Table of contents for 18-Nov-2021 in Chat

My gorgeous British shorthair cat Blue looked so relaxed in my garden last week. Just catching some autumn rays! Kaye Willan, Manchester I am so pleased we managed to get Nancy swimming lessons, as she is absolutely loving it. Here she is in my parents’ pool having a thoroughly good time, even though it isn’t very warm! Elliot Richardson, Great Leighs I took a step back in time on a recent visit to Brighton. Do the mutton chops suit me? Louise Furtado, Epsom As a huge mermaid fan, I was delighted to receive this merman cake for my birthday! Louise Milne, Worthing My dog Macey had so much fun playing on the beach and swimming in the sea during a recent trip to The Mumbles in Wales. Eleanor Breakwell, Rogerstone…

What connects singer Lily Allen and actor Mark Wahlberg? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Innocent and trusting (5) 4 Fine soft fabric (4) 6 Physical power (8) 13 Baby frog (7) 14 Maybe (7) 15 Bamboo-eating creature (5) 16 Unit of length (4) 17 London’s river (6) 18 Period before Christmas (6) 20 Way in through a fence (4) 21 Imprisons (5) 22 Skin decoration (6) 25 Helped (8) 28 Made fun of (6) 30 Desert haven (5) 32 Artist who makes statues (8) 34 Winged child (6) 35 Permit for travel (4) 38 Wax pencil (6) 39 Matt _, The Crown actor (5) 40 Small feature (6) 43 Departed (4) 44 Holy (6) 45…

Why is my mouth sore? Q Both corners of my mouth are constantly red and sore. Is there a cream that will stop it? Mildred, Belper A It’s called angular stomatitis, inflammation at the corners of your mouth. Often, the cause is trapped dribble, which might be due to dentures that don’t fit properly or simply because your mouth muscles are sagging with age. Occasionally, a drug side effect or a deficiency of iron or vitamin B can be to blame. The inflamed skin becomes infected with bacteria or yeast, such as thrush, particularly if you have a condition such as diabetes that makes you more prone to skin infection. Check with your GP, who will probably suggest a blood test to rule out iron and vitamin deficiency, a cream…

I don’t know how we got through those first few weeks and months. It was one horror after another as Darcey battled just to stay alive. She underwent blood transfusions, lumbar punctures, and fought meningitis at 3 weeks old. Stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated at 8 weeks. Thankfully, my mum Ann looked after my younger children, while Mark and I sat with our precious baby girl every day. Only too aware each could be her last. ‘Keep fighting, little one,’ I begged from the other side of the glass. Oh so slowly, she got stronger, wires and machines fell away. We’d expected to spend that Christmas celebrating at home, cuddling our healthy newborn girl. Instead, me, Mark, Olivia and Jack headed to the hospital to be by her…

Caramel latte cake Pull out all the stops and impress your friends with this showstopping layer cake SERVES 12 PREP TIME: 50 MINS COOK TIME: 20 MINS For the sponge: • 4 large eggs, separated • 150g unsalted butter, at room temperature • 200g caster sugar • 1tsp vanilla paste • 175ml brewed coffee, cooled • 175g self-raising flour For the filling and coating: • 600ml double cream • 1tsp vanilla bean paste • 1tsp coffee extract (we used Nielsen-Massey) • 4tbsp Lotus Biscoff Spread • 30g dark chocolate, grated For the drizzle: • 5tbsp caramel spread (we used Bonne Maman) You will need: • 2 x 18.5cm sandwich tins, lined with baking parchment 1 Heat oven to 150C/Gas2.Whisk the egg whites with an electric mixer until softly peaking and set aside. Cream together the…

Aries 21 March-20 April Some are more adventurous than others, Aries, and you are! Reveal yourself to business partners slowly and they will see everything you do is pure genius. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You’re planning a break from the online social environment. So why not try visiting a fun, historical site or take a leisurely walk for more inspiration? • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Playful and sociable, you talk to anyone, but few truly understand you. However, someone who gets you is about to walk into your life. Exactly what you need! • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You start looking at options to better yourself. Speak to a professional to…

Q My scalp feels so itchy. What can I do to combat it? Louise, 62, Suffolk A Our scalps require TLC just like the rest of our skin - especially during changing seasons when warmer showers and the revival of central heating can trigger dryness. Other causes include stress, hormonal shifts or health problems such as thyroid issues. Start by looking at your shampoo. Most contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) - a foaming ingredient which can irritate scalps. Opt for an SLS-free formula, such as Monday Gentle Shampoo, £4, Tesco, that boasts soothing Vitamin E and shea butter. A build-up of products, especially those containing silicones, is another culprit. Slough these away using The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub, £12.99, cultbeauty.co.uk, once a week. Think of it as…

Trapped in her own world, nine-year- old Ron’Niveya O’Neal’s escape was listening to the stories her mother lovingly read to her. Born with cerebral palsy and autism, Ron’Niveya was unable to speak. She was happiest munching on grapes and chocolate biscuits, captivated by fairy tales in her princess bedroom. Ron’Niveya shared her Florida home with her mum Kenyatta (known as Keke), her father Ronnie and her little brother Ronnie Jr. The family had challenges along with happiness. On 18 March 2018, at 11.43pm, Keke, then 33, made an emergency call. She was screaming, pleading for help, telling dispatchers she’d been shot in the arm. ‘I’m so sorry, Ronnie,’ Keke cried to her partner, who could be heard yelling in the background. ‘She killed me,’ he yelled. The line went dead.…

Elisa Sgubin, 46, London True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Hauling my shopping bags into the kitchen, a sharp pain surged through my back. ‘Not again,’ I winced, dropping them to the floor. It was March 2015 and my body was still recovering from a serious injury. See, a month earlier, while spring cleaning, I’d lifted the sofa to vacuum underneath. Heard something crack. I’d keeled over, crying out in agony. At St George Hospital’s A&E, in unbearable pain, I’d had tests, scans. Then... ‘You’ve fractured a vertebrae in your spine,’ the doctor said. I’d broken my back?! I was stunned a small action had caused such a devastating injury. Put on painkillers and anti-inflammatories, I was advised to rest, and told it’d take a few months to heal. Only, as time wore…

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 Steve McEvoy, Hounslow WIN 5X £25 Puzzle 6 ACROSS 1 _ and polish 2 As well 3 Swallow 4 For a long time DOWN 1 Old long story 2 Sink stopper 3 Small island 4 Vests, blouses etc Your answer: HALF & HALF Renée Zellweger played which title character in a 2000 Farrelly brothers film, also starring Jim Carrey? 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 What object would…

FILL ME IN WIN £100 Puzzle 14 In which country is the meal of Wigilia eaten on Christmas Eve? 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. Your answer: CIRCLE TIME At an eisteddfod, a Welsh cultural festival, the bard who pens the best awdl poem is awarded what object as a prize? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters APE EGO ITS LEI PAN TEA TEE TIE VAN VIE 4 letters CHOP EARS HERO HOAX PLOT REEF WAVE 5 letters CUBIC NACHO VINYL 6 letters BUCKLE CINEMA INTENT OLDEST STABLE WORTHY 8 letters FOXGLOVE WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO…

3 ways to... start saving It may be easier than you think to start putting a bit of cash away. Here’s advice from MoneyHelper on how to do it 1 Sort debts first Set up a budget, identify where you can cut back and work out how much you can set aside each month. However, if you have debts, you’re unlikely to earn more interest on your savings than you pay on your borrowings. So aim to pay off debts before you start to save. You can find more info about paying off debts in the right order, as well as how to get free debt advice, by visiting moneyhelper.org.uk. 2 Where to put your money If you leave the money in your purse or current account, you’re much more…

Carlie Longmate, 20, Warsop Grabbing my phone as it pinged, my tummy flipped. It’s him! A friend request from local bad boy Ryan Revill, then 20. He’d driven past me earlier that afternoon and shot me a little smile. ‘He’s so cool,’ I told my pal. He was cute, too - so when I got his message, I felt a rush. We started texting and within two weeks were an item. ‘You’re beautiful,’ Ryan whispered. I felt so special. For six months, I kept our relationship secret. It was exciting, and I was a teenager utterly in love. Only, one afternoon, I got home from school to find my mum Cindy, then 44, furiously pacing the kitchen. ‘The neighbour spotted you with that Ryan,’ she seethed, and demanded to know…

Lottie London Superfake Mascara, £6.95, lottie.london Don’t be put off by the name - this lashlengthening wonder doesn’t look clumpy. It simply supersizes your flutter without any smudging in sight. Land of Nod Bath Soak, £1.50, Poundland Swirl this luxe-feel blend into your tub before bed and allow the nourishing oils and lavender aroma to soothe both skin and mind. It’ll sit pretty on your bathroom shelf, too. Botanics Clarifying Foaming Cleanser, £6.99, Boots A winner for blemishprone skins, in particular, this gentle cleanser boasts anti-inflammatory turmeric and willow bark. Dirt and make-up is whipped away in seconds for a fresher, calmer complexion. Rimmel London Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in Peach Petal, £7.99, Boots Who said matte lips came with a side serving of dryness? This clever new formula harnesses…

Jennifer Wendorf, 17, was a pretty and popular teenager. A cheerleader at her school in Eustis, Florida, she had everything to look forward to. ‘Life was perfect,’ she said. ‘Before the murders.’ She had a uni scholarship, great friends and a decent part-time job. ‘My life was so full. I had love, I had it all – until I had nothing,’ she said. Because on 25 November 1996, she came home from her part-time supermarket job to a horrifying and gruesome discovery. Walking up the drive, she noticed the family’s Ford Explorer wasn’t there. She assumed her parents were out. But inside, she found the bludgeoned body of her beloved dad Richard, 49, on their blood-soaked sofa. Next, she found the broken body of her mum Ruth, 54. The scene…

Chat winners issue 33 (19 August 2021) £1,001 CASH D Easton, Ipswich £1,000 CASH M Davies, Ludlow £500 CASH E Tusker, Hull; T Linvell, London £250 CASH J Ingham, Cemaes Bay £150 CASH S Whitehead, Scunthorpe £100 CASH E Wilder, London; V Pawson, Manchester; B Critchley, Wirral; I Angel, Saltburn-by-the-Sea; L Williams, Grimsby £60 CASH L Martin, Portsmouth £50 CASH D Porter, Leicester; Z Severin, Dagenham; P Pyne, Londonderry £30 CASH G Bunce, York; R Berry, Nuneaton; M Reay, Middlesbrough; C Grasper, Middlesbrough; K Polkinghome, Callington £25 CASH S Dargue, Appleby- in-Westmorland; S Padgett, Sunderland; G Kynaston, Amersham; P Brook, Brighouse; G Greenway, Birmingham; A Horner, Newtownabbey; R McKee, Irvine A Fern, Cheltenham; K Griffiths, Hartlepool Any one from your town in the list this week…? chat PUZZLE 1 74656…

SLIP STYLE TIP Pair with a chunky cable-knit for a daytime look or a streamlined body for the evening. PENCIL STYLE TIP A pencil skirt is great for curves. Try knitted and faux leather styles for a modern take. MINI STYLE TIP Tap into the 90s trend with a mini. Look for A-line shapes that flare out for a more flattering fit. FROM £8 PLEATED STYLE TIP A pleated midi skirt is forever on-trend. Wear with a tucked-in T-shirt or fitted polo neck to show off the waist.…

In June this year, Ronnie O’Neal, 32, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse, arson and resisting arrest. Judge Michelle Sisco gave O’Neal three life sentences, plus 60 years in prison. ‘This is the worst case I’ve ever seen,’ she said. Speaking of Ron’Niveya’s harrowing death, she told the court that she’ll be haunted by the little girl’s fate for the rest of her life. ‘The first time you struck her with that hatchet – and little Ronnie testified that all he could see was tears coming out of his sister’s face – at that moment, that child knew, she knew she was being betrayed in the cruellest and most tragic and sorrowful way that a child could be betrayed,’…

ARROW WORD WIN £1,000 Puzzle 10 New Castle County, Kent County and Sussex County are the three subdivisions of which US state? 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. 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 WIN £50 Puzzle 12 Simon Fuller, who managed the Spice Girls and created the TV show Pop Idol, was born on which island? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BAHRAIN BARBADOS…

He’s a commitment-phobe Q I’ve been with my boyfriend for five months and recently got a message from a girl saying he’d asked her for a sexy video. He admitted it, saying that when he gets too comfortable in a relationship, it’s his self-destruct button. But I’m so confused, I love him and want to be with him. Nicki, 25 A Oh love, sounds like he’s in full sabotage mode! Some people are simply afraid of physical and emotional intimacy. Talk to him, tell him you aren’t here to reject him and you’ve no plans to abandon him. Explain you understand he’s protecting himself, but remember, you aren’t his saviour. He either needs to work on his behaviour or you leave him to it. Still, at least he’s honest! She…

Q I’ve seen websites offering a service to change the address on my driving licence, but they charge a fee to do this. Is it worth the money? C Smith, Birmingham A The simple answer is absolutely not! DVLA has recently urged motorists to beware of websites that charge a premium for DVLA online services that are cheaper or free on gov.uk, such as changing the address on your licence. Some may mistake these websites for the official website, especially if they are high up on a search engine, and pay hefty fees. So double check you’re using gov.uk when accessing DVLA services or looking for information.…

PS… Retinol Overnight Hand Cream, £2, Primark For youthful hands for longer, it’s a smart idea to indulge them in the same skin-boosting ingredients you do your face. This does just that, thanks to powerful firming retinol. My Skin Matters Intensive Dry Skin Hand Cream, £1.50, Sainsbury’s Even the driest of mitts will be comforted by this balmy blend that quenches and repairs deep down. It’s not overly greasy despite its turbo nourishing powers. Green People Wake Up Wild Ginger Hand Cream, £9.50, greenpeople.co.uk This pricier handbag-sized gem envelopes skin with softening fatty acids and the uplifting scent of zesty citrus fruit and ginger. A real treat. TOP TIP Gel manicure growing out and no time to get to the salon? Disguise it with a dash of glitter polish at…

HOW TO ENTER TEXT Simply text CHATA 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 commas, etc. • Leave out answers you don’t wish to enter.…

To my babies, Wrapping you up in cosy hoodies, I packed you off laden with piping- hot, healthy food. ‘Lots of hungry mouths waiting,’ I grinned, proudly watching you hit the streets to feed our community’s most vulnerable. It was April 2020, and the nationwide lockdown was hitting hard with isolation and job losses, especially in more deprived areas like the Kingsmead Estate in Hackney, east London. I’d been a youth worker in the area for 19 years, seen many of you grow up. Aged between seven and 21, you’d come to the two youth clubs I ran, where we’d plan for your futures. Because Kingsmead had a history of troubles, didn’t it? Gang violence, crime. Yet you were all determined to break the cycle. When the pandemic hit, closing…