Innholdsfortegnelse for 19-may-14 i Woman's Own

Like many of you, I was saddened when Peaches Geldof died. Now, over a month later, there is more tragic news – heroin has been blamed as the suspected cause of her death, the same drug that killed her mum, Paula Yates. Mum-of-two Peaches, 25, was a big supporter of ‘attachment parenting’ – a challenging concept that means she believed in 24/7 contact with her little sons Astala and Phaedra. What an awful irony that her desire to escape reality through drugs now leaves her poor boys without a mum. See more on this sad story on p10. Join us online Head to our fabulous website, womansown.co.uk, to get all the latest celeb gossip, great competitions and deals, plus beauty, fashion, easy recipes and health tips.…

Kym Marsh has been accused of being ‘heartless’, ‘cheap and tacky,’ and ‘heaping shame’ on Coronation Street after becoming embroiled in a series of rows on Twitter. Public spats Eyebrows were raised after the actress, 37, was romantically linked to personal trainer Dan Hooper, who recently split from her close friend Hollyoaks’ Stephanie Waring, 35. ‘I considered her a friend, who I’ve known for years. I had no idea that she would ever do anything like this,’ Stephanie, who has a daughter Lexi-Grace, three, with Dan, said at the time. But it was Kym’s online war of words with Celebrity Big Brother star Nicola McLean that really started to cause fans of the soap concern. After reading Stephanie’s interview, model Nicola tweeted, ‘And Kym Marsh had the cheek to slag…

While the rest of us have been keeping our fingers crossed for more sunshine, Denise Welch, 55, has been flaunting her fab figure while on holiday with husband Lincoln Townley, 41, and doesn’t she look great? In these exclusive pictures, the actress is seen happily posing for the camera as Lincoln snapped shots of her on his phone, and indulged in a spot of sunbathing poolside in Tenerife. Den decided to lose weight last year after discovering she weighed 11st 5lb. ‘I hadn’t been that weight since I was pregnant. It wasn’t about trying to become stick-thin or reaching a certain size. I just knew it was unhealthy for me to be so big,’ she said at the time. The star is rightfully proud of her new figure, even taking…

Good news – here are the latest looks that you can buy today from our fave stores. Purses at the ready, ladies! Primark It’s our go-to brand for bargain buys! From patterned trousers to stylish floral dresses all under £20 – what are you waiting for? Next This on-trend summer range means you can have fun with florals or go for bold in graphic geometrics. Debenhams The Debenhams designers are showcasing their best-ever looks right now! Here’s a taste of their vibrant, too-good-to-miss collections.…

There’s a new breed of single mother on the block. They’re self-sufficient, happy and occasionally hedonistic. This is a group of women who, instead of desperately trying to hook up with another partner after their marriage comes to an end, decide to take charge of their own life. And as 65% of divorces are initiated by women, there are a lot of us out there. I am surrounded by women like this – in fact, I am one. ‘I see my lover once a month’ Ever since my marriage broke up over two years ago, I’ve been experimenting with what life is like as a single, independent mother of four children – Raymond, 17, Leonard, 11, Jerry, nine, and Ottoline, six. I realised early on that meeting a new soulmate…

She betrayed my trust I told one of my oldest friends about an issue my brother and his wife were having with their daughter. I begged her not to repeat a word since my niece is at the same secondary school as our respective daughters. I then discovered she’d blabbed all to her 15-year-old. I haven’t spoken to her since because how can I be friends with someone I can’t trust? Ella, 41, Northampton Well, I certainly wouldn’t ever tell her anything confidential again in a hurry. It sounds entirely reasonable to pull back from this friendship – at least for a while. If you have to see each other because of your daughters, then just be civil and keep the conversation simple. But in the end, you need to…

Peering into the incubator, tears streamed down my face. There he was, our much-wanted baby boy Alex – but something was so terribly wrong. It was April 2005 and I’d needed an emergency caesarean at 32 weeks, and our son had been rushed straight to special care. Now, as my husband John and I saw him for the first time, the surgeon’s words came rushing back. ‘Gosh, he’s small,’ he’d said. My first two children, Michael, 10, and Jessica, seven, from a previous relationship, had both weighed more than 9lb, yet little Alex was just 2lb 10oz. His hands were so small they were the size of my thumbnail and his face was long and thin. ‘What’s wrong with him?’ I cried to John, then 37. But the doctors were…

Midweek Meal Pasta-stuffed peppers Tasty, nutritious and filling, this is the perfect meat-free meal SERVES 4 PREP TIME 10 MINS COOKING TIME 45 MINS 1 Preheat the oven to 190°C/Gas 5. Cook 125g orzo (rice-shaped pasta) according to the instructions on the pack. 2 Meanwhile, melt 25g butter in a frying pan and fry 1 chopped small red onion gently for 3-4 mins. Add 1 chopped small courgette, 100g trimmed and sliced green beans and 100g sliced closed-cup mushrooms and cook for 2-3 more mins. Drain the pasta thoroughly, then stir in the vegetable mixture. Season to taste. 3 Arrange 4 halved and deseeded red, yellow or green peppers in a roasting tin, cut-side up. Fill with the pasta mixture, then cover with foil and bake for 15 mins. Remove…

She lay in my arms sleeping peacefully, but I couldn’t stop checking, terrified of a sign something was wrong. My niece Daisy was just seven months old but a sudden jerk of her hand, a flutter of her eyes, could mean the start of another seizure Her mum – my younger sister Sara, 34 – had been through so many difficult times since Daisy was diagnosed with epilepsy at five months. The little girl could suffer hundreds of seizures a day. She and her husband David, also 34, would sit up endless nights watching to make sure she was safe. Yet however tired Sara was, she’d still spend hours researching all about the illness. ‘It’s so important I know everything,’ she said. Daisy’s epilepsy was resistant to medication and nothing…

The kids were asleep, and with my husband, Phil, at his manager’s job, I had the house to myself. Settling down in front of the TV, I clicked on my laptop to browse. It was January this year and I loved being a stay-at-home mum to Alec, three, Harrison, two, and four-monthold Orson. I also knew how important it was cooking them up wholesome meals. ‘I don’t know how some families cope,’ I thought. There had been so many reports about mums struggling to feed their children. An idea struck me. What if, when I did a dish for the kids, I cooked another for a local family who needed help? So on the online ads website Gumtree I wrote, ‘Free home-cooked meal for a family struggling to keep the…

I discovered Woman’s Own Bingo about three years ago, after my sister Yvette recommended it to me. I had played on a couple of other sites before, but I found them boring – this was a whole new experience. It’s exciting, so much fun and different to all the other bingo sites. There’s a lot going on and I was a fan straight away. Rainy day play Usually you’ll find me playing the slots – Tiki Temple is my favourite – but occasionally I’ll dabble in the bingo rooms when there’s a huge jackpot up for grabs. Which is what happened one particular rainy afternoon recently. I’d logged on to play the Show Us Your Balls daily game, which is free when you’ve played £2 in the past seven days.…

When I first read about Quidco on a consumer blog in 2009, it sounded like a great way to earn money. Colin and I opened an account together – all we had to do was register our email address and bank details. We made cashback amounts straight away. One of the first was by changing our car insurance. The cheapest quote on the Quidco website was just £250. And we got £40 cashback, too! Now we use Quidco all the time. ‘We came back from holiday to a lump sum!’ I travel a lot for work and book all my hotels via the site – earning up to 6% cashback each time. And in February, Colin and I went to South Africa – booking our hotels through Quidco meant we…

Iron man On the new Corrie set, I managed to squeeze in a spot of ironing at Gail’s! I couldn’t believe that the iron actually works, so you might spot my handiwork in upcoming episodes. If I’d donned fishnets I could have rocked my best Freddie Mercury look from I Want To Break Free! Cream fun Also during my trip to the cobbles, I asked Sue Cleaver to meet me on her lunch break. I was shooting at Roy’s Rolls so I knew she’d be tempted by my offer of a cream horn. We’re planning a cheeky holiday later this summer. We usually share a room to save on the pennies – but I did manage to slip in a cheap cut and blow at Audrey’s! Clare today My ex-GMTV…

Pink frosting In this waterfall-hemmed top and frothy feather pencil skirt, Cate Blanchett, 45, looks, as ever, effortlessly chic. Parma Violet perfection Amy Adams, 39, could look quite conservative in a knee-length lilac skirt suit, but that plunging neckline ensures that all eyes are on her. Blue belle Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 35, contrasts her low-sheen classic aquamarine dress with a fluoro fuchsia clutch bag and polka-dot court shoes. Bubblegum beauty Kelly Osbourne, 29, looks every inch a fashionista in this circle skirt. Follow her lead and perch your jacket on your shoulders for an on-trend spring look. She’s got the blues Kate Garraway, 47, opts for an A-line shift dress. The figure-skimming cut is so flattering and shows off toned legs without revealing too much. Mellow yellow Julianne Moore, 53, shows…

Barbara Knox Barbara, 80 (Rita Sullivan), faces a trial in July after she was arrested for drink-driving last month. She recently pleaded ‘not guilty’. The actress was said to have been a passenger in a car driven by her daughter, Maxine Ashcroft, who was found to be nearly three times over the drink-drive limit by the police. Barbara was later arrested after driving to the police station where her daughter was being held. Craig Charles In 2006, Craig, 49, was suspended from the soap following allegations of crack cocaine use. The actor was arrested and released on bail before accepting a caution for possession of a class A drug a few months later. Craig, who plays cab driver Lloyd Mullaney on the show, returned to the long-running soap the following…

Bulging biceps, a rippling six-pack and thighs that could crack walnuts – hunky men are a guaranteed way to whip us women into a frenzy. Take Kelly Brook, one of the world’s most beautiful women. She’s plumped for ex-Gladiator Tornado and her new fiancé – aka David McIntosh – is iron-pumping beefcake through and through. Muscles are seen as a sure sign of strength and masculinity. Since the dawn of time the female race has been pre-programmed to seek out macho, sturdy, reliable men, who can hunt our food and protect our children. It isn’t surprising such a natural instinct is still deeply ingrained in our subconscious. TV celeb Katie Price, too, has had a string of muscle-bound boyfriends. She admits she loves ‘muscular and thick-set’ men. According to a…

Be bold in blue Put aside those garish ’80s connotations because blue eye make-up is back with a new grown-up look. Cobalt’s the shade of the moment and here’s why you should give it a go – blue eye make-up makes the whites of your eyes appear brighter, so you look instantly fresher. Play it up Use a waxy pencil to line the upper and lower lash lines. Maybelline Master Kajal in Lapis Blue, £5.99, is creamy so it won’t drag your skin and you can really get into the lashes. Finish with two coats of Stargazer Mascara in Blue, £3, stargazer-products.com, for an eye-popping lash look. Tone it down ‘ Bright colours can be ma de more wearable by choosing a metallic finish,’ says Maybelline make-up artist, Sharon Dowsett.…

Counsellor and agony aunt Laura Marcus, who works with the relationship charity OnePlusOne, says this sense of hedonistic freedom and independence is a growing phenomenon for women in their forties and over. ‘I know of several women in this situation and friends of theirs will say, ‘She hasn’t got anyone else, you know, and she doesn’t seem to want anyone!’ This is often said in a tone of great surprise. As in, how can a woman possibly be happy on her own? But it’s true, they are. They enjoy their children, their work and have sparkling social lives. If they meet someone, well, that’s fine. But it’s just as fine not to. We shouldn’t assume everyone needs to be paired off to be happy.’ Visit oneplusone.org.uk.…

1 Overestimating calories burned Four in 10 of us burn fewer than 300 calories during a workout. Have a chocolate bar or smoothie on the way home and you’ve pretty much cancelled that out. If your workout lasts an hour or less, don’t eat until you get home. For longer sessions or strength training, ‘Eat something after exercise just to refuel your muscles, but make it a small handful of nuts or a protein shake,’ advises personal trainer Rebecca Fredericks (rebeccafredericks.com). 2 Sports drinks A bottle of Lucozade Sport has 140 calories. ‘You don’t need a sports drink if you’re doing less than 60 minutes’ exercise,’ says James Evans from Xtreme Boot Camps (xtremebootcamps.com). ‘Water will hydrate you just fine.’ 3 The runger games The urge to nibble after strenuous…

IT’S JUST EMBARRASSING! A few years ago, I was a care worker at a home for the elderly and one of our residents had passed away. His family was lovely and I was consoling his daughter, and went to give her a little peck on the cheek. But, as I did so, she turned her head and my kiss ended up on her neck! I was mortified as that seemed so inappropriate and quickly made myself scarce! JULIE BARDWELL, NORWICH Fond memories I think hugging is great. It’s the last thing I remember before my grandad died. As he was cuddling me, he told me everything would be OK. Since then, I love a hug. It means someone is thinking of you. LISA DOLATOWSKI, FIFE HOLD BACK A LITTLE Hugging…

3 of the BEST Microwaves In the first of a new regular series, take a look at our pick of the best microwave ovens on the market. The Panasonic Premium Combi Oven combines a microwave, grill and defrost setting to help you multi-task in the kitchen. It looks fantastic on your worktop as well. BUY IT £429, John Lewis Brabantia is probably most well-known for its bins, so it’s nice to see it now has a range of fantastic microwaves that come complete with a grill. BUY IT £99.99, Dunelm LG has a great range of microwave ovens, like this one with auto temperature control, an eco energy-saving function and easy-clean coating. BUY IT £99, John Lewis HOW TO... negotiate a pay rise How do you save money? Do send…

Millions watched us dance at our wedding Wrapped lovingly in each other’s arms, my fiancé, Nathan, and I gently swayed to the music. ‘Are you sure you can do this?’ I asked when he winced in pain. ‘Yes. For you,’ he nodded firmly. It was June 2013 and we’d cleared space in our living room to practise dancing together. But it wasn’t any old dance we were trying to get right – it was the one we’d perform in front of all our guests at our wedding. And it was going to be all the more special because it was the first time Nathan would be seen using artificial legs. He’d lost both his limbs in a horrific accident in 1997 when he’d been dragged under a freight train, aged…

Judy Finnigan TAURUS (16 May) Judy needs to watch her health, especially over the next six months. She’s prone to ailments and needs to take a bit of extra rest. That said, her writing career goes from strength to strength. Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr A key relationship is about to turn a corner. And when it does you’ll finally feel life is moving forward, not stuck on the sidelines. But first, there are plenty of surprises. The turn you think things will take is not what happens. Keep an open mind. ◆ For more call 0901 609 4780* Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May This is likely to be one of those eventful weeks when, just as you’ve got to grips with one thing, something else happens. There’s…

Heartbreaking illness My heart went out to Richard Madeley when he reported on his mother’s Alzheimer’s, especially when he revealed that she didn’t know who he was any more [31 March issue]. My mother had a different type of dementia, but the same results. The heartbreak I felt when she thought I was her granddaughter was overwhelming. My thoughts are with you and your family, Richard. Jean Bigham, East Ayrshire Speaking out Woman’s Own featured my story, ‘Shopping addiction was killing me’ [10 March issue]. Thank you so much for publishing it – I’ve had an overwhelming response. There are many people suffering in silence with depression, anxiety and various addictions, and when someone speaks out like I did it gives them hope. Since my story was published, my business…

She has played longsuffering Fiz Stape for 13 years and as tensions mount over Tyrone’s growing friendship with his ex-girlfriend, Maria, actress Jennie McAlpine admits she likes playing her character so much that she would love to stay in the soap for as long as possible. Taking time out of filming to chat to Woman’s Own, Jennie, 30, who has been with partner Chris Farr for nine years, talks to us about the tensions Fiz will face over the next few weeks, juggling work with owning a restaurant, and why she’d secretly love to take part in Celebrity MasterChef… You’ve been on Corrie for 13 years. Has the time flown by? It really has gone so quickly. But I am still a relative newcomer compared with a lot of the…

She has certainly had her fair share of dramatic storylines as fiery mum-to-be Priya on Emmerdale, but as Fiona, 35, told Woman’s Own when we sat down for a chat, the exciting plot lines leave her with little time for her family and friends. We caught up with her to find out more… What makes you cry? Everything! I well up if there’s a sob story on The X Factor or if I hear a beautiful piece of music on an advert… you name it and it probably makes me teary. What makes you happiest? My family and friends, the last year and a half have been crazy and I’ve been very busy so whenever I get chance to see them, I take it. Which parts of your body do…

Fake tan FAIL! Thank goodness for the desk on Good Morning Britain, it gives something for Susanna Reid to hide her fake tan fail behind. Even with all the practice of applying the tricky stuff after months of taking part on Strictly Come Dancing, Susanna, 43, still hasn’t mastered getting it right on her feet – but it’s not going to stop the presenter. ‘I love a spray tan. I love it all,’ she’s said. Strange ADVICE? BGT’s Amanda Holden wants to be a young grandmother. Amanda, 43, would like her daughters Lexi, eight, and Hollie, two, to have their children well before they’re 40 as she’ll be 80 or more by then. Amanda said, ‘The only advice I will give them about men is ‘Don’t get married before you…

When the news was revealed that Peaches Geldof had died with heroin in her system, everyone was left stunned. What could have made the seemingly happy 25-year-old with a loving husband and two sons want to risk it all? With everything to live for, including a reported chance to judge Australia’s Next Top Model Down Under, it was a shock to many that Peaches was taking the deadly drug at all. But according to sources close to the star, she had secretly been visiting a drug rehab clinic in the weeks before her death – and was taking prescribed heroin substitute methadone. Insiders claim she hadn’t even told her husband Tom Cohen, 23, where she was because he was a ‘really straight family man’. But a criminal investigation was launched…

One day soon I’ll get pregnant. My partner, Lewis, and I talk about it all the time. He has a little girl who’s three and we love her visits. When she goes back to her mum, our house is so empty, and I long for it to fill with the sounds of jokes and play and squabbles. The way it used to. ‘I put up with it for the boys’ But we haven’t started trying yet because I have to be certain the time is right. You see, I once had two perfect boys who I loved more than anything, and to face another pregnancy is going to take courage and faith. Will I ever be able to accept what I had and what I lost – and that as…

HOW IT WORKS Weight Watchers Simple Start aims to keep your diet as easy and straightforward as possible, you just choose your meals from a shortlist of Filling & Healthy foods – those at the heart of the ProPoints system – without the distraction of weighing, measuring or counting. The plan is designed to lead to a healthy and sustainable weight loss of up to 2lb a week, but some members have reported up to a 4lb loss in their first week!* You can choose to eat any of the food from the Filling & Healthy list at any time of the day. It includes all major food types – grain, cereal, starch, protein, dairy, fruit and vegetables and even sweet treats. There are no portion sizes, just healthy, tasty,…

ELIZABETH HURLEY, 48 The mother-of-one has shown no signs of a ‘sad single’ face after breaking up with Shane Warne. After they split, she posted on Instagram, ‘I never make the same mistake twice. I make it five or six times, just to be sure.’ MICHELLE MONE, 42 Divorced with three children, lingerie boss Michelle is said to be worth £50 million and tweeted, ‘I’ve been single for 18 months, very independent, successful and don’t need anyone for anything, other than my family.’ MELANIE SYKES, 43 After splitting with her husband of eight years and father of her two sons, the TV presenter and model became something of a cougar icon. She married Jack Cockings, 27, last year, but they’re now estranged. SADIE FROST, 48 Since she broke up with…

5 reasons to smile National Smile Month launches next week and the British Dental Association recommends you: 1 Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day using fluoride toothpaste. 2 Use interdental brushes to get right into those difficult-to-reach areas and help cut down on plaque build-up. 3 Brush your tongue, too, or use a tongue scraper. 4 Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks. 5 Visit your dentist regularly to keep your teeth in the best possible condition. Your breath is always a good indicator of your oral health. Test yours by licking the inside of your wrist, let it dry and then sniff. If it smells bad you can be fairly sure you have bad breath. Go to nationalsmilemonth.org for tips and to sign up for…

Vegetarian chilli con carne SERVES 4 PREP TIME 15 MINS COOKING TIME 30 MINS YOU WILL NEED ◆ 1tbsp vegetable oil ◆ 1 onion, peeled and chopped ◆ 200g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and chopped ◆ 300g Quorn mince ◆ 2tsp mild chilli powder ◆ 2 cloves garlic, crushed ◆ ½ each green, red and yellow pepper, deseeded and chopped ◆ 400ml veg stock ◆ 400g can chopped tomatoes ◆ 1tbsp malt vinegar ◆ 1tsp sugar ◆ 200g long grain rice ◆ 400g can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the onion and butternut squash for a few mins to soften. Add the Quorn mince, chilli powder and garlic and cook for a few more mins.…

£100 OFF! 7- night holidays between 6 June and 25 July inclusive, staying in a Platinum or Lodge accommodation What child (or adult!) would turn down the chance of an outdoor adventure holiday? And staying in a caravan or lodge is the ultimate in freedom and fun. Haven recognise that quality and comfort are the essential ingredients for a great getaway and to prove it, they’re offering Woman’s Own readers an exclusive deal on their Platinum Caravans and Luxury Lodges. Each caravan and lodge comes complete with flat-screen TV and DVD player, plus fully-fitted kitchen, made-up beds, towels and priority check-in. Haven have even factored in the risks of the Great British summer weather and installed central heating and double-glazing – just in case! With 35 parks dotted around the…

Social media can be a fantastic modern day tool to keep in touch and express thoughts. Only, sometimes things don’t work quite so well – as I found out one day in March. It was 2am and I was in bed watching news of the crisis between Russia and the Ukraine. Although I didn’t know much about politics, I joined the debate. ‘If Barraco Barner is our president, why is he getting involved with Russia, scary,’ I wrote. In the morning I had messages and tweets from people informing me that it was actually spelt Barack Obama and he was the American president. I reread my tweet and realised how silly I’d been. Of course I knew how to spell it and that David Cameron was our prime minister. ‘Just…

It was my sister-in-law Maggie who introduced me to Woman’s Own Bingo. I don’t even own a computer – I’m a bit behind the times! But when Maggie won a £1,000 jackpot three years ago, I was really keen to find out more. Visiting Maggie and my brother Harry one day, she showed me how the site works and helped me to sign up. It was really quick and simple. I used to play in bingo halls but I rarely go now as I work long hours in a pub. In any case, I find playing online is much more fun – you can fit it in around your timetable. Every couple of weeks, I pop round to Maggie and Harry’s for dinner and we’ll log on to Woman’s Own…

SKIATHOS It’s green and scenic, the watersports are abundant, the shops are plentiful and there’s no end of direct flights from the UK. And Koukounaries is one of the best beaches in Greece, a big sweep of sand backed by pines, facing a sheltered bay. There’s a good nightlife scene too – useful if you’ve got teenagers in tow. And the old port was used as a location in Mamma Mia! SAMPLE PACKAGE One week with Olympic Holidays (olympicholidays.com) costs from £2,606 for four (two adults and two kids under 12) in the two-bedroom Roulla Apartments, including flights from Manchester, departing 25 July. Flights are also available from Gatwick. CORFU Often dismissed for its high-rise hotels and the worst excesses of boozy Brits, Corfu has plenty of quieter spots and…

BREAKFAST WARS Good Morning Britain team bow down – Eamonn Holmes reckons he could teach you a thing or two! The newsman likened himself to the iconic Star Wars character when he told Susanna Reid, ‘I am the Jedi of breakfast television, I could give you classes,’ before quickly adding, ‘Not that you need them, mind you.’ With GMB still finding its feet, insiders reckon bosses would still do anything to get Eamonn, 54, on board one day. ‘He could give them the dream team’, one source claimed. OO heaven Michelle Keegan has a new ambition now she’s left Corrie – she wants to become a Bond girl! Commenting on co-star Alan Halsall’s claims she would be a great fit for the role, Michelle, 26, said, ‘Alan, ring the producer…