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ISSUE 331
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cover PIC: CAMERA PRESS/Nicky Johnston
For some, the role of becoming a carer is
something that creeps up slowly as a
loved one’s condition changes over time,
for others it’s the result of a sudden, shocking
crisis that throws their life into chaos.
Either way getting the right support is
crucial, although it can be really hard to know
where to turn. As my own family discovered
this week, there is help available but you
have to know how to seek it out. All carers
are entitled to a free Carers Assessment
from their local council, who can make
recommendations that might make life a little easier. You should also
ask for a Needs Assessment for the person you care for
as there may be equipment, changes to your home or
practical help available. Simply contact your local Social
Services department to request yours.
Yours is proud to be the UK’s only magazine with
a member of staff dedicated to caring for Britain’s six
million carers and offering a free-to-join support group.
Turn to page 111 to find out more.
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touch
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Inside this issue…
Real life
6 Dog-gone cuties
6
18 ‘We saved our public
spaces’
22 Miniature ponies
24 Save our dragonflies
26 Spinning on top of the world!
67 Try something new: cake club
Star chat
12 Cover Penelope Wilton
14 The new Dragon in
the Den, Sara Davies
14
16 Siobhan Finneran on
her latest role
28 Peaky Blinders’ star
Helen McCrory
128 Our pick of the best TV!
Your best life now!
31 Best budget perfumes
31
32 Cover Anti-ageing secrets
34 Cover Dresses with sleeves
37 Cover The clockwork diet
42 ‘An operation gave me back
my husband’
Good to know
46 Help prepare grandchildren
for school or university
49 Cover Unmissable
pensions advice
52 Make clothes last longer!
Nostalgia
81 Swimmer David Wilkie
82 Bettys tearooms
84 Pongs from the past!
Leisure time
52
60 Cover Try our
heart-healthy dinners
68 Homemade pet gifts
73 Knit a stylish shawl
75 Garden projects
100 Stunning Somerset
102 Cover Go Swiss
in Geneva
73
Your favourites
8 Meeting Place WIN
78 Short story a watch!
89 Roy Hudd
turn to
91 Free for every
p118
reader offer
95 Friends of Yours
109 Carers in touch
115 Puzzles to test you &
prizes to win
130 Horoscopes and
what’s in our next issue!

our shared planet
Dragonfly
SOS
PICs: christophe brochard, alamy stock photo
As British dragonfly
numbers take a dive
we speak to a
leading expert
about why they’re
struggling and what
we can do to help
By Lorna White
There’s always
been something
fascinating and
special about
watching
a dragonfly dance. With its
lightning speed, striking
colours and otherworldly
look, it’s always a joy to
behold. But sadly, it’s getting
rarer to see British species
of these beautiful creatures
in the UK. Some are now
considered endangered,
with two varieties currently
in danger of extinction.
Henry Curry from the
British Dragonfly Society
(BDS), says: “Our main
concern is for species
like the White-Faced
Darters and Common
Clubtails that have
been really struggling in
recent years.”
24
The Common Clubtail
is one of the species
under threat
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
The Migrant Hawker, one
of the most common
dragonflies in the UK
So why the decline?
It’s mainly to do with the
reduced availability of clean,
fresh water. Amazingly,
the dragonfly starts its life
as an egg in a pond, bog
or marsh and here it takes
around two years to grow
from an egg to larva and
finally into their adult form.
Once grown, the
dragonfly will find a nearby
plant and pull itself out,
stretching out its wings for
the first time and fly away.
Did you know?
Dragonflies have been
around for 300 million
years and in prehistoric
times they could have a
wingspan of 2½ feet
But the dragonfly is
finding it harder and harder
to locate these fresh
water incubators to lay
their eggs and start the
next generation. ”Since
the Fifties, the number
of fresh water ponds on
farms has fallen as farmers,
for various economic
reasons, have filled them
in,” says Henry. “What’s
more, pollution and regular
flooding of rivers and ponds
has made the problem
even worse for dragonflies,
which need clean, calm
water to thrive.”
That’s why Henry and
his team at the British
Dragonfly Society are
now working hard
to help restore dragonfly
habitats so this amazing
insect can flourish
for years to come.
“In locations we
know dragonflies
used to inhabit,
we’ve been trying to
recreate the habitat
that attracted
them years ago,”
says Henry. “After
agreeing with all
the right people
we reintroduce
the species to that
area and monitor
numbers. So far,
these reintroduction
projects have been
really successful.”
And it’s hoped as
the project continues
‘Dragonflies are
incredibly useful
insects that keep flies
and mosquitos away’
to grow, even the rarest of
British dragonflies will be
able to find a home in the UK
once more.
Henry says: “Dragonflies
are incredibly useful insects
that keep flies and mosquitos
away, and they have such
beautiful markings. It would
be a real shame for future
generations to miss out on
catching a glimpse of them.”
How to help
n Creating a garden pond is one
of the best ways to encourage
dragonflies. This should be in a
shaded area avoiding overhanging
trees and be surrounded by plenty
of plants. The pond should also
be fairly deep in the centre so it
doesn’t freeze in the winter.
n If you don’t have a garden you
can still get involved by helping
your community make local ponds
more dragonfly friendly. Find out
more at freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/
get-involved
n You can join the British Dragonfly
Society as a volunteer, recording
dragonfly numbers or helping with
projects. Alternatively, support the
BDS’ work by becoming a member
(£20). Call 01733 204286 or visit
british-dragonflies.org.uk
pics:

your secret
anti-ageing
weapon
Collagen is the beauty supplement we
should all be taking according to the experts,
says Beauty Editor Michelle Nightingale
The latest beauty buzz could be the key to youthful,
glowing skin and could even benefit your health,
relieving joint pain and preventing bone loss, according
to studies. “Collagen is the most abundant protein in
our bodies,” explains Kathryn Danzey (left), co-founder
of collagen brand Rejuvenated. “It’s the key building
block for everything; from the connective tissue in our vital organs
to giving structure to our hair, skin, nails, bones, muscles, ligaments
and tendons.” Read on for our guide to this ultimate anti-ager.
Skin deep
“Collagen makes up 75 per
cent of our skin and 30 per
cent of our total body protein,
so it’s easy to see why collagen
plays such an important part
in the health of our skin,”
explains Kathryn. “The name
collagen comes from the
Greek word ‘kolla’ which
means glue, because collagen
holds our body together.”
Ageing plays a part in how
much collagen our body
produces. “Collagen levels
decline by as much as 1.5 per
cent a year from our mid-20s,”
says Kathryn.
“We start to lose more
than we make and lines start
to appear. “Oestrogen is also
vital for healthy collagen
levels, but as our oestrogen
levels decline when we hit
the menopause collagen loss
becomes more dramatic,
further affecting the condition
of the skin.”
Collagen as a molecule
You are what you eat
We all know that a healthy balanced diet is the
secret of eternal youth. “As a protein you’ll find
collagen in meat and fish, but the molecule is too
large to be broken down and absorbed around
the body,” explains Kathryn. “However, following
a healthy diet is still really important as
you need to provide your body with the
required protein, vitamins and minerals
to support collagen formation.
Likewise, avoid the usual sugary
and salty foods, which
weaken and break
down collagen.”
32
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT

looking good
is too big to penetrate the
skin’s dermis when applied
topically, so can’t actually
boost collagen levels as
some skincare products
would have you believe. That
doesn’t mean you need to
bin your beauty favourites
though, collagen-boosting
face creams and serums can
still temporarily improve
skin texture. Collagen
supplements on the other
hand, contain smaller collagen
fragments meaning they’re
absorbed more easily for our
bodies to make use of.
Try these ➜
Did you know?
For best results,
choose what are known
as ‘hydrolysed’ collagen
supplements, as the
hydrolysation process
breaks down the proteins
into smaller particles so
they can be more easily
absorbed. It’s also thought
collagen supplements
containing Vitamin C are
more effective
The ultimate
collagen hero
Rejuvenated Collagen
Shots, £39.95/30
servings
With one of the highest
collagen amounts per
serving (10,000mg)
compared to the
other supplements we
researched, Collagen Shots
combines marine extract
hydrolysed collagen plus
antioxidant-rich acai
berry, Vitamins B and
C and hyaluronic acid
making in an anti-ageing
powerhouse. Add a scoop
a day to a glass of water.
The time
saver
LQ Liquid Health Skin,
Hair & Nails, £29.99/
10-day supply
Each of these handy
ready-made drinks
contain a decent amount
of marine collagen per
serving (7,000mg), as well
as hydrating hyaluronic
acid, nail-boosting biotin
and potent anti-ager
resveratrol.
Take a
supplement for
at least three
months for the
best results
The budget
option
Bioglan Beauty
Collagen Strawberry
Gummies, £18.99/60
gummies (one-month
supply)
With added biotin
and selenium, these
gummies are a great
option for topping up
your collagen on the go.
Combined with Vitamin C
they promise to improve
the skin, hair and nails.
The collagen dose per
serving is lower than the
other options, but they are
cheaper.
Vitamin C-rich foods are key for collagen production
in our bodies. Good choices include sweet red
peppers, broccoli, oranges and strawberries.
PICs: shutterstock, alamy stock photo . consult your gp before taking
any new supplement and always read the instructions
Try these top foods
for skin that glows
from within…
Zinc and copper are both required
for helping our bodies form collagen.
Good sources include red meat,
shellfish (particular oysters), nuts,
seeds and Shiitake mushrooms.
Stockists: Bioglan available from Holland & Barrett 0370
606 6606; LQ Liquid Health available from Boots 0345 070
8090; Rejuvenated 0114 235 6585 www.rejuvenated.com/uk
Lean protein is broken down to
amino acids by our digestive system
and this is then combined with
Vitamin C, zinc and copper
to produce collagen. Include plenty
of chicken, turkey, white fish,
eggs, nuts and seeds in your diet.

There's a welcome drive to move away from cheap, 'throwaway' fashion.
If, like us, you want your wardrobe to last, try our tips and tricks to keep
your favourite things looking their best, says Michelle Nightingale
Love your clothes
for longer
give
these
a go
pics: shutterstock, getty images
Make fast work of stubborn stains...
Grease & oil
Red wine
Water-based
paint
Oil-based
paint
Pen stains
Apply washing-up liquid to the stain
and leave to soak for 30 minutes. Use an
old toothbrush to gently massage in the
washing-up liquid. Rinse thoroughly in
hot water and then wash as normal in
the washing machine.
Blot away excess wine (never rub) using
kitchen roll. Pull the fabric taunt, cover
the stain with salt and leave for five
minutes. Remove the salt and repeat if
needed. Wash in the washing machine
on the recommended programme with a
stain-removing product.
While still wet, run water through the
back of the paint stain. Apply a stainremover
product and then wash as
normal. If the paint is acrylic then start
by applying nail varnish remover on a
clean cloth to the stain, before following
the steps above.
Remove excess paint with a spoon. Dab
white spirit onto the area to loosen the
paint. Add a large dose of washing-up
liquid and massage into the stain. Rinse
thoroughly, apply stain remover and
wash in the machine.
Spray with hairspray, blot away the stains
and repeat until barely there. Wash as
normal in the washing machine.
3 ways to fight the fade
Keep your blacks black for longer
with these simple tips…
Wash with dark colours, inside out and with buttons
➀ and zips done up to reduce friction and wear.
Warm water encourages the dye to bleed,
➁
so wash at a cooler temperature and on a shorter
cycle using a special detergent like this
Black Clothing Wash from Waitrose
(£3/18 washes).
Some fade over time is inevitable, so
➂ refresh greying blacks with Dylon’s
Intense Black Fabric Dye (£5/350g).
Try this...
Astonish Oxy Active
Plus Stain Remover
£2.99/1kg, Ocado
Laundry lifesavers
Try our top five handy gadgets to make laundry day less of
Dry Cleaner’s
1 Secret
At-Home
Dry Cleaner
Cleaning Cloths
£10.99/pack of 6,
Lakeland
Skip that trip to
the dry cleaners
and instead
freshen up your
garments in your tumble dryer
with these handy cloths.
Mixed Breed Wool
2 Dryer Balls
£16.95/pack of 3,
Little Beau Sheep
More environmentally friendly
than plastic ones, switch to these
100 per cent wool dryer balls and
you can ditch the softener.
a cho
52
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT

good to know
Shhh...It’s a secret
If your whites are looking a
little grubby add half a cup of
distilled white vinegar to the
fabric softener compartment of
your washing machine along
with your normal detergent,
for brilliant white
results.
Try this...
Wilko Laundry
Whitener Sachets
£1/5 sachets, Wilko
Quick fix…
Punch Trainer
Cleaner
£3.25/4 sachets, Dunelm
Bring your old
trainers back
to life with
this washing
machinefriendly
trainer
cleaner.
Honey I shrunk…
Try this foolproof method to stretch
your clothes back to the right size!
Fill the sink with lukewarm water, add
➀ two tablespoons of hair conditioner and
soak for 30 minutes.
Without rinsing, remove from the water
➁ and gently squeeze and then roll your
garment into a towel removing excess water.
Lay it flat on a dry towel and gently
➂ stretch the material using dress pins
to stretch and keep the shape until it’s dry.
Repeat if needed until back to regular shape.
Dealing with
delicates
Keep your smalls
pristine by washing
them by hand or by
using a laundry
bag. Don’t
forget to fasten
all clasps and
never tumble
dry bras or
shapewear.
Wilko Washing
Bag (£2)
of
a chore!
Clothes shaver
3 £4.50, John Lewis
This nifty batteryoperated
shaver easily and
carefully removes bobbles
from your favourite knits.
Great
idea
Brabantia Ironing Blanket
4 £22, Argos
This handy table-top ironing mat is a great
space-saver and portable, too.
5 Laundry
Basket
with Folding
Legs
£18.99, Lakeland
Save your back
with this clever
basket which
has legs that
conveniently pop
out and retract at
the touch
of a button.
Stockists: Astonish available from
Ocado 0345 656 1234; Argos 0345
640 3030; Dunlem 0345 165 6565;
Dylon available from Wilko 0800
032 9329; John Lewis 0345 604 9049;
Lakeland 01539 488100; Little Beau
Sheep www.littlebeausheep.com;
Waitrose 0800 188 884
YOURS
EVERY FORTNIGHT
53

Take
a trip
Exotic
Britai n
Discover stunning
somerset
Save yourself a flight to Nevada and pay a visit
to Britain’s very own version of the Grand Canyon
in the beautiful West Country
At almost 400ft deep and
three miles long, Cheddar
Gorge is one of Britain’s most
spectacular landmarks. Carved
out by glacial meltwater during
the last Ice Age, these sharp grey limestone
cliffs form England’s deepest natural
canyon, soaring a staggering 450ft over the
Somerset countryside.
If you’ve a head for heights, you can
climb Jacob’s Ladder – a flight of 274 steps
carved into the rocky cliff. And if the
exertion doesn’t take your breath away, the
panoramic views from the Lookout Tower
certainly will. To the south, you’ll see the
flat, lush water meadows of the Somerset
Levels. To the north, a windswept plateau
runs for more than 22 miles.
There are places to rest along the way,
but if you don’t fancy the walk up there’s a
tour bus that’ll take you at least some of the
way up the hill.
For more stunning scenery, take a stroll
along the three-mile clifftop walk. Elevated
more than 900ft above sea level, you can
see for miles out across the Mendip Hills.
As an Area of Special Scientific Interest,
this region also boasts a rare and diverse
habitat full of flora and fauna – from greater
horseshoe bats and dormice, to violet oil
beetles and great crested newts. Peregrine
falcons nest on the steep cliffs and goats and
Soay sheep also roam freely, grazing among
pretty clusters of Cheddar pink flowers.
100 YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT

Prehistoric passageways
As if this scenery wasn’t
enough to win you over,
you can find a world of
wonder down below.
Beneath the towering
giants lies a network of
subterranean caves and
caverns, riddled with
impressive displays of
stalactites and stalagmites
waiting to be explored.
Excavated in the late
19th Century, Gough’s Cave
is the larger of the two
caves open to the public.
Formed more than half a
million years ago, audio
guides bring the cave to
life telling the fascinating
tale of its Ice Age creation,
Stone Age occupation and
Victorian exploration.
Highlights include the
Black Cat of Cheddar – a
shadow cast by the light
that looks like a cat wearing
a bow-tie. And this is where
Cheddar Man was found –
the oldest complete
skeleton discovered in
Britain, dating back to the
Mesolithic Age more than
9,000 years ago.
Set deep within the
magical and mysterious
chambers of Cox’s Cave
– with its spectacular
calcite sculptures, mirror
pools and fountains – the
‘Dreamhunters’ exhibit
offers a multimedia
experience like no other.
State-of-the-art projectors
and sound systems tell the
story of early human life,
as bright blues, purples
and reds
illuminate
the different
limestone
formations.
Did you know?
JRR Tolkien spent his
honeymoon here in 1916
and found much to inspire
him for The Lord of
the Rings trilogy
Handy contacts
n Cheddar Gorge
– 01934 742343
www.cheddargorge.co.uk
n Cheddar Gorge Cheese
Company – 01934 742810
www.cheddaronline.co.uk
n Visit Somerset
– 01749 835416
www.visitsomerset.co.uk
compiled By gabrielle albert. PICs: alamy stock photo
Did you know?
Henry II considered Cheddar
‘the best cheese in Britain’
and his account records from
1170 show that he bought
around 10,238lb of it!
Say cheese
Along with its caves, Cheddar
is also famous as the home
of the nation’s favourite
cheese, produced here since
the 12th Century. And the
Cheddar Gorge Cheese
company is the area’s
only cheesemaker
left. Watch the
whole creamy, gooey
transformation process from a viewing gallery,
sample the produce at the taster bar, then buy
some tangy, whiffy souvenirs at the shop. If you
want to witness the cheesemaking in action,
time your visit before 2.45pm.
Discover how our ancestors lived
through a 40,000-year struggle
for survival during the last Ice Age
at the fascinating Museum of
Prehistory at Cheddar Gorge. Many
artefacts of historical importance
that shed light on our ancestors and
how they lived have been found in
Cheddar Gorge and its caves. At the
museum, you can find interactive
displays illustrating how mankind
Discover the tales behind the finding of the oldest
known skeleton Cheddar Man, above, whose
remains are kept at the Natural History Museum
Mesolithic marvels
survived, thrived and developed
– plus examples of weapons, tools
and objects they would have used
in everyday life. You’ll also get the
chance to find out more about the
iconic Cheddar Man.
Like to get creative? The
museum runs hands-on cave art
painting and demonstrations for
both the young, and the young at
heart, to get involved in.
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT 101

inspiring craft
Difficulty
rating:
ll
A beautifully versatile
wrap that will be your
go-to cover-up!
Stylish shawl
Finished measurement
38cm x 173cm (15in x 68in)
Materials
2 x 141g skein MC (Grey)
1 x 170.1g CC (Bright Green)
61 cm (24in) circular knitting needle
UK size 9 (5.5 mm) knitting needles
TENSION
In Garter Stitch (knit every row), 16 sts and
24 rows = 10cm (4in)
BEFORE YOU BEGIN…
k-knit; k2 tog-knit 2 together; kfb-knit in
front and back; p-purl; pfb-purl in front
and back; tog-together; st(s)-stitch(es);
YO-yarn over
PATTERN
With MC, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: K1, kfb, k1: 4 sts.
Row 2 (Right side): Kfb, K1, K2 tog.
Row 3: Slip 1, K1, kfb, K1: 5 sts.
Row 4: Kfb, K2, K2 tog.
Row 5: Slip 1, K2, kfb, K1: 6 sts.
Row 6: Kfb, knit across to last 2 sts, K2 tog.
Row 7 (Increase row): Slip 1, knit across to
last 2 sts, kfb, K1: 7 sts.
Rows 8-25: Repeat Rows 6 and 7, 9 times:
16 sts.
Row 26: With CC, kfb, knit across to last
2 sts, K2 tog.
Row 27: Slip 1, purl across to last 2 sts,
pfb, P1: 17 sts.
Row 28: Kfb, (YO, K2 tog) across to last
2 sts, K2 tog.
Row 29: Slip 1, purl across to last 2 sts,
pfb, P1: 18 sts.
Row 30: With MC, kfb, knit across to last
2 sts, K2 tog.
Row 31 (Increase row): Slip 1, knit across
to last 2 sts, kfb, K1: 19 sts.
Rows 32‐45: Repeat Rows 30 and 31,
7 times: 26 sts.
Rows 46‐225: Repeat Rows 26‐45, 9
times: 116 sts.
Bind off all sts in knit.
STITCHING GUIDE…
Yarn Over
After a knit stitch, before a
knit stitch
Bring the yarn forward
between the
needles,
then
back over
the top of the
right‐hand needle, so
that it is now in position to knit the
next stitch.
Knit In Front & Back
Knit the next stitch but
do not slip the old stitch off
the left needle (right). Insert
the right needle into the back loop of the
same stitch and knit it (below right), then
slip the old stitch off the left needle.
Purl In Front & Back
Purl the next stitch but do not
slip the old stitch off the left
needle. Insert the right needle
into the back loop of the same
stitch and purl it (right),
then slip the old stitch
off the left needle.
Knit 2 Together
Insert the right needle into the front of the
first two stitches on the left needle as if to
knit (right), then knit them
together as if they
were one stitch.
n Casual Weekend
Knits, by Andi Javori,
published by Leisure
Arts, rrp £12.99,
available online
and from all good
bookstores
Text © Melanie Porter
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
73