Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, January 30, 2023 i Woman's Own

Good news – we’re almost through what feels like the longest (and wettest) month of the year. Bad news – we’re not quite there yet! But, if you want to inject some sunshine into your day, turn to p8. Celebrities who have managed to escape chilly Blighty for warmer climes open their scrapbooks. And, while there’s no denying their snaps are envy-inducing, there’s no harm in a bit of daydreaming – it’d be the Maldives for me, please! This week, we’re also debating miniskirts (p43) and if there’s ever an expiration date on how old you can be to wear them. As a lifelong fan of short skirts, I certainly plan on wearing them forever – but what side do you come down on? I’d love to know. Enjoy, and…

Miami DAME KELLY HOLMES As a former Olympic athlete there is no such thing as days off for Dame Kelly. The 52-year-old may have enjoyed a trip to Miami but that didn’t stop her from attending a boot camp and circuit sessions. What better motivation than knowing you can laze on the beach after? Balance is key, after all. Barbados FLEUR EAST AND MOLLY RAINFORD From the ballroom to Barbados! Singers and Strictly Come Dancing stars Fleur, 35, and Molly, 22, proved that their new-found friendship extends beyond the dance floor as they enjoyed a girls’ trip away. We’re guessing our invite got lost in the post… St Barts LUKE EVANS Welsh actor Luke worked on his tan – and showed off his muscles – during a trip to the…

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? We’ve heard a lot about the 21.5% of British workers who are ‘inactive’ recently. Both of our main political parties view this as a problem that needs fixing. But does it? The majority of these ‘inactive’ workers are over the age of 50 and NOT claiming benefits. Mostly they found that, during the pandemic, they could survive without jobs they either hated or didn’t want to waste the rest of their lives doing. And with taxes running at the highest rates for 70 years, they’ve worked out they’re better off NOT working. Most of these people have worked, paid taxes and National Insurance since they were in their teens. So not sure they are a ‘problem’ that needs fixing. They’ve found a solution. And they’re happy with…

Have you heard about? HONEY CAN IMPROVE HEART HEALTH Swap the sugar or sweetener in your tea for a spoonful of honey, says new research*. During the study, scientists found that it lowered blood sugar and levels of bad cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease. Honey contains a variety of nutrients, such as magnesium, which helps maintain a healthy heartbeat, as well as antioxidants, which fight off harmful toxins. It worked for me Jan Hobbs, 65, from Derbyshire ‘My cataracts were preventing me from doing the things I enjoy, such as reading with my grandchildren. My optician recommended cataract removal at SpaMedica (spamedica.co.uk). They are a provider of NHS eye patient services and have more than 40 hospitals around the country. Now I don’t need glasses to…

Anxiety makes me feel sick Q I feel so anxious and worried that I am often sick to my stomach. I worry about my job, the bills, mortgage rates going up and my kids’ lives (one is pregnant and going through a break-up). Sometimes at night I feel so anxious I find it hard to breathe and have to keep getting up. I know I need help, but I don’t know where to start. A We live in stressful times, and that’s even before you bring in personal and family issues. What’s important to know is your anxiety can be managed. Start by seeing your GP as medication can be taken on a short-term basis, and a referral to a counsellor will help you find long-term ways to manage your…

READER QUESTION Q I’ve heard about people renting out a parking space on their drive. How much could I get? A This depends – the people who make the most cash doing this tend to live in inner cities or close to stadiums, train stations and airports. You can advertise your space online. For example, you can sign up and list your space for free at justpark.com, add the details and set your price. But you’ll pay a fee on any bookings. However, there are certain things you should check first, such as whether you’ll need to tell your home insurer. For more info visit moneysavingexpert.com. Go green for less Have you ever bought a food item and discovered it was already in your cupboard? You’re not alone! Tesco research…

INSIDE HER FAMILY RIFT They may look like the definition of a close-knit family, but for Judy Finnigan, 74, and Richard Madeley, 66, it hasn’t always been straight forward, according to the couple’s daughter. Chloe Madeley, 35, has opened up about a rift between her and mum Judy as she was growing up. Chloe said, ‘After I was born she got really bad postnatal depression and it went undiagnosed for a long time. Then when she finally was on a good track to getting that sorted out, it turned out she needed a hysterectomy and she’d needed one for a long time and didn’t know about it. Then when she finally had the hysterectomy, the operation didn’t go very well, the recovery didn’t go very well. And just weirdly and…

LAVENDER LOVE Try styling with white or other pastel shades. Jumper, £20, sizes 8-22, Nutmeg at Morrisons HIGH SHINE Salon looks for less. Collection Gel Effect nail polish, £4, Sainsbury’s SITTING PRETTY Revamp your sofa. Appletree cushion, £14, George at Asda BRIGHT IDEA Add some stylish low-level lighting to your room. Lamp, £12, George at Asda PERFECT BLEND A picnic check with cosy lining – what’s not to love? Blanket, £12, George at Asda PETAL POWER Upgrade your undies draw with this delightful duo.Bra, £10, sizes 32B-38DD, knickers, £5, sizes 6-20, both George at Asda SERVICE, PLEASE Platter, £8, plates, £34 for a 12-piece set, wine glasses, £14 for four, all George at Asda GREEN SCENE Bring the outside in. Faux trailing plant, £8, George at Asda HAND HERO Soft…

Everyday staples Primark is dedicated to making sustainable fashion affordable and has launched a Primark Cares collection, featuring clothes made from organic cotton, recycled polyester and sustainable lyocell, modal and viscose. Clever undies Comfy on the skin and kind to the planet, it’s time to update your lingerie drawer with this sustainable set. Created from a soft recycled rib fabric, the dusty rose hue is easy to wear under most clothes. The bra has adjustable multiway straps and offers light support. Considered coat Partnering with the Better Cotton Initiative, M&S only ever uses responsibly sourced cotton. If you visit the website and search for ‘recycled’, there are also heaps of clothes crafted from recycled materials including this coat, which contains recycled polyester. The sunny hue is guaranteed to lift your…

No matter what’s happening in the world, or your life, you have the power to stop anxiety spiralling out of control. ‘Good coping mechanisms can help us immensely when times are tough,’ says Harley Street behavioural expert Professor Margareta James*. And these tricks don’t have to be complicated or take an age to work. ‘Anyone can learn them and start using them immediately,’ adds Prof James. STROKE THE DOG Or the cat – or give someone a hug. It releases soothing hormones such as oxytocin, which can help to beat stress and make you feel less alone. Rub your hands together Or stroke your arms. ‘These moves involving touch all trigger delta waves in the brain, which send the message that everything is OK,’ says Prof James. Reinforce the soothing…

Pot roast beef brisket PREP TIME: 15 MINS, PLUS RESTING TIME COOK TIME: 3 HRS (IN OVEN – SEE TIP) CALS: 328 FAT: 12G SAT FAT: 5G CARBS: 12.5G SERVES 4 Low and slow cooking is key with flavoursome cuts such as brisket. It makes for a wonderful alternative to the usual Sunday roast and is typically cheaper than more traditional roasting joints, too. YOU WILL NEED ½tbsp cooking oil1kg rolled beef brisket joint1tbsp plain flour4 banana shallots, peeled and halved3 carrots, roughly chopped3 parsnips, roughly chopped2 sticks of celery, snapped into pieces100ml dry white wine1tbsp wholegrain mustard2 bay leavesMashed potatoes, to serve For the topping: 25g parsley2 garlic clovesZest of 1 lemon HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 140C Fan/Gas 3. On the hob, heat the…

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 Old Folks At Home is the official state song of which US state? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ALASKAFLORIDAGEORGIAHAWAIIIDAHOINDIANAIOWAKANSASMAINENEVADAOHIOOREGONTEXASUTAHVERMONT CROSSWORD Put your feet up and have a go at this old classic ACROSS 7 Truck (5) 8 Felicity (9) 10 Michael B. _, star of boxing film Creed (6) 11 Turn upside down (4,4) 12 Hat worn in Mexico (8) 13 The _, crime TV series, starring 10 Across, 20 Across, 26 Across & 24 Down (4) 15 Liberty (7) 17 Sarcastic and mocking (7) 20 Dominic _, starred opposite…

Following a tough 2022, Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes are hoping things will finally start to improve for them this year. After battling with his own ill health, Eamonn sadly lost his mother, Josie, in November and Ruth has admitted, ‘It’s been a really difficult time,’ while Eamonn has described his recovery as ‘soul destroying’. Ruth added, ‘It is a lot of bad luck and these things often come along and you’re like, “Anything else?”’ But after taking some time off, the couple are now back at work and ready for a more positive year. A TOUGH TIME At the end of last year, Ruth took time away from her beloved job on Loose Women to help Eamonn with his recovery. On her return in the new year, she said,…

As I made my way along the high street, browsing the window displays, I bumped into a group of friends. It was May 2018 and, as we chatted, I told them my husband Tim and I were jetting off to Marbella in a couple of months’ time. ‘I can’t wait,’ I smiled. Then I cracked a joke about hoping I’d fit into the seat on the plane, poking fun at my weight before anyone else could. At 26st and 5ft 7in, I knew I was big and it had become a habit to just laugh off my size. But then someone in the group, who I didn’t know, said I would indeed need a seat belt extender. I felt mortified. Not only had a stranger commented on my body,…

Plonking one wobbly foot in front of the other, my son Isaac, then 11 months, bounced from sofa to sofa before walking towards me unaided, a big grin on his face. ‘Well done!’ I cheered, half proud, half disbelieving that my baby boy was growing up so fast. ‘HE BEGAN CONVULSING – IT WAS TERRIFYING’ It felt like just yesterday when my husband Adrian, then 41, and I had brought Isaac home. Now he was walking, and babbling away, too. Before too long, he’d be off to school with his big sister Eva, four. I cherished his milestone moments, when he called me ‘Mumma’ for the first time and started to recognise our friends and family. Only, in August 2019, we were walking towards the seafront while on holiday in…

Health ask us COULD A DRUG HELP ME SLIM? Q I have polycystic ovaries and my GP says I’m at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. I did a diabetes prevention programme, which stressed the need for me to lose weight, but try as I might, I’m finding it impossible. What are your thoughts on slimming pills? A Several slimming pills have come to market then been withdrawn because of side effects. There is one called orlistat available on prescription, or in half dose over the counter, which reduces the fat absorbed from food. It can be used by anyone with a BMI of 30 or more. Given your PCOS and prediabetes, your GP may also prescribe a diabetic drug called metformin, which can help with weight loss. Confusion…

Make a mask Not just for enjoying on toast, avocados have huge potential for your skin, too. Their creamy texture makes them perfect for smoothing on as a face mask, letting the antioxidants brighten and protect the skin, and fatty acids nourish. For an extra treat, you could also add a little yogurt for hydration and a squeeze of lemon to gently exfoliate. Milk it History claims that Cleopatra bathed in sour milk to soften her skin, which makes sense when you consider that lactic acid (an alpha-hydroxy acid) naturally occurs in milk. This hardworking AHA helps to dissolve dry, redundant cells from the surface of the skin, leaving it silky smooth. There’s no need to splash entire pints in your bath, though, as just one cup of whole milk…

Ratio rules Instead of splashing out on premixed dressings and baking packs, save pennies with our handy recipe rules… DRESSING MATHS To make a dressing, start with 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar. From this ratio, whisk in your flavourings such as mustard, honey and herbs, to taste. EASY PANCAKES The ratio for pancakes is 2 parts flour, 2 parts milk, 1 part egg and ½ part butter or oil. Using a cup as your measurement means no weighing! For best results whisk all your ingredients together until there are no lumps, then rest for 30 mins before frying. YOGURT POT CAKES Take a 150g natural yogurt pot as your measurement. Add the yogurt to a bowl with 3 eggs, then add 2 pots caster sugar, 1 pot oil…

YES ‘There are other ways to show off your figure’ Tanya Russell, 48, is the Woman’s Own Real Life Content Director and lives in Essex. I’ll be honest, when I saw Davina McCall wearing a short, skimpy minidress on The Masked Singer, I couldn’t help but cringe slightly. There’s no denying that, at 55, she looks great and her figure is incredible – but really, Davina, do you have to flash that much flesh at us all to prove a point? Hate me for it, but I think when women reach a certain age, we should start dressing more appropriately. I haven’t worn a minidress since my 20s, and there’s a reason for that. Back then, I was young and carefree, happy to show off my legs in barely there…

And… relax 24-30 January 2023 ASK ALEX A‘WHAT IS MY HOROSCOPE TODAY?’ ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Thinking about turning your hobby into something profitable? Look into online training to help fill in the gaps on your CV. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May If you’re feeling frazzled it’s because your ruling planet is in Pisces. You may need time alone or a pampering session. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun You’re likely to want time with your own thoughts. Shut out any superficial noise if you feel the need to release tension. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul If setbacks are hampering your progress, look at the bigger picture to see what changes you can make to get things moving. LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug Are you…

THE HOUSE AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Dean Koontz (£19.99, Thomas & Mercer, HB) Hiding from the world, artist Katie paints to forget the injustices and losses that haunt her. Her stone house on Jacob’s Ladder island is like a fortress, impenetrable and isolated. But this refuge cannot shelter her forever. Two agents from a government research facility arrive on the island. Along with a daring young girl, Katie must reckon with sinister powers which threaten to destroy the world as she knows it. An eerie, hypnotic read. THOSE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR by Kia Abdullah (£14.99, HarperCollins, HB) When Salma Khatun moves to the suburbs with her husband Bilal and teenage son Zain, she has high hopes for a better life. The modern house in a safe development…

ADAM RICKITT He found a place in our hearts as Coronation Street’s Nick Tilsley in 1997, but left for a (mostly unsuccessful) music career. He returned to Corrie in 2002, but is most recently known as Kyle in Hollyoaks, with his last appearance in 2020. These days he runs a Cheshire bar along with his wife, Good Morning Britain correspondent Katy Rickitt. KIAN EGAN A year after Westlife disbanded in 2012, Irish hunk Kian won I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and soon found himself busy with TV work, including as a judge on the Irish version of The Voice, as well as stints on This Morning. But the star, who shares three sons with his wife, actress Jodi Albert, returned to his Westlife roots in 2019, with…

Helena Bonham Carter ‘NOELE WAS A DREAM TO PLAY!’ The Crown and Harry Potter actor stars as a soap legend in a new drama on ITVX… ‘IT WAS A NO-BRAINER’ She’s played Princess Margaret, Elizabeth Taylor and Enid Blyton and now Helena Bonham Carter is starring as another famous woman in Nolly. The three-part drama tells the story of what happened when actress Noele Gordon was unceremoniously axed from ITV soap Crossroads in 1981. ‘When she was sacked, it was front-page news,’ says writer Russell T Davies. ‘It was very mysterious because she was sacked overnight without warning. It was ruthless.’ Helena plays the star who, at the time, was one of the most famous women in Britain, having played motel owner Meg in the Birmingham-based drama from its first…

Rubbing off the final number on the scratchcard I’d bought earlier in the day, I saw the symbol: ‘£1mil’. I gulped, speechless. ‘I think I’ve won a lot of money,’ I managed to say to my husband, Joseph. I couldn’t take in what was happening; it felt completely unreal. I’d only bought the card on a whim. We called The National Lottery to check, and they confirmed the win. Joseph was jumping around, whooping, but I was in a state of shock. I couldn’t comprehend that amount of money, or that it might be ours. ‘NOW, I FEEL MENTALLY STRONGER’ TREATING MYSELF That night, I couldn’t sleep, and I had to call back the next morning to double-check that we had won. At which point I screamed with delight! We…