Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, September 30, 2024 i Woman's Own

This issue we ask the big question – is fear holding you back? It can stop us doing so much – from trying new things, to making a change. On p26 take the quiz to find out how it’s affecting you – and how to start moving forward. The women on p38 certainly aren’t letting anything stop them – Gail and Karen share how tough times have spurred on their spirit of adventure. While I might not be signing up to hike across America or jumping into a dragon boat, I love their ethos – and I hope they encourage your sense of adventure, like they have mine. After all, life is short, we’ve got to do the things that make us happy. So, join that sports team, sign up…

Never one to mince her words, Denise Welch has always been open and honest about her feelings – which is why she makes such a great Loose Woman. But while the star has been part of the panel on and off since 2001 and says she ‘loves’ the show, Denise has now revealed things aren’t always rosy behind the scenes. Talking on co-star Olivia Attwood’s So Wrong It’s Right podcast, Denise said, ‘I am always happy to have new blood on [Loose Women] because we do get bored of each other. But I’ve always been sceptical when younger people come in because sometimes, they may have a great life story but they either are not prepared to talk about it yet, or too worried about what the public are going…

Columnist WELCOME BACK, HOLLY Anyone want to see Holly Willoughby back on telly? You bet! After proving a smash hit presenting a gong at the recent National Television Awards, bosses have confirmed that the former This Morning host will be presenting two specials of the game show You Bet! this autumn. The show, which originally ran on ITV mostly on Saturday nights from 1988 to 1997, will see Holly at the helm alongside friend Stephen Mulhern. After the kidnap plot against her and subsequent trial, Holly has been easing her way back into TV and is also likely to host Dancing on Ice again in the new year. More of a gamble is whether Holly’s former BFF Phillip Schofield will return… LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX Why are we still such…

Prawn fajita bowls PER SERVING CALS: 426 FAT: 27G SAT FAT: 8G CARBS: 24G SERVES 2 A tasty, throw-together meal you can adapt for fussy eaters and the season too. YOU WILL NEED 1tbsp cooking oil1tbsp mild fajita or taco seasoning4 spring onions, roughly chopped1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped100g raw king prawns1 large tortilla wrap, torn into chunksMexican-style microwave rice pouch6 leaves from a Little Gem lettuce Coriander, to serve For the smashed avocado: 1 ripe avocado, peeled and stonedGrated zest and juice of ½ lime, plus wedges to serve4tbsp soured cream HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the grill. In a large bowl, mix half the oil and half the spice mix. Toss through the spring onions and red pepper in the same bowl. Transfer to a baking…

‘Hiking represents endless freedom’ Gail Muller, 46, lives in Falmouth, Cornwall After days hiking through the depths of pine forests in Maine, USA, I arrived at a clearing at the top of a mountain. There was nothing but trees for hundreds of miles in every direction. I smiled, remembering how I was once incapable of walking as far as the bathroom. My legs were covered in cuts, scrapes, bruises – even a bit of blood – but I felt lucky to have a body aching from achievement, not chronic pain. WRITTEN OFF I was born with my feet turning in. As a teenager, I saw a gait specialist, who warned I’d end up with such debilitating misalignment and pain that I’d be in a wheelchair by middle age. I didn’t…

Why go? Weymouth is a charming coastal town nestled on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, offering the perfect break for anyone seeking a blend of natural beauty, rich history and classic British seaside fun. Pack your bucket and spade and head to the coast! GO TO THE BEACH Weymouth’s crowning glory is its long, sandy coastline, and as testament to that Weymouth Beach was declared the UK’s top-ranked beach in The Travellers’ Choice Awards for world’s best beach.* Stretching over three miles, it boasts golden sands perfect for lounging, building sandcastles or simply enjoying a leisurely stroll. Meanwhile swimmers, paddlers and water-sports enthusiasts can take to the water. In fact, Weymouth took centre stage for the sailing events at both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The town boasts…

MARK WRIGHT It seems that TV personality and former semi-professional footballer Mark, 37, has always been a footy fanatic. And with that cute face, it’s no wonder he grew up to be a heart-throb too. JOSIE GIBSON We’d recognise that cheeky grin anywhere! This Morning’s Josie, 39, looked adorable as a child with her freckles and curly fringe. CHRISTINE LAMPARD With a beaming smile like that, it’s no wonder that Christine, 45, ended up gracing our TV screens every day. CHERYL Once a poser, always a poser! With her trademark dark hair and eyes, we don’t think Cheryl, now 41, has changed a bit. ROMAN KEMP He may not have turned out to be a boxer, but Roman, 31, is definitely a fighter when it comes to campaigning for better…

Harry PLANNING TO RETURN? Recent reports have suggested that Prince Harry is looking at ways to repair his relationship with his father, King Charles, and stepmother, Queen Camilla – who he dubbed ‘dangerous’ in his 2023 memoir Spare – and make a permanent move back to the UK. According to insiders, having grown ‘dissatisfied’ with advice from his US-based image experts, the Duke of Sussex has sought out former trusted aides in a bid to ‘rehabilitate’ his image and ‘mastermind a return from exile in the US’. Royal expert Emily Andrews has weighed in on the rumours, clarifying that while a permanent return to the UK isn’t on the cards, Harry, who turned 40 last week, would like to visit more. ‘The Duke of Sussex has “no interest” in returning…

Real life from the heart Even as a young child, I knew my family was different. When we went out, people would gape at us – not just children, but adults too, who should have known better. They were staring at David, my brother, who was born with a very rare chromosomal disorder and has profound disabilities. Not only does he look different, he also shouts a lot, drawing attention. It made me angry when people stared, and defensive of him. Secretly, I also felt frustrated – we couldn’t often do normal things as a family, such as travel or go to the cinema. It was terrifying too, as David had seizures where he’d stop breathing. And, of course, it was very sad to know he would never get better.…

Health ask us WORRIED ABOUT DOG BITE Q My daughter was bitten by a dog a week ago. We took her to A&E where they cleaned the wound. Thankfully it wasn’t too bad, and they said she didn’t need a tetanus shot as she’d had one within the last 10 years. Now it looks red, and I’m worried it’s infected. Should I take her back? A Infection in wounds from dog bites is very common, but you don’t need to go back to A&E. This is something your GP would be happy to prescribe for and may be willing to do so if you send in a photo. Give your surgery a call and they will tell you the best course of action. Help! My eyes hurt Q Recently, I…

Supercharged serum This dermatologically tested serum is a multitasking hero. Tesco Kind & Pure Vitamin C Skin Serum, £3, Tesco, is refreshing, nourishing and brightening all in one. Apply every day to boost skin health and happiness. Firmer face Cien Q10 Intense Day Cream, £1.49, Lidl, is such a brilliant all-rounder. Not only does it nourish dry complexions but it works to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, in addition to having SPF 15 sun protection. Wear each day for better-looking skin. Plump pout Lacura Nourishing Peptide Lip Treatment, £2.99, Aldi, is perfect as we enter the colder seasons, when lips become chapped and dehydrated. Available in watermelon, salted caramel or unscented, your pout will seriously thank you. Boost radiance Tesco Kind & Pure Vitamin C Moisturiser, £2.50, Tesco, is the…

Morrisons COSY COUNTRY Embrace the outdoors with your decor, from animal characters to botanical prints NEXT AUTUMN RETREAT Style for the season ahead with these warm hues and pumpkin motifs…

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 flavourings is also the name of a character in The Wizard of Oz? The answer is the one missing from the grid. CAJUNCHILICURRYGARLICHARISSAHICKORYJERKMASALAMISOMUSTARDPAPRIKAPEPPERSALTSRIRACHAZAATAR CROSSWORD ACROSS 6 Intends (5) 7 Assess (8) 10 Scott Joplin’s music genre (7) 11 Olivia __, star of films Above the Shadows and The Wackness (7) 12 Bravery (7) 13 Backer (7) 14 2023 World War Two biopic starring 11 Across, 27 Across, 4 Down, 6 Down, 18 Down, and 24 Down (11) 19 Day trips (7) 21 Frank __, TV detective played by Peter Falk (7)…

Dame Jilly Cooper ‘I WAS OBSESSED WITH MEN!’ The bestselling author on her life and career… If you’ve ever read one of Dame Jilly Cooper’s novels, you will know that they not only feature plenty of raunchy bedroom scenes but also lots of handsome men. ‘The only thing I was ever interested in was men, which is terrible really. It was all I thought about,’ says the 87-year-old writer, who tells the story of her remarkable life in the documentary In My Own Words: Jilly Cooper. ‘I HOPE I CHEER PEOPLE UP’ Allowing cameras into her Cotswolds home, Jilly also discusses her marriage to her late husband Leo, receiving a Damehood and how her career took off when she landed a column about love, life, sex and marriage for The…

Having started out as a glamour model back in the 90s and being crowned FHM’s Sexiest Woman in the World in 2005 – as of 2015 she’d featured in every FHM 100 Sexiest countdown since 1998 – Kelly Brook’s body has always been a big part of her job. But now, at 44, radio presenter Kelly, who married Jeremy Parisi in 2022, no longer sees herself as an object of men’s desire. Revealing how she used to be treated in the industry, she said, ‘Back in the 90s when I walked into a casting they’d be like, “Oh, boobs too big. Next!” They wouldn’t even ask your name. It was degrading, but we don’t live in that world any more, surely?’ She added, ‘I’m not doing it for the male…

Holding my daughter close, I wiped away her tears. ‘You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,’ I sang. It was a song my mum sang to me and my sisters growing up, and now I sang it to my kids to get them to sleep, or when they cried. It was October 2009 and Somer, then seven, was upset after being teased at school for her speech issues. She was such a loving little girl and just wanted everybody to be happy. She and her twin Samuel were the youngest of my five kids, and Somer was my mini-me. She had the same dark fringe I’d had as a child, and she snorted when she laughed, too. Somer bravely ignored the teasing at school but a couple of weeks later,…

Buy of the week Minor wound? Elastoplast Fast Healing Waterproof Plasters (£3.85 for eight, Boots), provide a moist environment to speed up recovery and reduce scarring. HEALTH MATHS 3 steps to ease the pain of piles SOAK IN A WARM BATH + FILL UP ON FIBRE + APPLY A HAEMORRHOID CREAM = Less discomfort and softened stools. If you do one thing Get out in the garden When the going gets tough, head outside for mind and body benefits, says horticultural therapist Deb Hoskin* Ecotherapy – or green care, as it’s also called – is the therapeutic benefit gained from engaging with the outdoors. ‘There’s evidence that nature-based activities can heal and enhance wellbeing,’ says Deb. ‘When there is emotional pain or disconnection, the garden is a space to simply…

He’s moved on too quickly Q I’m a woman in my early 50s, and last year, I went through a divorce. I was the one who pushed for it but my ex didn’t fight for us. I thought this was a good thing at the time but he’s moved on and it’s upset me. We’ve been apart for less than two years and he’s already engaged. My adult sons and friends are unsympathetic, because I instigated it. I feel lonely and left behind. AIt’s completely understandable to feel a range of emotions. Just because you initiated the divorce doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to feel hurt. Seeking a divorce was your attempt to find happiness, and this is what you need to focus on. Please seek the help…

We’ve all heard it, haven’t we? The menopause being that dreaded stage of life for women and the things we have to endure - from mood swings to hot flushes, plus the fear of it marking the end of youthfulness and our sex lives. But, while of course it can be difficult, the menopause doesn’t have to be so daunting. Approximately one-third of females in the UK are going through perimenopause or menopause. That’s around 13 million people, and an astounding figure when you consider how, in 2024, we know so little about it. In times gone by, the subject of women’s health was taboo, and a lack of education and funding has led to enormous gaps in our understanding of the menopause. It’s no wonder it’s difficult to diagnose,…

READER QUESTION Q I love going to the theatre but it can be expensive. Do you have any tips on doing it for less? A If you can be flexible about when you go, you may be able to get cheap last-minute tickets. If that’s not an option, try playing around with dates. I’ve found it’s often cheaper to book midweek than Saturday night. You could try and score Rush Tickets, usually made available at 10am on the day of the performance via the TodayTix app (free to download on iOS and Android). It can be a great way to snag a late deal. Also, if it’s a new show, you may be able to snap up cheaper preview tickets. Find more tips at moneysavingexpert.com. Go green for less Check…

And… relax ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr The Autumn Equinox guides you to look at what you need to embrace, as well as what you need to release. Letting go makes space for the new. It’s time to be bold. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Stepping out onto a more unconventional path can be scary, but it will bring rewards beyond your wildest dreams. Seize the moment and move forward bravely. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Your youthful spirit and sense of fun uplift and inspire those around you. This week, try to make some time to spend with friends who really need your support. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Mars, currently in your sign, continues to help you be resilient and confident in new ways.…

HONEYBEE by Dawn O’Porter (£20, HB, HarperCollins) Adulthood isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. At least, that’s how it feels to Renée and Flo. Both in their early 20s, the old friends have returned to Guernsey, the Channel island that they grew up on. Neither of them are happy with their lot in life. Battling with her mental health, Flo wishes she could be invisible. Meanwhile, desperate to be somebody, Renée is also struggling to find her place in the world. Though they have drifted, the pull of their old friendship is strong. Muddling through life on the cusp of adulthood, can they navigate the messiness of growing up together? This coming-of-age story is funny, heartfelt and utterly captivating. THE STALKER by Kate Rhodes (£22, HB, Simon &…