Yours Magazine #80 by Sheena Correa

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The secret of happinessâ&#x20AC;¦ at 50, 60 & 70+

Victoria Wood

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…with Victoria Wood She’s been entertaining us for decades in front of the camera but Victoria Wood reveals to Yours that all that could be about to change

‘I’m going to be like Miss Havisham. I’ll be sitting in my big house all on my own covered in cobwebs’ 6

YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

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by Richard Barber

resh from yet another TV success Victoria Wood drops what could be a shocking bombshell for her fans – that she isn’t particularly bothered about appearing in front of the camera again. “I’m much more interested in watching and planning and writing,” says Victoria, who recently appeared in a one-hour comedy special. “I like the hustle and bustle of being on location and having lots of things going on, but I don’t want to put on a big costume and a wig any more.” Victoria’s list of unforgettable performances in front of the cameras includes legendary sitcoms such as Dinnerladies and Acorn Antiques. Much loved actress Julie Walters was a regular on those shows. And with typical modesty Victoria says she feels that before that partnership she wasn’t much good. Undeniably she and Julie have produced some magical comedy moments. Who can forget the sketch between the two, when a confused Julie is worried that she may be pregnant despite the fact, as it later transpires, that she hasn’t ever had sex. The woman in whom she’s conﬁding asks where she is in her menstrual cycle. ‘Taurus,’ says Julie’s character. It’s the kind of line that has crowned Victoria the

Mum’s the word – Victoria with children Grace and Harry, and her CBE

undisputed queen of British comedy. So what’s next for her? Well she’s certainly not going to be putting her feet up. For a start there’s the ﬁlming of a script she’s written about a woman living in an isolated farmhouse in the Lake District after the death of her father – and it’s hard to imagine anything further removed from Acorn Antiques and Dinnerladies. She plans to produce a drama about the early years of Morecambe and Wise and then there’s a screenplay for the BBC about classical pianist Joyce Hatto and the false recordings her husband released under her name after she died. There are also major changes and new challenges in her private life. Daughter Grace, 21, is already at university but

‘In the end, it’s what goes on in your home that matters most’ son Henry, 17, will be following suit in September. Victoria and her actor/ magician husband, Geoffrey Durham (aka the Great Soprendo) divorced in 2002 so the prospect of becoming an empty-nester is starting to loom large. “I’m going to be like Miss Havisham,” she said recently. “I’ll be sitting in my big house all on my own covered in cobwebs.” That seems unlikely with her steady stream of new work projects. But home is still top of Victoria’s priorities. “In the end, it’s what goes on in your house that matters most. If I went round being Victoria Wood at home, we might be in trouble. But I don’t. I just like to be normal. I close the front door and, to the children, I’m Mum, plain and simple.” Even so she admits that there has still been a personal cost to her fame. In a poignant and frank admission she says.

“I wish I’d had more children.” Grace arrived when Victoria was 35, Henry four years later. Victoria is the first to admit she has been very ambitious. “I wanted to become an extremely good stand-up comedian. I wasn’t unhappy as a child but I wasn’t very content. I think I was just waiting to do my own thing. And I wouldn’t let up until I had.’’ At a careers fair in Bury, a man had asked her what she wanted to do when she left school. “I told him I’d like to be an actress. He gave me one word of advice: Don’t!” Victoria took no notice. “I thought to myself: “Well, I don’t care. I’m going to be.” And then I applied to drama school.” It’s that determination together with her perfectionism that set her on course for success. “There’s such a fine line between getting a laugh and not,” she says. On the set of Dinnerladies, she was making changes to the script even on recording days. “It was a bit of a bore for the cast but, once you can see a way of improving something, you can’t ignore it. You have to be firm.” It’s obvious she has loved the work she’s done because she’s carried on working long after she needed to in terms of her bank balance and her professionalism is universally admired. Lucy Kenwright, the producer of a 90-minute documentary shown recently on her career and life, has nothing but praise for her. “Victoria is utterly professional,” she says, “and lovely to work with. What’s more, having agreed to the project, she was refreshingly honest – candid, even – in answering the questions put to her.” Victoria’s army of well-known devotees is legion. Dawn French won’t hear a word against her. Michael Ball, he says, knows every word of every Acorn Antiques sketch. “In fact, I’m a borderline stalker,” he confesses. Performers as disparate as Roger Moore and Johnny Vegas regard her as the queen of comedy. “She’s one of us,” says Johnny. “She takes you into the supermarket, as it were, and observes the funny little habits of ordinary people.” It takes a very special talent to be so gifted and yet remain as down to earth as Victoria. She likes to say “I just want to be normal.” And that’s why we all love her. YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

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18/12/09 16:16:55

Anti-ageing Rediscover youthful hands with these reader rated anti-ageing hand creams By Michelle Nightingale

Dove ProAge Hand Cream

No7 Protect & Perfect Hand Cream

Ahava Lightening Hand Cream SPF 12

£4.59/100ml

£3.29/75ml

£10.25/75ml

£14/100ml

How was it to use?

Nivea Hand Anti-Age Q10 Plus

It was very runny and I had to be careful not to spill it everywhere. It sunk in fairly quickly, but as it was so thin I had to reapply.

Any instant results?

My pet hate is hand creams that don’t sink in properly, but this absorbed quickly and wasn’t too sticky.

Any instant results?

My hands felt sticky for a short while after application, but my skin did feel smooth and soft with a nice healthy sheen.

After a couple of minutes of massaging this cream into my hands, my skin felt really soft and hydrated. It had a nice fresh scent, too.

Any long-term effects?

My skin did look smoother and healthier but my age spots remained unchanged. There was also a nice smell.

Would you buy it?

No, because its consistency was too thin and I didn’t like the stickiness. Also, although it’s reasonably priced, there are similar priced creams that do a better job. Lynda Seal (60)

I’m lucky because I don’t have any age spots, but this cream did improve the texture and tone of my skin.

Would you buy it?

Yes, I would because I think it’s excellent value for money. The cream lasted ages and I discovered it makes a great all-round moisturiser for elbows and knees, too. Judy Unwin (71)

4/10

7/10

This cream was easy to apply, but it left behind a greasy ﬁlm. This meant I had to wait for it to soak in fully before I could get on with my jobs.

Any instant results?

My skin felt softer straight away and I noticed that the skin on the back of my hands looked plumper and younger. It worked on my elbows, too.

This cream felt really nourishing and rubbed in easily. It also sunk in quickly without feeling greasy.

Any instant results?

My hands felt softer and much more loved after use! It also left a lovely gleam on my hands and nails.

Any long-term effects?

Over time my skin looked plumper and my wrinkles reduced but I didn’t notice any changes to my age spots.

After a month of testing my age spots are paler. My skin texture is improved and my skin feels more supple. My nails are less ﬂaky, too and regularly massaging my hands has also improved the pain I have which is caused by arthritis.

Would you buy it?

Any long-term effects?

No, I’ve used cheaper brands that have worked just as well. Overall I wasn’t convinced by this cream – although it mostly does what it claims, my age spots were unchanged. Susan England (65)

6/10

I’ll deﬁnitely be treating myself to this in the future, or asking for it as a present. It does feel like a really luxury hand cream when you use it and the quality justiﬁes the price. Patricia Ireland (63)

10/10

Winner Best value 46

YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

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on test

Neutrogena Anti-Ageing Hand Cream £4.49/50ml

Clarins Age-Control Olay Total Effects Hand Lotion SPF 15 Hand Treatment £16.50/75ml

£7.50/50ml

How was it to use?

It was difﬁcult to judge how much was needed because it took ages to sink in and felt more like a barrier cream than a hand cream.

Any instant results?

There were no instant results and it left my hands feeling greasy. I didn’t really like the texture or the scent, either.

Any long-term effects?

It didn’t do anything to my age spots, but the SPF 15 would protect against developing more. I think it would be a best used as a barrier cream if you’re outdoors a lot.

Would you buy it?

No, this cream wasn’t for me. Although it isn’t expensive. I wanted a cream to help my dry patches, and this just didn’t do the job. Kate Soutter (53)

Initially this hand cream looked a bit runny, but it smoothed on beautifully and absorbed very quickly without feeling greasy.

Any instant results? My hands felt lovely and velvety straight after use and even my husband was impressed. The fragrance was nice, too.

Any long-term effects?

I don’t have any age spots, but my skin texture was deﬁnitely improved. It was lovely to use and my skin did feel much better.

Would you buy it?

I probably wouldn’t buy this, because of the price tag, but it would be a welcome gift! It does feel like a luxury hand cream – the product does justify the price. Barbara Allen (50)

9/10

3/10

I liked the packaging and it was easy to rub in, although it did have a slightly chemical smell, which lingered.

Any instant results? The smell was a little offputting but my skin did feel nice after application.

Any long-term effects?

I don’t think this cream improved either my age spots or my wrinkles really, which I found quite disappointing, particularly as I used it so often for the test.

Would you buy it?

No, I wouldn’t buy this hand cream. I don’t think this product is good value for money – for me it didn’t live up to its promises. Moira Carlow (61)

5/10

Whatever your 50-plus style problem, our experts have the answer

I love animal prints, but I’m Leopard print conscious that at my ballet pumps age (I’m 61) they can £16, Tu at look awful. Is there a Sainsbury’s way I can wear print without looking like mutton dressed as lamb? Sandra Bayliss, Print belt Leopard Cheltenham

£8, Evans

print heels £45, Wallis

Yours Fashion Editor says: Animal prints, no matter how enticing, can be tricky to get right – especially as you get older. Too much and you’ll end up giving Coronation Street’s Bet Lynch a run for her money, but a little splash can give a youthful twist to a plain outﬁt. The key to tackling tricky trends like animal print is to adopt a less is more approach and keep things simple. Add prints to your everyday look with quirky accessories or shoes. Keep other accessories to a minimum and don’t mix with other prints or patterns. We love these leopard print ballet pumps (£16) from Tu at Sainsbury’s. Or, this belt from Evans (£8) would look great teamed with jeans and a simple white t-shirt or shirt. If you want to try animal prints in the evening then these heels from Wallis (£45) would go perfectly with a simple black dress or jeans and a glitzy top.

If you’re going to splash out on one item this fortnight...

Runner up Stockists: Ahava 01452 864574, www.ahava.co.uk; Clarins 0800 036 3558, www.clarins.co.uk; Dove 0800 085 1548; Neutrogena Norwegian Formula 0845 601 5789; Nivea 0845 644 8556; No7 at Boots 0845 0708 090; Olay – available nationwide

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TH E Yours PICK

Make it this gorgeous silver shrug cardigan from Bonmarché (£16). Just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean you can’t still sparkle.

Stockists: Bonmarché 01924 700 100; Evans 0845 121 4516 www.evans.co.uk; Tu at Sainsbury’s 0800 636 262; Wallis 0845 121 4520.

YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

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hand creams

Fashion Dilemma

17/12/09 10:37:06

with the Fun

grandkidss

EASY TO MAKE

Enjoy winter!

Beefy Sausage Rolls

of pastry. Brush These tasty sausage rolls are the perfect the edges of the pastry with treat after a walk in the woods 1 beaten egg Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas and fold over Mark 6. to encase the 1 Fry ∞/∏ small red onion, chopped in meat mixture. ∞/∏ tbsp olive oil for 5 minutes, until soft. 4 Place on a Stir in ∞/¬ tsp fresh thyme leaves and baking sheet, seam side down. Decorate set aside. with little stars made from pastry scraps Put 1 slice of bread, crust removed, in and hold them in place with beaten egg. the food processor and whiz to crumbs. 5 Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the Add the cooked onion, 110g (4oz) pastry is golden brown and the meat is minced beef, 1∞/∏ tbsp tomato chutney, cooked through. 2 tbsp grated Parmesan and salt and 6 Serve them warm or can be eaten pepper for seasoning and whiz again cold and they will keep in the fridge for to combine. up to two days. 2 Roll out 225g (8oz) shortcrust pastry into 2 rectangles 12x18cm (5x7in) and // For more delicious family recipes about 2mm (1⁄8in) thick. Halve the meat from Annabel Karmel, buy the Winter mixture and roll into 2 sausages each Magbook from the magazine stands at 18cm (7in) long. WHSmith for £5.99 or order your copy 3 Place one in the centre of each piece direct by calling 0844 844 0053.

RIB C TI KLER

What do you call a cow W iin n the Arctic?

An eskimoo! Wrap up warm with our pick of winter wear This Fizzy Pop hat and mittens will keep your tiny tots warm and cosy at only £12 for the set (sizes newborn-23 months). Call 0845 268 2000 or visit www. mamasandpapas. com £12

Keep Jack Frost away with this soft and cosy Lambswool hat scarf for £14. Suitable for 1-5yrs. Call 0871 423 5656 or visit www. jojomamanbebe. co.uk £14

• Ice art: Next time you’re walking in the woods look for acorn cups, feathers and pine cones. When you get home place them in a shallow container and ﬁll with water. Add string (to allow you to hang your ice art) and place in the freezer. Once frozen, remove from container and hang up outside. • Twig tower: In your garden or nearby park gather some twigs to create a woodland sculpture. Start with a square base using the four largest twigs then create more squares decreasing in size a little each time. Place each square on top at a slightly different angle to the layer below. See who can build the tallest tower! • Bark rubbings: Simply take wax crayons and plain paper on your walk and see how many different tree bark patterns you can collect along the way. // These ideas are taken from Playing Through The Seasons – Winter, a booklet produced by the Woodland Trust and Westonbirt Arboretum. You’ll ﬁnd more great ideas for winter activities at www.naturedetectives.org.uk/download

For trendy teens, how about this Gyde hat (£29) in purple and grey stripes? Call 020 7348 7316 for stockists or visit www. miniature.dk £29

PICS: GETTY IMAGES

Wrap up warm and get out and about to enjoy everything that winter has to offer

This boys’ Furlined Fairisle Trapper is a bargain at just £6.99. Sizes: 2-10 years. Available in all Adams stores or at www. adams. co.uk £6.99

YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

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16/12/09 16:19:43

// The Yours pull-out // Reader tested holidays // The Yours pull-out // Reade

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What’s inside

YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

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IllUSTRaTION: kaTIE maC

• Explore Europe • Desirable long haul destinations • The awe-inspiring Americas • Appreciate UK and Ireland

15/12/09 11:12:37

// The Yours pull-out // Reader tested holidays // The Yours pull-out // Reade er

Explore

Europe

Hello from Thassos My husband Mike and I chose Thassos as we wanted to explore a lesser-known Greek Island. The quiet capital, Thassos Town, boasts several Roman archaeological sites, the main one being at Agora. For stunning scenery head to the hills and the JACKIE L ANGFORD, 59, villages of Panagia and Potamia. TAUNTON, SOMERSET Don’t forget an amble to the Monastery at Archangelos, which leans over a sheer cliff drop. Thassos is How to get there renowned for its beaches, so swimming and Budget: Olympic Airlines sunbathing are a must! from £249 return. For delicious Greek food at good value, Finika’s on www.olympicairlines.com Golden Beach has traditional three-course set meals Mid price: KLM from £333 plus wine for around €8. My most memorable moment return. www.klm.com was walking 15km to Thassos Town along the stunning Luxury: Aegean Airways coast path, stopping at secluded Vathi beach for a picnic. business class from £511 One downside is that Thassos is unreachable by return. Call 0871 200 0040, air, so after a plane to mainland Greece, you’re just a http://en.aegeanair.com 45-minute ferry ride away. My top tip is to buy bus tickets Where to stay from a shop. It saves embarrassment once on the bus! Budget: Studios Asterias, Elpiniki Lambiri, Astris, Thassos from £26 pppn. Call 0030 25930 53018/31041. www.thassos-

Fact File

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island.com/pages /asterias/ Mid price: Hotel Apartments Arion Skala from £50 pppn. Call 0030 25930 61486 Luxury: Nikoleta Luxury Villa, Thassos Town from £75 pppn. Call 0030 25930 2202, www.nikoletaluxuryvilla.gr Disabled accessibility Unsuitable due to no direct ﬂights. Thassos is reached by ferry or hydrofoil from Kavala city. Bear in mind that international calls are more expensive.

Fabulous food in Northern Portugal Where did you go? My husband Allen, our daughter Diane, son-inlaw Andrew, and I recently spent a week in the Minho region of Northern Portugal. Why did you choose Minho? Diane intends to move out there, but this was our ﬁrst trip. What was the weather like? We ﬂew to Porto in September to be greeted with weather that resembled a perfect English summer day. And the food? The food was all delicious – particularly the seafood. It was great value too, often two courses with wine and bread would come to around €10 each.

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FREDA SHUFFLEBOTHA M, 73, FROM H YDE, C HE SH IRE

Would you recommend Minho? We found the area so beautiful and unspoilt and I can’t wait till our next visit. // Book a holiday through First Choice, 0871 200 7799, www.ﬁrstchoice.co.uk

YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

15/12/09 11:13:59

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Smelling the ﬂowers in Francee

Relaxing in the Dordogne g

Where did you go? My partner, Len Riley, and I made it our summer holiday to visit his daughter Helen and her husband Steve in South West France, where they live near a little village called Berdoues, surrounded by ﬁelds of sunﬂowers. They own a lovely 400-year-old farmhouse, two springer spaniels, two hens, a rooster – and not forgetting Sparkles the horse!

Have you VALERIE BRIAR, FAREHAM, H AMPSHIRE been to thatt area before?? Monfl which was s a w hci h w ni uqnafl noLast Mni year etî g Iatook k ok a gîte gîte iinn M onflaanquin, n qu in w hich w as peaceful enough. So I was struck by how tranquil Temple- Sur-Lot was. The village was full of history with strong connections to the Knights Templar. Who would appreciate this holiday? I’d highly recommend it to budding artists or someone looking to get away from it all. I did a lot of sketching around the stunning surrounding area. How did you get to the Dordogne? I caught the ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre and then drove down, stopping along the way to break up the journey. It should take six to eight hours with ample stops. // Tourist information: 090 68 244 123 (60p per minute); www.dordogne-perigord-tourisme.fr

A NN WHITMEE, 73, GILLINGHAM, DORSET

What were your favourite parts of the holiday? Whenever we go, I never tire of the glorious French cuisine, especially the trip to the food market in nearby town, Mirande, on a Monday morning. I also enjoy visiting Helen and Steve’s French friends, who always make us very welcome.

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When’s the best time to visit? I love going at Christmas time. We have the main Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, then on Christmas Day we go into the Pyrenees to watch skiers and tobogganers whizz past on the slopes. When we’re tired, we go home to open our presents and have our evening meal. // For tourist information: 090 68 244 123 (60p per minute); www.francetourism.com

On Christmas Day we travel up into the Pyrenees to watch the skiers and tobogganers

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Where did you go? I visited the Dordogne region in western France and spent time in Templesur-Lot.

Trento – a hidden gem in Italy Where did you go? My husband and I have just had a wonderful holiday staying with our daughter, Sonia, who teaches English in the beautiful medieval town of Trento in northern Italy. What’s the landscape like? Trento is surrounded on all sides by mountains, so there is stunning scenery wherever you look. There’s also a fast-ﬂowing river – the Adige – running through the middle.

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We spent most of our time sightseeing as Trento is steeped in history

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What is there to do in Trento? We spent most of our time sightseeing as Trento is steeped in history, with traditional frescoed houses, stately palaces, city walls, old churches and a Gothic cathedral. There are also extensive Roman remains beneath the city centre.

ROSALIND WESTBROOK, 62 , BOURNEMOUTH, DORSET

What was your favourite memory? When we had a tour of the local castle, it was a very hot and tiring day. On the way back to Sonia’s ﬂat, I sat on the steps of this beautiful 17th century fountain – the Neptune fountain – and read my copy of Yours. // For holidays in Italy, call 0871 231 4691, www.thomson.co.uk YOURS // EVERY FORTNIGHT

15/12/09 11:14:09