Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, September 11, 2023 i Woman's Own

I’ve been hooked on the TV show Yellowstone (and Kevin Costner!) for a while now – it’s all cowboys and beautiful scenery (and lots of murder, but we’ll glaze over that bit!) – and it’s made me desperate for a pair of cowboy boots. The jury is out on whether I can actually pull them off but I might just give them a try, especially as Western-inspired fashion is everywhere – turn to p16 for more new-season trends brought to you by our brilliant fashion team. Talking of the arrival of autumn… if you’re still clinging on to that holiday feeling, on p22 we’ve got healing habits that will do the trick, and on p38 our money expert Rebecca Gamble helps you to autumn-proof your home. Enjoy, and have a…

The star on her relationship problems with husband Mark Dunford Linda Robson has always been an open book, and in recent months she has been very honest about the struggles she and husband Mark Dunford have in their marriage. ‘We’ve been married 33 years, so it’s not going to be all plain sailing,’ she previously said. Now Linda seems to have taken another swipe at her husband, admitting on Loose Women that she forgets she lives with him. ‘The kids have left home, so it’s me and the dog,’ she said, quickly adding, ‘And the husband. Do you see what order I put that in?’ And with the actor also admitting she ‘misplaced’ her wedding ring and prefers to holiday alone, are they drifting apart? Separate lives During a…

A KILLER IN PLAIN SIGHT We may never know why evil Lucy Letby took innocent lives… Of all the gut-wrenchingly awful and heartbreaking words written about killer baby nurse Lucy Letby over the past two weeks, there are few more haunting than the victim impact statement of a bereaved mum and dad. And it was this. That after murdering their son, Letby bathed his broken body and dressed him in a woollen gown she had chosen. Touched by her supposed kindness and helpless with grief, the parents had their precious baby buried in that gown. Letby’s evil followed that poor little mite to his grave. It truly makes your blood run cold, how anyone could deliberately set out to murder tiny babies. Yet that is what neonatal nurse Letby, 33,…

Have you heard about? REGULAR NAPS CAN BOOST BRAIN HEALTH Can’t get through the day without a siesta? You might just be protecting your brain, says new research*. Findings showed that short naps during the day delayed the natural process of our brains shrinking as we get older. But researchers recommend keeping the naps to less than half an hour. And snooze eight hours before your bedtime to stop it ruining your night-time rest. It worked for me Patricia Pittomvils, 65, Buckinghamshire ‘My health started to decline last year – I had constant pain in my hip, knee and shoulder. I now take Nutravita Marine Collagen (£19.99 for 120 capsules, nutravita.co.uk). It contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, which helps normal collagen formation. All of my aches and pains are…

Health ask us Chronic illness has left me feeling scared Q I am a 62-year-old woman and I’m feeling lost and alone. I’ve been single for many years, but a sudden chronic illness has left me feeling old and unable to cope. I have medication but being so unwell has made me realise how alone I am. I’m starting to feel anxious and depressed about becoming older and more needy. What can I do? A Feeling lost and alone after a significant illness is normal, especially if it’s a chronic condition that still gives you pain. Feeling afraid for the future is also natural and something you should talk to friends and family about, so they can reassure you that you are not alone. At the same time, talk to…

READER QUESTION Q Can you help explain what buying a property ‘off-plan’ means? A Buying a house or flat off-plan means committing to buying the property before it has been built. There are many pros to this in the current climate, including being able to choose your ideal plot, as well as your own fixtures and fittings, but buying off-plan isn’t always straightforward and can be problematic. Find out more information in the buying off-plan guide at which.co.uk. Go green for less If you dig out your black jeans for autumn and they’re looking faded, why not try dyeing them to restore the colour? Try using a Dylon dye pod for your washing machine (£7.70) or a Dylon hand dye (£3.50) – it’s so much cheaper than buying a new…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Your renewed passion in the areas of romance and career leads you in a new direction. So consider what you’d like to achieve in those realms, then go for it. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Jupiter is retrograde in your sign, encouraging you to reflect on what has been working for you over the past few months. Let the rest go, as new beginnings await. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Be compassionate towards yourself this week. You can be way too hard on yourself at times. Extend the kindness towards yourself that you usually offer others. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Listen to the guidance you’re receiving in the form of repeated messages, such as songs, number patterns and appearance of…

SISTERS UNDER THE RISING SUN by Heather Morris (£20, HB, Zaffre) In Singapore, as World War Two rages on, English musician Norah sends her daughter away on a ship. Though she may never see her again, Norah is desperate to save her eight-year-old from the encroaching Japanese army. Nesta, a Welsh-Australian nurse, tends to the Allied troops. As Japanese forces take control of Singapore, both women flee on an ill-fated merchant ship, washing up on the shores of an Indonesian island. After their capture, Norah and Nesta face unspeakable cruelty in prisoner of war camps. But in their darkest moments, the women find strength and determination in one another. An earth-shattering read. ALL HER SECRETS by Jane Shemilt (£8.99, PB, HarperCollins) It’s Paxos, in 2003, and 17-year-old Julia and her…

Ben Hardy ‘IT’S A ROMCOM LIKE NO OTHER!’ The former EastEnders star on his latest role… Do you believe in love at first sight? That’s the question at the heart of a new romcom about two young people who fall in love on a six-hour flight from New York to London. Best known for playing a previous incarnation of Walford’s Peter Beale from 2013 to 2015, Ben Hardy plays British university student Oliver, who meets American girl Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson) at New York’s JFK airport while waiting to fly home to the UK. ‘I’M CHUFFED TO BE IN IT!’ The pair are clearly smitten and coincidentally end up on the same plane where they spend the rest of their journey chatting to each other as the romantic sparks fly.…

Richard SLAMMED! Things got heated in the Good Morning Britain studios when YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI taught Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley a thing or two about throwing punches. Kate, 56, clearly needed to let off some steam, with KSI having to step in and tell her to ‘calm down’ before later warning her ‘you’re going to knock his head off!’ as she threw punches at Richard. And she’s not the only co-star that Richard, 67, has come to blows with recently. Ranvir Singh, who was covering for Lorraine during her summer break, hit back at Richard during a brief ITV crossover to discuss fans’ worries for Britney Spears amid her divorce from husband Sam Asghari. When Richard quizzed how old the pop star is, Ranvir replied, ‘She looks amazing for 41,’…

WIPE CLEAN Switch wasteful cotton pads and their packaging for a washable version. Make-up pads, £5, flyingtiger.com BOX FRESH Add a touch of style to your storage. Woven box, £4, Primark ALL-ROUNDERS Polish off any outfit with these fun affordable hoops. Earrings, £4.99, parfois.com PINK POUT Hydrating, natural shade. Lipstick in Tone on Tone, £10, Autograph by M&S TWO’S COMPANY Made from 100% cotton. Cushion covers, £9.99 for two, H&M POSH WASH Jazz up your bathroom with modern abstract designs and wiggly edges. Keep colours neutral for an expensive look. Dispenser, £6, soap dish, £3, pot, £4, fringed towel, £9, wavy line hand towels, from £5, waffle towel, £9, bath mat, £10, all George Home at Asda LINE UP Luxe lines give this plate an elegant edge. Side plate, £3.99,…

Jumper dress I’ll be making the humble jumper dress my uniform this year. Instant comfort with a glamorous edge, it can be dressed down with trainers or elevated with knee-high boots. Stretchy and incredibly forgiving, snap up this gorgeous grey number from the supermarket aisle and you won’t want to take it off. Dress, £28, sizes 8-24, Tu Clothing Becky Utility We saw a lot of utility style in SS23 and it looks like it’s sticking around for autumn. The most wearable part? A pair of sleek cargo pants. They’re so flattering. Offset the relaxed aesthetic with elegant accents – a silky blouse and heels will do the trick. Trousers, £32.50, sizes 6-22, F&F Clothing Hannah Denim Denim has really upped its game for autumn, cropping up on everything…

Are you constantly tired or hungry? Getting one cold after another? Or maybe your skin, hair and nails have lost their lustre? It could well be that your diet is unbalanced and you’re missing out on certain nutrients. When we’re not getting enough of the good stuff, the body dials down on its non-essential processes, like hair growth, to focus on keeping the main organs going, explains nutritional therapist Anna Mapson, founder of Goodness Me Nutrition.* ‘You might see signs like poor skin and broken nails, as well as a lack of energy, or brain fog.’ But, with some simple tweaks to your daily meals, you can sort the problem. Our quiz will help you find out what foods you need to fill up on. TAKE THE TEST…

Creamy pesto and pancetta gnocchi SERVES 4 Filling comfort food, the Italian way. We’ve used a classic basil pesto, but this speedy dinner works well with other flavours too – mix it up with sun-dried tomato or truffle versions, for example. PREP TIME: 5 MINS COOK TIME: 15 MINS CALS: 519 FAT: 38G SAT FAT: 16G CARBS: 35G YOU WILL NEED 70g chopped pancetta or smokedlardons400g potato gnocchi200ml full-fat creme fraiche3tbsp pestoRocket, to serve HOW TO DO IT 1 Cook the pancetta in a frying pan (without oil) over a medium heat for a few mins until crisp and golden. Remove the pancetta from the pan and set aside. 2 Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil, add the gnocchi and cook according to the pack…

Watching the huge bubble float up higher and higher into the sky, a wide smile spreads across my face. When the bubble finally wobbles and then bursts up above me, I cry out with glee and turn to the crowd of excited kids around me. ‘OK, another one!’ I giggle, blowing yet another huge bubble using one of my handmade giant bubble wands – and this one is even bigger. ‘It’s the size of a bus!’ I gasp, watching it float higher and higher. Not many people know that you can make a living from blowing bubbles, but as a full-time children’s entertainer and bubbleologist, that’s exactly what I do. And my big-kid antics don’t end once my day job finishes, as not long after I’ve got home from a…

After years of keeping physical affection in public to a minimum, it’s safe to say we’ve seen a whole new William and Kate in recent months. The couple, who have been married for 12 years, seem to have shunned their previous strict rules of no touching and have instead been seen making flirty gestures at royal events. Here, body language expert Judi James reveals why the future king and queen have decided to embrace PDAs as part of their new royal brand… CAUTION TO THE WIND ‘Their previous, hands-off approach was probably prompted by caution,’ Judi tells Woman’s Own, adding how William was ‘desperate to spare Kate the kind of soap-opera lifestyle his mother suffered’. And a stickler for tradition, William has always taken his role as heir very seriously…

Tapping my fingers to the beat of the music, I stood up and walked over to the bar. It was August 2019 and I’d gone with a friend to a reggae night at a local pub. I loved swaying to the tunes and enjoyed a few drinks. As I waited, elbows propped on the bar, I noticed a man beside me also waiting. He was handsome, with a nice physique and a smiley face. Ten years earlier I’d separated from my husband. I’d had a brief relationship but had been single for years. As I looked at the man beside me I thought he probably wouldn’t be interested in me, or he was likely already taken anyway. ‘HE TOLD ME WE’D GET MARRIED ONE DAY’ FALLING IN LOVE I gathered…

Scrolling through the dating app Bumble, I stopped to look at the profile of a man called Justin. A kind-looking, handsome man, in his bio he explained he was a widower with two children. Typing out a message to him, I had no idea I’d just matched with the man I’d go on to fall in love with. At the age of 51, starting a relationship with a widower, let alone one with young children, was the last thing on my mind. My own four children from a previous relationship were between 23 and 33 and I was busy with my work in child protection. Then, in October 2021, a friend joked that, like her, I would be single forever. Instantly, I told her she was wrong, I knew I…

HAS SHE PASSED ON THE CANCER GENE? Q Is it true that prostate cancer can run in families, especially if female relatives have had breast cancer? I ask because my husband is 52 and gets up in the middle of the night for a wee – he’s done so for a couple of years. His mum died last year of breast cancer. Should I insist my husband gets checked out? A There can be a faulty gene that runs in families, increasing the risk of prostate, breast and ovarian cancer. But on the female side of the family, this usually leads to cancer in premenopausal women, which doesn’t sound like your mother-in-law. That said, if your husband starts to get up more frequently at night, he should see his GP.…

Feeling spicy If you’re looking for a new perfume for pocket change, look no further than this. PS… Blackcurrant & Amber eau de parfum, £3 for 25ml, Primark, is ideal for the move into autumn, blending blackcurrant with spices. It reminds us of mulled wine. Designer double Lacura Essence of Italy Giallo eau de toilette, £4.99 for 50ml, Aldi, smells remarkably similar to a designer Italian buy that costs a whopping £92. It’s a zingy mix of citrus, bergamot and ginger, which is incredibly uplifting. Blue moon Inspired by winter moonlight, Avon Far Away Beyond The Moon eau de parfum, £16 for 50ml, avon.uk.com, combines wild cherry and rose with velvety notes like milk, vanilla and sandalwood for a unique, addictive scent. Petal powered If you’re a floral fan, you’ll…

Earthy browns Pretty pinks Tranquil blues…

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 NASA’s first spacewalk took place on a 1965 mission that was part of a space program with what name? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ANDROMEDAAQUARIUSARIESCANCERCYGNUSGEMINIHYDRALEOLIBRALYNXMENSAORIONPISCESTAURUSVIRGO CROSSWORD ACROSS 6 One who always makes an effort (5) 7 Higher in position or rank (8) 10 Port in Northern France (2,5) 11 & 6 Down. The Unbearable Weight of _, 2022 action comedy film starring 12 Across, 9 Down, 20 Down & 22 Down (7,6) 12 _ Cage, actor whose films include The Rock and Knowing (7) 13 Aardvark (3,4) 14 Wealth or…