Innholdsfortegnelse for 26-Dec-2022 i Woman's Own

With all that’s going on in the world and closer to home, sometimes it can be hard to keep hold of the Christmas cheer. But while it’s easy to focus on the negatives, there has been plenty of good to come out of 2022. On p30 we’ve rounded up all the things that have made us smile – from 12-year-old Max Woosey, who slept in a tent for two years to raise money in memory of his friend, to the incredible bravery of Dame Deborah James, and even just the fact that weddings were finally back in full swing, no strings attached! I definitely felt merry after reading it, and hopefully you do too! Wishing you all a very happy (and at least slightly restful!) Christmas, from everyone here at…

IT’S A CRYING SHAME There’s a time and a place to open the floodgates Have you burst into floods of tears yet this week? Dissolved into a sobbing mess? Or at the very least been weeping uncontrollably? Preferably in public. And preferably in the company of men. ‘WALLOWING DOES NOT MAKE YOU A WARRIOR’ No? Well, I hate to break it to you but you’re getting this girl thing all wrong. Because being constantly tearful for no apparent reason is what it’s all about these days. High Priestess of this trend is the Duchess of Sussex in her Netflix fly-on-the-wall series, though you could take your pick from a depressing number of well-known females. Morning-telly types seem particularly partial to sobbing live on air. Holly Willoughby was reportedly crying over…

Have you heard about? LISTENING TO MUSIC MAY STOP COMFORT EATING Worried that festive stress will add inches to your waistline? Pop on your favourite playlist, says new research by De Montfort University in Leicester. Findings showed that women ate roughly a third less after listening to music that provided comfort. Scientists believe this is due to the release of happy hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, when hearing soothing sounds. It worked for me Ruth Harrison, 62, from Blackpool ‘I had a lingering cough and tight chest since COVID-19. I now wear Silver Life Face Covering (£24.49 for two, silverlifemasks.com). My lungs feel clearer and I’m coughing less. The silver suffocates infectious bacteria, completely getting rid of it, rather than letting it sit on the surface of the mask…

Health ask us She talks about sex all the time Q I have moved to a new department at work and a woman I work with closely is driving me crazy. She’s recently divorced and loves telling me intimate details about her sex life. She’s someone I wouldn’t generally be friends with, and I don’t know how to handle her. I’ve hinted that I don’t want to know these things but she doesn’t listen. What do I do? A There’s nothing like work life to expose you to people who you wouldn’t usually choose as friends. That said, no one is asking you to be best friends with this woman; all you have to do is learn to work with her. Right now, she has no boundaries, so it’s up…

READER QUESTION Q Is it cheaper to leave my heating on low all day or to just switch it on when I need it? A This is a much debated question. However, according to the Energy Saving Trust, ‘It costs less to set your heating to come on when you need it and just in the rooms that you are using, rather than keeping it on low all day.’ For more energy-saving tips visit energysavingtrust.org.uk. Go green for less Unless clothes are badly stained, consider washing them at 30C. According to Which? this will cut energy use by 38% on average compared with a 40C wash, while a 20C wash will use 62% less energy. 3 easy ways to... talk about money as a couple With the…

Christine MAKING MOVES Just five months after splitting from her husband of 11 years, Christine McGuinness, 34, was spotted kissing close friend and singer Chelcee Grimes. The model – who shares three children, twins Penelope and Leo, nine, and Felicity, six, with Paddy McGuinness, 49 – took time off parenting duties and enjoyed an evening at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, where she was pictured locking lips with Chelcee, 30, multiple times as well as playing a host of games and winning soft toys, before rewarding themselves with a drink. Christine and Chelcee first met while competing on ITV’s 2022 reality show The Games and are said to have become inseparable, with a source revealing, ‘Christine and Chelcee hit it off straight away and love spending time with each other… Chelcee…

Sequinned bolero Transform a strappy evening dress or camisole top by adding this gorgeous bolero jacket. In addition to covering your upper arms, it will also hide your bra straps, meaning you can wear skimpy tops without having to compromise on comfort and support. Finishing at the waistline, this versatile jacket will enhance your curves and show off your shape. Velvet belted If you are long in the body, this belted style will cinch in your shape and create curves, ideal if you have a boyish figure. It’s been specially designed for taller women, having longer arms and an adjustable tie waist to ensure the perfect fit. It’s made from stretchy velvet fabric, which is comfortable to wear and hangs beautifully. Devoré kimono Perfect for throwing over a plain T-shirt…

TAKE THE TEST Grab a pen and tick the correct answer for each question Piles of rich food, flowing booze and soaring stress levels go hand in hand with this time of year – in fact, the celebrations can be a minefield when it comes to your health. Luckily, not everything about the festive period is bad for you. Wondering what to indulge in and what to avoid? Get clued up with our fun, seasonal quiz. 1 FEELING FRAZZLED? HOW CAN YOU BEAT FESTIVE STRESS? ■ A Pour yourself a large alcoholic drink ■ B Go for a brisk walk ■ C Take a 30-minute power nap 2 WHAT VITAMIN BOOST ARE YOU LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM AT THIS TIME OF YEAR? ■ A Vitamin D ■ B Vitamin…

PREP TIME: 20 MINSCOOK TIME: 30 MINSCALS: 108 FAT: 7GSAT FAT: 3G CARBS: 6G Aromatic sausage rolls MAKES 22 Zingy bites pepped up with a little spice, these buffet classics are addictive, so make plenty! YOU WILL NEED 400g minced pork3tbsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce or use regular with a dash of honey), plus extra for serving (optional)1tbsp sesame oil4 spring onions, finely sliced¼tsp Chinese five spice½tsp dried chilli flakes375g pack puff pastry1 medium egg, beaten2 tbsp sesame seeds HOW TO DO IT 1 Mix the mince with the kecap manis, sesame oil, spring onions, five spice and chilli flakes, and season well. 2 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6. Roll out the pastry to 30x50cm. Cut lengthwise in half. Arrange the meat in a sausage shape down…

CLUES & ARROWS Fill in the clues in the direction of the arrows. Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Wordsearch The Lake District town of Kendal stands just south of the confluence of the River Kent and which other river? The answer is the word missing from the grid. BALANCEHOPJOGJUMPKICKLIFTLUNGEPRESS PULLSKIPSPRINTSQUATSTRETCHTHROWWALK CROSSWORD Put your feet up and have a go at this old classic. ACROSS 1 & 30 Across: 2021 crime drama series starring7 Down, 17 Down, 22 Down and 27 Down (4,2,8)4 Island in the Caribbean (8)10 Resembling a fox (7)11 Undo or untangle (7)12 Natural beams of light (4)13 Just or impartial (4-6)15 Neckwear item (6)16 Having a strong, sharp, bitter flavour…

HOGWARTS IN THE SNOW Warner Brothers Studios, Watford, until 15 Jan 2023. Tickets from £51 (adult) Have yourself a very Harry Christmas as you experience Hogwarts under a blanket of snow. Walk in the footsteps of Harry, Ron and Hermione by attending the Yule Ball and enjoying the festive hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley before getting cosy in the Gryffindor common room. CHRISTMAS AT CHATSWORTH Chatsworth, Derbyshire, until 8 Jan 2023. Tickets £29.50 (adult) With a spectacular light trail, 24ft trees and decorations galore, Chatsworth is the place to be this festive season. This year’s Nordic theme transports visitors to the frozen north to experience a winter right out of a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. EDINBURGH WINTER FESTIVAL Various locations across Edinburgh, until 3 Jan 2023. Ticket prices…

SHOWGIRLS Saved by the Bell’s Elizabeth Berkley shook off her family-friendly image to play a stripper in Las Vegas. A critical flop on its release, best remembered for its corny dialogue and graphic nudity, the film is now considered a cult classic. WE’RE THE MILLERS Jennifer Aniston’s exotic dancer Rose joins a gang of misfits to smuggle drugs over the Mexican border. But when things get out of hand, she has to prove her true identity by stripping down to her undies – accompanied by banging rock music. HUSTLERS J.Lo appeared to defy gravity as she spun on a pole in huge earrings, after training with professionals for months. And one stripping superstar wasn’t enough – her gang also featured Cardi B and Lizzo. MAGIC MIKE Channing Tatum used his…

Breathing in the fresh air and taking in the beautiful scenery, I felt so proud. It was August 2021 and my husband Chris, then 48, and I were on an epic hike in Newquay. We had already walked several miles through the countryside and along the coastline but I still had the energy to keep going. ‘This feels incredible,’ I said to Chris. You see, just nine months earlier, I struggled to even take the dog out for a short walk. My weight had been an issue my entire life. By the time I was 13, I was a size 16 and winced in embarrassment as I noticed the sniggers and stares as I walked through the corridors at school. ‘You’re big-boned, like me and your dad,’ my mum Lilian…

OBSESSED WITH MY HEALTH Q I live alone and I’m aware that I’m becoming increasingly anxious about my health. I focus on any tiny symptom and it keeps me awake at night. I haven’t really told anyone about this, especially as it’s Christmastime, but I’m now worrying that my worrying will make me ill in itself! I don’t want tranquillisers, though, as I got addicted to them as a younger woman. A Please speak to your GP about this. We have lots of non-addictive drugs to manage anxiety today. Your GP may also refer you for one of the talking therapies and can also advise you on local groups you could join, which may help distract you from focusing on your health. Can my GP help with my work dilemma?…

Rethink the smoky eye Creating a smoky eye involves using three coordinating shades (light on the lid, darker on the crease and darkest on the lash line) to create a sultry look. For an updated take, swap greys and black for vibrant greens, blues and purples. Or follow Jessica Chastain’s lead with a fail-safe palette of browns. Try Beauty Pie James Molloy Deluxe Eyeshadow Quad in Gold, £15 for members, beautypie.com. Find the right shade To really make your eye colour pop, choose a shade on the opposite side of the colour wheel. That means peach, pink or orange tones for blue eyes, aubergine or plum for green, and cobalt or navy for brown. If your eyes are grey, then copper and bronze will look really pretty. The striking…

Eat out for less Morrisons are rolling out a delicious festive three-course meal for under £12 in their cafes! WHEN Between 11.30am and 3.30pm every day until the 1 January 2023. WHAT Enjoy the festive season with a two-course meal for just £9.99 or a three-course meal for £11.99! STARTERS These include a range of festive favourites from prawn cocktail to pâté, and a tangy tomato soup. MAINS Choose a turkey roast with all the trimmings (veggie and vegan options are also available). AND FOR PUDDING? Tasty Christmas pudding, apple crumble or sticky toffee pudding. SOMETHING LIGHTER? Try a mini Christmas turkey roast for £5.49 or grab yourself a portion of pigs in blankets for £2.99. Morrisons have also permanently reduced the price of over half of…

B&M GOLDEN GLAMOUR Warm metallics paired with tones of dusky pink create a luxe look Primark JEWEL FLORALS Rich tones and bold flower motifs dominate this decadent trend…

And… relax 20-27 December 2022 ASK ALEX A ‘WHAT IS MY HOROSCOPE TODAY?’ ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr With the sun in Capricorn you show your practical side when someone struggles with something you find easy. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May You’re proud of keeping yourself healthy. Maybe ask friends to join you, and get involved with children’s games. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun As 2022 draws to a close you’ve been burning the midnight oil. With so much happening you’re not sure what’s what. Make a list! CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul You may want to reconnect with a loved one. Keep your interactions upbeat, as your optimism rubs off on everyone. LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug Positive forces are vibrating all around you…

THE IMPOSTER by Leona Deakin (£9.99, PB, Transworld) The series of sinister murders has just one thing in common. At each crime scene, the killer leaves nothing behind but a trail of burnt matches and a matchbox emblazoned with an eye. Criminal psychologist Dr Bloom is called in to make sense of it all. The victims couldn’t be more different, from a stock-market trader who plummeted to his death from a high-rise balcony, to a member of the Saudi royal family whose identity the murderer stole. The investigation will drag Bloom and her colleagues deep into a dark criminal underworld, where the race to find the killer grows more deadly by the minute. A gut-wrenching read. HUNTING TIME by Jeffery Deaver (£20, HB, HarperCollins) Allison Parker and her daughter are…

Paul Hollywood ‘WE HAD CHRISTMAS IN BOILING HOT JULY!’ The Bake Off judge on filming festive editions of the C4 baking show… We may have a long time to wait until the next series of The Great British Bake Off, but there are two specials to look forward to this Christmas as hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas welcome some familiar faces to the tent. To mark the 40th anniversary of C4, The Great Christmas Bake Off sees five stars from the channel’s best-known shows hoping to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. Joining Gaby Roslin, who hosted early-morning show The Big Breakfast, are Time Team presenter Sir Tony Robinson, Popworld’s Miquita Oliver, Brookside actress Claire Sweeney, and Terry Christian, one of the hosts of Friday night show The…

Last July, I married my soulmate Grant in a wonderful celebration of love and happiness. It was hard to believe that just a few years earlier, I’d been drowning in debt and relying on food banks to feed my kids. I’m living proof that financial hardship can happen to anyone. In my 20s, I was a fashion stylist, working with famous photographers. It was a glamorous life, and I didn’t rely on anyone financially. After a brief early marriage, I married for a second time in 1991. Soon, we had four gorgeous kids – a son from my first marriage, and a daughter and two sons together. ‘THERE WERE £200,000 DEBTS IN MY NAME’ I gave up work to focus on the family and we moved to a farmhouse in…