Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2024 i Take a Break Monthly

Bread-y, set, go! After I made it up the cobbled Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, Dorset, I had to get a picture next to the iconic Hovis loaf itself right where the advert was filmed. Linda Stephens, 63, of Fordingbridge, Hants Booze cruise On a recent cruise I had to choose between a nice cold beer or a glass of fizz — so I went for both. Start as you mean to go on! Ray Allen, 66, of West Bromwich, W Mids Neigh-paw-hood watch My dog Lola is such a nosy pup. She loves looking out the window and checking what’s going on. Kelly Thackrah, 30, of Wakefield, W Yorks Wedding belles I love this photo of me with my mum Chris, 66, and sister Beth, 29, on my wedding day.…

My daughter Hailey looked upset when she came home after swimming with her friends. ‘What’s wrong?’ I asked. ‘One of the boys said I was fat,’ she replied tearfully. ‘Oh, love,’ I said, hugging her. ‘That’s horrible.’ But she was almost more upset that her friend hadn’t stuck up for her. Wiping away her tears, she said: ‘I’ll never make anyone feel the way they made me feel, Mum. Nobody will ever walk away from me feeling sad.’ I believed her too. Hailey was the youngest of my five-strong brood and had a huge heart. But she was determined when she set her mind to something too. Growing up, she always wanted to do whatever her big sisters Heidi and Hollie, and brothers Curt and Chad, were doing. Now she…

Solve our puzzle to find out who it is. HOW TO ENTER Solve the crossword. Then, from the top, list the letters in the yellow squares to reveal the identity of the chopped-up celebrity. Enter by post, phone, text or online — see page 73. ACROSS 1 Sports instructor, or railway carriage (5)6 Orator (7)10 Major river in NE Spain (4)11 Fiasco, anagram of BE LACED (7)13 - - - Bergman, Swedish actress who starred with Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (6)14 Point of view (7)15 Tidily (6)17 Road-surfacing material (6)19 Unfavourable — weather conditions? (7)20 Slapstick duo who began in the silent film era, - - - and Hardy (6)22 Baby’s noisy toy (6)24 Arouse — interest, eg (5)25 Distress signal at sea that gives off coloured smoke (5)28 Fit…

Are you ready for summer? It’s finally on its way — the days are getting longer and the temperatures are definitely rising. We hope you’ve got some lovely plans to make the most of the sunshine at home or away. Accompanying the good weather is some great news — we’re here with another chance to win £1000 in cash to spend on whatever you like! Just think about what you could do with a whopping grand in your hand… For a start, how about treating yourself? Splash out on some new holiday clothes and update your hair and beauty products — you could afford to do it all. Buy that summer dress you’ve had your eye on and those sandals that would be perfect for strolling out to dinner on…

It’s family treat time — with not one, but two weekend breaks up for grabs! Crack our competition and you and yours could be heading to beautiful Cumbria for a wonderful family break at Solway Holiday Park. If you’re one of our two lucky winners, you and the family will be staying in a Gold three-bed caravan with a fully equipped kitchen, wi-fi and flatscreen TV. On site, there’s fun for all ages on offer. Make a splash in the heated indoor swimming pool, embark on adventures with some Go Cove activities and enjoy award-winning family entertainment. Each prize also includes £100 to spend on goodies, meals or things to do. Have a go at axe-throwing, archery or zorbing, order burgers at Borders Restaurant, tuck into takeaway fish and chips,…

Rum & raisin chocolate ice-cream cake Serves: 10-12 Takes: 25min (plus soaking and chilling) ■ 220g mixed dried fruit (sultanas, raisins and currants, or just use raisins)■ 5tbsp dark rum■ 300g chocolate digestive biscuits■ 75g butter, melted■ 2ltr good-quality chocolate ice cream, softened for 10 min■ 500g mixed berries, defrosted if frozen 1 Combine the mixed fruit and the rum in a bowl. Leave to soak for 30min. Pour off any excess liquid. 2 Meanwhile, line the base and sides of a 23cm springform tin. Using a food processor, blitz the biscuits until you have fine crumbs. Add the butter and pulse until combined. Press the mixture over the base of the tin. Chill until firm. 3 Combine the softened ice cream and mixed fruit mixture in a large bowl…

• Four-night stay for up to six people• Day pass and hamper• £200 spending money This summer, revel in family fun at Wookey Hole. We’ve got a four-night stay for up to six people to give away, with our lucky winners staying in a lodge complete with its own hot tub. The prize also includes tickets to Wookey Hole, £200 to spend and a hamper full of treats! Crack our competition and you could be off to this fabulous destination. There’s so much to do, from challenging each other to adventure golf, exploring a dinosaur-filled valley, or experiencing a 4-D cinema. And this year, a special surprise awaits: a colossal moon illuminating the heart of the caves! Look out too for the Witch of Wookey Hole and catch daily shows…

Our HolidaysWin! • Return flights• Seven-night B&B stay• £200 spending money Summer holidays are calling — and we have the answer! We’ve teamed up with Neutradol, the fresh air specialists with a product for every smelly situation, to give you the chance to win a holiday for two to Spain. Get puzzling and you and a partner could be off to the Costa Del Sol for a week of relaxation at the four-star TRH Mijas hotel, set in the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas mountains. Two bars means you’re never far from a cocktail and the restaurant is ready to tempt you with delicious international cuisine, so you can make the most of the £200 included in the prize. After a day sightseeing, or splashing about on the beach,…

CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Who’s getting stressed? Not you crabs. A chilled approach to life is working wonders for you. In this relaxed state, answers and ideas seem to come to you naturally. June sees the planets land or linger in the most spiritual zone of your star chart, Cancer, so expect your pathway to become clear. From the 18th, whatever you set your heart on you can go after and without a fear of failure. Push back door for special discovery LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug Now summer’s in full flow, you can’t seem to get out of the house quick enough, Leo. You’re seeking the company and stimulation of others and domestic chores are far from your mind. Networking could put you in the limelight.…

LAWNMOWER WINNER Sheila Stokoe, Newcastle-upon-Tyne ‘When I heard that I’d won a lawnmower, I was shocked and amazed! Having told my friends and family the good news, they’re now queuing up to cut my grass and, of course, to borrow it for theirs! Thank you, Take a Break.’ CROATIA HOLIDAY (PRIZE ANSWER: MASSAGE) D Powell, Nottingham. OXFORD BREAK (PRIZE ANSWER: FLING) K Connolly, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts. £1200 BIG BONANZA (PRIZE ANSWER: SPAM) B Kaighin, Cheltenham, Gloucs. £1000 CELEBRITY CROSSWORD (PRIZE ANSWER: HAVE USED GHOSTWRITERS) S Rodwell, Cheddar, Somerset. FAMILY SEASIDE BREAK (PRIZE ANSWER: RECALL) Mrs J Frewin, Wokingham, Berks. LAWNMOWER (PRIZE ANSWER: BLADES) P Hajiantoni, Preston. M Phipps, Bristol. J Sandwell, Lowestoft, Suffolk. S Stokoe, Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. WARWICKSHIRE HOTEL BREAK (PRIZE ANSWER: GLAMIS)…

Pulling on some shorts and a T-shirt, I glanced out of the window. The rain was lashing down and the last thing I wanted to do was head out for a run in the rain. Beside me, my four little girls — aged between one and four — tugged at me, wanting to play. ‘Mummy, Mummy look at this!’ my eldest daughter said. I knew I had to do something for myself and running seemed like the easiest option. After that first run, I realised how good the exercise made me feel. From then on, every other day, I would leave the children with my husband and head out for a jog. At first, I only managed 15 minutes at a time, but after a while, I slowly increased the…

Zesty bright Take this figure-flattering frock to the park by swapping heels for flat sandals Wild thing A simple summer dress is the easiest way to wear this season’s animal-print trend Red hot Make this floral style work for the office by pairing with simple heels and a trench coat…

The best health advice for you and your family From Karen Cook, 49, of Southport, Merseyside As I removed my headphones, I winced. There was a feeling of fullness or pressure in my ears that wouldn’t go away. I worked for an airline as crew, so it wasn’t unusual to have that feeling just before my ears ‘popped’. It lasted for a couple of days before it finally went. But then, three weeks later, it was replaced by something else — a ringing sound that seemed to be coming from inside my ears. I could barely hear it in silence but, when I was listening to music or watching TV, the noise got louder. It competed with other sounds, too, like the car engine, the wind and other people’s voices.…

Wiping off the remainder of the previous night’s makeup, I scanned my cupboards for coffee. I’d spent the night before at a bash my work mate Rob had organised, and I really needed the caffeine. There’d been lots of familiar faces — and some interesting new ones too. One guy in particular had stood out. His name was Everett, and he’d had the most gorgeous smile. We’d got on really well, spending ages chatting away to each other. A couple of months later, Rob and I were grabbing some lunch on our break when his phone rang. ‘I’ve got Everett on the phone, he wants to speak to you,’ he said, passing me his mobile. ‘It was great to meet you,’ he said. ‘Would you like to go to a…

Sunshine cocktails Ready-to-serve cocktails from De Kuyper are perfect for early evening drinks and celebrations. Available in four delicious flavours — Piña Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri, Passionfruit Martini and Espresso Martini — they are best served shaken with ice and poured into a chilled glass. RRP £13/500ml. Available from Sainsbury’s and Amazon. Hen-pecked With warmer weather comes picnics! Higgidy’s new Garlic Roasted Broccoli & Vintage Cheddar Quiche not only tastes great, but every purchase includes a donation to the British Hen Welfare Trust. This enables the charity to rescue ex-commercial laying hens, so that they can enjoy a free-range retirement. RRP £4.59 from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado. Match made in heaven Marmite has teamed with Ilchester Cheddar cheese to give you a delicious Marmite Cheddar. With its creamy taste, it makes…

Read it! This month’s Book Club read is a romance that’ll make you laugh out loud Under Your Spell by Laura Wood Visiting the Northumberland coast, Laura was struck by the beauty of the place. ‘I’m a sucker for stories set in big American beach houses,’ she says. ‘I thought, why not write about a British beach house surrounded by sand dunes and crystal-clear water?’ She had the idea to write about three sisters, raised together, but with three different mothers and the same, awful, famous rock-star dad. ‘It seemed like there was loads of potential for fun in that premise,’ Laura says. ‘I thought how interesting it would be if the practical middle daughter, who hated her father’s job, started to fall for someone who was an extremely famous…

Fancy stocking up on a free weekly shop? Enter our brilliant competition and you could win £200 in the supermarket vouchers of your choice! You can take your pick from Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, M&S or Iceland. Just think of all the tantalising treats that could be in store — big juicy steaks, delicious ready meals, smoked salmon, Belgian chocs, your favourite wines and beer. And of course you could fill your store cupboard with a host of essentials, from washing powder to tea and coffee. Sounds like a tasty prize? Then grab that pen and get puzzling! 3 LETTERS Ask, Buy, Dip,Dry, Egg, Ham,New, Pot 4 LETTERS Brie, Kale, Loaf,Tart, Tofu, Tuna 5 LETTERS Crust, Flans, Grill, Lemon, Salad, Store, Swede, Tonic, Units, Wraps 6 LETTERS Carrot, Freeze, Grocer, Trifle…

Shop Watch: Nutmeg at Morrisons You’ll be sure to have a stylish summer with Nutmeg’s collection of sunshine-ready pieces. Shop easy-breezy separates and pretty printed dresses in breathable cotton and linen fabrics — all at purse-friendly prices too! Dive in! Get ready to make a splash with our top swimsuit picks from the high street. Choose from flattering ribbed textures, fun tropical prints and a sleek one-shoulder silhouette. Get them before they go New Look have officially got you covered when it comes to chic holiday accessories. Finish off all your summer looks in style with a pair of chunky slip-on sandals and a basket bag.…

I got to the supermarket checkout and began putting my groceries on the conveyor belt. Moments later, I was panting with the effort of it. At 31 stone, I was finding even simple things like doing the weekly shop exhausting. ‘I just need a minute,’ I told my fiancé Aidan when we got back to the car. My size had always been a problem and, over the years, I’d tried loads of different ways to lose weight. When I’d tried the keto diet, I’d managed to lose seven stone. But then I’d fallen off the wagon and put it all back on — plus some extra. I didn’t eat badly, but I had large portions and often went back for seconds. When Aidan had popped the question a year earlier,…

Quick & easy paella Serves: 4 Takes: 30min ■ 1tbsp olive oil■ 1 onion, finely chopped■ 1 garlic clove, finely chopped■ ½ tsp paprika■ 1 red pepper, deseeded and sliced■ 100g mushrooms, sliced■ Pinch of saffron■ 250ml hot chicken stock■ 250g pkt microwave long-grain rice■ 300g frozen cooked seafood mix, defrosted (see Tip)■ 100g frozen peas■ Juice of ½ lemon■ Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion for 3-4min, stirring, until softened. Add the garlic and paprika and cook, stirring, for 1min. 2 Add the pepper and mushrooms to the pan and cook for 3-4min, stirring often, until golden. 3 Stir the saffron into the chicken stock and pour into the pan. Add the rice…

Easy update Upcycle old chairs with a splash of colour to match your vibrant tableware. Scallop side plates, £8 for four; Mugs, from £3 each; Vase, £10; Cushions, £12 each, all George Home. Get summer ready With some comfy chairs, great lighting and accessories, you’re all set to entertain. Mango wood tray, £18; Nibble bowl, £6; Goblet, £3; Tumbler, £2.50; Hi-ball, £2.50; Cushions, £10; Throw, £18, all Habitat. All the extras Botanicals willow tray, £19, Dunelm. Bright and bold Go mad with a punchy colour scheme and hanging decorations. Ombre paper honeycomb decorations, £12 for three; Napkins, £4.75 for 20, all Talking Tables. Decorative finish Get cosy This stone-effect fire pit will be a great focal point, £59.99, Aldi. Set the scene Create an indoor/outdoor atmosphere with pretty cushions and…

Win! • Three-night stay with breakfast• £200 spending money Enjoy a fab seaside escape on us with this amazing prize — a three-night break for two on the Isle of Man. Solve our puzzle and you and a guest could be off to the Ellan Vannin Hotel, a charming Victorian townhouse overlooking Douglas Bay. Right on the seafront, it’s just steps from the beach, ferry terminal and bus station, with shops, cafés and restaurants a short stroll away. Plus, we’ll wave you off with £200 to spend on treats. With cosy rooms and modern amenities, you’re sure of a comfortable stay with stunning sea views. Savour delicious home-made meals in the bar or elegant dining room, or relax in the lounge with a drink. And even if you don’t bag…

The sonographer looked at the screen and raised her eyebrows. ‘Are you ready for this?’ she asked. ‘There’s three.’ ‘You’re wrong!’ I gasped. Then I paused, before adding: ‘Are you absolutely sure?’ I stared intently at the screen as she pointed to three distinct shapes on the ultrasound. Then I looked at my partner Gareth — who’d gone white with shock — and burst into tears. We hadn’t even been trying for a baby. After suffering two devastating miscarriages, we’d decided to wait until after our wedding in two months’ time before trying again. But feeling very sick one morning, I’d taken a test and got a strong positive result. We already had four children between us, and now I wondered how we’d manage three more. ‘I’m going to have…