Innholdsfortegnelse for April 21, 2025 i Woman's Own

If you fancy having a drool, turn to p32 – have you ever seen such a beauty? That chocolate cherry cake really is one of the best-ever Easter bakes – just look at that drip. You can tell I’m hungry, can’t you – in fact, my tum always rumbles when I look at our recipe pages. Our brilliant food team never fail to wow me (and hopefully you too!) with their incredible creations. Those mini egg brookies too! You can’t go wrong with a mini egg (unless they are straight out of the fridge – I like my choc at room temperature!). Let me know if you like our reinvented classics. The food theme continues on p16, with the mocha-mousse trend! I love the chestnut shirt – très chic –…

HAPPY FLYING If you’ve got an Easter holiday looming, here are a few things you might like to know before hitting the airport departure lounge. Experts have revealed: ✣ The signs aren’t meant to be read. You look at the pictures and get the info you need. ✣ Everything is geared to making you spend money! ✣ There are intentionally fewer seats than passengers. ✣ With one in 10 of us nervous fliers, departure lounges are designed to be as calm as possible. ✣ You’ve probably never been anywhere safer. Everything is designed to prevent fires. ✣ They’re designed to keep you moving. Corridors are even laid out to make it easier for (right-handed) passengers to wheel suitcases. Who knew? I know I’ll be looking out for all of the…

Buy of the week Block out unwanted light at night with Smug Contoured 3D Blackout Sleep Mask (£15, sleepsmug.com). The dome design will prevent potential friction around the eyes. THE TO-DO LIST FIND YOUR PURPOSE Having a solid goal in life can lower your risk of dementia by 19%, according to researchers at University College London. AIR YOUR BED DAILY Pull back the duvet and blankets, and allow your bed sheets to breathe, reducing moisture, making sure that bed mites can’t thrive. EAT CHILLIES Eating a spicy dish once a week can reduce the risk of stroke by 13%*. Capsaicin in chillis may reduce plaque build-up in the arteries. If you do one thing Press play on a romcom Research shows films can have surprising benefits… If settling down to…

He's having an affair Q I’m in my 50s and have found out that my husband has been having an affair with a younger woman. He says he loves me but admits he doesn’t know if he can give this woman up. I’m torn between wanting to save our relationship and feeling that, after 25 years together, I deserve better. How do I move forward? A Discovering an affair, especially one that has lasted for years, is devastating, and it’s not helped by your husband’s refusal to move on. While he says he loves you, his actions speak volumes. You don't need to make a snap decision, but you do deserve to feel loved and respected. If your husband cannot fully commit, consider whether staying is in your best interest.…

NO JUSTICE I was jailed for 12 years over murder I didn’t commit Prosecution of 736 sub-postmasters was a grotesque miscarriage of justice It’s something we don’t ever think would happen to us, a nightmare we only read about in the news. But just imagine if one day, the police turned up at your door to arrest you for a crime you didn’t commit. The consequences – emotional, financial, psychological, social – could be devastating, not just for you, but also your loved ones. Sadly, there have been too many instances of miscarriages of justice, notably including the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses in the Post Office scandal. But while many are overturned – as with the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six, who were all wrongly convicted…

READER QUESTION Q How do I get hold of a UK Global Health Insurance Card, also known as a GHIC? A Apply for your free UK GHIC card at nhsbsa.nhs.uk; it enables you to access state healthcare in the European Economic Area and other countries. This may be free, or you’ll pay the equivalent local rate. It’s not a replacement for travel insurance. The UK GHIC has replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); if you have an EHIC you can use it until it expires. Go green for less Check out these hair brushes from Ziggy: there’s a choice of four different types depending on your hair type. They’re made from 100% recycled nylon, and the packaging is 100% biodegradable and is recyclable. Priced £16 each plus P&P. See…

1979 COLEEN NOLAN Loose Women’s Coleen made her TV debut with her sisters, Anne, Denise, Maureen, Linda and Bernie, on It’s Cliff Richard in 1974. Here, she’s seen in 1979 when the group were at the height of their fame – but it wasn’t until 2000 that she became one of telly’s favourite faces as a panellist on the ITV daytime show. Coleen has just turned 60, and this teenage photo shows she’s always had a warm smile. 1993 LORRAINE KELLY Last year Lorraine celebrated 40 years on daytime TV after cutting her teeth at ITV Scotland’s TV-am in 1984. Since then the star, 65, has become a household name in the world of daytime TV and later this year will mark 15 years presenting her eponymous show. She may…

Jane’s RELATIONSHIP SPLIT CONFESSION Loose Women’s Jane Moore has revealed that she usually gets over heartbreak in just ‘two days’. Her confession comes two-and-a-half years after she announced her split from husband Gary Farrow. So did she get over her 20-year marriage that quickly? Speaking on Loose Women: The Podcast Jane, 62, said, ‘I have never been dumped. Now there’s a reason that I’ve never been dumped, because I anticipate the writing on the wall. I know what’s coming so I get in first.’ Opening up about her past relationship breakdowns, she added, ‘So for me, heartbreak, I’ve had a couple of nights where I’ve been really upset but then after that I just have this ability to put things on the back burner and to just go, “OK, that…

HELLO SAILOR Inject some nautical charm into your wardrobe. Top, £16, sizes 8-24, George at Asda FRESH-FACED Removes daily impurities. Neal’s Yard Remedies Face Wash, £19, John Lewis SNAZZY SNEAKERS The metallic detail gives a luxe upgrade. Trainers, £18, Tu Clothing RISING STAR Bring the seaside home with this chic crockery. Plate, £1.50, B&M FLORAL FANCY Brighten up your denim. Jeans, £45.99, sizes 6-16, reserved.com DAYDREAM IN DENIM Breton stripes and jeans make a winning outfit formula. Shirt, £69.95, T-shirt, £27.95, jeans, £67.95, sizes 8-28, Seasalt; earrings, stylist’s own BREAKFAST TIME A fun kitchen decoration. Framed poster, £10.80, sostrenegrene.com HOME SWEET HOME A long-lasting and calming aroma for your living space. Diffuser, £8, Matalan KNIT IT OFF Layer up this tank top, made from soft alpaca wool blend. £34, sizes xs-2xl, Next STATEMENT STYLE Elevate a…

Mocha Mousse The trousers This delicious brown shade is Pantone’s colour of the year, so prepare to make it a big part of your wardrobe. A softer alternative to black, yet just as versatile, it looks great with sky blue. Embrace a cool smart-casual look by mixing in sleek tailoring – a striped shirt – and finish with some sporty kicks. Total outfit cost £45 TOP TIP Straight-leg trousers work well with a more relaxed top half The dress Ease yourself into the trend by breaking up the hue with a print. Leopard never fails to deliver; treated as a neutral, it can be paired with anything. This simple cut frock has a nipped-in waist for a flattering finish. Minimal styling is needed, so keep it fuss-free with a…

Skin feeling sensitive? You’re not alone. Almost two thirds of Brits have experienced it at some point, according to The British Skin Foundation. At this time of year, with changeable weather and temperatures, hay fever, bug bites and spending more time outdoors, skin issues can flare up. Don’t want to spend the season feeling itchy? Here’s what you need to know. Eczema An inflammation of the skin that can affect any part of the body, symptoms include itching, redness, swelling, weeping and cracking of the skin. ✣ Look for triggers. ‘The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis – an allergic condition linked to other atopic allergies, such as asthma and hay fever,’ says consultant dermatologist Dr Adam Friedmann. Food can cause flare-ups, with common causes being eggs and…

Sitting at the table in a pub with my daughter, Angel, seven, husband, Gareth, 39, and his dad, Gary, 57, we looked like a normal family waiting to tuck into our Sunday roast. It was January this year and as the waitress brought over our food she did a double take at Angel. ‘That’s a pretty necklace,’ she said, looking at the silver snowflake-shaped pendant with a purple centre. ‘Thank you,’ Angel smiled, proudly touching it. ‘It’s made from my great-grandad.’ The waitress looked a bit taken back, especially as Angel went on to tell her that Gareth’s blue cross necklace was also made up of bits of her great-grandad, as was Gary’s silver opal ring. ‘IT’S A WAY TO PRESERVE SOMETHING PRECIOUS’ But after I explained that the jewellery…

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 pink shades is named after an Elsa Schiaparelli perfume launched in the 1930s? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BABYBARBIECAMEOCERISECHAMPAGNECORALFUCHSIAHOT MEXICANNEONORCHIDPASTELROSESALMONSHOCKING CROSSWORD ACROSS 7 __ Street Preachers, band that recorded If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next and A Design for Life (5)8 Frozen confectionery (3,6)10 Maritime song (6)11 Conflict (8)12 __ King, star of films Friday the 13th and The Innocent (8)13 Monarch of the __, 2000-2005 light-hearted TV series starring Alastair Mckenzie and Richard Briers (4)15 The __ __, 2024 action comedy film starring 26 Across, 6 Down,9 Down, and…

Jeff Brazier ‘I’VE LEARNT A LOT ABOUT MYSELF…’ The TV presenter goes on a modern-day pilgrimage with a bunch of fellow celebs… If you watched BBC1’s Celebrity Race Across the World last year, you’d have seen Jeff Brazier and his son Freddy take on the challenge of making their way through South America with limited cash and no credit cards or phones. Now the presenter is making another epic journey in the seventh series of Pilgrimage, which once again sees famous faces with different faiths and beliefs trek along a well-trodden pilgrimage route. ‘A LOT HAS HAPPENED!’ ‘The best way to describe my faith is spiritual,’ says Jeff, 45. ‘I see this as a wonderful opportunity to explore some themes and conversations that I don’t have very often.’ Also strapping…

Lisa Snowdon has lived a life more glamorous than most. Scouted by a model agency aged 19, the star, now 53, travelled around the globe for work, gracing the cover of Vogue and being the face of Gucci – not to mention dating George Clooney for five years. She later became a judge and host on Britain’s Next Top Model and presented on Capital FM alongside Johnny Vaughan. But it hasn’t been all sunshine and roses. In 2013 Lisa suffered a miscarriage during her radio show after a violent attack by an abusive ex. She later struggled with fertility, something she blamed on an abortion in her 20s. ‘I’d think, “Was that my chance and it’s gone? Is this my punishment?”’ she heartbreakingly confessed. Now, Lisa has found happiness with…

Looking into the eyes of the man I’d shared half my life with, I took a deep breath. ‘There’s something I need to tell you,’ I began. It was October 2022 and we’d been married since 1985, and had a beautiful daughter, Jeanne, then 32. Over the past three decades, we’d been through highs and lows, love and loss. We’d built a wonderful life together, and I didn’t regret a second, but now, it was time to be true to myself. ‘I want a divorce,’ I continued. He looked at me almost knowingly, and said, ‘I respect your decision.’ Although it was sad that our relationship had come to an end and everything was about to change, I felt a huge sense of relief. When the world had shut down…

The noise of the pub swirled around me as I pulled another pint. Then the door opened and a man I recognised appeared. Stuart, then 34, worked as a DJ. Known as Stu, he was handsome and charismatic and there had always been chemistry between us. Now it was January 2010, and Stu came to the bar and asked me out. ‘STU WAS DETERMINED TO REMAIN POSITIVE’ Of course, I said yes and he arranged our first date at Alton Towers. We had a wonderful time and I found myself falling for him fast. Born on 29 February 1976, Stu was a leap-year baby, so I called him Peter Pan, the boy who never wanted to grow up, because he only had a ‘real’ birthday every four years. Fun-loving and…

SURGERY FEAR Q I was diagnosed with a cataract a couple of years ago and my specialist told me that I need to have surgery. I had a hysterectomy in my 40s and had a severe reaction to the anaesthetic, so I’m really scared. Apart from a bit of glare when driving at night, my vision isn’t causing me a problem. A Cataracts develop slowly and you probably have more visual impairment than you realise. You will be invited for a preoperative assessment appointment, and I would encourage you to attend this. It is possible to have cataract surgery performed under local anaesthetic, so discuss your concerns with the team and they will adjust your anaesthetic accordingly. Diagnosis uncertainty Q Our father died five years ago and I have been…

Get glowing As the weather warms up, it feels right to move away from heavier foundations and towards lighter bases with softer coverage that let your skin shine through. Essence Skin Tint, £3.95, justmylook.com, has a beautiful, glowy finish and SPF30. Carry that radiant finish through to your blusher. Cream textures like MUA Blushed Liquid Cream Blush in Dusky Rose, £3, muastore.co.uk, look the most natural. Dab on to the apples of your cheeks with your finger and blend out. Set in bronze As soon as the sun comes out, it’s time to dig out the bronzer. Our complexions can lose warmth as we get older, so it’s good to bring that glow back. Swirl a large brush over PS Pro Bronzer, £3.50, Primark, then buff over your face. Go…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr With Mercury moving direct in your sign, you have the courage to address a difficult conversation with someone close to you. Be bold and brave. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May The Sun moves into your sign on 20 April, giving you the energy to start something new. Perhaps begin a hobby or develop one of your creative talents. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun With Jupiter still moving through your sign, you may well feel more expansive and ready to start developing new friends. Romance may be on the cards for single Geminis. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul If you’re getting frustrated with a certain person or situation, spend some time in quiet meditation. This will help you find the solution to…

THE FINAL WIFE by Jenny Blackhurst (£9.99, PB, Canelo) When Luke Whitney is found brutally stabbed to death, more than one person has reason to think he got what he deserved. His latest wife Anna is found at the scene of the crime, next to his bloodied corpse. She confesses immediately – but suspicions arise when she is strangely hazy on the details of the crime. A police investigation reveals that Luke was a liar, a cheater and a narcissist. From his ex to his mistress to his wife, any number of people wanted him gone. But who was it that finally did the deed? A deliciously dark tale of revenge. A NEW CHAPTER AT THE LITTLE PENGUIN BOOKSHOP by Joanna Toye (£9.99, PB, Cornerstone) With World War Two finally…

PLAYING VIOLA! Starring as the US President battling terrorists in Prime Video’s cracking heist flick G20, Viola Davis tells me she was thrilled to make a movie everyone would love – and she did her own stunts. ‘I feel great at almost 60. I feel like there’s no limitations to what I can do,’ she tells me as the countdown begins to her big birthday this summer. I invited her to lunch to celebrate. ‘Do you have Guinness?’ she asked. For Viola, I’d have it on tap! ITALIAN JOB Reigning Strictly champ Dianne Buswell, who won the glitterball trophy with Chris McCausland last year, is raising the roof with fellow pro Vito Coppola in their Red Hot and Ready tour, from June. ‘It’s a show like no other,’ Vito promises.…

Looking round a table of smiling faces, I felt a sense of pride. It was February 2025, my monthly meet-up of the Happiness Club, empowering people who were fed up of feeling fed up to take action. ‘No one is responsible for your happiness, but you,’ I told the group. ‘I WAS STILL IN SELF-DESTRUCT MODE’ As a cheerful, bubbly person, it’d be easy to think I’d always been this way, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. My parents’ divorce when I was five had a huge impact. An unhappy childhood followed, and throughout my teens I felt nothing but an underlying sense of hopelessness. Aged 17, I was prescribed antidepressants, and I remember going for a walk in the sunshine, feeling the warmth on my skin and…