april 2024	Good Housekeeping tried tested trusted ♦ blackout blinds ♦ fabric conditioners * easter food
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2( )24
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Caroline
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talks self-belief,
mental health &
discovering
new passions
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Editor’s letter
Feel the springtime joy! From left: dish up
a delicious Easter feast, beauty buys for a rosy
glow, gorgeous ideas for floral displays and
chocolate Easter eggs our GHI testers loved
Editorial director
Gaby with cover
star Caroline
Trolley dash:
don’t miss our
Food Awards
winners when
you next shop
What to wear when
dodging those
unpredictable April
showers? Here’s your
fashion forecast
у 2()24 1
wd Housekeeping
{.WINNERS [
‘Welcome to spring!’
PHOTOGRAPHY: JOSEPH MONTEZINOS, ELISABETH HOFF. MIKE ENGLISH. SARAH KEHOE/AUGUST. BENJAMIN MOORE. GETTY
F t’s the feelgood season and, I always think, a time that’s
I simply bursting with new opportunities. Days lengthen,
I blooms open and we increasingly begin to head outside.
I Certainly that’s what our cover star, Caroline Quentin,
is going to be doing, as you’ll discover in our interview
with her (page 12). During the pandemic, Caroline found
herself spending long days gardening and, keen to share
what she was up to, she started an Instagram account,
@cqgardens, which rapidly garnered tens of thousands
of followers, unwittingly making herself an influencer at
the age of 63. ‘It’s wonderful that, in my 60s, I’m suddenly
doing something entirely different,’ she says. ‘Particularly
as we get older, we’re often scared to try new things, but
if I’ve learned anything, it’s to just have a go - you never
know where it might lead you!’
For Caroline and, I know, for many of you, being out
in nature has provided solace in life during tough times:
‘a sort of security blanket’. ‘If I’m hitting a low and I can
get myself into the garden or any outdoor space, even
if it’s a park, it helps lift me out of that place,’ she says.
There’s plenty of nature to enjoy in the following pages,
from how to create a plot to attract birds, bees and other
wildlife (page 106) to new ideas for fabulous floral displays
inside the home (page 92). And, even if your fingers are
not of the green-fingered variety, the season’s bounty does,
of course, mean joy for the taste buds, too - tuck into our
Easter menu for a delicious spring feast (page 128).
While we’re on the subject of food, I’m very pleased to
be announcing the winners of our 2024 Food Awards in this
issue (page 124). As part of this year’s celebrations to mark
the 100th anniversary of the Good Housekeeping Institute,
we’ve greatly expanded the awards and there are now more
than 20 categories, a combination of reader voted and expert
tasted. You really don’t want to do your next grocery shop
without checking out our winners - and remember to look
out for GHI logos on products in the supermarket as an
indicator of those you can really trust.
I can’t let you go without also pointing you in the direction
of this month’s brilliant fashion shoot by our fashion director,
Amanda Marcantonio (page 20). Knowing the unpredictable
nature of the spring weather and the possibility of four
seasons in one day, Amanda has scoured the high street
for the ultimate weather-beating wardrobe and produced
some joyous images to showcase it in style. I hope this
brings a smile to your face, just as it has mine.
Enjoy getting outdoors as much as you can!
Gaby Huddart
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
gaby.huddart@hearst.co.uk
@gabyhuddart
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 3
Good Housekeeping
Good style
10 GOOD IDEAS FOR APRIL Brilliant
buys to welcome in fresh beginnings
18 NEW-SEASON UPDATES
Wardrobe pick-me-ups that will
APRIL 2024
how to manage the next
generation’s reliance on tech
40 WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES
...ANOTHER DOOR OPENS Three
readers discuss how they embraced
158 (2^2 GOOD LIFE What to see and
do, plus a chat with George Clarke
160 E2E BOOKSHELF April’s best reads
and top picks from Armistead Maupin
162 ‘I’M FASCINATED BY STRONG
put a spring in your step
20 FASHION FORECAST
Transitional updates for any weather
30 JEANS AND A NICE TOP! The latest
smart-casual outfit pairings
Good reads
12 AN INFLUENCER AT 63? WHY
NOT? Caroline Quentin talks mental
health and following her passions
33 ‘A PARACHUTE JUMP WOULD
PROBABLY BE EASIER’ Miranda Hart
takes the first step on a pilgrimage
34 ‘I’M KEEPING MY MUM’S
WORDS ALIVE’ Actor Gaynor Faye on
continuing mum Kay Mellor’s legacy
36 KEEPING AHEAD OF OUR CHILDREN
IN THE DIGITAL AGE We investigate
a positive new future
44 ‘MUM TAUGHT ME ABOUT ANTIQUES
AND THE POWER OF STORY’ Cara
Miller pays tribute to her late mother,
Antiques Roadshow expert Judith
48 OVERCOMING IMPOSTOR SYNDROME
Being out of your depth is necessary,
says broadcaster Cathy Newman
50 HOW TO MEND A WOUNDED HEART
Two experts share how to get
through a relationship breakdown
52 BOLDLY GOING WHERE NO ONE
HAS GONE BEFORE Meet four
women breaking barriers in science
58 ‘OUR PASSION FOR THE
COUNTRYSIDE BINDS US TOGETHER’
Nicola Baker, wife of presenter Matt,
shares their love of rural life
WOMEN’ Daisy Goodwin explains
the inspiration behind her new book
Good advice
110 GH CONSUMER AFFAIRS The best
ways to organise your online ‘estate’
115 GH GETTING GREENER How to
choose more sustainable chocolate
this Easter
116 ЕШЗ MONEY MOVES THE EXPERTS
SWEAR BY Tips from those who know
Good looks
61 GH BEAUTY The latest trends
62 SPRING FORWARD Seasonal
beauty updates to make you glow
71 A WORD ON... DARK SPOTS The top
products for a more even complexion
PERFECT
PAIRINGS
Chic outfit
A FRESH
START
From three
brave readers
PAGE 40
DRESS TO
IMPRESS
Come rain
or shine
PAGE 20
4 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
72 MY LIFE IN BEAUTY
With actor Jennifer Grey
Good health
74 SCATTER, SPRINKLE, STIR... TO
ENJOY A HEALTHIER GUT Eat your
way to a healthier microbiome
78 HOW MUSIC CAN BOOST
YOUR BRAIN The wellbeing benefits
of listening to your favourite songs
82 PAIN AND PREJUDICE: THE GENDER
GAP WE NEED TO CLOSE GH finds
out how to get the help you need
86 THE HEALTH HAZARD YOU CAN
CONTROL Get ahead of prediabetes
Good homes
88 GH HOMES April’s best buys
90 THE RETURN OF THE PANTRY Why
larders are key in future homes
92 ЕШЗ SAY IT WITH FLOWERS Styling
tips for beautiful floral displays
98 ‘A GRAND DESIGN WE CAN LIVE IN’
Antiques meet modern furnishings
in this Somerset family home
102 SEASONAL JOY Easter decor
106 ‘SPRING BRINGS THE BIRDS & THE
BEES’ A reimagined garden breathes
new life into plants and wildlife
Good food
123 GH FOOD This month’s foodie news
124 GH FOOD AWARDS 2024
Winning culinary picks from our
reader panel and GHI experts
128 EASTER FEASTING This menu
is sure to impress friends and family
138 ЕЕШЗ TAKE 5 Easy midweek meals
- each with only five ingredients
144 TRAYBAKE HEAVEN
Sweet-treat recipes that are perfect
for feeding a crowd
151 THE BIG EASTER TASTE TEST
Our experts rank the best food to
buy for this season’s celebrations
Good to go
165 GH TRAVEL News and advice
166 SERENE STAYCATIONS FOR SPRING!
Make the most of lighter days with
one of these dog-friendly UK retreats
170 PARADISE FOUND There’s more to
Tahiti than just Bora Bora, finds GH
Just for you
175	20% OFF AT BALANCE ME
Tried & Tested
89	BLACKOUT BLINDS
112	FABRIC CONDITIONERS
In every issue
3 EDITOR’S LETTER
6 MEET THE TEAM
9 WORTH SHARING Your letters
120 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAGAZINES
172 GIVE YOUR GREY MATTER A
WORKOUT Brilliant brainteasers
202 MY SIMPLE PLEASURES With
podcaster Giovanna Fletcher
TRIED, TESTED, TRUSTED
Your trust is important to us, which is why:
every recipe is tested three times in the GHI
kitchens. Every product test bearing the GHI logo is
carried out to the strict standards laid down by the
Good Housekeeping Institute, our leading research
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are based on the impartial advice of our editors and
expert contributors. All health articles are checked
for accuracy by the Good Housekeeping Health
Watch team of health professionals. All prices are
correct at time of going to press.
GET IN TOUCH WITH US!
We aim to correct significant inaccuracies
in the next available issue. Email us at
goodh.mailahearst.co.uk
ON THE COVER
Photography
Joseph Montezinos
Hair & makeup
Malin Coleman
Fashion styling
Rachel Fanconi
Caroline wears
Jacket, Karen Millen.
Trousers, Palmer//
Harding. Earrings,
Laurence Coste
DESIGNS
A cosy
Somerset home
PAGE 98
TROPICAL
PARADISE
Exploring the
islands of Tahiti
PAGE 170
BEAUTY
UPDATES
Give your
collection
a glow-up
PAGE 62
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 5
Good Housekeeping
MANAGING DIRECTOR, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING/GOOD HOUSEKEEPING INSTITUTE LIZ MOSELEY
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR GABY HUDDART
SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR EMMA JUSTICE MULTIPLATFORM DIRECTOR SIMON SWIFT
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ART
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Group Art Editor Lisa Collins
Art Editor Abby Laing
Senior Designers Helen Harper-Collins,
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TESTING
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Health & Wellness Tester Kim Hawley
Homes Supervisor Blossom Boothroyd
Homes Testers Alec Evans,
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Wor th sharing |
We love to know what has inspired you in the magazine - here’s
the page where you tell us what you’re thinking, making and reading
SUPPORTING MY SISTER
I was very glad to see your
article on ovarian cancer
j (Targeting Ovarian Cancer,
_______V March) as it’s so often missed or
misdiagnosed. My sister Diana was diagnosed
with ovarian cancer last August. After the years
* Our
Star Letter
wins a £50
bouquet.
See below
for how to share
your views.
of pain, we finally knew why. She had an
operation and chemotherapy. We’re keeping
positive and hoping for the best. I really
hope that everyone who thinks they have
symptoms goes to their GP. KAREN LARKE
GETTING STRONGER
I was encouraged after reading Get Winter
Strong (January) to ring my GP surgery
as I hadn’t been invited to attend for a
pneumococcal vaccination. I have now had
it and I’m working on improving my diet and
doing more exercise to reduce my blood
pressure, cholesterol levels and improve
my gut microbiome. SHARON JONES
FINDING JOY IN ART
I’ve found a new hobby, thanks to GH. Lorna
Scobie encouraged readers to try drawing
(Find Cairn in Creativity, August 2020). She
told us there was no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ art,
and that we should just start small and with
joy. Wow! I felt immediately encouraged and
eager to try. I very quickly found that drawing
is still very fun and relaxing! EVA HAFNER
LIVING IN THE MOMENT
I read Miranda Hart’s piece Tm Learning To Do
One Thing At A Time' (February) with a sense
of recognition. As a professional musician, my
head is always busy and switching off is not
easy. I gave up Facebook and Instagram two
years ago and make a concerted effort to
leave my phone at home when out for a walk.
I recently had a ‘moment’ while on a skiing
holiday. My husband and I were skiing when
I stopped and told him to listen. We could hear
nothing but the magical silence of snow. It was
a truly wondrous experience. JANE BULTZ
BAKES AND MAKES
The Chunky Vegetable Curry (SO September
Suppers, September 2023) is fast becoming
a culinary staple in my household. Not only
is it extremely tasty, it’s also easy to prepare,
and with just the two of us in the house these
days, it makes dinner for three evenings.
SARA-JANE RANCE
WORTH READING
The Botanist by M W Craven
is a gripping murder story
with a fast-paced plot and
offbeat characters. It really
keeps you guessing.
MO JOHNSON
M.W.
CRAVEN
QUIRKY DAME JUDI
I loved the cover interview
and photoshoot with Dame
Judi Dench ('Always Look
For The Pluses in Life’,
January). I have always
admired her, ever since
she was young, and she
looks just as quirky and
attractive now.
CAROL THOMAS
The Stranding by Kate Sawyer
could so easily have been a
bleak tale of a post-apocalyptic
world, but I was filled with hope
and wonder. An astonishing
debut. NIKKI WEIR
Half A World Away by Mike
Gayle is about two people
whose lives are linked but
who couldn’t have been more
different. A heartbreaking
read. CATHERINE LEACH
THE
BOTANIST
HMf* , ,
wOripa^
Rift GMh
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APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 9
Good ideas lor
April -
x Ж J 	 	FLOWER POWE
Olverum
£65, xxs-xl,
I • Jovonna London
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SOOTHER
Olverum Bath
Oil, from £28
POWER
Magnolia Easter Egg,
£89.99, Melt Chocolates
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BEAUTIFUL BUYS TO
WELCOME IN SPRING
MOST EGGCELLENT!
Side plate, £22,
Emma Bridgewater
TAKE NOTE
Notebooks, £30 for
a set of 3, Bohemia
SCENTS OF
DISCOVERY
Maison Margiela
Replica EDT
Memory Box, £40
COFFEE BREAK
Mugs, £19.99 each, Emma
Bridgewater at Amazon
HINTOFPINK
Diorshow 5 Couleurs
eyeshadow palette
in Pink Organza, £61
COOL KICKS
Trainers, £75, 3-9, Gola



QUEEN OF HEARTS
Clutch, £32, Next


SPRING WATCH
Necklace, £35, Lily Charmed

GO CRACKERS
Peter Rabbit Easter
crackers, £25.95 for 6,
Annabel James
SHEER
RADIANCE
By Terry
Brightening
CO Liquid
Blush in Rosy
Flash, £34
10 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
Good ideas
COMPILED BY: JAMES CUNNINGHAM. GEORGIE D ARCY COLES.
AMANDA MARCANTONIO, ALICE SHIELDS, CHLOE WOODLAND
PRINTS CHARMING
Silk scarf, £150,
Aspinal of London
IN BLOOM
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xs-xl, Aspiga
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Cakestand, £55; mugs, £14
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Top, £75.95, xs-xl,
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BAGS OF JOY
Bag, £259, Radley x RHS
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Shoes, £45,
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goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 11
12 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
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CAROLINE WEARS (OPPOSITE): SHIRT; TROUSERS, BOTH ME + EM. EARRINGS, LAURENCE COSTE. NECKLACES, HOT DIAMONDS.
RINGS, ANIA HAIE. TRAINERS. RUSSELL & BROMLEY. THIS PAGE: SUIT, THE FOLD LONDON. EARRINGS, BETTY AND BIDDY. SHOES, GINA
Caroline Quentin opens up about taking
control of her mental health, standing
up to bullies and finding the courage to
follow her passions
Photography JOSEPH MONTEZINOS
Interview NATHALIE WHITTLE
f I’m totally honest with you,’ muses Caroline Quentin
on the Good Housekeeping cover shoot, ‘I thought
I’d be playing grannies and kind old neighbours at
this point in my life!’ Instead, the 63-year-old actor
is starring as the no-nonsense boss of a top-secret
organisation in Sky Max’s The Lazarus Project, recently took
the West End by storm in the play infamous and is fast
becoming something of a gardening influencer.
The latter has been a surprise even to Caroline. ‘It only
started because of Covid. I would come in from the garden
and drive my husband mad because I needed someone to talk
to and he was trying to work,’ she explains. Cue the creation
of her Instagram account @cqgardens, which quickly amassed
some 150,000 followers. It’s now spawned a book, Drawn To
The Garden, which Caroline has both written and illustrated.
Caroline, who lives in Devon with her husband, Sam Farmer
- founder of SamFarmer skincare - and has two children,
Rose, 24, and Will, 20, explains why her 60s are her most
transformative decade yet...
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Congratulations on your new book - you seem to be
embarking on a whole new career as an influencer!
It does feel a bit like that! And why not? It’s wonderful that,
in my 60s, I’m suddenly doing something entirely different.
I’m amazed that what started as an Instagram account has
sort of blossomed into something much bigger. Now, I’ll
come out of the theatre after a show and people will come
over and say, ’We never normally go to the theatre, but we
follow your gardening account on Instagram and wanted
to say hello.’ Particularly as we get older, we’re often
scared to try new things because we’re so worried about
being criticised if we’re a bit rubbish at something. But
if I’ve learned anything, it’s to just have a go - you never
know where it might lead you!
How important has gardening been to you over
the years?
Ever since I was little, it’s been a sort of security blanket.
My childhood was quite chaotic; my mother, who had
bipolar disorder, would often spend time in psychiatric
hospitals - or the ‘loony bin’, as she called it. When
I was 10,1 was sent to boarding school with these horrible,
grumpy matrons and regimented bath and mealtimes.
I was a painfully shy child - I still am shy beneath my
loud persona - and I remember being so homesick and
discombobulated by everything in my life. But getting out
in nature and watching things grow felt like time out from
the ‘real’ world. It was an opportunity to leave all the sadness
and scary things behind.
Do you still find that with gardening now?
Yes, very much so. I think I have a bit of my
mother’s bipolar in me, because I suffer from
quite extreme mood swings - real highs and
lows. But if I’m hitting a low and I can get
myself into the garden or any outdoor space,
even if it’s a park, it helps lift me out of that
place. You suddenly get perspective on your
own sadness and that really helps.
What else do you do to look after your
mental wellbeing?
Truth be told, it’s been a rollercoaster. I’ve tried most things
- such as antidepressants - and now I see a therapist. I’ve
only been doing it a short while, and I still have downers, but
now I have somewhere to go and someone to talk to about
it. It’s making me look at why I have some of these feelings
of melancholy and impostor syndrome, and sadness and fear.
I think there’s a lot of stuff that came from my childhood and
probably should have been dealt with much earlier.
Do you wish you’d tried therapy sooner?
I do, but when I was growing up, depression was a sort of
dirty word. When my mother would go off to hospital, it
felt so shameful. Just talking about your mental health was
considered incredibly self-indulgent; you weren’t allowed
to go there. Thankfully, it’s not seen like that any more. It’s
actually seen as a kindness to people in your life, because
if you look after yourself, you can look after them better.
Have you found that to be the case?
Yes, and Sam and the kids echo that. They say it’s much easier
to be with me now when I’m tipping over, because I can pull
the reins either way, whether I’m too high or too low.
CAROLINE WEARS (THIS PAGE): JACKET, KAREN MILLEN. SKIRT, MARINA RINALDI. BLUE EARRINGS, LAURENCE COSTE.
HOOP EARRINGS. HOT DIAMONDS. SHOES, GINA. OPPOSITE: TOP, EPOK. JEANS. MARKS & SPENCER. EARRINGS, LAURENCE COSTE.
BRACELETS, HOT DIAMONDS. STONE RING. ASHIANA LONDON. OTHER RINGS. ANIA HAIE. TRAINERS. L.K.BENNETT
Getting out in
nature felt like
time out from
the ‘real’ world
14 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
The big interview
You say in your book that your kids are the best
things you’ve grown in your life...
It’s true - and they still make me laugh louder than anybody.
Will is at the University of Leeds studying politics and religion,
and he’s an absolute legend. He’s letting me host his 21st
birthday; I’m taking him and all his rugby team out for steak
and beers - I can’t wait. And Rose is the most intuitive,
perceptive, brilliant girl - she’s turning into an extraordinary
actor. I look at them sometimes and think, ‘How did I have
children as amazing as you?’
I had to do it. Well, I didn’t, did I? But you can’t turn back the
clock; you have to live with these things.
What do you think you’ve done well as a mother?
I’m not afraid to stand up for my children, and I think that
gives them a huge sense of security. I would fight to the death
for them, and I have on occasion had to be quite fierce - with
one headmaster in particular. I told him how I felt about the
situation and he knew he’d made a mistake. Will and Rose are
both very decent people and sometimes people don’t treat
them decently, particularly when they’re young.
That’s a reflection on you...
You haven’t been afraid
Not really - Sam raised both the children.
to stand up for yourself
I was never there because I was at work
all the time, and that’s my one regret.
I should have spent more time at home
with them.
Did you find it hard being away
from them?
God, I missed them. I mourned them
terribly when I was away. I think that’s
probably why I feel so bad about it,
because it left a hole in me. People said,
‘Oh, they’re young for such a short period
of time’, and I didn’t listen; I thought
I knew better, and I didn’t I should have
said no to work and yes to them, but
because I was the breadwinner, I thought
either, when you realised
you were a victim of
phone hacking. How did
that impact you?
It was an awful time. It
went on for about 15
years, and it drove a
wedge between me and
members of my family,
some of whom died
before it was ever sorted
out. They didn’t know my
phones were hacked and
they blamed me and my
husband for stuff that
was coming out and for
•I had such fun creating the illustrations
for my book,’ says Caroline. ‘Trying
something new has brought me
a lot of joy. And I was able to
laugh at some of my poor
first attempts!’
information they felt
they should have known
before I spoke to the
newspapers. Of course,
I hadn’t spoken to any
newspapers! So it was
ugly behind the scenes,
and Sam and I really went
through it. It put a strain
on everything.
It must have been
very disorientating...
I think it gave me PTSD, particularly when medical details
starting coming out - really private things that are suddenly
splashed all over a newspaper before you’ve had a chance to
even assimilate it yourself. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
Have you been able to draw a line under it?
In the past couple of years, I’ve won two cases with News
Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers, and it helps
to be vindicated, it really does. But I still see people on TV who
were part of that whole ethos and who are still having very
successful careers and making millions of pounds - and they’ve
never paid any price for it. I can draw a line under it, but there’s
no justice until a couple of people in particular go down - and
I’m still hopeful that some of them will be named and shamed.
You’ve been with Sam for more than two decades - what
have you learned about sustaining long-term love?
That, like in therapy, you have to speak, speak, speak. I’ve
nagged Sam from day one to do that because I can’t bear
sulking or silence. For him, it’s the other way round. He has to
tell me to be quiet and do an Instagram post instead of talking
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 15
The big interview
to him all day! But I feel very lucky because I wouldn’t have
achieved half of what I have without him.
You’ve carved out this incredible acting career and yet you
say you struggle with shyness. How have you overcome it?
I’m not sure I’ve ever overcome it, but I have learned to
hide it. People used to think I was aloof and stuck-up; they’d
say, ‘Oh, she doesn’t talk to you,’ but they didn’t realise that
I found it very hard to talk to people. When I discovered
acting, it became my armour; it was a way to protect
myself, like a carapace. I’m still not good socially. Sam will
say, ‘Oh, we’ve been invited for dinner,’ and my first thought
is, 'Oh God, who am
I going to be sat next to?
What will I say?’
You took part in Strictly.
What did that do for
your confidence?
Not a lot! I did it during
Covid, so there was no
audience, and I didn’t
meet a single soul
other than my partner,
Johannes [Radebe].
Everyone said to me, ‘It’s
going to be really fun’
- well, it wasn’t, it was
horrid! We were all put
in tents to rehearse, and
going out to perform
each week in front of
nobody except five
cameras was weird. I did
make a friend for life in
Johannes, though; I still
see him regularly and
I love him dearly.
What other ambitions
do you have?
I’d love to host a
gardening show, but the
old white boys still own
that space. They’ll be
replaced at some point
by a different generation,
which I’m very pleased
about, but it probably
means I’m not going to
get the gardening show
I’d like! I’m shooting
another series of The
Lazarus Project though.
It’s not at all what I
thought I’d be doing at
this stage of my life.
Really?
I didn’t think I’d be doing
any of it. For my entire
life, I’ve been plagued by
this constant voice in my
head that says, ‘No, you can’t do that.’ I’ve had the makings
of about five different novels and I’ve written scripts that
have been in drawers for 20 years because I’ve lost my nerve.
I still feel like an impostor a lot of the time, but I’m learning
to silence that voice. My therapist says to me, 'Stop beating
yourself up - just give yourself a pat on the back once in a
while.’ And now I’m suddenly going, ‘Who cares if it’s not
perfect? What do I have to lose?’
So you’re taking back control?
Yes! I know it sounds like a terrible cliche, but at 63,1 genuinely
feel like I’m only getting started. I’ve just begun writing a
novel about a woman
in her early 50s who
divorces her husband
and moves to the
countryside, I’m going
to write plays and films
- I might even learn to
play the drums! I’m just
going to fill my boots,
as my mother used
to say, and I’m going to
enjoy all of it more and
not worry about whether
something is good,
bad, successful or
unsuccessful. We only
come this way once
and we’re not here for
long, so we may as well
make the most of it!
It sounds like a
great attitude...
I spent a week in
New York recently
with my best mucker,
Anne Reid - we go there
as often as we can to
watch musicals and
drink cocktails - and
she’s my role model.
When she was turning
70, she was like, ‘It’s all
over. There won’t be
anything for me.’ She’s
in her 80s now, as busy
as ever, and the other
night she said, 'These
are the happiest years
of my life.’ If that’s not
an inspiration, I don’t
know what is.
• Drawn To
The Garden
(Frances
Lincoln) by
Caroline Quentin
is out now
in hardback
16 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
FASHION STYLING: RACHEL FANCONI. HAIR AND MAKEUP: MALIN COLEMAN. CAROLINE WEARS
(OPPOSITE): DRESS. KAREN MILLEN. SHOES. RUSSELL & BROMLEY. LARGE EARRINGS, ASHIANA LONDON.
HOOP EARRINGS; RING. BOTH HOT DIAMONDS. SHOES. RUSSELL & BROMLEY. THIS PAGE: DRESS.
LOUISE KENNEDY. EARRINGS. VAN PETERSON. RING. LAURENCE COSTE. SHOES, GINA
Q
I genuinely
feel like I’m
only getting
started
WHAT IS YOUR SECRET SKILL?
I can do the splits. I do yoga every day
to try to stay bendy.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST
EMBARRASSING MOMENT? When I was
16,1 was dancing the can-can on stage
in front of 800 people and when I ran
forward to do the splits, my top burst
open. An old man at the front shouted,
’I’m going to have a heart attack!’
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?
Anything happening to my children.
WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY AND WHY?
Yesterday, because I was just
feeling blue.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED
POSSESSION? I have my mum’s hearing
aid in a box; she wore one for most of
her life because she lost her hearing
during the war. I like to imagine that if
I put it in my ear, I’ll be able to hear the
world how she did.
WHAT IS TOP OF YOUR BUCKET LIST?
I’d like to build my own house.
WHAT SUPERPOWER DO YOU WISH
YOU HAD? I wish I could fly; I’d love to
have been a house martin.
WHERE ARE YOU HAPPIEST?
Swimming in a river on a
warm summer’s day. When
you’re young, you think
happiness is shouty parties,
but actually it’s peace.
WHAT IS THE MANTRA YOU
LIVE BY? Forgive yourself. □
1 £179, 3-7, Marc Cain 2 £45, 3-8, Marks & Spencer 3 £169, 3-8, Whistles
4 £120, 3-9, Naturalizer 5 £295, 3-8, Russell & Bromley 6 £110, 3-8, Boden
Dress, £160,
xs-xl, Aspiga
SEXY SLINGBACKS
The runways offered many a tempting sandal, mule and ballet flat,
but when it comes to instantly feeling ‘new season now’, it has to be
the discreetly sexy It-shoe: the sleek and chic slingback.
NEHASEASQV
«UPDATES
Wardrobe in need of a pick-me-up? If you only buy one item
make it one of these beauties...
THE WOW
WHITE DRESS
From diaphanous
and sheer at Prada to
intricately embroidered
at Chloe, the pristine
white dress is not
just for holidays and
brides. Say hello
to your new easy
everyday dress - just
watch the red wine!

Dress, £299,
6-20, L.K.Bennett
CHLOE
Pumps, £269, 3
Pretty Ballerinas
WEAR WITH...
Pastel pumps, as seen
at Prada, to give this
beguiling blank canvas,
a pop of personality.

LI
Dress, £89, 6-18,
French Connection
Pumps, £269, 3-8,
Pretty Ballerinas

18 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
COMPILED BY: AMANDA MARCANTONIO.
PHOTOGRAPHY: LAUNCHMETRICS.COM/SPOTLIGHT
I 1
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 19
Boilersuit, £95,
6-18, Oliver Bonas
Shirt, £89,
4-18, Hush
Jacket, £171.50,
xs-xl, Mango
Top, £150,
xs-xxl, Gant
1 £79, Fiorelli 2 £99, John Lewis &
Partners 3 £159, Arket 4 £24.90,
Uniqlo 5 £79, Charles & Keith
Skirt, £210,
xxs-xxl, Gant
Belt, £57,
xs/s-m/l,
Arket
Shirt, £67,
6-16, Arket □
THE 1990s
SHOULDER BAG
Pared-back handbags dominated
the runways, with the 1990s
tuck-and-go soft-edged shoulder
bag returning for another season
as every fashion girl’s failsafe.
This no-nonsense bag will work
in and out of the office.
Trousers, £65,
6-18, French
Connection
Trench, £149,
8-20, John Lewis
& Partners
Jacket, £85.95,
8-26/28, Seasalt
Cornwall
Shirt, £150, 6-16,
Me+Em
BLUE SHIRT
Embrace spring’s relaxed
tailoring trend and opt
for a powder-blue shirt
in lieu of your standard
white button-up. Tucked
or tied, alone or layered,
ruffled or striped - this
wardrobe staple is
endlessly wearable.
Shirt, £179, 6-20,
L.K.Bennett
FEMININE
UTILITARIAN
Relaxed boilersuits,
boxy utility jackets and
cargo trousers remain
the cornerstone of this
popular trend, though
this time around it’s in
exciting new colours
- mustard yellow,
petrol blue and even
blush pink are getting
in on the act.
rGH TIP
A sweetly 1
ruffled collar and
cuffs will look
pretty peeking out
Lfrom under a к
navy blazer. A
GH TIP
Choose a belted
boilersuit for more
femininity, less
car mechanic.
Good style
PHOTOGRAPHY
ELISABETH HOFF
STYLING
AMANDA MARCANTONIO
Tank top, £69, xs-l, Phase Eight.
Shirt, £45, xs-xl, French
Connection. Trousers, £49, 8-20;
sandals, £85, 3-8, both John
Lewis & Partners. Cap, £15, Next
When it comes to British
springtime, the one
certainty is just how
uncertain the weather
is. One minute there’s
beautiful sunshine,
the next a downpour.
Outsmart those
tricky, unpredictable
days with a few
transitional updates

When the spring sun’s
playing hide and seek,
look to a lightweight
knitted tank top or
woolly waistcoat
- a versatile essential
for those in between-y
weather days.
Layering a sleeveless
knit over a stripy shirt,
crisp cotton T-shirt,
fancy blouse or even
a midi dress is a stylish
wardrobe hero for
women in midlife
and beyond.
20 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk

What better way to 4	(
dazzle in the drizzle	,
than with a fabulous V V
yellow top - it’s
sartorial sunshine. »
Everyone can wear • •
yellow (yes, really);
it’s jusfcabout finding ( .
the right shade. Cooler
hair and skin tones
(no pihk or red
undertopes) should
opt for zingy neons
and chartreuse (yellow
verging on green).
The other end gf the
yellow spectrum is
saffron, which looks
gorgeous on warmer
hair and skin tones.
You can’t not^feel
happy in yellow!
< • Blouse, £129, 8-16,	*
flumo. Trousers, £89,
4-18, Hush. Umbrella,
£22, Totes
[continued over page]
C
П
Q
v>
о
О
С

No longer drab, dreary
and reserved for hikers,
statement colour-pop
cagoules are hot right now.
When life gives you a
feelgood raincoat, wear it.
Whether you’re going for
a daily stroll or popping
to the shops, navigate the
great outdoors in a zingy
‘look-at-me’ waterproof
and treat the country lanes
or aisles of the supermarket
as your runway. With plenty
of pockets for stashing your
phone, keys - and hands
- this joyful jacket is a great
example of elevating
Good style
Welcome to skirt season. When you’re not quite
ready to slip on your summer dress but you want
to move out of hibernation and your winter
cords, say hello to the maxi skirt. They look cool
and feel swishy, while creating a stand-out
style - more fabric, more drama! There’s
no better way to add instant showmanship
to your outfit; you’ll immediately feel
dressed-up even with a jumper and
trainers. Spring dressing? It’s a breeze.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 23
Good style
Top, £149, xs-xxl, L.K.Bennett.
Trousers, £98, 4-18, The White
Company. Sunglasses,
£290, Chloe. Bag, £89,
John Lewis & Partners
T,№)si
J
Sun’s out, stripes out! We
know sunnier days are
ahead when striking
rainbow stripes hit the
high street. They’re an
instant spirit-lifter:
elegant yet instantly
energising. We adore
this delicious ice cream-
striped, short-sleeve knit
- more refined than a
traditional cotton tee, yet
more relaxed than a
button-up shirt. Pair with
white accessories to give
this sweet top a modern,
sporty spin and put a
spring in your step.
24 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Poncho, £1$0, s-l, Universal
Performance. Shirt (just seen), £79,
4-18, Whistles. Jeans, £89, 4-16, The
White Company. Socks, £12.90
(packof 3), 4-7, Uniqlo. Wellies,
£84.95, 3-12, Merry People
SING JN
Do the bright thing and
invest in a posh puffer
because spring may be
in sight, but there’s still
a chill in the air.
Lightweight and insulated
(not to mention cool)
- this poncho is the
statement cover-up you
never knew you needed.
Finish with Merry People’s
rainbow-chasing city
wellies - smart rubber
ankle boots made for
pounding the pavements
and puddle-jumping alike.
It has an array of brilliant
colours that will make
you the life and so/e
of the street.
[continued over page]
п.
\ffioR
Coat, £20.99, one size,
Amazon Fashion. Top,
£47, xs-l, Arket. Trousers,
£125, 6-16, Ted Baker.
Trainers, £49.50, 3-8,
Marks & Spencer
Rain, rain, don’t go away
- there are too many
stylish spring waterproofs
to wear! Don’t let rainy
weather stop you from
enjoying being out and
about. Avoid burying
your outfit beneath
a coat that’s as grey
as the weather. Instead,
get a shower of
compliments in a
fashion-meets-function
transparent mac and let
your ensemble show
through. Day or night,
this belted see-through
coat will look so chic
you’ll (almost) forget
about the rain.
Good style
Jumper, £150, 4-18,
Lacoste. Rollneck.
£14.90, xxs-xl, Uniqlo.
Trousers, £36,
6-20, John Lewis &
Partners. Sunglasses,
£320, Chloe
[continued over page]
April showers may bring
May flowers, but they also
bring sartorial confusion.
One day it’s warm enough
to break out the sandals,
the next it’s cold and
blustery. The key
to navigating the
changeable weather is by
layering. Throw caution
to the wind and slip on
a contrasting slim-fit
rollneck beneath jumpers,
shirts, dresses and
jumpsuits. Consider this
your transitional treasure,
the perfect chill-proofing
quick-fix until the
weather improves.
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 27
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Good style
'Г/Ж/
Coat, £165, xs-l, American Vintage at The
Outnet. Hoodie, £200, xs-xl, Rise & Fall. Shirt,
£95, 6-16, Ted Baker. Leggings, £14, xs-xl, F&R
Trainers, £45, 3-8, Marks & Spencer
With boundaries between home, work
and leisure blurring, our gym-kit
heroes - leggings, trainers, caps and
parkas - have turned into everyday staples.
But the one item every modern woman
needs in her wardrobe all year round?
A luxe cashmere hoodie. Appropriate
for indoor lounging just as much as for
dog-walking, errand-running or travelling.
Gym-to-coffee? Slip it over a shirt or under
a blazer - it has round-the-clock appeal.
28 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
MODEL: AILAR AT M*P
FASHION ASSISTANT CORIN RIPLEY
HAIR STYLIST: DINO PEREIRA
MAKEUP ARTIST LISA VALENCIA
PRODUCTION-. FIONA ANDREWS
WITH THANKS TO: LOFT STUDIOS
Unexpected downpour? Fashion editors cdrry
a trusty L’hood rain hat in their bags - it’s a
wet-weather game-changer. Unlike its bulky
umbrella counterpart, and much, much cooler
than a ‘plastic granny bonnet’, this rather
brilliant design can be worn round the wrist
then unfolded and worn as a waterproof hat
at a moment’s notice - useful when it rains
just as you leave the hairdresser!
Jumper. £60, xs-xl, Boden.

Shirt, £259, 8-20,
Marc Cain. Jeans, • •
£55, 6-24, FatFace. .• *
Bag, £69, The
White Company
TIP
Conscious of your
hips? Push back
your sleeves
- broader
s/eeves will
instantly make hips
appear smaller
j । :л ns
Shirt, £89; jeans,
£79, both 4-18;
T-shirt, £32,
xxs-xl; clogs, £99,
3-8, all Hush
AND A NICE TOP!
Not sure what to wear? This winning
double act is enjoying a well-deserved
renaissance for smart-casual days
Shirt, £70, 6-22 (also
available in petite),
Boden. Jeans, £139,
6-20, L.K.Bennett.
Sunglasses, £28,
Oliver Bonas. Loafers,
£65, 3-8, Anyday by
John Lewis & Partners
TIP
We love
turn-up jeans
- they look and
feel modern
and add a little
something to
casual outfits
Shirt, £60,
8-18, Pink
Lemons.
Jeans, £47,
8R-32R,
Magisculpt at
JD Williams.
Trainers, £195,
3-8, Russell
& Bromley
30 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
TIP
Silk top, £225,
6-16, Lisou.
Jeans, £175,
24-32, Me+Em.
Bag, £59, Fiorelli.
Trainers, £189,
3-8, Sole Bliss
Trench, £149, 6-24, Autograph
at Marks & Spencer. Shirt,
£89, 6-20, Hobbs. Jeans, £90,
25W-34W, 28L-34L, Boden.
Earrings, £135, Kate Spade New
York. Heels, £179, 3-8, Arket
Shirt, £195, 6-16, Me+Em. Jeans.
£39.50, 6-24, Marks & Spencer.
Earrings, £25, Sister Jane
Shirt,
£65, 8-24,
Monsoon.
Jeans, £38,
8-24, Cotton
Traders. Bag,
£14, Tu. Heels,
£150, 3-8,
Arket □
Baggy jeans need a
more fitted, structured
top - or one that's
tucked in - to feel
more polished
Blouse, £150,
6-18; jeans, 4
£180, 6-18 (also
available in long
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APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 31
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From the Hart
A parachute jump would
probably be easier’
Miranda Hart is working up the courage to embark on
a pilgrimage, spending several days with no distractions,
simply putting one foot in front of the other
Hello to you, my lovely reader chum. As we get
deeper into spring, I hope you are blooming.
Or feel like you’re blooming in some areas of life
- no perfectionism on my watch, please, for we’re
always going to be masterpieces in the making.
And hurrah for that, because I’m done with the pressure to be
anything other than a wonderful, wonky, work in progress.
Last month, I mentioned that I can get impatient with
any dreams, desires and goals I have in life. So, I’ve decided
to take the pressure off those, too, and be more discerning
about what one thing I want to aim for at any one time. We
forget that we’re allowed to make life easier for ourselves, and
indeed that’s the way to live as happily and healthily as we
can. Keep it simple. Focus on key values and goals, and let
the rest be noise we don’t need to listen to.
One dream I want to make a reality is to go on a pilgrimage.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has considered walking the
within ourselves. That source of life, as Merton describes it.
Upon reflection, I realised exactly why I had yet to find the
time for this challenge. Because the idea is also terrifying to me!
I know we’re all scared of different things. I’m finally finishing a
book and when it’s published, I will have to do live TV and radio
interviews and other aspects of my job that I love, but which to
others is terrifying. The same goes for me and all of you who
work in hospitals, bring up children, work in isolation against the
elements on a farm, go on roller coasters, or surf where there
might be a shark - I could list many things that terrify me!
But I wonder if the thought of getting still, being alone, just
simply having to put one foot in front of the other for several
days or weeks is something that scares many of us in this day
and age? It’s not the journeying or the physical activity or finding
the route or any of the practical side that’s unnerving - it’s the
simply being with ourselves. Many of us are out of practice when
it comes to being quiet with our thoughts and our emotions (in
PHOTOGRAPHY: ALISA CONNAN. ILLUSTRATION: GETTY
Camino de Santiago; been
inspired by The Salt Path, a
book about a couple walking the
South West Coast Path; or loves
watching films about treks against
the odds through the wilderness.
They’re so moving and motivating.
I have a route I want to do
in England that would be
meaningful to me, yet I’ve
regularly postponed embarking
on this goal. It’s such a romantic
notion to step into nature, walk
away from the everyday, and
experience what most who have
done them before say becomes
a deeply spiritual process.
I read Thomas Merton, the
Christian mystic, on pilgrimages,
and there was one quote that
always stuck with me: ‘Man
instinctively regards himself as
a wanderer and wayfarer, and
it is second nature for him to
go on a pilgrimage in search of a
privileged and holy place, a centre
and source of indefectible life.’
And that’s what is so appealing
to me - the idea that it’s natural
for us to walk, to get still, and
find a peaceful place of ‘home’
It’s such a romantic notion
to step into nature
fact, those are no doubt what we
fear the most). Few of us live in
nature, without technology, in the
moment, in tune with our needs.
There’s nothing adrenalin-spiking
about walking. A parachute jump
would probably be easier, for you
are in constant thrill (and fear) and
therefore distraction. Purists would
say a pilgrimage is not true if on
a bike or with a dog, as even that
is a distraction or comfort to rely
on outside of ourselves. As Fred
Bahnson wrote, after he followed in
Merton’s footsteps on a pilgrimage
to the American West, this is when
we “redeem the desire to run from,
and turn it into a desire to run
toward”. And that scares us.
It has not put me off the idea.
Quite the opposite. For I think, if
I could do that, I could do anything
- and that would feel incredible.
I’m not putting myself under
pressure but feel sure I will know
when the time is right to take that
literal and metaphorical first step.
A step towards being at home in,
and with, my wonderful, wonky,
work-in-progress self! I don’t think
there is a better way to bloom. □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 33
Tm keeping
my ilium’s
lll\
The creative force behind
many of the nation’s
best-loved TV dramas,
Kay Mellor blazed a trail
on screen and encouraged
a slew of female writers
along the way. Her
daughter, actor Gaynor
Faye, tells Polly Dunbar
why, two years on from her
mum’s death, she’s
determined to continue
bringing her work to life
- starting with a tour of
The Syndicate
34 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
In conversation
When Gaynor Faye was a child, she would
watch her mother, screenwriter Kay Mellor,
as she worked in the small dining room of
their Leeds home. ‘She and her friend, writer
Paul Abbott, wrote Children’s Ward there,’
remembers Gaynor. ‘They’d ask me to come up with storylines,
and, if they used one, my mum would pay me £10, which was
a lot of money then and a great incentive.’
The ITV drama, which ran for 11 years, was the first of many
successful series created by Kay, including Band Of Gold, about
prostitutes in Bradford; Fat Friends, which starred Alison
Steadman as a chip shop-owning slimming club member; and
The Syndicate, about colleagues who win the lottery. In a
male-dominated industry, Kay, who passed away in 2022 at the
age of 71, broke new ground by focusing on the lives of women,
bringing empathy, warmth and humour to the grittiest stories
and paving the way for every brilliant writer since, from Happy
Valley’s Sally Wainwright to Gavin & Stacey’s Ruth Jones.
After growing up immersed in her mother’s
creativity, helping to edit scripts from early
on, it seemed almost inevitable that Gaynor
would follow her into the industry. Her work
with Kay on shows such as Fat Friends,
Playing The Field and The Chase, which
Gaynor helped write, alongside roles in
Coronation Street and Emmerdale, made
her a familiar face on our screens.
Among their joint ventures is a stage
adaptation of The Syndicate, the hit BBC
One series with stars including Lenny Henry
and Siobhan Finneran (and Gaynor herself,
in the final series). In 2021, the pair began
work on the production and, when Kay died
suddenly the following May, Gaynor
immediately knew what she needed to do.
‘The producer, Josh Andrews, asked if
I wanted to go ahead,’ says Gaynor, 52. ‘It
was Mum’s wish - so it was a no-brainer. It’s
about keeping my mum’s words alive.’
Poignantly, Kay’s final play - based on
series one of the BBC drama and starring Max George, Brooke
Vincent and Samantha Giles - which tours the UK from April
to July, will mark Gaynor’s first stint as a director. ‘It’s a big
responsibility, but I know Mum’s vision so well and what she
would have wanted,’ she says. Tm excited to honour her legacy.
When the play has its premiere in our hometown of Leeds,
hopefully the theatre will be full of people who loved my mum’s
work. She was an incredible writer and needs to be celebrated.’
Kay, who founded her own production company, Rollem, and
was awarded an OBE for services to drama in 2009, worked
tirelessly until the end. She left several projects unfinished, and
Gaynor, the company’s creative director, intends to see it all to
fruition. She is equally passionate about continuing the work
Kay did to champion other women in the industry; she was
renowned for giving actors such as Samantha Morton their big
breaks and mentoring up-and-coming writers, including Sally
Wainwright, whom she urged to ‘fight for what you want’.
‘My mum was a real woman’s woman,’ says Gaynor. ‘She
fought hard to get where she got to, but she believed that if you
managed to climb the ladder, you lowered it for somebody else
My mum was a real
woman’s woman
to get up, too. And that’s what our company has been about for
a long time, championing new writers, particularly working-class
women, with the Kay Mellor Fellowship and Screenwriters’ Lab.’
It’s a major undertaking, particularly as Gaynor is still just as
passionate about acting as ever. ‘There’s a lot to do,’ she agrees,
laughing. Tve realised just how busy my mum’s life was, writing
directing, producing and mentoring. She’d always have time for
everybody though - if we popped round, she’d drop everything,
I don’t know how she fitted everything in.’
Kay grew up on a Leeds council estate and became pregnant
with her daughter, Yvonne, aged 16 (her boyfriend, Anthony
Mellor, was 17 and the pair remained happily married until Kay’s
death), with Gaynor following when she was 20. She used the
experience in her BBC One drama In The Club. After returning to
education when the girls went to school and getting a foot in the
door as a writer on Brookside, she began to make her name
around the same time Gaynor was getting noticed as an actor.
The pair’s bond was so close that, despite Gaynor being told
she’d have to move to London to be
successful, she chose to remain near her
mum in West Yorkshire, where she still lives.
Initially, though, their connection wasn’t
as beneficial as one might imagine. ‘I had to
change my name - my real name is Gaynor
Kay Mellor, which people found confusing
and actually got in the way,’ she says.
‘Gaynor Faye is a blend of my name and
a friend’s name, and it made it easier for
people to distinguish between Mum and I.’
She cut her teeth on the BBC drama
The Sharp End before arriving on Coronation
Street’s cobbles as Judy Mallett in 1995.
When the chance came to star in Playing
The Field, her mum’s series about a fictional
female football team, she leapt at it, going
on to appear in several more of Kay’s shows.
‘Being in Mum’s shows was amazing. It was
every actor’s dream to be in a Kay Mellor
drama. You knew they’d be something you’d
be proud to be in. She was a trailblazer who
wrote about many subjects that hadn’t been on TV before - in
Band Of Gold she made working girls the heroes, which was so
ahead of its time. Plus, there were always life lessons to be taken
away from her shows. With The Syndicate, it’s: be careful what
you wish for, money doesn’t necessarily make you happy.’
Losing Kay has, of course, been devastating for Gaynor and
her sister Yvonne, who is a producer. Gaynor is a practising
Buddhist and credits her spirituality with helping her cope with
her grief. ‘In Buddhism, we chant twice a day for our deceased
loved ones, knowing that we’ll be reconnected again,’ she says.
‘It helps me stay positive, because I know that positivity will
ripple out to the people around me. My mum lived a Buddhist
life without calling herself a Buddhist - she couldn’t be happy
if other people weren’t happy, so her success was always
measured by the success of the people around her.’
Gaynor’s home office is filled with pictures of Kay, including
one on her desk of the two of them, which inspires her. 'She might
not be here in person, but she’s definitely with me,’ she says.
• The Syndicate tours the UK from 11 April to 27 July.
For tickets, see syndicateplay.co.uk □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 35
Keeping ahead
of our children
in the .
DIGITAL
 AGE.-
Tech has transformed childhood, but youngsters’ desires
for their own phones and access to social media can bring
worries for the adults in their lives. Jo Dunbar investigates
o one bringing up a child in
2024 will have avoided the
flashpoint that is screen use.
With adults spending an
average of five hours a day
on their phones, it’s natural that children
will want to follow suit. Children accessing
smartphones and social media continues
to be a worry, but for many parents, the
issue isn’t straightforward. Kids travelling
alone to secondary school and gaining
independence (plus the idea that your
child would be the only one among their
peers without a phone) often prompt a
decision to introduce one.
Ofcom says 91% of 11-year-olds now
have a phone. My son Will is 10, and
my husband, Chris, and I are discussing
when to introduce one into his life.
Anecdotes from other parents and
news reports make me wary about
cyberbullying, peer pressure, time
spent scrolling and content my son
could stumble upon that he isn’t mature
enough to deal with. I’m not alone
- 75% of parents whose children are
accessing the web worry about them
viewing age-inappropriate content.
When 14-year-old Molly Russell took
her own life after viewing self-harm
and suicide content online, her father,
Ian Russell, began to campaign against
the dangers of social media and
set up the Molly Rose Foundation
(mollyrosefoundation.org), a suicide
prevention organisation
aimed at helping people
under 25. The Online
Safety Bill finally passed
through Parliament last
year and puts big tech
firms under pressure to
protect children from
harmful material online.
ESCAPISM
Smartphones have become increasingly
sophisticated and we have begun to
lean on them more and more. But the
more we use them, the greater a habit
it becomes as our brains lay neural
pathways until picking up our phones,
or having the urge to do so, is a reflex.
Studies have found that our ability to
The majority of
us want escapism
from our fast-
paced lives’
concentrate is impaired and sleep quality
can be reduced by late-night scrolling.
However, phones are not going
anywhere. So, perhaps it’s our attitudes
that need an update, to reflect the digital
society we - and our kids - inhabit.
Dr Faye Begeti, neurologist and
author of The Phone Fix, believes our
tendency to reach for
phones stems from the
pitfalls of modern living.
‘The majority of people
spend too long on
phones as they are
mentally exhausted
and want escapism
from their fast-paced
lives,’ she says.
It might seem ironic,
then, that Dr Begeti also imparts advice
on Instagram (@the_brain_doctor), but
her approach is nuanced. She believes
that mobile technology can enhance our
lives rather than ruin them. Essentially,
smartphones are not the issue - it’s our
ability to use them effectively. Controlling
how we respond to our phones and the
36 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
urge to check them could help our
concentration, productivity and sleep,
she says. By understanding why we’re
drawn to our phones, Dr Begeti is
confident we can live alongside
technology rather than fearing it.
‘A common solution to frequent
phone use is a ban, but we eventually
fall back into the same cycle of reaching
for our phones a lot,’ she says. Instead,
habits can be tweaked using small, slow
changes: ‘If you’re counting down the
days on a digital detox, you’re set up for
failure. Little habits can shift the balance.
It doesn’t matter how slowly you go, as
long as it’s in the right direction.’
TECHNOLOGY ETIQUETTE
Dr Begeti has two young daughters, so
phones aren’t up for debate yet, but she
advocates talking about screens from a
young age: ‘Give children some control.
Start ahead of time. Before you give
them a phone, discuss what they’re doing
or watching on a tablet or screen and
how they’ll know when it’s time to stop.’
If you lose chunks of time scrolling
social media, then you may be worried
about your children doing the same.
While parents often forbid youngsters
from having a phone until later down the
line, Dr Begeti says: ‘You won’t have built
good habits - it just pushes the problem
further along the road.’
Instead, she suggests taking a
collaborative approach: ‘Talk about
your own phone use - how it can be
useful for things like paying a bill, but
how sometimes you use it too much.’
All this helps to nurture better
technology etiquette and set clear
digital boundaries. These can include
creating screen-time limits and blocking
contacts - locking them behind a
passcode so children can't tweak them.
WhatsApp has a minimum user age
of 16, while for major social media
providers such as TikTok, Instagram,
Facebook and Snapchat it’s 13 (although
the latter platform has no method of
verifying age). Use device settings to
ensure children can only download
age-appropriate apps and games.
The Google Family Link app also
allows you to approve or block apps
before your child downloads them.
UNESCO, the UN’s education, science
and culture agency, has called for a ban
on mobile phones in schools, citing them
as a distraction. The Netherlands has
banned smartphones in all secondary
schools, while in France they’re banned
for pupils under 15. In the UK, most
schools have online bullying policies.
ONLINE SAFETY
While we may aim to set our children on
a path for healthy phone habits, parents
should be aware that other kids may not
have the same boundaries in place.
‘It’s crucial to discuss online safety
before children reach an age when
they receive their first personal device
with internet access. Talk about safe
browsing practices, such as avoiding
unknown links and seeking an adult’s help
if they encounter upsetting content,’
Dr Begeti advises. ‘Explain that they can
come to you if they see something that’s
upsetting or not age-appropriate - either
on their own device or someone else’s.’
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 37
Talking point
Sleep quality
can be reduced by
bedtime scrolling j
A 2023 UN
report said phones
should be banned
You can lay the building blocks for safer
internet use, but be proactive. ‘We can do
that by engaging with what our children
are doing in the digital world as much as
we are with their activities in the physical
world. Integrate it into daily discussions,’
says Dr Begeti. Making discussions a
sharing experience can encourage
youngsters to be more forthcoming.
‘Engage with curiosity and interest,
not judgement. Talk about your own
experiences, both good and bad, to
make these chats feel more like mutual
sharing and less like interrogation.
Discuss any negative videos that you
have seen on social media and what you
did about it, possibly highlighting the
report and block buttons or muting
content that creates negative feelings.’
Often, adults can’t pinpoint why
but you can use the web for good.’
There’s also a practical angle; as a
medical professional, Dr Begeti has seen
first-hand how experience of navigating
technology can be lifesaving. ‘I treat a
lot of people who have had seizures;
often it’s a child who has called an
ambulance,' she says. ‘It’s important to
be able to use phones in an emergency.’
When the time comes, my husband
and I plan on giving Will an old
smartphone but removing social media
until he’s the right age. We’ll also
set boundaries about checking his
messages, time limits and keeping
phones out of the bedroom and away
from the dinner table. But before I try to
impart any kind of wisdom about phone
habits to my children, I need to keep my
smartphone usage in check, too.
HOW TO HALVE
SCREEN TIME
Dr Faye Be9Gti shares
i । some easy hacks that
X Ч will help family harmony.
THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE
"wWMr 1 When you’re tempted
to reach for your phone, try sticking to
a task or doing a chore for five minutes
instead. By the time you’re done, you’ll
have achieved something and the urge
to check your phone may have passed.
A PHONE-FRIENDLY AREA
Dedicate a space at home to targeted
phone time, whether that’s playing
a game or reading your favourite
columnist. Also create a phone-free
zone, to help children concentrate on
homework or while you eat together.
CUSTOMISE AND PERSONALISE
Not-for-profit organisation Internet
Matters offers child internet safety
advice for parents and suggests
checking carefully when we personalise
settings: ‘Most apps have their own
parental controls and privacy settings
so it’s possible to block certain
contacts, but it’s important you block
on each app individually.’
Visit internetmatters.org/
parental-controls.
• The Phone Fix
(Apollo) by Dr Faye
Begeti is out now
CX FAYE BEGETI
The
Phone]
I i\
viewing online content has a negative
impact. Dr Begeti reminds us that it’s
even harder for kids: ‘Since children's
executive brain functions are still
developing, they may find it even more
difficult to critically evaluate content.
Encourage them to question what they
see: could it be false? Is it using filters
or promoting unrealistic expectations?’
THE UPSIDES
While it can be tempting to think fondly
of the four TV channels and basic family
PCs of our youth, Dr Begeti reminds
us that the internet can be valuable,
especially for children with a thirst to
learn and feel connected to the world.
‘People romanticise their analogue
childhoods, but I would have loved more
information as a child,’ she says. 'When
I wanted to learn to play the guitar,
free YouTube tutorials would have been
great. Parents worry about the dangers,
‘We had to work out
phone boundaries’
Isabella Day, 51, an artist goldsmith from Devon,
tells how her son’s phone use became a friction point.
‘My son Solly first got a phone four years ago, aged 11.
I felt he needed one as his journey to school takes an hour,
via two buses and a ferry. He quickly became obsessed.
He’d spend a lot of time on YouTube, watching videos
well into the night, then oversleep and miss his bus, so
I had to drive him to school, which affected my day. I set
up screen-time limits but Solly found a way around them. I wanted to check
what he was doing and he didn’t want me to do that. We argued over his privacy.
‘Then, when he was 13, Solly dropped his phone in the river. I didn’t instantly
replace it, to teach him a lesson about the value of things. After a while, he quite
enjoyed not having a phone. It had become a distraction and he felt relieved to
not be thinking about it. He spent more time outside surfing and rowing.
‘We eventually replaced his phone and we’ve worked out better boundaries
- no phones at the table, and it gets switched off at night. We both read How To
Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price, which helped him understand how
addictive our phones are designed to be.’ isabelladayco.uk □
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY
38 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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When one door
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...another door
OPENS Я
When life shifts in a way you didn’t expect, it can be hard to
work out how to move forward. Three readers share how they
shed the past and embraced a positive new future
Interviews BELLA EVEN NETT-WATTS
‘Love doesn’t always
work out, but you can have
happiness again’
Having struggled with the end of her own marriage, Farhana Hussain, 46, has
taken her life in a new direction and is helping others going through divorce.
В В Then I met my now
В	%	ex-husband, Ben*,
В В	through a mutual friend
¥	¥ in 2000, I’d just returned
home following months spent travelling
across the world. We were both in our
early 20s and we instantly hit it off.
But Ben was a white British man, and
being in a relationship with him was
taboo to my South Asian family.
We married four years later, which
caused friction in my family. It wasn’t
easy, but eventually they accepted Ben.
We had three sons, Noah, now 18, Ezra,
16, and Ruben, 14. We were the first
among our friends to have kids, so
we didn’t have a support network
of fellow parents around us. As a
stay-at-home mum, I found coping
with motherhood difficult alongside
the push and pull between keeping Ben
and my family happy. A lot of the time,
married life was a balancing act.
The children were still very young
when cracks in our marriage began to
show. Arguments didn’t get resolved
and would become bitter. For a long
time, I was in denial that anything was
wrong and kept our problems hidden
from loved ones. The idea of divorce
was unfathomable. I saw it as a failure
and felt guilty after the stress everyone
had been through when we got married.
I was convinced things would one day
get better. Even when Ben made the
decision to move out of the family home
in 2018,1 still couldn’t accept we were
headed for divorce. I was also worried
about the financial repercussions. With
no financial independence, I couldn’t
LU UJ
II
40 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
Inspiring women

I felt there must
be other people
struggling like I did
see a future - I thought all the doors
were shut for me.
Despite our very long and drawn-out
separation, I didn’t expect it when Ben
asked for a divorce in 2019.1 stayed in
our home with the children but, having
kept the split a secret from friends and
family, I felt isolated and sought out
a counsellor. When the first counsellor
didn’t work out, I found another - then
another. I needed someone to help me
understand why my marriage had fallen
apart, but the counsellors I saw hadn’t
been through divorce themselves and
there were cultural differences. I just
felt they didn’t quite get it.
I’d all but given up on counselling
when I stumbled across a coach who
helped me navigate the divorce through
a new lens. She helped me negotiate
with my ex-husband and talk to lawyers
with clarity. She also helped me reach
a sounder mental place. I felt confident
enough to tell my family, who accepted
the divorce better than I’d anticipated.
I felt there must be others struggling
like I did, especially people who felt torn
between two cultures. Wanting to help
others, I retrained as a coach and a
neuro-linguistic programming (NLP)
practitioner. In 2022,1 launched myself
as a divorce doula to help people going
through separation. I’d hired a doula for
the birth of my sons and cherished the
support she gave me through that life
change. I felt people needed that kind
of help in divorce, too.
My role involves working with people
entering a new chapter in their lives. They
worry about the financial and emotional
ruins left by a separation. I help them
find a place of calm, and we also run
through the practicalities of divorce,
such as how to speak with
lawyers and split childcare.
Slowly, Ben and I found
a way to со-parent. We now
have great communication
and he’s a good friend. Our
kids have two happy parents,
and we’ve seen the positive
impact it’s had on them.
Although I’m not in a relationship now,
I’ve had good experiences since getting
divorced. Ben has a new partner and I’m
happy for him. I hope our sons will see
that love doesn’t always work out, but it
doesn’t mean you can’t have it again.
mydivorcedoula.org. и к
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 41
1 was terrified of losing my job,
but it was the push I needed’
Spurred on by redundancy, Nicola Mercer, 47, reveals how she transformed
every aspect of her life and discovered a new, happier version of herself.
If you’d met me five years ago, you
might have thought I was confident
and content. I’d worked for the
same company for
nearly two decades,
I’d been married for
11 years and we had
our daughter, Lois,
now 16. But just after
my 20th anniversary
at work in 2021,1 was
made redundant.
My life had been at
a standstill for a long
time. I was 24 when I joined the company
- a sportswear brand - in 2001. It was
exciting to begin with, but I was riddled
with anxiety and self-doubt. The older
I got, the more feelings of unease crept
up on me. Worries would mount into
panic attacks. I lived in fear of crumbling
in front of everyone and my colleagues
Life is constantly
shifting - I’m
embracing the
ebb and flow
discovering I wasn’t competent after all.
For the last seven years of my career,
I tried to progress, but was too fearful to
apply for promotions.
Meanwhile, I watched
those around me move
on to bigger, better
positions. I held various
roles in sales and
operations. I enjoyed
my job, but my
insecurities made work
life difficult. I lived with
constant worry - how
much longer could I go on like this?
In 2020, my mother died in her 60s. It
made me think about my own mortality.
She wasn’t far past retirement age when
she died. Did I really want to spend the
next two decades struggling with
mental health? At the same time, I was
profoundly stuck at work. It had been
my financial security blanket for
decades, so I kept plodding along.
The following year, the company
started cutting back its workforce.
I felt destined for the scrap heap. My
colleagues talked about their plan В if
all else failed, but I had no back-up. As
the main earner, I had bills to pay and
a family to support. The prospect of
redundancy crippled me with anxiety.
But when it happened, I saw
redundancy was the push I needed to
change my life. I began thinking about
what I was good at: I enjoyed the gym,
I led a healthy lifestyle, I liked helping
others. So I decided to create a coaching
business to help people transform their
lives. Having left with a good redundancy
package, I was able to dedicate time
to qualifying as a personal trainer and
a certified health coach.
I set up my coaching business and
began working from home. It involved
creating plans for people wanting to
improve their physical and mental health,
and having one-to-one sessions to keep
them on track. I also helped companies
improve the wellbeing of their workforce.
I found that supporting other people
boosted my own happiness.
I thought that was the end of the
transformation, but it was just the start.
A few months later, I made the decision
to leave my husband. Our marriage had
been unhappy for several years, but
I always lacked the confidence to make
such a change. In a lot of areas in my
life, I used to think I’d made my bed and
had to lie in it Ending the marriage
seemed best for our daughter, too, who
was 13 at the time. I wanted her to grow
up with happy parents.
Being unhappy in my career and my
marriage had made me believe I had a
glass-half-empty attitude, but as I began
to feel less stressed, my anxiety began to
melt away. I was less irritable and felt like
a better mum to my daughter, too.
I was content moving forward with
my new single life, but shortly after
ending my marriage I met Kev. I wasn’t
looking for a relationship, but now
we are about to get married. Our
relationship is easygoing and I feel
happy and confident.
Many women view midlife negatively,
but I’ve learned that anything is possible.
Life is constantly shifting. I’m embracing
the ebb and flow.
• Hfenow.uk
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NECKLACE, BETTY & BIDDY. BRACELET. HOT DIAMONDS. SHOES, RUSSELL & BROMLEY. SARA WEARS: SHIRT; TROUSERS, MARC CAIN. BANGLE, LAURENCE COSTE. SHOES, RUSSELL & BROMLEY
Inspiring women
Change is difficult,
often you don’t do it
until you have to
Faced with the prospect of an empty
nest in a new place, I wanted a way to fill
my time - a job entirely different from
what I’d done before. I enjoyed the perks
of my previous career in finance - nice
company car, good pay - but having led
a simpler life, those things didn’t matter
to me so much any more. It felt more
important to put something into society.
Everything pointed towards teaching.
It was an idea I’d mulled over, but change
is difficult, so often you don’t do it until
you have a real reason to. A fresh start in
England was the motivation I needed.
I became a teaching assistant before
enrolling at university to study a PGCE
course while joining Now Teach. There
were plenty of younger people on my
course, but I wasn’t the oldest, either! It
was encouraging to see other women
my age doing the same. I’d also heard
Lucy Kellaway,
co-founder of Now
Teach, on the radio,
speaking about the
challenges she’d faced
while becoming a
teacher. It inspired me
and showed that you
can enter teaching in
your 50s, make
mistakes and still be successful.
I think we often underestimate
ourselves. Just because something is
difficult, it doesn’t mean you can’t do
it - put in the work until you can.
‘Returning to the classroom
was my silver lining'
Following a big move and faced with an empty nest,
Sara Harper Stevens, 56, embarked on a new career as a teacher.
1^ ifteen years ago, my life looked
, like this: I lived in northern
France with my husband, Nigel,
and our two daughters, Freya
and Lydia. Having left behind my career
in finance, I was a stay-at-home mum.
We loved our relaxed lifestyle in France
- it was idyllic.
We moved to France for Nigel’s job
with the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission in 2008, when the girls were
six and 11. None of us could speak much
French at first, but Nigel picked it up
quickly at work, while Freya and Lydia
got to grips with it at school. I’d help
them with their homework with an
English-French dictionary to hand.
I was also taking French literacy
lessons. It inspired me to volunteer at my
daughters’ school, doing extracurricular
English lessons for children. Word spread
and I launched a course for adults, too.
In 2018, Nigel’s work needed him back
in the UK. We had three months to pack
up and move to a village in Shropshire. It
was quite an upheaval. Freya had already
gone to university, and was studying for
a year abroad in South America. Lydia
was also looking at university options
and was eager to study abroad.
I qualified as an English teacher in
2021 and began teaching at a secondary
school in Telford, which was close to
where we lived. I remember early on,
standing in front of the class and
realising I was on my own. But seeing
all the pupils gazing back at me wasn’t
as terrifying as some might think. The
responsibility to help them learn was
on my shoulders - that motivated me.
I’ve been at the same secondary
school for nearly four years now. I love
being surrounded by young people.
Teaching is a lot of hard work but it’s
also very worthwhile. My work gives
me a great sense of achievement and
I’ve avoided empty nest syndrome by
staying focused on a goal.
People always say to look for a silver
lining when faced with challenges.
I think that when my life was suddenly
in upheaval, teaching gave me mine.
• nowteach.org.uk □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 43
Mum taught md afoul
ANT1QUI
and the powe
ЙИЙ
As a child, Cara
Miller grew up in a
house stuffed with
antiques, but longed
for Ikea furniture.
Now she’s written
her debut novel,
which is a loving
tribute to her late
mother, Antiques
Roadshow expert
Judith Miller



Personal journey
Judith, far left,
and the Antiques
Roadshow team
antiques, including
a Sedan chair (inset)
at their Kent home
у childhood was filled
with antiques, but I
couldn’t tell you the most
valuable item my parents
owned - I had no idea of
the market value of anything. But ask me
what item told the best story and I’d
have grabbed your hand and pulled you
to the Sedan chair, or some shipwrecked
eight-year-old self was the height of
modern luxury; sleek white drawers that
would open with one smooth movement.
My mother, surprisingly, embraced the
wish - but only in my bedroom. She
always firmly believed that you should
surround yourself with the things you
admire, cherish and would use, and if Ikea
* that to me, she supported it.
Our summer holidays
coincided with my
parents’ book tours
and antique hunting;
wandering around
auction houses,
1 antiques fairs and
shops - generally
running off to hunt
down vintage toys.
I never remember being
taught anything about
antiques but my mother
had a way of calling me over,
saying, ‘Do you know that this
little shipwrecked ceramic vase
was under the sea for a hundred
ceramics or the spooky painting.
I remember every word my mother
told me about those items and it
was through her that I learned about
antiques and the power of story.
My mother was Judith Miller, of the
BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and Miller’s
Antiques Price Guide fame, whom, sadly,
we lost in April last year. She has said
herself she grew up in the
‘Formica generation’ after
the Second World War
without an antique in sight
in her childhood home
- her collecting began
while at Edinburgh
University in her early 20s.
However, due to the
huge success of Miller’s
Antiques Price Guide,
which was first published in
1979 - the year I was born - home was
teeming with antiques and curiosities.
I also had many siblings (Samantha,
Tanya, Natasha, Kirsty and Tom) and
pets. Once, my father brought home an
Irish wolfhound puppy because ‘these
dogs looked after the kids in mediaeval
castles’, and no one questioned his logic!
We existed in a time capsule of items
created in the past, so we could easily
believe that our home, Sissinghurst Court
in Kent, was a castle and we needed
protecting by a huge, placid dog.
I still reach
for the phone
to tell her
some exciting
book news
As far as I can remember, I believed
the antiques my parents collected were
a hindrance to a good time: shelves
of valuable oriental ceramics or glass,
tables on which nothing could be placed
and chairs that were merely decorative.
My sisters and I used to play Sardines
with friends and we always ended up
all squashed together in the base of the
Sedan chair that smelled
of musty leather and dust.
My parents wrote many
books on period interiors
and our home was always
featured. The aesthetic
was maximalist Victorian;
every wall was covered in
maroon paint or dark floral
wallpaper, and on top of
that were gilt mirrors and
paintings and candlesticks
on every surface.
We had a playroom off the kitchen and
that was where I, my sisters and our pets
mostly lived in. There was a huge antique
pine kitchen table, a large butcher’s
block next to the Aga and a piano. These
are the items of my younger years that
were ours; they were battered with love
and splattered with paint. In my
bedroom was a Victorian pine chest
of drawers, which needed a lot of
wiggling to open, so I began a petition
to have an Ikea replacement. Ikea to my
years?’ The stories she wove around the
antiques were what held my attention
and I learned about antiques without
even realising it.
PLANTING A SEED
I lived in a loud and busy house (my
parents threw great parties), but I was
a quiet child who was happier reading.
When I couldn’t find the adventure that
I wanted to read, I began to write - plays
for my younger sister and I to act out,
a daily diary, short stories and then
on to bad poetry in my teenage years.
I think I must have believed that, if
I worked in publishing, in time, I would
learn to be an author. I convinced my
mother to give me a job on Miller’s
Antiques Price Guide as an editorial
assistant. It quickly became clear that
I wasn’t going to learn anything about
fiction writing when I was inputting
captions on antiques all day! Although,
I enjoyed my time there, I wanted to go
travelling and see the world.
At 18 I got on a plane, on my own, to
Bangkok, and my passion for travelling
became a 10-year love affair. I came home
when I needed to make more money to
go again and, on one such visit, my
mother offered me the role as researcher
on the Antiques Hunter’s Guide To
Europe. It was one of the best jobs I ever
had. I became absorbed in writing about
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 45
all the different antique hot spots
around the world. It planted a seed
in me that took 20 years to bloom.
In my late 20s, I got a job at a local
council and met my husband. I began
to believe that my dreams of being an
author were unrealistic and it was time
to put that aside and settle down. We
bought a Victorian house
in north London and I had
my daughter, Aria. Owning
my own home and not
having spare cash for new
there for me
the kids, but I couldn’t help borrowing
a few books for myself. I realised how
much I had missed being immersed in
a fictional world.
It didn’t take long to start writing
again. I took a small, fragile step and
joined a beginners’ creative writing
course at London’s Mary Ward Centre.
Within months I had
started writing my first
novel. It was terrible but
Mum was
I loved it. Creating stories
was cathartic and I realised
WHAT ANTIQUE
SHOULD YOU BUY?
‘If you’re going to have an antique
in your home, if you’re going to see
it every day, make sure it’s a piece
that you love,’ says Cara Miller.
‘It doesn’t matter what’s fashionable
or on trend, just buy the items that
resonate with you. If you’re starting
to collect, then whether
in an antiques shop, at
auction or at an antiques fair,
my mother used to say
to always look for
quality - quality
of design, quality
of construction
and quality of
decoration.
Look for good
condition
and good
provenance.
Happy
hunting!’
the quirky and instantly recognisable
Martin Brothers’ bird - and the story
furniture did reignite one joy
from childhood - the thrill of
an antiques auction. I spent
every step
of the way
many mornings at the
Criterion auction house
in Islington FaceTiming my mother while
she was filming the Antiques Roadshow
and asking her advice. Her first question
was always, ‘How much do you love it?’
That is still the question I ask myself
today if I want to buy something.
MURDER MYSTERY
Two years after buying our first home,
my world was shattered when my
beloved father died from cancer. I was
33 - it was the first time I had lost
someone who was an intrinsic
part of my life and identity. Two
weeks after his death, I gave
birth to my son, Leo; he was
a light in what I look back on
as a very dark time. That year
was a blur with two children
under three, a husband working
six days a week and trying
to get to grips with crippling
grief. But I did rediscover
my love of reading. At first,
I joined the local library for
A Martin Brothers’
bird can fetch
thousands at auction
that it was the way I made
sense of the world.
I have always wanted to
write a murder mystery and
three years ago I came up
with an idea while playing Cluedo with
my kids. I started to think if the killer was
Professor Plum in the Library with a
candlestick... what type of candlestick
was it? Art deco? What was it made of?
Brass, silver, porcelain? I rang my mother
and explained my idea of a murder
mystery in the antiques world and
mused, ‘What would someone kill for?’
My mother’s answer to the question
was not one I expected from an
international antiques expert. For she
was not interested in the diamonds
or jewels so many stories had
focused on. She was interested
in the reasons why people
loved something. Essentially
the antiques with stories behind
them. As she said: ‘So many times
the value is in provenance.’ It was her
suggestion of having an iconic antique
that my heroine, Freya, and her
Aunt Carole could hunt for, which
helped the plot really
take shape. We chose
took flight, but no spoilers here!
From that point on, my mother was
there with me every step of the way.
When I was offered a three-book deal
in the UK within hours of the book being
submitted, I got off the phone with my
agent and called my mother. We cheered
together down the phone and she told
me how proud she was. The next week,
my book went to auction in the US and
her huge experience in publishing was
invaluable in helping me choose the best
fit for my series and my career.
I still reach for the phone to tell her
some exciting book news, ask her for
advice or to invite her for Sunday lunch,
and my heart breaks when I remember
that she’s no longer here. My mother
never saw my book in print, but it
wouldn’t have been written if it wasn’t
for her huge passion for antiques and
her desire to impart her knowledge.
And, if you look closely, her warmth and
wisdom are woven into
the fabric of my book. She
inspired every single page.
• The Antique Hunter’s
Guide To Murder
(Macmillan) by C L Miller
is published 29 February □
BY CARA MILLER. PHOTOGRAPHY: LIZ MCAULAY HAIR & MAKEUP: LIZ KITCHINER.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY: RAY BURMISTON/BBC PICTURES. ALAMY. GETTY. ISTOCK
46 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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synarome
More than half of women say they’ve suffered
from it, but you can emerge feeling stronger,
says journalist and broadcaster Cathy Newman

As a young reporter at the
Financial Times, I arranged a
meeting with the male CEO
of a FTSE 100 company.
When I arrived in the lobby of his grand,
marble-floored office, I saw him waiting
and went over to introduce myself.
’Hello,’ I said, thrusting out my hand.
‘I’m Cathy Newman.’
He looked at me blankly and said:
‘There must be some mistake. I’m here
to meet the FT’
‘I know,’ I replied. ‘I am the FT.'
The man had the good grace to be
mortified. In his defence, I think the
problem was not that I was a woman
but that, in my early 20s, as I was
when this incident occurred, I looked
about 16. Even so, it’s clear to me
now that most of the blame should
be dumped at his feet.
At the time, though, it was a different
story. I thought the misunderstanding
was my fault entirely. Quite suddenly,
I felt as if I didn’t fit. Didn’t belong.
And it turns out
there’s a name for
that, although I didn’t
know it then.
Impostor syndrome is when we
doubt our genuine abilities and
accomplishments to the point where
we become convinced we’re frauds. It
was first described in a 1978 article by
two American psychologists, Dr Pauline
Clance and Dr Suzanne Imes. Since
then, lots of successful women have
admitted to experiencing it, from
tech giant Sheryl Sandberg to actor
Emma Watson.
Some experts think impostor
syndrome is particularly prevalent
in families where parents are
over-invested in a child’s achievement.
It’s also reckoned to affect more
women than men. A recent study
of 4,000 adults commissioned by
chocolate brand Galaxy found that
53% of women had experienced it at
some point, especially at work (72% of
them). It’s telling, I think, that Tony Blair
claimed never to have come across
the term, whereas every woman
I know is familiar with it.
LONE WOLVES
Throughout my career, I’ve noticed that
women often feel they have to be
hyper-competent, because they think
that if they fail, they will have let down
not just themselves, but all women
everywhere. You’d be amazed by how
hard it is to persuade women to appear
on Channel 4 News. We’re always
asking female experts to come on the
programme and invariably they say,
‘Oh, that’s not really my area,’ or 'I don’t
In my experience
think I know enough about the subject.’
Men rarely, if ever, turn us down on
those grounds.
Many of the women I’ve interviewed
for my Times Radio show, The Ladder
(the inspiration for my new book),
have felt like impostors at some point.
Baroness Nicky Morgan told me she felt
like one when she first became an MP in
2010. 'The first time I was shown into the
chamber to be given a sort of tutorial, I
kept thinking someone was going to say,
“Well, you shouldn’t be here. Out you
go.’” Nicky successfully masked her
impostor syndrome with a can-do
bravado presumably learned in her
previous career as a lawyer. But what if
you have the sort of personality where
that isn’t possible?
It doesn’t help that, in my experience,
high-achieving women are often lone
wolves who find it hard to collaborate
and ‘muck in’. They worry about sharing
credit because when they do, their
contributions are overlooked or chiselled
away. Take the story of the celebrated
astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell. She
was doing a PhD at the University of
Cambridge, helping the radio
astronomer Antony Newish and his team
build a vast radio telescope, when on
28 November 1967, she made an
amazing discovery. Looking through the
chart-recorder papers on which were
transcribed, in data form, the signals
from the telescope, she noticed evidence
of something pulsing regularly out there
in the cosmos. Initially christened ‘Little
Green Man T as a joke, it turned out to
be a neutron star, or ‘pulsar’.
Despite co-authoring the original
paper announcing the discovery, she was
not among the scientists awarded the
1974 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work
on pulsars. With great magnanimity, she
dismisses this omission as the
consequence of a ‘demarcation dispute’
between student and supervisor. At the
same time, she admits the prize became
known among her colleagues as the
‘No-Bell Prize’.
The interesting thing is, Jocelyn
believes impostor syndrome to have
been a hugely important factor in all that
she achieved. ‘I was convinced Cambridge
had made a mistake in admitting me and
I wasn’t clever enough,’ she explained.
‘My policy was to work as hard as
I could so that when they discovered
this mistake and threw me out, I wouldn’t
have a guilty conscience because
I knew I’d done my best. So I was being
incredibly thorough.’
PUSH THROUGH
I’ve been doing live TV since 2006, so
I’m pretty experienced. But my blood
still freezes when I remember the first
live two-way interview I did as political
correspondent, from outside the Liberal
Democrat HQ in
Westminster. All I could
think about was how
scared I was and how
sleep-deprived from the
weeks of anticipatory
worrying. In a clipped,
tense voice, I started to
answer presenter Jon
Snow’s question from the TV studio:
‘So Cathy, what’s going on?’ I was
concentrating so intently on not saying
‘er’ or looking down at my notes that
I failed to notice I was standing in the
middle of a road with a taxi hurtling
towards me. The driver screeched to a
halt just as I was winding up my analysis.
Afterwards, I burst into tears, convinced
I’d screwed the whole thing up and my
fledgling TV career was in ruins.
It’s good to step
outside your
comfort zone
Two reflections, nearly 20 years on.
One: I genuinely can’t think of a man
who would have come to the same
conclusion. And two: I realise now that
fear and uncertainty are important
staging posts. The trick is to put them to
productive use; to accept that, although
what we’re climbing through sometimes
feels like thin air, we’re still going
somewhere valuable.
Even now, I’m plagued with moments
of self-doubt, particularly if something
goes wrong during a show - I
mispronounce a name, for instance, or
an interview doesn’t go to plan. But
nowadays I close my eyes and tell myself
to chalk it up to experience. In any case,
it’s sometimes good, even necessary, to
make mistakes or step outside your
comfort zone. University of Oxford
biologist Catherine Green, who was
part of the team that developed the
Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine,
says that for this reason she dislikes
the phrase ‘impostor syndrome’.
‘I think we all sometimes
feel out of our depth,’ she
says. ‘But if you don’t ever
feel that, then you’re
probably not pushing
yourself hard enough.
I’m not sure I feel like
an impostor. Sometimes
I feel like I don’t know
the rules or the situation I’m in, or that I
could have done a bit more preparation.
But if you don’t get out of your depth,
you’re probably not going to make it
to the other side of the river.’
Ladies - it’s time to put our waders on!
• The Ladder (William Collins) by
Cathy Newman is out 29 February
Listen to The Ladder on Times Radio
every Friday at 6.30pm, and on Apple
Podcasts for Times subscribers
5 ways to boost your self worth
PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER SEARLE/ITN, GETTY
IFind allies at work
and share your
experiences with them.
As Women Of The World
Festival founder Jude Kelly
made clear to me, these can
be men, too: ‘If you have a
society where the legitimacy
is male, you can’t buck it.’
2 Focus on your own
achievements, not
other people’s.
ЗА friend once
suggested I make
a note of praise I was
given so that I could look
back on it when I was
feeling down. I’ve found
this really helpful.
4 Tell yourself that
you deserve your
role. What entrepreneur
Anya Hindmarch calls the
‘gremlin on your shoulder’
is there to keep you safe,
but she advises, ‘get him to
turn the volume down a bit’.
5 Like Jocelyn Bell
Burnell, recognise
that your perfectionist
nature may be partly to
blame and find solace and
motivation in that.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 49
to
mend a

F
/]
WO I N

Psychologist Dr Alice
Haddon (left) and life
coach Ruth Field
specialise in healing
brokenhearted women,
inspired by the mutual
support of their own
30-year friendship. Here
is their advice on how
to move on when a
relationship ends badly
every relationship is personal and unique,
many of the emotions experienced
are deeply shared. And the impact of
heartbreak can have powerful real-life
consequences. Studies have shown it
has the potential to cause real trauma
and even trigger post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), and it bears many
similarities with grief.
‘There are overlaps
between heartbreak and
grief in terms of the loss
that you suffer,’ says
psychologist Dr Alice
Haddon. ‘There’s
something so painful
about romantic heartbreak
because the person has
rejected you and yet they
are still there, living a life
(whether immediately or further down
the line) with someone else.’
But while there’s a wide range of grief
counsellors and bereavement groups
available for loss, there isn’t the same
support for heartbreak.
‘If you’ve been bereaved, you can go to
It’s important
to give yourself
permission
to feel
a bereavement counsellor. If you’ve been
heartbroken, you might be pushed in
the direction of grief support, but it’s not
quite the same. Romantic heartbreak is
a unique type of loss,’ says Alice. ‘In
early 2021,1 heard a radio interview with
a woman who had been left heartbroken
by romance fraud. At the time I was
grieving the passing of my mother, and
I empathised with the speaker’s loss. Her
pain struck me, along with the lack of
help for those affected by heartbreak.’
For this reason, Alice developed a
course of therapy with structured steps
and exercises to help
people process romantic
heartbreak. She teamed up
with her long-term friend
Ruth Field, a life coach, and
they began delivering the
therapy during three-day
retreats for women, known
as The Heartbreak Hotel.
‘I had a few unhealthy
romantic relationships when
I was younger, and some experience of
narcissism, so I know how broken they
can make you feel. But I didn’t know about
gaslighting or love bombing and wish that
I had, and that this kind of support was
available back then, too,’ says Ruth. ‘In the
first year of lockdown, I’d spent hours on
WORDS: BETHAN ROSE JENKINS. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY. KATIE WILSON
50 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Inner you
the phone with friends in relationship
crises, so when Alice came to me with
the idea for heartbreak support, I knew it
was time to do something.’
Alice and Ruth’s book Finding Your Seif
At The Heartbreak Hotel channels their
in-person retreat into a DIY kit. The book
features all the exercises conducted during
hotel weekends, alongside fictionalised
case studies that explore similar
experiences to those of real heartbroken
women they’ve worked with. In it, the
expert duo explain how childhood
relationships (described as those in the
‘early nest’) ultimately form the blueprint
for how we interact and bond with others.
‘Your experience in the early nest gives
rise to fledgling beliefs about how the
world works, acting like an internal map
navigating all your relationships and
experiences to come,’ Alice and Ruth
explain in the book. ‘Heartbreak
represents an interpersonal rupture.
Our early blueprints are activated and
it’s worth taking a closer look at these
because they can influence not just how
much distress we feel when we are
heartbroken, but also our perceptions
of ourselves and our partners.’
They go on to explain how thinking
IDENTIFY YOUR BONDING TYPE
Our early bonding blueprints act as an emotional mapping system,
helping us navigate relationships with a sense of predictability and safety.
LONE RANGER
(avoidant attachment style)
If you’re self-reliant and
independent in relationships, and
feel uncomfortable if the emotional
temperature gets too hot, you may be
a Lone Ranger. Lone Rangers can find
the challenges of intimacy threatening
and tend to be evasive and distant.
Their early nests were characterised
by a lack of responsiveness from their
caregivers, or overbearing ones. They
seek independence to regulate their
experience. Their blueprint mapping
system looks a bit like this: ‘If I keep
my distance, then I will be safe.’
CLOSE RANGER
(anxious attachment style)
If you’re sensitive to rejection, like
to keep people nearby and need
reassurance, you may be a Close
Ranger. It may be that Close Rangers’
early caregiving was responsive, but
not always predictable, so it was
about our childhood and addressing our
inner needs can help us reframe our
approach to relationships. The book
helps us to reflect on preconceptions
and our belief system, as well as how
to process a relationship
breakdown. Follow these
steps towards helping you
heal a broken heart...
TELL YOUR
STORY
Write down the story of
your heartbreak. Getting it
all out will create physical
distance so you can start
looking at your story, rather than seeing
your experience from inside of it. The
trauma of heartbreak can leave your
system adrenalised and, while it’s
important to give yourself permission to
feel, writing it down can help you process
your distress and calm your system.
Frame your writing around the
following questions:
•	What happened to you?
•	How has it affected you?
•	What sense have you made of it?
Writing down your story is the first step
in your journey towards clarity.
Romantic
heartbreak is
a unique type
of loss
important for them to stay close and
alert. Close Rangers tend to find fault
in themselves. They become focused
on re-establishing emotional
closeness. Their blueprint mapping
system looks a bit like this: ‘If I stay
close, then I will be safe.’
ROLLER RANGER (disorganised
attachment style)
If early caregiving was unpredictably
responsive but with an added
dimension of sometimes being
dangerous or punishing, children may
tend towards becoming part Lone
Ranger, part Close Ranger. Being
betrayed in a relationship can also
mimic the Roller Ranger experience:
the safe person has become dangerous.
Roller Rangers find it hard to know
where they stand and whether to
trust or not, and struggle to recognise
safe behaviours. Their blueprint
mapping system looks a bit like this:
'If I stay vigilant, then I will be safe.’
ACCEPT THE SITUATION
After a relationship breakdown, it’s
natural to ruminate on what has
happened. You’re trying to gain a sense
of control, reconcile what’s transpired
and find meaning. But
then you can’t sleep for
thinking about how it
happened and how unjust
the world is. So you try to
think even harder to put it
right, and the vicious loop
continues. Letting go is
the act of not struggling
with what has happened
any more. The first step is
acceptance. Read these words aloud:
‘Things are not as you want them
to be, nor as they should be. They are
as they are.’
This is radical acceptance and it’s a
choice we can make both in the moment
and as an ongoing process. This is not
the same as approval or resignation.
It’s a downing of tools. Now repeat this
vow of silence:
‘From this moment forward, I vow
not to talk about my heartbreaker. I will
keep the focus firmly on myself so that
I may flourish and grow.’
You will most likely need to keep
on taking this vow, and that’s okay. It’s
not about nailing it from the get-go, but
about a commitment to keep trying.
TRY 'BALLOON
BREATHING’
If you feel overwhelmed at any point,
try this breathing exercise. Close your
eyes and place a hand on your belly,
imagining it’s a balloon that fills with
air each time you take a deep breath.
Feel the balloon deflate as you exhale
and then imagine it slowly drifting
away into the sky.
REFRAME THE FUTURE
With your wise and empathic adult mind
at the helm, write a new story around
the following questions:
•	What have you been through?
•	How have you coped?
•	What strategies have you used to
keep yourself safe until now?
•	How will you move on?
•	Finding Your Seif At The
Heartbreak Hotel (HQ)
by Alice Haddon and
Ruth Field is out now □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 51
Boldly going where
Meet four women who are
breaking down barriers to
help the world understand
science in new ways
‘The ocean is the true heart
and lungs of our planet’
Oceanographer and TV presenter Dr Helen Czerski specialises in one
of our planet's defining features and wants to help the world
understand just how significant it is.
very one of us has been
touched by the ocean.
It shapes the entire
environment around us,
from weather to wildlife.
People tend to think of the ocean
as just one big pond, but it’s a
three-dimensional structure, which is
dynamic and constantly changing.
I’m from Manchester and moved to
Cambridge to study physics, so was
always in landlocked environments. After
my PhD, I studied at the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography in San
Diego. It was only then that I began to
understand the ocean in a completely
new way, as the true heart and lungs
of our planet.
I specialise in bubbles, studying the
way they transport gases from the
atmosphere into the ocean. When big
waves break, it’s like the ocean taking
a deep breath, pulling oxygen down to
support the wildlife below. The ocean
also takes in carbon dioxide from the
52 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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Women who lead
atmosphere and, without its help,
climate change would be even further
accelerated than it already is.
The size, number and distribution
of bubbles can tell us a lot about the
condition of a given part of the ocean.
Understanding how they work and
present in different situations can help us
predict weather patterns and judge the
wellbeing of fish and other underwater
wildlife, such as coral reefs.
Through my research,
I became increasingly
fascinated by the ocean.
In 2010,1 moved back to
the UK to lecture, and to
continue researching at the
University of Southampton
and then UCL, where I am now. The day
before I was due to leave, I received an
unexpected email from the BBC. They’d
seen a YouTube video of me explaining
how bubbles worked in a bottle of
lemonade, and invited me to audition as
a science presenter. I’d never considered
TV work before, but I was interested in
sharing science and it turned out that
I could talk to a camera. I got the job, and
began presenting science documentaries,
including Orbit: Earth’s Extraordinary
Journey, alongside Kate Humble.
CHANGING VIEWS
I was a very shy child, so it might
Science
comes first
But I’m passionate about my subject, so
I’m always happy discussing it. This does
mean that, sometimes, science comes
first. The natural world doesn’t pause for
big events or national holidays, which
is why I spent last Christmas on an
expedition in the Labrador Sea between
Greenland and Canada, assessing
how bubbles transport oxygen into
the ocean’s middle layer.
Through all of my work,
whether it’s research, talks,
presenting or books, I want
to change the way people
look at the world. My latest
book, Blue Machine: How The
Ocean Shapes Our World, is
what I’d describe as my ‘bee
in the bonnet’ project. Writing it, I felt as
if I was getting the chance to tell the
world, ‘Look! Can’t you see how
important the ocean is?’
Most of us think about planet Earth as
something we sit on top of, when in fact
we’re part of it. When we move things
around in our world, such as by mining
or collecting energy via wind turbines,
we are moving part of this living engine.
Recognising this helps us understand
how the actions of every individual
can have a positive impact on climate
change. Doom-laden headlines can
sometimes make us feel as though
climate change is a lost cause, but
Under the
microscope
I get excited by... Discovering
new things.
The first thing I do in the morning
is... Plan for the day ahead.
I like to relax by... Reading
non-fiction books full of ideas
about the world.
Cup of tea or G&T? Cup of tea.
Introvert or extrovert? A little
bit of both.
The woman in science I admire
most is... Kathleen Mary
Drew-Baker for her breakthrough
in understanding edible seaweed.
My proudest achievement is...
Overcoming shyness.
My hope for the future is...
We do a much better job of
looking after planet Earth.
we can all make a difference.
As well as researching in the field,
I’m currently working on a new podcast,
They’ve Made Us, which I со-present with
comedian Robin Ince (of BBC Radio 4’s
science show with Brian Cox, The Infinite
Monkey Cage). I don’t know for certain
what else the future holds for me, but
I do know there’s a lot more to discover
seem surprising that I’ve ended up on
about our blue planet - and I’m
Helen in Iceland
(left) and working
on a buoy (right)
television as well as on stage, giving talks
to hundreds of people. In fact, speaking
to a crowd isn’t a problem, it was
one-to-one I always found more difficult.
Preparing
to go
paragliding
as part of
her TV work
for the BBC
not done exploring yet!
• Blue Machine: How The Ocean
Shapes Our World (Torva) by
Helen Czerski is out now
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 53
‘Forensic science isn’t
what you see on TV’
Professor Niamh Nic Daeid is a leading forensic scientist working to improve how
evidence is used and understood in UK courtrooms and public inquiries.
n 2018,1 was asked to give evidence
at the inquiry into the Grenfell
Tower tragedy. I was very aware
how important it was to deliver the
information in a way that everybody
present could understand, just
as I would in a courtroom.
In my role as a forensic
scientist, I rigorously
investigate evidence and
then present my findings
to a jury, many of
whom won’t have a
scientific background.
Fire investigation is
one of my specialities,
alongside clandestine
From a young
age, I saw how
useful forensic
science could be
200 years old, so it was a particularly
satisfying glass ceiling to smash!
For the past three decades, I’ve been
teaching and researching forensic
chemistry, now at the University of
Dundee, alongside some forensic case
work and occasionally
appearing in the witness
box at trials. However,
forensic evidence isn’t
quite the smoking gun it’s
presented as in TV and
films, and juries often
expect I’ll be able to offer
definitive answers about
what happened in a case.
In reality, forensic science
—a—
Under the
microscope
I get excited by... Watching
my people thrive.
The first thing I do in the morning
is... Have a cup of tea.
I like to relax by... I don’t relax
- I’m a workaholic!
Cup of tea or G&T? Cup of tea.
Introvert or extrovert? I come
across as an extrovert, but I’m
quite a private person.
The woman in science I admire
most is... Astrophysicist Professor
Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell.
My proudest achievement is...
Establishing the research centre.
My hope for the future is... We
can transcend politics and create
a more accessible justice system.
drug chemistry (illegal drugs) and
explosives. My career began after
studying applied science and doing a
PhD in bioinorganic chemistry, when I
secured a lecturing job in forensic science
at the University of Strathclyde in 1994.
I worked my way up over the years to
become its first female chemistry
professor. The university is more than
deals with messy samples in real-world
situations. We work with ordinary bits
and pieces from everyday life (a fibre,
shoe print or piece of glass) that have
Niamh was
asked to give
evidence at the
been found in an extraordinary situation,
such as an accident or crime scene.
Working with contaminated, real-world
samples means thinking specifically
about the context they may fit within.
Take a fibre being examined in an alleged
assault case, for instance. We may be
able to identify what the fibre is made
from and the type of fabric it came from,
but we still may not understand exactly
how fibres transfer from one surface to
another or how long they can stay there.
These questions could be crucial in
determining whether this fibre was
relevant to the crime or not.
My parents were both scientists and
they set up their own fire investigation
company when I was 10. To earn pocket
money, my brother and I used to stick
photographs of fire damage into their
reports, so from a young age, I saw just
how useful forensic science could be.
I’m now director of the Leverhulme
Research Centre for Forensic Science
at the University of Dundee, leading
a mission to provide a more robust
underpinning for some of the scientific
evidence presenting in UK courts. We
also work with writers and filmmakers to
teach and advise them on the way they
present forensic evidence on screen, and
to improve the public’s understanding
in real cases. I’m excited to empower
my team to play our part in improving
the UK justice system.
54 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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Women who lead
Lucy gets up close with
a cheetah and hippo
in two South African
conservation centres

I
behaving promiscuously, aggressively
and highly competitively. I began
doing some digging and found studies
questioning these outdated stereotypes,
so I travelled all over the world,
researching various animals and meeting
‘My life is filled with animals
and adventure'
Zoologist Lucy Cooke took a leap of faith to kick-start her career and now shines
a light on overlooked stories from the natural world.
f ome of my earliest memories
are rooted in Romney Marsh,
digging around to find newts,
t j frogs and eels with my dad.
s He sank an old bathtub in the
garden to create a pond for me, so
I could study these creatures
more closely, and it became my
window into a fascinating
watery kingdom.
My love of all kinds of
species was cemented in
school science lessons,
where my biology teacher
encouraged me to apply
to the University of Oxford.
I was accepted on to the
zoology course. I studied at
New College, under the
famous evolutionary biologist,
Richard Dawkins, who taught
me to continuously question nature.
While a student, I got a job as
receptionist for TV star Jonathan Ross and
this led me to work as a runner. I began
producing and directing documentaries,
and it was while working on a project
about jaguars in Brazil that I realised
I needed to be working around animals.
I began by trying to get a documentary
commissioned about my first love, frogs.
I was deeply concerned about their
global decline but was told that viewers
Hove
sharing
unknown or
overlooked
stories from
the animal
kingdom
only cared about animals that were cute
and fluffy. At the time, I was turning 40,1
hadn’t settled down, hadn’t felt the calling
to have children and was searching for
a new path. So, I decided to quit my job
and set off to South America with my
savings to investigate frogs for
myself. My gamble paid off.
I wrote a blog about my
findings, which was picked up
by National Geographic, which
invited me to make a TV series.
While travelling, I also
volunteered at a sloth sanctuary
in Costa Rica. I was enthralled by
their human-like, smiling faces
and slow way of life. I made a
video about them, which I posted
online, and was astounded to
see it go viral, and I then wrote
a bestselling children’s book
about them, A Little Book Of Sloth.
I’d found what I was supposed to be
doing with my life: having adventures
and sharing unknown or overlooked
stories from the animal kingdom. This
was the motivation for my most recent
book, Bitch: What Does It Mean To Be
Female? At university, I was taught that
the male of the species was always
dominant, whereas females were passive
and chaste. But, over the years, I’d
observed female animals first-hand
incredible scientists.
I was fascinated to learn, for instance,
that killer whales live in pods that are
ruled not by the young males, but by the
postmenopausal females. Society often
has a narrow view of female existence,
yet here were orcas, proving value beyond
their ability to reproduce. I included this
and many more fascinating examples in
my book. I might be rooting far beyond
the marshes these days, but my wonder
at the natural world is just as bright.
• Bitch: What Does It Mean To Be Female?
(Transworld) by Lucy Cooke is out now
Under the
microscope
I get excited by... Frogs,
or anything strange, creepy
and crawling.
The first thing I do in the
morning is... Meditate.
I like to relax by... Walking my
Jack Russell pug, Kobi.
Cup of tea or G&T? A cup
of herbal tea.
Introvert or extrovert? Extrovert!
The woman in science I admire
most is... Anthropologist Sarah
Blaffer Hrdy.
My proudest achievement is...
Writing Bitch and lecturing on it
at Princeton University.
My hope for the future is...
That we rein in climate change.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 55
Women who lead
‘We could be missing out on the
next Ada Lovelace*
Floriane Fidegnon was inspired by a school club to become an engineer.
Now she is working on Al and also makes it her aim to get young people
excited about a career in science and technology.
school competition
changed the trajectory of
my life for ever. I joined a
STEM (science, technology,
engineering and maths)
club and was tasked with solving
a climate-related problem.
Through the project, I spoke
to real engineers and my
mind expanded as they
explained how they brought
together physics and maths
to solve problems in
innovative ways.
When I left school, I went
on to study manufacturing engineering,
which might look at how to create an
electric vehicle from raw materials, for
instance. Out of 200 students on the
University of Warwick course, only around
30 were female. Wanting to channel the
supportive culture I’d felt at my all-girl’s
I’m lighting
for more
equality
soooo
school STEM club, I founded Warwick
Women in Engineering & Science,
TEA»S er
STEM
a society that is still going today. We
hosted events and technical talks, always
considering diversity, inclusion, equity
and accessibility. Through this work, I
began consulting for various companies,
such as research organisation the British
Science Association, advising
them on inclusive ways to get
young people into STEM. This
included speaking in schools to
get students excited about the
real-world impact science
subjects could have.
During the pandemic, I saw
this impact first-hand. After
graduating, I worked in pharmaceutical
manufacturing and we were making more
respiratory devices than ever before,
as Covid meant more people relied on
inhalers. Most wouldn’t think twice about
the design of such a common device,
but every aspect is carefully considered.
Floriane celebrating
10 years of Stemettes
(above) last year
.... |
Under the
microscope
I get excited by... Future
technology.
The first thing I do in the morning
is... Check my emails.
I like to relax by... Reading.
Cup of tea or G&T? G&T.
Introvert or extrovert? Extrovert.
The woman in science I admire
most is... Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon,
founder and CEO of Stemettes.
My proudest achievement is...
Graduating university.
My hope for the future is... We
reach a balance between diversity,
sustainability and technology.
For example, how can the inhaler’s casing
protect the medicine inside, while being
able to deliver it effectively? Engineering
is all about solving problems.
Outside of work, I enjoy getting lost in
science fiction. My dream is for the real
world to reach a utopia like you might
find in the most positive sci-fi novel,
where science makes the world work
equally well for us all.
In meetings, I’m often the only
Black person present, and frequently
the only woman. I want every girl
interested in STEM to walk into a room
and feel completely comfortable,
because they have role models to
identify with. That’s why I’m a trustee
for Stemettes, helping to guide girls,
young women and non-binary young
people interested in STEM subjects.
While I enjoyed pharmaceuticals
work, I wondered how engineering
could link with other fields to have
greater impact in the future. So, from
2021,1 led a team that considered how
data, Al and manufacturing could work
together to influence the Government’s
policy decisions. Then, in 2022,1 joined
a defence innovation consultancy to help
organisations such as the Ministry of
Defence embrace emerging technologies.
If I hadn’t joined my school’s STEM club,
I’d have never considered my career. Every
young person who doesn’t get a similar
opportunity could be the next Ada Lovelace
or Albert Einstein we’re missing out on,
so I’m determined to help more young
people carve their own futures in STEM. □
INTERVIEWS: BETHAN ROSE JENKINS. PHOTOGRAPHY: BBC ARCHIVE, SUSIE LOWE, GETTY IMAGES, LIZ McAULAY, SAM AND SIMON PHOTOGRAPHY
56 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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With fast & free delivery as standard
you might be closer to cool than you think.
Pavlova
the donkey	6 Z^\	•	L *	I I
Our passion lor the
countryside binds us together’
Nicola Baker fell in love with farming when she met her TV presenter husband
Matt, and their teenagers have got the bug, too. Now she’s hoping to pass the
joy of farming and rural life on to other children in her new books
Spring is my favourite time
of year. The grass is growing
again; daffodils are adding
a welcome dash of colour.
Everything around us is
bursting back into life after winter.
Not to mention it’s lambing season
on Matthew’s family farm in Durham.
We will be helping with the arrival of
lambs in April - our children, Luke, 16,
and Molly, 14, get involved, too. Seeing
a field full of newborn lambs can’t help
but make you happy.
When we’re not in Durham, we live on
our own smallholding in the Chilterns. It’s
a miniature version of the Durham farm
- complete with sheep, an ever-growing
collection of chickens, our Labrador,
Annie, Bob the sheepdog and our most
recent addition, Willow our rescue kitten.
We spread the work out to fit it all in
around our jobs and other commitments.
The demands vary depending on the
time of year - everything needs more
looking after in winter, so it’s another
reason why spring is a welcome change.
A DIFFERENT WORLD
Our life now is a world away from my
childhood. In fact, my science-loving
teenage self would be surprised to see
how my life as an adult has panned out.
Despite being raised in rural northern
England, I had no involvement with
farms - or even animals.
That all changed when I met Matthew
in our late teens, well before he first
appeared on TV. It was 1997 and he was
working with a disco group at a local
nightclub, Pier 39 in Cleethorpes. I just
happened to be there that night with
friends and he introduced himself as
Matthew, so I’ve always called him that
- even though to the rest of the world
he’s known as Matt!
A few weeks later, I met Matthew’s
parents, Janice and Mike, on their
farm. Surrounded by hundreds of sheep
and energetic Border collies, I instantly
felt at home, and Matthew’s shepherdess
mum became my farming inspiration. It’s
such a beautiful and rugged place - the
view from the farmhouse is something
I’ll never grow tired of.
After studying physiotherapy at
university in Nottingham, I moved to
London to live with Matthew in 2000. He
had just started working on Blue Peter
and I’d got a job as a physio in the NHS.
Whenever we could, we’d head back up
north to his parents’ farm. Getting back
to basics to spend time outside was
such a welcome break. I realise I’m at my
happiest getting up close to animals and
finishing the day muddy and tired.
Neither of us have ever been city
people, but work kept us living near
London. In our early 20s, we found a
lovely rental with an adjoining empty
58 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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Love and relationships
field, just outside the city.
We knew someone who
sold us some sheep. Our
sheepdog Meg - who
starred alongside
Matthew on Blue Peter
- lived with us, too.
TOUGHEST
MOMENTS
We married in a small
parish church in Winston,
County Durham, in 2004.
After the wedding,
everyone camped or
WORDS: ELLIE FENNELL PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL STUART, MARK TAYLOR, NICOLA BAKER
stayed in the barns on the farm, which
we smartened up for the event. We
played games all weekend - it was great.
Having moved to our own
smallholding when we married, we’ve
raised our children there. Matthew’s
work on shows such as Countryfile,
Travels In The Country: USA and the
Olympics sometimes take him away
from home, but he’s around quite a lot.
Matthew and I share a belief that
children can learn a great deal from
animals and the countryside. So, even
from a young age, our two have always
collected eggs and fed the animals with
us. They aren’t afraid to get their hands
dirty and love helping out with lambing.
If we get any lambs that need a bottle,
they’re always the first in line!
Farming can be all-consuming.
You need to be a
plumber, joiner, vet,
accountant and
weather forecaster. And
even on Christmas Day
and birthdays, you need
to be out early to feed
the animals. There’s
always something to be
fixed. I still can’t believe just how much
string is used on a farm!
The toughest moments for me are
when the weather turns and the
responsibilities become greater. You
can’t just decide not to go out and feed
that day. Sometimes, on the coldest,
wettest days, summer feels a lifetime
away. It certainly makes you appreciate
our seasons.
A NEW DIRECTION
I’d always loved writing as a child but,
being busy with physiotherapy and then
our children, it was something I put on
the back burner. As I approached my
I’m happiest
finishing the day
muddy and tired
40s, it was something I thought a lot
about and decided it was time to focus
on it seriously. I’d always jotted down
ideas in notebooks over the years, so
I started going back over them and
wrote a few children’s novels that are
in my bottom drawer at home.
Our farming commitments increased
in 2020, when Matthew’s mum broke
her knee and couldn’t look after her
flock. We upped sticks and temporarily
moved to Durham - as it coincided with
the pandemic, we were ‘locked down’
together for a few months while she
recovered. The whole family worked
hard to keep the day-to-day operations
going and my physio skills came in
handy to help Janice with her rehab.
With schools closed, the kids’ lessons
were online, so they were able to work
from the farmhouse or
a barn when needed.
Our exploits were
turned into a TV show,
Our Farm In The Dales,
which aired on Channel 4
for three seasons.
The show gave viewers
a great opportunity to
see what Matthew was up to away from
The One Show studio, with our everyday
family life. Matthew and I are passionate
about the countryside and that binds us
together. Flicking through my writing
notepads, I had a whole treasure trove
of ideas about animals, the farm and
the countryside. So, in 2022,1 started
writing the Whistledown Farm series
of children’s books, inspired by my
experiences. It’s fictional but my kids
say that the illustrations of the lead
character, Ava, do bear an uncanny
resemblance to me!
It’s perhaps no coincidence that the
first book, Finding Hope, is set in my
Left: Nicola with Matt, their children, Luke
and Molly, and his parents, Janice and Mike.
Below: Enjoying life on the farm
favourite season of spring. The story sees
Ava spending Easter on her aunt and
uncle’s farm, having been sent from the
city when her parents go away for work.
Ava gets heavily involved in lambing -
both the fun and the tough bits. I’ve been
careful not to make the books rose-tinted,
as farming isn’t.
I think that children find the outdoors,
animals and farming fascinating. I want
to engage young people in the realities
of rural life, the different types of work,
the ups and the downs, the teamwork
needed and the commitment caring for
animals requires.
Perhaps children will take away a few
new bits of information about how lambs
are born or chicks hatch, or even just the
importance of not wearing trainer socks
with your wellies!
Caring for animals, both on a farm
and at home, can teach children so
much - about kindness, responsibility,
independence and the realities of life
and death. They’re lessons our kids
didn’t even realise they were learning
but are so important to take them
into adulthood.
Seeing Finding Hope on bookshop
shelves is an absolute dream come true.
I hope I can continue juggling books,
family and farming. I’d love to get
to 90 years old, holed up with
Matthew in a cottage on a
windswept hill, still writing.
• Finding Hope (Simon
& Schuster Children’s
UK) by Nicola Baker,
illustrated by Rachel Dean,
is out 29 February □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 59
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('.II BEAUTY
BEAUTY THAT WORKS FROM THOSE WHO KNOW
This month’s
good advice
from beauty
director
Eve Cameron
HELPING
HANDS
For midlife
skin
BIO-ACTIVE CERAMIDE
REPAIRING AND PLUMPING
MOISTURIZER
You can feel this velvety cream
doing good as it melts in,
leaving skin soft and springy.
The Inkey List Bio-Active
Ceramide Repairing and
Plumping Moisturizer, £19
A brilliant buy
to help dial down
inflammation and
redness triggered
by rosacea
and acne.
Skin + Me
Brighten + Boost
Calming Azelaic
Acid Serum,
£19.99
A multitasking
marvel for dry and
brittle nails, Bio
Sculpture Ethos
Seaweed Calcium
Base, £12, works as
a ridge filler, base
coat and treatment.
With a punchy red, the prettiest pink,
a nail file and a clear polish that does
double duty as a base and top coat,
Jones Road The Nail Polish Kit, £44,
is one thoughtfully edited package.
STRENGTH TRAIN
YOUR HAIR
Bond-building products are often recommended as a
remedy for hair that’s been damaged as a result of
frequent colouring and heat styling, and very useful they
The iconic L’Occitane Shea
Butter Hand Cream, from £9,
celebrates its 30th birthday
this year, during which time
the wonderfully rich (but
not-at-all sticky) formulation
has remained unchanged.
New, however, is the tube and
cap packaging for the 30ml
size, in a form of plastic the
brand says is fully recyclable
in household waste.
Pantene
Molecular
Bond Repair
Treatment.
£10
/
PHOTOGRAPHY: FELICITY INGRAM/TRUNK ARCHIVE
Not only does
the silicone-free
formula keep makeup
looking fresher for
longer, fermented
kefir, niacinamide
and an SPF support
skin health.
Shiseido
Revitalessence Skin
Glow Primer, £39
ZHl/EIDO
REVITALESSENCE
SKIN GLOW
are, too. But you can have too much of a good thing;
overuse can lead to hair looking dull and becoming brittle.
Not so with Pantene’s new Molecular Bond Repair range,
which both protects the hair bonds and contains
reparative droplets of lipids. I’ve been using the full
four-product line-up and am impressed with the results
(softer hair, more shine, less frizz) - not to mention the
prices, which start at £6. But if you buy only one thing,
go for the super-concentrated Molecular Bond Repair
Treatment. Leave it on for three minutes once
a week and you’ll see and feel a difference. □
PANTENE
prov iwiweZts 7
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 61

Good looks
Life looks rosy
The queen of flowers retains her crown this season. While
florals in all forms roamed wild across the spring catwalk shows,
such as Balmain (right), it was the rose we saw delicately
painted on to faces at Simone Rocha and in among the hair at
Giambattista Valli. In beauty, the benefits of rose - its floral
water, its oils and extracts and its fragrance, too - are being
used in new and innovative ways, while petal-pretty pinks and
reds shine through in makeup. Long live the flowery queen.
Vanilla
grows up
‘Lovely in baking, but not to wear,’ is
something we hear often at GH, and
we’d be inclined to agree were it not
for a new wave of vanilla perfumes,
each as chic and sophisticated as
the last. ‘Natural vanilla doesn’t smell
sweet,’ points out perfumer Aurelien
Guichard. ‘You may think it does, but
in fact, it’s woody and leathery.’
Intrigued? Here are three modern
vanillas to try this spring.
FOR
WARMTH...
Matiere
Premiere
Vanilla Powder
EDP, £145.
Soft, warm
and woody,
like your most
expensive
vanilla bean.
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume Floral Edition Wild Rose, £34. Rose and honey help
hair lock in moisture, and argan oil adds smoothness and shine. Carriere Freres La Rose
Aime La Menthe Botanical Palet, £45. Mint brings freshness to rose in these solid wax
home fragrances. Clinique Almost Lipstick in Pink Honey, £24. For the same reasons we
FOR
FRESHNESS...
Furla Unica EDP,
from £37.
With pistachio,
vanilla and
a touch of
sea salt.
love sheer Black Honey, but in prettiest pink. 4 Herbal Essences Petal Soft Rose Scent
Conditioner, £6. Triggers mood-boosting endorphins. Evolve Organic Beauty Age
Defying Hydrating Face Mist, £30 (from 4 April). Soothing, hydrating rosewater with
elasticity boosting glycoin. Jo Malone London Rose & Magnolia Cologne, £86. One in
a new trio of rose scents. May and Damask roses are made luminous with a sprinkling of
magnolia. Merit Flush Balm in Rouge, £32. Easy-to-use blush in a new regal rose red.
Guerlain KissKiss Bee Glow Oil in Rose Glow, £34. A juicy, honey-infused lip oil in
petal pink, peach and berry shades. Miller Harris Rose Scented Candle, £55. Newly
designed, more sustainable - a rose and musk must-have. Bramley Rosehip Nourishing
Face Mask, £36. Complexion-brightening rosehip oil with hydrating hyaluronic acid.
FOR
OPULENCE...
Tom Ford
Vanilla Sex EDP,
from £290.
Luxuriously
decadent with
jasmine and
sandalwood.
forward
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 63
I OREA
ELVIVE
GIXOUCGLOSS
14%
L’Oreal Paris
Elvive
Glycolic
Gloss
Leave-In
Serum,
£15.99
Hair shines on
Hair By Sam
McKnight
Love Me Do
Nourishing
Oil, £32
Garnier
Ultimate
Blends Hair
Honey
Repairing
Serum,
£9.99
With tfglasshair trending on TikTok and ultra-reflective looks on the spring
runways, the latest hair oils and serums focus on shine. In Elvive’s Glycolic
Gloss collection, glycolic acid (typically used in skincare to exfoliate dull skin)
coaxes shine from lacklustre lengths by sealing the hair cuticles to create
a smoother surface. Honey is the star turn in a new repairing serum from
Garnier, promising immediate shine and long-term strength, while runway
stylist Sam McKnight packs lightweight seed oils into a glossing formula that
won’t weigh hair down. All can be applied as a final step for instant polish.
Skincare
times it right
‘Most people are aware that we
have a “master clock” in our
bodies that regulates our
sleep-wake cycles,’ says
dermatologist Dr Tiina Meder.
‘Skin has its own circadian
rhythm, too, following the light
to protect itself during the day
and using nighttime to repair.’
Aligning your skincare to this
routine can be hugely beneficial,
continues Dr Meder. With repair
processes taking place between
10pm and 12am (collagen and
elastin production occur during
deep sleep, for instance), every
hour before midnight really is
worth two after, so apply
complementary nighttime
products ‘definitely before
12am’. From midnight, skin
begins to exfoliate itself, and at
4am, sebum production (which
has a naturally protective effect
against UV) begins and keeps
going until lunchtime. This
means two things for daytime
skin: cleanse gently in the
morning to avoid stripping the
naturally acquired goodness
that supports your topical SPF,
and be especially vigilant with
sunscreen in the afternoon,
when this protective mechanism
has started to fall away.
Wildsmith Skin Super
Hydrating Overnight Mask, £68
Probiotics, ginger and
turmeric strengthen the skin
barrier, in turn reducing
redness and irritation.
Biossance Squalane + Retinol
Night Serum, £58
Retinol and retinal work in
time-released harmony to reduce
fine lines and even out skin tone.
e*HY0RATING OVERNIGHTM
Pai Skincare
Bonne Nuit
BioPeptide
Renewal
Night
Cream, £64
Rich in an
antioxidant
that absorbs
disruptive
blue light
and repairs
the damage
it causes.
fresh
LOTUS
YOUTH PRESERVE
RESURFACING
DREAM SERUM
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WILDSM
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Act wrinkle defence
•nth Advanced Retinoid
NfTIIIll ill-unit
sleep
5% retinoid
Fresh Lotus Youth
Preserve Resurfacing
Dream Serum, £60
Two types of AHA
- glycolic and citric
- help with
cell turnover.
:*>1.||С1По7.
BIOSSANCE
WA LANE. REW
«NT SERUM

GATINEAU
AGE BENEFIT*
WTftENEWALEU»
Gatineau
Age Benefit
Night
Renewal
Elixir, £90
The active
marine
extract in
this formula
is key to
waking up
with
smoother,
stronger
skin.

This Works Deep
Sleep 5% Retinoid
Complex, £38
Granactive retinoid
and functional
fragrance improve
skin texture and
sleep quality.
Meder Beauty Science Circa-Night
Overnight Restorative Biohack Cream,
£98 Mimics the effects of deep sleep,
including collagen production, for
a bouncy complexion.
ByNacht Hypercharged Glass
Skin Cream, £255
A potent plant extract increases
healing fibroblast activity, while
eight types of hyaluronic hydrate.
64 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
Good looks
Hair tools that work harder
Sleeker, lighter and easier to use than ever, the latest heated tools do a little bit of everything.
FOR FAST DRYING...
BaByliss 2300 Styler Dryer, £90
This suits-all dryer works for everyone,
from fine-haired types to curly, textured
and the hard-to-smooth. Four attachments
include a large diffuser, two different nozzles that deliver air
flow powerful enough to lock down frizz and flyaways, and
even an Afro pick comb. Quiet, lightweight and quick; bravo!
FOR PERFECTING YOUR SHAPE...
mdlondon Wave, £109
Celebrity hairstylist and GH favourite
Michael Douglas makes smart-looking tools
that are a joy to use. His latest features a slim
barrel with retractable bristles that shapes your hair
any way you please - whether that’s body at the
roots, flicks at the ends, waves throughout or a
fringe that sits just so.
FOR STRAIGHTENING
AND CURLING...
ghd Chronos, £289
Is it an iron, is it a tong? With
flat plates and rounded edges,
this is both. Use it for sleek,
shiny waves or to straighten
out irregular kinks, knowing that
the motion-responsive plates
deliver exactly the right amount
of heat to create longer-lasting
styles with less damage.
FOR DRYING
AND STYLING...
Nicky Clarke AirStyle Pro, £249.99
With scalp-stimulating infrared
tech, four attachments and the
perfect balance of heat and speed,
this dries, curls and diffuses
while leaving hair soft and shiny.
The Aircurl feature, which uses
air to wrap strands around
a barrel and create a perfect
curl, is one of the easiest
methods we’ve tried.
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 65
Good looks
Faces are
good to glow
A gleaming complexion says more about us
than we might think, says aesthetics expert
Dr Priyanka Chadha, citing a study in which
volunteers were shown three different
images of the same face, retouched to look
matte, radiant or oily. ‘The radiant image
created a far more positive impression:
happier, healthier and more likeable - there’s
clearly a perceived link between skin quality
and positive personality traits,’ explains
Dr Chadha. Want to help your inner
goodness shine through? Try these...
1 Susanne Kaufmann Face Oil, £65.
A quick-absorbing oil with a mix of radiance
restorers, including antioxidant algae to fight
the dulling effects of digital damage.
I Ciate London Extraordinary Translucent
Setting Powder, £18. Apply this to your
T-zone to keep your complexion balanced.
3 Ren PHA Exfoliating Facial, £34. In
combining a gentle exfoliant (PHA) with
barrier-strengthening prebiotics, Ren
ensures even sensitive skin can reap the
rewards of this two-minute peel.
Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Day
Rosd SPF3O, £34. A moisturiser with a
subtle rosy tint for immediate brightening
effect. Also promises to lighten age
spots in as little as two weeks.
5 L’Oreal Paris Paradise Lumi Glotion, £11.99.
For customised brightness, this luminiser/
hydration hybrid can be worn alone, mixed
with moisturiser or used as highlighter.
Radiance is an inside job
Beauty really is more than skin
deep, say the brands launching
complexion-friendly supplements
alongside their latest creams.
•	From Weleda’s famed Skin Food
range (ideal for dry skin on face and
body) comes a day-and-night-cream
duo accompanied by a two-month
supply of Skin Food Complex, featuring
collagen, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid
and zinc to heal, clear and hydrate skin
from within. Weleda The Complete
Skin Food Regime, £60.
•	Subscription service You’re Looking
Well improves skin resilience by focusing
on gut health, skin microbiome and sleep
quality. For £295 every three months,
you’ll receive regular top-ups of a
probiotic Day Pill, a pre- and post-biotic
Day Cream, a restorative Night Cream
and a sleep-inducing Night Pill, plus
members’ events and expert advice.
•	Designer Stella McCartney has added
an omega and ceramide supplement to
her skincare range, for better moisture
and elasticity. Unlike many omega
supplements (which typically use fish
oils), these omegas are derived from
microalgae and evening primrose, as
per the brand’s vegan ethos. Stella
by Stella McCartney Alter-Care
Supplement, £60 for 60 capsules.
66 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
§
TRIPEPTIDE
PLUM''NG LIP BALM
Povver8ro
rms beauty
Brows are just right
Recent brow trends have swung between
brushed-up bushy to 1990s skinny, but the
needle is settling on a new equilibrium
- not too thick and not too thin, just
gloriously normal. ‘We’re seeing a softer,
low-maintenance look,’ says Sherrille Riley,
founder of Nails & Brows Mayfair. If you’re
recalibrating yours at home, keep the front
of the brow looking soft and natural, and
never try to raise your arch, she advises.
‘Just remove any fluff and stray hairs for
a naturally defined shape.’ Laid-back
brows are low-maintenance but not
no-maintenance, agrees brow guru
Shavata Singh. ‘I recommend a quick
monthly tidy-up in the salon. In between,
pluck out the odd stray hair, but don’t
tamper with the shape.’ Brow makeup can
be simplified to two essentials, she adds:
‘Use a pencil two shades darker than your
natural hairs to build colour in single
hair-like strokes, then set with
a conditioning brow gel.’
1 Shavata Singh Defining Pencil, £21
2 Maybelline Build-A-Brow, £11.99
3 UKBROW Brow Sculpt, £15
4 Nails & Brows Mayfair Brow Setter, £25
5 RMS Beauty Back2Brow Pencil, £27.60
6 Rumi Cosmetiques PowerBrow* Tinted
Eyebrow Gel, £26
0 I
z
(/),
Lip gloss is big news
What’s big in beauty this year? Easy: lips.
Promising 40% more volume in four weeks
of regular use, The Inkey List Tripeptide
Plumping Lip Balm, £10.99 (T , set the standard
when it sold out almost immediately upon launch;
it’s now joined by plumping formulas with
additional colour and shine. Maybelline has added
chilli pepper extract to its much-loved Lifter Gloss
to create Lifter Plump, £9.99 2), available in
eight shades. II Makiage Uncensored Lip
Plumping Gloss, £31 (3), in five shades, gets its
buzzy feel from peppermint and caffeine, with
peptides for volume. Stila’s iconic Plumping Lip
Glaze, £20 (4 , also has a shade extension, with
seven 1990s-inspired nudes. Gucci’s lip-tingling
Gloss a Levres, £33 (5 , hydrates and inflates
using a combination of ginger, capsicum and
hyaluronic acid, in six shades. But for sheer
choice, NYX Professional Makeup’s brilliantly
named Duck Plump, £10.50 (( , offers 18 highly
pigmented hues. It’s certainly a growth industry.

goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 67
Makeup is peachy keen
Trend forecasters at the Pantone Color Institute
have picked their colour of the year, and
it’s a particularly cosy shade of peach.
Peach Fuzz 13-1023, they say, is not just
gentle and warm, it’s youthful, too - which
is something makeup artists have always
known. ‘Peach flatters and enlivens all skin
tones,’ says Amanda Bell, director of artistry
Laura
Mercier
RoseGlow
Liquid
Highlighter
in Peach
Bronze, £30
and education at Pixi Beauty. ‘The easiest
way to weave it into your makeup is with
a pop on the apples of your cheeks,
or choose a nude lip with a peachy
undertone and a peachy-bronze blush.’
For an airbrushed effect that lifts your
whole face, she continues, dot and blend
peach highlighter over the top of your
cheekbones, just under the brow bone,
on the bridge of your nose, at the cupid’s
bow and in the inner corners of the eyes.
Pixi Beauty
+Hydra LipTreat
in Peach-y, £8
Nudestix Nudies Matte + Glow
Core in Peach Pearl, £22
Serums smarten up
Why have a handful of so-so serums when you can invest in one showstopper that really delivers? Skincare
brands have poured their all - their research, their innovation and their very best ingredients - into these
precision-engineered fluids. So, if you splash out on one thing this year...
Murad.
IOBBI BRONX
HYDRATION
Cellular Hydrition
R epi ir Serum
Serum repiratiurr
hydratation cellule
pro-
colagen
banking
serum
Vitamin Enriched
Smoothing Serum
SArum tissant
Enrlchi en Vitamlnee
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WHEN SKIN FEELS
DRY, AND EVEN
SORE Murad Cellular
Hydration Repair
Serum, £72
Goodbye dry, red and
reactive skin; hello
bounce and luminosity.
The latest launch from
one of GN's favourite
brands rebuilds a
damaged barrier to
prevent water loss,
while flooding cells
with cellular hydration.
WHEN DARK SPOTS
JUST WON’T FADE...
Bobbi Brown Vitamin
Enriched Smoothing
Serum, £63
Like an IV drip for
tired skin, this
combines fruit
extracts with vitamin C
and niacinamide
for better radiance,
a smoother surface
and an even tone.
WHEN YOU WANT TO
PRESERVE WHAT
YOU HAVE...
Dermalogica
Pro-Collagen
Banking Serum, £89
This clever serum
doesn’t just plump skin
in the here and now
(which it does very
nicely) - it also protects
existing collagen from
degradation, helping to
make what you already
have last longer.
WHEN WRINKLES
ARE GETTING YOU
DOWN... Omorovicza
Queen Serum, £110
Not a retinoid serum,
but it acts in a similar
way, by activating the
same receptors in
the skin to improve
elasticity, all while
Omorovicza’s Healing
Concentrate reduces
inflammation
(a key marker of
premature ageing).
WHEN YOU WANT
A HOLLYWOOD
GLEAM... Vico Skin
Screen Star, £105
Margot Robbie, Jodie
Comer and Phoebe
Dynevor all entrust
their skin to expert
facialist Jasmina Vico.
Her new algae-rich
serum heals
inflammation fast, for
immediate radiance
and long-term
resilience.
68 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Good looks
Shampoo cleans up
This year’s most-wanted shampoo
is a functional one: purifying haircare is
sweeping the board, say experts. ‘Many
of my clients are using styling products
designed to adhere to their hair, which
build up over time, and they’re washing
their hair less,’ explains award-winning
stylist Errol Douglas. ‘If you live in an area
with hard water, that’s a real issue, too.
The metals in the water meld with your
haircare, creating greasy, unpleasant
residue.’ Cue L’Oreal Paris Elvive Hydra
Pure 72H Purifying Shampoo, £3.75 (1). It
uses salicylic acid to keep sebum in check
at the roots while moisture-boosting
hyaluronic acid rehydrates parched
ends. And for problematic scalps,
Head & Shoulders Derma X Pro
Soothing Comfort Shampoo, £6 (2),
offers a gentler way to keep scalps
clear, using antifungal piroctone olamine
to keep flakes at bay, with calming aloe
vera and vitamin E. Living Proof’s new
Clarifying Detox Shampoo, £32 (3),
contains heavy metal binding agents and
a clever magnetic polymer that attracts
and removes build-up without stripping
the hair’s natural oils.
The future
is grey
Grey hair can look head-turningly
amazing,’ says Zoe Irwin, creative
director of John Frieda Salons,
predicting that grey (like blonde
and even pink) will become
a palette in its own right, made
up of a multitude of nuanced
hues that can be used to flatter
your face shape and brighten your
skin, as well as give hair depth and
interest. ‘My clients want their grey
enhanced in the same way that they
would with any other colour,’ she
explains, pointing out that we rarely
go grey in a uniform fashion and
because naturally grey hair lacks
pigment, it almost always needs
some level of brightening. The
iridescent shades Zoe has created
for the Matrix Silver Lining collection
are light years away from the dull
palette you might expect; from
a steely teal grey to lavender
undertones and a shimmering,
beige-toned grey she’s coined
‘sonic silver’. Innovative bonding
technology allows lightening
without compromising on hair
quality, making it easier than ever
to dial up the grey to achieve
this season’s glistening hues.
Even better, Zoe predicts that
grey colour experts will soon
become as prolific as balayage
specialists. About time, we say.
Matrix Silver Lining services
available at John Frieda Salons
nationwide, POA. □
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 69
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Good looks
A word on
DARK SPOTS
Powerful active ingredients and
new-generation treatments are helping
to bring clarity to all complexions
ere’s the thing: skin
that might otherwise
be great - pretty much
perfect, even - can be
thwarted by the dulling
effects of dark patches. ‘It makes
your skin look like it’s dirty,’ observes
aesthetic doctor Maryam Zamani.
What causes them in the first place,
and whether all dark spots should be
treated equally, can still be ambiguous,
though. There are two main - but
considerably different - root causes of
an uneven complexion: melasma and
hyperpigmentation.
WORDS: FLEUR FRUZZA. PHOTOGRAPHY: GEORGE/TRUNK ARCHIVE
‘Melasma is a chronic condition,
thought to be caused by the interplay
between visible light and hormones
such as progesterone,’ says consultant
dermatologist Dr Mary Sommerlad. ‘It
tends to occur symmetrically as flat
brown patches on the forehead, upper
cheeks, bridge of the nose and jawline.’
Hyperpigmentation, on the other
hand, is an umbrella term that refers
to less symmetrical dark areas caused
by several separate factors.
‘The two most common causes are
post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
(scarring left by inflammatory conditions
such as acne or eczema, for example),
and sun-induced freckling and age
spots,’ explains Dr Sommerlad.
What also sets hyperpigmentation
apart is that, when treated with the
right topical formulas, it can fade and
not come back. While the same topicals
will fade melasma (and are a first-line
therapy, with chemical peels a second),
the difference is that, since it’s a chronic
condition, the patches could return.
(Dr Sommerlad stresses the importance
of a broad-spectrum SPF in helping to
reduce recurrence.)
So, what should the ‘right’ topicals
contain? Look for ingredients that
FARMACY
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Bright Reveal Niacinamide Dark
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niacinamide-powered serum works
to fade pigmentation and reduce
recurrence. 3 16|11 Labs Formula
5|v.8 Multi Pathway Depigmenting
Treatment, £75. This multitasker
targets hydration and texture, while
tranexamic acid works on skin tone.
4 La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Serum,
£45. Breakthrough ingredient Melasyl
intercepts excess melanin before it
makes its mark.! Skin + Me Brighten
+ Boost Regulating Vitamin C
Serum, £19.99. Two forms of vitamin C
curb excess melanin production,
alongside a clarity-boosting peptide.
inhibit tyrosinase (an enzyme that
produces melanin, which is responsible
for pigment changes), thereby reducing
melanin production and excess pigment.
Vitamin C, tranexamic acid, kojic acid,
alpha arbutin and azelaic acid, along
with prescription-only hydroquinone
(available through online services such
as Dermatica, Skin + Me, Klira and The
Secret Skincare), are some of the most
efficacious. Niacinamide, while not a
tyrosinase inhibitor, is also an effective
active ingredient targeting dark spots.
Although melasma can be made
worse by the heat created in light
therapies, picosecond laser, which
uses short, heatless pulses, is looking
promising for targeting dark spots.
Hyperpigmentation, on the other
hand, responds well to light therapies.
At her clinic, Dr Zamani’s new protocol
of combining swift broadband light
therapy (BBL) with the virtually painless
fractional Moxi laser has been showing
incredible results.
‘The combination is amazing for
targeting pigmentation on all skin types
- one through to six on the Fitzpatrick
scale [a numerical classification for
human skin colour, ranging from one
to six] - and for a treatment involving
laser, it requires almost no downtime,’
explains Dr Zamani.
Results are tangible after a one-off
treatment (from £1,250). And, according
to Dr Zamani, ‘The way it evens out the
complexion is, well, wow!’ □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 71
My life in
Actor Jennifer Grey
talks coming of age
in Hollywood and
great hair days
beauty
The truth is, I wish I’d been surrounded
by a little less showbiz growing up;
a little less of a focus on looks. My
parents were both actors who had nose
jobs in the 1950s, believing it would help
them in their careers - that was what
people did back then. Having said that,
as a young kid I felt cute and beautiful;
my appearance never even occurred
to me until I was older and being
photographed for my own acting
headshots. I noticed that photographers
would say, ‘Don’t smile,’ and I was
thinking, ‘What’s wrong with my smile?’
And then I realised, oh, it’s my nose,
which started the trajectory for what
was a big story in my life. [Jennifer went
on to have rhinoplasty, and has since
spoken about how, in her case, she
thinks it negatively affected her career.]
We’re never going to get away from
the looks thing, but we ought to
focus more attention on what makes
us valuable people; what makes us
successful human beings. Can you
imagine, at your own funeral, someone
saying, ‘She was so pretty... she was
always the prettiest’? That would be
the saddest eulogy! When I leave this
world, what legacy do I want to leave
behind? ‘She was always so curious, so
interested; she loved helping people and
showed up when I needed her.’ These are
the things I want people to say about me.
I would bet my life on the fact that
a woman’s second half of her life is the
best half. At this point, you have the
experience of knowing that things go
pear-shaped, and that you survive.
Also, you have a sense of how much
time you want to spend thinking about
yourself, spending money on yourself,
working on yourself... it’s a lot of
self! I don’t want to be spending time
chasing a part of my life that’s gone.
In my youth, I often heard, ‘Wow,
you have the greatest hair,’ and I just
never considered that it wouldn’t
always be the case. But during the
pandemic, I started to notice that it
wasn’t feeling so great any more; all
72 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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Good looks
AS TOLD TO: FLEUR FRUZZA. PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW ECCLES/AUGUST
of a sudden, it didn’t feel like my hair.
I think it had probably been happening
since menopause. So my colourist,
Tracey Cunningham,
recommended
Harklinikken. I’d never
heard of it, but I met
the brand founder
Lars Skjoth (he puts the
energy into creating it
as only someone losing
their own hair would),
and I started using it exactly as he
told me to. I used the Stabilizing Scalp
Shampoo, £34 (1), Daily Conditioner,
£38 and Hair Gain Extract, £69 (5)
I don’t like to
disrupt my skin’s
ecosystem
(the extract is the magic) scalp
treatment. My hair was dry at first, but
then it started to adjust and grow very
fast, especially around
the hairline. I’m thrilled
with it. Honestly, if you’ve
had any hair loss, you
have to try this.
Although I switch around
my skincare, I always like
Biologique Recherche
- I love its Lotion P50,
£89 (6). It’s one of those products that
everyone loves. I think it’s really good for
balancing and exfoliating without being
aggressive. I also use Earthen SkinCare
InstantPeel Exfoliant, £57, after a
shower. I just use a little and it rolls off
any skin that’s dead while keeping any
that’s not. I tried some laser therapies
recently, too, but I didn’t love them.
I don’t like messing around with the
skin’s lipid barrier; I don’t like to disrupt
its ecosystem. I like beauty that’s low
maintenance and not too expensive.
The more makeup I wear, I find that the
older and less like myself I look. I love
having as little on my face as possible;
just enough to make me feel a bit better.
For that reason, I really like Chanel Les
Beiges Water-Fresh Tint in Medium,
£52 (7) - it’s very sheer and glowy - with
a little Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder
in Golden Light, £39 (8), on top. I also
like Jones Road Miracle Balm in Dusty
Rose, £36 (3), and Westman Atelier
Baby Cheeks in Petal, £44 (2); anything
that feels like it sinks into the skin, rather
than as if I have makeup on. I smudge
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow
in Plum, £26 (9), around my eyes and
then I’ll use my Anastasia Beverly Hills
Brow Wiz in Taupe, £23 (4), on my lips.
I don’t have big lips (and I don’t have
filler injections), so I don’t like to wear
bright colours. This is a tawny shade
that, when I use it to line just outside
the lipline, creates natural-looking
shadow, which I’ll finish with a little gloss.
Smell is such a powerful connector
- you either like someone’s smell or
you don’t And that smell is as important
as anything else. It’s energy, it’s part of
you and I don’t want to ever cover it up.
I like scent to smell a little bit like a body;
a little bit like a clean armpit, which is
probably why I love musk fragrances.
I used to wear Kiehl’s Original Musk
EDT, £48, when I was younger, and
today I buy musk oil from Amazon.
Speaking of armpits, I’m not a fan
of strong deodorants or body sprays,
but I recently found one that I love
- Corpus Natural Deodorant in
Third Rose, £24. It’s really good.
I’m a big sleeper - I love sleep
- and I think that’s one of the best
beauty secrets. That, and always
telling the truth.
• Jennifer Grey is a brand ambassador
for Harklinikken. Out Of The Corner:
A Memoir (Ballantine Books) by
Jennifer Grey is available to buy
on Amazon □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 73
Scatter,
sprinkle, stir..
TO I iNJ( » A
IIEALT1 HER
GUT
The latest health target to work
towards? Eating 30 plants a week
to reset our gut microbiomes. And,
as nutritionist Anita Bean reveals,
a few simple additions to our
regular meals are all that’s needed
from the American Gut Project, which
compared the gut microbiota (the
bacteria that lives in the gut) of more
than 10,000 people from across the
world. The results showed that a plant-
based diet plays a huge role in gut health,
with an increased diversity of plant types
in a person’s diet leading to increased
diversity in their gut microbiome. What
was crystal clear was that those who
consumed more than 30 different plant
foods a week had better gut health than
those who ate fewer than 10.
As we’re all becoming increasingly
aware, gut health matters. As much as
70% of your immune system lives there
- it’s linked to how your metabolism,
brain and body function, and even your
mental wellbeing - so a healthy gut can
lead to healthier body and mind.
WHAT COUNTS?
‘In simple terms, plant foods are any
foods that originate from plants, and
includes all parts of a plant - their
roots, leaves, fruits, seeds and stems,’
explains Catherine Rabess,
registered dietitian and
author of The 30 Plan
(Headline Home). ‘It’s
easiest to think of them
in six categories: fruits;
vegetables; wholegrains;
pulses; nuts and seeds; and
herbs and spices. Including
foods from each category
increases plant diversity,
which is key to optimising gut health.’
In a ‘plant points’ system
popularised by Dr Megan Rossi,
founder of The Gut Health Doctor,
Our gut
microbes
thrive on
plant foods
each different variety of plant that
you eat counts as one point. Herbs and
spices are a quarter of a point each.
So, if you ate a banana, an apple and
a carrot, you would have earned three
plant points. If you had
porridge and sprinkled on
cinnamon and nutmeg, the
added spices would total
half a plant point. The more
plant points you earn, the
more diverse your diet is
and the better your gut
health is likely to be.
These plant points come
in a rainbow of colours and
flavours, and our gut microbes thrive on
them, using them as their own source of
nourishment. In return, they help to keep
your gut environment balanced and
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Good health
healthy. ‘Plant points are based on
phytochemicals, plant chemicals
that provide a wide range of health
benefits and are like secret ingredients
in a recipe for good health,’
explains Catherine.
The key thing you need to know?
Portion size doesn’t really matter - it’s
all about variety. So, you don’t need
scales, weights, or measurements, or to
eat a whole fruit or vegetable, for
instance - you just want to try to get
more diversity in your diet. Also, foods
do not always need to be fresh. Tinned
and frozen count, too - these are often
cost-effective and help limit waste.
FABULOUS FIBRE
Why can eating 30 plants revolutionise
your gut health? Much of it is to do
with fibre. Essentially, if you are upping
your plant points, you will naturally be
increasing your intake of all types of
fibre. ‘Having lots of fibre and plant
diversity in your diet helps to nourish
good microorganisms and keeps the
gut stable and thriving,’ says Catherine.
‘The more diverse the gut microbiota
(the trillions of microorganisms that
live in the gut), the better your health
and overall wellbeing.’
Plant foods are also rich in
polyphenols - protective plant
chemicals - which have incredible
powers and are sometimes described
as the bodyguards of the gut. Bacteria
in our gut break down polyphenols into
smaller compounds, which boost
microbial diversity and benefit our
health in many ways. A diet rich in
polyphenols may offer protection
against development of certain cancers,
cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes
and neurodegenerative diseases.
More is more when it comes to colour,
as it can be an indicator of polyphenol
diversity. Dark and brightly coloured
plants (think red, purple-blue, orange and
yellow) indicate higher levels of these
chemicals, says Catherine: A red cabbage
has three times the polyphenols of a
white cabbage, and the darker the salad
leaf, the higher its polyphenol content.’
She explains: 'Having a colourful
and diverse diet gives our bodies, but
specifically our gut microbiomes,
a boost of beneficial compounds.
The more variety, the more diverse
our microbial communities, supporting
better digestion and immunity.’
PLANT POINTS - HOW THEY ADD UP
Different colours get you 1 point
per colour. A green apple and
a red apple are 2 points; a red
and a yellow pepper are 2 points.
Remember that
fresh, dried, frozen
and tinned fruit and
vegetables all count
as plant points, too.
Extra virgin olive oil, dark
chocolate (at least 70% cocoa
solids), tea and coffee count
as a quarter of a point, as do
individual herbs and spices.
Each different variety of
plant equals 1 point. So,
if you add kidney beans
and butter
beans
to a stew or salad,
that will equate
to 2 plant points.
EASY WAYS TO EAT 30 A WEEK
It might seem like a tall order, but it’s easier than you’d
imagine - especially if you follow our tips...
BREAKFAST
•	If you like toast for breakfast,
choose bread that contains multiple
grains or seeds. Load it up with
nut butter, banana, avocado, hummus
or berry compote and you’ll get at
least two points.
•	Top your porridge (one point) with
banana slices, mixed nuts and seeds,
a spoonful of almond butter and
a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg
and you’ll have around eight
plant points.
•	Add extra plant points to pancakes
by making them with half wholemeal,
half buckwheat flour.
•	A breakfast smoothie made
with frozen mixed berries,
banana, oats, ground
flaxseeds, nut butter
and milk will give you
around seven points.
•	Make hash browns to
pack in the veg. Add
grated carrot, sweet potato,
onions and tinned sweetcorn
Refined foods, such
as fruit juices, white
bread and rice,
don’t count, so stick
with whole foods
as much as possible - for
example, choose brown
instead of white rice.
to the potato mixture and you’ll have
five plant points.
•	A bowl of granola with mixed nuts,
mixed seeds, dried cranberries and
apricots notches up around nine points.
Add a sprinkle of cinnamon, ginger,
ground cloves and nutmeg, and that’s
an extra point.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 75
Good health
LUNCH
DINNER
MEALTIME i
MANTRA
‘Every time you serve up
a meal, think, “What could
I add?’” says Dr Megan
Rossi. ‘Chop a banana over
your muesli, add sprouted
shoots to your sandwich -
every bit counts.’ j
• Making lentil soup with onions, carrots,
• If you’re making chilli con carne,
celery, garlic, brown or green lentils, plus
a pinch of turmeric, cumin and paprika
is a savvy way to boost plant points.
•	Try GH's baked beans recipe made
with tinned mixed beans, onion and
paprika (goodhousekeeping.com/uk/
food/baked-beans).
•	Pre-cooked Puy lentils make a
fibre-packed base for quick salads. Add
wedges of cooked beetroot, tomatoes,
mixed salad leaves and toasted nuts.
•	Batch roast lots of colourful veg,
then add them to wraps, salads or
sandwiches, or freeze for future use.
•	Spread sandwiches or toast with
hummus instead of butter.
•	A Buddha bowl made with tinned
chickpeas, mixed leaves, pre-cooked
mixed grains, hummus and a sprinkle
of mixed seeds clocks up
around 10 plant points.
•	Add mushrooms,
broccoli, spinach,
courgette, tomato
or red pepper to a
frittata or omelette.
Pile up the plant
points in a salad
SNACKS
• As well as carrots, try green beans,
sugar snap peas and radishes with dips.
• Create your own nut and seed blend
or trail mix. Keep a jar of mixed nuts
and milled seeds on your worktop to
snack on or sprinkle over your meals.
• Fill Medjool dates with smooth peanut
add chickpeas, red kidney beans and
cannellini beans for extra plant points.
• For Bolognese, replace some or all of
the meat with green, brown or red lentils.
• Save time by using a frozen soffritto
mix (carrot, celery and onion) as a base
for soups, stews and sauces.
•	Use packets of mixed stir-fry veg,
choosing a different combo each time.
Start your stir-fry with chopped onion,
garlic and ginger, then add the stir-fry
mix for extra plant points.
•	Swap roasted potatoes for roasted
mixed veg, such as butternut squash,
sweet potatoes and parsnips.
•	Try red lentil or chickpea pasta
instead of regular pasta. These are rich
in fibre and prebiotics as well as protein,
vitamins and minerals.
•	Swap half the lamb or pork mince
in meatballs for tinned or pre-cooked
Puy lentils: they’re higher in fibre and
it’s an extra plant point, too.
• If you’re making curry or dhal,
add extra veg, such as aubergine,
cauliflower or frozen spinach.
butter, dip into melted dark chocolate
(at least 70% cocoa solids), then into
ground pistachios and flaxseeds.
•	Add blueberries and mixed seeds to
flapjacks for extra plant points.
•	Swap crisps for nuts or seeds; or roast
chickpeas in the oven with olive oil, garlic
powder, paprika, cumin and black pepper.
PREPARE TO BE
 SURPRISED...!
Three foods you might not
expect to count. Each gives you
a quarter of a plant point.
DARK CHOCOLATE containing
70% cocoa solids or more
is a useful source of flavanols
and fibre, too.
COFFEE contains chlorogenic
acid, a polyphenol that has been
linked to reducing the risk of
type 2 diabetes and
Parkinson’s disease.
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE
OIL is a source of
oleocanthal, a type of
polyphenol that has
anti-inflammatory
properties.
SAVVY
SHOPPING TIPS
Remember: diversity is the name
of the gut health game.
Buy pre-mixed salad leaves and
sprouted shoots for a no-effort
accompaniment to your main meals.
Stock up on frozen mixed
vegetables or tinned options to help
keep your plant points diverse.
Choose mixed beans or buy
different varieties each time you
do a food shop.
Opt for mixed seeds - they’re
packed with lots of fibre to nourish
the good gut microbes and are
abundant sources of omega-3s,
which reduce inflammation.
Choose different colours and
varieties of fruit or veg with each
food shop to ensure you maximise
your intake of polyphenols. □
PHOTOGRAPHY: STOCKSY, GETTY, ISTOCKPHOTO
76 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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BOOST your В1Ш\
Music doesn’t just inspire us to dance - as Rachel Carlyle
discovers, the latest research shows it can supercharge
your mind, body and wellbeing, too
Good health
We’ve been using music
to soothe, uplift and
heal for thousands
of years - just ask
anyone who’s sung
a lullaby to a fretful baby or belted
out Gloria Gaynor after a breakup.
But we’re entering a new era in which
music is being specifically created - either
by scientists or Artificial Intelligence - to
produce a particular physical effect on
our bodies, whether that’s to relieve
pain, or help us relax or sleep.
'From the first note or beat, we can
now build music based on the science
- perhaps activating ’energy’ circuits in
the brain for peak physical performance
or slowing brain waves right down ready
for sleep,’ says neuroscientist Dr Julia
Jones. ‘Limitless music streaming
combined with smartphone technology
has given us this “music medicine”
on tap, wherever we are.’
Dr Jones, author of
The Music Diet (This
Day in Music Books),
learned about music’s
extraordinary power
while working as a sports
psychologist with GB
Olympic squads, and has
been researching it for
20 years. The top note?
Music activates almost
every region of the brain
and, as it’s essentially a vibration, it
triggers responses between brain cells
via the ears and skin almost immediately.
Incredibly, the right music can lower
your heart rate, blood pressure and
levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
This is thought to be because your
physiological rhythms - such as
breathing, heart beat and even
your brainwaves - end up synchronising
with the rhythm of the music.
‘Essentially, you’re using a beat
as an entraining force for your body’s
rhythms,’ says Lyz Cooper of the British
Academy of Sound Therapy, whose new
venture LifeSonics creates subscribers
a ‘sonic prescription’ for sleep,
relaxation or productivity.
Other companies are springing up, too:
MediMusic has developed algorithms
to generate playlists to reduce pain and
anxiety; in one experiment in a Lancashire
hospital, medics noted reductions of up
to 22% in the heart rates of their patients.
Music streaming
and smartphone
technology has
given us ‘music
medicine’ on tap
However, we can all be our own music
therapists and create our own playlists
once we know what kind of music has an
effect on us. ‘We all have very individual
responses to music - our music tastes
and past experiences will influence the
way we respond,’ says Dr Jones. ‘But
the science gives us general principles,
so experiment with different tracks
and decide what works best for you.’
TO CALM AND DE-STRESS
It’s no surprise that slow tempo music
works best to lower heart rate, blood
pressure and stress hormone levels. What
you’re aiming to do is trigger the part of
the nervous system that’s associated with
rest and repair (called the parasympathetic
nervous system or PNS), as opposed
to the one that’s activated when we’re
under stress or facing a threat (the
sympathetic nervous system or SNS).
‘Tempo is more important than genre,’
says Dr Jones. ‘For some,
a chilled electronica track
might work, for others it
might be classical music.’
Self-selected music tends
to work best. In one
small study, students
either sat in silence or
listened to classical,
heavy metal or their
own choice of music
after a stressful test.
Those listening to self-selected or
classical music experienced lower
anxiety and SNS arousal than the others.
The right music can work within three
minutes to bring anxiety down, and a
study in Pennsylvania found listening
to music could even match the relaxing
effect of a sedative injection given to
patients just before a hospital operation.
Researchers used a 2011 ambient track
with guitar and piano mixed with natural
sounds called Weightless by Marconi
Union. The eight-minute piece starts at
60 beats per minute (bpm) and slows
to 50, which brings the heart rate down.
Slowing your breathing and exhaling
for longer than you inhale is key to
activating the vagus nerve, a key part
of the PNS. Try Dr Jones’s MusicHacks
tracks on Spotify or Apple Music
(choose your own genre, including pop,
lo-fi and electronica). All tracks have an
unusual time signature of 4:6. The idea
is to breathe in during the four-beat bar
J JFINE TUNE
YOUR a
PHYSICAL Z
HEALTH
•	PAIN RELIEF Listening to
‘bittersweet and moving’ music
reduced pain intensity (from a hot
cup of tea placed on the inner
arm) by as much as an ibuprofen,
according to a study last year.
•	IMMUNITY ‘There’s very strong
evidence that listening to music you
like can boost the immune system,’
says neuroscientist and cognitive
psychologist Professor Levitin. Studies
have shown levels of the immunity
antibody immunoglobulin A rise
when listening to music.
•	BLOOD PRESSURE If you have
high blood pressure, listening to
music you find relaxing can reduce
systolic pressure (the first figure
in your reading, e.g. 150/90) by
up to six points.
and out for the six-beat bar, eventually
achieving a breathing rate of 6bpm,
which scientists have proved is the
perfect rate to achieve relaxation
and stimulate the vagus nerve.
TO HELP YOU SLEEP
‘Music can help slow your brainwaves
down from gamma levels (when
you’re alert) to the slowest delta
waves (during restorative deep sleep),
something many struggle to achieve
as they get older,’ says Dr Jones.
Scientists always thought the best
music for sleep was slow (around
60bpm), with simple rather than complex
rhythms, minimal percussion and no
lyrics to distract the brain. However, an
Australian study discovered that the
music people found most effective didn’t
need to be really slow - 108bpm was the
average - and it could have lyrics. They
did find, however, that most successful
sleep music used a lower pitch, had
smooth articulation rather than staccato
and often involved the piano.
Those results were echoed in a huge
study of more than 225,000 tracks
on 985 ‘sleep’ playlists on Spotify last
year. The most popular tracks included
Jealous by Labrinth (85bpm) and Lovely
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 79
Good health
r

by Billie Eilish and Khalid (115bpm).
‘Both are characterised by medium-low
tempo, yet with an emphasis on
half-time and a spare instrumentation
with focus on long melodic lines,’ says
co-author Rebecca Jane Scarratt at
Aarhus University in Denmark. Also
among the top 20 sleep tracks were
Cold play’s The Scientist, Supermarket
Flowers by Ed Sheeran and Someone
You Loved by Lewis Capaldi.
TO POWER UP THE BRAIN
You’ll get some scientists saying that any
music is bad for concentration, but the
research is divided: some studies show it
can help with memory tasks, especially
when it’s classical and calming. One
found slow classical (Tomaso Albinoni’s
Adagio In G Minor} seemed to work
better than faster classical (Mozart’s
Sonata For Two Pianos In D}.
WHAT ABOUT
RADIO AND PODCASTS?
Listening to the radio can provide
companionship, a sense of community
and can act as a 'social surrogate’,
according to research. Some people
also swear that radio or podcast chat
helps them sleep. According to
Craig Richard, a professor of
biopharmaceutical sciences, the host’s
voice should be calm and the
content should be soothing. A
When it
comes to
maths, critical
thinking and
reasoning,
most studies say
music is a bad idea,
especially when there
are lyrics. ‘It’s very
individual,’ says Dr Julia Jones.
‘I know people who can’t listen to
anything when they’re concentrating
and others who can only work to music.’
Where music really works, says Dr
Jones, is in a distracting environment such
as an open-plan office. ‘I use soundscapes
here - with sounds of nature, white
and pink noise and running water. It’s
minimalistic and repetitive - a kind of
acoustic blocker, because your brain is
receiving the sounds of the environment
if you’re not giving it something else.’
TO LIFT YOUR MOOD
You don’t have to listen to happy music
to cheer you up if you’re feeling down;
in fact, studies have found listening to
sad music can really help - possibly
because it reflects your feelings, which
validates them and consoles you.
‘However, in general, uplifting music
tends to be energetic - but not manic
because that would push into
stressful,’ says Dr Jones.
The music raises
levels of feelgood
chemicals such
as dopamine
and serotonin.
L Sometimes
к that feeling
of intense
I musical
F pleasure will
even give you
‘the chills’. This
kind of music is
very personal, say
scientists, although
some pointers have
emerged: music that builds
к
F
up tension then releases it
explosively can trigger the release
of positive neurochemicals, as can
repeating musical motifs because
the brain is eagerly anticipating the
next repeat, which lifts energy.
For most people, the most effective
mood-lifting music are songs from your
youth, says Dr Jones. 'Those memories
are deeply embedded in the brain,
and when you hear the music
associated with them, it has a highly
energising and uplifting effect.’
THE NEUROSCIENTIST’S PLAYLISTS,
IFOR RELAXATION - choose
slow tempos and rhythmic styles
that make you gently sway or bring
stillness and calm. A few worth
trying are:
•	Avalon by Roxy Music
•	All Night by Веуопсё
•	Watermark by Enya
•	By Your Side by Sade
•	The new MusicHacks collection
on Spotify and Apple Music
•	J FOR HAPPINESS - singing along
to your favourites gives a quick
surge of feelgood neurochemicals.
A few popular examples could be:
•	Africa by Toto
•	Can’t Stop The Feeling! by
Justin Timberlake
•	Everybody Dance by Chic
•	A Little Respect by Erasure
•	Together In Electric Dreams
by Human League
r ) FOR ENERGY - up-tempo songs
• from your youth bring back
memories of empowerment and
help you increase movement
and heart rate. Typical choices
could include:
•	Mr Brightside by The Killers
•	Take On Me by A-ha
•	Call Me by Blondie
•	Гт Still Standing by Elton John
•	Hung Up by Madonna
‘Remember that the songs you love have the greatest effect,’ says Dr Julia Jones. □
PHOTOGRAPHY: AJONEGRO STUDIO/STOCKSY UNITED
80 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
British Heart
Foundation
Are long walks
off limits after
heart surgery?
_ ' V .	»____ «	___ Afe
For all your heart health questions, big or small.
Call our Cardiac Nurses on 0808 8021234*
*Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays). Registered charity numbers 225971 & SC039426.
CLOSE
Women endure more pain
than men, yet the latest
research shows it’s routinely
underestimated and under
treated. Leah Hardy investigates
what’s happening and how
to get the help you need
THE GENDER
< GAP WE
PAIN and
PREJUDICE
Good health
When Sharon Pallett,
54, suffered heavy
periods during
menopause, her GP
referred her for a
hospital test. The hospital told Sharon
the procedure would be like a smear
test. ‘I thought, “I’ve had loads of
those. It will be fine,’” she says.
But it was not fine. 4 was in
indescribable pain,’ says Sharon.
‘I was shaking and crying out but
unable to speak, and had tears
pouring down my face. I think
anyone looking at me should
have known I was in agony. But
they just carried on.’
Sharon had been referred for
a hysteroscopy, which examines
the inside of the uterus by pushing
a thin telescope-like device
through the cervix. Figures from
the Royal College of Obstetricians
& Gynaecologists show that a third
of women suffer severe pain
- rated at more than seven
out of 10 - during hysteroscopy.
Katharine Tylko, a researcher
for the Campaign against Painful
Hysteroscopy, points out that in
similar diagnostic endoscopies
that affect both sexes, such as
colonoscopies and gastroscopies,
patients are routinely offered
sedation and/or pain relief.
‘Hysteroscopy is the only
one that solely
affects women
and NHS targets
are for 90% to
be given without
medication,’
she says.
This disparity
is, believes
Tylko, ‘no
coincidence’.
Sharon’s procedure
left her traumatised
THE PAINFUL PICTURE
A wealth of research shows that
women’s pain is routinely disbelieved,
underestimated and under-treated
compared with that of men. For the last
two years, painkiller brand Nurofen has
published the Nurofen Gender Pain Gap
Index Report, which aims to help ‘make
women’s pain visible’. Based on insights
taken from surveys of more than 5,000
UK respondents, it found that one in six
women surveyed said they experienced
severe pain every day and half felt their
pain was dismissed because of their sex.
The findings echo those of a 2021
survey of more than 110,000 women in
England for the Government’s Women’s
Health Strategy. Half of women who
replied said their pain was ignored and/
or dismissed by healthcare professionals.
‘Research findings are clear - women
are prescribed less pain relief and are
not believed,’ says Amanda Williams,
a professor of Clinical Health Psychology
at University College London.
For a study in 2021, Professor Williams
asked men and women to watch video
clips of patients of both sexes
undergoing painful examinations.
Compared with the patient’s own
rating of their discomfort, observers
consistently underestimated women’s
pain and overestimated that
of men. ‘Because of the false
belief that women are
oversensitive to pain, and
express or exaggerate it
more easily, healthcare staff
(both men and women)
often discount women’s
verbal reports and nonverbal
behaviour expressing pain,’ she says.
The bias affects women throughout
their lives. In a 2019 US Yale University
study, people were shown a short clip
of a five-year-old having a finger prick
blood test. They rated the pain lower
when they thought they were looking at
a girl named ‘Samantha’ than when they
believed it was a boy named ‘Samuel’.
HOW THE GAP
HARMS WOMEN
Disbelieving women means that serious
medical conditions can potentially be
missed, and treatment delayed. The
Nurofen report found that fewer than
half of women surveyed received a
diagnosis for their pain within 11 months
from health professionals, compared
with two-thirds of men. Even after a
year, more women than men still did
not have a diagnosis for their pain.
A University of Leeds study, funded
in part by the British Heart Foundation,
showed women are twice as likely to be
misdiagnosed after a heart attack. ‘If a
woman goes into A&E with chest pain,
breathless and unwell, she’s more likely
Women are
prescribed
less pain relief
to be told to go home and have a cup
of tea, while a man will be wired up
to an ECG,’ says Professor Williams.
Plus, she adds, there can be
psychological effects. ‘Doctors don’t
realise how terrifying it is for women
when they deny their symptoms.’ Sharon
Pallett agrees. ‘I now have a fear of
medical procedures I never had before.
Even going to the dentist is difficult.’
SABOTAGED BY
STEREOTYPES
‘It seems to be medical thinking that
women worry too much,’ says Professor
Williams, whereas men are seen as stoic.
These stereotypes can be pervasive
and deep-rooted. The ancient Greeks
believed women’s wombs could migrate
around the body, causing physical and
mental abnormalities. Victorian doctors
used ‘hysteria’ as a medical diagnosis
and women in pain were
often seen as ‘hysterical’.
Similar myths about
female irrationality today
may contribute to middle-
aged women with chest
pain and other symptoms
of heart disease being
twice as likely to be
diagnosed with a mental illness
compared with men. A 2018 study
analysing journal papers on sex, gender
and pain published in the UK, US and
Europe since 2001, revealed that doctors
applied words such as sensitive,
malingering, complaining and, indeed,
hysterical, more frequently to pain
reports from women. Another
survey found that associations of
gynaecological pain with mental
ill-health contributed to delayed and
missed diagnoses in half of cases.
Professor Williams says studies show
women are more likely to see their
doctors than men, which is interpreted
as a sign of exaggerating symptoms:
‘It’s another negative stereotype. Even
if women do have a lower threshold for
going to the doctor, we could say that
men are presenting too late. We must
stop treating male behaviour as the ideal,
with women always failing by contrast.’
Her research found that both male
and female clinicians tended to be
biased against female pain, although
she adds ‘female clinicians show
slightly more empathy’.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 83
Good health
DIFFERENT BODIES,
DIFFERENT PAIN
Doctors may take male pain more
seriously, but according to the
International Association for the Study
of Pain, ‘women suffer more pain,
more severe pain, and more chronic pain
than men’. Women also experience
more ‘invisible pain’ from conditions that
predominantly affect the female body,
such as fibromyalgia and migraine,
which can’t be diagnosed from scans or
blood tests. Differences in our immune
systems mean that women also account
for 80% of patients with often
excruciating autoimmune diseases,
such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Professor Katy Vincent is senior
fellow in pain in women at The Nuffield
than men,’ she says. ‘Additionally, they
also suffer from female-specific pains;
particularly in the pelvis, including
period pain and the pains associated
with diseases such as endometriosis.’
She adds that research also suggests
that women are more sensitive to pain
than men and are more likely to express
it, so their pain is often seen as an
overreaction. ‘We have good evidence
that having serious pain alters your
central nervous system, alters how you
respond to pain in the future and makes
you potentially more susceptible to
other chronic pain conditions.’
Department of Women’s & Reproductive
Health at the University of Oxford.
‘Women suffer with almost all chronic
pain conditions to a much greater extent
HOPEFUL
SIGNS The Government
recognised the gender health gap in
2021, and set out to close it with the
Women’s Health Strategy that includes
dealing with pain bias. Meanwhile,
technology may help, with Al suggested
to diagnose female heart attack pain.
Femtech companies using technology to
develop products for women-specific
conditions may also be beneficial.
And the more we talk about the
gender pain gap, the more we can do to
close it. ‘Things have got better in the last
30 years,’ says Professor Williams. ‘But
we need systemic and societal change
to close the gender pain gap for good.’
I low to get the support you deserve
If you think your pain is being brushed off, take action. Here’s how to get better information,
tools and access to pain management options so you can avoid falling foul of the gender pain gap.
TRY TO SEE A DOCTOR YOU
KNOW It’s important you feel listened to
and supported. Professor Williams says
her research suggests that doctors who
are familiar with a patient make fewer
biased judgements about them. So, if
needed, ask your GP receptionist for
an appointment with a specific doctor.
TAKE AN ADVOCATE This could be
a partner, family member or a friend.
Encourage them to speak up if your pain
is minimised or symptoms dismissed.
BE DIRECT AND SPECIFIC
Data suggests women might couch
their pain in terms of how it makes
them feel or play it down.
Studies show that saying,
‘My chest hurts’ rather than
‘I sometimes feel as if my
chest hurts’ is more likely
to be taken seriously. Use
vivid, specific imagery
to describe pain.
KEEP A PAIN DIARY This means
you can say how much and how often
you are affected, and what you have
already done to manage it. Nurofen
has also created a Pain Pass (jiurofen.co.
uk/see-my-pairf), a free downloadable
tool to help you track and record
symptoms. For long-term pain, ask
your GP about a specialist pain clinic.
Use vivid
imagery to
describe pain
PREPARE FOR PROCEDURES
If you’re worried, speak to the doctor
or the nurse about what to expect and
to ask about pain-relief options.
NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK
QUESTIONS You don’t have a legal
right to a second opinion, but doctors’
guidelines say they ‘must respect
your right to seek a second opinion’.
If you are unhappy, see a different
doctor or change your GP practice.
DON'T HIDE AWAY For many of us,
making an effort with our appearance
when we go out is second nature, even
if we feel terrible and are heading to
the doctor’s surgery. We
quite literally ‘put on a brave
face’. But, shockingly, says
Professor Williams, some
studies suggest that
healthcare providers
assume women are not
in pain if they look well
groomed - while appearance makes
no difference to men. This doesn’t
mean looking deliberately dishevelled,
but don’t feel you have to hide how
you feel.
CONTACT SUPPORT GROUPS
If you have long-term pain, there’s
self-help advice available from a variety
of organisations including Action On
Pain, The British Pain Society, Pain
Concern, and Pain UK. Charities
specialising in specific conditions, such
as arthritis or fibromyalgia, may also
offer more targeted advice.
CONNECT WITH OTHERS
Some charities offer helplines and
self-help groups, where you can meet
other people with long-term pain.
Connecting with other patients or
people with similar conditions can be
helpful - whether for practical advice
or a sympathetic ear. Tread carefully on
social media or forums, and remember
that you should never take any medicine
without the supervision of a healthcare
professional. Try HealthUnlocked, a free
social networking service for health,
used by more than 600 organisations,
including the NHS, Endometriosis UK,
National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
and the British Heart Foundation, to
help you connect with others.
REACH OUT TO PHARMACISTS
Pharmacists are qualified healthcare
professionals, who are experts in
medicines including pain relief.
Many have also recently had Gender
Pain Gap training; Superdrug, for
example, has already trained
two-thirds of its pharmacists,
pharmacy assistants and nurses. □
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK
84 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Have you got
questions about
v) the eve
Y appeal
gynae health?
Ask Eve
If you have concerns about gynae health, you can
contact The Eve Appeal’s free and confidential
nurse-led information service.
Phone: 0808 802 0019’
Email: nurse@eveappeal.org.uk
Website: www.eveappeal.org.uk/nurse
*We now have interpretation
services available, so you
can talk to one of our nurses
about gynae health concerns
in over 250+ languages.
The amount of people contacting Ask Eve has doubled, and the need is growing.
Your support could mean we can be there for everyone who needs us. If you’d like to donate,
visit: donate.eveappeal.org.uk
Г CHECKED FOR
ACCURACY BY 1
Good Horteepinj
HEALTH .
k. WATCH Л
The health
hazard
YOU C\\'(
CONTROL
Could you be at risk of developing
diabetes? Dr Sarah Jarvis reveals
why prediabetes is on the rise,
plus how to detect and tackle it
Many of us find that
with age, it can get
harder to fit into our
jeans - take it from
me, I know! As a
doctor, I’m also acutely conscious
that weight gained around the
midriff (so-called abdominal obesity)
carries certain health risks, including
developing type 2 diabetes.
The number of people with this
condition has skyrocketed along
with our waistlines - up from 1.4m
people in the UK in 1996 to more
than 4.3m today.
A further 13.6m people are
currently identified as being on
the cusp of developing type 2
diabetes, which includes everyone
with prediabetes. But what exactly
does this mean for your health?
86 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
WHAT IS PREDIABETES?
Prediabetes can be a precursor to type 2
diabetes. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have
completely different causes.
TYPE 1 DIABETES is usually diagnosed
in childhood or early adulthood and you’ll
need insulin treatment for the rest of your
life. It’s an autoimmune disease, where
your immune system attacks the cells
in your pancreas that produce insulin. It
has nothing to do with lifestyle.
TYPE 2 DIABETES is largely about insulin
resistance - as is prediabetes. If you have
prediabetes, your blood glucose (sugar)
will be higher than normal, but not yet high
enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
Insulin is the most important hormone
for controlling blood glucose. If you have
type 2 diabetes, your body still produces
insulin but can’t respond to it effectively,
and tries to make up for this by producing
more insulin. Over time, insulin-producing
cells in your pancreas become worn out
and less able to make insulin. That’s why
some people who’ve had type 2 diabetes
for a long time need insulin treatment.
If you’re diagnosed with prediabetes,
you’re at significant risk of developing
type 2 diabetes. This is serious because
persistently high blood glucose can
damage eyes, nerves and kidneys, and
increase your risk of heart attack, stroke
and heart failure (cardiovascular disease).
However, a diagnosis of prediabetes
offers a chance to make lifestyle changes
that can address the damage. Up to half
of people with prediabetes can avoid or
delay progressing to type 2 diabetes.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Good health
CHECK ONLINE
Take the ‘Know Your
Risk’ assessment at
diabetes.org.uk to
find out what could
be jeopardising
your health.
REDUCE YOUR CHANCES
• WATCH YOUR WAIST If you’re
overweight or living with obesity,
cutting your weight by just 5% can
significantly reduce your risk of
developing type 2 diabetes.
• GET MOVING A sedentary lifestyle,
even without other risk factors, is
closely linked to prediabetes. Where
activity is concerned, every little helps
- get off the bus a stop earlier, take
a walk at lunchtime, use a standing
desk or join a walking group. The
best exercise is the kind
you’ll stick with.
• CHOOSE UNREFINED
FOODS Refined carbs
(sugary and processed
foods, white bread/
flour/pasta etc) can
actively increase
your risk, so choose
wholegrains and fruits
and vegetables instead.
• CONSIDER WHEN YOU EAT
For a long time, I have practised a
form of intermittent fasting called
time-restricted eating - I only eat during
a six-to-eight-hour period each 24 hours.
Intermittent fasting has been shown to
reduce insulin resistance and, if you
major on unrefined foods and adequate
protein (I have lots of beans, pulses, veg
and wholegrains), you really don’t feel
hungry once you’re used to it
TAKE CONTROL
If you are diagnosed with
prediabetes, you’re eligible for
the Healthier You NHS Diabetes
Prevention Programme, a nine-
month lifestyle change course.
There’s a choice of face-to-face
groups or a digital service, and
you’ll receive personalised support
to make healthier diet choices, get
more active and manage your
weight. People who complete
the programme cut their risk of
developing type 2 diabetes by
more than a third. Speak to your
GP surgery to find out more.
WHY DO MIDLIFE MIDRIFF
AND MENOPAUSE MATTER?
PHOTOGRAPHY: DAN KENNEDY. GETTY
WHO’S AT RISK?
Symptoms such as feeling thirsty,
needing the loo more often, recurrent
thrush infections and slow wound healing
suggest you may have type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes doesn’t cause symptoms,
so you won’t know you have it unless
you get checked out. It’s important to
get tested for prediabetes if you have
risk factors including:
•	Excess weight around your midriff
•	Having type 2 diabetes in your family
•	Being of Afro-Caribbean or South
Asian descent
•	Getting older (especially if you’re over
40 and have other risk factors)
If you’re worried, ask your GP for a test.
You’ll be diagnosed on the basis of a
single non-fasting blood test called an
HbA1c, which indicates your average
blood glucose over the last few months.
Carrying extra weight around your
middle means fat can build up around
your organs, such as your pancreas and
liver. This can cause insulin resistance,
where your body doesn’t respond
properly to insulin’s signals to let
glucose into your cells to provide
energy. And that increases your chance
of having high blood glucose (sugar).
An increase in weight around the
middle of your body is commonly
noticed around the menopause,
a time when levels of the important
female hormone oestrogen drop.
There’s a link between oestrogen
and type 2 diabetes, too. Oestrogen
stimulates cells that line the blood
vessels to deliver insulin to your
muscles - and this lowers your
blood sugar and reduces your risk
of developing type 2 diabetes.
After the menopause, the level of
male androgen hormones in your
body increases. Unfortunately, these
androgens also promote the tendency
to develop fat deep inside your tummy.
Even if you don’t put on weight
around the menopause, you’re almost
five times more likely to develop
‘abdominal obesity’ than before the
menopause. Some of the androgens
your body continues to produce
after menopause are naturally
converted into oestrogen, but this
doesn’t seem to offer the same
protection against type 2 diabetes.
As a result, it’s important that you
try to ensure your overall weight
and body mass index (BMI) are
within the healthy range. But even if
they are, you may still be at risk of
type 2 diabetes if you have a large
waist measurement.
For a healthy measurement, you
need to aim for your waist to be less
than: 80cm (31.5in) for all women;
94cm (37in) for most men; or 90cm
(35in) for South Asian men. □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 87
GH HOMES
INSPIRATION AND IDEAS TO HELP YOU MAKE YOUR HOUSE A HOME
This month’s
new trends and
affordable buys
from homes &
gardens director
Carolyn Bailey
Find the perfect lamp
for your colour scheme.
Lamp base, £294 (18 colours);
shade, from £128 (23 fabrics),
plus bespoke options,
both David Hunt Lighting
SEPARATE YOUR SPACE
Use this screen for clever zoning.
Screen, £575, French
Connection Home
COLOUR
SPLASH
An accent chair
is an easy way
to add pattern to
your lounge.
Chair, from £799,
Sofology
FARMHOUSE STYLE
Pioneer of washable rugs
Ruggable has launched
The Founder’s Collection,
curated by Jeneva Bell, as
well as a dog-friendly range
in aid of Dogs Trust.
Rug, from £239 for 185cm,
Ruggable
LIGHT UP
This
glamorous
candlestick is
inspired by
nature.
Candelabra,
£80, Nkuku
WHAT I’M
READING...
The Romantic Home
(Cico Books) by
Fifi O’Neill is full of
dreamy inspiration.
PATTERN PLAY
Linara, Romo’s popular cotton-linen blend, has
been gracing our homes for more than 25 years.
New for spring 2024 is the Toulin range, featuring
seven patterned fabrics in contemporary
geometries, delicate botanicals and a bold
multi-stripe in subtle neutrals, including pastel
shades of blue, mustard yellow and dusky pink.
Sofa in Elsi, £58.50 a metre; armchair in Linara Spruce,
£48 a metre; footstool in Odina, £58.50 a metre; curtain in
Isala, £58.50 a metre; cushions in (from left to right): Isala,
£58.50 a metre; Linara Indian Green, £48 a metre; Linara
Chalk Rose, £48 a metre; Edra in Mariana, £58.50 a metre
and Linara Spruce, £48 a metre, all Romo

OTTOMAN EMPIRE
The ideal place to put
your feet up.
Footstool, from £790,
The House Upstairs
DECORATIVE
CUSHIONS
Designer India Hicks and
Heirlooms have created a
reversible cushion range
inspired by the Bahamas.
Cushion (floral front and
striped back), from £50,
India Hicks x Heirlooms
LOVING LEFTOVERS
Bloom & Wild’s new Lovely Leftovers
bouquet includes flowers that may otherwise
be wasted - perfect for a midweek boost.
Bouquet, £32 for 20-25 stems, Wednesday
delivery only, Bloom & Wild
88 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024


Good homes
Wallpaper,
£94 a roll, 1838
Wallcoverings
Cushion, £14,
ф!№ф!ф»&
TRIED, TESTED,
TRUSTED
At the Good Housekeeping Institute,
our mantra is simple: we don’t take any claims
or promises at face value, and any advice we
give is impartial. This forms the backbone of
everything we do, from food and product testing
to our household, money and tech advice. The
GHI tests hundreds of products every month,
from steam irons to washing machines,
to help you buy the best.
THIS MONTH, WE’RE INSPIRED BY...
SPRING BLUES
John Lewis & Partners has declared this season’s colour
to be blue and is embracing it in its classic range (left),
with a mix of bold colour blocks and pattern. Don’t be afraid
to layer patterns - double or even triple them up and use the
same design on wallpaper, curtains and headboards for a
striking look. Dunelm and Next also have beautiful blue-
based homewares for easy and affordable spring updates.
Lampshade,
from £18, Next
Wallpaper in Nyra, £35 a roll;
headboard in Nyra, £549;
» scalloped cushion, £25; Aria
' cushion, £35; velvet frill cushion,
",	£40; duvet set, £65; Aria quilt, £180
table lamp, £125; vase, £15; bedside
table, £250; made-to-measure* >•!
curtains in Nyra, £35 a metre;
other accessories, from a selection,
all John Lewis & Partners
Dunelm

As longer days and extra light start to affect our circadian rhythms,
blackout blinds may help you sleep better. Here are the best on test.
WINNER
Anyday by John Lewis & Partners Blackout/Thermal
Roller Blind from £15 94/100
Min W61cm x DI60cm to max W183cm x DI60cm
(specific sizing only)
Quick and easy to install and blocked out all light
- every tester said they’d recommend these to a friend.
RUNNER-UP
Sevilla Blackout Brilliant White Roller Blind
from £7.25, blinds-2go.co.uk 93/100
Min W30cm x D30cm to max W259cm x D300cm
(made to measure)
Testers found these great for blocking light and not
too fiddly to install, thanks to the detailed instructions.
BEST FOR CUSTOMISATION
Supreme Blackout Roller Blind
from £8.85, blindsdirect.co.uk 91/100
Min W20cm x D20cm to max W400cm x D400cm
(made to measure)
The option to customise the style, chain, colour and
control made these blinds the most versatile on test.
# HOW WE TESTED Our panel of readers tested the blinds over three weeks and reported back on
how effectively the blinds blocked out light. They also noted the general quality of the material, whether
the blinds were wrinkled when first unpacked and if those wrinkles disappeared over time. Our panel also
judgedhow easy the instructions were to follow and whether any extra help ivas needed for installation. □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 89
Homes of the future
Tl IE RETURN
OF THE PANTRY
/1Good Housekeeping
As part of our homes of the future series to mark the
centenary of the Good Housekeeping Institute, we
report on the increasing popularity of the larder
The pantry has developed in
many ways over hundreds of
years; from the late Middle
Ages, when a pantier would
have been responsible for its
organisation, to the Victorian era when
larders and sculleries hid the messiest
parts of meal preparation and, more
recently, when the pantry - or larder -
has become as small as
an integrated cupboard.
The one common thread
is that the design
directly correlates to the
lifestyle and eating
habits of the time.
With the popularity of
the pantry rising during
the pandemic, when
stockpiling and storing
food increased owing to
fears of shortages, its
presence in the home is
set to become more significant.
Looking ahead, as the impacts of
climate change adjust and disrupt eating
habits we may have taken for granted,
could the morphing of pantries into
‘micro-farm’ chambers be a realistic
vision of the future?
With 75% of the planet’s resources
consumed in cities (despite them only
covering 2% of the world’s land surface,
according to the World Economic
Forum), reshaping our urban landscapes
to rebalance these statistics will be a
necessity. Imagining a world in which
skyscrapers are transformed into
supermarkets of fresh, growing produce
ready to be picked by shoppers is a
fantasy that may well become a reality,
and be reflected in our own homes, too.
Changes are already evident, says
Callum Black, food and drink testing
manager at the GHI: ‘We’re seeing a
Insects are a
great source
of protein,
sustainable
and filled with
nutrients
Words RODDY CLARKE
Illustration ROSANNA TASKER
trend for more sustainable food
practices in the way we eat. Restaurants
and supermarkets are sourcing more
locally, butcher-come-farmers are
prioritising heritage breeds for resilience,
and people are cutting down on
proteins; choosing to eat better quality,
less often. I imagine this is only going
to become more of a focus in the home
as we move towards
self-sufficiency.’
He highlights protein
alternatives such as
insects, which many
cultures already include as
a valuable addition to their
diets. ‘They’re a great
source of protein,
sustainable and filled with
useful nutrients,’ he says.
‘Getting people over the
stigma of eating them is
the hurdle.’
NEW WAYS OF FARMING
Growing crops in vertically stacked
layers, in controlled environments, is the
latest agricultural phenomenon known
as vertical farming. With the global
sector increasing year-on-year, largely
down to the fact it uses up to 95% less
water than traditional farming methods,
the next stage is to replicate these
industrial-scale farms on a domestic
level to provide us with a fresh supply
of leaves, grains and vegetables. While
these might not produce huge
quantities independently, if they became
regular fixtures in homes across the
world, the collective impact would be
immense in reducing the pressure on
centralised food sources.
Paul Myers, managing director of
Farm Urban, creators of small-scale
urban farming systems, is optimistic that
this shift isn’t too far ahead. ‘I see
the pantry filled with fresh produce
grown without chemical pesticides
and fertiliser, using a combination of
regenerative soil-based farming
practices alongside high-tech, controlled
environment agriculture (CEA)
practices, which include vertical farming
techniques such as hydroponics (the
growing of plants in nutrient rich water),
aeroponics (the growing of plants in
a nutrient rich mist) and possibly a type
of ‘ponies’ we haven’t even heard of yet,’
he says. ‘It’s likely that diets will become
more personalised, effective and
efficient to suit people’s microbiome
and we will have affordable, real-time
data on what our bodies need.’
LAB-GROWN MEAT
Despite the fact that around 60% of us
are against eating cultured meat, the
Food Standards Agency (FSA) says
the rise in the sector is undeniable, with
investment in the UK market increasing
by 400% in 2022. The process sees cuts
of meat grown from single animal cells
in a laboratory, reducing its
environmental and ethical footprint
without the need to kill or harm animals
in the process. In 2021, University of
the Arts London graduate Alice Turner
released her concept ‘Carnerie’
- a ‘grow your own meat’ device that
she estimated would be applicable
in 10-20 years’ time. Through an app,
users would order cell capsules from
local farms to grow a variety of cultured
meats in their own homes.
Edwin Bark of Redefine Meat,
a company producing plant-based,
3D-printed meat, feels certain the shift
towards non-meat alternatives will
happen. ‘Advanced technologies will
make personalised nutrition
90 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
mainstream and the innovation in
vertical farming will give a tremendous
boost to locally grown produce, making
food available to anyone in the world.
This will result in very low malnutrition
and obesity rates, a reduction in the
usage of water and electricity and lower
CO2 emissions.’
GETTING RID
OF FOOD WASTE
Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of
local sharing app Olio, believes sharing
unwanted food will become common - a
much-needed answer to the 4.5m tonnes
of food wasted each year by UK
households. ‘Food sharing will be at the
heart of society, and underpinning this
will be the power of technology
combined with more connected
communities,’ she says. ‘Every kitchen
or pantry would be connected to its
neighbours’ so surplus ingredients, extra
portions, home-baked and home-grown
produce could be given away or sold.
Meals could be delicious home-cooked
food from a neighbour rather than
bought processed from a supermarket.’
Integrate Al technology and the
system becomes even more streamlined,
making it easy to match those with
surplus to a relevant neighbour or one
looking for a certain type of cuisine.
GROW YOUR OWN
With the pantry evolving into a tech-
driven, functional core of the home in
the next century, albeit as a standalone
room or integrated into the kitchen, the
most certain prediction is that this will
begin to take shape in the form of
understated, ‘low-tech’ systems.
‘Focusing on crops that need only
a small amount of space but suit the
conditions, such as grow-your-own
mushroom kits, is a great place to start,’
says Callum. ‘Or even a couple of stalks
of corn on the patio and a cupboard
full of fungi-covered logs could be how
we make way for such developments.’
With the variety of food we
consume becoming more diverse, the
development of technology in domestic
spaces will certainly be shaped by the
produce and ingredients we turn to, he
adds. 'Maybe the meal of the future is a
cut of skyscraper-culture-reared beef, an
ear of corn from the balcony, paired with
some pantry-grown mushrooms and a
side serving of deep-fried crickets. It
might not sound appetising now but it
could be the answer to becoming more
self-sufficient in the future.’ □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 91
OOI
Floral displays look wonderful on
a sunny windowsill and will flourish
in natural light. Create one using
vessels of different heights and
widths - tulips and narcissi work
well in tall, narrow vases, while
planted hyacinths are ideal in wider
pots. Display them in as neutral
a space as possible, keeping
colours and patterns pared back
so as not to distract from the
flowers themselves.
Farrah chair, £300; Rive Droite bistro
table, £30; vases, jugs and planters,
from a selection, all Garden Trading
A\\V .........
SAY IT Will I

Good homes
HEADS UP
Don’t despair if flower heads snap off when you
arrange a bouquet or start to wilt and droop
- there are other ways to display them. For wider,
flatter flowers, such as camellias (above), try
arranging them in a shallow tray or plate (the size of
which will depend on the number of flower heads you
have), while more upright flowers (from a rose stem,
for example) can be rescued using short bud vases.
Tablecloth made up in Nice linen in Tilled, £110 a m, Manuel Canovas
at Colefax and Fowler. For a similar tray, try Floristik24
‘Spring flowers are full of joy’
Derek Isaac, founder of SuperNature Flowers, creates
stunning floral installations for hotels, restaurants and
brands including L’Occitane and Liz Earle. He says:
When you buy flowers, go for quality over quantity.
You can save money (and make the most of supermarket
bouquets) by using fewer flowers displayed in bud vases
or small decorative bottles grouped together. I also like
using vases with a narrow neck and wider bottom because you don’t
have to use as many flowers per arrangement and the narrow neck holds
stems in place, so it’s not necessary to tie them with string or raffia. Try
the ranges at West Elm and Amara.
As a general rule, for a bouquet, stick to one or two colours and have
three elements - flowers, foliage and twigs - at different heights and
angles. Don’t squash the flowers: give them plenty of room to breathe.
To keep a bouquet fresher for longer, strip off leaves that would
otherwise be submerged as these will rot.
Remove any dead flowers when they
appear and change the water regularly
- I add a small amount of sterilising
solution, which keeps it clearer for longer.
My favourite spring flowers are tulips
(for their variety and the fact they can
look a little crazy when they open, which
adds to their interest), ranunculus (for
the density and number of petals) and
fritillaria (for their delicate and unusual
shapes). I also love lilac, the guelder rose
and double pink cherry blossom.
In the past, I’ve foraged for cow parsley and old man’s beard (also
known as ‘traveller’s joy’) to use in displays (always get the permission
of the landowner). The Woodland Trust allows foraging for personal
use, providing you don’t take too much or take anything that’s rare
or protected. Most florists will stock wild foliage, too.
• See more of Derek’s work (as pictured above) at supernatureflowers.com
Make the most of the new season’s
blooms with our tips and tricks for
creating beautiful spring displays
Feature JAMES CUNNINGHAM
NATURAL SELECTION
While glass vases and ceramic jugs are classically used to
show off flowers, there are plenty of other ways to make
a statement - we’ve spotted them displayed in rattan
urns, origami-style paper vases and even hollowed-out
pineapples! Annabel James’s test-tube vases, shown
here, offer an unusual way to show off delicate stems.
Vase set (30.5 x 14.5cm, 27 tubes), £94.95, Annabel James
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 93
Good homes
IN THE ROUND
Hanging a floral wreath on your front door will create a
cheery first impression. Simple narcissi are ideal - daffodils
work well snipped short and slotted into a willow or
twig-based wreath frame. Thin branches of blossom
or fluffy stems of gypsophila are excellent additions.
For a similar wreath frame, try Hobbycraft
z
E
5
I
TULIP MANIA
Tulips are wonderful spring flowers as they come in almost
every colour, continue to grow even after they’ve been cut
and work well in simple arrangements. Look out for water
lily tulips, which have bowl-shaped flowers, and parrot
tulips (pictured), which feature distinctive frilled edges.
Part of an arrangement, made to order, by SuperNature Flowers
DARLING BUDS
COLOUR MATCH
A favourite vase or jug can be the starting point for
Don’t discard an arrangement as soon as its
most delicate flowers start to wilt - use bud
vases to display any flowers that have a few
more days of life. Chrysanthemums
(shown here) are known for lasting
much longer than other stems.
Amber bud vases, £10 for a set of 2;
candle. £20, all Truffle Tablescapes
an arrangement. Colourful, patterned ones are ideal.
The roses, hyacinths and anemones in this bouquet are
a pretty reflection of the jug’s pink and purple shades.
Jug, from a selection, Emma Bridgewater
94 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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CENTRE STAGE
As a striking alternative to a single centrepiece in the
middle of the dining table, a cluster of vases (odd
numbers work best) filled with different blooms will
create a sense of drama. Tall stems of willow work
well for interest above eye level, while muscari
(grape hyacinth) will add colour and fragrance
below it. Choose linens that celebrate the season,
such as the floral fabrics at Designers Guild.
PHOTOGRAPHY: POLLY WREFORD. STYLING: SALLY DENNING
Tablecloths made up in Carrara Fiore Grande fabric in Verde
(floral), £105 a m, and Brera Gessato fabric in Hemp (stripe),
£90 a m, both Designers Guild. Tableware, from a selection,
The Conran Shop, KCHossack Pottery, Rowen & Wren
and Penny Morrison. Vintage chair, from a selection,
Ercol at Etsy. For a similar oil painting, try Etsy
Wall painted in
Light Mocha
(background),
Hydrangea Flowers
(top detail) and
Shy Cherry (leaf
detail) matt
emulsions, all from
£20 for around IL,
Benjamin Moore.
For similar vases
and ceramics,
try Amara
BEST OF BOTH
Billowing blooms, such as peonies
(pictured), are quintessentially
pretty, but if you want to make them
feel more contemporary, try
combining in an arrangement with
more structural stems, such as the
astilbe used here. To create a point
of interest on a console or coffee
table, have your flowers as part of
a wider arrangement - a curated
display featuring a decorative
object, a pretty scented candle
and art books will instantly
catch the eye.
Good homes
£12.50,
Marks &
Spencer
£30,
Where
Saints
Go
£75,
Jonathan
Adler
£55, Bode Living
£29.50, Oliver Bonas
£35, Rose & Grey
£35, HKIiving
at Trouva
£28,
Next
Home
£35,
John
Lewis &
Partners
By special
arrangement
The right vase can make or
break a bouquet - here are
a few of our top picks...
£50, Birdie Fortescue
£29.50,
HKIiving at
Londonworks
£59, Cult
Furniture
£55, Raj
Tent Club
£38,
Anthropologie □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 97

WARM AND COSY
The dark pink sitting room off the
kitchen is where the family like to relax
as well as entertain guests. Anna found
an old decorative mantelpiece to install.
There are treasured paintings on the
walls and deep, squashy sofas. Cushions
and Deep Rose Maja wallpaper are from
Susie Watson Designs.
DESIGN
E CAN LIVE IV
Anna Salkeld created this welcoming family home in Somerset
using a mix of antiques and modern furnishings
98 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
► INFORMAL
DINING
Old and new kilim rugs cover
the floor and the leaved
dining table cost just £100 at
auction (dark wood furniture
is cheap at the moment as
it’s perceived as out of date).
Anna uses tablecloths to
cover it and reflect the
change in seasons.
WHO LIVES HERE
Anna Salkeld, designer at
Susie Watson Designs,
lives with her husband, Jim,
children, Spike and Poppy,
and dog, Spooky, in this
former vicarage, built in
classic Bath stone, in the village of
Monkton Combe. Anna asked her mother,
the woman behind Susie Watson Designs,
for her invaluable advice on the project.
▼ GRACEFUL GRANDEUR
A gothic arched door opens into the
elegant hallway. ‘The lamps were one of the
first things Jim and I bought when we got
married and lived in New York,’ Anna says.
‘I fell in love with the long case clock at an
auction house in Bath a few years ago and
thought it brought huge character to the
hallway.’ The lantern and large mirror, which
help make the narrow Victorian hallway feel
bigger, are also antiques.
▲ PLACE TO RELAX
Anna loves to layer fabrics, cushions and rugs throughout the house, as it
makes it feel cosy and inviting. The French doors in the dining room open on
to the garden and countryside beyond, and Spooky has her very own bed.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 99
Good homes
► LAID-BACK
LIVING
The oval-cut doors
in the island were
copied from a friend’s
kitchen and the
hardwood floors are
covered with rugs.
The tall kilim bar
stools are from Susie
Watson Designs.
◄ ROOM
WITH A VIEW
In the kitchen,
replacement double-
sash windows look out
over a wooded river
valley. The blind is
made up in Susie
Watson Designs’
Vintage Stripe.
► SHELF LIFE
A speckled chicken
toast rack by Heather
Barnard (formerly
Swain) sits among
other ceramics to
create a homely feel.
The dresser is from
Susie Watson Designs.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Bunting, from
a selection,
Hobbycraft
▼ VINTAGE
VIBES
Striped fabric is
used for bunting and
blinds in the en-suite
bathroom, while
a vintage glass-fronted
cupboard stores quilts
and cushions.
▼ SERENE SCHEME
Anna and Jim’s bedroom on the first floor is
south-facing so has a serene colour scheme,
with shades of celadon, greys and pinks.
‘The upholstery is very tatty but I love the
faded chintz effect and am reluctant to
replace it,’ says Anna. The dressing table
is from an auction and the antique mirror
was a gift from her parents.
Sofa, from
£2,045, Susie
Watson Designs
Lamp and
shade,
£175, Loaf
Bottle vase,
£40, Nkuku
Chopping
board,
£24, Curious
Decanter, £110,
Dartington Crystal □
Teapot,
£24, ProCook
Dresser, £3,450,
Susie Watson
Designs
Chair, £565,
Susie Watson
Designs
Cushion,
£95, Sweetpea
and Willow
Mirror,
£325, Pooky
Cushion,
£85, Kelling Home
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 101
Shop the
LOOK
TAKE INSPIRATION FROM ANNAS
WARM AND WELCOMING HOME
Throw, £79.99,
The British Blanket
Company
Tree decorations, from £11.99 for a set of 6; micro
fairy lights, £7.99; pastel pillar candles, £26.99
for a set of 3; dinner candles, £39.99 for a set of
6; bunny decoration, £49.99 for a set of 2, all
Lights4Fun. For a similar vase, try Garden Trading
and for similar vintage furniture, try Vinterior
< Seasonal
Get your home
spring-ready
with these
decorative
Easter treats
Good homes
Greetings card, £4.50,
Cambridge Imprint
PHOTOGRAPHY (OPPOSITE): OLIVER PERROTT
Egg box, £12,
Curated Living
Guild
Cushion, £35, Dunelm
Sofa, £1,545 as shown, Loaf
Bunting, £8.99,
Ginger Ray
Wreath, £44.99,
Gisela Graham
Candle, £56,
Jo Malone
London
Gift wrap,
£2.50
a sheet,
Making
Meadows
Faux tree,
£59, Ella
James
Table lamp
(excluding
shade), £95,
Pooky
Wreath,
£24.99,
Lights4Fun
Vase, £45, Libby
Daniels Ceramics at
Handmade in Britain
Matches
bottle,
£14.95,
Annabel
James
Floral print, from
£35 (unframed),
Pressed Floral Art at
Handmade in Britain
Cushion cover,
£115, Oka
Hanging
decorations,
£12 each,
Basalt & Dune
Wool throw, £90,
Desi<
Sitting pretty —
Bunting, wreaths and other decorative accessories are simple but
effective for giving your space a seasonal flourish. Choose designs
made from wood, paper and recyclable materials that can be enjoyed
year after year. Appeal to the senses with a new scented candle,
and refresh upholstery with pretty cushions and colourful throws.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 103
Good homes
Faux tree
centrepiece,
£39.99,
Lights4Fun
*
Bud vase, £34,
Truffle Tablescapes
Bowls. £64 for a set of 4,
Sophie Conran for
Portmeirion
Dinner set, £25
for 12 pieces,
Dunelm
*
Candlestick
holder,
£24.95, ad&i
Napkin rings,
£2 for a set of 2,
Dunelm
Egg cup plate
£25, Matilda
Goad & Co
Gather round
Layer up the dining table with floral patterns, pastel colours and
rustic textures for place settings that instantly say spring. Delicately
tinted glassware, artfully tied napkins and bud vases bursting with
freshly picked blooms will make bank holiday brunches
and Easter lunches prettier and more memorable.

Scalloped
napkins, £28
for a set of 4,
Molly Mahon
Tablecloth. £120,
Curated Living
COMPILED BY: JAMES CUNNINGHAM
Egg candles,
£28 for a set
of 3, Truffle
Tablescapes
glasses,
£50 for a
set of 2,
Nkuku
Napkin ring,
£10.99 for a set of
4, Walton & Co

Place card, £7.90
for a set of 10, Papier

Placemat, £22,
Rebecca Udall
Handpamted
dinner plate,
£145 for a set of
6, Rebecca Udall

Cake stand, £60,
Laura Ashley
at Next
104 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
ян
Trough (used as
centrepiece), £48;
tablecloth, from £80;
tableware, from
£10 for a side plate;
dining table, £1,450 as
shown; bench, £650,
all Garden Trading □


Good gardens
SPRING
brings the
BIRDS S the BEES’
Stephanie Donaldson’s beautiful East Sussex garden fills with seasonal colour
as potted tulips and daffodils burst into bloom, attracting local wildlife
THE
DETAILS
S!ZE
rfb A third of
an acre, around
three sides
of the house.
Stephanie Donaldson’s
garden twinkles with rows of
jewel-coloured tulips against
a backdrop of zingy green
honey spurge, giant fennel
and a mass of honesty, sweet rocket and
wallflowers. Welcome to spring in this
glorious gem of a garden, hidden behind
a solid wooden gate in a high brick wall
in the seaside town of Hastings.
Stephanie, who was Country Living
magazine’s gardening editor for 15 years,
has worked hard to create what you see
today, after first viewing the property - a
quirky and generously proportioned wing
of a Queen Anne house - in 1997.
'First and foremost, I fell in love
with the sloping garden, as it wraps
around three sides of the house and
has a wonderful view down over
the Old Town to the sea,’ she says.
Stephanie has always gardened
organically. As a result, her garden is
alive with bees and bird life among
the blossoms and flowers. Hellebores
and bluebells carpet the ground
under the branches of a mature tulip
tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), and
Л SOIL Light, sandy and easy
to dig, but needs enriching
with plenty of compost.
SEASONS Spring, summer
<’ Ъ and autumn; seasons are
extended because the garden
is so sheltered.
STYLE Informal,
romantic abundance.
spring-flowering shrubs amelanchier and
stachyurus furnish the space in between.
‘The nice thing about this garden is
that when you walk around a corner, you
don’t know what you’re going to see,’
Stephanie explains. 'The different areas
- from the flat terrace and lawn at the
top, through the woodland area to the
lower garden and the courtyard - all
provide an element of surprise, where
I can create different moods and work
with different microclimates. I can
choose: do I want to go somewhere hot
and colourful today, or cool and shady?’
When Stephanie moved in, she could
have taken everything out and started
from scratch, but instead she chose to
work with what already existed.
‘I didn’t want to re-landscape the
whole plot, but I did need to make it
work harder,’ she explains. ‘The garden
tumbles down the hill and was quite
treacherous to negotiate, so I’ve put in
two sets of steps that lead down to the
lower part. Linking these are a woodland
path under the tulip tree, and the upper
terrace with a low curved wall retaining
a flat area of lawn. So now, there are a
variety of routes you can take, which
A pot of
blue muscari
flowers sits on
a decorative
stone stand

goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 107
Helleborus x hybridus
‘Harvington Double Pink
Speckled’ self-seeds in
the woodland garden
Potted Narcissus
‘Geranium’,
underplanted with
myosotis, at the
kitchen door
A stone trough on an old sewing
machine stand makes a striking
feature for displaying potted
plants, surrounded by Tulipa
‘Barcelona’ and Tulipa ‘Negrita’
means you’re not Tulipa <Ballerina’
is a favourite of
always treading the Stephanie’s for
same path and you its sweet scent
get different views of
the planting, depending on
which way you go.’
The major challenge for
grains of rice, has been
similarly successful.
Although Stephanie’s
garden is close to the
sea, being walled and
nestled into Hastings’
West Hill means it’s
L suitably protected.
‘We get none of the
Пк prevailing salt-laden
| winds that can hit
I the East Hill, and
В that’s lovely for me
f because I grew up
in South Africa, so
I can make the most
of the very sheltered
that aren’t working if they’re not doing
what I hoped they would,’ Stephanie
says. ‘For instance, I have my eye on
two witch hazels at the moment that
aren’t amounting to much. I regularly
hard-prune things to rejuvenate them
or simply to let in more light.’
It’s certainly not a low-maintenance
garden, but Stephanie never intended it
to be. As a passionate gardener, she still
derives great pleasure from working hard
in it, and husband Andrew will pitch in
to help if required - when he’s not busy
growing veg on his allotment. She also
hires in some ‘muscle’ to tackle heftier
tasks, such as turning the compost bins
and moving heavy pots around.
Stephanie is the soil - it’s very
spaces by growing things that
Stephanie’s passion is for pots, and she
free-draining sand, so a lot of compost
has to be added to beef it up. After
struggling with many plants that proved
short-lived, she now concentrates on
species that love the conditions and
grow well, such as Euphorbia mellifera.
This self-seeds everywhere, as does
Smyrnium perfoliatum, a euphorbia-like
biennial with lovely lime-green flowers
in spring, which was recommended to
Stephanie by friend and horticulturalist
Fergus Garrett from Great Dixter, who
lives nearby. But careful editing is needed
to stop these taking over.
This applies to grasses, too. ‘I bought a
few pheasant’s tail grasses (Anemanthele
lessoniana} 15 years ago and have never
had to replace them,’ she says. ‘They
would spring up everywhere if I wasn’t as
assiduous as I am at weeding them out.’
Wood melick (Melica uni flora}, a delicate
native grass with flowers that look like
remind me of my childhood.’
Agapanthus do well, as
do lemon trees and the
beautiful night-scented
perennial phlox Zatuzianskya
ovata, with flowers that
open in late evening.
Hidden treasure
Under the tulip tree, which
Stephanie estimates to be an amazing
120 years old, she has created a
woodland garden with the liberal
addition of humus, compost and leaf
mould over the years. Hellebores abound
- Stephanie lets them self-seed, but
removes ones that have cross-bred to
produce too muddy a pink flower, which
happens over time. She regularly culls
the Spanish bluebells, too, preferring the
native, more refined English ones.
Tm always prepared to move things
Each different
area provides
an element
of surprise
plants up dozens of
containers each year, using
her own home-made
compost where possible.
Little ‘vignettes’ appear at
every turn - beautifully
curated collections of pots
filled with seasonal
highlights, including choice
tulips and narcissi.
‘Pots are my weakness,’ she admits.
‘Every year, I vow I’ll plant up fewer but
I can’t help myself. My other weakness,
like many gardeners, is for buying new
(and sometimes unsuitable) plants. I see
it, I want it, I buy it! Then I wonder where
to put it. But it’s all part of the fun, isn’t it?’
• Stephanie is still a contributor to Country
Living and has written many gardening
books, including The Elements Of Organic
Gardening with King Charles, then HRH
The Prince of Wales (W.W. Norton & Co)
108 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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Good gardens
Sun shines through Ameianchier x grandiflora
‘Ballerina’ on to holly ‘Silver Queen’ and
Staphylea colchica. Euphorbia mellifera,
Geranium palmatum, hellebores, mixed tulips
and bluebells fill the beds, while Anemanthele
lessoniana spills over the steps
YOUR SPRING GARDEN
STEPHANIE’S GARDEN TIPS
KNOW YOUR SOIL Mine is
very free-draining, which is
great for certain plants but does
require building up with copious
amounts of home-made compost.
z J* RE-USE AND RECYCLE
|	When our old garage was
knocked down, I re-used the
j	concrete panels on-site to build
generously deep raised beds for
J	vegetable growing.
“	INCLUDE A LAWN
*41 Even if it’s small, a lawn
|	will provide a calm, flat space
g from which to sit and admire
your planting.
Tripod,
£42.99,
Ivyline
back 0Ш
TOOL
Caddy, £22.95,
Annabel James
Shop the
LOOK
SMART BUYS FOR
USE A SHREDDER I find
a quiet multipurpose
shredder invaluable for breaking
down hard wood and shrubby
cuttings. I use them to top up
the woodland path.
VARY THE ROUTE
v
Incorporate a variety of
paths into your garden design
so you have different ways to
walk through it.
GO EASY ON YOURSELF
If your seed sowing doesn’t
work out, get some ready-grown
plug plants instead. Gardening is
about enjoying yourself.
Bee Cell
Bee Houses,
£12.50 each,
Kew Shop
Shears
£19.99,
Dobbies
Planters, £5
each, B&M
Bee Mix, £12, I
National Trust
Shop
Garden ornament,
£60, B&Q
Face pot,
£32,
Heavenly
Homes and
Gardens
Bench. £199.99,
Gardenesque □
Vase, from a
selection,
Heavenly
Homes and
Gardens
Watering can,
£45, Garden
Trading —
Hoop,
£5,
B&M
Plant ladder.
£89,
Cuckooland
Garden belt, £27,
Sophie Allport

Secateurs set,
£27, Sophie
Allport
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 109
GII CONSUMER AFFAIRS
TRUSTED ADVICE TO HELP YOU GET MORE FOR YOUR MONEY
We look at why it’s just as
important to consider what
will happen to your online
‘estate’ - social media,
emails, videos and photos
- as your physical one
We all understand the
importance of a will
- even if less than half
of UK adults (44%)
actually have one*.
But, these days, there’s more to think
about than property, possessions and
other financial assets. Now that so many
of us are active on social media and
messaging apps, use email to stay in
touch and have photos stored on our
phones, computers and in the cloud,
there’s also the matter of what happens
to our ‘digital legacy’ after we’ve gone.
‘A digital legacy is the digital
information that’s available about
someone after their death, and the
online interactions they had while they
were alive make up a large part of this,’
explains James Norris, founder of the
Digital Legacy Association
(DLA). ‘This might include
photos and videos
shared to social
networking sites and
conversations on
digital platforms.’
Accessing this digital
element of someone’s
life can be comforting to
those experiencing
bereavement, says Sarah
Stanley, research nurse at Marie Curie.
‘Digital belongings have become
increasingly important for a number of
reasons,’ she notes. ‘There are the
powerful memories they hold and the
connection they can provide following
the death of a loved one. Then there’s
the challenge of trying to manage them
In the next
50 years, it’s
predicted that the
number of Facebook
accounts belonging to
the deceased will
outnumber the j
living**.
after a loved one’s death; the sheer
volume can make
them difficult to organise.’
Planning what will happen to our
digital legacy is becoming more
and more significant as we use
an ever-wider range of new
technologies, and setting
out your wishes can make
things easier for loved
ones. However, few of us
have done so - just 6% of
those polled by the DLA
had documented their wishes
about what they’d like to
happen to their social media
accounts after they pass.
A first step is to appoint a digital
executor - someone you trust to
manage your digital legacy. Then
consider what you would like to happen
to the different elements of your digital
legacy and how you can make your
preferences known.
110 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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Good advice
PHOTOS, VIDEOS & FILES
The most straightforward way to ensure
your photos, videos and files can be
accessed after you die is to back them
up regularly to an external hard drive or
your computer. If you back them up to
a password-protected device, you might
consider giving one trusted person the
login details, if you feel comfortable. This
person could be your digital executor.
SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
If you have a Facebook account, you can
specify in your profile settings whether
you’d like your profile to be memorialised
(you can also name a ‘legacy contact’
to manage it), or whether you’d like it
deleted. Memorialising preserves a
person’s shared posts and pictures,
allowing friends and families to share
memories. The word ‘Remembering’ is
shown next to their name, and no one
will be able to log into the account,
keeping it safe from potential hackers.
Facebook and Instagram accounts can
be deleted or memorialised on request.
There’s no memorialisation option on X
(formerly Twitter) but an account can be
deactivated on request.
The DLA and websites such as
mywishes.co.uk have free, printable
templates you can use to set out your
wishes for social media profiles. These
have sections where you can record the
user name or email address associated
with your accounts for your digital
executor. ‘Look after these documents as
you would other valuable possessions;
consider keeping them in a safe or
lockable box,’ says technology expert
Carrie-Ann Skinner. 'Avoid saving these
details on your mobile phone, computer
or tablet.’ Keep your social media will
with your main will and discuss it with
your digital executor and loved ones.
EMAILS
Most providers, such as Microsoft, AOL,
Google and Yahoo, will delete accounts
after a long period of inactivity. Google
allows users to set up a plan for their
digital legacy (go to Data & Privacy in
account settings). You can specify how
long your account is inactive for before
up to 10 chosen contacts are alerted.
You can also opt to give these contacts
access to different parts of your account,
such as contacts or files stored in Google
Drive. They have three months to make
a copy of anything they want to keep.
о GOLDEN RULES
OF STAIN REMOVAL
Read this and you’ll be ready to tackle any stain, any time!
Whether it’s a glass of red knocked
over on the carpet or a blob of curry
sauce on your best blouse, we’ve all
had that heart-sinking moment when
we know we’ve got a bad stain to
deal with. Here’s what to do:
Act quickly
Scrape off solids with a blunt knife
and blot liquids with absorbent paper.
O Don’t use heat
You should always sponge off
stains with cold water, particularly
protein stains, such as milk or blood,
as hot or warm water can set them.
3 Beware grease or fat
Stains such as mayonnaise or
gravy will not dissolve in water.
Scrape off any residue, then apply
methylated spirits and blot with paper
towels. Or, on any washable garment
other than silk or wool, spot treat with
Dr Beckmann Stain Devils Fat &
Sauces (£2.25), then wash at the
hottest temperature allowed on the
care label. Alternatively, gently rub
washing-up liquid into stains on
washable garments, then wash as
recommended on the care label.
4 Avoid soap
On pigment-based stains such
as coffee, red wine and tea, avoid
bar soap, soap flakes and detergents
containing soap as these can set
stains. Rinse with cold water, then
use a proprietary stain remover, such
as Dr Beckmann Stain Devils Fruit
& Drinks (£2.25), but not on silk
or viscose.
5 If that doesn’t work...
...or if you’re not sure what type of
stain you’re dealing with - try soaking
in a stain remover such as Vanish
Oxi Action Stain Remover powder
(£11 for 2.1kg. Not for use on protein-
based fibres such as silk and wool).
It contains a bleaching agent so is
good if you need some extra oomph.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 111
FABRIC
CONDITIONERS
FIRST AID for
your car’s paintwork
How to tackle the most common causes of damage
and help avoid a hefty respray bill
ULTRA concentrated’
FRESHNESS
If you live in a hard water area, fabric
conditioner can help keep clothing soft.
These are the GHI’s best buys.
A pristine car with a showroom
shine is something we all strive
for, but your car is exposed to
many things that can damage
its paintwork every day. If you
don’t tackle even minor scrapes
quickly, it can lead to costly
repairs in the longer term;
expect to pay a few hundred
pounds for a panel respray and
thousands for an extensive
repair. Here’s what you need to
know about the most common
causes of damage...
Tar, grit and insects
Tar and grime from road
surfaces, and even splattered
insects, stick to paintwork and
can be difficult to remove.
A specialist product, such as
Halfords Bug & Tar Remover
(£6 for 500ml), should help
break down this kind of residue
without damaging the paint.
Similarly, small stones and grit
can do considerable damage,
depending on the speed you’re
driving, as can carelessly
manoeuvred shopping trolleys
in car parks. The National Body
Repair Association (NBRA)
advises using a touch-up
pen, such as the Halfords
Chip/Scratch Repair Pen
(£4.99), on small nicks and
scratches. Martyn Rowley,
NBRA executive director,
suggests another clever trick:
A cost-effective way of
providing temporary protection
is to use an acrylic-based clear
nail varnish to touch up the
chipped area. It provides
a protective layer that water
and air will not penetrate,
preventing rust.’
Bird droppings
and tree sap
Bird droppings on your car
aren’t just annoying, they can
also do considerable damage
to paintwork, owing to the
acidity, if left untreated.
Remove with a wet cloth as
soon as you can. Similarly, tree
sap should be cleaned off as
soon as possible with a gentle
car cleaner - for example,
Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions
Ceramic Wash & Wax Car
Shampoo (£15 for 1.4L).
Direct sunlight
Parking your car in direct
sunlight can result in the
paintwork becoming faded
as UV rays start to degrade it.
While it’s not always possible
to park your car in a shaded
area, regularly waxing the
paintwork after washing will
help prevent sun damage
and may help restore
discoloured paintwork.
WINNER
Lenor Outdoorable Spring Awakening Fabric
Softener £3.50 for 770ml; Sainsbury’s 86/100
With its pleasing fresh scent,
this fabric softener was a hit
with our panel of testers and
everyone who tried it said
they would recommend it to
others. It impressed in the lab,
too - testers found the
fragrance long-lasting, even
when clothes were dry, and
both cotton and polycotton
were left soft to the touch.
ADDITIONAL WORDS: GERALDINE HERBERT, BRYONY GOOCH, HANNAH MENDELSOHN. TESTING: LEU JOSEPH. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY. ’NATIONAL WILL REGISTER. ’’OXFORD INTERNET INSTITUTE.
PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS
RUNNER-UP
Fairy Outdoorable Non Bio Fabric Conditioner
£4.50 for 770ml; Sainsbury’s
81/100
If sweet-smelling laundry
is top of your wish list, this is
the fabric conditioner for you,
as both our at-home testers
and our lab experts praised
the scent. It softened our
clothes, too, although not
as effectively as some
other products we tested.
FAIRY
’HSHiASlFDR'tOO^
BEST REFILLABLE
Smol Fabric Conditioner £5.50 for 1 bottle
and 1 refill carton; smolproducts.com
80/100
Testers and panellists alike
enjoyed the long-lasting
scent and found fabrics
were noticeably softer,
especially after air-drying.
Smol sells refills in recyclable
cartons. You can subscribe,
too, so your fabric
conditioner is delivered
straight to your door.
* HOW WE TESTED In the lab, our experts used each fabric
conditioner to wash both cotton and polycotton bed sheets and
compared the results with control loads washed without conditioner.
They did the same with laundry that was air-dried and tumble-dried.
Each load was assessed on scent and scored for softness. Our panel of
readers also tried the products and provided real-life feedback on ease
of use and effectiveness. Fabric conditioners can’t be used on every
fabric, so always check the care label beforehand. □
112 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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Transform your space from the ground up with premium oak laminate
flooring from the Good Housekeeping Collection at Carpetright
____________________________________________________________
If you fancy the beauty and character of a real-wood
floor without the fuss, Traditions premium oak laminate
from the Good Housekeeping Collection ticks every box.
Available in a range of natural shades with realistic light
and dark tones, each individual plank is finished with an
embossed wood-grain effect, including knot detailing,
for flooring that looks and feels just like the real thing.
This superb oak laminate is also incredibly durable,
with built-in scratch- and water-resistance. Suitable for
use with underfloor heating, it’s also super easy to clean,
making it ideal for busy family homes.
Quality tested and approved by the prestigious Good
Housekeeping Institute, Traditions comes with an incredible
25-year wear guarantee, so you can be sure your fabulous
new floor will look as good in the future as it does today.
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good-housekeeping
Good Housekeeping
Institute
You changed
the world.
тж
We need you to do it again.
Leave a gift in your Will to
help fund groundbreaking
research and save lives.
Search BHF Wills.
Registered charity numbers 225971 & SC039426
©Registered with
FUNDRAISING
REGULATOR
British Heart
Foundation
Gl I GETTING GREENER
WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU MAKE MORE SUSTAINABLE CHOICES
Consumer affairs
director Emilie Martin
is on a mission to help
you make greener
decisions at home
and when you shop
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY. ’MINTEL.
START COMPOSTING
IN THREE EASY STEPS
Put food and garden waste
to good use and save money
on shop-bought compost
You can start composting at any time
of year, but it makes sense to kick off
in spring, as the growing season ahead
will produce plenty of garden waste for
your bin. Here’s how to get started...
1 CHOOSE A COMPOST BIN
The compost bin you select depends
on your space, budget and how much
compost you want to make - read our
guide at goodhousekeeping.com/uk/
compost-bin. Place your bin on level,
well-drained ground, preferably in a
sheltered, shady spot.
2GET THE RIGHT MIX
The secret to great compost lies in
using the right ingredients. ‘Ensure you
have a mix of "green” waste, such as
raw fruit and veg scraps, grass clippings
and annual weeds, and "brown” waste,
like dead leaves, cardboard and twigs,’
advises Simon Blackhurst from Enrich
The Earth, a campaign that promotes
composting. ‘Natural bacteria,
microbes and fungi will break down
the scraps and, in a matter of months,
you’ll have compost.’ The list of things
not to add to your compost bin includes
meat and dairy products, cooked food
and diseased plant material.
3STIR IT UP
Use a garden fork to turn the
contents of wooden or plastic compost
bins a few times a year. This increases
airflow. You won’t need to turn the
contents of a hot compost bin so often.
^ZGood
EGGS’
ove chocolate? So do we!
Last year, Brits spent almost
£6.5bn on chocolate, with
. almost two-thirds of us (63%)
_____A buying chocolate at least
twice a week*. And at this time of year,
with the promise of Easter egg hunts just
around the corner, chocolate is even more
likely to feature on our shopping lists.
If you’re keen to make more sustainable
choices when shopping for chocolatey
treats, the Chocolate Scorecard
(chocolatescorecard.com) could help.
It assesses manufacturers and retailers
with own-brand chocolate products on
key environmental and social issues.
These include how they’re tackling the
problem of deforestation; whether they
monitor or restrict the use of certain
chemicals to grow the cocoa they use
and what they’re doing to promote
agroforestry, so land doesn’t need to
be cleared to plant new cocoa trees.
They are also assessed on whether
they can trace the cocoa they use
right back to the farm, what they’re
doing to end child and forced labour
in their supply chain, and what they’re
doing to ensure the farmers who grow
How to choose
more sustainable
chocolate this Easter
the cocoa they use earn a living income.
Each chocolate company receives a
colour-coded rating in six areas, and
an overall rating. Green is the best and
shows a company is leading the industry
in developing better practice. This is
followed by a yellow rating, which shows
it’s making progress implementing policies
to improve its practice; through orange
and red to black, which is the worst rating.
The scoring system for retailers is similar.
Brands such as Tony’s Chocolonely and
Original Beans (both available from Ocado
and Abel & Cole) led the pack in the 2023
Scorecard, with green ratings overall.
Nestle (Smarties, Milkybar and KitKat),
Ferrero (Ferrero Rocher and Kinder) and
Mars Wrigley (Twix, Maltesers, Mars)
received yellow ratings overall, but all
achieved industry-leading green for the
actions they’re taking on deforestation.
Last year, Aldi achieved green overall
for its own-brand chocolate; Sainsbury’s,
Waitrose and Lidl were awarded yellow.
Check the Chocolate Scorecard
results at goodhousekeeping.com/uk/
ethical-chocolate.
• See page 155 for the results of our
More Sustainable Easter eggs test □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 115
MONEY
MOVES
LI ic experts
swear by
If you want to take
control of your
finances this year,
who better to ask
for advice than the
industry insiders?
From impulse
spending (yes, it’s
allowed) to
automating your
savings, six women
at the top reveal
how they’ve made
their money grow
and future-proofed
their finances
Words RUTH JACKSON-KIRBY
Financially fabulous
‘Don’t leave
your finances
to your partner’
CLAER BARRETT has worked at the
Financial Times for 16 years, hosts the
FTs Money Clinic podcast and regularly appears on our
screens as a financial expert.
ENJOY THE FREEDOM AND CONTROL MONEY BRINGS
‘I have a plea: don’t leave your finances to your partner to
sort out in the hope it will make your life simpler. In the long
term, it could make things dangerously complicated.
Managing money is a life skill. I see too many women who
know far too little, then really struggle to take the reins
following a death or divorce. Building up a savings pot gives
you the freedom to live your life as you wish, whether that’s
being able to quit a job you hate or pause your career to
have a family. Living below your means gives you a greater
chance of achieving financial independence - this is much
more valuable than any possessions that money can buy.’
If a lack of confidence about money is holding
you back, there are some brilliant sources of guidance and tips
for everything from budgeting to investing. For those who
like podcasts, The Wallet, Switch Your Money On and Money
Clinic are some of the best. Your Juno is a free app that
offers more than 250 accessible lessons from experts across
finance, on everything from investing to salary negotiations.
VALUE YOUR SKILLS
'Budgeting and saving are important, but so too is how we
can grow our skills and income-generating potential. What
new skills are you going to learn in the next 12 months?’
Develop your skills through at-home learning,
or ask your employer if there’s any training you could do
through them. This should make you better at your job,
which will put you in a stronger position for a promotion.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR A PAY RISE
‘I’d encourage every woman reading this who hasn’t
received a pay rise in the past year to ask for one. Not sure
how to ask? You need to tell a story with data and facts
showing the growing value of your contribution. If your
role has changed in the last few years, stress any extra
responsibilities you’ve taken on - particularly managing
staff, budgets or key business relationships. This makes it
unique to you. By contrast, saying you want a raise because
your mortgage has gone up could apply to anyone!’
Start by researching what others doing the
same job as you are being paid. Compare your salary against
similar jobs currently being advertised or use an online
salary calculator such as Glassdoor. The tool ValueMyCV
analyses your work experience to tell you what salary you
could be earning. Use evidence to demonstrate the extra
value you’ve been adding to your role - the more evidence
you can show, the better.
‘Set yourself a
savings challenge’
KIA COMMODORE, host of the Pennies To
Pounds podcast, is determined to engage
young people in the world of money and
improve financial literacy.
LOOK TO THE FUTURE
'The key money lesson I’ve learned is to always think about
the future when making financial decisions. The decisions you
make today with regard to how you spend, save and invest
your money will impact you in years to come, so it’s important
to make smart decisions from early on.’
How to do it: Before you make any financial decisions, always
ask yourself, how will this benefit me in a month, a year, 10 years?
Let your answer guide you to whether it’s the right one.
GAMIFY YOUR SAVINGS
‘Pick a money challenge to follow to make saving feel less like
a chore. There are even challenges within apps such as Plum
or IFTTT that allow you to save money when things happen;
for example, putting money into savings each time it rains.’
How to do it: Take your pick from one of the many money
challenges out there. For example, you could pay into your
savings every Monday, starting with £1 the first week. Every week
after that, you increase how much you put in by a pound. So in
the second week you deposit £2, then £3 etc. After a year, you
would have saved £1,378, plus interest. Alternatively, save every
payday, starting with £10, then increasing the amount by £10
each month for a year - by which time you’ll have set aside £780.
TAKE THE THOUGHT OUT OF SAVING
‘Another way to boost how much you’re squirrelling away for
the future is to automate the process. Choose an amount you
want to save and a regular time period, say once a month.
Set up those deposits as standing orders and once it’s
done, you won’t need to touch it again as these will
be made automatically.’
How to do it: Set up a monthly transfer from your main
account to a savings one for payday, or use an auto-saving
app such as Plum or Chip that calculates how much
you can afford to save and moves the money for you.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 117
‘Keep an eye
on the best rates’
ELLIE AUSTIN-WILLIAMS is a financial coach and author of
Money Talks: A Lifestyle Guide For Financial Wellbeing, which
focuses on helping women get comfortable talking about money.
HAVE A PLAN
‘Ahead of any major life event,
make sure you have a financial plan.
How are you going to pay for it?
Where will that money come from?
Crowd-source information
from friends, family and online
communities to help build a picture
of expected costs and identify areas
where you can save a little extra.’
How to do it: Find budget planners
for everything from weddings to
starting a business at money.co.uk.
TALK ABOUT MONEY
‘Talking about money can change
your life, so cut through the
discomfort and start having those
important conversations! Rather than
diving in at the deep end and asking
someone how much they have in
their bank account or whether they
have credit card debt, try opening
the conversation by referencing a
programme or news story related
to money that you’ve recently seen.
By using a relevant cultural reference,
you can start to discuss the topic of
money openly and build towards more
personal conversations over time.’
How to do it: Talk about your own
finances and you’ll encourage others
to do the same. When you
disclose something, it’s quite
common that the other
person will reciprocate. If
you need to have a serious
conversation about money,
think about what you’re
going to say in advance and
where the best place is to
have the conversation. Get
your first sentence ready
- it can help ease you into
the conversation and make
things less abrupt and awkward. It’s tricky
when talking about money problems or
worries not to let emotions get the better
of us, but if you can avoid getting angry or
upset, you’ll often get a better outcome.
EMBRACE DIGITAL BANKING
‘Every day, I use Monzo for my personal
banking and Starling Bank for my
Talking about
money can
change your
life, so start
having those
conversations!
business - digital banks are brilliant
for managing your budget in one
place. Rather than relying on multiple
apps to track my spending, organise
my direct debits and save for tax,
these banks allow me to log in to my
account and do all my financial admin
at once. Plus, the option to set up
automatic round-ups helps me save
a little extra without even noticing!’
How to do it: Most banks now have
apps that are simple to set up and
allow you to securely manage your
money from your phone
or tablet. If you want
an oversight of all
your accounts in
one place, try an app
such as Moneyhub.
KEEP AN EYE ON
YOUR SAVINGS
‘Savings rates are
constantly changing,
so you can’t just dump
your money in an
account paying a good interest rate
and assume it’s the best option for
evermore. I have fixed-term savings
and regular savings accounts, which
I check every month or two to ensure
I’m getting the best rates.’
How to do it: Compare at Moneyfacts
or Savings Champion to find the
best savings rates available.
‘Set a budget for being impulsive’
MAKALA GREEN is the UK’s first Black female chartered financial expert, and her focus is on
making money simple for people.
IMPROVE YOUR BUDGETING SKILLS
‘If you do one thing to help yourself
financially, it should be to get better at budgeting. Take
time to understand your income and outgoings and set a plan
for what you want your finances to look like. Prioritise essential
expenditure, savings and things you enjoy, and cut back on
things that add little value. Actively track your finances to
keep on top of any changes. Set money aside for self-care
or shopping sprees, so you can occasionally be impulsive.’
How to do i Most banks - particularly the digital ones - now
have apps that can automatically categorise your outgoings,
so you can see how much you’ve spent on food or clothes etc.
EARN WHEN YOU SPEND
Always sign up for loyalty programmes and rewards schemes
that will provide you with cashback or points when you spend.’
How to do it: If you shop online regularly, you could be
earning money back on all kinds of purchases - from
clothing and tech to insurance - via a cashback website
such as TopCashback or Quidco. Installing a browser
plug-in to your computer so cashback offers on
websites pop up automatically means you’ll
never forget to collect it.
KEEP TRACK
‘There are plenty of apps and software out there that
aim to help you keep track of your spending and build
a budget, but I still prefer a simple spreadsheet to
track my finances and budget.’
How to do it: Find the method that works for you,
whether it’s a pen and paper, a spreadsheet or an
app such as Emma or Snoop.
118 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Financially fabulous
‘You never
know what life
will hold, so
protect yourself’
‘Take action
and just start!’
As an investment specialist
and founder of Propelle, a
community-based fintech platform
SARAH COLES has been in the finance industry for
more than 20 years and is head of Personal Finance
at Hargreaves Lansdown.
PRIORITISE SAVING FOR RETIREMENT
‘I paid nothing into my pension for far too long. Even when I felt
like I could afford payments, I kept them small because I lived
in fear of running out of money, which means I’ve been playing
catch-up in my 40s. Right now, between my contributions and
my employer’s, I pay 25% of my salary into a pension. As a very
rough rule of thumb, you could work towards having a pension
pot that’s equal to your annual salary by the age of 30, twice
your salary by 40, four times your salary by 50, six times by 60
and seven times by 68. If you’re nowhere near this, don’t panic
- as long as you know to prioritise your pension when you can.’
How to do it: If you can afford to, up your pension contributions.
Increasing how much you pay in by even 1% could make a big
difference to your retirement savings. According to figures
from Fidelity, for someone aged 40 earning around £30,000
a year, just 1% more added to your work pension contributions
can mean an extra £26,600 in your eventual retirement pot.
MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES
‘It’s great to save, invest and plan for retirement as a couple, but
that doesn’t mean leaving it to the other person - or assuming
their savings will cover you. If you’re not married and split up
and everything is in their name, you could be left with nothing.
If you’re married, there’s still a risk you’ll lose things such as the
pension during negotiations. Even if you stay together, there's
no guarantee you’ll agree on everything you want to spend
money on; having your own money and pension
allows you to make your own decisions.’
How to do it: Find out how much State Pension
you could get and when at gov.uk/check-state-
pension. To check on your workplace/personal
pension for your estimated pension income (at
your chosen retirement age), use the latest annual
statement from your provider(s). If you’re over 50,
book a free appointment with Pension Wise online.
(.LUSTRATIONS: GETTY
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY
‘I have life insurance to help look after my children if
something were to happen and income protection
if I couldn’t work for a while. Because my family
medical history isn’t brilliant, I also have critical
illness cover and medical insurance.’
How to do it: If you have people who
depend on your income to cover the
mortgage or living expenses, then
life insurance makes sense.
Compare policies at
MoneySuperMarket.
for women, AYESHA OFORI is passionate about
encouraging women to invest and close the
£599bn gender investment gap in the UK.
START SMALL
‘One of the big misconceptions around investing is that
it’s only for people with a lot of money. The reality is,
you can start investing with a small amount and build
from there. So my advice to anyone would be to take
action and just start! Even if it’s with £1. Once you start,
it helps break some of the psychological barriers.’
Find lots of advice on how to get started
with investing on our website (goodhousekeeping.com/
uk/financially-fabulous). Investment firms including
Hargreaves Lansdown, Interactive Investor and Plum
also have plenty of tips and tricks to help get you
started on their sites.
SET GOALS
‘These can be budgeting goals, savings goals or
investing goals. Over time, and as you hit certain
markers, you’ll need to review
and adjust them as they will
naturally change.’
Need help setting
goals? MoneyHelper has a
useful tool, Money Midlife
MOT, which produces a
personalised report with
suggested priorities. □
Good Housekeeping
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THIS MONTH’S CLEVER TIPS, FOODIE NEWS AND COOKERY FAVOURITES
Get ready to enjoy
April’s seasonal
produce, new launches
and best buys from
cookery director
Meike Beck
SPRING SIPPING
Belvoir Farm’s new, no-added-sugar,
pure-fruit cordials make for lovely thirst-
quenchers. With no artificial
additives and three tempting
flavours (Exotic Mango &
Passionfruit, Elderflower & Apple
and Sicilian Lemon & Lime), these
also work well added to cocktails
or bakes. Available at Waitrose
& Partners and Sainsbury’s,
RRP £3.99 for 500ml.
If you’re after a speedy side,
then reach for McCain’s new Baby
Hasselbacks. Pre-sliced, slow baked
and simply seasoned with salt and cracked
black pepper before being frozen, they
take just 20min to cook in a hot oven.
Wonderfully crispy, with a fluffy interior and
not in the least bit greasy
(which homemade
potato hasselbacks can
be). Widely available,
£3.69 for 653g.
BRILLIANT BISCOTTI
Italian brand Crosta & Mollica is rapidly
expanding with great products. Its new
biscotti range includes both
Crunchy and Soft Amaretti
(my favourite, with its
bittersweet flavour), in
individual packages for a
sweet pick-me-up. Available
at Tesco, from £2.95 for 140g.
What’s in season
Elegantly slender purple sprouting broccoli flourishes from February to April,
when the British vegetable patch is at its most forlorn. As with other
cruciferous vegetables, this stalky green is celebrated for its powerful
phytochemical sulforaphane (which reduces toxins and inflammation),
as well as for vitamins C and A, and being a rich source of carotenoids and
iron. Choose stiff stems with dark-green leaves (which are edible) and deep
purple florets. Trim or snap off the woody ends (much like asparagus) and
split any stalks wider than 1cm lengthways. Steam, shallow boil or add to
stir-fries, cooking just until tender; usually 3-6min. Delicious drizzled with
extra virgin olive oil or melted butter and lemon.
WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you’re proud of a GH recipe you’ve made, snap a pic and send
it to us at worthsharing@goodhousekeeping.co.uk, and you might feature in a future issue! □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 123
To celebrate the GHI’s centenary, we’ve made our annual food awards bigger and
better than ever. With more than 20 hotly contested categories, including
reader-voted favourites and our experts’ ‘Best in Test’, the results are in...
Good Food Awards
READER FAVOURITES
We asked our consumer panel to vote on everything from their condiment of choice
(ketchup or mayo?) and the chocolate brand they can’t live without to their go-to ready
meals and favourite coffee shops. So, who came out on top?
Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
BEST STORECUPBOARD
BRAND
Heinz
When in doubt, you reach for Heinz.
Whether it’s classic beans on toast,
a warming bowl of tomato soup or
that perfect dollop of ketchup on
your burger, this nostalgic brand
remains a firm favourite.
RUNNER-UP: Hellmann’s
BEST READY-MEAL RANGE
Marks & Spencer Gastropub
This hugely popular range aims to
replicate our favourite comforting pub
meals - and arguably does a better
job than some locals. Highlights include
the fish pie, triple-cooked chips and
classic sticky toffee pudding.
RUNNER-UP: Charlie Bigham’s
BEST COFFEE SHOP
Costa Coffee
From elevenses to the 3pm pick-me-up,
Costa is your preferred spot for a cuppa.
The tempting range of cakes and
traybakes may have something
to do with it, too!
RUNNER-UP: Caffe Nero
IThlmannT
BEST CONDIMENT	[:
Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise
When you’re feeling saucy, you
reach for Hellmann’s. Spread it on your
favourite sandwich, drizzle it over
roasted sweet potato or spike it with
some chipotle powder for a spicy dip.
RUNNER-UP: Heinz Tomato Ketchup
BEST CHOCOLATE BRAND
Cadbury
Still your chocolate brand of choice*
(it took the crown in 2023, too),
Cadbury continues to innovate,
launching the Dairy Milk Salted Caramel
and Creme Egg bars this year, which join
old favourites such as Double Decker
and Crunchie. Now, if we could just bring
back Cadbury Snowflakes...
RUNNER-UP: Lindt
BEST BREAD BRAND
Warburtons
This family-owned baking
firm is your top pick for
WarburtonS
everything from crumpets and teacakes
to bagels and toaster naans. Well, if it’s
good enough for George Clooney and
Samuel L Jackson...
RUNNER-UP: Hovis
BEST SANDWICH RETAILER
Marks & Spencer
Whether you love a BLT, prawn mayo
or cheese and onion - or if wraps, salad
and sushi are more your thing - Marks
& Spencer is your one-stop shop for
lunchtimes aldesko and picnics alfresco.
RUNNER-UP: Pret A Manger
BEST TODDLER AND
BABY FOOD BRAND
Ella’s Kitchen
Organic baby and toddler food
brand Ella’s Kitchen** is loved by
parents for its colourful pouches,
featuring a rainbow of healthy fruit
and veggies in all shapes and sizes.
RUNNER-UP: Organix
BEST ORGANIC
GROCERY BRAND
Yeo Valley Organic
All of Yeo Valley Organic’s
products, including yogurt, milk,
cheese and ice cream, are made
on its idyllic Somerset farm using
organic ingredients.
RUNNER-UP: Waitrose & Partners
Duchy Organic
BEST ONLINE
GROCERY RETAILER
Tesco
Convenience and a vast range of
brands and products saw Tesco
bring home the win for best online
grocer for the second year running.
RUNNER-UP: Sainsbury’s
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 125
BEST TAKEAWAY SERVICE
Just Eat
Although 80% of you don’t use delivery
services, Just Eat is the top choice for
those who like a night off from cooking.
Featuring a mix of local restaurants
and big brands such as Pizza Express,
Carluccio’s and Wagamama, it takes
the hassle out of ordering in.
RUNNER-UP: Deliveroo
BEST SPECIAL-OCCASION
MEAL BRAND
Marks & Spencer
‘Our Best Ever’ is quite a claim, but
Marks & Spencer delivers with this
premium range, which you rated top
for a special occasion. Highlights
include fish cakes with a melting
cheese middle and lasagne with beef
and twice-smoked pancetta ragu.
With its Gastropub meals also
scoring highly, it’s the place
to go for a fancy night in.
RUNNER-UP: Waitrose
& Partners
OUR
BEST
EVER
TRIFLE
BEST DESSERT
RETAILER
Marks & Spencer
While you’re picking up
your main, why not stop off in
the Marks & Spencer dessert aisle
for your next course, too? You said
you’re big fans of its delicious classic
puddings, including sherry trifle,
bramley apple crumble and lemon tart.
RUNNER-UP: Waitrose & Partners
BEST SNACK BRAND
Walkers
Crisps are clearly GH readers’
snack of choice, with Walkers and
Tyrrells beating the well-known
biscuit, nut and cheesy snack
brands in our reader panel vote.
RUNNER-UP: Tyrrells
RfADT
SALTED
BEST FREE-FROM BRAND
Alpro
For those with special dietary
requirements, Alpro proved
the most popular choice,
thanks to its range of
alpro
plant-based milk alternatives,
yogurts and desserts tailored
to dairy-free, gluten-free
and lactose-free diets.
RUNNER-UP: Doves Farm
| BEST IN TEST
E New for this year are our ‘Best in Test’ winners - the creme de la creme of
E supermarkets, products and independent retailers. To judge these, we went back
E through every taste test conducted at the Good Housekeeping Institute over the
E past year (all 223 of them!), totting up scores to crown our worthy supermarket
E and brand winners and hailing our top-scoring products overall.
= llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllll
E BEST SUPERMARKET
E Marks & Spencer
E Taking first place in no fewer
E than 16 categories across the year,
E Marks & Spencer shone when it
E came to picnic and barbecue
E foods, premium storecupboard
E essentials and innovative new
E launches, including its delicious,
= low-alcohol 0.5% Fresh & Bubbly
E fizz. Cheers!
= RUNNER-UP: Waitrose & Partners
BEST SUPERMARKET
WINE RANGE
Lidl
With the highest average score across
80 supermarket wine tests, Lidl is the
place to go for interesting, well-priced
bottles. Our panel of wine experts
particularly enjoyed its Azinhaga de
Ouro Portuguese Red DOC Douro
Reserva, a fruit-forward, full-bodied
and easy-drinking red for £6.99.
RUNNER-UP: Marks & Spencer
126 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Good Food Awards
BEST SPECIALIST
WINE RETAILER
Laithwaites
Coming top in multiple
categories, including best
wedding wine and best wine
delivery box, is family-owned
seller Laithwaites. Pick up a
bottle of its fruity Split Rock
Sauvignon Blanc 2022 for £14.99
or hearty Collezione Di Paolo
Chianti Riserva 2019 for £16.99
BEST MEAL PLAN BOX
Lions Prep
From £35.50 a week for the three-day
meal plan, this gourmet service focuses
on freshness and nutrition, with a
choice of dishes delivered up to twice
a week. The menu changes fortnightly,
but the lamb rendang was a real
standout choice.
RUNNER-UP: Planty
BEST MEAT BOX
BEST MIXER
Belvoir Farm Non-Alcoholic Lime
and you won’t be disappointed.
RUNNER-UP: Slurp
BEST FRUIT AND VEG BOX
Daylesford Organic Market
Garden Vegetable Box
At £15 for five organic vegetable
or salad items, Daylesford Organic’s
veggie box impressed us with
its wide range of fresh, seasonal
British produce, all grown on its
organic Cotswolds farm. Celebrating
more unusual ingredients - from
chard to celeriac - it’s a great option
for confident cooks.
RUNNER-UP: Abel & Cole Small
Fruit & Veg Box, Organic
WORDS: ALISON LYNCH. TESTING: CALLUM BLACK, JO JO ANASTASIOU
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY, YAROSLAV DANYLCHENKO/STOCKSY UNITED
BEST RECIPE BOX
Gousto
From £25.99 for two recipes for
two people. Time-strapped cooks
will love the simple, seasonal recipes
from the pros at Gousto - including
the char siu-style pork bao buns
with mooli slaw and loaded fries,
described as a ‘flavour bomb’
by our panel. The slick app and
reliable delivery also won our
experts over.
RUNNER-UP: HelioFresh
Tom Hixson of Smithfield The BBQ
Meat Box £145 for 1 x Miguel
Vergara Aberdeen Angus Brisket,
1 x Wexford Valley Jumbo Short Ribs
and 1 x USDA St Louis Ribs
This premium Smithfield butcher
offers a wide range of high-quality
meat boxes, and The BBQ Meat Box
is perfect for a big get-together
- it has two types of ribs for smoking
and a beef brisket that will feed
up to 46 people!
RUNNER-UP: The House of Bruar
Celebration Of Beef Hamper £99.95
BEST NO/LOW
ALCOHOL SPIRIT
Talonmore Non-Alcoholic
Spirit £25 for 70cl
With bags of root ginger
and cinnamon, along with
malty, earthy notes from
Assam tea, this sweet and
spicy drink was popular
in our blind tests. Add
tonic to mellow out
the bold flavours.
RUNNER-UP: Sentia Red
£29.50 for 50cl
BEST SPIRIT
That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Single Malt 16 Year Old Irish Whiskey
I
£99.95 for 50cl
This is an excellent Irish
whiskey for sipping or gifting.
Blending maple syrup and
brown sugar sweetness with
caramelised orange notes
and a woody smokiness,
it was our experts’
highest-scoring spirit
of the year.
RUNNER-UP: Adriatico
Amaretto Bianco,
£31.25 for 70cl
& Yuzu Mojito £3.25 for 75cl
This sparkling cordial combines sharp
lime with fragrant yuzu
and a hit of mint. Drink
by itself as an alternative
to the classic mojito
cocktail, or mix with
white rum, tequila or
gin for a delicious
summery punch,
whatever the weather.
JOINT RUNNERS-UP:
Karma Drinks Gingerella
Ginger Ale £1.80 for300ml\
The Artisan Drinks Co.
Pink Citrus Tonic £4.90
for 6 x 200m! cans
BEST TONIC
Double Dutch Indian Tonic Water
£3.50 for 6 x 150ml cans
This scored top marks for its complex
flavour profile with notes of orange
and cinnamon, plus a touch of heat
from ginger. When mixed with gin,
the herbaceous notes shine.
RUNNER-UP: Schweppes Signature
Collection Crisp Tonic Water
79p for200ml
For more details on the awards,
visit goodhousekeeping.com/uk/
food-awards □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 127

Triple-Tested recipes
Menu for 8
Mint Julep
Pea and Mint Fritters
Mint Julep
A punchy bourbon-based cocktail that’s the signature tipple of the
Kentucky Derby. Don’t be tempted to use ice cubes here - you need
as much ice surface area as possible to chill and slowly dilute the drink.
Cream of Asparagus Soup
with Bread Twists
Caramelised Onion and Goat’s
Cheese Tatin (vegetarian)
Fruity Rolled Lamb Shoulder
with Onion Gravy and
Boulangere Potatoes
Frangipane Simnel Tart
Green Chickpeas
Roasted Baby Carrots with
Chilli, Radish and Olive Salsa
Hands-on time lOmin, plus cooling.
Cooking time about 5min.
Makes 8
•	75g caster sugar
•	Large handful mint sprigs,
leaves picked
•	5OOml bourbon whiskey
TO SERVE
•	Crushed ice, see intro
•	8 mint sprigs
1 For the sugar syrup, in a small pan,
gently heat the sugar and 75ml water,
stirring until the sugar dissolves. Increase
heat, bring to the boil and bubble for
Imin. Remove from heat; cool completely.
2 To serve, put the mint leaves in
a large jug. Add the bourbon and,
using the end of a rolling pin, gently
crush the mint leaves to muddle and
release the flavour. Pour in 125ml of the
sugar syrup and mix to combine. Taste
and add remaining sugar syrup, if you like.
Pea and Mint Fritters
We’ve used petits pois here as they’re smaller, more tender and
have a lovely flavour. But you can use garden peas, if you prefer.
Hands-on time 25min, plus cooling.
Cooking time about 18min.
Makes about 24
•	175g frozen petits pois, see intro
•	1 spring onion, finely chopped
•	2tbsp finely chopped fresh mint
•	25g plain flour
•	1 medium egg
•	Itbsp olive oil
TO SERVE
•	2-3tbsp creme fraiche
•	Chilli jam, optional
•	Smoked salmon trimmings, optional
1 Measure the petits pois into a medium
heatproof bowl and cover with just-boiled
water. Leave for Imin, then drain
thoroughly. Return to the dried empty
bowl and crush well with a fork or
potato masher. Stir in the spring onion,
mint, flour, egg and plenty of seasoning.
3 Fill 8 small mint julep cups (see
GH TIP) with crushed ice. Strain in
the cocktail and garnish each cup
with a mint sprig. Serve.
PER COCKTAIL 176cals, Og protein,
Og fat (Og saturates), 9g carbs
(9g total sugars), Og fibre
GET AHEAD Make the sugar syrup
up to a week ahead. Cool, cover
and chill. Complete recipe to serve.
г GH TIP
This cocktail is traditionally
served in stainless steel,
copper, silver or pewter julep
cups. The metal helps keep
the drink cooler for longer,
mitigating hand heat.
But you can use
к a tumbler instead. A
2 Heat a little oil in a large non-stick
frying pan over medium heat. Working
in batches, add heaped teaspoonfuls of
the pea mixture, flattening and spacing
slightly apart. Fry for 2-3min per side,
or until lightly golden and firm. Transfer
to a board and continue oiling and
frying remaining mixture to make
about 24 fritters.
3 To serve, pipe or spoon a little creme
fraiche on to the just-warm or room-
temperature fritters. Top each with
a little chilli jam or smoked salmon,
if using, and some freshly ground
black pepper. Serve.
PER CANAPE (with chilli jam) 25cals,
1g protein, 1g fat (0.5g saturates),
2g carbs (1g total sugars), 0.5g fibre
GET AHEAD Cook fritters up to 2hr
ahead. Once cool, loosely cover and
keep at room temperature. Complete
recipe up to 30min ahead.
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 129
Cream of Asparagus Soup with Bread Twists
A simple spring soup that’s the perfect start to a celebratory meal.
For a lighter starter, you can serve it without the bread twists.
7 To serve, reheat soup until piping
hot. Ladle into 8 bowls and swirl
through the creme fraiche mixture.
Garnish with any reserved asparagus
Hands-on time 40min, plus
rising and cooling. Cooking
time about 20min. Serves 8
FOR THE BREAD TWISTS
•	350g strong white flour, plus
extra to dust
•	7g sachet fast-action dried yeast
•	250ml whole milk, plus !6tbsp
to brush
•	Olive oil, to grease
•	!6tbsp white sesame seeds
FOR THE SOUP
•	2tbsp olive oil
•	4 spring onions, roughly chopped
•	2tbsp plain flour
•	1 litre vegetable stock
•	800g asparagus, trimmed
and roughly chopped
•	200g creme fraiche
•	Finely grated zest 1 lemon
•	Small handful dill, roughly
chopped, optional
1 For the bread twists, in the bowl of a
freestanding mixer fitted with a dough
hook, mix the flour, yeast and l^tsp fine
salt until combined. Alternatively, mix in
a large bowl with a wooden spoon. Add
the 250ml milk and mix to make a soft
dough. Knead on medium speed for
5min, or tip on to a work surface and
knead by hand for lOmin, until dough is
smooth and elastic. Return to bowl, if
needed, cover and leave to rise in a warm
place for Ihr, or until doubled in size.
2 Line a large baking sheet with baking
parchment. Scrape the dough on to a
lightly floured work surface. Knead a few
times, then divide into 8 equal pieces
(weigh for best results). Roll each piece
into a rough 30.5cm long sausage.
Working 1 at a time, bend the length
in У2 lengthways and twist the parallel
halves together a few times. Repeat
to make 7 more twists.
3 Arrange on the lined sheet, spacing
apart. Cover with greased clingfilm
(oil-side down) and leave to rise again
for 20min, or until noticeably puffed.
4 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan)
mark 6. Brush the twists with milk and
sprinkle over the sesame seeds. Bake
for 15-18min, or until golden. Set aside.
5 Meanwhile, make the soup. Heat the
oil in a large pan over medium heat and
cook the spring onions for 5min, until
starting to soften. Stir in the flour and
cook for Imin. Gradually mix in the stock
(don’t worry if there are some lumps)
and bring to the boil, stirring.
6 Add the asparagus and simmer for
5min, until just tender. If you like, using
a slotted spoon, lift out 16 asparagus
tips and set aside for garnish. Blend
remaining soup until smooth. Return to
the pan and stir in 100g creme fraiche,
/2 the lemon zest and plenty of seasoning.
In a small bowl mix remaining creme
fraiche, lemon zest and some seasoning.
spears and dill, if using, and some
freshly ground black pepper.
PER SERVING 358cals, 11g protein,
16g fat (8g saturates), 40g carbs
(4g total sugars), 4g fibre
GET AHEAD Make bread twists and
soup up to a day ahead. Once cool,
store bread in an airtight container at
room temperature. Cover and chill soup
(don’t reserve any spears for garnish).
To serve, reheat soup gently in a pan
until piping hot. Serve bread at room
temperature or reheat in an oven
preheated to 180°C (160°C fan)
mark 4 for lOmin to warm through.
130 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Triple-Tested recipes
Caramelised Onion
and Goat’s Cheese Tatin
A winning combination of sweet
onions and tangy cheese, jazzed
up with a herby sauce. This
centrepiece is sure to wow!
Hands-on time 25min, plus cooling.
Cooking time about 55min. Serves 8
•	25g butter
•	Itbsp thyme or lemon thyme leaves
•	5-6 small red onions, each cut into
3 slices, see GH TIP
•	3tbsp red wine vinegar
•	150g goat’s cheese log
•	320g ready-rolled puff pastry,
we used Jus-Rol
•	1 medium egg yolk, beaten
FOR THE SAUCE
•	Small handful parsley
•	25g pistachio kernels
•	2tbsp extra virgin olive oil
•	Itbsp red wine vinegar
1 Melt the butter in a rough 25cm (at the
top) ovenproof frying pan over medium
heat. Add the thyme and cook for Imin,
until fragrant. Reduce heat to low and
carefully arrange the onion slices (using
tongs, if needed) to neatly cover the
base of the pan. Cook gently for
20min, or until softened.
2 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan)
mark 4. Add the vinegar and bubble
for 2min, until slightly reduced and
caramelised. Set pan aside to cool
for 5min.
3 Cut the goat’s cheese into 1cm thick
rounds and arrange on top of the
onions. Unroll the pastry and cut to a
rough circle the same size as the top of
the pan (rolling out pastry a little more
first, if needed). Lay over the filling and
tuck the edges down slightly into the
pan. Brush the pastry with egg yolk.
Cook in the oven for 25-30min, or until
puffed and golden.
4 Meanwhile, make the sauce. In the
small bowl of a food processor, pulse
all the ingredients with Itbsp water
and some seasoning to a chunky
consistency. Alternatively, finely chop
the herbs and nuts by hand and mix
in a small bowl with the oil, vinegar,
Itbsp water and some seasoning.
5 Carefully remove the pan from the
oven and wrap the handle with an oven
glove or tea towel (to remind you it’s
hot!). Leave to cool for 5min before
inverting on to a serving plate or board.
Spoon over the sauce (or serve
alongside) and serve.
PER SERVING 300cals, 8g protein,
22g fat (11g saturates), 17g carbs
(4g total sugars), 2g fibre
GET AHEAD Prepare to end of step 2
up to 3hr ahead. Cool, cover and set
aside at room temperature. Complete
recipe to serve.
1
GH TIP
If your onions are
larger, then peel off
the outer rings when
sliced to make them fit
neatly in the pan.
F
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 131
Triple-Tested recipes *
Fruity Rolled Lamb Shoulder with Onion
Gravy and Boulangere Potatoes
Lamb pairs well with fruity flavours, and this stuffing is full of them. Ask the
butcher for a rough 2.5kg whole shoulder, deboned for stuffing and rolling.
Hands-on time 45min, plus resting.
Cooking time about 3hr. Serves 8
•	2kg rolled boneless shoulder
of lamb, see intro
FOR THE STUFFING
•	2tbsp pine nuts
•	Itbsp olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
•	3 large onions (about 500g total),
finely sliced
•	1 small tart eating apple, coarsely grated
•	50g soft dried figs, roughly chopped
•	50g soft dried pear or apple,
roughly chopped
•	50g raisins
•	40g fresh or dried breadcrumbs
•	Finely grated zest 1 orange
•	Itsp ground cinnamon
•	1 medium egg, beaten
FOR THE POTATOES
•	25g butter, plus extra to grease
•	1.5kg floury potatoes
•	2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
•	1 litre hot vegetable stock
FOR THE GRAVY
•	200ml red wine
•	2tbsp cornflour
•	400ml vegetable stock
1 For the stuffing, toast the pine nuts in
a large, dry frying pan over low-medium
heat until golden. Empty into a medium
bowl. Add oil to the pan and fry onions and
a pinch of salt, stirring occasionally, for
20min, or until softened and deep golden.
Spoon 1/з of the onions into pine nut bowl
and set remaining onions aside in pan.
2 Mix remaining stuffing ingredients and
plenty of seasoning into the pine nut
bowl. Untie the lamb (if needed) and
unroll on a board, skin-side down. Spread
over the stuffing, leaving a slight border
around the edges. Roll up the meat from
a short edge, tucking the ends in to hold
in the stuffing. Secure along the length
with kitchen string tied at 3cm intervals.
3 Drizzle a little oil over the lamb and rub all
over, then season well. Weigh the stuffed
lamb and calculate cooking time, allowing
25min per 500g, plus 25min for medium-
well (cook for shorter/longer, if you prefer,
but shoulder is best served not too pink).
4 For the potatoes, thoroughly butter
a large, shallow roasting tin or ovenproof
132 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
serving dish (see GH TIPS). Peel and slice
potatoes into 3mm thick rounds (a
mandoline or food processor slicer is ideal).
5 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4.
Arrange a layer of potatoes in the base of
the greased tin/dish and dot over a little
of the butter, then scatter over some garlic
and seasoning. Continue layering
potatoes, butter, garlic and seasoning
(it can take a fair amount), finishing
with a fairly neat layer of potatoes.
6 Pour in the hot stock so it comes almost
to the top of the potatoes (you may not
need it all, or might need some extra). Sit
a sturdy metal rack (see GH TIPS) on top
of the potato tin/dish and place the lamb
on top. Cook the potatoes/lamb for the
calculated cooking time, or until the lamb
is cooked to your liking and the potatoes
are golden and tender.
7 Meanwhile, make the gravy. Return the
onion pan to medium heat and stir in
the red wine. Bring to the boil and bubble
for 5min. In a small bowl or cup, mix the
cornflour and a little cold water to a
smooth paste. Add the stock to the pan,
then stir in the cornflour mixture. Bring to
the boil, stirring frequently, until thickened.
Check seasoning. Set aside until needed.
8 Remove lamb to a board. Cover both
lamb and potatoes with foil and leave to
rest in a warm place for 20min. If there’s
still too much liquid in the potato tin/dish,
carefully pour it off and return to the oven
for 10-15min to dry out.
9 Add any lamb resting juices to the
gravy, if you like. Reheat gravy until piping
hot and serve with the lamb and potatoes.
PER SERVING (lamb and gravy only)
577cals, 54g protein, 26g fat
(10g saturates), 24g carbs
(16g total sugars), 3g fibre
PER SERVING (boulangere cooked
under lamb only) 233cals, 4g protein,
7g fat (4g saturates), 35g carbs
(2g total sugars), 4g fibre
GET AHEAD Prepare lamb to end of
step 2 up to a day ahead. Wrap well and
chill. Cover and chill remaining onions.
Prepare potatoes to end of step 5 up to
3hr ahead. Cover and set aside at room
temperature. To serve, unwrap lamb and
allow to come to room temperature for
30min before completing recipe.
GH TIPS
• The potato tin/dish needs
to be large enough to fit the
lamb without overhang and
should not be too deep or the
stock won’t evaporate enough.
• If you don’t have a rack big
enough for the lamb, cook it on
a (clean) oven shelf instead,
set directly above the
potato tin/dish.
Feeding veggies?
Cooking the lamb over the
potatoes means all the juices
flavour the boulangere, but if you
want a veggie potato side, then
dot 25g more butter on top of the
potatoes and cook in the bottom
of the oven, with the lamb in
a separate shallow roasting tin.

Triple-Tested recipes
Green Chickpeas
This bright chickpea dish looks as delicious as it tastes. A simple,
fresh side to compliment any roast, or top with some of your
favourite cheese and serve with crusty bread to make it a main.
Hands-on time lOmin.
Cooking time about 5min.
Serves 8
•	2 x 400g tins chickpeas, see GH TIP
•	125g baby spinach
•	Juice 1 lemon
•	1 garlic clove, crushed
•	Itbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Drain the chickpeas, reserving 75ml
liquid. In a high-speed blender, whizz
the spinach, lemon juice, garlic, oil,
reserved liquid and plenty of seasoning
until very smooth.
2 Empty into a medium pan and heat
gently, stirring frequently, until piping
hot. Stir in chickpeas and heat through.
Empty into a serving bowl and serve.
Roasted Baby Carrots with Chilli, Radish
and Olive Salsa
Don’t let the simplicity of this side fool you - it’s still packed full of
flavour. The salsa is spooned over at room temperature, but if you
prefer it warm, add it to the fully roasted carrot tin and return to
the oven for 5min.
Hands-on time 25min.
Cooking time about 35min.
Serves 8
•	600g baby carrots, peeled
and trimmed
•	Itbsp olive oil
FOR THE SALSA
•	1 red chilli, deseeded and
finely chopped
•	50g pitted green olives,
chopped
•	125g radishes, trimmed
and finely chopped
•	Juice !6 lemon
•	Itbsp olive oil
•	Small handful parsley,
roughly chopped
PER SERVING 95cals, 5g protein,
3g fat (0.4g saturates), 10g carbs
(0.2g total sugars), 4g fibre
GET AHEAD Prepare to end of
step 1 up to a day ahead. Stir in the
chickpeas, then cover and chill.
Complete recipe to serve.

1
GH TIP
If you want to use jarred
chickpeas (they often
have a juicier texture),
then go for a 700g jar
and top up the strained
liquid, if needed,
к with water. A
1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan)
mark 4. In a medium roasting tin,
toss the carrots, Itbsp oil and plenty
of seasoning. Roast for 35min,
until tender.
2 Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the
salsa ingredients with some seasoning.
3 Empty the carrots into a serving
dish and spoon over the salsa
(see intro). Serve.
PER SERVING 65cals, 1g protein,
4g fat (1g saturates), 5g carbs
(4g total sugars), 3g fibre
GET AHEAD Make salsa up to a day
ahead. Cover and chill. Complete
recipe to serve, allowing the salsa
to come to room temperature
while the carrots roast.
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 135
Triple-Tested recipes I
Frangipane Simnel Tart
All the flavours of a classic simnel
cake in an elegant tart. Replace
the tinned apricot halves with
slices of tinned pear, if you prefer.
Hands-on time 30min, plus chilling
and cooling. Cooking time about
Ihr 5min. Serves 10
FOR THE PASTRY
•	200g plain flour, plus extra to dust
•	40g icing sugar, plus extra to dust
•	100g unsalted butter, chilled
and cubed
•	Finely grated zest 16 orange
•	1 medium egg
FOR THE FRANGIPANE
•	150g unsalted butter, softened
•	175g light brown soft sugar
•	116 tsp mixed spice
•	3 medium eggs
*	175g ground almonds
•	25g plain flour
•	100g dried mixed fruit
•	100g golden or natural marzipan,
finely chopped
TO FINISH
•	11 tinned apricot halves, drained
•	10g flaked almonds
1	For the pastry, in a food processor
pulse the flour, icing sugar and a
pinch of fine salt until combined.
Alternatively sift the flour, icing sugar
and salt into a medium bowl. Add
the butter and pulse/rub in with your
fingertips until the mixture resembles
fine breadcrumbs.
2	Pulse/mix in the orange zest. Add
the egg and pulse/mix until the pastry
starts to clump together. Tip on to a
work surface, shape into a disc, wrap
and chill for 30min to firm up.
3	Lightly flour a work surface and roll
out pastry. Use to line a 23cm round,
4cm deep, loose-bottomed fluted tart
tin, leaving excess pastry hanging over
the sides. Prick base all over with a fork
and chill again for 20min.
4	Preheat oven to 190°C (170°C fan)
mark 5 and place tin on a baking sheet.
Trim pastry overhang to neaten. Line
pastry with a large sheet of baking
parchment and fill with baking beans.
Bake for 18min, or until the pastry sides
are set. Carefully remove the parchment
and baking beans. Return tin to the oven
for 10min, or until the pastry is light
golden and feels sandy to the touch
(don’t worry if it has shrunk slightly).
Set aside. Reduce oven to 180°C
(160°C fan) mark 4.
5	Meanwhile, make the frangipane.
In a large bowl, using a handheld electric
whisk, beat the butter, sugar and mixed
spice until light and fluffy. Beat in
the eggs 1 at a time. Add the ground
almonds, flour, dried fruit and
chopped marzipan and fold in
using a large metal spoon.
6	Scrape frangipane into the pastry case
(still in tin) and smooth to level. Top with
the apricots in a circle around the edge
(cut-side down). Scatter over the flaked
almonds and bake for 35min, or until
golden and set. Leave to cool in tin
for lOmin, then transfer to a wire rack.
7 Lightly dust with icing sugar
and serve just warm or at room
temperature with creme fraiche,
if you like.
PER SERVING 534cals, 11g protein,
32g fat (13g saturates), 49g carbs
(36g total sugars), 2g fibre
GET AHEAD Bake pastry case up to
a day ahead. Once cool, store (still in
tin) at room temperature in an airtight
container or well wrapped. Complete
recipe to serve.
TO STORE Once cool, keep in an
airtight container at room temperature
for up to 3 days. □
136 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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COUNTRY LIVING KITCHENS
EB
That
some oil here and there) to make these tasty
midweek meals. In fact, our Triple-Tested recipes
are so easy, supper will almost make itself!
Photography GARETH MORGANS
Triple-Tested recipes
Baked Goat’s Cheese and Mushroom Risotto
Creamy and comforting, this simple, one-pot dish is a perfect midweek staple.
Hands-on time 20min. Cooking time
about 40min. Serves 4
•	150g baby chestnut mushrooms,
halved
•	300g risotto rice
•	1 litre strong vegetable stock
•	150g soft goat’s cheese,
we used La Buchette, see GH TIP
•	100g rocket, see GH TIP
YOU WILL ALSO NEED
•	Itbsp olive oil
1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan)
mark 6. Heat the oil in a medium
casserole dish or ovenproof pan over
high heat and fry the mushrooms
for lOmin, until golden and most
of the moisture has evaporated.
Stir in the rice, followed by the stock
and plenty of seasoning. Bring to
the boil, then remove from the heat.
2 Crumble in 2/з of the goat’s cheese
(don’t worry if it sinks) and cook
(uncovered) in the oven for 25min,
or until the rice is tender and has
absorbed most of the stock. Don’t
worry if it still looks a little wet at
this stage.
3 Add the rocket and stir until wilted
(the stirring will help thicken up the
risotto, if needed). Check seasoning
and crumble over the remaining goat’s
cheese. Serve.
:RVIN 438cals, 15g protein,
14g fat (7g saturates), 61g carbs
(1g total sugars), 2g fibre
Cheat’s Curried Fish
Dahl Traybake
Swap the cod for haddock
or salmon fillets, and the curry
paste for a spicier variety,
if you prefer.
Hands-on time 20min. Cooking time
about 55min. Serves 4
•	372tbsp medium curry paste,
we used Patak’s
•	175g natural yogurt
•	4 skinless cod fillets
(about 125g each)
•	25g coriander (stalks and leaves)
•	250g red split lentils, well rinsed
YOU WILL ALSO NEED
•	2tbsp olive oil
1	Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan)
mark 6. Pour the oil into a medium
roasting tin and put into the oven
to preheat for lOmin.
2	In a large bowl, mix Itbsp curry
paste with 100g yogurt and plenty
of seasoning. Add fish and turn
gently to coat. Cover and chill
until needed.
3	Reserve a few coriander leaves
for garnish and roughly chop the
remaining leaves and stalks. Carefully
remove the roasting tin from the oven
and carefully stir in the lentils, 2tbsp
curry paste, the chopped coriander
and plenty of seasoning. Pour in
700ml just-boiled water from a kettle
and return to the oven for 25-30min,
or until the lentils are nearly tender
and have absorbed most of the liquid.
4	Carefully remove roasting tin
from the oven and lay on the fish
fillets. Return to the oven for 12-15min,
or until the fish is cooked through.
5	In a bowl, mix remaining 75g yogurt
and plenty of seasoning. Swirl though
remaining Vitbsp curry paste. Spoon
yogurt mixture on to the fish and
lentils (or serve alongside) and
scatter over the remaining coriander
leaves. Serve.
PER SERVING 412cals, 39g protein,
11g fat (3g saturates), 38g carbs
(6g total sugars), 4g fibre
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 139
Triple-Tested recipes
Crispy Rice Bowl
with Greens
Ponzu is a citrus-infused soy sauce
that adds lots of flavour, effortlessly.
Crisping the rice in the oven adds
great texture. Use pickled ginger
instead of the kimchi, if you like.
Hands-on time 25min, plus cooling and
chilling. Cooking time about 55min. Serves 4
•	300g sushi rice
•	4tbsp ponzu, see intro
•	300g mixed green vegetables,
we used broccoli and sugar snap peas,
sliced into rough 3cm pieces
•	4 medium eggs
•	4tbsp kimchi, see intro
YOU WILL ALSO NEED
•	3tbsp olive or vegetable oil
1	Line a medium baking tray with baking
parchment and brush with Itbsp oil. Briefly
rinse the sushi rice in a sieve under cold
running water, drain well and tip into a
medium pan (that has a lid). Cover with cold
water until it comes 1cm above the rice.
Bring to the boil over medium-high heat,
stirring occasionally, then reduce to a
simmer. Cover and cook for 8min, or until
the rice is tender. Remove from heat and set
aside, covered, for 5min.
2	Add 2tbsp ponzu and some seasoning to
the rice and mix to combine. Tip on to the
lined tray and smooth into an even, Icm-thick
layer. Cool, then chill for Ihr, until just firm.
3	Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan) mark 7.
Brush the top of the rice with Itbsp oil and
cook in the oven for 40min, or until crisp and
golden at the edges.
4	Just before the rice is due to be ready,
heat l^tbsp oil in a large non-stick frying pan
(that ideally has a lid) over high heat. Add
the mixed green vegetables and stir-fry for
3-5min, until just tender. Mix in remaining
2tbsp ponzu. Tip into a bowl, cover with foil
to keep warm and set aside.
5	Heat remaining Yztbsp oil in the frying pan,
crack in the eggs, cover with the lid (if you
have one) and cook for 4-6min, or until the
whites are set and the yolks are still runny
(or cooked to your liking).
Roughly chop the crispy rice and divide
between 4 bowls. Add the vegetables and
top with the fried eggs and a spoonful of
kimchi. Serve.
PER SERVING 470cals, 17g protein,
15g fat (3g saturates), 71g carbs
(9g total sugars), 3g fibre
140 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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One Pot Lemon Chicken and Orzo
This dish couldn’t be simpler yet still packs a flavour punch. Buy the best quality
chicken you can afford for the optimum taste and texture.
Hands-on time 20min. Cooking time
about 50min. Serves 4
•	8 skin-on chicken thighs
(about 8OOg-1kg), see intro
•	2 leeks, finely sliced
•	300g orzo pasta
•	700ml hot chicken stock
•	Finely grated zest and juice 1 lemon
YOU WILL ALSO NEED
•	Itbsp olive oil
1	Heat the oil in a large, shallow
casserole dish (that has a lid) over
medium heat. Add the chicken thighs
and brown all over, in batches if
needed. Remove to a bowl.
2	Add the leeks to the dish and cook
for 8-10min, scraping up any sticky
brown goodness from the base of
the dish, or until softened. Stir in the
orzo, stock, lemon zest, juice and
plenty of seasoning.
3	Bring to the boil, stirring to make
sure the orzo isn’t sticking to the base
of the dish. Lay the chicken on top of
the orzo (skin-side up). Cover and
simmer for 20-25min, or until the orzo
is tender and the chicken is cooked
through. Serve with a salad or
seasonal greens, if you like.
PER SERVING 622cals, 58g protein,
16g fat (4g saturates), 58g carbs
(4g total sugars), 7g fibre

Speedy Pickled Radish, Asparagus and Feta Salad
This beautifully colourful, fresh and healthy dish is perfect for spring. Making the dressing
from the pickling liquid reduces food waste and saves on washing up, too!
Hands-on time 20min. Cooking time
about lOmin. Serves 4
•	Finely grated zest and juice 1 lemon
(keep separate)
•	300g radishes, trimmed and
finely sliced
•	350g asparagus spears
•	2 x 250g grain bags, we used
Merchant Gourmet Glorious Grains
with Red Rice & Quinoa
•	200g feta, crumbled
YOU WILL ALSO NEED
• 3tbsp extra virgin olive oil
11n a small bowl, mix the lemon
juice and !6tsp fine salt. Add the
radishes and mix to coat. Leave
to lightly pickle for lOmin.
2 Meanwhile, bring a medium pan
of water to the boil. Snap or slice
off the woody ends of the asparagus
and trim the spears into shorter
lengths. Add to the boiling water and
simmer for 2-3min, or until just tender.
Drain and plunge briefly into a bowl
of ice-cold water. Drain.
3 Strain the radish pickling liquid
into a large serving bowl. Whisk in the
oil, lemon zest and plenty of freshly
ground black pepper. Add the grains,
asparagus, feta and radishes and mix
to coat. Serve.
PER SERVING 439cals, 19g protein,
20g fat (8g saturates), 44g carbs
(5g total sugars), 8g fibre
142 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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Triple-Tested recipes
Spinach and Bacon Quiche
Key to this delicious quiche setting is squeezing all the moisture out of the defrosted spinach.
Hands-on time 20min, plus chilling and
cooling. Cooking time about Ihr 55min
Serves 4
•	320g pack ready-rolled shortcrust
pastry, we used Jus-Rol, see GH TIP
•	125g smoked bacon lardons
•	200g frozen whole leaf spinach,
defrosted, see intro
•	350ml whole milk
•	2 medium eggs
Unroll the pastry and use to line
a 20.5cm round, 3.5cm deep,
loose-bottomed fluted tart tin,
rolling the pastry out a little more
first, if needed. Trim excess pastry
and prick base all over with a fork.
Chill for 20min, to firm up.
2 Heat a small frying pan over medium
heat and fry the bacon for 5-10min,
stirring occasionally, until starting to
crisp up. Using a slotted spoon, remove
to plate lined with baking parchment.
Lift up handfuls of the defrosted spinach
and squeeze firmly over the sink to
remove all excess moisture. Set aside.
3 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan)
mark 6. Line pastry with a large sheet
of baking parchment and fill with baking
beans. Cook for 25min, or until the
pastry sides are set. Carefully remove
the parchment and baking beans and
return tin to the oven for lOmin, or until
the pastry base feels sandy. Remove
from oven.
4 Reduce oven to 160°C (140°C fan)
mark 3. In a large jug, whisk the milk,
eggs and plenty of seasoning. Scatter У2
each of the lardons and spinach into the
pastry case (still in tin). Pour in the egg
mixture, then scatter over the remaining
lardons and spinach.
5 Cook for Ihr-lhr lOmin or until the
filling is set. Allow to cool slightly in the
tin before transferring to a serving plate
or board. Serve warm or at room
temperature in slices.
410cals, 11g protein,
29g fat (11g saturates), 23g carbs
(5g total sugars), 3g fibre □
RECIPES AND TESTING: ALICE SHIELDS. GEORGIE DARCY COLES. FOOD STYLING: EMMA FRANKLIN. GRACE EVANS. PROP STYLING: JENNY IGGLEDEN
1 For the jelly, cover the gelatine with
cold water and leave to soften for 5min.
Meanwhile, line the base and sides of a
Traybake
Photography MIKE ENGLISH
Quick to bake and ideal
if you’re feeding
a crowd, we have the
sweet-treat recipes
everyone will love!
Jaffa Cake Traybake
We’ve transformed this teatime treat into an easy traybake that’s ideal
served at any gathering. Don’t worry, the jelly layer really is achievable!
Hands-on time 40min, plus
chilling, cooling and setting.
Cooking time about 40min.
Serves 16
FOR THE JELLY
•	8 sheets platinum grade leaf gelatine,
we used Dr. Oetker
•	Vegetable oil,
to grease
•	450g orange marmalade, plus Itbsp
extra to brush
FOR THE SPONGE
•	250g unsalted butter, softened, plus
extra to grease
•	250g caster sugar
•	4 large eggs
•	Finely grated zest 1 orange, plus
2tbsp juice (keep separate)
•	250g self-raising flour
FOR THE TOPPING
•	100g milk chocolate, roughly chopped
•	100g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
•	Itsp vegetable oil
rough 20 x 30cm roasting tin with 1 large
piece of clingfilm and lightly grease with
oil, smoothing as much as possible.
2 In a small pan, gently heat the
marmalade, stirring occasionally, until
hot and loose. Remove pan from heat
Lift gelatine and squeeze out excess
water. Stir into the hot marmalade to
dissolve. Pour into lined tin, easing it into
the corners. Chill for 20min, or until set.
3 Using the clingfilm, lift the set jelly (still
on the clingfilm) on to a baking sheet
and chill again until needed.
Grease tin with butter and line
with baking parchment.
4 Preheat oven to 170°C (150°C fan)
mark 3. For the sponge, in a large bowl
using a handheld electric whisk, beat
the butter and sugar until pale and
fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time,
whisking well after each addition.
Beat in the orange zest, then fold
in the flour, followed by the orange
juice, using a large metal spoon.
5 Scrape into the lined tin and smooth
to level. Bake for 30min, or until a
skewer inserted into the centre comes
out clean. Leave to cool in tin for 5min,
then place a wire rack on top of the tin
and invert the cake on to it. Remove
tin, peel off parchment and leave cake
to cool completely on the wire rack.
6 For the topping, melt the milk and
dark chocolates in a heatproof bowl set
over a pan of barely simmering water.
Remove the bowl from the heat and stir
in the oil. Leave to cool until room
temperature, but still liquid.
7 Transfer cake to a board and brush
the top with Itbsp marmalade. Invert the
jelly on to the cake, pressing down
gently to stick. Peel off the clingfilm
and trim edges to neaten, if needed.
Pour on the cooled chocolate and
spread to the edges. Leave until almost
set, but still slightly tacky to touch.
8 Lightly grease a clean wire rack with
oil and press gently on to the chocolate,
rocking it slightly to create a pattern
(see GH TIP). Remove rack and
leave chocolate to set completely
at room temperature. Cut into
16 pieces and serve.
PER SERVING 405cals, 5g protein,
19g fat (11g saturates), 54g carbs
(42g total sugars), 1g fibre
TO STORE Keep in an airtight container
at room temperature for up to 2 days.
GH TIP
We marked our
chocolate layer with
a wire rack to more
closely resemble a Jaffa
Cake, but you can
leave out this step,
if you prefer.
Rhubarb and Custard Meringue Traybake
Full of school-dinner nostalgia, this is delicious served slightly warm
with cold cream, or at room temperature with a cup of milky tea.
Hands-on time 25min. Cooking time
about Ihr 5min Serves 16
FOR THE SPONGE
•	225g butter, softened, plus extra
to grease
•	300g rhubarb
•	2tbsp custard powder, we used Bird’s
•	250g caster sugar
•	250g self-raising flour
•	4 medium eggs
•	Itsp vanilla extract
•	150g fresh chilled vanilla custard
FOR THE MERINGUE TOPPING
•	3 medium egg whites
•	150g caster sugar
•	T/2tsp custard powder
1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan)
mark 4 and grease and line a rough
20 x 30cm roasting tin, at least 4cm
deep, with baking parchment.
2	For the sponge, slice the rhubarb into
rough 2.5cm pieces, about 1.5cm wide;
halve your rhubarb stalks lengthways
first, if they’re wider than 1.5cm. Put into
a bowl and mix in the custard powder
and 25g sugar. Set aside.
3	In a separate large bowl using a
handheld electric whisk, beat the butter,
remaining sugar, flour, eggs, vanilla and
100g fresh chilled custard, until combined.
4	Spoon !4 the batter into the lined
tin and spread to level. Scatter over
У2 the rhubarb mixture. Layer once
more (spooning over any juices from
the rhubarb bowl, if present). Dollop
over the remaining 50g fresh chilled
custard. Bake for 40min, or until
risen and golden.
5	Shortly before the sponge is due to
be ready, make the meringue topping.
In a medium bowl using a handheld
electric whisk, beat the egg whites
until they hold stiff peaks. In a small
bowl, mix the sugar and custard
powder, then gradually beat this
mixture into the whites, whisking
well after each addition. The finished
meringue should be stiff and glossy.
6	Carefully remove the cake from the
oven and quickly spoon or pipe over
the meringue. Return to oven for 25min,
or until the topping is pale golden.
Leave to cool completely in the tin
on a wire rack. Transfer to a board
and cut into 16 pieces. Serve.
PER SERVING 300cals, 5g protein,
14g fat (8g saturates), 40g carbs
(27g total sugars), 1g fibre
TO STORE Once cool, store in an
airtight container at room temperature
for up to a day (the meringue will
soften but will still be delicious).
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 145
Triple-Tested recipes
Peach Melba Traybake
Based on the classic dessert created by French chef Auguste Escoffier,
this fruity cake brings out the best of both the peach and raspberry
flavours. It’s easy to make gluten-free - simply use a suitable
self-raising flour.
Hands-on time 20min, plus cooling.
Cooking time about 50min. Serves 16
FOR THE RASPBERRY COMPOTE
•	150g raspberries, see GH TIP
•	25g caster sugar
FOR THE SPONGE
•	225g unsalted butter, softened, plus
extra to grease
•	225g caster sugar
•	5 medium eggs, beaten
•	175g self-raising flour
•	Itsp vanilla bean paste
•	75g ground almonds
•	3tbsp milk
•	100g raspberries
•	410/42Og tinned peach slices
in juice, drained
•	Icing sugar, to dust
1 For the raspberry compote, in a
medium pan over low-medium heat
cook the raspberries and sugar, stirring
occasionally, until the raspberries are
breaking down. Set aside to cool.
2 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan)
mark 4 and grease and line a rough
20 x 30cm roasting tin with baking
parchment. For the sponge, using a
freestanding mixer or a large bowl and
handheld electric whisk, beat the butter
and sugar until pale and fluffy. Gradually
beat in the eggs. If the mixture looks as
if it might curdle, beat in Itbsp of the
flour. Beat in the vanilla bean paste.
3	Add the (remaining) flour and ground
almonds and fold in using a large metal
spoon. Add and fold in the milk and whole
raspberries. Scrape into the prepared tin
and gently smooth to level. Dollop over
small spoonfuls of the raspberry
compote and marble into the batter
lightly with a cutlery knife or skewer.
4	Arrange the peach slices on top. Bake
for 40min, or until the cake is golden
and springs back when lightly pressed.
Leave to cool completely in the tin.
5	Transfer the cake to a board and
lightly dust with icing sugar. Cut into
16 pieces and serve.
PER SERVING 338cals, 5g protein,
29g fat (16g saturates), 14g carbs
(5g total sugars), 1g fibre
TO STORE Once cool, keep in an
airtight container at room temperature
for up to 2 days.
GH TIP
You can use
frozen raspberries
for the compote,
if you prefer.
146 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Vegan Chocolate Courgette Cake
You’d never know this cake contains courgettes - they can’t be seen
at all when baked, but their presence helps add moisture and binds
the cake (in place of eggs).
Hands-on time 25min, plus cooling. Cooking
time about 30min. Serves 16
FOR THE CAKE
•	150ml vegetable oil, plus extra to grease
•	200g caster sugar
•	75ml unsweetened milk alternative,
we used oat
•	Itsp vanilla extract
•	Itsp white wine vinegar or cider vinegar
•	350g courgettes, trimmed and
coarsely grated
•	250g plain flour
•	T/atsp baking powder
•	75g cocoa powder
•	3/4tsp bicarbonate of soda
•	125g vegan ‘milk’ chocolate, roughly
chopped, we used Nomo Creamy
Choc Bar
FOR THE ICING
•	125g vegan butter alternative, we used
Flora, softened
•	30g cocoa powder
•	200g icing sugar
•	Itsp vanilla extract
•	2tbsp unsweetened milk alternative,
at room temperature, we used oat
•	Vegan ‘milk’ chocolate, to decorate
1	Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4
and grease and line a rough 20 x 30cm
roasting tin with baking parchment. For
the cake, in a large bowl whisk the oil,
sugar, milk alternative, vanilla extract
and vinegar until combined. Add
the courgettes and whisk again.
2	Sift in the flour, baking and cocoa
powders, bicarbonate of soda and
a pinch of fine salt. Whisk until
combined. Add the vegan chopped
chocolate and whisk in. Scrape into
the lined tin and smooth to level.
3	Bake for 30min, or until a skewer
inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Leave to cool completely in the tin.
4	For the icing, in a large bowl using a
handheld electric whisk, beat the butter
alternative until light and fluffy. Sift in the
cocoa powder and icing sugar and add
the vanilla and 2tbsp milk alternative.
Beat until pale and fluffy.
5	Transfer the cooled cake to a board
and spread the icing on top. Decorate
with some coarsely grated vegan ‘milk’
chocolate, or shave some over using
a Y-shaped vegetable peeler. Cut into
16 pieces and serve.
PER SERVING (with decoration)
353cals, 4g protein, 18g fat (6g saturates),
43g carbs (30g total sugars), 2g fibre
TO STORE Keep in an airtight container
at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Tres Leches Cake
This three-milk cake hails from
Mexico. It’s sticky, rich and
a must-try if you love creme
caramel or sweet dairy desserts.
When pouring the two milks
over the cake, don’t worry if
they don’t sink in immediately.
Hands-on time 35min, plus cooling.
Cooking time about 25min. Serves 16
FOR THE SPONGE
•	50g butter, melted, plus extra
to grease
•	5 medium eggs, separated
•	200g caster sugar
•	Itsp vanilla bean paste
•	200g self-raising flour
•	125ml whole milk
FOR THE SOAKING MILKS
•	397g tin condensed milk
•	410g tin evaporated milk
FOR THE TOPPING
•	300ml double cream
•	3tbsp icing sugar, sifted
•	y2tsp ground cinnamon
1	Preheat oven to 160°C (140°C fan)
mark 3 and grease and line a rough
20 x 30cm roasting tin with baking
parchment. For the sponge, in a large
bowl using a handheld electric whisk,
beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale
and very thick. Beat in the vanilla.
2	In a separate medium bowl, using
clean beaters, beat the egg whites
until they hold stiff peaks. Using a
large metal spoon, mix a spoonful of
egg whites into the egg yolk mixture
to loosen. Add and fold in the
remaining whites, trying to keep
in as much air as possible.
3	Add the flour and fold in, followed
by the milk and melted butter, until
combined. Scrape into the lined tin
and bake for 25min, or until a skewer
inserted into the centre comes out
clean. Meanwhile, in a jug, mix the
soaking milks.
4	As soon as the sponge comes out
of the oven, poke holes all over the top
with a skewer or cocktail stick. Pour
over >2 the soaking milks and wait until
absorbed (see intro), before pouring
over the remaining amount. Leave
cake to cool completely in the tin.
5	For the topping, in a large bowl
using a handheld electric whisk,
beat the cream and icing sugar until the
mixture just holds its shape. Transfer
the cake to a board (you can leave
it on the parchment, if you prefer,
as it will be sticky). Spread over
the cream mixture and dust with the
cinnamon. Cut into 16 pieces and serve.
PER SERVING 373cals, 8g protein,
19g fat (11g saturates), 42g carbs
(32g total sugars), 0.4g fibre
TO STORE Keep in an airtight
container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Allow to come to room temperature
before serving.
Triple-Tested recipes
RECIPES: MEIKE BECK. EMMA FRANKLIN. ALICE SHIELDS. GRACE EVANS. GEORGIE D’ARCY COLES. TESTING: ALICE SHIELDS.
FOOD STYLING: MEIKE BECK. GEORGIE D’ARCY COLES. PROP STYLING: VICTORIA ELDRIDGE
Red Velvet Traybake
This retro, cocoa-flavoured
favourite is perfect for
a celebration.
Hands-on time 30min, plus cooling.
Cooking time about 45min. Serves 16
FOR THE SPONGE
•	250g unsalted butter, softened,
plus extra to grease
•	250g caster sugar
•	4 medium eggs
•	200ml buttermilk
•	275g self-raising flour
•	50g cocoa powder
•	1-3tsp red food colouring paste,
we used Sugarflair Velvet Red
Spectral, see GH TIP
•	Itbsp white wine vinegar
•	Itsp bicarbonate of soda
FOR THE ICING
•	100g unsalted butter, softened
•	100g icing sugar, sifted
•	250g full-fat cream cheese, at room
temperature
•	Red sugar sprinkles, optional,
to decorate
1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan)
mark 4 and grease and line a rough
20 x 30cm roasting tin with baking
parchment. For the sponge, in a large
bowl using a handheld electric whisk, beat
the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
2 In a large jug, whisk the eggs and
buttermilk. Sift the flour, cocoa powder
and a pinch of salt into a separate
medium bowl.
3	Add Уз of the egg mixture to the
butter bowl and beat to combine.
Spoon in Уз of the flour mixture and
beat to combine. Repeat twice more
until the liquid and dry ingredients are
incorporated. Beat in 1-3tsp red food
colouring paste to reach desired shade.
4	In a small bowl, quickly mix the vinegar
and bicarbonate of soda. Pour into the
cake batter and quickly beat to combine.
Scrape into the lined tin and smooth to
level. Bake for 45min, or until a skewer
inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Leave to cool completely in the tin.
5	For the icing, in a large bowl using
a handheld electric whisk, beat the
butter and icing sugar until pale and
fluffy. Beat in the cream cheese until
just combined.
6	Transfer the cooled cake to a board
r GH TIP
A highly concentrated
food colouring paste will
give this cake its
traditional red-brown hue
without diluting the batter
too much, but you can
leave it out completely,
if you prefer.
and spread the icing on top.
Decorate with sprinkles, if using.
Cut into 16 pieces and serve.
PER SERVING (with decoration) 390cals,
6g protein, 24g fat (15g saturates),
38g carbs (24g total sugars), 1g fibre
TO STORE Keep in an airtight container in
the fridge for up to 3 days. Allow to come
to room temperature before serving. □
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“S", Tried and Tested
Good Housekeeping
Ше &
^esrUilS^
The IЖ -
EASTER
TASTE
TEST
From spiced hot cross buns to
showstopping centrepieces (whether
lamb, seafood, vegetarian or vegan)
and the best chocolate eggs, our
GHI experts tucked into 162 products
across 12 categories to find the best
you can buy for a cracking Easter...
HOT CROSS BUNS
OVERALL WINNER
AND BEST FLAVOURED
Waitrose & Partners Belgian Chocolate
Hot Cross Buns £2.50 for 4 85/100
Stealing the crown this year is
a flavoured twist on the classic hot
cross bun. One for chocolate lovers,
these buns smell just like a cup of rich
hot chocolate. Deliciously buttery
and packed with dark chocolate chips,
with a moist, fudgy texture.
BEST CLASSIC
Waitrose & Partners Golden
Hot Cross Buns £2.50 for 4 84/100
Testers loved the fluffy, light brioche
texture and generous amount of dried
fruit - including chunks of orange peel
- in these sweet and zesty buns. With
rich notes of cinnamon and apricots,
these make a moreish Easter treat
served hot and buttered.
RUNNER-UP CLASSIC
Aldi Specially Selected 4 Luxury
Fruited Hot Cross Buns £1.25 for 4
83/100
With enticing aromas of cinnamon, dried
fruit and vanilla, these buns are bursting
with flavour. Testers said the sweetness
was well balanced by savoury notes.
BEST GLUTEN-FREE
Co-op Free From 4 Hot Cross Buns
£2.25 for 4 83/100
Expertly spiced with a hit of cinnamon
and ginger, plus more unusual additions
such as ground coriander. Testers liked
the sweet, plump vine fruits and moist
texture of these gluten-free bakes.
BEST BUDGET
By Amazon 6 Hot Cross Buns
£1.15 for 6 75/100
These buns are deliciously fruity, with
a nice balance between the sweet, juicy
sultanas and more savoury cinnamon
and cardamom flavours.
BEST SAVOURY
Morrisons The Best Extra Mature
Cheddar & Red Leicester Hot
Cross Buns £1.25 for 4 13/100
Reminiscent of a cheese scone, these
light, airy buns would taste great toasted
and topped with butter and Marmite.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 151
MEAT CENTREPIECES
WINNER	Cj
Co-op Irresistible Hereford Beef
Joint £15 for approx 1kg B7/1OO
Why not swap the traditional roast
lamb for something different this year?
This flavour-packed beef joint will pair
perfectly with all your favourite sides.
Rich and moist, with just the right amount
of fat for a good char on the outside.
RUNNER-UP
Waitrose & Partners
British Whole Leg of Lamb
£27.99 for approx 1.8 kg 86/100
With a well-crisped skin and deliciously
rich, umami flavour, this leg of lamb
makes a great traditional centrepiece.
Our testers rated the taste and texture
- the meat was perfectly tender after
the recommended cooking time.
BEST BUDGET
Asda Chicken Crown with Leek
& Pancetta Stuffing
£8.50 for approx 1kg 82/100
Wrapped in rashers of sweet and salty
beechwood-smoked streaky bacon, with
a pork mince, leek and pancetta stuffing,
this chicken crown makes a tasty main
at a great price. Serve with roasties,
spring vegetables and chicken gravy.
Waitrose & Partners
British Whole Leg of Lamb
scored highly in our tests
ROASTIES
WINNER	|
Tesco Finest Maris Piper
Goose Fat Roast Potatoes
£3 for 800g 88/100
Testers loved the salty, buttery
flavour of these classic roast
potatoes. Rich and melt-in-the-
mouth thanks to the addition of
goose fat, they were golden and
crispy with a fluffy centre. The
perfect side.
RUNNER-UP
Asda Extra Special Beef Dripping
Roast Potatoes £1.50 for 400g 17/100
Meaty and buttery with a golden
colour and fluffy middle. Our testers
said they enjoyed the rich flavour of
beef dripping, which was expertly
balanced by the starchy sweetness
of the potatoes.
152 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Tried and Tested
Xttirio.JX
SEAFOOD CENTREPIECES
JOINT WINNER
DukesHili Dressed Side
of Oak Smoked Salmon
£47 for 1kg 83/100
This hot smoked salmon is
effortless as it requires no
time in the kitchen. Sure to
impress, it comes dressed
with king prawns and a
piped, herby cream cheese
topping. Our testers praised
the rich, smokey flavours and
notes of lemon and dill.
12
TESTED
JOINT WINNER
AND BEST VALUE
Aldi The Fishmonger
Boneless Side of Salmon
£11.10 for 1kg 13/100
Fresh aromas that reminded
testers of the sea, together
with rich, buttery flavours
and a soft, meaty texture,
make this succulent salmon
a real winner - plus it comes
at a budget price. Our testers
were impressed.
MEAT-FREE
CENTREPIECES
VEGETARIAN WINNER
COOK Roasted Pepper
and Goat’s Cheese Quiche
£21 for 1.25kg 83/100
This beautifully presented quiche
(it looks home-made) combines rich,
buttery pastry and a flavour-packed,
creamy filling with generous chunks
of red pepper and goat’s cheese.
VEGAN WINNER
Asda OMV! Deliciously Vegan
Mushroom Wellington
£5.55 for 500g 74/100
Our testers were impressed with the
balanced flavours of this meat-free
Wellington. Crispy pastry, caramelised
white onions and earthy mushrooms
combine in this comforting main.
VEGAN RUNNER-UP
Abel & Cole Vegan Wreath
£25 for 1kg 73/100
This vegan wreath mixes nutty pastry
with sweet potato, carrot, pulses and
apple for a slight fruity sweetness, along
with notes of rosemary and thyme.
Our testers enjoyed the interesting
combination of flavours and textures.
BEST BUDGET
Quorn Ham Roast £3.75 for 400g;
Asda 72/100
While not overly complex, this has
a pleasing smokiness and distinctive
‘meaty’ notes, similar in taste and
texture to a frankfurter, which make
it a convincing pork substitute.
COOK Roasted Pepper and
Goat’s Cheese Quiche is our
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 153
» Ък
EGG-CELLENT EGGS!
From creamy and nutty to sweet and decadently rich, we ate our way through 23 milk, 12 white, 11 dark,
11 vegan and 11 kids’ eggs to find the ones guaranteed to put smiles on faces - your own as well as the kids’!
MARVELLOUSLY MILKY
AFTER DARK DELIGHTS
ALL WHITE
WINNER
Cadbury Crunchie
Inclusions Ultimate
Egg £12 for 396g
85/100
This smooth
chocolate egg is
studded with crunchy honeycomb
pieces and comes with three individually
wrapped Crunchie Bits for a welcome
burst of nostalgia. Our testers loved the
contrast of the mild chocolate with the
sweet caramel of the honeycomb.
JOINT RUNNER-UP
AND BEST VALUE
Asda Extra Special Extra
Thick Fruit & Hazelnut
Milk Chocolate Egg
£8 for 400g 84/100
Fruit and nut enthusiasts
rejoice - this may be your
new favourite Easter egg. As well as the
delicious flavours of roast hazelnut and
raisins, this was awarded extra points
for the elegant design featuring white
chocolate piping and nut speckles.
JOINT RUNNER-UP
Quality Street
Golden Collection
Incredible Egg
£12 for 495g 84/100
Quality Street isn’t
just for Christmas.
Testers loved the rich,
butterscotch aromas,
cocoa flavours and the buttery, chewy
pieces of fudge embedded in the shell.
The egg also comes with a bag of fudge
and caramel Quality Street chocolates.
WINNER
Asda Extra Special
Cocoa Noir Easter Egg
£15 for 350g 85/100
This Easter treat
combines two eggs
in one, with a smaller,
intricately decorated
red egg inside a glossy dark chocolate
shell. Testers loved the flavours; the
larger egg was balanced between sweet
and bitter with a sharp acidity from the
cocoa beans, while the smaller egg had
a sweet and nutty hazelnut flavour.
RUNNER-UP
Waitrose & Partners
Hidden Truffles Dark
Chocolate Easter Egg
£12 for 215g 84/100
Our testers enjoyed the
pleasing bitterness and
balanced acidity you
expect from a good-
quality dark chocolate, which lingers on
the palate. The truffles were a wonderful
addition, with a rich and creamy filling.
BEST BUDGET
Aldi Specially Selected
Dark Ripple Egg with
Rich Coffee & Cocoa
Nibs £4.99 for 200g
73/100
A luxurious design at
a great price, this dark,
glossy egg balances the flavours
of bitter chocolate with a delicious
nuttiness, hints of coffee that also
lend a light crunch to the shell, and
a well-integrated sweetness.
WINNER
Bettys White Chocolate
Flat Spring Lamb
Easter Egg
£13.75 for 130g 85/100
Our winning white egg
this year isn’t an egg at all
- instead, it’s a 2D design
made from wonderfully creamy white
chocolate with a zesty sweetness and
distinctive notes of cocoa butter.
Beautifully decorated with bluebells,
the milk chocolate lamb on top adds
a nice contrast.
RUNNER-UP
Harvey Nichols Honeycomb & Biscuit
Blonde Chocolate Easter Egg with
Blonde Ganache Truffles
£34 for 300g 82/100
Expect grown-up sweetness from this
elegant blonde chocolate Easter egg.
Testers loved the extra-thick, creamy
shell studded with tiny crunchy biscuit
pieces. The extra blonde ganache
truffles, with their smooth texture and
delicious butterscotch flavour, also
proved to be a hit.
BEST VALUE
Asda Extra Special Extra Thick
Raspberry & Marshmallow White
Chocolate Egg £8 for 400g 1/100
This large, glossy white chocolate
egg decorated with piped icing
proved popular with our panel.
Testers enjoyed the combination
of smooth chocolate, soft meringue
and crunchy raspberry pieces that
added a pleasing acidic tang to
an otherwise sweet treat.
WORDS: ALISON LYNCH. TESTING: CALLUM BLACK, JOANNA ANASTASIOU. PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMIE ORLANDO SMITH, PHIL BARTON
154 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
“S" Tried and Tested
BEST FOR VEGANS
WINNER
Cutter & Squidge Vegan Cookie
Easter Egg £23.99 for 500g 34/100
The ultimate Easter treat, this features
half a dark chocolate shell filled with
caramel, whipped vegan ganache
and cookie bites, and topped with
gold-painted caramel ganache-filled
eggs and hand-baked choc chip
cookies. Testers loved the combination
of rich flavours and contrasting textures.
RUNNER-UP
PLAYinCHOC ToyChoc Box 6 Rabbits
Gift Set £13.50 for 120g B3/1OO
These individually wrapped boxes, each
containing two vegan chocolates and
a 3D puzzle toy in the shape of a bunny,
will make a sweet addition to any Easter
table. Testers enjoyed the distinct
coconut flavour - crumbly at first, then
buttery and smooth in the mouth.
BEST BUDGET
Asda OMV! Choc Orange & Caramel
Crisp Easter Egg £5 for 160g B1/1OO
One for orange chocolate enthusiasts.
The crunchy orange crystals studded
throughout the egg offer bursts of
tangy natural citrus. Melt-in-the-mouth,
perfectly balanced and full of flavour.
MORE SUSTAINABLE EGGS
OVERALL
WINNER
AND BEST
BUDGET
Sainsbury’s Taste
The Difference
Belgian Chocolate
Orange Egg
£8 for 230g 1/100
Sainsbury’s is recognised by the
Chocolate Scorecard for its efforts in
sustainability. The panel enjoyed the
combination of dark chocolate and
orange with candied orange peel, too.
RUNNER-UP: RETAILER
Aldi Specially Selected
Belgian Truffle Filled Egg
£9.99 for 250g Ю/100
Aldi is top of the supermarkets on
the Chocolate Scorecard and our
testers loved this nest-like half Easter
egg edged with cocoa nibs and filled
with an assortment of truffles.
KIDS’ FAVOURITES
WINNER
Waitrose & Partners Sam On
Toast £5 for 78g 79/100
A cheeky twist on a traditional
Easter egg. Kids will love this
treat made to look like a fried
egg on a thick slice of toast,
and the creamy chocolate
melts in the mouth.
RUNNER-UP
Aldi Dairyfine White
Chocolate Strawberry Sundae
£8.99 for 250g 77/100
Who could resist
a chocolate egg
shaped like an
ice-cream sundae,
complete with sauce
and a waffle? Our
testers enjoyed the
mix of flavours, from
the creamy vanilla base
to fruity touches of
strawberry and raspberry,
plus a light caramel
flavour from the waffle.
RUNNER-UP: BRAND
Tony’s Chocolonely Chunky
Egg (Caramel Sea Salt)
£10 for 242g 78/100
Tony’s Chocolonely leads the way
on more sustainable practices,
according to the Chocolate
Scorecard, and is on a mission to
make its chocolate 100% exploitation-
free. Its products don’t sacrifice taste
either - this shiny egg with rich, nutty
cocoa aromas
and smooth milk
chocolate really
impressed testers.
The crystals of
salted caramel
add honey-like
sweetness and
a pleasing crunch.
Turn to Getting Greener on page 115
for details of the Chocolate
Scorecard and how to choose more
sustainable chocolate this Easter.
BEST BUDGET
Cadbury Freddo Faces
Chocolate Egg
£2.50 for 96g 75/100
A small chocolate egg filled with
Freddo Faces, this is a surefire
crowd-pleaser at a great price.
We think kids big and small will
enjoy this nostalgic treat.
• For all our Easter egg winners,
visit goodhousekeeping.com/uk/
easter-eggs □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 155


COUNTRY LIVING
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INTERIORS, STEP INTO SPRING WITH NEW HOME COMFORTS FROM OUR ONLINE SHOP.
EVERYTHING IS EXPERTLY MADE BY UK ARTISANS AND HAND-PICKED BY COUNTRY LIVING
BACKGROUND PHOTOGRAPHY: BRENT DARBY.
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ANNIE BROUGHAM WILDFLOWER PRINTS
iWiS' sA'il
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Aprils
GOOD LFE
GROUP CELEBRITY DIRECTOR NATHALIE WHITTLE ROUNDS UP
THE BEST FILMS, TV SHOWS AND CULTURAL TREATS TO ENJOY
TV picks
STREAM IT
THIS TOWN
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is back with another brilliant
THE REGIME
Kate Winslet unleashes her dark side as a power-hungry
dictator in this glossy political miniseries. She plays the ruler
of a Central European autocracy - but her regime is about
to crumble in spectacular fashion. Hugh Grant makes for a
drama. A fictional story of a ska and two-tone band’s formation
against the political and social unrest of 1981, this six-part series
shows how music can offer a second chance in life. Michelle Dockery
convincing leader of the opposition, whose imprisonment
inspires widespread public protests. Sky Atlantic and NOW
and Nicholas Pinnock are among the cast. BBC One
je»vingMary Villierl
^H5nn e^loore)
_ < her son George 1
pMLcholas Galitzine) ।
MARY & GEORGE
Julianne Moore returns to
the small screen as scheming
17th-century social climber
Mary Villiers, in the scandalous
tale of how she moulded her
son, George, to seduce King
James I and become his lover.
'It’s a daunting but exhilarating
challenge to bring her to life
on screen,’ says Julianne.
Sky Atlantic and NOW
BLUE LIGHTS
The first series of this Belfast-based crime
drama drew in more than 6m viewers. Now,
rookie police officers Grace (Sian Brooke),
Annie (Katherine Devlin) and Tommy (Nathan
Braniff) are dealing with the aftermath of
PC Gerry Cliff’s death, while grappling with the
demands of life on the front line. BBC One
til PALMROYALE
lts al1 flower-power prints
*	and platform wedges in this
1960s-set comedy series.
I Loosely based on the book
I Mr And Mrs American Pie,
I it stars Kristen Wiig as
ря—Maxine Simmons, who’s on
a mission to secure a seat at America’s most exclusive - and
treacherous - table: Palm Beach high society Apple TV+
THE GENTLEMEN	|
Guy Ritchie has turned his 2019
film into an action-packed series, j
When Eddie Horniman (Theo |
James) unexpectedly inherits
his father’s sizeable country
estate, he’s shocked to discover
that it’s part of a cannabis empire.
Can he navigate Britain’s criminal underworld and take
control of the operation? Watch out for Joely Richardson,
who plays Eddie’s mum, Lady Sabrina. Netflix
There’s drama
aplentyjnZtore for
EddieTTheo James)
158 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
What’s on
HOT TICKETS
From exhibitions to films, we look ahead
to the latest must-see happenings.
DUNE: PART TWO
After stealing the show as Willy Wonka last year,
there’s seemingly no stopping Timothee Chalamet
as he returns in this hotly anticipated sci-fi sequel.
Set around 20,000 years in the future on the
planet Arrakis, it follows Paul Atreides (Chalamet)
and the Fremen as they fight to take back their
land before it’s too late. In cinemas from 1 March
THE PLOT SO FAR...
Hear hilarious and
heartwarming tales
about our cover star
Caroline Quentin’s
green-fingered
pursuits as she takes
To The Garden, on tour, sharing baffling
failures, happy accidents and personal stories.
Turn to page 10 for our interview with Caroline.
22 February to 10 March; carolinequentinlive.com
ICONS OF
BRITISH FASHION
Oxfordshire’s Blenheim
Palace is hosting the
biggest exhibition in its
300-year history - and
it’s a thoroughly stylish
affair, paying homage
to design legends such as Lulu Guinness, Stella
McCartney and the late Dame Vivienne Westwood.
Head to Blenheim for a
celebration of British style
FILMS/TWO CITIES TELEVISION/STEFFAN HILL, KEVIN BAKER/
NETFLIX. NIKO TAVERNISE. GETTY
23 March to 30 June; blenheimpalace.com
WHODUNNIT
[UNREHEARSED] 3
Benedict Cumberbatch,
Jodie Whittaker and Gillian
Anderson are among the big
names appearing in this
fully improvised murder
mystery at London’s Park
Theatre. 27 March to 4
May; parktheatre.co.uk
Don’t miss Jodie Whittaker
performing without a script
Good times with...
George Clarke
Architect, presenter and writer George lives in London. He has
three children, Georgie, 20, Emilio, 18, and Iona, 16.
The last great film you saw...
Oppenheimer - I think Cillian
Murphy is a genius.
The film you could watch over
and over... Gladiator. Russell
Crowe did an incredible job.
The performance that made you
cry... I was once invited to a small
gathering with Annie Lennox,
who’s a good friend, and she
performed for us. Unforgettable.
The podcast you loved... I’m a bit
of a podcast addict. I love Planet
A - Talks On Climate Change.
The last boxset you binged
on... Rabbit Hole, starring Kiefer
Sutherland. It’s really compelling!
Top of your TV planner this
month... I’d given up on Better Call
Saul as I found it a bit slow, but
everyone says the final season is
one of the best things ever made.
The album you loved... I’ve just
bought a proper record player,
so I’m building up a mini vinyl
collection; everything from Bob
Dylan to Radiohead and Mozart.
The one you want to hear... I’d
love Sting to make one final album.
The book that inspired you...
A History Of Architecture by
Sir Banister Fletcher. I found it in
a secondhand shop when I was
about 15.1 had five quid and had to
ask my nana to lend me five more
to buy it, but it became my bible.
The best recommendation
you’ve received... When my kids
were little, a friend recommended
Slava’s Snowshow. It’s the most
amazing choreography I’ve seen.
The ticket you’d love to get your
hands on... I wish I could have seen
Led Zeppelin live in the 1970s.
• Little Experts: How To Build A
Home (Red Shed) by George
Clarke, illustrated by Robert
Sae-Heng, is out now □
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 159
Bookshe/Г
RESIDENT BOOKWORM JOANNE FINNEY PICKS HER FAVOURITE
READS, FROM LITERARY GEMS TO GRIPPING FAMILY DRAMAS
This month’s 10 books
to read right now!
Book of the month
THE PAINTER’S DAUGHTERS
by Emily Howes
I was transported to 18th-century
Bath in this story about the women
behind many of artist Thomas
Gainsborough’s most famous
portraits: his daughters Molly and
Peggy- The elder, Molly, suffers
from poor mental health and her
sister becomes her protector, until
they both fall in love with the same
man. A mesmerising historical novel
about sisterhood, sacrifice and art.
Beautiful writing
STONE YARD
DEVOTIONAL
by Charlotte Wood
I loved The Weekend by the
same author and this has a
similar elegant style. A woman
escapes city life to a retreat at
a monastery in rural Australia,
despite having no faith. In the
second part of the novel, she is
now a nun, living full-time at the
retreat, and we find out what led
her to this momentous decision.
Quirky romcom
EXPIRATION DATES
by Rebecca Serie
I fell hook, line and sinker for
this original romcom with
a clever concept. Daphne is a
twentysomething working in the
film industry who has an unusual
quirk: every time she meets a man,
she receives a piece of paper
with his name and the amount
of time they will be together.
Then one day, she gets a piece
of paper with just a name...
Moving non-fiction
Front the author of Im< and tbt Egg
BOBBY PALMER
Magicalnovel
SMALL

SMALL HOURS
by Bobby Palmer
Within a few hours, Jack loses his
job, and finds out his mother has
gone missing and his father has
dementia. Moving home to help
out, he slowly rediscovers what
is important to him, helped by
a talking fox that befriends him.
A magical, comforting read
that touches on father-son
relationships, male mental health
and the healing power of nature.
MAURICE AND MARALYN
by Sophie Elmhirst
This narrative non-fiction is
based on the true story of a
couple whose boat was hit by
a whale as they sailed the Pacific
Ocean, leaving them adrift on a
raft for 117 days. With writing so
vivid you feel as though you’re
with them, it’s a stunning story
of survival and a testament
to the love that got them
through the toughest of times.
. • _Sophie Elmhirst .
MAURICE
AND
MARALYN .
A Whale, a Shipwreck,
a Love Story
Swoonsome love story
MEET ME WHEN MY
HEART STOPS
by Becky Hunter
With echoes of The Time
Traveler’s Wife, this gorgeously
romantic love story follows
Emery, born with a condition
that means her heart can stop
at any moment. Every time it
does, she meets Nick, whose job
is to act as a guide in the limbo
between life and death. Over
time, she finds it harder to leave
him and return to the real world.
160 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Inspiring reads
The books that
CHANGED MY LIFE
THE
ESCAPE
RGDM
Fiendish thriller
THE ESCAPE ROOM
by LD Smithson
There’s been a legion of thrillers
about reality TV shows recently, but
this stands out for the clever escape
room-style puzzles that form part of
the plot. After her sister breaks her leg,
Bonnie steps in to take her place on
The Fortress TV show - but it soon
becomes a matter of life or death.
L.D. SMITHSON
Darkly funny
THE KELLERBY CODE
by Jonny Sweet
Fans of Saltburn will enjoy this darkly
humorous thriller about working-class
Edward, whose posh Cambridge friends
dub him ‘Jeeves’ because he will do
anything to be part of the gang. When
he’s betrayed, his anger threatens
everything in the life he’s built.
Compelling dilemma
MORAL INJURIES
by Christie Watson
Best known for The Language
Of Kindness about her 20 years as
a nurse, Christie now turns her pen to
psychological drama. Three friends find
their devotion to each other is pushed
to the limit when they’re forced to
confront a long-buried secret.
Thought-provoking read
DOMINOES by Phoebe McIntosh
This electrifying debut by a prize-winning
playwright and actor began life as a
one-woman show. When mixed-race
Layla meets Andy, she thinks it’s romantic
they have the same surname - until she
discovers that their shared name has its
roots in the slave trade. A tough subject,
but Layla’s inner conflict is well written.
PHOTOGRAPHY: LIZ McCAULAY, CHRISTOPHER TURNER
MEMORIAM
ALICE WINN
LOVE READING? Join
GH's online book club
Each month, we pick a book for
members to read and discuss
together. It’s free to join and
there’ll also be lots of book
chat, reviews, exclusive short
stories, interviews with authors
and book giveaways. The book
for this month is In Memoriam
by Alice Winn. Join us at
facebook.com/groups/
GoodHousekeepingBookRoom
JOHNXWG
THE LAST BOOK THAT
MADE ME LAUGH
Less by Andrew Sean Greer is
a truly charming novel about
a man who is in
distress over a lost
love and whose
writing career is
going nowhere, so
he sets off on an
expedition around
the world. It’s very
funny but also
sensitively written
and touching in
places.
THE LAST BOOK
THAT MADE
ME CRY
Patrick Gale’s
Mother’s Boy is
the fictionalised
story of the poet
Charles Causley,
set in Cornwall.
He writes very
empathetically
about mother-son
love and that
always touches
a nerve for me.
THE BOOK THAT
CHANGED THE
WAY I THINK
To Kill A
Mockingbird by
Harper Lee, which I read
in the 1960s, hit me at a
time when I needed repair
from a racist upbringing.
It opened my heart in a
way that was surprising.
Armisteacl
Maupin
Famed Tales Of The City author
Armistead Maupin has a new book
out on 7 March, Mona Of The Manor.
Here, he shares the books that have
made him laugh, cry and think.
THE BOOK THAT GOT ME
THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME
My friend Laura Linney told
me years ago that a good
Mary
Oliver
b
GALE
Mother's
Boy' .
way to get out
of a funk is to
stop looking at
the computer
and pick up a
book of poetry.
The book I turn
to most often is
Dog Songs by
Mary Oliver.
| She writes so
eloquently
about dogs and
their connection
to our lives and
how badly we
need them. I feel
that way about
my dog.
THE BOOK I
MOST OFTEN
GIVE TO
OTHERS
Christopher
Isherwood
was a good
friend - and
mentor - of
mine and
I often give The
Berlin Novels
as a gift. It’s
the book that
inspired the musical
Cabaret, which not many
people realise. I want to
keep his voice alive; it’s
one of the most powerful
I’ve ever read. □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 161
bestseller The Pauper's Cookbook.
After studying history at Cambridge
University, Daisy attended Columbia
School of the Arts in New York before
beginning a career in TV production at
the BBC. She went on to create shows j
such as Home Front, Property Ladder Л
and Grand Designs but famously
turned down fashion advisers Trinny Я
and Susannah, who she thought Я
were too posh to work on TV. She Я
later founded her own company,
Silver River Productions, which she I
ran for six years.
Her first break into writing was an
anthology of poems she edited called
The Nation's Favourite Love Poems,
which came out in 1997. She went
on to publish several other poetry
anthologies, followed by a memoir
about her childhood called Silver River.
Her first novel, My Last Duchess, told the
story of American heiress Cora Cash and
was a New York Times bestseller. As well
as novels, she also created the hit ITV
series Victoria, starring Jenna Coleman.
ovelist Daisy Goodwin has
made a career out of writing
about misunderstood women.
First with her novel Victoria,
which offered a racier portrayal of
a queen often seen as rather sour,
and now with her latest book, Diva.
Its subject is Maria Callas, the opera
singer renowned for her difficult
behaviour but who was merely exacting,
according to Daisy, who has done a
great deal of research in the process
of writing the novel. ‘She knew her
career was finite, so she had to make the
most of every moment; that’s why she
wanted everything to be right.’
Daisy, now 62, was born and brought
up in London and still lives there with her
husband, Marcus Wilford, with whom she
has two daughters, Lydia, 23, and Ottilie,
32. She’s the daughter of film producer
Richard В Goodwin, who produced the
Oscar-winning film A Passage To India.
Her mother, who died 10 years ago, was
interior decorator and cookery writer
Jocasta Innes, who wrote the 1970s
Tin fascinated by
STR()N(; <
WOMEN’ ;
/I
Books editor Joanne Finney talks to
TV producer-turned-novelist Daisy Goodwin about
her lifelong obsession with Maria Callas and
how the singer inspired her latest novel
162 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Author exclusive
I was only eight years old when I first
heard Maria Callas sing. My mother had
bought an album of the soprano’s most
famous arias in an Oxfam shop and
used to play it often. Her voice had
a huge effect on me. My parents were
divorced and my time with my mum
was limited, so there was a heightened
feeling of emotion that I associated
with her music.
I am fascinated by strong women.
The ones who particularly interest me
are the women who have been judged
in a way that I don’t feel is right. Queen
Victoria has often been portrayed in a
way that didn’t do her justice and Callas
similarly. People are made to think she
was somehow tragic or she was
difficult; adjectives that you’d never
apply to a man. That always makes
me feel angry - and that I want to do
something about it.
I took some singing lessons as
part of my research for the book.
The relationship between Maria and
her voice was so organic that I couldn’t
really write about it authentically unless
I had a sense of what it feels like
physically and what it does to your
psyche. I found it a huge high; it’s
definitely something I will keep doing.
TV production is all about working
with other people but there was a
creative part of me that wasn’t being
satisfied. Writing was always something
I’d imagined myself doing but I’d never
given myself permission to give it a go.
I was one of those people who thought
that unless it was brilliant, it wasn’t worth
doing. Then one day, I started writing
and loved it. A very wise person said to
me once not to let ‘perfection be the
enemy of the good’ - such good advice.
Writing was my refuge when I was
running my company. I’d write at the
weekend and it was something no one
could interfere with. Now I’m writing
full-time, there are days
I miss the regularity of
running an office but
actually I can just express
myself, which is
wonderful. On a good
day, when the words
are coming, there’s no
better feeling.
Every new book is like
starting again for the first
time. I’m sure there are
lots of writers who believe
in how good they are but I’m not
one of them! I get very nervous. But
what I know now is that you have to
keep going. I make myself do 1,000
words in one go and keep writing to
the end. If you spend your whole time
looking back on what you’ve written you
can lose the will to finish.
My older daughter is a wonderful
reader and critic and always one
I’ve learned
that the way
you see things
is not the way
things are
of the first people to read my novels.
My dad reads everything I write, too,
and loves every single word. Having
someone in your corner like that is a
huge help. I’m very lucky to have him.
We had a house fire in 2015 and lost
everything. That taught me that there
is no possession worth losing sleep
over. Nothing. You think you need all
this stuff but you really don’t. Honestly,
I could put everything in my house in a
skip and just forget about it. I used to
be a hoarder but it really
changed my behaviour.
As the oldest of five
(I have three half sisters
and one brother), people
look at me and think
that I’m this competent,
successful and together
person - someone
who can be leaned
on in a crisis. I am all
those things, but I’m
also insecure, vulnerable
and as capable of being hurt as
anyone else.
You can fall in love with all kinds
of people but I don’t think I could
marry someone who didn’t love
dogs or children. My husband isn’t
perfect but he’s a very kind,
compassionate man. He has
strengths I don’t have - I’m a good
leader but he’s much better at
managing people. The thing I used
to dread when I ran a business was
ON DAISY’S BOOKSHELF
PHOTOGRAPHY: DMG MEDIA LICENSING
• I recently
discovered Claire
Keegan and
I think her writing
is just beautiful.
I thoroughly
recommend
Small Things
Like These.
• English Food:
A People’s History
by Diane Purkiss is
a really interesting
book about the social
connotations of food
and all the myths
that have grown
up around it.
• I’ve given everyone
I know The Secret
Of Cooking by Bee
Wilson - every tired
woman should be
gifted a copy
immediately. It’s
a revelatory book
about real cooking.
someone knocking on my door asking
if they could have five minutes.
I’m a very emotional person and
I’ve had to teach myself to be less
reactive; to step back and think
things through more. So many
disputes come about through lack
of understanding. Always try and put
yourself into the other person’s head
if you can and see where they are
coming from. It takes practice, though.
I’ve had depressive episodes
in the past and one thing I’ve learned
is that the way you see things is
not the way things are.
There’s a big difference
between the way
you view the world and
the way it actually is.
• Diva (Aria) by
Daisy Goodwin
is out 14 March □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 163
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The
С Н Y Р R Ё
Fragrance Family
A long ramble
through the forest. Soft moss meets
pine-cone prickle. Bark, rough to
the touch, conceals rich resins.
Chypre fragrances are warm and
dry with a deft kick of citrus.
Nothing fussy.	Just a quiet
confidence without causing a show.
THE FRAGRANCE FOUNDATION UK
у


 Mystery
 begins
at home...
Г -
< ulT,Mnuo^- U.
‘A sweeping yet intimate
tale of motherhood and
belonging’
MAIL ON SUNDA Y
•A treat, h is fantastic
GRAHAM NORTON
BETTER THAN HALF PRICE
WHSmith
EST-1792
This voucher entitles you to one copy of ‘Homecoming’
by Kate Morton (ISBN 9781529094084) for £3.99 at
WHSmith. Full RRP £9.99. Voucher valid ONLINE at
www.whsmith.co.uk and IN-STORE from
Thursday 22nd February.
Voucher expires on Wednesday 6th March 2024.
TO REDEEM ONLINE: add the product to your basket and
apply the voucher code 61075481 in the promo code box.
Cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion codes.
Offer excludes delivery costs.
Full T&Cs available atwww.whsmith.co.uk/terms.
UK stores only. Offer excludes stores at airports, railway stations, motorway
service stations, hospitals, garden centres and workplaces and Books by
WHSmith at Selfridges, Harrods, Fenwicks and Arnotts. This voucher cannot
be used in conjunction with any other promotional voucher or discount
card. Only one voucher can be redeemed per transaction and it must be
surrendered on use. No cash alternative. Photocopies will not be accepted
and the voucher is not transferable. Vouchers that have been forged,
defaced or otherwise tampered with will not be valid for use.
Subject to availability.
GH TRAVEL
BE INSPIRED TO SEE THE WORLD WITH OUR HOLIDAY ADVICE
Handpicked
holidays and the
latest news from
our resident
travel expert
Emma Justice
SAIL AWAY
around the British
Virgin Islands
Sunsail (sunsail.co.uk) celebrates its
50th anniversary this year with two new flotilla holidays
around Lefkas and the British Virgin Islands. In Greece,
skipper your own yacht (or hire someone to do it for you)
and set sail with the support of a lead crew, including host
technician and skipper. Departs 2 June, from £3,124 for seven
days chartering a monohull taking a maximum of four. In
the BVIs, your flotilla will explore the sheltered harbours,
white-sand beaches, pirate bars and impressive shipwrecks
of Virgin Gorda, Tortola and Jost Van Dyke, among others.
Departs 19 July, from £3,922.50 for a week in a yacht that
sleeps up to eight. If you want to learn the ropes first,
Sunsail also runs sailing schools in Croatia and Greece.
PHOTOGRAPHY: LIZ McAULAY. GETTY. PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF PRESS.
CHECK THE LATEST GOVERNMENT ADVICE AT GOV.UK/FOREIGN-TRAVEL-ADVICE
PORTUGAL’S
UNKNOWN ISLAND
Once home to Christopher
Columbus, Porto Santo, a tiny
unspoilt gem just off the coast
of Madeira (visitmadeira.com),
has a 9km stretch of beach with
therapeutic golden sands, proven
to help alleviate aches and pains.
TUI (tui.co.uk) starts direct flights
from the UK in May, with seven
nights at Hotel Pestana Porto Santo
from £694pp, including flights and
all-inclusive accommodation.
Explore unspoilt Porto
Santo and follow in
the footsteps of
Christopher Columbus
Suns*/
CONSCIOUS TRAVEL
Sustainable Journeys (sustainablejourneys.co.uk),
a new UK-based operator, offers climate-friendly
holidays to Estonia, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania
and Finland. A 10-night self-drive tour from Tallinn
costs £1,235pp B&B, including electric car hire.
Rail travel from the UK costs from £645pp and
is a holiday in itself with stops along the way.
THIS MONTH I’M READING...
Why We Travel (Bedford Square,
out 11 April) by Ash Bhardwaj
explores what we gain from heading
out into the world, whether we’re
going somewhere new or enjoying
a micro-adventure closer to home.
Skipper your own
yacht as part of a
Sunsail flotilla
Wish you’d clocked up
more hours on Duolingo? Enjoy better
conversations on your travels using
the Clik Pro earbuds from Mymanu,
which instantly translate more than 50
languages over wi-fi (or using an eSIM)
- no broken English (or phone app)
required! Tiny microphones in each
ear bud pick up and translate speech,
playing it on speakers built into the
charging case. Available in the UK
from April, pre-order for around £156
(RRP around £209); mymanu.com. □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 165
। л :\

From a self-catering
cottage with royal
connections in Cornwall
to Andy Murray’s stylish
Scottish hotel, make the
most of the lengthening
days and (hopefully!)
warmer weather on one
of these peaceful UK
retreats - all of which
welcome dogs, too!
Be inspired by the Lakes
Take in panoramic lake
views from one of the
Windermere rooms
Langdale Chase, a sprawling mansion
on Lake Windermere, still looks like the
grand family home it once was (think
oak panelling, oil portraits and roaring
fireplaces), yet never once feels stiff or
austere. Staff greet you with a smile and
a glass of Champagne and make you
feel as though you’ve just arrived at
a friend’s country estate
for the weekend.
Built as a private house
in the late 19th century
for Edna Howarth, the
wife of a wealthy
Manchester businessman,
no expense was spared
and six acres of
beautifully landscaped
gardens slope gently
down to the lake. As
a result, the views are
stunning, especially in
spring when daffodils
Langdale Chase
sits on the shore of
Lake Windermere
border the manicured lawns. It’s easy
to see why Wordsworth, who wrote
nearby, immortalised them while he
‘wandered lonely as a cloud’. Take a walk
with the hotel’s head gardener and
discover Edna’s original Victorian follies
or go wild swimming from the hotel’s
private jetty. Dogs are also welcome
(apart from in the dining room) and will
love exploring as much as you do.
Inside, there are just 30 rooms
furnished with fluffy sheepskin cushions,
cosy cashmere blankets, The White
Company Pillow Mists and sets of
dominos and backgammon, not to
mention Japanese-style toilets and
fancy bathtubs big enough for two.
What once was Edna’s basement is
now an impressive wine cellar, where
guests can book intimate guided wine
tasting sessions with the excellent
sommelier, Julien. And if the weather
turns, there’s a cinema room showing
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
WORDS: SOPHIE BURGHAM. FIONA ANDREWS, SUSANNE NORRIS, PHOEBE LEE. EMMA JUSTICE .
PHOTOGRAPHY: RUSSELL HIGHAM. MICHAEL EVANS/ADOBE STOCK. GETTY. PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT
Good escapes
Restormel Cottage was
once part of the Manor
House’s main entrance
regal s
You - and your dog |
- can cosy up by the fire
family-friendly films all day (with
help-yourself servings of ice cream
and popcorn).
Staff are happy to create you a
personalised itinerary, from chartering
a boat to practising archery, and the
location is perfect: private enough to
feel exclusive, yet close enough to visit
the nearby towns of Ambleside and
Bowness, both around two miles away.
You’ll find great dining options in both,
but the hotel’s restaurant is also a must
with its afternoon teas and hearty
Sunday lunch showcasing delicious local
produce. Retiring to bed through the
grand main hall, there’s a sense of
homely familiarity you rarely find in
modern hotels. Staff remember your
name and wish you goodnight and you’ll
wish you really did have friends with
a country estate like this one.
GET THERE Double rooms at Langdale
Chase (langdalechase.co.uk) start from
£290 a night, including breakfast.
In spring, Cornwall’s wide beaches and
charming fishing villages are blissfully
empty and wildflowers bloom along
the coastal paths. One of the most
picturesque places to stay is the Fowey
Valley, home to
Restormel Manor,
on the new Prince
and Princess of
Wales’ Duchy estate.
Here, you can hire
one of 22 cottages
- and, if it’s good
enough for royalty...
The Duchy of
Cornwall is one of the oldest in Britain
and was run by King Charles for 50 years
before William and Kate took over. The
Duchy cottages sleep between two and
eight, and big parties of up to 18 can
stay at the manor itself when the Prince
and Princess are away!
Restormel Cottage is a 17th-century
gem and one of the estate’s oldest
properties, having been converted from
the Manor House’s formal entrance. Just
imagine getting a glimpse of the couple
walking the grounds as you make your
way to the swimming pool, sauna and
tennis courts. Interiors are curated by
Annabel Elliot (Queen Camilla’s sister,
an interior designer) and you can see
her influence in the organic linens, floral
sofas and country-style antiques. The
private courtyard garden has a barbecue
for warmer evenings and the
Discover the wide
• sandy beaches
at Portscatho

conservation work of
the former steward -
now King - is evident
in the foraged wood
for the fire and
compost bins.
Annabel also
designed the Duchy of
Cornwall nursery - perfect for breakfast,
with views of the valley. It’s also a bustling
community hub hosting horticultural
workshops and children’s activities.
Lostwithiel, a 12th-century antiques
capital with wonderful independent
shops, such as Alice in Scandiland, is
a pleasant 30-minute walk away and the
fishing village of Portscatho is an hour’s
drive. Here you’ll find the Hidden Hut, a
restaurant that serves wood-fired
feasts on a long shared table on the
beach at low tide. It’s the perfect way
to end a rather regal stay.
The Duchy Of
Cornwall Holiday Cottages
(duchyofcornwallholidaycottages.co.uk)
start from £685 for seven nights in
Hoopers (sleeps two, 5*12 April).
Restormel Cottage, from £1,475 for
seven nights (sleeps five, 13-20 April).
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 167
created 31 bedrooms, each with a
There’s also a
acres of beautifully
manicured gardens
Dogs will love
exploring the grounds
The English Rose
room, in the Lodge,
has views of the lawns
Find inner calm
in the Cotswolds
There’s something about the Cotswolds
that makes your mood lighten as soon
as you arrive. It could be the rolling hills
(the ‘wolds’), the honey-toned stone
buildings that appear cast in a constant
sunny glow or the lively market towns.
Nestled within this quintessential^
English, picture-postcard setting is
Thyme, a peaceful ‘village within a
village’ in the actual village of Southrop.
The 150-acre estate and 17th-century
outbuildings have been lovingly restored
by the current owners with a focus on
nature and seasonal produce. They’ve
Learn the art of tennis in Scotland
Scotland has its fair share of fine
country estates, yet none of them
tick quite as many boxes as Cromlix
in Stirlingshire. The first is glamour, in
the form of its celebrity owners; tennis
star Andy Murray and his wife Kim (the
five-star hotel is just three miles from
his hometown of Dunblane).
Built in 1874, the grand Victorian
mansion was bought by the Murrays
more than a decade ago and has
recently been given a makeover by Kim
and interior designer Suzanne Garuda.
As a result, the style box is also well and
truly ticked: fresh flowers from the
garden (more than 5,000 tulips bloom
here in spring) are thoughtfully matched
to the bold botanic wallpapers and
patterned statement sofas in the public
rooms. Each of the 15 spacious
bedrooms and suites (as well as the
self-contained Gatehouse Lodge -
perfect for families) are different and
come with toiletries by exclusive
Edinburgh brand MODM. Oh, and
there’s Murray’s personal collection of
modern art on the walls, including
works by Damien Hirst and David
Shrigley, as well as pieces on loan from
the Royal Scottish Academy.
botanical name such as Lemon Balm,
Bergamot and Calendula, with design
details to match. Garden rooms have a
private garden with firepit, glass doors
overlooking the patio and freestanding
roll-top baths.
Unsurprisingly, the tennis box has
been ticked, too. Guests can borrow
rackets to play on the outdoor courts
(in Wimbledon colours) or you can book
private professional coaching (sadly not
from Andy) for £120 an hour. There’s
also billiards, croquet and pickleball.
If walking is as active as you want to
get, there are 34 acres, including woods
and a private loch, and foraging is
available with local guide Lauren.
Traditional Scottish outdoor pursuits
can also be arranged, such as fishing
with the estate’s friendly ghillie Steve,
as well as falconry with Elite Falconry,
including the chance to don a gauntlet
and handle owls, hawks and eagles
- an experience you’ll never forget.
Finally, there’s the food, overseen by
executive head chef Darin Campbell,
who’s worked at Gleneagles and for
Marcus Wareing in London. The menu
at the Glasshouse, a conservatory
overlooking the gardens, includes
everything from seared Kinlochbervie
monkfish to dry-aged Scotch beef.
The hotel really is a case of ‘love all’
and you can even get married in the
original chapel. Both Andy and his
brother Jamie had their weddings here.
shop selling Bertioli products - Thyme’s
brand inspired by nature, plus the
toiletries are found in all the rooms.
Thyme’s restaurant, which has an open
kitchen, is in the 19th-century Ox Barn
and serves seasonal dishes using
Double rooms at Cromlix
(cromlix.com) from £315 a night,
including breakfast. Little’s (littles.co.uk)
can arrange transfers from Glasgow and
Edinburgh airports. Flights with easyJet
(easyjet.com) from London Gatwick
from £16.49pp one way.
168 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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Good escapes
vegetables such as kohlrabi, yacon,
bitter leaves and fennel as well as the
humble pea, leek and onion. It’s a true
collaboration between chef and garden.
The Baa Bar (in the old lambing shed),
with its dark walls and comfy, low
velvet sofas, serves botanically-inspired
cocktails, and the cheese and chard
toastie is a must. For pampering, there’s
the Meadow Spa, with treatments such
as the Bertioli Beauty for Hands and
Feet (£155 for 90 minutes) - a deeply
luxurious manicure and pedicure. Or
you can practise guided breathwork
in Thyme’s restorative Botanical Bothy
space before relaxing in its private
garden and sinking into a herbal bath
next to a roaring fire (£225pp). There’s
also an outdoor spring-water swimming
pool and tennis courts and, if you think
all that’s missing is a pub, fear not,
Thyme has one! The Swan, in Southrop
village itself, offers hearty food and an
open fire.
GET THERE Double rooms at Thyme
(thyme.co.uk) from £450 a night,
including breakfast.
Explore the rugged
landscape and lochs
surrounding Cromlix
Play everything
from tennis to
Walk along the coastline
near Broad Haven South
Silk Purse Cottage was
once a stone bam
Ramble along the
Pembrokeshire coast
If you’re looking to
switch off from the
everyday hustle and
bustle, it doesn’t get
much better than
Pembrokeshire in
south-west Wales,
40 miles from
Carmarthen and 60
miles from Swansea.
Angle, one of the county’s smaller
villages, makes the perfect base with its
unique, Indian Colonial-style architecture
and medieval historical sites, such as the
Tower House dating back to the 14th
century, and expansive sandy beach.
Coastal Cottages has a wide range
of properties in the area, including Silk
Purse Cottage, a cosy, two-bedroom
retreat in Angle. A converted farm
building, its rustic interior is both
comfortable and charming - and it’s
dog-friendly, too. Time in the evenings
can be spent catching up by the fire
or preparing family dinners in the
well-equipped kitchen. When the sun
shines, the garden is gorgeous and you’ll
soon make friends with the friendly
sheep next door (safely behind a fence
if you do bring your dog).
But it’s the
coastal rambles
that really set the
area apart - try a
scenic stroll along
the West Angle
Bay Circular Walk
- a four-mile trail
past spectacular views, beautiful
beaches and an impressive Victorian
fort. More serious hikers can brave the
Angle Peninsula - a strenuous but
breathtaking nine-mile route covering
the most impressive stretches of the
west Welsh coastline. The best thing
about walking is you’ll need to refuel
afterwards and The Old Point House on
the beach in Angle serves butties filled
with Pembrokeshire crab, whole-roasted
mackerel and sandwiches stuffed with
local smoked salmon. For afters, head to
The Wavecrest Cafe and watch in awe,
feet sore, as the tide swells and you
indulge in a huge slice of delicious cake.
GET THERE Coastal Cottages
(coastalcottages.co.uk) offers seven
nights in Silk Purse Cottage from £710
in April (sleeps four). □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 169
Beachfront bungalows
nestle among swaying palms
French Polynesia inspired Disney’s Moana, and is where Beyonce
and the Obamas like to holiday. But there’s more to Tahiti
than Bora Bora, as Bethan Rose Jenkins discovers
I t turns out
I that Tahiti
I (rather than
I San Francisco,
I as the song
goes) is the place
to wear flowers in your hair. Landing in
Papeete, the island’s capital, I’m greeted
warmly with a fresh flower necklace from
my taxi driver. This welcome becomes
a staple of every first interaction I have
with locals as I arrive on each of four
islands during my 10-day trip.
While the sweet-smelling tiare is the
national flower of Tahiti, it shares the
spotlight with many vibrant blooms that
grow abundantly in French Polynesia.
Flowers are worn behind the ear of
almost every woman and girl I see. ‘Left if
you’re married, right if you’re single,’ says
our guide, Teva, as he picks me a bright
pink hibiscus flower from a hedge.
Disney’s Moana famously
wears a bloom behind her
ear (the islands of Tahiti
inspired the cartoon), as
no doubt Beyonce and the
Obamas do when they visit
the region’s private islands.
While French Polynesia
is best known for its luxury
destination of Bora Bora, that’s only one
of 118 stunning tropical islands (turquoise
waters, white sandy beaches and swaying
palm trees) grouped in five archipelagos.
Tahiti, the largest island, is where the
I feel as far
from London
as you can gel
majority of the population live, and the
only one with an international airport.
Flying with Air Tahiti Nui from Paris,
I have an eight-hour journey to LA before
transferring on to an 11-hour
flight to Tahiti. I’m a little
dazed when I finally disembark
in Papeete, but am heartened
by a band playing traditional
music as we queue for
immigration. I feel as far from
London as you can get.
I collapse into my sprawling
bed in a stunning, two-storey suite at Le
Tahiti by Pearl Resorts, before rising the
next day to start my Tahitian adventure.
The first island I explore is Huahine.
I catch a 40-minute flight on a small,
170 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
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Far-flung escapes
coast, and unwind on its private beach.
There are kayaks you can borrow to go
Stay in one of Pension
Anahata’s beachside
bungalows on Taha’a
island-hopping plane, before being
taken aboard a large, single-outrigger
canoe (a long boat with a support float
attached), complete with pirate flag. I’m
still feeling jetlagged, but the fresh sea air
soon blasts the wind back into my sails.
French Polynesia is known for its
‘black’ pearls, which naturally come in
shades from light silver to pewter grey,
and the boat takes me to a pearl farm
to see how they’re grown. The small
the patterns chart his heritage.
W Another key part of Tahitian
life is the food. I feast on coconut-
crusted mahi-mahi with plantain
and sweet potato gratin, and
W ‘poisson cru’ (sushi-grade raw fish
v salad), with coconut water drunk
straight from a pierced shell.
After 10 days of island hopping,
exploring the crystal-clear waters and
lush green hills, I still feel as though I’ve
Lose yourself in
Raiatea’s ocean views
wooden structure on stilts is surrounded
by underwater baskets like lobster traps,
where pearls grow in oyster shells for
18-24 months. I couldn’t resist buying
a tiny, asymmetric pearl in deep grey to
wear as a pendant, for around £30.
SMOOTH SAILING
I spend the night at Le Mahana (in
one of the hotel’s charming beachfront
bungalows), before hopping over to
in search of octopuses and turtles, and
the gentle breeze blows cool, salty water
over my arms and legs.
What strikes me about the Tahitian
people is how in touch they are with
their environment, and how they use its
bounty in creative ways. Hiking in Taha’a
with Teva, my efforts are rewarded with
fresh grapefruit picked straight from
a tree, which he serves in a bowl woven
from palm fronds. He even whittles
barely scratched the surface. So on my
last night, sipping freshly made piha
colada, a hibiscus flower tucked behind
my ear, I vow I’ll be back.
GET THERE Air Tahiti Nui
(airtahitinui.com/en) flies from France
via LA or Seattle from £1,170pp return.
Doubles at Le Tahiti by Pearl Resorts
(letahiti.com) start at around £320 a
night. Le Mahana (lemahanahotel.com)
has garden bungalows sleeping four from
Raiatea, a 20-minute plane ride away.
a flute from the leaf’s stem and tells me
£208 a night. Double rooms at Pension
Here, I board a catamaran, which will
be my home for the next two nights.
Wide lagoons encircle the larger islands
of Tahiti, with reefs forming a barrier
that keeps the ocean calm within the
sheltered ring. This ensures smooth
sailing and still waters for snorkelling,
swimming and paddleboarding. The
skipper guides me to rich and colourful
coral reefs, pointing out stingrays, whales
and reef sharks. Forget Jaws - reef sharks
are not aggressive unless provoked, and
a school of them circle me in majestic
silence as I watch, spellbound.
With a shell necklace as a parting gift
from the crew, it’s time to disembark on
Taha’a. It’s known as the vanilla island, as
70% of all Tahitian vanilla is produced
here, and you’ll find it in everything from
sweet vanilla rum, distilled on the island,
to soaps and, of course, desserts.
I stay in one of Pension Anahata’s
beautiful bungalows perched along the
locals wear the palms as crowns during
traditional ceremonies and celebrations.
I also see the history and culture of
Tahiti written, literally, on the people in
traditional tattoos. ‘It’s my passport,’
a local man tells me, explaining how
TAHITI TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
* VISAS AND FLIGHTS
You don’t need a visa for
Tahiti, but you will need an
ESTA for your USA flight changeover
in either LA or Seattle.
* WEATHER AND HEALTH
Visit between November and
March for less humidity and
to avoid the rainy season, although
you can still enjoy sunny days between
the tropical showers at other times
of the year. You don’t need any specific
vaccinations to enter from the UK.
Anahata (pensionanahata.com) cost from
£144 a night. A Tahiti Yacht Charter
(tahitiyachtcharter.com/en) with crew
costs from £l,734pp for two on a four-
day package, including meals. For more
information, visit tahititourisme.uk/en-gb.
* SPENDING MONEY
The local currency is the
CFP Franc (XPF), which
can be exchanged at the airport on
arrival in Tahiti. Keep cash on you
for everyday purchases as although
cards are widely accepted, there’s
a minimum spend in most shops.
Depending on where you dine,
lunch will cost between 1,550 and
3,000 XPF pp (around £11-£22); and
dinner between 3,500 and 5,500
XPF pp (around £25-£40). □
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 171
PUZZLE
SPECIAL
Give your grey
Are you looking for a mental challenge? This month’s brilliant
brainteasers and word games will really get those cogs whirring!
Sudoku
Fill in the blank squares with the
numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, each
column and each 3x3 block contains
all the numbers from 1 to 9.
Killer
Sudoku
Normal Sudoku rules
apply, plus the digits
in each inner shape
(marked by a dotted
line) must add up to
the number in the top
corner of the shape.
Г15		11			10		9	
6		11		:17	13		6	
"io	12				9		12	
	16	14	9		5		11	
				8	r«“l	• 7"	17	
7		:17					I?	
"ii		I?’"		"i3		18		
18			18	19			9	10
		1	I			"ii		n	I			
Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Codeword
MIND BENDER
In this finished crossword, each letter of the alphabet
appears as a code number. Replacing the decoded
numbers 13,16 and 26 with their letters in the grid
will help you guess the identity of the other letters.
SOLUTIONS
ON PAGE
174
1	2
3	4
5	6
7	8
9	10
11	12
13 z	14
15	16 w
17	18
19	20
21	22
23	24
25	26 D
172 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Good puzzles
mailer a workout
Jumbo Crossword
ACROSS
9 Exceptional (8)
11	Highest peak in Africa (11)
12	Fear of open spaces (11)
13	Of special beauty (9)
14	Small canoe (5)
15	Pretend (5)
18 Superficial (4-4)
20 Incredulity (9)
22 Customs (10)
24 Change in appearance (11)
26 Greedy drinker (7)
29 Figures of speech (7)
31 Deception (11)
32 Surly person (10)
34 Guardians (9)
36 Fade away (8)
39 Manner of writing (5)
42 Thin fogs (5)
45 Diligent (9)
46 Praiseworthy (11)
47 Lack of being (11)
48 Concluding section (8)
DOWN
1	Go ashore (6)
2	Eerie; sinister (6)
3	Recess(6)
4	Snow sport (6)
5	Driers (anag.) (6)
6	Cocktail (8)
7	Notable inconvenience (6)
8	Dentifrice (10)
10 Sharp snapping sound (7)
15	Small imaginary beings (7)
16	Have an effect on another (9)
17	Holland (11)
19 Very light rain (7)
20 Palm fruits (5)
21 Sudden constriction (5)
23 Supposedly (9)
25 Ancient wise king (7)
26 Tall quadruped (7)
27 Exit (5)
28 Positions in a hierarchy (5)
30 Growing in size (10)
33 Reduction in price (8)
35 Digit (7)
37 Fly an aircraft (6)
38 Relaxing (6)
40 Insect that transmits
sleeping sickness (6)
41 Linger aimlessly (6)
43 Hard to digest (of food) (6)
44 Female sibling (6)
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 173
Good puzzles
Arrow-word
The arrows show the direction in which the answer to each clue should be placed.
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Crafty									Tool for making holes in leather				Seabird
Leap on one foot	►				Mahal: mausoleum at Agra			US state	Disease caused by a lack of thiamine	Took a photo of				▼
Having three sides			Hayes: US soul and funk singer	Bath vessel	V ►			▼	▼	Call to mind				
L		V										Hawaiian greeting	
Type of savings account (abbr)	Garment for the foot		Jolt	к					Incline			▼	
L	▼		Seethe							Type of air pollution	Aromatic herb		Light boat adapted for rowing
Clumsy person			▼	Type of porch			Particle that is electrically charged		Enclosure for sheep (in Scotland)	Г"	▼		▼
r				▼			▼		▼	Large tuna			
Dweller		Roger English actor	►							Piece of cloth			
Acquire	Catch sight of	Els? golfing star	►							Opposite of least		Indian dress	Slender woody shoot
L	▼	▼	Touch lightly				Plant liquid	Influenza	Shrill bark	p		▼	▼
Fulfil a desire	к						▼	▼	▼	Uncooked (of meat)			
r			Squid dish										
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New mystery puzzle book!
The Cosy Mystery Puzzle Book - The Murder Of Mayor Malady by Richardson
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logic and word puzzles to solve. Catch the culprit and answer a bonus question
by 31 March 2024 for a chance to win £500! Go to littleriddlewood.com/momm
to order the book and for more about the competition (including full T&Cs).
R RICHARDSON
PUZZLES & GAMES
SUOpn|OS
174 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
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APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 175
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
Good Househeeomo
RAILWAYS
JOURNE®.
Holidays
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
gaby.huddart@hearst.co.uk
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllllllllllllllllll
------------- Rail journeys are one of the best
ways to appreciate Europe’s
spectacular scenery and are a
highlight on some of our most
popular escorted tours. Embrace
the slower pace of travel as you
admire the beautiful landscapes
passing by. You might pick a sojourn in the
stunning Swiss Alps, with a ride on the celebrated
Glacier Express or Bernina Railway, or you might
prefer to take in shimmering Lake Maggiore with a
trip on the historic Centovalli Railway. Alternatively,
stick closer to home with a ride on The Jacobite
across the fabulous Glenfinnan Viaduct, as seen in
the Harry Potter films. Visit goodhousekeeping,
com/uk/rail or scan the QR code on the bottom
right of this page to discover the full rail collection
from Good Housekeeping Holidays.
Gaby Huddart


SPECIAL OFFERS FOR GH SUBSCRIBERS
BEING A GH SUBSCRIBER COMES WITH
EVEN MORE BENEFITS
On all the trips in this issue, GH subscribers are
entitled to at least one special added extra. To redeem,
simply quote your customer number when you ring our
friendly reservations team and book by 30 April 2024.
For more information and FAQs, visit
goodhousekeepingholidays.com/extras or scan this QR code.
RIDE... THE LESSER-KNOWN
CENTOVALLI RAILWAY
Absorb the beauty of sparkling Italian
lakes, magnificent towns and delicious
cuisine on this indulgent rail trip. Explore
Lake Maggiore - where you’ll stay for
the duration - plus Lakes Como and Orta,
and take to trips to Locarno and Zermatt
in Switzerland, where you’ll glimpse the
iconic Matterhorn and incredible mountain
views from the Centovalli railway (above).
Book it Join an eight-night tour
departing: 17 June, 9 or 30 September
2024; from £1,799pp*. Visit
goodhousekeeping.com/uk/centovalli
or call 0808 303 7360 to book.
SCAN ME
Terms and conditions for all our trips: prices and itineraries correct at time of print but may be subject
to change. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. For expert-led trips and in the case of
unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and expert-led events may be subject to
change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Offers are not
valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. Travel insurance is not included but
should be taken out at time of booking. Holidays may be sold through other selected brands.
Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. GH subscriber extras are available
to GH magazine and Hearst UK marketing list subscribers, and selected
subscribers to other Hearst UK brands.
Holidays
RIDE... ENGLISH
ЯЛ STEAM RAILWAYS
Г r	AND MEET LUCY
' v	WORSLEY
Norfolk is a much-loved
destination, attracting
Uw visitors from across the
UK, thanks to its stunning coastline,
laid-back pace of life, attractive Broads
and poppy fields. On this trip, you’ll
travel on unique steam railways the
Bure Valley Railway and The Poppy
Line, take a memorable cruise along
the Broads, discover charming villages
and visit Sandringham - home of the
late Queen Elizabeth II - with historian
Dr Lucy Worsley, who will give
a private talk.
Book it: Join a four-night tour
departing: 15 April, 6 May, 2 or 9
September 2024; from £895pp*. Visit
goodhousekeeping.com/uk/littletrains
or call 0808 303 7428 to book.
RIDE... THE BREATHTAKING
BERNINA RAILWAY
Soak up the lakeside glamour in
Lake Como, Italy, as you explore its
elegant towns, ornate villas, charming
restaurants and glittering shores.
You’ll take a boat trip and also visit
neighbouring Switzerland and the
chic resort of St Moritz. To get there,
you’ll take the highest railway line in
the Alps, the UNESCO-listed Bernina
Railway, and admire the stunning
mountains and pristine lakes from
your spacious, panoramic carriage.
Book it: Join a seven-night tour
departing: 6 May, 23 September or
9 December 2024; from £1,799pp*. Visit
goodhousekeeping.com/uk/bernina
or call 0808 303 7374 to book.
RIDE... THE JACOBITE
AND MEET
KIRSTY WARK
Settle into an incredible
steam-powered journey
over land, sea and
loch as you explore the
woods, hills, glens and waterways of
the Trossachs, just east of Loch Lomond.
You’ll travel across the spectacular
21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct on the
famous Jacobite steam train, voted
the world’s greatest railway journey.
You’ll also steam gently across Loch
Katrine, glimpse Britain’s highest
mountain, Ben Nevis, and hear a
special talk and Q&A one evening
from Scottish broadcaster Kirsty Wark.
Book it: Join a three-night tour
departing: 26 July 2024; from £1,355pp*.
Visit goodhousekeeping.com/uk/
jacobite or call 0808 303 7523 to book.
RIDE... THE ICONIC
GLACIER EXPRESS
See the majestic Swiss Alps on this
incredible trip, which reveals the most
breathtaking scenery as you travel along
one of the world’s most scenic mountain
ranges. Whether you choose to travel in
springtime - when wildflowers abound
- or in autumn - when the turning leaves
contrast beautifully with the snow - you’ll
enjoy an invigorating mountain getaway.
Explore Lakes Thun and Lucerne, see
the dramatic Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau
peaks and enjoy a day trip with lunch on
the slowest express train in the world.
Book it: Board Eurostar for a four-night
no-fly tour departing: 1 March or
11 October 2024; from £1,599pp*. Visit
goodhousekeeping,
com/uk/glacier or
call 0808 303 7425
to book.
Go online., for GH
subscriber extras
on these trips.	SCAN ME
★Terms & conditions apply, please see online for details.
Good Housekeeping
lolidavs
SAVE £55Opp ON
THIS FIVE-STAR
ALL-INCLUSIVE
RIVER CRUISE

Board a luxury river cruise line to sail through the heart
of Venice and meet the renowned chef
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
YOUR SPECIAL GUEST
Angela Hartnett OBE is chef-patron of
Michelin-starred Murano and Cafe Murano
in London, and works with Luke
Holder at Lime Wood hotel.
A protegee of Gordon
Ramsay, Angela has
appeared on TV shows
such as Tomorrow's	l l
Food and Best Home	L Z
Cook with Mary Berry.	( “
Discover Venice in style on board
Uniworld’s luxurious S.S. La Venezia,
one of the few small ships allowed
to sail through the heart of Venice
now that large ocean liners have been banned.
You’ll also have exclusive access to some of
Venice’s most famous locations when they’re
closed to the general public. You’ll enjoy
private visits to St Mark’s Basilica and the
church on Torcello, as well as VIP access
SAIL IN LUXURY ON S.S. LA VENEZIA
Specifically designed to sail these waters,
a voyage on the sleek S.S. La Venezia is the
best way to explore the Venetian Lagoon.
Enjoy its opulent Venetian-style decor and
elegant Murano glassware. All staterooms
have views over the water.
SPECIAL EVENTS WITH
CHEF ANGELA HARTNETT
Angela Hartnett joins the cruise for three days.
She’ll accompany you on a visit to the Rialto
food market, host a cooking demonstration
on board and take part in a foodie Q&A.
PLENTY OF INCLUSIONS
Exceptional meals are included on board
S.S. La Venezia, made by chefs using the
freshest ingredients. A choice of tours and
excursions are also included, with a variety
available on some islands.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
 A seven-night cruise in a
classic riverview stateroom
on board S.S. La Venezia.
 A Rialto Market visit with
Angela Hartnett.
	A cooking demonstration
and Q&A with Angela.
	All meals and unlimited
beverages on board,
including fine wines, cocktails
and local beers.
	A captain’s welcome and
farewell dinners.
	Six days of excursions
with local experts.
	Private visits to St Mark’s
Basilica, Doge’s Palace and
Torcello church.
	A visit to either Vicenza
or Padua, which are
both locations recognised
by UNESCO.
	Visits to Torcello, Mazzorbo
and Burano, with an option
to visit Murano.
 Return flights from the UK.
 Transfers to and from the
airport and ship.
 All gratuities, both on
board and on shore.
GH SUBSCRIBER
EXTRA!
Subscribers can claim
free airport lounge
access**. Turn to page 176
for more information.
to the Doge’s Palace.
On the last few days of the cruise, chef
PRICE From £2,949pp*, inclusive of £550pp saving
Angela Hartnett
will join you on a
tour of the famous
Rialto Market,
host a cooking
demonstration and
answer some of your
culinary questions.
DATES 21 to 28 July 2024
В 0808 258 5172
□ goodhousekeeping.com/uk/angelahartnett
!ЙЖ!
ЖЖ!
SCAN ME
'From price is per person, based on two people sharing a riverview stateroom, subject to availability. Price includes
savings. Single supplement on request. Deposit: 15%. *'One per person, only for outbound travel, subject to availability:
book by 30 April2024. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Uniworld River Cruises Limited.
Good Househeeping
Holiday
SAVE MORE
THAN £300
PER COUPLE!*
Ляя n-'l
*я • 1
'^Tourihe spectacular
iWcHbcoast with
AROL KIRKWOOD -
Uncover the breathtaking region that inspired The Sunday
WHAT’S INCLUDED
 Six days on the Amalfi Coast.
 A talk, Q&A and excursions
to Positano, Minori and Capri
with Carol Kirkwood.
	Five nights at the four-star
Hotel Victoria Maiorino, with
five breakfasts and an aperitif
on arrival.
	A three-course lunch at
a local winery at the base of
Mount Vesuvius, with water,
soft drinks and a wine pairing.
 A three-course dinner at
the hotel and one lunch at a
local restaurant.
	Ferry tickets from Salerno to
Positano and Salerno to Capri.
	A visit to a family-run
Mozzarella farm in Ravello
with a cheese tasting.
	A visit to a lemon garden
in Minori with a delicious
three-course dinner.
 Entrance to Villa Rufolo
Times bestselling author’s latest novel
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
MEET YOUR SPECIAL GUEST
Carol Kirkwood is a Sunday
Times bestselling author
and weather presenter.
Her latest book, Secrets
Of The Villa Amore, is
set on the stunning
Amalfi Coast.

I he sparkling blue sea, pastel-hued
houses and fragrant lemon groves
of the Amalfi Coast will take your
breath away. This 50km stretch of
coastline between Salerno and Sorrento is
certainly one of the most beautiful in Italy.
Our exclusive six-day tour takes you to some
of its most enchanting locations, including
Ravello, Positano and Capri. Making this trip
even more special is the company of author and
presenter Carol Kirkwood, who’ll join you for
two days and give a talk and Q&A at your hotel.
MEET CAROL KIRKWOOD
Weather presenter, author and former Strictly
contestant Carol Kirkwood will join you for
two days, accompanying you on your visit
to Capri and Positano, and giving a talk
and Q&A at your hotel on finding inspiration
for her novels.
FAMILY-RUN HOTEL
Your home for the trip will be the elegant
family-run Hotel Victoria Maiorino in Cava de’
Tirreni, situated inland from the Amalfi Coast,
making it a convenient base for your trip.
DISCOVER POMPEII
Take a step back in time with a visit to
this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll also
have an expert local guide who’ll shed light
on the lives of those who lived here before
the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE.
in Ravello.
	Entrance to Villa San Michele
in Anacapri.
	Entrance to the
archaeological area of Pompeii.
	An English-speaking expert
and local guide in Ravello,
Capri and Pompeii.
	Return flights from London
Heathrow to Naples.
	Group airport transfers.
	More than £300 saving*
per couple.
GH SUBSCRIBER
EXTRA!
Subscribers can claim a
free signed copy of
Carol’s book, Secrets Of
The Villa Amore**. Turn to
page 176 for further
information.
You’ll also visit Pompeii (below) and its
stunningly preserved buildings, and taste the
region’s incredible
flavours, with a visit
to a lemon garden
in Minori, a cheese
tasting at a family-run
farm and local winery
visit at the base of
Mount Vesuvius.
PRICE From £2,599pp, inclusive of your GH saving*
DATES 4 to 9 September 2024
Д 0808 303 7578
□ goodhousekeeping.com/uk/kirkwoodamalfi
SCAN ME
'From price is per person, based on two people sharing a standard room, subject to availability. Single supplement:
£455. Deposit: 30%. Price includes £171pp saving. "One per booking, subject to availability, book by 30 April2024.
Not suitable for those with mobility issues. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is
operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Trave! Ltd (ATOL bonded).
EARLY
BOOKING
DISCOUNT!
SAVE UP TO
£560 PER
COUPLE
, Sail the DANUBE
with LUCY WORSLEY
See Budapest, explore the Wachau Valley and visit Vienna with the leading historian
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
YOUR SPECIAL GUEST
Lucy Worsley OBE is one of Britain’s
leading historians and is joint
chief curator at Historic Royal
Palaces. She has presented a
number of TV programmes,
including Lucy Worsley’s Л
Reins Of Power: The Art Of
Horse Dancing, where she ;
learned the 17th-century
art of horse ballet.
he mighty Danube flows through
10 European countries and is the
soul of Central Europe. It boasts
opulent cities as well as picturesque
towns and villages along its culture-rich
banks, and passes through dramatic unspoilt
countryside, including the UNESCO-protected
Wachau Valley (far right).
Join a very special cruise along this
exceptional river in the company of one of the
UK’s best-loved historians, Lucy Worsley. Lucy
will join you on a private excursion
to the Lipizzaner stables at the Spanish
Riding School in Vienna, where you’ll
get an insight into the training work
of the riders with their world-famous
dancing Lipizzaner stallions.
During this week-long voyage, you’ll
also have plenty of time to discover the
highlights of three of Europe’s great
capitals - Vienna (bottom right),
Budapest and Bratislava. Along the
way, there’ll be guided walks, evening
entertainment and plenty of onshore
excursions, so you can get to know
these great European cities.
You’ll be sailing on board the excellent
A-ROSA FLORA, a comfortable ship that
suits all types of traveller, on which all
meals and drinks - including sparkling
wines and cocktails - are included, as are
afternoon tea and snacks, plus use of
the sauna, gym and top-deck heated
swimming pool. You’ll also get 15% off
treatments in the on-board spa.
Ga«d Housekeeping
Holidays
CLASSIC SHIP
Your home for the week will be the elegant
A-ROSA FLORA (right), a well-appointed ship
with a variety of evening entertainment,
a swimming pool and
a well-equipped spa
(below right), where
you’ll receive a 15%
discount on treatments.
EXCELLENT DINING
Travel full-board on
A-ROSA FLORA, where
gourmet buffets are
prepared in the Market
Restaurant with fresh,
locally sourced produce.
MEET LUCY WORSLEY
Historian Lucy Worsley
joins you for part of this
cruise. She’ll give a talk and
Q&A, and also join you on
your trip to the Spanish
Riding School.
THE LIPIZZANER STABLES
You’ll enjoy a visit to the Spanish Riding
School in Vienna, known for its beautiful
Lipizzaner stallions. You’ll have a welcome talk
and aperitif before watching the horses train.
VIENNA
Soak up the elegant atmosphere of Austria’s
historic capital. Highlights include the
WHAT’S INCLUDED
 Seven nights sailing on the
A-ROSA FLORA from and to
Engelhartszell in Austria.
 Visits to Vienna,
Budapest, Bratislava and
the Wachau Valley.
 A visit to Esztergom, a
picturesque town in Hungary
with a historic basilica.
 Seven nights on board
A-ROSA FLORA in an
outside cabin on a full-board
basis with drinks, including
sparkling wine and cocktails.
 15% off treatments at the
spa on board A-ROSA FLORA.
 Use of all on-board
facilities, including
sun-deck games, gym,
relaxation area, sauna
and swimming pool.
	A private talk and Q&A
with Lucy Worsley, plus
an excursion to the
Lipizzaner stables.
 A guided tour of Vienna.
 A walking tour of Bratislava.
 Return flights from
Heathrow to Munich
and group transfers.
	Services of a tour manager.
	Up to £560 saving*
per couple.
GH SUBSCRIBER
EXTRA!
Subscribers can claim
free airport lounge
access. Book today
and start your trip
in style**! Turn to
page 176 for further
information.
Schonbrunn and Hofburg palaces, St Stephen’s
Cathedral and ornate coffee houses.
BUDAPEST
You’ll dock in Budapest for two days, giving
you time to explore the imperial buildings of
Buda on one side of the river and the more
bohemian vibes of Pest on the other.
BRATISLAVA
PRICE From £2,299pp*, inclusive of your early
booking discount
DATES 22 to 29 September 2024
В 0808 303 4716
□ goodhousekeeping.com/uk/worsleydanube
SCAN ME
Another port of call is Bratislava, where you’ll
soak up the grand baroque palaces and
communist-era blocks standing side by side.
*From price is per person, based on two people sharing an outside cabin. Price includes early booking
discount; expires 29 February 2024. Single supplement applies. Deposit: 30%. Not suitable for those with
mobility issues. * *Subject to availability at time of booking, for outbound travel only; book by 30 April 2024.
Holiday is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Limited (ATOL bonded).
Good Hoitsekei
ENJOY A
SPECIAL GH
£150pp*
SAVING
Join Andrew Graham-Dixon to discover the works of
Vermeer with a private viewing at the famous Mauritshuis
I III I lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllllllllllllll lllllllllllllIIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIIIlllllllHillllllllllllHilllllllllllllllll11 III Hill III
MEET YOUR SPECIAL GUEST
Andrew Graham-Dixon is a leading
art critic, writer, journalist and broadcaster.
Andrew has a long history of
public service in the field of the
visual arts, having judged
the Turner Prize, the BP
Portrait Award and
the British Animation
Awards, among others.
Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer
created some of the world’s most
recognisable paintings, and you’ll see
two of them - View Of Delft and Girl
With A Pearl Earring - on this six-day tour in the
company of art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon.
Andrew will share his vast knowledge of the
Dutch Golden Age during an exclusive talk and
Q&A session. A highlight of the trip will be a
private guided viewing at the Mauritshuis in The
EXCLUSIVE EVENTS WITH
ANDREW GRAHAM-DIXON
Andrew will give a private talk in the
Vermeer room at the Mauritshuis, and join
you for a gala dinner at your hotel, where
he’ll give another exclusive talk and
answer some of your questions.
THE MAURITSHUIS
A visit to this incredible museum will be
a highlight of the trip - you’ll hear an
illuminating talk from Andrew, and tour
the rest of the museum with another expert
guide before it opens to the general public.
DELFT
Enjoy an exclusive walking tour of Delft,
the city where the ‘Master of Light’
Johannes Vermeer lived his entire life.
It’s famous for its ceramics, old tiled
houses, tree-lined canals and little bridges.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
 Visits to Delft, Leiden, Gouda,
The Hague and Amsterdam.
 A return Eurostar from
London St Pancras to Rotterdam.
 Five nights’ accommodation
on a B&B basis at the Best
Western Grand Museum Hotel,
Delft, based on shared
occupancy of a twin room.
 A gala dinner with wine
and a talk from Andrew
Graham-Dixon.
	A private viewing of the
Vermeer room with Andrew
at the Mauritshuis.
	A visit to the Rijksmuseum
and the Rembrandt House
Museum.
	A walking tour of Delft.
	Tours of Leiden and Gouda.
	A full coach touring itinerary,
including entrance fees and
transfers as detailed.
	A tour manager throughout
from arrival at Rotterdam.
	A special GH saving
of £150pp*.
GH SUBSCRIBER
EXTRA!
Subscribers can claim
a free signed copy of
Andrew Graham-Dixon’s
book, Caravaggio: A Life
Sacred And Profane**.
Turn to page 176 for
further information.
Hague, where Andrew will give another talk.
You’ll also visit the
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam,
with its 8,000-strong
collection of artworks.
There’ll also be time for
you to explore The Hague,
Gouda, Leiden and Delft,
where you’ll stay for the
majority of this trip.
PRICE From £1,799pp, inclusive of your £150pp saving*
DATES 2 to 7 October 2024
В 0808 303 7236
□ goodhousekeeping.com/uk/dutchmasters
SCAN ME
'From price is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room, subject to availability. Single supplement:
£360. Deposit: 30%. Price includes £150pp saving. "One per booking, subject to availability, offer expires 30
April2024. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Limited (ATOL bonded).
Watch ANDREA 1
concert
Good Housekeeping
\ BOCELLI in
£
See Italian opera legend Andrea Bocelli in his hometown of
Lajatico as he returns for his annual open-air concert. This unique ’
event takes place in the stunning amphitheatre of the Teatro del
Silenzio - the Theatre of Silence - built especially for the maestro’s
summer concerts. You’ll have allocated seats for his mesmerising performance
in the Tuscan countryside - the highlight of your stay there. Choose from a four-night
stay in Lucca, with visits to the Bocelli family vineyard and beach club (inset),
or a five-night stay in Florence with visits to Siena, San Gimignano and Prato.
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
STAY IN FLORENCE AND VISIT THE
HILLTOP TOWNS OF TUSCANY
Tour the beautiful towns of Tuscany and
enjoy standard poltroncina seats at the
Teatro del Silenzio to watch one of
modern opera’s most famous stars.
You’ll also see beautiful Siena on a
guided visit, tour a local winery in San
Gimignano and explore historic Prato.
You’ll be staying at the four-star Hotel
Firenze Pitti Palace al Ponte Vecchio,
right beside the Ponte Vecchio bridge in
Florence, and will visit the city’s sights,
including Piazza della Signoria, the
Palazzo Vecchio and the Ponte Vecchio.
Book it Enjoy a five-night break in a
four-star hotel, with poltroncina tickets
to Andrea Bocelli’s concert included.
Departing: 15 July 2024; from
£2,699pp*. Visit goodhousekeeping,
com/uk/andreabocelli or call
0808 304 1450 to book.
STAY IN LUCCA AND VISIT
THE BOCELLI FAMILY ESTATE
Discover the Bocelli family’s Tuscany
on this unique tour, where you’ll watch
Andrea Bocelli himself with top-end
tickets in poltronissima seats. You’ll be
seated just behind the VIP seats at his
annual hometown concert in Lajatico.
You’ll also visit the family restaurant
nearby for a wine tasting and to learn
more about Andrea and his work. Plus,
you’ll enjoy a delicious seafood lunch
on the Tuscan Riviera at the family’s
chic beach club in Forte dei Marmi.
You’ll stay at the four-star Albergo
Celide in the gorgeous walled town
of Lucca, and enjoy a visit to the
medieval hilltop town of Volterra.
Book it Enjoy a four-night break in
a four-star hotel, with poltronissima
tickets to Andrea Bocelli’s concert
included. Departing: 15 July 2024;
from £3,999pp*. Visit
goodhousekeeping,
com/uk/bocellifamily
or call 0808 303 7662
to book.
Go online., for GH
subscriber extras
on these two trips.
SCAN ME
*Terms & conditions apply; please see online for details.
Good Housekeeping Advertisement Feature
I lealth & wellbeing
Look after yourself
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Good Housekeeping Advertisement Feature
Fashion essentials
Look your best
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Good Housekeeping Advertisement Feature
Lifestyle essentials
This month's must-haves
WILLOW & HALL
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Good Housekeeping Advertisement Feature
2024 “MUST VISIT”
UK DESTINATION:
DORCHESTER, DORSET
Described as “a mosaic of rich heritage,
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- easy to reach, impossible to forget!
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Classified
Directory
HOME INTEREST
FASHION
GRAND CHESTERFIELD 3 SEATER SOFA
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Classified
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Classified
finish, the AirRAM Platinum combines advanced technology with unrivalled performance.
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Get our AirRAM Platinum and Speed Clean Kit for just £269.99 (RRP £369.99)	EJJ^B
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For details of classified advertising please telephone 020 4553 2900 or visit www.hearstmagazinesdirect.co.uk
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Classified
Mistral ВиУ One Get ®ne Price*
using voucher code GHKHALF Offer ends 31sl March 2024
Holidays
Special buy one get one half price offer to all Good Housekeeping Readers
Splendours
8 days, X3J
1st person from
£1,449
2nd person now from
Zadar, Sibenik, Plitvice Lakes w
& the Kornati Islands
8 days, departing in June & September 2024
£724
Half Board & Excursions Included | Flying from 12 regional airports
Half Board & Excursions Included | Flying from 7 regional airports
Discover some of the mostly unknown splendours of Croatia’s central
coast, islands and lakes on this fabulous holiday. We stay in Zadar, which
is at the heart of the coast and is known for its ancient history and breath-
taking seaside location. Admire the views from the promenade, relax on
the beach and enjoy our programme of included excursions and visits.
Your Holiday Includes:
Experience delightful railway journeys through spectacular Tyrolean
countryside with journeys on the Achensee Cog Railway, the nostalgic
Ziller Valley Steam Train and the Pinzgauer Narrow Gauge Railway.
A guided visit to Salzburg is also included on our holiday.
Your Holiday Includes:
• Guided walking tour of Zadar
• Boat excursion to Kornati
with lunch on board
• Excursion to the Plitvice Lakes
National Park
• Excursion to Sibenik
• Vineyard visit and wine tasting
•	7 nights half board accommodation
at the 4 star Hotel Kolovare, Zadar
•	Twin or double bedroom with
en-suite bathroom
•	Return flights to Croatia, luggage
and hotel transfers
•	Services of a Mistral Tour Manager
•	Journey on the Lake Achensee
rack and pinion railway
•	Journey on the Ziller Valley
railway and visit to Mayerhofen
•	Journey on the Pinzgauer railway
•	Excursion to Salzburg
•	7 nights staying at the 3 star Hotel
Bechlwirt or 3 star Hotel Briem
•	7 breakfasts and 7 evening meals
•	Austrian twin bedroom with
en-suite bathroom
•	Return flights to Munich including
luggage and hotel transfers
•	Services of a Mistral Tour Manager
•	ATOL Protected
Hotel Kolovare, Zadar
The 4 star Hotel Kolovare enjoys a peaceful and picturesque
location opposite a pebble beach and only 20 minutes
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swimming pool, terrace and a pool bar (seasonal). The spacious
air-conditioned bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom, balcony,
flat-screen TV and hairdryer.
Breakfasts and evening dinners are buffet style and are
taken in the main restaurant, which serves local and
Mediterranean style cuisine.
Please note that on certain peak dates or with high demand,
we may use an alternative 4 star hotel of a similar standard.
Hotel Briem, Westendorf - 26lh June departure
This 3 star hotel is just on the outskirts of Westendorf,
and a few minutes walk to the village centre. The continental
buffet breakfasts and three course table d'hote evening
dinners are served in a wood panelled farmhouse-style
dining room. There's also a cosy lounge, bar and outside
terrace. The Austrian twin bedrooms have an en-suite
bathroom, a safe and TV. Free Wi-Fi is available in the hotel.
Hotel Bechlwirt, Kirchberg -4"’& 11th Sept departures
This 3 star hotel offers views over to the Kitzbuhler Alps and
a village centre location. Continental buffet breakfasts and
three course table d'hote dinners are served in the restaurant.
The hotel features a cosy lounge bar, a restaurant and terrace
cafe. The Austrian twin bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom
and a flat-screen TV. Free Wi-Fi is available in the hotel.
Please note that on certain peak dates or with high demand, we may use an alternative hotel
of the same standard in one of our resorts in the Kitzbuhler Alps region of the Austrian Tyrol.
01
To book or for a free brochure call... VF ±	м	Vr U 1 ioam-5pm.
or to book online visit...
www.mistralholidays.co.uk using voucher «de GHKHALF
Open Monday to Friday 10am-5pm. Operated by Mistral Holidays. ABTA V0669 and ATOL Protected 6900. Subject to availability and full T&C’s apply. Single room supplements apply and flight
supplements apply from some airports and dates. Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a twin/double roonVDiscount offer applies to new air holiday bookings only and applies to the
base holiday price and excludes any supplements and upgrades. Offer expires 31/03/24. Discount codes cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount codes, promotions or offers and can only
be used with the holidays shown above. Prices shown are inclusive of current discounts. Prices are correct at 16/01/24 and are subject to change without notice and will be confirmed upon enquiry, see
our website for latest pricing. Please note that on certain peak dates or with high demand, we may use an alternative hotel of the same standard. For full terms and conditions please see our website.
For details of classified advertising please telephone 020 4553 2900 or visit www.hearstmagazinesdirect.co.uk
Classified
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For details of classified advertising please telephone 020 4553 2900 or visit www.hearstmagazinesdirect.co.uk
Classified
GREAT REASONS TO ORDER
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For details of classified advertising please telephone 020 4553 2900 or visit www.hearstmagazinesdirect.co.uk
Classified
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Classified
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difficult if we begin to experience skeletal and muscular issues.
A growing number of people are discovering that a product called
Turmeric+ Gold can help keep them active and living the life they love.
Jacqui Hunter, 60, who lives in
Northamptonshire, is one of those
people. She runs her own event
management consultancy for
the medical and pharmaceutical
industries, as well as enjoying a
busy life which includes, golf, yoga,
gardening and travel.
'I used to suffer with great discomfort
in my knees and neck, particularly
when going up and down the stairs.'
she remembers.
'I read about the benefits of turmeric
around three years ago. I've spent lots
of time in Goa where it's often used,
so I was intrigued to learn more.
‘Having a background in the
pharmaceutical industry I research
products thoroughly. I really liked
all the science and studies behind
Turmeric* Gold.'
Turmeric contains compounds called
curcuminoids, the most notable
of which is curcumin. Not only is
curcumin responsible for turmeric's
distinctive yellow colour but it's also
what makes it such a powerful spice.
However curcumin is difficult for
the body to absorb so the scientists
at FutureYou Cambridge used a
patented Curcuma Phospholipid
Complex formulation to make
Turmeric* Gold 30 times more
“I really liked all the science and
studies behind Turmeric* Gold.”
absorbable than standard turmeric.
They also added vitamin C, which
contributes to normal collagen
formation for the normal function
of cartilage and vitamin D, which
contributes to the maintenance of
normal bones and maintenance of
normal muscle function.
FREE Turmeric* Gold
Just pay £1.50 postage
FutureYou Cambridge is
offering you the chance to
try its premium joint health
product, Turmeric* Gold,
for just the cost of the
£1.50 postage.*
It is formulated by
FutureYou Cambridge,
well-known for its science-
backed health supplements.
The company, based in
Cambridge, regularly
consults with highly-
regarded scientific and
nutritional experts and
has also developed close
ties with world-leading
educational institutions.
Turmeric* Gold is their
most advanced and purest
turmeric formulation
yet, providing the same
lOOmg of curcumin
as its counterpart
Turmeric*,
but delivering it using
sunflower lecithin which
makes it soy-free.
It also comes in an easy-to-
swallow capsule rather than
a tablet.
Both versions contain
the patented Curcuma
Phospholipid Complex which
makes them 30 times more
absorbable than standard
turmeric.
They also contain vitamin
C which contributes to
normal collagen formation
for the normal function of
cartilage and vitamin D,
which contributes to the
maintenance of normal
bones and maintenance of
normal muscle function.
‘I can't think of a better
way to convince people. If
they like it, they will stick
with it. Tens of thousands
of customers already do.'
says Adam Cleevely, Chair
FutureYou Cambridge.
HOWTO
CLAIM YOUR
FREE PACK
To claim your free
28 day Turmeric* Gold
subscription trial pack
worth £22, visit
Futu reYou Off ers.co.u к
or freephone
0800 808 5740
quoting code
TGF204
Your first box is free (just
pay £1.50 postage) and you
will be enrolled into a flexible
subscription costing £22 every 28
days, which you can cancel at any
time, without obligation.
Letterbox
Friendly
Developed
in Cambridge
Science you
can trust
100% satisfaction,
guaranteed
Award-winning
Customer Care
★ Trustpilot
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EXCELLENT
Over 9,500 reviews
FutureYou
CAMBRIDGE
’Turmeric* Gold contains vitamin C which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage and bones. Vitamin D contributes to the
maintenance of normal muscle function. Introductory offer valid for new UK customers only. Offer expires 31st March 2024 and cannot be used in conjunction with any
other promotions. Cancel any time, without obligation. See FutureYouHealth.com/TGF204 for full terms and conditions.
For details of classified advertising please telephone 020 4553 2900 or visit www.hearstmagazinesdirect.co.uk
Classified
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A quick word from our
Every month, the GHI experts put products through their paces to bring you
 HOUSE OF YUM
CHAR-SIU ROAST PORK
Asda
Flavoursome and satisfying.
The glossy sauce has a sweet
barbecue flavour and the
slices of pork are well cooked.
 AIR FRYER
HEALTH GRILL
ProCook
Has 12 cooking programmes
and space for six portions,
plus the grill rack and glass
lid are dishwasher-safe.
 BISTRO MELT IN THE
MIDDLE BELGIAN
CHOCOLATE PUDDINGS
Asda
The sponge has a superb
level of cocoa, while the sauce
has long-lasting flavour.
 VEMONDO VEGAN
BEETROOT BURGER
Lidl
These burgers impressed our
testers with a balanced level
of earthy sweetness paired
with good seasoning.
 VEMONDO VEGAN
MOROCCAN STYLE
BURGERS
Lidl
Punchy spices and a great
chunky texture, plus a touch
of sweetness from the apricot.
 BIG DADDY
SIRLOIN STEAK
Iceland
This thick steak is wonderfully
soft and tender, making it
great for slicing into meals
such as fajitas and tacos.
 RIVELIA COFFEE
MACHINE
De’Longhi
Quick to preheat, this proved
consistent at making
espressos, not dropping a
single mark in our lab tests.
 HOUSE OF YUM
COCONUT &
LEMONGRASS CHICKEN
CURRY
Asda
A well-balanced flavour of
coriander and cardamom.
 RAPID-DRYER BALL
Boss It
Testers noticed a
significant difference in
tumble-drying times,
as well as saving money
on their electricity.
 DETTOL WASHING
MACHINE CLEANER
Dettol
Our panel testers found this
to be a straightforward and
easy-to-use product, thanks
to its clear instructions.
 100% RECYCLED
TOILET PAPER
Who Gives A Crap
GHI testers loved this
eco-friendly toilet paper,
which is biodegradable and
works with most septic tanks.
 ALMAT BIO
SUPER CONCENTRATED
LIQUID WASH
Aldi
Effectively removes stains
while leaving your load with
an uplifting, fresh fragrance.
200 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APRIL 2024
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
experts at the GlП
the best - and these are the latest to pass our rigorous tests
KEY  GHI APPROVED  READER RECOMMENDED
 GHI PERFORMANCE AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
 SPECIALLY SELECTED
100% BRITISH BEEF
WAGYU SIRLOIN STEAK
Aldi
Rich meat, paired with
well-aged fat, creates a
deeply umami flavour.
 INSTANT COFFEE
Co-op
With warm roasted cocoa,
caramel and vanilla notes, this
smells inviting. An expertly
balanced cup of coffee:
flavourful but not aggressive.
 STAINLESS STEEL
KETTLE 1.5L
ProCook
The sleek, stainless-steel
design makes this a great
addition to any kitchen. One
of the quickest we’ve tested.
 HOUSE OF YUM SPICY
KING PRAWN SZECHUAN
Asda
The sweet and savoury
sauce is flecked with chilli,
which complements the
sweetness of the prawns.
 BISTRO LASAGNE
AL FORNO
Asda
The creamy bechamel sauce
is enhanced by flavoursome
meat and vegetables, well
seasoned with black pepper.
 HOUSE OF YUM SLOW
COOKED BEEF TERIYAKI
Asda
Packed with vibrant sweet
and savoury notes, this has
a punchy flavour. The beef
melts in the mouth.
 5S SERIES DH5S102BW
HEAT PUMP TUMBLE
DRYER
Hisense
Ticked all our boxes for
features and scored full
marks for effective drying.
 ANTIBACTERIAL
LAUNDRY SANITISER
Dettol
This has proven itself as an
effective and efficient
washing solution for
all households.
 BSA66346PDBGUK
BLACKLINE OVEN
Hisense
This scored full marks for
its economical energy
consumption and effective
cooking of a variety of foods.
 MULTIPURPOSE
DISINFECTANT TRIGGER
SPRAY CLEANER
Zoflora
In-house experts were
amazed by the power of
this multipurpose spray.
 CAPSULE X
Halo
Excelled in our dust pick-up
assessments on all flooring.
It can transform into a
handheld vacuum cleaner
and has a wide set of tools.
 PREMIUM 100%
BAMBOO TOILET PAPER
Who Gives A Crap
Testers said this was better
than other toilet paper they
had used. Soft to the touch
and easy to tear off.
goodhousekeeping.com/uk
APRIL 2024 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 201
Good things

Actor, author and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher
shares the small things that bring her joy
^/#"ТАХТ
Giovanna lives in Hertfordshire
with her husband, Tom Fletcher,
and their sons, Buzz, nine, Buddy,
eight, and Max, five.
PERFECT ROASTIES
I went vegetarian for 10
 months last year, and it
taught me that it’s the
potatoes, not the meat,
z that make or break
a roast dinner! Mine are
legendary, if I say so myself - crunchy
on the outside, fluffy in the middle,
with golden brown bits at the edges.
Baby’s Day Out is
a recent favourite
FAMILY
MOVIE NIGHT
Once a week, we
have movie night.
I’ll make popcorn
and the boys choose the film.
We’ve had a Ghostbusters
phase, Indiana Jones and,
recently, they’ve latched on to
John Hughes’ Baby’s Day Out.
CHATTING WITH STRANGERS
When we’re out on walks, Tom takes
the mickey out of me because I can’t
just walk past people, I have to make
a comment about the day or their
dog - and I always end up chatting
away. Those little spontaneous
interactions fill me with so much joy.
RUNNING
AT DAWN
Waking up
before
everyone
else, when
the sun has
just risen,
and getting out for a run is my
favourite way to start the day.
There’s a stillness at that time,
and running eases whatever
pressures you have.
POND LIFE
We have a swimming pond in our
garden, which we’ve now given over
to nature. It’s so calming to sit by
and watch the activity in and around
it. Buddy and I spent last summer
looking for newts and frogs and
creating little homes for them.
WATCHING RERUNS
OF FRIENDS
Friends is like a blanket
on a cold day. There’s not
an episode I haven’t seen, so
1 can anticipate certain lines,
or I’U have seen a blooper
for that scene, so I know that
the cast were actually giggling away
behind the camera. It’s the ultimate
comfort watch.
Г AND THE
LUXURY I COULDN’T
LIVE WITHOUT...
MY BED
Is there any better feeling than
getting into bed at the end of the
day? I always spray my pillows with
L’Occitane rose water
and This Works Deep
Sleep Pillow Spray
heaven!
KICKABOUTS WITH
THE BOYS
Tom and I aren’t sporty at all,
but Buddy loves football, so
we’ve had to learn. We pick
teams and suddenly weTe not
Mum and Dad any more.
I get competitive,
which the boys /
find hilarious! f
HOLLIE McNISH’S I
POETRY
I read her book, Slug,
last year and I leave
it around, so I can dive
into a poem every
now and then. She
articulates so well what -----------
women go through growing up, and
the pressures we put on ourselves.
• Giovanna stars in Everybody’s
Talking About Jamie at London’s
Peacock Theatre until 23 March;
everybodystalkingaboutjamie.co. uk □
0 tn
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STRACHAN
THE ART OF FINE FURNITURE
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