Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2024 i Take a Break Monthly

£20 paid per item used Arctic explorer I took a trip to Lapland – and made sure my trusted copy of TaB came with me! Beryl Adamson, 64, of Gateshead, Tyne & Wear Reading time Here’s my girl Poppy, two, taking a break with mummy’s favourite mag. Chantelle Smith, 34, of Bournemouth, Dorset Catch! Our Labrador Seaton loves a winter, especially if we get some of the white stuff and he can play catch the snowball. Lesley Lea, 72, of Axminster, Devon Best of friends This is me (left) with my pals Marie, 62, Lynette, 51, and Stephanie, 70. We met through an online support group for fibromyalgia eight years ago and have been friends ever since. Kathleen Ann O’Donnell, 48, of Whitburn, Tyne & Wear Bosom buddies Here I am…

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 Brief fall of rain (6)6 The Nutcracker or Swan Lake, eg (6)9 Bring to life – in a cartoon? (7)10 Summer month (6)11 Easy (6)12 World’s highest mountain (7)16 Succinct and full of meaning (5)18 ‘I feel the need, the need for - - -’, famous line from the film Top Gun (5)20 Word formed by rearranging the letters of another (7)22 Vin - - -, voice of Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy (6)24 Breathing passage (6)26 Wile E - - -,…

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? As we head through December, the shops will be filling up with twinkly lights – but don’t panic! Let us help you get ahead… This month, we’re giving away a whopping £1000 to help you plan your best Christmas ever. Just crack our puzzle and you could be hitting the high street with a grand in your hand. Start off your splurge by dropping in to all the big-name stores and bougie boutiques to pick up presents for the family. Maybe you’ll even spot a little something special for yourself? And, whilst you’re browsing, keep an eye out for a new fun board game or two to keep the laughter flowing. There are so many to choose from. Then, it’ll be time to…

The best health advice for you and your family I was lying in a hospital bed when a wave of pain hit me. I was pregnant with my third baby and, because I was suffering from preeclampsia, doctors had decided to induce me at 37 weeks. I’d been induced with both of my previous pregnancies, so I thought I knew what to expect. But I told the midwife, ‘Something feels different this time.’ ‘You’re doing great,’ she replied. ‘Just keep going.’ But over the next few hours, I began to feel a pressure building down below. I was seen by the registrar and told that I’d need an emergency Caesarean. I was wheeled into the operating theatre where the surgeon got to work, but shortly after my daughter was born…

Health Q MY 82-YEAR-OLD MUM HAS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND HER GP RECENTLY INCREASED HER MEDICATION. Mum now feels dizzy when she stands, and I’m worried that she might fall and hurt herself. Should I talk to her GP? A Yes, you should talk to her doctor. Research has shown benefits of lowering blood pressure in the over-80s, but it has also shown that taking anti-hypertensive drugs increases the risk of falls and broken bones. It’s a question of balancing the risks and benefits. It sounds like your mum is suffering from postural hypotension, as her blood pressure is falling when she stands up. Your GP can check for this, and may decide to reduce the dose of medication. Q I’VE JUST BEEN GIVEN MY FIRST SMARTPHONE BY MY GRANDDAUGHTER.…

I set out five bowls of Weetabix and said to the kids, ‘C’mon you lot. Eat up.’ The four of them grabbed a bowl each and I took one too. Then we put on our shoes and coats and set off on the school run, with me feeling good because we’d all had a healthy breakfast. That feeling lasted all the way to school and back again. But the moment I got in through the front door, my resolve cracked. I went straight to the bread bin, took out four slices, popped them in the toaster and then slathered them in butter. Biting into one, I felt the warm butter run down my throat and thought, Now that’s more like it! It was all very well eating a healthy breakfast…

Frozen cheesecake Serves: 8 Takes: 30min, plus soaking and freezing • 45g dried cranberries• 2tbsp brandy• 500g full-fat soft cheese, at room temperature• 1ltr vanilla ice cream, softened at room temperature for 10min• 200g mincemeat from a jar• 80g pistachios, roughly chopped• 125g ginger nut biscuits• 40g butter, melted• 75g hard setting chocolate sauce (see Tip) 1 Place the cranberries in a bowl and stir in the brandy. Leave to soak for 30min. 2 Line a 2-litre freezer-proof bowl with clingfilm, leaving an overhang. Using an electric mixer, beat the soft cheese in a large bowl for 30sec. Add the ice cream and beat well until combined. Fold in the mincemeat, pistachios and the soaked cranberry mixture. Pour into the lined bowl, cover with the overhanging clingfilm and freeze for…

What you’ll need ● 3g of gingery brown wool top. We used Corriedale Vixen● Heart-shaped cookie cutter● Soft sponge to work on● 40g triangular felting needle● Card, pencil and scissors● 1g of white wool fibre. We used merino● Ribbon Step 1 Tear up your ginger wool fibres and scrunch them into the cookie cutter. Place this on a sponge and start poking it with the needle all over. Turn the shape over regularly until it is felted then remove from the cutter Step 2 Draw inside the cutter shape on to some card and cut out two card hearts. Place your wool shape between them and carefully felt the edge until it is lovely and neat. Step 3 Scrunch up a few white fibres and rub them in your fingers to…

Homes Winter pastels Keep it soft and subtle with a sugar-almond palette. Be brave and go for a pink or snow-covered tree, then choose elegant decorations with hints of silver and glitter for a romantic finish. Classic Christmas Timeless colours of red and green are always popular. Style your room with cute stockings, garlands and layers of cushions and throws for a cosy space ready for the festive season. Festive joy A rainbow of clashing colours and candy-cane stripes are key to this fun, festive look. Get the kids involved by making paper chains and choose some quirky decorations to add to the tree. Nordic woodland Embrace the Christmas trend of real foliage, wooden decorations and evergreen hues. Look out for motifs from nature to carry throughout your décor and…

Fiction Giant Christmas tree: check. The market square festooned with fairy lights: check. Wizzard singing I wish it could be Christmas every day from speakers blasting out from the stage: check. Standing in a crowd in the cold and dark with almost all of her loved ones, wearing a Christmas jumper: check. Merry Robinson smiled to herself. It was official, it was the first day of December and the countdown to the annual Christmas lights switch-on in her hometown was about to begin. ‘Are we ready to get this party started, Wetherley?’ cried this year’s celebrity a little too loudly into the microphone from the stage. ‘Yes!’ roared the crowd of excited residents, all of whom were wrapped in thick, warm layers to combat the biting Derbyshire air. The night…

F ancy 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 Cod, Dip, Fat, Lid, New, Tea 4 LETTERS Beef, Chop, Kilo, Salt, Seed, Soya, Stir, Tofu, Tray, Tubs 5 LETTERS Cocoa, Lemon, Salsa, Tarts 6 LETTERS Hot dog, Nibble, Packet,…

SUPERMARKET SPREE WINNER Cynthia Wilcox, Richmond, N Yorks ‘I’d just got in from celebrating 25 years of our embroidery group, when I opened the letter telling me I’d won. I was speechless. To say I am delighted is putting it mildly – I’ve only ever won a giant bubble-blower before! It was such a lovely surprise.’ LUXURY SEASIDE BREAK (PRIZE ANSWER: ECSTASY) Mrs E Veitch, Manchester. DEAL BREAK (PRIZE ANSWER: EXPEL) P Savage, Wednesbury, W Mids. £1200 BIG BONANZA (PRIZE ANSWER: MODE) Mrs J Donaghue, Birmingham. £1000 CELEBRITY CROSSWORD (PRIZE ANSWER: FRIENDS SINCE HIGH SCHOOL) S Yardley, Birmingham. FAMILY THEME PARK BREAK (PRIZE ANSWER: ENGAGE) S Siddiqui, Dunstable, Beds. JEWELLERY FOR A YEAR (PRIZE ANSWER: SILVER) A Gemmell, Swadlincote, Derbys. Mrs A Turner, Nottingham. GLAMPING BREAK (PRIZE ANSWER: QUAINT) M…

Our Lives Warming up on stage before the concert, I caught the eye of a man in the audience. ‘He’s a hunk-and-a-half,’ my friend Maureen said, when I pointed him out. I played cello in an orchestra and the hunk had been coming to our concerts regularly for the last few weeks. ‘What do you think he’s here for?’ I asked. ‘You, of course,’ she replied, laughing. Weeks later, the bronzed man from the audience approached me. Seeing him close-up, I realised he was a fair bit older than me, but he was still a hunk. ‘I’m Klaus,’ he said. He maintained intense eye contact with me as he told me his son was learning the cello and wanted some advice. There was a definite spark between us and he…

All dressed up Swap a classic little black dress for one in a rich shade that will give more life to your formal outfits Elevated essentials Build yourself a strong capsule wardrobe of separates that can be easily mixed and matched throughout the season Sultry separates A silky slip skirt is a brilliant investment to effortlessly elevate any outfit with its expensive-looking edge…

Super savers Do just one thing! Making the most of your money doesn’t have to be complicated Our money advice expert Faith Archer is an award-winning money journalist and blogger at Much More With Less. Faith was deputy personal finance editor at The Daily Telegraph and is a regular on BBC radio. She aims to make money matters such as family budgeting, pensions and tax easier to understand. Discussing money can be hard, and finding the time to tackle money matters can be harder still. Last month marked Talk Money Week, where the Government’s Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) encourages everyone to talk about and take action about their money. Lack of knowledge about money can really hold you back. People who have poor financial literacy are significantly less likely…

Win! • Two-night stay with breakfast and dinner• £200 spending money Take some time out and treat your loved one to a relaxing two-night stay on the picturesque shores of Windermere with this superb Lake District getaway. We’ve teamed up with The Inn Collection Group to give you the chance to win a mini-break at The Waterhead Inn in Ambleside. Crack our competition and, if you’re our lucky winner, you’ll enjoy two nights in a Superior room overlooking Waterhead Bay, with a cooked breakfast in the morning to set you both up for a day of activities. You’ll also be treated to delicious evening meals in the luxurious and elegant bar where you can drink in the views of this beautiful setting. We’ll wave you off with £200 spending money…

Balmy nights If you’re struggling to get to sleep, then try swiping this bargain buy on to your lips. It features shea butter to pamper and nourish your pout, along with calming lavender essential oil to help you doze off. Glow-getter Achieve a golden glow while you snooze by massaging a small amount of this clever buy on to your skin after cleansing. It contains ALGAKTIV Zen to prevent premature ageing, while plant-based DHAs adapt to all complexions for that sun-kissed finish. Magic moisturiser Packed with ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid along with skin-smoothing niacinamide, this luscious body mask will nourish and brighten your limbs. Plus, the midnight garden and musk scent is proven to make you feel more mindful and relaxed as you snuggle up for the night. Lush locks Give…

Treat of the month Creamy martini Makes: 4 Takes: 10min, plus cooling and setting • 125ml milk• 125ml single cream• 150g white chocolate, chopped• 1½tbsp desiccated coconut• 160ml vodka• 80ml white chocolate liqueur (see Tip)• Ice cubes 1 Stir the milk, cream and 100g of the chocolate in a small saucepan over a low heat until the chocolate has melted. Transfer to a large heatproof jug to cool. 2 Spread the coconut over a small plate. Melt the remaining chocolate and spread on to a separate plate. Dip the rims of four cocktail or serving glasses in the chocolate, then dip in the coconut. Leave to set. 3 Add the vodka and white chocolate liqueur to the milk mixture in the jug. Add a handful of ice cubes and stir…

Tray-mendous! I love display trays, but find them expensive. So I decided to make my own. I had an old, wooden cheeseboard I didn’t use, so I gave it a good wash, then painted it using some leftover paint from decorating my hallway. Once it was dry, I popped in the things I wanted to display. It works perfectly on my hall table and didn’t cost me a penny! Stacey Greenwood Bullock, Wakefield, W Yorks Twinkle twinkle I had a beautiful candle holder but no candles to use with it. I was out shopping and I saw some LED fairy lights I thought would be perfect in the holder. The lights shone through the coloured glass beautifully, making a great new light that I can take from room to room…

• Two-night stay with breakfast• Gin tasting experience• £200 spending money Escape to York on us with this fab prize – a two-night stay at a four-star hotel set inside the city walls. Crack our competition and, if you’re our lucky winner, you and a partner will enjoy a break at Middletons Hotel, part of the Daniel Thwaites collective, just a stone’s throw from York’s biggest attractions. Also included in your prize is £200 spending money, a bottle of chilled house champagne on arrival, a full northern breakfast on both mornings, access to the hotel’s gym facilities until checkout and £30 per person to spend on Middletons’ Yorkshire Tapas in the hotel restaurant one evening. Each dish is packed full of flavours and seasonal ingredients. Plus, you’ll be treated to…

Our Lives I took one look at the pregnancy test, then fell into my partner Adam’s arms sobbing. ‘We’re having a miracle baby,’ I cried. I’d met Adam on a dating app four years earlier and fallen in love. He had a daughter, Sienna, eight, from a previous relationship and while I loved spending time with her, I’d always wanted a child of my own too. However, I’d been 38 when Adam and I met, so my age combined with the fact that I’d been diagnosed with endometriosis, made me almost certain babies wouldn’t happen for us. Once we knew things were serious between us, we talked it over and decided to try IVF. It had been tough and the first round had failed. But it proved second time lucky…

My partner Tony stood behind me with his arms around my waist, as our voices joined the thousands of others around us. ‘Five, four, three, two, one!’ we shouted. Then a cheer went up as the crowd in Times Square rang in the new year. I felt Tony’s arms slip away, and I turned around. He’d dropped down on one knee, and held out a sparkling ring. ‘We’ve been together quite a while,’ he said. ‘You’re the love of my life and we belong together. Will you marry me?’ Around us, a circle had formed and people were taking photos and videos of us. I felt so choked up with surprise and happiness that I struggled to get any words out. ‘Yes!’ I croaked. Tony and I had been together…

Flicking the telly on, a Christmas ad filled the screen, complete with fake snow and a jolly jingle. ‘We’ll be parents by Christmas,’ I said to my hubby Gareth, 36. Our little one was due on December 1, but as the date came and went, I told myself to be patient. ‘You’ll arrive when you’re ready,’ I said, patting my bump. I was almost two weeks overdue and trying to distract myself by sorting out kitchen cupboards when I felt a drip between my legs. ‘I think my waters have broken,’ I told Gareth. ‘But I’m not sure.’ It wasn’t a huge gush of water like you see in films. And as far as contractions went, I hadn’t had so much as a niggle. But when I called the hospital…

As we get older, it’s more important than ever to have a strong core. And who doesn’t want to have a more toned waist? We’ve teamed up with Compex, a leader in muscle stimulation technology, to give you the chance to win a CoreBelt 5.0, designed to help strengthen core muscles, improve posture and tone up your waist. We have five devices up for grabs. Solve our puzzle and, if you’re one of our five winners, you’ll be able to enjoy this health enhancer at home. Using cutting-edge science and design, this advanced muscle stimulator integrates Electrostimulation Technology (EMS) to engage deep muscle groups, targeting the abs, obliques and lower back for a complete core workout. Bluetooth enabled and compatible with the Compex app, the CoreBelt 5.0 allows you to…

Sitting at my friend’s dining room table having breakfast, my phone buzzed. I loaded the app for my video doorbell and spotted my little sister Amy arriving at my home in Devon. ‘Auntie Amy’s just got to ours,’ I told my children, Oakley, nine, and Sienna, six. She was there to look after our pooch Toby while my husband Mark and I took the kids to visit Harry Potter World as a Christmas treat. Amy was naturally caring and selfless, and I didn’t know what I’d do without her. I was the oldest of six sisters and Amy was a year younger. But it was Amy who’d taken the role of mother hen when our beloved mum Rhonda had died from organ failure after recovering from breast cancer seven years…

A relaxing Christmas Christmas dinner for two for under £42 and delivered to your door? Yes please! English turkey breast wrapped in bacon and stuffed with an apricot, ginger and sausage meat stuffing, roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, sprouts, pigs in blankets and gravy, ready in just one hour and 30 minutes. All that’s left for you to do is sit back and enjoy a mimosa or two! To order, visit cookfood.net/menu/christmas Cheers Corner Shop Cocktails by Olive Martin (Hamlyn, £15.99) is a must for cocktail lovers. No need for expensive ingredients or fancy kit – you can enjoy a fuss-free cosmo, sangria or spiced mule in a jiffy using everything you can find in your corner shop! The book is also packed with clever hacks – like using a clean…

Read it! This month’s Book Club read is a cosy, Christmas romance A Recipe for Christmas by Jo Thomas On a visit to Switzerland, Jo fell in love with the country – the chocolate shops and family-run factories, the mountains and cows the milk came from. It felt like the perfect setting for a cosy Christmas novel. A Recipe for Christmas tells the story of Clara. When her new boyfriend asks her to move to Switzerland, she can’t think of anything more perfect than Christmas in the Alps. There, she signs up for a chocolate-making class. But it turns out to be a bootcamp! And her boyfriend isn’t all he seemed either… Despite it all, Clara makes new friends, including the aloof yet intriguing Gabriel. With the ingredients at her…

UK geography 1 Which range of hills is commonly known as the ‘backbone of England’? 2 Which river runs along the border of England and Scotland? 3 Douglas is the capital of which island? December 4 Which two zodiac signs fall within December? 5 Which saint has a feast day on the 6 December? 6 Which film begins on Friday 11 December at 2.43pm? Christmas films 7 What is the name of The Grinch’s loyal dog? 8 In which festive classic does Bill Murray play TV executive Frank Cross? 9 In Elf, what does Buddy make his new family for dinner after moving in? Christmas number ones 10 What year was the first Christmas number one? 11 Cliff Richard had the first of his Christmas number ones with which song? 12…

• Four nights’ accommodation with breakfast and dinner• Treatment in the Retreat Wellness Centre• £200 spending money Relax and unwind with this wonderfully refreshing break – a four-night midweek getaway for two to Blackpool. Solve our puzzle and, if you’re our lucky winner, you and a guest will be heading to the seaside to stay in a Premier room at the refurbished, award-winning Ruskin Hotel & Suites. During your stay, you’ll enjoy breakfast and dinner, along with a 30-minute treatment each in the Retreat Wellness Centre. You can choose from a massage, facial, reflexology, reiki or Hopi ear candles. After some pampering, be sure to make your way to the Rembrandt Cabaret Lounge for live entertainment and cash bingo. For your evening meal, head to Rubens Restaurant. Choose from the…

SAGITTARIUS 22 Nov – 21 Dec You want more for your money, and from your Christmas playmates. And why not, as the stars have you in the mood to go the extra mile yourself. Tuning into others’ wishes is your talent in the run-up to the big day, and if you shop after the 8th, Venus helps you stay within budget. As for love, the Full Moon on the 15th should help you answer your romantic questions or urges. Take chance at church tombola CAPRICORN 22 Dec – 20 Jan As December begins, a sentimental Moon encourages some reminiscing. Honour loved ones lost and folk who have moved away by going through old photos and sending special messages in cards. You’ll feel more centred afterwards, Cappy, and ready to ramp…