Home//Chat/14-Oct-2021/In This Issue
Chat|14-Oct-2021Welcome to this week’s Chat…When Kimmy’s beloved Chihuahua Fifi passed away, she wasn’t ready to say goodbye. What she did next is pretty unusual…it involved putting Fifi in the freezer (p10)!Karaoke queen Katrina was stabbed after she performed – what she didn’t know was that this violent attack would spur her on to change her life forever (p37).And new mum Asher’s lovely letter to her great gran shows the true meaning of girl power (p58).There’s chilling true crime, woolly winter warmers (p12) new family fave recipes (p40) and loads more.Stay safe and well this week.GET IN TOUCH!EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.comFACEBOOK facebook.com/ChatMagazinePOST Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9APSubscribe from just £10.99*Subscribe online at magazinesdirect.com/26BW or call 0330 333 1113 and quote code 26BW***Payable every 3 months by UK Direct Debit. Offer closes 31 October 2021. **Calls…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Picture perfectI might have looked the part during the shooting activity on my holiday in Benidorm, but I didn’t actually hit the target once! My audience soon took cover.Sharon Powell, SwanseaMeet the newest addition to our family – our beautiful 13-week-old Maine Coon kitten, Storm. She completes us and brings nothing but pure love and happiness to our lives…Our purrfect Storm!Lara Dabrowska, SouthamptonWho says cats and dogs can’t be friends? My fur babies love to have a little snooze together.Sandie Gallachee, EdinburghI turned my back for a short time only to panic, thinking my 5-year-old daughter Georgi had some terrible rash. She then explained her sister Billi, 6, wanted to play dot-to-dot on her face! Thank goodness it was washable crayons.Sue Hutchinson, ShurdingtonAfter parking up her boat, my daughter Marina, 31,…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Nothing could stop herFor a time, it seemed Nicole and I had both moved on. We’d swap tight smiles when I dropped off and picked up the girls, then 5 and 4, managing to keep it civil. Our divorce was being processed and I thought I could start living my life again. In time, I heard from friends Nicole was dating. By October 2020, I’d also met someone else, Rosie. It was early days, but we enjoyed meals out and cosy nights in, and I felt the past was where it belonged. Then Nicole sent me a string of texts. So you’re seeing someone else, then? she demanded. I ignored her. Who I was seeing was none of her business. One snowy evening that December, I took Rosie for a meal while the…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Just GeniusIt’s a date Whenever I change my Hoover bag, I write the date on the new one so I know how long it has been used for. Sharon Carey, Castlefield Posh wash Don’t throw away empty hand-soap bottles – fill them with washing-up liquid instead. A couple of squirts into the sink will give you just the right amount of liquid, and the dispenser will look much nicer beside the sink. Barbara Clayton, Dibden Purlieu Stay fresh Wrap celery in foil before you put it in the fridge. It makes it stay fresher for longer, so it doesn’t end up going limp. Roxanne Sumner, Fortis Green That’s ace! To get scuffs out of wooden floors, I rub a tennis ball across the scuff. It transfers the mark to the tennis…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021‘CONTROVERSIAL, BUT DON’T JUDGE…’Wendy Andrew, from the Scottish Pet Bereavement Counselling Service, says, ‘The loss of a companion animal is heartbreaking. But there’ll always be those who don’t understand the impact of pet bereavement. When it comes to memorialising a beloved pet, what feels right to one person may not feel right to another. With taxidermy, it may bring great comfort to some to have their beloved companion immortalised and on display within their home. For others, it may feel a touch macabre and uncomfortable, even distasteful. The thought of the taxidermy process might also be traumatising for some and, while they think it may bring comfort, it may leave them stuck in their grief, unable to move forwards. It could also be upsetting if the result doesn’t reflect the essence or personality…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021WHAT’S YOUR STYLE? WINTER WARMERSSCARVESSTYLE TIPScarves are a great way to inject colour and patterns to any outfit and are a must-have for your winter wardrobe.FUR-LINED BOOTSSTYLE TIPChunky boots are the hero shoe of the season. Wear with textured fabrics such as wool or denim to balance the heavy style.HATSSTYLE TIPA cute bobble or beanie hat will keep your head warm in style and no one will know if you’re hair day!GLOVESFROM £2.50STYLE TIPThese Totes gloves have smart-touch technology, meaning you can use your phone while…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £500 cash!NUMBER JIG How many goals were scored by Tharjini Sivalingam, the tournament’s top scorer, at the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool? Fit these numbers into the grid. One number doesn’t fit This is the prize answer 3 digits 348 399 402 424 616 639 655 719 838 990 4 digits 1029 1232 1414 2327 3360 4161 4894 8030 8645 8699 8823 9271 9325 5 digits 12160 36323 47072 51475 52808 53689 64128 75384 79594 88909 99093 6 digits 406419 451855 608037 7 digits 1386804 2961792 2999074 8 digits 26056943 58195676 66750071 72160962 WIN £250 Puzzle 1 Your answer: SPIRAL XWORD Which boy band made the final 12 of The X Factor in 2006, but were banned for having professional representation? The answer to each clue begins with the last…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021GUILTYJohn Couey was found guilty of murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and burglary in the abduction of Jessica Lunsford. During sentencing, Judge Ric Howard reduced the courtroom to tears as he discussed how the girl died slowly as her oxygen ran out. An expert said she could’ve been alive five minutes before losing consciousness. ‘He caused a slow, suffering, conscious death. Her only source of comfort during this horrific experience was her purple dolphin,’ the judge said. Mark Lunsford pleaded for Couey to die for his crime and spoke of his memories of his daughter. ‘I can remember when she was about 1 year old and would give me kisses and hugs and steal the raisins from my cereal. From bumps to bruises, from BandAids to bicycles, she was a tomboy…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Thanks Dr GoogleBethany Dawson, 22, LondonSitting in the classroom, I tried to pay attention to the teacher.If only this pain would get lost, I thought, pressing my hand to my back.It was late 2012, and aged 13, I’d recently had a benign tumour removed from my lower back.The op had gone well, but now I struggled with pain that came in waves.‘It’s probably nerve damage,’ my surgeon said, telling me it might ease off in time.But months later, I was still suffering.And now the pain had spread from my lower back to my hips, knees and legs.The doctor still said it was nerve damage.Six years passed like this and, deep down, I was sure there was something more serious going on.At home, climbing the stairs had become a challenge. Chores like loading…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021FOCUS ON… Boosting your energy1 Make time for exercise Fed up with feeling lethargic? You’re not alone. Each day, the average Brit spends two hours and 56 minutes feeling drained.* Going for a walk or getting active in some other way is an easy way to stop this. That’s because exercise is one of the body’s best stimulators as it triggers energising feel-good chemicals. Walking, swimming, cycling or even doing moderate housework for 20 minutes three times a week can make a difference, helping to reduce fatigue by 65% and increase energy by 20%.** 2 Sleep more Enough sleep – seven to eight hours – is vital for physical and mental alertness. ‘Go to bed and get up at roughly the same time each day and wind down properly – no screens for an…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £375 cash!OVER TO YOUCan you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p3. There’s £20 for every one we use!This week’s puzzle was compiled byAnn Johnson, Runcorn, CheshireACROSS1 Side shoot2 Of long ago3 Oasis singer4 Type of soilDOWN1 Working together, in _2 Bar game3 Waste product4 DependWIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6Your answer:CHAIN WORDSKoumpounophobia is the fear of what type of object?Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: BA + BY, BY +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer.WIN £100 Puzzle 7Your answer:IN THE GRIDWhich footballer was named the Football Association of Ireland’s Under-21 Player of the Year for 2014? Hidden in…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Keep Chloe shiningKaren Balloqui, 39, from west London Showing me her phone, a huge smile spread across my daughter Chloe’s face. ‘Look, Mum,’ Chloe, then 8, beamed, flashing her latest TikTok video. In it, she’s trying on different hats. But the video is speeded up, so it looks as though she’s changing them all in a nanosecond. ‘Which one looks best?’ she asks her followers, swapping a pink beanie for a purple one. At the end, Chloe appears without a hat, her long, shiny red hair tumbling past her shoulders. ‘Brilliant!’ I grinned, knowing how proud she was of her hair. Well, she’d already lost it twice during her life-long cancer battle. Both times, it’d thinned, fallen out in chunks before we eventually shaved it. Chloe was only 18 months when she…5 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021CRIME MAPPARK AMBUSH Heather Tell, 17, was attacked in Kettlebrook Linear Park, Tamworth, in August 2000. Heather was stripped, her underwear shoved in her mouth, and strangled with her shoelace. Her body was discovered in nearby bushes the next morning. Coach driver Michael Chidgey, then 46, was arrested after a relative raised suspicions about him. He’d previously served time for attempted rape, and his DNA matched the crime scene. He was jailed for life for Heather’s murder. WORKER RAGE In a row over holiday pay, Newcastle-under-Lyme restaurant worker Wai Lim Fong, 21, stabbed his boss, Ray Mo, 57, in March 2004. He stabbed Ray in the back and slashed his throat three times before emptying a food waste bin over him. It emerged he’d tried to buy a carving knife hours…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Love in the time of corona virusVeryan Greenwood, 62, Ditchling Scrolling through the app, I sighed. Nothing. It’d been six months since I’d signed up to Our Time, a dating site for the over-50s. So far, I’d had one disastrous dinner date and was on the verge of cancelling my subscription. One more look, I told myself in March 2020. Then I read a message from a man called Philip. He was handsome, yet he said he was 75. Sorry, you’re a little old for me, I replied. Yet he persisted. I’m an artist and young at heart, he wrote. He said his dad was still going strong at 102! Liking his banter, we exchanged messages before Philip gave me his email address – and when I read it, I was stunned. Philip Dunn! A renowned…4 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £200 cash!FILL ME IN Orléans in France is twinned with which UK city? Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer. WIN £100 puzzle 14 Your answer CIRCLE TIME What animal is an acronym used for a format of poker, involving a round of each of five different game variants? Fit the words into the grid, then read the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters CAB LOB OAK OIL OLD PAD REV VIA YES 4 letters BOYS ECHO GLAD HAND NIGH UGLY 5 letters BLEED DOLLY NYLON VALVE 6 letters ARMOUR ASHORE AWAKEN GROOVY 7 letters BALLOON CALYPSO WIN £100 puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021ASK Aunty NellyBored in the bedroom Q I’ve been with my hubby for 10 years. From the start, he hasn’t made any noise whatsoever during sex. I’ve mentioned it in the past and he says he doesn’t know why, and it’s something he’s never done with anyone. The older I get, the more boring it feels. Like I’m forcing him into something he doesn’t want to do. Is this normal?Karina, 41 AI think what you’re trying to say is you want to spice things up. There’s nothing wrong with that, but just because he isn’t vocal, it doesn’t mean he isn’t enjoying it. If you force him, he’ll end up faking it, and no one wants that. Look at ways of making things more interesting instead of concentrating on his lack of…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Man, I feel like a woman!Desperate for a break, after the sentencing I flew to Turkey.Surrounded by beautiful views, I found some peace.Turkey became my happy place, and I visited often.Then, in 2006, sitting in a hotel bar watching the evening entertainment, a drag queen called Miss Bella Berserk came on.I admired her glam look – she oozed charisma.‘Fancy a turn?’ Bella quipped I froze. Then...‘Yes, actually!’ I snapped.After all, I loved performing – and, swept up in the moment, it looked fun. Freeing.The next day, I headed to the local market and bought a glitzy top and skirt. And that night, Bella took me backstage to do my hair and make-up.‘You sure about this?’ Bella asked, applying my lippy.Grinning, I nodded.Confidence pulsed through me like electricity as I stepped on stage.‘Meet Miss Alice Bazaar!’…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Horror at the karaokeKatrina Harte, 58, Newcastle Turning the key in the ignition, I revved the engine on my scarletred motorbike. Beautiful! I thought, hearing it roar. The bike had been just a frame when I’d bought it. I’d spent months rebuilding it from scratch, adding the engine, configuring the brakes and all the mechanisms. ‘And now you’re perfect,’ I grinned, wiping the oil from my hands. Getting down and dirty with an engine was my favourite thing to do. An escape. As a kid, I never fitted in. I hated being pushed to play football and had no interest in Action Man toys. But I had a fascination with electrical things. Engineering ran in the family, and I loved taking things apart and putting them back together to see how they worked.…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Winner winner chicken dinnerPotato, leek and crème fraiche chickenWholesome, hearty comfort food doesn’t get much better than this creamy chicken bakeSERVES 4 PREP TIME: 10 MINS COOK TIME: 40 MINS• 3tbsp olive oil• 2tbsp wholegrain mustard• 350g new potatoes,big ones halved• 4 skin-on chicken breasts• 2 large leeks• 1tbsp plain flour• 50ml chicken stock• 200g crème fraiche• 2tbsp fresh chopped parsley• Steamed greens, to serve1 Preheat oven to 200C/Gas 6. Heat 2tbsp oil and the wholegrain mustard in an ovenproof dish. Mix together and, once hot, add the potatoes and toss to coat. Cook for around 20 mins.2 Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and cook the chicken for 5 mins on each side until golden. Remove from the pan and set aside. Fry the leeks until soft. Add 1tbsp…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Coming soon...DalglieshCHANNEL 5Adapted from the bestselling novels by PD James, this new crime drama stars Doctor Foster’s Bertie Carvel as the author’s much loved creation Inspector Adam Dalgliesh. The three two-part mysteries will follow the detective’s career as he solves crimes from the 1970s until the present day.The Devil’s HourAMAZON PRIME VIDEOFormer Call the Midwife star Jessica Raine heads this six-part thriller. She plays Lucy, who is woken every night at 3.33am by terrifying visions. Can they explain why she’s inexplicably linked to a string of murders? The cast also includes Peter Capaldi and Meera Syal.My Name Is LeonBBC1Set in 1980s Birmingham, this one-off drama tells the moving story of 9-year-old Leon, a mixed-race boy, and his quest to reunite his family after being taken into care. Monica Dolan plays his…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Coming soon...Dalgliesh CHANNEL 5 Adapted from the bestselling novels by PD James, this new crime drama stars Doctor Foster’s Bertie Carvel as the author’s much loved creation Inspector Adam Dalgliesh. The three two-part mysteries will follow the detective’s career as he solves crimes from the 1970s until the present day. The Devil’s Hour AMAZON PRIME VIDEO Former Call the Midwife star Jessica Raine heads this six-part thriller. She plays Lucy, who is woken every night at 3.33am by terrifying visions. Can they explain why she’s inexplicably linked to a string of murders? The cast also includes Peter Capaldi and Meera Syal. My Name Is Leon BBC1 Set in 1980s Birmingham, this one-off drama tells the moving story of 9-year-old Leon, a mixed-race boy, and his quest to reunite his family after…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Young and sufferingExams, social media, a worldwide pandemic…Teenagers today are facing evergrowing pressures.Yet, while parents battle to shield their kids from outside dangers, harm is being done closer to home than we often realise.Shockingly, one in five young women aged 16 to 24 have intentionally cut, burnt or poisoned themselves.*This figure has more than trebled in the last 20 years.And, according to a BBC investigation, hospital admissions of 9 to 12-year-olds because of selfinjury has doubled in six years.Chat looks at what can be done to help these young people more…‘It felt like cutting helped me cope’Harriet Knock, 23, North DevonArriving home from school, I ignored my rumbling tummy as I told my mum Sarah what a great day I’d had.It was a lie.And when I pushed the food around my dinner…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021A MUM’S VIEW: ‘I feared for her life’Harriet’s mum Sarah Knock, 61, says, ‘Alarm bells first rang when Harriet started secondary school. She became withdrawn. Often told me she didn’t want to go in at all. Her relationship with food started to change. It became a battle, willing her to eat but witnessing, her clothes becoming looser, her face looking thinner. When I found out that she was self-harming, I was distraught. I didn’t know what to say at first, but I knew she was depressed and needed help. I locked away the knives, scissors – anything sharp. But she bought a craft knife from a local shop. I took her to a dietician, contacted children’s mental-health services. I eventually took her out of school for a time as she wasn’t coping. A young man living locally…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £500 cash*tHE BIG QUIZ The answers to all but one of these quiz questions can be found hidden in this wordsearch grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally. To help you, we’ll tell you that the answers are in alphabetical order in each section. However, one answer can’t be found in the grid. This is your prize answer. See page 56 for entry details. THE SILVER SCREEN – CHEESE 1 In which Wallace and Gromit film does a shocked Wallace utter the words ‘Not even Wensleydale?’ after Wendolene confesses she doesn’t like cheese? (1,5,5) 2 The 2008 crime thriller Gone Baby Gone, which features a Haitian drug lord named Cheese, was which actor’s feature-length directorial debut? (3,7) 3 John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson have an exchange about the French…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-20213 OF THE BEST BEDTIME BEAUTY BUYSRadox Feel Relaxed Bath Soak, £1.20, Boots Prepare for a restful night’s sleep with a warm bath before bed. This lavender scented bath soak fills the tub with bubbles and the relaxing fragrance will encourage you to drift off in no time. Retreat Cedarwood Candle, £3, Primark Lighting a scented candle is a great way to wind down after a stressful day. This Primark one smells warm and woody and is so affordable – stock up now for a candle-lit winter. Leighton Denny Rebirth Hand Cream, £4.99, leightondenny.com This sumptuous hand cream is fantastic for hydrating dry skin and cuticles overnight. When you jump into bed, massage it in and you’ll wake up to the softest hands ever. It’s ultra-rich but not greasy!…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Nerd turned DARK NET DRUG LORDWhen Ross Ulbricht, then 25, graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2009, with degrees in Physics and Engineering, he dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur. The computer nerd founded a company selling books online. But it wasn’t enough. With knowledge of the Dark Web – the seedy underbelly of the internet, invisible to traditional search engines – he had an idea that’d change the world. A secret website similar to Amazon. But for drugs. In 2011, he launched Silk Road, an online buying-and-selling site that would remain anonymous. It ran on the Tor network, which disguises users’ identity and location. And by using digital currency Bitcoin, transactions would be untraceable. The encrypted site meant individuals could buy or sell anything online. Silk Road quickly became the eBay of illegal goods. Even…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Chat PUZZLES 41HOW TO ENTER TEXT Simply text CHATD followed by a space and your answer/s (spaces between answers please) full name, door number and postcode to 63333 Texts cost 50p plus standard network charge (maximum 160 characters per text). When you enter by text, you may in future get SMS marketing messages from Future plc and Chat. If you want to receive these, please end your text with OPTIN. Texting tips • Don’t put any spaces in an answer that has several words: eg: CHATISTHEBEST not CHAT IS THE BEST. • If the answer is a name, you need only give the surname: eg: CLOONEY not GEORGE CLOONEY. • You can use capitals or small letters, but don’t use any commas, etc. • Leave out answers you don’t wish to enter.…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021A letter to... Our matriarchDear Great-grandma, We make quite the tribe of women, don’t we? Starting with my little Riley, 20 months, me, my mum Michelle, 44, Grandma Catherine, 67... And, of course, you Great-grandma Eileen, going strong at 90. Our matriarch! You’ve raised, and helped raise, three generations of strong women, taught me so much about being a mother myself. When I first found out I was expecting, I was so nervous. It was March 2019. I’d just been accepted into uni and still lived at home, and was so shocked. But I should have known I didn’t need to panic. ‘We’re all here to help,’ Mum reassured. You and Grandma Catherine were quick to remind me, too. I had three generations of amazing mothers beside me. You were all convinced the baby…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Welcome to this week’s Chat…When Kimmy’s beloved Chihuahua Fifi passed away, she wasn’t ready to say goodbye. What she did next is pretty unusual…it involved putting Fifi in the freezer (p10)! Karaoke queen Katrina was stabbed after she performed – what she didn’t know was that this violent attack would spur her on to change her life forever (p37). And new mum Asher’s lovely letter to her great gran shows the true meaning of girl power (p58). There’s chilling true crime, woolly winter warmers (p12) new family fave recipes (p40) and loads more. Stay safe and well this week. GET IN TOUCH! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com FACEBOOK facebook.com/ChatMagazine POST Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP Subscribe from just £10.99* Subscribe online at magazinesdirect.com/26BW or call 0330 333 1113 and quote code 26BW** *Payable every 3…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Too good to be trueSimon Deaton, 44, ChesterfieldBacon sizzled in the pan as I sat with a mate at the kitchen table, planning a day mountain biking.‘Coffee?’ my girlfriend Nicole, then 34, smiled, putting down a plate of fresh butties.‘She’s a diamond,’ my mate grinned.He was right.Nicole and I had met online in April 2014.At nearly 37, I’d almost given up hope of finding The One, settling down and having kids.But when we got chatting, things felt different.Nicole, a mum to two teenagers, was easy to talk to, made me laugh. And when we went for dinner a week later, we just clicked.Nicole was a natural beauty, up for a laugh.Independent, she ran a transport company.I was an amateur racing driver and worked in the family scrapmetal business.We met online. She was easy to…5 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Nothing could stop herFor a time, it seemed Nicole and I had both moved on.We’d swap tight smiles when I dropped off and picked up the girls, then 5 and 4, managing to keep it civil.Our divorce was being processed and I thought I could start living my life again.In time, I heard from friends Nicole was dating.By October 2020, I’d also met someone else, Rosie.It was early days, but we enjoyed meals out and cosy nights in, and I felt the past was where it belonged.Then Nicole sent me a string of texts.So you’re seeing someone else, then? she demanded.I ignored her.Who I was seeing was none of her business.One snowy evening that December, I took Rosie for a meal while the girls were with Nicole.At home, later, Rosie and I cosied…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Stuffed with LOVEKimmy Walker-Harris, 40, Alford, Lincolnshire Trotting into the garden, my tiny Chihuahua Fifi howled into the air. Then she skipped back inside for breakfast. ‘You’re funny,’ I laughed. Fifi, then 13, had been the first dog me and my partner Stuart, then 45, had got together. Our pocket pooch with the mega personality. And as we’d added to our brood, Fifi was always top dog. By now, in July 2020, we had 10 canine pals. Fifi, her granddaughter Polly, five Pomeranians, a chow chow, a pug and a Border collie. But despite Fifi’s size, she ruled the roost. She’d bark at the others if they misbehaved. Even rounded up my three horses. ‘Good girl, Fi,’ I’d grin as she led them into their paddocks. But now, watching her scoff her…4 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021‘CONTROVERSIAL, BUT DON’T JUDGE…’Wendy Andrew, from the Scottish Pet Bereavement Counselling Service, says, ‘The loss of a companion animal is heartbreaking. But there’ll always be those who don’t understand the impact of pet bereavement. When it comes to memorialising a beloved pet, what feels right to one person may not feel right to another. With taxidermy, it may bring great comfort to some to have their beloved companion immortalised and on display within their home. For others, it may feel a touch macabre and uncomfortable, even distasteful.The thought of the taxidermy process might also be traumatising for some and, while they think it may bring comfort, it may leave them stuck in their grief, unable to move forwards. It could also be upsetting if the result doesn’t reflect the essence or personality of…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £500 cash!NUMBER JIGHow many goals were scored by Tharjini Sivalingam, the tournament’s top scorer, at the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool? Fit these numbers into the grid. One number doesn’t fit This is the prize answer3 digits3483994024246166396557198389904 digits10291232141423273360416148948030864586998823927193255 digits12160363234707251475528085368964128753847959488909990936 digits4064194518556080377 digits1386804296179229990748 digits26056943581956766675007172160962WIN £250 Puzzle 1Your answer:SPIRAL XWORDWhich boy band made the final 12 of The X Factor in 2006, but were banned for having professional representation? The answer to each clue begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. Shaded squares spell out the answer.1 Hot sauce (7)2 US state (6)3 Prehistoric human (11)4 Young hare (7)5 Culinary herb (5)6 Early hearing aid (3,7)7 Pasta in long strips (11)8 Lift (8)9 Ian _, Inspector Rebus author (6)10 Unclothed (5)11 Children’s TV character assisted by Penfold (6,5)12 Thomas _, US…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021GUILTYJohn Couey was found guilty of murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and burglary in the abduction of Jessica Lunsford.During sentencing, Judge Ric Howard reduced the courtroom to tears as he discussed how the girl died slowly as her oxygen ran out.An expert said she could’ve been alive five minutes before losing consciousness.‘He caused a slow, suffering, conscious death. Her only source of comfort during this horrific experience was her purple dolphin,’ the judge said.Mark Lunsford pleaded for Couey to die for his crime and spoke of his memories of his daughter.‘I can remember when she was about 1 year old and would give me kisses and hugs and steal the raisins from my cereal. From bumps to bruises, from BandAids to bicycles, she was a tomboy with her daddy and a…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021THE BIGGIEWho is US actor Zendaya’s favourite Shakespeare character? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer.Across11 Green, for example (6)12 Costing a lot (9)13 Cooker (4)14 Fine soft fabric (8)15 Ancient language (5)16 Bring in from overseas (6)17 Percussion instruments (7)18 See 36 Across20 Natural ability (5)22 Moral standard (9)24 Spotless (5)28 Imitator (7)29 Welsh city (7)32 Spud (6)34 Glowing or shining (8)36/18 Actor who starred in BBC series Sherlock (8,11)37 Ways of getting to a place (6)39 Tomato puree (7)40 Office gadget (7)45 Go in (5)47 School subject (9)48 Prepared (5)51 See-through (11)53 Visualise (7)55 Coaches (6)56 Steps on a ladder (5)58 Hover above the ground (8)59 On a single occasion (4)60 Fondness (9)61 Rampaged (6)DOWN1 Design made of…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021FOCUS ON… Boosting your energy1 Make time for exerciseFed up with feeling lethargic? You’re not alone. Each day, the average Brit spends two hours and 56 minutes feeling drained.*Going for a walk or getting active in some other way is an easy way to stop this. That’s because exercise is one of the body’s best stimulators as it triggers energising feel-good chemicals.Walking, swimming, cycling or even doing moderate housework for 20 minutes three times a week can make a difference, helping to reduce fatigue by 65% and increase energy by 20%.**2 Sleep moreEnough sleep – seven to eight hours – is vital for physical and mental alertness.‘Go to bed and get up at roughly the same time each day and wind down properly – no screens for an hour before bed, cut out caffeine…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021ASK Dr MartinOne kidney a worry?Q A scan has shown that I only have one kidney! Is that dangerous?Jan, AccringtonA Around one in 1,000 of us are born with one kidney instead of the usual two, though many may never know it.A single kidney will often enlarge and do the work of two, filtering waste and excess fluid from your body, and never cause any problems. But a single kidney is under extra strain and might sometimes start to leak protein, increase your blood pressure, or (rarely) fail altogether.Healthy exercise is fine, although it’s probably best to avoid rough contact sports as your enlarged kidney could be more vulnerable to damage from knocks. Reduce strain on your kidney by avoiding excess salt and protein.Your doctor will suggest regular blood-pressure checks, test your…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £375 cash!OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p3. There’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Ann Johnson, Runcorn, Cheshire ACROSS 1 Side shoot 2 Of long ago 3 Oasis singer 4 Type of soil DOWN 1 Working together, in _ 2 Bar game 3 Waste product 4 Depend WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Koumpounophobia is the fear of what type of object? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: BA + BY, BY +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 7 Your…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021CRIME MAPPARK AMBUSHHeather Tell, 17, was attacked in Kettlebrook Linear Park, Tamworth, in August 2000.Heather was stripped, her underwear shoved in her mouth, and strangled with her shoelace. Her body was discovered in nearby bushes the next morning.Coach driver Michael Chidgey, then 46, was arrested after a relative raised suspicions about him.He’d previously served time for attempted rape, and his DNA matched the crime scene.He was jailed for life for Heather’s murder.WORKER RAGEIn a row over holiday pay, Newcastle-under-Lyme restaurant worker Wai Lim Fong, 21, stabbed his boss, Ray Mo, 57, in March 2004.He stabbed Ray in the back and slashed his throat three times before emptying a food waste bin over him.It emerged he’d tried to buy a carving knife hours before the attack, and forensic evidence linked him to…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £1,110 cash!ARROW WORD Which is the only large moon in the solar system that orbits its planet in the opposite direction to the planet’s rotation? Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer. WIN £1,000 puzzle 10 Your answer: SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Solve the puzzle and the numbers in the highlighted squares will give you the prize puzzle answer. WIN £60 puzzle 11 Your answer: WORDSEARCH ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) has its headquarters in which city? BANGKOK BEIJING DELHI DHAKA HANOI JAKARTA KARACHI LAHORE MANILA MUMBAI RIYADH SHANGHAI TAIPEI TEHRAN TOKYO…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £200 cash!FILL ME INOrléans in France is twinned with which UK city?Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer.WIN £100 puzzle 14Your answerCIRCLE TIMEWhat animal is an acronym used for a format of poker, involving a round of each of five different game variants? Fit the words into the grid, then read the letters in the shaded circles.3 lettersCABLOBOAKOILOLDPADREVVIAYES4 lettersBOYSECHOGLADHANDNIGHUGLY5 lettersBLEEDDOLLYNYLONVALVE6 lettersARMOURASHOREAWAKENGROOVY7 lettersBALLOONCALYPSOWIN £100 puzzle 15Your answer:TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021More than my tumoursNervous, heart pounding, butterflies...Ashley Jernigan feels a thousand mixed emotions.All she’s doing is going to the gym in a vest top and cropped leggings.An everyday task for most fitness fanatics and gym bunnies.But it’s a place Ashley has avoided for many years.‘I’m worried about people coming in, looking. Staring. Having something to say, like, “Why is she out in public?”‘It’s hard for me to focus on what I’m supposed to be doing because I’m more worried about what somebody’s going to say about me,’ she says.Ashley suffers an aggressive form of neurofibromatosis.A genetic skin condition causing tumours to grow all over her body.Ashley, who’s from Alabama, USA, explains, ‘Neurofibromatosis is a genetic skin condition that causes tumour growth on the skin. It can also cause tumour growth inside the body.‘Usually,…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021More than my tumoursNervous, heart pounding, butterflies... Ashley Jernigan feels a thousand mixed emotions. All she’s doing is going to the gym in a vest top and cropped leggings. An everyday task for most fitness fanatics and gym bunnies. But it’s a place Ashley has avoided for many years. ‘I’m worried about people coming in, looking. Staring. Having something to say, like, “Why is she out in public?” ‘It’s hard for me to focus on what I’m supposed to be doing because I’m more worried about what somebody’s going to say about me,’ she says. Ashley suffers an aggressive form of neurofibromatosis. A genetic skin condition causing tumours to grow all over her body. Ashley, who’s from Alabama, USA, explains, ‘Neurofibromatosis is a genetic skin condition that causes tumour growth on the skin.…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £600 cash!CODE CRACKER What is US fashion designer WMichael Kors’ favourite midnight snack? To find out, solve the puzzle... Fill in the grid. Each letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number from 1 to 26. When you’ve completed the grid, the shaded squares will spell out the two-word prize answer. We’ve given you five letters to start off. WIN £500 puzzle 16 Your answer WORD JUMBLE The largest organism on Earth is thought to be a fungus that spreads for almost 10 square kilometres underground in the Malheur National Forest in which US state? Unscramble each group of letters to discover six US states. Now fit them across the grid and you’ll spell out the answer to the question. 1. ER WONKY 2. COAL DOOR 3. NOMINATES 4.…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Man, I feel like a woman!Desperate for a break, after the sentencing I flew to Turkey. Surrounded by beautiful views, I found some peace. Turkey became my happy place, and I visited often. Then, in 2006, sitting in a hotel bar watching the evening entertainment, a drag queen called Miss Bella Berserk came on. I admired her glam look – she oozed charisma. ‘Fancy a turn?’ Bella quipped I froze. Then... ‘Yes, actually!’ I snapped. After all, I loved performing – and, swept up in the moment, it looked fun. Freeing. The next day, I headed to the local market and bought a glitzy top and skirt. And that night, Bella took me backstage to do my hair and make-up. ‘You sure about this?’ Bella asked, applying my lippy. Grinning, I nodded. Confidence pulsed through…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021This week’s TVThe LarkinsITVIn this new adaptation of The Darling Buds of May, Bradley Walsh and No Offence star Joanna Scanlan head the cast as Pop and Ma Larkin. Set in the late 1950s, the six-part comedy drama follows the couple and their six children as they live off the land in the Kent countryside while battling authority and snobby neighbours. Bridgerton’s Sabrina Bartlett stars as eldest daughter Mariette, who falls for tax inspector Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton (Tok Stephen). The cast also includes Peter Davison and Robert Bathurst.Angela BlackITVJoanne Froggatt stars as wife and mother Angela, who seems to have the perfect life but is trapped in an abusive marriage to the charismatic Olivier (Michiel Huisman). Then out of the blue she’s approached by Ed (Samuel Adewunmi), a private investigator who claims…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021This week’s TVThe Larkins ITV In this new adaptation of The Darling Buds of May, Bradley Walsh and No Offence star Joanna Scanlan head the cast as Pop and Ma Larkin. Set in the late 1950s, the six-part comedy drama follows the couple and their six children as they live off the land in the Kent countryside while battling authority and snobby neighbours. Bridgerton’s Sabrina Bartlett stars as eldest daughter Mariette, who falls for tax inspector Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton (Tok Stephen). The cast also includes Peter Davison and Robert Bathurst. Angela Black ITV Joanne Froggatt stars as wife and mother Angela, who seems to have the perfect life but is trapped in an abusive marriage to the charismatic Olivier (Michiel Huisman). Then out of the blue she’s approached by Ed (Samuel Adewunmi),…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021A MUM’S VIEW: ‘I feared for her life’Harriet’s mum Sarah Knock, 61, says, ‘Alarm bells first rang when Harriet started secondary school.She became withdrawn. Often told me she didn’t want to go in at all.Her relationship with food started to change.It became a battle, willing her to eat but witnessing, her clothes becoming looser, her face looking thinner.When I found out that she was self-harming, I was distraught.I didn’t know what to say at first, but I knew she was depressed and needed help.I locked away the knives, scissors – anything sharp.But she bought a craft knife from a local shop.I took her to a dietician, contacted children’s mental-health services.I eventually took her out of school for a time as she wasn’t coping.A young man living locally had killed himself and I lived in constant fear Harriet…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Young and sufferingExams, social media, a worldwide pandemic… Teenagers today are facing evergrowing pressures. Yet, while parents battle to shield their kids from outside dangers, harm is being done closer to home than we often realise. Shockingly, one in five young women aged 16 to 24 have intentionally cut, burnt or poisoned themselves.* This figure has more than trebled in the last 20 years. And, according to a BBC investigation, hospital admissions of 9 to 12-year-olds because of selfinjury has doubled in six years. Chat looks at what can be done to help these young people more… ‘It felt like cutting helped me cope’ Harriet Knock, 23, North Devon Arriving home from school, I ignored my rumbling tummy as I told my mum Sarah what a great day I’d had. It was…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £500 cash*tHE BIG QUIZThe answers to all but one of these quiz questions can be found hidden in this wordsearch grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally. To help you, we’ll tell you that the answers are in alphabetical order in each section. However, one answer can’t be found in the grid. This is your prize answer. See page 56 for entry details.THE SILVER SCREEN – CHEESE1 In which Wallace and Gromit film does a shocked Wallace utter the words ‘Not even Wensleydale?’ after Wendolene confesses she doesn’t like cheese? (1,5,5)2 The 2008 crime thriller Gone Baby Gone, which features a Haitian drug lord named Cheese, was which actor’s feature-length directorial debut? (3,7)3 John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson have an exchange about the French name for a quarter-pounder with…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021TRIED AND TESTEDNYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Frappe, £5.50, Superdrug This creamy, long-lasting eye pencil is perfect for defining your lash line and creating a smokey eye. We love this shade in particular as the subtle brown colour doesn’t look harsh on mature eyes.OPI Nail Lacquer in Pink on Canvas, £13.90, justmylook.com Don’t neglect your feet this winter. Instead, keep them looking pretty with this cute, pink shade of polish perfect for applying to toenails. It’s worth spending that bit more when the chipresistant formula will stay looking fab for weeks.Rimmel Wonder’Extension Mascara, £9.99, Boots Achieving long, fluttery lashes is easy with this lashextending mascara. The spiked wand grabs on to every lash, leaving them lifted, curled and defined.Super Facialist Hexapeptide-9 Anti-Ageing Skin Cleansing Milk, £9, Boots Squeaky-clean skin without feeling stripped…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-20216 reason to visit… YorkSomething for everyone1 This ancient walled city on the banks of the River Ouse, may be known for its historic sites – York Minster, Clifford’s Tower and Merchant Adventurers’ Hall to name a few – but perhaps less known for its shopping and restaurant life. Yet, this small city has surprises around every corner, whether it’s a coffee house hidden in the city walls, a retro tea and cake institution or a restaurant serving South American street food.Travel in time2 Climb aboard a time-travelling carriage at the Jorvik Viking Centre. Anyone who has visited will remember the smells of the past as they watched life-sized Viking mannequins going about their day. See 2,000 years of dark history at the York Dungeon and try walking the ancient city walls or climbing…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021TRIED AND TESTEDNYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Frappe, £5.50, Superdrug This creamy, long-lasting eye pencil is perfect for defining your lash line and creating a smokey eye. We love this shade in particular as the subtle brown colour doesn’t look harsh on mature eyes. OPI Nail Lacquer in Pink on Canvas, £13.90, justmylook.com Don’t neglect your feet this winter. Instead, keep them looking pretty with this cute, pink shade of polish perfect for applying to toenails. It’s worth spending that bit more when the chipresistant formula will stay looking fab for weeks. Rimmel Wonder’Extension Mascara, £9.99, Boots Achieving long, fluttery lashes is easy with this lashextending mascara. The spiked wand grabs on to every lash, leaving them lifted, curled and defined. Super Facialist Hexapeptide-9 Anti-Ageing Skin Cleansing Milk, £9, Boots Squeaky-clean skin…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Chat PUZZLES 41HOW TO ENTERTEXTSimply text CHATD followed by a space and your answer/s (spaces between answers please) full name, door number and postcode to63333Texts cost 50p plus standard network charge (maximum 160 characters per text). When you enter by text, you may in future get SMS marketing messages from Future plc and Chat.If you want to receive these, please end your text with OPTIN.Texting tips• Don’t put any spaces in an answer that has several words: eg: CHATISTHEBEST not CHAT IS THE BEST.• If the answer is a name, you need only give the surname: eg: CLOONEY not GEORGE CLOONEY.• You can use capitals or small letters, but don’t use any commas, etc.• Leave out answers you don’t wish to enter.INTERNETJoin our Chat Comp Club now and enter your puzzle answers…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021WE WON!Chat winners issue 28(15 July 2021)£1,001 CASHJ McKay, Solihull£1,000 CASHE Cornwell,Bristol£500 CASHJ Warren, Colchester; S Dell, Southampton£250 CASHY Rowe, Chippenham£150 CASHR Owen, Corby£100 CASHA Sorrie, Elgin; B Delaforce, Bude; R Moxham, Milton Keynes; R Smith, Wantage; L Manning, Ware£60 CASH M Lewis, Houghton Le Spring£50 CASHS Freeman, Kettering; A Daly, Egremont; C Bateman, Chichester£30 CASHR Shurmer, Drybrook; J Elliott, Worksop; P Callow, Somerset; P Carpenter, Peterborough; L Howard, Bideford£25 CASH I Baig, Luton; W Swartz, Bridgend; T Baggott, Newton Abbot; M Nightingale, Woodbridge; C Harvey, Plymouth; A Ringe, Leicester; S Wainwright, Littleborough; E Jones, Hull; A Whitman, HornseaAnyone from your town in the list this week..?Chat PUZZLE 11 766chat PUZZLE 14 FULHAMChat PUZZLE 15 BAVARIA• All contributions to Chat must be original, not copies or duplicated to other editors. Subject…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Picture perfectI might have looked the part during the shooting activity on my holiday in Benidorm, but I didn’t actually hit the target once! My audience soon took cover. Sharon Powell, Swansea Meet the newest addition to our family – our beautiful 13-week-old Maine Coon kitten, Storm. She completes us and brings nothing but pure love and happiness to our lives…Our purrfect Storm! Lara Dabrowska, Southampton Who says cats and dogs can’t be friends? My fur babies love to have a little snooze together. Sandie Gallachee, Edinburgh I turned my back for a short time only to panic, thinking my 5-year-old daughter Georgi had some terrible rash. She then explained her sister Billi, 6, wanted to play dot-to-dot on her face! Thank goodness it was washable crayons. Sue Hutchinson, Shurdington After…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Too good to be trueSimon Deaton, 44, Chesterfield Bacon sizzled in the pan as I sat with a mate at the kitchen table, planning a day mountain biking. ‘Coffee?’ my girlfriend Nicole, then 34, smiled, putting down a plate of fresh butties. ‘She’s a diamond,’ my mate grinned. He was right. Nicole and I had met online in April 2014. At nearly 37, I’d almost given up hope of finding The One, settling down and having kids. But when we got chatting, things felt different. Nicole, a mum to two teenagers, was easy to talk to, made me laugh. And when we went for dinner a week later, we just clicked. Nicole was a natural beauty, up for a laugh. Independent, she ran a transport company. I was an amateur racing driver and worked…5 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Just GeniusIt’s a dateWhenever I change my Hoover bag, I write the date on the new one so I know how long it has been used for.Sharon Carey, CastlefieldPosh washDon’t throw away empty hand-soap bottles – fill them with washing-up liquid instead. A couple of squirts into the sink will give you just the right amount of liquid, and the dispenser will look much nicer beside the sink.Barbara Clayton, Dibden PurlieuStay freshWrap celery in foil before you put it in the fridge. It makes it stay fresher for longer, so it doesn’t end up going limp.Roxanne Sumner, Fortis GreenThat’s ace!To get scuffs out of wooden floors, I rub a tennis ball across the scuff. It transfers the mark to the tennis ball, which is then easy to clean!Kira Maddocks, CheshuntSeeing clearlyTo…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Stuffed with LOVEKimmy Walker-Harris, 40, Alford, LincolnshireTrotting into the garden, my tiny Chihuahua Fifi howled into the air.Then she skipped back inside for breakfast.‘You’re funny,’ I laughed.Fifi, then 13, had been the first dog me and my partner Stuart, then 45, had got together.Our pocket pooch with the mega personality.And as we’d added to our brood, Fifi was always top dog.By now, in July 2020, we had 10 canine pals.Fifi, her granddaughter Polly, five Pomeranians, a chow chow, a pug and a Border collie.But despite Fifi’s size, she ruled the roost.She’d bark at the others if they misbehaved. Even rounded up my three horses.‘Good girl, Fi,’ I’d grin as she led them into their paddocks.But now, watching her scoff her breakfast, I worried.She was an old girl in dog years.‘What’ll we do…4 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021WHAT’S YOUR STYLE? WINTER WARMERSSCARVES STYLE TIP Scarves are a great way to inject colour and patterns to any outfit and are a must-have for your winter wardrobe. FUR-LINED BOOTS STYLE TIP Chunky boots are the hero shoe of the season. Wear with textured fabrics such as wool or denim to balance the heavy style. HATS STYLE TIP A cute bobble or beanie hat will keep your head warm in style and no one will know if you’re hair day! GLOVES FROM £2.50 STYLE TIP These Totes gloves have smart-touch technology, meaning you can use your phone while…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Her last hugRuth Lunsford tucked her granddaughter Jessica, 9, safely in bed on 23 February 2005. Warm and snuggled, Jessica cuddled the purple dolphin toy that her daddy Mark had won her at the fair.Mark had been a single dad since Jessica was 1, after he and Jessica’s mum Angela had divorced.Mark and his daughter lived with his parents in hom*osassa, Florida.But when Mark returned from his girlfriend’s at 6am the next morning to get ready for work, he heard his daughter’s alarm.Jessica was usually up and getting ready for school, but when he went into her room, he found her bed empty.The clothes she’d laid out for school hadn’t been touched. None of her shoes were gone, but her dolphin toy was.Jessica was a daddy’s girl, she’d never run off.‘I love…4 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Her last hugRuth Lunsford tucked her granddaughter Jessica, 9, safely in bed on 23 February 2005. Warm and snuggled, Jessica cuddled the purple dolphin toy that her daddy Mark had won her at the fair. Mark had been a single dad since Jessica was 1, after he and Jessica’s mum Angela had divorced. Mark and his daughter lived with his parents in hom*osassa, Florida. But when Mark returned from his girlfriend’s at 6am the next morning to get ready for work, he heard his daughter’s alarm. Jessica was usually up and getting ready for school, but when he went into her room, he found her bed empty. The clothes she’d laid out for school hadn’t been touched. None of her shoes were gone, but her dolphin toy was. Jessica was a daddy’s…4 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021THE BIGGIEWho is US actorZendaya’s favourite Shakespeare character? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. Across 11 Green, for example (6) 12 Costing a lot (9) 13 Cooker (4) 14 Fine soft fabric (8) 15 Ancient language (5) 16 Bring in from overseas (6) 17 Percussion instruments (7) 18 See 36 Across 20 Natural ability (5) 22 Moral standard (9) 24 Spotless (5) 28 Imitator (7) 29 Welsh city (7) 32 Spud (6) 34 Glowing or shining (8) 36/18 Actor who starred in BBC series Sherlock (8,11) 37 Ways of getting to a place (6) 39 Tomato puree (7) 40 Office gadget (7) 45 Go in (5) 47 School subject (9) 48 Prepared (5) 51 See-through (11) 53 Visualise (7)…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Thanks Dr GoogleBethany Dawson, 22, London Sitting in the classroom, I tried to pay attention to the teacher. If only this pain would get lost, I thought, pressing my hand to my back. It was late 2012, and aged 13, I’d recently had a benign tumour removed from my lower back. The op had gone well, but now I struggled with pain that came in waves. ‘It’s probably nerve damage,’ my surgeon said, telling me it might ease off in time. But months later, I was still suffering. And now the pain had spread from my lower back to my hips, knees and legs. The doctor still said it was nerve damage. Six years passed like this and, deep down, I was sure there was something more serious going on. At home,…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021ASK Dr MartinOne kidney a worry? Q A scan has shown that I only have one kidney! Is that dangerous? Jan, Accrington A Around one in 1,000 of us are born with one kidney instead of the usual two, though many may never know it. A single kidney will often enlarge and do the work of two, filtering waste and excess fluid from your body, and never cause any problems. But a single kidney is under extra strain and might sometimes start to leak protein, increase your blood pressure, or (rarely) fail altogether. Healthy exercise is fine, although it’s probably best to avoid rough contact sports as your enlarged kidney could be more vulnerable to damage from knocks. Reduce strain on your kidney by avoiding excess salt and protein. Your doctor will…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Keep Chloe shiningKaren Balloqui, 39, from west LondonShowing me her phone, a huge smile spread across my daughter Chloe’s face.‘Look, Mum,’ Chloe, then 8, beamed, flashing her latest TikTok video.In it, she’s trying on different hats.But the video is speeded up, so it looks as though she’s changing them all in a nanosecond.‘Which one looks best?’ she asks her followers, swapping a pink beanie for a purple one.At the end, Chloe appears without a hat, her long, shiny red hair tumbling past her shoulders.‘Brilliant!’ I grinned, knowing how proud she was of her hair.Well, she’d already lost it twice during her life-long cancer battle.Both times, it’d thinned, fallen out in chunks before we eventually shaved it.Chloe was only 18 months when she started suffering from bloating.A year and many visits to the…5 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £1,110 cash!ARROW WORDWhich is the only large moon in the solar system that orbits its planet in the opposite direction to the planet’s rotation? Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer.WIN £1,000 puzzle 10Your answer:SUDOKUTo solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Solve the puzzle and the numbers in the highlighted squares will give you the prize puzzle answer.WIN £60 puzzle 11Your answer:WORDSEARCHASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) has its headquarters in which city?BANGKOKBEIJINGDELHIDHAKAHANOIJAKARTAKARACHILAHOREMANILAMUMBAIRIYADHSHANGHAITAIPEITEHRANTOKYOWIN £50 puzzle 12Your answer:TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Love in the time of corona virusVeryan Greenwood, 62, DitchlingScrolling through the app, I sighed. Nothing.It’d been six months since I’d signed up to Our Time, a dating site for the over-50s.So far, I’d had one disastrous dinner date and was on the verge of cancelling my subscription.One more look, I told myself in March 2020.Then I read a message from a man called Philip.He was handsome, yet he said he was 75.Sorry, you’re a little old for me, I replied.Yet he persisted.I’m an artist and young at heart, he wrote.He said his dad was still going strong at 102!Liking his banter, we exchanged messages before Philip gave me his email address – and when I read it, I was stunned.Philip Dunn!A renowned artist, his colourful deckchair paintings are famous, where I lived, in Brighton.I’d admired…4 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021ASK Aunty NellyBored in the bedroomQ I’ve been with my hubby for 10 years. From the start, he hasn’t made any noise whatsoever during sex. I’ve mentioned it in the past and he says he doesn’t know why, and it’s something he’s never done with anyone.The older I get, the more boring it feels. Like I’m forcing him into something he doesn’t want to do. Is this normal? Karina, 41AI think what you’re trying to say is you want to spice things up. There’s nothing wrong with that, but just because he isn’t vocal, it doesn’t mean he isn’t enjoying it. If you force him, he’ll end up faking it, and no one wants that. Look at ways of making things more interesting instead of concentrating on his lack of sound effects.…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Win! £600 cash!CODE CRACKERWhat is US fashion designer WMichael Kors’ favourite midnight snack?To find out, solve the puzzle... Fill in the grid. Each letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number from 1 to 26. When you’ve completed the grid, the shaded squares will spell out the two-word prize answer. We’ve given you five letters to start off.WIN £500 puzzle 16Your answerWORD JUMBLEThe largest organism on Earth is thought to be a fungus that spreads for almost 10 square kilometres underground in the Malheur National Forest in which US state? Unscramble each group of letters to discover six US states. Now fit them across the grid and you’ll spell out the answer to the question.1. ER WONKY2. COAL DOOR3. NOMINATES4. ACING HIM5. IOU MS SIR6. IAIN DNAWIN £100 puzzle 17Your…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Horror at the karaokeKatrina Harte, 58, NewcastleTurning the key in the ignition, I revved the engine on my scarletred motorbike.Beautiful! I thought, hearing it roar.The bike had been just a frame when I’d bought it.I’d spent months rebuilding it from scratch, adding the engine, configuring the brakes and all the mechanisms.‘And now you’re perfect,’ I grinned, wiping the oil from my hands.Getting down and dirty with an engine was my favourite thing to do.An escape.As a kid, I never fitted in.I hated being pushed to play football and had no interest in Action Man toys.But I had a fascination with electrical things.Engineering ran in the family, and I loved taking things apart and putting them back together to see how they worked.I’d go into my own little world, and there was nothing I…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021CASHSMART3 ways to... clean up your financesYou can save time and cash with these handy organisational tips.1 Get yourself sortedClear out your cupboards and drawers and get rid of anything you don’t need; you could try making some cash by selling unwanted items online such as on local Facebook selling groups or eBay. Then organise your drawers and cupboards and ensure everything has its place. This way, you’ll know exactly what you own so you’ll save time if you’re looking for something and you’ll avoid making a repeat purchase of something you already have. Go through your paperwork and file away important documents and dispose of anything you don’t need any more, but shred first if it contains personal information.2 Right on timeIt’s essential to pay bills on time –…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021CASHSMART3 ways to... clean up your finances You can save time and cash with these handy organisational tips. 1 Get yourself sorted Clear out your cupboards and drawers and get rid of anything you don’t need; you could try making some cash by selling unwanted items online such as on local Facebook selling groups or eBay. Then organise your drawers and cupboards and ensure everything has its place. This way, you’ll know exactly what you own so you’ll save time if you’re looking for something and you’ll avoid making a repeat purchase of something you already have. Go through your paperwork and file away important documents and dispose of anything you don’t need any more, but shred first if it contains personal information. 2 Right on time It’s essential to…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Winner winner chicken dinnerPotato, leek and crème fraiche chicken Wholesome, hearty comfort food doesn’t get much better than this creamy chicken bake SERVES 4 PREP TIME: 10 MINS COOK TIME: 40 MINS • 3tbsp olive oil • 2tbsp wholegrain mustard • 350g new potatoes,big ones halved • 4 skin-on chicken breasts • 2 large leeks • 1tbsp plain flour • 50ml chicken stock • 200g crème fraiche • 2tbsp fresh chopped parsley • Steamed greens, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 200C/Gas 6. Heat 2tbsp oil and the wholegrain mustard in an ovenproof dish. Mix together and, once hot, add the potatoes and toss to coat. Cook for around 20 mins. 2 Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and cook the chicken for 5 mins on each side until…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Your STARSAries21 March-20 AprilMercury moving into Saturn makes you the mediator, giving you a chance to change your mind about a long-held belief. It’s a step towards success.• Call 0905 817 0690* for moreTaurus21 April-21 MayYou might feel there aren’t enough hours in the day and someone will want to talk about a subject you know well. A surprise delivery will be amusing.• Call 0905 817 0691* for moreGemini22 May-21 JuneIt’s a good time to think about your career and if it’s what you really want. You could find a job that is less pressured, doing something you thoroughly enjoy.• Call 0905 817 0692* for moreCancer22 June-23 JulyOne man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Remember that when you visit a local recycling centre or charity shop. You’ve been after a certain…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Your STARSAries 21 March-20 April Mercury moving into Saturn makes you the mediator, giving you a chance to change your mind about a long-held belief. It’s a step towards success. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You might feel there aren’t enough hours in the day and someone will want to talk about a subject you know well. A surprise delivery will be amusing. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June It’s a good time to think about your career and if it’s what you really want. You could find a job that is less pressured, doing something you thoroughly enjoy. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Remember that when…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021HOW TO HELPIf your child or grandchild is selfharming, it’s hard to know what to do...• Don’t blame yourself, and stay calm.• Encourage them to open up – even if they’d rather talk via text message.• Try to listen rather than asking a lot of questions so they feel judged. Make sure they know it’s OK to be honest with you and that you care about them.• Ask them what they would find helpful.• Speak to your GP about a referral (to children and young people’s mental-health services).• Contact the free NSPCC helpline for support and advice on 0808 800 5000, or visit nspcc.org.uk.…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021HOW TO HELPIf your child or grandchild is selfharming, it’s hard to know what to do... • Don’t blame yourself, and stay calm. • Encourage them to open up – even if they’d rather talk via text message. • Try to listen rather than asking a lot of questions so they feel judged. Make sure they know it’s OK to be honest with you and that you care about them. • Ask them what they would find helpful. • Speak to your GP about a referral (to children and young people’s mental-health services). • Contact the free NSPCC helpline for support and advice on 0808 800 5000, or visit nspcc.org.uk.…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-20213 OF THE BEST BEDTIME BEAUTY BUYSRadox Feel Relaxed Bath Soak, £1.20, BootsPrepare for a restful night’s sleep with a warm bath before bed. This lavender scented bath soak fills the tub with bubbles and the relaxing fragrance will encourage you to drift off in no time.Retreat Cedarwood Candle, £3, PrimarkLighting a scented candle is a great way to wind down after a stressful day. This Primark one smells warm and woody and is so affordable – stock up now for a candle-lit winter.Leighton Denny Rebirth Hand Cream, £4.99, leightondenny.comThis sumptuous hand cream is fantastic for hydrating dry skin and cuticles overnight. When you jump into bed, massage it in and you’ll wake up to the softest hands ever. It’s ultra-rich but not greasy!…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021Nerd turned DARK NET DRUG LORDWhen Ross Ulbricht, then 25, graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2009, with degrees in Physics and Engineering, he dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur.The computer nerd founded a company selling books online.But it wasn’t enough.With knowledge of the Dark Web – the seedy underbelly of the internet, invisible to traditional search engines – he had an idea that’d change the world.A secret website similar to Amazon. But for drugs.In 2011, he launched Silk Road, an online buying-and-selling site that would remain anonymous.It ran on the Tor network, which disguises users’ identity and location. And by using digital currency Bitcoin, transactions would be untraceable.The encrypted site meant individuals could buy or sell anything online.Silk Road quickly became the eBay of illegal goods. Even had a shopping-basket icon and product descriptions.People around…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021THE MOVIE TAKE…The 2021 movie Silk Road was written and directed by Tiller Russell.Although Russell had access to entries on Ulbricht’s laptop – used as evidence in court – Ulbricht was never consulted.Jimmi Simpson plays Chris Tarbell, the real-life FBI agent who led the investigation. But Rick Bowden (portrayed by Jason Clarke) is a fictional detective who plays cat and mouse with Ulbricht (Nick Robinson). Bowden is based on a mix of real-life investigators.Tiller stretches the truth, but is the first to admit it…This story is true. Except for what we made up or changed, opening credits read.…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-20216 reason to visit… YorkSomething for everyone 1 This ancient walled city on the banks of the River Ouse, may be known for its historic sites – York Minster, Clifford’s Tower and Merchant Adventurers’ Hall to name a few – but perhaps less known for its shopping and restaurant life. Yet, this small city has surprises around every corner, whether it’s a coffee house hidden in the city walls, a retro tea and cake institution or a restaurant serving South American street food. Travel in time 2 Climb aboard a time-travelling carriage at the Jorvik Viking Centre. Anyone who has visited will remember the smells of the past as they watched life-sized Viking mannequins going about their day. See 2,000 years of dark history at the York Dungeon and try walking the ancient city…2 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021THE MOVIE TAKE…The 2021 movie Silk Road was written and directed by Tiller Russell. Although Russell had access to entries on Ulbricht’s laptop – used as evidence in court – Ulbricht was never consulted. Jimmi Simpson plays Chris Tarbell, the real-life FBI agent who led the investigation. But Rick Bowden (portrayed by Jason Clarke) is a fictional detective who plays cat and mouse with Ulbricht (Nick Robinson). Bowden is based on a mix of real-life investigators. Tiller stretches the truth, but is the first to admit it… This story is true. Except for what we made up or changed, opening credits read.…1 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021A letter to... Our matriarchDear Great-grandma,We make quite the tribe of women, don’t we? Starting with my little Riley, 20 months, me, my mum Michelle, 44, Grandma Catherine, 67...And, of course, you Great-grandma Eileen, going strong at 90.Our matriarch!You’ve raised, and helped raise, three generations of strong women, taught me so much about being a mother myself.When I first found out I was expecting, I was so nervous.It was March 2019. I’d just been accepted into uni and still lived at home, and was so shocked.But I should have known I didn’t need to panic. ‘We’re all here to help,’ Mum reassured.You and Grandma Catherine were quick to remind me, too.I had three generations of amazing mothers beside me.You were all convinced the baby was going to be a girl, too.‘I’m not so sure,’…3 min
Chat|14-Oct-2021WE WON!Chat winners issue 28 (15 July 2021) £1,001 CASH J McKay, Solihull £1,000 CASH E Cornwell, Bristol £500 CASH J Warren, Colchester; S Dell, Southampton £250 CASH Y Rowe, Chippenham £150 CASH R Owen, Corby £100 CASH A Sorrie, Elgin; B Delaforce, Bude; R Moxham, Milton Keynes; R Smith, Wantage; L Manning, Ware £60 CASH M Lewis, Houghton Le Spring £50 CASH S Freeman, Kettering; A Daly, Egremont; C Bateman, Chichester £30 CASH R Shurmer, Drybrook; J Elliott, Worksop; P Callow, Somerset; P Carpenter, Peterborough; L Howard, Bideford £25 CASH I Baig, Luton; W Swartz, Bridgend; T Baggott, Newton Abbot; M Nightingale, Woodbridge; C Harvey, Plymouth; A Ringe, Leicester; S Wainwright, Littleborough; E Jones, Hull; A Whitman, Hornsea Anyone from your town in the list this week..? Chat PUZZLE 11…1 min
