Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, December 23, 2024 i Woman's Own

It’s almost here! You’ve got your list, you’re checking it twice – for food you might have forgotten, presents you’ve missed off, extra tinsel… It’s this final run-up that can feel the most hectic. Don’t worry, though! In need of some final flourishes for your Christmas table? Turn to page 40. Wanting to complete your party look – that’s page 28. Keen to wow your guests? We’ve got you covered on p32 – they won’t forget that tutti-frutti ice cream bombe in a hurry! Food and festive tipples at Christmas are my favourite – but overindulging can leave you feeling a bit bleugh. So, on p26 we’ve got clever cocktail swaps that will save you calories. And if you’re looking for any last-minute buys, on p10 the Wishlist holds all…

CHEERS TO THE REARS! Shall we talk bottoms? Be cheeky not to, really, wouldn’t it? Because you may have noticed – if, like me, you pay close attention to these things – that there are more men’s naked bits on telly than women’s boobs these days. I was first aware of it back in the summer, when House of the Dragon featured a sex scene that had the man totally starkers while the woman was fully covered up by bedclothes. More recently, we had the saucy TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, where it was hot male bots all the way and even a naked tennis scene where the female covered her body, but the male let it all hang out. Literally. Full-frontal female nudity has been broadcast for more…

Buy of the week Boost your gut health with Yakult Plus Peach (£3.70 for eight x 65ml, ocado.com), blended with vitamin C for immunity. HEALTH MATHS 3 steps to beat GP waiting times If you do one thing Protect veins in winter It’s not just our extremities that notice when the temperature drops – our blood vessels feel the chill, too. When it’s cold, blood vessels constrict, which can affect circulation and increase the risk of varicose veins and high blood pressure. But walking can help, and is one of the best movements for veins, according to consultant venous surgeon Professor Mark Whiteley*. ‘It makes the vein pumps in the foot, calf and thigh work in a coordinated fashion, pumping blood back to the heart,' he says. Aim for 30 minutes…

He’s having a relationship with his brother’s girlfriend Q My eldest son is 44 and has been married for 15 years. My youngest is 30, and has been with his girlfriend for three years. I noticed that she’s very close to my older son and discovered that they are having a relationship. I’m crying my eyes out because I don’t know what to do. I love both of them. A What a terrible position you are in, and it’s understandable that you feel overwhelmed and upset. Before taking any action, it’s important to prepare yourself emotionally for any direction this may take. However, this is not a secret to keep, as it will tear you apart. Start by having a conversation with your eldest son and find out what’s going…

Many of you will recall those months spent waiting to meet your precious newborn. You counted the weeks, all the while wondering what they looked like, and when the day would come that you’d finally get to take them home. Imagine discovering then, after days, weeks, or even months or years, that the baby you raised as your own flesh and blood wasn’t in fact yours – and that your biological child was out there in the world somewhere. It’s hard to imagine the impact such an event can have. After all, the way we’re raised, who we’re surrounded by and the people we call family all play a fundamental role in who we are. In 2021, two women, born in 1967, discovered they’d been accidentally switched at birth in…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr You are full of enthusiasm and excitement right now, so make the most of this by channelling your energy into something beneficial for the long term. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Your inner strength is admirable, and, more often than not, you can deal with anything. However, make sure you don’t take on more than you can handle. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Being alone for too long doesn’t suit you. Your sign is ruled by Mercury, the communicator. So, tap into this to create some new and meaningful relationships. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul The Moon in Cancer on 17 December gives you the chance to speak up about something close to your heart. Express how you really, truly feel…

NOTHING TO SEE HERE by Susan Lewis (£16.99, HB, HarperCollins) Cristy Ward has found her latest hot topic: a cold case. As the lead producer of a true crime podcast, Cristy is fascinated by the story of an unsolved triple murder. Fifteen years ago, a mother, daughter and family friend were savagely killed at Kellon Manse. Another young girl vanished, never to be found. The husband of one of the victims was a glaringly obvious suspect. But although the police were sure they had found the culprit, the case was suddenly shut down. Cristy and her team are determined to uncover the truth – no matter the cost. A nail-biting thriller. INTO THE STORM by Cecelia Ahern (£22, HB, HarperCollins) The storm is just the beginning. One wild night in…

Janet ‘I WAS AT ROCK BOTTOM’ Loose Women’s Janet Street-Porter has opened up about the challenging time before her hip operation earlier this year, admitting she initially refused to accept help. She said, ‘With the hip replacement, I was so reluctant and it got to the point where I could hardly walk, I’d come in here [Loose Women] and be a complete misery... my sleep was down to two or three hours a night.’ Janet, 77, continued, ‘I was told to have it back in March, I carried on, carried on, and the pain was excruciating.’ When questioned about her reluctance to seek help, Janet shared, ‘I’m very, very proud and very secretive. Although you might think I’m a big blabbermouth on Loose Women, I’m a bit like an iceberg.…

HIT THE SLOPES A stylish winter knit in easy monochrome tones. Jumper, £24, sizes 8-24, George at Asda SPRITZ AWAY Strawberry, plum, and musk. Nocturnal Velvet Parfum, £22.99, Zara BERRY NICE A seasonal and comfy addition to your sofa. Cushion, £20, Dunelm ALL NIGHT LONG Helps make-up to stay put. Rimmel Multi Tasker Primer, £9.99, lookfantastic.com WIDE STRIDES In the season’s hottest hue. Trousers, £24.99, sizes 4-22, H&M LUXE DINING Impress guests with a cool, Nordic-inspired table setting. Decorations, from £6, dinner set, from £22, runner, £7, glasses, from £2.50, place mats, £4, all George at Asda FESTIVE FOLIAGE High-impact, low effort. Faux plant and basket, £12, Primark DELIGHTFUL DECOR Eat, drink and be… Tree decoration, £2.50, B&M LIGHT TOUCH Enjoy a warm LED glow. Lantern, £5.99, Home Bargains SPARKLE…

Chic coat If, like me, you are planning to be outside watching the fireworks on 31 December, then why not make your coat the star of the show? This scarlet number is not only in the season’s hottest hue but the smart double-breasted design is a timeless silhouette too. Who cares what I’m wearing underneath? This will go off with a bang. Coat, £75, sizes 8-22, Very Charlie Dress to impress This feels like the last opportunity to get extra dressed up before my partywear goes into hibernation until next year, so I’ll be heading to a gathering in this glittery delight. The one-shoulder neckline adds a contemporary finish while the gathered detail defines the waist. Just add some barely-there sandals and make your entrance. Dress, £44.99, sizes xs-xxl, H&M…

Tutti-frutti ice cream bombe SERVES 8 Using a few ready-made ingredients, this showstopper of a pudding comes together in minutes. PREP TIME: 30 MINS, PLUS FREEZINGCALS: 652 FAT: 29GSAT FAT: 17G CARBS: 93G YOU WILL NEED For the bombe: 2 cherry Madeira cakes (around 300g each), sliced600ml tub vanilla ice cream100ml Baileys (optional)100g Italian mixed peel100g glacé cherries50g each: cranberries, raisins and chopped pistachio kernels For the topping: 50g dark chocolate, chopped50g milk chocolate, chopped20g salted butter1tbsp light brown soft sugar120ml double creamExtra glacé cherries and chopped pistachio kernels, sparklers (optional), to decorate You will also need: 18-20cm pudding dish, lined with2 layers of cling film HOW TO DO IT 1 Line the pudding dish tightly with the cake so it fully covers all edges of the bowl and no…

Running through the snow, I felt a hand grab mine. It was my identical twin sister, Michelle. Laughing as icy flakes landed on our faces, we threw snowballs. It was Christmas 2001 and, aged eight, we were dressed in matching bobble hats and coats. Born two minutes before me, Michelle took her role of big sister seriously. ‘I’ll always look out for you,’ she’d often vow. While I was feisty, she was gentle and reserved and our parents’ nickname for her was Sunni after her love of sunflowers. Growing up, we spent our days outdoors, playing basketball and making up hip-hop dances. We were always dressed exactly the same, but we loved it, and it’s true what they say about twin telepathy – if Michelle fell over I’d feel her…

At Christmas, more than any other time of year, most of what we do as a family is dictated by traditions passed down from a previous age, some of them idiosyncratic, but all of them enduring and there is a lovely sense of continuity if they are carried out, year on year. Many of our Christmas habits were adopted from my mother and grandmother, and how many generations they go back I wouldn’t even know. Tree lights in white only (never coloured), game casserole (made by my mother) on Christmas Eve, carols from King’s College Cambridge on the radio (always), putting a carrot and a glass of sherry for Santa by the fire before bedtime, stockings for everyone, regardless of age, pausing lunch to watch the Queen on TV (now…

WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY HAND? Q For the last few months, I have developed really strange pins and needles in my left hand, especially at night. I don’t want to bother my doctor with it, but it is affecting my sleep and starting to get me down. I haven’t injured my hand. Do you have any idea what the problem may be? A It may be a condition called carpal tunnel syndrome, where the nerve supplying sensation to the hand is squashed as it passes through a narrow tunnel in the wrist. It’s associated with diabetes, thyroid problems or the menopause. Try wearing a splint which you can buy from your pharmacist, but if the symptoms don’t improve, see your GP. Forgetfulness… or is it more serious? Q I am…

Elegant fragrance Perfume has the ability to make you feel your best self, and a spritz of your favourite scent before a big event is an essential touch. M&S Discover Soft Oud Eau de Toilette 100ml, £10, M&S, blends a heart of oud, soft rose and earthy tonka beans. It’ll make you feel warm, cosy and festive. Spray on your pulse points, clothing and hair for a long-lasting scent that will have the compliments rolling in. Hide the shine We all like a bit of luminous make-up, but when sweat and oil make your face more greasy than glowy, it’s never a good look. Help minimise the shine with a handbag-sized powder compact that will come to your rescue during all your events. Kiko Milano Universal Veil Translucent Finishing Powder,…

Habitat MERRY & BRIGHT Add some fun for the kids with these kitsch designs B&M FESTIVE TRADITIONS A sprinkling of tartan and a few well-placed Gonks will fill your home with Christmas cheer…

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 Odol, invented by Richard Seifert and marketed by Karl August Lingner, was one of the earliest commercially produced examples of what product? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BATH BOMBFLOSSFOAMGELLOOFAH LOTIONMOUTHWASHRAZORROBESCRUB SHAMPOOSHOWER CAPSOAPTALCTOWEL CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 & 22 Down __ The __, 2023 superhero spin-off film starring 21 Across, 29 Across, 8 Down and 9 Down (6,6)4 Country bordering Vietnam (8)10 Work of fiction (7)11 Do Not __, 1965 comedy film starring Doris Day and Rod Taylor (7)12 Breathing organ (4)13 Championship (10)15 In a tidy way (6)16 Route planner (4,3)20…