Innholdsfortegnelse for 29th Dec 2025 i Woman's Own

Who doesn’t want more energy – or rather, who doesn’t need more energy?! Whether you’re working hard or lounging on the sofa during the Twixmas days, we could all probably do with a boost. On p22 we’ve got 10 tricks to help you survive the season and see in the new year. Speaking of which (how is it almost 2026?!), on p40 we have all the decorations to help you celebrate in style. And, if you’re still finding the fridge full of food and you’re not sure what to whip up, on p32, we’ve got quick and easy leftover meals. They had me at ‘ultimate toastie’… ooft. Enjoy, and have a great week! JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN! Pledge your support by signing our petition – visit change.org/youngmindsoffline It is free to…

GET YOUR PEARLY WHITE DAZZLERS We’re talking turkey here, not the meat or feathered variety but Turkey teeth. The trend is named after the increasing number of people who go to Turkey and return with a set of gnashers so impossibly, eye-searingly white that you don’t just need sunglasses to look at them, you need a radiation shield. Well, a dentist has posted a much simpler and less painful way to get whiter teeth by the new year. And naturally, it’s gone viral. Top tip, it involves swapping your mouthwash for coconut oil and swirling it around your mouth for 30 minutes. Another idea is to rinse your mouth with water after drinking coffee or red wine. But as holidays are cheaper to book at this time of year, you…

Ultimate Christmas toastie PREP TIME: 10 MINSCOOK TIME: 5 MINSCALS: 727 FAT: 43GSAT FAT: 16G CARBS: 49G SERVES 1 This fridge-raider sandwich is bursting at the seams with tasty odds and ends. YOU WILL NEED 2 large slices sturdy bread (we used sourdough)65g leftover cheese, grated1 medium egg½tsp Worcester sauce1tsp milk1 spring onion, finely chopped1tsp fresh herbs, finely chopped (we used thyme and rosemary)Splash wine or beer (optional)1-2tsp cranberry sauce1tbsp mayonnaise½tbsp grainy mustard20g leftover ham, turkey, stuffing or pigs in blanketsGravy for dipping (optional) HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the grill to high, put the bread on a tray, then grill for 2 mins. 2 Meanwhile, in a bowl combine the cheese, egg, Worcester sauce, milk, spring onion, herbs and a splash of wine or beer if you have…

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 animal is associated with cowardice in colloquial Hebrew, akin to the English use of ‘chicken’? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BADGERFOXHAREHEDGEHOGMINK MOLEMOUSEOTTERRABBITRAT SHREWSQUIRRELSTOATVOLEWEASEL Wordwise You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words. There is one nine-letter word, for which the clue is: sea captain. 15 = average. More than 25 = well done CROSSWORD ACROSS _ to…

Film THE HOUSEMAID In cinemas 26 December Wanting a fresh start, a woman becomes a live-in maid for a wealthy couple but it soon emerges that they harbor secrets. Based on the best-selling novel by author Freida McFadden. Stars Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. Event CINDERELLA Until 4 January 2026 Nottingham Theatre Royal, tickets from £18 This pantomime season, Craig Revel Horwood from Strictly takes on the role of Cinderella’s wicked stepmother. Expect laugh-out-loud jokes, dazzling costumes and plenty of audience booing. Tour THE NUTCRACKER 29-31 December Royal Albert Hall, London, tickets from £15 Birmingham Royal Ballet take over London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall for just three days, in the period after Christmas day. As Clara’s nutcracker soldier comes to life, journey through a winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes to…

Olivia Colman ‘I WAS VERY PREGNANT THE LAST TIME ROUND!’ After almost a decade, The Night Manager returns for a second series… Back in 2016, the six-part adaptation of John le Carré’s 1993 novel had the nation gripped with its story of former soldier Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), who was working as the night manager of a luxury hotel in Cairo, Egypt, when he was recruited into the world of espionage. In the thriller, which went on to win numerous awards including BAFTAs, Emmys and Golden Globes, Olivia Colman played Angela Burr, the manager of a Foreign Office task force, who enlisted Jonathan to infiltrate the inner circle of arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). Now, almost a decade later, it’s back for a much-anticipated second series… ‘IT’S BEEN LOVELY’…

Peter supports SOCIAL MEDIA BAN Peter Andre has come out in support of banning under-16s from accessing social media – shortly after the law came into effect in Australia. The 52-year-old singer, who has five children, believes the new law should also be put into action in the UK. ‘Australia has implemented their social media ban for under-16s and it’s great. When people ask me if it’s a contradiction that I’ve had my kids on social media, we have to remember that when social media first started, we were all new to it. We didn’t know the pitfalls of it,’ he said. ‘Now, we’re seeing what AI can do; that’s why our youngest children are not on it. I fully support the ban. I know that’s not what kids under…

IS IT DANGEROUS FOR HER TO TRAVEL? Q Our daughter has just found out she is pregnant. It wasn’t planned, but we’re all thrilled. I just have one concern. She is due to travel to Tanzania with work in a few weeks – at eight weeks pregnant. I think the Zika virus is in Tanzania. Is there a vaccine available for this and is it safe for her to travel there? A Unfortunately, there is no vaccine against Zika virus, and it’s present in Tanzania. Contracting the virus in the first trimester of pregnancy can prevent the baby’s brain from developing normally. She should inform her employer in writing that she is pregnant, and they will perform a risk assessment. They will probably seek to rearrange her travel. Have ‘skinny…

Sheet saviour There’s nothing quite like a restorative sheet mask after one too many drinks the night before. I pop one on straight away after cleansing in the morning to help me and my skin look more alive. I love Biodance Bio Collagen Real Deep Mask (four-pack), £14.90, Boots, as they’re infused with a cocktail of hydrating hyaluronic acid and plumping collagen. Sarah Cover & conceal Concealer is my best friend after a few too many wines. Rimmel Multi Tasker Wake Me Up Concealer & Foundation, £12.99, Superdrug, is an absolute lifesaver. It not only covers up any signs of fatigue, but it’s also packed with brightening vitamin C and caffeine to fuel my skin and make it through the day looking fresher than when I woke up. Jess Luxe…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr On 28 December, the Moon makes its monthly return to your sign. So, set up three intentions for the coming month and take action to bring these ideas to fruition. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May If you feel like things haven’t been going your way recently, have faith and hope because there is a new opportunity on the horizon that will answer your prayers. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun You are being guided towards something that you have been considering for a while. Make sure to notice the signs and seize the moment when all becomes clear. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul A gentle soul, you help people and want to be there for those you love. If you can give…

THE PSYCHIATRIST by Emma Curtis (£9.99, PB, Corvus) In a world where image is everything, the quiet streets of suburbia hide deadly truths. Ambitious psychiatrist Dr Geddes is rising fast at a respected practice – until a troubling young patient threatens to uncover a secret she’s buried for years. Nearby, Lorna Chilcott is thrilled to befriend Elise, the glamorous wife of the pop idol she adored in her youth. But when Lorna’s daughter vanishes after visiting Elise’s home, suspicion shatters their perfect facades. A devastating lie links these two events, dragging two families into a collision course where ambition, envy and betrayal intertwine. Emma Curtis weaves a cut-throat thriller that you won’t be able to put down. DIDDLY SQUAT: THE FARMER’S DOG by Jeremy Clarkson (£25, HB, Michael Joseph) In…

STAR TREKKER! Great to chat to Giovanna Fletcher, fresh from her five-day trek through Morocco’s Sahara Desert for breast cancer charity CoppaFeel! ‘It’s just the most amazing thing to have a collection of strangers all coming together with one common goal. It’s so moving,’ she says. She tells me that she shed a tear, too, when she watched hubby Tom’s Paddington The Musical. ‘He worked on it for five years and I cried from the very beginning, even before Paddington came on!’ MR SANDMAN As the voice of Sandman in Netflix’s animated kids’ flick In Your Dreams, Omid Djalili is charged with granting two children the wish of a perfect family. ‘The heartbeat of the film is the two siblings who are watching their parents potentially separate, something a lot…

Kris Jenner’s star-studded 70th birthday party was one of the biggest events in showbiz. With a guest list including Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber, everyone who is someone in Hollywood attended the bash at Amazon boss Jeff Bezos’ £126 million Beverly Hills estate last month. So it made sense that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in attendance. Since turning their backs on royal life in 2020, the couple have been rebranding and gradually appearing to become part of Hollywood’s elite. From Netflix shows including Harry & Meghan and With Love, Meghan to a mega-money deal with Spotify – and let’s not forget that Oprah interview – for five years the couple have been schmoozing the crème de la crème of showbiz. So when the…

Gazing at the photo on my phone, I could feel a lump forming in my throat. ‘I look a mess,’ I thought, quickly deleting it. It was 2019, and I’d been keynote speaker at a conference as part of my job as a leadership expert. Smartly dressed in a fitted black dress and yellow jacket, I’d thought I looked elegant and professional when I’d glanced in the mirror that morning. But how wrong I was! ‘I look old, frumpy and fat,’ I realised, feeling embarrassed. I was only 49, yet I looked at least a decade older. I suffered from a genetic and progressive condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), which damages the nerves and causes muscle weakness in the feet, ankles and legs. And there was something that was making my…

Buy of the week Manage the perimenopause with Issviva Peri-Meno Plus supplement (£29.99 for 60 gummies, issviva.co.uk), containing science-backed ingredients to soothe symptoms. THE TO-DO LIST EAT ALMONDS A 60g serving daily can help reduce pain, maintain muscle strength and reduce muscle damage after exercise, according to research*. TOUCH YOUR TOES Heels causing discomfort? Reflexology can release tension. For instant relief, press and hold underneath the arches for one minute with your thumb. CHECK YOUR MOLES Signs of skin cancer can go unnoticed under winter clothes, so check once a month, year-round. Visit cancerresearchuk.org for more info. If you do one thing Enjoy parties when anxious Want to socialise with friends and family for New Year’s Eve, but find big gatherings overwhelming? There’s no need to avoid the celebrations altogether…

He wants to spice up sex Q I’m 46 and in a situation that I never expected. Six months ago, my husband suggested ‘spicing up our sex life’ with things far outside my comfort zone. I’ve been open-minded, but I don’t enjoy most of it. When I say so, he calls me closed-minded and becomes cold until I give in. I want to please him but I hate feeling pressured. A Sex in a healthy relationship must be based on mutual consent, not guilt or fear. The way he’s reacted – accusations and emotional withdrawal – is manipulative, even if unintentional. You have the right to say no, and to be respected when you do. If he cannot, the issue is not your openness but his disregard for boundaries. Couples…

READER QUESTION Q My daughter wants to start driving. How much does it cost to get on the road? A While this can vary significantly, research by Go.Compare found it cost new drivers £6,692 on average to get on the road in 2025, including the cost of a car, insurance, road tax, provisional licence, driving lessons and tests. To help manage costs, shop around for lessons and look for discounts or block-booking deals. Choose a small, reliable car with a low insurance group to keep ongoing costs down. Go green for less Check out this eye-catching body wash from Fussy – its ‘Twist. Pop. Wash.’ system uses refills that come in a can made with recycled aluminium, which can then be recycled. Plus, the body wash is made from 98%…

1 Item in your wardrobe A tracksuit from a shop called oysho.com. It’s a really soft silky jersey material, so it’s dead comfy. When I’ve got early starts at work and long days, it’s perfect. I’ve a few of them. They’re easy to get on and off, very affordable, they wash well and they’re quite smart-looking as well. 2 Reality show The jungle [I’m A Celebrity]. I’m fascinated by the interaction and dynamic between the characters. I love the fact that people come into camp and you think of them one way, and then you change your perception of them. I’d do it if they asked me. The only thing is that I’ve got a phobia of maggots. 3 CELEBRITY HERO Victoria Beckham has gone from the Spice Girls to…

Some people throw on sequins and open bubbly on New Year’s Eve, with friends and family around them, but I’d always been content to ring in the new year at home with my husband and Rusty, my cockapoo. Only, as New Year 2023 approached, life looked so different. Aged 55, I’d found myself divorced, with Rusty keeping my spirits up on walks around Hyde Park, close to my London home. ‘I FELT LIKE I’D SHAKEN OFF THE SADNESS OF THE YEAR’ I’d often see my friend May Wong, then 63, there with her dog George. That September, she knew that I was spending New Year as a single woman for the first time in more than a decade. ‘Why don’t you and Rusty come to Scotland with me and George…