Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 491 i Yours Magazine

If you've ever owned a pet, you'll know how much joy they bring – and that's why we're celebrating the magic of animals on our true life pages this issue. Yours reader Sally Dabner tells us how, after years on her own, she met her new partner Gordon through our Friends of Yours column and, when they gave rescue dog Betsy a home, she made their lives, complete. And mum Hilary Wellington reveals her handsome cat Seth sensed she was suffering from cancer and helped her to recover. Growing up I never felt alone, despite being an only child, thanks to my dog, a toy poodle called Mickey. He was the runt of the litter, but he was SO beautiful with white curly fur and huge black puppy-dog eyes. I…

Vicky McClure never dreamt she'd have a number one single. But in August, the Nottingham-born actress, who rose to fame on This is England and later, Line of Duty and Broadchurch, left The One Show viewers stunned as she took to the stage for a surprise live performance with rock band Reverend and the Makers. The track, Haircut, which features her vocals, went on to land a number one spot on the official download iTunes chart. ‘We have to be there for people’ ‘I'm no Whitney Houston, but I think everyone should have a go at whatever they want to have a go at,’ she said. ‘You don't have to be the best of the best to do it. It's all about enjoying it and showing you care about something.’…

She's a multimillion selling recording artist with an award-winning acting career. But Barbara Dickson tells Yours she's never taken her success for granted. ‘I'm not a miraculous woman,’ she says, though she has a legion of loyal fans who would say otherwise. ‘I'm not a miraculous woman’ On the road again, Barbara is performing in concerts throughout the UK until mid-November, accompanied by pianist Nick Holland. ‘I am enjoying playing live as much as I ever have,’ says the singer-songwriter. ‘Touring is tiring when you're doing so many shows back-to-back, so I'm spreading my concerts out. I've always found it really knackering, and I didn't want to be out on tour for long,’ she admits. ‘People say, “For goodness sake, you're only doing a couple of hours in the evening”,…

Spasms and cramps in your muscles could point to several deficiencies, including potassium, magnesium or vitamins B12 or D. It could also mean low calcium levels, which is worth being wary of in later life. ‘After menopause, bone loss can speed up, and if your diet is short on calcium, it can increase the risk of osteoporosis,’ says Ayesha. In fact, it's such a crucial element of bone health that the British Dietetic Association recommends women over 55 increase their daily consumption by almost double (1200mg, as opposed to 700mg for most other adults). ‘Dairy, fortified plant milks, tofu set with calcium, leafy greens, and almonds are great sources,’ says Ayesha. A 30g serving of Cheddar provides 240mg, while bony fish such as whitebait can offer around 688mg per 80g.…

Sweet & sour chicken with noodles Serves: 2 Takes: 15min Cost per serving £2.19 125g dried medium egg noodles  1tbsp sunflower oil  200g chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces  320g pkt stir-fry vegetables  120g sachet sweet and sour sauce  227g pineapple rings in juice, drained, and cut into bite-sized pieces (2tbsp juice reserved) . Add the chicken and stir-fry for 3min until sealed all over and starting to turn golden in colour. Add the sweet and sour sauce, pineapple pieces and the 2tbsp of reserved juice. Cook for a further 1-2min, stirring frequently, until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are cooked but still retain a little bite. Stir through the egg noodles. Serve immediately. COOK'S TIP Keep that heat high when cooking stir-fry. This enhances the flavour…

3 SHOWBOAT PENSTEMONS ‘HIDCOTE PINK’ £4.90/9cm pot Take a trip to the coast with these delicate pink flowers filled with white and pink stripes like seaside rock! Height 1m Spread 45cm. shireplants.co.uk ‘ARABESQUE APPLEBLOSSOM’ £4.99/9cm pot Why wait until spring to enjoy gorgeous apple blossom when you could have these spires of pink-flushed creamy blooms? Height 70cm Spread 45cm. bojorrowplants.com ‘DAKOTA BURGUNDY’ £6.99/1L pot An uber-tough and compact variety with prolific lavender-pink, foxglove-like trumpet flowers that light up against dark burgundy foliage. Height 50cm Spread 45cm. cowellsgc.co.uk Three plants for a shot of sunshine Colour contrast BEAUTYBERRY ‘LEUCOCARPA’ £7.99/9cm pot If you fancy a twist, try Callicarpa japonica, which flaunts clusters of cool white berries. A calm and minimalist addition to autumn's riot of fiery hues, these shimmering pearls will…

■ During COVID, I knitted several items to give as birthday presents. I had a great deal of yarn left over, so I decided to take up crocheting as a beginner and make a throw for our sofa. I'm now totally addicted! Jayne Murphy, Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf ■ Look at these two elephants, which I made for my local wool shop. Aren't they ele-phantastic? Bea Richards, Honiton, Devon ■ I have a handy stash of cotton double knit yarn. I've made up the designs myself for all of these crochet bags, except for the one on the left at the back – that came from Yours magazine. Carole Horner-Glister, via email GET IN TOUCH We love to see your makes. Please share your creations with us using the contact…

FILM: GIGI (1958) ICONIC COSTUME: A ivory off-the-shoulder form-fitting silk evening gown with black feather embellishment at the shoulders. SHE WORE IT WELL: Leslie Caron DESIGNED BY: Cecil Beaton SHOWSTOPPING SCENE: All chatter and music stops, and the crowd are dumbstruck as Gigi walks into Maxim's restaurant on the arm of Gaston (Louis Jourdan). ■ Based on a novella by Colette, Gigi tells the story of a French teenager (Caron) who is raised by courtesans and trained in the art of being a proper mistress to a gentleman. ■ Set in the Belle Epoque period, Gigi was the first Hollywood musical to be filmed on location in Paris. ■ Cecil Beaton struggled to source the 150 period costumes needed for the crowd scenes, which were filmed in Paris. ■ 26-year-old…

After attending her first cancer support group, Jean realised she suddenly felt much less isolated. Confiding her fears about her health to people who really understood had been a big relief. She'd been diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone a mastectomy. ‘Luckily, it had been caught at an early stage and that was the only treatment I needed,’ says Jean, 81. ‘I didn't get much information from the hospital back then. But when I joined the group, knowing that other people had been through breast cancer, it helped me so much.’ Jean then became a volunteer with Bosom Pals, based in Bedford. The group is committed to providing support for anyone who lives with breast cancer, along with their family and friends. ‘We have a wealth of experience,’ says…

Theatre Daniel Casey, who originally played DS Gavin Troy in the very first episode of Midsomer Murders back in 1997, returns in a new role as DCI Tom Barnaby in the stage adaptation of Caroline Graham's The Killings at Badger's Drift. This classic cosy-crime story, set in the peaceful village of Badger's Drift and centred on a hemlock murder, begins its UK and Ireland tour on 24 October at Richmond Theatre, London. Cinema Jeremy Allen White, star of The Bear, channels Bruce Springsteen in Deliver Me from Nowhere, a gritty biopic directed by Scott Cooper. The film focuses on the early Eighties, a pivotal time when Springsteen faced pressure to match the success of his album The River. Stephen Graham appears as Springsteen's troubled father. Hits cinemas 24 October. Podcast Expanding…

If it's your birthday this fortnight… Until 23rd, you are born under Libra, the only sign not represented by a living creature. As astute Air signs, Librans can rise to power through their style, creativity, and ability to charm! You have an innate sense of hospitality and tune in to the mood of the moment, so you can sell an idea that's ‘of its time’. ■ Famous Librans celebrating this fortnight include Martina Navratilova, Kamala Harris and Sir Cliff Richard (pictured). SAGITTARIUS 23 NOV-20 DEC There's an air of determination building and some good news about someone close succeeding where it matters. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705708 CAPRICORN 21 DEC-20 JAN With Venus at the top of your chart, you could find yourself in the right place…

It's easier to be nice When he was seven years old, Cliff's family relocated from India to England. It wasn't an easy move, with Cliff, who was born on 14 October 1940, facing bullies at school. He said, ‘They hit me and called me Indi-bum. But I fought back. I'm a lot tougher than people assume.’ Revealing his early experiences taught him the importance of being kind, Cliff later shared, ‘It's much easier to be nice.’ Live life and enjoy it His on-stage dancing drew comparisons with Elvis, but now turning 85, Cliff says, ‘I'm worried to [dance like that]. If I did it and fell over, that would be the end.’ However, he doesn't let ageing get him down. The singer continued, ‘If you have an attitude about age,…

Tuna & bean salad Serves: 4 Takes: 15min Cost per serving £1.25 2 x 400g can cannellini beans in water, drained 198g can sweetcorn, drained and rinsed 4 tomatoes, roughly chopped 1 small red onion, finely sliced 80g baby spinach leaves 2 x 145g can tuna chunks in olive oil, drained 3tbsp olive oil 1tbsp white wine vinegar or lemon juice Salt and freshly ground black pepper Flake the tuna over the beans and vegetables. . Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly. Serve with crusty bread on the side. COOK'S TIP Add fresh herbs, if liked, such as parsley, basil or chives to add an aromatic touch. Bánh Mi-style flat breads Makes: 4 Takes: 15min Cost per…

Make it this weekend Give your pumpkins a good scrub, round up all your supplies, and let your imagination run wild as you dream up your design! From: £5.50 YOU WILL NEED Pumpkins – white ones work well, or you could paint them before starting, from £2 at supermarkets Pressed dried flowers & foliage: press & dry your own or try amazon.co.uk £7.99/46 pieces Mod Podge Matte Finish glue, £5.50/236ml hobbycraft.co.uk Thin & wide paint brushes 1 Start with foliage and larger flowers. Using the wider brush, gently spread the glue over them to stick them to the pumpkin. 2 For smaller items and flowers, use a small brush to carefully add glue to the back and put in place on the pumpkin. 3 Still using the small brush, paint glue…

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 If you're the victim of a scammer, act fast to protect yourself from being preyed on by more. Your details could end up on a ‘sucker list’, a database of people who have fallen for scams. These lists are used by criminals to target people who are more likely to be tricked into handing over personal information or money. You could, for example, be inundated with calls, from fraudsters pretending to offer help with the original crime to cold…

DON'T MISS OUT ON ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE NEWS YOU CAN USE More than 1.1 million people of pension age could be missing out on £5.2 billion in Attendance Allowance every year, according to Policy in Practice. Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you are over state pension age (currently 66) and have an illness or disability that means you need someone to help look after you, even if you don't currently get that help. You must have needed either help or supervision for at least six months. People with conditions such as Parkinson's, dementia, arthritis, heart disease, blindness, learning difficulties and multiple sclerosis could need the relevant care or supervision. Attendance Allowance is worth between £73.90 and £110.40 a week, totalling to between £3,842 and £5,740 a year. Crucially, it…

Mrs D, 77, would like to meet up with friends, male/female, for chats, coffee, lunch and days out and to fill the empty days and make the most of life. Portsmouth area. OCT1-101 Dave, 72, slim/single, is looking for a similar lady for friendship/companionship. He enjoys walking, countryside, pets, gardening, art, music, history, reading and learning. Bournville/Birmingham area. OCT1-102 Driver Elizabeth, early 80s, is kind and caring. She loves animals, theatre, art, music, travel and writing. She is looking for a gentleman of similar age for nice times and friendship. Plymouth area. OCT1-103 Brenda, 75, is hoping to meet a nice, kind gent for friendship who enjoys days out and who drives. She has a young outlook on life and loves holidays and the cinema. Bolton area. OCT1-104 Trevor, 64,…

£1,038 WORTH OF PRIZES TO WIN! WORTH £538 WIN! A 2-NIGHT BREAK AT STUDLEY CASTLE WITH WARNER HOTELS! We've teamed up with Warner Hotels, to give one lucky reader the chance to win a two-night stay at the stunning Studley Castle Hotel in Warwickshire, worth over £500. Arriving on 6 February 2026, the winner and their guest will check into a beautiful room for two, with breakfast, dinner and evening entertainment all included. Warner Hotels is the UK's leading provider of short breaks exclusively for adults and this break offers a chance to fully relax. Whether it's a dip in the pool, a scenic stroll, or simply unwinding in peaceful surroundings, it's the perfect way to ease into the new year. Don't miss your chance to win! ■ warnerhotels.co.uk Ts&Cs:…

Dear readers, Halloween was not something that loomed large in Rutland. You poked a couple of holes in an old bed sheet, threw it on over your normal clothes and wandered down to the village hall for some apple bobbing and a rummage round the bran tub for trinkets. Somebody's mum would have a go at carving up a pumpkin, decide that it was too much effort and stick a lopsided candle on the top to give a cheery glow. Nobody complained that a wooden barrel full of sawdust near a wobbly candle on a pumpkin was a fire hazard, or that children trying to catch apples in a bucket with their teeth was a health risk. There would be a couple of things to try your hand at, like…

MY LIFE lessons After three decades in broadcasting, Clare Balding has established herself as a much-loved household name, having hosted major sporting events such as the Olympics, Paralympic Games, Grand National, Commonwealth Games and Wimbledon. But in 2009, the star suffered a huge setback after announcing she'd been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Fortunately, by the end of 2010 she was given the all clear – but the health scare left a lasting impression on the broadcaster. Here, the former amateur jockey – who lives with her wife Alice Arnold, a radio presenter, in London – tells Yours about some of her most memorable life experiences. Animals are heroes My earliest memories are of rolling around outside with my younger brother, Andrew, surrounded by dogs and horses, slightly feral children, blissfully…

A ‘dinosaur’ bird has hatched at Paignton Zoo for the first time since 2004. The cassowary chick's father, Madrid, is very protective, keeping the little one close. Native to Australia, the cassowary is a shy, flightless bird, but it has a scary reputation due to its sharp claws and history of recorded human attacks. This marks another success for the zoo's birds team after hand-rearing a pink pigeon last year. Bournemouth Rangers are ‘devastated and furious’ after locals ignored their calls to stop feeding their clifftop goats. The goats are part of a 10-year conservation project and live across West Cliffand Southbourne's steep rock faces. The rangers were trying to protect the goats after people were seen jumping into their enclosure and feeding them ill-suited foods, including garden cuttings which…

GET SHIRTY A smart button-up shirt will elevate your favourite jeans and boots look. DREAM TEAM Pair a simple suit with a classic T-shirt and trainers for a sports luxe feel. CHECK IT OUT Checks are a great way to add interest to tailored shapes without feeling too daring. TOP TROUSERS Tailored trousers aren't just for the office – pair them with a vest and flats for a stylish off-duty look. DRESSED UP Chic, belted styles will define your waist for a flattering fit.…

Wicker baskets are a chic storage solution Mix and match prints, such as check, stripe and splatter for a stylish table setting Open shelving is a great way to display your favourite kitchenware…

Difficulty rating: YOU WILL NEED Pair of 6mm knitting needles  Knitcraft Orange Everyday  Chunky Yarn 100g  Black Chunky Yarn 25g  Soft toy filling 200g  Tapestry needle  Pom-pom making kit ABBREVIATIONS st(s) = stitch(es) WS = wrong side rep = repeat k2tog = knit two together ■ Can't get this yarn? Find a suitable alternative at yarnsub.com Halloween is nearly here. This quick and easy knitted pumpkin takes only one ball of wool and can be knitted up in an afternoon. To make pumpkin With 6mm needles cast on 13sts. (25sts) (50sts) (75sts) : Purl 3, *knit 3, purl 3, rep from * to end. (50sts) (25sts) (13sts) To make up Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle, go through each stitch remaining on the needle and thread onto the remaining…

During the second half of the Sixties, the music of The Supremes captivated the world. Songs like Baby Love, Stop! In the Name of Love, Come See About Me, The Happening and You Keep Me Hanging On, propelled the trio of singers to global stardom. Their endless succession of impossibly catchy and practically perfect pop hits produced 12 No.1 singles in the US charts alone between 1964 and 1970. Only three acts have ever achieved more: Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Mariah Carey. In a decade during which much of American life was dominated by the battle over civil rights, the impact of three fashionable, attractive and talented young black musicians singing about such universal themes as love, heartbreak and money must have been enormous. The Primettes At the end of…

No pre-war British film comedian could do unjustified snobbery quite like Leeds-born Sydney Howard. A toff without money; a gentleman without class; a figure of authority without the least vestige of authority. Syd's style of mincing delicacy and balletic slapstick made him a box office favourite throughout the Thirties. Indeed, he was British cinema's most popular star of 1937: a year that saw him appear in Splinters in the Air, playing the dual roles of aerodynamic inventor George Metcalfe, and his befuddled twin brother. A sequel, of sorts, to Splinters (1929), the all-singing, all-dancing spectacular that had made his name, Syd filmed Splinters in the Navy two years later, and cemented his comic character of the love-sick droll. ‘He was an everyman: a fussy bundle of kindness, who muddled through’ That…

£10 cheque for every letter published Hairy question ♦ In the film, The Thursday Murder Club, why have Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley been filmed as themselves, yet Helen Mirren and Celia Imrie have ridiculous, unrealistic wigs when women nowadays wouldn't look like that? They look as good at their age as the two men do. Why on earth did the women allow it to happen? Brenda McQuillan, via email The show went on ♦ I was delighted to read about Susie Blake in issue 488. In the early Nineties, as a theatre publicist, I was promoting a touring musical with a baby theme that she was starring in. To generate interest, a bonny baby contest was held. As the star, Susie judged it but, unfortunately, a disgruntled baby bit…

Few people can say they bagged a prime-time TV hosting gig at the age of 22, but after joining Countdown in 1982, Carol Vorderman went on to co-present the show for another 26 years. It made her a household name in her own right and, since then, the mum of two has starred on I'm a Celeb, written books, spearheaded political campaigns and even learned to fly a plane. And with her 65th birthday coming up in December, she's learned plenty about herself in the process. Here, the TV legend tells us more. How are you feeling ahead of this year's Pride of Britain Awards? I think there were around 100,000 nominations this year, which was quite colossal and made judging difficult. It just shows with all of the turbulence…