except
imbalance can put our whole body out tryptophan – from our blood.
of whack. Serotonin – a hormone known That means tryptophan has no

competition and can enter our brain
easily, boosting serotonin levels. Clever!
We’re essentially self-medicating with
sugar to make us feel happier. ‘This could
explain why people tend to reach for the
snacks at 3-5pm, when serotonin levels
are naturally less active,’ adds Hannah.
GIVE US LIGHT!
The reason why serotonin levels drop
in winter is a lack of sunlight caused
by cloudy skies and longer evenings.
Studies* show our brains produce more
serotonin on sunny days than on darker
ones. When sunlight enters our eyes,
it stimulates parts of our retina that
trigger our brain to produce serotonin.
Research** also indicates that
JUST
vitamin D helps to maintain
serotonin concentrations
CHILL in the brain. In warmer
weather, we can get
Serotonin isn’t affected by vitamin D from the sun,
colder temperatures, which but from October to
is probably why we enjoy March in the UK, UVB
those cold, crisp, rays just aren’t strong
blue-skied January enough. No wonder our
days. levels are plummeting!
CURB CRAVINGS
Sadly, we can’t increase sunshine levels
in winter. So what else can we do to
stop us sneaking in sugary treats at 4pm?
UP YOUR VITAMIN-D INTAKE
During the winter months, 40% of us
are deficient in vitamin D. Take a daily
WORDS: NATALIA LUBOMIRSKI. PHOTO: GETTY. *THE MELBOURNE CENTRE FOR SEASONAL
supplement to reach your 10mcg RDI
AFFECTIVE DISORDER, RICHMOND VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. **CENTER FOR NUTRITION
(recommended daily intake), help boost
AND METABOLISM, CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OAKLAND RESEARCH INSTITUTE, USA
serotonin levels and lessen those desires.
SNACK ON NUTS
Amino acid tryptophan is crucial in the
production of serotonin. ‘Increasing
tryptophan-rich foods – such as oats, nuts,
seeds, chicken, turkey, beans, lentils and
eggs – may help reduce cravings if you’re
trying to wean off sugar,’ says Hannah.
BREAK THE HABIT
‘Many of us reach for sugary foods out
of habit or for comfort,’ says Hannah. To
break these habits, you need to identify
your triggers (whether you crumble at
elevenses or are prone to late-night
snacking). ‘You can then put strategies in
place for weak moments,’ adds Hannah.
health is the new wealth
SMART
SWAPS
Try Hannah’s quick and easy food
switches to help reduce your
sugar intake in the winter months.
SWAP REGULAR BAKED
BEANS FOR NO-ADDED-
SUGAR BAKED BEANS
The no-added-sugar option
contains less than half the sugar
of regular baked beans. Pay
attention to the ‘carbohydrates
(of which sugars)’ label on
products. Anything with
5g or less sugar per 100g is
considered a low-sugar food.
SWAP SUGAR ALTERNATIVES
FOR CINNAMON
Unrefined sugar alternatives,
such as maple syrup, coconut
sugar, rice syrup and honey,
have exactly the same effect
on our blood sugar as the white
stuff, and are just as addictive.
Cinnamon is a natural sugar-free
sweetener that can be added
to porridge, yogurt or fruit, and
can help balance blood sugars.
SWAP SUGAR FOR SWEET
POTATOES (IN BAKING!)
While these have natural sugars,
they’re also packed with fibre
and resistant starch – meaning
they cause less of a spike in
our blood-glucose levels.
SWAP KETCHUP FOR TABASCO
Condiments and pre-made sauces
can be packed with hidden
sugars. Try Tabasco, mustard or
lots of herbs for added flavour.
DRINK UP AND SWITCH IT UP
‘Dehydration is often misinterpreted as
hunger or cravings,’ says Hannah. Drink
a large glass of water to see if the craving
passes. ‘Food cravings can also happen
when we’re bored,’ she adds – it’s a way
to escape monotony. Whether at home
or at work, try and change your activity.
womanandhome.com 123

W&H FITNESS GURU
CELLULITE?
WHO CARES!
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and personal with the infamous body hang-up
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his is a topic I’ve been
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idea as ‘Cellulite – should
we be bothered?’ The Editor’s
comment came back as… ‘Yes, Annie,
go ahead, but we’re all assuming
(hoping) the answer is a resounding
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we can do anything about cellulite
and why it is totally normal. Because
that’s what it is – TOTALLY normal.
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sort of funny dimpled cottage cheese-
looking stuff that’s mostly found on
our thighs and buttocks. What causes
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W&H TAP TO EXPLORE
these fat cells. All of us. Our bodies
couldn’t function properly without them.
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bits show is down to those connective
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of outer thigh. It ain’t
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(a plus in my job).
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but age has apparently women’
nothing to do with it. Babies
can have cellulite. Lean athletes with low
body fat can have it. Most women have
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body really bothers you – and this is me
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on – then there are steps we can take
to help reduce its appearance.
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were to consist of lots of carbohydrate
(and I mean anything from healthy oats
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Find Annie’s at-home workouts on the w&h Facebook page. Turn to
page 5 to discover how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
W&H
EXPLORE
in the blood. Enter the hormone insulin
to ship off that glucose to the muscles
that need it. If our life is sedentary and
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for it. And that home is our fat cells.
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a commitment to daily
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play their part too. Men
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by big pants. I don’t care and I urge you
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Girls moment coming on. I wonder if
the Editor would consider me and my
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The 21 Day Blast Plan (HarperCollins). Her
fat-loss programme (theblastplan.com)
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November. Follow her on Instagram
@anniedeadman for deals and discounts.
10
ways to
BOOST
your
WINTER
WORKOUT
Over the home gym?
Bored of walking?
It’s easier than you
think to revive your
exercise mojo as
the weather turns

L
et’s be honest. Unless you’re
ultra passionate about
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a marathon a doddle, then
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But you don’t have to slip out of the
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in the UK are physically inactive*
WORDS: FAYE M SMITH. PHOTO: GETTY.
s CPF VJKU IGVU YQTUG FWTKPI VJG
colder months. Hate the idea of
*BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION
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1 INVEST IN THE
RIGHT GEAR
n6JKPMVJKPƂVVGFNC[GTUTCVJGTVJCPDKI
and bulky,’ says WalkActive founder
Joanna Hall. Try a T-shirt base layer in
a technical fabric that draws sweat away
from your body, then a lightweight
long-sleeved layer, she says. Over that,
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gilet. Stretch exercise trousers are ideal,
and try two pairs of bamboo socks,
rather than one thick pair.
2 DON’T DITCH
THE WARM-UP
‘Cold weather causes your muscles to
contract and be less elastic, which can
increase the risk of injury when you
exercise,’ says personal trainer Chris
Ward. ‘During the winter months, it’s
more important to do a good warm-up
routine before exercising, so you reduce
the risk of tears and injuries.’ Stretch for at
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3 SWITCH UP
YOUR SONGS
Music can help distract you while getting
your sweat on but, for an even bigger
boost, choose songs that have 125-140
beats per minute (bpm). ‘Scientists have
discovered that the addition of a strong,
rhythmic beat, such as a fast-paced
musical track, could inspire people to
pick up the pace,’ says relationship and
mind coach Ansar Ali. Plus, you’ll start
linking them with good memories
next time. ‘They’ll trigger happy
memories associated with feeling calm,
good and focused,’ says Ansar. Use
a free tool to inspire you, such as
beatsperminuteonline.com, to help you
make a playlist of same-tempo songs.
4 HAVE A
DESTINATION
Heading out in the cold? Knowing
you’ll end up somewhere warm can
be a game changer for you. ‘A bike
ride to your favourite bakery or coffee
shop is a classic for a reason,’ says Hilary
Rowland, co-founder of Boom Cycle.
‘It can become a tradition and then the
exercise is just a part of your enjoyment
of the process.’ Just don’t completely
derail the diet when you’re there!
5 KEEP HYDRATED
Just because it’s chilly, it can be
easy to overlook the importance of
staying hydrated – it’s important if you’re
exercising for more than 30 minutes.
Drink water or a sugar-free isotonic drink
– around 500ml an hour is a good guide.
6 MAKE IT
SOCIAL
Stay focused with a pal. ‘A workout
class or even a walk with a friend is a
great way to keep your exercise regular
CPFTGCRCNNVJGDGPGƂVUQHCUQEKCN
connection too,’ says Hilary. ‘You’re less
likely to cancel because you don’t want
to let your friend down and vice versa.’
7 BOOK A
SMARTER
HOLIDAY
While heading off on a break may seem
like Russian roulette right now, if you’re
going ahead, make it an active one, such
as skiing. Not only will you be breathing
in fresh air, six hours of skiing a day will
mean you’re burning 3,000 calories.
You’ll also tone up (and strengthen your
core), boost your immunity – and could
lose around 5lb in a week.
health extra
8 REDUCE
DECISIONS
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morning? Then get your workout clothes
ready the night before. By making fewer
decisions throughout the day, you’ll be
able to keep your willpower high in the
moments where you need it the most
– such as getting out of a warm bed for
a cold morning walk. Yoga and Pilates
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with your energy levels.
9
ACCLIMATISE
AS EARLY AS
YOU CAN
It’s going to be cold from now until at
least February – so don’t put off your
exercise plan, or you’ll get out of the
habit. If you’ve never worked out in the
cold before and you start in January,
it’ll be a big shock to the system and
the chances are you won’t do it again.
Start now. When the weather takes
a downturn and it gets darker earlier,
you could consider doing your workout
at lunchtime if possible.
10 SWITCH
YOUR SPORT
Stay inside, but still reap
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Your improved coordination
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tennis game too.
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Diving into a pool can become less
enticing as the temperature drops.
Using an indoor rowing machine will
give a great workout, combining
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similar to swimming.
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There’s nothing like an autumn
stroll when it’s dry. If it’s pouring,
try a yoga class instead. The
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that of a relaxing walk, and your
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will all improve.
womanandhome.com 127

Your
HEALTH
Got a medical problem or need health advice? Ask GP Dr Philippa Kaye
I try to look after myself and
I’m generally well. I have been
reading recently about probiotics
and prebiotics, but I’m a little
confused – what is the difference
between them, is there actually
evidence that they work, and
YJCVCTGVJGJGCNVJDGPGƂVU!
A A
We have millions of bacteria
in our bodies that make up
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them as we pass through the birth
canal after birth. They are on our skin,
in our mouths, in our genitals and in
our guts. Scientists are learning more
and more about the microbiome,
with the balance between good and
bad bacteria playing a role in many
health conditions.
FACT OR FICTION?
THE FLU VACCINE CAN GIVE YOU FLU
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cannotIKXG[QWVJGƃW+PHCEVKV
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can have serious complications. The
jab is offered to everyone over 50 each
autumn and winter, plus pregnant
women and those with chronic health
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128 womanandhome.com
Probiotics are supplements – these
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the health of your gastrointestinal
system. There is evidence that they can
be helpful in certain health conditions,
such as irritable bowel syndrome
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more research needs to be carried
out to see if they are effective if you
don’t have a particular health condition.
These supplements also do not affect
the microbiome of the vagina.
Prebiotics, on the other hand,
are foods that feed the good bacteria
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such as all fruits and vegetables, nuts,
seeds and pulses, as well as fermented
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are all components of a healthy diet,
and there is lots of evidence that
they are good for your overall health,
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does have a live virus, but it has been
weakened so it can’t cause you harm.
You may get side effects from the
vaccine, such as aches and pains, a
headache, sore arm, or feeling unwell
YKVJCHGXGTDWVVJKUKUPoVVJGƃWsVJKU
is your immune system responding to
the vaccine and it should pass within
a few days. Vaccines save lives, so get
[QWTƃWLCDVJKU[GCT
THIS
MONTH
%Prebiotics
vs probiotics
%Cold hands and feet
%Blood pressure
meds
I’ve always been a ‘cold’
person. It improved around
the menopause, but my
hands and feet are always
freezing. I started jogging, but
it hurts too much, especially
when I get in the shower to
YCTOWR9JCVECPJGNROG!
Raynaud’s syndrome is a
really common condition that
affects the circulation to your
extremities – your hands and feet
– though some people experience
it in their nose and nipples. It
affects almost 20% of women.
There is a spasm of the small
arteries supplying these areas, so
blood can’t reach them. It doesn’t
even have to be very cold for this to
occur and stress can also bring it on.
The affected area turns blue and
then very pale, or white in colour,
which can be painful, or you may
have numbness and be unable
to do tasks such as doing up your
shoelaces, or sending texts.
When you get into the warmth,
or take a shower, the affected area
turns red and can be very painful
when the blood supply returns
to the affected area. Medication,
such as the blood pressure drug
nifedipine, can help by dilating the
blood vessels. Also wear thermal
gloves and socks, and use hand and
feet warmers to ease symptoms.

I have high blood pressure
and my GP has been gradually
increasing the dose of my
medication, but also recently
added a second one. He said it
was a different type and I needed
both – how do these work?
T
MAIN PHOTO (POSED BY MODEL): GETTY
hink about the cardiovascular
system in your body rather like
a central heating system. Your
heart is the boiler, your organs are the
radiators and your blood vessels are
the pipes. Over time, perhaps due
to hard water, your pipes get a bit
narrowed so your boiler has to work
harder to maintain the water pressure
in the radiators. As you age, your blood
vessels get a bit stiffer, and there may
be some build-up – for example, from
smoking – so your heart has to work
harder to pump blood to your organs.
The top number of the monitor is
the pressure the heart produces when
it pumps, and the bottom is when it
rests between beats. Different types of
blood pressure tablets work in various
ways. ACE inhibitors, such as ramipril,
work by relaxing your blood vessels;
calcium channel blockers, such as
amlodipine, widen or dilate the vessels;
and diuretics, such as furosemide,
work by ridding the body of excess
fluid. Sometimes more than one type
of medication is needed to treat high
blood pressure.
Q&A
+
DOCTOR’S
ORDERS
EATING DISORDERS
DON’T JUST AFFECT
THE YOUNG
Eating disorders have risen
significantly over the past year
or so, with the pandemic having
a major impact on mental health.
Eating disorders can affect anyone,
irrespective of age, gender or
ethnicity. In the past decade, there
has been a rise in women over the
age of 35 seeking help.
Eating disorders are mental-
health conditions, and include
anorexia, bulimia and binge-
eating disorder. Thoughts lead to
behaviours, which then manifest
in physical signs and symptoms,
and can result in longer-term
effects. In anorexia, for example,
the thoughts might include a fear
of putting on weight, a distorted
body view, anxiety, and spending
a lot of time thinking about food.
This then leads to avoiding eating
and social situations where food
is served, or over-exercising. This
then results in weight loss, fatigue,
feeling cold, and periods stopping.
Over time this will impact on the
immune system and heart, and can
also lead to osteoporosis.
Anorexia, sadly, is the leading
cause of death in mental health
conditions. In bulimia, although
the thoughts may be similar, the
behaviours may include a bingeing
and purging cycle that may involve
vomiting or using laxatives.
If you think you have an eating
disorder or are concerned about a
loved one, seek help. Your GP may
refer a patient for psychological
(talking) therapy, or to specialist
services, or prescribe medication.
More information is available from
the UK eating disorders charity
Beat at beateatingdisorders.org.uk,
or call 0808 801 0677.
womanandhome.com 129
 FOOD, HOME & TRAVEL

If you do one thing this month

SEE AUTUMN COLOUR
AT WINKWORTH
ARBORETUM
Every day is different at Winkworth Arboretum, near
Godalming in Surrey, where more than 1,000 different
shrubs and trees change colour with the seasons.
Established by plant enthusiast Dr Wilfrid Fox in 1937,
Winkworth is owned by the National Trust, and it’s a
magical spot for a quiet walk or family outing. At this
WORDS: HELENA CARTWRIGHT. PHOTO: ALAMY

time of year, all 95 acres form a glorious kaleidoscope

of autumnal colour. Deep purple and red liquidambar
blend with golden yellow hickory and tulip trees, while
Japanese and Norwegian maples glow in copper and
crimson. Don’t miss the Azalea Steps, which not only
offer stunning views over the Surrey countryside, but
also feature the fabulous katsura trees, with their sweet,
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womanandhome.com
w 133
 NEW
SEASON
LOOKS AUTUMN
TRENDS
SPECIAL

for your home

Be inspired by the latest trends and
give your rooms an update

LOOK ONE
WINTER COASTAL
This season sees a twist on the classic
coastal look, with the focus on cosiness
and warmth. Cool blues and greys lose
their chill teamed with plush faux furs,
chunky knits and sheepskin, with furniture
in reclaimed timber, weathered woods
and rustic weaves adding to the mellow
vibe. Patterns are relaxed and low-key
– try soft stripes, plaids and faded prints
in shades of denim, pebble and sand.

GO FOR WARMER BLUES

Wall in Winter Garden Claypaint, £47 for
2.5ltr; cupboard in Puddling Eggshell,
£26.50 for 750ml, both Country Homes &
Interiors range, earthbornpaints.co.uk Country wall clock,
£60, very.co.uk

Abigail chunky
throw, £55,
raggedrose.com
Grey dipped
Cirrus rug, £98.49, rattan lantern, £14,
waltonshop.co.uk george.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

TAKE OFF THE CHILL WITH

SNUG KNITS AND FURS
Petersham Linen Union sofa,
£2,100, and Cosy chair, £1,600,
both thewhitecompany.com

PILE ON THE LAYERS

Skagerak Georg bench, £689,
herringbone knit throw, £70, and
chunky knit throw, £85, all amara.com

Grooved natural
lamp, £150,
hudsonhome.co.uk

Zig zag seagrass

basket, £25,
ƂXGCPFFKOG
interiors.com

TRY WEATHERED TIMBERS

Slider coffee Tegal square coffee table, £705,
table nest, barkerandstonehouse.co.uk >>
£445, loaf.com

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 LOOK TWO MIX RICH TONES OF PLUM
AND BURNT ORANGE
Joel sofa bed, £400, and
COUNTRY MANOR Razia India coffee table, £150,
Enjoy Downton Abbey grandeur on a smaller both habitat.co.uk
scale with this eclectic style. Traditional and
timeless, but comfortable and lived-in, the
look’s signature ingredients include wood
panelling, rich colours, plush upholstery,
EQWPVT[ ƃQTCNU VYGGFU CPF
plaids. Details are key, from
Matthew Williamson statement lighting and chintzy
English Garden lampshades, to buttoned-
lamp with shade, back furniture and family
£153, pooky.com portraits hung on the wall.

Artist Collection framed

wall art, £50, next.co.uk

Groove console
table, £219.99,
homescapesonline.com

SHOWCASE BOLD FLORALS

Blind in Stapleton Park fabric, £129 per m,
sanderson.sandersondesigngroup.com

MAKE SPACE FOR

DECORATIVE
HIGHLIGHTS
Padang table lamp,
£285, pooky.com
Henrie large footstool, Kyoto cushion, £32,
£499, dfs.co.uk rockettstgeorge.co.uk
136 womanandhome.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

Abstract sculptural Woven

table lamp, £80, shade, £25,
next.co.uk george.com

Global Geo
cushion, £12,
dunelm.com

Kelso dining bench,

KEEP DETAILS CLEAN AND SIMPLE £179, dunelm.com
Elemental embroidered duvet set, Luna Berber-style rug, from
from £32, and tufted cushion, £16, £95, laredoute.com
both matalan.co.uk

LOOK THREE
ARTISAN
A home in harmony is the ethos behind
this trend, with its calm, considered
interiors and simple style. Busy patterns,
ornate decoration and colours that BRING IN BLACK AS AN ACCENT
jar are out, with neutral tones, organic Talia spindle-back chairs, £160
shapes and unfussy detailing taking their for two, and Biwa seagrass
place. Artistry is key, with crafted everyday shade, £45, both habitat.co.uk >>
items the norm, from tactile tableware
and sculpted ceramics to handwoven
basketware and stitch-work textiles.

(1%75102#4'&$#%-56;.'
Boren sideboard, £1,395, coxandcox.co.uk

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 CHOOSE CALM COLOURS
TO PROVIDE FLOW
Chester dove grey dresser,
£1,075, and kitchen island,
£945, both cotswoldco.com

COMBINE SHADES OF GREEN

Walls, from top: Gardener’s Trug, Thrown
Clay, Ceramic Glaze and Bay Leaf matt
emulsions, £23.40 each for 2.5ltr, Ideal
Home Albany range, brewers.co.uk

LOOK FOUR
NATURAL RETREAT
Biophilic design is the buzzword this
season – the concept of connecting
interiors with nature and creating calm,
mindful spaces to live in. The look is
laid-back and relaxed, with houseplants
and greenery creating a chilled, restful
vibe, and natural materials used in
abundance on surfaces, furniture and
furnishings – from sustainably sourced
wood, bamboo and natural stone
to woven textiles, organic cotton,
pottery and recycled glass.

Sahara bar stool, £165,

sweetpeaandwillow.com

Faux hanging
horsetail cactus, £29,
ellajames.co.uk

138 womanandhome.com
 W&H
EXPLORE
CREATE A RESTFUL SPOT
Oswald button-back chair,
£299, and jute circle rug,
from £55, both dunelm.com

Brindle display cabinet, £579.99,

oakfurnitureland.co.uk

LAYER TACTILE TEXTURES

Jasmine upholstered kingsize bed in Bespoke
Chambray rug in Fern wool, £1,145, buttonandsprung.com >>
in moss, from £19.99,
waltonshop.co.uk

Thistle/Rose
tote bag, £35,
DTCKFGFTWIEQWM

Acorn chopping
board, £20,
next.co.uk

Ceramic pot cover, £9.99,

shop.giselagraham.co.uk

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 LOOK FIVE LOOK FOR
CHARACTERFUL PIECES
Fern cabinet, £2,398,
FOLKSY STYLE anthropologie.com
Craftsmanship is at the heart of this
cheery, colour-happy look. Taking
inspiration from decorative arts and
traditional techniques, the emphasis
is on crafted pieces with a homespun
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folksy style and homely charm. Anything
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heritage prints plus colourful stripes and
plaids teamed with painted furniture,
rustic woods and basketware.
Flora and Fauna cushion,
£45, johnlewis.com

Callie bowls,
£22 for four,
next.co.uk

CREATE A HOMELY FEEL

Leckford jug, £22, and
Coast striped tablecloth,
£25, both johnlewis.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

WORK IN FOLKSY FLORALS

Meadow Ditsy duvet cover
set, from £22, dunelm.com

Distressed
ivory jug, £32,
marquisanddawe.
co.uk Pastel Fairisle
rug, from £45,
DTCKFGFTWI
co.uk

Carver chair, £195,

gardentrading.
co.uk

Anyday Rattan
Fleur mirror, £30,
johnlewis.com

BRING IN
RUSTIC DETAILS
Hostkvall wreath,
£12, ikea.com >>

Petal Stripe duvet cover set,

from £10, george.com

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 ADD SPICE WITH
EARTHY TONES
Kili rug, £195,
and textured
cushions (on sofa),
£30 each, all
amara.com

Merge Kelim
cushion, £64,
abodeliving.co.uk
Hand-carved
wooden mirror,
£200,
johnlewis.com

DOUBLE UP
ON LIGHTS
Amini large matt
black pendants,
£96 each, Natural black woven
iconiclights.co.uk desert chair, £459,
cielshopinteriors.com

Dried grasses, MIX AND

LOOK SIX £10 per bunch,

roseandgrey.co.uk
MATCH
Woven shades,
GLOBAL £25 each,
Berber cushion,
TRAVELLER £10, and Abstract
# HWUKQP QH UV[NGU CPF KPƃWGPEGU HTQO cushion, £8, all
around the world, this look has earthy george.com
colours, exotic patterns and tactile
textures at its core. While neutrals and Ceramic
soothing tones set the backdrop, colour terracotta jug,
and spice is added via richly woven £20, habitat.
kilims and shaggy Berbers teamed co.uk
with bold ikat prints, tufted weaves
and linear geometrics. Furniture is
a mix of contemporary and hand-
crafted styles, with simple upholstery
sitting alongside dark wooden accents.
142 womanandhome.com
 W&H
EXPLORE

MAKE A
STATEMENT
WITH PLUSH
FURNISHINGS
Draper large
three-seater sofa,
£1,599, and Swoon
marble coffee
table, £350, both MIX PRINTS AND BLOCK COLOUR
johnlewis.com Canopy armchair in Saffron Velvet,
£549, and Anyday pedestal side
table, £99, both johnlewis.com

LOOK SEVEN
EXOTIC ECLECTIC
Take a ‘more is more’ approach to
KPVGTKQTU CPF ƂNN VJGO YKVJ GZQVKE RTKPVU
sumptuous furnishings and lush greenery.
'PEQORCUUKPI C OKZ QH KPƃWGPEGU CPF
eras, this decadent look combines colour,
pattern and plush details together with
rich velvets, damask and embroideries.
Go for dark navy, teal and forest green,
adding in accents of gold, blush pink
and brass for extra polish and shine.

Opulent
velvet cushion,
£29.99,
celinadigby.
co.uk

GO LUXE WITH
GILT ACCENTS Baldaz brushed brass
Deco bed in effect pendant light,
Crane table
Dark Navy, £70, diy.com
lamp, £45,
from £599,
FEATURE: LISA FAZZANI. PHOTOS: FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

habitat.co.uk
next.co.uk

Lida bar
trolley, £345,
oliverbonas.
com

Bailey accent armchair,

£369, cultfurniture.com

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 COUNTRY
bound
Completing an ambitious renovation with plenty of room for guests
prompted Joanna and Simon Binder to move out of London full-time
 home inspiration

When Joanna
became
consultant MD
of a local
interior design
firm, she and
Simon made
the move

J
oanna and Simon Binder’s
transition from city dwellers
to country folk has been
a gradual one, taking shape over
20 years, but their decision to invest
in a more rural lifestyle happened in
just one blissful weekend.
‘We had gone to visit my old boss,
who lived in a picturesque valley near
Bath. We were really smitten by the
location and, by the end of our stay,
he had found us a property to rent in
a small village nearby,’ recalls Joanna.
Given their careers – Joanna’s in
fashion and Simon’s in the restaurant
business – spending the working week
in London was a necessity, so they left
for their Wiltshire cottage each weekend.

‘In the country,

‘Making the decision actually to
move full-time was very difficult and it
took a few years,’ says Joanna. ‘We did
it gradually, changing our work patterns
and lifestyle accordingly. We got to
know people locally, and getting our
Red Setter, Lily, added to the appeal.’
It was 11 years ago that the couple
took the plunge and bought their
permanent country home.
‘Simon had been enquiring in the
village about dry storage for cars, and
the owners of a cottage we’d always
admired, in a hamlet outside the village,
responded saying they had storage,
but in order to benefit from it, we would
have to buy the cottage, as they were
moving,’ Joanna says. ‘The property was
in a fantastic location and we realised we
could develop the barns for additional
we tend to guest accommodation,’ she adds.
Since they acquired the 19th-century
hibernate and workers’ cottage in 2010, an ambitious
two-stage renovation has unfolded, >>
eat at home, BOOT ROOM
Above: Oak windowsills provide a
often having
modern finish. Wicker storage basket,
find similar at thebasketcompany.com
friends over EXTERIOR
rather than Opposite: On what had previously
been a gravel drive, Joanna and Simon
eating out’ had a new lawn laid, and planted the
thick borders with wild flowers
womanandhome.com 145
 ‘We love watching the changing seasons. In winter,
we have a fire lit in most rooms, and it’s so cosy’
first with the main house and then,
a few years later, with the barns.
‘The first thing we did was open up
the cottage entrance to make it more
inviting, and change the position of the
staircase. We also cut back the walls.
They had been added to over the years,
and had become thick and cumbersome.
We raised ceilings in some cases and
dropped them in others, and opened
up all the windows to let in more light.’
The updated cottage has a chic and
unpretentious new ‘modern country’
interior. Wide, pale oak floorboards bring
a clean, simple quality to many of the
rooms, with reclaimed terracotta tiles
giving an authentic aesthetic to the
kitchen. ‘The kitchen feels like an open,
146 womanandhome.com
friendly entertaining space, with the large
table central to the action,’ says Joanna.
Bathrooms were refreshed with
Moroccan stone and Tadelakt waterproof
plaster. The interiors are unified by
smart joinery for the windowsills using
the same light oak as the floorboards.
‘As with any old property, our biggest
challenges were time and money. We
wanted to do the renovation well, which
is why we waited a few years to save up
for the barns. We also spent a significant
amount working with a local farmer to
create a piece of engineering that would
drain water down the valley, rather than
flooding around our gate,’ Joanna says.
The gardens also received a dramatic
transformation. ‘At the front of the >>
LIVING ROOM
Above: A low, long corner sofa
fits the cosy cottage proportions,
while simple blinds keep the
look modern and unfussy. Sofa,
conranshop.co.uk. Coffee table
made by Ahmed Sidki of Bow Wow
KITCHEN
Right: Inspired by Simon’s job as
a restaurateur, the couple opted
for low-maintenance and
functional steel work surfaces.
Ceiling lights, trainspotters.co.uk.
Floor tiles, reclaimed from a French
house, sourced by architects
Mackenzie Wheeler
home inspiration
home inspiration
MAIN BEDROOM
Oak cladding on the
ceiling gives a cosy vibe.
Rug, conranshop.co.uk.
Bedsheets, thewhite
company.com.
Throw and cushions,
neptune.com.
Round mirror,
skandium.com

house was a massive area of gravel, so we interior-design firm Sims Hilditch, based

WORDS: JULIET BENNING. PHOTOS: ADAM CARTER/FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

laid turf and created beds,’ says Joanna. near Bath, contributed to the decision.
They also planted two large orchards ‘We love the way you become so much
of more than 50 trees, and a wild flower more observant about the seasons, and
meadow to encourage bees and butterflies. the calm and the space is wonderful.’
LANDING ‘We’ve created Joanna and Simon
Top: Oak flooring refreshes the space,
while the new banisters were made by a
an English country
garden that flowers
‘The more time are keen hosts too.
‘On the weekends,
local ironmonger. Joanna’s grandfather’s
chair was reupholstered, and the
from February until
November. I love you spend here, the house is often full
of friends. We want
painting was found in an antiques shop

MAIN BATHROOM
pale pink roses
and peonies, and the more you it to be a place where
they feel comfortable,’

get out of it’

Above: Positioned underneath the eaves,
the bath makes the best use of the low
ceiling, while the pale paint ensures
that the room feels spacious. Sink,
duravit.co.uk. Taps, zucchettikos.it/en
148 womanandhome.com
they’re everywhere, adds Joanna.
as well as plenty With such seductive
of wild poppies.’ surroundings, it’s
It was only once the barns had been likely that more of their friends might
renovated that Joanna and Simon took also be tempted to move to the country.
the plunge to move to Wiltshire full-time. ✢ Architecture by Mackenzie Wheeler,
Joanna’s role as consultant MD at local mackenziewheeler.co.uk
 W&H
EXPLORE

Gotlands rug, £275,

Grey and blue block
celticandco.com Stourton raw-
tweed cushion, £65,
steel pendant
rebeccapitcher.co.uk
light, £69.99,
dowsingand
reynolds.com

Dutchbone Lee coffee table,

+ZKC(NQYGTUFTKGFƃQYGT £889, cuckooland.com
arrangement, £39.95,
johnlewis.com

Fishbone wool blanket

in Navy Blue, £55,
jamesandmay.co.uk

Bear Hug sofa in Old Orange

Clever Deep Velvet,
from £2,215, loaf.com

HOW TO
Stripe basket, £80,
sweetpeaandwillow.com GET THE
LOOK
COMPILED BY: LISA FAZZANI

%Echo the barn’s aesthetics with plenty of rustic

timber pieces and industrial-style metalwork.
%Keep to calm, neutral background colours, with ACR Novus multi-fuel
pops of russet, slate and navy to add warmth. stove, £1,760,
%Cosy up living spaces and bedrooms with directstoves.com
GoodHome tactile knits, tweeds, weaves and sheepskins.
/GPQPT[ƃQQT %Layer lighting with accent lamps, candlelight
lamp, £45, diy.com CPF CP CVOQURJGTKE ƂTG QT YQQF DWTPGT

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 W&H
EXPLORE

GREEN
made easy
Eco expert Rae Ritchie helps you
to make Earth-friendly choices
Step out
It’s the oldest means
of transport and also
the greenest. Travelling
by foot generates
zero carbon emissions,
putting it streets
ahead of buses, trains
New priorities or cars – even electric
LIGHT FANTASTIC
Have your spending habits changed ones. Experiment with
over recent years? According to a creating your own It isn’t only new-builds that can boast eco credentials.
PGYUWTXG[QHRGQRNGKPVJG car-free zone around A team at the University of Nottingham built a replica 1930s
UK now say they are less likely to buy your home – where UGOKQPECORWUUQVJG[EQWNFƂPFVJGDGUVYC[UVQTGFWEG
goods or services from businesses can you walk to within the energy consumption of older houses too.
with a poor record on sustainability. ƂXGQTOKPWVGU! Their discoveries are useful for anyone looking to make
1HRNWURGQRNGUCKFITGGP Try to avoid driving home improvements that both help the planet and reduce
issues were their highest priority. to any of those places. energy bills. The simplest? Let light in. Maximising the
Make your shop more sustainable amount of natural light coming into your home reduces
by choosing unpackaged items Recycle this VJGPGGFHQTCTVKƂEKCNNKIJVCPFJGCV#VVJGUCOGVKOGMGGR
YJGPGXGTRQUUKDNGHQNNQYGFD[ Marigold’s durable as much heat in as possible with triple-glazed windows
GCUKN[TGE[ENGFRCEMCIKPIUWEJ and disposable gloves and full insulation. The team’s other suggestions include
as glass or aluminium rather than can now be recycled installing photovoltaic panels on any south or south-
RNCUVKEsCPFQHEQWTUGVCMKPI at TerraCycle drop-off westerly facing roofs to generate solar energy. These are
TGWUCDNGDCIU1PNKPGCXQKF locations nationwide; becoming increasingly cost-effective.
next-day or super-fast delivery. terracycle.com

3 ECO-FRIENDLY BUYS TO TRY

SOAK IT UP
5RCNKMGƃWHH[VQYGNUVJCVCTGUWUVCKPCDNG
too? White Organic Cotton Towels from
Soak & Sleep are available individually
CPFKPDWPFNGUCPFCTGEGTVKƂGFCU
organic by GOTS (Global Organic Textile
5VCPFCTFC
leading ecology
2*1615#.#/;)'66;
BETTER BOUQUETS
(GYVTGPFUECPENCKOVQDGUWUVCKPCDNG
DWVFTKGFƃQYGTUKUQPGQHVJGOIKXGP
their longevity compared with fresh
blooms. The
arrangements from
.KVVNG#PVIQHWTVJGT
YKVJPCVWTCNTGUQWTEGU
SAVING FACE
The waste generated by face masks
KUCDKIRTQDNGO*QYGXGTVJGTGKUPQY
a solution for those moments when
you still want the reassurance of a mask
and the convenience of disposability.
'EQ)TGGP.KXKPIUVQEMUVJGYQTNFoUƂTUV
GEQHTKGPFN[

and social thermal printing and 

responsibility non-plastic packaging. compostable
organisation; Any excess stems face masks;
soakandsleep. get composted too; ecogreen
com littleantstore.com living.co.uk

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Freeze-ahead
FEASTS Why not get
organised before
the festive season
and stock up the
freezer with these
delicious dinners so
you always have
something ready
for last-minute
entertaining?

Curried
parsnip
soup
 winter warmers

gne
pa
am
u ch
qa
Co
 Curried parsnip
soup
The delicious naan
croutons make
this tasty soup
something extra
special. For a vegan
version, omit the
cream and croutons.
Serves 4 • Ready in 1 hr
2tsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1tbsp garam masala
½tsp turmeric
¼tsp mustard powder
¼tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch cayenne pepper, plus extra to
serve (optional)
500g parsnips, peeled and chopped
1 large potato, peeled and chopped
1ltr vegetable stock
1 naan bread
¼tsp nigella seeds (optional)
70ml double cream, plus extra to
serve (optional)
Coriander leaves, to serve (optional)
1 Heat half the oil in a saucepan and
add the onion. Cook over medium heat
until soft and translucent. Add the garlic
and spices and cook for 1 min, then add
the parsnips, potato and stock. Simmer
for 20-30 mins until soft.
2 Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180C/
Gas 4. Cut the naan into cubes and toss
with remaining 1tsp of oil, and the nigella
seeds. Scatter in a single layer over a
baking tray and cook for 10-15 mins until
golden. These are your naan croutons.
3 When the vegetables are tender,
use a stick blender to puree the soup
until smooth. Stir in the cream then
serve with an extra sprinkling of cayenne,
and the coriander and naan croutons.
4 If making ahead, freeze for up to
3 months (or it will keep in the fridge
for a couple of days), defrost completely
and reheat on the hob. If freezing the
croutons, we recommend defrosting
them completely. Place in a hot oven for
5 mins with a little more oil to re-crisp.
Per serving: 344 cals, 14g fat, 6.5g sat fat,
43g carbs
154 womanandhome.com
Coq au champagne
A fabulous
celebratory twist on
the classic chicken
dish – although any
sparkling wine will
work if you prefer
to save the posh
stuff for drinking!
Serves 4 • Ready in 1 hr
2tbsp olive oil
4 chicken breasts, skin on
2 sticks celery, finely chopped
300g pearl shallots, peeled
2 carrots, roughly chopped
350g small chestnut mushrooms or
larger ones, quartered
2 sprigs thyme
350ml champagne
125ml chicken stock
Few sprigs tarragon leaves, chopped
3tbsp crème fraiche
Lemon wedges, to serve
1 Heat half the oil in a large, lidded frying
pan and fry the chicken skin side down.
Season the top of the chicken and leave
it to cook until the skin is crisp and
golden. Turn it over, season the skin and
cook for a further 5 mins. Remove the
chicken from the pan and set aside.
2 Add the remaining oil to the pan along
with the celery, shallots and carrots. Cook
COOK’S TIP
This also works really
well with chicken legs
or thighs
on a low heat for 8-10 mins, until the
vegetables are soft. Turn the heat up a
little, add the mushrooms and the thyme,
and cook for a further 5-10 mins, until the
mushrooms start to brown.
3 Pour in the champagne and allow the
alcohol to cook off for a few minutes
before adding the stock. Bring to a
rolling simmer, nestle the chicken breasts
back into the pan and cook with the lid
on for 10 mins. Remove the lid for a final
10 mins, adding 1tbsp of water if it gets
too thick. Remove from the pan.
4 To freeze and reheat: Cool completely,
place in a container and freeze for up to
3 months. To serve, defrost in the fridge,
reheat and stir through the tarragon
leaves and crème fraiche. Serve with
boiled potatoes or rice, and fresh greens.
Per serving: 371 cals, 12g fat, 4.5g sat fat,
10g carbs
Vegan mac ’n’
cheese with leeks
Gooey and comforting, this plant-based
pasta bake is the perfect standby for
unexpected veggie or vegan guests.
Serves 6 • Ready in 1 hr 15 mins
400g prepared butternut squash
3 garlic cloves, skins on
2tbsp olive oil
2 large leeks, trimmed and sliced into
rounds
100g cashew nuts
250ml plant-based milk
2tsp mustard powder
½tsp paprika
400g macaroni pasta or your favourite
pasta shapes
50g breadcrumbs
Few sprigs thyme, leaves stripped
1 Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Drizzle
the squash and garlic with 1tbsp oil and
roast for 30 mins until tender. After 10
mins, add the leeks.
2 Meanwhile, place the cashew nuts in a
bowl with the milk, mustard powder and
paprika. Cook the pasta to al dente
(around 8 mins) in boiling water.
3 Carefully squeeze the soft garlic out of
the skins and place into a blender with
the squash, cashews and milk mix.
4 Drain the pasta and reserve 50ml of
the pasta water. Mix the pureed squash
with the pasta water and then stir into the
pasta with the leeks. If preparing ahead,
stop here, cool, wrap the dish in cling film
and freeze in the dish for up to 3 months.
Defrost fully before continuing to step 5.
5 Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and
thyme leaves then drizzle with the
remaining oil. Place back in the oven and
cook for 10-15 mins until piping hot and
the breadcrumbs are turning golden.
Per serving: 458 cals, 14g fat, 2g sat fat,
64g carbs >>
 winter warmers

COOK’S TIP
Finish with a drizzle
of truffle oil for a
decadent twist
 COOK’S TIP Posh shepherd’s pie
If you want to save time, with root veg mash
We’ve given the ultimate comfort food
buy pre-prepped veg or go-to a delicious upgrade with rich
flavours and a colourful root veg mash.
even ready-made mash!
Serves 6 • Ready in 2 hrs

500g lean lamb mince

1 large onion, grated
2 carrots, grated
1 celery stick, finely diced
250g mixed mushrooms, finely
chopped
1 sprig fresh rosemary, finely
chopped
2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked
1tbsp plain flour
200ml red wine
2tsp wholegrain mustard
1tbsp Worcestershire sauce
500ml beef stock
1 bay leaf
250g pouch cooked Puy lentils
For the mash:
450g each of: celeriac, carrots
and potatoes, peeled and diced
50ml whole milk
Knob of butter
25g Parmesan, grated

1 Add the lamb to a lidded casserole

and place over a high heat. Cook for
12-15 mins until the fat has rendered
and the lamb is browned. Add in the
vegetables and herbs (reserving some
thyme), and sweat for 12-15 mins.
2 Stir in the flour and add the red wine.
Cook out for a few mins before adding
the mustard, Worcestershire sauce and
stock. Stir, then add the bay leaf and
lentils. Reduce the heat to medium
and cook with the lid on for 25 mins,
stirring occasionally.
3 Meanwhile, for the mash, add the
celeriac and carrots to a pan and fill with
water. Season with salt and bring to a
boil. Simmer for 15 mins, then add in the
potatoes and cook for a further 10 mins,
or until tender. Drain into a colander
then cover with a clean tea towel and
allow to steam for 10 mins.
 W&H
EXPLORE

4 Heat the oven to 190C/Gas 5. Transfer

the vegetables back to the pan and mash
with the milk and butter. Season to taste.
5 Remove the bay leaf from the mince
then top with spoonfuls of the mash.
Sprinkle over the Parmesan and lightly
fork through the mash, creating peaks
that will catch and go crispy when
baking. If freezing, do so now, for up
to 3 months. Assemble the pie in a
baking dish, cool completely and cover
with foil. When ready to eat, defrost fully
and continue to step 6.
6 Bake for 30-35 mins, until golden and
bubbling at the edges. Scatter with fresh
thyme and serve with seasonal greens.
Per serving: 353 cals, 12g fat, 6g sat fat,
20g carbs

Rich beef rendang

This classic slow-cooked Indonesian
curry is full of flavour with its rich,
melt-in-the-mouth beef.

Serves 6 • Ready in 2 hrs 45 mins

For the rendang curry paste:

80g toasted desiccated coconut
1tbsp coriander seeds
10 dried bird’s-eye chillies, soaked
in hot water
3 shallots, roughly chopped
PHOTOS: SEAN CALITZ. FOOD STYLING: LOTTIE COVELL AND KEIRON GEORGE. PROPS: CLAIRE MORGAN

4 garlic cloves, peeled

1tbsp galangal paste
Thumb-sized piece fresh ginger, 1 Add 40g of the toasted coconut, along heating through (you may want to add
peeled and roughly chopped with the other curry paste ingredients, to a couple of tbsp of water before
RECIPES: SAMUEL GOLDSMITH, ROSE FOOKS, JESSICA RANSOM AND KEIRON GEORGE.

1 heaped tsp ground turmeric a food processor and blitz until smooth. reheating). Scatter with fresh coriander
2 stalks lemongrass, white part 2 In a wok or large casserole, heat and chilli and the remaining coconut.
only, sliced the vegetable oil and add in the curry Serve with rice.
6 kaffir lime leaves, stalks removed paste, along with the cinnamon stick, Per serving: 682 cals, 45g fat, 31g sat fat,
1tbsp dark brown sugar cardamom and cloves. Cook over a 8g carbs
2tbsp vegetable oil medium-high heat for 5 mins before
For the curry:
1tbsp vegetable oil
adding the tamarind paste and sugar.
3 Add the beef and cook until browned COOK’S TIP
1 cinnamon stick
3-4 cardamom pods, crushed
on the outside. Add the coconut milk,
fish sauce and lime juice. Bring to
Rendang is a dark,
2 cloves
3tbsp tamarind paste
the boil and then reduce to a simmer.
Cook for 2 hrs, stirring regularly to
rich dish, but to make
30g dark brown sugar
1.5kg stewing beef
avoid sticking to the pan.
4 After 2 hrs, check the consistency, add
it a little lighter, swap
800ml coconut milk
2tbsp fish sauce
a splash of water if needed and cook for
a further 30 mins. To freeze ahead, leave
one of the tins of
Juice of 2 limes to cool completely, place in a freezable coconut milk for a
Small bunch fresh coriander and
reduced-fat version
container and freeze for up to 3 months.
chopped red chilli, to garnish Defrost completely in the fridge before

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Find easy dinner party recipes. Turn to page 5 to discover
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 Give a little
LOVE
Pistachio nougat
Make this festive period extra special with
these thoughtful and delicious edible presents
Nutty little bites that are perfect to give
boxed as a gift or for serving alongside
coffee over the festive period.
Makes 36 pieces • Ready in 45 mins,
plus cooling
400g shelled pistachios
200g white sugar
40g blossom honey
140g glucose
100ml orange liqueur
2 egg whites
2 sheets of edible rice paper, cut to
the size of the tin
Icing sugar, for dusting
You will need:
Sugar thermometer
20cm square cake tin, the base lined
with baking paper, and the edges
greased with oil
1 Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Toast
the pistachios for 8 mins. Turn off the
oven but leave the door ajar with the
nuts inside, as they will be easier to
incorporate while warm.
2 Pour about 100ml water into a pan.
Add the sugar, honey, glucose and
orange liqueur. Gently heat until the
liquid begins to turn translucent. Then
158 womanandhome.com
increase the temperature and bring to
a boil. Resist stirring or agitating the pan.
COOK’S TIP
3 Meanwhile, put the egg whites into
the bowl of a stand mixer. When the
Ensure all your
sugar temperature reaches 120C, ingredients are
ready before you
begin slowly whisking the eggs to soft
peaks. Keep an eye on the temperature.
A sugar thermometer is vital here,
as the temperature of the sugar will start. If you don’t
determine the firmness of the nougat.
4 When the sugar mixture reaches a have a stand mixer,
temperature of 142C, pour the molten
liquid in a steady stream over the
enlist another pair
eggs while whisking. Increase the mixer
speed to high and whisk for 5-7 mins
of hands when
until thick and tacky, and cool. Next, fold
in the warm nuts.
pouring the
5 Lay a sheet of rice paper in the tin hot sugar as you
whisk with an
with the more textured side facing up.
Dollop in the mixture evenly over it.
Use a spatula to flatten and place the
second sheet of rice paper on top. With electric whisk
dry hands, press it flat.
6 Leave to cool until firm (approx 3 hrs),
then remove from the tin. Cut the nougat
when you intend to serve it, or to box
it if you are giving it as a gift. So it doesn’t
lose its neat edges, use an oiled, serrated
knife to trim the edges and cut into
6 bars. Now cut each bar into 6 pieces.
Be careful, as they will stick together.
You may wish to dust the nougat with
a little icing sugar to prevent this. >>
edible gifts

Stained-glass
biscuit decorations
What a tasty way to adorn the Christmas
tree! These are easy to make and great
for keeping the little ones busy too.

Makes 12-14 • Ready in 45 mins,

plus chilling

120g unsalted butter, softened

120g caster sugar
1tsp cinnamon
1 egg
Zest of 1 grapefruit
250g plain flour
12-14 boiled sweets
You will need:
Round or bauble-shaped cookie
cutter, plus smaller festive cutters
Baking tray, lined with greaseproof
paper

1 Cream the butter, sugar and cinnamon

together. Mix in the egg and grapefruit
zest, then fold in the flour to combine.
Chill the dough for 30 mins.
2 Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Roll the
dough out to a 4mm thickness. Cut out
your biscuit shapes, then cut smaller
shapes from the centre of each biscuit.
Place on the lined baking tray, leaving a
2cm gap around each. Re-roll the offcuts
and repeat until all the dough is used up.
Crush your sweets so they are easy to
scatter into the centre of your biscuits.
3 Sprinkle the sweets into your biscuits
to fill the hole entirely. If you would
like to hang up the biscuits, use a straw
or skewer to make a hole at the top.
4 Bake for 12-15 mins until crisp and lightly
golden and the sweets have melted.
Leave to cool on the baking tray. If you
made a hole, thread with string to hang
on a tree or package up as a present.

COOK’S TIP
The grapefruit adds
a subtle zing, but
orange zest would
be another good
festive alternative
160 womanandhome.com
Clementine and
gin marmalade
The gin adds a deeper flavour and gives
a touch of luxury. Jam sugar contains
citric acid and pectin, to help set the jam.

Makes 1.5ltr • Ready in 2 hrs 30 mins,

plus cooling

1 lemon
1.2kg clementines
1kg jam sugar
500ml gin
8 juniper berries
You will need:
Jam thermometer
Sterilised jars with screw-on lids
Funnel

1 Wash the lemon and clementines,

then cut off and discard the very top
and bottom, and cut in half. Put the fruit
and sugar into a large, tall-sided pan.
Pour over the gin and 500ml water, and
add the juniper berries.
2 Bring this to the boil and mix. Boil the
mixture for 2 hrs, stirring occasionally.
3 Use the thermometer to check the
mixture’s temperature – it should be at
105C. Remove the pan from the heat,
remove the juniper berries and, being
careful not to splatter yourself with the
hot jam, use a hand blender to blitz
until the orange is broken down and
the marmalade is your desired texture.
4 Cool for 15 mins, then ladle the
marmalade into the sterilised jars through
a funnel. Seal and screw the lids on. Stick
on a pretty label if you’re giving away as
a gift, adding the date that you made it.
Cherry and almond butter fudge
Maraschino cherries contrast well with 20cm square tin, lined with
the almond butter in this layered treat. baking parchment
Makes 49 pieces • Ready in 1 hr, 1 Start by making the almond fudge.
plus cooling Melt the chocolate and almond butter
with the almond extract in a large
For the almond butter fudge: heatproof bowl in the microwave in short
150g white chocolate bursts, to prevent it burning.
50g almond butter 2 Heat the cream, sugar and glucose in a
½tsp almond extract pan and cook to 121C. Add to the melted
150g double cream chocolate mixture and mix well. Pour into
300g caster sugar the base of the lined tin and tap to settle.
100g glucose Chill it, while you make the cherry layer.
For the cherry fudge: 3 Repeat step 1, as you did for the
150g white chocolate almond fudge, using the cherry fudge
50g unsalted butter ingredients. Then heat the cream,
1tsp vanilla extract demerara sugar and glucose in a pan
150g double cream and cook to 121C. Mix into the melted
300g demerara sugar white chocolate mixture with the
100g glucose cherries and food colouring. Pour over
75g cocktail maraschino cherries, the almond layer. Tap to smooth the top
quartered and scatter over the flaked almonds.
Pink food colouring 4 Set in the fridge for 2 hrs. Once set, tip
30g flaked almonds, toasted out of the tin. Use a sharp, oiled knife to
You will need: cut into 7 x 7 squares. Box up to give away.
Temperature probe It will keep in the fridge for 1 week. >>
womanandhome.com 161

White chocolate, cranberry, citrus peel
and hazelnut slab
Tempering the chocolate elevates this
simple slab, giving it a glossy finish and
a satisfying snap.
Serves 8 • Ready in 30 mins,
plus setting
400g good-quality white chocolate,
finely chopped
45g dried cranberries
45g roasted chopped hazelnuts
30g mixed peel
You will need:
Temperature probe
Baking tray (that will fit in the fridge),
lined with baking parchment
1 To temper the chocolate, place 300g
of the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and
heat in the microwave on a low heat for
162 womanandhome.com
30-second intervals until the chocolate
is melted and the temperature is up
to 40C. Once the temperature starts
approaching 40C, heat it for 5-second
intervals instead, as the temperature
can rise more rapidly in the later stages.
2 Pour the remaining 100g chocolate
into the melted chocolate and stir until
it has melted and the temperature has
dropped to 30C. The chocolate is now
tempered and ready to use.
3 Pour the chocolate onto the baking
parchment and spread it out evenly
with a spatula. Sprinkle over the
dried cranberries, chopped hazelnuts
and mixed peel. Set in the fridge for
10-15 mins before breaking into shards.
Fill cellophane bags with the chocolate
shards, varying the toppings and the
chocolate to give as a personalised gift.
Christmas chutney
Add this fruity festive chutney to your
Boxing Day spread, which will pair
perfectly with any cheese on offer.
Makes 1.5kg • Ready in 1 hr 30 mins,
plus cooling
600ml red wine
700ml red wine vinegar
450g light muscovado sugar
1kg (approx 8) Granny Smith apples,
peeled, cored and diced
450g (approx 4) onions, peeled
and diced
250g cranberries
2tsp yellow mustard seeds
1tsp black pepper
2tsp ground cinnamon
PHOTOS: SEAN CALITZ. FOOD STYLING: LOTTIE COVELL AND ROSE FOOKS. PROPS: CLAIRE MORGAN
1tsp salt
You will need:
Preserving pan
Sterilised jars and vinegar-proof lids
RECIPES: ROSE FOOKS, JESSICA RANSOM, KEIRON GEORGE AND ROSIE BENSBERG.
1 Pour the red wine into the preserving
pan. Bring to a boil, stirring until reduced
to about 200ml, then add the red wine
vinegar. Stir in the sugar until dissolved.
2 Add the remaining ingredients and
mix well. Bring the mixture to a boil,
then reduce the heat to a simmer and
cook, stirring regularly until the chutney
is well reduced and thick, about 1 hr.
(Chutneys thicken even more when they
are cold.)
3 Spoon the chutney into warmed
sterilised jars and seal.
4 Store chutney in a cool, dark place
for at least 6 weeks before eating. It will
last for 3-4 months. Label and add the
date you made it to give as a present.

Vegan gingerbread garland
This gorgeous edible decoration makes
a wonderful gift. Try hanging it (safely)
œÛiÀ̅iwÀi«>Vi>˜`iÌ̅iÜ>À“Ì… >˜`yÕvvÞ°Ƃ``ˆ˜̅i“œ>ÃÃiÃ>˜`
w̅i…œÕÃi܈̅>Li>ṎvՏ>Àœ“>°
Makes 45 biscuits • Ready in 1 hr
150g Trex (dairy-free alternative to
butter for use in baking)
150g soft light brown sugar
110g molasses or black treacle
ÕÌœÕÌޜÕÀ}ˆ˜}iÀLÀi>`«iœ«i
IRNCKPƃQWTRNWUGZVTCHQT
dusting
2tsp ground ginger
1tsp ground mixed spice
1tsp salt
You will need:
Gingerbread cutter
2 baking trays, lined with baking
parchment
A straw and some ribbon
W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Find more edible gifts to make. Turn to page 5 to discover
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W&H
EXPLORE
1 Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Cream
the Trex and sugar together until light
2tbsp water, and mix until smooth.
-VÀ>«i̅iÈ`iÃœv̅iLœÜ°ˆÝˆ˜
̅i`ÀÞˆ˜}Ài`ˆi˜ÌÃ̜vœÀ“>`œÕ}…°
2 "˜>yœÕÀi`ÃÕÀv>Vi]ÀœœÕÌ̅i
}ˆ˜}iÀLÀi>`̜>ÀœÕ˜`>̅ˆVŽ˜iÃÃœv
4mm, moving the dough between rolls
܈Ì`œiØ¿ÌÃ̈VŽ̜̅iܜÀŽÃÕÀv>Vi°
3
­œÀ>˜ÞœÌ…iÀÅ>«iî>˜`ÌÀ>˜ÃviÀ̜̅i
L>Žˆ˜}ÌÀ>Þ°1Ș}>ÃÌÀ>Ü]VÕÌœÕÌÌܜ
…œiÃœ˜i>V…w}ÕÀi½ÃV…iÃÌq̅ˆÃˆÃ
where the ribbon will thread through.
4 >Žiˆ˜̅iœÛi˜vœÀ£ä‡£Ó“ˆ˜Ã]œÀ՘̈
ˆ}…̏Þ}œ`i˜°i>Ûi̜VœœvœÀ>viÜ
“ˆ˜ÃLivœÀiÌÀ>˜ÃviÀÀˆ˜}̜>܈ÀiÀ>VŽ°
5 Thread the ribbon through each
«iÀܘ̜VÀi>Ìi>}ˆ˜}iÀLÀi>`v>“ˆÞ°
COOK’S TIP
For chocolate
gingerbread, add
20g of cocoa
powder and an
extra tablespoon
of water
 Stir-up
SUNDAY
Whether you’re waiting until 21 November, or
you want to get ahead with your Christmas treats,
you’ll love our festive pudding and cake recipes

Christ
mas pudding

womanandhome.com 165
W&H
EXPLORE

Christmas pudding
Full of fruit and
warming ginger, this
is the classic way to
end Christmas dinner.

Serves 8 • Ready in
4 hrs 30 mins, plus
overnight chilling

75g shredded suet

125g caster sugar
100g plain flour
50g breadcrumbs
½tsp ground cinnamon
½tsp ground nutmeg
50g crystallised stem ginger, chopped
325g mixed dried fruit with cranberry
and apricot
75g dried figs, chopped
2 eggs
Zest of 2 lemons plus juice of ½ lemon
1tbsp golden syrup
1 small carrot, peeled and grated
1 small apple, cored and grated
50ml brandy
Butter, for greasing
You will need:
1.2 ltr pudding basin, greased, and the Traditional Christmas cake

base lined with a circle of parchment
1 Mix the suet, sugar, flour, breadcrumbs,
spices and a pinch of salt, then the ginger
and dried fruit. In another bowl, beat the
eggs and zest, then stir into the fruit mix.
2 Add the lemon juice, syrup, carrot, apple
and brandy. Stir. Cover and chill overnight.
3 Stir the mixture and tip into the pudding
basin. Cut a double-layered circle of baking
paper to fit on top; cut a slit. Place on top.
4 Cover the basin tightly with foil and place
on a saucer or trivet in a saucepan. Add
enough water to come halfway up the
basin and bring to a boil. Cover the pan
with a lid and simmer for 3 hrs, topping up
the water as necessary. Check the pudding
is cooked by inserting a skewer – it should
come away clean. Remove the foil and
paper, and allow to cool before replacing
new paper and foil. Store in the fridge.
5 To reheat on Christmas Day, steam in
a pan, as above, for a further 1 hr. Unwrap
and turn out onto a serving plate.
Per serving: 425 cals, 11g fat, 5g sat fat,
72g carbs
Our fruitcake can be made in advance,
but it’s best to decorate it near the day.
Serves 20 • Ready in 2 hrs 30 mins,
plus soaking and feeding
500g luxury mixed dried fruit
200g sultanas
200g dried cranberries
200ml Marsala, plus a little extra to
‘feed’ the cake
200g lightly salted butter, softened,
plus extra for greasing
200g dark muscovado sugar
1tbsp ground mixed spice
2tsp freshly grated nutmeg
Finely grated zest of 1 orange
4 medium eggs, beaten
225g plain flour
100g ground almonds
200g natural glacé cherries, halved
100g Brazil nuts, chopped
You will need:
20cm deep round cake tin, the
base and sides lined with baking
parchment
RECIPES AND FOOD STYLING: ROSE FOOKS AND SAMUEL GOLDSMITH. PHOTOS: SEAN CALITZ. PROPS: CLAIRE MORGAN
1 Put the dried fruit, sultanas, cranberries
and Marsala in a bowl and leave it to
stand for 2 hrs.
2 Heat the oven to 150C/Gas 2. Beat the
butter, sugar, spice, nutmeg and orange
zest until pale and creamy. Gradually
beat in the eggs, then stir in the flour and
ground almonds until combined. Add
the glacé cherries and Brazil nuts along
with the soaked fruit mix. Mix together
well and turn into the tin. Smooth the top
with the back of a spoon.
3 Bake for 2 hrs until a skewer inserted
into the centre comes out clean. Leave
to cool in the tin.
4 Remove the cake from the tin,
leaving the lining paper attached for
storage. Use a skewer to pierce holes
all over the top of the cake. Feed the
cake by drizzling over 1tbsp extra
Marsala. Wrap the cake in an additional
layer of baking parchment and store
in a tin. Feed with Marsala each week
before decorating.
Per serving: 408 cals, 16g fat, 7g sat fat,
57g carbs

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 Let’s get
ON BOARD!
The beaming smiles on passengers’ faces say it all – cruising
is back after a break of nearly 18 months, and it has returned
in high style, says seagoing expert Sue Bryant

W&H
cruise
special

Cruise ships
have returned
to the waters off
Santorini in
Greece

I
t’s been a long haul, with many
twists and turns since the global
cruise industry effectively shut
down in March 2020. Cruise
ships normally filled with the sound
of laughter and the popping of
champagne corks have lain idle,
anchored off the Dorset coast, or
bobbing around in a forlorn flotilla off
the Bahamas. Crew, after a massive
repatriation effort to fly tens of
thousands home during the height of
the pandemic, have had to find other
jobs. Loyal passengers, ever hopeful
of a revival of travel, have had to face
one disappointment after another,
credits for future cruises building up.
168 womanandhome.com
There was a brief flurry of hope last
summer, with a handful of cruise lines
returning to service in Greece and Italy.
But there were false starts, too, scuppered
by COVID cases sneaking on board,
or borders and ports suddenly closing.
Ships may have been lying empty, but
cruise line executives have been working
flat out to find a safe way forward. New
health protocols have been agreed with
ports and destinations. Negotiations have
been carrying on with governments.
Slowly, the many pieces of the cruising
jigsaw puzzle – ports, ground operators,
excursion providers, airlines, tourist
boards, health authorities – have been put
back together to provide a safe, healthy
holiday with
solid back-up
plans should Patissier
anything go wrong. Eric Lanlard
A voyage on a cruise
ship now is arguably far safer, more tightly
controlled and more regulated than
anything you’d find ashore.
A big milestone for the UK cruise industry
was on 20 May 2021 – the departure from
Southampton of the glamorous new
MSC Virtuosa, the first big ship to sail with
British passengers on board. Many others
followed suit for a bumper summer of
round-Britain cruises. Royal Caribbean,
Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Disney
Cruise Line, newcomers Virgin Voyages
 W&H
EXPLORE

and Tradewind Voyages, and Cunard
and P&O Cruises are all back in action.
Europe started opening up to cruising,
too, with Greece in the spotlight for
a summer of voyages around the islands
from Athens, and river cruises restarting
on the Rhône, Seine, Douro and Danube.
But the question on the minds of
experienced cruisers yet to get back on
board, and of first-timers wanting to dip
a tentative toe in the water is, what’s it
like? And is cruising safe?
Certainly, you’ll step off the gangway
into an altered world. There will still be
champagne and smiling crew to greet
you – but in a setting of new health
protocols. The vast majority of cruise
lines require all adults to be double-
vaccinated. Some require an additional
PCR test before departure, while others
conduct rapid tests at
the cruise terminal, and
on European cruises, A voyage is
arguably far
a fit-to-fly test before
you leave to return home.
You’ll most likely have
your temperature checked safer than
every day, and there is
extra cleaning. Many lines
use special UV lamps to anything
disinfect cabins, and all
have installed medical- you’d find
Ocean Medallion, which allows the
crew to monitor whether spaces
are getting overcrowded. As for
the self-service buffet – for the
main part, it’s consigned to history.
Now, you’ll point at what you
want and a waiter will serve you.
When in July the Foreign
Office lifted its advisory against
international cruising (as opposed
to sailing only in British waters),
the idea of a cruise began
to seem more real. And
while 2021 has been
a slower year than hoped,
2022 is looking spectacular.
New destinations, ships,
Park Güell, Barcelona;
celebrity collaborations
left, Gwyneth Paltrow
and entire new cruise lines are
all coming over the horizon.
Cruise fans are
LOOKING FORWARD
spending the cash
they’d saved during TO 2022
Set sail with next year’s dazzling
lockdown; cruise lines
report six-figure array of cruises:
bookings, big family
reunions and demand BEST FOR
for exotic destinations WELLNESS
such as Antarctica and
the Galapagos. Oceania Celebrity Beyond
Cruises’ 2023 world
voyage sold out in
Wellness at sea reaches new levels on
Celebrity Beyond, launching in April.

ashore
grade air conditioning.
There will be hand sanitiser
everywhere – and some
lines require masks to be worn in indoor
public spaces. Social distancing is all
carefully arranged, from the one-way
arrows in the corridors to clever wearable
technology such as Princess Cruises’
Kynance Cove,
Cornwall
a single day, with
the lowest fare for the
180-day cruise £36,059.
There’s so much to look forward to.
P&O Cruises has teamed up with music
legend Gary Barlow to create a nightclub,
The 710 Club, on its new flagship, Iona.
P&O has also engaged Spanish superstar
chef José Pizarro, who joins Marco Pierre
White and patissier Eric Lanlard to create
menus on board. Gwyneth Paltrow joins
Celebrity Cruises as wellbeing advisor,
while Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud
opens his first seagoing restaurant on the
ship Celebrity Beyond, called Le Voyage.
There are new cruise lines to try, too.
Tradewind Voyages has launched with
the world’s biggest sailing ship, Golden
Horizon, while Ambassador Cruise Line
starts service in spring, with affordable
cruises to Norway and beyond. Virgin
Voyages will offer cool dining venues and
edgy entertainment, while much-loved
British brand Swan Hellenic returns late
this year with a smart new expedition ship.
Cruising, it’s fair to say, is back in style.
A new health initiative will be
masterminded by six health and fitness
gurus, all women, from Noella Gabriel,
president of Elemis, to Ruth Zukerman,
co-founder of SoulCycle. Through
a partnership with Gwyneth Paltrow’s
lifestyle brand goop, fitness kits and
healthy menu options will be on offer.
The gorgeous suites and spa interiors
are the work of interior designer Kelly
Hoppen, while the fitness centre will
feature Peloton bikes, yoga, meditation
and F45 HIIT and cardio training. If this
all sounds too exhausting, you’ll also
find classy restaurants, lavish suites
with plunge pools and stylish poolside
cabanas on board.
✢ Explore the Greek islands on a
10-night cruise between Rome and
Barcelona, departing 11 July 2022 and
looping east to Katakolon, Santorini,
Mykonos, Rhodes and Athens before
heading back west for a day in Valletta,
the Maltese capital. From £1,741pp
all-inclusive on board; flights extra;
celebritycruises.com >>
womanandhome.com 169
 BEST FOR
LUXURY
Silver Dawn
Luxury line Silversea
launches the Silver Dawn
in November, a sleek, elegant
ship carrying just 596. Silversea’s
cruises already come with attentive
butlers, fine dining, imaginative shore
excursions and a gorgeous spa, but
there’s another level of indulgence in new
concept Otium, inspired by the lifestyle
of the ancient Romans. Otium promises
unfettered indulgence, whether you crave
champagne and caviar in the spa or hot
chocolate and marshmallows delivered
to your balcony, and will take ultra-luxury
cruising to new heights.
✢ A seven-night voyage from Lisbon
to Barcelona, departing 1 April, calls
at Cadiz, Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia
and Palma, and costs from £3,120pp,
all-inclusive, with flights; silversea.com
BEST FOR
ADVENTURERS
Viking Polaris
Viking Cruises has entered the world
of expedition cruising with the launch
of two luxurious ships, Viking Polaris
and Viking Octantis. On board, you’ll
find a science lab, an infinity pool
and volcanic stone firepits. You’ll be
provided with outdoor gear to explore
Antarctica – there’s even a six-seater
submarine for exploring under the ice.
✢ Viking Polaris’ departure on 24
November 2022 starts in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, flying to Ushuaia
and crossing to the
Antarctic Peninsula. 12
nights full board from
£12,995pp, including
flights, drinks with
meals and landings
in Antarctica;
vikingcruises.co.uk

SCENIC SHORES
A cruise around England’s
beautiful coastline on the
brand-new ship Viking
Venus is a breathtaking
treat, says Jane Druker.
Having been starved of excitement,
eating out and experiencing
entertainment, being aboard the Viking
Venus – a small ship with eight decks
Café – a self-service spot, excellent for
themed meals; The Restaurant – classic
table service; and the Aquavit Terrace with
views of the infinity pool. My favourite BEST FOR CULTURE
Azamara Onward
was Manfredi’s, a traditional Italian.
All the tours were delightful and
varied. In Liverpool, we experienced The Black Sea has been off limits to
the Beatles tour via Penny Lane and cruising for some years, but several lines
then explored the glorious stately are making a return in 2022. Azamara

PHOTOS: ALAMY, GABRIELE GALIMBERTI,

– is heavenly. The drinks
are on tap, the service
truly impeccable and
each cabin has its
own outside terrace.
home Knowsley Hall.
‘Being The day in the Isles of
Scilly stands out – a smaller
aboard is boat took us to the island
spotting seals and puffins on
GETTY, STEVE DUNLOP, SHUTTERSTOCK
Onward, for boutique line Azamara, joins
the fleet in May 2022, carrying 670 in
all-inclusive style with a focus on cultural
immersion. You’ll depart Istanbul on
29 June, with ports including the beach

heavenly’
My journey began in
Portsmouth, alongside
just 360 people as
opposed to the usual 930. After
a negative COVID test, I booked myself
in to the LivNordic Spa. There’s a
hydrotherapy pool, steam room and
sauna, which I followed with a swim
in one of the two pools. While doing
my laps, the only thing on my mind was
which place to breakfast in.
And there is a great choice, with
varied menus and plenty for vegans
and vegetarians: including the World
170 womanandhome.com
the way, then to St Martin’s
Vineyard – a tiny winery. The
following days took in the
Tregothnan tea plantation in Cornwall,
and the wonderful walk from Durdle
Door along this dramatic coast.
It was just the tonic I needed. The
British Isles are infinitely inspiring.
✢ Eight-day England’s Scenic Shores
itinerary from £1,490 per person,
including gratuities, an excursion in
nearly every port, wine and beer with
lunch and dinner, use of spa facilities and
all meals; 0800 298 97 00, viking.com
resorts of Varna and Burgas in Bulgaria,
and Constanta in Romania, gateway
to Bucharest. There’s an overnight
in Odessa, Ukraine, all neoclassical
architecture and cafe culture, and
visits to Sochi in Russia
and Georgia’s capital of
cool, Batumi, where the
Caucasian mountains
form a backdrop to the
city’s futuristic skyline.
✢ 11 nights all-inclusive
from £2,599pp,
excluding flights;
azamara.co.uk

Beautiful
Lovatnet Lake in
Norway can be visited
from Olden, on P&O
Cruises’ Norwegian
Fjords itinerary
Top, far left, Lisbon,
Portugal; left, Iona
SkyDome; below,
Batumi, Georgia
BEST FOR
FAMILIES
Iona
P&O Cruises’ 5,200-
passenger Iona is packed
with entertainment, from
a cinema to an on-board gin distillery
and the SkyDome, a pool and bar area
under a glass dome. The space transforms
into a stage at night for live bands and
dramatic shows. There are more than 30
spots in which to eat and drink, offering
anything from gastropub fare in the Keel
and Cow to classy Asian in Sindhu. Kids’
clubs cater at no extra cost from age two
upwards, including a night nursery, where
nannies will look after the kids while you
explore the nightlife. The teen club offers
everything from DJ skills to basketball.
✢ A seven-night cruise from Southampton
to the Norwegian fjords, departing
6 August, visits Stavanger and Olden.
From £669pp; pocruises.com
W&H TAP TO EXPLORE
spa; below, Marco
Pierre White
Liverpool
port building
SHORT AND SWEET
Experience three days
of elegance, glamour and
luxury at sea, but loosen
your waistband for the
spectacular afternoon teas, says
Sharon Sweeney.
I was looking for an easy holiday
with my father, who’s as fit as a fiddle in
his 80s, but not up for the countryside
yomps I like, so a P&O short cruise from
Southampton to Cornwall seemed ideal.
Britannia is a sophisticated floating
hotel, complete with a glamorous
atrium, numerous elegant restaurants,
a theatre, cinema, gorgeous spa, three
outdoor pools, a jacuzzi and a gym.
On arrival, we were welcomed ‘back’
to cruising so effusively it seemed
rude to confess I was a first-timer.
We picked up a map in reception
to familiarise ourselves with the layout,
before venturing out to explore.
Finding our bearings took a while, but
there was always someone on hand to
point us aft or port.
In the morning, a Horizon pamphlet
arrived at our cabin door with a list
of the day’s activities. Getting one
of the three heated pools to myself
for a morning swim was a cinch, as
was booking events and spa slots.
One evening was black tie – a great
opportunity to dress up.
The star of the cruise – staff aside – is
the food. P&O has partnered with British
chef Marco Pierre White, and French
Plan your dream cruise. Turn to page 5 to discover
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Britannia‘s Oasis
W&H
EXPLORE
patissier Eric
Lanlard, so you’re
treated to superb
cuisine. We enjoyed
excellent breakfasts in the
Horizon buffet-style restaurant,
which offers an array of fresh fruit,
yogurt, bircher and cereals, through to
a fry-up. There are pizza and snacks
poolside, and evening meals range
from modern European dishes, an
Oriental restaurant and the excellent
Indian, Sindhu. Lanlard’s spectacular
afternoon tea in The Epicurean is well
worth the £15 treat – but either skip
lunch or loosen your waistband!
Unlike most cruises, this was an
at-sea experience, but Britannia itself
was destination enough for three days,
and the perfect mini-break. With pretty
much all food and entertainment
included, it’s very good value. Dad
loved the comfort, elegance, food
and the chance to dust off that bow tie,
while I could zoom off to the pool, spa
and gym knowing he was entertained
at a talk or relaxing by the pool.
✢ P&O UK short cruises start from
£249pp for a three-night break for an
inside cabin, including full-board meals
and entertainment; a balcony cabin is
from £449pp. In 2022, P&O will return
to normal UK and international cruise
itineraries with stops, including its new
ship Iona. To book, call 03453 555 111
or visit pocruises.com >>

St Tropez
in France
is a popular
destination
for cruises
THE CRUISE addicts
Some people just can’t resist a boat trip – and go on several a year!
W
hile some holidaymakers
fret about whether to
take a staycation this
year or risk a foreign
holiday that might unexpectedly land
them in quarantine on return, some
are climbing the gangplank, confident
of having a wonderful time in multiple
destinations without having to unpack
more than once.
Thousands are so entranced with a
trip afloat, they’ve booked longer sailings
to exotic ports on the other side of the
world for this year and beyond.
Perhaps it’s the inherent romance of
ocean liners and the chance to dress up
that attract women to cruise after cruise.
Here, readers share their stories of an
increasingly addictive life at sea.
The seafront
in Barcelona
W&H TAP TO EXPLORE
A CHANCE
TO EXPLORE
Psychologist Stephanie Turner, 46,
was persuaded to join her parents on
board, and hasn’t looked back since.
My parents had been cruising for
years, but I always thought it was
something for older people until my
sister persuaded me to try it. In 2005,
I embarked on P&O’s Oceana with my
‘We had time
boyfriend, my sister
and her fiancé, as well
as our parents, and
discovered it was not
the retirement home
to discover
at sea I had expected.
I was surprised there Barcelona,
were so many different
age groups on board. Florence and
St Tropez’
There was lots of the
nightlife I didn’t think
would exist after 9pm,
with a choice of bars, a gym and many
of the other facilities I’d expect to find
at a land-based resort. What appealed
most was the opportunity to explore
ports of call independently – Barcelona,
Florence and St Tropez – with time to
linger as long as we wanted at amazing
sights such as Barcelona’s Sagrada
Familia cathedral and Gothic Quarter.
After that, I cruised the eastern
Mediterranean with the same family
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W&H
EXPLORE
Beautiful
Florence
group, but we had different kinds of
holidays while on the same voyage.
My parents would sometimes stay on
the ship while we explored, or do a
dance class while we sat beside the pool.
In 2007, I got engaged
to my boyfriend Neil on
P&O’s Aurora, and we
returned for a honeymoon
with the family, as my sister
also got married that year.
The next year I sailed on
Arcadia when I was 24
weeks pregnant. After that,
we took shorter cruises
to places such as Bruges.
In 2018, we took our
children, Seren, eight, and Megan, six,
on their first cruise. As it was our 10th
anniversary, we splashed out on a suite
with a wraparound balcony.
I always go for no-fly cruises because
I used to travel a lot for work and
airports remind me too much of
those days. I have even started a blog,
cruisewithamber.co.uk, to share my life at
sea, and the people I work with now often
call me Amber as well as Steph! >>
W&H
EXPLORE
BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER
Sue Reynolds, 67, relishes time with
her family at sea.
My husband Michael and I first went
on a cruise to the Norwegian fjords by
ourselves 15 years
ago. We’ve been
hooked ever
‘The captain read
since; having done
in excess of 40 a bedtime story
cruises, we are
true addicts. to the children on
Christmas Eve’
Now Michael has
dementia, cruising
is especially
precious to us, as it’s a safe environment
for him. Every angle of the ship is under
a camera, and as soon as an alarm is
raised that someone is missing, their
picture goes out to every member of
staff. The staff are exceptional on ships
– nothing is too much trouble.
My daughter Lisa and her husband
John showed interest in joining us when
their youngest son, Jesse, was only
10 months old, and his brother Jay was
three; we all went on a Christmas cruise
A LIFE OF ADVENTURE
Jenny Barker, 73, started cruising
with her late husband and has
carried on solo.
Malcolm and I took our first cruise in
2007 after a lot of land-based holidays
that combined exploring with sitting
on a beach. We booked after being
given a tour of the ship by Saga –
we liked the look of it although I was
a bit apprehensive because I had
been seasick just crossing from
The stunning
St Lucia coast
W&H TAP TO EXPLORE
around the Caribbean islands. Santa
was winched up on to the ship from a
lifeboat and the captain read a bedtime
story to all the children on Christmas Eve.
To celebrate
our 40th
wedding
anniversary, we
took not only
Lisa and her
family, but
also my other
daughter,
Tricia, and her
husband on a cruise to Spain and the
Canaries. We went for a celebratory
meal at a restaurant in port on the day;
and when we came back on board,
the staff had made us a cake and sang
‘Happy Anniversary’.
Cruising with generations of family is
such a great way to celebrate a special
occasion. And we’re not in each other’s
pockets all the time. Lisa and John are
sun worshippers and will sit on deck all
day, but won’t necessarily do the shows
Newhaven to Dieppe in the past!
We chose a cruise to Norway, which
we enjoyed so
much that, as soon
as we came back,
‘We zip-wired
we booked a
30-night cruise through the forest
around the
Mediterranean for in St Lucia’
the following year.
From then on we were hooked,
but sadly, Malcolm died in 2014.
After having seen how well
Saga looked after single travellers,
I embarked on my first cruise alone
in 2016. I met my friend Chris as we
set sail, each of us with a glass of
champagne in hand.
We ended up spending all our time
together, stayed friendly and, as we
were interested in the same itineraries,
decided to try sharing a cabin a couple
of years later. It worked fine, and
we have taken four cruises together
and booked four more for the future.
Plan a dream cruise. Turn to page 5 to discover
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at night, which we like to do. The children
do their own thing, and it’s a ground rule
that no one is pressured to do anything
they don’t want to.
We are keeping our fingers crossed
that we’ll be able to sail with family again
to celebrate Lisa’s 40th birthday later
this year, and next April, we’ll want to
have our children and grandchildren with
us to celebrate our golden wedding.
Nordfjord
in Norway
We do our own thing, but it is a
new lease of life for me in the sense
that she’s an
intrepid traveller
who will try activities
that Malcolm
would never have
wanted to do.
Chris and I have
WORDS: ANTHEA GERRIE . PHOTOS: ALAMY, GABRIELE GALIMBERTI, GETTY
ridden Segways
in Malaga and Quebec, and zip-wired
through the rainforest in St Lucia. We
have also had adventures on our own
explorations, like in Lisbon, where we
went in search of an amphitheatre
off the beaten track. Locals not only
showed us the way but told us about
a monastery we would never have
found for ourselves.
I see cruising as an opportunity to
go to all these places you dream about,
but it is also conducive to making new
friends. You are in an atmosphere where
you feel confident about asking other
people to join you.
 LONDON
WHY The country’s capital can be
Marmite-like, depending on how you
feel about crowds, public transport and
expense, but nowhere else can beat it
for the sheer variety of architecture, food
and drink, activities and sights. Whether
ticking off classics such as Big Ben, the
London Eye and Buckingham Palace,
or wandering off the beaten track to
lose yourself in neighbourhoods from
Bermondsey to Bloomsbury, there’s
always something to captivate you.
DO/SEE London is known for its grand
Victorian museums, particularly the

Brilliant
UK CITY
BREAKS
Treat yourself
to an indulgent
stay in one
of the UK’s
standout cities
 W&H
EXPLORE

CARDIFF Norwegian Church, built to serve

Norwegian sailors who docked here
WHY Home to historical houses and during Cardiff’s coal-exporting heyday.
castles, this small but impactful capital Cardiff Castle sits right in the middle of
The capital’s famous city near the sea is one of Wales’ most the city. Dating back more than 2,000
Tower Bridge (left); visited. The epicentre of Welsh rugby, years, it’s a blend of medieval and
the Natural History there’s a huge sporting connection, Victorian Gothic revival (cardiffcastle.
Museum (above); and the breathtaking landscape makes com). Check out DEPOT, a revamped
Tate Modern (below) it the perfect place for hikers, cyclists warehouse space that hosts a series
and water sports enthusiasts. But it’s of creative pop-up events, from yoga
also a cultural hotspot, home to the brunches to bingo (depotcardiff.com).
biggest collection of Impressionist EAT Nook is a cosy neighbourhood
art outside Paris, and a hive of activity bistro in the fashionable suburb of
for independent film, theatre and art. Canton, with a weekly-changing menu
DO/SEE Cardiff Bay was significant in of smaller plates, and recently earned
the 1900s for transporting coal, and it a Michelin Guide recommendation
has since been reinvented into a sleek, (nookcardiff.co.uk). If you’re a sherry fan,
waterfront escape. Here, the Wales Vermut micro-bar specialises in sherry,
Millennium Centre hosts performances wines from Montilla-Moriles and
and events, while you’ll also find the vermouth, with Spanish pintxos (tapas)
distinctive red Pierhead Building with to soak it up (curadobar.com/vermut).
its clock tower, and the charming STAY Check in to the luxurious
Parkgate Hotel, a Grade II-listed
Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk), building with restored period features
V&A (vam.ac.uk), and the Science and a rooftop spa. Rooms from £140
Museum (sciencemuseum.org.uk), per night; theparkgatehotel.wales
which are worth visiting for their ✢ visitcardiff.com >>
architecture alone. Both Tate Britain
and the Tate Modern (tate.org.uk) Vermut micro-bar
showcase compelling artworks, (left); Cardiff
while the National Portrait Gallery Castle (right);
(npg.org.uk) and National Gallery the Pierhead
(nationalgallery.org.uk) focus on more Building (below)
classical paintings.
There are many green spaces to
take advantage of, from Hyde Park to
Hampstead, while shoppers can’t miss
Harrods, Harvey Nichols or Selfridges.
EAT You can eat the food of practically
any country in the world in London. Try
fine Mexican dining at newly opened
KOL, run by former Noma chef
Santiago Lastra (kolrestaurant.com).
Cyril Lignac has just opened his first
Japanese-influenced restaurant in the
capital (bardespres.com), while Imad’s
Syrian Kitchen is run by a Damascene
restaurateur who came to the UK as a
refugee and has now opened his own
place (imadssyriankitchen.co.uk).
STAY The Mayfair Townhouse is a
collection of 15 converted Georgian
townhouses with 172 sumptuous
rooms close to Green Park. From £230
per night; themayfairtownhouse.com
✢ visitlondon.com

W&H TAP TO EXPLORE Plan your perfect city break. Turn to page 5 to discover
how to bring woman&home to life on your phone

YORK
WHY With its fascinating history
spanning back to Roman times, York
wears its past well. You’ll see everything
from cobbled medieval streets to Viking
artefacts, ghostly Victorian pubs (it’s
said to be Europe’s most haunted city)
and Tudor buildings. But it’s a smart,
contemporary place, too, buzzing
with modern-day artisans and artists,
upmarket restaurants and bars, and
galleries and museums.
DO/SEE You can’t miss York Minster,
one of the world’s most magnificent
cathedrals. Climb to the top of its tower
for unbeatable panoramic views of the
city (yorkminster.org). The Shambles are
now known as the inspiration for Harry
Potter’s Diagon Alley, but it’s also the
oldest street in Europe, listed in the
Domesday Book. If the weather’s good,
178 womanandhome.com
Take a river cruise
(left); York Minster
(top left); the
charming Shambles
(above); the
magnificent Castle
Howard (below)
take a walk around the city walls, or
board a river cruise, where you’ll learn
about York’s history on the very stretch
of water that brought the Vikings and
Romans there (cityexperiences.com/
york/city-cruises).
Bridgerton fans should head to Castle
Howard, near York, an 18th-century
stately home that was used as a location
for the popular drama, as well as several
other films and series (castlehoward.co.uk).
EAT No trip to York would be complete
without consuming a fat rascal, or
enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea
at Bettys Tea Rooms (bettys.co.uk).
WORDS: LAURA MILLAR. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY, GLASGOW LIFE, VISITLONDON.COM, @YONPHOTOGRAPHY
There’s also quirkily named Skosh, on
Micklegate, specialising in contemporary
British cuisine with an international
influence (skoshyork.co.uk). If you’re after
Michelin-starred cooking, head to Le
Cochon Aveugle, where chef/owner
Josh Overington offers a gourmet menu
inspired by traditional French cooking
techniques (lecochonaveugle.uk).
STAY Sleep in style at The Principal,
a grand, late-Victorian edifice close to
the train station, with 155 comfortable
rooms and suites. From £165 per night;
theprincipalyork.ihg.com
✢ visityork.org

GLASGOW
WHY A friendly and artistic city, it
has weathered the blows of declining
industry to resurge with a reputation
for fine food and drink, culture aplenty,
and high streets overflowing with
high-end shops. With acres of green
space and elegant former merchants’
buildings that mark its trading hub past,
it’s a fantastic place to spend time in.
DO/SEE The Kelvingrove Art Gallery
and Museum is one of Scotland’s
most popular free attractions, with
22 themed, state-of-the-art galleries
(glasgowlife.org.uk/museums).
Take a walking tour of the city that
showcases the life, work and influence
of its most famous artist, Charles
Rennie Mackintosh (walkingtoursin.
com/mackintosh). Glasgow Cathedral
Pollok Country Park;
the Charles Rennie
Mackintosh walking tour
(right); the view from
Queen’s Park (below)
W&H TAP TO EXPLORE
is the only medieval cathedral on the
mainland to have survived the 1560
Reformation almost entirely intact
(glasgowcathedral.org).
Take a stroll away from the crowds
through Pollok Country Park’s
woodlands and gardens.
EAT Meaning ‘eat well’ in Gaelic,
Cail Bruich was awarded a Michelin
star in January 2021, making it the
first Glasgow restaurant to receive
this prestigious honour in 18 years.
The menu boasts an innovative use
of the Scottish larder, with many
ingredients hand-foraged from
the local area (cailbruich.co.uk).
Ox and Finch on main thoroughfare
Sauchiehall Street specialises in small
plates using top-notch Scottish
ingredients (oxandfinch.com).
STAY Native Glasgow is an apartment-
style hotel located in an Edwardian
building, formerly home to the
Anchor Line Shipping Company’s
headquarters, which draws on the
opulence of a 1920s ocean liner.
From £156 per night; nativeplaces.com
✢ peoplemakeglasgow.com
Plan your perfect city break. Turn to page 5 to discover
how to bring woman&home to life on your phone
W&H
EXPLORE
Escape to Freight
Island; explore
the city’s industrial
heritage (below)
MANCHESTER
WHY Vibrant and characterful,
Manchester boasts a strong industrial
heritage, with many former mills from its
cotton-milling past now converted into
apartments or offices. Today, the city
is known for being a hub of creativity,
spawning painter LS Lowry and globally
successful band Oasis. It was also home
to the suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.
DO/SEE The brand new RHS Garden
Bridgewater in Salford (rhs.org.uk/
gardens/bridgewater) spans 156 acres
on the site of Worsley New Hall, and
includes a kitchen garden and Chinese
garden. The Pankhurst Centre – former
home of the Pankhurst family – is a
museum dedicated to the story of
women’s fight for the right to vote
(pankhursttrust.org/pankhurst-centre).
Foodies will love the Scranchester
Tour, Explore Ancoats, which delves into
the city’s best bites (scranchestertours.
com/explore-ancoats).
EAT Escape to Freight Island fuses
food, drink, music and entertainment
(escapetofreightisland.com). District,
a new contemporary Thai restaurant
in the Northern Quarter, is also one to
book (districtmanchester.co.uk).
STAY Stylish 189-room Hotel Brooklyn
is inspired by the New York borough
it’s named after. Rooms from £139 per
night; hotelbrooklyn.co.uk
✢ visitmanchester.com
 November’s
BOOK CLUB Our books editor Zoe West gives us her favourite picks for
the month, plus Heather Morris shares her writing secrets

BALLET MAGIC
Midnight In BOOK FAMILY TIES
Everwood by OF THE The Lincoln Highway
MA Kuzniar MONTH by Amor Towles
(£14.99, HB, (£20, HB, Cornerstone)
HarperCollins) Following the runaway success
An enchanting of A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles
retelling of The returns with his third major novel, and we’re
Nutcracker. Set in pleased to say it’s another stunner. Set in
Edwardian society, the 1950s, it tells the story of two brothers
we meet Marietta, who drive the famous Lincoln Highway,
who longs to stretching from America’s East to West Coast,
be a ballerina. But her family has other VQ ƂPF VJGKT OQVJGT YJQ CDCPFQPGF VJGO
ideas and want her to marry well. When years before. Brimming with memorable
the new neighbour, Dr Drosselmeier, characters, it tells the tale of the families into
turns up, Marietta is bewitched by his which we are born, the ones we sometimes
magical world – but could his magic choose to forget and those who become
be dangerous? A showstopping book family in more subtle ways. A gem of a book.
awash with sumptuous descriptions.

HIDDEN SECRETS MYSTERIES SOLVED REFLECTING ON LIFE

The Party Crasher The Impossible Oh William! by
by Sophie Truths of Love Elizabeth Strout
Kinsella (£20, by Hannah (£14.99, HB,
HB, Transworld) Beckerman (£8.99, Penguin)
'HƂG KU CP #FWNV PB, Amazon We’re reunited
Child of Divorce Publishing) with Strout’s
and while she We all have stories heroine Lucy
knows she’s meant in our past that Barton, now
to be able to deal determine who a successful writer
with her father we are and how living in New York.
and stepmum we behave – as Navigating life
separating, it’s not that simple. So, when becomes clear when Nell’s father makes as a widow with two adult daughters,
her dad’s new girlfriend throws a party to a deathbed declaration that hints at a UJG TGEQPPGEVU YKVJ JGT ƂTUV JWUDCPF
UC[ D[G VQ VJGKT HCOKN[ JQOG 'HƂG RNCPU long-held family secret. What follows William, who she refers to as often with
to break in and retrieve her treasured is an unravelling of Nell’s story and her exasperation as with affection. Lucy
Russian dolls. She’s certainly not going mother, Annie’s. And with Annie suffering recounts the daily disappointments and
to the party. But is she ready for what she from dementia, and making some cryptic the ‘closing down on each other’ with
might overhear while hiding in the house? comments, the mystery deepens. This is C VTWVJHWNPGUU # RTQHQWPF TGƃGEVKQP
This is classic Kinsella – we loved it! a beautiful read that will make you think. on the mystery of existence. Sublime.

PAPERBACKS OF THE MONTH ✢ Baby It’s Cold Outside by Emily Bell ✢ Blood Ties by Brian McGilloway
 W&H
EXPLORE

TENSE THRILLER
I Know You by
Claire McGowan
HOW I WRITE
(£8.99, PB,
Thomas & Mercer) Heather Morris
When the US family The bestselling
19-year-old Casey novelist of
was nannying The Tattooist
for were found of Auschwitz
murdered, all the concludes her
evidence pointed trilogy with her
to her and she went to prison. Years later, new book Three
in England and living as ‘Rachel’, Casey’s Sisters – a tale of
life is the centre of a police investigation the siblings held
once again, when the estranged wife of at Auschwitz. Making a promise
her new boyfriend is killed. Casey soon to their father as little girls, they
realises someone is out to frame her. later promise each other, they will
You’ll be guessing until the very end. survive. Heartbreaking and hopeful,
Heather Morris reveals what it’s like It can be difficult writing sad parts.
INSPIRATIONAL MEMOIR sharing other people’s stories. I remind myself it is not my pain, my
Manifesto by trauma or my guilt. I’ve no right to
Bernardine When people speak to me, I truly own it, and I listen to uplifting music.
Evaristo (£14.99, listen. Not only hearing the words
HB, Penguin) but the emotions and the memories, I write mostly in my home office.
Booker prize- picturing the elderly person as a child, When I’ve nearly finished a first draft,
winning author a teenager and a young adult. I accept I go away from family and friends –
Bernardine Evaristo from the beginning it is their story. somewhere remote to be on my own.
explores her growth
as a creative person The son of one of the sisters in my Screenwriter William Goldman gave
and the surprising latest book took The Tattooist of me the best bit of writing advice
life experiences over the decades that Auschwitz to his mother in Israel. – referencing the children’s book The
have made her who she is today – an She saw the cover and knew it was Little Engine That Could – ‘Just get
unstoppable, world-renowned writer. about Lale and Gita. They contacted the %@$&% train over the mountain’.
It’s a moving and funny read about her me. I flew to Israel and fell in love with
determination to pursue passions and Livia, Magda and their families. I knew, Three Sisters by Heather Morris (£16.99,
embrace life, no matter what it throws if they let me, I would tell their story. HB, Zaffre) is out on 14 October.
at you – and a book to give others hope.

WHAT I’M READING

What are
REVIEW OF OH! WILLIAM: SUSAN DOWELL. PHOTO: TINA SMIGIELSKI

you reading?
We’d love to hear
about the books you’re
IT’S NOT NEVER GET A LIFE, CHLOE Just finished THE THE WIND CHIME enjoying, so get in
by Louise Gregory BROWN by Talia MOTHERS by Brit by Alexandra Walsh is touch and let us know.
and NGK is a Hibbert is a laugh- Bennett, which I had set in the present day You can email
wonderful love story out-loud romcom to keep pausing to and the Victorian era. A zoe.west@futurenet.
set in space with with a body-positive screenshot. It has mystery linked by a lost com, drop her a tweet
a strong, intelligent plus-size heroine so many marvellous diary, a mansion and at @zoeannewest
leading woman. with fibromyalgia. phrases and photos, it’s intriguing. or message on our
Catherine Mackay, Sarah Bennett, thoughts. I loved it! Deborah Black, w&h Book Club
Gloucester Lincolnshire Cesca Major, Reading London Facebook page.

✢ Christmas for Beginners by Carole Matthews ✢ The Shape of Darkness by Laura Purcell ✢ The Other Husband by Kathryn Croft
W&H
BOOK
CLUB
IN CONVERSATION WITH

Richard
OSMAN
The overwhelming success of his crime-writing career has surprised
and delighted TV star Richard Osman, he tells Zoe West

P
resenter, comedian I didn’t set out to write
and producer a funny book. My natural
Richard Osman is inclination is to be funny if I can
having a moment. be, but I love classic crime and
Not only can you see him on that doesn’t really mix with
your TV every day, his debut humour. But with these four
novel The Thursday Murder characters – an ex-spy, a trade
Club was a runaway success, union activist, a nurse and a
making it one of the biggest- psychiatrist – they kept making
selling books of last year. In me laugh. So, the story is
his second book, The Man very straight but the way the
Who Died Twice, he revisits characters choose to go about
our favourite residents in how they deal with things is funny.
retirement community
Coopers Chase, and they’re People in their 70s tend to
all set to solve yet another get overlooked, and they’re
murder – only this time the certainly underestimated.
stakes are even higher. Other characters in my books
Richard lives in London and are constantly being outsmarted
has two grown-up children. by the four protagonists. Even
the police officer, Chris, thinks,
When I visited my mum’s ‘I must be polite to these
retirement community, I’d people,’ and then realises he
think, ‘What an amazing doesn’t need to be at all. They
place to have a murder.’ It twist people around their little
made me think of an Agatha fingers, but of course, in the end,
Christie novel. The people are everyone is firm friends.
all in their 70s and have done
so many extraordinary things Everyone was shocked at the
with their lives. I knew that if there was success of my book. I hoped it would
to be a murder, they’d be the people to
solve it. So, that was where the premise
‘Steven Spielberg do OK, and I thought it would in the
UK, but it was the third biggest-selling
came from – four people in their 70s,
all from different backgrounds, who
responded to the hardback of all time! And it’s all around

characters, not to me’

the world, where they don’t know me from
solve a murder on their doorstep. TV. That surprised and delighted me. >>
womanandhome.com 183
W&H
EXPLORE
I had almost finished the second
book before the first one came out.
I’m glad about that. It may have been
harder to write if I’d known what a
success the first would be. I’m writing the
third one now and it is tougher, as there’s
so much feedback on what people like.
I have to remember that I must continue
to write the book I want to write.
Being in your 70s must be a fascinating
time because you’ve probably had
the most experience you’re ever
going to have. But, you’re suddenly
sidelined by the world, work doesn’t
want you, you’re hidden away and
culture doesn’t really represent you. The
way people have warmed
and responded to these ‘We British
are brilliant
characters makes me think
culture is righting itself.
This generation are liberal,
smart, they’ve heard at dancing
everything and lived every
pleasure – and they still around what we
have adventures.
really mean’
Many people ask me how I get inside
the mind of a 76-year-old woman,
but when I speak to my mum, she
says she’s still 32 in her head. And
as we get older, yes, we’re around grief
a lot more, but the brain remains exactly
where it’s always been – and the brain
wants mischief and adventure and
friendships. It’s constantly looking for
new things and that’s a lovely thing
to be able to write. There are so many
people who say they’d like to be like
the characters in my book as they get
older, live where they live – and we can!
We live in a world where we’re
constantly told about our differences,
and that’s the way to gain power, to
make money – to distrust other people.
That’s not my experience of life. We
can all have different experiences and
opinions, but sit us in a room with a
glass of wine and we’ll get along with
all walks of life. Kindness, strength and
empathy are the pillars that bind those
four characters together.
Lesley Manville narrated the
audiobook. When we approached her,
she said she didn’t do audiobooks, but
we sent her a copy of the book and once
184 womanandhome.com
Richard’s
she’d read it, she came back and said she
would. She does a brilliant job. I love
dialogue – especially with British people.
We hide so much in what we say. A British
person might say to their neighbour, ‘Oh,
TOP THREE
your garden is looking lovely this evening,’
but what they might really be saying is,
BOOKS
‘You’re having an affair with my wife – I’m VILLAGE
going to murder you this evening.’ We’ll MEMORIES
never say what we actually mean. We’re A MONTH IN THE
brilliant at dancing around things. COUNTRY by J.L.Carr
This is a delightful
Steven Spielberg bought the rights book. It’s basically a guy
to my [debut] book. The call happened looking back on his time
before the book came out and it gave renovating a church in a
me a huge boost of confidence. He northern village. Sounds
understands great stories and characters, a little snoozy, but he’s
and what gives them such a funny writer, and it’s a great
warmth and heart. book. I would recommend it to anyone.
He’s responded to the
characters and not to me.
DICKENSESQUE
People come up to me GOLDEN HILL
to talk about the book
and they tell me their
by Francis Spufford
Set in New York in the
cast. People say, ‘I think
Elizabeth should be
1700s, a man turns up
with a note suggesting
played by Helen Mirren’ – or suggestions he’s owed one thousand
such as Julie Walters or Penelope Wilton. pounds. The merchants
It’s a lovely game to play. aren’t sure whether to trust
him or kill him. It’s like a
Writing will be a priority for me now. Dickens novel – you’re immersed in it.
I’ve loved it. People think I work harder
than I do as I’m on TV every day, but of
course when we’re filming we might film FAMILY FOIBLES
three or four Pointless episodes a day GROWN UPS
or five House of Games – so I can get by Marian Keyes
through work quite quickly. I’m hoping I think Marian Keyes is the
to be writing for the next 20 years. most wonderful woman
and the most wonderful
The first thing I do when I start writer. She believes in
a book is flick through to where the best of us. She shows
chapter two begins. If the first chapter people’s foibles but she
is 80 pages it puts me off. My books are also shows the love that
short and snappy. I think that’s a TV binds us together in a very real way.
thing. When people read my books I
want them to get to the end of a chapter I’ve just filmed another 100 House
INTERVIEW: ZOE WEST. PHOTO: PENGUIN BOOKS
and think, ‘Oh, I’ll just read one more.’ of Games. I’m about to do another 100
Pointless episodes too, and I’m writing
I am planning to move to Coopers the third instalment of
Chase when I get older. People say The Thursday Murder
to me, ‘Oh, I wish Coopers Chase was Club now, which will
real,’ and I say ‘It is!’ These places exist be out next autumn.
and I think as we get older we all want
sociability. Loneliness in old age is ✢ The Man Who Died
a terrible thing and it’s unnecessary. Twice by Richard
Living in a retirement community is like Osman (£18.99, HB,
being in university halls for older people. Viking), is out now.
 THE
PAINTERby Elodie Harper
T
he heat of the last few days
Salvia feared the is broken by the rain. Salvia
hears it in the night, the
artist’s gawky young reassuring patter on the
apprentice was too roof, the murmur as it hits the pool
in the atrium, as if the house has
inexperienced to acquired another fountain.
When she rises at dawn, the house
complete the painting feels fresher, her clothes no longer
of Venus – and her sticking to her body with sweat. Salvia
rolls away the mat she has been sleeping
mistress was not one on, nudging Methe with her toe. Methe
groans but gets up.
to tolerate failure ‘I’m sure you snored last night,’ Methe
186 womanandhome.com
grumbles. Salvia just rolls her eyes.
They leave the tiny storeroom off the
landing, creeping downstairs. Methe,
the pretty one, will have to wait on their
mistress, dressing her hair. And fend off
the master’s wandering, grasping hands.
Sometimes Salvia is grateful to be plain.
She starts work in the master’s study.
The painting is due to be finished today
and she has been ordered to get rid
of any dust – and keep an eye on the
painter’s apprentice, to make sure he
doesn’t steal. Light slowly fills the room
as the sun rises. She pauses to squint at

the half-finished frescoes. Venus is sitting
on a throne, inscrutable, while Mars
gropes at her with a greedy look on his
face. Gods and men aren’t so different,
Salvia thinks.
‘You don’t like it?’
She turns in surprise. ‘Gods and
A gawky-looking boy is
standing in the doorway. His men aren’t
ears stick out and there’s a
gap between his front teeth
so different,’
as he grins. The bag he is
carrying is familiar: it belongs
Salvia thinks
to his master, Priscus the painter.
‘Not my painting, is it?’ she says
with a shrug.
The boy snorts with laughter. ‘So
that’s a no, then.’ He saunters in and
starts unpacking his paints.
‘Aren’t you a bit young to be left
to finish it? I thought your master
would do that.’
‘I’m no younger than you are,’ he
replies, clunking down another bowl
of powder.
‘Don’t make a mess,’ she snaps,
thinking of all the sweeping she’s
just done.
‘Are you always this grumpy?’ he turns
to her, eyebrows raised. ‘Because I’ve
got a whole day of no master breathing
down my neck and I could do without
you taking his place.’
‘He trusts you alone for a whole day?’
Salvia is envious.
‘You’re really something,’ the boy
replies, misunderstanding. ‘I’m actually
good at what I do. Or would be, if I had
some water to mix my paints.’
‘Oh.’ Salvia forgot to fetch the water
in from the well this morning.
They stare at one another. The boy
sighs. ‘I’ll help you carry it.’
© FUTURE PUBLISHING LIMITED, 2021. ILLUSTRATION: MICHAEL DRIVER.
She doesn’t much want to accept, but
also cannot leave him alone. ‘Thanks.’
He follows her as she sneaks through
the garden to the kitchen to fetch the
bucket. The master is sitting outside,
his back to her, a client petitioning him
for some favour. The angular slope
of his shoulders makes her shudder.
Usually he would be safely out of her
way in the study. The boy gawps about,
staring at the fountain with its mosaic
Venus. Salvia tugs at his sleeve to
make him move.
They cross the atrium together,
reaching the giant doorway that leads
onto the street. The wooden doors
are ajar, the porter guarding it. He
nods at Salvia as she passes and they
slip outside.
The change is overwhelming. It’s
not just moving from
shade to light, but from a
pond to a fast-flowing river.
Salvia’s street is always
crowded, carts clattering
past to the bakery, the
pavement full of fabric hung
from a row of clothes stores.
Salvia and the boy push past dawdling
customers, and trudge towards the
well at the corner.
Other slaves are already queuing,
lingering by the fountain for a gossip.
Salvia sees, without enthusiasm, that
Iris from the cookshop is there. Iris
purses her lips, looking the painter’s
apprentice up and down. ‘Love the
new boyfriend.’
The boy is not remotely attractive,
but then neither is Salvia.
‘I should be so lucky,’ he says. Salvia
glances up, to see if he’s sneering, but he
has the same toothy grin as before. Iris
doesn’t know what to do with his cheer
The Mistress
and sniffs, turning her back.
The boy pulls a face and in
slaps her
spite of herself, Salvia laughs.
She feels lighter on the
walk back to the house,
perhaps because the boy is round the
carrying the bucket. He tilts
himself against the weight, head. ‘Idiot!’
out of puff from talking.
‘It’s the first time Priscus has
she hisses
trusted me like this,’ he says. ‘I get to
decide how to finish the scene, what
to paint, all of it.’
‘Is he a good master?’
‘He’s all right. What about yours?’ They
have reached the towering doorway,
their journey over. Salvia grimaces. ‘Oh,’
the boy says, understanding. ‘Bad luck.’
✢✢✢✢✢
Salvia gets on with her cleaning, scouring
the atrium, sticking close to the study,
glad now that she was ordered to keep
an eye on the apprentice, whose name
is Gaius. He seems to spend more time
staring at her than he does at his fresco,
and she’s never known anyone talk so
much. Salvia keeps trying to sneak a look
at the painting but he always blocks her
view. When Gaius breaks for some bread,
W&H
EXPLORE
he shares it with her. Salvia is too
hungry to refuse. Usually she and
Methe do not eat until the evening.
Gaius is something of a distraction
for her, too, and she is just craning round,
trying to look at his painting when she
thumps into the Mistress.
‘Sorry!’ Salvia gasps.
The Mistress slaps Salvia round the
head. ‘Idiot!’ she hisses, stalking towards
the garden. Methe scurries after her, not
daring to look back. No doubt grateful
the slap was for someone else.
Salvia stands a moment, eyes filling
with tears, hoping Gaius did not see
her humiliation.
‘Are you all right?’
He has come into the atrium and is
standing at her elbow. His eyes are wide
with concern. Salvia wonders why she
ever thought he was ugly.
‘Fine,’ she says, briskly, to show
she doesn’t want pity.
‘I’ve finished the painting, if you’d
like to see.’
Salvia follows him, no longer excited,
not now reality has come crashing back
so viciously. Gaius steps aside for her
to look. She stares. He has decorated
the scene with trees, as
she expected, but has
also added another figure.
A maid, crouched over a
box, sent on a chore by her
Mistress Venus. Her clothes
are Salvia’s clothes, and even
though Salvia has only once
looked in a mirror – a glance
stolen while her mistress left
it unattended – she recognises the nose,
too long to be pretty.
‘It’s me!’ she exclaims, astounded.
‘But why put a maid in there?’
‘Do you think the gods clean their
own floors?’ Gaius replies. ‘I suspect
Olympus is no different from Pompeii.
And why shouldn’t the maid get her
own story?’
Salvia looks at herself on the wall.
The likeness is breathtaking. It hurts,
knowing she will likely never see the
boy who painted it again. She turns
to see him staring at her, and knows
without question, that he is thinking
the same.
‘It’s perfect,’ she says.
✢ The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper
(£8.99, PB, Head of Zeus) is out now.
womanandhome.com 187
 The riches of
JESSIE
After being booted out in favour of a new woman, where
was the best place to start rebuilding her life?
H
er ‘friends’ were women
married to ‘other Barrys’.
They met for lunch, but she
knew that whenever she
was absent they were ripping her
to shreds just as they ripped others
to shreds when they weren’t there.
She could never trust them with
anything verging on a secret. She
didn’t even like them that much
either, if she were honest with herself.
She missed having her old friends,
but Barry didn’t get on with them
and somehow over the years they’d
fallen away until their only contact
was an annual Christmas card.
Barry said because they weren’t
married and Jessie hadn’t paid the
mortgage or any of the bills, she didn’t
have a financial leg to stand on. If she
wanted to get a solicitor, he’d fight
her all the way. She could take the
settlement he offered, though, which
would be more than she’d get in court.
He was very clever, very shrewd and he
would have hidden lots of his money,
she knew that. He could afford to
pay for an army of astute accountants
188 womanandhome.com
by Milly Johnson
who would run rings around her.
The money he gave her wasn’t a
lot for so many years of service. He
promised her another five thousand
if she moved out quickly because
he wanted to install his mistress
without delay. There was nothing
to hang around for now, he said.
He’d only make it uncomfortable
for her if she played hardball.
She found a one-
bedroomed flat. It was a far
cry from all the space she’d
Barry
enjoyed in Barry’s house. It
was on the ground floor and
wanted to
had a sweet little square of install
his mistress
garden but it was awfully
tatty, uncared for by its past
tenant, and the sink was
all blocked up. She found without delay
a video online that showed
her how to remove the P trap and
empty it. It felt like such an achievement
when she’d done it successfully. She’d
always called a plumber before to sort
out sink blockages.
She became an avid watcher of
online ‘how to’ videos. Her favourite
reels were the house transformations.
It was fascinating to see how a room
far worse than the ones in the flat could
be renewed with just a lick of paint.
She’d always wanted a pink sitting
room. There was nothing to stop her
now, was there, said a voice inside her.
She watched a video telling her how
to best paint a ceiling. It was back-
breaking work, but it looked so fresh
when she’d done it. Then
she tackled the skirting
boards, after a video
showed her how to smooth
them all down first with
some sandpaper wrapped
around a block. There was
even one about the quickest
way to take off old wallpaper.
She wasn’t sure about
putting new wallpaper
up, but she couldn’t afford a decorator
and so there was only one way she
was going to get her pink parlour.
She found a video showing her how to
line the old walls with paper put on in
horizontal strips, then the patterned
wallpaper on top hung vertically. It took

her three days, but then she had her
pink sitting room and it was every bit
as fabulous as she’d hoped it would be.
She looked up Barry online to find
that he was all loved up with his
mistress who was only in her 20s,
golden-haired and tiny-waisted. She
wondered what such a gorgeous
creature could see in Barry apart from
his fat wallet, and then figured maybe
there was nothing else. At least when
Jessie had first met him, he was
boyishly handsome with a smiley face.
Over the past years he’d doubled in
size, lost all his hair and his wit because
all he talked about was making money.
© FUTURE PUBLISHING LIMITED, 2021. ILLUSTRATION: MICHAEL DRIVER
It had been exciting then, planning
being rich, and she’d thought that
if they had no money worries, they
wouldn’t have any worries. But she’d
worried a lot during their relationship.
She worried when he was late home
from the office and there was lipstick on
his collar – a sad but true cliché. And
those worries didn’t abate when he said
she was fussing over nothing because
‘he saved her for best’. He always came
home to her, didn’t he? Except this last
time when he said it was over.
She ended up painting the entire flat
in colours that would have made Barry’s
head explode because he was very
much a neutral man. Her bedroom was
a show of pastels, every wall a different
shade. She painted the tiny bathroom
black with gold stars. She couldn’t put
a new kitchen in herself but she took
out most of the old one to save herself
a few bob. She decorated it
in red and white stripes so
it looked like an American Her flat
diner. Her flat was bonkers
but she adored it. She even
was
watched a video on how
to make a tiny garden
bonkers
pretty and renovated hers
into a pint-sized haven.
but she
adored it
Then it was time to work
on herself. There was a
video on how to run if you’d never done
it before. Before long she was able to
run around the park – two whole miles.
Then she built up to running twice
around it without coughing up a lung.
She was fitter and stronger, and had
more energy than she’d had in years.
There was a video on how to increase
your confidence, and she watched it over
and over until she felt ready to go for a
job interview and, though it was only a
waitress position in the tea shop down
the road, she loved it. The owner was a
W&H
EXPLORE
smashing woman and after work, she,
Jessie and the other waitresses often sat
down and had a natter and a laugh. It was
like being with her old friends again, not
afraid to share a confidence or feel ripped
apart as soon as her back was turned.
Then Barry asked if he could come
and see her. She invited him
to her home. He had missed
her, he said. It hadn’t worked
out with his girlfriend and he
realised his mistake in letting
her go. She couldn’t be happy
in such a grotesquely coloured
monstrosity, surely. She should
come back and live in the
lap of luxury. He’d even up
her housekeeping.
Jessie politely declined. She neither
needed nor wanted Barry any more.
She was richer without him and his
money. Though she was earning quite
a bit from her own popular online
channel: The Riches of Jessie. It was
all about how to start life from square
one and be happy, even when you had
to begin it not knowing one end of an
under-sink P trap from another.
✢ The Woman in the Middle by Milly
Johnson (£16.99, HB, Simon & Schuster)
is out on 14 October.
womanandhome.com 189
 W&H WEEKENDG R E A T F I L M S , T V, P O D C A S T S A N D C U LT U R E

Hot new shows

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Ridley Road
A chilling side
of the 1960s is
brought to life in
this four-parter.
Jewish hairdresser Vivien (Aggi
O’Casey) goes undercover to expose
a new Nazi movement. The starry cast
includes Eddie Marsan, Rory Kinnear
and Tamzin Outhwaite. BBC1

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Connie Nielsen
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plays Jo, a

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The film poses questions about patriarchal society and misogyny. Out 15 October
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Ron, with interesting results. A British
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Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and
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Adapted from Frank Herbert’s cult novel,
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SCI-FI EPIC coming-of-age saga. Out 22 October
190 womanandhome.com
beautiful house,
a loving family and a devoted partner
(Christopher Eccleston). Following a
fall, however, an entire year suddenly
vanishes from her memory and she
discovers some terrible secrets. C4
The Larkins
This adaptation
of The Darling
Buds of May
stars Bradley
Walsh as wheeler-dealer Pop Larkin
and Joanna Scanlan as Ma. Set in
the 1950s, the comedy drama follows
the couple and their six children
living off their land, while battling
authority and snobby villagers. ITV
Showtrial
A five-part crime
drama exploring
how prejudice,
politics and
the media can distort the legal
process. Starring Sharon D Clarke,
Sinéad Keenan, James Frain, Tracy
Ifeachor and Celine Buckens. BBC1

Reading The Ticking
Heart by Andrew
Kaufman. One of my
favourite authors, who
writes absurd, surreal
stories with insightful
human observations.
Listening Afro Celt
Sound System will
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drive to and from
-GTT[KPVJGUQWVJ
west of Ireland.
Learning Chiren
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that introduces light
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Shopping Julie Peelo
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based, Julie creates
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for others in every
single colour.
Buying$CEMVQUEJQQN
MY items. I was bored
CULTURE even writing that!
DIARY Visiting All my
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on the Ring of Kerry
[a scenic drive around
Irish novelist Cecelia Ahern, 40, is the Iveragh Peninsula].
a bestselling author whose books have +VoUO[URKTKVJQOG
sold 25 million copies internationally. CPFCRNCEG+MPQYUQ
She lives in Dublin YGNNCU+oXGDGGPGXGT[
year since I was born.
PHOTOS: ALAMY, BBC, C4, ITV, MATTHEW THOMPSON, MICHAEL DESMOND/AMAZON
PRIME VIDEO, APPLE TV+, DISNEY. NOTE: RELEASE DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Watching Murder at the Cottage, +oXG UGV RCTV QH O[ PGYPQXGNFreckles,
a documentary made by my friend Jim in Valentia Island in County Kerry.
WORDS: NICK CANNON, JANE CROWTHER, JACK WHITE, SHARON SWEENEY.
Sheridan about the tragic death of TV ✢%GEGNKC#JGTPoUNCVGUVPQXGNFreckles,
RTQFWEGT5QRJKG6QUECPFW2NCPVKGT
*$*CTRGT%QNNKPUKUQWVPQY VJGTGCTGGRKUQFGUVJCVHQEWUQPVJQUG
STREAM IT Our pick of what to watch, whenever you want
Muppets Invasion
Haunted Follow events
Mansion around the world
Based on the as aliens invade.
Haunted Mansion ride in the Disney /…ˆÃÃVˆ‡wÃiÀˆiÃŜÜÃ܅>Ì…>««i˜Ã̜
theme parks, this Halloween Special sees humanity and some brave individuals,
Muppets spending a terrifying night including soon-to-retire Sheriff John Bell
inside the creepy mansion. Disney+ Tyson, played by Sam Neill. Apple TV+
what’s on
LISTEN UP
Follow your passions and stay well
informed with these fabulous podcasts
The Secret
Life of Songs
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the stories behind
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series. Featuring classics from Marvin Gaye
and Tammi Terrell, John Lennon, and
Patsy Cline, it makes riveting listening.
Crime Time
FM: On the
Sofa with
Victoria
Hosted by crime
writer Victoria
Selman once
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This series updates
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teens is stalked by a murderous mystery
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graduation night. Amazon Prime Video
womanandhome.com 191
 horoscopes

Your STARS
Astrologer Wendy Bristow’s
TAURUS
20 APRIL – 20 MAY
After the 4th, close relationships change
to suit you. Even if it involves negotiating
s CPF EQPƃKEV s C YKNNKPIPGUU VQ CFCRV YKNN
predictions for the month of November improve a situation. The 19th is eventful.
Call 0905 789 4151* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
SAGITTARIUS
22 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER GEMINI
A quiet month gets busy when, on the 21 MAY – 20 JUNE
22nd, your birthday season starts. Around You’re feeling explosive early November
the 29th there’s an important offer or and by the 10th it’s hard to hold in. Tread
decision. Ask for anything you want then. carefully around then to avoid a row, as
Call 0905 789 4158* and choose it could take all month to iron out.
weekly, monthly and yearly updates Famous Call 0905 789 4152* and choose
Scorpios: weekly, monthly and yearly updates
CAPRICORN Goldie Hawn,
Thandiwe
22 DECEMBER – 19 JANUARY
Newton, Nadia
CANCER
4QOCPVKE ƂTGYQTMU URCTM CU 8GPWU GPVGTU Sawalha, Tilda 21 JUNE – 22 JULY
Capricorn on the 5th. She’s onside all Swinton 8GPWU DTKPIU QWV C UQHVGT UKFG KP QVJGTU
month, maximising your potential and sex NGCFKPI VQ C UKIPKƂECPV EQPXGTUCVKQP
appeal. A great time for an image change. on the 6th. The Full Moon on the 19th
Call 0905 789 4159* and choose is November’s high-stress moment.
weekly, monthly and yearly updates Call 0905 789 4153* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates
AQUARIUS
20 JANUARY – 18 FEBRUARY LEO
Watch out around the 10th when you get 23 JULY – 22 AUGUST
snared in someone else’s row. It’ll need It’s not quite Fireworks Night, but there’s
discussing, so listen to their side. That a rocket on the 4th via a development
way, it’s ironed out by November’s end. you hadn’t bargained for. Don’t rush
Call 0905 789 4160* and choose Star sign to resolve it. Insight comes on the 29th.

of the month
weekly, monthly and yearly updates Call 0905 789 4154* and choose
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PISCES
19 FEBRUARY – 20 MARCH SCORPIO VIRGO
Do you fancy learning something new? 23 OCTOBER – 21 NOVEMBER 23 AUGUST – 22 SEPTEMBER
6JKU OQPVJ IGV ƂTGF WR YKVJ GPVJWUKCUO Your New Moon on the 4th marks Between the 6th and the 24th it’s hard
for research or discovery. Plus, romantic a fresh start. A new relationship to express yourself – which is tricky when
potential is on max around the 19th. arrives, or an old one changes. you face stress around the 10th. However,
Call 0905 789 4161* and choose With your ruler Mars in Scorpio, come the 29th, everything’s positive.
weekly, monthly and yearly updates you’re a real go-getter! Call 0905 789 4155* and choose
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ARIES YOUR MONTHS AHEAD
21 MARCH – 19 APRIL Next year sees lovely times with LIBRA
You can make progress this month, but children – maybe a new arrival. 23 SEPTEMBER – 22 OCTOBER
employ stealth and strategy rather than Relationships are also renewed, so November’s better for career than
PHOTOS: MIKE MARSLAND/WIREIMAGE, WIREIMAGE

your usual ram-at-a-gate approach. Plan expect the unexpected. Call 0905 romance. However, the 6th is great for
your moves, especially around the 10th. 789 4157* and choose weekly, a personal ambition about love or work.
Call 0905 789 4150* and choose monthly and yearly updates Call 0905 789 4156* and choose
weekly, monthly and yearly updates weekly, monthly and yearly updates

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W&H
EXPLORE
TOWN &
KATHY LETTE
The comedian and author
COUNTRY
Forget Venus and Mars – these are
loves city life and has lived
in London for over 30 years
the differences between the sexes
‘The secret of a happy marriage
is to keep most things secret’
God, apparently as a prank, devised two sexes and called
them ‘opposite’. Why do men like intelligent women? Because
opposites attract. I think a lot of marriages break up for religious
reasons. He thinks he’s a god and, well, she doesn’t. Yes, love
may be blind, but cohabitation is a real eye-opener.
The trouble is that love prepares you for marriage the way
needlepoint prepares you for round-the-world solo yachting.
Of course, nobody ever said marriage was easy. In sickness
and health, and all that… (and, believe me, if you marry into
allergies, like I did, there’ll always be a little something wrong).
One of the biggest differences between the sexes is that
men only need about four pairs of shoes for their entire life.
Consequently, they just don’t understand that it’s genetically
impossible for a woman to walk past a shoe sale and not buy
something irrational and strappy. But never admit the cost. The
secret of a happy marriage is to keep most things, well, secret.
Like car scrapes. Most men think they’re better behind the
wheel. When a bloke gets a note under his windscreen saying
nRCTMKPIƂPGoJGRTGUWOGUKVoUCEQORNKOGPVCT[EQOOGPVQP
his driving skills. If you do dent the bumper, just act
innocent to avoid your partner exceeding the daily
recommended allowance of Smug Gloating.
Another of life’s great mysteries is why people are
divided into those who like the outdoors and those
who like the indoors, and why they invariably end up
married to each other. Never go camping together.
Otherwise, you’ll discover that your marital union is
solid because you have so much in common… namely,
mutual contempt and acrimony. And it’s just not satisfying,
UVQTOKPIQWVQHCVGPVeCPFUNCOOKPIVJGƃCR
For the newly married, don’t delude yourself that
you can change a man. The only time a woman
has ever changed a male is out of a nappy,
as a baby. But do you know what makes
a perfect partner? A man who’s perfect
enough to understand why you’re not.
% Best Laid Plans by Kathy
Lette (£16.99, Bantam Press)
is out now. @KathyLette
202 womanandhome.com
KATIE FFORDE
The bestselling author
lives in the Cotswolds and
is a country girl at heart
‘He’s been for a hearty walk
while I’ve been watching TV’
When you’re very in love, you’re prepared to overlook small
differences, or even big ones. But as one who has been
married for a long time, I can tell you a few of these that
might prove irritating when the rosy glow has worn off.
Take travel. My husband and I have different opinions
about what time is acceptable to arrive at a station. He
thinks, ‘Oh, the train isn’t due in for another three minutes,
I’ll go and buy a paper.’ While I would camp out on the
platform the night before if I was allowed.
OH is devoted to our solar panels and doesn’t mind waiting
half an hour for the water to be hot enough in the morning. He
stays in bed and reads while waiting. I want to get out of bed,
have a shower and go to work. This is an ongoing battle.
He is wont to come into a room where I am and say, ‘Gosh,
it’s hot in here,’ and open all the windows. He’s probably been
for a hearty walk while I’ve been ‘doing research’ by watching
68$WVUJQWNF[QWCTDKVTCTKN[KPƃKEVHTGUJCKTQPCPQVJGTRGTUQP!
Is it a bit like having to have cold showers at boarding school?
But there are two big things that we don’t feel differently
about, and they are probably why we’re still
together. The most important being that
HCOKN[EQOGUƂTUV+HVJGTGoUCP[VJKPIQWT
children need, from a packet of butter to
the loan of the car, they can have it. I have
never loved my husband more than when
he answered the phone in the middle of
the night and said, ‘OK, I’ll come and get
you,’ and set off for some music festival.
PHOTOS: ANGELA SPAIN, LIZ MCAULAY, PIXELEYES
The other thing is money. We’re both prone
to giving it away. But provided we have it to
give, we’re prepared to support each other’s
charitable giving. We have one fuel allowance
that we don’t need, so we give it all to charity.
Otherwise, though we feel differently about
most things, we rub along – as long as we
never try to go anywhere together.
% A Wedding in the Country by
Katie Fforde (£14.99, HB, Century)
is out now. @KatieFforde
9 0 0 1