Table of contents for 35-2021 in Best

The Paralympics starts today and we hope 2021 brings more Gold medals for Team GB. There is one friend of mine who will be watching the games silently with her own poignant memories, Anthea Turner. Her sister Ruth was practically paralysed from the waist down, having been born with a severe form of spina bifida. Ruth lost her battle for life at just 15, but not before she had shown herself to be a potentially brilliant swimmer. Anthea is designed to sink – and has only ever managed a width certificate. Ruth, on the other hand, worked her way up to a mile. If she’d lived, Anthea imagines her cheering on the Paralympic team beside her. She shares her memories of her sister on page 10. Maisie Summers-Newton, 19, is a…

Verbal stand-offs in the world of showbiz aren’t exactly rare – but even at best, we’ve been open-mouthed at the recent locking of horns between our straight-talking columnist Carol McGiffin and controversial broadcaster Piers Morgan. Yes, Loose Women panellist Carol and former Good Morning Britain host Piers have been involved in a rowdy Twitter war, following feisty Carol’s description of Piers earlier this month – in this magazine – as a ‘hypocritical monster’. When the Mirror website said Carol had ‘reignited her feud’ with Piers, he slammed back to his followers on Twitter, ‘I don’t have feuds with irrelevant has-beens’, alongside a number of laughing-face emojis. Asked to retort by our editor, she replied, ‘I can’t be bothered, I wasn’t asking for a feud, I was just exercising my free speech.’…

One of our most brilliant, yet unassuming, actors, at a sprightly 75, is Brenda Blethyn OBE. She still has us engrossed with her shabby North-East detective, Vera, who is now back for an 11th series! The Ramsgate-born star – who has been with her second husband, art director Michael Mayhew, for three decades (they married in 2010) – opens up about the alluring charm of her scruffy character, the show she’d secretly love a crack at – and why she’s no longer got itchy feet… Hi Brenda, so you survived lockdown? Yes! I cleared out my cupboards. I also had a pile of fan mail sitting there for ages, so I tackled that. I’d make stuff for the freezer too, as shopping was a bit scary. I bought a sewing machine and…

Psychologist and author of 2 Minutes’ Peace (Quercus) Corrine Sweet says, ‘It’s totally human to look for support after a devastating grief. Two people who’ve lost partners need as much comfort and understanding as they can give each other. ‘It’s important to get on with living. Don’t listen to others, no one else knows how hard things can be after the loss of a partner. ‘The fact Charlotte has found love again with Rad’s best friend makes sense; they can think of him together, fondly. ‘Far from a betrayal, it’s more like extending an already fond family.’…

As I walked into the London bar to meet my friend for a drink, her eyes ran appraisingly over my outfit. ‘I love that dress,’ she gushed. Then she squinted closer. ‘Wasn’t that the one you wore last week, but – no – it looks totally different.’ I nodded. It was no surprise she clocked I’d worn my favourite black dress. Because while some women pride themselves on wearing a different outfit every time they go out, I’m pleased to say I’ve worn this one dress over 100 times since I bought it three years ago. It had caught my eye when I was leafing through the sales rack in Bicester Village Shopping Outlet. ‘This could be perfect,’ I thought. I flicked the price tag and saw it was £80.…

Dropping my bag in the hallway of a huge house in South-West France, I looked around. It was beautiful, old and crammed full of antiques. But this wasn’t a luxury holiday home – it was mine. For a few weeks, at least. You see, I’m a pro house-sitter and I’ve been looking after people’s homes since January 2019. It’s been interesting, to say the least… mostly, I look after pets or gardens but it can be just to stop the house sitting empty to prevent a break-in. I’ve stayed in Central Paris, near the Eiffel Tower, just to look after some Bonsai trees in a flat! I’ve stayed in Barcelona, in an apartment with a roof terrace and a slightly crazy cat. I’ve always been fairly nomadic. My family are…

Coconut Panna Cotta with Mango Coulis Use ramekins if you don’t have darioles, and simply serve topped with coulis without turning out. Hands-on time: 25 min Cooking time: About 40min, plus overnight chilling Serves 6 5 gelatin leaves,11.5cm x 6.5cm sheets400ml tin coconut milk300ml single cream75g icing sugar2 ripe mangoesFinely grated zest of 1 limeFlaked coconut, to decorate, optional 1 Oil and line the bases of 6 x 150ml dariole moulds with greaseproof paper. 2 Put gelatin into a bowl and cover with cold water. Soak for 5min, lift out gelatin and squeeze to remove liquid. 3 Pour coconut milk, cream, 2tbsp icing sugar and softened gelatin into a medium pan over medium heat and stir until sugar and gelatin have dissolved, about 5min. Take off heat and allow to…

HATING MY SKIN TAGS! I have developed the most disgusting skin tags in my armpits, around my groin and under the breasts. They make me feel deeply unattractive and can also be very uncomfortable, especially if my clothes catch on them while getting dressed or undressed. How can I get rid of them – can this be done at a GP’s surgery? Linda, Sunderland DR HILARY SAYS: Skin tags are extremely common and totally benign. They tend to develop in the areas you describe where there is loose skin, which can rub on adjacent skin and in areas which trap perspiration. They are smooth soft fleshy growths consisting of loose collagen, tiny blood vessels and skin. Removal is relatively easy but because it is considered a cosmetic procedure, it will…

BRILLIANT BUTTERFLIES Discover how you can encourage these beautiful creatures to thrive A declining population, butterfly season runs from March until early November, so this is prime time to attract them to your garden. You don’t need to be an expert, or have a large space! DO: ★Grow your grass. Keep a corner patch to grow wild, which will provide a sanctuary. ★Focus on sunny spots. Butterflies like warmth, so keep a patch of wall bare for them to bask, or plant butterfly-friendly flowers in bright, sheltered spots. ★Make a log pile, which is an ideal setting for these creatures to hibernate. PLANT: ★Marjoram and lavender, perennial herbs which flower throughout the Summer. A great source of nectar. ★Verbena bonariensis is easy to grow from seed and flowers from now…

As the police investigated further into Duffy, it appeared, despite evading the police for so long, he’d left a trail of clues. The biggest of which was the use of a stick in a tourniquet he used to strangle his victims. And there was the distinctive ‘somyarn’ used in the murders – a ball of which had been found at Duffy’s parents’ house. Also, a pile of burnt tissues found next to Maartje’s body linked her murder to the rapes. The rape victims had also been given tissues to wipe themselves after the attack in order to remove evidence. Further investigation discovered fibres from Duffy’s clothes on both Alison Day and Maartje Tamboezer’s clothes. The evidence against him was now overwhelming. ‘They were described as two bodies with one brain’…

Never underestimate the youthful power of a gorgeous smile. Online searches for lipstick at Boots.com have increased a whopping 731 per cent but where do you start? From teeth whitening to the perfect pout, we’ve got you covered… 1 SIZE DOES MATTER We mean toothbrushes here. ‘If it’s too big then you’ll be unable to clean the back teeth efficiently,’ warns Dr Mervyn Druian from The London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry. He also recommends soft bristles. ‘Thoroughness is required, not aggressive brushing.’ Colgate Bamboo Charcoal Soft Brush, £4, is small, or try Oral B Pro 600 Floss Action Electric Toothbrush, £60. 2 THE WHITE STUFF Step aside, faffy kits. Brush MOON’s Kendall Jenner Teeth Whitening Pen, £19.95, on to the surface for instant results, with benefits over time, thanks to its blend…

TOP TIP! Add a drop of highlighter before applying for an extra glow.…

PEPPER, CHORIZO AND MANCHEGO FRITTATAS Pop these into your picnic hamper as a moreish treat. Makes 12 Hands-on time: 20min, plus cooling Cooking time: about 35min 300g waxy potatoes, such asNew or Charlotte, peeled weight100g diced chorizo100g roasted peppers from a jar, chopped6 large eggs150g crème fraîche50g Manchego cheese, grated1tbsp finely chopped parsley 1 Preheat oven to 180ºC (160ºC fan)/mark 4. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases or baking parchment squares. Cut the potatoes into large chunks and put into a medium pan. Cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10min, until just tender. Drain and leave to steam dry until cool. 2 Meanwhile, heat a small frying pan over medium heat and fry chorizo for 5min, until golden and crisp. Empty into a…

RADIANCE RESCUE PLAN Why do we get dull skin? Stress, lack of sleep, sun exposure, pollution, incorrect skincare or just being run-down. Here’s your starting point: ● One minute daily massage can transform skin. Cleanse thoroughly and apply a few drops of face oil or serum. Sweep upwards with your fingertips and then do a series of gentle pinches. Then using fingertips sweep alternate hands up your neck following with firm circular movements around your chin. Move across your cheeks, brow bone and forehead. Holidermie Face Ball, £23, is a pressure ball with a smooth surface and rounded edge, ideal for stimulating sluggish skin. Use in gentle circular motions. ● Exfoliating plays a key part in restoring radiance. Peel pads contain the same potent ingredients used in clinic peels, but…

DRINK SPIKING HORROR EAMONN: The idea is to have a good time. To mix with friends or colleagues, meet someone new, take in the music and probably enjoy a dance. What’s there not to like? Well, increasingly, the scourge of lacing or spiking someone’s drink continues to be a danger. Who does it? Why do they do it? What’s the objective? Robbery? Sexual assault? Whatever it is, it is a horrible intention which not only results in trauma for the victim but, in some cases, can be life-threatening. If you’re a parent, this really is your worst nightmare. Increasingly, we are worrying not just about what time your child will come home at, but if they will come home at all. Millie Taplin, 18, joined some friends for her first…

THE CRIME: Three women sexually abused and strangled to death. A spate of rapes. Was the same man – or men – responsible for the atrocious acts? THE CASE: Alison Day was just 19 when she disappeared back in December 1985. The teenager was on her way to the train station at Hackney Wick to visit her fiancé when she disappeared without a trace. She was reported missing by her parents and the police immediately jumped on the case. Alison was not your typical missing person. She had a good job and happy relationship, so no reason to disappear. In fact, the sudden vanishing of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl was so baffling, it quickly captured the interest of the media. The train station was a quiet and desolate place, a…

Do you have a story you’d like to share with our amazing army of best readers? We’re looking for real-life stories from women just like you and your friends – and will pay up to £250 for all those that make it into these pages. Stories can be funny, sad, emotional, inspirational – just like some of the examples on this page. The only rule: they must be true. Have you been on a diet that changed your life? Have you battled against tough times and come out fighting? Have you found love or happiness against the odds? If you – or a friend – have a story to share, whatever the subject, do drop us a line, with your contact details, a photo and a brief outline of your…

Ruby Wax’s often riotous celebrity interviews in the Nineties were some of the most talked-about shows on TV. They have never been repeated, and Ruby has never watched them back – until now, in a fascinating two-part BBC Two series, When Ruby Wax Met… Here, we catch up with the straight-talking American to look back at some of her best (and worst!) encounters. Ironically, the star – who’s been married to her second husband, TV producer Ed Bye, for 33 years – left the celebrity life behind in the early Noughties, when her TV career imploded and she suffered a bout of depression. Ruby also touches on the new passion she emerged with – mindfulness… When Ruby Wax Met… revisits some iconic interviews. Is it true you never watched them…

TOP TIP! Dresses may be the Summer wardrobe staple but jumpsuits are the ‘one-and-done’ item for Fall. Autumn.…

My two daughters settled down on the sofa next to my boyfriend, Jason. ‘Tell us about Daddy,’ begged Emma, then 12. ‘Was he always getting into mischief?’ ‘Yes,’ Jason laughed. ‘Your dad was always a joker. But my best memories are of football. Your dad was a big Sheffield United fan, just like me.’ I smiled. I had never envisaged this. But then, I’d never dreamed I’d lose my husband, Rad – then find love with one of his best friends. Rad and I had met in March 1991. I was just 19, out with colleagues at the nurses’ social club in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. That night, I’d spotted an unfamiliar face at the bar. ‘Darren Radford,’ he smiled. ‘But everyone calls me Rad.’ Rad was a cheeky chappie, outgoing…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Should you let your ‘femininity shine’? It sounds like something out of a Twenties debutante guide but it’s the advice of Anna Bey, who shares self-help videos on YouTube. And when it comes to getting into high society, bagging an eligible bachelor and having good etiquette, the elegance coach doesn’t hold back with her words of wisdom. ‘It’s about allowing your femininity to really shine through your personality, because femininity is such a great superpower that us women are blessed with having,’ says the 35-year-old, who lives in Geneva with her banker husband. ‘We are moving away from femininity in our society, meaning that it becomes rarer and rarer, so that when we actually see a feminine woman, she stands out.’ Now that may sound old-fashioned to…

HOW IT WORKS ● Enjoying a cocktail or ice-cream on your Summer break doesn’t mean you’ve busted your shape for good. By focusing on foods with a low glycemic index (GI) – including whole grains, pulses and chicken, as well as thyroid-boosting tuna, garlic and Brazil nuts, which work to stimulate the release from sugar from the cells – you can burn fat faster, targeting the waistline. ● Cut out obvious carbs like white bread, cakes and sweets, as well as sugar-loaded fizzy drinks and alcohol, and swap in lean protein and fibre-based foods to ramp up your metabolism. That’ll mean you’ll burn more calories throughout the day. ● Get a grip on your hormones! According to Suzie Sawyer, clinical nutritionist for Alive (feelaliveuk.com), ‘Hormones fluctuate around the time of…

VIRGO 24 August – 23 September Virgos like Florence and the Machine singer, Florence Welch, and There’s Something About Mary actress, Cameron Diaz, will always be on their best behaviour even when hidden resentments start rising to the surface. Creative outlets outside their work are good for mental health and can relieve stress and tension. LIBRA 24 September – 23 October Happiness and harmony abounds. Twosome events and joint decisions will make this a week you’ll always remember. You’re able to give full vent to your romantic side and will feel closer to your partner. Are you single? Showing your emotions will attract someone passionate. SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November Time spent away from familiar surroundings will do a lot to change your mind about a situation you’ve been…

DAUGHTER’S CRUSH IS OUT OF CONTROL! My 15-year-old is convinced she’s going to marry Zac Efron (I’m not sure how, we live in Romford). She’s got gorgeous blonde hair and blue eyes, but even went behind my back and dyed her hair dark because she read somewhere he likes brunettes! She’s now started speaking with an odd American twang and keeps trying to ‘manifest’ him into her life by following him on social media. She just keeps saying ‘Mum, I’m speaking things into existence… I will marry him.’ Part of me admires her spirit – but if the boy-man got engaged tomorrow, it would be like dealing with what would feel like an actual break-up for her! What can I do? Melanie, Romford Don’t do a thing. There’s no need…

It’s a situation we never wanted to imagine. After years of resistance, the Taliban has taken over the Afghan capital, Kabul, and has control of the country. And while the extremist group have promised an amnesty and to protect women’s rights, thousands have swamped the capital’s airport. And it’s no wonder they’re fearful. Despite their ‘trust us’ promises, when the Taliban last took control of Afghanistan in the late Nineties, they supported brutal punishments, in line with their strict interpretation of Sharia law, such as public executions and amputations. They banned television, music and cinema and disapproved of girls over 10 being educated. Men had to grow beards. Women were told to cover up and wear burkas. One man, however, who is not planning his own escape is Paul ‘Pen’…

What would be your must-have items, were you stranded on a desert island? The question is the premise of long-running Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs – one of the most moving and entertaining formats on the airwaves since it began, in a bomb-damaged London studio, in 1942. Each week, a guest is ‘cast away’ on a desert island – with some songs, a book and a luxury item. Hosted in recent years by Scot Kirsty Young, until Lauren Laverne took over in 2018, the show continues to attract the great and the good of the entertainment world. Here are some of our favourite ever ‘castaways’… JUDI DENCH (2015) Hilariously, the inimitable Dame Judi Dench got into a tizzy and apologised for her choices on her Desert Island Discs, exclaiming, ‘What a nightmare!’ when asked to…

Operation Hart was a police investigation set up to look into up to 40 rapes in and around London that began in 1982. The first victim was a 22-year-old who was walking late at night from a party when she was dragged to a shed where she was stripped, blindfolded and raped. The victim reported that it had been two men who had raped her. The following year, there were 18 further rapes, all in a similar area of London and all suspected to be connected. The police officers working on the cases faced a daunting task, as the initial list of potential sex offenders was 1,800 long. Finally, they got lucky. They found evidence that proved the rapist was a blood type A secretor – which meant the rapist’s…

Ingrid was late, which in itself wasn’t unusual, but today of all days she really needed not to be. ‘You’ve got to be kidding,’ she said as she stepped outside in her lucky red shoes and felt a drop of rain fall on her skin. Tilting her head back, she looked along the skyline to where black clouds were gathering. Ingrid glanced at her watch. If she went back up to her fifth-floor apartment for an umbrella, she’d lose more time. The alternative would be to risk turning up looking like the veritable drowned rat. But what would be the point of turning up at all if they decided not to wait? It was a moment she would turn over in her mind for years to come – the knowledge…

FUNKY SOUL (OLD SKOOL) Spotify Kool & The Gang, The Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder are just a few of the many incredible ‘funky’ artists on this genius Spotify playlist. Perfect for a sunny day! SOUND OF FUNK Amazon Music Feel the funk with these fun classics from James Brown, Marvin Gaye and more on Amazon’s brilliant playlist. ‘Alexa, play the Sound of Funk!’ FUNKY PLAYLIST Spotify Wanna get funky? Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles and MC Hammer have you covered on this fabulous soundtrack – available on Spotify now.…

ARCHERY Robin Hood made it look so easy. Aim, twang, zip, thud, and there’s your arrow smack-bang in the bullseye, deer rump (aka dinner), or hapless Sheriff of Nottingham sidekick. Even if our Olympic archers missed out on the medals this year, just hitting that target 70 metres away and only 122cm in diameter is impressive. A recurve archery mixed team event was added for the first time, with each of 16 teams comprising one woman and one man. GB’s Sarah Bettles and Patrick Huston lost to Mexico in the quarter-finals, but finished a respectable eighth. So, could a career in the discipline be on the cards for yours truly? New Forest Activities based in Beaulieu offers a range of archery experiences using modern bows and arrows. Best for adults,…