Innholdsfortegnelse for 25-Apr-2022 i Woman's Own

Lockdown (a word none of us ever wants to hear again) was hard on everyone, but as difficult as it was, spending so much time at home meant we all took more stock of our surroundings. So it’s no surprise we caught the redecorating bug. Some stores reported a 59% increase in homeware sales after the first lockdown and the boom hasn’t let up. If your fascination with all things renovation is like mine, you’ll want to turn to p38. We meet the woman who transformed her home thanks to eBay – and saved thousands. Just look at those before and after photos! If gardens are more your thing, on p40 we show you how to work some magic and turn a small space into the perfect escape. It’s almost…

The show couldn’t seem more civilised – the televisual equivalent of reading the morning papers over a cuppa. However, behind the scenes, is Good Morning Britain being drenched by a tidal wave of bad feeling? And are the once loyal viewers turning off in their droves for good? The trouble started when Piers Morgan sensationally quit the channel last year, his rigorous interviewing style and headline-grabbing commentary a tough act to follow. TALENT BEING POACHED Piers walked off set after a heated row with former weather presenter Alex Beresford over Piers’ comments about the Duchess of Sussex, following that Oprah Winfrey’s interview in March 2021. ‘PIERS MORGAN IS A BIG FISH IN MEDIA LAND’ Since then, ITV bosses appear to have struggled to recapture Morgan’s magic – notably his chemistry…

A GOOD MARRIAGE IS WORTH THE FIGHT People should consider their options with the new no-fault divorce system Divorce, death and desertion. The three ‘Ds’ that basically mean hell for any marriage. Now though, the biggest shake-up in divorce law in half a century has been introduced in England and Wales. Basically it means that rather than playing the blame game, couples can split amicably without giving a reason. But let’s be honest, how many divorces are really that friendly? If you were actually on such great terms, you probably wouldn’t be splitting in the first place. And while it’s good for the kids that Mum hasn’t had to accuse Dad of being an insufferable drunk or Dad blame Mum for being a lying love cheat in public, there are…

Drug-driving has overtaken drink-driving in the past two years – an indicator younger generations are turning away from heavy boozing to an illegal poison of choice. Neither are acceptable, both will kill. But for some reason the idea of getting behind the wheel after a spliff or two seems less ‘dodgy’ than after a bottle of wine. There is no difference. And just to give a shout out to the best, most painful but positive memoir about addiction  I think I ever read, DJ Fat Tony’s I Don’t Take Requests (out at the end of May, £20, Hodder & Stoughton) provides inspiration to anyone who can’t quit. Whether that’s alcohol, drugs, food or sex.…

1 STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE Your mindset will only change if you let yourself be exposed to the possibility of change. Move away from your comfort zone and your thinking will follow. 2 HANG OUT WITH NEW PEOPLE Often our behaviours and thoughts reflect those we spend the most time with. If you really want to change how you think, you need to vary the people you spend time with. 3 DOWNLOAD THE MOODFIT APP Everyone’s reasoning can get distorted or can get stuck in a groove from time to time with overgeneralising and all-or-nothing thinking. This app (available through Apple and Google Play App Stores) can help you to identify and change your mindset. CONTACT ANITA Send your questions to askanita@futurenet.com, follow her on Twitter @AnitaNaik, or…

Soft layering A full fringe makes a real style statement but they can be incredibly high-maintenance. Instead try a curtain fringe, which is a gentler, easier version of the look. It’s longer and can be swept to the side – plus, it works on all hair textures. It looks extra lovely when your hair is up, like Renée’s. Fringes get greasy quickly, so use a dry shampoo to absorb excess oils. L’Oréal Paris Elvive Air Volume Dry Shampoo, £4.99, lookfantastic.com Accessorise all areas Bold hair accessories such as headbands or statement clips can be worn at any age – just ask Helen! It’s an easy way to add some fun to your look, and they’re great for dressing up your hair for events like weddings. Maids To Measure Headband, £25,…

Coconut macaroons PREP TIME: 10 MINS COOK TIME: 15 MINS SKILL LEVEL: EASY PER MACAROON: CALS: 92 FAT: 6G SAT FAT: 5G CARBS: 7G MAKES 12 The humble macaroon is a delightfully simple tea-time treat to make. These homemade ones are not too sweet and they’re gluten-free, too. YOU WILL NEED 1 egg white 45g caster sugar 1tsp almond extract 100g desiccated coconut 45g dark chocolate, melted HOW TO DO IT 1 Preheat the oven to 160C/Gas 3. Whisk the egg white until just firm. Add the sugar and almond extract, and whisk together. Fold in the coconut. 2 Spoon large walnut-sized blobs of the mixture onto a baking tray lined with baking parchment and bake for 10-15 mins, until turning golden on top. Let the macaroons cool on the…

Looking around at the peeling plaster, crumbling brick and exposed pipes, I let out a happy sigh. ‘I love it,’ I grinned to my husband John, then 38. It was September 2016 and we had just picked up the keys to our brand new house in Sheffield. Beautiful Georgian proportions with stunning period features, it was perfect for our family of five – if you could look past the derelict interior… We’d renovated a few houses before, but this was our biggest project yet. And, back living with my parents, I was looking forward to getting started. Only, within weeks we found that the whole central heating system needed replacing, a cost we hadn’t foreseen, and we still had so much to pay out for. ‘There must be some way…

CULINARY ROMANCE YOU HAD ME AT HALLOUMI by Ginger Jones (£8.99 Zaffre PB) Freya Butterly is hitting reset on her life. It’s time to leave behind her thankless job at a Mediterranean restaurant, ditch her unambitious boyfriend and seek brighter horizons in a sun-drenched paradise. She arrives in Cyprus with her heart set on one thing – winning the Golden Spoon culinary award. The competition is tight, with Freya cooking up a storm against seven incredible chefs. The last thing she needs is a distraction, but when she happens to cross paths with Xanthos, she’s irresistibly attracted to him. Sparkling with wit and warmth, this charming romance from Ginger Jones is utterly delicious. PLOT TWISTS INTO THE DARK by Fiona Cummins (£14.99, Pan Macmillan, HB) The Holden family have the…

HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD I made a quick trip to the UK for Mother’s Day (because you only have the one, right?) to take Mum up to her beloved Scotland, and then it was back to LA to stay with TV’s Ross King for a couple of days. For Brits in LA, all roads lead to Ross’ place in the Hollywood Hills – beside his Emmy awards on proud display, it’s filled with pictures of starry pals like the late Kirk Douglas and Jackie Collins. I made a note to send him a pic of me so I could rub shoulders with them on his shelves! LOOSE IN LOS ANGELES A glancing blow with Denise Welch at a bash at Ross’ house, and a tale of her trip to LA so…

Eamonn’s EMOTIONAL PLEA After he was unceremoniously replaced on This Morning, things are looking up for Eamonn Holmes. His move to GB News seems to have paid off, with the star being nominated for not one, but two prestigious awards. Eamonn, 62, who presented This Morning on Fridays with his wife Ruth Langsford, also 62, for 14 years before Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond took over, left the show in 2021, later making it clear it wasn’t exactly his choice. ‘I’m all for TV companies being able to choose who works for them, but it would be nice if they told you why you were going,’ he said. Well, it looks like he’s having the last laugh. Being nominated for TRIC (Television and Radio Industries Club) Awards, Eamonn made…

FLORAL FANCY Elevate your jeans with this pretty blouse. Top, £30, sizes 6-22, Next PALM PRINTS Add a touch of luxury to your garden furniture. Cushion, £10, bmstores.co.uk IN TRAINING Comfort and style in one! Trainers, £80, New Balance at laredoute.co.uk FACE IT A fun and maintenance-free addition to your windowsill. Faux plant, £12, habitat.co.uk SPOT ON We’re dotty about this cotton dress with pockets. Dress, £24, sizes 6-22, Next BLAZING GLORY Invest in a tailored blazer, we guarantee it will become the most versatile item in your wardrobe and be worn for years to come. LIGHTEN UP Go khaki for this season’s take on the classic denim jacket. Jacket, £35, sizes 6-24, M&S BOWLED OVER Tableware to wow. Basket bowl, £12.99, Homesense WATER WORKS Handy for houseplants. Plant sprayer,…

I can’t give up the sex Q I’ve been cheating on my husband. Our sex life has always been limited, so when a married man at work told me I was attractive, I went along with the flirting. Since then, we have spent several nights together. I love how he makes me feel, and I can’t give up the sex. I feel so much guilt about my marriage, but what do I do? A Of course, it is exciting to have a lover. The thrill, the compliments and the sex are all addictive. But you need to consider what your aim is. If you are trying to find an escape from your marriage, there are less painful ways to do it. If not, you need to wake up. Your husband…

✣ Check seller reviews. ✣ Check measurements or contact the seller to ask. ✣ ‘Buy it now’ is great if you know the market price and know you’re getting a great deal, but bidding can save you lots of cash. ✣ If something looks scuffed, ask the seller for close-up pictures so you know the extent of  the damage. ✣ Check out courier companies that can collect pieces for you – some companies offer great deals. ✣ For bigger, pricier buys, always carefully read the listing wording. ✣ Items are uploaded constantly to eBay, so if you’re after something specific it’s worth waiting for a few weeks or even months. ✣ Read eBay’s terms of service.…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr A neighbour needs specialist help. Ask one of the younger members of your family, as they’re more in touch with technology. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Invite a friend to help you clean out your shed of clutter you don’t use. Think about how you could use the space instead. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun You often rush around under Mars, the planet of action’s influence, but pause to ask how much of the activity benefits you. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Set up a reward system for yourself. The more you achieve the larger the reward. A spa day, a mini break? Dream big! LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug You’re always helping others, but it’s important to clear your…

Stepping out of the shower in April 2019, I wrapped a towel around me before squeezing a dollop of moisturiser into my hands. As I applied it across my body, I was thinking about the day ahead – what my daughters, then six and four, were up to. Life was busy but it was blissfully happy. Only, as I rubbed moisturiser across my chest, I froze. My fingers had landed on a pea-sized lump in my left breast. Days later, a doctor referred me for a scan followed by a biopsy. And finally, I got a phone call from Guy’s Hospital, London, asking me to come in. I went along to the appointment alone and sat opposite the doctor, I’d never felt so scared. ‘You’ve got stage three breast cancer,’…

Even over the phone, Linda Nolan’s voice crackles with the gravelly timbre of an old-school British star. Living with cancer is far from easy, but her upbeat and positive outlook is an inspiration to millions of fellow sufferers. First diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, the 63-year-old has had periods in remission before the disease returned in 2017, then again in 2020, when it had spread. Now undergoing treatment again, the star lost sister Bernie to breast cancer in 2013 and has also seen sister Anne battle the illness. Here, she tells Woman’s Own about her bond with her family and her anxiety about the future. What’s life like at the moment? Every week, I have a blood test on Wednesday and, if that’s fine, I go in and have…

Have you heard about? OWNING A PET CAN HELP YOUR BRAIN FUNCTION Your furry friend could help you when it comes to thinking, reading, learning, memory, reasoning and paying attention. When comparing the cognitive skills of adults with an average age of 65, a study* showed long-term pet owners had better abilities than non-pet owners. This is due, it’s thought, to a pet’s ability to reduce stress levels, which can have a negative impact on brain function. It worked for me Kerry Chester, 50, Rickmansworth ‘My husband noticed that my snoring got worse during the perimenopause so I decided to try the Mute Nasal Dilator (£16.99, amazon.co.uk). It sits in your nose and opens up your airways. My husband says it has dramatically reduced the volume – some nights he…

MEDICATION If you have consistently high blood pressure but you’re low-risk in other areas, your doctor will advise lifestyle changes first. Otherwise, you’ll need to take a combination of different medicines, depending on your age and ethnicity. For example, those under 55 will usually be offered an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin ii receptor blocker (ARB). If you’re aged 55 or older (or you’re of African or Caribbean origin and of any age), you’ll usually be offered a calcium channel blocker. Other medications include diuretics and beta blockers. SIDE EFFECTS These can include a cough, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, headache, rash, slow heartbeat, swelling of the hands and feet, upset stomach and weight gain. Not everyone experiences side effects and, if you do, they often wear off. See your GP, as…

IS HAVING A FATTY LIVER SERIOUS? Q During the various lockdowns, I put on a lot of weight and decided to get myself back on track. I started with a health check at the GP. They found an abnormality in my liver blood test, which I wasn’t expecting as I rarely drink. My doctor then arranged a scan which shows fatty deposits in my liver. Is that serious? A The two most common causes of fatty liver are carrying excess weight and drinking too much alcohol. If left unchecked it can progress to hepatitis or even cirrhosis, but the good news is that the fatty infiltration is completely reversible if you manage to lose those extra pounds. I’m too scared to have an MRI Q I’m under the care of…

Severe back pain? Posture changed? A weakened skeleton could be to blame, and it’s more common than you might think. In fact, one in three* women over 50 will experience osterporotic fractures in their lifetime, while around three million people in the UK** are estimated to have osteoporosis. This is a condition where your bones lose strength so they’re more likely to break. But, fear not, there are plenty of things you can do to prevent weakened bones later in life and protect your skeleton. Take our test to see how much you know about bone health and how to boost yours… 1 BEING UNDERWEIGHT IS HEALTHIER FOR YOUR BONES ❑ A True ❑ B False ANSWER: FALSE Being a healthy weight – Body Mass Index (BMI) between 19…

John Darwin is not the only one to have faked his own death: ✣ In 1907, British activist Grace Oakeshott faked her own death so she could flee her marriage and elope with her lover Walter Reeve to New Zealand. She left a pile of clothes on the beach to suggest she had drowned, and changed her name to Joan Reeve once she arrived in New Zealand. ✣ Jose Lantigua was sentenced to 14 years behind bars after faking his own death in 2013 to escape money problems. He said he had Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and had gone away for treatment. Instead, he was cashing in on his life insurance. ✣ Former MP and Cabinet Minister John Stonehouse pretended to have drowned in Miami in 1974, but was later found…

1 It’s cocktail o’clock Get in the holiday spirit with a tiki-style cocktail bar. With a small footprint, they’re ideal for giving a small balcony or patio a tropical touch. Add squishy cushions to the bar stools for extra comfort and decorate around the bar with strings of festoon lights. Opt for shatterproof acrylic barware to prevent any breakages once the cocktails start flowing! 2 Sit back and relax Low-level Moroccan-style seating is a huge trend this summer. Recreate this look on a budget by using old wooden pallets topped with a seat pad as a base, then pile high with rugs, throws and cushions for a laid-back boho vibe. Create some welcome shade from the midday sun with a pretty parasol and use twinkling metal lanterns for added atmosphere…

Film THE LOST CITY Out now A successful novelist (Sandra Bullock) is kidnapped by a dodgy billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) to look for lost treasure in the jungle. Can her useless book-cover model Alan (Channing Tatum) save her? Bullock and Tatum have great fun fighting as they negotiate leeches, waterfalls and Randy the goat. Enjoy! Music SUKI WATERHOUSE I Can’t Let Go (Sub Pop), Released 22 April US media organisation NPR named her as a 2022 artist to watch. Now UK model-turned-singer Suki Waterhouse releases her debut album. Influenced by Lana Del Rey and Aimee Mann, her confessional writing style and impressive vocals make this album a winner. Event THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG: UK TOUR 20 April-13 August, multiple venues The hugely popular and multi-award-winning The Play That Goes Wrong…