Table of contents for 24th Mar 2026 in Woman's Weekly

"Being proud to be British seems a bit unfashionable. With wars, pandemics and financial crises all on the recent agenda, it’s easy to lose track of what a wonderful country we live in. Politicians earn their corn by trying to make out everything is awful and will only get better if we vote for them. But experts who compare us with other countries say the truth is different. And, in historical terms, the two most influential cultures in world history are ancient Greece and our own. Plus, who can’t be proud of a country that has not only led the world in so many ways, but also embraces wild eccentricity! See page 10."…

"I will turn 80 in a few years’ time, and I’ve been very lucky in that I’ve really done everything that I’ve wanted to do. You never know quite what’s coming along, and if I think of something I want to do, I tend to just get on with it. Last year, I wrote the biography of Christopher Robin to mark Winnie the Pooh’s 100th birthday. I knew the real Christopher Robin Milne, who was a central character in the story, and when I began writing his biography, I had no idea it would probably be the most satisfying work I had ever penned. It was the same with giving up alcohol; I just got on with it. I gave it up for three months, then I had a drink…

‘I love helping people realise their potential’ Libby Summers, 52, owner of Stamford Strings, is a luthier – someone who makes string instruments. She lives in Stamford, Lincolnshire, and has three daughters. My love affair with the violin began when my grandfather, George, gave me a lovely one. I’ve played since I was 11. My first job was related to my social anthropology degree, but I also taught violin. When my girls were small, I ran my own knitwear design business. The marketplace became overcrowded, so I decided to combine my passions for music and craft. ‘I’ve played the violin since age 11’ Newark School of Violin Making ran an FE Diploma course in violin making. I’d never done woodworking before, but I was accepted on to the course in…

3 WAYS TO... Avoid a sleep divorce 1 GET A BIGGER BED Having more room means fewer disturbances and better temperature regulation. ‘We all move around in our sleep – having more space so we don’t disturb our partner makes for a sounder night,’ says sleep expert Sam Sadighi**. 2 TRY THE SCANDI METHOD Sleep under two separate duvets instead of one – again, for less disruption and maintaining a temperature that suits you. Try two separate mattress toppers too. 3 SEPARATE BEDTIMES ‘Go to bed when you feel sleepy,’ says Sam. Separate bedtimes ensure that you get good-quality sleep, prioritising energy and focus for the next day. Missing pillow talk? Use the evening to mindfully spend time together. EVERYDAY HABITS AGEING YOU FASTER THAN SMOKING Ralph Montague is a…

3 OF THE BEST... Cushions STYLE TIPS 1 GO FOR GREEN Vary the shades of green you use, from soft sages to dark olives. Don’t be afraid to mix up the tones of green too – yellowy khaki will sit happily alongside blue-based emerald in this palette. 2 CHOOSE JEWEL TONES Pick a statement shade to break up all the green. For this luxurious look, a jewel colour will work best, such as a sapphire blue or a ruby red. If the contrast is too stark, you can always introduce lighter versions of the colour to soften the overall look – soft pinks go well with burgundy and dark teal with navy blue. 3 PAIR WITH WONDERFULLY PLUSH TEXTURES Look for accessories with luxurious details – etched glassware, fringed lampshades…

Difficulty level YOU WILL NEED ✱ Old glass jars✱ Beading wire✱Wire cutters and pliers✱ Thin pastel ribbon✱ Scissors✱ White card✱ Letter stamps✱ Pastel stamping ink pads 1 Wash the glass jars with warm soapy water – glass yogurt pots or jam jars are perfect for this project. Wrap the wire around the rim of the glass jar, then bend up to make a loop to use as a handle. Twist off and secure the ends using wire cutters and pliers. 2 Cover the wire around each pot with ribbon, tied in place with a bow. Cut out labels from the white card and stamp with each egg hunt participant’s name before attaching to the pots with more ribbon.…

Difficulty level MEASUREMENTS Small hen 13cm/5in tall. Large hens 17cm/6½in tall. MATERIALS For 2 large hens and 1 small hen: 1 x 50g (104m) ball of King Cole Merino Blend DK (100% wool) in each of White (001), Green (Thyme 3492), Yellow (Gold 055) and Red (Scarlet 009); small amounts of Black and Orange DK*. Pair each of 3mm (No. 11) and 3.25mm (No. 10) knitting needles; toy stuffing. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk. TENSION 24 stitches and 32 rows to 10x10cm, over stocking stitch, using 3mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS B, through back of loop; dec(’d), decrease(d); inc(’d), increase(d); k, knit; p, purl; psso, pass sl st over; sl, slip; skpo, sl 1, k1, psso (to dec 1 st); ss, stocking stitch (k on right side and p on wrong side);…

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: Very hot. Average = 20 More than 40 = well done 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 the letters in the shaded squares to make a word. CLUE: Sideways somersaults with extended limbs. Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR This promises to be an exciting week ahead, filled with a myriad of activities and invitations. Your feet will hardly touch the ground! TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Peace, quiet and relaxation are important now. You may need to withdraw from the world to recharge your batteries. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Structure and organisation are the main themes this week. This is the perfect time to build solid foundations for the future. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Many new and innovative ideas may come to you now. Activate your creative streak and you’ll be thrilled with the results. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Cleaning, clearing, sorting, recycling and getting your house in order are all priorities for you this…

STEP INTO LOVE Steps remains the UK’s most successful mixed-sex pop group of all time. Here & Now: The Steps Musical is based on many of their memorable hits, including Tragedy and Heartbeat. It follows Caz and friends, who discover that dreams of love don’t always end in a happy-ever-after. The show is on in Plymouth from 24-28 March, and the cast has been joined by ex-Corrie star Sally Ann Matthews (above), and is on tour until 16 May. ✱ thestepsmusical.com Bouncing back Despite ongoing concerns about the decline in nature, there’s been positive news from The Wildlife Trusts. Last year, the charity recorded the rare wood white butterfly (main photo) in Montgomeryshire’s Roundton Hill reserve. In Kent, a population of Tiree Twist moths – thought to be extinct –…

Anyone doubting that Britain leads the world in eccentricity should take a look at our regional folk gatherings. From boat-burning to rushbearing, there’s a rich calendar of bizarre and wonderfully bonkers events. Here are just a few. Scotland’s Burryman On 7 August, the streets of South Queensferry in Edinburgh will be lined with people eager to catch a glimpse of the walking hedge-like creature that is the ‘Burryman’. Covered from head to toe in thousands of burrs, the sticky Velcro-like seed heads of the Burdock plant, and topped with a floral bowler hat, the Burryman walks the streets of the town bringing good luck. Folklore suggests its origins date back to the 10th century, when Scotland’s King Malcolm III was on the run from the English and escaped notice by…

1 ZEST FEST If you like citrus scents, you’ll adore PS… Pro Bergamot Splash Eau de Parfum, £8 for 50ml, Primark. Despite the price tag, this uplifting fragrance lingers all day, thanks to a potent blend of bergamot, grapefruit, cedarwood and vetiver. It opens with delicate florals and dries down to balance with earthy musks. 2 HOLIDAY NOSTALGIA Next Paradise Eau de Parfum, £18 for 100ml, Next, has been its bestselling fragrance for over 20 years, and it’s clear to see why. It has top notes of apple and lemon, a heart of magnolia and rose, and closes with musky sandalwood. The combination of fruity, floral and earthy notes transports you to your favourite tropical spot. 3 BRAZILIAN BEACH Delivering a fresh dose of salty and aquatic scents, Sol de…

Choc-caramel wreath cake An indulgent showstopper that is far simpler to make than it looks. SERVES 10-12 PREP 40 mins COOK 20-25 mins ✱ 90g butter, melted✱ 90g vegetable oil✱ 100g soft light brown sugar✱ 170g caster sugar✱ 2 medium free-range eggs✱ 75ml brewed instant coffee✱ 200g plain flour✱ 50g cocoa powder✱ ½tsp bicarbonate of soda✱ 2tsp baking powder✱ 200g crème fraiche✱ 100g salted caramel FOR THE BUTTERCREAM ✱ 200g unsalted butter, softened✱ 400g icing sugar✱100g dark chocolate, melted and cooled until tepid FOR THE DECORATION ✱ 1 shredded wheat, roughly broken✱ 50g milk chocolate, melted✱ Handful of chocolate eggs YOU WILL NEED ✱2 x 20cm cake tins, greased and lined 1 Heat the oven to 170C Fan/Gas 5. Put the melted butter and oil in a mixing bowl. Whisk…

Epilepsy and pregnancy A large multinational study in the Nordic countries that compared pregnancy outcomes of women with epilepsy with those of women without epilepsy concluded that the risk of a range of serious complications – including pre-eclampsia, embolism, disseminated intravascular coagulation, cerebrovascular events and mental health conditions – is substantially raised. Women with epilepsy also had a higher risk of death in childbirth than women without epilepsy. The study also recommended tighter monitoring and closer care for pregnant women with epilepsy. THALAMOTOMY FOR ESSENTIAL TREMOR Though common, essential tremor can be disabling. Unilateral ultrasound ablation of the ventralis intermedius nucleus in the thalamus is an effective treatment, but risks leaving a persisting tremor. Bilateral ablation was thought risky, but US studies suggest carrying it out in stages may reduce…

"If you are a regular reader of this page, you will know that my little sister Deb is subjected to merciless teasing on a regular basis. There is some nice stuff too, but merciless teasing is the default position. This week comes as something of an apology. You see, it turns out that she can be invaluable in a crisis. This was quite a revelation. We were in the kitchen, staring out of the window at Mr Dear, who was up a ladder by the hedge. You can almost see what’s coming, can’t you? Good in a crisis. Ladder. Mr Dear. ‘What’s he doing?’ said Deb. ‘Search me,’ I replied. ‘He said he was going out to clip the hedge. Apparently it wasn’t done to his satisfaction before winter set…

Never give up! Here is a photo of me at an exercise class. I was 70 at the time and now, aged 74, I have just rejoined the class in January. As we age, we can still exercise, even if it’s not as much as we used to. I can still do weights, though lighter ones now. Never give up – you don’t know how capable you are! Veronica O’Reilly, Wicklow Town PAWS FOR THOUGHT I had a wonderful time at my granddaughter Holly’s wedding to Liam. The bride was stunning. Although, it seems the most photographed member of the wedding party was my daughter’s chihuahua, Sir Peanut! A proper gentleman in his tuxedo. Janet Smith, Amesbury, Wiltshire ✱ Got a pet pic that makes you smile? We can give…

COMFY CO-ORD For an easy-breezy look, reach for a co-ord. Its versatility will take you from day to night – just pop on some kitten heels. DO-IT-ALL DENIM Looking for a new go-to pair of trousers this spring? These loose denims – with their soft, flowing fabric and elasticated waistband – are super comfy and would be ideal. BOLD BOTTOMS Don’t be afraid to play with print. If your bottoms are loud, keep the top pattern subtle, such as a stripe in coordinating hues, and team with sleek accessories. CLASSIC CAMEL Pleated trouser styles will add volume to your bottom half, so tuck in your top or wear with a form-fitting knit to balance your look. Camel and navy is a smart colour combination.…

Before the days of grabbing a sandwich on the go, luncheon vouchers encouraged generations of workers to down tools and have a decent midday meal. These paper vouchers, which looked a bit like monopoly money, were accepted at restaurants and cafes across the country that displayed the distinctive green-and-white round ‘LV’ sticker in their window. Efficiency, not apathy The scheme was launched in 1946, when food rationing was very much in force after World War Two. The idea was to ensure that workers had at least one decent meal a day by giving them a daily allowance to help with the cost. The vouchers were tax- and national-insurance-exempt up to a set amount each day, and could be used in restaurants and cafes that accepted them. Employers bought into the…

Why am I so apologetic? Q I have a lot of energy for my age. I know that makes me fortunate, as I inherited it from my mother. But I’m sick and tired of people telling me I’m marvellous and doing things they couldn’t do. My friends and I are in our 70s, and I’m aware some of them are struggling with their health. Instead of feeling pleased at my good fortune, I find myself making excuses as though I’ve done something wrong. Sally, London A It’s interesting how being praised can make us feel bad. I’m sure your friends admire you and want you to know that. They will have no idea it’s making you feel uncomfortable. There will, of course, be a bit of envy and I wonder if that’s what you’re picking…

Dandelion is Dead by Rosie Storey (£16.99, HB, HarperCollins) Following her vibrant sister Dandelion’s untimely death, Poppy is spiralling. Seeking solace, she explores Dandelion’s phone and, on a whim, connects with stranger Jake on an old dating app, posing as her sister. Jake is entranced, and Poppy feels something beyond despair. But how long can the pretence last before everything unravels? Offbeat, wickedly funny, yet devastating, this debut is a raw journey through grief, love and human flaws. Shocking, heartfelt and inspiring, Poppy is an unconventional modern heroine – a must-read. Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester (£20, HB, Faber & Faber) This gripping, twisty and amoral revenge thriller deserves to be a word-of-mouth sensation. Boomer Kate is bereft when her husband Jack dies unexpectedly. Her grief…