Innholdsfortegnelse for 22-Mar-2021 i Woman's Own

RED NOSE DAY Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day is back once again this year, and a whole host of stars, including Dawn French and Olivia Colman, have donned the iconic Red Nose – which is 100% plastic-free for the first time – to help to raise money for charity. Hosted by Sir Lenny Henry, Alesha Dixon, David Tennant, Davina McCall and Paddy McGuinness, Comic Relief usually has famous people taking part in hilarious sketches. While no details have yet been revealed, 2019 saw the original cast of Four Weddings and a Funeral reprise their roles for a short film. So if that’s anything to go by, we won’t want to miss this! ● Red Nose Day is on BBC1 this Friday Remember, you can download Woman’s Own from the App…

‘She has given her entire life to duty to the UK’ Well, blimey, what a right royal nightmare this has been. Forget the pandemic, silly, the Palace-demic. Not since Diana and Charles’ marital meltdown has our Queen faced such an annus horribilis. Actually, make that two yucky years. The whole Harry and Meghan war of words with the Royal Family makes fictional drama The Crown look like a walk in Windsor Park. And not for the first time, the spotlight is on what on earth happens next for The Firm? Has the whole institution had its day? Should the Queen be our last ‘proper’ monarch, with the future looking more like the Swedish model where they basically just get on with a fairly ordinary life? I think the vast majority…

Q My daughter has a great girlfriend who my husband and I both love, and everything seems to be working out. She mentioned the other day that she wasn’t going for her smear appointment as she doesn’t need it because she is lesbian. Is this true? A Please encourage your daughter to attend for her smears. It is a five-minute appointment that could save her life. HPV, the virus that increases the risk of changes to the cervix, can even be passed by the use of sex toys.…

Why do I feel worried all of the time? Q In the last year, my anxiety and fears have gone into overdrive. I can’t sleep and I worry constantly about my job, lockdown, and how COVID-19 is affecting my kids. I’m driving my family crazy with my constant tidying and ensuring they do things the way I want, but I can’t stop myself. Help! Karis, 38, Kent A We live in anxious times but feeling so tense continually isn’t good for you and isn’t a way to live. As you say, your coping mechanisms aren’t working, because you can’t control everything in your life. You need to contact your GP. Be clear about how you feel and consider everything from medication to counselling to help you find peace of mind…

Fake pets bring benefits New findings published at The Gerontological Society of America has shown that even robotic pets can provide comfort, companionship and help reduce feelings of loneliness. Sending joy to those with dementia Can’t see your loved one with dementia? ‘The natural human connection that’s so important to happiness is still possible,’ says dementia care expert Samantha Leech from Relish. ‘Give daily moments of joy by sending them photos with little stories and your favourite memories.’ You’re cleaning your toothbrush wrong Just rinsing your toothbrush with water? Scientists at the University of Manchester have found that your toothbrush contains 100 million bacteria, including E. coli. Stir the bristled end in antibacterial mouthwash for 30 seconds instead.…

VITAMIN A: Dry skin and hair, ridges on nails, infected eyes VITAMIN B12: Tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath VITAMIN C: Dry skin and hair, bleeding gums, recurring colds VITAMIN D: Aching bones, depression, weight gain VITAMIN E: Vision problems, skin problems, muscle weakness VITAMIN K: Heavy periods, bruises easily, bleeds easily CALCIUM: Cramps, numbness, dry skin and hair IRON: Dizziness, tiredness, shortness of breath MAGNESIUM: Cramps, restless legs, abnormal heart rhythms OMEGA-3: Dry or itchy skin, dry eyes, slow wound healing ZINC: Recurring colds, thinning hair, mouth ulcers While some vitamin and mineral deficiencies show up in blood tests, your symptoms will often indicate what you’re lacking.…

VITAMIN A: Eggs, oily fish, orange and green fruit and veg VITAMIN B2: Eggs, lean red meat, milk, mushrooms, oily fish, nuts, seeds, tofu VITAMIN B12: Eggs, fortified cereals, crab, mackerel, salmon, lean red meat, plant drinks VITAMIN D: Fortified foods, oily fish, UVtreated mushrooms CALCIUM: Dairy, dark green leafy veg, beans, pulses, tofu IODINE: Dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts IRON: Beans, pulses, lentils, dark green leafy veg, dried fruit, lean red meat MAGNESIUM: Beans, pulses, dark green leafy veg, nuts, seeds, oily fish, wholegrains POTASSIUM: Avocado, bananas, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes SELENIUM: Brazil nuts, lean red meat, mussels, oily fish, poultry, tofu, wholegrains…

MYTH: CHILDREN WITH DOWN’S SYNDROME ARE MORE LOVING Beverley says, ‘I always laugh when I hear people say this because, as far as Bethany is concerned, I’m lucky to get a cuddle and a kiss from her! She’s so independent and too busy playing and having fun to stop and give me many cuddles!’ MYTH: PEOPLE WITH DOWN’S SYNDROME CAN’T LIVE INDEPENDENT LIVES Beverley says, ‘I have every faith that Bethany will go on to lead an independent life. Even at eight years old, I make sure she watches and helps me with the cooking and cleaning. She’s part of a big family, so there will always be plenty of people around to help her when, and if, she needs it as an adult.’ MYTH: BRINGING UP A CHILD WITH…

As I opened the front door, the howling wind nearly knocked me over. I looked down at our dog, Penny, who returned my gaze with expectant eyes. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to take her out, Danny?’ I called over to my partner. ‘No thanks, love,’ he replied from the sofa. ‘It’s definitely your turn.’ Realising I wasn’t getting out of it this time, I pulled up my hood, grabbed Penny’s lead and braced myself against the cold. After what must have been the shortest dog-walk ever, I joined Danny on the sofa, wondering how anybody did this kind of thing for fun. When Danny and I had got Penny a few months earlier, we’d hoped having a dog would get us out more – maybe even help us…

Lily James In BBC1’s three-part adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s novel The Pursuit of Love, the Downton Abbey and Mamma Mia! star plays a woman looking for the perfect husband in the years between the two World Wars. The cast also includes Dominic West and Andrew Scott. Noel Clarke The Bulletproof actor will star in ITV’s five-part drama Viewpoint, which follows a police surveillance investigation in Manchester. He’ll play DC Martin King who keeps watch on the home of a missing teacher and her boyfriend, who’s the prime suspect in her disappearance.…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr The emphasis is on action, you have the strength and resources at your fingertips. Use this power and the internet wisely. A time of high achievements. Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May Give your partner space – you’ll find this helps you grow closer. You don’t always need to be in constant contact to feel secure. Let your love grow. Gemini 21 May – 20 Jun Are you feeling a little under the weather? Maybe a bit of relaxation is just the ticket to regain your romantic sparkle. Watching the sunset will enhance your rosy glow. Cancer 21 Jun – 22 Jul You say what’s on your mind, but when others do the same your sensitive side kicks in and you’re offended. It’s not…

How has lockdown been for you both? Janette: I learned that Aljaž really is good at doing nothing [laughs]. What HE learned was that I can never keep my feet still. He knew I was a busy body and that I liked working and moving, but I learned to pace myself. I was always, ‘Go, go, go…’ and I never stopped. Being at home in the pandemic I learned to cook – I didn’t know how [before]! So you became domesticated at last! Janette: I think I used the kitchen for the first time! I had to force myself to stop and listen. That’s why we work. He’s my rock in every way because I overthink, over-panic, I get stressed and I want to make sure everything is just right,…

Your round-up of this week’s biggest showbiz stories Amanda SLAMMED after Instagram ‘flash’ When Amanda Holden decided to show off her gorgeous floral dress on Instagram, we’re sure she didn’t count on the negative comments that followed. In the short clip, 50-year-old Amanda can be seen spinning around, resulting in just a flash of her underwear – and some people were not happy. ‘I bet your daughter is so proud of you flashing your knickers at your age,’ screamed one. Other comments included, ‘Why do we always have to see everything?’, ‘May as well show your knickers. Cover tf up!’, and ‘Why would a grown woman with children flash her knickers?’ Thankfully, not everyone lost their minds over the very innocent post – and Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda was…

It can get a bit confusing when Steve, Kate and the team communicate using so many acronyms, so we’ve debunked the most commonly used ones. AC-12 – Anti-Corruption unit 12 OCG – Organised Crime Group PCC – Police and Crime Commissioner ACC – Assistant Chief Constable DI – Detective Inspector ANPR – Automatic number plate recognition AFO – Authorised firearms officer ARVs – Armed response vehicles COM – Covert operations manager UCO – Undercover operative REG 15 – Regulation 15 notice of misconduct FI – Forensic investigator IR – Incident report…

Mango TOP TIP The extra-large collar is a trend that’s here to stay. Team this striped shirt with a pair of white jeans for a fab spring outfit. H&M TOP TIP Give your loungewear a stylish upgrade with this shoulder-padded sweatshirt. Available in three colours. F&F Clothing Zara TOP TIP Wear this oversized shirt undone over a white tee.…

1 DOWNLOAD THE HAPPY NOT PERFECT APP. When times of negative thinking threaten to overwhelm you, this app (free on iOS and Android) will take you through seven steps to refresh and recharge your mind. 2 DON’T CATASTROPHISE. Try not to think about worst-case scenarios and all the things that can go wrong. Stay in the present and focus on what’s happening now. 3 START SAYING NO. That’s no to more work, being somewhere you don’t want to be, and talking to people who get you down. This will help you to carve out more time for yourself to de-stress.…

l We can’t always get enough vitamin D through food, so it’s currently recommended we take a 10mg (400 IU) daily supplement. TRY: Vitabiotics Ultra Vitamin D 400 IU (£4.50 for 96 tablets, Boots). l Vitamin B deficiencies are common in women, the elderly, vegetarians and vegans. TRY: BioCare Methyl B Complex (£15.98 for 60 capsules, biocare.co.uk). l Alternatively, go for an all-rounder that  covers a range of nutritional needs, including vitamins, minerals, omega-3 and probiotics. TRY: MultiVitality Daily Essentials Complete (£12.95 for 28 tablets, healthspan.co.uk) All available from healthspan.co.uk.…

Easy chicken biryani Serves 4 This tasty recipe means that you can have a curry in the middle of the week without worrying about the cost or calories! You will need ✽ 1tbsp olive oil ✽ 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs ✽ 2 onions, cut into wedges ✽ 150g basmati rice ✽ 150g jar biryani sauce ✽ Handful of coriander leaves, chopped How to do it 1 Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. In a shallow gratin or casserole dish, heat the oil, then season the chicken thighs and brown on both sides. Remove to a plate. Add the onion to the pan and fry gently for a couple of mins to colour slightly. 2 Put chicken in the pan, add the rice, 4tbsp water and the biryani sauce. 3…

This Is MY House, BBC1 Stacey Dooley hosts this new game show which sees four people going into a house and making the claim they live there. As they share stories about the property and everything in it, a team of celebrity judges try to work out who the imposters are and who’s the homeowner. Six Minutes to Midnight, Sky Cinema Dame Judi Dench stars as Miss Rocholl, a headteacher at an English finishing school in this World War Two drama. When she hires new teacher Thomas Miller (Eddie Izzard), he finds himself drawn into in a dangerous race against time to expose a dark Nazi plot. The Irregulars, Netflix Set in Victorian London, this eight-part drama follows a gang of delinquent teenagers who are tasked with solving a series…

LINE OF FIRE Line of Duty is back at last on 21 March. I should be nicked myself for how often I’ve binged the hottest cop show on the  box. Star Martin Compston has teased that this series promises to be a real humdinger, with plenty of ‘bombshells’! Light touchpaper and retreat, I cannot WAIT! FRESH PRINCE IN TOWN! I caught up with Eddie Murphy and asked the star, who plays Prince Akeem in the long-awaited sequel Coming 2 America, if he had any advice for our own Prince Harry. ‘He was staying at Tyler Perry’s [the actor and producer] house and that’s literally across the canyon [from Eddie’s]. We could see and we were like, hey, Prince Harry’s right in that house over there! If I got binoculars I…

It’s always nice to get on with your partner’s parents, so your mother-in-law telling you to leave your wife is far from ideal. But that’s exactly the situation James Haskell found himself in with wife Chloe Madeley’s mum Judy Finnigan. Retired rugby player James, 35, made the shock revelation when discussing his relationship with Chloe, 33. ‘Judy doesn’t hold back’ Fans of Judy will know she doesn’t hold back when it comes to sharing her opinions, and it seems even her daughter’s love life isn’t off limits! FIRST IMPRESSIONS Luckily for James, it turns out that Judy doesn’t actually want him to leave Chloe, she’s a huge fan of his, and has been since the day they were introduced. In fact, she takes his side over her own daughter’s. James…

ALEX SAYS: ‘Initially, when I saw that Tineka was in tense situations much more often than I was, I assumed that it was because of her personality or the way she carried herself with such confidence that resulted in confrontations. I didn’t really understand that these frustrations were connected to her skin colour and racism embedded into society. I started to understand over time as Tineka repeatedly told me about the way people treated her suspiciously or acted aggressively towards her. It took me some time, but I did eventually come to realise that this is not a coincidence. We would be in situations together where she would clearly be targeted and I wouldn’t be. It has been difficult to realise that I don’t always notice racial microaggressions. But I…

Where do I go for a boob job? QI have always hated my boobs (or lack of them!). My partner and I are lucky in that we both kept our jobs in 2020, and spent significantly less, meaning we managed to save some money, and I have decided I will treat myself to a breast augmentation. But I don’t where to start, and there are so many horror stories of botched plastic surgery. How do I find a good surgeon? A Fully qualified plastic surgeons will be on the GMC specialist register for plastic surgery. Your GP may also have a local recommendation. In addition, you should have a look at the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons website (bapras.org.uk) where you will find advice on the questions…

Recognised dental phobia expert Dr Bashar Al-Naher, founder of the Care Dental group, shares his feel-calm technique. He’s developed it for those with a fear of the dentist, but it can be used in many situations. 1 TRY SQUARE BREATHING. ‘Close your eyes and imagine a big square. Set your mind at one corner, breathe in and, in three counts, travel to the next corner and so on. This will regulate your breathing to help you feel more relaxed.’ 2 SAY A MANTRA. ‘Mantras can be very effective if you repeat them to yourself every day. Try saying one to yourself in the mirror in the morning, while smiling. Dental phobics might want to try saying, “I need to go to the dentist, and it will be fine.”’ 3 THE…

It worked for me Emma Williams, 53, from Nottinghamshire ‘As I’ve got older, the skin on my body has become much drier. I have incessantly itchy dry skin on my arms, the skin on my heels cracks and I still get the odd spot on my face! Fortunately, I have found a gem of a product that seems to deal with everything. Made For Life Organics Skin Solve Balm (from £28, madefor lifeorganics.com), is packed with calendula and works within minutes. I’ve also used it on insect bites, cuts and burns.’ 42% of 45-59-year-olds would choose better sleep over £500 cash.*…

Middle-aged women are prone to micronutrient shortfalls – especially vitamin B2 (riboflavin), B6, B12, folic acid, calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium and potassium, according to a 2018 study*. Iron is a particular problem. ‘Many women aren’t aware of their low iron status, and don’t take advantage of the energy-boosting properties of a natural tonic such as Floradix,’ says nutritional therapist Alison Cullen from A.Vogel. For heavy periods, she recommends Agnus Castus (£10.50 for 50ml, avogel.co.uk), though it’s unsuitable if you’re on hormonal contraceptives.…

Created to celebrate the lives of people with Down’s syndrome, World Down Syndrome Day is held on 21 March each year. Yet, despite the fact there are currently around 750 babies born in the UK with the condition, there are still many misconceptions about people with Down’s syndrome. We speak to one mum about the realities of raising a child with the condition. ‘Our daughter is a typical little girl, no different to other eight-year-olds’ Beverley Piddington-Parr, 59, lives in Leigh, Greater Manchester, with her husband, Ian, 59, and their daughter, Bethany, eight. Wrapped in a cotton blanket, looking up at me with her big blue eyes, baby Bethany couldn’t have been more beautiful. Just three days old, it was hard to imagine how her birth parents could even consider…

Asda Extra Special St Clements Hot Cross Buns 4-pack HOT CROSS BUN BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING Serves 6 You will need ✽ 50g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing ✽ 6 hot cross buns, halved ✽ 4tbsp apricot jam ✽ 50g dried apricots, chopped ✽ 50g sultanas ✽ 3 eggs plus 1 yolk ✽ 300ml milk ✽ 300ml single cream, plus extra to serve ✽ 50g caster sugar, plus extra to sprinkle ✽ 1tsp vanilla extract How to do it 1 Grease a 1.5 litre ovenproof dish with butter. Spread the hot cross bun halves with butter and apricot jam and arrange, jam-side up, in the dish. Scatter the apricots and sultanas over the top. 2 Whisk together the eggs and yolk, milk, cream, sugar and vanilla extract and pour…

When actress Natasha Richardson died following a skiing accident in 2009, her husband Liam Neeson and young sons Micheál and Daniel were left grieving for their tragic loss. Now Liam and Micheál are starring together in a heartwarming comedy drama Made in Italy, which tells a story that is eerily similar to their own. ‘It scared me because it was so close to home’ ‘It scared me a little bit because it’s very close to home,’ says Liam. ‘But then I thought it was something I had to do and wouldn’t it be great if I could get my son Micheál on board? It was great to work with him and to be in the extraordinary landscape of Tuscany.’ Micheál stars as Jack, who’s devastated to learn that the art…