Table of contents for 15-Jul-2021 in Chat

How adorable is baby Dolly in our feature on p10? Those chubby cheeks are all the more amazing when you read what her mum Ashley had to go through to get that special first cuddle. I’m loving Cydni’s story (p19). I’m not sure I could pull it off, but she is rocking the bushy look! Would you give it a go? And Annabella went from a high-flying career to shovelling cow poo (p37) – but she’s never been happier! We’ve got irresistible-looking fruity puds (p40), a summer skirt style guide (p12), prize puzzles, health and beauty advice – and loads more of the stuff you love. Stay safe and keep well this week.…

STYLE TIP Feminine ruffles are great for creating curves on straighter figures. Team with neutral accessories so the frills stand out. STYLE TIP A matching top and skirt is a ready-made look. Add a casual denim jacket or swap to a smarter blazer for a dressier feel. STYLE TIP A floral skirt is a timeless print, perfect for dressing up or down. Pair with leg-lengthening mules and a floaty top. STYLE TIP Floaty A-line skirts are perfect for pear shapes as they skim over your bum and thighs. Tuck in a top to highlight your waist. Find out more about our commitment to REAL women womanandhome.com/real…

It took the jury only two hours to convict Tony Villegas of first-degree murder. Jailing him for life, Broward Circuit Judge Jeffrey R Levenson said, ‘Mr Villegas, by your conduct, you’ve not only affected yourself but you’ve affected the lives of many people. There are no winners in this case.’ Calling Melissa Lewis an innocent victim, he added, ‘She did nothing but become a friend of your wife. And she suffered the consequences.’ Relatives of Villegas and Melissa embraced in court, having supported each other through the trial. Melissa’s devastated mum Lisa La Pointe paid tribute to her daughter, saying, ‘I was extremely proud of her, the whole family was proud of her, she was going to be the next matriarch in the family and she was just taken away…

Play a game of cards Researchers at the University of California believe that it’s possible to increase memory power by playing mentally stimulating games, such as bridge, in which you have to retain information to work out who holds which cards, so you have to think ahead. And you’ll have fun too! Cook with this herb Head to the kitchen. The fragrant herb rosemary has been shown to improve memory due to the effect it has on the brain chemical acetylcholine, which is key to maintaining attention, according to a UK study. It’s evergreen, so use it to season food all year round. Delicious! Make a fist US studies suggest that making a ball with your right hand and squeezing it tightly makes it easier to memorise numbers or lists.…

Nicky James, 36, from Crawley Checking no one was watching, I sneaked up to the bakery counter. ‘There you go, love,’ the lady said, handing me a sausage roll. ‘Your favourite.’ ‘Thanks,’ I said, shoving the warm pastry into my mouth. Savouring the buttery taste. I was only 5, but I loved food, especially pastries, and bread and butter sandwiches. My mum Julie, then 31, tried to stop me eating so much, but it was lost cause. I was hooked. As I got older, nothing changed. I ate when I was happy, ate when I was sad. And I often sneaked food from the cupboard to eat in secret. Mum worried. When I was 11 and in adult-sized clothes, she suggested a slimming club. I joined two weeks before Easter.…

Fiona Ginn, 35, Ipswich Manically waving a pregnancy test in the air, I shrieked. ‘Mike, wait!’ It was September 2015, and my husband was leaving for his job as primary-school teacher. ‘How many lines can you see?’ I gasped. ‘Looks like two,’ he said. My jaw dropped as we hugged, unable to believe it. After five years of trying, including a round of IVF, I was finally pregnant. By March 2016, I was seven months gone and desperate to meet our baby. Only, one afternoon during lunch, Mike, then 28, felt a lump at the back of his neck. ‘What is it?’ he asked. Looking, I found a bump the size of a penny. Alarm bells clanged as I instantly thought of my dad. Dad had died from a malignant…

He likes big boobs Q I’ve been dating a gorgeous guy for a few months, but recently came across a pile of porn magazines in his bedroom. I’m not prudish, but all the women had enormous breasts. My body is totally different – I’m an A cup. Now I’m wondering if I turn him on or he’d rather be with a big-breasted woman. I don’t know whether to say something or ignore it. It might be embarrassing but I’m also wondering what else he has on his phone or computer. Am I overreacting? Annie, 26 A I’ll be blunt – it’s a new relationship and it sounds like you’re looking for red flags that aren’t there. Who cares if he’s into big knockers? It’s his fantasy, so leave him to…

Annabella Baker, 52, Morpeth Checking my emails, I felt my heart pounding. There were a lot of words on the computer screen in front of me. But one stood out more than any other. Redundant. I gasped out loud, then shouted for my husband Mark, then 56. ‘It’s all over,’ I sobbed into his arms. It was summer 2020 and, like lots of other people all around the world, my job had become yet another casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a member of cabin crew for EasyJet, I’d been furloughed when the globe went into lockdown in March. With no one able to go away on holiday, there was nothing for me to do. ‘It’ll just be for a few weeks,’ Mark had reassured me. And, at first, I…

Q I’ve heard that people can make money from home by filling in online surveys. Can you tell me how it works? M Cleave, Bolton A There are loads of survey sites – one popular one is Branded Surveys (surveys.gobranded. com). You sign up, then collect points for every survey you complete. And once you accrue enough points, you can redeem them in the form of gift cards or cash via PayPal. It’s worth signing up to a few of these sites – but make sure you read reviews and the T&Cs first.*…

Amanda Soanes, 35, Norwich Turning up at the bar, I bumped straight into a silver fox. ‘Oh, it’s you,’ I smiled, clocking who it was – Stuart Palmer, a local chef I’d known years. It was November 2017 and I was at the pub with some mates. ‘How did your date go last night?’ Stuart, then 39, grinned. ‘Not sure I’ll be seeing him again,’ I laughed, picking up a pool cue. ‘Fancy a game?’ As Stuart racked up the balls, I gave him the once-over. I’d often felt a spark between us, so decided to test the water. ‘How about a kiss every time I pot a ball?’ I said with a cheeky wink. ‘You’re on,’ Stuart grinned. By the end of the game, we’d shared our first snog…

Barry M Shade Game Lip Palette, £5.99, superdrug.com Struggle to find a lipstick you like? This pursefriendly palette lets you blend nine sheer, satin and matte shades for a perfect match. Dove Pro Age Body Butter, £6.29, boots.com As we age, our skin finds it harder to hold on to moisture. This rich body butter was designed to solve this very problem, leaving skin soft and supple. Eylure x Just Like Us Line & Lash, £9.95, superdrug.com Eylure have teamed up with LGBT+ youth charity Just Like Us to create a limited edition set of lashes. Each kit comes with eyeliner pen that doubles as an adhesive. Ella & Jo Squeaky Clean Brush Cleanser, £20, ellaandjo.com Cleaning your make-up brushes needn’t be a chore. Simply spritz this on and wipe…

What connects comedian John Bishop and former athlete Denise Lewis? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Drink made from apples (5) 4 Shove (4) 6 Examines closely (8) 13 Making a noise like a pig (7) 14 School outfit (7) 15 Kitchen appliance (5) 16 ‘And they lived happily _ after’ (4) 17 City in Massachusetts, USA (6) 18 Packed away (6) 20 Ice pellets (4) 21 Measuring device (5) 22 Greeting with a gesture (6) 25 Disappears (8) 28 Celebrity chef, _ Blumenthal (6) 30 Noblemen (5) 32 TV show, _ Come Dancing (8) 34 Pair (6) 35 Actor, _ LaBeouf (4) 38 Canadian city (6) 39 Notions (5) 40 Long journey by sea (6)…

Cydni Akbar, 21, Maidstone Smothering hair-removal cream on my forehead, my mum Nadine, then 34, frowned. ‘Keep still,’ she said to me. It was 2011 and, aged 12, I was desperate to get rid of the unibrow that’d plagued me throughout childhood. I’d always had dark, thick hair, which stood out against my fair skin. Covered my arms, upper lip and eyebrows. And since starting secondary school, I’d been relentlessly bullied. The pretty, popular girls made me feel ugly, and the boys joined in, too. ‘Gorilla!’ they’d shouted At home, I’d cried to Mum. ‘What’s wrong with me?’ I’d sobbed. ‘It used to happen to me, too. I dreaded the day you’d feel it as well,’ she’d admitted, hugging me. Mum reassured me there was nothing wrong with me. But…

I need to go, NOW! Q I have irritable bowel syndrome and often need an urgent poo without warning. How can I stop this when I’m out?Diana, Aberystwyth A Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause a number of symptoms, including constipation or diarrhoea, cramping pains and bloating. An urgent need to poo is also common and can be upsetting and embarrassing, or even prevent you from going out. Controlling your symptoms means eating the right food – usually this includes soluble fibre, such as oats, but everyone’s different and it might take trial and error, ideally with a dietician, to find what’s best for you. Your doctor can suggest drugs to reduce diarrhoea if necessary. For priority access so you can ask to jump the queue at a public loo,…

LURED BY HER EX Bookkeeper Suzanne Pilley, 38, vanished on 4 May 2010. She’d been on her way to work in Thistle Street, Edinburgh, where she’d recently ended an affair with colleague David Gilroy. Police suspected Gilroy lured her into the office’s underground car park as she arrived for work, where he killed her and stashed her body in his boot. It’s believed he drove to the Argyll countryside the next day to bury her body. Gilroy was convicted of murder and jailed for a minimum of 18 years. But he’s never admitted his crime and Suzanne’s body has never been found. GRISLY BUSINESS In Victorian Scotland, Edinburgh was a leading centre of anatomical study, yet there was a shortage of bodies to dissect. So when William Burke and William…

Pucker up! You can pick up Dr PawPaw Original Balm (25ml) for less right now. The 100% natural, multitasking balm, which nourishes, soothes and hydrates the skin and lips, is a third off at Waitrose – down from £7 to £4.67 until 27 July 2021. Subject to availability.…

Lacura Professional Oil Complex Shampoo, 85p, groceries.aldi.co.uk An upgrade on your average shampoo at a low price, this luxe formula is brimming with hair-smoothing oils that’ll help coax dry, frizz-prone locks into place. Seoulista Beauty Glossy Locks Hair Mask, £12, feelunique.com Think of this as a sheet mask, but for your hair. The ultimate TLC for frazzled locks, sit back and relax while camellia oil, argan oil and hydrolysed keratin work their magic. Vita Coco Coconut Repair Conditioner, £9.99, vitacoco.co.uk Rehydrate parched strands with a generous dose of coconut goodness. This conditioner leaves hair silky smooth, and is far easier to wash out than store cupboard coconut oil.…

Samantha Shrewsbury, 54, Oxford Watching my daughter Jayden sobbing down the phone to her boyfriend, my blood boiled. It was December 2012 and we were visiting family in France. Only, Jayden, then 16, had barely stopped crying. ‘He’s not worth it, love,’ I said, comforting her. Jayden had met Ben Blakeley, then 21, a year or so earlier. I worried from the word go. Ben was older for a start. But he’d promised he’d look after Jayden, and she thought he was a proper Prince Charming. Only, now, my fears were coming true. He’d slept with another girl, Jayden had found out. ‘Ditch him,’ I urged. Heartbroken, Jayden couldn’t crack a smile all week, but I hoped she’d show Ben the door. But she did the opposite. She forgave him,…

Ashley Hughes, 28, Bolton Settling down in front of the telly, I turned on my favourite show and as soon as the theme tune started, so did my tears. One Born Every Minute always made me well up. I loved the emotional stories, the happy parents and tiny babies. My fave moment was seeing the newborn placed on its mum’s chest. ‘You’re hooked on this show,’ my partner Josh, then 22, laughed. He was right. I’d known since I was 16 that I wanted to be a mum. Couldn’t wait for my own magical first cuddle with a baby of my own. But we weren’t trying yet, so I was surprised when my period was late shortly after, in August 2014. I took a test and couldn’t believe it was…

Lorna Ive, 49, Wadhurst Starting my period, aged 13, I was just like most girls my age. I finished school at 16 and got a job in finance in London. Only, by my late teens, my periods lasted weeks. Heavier each month. ‘What’s wrong with me?’ I asked the GP. ‘They’ll go back to normal once you have children,’ he assured me. I hoped so. In 1995, I married Daniel, then 26, and we went on to have two daughters. Yet my periods remained chaotic. Worse than ever. After having our first son in 2001, doctors advised that to stop the constant bleeding, I should consider having a hysterectomy. But I was only 30! So I refused. And in 2005, our second son arrived. Yet, over the next few years,…

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 bySheila Merriman, Torquay ACROSS 1 Chest 2 Go (inside) 3 Type of cheese 4 Cloak DOWN 1 Coffin stand 2 Untie 3 Hurt with a knife 4 Heavy book WIN 5X £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: HALF & HALF Which animal gives the winner of the 2019 UK Open darts championship his nickname? Cross out a letter in each square to get a grid filled with words. The uncrossed-out letters in the shaded squares give the prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 7 Your answer: BRICK TRICK What unit of distance, equal to 19.2 trillion miles,…

ARROW WORD No the Fort and Sandsfoot Castle are ruined fortifications in which British coastal town? 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 × 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 The Lake District town of Kendal stands just south of the confluence of the River Kent and which other river? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BALANCE HOP JOG JUMP KICK LIFT LUNGE…

FILL ME IN In heraldry, what term is used for a pattern of black shapes on a white background? 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 Which now-common tech term was coined by Czech playwright Karel Čapek in his 1920 play RUR? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters BRA BYE GUT NUN OBI RUG TOE YES YET YOU 4 letters COOL CUTS EACH ICON OWED URGE ZINC 5 letters BACON BINGO SPITZ 6 letters GENIUS INCOME RUNWAY SUBURB UNCLOG WORTHY 8 letters SEDIMENT WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn…

Aries 21 March-20 April Clear boundaries are needed to keep things running smoothly between you and others. The more you discuss things, the more you’ll understand them. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Your partner might be more sensitive than usual, so approach situations in a caring way. A night of starlight and music helps to strengthen your bonds. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You’re more talented than you realise and can achieve anything that comes your way. Let your creativity shine. A friend asks for help with a house renovation. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Take action in your career – jump on opportunities. Stop playing it safe, as you’ve always made…

Q Why do age spots appear on my face during the summer months? Phoebe Ryan, 47 A Those pesky dark spots are little patches of melanin (the pigment that gives skin its colour) and are also known as hyperpigmentation. Unfortunately, they’re made worse by the sun, which is why you’re noticing them now. There are a number of ingredients that can help fade pigmentation, and our top pick is vitamin C. Soap & Glory Glow With It 10% Vitamin C Serum, £14, boots.com, packs a real punch, leaving skin clearer and brighter. Use a couple of times a week to see results. Want an even quicker fix? A dab of long-wear concealer like Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, £4.19, superdrug.com, will blur dark spots in the meantime. Prevention is always better…

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