Innholdsfortegnelse for October 14, 2013 i Woman's Own

OK, I’m jealous! Lucky Holly Willoughby has jetted off on a girls-only break to Ibiza with pals including ex-All Saints star Nicole Appleton. Looks like they all had a great time! However, I’m glad to see she’s finally taking some time off and relaxing as she’s been under so much pressure recently. She’s argued with former Apprentice star Katie Hopkins on This Morning, fallen out with her neighbours over supposed ‘drunken behaviour’ and then quit her job on The Voice. Find out what else Holly’s been up to lately and why she’s ‘tired and tearful’ on p6.…

Vanessa Feltz has hit back at critics who unfairly accused her of being Strictly’s novelty act. The broadcaster, 51, has admitted that rehearsals for the show have left her in tears as she struggles to perfect her routines in a bid to avoid being classed as a ‘joke’. Her dance partner, James Jordan, has also spoken out in defence of Vanessa, saying, ‘I’m not doing anything to deliberately make her look silly. I don’t want her to be comical. An uphill battle Vanessa was left frustrated and downhearted after her lukewarm reception from the judges on the first couple of live shows and viewers were far from kind. One commented, ‘Just caught Strictly, clearly Hairy Biker Dave and Vanessa are comedy turns this series.’ Another said, ‘Car-crash telly time. Ann…

What’s happened to our men? They don’t open doors for us or give up their seat on the train any more do they? And as for sheltering us from the rain or lending us their coat when it’s cold? Not a chance! Because it seems being a gent is a thing of the past. Now a poll has revealed that if there’s a bump in the night, one in five men are happy to send their wives downstairs to investigate! Even more staggeringly, a quarter of them actually pretend to be asleep and hide under the duvet when they hear a strange noise! That’s not all. According to another survey, less than a third of men will foot the bill on a first date and more than half expect us…

EXPERT ADVICE ‘This season’s must-have buy is the classic pencil skirt. At George we’ve designed our skirts to suit women who want to look fashionable without spending a fortune’ Fiona Lambert, brand director For GeorGe Reader rated HeLen Pereira, 36, From WatFord ‘I add a bit of glamour the easy way – with big jewellery! My current one-stop shop is Accessorize, which always has something fab at a great price. I love this statement necklace – and its can’t-believe-it value!’ 3 of the best Patent courts Update any outfit with a pair of classy heels Platform, £45, La Redoute Wide fit, £17.99, New Look Neon, £27, Littlewoods HOT handbags Fancy a guilt-free treat? Then you will love the new handbag range by Apprentice star Karren Brady. She’s teamed up with…

30s TROUBLE SPOTS Settling down Feeling secure in a relationship can mean you worry less about your weight. Plus cosy nights in with takeaways or large home-cooked meals make it harder to stay trim. Cooking for kids Polishing off leftovers can play havoc with your weight – just five oven chips and half a sausage can add up to 175 calories a day, which in three weeks could equal a 1lb gain. Tiredness Juggling work, family and home can sap your energy and force you to go in search of sugary snacks. Lack of sleep can lead to an imbalance in the hunger hormones ghrelin and leptin, increasing the likelihood you’ll put on weight. LOSE 5LB ♦Stop serving yourself the same-size portion as the men in your house – aim…

Your body ’s immune system is a powerful, complex network of cells, tissues and organs that work together to protect you from illness. From the common cold to more serious viruses, it works around the clock in the battle to keep you fit and well. But the minute you get a bit run down, your immune system is compromised, and that ’s when you’re vulnerable to infections – especially during the autumn and winter months. Is it a cold or flu? How often do you hear someone moan about having flu when it’s quite clear that all they have is a light head cold? While they are both contagious viral infections of the respiratory tract, flu is much, much worse than a cold, and anyone who’s ever had flu will…

Dare to be different I was fascinated to read your article about how your hair reveals the truth about your personality. In December I’ll be 60 and my hair is long enough to sit on. I won’t have it cut because I am a free spirit – age is just a number! I wonder if anyone else is the same, or is it just me who won’t conform? PAULINE CHRISTINA KNIGHT, CORNWALL Good hair days give me confidence I generally only spend time styling my hair at weekends but on the rare occasions when I have an accidental good hair day, I feel 10 times more confident at work. Having a little bounce in your hair definitely gives you more of a spring in your step. If only I could…

Money myths If you almost repay the outstanding amount on your credit card balance, you’ll only be charged interest on the amount that remains unpaid. FALSE Many credit cards will charge you the month’s interest based on the whole amount owed, regardless of how much you’ve actually paid off. For example, if you owed £3,000 and you paid off £2,800, the bank will still charge you for the full month’s interest on the entire amount of £3,000. So, if you’re close, it’s always worth waiting a little and paying off your credit card balance in full. HOW TO... complain about your holiday 1You booked a hotel room with a sea view and an infinity pool, but you ended up overlooking a building site. Never wait until the end of your…

Looking around me at the sea of bright pink wigs and balloons that had taken over the streets of my hometown, I just couldn’t help smiling. It was June 2010 and I had joined more than 125 women in Falmouth, Cornwall, for a pub crawl to rival all others. But this was no ordinary girls’ night out. We’d all got together to raise cash to help in the fight against breast cancer, thanks to a very special lady, Sally Hicks-Wood. ‘I can’t believe so many people have turned up,’ she said. It was the first time I’d met Sally, then 49, but I was amazed at how bubbly and positive she was – especially given that she was battling this terrible disease herself. She’d found a lump a year earlier…

Singing softly, I sat watching as my two-year-old son, Alex, began to fall asleep. I was four months pregnant and tired, but he always liked to go to bed to his favourite lullabies and I found singing comforting too. Especially after all I’d been through. It was 2008 and I’d had to move back to my mum’s in Glasgow when my eight-year relationship broke down. only then I’d discovered I was pregnant. with Alex to care for, no job, no home and no dad on the scene, it was terrifying. Yet I found singing helped to calm me. Then one night, after Alex had gone off to sleep, I had an idea. ‘I’m going to do a music course,’ I told Mum. So I enrolled, and my confidence grew. By…

♦ Don’t be put off if you’re new to online bingo. It’s so easy to register and play. ♦ All the games are very straightforward, but ask one of the hosts if you need help. ♦ Join in the chat! I really enjoy the gossip with the other roomies, as it’s a bit of fun during the day. The hosts are really helpful and I like the chat games they run, such as Blox and Stop The Clock. I’ve even won once or twice! It’s nice to get that little extra bonus in your account. ♦ Set a deposit limit on your account so you’re not tempted to spend too much. ♦ Enjoy yourself – it’s great fun! I get so excited when I’m playing and it’s thrilling if I’m…

Perthshire serenity TO SEE Get ready for a spectacular road trip through Scotland’s ‘big tree country’. The 25-mile stretch between Blairgowrie and Pitlochry is a russet and magenta dream. And this breathtaking landscape is all thanks to the Dukes of Atholl from Blair Castle, north of Pitlochry. Between 1738 and 1830, generations of them planted around 27 million conifers. TO DO Take in the scarlet rowan berries at Loch of the Lowes, then drive on from Blair Castle to the Queen’s View, named after Queen Victoria who fell in love with the water, mountain and forest combo of Loch Tummel. (perthshirebig treecountry.co.uk). And until 27 October, The Enchanted Forest Light and Sound Show transforms Faskally Wood, near Pitlochry into a dreamlike place (enchantedforest.org.uk). STAY AT The secluded, and welcoming, Loch…

Little Britons David Walliams’ children’s books are brilliant bestsellers – my godkids are totally addicted! I told the BGT star in make-up and he offered to sign a copy of his latest, Demon Dentist, when he popped by. ‘That’ll be £12.99,’ he said afterwards. What a gent! A dog’s life And it turns out it’s a small world. David is the voice of Pudsey the dog in his new film – not David’s, Pudsey’s! The pooch’s first flick is out next year and I was invited to see him in action on set. It’s possibly the only movie I’ve seen where the lead actor is, er, on a lead... Maxwell House Loose Woman Lisa Maxwell loved her stint on EastEnders. The door’s been left open for a comeback – if…

Pattern power Heidi Klum, 40, shows off her pins in zebra-print jeans. A plain blouse and simple accessories make sure those legs do the talking. Rip it up Dannii Minogue, 41, gives a rock chick edge to her smart blazer look by simply adding a pair of on-trend ripped jeans. Retro chic A buttoned-down ’70s-style pencil skirt will take you from summer into autumn. Claudia Schiffer, 43, adds a chambray shirt and satchel. Suits you! TV star Mel Sykes, 43, has chosen this classy tailored look, proving top-to-toe, ‘casual’, slim-fit indigo can also be super-smart. Easy dressing Actress Katie Holmes, 34, pulls off perfect daytime chic in this drawstring waist dress that can be worn alone or with trousers. Kylie’s a jean genius! CAMO QUEEN Khaki and denim are a…

It’s been a busy year so far for Denise Welch. Not only has she tied the knot with partner Lincoln Townley, 40, and starred on ITV’s Stepping Out, she’s also in the process of moving house and playing the role of proud mum to her son Matthew, 24, whose band The 1975 have gone to number one in the album charts. Woman’s Own caught up with Denise, 55, to find out more… We were sad to see you and Lincoln kicked off Stepping Out so early on… We were the dunces of the show! It wasn’t what we signed on for – we expected a reality show but then they introduced judges and votes. Did you enjoy it at all? We loved the actual training part, but the show changed…

In a dark corner of my living room, untouched and gathering dust, is a teddy bear with an urn of ashes tucked inside. I used to cherish it, keeping it by my bed at night, and in a spot by the sofa during the day. Because inside were the remains of my daughter, Rebecca, who died hours after she was born. At the time, the grief was unbearable and, even now, 20 years on, my heart still aches for her. That’s why I had her placed in that special urn, to keep her close. I would often chat to her, telling her about her little brother and sister, Rosie and Benji. And sometimes they would cuddle the fluffy golden brown teddy bear while they were watching TV. But now a…

Set the scene Give yourself at least an hour of uninterrupted me-time, so turn off your phone, draw the curtains and light a long-burning, scented candle to create a relaxing mood. A fluffy dressing gown and comfy slippers are a must. Keep all your favourite lotions and potions close to hand and drink plenty of water to help flush out those skin-dulling toxins. Take a dip It might not be a state-of-the-art pool, but nothing relaxes the mind and body like a long, hot soak in the bathtub. Before you get in, start with some dry-skin brushing with this Round Body Brush, £8, The Body Shop, moving up towards the heart to encourage lymph drainage – a good salon body treatment usually starts with this trick. Add some soothing oils…

To anyone reading the text messages, they look like the usual exchanges between two busy parents doing their best to juggle the demands of work and care for three young children. From what time to pick up which child from swimming to the whereabouts of a lost piece of gym kit, the notes make up the normal minutiae of family life. Except that messages flitting between Lynlee Rampton and her children’s father are the only way they ever communicate. After years of legal battles, Lynlee’s hostility to her former husband, with whom she shares custody of their two sons, aged 11 and nine, and their daughter, eight, is such that she would rather deal with him by exchanging brief messages than talk to him face to face. At one point,…

Do you know your first aid? Would you know what to do if the person next to you at the bus stop collapsed or one of your kids had a bad fall? ‘More than 40% of people admit that it would take something as severe as the death of a loved one to make them learn first aid, but learning those skills is so simple,’ says Sue Killen, St John Ambulance Chief Executive. The charity is trying to encourage us all to learn first aid skills and has produced the moving film Save The Boy to drive home the message (sja.org. uk/savetheboy). You can get interactive first aid tips to your mobile or call 0844 770 4800 to find a training course near you. 3 step fix ... Warts ♦…

Spiced pecan layer cake SERVES 14 PREP TIME 10 MINS COOKING TIME 1 HOUR 10 MINS + CHILLING YOU WILL NEED ♦ 175g sweet potato, grated ♦ 225g self-raising flour ♦ 150g light muscovado sugar ♦ 1tsp ground allspice ♦ 1tsp ground cinnamon ♦ 150ml light olive oil ♦ 3 medium eggs, beaten ♦ 125g soft pitted dates, chopped ♦ 125g pecans, chopped For the frosting ♦ 125g soft cheese ♦ 300g icing sugar ♦ 100g butter ♦ 3tbsp maple syrup HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat oven to 180˚C/Gas 4 and grease and base-line two 20cm round cake tins. In a bowl, mix cake ingredients with a spoon for 2 mins. 2 Divide between the tins and bake for 25-30 mins until springy. Cool in the tins, then transfer…

To celebrate the launch of new mouthwash Colgate Plax Complete Care, one reader will go on a shopping spree at John Lewis. There is £500 worth of John Lewis vouchers to spend either in your local store or at johnlewis.com, plus a year’s supply of Colgate Plax Complete Care. Breathe easy We all love that fresh-breath feeling. Wherever you are, your breath can affect how you feel, as well as how others perceive you. It can be the difference between feeling your best and shying away from conversations. For the ultimate in fresh-breath confidence, you’ll need a good oral health routine. That means brushing, flossing, and using a mouth rinse you can trust. New Plax Complete Care is Colgate’s most complete mouthwash yet. It gives 12 benefits in one, freshening…

People used to hate me! The newspapers were filled with pictures of the bride and groom. Prince Charles was to marry Camilla Parker Bowles. It was April 2005, and even the children in the small school where I taught in Guernsey were chatting about it. Then one little boy piped up. ‘miss,’ he said. ‘Why are you marrying Prince Charles?’ Everyone laughed, but it was quite true – I am the spitting image of the duchess. It was back in the 1980s when the similarity had first been spotted. ‘You could be sisters,’ the manager of a local tea room said when I’d popped in one time. Back then, I hadn’t heard of Camilla but gradually she was in the newspapers more and more and I did see the resemblance.…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr This week has a ‘make hay while the sun shines’ feel to it, because next some of the socialising has to stop and your nose will be firmly to the grindstone. so the more fun things you can plan now for the coming month, the easier it will feel when the busy-ness kicks in. ♦ For more call 0901 609 4780* Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May what’s going on in a core relationship is deeply important. How you relate now will set the template for where you and significant others can go from here. You may not like what you hear or what you have to say. But it has to be dealt with to set things straight. ♦ For more call 0901…

The night I won the jackpot on Woman’s Own Bingo is one I’ll never forget – and I doubt my neighbours will either, as I almost screamed the house down in excitement! I hadn’t been online for long when I bought three 5p tickets for the Tiki Bingo room. Usually I’m lucky if I win a line but on this particular game, my numbers were crossed off one after the other. I looked at the computer screen in amazement. ‘If it carries on like this, I could be in with a good chance of winning the full house prize,’ I thought to myself. Then, when I got down to just a couple of numbers, I realised I was still in the running for the progressive jackpot, which pays out if…

When she’s not pairing up with Tess Daly to present Strictly Come Dancing’s results show, Claudia Winkleman can be found at home looking after her brood of three children with her husband, Kris Thykier. However, on the odd occasion she has been known to let her hair down – and has hit the headlines for it. Last month, she was papped in a rather unflattering light with smudged eyeliner and a streaky fake tan. But is she bothered? Is she heck! Here she talks about why she likes to wear so much slap, her trademark haircut, and what her hubby really thinks of all that fake tan… Your fringe has become your trademark – do you think you would ever get rid of it? No, I can’t because I haven’t…

As one fifth of ’90s pop band Steps, Claire Richards had a charttopping career. Since taking time out from music she’s turned her talents towards being a mum to her two children, Charlie, six, and Daisy, three, and has launched her first fashion collection for plus-sized women. We sat Claire down to find out just how showbiz her life really is. Do you ever google yourself? Only if I’m looking for something specific, like to see what I looked like in a certain outfit. There’s rarely anything interesting written about me so there’s not much to read! Who’s the most famous celebrity in your phone book? Probably Rylan Clark. We spend lots of time together – in fact we were out together just a few weeks ago. I’ve also got…

‘DON’T SAY YAH!’ Craig Revel Horwood has revealed that his fellow Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell, 44, found a nifty way to stop her using the word ‘yah’, after her overuse of the word when she started on the show last year. Craig, 48, said, ‘She must have done about 20 ‘yahs’ a show for the first two weeks. I found it quite amusing, but it wasn’t going down well. On the judges’ desk we each have a little pad. On week three I glanced over at Darcey’s and, on every page, she’d written, ‘Don’t say yah!’ Whatever works, Darcey! Sinitta for Jeremy Kyle? Sinitta is so desperate to set the record straight about claims she aborted Simon Cowell’s baby – and when it happened – that she’s prepared…

JUNE BROWN Well hello there, Dot Cotton! Ms Brown, now 86, just oozed sophistication and glamour as a young actress. So not very much has changed there, then. KELVIN FLETCHER With his perfect bowl cut in kids’ show Three Seven Eleven, the Emmerdale star, 29, was clearly always destined for greatness. TAMEKA EMPSON The EastEnders star, 36, must have really been into flower power as a youngster – what else could explain that headpiece? SUE NICHOLLS We reckon Sue, 69, was taking her early acting tips from fellow Street actress and legendary animal-print lover, Julie Goodyear! ANN MITCHELL The Square’s Cora Cross, 74, proves that blondes do have more fun – especially when they look as good as she did back then. CHRIS GASCOYNE Corrie’s Peter Barlow, now 45, modelled…

Create a waist Create an enviable hourglass figure with these five simple style tricks! 1Make sure your jackets are fitted and go in at the middle for maximum slimming effect Jacket, £45, sizes 10-24, La Redoute 2Mirrorimage dresses are on trend and everywhere. Instant trimmers for apple shapes Dress, £18, sizes s-xl, desireclothing.co.uk 3A classic belted trench will give you a gorgeous waist Trench, £79.99, sizes 10-26, Bon Prix 4 If you haven’t got an hourglass shape, fake it with side panels and a belt Dress, £52, sizes 8-16, vestryonline.com 5 A blockcolour bottom half creates an instant waistline Dress, £69.99, sizes s-xl, Mango Hide a tummy Drapes and illusion prints give you curves in all the right places! 1 Try a drop waist – it’s more flattering than it…

POLISH UP! Boutique is a brand new make-up line from Sainsbury’s – and we love it! Our fave shade, Caught red handed, £5, has such punchy colour you could get away with one coat. Bag a few at the tills! Chanel Le Vernis in Coromandel, £17.50, is a classic, timeless hue. Like the Sainsbury’s polish, the outer lid comes off to reveal a smaller, very easy-to-handle brush for much better control. 3 steps to... Perfect brows Groomed eyebrows and a well-placed arch can give your eyes an instant youth lift. 1 SHAPE THEM UP Hold a pencil along the side of your nose up towards your brows, then diagonally across from the side of your nose to your outer eye. This is where your brows should start and finish. Models…

Baby loss is so upsetting My daughter’s closest friend lost her child to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) two years ago. My daughter, who was also a godmother, is now expecting her first child and although she is delighted, she is filled with anxiety about SIDS. How can we help her? Barbara, 63, Leicester I’m sorry to hear your daughter is so anxious. SIDS is devastating and, given your daughter was closely connected to this mum and baby, she too experienced a loss. At the time, it may not have seemed appropriate to let herself acknowledge that loss, but now she is pregnant, it’s normal that some of her grief is showing up as anxiety about her own baby. The Lullaby Trust can help (0808 802 6868; lullaby trust.org.uk). This…

Watching my dog Milo chasing squirrels around the park, I wished that I could feel as carefree. I’d hoped a long walk would clear my head. Instead, fear consumed me. It was my first day with my new lodger and I was having cold feet. I’d jumped to offer him a room – now I wondered whether I’d made the right decision. ‘What have I done?’ I thought. I was entering totally uncharted territory. Did I really have the patience, the energy and the compassion to cope with having someone new around the house? I was still feeling downcast as I trudged home. Looking up, I saw him peering anxiously from behind the curtains, waiting for my return. Guilt flooded through me. Had I been gone too long? Had something…

HESTON BLUMENTHAL FOR WAITROSE Drink up You can now buy a bottle of Jamie’s Italian house wine, £7.99, from Tesco. Whether your fave tipple is red, white or rosé, they all go really well with pizza and pasta. And the bottles look swanky enough to take to a friend’s house for dinner. Pork tenderloin and leeks Enjoy this tasty recipe from 2013 MasterChef finalist Larkin Cen SERVES 4 PREP TIME 30 MINS COOKING TIME 20 MINS 1 Pre-heat oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Season 400g pork tenderloin and sear it in a frying pan until golden. Transfer it to a baking tray and roast for 15 mins. Remove the pork from the oven and let it rest for at least 10 mins before slicing. 2 In a saucepan, simmer 3tbsp honey,…

The H2O X5 Steam Mop converts tap water into supercharged steam in 30 seconds! Now you have the power to clean, deodorise and help to sanitise – it even eliminates up to 99% of bacteria on contact. The clever head design means you can get into corners and tight spaces and the modern microfibre cleaning technology traps the dirt within the pad. However, it doesn’t stop there. The X5 Mop easily converts into a handheld steamer and comes with all the accessories you need to clean and help sanitise counter tops, blast burnt-on food from the oven, deodorise upholstery, freshen your mattress, and even remove the creases from clothes! The X5 is tough on dirt, grime and bacteria, but kind to the environment. It cleans without chemicals and has super-sanitising…

As soon as I entered the club, a photographer was there. ‘Great picture,’ he said, as I smiled confidently for the lens. I was getting used to all this attention, the stares and comments. ‘How far you’ve come,’ I thought to myself, as I went off to join the party. Because 10 years earlier, things had been so different. I’d been shy, nervous and so anxious I couldn’t face going out. My problems had started as a child when I’d been bullied at school for being spotty. Then, aged 18, I had been walking home after a night out, when a gang of girls attacked me in the street, ripping at my top and dragging me along the pavement. as they ran off, I picked myself up and staggered home.…

I 've always enjoyed playing bingo and used to go to my local bingo hall for a few games every week. Then three years ago, my sons bought me a laptop as they thought it was time I got online. 'We'll show you what you have to do,' my eldest explained to me. 'I'll get you connected to the internet,' my middle son said. 'You can even play bingo on it!' my youngest chipped in. I wasn't sure at first. I love the social side of going to see my friends at the bingo hall and I couldn’t imagine it would be the same playing on the computer. But I thought I’d give it a go, if only to shut the boys up! Getting online I’d seen an ad for…

She’s a real role model In your 26 August issue, there was an article about the wonderful work that Louise Horler does. As a result of reading this, I am now making dresses for the charity myself. I saw the article as we were going on holiday, and the magazine travelled to Spain and back with me. My daughter found it again and mentioned it to me. I’d never heard of the charity Dress A Girl Around The World, or ‘pillowcase’ dresses. So thank you so much for this wonderful article about such an inspiring woman. Carole Duncan, Londonderry Not a funny drunk at all Why do people keep referring to Carol McGiffin as a ‘funny drunk’? There aren’t many of them around – they soon go from ‘funny’ to…

Can’t stay Away Corrie star Michelle Collins has revealed that she could be back on the cobbles within two years, despite bowing out of the TV show next year. The actress, who plays landlady Stella Price, decided to leave to spend more time with her daughter, Maia, 17, but admits that once her girl (pictured) is at uni, she might make a return. ‘I’ve asked them not to kill Stella off, so there’s always a door open, which is what they didn’t do in EastEnders!’ Michelle, 52, said. ‘They’ve said they’re not going to, so I hope they keep to their word.’ Michelle currently has a full-time nanny living in London with Maia, while she films in Manchester. Don't MISS IT... Homeland, Sundays, 9pm, Channel 4 In case you missed…