Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 459 i Yours Magazine

When I took up the reins as Yours editor in the spring of 2022, I wrote about my delight at being part of such a strong community. At that stage, we were tentatively looking ahead to a post-pandemic future, with renewed appreciation of family, friends and that sense of ‘togetherness’. Now, as I prepare to move on, I'm reminded once more of the need to foster communities where people can connect and share their stories, struggles and triumphs. Thank you for sharing your memories and your lives with me these last two years – I've enjoyed it all, from pictures of your furry (and a few feathered) friends to tales of reunions and later-life adventures. I'm proud to have been a member of this warm and inclusive club. I am…

Shapewear stars Choose a swimsuit with tummy control to give yourself a body confidence boost Magic monochrome Keep things chic with this classic colour combo, to leave you looking and feeling great High-waisted heroes Bikini bottoms that sit slightly above your waistline help to create the illusion of a narrow waist, while providing plenty of coverage. Fuller-bust friendly Feel supported by opting for a specialised fit which provides both comfort and style.…

Fried rice omelette Serves: 4 Takes: 15min Cost per serving: £1.17 □ 500g leftover fried rice, or use 2 x 250g pack microwave rice □ 10 medium eggs □ Salt and freshly ground black pepper □ 1tbsp vegetable oil □ 1 red chilli, deseeded and thinly sliced □ 15g coriander 1 Heat the leftover rice in the microwave until piping hot (see Tip). If using packet rice, cook according to pack instructions. 2 Lightly beat the eggs with 2tbsp water in a large bowl until combined. Season with salt and pepper. 3 Add a quarter of the oil to lightly grease a smallmedium frying pan set over a low-medium heat. Add onequarter of the egg mixture to the pan, tilting the pan slightly so the mixture covers the base.…

Difficulty rating: ■ All materials and pattern available at Hobbycraft.co.uk Bootees You will need: □ 4½mm knitting needles □ 5½mm knitting needles □ One 25g ball F084 Snuggly Snowflake Chunky ■ Can't get this yarn? Find a suitable alternative at yarnsub.com Abbreviations: Cm = centimetres; cont = continue; foll = following; k = knit; p = purl; psso = pass slipped stitch over; rem = remain(ing); rep = repeat; s1 = slip 1 stitch knitways; st(s) = stitch(es); tog = together; ws = wrong side. Bootees (both alike) Using 4½mm needles and thumb method cast on 17 [19:23] sts loosely. 1st Row: Knit. This row forms g-st (garter stitch). 2nd Row: K2, pick up loop between last and next st and work into back of this loop (this will now…

NEWS YOU CAN USE A TAXING ISSUE Beware of big emergency tax bills when withdrawing a large lump sum from your pension. Only 25 per cent of money taken out of a pension is tax free, while the rest is taxed as income. When making a first withdrawal, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) deducts tax at an emergency rate as if you'll be taking the same amount every month. For example, someone withdrawing £30,000 would normally receive £7,500 as tax-free cash (25 per cent), while the rest is taxed as if their monthly income will be £22,500. They would end up paying £8,503 in emergency tax, according to calculations by Royal London, rather than £1,984 if basic rate tax was applied. “This could come as a huge shock to some…

Blessed with a long, lugubrious face and a voice that droned out monosyllabic observations on life and livelihood, David Battley was the perfect sounding board for star comedians. He played the disgruntled television studio director for Eric Sykes in The Likes of Sykes (1980). He enjoyed accident-prone slapstick with Benny Hill in The Waiters (1969). He was the jobs-worth Christmas delivery man battling Penelope Keith in The Good Life episode, Silly, But it's Fun. And he was an invaluable part of Eric Idle's irreverent repertory company in the post-Python sketch show, Rutland Weekend Television. Within the confines of that programme, Battley could play everything from a war-weary soldier to the solemn bassist for those Pre-Fab pop stars, The Rutles. Battley had pursued his creative interests at the Camberwell School of…

Actor, entertainer and panto legend Christopher Biggins is back on our screens for a new series of Cooking with the Stars next week and, as ever, he promises to bring the fun! Joining forces with his good friend, chef Rosemary Shrager, the pair will be taking on other celebrity and famous chef duos in a bid to be crowned the winner. Competing against Biggins, 75, are celebs including Countdown favourite Carol Vorderman and comedian Katherine Ryan. So how does he think he'll fare against them? He caught up with Yours to tell us more… What did you want to get out of this show? Really, one of the pleasures was working with Rosemary, we've become really close. I mean, we're very similar. We're large. We've got a lot of laughter…

Tea with the Queen When young charity heroes Tony Hudgell and Lyla O'Donovan couldn't make it to a Buckingham Palace garden party, they were devastated. Tony (nine), who lost his legs as a baby because of his parents’ abuse, missed the May event due to traffic problems. Lyla (11), who's raised funds for seriously ill children despite living with a rare brain tumour, was too ill to attend. On hearing of their disappointment, Queen Camilla invited them and their families to a more intimate tea party. After being serenaded by a military band, they were treated to tea, sandwiches and iced biscuits with her. It's not unusual for legendary actors Dames Judi Dench and Siân Phillips to take on new roles. They've each spent a lifetime doing it. But by…

✪ My partner and I have been together for 15 years. We love Jelly Babies. Me the white ones, him the red ones. Every anniversary he puts couples of jelly babies like this one dotted around the house for me to find. I think it's rather romantic! Anna Hammett, Cheshire Yours says: Romance isn't all flowers and elaborate date nights – sometimes it really is those little thoughtful gestures that go a long way. Anything that says, ‘I was thinking of you’. We'd love to hear other readers’ favourite tiny acts of love. FLYING FLOWERS ◆ Our star letter will receive a stunning Lush Lilacs bouquet with chocolates from our friends at Flying Flowers. To place your order with free delivery visit www.flyingflowers.co.uk…

◆ Here is my great grandson, Tyler, five years old, and his best friend Harley. Harley follows Tyler everywhere and only gets a rest when he goes to school. Tyler says they are ‘besties’. Margaret Begg, Inverness ◆ This is Gary, our three-year-old cat. He loves to find new places to sleep. What does Gary dislike? Nothing, he loves everyone and everything! Katie Gooding, Tidworth ◆ As you can see, Lucy, my 10-year-old Staffie, loves tennis balls. Her dislikes? Sharing them with her sister! Julie Halliday, by email GET IN TOUCH Send us a picture of your pet with personality, tell us their likes, dislikes and age and if we print it you'll receive a £10 cheque…

We know that our bone health naturally declines as we age, and the menopause and genetics also play a part in the strength of our bones. But there are plenty of small changes you can add into your routine to improve the status quo. Whether you have osteoporosis, osteopenia – where your bones don't have as much mineral content as they should, and are a risk factor for osteoporosis – or you just want to future-proof your bones, here are our expert tips for a stronger skeleton – and your joints will thank you too! Meet the experts ■ Sarah Leyland (left) is Clinical Advisor at Royal Osteoporosis Society. Visit theros.org.uk ■ Claire Davis (right) is a personal trainer and co-founded The Midlife Mentors (themidlifementors.com) offering coaching and evidence-based science…

COOK'S TIP Try using a mousse ring instead of a cake tin for this. You can find them on Amazon. Strawberry mousse cake Cost per serving: 97p Serves: 8 Takes: 30min (plus cooling and chilling) □ 2 x 200g sponge flan case □ 10 fresh strawberries, hulled and halved, plus 400g extra fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped □ 8 gelatine sheets □ 100g caster sugar □ 1tsp lemon juice □ 400ml double cream □ 40g icing sugar □ ½tsp vanilla extract □ Icing sugar, for dusting 1 Remove the base of a deep springform nonstick 20cm round cake tin. Using the base as a guide, cut out a round from each flan case. Discard the cuttings. Replace the base of the tin. Line the tin with clingfilm, letting it overhang…

Difficulty rating: YOU WILL NEED □ Sewing machine □ Fabric scissors □ Dressmaking pins □ Tape measure □ Thread □ Fat quarters □ Square cushion pad □ Iron □ Pom pom trim (available at Hobbycraft) 1 Select, measure and cut out your fabrics: one 40 x 40cm square and two 28 x 40cm rectangles 2 Press your fabrics. Take your two rectangles and turn over by 1cm, then press into position for your seam allowance. 3 Using a simple straight running stitch, sew along the pressed edges of both rectangles. 4 Cut four strips of pom pom trim, one for each edge of the cushion. You will need to make these slightly longer than 40cm fabric (approximately 45-46cm) to ensure there are enough pom poms on each side. 5 Sandwich…

Motorola engineer Martin Cooper is credited with developing the first truly portable hand-held phone. It was the culmination of 15 years’ work by Cooper, who had been inspired by the flip up communicators first seen on Star Trek. “We knew that people didn't want to talk to cars, or to houses, or to offices,” Cooper said. “They want to talk to people… What we believed was that the telephone number should be a person not a location” CHECK OUT! For more nostalgia pick up a copy of Yours Retro magazine. See yoursretro.co.uk for more info.…

Married Julie, from Lincoln, would like to meet new female friends. She enjoys going for a coffee, the cinema, shopping and days out. All letters answered. JUL2-101 Nicholas, 62, from Warwickshire, is looking for a lady for friendship/romance. He enjoys gardening, riding horses, playing musical instruments and going to the seaside. JUL2-102 Iris, 83, a widow from Grimsby, would like to meet a happy-go-lucky chap 75+, who is a non-smoker/drinker and likes animals. She enjoys doing crosswords, reading, car boot sales and walking her dog. JUL2-103 Divorced Gwendoline, 70, from Nottingham, would like to meet new male/female friends. She enjoys holidays, day trips, the theatre, seaside, museums, eating in/out and reading. JUL2-104 Non-smoker Dave, 67, from Durham, is looking for a genuine lady in her 60s/70s for friendship, maybe more.…

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23-DEC 20 The Leo Sun encourages the adventurous explorer in your nature to spread those wings and make a wish come true. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705708 CAPRICORN DEC 21-JAN 20 Focus is on finances, possessions and something being released or concluded. Look out for news of a ‘return’. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705709 AQUARIUS JAN 21-FEB 18 The Sun's lighting up partnerships, both business and personal, with a go ahead, but patience will be needed with details. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705710 PISCES FEB 19-MARCH 20 Getting things stripped back to be fixed is the theme over the coming weeks, with expert attention being given. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705711 ARIES MARCH 21-APRIL 19 There…

Most people who experience grief, like Jill Halfpenny, struggle to speak about it, let alone write a book. The Long Shadow star tragically lost her partner Matt Janes in 2017, when he suffered a sudden heart attack at a spinning class. His untimely death mirrored the loss of Jill's father Colin, who had a heart attack playing five-a-side football when he was just 36. At the time, Jill was four years old. When the actress lost Matt seven years ago, she was confronted with an acute dual grief, and decided to channel all her energy into recovery. From meditation to retreats, Jill (48) continues to do everything she can to process the hand she's been dealt and, in doing so, has chosen to share what she's learnt with other people.…

There has been something of a giraffe baby boom in the West Midlands Safari Park. The park's Rothschild's giraffe, Arusha, recently gave birth to a 6ft-tall baby boy after carrying him for 15 months. This new addition brings the park's herd to 11. House Martins, easily spotted by their distinctive white rump with a forked tail, will be out and about in the coming weeks as they are entering their breeding season. This may be your best chance at seeing the birds as, sadly, House Martins are becoming a much scarcer sight in the UK, with numbers declining by 57 per cent between 1969 and 2018.…

This award-winning dry shampoo is perfect for giving hair a refresh between washes. Batiste On The Go Dry Shampoo in Blush, £3.35 A bite-sized buy, this works wonders in an instant, leaving you with luscious lashes. Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes, £14 These handy fragrance capsules will fit into your bag with ease. Filled with Marc Jacobs’ iconic floral-scented Daisy perfume, and with 30 capsules included in a set, it'll last you more than a week's holiday. Marc Jacobs Daisy Drops Love For Her, £28 With shower gel, body scrub and hydrating lotion, this bodycare set will give your skin a glow. Q+A Travel Trio Gift Set, £12 A firm on-flight favourite that we always reach for, this rosewater face mist is reliable when it comes to hydrating…

Nasturtiums With their fiery orange, yellow, pink and red flowers, nasturtiums look pretty in a patio or pot. The petals also pack a peppery punch when eaten, and can transform a green leafy salad into something special. Roses All rose petals are edible, but the more fragrant varieties tend to have the strongest flavour. Pop the pretty petals into drinks, onto cakes or you could even crystallise them. Pour a lightly beaten egg white into a saucer, and fill a second saucer with caster sugar. Use a pair of tweezers to gently dip each petal into the egg white, and then into the sugar. Shake off any excess and lay on a sheet of baking paper to dry. They'll make a stunning decoration on cakes, biscuits or desserts. Sunflowers Nothing…

■ It has taken a while to finish knitting this jumper, some 35 years, but I have finally completed it by knitting a few rows at a time while waiting in my car to pick up my grandson Harry from school over the last year. Better late than never. Carol Grimshaw, Surrey ■ Here are 50 poppies I knitted to be part of a larger display at a local village for the 80th D-Day celebrations. Edith Crook, MBE, via email ■ After getting over a hip operation, here are two gifts I made my two grandchildren from buttons. Anne Jackson, via email GET IN TOUCH We love to see your makes. Please share your creations with us using the contact details on page 3.…

your memories Despite the powerful smell of chlorine, ice-cold water and hot, gritty concrete underfoot, we couldn't resist a trip to the local lido as soon as the sun came out. They were like a little patch of brilliance in a drab suburban world. Meanwhile, the bathing beauties strategically positioned themselves to take full advantage of the sun and show off their assets to best effect, while young lads dashed to display their skill on the diving board – it was the place to be seen as a teen.…

The world reeled in shock when it was revealed that screen icon Marilyn Monroe had been found dead at her Los Angeles home. Housekeeper Eunice Murray was staying with Marilyn and became increasingly concerned for her welfare. She asked psychiatrist Dr Ralph Greenson to make a house call, but he arrived too late to save the 36-year-old actress’ life. The official cause of death was ‘probable suicide’, following an overdose of prescription medication. Nevertheless, conspiracy theories have flourished for the past 60 years. Marilyn's mental and physical health had been deteriorating for years and, despite periods of happiness, she was a troubled soul. It is the opinion of many Marilyn fans and medical experts that she passed away by her own hand, though whether it was intentional or a cry…

What you're reading… The Summer Party by Kate Gray (Mountain Leopard Press, £18.99) “A brilliantly tense locked-room mystery,” says Sarah Breen. At her work summer party, Mel can't wait to let her hair down. But as the champagne flows, cracks start to appear. There are secrets, lies and revenge and no one is as innocent as they first seemed… Somebody I Used to Love by Eve Ainsworth (Canelo, £9.99) “A great will-they-won't-they story,” says Barbara Cheshire. After a car accident, Will's lost years of memory. All he wants is his girlfriend Gem. But Gem has a new life and the last thing she expects is a call from the man who nearly destroyed her. Will is determined to prove he is not the man he was. But can he win…

£869 WORTH OF PRIZES TO WIN! Wordsearch We hope you have a royally good time searching for these empresses and queens in the grid. ANSWERS ON PAGE 103 ALEXANDRINE ANNE-MARIE ASTRID BEATRIX BOUDICA CAMILLA CATHERINE CHRISTINA CLEOPATRA ELENA ELIZABETH FABIOLA FARIDA FREDERICA INGRID ISABELLA JADWIGA JOANNA JULIANA LOUISE MARGRETHE MARIE ANTOINETTE MATILDA PAOLA RANIA SILVIA SONJA SOPHIE VICTORIA WILHELMINA WIN £100 WHERE IS SAMMY SQUIRREL? Find where he's hiding in this issue of Yours and you could win £100. To enter, fill in the Competitions answers coupon on page 103. Closing date for entries is August 12, 2024. More prizes to win at yours.co.uk WIN £50! TWO £50 PRIZES Prize crossword For this puzzle we've provided two sets of clues, each giving the same answers. One set of clues is cryptic, one…

Dear readers, Child-rearing has changed beyond recognition. If you're expecting me to criticise the new child-centred approach, don't hold your breath. When I hear my younger daughter Saskia ask 20-month-old Cecily which pair of shoes she wants to wear, or whether she prefers cereal or a boiled egg, my heart doesn't sink – it soars. As a little girl, I felt more like a parcel than a human being. I was carted from pillar to post without any information about where, why or how long, because no adult thought it necessary to explain anything to a small child. I'd be deposited at nursery school without explanation. My parents would nip off for a week in the sun leaving me with grandma and no one would think to tell me how…