Innholdsfortegnelse for 11-Mar-2024 i Woman

EAMONN HOLMES AND RUTH LANGSFORD When they’re not on our telly screens, you’ll most likely find Eamonn and Ruth snuggling with their rescue dog, Maggie. Eamonn gushed, ‘Maggie is a child to us, I’ve found this whole reservoir of love I didn’t know existed.’ While Ruth added, ‘She made our family complete.’ REESE WITHERSPOON There’s nothing Hollywood star Reese loves more than her pack of fur babies. The actor, who is a doting dog mum to Labradors Hank and Major, as well as a French bulldog named Minnie, said, ‘Life is just better with dogs.’ We couldn’t agree more! THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES After losing their beloved dog Lupo in 2020, Kate, William and their kids welcomed Orla – the puppy of Kate’s brother James’ dog Luna –…

This Mother’s Day, spoil your special someone with a beautiful bespoke bracelet from Joma Jewellery. The gorgeous styles from their ‘A Little’ range are fully customisable – select a delicate silver or gold bracelet and then it’s time to get creative! As well as a host of charms to pick from, you can add up to four initials. Finally, for that truly personal touch, why not pen a little poem that will appear on the pretty gift packaging? With prices starting at just £17.99, this is a thoughtful gift that she’s bound to wear and treasure for years to come. Bracelet, from £17.99, jomajewellery.com…

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How to have safe sex over 40 Navigating contraception and hormone changes can be confusing. The good news? You have plenty of options to help you stay protected… A woman’s sex life often gets a boost at 40 and beyond. New relationships, insecurities shelved, careers in the bag and children growing up mean it’s easier to feel more relaxed or more ambitious about sex. One thing that doesn’t get any easier, though, is traversing contraceptive needs – not least when the perimenopause and menopause get in the way. THE MENOPAUSE MINEFIELD As we age our fertility declines. But that doesn’t mean that it’s time to ditch contraception! On average, a 40-year-old woman has a 5% chance of getting pregnant each month without contraception (compared with 30% in your mid-20s). While…

A few months ago I read a report online about sexual abuse in hospitals. According to data obtained by the Freedom of Information, there have been 6,500 reports of sexual assault and rape that have allegedly taken place in England and Wales since 2019. I was disgusted and horrified, but not shocked. Because it happened to me. When I was a patient in hospital, I’d thought I was safe. I’d thought I was in a place that was caring, compassionate and somewhere that I could recover without fear. But I was very wrong. In April 2017, I was suffering from depression. Having lost my father to cancer the previous December, juggling being a single mum to two teenagers, Sarah* and Adam*, plus moving to the UK, I’d not been there…

Itches and allergies: how pollen affects pets Spring is coming and I’m sure, like me, you’re looking forward to warmer weather and longer days. However, it can be the start of seasonal allergies in people – and their pets. Like us, animals can be allergic to a wide range of pollens and spores that appear at different times of year. The body’s immune system has an excessive inflammatory reaction to these allergens, leading to itchy ears, eyes and skin. You may notice the same symptoms recurring from the same time last year. You can do a lot to help manage your dog’s allergy. At the time of year when they are affected, try to avoid walking in areas where they’ll be exposed to troublesome pollen – typically woodland, grassland or…

Roasted cod with potatoes and herbs Perfect for last-minute entertaining, this is ready in under an hour. SERVES 4 READY IN 50 MINS ✱ 750g baby new potatoes, halved if large✱ 1 large red onion, thinly sliced✱ 400g cherry tomatoes✱ 1tsp dried oregano✱ 2tbsp olive oil✱ 4 skinless cod loin fillets For the gremolata: ✱ 1 garlic clove, finely grated or crushed✱ Finely grated zest 1 lemon, plus wedges to serve✱ 2tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley 1 Heat the oven to 200C Fan/Gas 7. Cook the potatoes in a large pan of boiling water for 15 mins until just tender, then drain well. 2 For the gremolata, stir all the ingredients together in a bowl and set aside. 3 Tip the potatoes into a large baking tin. Add the onion,…

Columnist LET’S GO OUTSIDE In lockdown we remembered how important it was to get out into open spaces – so it beggars belief that the vast majority of the English countryside remains out of bounds to many people. As a campaign by the Right to Roam group gathers momentum – calling for England to follow Scotland’s lead when it comes to access for all – it’s staggering to hear that a whopping 92% of the English countryside is off limits to the public, while in Wales just 20% is considered open-access land. It comes at a time when mental and physical health is in crisis – as a nation people are getting steadily more depressed and overweight – while ‘nature deficit disorder’ has been cited as a contributing factor for…

GERI’S LATEST BLOW It’s more bad luck for Geri Halliwell-Horner as it has been revealed that her businesses lost £150,000 last year. In 2023, the singer’s company, Wonderful Productions Limited, made a loss of £77,994 compared to a profit of over £152,000 the previous year. And another company owned by the star, Falcon Queen Limited, made losses of £75,521 and plunged £276,000 into the red. Making matters worse, Geri is also dealing with the ongoing investigation of her Formula 1 Red Bull Boss husband, Christian Horner, over his alleged ‘inappropriate behaviour’. Her husband denies the claims. Wedding bells for Louise? For years after her split from husband of almost 20 years Jamie Redknapp, Louise Redknapp vowed to stay single for the sake of sons Charley, 19, and Beau, 15, saying,…

WHAT EXACTLY IS MEGHAN DOING? For a woman who once promised to hit ‘the ground running’ when she entered royal life, the Duchess of Sussex is remarkably quiet. It’s almost a year since she signed up with Hollywood power broker extraordinaire Ari Emanuel and what has happened since? Very little. Which begs me to ask, what is she up to? Where is this much-vaunted ‘move forward’? Sure, their website has been rebranded (with Meghan’s, not Harry’s, royal coat of arms) and now trills ‘The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is shaping the future through business and philanthropy’ but there are scant few details. She did announce that she’s re-releasing her podcast Archetypes ‘so that more people can have access to it’ with a…

Ahead of taking their seats on the coveted This Morning sofa, in their first joint interview, Cat Deeley, 47, and Ben Shephard, 49, discuss their dream guests, working together and what it means to be part of the ITV show. Plus, Ben opens up about how it feels to be leaving ‘TV wife’ Kate Garraway. What does This Morning mean to you? Ben: This Morning is the programme I grew up watching when Richard and Judy used to host it – two icons on the daytime sofa. I first got to host the show with the lovely Fern Britton. I was a last-minute call-up and I remember sitting on the bus on the way home, daydreaming about the fact I’d just hosted it and what a moment that was for me.…

Lisa Bonet and Zoë Kravitz Fun prints will add a quirky edge to your outfit. Kate Moss and Lila Moss Look sharp in monochrome neutrals. Janet Ellis and Sophie Ellis-Bextor Vintage-inspired prints create a cool retro look. Lorraine Kelly and Rosie Smith Look on the bright side with bold colours teamed with monochrome accessories. Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber Add a dash of supermodel style to your outfit by teaming tonal pieces.…

Slick strands This smoothing shampoo and conditioner duo means business. Ideal for curly and wavy hair types, Monday Haircare Smooth Bundle, £20, lookfantastic.com, adds immediate hydration to your locks and seeks to smooth and deeply cleanse them, too. Curl controller If you have curly or coily hair, you might suffer from unwanted frizz, too. Umberto Giannini Weather Proof Curls Finishing Cream, £8.95, helps to weatherproof your strands to keep your hair under control all day long. Working to repel humidity and damp-induced frizz, the lightweight cream refines, defines and smooths with ease. Humidity hero If warmer temperatures and damp conditions cause your hair to misbehave, try Joico Humidity Blocker+ Finishing Spray, £22.40, lookfantastic.com. This lightweight finishing spray protects hair from the elements, by forming a protective barrier around each strand…

TREAT TIME! Don’t miss the Pets at Home 3 for 2 offer on thousands of toys and treats. From hard-wearing squeaky dog toys to a giant feather for your cat, you’ll find plenty of playtime inspo, exercise and training aids and treats. The offer lasts till 12 March online and in store. Visit petsathome.com to find out more and locate your nearest store. FOUR-LEGGED FINDS Head to the middle aisle for Aldi’s Pet Event Specialbuys, in store now, with further products available from 7 March. Expect toys, beds, treats, grooming mitts and coats, with prices starting at £1.99. Just in time for Crufts, turn your garden into a canine obstacle course with an Agility Set (£9.99) that includes slalom poles, a hoop, hurdles and a tunnel. TOYS GALORE It’s playtime…

Lemon-drop cheesecake With the citrusy zing of a lemon-drop Martini, this creamy cheesecake is a cinch to make. SERVES 12 PREP 30 MINS, PLUS CHILLING ✱ Zest 1 lemon✱ 2tbsp granulated sugar For the base: ✱ 300g digestive biscuits, crushed✱ 40g candied orange peel✱ 150g unsalted butter, melted For the topping: ✱ 340g soft cheese✱ 100g icing sugar✱ 75ml limoncello✱ 300ml double cream You will need: ✱ 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin 1 Put the lemon zest and sugar in a small food processor and whizz until well blended. Spread the mixture on a sheet of baking paper and set aside. 2 For the base, mix the digestive biscuits with the orange peel and butter. Tip this into the cake tin, pressing down with the back of a spoon to level,…

IF YOU LOVE TO WIN PRIZES THEN VISIT comps.womanmagazine.co.uk At a festival performance last summer, what was passed to singer Anne-Marie by a member of the audience? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word answer. ACROSS 11 Actor, _ Bonham Carter (6)12 Surgical procedure (9)13 Country in South America (4)14 Spring flower (8)15 Additional (5)16 Bugsy _, musical film (6)17 All over the place (7)18 Children’s novel about a horse (5,6)20 Own up (5)22 Administrative worker (9)24 Soft fruit with a stone (5)28 Game, _ and crosses (7)29 Slow-moving ice river (7)32 Polite word of request (6)34 Timetable (8)36 Chemical element with the symbol N (8)37 Made money (6)39 Be worthy of (7)40 First letter (7)45 Places to sit (5)47 Quarrels (9)48…

I n November, Linda Robson confirmed to Woman that she and her husband of 33 years, Mark Dunford, had sadly called time on their marriage, with the star saying, ‘Enough is enough.’ The news followed months of speculation that their relationship had been on the rocks, and it seems that now the dust has settled, the Loose Women star is finally ready to properly embrace the next chapter of her life as a single woman. In a new interview with Woman, Linda, who is selling the Islington home she shared with Mark, tells us, ‘It’s quite nice to move on and have a fresh start.’ And for Linda, it’s all about family now, something that’s been the best distraction in the wake of her split from Mark – who she…

VIOLA DAVIS She’s one of few performers who have received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award – aka an EGOT winner – but Viola’s impressive work goes beyond the world of acting. A committed activist and philanthropist, Viola has worked tirelessly for better rights for women – specifically those of colour – and mental health awareness, and is tackling the challenge of eliminating child hunger. The 58-year-old, who set up her own production company to promote inclusivity in the film industry, said, ‘I feel like my entire life has been a protest. My production company is my protest. Me not wearing a wig at the Oscars in 2012 was my protest. It is a part of my voice.’ OLIVIA COLMAN She regularly plays powerful women – including the late…

WIDE LEG The slouchier shape of the wide-leg jean ensures a comfy, yet elegant fit. Add extra polish and wear with a smart blazer and a fitted tee to offset the more voluminous bottom half. The looser fit makes this type of jean great for skimming over bigger bums and curvy thighs, and look for a length that sits just over your shoes rather than touching the floor, for the most flattering finish. BARREL LEG The newest addition to our denim rotation, barrel-leg jeans are having a moment. With a looser leg that tapers at the ankle, they have the relaxed feel of a baggy jean but with an elegant finish that makes it easy to dress up or down. Opt for a pair that sits high on the waist…

Columnist Find your female tribe The road to becoming fitter, stronger and happy with our body is by no means a solitary one for women. We have, over the decades, risen up (I like to think like a Phoenix!) in the face of a number of pressures – discrimination, inequality, gender pay gaps – and it’s made us come together. Not least in the world of fitness. A woman who wants to better her health and her body is always going to have her female friends right by her side. That’s because women know (sorry, lads, you don’t) what a sensitive topic the female body is. Plus, how emotional it can be to work on changing, bettering, pushing and challenging ourselves. The pressures around us, and on social media, to…

Do you lose hours scrolling on your phone? Find yourself obsessively checking notifications? You’re not alone. Women spend on average 81 minutes a day on social media, with users checking Facebook six times a day*. And many of us don’t realise the damage device overdosing has on our mental health. Too much screen time has been linked to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and sleep issues. Want to cut back? Here’s how. Keeping you hooked Yes, social media is a great way to connect with others, but growing evidence suggests that we can develop a dependency on it, similar to an addiction to alcohol or drugs. ‘The big platforms use addictive design – something known as the hook method – to capture your time and attention,’ explains digital wellbeing coach Katie…

‘I’m so lucky to be with my role model every day’ Orlanda Bryers, 41, lives in London with her daughter Cassia, four, and her mother Angela, 75. It’s funny the things you take for granted when you are young, only really appreciating them as you get older. As a child, I never really understood the struggles my mum Angela faced as a single mother. I was nine years old when Mum set up a business importing and selling pottery from the Middle East. She bought a building in west London and set up a shop, and we moved into the flat above it. Mum worked tirelessly every day but when she realised we needed more money than she was making, we moved into the shop – back then technically a…

When my children, Anthony, 11, and Mia, eight, and I moved into our new house in the Wirral, Merseyside, in February 2019, I knew it would need quite a lot of TLC. It was perfect for us – just the right size, yet there was room to grow if we needed it, but I was under no illusion that it needed some work. In my head, I was already removing a few walls and upgrading some of the electrics and plumbing! As I work full-time, I knew I had to be organised, but I love hard work so jumped straight into renovating. Opening the space I wanted to have the downstairs sorted within six months, which included removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room. I love open spaces…

Puzzles and stars ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr It’s all going on, but behind the scenes, so don’t be discouraged if you haven’t yet received the news you’re hoping for. You can’t read the signs at the moment. Relax. For your reading ☎09058 172557 TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May The more relaxed you are now, the easier everything will be. There could be some surprises in store and you’ll need to take them in your stride. Let loose a little. For your reading ☎09058 172558 GEMINI 22 May – 22 Jun Life is far from dull right now. Indeed, it’s fairly jumping. There could be diversions and late changes, especially to travel plans. Keep checking the information. For your reading ☎09058 172559 CANCER 23 Jun – 23 Jul…

Samantha Bond stars in The Marlow Murder Club, which is based on the novel of the same name by Death in Paradise creator Robert Thorogood. In the two-part mystery, the Downton Abbey star plays retired archaeologist Judith, who teams up with vicar’s wife Becks (Cara Horgan) and local dog walker Suzie (Jo Martin) to stop a serial killer in their midst. Here, Samantha reveals more… What do you like most about Judith? Everything. She’s this glorious, eccentric, thoughtful woman, who is devising her own crossword puzzles. When I saw that Judith Potts was going to be a crossword and a puzzle person, I was immediately bewitched. I think I’d get on with her. What brought Judith to Marlow? She moved there because her great-aunt Jess died and left Judith the…

Björk 2001 The Icelandic singer’s infamous swan dress made the headlines, with Björk ridiculed for her style. Dressed in the feathered frock, she even laid an egg on the red carpet. Over 20 years later the dress is considered iconic and has even made it into New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Anne Hathaway 2013 The night Anne was honoured for her role in Les Misérables, all eyes were on her strange-looking bust. After reportedly throwing a fit upon discovering co-star Amanda Seyfried was wearing a similar look, the actor found a new dress. Yet with no time for alterations, the frock turned heads for all the wrong reasons. Whoopi Goldberg 1993 Sister Act star Whoopi caused a stir when she attended the ceremony in a lime green and purple…