Innholdsfortegnelse for March 31, 2025 i Woman's Own

Woman’s Own is full of strong women – from the inspiring women who share their stories, to the ones who are willing to open up and voice their opinions. Each week I love hearing what our columnist Dawn Neesom has to say and this issue is no different – turn to p16 to hear her take on robots, an impassioned plea about the justice system, and wedding cake (you’ll have to read it to see what I mean!). This week Dawn also talks about trailblazing women – one in particular, who passed away recently. Jane Reed was the editor of Woman’s Own for a decade and was an institution in the magazine world. While I never met Jane, she did so much for the industry – and, like Dawn, I’m…

Hairbrushes held like microphones, me and my daughter Emmy, then 15, sang as loud as we could. After dancing around the living room, the radio blasting, we collapsed on the sofa in fits of giggles. It was January 2018, and even though Emmy was well into her teens, we were close. She was growing up fast, but was still the loving little girl who couldn’t go to sleep without her favourite bedtime dolly. I’d recently split up with her dad and now it was just us and her younger brother, Jacob, then 13 – a happy family of three. ‘THEY WERE SMITTEN WITH EACH OTHER’ FIRST IMPRESSIONS Then, that March, Emmy told me she’d met her first boyfriend, and days later, she brought him round to meet me. Jordan, then…

Buy of the week Remove bacteria from those hard-to-reach areas with Corsodyl Complete Protection mouthwash (£5.50 for 500ml, Boots). Contains fluoride and zinc to keep gums healthy. HEALTH MATHS 3 steps to relieve a migraine APPLY A HOT OR COLD COMPRESS TO YOUR FOREHEAD + MASSAGE THE PAINFUL SPOT + REST IN A QUIET, DARK ROOM = Soothed senses and reduced tension. If you do one thing Cut down on screen time Spend hours scrolling? You’re not alone – the average UK adult spends four hours and 20 minutes online each day*, which includes time spent on phones, tablets and computers. But with a few simple tweaks, you can ditch the habit. And taking scheduled breaks is a great first step to take control. ‘Set a realistic timer on your…

I feel invisible Q I’m a 52-year-old woman who has always prided herself on being independent and self-sufficient. However, lately I’ve been feeling invisible. My kids are grown up and they don’t need me. I hate my job and I’m single. I see friends my age travelling and starting new jobs, but I’m stuck in a rut. A Many women grapple with the feeling of invisibility, but it’s important to recognise that your worth isn’t tied to the roles in your life. Think back to what brought you joy before life got busy. Revisiting old interests or exploring new ones will help you rediscover your sense of purpose. More importantly, talk to your friends about this, as sharing your journey can make all the difference. CANCER DIAGNOSIS HAS CAUSED CHAOS…

Cherry roulade PREP TIME: 25 MINS, PLUS COOLING COOK TIME: 12-14 MINS CALS: 329 FAT: 20G SAT FAT: 11G CARBS: 30G SERVES 12 A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, this is equally good as a pud after your Sunday roast. YOU WILL NEED 4 medium eggs150g caster sugar Zest and juice1 lemon75g plain flour50g ground almonds1tsp baking powder1½tbsp kirsch For the filling: 250g mascarpone2tbsp icing sugar, plus extra for dusting300g frozen cherries, defrosted and roughly chopped150ml double cream100g cherry jam You will need: 21x33cm baking tin or tray, the base lined with baking paper HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan. Using an electric mixer, whisk the eggs and caster sugar until thick enough to leave a trail on the surface, about 6 mins. Add the lemon zest and…

As a self-employed, married mum with two primary-aged daughters, I’m always looking for ways to cut household bills. The cost of living crisis has caused food prices to rocket, and as a result we’ve adapted our household menu to focus on savings and convenience, rather than health - more ultra-processed food, less hearty fare made from scratch. So when my father-in-law gifted me several ‘budget’ cookbooks from the late 1970s, a decade that also saw the country in a cost of living crisis, I wondered if they could save us any money today. I set off to the supermarket to buy 1970s ingredients (which wasn’t as easy as I’d imagined) and got to work. Here’s how it went… MONDAY Flipping through my budget cookbooks one thing strikes me: all the…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr The New Moon in Aries at the end of March helps you set goals for the rest of the year. Enjoy this new beginning by embracing change and thinking big. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Mix up your routine! Perhaps try a different route to work or pick up an old creative hobby again. By making a simple, small change you’ll soon feel more energised. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Do more of what you love. Review the resolutions you made at the beginning of 2025. Are you heading towards your most important goals or do you need to refocus? CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul With Mars moving forward in Cancer again you feel motivated to start a work project or…

THE LAST DAYS OF SUMMER by Sarra Manning (£22, HB, Hodder & Stoughton) As far as Cassie is concerned, Marc is an awful person who did a terrible thing. Never mind his chiselled cheekbones and irresistible French accent, or the fact that her best friends think the world of him. Fast forward a few years, and their paths cross again. Following a tragedy, Cassie and Marc join forces to plan a special weekend to celebrate their friends, while pretending to be madly in love. Will four days creating magical memories together be enough to help Cassie let go of the past and see Marc for who he truly is? A swoon-worthy summer romance. SOMEONE IS LYING by Heidi Perks (£9.99, PB, Cornerstone) Jess is living through every mother’s worst nightmare.…

Research ways to mend a broken heart, and you’ll find advice like self-care and even therapy, but nowhere do the experts tell you to buy a bike and embark on a 500-mile solo trip on two wheels. However, that’s exactly what I did and my journey of self-discovery not only eased my heartache but taught me a lot about myself. I was 32, in February 2019, and living in Switzerland when my four-year relationship with John, then 32, ended. Still close, we’d simply fallen out of love, but I took the separation hard and fell straight into a toxic rebound relationship with another man with the same name, John number two. When we split, six months later, I realised I hadn’t dealt with the first break-up and was now dealing…

Meghan’s CHANGE OF HEART Could the Duchess of Sussex do a major 180 and return to acting after previously retiring from the industry in 2018 to marry Prince Harry? The speculation coincides with the release of her new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan – which the duchess revealed will have a second series – with many suggesting that it could reignite her passion to be on-screen. ‘[The series] will showcase who she is and even open up new and different doors to acting, which could in return showcase her acting ability,’ says PR expert Rochelle White. She continued, ‘I do feel her TV career could survive. I think there could be opportunities for her to show up and do something new or even head back to a show.’ Prior to…

Actor Lisa Riley has played Emmerdale’s Mandy Dingle since 1995. She joined the show when she was 19 and left six years later. During her time away she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, presented You’ve Been Framed! and starred in the BAFTA award-winning drama Three Girls, before returning to Emmerdale six years ago. Lisa, 48, who lives in Yorkshire with her fiancé, American musician Al, chats to us about what makes her happy... 1 Item of clothing A zip-up hoodie. Playing Mandy Dingle means I’m dressed to the nines every day of my life, so when I’m me you’ll find me in a hoodie and leggings. My dad says that I dress like a 13 year-old! 2 Reality show The Traitors. I’m obsessed. I would do Celebrity Traitors in an…

PUT THE GUILTY IN THE DOCK Criminals should be forced to face their victims in court From a young age we are taught that when you do something wrong, you must face the consequences – own up, apologise, and accept whatever punishment comes your way. Surely this only helps you learn from your mistakes so you don’t repeat them? So why is it that we are seeing droves of criminals worming their way out of what is, arguably, a core part of their punishment- facing those they’ve wronged, in court? At the moment we are seeing an epidemic of violence against women and girls, and it’s getting worse, despite years of government promises and ‘pathways’ to stop it. Not just my words, but an official report from the National Audit…

When I was in my 20s becoming a mum felt a million miles away. I was at university, working overseas or out with friends, and my life revolved around passing exams and carving out a career as a journalist. Although I sometimes dreamt about finding a suitable boyfriend and starting a family of my own, I still felt very young and that time was on my side. ‘I REALISED I WAS RUNNING OUT OF TIME’ When, at 31, I met the man I eventually married, that dream felt much closer. I felt as though I had met ‘the one’ and believed we would have a child together one day. I remember checking maternity leave conditions in my work booklet and stressing about horror birth stories I’d heard from friends who…

Want to lose weight, but find it hard to give up all the foods you love? The good news is you don’t have to – with our simple eating plan you can enjoy your favourite restaurant and takeaway picks, but made at home in a much healthier way. ‘Fast food, pub meals and takeaways are often loaded with excessive calories, fats and salt, which can contribute to weight gain,’ says nutritionist Jenna Hope*. ‘But, when you make similar dishes at home, you can add in more veggies, reduce the fats and make them much more satiating so that you stay fuller for longer.’ HOW IT WORKS Often when you’re on a restrictive diet you’re more likely to feel deprived, meaning you quickly give up. This plan focuses on inclusion rather…

Glow like Eva Longoria Eva turned 50 on 15 March, and she is shining from top to toe. Skin always looks better with a healthy gleam so if you’re baring your arms, shoulders and décolletage, dress them in St. Moriz Advanced Glow Oil Body Illuminator, £13.99, Boots, to create a flattering bronze sheen that glosses over little crinkles. The added goji berry extract, buriti oil and vitamin E nourish dry skin. Protect like Charlize Theron The best thing you can do for your skin is wear high-factor, broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. It’s the easiest way to stave off wrinkles and dark spots. Charlize, who turns 50 on 7 August, agrees. ‘When I wake up I just rinse my face and put on sunscreen,’ she has revealed. Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF…

Stifling a scream, I peered into our dimly-lit living room, and grabbed my sister’s arm, trying to make out a long thin shape on the floor. ‘It’s a rat’s tail,’ I hissed, heart beating faster. But far from providing the reassurance I desperately needed, my sister, Lauretta, 53, was no help at all. Instead, she shrieked in terror and rushed out of the room. It was only when I clicked on the light that I realised it wasn’t a rat’s tail at all, but a mobile phone cable. ‘Oh for goodness sake,’ I giggled, as Lauretta creeped sheepishly back into the room. Soon bent over laughing, we admitted that sometimes, it would be handy to have a man around. Despite both growing up expecting a knight in shining armour to…

Cosy country Bold brights Scandi greens…

It’s been two-and-a-half years since Christine McGuinness and TV host Paddy McGuinness announced their split. But despite the heartache, the former model, 37, has thrown herself into work and carved a name for herself in the spotlight in her own right. Over the past few years, she has appeared on The Real Housewives of Cheshire, starred in Strictly The Real Full Monty to raise cancer awareness and, most recently, won C4’s Celebrity Hunted alongside Blue’s Duncan James. Plus she’s a loving mum to the children she shares with Paddy: twins Leo and Penelope, 11, and daughter Felicity, eight, who all have autism. Christine was also diagnosed with the condition in 2021. Here, the star tells Woman’s Own what it’s like co-parenting with Paddy and why she could be tempted to…

Sally Bretton ‘BEING FOSTER PARENTS IS A BALANCING ACT’ The Beyond Paradise star on the return of the West Country crime drama… It’s back to the fictional Devon town of Shipton Abbott for the third series of the Death in Paradise spin-off starring Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman and Sally Bretton as his fiancée Martha Lloyd. Although the couple have decided to put their wedding plans on hold, they are stronger than ever and as they continue their journey as foster parents, the arrival of a nine-year-old girl called Rosie brings more challenges than they anticipated. ‘Martha and Humphrey are very much in the middle of their fostering journey,’ says Sally. ‘Martha’s also expanding her business by taking on a larger restaurant, so she ends up taking on a…

GREEN WITH ENVY Team with wide-leg, light denim jeans. Cardigan, £27.99, sizes xxs-xxl, H&M LET THERE BE LIGHT Place anywhere without needing a socket. Table lamp, £34.99, H&M Home CORAL CRUSH Be kinder to your nails. Zero Waste Pro Plant Power vegan nail polish, £9, Nails Inc PEACHY KEEN The perfect handbag upgrade for spring. Bag, £59, Fiorelli COTTON BLEND Available in three different lengths. Dress, £29.50, M&S NIGHT JUNGLE This new homeware collection is one that’s not to be missed. Duvet set, from £12, side table, £35, ribbed carafe, £9, glasses, £10, set of four, candle, £4, bobbin-edge mirror, £22, green frame, £5 for two, white frame, £8, floor lamp, £60, all George at Asda BLUSH-N-GO Perfect for your handbag. Benefit Mini Peachin’ Golden Peach blush, £16.50, Boots DESIGNER…

Sleek separates With heaps of styling potential, a matching two-piece makes a worthy investment. Wear together for a relaxed yet smart look or mix and match with casual tees or jeans to get more bang for your buck. Statement jacket Looking to elevate a low-key outfit? I always reach for an eye-catching jacket. This designer-inspired bouclé blazer looks more expensive than the price tag suggests. Pair with a simple cami and some wide-leg jeans to nail that smart-casual dress code or layer over an LBD if you’re after something dressier. Timeless prints Whether it’s a small gathering or a blow-out party, a midi dress will see you through in style. Classic prints like a floral or polka dot will never feel dated. This fuss-free silhouette will look just as good…

Get personal Collection Gloss Me Up pH Gloss in Coral Sorbet, £3.99, collectioncosmetics.com, reacts with your skin’s pH levels to create a bespoke shade, designed to perfectly suit you. Peony pop A rosy pink like Kiko Dreamphoria Shapechanger Satin Lipstick in Poetic Pink, £15.99, kikocosmetics.com, is the perfect shade for everyday wear. It’ll brighten up your complexion while being less intimidating than a red or fuchsia. Glitzy gloss Barry M Glazed Peptide Lip Oil in So Wishful, £6.99, barrym.com, is blended with peptides to help give lips a fuller-looking appearance. It’s available in six shimmering shades. Peachy keen Glossy without the stickiness, Fenty Gloss Bomb High-Shimmer Gloss Stix in C U In Maui, £23, Boots, has a high-shine, shimmering finish. We particularly love the peach shade, which shouts summer. Subtle…

IS IT SAFE TO STOP MEDS? Q My mother has recently been diagnosed with angina and has been put on a drug called isosorbide mononitrate. She’s getting really bad headaches and is telling me she is going to stop taking the medication. I am worried about her. Should she go back to her GP? A Please ask her not to stop this drug abruptly as this can lead to more frequent, severe or longer-lasting angina attacks. Headaches are a common side effect with nitrates, which work by dilating blood vessels. The good news is that the headaches often settle, but there are also lots of other drugs that can treat angina, so she could discuss an alternative with her GP. I’m concerned about his driving Q I’m increasingly worried about…

Dee lays out a selection of beautiful ivory thongs, suspenders and lace bras on the bed she shares with her fiancé Will. ‘I’m picking out the lingerie that I’m going to be wearing for our wedding night,’ she says, running her hands over the delicate material. ‘It’s absolutely gorgeous,’ she adds, smiling. Will and Dee live in a quaint, conservative village in Queensland, Australia, and work on Dee’s parents’ farm. Dee takes care of the horses, while Will manages their 600 cattle. But there’s something unconventional about Dee and Will’s upcoming wedding night, because it’s not just the bride and groom who are invited into the newly-weds’ marital bed. ‘It’s obviously going to be a massive swingers party. I’m so excited,’ says Dee. She first met Will a few years…

Weeknight chilli PREP TIME: 15 MINS COOK TIME: 45 MINS CALS: 193 FAT: 6G SAT FAT: 2G CARBS: 14G SERVES 6 Serve this low-effort winner with your choice of toppings for an easy build-your-own dinner. YOU WILL NEED 1tbsp oil2 red onions, chopped1 fat garlic clove, chopped500g pack lean beef mince1tsp ground cumin1tsp ground coriander1tbsp chipotle paste400g tin chopped tomatoes1 beef stock cube Bunch coriander, stalks chopped, leaves picked and reserved Zest and juice 1 lime400g tin kidney beans, drained and rinsed Tortilla chips, guacamole, soured cream, tomato salsa and lime wedges, to serve HOW TO DO IT 1 Add the oil to a shallow casserole or deep frying pan. Fry the onions over a medium heat for 5 mins, add the garlic and cook for 2 more mins. 2…

READER QUESTION Q We’re planning to get married and someone mentioned wedding insurance – what is it? A Wedding insurance can protect you against a range of costly and unfortunate events, from losing the ring to suppliers going bust or even the entire wedding being cancelled. But exactly what’s covered varies widely by policy. And you may already be covered by other insurances and consumer protections. Find out more at which.co.uk. Go green for less Simply turning your lights off when you’re not using them or when you leave a room can save the typical household around £7 on annual energy bills in Great Britain, and £9 in Northern Ireland, says Energy Saving Trust. 3 easy ways to... learn new skills for free Want to boost your knowledge without having…

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 Greek letter is the name for the genus of plants that includes chard and mangold wurzel? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ALPHABETACHIDELTAEPSILONGAMMAIOTAKAPPALAMBDAOMEGAOMICRONRHOSIGMATAUTHETA CROSSWORD ACROSS 6 See 4 Down 7 Greek hero played by Brad Pitt in Troy (8)10 Larry __ __, Toytown puppet (3,4)11 Puzzle (7)12 Ignition device (7)13 Dan __, star of films Porky’s and Porky’s Revenge (7)14 Oscar __ II, lyricist for Showboat and Oklahoma! (11) 19 See 4 Down 21 Fell (7)23 Laurence__, star of films Sleuth and Marathon Man (7)25 __ Dean, actor who plays…

LINDA WILLOUGHBY Former This Morning presenter Holly is very close with her mum, Linda, 76. The star sweetly gushed on Mother’s Day last year, ‘You’re not just my mum, you’re my inspiration and guiding star. Thank you for your love and guidance.’ ANNE KELLY Lorraine’s mum Anne, 83, is her biggest cheerleader. The daytime TV host confessed, ‘Mum is so proud of me… She watches the show every day with her cup of tea and we always catch up on the phone after.’ Recently, the star revealed that she’s reduced her working hours, taking Fridays off, so she can spend more time with her mum. How sweet! LINDA CLARK Rylan’s mum Linda, 71, has become a celeb in her own right after appearing alongside him on Celebrity Gogglebox. When asked…

MONDAY FUN-DAY Remember Monday can’t wait to represent the UK at this May’s Eurovision in Basel, Switzerland, with their banging country track What the Hell Just Happened?. It’s about the staging as well as the song, of course, but they gave nothing away when we met at GMB. There’s a chandelier in the music video so my money is on Holly-Anne, Charlotte and Lauren descending from the arena rafters swinging from three of them. Don’t let me down, gals! KICK BALL CHANGE It’s a case of Strictly Ballroom quite literally for Gorka Márquez, who’s taking his fancy footwork to the pitch as part of the World XI team at Soccer Aid for UNICEF on 15 June. As I joined him and match veteran Alex Brooker at Old Trafford, Gorka told…