Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 493 i Yours Magazine

The thought of leaving all the Christmas preparations until December brings me out in a cold sweat. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a mad panic around mid-December when I realise I’ve yet to post the cards I wrote at the beginning of November. But imagine how much worse it would be if I didn’t start scheduling, buying and wrapping well before the last echoes of fireworks night have faded from earshot. So, in the spirit of eliminating the stress, I’m very proud to present our Christmas bumper issue with everything you’ll need to start getting ahead to make sure your festivities run smoothly. We’ve got a fabulous gift guide with everyone covered – including our furry friends! In our special Makes and Bakes magazine you’ll find recipes and…

Go-to Queen of Christmas cooking, Dame Mary Berry will be surrounded by her family this festive season. And that’s just the way she likes it. In fact, she says togetherness is the best part. ‘The most important ingredient is, without doubt, the family,’ she says. ‘Everything tastes better when shared. Christmas is my favourite time of year. There’s nothing better than getting the family involved in baking – I always think that’s what makes it truly special.’ This year has been particularly special for Mary. She turned 90 in March and has had a string of celebrations with parties and lots of Champagne. And there’s no doubt she will continue in style during the festive season. Appearing on stage at a recent Q&A in London, which Yours was fortunate to…

Winter’s here – and so are the sniffles, sneezes and shelves full of ‘immune-boosting’ supplements. But with so much on offer, it can be tricky to know what’s actually helpful, what’s just clever marketing, and which remedies are worth making space for in your cupboard. To help sort the must-haves from the maybes, we spoke to Hannah Belsham, health and wellbeing physiologist at Nuffield Health, and Dr Megan Rossi, gut health specialist and founder of The Gut Health Doctor. Here’s what they recommend for a healthier, calmer winter – without wasting your money. Firstly, here are some essentials to keep in stock. Vitamin D The one supplement that most of us really do need over winter is vitamin D. ‘We make vitamin D from sunlight, so levels drop between October…

If you or a loved one is living with chronic pain, it can be hard to remain optimistic. ‘I always remind clients that you are not powerless. Don’t be afraid, your body is calling for your attention,’ says Samantha. ‘When you learn to work with your subconscious mind and nervous system, you regain a sense of agency. These approaches are about recognising that the brain is the control centre for both physical and emotional pain and working with the body as well as the mind.’…

Fabulous chocolate & cherry cake Serves 8-10 Takes: 55min, plus cooling 225g baking spread, straight from the fridge, plus extra for greasing 55g cocoa powder, sifted 4 large eggs 225g caster sugar 225g self-raising flour 1tsp baking powder FOR THE FILLING 6 generous tbsp cherry jam 300ml pouring double cream, lightly whipped FOR THE GANACHE 200ml pouring double cream 200g Bournville chocolate, broken into pieces Grease and base line 2 x 20cm loose-bottomed sandwich tins. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and heat until runny. Remove from the heat and leave to cool in a cold place until thick and stiff. Mix to a paste. Add all the remaining cake ingredients and whisk together until light and fluffy using an electric hand whisk. Bake in the preheated…

Make it this weekend YOU WILL NEED Tape measure, pencil & saw Leftover wood, or try Wickes Pro Timber Deck Boards £18/3.6m wickes.co.uk Screwdriver & screws 4 angle brackets, £4/20 wickes.co.uk Drill & drill bit Sandpaper Used compost bag, scissors, stapler/staple gun Peat-Free multi-purpose compost: Westland John Innes, £8/66.5L diy.com Trowel Plants: Fatsia japonica ‘Tsumugishibori’ (Spider’s Web), Skimmia japonica ‘Finchy’ & ‘Kew White’, Stipa tenuissima, ivy 1 Measure, mark and cut the wood to size; you’ll need three long lengths for the sides and base and two short lengths for the end pieces. We’ve created our window box 1m long. 2 Screw the brackets near the top edges of the end pieces and then screw these to the sides. 3 Screw the bottom board to the base of the ends…

Last year, an Israeli study found that by simply looking at elements of the natural world, such as trees, you can give your health and wellbeing a boost. This is not a surprise to Kendall Platt, a horticultural therapist from adventureswithflowers.com. ‘We live in such a digitised world now that separates us from nature,’ she says. ‘We’re constantly sat in front of a screen, which is not a natural state for us to be in. The more that we can get outside and experience nature, the better. It really settles the system and helps us to get into that kind of parasympathetic state, rather than being in a ght-or-flight, stressed state.’ Spotting the different varieties of trees out there can be a fun and therapeutic way to give your walk…

Simple yet effective, programmable controls help to turn lights on and off automatically. They are commonly used to save energy, for home security, and convenience. By setting a schedule, timers can make it look as if someone is home when you’re away on holiday, reduce electricity use by ensuring lights aren’t left on, and provide automatic lighting in the evening or early morning. Most timers work by allowing you to set specific on/off times using either a mechanical dial or a digital interface. Mechanical timers typically use a 24-hour rotating dial with small push-down tabs that control power ow. Digital timers offer more precise scheduling and sometimes include features, such as random mode (to mimic occupancy) or multiple daily settings. They are widely available and come in different styles, including…

If you had been out and about on the evening of Sunday 2 March 1969, you might have noticed a strange hush descending upon the land. Pubs seemed quieter than usual while churches also reported a decline in attendance. The explanation for this unusual lull in normal weekend social activity lay in television, between 7.25pm and 8.20pm, BBC1 aired Swan Song, the 26th and final episode of the epic period drama, The Forsyte Saga. For six months, Britons had watched, captivated, as the story of the Forsyte family unfolded across a period of almost 50 years, transporting the viewer from the top hats, bustles and carriages of 1879 to the motor cars, trams and General Strikes of 1926. There were, of course, no video recorders or streaming services available in…

Born and bred on the Isle of Dogs, Queenie Watts remains the epitome of the East End working class, salt of the earth Londoner in British film and television comedy throughout the Sixties and Seventies, as often as not playing the nagging wife of Arthur Mullard. She had been born Mary Spenton in July 1923, picking up the nickname ‘Queenie’ after Queen Mary. Queenie married William ‘Slim’ Watts in 1941, and they ran two popular East End public houses: the Iron Bridge Tavern, on East India Dock Road, and the Rose and Crown, in Pennyfields. ‘Downbeat, haggard, sour performance was Queenie’s bread and butter’ Queenie was 40 years old before she made her first acting appearance, ostensibly playing herself in Joan Littlewood’s hymn to the East End, Sparrows Can’t Sing…

What you’re reading…. Let the Bells Ring Out by Milly Johnson (Simon & Schuster, £16.99) ‘A cracker of a Christmas treat,’ says Fiona Ross. Seven stranded strangers take refuge on the Yorkshire Belle steam train. Over four snowy days, secrets, heartbreak, and hope emerge, as they confront their pasts, reveal hidden feelings and rediscover what matters. The Winter Ball by Anton Du Beke (Orion, £20) ‘I was swept along by the wonderful characters,’ says Patricia Monroe. As snow falls on Berkeley Square, Raymond de Guise prepares for the Winter Ball while secretly working for the government. With rumours of royalty, dangerous secrets, and a traitor among the guests, Raymond faces his biggest test yet. Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd (HQ, £16.99) ‘Smart, witty, and warm,’ says Valery O’Dwyer.…

£10 cheque for every letter published Star neighbour ◆ A recent issue featured an article about Patrick McGoohan. As a child, my family lived next door to him and his family. He had a grand house in beautiful grounds with a swimming pool; we rented our property which was an old quaker house and smallholding where we kept horses, cattle, pigs and other small animals. Patrick’s daughter taught me to ride a pony. In their grounds they kept a stationary gypsy caravan. We spent many happy times there and slept overnight in it. They had a beautiful dog but sadly it didn’t get on with our dog and we had to make sure we kept them apart. I believe Patrick sold up and moved abroad but the caravan is still…

COOK’S TIP Instead of the cinnamon sticks and cloves, use a Mulled Cider Spice Mix from Schwartz. From supermarkets, around £1.75 for 18g. Hot apple cider Makes 6 glasses Takes: 15min Cost per glass £1.08 1½ lt dry cider 2 cinnamon sticks 4 cloves 2 apples, cored and thinly sliced into rings, halved if large 1 lemon, thinly sliced 2 tbsp brown sugar 50ml brandy Bring to a simmer and heat for 5-8min until the sugar has dissolved. Do not allow to boil. Stir in the brandy. Mulled wine Cost per glass £1.12 Makes 6 glasses Takes: 20min, plus infusing 750ml bottle red wine 2 cinnamon sticks 2 star anise 4 cloves 2 strips of lemon zest 4 tbsp caster sugar 4 tbsp brandy or port (optional) (See Tip) 1…

FAMILY TREE Keep your family close this Christmas by adding their photos to your tree. These wooden slices (£2 for 250g from Hobbycraft) make an attractive rustic base onto which you can simply glue a selection of family snaps. A coat of clear PVA or decoupage glue over the image will add an extra layer of protection. ALL THE TRIMMINGS This fun and colourful card is a great way to use up bits and pieces in your craft stash! Ric rac, ribbons, tapes and all manner of trimmings can be used to make these cute and quirky trees. Start from the base of the tree, gluing on the widest length of trimming. Then with the next pieces gradually decrease the size to create the tree shape. Top with a star…

SAGITTARIUS 23 NOV-20 DEC It’s an intriguing time when a rake through what’s been put aside could yield surprising rewards. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705708 CAPRICORN 21 DEC-20 JAN Look out for twists and turns around plans, perhaps a new organisation featuring, with links to the past. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705709 AQUARIUS 21 JAN-18 FEB Second chances may arise, perhaps in the shape of invitations or offers to boost a career or maybe your status. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705710 PISCES 19 FEB-20 MARCH Look out for shifts and rearrangements impacting your routines and for news around matters of training and travel. ■ For a weekly update call 09044 705711 ARIES 21 MARCH-19 APRIL Arrangements may be tugged this way…

Tomorrow’s theatre If you love a good West End show but hate the usual long queues for the loos at the interval, you’ll welcome plans for a new state-of-the-art venue. The 1575-seat Olympia Theatre, due to open in London in late 2027, promises patrons 82 lavatories – one for every 19 members of the audience instead of the current estimate of one for every 45. Farewell Prunella As Basil’s long-suffering wife, Sybil, in Fawlty Towers, Prunella Scales is still making viewers laugh. Let’s hope the iconic actress, who had vascular dementia, was chuckling, too, when watching an episode, the day before she passed aged 93. Luckier in real-life love, Prunella was happily married to actor Timothy West for 61 years until his death last November. She was described as a…

These days, it’s wise to check your seat before sitting down on a train – but no passenger could have anticipated finding a crab during their journey! Train driver, Mark Walsh, was alerted after commuters were shell-shocked at the discovery and he thought it was a prank. Kind Mark named the crab Craig and helped rehome the lost crustacean to a park pond in Southsea. Pets of the fortnight 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 NATURE NEWS A moose that spent summer on the loose across Europe has finally been located and rehomed. Emil the elk first started his trek in Poland, migrated through Czech Republic and…

REFINED ELEGANCE ‘I love a wrap dress as they’re incredibly flattering. I have an old black wrap dress – I think it’s older than my daughter Rosie – which I still wear time and time again!’ ‘Velvet is wonderful! It’s comfortable and you’re going to feel confident in it.’ CONFIDENCE BOOSTERS ‘Wear clothes that make you feel confident. My arms are my area of concern, so I like a little bit of coverage with something like a sheer sleeve.’ FABULOUS FLATS ‘I don’t understand people who wear high heels in their house, I just want to be comfy… especially on Christmas Day!’ ‘This Christmas, I’ll be wearing this black velvet top and trouser set. I want to look nice, but also need something comfy and practical I can crawl around…

It’s estimated that around 28 million adults in the UK live with some form of chronic pain. Around half of GP appointments are for addressing these issues, including back pain, headaches, arthritis, and pain related to cancer. Categorised as pain lasting more than three months, it’s more common as we age, and for women, so the chances are you know someone who is affected. It is often treated with medication and, while you should of course consult your GP about options, a new study suggests that the brain can play a powerful role in its management too. ‘When most people think of pain, they think purely of the body, but pain is both a physical and an emotional experience. Many of my clients come to me after years of trying…

Candles are great for creating a glow that sparks those nostalgic memories Flowers like poinsettias add depth to your decor displays. Keep them away from direct light and drafts…

TIP: If you want to make a bigger or smaller present, add more or fewer sts per row, and more or fewer rows per square. Difficulty rating: YOU WILL NEED Hobbii Friends Cotton 100% mercerized cotton (160m per 50g) 1 x 50g ball in 63 Lilac (A) 1 x 50g ball in 47 Pink (B) 2mm crochet hook Darning needle Polyester filling FINISHED SIZE 8.5 x 8.5cm ABBREVIATIONS ch = chain dc = double crochet st(s) = stitch(es) sl st + slip stitch htr = half treble rem = remaining rep = repeat RS = right side WS = wrong side ■ Can’t get this yarn? Find a suitable alternative at yarnsub.com While working on the present pieces, there is no RS or WS, because the stitches look the same…

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. The cost of Christmas soon adds up – Brits spent an average of £626 on Christmas presents last year, according to research by cashback website Rakuten. If you want to make sure your cash goes on the things you truly want, follow our tips so that your Christmas shopping doesn’t spiral. Get sale savvy Research first to get the best deal. Search for promo codes: when shopping on the internet, a quick google before you pay can throw up…

Men Teen Her Vegan Kids Pets…

DID YOU KNOW? Howard Greer also supplied personal wardrobes to stars such as Greta Garbo and Gloria Swanson and designed wedding dresses for Shirley Temple and Gloria Vanderbilt. FILM: BRINGING UP BABY (1938) ICONIC COSTUME: A floor-length gold lamé gown, topped off with a sheer veil with gold borders. SHE WORE IT WELL: Katharine Hepburn DESIGNED BY: Howard Greer SHOWSTOPPING SCENE: Kooky and opinionated heiress Susan Vance (Hepburn) accidentally tears the tailcoat of palaeontologist David Huxley (Cary Grant). He then unintentionally rips her skirt, exposing her underwear, which he tries to cover up with his top hat. This famous scene was inspired by a true story Cary Grant told to director Howard Hawks. Grant was at the Roxy Theatre and somehow the zip of his trousers caught on the back of a woman’s…

Gazing down at the spectacular landscape of sprawling fields and babbling brooks, tears pricked Lesley’s eyes. After a day of gruelling trekking, she’d finally made it to the top of the UK’s tallest mountain – Ben Nevis. Lesley began volunteering for DKMS, an international charity dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and blood disorders, after her own leukaemia diagnosis. She says, ‘I’d been given just weeks to live. But my oncologist told me I wasn’t a lost cause and that they’d do everything to try to save me.’ Following three months of intense chemotherapy, Lesley was in remission. But she still needed a stem cell transplant to stop the leukaemia from returning. ‘All my family stepped up to be donors,’ Lesley says. ‘My sister Ann was the best match…

Difficulty rating: YOU WILL NEED Pair of 3.5mm (US4) knitting needles 3.5mm (US4) double-pointed knitting needles Red Heart Super Saver, 100% acrylic 1 x 198g ball each of Cherry Red, Paddy Green, Black, Aran Oddments of Petal Pink, Grey Heather Bernat Pipsqueak, 100% polyester 1 x 100g ball in Whitey White Tapestry needle 2 stitch holders Jingle bell (optional) FINISHED SIZE 56cm (22in) long and 16.5cm (6½in) wide ABBREVIATIONS co = cast on dec = decrease dpn(s) = double-pointed needle(s) inc = increase k = knit p = purl rs = right side skp = slip, knit, pass stitch over – one stitch decreased sl = slip St(s) stitch(es) st st = stocking stitch (p1 row, k1 row) tog = together RS = right side WS = wrong side ■ Can’t get…

Salted peanut praline slices Makes: 20 slices Takes: 30min, plus setting and chilling Cost per slice 24p 110g caster sugar 70g salted roasted peanuts 400g dark chocolate, finely chopped 125ml double cream Increase the heat and boil, without stirring, for 5min or until golden. Remove from the heat. Add the peanuts, then pour the mixture over the baking tray. Stand for 1hr or until set. Break the praline into large pieces. Finely chop half. . Stir for 5min or until the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat. Add the finely chopped praline and stir to combine. Pour into the prepared loaf tin and level the surface. Cover and chill for 30min or until partially set. Press gently over the top of the slice. Chill for 30min or until set.…

Musical Will Ferrell’s 2003 film Elf is a festive favourite and this heartwarming stage adaptation, with music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin, continues to jingle bells after six sell-out tours, beginning a new pre-Christmas jaunt on 11 November in Wolverhampton. Buddy is raised as an elf in the North Pole but the time comes for him to locate his birth family – and New York during the holidays turns out to be very different to Santa’s workshop.elfthemusicaluk.com Event From 27-30 November at Birmingham’s NEC, tuck into a feast of live demonstrations, tastings, workshops, discussions, book signings and more than 350 stalls laden with artisan and big-brand produce for the discerning gourmands in your life. The Big Kitchen hosted by Marcus Bean serves up a mouth-watering programme of…

Dear readers, My goodness did we thrill to the start of Christmas in our house? There were major questions to answer: would any of us feature in the Nativity play? Who would open the first door of the Advent calendar? There was a flurry of activity as we got ever closer to the big day. There was the turkey to order. And the making of the multicoloured paper chains and lanterns. And the begging list to Santa, which had to be thrown into the fire to activate. If the flames went blue, it meant he’d read it. But had I been good enough to be given EVERYTHING I wanted – bearing in mind, my demands were endless? I could only hope that he was too busy with the international elf…

MY LIFE lessons Elkie Brooks, born Elaine Bookbinder, had her first taste of fame when she won a talent contest in Manchester aged 15. After the release of her debut single Something’s Got a Hold On Me in 1964, she supported The Beatles and toured with The Animals and The Artwoods. After years of singing with guitarist Pete Gage, who became her first husband, and Robert Palmer as part of Vinegar Joe, and with American southern boogie band Wet Willie, Elkie’s solo career took off after her second album Two Days Away, featuring hits Pearl’s a Singer and Sunshine After the Rain. With an impressive six decades in music, Elkie, 80, who is mum to sons Jermaine and Joseph, is still as driven as ever. We find out what drives…

Holding her two-day-old son close to her chest, Phyllis shed a tear. It was Christmas day 1970 and she was sure it was the last Christmas she’d ever spend with her new baby. Unwed and 18 years old, Phyllis felt she had no choice but to give the baby up for adoption as soon as she was released from hospital. Phyllis says, ‘My boyfriend Patrick and I had moved from Limerick, Ireland, to London the previous year. We were deeply in love but, in those days, falling pregnant without marriage was seen as shameful. It broke my heart to give him up, but I wanted to do what was best for my son.’ She named him Nicholas Patrick, and he bore a strong resemblance to his father. After Christmas, the…

While working with a therapist is likely to be more effective, there are some online options for self-help. For CBT-based techniques to reduce pain, try painTRAINER (paintrainer.org), a free online programme that uses scientific research. Alternatively, Curable is a pain-management app (£11.79 per month, curablehealth.com), offering Q&A sessions with pain experts, video exercises to try and a private community of people who will understand your experience. And Manage My Pain (free, with in-app purchases) isn’t so much for reducing pain, as for monitoring and recording symptoms, to help you discuss them with your doctor or therapist at your next appointment.…

■ My granddaughter, Chloe, has been knitting since she was little. Cuddly toys are her favourite. She made this cow for me because I used to feed calves on a dairy farm. Linsay Savage, Cannock, Staffordshire ■ I’m really pleased with the bolster cushion I made from a recent pattern in Yours. I used a couple of left-over balls of wool. Jean Clarke, via email ■ I’ve recently joined a knit and natter group and have made lovely friends. Here’s my recent frog family which was requested by my grandchildren. Maureen Curnick, via email GET IN TOUCH We love to see your makes. Please share your creations with us using the contact details on page 3.…

NEWS YOU CAN USE FIND FORGOTTEN TRUST FUNDS Check if your child or grandchild is missing out on around £1.5 billion in lost or forgotten Child Trust Funds (CTFs). The Government gave CTFs to six million children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. The children received vouchers worth £250, or up to £500 for families on low incomes and the money could only be accessed once the children reached 18. Around 758,000 matured CTFs remain unclaimed, according to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), with an average balance of £2242. Their owners are now between 18 and 22 years old. ‘All students should check their CTF. If your parents didn’t open one then HMRC opened an account on your behalf,’ says Duncan Stevens, chief executive of Gretel, the…

Spiritual Sue, 66, lives near Southend-on-Sea. She would like to meet ladies to write to, maybe meet up for days out in Essex/London. She likes walking, TV, cinema, reading, astrology and travel. NOV1-101 Irish Jimmy, 70s, non-smoker, driver, is looking for a lady to share his hobbies. He enjoys driving to coastal places, gardening, Irish/country music, small DIY jobs and watching Westerns. NOV1-102 Caring, active Ellen is looking to meet a gentleman with a good sense of humour who loves wildlife, walks along the beach, travel and meals out. Non-smoker, 72-80. Torbay/Devon area. NOV1-103 Susan, 79, is looking for male/female friends, similar age, for companionship, days out, meeting up for coffee/lunch and happy times from the Southport/North Sefton area. She enjoys reading, TV, animals and short walks. NOV1-104 Colin, 63…

Gingerbread ice-cream sandwiches Makes: 4 Takes: 35min (plus cooling and freezing) Cost per serving: £1.55 500ml tub good-quality vanilla ice cream 500g pkt gingerbread mix (see Tip) 1 egg 60g butter Line a 23cm loose-bottomed square cake tin with baking paper. Spoon in the ice cream until it comes about 1cm up the sides of the tin. Smooth the top. Place in the freezer for at least 30min. Line two baking sheets with baking paper. Make up the gingerbread mix using the egg, butter and 60ml water, according to the pack instructions. Use an approx 11cm x 10cm cutter to stamp out eight gingerbread figures (see Tip). Place on the lined baking sheets. Use a skewer to create eye, smile and button details. Bake for 12min. Allow to cool on…

YOU WILL NEED For each bauble: Oddments of deep red or pink chunky yarn, 100% wool 8.5cm pompom maker (or cardboard see panel opposite on the traditional pompom method) Small, sharp scissors Sewing needle and strong cotton sewing thread (make sure your needle passes through the beads comfortably) 15cm square of nylon stocking fabric Elastic band Hanging fitting from an old or broken bauble About 100 small glass beads Soap, washing machine and dryer Fabric glue TRADITIONAL POMPOM METHOD Draw and cut out two identical donut shapes from thin card (a cereal packet is ideal) – the outer circle should be 4cm diameter and the inner circle 2cm. Lay the two pieces of card on top of one another and wrap in the yarn, continuing until the card is densely…

The Dragons’ Den star is well known for her love of crafting, and now she’s bringing her passion to a new daytime show on ITV, Sara Davies’ Christmas Craft Off. She’ll be sharing her tips and tricks for creating festive decorations, cards and presents, as well as teaching some of her famous pals who’ve never crafted before. Here, Sara reveals what she’s got in store for viewers. Tell us about your new show I’ve been crafting now for 20 years, and my absolute favourite time of year, hands down, is Christmas. It’s the time when I do the most crafts, and when most people are interested in wanting to do crafts with me. And so the whole point of the show was to highlight all the little tips, tricks and…