Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, December 18, 2023 i Woman's Own

We’re well and truly into the lead-up to the big day – the mistletoe is out, the food shop is ordered and social slots are getting filled! If you’re doing the hosting this year – or want a treat to take to someone else, turn to p32. Oozing with white chocolate, that first pudding will have people drooling. Be warned, though – you’ll be fighting over who gets the biggest drip! If you need help navigating festive fallouts (real ones, I mean!) then turn to p26 where expert advice awaits. It’s not all just Christmas, Christmas, Christmas, though. We’ve got exclusive interviews, shock real life stories and, on p46, winter retreats. I can’t think of much better than cosying up by a warm fire with some red wine – throw…

She’s got her first solo tour to look forward to, a steady job on Loose Women and her children are grown-up. It’s finally time for Coleen Nolan to focus on herself, but it appears the star is struggling with this new chapter. Coleen, 58, has admitted that she still suffers from ‘mum guilt’ and is finding it tough now her kids are flying the nest. The singer, who has sons Shane, 35, and Jake, 31, as well as daughter Ciara, 22, said, ‘Empty nest is a real thing, who knew? Whether we like it or not, mum guilt is a thing, even though it shouldn’t be. I still have it now when I’m absent, even though my kids are adults.’ Midlife challenges She’s been a mum for over half…

YOU CAN’T BEAT A GOOD OLD TRADITION Takeaways instead of Christmas dinner? No thank you! Traditions matter at this time of year, don’t they? After all, why would any sane person choose to have Brussels sprouts and dry-as-old-boots turkey to eat? Or, for that matter, think that ramming a stomach-busting lump of glutinous dried fruit and marzipan down your neck after a 5,000-calorie meal was a good idea? Oh, and all while wearing a torn piece of coloured paper on your head in the shape of a way-too-small ‘crown’. See? When you put it like that, it sounds like the kind of nightmare you have when you’re trying to sleep after all the above. But we do it. And you know what? We LOVE it. Because it’s as traditional as…

Have you heard about? SOCKS IN BED COULD MAKE YOU SICK Can’t bear cold feet at night? If you’re sleeping in the socks you’ve worn all day you could be putting your health at risk*. ‘A warm bed and body sweat make it an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, such as pseudomonas and E.coli,’ says Dr Deborah Lee**. These can lead to chest infections and stomach bugs. Pull on a clean pair before hitting the sheets. It worked for me Marade Colledge, 58, from Worcestershire ‘I struggle with allergies all year round, but my allergy to animals, especially horses, is particularly difficult. Working in the stables triggers my symptoms, but I now use Xlear Sinus Care Saline Nasal Spray (£12.99 for 45ml, amazon.co.uk). The active ingredient, xylitol, is clinically proven…

Health ask us We have a terrible relationship Q I met my husband when I was 17, and we married at 20. That was 35 years ago, and though we look like we have the perfect relationship to family and friends, we dislike each other. We barely spend time together and have recently started sleeping in separate rooms. I’ve talked to him about separating but he won’t have it (appearances are everything), and when I hint about it to my close friends, they warn me I’d be silly to leave. A Your friends are giving this advice as you have yet to tell them the reality of your relationship and how it’s making you feel. Showing the world one thing and living another is a very lonely business. You need…

Prodding my husband Luke to wake him up, he simply groaned and turned over. He’d never been a morning person, but this news was sure to get him out of bed. ‘I’m pregnant,’ I told him, waving the stick. ‘You’re joking,’ he replied. It was April 2022 and after two years of trying, and two miscarriages, we’d relaxed our efforts to conceive. And now here we were, hoping for third time lucky. Because of our previous losses, I was given an early viability scan at six weeks and the pregnancy seemed to be progressing normally. Two weeks later, we picked up my parents Teresa and John en route to my sister Vicki’s for a Jubilee party. ‘I’m pregnant,’ I said, holding up some nonalcoholic ciders. Their faces lit up and…

12-18 December 2023 ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr When you’re clear what you want and know in your heart it’s right, you can create whatever you desire. Believe in yourself and your ability to manifest miracles! TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May If you’re feeling stuck or lacking in energy, take some physical exercise and you’ll feel a lot better. This will change your perspective about a situation too. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Your environment can affect how you feel. Look at your home and consider making changes to create a calmer vibe. Do the same in your work space too. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul This has been a year of huge personal growth for you. Before the end of the year reflect on how…

THE GIRLS LEFT BEHIND by Emily Gunnis (£20, HB, Headline) The truth was buried – until they discovered the bones. It’s the 1970s and young constable Jo Hamilton arrives at the scene of a domestic disturbance. Sisters Daisy and Holly are the only survivors of a deadly blaze, started by their father, that has left them orphaned. The girls move into Morley House children’s home, a looming, clifftop building in Sussex. Jo struggles to keep track of them – Daisy is adopted while Holly disappears. Forty years later, the bones of a young woman are unearthed at Morley House. As Jo looks for answers, the investigation leads her uncomfortably close to home… Disturbing facts come to light in this raw, breathtaking read. UNNATURAL DEATH by Patricia Cornwell (£22, HB, Little,…

CHRISTMAS ON CALL It’s hard to imagine Christmas without Call the Midwife – and I for one will be slumped with Mother in a stupor watching with a glow on, and always a few tears, like millions of others. Star Helen George, who has played Trixie since the show began in 2012, is back on tour this week as Anna in The King and Ibefore she and the production move to London’s Dominion Theatre in January. ‘I will watch the bits of Call The Midwife that my friends are in, but I go in and out,’ she says. Much like my fellow GMB presenters do when I start talking! CORRIE ON BEV! Coronation Street legend Beverley Callard has just started her stint as the Evil Fairy in Sleeping Beauty at…

‘EVERYTHING FELT IMPOSSIBLE’ Chloe Madeley has opened up about her split from husband James Haskell, admitting she’s had the ‘hardest summer’ of her life. The mum of one, who called time on her five-year marriage in September, revealed that she hasn’t felt like herself in a long time and, after struggling mentally, returned to therapy. Chloe, 36, shared, ‘I got pretty bad burnout. Bodhi became my sole priority and source of joy, but beyond her, absolutely everything felt impossible.’ She continued, ‘I’ve had mental-health battles before, being diagnosed with GAD [generalised anxiety disorder] in my early 20s, so I knew there was a problem bubbling under the surface and was quick to get myself back into therapy.’ But thankfully, she concluded, ‘[Now] for the first time in a very long…

SMASH KNIT A festive sweater you can wear on the big day and beyond. Jumper, £20, sizes xs-xl, George at Asda WINTER INDULGENCE Organic and dairy-free. Booja-Booja truffles, £12.99, Whole Foods Market TABLE TRIMMINGS Get in the spirit with some festive foliage dishes. Plate, £3.50, B&M ALL EARS Add a playful touch to your Christmas outfit. Earrings, £5.99, New Look SEASON’S TREATINGS Personalised for all the family. Stocking, £8, Matalan FESTIVE FANCIES A classic, camel coat and a feminine blouse make for a chic winter getup Coat, £149.50; blouse £44; trousers £44, all sizes 6-18 Crew Clothing. Shoes, stylists own. HAND IN HAND Keep toasty and add a pop of colour to your coat. Mittens, £24, Oliver Bonas CHARMING GIFT Treat a loved one. Bracelet, £17.99, jomajewellery.com MISTLETOE READY Pucker…

The control shorts The waistcincher brief Essential for flattening your tummy and bottom when you want to wear a body-skimming garment like a tight dress or skirt. These briefs are strong enough so you can really grip and pull them on over your tummy and waist, whilst not leaving yourself feeling too uncomfortable. They provide a neat silhouette and help to create a cinched waist, particularly useful for wearing with tighter waistbands or waisted dresses. The split-leg shorts Wearing an ultra-high split dress or skirt can cause problems, particularly if you do not want to expose yourself on a night out. Skims have come up with a genius solution for just these garments by designing a control shaping short with the left leg cut off – perfect for wearing with…

Remember the golden days of Christmas, where all you had to worry about was snaffling the last ‘purple one’ and getting to sleep before Santa crept into your bedroom? As an adult, Christmas can be a different experience with weeks of anxiety and prep, often culminating in some sort of ding-dong (not-so-merrily on high). Christmas is a time of great expectations, says Lucy Blake, author of Home Truths: The Facts and Fictions of Family Life*. ‘We think spending it together with loved ones should be positive, meaningful and magical – but we often expect too much, creating an impossible reality to achieve.’ But while we can’t change our nearest and dearest, we can change our mindset. Here’s how. Learn from the past Still reeling from when the in-laws got in…

Monkey bread SERVES 12 Not a fan of the usual figgy pud? We guarantee this fun twist will win you over. YOU WILL NEED 600g strong white bread flour7g sachet instant dried yeast50g golden caster sugar1tsp salt250ml whole milk, warmed90g unsalted butter, melted2 medium eggs, beaten1tbsp vanilla extract200g mincemeat Oil, for greasing For the rest: 250g light brown sugar1tbsp ground cinnamon1½tsp ground mixed spice140g unsalted butter, melted150g pecans or hazelnuts, toasted and chopped200g white chocolate, finely chopped60ml double cream2tbsp brandy (optional) Cake tin: 22-24cm Bundt tin, greased PREP TIME: 45 MINS, PLUS PROVING TIME COOK TIME: 45 MINS CALS: 700 FAT: 36G SAT FAT: 16G CARBS: 84G HOW TO DO IT 1 Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough…

Advances in forensics mean many cold cases can finally be closed Imagine losing a loved one to a crime, and then not finding out the truth about what happened until years later - or worse, not at all. Research shows there are over 2,600 unsolved killings in the UK, with some crimes decades old. One case that’s gripped the public for 27 years is the murder of New York-born rapper Tupac Shakur (2Pac), who was shot four times aged 25 in a drive-by attack in Las Vegas. With evidence collected and a former gang leader now charged with 2Pac’s murder, it may not be long before the case is closed. Woman’s Own looks into how advances in forensic technology have secured convictions in historic cold cases, proving justice is always…

She stepped away from Loose Women seven months ago following what she called an ‘unjust and unworkable’ contract dispute. But if viewers were hoping Carol McGiffin was going to make a surprise comeback, they’ll be waiting a long time. Speaking exclusively to Woman’s Own, Carol bluntly stated, ‘No, I don’t miss [Loose Women] at all.’ The star, 63, shocked fans when she suddenly departed the hit ITV show. She made her debut on the panel in 2000 and appeared regularly until the show took a break in 2001. She rejoined two years later. Then after working as a full-time panellist for a decade, Carol left in 2013 only to return in 2018, staying until earlier this year. But despite saying that she doesn’t miss the show, here fan-favourite Carol opens…

SHOULD I GET A GENE TEST? Q This has been a terrible year for me. I started it having a mastectomy for breast cancer and am finishing it having chemotherapy for bowel cancer. My oncologist has suggested that I be referred to a geneticist to see if there is a genetic link to my cancer, but I’m not sure I can face any more bad news. What do you think? A Being tested could show that you have one or more genes that predispose you to certain cancers. If it does, that has implications if you have any children who may have inherited the gene. Personally, I think it is worth at least speaking to a geneticist who can give you the facts in order for you to make an…

Hair heroes Come to the aid of stressed strands with Percy & Reed We Wish You A Happy Hair Day, £12.50, Next, which includes two of the brand’s best products: the Wonder Balm Primer and Volumising Dry Shampoo. Disco takeover Everything you need to create endless party make-up looks is inside this bargain bundle. Makeup Revolution Get The Look Party Ready Gift Set, £20, lookfantastic.com,is packed to the brim with glam essentials like cheek and eye palettes, lipsticks, liners and mascara. Prime time Make-up lovers will obsess over this dream gift set. Containing the mini versions of two bestselling products, Benefit The North Pore Porefessional Primer & Setting Spray Gift Set, £17, M&S, is top of our wish list this year. Tame your mane This haircare gift set is so…

Chic sparkles Festive forest Candy cane dreams…

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 The ancient Sator Square, an arrangement of words that can be read up, down, left and right, has which palindrome at its centre? The answer is the one missing from the grid. CIVICDEEDKAYAKLEVELMADAMMINIMNOONPEEP POPREFERROTATORROTORTENETTOOTWOW CROSSWORD ACROSS 6 2022 musical biopic directed by 16 Down and starring 27 Across, 5 Down & 24 Down (5)7 Brontosaurus, eg (8)10 Mass slaughter (7)11 Vivid red (7)12 Keep from happening (7)13 Accounts (7)14 Of or near the surface (11)19 Sacred beetles (7)21 Plume (7)23 Under control (2,5)25 Driver’s item (4,3)26 Confuse (8)27 Tom _, actor whose films include…

Film EILEEN Out in cinemas 1 December Anne Hathaway goes blonde bombshell in this Hitchcockian thriller tracking the friendship between vampy Rebecca and shy Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie) in the 1960s New England prison where they both work. Seductive. Experience LAPLAND UK Whitmoor Forest, Swinley Rd, Winkfield Row, Ascot SL5 8BD Tickets from £59 Give the kids a Christmas to remember with this immersive experience. Decorate gingerbread men, enjoy performances and take in the spectacular winter scenery before meeting reindeers and the big man himself. What better way to get into the festive spirit? Performance DISNEY ON ICE – 100 YEARS OF WONDER 13 December until 31 December 2023, multiple locations including Manchester and London. Tickets from £25 Celebrate 100 years of Disney, as iconic characters including Mickey, Minnie, Elsa, Anna…

Jack Farthing ‘THERE ARE MANY LAYERS TO TOM’ The former Poldark star on new thriller The Serial Killer’s Wife… Based on the novel by Alice Hunter, this twisty four-parter begins with devoted wife Beth Fairchild (The Split’s Annabel Scholey) throwing a birthday party for her husband Tom, the much-loved local GP in the village where they live. But Beth’s idyllic life is shattered when DI Aline Edgeworth (Angela Griffin) interrupts the festivities to arrest Tom for the murder of his former assistant. ‘HE WAS FASCINATING TO PLAY’ ‘When we first meet Tom, he appears to be this perfect guy but then he’s arrested in front of everyone that he knows in the village and that demolishes that image,’ says Jack Farthing, who plays him. ‘It was interesting to think about…