Table of contents for November 2025 in Chat Specials

Welcome to the November issue of Chat Monthly! It’s spooky season, so look forward to some Halloween surprises. Expect all the regulars you love, like fashion and beauty, plus pumpkin-packed home buys and fab Halloween recipes that are so easy, it’s scary! Not forgetting tons of shocking true stories. Stacey tells us how she got the scare of her life when her naughty dog dived off a cliff on their walkies (p56). We meet Tyler, who shares how she became a real-life mermaid – yes, you did read that right (p66)! And we take a look at the infamous addresses where true evil happened behind closed doors (p36). There’s much more too, including pages of fun puzzles – so get your thinking caps on. Have a great month!…

Teresa Gallegos, 47 The TV lit up the dark living room as I reached for the last slice of pizza. Another evening with nothing for company but the telly and three large cheese feasts. In 2002, life felt bleak. I’d once shared this flat with my brother Michael. We’d come in from work, cook together and listen to our favourite music, take a stroll on the beach. We’d always been close, friends as well as siblings. Then, in 2001, Michael took his own life. I’d been heartbroken. And I still was. Living in the home we’d shared was hard. Memories of Michael were everywhere. To cope, I’d turned to food. After work, instead of cooking, I’d order three large pizzas and work through them, slice by slice. Then there were…

Monkey see, monkey do Who likes a bruised banana? Apparently we’re causing brown patches on our fave fruit by peeling it the wrong way. Next time you grab a nana, use the stalk as a holder, pinch the top and peel the skin from the other end – just like monkeys do! Peely clever stuff. Get a grip We’ve all had a head full of bobby pins, holding in an updo at one point or another. But maybe the reason we’re always losing the flipping things is that we’ve been wearing them wrong. Turns out that wavy side should be facing down – it grips the hair better and stops them slipping out. Hair-raising! On the sauce One of the fiercest debates of our times has been settled… Yes, you…

Courtney Thompson, 27, Peterborough Gazing around my new, unfamiliar home, I thought about how much I missed my mum. It was December 2004 and, aged 7, my life had flipped upside down. My brother Tim, then 9, and I had been moved from Leicester to Peterborough. Put under the care of my mum’s brother – our uncle Robert, then 30. Our parents couldn’t care for us any more. So we were staying with him at his mother-in-law Pauline’s three-bed home. Robert and Pauline, then 52, were nice at first. Sometimes, Robert and Pauline played quiz games on the PlayStation with us in the living room. But whenever Tim won, Pauline got cross. ‘Little cheat,’ she’d say, hitting him over the head with the remote control. Months later, I caught her…

I am so smelly Q I smell of BO all the time – what’s wrong with me?  Callie, Swindon A Body odour happens when bacteria and sweat mix on your skin. It can change because of hormones, what you eat, infections, medicines or health issues like diabetes. Try washing with antibacterial soap every day and using deodorant. Changing your diet might also help. If you still smell bad, visit your GP. They can check if there’s a health issue causing the smell and suggest ways to fix it, including prescribing clinical-strength deodorants, which are stronger than ones you can buy over the counter. I broke his penis Q I was rubbing my partner’s penis and it was like the skin tore – there was so much blood. He won’t go to…

Next Autumn refresh Embrace the seasonal trend for cosy knits, pumpkin motifs and warm orange hues Matalan Country cool Keep to a neutral palette with touches of sage green and gourd designs for this subtle nod to the season…

Rooms 111 and 112 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, were filled with laughter and learning. The teachers who taught in these interconnected rooms, Eva Mireles, 44, and Irma Garcia, 48, encouraged their pupils’ passions. Layla Salazar, 11, loved to swim, dance and run. Nature lover Maranda Mathis, 11, was at her happiest outdoors. Fashion-mad Xavier Lopez, 10, enjoyed dancing to Colombian tunes. Tess Marie Mata, 10, had a jar of pennies in her purple bedroom, which she was saving for a family trip to Disney World. And Jose Flores Jr, 10, had one ambition – to grow up and be a policeman so he could protect others. We have a wonderful year ahead of us! Eva wrote on the school’s website at the start of the academic year…

The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King (£16.99, HB, HarperCollins) The author’s debut is a lyrical exploration of feminine identity and how the memories of past generations can be inherited. When student Monica sets out to reunite her grandmother with a long-lost cousin, she uncovers a family gift – the ability to reclaim stories through pencils. As her grandmother writes to preserve memories of wartime Shanghai, Monica is drawn into a narrative of love, loss and belonging. A reminder of how family ties shape us. Loved One by Aisha Muharrar (£16.99, HB, Fourth Estate) Julia’s friendship with her first love, musician Gabe, was on the brink of something bigger when he died in an accident aged just 29. Or was it? Why had Gabe gone mysteriously quiet for the last month…

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Closing the curtains Pop Idol winner Will Young reveals he once bought a house haunted by a kindly old lady. But his spooky experiences haven’t always been so cosy: ‘I stayed at a friend’s house and one night the curtains in one of the rooms, which had been tied back, started to close behind me. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck starting to rise!’ Not on board Actor and comedian Jo Brand found herself looking for a new place to live after one scary incident. She explains, ‘I lived in a house in Kent with a weird reputation and the five of us living there used a ouija board which without us moving it at all spelt out, “Knowledge is not free.” When we asked,…

Tyler Turner, 31, Prestatyn, Denbighshire Mesmerised by long, golden hair and a sparkly orange fin, my eyes locked on the TV screen. It was 2001 and, aged 8, I was watching the 1980s film Splash, about a beautiful mermaid, played by Daryl Hannah, coming ashore. ‘I wish I was a mermaid,’ I told my nan, then 42. From then on, I was obsessed. I decorated my bedroom with dolphin wallpaper, played with mermaid dolls, even had a fake fish tank. I’d learnt to swim years before, and now I started playing sharks and mermaids at the pool with my mates. An escape from reality. At school, I struggled with reading and writing. Doctors diagnosed dyslexia, my self-esteem plummeted. I wanted to escape under the sea, swimming with dolphins. Wished I…

Bex Hainsworth, 36, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire All I’d ever wanted was to be a mum. So when I fell pregnant in July 2019, it was the best news. I’d already been through so much. Five years earlier, at 26, I’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. My right boob had been removed, I’d had six weeks of gruelling chemo, then radiotherapy, and had lost my long brown hair. Through it all, I held on to my dream of starting a family with my husband Ashley, then 32. I’d had my eggs harvested before treatment. Now, after one round of IVF, it was happening. ‘We’re having a baby,’ I squealed to Ashley. He picked me up and spun me around, giddy with excitement. Nothing could burst my baby bubble. Not even when…

On 31 October 2017, a manhunt was underway. After being called to a flat in Cedar Creek Landing, Jacksonville, Florida, officers discovered a gruesome scene. Not a haunted house, set up by Halloween revellers. This horror was all too real. Two women had been shot in the head. One, Ashlee Rucker, was already dead. Her sister, Lisa Rucker, was somehow still alive, but choking on her own blood. And now, among the Halloween partygoers and trick-or-treaters in ghoulish fancy dress, a real monster was at large. Ashlee’s boyfriend, Chad Absher. Ashlee, 30, had met Chad one spring day just over three years earlier. Swept up in their love story, the two soon moved in together, along with Ashlee’s young son. Only, her family soon suspected that her Prince Charming was…

Tia-Leigh Streamer, 21, Dorset Taking off my make-up before bed, I inspected my right eye in the mirror. It’d been so itchy all day. Now it was swollen. I put it down to hay fever. It was May 2023, usually the time of year I started getting symptoms. It always passed, so I wasn’t worried. But the next morning, when I woke up, I couldn’t open my right eye at all. It wasn’t painful, just heavy and stuck shut. I booked a GP appointment for that afternoon, hoping for some eye drops, then got ready for my job as a trainee accountant. But at my desk, I couldn’t focus on my computer screen. So annoying, I texted my boyfriend Callum, then 23. Like me, he thought it was just an…

25 Cromwell Street When 16-year-old Heather Ann West vanished in 1987, her parents, Fred and Rose West, said she’d left their home in Gloucester to start a new job. In fact, Heather never got further than the back garden. Her mother had stamped on her head, before her father decapitated her and buried her under the family patio. It wasn’t until 1994 that Heather’s remains were found at the property. The discovery of her body was just the beginning. Fred and Rose West were found to have raped, tortured and murdered at least 12 women for their sexual gratification, including Fred’s ex-wife Catherine Costello and step-daughter Charmaine. Nine bodies were recovered from their Cromwell Street home. After being charged with multiple murders, Fred West boasted that he’d killed as many as 30…

Boost your blonde Sun exposure, heat styling and pollution can all affect blondes. Between salon visits, use John Frieda Tone Perfecting Treatment, £12.99, Boots, to reinvigorate your colour. Choose from Honey, Champagne or Platinum. Curls allowed 60% of UK women have curly or wavy hair. If you’re part of the club, you’ll know curly hair is on the dry side. The antidote? Moisturise like mad. Apply Schwarzkopf Curl Balm, £6, Boots, to wet, just-showered curls to hydrate, strengthen and define. Turn up the volume Lift your lengths with Jerome Russell Bstyled Volume Elixir, £6.99, Superdrug. Apply before blow-drying to encourage volume and bounce for a fuller-looking style. Beat the heat Using a dryer, straighteners or curling tongs? Protection is a must. Q+A Heat Protect All-in-One Spray, £10.95, qandaskin.com, targets split…

Stacey Chadfield, 37, Anglesey After grabbing a drink from the fridge, I turned back to pick up my freshly made ham sandwich off the kitchen counter. But I was met with an empty plate… And an innocent-looking furry face staring up at me, licking her lips. ‘Not again,’ I sighed. It was November 2023 and it was the second time that week my pooch Ember, then 4, had snaffled my sarnie. Scoffed it in seconds. And so quietly I hadn’t heard a thing! As she wagged her tail at me, so pleased with herself, I couldn’t stay mad. I’d had Ember, a spaniel, since she was a pup and I loved her to bits. A playful pooch, she loved chasing her favourite tennis ball. So clever, she sat and lay…

SAINTAND SOFIA.COM Designed with luxury in mind, this new London label focuses on thoughtfully crafted wardrobe staples and timeless tailoring. Standout pieces include its crease-free Chelsea trousers, sharply cut blazers and handmade leather accessories. Sizes xs-xl NOBODYSCHILD.COM Offering a mix of playful feminine pieces, from pretty puff sleeves and fitted waists to pocket-friendly A-line shapes, this brand pairs style with serious eco credentials. Each garment comes with a digital passport, allowing you to trace its origins and life cycle, from fabric to finish. Sizes 4-18 LINDEX.COM Known for its clean and functional aesthetic, Scandi fashion brand Lindex offers easy-to-wear pieces with timeless elegance. Think loose oversized silhouettes with a cool muted colour palette. Sizes xs-xxl KLASS.CO.UK Bestselling pieces come in a wide choice of prints and colours, while inclusive sizing…

Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer. CLUE: Fraudulent part of shop in good shape, we hear (11) EASY CLUES ACROSS 1 Merriment (9) 5 Parson (5) 8 Liquid food (4) 9 Happening infrequently (10) 11 West Side Story song (7) 13 Journals (7) 15 Working parts (9) 17 Prohibited (9) 19 Looking for (7) 21 Frozen spikes (7) 23 Public resources (10) 24 Lazy (4) 25 Tracking device (5) 26 Content (9) DOWN 1 Spouse (7) 2 Document (5) 3 Cried out in surprise (9) 4 Rostrum (5) 6 European, e.g. (11) 7 Regulations (5) 10 Visualise (7) 12 Underwent (11) 14 First letter (7) 16 Bold (9) 18 Hang (7) 19 Up to a certain point (2,3) 20 Portals…

Hubby doesn’t want me Q My husband hasn’t looked at me – really looked at me – in years. He’s always glued to his phone, the telly or his weird hobby. I used to feel sexy, seen, wanted. I don’t even know who I am outside of being his wife. Is this just married life, or have I gone completely invisible?  Janice, 47 A You aren’t the only one whose marriage has become habitual and complacent. It’s true for us all that sometimes life gets in the way. But it’s totally normal to want to feel wanted. Reignite the flame, flower. Suggest a date or a weekend away. Tell him you miss how things used to be – and to leave the phone at home! All mummed out Q love…

The moment Natalie steps into a room, heads turn. With high cheekbones, luscious lips and a curvaceous figure, she has a look people would pay good money for. And she did! ‘I spent like $100,000 to look this good,’ says Natalie, who lives in Chicago. ‘In three words, my look is exotic, bimbo and… infamous,’ she says. After transitioning at the age of 15, Natalie knew exactly the woman she wanted to be. ‘My first surgery was at 18 years old,’ she explains. ‘Some girls transition to be a passable woman. But when I transitioned I knew that I wanted to be a fantasy. ‘When I step into that street, club, wherever I’m at, I am what you fantasise. ‘I always stand out,’ she says proudly. ‘I love being the…

Green pockets The idea of rewilding stems from farmland that has been returned to nature, bringing with it a huge boost in biodiversity. We can take a similar nature-first approach in our own gardens, but without letting them become unruly jungles. Easy wins include cutting out pesticides and weedkillers, embracing wild plants, and creating pockets of habitat to nurture birds, bugs and bees. Native options Experiment by cultivating local, native plants that wildlife has adapted to feed and breed on, such as yellow hawkweed, purple loosestrife, mullein and ox-eye daisies. Mix with non-natives that are long-flowering and pollinator-friendly, such as lavender and buddleja. When summer ends, don’t be in a rush to tidy up dead plants. Hollow stems and seed heads of plants like fennel and teasel provide cosy nooks…

Scary squash lasagne Lasagne is a wonderfully warming dish that’s perfect for a chilly October evening. This delicious veggie version is bright, colourful and certainly worth the effort. SERVES 6 PREP 25 mins COOK 1 HR 15 mins ● 2 butternut squash, peeled and cubed (reserve a few rounds for decoration)● 2tbsp olive oil● 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes● 1 bunch basil, chopped For the béchamel sauce: ● 100g butter● 100g plain flour● 750ml whole milk● 400g spinach, washed and chopped● 200g finely grated Parmesan● 2x 250g packs ricotta● 2 free-range eggs● 500g pack fresh lasagne sheets● 50g finely grated Parmesan, for topping You will need: ● 25x30cm baking dish 1 Heat oven to 220C/Gas 7. Put the squash cubes on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and…

It was a Saturday night in August 1996, and Caroline Glachan, 14, had the whole house to herself. After hanging out with her friend Joanna in the Scottish village of Renton, she invited her for a sleepover. First though, she had to meet Robbie O’Brien. At 18, he was older than Caroline, and her family and friends didn’t like him. He was a violent bully, feared by the local community, and he already had a girlfriend. But Caroline was besotted with him. She’d made arrangements to meet Robbie at the Black Bridge at midnight. Only, as she walked off into the night, wearing her trainers and blue sweatshirt, it would be the last journey she ever made. The following day, after 4pm, a passer by was walking along by the…

As she peers into the big double buggy, 19-year-old Maddie’s two children are lovingly tucked under knitted blankets and sleeping peacefully. But while 18-month-old Ophelia wakes up, smiling and babbling, baby Forrest remains fast asleep. Because, despite his perfect features and tiny button nose, Forrest isn’t real. Maddie, who was 18 when Ophelia was born, has a strong maternal side. ‘I’ve always loved babies,’ she says. So falling pregnant at such a young age was something she only ever felt excited about. And her mum Rachel is supportive. ‘You [were] made to be a mum,’ she tells Maddie. ‘Right from the age of 2, she was obsessed with babies!’ Rachel adds. ‘She’s always had dolls, but they’ve always been called babies.’ When Ophelia was born, Maddie’s dream of becoming a…