We’re all amazing!
“I’m sure you’ll agree our Amazing Women award winners are pretty mind-blowing”
Iknow some people prefer not to think of Christmas until 1st December. When I say “some people” I mostly mean men – who, let’s face it, rarely have to get too involved with the mammoth task of making the festive season magical. I’m generalising but it’s mainly us women who make it all happen, isn’t it? I really love Christmas and I’ve found the best way to give myself the time to enjoy it is to start the organising early. to kick-start your to-do list, our special this month is let’s Get Planning (p165), a checklist of all the things you can sort out sooner rather than later. I hope you find it useful.
While those to-do lists keep on growing, it’s so important to give yourself a bit of headspace now and again. My favourite way to do that is to take the dogs for a walk, and it seems walking is an activity that’s gaining in popularity. on p66 you’ll find our walking special where Springwatch presenter Kate Humble explains why walking soothes her soul, and journalist andréa Childs experiences an all-female walking holiday in the lake District (p68). If you’re like me and the thought of going to the gym fills you with horror, then here is our answer.
this month sees the results of an eight-month campaign to celebrate the power, vitality and sheer fabulousness of women aged 50+ with the results of woman&home’s 2018 “50 over 50 amazing Women awards in partnership with JD Williams”.
the idea came about because we wanted to be unashamedly positive about grown-up women. In the past, women felt invisible once they hit a certain age but not any more. In fact, they’re achieving incredible things and holding up the world.
It was so difficult to single out the eventual ten winners (11 actually, because a partnership won our social Influencer category) because all 50 were so impressive. but I’m sure you’ll agree our top ladies are pretty mindblowing (p54). From lesley Knight, who has funded 21 NHs helipads in memory of her son, to british Film Institute Chief Executive amanda Nevill, to our favourite celebrity chef Mary berry, who is Patron of Child bereavement UK, woman&home salutes your hard work and can-do attitude. We will be celebrating the awards at a glittering ceremony at Claridge’s, where I’m looking forward to raising a glass of Champagne to all 50+ women – because we’re all pretty amazing I reckon!
Now our cover stars this month are rather unusual – Holly Willoughby is younger than our usual featured celebs and Phillip schofield is a man! but we felt these two deserved the accolade of a w&h cover because they are so universally liked and appear in our living rooms on TV so often they feel like friends. This Morning is 30 years old this month too and that feels like something to commemorate – remember the early days with Richard and Judy? a fashion industry executive told me recently that Holly is the celeb all the retailers want to dress because if she wears something, it sells out immediately. that’s very good news for M&s, who have chosen her to be their brand ambassador. I personally love her style so I like to check out her Instagram to get inspiration from the way she puts looks together.
Right now the w&h team are busy putting your Christmas issue together and it’s going to be our most sumptuous yet. Enjoy this issue and see you next month for lots of festive fun.