322

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The good
sleep guide
8 hours: GUARANTEED!
Britain’s No.1 fortnightly
expert
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advice
How to
snack and
still lose weight
yours.co.uk
ISSUE 322
chicken traybake
spicy salmon
Easy
one-pot
recipes
All under
500 calories
First aid
for pets
What to do in
an emergency
30 years of Corrie
Bev Callard reveals…
Street secrets
and exciting
new challenges!
Inspiring ideas Natural health
Explore
Europe’s
historic cities
✓ Great value
✓ Short flights
✓ Hassle-free
porto
tallinn
dubrovnik
5 fast fixes
for your
headache
Pill-free remedies
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may 6, 2019
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cover PIC: camera press/nicky johnston
It’s been lovely having my daughter home
from university for the Easter holidays.
Her return is always like a whirlwind,
throwing our routines (and our otherwise
tidy house) into complete disarray… but
I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way.
Aimée is of course the most welcome
of disruptions, but I do think it does all of
us good to have our comfortable patterns
disturbed from time to time. Studies show
that doing things out of your normal routine
can have a positive impact on our mood.
If you’re looking for the perfect antidote to
feeling stuck in a rut why not shake things up a
bit? You could try something as simple as cooking
a new recipe (there are easy low-cal ones on p63),
or freshening up your look (lots of flattering
outfits on p40). Better still, why not explore
somewhere new? I’m amazed what great value
Europe’s historic cities are (p98) – hidden gems
that are just a short flight away.
Get in
touch
…only when
you subscribe
See page 88
See you next issue…
Email
yours@
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Yoursmagazine
editor’s choice
What I’m up to this fortnight
I’m looking
forward to visiting
the Van Gogh
exhibition at Tate
Britain, exploring
how the artist’s
work was inspired
by Britain.
Tickets £22
tate.org.uk
I’m enjoying
listening to The
Guilty Ones
by Joy Ellis on
audiobook. Read
by the lovely
Richard Armitage,
it’s a gripping
detective mystery
set in The Fens.
£13.12
audible.co.uk
It’s good to be
together again
Sharon Reid, Editor
Join us online…
yours.co.uk
Never having been
much of a gardener
I’ve not visited a
flower show before.
Perhaps this year
I should go to the
RHS Malvern
Spring Festival for
some inspiration.
From May 9-12.
Tickets from £19
rhs.org.uk
Yours magazine ISSN 770957 985248 (USPS 8720) is published fortnightly by Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, PE2 6EA,
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Inside this issue…
Real life
6 In the picture
18 Inspirational gifts
21 For the love
of animals
22 Retired sloths!
25 Charity cyclist
26 The African village
built with love
Star chat
12 Cover Bev Callard
14 Life lessons with Alesha Dixon
16 Vicky McClure’s dementia choir
28 Extreme Grand Designs
128 Our pick of the best TV
Your best life now!
32 Cover How to get
a full night’s sleep
35 Cover Fast fixes for headaches
36 Cover To snack or not to snack?
38 Living life with Parkinson’s
40 Cover Fashion: stylish buys
45 Beauty: lip service
Good to know
50 How to help grandchildren
prepare for exams
53 Cover First aid for pets
57 Counting the pennies
59 Your questions answered
Nostalgia
82 At your service! 60 years
of the motorway service station
85 Cinema dates…
kissing in the back row!
87 Eighties’ darts stars
Leisure time
63 Cover Slimming
World recipes: tasty
68
and good for you
68 Crafts: bee happy!
95 Events round-up
96 Exotic Britain:
Portmeirion
98 Cover Insider’s guide to Porto
Your favourites
8 Meeting Place
78 Short story
89 Roy Hudd
91 Friends of Yours
105 Free for every
reader offer
106 Carers in touch
113 Puzzles to test you &
Cover prizes to win
130 Horoscopes and
what’s in our next issue
6
40
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32

feeling great
Put your
headache
on HOLD!
If you can feel that
tell-tale ache coming
on, before reaching for
a painkiller, try these
simple steps to stop your
headache in its tracks,
says Rebecca Speechley
pics: shutterstock
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
Have
something
to eat
Unless you’ve just
eaten a meal try
having something
light to eat. Low
blood sugar, or
hypoglycaemia,
is a common
headache trigger
according to the
Migraine Trust.
Your brain needs a
continuous supply
of glucose (sugar)
from food to keep
working well – if
you skip meals,
follow a low-carb
diet, or don’t eat
enough, your brain
might not have the
energy it needs
and this could lead
to a headache. Try
some houmous
and carrot sticks,
an apple and some
nuts, a pot of
natural yogurt and
some fruit or an
oatcake with some
mashed avocado.
Drink a
glass of
water
Dehydration is a
prime culprit, so
when a headache
hits, sip a glass
of water or a cup
of herbal tea to
rehydrate and ease
the pain. “Try to
drink at least eight
glasses of water
per day,” says Dr
Riccardo Di Cuffa,
Director and GP at
your-doctor.co.uk.
“Avoid fizzy drinks
which can contain
the sweetener
aspartame – it
can trigger
migraines in
some people.”
Stretch out
tension
Tight muscles and
poor posture can
lead to tension
headaches. Relax
the muscles in your
shoulders and neck
by rolling your
shoulders back and
down, squeezing
your shoulder blades
together. Do this ten
times taking a deep
breath with each roll.
Next tilt your left ear
gently towards your
left shoulder. Roll
your head forwards
and to the right
so you’re looking
at the floor, then
continue to roll until
your right ear is on
your right shoulder.
Then slowly reverse,
rolling forwards
and to the left.
Repeat ten times.
Don’t forget to
breathe.
Cool and
soothe
Apply a cold, damp
cloth (or a bag of
frozen peas wrapped
in a towel) to the
back of your neck,
forehead or temples.
A cold compress
could help to calm
inflammation,
constrict your blood
vessels and slow
nerve impulses to
ease your headache,
according to US
researchers. Use
the compress for 30
minutes to get the
benefits.
Relax and
take a nap
If you’re still
struggling after
following the first
four steps, try to
lie down and relax
somewhere cool
and dark. If you
can, have a short
power nap to give
your body time
to re-adjust and
unwind.
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
35

With exam season looming, this is
a particularly testing time of year
for many young people, says
Gabrielle Albert, but there are plenty
of things you can do to help minimise
stress and steer your children or
grandchildren towards success
Top marks!
Spot the signs
Your teens may openly express how
stressed they’re feeling. Or they may
hold it in and try to cope on their own.
The NHS says children and
young people who experience
stress may:
n Worry a lot
n Feel tense
n Experience
headaches and
stomach pains
n Not sleep well
n Lose interest in
food or eat more
than normal
n Feel irritable
n Not enjoy
activities they
previously enjoyed
n Appear negative
and low in mood
n Seem hopeless
about the future
After months of
coursework, practice
papers, and post-it notes,
students up and down
the country will be
preparing to sit their GCSEs, A Levels
and university exams. The pressure
to achieve high grades has never been
greater and with expectations from
parents and teachers, it’s no surprise
that this can be a nerve-wracking time.
Though you may feel there is little you
can do to help with revision, there are
positive ways to support young people
throughout the exam period.
Some teenagers often feel under
pressure to be brave and won’t openly
admit they are anxious. Instead of
asking ‘what’s wrong?’, try to be more
open and ask, ‘how are you feeling’?
Create calm
If your teenager has other siblings,
its likely they’ll have a number of
distractions in their household. If you
have space, help them out by setting
up a temporary designated study
space in your home. Whether it’s in
a spare room, at the dining table or
even out in the garden, creating a
private, distraction-free zone will
help them to fully focus and feel
confident in what they are doing.
It might also be helpful to
try to explain to their brothers
and sisters that their sibling is revising
and try to encourage them to be a bit
more considerate around exam season.
You could offer to take them out for the
day on weekends so there are fewer
distractions round the house to help the
exam taker study in peace.
Show interest
As much as teenagers won’t want
you peering over their shoulder
while they’re revising algebra, it’s still
reassuring for them to know that you
are there when they need you. Just
having someone to talk to about their
work can help. For instance, if they’ve
just received a disappointing mock
exam result, talk to them about what
they found difficult and help them to
work out how they can improve their
results next time around.
Be understanding
Try not to compare your schooling
experience too much. Avoid saying
things like ‘O-levels were so much
harder than this’ or pointing out
newspaper articles which suggest
how ‘easy’ GCSEs/A Levels are in
comparison. The education system
changes every year and the exams
of previous generations will be very
different to the ones today. This can
give
these
a go
50
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT

good to know
Consider
additional support
Concerned that your child isn’t getting
enough one-to-one support from their
school? Why not consider extra revision help?
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical
tutor – there are dozens of free revision
resources available
online on sites,
such as...
n www.revisionworld.com
n www.s-cool.co.uk
n www.sparknotes.com
n www.bbc.com/bitesize
During their exams
be apparent even between siblings
– particularly with the changing
of curriculum content and the
introduction of new grading systems.
Reward or
not to reward?
If your teenager is finding it hard to
knuckle down it might seem tempting
to encourage them to revise by
offering them an incentive for doing
well. Although well-meaning, this can
often put children under even greater
pressure to do well – and if they don’t
achieve the grades to receive their
reward, but have worked really hard
and done their best, it might make
them feel like they’ve failed. However,
it’s completely natural to want to
recognise their hard work so instead,
provide small treats as they revise
and complete their exams so they feel
important and cared for. This could be
anything from their favourite food, to
a new book.
If you’re feeling creative, you could
even put together an ‘exam survival
kit’, complete with sweet treats, tissues
and stationery.
The support group Childline says many
of the children who contact them say
that most of the pressure at exam time
comes from their family. Before they go
in for a test or exam, be reassuring and
positive. At this age, failing an exam
can seem like the end of the world. Try
to help them keep perspective. Remind
them that exam success doesn’t
define them as a person and whatever
happens, they can still be
successful in later life.
pics: getty images, shutterstock
Encourage balance
The phrase ‘all work and no play makes Jack
a dull boy’ is certainly true in this instance.
Encourage your grandchildren to have some
‘down time’ – whether it be attending their
weekly sports club or enjoying a wellearned
night off with their friends. Though
exams are important, it’s worth reminding
them that they’re not the only thing that
matters. Time off will help boost their
wellbeing and their productivity, too!
YOURS
EVERY FORTNIGHT
51

Welcome
to the sloth
retirement
home
How one zoo in Wales has
created a special sanctuary
in which elderly sloths can
enjoy their twilight years
Just hanging around!
Sloths are famed for
knowing how to chill
By Katharine Wootton
Everyone, deserves
the chance to
have a happy
and fulfilling
retirement after
years of hard graft. And that
also includes animals. That’s
why Folly Farm Adventure
Park and Zoo at Kilgetty in
Pembrokeshire, Wales, has
made sure that sloths, too,
can enjoy their pensionable
years in comfort by opening
the world’s first sloth
retirement home.
Away from the zoo’s
noisy cacophony of
acrobatic monkeys and
youthful lemurs yelling
out to one another, the
sloth retirement home is
a peaceful sanctuary for
older age, complete with
special adaptations that
allow the more mature sloth
to take life even slower than
usual in their later years.
The idea all came
about to try to buck the
trend for zoos favouring
younger breeding couples
of sloths. While young
whippersnappers are
vital to the breeding and
conservation programmes
in zoos, Folly Farm
wanted to celebrate the
fact that older sloths are
as special and important
as younger ones.
“Sloths can live up
to the age of 50, but
22
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT

our shared planet
somewhere in their 20s
they find they’ve got more
important things on their
mind than breeding so are
effectively retired,” says
Rosie Griffin, senior
zoo supervisor at Folly Farm.
“We weren’t desperate for
babies at the zoo so, instead,
we decided it’d be nice to
give a home to older sloths
from other zoos.”
Today Folly Farm’s
sloth retirement home is
residence to two very special
OAPs, Tuppee, a 24-yearold
male, and Lightcap, a
34-year-old female, who is
currently the fifth oldest
sloth in any European zoo.
The home has been
specially adapted for the
pair and the team at Folly
Farm have created some
unique features to make life
easier and simpler for them
as they get older.
Firstly, there’s the extra
branches and ropes in the
Slow-moving and peaceful,
sloths spend most of their
long lives upside down
Rosie Griffin (right) looks
after Lightcap (above)
and Tuppee (above left)
trees that help Tuppee and
Lightcap get to their happy
sloth place – upside down
at the top of the tree canopy
– despite the inevitable
aches and niggles of ageing.
As the pair get older, the
team might also consider
raising the floor of the
enclosure so they don’t have
to climb down so far when
they want to use the toilet
on the ground.
Like humans, sloth’s
teeth soften as they age,
‘Tuppee and Lightcap
are so laid-back we
can get right up close
to them, especially
if we’ve got the right
kind of food’
meaning their favourite
foods of root vegetables
(asparagus and baby corn
cobs are a particular treat)
need to be pre-boiled so
they don’t hurt their
teeth. Although, as
Rosie explains,
that doesn’t
always go
to plan: “Sloths
like to hold
food in their
long claws so,
once cooked,
Sloth surprises
n Sloths may be slow on ground – moving at just
six-and-a-half feet per minute – but their long front
arms make them unexpectedly speedy swimmers
n They wouldn’t pass an eye test! A genetic
mutation means sloths have terrible eyesight, so
much so that a mummy sloth wouldn’t be able to
spot her own baby from five feet away
n Sloths eat, sleep, mate and even give birth while
hanging upside down in the tree canopy. This is
possible because their internal organs are attached to
their ribcage meaning, unlike most mammals, these
organs don’t weigh down on their lungs and affect
their breathing while they’re upside down
n The modern sloth is about the size of a mediumsized
dog but ancient sloths of centuries ago could
grow as large as an Asian elephant
n It can take up to a month for a sloth to digest
a meal – and it’s precisely this slow digestive period
that takes up a lot of the body’s energy, leaving them
too sluggish to do much else!
we cut the veg into batons
they can grip. But if we’ve
accidentally boiled the veg
for too long, it falls apart
in their claws and they get
grumpy about it.”
Just like humans, the
sloths get to know their
own mind better as they get
older and Rosie, who works
closely with them, laughs as
she says that this can lead
to the odd cantankerous
moment.
“Lightcap can be a bit of
a diva,” Rosie explains. “For
example, sloths love boxes
but rather than have a nap in
her own box she’s decided
to claim poor Tuppee’s box
as her own.
“Tuppee’s never fought
or bickered with her about
it, but now whenever
Lightcap’s in his box he’ll sit
just outside it as if to make
a bit of a point.”
But when they’re not
silently seething about
a stolen nap box, Rosie
says the two sloths are
extremely gentle and,
surprisingly, loving
creatures. “Tuppee and
Lightcap are so laid-back
we can get right up close to
them. If we’ve got the right
kind of food that they really
enjoy, then they’ll come
‘motoring’ over to us.”
While Folly Farm may
look to take in more
retirees in the future, at
the moment their priority
is caring for their current
residents and enjoying
what they bring to the zoo.
“It’s such a joy working
with sloths,” says Rosie.
“Their faces are so sweet
– always looking like
they’ve just woken up – and
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed
the challenge of thinking
about how to cater for their
unique life upside down.”
n To find out more about
Folly Farm or adopt one of
their sloths, call 01834 812731
or visit www.folly-farm.co.uk
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
23
PICs: Alamy stock photo, james davies, Folly farm

Take
a trip
Exotic
Britai n
Situated on a private
peninsula beneath
Snowdonia’s
majestic peaks is
the tourist village
of Portmeirion. At first
glance, you could mistake
it for somewhere in the
Mediterranean with its
brightly coloured buildings,
narrow cobbled paths and
palm trees swaying in the
sea breeze. ‘Cherish the
past, adorn the present,
construct for the future’
was the motto of its
creator, Clough Williams-
Ellis, who used reclaimed
and restored buildings to
create Portmeirion’s unique
Italianate style, often thought
to be inspired by the Italian
fishing village of Portofino.
Today it’s owned by a
charitable trust. You can
visit for the day (£12 adults,
£8.50 children) or book an
overnight stay at one of the
miniature mansions or quaint
cottages facing the Piazza.
Among the terracotta
roofs, towers, turrets and
The village was
used as the main set
for the Sixties series
The Prisoner
starring Patrick
McGoohan
96
A taste of Italy…
in wales
Discover pastel-painted Mediterranean domes, villas
and gardens in the colourful village of Portmeirion
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
One of the many beautiful facades in
the village of Portmeirion

n
grottos, you’ll find a number
of facades and follies such
as Unicorn Cottage, where
columns and a grand
entrance make this bungalow
look like a miniature stately
home. Everywhere you look
there’s quirky detail designed
to trick you! There aren’t
many places where you’re
likely to find a golden Buddha
beside a classical Greek
statue, or an art deco
lido next to an Italian
Renaissance dome.
No Italianate
village would be
complete without
a Piazza. This is
the centrepiece of
Portmeirion, with its
Riviera-inspired houses,
ornamental garden, fountain
pool and giant chessboard,
that looks like something
from Alice in Wonderland.
Whatever the weather,
the beaches of the Dwyryd
estuary are worth a visit.
Explore tucked-away coves,
hidden caves and golden
sands, or take a walk along
the coast path towards the
end of the peninsula to
experience sweeping
views – but keep a
sharp eye out for the
incoming tides!
A HEAP OF HISTORY
Perched on top of a rocky crag towering over
the North Wales countryside, Harlech Castle
gazes out across land and sea, keeping a
watchful eye over Snowdonia National Park.
Just a 20-minute drive from Portmeirion, this
ancient fortress is intact enough for visitors
to enjoy plenty of panoramic wall and tower
walks – if you have a head for heights! If not,
a newly installed ‘floating’ bridge connects
the castle with the visitor centre, so the castle
An Oriental vista
Although best known for
its architecture, Portmeirion
is also surrounded by
70 acres of gorgeous
woodland gardens
known as Y Gwyllt, The
Wild Place in English,
and it’s easy to see
why. Walk along
intertwining paths,
lined with towering
redwood and
monkey puzzle
trees, statues
of goddesses
Walk on the
wild side
The Piazza and ornamental pool (below)
are at the heart of Portmeirion. Treat
yourself to a Pullman Afternoon Tea (right)
and a kaleidoscope of
exotic plants. As in the
village, you’ll find plenty of
interesting eccentricities
including a Ghost Garden
where the wind whispers
through the eucalyptus
leaves. A Victorian dog
cemetery is the resting
place of many Portmeirion
pets. In the high season,
visitors can enjoy a free
train ride to the Oriental
Garden where a classic
temple overlooks a lake.
grounds are accessible for all. Built during the
13th Century there’s lots of history to discover.
If you’re entertaining the family, keep an eye
out for the events schedule, which includes
combat displays, falconry demonstrations and
other themed days. For lunch with a view, the
castle’s café boasts floor to ceiling windows
with spectacular views.
Handy contacts
n Portmeirion –
01766 770000
www.portmeirion.wales
n Harlech Castle – 01766
780552 www.harlech.com
n Ffestiniog and Welsh
Highland Railways – 01766
516024 www.festrail.co.uk
n Visit Wales – 0333 006 3001
www.visitwales.com
FULL STEAM
AHEAD
Scenery and steam engines
await you at Ffestiniog and
Welsh Highland Railways,
both of which can be boarded
at nearby Porthmadog.
Travelling 40 miles through
the heart of the Snowdonia
National Park, you can while
away a day admiring
majestic mountains,
tranquil pastures,
enchanting forests and
magical waterfalls. The
Ffestiniog Railway is
best visited during in
summer when vintage
carriages are added
to the train. The Welsh
Highland Railway
takes you through the
Aberglaslyn Pass. For
a treat, book first class
and enjoy a Pullman
Afternoon Tea.
compiled By Gabrielle Albert. PICs: alamy stock photo
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
97

compiled by michelle nightingale. pics: getty images, shutterstock
Sanctuary Spa Beauty
Sleep Recovery Mask,
£14/75ml
Perfect for lazy evenings! Simply
massage this lightweight leave-on
mask into your skin after evening
cleansing and enjoy the calming
orange flower and lavender scent.
Overnight it restores radiance and
gives your skin a boost.
Certain smells
trigger both emotional
and physical responses.
Aromatic lavender is great
for soothing and helping
control stress levels
while zesty lemon and
grapefruit are uplifting
and energy
boosting.
Nourish Relax
Calming
Moisturiser,
£21/50ml
This fragrant
face cream works wonders for
soothing sensitive skin and
replenishes your skin’s protective
moisture barrier, too. Apply after
cleansing and let the lavender oil
soothe and calm your mind.
Tisserand
Aromatherapy
Happy Vibes
Pulse Point
Roller Ball,
£6.25/10ml
Pop it in your
bag and apply to
your pulse points
whenever you
need an emotional
pick-me-up. Lemon,
tea tree, bergamot and
nutmeg combine to deliver
sunshine in a bottle!
Clinique
Happy, £44/50ml
This signature scent
has a big fan base
– and with good
reason. Fresh, fruity
and floral you can’t
help but feel happy
when wearing it!
Stockists: Clinique 0808 281 0226; Lush 01202 668545; Neal’s Yard 01747 834698; Nourish 0207
622 0688; Radox available nationwide; Sanctuary Spa available from Boots; The Body Shop 0800
092 9090; Tisserand available from Boots.
Beauty
looking good
mood
boosters
Our top choice of sweetly scented buys that’ll
soothe your mind as well as give your skin
and hair a revitalising lift
Lush Cheer Up Buttercup
Bath Bomb, £3.75
Lemon, myrtle and lime combined
with neroli, make this bath bomb
an excellent choice for a moodimproving
soak in the tub.
The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil,
£15/125ml
For a pampering treat, this body and hair oil
smells gorgeous, leaves your skin silky soft, is
great for getting rid of dry skin on knees and
elbows, and works wonders on parched hair.
Neal’s Yard Remedies
Aromatherapy Blend
Optimism, £15.50/10ml
Stimulating black pepper is
combined with refreshing
grapefruit and uplifting jasmine
essential oils for a blend that
lifts your spirits. To use, simply
add 1-3 drops to a diffuser.
Radox Feel Bright Shower
Mousse, £2.99/200ml
Zingy citrus makes this creamy shower
mousse a fantastic way to recharge
before facing the day ahead. It makes
a great shaving foam, too!