Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, June 5, 2023 i Woman's Own

This issue appears to be the sex issue! On one hand we’ve got the rise of swinging, with more and more of us popping upside-down pineapples outside our doors (turn to p38 for more!), plus our brilliant columnist Dawn Neesom points out on p14 that sex could actually save your life. And, on the other hand, we have celebs who have decided to be celibate (p52). Each to their own, but all of the features had me gripped! And we’ve got plenty of other stuff too – on p16, there are 20 of the best summer dresses, which our Chief Sub Editor’s little girl was very taken with! And, on p32, we’ve got easy lunches for you to enjoy in the sunshine – I’d love to be sitting out in…

She was known for her trendsetting style, with her looks often being completed by iconic jewellery. And before her death, Princess Diana made it clear who she wanted to inherit her collection: ‘I would like you to allocate all my jewellery to the share to be held by my sons, so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it.’ Her sons’ wives have indeed been gifted pieces from her collection, but which are Kate and Meghan’s favourites? CEYLON SAPPHIRE ENGAGEMENT RING In 2010 Prince William proposed to the-then Kate Middleton in Kenya using the late Princess Diana’s sapphire engagement ring. The now iconic rock is an oval Ceylon sapphire on a white gold band surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, and was crafted by British jeweller Garrard.…

THE RISE OF SUPER RATS The country is facing an invasion of nasty beasties this summer, according to newspapers. The main worry appears to be rats. Naturally they’re ‘super rats’ because they’re increasingly resistant to poison and not worried about being around humans (thanks to the pandemic, apparently). We’re also facing giant wasps, scorpions smuggling themselves over on lorries and extremely bolshie seagulls. But back to the rats. Evidently the worst place for them is Swansea, followed by parts of south London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow and Sunderland, in that order. Food for thought. Well, provided the rats don’t eat it all first, obvs. SEX, SEX, SEX! We all keep banging on about it, and it turns out, it’s better for us than we had realised! It’s a fact of life…

New York club sandwich SANDWICH: £1.30 PER SERVE WITH MEAL TIP: APPROX £2.40 SERVES 4 Get two sandwiches in one with this iconic double-decker combo. 12 thin square slices of bread (white, rye or sourdough) 50g salted butter, at room temperature ¼tsp cayenne pepper 2tbsp horseradish sauce 4 large lettuce leaves 400g cooked chicken 4tbsp light mayonnaise 80g mango chutney 12 rashers bacon, cooked until crispy, cooled 4 medium tomatoes, sliced 8 small skewers 1 Toast the bread then leave to cool. In a small bowl mix the butter, cayenne and horseradish sauce. Spread some of the mixture on each slice of toast. 2 Divide the lettuce, chicken and mayonnaise among 4 slices of toast. Top each with a second slice. Spread with chutney and add 3 rashers of bacon,…

For decades it’s been a cliche of keys in a fruit bowl, wife swapping, and pampas grass by the front door or an upside-down pineapple (the not-so-secret symbols of sexual curiosity). But swinging has come a long way, and experts say there’s been a post-pandemic rise in the number of people participating in group sexual activities. With more than 1.5 million couples swinging in the UK, and 15 million worldwide, the practice of swapping partners, or indulging in group sex, is at an all-time high. And honing in on its popularity is a new dating-style app for swingers, called Pineapple, which is set to launch this summer. ‘The community is beyond the growth stage. It’s already huge,’ says its creator, Carl Shephard. Yet the surge has been driven by the…

MELANIE SYKES After splitting from Riccardo Simionato, 25, last year and realising that she was using sex as a ‘Band-Aid’, Melanie decided to lay off intimacy. The TV presenter, 52, explained, ‘If you can resolve an argument with a really great session of sex, it doesn’t mean the problem has gone. After a year I was so much more understanding of myself and had more respect for myself.’ Despite abstaining, the former model said she still has a ‘high libido’, adding, ‘It doesn’t stop me wanting to have sex.’ Whatever works for you, Mel. STEPHEN FRY For a staggering 17 years of his adult life actor Stephen was celibate. He’d known he was gay from an early age, once joking, ‘I suppose it all began when I came out of…

CHAIN REACTION Nautical inspired in the chicest way possible. Top, £25.99, sizes xs-xxl, Zara GET THE GLOW Hydrate and soften your skin. PS Pro Facial Serum, £5, Primark SEA FOOD Update your picnicware with pretty marine-themed plates. Picnic plate, £2.50, B&M WANDERLUST JEWELLERY Add colour with accessories. Earrings, £5.99, parfois.com DREAM WEAVER Swap your regular tote for a cool macramé style. Bag, £32.99, Zara COASTAL CHARM Bring the seaside into your home with this stylish set-up. Cushions from £8 each, cups, £9 for four, dried flowers in vase, £15, LED lantern, £16, candle, £7, plates, £15 for four, napkins, £5.50 for two, all Matalan GET THE MEASURE Crafted from solid wood. Measuring cups, £12, Habitat TRUE BLUE Only one coat needed. Nail polish in Piece of Air, £5.99, H&M HATS…

CAN I DITCH MY MEDS? Q For years, I have been on a low dose of amitriptyline. I was given it to help me sleep through the pain in my hip at night. I had a hip replacement a couple of months ago, which has been a huge success, so I don’t think I need it any more. Is it safe to just stop taking it? A I would never advise anyone to stop any prescription medication without discussing it with your doctor first. It sounds like it would be entirely appropriate for you to come off this medication now, but do book a telephone call with your GP, who will probably advise weaning the dose down slowly over a few weeks rather than stopping abruptly. Iron tablet trauma Q…

Cupboard love Rather than splash out on new furniture, pick up a second-hand gem at your local junk shop for just a few pounds. Give it a striking look by adding hairpin legs – The Range sells a set of four for just £25.99. Finish the revamp by stencilling a pattern on the doors using multi-surface paint. Lighten up Switching up your lampshades can create a whole new feel to your room. Shades made of rattan, dried grasses or bamboo are perfect for this summer’s boho trend. Easy-fit shades are quick to attach to your existing pendant in the same way as a normal shade, so there’s no need to call in an electrician. On a roll If your kitchen is looking dated, consider revamping it using self-adhesive film. There…

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 Which word connects a 1981 album by Kraftwerk and a 2018 album by Janelle Monae? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BOOKCHAIRCOMPUTERDESKDRAWERSENVELOPEKEYBOARDMOUSE PAPERPENPHONEPRINTERROUTERSTAMPSTAPLER CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Smells (6) 4 Gradually (3,2,3) 10 Immediately upon seeing (2,5) 11 Security device (7) 12 Clever or smart (4) 13 The _, 2021 BBC historical drama series starring 20 Across, 29 Across, 1 Down and 22 Down (5,5) 15 Very famous person (6) 16 Rain jackets (7) 20 _ Graham, star of the films This Is England and The Irishman (7) 21 Nitpicker (6) 24…

Cover story There’s a hell of a lot going on over at Loose Women of late. After months of speculation about stars not being happy about their contracts, Carol McGiffin has revealed she’s quit. Carol, 63, explained she ‘had to step away’ due to ITV ‘insisting’ the star sign a contract that was ‘totally unjust and unworkable’. The presenter – who’s been on the show since 2000 – then twisted the knife further by claiming she no longer watches the show. ‘You should be having the debates and seeing a difference in opinion. In the typical woke ideals, you don’t really get it any more. You’re not allowed to say it and if you do, you either get censored or you get cancelled, as many people have learnt to their…

Standing naked in front of my bedroom mirror, I cupped my breasts, pushing them up until they were as full and pert as they once were. ‘I used to have lovely boobs,’ I sighed. Then I dropped my hands to my side and winced at the reflection of the sad, empty sacks that I was left with. It was January 1996 and I was only 17. A year earlier, I’d been slim with a perky pair of 32Ds, but then I fell pregnant and they’d shot up two cup sizes. ‘ALL I WANTED WERE FULL BREASTS’ ‘Your figure will snap straight back,’ my friends told me. Wasn’t that one of the benefits of having a baby so young? But after my daughter Sasha was born, I’d battled with breastfeeding, suffering…

Have you heard about? LISTENING TO LOUD MUSIC CAN DERAIL YOUR DIET Turn up the volume on your favourite songs? You might be hampering your willpower, says a US study*. When looking at food sales in various settings, such as a cafe and supermarket, people were almost 30% more likely to choose healthy food when low-volume music was playing. Slow music can also help you to eat and drink slower. It worked for me Maria Borg, 58, from Manchester ‘I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2021, and was warned that if I didn’t take action then in 10 years’ time I’d be at risk of a hip fracture. I now take Bonebalance (£29.99 for 30 sachets, bonebalance.co.uk). The active ingredient, bioactive collagen peptides, is absorbed into the bone tissue to…

Health ask us He’s admitted to an affair Q I’ve been married for over 30 years and my husband has just told me he had a two-year affair before lockdown. It’s taken him three years to confess because he says he thought I would leave him. To be honest, I want to leave him. I want to throw him out, sell our house and move away, but I also hate the thought of being alone in my 60s. What do I do? A Please don’t do anything rash. However, if you decide the affair is a deal-breaker, you must: (1) Seek support from trusted friends and family and (2) Get legal advice, so your future is secure. If you’re at all unsure about the above or decide you want to…

When I told my friends I was pregnant with my second child, at the age of 48, most of them responded with delight. One even had tears in her eyes, which I took to be tears of happiness, rather than distress on my behalf. Another, however, was aghast. ‘I presume it wasn’t planned?’ she asked, with audible sympathy. ‘THERE’S SOMETHING LIBERATING IN BUCKING THE TREND’ She is an acclaimed wine writer and travel journalist and devoted stepmother of four teenagers who spends a fair part of the year hopscotching between hotels across Europe. I can see her point: who in their right mind would choose to have a child at an age when most parents are looking forward to regaining control of their Saturday mornings, not gearing up to spending…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Take a stand. Walk to the beat of your own drum. Go for what you want. It’s time to be innovative and use your talents differently. It will benefit others too. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May With Jupiter moving into your sign last week, you will start to feel much more confident about achieving your most important goals. So think big and don’t compromise! GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun You may be feeling extra-energised this week. Tune into it and put that vibe to good use by helping someone close to you who has been struggling lately. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Venus is still in your sign. Set a date to do something a little indulgent with friends, and enjoy…

THE MINUSCULE MANSION OF MYRA MALONE by Audrey Burges (£16.99, Pan Macmillan, HB) The miniscule mansion holds a strange and potent magic. Myra Malone has been under its spell for as long as she can remember. Hidden away in her attic in Arizona, the introverted 34-year-old is captivated by the mysteries of the doll’s house, where rooms appear and vanish of their own accord and music echoes through the hallways. Myra’s blogs about the miniature mansion are loved by thousands. When her readership sparks an unlikely connection with furniture business heir Alex Rakes, they discover their stories are intertwined. This is a mystical, poignant tale about loneliness, loss and love. THE GUEST HOUSE BY THE SEA by Faith Hogan (£20, Head of Zeus, HB) The warmth, friendship and Irish sea…

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber ‘WHERE DID MY LOVE OF MUSICAL THEATRE COME FROM?’ A new series of Who Do You Think You Are? begins with the theatre impresario… As BBC1’s genealogy show returns for a 20th series, the celebs tracing their family histories include survival expert Bear Grylls, former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton and The Crown stars Claire Foy and Lesley Manville. First up is Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, who finds some incredible connections that echo his own life… ‘My mother was an extraordinary piano teacher, my father was an academic musician and a brilliant church organist but he wanted to be a composer, and my brother Julian became a leading cellist,’ he says. ‘I suppose the thing I want to discover most is where my love of musical theatre…

Top tellyRichard Arnold’s Dickie does BAFTA! STRIKE IT LUCKY Star Lesley Manville has polished off her scenes as Princess Margaret in the final series of The Crown, but she’ll be back on set for a second outing of hit drama Sherwood about a mining community. ‘I was on a picket line in 1984 with a group called Barnsley Women Against Pit Closures, so I know all about that strike,’ she tells me. ‘I filmed Sherwood and I was very proud of it. We’re in a similar situation now where people are striking because they are not being treated fairly. Nothing changes.’ CROWNING GLORY Catching up with Ant and Dec for a post-coronation debrief: ‘It was quite surreal being in there when you’re normally watching something like that on the telly,’…

Cheerily filling my trolley with cutlery, plates and a frying pan, I ticked everything off my list. It was August 2017 and none of the items were for me, they were for my 18-year-old daughter Chloe, who was about to go to uni. She was excited to leave and finally get her independence – and I was excited to wave her off! When Chloe found out that she had been accepted into Bristol Uni to study neuroscience, I was so happy for her. Not just because she was taking a huge step towards her future, but because I’d finally be getting the house to myself as an adult, after having her when I was only 21. Since splitting from her dad 11 years earlier, we’d become the perfect double act…