Table of contents for 17 November 2022 in Chat

Welcome to this week's Chat… If you're tempted to make some extra cash, Stephanie has a money-making scheme. She's been selling her farts in ajar. I know, I had questions too. Turn to p34 to get them answered! If you're not tempted to let loose, check out Joanne's story about doing a skydive when the parachute didn't open (plO). It's a bum-clenchingly scary read! Have a top week, PS If you're entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Clutching their candyfloss, my little boys ran through the funfair. ‘Let's go on the Waltzer,’ I said. It was summer 2004 and the fair had come to town. The operator strapped us in and gave me a wink, spinning us round. We laughed and screamed. After, he took my hand and helped us down. Was I dizzy, or was he making eyes at me? A single mum to my boys, then aged 2 and 3, I flashed him a smile. Later that day, he came to the pub where I worked. ‘I'm Tom,’ he said. From then on, we were together. In September 2004, Tom moved in with us. He started working in scrap metal and in 2005, we moved to South Yorkshire to be closer to his family. By…

Stepping into my harness, I strapped the parachute on to my back like a pro. Well, I already had 64 skydives under my belt, and now, in April 1995, I was ready for number 65. By my side were my skydive instructor boyfriend Joe, then 33, and two other jumpers. I'd started my jumping journey two years earlier, in 1993, meeting Joe shortly after at the centre. We hit it off, bonding over our love of the adrenaline buzz and hit of endorphins. Life was busy. I was a nurse, and had three sons, Aaron, then 9, Matthew, 7, and Alex, 4, while Joe had a daughter, Natalie, 14. Jumping out of planes was my way of relaxing – it gave me a sense of freedom, physical and mental strength,…

Seeing the pile of hair on the floor, I scooped it up and shoved it into my pocket. Guilt churning, I waited until I was away from my house, then threw the pile into a public bin. Didn't want anyone to know what I'd been doing. From the age of 11, I'd been pulling out my hair. Stressed by my upcoming SAT exams, I comforted myself by twisting my hair, then suddenly pulling it out. Feeling some of the anxiety lift, I kept pulling. Soon, I was tugging at my strands almost constantly. I even got a small bald patch on top of my head. ‘I've been pulling my hair out,’ I finally confessed to my mum Jane, then 38. Comforting me, she didn't make me feel guilty for what…

B eethoven's Moonlight Sonata was given that name after his death by a critic who compared it to the effect of moonlight on which body of water? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg Globe = WORD + L = WORLD. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2x €25 Puzzle 9 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Wriggling around as I changed his nappy, my gorgeous blue-eyed baby began to cry This was odd – usually his cheeky little face was full of smiles. But as I finished and popped 11-month-old AJ down on the floor, he happily crawled towards the stairs. Manoeuvred himself onto the bottom step and sat down. Then he put his pudgy feet on the floor and, wobbling, hauled himself upright. He was standing! My hubby Alex, then 29, and I watched, elated, as he stuck one foot forward, then the other. It was November 2021 and AJ had just taken his first steps! ‘Hurray,’ we cheered and clapped. But as I scooped him up into my arms I noticed something strange in his eye. His right eye had a white, cloudy appearance.…

Self-made millionaire Stephanie Matto, 31, had already worked out how to make cash online, but incorporating her bodily functions elevated her to a new level. ‘I am the queen of business ventures,’ Stephanie says. ‘I'm an entrepreneur, founder and CEO of my own fan subscription platform, YouTuber, social media influencer.. ‘I make anywhere between $60,000 and $80,000 a month,’ she boasts – up to £70,000. ‘In 2020,1 made over a million dollars on OnlyFans,’ she claims. More than £850,000. And since then, she's gone on to set up her own fan subscription platform. ‘Unfiltrd is pretty much my baby,’ she says. ‘I really wanted something out there that represented creators and had creators’ best interests at heart.’ And having this platform has enabled Stephanie to get stuck into her creativity…

11-17 November 2022 Aries 21 March-20 April You're at your happiest when learning something new. Stretch your mind and imagination, as you never know where your newfound knowledge may lead. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May The moon is in your sign, which will improve your communication skills. Make sure others know what you expect – the outcome will be better than imagined. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Mercury, planet of intellect, enters your opposite sign, Sagittarius, casting fresh light on ideas. Be open to others, as you've always had a rebellious side. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Surprises are in store. Stay flexible, as work is busier than usual and you achieve…

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All sizes 8-24 TU at SAINSBURY'S STYLE TIP Layer a fine roll-neck underneath for extra warmth. All sizes 8-24 GEORGE at ASDA STYLE TIP A bright coat will lift your look instantly. Wear with cool creams and caramels. All sizes 6-22 F&F at TESCO STYLE TIP A stripy knit is a winter staple. Offset the relaxed fit with some straight-leg jeans, All sizes 10-22 NUTMEG at MORRISONS STYLE TIP Swap the built-in tie-waist for a sleek silver leather belt for a luxe finish.…

Heating hurts my skin QMy skin gets very dry. The hot summer we had, and now central heating, have made it worse. What can I do? Amanda, York A Hot, dry conditions, whether due to weather or central heating, cause you to lose water from your skin. This not only dries your skin, but also reduces its natural protective layer of oil. Preserve these natural oils by avoiding harsh soaps, excessive scrubbing or unnecessary baths or showers. Moisturisers can replace some of the protective effects and it's important to use them frequently and regularly – best to steer clear of brands with perfume or other additives, and cheap types such as aqueous cream are usually as effective as expensive ones. Humidify the air with a wet towel over the radiator…

Holding our newborn Amelia in my arms, I felt so lucky. ‘She's perfect,’ smiled my husband Tony. Since we'd married in June 2007, we knew we wanted a house full of kids. And Amelia, born on Tony's 31st birthday, was baby number six! Along with her siblings Landon, then 7, Emma, 6, Lily, 4, Sophie, 3, and Tanner, 2, she was everything we'd dreamt of. Not that our life was perfect – Tony had been diagnosed with a brain tumour, an astrocytoma, eight years earlier. Low grade at first, so although Tony needed surgery, he could otherwise carry on with life as normal, just with regular scans. But when the tumour began to grow, doctors couldn't guarantee it wouldn't limit Tony's life. Terrifying, but we refused to live in fear.…

As the seamstress wrapped a tape measure around my middle, my cheeks blushed. It was 2003 and, age 7, I was having a dress made for my first Holy Communion. My mum Carolyn, then 34, had scoured the shops, but nowhere sold a dress big enough to fit my size. So embarrassing. My nan Anzie, 60, cooked hearty meals like roast chicken and veg, but I'd have bigger portions than everyone else. And as I grew up, I grew out. I loved sweets and chocolate. By the time I left school, I wore a dress size 18-20. At age 17, I joined my first slimming group, wanting to shed a few pounds. But I jumped from one fad diet to the next, never sticking to them for any longer than…

Dear John, You were born to be a dad. I know it from the way you care for our fur babies, Beatrix the cat and our bichon frise Bonnie. But also, I know it from how well you look after me. I'd had heavy, painful periods for years but the Pill helped keep them in check. But when I came off contraception, so we could try for a baby after our May 2018 wedding, all that changed. Every month was agony. I'd see your concerned face as I was doubled over as the cramps hit. ‘It'll be worth it when I get pregnant,’ I told you. Yet every month my period arrived, bringing heartache and agony You were so positive, keeping my spirits up. ‘It's going to happen this time!’…

Stinky sponge? To take away bad smells on sponges, all you need to do is give them a blast for a few seconds in the microwave on a high setting. This will kill off the bacteria and take away the smell! Angela Garvin, Romford, Essex Pasta master plan To make sure my gluten-free pasta didn't get mixed up with the others in my cupboard, I cut out the label from the pasta packet and stuck it onto my storage jar. Mitra Zehtabi, Southmead, Bristol Use your noodle My kids love painting, but hate the mess of brushes rolling off the table or over their paintings. I cut a small piece off a pool noodle and sliced it part way through to make a paintbrush holder – problem solved! Janice Wood,…

YOU'RE THE JUD GE! Anyone who had ever met Lynette Dawson knew how much she adored her two little girls, Shanelle and Sherryn. The nurse and her husband, PE teacher Chris, had tried to conceive for six years. She had surgery to help and the pair were so desperate to become parents, they were applying to adopt when she fell pregnant with Shanelle. When they went on to have Sherryn, living in their dream home that they had built in Bayview, Sydney, Australia, the couple seemed to have everything they wanted. But then, on 9 January 1982, Lynette disappeared from her dream life. Chris explained to the police, when he reported her missing six weeks later, that he had dropped her off to do some shopping, and the pair had…

QMy daughter is six and gets teased for her knock knees. My GP says just wait, but what if they don't improve? Angie, Stratford-upon-Avon A Many children have knock knees, particularly around the age of four or five. It means that when they stand up straight with their legs together, their knees touch but there's a gap between their ankles. Knock knees almost always correct themselves by around age seven. Rarely, severe knock knees that don't get better can lead to pains, problems walking or even osteoarthritis later in life. If your daughter still has knock knees after age seven, or the gap between her ankles is more than 8cm when she stands up straight, check with your doctor to rule out rare causes such as rickets, and to consider…

Since 2003, Movember has encouraged men around the world to stop shaving for the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, from suicide prevention to testicular cancer. We're looking back at our favourite famous fuzzy faces! Handlebar hero Revealing his monstrously manly handlebar moustache in 2020, former Emmerdale resident Kelvin Fletcher left us in awe. With essence of Hulk Hogan, he definitely rocked Movember and had one of the most memorable entries. Beardy and beautiful More of an all-over beard thanjust a moustache, Sam Claflin somehow managed to make himself more handsome with his Movember efforts. Here's hoping we see a repeat of this perfectly unkempt look this November. Hairy situation Football star-turnedpresenter Peter Crouch sacrificed his love life when he gave Movember his best shot. Wife…

My girl won't come home Q My daughter, 15, recently moved out of our home to stay with her best friend and her family. We had a row about school and agreed she could go, as we needed space. But now, I want her home and she's refusing. Part of me just wants to put my foot down. What should I do? Andrea, 44 A Being a parent to a teen is no mean feat, is it? You don't want to seem bossy, but we're not here to be our kids’ friends. Your girl might seem all grown up, but she's just a child and needs a safe home with a parent figure. Sit her down for a heart to heart, but if you truly can't resolve this, contact social…

3 ways to… Boost your income We could all do with extra cash right now. These ideas are straightforward and could bring in £££s… 1 Offer a service If you have spare time, think about setting up a side hustle. For example, you could set up an ironing service from home. Whatever you choose, tell your insurer if you're running a business from home to check that you're covered. 2 Rent out your stuff At fatllama.com you can rent out all kinds of things, from sewing machines to lawn mowers. Just make sure you read the T&Cs before signing up. You could also bag some cash by renting out clothing and accessories through hurrcollective.com. Items must be less than two years old and have a retail value above £90. Find…

Q I over-plucked my eyebrows in the 1990s! Can I get them to grow back – or is there a way to cheat it? Lottie Hancock, Luton We've all fallen victim to the brow mishap that is overplucking. But whether you have uneven arches or crooked tails, there are ways you can improve the appearance of sparse brows, It is worth investing in a good-quality brow serum like The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum, £12.40, Boots. It uses peptides to nurture the hairs and surrounding skin to promote growth while making brows look fuller. You can also use the W7 Brow Master 3 in 1 Pencil, £2.95, w7makeup.co.uk to fill in any gaps and reshape the brow. We recommend sharpening the pencil before use to get more precise, hair-like…