Innholdsfortegnelse for 14-Feb-2022 i Woman's Own

COVID-19 forced us to evaluate a lot of things, and relationships were a big one. For many, the months (and months) of lockdown meant that even the sound of your other half breathing could cause a full-blown war. But for writer Tess Stimson, being stuck at home with her husband actually benefited their marriage – and helped them rekindle their spark. With everything that’s in the news at the moment – including our Government’s disgraceful behaviour during the pandemic – Tess’ story feels like some relief, proving that even in bad times there is always hope for something good to come. Turn to p38 to give it a read. Also, in case you managed to miss all the hearts in every shop (really, EVERY shop!) Valentine’s Day is almost upon…

‘IT’S SUPPOSED TO PROMOTE STRONG WOMEN’ When it comes to self-promotion in the land of telly, there’s no better vehicle than ITV’s Loose Women. But a high-profile panel of feisty ladies with differing views is likely to  spark fireworks backstage. It’s little wonder that, behind the showbiz glitz, rumours of toxic rivalry and clashing egos are rife, with many pointing the finger at long-standing panellist, Coleen Nolan. AVOIDANCE TACTICS It’s been claimed that singer Coleen, 56, has fallen out with a slew of celebrities over the years, including having a blazing on-screen row with cleaning guru Kim Woodburn in 2018. But the latest incident is said to involve actor Nadia Sawalha, 57. Herself a Loose Women veteran, Nadia is believed to be fed up with Coleen, and has instructed producers…

KEEPING YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND Can millionaire superstars ever do it? Adorable, funny, humble and spontaneous. That’s the description of a celebrity who, at the beginning of this year, was voted one of the most down-to-earth by showbiz journalists. And let’s be honest, that can’t really be applied to many of them can it? Diva strops are ten-a-penny when you’ve got millions in the bank and a famous face. ‘SHE’S HAD A MAJOR SKYFALL FROM GRACE The interesting thing about this particular star, though, is that in the space of a month they’ve had a major skyfall from grace. This week they should be fulfilling the Valentine’s dreams of thousands of fans. Instead they’ve broken their hearts. Hello, guessed who yet? We are of course talking about everyone’s favourite…

One of the most iconic telly scenes of the 90s was an impossibly curvy Pamela Anderson running in slow motion down a Californian beach in a blur of red costume, blonde hair, endless tanned limbs and lifeguard float. It was Baywatch and millions of us were glued to it every Saturday. Now with the Disney+ biopic of Pammie’s relationship with Mötley Crüe rocker Tommy Lee – Pam and Tommy – on our screens, we’re obsessed again. #Pamcore is trending on social media and there’s a 39% spike in searches under her name. Fabulous. What’s scarier is there’s a 74% increase in searches for red swimming costumes. Pam-style scarlet cossies that left so little to the imagination your gynaecologist sees less of you. Think I’ll just stick watching the series.…

ANXIETY IS TAKING OVER Q During the second lockdown I lost my job. I thought I was OK about it, but I have totally lost my self-confidence. My friends are encouraging me to apply for new roles, but even the thought of it puts me into a tailspin. I feel anxious all the time. I used to have a bit of a drink problem so I’m terrified of taking anything addictive, but feel I need something to calm me down. A Speak to your GP and tell them exactly what you have told me. There are plenty of non-addictive medicines available to help with anxiety. They will also be able to advise on other non-medical therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, which is very effective. I know a lot of…

1 DOWNLOAD THE BODY+ APP Learn to identify your negative thoughts and respond to them quickly. This app focuses on body acceptance and training yourself to think more positively about your body. Free on iOS, with some in-app purchases available. 2 SIGN OUT OF SOCIAL MEDIA Constantly looking at the ‘perfect’ bodies of celebrities or social media stars can heighten your anxieties. Limit how much you scroll through these images through the week. 3 DO THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF Treat yourself, be nice to yourself, and say good things about yourself. Try to be as kind to yourself as you would be to a friend.…

1 SENSIBLE STEPS ‘Always lock your doors and windows when leaving the house, even if you’re just popping to the shops,’ says Julian. ‘Also, locking all windows and doors before going to bed will also ensure your home is protected when burglars are most likely to try to enter. ‘Before going out in the evening, be sure to leave some lights on and close your curtains. Or put your lights on timers so they come on automatically. If thieves are watching your house, this can make it more difficult for them to be sure the property is empty.’ 2 TAKE PRECAUTIONS ‘From laptops to car keys, ensure your valuables are hidden out of sight in a safe place,’ he says. ‘Remove your door keys from locks and put them in…

Erik says: ‘I was terrified of Lily leaving and going off to college, and being alone with Tess. In 20 years, we’d only spent a handful of days just the two of us. We’ve had the buffer of children for our entire marriage, and much as I love her, I honestly didn’t know if we’d have anything to say to each other without them. Tess has worked from home for 25 years, which means she needs me to be her husband, friend, colleague and lover all rolled into one. Sometimes it’s just exhausting and I need time to myself. But then COVID-19 and lockdown happened, and I was working from home, too, and suddenly I saw things from her point of view. The kettle in the kitchen became our “water…

Lesley Manville ‘SUSAN LIVES BY HER OWN RULES’ The Mum star heads the cast of a new whodunnit In the six-part series Magpie Murders, Lesley Manville stars as book editor Susan, who is excited to receive the manuscript of the latest novel by bestselling author Alan Conway (Conleth Hill). ‘I REALLY LIKE HER!’ The book follows Alan’s literary creation – a 1950s detective named Atticus Pund – as he investigates suspected foul play in a sleepy English village. But then events take an unexpected turn… ‘The manuscript is missing the last chapter,’ explains Lesley. ‘Then Alan dies and the story flips between the circumstances surrounding his death, and how it parallels with the deaths of characters in the book. Susan stops being an editor and gets more a interested in…

Harry & Meghan STREAMING TROUBLES Since breaking from royal life, the Sussexes have made no secret of their career ambitions, but it seems as if they are in hot water. After signing a deal with Netflix – said to be worth £73.7 million – 14 months ago, nothing’s been released, perhaps leaving bosses, and viewers, wondering what’s going on. Royal commentator Daniela Elser criticised the pair, saying, ‘Their money-making marriage with the streaming [service] was revealed and they promised they would be making “content that informs but also gives hope”. Goodo, but where is it?’ It’s not just the Netflix deal that’s prompting questions, there’s the £18 million Spotify deal, too. After a Christmas special in 2020, for which they’d have earned £486,000 a minute, they assured listeners there…

BLAZER TRAIL This classic cut is always an on-trend item. Blazer, £59.99, sizes xs-xl, Zara PRETTY IN PINK Add a subtle pop of colour. Earrings, £35, screampretty.com PURSE STRINGS Store cards in one place. Card holder, £18, Oliver Bonas IN THE BAG Personalise and choose your own initial. Bag, £25.99, Zara SWEET TOOTH Ideal for chocolate devotees. Raspberry macarons, £9, Hotel Chocolat CLOSE KNIT Give your jumper collection a style upgrade. Jumper, £49, collared top, £39, jeans, £65, all sizes 6-20, AND/OR at John Lewis & Partners. Earrings, stylist’s own. STYLISH STORAGE Keep your gems safe. Jewellery box, £32.50, Oliver Bonas TIME TO RELAX Create a peaceful ambience. Candle, £2.99, TK Maxx GOLD STAR Glam up your garden. Planter, £13, sassandbelle.co.uk COSY CARDI Team with your fave jeans. Cardigan, £36,…

Legendary luvvy Emma Thompson’s new film – Good Luck To You, Leo Grande – features her stripping naked at the age of 62 to have sex with a much younger lover. She got over the horror of this by sitting around chatting with her co-star and the movie’s director while they were all starkers. Eek. Thank God she doesn’t work in Tesco. Anyway, the point is that Dame Emma confesses she’d never have been brave enough to reveal so much of her body when she was in her 30s. Now while I want this to be true and am all for growing old disgracefully, there’s only one reason I’d enjoy stripping off more at my advanced age than when I was a nubile young whipper snapper. My eyesight’s gone south,…

Holding my newborn baby Uriah-Jack against my left breast, I waited for him to latch on. ‘What’s wrong, little man?’ I asked as he squirmed and fussed. Ever since he’d been born in August 2019, he’d preferred my right breast. ‘THE LUMP WAS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A MALTESER’ When I’d breastfed my first son Connor, 17 years earlier, it had been a dream - I’d loved snuggling with him on the sofa as he fed. But with Uriah-Jack, it just wasn’t as easy. So when I started to wean him off the breast at six months, I couldn’t help feeling relieved. Then, one morning in March 2020, I was having a shower when I noticed a lump, hard and about the size of a Malteser, in my left breast…

The main difference between the two is that a heart attack is caused by a blockage in one of the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart muscle. Patients with takotsubo syndrome don’t have this blockage. ‘It’s only when doctors do further tests to examine the coronary arteries that they will see that there are no blockages, as there would be after a heart attack,’ says Ruth. ‘Instead, an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) will show that the heart muscle is not working properly and the left ventricle is larger than normal.’…

Q Last summer I had COVID-19, and I suspect I probably had a form of long COVID, as I had a persistent cough for weeks after. I think it has weakened my bladder, as every time I cough or sneeze, I leak urine. I’m starting to avoid social situations. Please help? A You have stress incontinence, which is where the muscles supporting the bladder have become weakened, and it is probably linked to your cough. You should speak to a physiotherapist or nurse specialising in continence. They may start with you doing pelvic floor exercises. Most people can cure this problem within a few months.…

PREP TIME: 3 MINS COOK TIME: 7 MINS SKILL LEVEL: EASY COST: £2.69 PER PORTION CALS: 437 FAT: 23G SAT FAT: 4G CARBS: 27G Fried fish, garlic, ginger and spring onion SERVES 2 In this delicious dish, lightly coated chunks of fish are seasoned with the holy trinity of Cantonese cooking – garlic, ginger and spring onion. YOU WILL NEED 1tsp salt 50g cornflour 300-350g diced white fish, defrosted if frozen (use your favourite) 250ml vegetable oil 6cm cube of ginger, peeled and cut into slices 1 bunch of spring onions, cut into 5cm slices 3 garlic cloves, roughly sliced 2tbsp Chinese rice wine Drizzle of sesame oil HOW TO DO IT 1 In a large bowl, mix together the salt and cornflour and lightly coat the fish pieces, shaking…

SIMPLE SUPPER Birds Eye 2 Chicken Shop Ultimate Fillet Burgers, 227g (Iceland) For an easy dinner, choose these tasty chicken burgers which you can oven bake straight from the freezer. PERFECT TO PICK ON Offer: Any 2 for £3 Clubcard Price – Selected Tesco Bite Size Products, weights vary by product, 120g-300g (Tesco) Tuck into an exceedingly tasty range of tempting treats with this offer, including Tesco 10 Chicken Satay Bites 120g and also Tesco Bitesize Southern Fried Chicken Straws 168g. Items in this offer cost £2 each when bought individually, so you’ll save £1 with this offer. DELICIOUS DESSERTS English Cheesecake Company White Chocolate & Honeycomb Cheesecake (2 slices), 230g (Sainsbury’s) Treat yourself. Also available on Zesty Lemon & Mascarpone Cheesecake (232g), Vanilla Cheesecake with Lotus Biscoff (230g) and…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Show creativity when something inspires you to take on a new career. A family member will point you in a new direction. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May You’ll gravitate towards the work you most enjoy, rather than what could bring riches. Your job will improve your sleep. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun It’s time for change, so use your contacts to complete tasks. Plan something special with a child or grandchild. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul It s a great time to socialise. Embrace what you need in life, drinking with friends or opting to go for a walk together. LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug You are dynamic and a fiery extrovert, but let someone else take the lead at…

FROM THE HEART DEVOTION by Hannah Kent (£14.99, Pan Macmillan, HB) Prussia, late 1830s. As womanhood looms ever closer, 15-year-old Hanne has no appetite for the domestic life ahead of her. She feels most free listening to nature’s songs; the rush of rivers and the melodies of light. Friends are hard to come by among the local girls, until finally she finds acceptance and love with Thea. When their persecuted Old Lutheran community flees to a new settlement in southern Australia, the gruelling and dangerous journey only strengthens their bond. Draped in rich historical detail, Hannah Kent’s luminous and poignant story explores kindred spirits and an epic search for freedom. MOVING NOVEL BLACK CAKE by Charmaine Wilkerson (£14.99, Penguin Books, HB) Though they were once close, a deep rift has…

BRITAIN’S STILL GOT TALENT! After a year off, the BGT judges were all smiles when we were reunited backstage during the auditions. I congratulated Simon on his engagement to long-term girlfriend Lauren (‘It was about time!’ he grinned) and chatted about the fab four marking 10 series together on the panel. So what’s their secret? ‘We like each other,’ quipped Simon. Catch the full chat on Good Morning Britain when the ratings juggernaut returns this spring. NO HOLBY BLUES Holby City star David Ames is heading out of scrubs and into the West End this week, starring in Steve at London’s new Seven Dials Playhouse. ‘I’m thrilled,’ David says of his return to the stage. ‘It’s my first theatre role for 10 years.’ Expect laughter and tears if you catch…

Staying out late, meeting new people and dancing until the early hours might not sound typical of someone in their mid-50s, but I’m making up for lost time. And, best of all, I’m doing it with my daughter by my side. We make quite the duo, Ella Jane, 24, and I - but I must admit I’m secretly proud that I can not only keep up with her, but sometimes I can out-party her, too. (However, I can no longer out-drink her!) ‘WE BEGAN DANCING FOR THE CROWDS’ When I was Ella’s age, I didn’t have time to go out clubbing as I was too busy juggling my career building a skincare business and, later, raising Ella and her younger brother, Chris. There was no time for socialising with friends.…

As the music vibrated through the bar, I moved my body to the beat. ‘Having a good time?’ my best friend Patrice, then 38, asked. I smiled and nodded. My job as an emergency care assistant working with paramedics was exhausting and hard, so a night out with a friend was my perfect way to relax. I was about to say as much when a good-looking man across the other side of the bar caught my eye. Tall with thick, dark-brown hair and sparkling blue eyes, he started weaving his way through the crowds towards me. ‘You’ve got such a pretty face,’ he said smoothly. ‘I’ve always wanted to date a bigger girl.’ SIZE NOVELTY ‘MY GP FOUND NOTHING WRONG’ My cheeks suddenly burnt with embarrassment. It wasn’t me he…

Have you heard about? A COFFEE A DAY CAN KEEP DIABETES AT BAY Your morning caffeine fix might be benefitting more than just your energy levels. That’s right, research* shows it can help prevent type 2 diabetes, too. In fact, those who drank one cup of coffee per day, or more, were around 30% less likely to develop diabetes than those who drank little or no coffee. Just make sure you’re giving the sugar a miss. It worked for me Vas Shirley, 49, Hertfordshire ‘I used to suffer from cystitis flare-ups every two months. The pain was awful. I was recommended Waterfall D-Mannose supplements (£17.98 for 12 sachets, sweet-cures.com) and now, if I take my maintenance dose regularly, I can go for years without a flare-up. If I feel discomfort…

Sex leaves me cold Q I have a new partner, but I don’t enjoy sex with him at all. He’s pretty fast and energetic, and it’s not working for me. I keep hoping he’ll notice and change what he’s doing, but so far he hasn’t. We are both in our 40s and quite shy people. What do I do? A Quietly hoping without action isn’t going to help here. The only way to improve your sex life is to talk openly about it. You need to gently explain how you feel and what works and what doesn’t during sex. Remember, he can’t change what he does if he doesn’t know you don’t like it. HOW DO I TELL HIM THE TRUTH? Q Since last summer, I’ve been in an online…

Central line 1 ‘Start by painting your nails with your desired base colour. My top tip is to start at one side of the nail and work your way across for a more even finish,’ says Iram Shelton, Max Factor UK nail expert who created all three of these gorgeous nail looks. Here she used Max Factor Masterpiece Xpress in Cashmere Knit, £5.99, Superdrug. 2 ‘Take a fine brush and draw the outline for the band on each nail using your chosen contrasting colour – I like to draw two horizontal lines across the nail. Take your time with this as you want the lines to be as straight as possible,’ says Iram. If you want to try gold, too, we love Mavala Nail Color in Cyber Gold, £5.50, lookfantastic.com.…

The tantalising smell of a slow-cooked casserole met her and Lucy sighed happily. She was looking forward to a relaxing evening after a busy week. The weekend stretched ahead. She had rather a long ‘to-do’ list. Her first job was to tackle the overgrown cottage garden. But tonight she would chill out with a glass of wine and gaze at the beautiful loch, just a few steps from her back door. First she must bring Mum up to date. Harriet was worried that her daughter would be lonely all the way up here away from family and friends. Living in the city suited Harriet but Lucy had always yearned for a quieter, simpler life. And, after just one week here, she knew she had found exactly what she wanted. She…