Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, June 17, 2024 i Woman's Own

The world is a terrifying place at the moment but one thing we can take comfort in is that there are people in it who really do make a difference. On p30, Dr Ana Jeelani shares her experiences treating people caught in the Gaza attacks – it’s a hard read, but an important one. Because no matter where anyone stands on political debates, we know children being killed isn’t right. As Dr Jeelani explains, we take our safety for granted and the only difference between someone here at home and the more than 15,000 Palestinian children and 33 Israeli children who have been killed is where they were born. Dr Jeelani was insistent she didn’t want to be called a hero, so we will honour her wishes – but her…

THE LOWLIFES NICKING PHONES It happens every four minutes in London, is on the increase across much of the UK and is worth millions of pounds. We’re talking mobile phone theft. Something seemingly so minor in the great scheme of crimes yet something that can be devastating. Pretty much our whole lives are on our phones these days, aren’t they? Just using them to make calls is something from the dark ages. We store everything from bank details to incredibly personal information and photos not just of ourselves but of our loved ones. Indeed, we don’t really realise how important they have become until some scumbag nicks them from our hands or bags. Last year London - the hotspot for this crime – saw a 21% increase, with Manchester not…

Have you heard about? BIRDWATCHING COULD BOOST WELLBEING Getting out in nature and enjoying local wildlife could help improve your mental health, says research*. Findings showed that those randomly assigned to a birdwatching group reported a greater improvement in their wellbeing compared to a walking group or the group who did neither. Visit wildlifetrusts.org to find your local birdwatching site. No time? Just 30 minutes a week will have an impact. It worked for me Kira Budinovskaya, 41, from London ‘My digestive issues were debilitating. After meals, I experienced bloating, discomfort and sometimes even sharp pains in my stomach. I now use Bio-Bac Gummies (£29.99 for 60 gummies, novomins.com) – a probiotic which contains 50 billion good bacteria and fibre. I can enjoy meals again without the fear of discomfort.…

Health ask us My best friend is very negative Q Over the past two years I’ve been through a hard time. I was made redundant, my mother died and my husband and I split up. I’ve finally come out on the other side. I have a new job and through it have met a man I like. But my best friend is so negative, saying my job is exploiting me and my new partner isn’t all he seems. I just want her to be happy for me. A We all have friends like this and it’s fine as long as you don’t let them drag you down. Maybe she feels threatened by your new approach to life. What you need to do is tell her how important she is to…

READER QUESTION Q I need to pay for my NHS prescriptions but is there any way to save money? A Depending on how many prescriptions you pay for each month, you may be able to save cash by buying an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC); these cover all your NHS prescriptions for a set price. You’ll save if you need more than three items in three months or 11 items in 12 months. The prescription charge in England is £9.90 per item; a PPC costs £32.05 for three months or £114.50 for 12 months. Find out more at nhsbsa.nhs.uk. Go green for less Check out this Eco Dish Washing Soap Bar from OceanSaver. Made from plant-based and non-toxic ingredients, it’s a plastic-free alternative to traditional washing up liquid; £4.99, ocean-saver.com.…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr As the Summer Solstice approaches, tap into the creative ideas coming to you now and express this side of yourself more to feel freer and much more energised. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May With Mars now in your sign you have even more determination than usual to persevere and attain your career goals. Reach for the stars and believe in yourself. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Make the most of the last few days of the Sun in your sign, giving you extra energy to socialise, network and communicate your most exciting ideas to other people. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Mercury and Venus move into your sign this month, and with these planets around you, you will feel creative and…

THIS IS FINE by Poorna Bell (£18.99, HB, Cornerstone) Padma has no money and no job – so the last thing she needs is an ultimatum from her partner about starting a family that she doesn’t really want. Meanwhile, Padma’s 15-year-old niece Myra has problems of her own, having fallen in with the wrong crowd. After showing up dangerously drunk on the doorstep of her parents’ house, she is shipped off to an ivy-smothered clifftop house in Kent to spend six weeks with her aunt. Neither Padma nor Myra wants to be there. But as the summer rolls on, they realise they have more in common than they imagined. A heartwarming and poignant novel. ONE OF OUR KIND by Nicola Yoon (£20, HB, Orion) When Jasmyn Williams falls pregnant with…

Claudia Jessie ‘ELOISE IS FUMING!’ Eloise Bridgerton was heartbroken to find her best friend was the mystery gossip writer Lady Whistledown at the end of the second series… ‘SHE KNOWS IT’S A BIG CAN OF WORMS’ Penelope Featherington accidentally opened her pal up to ridicule by writing about her in her much-read scandal sheet and the pair still weren’t speaking when the third season began last month. However, when the final four episodes of season three start this week there’s another shock for Eloise: her brother Colin and Penelope are in love! ‘Eloise is uncomfortable with it and angry,’ says Claudia Jessie, who plays her. ‘Even if she and Penelope hadn’t fallen out, she’d still think the idea of her and Colin liking each other was a bit gross. Now…

Ruth and Eamonn’s SHOCK LEGAL BATTLE As if navigating a divorce and adjusting to single life after 27 years wasn’t hard enough, Eamonn Holmes faces fresh heartbreak as he and estranged wife Ruth Langsford will likely have to battle it out for custody of their beloved dog Maggie. The pair, parents to son Jack, 22, adopted the 14-year-old rescue pooch in 2011. Eamonn has previously touched on the ‘unconditional love’ he feels for Maggie: ‘I have never experienced affection like it,’ he said. And Ruth shared, ‘You come home and you’ve had a tough day, and I see her and she sees me… And you forget everything you were worried about, cross about.’ But now Ruth and Eamonn, both 64, are said to be having ‘difficult conversations’ about who will…

ALL TIED UP Pair this pretty, embroidered top with white denim. Top, £28, sizes 8-22, Another Sunday at Next FLORAL FANCY A great gift for a tenner. Hand cream, £10, William Morris at Next WAX LYRICAL Light up a candle and relax. Candleholder, £25, freemans.com FAN CLUB Foldable breeze that fits perfectly in your handbag. Fan, £4.99, H&M DIG IT A fun present for all ages. Gardening fork, £4, flyingtiger.com WILDFLOWER Inject colour into your wardrobe with hand-drawn poppy prints. Top, £47.95, shorts, £52.95, both sizes 8-28, Seasalt Cornwall IN THE NAVY Swap black for a hint of blue. Endless Silky Eye Pen in Black Blue, £12, Pixi at M&S SERVE UP Making al fresco dining easy and elegant. Tray, £16, Cath Kidston VITAMIN VITALITY Grown-up sparkling water. Immunity drink,…

The jumpsuit With its short sleeves and lightweight denim fabric, this easy all-in-one will see you through the summer and beyond. Contrast stitching on the pockets and collar enhance the utility style, while the drawstring belt brings shape to your waist. Style with trainers, two-strap sliders or dress up with metallic block heels. Total outfit cost £43.45 TOP TIP Refresh head-to-toe white with silver jewellery. The cargo trousers These 90s-style bottoms have brought the utility trend back with a bang. Offset the masculine workwear cut by pairing with tops that have a feminine touch, such as a wide-cut neckline. Cover up with a tailored blazer and don’t forget, with these versatile trousers, you can go from sky-high heels to trainers. Total outfit cost £45.98 TOP TIP Get the best fit…

Sardine spaghetti with garlic breadcrumbs SERVES 1 A delicious meal that makes the most of cheap and cheerful pantry staples. YOU WILL NEED 2 garlic cloves, peeled but left whole1tbsp olive oil3tbsp fresh white breadcrumbs115g tin sardines in olive oil Zest and juice ½ lemon Pinch chilli flakes2tbsp chopped fresh parsley100g dried spaghetti Freshly grated Parmesan, to serve (optional) HOW TO DO IT 1 Crush 1 clove of garlic and set it aside. Lightly bash the other and put it in a small frying pan, along with the oil. Gently heat for 5 mins, then discard the garlic. Increase the heat to medium, add the breadcrumbs and fry for 5 mins, mixing, until evenly golden. Drain on paper towel and set aside. 2 Carefully pour the oil from the sardines into a medium frying…

It was the middle of the day and I was working from home as an IT business developer when my phone pinged. ‘Look out your window!’ the message said. Running to the window I saw Jason Smith, then 30, sitting in a flash car, looking at me with a huge grin. It was November 2012 and I had only been on a first date with Jason the day before after we’d got chatting on Facebook when I’d commented on the Porsche he was selling. We had bonded over being single parents and the fact he worked in car sales, something I used to do. At 6ft tall and 15st, he was strong, muscly and handsome. And now, a day after our date, he was outside the house, surprising me with…

DO I NEED BONE-BOOSTING PILLS? Q Through my job I was offered a well-woman check. One of the things it flagged up was that my bone density is borderline low and there was some discussion around whether I should be taking calcium supplements. I eat quite healthily and do include milk and cheese in my diet. What do you think? A It’s not only dairy products that contain calcium, you can also get calcium from leafy green vegetables, almonds, sesame seeds, dried fruit, sardines, tofu and pulses. You will find a useful online calcium calculator on the Royal Osteoporosis Society website (theros.org.uk), which will tell you if you’re getting enough calcium from food and drink alone. What’s wrong with my jaw? Q In recent weeks, I have become aware of…

Summer nails Now’s the time to try out bright colours on fingers and toes. A hot pink is a universally flattering colour. It looks amazing with a tan and makes a statement peeking out from strappy sandals. SAVE Next Gel Effect Nail Polish in Pink Power, £6, next.co.ukSPLURGE OPI Nail Lacquer in Without a Pout, £14.90, opi.com Turn the light on A highlighter comes into its own in summer, helping you shine. Use on top of cheekbones, down the centre of your nose and above Cupid’s bow to enhance and lift. Brush across the collarbone too. SAVE Revolution Beam Bright Highlighter, £6.99, Boots SPLURGE Tom Ford Soleil Glow Highlighter, £70, tom fordbeauty.co.uk Ace base The warmer weather calls for a lighter, more hydrating base. Heavy foundations are likely to slip…

Energy efficient Cook smart with these handy tips… BATCH COOK Make the most of oven space and bake a few jacket potatoes alongside other meals. Scoop out and mix the cooked potato with cheese, chives and other fillings. Divide between the potato skins and freeze. Defrost and microwave, covered, for 5 mins. BOIL Next time you’re boiling pasta, add vegetables like beans or broccoli to the same pan for the last 5 mins. This will add a veg boost to your dinner as well as saving on energy and washing up. CHOP Things like meat or veg will take less time to cook if they are cut into smaller pieces and use less energy as a result. TREAT YOURSELF Ditch the diet Stay in with TGI Fridays courtesy of…

Dunelm ECLECTIC BRIGHTS Give retro shapes and styles a contemporary feel with a palette of olive greens and terracottas John Lewis & Partners MODERN MEDITERRANEAN Bring the feel of hot summers and azure shores to your home with these vibrant shades…

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 metals is the hardest on the Mohs scale? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ALUMINIUMBRASSBRONZECHROMIUMCOPPERGOLDIRONLEAD MERCURYNICKELSILVERSTEELTINTITANIUMZINC CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Three times (6) 4 Capital of South Australia (8) 10 Ad lib (9) 11 _ Cusack, star of films In Love with Alma Cogan and The Ghoul (5) 12 The Pine Tree State (5) 13 Spyglass (9) 14 Band that won the 2001 TV series Popstars (7) 16 _ Me Round, 2022 dark comedy film starring Alison…

KATE MOSS AND SKIP MARLEY Despite Kate having been linked to Count Nikolai von Bismarck since 2015, the former supermodel was spotted holding hands with singer Skip Marley last month. Kate, 50, went to watch 28-year-old Skip perform in Turkey. A source revealed, ‘Kate ran on stage as she loved it so much… I don’t know whether there’s a “thing” [between the two] but she’s a fan for sure.’ The pair left the venue holding hands. And days later, things seemed rather frosty between Kate and photographer Nikolai, 37, at the Gucci Cruise fashion show at London’s Tate Modern. The pair were turned away from each other during the show and left separately. Oh dear… MICHAEL DOUGLAS AND CATHERINE ZETA-JONES When they first got together in 1998, the age difference…

Imagine you could prolong the honeymoon part of your relationship – indefinitely. You’re always excited to be together, your legs are always waxed, and you’re always in the mood for sex. Best of all, there’s barely any resentment over whose turn it is to empty the dishwasher. Me and my partner have been in the honeymoon phase for years. And our secret? Living apart! While I live in London, my partner lives in Queens, New York, and for the past five years, we’ve spent our time flying across the Atlantic to see one another for a few weeks at a time. ‘I’M RELIEVED TO HAVE MY BED BACK TO MYSELF’ We met on Twitter [now known as X] in June 2019. I’d been dragged into a mean-spirited political conversation, when…