This Dating App That Just Raised $22 Million Is About To Take Over The World.

Skout, a mobile application for flirting and dating, is already growing like crazy.
But CEO Christian Wikilund has much, much higher aspirations than just a dating app — he wants to build a global network on the scale of Facebook and Twitter.
Right now, it looks like he’s on track — Skout is adding 40,000 to 50,000 new users on the app every single day.
What does he have planned? We caught up with him to find out — here’s what we learned:

• Dating and flirting actually only comprises about 20 percent of Skout’s use cases. Most use it to just meet new friends — though that’s based on a survey, which is a little self-selecting, he said.

• They spend a ton of effort keeping the app clean. Every picture has to be reviewed four times to make sure Skout doesn’t become the next “ChatRoulette” and be a database of nude photos.

• One pivot later, Skout raised $22 million and is ready to grow, well, everywhere. The app already has huge user bases in some international cities, but it’s planning on expanding to just about every international market out there.

Here’s a full, lightly-edited transcript of the conversation:BUSINESS INSIDER: So, start from the top. How did you guys get off the ground?

Sara Khan dating Veena Malik’s ex beau Ashmit Patel?

Sara Khan and Ashmit Patel had gained immense popularity the season 4 of Bigg Boss. The duo seem getting closer by the day, but this proximity went kaput when Veena Malik entered the picture. The Pakistani starlet’s flirtatious ways with Ashmit Patel created a rift between Sara and Ashmit.
After Bigg Boss 4, Veena and Ashmit tried to be together for sometime, but things didn’t work for them. Also, earlier Sara was weathering a troubled relationship with her ex-husband Ali Merchant. But now, Sara and Ashmit are back in the frame of love with their new untitled film, to be directed by Vinod Chhabra. And reportedly, the chemistry between the two seems like a house on fire.
As per close source, the two have an amazing chemistry not only on screen, but also off screen. As per onlookers, the duo like spending time with each other. They share ideas and views about the script and are always by each other’s side. They are also seen in a suburban night club partying together.
Well, it’s time to see if they’ll make the most of this opportunity.

Steven Lopez and his “Choice”

For all that Steven Lopez has accomplished in taekwondo, winning two Olympic gold medals and five world championships, his younger sister Diana describes his approach to women with one word: “shy.” So perhaps that’s why it was such a surprise he agreed to participate in the upcoming Fox reality dating show, “The Choice.”
The show, which will air this summer, features Lopez, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, Rob Kardashian and actor/comedian Finesse Mitchell listening to a group of women who hope to persuade the bachelors to choose them for a date.
“They tell you what you want to hear, and if you like what you hear, you turn the chair around and pick the girl,” said Lopez, whom People Magazine dubbed one of America’s 50 hottest bachelors in 2004.
Lopez said he was pleased with his choice when he turned around and went on a date with the woman, but nothing materialized. “She lives in New York,” the Houston resident said.
All in all, Lopez said it was an entertaining experience that again reminded him how unusual it is to be recognized for his looks as much as his talent.
“It’s strange,” he said. “I’ve put my blood, sweat and tears and sacrificed so much to get on top the podium and it’s like, ‘You’re on People’s 50 most beautiful bachelors, how does that feel?’”
Added Diana: “He gets mothers who come up to him and they’re like, ‘Oh, you’d be perfect for my daughter. Can you sign this for me?’ It’s hilarious.”

‘Hunger Games’? Reality dating shows? All fair game at Summit.

Archery has never been exactly what you would call a big spectator sport in America, but it might get a little more attention at the Olympics thanks to two recent Hollywood blockbusters. First, there was “The Hunger Games,” in which young heroine Katniss Everdeen relies on her skills with the bow and arrow. Then, there was “The Avengers,” with the archer Hawkeye on the team of superheroes.
“It’s been huge for archery,” Olympic gold-medal hopeful Brady Ellison said. “I know archery shops across the U.S. are sold out in everything. A lot of my friends who run archery shops say they have to turn people away. It has been huge for us in just the exposure of people wanting to try it. I just hope and pray those people won’t just try it and leave. Hopefully we’ll get a little percentage of those people shooting competitions with us.”
“It’s having a dramatic effect on our sport,” U.S. archer Jennifer Nichols said. “We’ve had such an increase in interest as well as spectator base. We’re really excited going into the Olympic Games having such an explosion not only in focus on our sport but in effect.”
Ellison said he hasn’t seen either movie but has viewed clips and Internet postings. “I really want to see ‘The Avengers,’” he said. “There’s been this post on my Facebook and on different websites comparing my form to Hawkeye’s form and the differences. And one of the quotes is, ‘Does Hawkeye have the worst archery form in history?’
“Any movie that portrays archery is a good thing, and your average person who doesn’t watch archery won’t notice the difference, but to every archer who shoots? Movies drive us nuts. ‘Robin Hood’ with Russell Crowe, he shoots OK. ‘The Hunger Games’ girl, she looks like a target archer, so that’s good. Hawkeye? He’s portraying archery, and that’s good, but as far as you want to go technically and critique his form? Maybe not the best.”
There is a reason Jennifer Lawrence shows good form as Everdeen in “The Hunger Games.” She was trained by Olympic medalist Khatuna Lorig. “The form is incredibly similar to the way I shoot,” Nichols said.
So could Nichols shoot an apple out of the mouth of a roasted pig amid a crowded dining room? “It would depend on the distance, but I think I could handle that,” she said.

Rihanna topless in ‘Where Have You Been’ video shoot

Man, Rihanna did it again by going topless in a video shoot! RiRi even shared behind the scenes pictures on Facebook of the Where Have You Been video that showed her sans a top.
Robyn Fenty (real name) can Talk the Talk and walk it as well, with the release of a new track and video. And just to show you how committed she is to bringing fresh media content — and shock — to her fans, she shared this photo with fans on May 12.
The topless picture of Rihanna in the video shoot shows some strategically-placed body paint on her “girls gone wild” pair. However, she left nothing to the imagination, as she is nearly in the buff, citing a Hollywood Life report.
Nonetheless, she can always be counted on for driving publicity around an album or video release. This latest buzz is no exception.
The Where Have You Been video shoot with Rihanna depicts a lush jungle scene with a tribal feel. It has the singer seductively coming out of a body of water, where she writhes around on the ground a bit. And as an added bonus, Rihanna actually does an extended dance scene reminiscent of Janet and Britney choreography. Imagine that?
All of Rihanna’s topless video shoot images can be seen here on Facebook.
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WWE Dating Advice: The Single Man’s Guide and Game to Finding Love as a Fan.

Life is full of funny moments that should always be appreciated. Moments that capture the human spirit and set fire to your soul when the perfect moment and the perfect source of humor collide and explode within you like an atom bomb. A good joke, pets being pets, watching someone trip and fall, watching Sin Cara wrestle, someone falling up a case of stairs, sports bloopers, and everyday, mundane life accidents. These are all moments that when paired with the right company, timing, and sarcastic commentary can ignite laughter in even the most pessimistic person.
Life may be full of funny moments, but it’s sure as hell full of moments that aren’t funny to you, but definitely hilarious to others around you. These moments are notoriously known as awkward moments.
You know, like that awkward moment when you tell someone you watch and/or write about professional wrestling…
Such was the case this weekend when a newly, begrudgingly single William Gullo told an attractive female at a local “watering hole” that he did just that.
The female in question didn’t really have much of a response when I informed her about this particular hobby of mine. Not only did she not seem to care, seem impressed, or even remotely crack a smile, but she came off as a little disgusted, as if I had said something that truly offended her.

Have you ever stared into the eyes of someone and immediately thought “Yep, I’m being judged right now”? That rush of anxiety when you realize the person staring at you might have just lost all their respect for you? It’s not like I told her I was a meth dealer whose main office was located behind the playground of an elementary school. It’s not like I told her she could stand to lose a couple of pounds, or that I thought her friend looked like she got smacked around with the “ugly stick”. Why was this female all of a sudden this disgusted with me?

Has professional wrestling developed such a stigma that even briefly mentioning it in passing now gets you labeled, looked down upon, and condemned in the eyes of females? This had to be an isolated incident, right? There’s no way that every female has a repressed grudge against professional wrestling. I know female wrestling writers exist. I know female fans exist. But, they usually only exist within the small sample size of the online wrestling community, or can only be found at actual events.

When this particular female left my table, after I had apparently just murdered any interest she had in me, the first face I saw was the face of my friend who had the biggest smile I have ever seen.

My Friend: I can’t believe you told her you write about professional wrestling. You just came right out with that didn’t you? For your sake maybe you should just let people get to know you before you tell them about that particular passion. It’s hilariously clear that wrestling is definitely frowned upon in the female community. Thanks for the laugh though! That was priceless.

Is wrestling that frowned upon within the female community? Can enjoying professional wrestling really be that bad? In a world full of materialistic, shallow, stereotypical television, music, movies, and social media platforms, is wrestling really that big of a social no-no? Would I have been better off telling her I spend my free time going to the gym, tanning, and doing laundry?

Tell any guy that you watch, read, or write about professional wrestling and you’ll most likely get the same responses.Responses that range from “cool” to rehashing old memories of the sport when they watched as kids. Even if they have no memories of watching, more than likely they at least know names like Hogan, Austin, and The Rock. They’ll know enough to find common ground on the subject, but even if they were never a fan and lived under a rock, at least judging you is the last thing that will happen.

What makes wrestling so unattractive to females?

It’s an age old dilemma in the lives of professional wrestling aficionados. How can I successfully convey to and adapt my significant other to the world of professional wrestling? It took me a good, solid year to finally get my last girlfriend to understand, appreciate, watch, and enjoy the WWE. Now, I have to relive the whole process over with a new person! They weren’t kidding when they said breaking up is hard to do.

I began to wonder how many girls at this particular establishment were actually fans of wrestling and how I could go about finding out who was and who wasn’t…

This whole subject got me and my friend to thinking, and like any responsible single males would do in this situation, we decided to experiment with this topic. Over the course of several hours we proceeded to casually and randomly ask multiple groups of females their opinions on professional wrestling. We told them we were writing an article on the subject at first, but as the answers became more and more stereotypical, bizarre, and asinine, we quickly turned it into a game that I’m sure every self-respecting single male, who enjoys wrestling, should play at some point. Just trust me on this.

Here’s a brief summary of the rules:

How to play: Find a friend/wingman who has past or present knowledge of the WWE product. While approaching females use the following scoring system to mentally remember your score as you try to have a coherent conversation with the respective females. The first “player” to reach ten points wins the round. First to win three rounds wins the game.Got completely ignored when you started the conversation with “Did you see Raw last week”? 2 pointsUse a wrestling catchphrase during your conversation? 1 point per phrase. I almost died when I heard my friend respond with, “Woo, woo, woo, you know it” when asked if he lived in the area.Recap the latest news, rumors, and wrestling gossip without being asked? 2 points.Told them all about your days of backyard wrestling, your character, finishing move, and entrance music? 5 points.This might sound like an exercise in frustration or a game designed to make sure you never date anyone ever again, but the truth is, it actually worked…a little. Alright, it briefly works until you start getting cocky and competitive and forget why you started playing in the first place, but it works.I actually found actual females who had just the same amount of passion as I did. Whether their brothers, dads, or grandfathers watched it, they understood and appreciated the love I have for professional wrestling. I was 0-4 with four strikeouts at one point, but eventually you’ll hit a home run, or at least hit a single.Listen, let’s all be honest with each other. If you’re reading this than you’re probably an above average to mildly obsessed fan of professional wrestling. It’s in your blood. You love it, those around you know you love it, and anyone else who comes into your life will at some point have to deal with your passion. It’s only inevitable that wrestling will get in the way of certain plans.

There’s four hours of weekly programming, monthly pay-per-views, and God only knows how much extra online content you can sniff out if you really wanted to. You can’t hide your love for wrestling forever, so you might as well come straight out with the truth. You’re not trying to define yourself with your passion for wrestling, but you certainty shouldn’t have to live within a cloud of shame about it either.
Don’t let anybody fool you into thinking honesty is the best policy. Sometimes a little discretion or white lie goes a long way, but when it comes to finding love, your best bet is to be an open book. No secrets usually equals no drama. Being a professional wrestling fan comes with a certain stigma for whatever reason so it’s completely understandable why one would feel timid about displaying that initially, but it’s the right thing to do in this situation.
Fact is, do you really want to date someone who can’t even understand or appreciate your passions? Why keep something that is a big part of your life hidden? Express your love for wrestling…to a certain extent.
This brings us to the first rule: Know when you’re being the “creepy wrestling guy”...
If this “game” taught me and my friend anything, it’s when to slow your roll on your love, knowledge, or anything relating to wrestling. There comes a certain moment when you go from being a likeable male with a passion and hobby, to being the guy who won’t stop talking about how Brock Lesnar should have won at Extreme Rules.
This also directly relates to another valuable rule to follow: Show them that it’s a passion and hobby…
Everyone has a passion for something and enjoys doing something. Sure, you might run into a person who judges, demeans, and is condescending towards your own likes, but that person is probably going to wind up divorced and lonely at some point, so the joke’s on them. Pay no attention to these people.

Eventually you’ll find someone who may not like wrestling, but will at least appreciate your passion, enthusiasm, and commitment. These feelings generally translate well into other characteristics that are the foundations for a successful relationship, such as trust, compassion, understanding, and empathy.
The third rule is something I think needs to be said because it can immediately train wreck any conversation based solely on the fact that you might sound like a crazy person.
Rule number three? Don’t try to initially sell the whole “wrestling is art” thing right off the bat…
Only a select group of individuals understand that concept as it is. It’s only designed for those who have seen the magic in action and know what to watch and listen for. It’s like telling someone who just barely passed algebra how easy it is to find the co-sign of tangent squared. I had to painfully watch as my friend tried to explain to a girl how exactly wrestling was like a masterpiece painting. It ended with her confused and uninterested, with him desperately trying to gain her attention back as well as spouting off a few last minute catchphrases to up his point total before she walked away.
What about those stereotypical and bizarre answers we received that originally drove us to create the game? The following is the list of reasons why females don’t like wrestling according to females.
1. Men wrestling each other in tights.
2. Steroid use.
3. It’s to0 fake and campy.
4. They sell sex.
5. Just don’t understand why men like it.
With a list like this it’s easy to see why it’s so hard to come clean about how much joy you get from watching grown men in tights wrestle, use steroids, and fake fight each other.

There’s about a handful more that were more poignant, albeit highly inappropriate, reasons why this certain sample size of females didn’t like wrestling. This list, to those who enjoy wrestling, is obviously filled with lapses in logic, a lot of hypocrisy, and uniformed statements of facts, along with a touch of homophobia. We pretty much received the standard answers we thought we would get. Hence the game to make things more interesting, not to mention hilarious.
Is this game dumb? Yes, most definitely. Are me and my friend idiots for trying this? Probably. Does the game somehow work? Absolutely!
As the taxi carried us away from the scene of our epic night—a night filled with meeting lovely girls, drinks and talking profusely about wrestling—we could only talk about one thing. They exist!
Hidden amongst all the perfume, fake hair extensions, makeup, vodka tonics, leggings, furry boots, and short skirts lies an awesome truth. A truth that was only found after we became numb to the blunt sting of rejection, the burn of dirty looks, and the rush of anxiety when we knew we had just lost all of our respect. The truth is that females who share or will at least understand and allow you to express your passion for wrestling exist.
We left that night walking amongst the gods. We bravely threw ourselves into the sea and swam with sharks and not only survived, but now possessed valuable data on how exactly to approach women when it comes to professional wrestling. What had started out as a social experiment, ended up turning into one of the greatest life lessons of all time.
The final and most vital rule for you to remember is simple, but it takes awhile for people to realize just how simple it is. The final rule? Be yourself, hide nothing, and always remember your passions in life. If someone honestly doesn’t like you because they hold some weird grudge against wrestling, than you’re most likely better off without them.
The game is good. The game is absolute. The game is life.

Smash will finally be answering the season-long question of who will be playing Marilyn Monroe—Ivy (Megan Hilty) or Karen (Katharine McPhee)—in the NBC hit’s season finale tonight. We just caught up with stars Hilty, Debra Messing and Christian Borle at NBC’s upfront presentation in New York to discuss all things finale and the show’s new showrunner for season two. Oh, and Megan addressed the rumors that she’s dating Smash guest star Nick Jonas. (Plus, she kind of reveals who wins the role of Marilyn to us. No big deal!)
So what can we expect from tonight’s sure-to-be showstopping finale? Here’s what Debra, Megan and Christian had to share with us…

Yes, she’s talking about costar Jack Davenport, who plays director Derek, and yes, she’s kidding. While she wouldn’t spill on who’s donning the infamous Marilyn wig, Megan teases, “There are a lot of cliffhangers, and one number in particular is going to floor everybody.” Is she part of that number? “Maybe,” she coyly answers.
Speaking of Jack, Megan says fans of Derek and Ivy shouldn’t get their hopes up about the couple’s long-term potential. “I think they’re good for each other for right now, but that’s it,” she tells us. “I don’t foresee a huge future for them.”
Of the finale, Christian says fans can expect “a fantastic new song,” which he says may be the show’s best yet, and “some nail-biting, down-to-the-last second drama, whether or not the show will actually even go on.” Messing adds, “It’s chock-full of surprises!”

Gossip Girl executive producer Josh Safran is set to take over showrunner duties from creator Theresa Rebeck in season two, and both of his leading ladies are quick to sing his praises!
“He’s fantastic, he’s passionate, he’s smart,” Messing gushes of Safran. “Theresa created an amazing show that we are so grateful to have and our amazing characters we love so much. She’s going to go do the plays that fulfill her so much. We have a seasoned person coming on who really knows the theatre and loves the theatre. I think that it’s going to be exciting.”
Megan adds, “I just met with Josh for the first time last week and he’s amazing. He’s got really great ideas and he really has a handle on all of these characters and a really great vision of where they should go. I’m really excited to come back.” And Josh, take note, Megan has a season two demand: “I’m hoping that [Ivy] gets a really good boyfriend in season two!”
“People who are passionate about this show are going to be very excited about what he’s bringing to it!” Christian also says of their new showrunner.
Finally, Megan addresses those “silly” rumors that she’s dating Jonas (who is set to return in tonight’s finale). “I may as well as be dating Jack or anyone else on my set,” she says. “He’s a good friend and that’s about it.” And there you have it, folks!
Smash’s season finale airs tonight at 10 p.m. on NBC.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
To hear more from Debra, Christian and Megan, including why they think a midseason launch is actually a good thing for the show, watch our interviews with them above!

For those who follow me on Twitter and goEMAW, you know I’m transparent and rather more of an open book when it comes to my life. I can’t help it—I really can’t. I may be 27, but I feel I have the life experiences of an 80 year old. Where is this going you may be asking? Good question!
The movie Fever Pitch stars Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore, detailing how the couple fell in love the year the Red Sox won the World Series. What I like about the movie is Jimmy Fallon’s character, Ben Wrightman. Ben is a school teacher, obsessed with the Red Sox, who has had season tickets to the Red Sox ever since he was a young pup. He’s also had multiple failed relationships. Why? Because his obsession with the Red Sox is such that he schedules his life around the team.
Guess what? I’m totally that guy, and I’m not embarrassed to admit it.
I’ve had one “serious” relationship in my life and that was before I stepped foot on the campus at K-State. This comes as no surprise to me. I fell in love with that beauty of my school and dedicated my time to Kedzie Hall, Sports Radio, and Aggieville.
Here’s the truth: I care far more about the game at the end of the week, than I do going to your sister’s wedding. It’s true—I pick the game every time. Why wouldn’t you? Is there more of an endorphin-laden experience than a K-State gameday? For me, no.
There is a solution to keeping me (and other, similarly rabid K-State fans) around though, and here it is.
I’ve dated girls of all collegiate persuasions. Squawks, Shocks, Tigers, Bearcats, Golden Grizzlies (Oakland University), Cowgirls, Razorbacks, ect. You’re all cute, but damn you can be annoying! (I mean that lovingly, of course.) You just don’t get me. In that spirit, if you’re an “outsider”, and you want to date a Wildcat, here are some things you need to know.

The do’s and don’ts of dating a K-Stater:

1. No hanky panky during the game.
I don’t care if it’s an away game. More than likely you had your shot earlier in the day. I’m going to need a full glass of Bacardi and room to jump around frantically in the case of a Collin Klein Touchdown.
2. Don’t make plans for Valentine’s day.
Why, you may ask? K-State might be playing KU in the OOD (Octagon of Doom). What better way of showing my affection than screaming my lungs out in front of 12, 528 of my dearest friends? Suck it up and pretend to like it.
3. Don’t make me meet your Dad at a K-State football game.
What a horrible idea. Guess what? It’s the last game of the year vs. Iowa State. It’s not my job to entertain your dad, in an attempt to force him to fancy me. I’ve got a date with my red solo cup, Jim Beam, and the Chamber (Collin Klein) here in 3 hours. I need to stay focused.
4. Do compliment the dude wearing the natty light cowboy hat at the tailgate.
Listen, we both know he’s an idiot, he can’t help it. Give the guy a break.
5. Don’t walk in front of the washer boards.
My boys Dereck and Dave will cut you for less. This is a major party foul. Save yourself one of your nine lives.
6. Don’t be better than the Wabash.
You know you think it’s cool and you want to join. Start rocking or start walking. You make the call. I’ll scream “next!” faster than, well, someone who screams “next!” a lot.
7. Do compliment me on how pretty I look in Purple.
I don’t care if I’m a dude, I like to hear how nice I look, and how badass my Willie shirt is. In fact, while you’re at it, compliment my friends too.
8. Do enjoy Aggieville.I don’t care what school you went to. There’s nothing like this at your school, unless you’re Texas. I mean we’re in a small town in Kansas, yet sometimes I feel like I’m walking down Bourbon Street. Be impressed, DAMMIT!
9. Do ignore it if a bunch of girls say “hi” to me at the game.I was at K-State for 5 years, so… yeah. If you do the math, the chances are fairly high. Let your mind run wild—I’m Fanning, after all.

10. Do tell me how adorable our Basketball team is.I mean they’re freaking precious. That Shane Southwell smile gets me every time. Oh, and does your team have moves like Martavious or Will? I didn’t think so!

11. Do be my designated driver.

Remember when I picked you and your girlfriends up the other night when you were having a “Sex in the City” Marathon? Yeah, payback is a bitch.

12. Don’t mention the sheep bins by the stadium.
Yes, we all see them. Ignore them, I don’t need to be reminded how hickish we are.

13. Don’t complain about me being gone every weekend.

Get use to it, and enjoy your freedom from me. (I can only imagine how tiring it would be to date me.) Last year alone, I was in Miami, Dallas, and Pittsburgh for games. This might be a good time to prospect for other suitors in case things get rocky.

14. Don’t ever make a negative comment about Bill Snyder.
I don’t know how you could, but unless you want to be heckled, just shut your mouth. I will not back you up if this happens.

15. Finally, don’t ever tell me “they tried really hard, maybe next time” after a loss.

Seriously, I have dropped a girl for this. I need time to grieve, and you’re just pouring fuel on the flames of my grief. Give me some time–I’ll get my sh** together eventually.Listen people, I know I might be a bit of a special case when it comes to dating a K-Stater. Truth is, The Football season starts September 1. That’s the day before my birthday, so I just thought I’d give the next girl up a scouting report on me—and for dating like-minded K-State fans as well.As for me, and K-Staters like me, there are just a few choices: stay single, marry a K-Stater, or marry someone out of the family that can follow the rules. I’m the last one to carry the Fanning name, I’ve gotta make this count.

The dating game for single mums.

Getting back into the dating game is a much more complex affair for a single mum. What, when and how much to tell the kids are the big issues facing single mums looking for love. And the key, according to family relationships expert Sue Yorston, is taking it slowly.

STARTING TO DATE
Yorston, manager of Relationships Australia in Ballarat, says children don’t need to be told when mum decides to start looking for love again.She says it’s important for single mums to maintain their social networks and enjoy some time away from the children after a relationship split, so it should be normal for her to go out every once in a while. “The children don’t need to know lots of detail,” she says.

WHEN YOU’VE FOUND A KEEPER
Don’t tell the kids you’ve met someone special before you and your new man are sure you’re in it for the long haul, Yorston advises. “You need to be sure in your mind that this is the person you want in your life and you need to be sure that person is ready to take on children, accept the whole package,” she says.
“Don’t tell the kids until you’re sure of where that relationship is going but, when you do tell them, be as open and honest as you can be, relevant to their ages.
“Tell them this person is special, not just a mate, and that you’d really like them to meet him.”

TIME TO MEET THE KIDS
The next step is an actual meeting but again Yorston stresses the importance of not rushing mum’s new man into her children’s lives.She says kids suffer when their parents split. But they repair with nurturing, love and security.Introducing mum’s new love to them too soon can put them at risk of further pain.”If mum comes home and introduces someone, what’s she’s saying is ‘this person is OK, I like this person, I’m welcoming this person into the family and I want you to do the same’,” Yorston says.”So children can very easily become attached and then if it doesn’t work out between the adults they’ve got to go through that again.”Yorston says it’s a good idea to keep the initial meeting casual, such as over a coffee or a trip to the park with younger kids.The length and frequency of subsequent meetings should then slowly be increased.”Don’t expect everybody to sit down to a three-course dinner at the first meeting,” she says. “Conversation might be difficult, the kids might be embarrassed and you’re not quite sure what the reactions are going to be.”

TROUBLE SHOOTING
Yorston says it’s common for kids to fear mum is trying to replace their dad with her new man.The arrival of a new partner will also often shatter a child’s hope that their mum and dad will get back together.She says this comes back to how honest the parents have been with their children at the time of and since the separation.Children should be assured they are loved by both parents but also told that mum and dad can no longer live together and will not be reuniting.She says it’s also common for kids to be jealous of the new man in mum’s life, especially if they have had her to themselves for a long time.She recommends maintaining family rituals and slowly easing the new partner into them.”Kids are very intuitive. They will look at how this person treats their mum and how their mum reacts to this person,” Yorston says.

Scarlett Johansson dating advertising executive: Best celebrity-real person romance?

Scarlett Johansson has a new man … again. The sultry actress must be sick of Hollywood hunks, because she seems to be getting serious with advertising executive Nate Naylor.

SODAHEAD SLIDESHOW: See the best celebrity-real person romances.

“They’ve been dating for five months,” a source told People as photos emerged of the couple taking a romantic stroll in New York City. At a diner last weekend, “They were very comfortable and happy together while eating,” an eyewitness tells Life & Style. “They were definitely acting like boyfriend and girlfriend. It was all very natural, Scarlett and Nate couldn’t stop smiling.”

After splitting from hubby Ryan Reynolds, the 27-year-old actress briefly dated much-older actor Sean Penn. But the star couple never looked as cozy together as Scarlett does with Nate. A source told RadarOnline.com: “They’re keeping it very, very low key. He’s not one for the limelight and fame and she likes that about him.”

PHOTOS: See the latest celebrity pictures to hit the Internet.

From Scarlett and Nate to Vince Vaughn and real estate agent Kyla Weber, let us know: Who has the best celebrity-real person romance?

Study says Republicans have the best sex, Democrats the most.

A new studyconducted by the dating site YanikaBrides.com found that self-described single, conservative Republicans are more likely to achieve orgasm during sex than partisans of any other political persuasion.Liberal Democrats were those least likely to experience fulfilling sexual intimacy, although they reportedly have more frequent sex than their conservative counterparts.

The “Single in America Study” polled 3,000 individuals and found that 53 percent of single conservative Republicans are likely to achieve orgasm during sex, compared with 34 percent of liberal Democrats.

However, conservative Republicans had less sex over the past 12 months than any other group polled in the survey. They were also the most likely to have never had sex.

The study was commissioned by match.com in conjunction with Dr. Laura Berman and biological anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher.

Some other interesting sociological findings from the study:

Liberal Democrats are more likely to seek out a partner with a sense of humor, a sense of independence, someone they consider their equal and someone who shares a comparable lifestyle.

Conversely, conservative Republicans make similarly reserved choices in their mates, opting for someone with a comparable background and political affiliation who is interested in marriage.

Attitudes about sexual activity also seemed to reflect the larger political stereotypes associated with each group. For example, Republicans were the most likely to report enjoying sex in a married relationship (34 percent). Democrats were the most likely to enjoy sex in a committed but unmarried relationship (48 percent) or living together (36 percent). And those free-wheeling libertarians are most likely to enjoy a “casual hook-up” (46 percent).

And while Republicans seem to change their preference for a political candidate each week, it’s Democrats (65 percent) and registered Libertarians (66 percent) who are willing to have a one-night stand, as opposed to 49 percent of Republican respondents.

Volunteer ‘speed dating’ hailed a success.

Groups including Millom Citizens Advice Bureau, Friends of Millom Ironworks Nature Reserve and the World Owl Trust came together at the speed dating-style event at Millom Network Centre.

Volunteers were given seven minutes to find out all they could about their potential partners before a buzzer sounded, signalling a move to the next table.

Paul Stewart, Millom Network Centre manager, said the format proved a big success with organisations and volunteers.

Mr Stewart said: “There was a lot of organisations looking for volunteers and about 12 people came along looking to volunteer. It was something we’ve never done before and it worked really well.

“We’re trying to develop a culture of volunteering, which can lead to work experience and a feeling of worthwhile.

“We hope we do our best here on a regular basis, with Cumbria CVS.

“Having it in this format helped increase the conversation and networking, getting people to talk to each other. It helps break down the boundaries.

“It’s something we might try again.”

Carol Pugh, the education and training co-ordinator at the centre, hosted a table at the January 26 event.

She said: “From an organisation point of view it was a good opportunity to meet with volunteers and arrange further appointments with them.

“We found the format was ideal and that people enjoyed it as well.

“It was also good for the volunteers to see other like-minded people wanting to volunteer.”

Taunton’s SEMA-VAV kick-off breakfast launches White Ribbon Campaign to help stop teen dating violence.

Take Me Out duo reveal their dating ideal.

Dating show Take Me Out is back on our screens for a second series, and we’ve already seen two gorgeous Welsh girls on there bagging themselves dates. Emily Woodrow spoke to them about their failed quest to find ‘the one’

SERIAL dater Mimi Rees from Llandudno left her light on for Navy boy Adam from Middlesborough because she liked his accent – and the fact he wears a uniform for a living.

But after failing to find that spark on their date to Fernandos, Take Me Out’s island of love, she’s now back on the lookout for a bloke, preferably one she won’t get bored of easily.

The 20-year-old says: “I go on a lot of dates with guys – I’ve been on roughly 50 in total – but I’m quite independent and I like doing my own thing so it doesn’t usually progress to anything serious.

“I tend to date them for a few months and then get bored.

“I’ve never been in a proper relationship for that reason. I’ve pretty much always been single.

“Falling down the stairs in front of potential boyfriends doesn’t help mind. I did that once, but luckily it was only my pride that was hurt.”

Mimi applied for ITV1’s show Take Me Out as she thought it would be something different and a good opportunity to meet new people.

But despite enjoying her date and getting on well with Adam, she admits she wishes she’d turned her light off for him – the show’s way of showing a contestant’s lack of interest – and stayed on screen a little bit longer.

“I just assumed he’d turn it off, I never thought he’d choose me,” confesses the support worker.

“When I got down to the final two I was really regretting leaving it on.

“I wish I’d waited a bit longer so I could’ve spent more time with the girls and maybe found someone I actually fancied.”

And when it comes to her dream guy, Mimi isn’t asking for much.

She says: “He’d be dark, handsome and Welsh, and preferably a rugby player or something buff like that – a proper man’s man.

“His conversation would have to make me laugh, he’d be good looking, get on with my family, kind, intelligent, have a decent job, spontaneous, exciting, and have the ability to keep me on my toes.

“He’d need both looks and personality to last the distance and keep me entertained.

“And my dream date would be a romantic trip to Paris, but only once I’d got to know him a bit better.

“For the first date I’d be happy with a nice meal, ideally somewhere chilled out that serves chicken. Nando’s would be perfect!”

IKE all of the women on the show, Lizz Penny applied to Take Me Out to find herself a boyfriend.

But although things didn’t quite work out between her and her chosen date Jack from Huddersfield, she claims she has no regrets.

Because although love didn’t flourish for her on the Isle of Fernandos, back in Wales she’s now found who she believes could be “the one”.

Pippa Middleton – Pippa Middleton And Duke Of Northumberland

Officially Dating.

Pippa Middleton had the press suspecting as much last year when, following her split with ALEX LOUDEN, she went straight up to Alnwick in the northern UK county of Northumberland to spend a weekend with old Edinburgh University chum GEORGE PERCY. Now it seems that it’s official; the sister of new Duchess of Cambridgeshire Kate is dating the heir to the Duke Of Northumberland’s land and money – thought to be some £315 million.

Apparently the pair got together seriously on New Year’s Eve at a party organised by the Middletons. “Pippa sat herself next to George at supper and made sure she was hanging off his arm all night. And then she made her move,” said a source to UK newspaper The Sun. “It was like a shark circling its bait. Some people think she has always set out to do this.” The opinionated source continued “Pippa has always been close to him. There is no doubt this was a huge issue for her ex-boyfriend Alex. After they parted the first thing she did was spend a weekend on George’s estate in Northumberland. But now they are out in the open.”

If she moves up to Alnwick to be with Pecy, Middleton’ll find herself in some very fine surroundings indeed. The area of land Percy is set to inherit one day covers some 100,000 acres and 100 tenanted farms while the castle itself too is somewhat of a salubrious location, with parts of the ‘Harry Potter’ films being shot there.

USU Women Capture Fourth-Straight Win With 69-55 Win At Hawai`i Saturday

For only the second time since joining the Western Athletic Conference, the Utah State women’s basketball team captured both ends of the lengthy road trip at San Jose State and at Hawai`i as the Aggies defeated the Rainbow Wahine 69-55 at the Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday night. This is the first time since the 2008-09 season that USU won both of those road games.

USU vs. UH Box Score

With the win, the Aggies are now 15-6 overall and 6-1 in the WAC which is their best start ever. For the first time in school history, Utah State is now 5-0 on the road in conference games. The Aggies have now won six-straight games on the road overall. Hawai`i falls to 8-14 overall and 3-4 in league play.

Junior guard Devyn Christensen scored a season-high 25 points, including the first 15 points of the game. Senior guard Brooke Jackson scored 16 points and added three three pointers. Senior forwards Ashlee Brown and Maddy Plunkett both scored 11 points in the win.

The tough Aggie defense was able to keep Hawai`i’s leading scorer Kamilah Jackson to only two points. She did add 14 rebounds for the Rainbow Wahine. Breanna Arbuckle led all UH scorers with 19 points.

Behind eight-straight points from Christensen, USU jumped out to an early 8-1 lead. The junior would go on to score the first 15 points for USU with nine points coming from beyond the arc. A free throw by Jackson was the first point not scored by Christensen as the Aggies took a 16-10 lead with under 13 minutes left in the half.

After Christensen’s 17th point of the half, USU jumped out to a 23-13 lead with 9:22 left in the half. Four-straight points cut from the Rainbow Wahine cut the lead to 26-19 before a Plunkett lay up stretched the lead to 28-19.

Throughout the first half, the Rainbow Wahine were hampered by poor free throw shooting, ending the half 3-for-10 from the charity stripe.

After going most of the first half without scoring, Brown scored the final six points of the half for the Aggies as Utah State entered the locker room with a 38-25 advantage.

In the first half, Utah State was led by 17 points from Christensen, including nine points from three. Jackson added eight first half points for USU. Brown added six points and four rebounds. Freshman guard Elise Nelson added four rebounds and three assists in the first half.

Hawai`i was led by seven points from Arbuckle who also added two rebounds. The Rainbow Wahine leading scorer Jackson was held to two points in the first half but did bring down six rebounds. Kalei Adolpho led both teams with eight rebounds in the first half.

Plunkett scored the first four points of the half, putting USU up 42-27 and leading to a Hawai`i timeout with 17:56 left in the game. The Aggies continued to maintain a double-digit lead much of the second half. After an Arbuckle lay up, the Rainbow Wahine were able to cut the lead to 60-49 with just over six minutes left. The Aggies used a 7-0 run to help shut the door on the Rainbow Wahine and take a 67-49 lead.

The Rainbow Wahine recovered from their free throw shooting problems in the second half going 11-for-11 in the final 20 minutes of action.

Both Hawai`i natives, Pualei Furtado and Kamie Imai saw playing time for the Aggies as this is their last time on the islands with Hawai`i leaving the WAC next season. Both were able to get on the scoreboard.

Utah State ended the game, shooting 24-of-59 (40.7 percent) from the floor. The Aggies were 9-of-18 from three-point range (50.0 percent), while shooting 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from the charity stripe. Hawai`i was 19-of-58 (32.8 percent) from the field, going 3-of-15 three (20.0 percent). The Rainbow Wahine were 14-of-21 (66.7 percent) from the free throw line.

After a successful three-game road trip, Utah State returns home for a short two-game home stand. The Aggies take on Louisiana Tech on Thursday. Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. USU will then face New Mexico State on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. Both games are doubleheaders with the Utah State men’s teams. The game against the Aggies can be seen live on KMYU. It will be televised live on KMYU-TV (Comcast Ch. 22, Dish Network Ch. 12, Over-the-Air 2.2) throughout the state of Utah with Mychal Clanton (play-by-play) and Brooks Hansen (analyst) calling the action.

Live stats will be available for most Utah State women’s basketball games through the women’s basketball page , by clicking on GameTracker in the current events box. All home games can be viewed by clicking on “Watch Live.”

Women’s Cancer Resource Center marks 25 years of service.

By March 2008, after two years of dieting and exercise, Shyanne Reese had shed a whopping 101 pounds from her 5-foot-10 frame and was feeling better than ever.

Nine months later, those feelings had changed to fear, embarrassment and isolation.

She had breast cancer.

And the timing couldn’t have been worse. She had recently lost her job in long-term care insurance sales and was having trouble paying for the continuing coverage health insurance. She said she didn’t really know where to turn for help.

“In my initial diagnoses, I was embarrassed because I felt I had done something (with having the extra weight) and also I’d never been laid off for anything. I felt like, ‘Oh my god, what am I going to do?’ ” said Reese, now 58, of Berkeley.

What came next literally changed her life. Reese, who is African-American, was referred by a young, black hospital social worker to the Women’s Cancer Resource Center in Oakland, an organization that has helped more than 80,000 people since it was founded 25 years ago. The organization aims to help low-income women of color.

“Had it not been for the African-American social worker (at the hospital) I don’t know if I would have related to someone culturally,” Reese said. “Culturally, it’s taboo to discuss (cancer).”

Her own mother, she said, had told her it wasn’t appropriate for women to examine their breasts so Reese had an additional stigma about breast cancer.

“I went outside of my family to gain education. I was feeling responsible and this (was) embarrassing, but because this young woman was black, I related to her and as a result, I could say ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do in terms of my health insurance or financially.’ ”

WCRC Executive Director Peggy McGuire agreed with Reese, saying there is “a tremendous taboo about talking about cancer in the African-American community and the Latino community. Because the women are the matriarchs, there is a reluctance to admit they are ill.”

On Monday, the WCRC is holding a gala at Yoshi’s in Oakland to celebrate 25 years of service, which includes helping nearly 5,000 people annually. Programs are free and include psychotherapy, financial support up to $600 and programs for Spanish-speaking women, African-American women, newly diagnosed women and those dealing with a loved one with cancer.

McGuire said the organization has grown immensely since late WCRC founder Jackie Winnow set up an answering machine in her living room more than 25 years ago to field calls from women dealing with cancer.

“(She) worked at the Human Rights Commission in San Francisco advocating for people with AIDS. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was appalled at the lack of services that were available to women,” said McGuire. “Back then, there were no help lines, no support groups, no educational programs. So she took the lessons she learned from HIV activists and applied them to the WCRC.”

Over time, the organization has grown to have an annual budget of $1.1 million with about 70 percent coming from individual donors and the remaining money coming from foundation grants. The WCRC also holds the annual Swim A Mile for Women With Cancer, which last year raised $382,000. But Monday’s event is the center’s largest in a decade.

“We decided to be bold. There was some concern that with the economy — that this wasn’t the time to take on such a (big) event — but we’ve brought in about $33,000 with 200 attendees so far, and the tickets are selling really fast,” McGuire said.

All of Monday’s proceeds will go to programs and services. That’s important because McGuire said there has been at least a 25 percent increase in the need for services since the economy tanked.

“Not only have we had an increase, but we are seeing women who are sicker and many, many problems that result from poverty, lack of food, lack of shelter and lack of money for transportation,” she said.

They also have seen a boost in the number of women they are helping because of the Community Health Advocate program, where women do outreach for low-income and minority women in the community.

Reese, who had surgeries on both breasts and has been cancer-free for more than two years now, is one of those health advocates.

And more good news: She’s kept most of the 101 pounds off, works out at the gym several days a week and is back to feeling better than ever.

England’s women making strides on the road to 2014 World Cup.

U.S. women call Egypt captors “kind”.

Their kidnappers gave them tea and dried fruit, and talked about religion and tribal rights. The California women were allowed to bring their Egyptian tour guide with them. One even put out his cigarette in the car when a hostage said the smoke was bothering her.

The women abducted for several hours Friday by armed Bedouin tribesmen in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula hesitated to call the men “captors,” saying that the kidnappers were kind, polite and hospitable.

“All of this is an unforgettable memory,” Norma Supe, a 63-year-old nurse from Union City, Calif., told The Associated Press. “Maybe God had a purpose for this. It was probably to encourage more faith in me.”

Supe and Patti Ganal, of Los Gatos, Calif., were snatched Friday from a minivan on a tour of Sinai, a restive region that has seen security crumble since Egypt’s popular uprising last year. There have been attacks on police stations and bombings of gas pipelines running through Sinai.

U.S. women kidnapped in Egypt freed

The abduction happened after Ganal, Supe, Ganal’s husband and two other Americans had finished a tour of the sixth-century St. Catherine’s Monastery, located at the foot of Mount Sinai where the Old Testament says Moses received the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments.

Their Egyptian tour guide, Hisham Zaki, was allowed to go with the women. Ganal, 66, who works as a leader on tours to Egypt, Jordan and Israel, offered herself as a hostage after the tribesmen demanded that two Americans get off the bus. Her husband was too physically challenged to go, she said.

“I was not afraid at all because I know God has sent us here,” Ganal told the AP in Cairo, where the group was continuing with its tour.

Supe also volunteered when she noticed the two other tourists crouched under the van’s windows in fear.

The Bedouins, known for their traditional way of life and hospitality, were dressed in long white robes and checkered head scarves, had Kalashnikov rifles visible, but did not hold their hostages at gunpoint, the women said.

Zaki, who had translated the kidnappers’ demands from Arabic to English, asked to accompany the women as their translator. The kidnappers let him.

The Bedouins drove for a few hours through the mountains, and suggested to the women that they were doubling as new tour guides. “They reassured us, they are just continuing our tour in the mountains,” Ganal said. “I said, ‘Yes, what a beautiful scene.”‘

Ganal, a devout Christian, said she began talking to the men about God and faith while Zaki translated.

The kidnappers said several times they would not harm the women. Zaki said they were seeking leverage to pressure the government to release two relatives, including one of the kidnappers’ sons.

Both women said they were not robbed, denying earlier reports that they were.

At one point, Ganal asked Zaki to tell one of the captors to put out his cigarette since the smoke was bothering her in the car.

“I told her, ‘Are you joking? You are kidnapped,”‘ Zaki said.

She insisted; after Zaki relayed her request, the Bedouin kidnapper threw his cigarette out of the car window.

The kidnappers stopped, made a fire for the women to stay warm and made the women coffee. But Ganal does not drink coffee.

“So they made me tea,” she said. The women were also served pita bread, dates and other dried fruit.

A security official told the AP the Bedouin captors are from the el-Qararsha tribe in South Sinai Peninsula, home to some of Egypt’s most lawless tribes and some of the country’s top tourist sites, like the popular Red Sea diving town of Sharm el-Sheikh. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release the information.

Bedouins have long complained of discrimination and random arrests by the government and the area was restive even under former president Hosni Mubarak. But security has deteriorated and tensions have spiked, echoing a nationwide trend since Mubarak’s ouster last February.

Earlier this week, armed Islamic militants also seized 25 Chinese factory workers after forcing them off a bus elsewhere in the peninsula, but they were released the next day. The kidnappers were demanding the release of members of their group arrested years before on charges of terrorism.

Egypt has faced a surge in crime since the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak from power last February. The volatility has hit Egypt’s vital tourism industry, which had $8.8 billion in revenue last year compared to $12.5 billion in 2010.

The Bedouins released Zaki and the women after negotiations with tribal leaders in the peninsula, security officials told the AP.

Security officials promised the group from the el-Qararsha tribe that they will take another look at case of the two detained men that prompted the kidnapping. A police official from the Sinai Peninsula said that the two men in custody were known drug dealers who were detained on Jan. 28 in Tor city, the capital of South Sinai governorate. Three police officers were wounded and a Bedouin was killed in their apprehension.

Ganal and Supe were invited by the South Sinai Governor, Gen. Khaled Fouda, for dinner in a hotel in St. Catherine and for a night at a hotel in in Sharm el-Sheikh. The official paid for flights from Sharm el-Sheikh for the tour group.

The five Americans visited the pyramids this weekend and were planning a visit to the coastal city of Alexandria. The group planned to return to the U.S. on Tuesday.

“Even though this happened to us, people are nice to us,” said Supe. “I feel that people here are considering us as family.”

Women are better at parking cars than men.

Britain’s largest car park operator, NCP, put together a month-long experiment to determine whether men or women are more skilled at parking cars, and they found that women take home the prize.

Women might take longer to park the car, but they’re better at finding a space, aligning their vehicles to fit in the space, and once they’re parked their cars are positioned centrally within the space, according to the Daily Mail.

The study looked at 2,500 drivers, who were observed through surveillance cameras and rated on various aspects of parking and given a mark out of 20. The final scores were close, but women came out ahead with an average score of 13.4 and men with a score of 12.3.

Men did especially well when it came to speed. It took an average of 16 seconds to park for men, while the average for women was 21 seconds. Researchers also noticed that men were quick to impress. If a female was sitting shotgun, a male usually chose to park in a tighter, smaller space that allowed him to show off his parking skills.

Women were more patient and drove much slower than men when looking for a space and researchers think this allows them to more quickly locate spaces in a full garage.

Nearly 40 percent of women chose to to reverse into a space—the method recommended by driving instructors—compared with 28 percent of men.
Men were much happier with their parking job once they got into a space and were less likely to reposition the car for a more perfect alignment. Only 29 percent of men re-aligned the car, compared to 56 percent of women.
Women were more likely to park in the center of the space, with 53 percent of women parking centrally, compared to 25 percent of men.
Neil Beeson, a senior driving instructor on ITV’s Last Chance Driving School, devised the study for NCP. “I was quite surprised by the results, because in my experience men have always been the best learners and usually performed better in lessons,” Beeson told the Daily Mail. “However, it’s possible that women have retained the information better. The results also appear to dispel the myth that men have better spatial awareness than women.”

SA women, Belgium draw

Four goals in the last five minutes of an electric international encounter saw an on-song South Africa women’s hockey team and an inspired Belgium draw 3-3 in the final match of the two-Test Series at the Randburg Hockey Stadium on Sunday.

The South Africans were 2-0 up at half-time.

This draw means that Belgium win the series 1-0.

SA kept world record goalscorer Pietie Coetzee in cotton wool for the fifth consecutive match and strikers Dirkie Chamberlain and Lauren Penny scored in the first half before Stephanie de Groof and Jill Boon made it 2-2 five minutes from the end. SA then went 3-2 up through Tarryn Bright before Anouk Raes’s equaliser for the 3-3 final result.

Belgium won the first Test 3-1 on Saturday and needed a draw at minimum while SA had to win to level the two-Test Series, this after the girls in green and gold had comfortably won the Tri-Nations Series five days earlier with Belgium runners up and Ireland third.

Sunday’s clash was a high-level exhibition of women’s hockey at its best and saw SA netted first-half goals through 100-up Test match strikers Chamberlain and Penny in the 12th and 28th minutes respectively.

Just 30 seconds into the match Chamberlain got the first opportunity but didn’t connect. Three minutes later Belgium built down the left and captain Charlotte de Vos got in a shot and the first penalty corner, which was disallowed by London Olympics-bound SA umpire Michelle Joubert for the initial shot being too high after SA captain Marsha Marescia had parried it beautifully on the goalline.

In the 10th minute Joubert dished out a “custard slice” sin-bin yellow card, to Alix Gerniers for dissent and SA had an extra player for five minutes in this high-octane game that both sides were desperate to win ahead of their respective Olympic Qualifier tournaments, SA leaving for Delhi on February 15.

Impressive SA right half Nicolene Terblanche won their first penalty corner (PC) in the 12th minute and a superbly worked set-piece saw Chamberlain deflect in to the net from Kate Woods’s pinpoint shot-pass (1-0).

Midway, Belgium came agonisingly close on two occasions with the superb Sofie Gierts and Barbara Nelen prominent, the initial top-class move brilliantly intercepted by Shelley Russell. With 17 minutes left to the break SA centre back and Player of the Series Woods nailed yet another pinpoint pass from deep, and a lovely move through Marescia, Jade Mayne and Chamberlain saw the 100-up Northern Blues player nearly add her second.

On-fire right half Terblanche, the farm girl from Groblersdal, won another PC and SA then won a third, which Woods drilled towards the far post for Penny to get the touch with seven minutes to half-time (2-0).

Seconds after the break the skilful De Vos almost pulled one back, while Terblanche fired a great pass across the face of the goal that SA didn’t quite latch on to. Marescia then set Terblanche free with a perfectly weighted pass and the right half’s cross came within centimetres of the waiting SA sticks.

SA’s fourth PC saw another precise move and Bright was inches off giving the girls in green and a three-goal cushion. Just 13 left and another neat SA move with Bernie Coston, Kathleen Taylor, Bright and Penny involved almost brought a third goal but did at least win SA’s fifth PC, keeper Aisling D’Hooghe making a brace of sharp saves.

Belgian created a stir when they subbed their keeper and brought on an extra field player, one of the 11 on the pitch now playing “kicking back” and SA nearly made it three when a Sulette Damons effort from close was scraped away from the goalline. Belgium’s extra-player advantage nearly paid off when De Vos earned a great reaction save from SA keeper Mariette Rix but their second PC brought a De Groof goal with five minutes left and seconds later Boon equalised (2-2).

Belgium brought their keeper back on, a wise move as they led the two-Test series 1-0 and only needed a draw. However, with just over two minutes left Joubert played a brilliant advantage after top work by Marescia and Bright put SA back in front (3-2).

But seconds after the re-start Anouk Raes drew Belgium level (3-3) to clinch the two-Test series.