Table of contents for 29 December 2022 in Chat

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USE CODE 20CHAT Beat those winter blues with Bonmarché and its exciting new Lorraine Loves collection. The elegant edit by Bonmarché has been curated by the nation's favourite, Lorraine Kelly (right), and has everything you need to complete your winter wardrobe - from outerwear that will take you from day to night, to figure-flattering dresses and beautifully printed blouses, all in sizes 10-28. The range of soft-touch knitwear and versatile denim are wardrobe staples that you'll want to wear season after season. To help you create a whole new wardrobe without breaking the bank this winter, Bonmarché is offering Chat readers a 20% discount on all full-price items, available in over 200 Bonmarché stores nationwide, online at bonmarche.co.uk and via the orderline, 0330 026 2728. Bonmarché chat SAVE 20% Use…

Alex Thomas, 24, Swansea As I shuffled down the street with my crutch, every step sent pain searing through my leg. It was 2019 and an injury sustained during Ironman training in August the year before left me barely able to walk. I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in my femur, and doctors had tried everything to ease my pain. Six ops, including one where my femur was sawn in half and a metal plate inserted, months of physio and multiple pain medications. Codeine, tramadol, liquid morphine, oxycodone. Nothing worked. ‘I'm in agony,’ I complained to my doctor when my body built a tolerance to yet another painkiller. The meds barely made a dent in the excruciating pain, just took the edge off enough for me to walk. And…

Mina Alali, 25 Arriving at the petting zoo, a row of pink chunky bottoms sprouting corkscrew tails caught my eye. And I was the one squealing. ‘Look at the pigs!’ I said, rushing over to their pen. I was 3, and my parents had taken me out for the afternoon. The petting zoo had cows, sheep, ducks… but it was the pigs that stole my heart. Already an animal lover with two rabbits at home, I made a vow that day. ‘When I grow up, I'm going to have a pig of my own,’ I said. Fast forward to 2021, I was 24 and finally had my own place - a one-bed flat. He was in my bed every night, snoring beside me By then, I'd welcomed more pets -…

AMBER GLOW ABSTRACT SHAPE SPOTTY STYLE…

This issue, in our weekly showcase from our sister site Truly, we meet Celeste and her daughter Shilah, who has learned to love her hair-raising locks When Shilah was born, she was just like any other baby. But as she grew, her mum Celeste soon noticed that there was something very different about her daughter. As she lost her soft baby hair, something else took its place. ‘Around 3 months of age, Shilah started growing fuzzy, fluffy hair,’ Celeste explains. ‘That was the first indication that there was something unusual about her.’ But it wasn't until Shilah was around 5 years old that Celeste finally got an answer to why her daughter's hair was so different. ‘Many, many hours were spent in tears’ ‘We were at the dentist, having a…

EMMA HARLEY, 29, FROM MILLBROOK, CORNWALL, SAYS: Our fantastic volunteer Jen Preston is definitely a local hero. Jen, 62, has been involved with Sailing Tectona since the charitable organisation began in 2018. Based in Millbrook, Cornwall, we run sail training voyages for young people from all backgrounds to help them build confidence, learn skills and generally improve their wellbeing. We also help adults in recovery from experiences like addiction, PTSD and mental health problems, all through the medium of sailing. As our volunteer fundraiser, Jen has raised a huge amount of money, enabling us to continue our work and offer our training to more people in need. As at home on deck as she is at a desk writing funding applications, Jen always gives everything her all. Enthusiastic and completely…

Georgia Rooke, 21, Sheffield Getting comfy after plonking myself on the settee, picked up the remote. Was looking forward to a quiet night in front of the telly. Even if, these days, I could barely see it over my bump! It was December 2021 and I was due to give birth to my first child in just two weeks. My partner was in the Army, so I was used to my own company. Couldn't wait to binge something trashy and climb into bed. Then my phone pinged and my best friend's name popped up on my screen. Come out tonight! Franki, then 20, texted. Her friend had bailed and she wanted someone to tag along with her to a bingo club night. She must be having a laugh, I thought,…

What connects the actors Whoopi Goldberg and Sean Connery? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the three-word prize answer. ACROSS Happen5 Unhurried4 Fragment8 Pursuing7 Empowers7 Gainknowledge5 Drench4 Away6 Article6 Curse4 Pintsinagallon(5) Inflamed6 Suddenly8 Garment1-5 Artistsstand5) Newsreport8 Outoftheblue(6) Possesses4 Customs6 Metalstrands5 Sugarytreats6 Employs4 Find6 Settled8 Adeles2015hitsong (5) Serious6 Gathertogether8 Co-operative6 Bedtimedrink5 Burden4 Overcast6 Leaptup6 Notion4 Ruleover5 Country7 Remote7 Basicconstituentparts8) Thisplace4 Followingintime5) DOWN Fromtimetotime(10) Distinctivenatureofsomething(9) Precipitation4 Indication4 Functioned8 Floweringshrub4 Famous10 Mentalpicture5 Numberofdegreesina right angle (6) Bangers8…

Can I be drugged before the dentist? Q I'm terrified of the dentist and haven't seen one for years. Could I take something to relax me? Nancy, Gravesend A No one enjoys a trip to the dentist, but up to one person in six suffers dental phobia. Their fear of the dentist is so extreme that they don't visit at all, even if they have potentially serious symptoms, such as toothache or loose teeth. Dental phobia can arise from a previous bad experience or simply through not understanding what's in store - and merely thinking about the dentist can trigger anxiety, sleeplessness and panic attacks. Tranquillisers occasionally help, but the best solution is usually to discuss treatment options with a sympathetic dentist - check dentalphobia.co.uk to find a local dentist…

Q I keep getting nosebleeds, surely there's a way to stop them from happening? Karan, Boston A Most of us suffer the occasional nosebleed, often the result of a minor scratch or knock, but a few people keep getting them. Your GP can rule out rare causes, such as faulty blood clotting, but usually it means that delicate blood vessels lining your nose are particularly fragile. Warm, dry air can dehydrate your nose lining and make these vessels even more fragile, so humidify the air inside your house with a humidifier or bowl of water in front of a radiator. Never pick your nose - it might help to keep your fingernails short as a reminder - and blow it as little and as gently as possible. If your bleeds…

Jan Faulkner, 50, Liverpool Carefully fingering the flimsy dog-eared newspaper cutting, I peered at the young girl in the photo. It was taken in 1986… and that young girl was me. I was 15, the lead singer in a band with my dad and my uncle. Jan and the Blue Daze. The local paper had reviewed one of our gigs where I'd belted out the hits of my favourite singer, Whitney Houston. ‘And I will always love you…ooo….ooo’. Plus Status Quo, Motown… we did them all in the nightclubs of Liverpool. Back then, I'd dreamed of being a professional singer. But my life had taken a different turn. When I was 17, I met Lee, then 19. Our daughter Katie was born in 1993, followed by our son Jason a…

Kim Smith, 61, Milton Keynes Groggily, I adjusted my eyes and registered three figures sitting beside me. Where was I? I peered at the three shapes - my husband Steve, then 59, and my daughters Gemma, 29, and Becki, 27. Looking closer, I could see that their faces were drawn and tear stained. ‘It's so good to see you wake up,’ said Becki, tears spilling from her eyes again. Shocked, I listened as they told me what had happened. In November 2017, Steve and I had gone for a sunny break in Alicante. But I'd become poorly, and a doctor had diagnosed a kidney infection. That night, I'd woken up with ice-cold hands and feet. Steve had taken me to the hospital. A horror story unfolded - I'd developed sepsis,…

SAVING OF THE WEEK This Naturally European Plum Violet Room Diffuser (100ml bottle + reeds) delicately scents a room, and is half price at Beauty Naturals. It was £13.95 and is now £6.95 until 31 December 2022 at beautynaturals.com/magoffer or call 0116 318 3773. Subject to availability. UK only. P&P £2, free P&P on orders over £15. Offer correct at time of going to press.…

21-29 December 2022 Aries 21 March-20 April You're naturally adaptable, which works in your favour when the boss asks you to do something for them. Look out for an exciting promotion in the new year. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May With Venus entering Capricorn, the urgency with which you experience certain feelings maybe overwhelming, but communication is improving. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June With the full moon in your sign you don't need to put on a show, simply be your honest self. You're an excellent planner, receptive to inspiration and creativity. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Approach matters of the heart with a new passion. Whether you're single or attached, an…

Q How do I choose the right red lipstick for me? Dianne Griffith, Norwich A There is a reason why red lipstick has stood the test of time, and that is its ability to suit everyone. But finding ‘the one’ can be difficult, and both colour and application are essential to consider when searching for your perfect match. If your skin has pinkish/ blue undertones, opt for a cooler red like L'Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Lipstick in I Am Worth It, £10.99, Superdrug. It applies like a gloss, but dries matte. If your skin has yellow undertones, look for a warm red like Pixi by Petra MatteLast Liquid Lip in Caliente Coral, £16, lookfantastic.com. It offers a peachy glow and is infused with rosehip oil to nourish. For ease of…

BEHIND THE BIG CRIME TRUE-LIFE Maria Suarez Cassagne was a devoted mother of three. But as her kids grew up, she found that most of her attention was spent on her middle son Christian. He'd been a happy, affectionate child. But by the time he was 18, things had started to fall apart. He couldn't keep a job. He didn't want to drive. He stopped showering. Convinced that his mum and his sister Maria Jose were watching him, he started isolating himself from his family and said that he heard voices from underneath his bed at night. Maria did everything she could for her boy Christian. She contacted mentalhealth agencies and professionals in the hope of finding help. One diagnosed him with schizophrenia, another with bipolar and a third suggested depression…

Dear Sarah, I didn't know people like you existed. But when our family needed you most, you were there. After my mum Avril, then 88, had a stroke in February 2022,I wasn't sure what the future looked like for her. Before, she had lived on her own. But she was active, often taking trips to the cinema, and sewed the most amazing quilts. After, she struggled to even walk and talk. On a ward at East Surrey Hospital with other stroke patients who couldn't communicate, she was isolated. ‘We need to refer her for further care,’ the physio said. They mentioned your team at Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People, so I looked it up. Read about the care and rehabilitation centre in Leatherhead. When I came across videos of other…

TRUE-LIFE Karen Robinson, 52, Shotton Handing my daughter a cuppa, I tucked the duvet in around her. ‘I feel sick,’ Jade, 16, said. I took one look at her and mother's instinct kicked in. ‘You're not pregnant, are you?’ I asked. ‘I am late for my period,’ Jade said. A pregnancy test confirmed what I suspected. My baby was having a baby of her own. ‘It's Russell's,’ Jade wept. She'd mentioned Russell Marsh, then 18, but I didn't think things were serious. A few weeks earlier, he'd called at the house and Jade had told me to turn him away. ‘I don't want Russell involved,’ Jade said. I respected her decision. Knew that she had her reasons. ‘We'll do it together,’ I said to Jade. I'd raised her to never…

GLITZY TOPS STYLE TIP Wear under a velvet trouser suit or tuck the front lightly into a jewel-coloured satin skirt. SHIMMER SKIRTS STYLE TIP Wear with a lightweight knitted jumper. Wide necks and off-the-shoulder styles suit curves. SHINE-ON ACCESSORIES STYLE TIP Perfect for dressing up your denim or for wearing with mini-length hems. FROM £5.95 DREAMY DRESSES STYLE TIP Keep fabrics luxe and cover up with a dark velvet blazer or a cream wool coat.…

EDITOR'S WARNING YOU'RE THE JUDGE! It was December 2016 on a quiet residential street. Houses were twinkling with Christmas lights and decorations. For one inhabitant of Cactus Flower Drive, Fort Worth, Texas, it must have seemed a dream come true. Because for Shanna Riddle Vandewege, it was her first Christmas as a mum. Three months earlier, Shanna, 36, had given birth to her son Diederik Jonas, known as DJ. The tot had brought Shanna joy following years of heartache. She had previously suffered a succession of devastating miscarriages. DJ was her longed-for child, here at last. Shanna and her husband Craig, who'd been married for two years after meeting at church, had recently moved to Fort Worth from Colorado, 800 miles away. The move was down to Craig's work promotion…

Q I suffer from flare-ups of rosacea, what can I do to hide the redness on my face? Sondra, York A Rosacea is a skin condition that usually starts as a tendency to blush easily, possibly because blood vessels in your skin are oversensitive to the effects of triggers such as sun, alcohol or emotion. Gradually, the redness on your forehead, nose and cheeks becomes permanent with broken veins and pus-filled spots. Your skin might feel itchy or sore and sometimes your eyes become red and gritty too. Besides avoiding triggers, which might also include stress, extreme hot or cold weather and spicy food, your doctor might suggest antibiotic cream or tablets to control symptoms. Skin-camouflage creams can make a big difference, especially if you're taught to choose and apply…

1 Focus on fullness If hunger is causing you to reach for the sugary snacks, make sure you're choosing foods that will keep those pesky pangs at bay. This includes protein - foods like meat, fish and eggs - and fibre - such as fruit, veg and legumes, eg dried beans, peas and lentils. Fibre helps slow down how quickly your body processes carbohydrates. ‘This helps keep blood-sugar levels stable and, as it leaves your stomach more slowly, it will aid in fullness and help prevent sugar cravings,’ says nutritionist Alex Glover. 2 Swap for sweetener Adding sugar to your coffee, tea or breakfast cereal can really rack up your daily intake. ‘Try a natural sweetener, such as xylitol or stevia, in replacement of table sugar, as these will save…

Neigh high! Achieving the record of shortest living male horse is Bombel from Poland, who measures up at a ground-grazing 56.7cm from his hooves to his shoulder blades. Bombel means ‘bubble’ in Polish, a nod to Bombel's ‘rotund shape’. If you ask us, when it comes to cuteness, Bombel doesn't fall short! Cleaning up The next time you need help getting rid of your old washing machine, ask Johan Espenkrona to lend a hand. Johan, from Sweden, achieved the record for the furthest washing-machine throw, launching it a whopping 4.45m. Boxing clever Florian Kastenmeier, from Germany, fell in love with the Rubik's Cube, then built a record-breaking collection of 1,519. He can solve the rotating puzzle in an impressive 44 seconds, but he's apparently not interested in beating the fastest…

She went ballistic! Q I have a 5-month-old daughter and I'm pregnant with my second. For extra cash my friend offered me some work cleaning. But before I could start my in-laws told me they could no longer offer childcare. I called my friend to tell her I couldn't take the job and she went ballistic! I can't stop thinking about the situation and how annoyed I am at her. Debs, 29 A It's incredibly sad when you think you've got a friend but then find out you can't actually have an adult conversation with them. Family always comes first, my love. If you've apologised and she's acting so childishly, she was never a friend at all. Don't lose any more sleep over it. She's not worth it. He's so jealous…

NO-FUSS FOOD Top tip You can also use up leftover veggies in this curry too, like carrots, potatoes and sprouts. Best-ever turkey curry It's as traditional as Christmas lunch itself, and this one's irresistible SERVES 4 PREP 15 MINS COOK 30 MINS Ham hock mac and cheese Use leftover bits from the Boxing Day buffet for a budget-friendly, tasty tea SERVES 8 PREP 25 MINS COOK 40 MINS Top tip Whizz stale bread in a food processor to make breadcrumbs and chuck in cheese left over from Christmas. Top tip The cookies will expand during baking, so make sure you space them out enough on the baking…

‘Helping others saved me’ Hannah Cummings, 53, Croydon Chatting to my friend over a coffee, I opened up about dreading Christmas. ‘It's my first since the divorce,’ I explained. It was October 2011, and my marriage of 24 years had just ended. Our kids were 21 and 19, but they were worried about where they'd spend the big day, not wanting to leave either parent alone. Me and their dad didn't want them stressed out. But the idea of spending Christmas Day alone wasn't much fun either. ‘Why not sign up to volunteer with Crisis? It might take your mind off things,’ she suggested. Crisis is a charity for people experiencing homelessness, and Christmas was their busiest time. I swapped my rubber gloves for an elf costume What a great…

Chat winners issue 37 (15 Sept 2022) £1,001 CASH E Liddle, Newcastleupon-Tyne £500 CASH V McCreavy, Southport B Murphy, March D White, Northampton £250 CASH E Waites, Thetford J Cocker, Preston £200 CASH E Hicks, Gillingham £100 CASH V Evans, Norwich P Wilkinson, Leeds M Hadwin, Cumbria £75 CASH P Amor, Bedford £50 CASH L Harvey, Stoke-on-Trent V Shornyk, Mansfield K Blears, Sandbach V Coates, Chorley R Berry, Nuneaton D Knight, Lowestoft £40 CASH M Kennedy, Worthing £30 CASH M Allen, Manchester M Sullivan, Weston-super-Mare £25 CASH R Sharma, South Shields M Tully, Oldham Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £20 CASH J Coley, Kingswinford S McIntyre, Stirling M McKay, Bromsgrove C Henshaw, Chesterfield M Spencer, Dumfermline A Finch, Wick J Taylor, Kidderminster J Whelan, Warrington K…