Innholdsfortegnelse for 31-Oct-2022 i Woman's Own

As everyone does their best not to put the heating on, we’ve been finding – or at least trying to find – the humour in these troubling times. Just the other day, a friend sent me a photo of some very fetching, albeit slightly off-brand, fingerless gloves he was wearing while he fought the urge to turn up the thermostat. The gloves in question were his little girl’s – but he really did pull them off! With that in mind, turn to p24, where you’ll find seven ways to warm up fast. Bet I can guess which is the most appealing! For more money-saving advice, on p40 our expert Rebecca Gamble fills you in on all you need to know about avoiding mortgage mistakes (while cutting through all the confusing…

Martin Kemp, 61, has been in the limelight since his teens thanks to his role as the bassist in Spandau Ballet, but these days he’s best known as a Greatest Hits Radio presenter, as well as a Celebrity Gogglebox regular. The star lives in London with his wife Shirlie. They have two grown-up children, Capital Radio presenter Roman and daughter Harley. 1 Item in your wardrobe A Dolce & Gabbana leather jacket I bought a long time ago. You can wear it with anything - you can make it look smart or you can wear it with jeans and be comfortable. 2 Celebrity hero Neil Armstrong. The first man to ever walk on the moon, it has to be him. 3 TIPPLE I like an old-fashioned. When I was in…

FEELING DOWN Women suffer from 180 ‘off days’ a year, new research claims. Evidently we feel tired or uncomfortable for as many as 15 days every month. Six in 10 of us say these days affect our sex lives and relationships and involve feeling tired, feeling bloated and lacking confidence in ourselves. Oh blimey, how sad is that? That’s a lot of life to spend feeling below par. And even more sad is that a lot of these down feelings relate to our tummies. We’re not confident about them and fret over how they look. Amazing that after all the ‘body positive’ messages of recent years we still get hung up on things like this. The research doesn’t break down age groups, but here’s hoping that the little girls of…

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Health ask us DOES SHE REALLY NEED THE OP? Q My mother had a mole removed at the hospital recently because they thought it was cancerous. She has received a letter saying it is cancer and asking her to go back to have extra skin taken away. The mole was on her arm, and she already has a significant scar. Is this really necessary? A Your mum’s skin cancer is probably a type of cancer called a melanoma and it is routine practice to perform what we call a ‘wide excision’ around such cancers. This is to reduce the chance of the cancer recurring and to maximise long-term survival. How much extra skin needs to be removed will depend on the size of the cancer, but she should have this…

1 Do nothing The 90s have a lot to answer for, but one of the biggest fashion crimes of the decade was encouraging us to pluck our brows out like there was no tomorrow, for that infamous skinny-brow look. If you want thicker, more defined arches, the first step is obvious. Step away from the tweezers. A typical hair-growth cycle is four months, which is long enough for you to see what your brows will look like in their natural state. But we’d advise leaving yours alone for a minimum of six weeks before assessing their shape. 2 Boost growth For some of us, years of plucking means our brows just won’t grow back like we want them to. If yours are still as sparse as ever, you can encourage…

TIP IT’S BEST NOT TO COOK THESE ON TOO HIGH A HEAT OR THE OUTSIDES MAY BURN BEFORE THE CHEESE HAS MELTED. Savoury French toast MAKES 4 My dad used to love smoked mackerel for breakfast or savoury French toast, and this recipe is a bit of a homage to him. It’s a cross between a toastie and French toast and it smells much better than smoked mackerel first thing! YOU WILL NEED 8 slices of bread 4 slices of ham ½tsp dried oregano 75g mature Cheddar, grated 50g good melting cheese, such as mozzarella or Gruyère, grated Ketchup, hot sauce or mustard Butter, for fryingFor the egg mixture:6 medium eggs 150ml milk ½tsp dried oregano ½tsp garlic powder Pinch of hot chilli powder 1 Take 4 slices of bread…

‘SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS’ Some parents run a tight ship, but just like the tongue-in-cheek meme, it’s fair to say I run a pirate ship: there’s swearing and drinking (me) and occasional mutiny from the tiny crew I created (them). As mum to Bluebell, 11, Max, seven, Marigold, five, and Violet, two, I constantly feel like I’m being pulled in four different directions. Every single day is about little people and keeping them alive. Me and my husband Rob, 44, often say it feels like the kids rule the roost, so when I decided to let them take over and give me ‘orders’ every day for a week, what did I have to lose? MONDAY The start of half-term usually involves heavy groans as I tell the kids about the days…

ASK ALEX A ‘WHAT IS MY HOROSCOPE TODAY?’ ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr You get an idea of what’s ahead, as you’re more in touch with your feelings than usual. Preparing for an event will take up your time. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Focus on your goals and don’t be afraid to renegotiate deadlines. You’ll be surprised how other people accommodate you. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun You’re fair and helpful, staying on top of chores while Venus is in Scorpio. Make a plan so you can complete everything. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Someone from the past reappears, giving you a chance to resolve unfinished business. A grandchild enjoys your vibrant energy. LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug With Mars in retrograde, get others…

THE SATSUMA COMPLEX by Bob Mortimer (£16.99, Simon & Schuster, HB) Gary is not the type to have adventures. Yet somehow, this 30-year-old legal assistant has ended up on a quest through south London’s pie shops. It all began at the pub, with a work acquaintance called Brendan. When Brendan leaves early, Gary meets a girl reading a strange book, The Satsuma Complex. He can’t recall her name, but he’s in love with her anyway. When Brendan disappears, Gary’s only hope of finding him is to track down the Satsuma Girl… Packed with laugh-out-loud moments, this debut novel from comedian and national treasure Bob Mortimer is a whimsical delight. DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Joanna Bolouri (£7.99, Quercus, PB) It would be a Christmas to remember – for all the…

Harry Styles ‘IT’S ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF LOVE’ The singer plays a 1950s copper with a secret life in new film My Policeman… As a singer, he’s had hit albums, dominated the singles charts and had sell-out tours, but now Harry Styles is carving himself a career as an actor. After a small part in war drama Dunkirk and starring in recent thriller Don’t Worry Darling, the former One Direction singer is starring in My Policeman, a moving drama about a secretly gay copper in 1950s Britain when homosexuality was a criminal offence. He plays police officer Tom, who falls for school teacher Marion (Emma Corrin) and marries her. But when he meets suave museum curator Patrick (David Dawson), it awakens repressed sexual desires and the two men embark on…

As I stepped in the front door, the smell of lasagne filled the air. ‘Hope you’re hungry,’ my mum, Caroline, 72, said. Even at 40 years old, there was nothing like Mum’s home-cooked dinners. Ever since I was a child, Mum was always there with a nice cup of tea if I ever felt down. Growing up in Guildford, Surrey, it was just the two of us and I knew that no matter what happened in life, Mum’s door would always be open. I spent a lot of my 20s travelling around the world, but I always called home to let Mum know how I was doing. In 2017, I moved back to the UK with my partner Kevin and, shocked by property prices, we decided to buy a narrowboat.…

GO GREEN A twist on a classic, with floral embroidery. Top, £25, sizes 6-24, M&S WASH OUT A cute pumpkin-inspired addition to your bathroom. Soap dispenser, £10, Next HATS OFF Fedoras aren’t going anywhere. £14, Cotton Traders SCARF TIME Moody blooms are a big trend for autumn. £14, Accessorize STYLE SPOTS Team this polka-dot dress with leather boots. £28, sizes 8-24, Peacocks TABLE GOALS Chic tableware that’s sure to impress your dinner guests. Fruit basket, £7.50, ombré salt and pepper shakers, £5, place mats, from £5 each, tumblers, £3.50 each, wine glass, £5, coasters, £7 for four, plates, from £3, and cutlery, £9 for a 16-piece set, all Matalan TANGO TASSELS Add a pop of colour to your sofa. Cushion, £12, Dunelm SERUM STEAL Boost your glow with salicylic acid.…

Have you heard about? FLU JAB COULD REDUCE STROKE RISK Booked your flu vaccine? It could help prevent a stroke, says new research**. Results showed that those who had the jab were 12% less likely to experience this life-threatening event, compared to people who didn’t have their yearly top-up. Why? Scientists believe this is due to the flu itself possibly increasing the risk of stroke, meaning a vaccine may help prevent it. Go to nhs.uk to see if you are eligible for a free jab. It worked for me Natasha Bishop, 50, Hampshire ‘In September 2020, I developed a red, dry and itchy rash on my neck, which spread around the corners of my mouth and then around my eyes. Blood tests confirmed I was pre-menopausal and it was affecting…

Health ask us I owe so much money Q I’m in such a mess. I owe so much money to credit cards, and with all the higher bills, all my cash goes as soon as I am paid. I try to pretend it’s not happening (ignoring letters from the banks), but most nights I shake with fear thinking about being taken to court or losing the house. I am 51 and live on my own, and while I’ve always had panic attacks, they are getting worse. A The worst thing to do is pretend this isn’t happening. Though you cannot pay your monthly payments, that doesn’t mean your creditors will seize your goods or take you to court. Credit cards are covered by the Consumer Credit Act (CCA). This means…

H&M home AUTUMN HUES Give natural shades a fresh feel with contemporary shapes and patterns George Home at Asda MODERN OPULENCE Mix pops of colour with statement charcoal pieces…

1 HIT THE HOTSPOTS While you’ll have to get up early to see the Brandenburg Gate without the crowds, it’s well worth starting your experience of the city here. It’s Berlin’s only surviving city gate, yet was inaccessible from the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 until its fall in 1989. It now symbolises a reunified city and is impressive even from a distance with its neoclassical style and Doric columns. Just beyond is the huge Tiergarten park, perfect for a stroll or visiting the 19th-century Victory Column at its heart; climb the steep winding steps to the top (51m) for glorious views. The moving Holocaust Memorial is nearby too, a maze of 2,711 concrete columns. It’s open year-round, with a free tour in English on Saturdays. 2 LEARN…

Sweater dress Embrace the cold weather in this jumper dress, which looks cosy and chic worn under a quilted coat or gilet for a bracing winter walk. The fabric is not too bulky, but heavy enough so it won’t cling, making it the ideal throw-on-and-go solution to everyday dressing. Balloon sleeves Made from a fluid satin fabric that drapes beautifully over your curves, this abstract animal print dress is ideal for a winter wedding or special occasion. Team with a simple black clutch and heels for an elegant outfit. The sleeves are fuller at the wrist, a clever design feature that will make the top of your arms look slimmer! Frilled hemline Look presentable in this zebra-print tunic dress from TV star Lorraine Kelly’s new collection. If you’re top-heavy, this…

As the clocks go back, marking the arrival of darker, colder months, now is when many of us will flip the switch on our central heating – if we haven’t succumbed already. But with energy bills set to soar this winter, finding other ways to warm up makes sense. The good news? There are plenty of healthy steps you can take to stay toasty, without having to blast heat from your radiators. From circulation-boosting foods to blood-pumping exercise, here’s what will help you to fight the chill. 1 RAISE YOUR HEART RATE Working out is a fail-safe way to get warm. ‘Cardio increases your heart rate by 50 to 80% which gets blood pumping around the body and raises your core body temperature,’ says Yvette MacDonald, a personal trainer at…

Hands up if you love Halloween, but are left with a bucketload of sweets once the trick-ortreaters have stopped knocking. Hardly ideal when trying to watch your weight. What also doesn’t help is that from now until New Year there’s endless temptation with goodies galore stacked high on the supermarket shelves. But sticking to a diet doesn’t mean you can’t have your sweet treats. Use these calorie-saving tips to escape the nightmare of denial and cravings, and indulge in the fun without putting on pounds. DITCH THE GUILT On a weight-loss journey, guilt is mostly unhelpful, so cut yourself some slack. ‘Enjoying treats now and again can actually help to sustain a healthy eating plan,’ says nutritionist Jenna Hope*. ‘If you allow yourself to enjoy them, you can consume them…

READER QUESTION Q What is ‘telematics’ car insurance, and could it help me save money? A Young drivers or anyone else considered high risk might save on car insurance by taking out a telematics policy. This is when your insurer monitors your driving, usually via a telematics box fitted to your car. ‘Telematics policies can offer many benefits, including a discount on your premium for sensible driving and a smoother claims process after an incident,’ says comparethemarket.com’s Alex Hasty. ‘However, if you’re considered an unsafe driver, you may face higher premiums when you come to renew and, if your driving is considered dangerous, your insurer may cancel your policy.’ Go green for less Parents can reduce their plastic waste by refilling existing baby bath bottles with refill packs. Try the…

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CLUES & ARROWS Fill in the clues in the direction of the arrows. Puzzle solutions CROSSWORD CLUES & ARROWS SUDOKU WORDSEARCH Answer: ROOIBOS WORDWISE Coif, coil, coir, corm, filo, floc, foil, folic, form, formic, frolic, from, limo, micro, milo, moil, roil. Answer: MICROFILM Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Wordsearch Dr P Le Fras Nortier was a founding figure in the production of what type of tea? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BLACK CHAGA CHAI CHAMOMILE GINGER GREEN LEMON MATCHAMINT NETTLE OOLONG PU-ERH ROOIBOS ROSE WHITE CROSSWORD Put your feet up and have a go at this old classic. ACROSS 6 _ Hayek, Oscar nominee for playing artist Frida Kahlo…

Film BROS Out 28 October US comedian Billy Eichner wrote and stars in a gay romcom in which he plays a New York podcaster struggling with his career and love life who finds romance with a buff lawyer (Luke Macfarlane). Can the confirmed bachelor fall in love? Sweet and salty laughs. Music ARCTIC MONKEYS The Car (Domino Recording Company), out now Alex Turner and co are back with their seventh studio album, and it doesn’t disappoint. Returning to their roots, the band – who brought us the likes of R U Mine? and I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor – will have us all dancing for the foreseeable. Event THORPE PARK FRIGHT NIGHTS Until 31 October 2022, Thorpe Park, Chertsey, Surrey. Tickets from £39 Be prepared for the…

NICOLAS CAGE While most of us would seek to avoid spooky experiences, actor Nicolas Cage had other ideas when he purchased a new home with a whole lot of history. The 58-year-old revealed, ‘I once lived in the most haunted house in America. The LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans used to belong to Madame LaLaurie, a well-known 19th-century socialite and serial killer. I bought it in 2007, figuring it would be a good place in which to write the great American horror novel,’ before joking, ‘I didn’t get too far with the novel.’ ANDREA MCLEAN Former Loose Women panellist Andrea McLean claims she’s had an eerie encounter while meditating at home. The 53-year-old said, ‘I completely felt there was someone standing next to me… it was a man and he…

FRIDAY FUNDAY Dermot O Leary tells me he loves hosting This Morning with pal Alison Hammond. ‘It’s been nice to get to know Alison and get really close. She’s such a nice person to be around. We both like people and we want to tell other people’s stories.’ So who would Dermot like to grill him? ‘Part of me wants to say Alison but she knows me too well. Graham Norton I’ve always loved. But you think you’ve got a lot to say and then you sit down and get into it and realise how boring you are!’ HANK-ERING FOR AN INVITE! Singer, songwriter and producer Rita Wilson, whose new album Now and Forever: Duets is out now – tells me she and husband Tom Hanks like to warble at…