Table of contents for 21 July 2022 in Chat

If you had a contract with your other half, what would it say? Me, I’d get my hubby to sign on the dotted line to make me his famous lasagne once a week and always being the one to let the dog out when she needs a 3am wee. Not quite as sexy as what Irie and Tom agreed when they put pen to paper… (p10). I can’t wait to see what you make of their story – and all the other fab reads in this week’s mag. Enjoy! PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Rushanara Ahmed, 50, Enfield Glancing at my son, I watched him scroll on his laptop. ‘Any luck?’ I asked. It was July 2020 and Nahid, then 26, had recently been laid off from his job as an aeronautical engineer at Boeing, due to the pandemic. ‘Not yet. But I’ll find something, ’ he grinned. He had been applying for over 15 jobs a day. Any employer would be lucky to have him. Decent, hardworking and kind, he was the perfect son. For many years, I’d raised him as a single mum in our 12th-floor flat. We didn’t have much, but he’d flourished, doing well at school, and was a loved member of the community. It had just been me and him against the world until I welcomed my miracle baby,…

Help! Sex is a pain Q My vagina is constantly dry and it makes sex painful. Is something wrong with me? Kelly, Chesterfield A Dryness is a common problem and doesn’t usually mean anything is seriously wrong, although occasionally a condition, such as diabetes, can be to blame. It’s common during and after your menopause, as your vagina makes less lubricating fluid due to lower levels of oestrogen hormone. Dryness can also be a side effect of some drugs, including antidepressants and the contraceptive pill, or due to hormone changes while you’re breastfeeding. Anxiety around sex, or lack of arousal, can also leave you dry. Treatment might mean HRT or hormone cream if you’re menopausal, or a change of pill if that’s to blame. Use a water-based lube for sex…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p5. There’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Julie Phillips, Telford, Shropshire ACROSS 1 Tie loose ones 2 Tooth part 3 Travelled by bike 4 Winter flakes DOWN 1 Makes mistakes 2 Midday 3 Extinct bird 4 Nice with dumplings WIN 5x £20 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Historically, what name was used for the five administrative divisions of Kent, each subdivided into several ‘hundreds’? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: TI + LE, LE +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize…

ARROW WORD Kami are the main venerated beings in which religion? 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 2 x £500 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 2 x £30 Puzzle 11 Your answer: WORDSEARCH The Bennelong Apartments building, near the Sydney Opera House, looks like which electronic item, which inspired its nickname? The answer is the one missing from the grid. CLOCK FAN FREEZER FRIDGE HAIRDRYER HEATER IRON KETTLE LAMP LAPTOP…

He’s jealous over job Q My boyfriend and I have just bought a house together and everything was going great. We met through work and recently a job opened up, meaning a promotion. My boyfriend didn’t get it – but I did. I thought he’d be happy for me, as we need the money, but since I accepted the role he’s stopped speaking to me. He’s even making me sleep on the sofa! Nessa, 37 A Your boyfriend is showing his true colours here. If he won’t even congratulate you or realise that it’s going to benefit you both, then he’s being ridiculous and immature. Tell him to grow up and see the bigger picture. This is good news for you both! But ultimately you deserve a partner who is…

Mandy Edwards, 55, Evesham When I pulled up at the school gates, my daughter Megan, then 9, hopped in. ‘I can’t wait to see my little sister!’ she squealed. It was December 2003 and after trying for a baby for five years, my husband Bryan, then 45, and I had finally got pregnant. Now, the three of us were going to my 20-week scan. In the examination room, I felt a flutter in my tummy. Bryan had needed surgery for a heart condition as a child, so our babies had to be checked for it. Megan had been fine. This time, though, the nurse’s face dropped. There was something wrong with our baby. I hugged Megan tight, my eyes brimmed with tears. The following week, a consultant at St Michael’s…

Q I’m trying to reduce my outgoings to save money, but find it hard to keep going. Any tips for staying motivated? D Morley, Kettering A Saving can be hard, especially if you’re trying to be strict about everything you spend. So when you’re budgeting, try to give yourself an incentive to stick to it by setting aside some money to spend on whatever you like. Even if it’s a small amount you’ll know that if you keep to your plan, whether that’s taking your own lunch to work or cutting out takeaways, you’ll have some cash to enjoy.…

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. ROMAN 1 Which University of Cambridge professor of classics has made TV programmes called Meet The Romans and Pompeii: Life & Death In A Roman Town? (4,5) 2 Rosemary Sutcliff’s 1954 historical adventure novel for children set in 2nd-century AD Roman Britain is entitled The Eagle Of The _? (5) 3 Meaning ‘where are you going?’ in Latin what is the title of a 1951 epic film starring Peter…

Alberto Balsam Strawberries and Cream Shampoo & Conditioner, both £1 Asda Nothing says British summertime like strawberries and cream, and this patriotic duo serves them straight to your hair. They have vitamins B5 and E to treat your hair to a silky smooth swish at a pocket-friendly price. Source of Nature Hydrating Toner, £2.50, Sainsbury’s Pick up this toner in your next weekly shop. It will remove any make-up residues and impurities left on the skin, while green tea extract will soothe and bring your cleansing routine to a gentle end.…

CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS 2 AUGUST 2022 (Three days later for postal entries) TEXT Simply text CHATB 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…

Hi, friends, My husband James was my soulmate. Together since I was 20, we were made for each other. Always a family man, James did everything for me and our two daughters. But in 2012, something changed. If I’d make plans to go out with friends, he’d shy away. ‘I don’t fancy it, ’ he’d say. Not like him at all. James was a workaholic, loved being an electrician. But he was struggling at work, too. One morning, in 2014, he turned to me in tears. ‘I can’t go in today, ’ he said, voice trembling. That’s when it all poured out. He’d become forgetful, withdrawn, and was even developing a tremor. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll call the doctors now, ’ I reassured. Later… ‘It’s dementia, ’ the GP said, without…

My two boys Oliver, 5, and Joshua, 2, enjoying an ice cream at our local park. Sarah Nunn, Doncaster On a day out in Stratford-upon-Avon with friends, l saw this Shakespearean character with his hand out. How could I resist shaking it? Iris Whitehouse, Birmingham Here’s my daughter Abby, aged 2, in Harlech telling this horse which way she wants it to go! Gilly Hollands, Hertfordshire I’m currently recovering from surgery after a broken ankle, but my Rottweiler Koba thinks it’s OK to steal the couch to get comfy while I am bed bound! Sharon Reynolds, Ayrshire My handsome boy Norman loves striking a pose for the camera! Tina Aiello, Hove Here is my husband Mike, my prince, next to a frog impersonating a bin at Calderglen Country Park. He’s…

GEORGE at ASDA All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP For all-day comfort, opt for a non-wired swimsuit that won’t dig in. The V-neckline flatters the bust too. F&F at TESCO All sizes 6-22 STYLE TIP A statement blazer will elevate any look, wear over a simple tee and jeans, and leave open to streamline your shape. TU CLOTHING at SAINSBURY’S All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP The vertical stripes and wide-leg cut gives these cropped trousers leg-lengthening powers. NUTMEG at MORRISONS All sizes 10-22 STYLE TIP The built-in belt helps define the waist, and the frilly hem and pocket detail add a playful finish.…

After hearing from more than 100 witnesses and seeing 600 pieces of evidence, the jury refused to believe Richard Dabate’s preposterous lies that an obese masked intruder with a Vin Diesel voice had shot his wife Connie on 23 December 2015. The two-timing computer technician from Ellington, Connecticut, was convicted on all charges including first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and providing a false statement, after crucial data from Connie’s Fitbit unravelled his false claims. Outside the courthouse, Connie Dabate’s grieving family, all wearing yellow ribbons in honour of her favourite colour, joined hands and remembered the ‘generous’ and ‘compassionate’ mum, daughter, sister and friend whose ‘smile lit up the room.’ ‘Justice has prevailed today, ’ said Wayne Rioux, a spokesperson for Connie Dabate’s family. ‘As you know, this trial…

1 Get gulping In warm weather, we lose more water from sweating. But being dehydrated can drain energy levels. ‘Dehydration is one of the leading causes of lethargy, ’ says nutritional therapist Naomi Mead. ‘And by the time you feel thirsty, your body is already partially dehydrated.’ Get into the habit of having water to hand and you’ll subconsciously drink it. 2 Skip the night cap Lighter evenings can make it tempting to indulge in a G&T or two in the garden. But that al fresco tipple could be stealing your energy. ‘Drinking alcohol close to bedtime may cause you to miss out on the first rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, which is vital for that refreshed feeling in the morning, ’ says sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan.…

Milly Herner, 35, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire Slipping into my vintage lace gown, I looked in the mirror and forced a smile. It was December 2020, and today was the day I’d marry my soulmate. It should’ve been the best day of my life… I’d met Alexis, then 37, a year earlier. Both music therapists, we quickly fell in love, couldn’t wait to start a family. But in the lead up to our big day, I’d started feeling unwell. I’d been prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs) – when bacteria enters into the bladder via the urethra, since I was a child. It caused searing hot, burning pain when I went for a wee. At first, drinking water and taking a cranberry supplement helped. But as I got older, docs prescribed antibiotics…

Each day after Beth turned 1 felt like a blessing, because we never knew how long we’d have. But she continued to prove everyone wrong. Days became weeks, months then years. Not only was Beth still with us, all of the milestones we feared we’d miss rolled around one by one. Beth’s first steps at 18 months, her first word, my dad’s name Dale, age 5, her first day at school. Our girl was blossoming. With mild learning difficulties, Beth moved to a special school aged 10, and had speech therapy. In her new school she thrived, and even sang in the choir and joined the school committee. But her main love was animals, and she adored playing with her guinea pigs and riding her favourite horse, Freddie, with the…

Get your holiday glow for less with Skinny Tan, as you can pick up Skinny Tan Mousse (150ml), available in Original for a natural medium tan and Dark for a deep, rich bronze shade, WAS £24.99, NOW £15. Just use offer code MOUSSEDEAL at the checkout at skinnytan.co.uk until 25 July 2022. Subject to availability. There is free standard UK delivery on orders worth £35 and over. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. Offer correct at time of going to press.…

Aries 21 March-20 April Mentally separate your personal life from work life, as your partner has planned a big surprise for you – a lovely evening out – and it’s going to be unforgettable! • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Friends ask for favours, so consider rearranging some commitments, allowing you time to help them. Book a holiday and enjoy some peace in the sun now. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Communication with others will be concise, especially at work. You’ll be able to get your point across with little effort and a boss will look at you favourably. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Feel like everyone else’s life is under control except…

Q Can I really wear bright lipstick? Annie Copeland, Warwick A Anyone can pull off a more daring lip shade when executed correctly, and summer is the perfect time to experiment with bright colours. Tanned skin and a pop of lip colour are a match made in heaven! Prepping your lips is essential for the best results. Barry M Pink Grapefruit Lip Scrub, £4.99, Superdrug will remove the dead skin while vitamin E and avocado oil soften and hydrate to allow smooth application. You can’t go wrong with a classic red, and the Doll Beauty Lipstick in She’s Well Red, £13, lookfantastic.com, is our new favourite. It is creamy and hydrating, so swiping it on is a real treat. This berry hue is perfect for summer. For easier application, try…

ALAN DANDY, 68, FROM BURNLEY, SAYS: I’m nominating my wife Janet, age 68, as a local hero. For the past 17 months she has been making recycled greetings cards and selling them for a minimum donation of 20p each with envelopes. All the money raised is donated to charities. She mostly sells them through social media, but every few months we have an ‘open house’ card sale for two days which includes a raffle. She has now raised over £1,100 for five different charities. Janet reuses old cards to make the new ones, decorated with stickers and embellishments. Some people happily pay far more than 20p for a card as they are so pleased with them, especially as she can even make them personalised if they want. Janet has a…

Bin win! I always keep my bin bag rolls in the bottom of the bin so I don’t have to keep looking for the right size of bag. It makes changing easier and saves time. June Carey, Oldham, Greater Manchester Time for tea So often when adding water to make my tea the tag that is attached to my tea bag disappears into my cuppa. So here’s an easy solution. Simply wrap the tag around the cup handle and it stays put! Debra Stapley, Dover, Kent Fab fountain I turned my fire pit into a garden water feature. I filled the bowl with water and added a fish tank pump. I placed the fire grate on the top and covered it with pebbles from the garden. Terri Hickey, Rochester, Kent…

THE BIGGIE If he could have a superpower, which one would British actor Michael Sheen choose? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the one-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Actor, _ Fiennes (6) 12 Female children (9) 13 Close by (4) 14 Casino game (8) 15 US state (5) 16 Primary source (6) 17 Tire out (7) 18 Late actor who played James Bond (4,7) 20 New wife (5) 22 Terry _, late author (9) 24 Welsh poet, _ Thomas (5) 28 _ Walsh, host of The Chase (7) 29 More untidy (7) 32 Planet with rings (6) 34 End of the line (8) 36 Murder (8) 37 Number of degrees in a right angle (6) 39 Baked snack (7) 40 Grinning (7)…

Poppy Hadkinson, 30, Stratford-upon-Avon True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Sitting in the waiting room, I waited for my name to be called. It was May 2022 and for the last nine years I’d been heading to the hospital to get monthly injections to control my asthma. Diagnosed at 11 after suffering from coughing, wheezing and multiple chest infections, my condition was serious. ‘She has brittle asthma, ’ doctors told my mum. Explaining it was rare and severe, they didn’t know what caused it, but it could be triggered by animals, dust or even food. ‘It can be life threatening, ’ doctors warned. Prescribing me an inhaler, the coughing and wheezing subsided. But soon I began suffering from chest infections and the wheezing flared up again, so doctors prescribed me steroids. For the…

Brian Chorley, 83, Bridgwater As the school holidays approached, I felt more than the usual excitement. Me and my friends always looked forward to the weeks of fun ahead. But this time was very different. It was July 1953 and at 15, I was leaving school for good. ‘It’s time to work, son. What do you want to do?’ my dad, William, then 41, asked. ‘What about Clarks’ shoe factory?’ I suggested. Finishing school on a Friday, I walked into the factory the following Monday and got myself a job. We were paid weekly in a little brown envelope. For a 45-hour week, from 8am to 6pm, I got £2 and 3 shillings. I’d never even held a pound note before! Each week, I handed £1 to my mother, May,…

FILL ME IN The Dumas family are the current owners of which fashion house? 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 The Aegir or Eagre is a tidal bore that flows upstream on which river? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters AIL ANT ANY BIB DAB DRY TIE TRY WEB 4 letters NEST NOSE SWAB TINY TWEE UGLY 5 letters BADLY BEARD BULLY NOTED 6 letters EIGHTY EVADED EXILED EXTENT 7 letters BALLOON BRAVADO Your answer: WIN £100 Puzzle 15 TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

3 ways to... BOOST YOUR INCOME We’re all feeling the squeeze, so it helps to have a few tricks up your sleeve to earn extra cash. 1 Sign up for surveys Online survey sites like Swagbucks (swagbucks.com) give you points for answering surveys and doing other home-based tasks, like watching videos. Once you’ve enough points you exchange these for cash paid via PayPal or gift cards. And if you love TV, sign up with the research panel The Viewers. You could get paid to give your opinion on a new programme. See theviewers.co.uk 2 Make the most of your skills If you’re creative, could you sell what you make, such as jewellery, online? You could set up a shop on Etsy (etsy.com) although you’ll pay fees for listing and selling.…

Fruity prawn cocktail We’ve jazzed up the classic prawn cocktail by adding herbs for flavour plus some fruit and veg. SERVES 4 PREP TIME 5 MINS • 350g large cooked prawns, plus 2-4 cooked prawns, shells on, for garnish • 1 apple, cored and chopped • 2 sticks celery, sliced • 150g black or red seedless grapes, halved • 2tbsp freshly chopped dill, plus sprigs for garnish • 250g fat-free fromage frais • 2-3 little gem lettuce, sliced into rings 1 Mix the prawns, apple, celery, grapes and dill into the fromage frais and season to taste with salt and pepper. 2 Arrange the lettuce on plates and top with the prawn mixture, then garnish with a prawn and a sprig of dill and serve. Top tip If you can’t…

Shannon-Leigh O’Brien, 18, London Perched on my desk in class, I bobbed my head up when I heard my name. ‘We’ve found a placement in a reptile store for you, ’ smiled my teacher. It was for two weeks’ work experience. ‘Yes!’ I squealed. It was November 2018. I was 14 years old, and desperately wanted to become a vet. I lived with my dad John, then 45, and brothers James, then 11, and Jared, then 9. I loved animals. I suffered from depression, but my 7-year-old Jack Russell pooches Masie and Sally were always there for me whenever I needed a hug. Now I was going to spend two whole weeks learning about reptiles. Couldn’t wait. Two months later, in January 2019, Dad took me to the Crews Hill…

L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Matte Bronzer, £12.99, Boots Want a bronzer that lasts all day? Then this one’s for you. Swipe on top of your favourite foundation for a sun-kissed glow. Its pigments are tiny, which makes the application seamless and not one bit patchy. Caudalie Beauty Elixir 30ml, £12, lookfantastic.com This magic mist will help your skin when you need it the most. Used as a primer or during the day, it infuses skin with hydrating grape water and toning rosemary to transform and brighten your complexion. Faith in Nature Rose & Chamomile Hair Mask, £7, Holland & Barrett Silky smooth hair is not the only thing you can get from this lovely hair mask. Whether you leave it in for three minutes or 20, you will…