Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, August 7, 2023 i Woman's Own

Some people love any excuse to throw some grub on the barbecue – one of my friends is even out there in winter! I’ve never cooked on a barbecue myself but I am tempted, and the good news is they don’t have to break the bank. On p42 we’ve got the very best barbecues – and pizza ovens – from just £16.99. On the subject of tasty food… snacking is my diet downfall, which is why I’m taking note of the smart tips on p26, about how to say no when cravings strike. I’m not sure how well I’ll do (I love crisps!) but I’m going to give them a go. There’s plenty more in the issue – whether you’re off to sunny Spain or staying closer to home, on…

It’s hard to believe it’s been 13 years since the bubbly Josie Gibson first burst onto our screens as a Big Brother contestant. With her lovable West Country accent and comical one-liners, she instantly captured the hearts of the nation and won the show with a staggering 77.5% of the public vote. But while many former Big Brother winners went back to normal life, Josie, 38, has managed to remain a household name. Today, the Bristolian – who is mum to four-year-old son Reggie – is one of ITV’s golden girls, sitting on the famous This Morning sofa alongside Holly Willoughby. Here, Woman’s Own takes a look at Josie’s rise to fame… HUMBLE BEGINNINGS She may have won over the public after taking the Big Brother crown back in 2010,…

FREE SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL? It all sounds a bit too good to be true, if you ask me! There are two types of women in this world. No, really there are. And it boils down to lumpy custard. Especially the pink kind that looked and tasted like a melted Mr Blobby. The question is, which one are you? We’re talking school dinners. And whether you were the kind of kid who couldn’t wait to queue up with your plastic tray to have dollops of unidentifiable ‘food’ lumped on it, or whether you dreaded it so much you took your own sandwiches (even if they were always white fluffy bread stuck around cheap cheese or packet ham). There was a third option, though, wasn’t there? The kids who had free…

Is suncream a bullet-proof barrier to cancer? Will you nod off quicker with a late-night cocktail? The answer to these questions could help you stay well and feeling good on your getaway – but when it comes to health tips, do you know what’s fact or fiction? Before you set off on a long-awaited break, we set the record straight on these common rumours. Myth NATURAL INSECT REPELLENTS WON’T WORK THE TRUTH… A good bug spray or lotion is a must on holiday to protect against midges and mosquitoes. Deet, a synthetic insect repellent, is often the go-to for many, but now there’s a super-effective natural alternative. Try Incognito Insect Repellent Lotion (£14.99, Holland & Barrett). Its active ingredient, PMD, has joined Deet as one of the few recommended by…

Banana pudding SERVES 6 With a handful of shop-bought ingredients, this creamy pud comes together in minutes. YOU WILL NEED 500g fresh custard180g biscotti, amaretti or ginger nut biscuits, roughly crushed4 small bananas: 2 sliced into small rounds and 2 halved lengthways150g raspberries300ml double creamClear honey, for drizzling (optional) You will need: 20 x 25cm oval serving dish HOW TO DO IT 1 Spoon half the custard into the base of the serving dish. Top with half the crushed biscuits, then add a layer of sliced banana rounds. 2 Scatter over a third of the raspberries, then cover with the remaining custard. 3 Layer on most of the remaining biscuit, but reserve a little for decoration. Top with the remaining sliced banana rounds and another third of…

When temperatures soar, there’s nothing nicer than a day at the beach and cooling off in the sea. Or a picnic near a picturesque river or lake and the chance to dip your toes into the water might appeal more. Many of us are happy to paddle in the shallows and enjoy the soothing sensation of the water. But while it may feel like one of life’s simple pleasures, it’s important to remember that open water, whether it’s a lake, river or ocean, is often much colder than you realise, even on the hottest days, and riptides and currents can be extremely dangerous. In 2022 there were 226 deaths in the UK from accidental drowning and 46% of these took place in the summer months. Just three months ago, 12-year-old…

Stacey Solomon Perhaps trying to avoid a Home Alone- style incident, Stacey could easily keep track of her five-strong brood at the airport by dressing them in matching outfits – and she and partner Joe Swash joined in too. With three kids under four, relaxation is not really on the cards for Stacey, 33, and Joe, 41. But after a busy day building sandcastles, the couple managed to enjoy a little one-on-one time, as Stacey’s dad Dave was with them in Dubai so took on babysitting duties for the night. Jane Moore We’ve all made friends on holiday before, but Jane Moore, 61, wins first place with this giant elephant buddy! And when she’s not trekking through jungles in Asia, the broadcaster opts for cultural city breaks. What better way…

Katie vs Holly During her showbiz career, Katie Price has made her fair share of enemies and the latest famous fall-out she’s spoken about is her feud with Holly Willoughby. When answering a fan who asked, ‘Why does Holly not like you?’, the former glamour model showed no hesitation as she said, ‘Holly Willoughby? I think she’s good friends with Pete. That’s why she doesn’t like me.’ The mum-of-five, who shares children Junior, 18, and Princess, 16, with ex-husband Peter Andre, added, ‘A lot of people are, as they say, “team Pete”. But who cares? I haven’t been married to the man for years.’ Katie, 45, and Peter, 50, famously split in 2009 after four years of marriage, having first met on I’m a Celebrity in 2004. Holly, 42, is…

BLAZER SQUAD Embrace relaxed tailoring with a linen cover-up. £35, sizes 4-20, Primark ON THE TABLE Beautify your dinner setting with these cotton napkins. £6.99, H&M CUTE CROSS BODY Give the straw bag a smart spin with tan details. £29.99, parfois.com PAISLEY PRINT A flattering top that’s perfect teamed with jeans. £19.99, sizes 8-18, New Look HIT THE SPOT Display on its own or with a single stem. Vase, £8, Dunelm GOLDEN HOUR Spruce up your outdoor space with rattan furniture and contemporary cushions. Lois corner sofa and table set, £499, armchair, £149 for two, geometric outdoor cushion, £25 for two, tiger outdoor cushion, £25 for two, tassel cushion, £17.50, throw, £29.50, serving platter, £14, and candle, £30, all M&S HYDRATION HIT Great for dry skin. Shea Hand Wash, £7,…

Peering at the article on the computer screen I felt a familiar rush of tears. As a health visitor, I knew it was a priority to remain on top of medical research but this latest news about drug treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF) sufferers hit a nerve. It was June 2023 and I had just finished reading a feature about how a leading combination drug was now helping ease lung damage for those living with advanced CF. Average life expectancy for people with CF used to be around 30 to 40 years, but with new drug breakthroughs like this, it may have improved to 70. It was, of course, wonderful news and would change the life of millions of sufferers worldwide. But not for my one-year-old son Oliver, who was…

ARE THEY WORTH IT? Q According to my GP, my cholesterol is borderline. I have spoken to a dietician and made a few adjustments to my lifestyle, but we agreed that I already have quite a low-fat diet. My daughter told me to swap my spreads to Flora ProActiv or Benecol, but money is a little tight. What do you think? A The products you mention contain plant sterols and stanols. Alongside a healthy diet, eating around 2g of plant sterols and stanols each day has been shown to reduce cholesterol. A healthy diet will provide around 200-400mg a day while these products contain between 0.75-2g per serving so, if your budget allows, they are worth trying. Can she fly? Q My mum has been involved in a car accident…

Amber blonde hues If you have blonde hair, you’re lucky enough to get to choose from so many different highlight hues. Why not copy Charlize Theron and opt for some warm amber tones to brighten your appearance? These will work to freshen up your hairstyle and keep it looking bright and beautiful this summer. Maintain the warmth with the help of Caramel balayage Balayage is still as popular as ever and Gemma Chan is embracing her gorgeous caramel ends. Darker hair tends to suit balayage rather than all-over highlights as it’s more subtle and blends well with darker roots. Make sure your ends aren’t dry and brittle after highlighting by using Beauty Works Argan Serum, £11.99, lookfantastic. com, every day from root to tip. Platinum refresh Dame Helen Mirren, 78,…

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 of these materials gets its name from an old term for the port of Quanzhou in China? The answer is the one missing from the grid. CORDUROYCOTTONDENIMFELTFLANNELGAUZELACEMUSLINNYLONSATINSERGESILKTWEEDVELVETWOOL CROSSWORD ACROSS 7 Church decree (5) 8 2022 superhero film starring 17 Across, 20 Across, 1 Down & 24 Down (3,6) 10 Building where horses are kept (6) 11 Last or final (8) 12 Instantly (2,1,5) 13 Was indebted to (4) 15 Short post on a quay or ship (7) 17 Zoë _, star of the 2022 tech thriller film Kimi (7) 20 Paul _, actor…

Sigourney Weaver ‘DOING THIS DRAMA WAS SO EMPOWERING!’ Hollywood star Sigourney Weaver reveals the emotions behind her new Australian drama series… Set in Australia and adapted from a best-selling novel, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart centres on three generations of a family whose lives are blighted by trauma. Hollywood A-lister Sigourney Weaver stars as austere matriarch June, who takes in Alice (Alyla Browne), her nine-year-old granddaughter, following a fatal house fire. But although Alice’s new home at a flower farm and women’s refuge seems a safe haven, secrets and lies from the family history are about to come to light. ‘I’ve never played a character like June,’ says Sigourney, 73. ‘She has so many layers, like a box with secret drawers. But she’s very loyal, and fierce! June wants…

Coleen Nolan hasn’t had it easy over the years. From public marriage breakdowns to her family’s ongoing health problems, the star has had to deal with a lot by anyone’s standards. Now, the Loose Women panellist has admitted that she’s been ‘bullied all her life’ about alcohol, admitting, ‘99% of the time I prefer a cup of tea. But all my life, I feel like I’ve been a bit bullied about alcohol because whenever I go out, people go, “What do you mean you don’t want to drink? Oh you’re boring.”’ But sticking to her guns, Col, 58, hit back, ‘We can all have a good time sober. I have the best nights ever.’ ‘I GREW UP WITH A FEAR OF ALCOHOL’ DITCHING BOOZE Revealing how she feels happier for…

Have you heard about? VAPING CAN RUIN YOUR SMILE Using e-cigarettes to quit smoking? You could be putting your oral health at risk, says research*. Findings show that people who vape are 19% more at risk of cavities than those who don’t. ‘Vaping can decrease saliva and cause a dry mouth, which is a known cause of cavities,’ says dentist Dr Sam Jethwa**. ‘Saliva helps to neutralise the acid that can decay tooth enamel.’ Drink water after vaping and visit your dentist regularly. It worked for me Saira Arif, 37, from London ‘I have suffered from anxiety since I was 18. I now use the Wysa app (free, iOS and Android) – a clinically validated chatbot which talks me through my worries via instant messaging***. It calms me down so…

Health ask us He’s having an affair for attention Q I’ve found out that my husband has been having an affair with someone we know. He says he did it as he wants to feel attractive again. I’m in a rage just thinking about it. We have two kids aged five and eight, I work full time (he doesn’t) and he’s cheating for attention. He wants us to work on things and I want him out, but I don’t know if I can do it on my own. A This is a big betrayal, so it’s important to allow yourself to feel whatever you’re feeling. Don’t try to bottle it up. Once you’ve had time to process your emotions, talk to your husband about what happened. At the same time,…

‘I love the sense of adventure’ Wild swimmer Naomi Smith, 53, lives in Redruth, Cornwall, with her husband Mark, 56, and their sons Ted, 20 and William, 18. The first time I went wild swimming in June 2020 at Portreath Beach, near my home, was a disaster. My friend Liz and I went out at high tide, the sea was rough and we struggled to stay upright as we walked into the water – both of us fell over. But our second attempt two weeks later was so different. It was a bright morning, the sea was calm and welcoming. After my swim, I felt invigorated, refreshed. I couldn’t stop smiling. ‘This is incredible,’ I said to Liz as we swam up and down in the tepid water. ‘I CALL…

And… relax ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr The north node has moved into your sign, and this really helps you to focus on your most important purpose. So, which direction will bring you the most fulfilment now? TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Jupiter in Taurus guides you to move out of your comfort zone and aim high. How can you step up now, so you feel like you are living your dreams? GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Use your flexible nature to your advantage. If you’re asked to do something out of your usual remit, say yes, and know that this will open new doors for you. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul With Mercury entering, it helps you to approach difficult situations with sensitivity. Let your…

I DID IT FOR YOU by Amy Engel (£16.99, HarperCollins, HB) Fourteen years have passed since the gruesome murder that tore Greer Dunning’s family apart. In the sleepy Kansas town of Ludlow, her older sister Eliza was shot dead along with her boyfriend. The killer was found, convicted, and executed – which should have been the end of the story. But years later, the nightmare is far from over. When another young couple dies in eerily similar circumstances, Greer is certain there’s a connection. Returning to her home town, she begins digging for the answers to the questions which have haunted her. In this devastating thriller, Amy Engel explores guilt, grief and the secrets buried in one small community. THE AIR RAID BOOK CLUB by Annie Lyons (£20, Headline, HB)…

SUIT YOU, SIR! My scruffy look in make-up led to a confession from Chris Tarrant – he still had the security tag on his new suit! ‘I thought it was a loose thread. The alarm never went off,’ Chris told me. I met him by chance later that day. He’d been to the shop to have the tag removed, and this time the alarm did go off, with blushes all round. BOBBY’S ON THE BALL It’s been a sad time for Bobby Davro, who lost his fiancee Vicky to pancreatic cancer just a few months ago. Despite his grief, Bobby was on top form when we met recently, with his trademark twinkle and saucy banter. Work has been his saviour on stage, where he still does stand-up. ‘It’s Dr Footlights,…