Yours 173

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ISSUE 173

yours.co.uk

10 tempting treats

that boost health Amanda Redman

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‘It’s time to tell the truth about our marriage’

natural ways to beat the menopause

‘Why I had to leave New Tricks’ august 6-19, 2013 £1.40

Ruth & Eamonn

BBQ boredom?

Real life

5 new recipes to pop on the grill!

… ss e r d c ssi a l c e on ! s k o o l imming l six s

‘Millie made life worth living again’

The summer hosts of ITV’s This Morning reveal that underneath the banter, their relationship couldn’t be more traditional

By Angela Hagan

PICS: CAMERA PRESS; REX FEATURES; NICkY jOHNSTON

I

t’s plain to see their sparkling on-screen chemistry is not just for the cameras. Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford finish each other’s sentences and mercilessly take the mickey out of each other all with a flirtatious glint in their eyes.

Which isn’t bad for a couple who have been together for 17 years, working together for ten of those and sharing a treasured son, Jack.

“The thing about Ruth is she’s confident in the knowledge that I totally adore her,” says Eamonn, who juggles his ITV role with a regular job hosting Sky News’ breakfast show Sunrise.

The couple, who have taken over from Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for their regular summer stint hosting This Morning, insist they have a ‘rock solid’ marriage, defying critics who last year said it was under strain.

Ruth says, “Just because I don’t agree with everything he says, people get the wrong idea.

They shouldn’t be fooled that there’s something wrong with our relationship because we can’t agree on things like what to watch on TV. Beneath all that banter we are rock solid and our core values are very similar. Eamonn’s very romantic and every day he tells me he loves me and that I look lovely… apart from when we have a row,” she laughs.

Last summer the couple, both

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truth ‘The about our marriage’ aged 53, were accused of “airing their dirty laundry in public” followed by reports they had a fiery relationship. This came after they filmed a series of short Youtube films called ‘He Says/ She Says’ in which they aired their differing views on domestic subjects like what to watch on TV or having fancy cushions on beds.

But some newspapers branded the couple as having marital problems.

“It was supposed to be lighthearted but it was presented as being vicious and nasty and that just wasn’t the case,” says Eamonn.

Ruth agrees. “It was a bit of fun. We were just showing the differences between men and women. We come from hardworking parents, from the same kind of background and have worked hard to get where we are.

Some people in the media don’t like that – they’d almost love to write about us breaking up.”

With a wink of the eye, Eamonn says: “Those films were really a plea to the public to say; ‘do you have a partner like this?’

I mean there’s no doubt about it, Mrs Holmes is slightly warped, aren’t you darling?”

Ruth smiles, “I know we’re joking here but actually that’s where we have a good relationship. Eamonn is always up for having fun and I’m a bit more sensible. He’s also the romantic, not me. He’s often suggesting nights out like date nights though I must admit it can be a hassle

trying to organise babysitters. You can‘t be spontaneous with kids.”

Eamonn says he first clapped eyes on Ruth when he saw a picture of her dressed in a suit of armour, stuck to the fridge at the house of a mutual friend.

“We began a very long courtship,” recalls Eamonn who split from his first wife, Gabrielle, back in 1996 due to the pressures of commuting from their home in Belfast to London to present GMTV. He travels back regularly to see his three older children – Declan (23), Rebecca (21) and Niall (19).

Ruth admits she would have loved a bigger family with Eamonn, but she was in her 40s when she had Jack (10) and feels incredibly fortunate they even had him.

“When I was younger I envisaged myself marrying and having at least a couple of kids,” she says. “But by the time I met the right man and was ready to have a child, I was 42. Basically I wished I’d met him earlier! I love being a

❙ star chat ❙

‘I draw the line at Botox; injecting poison and freezing my face is not for me – that’s why I have a fringe!’

mum, it’s really enhanced my life and it’s the most important thing I’ve ever done.”

Ruth puts her size 12 figure down to working out at the gym, watching what she eats and, most importantly, walking their dog, Maggie.

“As I get older I’m getting to that stage where I’m thickening out a bit and I’m not yet ready to give it all up and get into the elasticated trousers! I’m watching what I eat though my biggest weakness is wine!”

And she’s refreshingly honest about having ‘work’ done, saying she’d ‘never say never’, though she draws the line at Botox.

“The idea of injecting poison and freezing my face is not for me – it’s why I have a fringe!

I have a 53 year-old’s face and I think people look weird if they mess around with that too much.

“The key is to get plenty of sleep and well, just be happy.

And go on more date nights.”

Quick as a flash Eamonn pipes up: “Can we have one tonight then?” As Ruth groans, it’s abundantly clear that these two were made for each other.

Ruth and Eamonn with Jack, now ten, and on their wedding day YOURS

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PIC:

✢ You can see Eamonn and Ruth on This Morning, 10.30am, Monday to Friday, on ITV1

IN THE

Spotlight

Stop taking potsh o The future of benefits for the over-60s is looking increasingly uncertain, with neither the Chancellor nor Shadow Chancellor promising to protect them beyond the next General Election. So where does that leave us?

Here, pensions expert Ros Altmann tells us why she thinks older people are being targeted, what the problems are with the current system, and why means testing is the worst possible option…

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By Laura Bradder

T

he Winter Fuel Payment, bus passes, free TV licence, subsidised NHS prescriptions… as we get older, and adjust to lower incomes, these are the ‘pensioner perks’ some can’t live without. But now they are under threat, as the government looks to cut costs.

So why does it always seem to be our generation paying the price? Pensions expert Ros Altmann says, “Pensioners seem to be easy to target, maybe because they don’t complain as much – they are sitting ducks. This is not the way to treat older people. We shouldn’t be trying to make them poor again.”

Ros feels it’s unfair to punish people who have paid their way for so many years. “They have paid all their lives and worked hard, often struggling to save for their future, on the basis of a system they trusted and believed in,” she says. “They are not trying to milk the system or claim things they are not entitled to. After paying National Insurance, you

are entitled to a certain level of basic support, whoever you are.

This is a strong social contract people have lived by all their lives.”

From the large postbag we regularly receive on this topic, we know you feel the same. Poppy Wright, of Hereford, writes: “I have been a taxpayer since the age of 16. I am now 74 and still have a part-time job, on which I am taxed. I also have to pay tax on my occupational pension, and I pay council tax – my pensions are considered too high to warrant any reduction so I consider I’ve more than earned my benefits.”

It’s not just the financial aspect you treasure, but the social benefits too. Mrs V Wisher, of Nottingham, makes the point: “A lot of elderly people live alone; a bus pass enables them to get out and meet people, instead of sitting at home feeling depressed. It helps keep them fit, alert and away from doctors’ waiting rooms.”

So why do people seem to resent our benefits so much?

According to Ros, it’s a system that was created for publicity: “These benefits were originally introduced by the last government

‘Pensioners seem to be an easy target... they are sitting ducks’

“We’re currently spending a fortune to get rid of means testing by introducing the flat rate pension, then at the same time saying let’s have more means testing for other Ros offers three simple solutions to benefits! It’s madness.” ease the financial pressure without Then, of course, there is the penalising those who need it most… risk of people not claiming what they are entitled to – around half Monetise it of pensioners “If the value of these benefits was currently put into increasing the state pension, entitled to then it would be up to each pensioner to pension credit choose how they spend it. That simplicity do not claim and freedom of choice cannot be it. Ros says, undervalued in a system that is so horribly “Many ordinary complicated.” people are too proud to claim Tax it benefits, or don’t want the hassle “ What doesn’t make sense to of filling in forms. We can’t risk me is that the payments are tax free. that with things like the Winter The amount received by top-rate Fuel Payment – we already hear taxpayers therefore ends up being heartbreaking stories about worth much more. If pensioners are people dying in cold weather.” well off enough, they should pay tax Whatever the government on what they receive.” decides to do, MPs need to know that this pensioner bashing is Increase the lower age limit completely unacceptable.

As reader M Richards, of “There is room for debate about what Gosport, says, “Many European age you start receiving things like the bus countries revere their senior pass – 60 does seems to be too young citizens and respect them, but these days. It’s right that it should here in Britain it appears move with the state pension not. Can we remind those ✢ What age, otherwise many are politicians who think we do you think? getting free public transport will just grin and bear it Write to the yet still working, which that we have a vote, and address on page doesn’t make sense.” we will use it.”

3 and let us know.

‘Anyone who has saved or kept working will not get benefits’

SO WHAT SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT DO?

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PICS: GRAHAM TURNER/THE GUARDIAN; THINKSTOCK; ISTOCKPHOTO

because the state pension was recognised as being too low – it is actually one of the lowest in the developed world. Rather than increase the pension by a few pounds a week, they introduced new benefits, because it sounded like a better proposition to the public and made more headlines.

If you were to take these benefits away, it would be like cutting the state pension.”

Despite our affinity to these benefits, it’s undeniable that costs need to be addressed as the number of older people in society continues to grow. A free TV licence is now given to one in six homes, at a cost of £600 million; the bus pass costs £1 billion, and the Winter Fuel Payment £2 billion a year.

Means testing is often heralded as the answer – people only receive it if they fall below a certain financial threshold.

“There are a number of very powerful reasons why I believe means testing is the worst possible policy option,” says Ros. “Anyone who has saved or kept working will not get benefits, while those who didn’t will be rewarded.

PIC:

h ots at pensioners!

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Style One slimming dress notes

SIX LOOKS If you’re going to buy one item this month make it this versatile and flattering dress

By Fashion Editor, Michelle Nightingale

The perfect dress…

PHOTOGRAPHY RUTH JENKINSON; STYLIST JO WINCH; HAIR AND MAKE-UP SARAH JANE GREEN

✔ Classic look that won’t date ✔ Flattering hem length ✔ Slimming tie-waist detail ✔ Shift shape means it won’t cling ✔ Great price

£39.5 0, 8-22, Marks & Spenc er

Make it fun by adding a splash of colour Keep it simple with a classic yet modern tweed jacket

✢ Blue blazer, £45, 6-18, A wear; shoes, £30, 3-9, Marisota; necklace, £15, Mood at Debenhams; bag £78, House of Fraser

✢ Jacket, £49, 8-24, South at Isme; shoes, £45, 3-8, Autograph at Marks & Spencer; bag, £25, Red Herring at Debenhams

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HOORAY, THE SUMMER SALES ARE IN FULL SWING, which means some of these items may well be discounted by the time we go to press. This also means we can’t guarantee availability – so grab them quick!

Ta-da! A statement scarf and bag create a whole new look

✢ Aztec print scarf, £15, Claire Sweeney at Fashion World; bronze belt, £9.50, Marks & Spencer; wedge shoe, £30, 3-9, Next; sunglasses, £15, Next; bangle, £4, Bhs; bag, £25, Next

Combine with metallics to make your outfit look more expensive than it is

FASHION EDITOR’S CHOICE

Embellished black jacket, £49, 8-24, South at Isme; silver belt, £6, M&Co; silver toe shoes, £26, 3-8, Bhs; earrings, £10, Debenhams

GREAT DAY LOOK

Change the look by swapping the belt ✢ Belt, £25, Marisota; shoes, £25, 3-8, Marks & Spencer; earrings, £6, Debenhams; gold necklace, from £5, from a selection at George at Asda; bronze bag, £20, M&Co

Team with comfy flats and a cute cardigan ✢ Dotty cardigan, £20, 8-24, South at Isme; pink belt, £5, Next; lace ballet pumps, £10, 3-8, F&F at Tesco

EVENING LOOK

STOCKISTS: A wear www.awear.com; Bhs 0845 196 0000; Debenhams 0844 561 6161; F&F at Tesco 0845 075 5000; Fashion World 0871 231 4000, www.fashionworld.co.uk; George at Asda 0800 952 0101; House of Fraser 0845 602 1073; Isme 0844 811 8112; M&Co 0800 031 7200; Next 0844 844 8939; Marisota 0871 984 6000; Marks & Spencer 0845 609 0200.

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Now visit www.yours.co.uk for more great fashion advice

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Next issue: Grab a bargain with our top-to-toe budget looks

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FIVE NEW IDEAS

for the barbecue Forget sausages and chicken wings – try these tasty fish dishes and homemade Kiev burgers!

Tiger Prawns with Lime Dressing A simple and healthy option!

Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes

and finely chopped ■ 1 small bunch coriander, chopped ■ Salt and pepper

■ ■ ■ ■

■ 600g (1lb4oz) whole tiger prawns ■ 1 lime

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2 tbsp mayonnaise 2 tbsp runny honey 1 lime 1 green chilli, deseeded YOURS

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Serves Per serving Fat 4 171 cals 3.5g

Sat fat 0.8g

1. Preheat the barbecue (or a griddle pan).

2. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, honey, one zested and juiced lime, chilli and coriander.

Season to taste.

3. Barbecue the prawns for

two minutes on each side, or until cooked through.

4. Add the cooked prawns to the dressing, toss well and serve with lime wedges. © Hellmann’s. For more recipes, visit www.hellmanns.co.uk

FOOD

notes

Grilled Salmon Skewers with Gremolata

Summery succulence in no time at all Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 5 minutes ■ 1 bunch flat leaf parsley ■ 1 clove garlic ■ 1 lemon, for zesting ■ ■ ■ ■

700g (1½lb) salmon fillet 4 barbecue skewers 2 tbsp rapeseed oil Salt and pepper

1. Make the gremolata: wash and pat the parsley dry. Tear off the leaves and chop finely. Chop the clove of garlic, then use a lemon zester to remove about 1 tsp lemon zest. Combine all the ingredients and season to taste with salt and black pepper. You can mix the

ingredients together with a pestle and mortar or just use the back of a spoon.

2. Rinse the salmon with cold water and pat dry.

Cut into large cubes and place on skewers, then brush with oil and season to taste.

3. Barbecue for approximately 3-4 minutes, turning, before drizzling over the gremolata, or serving as a side dip.

TOP TIP If you use wooden skewers, soak them for at least 30 minutes in cold water so that they don’t burn during cooking

Serves 4

2 skewers 385 cals

Fat 21g

Sat fat 9g

© www.seafoodfromnorway.co.uk

Kiev Beefburgers

TOP TIP Freeze any left-over garlic butter for up to two months and use on lamb and beef joints, or steaks

Another twist on a barbecue favourite Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes ■ 75g (3oz) salted butter, softened ■ 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped or crushed ■ 1-2 tbsp freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley or chives ■ 450g (1lb) lean beef mince ■ Freshly milled black pepper ■ 1 small courgette, coarsely grated

Serves 4

Per burger 291 cals

Fat 20g

Sat fat 12g

1. To prepare the garlic butter, mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl.

Mould into a cylinder shape, the diameter of a two pence

coin. Wrap in foil and freeze for up to 2 hours.

2. In a large bowl, mix the beef, pepper and courgette.

Using slightly damp hands, shape into eight 9cm (3½in) burgers. Cut the butter into four 1cm (½in) thick discs, putting a disc in the centre of four burgers. Position the remaining burgers on top and mould into larger burgers, with the butter hidden in the centre. Cover and chill for 20 minutes.

3. Cook the burgers on a prepared barbecue (or preheated moderate grill) for 6-8 minutes on each side, until cooked and any meat juices run clear.

4. Serve in buns or with flatbreads, a crisp green salad and relishes.

© www.simplybeefandlamb.co.uk/battle YOURS

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Perfect patch DIFFICULTY RATING

★★★

This pretty patchwork makeup bag is perfect for a trip away Finished size

Compiled

by Alex Frisby

16.5x24cm (6½x13½in)

You will need

✢ 25x10cm (10x4in) red fabric with white spots ✢ Colourful fabric scraps ✢ 20x90cm (8x35½in) fusible wadding ✢ White zip fastener, 20cm (8in) long ✢ Scissors, needle and thread, sewing machine, iron

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Preparation

Enlarge this template by 200 per cent using a photocopier.

Use this template for the pouch, adding a seam allowance.

Cutting out

Includes 0.75cm (1/4in) seam allowances: Spotted fabric ✢ 4 strips, 5x21.5cm (2x81/2in), for the top band ✢ 2 pouches, using the template, for the lining Fabric scraps ✢ Approx 30 rectangles, 6.5cm (21/2in) wide and 3-9cm (11/4-31/2in) long ✢ 4.5x31.5cm (13/4x121/2in) strip, for the strap Wadding ✢ 4 strips, 5x21.5cm (2x81/2in) ✢ 2 pouches, from the template

HOME

& craft

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Make the strap: fold your strip in half lengthways, wrong sides together. Iron the fold to press a crease. Now fold in both the long edges to meet at the centre, and press again. Topstitch the long edges, then zigzag stitch the short ends together to make a loop.

3

Fuse wadding to the back of two of the top band strips.

4

With right sides facing, sew together a wadded top band and a wadded pouch piece.

Press the seam towards the top band, then topstitch in place. Repeat for the other padded top band and pouch.

5

Stitch a remaining top band strip to the top edge of each padded band, right sides facing, and press the seam.

These remaining strips will line the padded bands.

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1

Sew the scrap rectangles together along their 6.5cm (2½in) edges. Make strips about 30cm (12in) long, then join these strips together to make a large rectangle.

Remember to allow for seams.

Align the zip, right sides facing, with the top of a padded band, then pin the free end of the unpadded band on top, right sides facing too.

Stitch the three pieces together, using a zip foot. Open them out, and put the two bands wrong sides together, with the zip between them.

Topstitch close to the zip teeth and press carefully.

Repeat for the other side of the zip.

2

Now visit www.yours.co.uk for more great projects to make and do

Tack the strap ends into the side of a top band. Arrange the pouch pieces right sides together, lining against lining and patchwork against patchwork. Sew around the edge, leaving a 10cm (4in) gap in the lining for turning out.

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Once turned out, close the gap with hand stitches and press lightly to finish.

Project from Love to Sew: Patchwork Bags, by Cecilia Hanselmann, published by Search Press, rrp £7.99. Yours readers can claim free UK p&p for this title by calling Search Press on 01892 510850, quoting ‘Yours Magazine August’ (issue173).

From this rectangle, cut two pouches using the template, including a seam allowance. Now fuse the corresponding wadding to the back of each.

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Next issue: We show you how to YOURS YOURS create this beautiful photo frame

EVERY EVERY FORTNIGHT FORTNIGHT

93

TRAVEL

on test

Ladakh, India There are incredible sights around every corner in this remote region

Reader Marian Warford, 61, explores the mystical land of Tibet

We’d love to hear about your travels

✢ Where is Ladakh?

LADAKH China To the north of India, Nepal Pakistan a high-altitude area bordering China India and Tibet. ✢ Best time to go It hardly ever rains so you are guaranteed sunshine, but temperatures can drop to -20°C (-4°F) or lower in winter! ✢ Marian booked her trek with the Ladakhi Women’s Travel Company. Call +911982 257973 (India) from 10am-4pm (plus five hours). To email, visit www.ladakhiwomenstravel.com ✢ Discover Northern India, with a 12-night Rajasthan Tour from £1,059pp. Includes flights, accommodation, transfers, excursions and sightseeing tours. Call 0871 703 4240 or visit www.travelbag.co.uk ✢ How to get there Currently the cheapest and quickest flights to Leh include stopovers at Zurich and Delhi airports, taking about 19 hours. ✢ Disabled access Treks are not recommended for people with mobility or general health problems.

✢ Send your holiday review (300 words with pictures – send one with you in it), with your name, age and address to: Alex Frisby at the Yours address on the Letters page or email alex.frisby@bauermedia. co.uk with ‘Readers’ Travels’ in the subject line. We pay £50 for each story we publish.

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WORDS: ALEX FRISBY; PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF WRITING PICS: MARIAN WARFORD; IMAGE SOURCE/REX FEATURES

Why Ladakh?

I’ve always been fascinated by Tibet, and Ladakh is known as ‘Little Tibet’ – although it also literally means ‘land of high passes’. While most of the Tibetan monasteries have sadly been destroyed, they are still very much a feature of Ladakhi life. It is a magical, fairytalelike place, and I was lucky enough to attend a festival at the monastery in Where did you stay?

Tingmosgang.

En-route, we stayed with local farming What was the plan? families. Simple mattresses, composting I opted for the Sham Trek, one of the toilets and the odd yak (above) for easier trips offered by the Ladakhi company! Water comes from the Women’s Travel Company – a femaleglaciers, channelled down and used to run business, with women guides and grow huge vegetables, apricots porters. It took a couple of weeks and walnuts; it’s boiled for but you can walk at your own TOP TIP guests to drink, though. pace, and we stayed below Go shopping in Tell us about Leh… 4,000m – a challenge with Leh for a Kashmiri It’s the capital of the the height of the mountains, pashmina, or some Ladakh region, 3,500m but as we found, quite beautiful Tibetan above sea level. Flying into possible. jewellery such a high altitude can be tricky, and I spent most of the first day drinking ginger tea to prevent altitude sickness. With my view of the snow-capped peaks, however, this was no real hardship. Leh is built around its palace and on my way up to see it, I came across two locals spinning wool.

Women only: The trek guide One took me back to her house for a cup and porters of butter tea!

FACT FILE