Innholdsfortegnelse for 31-mar-14 i Woman's Own

Editor’s LETTER Last week, I was thrilled to host a tea party with The Sick Children’s Trust charity, and was delighted to be joined by so many stars to highlight this very worthwhile cause. As a mum, it’s so important to me that Woman’s Own raises both cash and awareness for the charity, which offers free local accomodation for families whose kids are hospitalised. The lovely ladies from TOWIE (right) promised to hold their own fundraising chocolate tea party, and Debbie revealed she and I are almost family on my husband’s side! See who else came along on page 11. Join us online Head to our website, womansown.co.uk, for all the latest celeb gossip, great comps and deals, beauty, fashion, food ideas and health advice, including tips on how to…

Coleen Nolan has been left defending herself after critics branded her a liar. In her recent autobiography, Coleen revealed a psychic told her that her sister, Bernie, was going to die, and Coleen has been shocked by the response. ‘It’s a load of rubbish,’ blasted an online critic, while another said, ‘Is there not some sort of rule that ‘fortune tellers’ can’t deliver bad news?’ Another added, ‘You are ABSOLUTELY right. It contravenes all the laws of those who practise within the Spirit World. You are NEVER allowed to speak or even hint at a bad future happening.’ Not acceptable An upset Coleen, 49, has hit back at her accusers, telling Woman’s Own, ‘I told the truth!’ Coleen knew that revealing the detail might cause controversy, and was unsure if…

Simon ‘I want my son to have a British accent’ Simon Cowell, 54, says he’s being harsher than ever – and reveals why he wants Carmen Electra back If you were ever to leave BGT, who would you like to see replace you? Do you think Louis Walsh would say yes? I’d like to get Carmen Electra back too, because Amanda and Alesha didn’t really like her. Do you want your son, Eric, to have a British accent? It would be really odd for me to have a child with an American accent, so here’s hoping.... The one thing I do know is he is going to be very well looked after. Are you back in the UK to stay? Lauren and I made the decision to come back here,…

Smell great FOR LONGER ◆ Spritz perfume on to pulse points, like the wrists, base of the throat and behind the ears – blood vessels are nearer to the surface, so these spots make your fragrance more potent. ◆ Dry skin affects the staying power of scent, so moisturise. ◆ Certain notes linger on the skin for longer. Sandalwood, jasmine and musks tend to last longer. ◆ Parfums have the greatest staying power, followed by eau de parfum, eau de toilette and, finally, eau de cologne.…

How do I stop the abuse? My sister and I recently inherited some money from our dad’s will. She squandered hers on a huge tattoo, a car and an expensive holiday. Now, her £30,000 has gone, and she’s asking me for cash for food. I’ve asked her repeatedly what she did with all her money, but she just screams done the phone that it’s hard to be a single mum. How can I deal with this level of abuse? Jane, 38, Hull It’s time to get tough, Jane. Email or text and say, ‘If you continue abusing me, I’m going to put the phone down.’ Ordinarily, I’d suggest she talk to her GP about attending an anger management course, but given your longer letter suggests she has a history of…

If you can’t say anything nice… We’re not any bitchier, we’re just more blatant about it. It’s a result of the ‘ladette’ culture and women being more assertive. Wouldn’t it be lovely if our celebs were more dignified and set us an example? We’re all entitled to our opinions, but do we really need to air the unkind ones? VIVIEN MCLAREN, CHESHIRE Technology is to blame With Twitter, Facebook, websites and emails, it’s far easier for the public to send vicious messages instantaneously before giving themselves the chance to calm down. This rash decision-making means an argument can quickly escalate, causing hurt that’s hard to forgive and forget. I think bickering celebrities set a terrible example to our teenagers. CINDY SHANKS, TODMORDEN WHAT HAPPENED TO GIRL POWER? Women are making…

RUNNING OUT OF TIME An Individual Savings Account (or ISA) is a tax-free way of saving. This year you can invest up to £5,760 in a cash ISA (plus the same amount again into a stocks and shares equivalent). The end of the tax year on 5 April is now only days away, so make sure you don’t miss out – either fill up your existing account or transfer to one that has a better interest rate. Use a comparison website, like moneyfacts.co.uk or moneysupermarket.com, to have a look for the best available rates or go to a specialist personal finance website such as thisismoney.co.uk or telegraph.co.uk/personalfinance to find reviews of the best accounts. How to... haggle DO YOUR RESEARCH Make sure to check the price at other retailers before…

He had a wife but he wanted me too I watched in awe as the African dancers moved around the stage, the sequins and beads on their colourful robes jingling as they chanted traditional songs and danced to the beat of the drums. I was volunteering at my local theatre in Norwich and that night, in October 2012, I found myself captivated by the Masai dance troupe who had come all the way from Kenya to perform. The group of seven toured the UK every year to raise money for their children’s education and, over the next few days, I enjoyed learning about their culture so much that I promised to visit them. so that January I set off for a nine-week trip to the village of Kisames, an hour’s…

‘I love having a gossip with the other players’ After a lovely Sunday with my two kids, they were finally in bed asleep. Their bags were packed for the morning, as was my schoolwork – I’m a teaching assistant at their school! Finally, I could have a bit of me-time. I logged on to Woman’s Own Bingo to pre-buy a few tickets for the evening’s games. I headed to Bingo 20, my favourite room, then, as I had a couple of pounds left in my account, I also bought some for Round The Clock Bingo, which is just 10p a ticket. My favourite thing about Woman’s Own Bingo I love the chat rooms, where you swap messages with the hosts and other roomies. We have such a giggle – I’ve…

Birdsong I thought I’d share my funny little story about my grandson Freddie. After all the rain, we finally had some sunshine recently and my husband commented that the birds were singing. Freddie looked at him earnestly and asked, ‘What song are they singing, Grandad?’ We all had a little giggle. Teresa Page, Portsmouth Look after yourself, Kate I’m concerned that Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, is slowly slipping down the same path as the late Princess Diana by becoming painfully thin and gaunt. It’s not a very nice look and certainly isn’t healthy. Surely those close to her can see this? Sylvia foster, Bridlington PIC OF THE WEEK Win £50 if we feature your photo Bad message With the recent not guilty verdicts of various well-known celebrities, I’m asking:…

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. 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 arrived back home to a nice lump sum. ‘We came…

CHERYL vs LOUIS Simon Cowell may have welcomed Cheryl Cole back to The X Factor with open arms, but there’s one man who might not be so keen on her return. According to reports, Chezza, 30, wants Louis Walsh off the panel, preferring to replace him with another woman. But Louis shrugged off the insult, telling pals, ‘I’m not going anywhere!’ A source said, ‘Louis is tight with Simon and isn’t bothered at all about what Cheryl has been saying.’ Watch your step Coronation Street’s iconic cobbles are to undergo some maintenance work, because cast members keep tripping over them. The likes of Michelle Keegan and Kym Marsh have begged producers to fix the stones, so they can wear their high heels without fear of falling. The original cobbles were…

Seeing double! TV presenter Carol Vorderman looks far younger than her 53 years next to stunning daughter Katie King, 22. It’s clear Katie has inherited her mum’s celebrated curves too! Blonde ambition It’s easy to see where Strictly’s Abbey Clancy, 28, gets her model genes from – just take a look at her age-defying mum Karen Sullivan, 53! That’s not all they share – they both have great fashion sense too! Back to black Corrie’s Kym Marsh, 37, and daughter Emily Mae Cunliffe, 16, look ready to hit the town in their little black dresses. Emily hopes to follow in her famous mum’s footsteps as a singer. Essex girls Perfectly groomed TOWIE stars Jessica Wright, 28, and Carol Wright, 53, treat us to a masterclass in eveningwear. Carol looks electric…

Looking radiant, Lynda Bellingham collected her OBE after being named in the Queen’s honours list, just a few months after starting a second round of chemotherapy. The actress, 65, glowed with happiness as she was presented with the prestigious honour by Prince Charles, as her proud husband, Michael Pattemore, twin sons, Robert and Michael, and stepson, Bradley, looked on. Lynda, who was diagnosed with cancer last year, revealed after the ceremony that she hopes to get back to her day job as an actress as soon as possible. ‘It’s been well documented I’m dealing with cancer and having chemotherapy, so unfortunately my acting career is on hold – in the sense that I need to pay attention to the chemotherapy really,’ she said. ‘But hopefully, eventually one will get back…

For years we women have coveted curves. We’ve looked on in envy as full-figured celebrities dazzle on the red carpet, their voluptuous busts poured into low-cut, cleavage-fashing dresses. And we’ve turned green at photos of stars posing on beaches with boobs oozing out of tiny bikinis. But not any more! Big-boob envy has gone. Curvaceous bombshells are no longer stealing the spotlight! Instead research* has revealed that the modern woman would rather have the athletic figure of Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill than the massive 32DDs of Jordan in her Page Three days. Latest trend So while we may still be having boob jobs – 11,135 of them were carried out last year – 72% of us only want to go up one cup size, with 1% wanting a brabursting four-cup boost!…

Don’t curb the carbs Stop seeing these as the enemy – it’s too many calories overall (or not doing enough exercise to burn the calories up) that makes us obese, not a few extra carbs. when you’re wondering what is OK to eat, look at the calories first and then assess if the carbs and fat content is healthy by using this guide: CARBS/SUGAR Check the carbohydrate column (per 100g or portion) and then divide by 10. If the result is equal to or more than the fibre content (per 100g or portion), it’s a good carbohydrate. FAT Check the saturates column – less than 1.5g per 100g gets a green light. Go easy on foods with more than 5g saturates per 100g. Go slow Shovelling food down too quickly…

DIET BUDDY A third of our pets are now overweight and the bigger we get, the more likely we are to have oversized pets. One in 10 owners confess they give their pooches regular treats. ‘But a biscuit for a dog is the equivalent of a hamburger for a human,’ says vet Sade Adeleye. The good news, according to a recent survey by online calorie counter and food diary Nutracheck, is that 74% of animal owners say they’d be happy to diet along with their pet. ‘Calorie counting and exercise is a fantastic way of keeping humans and their pets on track,’ says Sade. Reader rated SUE GOSNEY, 50, FROM BERKSHIRE ‘I’ve always had to plan my life around my asthma – so many things can aggravate it, especially dust.…

Over the past four years, I’ve been asked the same question time and time again – how I can be a surrogate mother? Friends, strangers, other mums… they’ve all wondered what could possibly make me want to carry a baby for nine months and then hand it over to someone else. The answer is simple. If you’ve ever given a child to a woman who’s suffered years of pain and seen the utter joy on her face, or turned a desperate couple into a family, you’d know. And for me, the need to be a surrogate has been part of me for a very long time. I first knew about it growing up, I must have heard something on the news or seen a story in the paper. Because, aged…

If you’re a bit short of time but in need of some pampering, then you’ll love our latest offer. Woman’s Own has teamed up with The Beauty Group to give all of our readers the chance to enjoy a free treatment. You can treat yourself to either a mini manicure, facial, pedicure, massage, fake tan or wax. Or you could even indulge your mum for her special day. The Beauty Group is the fastest-growing network of independent salons, with over 245 outlets spread out across the UK, so there’s bound to be one near you. They hope that you’ll enjoy your fabulous treatment so much, you’ll return time and time again for all your future beauty and relaxation needs. Just read the How To Claim box, then fill in the…

The desert lay ahead of me, stretching for miles, as I rounded up cattle in the searing heat. So just how had a girl from Yorkshire with a love for make-up and high heels landed here in the middle of the Australian outback? Hard work I had headed out to Australia after my first year at university. I was going away for the summer and fancied working as a jillaroo – an Australian cowgirl. It was a long way off my normal party lifestyle but I’d grown up on a farm in Ripponden and reckoned it would be fun. So in the summer of 2010, I headed across the world and ended up herding cattle on a remote ranch. It was hard work but I loved it. Then a fortnight…

Most people don’t expect to win even one jackpot in a lifetime, so I’m utterly stunned to have won four in the space of just seven weeks. It’s still sinking in that I’m £29,548 better off! My friend Pam introduced me to online bingo last year. She actually played on a different site, but I tried that one and wasn’t very keen on it. But I took to Woman’s Own Bingo instantly. Now not only Pam, but another good friend from work have joined me on there. When I first signed up I tried all the bingo games, but quickly decided Bingo Lounge was my favourite. The jackpots build up quickly and I prefer 75-ball games. And it’s been a lucky room for me. I will never forget the day…

In hot water Bath has been a tourist attraction since the Romans turned up over 2,000 years ago. Given their fair for a grand design, they quickly spotted the potential of the city’s natural hot springs and built what is probably the world’s first leisure centre. It was a huge success at the time and remains so today, as tourists continue to bathe in the naturally warm, mineral-rich waters of the Thermae Bath Spa. Book a two- or four-hour slot at the indoor Minerva Bath, the open-air rooftop pool (with fantastic views over the city), plus steam rooms. Priced £27 for a single two-hour ticket (visitbath.co.uk). By George! But it wasn’t only the Romans who left their mark. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Georgian architects dominated the city and…

FILM Muppets Most Wanted This is right up there with the best of the Jim Henson movies, appealing to all age groups and littered with hilarious moments and great one-liners. In fact, we probably enjoyed this one more than the kids! Full of fun, music and adventure, the storyline centres on a plot to steal the crown jewels. Expect the usual romance with Kermit and Miss Piggy, as well as big-name cameos… DVD The Hunger Games: Catching Fire This sequel picks up where its predecessor left off, with bowwielding Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) adapting to life as the first joint victor of the annual Hunger Games. We won’t reveal too much but as fans of the trilogy of books by Suzanne Collins will know, life is about to get even…

In my dreams Good Morning Britain pal Ben Shephard will soon be grabbing the reins alongside Susanna Reid on the new look wake-up call for the nation. ‘Who needs sleep?’ he quipped. Indeed! Ben and I used to lock horns during the GMTV years – he’s always been jealous of my matinee idol looks and washboard abs. Er, and then I woke up… Scentsation A lost afternoon at the Television And Radio Industries Club Awards proved fruitful when I caught up with Charlie Condou before he picked up the Soap Of The Year award. ‘You smell lovely,’ he said. And there was me thinking I’d overdone my trademark power fragrance. You can take the boy out of the ’80s… Me Julie Being granted an audience at The Rovers Return with…

‘I’M TERRIFIED’ Holly Willoughby has admitted she’s ‘terrifed’ by her third pregnancy. Holly, 33, made the admission on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, where she was congratulated by the pair and quizzed about her bump. ‘I’m very in touch with my emotions at the moment – in fact I’m terrifed!’ she said. But it seems her two kids, Harry, four, and Belle, two, are excited. ‘When Belle came along, Harry was not even two yet, so he didn’t really get it,’ said Holly. ‘This time he gets it. He came downstairs and went, ‘I just wanted to come down and make sure you and the baby are OK.’ It melts your heart.’ ‘It’s been rotten’ The presenter talks honestly about his mum’s heartbreaking illness Richard Madeley has opened up…

Lydia Bright ‘Mum’s so hard to buy for! I’d normally get her an experience or something. She doesn’t wear much make-up, she doesn’t do her hair, she doesn’t buy clothes – she’s more into natural beauty!’ Christine and Neil Hamilton C: ‘I’m not a mother and neither is he, so Mother’s Day this year will be spent having a lovely lunch with friends, won’t it, dear?’ N: ‘Will it? I am but a mere man – I leave all the organising to her!’ Lauren Goodger ‘My mum is absolutely mad. She lets me get away with murder. We go out clubbing together and everything. Usually I’ll buy her make-up or a spa day for Mother’s Day, though she’ll probably be just as happy with a big night out!’ Luisa Zissman…

Sitting down, I lifted a cardboard lid as big as the top of a wheelie bin. The irresistible smell of hot cheese, tomato sauce and chewy dough wafted over me. My mouth watered, then I stole a guilty look at my mum, Julie, who was peeling the lid off a child-sized fruit yogurt. A month ago she would have been tucking right into our usual takeaway dinner of 14in pizzas with chips and chicken wings on the side. That’s a 14in pizza each. Mine was a margherita and I ate like this every night. Mum, 44, never cooked dinner, not even when I was little. She’d always worked long hours in retail. So our pizza deliveries were alternated with massive drop-offs from the curry house. Wanting to change But they…

The footsteps are what I remember. All this time later, after many years of counselling, the sound of those footfalls remain. I hear them in my dreams at night. Closing in. Keeping pace with my galloping heart. It was 25 October 1980 when my nightmare began. I was in the final year of an art degree in a city that had become terrified of the dark. There was a madman on the loose, killing prostitutes. Leeds, where I was studying, and nearby Bradford were his killing grounds. And no woman felt safe to be out late in the dark on her own. Crucial decision But that night I’d been with my friends in the Headingley area of the city. We’d been making plans for my upcoming 21st birthday and it…

Dairy Milk – the ultimate health drink – is packed with vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, plus all the essential food groups. But nowadays, it’s blamed for contributing to a range of digestive conditions. one study in the US reported that more than one glass of full-fat milk a day could double the risk of contracting ovarian cancer. The main concern appears to be the milk sugar, lactose, which is thought to overstimulate the production of certain hormones, which may encourage tumours. SHOULD I WORRY? no, according to Dr Michelle Harvie, a research dietitian at the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre, which specialises in studying the effects of diet on cancer. ‘The evidence is not strong enough and any dangers can be avoided by switching to organic,…

Bacon and cheese pancake stack SERVES 6 PREP TIME 5 MINS COOKING TIME 15 MINS YOU WILL NEED ◆ 25g butter, melted and slightly cooled ◆ 225g plain four ◆ 2½tsp baking powder ◆ 1tsp caster sugar ◆ 250ml milk ◆ 2 eggs ◆ Sunflower oil, for brushing ◆ 12 rashers maple-cured bacon ◆ 6tbsp grated Monterey Jack cheese ◆ Maple syrup, to drizzle HOW TO DO IT 1 With a balloon whisk, beat the butter, four, baking powder, sugar, milk and eggs with 1tsp salt. Cover and set aside in the fridge to rest for at least 30 mins. 2 Brush a non-stick frying pan with a little oil and add a dollop of pancake mixture. When you see bubbles appear on the surface, turn the pancake over and…

My friend Maggie Hughes sat by her son’s bed in the sweltering Crete hospital ward, her face pale with worry and exhaustion. It was June 2008 and Robbie, 27, lay in a coma. He had been stabbed with a broken bottle and his head had been stamped on in a vicious attack by a gang of men outside a nightclub in Malia. Maggie had rushed from her home in Wallington, Surrey, to be with him. Yet due to problems with fights, it had taken two days to get there. Robbie’s friends had stayed at his side but, due to language barriers and with no one to help with insurance and medical forms, he had been left in A&E rather than being transferred to surgery and intensive care. When Maggie saw…

Beverley Callard ARIES (28 March) The Corrie actress’s life really altered with her breakdown in 20 09. She’s still con solidat ing the changes that happened then. Talking about it is healing, so expect more public work this year designed to help others. Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr A new era is dawning, but not the one that you might have been expecting. Relationships move on because Sunday’s New Moon in your sign helps you put plans into action. It’s the beginning of a two-week period in which you’re geared for change. Embrace it. Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May On one hand this should be a loving, romantic week. On the other, there are frustrations. The ones you love could need lots of support if they’re feeling down.…

This month I’ll be jetting off to Boston, where I’ll meet my two granddaughters for the very first time – and it’s all thanks to Woman’s Own Bingo. Emma, five, and Vanessa, two, were both born in the US and, although we share lots of photos and phone calls, I haven’t had a chance to travel over there until now. But when I had this windfall, it seemed the perfect time to book a fight to visit my daughter, Samantha, 40, and see them all! I think I’m still in shock at my jackpot win. I’d bought a few tickets for the Bingo Lounge and was watching my cards get marked off while reading what all the roomies were talking about in the chat stream. When my last number was…

CLUES & ARROWS Fill in the clues in the direction of the arrows Quick & Easy If you really don’t have much time to spare, give your brain a break with one of these SUDOK U To solve the puzzle, each 3x2 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 6 WORDSEARCH The answer is the word missing from the grid BEDS BOOKS CARD CHAIRS CLOGS CONKERS GUITARS NUTS OXYGEN ROOF BEAMS RUBBER SAWDUST SHELVES TABLES WOOD CROSSWORD Put your feet up and have a go at our classic crossword ACROSS 8 Panting after exertion (10) 9 Hazard (4) 10 Highwayman (6) 11 Convalescence (8) 12 Part of a plant (4) 14 Strappy (top) (6‑4) 16 Office of supervisor (11) 20 Borrow from a building society…

With Mother Day’s just around the corner, we sat down with the bubbly actress to get her take on what it’s like being mummy to three-year-old twins boys Victor and Louie. And suffice to say, Sally, 40, is loving every minute of it. As well as getting married to her long-time partner Steve White over Christmas, she is also working on Sky Living’s Mount Pleasant, and Loose Women. So just how does she fit it all in? Over to you, Sal… How are your little boys? Oh, they’re beautiful. They’re at nursery now and they’re loving that. They’re napping right now but they’ll be up shortly and then all hell will break loose again. Are they naughty, then? They’re cheeky! If they’re naughty, and they know it, they’ll start crying…

Despite coming second on Pop Idol 12 years ago, Gareth Gates, 29, is busier than ever at the moment. In between having another stab at Dancing On Ice and reviving his music career on The Big Reunion, Gareth is also trying to fit in time to spend with his daughter, Missy, four. We caught up with the busy chap to find out just how showbiz his life really is… Who is the biggest celeb you’ve got on your mobile? There are lots but the most famous is probably Will Young. We went through a lot together all those years ago on Pop Idol so we’ve always made sure we stay in touch with each other. He’s a great guy and a really good friend. How do you spend your days…