Innholdsfortegnelse for 24-Dec-2018 i Woman's Own

Call the Midwife’s festive special has become a bit of a Christmas tradition in households across the nation. And happily, the hit BBC1 show is back for another special instalment. The ladies at Nonnatus House are in for a surprise, with the shock arrival of Sister Mildred, played by Miriam Margolyes, and four Chinese orphans. And, it looks like old faces will be returning too as Nurse Trixie, played by Helen George, is making her comeback to Poplar. Get ready for chaos, joy and lots of laughter.…

It’s been reported Prince Harry, 34, has given wife Meghan, 37, a list of dos and don’ts to help her navigate her first Christmas as a fully-fledged royal at Sandringham. ‘The protocol is unbending,’ reveals a royal insider. ‘They don’t like show-offs, especially newcomers. The duchess has to resist that American urge to win at everything. The whole family likes to play charades on Christmas night and she must never beat the Queen, who is a fine actress herself.’ Let’s hope Meghan has her ‘graceful loser’ face ready...…

Craig Revel Horwood £135k Strictly villain Craig is thought to be getting a fab-u-lous sum of £135,000 for his role as the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking. Dawn French £220k Dawn is said to be earning the most from panto in 2018, set to take home a whopping £220,000 for five weeks as the Wicked Queen in Snow White at the London Palladium. Duncan James £80k Having now left Hollyoaks, Blue singer Duncan will be playing Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk at Derby Arena – and rumour has it he’ll be getting a tidy £80,000. Shirley Ballas £160k Strictly's head judge is said to be earning a massive £160,000 for just three weeks as Mother…

Unicorns? Whatever next... So here it is, merry Christmas, everybody’s having fun. Aren’t they? Well, since you ask, not really. Because the old man and I have just had our first ‘snowflake’ festive experience, when we called in to see our twentysomething neighbours (it is the season of goodwill, after all). ‘What the hell is that?’ hissed himself, as he gestured to the top of the glittering Christmas tree. And lo, as a Wise Man once said, behold a unicorn. A pink one. ‘Times move on but, come on, Christmas is about tradition whether you’re religious or not’ What in the name of everything holy is that about? Fairies, stars, pointy bauble things, bows, decorative Santas – all acceptable tree toppings, right? Sorry, get with the millennial times, ladies. Because…

6 FOR PERFUME Rub a little lip balm on skin before you spray on perfume – the oils will grip onto the fragrance and make it last longer. Vaseline Lip Therapy Original, £1.55 7 FOR LASHES Hold a card behind your upper lashes when applying mascara, so you can push the product right into the roots without smudging it onto your eyelids. Revlon Volumazing Mascara, £8.99 8 FOR HAT HAIR Keep a mini dry shampoo in your bag, put it on your fingers and work into flat roots to instantly breathe life back into hat hair. Batiste On The Go Blush, £1.50 9 FOR NAILS You can use any polish with home gel nail kits, not just the pricey ones sold for them – it’s the UV curing and special…

THE COCKTAIL M&S Let It Sloe Cocktail, 35cl, £10 A fruity gin-based cocktail with sloe berries, plums and orange peel. A great gift to take along to any party host. Simply shake up and pour over ice. THE MARSHMALLOWS Aldi Specially Selected Gourmet Marshmallows, 100g, £2.49 These soft and chewy treats come in gin and rhubarb, Prosecco and raspberry, and espresso martini flavours. THE FUDGE Aldi Specially Selected Yorkshire Gin Fudge Baubles, 100g, £2.49 Rich and buttery fudge with a boozy twist! These are a grown-up take on an old favourite. THE CHEESE Waitrose Yorkshire Wensleydale with Caramelised Orange & Gin, 1kg, £13 A fun yet sophisticated addition to any cheeseboard. The flavours of the gin pair surprisingly well with the cheese. THE TRUFFLES Asda Gin & Sloe Gin Belgian…

IF YOU DO ONE THING THIS WEEK... HAGGLE! Fancy trying to reduce your bills? Then take action now! A poll by moneysavingexpert.com  found that those who tried to haggle on a range of services, including TV, broadband and breakdown cover, had an impressive success rate with some companies. In fact, 90% who tried to negotiate on price with the RAC succeeded, as did 88% with the AA, while 85% managed to cut their TV and broadband bills with Sky. How to... keep your New Year’s money resolutions If you’ve pledged to spend less and save more in 2019, then keep your good intentions on track with our advice It’s easy to start the year with great plans of how you are going to manage your finances, but with…

Book Christmas on Coronation Street by Maggie Sullivan, HarperCollins, paperback, £7.99 Trapped in an unhappy home, Elsie Grimshaw’s only chance of escape is to marry bad boy Arnold Tanner. Settling in Coronation Street, her plain-speaking, forthright ways cause friction among the locals, but with Christmas approaching and the Blitz casting a shadow, the community has no choice but to pull together. A festive tale that pays homage to beloved Coronation Street characters. Film Mary Poppins Returns Out 21 December Emily Blunt takes on the mantle (and umbrella, of course) of Julie Andrews’ magical nanny in this starry sequel to the classic musical fantasy. Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer play the grown-up Banks siblings, her former charges, and there are roles for Colin Firth, Meryl Streep, Julie Walters and Lin-Manuel Miranda.…

EastEnders, Christmas Day, BBC1 In the same old Walford tradition that always goes pear-shaped, Kat is planning the best Christmas ever. Little does she know that Alfie’s sordid secret looks set to lead the Slater clan to emotional slaughter this season. TV GEM! Happy Hour with Olly Murs , ITV The pop star takes over an Essex pub to host a night of fun, chat and music. Guests include fellow Voice UK coaches Tom Jones and Jennifer Hudson. Coronation Street, Christmas Day, ITV There’s no silver lining for Sally in her stocking this year when Tim reveals he’s pulled the wrong sort of cracker. Elsewhere, Audrey rallies the Platts for a family Christmas and Jenny is gunning for Liz. Emmerdale, Christmas Day, ITV Belle, April…

Nadia Sawalha worried fans recently when she shared a video of herself out on a walk, looking out of breath. ‘She’s been enjoying a host of treats’ ‘I feel weird, I’ve hardly come up a hill and I’m throbbing,’ she admitted. And while fans urged her to seek help and do a bit more exercise, it seems as though Nadia, 54, has done the complete opposite and ditched the diet. The Loose Women panellist has been sharing snaps of herself indulging in a whole host of sweet treats, including chocolate cake, scones and a banoffee tart, on Instagram. Although Nadia previously insisted ‘diets don’t work’ and that it’s ‘all about balance’, it seems as though she can’t resist a little overindulgence. The outspoken star even shared a snap of herself…

They regularly make headlines with their on-screen bickering while hosting Good Morning Britain , but is Piers Morgan simply jealous of Susanna Reid’s new relationship with Steve Parish? She went public with Crystal Palace chairman Steve in November and, as a result, has faced some sly digs from naughty Piers. We got Richard Arnold to grill the pair on everything from Christmas with their families, to just how Susanna, 48, copes with 53-year-old Piers’ teasing without hitting the bottle! ‘Whatever the state of my love life, he’ll tease me’ Richard: Piers, you do tease Susanna about her love life. As her TV hubby, how do you really feel about her romance? Piers: Well, to quote Princess Diana, there are three of us in…

Horsing around I keep my horse, Boy, close to where I live, so I get up to the stables a few times a week to hack, groom and make a fuss of him. He’s a cheeky so-and-so, and loves attention, but who doesn’t?! Aqua aerobics Keep fit I attended normal aerobics classes every week for over 20 years to stay fit, but latterly found that the impact was leaving me with a lot of joint pain. I switched to aqua aerobics, which is much more joint-friendly and haven’t looked back! It’s a great workout. I go with a couple of friends every week and love it. Book lover I love to read and relish getting stuck into a good historical biography or a thriller – it’s my favourite way to…

Glitter nails This is the easiest way to add a little glitz to your manicure, a glitter top coat that can be worn alone or layered over colour. For a grown-up take on the glitter trend, team with classic nude, red or navy. It’s a fail-safe way to hide chipped polish, too. 3 OF THE BEST * Maybelline Color Show Top Coat in Glitter It, £2.99, Fabled by Marie Claire, fabled.com The neutral colour will go with any outfit. * Barry M Limited Edition Nail Paint in Afterparty, £3.99, Boots A mix of aquatic-coloured shades for a full-on, high-impact look. * Rimmel Precious Stones Nail Polish in Diamond Dust, £3.98, Wilko Packed with two sizes of glitter for a high-shine finish. Lip-plumping gloss Unlike matte lipsticks that cling to creases…

• CHOOSE RED WINE ‘Firm evidence of health benefits really can only be attributed to antioxidant-rich red wine, whereas spirits and beer just don’t have the same nutrient content,’ explains Sarah. • GUT ISSUES? ‘Beer is high in carbohydrates and due to the wheat content, which can contribute to digestive issues,’ says Sarah. Gin  can cause similar problems. ‘Gin appears to be one of the least beneficial drinks for the microbial community in our guts,’ says Hannah. • CHOOSE LOW SUGAR ‘Many alcoholic drinks (or the mixers they are served with) can be high in sugar, which can contribute to weight gain, mood fluctuations and disturbed sleep,’ says Hannah. ‘The drinks that tick the boxes of low carb, low sugar are wine and spirits that are mixed with sugar-free options,’…

Sleep expert Dr Pixie McKenna, from Dreams’ beds store, shares her advice on getting a good night’s rest when suffering with menopausal symptoms 1 Wear breathable nightwear made from natural fabrics. 2 Ditch heavy bedding and, if you’re sharing with someone, kit them out with a spare duvet so you don’t overheat with their thicker bedding. 3 Invest in a fan to keep your side of the room cool (it takes a lot of negotiation to get a partner to agree to having a window open mid-winter). 4 Try getting up at the same time each morning and setting a strict bedtime each night, despite it being Christmas.…

My dad is a lifelong smoker Q He has tried to give up so many times in the past without success. When I was staying with him recently I noticed he has a bad cough, particularly in the mornings. He says it is just a smoker’s cough but I am concerned. Should I make him see his doctor? A Please do encourage him to make that appointment on two accounts. Firstly, a persistent cough, particularly in a smoker, needs to be checked out. Secondly, irrespective of his problems in the past, there has never been more help when it comes to quitting smoking and the more times you have tried before, the greater the chances of your next attempt being the successful one. How can I get fitter in 2019?…

QUIRKY CRISPS MIGHTY MEAT CHEESE PLEASE SWANKY SEAFOOD ON A ROLL VEGGIE DELIGHTS…

PRETTY PINK Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Pomegranate and Rose Gin (£16.50, 70cl) This floral and fruity gin is distilled with 10 different botanicals and infused with pomegranate and rose. Serve with a dash of pomegranate juice for a twist on a classic G&T. SUGAR & SPICE M&S Christmas Dry Gin (£25, 50cl) Blended with festive spices like ginger, cardamom and cinnamon, this makes for the ultimate warming G&T. MAGIC TRICKS Aldi McQueen Colour Changing Gin (£19.99, 50cl) This unique gin transformed when combined with a mixer – perfect to add a touch of magic to any party.…

For grown-ups For kids & teens…

Whereas much of 2018 was about investigating things that happened in the past, 2019 is all about racing forwards into the unknown. Sagittarians have a peak year, Cancers and Capricorns experience major change, and stable Taureans see their lives turned upside down. Hold on tight for a thrilling ride. Aries 21 March – 19 April BEST BITS During the first month of the year your feisty ruler is in Aries, giving you power, va-va-voom and the ability to get stuff done. Several planets at ‘home’ in their signs at the same time strengthen your position. If you have a dream or goal, January is your best chance all year for making it happen. WATCH OUT FOR From 1 January until 5 March, Uranus, the planet that brings revolutionary change, returns…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr It’s not helpful in the year’s busiest month, but you still feel a bit below par. Go easy on yourself and delegate as much as you can. In January you’ll be raring to go again. Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May Your loving ruler sashays through your ’scope’s partnerships zone, sprinkling fairy dust over the season. You attract romantic interest, whether you want it or not. Gemini 21 May – 20 Jun Things work better as a team, whether shopping or planning the family menu. There’s great news on the 21st. Single? Several suitors will be jostling for a Christmas kiss. Cancer 21 Jun – 22 Jul The Cancer full moon on the 22nd brings emotions to a crashing climax. An argument is likely…

They celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary last month and it looks as though, even after all that time, Richard Madeley, 62, and Judy Finnigan, 70, still love to have a big Christmas do, especially with their ever-expanding family. ‘Richard and Judy can’t wait to spend Christmas together, they love being with each other during the holidays. And this year it’ll be extra special as they will get to spend some quality time with their grandchildren,’ a friend of the family tells Woman’s Own . ‘After the chaos of Chloe’s wedding, they can’t wait to retreat to the peace and tranquillity of their home in Cornwall. It’ll be a big celebration and the grandkids love getting out in the fresh air. It really will be perfect this festive season.’ That break…

‘No-one likes being before the duff duffs...’ Wedding bells are ringing out for EastEnders’Tamzin Outhwaite this New Year Technically, it’s Mel getting married – for the third time! Ding-dong! What a way to ring in the new year. Once to Ian Beale – again at New Year – then Steve Owen and now Ray. They did love each other and probably still do. It’s very fiery but she’s found out a lot about him. Married twice, still married, and with other children. She’s not happy, which is why she’s teaming up with Maddie to bring him down. And Nicola, too. It’s like The First Wives Club, only younger! ‘It’s like The First Wives Club!’ You’re no stranger to big stories and the legendary ‘duff  duffs’ at the end of…

Getting the most from your beauty regime isn’t all about following the trends or using flashy products – above all else, knowledge is power. Surely there’s not a woman out there who doesn’t love learning new shortcuts – and whether you want to fix a chipped nail in a hurry or discover the household staple that makes your perfume last longer, these 10 mini-miracles are sure to boost your pampering routine today. 1 The last-minute hair restyle ANITA RANI Unexpected evening plans but your hair looks sad? Run a couple of splashes of water through the mid-lengths to ends, roughly plait and leave in for an hour. When it’s time to go, pull it out for soft waves. Hair too short to plait? Twirl it in your fingers now and…

Holding my son Asher in my arms, I watched as he gazed with fascination at the twinkling fairy lights on the tree. ‘He likes it,’ I smiled to my husband, David. It was December 2017, and just a year earlier our little boy had been fighting for his life in hospital. Now we were back home, I was determined more than ever to make sure he had the most special Christmas. Asher arrived, a healthy 6lb 6oz, on 28 December 2015, making David, then 36, and me the happiest parents. Our daughter Erin, one, was so excited to be a big sister and when we brought Asher home the next day, she kept kissing his forehead and begging me for more cuddle time. ‘A nurse took Asher from my arms’…

Do I take him back? Q A year ago, my husband told me he was leaving me as he didn’t love me any more. At the time I was in shock and I didn’t put up much of a fight. I then found out he was having an affair with a woman at work and had moved in with her. I felt he was having some sort of crisis and would be back. Ten months later, he now tells me he wants to come home. I feel like I have to let him for the kids, even though I’m not sure. Karen, 50, Brighton A You’re not sure because you still haven’t processed all that’s happened over the past 10 months. This means you have to talk and work things…

I’M STRUGGLING WITH THRUSH EVERY FEW WEEKS Q I MANAGE IT WITH PESSARIES AND CREAM FROM THE CHEMIST BUT IT IS GETTING ME DOWN. HOW CAN I GET RID OF IT ONCE AND FOR ALL? A Thrush is caused by a yeast called candida albicans, which lives in our gut. Make sure you always wipe from front to back when wiping your bottom. Only wear cotton underwear and avoid perfumed products that alter the pH in the vagina and can make thrush worse. You could also consider a daily probiotic to keep your gut flora in balance. It may be worth talking to your GP about an antifungal tablet, which can be taken weekly for four weeks for women with recurrent symptoms. HOLIDAY DIARRHOEA WON’T GO AWAY! Q WE TREATED…

What do an air ambulance paramedic, a landlady and a farming vet have in common? They are all working on Christmas Day. While the rest of us are tucking into our turkeys and spending time with loved ones, more than a million Brits will be turning up for a shift. That includes 97,000 nurses, 31,000 chefs, 25,000 security guards and 30,000 police officers. Here, three women tell us what it is like to clock on at Christmas... Paramedic ‘When there’s a fatality on Christmas Day, it can be hard to deal with’ ‘Road accidents, stabbings and falls still happen’ Andrea Riggs, 42, from Twickenham, South West London, will spend Christmas in the air ambulance control room. She has worked most Christmases for 15 years. You never know what you’re going…

Reaching for the bowl of mashed potato, I scooped a huge dollop onto my plate. Next, came the roast potatoes dripping in oil, three thick slices of buttery turkey, two stuffing balls, four sausages wrapped in bacon, sprouts, parsnips, cauliflower cheese and, of course, all finished off with loads of gravy. I couldn’t wait to tuck in, but, unlike the rest of my family who would be more than full after finishing off a decadent lunch, I already knew I’d be going back for seconds and even thirds. Eating until I could barely move was a daily occurrence for me, and at Christmas – when there was an excuse to indulge – I loved nothing more than piling my plate high. ‘It’s my last hurrah,’ I told my mum as…

21 January The total lunar eclipse (which should be visible in the UK) with the moon in Leo, sign of royalty, is an astrological biggie. They often mark endings. 6 March The planet of change, Uranus, leaves Aries and enters Taurus to stay for the next seven years. Taurus is the sign associated with Earth itself, so there could be a rush of new inventions around ecology and farming. On the downside, we could see more radical weather and environmental struggles. 6 – 29 March Mercury retrograde is the chaotic influence that ushers in three weeks of communication mishaps and travel cancellations. This one in Pisces brings its own brand of madness in the shape of confusion. Don’t have an important conversation now. 8 July – 2 August Another Mercury…

Imagine being a child waking up on Christmas morning to find NO presents under the tree. Last year, millionaire celebrities Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis revealed that they wouldn’t be giving their kids, Wyatt and Dimitri, any presents at all, claiming that kids don’t appreciate gifts if they are showered in them. And they’re not alone in their thinking... ‘ I don’t think she is missing out’ Jessie Wolf, 25, lives in London with five-year-old daughter, Lena. Christmas has become way too commercial and for most children, Christmas just means a massive present-fest. The true meaning has been lost, and I don’t believe in giving kids a present for no reason. I’ve explained how I feel to Lena, and she is absolutely fine with it. Christmas for us is just…

Richard Blackwood He’ll be taking part in the new series of ITV’s Dancing on Ice, alongside Corrie’s Jane Danson and ex-Westlife singer Brian McFadden among others. Eleanor Tomlinson The Poldark actress stars in BBC1’s The War of the Worlds , HG Wells’ story of an alien invasion in Edwardian England. Rafe Spall and Robert Carlyle also star. Oti Mabuse The Strictly pro turns judge for BBC1’s new dance competition, The Greatest Dancer . She’ll join former X Factor judge Cheryl and Glee’s Matthew Morrison for the series. Alesha Dixon and Jordan Banjo will host.…