Innholdsfortegnelse for 12-Oct-2020 i Woman's Own

He’s a four-time Grammy winner with a host of US No.1s, but how did Keith Urban (whose new album The Speed of Now Part 1 is out now) cope in lockdown with two daughters and wife Nicole Kidman? ‘Everybody’s been great,’ he tells me. ‘We’ve been lucky to stay well and find ways to help other people. The reality of it continues to hit me. The longer it goes on, you’re just like, what the hell happened?’ When Dickie met… Bradley Cooper A-lister Bradley has always wanted to play a singer – hence our meeting at the premiere of A Star Is Born. I asked if he had it in him to play a ‘bubbly’ Brit TV turn like myself. Only if he had my looks, he said……

Vinnie Jones has always had a ‘tough-guy’ exterior, but when his wife Tanya died aged just 53 last year at their home in California, his entire world crumbled around him. Since losing his adored wife of 25 years to cancer, the 55-year-old actor has taken steps to work through his grief, including selling the family home in Los Angeles, as the memories were too painful. He bought another house 15 minutes away, but has spent lockdown in his Sussex cottage and plans to split his time between the two. And now, Vinnie has admitted he still speaks to his wife every single day. Speaking to The Yorkshire Post , Vinnie said, ‘My mind has a little chat with Tansy, saying, “What are we doing today?” That helps. You learn to…

Surgeon David Jenkins, Divisional Director for Surgery and Transplant at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘The remarkable thing about the surgery is the need to drain all the blood out of the body to allow the surgeon to see enough to clear the clots. This can only be achieved by cooling the patient’s body to 20C, to prevent damage to vital organs – including the brain. The hardest bit is developing the correct dissection layer in the thin pulmonary artery branches; too deep and they could perforate, too shallow and not enough material will be cleared. Shelly’s operation went as planned and her pulmonary hypertension has been cured. CTEPH [chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension – high blood pressure in the arteries] is a relatively rare disease, but can occur…

Not entirely sure the new series of Spitting Image is really working. I mean how do you satirise a bunch of politicians who leave themselves open to ridicule every time they open their mouths in real life? Turning Boris Johnson’s advisor Dominic Cummings into a demented, badly dressed gnome didn’t really take a lot of thought did it? Oops, sorry, my mistake. Evidently that’s not a puppet after all. It’s actually the real thing. What’s your opinion? Tell Dawn on Twitter @DawnNeesom…

It’s that time of year again when vaccination for the winter flu begins. But, this year, there’s the added complication of COVID-19, and the NHS is doubling up on the number of free jabs offered, from 15 million to 30 million. Who gets it? It’s available free on the NHS to anyone deemed ‘at risk’. This includes everyone aged 65 and over because, once we pass middle age, our immune systems weaken and don’t respond to viruses as well. It’s also offered to adults and children with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions, such as heart or respiratory disease or diabetes, and to pregnant women. ‘Flu can cause severe illness, and can be fatal in vulnerable people,’ says Rob Hicks. ‘Those in at-risk groups are more likely to develop…

Have you heard about? Car cleanliness How mucky is your motor? Family cars can be a breeding ground for bacteria, proves a study by comparethemarket. com – its research revealed that gearsticks are, on average, more than three times dirtier than a toilet seat! Booze and weight gain According to a survey* 44% of Brits don’t check how many calories they’re consuming when drinking alcohol, despite booze contributing to rising obesity levels in the UK. Sleep for self-belief Want to boost your confidence? Over half of adults believe it can be achieved with a good night’s kip.** ‘When we’re tired, we feel anxious, stressed and irritable – all of which is bound to knock our self-belief,’ says psychologist Dr Sandi Mann. 76% of Brits say that Friday is their favourite…

When your blood sugar continually spikes and crashes, over time, it can cause our bodies to become insulin resistant. The body tries to cope with this by producing more insulin, which can lead to developing type 2 diabetes. ‘Insulin resistance is when our bodies become less sensitive to the insulin our body is producing,’ explains Sophie Medlin. ‘This can be a result of being overweight, conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or simply down to the ageing process. People with insulin resistance are more prone to rapid changes in blood glucose levels. ‘Sometimes, people with insulin resistance develop diabetes. If you do have diabetes, insulin can’t get the glucose out of the blood, which can cause damage to blood vessels and lead to complications.’…

1 Let friends and family know what you are looking for, so if you need a bath and they spot one on the street they can let you know or pick it up for you. 2 Search eBay for things people are auctioning off at a really low price – my loo was on a 1p listing. 3 Familiarise yourself with upcycling websites like Ilovefreegle.org, freecycle.org, gumtree.com and Facebook Marketplace. People using those sites are keen to stop items going to landfill, so you can find amazing furniture for free. 4 Keep an eye out for garage or garden sales locally – they’re good places to pick up bargains. 5 Be imaginative – pre-loved items have more character and often just need sanding or a coat of paint to bring them…

Worzel Gummidge, BBC1 If you enjoyed the reboot of the series about a talking scarecrow at Christmas, there’s another one-hour special on the way. This time, Worzel (Mackenzie Crook) and his friends Susan and John set out to help old ship’s figurehead Saucy Nancy (Shirley Henderson) get back to sea. Mank,Netflix Gary Oldman heads an all-star cast in this upcoming drama set in 1930s Hollywood. He plays scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J Mankiewicz who faces a race against time to finish the screenplay for film classic Citizen Kane . Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Charles Dance and Tuppence Middleton also star. Black, British and Funny, C4 Stand-up comedian Mo Gilligan looks at the history of the black British comedy circuit in this one-off. As well as looking at…

The Wall is back, bigger and better than ever. Like everyone in our industry, I was like, ‘Oh, right. There’s no prospect of any work.’ I thought The Wall had gone, so when I got the call I was just so, so grateful to be given an opportunity to be creative, to be part of our industry again, because I know so many people who are not. Then when they said Wembley Arena, I was like, ‘Wow!’ How have the contestants been this time around? The shows have been pretty incredible, but I can tell you that what lockdown has done to people and their decision making is fascinating – [it’s made them] perhaps more reckless; aggressive, maybe. It’s a totally different series and we are loving it. It’s great…

Wide strides Great for disguising large calves and thighs, wide-legged trousers are also ideal for balancing out broader shoulders. This cropped cream pair are great for both casual and dressy occasions. TIE BLOUSES Effortlessly dress up your jeans with this printed satin blouse. When tied into a bow, extra volume will be created up top – great if you have a small bust. LIFT AND SHAPE We all know the struggle faced when buying a new pair of jeans. This straight-leg pair has been designed with hidden support and a higher waistband to sculpt and contour your figure. CREATE CURVES Give yourself an instant waistline with a belted, long-sleeve dress. The v-neckline is flattering on the bust area, while the frill detail on the shoulder will balance out wider hips.…

Older people who get their yearly flu jabs are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s, according to recent research from the University of Texas. The study linked the vaccination to an almost 6% reduced risk of developing the disease over 16 years for patients aged 75-84. Scientists want to conduct more research to find out whether the jab has protective qualities or whether it means that people who keep up to date with it look after their health better generally through diet and exercise, which is known to help lower your chance of dementia. Meet our experts… Anne Higgins is Pharmacy Director at Boots Dr Rob Hicks is a GP, media doctor and contributor to medical website webmd.com Pareena Patel is a pharmacist at LloydsPharmacy Dr Ross Walton is an immunologist…

We have great sex - but I want more Q I’m in my forties and have met someone through an app. We are both divorced (him in the last year) with kids and we have great sex. It would be perfect, but he’s been clear that he’s not after a relationship. I want to feel happy with this sex-only arrangement, but I’m not. We are great together. How do I get him to give us a chance? Lynda, 46, by email A Aside from telling him how you feel and what you want, you can’t force this man’s hand. Try to find out why he’s against a relationship as that may be something you can talk about. However, the chances are he’s looking to be free and single post-divorce, which…

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The Nice Fisherman Tuna Chunks 4 x 145g (Iceland) TUNA & PEPPER QUESADILLAS Serves 4 You will need ✽ 2 x 145g cans tuna, drained ✽ Juice of 2 limes ✽ 100g canned sweetcorn, drained ✽ Handful coriander leaves, chopped ✽ 4tbsp chipotle sauce ✽ 2 roasted red peppers from a jar, chopped ✽ 6tbsp grated Cheddar cheese ✽ 4 tortilla wraps ✽ Guacamole, salad leaves, chopped spring onions and tomato, to serve How to do it 1 Mix the tuna with 2tsp lime juice, the sweetcorn, most of the coriander, the chipotle sauce, red peppers and Cheddar. 2 Heat a non-stick frying pan, add a tortilla, spoon over half the tuna mixture and top with another tortilla. Cook for 2 mins. 3 Turn over the quesadilla by covering the…

Paula Rhone-Adrien, a family-law barrister who specialises in divorce, says, ‘Divorces become volatile and bitter because, rightly or wrongly, one party believes they have been wronged and that this should be “paid for”. You may believe you gave up much to ensure the marriage worked or that you were betrayed, perhaps more than once. Leaving a marriage means unpicking not just your present, but future plans and this is not cheap, so why should you have to pay when it wasn’t your choice? ‘However, a good divorce occurs when you can solely focus on the numbers, which is easier said than done. Acrimonious divorces serve little purpose other than to distract you from living your life and reducing the money that will be left to split between you. When divorcing,…

MOSTLY As Independent colleague Colleagues are colleagues – they’re not your friends, so you tend to stick to yourself at work. That’s great as the work gets done, and you don’t get in anyone’s way, but does it not get isolating at times? People may think you’re arrogant and not making an effort, which may not be the image you want to give. MOSTLY Bs Great colleague Nice one, you’re friendly, supportive and kind enough even to do a huge tea round... while remembering everyone’s orders! You’re that colleague everyone wants to have to balance the office and people trust you to do a good job, while remaining a good person. Your levelheadedness will get you far. MOSTLY Cs Short-fuse Susan Maybe it’s time to take a step back and…

BAKING TOGETHER! Great British Bake Off 2019 winner David Atherton has popped the question to his partner Nik on a mountain in Bulgaria. ‘I came to his country. It was really romantic by my standards,’ he tells me. Will he be making his own wedding cake? ‘Yes! It will be something to do the day before so you’re not getting too nervous.’ What a legend! KEEP CALM AND CORRIE ON! Corrie star Maureen Lipman is taking the new normal in her stride now she’s back on the cobbles: ‘You do your own face and own hair, which is fine for me, as I’m a theatre bird,’ she reveals, adding that her co-stars also keep their distance. ‘I played Scrabble with Roy in the cafe, but we filmed at two separate…

‘We’ve got issues with him being late and it drives us nuts’ Love him or not, there is no denying that Simon Cowell is one of Britain’s biggest TV personalities. But this year, Simon, 60, was forced to pull out of the Britain’s Got Talent live semi-final shows after breaking his back following a fall from his electric bike. Simon was replaced by Ashley Banjo, who sits on the panel alongside fellow judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams. Now, hosts Ant and Dec have revealed what they really think of the music mogul in their autobiography Once Upon a Tyne, and why they look set to finish work early for the first time in 19 years... IT’S A NO FROM US Even before Simon developed talent shows like…

Former cricketer turned Top Gear presenter, Freddie Flintoff, is possibly the ultimate definition of an alpha male. Tall, muscular, fit and pure bloke in everything he does. For 20 years though he’s battled against something that most men would struggle to admit. Bulimia. Every eating disorder is hellish, but unlike anorexia – where sufferers refuse to eat – bulimia is easier to hide. Bingeing food in private and vomiting, taking laxatives or exercising excessively after eating often means sufferers appear healthy. But on the inside, they’re in the grip of an insidious, evil disease. ‘It’s something that affects me every single day’ In a BBC documentary, Freddie, 42, admits his problem started when he joined the England cricket team and struggled to keep his weight down. ‘I’m not going to…

Inheriting my mother’s arthritis QI am struggling with pain and stiffness in my hips and knees, which seems to be worse in the colder weather. It eases slightly during the day, but I can barely walk first thing in the morning. My mother had rheumatoid arthritis and I am terrified I am following suit. A Actually, morning stiffness and pain that gets worse in the cold is more likely to be osteoarthritis than an inflammatory arthritis like rheumatoid. Osteoarthritis also commonly affects knees and hips as these joints are more prone to wear and tear as they are the main weight-bearing joints. Your GP will probably be able to tell by examining you, but may also want to arrange X-rays and blood tests to check this out. Blood in my…

A good hair day can put a spring in your step and a smile on your face. As our bodies change through the menopause so does our hair – but that doesn’t have to mean waking up to bad hair days. Stress is one of the key reasons for hair loss, so we need to make an effort, especially in these times, to look after ourselves. This means knowing when to stop and rest – grabbing a cuppa and a good book, going for a walk or just stepping away from the stresses of the modern world. Choosing the right products for our hair is also important. Plantur 39 Phyto-Caffeine Shampoo is scientifically proven to help prevent menpausal hair loss – its ingredients, including caffeine and active botanical substances, energise…

1 DOWNLOAD MINDMEISTER. This app (free on iOS and android) can help you clear your mind, prioritise, and even generate new ideas. It’s a great tool which allows you to clearly organise your thoughts. 2 GET A NEW HOBBY. Sometimes, the best thing you can do to clear your mind is to change your focus. Exercise with a friend, get involved with a new hobby or lose yourself in a good book for a few minutes. 3 TALK ABOUT IT. If you are dwelling on something stressful, it’s always better out than in. Say it, get it out in the open and move on.…

As the old song goes, ‘There’s no one quite like Grandma’ – and it's never been more true. The 2020 grannies have ripped up the rule book to make the role their own. Notions of wrinkly ladies with permed grey hair and slippers are long gone. Today’s grannies are more likely to be found in a Zumba class than knitting, and they’d rather drink prosecco than a cup of tea, and to catch up on news, they’ll FaceTime the grandkids. Modern grannies come in all shapes, sizes and guises, but they have one thing in common – an overflowing supply of love. As one put it, ‘If I'd known how wonderful grandchildren would be, I’d have had them first.’ Here, three 2020 grannies share their experiences. The estranged granny Helen*,…

No one can believe it when I tell them I’ve done up my house for next to nothing. When friends come round, they are always impressed by my second-hand furniture, vintage finds and – best of all – a Victorian-style roll-top bath I picked up for free at the side of the road! My house is in a traditional Victorian terrace in Barry, South Wales. In fact, it is just a couple of streets away from Gavin and Stacey’s fictional pad in the TV show. I moved here because I couldn’t afford a house near where I was living with my parents in Bedfordshire. I’d been saving up for a deposit for years but was still nowhere near being able to get a place there. Instead, I started looking further…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr Creativity and innovation power your efforts to new heights. Just test your concepts before you commit to them, and switch direction if something isn’t working. Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May A family celebration needs your attention as you’re organised and have been asked to plan a surprise. Your partner reminds you that they need their space this weekend. Gemini 21 May – 20 Jun Try to conserve your energy because when a new wave of inspiration hits, it’s such an amazing idea you may find you’ll need plenty. Follow your intuitive dreams. Cancer 21 Jun – 22 Jul A true romantic, you are arranging an evening for your partner. Consider donating old electronic equipment to a non-profit organisation who’ll fix them up for…