Innholdsfortegnelse for March 18, 2013 i Woman's Own

When I first saw our feature on p16, about a woman who sleeps with disabled men for money, I really wasn’t sure what to think and whether it would even make it into this issue. However, the more I read, the more comfortable I felt sharing it with you. While I don’t think I can ever condone women selling their bodies, there is something so sincere about Laura Lee’s intentions that I couldn’t help but respect her for her controversial choice of job. I’d love to know what you think – please drop me a line. facebook.com/womansownmagazine twitter.com/womansown womansowneditor@ipcmedia.com 020 3148 6565…

It’s official – beards are cool. Even high street retailer John Lewis has got in on the act by making bearded male model Johnny Harrington (right) the face of its spring menswear collection. The former carpenter, 32, is amused by all the attention, which is being dubbed ‘hobo chic’. He says, ‘I love my beard and I try to take good care of it – I wash it, condition it and always brush it before bed. I’m comfortable with myself and I enjoy being unique. My parents taught me to be proud of being different and I wouldn’t change it for anything – and the female attention is nice, too!’ Gerard Butler The eyes have it Rugged Scotsman Gerard, 43, embraces his tough side with a full face of hair,…

It’s the ultimate fairytale success story. Raised by a single mum in a tiny flat in London, Adele Adkins grew up dreaming of being a singer. Fast-forward to 2013 and the reality has way surpassed her expectations. She’s a global megastar worth an estimated £14.9 million, with a mantelpiece groaning under the weight of nine Grammys, four Brit Awards and now an Oscar. At just 24, Adele has already achieved so much. On top of all her professional glory, she’s found love with charity entrepreneur Simon Konecki, 38, and last October had their first baby, Angelo James. The best thing about Adele? All that success hasn’t changed her one bit. Well, apart from the £2.5m Sussex mansion she calls home and the £600K London property she bought for her mum…

It was friends at first sight when Pauline met Linda at their North London primary school. The two then joined Anna Scher’s Theatre school and have worked together many times, most famously as Sharon and Tracey in Birds Of A Feather. ‘Linda will always be my best friend, we’ve been through so much together,’ she says. HOME SWEET HOME Family is everything to Pauline. She was devoted to her mum, Hetty (left), who died from cancer in 1989. Married to Steve since 1996, the couple have a son Charlie, 18, and Pauline has a daughter, Emily, 27, from her first marriage (below). The couple are keen sailors and Pauline’s ambition is ‘to sail to France and Ireland – but we need qualifications first!’ BEATING EATING Pauline hit the headlines when…

Cradling my newborn daughter in my arms, I tried to take in what the doctor was saying. ‘She has Down’s syndrome,’ he repeated, seeing my confusion. It didn’t seem possible. I was just 26 and my husband Malcolm, 27. We were first-time parents and hadn’t thought there was anything wrong with Jen, our little girl. Back in 1981, prenatal screening for the condition wasn’t common practice. ‘What does it mean for her?’ I asked, terrified. The answer was completely overwhelming – she was likely to suffer learning difficulties, health defects and have a limited life expectancy. Yet I refused to believe her future would be so bleak. ‘She’ll never be short of love,’ I said and Malcolm agreed. As Jen grew, we followed a programme designed to help raise babies…

Grown-up pony High ponytails are tricky to pull off past a certain age. Luckily for us, this season is all about a simple low-slung version – and it suits everyone! Pull hair back to the nape of the neck and tie with a band. Leave a few loose strands to frame the face. TRESS TREAT Goody ColourCollection Ouchless Elastics, £2.19, won’t snag your hair. Want more ideas? Check out womansown.co.uk/spring hairstyles GO MIDI In-between hair just got cool again. Ask your stylist to give you a blunt cut that skims the shoulders Wave hello Beach cool meets Hollywood glamour with wavy tresses – think relaxed, tousled tendrils which have plenty of youth-boosting gloss. Prepare damp hair with a spray of curl-enhancer, like KMS California Curl Up Wave Foam, £12.65, feelunique.com.…

ROB CRUMBIE, director of marketing and communications at Recyclebank, gives his tips on getting the most out of your junk 1 Clutter can fog the mind, so sort out your life by getting rid of anything you don’t use, such as old appliances or clothes. Research has shown you’ll feel more relaxed and in control. 2 Sell popular items, such as old laptops and watches, on auction websites like ebay. Use car boots (see p40) and jumble sales for cheaper pieces like crockery and small ornaments. 3 Do your bit for the environment by giving away unwanted items rather than letting them end up in landfill, thereby reducing unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions. 4 Don’t throw an item away if it’s broken or worn. Sometimes all it needs is a bit…

Whether it’s a family holiday, new car or ensuring you’ll have a comfortable retirement – there are lots of things worth saving for. Visit the Money Advice Service website and take control But try as we might to put a regular amount away each month, things like bills and home improvements always seem to get in the way. Will our money worries ever stop? In a word, yes they could, and quicker than ever if you visit the Money Advice Service website. It’s an independent service set up by the government to help us make the most of our money by giving free impartial advice across a range of financial matters. The Money Advice Service website provides a wealth of information, interactive tools and links to other helpful resources –…

When I heard the word ‘cancer’, the room started spinning. But the doctor wasn’t finished yet… ‘I’m afraid there’s nothing more we can do Ð you have 18 months to live,’ she said. My older sisters, Lesley and Julie, had come with me to this appointment and we all started crying. ‘But what do I tell the children?’ I finally managed. ‘The truth would be best,’ the doctor said, and I noticed tears sliding down her face, too. I was 33, with a loving partner, Anthony, 39, and two girls, Chloe, 13, and Georgia, eight. Three years earlier, I’d survived cervical cancer. I’d thought I was one of the lucky ones. Yet now I’d been given my death sentence and I was terrified for the children. I knew how hard…

I’ve saved so far! £6 8 6 Everyone at work raved about Quidco, so I decided I would give it a go. Stuart and I opened an account together, which means we can check what we are paying for household expenses. It was so easy – you just sign up for free on the Quidco website. Stuart and I opened an account together, which means we can check what we are paying for household expenses. It was so easy – you just sign up for free on the Quidco website. We first used it for pet insurance. Annual insurance is about £70, but we got £30 cashback going through Quidco. We’ve made more back each year. In 2012, we made £281, which takes our total so far to an impressive…

Skinny carrot meringue cake SERVES 8 PREP TIME 20 MINS COOKING TIME 40 MINS YOU WILL NEED ◆ 200ml vegetable oil, plus extra for greasing ◆ 3 eggs ◆ 300g soft light brown sugar ◆ 600g carrots, grated ◆ 280g self-raising flour ◆ 1tsp bicarbonate of soda ◆ 1tsp ground cinnamon ◆ 1tsp mixed spice (pumpkin pie spice) ◆ Finely grated zest of 1 orange ◆ 150g dried fruits, such as cherries, sultanas, raisins ◆ 150g nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped ◆ Orange-blossom honey, to serve FOR THE FROSTING ◆ 6 egg whites ◆ 300g caster sugar ◆ 1tsp vanilla extract HOW TO DO IT 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4. Grease two 20cm diameter cake tins and line with baking parchment. Put the…

St Patrick’s pud Delicious mini Guinness cupcakes MAKES 18 PREP TIME 10 MINS COOKING TIME 20 MINS 1Preheat the oven to 180˚C/Gas 4. Line 2 muffin tins with paper cases. 2In a pan, melt 250g unsalted butter and then add 250ml Guinness, whisk in 75g cocoa and 400g caster sugar. 3Beat 142ml sour cream with 2 eggs and 1tbsp vanilla essence and then pour into the pan with the butter mixture before whisking in 275g plain flour and 2½tsp bicarbonate of soda. 4Spoon the batter into the muffin cases and bake for 20 minutes, leave to cool. 5To make the icing, whip 300g Philadelphia cream cheese until smooth, sieve in 150g icing sugar and beat. Next, add 125ml whipping cream and beat again. Ice the top of the cupcakes, to…

Staying at the elegant fourstar Cavendish London hotel, courtesy of Superbreak, the UK’s leading shortbreak operator, the winner and their guest will be going to the Aldwych Theatre to see the smash hit musical Top Hat – and there’s an exciting backstage tour for them to enjoy too. One of the greatest dance musicals of all time and winner of the Evening Standard Best Night Out Award, RKO Pictures’ Top Hat brings the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age and the tapdancing magic of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to London’s West End. The choreography, music and costumes have received rave reviews from critics and audiences. This amazing prize also includes dinner on both nights at Petrichor, The Cavendish’s AA rosette-winning restaurant. The winner will also receive £100 towards their travel…

Do you dream of slipping into a bikini or one-piece this summer? Join Woman’s Own Diets today and you could lose 2st by 1 June – that’s four dress sizes! Forget quick-fix fad diets. The only safe and successful way to lose weight and keep it off is to change the way you think about food. Woman’s Own Diets is based on keeping a food diary, which tracks your calorie intake and identifies where you are being good and which meals bust your diet. This helps you to develop a healthier attitude to food, balancing low-cal meals with naughty treats, which is what will sustain your weight loss long-term. No foods are banned and there isn’t a strict menu plan to follow. Simply input how much weight you want to lose…

There is work after 50 Your shock report ‘Over 50 and out of work’ [29 Oct 2012] made an impact on me as my mum was in the same position. After years with the police, she was made redundant, and then she looked after my sick granny. Two years on, Granny died and Mum started looking for a job. But she said her age, 57, was against her. I showed her the feature and, lo and behold, a brighter more positive woman emerged. She had a few interviews and is now working – in an office during the week, and as a carer at the weekends. Angela Paterson, Cheshire WIN a bunch of f lowers Our star letter will win this striking Winter Lady I n Red bouquet of exotic…

On the spot with... Alison Hammond This Morning’s showbiz reporter, 37, lives in Birmingham with her son Aidan, seven 1 Sofa or Hub on This Morning? Sofa. You get to chill out with Holly and Phillip. 2 Text or call? Call. People keep reading my texts in the wrong way! 3 Dress or jeans? Dress. I love Evans, H&M and Simply Be. 4 Heels or flats? Flats every time. Though I’ll wear some spangly heels for parties. 5 Cocktail or a glass of wine? I love a mojito, but it has to be done right. 6 Bath or shower? Shower. I’m too busy to have a bath. In and out, see you later! 7 Interviewing a movie star or pop star? Pop star, because I don’t get to interview them…

Riding high I can’t believe it’s been a year since my horse-riding accident. In case you missed it, I was learning to ride for a charity challenge and fell off on my second lesson. My horse trampled on my right thigh and I lost a lot of blood and needed emergency surgery. It was a scary time and I was off work for five weeks. Steve was fantastic and looked after me brilliantly, but I hated being helped to the loo, sitting on a disabled seat in the shower and being helped in and of bed. At least I knew I was going to get better – many people don’t. But if anyone had told me how long it would take, I think I’d have got really depressed. The huge…

Pauline Quirke has lived her life on camera. As a nine-year-old, there she was on the legendary police series Dixon Of Dock Green. And she’s been working ever since, appearing in The Bill, Emmerdale, Maisie Raine, costume dramas and, of course, Birds Of A Feather. Now 53, Pauline Perpetua (yes, really!) Quirke is starring with David Tennant in ITV drama Broadchurch, and touring in the stage version of Birds Of A Feather with old friends Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph at the same time. But, lately, Pauline’s almost as famous for her weight as for her acting roles. Eighteen months ago, she lost a whopping 8st on the LighterLife diet. Previously a size 28, the new size 12 Pauline said at the time that it would be a battle to maintain her new slimline…

If you’re on a low-carb diet, look away now – Paul Hollywood, the tough one from The Great British Bake Off, is hosting his own TV series, Bread. Getting his own programme on BBC2 is further proof of his soaring popularity, especially with the female viewers. But the seemingly outgoing 47-year-old blushes when we ask him about his newfound sex symbol status, and explains why his wife of 15 years is so important to his success. I find being called a sex symbol quite embarrassing. It is flattering, but I am actually quite an introverted and shy sort of person. If I walk into a room now and see people looking at me, I put my head down. I guess the whole fame thing happened about a year ago. Taking photographs…

Clash your patterns, highlighting your best bits with a bolder print Skim and slim your middle in a simple tunic Tunic, £28, 8-22, Bhs Jeggings, £22.99, 8-14, Quiz Bracelets, £6 for set, New Look Shoes, £40, Love Label at Littlewoods Blouse, £29.50, 6-24, M&S Woman at M&S Trousers, £29.50, 6-24, M&S Belt, £2, S-L, New Look Shoes, £19.50, M&S Make a statement in this figurefixing dayto-night dress Dress with belt, £35, 6-22, F&F Limited Edition at Tesco Bracelets, £4.99 for set, New Look Bag, £22, M&Co Shoes, £19.50, M&S This dress flatters all shapes. The contrastin g halve s cinch a waist and streamline a bottom Dress, £39.50, 6-22, M&S Woman at M&S Bracelet, £7.50, M&S Shoes, £49.50, Autograph at M&S An elegant A-line creates curves . Update with a…

Helping hand Dark spots can age hands a lot more than wrinkles. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Eventone Age Spot Hand Cream, £3.98, hydrates while at the same time lightening areas of pigmentation for a much more even skintone. Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Correcting Hand Cream, £22.50, helps break up sun spots with natural brighteners vitamin C and liquorice. Plus, SPF15 shields from future sun damage. Reader rated KATIE GERRARD, 33, FROM HARROW ‘I couldn’t live without my Eye & Brow Palette in Foxy, £19.96, HD Brows. It has four shades to achieve really natural definition, plus it lasts all day.’ Get muddy Want radiant skin in minutes? Actress Natalie Portman, 31, swears by Glamglow Youth-Mud mask, £49.50, M&S, designed to get A-list complexions cameraready. Leave the exfoliating treatment on…

EMMA RECOMMENDS Need help to look after yourself? Try Cheryl Richardson’s Self-Care Cards, £12.99, amazon.co.uk DR RADHA RECOMMENDS Check out these videos to improve your health – nhs.uk/tools/pages/toolslibrary.aspx Am I a nasty drunk? DEAR EMMA, A few weeks ago during an argument, my husband told me I was a nasty drunk. His words really hurt because my dad was an alcoholic. Since then, I haven’t touched a drop but I’ve not forgiven my husband for saying what he did either. Jackie, 38, Tunbridge Wells My experience is that having an alcoholic parent is a huge risk factor for being a ‘nasty’ drunk. Why? Because an alcoholic parent is usually a neglectful parent at some level. When there is neglect in your childhood, there is almost always anger and nothing brings…

3 step fix... Reduce blood pressure ◆ TRY THIS Check food and drink labels – 75 per cent of our salt intake comes from products where it has been added. Have no more than 6g (1tsp) a day. ◆ DO THIS Join an aqua aerobics class, a walking club or start cycling. Regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition. ◆ DRINK THIS Hibiscus, found in herbal teas such as Clipper Red Fruits & Aronia Berry (20 bags, £1, Tesco), lowered blood pressure in six weeks in research when enjoyed three times a day. Reader rated ANTOINETTE BUTLER WILLIS, 46, FROM READING ‘As soon as I get a sore throat, I use Ultra Chloraseptic Anaesthetic Throat Spray (£5.45, pharmacies). Benzocaine numbs the pain…

Save without spending Here are my top tips this week to ensure you’re making the most of your hard-earned cash 1 SELL YOUR STUFF AT A CAR BOOT SALE A great way to make extra money and declutter your home, car boot sale pitches normally cost around £10, but if your items are competitively priced, you should easily make that and more. Find sales close to you at Carbootjunction.com. 2 MAKE YOUR OWN RADIO STAT ION You don’t need to spend a fortune downloading the songs you want to hear. Register for free with we7.com and you can create your own personalised radio playlist and listen to unlimited free songs through your computer or mobile (if you download the free app). 3HOST EXCHANGE STUDENTS If you have a spare room…

THIS WEEK The best way to buy a car TOP CONSUMER ADVICE FROM DEBBI MARCO Aside from your home, a car is likely to be the most expensive purchase you will make. And recent research from consumer watchdog Which? reveals that almost a third of drivers have bought a car they later regretted. To make sure you don’t make the wrong decision, start by researching online. There are plenty of review sites (e.g., whatcar.com or autoexpress.co.uk) to help. And talk to friends and family to find out their recommendations. Once you’ve made up your mind what make and model you like, choose whether you want to buy it new or used. You can often pick up a good deal with a second-hand vehicle but whether you buy from a private…

When you get to my age, you don’t expect to have the best six months of your life. But being involved in Food Glorious Food, and sharing my family’s Cornish pasty recipe with the world, has been just that. The pasties I baked were enjoyed by miners like my father, my grandfather and probably his father, as they dug for tin and copper. My mum, Mary, first began teaching me the recipe when I was three years old, carefully showing me how to roll out a ball of pastry. I could barely reach the tabletop and had to stand on a chair as she explained how to fill it with beef, potato, turnip and onion, before folding it over and crimping the edges. It was just how my grandmother, Edith, had…

‘We show big women should be celebrated’ Looking around the busy bar at the hundreds of women chatting and having fun, I knew I had started something really special. It was 1991 and I was hosting my first ever party for plus-size women at a nightclub in London. ‘This is brilliant,’ the guests said as I mingled among them. There were doctors, lawyers, teachers and mums – a real mix of people – alongside some men who appreciated fuller figures. Inspiration I’d come up with the idea after spending two years living in Las Vegas. We’d moved over there after my husband had got a job with an airline. I was a size 12 when I arrived, but after devouring huge American-size portions, I’d gone up to a size 26.…

ITV’s Lorraine show recently launched a search for the next big racy read, following the success of EL James’ Fifty Shades Of Grey. Viewers were asked to write the first 1,000 words of an erotic novel – the prize was to see their book published by Mills & Boon, win £1,000 and have lunch in LA with Jackie Collins. We caught up with the winner to find out how it feels to be Britain’s hottest new racy novelist… Writing my first ever steamy sex scene, a slight blush crept across my cheeks. ‘I was alive with unapologetic, selfish desire,’ I typed. I was surprised by how easy it was to let my imagination run wild. I’d never even read an erotic novel, much less written one. I hadn’t even flicked through…

Turn your garden into a riot of colour with these delightful plants that work in beds, borders and even pots. Reliable, easy to grow and producing lots of flowers over a matter of months, these are perfect even if you don’t have the greenest of fingers. 1 Busy Lizzie ‘Divine’ (New Guinea) Mildew resistant with strong growth and endless flowering from June to November. 24 plug plants, £9.99 2 Antirrhinum ‘Candy Canes Mixed’ The first of a new generation of high-quality, fragrant snapdragons. 24 plug plants, £9.99 3 Gazania ‘Tiger Stripes Mixed’ Easy to grow and flower all summer long. 24 plug plants, £9.99 4 Penstemon ‘Orchestra Mixed’ Compact with a crescendo of colour from midsummer to autumn. 24 plug plants, £9.99 5 Geranium ‘Black Velvet Mixed’ Dramatic blooms with…

Paddling 68 miles on the treacherous Zambezi river in Africa for Comic Relief turned out to be no laughing matter for Melanie C. The former Spice Girl risked her life when the kayak she was sharing with comedian Jack Dee capsized in the turbulent rapids, leaving them in danger of becoming a snack for a hungry crocodile. ‘It was terrifying, but I couldn’t let dying cross my mind,’ Mel, 39, told Woman’s Own when she was safely back on dry land. ‘It was the most frightening situation I’ve ever experienced.’ Mel, who was recently named Celebrity Mum of the Year by Tesco, waved goodbye to her daughter Scarlet, now four, and travelled to Africa along with Jack, actress Chelsee Healey, Radio 1 DJ Greg James, Olympic triple jumper Phillips Idowu…

Monday The last time I pulled an all-nighter it was the 1990s but that’s what I did when I stayed up to watch the Oscars so that I could report on it the morning after. Four and a half long hours later I get into the studio, sit on the sofa in full slap... And get 30 whole seconds to chat about it! Thinking next year I might just fudge it! Tuesday Iconic sitcom Taxi is back on the box and I hosted a night with star Danny DeVito to relaunch it. Talk about a frank confessional! He spilled the beans on his days rooming with old pal Michael Douglas in New York at the start of their careers. The secret of their chemistry? ‘We were herbalists!’ Danny said. I…

FOUR IN A BED Who knew B&Bs could make such great vie win g? A gem of a show EMMERDALE Often overlooked and taken for granted, which is a real shame as this is a truly top soap. Dingle-tastic! HOLBY CITY Consistently good storylines an d, despite a big turnover of characters, it’s always totally compelling CORONATION STREET The King of Soaps. I love the long-established characters -and the writing absolutely crackles…

Pauline, 11, in Jackanory in 1970 (far left); as an earnest schoolgirl in a 1974 Play For Today (left), and as nurse Vicky Smith in Angels (right). Pauline admits she was shy as a child, but stage school helped her confidence, even though she recalls being told by a director, ‘You’ll never get the girlfriend role.’ The many faces of Pauline: A menacing Todd Carty and Pauline in The Bill (above). ‘My biggest challenge was playing murderess Olive Martin in The Sculptress in 1996,’ she recalls (above right). She joined Emmerdale in 2010, playing the troubled Hazel Rhodes for 18 months (right). She said that leaving was emotional and Tweeted, ‘Who knows if I’d return?’ Pauline is currently in Broadchurch (shown here with Joe Sims) with David Tennant and her…

The room was dimly lit, the soft flicker of candlelight danced on the walls. A CD of gentle music played and, as I began to take off my long coat, I sensed him watching me. His name was Alex* and he was lying on the bed. As I revealed my full, womanly body in a lace basque, stockings and suspenders, I heard his breathing quicken. ‘I’m terrified,’ he whispered. ‘This is my first time.’ ‘It’s OK,’ I said and reaching into my handbag, I pulled out a small bottle of massage oil. Rubbing it into his shoulders, I felt him relax. Then gradually, I moved closer, becoming more intimate until we were having sex – making him feel wanted for the first time in his life. Because Alex isn’t like…

Mum-of-three and a grandma, Kim wears subtle make-up during the day for her job as a pharmacy technician. ‘At the weekend, though, I love to experiment with different shades on my eyes but I don’t really know how to define them or the rest of my bone structure,’ says Kim. ‘I’d like to learn how to enhance my cheekbones and slim down my face.’ How to contour your complexion Woman’s Own’s Beauty Editor Stephanie Maylor reveals the make-up secrets behind beautifully sculpted skin IN THE SHADOW The key to sculpting is to create an area of light and dark. Highlighter should sit on the most prominent part of the cheek to catch the light, with bronzer below for a shadowed effect. SUCK IT IN To bronze in the right place,…

We’re in a time of austerity and should be tightening our belts. Yet research shows that, far from having a ‘make do and mend’ philosophy, we’re living in a throwaway culture. Each UK household produces over a ton of rubbish annually, with the average person chucking out the equivalent of their own body weight every seven weeks. But what if we reused some of that so-called ‘rubbish’? After all, what you class as trash may be someone else’s treasure. Here, we meet a woman who has taken upcycling to its limit with incredible results… CAT FLETCHER, 49, is a single mum to Sirus, 21, and twins India and Ruby, 19, and lives in East Sussex I’ve always got stuff for free or bought second-hand, but I really started overhauling my…

Sometimes it seems our happiness is entirely dictated by events or other people. But experts have found external influences account for just 10 per cent of our mood. ‘We all have the power to be happier and the health benefits are far-reaching,’ says Woman’s Own’s Dr Radha Modgil. ‘People who are content have more energy, stronger immunity, a lower risk of heart disease, reduced stress levels and cope better with pain.’ 1Smile, play and laugh ‘Child laugh about 40 times a day but for adults it’s scarcely once an hour,’ says Paul Jenner, author of How To Be Happier (£9.99, Teach Yourself). ‘Yet if you laugh, you’re less likely to get ill, so do something silly right now. Throw a paper aeroplane, tickle your partner, dance around the garden. Anything.…

Quick tip Transfer any leftover canned food into a plastic container and seal. It will keep in the fridge for a couple of days. Why canned? It may not be posh, but food that comes in a tin is portion-controlled, often lower in fat and calories than fresh, and cuts down on wastage because it doesn’t go off. There is no need for preservatives in canned food, so it can be lower in additives too. Get started ◆ Check our menus to see what tinned supplies you will need to stock up on. Choose salt and sugar-free options whenever they are available. ◆ Mix and match breakfasts, lunches and dinners as desired, but try to vary them as much as possible during each week. Have one snack a day too.…

Here’s how it works Browse Join Quidco for free and check out their thousands of retailers and offers Shop Click through from Quidco to the retailer and buy online as normal Save When you make a purchase you will get cashback into your Quidco account. You can then withdraw this from your bank or Paypal account to spend (or save!) as you wish There are so many ways to save online and in store too. And with fantastic retailers like Evans, Bhs, Matalan, Achica and The Body Shop offering great deals, there’s no excuse not to. Join now to see how much you could save.…

Facebook is a great way to keep in touch, but who is watching your updates? By default, Facebook lists your information as public, so you must change your settings if you want to keep things more private. The easiest way is to click on the padlock at the top right-hand corner of your profile page – this allows you to limit who sees what from a drop-down menu. Choosing friends is the safest option but you can also customise your profile – this then affects everything you post. When you update your status or add a photo, you can amend the privacy setting there and then. But remember that cover photos on your profile page are set to public and can’t be changed. Facebook’s new product, Graph Search, has already…

SERVES 1-2 YOU WILL NEED ◆ 125g plain flour, plus extra for dusting ◆ 25g lard, cubed ◆ 25g margarine, cubed ◆ 50ml cold water ◆ 1 small potato, quartered and thinly sliced ◆ 25g turnip, thinly sliced ◆ 125g steak or beef skirt, cut into small pieces ◆ Salt and pepper ◆ ½ onion, sliced ◆ 1tbsp milk 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4, and line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper. 2 To make the pastry, place the flour in a mixing bowl, add lard and margarine, and rub together with your fingers until an even crumb is achieved. Slowly add water, stirring until a soft dough is formed. 3 Lightly flour a work surface and roll the pastry into a circle about 20-23cm in diameter. Place…

1A family in mourning Home Fires by Elizabeth Day (£11.99, Bloomsbury). Out 14 March This deeply moving novel explores the complicated relationship between a woman whose son has just died and her vulnerable 98-year-old mother-in-law. Win! Worth £11 .99 We have 10 copies of Home Fires in paperback to be won. To enter, go to womansown.co.uk, click Win and look for the competition. For closing date info and T&Cs, see our website 2 Keeping mum about the dad Stella Series 2 DVD Out 18 March We think this comedy-drama from Ruth Jones is well lush. After the cliffhanger ending to series one, Stella knows she will have to come clean about her pregnancy. But the question remains: who’s the daddy – Rob or Sean? Win! We have 10 copies of Stella Series…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr A fresh dawn is breaking. The recent air of grogginess and confusion passes and a new burst of energy and va-va-voom appears. So what are you going to do with all this get-up-and-go? You are having weird ideas and getting unusual impulses. Anything could happen! ◆ For more call 0901 609 4780* Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May There’s a lot going on with friends and other people generally. It’s easy to get caught up in their dramas and lose touch with what’s going on for you. So just stop a moment and ask yourself – do you really want to get involved with every one of these situations? Thought not. ◆ For more call 0901 609 4781* Gemini 21 May – 20 Jun…

One evening while I was playing on Woman’s Own Bingo, I spotted an advert for the November Special Bingo Game, which had a top prize of £10,000. I’d only ever taken part in the big games a couple of times, as I’d thought there would be so many players that I wouldn’t have a chance of winning, but for some reason this time I was tempted. However, as I tried to buy the tickets my computer froze. It was an old laptop and this was something it did regularly, much to my repeated annoyance. So I started it back up, logged on to the site and gave it a second try – only for it to freeze again! ‘One last go and then I’ll have to give up!’ I said to…