Inhoudsopgave van 45-2023 - Best

...it’s the stars – and in this case the Friends – that made us laugh that we remember with huge affection. Barbara Windsor was one such star, alongside Rik Mayall and Robin Williams. So, it probably isn’t surprising that after I had absorbed the awful news of Matthew Perry’s death (at just 54) I reached for the remote control and tapped Friends into the search bar. I wanted to remember Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing. One of six friends, who made me laugh through a divorce, a messy break-up with a man I’d thought was my ‘lobster’ and nights in with a small child when I was broke and boyfriendless. Friends filled my living room with much-needed lightness and laughter and that was often down to Chandler’s sarcasm and brilliantly…

She’s captured the nation with her bubbly laugh, bright blue eyes – and, of course, that iconic Bristolian accent, but long before Josie Gibson became one of the most popular and well-known presenters on This Morning – the star found TV fame in an entirely different way… The mum-of-one was the first housemate to enter the Big Brotherhouse in 2010, and her down-to-earth attitude and a sweet romance with Aussie housemate John James Parton won her legions of fans – leading her to be crowned the winner of the series. The bubbly Bristol-born star was just 25 when she was picked out of 81 hopefuls, proving her age didn’t hinder her confidence... Josie went on to win the series with a whopping 77.5 per cent of the public vote –…

On 29 June 1918, a 23-year-old miner received the Victoria Cross from King George V, for ‘the most conspicuous bravery in the face of the enemy. Acting as a stretcher bearer, he showed a most magnificent example of courage and devotion to duty.’ On nine occasions, Private Thomas Young carried injured soldiers to safety in broad daylight and under heavy machine gun fire. He served in the Durham Light Infantry, 9th battalion, and now his relative, our columnist Carol McGiffin, is keeping his memory alive… Carol, your great uncle received the Victoria Cross and the following day, in front of 15,000 people in Durham Park, Lord Durham presented him with an inscribed watch, a sliver cigarette case and War Bonds. When he spoke, it was very moving… Yes. I have…

HOW IT WORKS ‘Ramp up the amount of protein you eat to include lean meat, eggs and turkey that’ll help your body to burn up fat stores quicker,’ explains nutritionist and training expert David Wiener, freeletics.com. ‘Choose the breast rather than the more dense fatty brown meat and cook in olive, avocado or coconut oil in place of vegetable oils.’ Eat carbs including potatoes and bread no later than 6pm. Not eating them later means you’ll have fewer calories to burn off at night – the time when you’re least active. Eating carbs mainly at breakfast and lunch will also ensure you have bags of energy during the day for shopping – and to party! You can enjoy a seasonal drink, but stick to just one small glass of wine…

Reyka Pomegranate and Mint Fizz – Iceland Iceland always reminds me of the purity and beauty of the naked landscape. It feels like there’s nowhere to hide from the power of the elements, which have been sculpting their ridges for aeons – and hidden forces beneath your feet are ready to erupt at any moment. Reyka vodka is made with glacial spring water filtered through 4,000-year-old lava stones and is richly textured with immense purity and a discreet, aniseed-like echo. Fuelled by renewable geothermal energy, the distillery behind the world’s first ‘green’ vodka is truly small batch and a bit of an icon for Iceland. • 45ml (1½oz) Reyka vodka• 45ml (1½oz) pomegranate juice• 15ml (½oz) freshly squeezed lime juice• Soda water to top• 8 mint leaves• 8 pomegranate arils…

Superstar Cher is back with a brand new album entitled Christmas, which boasts guest appearances from Stevie Wonder, Darlene Love, Michael Bublé, Tyga and Cyndi Lauper. We caught up with her to talk about her secrets to staying youthful at 77, her romance with 37-year-old Alexander Edwards, and what’s on the menu for Cher’s Christmas dinner… You’re in Paris right now with your boyfriend Alexander. Is it a special place for you two? Yes, because it’s where we met, this is our anniversary. He’s a dear but I’ve hardly been able to see him. It’s like the in and out, kiss, ‘Hi, baby’ and get to have a dinner… He produced one of the songs on the album, actually. Are you happy with your new album? I’m very passionate about…

Weaving together the lives of eight very different people dealing with the ups and downs of their love lives, against the backdrop of the holiday season in London, there’s nothing quite like Richard Curtis’ heart-warming holiday romcom to get you in the mood for all things Christmas. And, later this month, there will be a re-release of the film with bonus content. We can’t wait! YES, PRIME MINISTER His dance scene is legendary but we enjoyed the Cinderella-like love story where the leader of a nation unexpectedly fell in love with secretary Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) and knocked on every door in Wandsworth to find her. It was festive love at its finest when David (Hugh Grant) finally admitted he could’t live without Natalie and they took a bow at the…

At 81, Chris O’Connor still has many things he wants to do. Despite being given a year to live by doctors, the Chelsea Pensioner has driven thousands of miles to raise money for charities including Back on Track (the brain child of our columnists Doctor Aamer Khan and Lesley Reynolds, offering treatments not otherwise available to veterans). Earlier this year, Chris took part in the Veteran Banger Rally – driving to and from Gibraltar. The driving on the way out was shared with two soldiers. ‘We survived on chocolate, bananas, adrenalin and good music,’ Chris laughs. But he did the return journey alone. That’s not to mention his drive to the Ukraine in September to transport much-needed supplies to three hospitals (two for amputees, one for children) in Lviv. But…

When Phil Heckels attempted to draw a portrait of his dog for his then six-year-old son to copy, he never dreamt it would lead to him raising more than £300,000 for charity. During lockdown in August 2020, the pair were trying to make a thank-you card together after Phil’s son Sam – who he has with wife Ashley – was sent money to buy himself an ice-cream by his grandparents. They spent the whole Summer putting off the note, until one afternoon Phil drew a picture of their dog Nala. He thought it was ‘rubbish’ and drew another one – but that turned out to be even worse in his opinion! He placed them on Facebook jokingly putting them up for sale at £299. But something strange happened. He was…

When Musa Motha danced on Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year, Simon Cowell was floored, the audience was on its feet and history was made as all four judges pressed the Golden Buzzer, sending him straight to the semi-finals. What’s even more incredible about Musa’s story is that despite having his dreams of becoming a footballer end at the age of 11 by a devastating diagnosis of bone cancer (which led to the amputation of his left leg), it didn’t stop the now 28-year-old going on to fulfil another dream – that of being a world-class dancer. ‘I’m still trying to get over the Britain’s Got Talent audition now!’ Musa told us. ‘It was the most beautiful moment I’ve ever experienced in my life. It made me realise that really,…

Internet dating was not always normal. In 2003, only losers and weirdos would be found looking for a partner online. Reader, I dated them. In a period of my life I like to call the Dark Days, between 2000 and about 2007, long after the school boyfriend but before the husband, I was living in London and working in magazines. Beery lad culture, chronicled by Loaded magazine and soundtracked by Ocean Colour Scene, had given way to a sexier, grubbier aesthetic firmly headquartered in London. Boys were skinny, girls skinnier. Boozers had jukeboxes and fag machines and stayed open late. The streets were paved with vodka, and the in-store radio station at Topshop on Oxford Street played the Libertines on repeat. If you wanted to fit in and cop off,…

TWINNING IS WINNING Minnie and Luna, cockapoos Age 5 No guessing who’s a member of the Mickey Mouse fan club here... Owner: Laura, Norfolk HAT-TRICK Betty, Springador Age 3 A post-dinner nap was certainly the crowning glory of Betty’s Christmas Day... Owner: Sair, Porthcawl SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER Sir Trix-A-Lot, French Bulldog Age 9 Elf auditions are a ‘tricky’ business judging by this pooch’s reaction... Owners: Alex and Mark, Surrey JUMP TO IT! Reggie, ‘Jug’ (half pug, half Jack Russell) Age 6 He may have had reservations posing in his jumper, but we have it on good knowledge that Reggie had a much better time sharing his owner’s Christmas dinner! Owner: Margaret, Lancashire PRIME POSITION Theodore, Cavapoo Age 3 Never mind a kitchen disco, Theodore is more interested in lying low…

Row upon row of gravestones, identical in colour and size. Embedded in the immaculate grass, not a weed in sight. Shrubs and flowering plants are positioned alongside each grave, creating a palette of colours in contrast to emerald green. A few people mingle between the graves, some kneeling, tracing their fingers over the words inscribed in the white stone, their hands clutching at handkerchiefs ready to wipe at their falling tears. There are over two thousand headstones standing side by side, as if still together in battle in the Calvados region of Normandy. It’s hard to fathom that my grandfather died at 28, not long a father himself, never having the privilege of meeting his own daughter. Stuck in a country so far from the Welsh valleys, void of visitors.…

Since she got her big break in Ricky Gervais’ sitcom Extras back in 2005, actress Ashley Jensen hasn’t looked back. The 54-year-old Scottish star went on to crack America, winning acclaim for her role as Christina McKinney in Ugly Betty. But now Ashley has returned home to the UK and is ready to light up the small screen once more, as she leads the cast of gritty BBC drama, Shetland. The eighth series marks the first one without DI Jimmy Perez – played by Dougie Henshall – paving the way for Ashley, who is stepping into the shoes of DI Ruth Calder. Calder is back in Shetland after 20 years away working for the Met – and Ashley said she can relate to her character, as she also returned to…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT The streets of Bury St Edmunds are full of history. From the famous abbey with its ancient ruins (ironically built in 1020 by the Danish King, Cnut, in honour of the English King, Edmund of East Anglia, who died in 869, for refusing to give up his Christianity to the invading Danes). Almost a thousand years later, in 1835, Charles Dickens also discovered the delights of Bury. Arriving at a new hotel dominating the centre, he immortalised it in his first novel, The Pickwick Papers, with the words: ‘And this is the Angel. We alight here, Sam.’ INSIDER’S GUIDE From the ancient abbey ruins to the Georgian town houses, as well as being full of architectural history, Bury St Edmunds it a great place to shop for Christmas…

Hot pod yoga, hour-long gym sessions and a super-healthy diet that involves juicing, intermittent fasting and cutting out all processed foods all help her stay trim. She also has a handsome younger partner, stage actor Danny Taylor, 50, who clearly puts a spring in her (quick)step. The couple met when they both appeared in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk in Darlington in 2019. And while they got engaged in 2021, Shirley tells best exclusively why the couple have decided they no longer want to walk down the aisle. Even though the fast-paced world of showbiz means they can go for months without seeing each other, they make sure they speak at least once a day and make the best of the time they spend together. You’ve got a crime…

It’s the most wonderful time of year – and no-one loves Christmas more than me. Every corner of the house is transformed into a magical grotto with twinkling fairy lights, mistletoe and pine-scented candles. The branches of the tree buckle under a collection of family decorations that span five decades. There are vintage baubles handed down from my mum, as well as treasured festive memories of grandparents, beloved pets and family holidays. The stuff that always takes pride of place are the Christmas decs my now grown-up kids made at school – the beautiful fabric star, hand-sewed 20 years ago by my daughter Daphne, and the ‘devil mouse’ made by Harry when he was just six years old. I make my own festive wreath for the front door, tuck boughs…

I CAN SURPRISE, TOO! So, viewers were surprised when I gave Angela a 9 for her Charleston, the highest score from the judges. I can give high marks on occasion, too, you know – I’m not always the villan of the piece, darlings! Technically, Angela made a hard dance look easy. It’s not! She’s unstoppable. THE HALFWAY POINT We’re past halfway now – the pressure is on. One to watch for me is definitely Ellie – every single week she improves, so the sky’s the limit, really. Nigel and Katya are a wonderful partnership, but I feel Nigel loses his nerve and makes silly mistakes when we get to Saturday night. When he sorts that out, he could go far. SO EMOTIONAL I thought Annabel and Johannes’ Couple’s Choice to…

HYALURONIC ACID Why: Winter’s low humidity and high wind-chill factor, combined with central heating can suck the moisture from your skin leaving it tight, dehydrated and flaky. As dry skin is very fragile, it needs extra support. Use extra nourishing skincare with hyaluronic acid which hydrates without clogging pores, so it’s great for all skin types and works well with several other ingredients. Applied topically, hyaluronic acid has the ability to hold over 1,000 times its weight in water, so will really boost moisture levels. Face: BeautyLab Hyaluronic Acid +B5 Serum, £25 Body: Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Body Wash, £6.50 RETINOL Why: Too much alcohol combined with late nights and lack of sleep can rob your body of vitamin A, which is crucial for cell renewal, and often the reason why…

for her Under £10! Great gifts for the man in your life Treat him to something he really, really wants... Under £10! Little treats for little ones Delightful gifts to light up Christmas morning Under £10!…

TIME TO EXTEND AN OLIVE BRANCH? We’ve been living next to the same neighbours for about 17 years now. We’ve never got on as our children didn’t like each other and they would even knock on our door asking for an apology from my six-year-old at the time, who insisted she’d never done anything wrong. Naturally, we took her side. But now they’ve all flown the nest, I’m wondering if I should reach out? We see each other every day in the driveway and have been avoiding eye contact for nearly two decades… my husband thinks I’m crazy because he just can’t stand the sight of them, but life’s short, right? Rachel, Liverpool Your instincts are spot on. Why carry on a feud when time is flying by and the…

Cheryl’s daughter – nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel – was a beautiful, caring, vibrant little girl who looked out for others and was adored by her family and friends. ‘She was my shadow,’ Cheryl says of her daughter. Thoughtful Olivia was even planning to cut her hair to donate it to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children with cancer. But one evening in August last year, a stranger burst into their Liverpool home, being pursued by a man with a gun. The mum of three tried to stop the second man – Thomas Cashman – getting in by putting her hands up to the door. He fired, shooting Cheryl in the hand, the bullet then hitting Olivia, who devastatingly lost her life. Her family were utterly heartbroken. When Cashman…

Coronavirus took away her normality but GMB’s Kate Garraway has dedicated herself to shining a light on those who, like her, are caring for a loved one… Since her hubby Derek Draper was struck down by Covid-19 in March 2020, Kate’s life has turned upside down. Derek, 56, was ravaged by the virus – with so much damage to his organs that he spent 13 months in hospital. Now – more than two years later, Derek still needs round-the-clock care, can speak only a few words and is prone to repeated infections. For Kate, it has been a stark introduction to the world of carers, the army of ordinary people in the UK – estimated at around six million – who are responsible for the care of a loved one…

It was 1982 when David first began volunteering with The Not Forgotten – having heard about the charity through a friend – and it’s a cause that’s remained close to his heart ever since. The charity is devoted to offering support and respite for veterans and wounded service personnel in a bid to improve physical and mental health, address isolation and loneliness and provide a sense of community. ‘I take huge pleasure in seeing the difference the charity can make,’ he says. Initially, David was helping out at the Buckingham Palace Garden Parties, which were held for The Not Forgotten each year. The Princess Royal is the charity patron but it is supported by several Royals, the King lends his palaces and the Duchess of Edinburgh attended this year’s event.…

1 Write letters In an age of social media, letter writing is a lost art – yet many of us still write Christmas cards and encourage children to write to Santa. Letters are a personal way to share news – they force you to slow down, mindfully consider what you want to say, and they’re more likely to be treasured by the recipient. ‘For some people struggling with their mental health, receiving a note can boost their wellbeing,’ says therapist Marisa Peer (marisapeer.com). Make this a resolution for 2024 and encourage children to send thank-you notes. 2 Burst into song Singing is so joyful because it releases endorphins, explains Marisa. It requires controlled breathing, calming the body and mind; encourages good posture; boosts blood circulation; and improves concentration, according to…

MEET OUR TESTER THEO MICHAELS Resident chef on Steph’s Packed Lunch and former MasterChef contestant, Theo’s passionate about good-quality food! He’s also an author of eight brilliant cookery books, including Canned, which helps transform store cupboard ingredients into delicious meals. Theo has joined best to put own-brand staples to the test to help you find the best Essentials without compromising on flavour. Check Theo out @theocooks. CORN FLAKES BY SAINSBURY’S 75p Close to the top spots for shape, consistency in the packet and held up well against going soggy before my morning bowl was finished! ALDI HARVEST MORN CORN FLAKES 69p Just beat the other two with a marginally better crisp factor, but overall a pleasant start to the day with nice crunch and good taste. ASDA CORN FLAKES 85p…

WHAT LIES AHEAD? Are you able to tell me what the future holds for me and my husband and what might be coming around the corner for us? Judith LEE SAYS: Thank you for your message, Judith. I think having a reading would help to give you the full picture of the future. I do think that there’s been some conflict going on in your mind and I strongly feel it’s important to stop holding things inside. I can see things coming up. Standing your ground is very important because I see success and growth coming for both of you. It’s just a little wait, and this will happen in the next five months. Whatever seeds you are planting will grow in a positive way. WOULD THEY APPROVE? Are my…

BRILLIANT BIOGRAPHIES BEHIND THE SHOULDER PADS Joan Collins Seven Dials, £22 They don’t make them like Dame Joan anymore! From her early years in Hollywood to the Dynasty days, she’s lived quite a life. And in this memoir she shares her best stories – including encounters with Princess Diana and Liz Taylor. EROTIC VAGRANCY Roger Lewis Quercus, £25 The ‘battling Burtons’ Liz Taylor and Richard Burton were the most glamorous celebrity couple ever. Passionately devoted to each other, the high life and – fatally – the bottle, this fascinating account of their love affair is gripping stuff. ROMANTIC READS THE CHRISTMAS WISH Lindsey Kelk HarperCollins, £8.99 Newly single Gwen returns to her village for a family Christmas – only to find herself trapped in a Groundhog Day-style loop, reliving Christmas…

For several weeks, the word on everyone’s tongue has been ‘Beckham’ – after the access-all-areas Netflix documentary on David’s career and personal life, navigating fame and the darker chapters that he’d rather forget. And, while the insightful documentary has been widely celebrated, Rebecca Loos – who 20 years ago first made shocking claims to now defunct News of the World, that she had an affair with the footballer while living in Madrid – has broken her silence about one of those chapters. David’s former assistant, 46, maintained that, after David spoke about his alleged affair in the documentary, he and his wife Victoria were ‘spinning a narrative that made me look like the bad person’. David has always denied the alleged affair. At the time, he was living in Spain…

TOP TIP Looking to make one statement purchase? Silver trousers are hot right now and look great dressed down with a cosy jumper and trainers.…

On 14 November, King Charles will celebrate his 75th birthday. The celebrations will kick off the day before with a tea dance and live music at Highgrove Gardens and Dumfries House. In fact, if you or someone who know is turning 75 this year, you may well have been invited by the Princes Trust, who are organising it all. We don’t know if the King will take to the floor, but he is known to be a good dancer – and not just ballroom style – back in 1985, he was famously caught on camera break dancing to the delight of the watching crowds! On the actual day, it will be business as usual for the King, who will start the day with an engagement outside London, to mark the…

Standing outside the Disney store, I gazed at the pretty festive windows. ‘I’ve got to make this the best Christmas ever,’ I whispered to myself. I’d recently split up with my partner, and my three-year-old son and I were facing our first one alone. Growing up, Mum and Dad had worked so hard to make sure me and my brother had a wonderful Christmas. I wanted my little boy to have the same memories. But for me, as a newly single mum, money was tight. I’d never been one to splash out, and I’d already bought him a £70 Minions toy, but I just didn’t know what else to do. Everything in the shop windows looked so inviting… Minutes later, I was outside the shop with two big bags of…

Winter brings its own woes for our hair – making it drier and frizzier, with more chance of split ends and damage. But there’s no such thing as a bad hair season anymore! There’s a host of sprays, serums and shampoos to add shine and body in seconds and help tame the most unmanageable mane. And don’t worry if you don’t have time to get to the salon, here are some great products you can use at home. Whatever your problem, there’s a speedy solution that won’t cost the earth – all of these are under £10 and will help to give you luscious locks in an instant. 1 SMOOTHS AND SHINES Garnier Glowing Lengths Pineapple Hair Drink for Long, Dull Hair (£9.99, lookfantastic.com) It sounds tempting, but no, you…

Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles These truffles are the perfect bite-sized treat, with a creamy centre and a crunchy nutty shell. Hands-on time 30min, plus chilling. Cooking time about 5min. Makes about 35 • 150g milk chocolate, finely chopped• 100ml double cream• 50g chocolate hazelnut spread, we used Nutella• 250g white chocolate, chopped• 200g roasted chopped hazelnuts Put the milk chocolate into a medium heatproof bowl. In a pan, heat the cream until steaming then pour over the chocolate. Gently stir until chocolate is fully melted, then stir in hazelnut spread. Cover and chill until firm, about 4hr. Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment. Using a teaspoon or melon baller, scoop out slightly heaped portions of the chocolate mixture and roll into balls. Arrange on the lined tray and chill…

SHOULD I TALK TO SOMEONE? I’ve been feeling really low recently and can’t seem to shake it. I’m reluctant to talk to my family and friends as everyone has their own lives and things going on, and I don’t want to burden them. But I don’t know if I should talk to someone professionally. What would you suggest? Thank you. Lisa, Scotland DR HILARY SAYS: You should and you must. Feeling constantly low is a sure sign of depression or perhaps even a physical ailment, but either way it needs to be professionally assessed and treated. It is typical to feel like you don’t want to or even merit bothering other people, but this is a classic sign of low self-esteem and feelings of guilt, which is part of depression.…

Linda Nolan, one of the iconic Nolan sisters who made up the famous singing group, is the epitome of fighting spirit. The singer was recognised for living with secondary cancer so openly and honestly – and with such infectious joie de vivre. Though Linda admitted recently that cancer has become a ‘way of life’ for her and knows she’ll never beat the disease – she’ll not let it stop her living life to the full. The 64-year-old, who attended best Heroes with her proud Loose Women sister Coleen Nolan, has been living with secondary cancer – tackling each hurdle with such grace and spirit that she is an inspiration to anyone going through their own battle with the disease – which is so many. Admitting she was ‘absolutely honoured’ to…

For Paul and Karen Smith, results day always brings back painful memories of their 17-year-old son Harry. The couple, who live in Surrey, were left devastated when the teenager took his life after receiving his AS results back in August 2013. They had been on holiday in the South of France with their children Harry, Jack, then 15, and Freya, 13, when they received an email from the school containing the much-anticipated results. What should have been a positive time soon turned into the family’s worst nightmare when they found their eldest son had taken his life. Paul, now 60, told best: ‘Harry had worked incredibly hard and thought he had done well – but when the email came through, the results were not what he had been expecting. He…

It takes a lot to inspire a generation, but that’s exactly what sisters Amy (above) and Ella Meek are doing – at the tender ages of 18 and 20. Because a truckload of plastic enters our oceans every single minute and it’s killing defenceless sea mammals. Amy and Ella were just 12 and 10 years old when they first learned about plastic pollution after studying it in 2016. They’d always loved and appreciated nature, having been taught to do so by their parents. ‘Wanting to protect the environment comes from caring about it first,’ Amy says. Determined to make a difference, these eco heroes set up Kids Against Plastic (KAP), a charity hoping to inspire and educate us all about the effects of this form of pollution on our planet.…

TOP TIP! When it comes to thoughtful gifts, a tree dec reminds friends and family of you year after year - it will put a smile on their face and it won’t break the bank!…

FINANCIALLY Fabulous Join our campaign and get your finances sorted at hearstmagazines.co.uk/ffbest for money-saving tips and brilliant advice on being financially savvy. 1 LIGHTENING THE LOAD A lighter car will have a major impact on your fuel consumption, so clean your car before embarking on a long drive. If items don’t need to be in the boot, consider leaving them at home. It can be difficult to quantify the exact savings that can be made by removing unused things from your car, but according to the AA, by changing your driving style and taking out unnecessary heavy goods, you could save up to 15 per cent – saving £7.50 from a £50 tank of petrol. 2 GENTLY DOES IT Keep an eye on the road ahead, and make sure you…

FOR THE GARDENER WHO.... ...DOESN’T HAVE A GARDEN Herb planter kit, Amazon You can still grow plenty on a windowsill and herbs are an easy addition to your ingredients shelf! These pots are also handy for growing lettuce and spinach. ...HAS EVERYTHING Gourmet Edible Flower Seed Kit, Amazon This is a double whammy, adding gorgeous blooms to your garden and a flourish to your dinner plate! For the seasoned gardener who has the basics covered, elevate their growing experience with edible flowers. The slimline box contains individually packed seeds with full instructions. ....IS TIME POOR AIMMIE Watering Globes Plant Glass Bulbs, Amazon These clever globes are designed to hold water and slowly disperse it for up to two weeks, meaning your plants won’t miss out if you can’t commit to…

With a growing following of 386,000 on her Instagram (@tatiana_home_decor), Tatiana Mokra, an interior designer and decorator, inspires us with these beautifully decorated rooms… FESTIVE DINING A fan of the dark oak? sklum.com’s Kerhen rectangular wooden dining table is in the sale at £234.95. WINTER BATHROOM There’s nothing like a hot bubble bath on a cold Winter’s day, especially when candles are involved! Oliver Bonas has twisted candles just like Tatiana’s on offer at £7.50. COSY CORNER Christmas cushions are a simple yet stylish way to decorate your home! The Range has many different cushion cover styles available. CHRISTMAS KITCHEN There’s nothing a few candles, fairy lights and gold stars can’t do if you need a little added Christmas sparkle in your kitchen! If you want to light up your…

ARIES 21 March – 20 April The New Moon on November 13 brings intense feelings, which may be positive or negative. You can choose which way you go. Do you want to brood on losses you’ve experienced and old injuries (and even dream of getting your own back)? Or would you prefer to focus on the things you feel passionate about, the people you care for, the activities you love and the goals you’re aiming for. You’re normally an up-beat soul and this is a no-brainer. They say ‘Living well is the best revenge’ but you don’t even need to think that way. Look around for what excites you. TAURUS 21 April – 21 May Although you’re a gentle, tolerant person you do like to feel in control of your…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES ACROSS 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 17 20 21 22 23 24 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 13 14 15 16 18 19 Which Germany city is the state capital of Baden-Württemberg? Phone and online entries open 7 November 2023 until midnight on 24 November 2023. 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 you supply to process your competition entry. For our privacy notice visit hearst.co.uk/privacy-notice. One entry per household. Phone and online entries to reach us by closing date…