Heidi Klum and Seal might have had a less an amicable split earlier this year, but they are set to put their differences behind them and reunite for Christmas, it has been claimed.
According to reports, Heidi Klum and Seal decided to make peace for the sake of their four children – Leni, Henry, Johan and Lou.
And given that Seal and Heidi Klum, who is now in a relationship with her bodyguard Martin Kristen, are both in Los Angeles, it looks likely that they will be celebrating the holidays together at some point over the festive period.
A source told the New York Post: “They’re trying to be co-parents and show up for their children.”
“They are trying to work it out, mainly for the kids.”
Heidi Klum and Seal are set to put their differences behind them and reunite for Christmas
And the publication also reports that Seal hasn’t yet given up on his hope of reconciling permanently with his estranged wife.
The source added: “Seal has been doing everything to get her back. They have been talking on the phone regularly.”
While Heidi Klum and Seal appeared to have maintained their friendship following their split, things turned frosty when Seal accused Heidi of having begun her relationship with bodyguard Martin while they were still together.
Seal said in September: “I would have thought Heidi would have showed a little bit more class and at least wait until we separated first before deciding to fornicate with the help.”
Heidi Klum then retaliated during an interview with Katie Couric shortly afterwards, saying: “I don’t know if we’re the greatest friends right now, especially because of the things that he said.”
Cyber Monday 2012 in the US is projected to be the biggest ever online shopping day, according to analysts.
Research firm Comscore said consumers would have spent $1.5 billion on so-called Cyber Monday, up 20% from last year.
Online-sales tracker IBM Benchmark put the internet shopping rise even higher – up nearly 27% compared with the Monday after Thanksgiving last year.
Smartphone and tablet computer sales rose 10.2%, said IBM Benchmark.
“Online’s piece of the holiday pie is growing every day, and all the key dates are growing with it,” Forrester Research analyst Sucharita Mulpuru told Associated Press news agency.
“The web is becoming a more significant part of the traditional brick-and-mortar holiday shopping season.”
Online sales also jumped sharply on so-called Black Friday, which is the day after Thanksgiving.
Cyber Monday 2012 in the US is projected to be the biggest ever online shopping day
Comscore said internet shopping rose by a quarter last Friday to break the $1 billion mark for the first time, while it was up by a third on Thanksgiving itself.
There was also a jump in consumer spending this Thanksgiving weekend compared with last year, retailers say.
A record 247 million people visited stores and websites between Thursday and Sunday, spending a total of $59.1 billion, 13% more than last year, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said.
The average shopper spent $423 over the weekend, up from $398 last year.
Despite the jump in sales over the weekend, there are concerns that the rise in spending over the festive period as a whole will be weaker this year.
The NRF has forecast a 4.1% increase in retail sales during November and December, less than the 5.6% jump recorded last year.
Health experts believe Christmas is the perfect time to tell the loved ones they are overweight.
The UK National Obesity Forum and International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk said it was important to be upfront because of the health risks.
Being overweight – particularly around the waist – increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
But a poll by the groups suggests too many people shy away from the issue.
The survey of more than 2,000 people found 42% of 18 to 24-year-olds would not tell a loved one they should lose weight because of a fear they would hurt the other person’s feelings.
For those aged 25 to 44 it was just over a third, while for older people it was about one in four.
Men find it hardest to tell their partners, while women were more worried about bringing up the issue with a friend.
But with families and friends getting together up and down the country over the festive period, the experts believe there is an opportunity that should not be missed.
Prof. David Haslam, chair of the National Obesity Forum, said: “Suggesting to someone that they should consider losing a few pounds may not be a comfortable conversation to have.
“But if someone close to you has a large waistline then as long as you do it sensitively, discussing it with them now could help them avoid critical health risks later down the line and could even save their life.”
Dr. Jean Pierre Despres, scientific director of the International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk, agreed.
“Start by encouraging someone close to you to make simple lifestyle changes such as becoming more active, making small alterations to their eating habits and replacing sugary drinks with water.”
Waist fat
• In recent years, health experts have begun talking much more about what is known as abdominal obesity – basically fat round the stomach
• It is recommended that men are no larger than 94cm (37in) and women 80cm (31.5in)
• Fat around the waist is related to the release of proteins and hormones which affect how the body breaks down sugars and fats
