A new report by the World Health Organization has highlighted the disparity between women’s health in the different countries of the world. Despite many women living longer than men in the developed world, those less fortunate are facing life-threatening illnesses and disease that could easily be prevented.

“It’s time to pay girls and women back, to make sure that they get the care and support they need to enjoy a fundamental human right at every moment of their lives, that is their right to health,” said WHO’s Director-General, Dr Chan at the launch of the report, Women and health: today’s evidence tomorrow’s agenda.

Key facts (source WHO)

• On average, women live six to eight years longer than men globally.
• In 2007, women’s life expectancy at birth was more than 80 years in 35 countries, but only 54 years in the WHO African Region.
• Girls are far more likely than boys to suffer sexual abuse.
• Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among adolescent girls in high- and middle-income countries.
• Essentially all (99%) of the half a million maternal deaths every year occur in developing countries.
• Breast cancer is the leading cancer killer among women aged 20–59 years in high-income countries.
• Globally, cardiovascular disease, often thought to be a “male” problem, is the leading killer of women.

Governments and healthcare systmes in many countries around the world are ignoring the needs of their female populations – and yet many women provide much of the healthcare around the world.

It remains to be seen whether this report will have any impact on the governments and countries failing to provide healthcare for their women – a section of the population often treated as second class citizens – attitudes need to change and it is not just in developing countries that women are being denied basic human rights – you just have to look to the US to find millions of women who cannot afford healthcare to see that this is a widespread and fundamental problem everywhere.

If you are looking for the ideal gift for your daughter, The Girls’ Car Handbook may be just the ticket – especially if she has just passed her driving test.

This handy guide is packed with advice on what to look for when buying a car, how to find a decent garage, the costs involved, and how to cope if your car breaks down – plus advice on keeping your car on the road and insuring it properly.

And us older ladies could also benefit from this book - especially if you are not particularly mechanically minded – the advice on how to handle garage mechanics and repairs is especially useful, as well as what to look for in a new car and how to avoid being ripped off.

The Girls’ Car Handbook by Maria McCarthy is published by Pocket Books and costs £7.99 – money well spent.

Christmas is one of the most anticipated events of the year, for adults and children alike. But, however well your family get on together, it can also be one of the most stessful times of the year because we all want it to be perfect. But unexpected events can often throw a spanner in the works.

Relationship expert, Lesley Brewer, has these simple tips for helping your relationship survive the festive period.

What do you want?

Decide what sort of Christmas you really want. This is time off work, so think of it as a holiday. You would usually plan a holiday and put exciting things in the diary that you both want to do – so do the same with Christmas.

Presents

Ask each other way beforehand how significant “the present” is to each of you. To some it will always be THE most important part of Christmas, whereas to others it’s a trial/waste of money/competitive.

If the present is definitely meant to signify the depth of your love for one another, often a low-cost experience with lots of thought can touch the heart more than diamonds ever will. So think about things such as a piece of poetry personally written by you, wrapped up in a pretty box with bows.

Get outdoors

Spend time outside and that goes for all the family. Even if it’s howling a gale, wrap up and go go go! Taking a walk or generally being outdoors will get rid of pent up energy and irritation leaving you all feeling calm and peaceful – and it also walks off the mince pies!

Give and take

Each of you should agree to do one thing you really don’t want to do – such as visiting the relations. But you have to do it with a smile knowing full well that your partner is going to have to reciprocate!

For the boys

It’s inevitable that preparation for Christmas will fall on the shoulders of the woman of the house. Let’s be honest, she’s probably got far too much on already, so why not earn brownie points by sharing the load.

You could even stump up for a day trip to a spa two weeks before the event. She would love the fact that you have acknowledged how stressed she might be and made her feel really loved.

Spend, spend, spend?

Money may well be tighter than ever this year so don’t be a martyr – why put yourself under extra pressure in the New Year? Explain the situation and say “for this year we will cut back on…”

Change is as good as a holiday!

You don’t always have to do what you have done every year. It’s good to change things as it keeps things fresh. Doing something completely different might be a shock to the family’s system but they will get over it, just let people know you are having a change this year.

Be a kid

Surround yourselves with the young children in your family, get down on the floor at their level and play games together – many of us have forgotten how much fun it is to be a child.

Plan ahead

Either take it in turns to be designated driver – or failing that if you can’t agree, stay over – much more fun!

Honesty is the best policy

Be honest with each other and, above all else, make sure you find time to laugh together.
Lesley Brewer is a relationship expert and runs The Introduction Company in Brawby, near Malton, in North Yorkshire. Tel: 01653 669430

Kirsty Robson (39), her husband Shaun (40), daughter Hannah (15) and son Saul (7) lived in the village of Castle Bytham, near Stamford, Lincs before upping sticks and relocating to the Greek island of Crete. They wanted to give their children a better lifestyle and enjoy the sun.They family has never regretted their move.

Kirsty says: “When we arrived in Crete the kids went straight into the local schools knowing not one word of Greek. Hannah had the biggest problem as she was put in a class three years below her age, but within a year she had become fluent in Greek and caught up to a class of her own age. I just wish I could learn the language so fast!”

The Robsons bought home built by an English developer who built a bespoke house just for them. “They sparked off our ‘Designer Gold’ concept”, says Mike Saunders, MD, Snobby Homes. “This is where we source a plot of land for a client and design and build a bespoke house within their budget.”

For futher information, contact Snobby Homes on
0871 900 8690.

Portugal is Britain’s oldest military ally, with a history of co-operation dating back to the beginning of the 18th century; in commemoration of this fact, Tagus Creek have got together with Morrisons stores and each bottle sold before 11th November will mean £1 donated to this year’s Poppy Appeal.

These affordable wines are made with an intriguing mix of traditional, local grape varieties and more recognisable varietals. The creamy, smooth white wine is based on Fernao Pires and Chardonnay, made in a state of the art winery close to the river Tagus, northeast of Lisbon. The Portuguese variety gives this wine an intriguing spicy, nutty aroma, but on the palate it has that Chardonnay charm. This would be great with seafood such as crab, lobster or scallops; or just with a top quality plate of fish, chips and mushy peas!

The pink wine blends Shiraz with Touriga Nacional, one of the varieties used in making port in the Douro region of Portugal. It has a glorious purple-pink colour in the glass and would happily accompany rich, spicy food such as curries, Mexican dishes or a sweet and sour stir fry

Tagus Creek wines, Morrisons stores, £5.59 (including £1.00 donated to the Royal British Legion for every bottle sold).

ROZ COOPER: BIOGRAPHY

Roz began her wine career in California, leading wine tours and tasting wines for a wine warehouse near San Francisco. She then ran her own California wine import business in the UK and subsequently became assistant editor of Decanter magazine, then wrote various books on wine including The Wine Almanac. Since then, she has written wine columns in many publications and edited books and magazines, including The Italian Magazine. She’s passionate about green issues including organic and biodynamic winemaking and also works on a voluntary basis with the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

Christmas is looming… and in the business world that means a break from the daily flow – and as much as we try to avoid it, the festive season creeps into our minds at the most unexpected times.

Diverting into the shops via that latest meeting to buy last-minute Christmas presents, we find ourselves transported back to a different time in our memory. That moment when a special song or a waft of familiar perfume sends us straight back to a previous time in our lives…

So as much as we try to avoid it, the festive season is highly emotive – for us all. This feeling plays a huge role in our lives and is unavoidable, no matter how hard we try to escape it. We smell mince pies, hear a Christmas hit from years gone by, and we think about a time from years before… In the world of relationships this is a concept called ‘projection’…in the simplest of terms; this is about all of us giving something a meaning which is personal to us.

So while the smell of fresh holly may remind most of us of a happy Christmas spent round the tree with our family, for another it may remind them of parents who are no longer around. Equally, fresh bread may remind us of home baking with our siblings – yet for another it could remind them of a time when they were short of money.

It’s in our power to make this the year that you start to collect new, special and happy memories, that fill you with excitement and joy. Feel settled in every area of our life, not just our business life.

So why not call the expert in – if you want to get in shape you would call in a personal trainer, or a financial expert to sort out your accounts. Your heart and your future are so much more important, yet we leave it to chance – for example, hoping that we are going to meet that special person in the local pub perhaps when we have had a few drinks and our judgement is impaired…

As Christmas looms, being single can be more daunting than ever. So why not call the expert in relationships? And make some new happy memories. Don’t leave the most important decision in your life to chance

Relationship expert Sharon Kell, heads up bespoke matchmaking agency Coco Moon. Confidentiality is top of the list.

Christmas is a time for celebration and a time for spending with the family, but it can also be very stressful – we spend so much time building up to the 25th December - buying presents and stocking up on food and treats, anticipating the fun we will have – then it is all over in two days! Sometime, it pays just to kick back and relax, and not strive for your festive celebrations to be perfect!

Danielle Barbereau is a professional life coach and runs Solace Space in Sheffield providing pre-retirement and redundancy coaching and menopause workshops.She has five excellent tips for survival over the Christmas holidays.

Connect with nature

Don’t stay indoors all the time. In particular make sure that you go outside during hours of light. Make a point of going out for a walk every day, preferably in a space where you can connect with nature. Be aware of the season and its beauty. Fresh air and exercise are really good for us during the winter months. There is a lot of evidence that this helps alleviate feelings of sadness and depression. Ideally go for a walk with your loved ones.

Have a laugh

Look at young children together – they laugh all the time. Laughing releases feel good hormones, endorphins. It also relaxes you and helps put things in perspective. Allow pleasure in your life. Do something you enjoy every day. Christmas means taking time off, not performing a list of duties.

Help someone

Helping can take many forms. Sometimes, it is simply to make a phone call and show that you care. It can be smiling at a stranger or taking an old neighbour to the shops. It can also be about doing voluntary work. Similarly, be open to offers of help, and involve your children. Martyrs are not very attractive.

Change your routine

Do something new every day. It does not have to be a big thing; changing your route back from work, walking instead of going by bus, trying a new kind of food, not turning the TV on one evening, or wearing a bright new colour. Even better, learn something new every day.

That will do

Simply say, “That will do”. Good enough is good enough. Christmas is not about creating perfection. It is about being happy and content. Yes, you make it as special as you can for your loved ones, but no one will mind if the mincemeat in the pies is shop bought, if it means that you remain relaxed and enjoy your loved ones’ company.

Give the liver a break and try one of these sophisticated fruit drinks which have depth and complexity to echo red, white or rose wine. There’s a Wild Blueberry Crush for lovers of red wine; a Raspberry Lemonade if your fancy runs to pink, or a classic Wild Elderflower Bubbly for those who like white wines and fizz. The most attractive feature of all three is that fact that they look great in the glass and taste dry enough not to compete with food. They are also made from natural fruit without any enhancers or additives to show off a full flavour. Two of these Luscombe drinks won awards at the 2009 Great Taste Awards (the Booker Prize of the food world!) and although they are not cheap, they are a great choice for anyone who has to drive, avoids alcohol or just fancies a change. With their touch of sweetness, these drinks would pair brilliantly with curry, Thai food and all kinds of Chinese cuisine, as well as salads - this softness would cut through the sharpness of lemon or vinegar in the dressing

Luscombe Drinks (£1.50-£4.00 per bottle, from Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Whole Foods and many independent retailers nationwide)

ROZ COOPER: BIOGRAPHY

Roz began her wine career in California, leading wine tours and tasting wines for a wine warehouse near San Francisco. She then ran her own California wine import business in the UK and subsequently became assistant editor of Decanter magazine, then wrote various books on wine including The Wine Almanac. Since then, she has written wine columns in many publications and edited books and magazines, including The Italian Magazine. She’s passionate about green issues including organic and biodynamic winemaking and also works on a voluntary basis with the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

With the prospect of dark nights, cold autumn days and stormy evenings, wouldn’t it be lovely to be able to dream of summer months in the sun?

Property is still seen as a wise investment - even in these times of recession. And what better place to buy a dream holiday home than in Tuscany?

The classic Italian hideaway is waiting for you in a renovated 18th century stone-built villa - with a touch of luxury.

Eight apartments are being created out of the historic building - and they will share a heated swimming pool and solarium between them.

Ville Degli Olivi in Lajatico is in the heart of the village, is perched on a cliff and features olive tress in the garden. Local and reclaimed materials have been used wherever possible to retain the original charm.

The common staircase boasts an original vaulted ceiling and the apartment itself has handsome solid wood doors with 18th century style iron hinges produced by local artisans.

In addition to the aesthetic perspective, the hidden technology includes an underfloor heating and cooling system, magnified by dehumidifiers.

Prices for one bedroom apartments start from around £200,000. Two bedroom from £250,000 and three bedroom from £420,000. For more information, contact: Realitalia Telephone 0870 8909936 or 0044 870 890 9936.

Not many of us can spend a fortune installing wind turbines and solar panels – lagging your loft and turning down the heating by a degree or two, plus turning off everything you would normally keep on standby when you are not using it – are easy ways to reduce your energy use and save money.

Going even greener in your home is not as costly as many of us may think. Energy-saving lightbulbs are being offered at five for 5op in some supermarkets and there are plenty of products on the market that can help save more energy and money. We have found a list of 10 of the best and least expensive ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint with the least effort:

1. ECO Showerdrop Meter (£11.99) – saves water and money
A family of four could save £180 per year, 40,000 litres of water and over 600kg of CO2. Taking a shower is considered to be better for the environment, and your pocket, than having a bath (which uses 80 to 100 litres of water). The ECO Showerdrop is a low cost universal shower meter that is designed to let you know how much water you’re using and alert you when the recommended amount of water has been dispensed.

2. Single Spray Water Saving Showerhead (£14.99) saves energy and water
Save up to 60% or up to £160 per year in shower water and energy costs with one of these amazing handheld shower heads or. If you have a power shower, combi boiler, condensing boiler or a dedicated shower pump, these DEFRA approved water saving replacement flowpoint shower heads are guaranteed to cut down on the water the shower uses, and so save you on water and energy bills. Easy to fit with no loss of shower power.

3. Heatkeeper Radiator Panels (£36.97) – reduce your heating costs by 20%
Make your home warmer, and reduce your heating bills by up to 20% or save over £100 per year. Heatkeeper Radiator Insulation Panels behind the radiators. They work by reflecting the heat that would normally be lost behind your rads back into the room. Using them will cut your carbon emissions and improve the efficiency of your central heating.

4. Energy Efficient and Energy Saving Light Bulbs
These can prevent 450kg to 900kg of CO2 and typically save £40 each or more over their lifetime. Lighting accounts for approximately 25% of national power generation, so do your bit for the environment by choosing energy saving and energy efficient light bulbs. Our top quality, energy saving, low energy light bulbs are the best on the market.

5. Radiator Booster (£19.99)
For a running cost of around 30p per year, a radiator booster could save an average household between £70 and £140 per year. It uses a small fan to capture the heat that comes out the back of your radiator, circulating it better into your room. It will heat your room faster, save lost energy, and reduce your heating bills. It can reduce heating time and cost by as much as 50%. It’s adjustable in size, has a built in thermostat and

6. EcoBalls® laundry (£29.99) lasts up to 1,000 washes
EcoBalls® 1,000 is a refillable eco friendly laundry kit that’ll save you save as much as £74 in water and fuel costs and make your laundry more eco friendly. You use them instead of washing powder and yes, they do really work. There are three ecoballs in each box. You put all three balls in the washing machine with your clothes, each one contains pellets made of mineral salts that produce ionized oxygen, which combined with the movement of the balls on your clothes, penetrates deep into your washing, lifting dirt and grime away. Because there’s a lot less to rinse out, you can use a shorter cycle, and wash at a lower temperature. The kit lasts for up to 1,000 washes.

7. Ecobutton reduce your computer’s carbon footprint (£14.99) save money
Save up to £50 and over 130kg of CO2 per year. This great USB device enables you to power down your desktop computer every time you take a break (long or short), at the touch of a button, saving you money, electricity, and helping to reduce your carbon footprint. Every time you take a phone call, go for a meeting or a break, simply press the Ecobutton^TM and your computer and monitor are put into the most economical sleep mode available.

8. Energenie Standby Shutdown (£13.49) automatically turn off TV, saving money and energy– Save up to £34 per year in lost energy

The latest addition to the standby ‘buster’ market, the Energenie Standby Shutdown is clever enough to recognise when you have put an appliance on standby, it’ll then automatically switch off the mains power. Great for TVs, Sky Boxes etc, and you can use it with more than one appliance as long as the max load of 13A is not exceeded.

9. Hippo the Water Saver (£1.99) saves water each time you flush
Hippo the Water Saver is a water saving pack that you put inside your toilet cistern - it’s really easy to fit, and can save up to 3 litres of water every time you flush the toilet and up to £20 a year, with a pay-back on your initial investment within 8 to 12 weeks. Can’t be bad.

10. The Eco Kettle (£29.99) saves energy and money
The innovative Eco Kettle has a unique double chamber that gets you to measure out exactly how much water you want to boil, saving electricity, water, money and time, making it better for the planet… and you still get to have a great cup of tea.

All these products are available from Nigel’s Eco Store, tel: 0800 288 8970.