Table of contents for 13th Jan 2026 in Woman's Weekly

Jam today… and tomorrow ''Unlike the king in AA Milne’s poem, who only wanted butter for the royal slice of bread, I’m very keen on marmalade – it’s long been my favourite preserve. But for a few years now, my daughter has been making her own unique recipe jam, using a mixture of hedgerow berries and wild fruits. It’s absolutely delicious! As someone never previously a fan of jam, I’m converted, spreading it on hot buttered toast and matching any croissant that crosses my path with a generous helping. Which made me unusually interested in our jammy delights cookery feature on page 34.''…

''I’m hitting the road again in February with my new live show, This is Me. I did a show in 2024 called Naked, and that was all-singing, all-dancing with a live band and backing singers. The reason I called my first solo tour Naked wasn’t because I intended getting naked, but because I was laying myself bare and I knew I’d feel incredibly exposed doing it. I’d always been surrounded by my sisters and never ventured out as a solo artist before. I thought, ‘I know I’m scared to death but I’m going to bite the bullet and do it.’ My new This is Me tour is almost like ‘An Evening With’ – kind of telling my life story, with some old videos from back in the day. In the…

‘It’s an astonishing experience – the noise travels for miles and it’s thrilling’ Catherine Lane, 76, lives in Oxfordshire. She is a retired headteacher and widowed, with two adult sons. I’ve loved the sound of bells ever since hearing them as a child, playing outside on a Sunday evening. Years later, with my own family, living in a village in Berkshire, I saw bell-ringers in the gallery when I went to church. I asked if anyone could have a go. They were very keen to teach me so, as soon as my sons were old enough, I cycled there twice a week to learn how to do it. I’ve been ringing for 40 years now. ‘It’s a feat of coordination and timing’ It takes anything from a couple of sessions…

3 HOT PINK Fitness buys 1 Add a vibrant pop of pink and good support with the soft and stretchy Reebok Tiana Racer Back Bra, £26, sizes xs-l, asos.com 2 Is it a kettlebell? A dumbbell? A weight plate? It’s all three! Get a vibrant at-home workout with the Pro Fitness 3-in-1 Kettlebell Dumbbell. Available in different sizes, from £20, Argos 3 Work out in style in these flared leggings, with a flattering high-waisted elasticated fit in a moisture-wicking, squat-proof soft fabric. Gym King Pink 365 Flared Yoga Leggings Regular, £35, sizes 6-16, Next MY HEALTHY LIFE Pip Payne is the creator of award-winning blog The Slimming Foodie. My fail-safe remedy I always make chicken stock whenever I roast a chicken, and I try to keep a batch tucked…

HABITAT AT SAINSBURY’S GEORGE HOME AT ASDA NUTMEG HOME AT MORRISONS…

I Shop, Therefore I Am: The ’90s, Harvey Nicks, and Me by Mary Portas (£20, HB, Cannongate) From her early days as a window dresser, Mary Portas recalls the ambition and foresight that fuelled her rise through the retail world. Immersed in 90s nostalgia and a whirlwind fashion scene, she recounts taking on the challenge of transforming Harvey Nichols, the very place where the stars of Absolutely Fabulous would quaff their champagne. In her own words, it’s a candid, stylish journey of grit, vision and determination that reshaped a shop and her career. Medusa by Rosie Hewlett (£16.99, HB, Transworld) Written during the Covid-19 lockdown, this story offers a unique take on Greek mythology. The monster of legends, shown to be a victim of the gods, becomes a moving, human…

JOURNEY THROUGH TIME The Art Deco movement inspired classic travel posters during the 1920s, promising the glamour of London destinations or healthy visits to the sea and countryside. Art Deco: The Golden Age of Poster Design, is now at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden until spring 2027. ✱ ltmuseum.co.uk The power of wildlife The nature reserve at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire began as a two-acre site, bought for £10 by the National Trust in 1899. Since then, it has expanded to more than 2,000 acres. Its success as a wildlife haven means that it is home to 10,000 species – the first time so many have been recorded in a single UK nature reserve. Among them are glow-worms, water voles (pictured), clearwing moths (which mimic wasps) and Norfolk…

Agatha Christie is one of the world’s most beloved authors. She rose to fame with her novels that defined the ‘whodunnit’ genre – and are still hugely popular today although she died on 12 January 1976. Having sold more than two billion books to date, Christie is the bestselling novelist of all time (outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare). But how did she come to claim such a title? Born in 1890 into a well-to-do family in Devon, Christie wrote her first short story aged 18, but it wasn’t until she was 30 that her first novel was published. She went on to write 66 detective novels, plus many short stories and plays. Christie’s life experiences frequently inspired her stories. They were often set at wealthy country house parties,…

1 COMFORTING WASH It’s easy to neglect your body in the winter but swapping to a more moisturising shower-time option such as Dove Advanced Care Nourishing Silk Body Wash, £4.99, Superdrug, is a great way of keeping your skin soft and smooth, without having to hang around in the cold waiting for your body cream to sink in. 2 TONE UP Toners aren’t essential but they can be a great way of adding a much-needed extra layer of moisture to your skin. Nip+Fab Ceramide Fix Base Build Moisture Milk, £29.95, lookfantastic.com, immediately soothes and softens, acting as a cleanser, toner and serum all in one. It’s designed for morning and evening use. 3 SMART SERUM Korean skincare prioritises hydration – it’s the cornerstone of skin health. Dr Althea Aqua Marine…

Bean and root veg casserole This spiced veggie stew will warm you from the inside. SERVES 4 PREP 20 mins, plus soaking the beans overnight COOK 1 hr 35 mins ✱ 1tbsp vegetable oil✱ 1 onion, chopped✱ 3 garlic cloves, crushed✱ ½ red chilli, seeds removed, finely chopped✱ 2 star anise ✱ 1 cinnamon stick✱ 175g dried cannellini beans, soaked overnight✱ 300ml vegetable stock✱ 3 sprigs thyme✱ 100g dried apricots, roughly chopped✱ 100g potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks✱ 300g sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks ✱ 350g butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunks ✱ 1tsp rose harissa (or use regular harissa paste) ✱ Large handful parsley, finely chopped 1 Heat the oil in a large casserole over medium heat. Mix in the onion, cooking for 10 mins…

Coping with… CATARACTS This medical condition causes cloudiness of the eye’s lens, leading to blurred vision and loss of sight Cataracts usually affect older adults but can occur in children. They progress through four stages: initially the early stage shows minor cloudiness; the immature stage is more significant, with partial opacity obstructing vision; in the mature stage, the lens becomes completely opaque; and by the hypermature stage, the lens shrinks, wrinkles and can liquify. Symptoms of cataracts usually develop slowly and are often different in each eye, including blurred vision, poor night vision, difficulty reading and watching television, with discomfort in, or being sensitive to, light and glare. Double vision, halos around lights, faded colours (especially blue) and more frequent changing of a prescription for glasses occur. See an optician,…

Fluffy jammy sponge A nostalgic treat – perfectly light and airy with a buttercream filling and, of course, jam. SERVES 12PREP 20 minsCOOK 25 mins, plus cooling ✱ 225g unsalted butter, softened✱ 225g golden caster sugar✱ 4 medium free-range eggs✱ 175g self-raising flour✱ 50g ground almonds✱ Pinch of salt✱ 2tbsp milk✱ Approx 4tbsp jam FOR THE BUTTERCREAM ✱ 150g unsalted butter, softened✱ 300g icing sugar, plus extra to dust YOU WILL NEED ✱ 2 x 20cm sandwich tins, lined; a piping bag fitted with a round nozzle 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Cream the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in 2 whole eggs and 2 yolks (reserve the whites). Mix in the flour and almonds in 3 stages with a pinch of salt,…

Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ 30x40cm outer fabric✱ 30x37cm lining fabric✱ 2m of 8mm-wide braided cord✱ Matching sewing thread STOCKIST Stephanoise round braided cord in Burgundy, £1.39m, and Tammy handmade swirling sunburst cotton duck canvas, £19.99m, both Minerva 1 Cut the outer fabric into a 15x40cm rectangle, a 15x16cm rectangle for the pocket and two 6cm squares for the cord holders. From the lining fabric, cut two 15x22cm rectangles and a 15x16cm rectangle for the pocket. 2 Join the pocket rectangles right sides together along one 15cm side with 1cm seam allowance. Fold the pocket pieces back on themselves so the fabrics are wrong sides together. Press, then topstitch 5mm from the stitched edge. 3 Take the remaining outer fabric rectangle and mark the centre lengthways. Position the pocket…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 82-86 (92-97) (102-107) (112-117)cm/32-34 (36-38) (40-42) (44-46)in. Actual measurements 96.5 (107) (117) (128)cm/38 (42¼) (46) (50½)in. Length to shoulder 55 (56) (57) (58)cm/21¾ (22) (22½) (23)in. Sleeve length All sizes 45cm/17¾in. MATERIALS 4 (4) (5) (5) x 100g (360m) balls of Emu Batik DK (100% acrylic) in Whirl (002)*. Pair each of 3.25mm (No. 10), 3.75mm (No. 9) and 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles; stitch holders. TENSION 23 stitches and 32 rows to 10x10cm, over pattern, using 4mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS Dec(’d), decrease(d); inc, increase by working twice into the same st; k, knit; p, purl; patt, pattern; skpo, slip 1, k1, pass slipped stitch over (to dec 1 st); st(s), stitch(es); tog, together (dec by working as many sts together as stated). NOTES If…

Wordwise You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words are allowed. There is one nine-letter word in the grid, for which the clue is: Uneven, variable. Average = 15 More than 25 = well done Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer. CLUE: Country frequently feeling cutting-edge (5-2-3-3). EASY CLUES Across Down CRYPTIC CLUES Across Down LINKWORDS Fit 10 words into the grid so that each links with the end of the word on its left and the beginning of the one on the right. Then unscramble…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR This is a great time for completing old tasks. You’ll create space for something better and more exciting. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Your home and surroundings would benefit from an upgrade. Even small changes can uplift your energy and mood. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Communication is your strength this week, so speak up. A well-timed suggestion could lead to an unexpected opportunity. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Focus on your physical wellbeing, creating a healthy routine. Small improvements will pay off in the long run. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG A creative project or idea could capture your interest. Set aside time to explore it in more depth. You’re ready for a new direction, especially in your work…

FOREVER TRENCH The trench silhouette never goes out of style, meaning you can invest in luxurious fabrics that stand the test of time. SMART-BUY SKIRT Pair this flattering A-line maxi shape with a cosy roll-neck and boots, or dress it up with a silky blouse and pointed flats. HERO TROUSERS Want to upgrade from denim, but not quite ready for leather? Suede’s matt appearance adds visual interest without being too loud. INVESTMENT JACKET The sales are the perfect opportunity to invest in real suede. Thanks to its rich texture, this luxe fabric holds muted colour beautifully.…

People don’t care Q I really like supporting others and listening to their problems. Recently, though, I’ve had a few issues myself and I’ve noticed that no one is that interested, even when I raise specific points. They never ask how things are going, they just talk to me about themselves. I feel invisible. Name and address withheld A It sounds like you’ve become everyone’s emotional anchor and they’re used to you being there for them. Most relationships fall into a pattern, and it looks like you are often acting as the ‘carer’ and others as the ‘cared for’. What you’re asking is for these roles to be more flexible, depending on individual needs. Think of someone in your family or friendship group you can talk to, and tell them how you’re feeling and what you need. Once…

You can call me Hannah,’ said Mrs Protheroe. But that’s never going to work, is it? Hannah is such a young person’s name these days. Not that Mrs P is all that old. She’s probably in her late 50s. It’s just that I’ve never met anybody who looks more like somebody called Mrs Protheroe and less like somebody called Hannah. If you’ve been following events on this page – and if you have, well done you! – you’ll know that Mrs P is the new manager of our charity shop. She is a big noise on the committee that runs this and one other, rather larger, shop. As you’ll also remember, she was originally interviewing my friend and colleague Wendy for the manager’s job, but decided she’d rather like to…