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I’ve made a lot of friends since arriving at the good ship best 10 years ago and it makes me think of the saying that people come in and out of your life for ‘a reason, a season or a lifetime.’ It’s so true. Sometimes, you lose people too soon, others teach you lessons and there are those who’ve always been a delight and I’ll stay in touch with forever. Our wonderful beauty experts Lesley Reynolds and Elsa McAlonan are friends whose houses I often rock up at for hours and hours of giggles. Carol McGiffin – feisty, funny, and fearless. Turn to page 17 for her thoughts this week. At times, we argue like cat and dog (usually over her column!) but love you really, mate! Helen Lederer, no…

When you’re in an emotional mood, who doesn’t cry when listening to Endless Love by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross? But when Rylan Clarke sang those words to his former onscreen presenting buddy Ruth Langsford, well, it’s hard to imagine a dry eye in the house! Okay, it was at boozy karaoke, but the love and support for Ruth from presenters Lizzie Cundy, Rylan and others in the room was palpable. Lizzie summed it up on her Instagram: ‘What a duet ❤❤. ‘You can’t beat fab friends,’ she added. You really can’t. The former WAG, 56, took to her Instagram, capturing the former X Factor contestant, 35, and Ruth, 64, showing off their vocal skills (surprisingly good Ruth!) with the mum-of-one dressed top-to-toe in sparkles… Despite the heartache that comes…

The tragic death of Liam Payne, at the age of just 31, has broken hearts around the world. Fans have gathered to pay tribute to the young singer, who, although they may never have known personally, felt to them like a loved one. But for Liam’s former One Direction bandmates, the loss must be particularly acute – and will have hit the four young men very hard indeed. Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles shared a joint statement on the official One Direction Instagram account the week of Liam’s death. ‘We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,’ they said. ‘In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process…

Handing me a slice of homemade fruit cake and a mug of tea, my mum, Olwen, smiled. She always knew how to make me feel better. She was a firm believer that cake and a cuppa could soothe any worry. ‘Mmm... thanks,’ I said. My mum, 69, lived just two minutes away from me and I’d see her three times a day. She was my best friend; with a warm, infectious smile for everyone. Glamorous and full of life, she had boundless energy and still worked full time in her truckers’ café, Bizzie Lizzies in Gorseinon, Wales. She’d owned it for 35 years and it wasn’t hard to see why her customers adored her. Mum had a way of making others feel special. As well as working in her café,…

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For the last few years, Kate Garraway has faced some enormous challenges in her personal life – culminating with the tragic death of her husband Derek Draper. The former political lobbyist passed away earlier this year at the age of 56, after being struck down by Covid in March 2020. As a result of the virus he suffered from severe debilitation, requiring constant care. After suffering a cardiac arrest, Derek passed away on 3 January. For Kate, 57, it was the end of a long struggle which had seen her battling to care for him at home, while bringing up their two children and fulfilling work commitments in order to support the family. So, it’s no wonder that she is viewing the approaching festive season with some trepidation... ‘This Christmas…

1 Give your oven a deep clean: This appliance works overtime in December so it’s worth giving it a thorough clean now. Take out the shelves and leave them to soak in warm soapy water with soda crystals before putting them in the dishwasher on a hot wash. Scrub the inside of the oven, then get some oven liners, which will catch spills and grease. This will make future cleans much easier. 2 Get an electric scrubber: Having one of these gadgets can really help with cleaning your kitchen and bathroom. They have a spin action that takes out the heavy scrubbing – and stretching up high and down low (that often leaves your arms aching) – when giving things a good scrub. They can save time when it comes to…

If it’s a little too early to get the Christmas tree out, why not add some small Winter touches like Maureen Morshius, with inspiration from her @mo_morshius Instagram account?…

There are rules to this coffee morning that probably don’t exist at any other. Like the five-minute rule – your time to talk when no one can interrupt you. It’s staggering how much you can say in five minutes – but I still remember when it felt like a painfully long stretch of time. One I wasn’t sure I could get to the end of. I tried to seek comfort from the semicircle of soft, female faces. These faces are different to the ones you might see on the No 94 into town or passing you in the aisle at Sainsbury’s. Those smiles communicate a fleeting moment of friendliness because it’s easier to be that way than not. But the smiles in this room run deeper. They tell of a…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES The answer will appear in the shaded boxes and this is your prize answer. Enter by using the numbers at the top of the grid or at hearstmagazines.co.uk/bestcross4424 ACROSS 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 DOWN 1 2 What is the name of the only known mammal to be covered in large, protective keratin scales? The answer will appear in the shaded squares Phone and online entries open 29 October 2024 until midnight on 15 November 2024. Over 18s only. †Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and should last no longer than 2 mins. Service provided by Spoke (0333 202 3390). *For full T&Cs see below. We will use the information…

Taking over ITV’s popular daytime show for a week of festive fun, are our two Friday favourites – Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary! The dynamic duo will reveal their nostalgic Halloween memories, and what to expect from this year’s spooktacular set! Alison and Dermot, what are some of your favourite Halloween memories? A: When I was younger it would be all about the trick-or-treating and going out with my friends. All the neighbours down our street used to do it and go out together to try and get some sweets! It was always such fun. It’s harmless fun for the kids I think and has a real sense of community coming together. We used to also have little Halloween parties at school as well, with a bit of apple bobbing…

‘Driving used to be so much fun, especially back in the Seventies when I passed my test and bought my first car, a manky old brown Mk 1 Ford Escort that looked like it had been in a fire. But it went and never once broke down – which was a miracle seeing as it only cost £250. But the greatest thing about driving back then was the lack of traffic, and the massive absence of restrictions regarding parking, tolls, cameras, speeding – I mean you still couldn’t speed, but unless there was a copper nearby you probably wouldn’t get caught. Now there are super high-tech cameras, otherwise known as traps, on every junction, corner, gantry and even in the trees! Motorists don’t stand a chance. It was all so…

Your 40s Get even Skin changes more in this decade than any other. it still looks healthy, the effects of sun exposure, repetitive facial expressions, bad lifestyle (late nights, smoking and alcohol) may leave their mark. Lines around eyes and mouth deepen and your skin cell renewal rate slows right down. Women also experience dramatic hormonal changes leading to drier, thinner skin. SKIN SAVERS ● Look for serums rich in antioxidants like vitamin C to help stimulate collagen production. Boots Ingredients Vitamin C Serum, £6, will help brighten your skin tone. Follow with an antioxidant rich moisturiser. ● Use SPF 30-50 daily, but spend time on your nightly regime too. Cleanse thoroughly and start using retinol every other night. La Roche-Posay Retinol 0.3% + Vitamin B3 Serum, £38, is ideal…

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE Shayne Ward spent his 40th birthday doing eight-hour dance rehearsals and eating chicken nuggets… When I think back to mine, I had a big house party, celebrating 40 glorious years. My 30th was a complete disaster – no one showed up – I’d got the times wrong! There were meant to be 36 of us, but only six come. It was a complete and utter disaster. So, for my 31st I had a superhero theme to make up for it. My 50th was at the Café de Paris, which was Fab-U-lous! FULL OF SURPRISES Chris McCausland hasn’t stopped surprising me. Every week, he gets better and better! I can see he’s getting more confident, too. He’s really putting the time and effort into the dancing…

Putting on my nursing uniform, I looked in the mirror and smiled. ‘Have a good shift, Ann,’ one of the girls smiled, ‘I might see you later, I’m doing nights.’ After leaving school at 16, I started my career in nursing in September 1972. I worked as a cadet nurse at Bolton General Hospital and moved into a nurse’s home where I trained and, it turns out, made friendships that would last a lifetime. The three-floor living quarters were situated in the hospital grounds and were warden checked to make sure we didn’t have any after-hours visitors! The living arrangement would allow us to attend college if we needed while working on placements until we were qualified. You had your own bedroom and we shared the kitchen and bathroom. We…

It was 3am when Kim and Tom Brown became aware of someone flashing a torch outside their house. When they opened the front door, there were two officers standing outside. ‘We have some bad news about your daughter, Kate,’ they said. The couple listened as they were told that the middle of their three daughters had been shot and killed in broad daylight at the Rocky River Reservation in Cleveland Metroparks in Ohio. Her friend, Carnell Sledge, had been murdered too in what seemed to be a motiveless attack. ‘The minute the police left, that was the worst because we said: “How are we going to tell the girls?’”Kim explains. This case is the focus of one episode in the latest series of Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries. The horror unfolded on…

TAKE THE TIME Storage expert at Space Station, Vlatka Lake, believes it’s not just how you clean but when! She says, ‘The day before decorating your home with Christmas decs is a great day to do it, so you can enjoy a calm, clutter-free environment. If you’re hosting, spend extra time on areas that will have the most traffic, like the bathroom, living room and kitchen. The tree should take centre stage – don’t forget to clean the floor it will be standing on, to make sure your presents stay squeaky-clean.’ DISH IT UP Make sure your dishwasher is ready to tackle all the extra washing up. Nancy Emery, cleaning expert at Tap Warehouse, suggests these solutions: ● Empty the machine so you have access to the interior, then pull…

SEX IN THE BEDROOM Vanessa, I don’t know if I’m asking too much here for someone of my age, but my husband will only make love in the bedroom. The kids have left home, and I’d like to get a bit more adventurous. I don’t think that’s too out there, but he looks at me like I’m asking him to bury a body for me when I suggest it! What do you think? Caroline, Hastings Unleash your inner seductress. Your husband thinks he only wants to get hot and heavy in the bedroom, but that’s because he hasn’t woken up to the spicy joy of sex on the kitchen table, on the stairs, leaning on the washing machine while it’s on spin cycle and in the corner of the garden…

SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November Put yourself first, Scorpio. With so many demands on your time and energy you’re at risk of burnout. Finding a balance and learning to say no to pushy people now will work well in the long-term. Your emotions will be running super-high, so let it all out with a heart-to-heart or indulge in a couple of weepy rom-coms! SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December Life shifts up a gear, with your mental and physical energy levels getting a boost at last. Think active – sports, crosswords, walks with friends, anything that keeps mind and body engaged and on the go will keep you centred and happy. Just don’t be too blunt with someone who underneath it all is trying their best. CAPRICORN 22 December…

Last week, the nation was left reeling by the sad news that Sir Chris Hoy, one of Britain’s best loved and most respected sporting heroes, has received a terminal cancer diagnosis. The cyclist, 48, had gone public last February about undergoing chemotherapy – but he had not disclosed the severity of his condition. But now he has revealed that in fact, the cancer is incurable and he has been told his life expectancy is two to four years. A tumour was first found in his shoulder and a second scan found primary cancer in his prostate, which has metastasised to his bones. Tumours have also been found in his pelvis, hip, spine and rib. But his stoic and courageous attitude to his diagnosis is motivational. In an interview with the…

TOP TIP! A Bardot-style knit will take you from day to night in seconds!…

It was love at first sight when we stepped through the front door of our 15th-century cottage with its old beautiful wooden beams, original fireplaces and stone floors. It was our dream home... My partner Steve and I had always wanted to live in Maldon, a picturesque village on the outskirts of Essex where we used to go for family days out. So, when this place came on the market two years ago, we snapped it up. It couldn’t have been more different from the modern Sixties bungalow we’d sold in Leigh-on-Sea. But, while the place was very old, it didn’t need any work, apart from a lick of paint. When our new neighbours told us the house was haunted, we laughed it off as we didn’t believe in ghosts.…

Spiced pecan, apple and cranberry cake This moist, lightly spiced cake also makes a succulent tea-time treat. Hands-on time: 20 minutes. Cooking time: about 1 hour. Cuts into 8 slices • 175g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra to grease• 150g caster sugar• 3 medium eggs• 1tsp vanilla extract• 150g plain flour• 1tsp baking powder• 2tbsp milk• ½-1tsp ground cinnamon• 3 Braeburn apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1cm cubes• 50g fresh cranberries, defrosted if frozen• 75g pecans, roughly chopped• 2-3tbsp apricot jam 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4 and grease and line a 20.5cm springform cake tin with baking parchment. 2 Using a free-standing mixer or electric hand whisk, beat together 150g of the butter, the sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking powder and milk until pale and fluffy, about…

TOP TIP! Hosting this Christmas? Refreshing your bathroom doesn’t have to cost the earth. Check out your local supermarket for on-trend styles for less.…

If there’s one thing I’ve learned ‘Cleaning can be a joy. Listen to some music, your favourite podcast or catch up on some must-see TV and you’ll probably forget that you’re cleaning, too!’ Closing one of the drawers in my kitchen cabinet, I felt a sense of achievement. I’d taken out all the herbs and spices (finding a few that were out of date!) putting them into matching containers, placing stickers on the lids and putting them in separators. I thoroughly cleaned the drawer before putting them back in, now neatly labelled and uniform. It hadn’t taken long, but it gave me a sense of pride and satisfaction. It meant that next time I was cooking, I could easily grab the herb or spice I needed, and I wasn’t going…

TOP TIP! It’s hard to clean a cluttered space, so before you start cleaning, have a good decluttering session.…

There are many myths surrounding black cats – some say they’re lucky – or perhaps unlucky. Whatever the reason, black cats need to be re-homed most frequently and rescue centres find they tend to spend longer waiting for a home, according to the Cats Protection*. One sad reason – apart from their spookiness – is that they aren’t photogenic in social media posts. What a shame. Non-black cats tend to spend less time waiting for their new owner, with an average of 46 days total time in care compared to 51 for black. Here are just eight of the many cats looking for somewhere to live... NAME: EBONY, WARRINGTON AGE: 11 MONTHS As she’s still a young cat, Ebony’s shy nature means she’ll prefer an adult-only home. She’s sweet and…

In 1991, Delia Balmer was leading a solitary life in London working as an agency nurse. When she met the free-spirited John Sweeney in a local pub, it seemed like the connection she’d been searching for, but unknown to Delia, Sweeney was a serial killer... When BAFTA winning actress, Anna Maxwell Martin (of Line of Duty, Motherland and Ludwig) was asked to play Delia, it was a no-brainer for the 47-year-old, who said she’s unlike anyone she has played before. Here, she tells us all about Until I Kill You… What drew you to this series initially? It was the character, the chance to play Delia. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever played before, she’s an incredibly fascinating person and her responses to things are very particular to her. It was…

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