Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, October 09, 2023 i Woman's Own

Where do you stand on hair-washing? I’m an every day sort of girl (I can hear our Beauty team telling me off!). In fact I’m so wedded to washing my hair that you should have seen my partner’s face the other day when I said I’d forgo my daily routine so we could get out of the door that bit quicker – it was pure joy! But it turns out not washing your hair for days on end is the latest TikTok trend to try. Writer Julie Cook gave it a go on p24. On p58 we’ve got some love for you – couples who met in the most unlikely of places – and on p60 reader Shelle shares the 50 challenges she took on for her 50th. I’m usually…

With five children to look after, including three under-fives, it’s understandable that Stacey Solomon often feels stressed- something most parents will relate to. But now, the Loose Women presenter, 33, has revealed things have come to a head, admitting that she and husband Joe Swash ‘cannot cope’ with the everyday battles that come with having such a large family - namely a lack of romance. ‘I think me and Joe are in our non-romantic era,’ she confessed. ‘It is important just to get time for us, but we’re at that stage in our life where that’s not really possible. ‘WE RECENTLY HAD A NIGHT TOGETHER – IT’S ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR THAT HAPPENS ’ ‘We will get romantic… but in 20 years’ time.’ PARENTING PROBLEMS Stacey and Joe, 41,…

AN EPIDEMIC OF SHOPLIFTING When it comes to stealing from shops, it’s honest customers who have to pay True story. When I was a little kid a Woolworths pick-and-mix fruit salad sweet that had fallen on the floor in our local store happened to find its way into my pocket. I genuinely picked it up without even thinking. Big mistake. Huge. Mum and Dad interpreted that as shoplifting, which earned me a clip round the ear and a stern talking to from PC Harding, our local beat bobby. ‘KIDS BOAST ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY’VE NICKED’ Fast forward a few decades and not only have Woolies and local coppers you knew the names of disappeared, but proper shoplifting – waltzing out of stores with hundreds of pounds worth of nicked gear…

It’s that time of year again. Adverts for balm-infused tissues, sprays to unblock a stuffy nose and cough syrups dominate the TV. Thanks to the pandemic, we all know we should be washing our hands and throwing away used tissues to avoid spreading cold and flu viruses but, with more than 200 strains out there, germs can still be hard to dodge. Want to stop getting the sniffles this season? Here’s what else you should try. WRAP UP Your parents were right – you should wrap up warm. Volunteers who spent 20 minutes with their feet in cold water were significantly more likely to develop a cold than those with feet in an empty bowl, found researchers at Cardiff University. Choose wool and fleecy fibres to help maintain body heat.…

Best waterproof mascara NYX Professional Makeup Worth the Hype Waterproof Mascara, £9.50, Boots, stands up to rain, a gym session or a swim in the pool. The tapered wand gets right into the corner to coat the smallest lashes. If I want more drama, I’ll layer this over my favourite regular mascara to add a water-resistant coating. Annie Best volumising mascara I’m calling it – Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara, £11.99, Boots, is the best mascara ever invented. It’s like extensions in a tube. The formula delivers inky, glossy black lashes in a non-smudgy, non-flaky formula so you won’t find dark flecks under your eye by lunchtime. Stephanie Best curling mascara L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara, £12.99, Superdrug, is a triple threat. It adds up…

READER QUESTION Q I’m going on a cruise – when will it be cheapest to organise travel insurance? A If you’re looking to save money, the best time to buy a travel insurance policy with cruise cover is 298 days in advance, with the average policy costing five times less than the average policy bought on the day of travel, according to research by Go. Compare. However, always take out a policy as soon as you book your holiday because it also offers protection if you need to cancel your trip (although cover will vary by insurer, so check first). Go green for less Check out this Snug Just Right 10.5 tog duvet, which is filled with soft fluffy fibres made from recycled plastic bottles. Each duvet helps prevent up…

HUGH JACKMAN AND DEBORRA-LEE FURNESS After 27 years of marriage, actor Hugh, 54, and his wife Deborra-Lee, 67, announced last month they are parting ways in a statement which read, ‘We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth. Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness.’ The couple, who met in 1995 on the set of the Australian TV series Correlli, share two children together, Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18. REESE WITHERSPOON AND JIM TOTH Hollywood star Reese, 47, announced in March that she’d called time on her relationship with…

If you – or your kids – use TikTok you’ll know that the latest trend is not washing your hair. Yes, the glam young things are all in competition over how long they can go without hair washing and all the beauty benefits of not applying parabens and chemicals to our hair. My daughter, nine, is in on it. ‘Frequent hair washing is so bad for you,’ she told me. I watched a few videos to find out what the fuss was about. Impossibly good-looking young people stare into the camera, tossing their gorgeous tresses this way and that. ‘Day 17 without hair washing,’ one said. ‘It’s now self-cleaning and feels great.’ Self-cleaning? Really?! So, as ever, I decided to set myself a challenge. Could I, as an every-other-day hair…

Health ask us HELP! MY KNEE IS TOTAL AGONY Q I love walking and used to walk about five miles a day. But I’m now unable to do more than a mile before having to stop because my left knee has been increasingly painful. Walking downhill is excruciating. I thought I would be looking at a knee replacement, but an X-ray has shown only mild osteoarthritis. A X-ray changes don’t always correlate with symptoms, so I think it is worth you seeing an orthopaedic surgeon. Knee replacements last between 15 and 20 years, and second replacements are more complicated. Your surgeon will be keen to delay surgery if possible, but will also take into account the severity of your symptoms. WHAT COULD HELP WITH HIS GOUT? Q My husband has…

The words ‘breast cancer’ can strike fear into our hearts – especially knowing that one in eight women in the UK develop it. But the positive news is that 85% of those diagnosed will now survive for five or more years.* And these statistics are constantly improving, thanks to advancements in medicine and testing, fundraisers through initiatives such October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a greater awareness of lifestyle factors. Here’s what what you need to know. TESTS THAT YOU CAN TRY Knowing whether or not you are at risk genetically can help you to take action earlier… ✣ GENETIC TEST Between 5-10% of all breast cancer cases are genetic, so if you have a family history of breast cancer then you can request a test to check whether or…

Vegetable jalfrezi curry SERVES 4 Ditch expensive takeaways and make this easy curry instead, filled with hearty veg. YOU WILL NEED 1 tbsp vegetable oil1 red onion, chopped2 garlic cloves, crushed1cm piece ginger, grated1-2 chillies, deseeded and chopped450g jalfrezi cooking sauce400g tin chopped tomatoes650g butternut squash, chopped into small pieces1 cauliflower, broken into florets200g frozen peasCoriander leaves, to serve (optional)Rice or warm naan bread, to serve (optional) HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oil in a large pan. Fry the onion for 5 mins to soften, then add the garlic, ginger and chilli, and cook for 1 min. 2 Add the jalfrezi sauce, tomatoes and 1 tin of water, butternut squash and cauliflower to the pan and stir well. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and…

‘A silly dare brought us together’ Helen Walker, 38, is a charity marketing manager and lives in Scunthorpe with her husband Chris, 40, and their children Jack, 11, and Emelia, eight. Somewhere in my house is a treasured relic – a 22-year-old Nokia mobile phone that doesn’t work, and even if it did, there’s no internet access or photos. If my children found it, they’d think it was ridiculous, but I’ll never get rid of it, because it’s the reason they exist. That phone – and a silly dare – is what brought me and their dad together 22 years ago. ‘MESSAGES WERE FLYING BETWEEN US’ JOKING AROUND In March 2001, aged 16, I was at school when my friend dared me to make a prank call with the mobile…

CLUES & ARROWS Fill in the clues in the direction of the arrows Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3x3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Wordsearch The record for a salmon caught by rod and line in the UK is a 64lb fish landed by Georgina Ballantine from which river in 1922? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ANNANCARRONCLYDEDEVERONDONESKFORTHLOSSIE NAIRNNESSSPEYTAYTWEEDUGIEYTHAN CROSSWORD ACROSS 6 _ Isaac, actor whose films include Annihilation and Dune (5)7 May _, actor in the US series Ramy (8)10 Authorise (7)11 Meeting for discussion (7)12 War ship from the 15th to18th centuries (7)13 American state (7)14 Study of birds (11)19 Teaching or instruction (7)21 Abducts (7)23 Bewildered (2,1,4)25 Dishonourable (7)26 Diabolic (8)27 Fish type (5) DOWN…

Film THE GREAT ESCAPER Out in cinemas 6 October Glenda Jackson’s last film sees her playing the wife of OAP Bernard Jordan (Michael Caine) who breaks out of his care home to honour his fallen comrades by attending the D-Day celebrations in 2014. Based on the real-life adventures of Bernard, it commemorates the departed on numerous levels. Performance STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S OLD FRIENDS Until 6 January 2024, Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 6AR. From £55 West End and Broadway stars – including Bonnie Langford, Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, Haydn Gwynne and Jason Pennycooke – come together to celebrate the life and work of iconic composer Stephen Sondheim. Expect one hell of a show as hits from the likes of Sweeney Todd, Follies, West Side Story and Into the Woods are…

THE GOOD PART by Sophie Cousens (£20, HB, Hodder & Stoughton) Lucy is in her mid-20s, but she’s ready to be older. Especially if it means she can skip past the disastrous app dates, the weird room-mates and dead-end job. While her friends have serious relationships and high-flying careers, Lucy feels stuck. On the worst night of her existence, she makes a wish – to jump forward to the good parts of her life. The next day, she wakes up 16 years older. Suddenly married with two kids and a successful career, Lucy has no recollection of how she got here. Is this a dream come true or should she have been more careful what she wished for? A hilarious, heartfelt read. THE BABYSITTER by Emma Curtis (£8.99, PB, Atlantic…

She's not backward in coming forward when she's giving her opinions on the Loose Women panel and she’s always up for a laugh. But what makes Nadia Sawalha feel joyful? We probed the telly fave, who lives in London with her filmmaker husband Mark Adderley and their daughters, Maddie and Kiki-Bee. 1 Item in your wardrobe? When I did the Loose Women tour recently I had the most insane suit sent to me. I saw it on the hanger and thought, 'Oh my God, what is that?' But I put it on and felt amazing in it. At the end of the show, I got mobbed about it because people loved it so much. The other girls were calling it Free-sace, because it had a big Versace-style print on it,…

SANTA’S BABY Victoria’s take on the Christmas jumper trend was this ‘All I want for Christmas is David Beckham’ hoodie. In the snap’s caption, she wrote, ‘I got what I wanted this Christmas.’ Lucky lady! WET AND WILD We’re used to seeing her dolled up, but during a recent family trip to Canada, Vic became Sporty Spice, swapping her usual dress and heels for a life jacket as she went waterskiing. We’re impressed! SPICING UP HER LIFE She watches her diet, but Victoria still enjoys a night on the town. ‘I try to be healthy…’ she admitted, ‘but I am not saying I’m not fun. I’m known to drink a few tequilas and a few red wines, it’s that balance.’ VIVA FOREVER Say what you want about her voice, but…

As I watched my daughter Jessica studying the restaurant menu before eagerly ordering a pasta dish, then something chocolatey for pudding, I couldn’t have felt more proud of her. In June, on a family holiday in Menorca, it was the first time we had seen Jess, then 22, excited by food since she was a teenager. A year earlier, Jess’ priority in life was to see the needle of the weighing scales tip to the left. Emaciated and overwhelmed by anorexia and bulimia, it was as though my darling girl had been placed under a spell she could not escape. But now, we are finally getting our daughter back. My twins Lucy and Jessica have been my world from the moment they were born in October 2000 and, like most…

Loanhood If you know you’ll only wear an outfit once, try borrowing it. Loanhood is a fashion rental marketplace that allows you to rent an item, get it delivered then send it back. It supports emerging talent so you can find something truly unique, reducing the worry of someone turning up in the same outfit. Ganni dress, rent from £33.75, loanhood.com  Paula Vinted Second-hand is officially cool and Vinted is a huge online platform that allows you to buy and sell items. It’s user-friendly and listing is free. Whenever I have the urge to buy something new, I head there first as chances are something similar already exists. Search by size, item or store. H&M jumper, £10, vinted.co.uk  Becky Zara resell A resell initiative is making Zara a…

Have you heard about? LAUGHTER REALLY IS THE BEST MEDICINE Having a good giggle doesn’t just make you feel happier, it can help boost your heart health, too*. Adults diagnosed with coronary heart disease who engaged in laughter therapy showed an improvement in how well their arteries could expand and increase oxygen flow around the body. This is limited with the disease as plaque builds up in the arteries. Why not stick on your favourite comedy? It worked for me Paula Masterton, 35, from Kent ‘I’ve been on the This Works panel testing their products for four and a half years now. My favourite is the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (£35 for 100ml, thisworks. com). It’s made with lavender, chamomile and vetiver essential oils, which have been shown to help…

Health ask us What have I done wrong? Q I’ve been best friends with another woman for around 10 years, even going on regular holidays. For months, she’s been saying she can’t meet up and cancelling plans at the last minute. She has now sent me a WhatsApp saying she doesn’t want to be friends any more. I immediately asked to meet up, but she refused and won’t answer any of my messages or calls – I’ve no idea what I’ve done wrong. A The trouble with apps and phones is that they have made it too easy to avoid difficult conversations and simply phase friends out. It’s painful to experience as it leaves you with nothing to process. While not every friendship should last forever, dumping and ghosting friends…

There’s no denying that most diets require constant effort and organisation. Well, not this one! While some weeks you may have enough time to pop to the shops with a pre-planned list and blitz through the prep for healthy recipes, other weeks it’s just not possible. That’s why we’ve included both calorie-controlled microwave meal suggestions and delicious homemade recipes in our plan. Here’s how to enjoy a rest from dieting drudgery and still lose up to 3lb in your first week! How it works Choose any three meals daily from the menu. For lunch and dinner, you can pick and mix between homemade and ready-made options. You can also enjoy a 250ml glass of semi-skimmed milk and two of the 100-calorie snacks, if you’d like something between meals. Stay…

As a mother, it could be argued that it’s only natural to fantasise about grandchildren when our own children have grown and flown the nest. We imagine doing all of those things again that we miss from raising our own children – picnics in the park and collecting acorns and pine cones on autumn walks. But the best part, some might say, is that we get to be fun granny and grandad – not the ones disciplining or dealing with the sleepless nights. We get all of the best bits and none of the stress! But with the average age of mothers increasing from 26 in the 1970s, to 31 today, many women are left wondering if they will ever become grandmothers – especially when their daughters reach 35 –…

Leftover lovers Breathe life back into leftovers with these easy ideas! WILTED VEG Submerge lettuce leaves, carrots, celery and cucumber in iced water for 20 mins to crisp, then dry, slice and serve up with dips as a healthy platter. CAKES AND BAKES Steer clear of the microwave. While it’s quick, it will leave you with a soggy bottom. Instead, put into a preheated oven for 15–20 mins. SUNDAY ROAST Chop leftover meat and veg from the roast, mix with mayo and sweet chilli sauce or Worcestershire sauce as an easy jacket potato topper or sandwich filler. TREAT YOURSELF Ditch the diet Enjoy a chippy tea with Iceland. Choose from Harry Ramsden’s Jumbo Haddock and Cod Fillets to chunky chips. Grab one main and one side. Use it…

Sitting with my mum in her nursing home, I gripped her hand as I told her my plans. ‘I’m going to be doing 50 challenges for my 50th birthday,’ I said, even though I knew she didn’t quite understand. With my dad passing away from Parkinson’s and dementia in December 2017, aged 75, it was heartbreaking to see my mum now ill with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s. It didn’t seem fair that our family was being blighted by this cruel disease again. That’s why I’d come up with the idea for my birthday. ‘Life is too short,’ I thought. I didn’t want to let life pass me by, I wanted to try new experiences and make memories, raising money for Alzheimer’s Research UK while I was at it. So instead…

We’d been in our previous home for 19 years, so it took quite a long time – together with countless decor changes – before I felt truly settled in our new place. In fact, I cried for the first year! I felt heartbroken; it just didn’t feel like home at all. I’d wanted to move house before my youngest daughter, Daisy, started school. I had set my heart on a lakeside estate a few miles away, which was close to a park. So when a friend spotted a Facebook advert for a four-bedroom detached townhouse there, I jumped at the chance to view it. IMMEDIATE APPEAL The house had been rented out so it looked a bit tired and was in need of some updating, but the rooms were bigger…

And… relax 3-9 October 2023 ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr The beginning of the month brings a fresh perspective on your career. Go with the changes you’d like to make and know that you are more than capable. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May If you have been feeling a little tired lately, know that Jupiter retrograding through your sign is slowing you down a bit. Enjoy the rest and take time to reflect. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun With Mercury currently in an Air sign, you may be having some great ideas! Take action on each one to see what will work for you in the long run. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Sometimes we have to sit back and let go. Now is one of…

ANT AND DEC Ant, 47, and Dec, 48, found fame playing PJ and Duncan on Byker Grove in the 90s, and the pair are soon to produce a reboot called Byker. The duo released the iconic Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble in 1994 before presenting SM:TV Live and going on to become TV royalty, hosting Pop Idol, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Britain’s Got Talent and Saturday Night Takeaway. Their net worth is reported to be £62 million each. RUPERT GRINT The actor rose to fame when he was cast as Harry Potter’s best pal Ron Weasley in the hit film franchise at the age of 11. While he initially bought himself an ice-cream van to fulfil his childhood dream when Harry Potter finished, Rupert, 35 –…

David Beckham ‘MY FAMILY IS MY BIGGEST SUCCESS’ The football star opens up about his life and career in a new Netflix documentary Four-part series Beckham tells the story of the man once known as Golden Balls, from his early years living in Chingford, Essex, to becoming a world-famous footballer and global icon. As well as home video footage and archive interviews with the star, we also hear from David’s teammates, his parents, Ted and Sandra, and his famous wife, Victoria. ‘FILMING BECKHAM WAS LIKE THERAPY’ For the series, David granted cameras unprecedented access to certain parts of his life to give viewers a glimpse of the Beckhams behind closed doors with their sons, Brooklyn, 24, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 18, and 12-year-old daughter Harper. The former Manchester United and England…

It was more a statement than a question. ‘Why do you never lose touch with your old friends?’ snapped my mother crossly. ‘We hardly see you these days!’ Aged 30, I was busy wrapping yet another wedding present, unearthing my well-worn hat and preparing to drive to yet another picturesque country church. As in Four Weddings and a Funeral, (just without the funerals, thankfully) my summer was punctuated with nuptials. It was the mid 80s and this was my 12th wedding of the year, and I was already proud godmother to three adorable babies, with more imminent. QUITE THE COLLECTION As one of life’s conformists, and a compulsive joiner since childhood, desperate to take part in everything from Guide camps and Sunday School to tap-dancing and riding lessons, I had…