Woman & Home

In the face of adversity, it’s not always easy to see the positives or hang on to the good times. I admire and aspire to be like those that can – turning often unbearable moments into something constructive and beneficial for others. In this issue, w

Ticking stripe cushion in Airforce Blue, £65, ianmankin.co.uk; Rich Orange super-soft cotton bath towel, £6.50, george.com; Hammam towels, from £36 each, bohemiadesign.co.uk; similar Nkomi basket, £50, nkuku.com; vintage stool, try vinterior.co; simi

How uncanny. The central London hotel where Sara Cox is shooting her w&h cover is on her shortlist of 50th birthday bash venues. ‘Have you seen the room next door for parties? It’s amazing,’ enthuses the BBC Radio 2 weekday teatime-show host, who is

Television presenter Julia, 52, revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2021, and proceeded to share her treatment journey in a documentary, Breast Cancer and Me, which included having two lymph nodes removed as well as underg

Shhh! Don’t tell anyone but… men gossip just as much as women and, whisper it, are much more bitchy. The autumn means more work events, and what I’ve noticed is that it’s the fellas who want all the ‘hot goss’ over cold beer. Many of my most recent c

Author, artist, educator and coach Katie Carr, 45, completed her brother Toby’s book Moderate Becoming Good Later, based on his adventures at sea before he died last year, aged 40. She lives in Barcelona with her partner and two young sons. Three mo

When the end came, it was much sooner than her family had feared. While it has recently been reported that the late Queen had been suffering from myeloma – a form of bone-marrow cancer – and knew her remaining time was limited, she was determined to

Any child of the 70s will remember the embarrassment of wearing hand-me-downs. It’s probably why many of us still hanker after the thrill of twirling in a brand-new outfit. Let’s face it – fashion is ultimately an expression of our identity. But with

Jetting into a global music festival by helicopter, looking down at the colourful crowds, is the dream. But even though I was dressed like all the other festivalgoers and my team and I blended in seamlessly, I was carrying a two-way radio and staying

Our relationships expert Anna Richardson will help solve your problems Q My dad is 78 and has type 2 diabetes. He is overweight and complains constantly about how ill he feels, yet sticks with his unhealthy diet. My sister and I cook him proper meals

What are you like first thing? A cup of coffee gets me going. I wake up somewhere between 7am and 8am, and it’s a very leisurely start, but I do try to exercise three times a week, either with a trainer or by myself. What’s your worst habit? Impatie

Many of us thought we had left bullying behind when we left school. However, it seems that the workplace has become the new playground, with a YouGov survey finding that one in three employees has been bullied at work. Workplace bullying has dominate

Having a relationship and sex with someone else when your soulmate has died is a huge hurdle. And finding myself single at 49 was not something I had ever imagined. I missed so many things about Andy – his cooking, curling up on the sofa together and

Well bully for you,’ I mutter, munching Maltesers in front of Who Do You Think You Are?. I’ve nothing against Andrew Lloyd Webber, of course, but it doesn’t take long to shake a Tudor duchess from his family tree for the BBC, closely followed by a tr

Beware the couple who boasts about ‘never exchanging a cross word’ – because even the happiest relationships come under pressure from time to time. We all have our tender spots and different ways of reacting when that red rag flies. Do you believe in

Jen Morton, 46, launched her interior design business in 2018. She specialises in helping clients to be braver in choosing colour and room layouts, as well as window treatments, soft furnishings and reupholstery. She lives in Surbiton with her husban

Nothing evokes glorious good times with my friend Sara Coward like those feather boas around our necks, the bubbly in our hands and the huge grins on our faces. Sara died six years ago and this picture was taken for our show Wicked Women long before

✢ Channel your inner artist with this gorgeous dress. The clever ruching and panel cuts will create a flattering silhouette. ✢ These bold earrings sit high enough away from the dress’s neckline that they won’t distract. ✢ Choose accessories in colour

No one knows their hair better than you – the person who lives with it day in, day out. But if you’re finding your hair is constantly misbehaving and you’re just not feeling good when you look in the mirror, then maybe it’s time to rethink things. A

Attending the King’s coronation earlier this year, the former Secretary of State for International Development-turned-podcaster Rory Stewart was teased by the media over his ostentatious outfit. The Privy Councillor uniform – with its gold oak leaf e

While forgetting where you’ve put your keys or struggling to remember names can be a natural part of getting older, it can also be a sign of something serious. Whether it’s you or someone you love, dementia is affecting more and more of us. ‘We know

Take a look around your home – could it do with a post-summer sort-out? Now is the ideal time to tackle any mess, so you can head into autumn with a decluttered space and a more focused frame of mind. ‘Working with the seasons is a great way to remin

Autumn is looming, and so we wave a fond farewell to summer and its distractions – a time when we’re more active and sociable, and we welcome the unfamiliarity of new places and the boost of a much-needed break. Summer certainly provides enough escap

It’s unlikely to be your most enjoyable bathroom experience, but taking cold showers may increase energy, banish the blues and even help shift stubborn inches. For centuries, cold-water therapy has been used to take advantage of our body’s ability to

With a new season on the horizon, many of us will be thinking about setting new targets or getting back on track with any weight-loss goals. With this seven-day eating plan from Slimming World, you have everything you need to help you get started. Th

As much as we wish they could, croissants for breakfast, and pre-dinner crisps and cocktails can’t stay on the menu forever. If you’ve overindulged over the summer and it’s starting to show, don’t worry – we have your transformation covered thanks to

Mexican-restaurant inspired, you can’t beat the tasty pork packed into a taco with all the toppings. Serves 4-6 • Prep 15 mins, plus marinating • Cook 4 hrs 1kg pork shoulder, skin/fat cap removed (see tip)12 small soft tortillasGuacamole, soured c

A leaner take on comfort food, using poached chicken thighs and flaky filo. Serves 4 • Prep 15 mins • Cook 15 mins 4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs2tbsp Flora or lighter spread/oil1 leek, sliced200g button mushrooms1 bay leaf1 sprig rosemary, pl

This one-pan pud is a doddle to whip up at the end of a meal. Serves 8 • Prep 1 hr • Cook 30 mins 320g puff pastry, rolled slightly larger than your pan75g unsalted butter, cubed175g caster sugar2cm chunk ginger, grated7-8 Braeburn or Cox apples, p

Design choices play a big part in how we feel at home. It’s important to think about what you’re drawn to. The ultimate goal is to customise your space to maximise your happiness. Here’s how to make cheerful changes in your home, with a little help f

Making their home suitable for family life was the key consideration for Lucy and Conor Fitzgerald when they decided to renovate their five-bedroomed Victorian town house in southwest London. With three boys aged between eight and 12, the house neede

Look for OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified organic cotton, like the Petworth collection from Secret Linen Store. This certification means that every component – from the fabric to the production – is free from harmful chemicals, helping you sleep sound

Distance and length: 69km, five days THE EXPERIENCE Nature unleashes its full force in the Lofoten Islands at 68 degrees north. Hitting all the intrepid notes, this five-day trek tosses you deep into the wilds of the High Arctic. Granite mountains wh

DE VERE COTSWOLD WATER PARK, GLOUCESTERSHIRE Surrounded by 152 lakes that spread across the Water Park, De Vere is perched waterside and has views of the tranquil water and wildlife from each room. The spacious apartments have direct access to the ga

You don’t go to New York City to relax. Late nights, crowded squares, honking traffic and colourful characters are all par for the course here. But brave Manhattan’s streets and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best restaurants, museums, theatres

ITV News anchor and Loose Women presenter Charlene, 43, lives in west London with her partner, Andy, and their two children. WAKE UP I’m usually woken by my son any time between 5.30 and 6am. I’m still very much deep in the trenches where parenthood

Read down the letters in the shaded squares to spell out the name of a British TV presenter (4,11). ACROSS 1 Walking in water (8)5 Electric light fittings (5)8 Film reviewers (7)15 Rooted in (5)16 TV transmission (9)17 Huge (7)18 Extends (7)19 Clerg