Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 476 i Yours Magazine

How many of us have a love/ hate relationship with exercise? It's not that we don't want to do it, but, despite our best intentions, things like tiredness or lack of time get in the way. While practical concerns can make exercise more challenging, the biggest barriers are often psychological and may be impacting our health. According to recent findings by the World Health Organisation, almost a third of the world's adults are now at risk of disease from not getting enough physical activity. According to other reports, currently around one in three (34%) men and one in two (42%) women are not active enough for good health, yet the benefits to exercising are endless. Studies suggest regular physical activity may reduce our risk of dementia by up to 30%,…

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 On average, four people aged 50 and over are scammed in England and Wales every minute, according to Age UK. But there are practical steps you can take to spot scams and make yourself less vulnerable. Scam attempts can come from all directions, via post, phone calls, texts, emails, social media, online ads or someone showing up on your doorstep. They can be super-simple or increasingly sophisticated. The spread of mobile phones and the internet has made it cheaper…

Why go? Think of Venice and you think of gondolas, beautiful buildings and world-famous canals – and it's on the water that you'll enjoy the best experience of this magical city. It's a convenient and romantic way to soak up the sights and sounds, not mention sample some delicious food along the way. Hop across the lagoon to Murano to see the intricate work of the glassblowers, and tour the neighbouring island of Burano with its hand-made lace and brightly coloured houses. Venice is a feast for the senses and this is the way to see it in style. What's on board The MS Michelangelo is your home from home. Moored at St Mark's Square, right in the heart of the city, there are two decks for up to 154…

LATE BLOOMER The Queen's youngest son's reluctance to tie the knot is not surprising after his elder siblings’ marriages had all ended in divorce. Edward first met Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1987 but their engagement wasn't announced until 1998, with Edward telling reporters, ‘It's impossible to understand why it has taken me this long.’ Last year, when the couple celebrated their 25th anniversary and Edward's 60th birthday, Sophie paid tribute by saying ‘He is the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands and still is my best friend.’ A PERFECT MATCH A world-renowned equestrian and former English rugby captain walk into a bar… No, it's not the beginning of a bad joke but the start of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall's relationship. A mutual love of sport gave them an…

The gold Jules Rimet trophy, also known as the football World Cup, was stolen while on display in a ‘Sport with stamps’ exhibition in Westminster. A thief somehow evaded six security guards, removed a padlock, prised open the cabinet and stole the £30,000 trophy in broad daylight. However the bungling crook ignored the accompanying stamp collection, worth an estimated £3 million. ‘I tore the top offand saw gold. That's how Pickles, bless him, and I found the World Cup.’ David Corbett A huge search was launched to look for a man in his late 30s ‘with dark eyes who might also have a scar on his face’. A few days later, the Football Association received a ransom note. An undercover policeman met with and detained a petty thief called Edward…

She's a familiar face from hit TV shows including Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack and Liar, and is now playing a gimlet-eyed Detective Chief Inspector in crime thriller Protection. DCI Hannah Wheatley is determined to get to the bottom of potential corruption within a Witness Protection Unit. Katherine, 45, who's soon to be seen in the forthcoming ITV drama Hack, about the News International phone hacking scandal, alongside David Tennant, Toby Jones and Robert Carlyle, told us more. How would you describe Hannah Wheatley? Well, technically this should be Hannah's case, but because DCI Liz Niles (Siobhan Finneran, Happy Valley, Time) is looking after the witnesses, the two parameters bleed into each other somewhat. In fact, Liz should be Hannah's subordinate, but Liz is an old-school maverick copper, whereas Hannah is…

After revealing her sight loss at the Oscars, Goldie Hawn, 79, reportedly regrets being so honest. Millions watched the Hollywood star stop during her televised presentation speech at this year's Academy Awards as she was unable to read the teleprompter. ‘I'm completely blind!’ she announced: ‘Cataracts!’ Let's hope she soon realises she's done a good thing by highlighting a major cause of vision loss, which may result in more people seeking early tests. Back on her feet A bronze statue of Victoria Wood has been re-erected in her home town after being knocked over by a taxi. The life-size sculpture of the multi-talented comedy star was unveiled in Bury, Greater Manchester, in 2019 following a crowdfunding campaign. Victoria, who was famous for numerous shows and sketches including Dinnerladies, Acorn Antiques…

One of the most hardworking TV presenters in Britain, Matt Baker doesn't do things by half. As if hosting an array of different farming shows for Channel 4 and the BBC's Countryfile on a Sunday night isn't enough, he is also a proud husband and dad. And it's his family, he reveals, that will always be his priority. Happily married to his childhood sweetheart and wife of 20 years, Nicola, the happy couple live on a smallholding farm in the Chilterns with their two children, Luke, 16, and Molly, 14. They also relocated briefly back to Matt's old childhood organic family farm in the Durham Dales during the pandemic to help his parents, Janice and Mike, after his mum was trampled by a sheep. Both throwing themselves into farming life,…

Jersey Zoo welcomed a new baby sloth marking an ‘important milestone’ for the team's pan-European breeding programme. Parents Terry and Rio were paired under the programme in the hope that they would breed, in a positive step forward for the conservation of the two-toed species. Terry and her newborn are receiving expert care, and the sloth house will remain closed so they have time to bond.…

It was 1987 and I'd moved to London after university. One evening, I attended a house party when I could feel someone staring at me. He was tall with sandy brown hair. ‘Hi, I'm Bob Robinson,’ he said. ‘I'm Belinda,’ I smiled. I learnt that Bob was a gardener. At the end of the night, he dropped me home in his van, where we shared a kiss and swapped numbers. Days later, over dinner, Bob told me he had a son from a previous relationship, that his parents were sadly dead and that he didn't see much of his brother. Bob also said he was a direct-action activist and part of the independent activist group, London Greenpeace. I wasn't an activist myself, but I was very interested in the rights…

While she was writing her book, Live Well to 101, Dr Dawn Harper interviewed centenarians (people who are 100 and older) to find out about their lifestyles. She travelled around the ‘blue zones’ – areas of the world where people live exceptionally long lives – to find the secrets to longevity. ‘It isn't just about living for a long time, but also living well,’ Dr Harper explains. ‘I see some people in clinic and they are biologically 80, but it seems like they're 60.’ Here, she shares what she's learned through her medical work and from speaking to centenarians about how to live a long – and good – life. Meet the expert ■Dr Dawn Harper is a GP, and author of Live Well to 101. She is also health…

SAY IT WITH FLOWERS For Prince Harry's nuptials florists created a spectacular archway of white roses, peonies and foxgloves blended with branches of beech, birch and hornbeam to surround the doors of St George's chapel. Meghan carried a petite bouquet of sweet peas, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia, and lily of the valley. SCENE STEALERS Sometimes the choice of bridesmaids and pageboys can leave the bride being slightly upstaged. Lady Diana's entourage was made up of two pageboys and five bridesmaids, each chosen for personal reasons of the bride and groom. The figure-hugging dress Pippa Middleton wore to follow her sister Kate down the aisle certainly pulled focus from the bride in 2011, as did cheeky Princess Charlotte pulling faces at her Uncle Harry's wedding. LET THEM EAT CAKE 150 guests…

It has to be the most famous royal love story of the 20th Century. Could there be anything more romantic? A King gives up his throne to be with the woman he loves. On 10 December 1936, that's exactly what the world heard Edward VIII do in his famous broadcast, with the words, ‘I have found it impossible to… discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.’ The woman in question, however, Wallis Simpson, lay down her head and wept. For, while Edward was determined that only marriage would do, she would have been happy to stay his mistress, ‘be content with the simple way’ as she put it, to keep him on the throne. Instead she…

Grace Bolajis’ son, Ade, was diagnosed with sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder that affects haemoglobin, when he was one. ‘Unfortunately, there was no support in my area, so I had to manage his condition on my own, while caring for my other children. It could be very lonely,’ says Grace, from Gravesend. As Ade grew older, he suffered with severe pain and infections. He often spent time in hospital, and Grace had to stay with him. ‘I needed help, but I had to soldier on,’ says Grace (55). ‘Then in the COVID lockdown, things became even more isolating, and I asked the hospital to help me set up a support group. ‘We started with five people, but the numbers quickly grew.’ First, Grace created a WhatsApp group and…

Baking for good The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer, Sunday 16 March, Channel 4 There's a new face in among the famous ones in The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer tent. That's because Prue Leith has decided to step back from this series (although she will be back for ‘normal’ Bake Off), so her old friend Caroline Waldegrave is standing in for her as a judge. She'll be helping Paul Hollywood assess the efforts of celebrities including Sarah Beeny, Kate Garraway, Gloria Hunniford and husband-and-wife comedians Chris and Rosie Ramsey. If having a real-life couple on the show sounds like the makings of a grudge match, presenters Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond are there to defuse any tensions. Witness to horrors Protection,…

multitude of writers, storytellers and medical researchers have been inspired for centuries by the brightly coloured, sweet-smelling bluebells that transform our woodlands very spring. Many myths surround these ate but poisonous wild flowers, which were also known by early botanists as crowtoes as well as cuckoos’ boots. Over the years, people have believed they were used in witches’ potions and that if anyone hears the ringing of the flower's bell, they will be visited by a malicious fairy. Legend had it the plants were used by 13th Century monks to treat snakebites and leprosy. And today, researchers are investigating the bluebell's animal- and insectrepellent properties, as well as whether extracts from the plant could be could be used to treat HIV and cancer. Almost half of these delicate wildflowers are…

This is Sox, my eight-year-old rescue cat. She loves lying on the sofa watching TV, and her comical sitting positions are a constant source of entertainment. Angela Green, Scunthorpe Meet Millie, our gorgeous rescue dog who loves being stroked and fussed over. We adore her! Gilly Hollands, Broxbourne I was widowed in March last year and my dogs have really loved and cared for me. My family are great, but for these to know when I am upset is extra comfort. Evelyn Hudson, Wimblington 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…

MY LIFE lessons Tara Fitzgerald has appeared in films, television, and on the radio and stage. She won the 1995 New York Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, opposite Ralph Fiennes in Hamlet. Recent credits include Game of Thrones, Belgravia, Kindling, and her latest film Portraits of Dangerous Women. Tara has supported end-of-life charity Marie Curie for many years and recently spoke on an episode of the charity's podcast On the Marie Curie Couch about the loss of her father when she was just 11. Here, she explains what she learnt from that experience and other life lessons. Bereavement shouldn't be taboo At the time I didn't see the hole that my father's absence made. I think it invariably shaped many, many aspects of my life.…

Design solutions North-facing gardens are often seen as problematic; shady, dull and the poor relation of sunny south facers. But they should be embraced for all their design opportunities – and there are plenty! As all professional garden designers will tell you, north-facing gardens are perfect for lush, shade-loving planting. Layering contrasting foliage, playing with pale tones and dazzling with creative ways to reflect light, bring ideas to explore that are simply not possible in a sun-soaked yard. They're also the very best spots to get cosy with firepits and candlelight, or dramatic with lighting. So discover how to celebrate your north-facing plot right here! Cosy up with a feature firepit Bring a warm, inviting glow to a dark north-facing plot with a firepit area to transform how you use…

Whether it's differences in opinion on where to go on holiday or the latest controversial current affairs topic, getting your point across isn't always easy. If you're tired of getting steamrollered, Professor Chris Reed from Dundee's Centre for Argument Technology, has some ideas on how to argue effectively. He studies why people disagree and how they express their disagreements. ‘Arguing well is really hard,’ he acknowledges. ‘Marshalling your evidence; creating the stepping stones of reasoning; thinking about other views; adapting to counter-arguments. These are all cognitively, and often emotionally, tricky. But knowing how to do it right is worth it, both personally and collectively.’ Professor Reed's team of researchers has been investigating how arguments are put together and the best tactics to engage for a satisfying debate, and swinging it…

Yours What's best test White Ceramic Electric Diffuser This ceramic diffuser has clear instructions and is easy to set up. It doesn't come with essential oil but, luckily, we have some to hand! The diffuser is compact and has a sleek design, although we feel the plastic ‘wood look’ base does slightly cheapen the look as a whole. It has optional timer settings from one to three hours and a light mode that creates a nice cosy feel in the room. It will scent a medium-sized room well, although it is noisier than we would have liked, with a slightly annoying whirling noise. £26 Overall, we feel that this is a good entry-level diffuser that works very efficiently for the price. • Dunelm Habitat Electric Diffuser Stylish and simple to…

What began as a schoolgirl crush for Princess Elizabeth turned into a love story that lasted for more than seven decades July 22 1939 was a date that was engraved on Queen Elizabeth II's heart – for that was when the then 13-year-old princess is said to have fallen in love with Prince Philip of Greece, her second cousin once removed. Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret, were visiting Dartmouth Naval College with their parents, King George and Queen Elizabeth, and Philip's uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, had arranged for his nephew to chaperone the young princesses. Elizabeth had briefly met the devastatingly handsome 18-year-old Naval cadet, twice before, but this time was different. According to Elizabeth's governess Marion Crawford, ‘Lilibet never took her eyes off him,’ although apparently Philip ‘did not…

When a blushing Prince William walked through the gates of St Andrews University in September 2001 he had no idea what a big part one particular student would play in his life. ‘I just want to go to university and have fun,’ he told the press. ‘I want to go there and be an ordinary student. I mean… it's not like I'm going to get married.’ But fate saw to it that on his course was an attractive brunette called Catherine Middleton. They soon became firm friends. But romance didn't blossom until the end of 2003, when Kate wore a virtually see-through dress in a charity fashion show and William began to see his friend in a completely new light! In the autumn of the same year paparazzi photographers captured…

In 1944 a handsome Battle of Britain flying ace, Peter Townsend, was selected as a royal equerry. He was 30 and married with children, while Princess Margaret was a 14-yearold schoolgirl. Nevertheless, she confided to a friend that it was only three years later, on the Royal Tour of South Africa, that she found herself falling in love with their dashing official escort. His marriage, meanwhile, was in difficulties. His wife had embarked on an affair and he asked for a divorce, which was granted in November 1952. In February that same year, King George VI died, and the princess, now a beautiful young woman, and her mother moved into Clarence House, and Townsend went with them. Often together, coping with grief, a deep love grew on both sides. The…

It was supposed to be a thoughtful burst of nostalgia, a slideshow of candid photos and fond memories of days gone by to celebrate her best friend Julie's birthday. But with every blurred and out-of-focus snap Lynne added to the presentation, it was beginning to feel more like an exercise in torture. A cruel reminder that the sands of time stopped for no one. Those teenage girls grinning from ear to ear without a care in the world were barely recognisable now. ‘Where has it all gone?’ She huffed at the laptop, like it might come to life and offer her a few words of reassurance. Though, truth be told, there was nothing the machine could say to lift those dreadful pangs of melancholy that now settled on her chest…

£1,166 WORTH OF PRIZES TO WIN! Wordsearch We hope you'll have a right royal time finding all these actors who have played kings and queens in the grid! ANSWERS ON PAGE 111 ALEC GUINNESS BEN WHISHAW BETTE DAVIS CATE BLANCHETT CHARLES LAUGHTON CLAIRE FOY COLIN FIRTH DAMIAN LEWIS EMILY BLUNT ERIC BANA GLENDA JACKSON HARRY ENFIELD HELEN MIRREN HUGH LAURIE IAN MCKELLEN JAMES D'ARCY JUDE LAW JUDI DENCH JULIAN GLOVER KENNETH BRANAGH LAURENCE OLIVIER MARGOT ROBBIE MAX IRONS NIGEL HAWTHORNE OLIVIA COLMAN PATRICK MCGOOHAN PAULINE COLLINS PETER O'TOOLE RICHARD BURTON ROMOLA GARAI 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 111. Closing date for entries is 7 April 2025. More…