Innholdsfortegnelse for May 6, 2025 i Woman's Own

Sandal season is upon us – finally! The sunshine just puts everyone in a better mood, don’t you think? We seem to have more energy thanks to the extra daylight, people are smiling in the street, basically we all have a spring in our step. It certainly makes me feel much more cheery and bright than those dark wintery days! This time of year is full of fun and anticipation with bank holidays and summer around the corner – what’s not to love? For inspiration on how to feed a crowd for less than £2 a head, turn to p32, and on p28 there’s a handy guide to prepping those feet for the aforementioned sandals. For another hit of dopamine, on p16 we have pretty pastels that will add the…

When it comes to hardships, Christine McGuinness has been through more than most. Her father was a heroin addict and absent for most of her childhood and on top of that, she was sexually abused by a paedophile from the age of nine and raped at 13. In 2021, she was diagnosed with autism. And a year later, her 11-year marriage to Paddy McGuinness ended. However, her relationship with Paddy post-split remains strong – they currently still live in the same house. Christine says, ‘I wanted to keep a solid family unit, to find a good, loving, supportive dad. With every nightmare, something beautiful has come… let’s say that men haven’t been the best in my life. ‘For me, right now I’m focusing on the children. I’m focusing on work…

Rubbing my bump, I laughed with friends as I opened gift after gift. ‘This baby is spoiled,’ I smiled, holding up some cute sleepsuits. It was October 2015 and, at 36 weeks pregnant, I was enjoying my baby shower. Though this was my first child, after a smooth-sailing pregnancy with no sickness, I was relaxed about what was to come. Me and my husband John, then 34, were just excited to meet our little one. We’d decided not to find out the sex, but I was convinced we were having a girl. ‘I just have a feeling,’ I told John. ‘ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS MY BABY’ Then, a week after the baby shower, I got my first wave of nausea one morning. I’d heard of morning sickness early…

CONFUSED ABOUT GLUTEN Q My GP arranged blood tests because I felt tired all the time. The results showed I could have coeliac disease. They have referred me to the hospital for some more tests, and told me not to change my diet until after that appointment. I have read up a bit on coeliac disease and I’m worried. Shouldn’t I be cutting gluten out of my diet? A If you do have coeliac disease, you will be advised to cut gluten from your diet. Your GP will have referred you for a small bowel biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, and that test could be falsely negative if you have already cut gluten out, so it’s important that you continue to eat gluten until after that appointment. Unsure about starting…

Coastal blues Punchy pastels Country cottage…

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 Disney princess was the first to have their role written by a female screenwriter? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ANNAARIELAURORABELLEEILONWYELSAGISELLEJASMINEMARIANMERIDAMOANAMULANRAPUNZELRAYATIANA CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Capital of North Macedonia (6)4 The Best Exotic __ Hotel, 2011 comedy film starring Judi Dench and Bill Nighy (8) 10 Valuable (9)11 Andrew __ , actor who played Manuel in Fawlty Towers and Hercule Poirot in Revenge of the Pink Panther (5)12 2013 TV two-parter about an aristocratic fugitive, starring Rory Kinnear and Catherine McCormack (5)13 The __, 2024 action film starring 19 Across, 29 Across, 3…

Film THUNDERBOLTS* In cinemas 2 May Florence Pugh stars in Marvel Studio’s latest release, Thunderbolts*. What will happen when a group of reformed supervillains are recruited to go on a mission for the US government? Also starring Sebastian Stan and David Harbour. Music MANIC STREET PREACHERS: UK TOUR 2 May until 24 May, multiple locations including Swansea, Manchester and Leeds Much-loved Welsh rockers Manic Street Preachers tour the UK to promote their latest album, Critical Thinking. Be prepared to sing your heart out and dance the night away in what promises to be an unforgettable evening. Tour TORVILL & DEAN: OUR LAST DANCE 1 May until 12 July, multiple locations including Nottingham, Liverpool and Glasgow, tickets from £42 The ice-skating legends take to the rink for one last time on…

As a bride, you imagine your wedding day being the single most important day of your life. Committing to another person for evermore, forsaking all others, in sickness and in health… there’s a reason why people call it your ‘big day’. Only, I got that chance more than once, and now I have something to confess… When Adam proposed after nine years together in February 2024, we planned on getting hitched at my temple, but we quickly discovered it didn’t have the relevant licence at the time. ‘You can have a blessing, though,’ my temple minister told us. The more I thought about it, I loved the idea of a big celebration with friends, then getting married somewhere by the sea in a more intimate ceremony. So in August 2024,…

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO CHILDREN’S TV? The TV shows of our youth were, arguably, so much better! There is nothing on earth like children’s TV to give you that warm, fuzzy glow of nostalgia. In my case it was literally a warm fuzzy glow, as the flammable tinsel and candle Advent decoration I’d made following Blue Peter’s instructions nearly burnt the house down. Aah, but back then fun and living a little dangerously was what kids’ TV was all about. In these days of ’elf and safety, the poor little darlings would probably have to wear high-vis vests to even watch shows you and I survived. Each generation has their own Doctor (John Pertwee) in Doctor Who, their own Blue Peter pet (Shep) and their own weird show (The Clangers)…

Buy of the week Find water a bit dull? Trick your senses with the Air Up bottle (£29.99 – including three flavoured pods, uk.air-up.com). It transports scented air bubbles from its pod, which creates a taste of fruity water. THE TO-DO LIST LOWER THE VOLUME Protect hearing while listening to music via your phone’s headphone safety feature. Set it to ‘<80dB’ – similar to levels in a noisy restaurant. PROTECT YOUR BACK Gardening? Bend at the knees when digging, and move heavy plants or compost with a wheelbarrow, rather than lifting, to prevent back pain. SWITCH YOUR SLEEPING POSITION Ease constipation by lying on your left side. This helps encourage the natural flow of food through your system. If you do one thing Get your moles checked If in doubt,…

I need to do something drastic Q I’m in my late 40s, and have always been confident. In my 20s, I was attractive and had my pick of men, but I’ve aged, and I hate the way I look. Men stop contacting me after a few dates. My daughter says it’s because I’m negative about everything, but I wonder if it’s because I don’t look as good as my photos on dating apps. A You’re experiencing a perfect storm of challenges. Being negative is hard for others to hear, especially on a date. Change this by challenging yourself daily to avoid a negative spiral that becomes a habit. Focusing on how you used to look isn’t going to improve the present. Work on improving confidence – this could involve setting…

READER QUESTION Q What does it mean if you’re gazundered? I saw the word on a property forum. A When you’re selling a house and you’ve accepted an offer from a buyer, gazundering is when the buyer reduces their offer at the last minute – leaving the seller, conscious of the fact that refusing could mean they are back at square one, feeling forced to accept. It’s happened to me, and it was a horrendous experience. Read more about gazundering at hoa.org.uk. Go green for less Brighten up your day with this gorgeous woven bag from Rex London, made from recycled plastics. It’s £14.95 (large) or £9.95 (small) from rexlondon.com. 3 easy ways to... make money ‘for nothing’ Can you net some easy cash by flogging things you…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr You’re always active in your social circle, organising and planning your next party or getaway. Find new ways of delegating, so you feel you’re sharing the responsibility. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May If you feel in need of some rest and relaxation, take a break. With the Sun in Taurus supporting your health and wellbeing, it’s the perfect moment to let go. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun With the Moon in Gemini, you’ll feel fired up for something new. Embrace this motivation and start a project or hobby that will engage you throughout spring. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul With the Moon returning to Cancer on 1 May, you may feel more emotional than normal. Honour your inner voice and take…

BEST SUMMER EVER by Heidi Swain (£9.99, PB, Simon & Schuster) Daisy has lost another job, and a boyfriend to boot. Driving home to face a grilling from her parents (who thought the world of her cheating partner), she hopes life will look up this summer. She arrives in her Norfolk village to find Wynbrook Manor in a spin. Her mother, housekeeper of the manor, is kept busy caring for the ageing owner, while her dad attends to the manor’s garden. As Daisy finds her feet, she wonders if her repeated run-ins with handsome tourist Josh could spell the start of an exciting new chapter – or yet another disappointment? A sizzling, summery romance. THE GREEK HOUSE by Dinah Jefferies (£9.99, PB, HarperCollins) How many secrets are buried in the…

Tina Fey ‘THE CAST OF THE FOUR SEASONS IS AMAZING!’ The US comedy star on her new eight-part series… When three couples, who have been friends for decades, head off for a relaxing weekend break, the trip takes an unexpected turn when one of the group, Nick (Steve Carell), announces he’s planning to divorce his wife Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver). Based on the famous 1981 film, the series follows the friends on their seasonal holidays but as Nick begins a relationship with the much younger Ginny (Erika Henningsen), the dynamic shifts, bringing issues old and new to the surface. The cast also includes Marco Calvani and Colman Domingo as gay couple Claude and Danny and Will Forte and Tina Fey as Jack and Kate, who were played by Alan Alda and…

The annual Product of the Year awards are back once again – voted for by more than 8,000 UK consumers. The famous Product of the Year red logo is a seal of approval, giving shoppers the inside scoop on the year’s most innovative buys. Make sure you look out for it when you’re next in store! We’ve teamed up with Product of the Year, and 14 lucky readers will each win a bumper bag filled with a selection of this year’s award-winning buys – across food and drink, health and beauty, laundry and household. Birra Moretti Sale di Mare Discover this 4.8% ABV unfiltered lager with Italian sea salt. With extra hop aromas of herbal citrus and pine notes, it offers full-flavoured refreshment and pairs perfectly with any meal. £3…

Sunny yellow This buttery shade has taken over the fashion-sphere. Surprisingly easy to wear, its near-cream colour makes it super flattering on all skin tones. I love this cute sweater, perfect paired with an elegant slip skirt to add a sporty touch. Sweater, £26, sizes xs-2xl, Next Hannah Statement suiting If you love colour, why not embrace it from head-to-toe. A pastel-toned suit gives tailoring a more playful vibe that makes it a lot more wearable. This two-piece needs minimal styling – just team it with a white tee and trainers for easy weekend wear. Blazer, £32, sizes xs-xl, trousers, £18, sizes 6-20, both Primark Paula The big event Pastels are perfect for summer occasions such as weddings or a day at the races. I love the romantic ruffle detail…

Feeling overwhelmed by your day-to-day life? Running on adrenaline and coffee? While it might not be possible to shrink your to-do list or magic away a busy week, finding ways to take a breather is key for staying mentally and physically well. ‘Relaxation is vital to our health and wellbeing, as well as our immune function,’ says natural health and wellness expert Dr Tim Bond. But you don’t need masses of time to make a difference when your stress levels are rising. Try these little tricks... 1 SQUISH AND SQUEEZE Invest in a tiny pot of Play-Doh or slime to whip out for a mini-meditation when you want to feel calmer. ‘Take two minutes to sit and press your fingers into the dough or slime – squishing, squeezing, rolling –…

Slow-cooked pork shoulder SERVES 10 Low and slow cooking yields deliciously tender meat with virtually zero effort. PREP TIME: 10 MINSCOOK TIME: 4-5 HRS, PLUS RESTINGCALS: 200 FAT: 7GSAT FAT: 2G CARBS: 0G YOU WILL NEED 2tbsp fennel seeds1tbsp flaky salt1tbsp smoked paprika1tbsp olive oilLarge pork shoulder joint (about 2.5kg)Bread rolls, mayonnaise, to serve (optional) HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 220C Fan. Untie the pork if rolled up. Crush the fennel seeds and salt in a pestle and mortar, then mix them with the paprika and oil. 2 Put the pork on a board and rub all over with the fennel mixture. Transfer the joint to a roasting tin, and cook for 30 mins until the skin is nicely crackled. 3 Turn the oven down to…

HELLO DARLIN’ It’s my TV moment of the year – Angie Watts’ return to EastEnders as a ghost willing her daughter Sharon to live after the explosion at The Queen Vic – so I was thrilled to catch up with Anita Dobson. I’m such a fan I have a picture of Anita as Angie on my bar at home. ‘The best place for it,’ laughed Anita. About her return to Walford, she said it was closure for her, Angie and the fans. ‘They did a great job with the wig!’ ROCK ME AMADEUS! Currently starring in comedy rock horror Murder Ballads and Prime Video’s Étoile, my old London neighbour Simon Callow has not stopped working in more than 50 years. ‘Playing Mozart in Amadeus and doing A Room with a…