The Sun Newspaper

DEAR DEIDRE: OTHER women my age keep themselves busy with walking clubs or book groups, but I’m having wild one-night stands with men I meet on adult websites.

I’m 61 and will continue to do this for as long as I can. But am I unusual?

My beloved husband died unexpectedly ten years ago. After I had grieved losing my soulmate, I realised what I was missing most was the sex.

I have always had a strong libido. It didn’t die down after the menopause. If anything, it blossomed.

I didn’t want to raise any eyebrows by having flings with men in my small, gossipy village, so I signed up to an adult dating site.

The first man I met was 65. Although I expected to feel self-conscious when he undressed me, I only noticed how good it felt to be touched again.

His hands explored my whole body and we brought each other to a climax within minutes.

We spent the whole afternoon together, and even shared a bath before he left to drive home. Since then, I have been besieged by willing partners.

Even though I’m silver-haired, short-sighted and slightly dumpy, men regularly drive hours to meet me for a passionate session in a local hotel or guest house.

Because my partners are usually younger than me — between 54 and 60 — they have the stamina to pleasure me two or three times in the same day.

There’s nobody I can talk to about this.

My friends seem to have given up on sex. They are happy to potter around the garden and look after their grandchildren.

The only thing raising their heart rate is aqua aerobics.

Meanwhile, I’m having the best sex of my life and I can’t imagine ever giving it up.

DEIDRE SAYS: Many people find their sex drive stays strong throughout their life.

It’s no one else’s business if you enjoy casual sex as you get older, but you do need to consider how to stay safe.

Sex has many benefits – it’s good for your heart, circulation, blood pressure, mental health and even your immune system – so regular sessions probably keep you feeling younger than wrestling with a crossword does.

But I would urge you to take care of your sexual health. Even though pregnancy is no longer a possibility, you could still contract a serious sexually transmitted infection unless you practise safe sex and get regular checks.

The Brook website (brook.org.uk) has details on how to get a free, at-home STI testing kit.

I’m also concerned that you are having sex with strangers you meet on the internet.

I’m sending you my support pack, Staying Safe Online, to help you protect yourself from men who might not have your best interests at heart.

HE’D RATHER FOOTIE THAN SCORE IN BED

DEAR DEIDRE: I AM tempted to call time on my football-obsessed boyfriend.

I’m 43 and he’s 52. We don’t live together but I see him nearly every evening. We get on well, except that he would rather stay up late to watch a match than come to bed with me.

Even out of season, he puts no effort into intimacy. He would rather just ­cuddle. It’s been this way since we met in the pub eight years ago.

At first I thought he was just shy, but things never got better.

Several times I have explained that I feel unfulfilled. He always promises to try harder, but nothing changes.

For Valentine’s Day I bought myself a sex toy and opened it in front of him.

I thought that might jolt him into a reaction, but he just shrugged and went back to watching the football. So now I’m often upstairs playing by myself, listening to him cheering his team on downstairs.

I can’t force him to have sex, and I love him so I stay, but I’m not getting any younger. I’m sick of being a football widow – what can I do?

DEIDRE SAYS: While the stereotype is that men want sex much more than women, I regularly hear from couples in the opposite situation.

As your partner has had this issue since you met, there are a few possible explanations.

He might have low testosterone so doesn’t get the urge to have sex. A ­simple blood test from the GP would reveal if that’s the case, and he could take testosterone treatment to regain his oomph.

He might suffer from erectile dysfunction and be too embarrassed to talk about it. It is very common in men over 50 and can be a side effect of an unhealthy lifestyle or a medication.

It can also be a symptom of a health issue, so he should have a medical check-up to rule out anything serious. The doctor can prescribe a pill (like Viagra) to help.

Depression and stress can also affect a person’s libido. Men can find it hard to talk about things like this, so it may take you a few attempts to get to the bottom of the issue.

But one thing’s for sure, until you can both talk this issue through there won’t be any improvement.

My support pack, Reviving A Man’s Sex Drive, explains more.

WORRIED FOR DEPRESSED GUY

DEAR DEIDRE: HAVING dumped the de­press­ed guy I was in an on/off situationship with, I am now worried he might have hurt himself.

I’m 22 and he’s 26. Things were great at the start, but he cooled off after we had sex.

He admitted he was suffering from depression so I helped him as much as I could. We went on a few more dates, even exchanging declarations of love.

Then he pulled away again. This time, he said he couldn’t decide if he was ready for a relationship so I ended it.

Since then, he hasn’t responded to any of my calls or messages, and I’m worried he might have done something stupid.

DEIDRE SAYS: He is not your responsibility, and it didn’t sound like he was totally on board with getting into a relationship.

Staying in a friendship would keep you locked in and would effectively put your life on hold.

If you are really worried, could you ask a mutual friend to check on his welfare? I am sending you my support pack, Finding The Right Partner For You.

FAMILY FORUM

DEAR DEIDRE: IT feels so unfair, but my daughter seems to prefer being with my cheating ex-wife than with me.

I’m 34 and my daughter is six. When she was born, my ex and I were happily married and we doted on her.

But when my daughter was three, a mutual friend revealed my wife had been having a long-term affair.

Heartbroken, I stayed for as long as I could. But eventually I realised it was damaging my self-esteem, so I moved out into a flat.

I decorated a bedroom for my daughter and agreed with my ex that I’d have custody every other weekend.

I expected my daughter to be happy to spend time with me and arranged loads of fun things for us to do.

Sadly, she never seems to want to be here. From the moment she arrives. she looks anxious and unsettled.

She’s always asking when her mum will pick her up, and rarely seems excited about the activities I’ve planned.

I don’t know what to do to make her happy.

The only explanation I can think of is that her mother is making me out to be the bad person for leaving home.

DEIDRE SAYS: From your daughter’s perspective there is no “bad person”. You are both her parents and she loves you equally.

It’s likely that your daughter picked up on the tension at home even if she didn’t say anything. What she needs the most is to know she is loved and none of what happened is her fault.

Children can often blame themselves. She also needs a regular routine and to see you consistently throughout this time.

It is very common that children of recently separated parents struggle to adapt and can become clingy to one parent in particular. Reassure your daughter that she will see Mummy soon.

I’m sending you my support pack, When Parents Fall Out, which explains how you can support her feelings and needs.

Children benefit from both loving parents being actively involved in their lives so don’t give up.

TWO women pictured partying into the early hours with footie star Kyle Walker are Serbian models — who said he was buzzing about his new life.

Marijana Vidovic and Dragana Draca are also globe-trotting fashion bosses who live the high life.

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They frequently post sultry snaps in figure-hugging dresses, swimwear and gym gear from exotic locations including Dubai and Mexico.

The girls drank with England ace Kyle, 34, just 24 hours after his long-suffering wife Annie Kilner visited him in Italy.

Marijana told a friend: “Kyle is a lovely, charming guy who was buzzing to talk about his new life in Milan.”

The Sun on Sunday last week published exclusive snaps of Kyle on a night out with the pair shortly after spending time with Annie, 32, and their four sons.

Right-back Kyle, on loan to Italian giants AC Milan from Man City, met the women — who both bear a striking resemblance to Annie — in a private members’ bar.

They were seen inside the Living Room at the swish Casa Cipriani Milano hotel until about 2am last Wednesday.

After leaving there, £150,000-a-week Kyle — who was wearing his wedding ring — appeared to touch Marijana’s hair as she flicked it flirtatiously, before they all got into an electric BMW iX7.

They then headed to the star-studded Tocqueville 13 nightclub, where the group splashed out £2,474 to secure a table, plus £1,200 on a magnum of Dom Perignon champagne and £1,600 for a bottle of Clase Azul Reposado tequila.

Kyle was said to have left before the rest of his pals, who stayed until 4am.

Black-haired Marijana and Dragana are understood to be friends of Kyle’s Italian football agent, Dario Ristori, and both live in Milan.

Marijana, aged in her 30s, is the boss of 9am — a sustainable luxury fitwear brand which has deals flogging its clothes to companies in the Balkans country.

Her business also ships its clothes worldwide and she is frequently seen modelling its goods on her Instagram page.

She has 13,800 followers and has been travelling around Europe in recent days for major fashion events.

Marijana, pictured in a burgundy coat while out with Kyle during Milan Fashion Week, then flew to France for Paris Fashion Week, where she was seen on Friday.

While there, she posted snaps of the Eiffel Tower from afar and spent time at the five-star Hotel Costes.

Meanwhile, Serbia-born Dragana — seen in a white fur coat when with Kyle — is the founder of a fashion brand called Maison D’Vie.

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Among the items on sale on the brand’s website are a Vero rope navy dress for £1,047 and a Quinn navy velvet jacket costing £923.

A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Marijana and Dragana are lovely women with good taste.

“They are very successful women who enjoy the finer things in life.

“It’s no wonder they mix in the same circles as wealthy high-profile footballers.”

Sources stressed Kyle partied with the girls as friends of his agent and as part of a group.

They also insisted Kyle did not drink alcohol on his night out in Milan.

Marijana shared a picture of herself with Hollywood star Jared Leto, 53, on her Instagram on Thursday.

She and Dragana frequently post sultry snaps from exotic locations around the world.

In one, Marijana is seen wearing a purple two-piece outfit during a night out in Tulum, Mexico, in January.

And she often models garments from her company, posing in a white and black swimsuit in a swimming pool in another January post.

On Dragana’s profile, she regularly flaunts her designer gear, including a black and silver dress which she wore on the red carpet at the Cannes premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

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She captioned it: “Thank you Mr Harrison Ford.”

Dragana also showed off her toned body on the beaches of Dubai — where she is based — wearing bikinis from her summer range Summervie.

Kyle and Annie were reported to be going through a divorce after his affair with influencer Lauryn Goodman, with whom he fathered two children.

He was booted out of his marital home after confessing in 2023 to having a second child with Lauryn, 34.

Kyle pleaded for forgiveness in an exclusive interview with The Sun last January, vowing to change his ways.

But Annie — who no longer wears her wedding ring — served Kyle with divorce papers in October.

Marijana and Dragana did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

♈ ARIES

March 21 to April 20

Your underlying Mars self could cause complications in family talks – so beware of making drama when direction is what’s needed.

You don’t like being told what to do, but turning this into more of a mutual conversation is perfectly possible.

A name you thought gone forever can return with a flash of attraction.

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♉ TAURUS

April 21 to May 21

Try your absolute best to keep a conversation on the chosen topic today, and save any diversions for another time.

Ticking results off a set list can speed up when you start to listen and engage fully.

Looking at how you spend your free time flags up areas ready for change – slowly at first, then more speedily.

♊ GEMINI

A eating location can be where you first encounter your soulmate – but do bear in mind the attraction may not be instant.

Give all introductions ample time, all day today.

If you’re attached, Venus could spur partners to seek escape in outside activities – but your shared inner world matters most.

♋ CANCER

June 22 to July 22

Your personal Mars effect isn’t always comfortable, as it involves speaking out, and maybe acting up.

But getting noticed is important today – so be ready to do whatever is required to make this happen.

Your moon magic is tactful – so you can send subtle love signals and know they will be seen, and appreciated.

Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♌ LEO

July 23 to August 23

Maybe you don’t see why you should hide how you really feel – but the question is, are the people around you ready for this?

More preparation time today can pave the way for a smoother path to a starry celebrity future.

Pluto’s reluctance to toe a love-line can spur you on to find a sexier way to be together.

Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♍ VIRGO

August 24 to September 22

Best friends may not make the most noise – so your planet task today is to ensure all voices are heard.

Being prepared to hear every side of an argument, not just your own, unblocks a money stalemate, gets everyone working and spending in tune.

The relative with the widest social circle can be a love link.

Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♎ LIBRA

September 23 to October 23

Your dearest wish is harmony – but there may be no quick fix for this, especially at home.

So sit with an issue as long as it takes until a solution emerges, then you can be sure it’s the best option for everyone.

Your passion energy is so strong that you only have to picture the perfect future for the first step to happen.

Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♏ SCORPIO

October 24 to November 22

Your ruler Mars has a hand in your learning from mistakes, without you feeling pride is compromised.

The more you reveal today, the greater the potential rewards.

So ask yourself why you insist on holding something special back.

A journey with two potential end points becomes clearer when you simply start moving.

Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♐ SAGITTARIUS

November 23 to December 21

Deep dreams of being or living somewhere else can come true with the moon and Mars’ cross-chart connection.

Suddenly you can see a clear Sagittarius horizon – where before there was only fog.

This time round, do ensure you don’t leave any exit route for someone you really want to stay as part of your future.

Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♑ CAPRICORN

December 22 to January 20

When you decide to lead a family, things can happen fast – so only share feelings when you are sure of your status.

Or you could end up sidelined.

If you’re in love, pretending you don’t need promises when deep down you know you do, is a risky strategy – so think it through again.

Luck links to a recent change of role.

Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

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♒ AQUARIUS

January 21 to February 18

Pluto puts your needs first – and today, so should you.

Even if this means walking away from a half-done deal. You know there can be something better out there for you.

A new introduction may seem super-annoying at first, but give this time as genuine attraction can be hiding.

You will adore every moment of finding it.

Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♓ PISCES

February 19 to March 20

Contests that ask for instant answers are tailor-made for your chart, as you have the fastest responses in the zodiac right now.

Your sign is Saturn-supported adding a layer of reliability to romance.

If you feel existing feelings aren’t enough to carry a couple forward, add fresh ones.

Single? The One is a wordsmith.

Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

PUNTERS are set to bet £1billion for the first time at the Cheltenham Festival.

Bookmakers expect wagers at next week’s showpiece to hit a record high.

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OpenBet, which processes online flutters, said £500million was staked in 2022.

An insider said: “We expect the figure to hit the billion mark.

“There are more people betting on Cheltenham than ever before.”

The biggest outlays will be on Friday, when Galopin Des Champs goes for a third Gold Cup.

Unbeaten sensation Constitution Hill, trained by Nicky Henderson, is also being widely tipped for Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle.

But 6/1 hopeful Salvator Mundi is proving to be the third most popular pick of the week for a win in the opening Supreme Novices.

Guinness sales could also break records, with an estimated £2million spent on more than 300,000 pints.

Meanwhile, Brits are flocking to Benidorm to watch the festival at bars in the sun, with bookings up 28 per cent on last year, says On The Beach.

VILE Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan yesterday flew to Las Vegas to watch a bizarre slapping competition.

The toxic pair’s trip to Sin City came after it emerged crossbow killer Kyle Clifford was influenced by Andrew’s misogynistic ramblings.

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Andrew, 38, and Tristan, 36, had only reached the US on Thursday after a travel ban was lifted by officials in Romania.

The British-American siblings were held last year in Bucharest over allegations of rape, human trafficking and forming a group to sexually exploit women.

The Tates face separate charges in the UK of rape and trafficking.

In the US, a woman has launched a civil case alleging they coerced her into sex work.

A criminal investigation is also ongoing.

Despite the furore, the Tates were happy to be seen at Power Slap in Las Vegas — a contest in which participants take turns at giving one another undefended, open-handed slaps.

A source who spotted the pair in a casino told The Sun: “They were acting very cocky and playing the alpha male but they’re actually pretty dorky.

“Later they went out with their entourage and were rolling around the city in four black SUVs.”

This week it emerged evil Clifford, 26, searched for Andrew’s hate-filled podcast the day before he killed a mum and two of her daughters in Bushey, Herts, in July 2024.

Yesterday, an ex-director of public prosecutions said Tate should be penalised for encouraging violence on women.

Lord Ken Macdonald said: “A lot of what (Tate) says online is illegal.

“At the moment, he hasn’t been held accountable.”

GENE Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died at the same time, firefighters believe.

The Hollywood star, 95, and his 65-year-old partner are believed to have died nine days before their bodies were found.

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Fire chief Brian Moya said: “As experts, we know a lot about how people die and how long people are dead for.

“The thing I’ll say is that, because both bodies are in a similar manner, it could be a similar timeframe.”

He could not disclose anything more about the cause of their deaths.

Authorities are waiting on toxicology reports.

Double Oscar-winner Gene’s body was found in the hallway of his home in Santa Fe last week. Wife Betsy was dead in the bathroom.

We recently revealed the fate of the fate of Hackman and Arakawa’s two surviving dogs.

Joe Padilla, the owner of pet daycare Santa Fe Tails, has the two surviving pups in his care.

Padilla, who often boarded the couple’s dogs before their tragic deaths, told ABC: “They are safe and adjusting.”

“I will be holding on to them until I get word on what Betsy’s wishes for these dogs are.”

GUIDELINES that may give softer sentences to criminals from minority groups were based on research by minister David Lammy.

The Sentencing Council directions for judges sparked a cross-party backlash and claims of “two-tier justice”.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has threatened to strip the quango of its powers and pass laws to overrule it unless it backs down.

The Times said the council has now revealed the rules were influenced by a 2017 review by Mr Lammy, who is now Foreign Secretary.

The Cabinet Minister had argued for more details of an offender’s background to be taken into consideration.

The guidance tells judges to take a convict’s ethnicity, faith or gender into account in deciding whether to jail them, so they could get softer sentences.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has launched legal proceedings on grounds it “enshrines anti-white and anti-Christian bias” into our justice system.

The news of Mr Lammy’s influence will fuel Tory claims Labour was aware of next month’s sentencing changes and failed to act.

Mr Jenrick has vowed to “fight tooth and nail” to kill the proposals, including by Judicial Review if needed.

He said: “Unless Labour acts urgently to fix this mess, we will have a two-tier justice system that is biased against men, white people, and Christians.

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“That would be a completely unacceptable outcome.”

Ms Mahmood said she “will be reviewing the role and powers of the Sentencing Council”.

The Ministry of Justice said the then Conservative Sentencing Minister Gareth Bacon signed off the guidance in February 2024.

PAMELA Anderson has become almost as famous for her make-up-free look as for the iconic red swimsuit she rocked on Baywatch.

At the SAG Awards in February, she oozed confidence in a flowing ivory gown, a smattering of diamonds – and not a scrap of slap.

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At first, some commentators wondered if her fresh-faced look was a stunt. But over the past year, the 57-year-old star has become a poster girl for natural beauty.

As the type of person who, at 47, wouldn’t consider popping to the shops without her make-up on, I pored over Pam’s most recent red-carpet pics with envy.

But while she looked undeniably stunning, I couldn’t help wondering whether she regrets her Noughties-style eyebrows as much as I do.

When I grab my make-up bag each morning, the very first thing I do is reach for my eyebrow kit and do my best to fill out my barely-there brows. Like Pamela’s super-skinny arches, mine are thin and wispy.

This is due to zealous over-plucking back when tweezers – rather than today’s eyebrow brushes, gels, powders and stencils – were a girl’s best friend.

In the late-Nineties and early-Noughties, thin eyebrows were all the rage. Stars including Paris Hilton, Jennifer Aniston, Mila Kunis and, of course, Pammy, ditched their bushy brows for the female equivalent of a pencil moustache.

Along with super-low-rise jeans with a ‘whale tail’ at the back (meaning you had the top of your thong showing), having skinny, arched eyebrows was the ‘in’ thing.

And although I was by no means a trend-setter, this was one bandwagon I was happy to jump on.

As a teenager, I’d sported big, bushy eyebrows that seemed desperate to meet each other in the middle of my forehead.

Despite occasional comments from unkind classmates – whose imaginations didn’t stretch much further than shouting ‘EYEBROWS’ – I tried not to let it bother me.

But then the trend for sleek brows filtered down from MTV to the high street. Suddenly, the contrast between my caterpillar-like fuzz and everyone else’s oh-so-sleek brows became too obvious to ignore.

For the first time, I grabbed a pair of tweezers. And so began a years-long love affair with ridding myself of all but the smallest smattering of eyebrow hair.

Eventually, when celebs started embracing their brows again, I stopped plucking with quite so much enthusiasm.

But, stuck in a beauty rut, I still found myself reaching for my trusty tweezers to keep everything in check well into my thirties.

I carried on quite happily, until a colleague’s throwaway comment made me realise my plucking habit had continued well past its sell-by-date.

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At the time, I was a writer for a glossy women’s magazine. And like most magazines back then, our office boasted what was called a ‘freebie table’ – a spot in the office where members of staff could leave unwanted gifts.

One fateful day, a friend on the features desk picked up a hat someone on the fashion team had cast away – a knitted beanie with eyebrows sewn into the fold-up brim.

I eventually used my top-level journalism training to dig out the obvious truth: while my eyebrows were living in the past, the world had moved on

My friend pushed the hat onto her head and said: “You could do with one of these, Rosie.”

I laughed along with everyone else, but was secretly confused. What could she mean? The implication was that I didn’t have any eyebrows.

But I did, of course. I had my lovely, skinny Noughties brows.

I eventually used my top-level journalism training to dig out the obvious truth: while my eyebrows were living in the past, the world had moved on.

I simply hadn’t realised just how far behind the times I had fallen.

Fifteen years ago, stars such as Cara Delevingne – dubbed ‘Her Eyebrowness’ by the press – made thick, luscious brows the new ‘in’ thing.

The monobrow phase I’d tried to escape was suddenly the height of fashion. Yet here I was, still sporting my Skinny Minnies.

Mortified, I decided to ditch the tweezers for good and regrow my fluffy brows. Once they’d made a comeback, I vowed to book an appointment with a brow technician.

I’d get them shaped into natural neatness and leave the Noughties behind me for good.

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Gone for good

While I waited, I blagged products and tips from the beauty team so I could learn how to create some semblance of hair from what I had left.

But I soon realised that underneath my carefully applied brow pomade, nothing was happening.

At first, I wasn’t too worried. Back in my teenage years, I accidentally glued my left eye shut while applying fake nails – which is another story altogether.

To help prise it open, medics in A&E plucked out all my eyelashes. They took several long months to grow back, and I thought perhaps eyebrows were the same.

I tried to relax. But when months passed and only a couple of stray hairs had returned, I started to panic. A quick Google told me that over-plucking can damage the hair follicle – permanently.

What if they never grew back?

On the beauty team’s advice, I tried some remedies, including applying rosemary oil, which is proven to encourage hair growth.

But after a year, I had to accept that my once-fluffy, suddenly super-fashionable brows were gone for good.

Instead, my over-plucked eyebrows are here to stay – and I’m filled with regret.

Brows frame your face and accentuate your eyes. When yours are giving off a Where’s Wally? vibe, it can leave you feeling like your face isn’t fully furnished.

Fed up with having to fake it every morning, in 2023 I took the plunge and decided to get my eyebrows microbladed – a semi-permanent tattoo that mimics the look of natural brows.

Having heard various horror stories about the results, I was pretty nervous. But after two sessions, I was thrilled with how I looked.

For the first time in decades, I woke up each morning with my eyebrows fully intact, even if it was an optical illusion.

But microblading costs upward of £100, takes hours to perfect and doesn’t last forever. So 18 months on, I’m back to square one.

I can still see remnants of the great job my eyebrow technician did, so I use it to guide my brow-filling technique.

20 years is a long time to wait for your face to come back into fashion

Luckily for me (and, perhaps, Pamela), the skinny eyebrow look has recently enjoyed a comeback.

The Y2K trend has seen forty-somethings like me raiding their wardrobes for forgotten clothes that are now considered ‘vintage’.

It’s also meant that stars including Bella Hadid, Jodie Turner-Smith and Rihanna have all been seen sporting retro skinny brows.

When I tried the viral TikTok filter designed to show how you’d fare with this throwback look, I thought it wasn’t working.

But then I realised the problem: the look was so similar to my actual eyebrows, it was impossible to tell the difference.

Technically, I’m on-trend all over again. But I would still offer a loud word of warning to anyone tempted to tweeze.

I’d urge you to embrace your beautiful, bushy brows.

The barely-there look might feel fabulous now, but it will only last until the next up-and-coming celeb decides to buck the trend.

Then, like me, you might be stuck staring at the past whenever you look in the mirror.

Getting back what you’ve lost takes time, money and effort. And take it from me: 20 years is a long time to wait for your face to come back into fashion.

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DEAR DEIDRE: I CAN’T stop fantasising about having sex with my stepsister.

As children, we would lock ourselves in the bathroom, take off our clothes and touch each other’s private parts.

It was only when I got older that I realised why it had felt so good.

I’m 28 and she’s 29. I’ve been thinking about what happened a lot recently, and my feelings worry me.

My mum married her dad when I was seven. She never felt like a sister to me, more like an older friend.

The sexual experimentation started when I was around eight or nine.

It only went on for about six months, until we both grew out of it.

It was all very innocent and we were both just curious.

But lately, I can’t stop thinking about what happened. And, I’m ashamed to admit, I now realise I have developed adult sexual feelings for her.

At night, I lie in bed, fantasising about having sex with her.

I imagine us, as adults, back in our parents’ house, locking ourselves in that bathroom again. These fantasies make me feel excited, but also guilty and ashamed.

I’m worried they are not normal.

I know it can never, and will never, happen. For one thing, she has a partner and a child.

I did once send her a message, asking if she remembered what we used to get up to.

She didn’t reply. I guess she was embarrassed.

DEIDRE SAYS: It’s natural for children to be curious about each other’s bodies, and most children play exploratory sexual games.

They are a normal part of development and, if between children of a similar age and if they are restricted to looking and touching, they are generally not harmful.

Even though you aren’t blood-related, you are close family and so your relatives would be very likely to struggle with any relationship between yourself and your stepsister.

Perhaps the fact that sex with your stepsister is forbidden is what makes your fantasies so exciting. See my support pack, Sexual Fantasies And You, for more about this.

It might help to talk to a sex therapist in confidence. Visit cosrt.org.uk (020 8106 9635) for more details on this.

HUBBY’S BORING NOW HE’S OLDER

DEAR DEIDRE: THE thought of being stuck with my boring, grumpy husband until one of us dies makes me miserable.

I always looked forward to retirement, but he doesn’t want to go anywhere or do anything. He’s already got one foot in the grave and I’m at the end of my tether.

We’re both approaching 70 and have been married for more than 40 years. Our children left home decades ago and have children of their own.

After working extremely hard as a nurse during my career, and saving carefully, I thought retirement would be my reward – the chance to travel, have fun and spend time doing interesting things together.

I was wrong. My husband has turned into a curmudgeonly old bore. Now we’re both retired, all he wants to do is sit in his armchair watching TV or tend to the garden.

He grunts at me instead of talking, doesn’t want to socialise with friends, and poo-poos any suggestion of far-flung holidays.

We’re lucky to still be healthy and fit. If we don’t do this stuff now, we never will.

I’ve realised I no longer want to be with him, but I can’t face the expense and stress of a divorce.

What should I do?

DEIDRE SAYS: It’s easy, and common, for couples to grow apart without realising it. The fact you’ve written in suggests you aren’t quite ready to give up on your husband.

Given the way he’s acting, I do wonder if he might be depressed

Retirement can have a profound effect on some men, making them feel they’ve lost their purpose and identity.

See my support pack, Help For Your Depression. Another pack, Looking After Your Relationship, should help you to talk to him.

Couples counselling might also be a very good idea. Go online at tavistockrelationships.org to arrange an appointment.

In the meantime, consider enjoying your hobbies and going travelling with friends, so you don’t feel so resentful.

PARTNER INSULTS MY LOOKS

DEAR DEIDRE: BECAUSE my partner is so mean to me, I have sex with him just to keep the peace.

When I have my period and don’t want to be intimate, he insults my body, calling me “old saggy breasts”.

We’ve been together for nine years and are in our mid-thirties. We have two young children. He started mentally abusing me once our first child was born.

He’d criticise my weight and put me down, making me feel I was useless and that nobody else would want me.

I did pluck up the courage to leave him but he begged me to come back, promising he’d changed.

He was lovely for a few months until I got pregnant with our second, and then the abuse started again.

Since then I’ve felt trapped. I don’t have the confidence or energy to walk away.

DEIDRE SAYS: This relationship is toxic, and you deserve so much better.

Your partner puts you down in order to control you.

You’ve left once, and you can do it again – not just for your sake, but for your children’s.

They must be aware of his behaviour and he may start on them one day.

Please get help to leave. My support pack, Abusive Partner, has lots of information.

MOTORISTS are getting clobbered at the pumps as forecourts pocket savings instead of passing them on.

Wholesale petrol prices dropped 5p a litre since mid-January, yet pump prices remain at a six-month high, according to the RAC.

Petrol now stands at 139.65p a litre, with diesel at 146.48p – the highest since last summer.

But while retailers blame rising costs, drivers are seeing none of the savings.

The AA’s Luke Bosdet hit out: “Wholesale petrol costs have fallen 5p a litre since mid January.

“How much saving has been passed on to families with cars? Absolutely nothing.

“We accept that staffing costs and overheads are increasing for retailers but does that really add up to £2.50 on each tank of fuel?

“Or is it the same old fuel trade – waiting for someone else down the road to start cutting prices at the pump?”

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “With wholesale fuel costs falling throughout February, there’s a good prospect petrol and diesel prices will come down this month as retailers buy fresh stock at lower prices.

“As always, it really does pay to shop around because pump prices at supermarket sites vary by as much as 13p a litre.”

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IN With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex took the best part of an hour to show us how to make spaghetti, a cake and a cup of tea.

Now tea is like champagne to me but Meghan makes a brew I wouldn’t want to drink.

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If anyone presented me with such a terrible cup of tea I’d be insulted.

You’d have thought that after nearly seven years married to an Englishman she’d have learned how to make a proper cuppa.

But in the first episode poor Harry was nowhere to be seen and their kids were only mentioned in passing.

Instead, she was preparing for a visit from her old friend Daniel who she met on the set of Suits.

Daniel, who just loved everything, reminded us how Meghan’s side hustle when she was filming Suits was a lifestyle blog called the Tig.

With Love, Meghan is just a beautifully shot version of The Tig.
But the dialogue was just weird. I lost count of how many times Daniel gushed that Meghan was ‘amazing’ – and asked ‘why can no one present peas like you?’

While Meghan, who ‘did the heavy lifting by baking a cake’ told Daniel, ‘you zested that lemon so beautifully’.

This is not real life as real people know it. This is Montecito world.

Who makes their own candles?

Most people have so little time to spare they just buy them down the shops.

Nice try Meghan but I cannot see Netflix commissioning another series.

With love, Arthur.

RACHEL Reeves has warned tit-for-tat tariffs risk slowing down the whole global economy.

The Chancellor said that even if the UK is not directly targeted by trade levies, they would still have a significant impact on us.

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She said. that she didn’t think tariffs “serves anyone well”.

“We will be affected by slowing global trade, by a slower GDP growth and by higher inflation than otherwise would be the case.”

Ms Reeves added: “We don’t want to see tariffs. I will continue to make the case with all my international counterparts for free and open trade.”

While appearing to be critical of the fresh tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, Ms Reeves tried to avoid angering President Trump.

She said that the US had done more for Ukraine than any other country.

She added that it was right that Europe played a bigger role and now increased defence spending.

It comes after US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China this week, with Europe in his sights.

The Chancellor said “I think we’re all very pleased with the way that the meeting between our Prime Minister and President Trump went last week.

“We are searching now for some sort of trade deal, which I think has been mutually beneficial for both our economies.

“I’ve always believed that free trade is good for countries that are exporting as well as countries importing.”

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

DEAR DEIDRE: I AM a male booty call for a woman who organises all the kids’ trips at the school where I work – but I want to be so much more.

I’m single and a 28-year-old PE teacher. She’s 47 but doesn’t look it. I was sur­pris­ed to learn her children left the school long ago.

We first met at a parent-and-teacher meeting.

She liaises with parents about all the various schemes with the Combined Cadet Force, and runs the whole thing.

After the meeting, we got chatting and there was a bit of a spark. Because we live near each other, we started travelling to various out-of-school events together.

I’ve been single for months and found myself feeling excited at the thought of us spending time alone.

She told me her marriage was a mess. Her husband travels constantly for work — the reason she is so committed to volunteering with the children.

It was obvious we liked each other — and after a ­couple of months of spending time together, one day I leaned over and kissed her. She responded passionately.

The next evening she came to my hostel room, while the kids camped nearby and we had explosive sex.

Now, whenever there is a school trip, I always sign up, just so I can spend time with her.

I truly love this woman and have been encouraging her to leave her husband but she won’t.

Yet she calls me when she wants sex. I don’t have the willpower to resist.

DEIDRE SAYS: You do and you should. Whatever you feel about her, she’s married. Having an affair is messing with your head and may even jeopardise your job.

All that you really have between you is sex. This isn’t real life. If she leaves her husband, are you prepared to be stepdad to her grown-up kids? That’s the reality of the situation.

You are at different life stages. While age gaps may work for many couples, would it really work for you?

This relationship isn’t doing you any favours, apart from the thrill of no-strings sex.

You deserve to be with a partner who can be open and honest about being with you. My support pack Your Lover Not Free? explains more.

DAD HID MY BRO’S ABUSE

DEAR DEIDRE: MY dad lied to the police about my brother abusing me and now the case has been dropped.

My brother is 36 and he has three daughters. The oldest one was seven last year, the age that my brother started abusing me.

I’m a 25-year-old woman and I’ve had lots of therapy to help me. The sexual abuse stopped when I was ten and my dad came home early. He walked in to see my brother abusing me and Dad punched him.

When my niece turned seven I was so triggered that I reported my brother to the police. They came to interview me but my dad denied everything.

Although I was crying, the officers didn’t seem to believe me and my statement was filed away.

DEIDRE SAYS: You deserved to be heard and believed. What your brother did was wrong and you were not at fault.

If you are concerned for your nieces, speak in confidence with the NSPCC (nspcc.org.uk, 0808 800 5000).

The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (napac.org.uk, 0808 801 0331) will help you decide whether you want to press charges again, as well as offering emotional support.

MOTHER-IN-LAW’S SO MEDDLESOME

DEAR DEIDRE: NOW that we have a baby, my mother-in-law has become even more suffocating.

She has always been difficult, interfering in our lives and telling us how to do this and that, yet my husband seems oblivious to what she’s doing. He is very close to her.

I am her long-suffering daughter-in-law and I’m 37. My husband is 40 and my mother-in-law is a widow aged 63.

Her husband died years ago so when my ­husband suggested we buy a house near hers, I didn’t object.

He wanted to be local if she needed him, which I thought was understandable.

Little did I know what a presence she was going to become in our lives. It started after we tied the knot, when she insisted we open our wedding presents in front of her.

She had an opinion on absolutely everything, criticising what people had bought and how much they had spent.

Our baby is two months old and he’s amazing. But from the moment he arrived, she was telling me how to breast-feed and that I should ignore his cries to “get him into his little routine”.

She kept saying that her son was “wonderful” for changing the baby’s nappy because her husband “never did”. She now turns up unannounced and takes the baby out of my arms to coo over him.

I’m beginning to despise her.

DEIDRE SAYS: Talk to your husband. Explain that you want your son to have a relationship with his grandmother, but she is overstepping the mark and this is affecting how you feel about her.

Ask him to set some boundaries, such as only coming over when she’s invited.

When you are expecting her for a visit, have your son in a baby sling so she is less likely to disturb him until you feel it’s appropriate to allow her to give him a cuddle.

If she turns up unannounced, don’t answer the door but explain later that you were in the bath, or give a different excuse. She will soon get the message.

A THIRD of NHS workers, including carers, don’t look after their own health because they are burnt out.

And a fifth miss check-ups as they don’t have the time.

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That’s according to a nationwide survey of 2,000 people by Optical Express, which is offering some NHS workers free laser eye surgery.

The Thanks A Million campaign will give £1m-worth of free care to NHS and emergency service workers.

It’s not usually possible to get laser eye surgery on the NHS unless you have an eye condition that could lead to blindness or eye problems that can’t be helped with glasses or contact lenses.

The survey found six in ten people believe poor eyesight will force them out of their current jobs. So get that eye test and don’t accept changes as “part of ageing”.

You only have until Friday to put in for the free laser eye surgery, so be quick. Apply at 1.opticalexpress.co.uk/thanks-a-million.

Here’s a selection of what readers have asked this week.

Soothe osteo pain

Q) I HAVE been ­diagnosed with osteoarthritis at 76 years old.

My main problems are my hands, wrists and knees.

An information sheet I was given detailed treatments such as NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) in the form of creams and tablets, weak opioids and steroid injections.

My GP suggested Voltarol, which helped a lot with my wrists but not at all with my knees.

I have trouble getting up and down from sitting and I’m often woken at night with pain in the whole legs.

I don’t know which treatment to start for the best results. What is your advice?

In November I lost my husband so I am trying to get myself together and deal with that.

A) Thank you for writing in. I’m so sorry to hear about your husband.

It’s great to hear you are taking control of your health though.

Voltarol is effective for the smaller joints closer to the skin, so the cream can be absorbed into the joint itself.

It’s absolutely fine to continue using that on your hands and wrists, but you’re right that it does tend to be less effective for your knees.

NSAID tablets such as ibuprofen or naproxen could be effective at managing the pain in your knees, so it might be worth checking with your GP if it’s safe for you to switch to a tablet of NSAID instead.

But the best way to treat osteoarthritis at the knees, is exercise.

Cycling, swimming or low-impact exercises at home can help strengthen the muscles that support the knee joint and alleviate pressure on the knee.

It can also help remodel the structures within the knee, such as the cartilage, and reverse some of the damage done by the osteoarthritis.

People who have very severe osteoarthritis may need to look towards joint replacement surgery eventually.

With the circumstances you describe, I think you will particularly benefit from group exercise.

My advice is to enquire about referral to a local social prescribing worker. They can help link you with charities and other community groups that can offer suitable exercise classes.

Some programmes designed for people with arthritis incorporate socialising and education, which can be hugely beneficial. NHS Escape-pain is one – ask your GP about it.

Q) MY 71-year-old dad had an infection in December 2023 which turned into sepsis.

No aftercare followed and he is continuing to get symptoms of infections to the point ambulances are called, but he is not getting taken seriously.

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He has fever, shakes and can’t focus, has dry eyes and inflamed eyelids.

He is constantly breaking out in red rashes, including on the arms, hands and head.

I’m worried but feel I am being an inconvenience to the GP.

A) I am sorry to hear that your dad had sepsis. This can be really distressing for the patient and also for the family around them.

Let me start off with the rash, which you kindly sent in a photograph of.

The picture shows a red inflamed area of skin on the inside of the elbow, and it looks to me very much like eczema.

It is possible to develop eczema later in life, and it is also possible that a severe illness such as sepsis with multiple courses of antibiotics could make the skin more prone to things like eczema.

In order to treat the eczema, apply emollients several times a day to all affected areas.

You may also require some steroid creams initially to get the inflammation under control.

Moving on to the other symptoms you describe, some people who have had sepsis have ongoing symptoms after their initial recovery phase.

You mentioned several symptoms here, which could fit with post-sepsis syndrome.

Symptoms can include extreme tiredness and weakness, poor mobility, chest pains and breathlessness, joint and muscle pain accompanied sometimes by swollen limbs, vision changes, hair loss, skin rashes, depression and anxiety, flashbacks, difficulty concentrating, memory loss and mood swings.

If as a family, you feel like you need further support in helping look after your dad following his recent sepsis, I would advise you to get in touch with the UK Sepsis Trust (sepsistrust.org).

It has nurses who can provide really good, individualised support and advice.

Itchy legs are still driving me mad

Q) FOR years I have had a constant itch around the scrotum area and at the bottom of my legs, just before the ankles.

I have tried various creams and antihistamines but to no avail. It’s driving me to distraction. I am 64.

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A) As you have already tried creams and I assume other treatments from the pharmacist, it is definitely time to take a trip to the GP.

An itchy rash in the scrotum area could be eczema but it could also be a fungal or yeast infection or a sexually transmitted disease.

Your GP may be able to find some clues when they examine you and guide you as to what best treatment you should try next.

The rash that is on your lower legs just before the ankles might or might not be related.

The most common cause here would be venous eczema, which affects about 20 per cent of people aged over 70.

It’s actually caused by venous insufficiency which means that the veins are no longer transporting blood back up to the heart effectively, and so some fluid leaks out into the skin.

This can stimulate an immune response, causing eczema.

It’s important to use emollients creams every day and you may need occasional steroid creams too if it flares up.

Staying active and elevating your legs at certain periods during the day can help.

Compression stockings may help, but first your GP needs to check that the arterial blood flow to the feet is good.

It’s important to take good care of the skin and treat any minor injuries to it very carefully.

BOYS MISSING OUT ON HPV JAB

EIGHT in ten people are unaware of a life-saving vaccine boys can get at school, a survey has found.

The human papillomavirus jab protects against a virus linked to six types of cancer and has been offered to boys aged 12 to 13 since 2019.

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It has been available to girls since earlier – 2008 – but 60 per cent did not know that either.

The survey of 2,100 people, released today (HPV Awareness Day), revealed that 82 per cent of people do not know that boys are eligible for the jab.

The knowledge gap comes amid falling vaccination rates.

Government data shows that 72.9 per cent of Year Eight girls and 67.7 per cent of Year Eight boys were vaccinated in the 2023–2024 school year, a sharp drop from 88 per cent and 71 per cent before the
pandemic.

Officials say there has been an increase in the number of non-returned and declined consent forms from parents.

Experts warn that this decline could lead to a rise in HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer, genital and head and neck cancers.

Tamara Kahn, the chief executive of the charity Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK, said: “This isn’t just about statistics – it’s about real people whose futures hang in the balance.”

TAKEAWAY pints made popular during the pandemic will be banned despite a pubs backlash.

Licensing laws were relaxed in lockdowns to allow the sale of grab-and-go beers.

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The rule change is due to expire at the end of this month, despite our Save Our Sups campaign.

Pubs will have to pay a fee for off-site sales.

Sir Keir Starmer is set to allow the rules to expire to the fury of the pub trade, which is already facing a £3.4bn tax raid in the budget.

A BBPA spokesman said: “On behalf of our members, who account for approximately 20,000 pubs across the UK, we supported options that would have made the temporary easement permanent, so we are incredibly disappointed at the Government’s decision.

“We have seen no evidence that this easement has created any widespread issues since it was introduced.

“Instead it has helped to boost trade for pubs and therefore the economy as a whole, so this move will layer more cost and administrative burdens on pubs and local authorities.”

He added: “We would urge the Prime Minister to reconsider the impact of this move because it will undermine their growth mission and create more red tape.”

A public consultation got just 67 responses.

Drinker Paul Marshall, 39, from Saffron Walden, Essex, fumed: “Of all the issues going on in the world, I can’t believe the Government are bothering with this.”

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Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

ISRAEL has blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza after Hamas terrorists refused to agree to a ceasefire extension.

The 42-day first phase expired on Saturday, with US diplomats suggesting another temporary deal while terms for a second phase are thrashed out.

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But Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas refused, leaving Israel no choice but to halt vital supplies.

A statement from Netanyahu’s office said: “Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages.

“If Hamas continues its refusal, there will be further consequences.”

They added Israel had agreed to a US proposal for the ceasefire to continue for about six weeks for negotiations during the Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passover periods.

Hamas, which says it wants stage two of the deal to go ahead, said blocking supplies was “cheap blackmail”.

The World Food Programme said: “Humanitarian assistance has to continue to flow into Gaza.

“It’s very essential.

“And we are calling all parties to make sure that they reach a solution,”

Thousands of trucks have entered the Gaza Strip, which has a population of two million, each week since the ceasefire took effect in mid-January.

CUSTOMERS queued for more than an hour to get inside Jeremy Clarkson’s reopened farm shop.

Visitors from as far as Spain and India came on Saturday to buy goods from his Diddly Squat Farm, including £7.20 pork pies and £22 candles called, “This smells of my b*****ks”.

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The shop in Chadlington, Oxon, which featured on Amazon’s hit show Clarkson’s Farm, shut for two months.

Anouska Goulding, 25, came from Hertfordshire with pal Emily Roberts.

She said: “My boyfriend’s gone ­skiing, so we thought we’d have a girly weekend.

“I think it’ll be nice and fun.”

Miss Goulding said she was anticipating a more rural change of scenery from her hometown and a “wholesome” atmosphere.

She said: “We watch the show.

“My boyfriend loves it and he’s so jealous that I am here today.

“He’s gone skiing, so we thought we would have a girly weekend.

“And I was like: ‘Well, if I have a girly weekend, I’m going to go to Diddly Squat.

“This is my first time [visiting].

“I think it will be nice and fun, the weather is lovely too.

“I love [Clarkson].

“I think Kaleb’s really funny as well.

“And I think, bless them, they tried hard and some of it didn’t really work out, did it?

“But it’s nice to see they did a good job.”

Ms Roberts added: “It’s nice to see the background of the farm.”

Sarah Drayton, 46, and Michael Tustin, 47, were also visiting for the first time from Worcestershire.

She said: “We have been watching it on the television.

“I just like everything, it’s just brilliant.

“It’s really hard to pick a favourite on the show but probably Kaleb.

“I just think he’s really funny, he’s really light-hearted, the bond with Jeremy and Kaleb is really funny.

“The countryside is lovely.”

Clarkson’s Farm series guide

By Conor O’Brien, TV Reporter

Clarkson’s Farm airs on Prime Video and follows TV personality Jeremy Clarkson as he manages his Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds.

Three series have been released to date and here is an overview of what has happened so far.

Series 1

• Jeremy takes over the day-to-day running of the newly renamed Diddly Squat Farm.
• Lisa Hogan, Kaleb Cooper, “Cheerful Charlie” Ireland and Gerald Cooper are also introduced.
• Jeremy starts to assemble what he needs for his farm – as well as laying the groundwork for things to come later.
• He buys key equipment including a tractor and cultivator, as well as taking on sheep and opening a farm shop.
• Jeremy takes over the day-to-day running of the newly renamed Diddly Squat Farm.

Series 2

• This series sees Jeremy look for ways to increase the farm’s revenue.
• One such example is bringing in a herd of cows although this isn’t without its issues.
• Jeremy also had the idea to convert the abandoned lambing barn into a restaurant where he could sell his meat from the farm.
• For this plan to move forward, he had to get planning permission from the local council.
• Viewers also meet Pepper, a heifer among the herd who ultimately becomes the star’s favourite.

Series 3

• The third series contained some of the show’s most emotional moments to date.
• In heartbreaking scenes, dozens of newborn piglets died as a result of overlaying – their mother rolling on to them.
• Jeremy said goodbye to his favourite pig – the Baroness – after she developed cancer and needed to be put down. 
• Dry stonewall expert and “head of security” Gerald Cooper was diagnosed with cancer.
• Jeremy and Kaleb began a competition between themselves – with Kaleb looking after the arable side and Jeremy taking the non-arable elements.
• Fellow farmers – and famous faces – Andy Cato and George Lamb appear in this series

MAKE-UP is going retro, and new felt tip-like lip stains have transported me back to my teens.

Their precision tips and free-flowing ink, which stays put for hours, make them an all-in-one lip product. I put three to the test . . .

BUDGET

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Rimmel Lip Ink Pen, £9.99 for 1.7ml, superdrug.com: This was the first to cross my desk, and I didn’t think much of it initially.

Fast-forward a week, and I realised I had been applying it most days between meetings to make me look more polished.

It’s weightless on lips, and lasts hours – even through back-to-back cuppas.

The packaging and the nib itself are near-identical to a typical felt-tip pen.

The colour intensity varies between shades, with the darker hues being more pigmented. But whichever you choose, you have enough time to blend it out before it sets.

This takes top spot, for sure.

MID-RANGE

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Made By Mitchell Modern Melt, £7.20 (usually £12) for 0.6g, beautybay.com: The rounded tip reminded me of a mini bingo dabber and I wasn’t sure what to expect of it.

I thought I wouldn’t be able to draw a precise line around my lips – but was wrong.

The shape of the nib means it carries colour more evenly, so I got the best lip line of the three I tried – although the formula is weirdly sticky.

I don’t mind, as I tend to apply a lip balm on top anyway, but it’s something to consider if that would put you off.

Because the nib’s sides are bevelled, it’s not quite as quick to fill in your whole lip, but the time added is negligible – and it’s by far the most pigmented of the three.

LUXURY

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Stila Calligraphy Lip Stain, £18.40 (usually £23) for 0.67ml, boots.com: Despite having tried hundreds, if not thousands, of lip products over the years, I’ve never seen anything that looks like this.

It’s flat, as if a normal felt-tip nib had been squashed, which means you can get a super-fine line.

I have an unsteady hand, so this proved more of a curse than a benefit – but for anyone more skilled, it’s a great feature.

You then rotate the pen in your hand and use the thicker side to cover a larger area – genius. Best staying power of the three.

PICK OF THE WEEK

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GENIUS skincare brand Starface made spot stickers cool with their stick-on stars – and now they are taking aim at the rest of our routines.

Starface Star Wash + Salicylic Acid, £12.99 and Star Cream + Salicylic Acid, £12.99 both launched this week, and are the perfect side-kicks for anyone with spot-prone skin.

Shop now at starfaceworld.co.uk.

IT’S a Beautiful Day for Bono’s daughter Eve Hewson — as she becomes the new face of Calvin Klein.

The 32-year-old actress, set to star in Steven Spielberg flick Disclosure, is fronting the brand’s shapewear range.

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It includes sexy no-show thongs, sculpting bodysuits, smoothing leggings and more.

Eve wore a white one-piece for the launch photoshoot — and changed into a daring black number.

Announcing the partnership online, Calvin Klein wrote: “Daring with uncompromising effort. Eve Hewson styles Icon Shapewear.”

Eve previously said her famous father both helped and hindered her career.

She told the Radio Times: “In the beginning, I think it was easier for me to get in the door.

“Some of the friends I went to Tisch with are the most talented actors but have found it difficult to get an agent or an audition.

“That’s never been a problem for me, and I think that’s because of my family.

“That’s not the way the system should work, of course, but if the door is open, walk through the door.”

Yet talking of the negatives, she added: “It can then become a bit of a hindrance, because they can’t separate you from your father or see you as an individual.

“Often, they have very low expectations, and they really don’t think you’re going to be good.

“And then you are quite good, and they are quite surprised.”

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SOME very close to Donald Trump are deeply worried he may have bitten off more than he can chew in his boast that he can end the bitter war in Ukraine.

Bringing the Russians to the table is proving to be significantly harder than the self-proclaimed dealmaker says publicly, hence his warm words toward Putin in recent weeks.

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But whether it was a temper tantrum yesterday or something more calculated, hopes of peace look further away than ever after one of the most remarkable Oval Office meetings ever broadcast to the world.

The ritual, bullying humiliation of wartime hero Volodymyr Zelensky at the hands of the leader of the free world last night was a sad sorry spectacle.

And now you can see why Sir Keir Starmer was so worried about his own White House meeting with the President.

What a difference a day makes, Don the Fury was back following his OTT love in for the Brits on Thursday.

The notoriously thin-skinned President, and VP JD Vance ganged up to pummel the man who has led three years of war-effort following Russia’s savage invasion of his homeland.

His crime? Apparently disrespecting the President, his literal office and not saying thank you enough – despite Zelensky endlessly thanking his allies around their world for their support.

Warning signs were there on arrival as Zelensky turned up in his signature military fatigues he has donned since the day Putin’s tanks rolled over his border.

On the steps on the White House, Trump teased that he had “dressed up” for the visit.

And within minutes of their Oval Office talks – in front of the rolling cameras just like Starmer’s own visit 24 hours previously – things were getting testy.

The problem Zelensky had was he was totally correct to point out that Putin had broken previous ceasefire agreements, so any deal cut would need proper weight behind it to make the Kremlin-tyrant think twice.

Sir Kier made the identical point the day before, but a little more tactfully.

But Trump was clearly itching for a fight, despite his apparent softening of his stance toward Zelensky who he has long hated, in recent days.

Regardless, the torrent unleashed by the President and VP response saw their true feelings about the war.

Despite all his warm words about seeking peace, the tirade suggests Trump cares more about extracting America from picking up the tab rather than any other consequence of forcing Ukraine to compromise.

And despite what looked like some progress in the last week, that leaves Starmer and his other European leaders back at square one about how to to fix this unholy mess.