Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, March 6, 2023 i Woman's Own

We’ve got a real-life special for you this week, with 20 pages of must-read stories. On p40 we meet the mum who packed up her family and moved to Goa – managing to live on a fraction of what it was costing the six-person family here in the UK. The thought of relaxing on a beach and living life on your own terms probably sounds pretty good to most of us right now, and if that’s not an ingenious way of escaping the cost-of-living crisis, I don’t know what is! On p52 we find out if flirting really does get you ahead (any self-confessed flirts out there?!), and on p56 three women who look decades younger than they are share their secrets. For something a little raunchy, on p86 the…

After turning 70 last year, Denise Nolan underwent a non-surgical facelift and now hopes she’ll soon look younger than sister Coleen, who’s 13 years her junior. The singer – who is the second eldest of the Nolan sisters – tells Woman’s Own, ‘I was approaching 70 and I wasn’t happy with my neck and jaw area. I felt it was sagging and I missed how my jaw and neck used to look.’ Denise adds, ‘I just thought, “What will I do for myself at this age?” I thought I would give myself a last kind of boost so I can look in the mirror and think, “You’re not bad for your age.”’ Denise – who lost her younger sister Bernie to cancer in 2013 and became a carer for sister…

She’s one of Loose Women’s most iconic panellists, thanks to her straight-talking and no-nonsense approach. Yet it hasn’t always been an easy ride for Denise Welch, who’s been honest about her alcohol and depression battles in the past. ‘I’VE GOT QUITE A LOT TO CELEBRATE’ Amazingly, the 64-year-old actor is now over a decade sober and hasn’t had a depressive episode in three years – which she famously dubbed ‘the unwelcome visitor’. The TV favourite shares her sons – The 1975’s frontman Matty, 33, and former Emmerdale actor Louis, 22 – with Benidorm star Tim Healy, with whom she was married from 1988 until their divorce in 2012. However, Cupid struck once again for Denise, this time in a nightclub at 6am when she met artist Lincoln Townley – 14…

Have you heard about? VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTS WON’T WORK IF YOU’RE OVERWEIGHT Taking a vitamin D tablet? You might miss the benefits if you’re carrying extra pounds, says research*. It’s believed that people who have too much fat in their bodies struggle to metabolise vitamin D supplements. Those who were overweight had much lower levels of vitamin D in their blood than healthy people taking the same tablets. A 30-minute daily walk can help shift weight. It worked for me Laurel Brumant-Palmer, 58, from London ‘I was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at three years old. As an adult I experienced complications – I’ve needed excess iron removed from my body every night after years of regular blood transfusions. I’ve always practised art at home and it has become my…

She wrote me out of her will Q I am an only child, and my mother recently died. She had written me out of her will, saying in a letter that it was because I am living with a woman. She left everything to cousins who I am estranged from, also due to my sexuality. During the 20 years my wife and I have been together, my mum often spent time with us, even at Christmas, so I assumed she was happy. I am so angry. Do I have any rights? A There is no legal obligation for a parent to provide for their child in a will. However, this does not mean you can’t challenge the will and make a claim. It would also help if you talked to…

Choose your type... Retinol is often used as a blanket term for a family of ingredients called retinoids, which work to plump, smooth and generally freshen up your skin. At the top of the family tree is retinoic acid, the most potent form that’s only available on prescription. The second strongest is retinaldehyde (retinal), and the third is retinol. After that come the retinyl esters, which are retinoids that have been mixed with other ingredients to dilute them. AND START SLOW These products work by accelerating the rate at which our skin cells turn over, and this can result in a temporarily scaly or flaky complexion. To minimise this, introduce retinol slowly into your routine. Apply just twice a week to begin with, leaving a 48-hour gap between applications, and…

Standing in the school playground, I keep my eyes focused on the classroom door, waiting to collect my son. ‘There she is – the footballer’s wife!’ I hear another mum snigger. They’d given me that nickname as I always look glamorous, my hair and make-up immaculate, even for the school run. I smile politely and pull my dark glasses down over my eyes. I don’t care what they think. It has taken me years to become this resilient though, and to realise that often, women just dislike me. I haven’t always been singled out for my looks. At primary school, I was outgoing and popular, and had lots of friends, but when I started secondary school, people’s perceptions of me began to change. With two older sisters, I loved…

Despite being single, I’ve never been very big on flirting. In all honesty, I’ve never been that good at it. But after a recent study published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes revealed that it is actually men who use flirting the most to get ahead in the workplace, rather than their female colleagues, it made me wonder whether flirting really might be worth the effort. And could it be that turning on the charm might actually benefit me outside the office too, in everyday life? I decided to give it a try, challenging myself to one flirt a day for a week, to see what happened… MONDAY I decide to ease my way in at the local coffee shop. I intend to give the young barista…

Fancy brunch quiche PREP TIME: 20 MINS COOK TIME: 1 HR 30 MINS CALS: 347 FAT: 24G SAT FAT: 11G CARBS: 19G SERVES 6 All your favourite breakfast elements reimagined in tart form. This simple quiche travels well too. YOU WILL NEED 320g ready-rolled puff pastry150g baby chestnut mushrooms, halved100g smoked streaky bacon, 3 rashers reserved, the remainder cut into chunks1 small leek, halved and finely cut10g parsley, finely chopped50ml full-fat milk150g half-fat creme fraiche2 eggs1tsp nutmeg4 quail eggsYou will also need:25cm fluted tart caseBaking paperBaking beans or dry rice for blind baking HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 200C Fan/Gas 7. Unroll the pastry and roll out wide enough to cover the case. Lay over the case and ease the edges in. Use a…

And… relax28 February-6 March 2023 ASK ALEX A‘WHAT IS MY HOROSCOPE TODAY?’ ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Someone’s planning a surprise for you. Mars’ assertive nature encourages you to enjoy a friend’s adventurous spirit. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Live life your way. If you want to relax in front of the TV, that’s your choice. A neighbour might try to persuade you otherwise. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Take time to slow down, to think and to be alone. Maybe somewhere out in nature that helps to recharge your brain. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Fun conversations happen when the moon’s on the change. You may find you’ve always wanted to take up a certain hobby. LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug Your idea on…

THE DAUGHTERS OF MADURAI by Rajasree Variyar (£14.99, HB, Orion) A daughter is a heavy burden to bear. It’s 1992 in Madurai, India. Janani is in despair. Her family expects her to produce a son. Although she was allowed to keep her first baby girl, her other daughters were taken from her and killed at birth. Powerless in the face of her ruthless mother-in-law and drunken husband, Janani must take drastic action if she is to save her child’s life. Sydney, 2019: Having grown up in Australia, Nila knows little about her mother’s family in India. Joining her parents on a trip to Madurai, she uncovers a buried past that will change everything. Rajasree Variyar’s debut novel is utterly devastating and quietly hopeful. MUD, SALT AND MEDICINE: ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS…

OLIVIA WILDE They may be in a custody battle now, but Olivia and her ex Jason Sudeikis, 47, once had a wild sex life. The 38-year-old, who is ‘taking a break’ from One Direction heart-throb Harry Styles, previously boasted that she and Jason – who share children Otis, eight, and Daisy, six – ‘have sex like Kenyan marathon runners’. Now that is an image we’d rather not have in our heads. JADA PINKETT SMITH The excitement of a kid-free date night at the Oscars was too much for married couple Jada and Will Smith. In 2011, Jada – who shares son Jaden, 24, and daughter Willow, 22, with actor Will, 54 – admitted things got hot and heavy on the way to the awards show. The 51-year-old said, ‘In a…

Meghan THE TRUTH UNRAVELS Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has always been clear to describe her words as ‘my truth’ but where does the validity really lie? You see, there is no tit for tat because the royals rarely respond to stories. Despite the truth bombs hurled at them, they remain tight-lipped. But, many of the claims can, history dictates, be disproven and there’s one particular declaration that doesn’t appear to be entirely accurate. A resurfaced blog post from her lifestyle site, The Tig, in 2014 sees Meghan, 41, snub her now-sister-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, 41, and reveal her true feelings about royal princesses long before she married into the family. Meghan wrote, ‘Grown women seem to retain this childhood fantasy. Just look at the pomp and circumstance surrounding the…

COSY CO-ORD Lounge around in style in this waffle-knit cardigan. £24.99, sizes xs-xl, H&M FAKE IT An artificial, yet authentic-looking plant. Eucalyptus pot, £10, Matalan BRIGHT EYED Soothe delicate skin. Bio-cellulose Eye Masks, £3.99, sephora.co.uk SPRITZ AWAY Keep your houseplants healthy and hydrated. Plant mister, £4, B&M FAUX SUEDE Snap this up quickly. Coat, £35, sizes xxs-xxl, Primark TROPHY JACKET Invest in a timeless textured blazer that you’ll wear on repeat. Jacket, £62, T-shirt, £16, and jeans, £38, all sizes 8-22, Cotton Traders; earrings, stylist’s own PEP TALK The perfect motivator. Poster, from £5.45, desenio.co.uk EAR CANDY Add a little glam to a simple jeans and T-shirt combo. Earrings, £5.99, parfois.com SMOOTH BASE Ideal for redness-prone skin. Revolution Pro Correcting Primer, £7, lookfantastic.com MINIMAL DESIGN Create soft lighting in your…

The dress Inject some serious colour into your closet with this gorgeous maxi dress. The lightweight knitted design works well all year round, just team with accessories that match the season. Choose sandals and a basket bag for the summer months and opt for a leather jacket and chunky biker boots when the temperature drops. TOP TIP Smooth lumps and bumps by wearing shapewear underneath. Total outfit cost £49.40 The T-shirt A Breton T-shirt is a must-have for any wardrobe. Extremely versatile, you can pair it with everything, from your trusty favourite jeans to smart tailored trousers or even casual joggers or shorts. It’s a classic that never goes out of style. If you need to dress it up, add a blazer and a chunky gold necklace. TOP TIP…

Health report Often, the best treatments for niggling ailments and minor injuries are those money-saving remedies we hear about on the grapevine – the health tips passed down from generations of wise women that may help relieve symptoms or give your wellbeing a much-needed boost. But when it comes to old wives’ tales, whether it’s inhaling lavender to get the calming effects or having another boozy drink to heal a hangover, which ones actually make a difference? And are there any of these curious cures that turn out to be just nonsense? We get the lowdown from our experts. Honey... to heal skin wounds There’s a rumour that honey can help soothe cuts and grazes. ‘This is true, but don’t just use the honey in your cupboard,’ says GP Dr…

If you want to boost your curls… Traditional hairdryers can be too harsh for curly hair, resulting in a fluffy, wavy finish when dried too fast. For curls as springy as Sandra Oh’s, try the Bellissima Diffon Ceramic, £59.99, bellissimaitalia.co.uk, instead. All you need to do is gather hair into the plate and allow the delicate airflow to dry, tame and enhance your natural spirals. It can even be used with your hair upside down for extra volume. If you want smooth hair… You don’t need to spend a small fortune on a hairdryer for impressive results. Use the Smooth & Sleek Hairdryer, £10, Primark, with the included tapered nozzle to concentrate the airflow down your hair, for a polished finish to rival Isla Fisher’s. When you’re done, a quick…

Get freezer smart It can be tricky to fit the weekly shop in the freezer, with jammed-in packages liable to tear or rip. Use these tips to organise your freezer. MAKE SPACE Remove excess ice packs and unnecessary food packaging. Keep the part of the wrapping that includes cooking instructions, best before date, contact information and any details of allergens. AVOID ‘ESCAPE-PEAS’ Cut a large V-shape at the top of a bag of peas to create ‘handles’. Knot the two handles together to reseal the bag before returning it to the freezer. GET IT GROUPED Make sure the foods in your freezer are grouped by what type of food they are (veg, meat, fish, etc) and use boxes, tubs or sturdy bags to carve up the space. FLAT-PACK FOOD Decant…

Cover story Richard and Judy have been enjoying a break in their beloved Cornwall in recent weeks and it seems it may have come at a crucial time. Richard, 66, has had a series of mishaps at work that have found him under fire, with some viewers declaring that he should be sacked. The broadcaster – who has graced the telly for over four decades – came under criticism for misgendering non-binary singer Sam Smith during a segment on Good Morning Britain. Instead of referring to Sam by their preferred pronouns, ‘they/them’, Richard used ‘he’, quickly apologising for his mistake. However, the star made a second blunder, also misgendering guest Shivani Dave, who is non-binary. ‘I am so sorry. I will learn to do that,’ Richard said when pulled up…

LOOKING LARGE What do you want first: the good news or the bad? The good? Well, here you go then: penises have grown in length by a quarter in the past 30 years. Whoop! No more magnifying glasses and gently reassuring him that size doesn’t matter, ladies. Aah, but the bad news will leave you (and him) feeling slightly limp. Because while Stanford University researchers in the USA found the average erect penis jumped 25% in length from 1992 to 2021 – from 4.8in to 6in – it’s mostly down to men becoming lazier, less active, fatter and more exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Oh dear. The scientists also found that the increase in penis size was linked to a decline in fertility. Sigh. Hmm, probably best stick to a stiff…

Tailored blazer Made from a comfortable fabric with lots of stretch, this double-breasted blazer will instantly elevate any outfit. Wear it with a pair of faded jeans and push up the sleeves for a relaxed vibe or buy the matching trousers if you need a smart suit for a special occasion. Striped shirt The ‘borrowed from the boys’ trend isn’t going anywhere and the oversized shirt is here to stay for spring. Wear it loose over skinny jeans, or unbuttoned over a vest and chinos. The vertical lines will make you look more slender too! Well-supported Wearing a bra that fits properly will not only feel more comfortable but will also make you look slimmer. Sainsbury’s has launched a new range of lingerie which is supportive but doesn’t compromise on…

HELP! HE CAN’T HEAR Q A nasty ear infection left my husband needing two courses of antibiotics, and took a good couple of weeks to clear. The pain and discharge have all settled now, but I have noticed his hearing is not as good as it was. He’s constantly turning up the TV and asking me to repeat myself. Will this improve? AYes, almost certainly! It can take six weeks after an ear infection for all the inflammation to settle and for hearing to return to normal. If, however, his hearing is not right at this stage, he should speak to his GP who will arrange a formal hearing test called an audiogram to check for any longer-term hearing loss. Painkiller sensitivity Q Recently, I have been diagnosed with adult-onset…

*BASED ON ADULT WEIGHING 10ST. Trying to shed excess pounds? Cutting down on too many calories can often leave skin looking lifeless and drawn – and it’s probably why we often give up on dieting. But working hard to lose weight doesn’t need to have a negative impact on your complexion – in fact, eating the right foods can give you a glowing, youthful boost. This easy diet plan will not only help you slim down, but it can help knock years off your age, too. The best part? You can still eat your favourite foods and feel full, all while losing up to 2lb each week. Why it works Our plan contains the foods that are great for fabulous skin. And don’t worry – you don’t need to splurge…

Cutting off another chunk of Cheddar cheese from the packet, I dropped it into my mouth, barely chewing before swallowing it and cutting off another piece. Before I knew it, I’d scoffed the whole 500g block, but I wasn’t worried. I ate whole blocks of cheese daily, it was my Achilles heel, and probably one of the reasons for my size. At 5ft 7in and 16st 11lb, I wore a dress size 20. I knew I was big, but I just did what I’d been doing for years – convincing myself that I’d get round to losing weight one day when I wasn’t quite so busy. I hadn’t always been big. When I married my husband Mark in 1989, I was 9st 7lb and a svelte size 10. I’d never…

Curling up on my mother’s lap with a book, her fingers combed through my hair. I was seven and exceptionally close to Mum. We were so alike, we both loved reading and enjoyed art and we even looked the same, with our dark hair. Nobody would suspect that I didn’t really belong to her. I was just six weeks old when my mum Bronwen and dad Kenneth adopted me in March 1970. They’d had fertility problems and I was joining an older sister who they’d also adopted, although wasn’t biologically linked to me. Then, when I was three, a new fertility treatment became available that worked for them, and my youngest sister was born. My adoption was never kept a secret. There was no big reveal like you often see…

As the church doors opened, I took a deep breath and started my walk down the aisle. It was July 2019 and the place was packed with family and friends, but the only person I could see was my husband-to-be, Tony, 56. Tony was my best friend and the love of my life. He was perfect for me – only it had taken me many years, a wedding and a divorce to finally realise it. We’d been here before, the two of us making vows to each other. But this time I was never letting Tony go. We first met in March 2002 after being introduced by a mutual friend. Tony, then 39, was kind, supportive and a great listener. I was 30 and not long out of a relationship.…

‘I dress to make myself feel good’ Tracey Jardine lives in Spalding with her children Anja, 19, and Ryan, 17. A lot can be said for a pop of colour. Bold, vibrant shades are youthful – it’s beige and greys that can age you. When it comes to how I dress, I’m not afraid to experiment with bright colours and patterns and, although I’m in my 40s, I certainly don’t shy away from crop tops or shorts. In fact, my dress sense is one of the main reasons I appear younger than I actually am. In my 30s, I was a lot heavier and weighed 16st. I wore a dress size 22 and covered up in drab beige cardigans. My daughter used to moan whenever I got dressed for the…

READER QUESTION Q I have a gift card for a retailer, but I never shop there and I’m unlikely to use it. Any tips on what to do with the card? ADo you have any friends who’d like to buy it? They might be more tempted if you offer a discount. Or try selling it online, via sites such as Cardyard (cardyard.co.uk). Bear in mind that you won’t get the card’s full value – and before selling online, always check site reviews and T&Cs. Go green for less Don’t let the heat in your home rush out of any gaps in your front door, such as the letter box or even the keyhole. Try hanging a full-length curtain inside the front door to trap in the warmth – it really…

CLUES & ARROWS Fill in the clues in the direction of the arrows. WORDWISE Adhere, aether, dare, dart, dear, dearth, deer, derate, deter, drat, draw, drew, eared, earth, earthed, eater, ether, ewer, hard, hare, hared, hart, hatred, header, hear, heard, heart, heater, heeder, herd, here, hereat, hewer, rate, rated, read, reed, reheat, reheated, rete, rhea, tare, tared, tear, there, thread, three, threw, trad, trade, tread, tree, treed, wader, ward, ware, wared, wart, warted, water, watered, wear, weather, weeder, were, wether, where, whereat, wrath, wreath, wreathe, wreathed Answer: WEATHERED Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Wordsearch Mebarak Ripoll is the surname of which of these mononymous solo artists? The answer is the one missing from…

Film CREED III In cinemas 3 March Michael B Jordan takes on directing as well as starring duties in this pugilist drama that follows boxer Adonis Creed as he comes up against a childhood friend who has spent time in prison (Loki’s Jonathan Majors) and wants to prove himself in the ring. Tessa Thompson co-stars as Creed’s wife in the knock-out blockbuster. Podcast WHAT IF? WITH LORRAINE & ROSIE New episodes every Thursday (Pixiu) Each week a famous guest joins TV’s Lorraine Kelly and her daughter Rosie to discuss their career paths, turning points and life’s biggest questions, all while having a laugh. If you’re looking for a podcast that feels like you’re having a natter with your friends, this is it. Event JUST FOR LAUGHS LONDON 2-5 March, The…

From Coronation Street’s cobbles to the Loose Women panel via Phoenix Nights and The Royle Family, Sally Lindsay has been entertaining us for decades. Turning 50 this year, she lives in Heaton Mersey with her husband Steve White and their 12-year-old twin sons Vic and Louie. 1 Favourite item in your wardrobe I’m not really bothered about dresses and shoes and stuff, but there is one gold Mulberry bag I got from my husband about eight years ago that I absolutely adore. I always take it with me to awards dos. It’s absolutely beautiful. 2 Reality show I find The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills hilarious. I’m A Celeb still works for me, although the eating tasks make me gip. I can’t even pull legs off a prawn. 3 Tipple…

Sam Claf lin ‘LET’S BRING BACK FLARES!’ The Peaky Blinders star goes back to the 1970s in Daisy Jones & The Six… Based on the bestselling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, this 10-part drama series follows Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Daisy (Riley Keough, daughter of the late Lisa Marie Presley), who finds fame with rock band The Six, led by troubled frontman Billy Dunne. ‘Billy is the right man to be at the forefront of the band because he’s resilient, disciplined, determined, passionate and creative,’ says Sam, who plays him. ‘But his weaknesses are alcohol and addiction…’ At the height of their success in 1977, The Six suddenly call it quits after a sell-out show. ‘WE BOTH STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM’ Decades later, the ex-members finally agree to reveal the truth…