Another day and another revelation of a ‘supposedly faithful and happy’ marriage broken down because of an infidelity and in this case, it’s Boyzone star, Ronan Keating.

Ronan and wife, Yvonne, have been married for 12 years and this week a girl named Francine Cornell from Leeds, spilled the beans on their seven month affair after Ronan said there wouldn’t EVER be a chance of them becoming a couple.
Ronan, who this week has had to perform with the group has vowed to get his marriage back and has cancelled all gigs and appointments for the next three weeks to be with wife Yvonne.

The singer said: “”Performing on stage at this moment was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I know what I did was wrong. I feel terrible about what this has done to Yvonne. But I’m not prepared to give up on my marriage. I’ve cancelled everything for the next three weeks and I’m going to come back to Dublin to try and make this work.”

Yvonne, a beautiful blonde, was spotted yesterday minus her wedding ring and was sporting some dark sunglasses, probably to hide away from the world at this awful time. She has told friends ‘their marriage is dead.’
The affair was though to have started about 7 months ago, with Francine working as backing dancer with the group. Lets hope the couple can work through this, because after Mark Owen, Vernon Kay and now Ronan I’m beginning to wonder if there are any decent men left in the world.

The first dress Helen is sporting is by Elie Saab, which looks fabulous with a silver sequin waist tie. The second dress, a black, sleek off the shoulder gown is again by Elie Saab, showing the actress has great taste when it comes to designers. Elie was one of the hottest catwalk shows this year at fashion week and has been spotted on red carpets throughout the year, including the Oscars.

Its time to step into Spring girls x

Last Monday saw the yearly Met Gala in New York City hosted by the wonderfully talented Anna Wintour and Oprah Winfrey, looking radiant in their designer gowns.  How lovely does Oprah look in her navy blue ruffled floor length gown? And Anna, editor of fashion magazine Vogue, was dressed by Chanel. Diane Vin Furstenburg looked as elegant as ever, although her dress did remind me of a national flag for some reason. Probably the stars! Keep up the good work ladies, it just goes to show, you dont have to be young to look fabulous.

My husband works for a well-known hotel chain so one of the perks of his job is to receive free nights at the company hotel across the UK. So to inject a little romance back into our busy schedules I hinted at a break up in sunny, Scotland. Edinburgh to be exact and were all booked for the start of June.

Now, knowing the north of England very well, I’m predicting that even in the heat of summer the weather may have a slight chill to it. So my wonderment was, where could I find a night wrap that was cosy enough to relax in, was warm enough to take away the chill but let me skin breathe but…wait for it, look elegant and, if I have to say it, sexy at the same time?

I didn’t actually think it was possible until i came across this gorgeous find on www.kinnairdireland.co.uk for £71.48 inc VAT. This is luxury at its best and the perfect weekend away glamorous cover-up. I hope the husband likes, although knowing what men are like I doubt he’ll even realise anything is different. I’ll let you know how we get on ladies and I’ll be sure to report back how the dressing gown held up in Scotland. If all three boxes needed to be ticked then I think this is the gown to do it.

PAUL LEWIS: Hello. In less than two weeks we will have to decide who to vote for in the General Election. The leaders of the three biggest parties in Parliament have agreed to answer questions from Saga readers. Today it’s the turn of Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg. The Liberal Democrats, of course, have surged in the polls in the last 10 days, to achieve an almost equal footing in popular support with the Conservatives and ahead of Labour, but it’s still very unlikely the party will win a majority of seats Parliament; much more probable is that no party will get an overall majority and that Nick Clegg will play a crucial part in deciding who governs the United Kingdom.

The votes of people over 50 will of course be crucial in deciding whether that happens. Nationally the over 50s are likely to account for a majority of the votes cast, and in many marginal constituencies the votes of older people will decide who is elected.

Saga’s own manifesto for the Saga generation called for fairer finances, abolishing ageism, supporting carers and an intelligent approach to retirement, safer streets and a Parliament with a better balance of age and experience.

I am Paul Lewis, and thousands of questions have come in for the man who has gone from being “Nick Who?” to the person who, in two weeks’ time, could decide who governs the country. Your votes may help him or prevent him achieve that key role.

Nick Clegg, welcome to Saga Speaks to the Party Leaders. Let’s move straight to our first question, and we will start with the State Pension, a great concern to many of our readers. B Clarke writes:

“What exactly, Nick Clegg, without all the waffling”, he says, “are you going to do for pensioners? Pensions are not very big compared with the rest of the EU. How about putting some money in?”

NICK CLEGG: First, we want to restore the earnings link immediately, and let me be very sort of specific on the detail. We basically think that pensions should increase either in line with earnings or inflation or 2.5%, whichever is higher. As everybody knows, the breaking of the earnings link — well, it actually means that if the link hadn’t been broken you would be getting a pension of what, about £135 rather than £97. That’s one immediate step.

PAUL LEWIS: Let me ask you question about that –

NICK CLEGG: Yes, of course.

PAUL LEWIS: — because we’ve had another question about that, because somebody’s been reading your manifesto carefully, and it says “We will boost the State Pension immediately by restoring the link immediately with earnings growth”, but in the tables at the back of your Savings and Spending, it doesn’t start until 2012. Which is it?

NICK CLEGG: No, we would restore the earnings link immediately, but of course in terms of the costs, the costs relate to — because there’s been a decline of course in earnings, and –

PAUL LEWIS: As earnings are less than price increases.

NICK CLEGG: Exactly, so the calculations are based on the latest information available on inflation.

PAUL LEWIS: So it would start immediately?

NICK CLEGG: Yes, it would start immediately.

PAUL LEWIS: Sorry, you are in full flow, but perhaps –

NICK CLEGG: I am sorry, the second thing I wanted to say was, I mean, if you consider that I think about 37,000 people died of the cold this winter, the other immediate thing we would want to do is dramatically change the tariffs available to people on low incomes, particularly those retired on low incomes, who are finding it extremely difficult to meet heating bills, particularly when we have such cold winters.

What does that mean? Well, very specifically, at the moment, as probably everyone knows, the tariffs that you are charged when you pay for the heating in your home starts higher for the first units of energy and then decrease. This, in our view, is exactly the wrong way round, because it means of course firstly you have an incentive to burn up lots of energy which is bad for the environment because it gets cheaper the more you do so, but secondly, it is also socially unfair because it means that someone who is living in a five – storey mansion pays less per unit of energy to heat their whole home than a retired couple do to heat, you know, their flat, for example.

So we would want to turn that on its head and make the first units of energy cheaper, rather than the latter bits of energy, and we would also dramatically change the so-called social tariffs which are offered by the energy companies, which often, frankly, aren’t anything of the sort. They are often not cheaper than the cheapest available commercial tariffs.

So that’s the second big step.

So restoring the earnings link of pensions, changing dramatically the way in which energy is charged, and then of course we have particular plans on care as well.

FOR THE FULL TRANSCRIPT CLICK HERE TO TAKE YOU TO THE SAGA WEBSITE

No-fly Canaries

During the school hols, Independence of the Seas is awash with kids; on a voyage leaving on September 1, it’s the grown-ups’ turn to surf on the Flowrider, scale the rock-climbing wall, whizz about on the ice rink or just chill in the whirlpool baths that jut out from 112ft up on the huge ship’s flank. Frankly, there’s no need to get off at all, but if you want a little dry land, the ship will be calling at Madeira, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Vigo, in Spain, before heading back to Southampton after 10 nights at sea.

Details: from £1,367; 0844 493 2061, royalcaribbean.co.uk.

Volcanoes up close

Want to see the cause of all the trouble, safe and smug in the knowledge that it can’t mess up your travel plans? Make for Iceland on Minerva, in the company of the eminent volcanologist Dr Peter Cattermole. Previously the principal planetary geology investigator for Nasa, he’s a man who knows his lava. The 16-day voyage from Dover stops for a full day in Reykjavik — plenty of time for the 90-minute drive to see Eyjafjallajokull doing its thunderous stuff — and takes in lots more volcanic goings-on, including geysers, boiling pools and smoky craters.

Details: sailing July 28, from £1,725; 0844 871 4603, swanhellenic.com.

Chill in the Adriatic

After its all-singing, all-dancing launch earlier this month, P&O’s megaship Azura is getting favourable reviews. The Atul Kochhar restaurant, Olly Smith wine bar and open-air poolside cinema screen seem to be going down especially well. You should get the warmth you need to enjoy those outdoor movies on a 14-day jaunt from Southampton to the Adriatic, calling at Corfu, Venice, Dubrovnik and Korcula.

Details: sailing June 9, from £1,654; 0845 355 5333, pocruises.com.

Around the lighthouses

Now here’s something different. The Patricia is a working ship, operated by Trinity House to maintain lighthouses on the coasts of England, Wales and the Channel Islands. That doesn’t mean roughing it, though: modelled on the royal yacht Britannia, it has six luxurious double cabins — good enough for the Queen and Prince Philip, who use it as a floating hotel during Cowes week. Passengers see the coast as few others can, nudging up to rocks and river mouths, spotting seals and sea birds, and observing the ship’s work at close quarters: you have full access to the bridge and working decks. Sunbathing is on the helipad, gourmet meals are in the private dining room.

Details: weeks available in May, July and September, from £1,380; 020 7921 4340, www.strandtravelltd.co.uk.

Glasgow to Tangier

With the big UK fleets at Southampton and Dover, northern cruisers often face a long trek before their holiday begins — the opposite of what cruising from this country should be about. A blessing, then, that Ocean Countess has sailings from Glasgow and Liverpool this summer. On August 2, she leaves Glasgow for a 12-night pootle around Porto, Lisbon, Cadiz and Tangier. The ship, originally part of the Cunard line, is comfy and traditional, rather than posh — hence the keen prices.

Details: from £899; 0845 833 9798, cruiseandmaritime.com.

Ambridge in the Arctic

“The mangelwurzels are in the barn, Ruth, now where shall we go on holiday?” “I’ve been thinkin’, David: a cruise to Norway. The fjords, the midnight sun at the North Cape — and there’s an Archers theme too, pet!” “An everyday story of cruising folk? Brilliant. No chance of any Grundys on board, I hope?” Well, there might be — it’s not yet confirmed which three cast members will join Black Watch on its Ambridgecentric cruise from Southampton, but it’s certain they’ll stage a bespoke production for the voyage, with plenty of passenger participation.

Details: sailing July 16, from £1,369; 01473 742424, www.fredolsencruises.co.uk.

Ok, so I came across this list of fashion blunders that women like me and you supposedly make in our sixties and beyond. At first I disagreed with them all, thinking I was safe in the knowledge that although I didn’t know exactly what was IN fashion, I wasn’t totally desperate and still knew that Primark was a good place to shop for a bargain. But then when I read closer I realised, yes I have been out with rollers in my hair, but in my defence I was going to a wedding and I had to nip to the corner shop for some teabags! I also don’t let it all hang out but I have, on occasions accidently let my jumper ride up to reveal my flesh when gardening. Anyway, see what you think and let me know if you’re guilty of any of the fashion offences below! Good luck…

1. “Mum Jeans”

For those of you that don’t know what “mum jeans” are, they have a high waist (right below your bra line), are usually a washed denim, and are way too tight. Levi’s have jeans that hit just below the waist and come in great styles such as bootcut. They’re made for a woman’s body, so you won’t feel like you bought them out of the Childrens department.

2. Letting it all hang out.

Some women out there still think they can one up their daughter and look good as well. And usually a little too much cleavage or leg is shown. There’s better ways to look sexy without showing anything. Wear a flattering bootcut pant with a button down silk blouse. Or a pencil skirt instead. You’ll still turn heads, without causing a stir.

3. Dressing too young.

There’s a difference between “letting it all hang out” and “dressing too young”. Women who dress too young may not show their body parts, but they still feel that since they fit in Junior’s, they can still wear it. Wrong. Don’t be afraid to shop in the Misses or at trendy stores geared towards older women. You’re guaranteed to find trendy clothing without looking silly.

4. Going out in public with curlers in your hair.

That’s a fashion no-no! Curlers are to wear at home or in bed. NEVER got out in public with your curlers on unless you really forgot to take them out. Otherwise, there’s no excuse to not care.

5. Wearing clothes that don’t flatter your figure.

Women, if something is too tight or too big, don’t wear it. Get rid of it! It’s time to get some clothes that skim your body perfectly.

6. Controlling what’s underneath your clothes.

It could be either be your stomach or your breasts or both that don’t look right under that sweater you’re wearing. Instead, go shopping for the right bra and get sized if you’re not sure of what size you wear. It’s important to know your bra size!!!!! 1 out 8 women don’t know what their bra size is. And there are department stores and specialty shops that will help size you and help you find the right bra. If you need to control your stomach or any other area, shop around for shapwear. Brands like Spanx and Lipo in a Box with help you conceal your flaws without feeling tight on you.

7. Wearing too much jewellery.

I don’t know what you’re trying to hide, but covering yourself up with too much jewellery from head to toe is ridiculous. You’ll only need a few key pieces such as a watch or necklace to make a statment.

8. Wearing too much make-up.

Just like wearing too much jewellery, you can wear too much make-up. Especially when a woman gets older, it seems like she tries to cover up her lines and wrinkles with more make-up. But it doesn’t work…That make-up is actually showing those lines and wrinkles. Go for the natural look and experiment with skin care lines if you’re still feeling self-conscious.

9. Letting go of your looks. (Beauty and fashion-wise.)

There are those women who think since they’re aging, they shouldn’t look like the beautiful selves they once were. Not so. There’s no need to go out in public looking like you don’ t know what’s happening in the world of fashion. You’re out in your tank top and sweats with your unbrushed hair. You can look so much better than that if you put some effort. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you should lose your fashion sense. Fashion has no age.

10. Dressing too old.

Just like with “losing your looks”, women can end up dressing too old as well. They think since they’re older, they have to look the part of the “grandmother”. You can still look trendy and dress your age. Again, shop the Misses department. You’ll be surprised at what you can find and what will look good on you if you’d only try.