Woman & Home

The time has come for me to be brave. After two years of putting it off, we are finally turning our loft into a bedroom for the hubby and me. This means our daughters, Bee, 10, and Ivy, seven, will have bigger rooms as we move (or do I mean hide?) up

ZOE WEST, one of our books editors, started her career advertising albums for a record company, before moving into magazines. She was an avid dancer in childhood, so writing about The Joy of Dance  on p42 was familiar territory. She lives in the coun

Thank you for recognising carers in Who’s caring for the carers? (September 2019). I’m 45 with children aged 10, nine and six. The eldest is severely disabled and I sometimes feel like an ‘invisible’ carer. My daughter’s life is limited, so Stephanie

Lesley, 63, lives in Sussex. She has a son Alfie, 31, with her ex-husband actor Gary Oldman. MY WALK-IN WARDROBE I converted the bedroom next to mine into a dressing room. It’s girlie heaven. I had cupboards made and I’ve furnished it with a lovely

Fifteen years ago this month, I fell in love. My husband knew all about it although he did warn me not to get involved. I didn’t listen, I was a woman possessed. I drove to Luton to meet him. The first time he saw me, he jumped up and licked my ear.

Q We’re in our fifties, and I want to get Lasting Power of Attorney arranged for both of us. But my husband says I’m being morbid, and we don’t need to do it till we’re old. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal way of making sure that if, thr

1 When you’re negotiating over long-standing problems, even mentioning the issue can trigger instant partner resistance. Ultimatums such as, ‘We need to discuss this now!’ don’t help. Instead, issue an invitation. ‘I’m really interested to know your

Alice Hart-Davis is a beauty journalist and creator of thetweakments guide.com Andrew Barton is a celebrity hairdresser and the creative director for the Headmasters salon group. Ateh Jewel is a multi-award-winning beauty journalist, director and

Why is it that waking up with wayward, frizzy hair or a new grey friend can instantly send your spirits south? A good hair day is more than just looking good, it has the power to make you feel self-assured, less stressed and more in control. Hair can

The menopause isn’t called ‘the change’ for nothing. From insomnia and low mood to joint pain, the symptoms (there are a staggering 34 of them) can make you feel old. ‘It’s a time of transition,’ says pelvic floor specialist Jane Wake (myinnovo.com/u

Fresh avocado, halloumi, mushrooms, poached eggs, beans and roasted tomato. A champion breakfast! Veggie Breakfast Box, £4.45, Leon For a light, fruity bite, team protein-rich yogurt with sweet granola. Fruit Salad with Greek Style Yogurt & Granola

THIS MONTH.. Nipple changes • Type 1 diabetes diagnosis in midlife • Developing osteoarthritis in your fifties Q For the past couple of years I’ve noticed that one of my nipples is changing, and it now looks flatter than the other one. I can’t feel

Fed up with fast fashion and buying stuff that breaks or falls apart? Invest in the durable, not the disposable, and you can save money and save the planet at the same time. Discover a carefully selected range of products designed to last a lifetim

KATE McGUIRE, 48, is married and lives in west London with her son and twin stepdaughters. She set up Converted Closet in 2016 to show how to ‘supercycle’ neglected clothes into gorgeous, wearable pieces. I’d enjoyed a successful career in the City,

Taking inspiration from mid-century abstract design, blocks of colour and bold geometrics create a contemporary look. From wall art to rugs, cushions or tableware, these shapely designs work best on flat surfaces to really make a statement Patchwor

Sunday Times bestselling author Miranda Dickinson’s latest novel, The Day We Meet Again (HQ), is a love story we can all connect with on some level. I’m a bit of magpie so there are always snippets of real life that I weave into the story. Characte

Watching Big Little Lies, it’s one of the best things I’ve seen in years. Because I have such early starts I don’t have hours to watch TV but it’s my little treat. Reading A Little History of the United States. I studied history at uni and I’m headi

Nestled in a lush green garden surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful mountains in the distance, Le Quattro Terre hotel is an hour’s drive – but a world away – from the hustle and bustle of Milan. With the elegance and stylish simplicity the Ita

The pace picks up from the 5th, when you’re on a mission to get something done. Arguments with loved ones are likely, especially around the 13th’s full moon, when things come to a head.  Family, especially parents, present challenges. Whatever happen

Cillian, 43, lives in Ireland with his wife, visual artist Yvonne McGuinness, 46, and their two sons, Malachy, 13, and Aran, 12. My childhood memories We used to go camping in France a lot. I have very fond memories of driving around campsites with