Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, November 18, 2024 i Woman's Own

This time of year is when it starts to get busy. I met up with friends three nights in a row recently (I’m not complaining!) and felt zonked for the rest of the week! The more we’re doing, the more we need to make sure we get a good night’s sleep. So if you struggle to nod off, or find yourself waking in the early hours, turn to p22 – we’ve got all the expert help you need for a silent night. And, if while trying to fit it all in, you’re noticing you might not be paying as much attention to your relationship, the quiz on p26 can help. Find out you and your partner’s love language (ooh la la!) and see what can bring you closer. Also, get…

GOOD FRIENDS ARE HARD TO FIND Not all friendships are meant to last… It may have been a time for fireworks recently, but for many of us it’s not just the kind that scare the dog and cost a fortune. It’s the kind that have led to perfectly sensible women like you and me vowing never to talk to our friends again. Worryingly, a growing number of relationship counsellors are now offering ‘friendship therapy’ to help sort out mates who have got themselves in a state. In some practices this now amounts to 25% of clients seeking guidance. While the reasons aren’t totally clear – possibly our increasingly busy lives and a more divided, strident world – the main issues nearly always fall into five distinct categories. One of the…

Lamb shoulder curry SERVES 4 Don’t be put off by the long list of spices here, they are all easy to find, keep well, and make for the most flavoursome curry. YOU WILL NEED 1tbsp vegetable oil2 onions, chopped8 garlic cloves, chopped3tbsp grated ginger1 green chilli, deseeded, chopped2 bay leaves1 cinnamon stick2tbsp garam masala1tbsp each: ground cumin, ground coriander1tsp each: whole green cardamom pods, fennel seeds, salt, black pepper½tsp each: whole cloves, ground turmeric10 fresh curry leaves (or use dried) 1tsp caster sugar250g tomatoes, chopped500g lamb shoulder, cut into 3cm chunks200ml coconut milk20g coriander, chopped Basmati rice or flat breads, to serve HOW TO DO IT 1 Using the sear or braise function on the slow cooker, add the oil, onions, garlic, ginger and chilli, followed by all the spices…

THE SECRET CHRISTMAS BOOKSHOP by Cressida McLaughlin (£8.99, PB, HarperCollins) A mysterious package arrives for Sophie, who has just moved to the peaceful seaside village of Mistingham. Inside is a beautifully bound copy of Jane Eyre. Determined to find out who sent this charming gift, Sophie volunteers to run the Christmas festival, in part so she can quiz the locals about the book. Helping her organise the event is Harry, a reclusive man who hides away in his crumbling manor. Can Sophie bring him out of his shell and pull off the most magical festival yet? A warm tale bursting with Christmas cheer. WE SOLVE MURDERS by Richard Osman (£22, HB, Penguin) Retired copper Steve Wheeler loves his quiet life. Other than the odd investigation, his adventures are behind him.…

Ruth’s CHRISTMAS HEARTBREAK Ruth Langsford is gearing up for a tough festive season. A source said, ‘Ruth is dreading Christmas coming up, because it will be her first one since her split from Eamonn, who could be spending it with his new partner.’ They added, ‘However, Ruth knows people will be looking up to her and feel inspired about how strong she appears on the outside. She knows the first Christmas will always be the hardest, and she just wants to get through it.’ The source explained, ‘This Christmas means creating different memories. Ruth and Eamonn are positively co-parenting Jack, but he’s at the age where he might want to do something different at Christmas, and that’s worrying Ruth. He’s no doubt hurting too, seeing his mum and dad go…

Hearing a giggle coming from the living room, I poked my head around the door. ‘What are you two up to?’ I asked my sons, Lucas, then six, and Axl, two. ‘EVERY MOMENT WAS ONE I TREASURED’ ‘Mummy, take a seat,’ Lucas said, triggering even more giggles from Axl. I sat on the sofa and a loud vibration erupted from a whoopee cushion hidden under a blanket. The boys fell on the floor laughing. It was summer 2017 and as I watched them playing together I wanted more than anything to freeze time. Ever since Axl had been born I’d felt that way. When I was pregnant with him, my husband Ian and I had been warned that he had only a 2% chance of survival. He had abnormalities in…

Health ask us WHEN CAN I DITCH MY ANTIBIOTICS? Q After a chest infection, I was given a week’s course of antibiotics. They have worked brilliantly but now I have terrible diarrhoea and dare not leave the house! I am on day five now and feel completely well. Can I stop them? A We do sometimes give a five-day course of antibiotics, so if you feel completely well and no longer have a fever, it may be OK to consider the course completed. Antibiotics are good at killing off bad bacteria but can also play havoc with the trillions of good bacteria in your gut. Even if you don’t usually take probiotics, I recommend taking a daily probiotic while on antibiotics and continuing until diarrhoea has settled. This medical letter…

Buildable colour I’m loving the new Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara, £28, cultbeauty.co.uk. The curved brush head really lifts my usually straight lashes. The inky formula volumises without clumping or flaking, and you can build it layer by layer to amp up the drama. Although it’s a little more expensive, it perks up tired eyes brilliantly, which makes it worth every penny! Stephanie Magic wand I’m really impressed by Babe Original Babe Lash 4 Real Mascara, £14, beautybay.com. The shape of the wand is so clever – with it being super-straight, it pushes the lashes upwards, while the tiny bristles grab every lash for an even coating. I also love the rounded tip, which works brilliantly on the outer corners and the lower lashes, for a really open-eyed look. Rhiannon…

Matalan SCANDI STYLE Try a pared-back palette of cream, black and evergreen for a timeless look B&M ALPINE ESCAPE Get cosy this season with faux-fur fabrics, warm woods and plenty of glowing candles…

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 A ‘reserve’ designed for which mythical creature can be visited in Bideford, Devon? The answer is the one missing from the grid. CENTAUR DRAGON ELF FAIRY FAUN GIANT GOBLIN GNOME IMPMERMAIDOGREPIXIETROLLUNICORNWITCH CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Just (6)4 & 22 Down A _ in _, 2023 whodunnit film starring21 Across, 29 Across, 9 Down and 18 Down; based on the book Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie (8,6)10 Branch of maths (7)11 Housebreaker (7)12 Be successful in an exam (4)13 Dwight D. _, 34th president of the USA (10)15 Enter the _, 1973 martial arts film starring Bruce Lee and John Saxon (6)16 Treaties…

CANDICE BROWN Owned by 2016 Great British Bake Off winner Candice, The Green Man in Bedfordshire is worth a trip just for the kitchen alone. Since taking over in 2018, Candice, 39, and her brother Ben have renovated the pub, giving it a ‘modern’ feel while respecting its ‘colourful past’. JADE THIRWALL When former Little Mix star Jade, 31, learnt her old stomping ground, Red Door in South Shields, was closing, there was only one thing she could do – buy it! Since she became the proud owner in 2019, it’s rebranded as Arbeia and is one of the hottest spots in town. JEREMY CLARKSON After the success of his Diddly Squat farm and shop, Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? host Jeremy, 64, decided to one-up himself and open…

On a stifling hot summer night, I pushed open the sash windows of the Victorian house I shared with friends on a leafy road in west London, longing for ventilation to help us sleep. I wandered to my cosy room and drifted off surprisingly quickly. But it was a slumber that would be short-lived. Suddenly I was woken by shouting and screaming, and what sounded like a violent scuffle on the stairs. I was about to run and help, assuming an intruder had climbed through a window, until I heard my housemates yelling, ‘Sally, stay in your room, it’s him again!’ Terrified, I pressed my ear to the door and heard a desperate, drunk voice moaning, ‘I just want to talk to her.’ There was only one thought on my…

Buy of the week Speed up healing with Zovirax Cold Sore Cream (£7.74 for 2g, Superdrug). Its antiviral ingredients penetrate deep into the skin to fight the virus. HEALTH MATHS 3 steps to protect eyes in winter VISIT YOUR OPTICIAN WEAR SUNGLASSES + INVEST IN EYE DROPS + = Reduced irritation and dryness caused by wind, rain and other precipitation. If you do one thing Try exercise ‘snacking’ Whether you don’t have time to work out or find it hard to motivate yourself in the chilly weather, you’re not alone Short bursts of activity could be the solution. This means splitting exercises into manageable chunks of around two to three minutes throughout your day. ‘Small “snacks” of exercise help to break up long periods of sitting and reduce the negative…

Health ask us He lied and left me for a young woman Q My ex left me six months ago, saying there wasn’t another woman but then moved in with a woman who is 32. I feel sick when I think about it, as well as embarrassed and humiliated. I’m 61 and now alone, feel worthless and old with no hope of meeting anyone new. How can I move past this hurt and stop feeling so useless? A Your feelings are valid, but try acknowledging them without harshly judging yourself. Your ex didn’t leave because of your age but for a whole host of reasons, many of which had to do with his own issues. Of course, it’s easy to feel unworthy when someone moves on, but your value isn’t…

By the time the kids were entertaining themselves with their new presents and the Christmas lunch was prepared and cooking away nicely, I was exhausted and ready for a sit down and to enjoy my first tipple of the day. Only, as I sat on the sofa and popped open a bottle of bubbly, I could feel a pair of eyes on me. ‘Prosecco at this time in the morning!’ my mother in law Judith shrilled. ‘It’s Christmas! It’s tradition!’ I shot back, rolling my eyes. Besides, I needed it after spending three whole days with her. ‘Not in this house!’ she retorted. It was December 2021 and being berated on Christmas morning in my 40s had become a tradition – but an unwelcome one and later that night I…

READER QUESTION Q I always get sucked in by tempting Black Friday deals, but are they worth the hype? A Not necessarily. A study by Which? last year found that 98% of Black Friday deals it looked at were either cheaper or the same price at other times of the year. If you’re considering snapping up a Black Friday offer then check that you are buying a genuine bargain. There’s advice on how to do this at which.co.uk. Go green for less Shop local for items you need in a hurry. Amazon is convenient, but whether you’re looking for fresh veg or a last-minute gift, support your local independent shops and make someone do a happy dance! 3 easy ways to... protect against car thieves Here’s how you can stay…

And… relax 12-18 November 2024 ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr You’re seen as the innovator of the zodiac, and now you may find others approach you to lead on a new idea. This opportunity will take you far, embrace it. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May The Full Moon in Taurus on 15 November helps you to release something you’ve been carrying all year. By surrendering the old you can create a fresh beginning. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Your busy mind can cause you physical tension, so take time out to relax. When life gets overwhelming, use techniques to bring you back into the present moment. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Someone from your past may have got back in touch recently. While you might have…

Vernon Kay ‘LET’S RAISE SOME SERIOUS CASH!’ The Radio 2 DJ is among the hosts of Children In Need… It’s time to put the fun into fundraising as celebrities join Pudsey Bear for the annual telethon in support of projects helping children and young people across the UK. For last year’s appeal, Vernon Kay raised more than £6 million with his Ultra UltraMarathon Challenge. This year he’s joining Ade Adepitan, Mel Giedroyc, Chris Ramsey, Rochelle Humes and Lenny Rush to host the extravaganza that features a mix of music, comedy and entertainment. It’s the first time Vernon’s co-hosted the show and he says when he was asked to do it, he kept it a secret from everyone in his family except his wife, Strictly’s Tess Daly. ‘They only found out…