Innholdsfortegnelse for 19-Oct-2020 i Woman

Dame Julie Walters really is like a fine wine, isn’t she? How refreshing to see someone embrace their age and enjoy every moment (p6). Talking of moments, there are few spent away from my house currently, but this weekend we travelled an hour away for a weekend break. If you can, I’d highly recommend it – it’s truly therapeutic. Take a look at p48-49 for some relaxing retreats. Strictly is returning to our screens from 17 October – thank goodness for light-hearted, warming television just when we need it. We’ve even had a chat with some of this year’s line-up (p10-11) to whet your appetite. Enjoy, and stay safe. If you are staying in and don’t want to miss out on your favourite magazine, remember you can download Woman from…

Dame Julie Walters has had a tough few years by anyone’s standards. In 2018, she was diagnosed with stage-3 bowel cancer – though she only made this public knowledge earlier this year. ‘WORK WAS NOT WHAT I NEEDED’ Thankfully, the much-loved actor fought the deadly disease successfully, but the experience, coupled with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, has given her a new perspective. For Julie, life is now all about taking time for herself and her family, and easing up when it comes to work. She describes the life transition as ‘getting off the merry-go-round’. ‘That’s what I did in terms of work,’ she said. ‘Work was not what I needed.’ Nowadays, Julie, 70, is embracing the ageing process at home on her farm in the English countryside... A NEW PERSPECTIVE…

Sadie Frost has had her fair share of heartbreak over the years, having been married twice – to Gary Kemp from 1988 to 1995, and Jude Law from 1997 to 2003. But, for the last six years, the 55-year-old actor has been happily loved up with businessman Darren Strowger, 53, after being introduced by mutual friend Kate Moss. And it now seems the secret to her happy relationship is her choice not to live with her boyfriend this time – and she’s admitted she may never move in with him. Darren lives two miles away from Sadie’s north-London home, and she told the Mail on Sunday, ‘I like being on my own and I like my own space. ‘Some people who are in their 50s are settled down with a…

THE DRESS Layer a high-neck top underneath a checked dress for a chic take on layering THE BLAZER Create a suit with the matching trousers and team with trainers for a high/low feel THE TROUSERS A small check flatters wider areas; belt the trousers to draw attention to the waist THE SKIRT Pleats are universally flattering – pair with a soft knit and boots for an autumnal look…

Talon show Cienna Rose Enriched Nail Lacquer, £9, ciennarose.com, comes in more than 30 shades, all enriched with nourishing provitamin B5 and vitamin E. Created by Carla Opoku, who set out to create a range of amazing colours without the toxic ingredients of traditional polishes. Skin heroes Each product from Norfolk-based Q+A focuses on a single ingredient. If we had to pick a favourite, it would be Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £6.50, qandaskin.com – a must-have for any skincare regimen. Get buff Neighbourhood Botanicals Konjac Sponge, £7.50, neighbourhood botanicals.com, cleanses and exfoliates, and is gentle enough for sensitive skin. Use with your regular cleanser or just water. Body armour Made with ethically sourced natural plant butters and pure essential oils, Pureté Nature Mango Chamomile Body Butter, £8, puretenature.com, softens rough skin.…

‘I’M A MUM BY DAY, DJ BY NIGHT’ Claire Sweeting, 43, is a writer and editor. She lives in Surrey with her husband, Ed, and their two children. ‘You’re a dark horse.’ I heard this many times when mums at my daughter’s school found out I was DJing the Christmas party. But I’ve been DJing for 20 years, albeit with a large gap when I was too busy with babies to stay up past 10pm. My teenage life revolved around Top of the Pops, NME, and concerts. When I headed to university in 1995, Britpop was popular and I wrote music reviews for the student newspaper. Soon after, a friend asked me to DJ at his birthday party. I felt like I was playing my favourite music in my bedroom,…

Chicken korma kebabs Fancy curry in a hurry? These skewers are sure to be a big hit. SERVES 4 PREP 5 MINS COOK 30 MINS ✱ 600g chicken breast fillets, cut into chunks ✱ 4tbsp korma curry paste ✱ 150g natural yogurt ✱ 1tbsp sunflower oil ✱ 1 onion, sliced ✱ 165ml low-fat coconut milk ✱ 25g flaked almonds ✱ 200g basmati rice ✱ 200g cooked green beans ✱ 3tbsp mango chutney ✱ Small bunch coriander, chopped ✱ Poppadoms, to serve (optional) 1 Mix the chicken with 1tbsp curry paste and 2tbsp yogurt. Heat grill to medium. Put the chicken onto skewers and grill for 10-15 mins, turning until cooked through. 2 Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onion until golden. Stir in remaining curry paste and…

What’s the deal with sweat and the smell? Q It is a bit of a bizarre question, but why do we develop body odour? Fresh sweat doesn’t appear to smell! Philippa says A We all sweat, and obviously we sweat more when it is hot, when exercising, or when we have a hot flush! Some people sweat more than others, and humans have been using deodorant to cover up body odour since the time of the Ancient Egyptians, who rubbed spices and citrus fruit in their armpits. It is the bacteria on your skin that turn the sweat into body odour, by breaking it down. Modern antiperspirants stop or reduce the amount of sweat you produce and have deodorants in them to try to cover any smell. But if you…

When did lovemaking become so aggressive? Q Dating again after my husband died, I was shocked – and slightly scared – by how many men seem to think that sex means forceful thrusting and pumping. When I asked one guy why he made love like that, he said it was the only way he got any pleasure. I stopped dating during lockdown, and am wary of starting again, but surely I don’t have to put up with aggression in order to have sex. Susan says A You don’t have to put up with anything you dislike! Many men take things gently. Many men prefer sensuous lovemaking. My advice is find out about a new lover well before you go to bed together. Talk about what you like. Have lots of…

One of my favourite times of the day is when my nine-year-old son chooses a book for bedtime. Matthew fulfilled my dreams of becoming a mother and, as he snuggles up for a story, I’m reminded of how my little boy has helped make so many more of my dreams come true, including becoming a published author. It was September 2003, a month after marrying John, then 33, when I suffered appendicitis and needed emergency surgery. I’d always been social and active, playing netball and volleyball, so looked forward to returning to normality. But, back at work as a primary-school teacher that December, my immune system was weak and I came down with laryngitis. While I once sprang out of bed, now I struggled with exhaustion. Over the coming months,…

When is the right time to have a baby? Paloma Faith is pregnant with her second child aged 39, but wishes she’d had her kids much younger. She had her first child with long-term boyfriend Leyman Lahcine in 2016, at the age of 35. The singer says, ‘If I were to give advice to my daughter, or other young women, I would say you would never, ever regret the children you have, you only regret the ones you choose not to. ‘If you can start younger, you should. For me, the Holy Grail age for being a mother for the first time would be 28. I had quite a traumatic birth, and maybe I wouldn’t have if I’d have done it younger.’ Money, work and partners (or lack of one)…

Claudia: ‘THERE’S TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO HAVE SEX’ Strictly host Claudia Winkleman has admitted she puts too much pressure on herself to have sex with her husband of 20 years, Kris Thykier. Speaking candidly about getting intimate during the launch of her new book, Quite, Claudia spilled, ‘I think we put way too much pressure on ourselves.’ Giving an example of the sort of guilty thoughts she has, she said, ‘I haven’t had sex with my husband for two days – let’s do it on the stairs!’ Claudia is waiting for her son Jake to leave home for university. She said, ‘He’s 17 and keeps talking about it. He’s super-excited. I’m sure it will be great.’ But, with her two other children, daughter Matilda, 14, and son Arthur, nine, still…

Sam Faiers TV star Sam treated her two children to a beautifully crafted wooden playhouse in their garden. They’ve even got outdoor furniture to boot! Amanda Holden The Britain’s Got Talent star splashed out £6,000 to convert her daughters’ playhouse into a home for her two rabbits after the girls outgrew it. Tamara Ecclestone Tamara built her daughter Sophia an actual castle at the bottom of their garden. If the intricate brick detail wasn’t impressive enough, there’s even an outdoor kitchen and a veranda. Goals! Drew Barrymore The Never Been Kissed actor created a ‘magical playhouse’ for her two little girls, Olive and Frankie. She calls it the ‘happy castle’ – and we’re not surprised, with that epic slide. Fearne Cotton The presenter’s blue playhouse definitely wins on the finer…

LAURA TOBIN The Good Morning Britain weather presenter, 39, is ultra-feminine in a three-quarter-length-sleeve top with a pleated chiffon skirt and hot-pink heels. SUSANNA REID No need to feel blue about the shorter days! Take a tip from GMB presenter Susanna, 49, who looks cheery and bright in a navy-blue polka-dot ruffle dress. MAYA JAMA A jumper-style dress is a great way to transition into autumn, as demonstrated by Loose Women guest panellist Maya, 26, who maintains the glamour with strappy heels. DAME HELEN MIRREN Effortless elegance oozes from Dame Helen, 75, in this floor-length, figure-sculpting green gown. A statement necklace is a great way to add wow factor. LEONA LEWIS It’s never too early to bring out the sequins, and singer Leona, 35, looks elegant in this gold-and-silver, off-the-shoulder…

As I cast the line out into the lake, I feel an overwhelming sense of calm envelop me, and just a little bit of a thrill, too. Sitting next to me is my son Alex, 10, and together, we’ve come fishing for the day to Ringstead Fishery, around 40 minutes from our home in Brackley, Northamptonshire. We’ll spend the next few hours sitting side by side, chatting about the fish, sharing news of any bites, and tucking into our sandwiches. ‘I HAD TO FINALLY GIVE IT A GO’ Ever since Alex was a tot, he’s been obsessed with fishing. Every Saturday, his dad – my husband Jim – and I would take him on walks to local beauty spots in the Cotswolds, where we used to live. Arming him with…

P PHOTO (POSED BY MODEL): GETTY Set the scene Since lockdown, we’ve become amateur manicurists, waxers and hairstylists. Now your face can get in on the action with our guide to mastering a DIY facial. Create the right ambience with candles and a cup of herbal tea, or glass of wine. To tailor your facial to your skin’s needs, check out our four skin types and see which best describes your complexion. Your treatment plan will follow the same steps whatever your skin type. Your treatment plan Step 1. Double cleanse Step 2. Exfoliate Step 3. Mask Step 4. Moisturise and massage For dry skin Your skin is: tight, rough, flaky, has deep lines 1. Cleanse with NSpa Expert Softening Cleansing Balm, £10. The buttery texture provides added nourishment –…

During lockdown, my parents self-isolated in Watford, while I did the same with my husband, Andy, 38, and our daughter Millie, now four, in Market Harborough. No more big family meals at Mum’s on Saturday afternoons or weekends spent eating and laughing together at my new home. Instead I’d FaceTime them, waiting impatiently for my mum, Ellie Otmishi, to answer. Video gatecrashing my parents’ dinners, calling when I knew they’d be eating. Mum would hold up her chunk of tahdig – crispy ‘bottom of the pan’ Persian rice – to the camera and laugh. ‘Mikhori?’ she’d say in Farsi, asking if I’d eat some. I’d groan with yearning for that delicious food, leaving her instantly feeling guilty, both of us wiping away tears – the longing to see each other…

Be honest According to a study*, telling your partner what you want in bed is more important than the amount of sex you’re having when it comes to satisfaction. They found that understanding what makes your partner tick, especially in the early stages, can determine whether the relationship will last. Feeling angry? You might just be tired! Those who get a good night’s sleep are better able to adapt to challenging situations.** The National Sleep Foundation says seven to nine hours a night is best. Swap and see Suffering from desk-job-related aches? Swap your normal massage oil for CBD Balm from Healthspan (£19.95 for 30g, healthspan. co.uk). With 180mg of cannabidiol, and infused with lavender, this is perfect for rubbing into sore muscles and joints.…

Understand your ignorance You wouldn’t have acted as you did if you’d had all the facts, insights, wisdom you have now. You didn’t know what was really happening, what effect your actions would have. Don’t blame yourself. Understand your intentions Surely you didn’t intend to make a mistake, you didn’t deliberately spoil things. You likely thought you were acting for the best – or acting to please someone the best way you knew how. No guilt needed. Understand what to do next time You’ll now have a clear idea of what to think, feel, do – or not do – in future. If you meet the same sexual situation again, you’ll get it right. Time to forgive and move on.…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Life is definitely not dull right now, but you might be wishing the pressure was off you. Try to take things one step at a time, and focus on your endgame. For your reading ☎ 09058 172557 TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Getting places is a proverbial journey of go-slows, reverse-turns and diversions – they’re all part of the trip. Plan for the long haul. For your reading ☎ 09058 172558 GEMINI 22 May – 22 Jun No one said it would be easy – but how did things get this complicated? It might be better to cut your losses with a financial matter, but not something close to home. For your reading ☎ 09058 172559 CANCER 23 Jun…

NICHOLAS RALPH In September, the young Scottish actor made his TV debut as James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small, which has given Channel 5 some of its highest viewing figures ever. Set in the 1930s, the six-part drama follows newly qualified vet James as he leaves his home in Scotland to work at a veterinary practice in the Yorkshire Dales which is run by no-nonsense Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West). • All Creatures Great and Small is on My5 PAUL MESCAL When Normal People dropped on BBC3 back in April, the 24-year-old newcomer became one of the hottest stars of 2020. The 12-part drama follows the complex on/off relationship between Paul’s character, popular teen Connell and social misfit Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) from their final days at high school in rural…

‘YOU KNOW THE TIME TO RETIRE? WHEN I CAN HEAR THEM NAIL A LID ON MY BOX. AND THEN I’LL DO AN ENCORE.’ Ozzy Osbourne lives up to his reputation as the Prince of Darkness. Worry lines Apparently, nine in 10 people aged between 25 and 39 are fretting about wrinkles, a poll by New Nordic found. Darling, don’t worry – it will give you wrinkles! Sexy saver Woman columnist Martin Lewis has said women should applaud men who pay for a first date with money-off vouchers. Such an unromantic gesture should be a turn-off, but, as we all tighten our belts, the financial guru is right – there’s nothing sexier than financial stability.…

STRICTLY SPLIT  Professional dancer Karen Hauer is said to have split from boyfriend of two years David Webb. The couple are said to have ended their romance on ‘good terms’, just before Strictly Come Dancing returns to our screens. HOLDING UP FILMING  Amanda Holden has revealed she has a ‘t*t committee’ – a group of people to check her boobs are OK before the cameras roll at BGT, after her racy outfits continued to get complaints from viewers. THE WRIGHT MOVE?  Mark Wright, 33, could be set to return to the football field after he confirmed he’s ‘toying with the idea of having one last shot’ at becoming a pro footballer, after admitting he regrets quitting the sport when he was younger.…

‘I’LL FIGHT BACK AT THE JUDGES!’ Men Behaving Badly star Caroline Quentin, 60, is hoping to encourage the older generation to dance. Are you excited to be the oldest contestant this year? I hope it encourages people who are 60 or over to do a bit of dance! Do you think the theatrical costumes will help you get into character? I’m really hoping that showing off for a living means that when I get to do some of the more dramatic dances, I won’t be too embarrassed to really go for it. I’m going to try and use all that stuff to cover up any nasty footwork that goes on! How will you cope with the physical side of Strictly training? I’m going to find it very tiring, there’s no…

Gwyneth Paltrow can certainly cause a stir, but few will forget her 48th birthday after she marked it by sharing a nude photo with 7.5 million Instagram fans. The actor bared all, crediting body butter from Goop, her lifestyle brand, for giving her the confidence. And while celeb friends, including Naomi Campbell and Courteney Cox, inundated her with praise, Loose Women regular and body-positivity advocate Nadia Sawalha had a rather more unconventional response. Creating a down-to-earth version of Paltrow’s sculpted snap, Nadia proclaimed her own love for butter. The 55-year-old’s post declared it was the dairy kind that gave her the confidence to strip. Nadia’s post was tongue-in-cheek, but she looked as glowing as Gwyneth. Research from beauty retailer Glossybox reveals almost 60% of women say lockdown has helped them…

There was a time when the only bags that graced the boot of my car were Sainsbury’s carriers, but lately it’s welcomed the likes of big designer brands Mulberry, Yves Saint Laurent and Stella McCartney. The trips I took abroad were never to celebrity hotspots like Los Angeles or Mykonos, yet, in the last couple of years, they’ve been just a couple of the places I’ve frequented. And while, to most, it might seem like I have the most glamorous lifestyle and therefore must be happy, the reality is very different because loneliness and grief have surprising ways of masking themselves. Several years ago, my life was very different. I met my husband Rui, then 30, when I was 26 and working behind the bar at a club in Lisbon,…

MAGIC MINCE Shake up your mince meals with Heck’s fresh seasoned chicken mince. Lean and light, it’s the perfect base for all your favourites, such as bolognese and stir-fries, as well as tacos and stuffed peppers. Choose from Simply, which is lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, Italia, which is flavoured with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and garlic, and Spring, with spring onion, ginger and chilli, £3, 500g, Sainsbury’s. NORIZO CHORIZO Asda has added Meat-Free Chorizo Style Sausages to its great Plant Based range. They’re a tasty mix of soya, garlic, red peppers and smoked paprika, perfect for a spicy hot dog or bangers and mash, Spanish-style. Also good chopped and added to a veggie paella or pasta for supercharged flavour bombs, £3.25, six-pack. SAY GOODBYE TO ENERGY SLUMPS WITH TREK’S…

MY DOG KEEPS NIBBLING AT HER PAWS, DO YOU THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG? Paw nibbling, licking, chewing and even sniffing are all signs that there is something not quite right with your dog. Some owners are so used to the sound of their dog chomping away on its paws that they have even started to think it is normal. However, this kind of behaviour is our dog’s way of dealing with an irritation and is not normal. While a small nibble every now and then may be a simple ‘itch’, if the behaviour is constant and obsessive and if the fur has evidence of saliva staining (a red or orange tint), there is a definite issue. For the majority, they’re interested in their paws because they are itchy. Of course,…