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View Yours this fortnight

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Ewe’ll never believe it ✤ Wow you’re tall! The little lamb (near left) couldn’t believe his eyes when he gambolled into these giant-sized fellas. Each one weighs almost a stone! Tipping the scales at between 12lb and 13lb, they are twice the size of an average newborn lamb.

Chocolate comes of age

✤ They’re one of the nation’s favourite chocolate treats, and this year sees Smarties celebrate its 75th anniversary. Created in 1937 to replace Rowntree’s Chocolate Beans, some of the centres originally had coffee and dark chocolate flavourings, but were replaced by milk chocolate in the Fifties. This year also sees the 60th anniversary of the Lindt Gold Bunny, and Maltesers will become a Fairtrade product to mark their 75th anniversary. All great reasons for chocolate lovers to celebrate!

Little and larger! The tiny chap makes friends with his super-sized relatives

The gorgeous arrivals, born on Lamberts Farm, near Honiton, Devon, are all in good health.

Farmer Kathy Crabb says: “It was no small feat for the mother, but they’re all bounding around now.”

• Look out for a lambing event near you, turn to p6.

Happy birthday… Diana Ross ✤ With her supreme singing voice, Diana Ross was always destined to be a star. After 18 number one hits, 67 albums and more than 100m records sold, she’s proved what can happen to ‘a little girl who dared to dream.’ She’s one of the few personalities to have TWO stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – as a solo artist and

March 26, 1944 as a member of The Supremes.

She has also been named the Guinness Book of Records Most Successful Female Vocalist of All Time and last month received the Grammy Special Merit Lifetime Achievement Award. Her latest album, a remastered version of her 1976 classic Diana Ross is just out, too. The love has certainly never gone for Diana.

Also celebrating this fortnight… ✤ The original Rocket Man, Elton John, is 65 on March 25.

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✤ Titanic theme singer Celine Dion will be 44 on March 30. See page 20.

✤ Singin’ in the Rain is 60 and one of its stars, Debbie Reynolds 80 on April 1.

A few topics that got us talking this fortnight…

Following in Cilla’s footsteps?

E WIS RDS

WO

Thumbs up

Could Holly be the new host of Surprise Surprise, made famous by Cilla?

“I have witnessed the softening of the hardest of hearts by a simple smile,” Goldie Hawn

Thumbs down

A friendship that works

✤ We all know the feeling of first day nerves when starting a new job.

Well, Lynda Elmore (60) and Sharon Battersby (59) met on their first day as trainee scientists in 1969 and became best pals. They were bridesmaids at each other’s weddings and are godmothers to each other’s children, and have

worked at Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester for 40 years.

They have now decided to retire – at the same time, of course.

Do you agree with Royal Mail’s idea to

THE VIEW subsidise stamps for people on benefits? from

YOU

✤ To Dame Maggie Smith.

It’s rumoured that the third series of Downton Abbey, currently being filmed, could be Dame Maggie’s last outing as the wonderfully acerbic Lady Grantham.

While new addition Shirley Maclaine is sure to be a success, Sunday nights wouldn’t be the same without Dame Maggie’s Dowager putting the world to rights. ✤ To a new TV series of The Muppets. Plans are afoot for an updated version of the show on the BBC. If you grew up watching Miss Piggy and co with your own children then here’s an excuse to do it all again with the grandchildren. ✤ To lighter nights. With the clocks going forward this fortnight here’s to evenings strolls, beautiful birdsong and eating alfresco style in the garden.

YES 22% NO 78%

✤ To litterbugs. More than a third of people polled in a recent survey admit to dropping rubbish in the street. How sad. Perhaps organisers of Diamond Jubilee events could start a ‘clean-up our nation campaign’ before we all disappear under a tide of litter? ✤ To banks and building societies for short-changing savers who prefer to stick to branch banking. A string of new internet savings accounts have just come out, in some cases earning twice as much interest as branchbased ones. Savers who don’t use the internet deserve a fairer deal. ✤ To school music lessons that take place without a single note being played. Ofsted has slammed some schools for failing to teach music properly. Who can forget the joys of dinging that triangle or squeaking out a note from a recorder?

Today’s pupils are missing out – or are they?!

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PICS: MEN SYNDICATION; ALAMY; GETTY IMAGES; REX FEATURES; SWNS; ITV & THINKSTOCK

✤ Life is certainly full of surprises for Holly Willoughby, who is reportedly being lined up to host a TV classic – Surprise, Surprise. The show, made famous in the Eighties by Cilla Black, saw members of the public being granted long-held wishes,alongside practical jokes, prank phone calls and tear-jerking reunions. With her experience on This Morning and Dancing on Ice, Holly certainly fits the bill, but we’d love to see Cilla back on our screens on Saturday nights.

Nobody could sing the theme tune in quite the same way as our Cilla!

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Recharge Your guide to... your

health

Taking care of your feet could help you to avoid a host of other health problems our feet are easy to neglect, but keeping them in good shape not only improves your sense of wellbeing but also helps to keep the rest of you healthy. A lifetime of wear and tear and fashionable shoes may have taken its toll on your toes, but they will reward some extra attention. “Unhappy feet can have a knock-on effect on your joints, back, posture and even your mood,” says Mike O’Neil, consultant podiatrist and vice president of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. The good news is that regular care helps you avoid painful problems.

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PICS: GETTY IMAGES; ISTOCK PHOTO AND CORBIS

Common foot problems and how to avoid them

✤ Thickened toenails As you get older, toenails can become damaged through poor footwear or a minor injury like stubbing your toe or dropping something on your foot. Any trauma to your toenails can cause them to thicken.

The thickened nail presses against your skin and becomes painful.

Treatment You may need to see a podiatrist or chiropodist who can painlessly reduce the thickness of your nail with a mechanical drill. Don’t ignore thickened nails because if left for too long they can develop into a serious and painful problem.

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happy healthy feet

❙ feet first ❙ ✤ Bunions These occur when Your daily foot routine your big toe joints become “Keeping your feet clean and enlarged. Sometimes the bunion free from infection helps to can affect your second toe, prevent problems,” says Mike. causing it to sit on top of your big toe. The skin on a bunion ✤ Wash your feet in warm, soapy is easily rubbed by your shoes water (don’t soak them as this and become painful. It’s not destroys the natural oils) and dry uncommon for bunion joints to thoroughly, especially between become arthritic. your toes. Use a pumice stone or Treatment Wearing wella non-metal foot file when in the fitting shoes helps to prevent shower or bath to exfoliate any bunions in the first place but, if dry skin on your heels. you already have one, padding strapped to your foot or using ✤ Trim your toenails regularly, over your foot, except protection pads and orthotic using nail clippers. Cut them between the toes. insoles can help to reduce the straight across, not too pressure on your joints. See short. Don’t ✤ Don’t hide thick, If your GP for advice and cut down at discoloured, cracked, or a referral to a foot the corners as crumbling toenails with polish. your feet are expert. this can lead This could be caused by a tired, put them to ingrowing fungus so get it checked as soon up for ten minutes nails. ✤ Dry, cracked as possible. heels Your skin to help aid naturally becomes ✤ Apply a ✤ Change socks or tights daily circulation drier and less flexible good quality and air your shoes after wear to moisturiser all as you age, making reduce the risk of athlete’s foot. cracked heels more common.

Wearing open-backed shoes Can’t reach your feet? and flip-flops puts added Basic foot care can be a challenge if you pressure on the skin on your can’t reach your feet, but here are a few heel, causing it to split. These simple tricks. “Put a towel on the floor splits or heel fissures can be when you get out of the bath or shower very painful and, in some cases, and use one foot to dry the other foot,” become infected. suggests Mike. “To moisturise your feet, Treatment Avoid shoes that put a saucer of moisturiser on a towel and rub your heels or don’t support dip your heel into the cream. Again, use them. Moisturise your feet daily to keep the skin flexible and soft. your other foot to work it into your skin.”

Choose shoes that slip on and off easily. Long-handled shoe and sock ✤ Corns and calluses These horns can also be helpful. are areas of thickened, If you struggle to care for your feet, ask discoloured skin that are often your GP to refer you for free NHS foot care yellow in colour. They’re caused by pressure on your foot and can services. To find your nearest podiatrist or chiropodist, visit www.feetforlife.org be very painful if they press on your bones or nerves.

Treatment Wear wellExercise your feet fitting, comfortable shoes, “Exercising and stretching your ✤ Circle your feet ten times in each moisturise your feet daily feet and toes helps to nourish the direction. and file away dead skin joint cartilage and strengthen the ✤ Straighten your toes and wriggle every week. If you’re really muscles and tendons in your feet them around. suffering, see a podiatrist or which could help to reduce your risk ✤ Raise, point, then curl your toes chiropodist who can apply antifor five seconds each. Repeat ten pressure padding or refer you for of conditions such as arthritis,” advises Mike. times. further treatment.

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Now visit www.yours.co.uk for more great health advice

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Next issue: find out how to age-proof your eyesight

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24 supermarket s Why not pick up a stylish bargain while doing the weekly shopping?

By Jo Winch

F&F at Tesco

TU at Sainsbury’s D Layer up in loose separates and use a skinny belt to nip in your waist and give you definition and shape.

D This white linen-mix suit would be smart enough for a summer wedding. You could also mix and match the jacket and trousers for different looks, too.

open knit cardigan, £25, 10-18, linen-mix top, £14, 8-18; linen-mix trousers, £20, 10-18; pumps, £25, 3-8; jewellery from a selection at TU at Sainsbury’s

Jacket, £25,10-18; long-line top, £25, 10-18; trousers, £20, 10-18; shoes and bangles from a selection at TU at Sainsbury’s

D Tribal prints are big this season. Keep the look simple and mix with neutral pieces.

PhoTograPhy: rUTh JenkinSon, STyliST: Jo Winch, hair and make-UP hannan ToUhami and loU morgan

✤ Bangles, £6.50, TU at Sainsbury’s

Jacket, £28,10-20; top, £9,10-20; skirt, £14,10-20; shoes and jewellery from a selection at Tesco

✤ Sandal, £22, 3-8, F&F at Tesco ✤ Pumps, £20, 3-8, TU at Sainsbury’s 34

StockiStS: George at Asda 0800 952 3003, www.asda.com; tU at Sainsbury’s 0800 636 262, www.sainsburys.co.uk; tesco clothing 0800 505 555, www.tesco.com Details correct at time of going to press

from 5 £ t s u j

t steals

Style notes

George at Asda D Comfy but definitely not scruffy, this slouchy knit is just the thing for spring. knit, £12, 8-18; cropped jeans, £10, 8-20; shoes from a selection at george at asda

D Nautical stripes look stylish and classy, even when teamed with classic denim and ballet pumps.

D This printed tunic certainly ticks all the boxes when it comes to flattering your figure. Wear with coloured jeans to bring the outfit bang up to date.

Top, £14,10-20; jeans, £16,10-20, scarf, £5, pumps, £8, 3-8; necklace, £8

Tunic, £14, 8-18; rust jeans, £12, 8-18; shoes and jewellery from a selection at george at asda

✤ Bow bag, £10, F&F at Tesco

✤ Bead necklace, £6, george at asda ✤ Block colour bag, £12, george at asda

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Now visit www.yours.co.uk for lots more fashion advice

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Next issue: We reveal the winners of our 50-plus fashion awards!

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Get more e If getting more energy is top o yourself some more get-up- a

✤ Get some daylight There’s no doubt that IN YOUR gloom can make you feel tired. Too much time cooped up inside can play havoc with your energy levels.

In fact, experts have found that even sitting beside a sunny window at lunchtime could make you feel more wide awake and improve your alertness. Daylight helps to stimulate your 24-hour biological clock, which controls your appetite, alertness and sleep patterns. If you don’t get enough daylight your body clock won’t be kick-started and you may feel sluggish and tired all day. Sunlight stimulates happy hormones in your brain, too, which helps to give you a natural lift. ✤ Eat less When you find yourself flagging, it’s natural to grab something to eat to perk yourself up – but eating less could actually make you feel more energetic. Instead of having three big meals a day, spread

50s

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e energy at 50, 60 & 70+ p of your to-do list, look no further! We’ve got all the advice you need to find p- and-go, whatever your age By Rebecca Speechley

60s

Turn the page for more ideas YOURS

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PICS: ALAMY; THINKSTOCK

out your calories into three light meals and two substantial snacks (see p46 for advice on healthy snacking). Eating large meals saps your energy by putting strain on your digestive system. Try to mix protein and carbs in each mini meal – a small baked potato with chilli and salsa, poached eggs on wholegrain toast, or low-fat yogurt with fresh fruit. ✤ Breathe properly You’ve been breathing for 50-odd years so you’d be forgiven for thinking that you’re pretty good at it. “But most of us don’t make the most of our breath, which means we’re missing out on energy-boosting oxygen,” says Dr Michael Roizen of www.realage.com.

“We tend to take short, shallow breaths instead of filling our lungs.”

Next time you need an energy boost Dr Roizen

feel sluggish and fatigued. Try suggests trying this breathing to keep a bottle of water with exercise. Lie on the floor with you and sip it throughout the one hand on your belly and the day and have a large other on your chest. glass of water with Take a deep breath, each meal. slowly filling your ✤ Improve your lungs. It should Wise words: circulation take about five Simply sitting beside Poor circulation seconds for you a sunny window could is a major to completely make you feel more wide energy sapper. fill your lungs. awake and improve Atherosclerosis, Your belly button your alertness or hardening should move up of the arteries, away from your spine is a major cause of and your chest should circulation problems. As widen and rise slightly. When your lungs feel full, slowly exhale plaque builds up on your artery – taking about seven seconds to walls it becomes harder for your heart to pump healthy, fully empty your lungs. Repeat oxygenated blood around your for five minutes. body and deliver nutrients to ✤ Drink more your organs. Get things moving Do you drink the again with regular exercise and IN YOUR recommended eight by following a healthy diet that glasses of water a includes plenty of omega-3 day? Most of us fall fatty acids from foods such as short and as you get salmon, sardines and mackerel. older getting your quota Essential fats are thought to is all the more important. Your reduce inflammation in your thirst mechanism becomes less blood vessels, which could efficient as ease the strain on your heart. you age ✤ Move for 30 minutes which means “Every cell in your body has you’re less its own little battery pack likely to called mitochondria which notice if you’re helps to turn the food you becoming eat into energy,” says Dr dehydrated.

Roizen. “As you get older your Your brain is 85 mitochondria get lazy and your per cent water energy levels taper off unless so if you don’t you kick-start them into action.” replenish your Exercising for 30 minutes stores you could every day help to increase the

y star chat y

My lessons from life…

Actress Lesley Sharp, 47, star of TV drama Scott and Bailey, chats about respect for the police and female friendships

police force DThe deserves respect

is no barrier with DAge female friendships

They go out every day not knowing whether or not they’re going to face somebody with a weapon – someone who is crazy and doesn’t care if they end up stabbing and killing them. In Scott and Bailey we’ve attempted to show the police in as realistic a light as we possibly can. That’s largely down to the advice of Diane Taylor, a retired detective inspector. We all pay meticulous attention to the detail in police procedure which is one the reasons why people like the drama. Another reason is that I think it’s very reassuring for the audience to see these police officers working in an efficient and elegant way and nailing criminals.

In Scott and Bailey, Janet is 15 years older than Rachel and away from work they lead different lives, yet you’ll see Janet asking Rachel for advice and leaning on her.

That’s the way it is in real life, too.

DKeep work separate

My husband Nick (Nicholas Gleaves who plays DS Andy Roper in Scott and Bailey) is a colleague when we’re working together. It was entirely coincidental that we’re both in the series. We have different agents, I had nothing to do with his casting and he had nothing to do with mine. Working together is something we’ve never discussed.

People who work at the coal face of life and do the grimmest jobs often have a brilliant sense of humour. It’s a truth that humour can be found at the most unlikely of times and is a form of release. Incredibly competent, professional people – like the police – aren’t angst-ridden all the time, even though they see and deal with the most awful things.

part of a DBeing team is great

Working with a group of like-minded people in a theatre production or during the making of a television programme where you’re all aiming for the same thing is just so rewarding. I love it.

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DCareer variety is good

Humour is vital, says Lesley (above); and with Scott and Bailey costar Suranne Jones (left)

I’ve made a comedy drama for Sky called The Starlings which will be on in April. It’s a funny, clever, completely non-cynical series about a family who really love each other. Brendan Coyle is playing the dad and I’m the mum – and the whole family are a bit daft!

D Scott and Bailey is on ITV1 at 9pm on Mondays D Lesley Sharp was talking to Alison James

WHAT MADE YOU WHO YOU ARE TODAY? Oh my goodness, that is such a big question, I really don’t think I can say just one thing. I knew I wanted to act from when I was about eight years old -– I liked living in a world of fantasy and imagination.

PICS: REX FEATURES

DHumour is a great tonic