Innholdsfortegnelse for December 6, 2013 i Woman's Own

Help! I’m not sure what I’m going to do when Strictly ends – where will I get my weekly fix of dazzling costumes, OTT fake tan and, most importantly, a particular hot male bod? Rugby star Ben Cohen, 35, may not be the best mover on the dance floor, but he sure makes up for it in other ways! And finally, instead of us girls seething with envy as our other halves drool over the scantily clad female dancers, we can now indulge our own fantasies, thanks to Ben. I wonder if his 2014 calendar is on sale yet… Join us online Head to our fabulous website, womansown.co.uk, and click on the Christmas tab for our party fashion and beauty tips, festive recipes, gift ideas for the whole family and…

Christmas is meant to be a time for relaxing but, as Fiona Phillips knows, when you’re mum to a teen and an 11-year-old, it can be anything but. Fiona, 52, is left buying the presents that are supposed to be from husband Martin, and coaxing her sons, Nathaniel, 14, and Mackenzie, 11, to get into the festive spirit. Here, she opens up about why this time of year can end up causing her a lot of stress… What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you realise Christmas is around the corner? That I must crack on and buy some presents! I fall into the same pattern every year – I buy the first few presents in October and I think, ‘Brilliant, I’m really ahead of the game…

For those of you who just happen to have a spare £3.25 million hanging around, look no further than Weybridge, Surrey, where Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford’s luxury pad is on the market. To show you just what you could get for your cash, we’ve taken a sneaky peek inside the six-bedroom house – and there’s plenty to attract potential buyers. The mansion, which the couple share with their son, Jack, 11, boasts a modern circular kitchen with its own wine fridge, and a sumptuous living room – we love Ruth’s luxury sofas adorned with her beloved cushions. Upstairs, there’s a large master bedroom with a wallmounted television and a view over the huge garden, which has plenty of space for barbecues and entertaining. Fans are speculating where they could…

You’ve chosen and wrapped the presents, written, stamped and posted a tower of Christmas cards, too. You’ve ordered the turkey and you’ll be the one to cook it and baste it. You’ll dress the tree, buy the crackers, fame the pudding… You’ll do it all. And maybe once the Christmas Day feast is over, once you’ve cleared up, too, you’ll stare at who you did it all for. That man dozing on the sofa, that ageing husband with his roast-potato belly and baggy turkey jowls, snoring beneath a wonky paper hat. Perhaps, as you look at him, you’ll fill with tenderness – Christmas is about family, after all. Or maybe you’ll food with a resentful rage. And if it’s the latter, well… I can help you. What you need for…

TRIM YOUR FIGURE When it comes to curve hugging frocks, smooth away those lumps and bumps by opting for a slip with 360-degree built-in shaping. If it’s good enough for Helen, it’s good enough for us! Slip, £28, sizes 8-22, Bhs STAY UNDIE-COVER Show off a toned back while still supporting your bust by choosing a silicon stick-on bra that fatters but stays hidden. Choose an animal-print design to up the glam stakes. Invisible bra, £48, sizes A-D, invisibra.co.uk BE VERSATILE Go for a bra that features interchangeable straps so you can wear a variety of necklines without revealing either your lingerie or too much skin. A smooth-cupped bra looks great under the sheerest of fabrics. Multiway, £26, sizes 32A-36G, ultimo.co.uk TAKE THE PLUNGE Flaunt your bust with a low-cut…

How it works Many of the foods included in the plan are high in protein, fibre, air or water. These trigger your satiety (fullness) mechanisms and help you feel fuller and fight hunger. Never go for more than a couple of hours without having something to eat. This will help to curb your appetite, meaning you will be able to resist Christmas nibbles when you’re offered them. So you don’t feel completely left out, you’re allowed one festive mini treat a day! 3 steps to fit into that party f rock 1 Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day as well as two different choices from the snacks list – plus one Christmas treat. Vary your food choices as much as possible to ensure your body gets a range of…

4 WEEKS TO GO... The season of accidents Over Christmas, more than 80,000 people a year need hospital treatment for injuries such as falls, cuts and burns, says the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). But a little bit of forethought can keep everyone safe and sound. Check the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors Keep mistletoe away from children – the berries contain toxic proteins that, if eaten, can cause hallucinations Check your Christmas-tree lights and turn them off when you go to bed. Blow out candles when you’re not in the room Meds check Order all the medication you need to take you through the next few weeks. Your local pharmacy can usually liaise with your doctor’s surgery and arrange for you to…

Another Christmas is almost here and the kids are in a tizz of excitement. I think they must have inherited it from me because there was a time when I looked forward to it so much. It’s difficult to remember ever being like that after everything that has happened, but at least I have the memories. Back in 2006, I was especially happy. It was the year I asked my gorgeous girlfriend, Mair, to marry me. We’d met four years earlier and I planned to propose on New Year’s Eve when we went to the Lake District. In the end, I simply couldn’t wait and ended up blurting it out on Christmas Eve, half drunk and completely in love. Thank goodness she said yes because, when we had first met,…

When I first read about Quidco on a consumer blog in 2009, it sounded like a great way to save money. Colin and I opened an account together and it was so easy – all you have to do is register your email address and bank details. We started making savings straight away. One of the first things we did was change our car insurance. We searched through the Quidco website for the cheapest quote and found one for just £250. We couldn’t believe it when we got £40 cashback too! Now we use Quidco all the time. I’m a commercial director and it’s great for someone like me, as I travel a lot for work. I book all my hotels through the site and can get up to 6%…

COLOURFUL VEGGIE TART SERVES 6 PREP TIME 10 MINS COOKING TIME 1 HR YOU WILL NEED 1 large leek, washed and sliced 3 yellow and 3 red peppers, cut into chunks 2 courgettes, sliced 3tbsp olive oil 2tbsp thyme leaves, chopped 250g cherry tomatoes on the vine 375g ready-rolled puff pastry 4tbsp tomato pesto 100g Parmesan (75g grated, the rest shaved) ◆ A little milk HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 220˚C/Gas 7. Put all the veggies, except the tomatoes, into a roasting dish and mix with the oil and thyme. Season. Roast for 30 mins. Add tomatoes and cook for 5-10 mins. Cool. 2 Turn the heat down to 200˚C/Gas 6. Unroll the pastry on to a baking sheet. Trim the edges. Mark a border 2.5cm…

M&S is celebrating its 129th Christmas, so it’s safe to say it knows a thing or two about fulfilling festive wish lists. From scrumptious nibbles to home furnishings that give your house a unique sparkle, and clothing for all occasions, there’s only one place to shop at this time of year. Whether you’re buying for children, parents, brothers, cousins, distant uncles or faraway aunts, M&S has a present in store or online to make every member of your family smile. The gorgeous gifts will surprise and delight on Christmas morning and be treasured for years to come. One-stop shop This season at M&S, Christmas is about adding a little touch of magic to your wardrobe. Vibrant jewel tones, luxurious textures and opulent accessories are the season’s must-haves. Get your party…

The boring factor Does anyone else think The X Factor has become really boring? Sharon’s constant exaggerating, Gary’s moodiness, Nicole saying, ‘Sh!’ before everything – it’s so repetitive. I used to love tuning in on a Saturday night, but nowadays you’re more likely to find me watching Strictly! Carolyn Richardson, Clitheroe Such courage Your article ‘Mum helped my brother to die’ [28 October] brought me to tears. I couldn’t believe the strength shown by the whole family – especially Deborah’s mum, Heather. I am a new mum and I’d do anything for my son, but I don’t know if I could be as brave as Heather! Margarita Kalo, Leamington Spa We need to get some better role models I was quite disturbed to read yet another article on Holly Willoughby’s…

I’ve always enjoyed a few games of bingo. I began playing years ago when I used to go to the local bingo hall with my mum, then I’d take my brother every week. A few years ago my eyesight began to fail and I was finding it more and more difficult to play. I couldn’t see the numbers clearly on my bingo cards and, eventually, I had to stop going. I thought that would mean the end of my favourite hobby, but then I spotted an ad for Woman’s Own Bingo. I had never thought of playing online before and so I decided to try it. It was amazing! The site was easy to find my way around and, best of all, I could adjust the graphics to make the…

The odd couple The Voice judge Will.i.am has been teaching Joanna Lumley how to rap! The unlikely friendship occurred after the Ab Fab star confessed she was ‘fascinated’ by the singer. Joanna, 67, even travelled to Will’s LA mansion to have a go at making music with him, and clearly loved him. ‘He was all I had hoped he’d be and more,’ she gushed. ‘Charming, articulate… as sweet as pie and dandy as a peacock.’ Don’t MISS IT... The Big Christmas Reunion ITV2, Thurs 12 December, 9pm Following the success of The Big Reunion, the bands return for a holiday special, which sees them back in the studio to record a Christmas song for charity. Now it just remains to be seen whether the track can make it to number…

A cut above Cat Deeley, 37, shows off her fab Californian tan in this one-shoulder style. The sexy thighhigh split also helps to elongate her already enviably long legs. Simply dazzling Downton’s Michelle Dockery, 31, is elegant in this shift dress. The detailed embellishment prevents her skin from looking washed out. Ladylike class Keeping it chic and simple, Sienna Miller, 31, shows that, when it comes to accessorizing a plain white slip dress, only pointy black court shoes will do. Grecian goddess From the draped asymmetric neckline to the gently pleated hemline, Julianne Moore, 52, gives us an expert lesson in elegant eveningwear…

Nicole Scherzinger has sparked fresh fears for her health after new photos emerged of her looking painfully thin. The X Factor judge, 35, was papped leaving an awards bash last week, with the bones in her arms and shoulders clearly visible. It seems her weight’s dropped even further since October, when she was accused of looking unhealthy. Heartbreak Nicole’s dramatic weight loss has become especially apparent since her split with Formula 1 boyfriend Lewis Hamilton in the summer, but her latest look has sent shock waves through her millions of fans, with many taking to the internet to express their horror. ‘She needs to put on weight,’ said one fan. ‘She is beginning to look like a skeleton dressed like Morticia from The Addams Family,’ another agreed. Commentators accused her…

CLAIRE RICH ARDS ‘The kids open their stockings on our bed and then we all go downstairs and do the presents in the living room. I always go a bit too mad – the kids are so spoilt, really.’ KATE GARRAWAY ‘We always go north to see my husband’s parents in Lancashire so we all dress up for the journey and decorate the car. And of course, there are often people who see us and take pictures and put them up on Twitter. I was an angel last year – it was brilliant.’ STEPHEN MULHERN ‘I go and see my family. I have two brothers and a sister and we all get together. We have a good laugh and we play whatever game has been big that year – this…

232425 CHRISTMAS countdown Top, £38, and skirt, £50, sizes 4-18, shoes, £42 All Asos Cape, £35, sizes 8-20, elitzia.com Jacket, £23, sizes 8-20, Primark Top, £45, sizes 8-16, Topshop Earrings, £29.50, glitzysecrets.com Jeans, £39, sizes 6-20, La Redoute Skirt, £59, sizes 6-20, La Redoute Top, £49, sizes 8-22, M&Co Shoes, £12.50, F&F at Tesco Jacket, £35, sizes 8-20, top, £12, sizes 8-20, jeans, £14, sizes 8-20, necklace, £15 All Matalan Skirt, £35, sizes 6-18, M&S Cami, £12, sizes 8-20, George at Asda Clutch, £40, Faith at Debenhams Top, £12, sizes 8-18, Primark Trousers, £49, sizes 4-16, Miss Selfridge Playsuit, £39.99, sizes 6-14, miss guided.co.uk Top, £14, sizes 8-22, F&F at Tesco Necklace, £16.50, Wallis Clutch, £35, Accessorize Skirt, £28, sizes 8-22, Dorothy Perkins Shoes, £18, linzi.com…

Smouldering smoky eyes Beauty Ed Stephanie is a self-confessed smoky-eye devotee. ‘If I’m rushing out of the office to a beauty event, I dig out my Bourjois Effet Smoky Pencil in Intense Black, £5.49. The liner is so creamy that it’s easy to outline the eye, building up at the outer corner, then I use the brush to smudge upwards and outwards – pure genius!’ KNOCKOUT PARTY NAILS New dresses and wet nails do not mix. Forget the polish and embrace the return of falsies. L’Oréal Paris Nails A Porter in Drama Queen, £7.99, give you a press-on, no-glueneeded manicure that creates a statement look and lasts for up to five days. Simply match each one to your nail and stick ’em on! Flawless face in a flash When you’re…

You’ve studied the gift guides, trudged round the shopping centres and almost bankrupted yourself to make sure that much-longed for present is under the tree. But the fact is, a lot of us are simply wasting our time! According to statistics*, we give £2.1 billion worth of unwanted presents every year. Of that huge amount, the top three most disliked gifts are clothing at 30%, beauty products and toiletries at 29% and trinkets and ornaments at 19%. In fact, each adult in the UK will receive a total of two unwanted presents, worth £43.50 in total. We’re then left to shove them in a cupboard, sell them online or awkwardly ask for the receipt to take them back. Some even end up being re-gifted to friends or relatives. These readers,…

Christmas can be a time for reflection, for reassessing lives and relationships. As you reach the end of the year, you can look back on what you and your partner have been through and how tough times can so often put a strain on emotions. Here three women confront those feelings in an open letter to their husbands, revealing the most heartfelt and personal thoughts… Family has made us stronger Sian Payne, 38, and her husband Dennis, 51, from Aberdare, South Wales, have been together for 10 years. They work for the council and have four children – Grace, three, and triplets Harriet, Millicent and Felicity, now two. Dear Dennis, When we first found out we were having triplets after being blessed with our beautiful Grace, we could not believe…

As my husband, Andrew, squeezed into his Father Christmas suit, I helped him pull the big belt around his waist and adjusted the fake beard. ‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’ he laughed. Then he lumbered out of the door and headed to the youth club to play Santa Claus for the local children, as he did every year. It was December 2009 and Andrew, then 44, had always been the obvious choice for the role with his round belly and jovial smile. But this year, I couldn’t help being worried. He had put on so much weight, I was worried about his health. Things had to change ‘You need to lose a few stone,’ I told him, but he shrugged off my concerns. While I did aerobics and tried to cook healthy…

CHICKEN & HAM LASAGNE SERVES 6 PREP TIME 10 MINS COOKING TIME 1 HR + POACHING YOU WILL NEED 1 chicken 500ml cider 1ltr chicken stock 2 carrots, cut into chunks 2 celery sticks, cut into chunks 1 onion, halved ½tsp black peppercorns FOR THE SAUCE 70g butter 70g plain four 200ml milk 100ml cream Handful chopped fat-leaf parsley 1tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing 4 leeks, chopped 400g fresh lasagne sheets 250g ham, chopped 100g Parmesan, grated HOW TO DO IT 1 Put the chicken in a large pan with the cider, stock, carrots, celery, onion and peppercorns. Cover with a lid, bring to a simmer and poach for 50-60 mins, or until cooked. Remove chicken from the pan and cool. Take all the meat off the carcass…

RED PEPPER FRITTATA SERVES 6 PREP TIME 5 MINS COOKING TIME 10 MINS YOU WILL NEED 8 eggs Handful of freshly chopped parsley ½ x 290g jar peperonata antipasto 300g tinned baby cooked potatoes, drained 1tbsp olive oil HOW TO DO IT 1 Beat the eggs with salt and pepper. Mix through the chopped parsley and antipasto peppers. Thinly slice the potatoes and add to the egg mixture. 2 Heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan and pour in the frittata mixture. Cook over a gentle heat for 10-15 mins. For a biextra colour on top, place the pan under a medium grill for the final few mins. LIME, CORIANDER & CHILLI MEATBALLS SERVES 6 PREP TIME 5 MINS COOKING TIME 10 MINS YOU WILL NEED 1tbsp olive oil 12…

Money myths Keeping the heating on low all day is more cost-effective than using it in timer-controlled bursts. FALSE This is actually quite a common misconception. Boilers do tend to use more power initially in order to heat up radiators from cold. However, the cost of doing this is greatly exceeded by the cost of keeping the boiler running all the time – even if you turn the temperature down really low. If you have a timer, make full use of it to ensure that your home stays toasty at the right times now winter has arrived. YOUR Christmas cash-flow calendar With just under four weeks to go until the big day, it’s time to get yourself – and your wallet – organised… This weekend A staggering 54% of us…

I’ve always been a bingo fan and used to play at my local hall. I never won very much, but it was fun. Then when I started my current job as a care assistant at a dementia home five years ago, I began working shifts, so it became difficult to get along. Instead, I looked into playing online. I’d never tried it before, but I saw an advert for Woman’s Own Bingo that offered a welcome bonus if I signed up with just £10, so I thought I’d give it a go. I loved it immediately. It’s far more exciting than going to the bingo hall and you can play for just a penny, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money to join in. Then there’s the…

Val Thorens, France 1,850-3,220m European ski areas don’t come any higher than Val Thorens in France’s Three Valleys. This purpose-built resort, high above the trees, features ski-in/ski-out hotels and apartments, a bonus with small children in tow. And they offer a snow guarantee (for details, go to valthorens.com). UP HIGH The 27 lifts are fast and efficient, but that doesn’t mean an end to the queues, especially at the Cîmé de Caron cable car, where skiers and walkers mingle to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking views at the top (3,200 metres). The Freeride Café Caron is also hard to beat, with a mulled wine in one hand and a camera in the other, looking out over 1,000 summits. Choose from 71 pistes, covering 150km. DOWN LOW Place Péclet market…

With a career in the limelight spanning 12 years, Myleene Klass certainly knows what it feels like to be part of the A-list. But it’s not all glamorous for the presenter – she’s got her daughters, Ava, six, and Hero, two, to keep her grounded. Here, she tells us just how normal her life really is… Who’s the biggest celeb you’ve got on your mobile? I’ve got quite a lot of big stars on there, but I can’t name any names! I’m really careful not to use their real names when I save them – imagine if I lost my phone and their numbers got out! What’s the most expensive thing in your wardrobe? I work for Littlewoods, so I’m lucky because they send me the entire range. I also…

HER ROYAL DYENESS Cries of ‘she’s just like us’ could be heard all over the country when Kate Middleton, 31, stepped out sporting a few stray grey hairs recently. However, it seems the busy mum has found time to have her roots touched up – she was pictured at a charity event with much darker locks. ‘I’m really insecure’ X Factor star Sam Bailey has admitted that she still feels self-conscious, despite her recent 2st weight loss. The singer, 36, said, ‘When we get dolled up to go out, I’m really insecure. At premieres, I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb. I’m very self-critical. When I watch videos of my performances, I always pick at them. It helps to keep me in check.’ Shock surgeries A secret…

SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR Only someone as quirky as Sophie, 34, could model her look on this unique tree. DENISE WELCH Whiter than white Denise, 55, takes her Christmas fashion inspiration from the strangest of places. MADONNA We’re not green with envy over this bizarre ensemble on Madge, 55. All that’s missing is the star on top. EVA LONGORIA Desperate Housewives star Eva, 38, could definitely light up a room in this glitzy little number. CHRISTINA HENDRICKS Even dressed as a purple tree, Christina, 38, still manages to look absolutely fab! VANESSA FELTZ We all know Ness, 51, loves dressing up but maybe she’s gone too far this time……

Now, answer truthfully. Do you look at the calendar and wish all those people’s names you’ve scribbled down to visit you at Christmas actually weren’t coming? Do you hate the jingly music as you trudge the high street for presents? Are you secretly pleased when the time comes to take down the sagging paper chains and get your house back to normal? Answer yes and you can join the Scrooge club, where Christmas is nothing more than a bleedin’ nuisance. ‘How could you?’ shriek those devotees of the 25th. What’s not to enjoy about family coming together, the smiles of the children as they open their stockings, the celebration? Rebecca Leppard, 37, from Gloucestershire, thrives on the festive madness. ‘My husband and I put our decorations up on 1 December…

Ring, £10, Evans Earrings, £17.50, Limited Collection at M&S Necklace, £24.99, mymillymoo.com Ring, £18, Asos Earrings, £8, River Island Cuff, £7.99, New Look Necklace, £22, Accessorize Bracelet, £5.99, Internaçionale Bracelet, £16.50, Wallis Earrings, £4.99, Internaçionale Necklace, £20, Topshop Bracelets, £19.50 for set, M&S Bracelet, £5, Primark Earrings, £29, Oliver Bonas Necklace, £29.50, Per Una at M&S…

Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in English Rose, £7.99 Blot Film, £11 Clutch bag, £42, Accessorize Ella Purse Spray, £15, Ted Baker Autograph Pure Colour Mousse Eye shadow in Gold, £7.50, M&S The Body Shop Lightening Touch, £14 Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream 30ml, £18 Salonnière by Jenny Packham compact mirror and pouch, £10 L’Oréal Paris Super Liner GelMatic, £5.99 Limited Collection Mini Brush Kit, £8, M&S…

Guilty at Christmas I don’t have children but I do have a single, elderly mother of 74 who is very much like a child. Every Christmas, through gritted teeth, I stay with her for a week. It starts out nice enough, but then the cutting comments about me never marrying and not giving her grandchildren start. This year, my boyfriend of two years has suggested we do Christmas with my mum early and go away to Spain for some sun and sangria. I want to say yes to his proposal, but this awful guilt in me says, ‘How could you be so selfish?’ Tamsin, 52, Winchester I feel sad that time with your mum means ‘gritted teeth’ and bracing against the ‘cuts’ of her put-downs. So how about you consider…

This Christmas, I’ll be on stage as a fairy starring in a pantomime. But as I wave my wand, I’ll be thinking of how lucky I am to be here. Because just two years ago, life was so very different… It was May 2010 when I decided to buy a two-bedroom mid-terrace house in Fleet, Hampshire. It was meant to be the start of a new chapter in my life. My marriage of 10 years had recently broken down and I thought it’d be a nice place to live with our son, Edward, then eight. I decided to build an extension for a family room. I had a theatrical background working in West End shows and was also a music teacher. The extra space would be perfect for giving lessons.…

4 step recipes If you want to wow your family and friends with a menu of delicious dishes over the festive period, then our Christmas Made Easy app is just what you’re looking for! Each recipe comprises of just four simple steps to ensure you spend your holiday season enjoying yourself instead of slaving over a hot stove. For just £1.99 you can have 64 traditional and modern recipes at your fingertips, from mouthwatering turkeys to melt-in-the-mouth puds and tasty tipples. Clever ideas Following our festive recipes really couldn’t be easier. As well as the four simple steps, we’ve tried to keep the ingredients to a minimum and you can even email yourself a handy shopping list to refer to at the supermarket. There is also a useful pop-up conversion…

To start . . . SEAFOOD GRATIN IN SHELLS SERVES 6 PREP TIME 5 MINS COOKING TIME 15 MINS YOU WILL NEED 2 x 400g cooked seafood selection 200g ready-made mashed potato 200ml cheese sauce 100g white breadcrumbs Small handful of freshly chopped parsley 1 lemon and 1 lime, cut into wedges HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 200˚C/Gas 6. Evenly divide the seafood mix between 6 scallop shells or ramekins, cover with mash and pour over a little cheese sauce. 2 Mix together the breadcrumbs, parsley, salt and freshly ground black pepper, sprinkle over each portion, place on a baking tray and bake for 10-15 mins until it’s hot through and the topping is crisp. Serve with lemon and lime wedges. TIP Don’t like seafood? Sauté…

We’re cash-rich from rubbish As my kids giggled with excitement playing with their new toys, they barely noticed the sea of torn wrapping paper all around them. ‘I just can’t believe how much rubbish there is!’ I cried, as I filled up yet another bin liner with scrunched-up wrapping paper. It was Christmas Day 2009 and I was celebrating at my in-laws’ with my husband Simon, then 41, our three children Oliver, nine, Molly, seven, and George, five, and the rest of the family. With 20 of us gathered together, it wasn’t long before we had filled eight bags with paper. ‘It’s such a waste,’ my sister-in-law Nicky, 39, agreed. We sorted the bags for recycling, but after Christmas I discovered most of the paper ended up in landfills. ‘There…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr Love, romance and partnerships are even more important than usual after the 8th. It’s all about planning – either for an unusual Christmas or the trip of a lifetime in 2014. Love life so-so? surprise him with a super-meaningful present to kickstart a honeymoon vibe. For more call 0901 609 4780* Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May The days leading up to the 10th are about lucky surprises. If you’re Christmas shopping, you’ll bag an amazing bargain or the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for person. or you’ll find a stunning party dress. and if you’re partying, you could get lucky under the mistletoe. For more call 0901 609 4781* Gemini 21 May – 20 Jun Stuck on what to buy for your nearest and…

Home at last after a long shift at the local school, where I work as a cleaner, I couldn’t wait to put my feet up. After making some dinner for me and my daughter, Jenna, 17, I flopped down on the sofa. ‘Bliss!’ I thought to myself. Jenna was sitting next to me watching TV, so I got out my laptop to try my luck on Woman’s Own Bingo. I love to have a few games in the evening as I wind down. I went into the Emerald Bingo room and spent just a few pennies on tickets for the next game, then I sat back to watch. Each number was being called and, although I missed out on the one-line and two-line prizes, I started to get excited, as…

You would think bezzie mates Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly would at some point get a bit bored of each other. The pair work together and live practically next door to each other – surely you can have too much of a good thing? But that’s very far from the truth! We caught up with the presenters, both 38, to see what their Christmas plans are and what they’re not looking forward to about taking part in this year’s Text Santa! ‘The things you hear – I do well up’ Firstly, Text Santa is all about charity. Do you struggle to keep your composure when faced with some of the stories? D Some of the things you hear, they really do make your heart ache. I do well up. A…