Innholdsfortegnelse for 12th Jan 2026 i Woman's Own

Feel sexier in 60 seconds? A bold promise, but one I’m sure we all like the sound of! On p22, find out exactly what tricks and tips our experts have in mind – and why chocolate could be the answer to fireworks in the bedroom. And, if that doesn’t sound like a good deal, I’m not sure what does! OK, I’m being cheeky, but there really is some great advice in our feature for anyone who is looking for help with boosting their libido. A few simple things could make a big difference – and help, not just to increase intimacy in your relationship, but bring other benefits too – including better immunity and even looking younger. So go on, start the new year off with a bang! Enjoy, and…

THE YEAR OF THE WOMAN Congratulations! This year is going to be your year Well, our year, apparently. Because according to those self-important global governing bodies with names that sound like a tin of Alphabetti Spaghetti has been thrown against a wall, it’s going to be a great year for women. Whoop! Finally, we are going to be recognised for the amazing creatures we are. Our wisdom, strength, stoicism and kindness are going to be held up as an example of how the world needs to be. This year’s International Women’s Day, for example, has the theme of ‘Give to Gain’, which evidently is about encouraging ‘a mindset of generosity and collaboration’ to ‘forge gender equality through collective effort’. Now, I don’t know about you, but I have no idea…

Lamb flatbreads with quick pickled slaw SERVES 4 Enjoy this cross between a Turkish pizza and a late-night kebab. YOU WILL NEED 400g lamb mince1 medium egg white½tsp each ground cinnamon, cumin, coriander1 garlic clove, crushed1 large tomato, grated1 onion, gratedGlug olive oil4 large shop-bought flatbreadsA few mint leaves, to garnish For the slaw: ½ head red cabbage, shredded1 red onion, thinly sliced4 long green pickled chillies, thinly sliced, plus 4tbsp of pickling liquidJuice 1 lemon For the zhoug: Large handful each coriander and parsley, plus extra to serve4 long green pickled chillies, stems removed1 garlic clovePinch ground cumin50ml extra virgin olive oil HOW TO DO IT 1 Put the mince, egg white, spices, garlic, grated tomato and onion in a bowl. Season with salt and add a glug of olive oil. Mix well,…

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 King Charles once revealed that a favourite meal of his was a version of which dish with the addition of grouse? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BAKLAVABRIAMDOLMAFAVAFETAGYROSHALVAKATAIFILOKMAMOUSSAKA REVANISAGANAKISTIFADOTZATZIKIYEMISTA 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: raincoat. 25 = average. More than 45 = well done CROSSWORD…

There are some things us 1970s kids all agree should be left firmly in the past: our mums sporting bright blue eyeshadow, bell-bottom jumpsuits and setting all our food in aspic, for example. Yet get on to the topic of 70s-style decor and people seem to forget the multicoloured horrors many of us had to live through, because the word on the street is that the interior trends from the decade that taste forgot are making a comeback. UNIQUE STYLE I was born in 1973, and was taken from the calm of the maternity hospital to a home best described as your worst psychedelic nightmare. Pictures of newborn me are overshadowed by an orange bouclé sofa, competing for decorative dominance over a changing backdrop of garish wallpapers and paint. My…

Christine ‘EVERYTHING IN MODERATION’ Loose Women’s Christine Lampard doesn’t put pressure on herself to make resolutions, and has admitted that as a busy working mum of two she struggles to stick to them. ‘The real answer is [I don’t have one] because I think, “What’s the point?” I’m useless at promising myself anything, like “I’m going to be healthier”, because that lasts for all of 30 seconds,’ she’s said. Instead, the presenter, 46, advised fans, ‘Just do everything in moderation the whole year through and don’t beat yourself up in January. You don’t have to change your whole life because it’s January. Do something that makes you happy instead!’ Josie ‘WAIT UNTIL APRIL’ While most of us make our resolutions in the new year, This Morning’s Josie Gibson breaks from…

WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY FINGERNAILS? Q I was very ill a couple of months ago with pneumonia and was in hospital for 10 days, two of which were spent on intensive care. I’m lucky to have made a full recovery, but the weirdest thing has happened to my fingernails. I have horizontal ridges across them, which seem to be growing out. Is this linked to what happened? A They may well be. This sounds like something called Beau’s lines, which occur when nails temporarily stop growing. This can happen when a person has a serious illness. We vary as to how quickly nails grow, but as a rough guide, it’s about 0.1mm per day, so it can take three to six months for these lines to grow out completely. Help!…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Speed is of the essence with an important decision you need to make. Go with your first instinct and trust you have what it takes to be successful in this venture. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Your persistence with a long-term challenge is paying off. You should start to see positive changes around the time of the New Moon later in the month. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun While you’re easily bored, if something engages your attention you can focus for hours. Look for inspiring projects to boost your energy levels and confidence too. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul You often take on others’ feelings. While you’re empathetic, know that you too have your limits. Be clear about your boundaries and…

MEDUSA by Rosie Hewlett (£16.99, HB, Transworld) Written during the Covid lockdown, this story offers a unique take on Greek mythology. The monster of legends, shown to be a victim of the gods, becomes a moving, human figure whose struggles feel deeply resonant. The lyrical prose reframes familiar tales with compassion and nuance, revealing how punishment and power distort truth. A thoughtful section on the afterlife adds philosophical depth and emotional weight. This retelling encourages readers to reconsider the myths they think they know. SMALL ACTS OF RESISTANCE by Anita Frank (£20, HB, HarperCollins) May 1915. When British airman Henry crashes his plane over Northern France, he is stranded deep in enemy territory. His only hope for survival lies with Marie and her family, who risk everything to conceal him…

Buy of the week Support your gut with Momo’s Amadora's Passion Fruit Kombucha (£28 for six bottles, momokombucha.com). Packed with probiotics for healthy digestion. THE TO-DO LIST EMBRACE THE DARK Sleeping with a light on could increase your risk of heart disease*** because during sleep, ambient light stresses the brain. LEARN A LANGUAGE Mentally stimulating activities, such as speaking a second language, could help slow both biological and cognitive ageing, found US research. INVEST IN HOUSEPLANTS Feeling fatigued? Simply having a cheese plant can increase oxygen levels in your home, helping to boost energy. If you do one thing Beat the new year blues With the excitement of Christmas a distant memory, long, dark nights and the return to life’s pressures, it’s unsurprising that more than a quarter* of people…

My mother says I was a mistake Q My rapport with my mother has always been difficult. She had me 10 years after my sister and she’s told me I was a mistake my entire life. She's dismissive of me and has no interest in my family. Despite this, she insists I come to dinner weekly but spends the whole time telling me what a disappointment I am. My siblings and husband say I should refuse to see her, but I can't let go. A Your mother's treatment of you reflects who she is, not who you are. It’s a toxic pattern; these meals are simply an opportunity for emotional abuse. You're not obliged to maintain a relationship that harms you. Counselling can help you in building the self-worth she…

Beige, apparently, is the clothes colour choice for all young trendies today, and a glance at social media confirms that Gen Z celebs are draped in beige, taupe or cream. I’m a 45-year-old mum of two boys and I’ve fallen into that trap too – hardly a colour in sight. ‘I can’t understand it,’ my boomer mum Stephanie, 71, said recently, eyeing up my everyday uniform of a beige sweatshirt and jeans. ‘Clothes are a celebration of our personality, so why would you want to wear something so…’ The word she was looking for was ‘boring’. She had a point, and it got me thinking. Her wardrobe is the opposite of mine. It’s bursting with colour, and she always looks fab. So I decided to task Mum with styling me…

READER QUESTION Q I’ve heard people talking about ‘shrinkflation’, but wasn't sure what they meant. What is it? A ‘Shrinkflation’ is when a product’s size or quantity is reduced – but the price stays the same. So consumers are getting less for the same amount of money. For example, it might be reducing the weight of a pack of butter or a box of chocolates. Check unit prices on supermarket labels as this shows the real cost. If you notice it more and more, consider switching stores, as some supermarkets are hit less by shrinkflation. Go green for less There’s a third off this Brita Style Essential water filter jug, which comes with a Smart Light LED to remind you when to change your filter, at Waitrose. Was £30, now…

WHY GO? There’s no need to hop on a plane to discover a charming island with beachfront views, family resorts and quaint cottages. No wonder that Mersea Island has a distinct holiday feel. Measuring just five miles long by two miles wide, it’s easy to explore over a weekend. Yet while the destination is dinky compared to some, you’ll find plenty to do, whether you’re visiting with children, as a couple or with friends. SOAK UP HISTORY There’s much to learn about Mersea. Its story stretches back to prehistoric times with fossil hunters discovering everything from small mammals and shells to sharks’ teeth. During the Roman era, it was used for oyster harvesting before becoming a haven for smugglers between the 16th and 19th centuries, due to its remote location.…

This year is a big one for Richard Madeley, and for his leading role on Good Morning Britain. For while he is staying where he is for at least a little while, the wider changes happening at ITV Daytime could mean he finds himself out on his ear should the bosses decide it – as Susanna Reid is the only host guaranteed to have a longer-term deal. So Richard is desperate to prove his worth. And with a recent backlash against fellow male host Adil Ray, after he suggested the new mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani could introduce Sharia law – Islamic law that has caused controversy in non-Islamic countries – into NYC, Richard is trying to make sure those at the top see him as a steady hand.…

Jo Joyner & Robson Green ‘WHAT A CALM AND LOVELY DAY!’ Former EastEnders star Jo Joyner joins Robson Green on a weekend escape… ‘IT’S BEEN VERY THERAPEUTIC’ Back for a fourth series, Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes once again sees the actor, presenter and lover of the great outdoors joining some famous friends for days out in the North East of England and over the border in Scotland. ‘Grabbing a short break in the fresh air, away from the daily grind, is my way of recharging,’ says Robson. As the series continues this week, Robson spends time with former footballer Steph Houghton, Sheli McCoy, aka Gladiators’ Sabre, and actor Mark Benton. He also meets up with Mark’s Shakespeare & Hathaway co-star Jo Joyner, who he takes on a horse ride through…

ESPECIALLY FOR YOU Jason Donovan’s Doin Fine tour hits the road again in February. ‘It’s all about me,’ he jokes. ‘I did this tour in the 90s at the peak my popularity and now I’m a better performer… It’s nice to be nostalgic. I have a great core audience who come out and see me and I’m still loving what I do. I’m very grateful.’ So am I! I had more posters of Jason on my wall as a student than wallpaper! FLOORED AGAIN An end-of-year night out on the tiles with pal Kate Garraway at the British Travel Awards – and a Strictly reunion for me with Vincent Simone and James Jordan, who will be throwing shapes this year on a new Legends of the Dance Floor show, Vegas:…