Table of contents for 05-Aug-2021 in Chat

Every week in Chat there’s something I never knew before. This issue it’s Nina’s rare condition, which causes her to see zombies and demons (p30)! She’s raising awareness to help others, like so many of the fab women who feature on our pages. We’ve got Ceara who’s letting it all hang out — literally — to show the consequences of extreme weight loss (p34). And Dr Kerry Daynes gives us an insight into her fascinating job, working with the country’s most dangerous criminals (p44). There’s more real life, prize puzzles, food (p40), fashion (p12) and fun you love — and a free three-day gym pass (p46)! Stay safe and well this week. GET IN TOUCH! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com FACEBOOK facebook.com/ChatMagazine POST Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP DON’T MISS CHAT MONTHLY ON SALE…

Of murder, at least. John Chardon was cleared of the murder of his wife Novy, but found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Justice Ann Lyons sentenced him to 15 years in prison, with parole eligibility in 2031. At his sentencing, it was revealed Chardon had already been convicted of indecent treatment of a child under 12 years old – an offence that occurred just six weeks after his wife’s disappearance. It emerged he’d also since been found guilty of raping a teenager back in the late 1990s. Detective Inspector Damien Hansen vowed to keep searching for Novy’s body. ‘We’d like to get Novy back to return her to her family and lay her in rest with a bit of dignity,’ he said. Novy Chardon’s friend Deborah Manduapessy also…

Carry your shopping Forget online shopping! If you’re able to, carrying your bags is a great muscle-and-strength-building activity, which experts recommend we do at least twice a week to improve bone density and joint health. Quit smoking It’s one of the hardest habits to kick, but smoking raises your risk of getting cancer or heart and lung disease – the UK’s top killers. But don’t go thinking you’ve left it too late – it s never too late to stop because you’ll prevent things getting worse, and stopping can even reverse some of the damage. A British Medical Journal study found women with a healthy lifestyle could live up to 10 years longer, free of disease, than those with less healthy habits. Attend any health checks offered Improvements in healthcare…

Nina Chesworth, 39, Chorlton, Greater Manchester Flipping my notepad and grabbing a pen, I headed to my next customer. ‘Welcome to Cafe Craft, what can I get you?’ I trilled. It was February 2018 and I’d just opened my dream cafe. Over tea, cake and sarnies, families could get crafty at their table. My hubby Steve, then 41, and son Dylan, 7, were proud. I was chuffed, too. Especially as I’d been visually impaired since a severe bout of flu, aged 2. Growing up I’d had six corneal grafts, two lens transplants. Yet within 18 months, the blurry fog always descended again. As though my eyes were misted up like a steamy mirror. Then, in 2008, aged 26, a box stacked on top of a printer fell on me while…

‘I definitely ate my feelings, and I had a lot of feelings,’ says Ceara Dowell. The 31-year-old IT recruiter had reached a colossal 25st after struggling with binge eating. And the consequences were dire. ‘The daily obstacles I faced at my heaviest ranged from being chronically sick, having a lot of breathing issues, mobility problems, and a lot of joint pain,’ she says. But it wasn’t until she hit rock bottom that Ceara, from Minnesota in the USA, realised she had to make a drastic change. And that moment came several years ago, shortly after her grandma passed away unexpectedly. Ceara says, ‘We were incredibly close. She helped raise me, and when she died I absolutely hit rock bottom. ‘I went into a full-blown spiral. And I was drunk for…

Fifty-four days later, at 5am one March morning last year, the phone rang. ‘We have a potential liver,’ a voice said, and I shot out of bed, shaking Alex awake before hurriedly getting ready for the ambulance to arrive. A bundle of relief and nerves, I travelled with Isabella, while Alex followed in the car. At 8am, we arrived at King’s College Hospital, London, once more. We learnt that the potential donor was a male in his late 20s. My heart ached for his family, and it was strange to think the loss of a life could save our little girl. Isabella was made nil by mouth’ as she had tests. Finally, at 10.20pm, the nurse came in. ‘It’s time,’ she said. Alex carried Isabella down to theatre, and I…

Chorizo tortilla A classic Spanish omelette, pepped up with chorizo. SERVES 8 PREP TIME 10 MINS COOK TIME 50 MINS • 150g pack chorizo cubes • 300ml olive oil • 270g waxy salad potatoes, peeled and cut into 1.5cm cubes • 1 onion, sliced • 6 eggs • 1tbsp chopped fresh parsley • 1tbsp snipped fresh chives 1 Dry-fry the chorizo in a non-stick pan until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Wipe the pan to remove any fat. 2 Add the olive oil to the pan and heat. Dry off the potatoes on kitchen paper, then add to the pan with the onion. Cook on a low heat for around 30 mins until tender. Lift out potatoes and onion and set aside with the…

Aries 21 March-20 April The sky’s the limit with a new project. You have such an active mind, the results will be extraordinary. Make time to socialise with friends and family, too. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May It’s time to try a new sport or challenge. Perhaps you’ll find yourself scaling a mountain to fundraise for a local charity, or skydiving with your friends. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June It’s good to relax and read a great book while sipping a cocktail. You’re always on the go, when a spot of relaxation would help recharge your batteries. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Spending time with your best mate, talking about everything under…

Deputy Beauty Editor Jess Beech shares her top picks Bounce Curl Light Hold Creme Gel, £19.99, bouncecurl.com Mostly gel with a little bit of conditioning cream, this adds definition and shine to twists and spirals without weighing them down. Cantu Grapeseed Strengthening Curling Cream, £8.99, cantubeauty.co.uk A nourishing combination of grapeseed oil and shea butter works to make curls pop. Expect bouncier, shinier hair. Fudge Curl Revolution Mist, £15.50, beautybay.com A hit of hydration for thirsty curls, this mist forms an invisible weather shield over the hair to keep frizz and flyaways at bay.…

CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS 17 AUGUST (Three days later for postal entries) PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT HOW TO ENTER 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…

What does singer Joss Stone say is her most treasured possession? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the threeword prize answer. ACROSS 11 Stand against (6) 12 Demanding situation (9) 13 Birthstone for October (4) 14 Island nation south of India (3,5) 15 Latin American dance (5) 16 Spring flowers (6) 17 Synthetic material (7) 18 Stranger Things star (6,5) 20 Breakfast rasher (5) 22 Engagement (9) 24 Take in a child (5) 28 Provided food (7) 29 Kitchen gadget (7) 32 Frozen spike (6) 34 Number often considered unlucky (8) 36 Handed in one’s notice (8) 37 See 21 Down 39 Huge fire (7) 40 Canadian province (7) 45 Tidies one’s hair (5) 47 Film starring Natalie Portman as a ballerina…

Sharon Kalmus-Brown, 75, Paignton Laying my husband of 50 years to rest, my heart shattered. I can’t imagine life without you, I thought. It was January 2017 and I was facing the hardest goodbye of my life. Ronnie had been a wonderful father to our son and my world for 51 amazing years. We’d been inseparable until his death at 80, following a year-long battle with skin cancer. The next nine months passed in a blur. And while my family were there for me, facing my first Christmas as a widow was daunting, lonely. Then, one day, sitting in the laundry room of my retirement building, waiting for my washing to finish, I overheard a friendly voice. Entertaining other residents with his various health issues. ‘Come on, then, list your…

An op for my dropped womb? Q I can feel something inside my vagina and my doc says it’s a prolapsed womb. Do I need surgery? Maxine, Motherwell A Your womb, which usually sits at the top of your vagina, has dropped into your vagina due to weakness of the muscles and ligaments that support it. Usually this follows damage during childbirth, but an inherited tendency, or years of constipation or heavy lifting, can also be to blame. If the feel of something in your vagina doesn’t trouble you, then you might not need treatment unless you also have symptoms such as losing control of your bladder or bowel, or problems with sex. Exercise your pelvic muscles, lose weight if overweight, and don’t smoke. A ring pessary inside your vagina…

CONVICTED TWICE In March 2016, Emma-Jayne Magson and her boyfriend James Knight, 26, rowed during a night out in Leicester. Back home in the early hours, she stabbed him to death. Despite claiming self defence, Magson, 28, was convicted of murder and jailed for life, to serve at least 17 years. She appealed, claiming James had been abusive. Because her mental-health issues hadn’t been put before the jury, Magson was granted a retrial. However, in March 2021, she was again convicted of murder, and handed the same sentence. FRAUDULENT FUNDRAISER When Lee Rigby was killed in 2013, the world was horrified. Lorry driver Gary Gardner, 56, of Medbourne, ran a fundraising scheme, claiming to be raising money for the Fusilier’s son. His events made about £24,000, yet only £4,000 went…

FILL ME IN Crustose, leprose, byssoid and gelatinous are ways of classifying the type of structure of what organism? 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 14Your answer: CIRCLE TIME The official dedication of York Minster is to which saint? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters AIR ILL IMP OAK RAY TOO TOP TOR YAK 4 letters DISH ONLY PARK REEL RIDE USER 5 letters HOUSE KIOSK POKER TROLL 6 letters PARODY PEPPER PETROL SENATE 7 letters ISOLATE LOUDEST WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

3 ways to… save water at home It has never been more important to reduce the amount of water we use each day, says Waterwise. If you have a water meter, you’ll only pay for what you use so you’ll save money, too. 1 Be shower savvy Switching to a waterefficient showerhead could significantly reduce the amount of water you use, without compromising on pressure. They aren’t suitable for electric showers though, although these are already typically very water efficient. For more info on waterefficient showerheads, visit waterwise.org.uk/save-water/#inthebathroom. Cutting the length of time you’re in the shower for will save more water as well. 2 Fix your leaks Did you know between 5-8% of toilets are leaking? To check if yours has a leak, put a bit of food colouring…

Dr Kerry Daynes, 47 Beads of sweat trickled down my back as I saw the double murderer in front of me start to smirk. Is this how his victims felt moments before he pounced? I thought. His eyes grew wider with excitement, while my mouth turned dry in fear. It was 1996, and I was a few months into my first job as a forensic psychologist at Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire. Nicknamed Monster’s Mansion, it was home to serial killers, rapists and some of Britain’s most violent, sadistic offenders. I’d just been interviewing my latest defendant, ready to present a report to the courts the following day. Only, I realised I’d accidentally been locked in with him. Banging on the cell door, I could hear catcalls from neighbouring inmates. Thankfully,…

Q Help! I struggle to sleep in the heat and it’s making me look exhausted. Francesca Healy, 41 A Good news – faking a full eight hours is easier than you might think. Gently massaging the eye area will help to reduce puffiness and improve the appearance of dark circles. Using the pads of your fingers, gently tap your eye cream into the skin. We like Super Facialist Retinol+ Anti-Ageing Firming Eye Cream, £17, boots.com. If you need to smooth creases in a hurry, or have a big day lined up, a cooling eye mask is your best bet. Garnier Moisture Bomb Eye Tissue Mask with Orange Juice and Hyaluronic Acid, £2.99, boots.com, is packed with brightening, hydrating ingredients. Finish with a creamy concealer to neutralise green or purple tinged…

Chat winners issue 18 (6 May) £1001 CASH A Hancock, Stonehouse £1000 CASH C Henry, Sowerby Bridge £500 CASH H Lawrence, Swindon; A Calleja, High Wycombe £250 CASH B Newton, Plymouth £150 CASH D Kelly, London £100 CASH M Moncrieff, Spalding; K Darlington, Sandy; C Thompson, Oswestry; A Mees, Livingston; M Hughes, Llanon £60 CASH L Robb, Doncaster £50 CASH K Kemp, Southsea; S Carmody, Huntingdon; L Warner, Hemel Hempstead £30 CASH D Poyner, Hereford; J Flannery, Folkestone; C Barnett, Manchester; A Tofari, Uxbridge; P Simons, Oakham £25 CASH C Ramsden, Upminster; J Dean, Mexborough; P Bailey, Newcastle; G Tyrell, Newport; P Holcroft, Ledbury; P Gower, Norwich; I Coull, Forfar; J Varley, Altrincham; D Clifford, Telford Anyone from your town in the list this week…? Chat PUZZLE 01 205 Chat…

Lorna Simpson, 34, from London Feeling my sister Natalie, then 22, tap me on the shoulder, I spun around. ‘This is Orlando, the guy I was telling you about,’ she smirked. But me and Orlando had already locked eyes, our mouths widening into grins. He was muscley, brooding, gorgeous... I felt an instant attraction. Six years older, he rode a motorbike and shared my love of dancehall, reggae and pop music. I was a singer, performing gigs in pubs and bars. I’d just come back from a stint working abroad, while Orlando was a DJ with his own carrenovations firm. We saw the world in the same way, too, and didn’t stop chatting all night. ‘You’re my soulmate,’ he said, kissing me goodnight. That summer in 2007 we spent wonderful,…

The marriage of John and Novy Chardon was unusual, but not all that surprising. He was an ageing multimillionaire with a thriving business manufacturing industrial lubricant. She was just 23, and a beautiful young woman from a poor family in Indonesia. They married in 2002, a year after meeting during one of John’s business trips to the city of Surabaya. They moved into a mansion on Australia’s stunning Gold Coast. Novy was John’s fifth wife. The couple enjoyed exotic holidays, meals in the best restaurants, expensive shopping trips. After having two children, Novy started a beauty-therapy business, but soon realised that money can’t buy happiness. She spoke to her brother back home in Indonesia twice a week. Complained about John cheating on her. And confessed to being scared of her…

Tessi Archer, 68, Brighton Arriving home from work, I rubbed my sore eyes and slumped onto the sofa. It was February 2010 and I’d been a teacher for decades. Years of writing on the board, or eyes fixed to a computer screen. Now it seemed my eyes were feeling the strain. I’d always been long-sighted. But now, I was struggling to see objects close-up. ‘I think I need new glasses,’ I told the optician days later. ‘It’s all happened very quickly,’ she observed. It could be something else… ‘Type 2 diabetes,’ she said, suggesting I visit my GP for tests. So I had blood and urine samples taken at my doctor’s surgery. ‘We’ll let you know,’ the nurse said as I left. Weeks flew by without a phone call or…

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 Val Johnson, Woking, Surrey ACROSS 1 Exchange of something for money 2 Used for making pottery 3 Flow slowly 4 Unwanted plant DOWN 1 Flat-bottomed boat 2 Succulent plant 3 Relax 4 Looked at something with interest WIN 5x £25 puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS The Wellcome Trust Millennium Building in the grounds of Wakehurst Place, West Sussex, is the site of the world’s largest what? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: LIN + GER, GER +… you decide! When you reach Finish,…

ARROW WORD Which is the only film adaptation of a Stephen King novel to win an Oscar? Follow the arrows and write in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the answer. WIN £1,000 Puzzle 10 Your answer: SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each 3x3 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 Which musical was an adaptation of the play Liliom by Ferenc Molnar? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ALADDIN ANNIE CABARET CAROUSEL CATS CHICAGO EVITA FOOTLOOSE FROZEN GIGI GREASE HELP OLIVER TOMMY XANADU WIN £50 Puzzle 12 Your answer:…

Battle of the brides Q I got married in 2012 and it was a beautiful day with a simple ceremony. Now my best friend is planning her wedding and everything is going to be bigger and better than mine. I had two bridesmaids, she’s having eight. I had a meal for 20, hers is going to be for 80. She’s even competitive when it comes to dressing our kids. I shop for my boy on the high street and she only buys designer labels. I’m beginning to feel like she’s draining the life out of me. When will this competition end? Alexa, 32 A Why is there a competition? Has it always been like this between the two of you? And why have you allowed yourself to enter into something…

Q My son is jobhunting and I’ve heard Barclays’ LifeSkills programme might help him. Can you tell me more about it? L Smith, Leeds A Barclays’ LifeSkills launched in 2013 and is focused on giving people the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to succeed at work. It was initially aimed at helping young people, but now is available to all age groups. You’ll find help on a range of subjects from writing a CV, to interview tips to starting a business. Registration is free, to find out more visit barclayslifeskills.com.…

Farmologie Sensitive Skincare Discovery Set, £14.99, childsfarm.com Great for staycations or trialing the brand, this kit contains a mini body wash, bath soak, moisturiser and hand cream. All are specially formulated for sensitive skin and smell delicious. Ethique Pepped Up Cooling Peppermint Lip Balm, £6.50, ethique.co.uk Instead of a plastic tube, this eco-friendly lip balm is made from compostable packaging to minimise waste. What’s inside counts too, and the tingly, minty balm leaves lips feeling super soft. Dr. Bronner’s All-One Cherry Blossom Pure Castile Bar Soap, £5.49, feelunique.com A big bar of joy, this cherry-scented soap will fill your bathroom with the smell of summer. Formulated with coconut oil and organic hemp oil, it’s gentle enough to use on your body, face and hair. No7 Bronze Heat Face & Eye…

Dear Noah, I was watching you closely that morning in June 2018. Having just turned 5, you’d woken up complaining of a sore neck and sickness. But, as usual, you gobbled your cereal, only too excited to get to school. ‘Let’s go!’ you cried, grabbing your rucksack. And as you raced through the school gates, I told myself I needn’t worry. Only, later that morning, I got an alarming voicemail. ‘We’ve called an ambulance for Noah,’ a teacher said. ‘You need to get here now.’ Your tumour was gone, I thought you were in the clear… Leaving my office in a panic, I arrived to find you unconscious in the teacher’s office. ‘What happened?’ I cried. Teachers said you’d had a seizure, collapsed. Paramedics rushed you to Whiston Hospital, where,…