Table of contents for 10 February 2022 in Chat

If you’re looking for a lift, there are a few moments in this week’s issue that really made me smile. When Mariela flew to meet her birth mum, she got off the plane to find the most heartwarming of surprises (p28). Katie’s transformation journey is so inspiring. The change it made to her is written all over her face (p35). And, of course, there’s former puppy-farm pooch Zsa Zsa’s furry-tail ending. That tongue! (p58). We’re also stuffed with shocking reads and true crime, plus puzzles, prizes, food, fashion, fun and more. Stay safe and well this week. GET IN TOUCH! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com FACEBOOK facebook.com/ChatMagazine POST Chat, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR…

STYLE TIP Add a contrasting belt to highlight your waist and create an hourglass silhouette. Wear with trainers for a casual look. STYLE TIP Don’t shy away from brighter colours that look great on all complexions. Add heels to lengthen your legs. STYLE TIP Wide leg jumpsuits skim over thighs and bum. Make sure you look for tie belts to give more shape…

But not of first-degree murder... Last November, after deliberating for almost seven hours, the jury found Joseph Elledge, 26, guilty of second-degree murder. Acquitted of murder in the first degree – which requires proof that he killed deliberately and intentionally – the jury found that he knowingly killed his victim and caused death in an attempt to seriously injure. Last month, Elledge was sentenced to 28 years’ imprisonment – one for each year of Mengqi’s life. While Mengqi’s family remained in China throughout the trial, her friends were in court to pay tribute to her and wore T-shirts with her picture on. The Ji family lawyer, Amy Salladay, said that Mengqi’s parents were pleased to have justice. ‘You didn’t see or hear emotion from Elledge when he described realising that…

Tracy Hampton, 46, Evesham Slipping off a pair of sunglasses, I peered in the hallway mirror and let out a gasp of shock. ‘My nose!’ I squealed. My hubby Steve, then 53, stared at me in surprise. ‘What’s wrong with it?’ ‘It’s doubled in size,’ I cried. Steve peered over at me and frowned. ‘It’s a bit swollen,’ he admitted. Tears pooled in my eyes as he pulled me into his arms for a hug. It was August 2016 and every day I seemed to wake up with some new ailment. For 20 years, I’d been suffering joint pain, headaches and tiredness. Doctors diagnosed me with an endless stream of issues. Irritable bowel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, a vitamin B12 deficiency and rheumatoid arthritis. I felt awful. Lately, there’d been…

My pal has changed Q My friend found out she has cancer and she’s changed from a funny, easy-going woman into a frightened, angry one. When I visit, she spends the whole time saying how hard and unfair her life is. She shows no interest in me. I offer to take her out but she says she’s too tired. I have to push myself to visit her and that makes me sad as we used to be very close. Lisa, 36 A Of course your pal has changed, she’s got cancer! It’s no wonder she’s not the bubbly person she once was. Tell her you don’t know what to say or do, but you’re there for her. Have you asked her what she’d like to do? It may be that…

3 ways to… get that new job Recruitment expert Victoria McLean, founder of career consultancy City CV, gives her top tips on how to ace a job interview 1 Do your prep ‘Go through the job description in detail and be prepared to explain how you fit the role – and more importantly, how you’ll bring value to the business,’ advises Victoria. ‘It’s a good idea to practise being interviewed by a friend or family member in the days beforehand, too.’ 2 Impress on the day ‘During the interview, you’ll want to sell yourself but don’t generalise about your skills and achievements – give concrete examples such as when you’ve exceeded sales targets, stepped up to manage a team or solved problems at work,’ she says. ‘Prepare some questions to…

No Return ITV Sheridan Smith stars as Kathy, who arrives in Turkey for some fun in the sun with her family in this four-part drama. But instead of lounging by the pool and sipping cocktails, she finds herself plunged into a nightmare when her 16-year-old son Noah (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) returns from a party and is arrested by the Turkish police. As details of the teen’s supposed crime are revealed, the desperate mum and her husband Martin (Michael Jibson) face a complex legal system and the glare of the Press as they fight for his freedom. The BRIT Awards ITV Adele’s among the nominees at this year’s BRIT Awards, following the release of her first album in six years, 30. The Easy On Me singer is head-to-head with Ed Sheeran…

Kim Leary, 39, Chester Lying in my garden, in my bikini, I topped up my sun cream. It was April 2020, and the weather was unseasonably hot. ‘Look, Mummy!’ my little boy Logan, then 3, shouted, showing me the game he was playing with his toys. The country was in lockdown, and we were among the lucky ones who had a garden, where we could enjoy fresh air. Our little sanctuary. My hubby Iain, then 37, and I had moved in when Logan was a baby. A two-bed terrace with a lovely garden, it’d been the perfect family home for us. The neighbours we’d got to know were nice and, while we didn’t really know the bloke next door, Craig, he was quiet and friendly. We’d exchange nods and mumbled…

Maybelline Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara, £10.99 Poker straight lashes? Look out. The curved bristle brush teases lashes into a perfect arc, which lasts all day thanks to a special ingredient used in hairspray to fix the curl in place. Lee Stafford Argan Oil Nourishing Shampoo, £9.99 Upgrade your shampoo with one that softens and nourishes dry, brittle hair. It’s infused with argan oil, which transforms coarse hair into silky and glossy locks. Max Factor Facefinity All Day Flawless Foundation, £13.99 Save time and money with this multitasking base, which acts as a primer, concealer and foundation in one. The finish is natural yet flawless, blurring the look of imperfections. Aveeno Soothing Bath Soak Oat Sachets, £11.99 for 8, lloydspharmacy.com Colloidal oats are fantastic for dry, itchy, eczema-prone skin. For softer-feeling…

The so-called Bedsit Murders were a gruesome mystery that spanned more than three decades. Two young women were brutally slaughtered back in 1987. The first victim, Wendy Knell, 25, was the manager of a photo shop in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. She had a boyfriend, loving parents and a promising future. But on 23 June 1987, Wendy’s horrified boyfriend discovered her body in the blood-stained bed of her ground-floor Tunbridge Wells flat. She’d been beaten and strangled to death. Forensic samples were taken, but they were poor, so Wendy’s killer continued to walk free. And five months later, he struck again. On 24 November 1987, Caroline Pierce, 20, was dropped off by a taxi outside her ground-floor flat. The waitress lived just a mile from Wendy’s home. Three weeks later, her…

This gorgeous boy Jett, 2, never goes to sleep without his favourite teddy Harry. Stacy Chapman, Kingswinford Our little Daisy Mae bonding with my husband Brian. Sylvia Foster, Driffield Our little Cockapoo Ellie had a lot of fun playing hide-and-seek in the park. She’s almost invisible among the leaves. Heather Hughes, Chesterfield My daughters Aliyah, 5, and Amiah, 5, enjoying a delicious milkshake treat. Gemma Clayton, Hucknall It was love at first sight for German shepherd River when he met the newest addition to our family – Bink, the ragdoll Siamese cross. Jane Drew, Llandudno These stunning winter colours were literally a picture! Louise Milne, Worthing £25 for any photos that we use on Picture Perfect. They must not have been sent to any other publication and you must include…

What connects British actors Rebecca Hall and Rosamund Pike? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Concentrate (5) 4 Unwanted emails (4) 6 Royal daughter (8) 13 Reaches one’s destination (7) 14 Hair cleaner (7) 15 Breadth (5) 16 Part of the foot (4) 17 Noon (6) 18 Eight-legged creature (6) 20 Tiny amount (4) 21 Plunders (5) 22 Subjects (6) 25 Birthright (8) 28 Italian city (6) 30 Cattle farm (5) 32 Happy (8) 34 Solemn promise (6) 35 Strong wind (4) 38 TV controller (6) 39 Verify (5) 40 Rebound (6) 43 Quick (4) 44 Slumbers (6) 45 Garment (8) 48 Court case (5) 49 Reply (6) 51 Taken by surprise (8) 54 Take away…

Payal Roy Choudhury, 45, Reading Picking up the post from the doormat, I spotted a leaflet. The local sharing revolution, it read, advertising an app called OLIO that neighbours could use to share leftover food and household items. ‘Look at this,’ I said to my hubby Anand, then 43. It was April 2019 and I’d been looking for ways to reduce our household waste. Downloading the app, soon I was swapping bread and teabags with my neighbours. I’d post what I had going spare, and someone could come and pick it up for free. It meant none of my shopping was wasted, and we were enjoying food from other families that would have been binned. What’s not to love about that? At first, I stuck to giving away bits from…

Bleeding after sex Q I’ve noticed bleeding after sex. My smears are up to date, but I’m terrified it means cancer. Lucy, Woking A You’re absolutely right to take this seriously as it can be a sign of cancer of your cervix, the neck of your womb, and whatever the result of your smear test, you should see your doctor. But bleeding after sex is common and doesn’t usually point to a serious cause. Infection with chlamydia, a bug transmitted through sex, is often to blame. Other infections or inflammation of your vagina or cervix, injury, or a fragile patch on your cervix called an ectropion or erosion, are common causes, and sometimes the bleeding points to a polyp, a fleshy non-cancerous growth inside your cervix. A doctor’s examination will…

ARROW WORD What was the name of the wife of William IV of the United Kingdom? 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 The movie The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, released in 1920, has been described as the ‘first true’ film in which genre? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ACTION COMEDY DISASTER DRAMA EPIC FANTASY…

Idly scrolling through TikTok, Britnee, 30, was looking for one thing only. How to get the perfect ‘revenge bod’. Going through a divorce after a 10-year marriage, romance was the furthest thing from her mind. But then a video about prison pen pals caught her eye. Britnee was intrigued. ‘I wanted to work on my body so I thought, These guys have prison workouts, they probably know more than anyone,’ she says. So she downloaded an app that connects inmates with pen pals. Only, while trying to figure out how to use it, she unknowingly sent a request to an inmate. Michael, 34, is currently serving a prison sentence for aiding and abetting aggravated assault. ‘He messaged me first saying, If you’d like to get to know each other, just…

Martin stepped away, and the woman I’d always really been stepped into his place. I was a transgender woman and finally, after 48 years, I made peace with who I really was. I was terrified and relieved at the same time. Now, I had to tell my wife. I sat her down and explained that I wanted to transition, but it was difficult to make her understand what I was going through. We struggled on, but in August 2018 we parted. It was sad. But I was free to be who I’d always really been. A few weeks later, I used my savings to go to a private gender clinic, and a month later, after seeing a psychotherapist, began hormone therapy to soften my features. I decided to call myself…

September Nourishing Night Cream, £9, Morrisons Made with vitamin-rich sweet almond oil this silky cream leaves skin softer from the first night. It also happens to be 100% vegan and made with sustainably sourced packaging. Lacura Rejuvelate Night Cream, £3.49, Aldi If you want to target lines, wrinkles and sagging while you sleep, use this pro-retinol formula to boost elasticity and firm the skin. It’s bagged hundreds of five-star reviews. Nivea Naturally Good Night Cream, £5.99 Skin feeling a little worn out? Feed it with this superfood cocktail, including organic argan oil, which helps support the skin’s overnight repair process to refresh skin.…

Frankie Cottrell, 23, Carshalton, Surrey Opening her purse, my mum Stella, then 32, handed the man her last 50p. Homeless, sitting on cardboard with his dog beside him, he was shivering in the cold. ‘Get that pup something to eat,’ Mum smiled. It wasn’t much, but then Mum didn’t have much. However, she always wanted to share the little that she did have. Mum had so many great qualities. Outspoken, generous, so loving to her kids and grandkids. She was open-minded, never judged. She saw the good in everyone. That was probably why she ended up with such terrible men. She couldn’t see that she deserved so much better. Mum also struggled with excessive drinking, which could make life hard for her. It often meant she made bad relationships and…

In 2017, when Joseph Elledge, then 22, took his girlfriend Mengqi Ji, then 26, to Rock Bridge Memorial State Park in Columbia, he’d been planning to propose to her for months. He’d even travelled to China to ask permission from Mengqi’s parents. With their blessing, he proposed at the memorial park near the couple’s home in the US. And on 22 September 2017, they tied the knot, planned on having a big family – three to five kids. The couple wanted their children to grow up in a house that celebrated both their parents’ cultures. And, when their daughter was born in October 2018, life seemed perfect. Then Mengqi’s parents visited them from China. Tensions arose. Living with his in-laws made Joseph feel left out. The parents only spoke Chinese,…

The advice you need Emma Blaik, 38, Scunthorpe Watching my newborn twins sleeping side by side, I beamed. Etta and Teddy, born 20 minutes apart, weren’t identical, but they were inseparable. ‘They fit together like a jigsaw,’ I smiled to my hubby Dave, then 31. With an older daughter, Martha, then 3, to care for, we felt excited and scared when we took them home in December 2019. But when the twins were 6 days old, Etta seemed off colour – floppy, lethargic. The midwife reassured me it was just a sleepy phase. But by the evening, she was no better and this time my GP recommended we take her to A&E. ‘Take Teddy, too, so they can check him over,’ he urged. We arranged for Dave’s sister to collect…

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 Lisa Best, Crewe, Cheshire ACROSS 1 Valentine’s flower 2 Capable 3 Functional device 4 Mends with a needle and thread DOWN 1 Rodents 2 Instrument 3 Not fast 4 Long fish WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: HALF & HALF If someone had ailurophobia, what would they be afraid of? 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 Which element derives its name from the Greek for violet?…

1977: Silver As the Queen celebrated 25 years with the biggest tour ever by a reigning monarch, we were pulling on peach jumpsuits and spritzing our hair with Alberto VO5 before watching the latest Star Wars. We preferred our cocktails shaken, not stirred, like James Bond in newly released The Spy Who Loved Me, and spent our nights watching The Krypton Factor. It was Red Rum’s third Grand National victory, and Virginia Wade won at Wimbledon. Meanwhile there were calls of a ‘fix’ when The Sex Pistols’ God Save The Queen was held off the top spot by Rod Stewart. 1992: Ruby Dressed in flared jeans and handkerchief tops, this year we snacked on McCain ‘quickity quick’ Micro Chips and danced to Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You after…

FILL ME IN Arise, O Compatriots is the national anthem of which African country? 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 Different versions of the song Extreme Ways by which musician play over the credits of all films in the Jason Bourne series? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters FEE LIE NEE NIL OAR OFF OWL PEA SEA SKY 4 letters ATOM BOTH ECHO KIWI STAB TURF TURN 5 letters AORTA FETES LLAMA 6 letters AGENCY ANTHEM CATNIP FIASCO SENSES TARIFF 8 letters FLOTILLA WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER…

ROSE GOLD BUDGET BUY SUNNY SHADE PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF WRITING…

Top tip If you like more heat, replace the korma paste with a hotter one such as balti or madras paste, or stir in a chopped red chilli when you add the cauliflower. Squash & sweetcorn korma A lightly spiced colourful mix of veg that’s delicious served with naan bread and mango chutney. SERVES 4 PREP TIME 5 MINS COOK TIME 35 MINS • 1tbsp vegetable oil • 1 onion, chopped • 150g korma curry paste • 500g butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunks • 500ml hot vegetable stock • 200g cauliflower florets • 1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped • 200g mixed frozen soya beans and sweetcorn • 150g natural yogurt • 3tbsp toasted flaked almonds • Handful of coriander leaves 1 Heat the oil in a large…

Aries 21 March-20 April Venus is under Mars’ spell giving communication and friendship a boost. Get to know colleagues a little better, as some of you went to the same school. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You’ve been following a strict schedule or burning candles at both ends, so you could find a weight is lifted. Time to revive what motivates and inspires you. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Party time! Someone announces they’re having a get-together and you’re first to be invited. You might offer to help out by sourcing some funny games. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July An area of your life appears more complicated than it is. As the…

Q I really need a new perfume but I don’t know where to begin. Help! Kate, Watford A Updating your fragrance is really personal and often a little overwhelming. There are so many elements to consider: Are you drawn to the bottle? Does it work with your skin’s unique pH? How well does it last? First, think about the perfumes you usually go for – are they floral, fruity, fresh or spicy? Perhaps there’s a particular note you’re drawn to. Then use this information to refine your search. When you head to the fragrance counter, spritz your favourites on your skin, not a blotter, and leave for 24 hours to see how they dry down. The Perfume Shop offers an online service called Try More Samples, where you pick any…

Chat PUZZLES 6 CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS 22 FEBRUARY 2022 (Three days later for postal entries) HOW TO ENTER TEXT Simply text CHATC 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…