Table of contents for 25 May 2023 in Chat

Welcome to this week's Chat… Lots of women have war stories about the tricky symptoms of pregnancy - and working at Chat all these years, I thought I’d heard them all. But what poor Louise went through (p10) was new even to me. When she was expecting her little boy Zachary, her teeth started dropping out, like something from a nightmare. She has no regrets, though - Zachary and his little brothers Ollie and Oakleey still give her plenty of reasons to smile. Have a great week,…

TRUE-LIFE Pulling back the living room curtains, my eyes darted up the street outside. When I spotted my daughter shannon, 12, my heart sank. Her fingers were linked through the hand of Barry Nash. ‘Inside, now!’ I yelled, rapping on the glass. Shannon's shoulders slumped and she dropped his hand, before stomping through the front door. ‘I’ve told you not to hang around with him,’ I snapped as she dumped her bag down. It was summer 2014, and I’d read her the riot act already after spotting them strolling through town. And again when I caught her in his car. He insisted they weren’t doing anything wrong, but it made my stomach churn. Barry was the older brother of her friend. He was 20, a grown man. My little girl…

PUFF SLEEVES STYLE TIP This statement style requires minimal effort. Just add sandals and a bag for a chic summertime look. SMOCK STYLE TIP Smock dresses are all about comfort and perfect for warm summer days. Try shorter lengths if you don’t want to feel swamped. BELTED STYLE TIP These waist-defining styles are a wardrobe winner. Don’t be afraid to change up your look and mix and match different belts. BARDOT NECKLINE FROM £19.99 STYLE TIP A flattering option that shows just a hint of skin. Sleeves can also be worn on the shoulders if you prefer more coverage.…

True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Passing the chocolate buttons to my son, Paddy, I felt a surge of joy. 'There you go, I grinned. It was June 2022 and together with my husband, James, then 36, and our daughter Nancy, 5, we were celebrating Paddy’s third birthday As his mum, his happiness was all I ever wanted. Especially as every day with Paddy was a gift. When 1 was pregnant with him back in 2019, everything was fine, but he did seem to move around quite a bit in my tummy. Then, the day after he was born, he started thrashing around in his cot. Doctors said he was just adjusting to life outside the womb. And back home, I thought we had a dream baby. 'He never cries,' I marvelled at…

Which actor’s TV police roles include Dl Susan Taylor, DCI Cassie Stuart, DS Jackie Stevenson and Dl Annika Strandhed? Hidden in this grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally, are 10 items beginning with N, one for each of the subjects given below. Find them all and the remaining letters will spell out the two-word prize answer. Type of flatbread Serviette Badly behaved Closely located Impartial Aristocrat Making a racket Your answer: Midday Void Small songbird WIN 3x £50 Puzzle 8 TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

NO-FUSS FOOD Strawberry Victoria sponge Tinned berries add extra sweetness to this very British layer cake. SERVES 8 PREP 30 MINS COOK 25 MINS 200g self-raising flour 200g butter 200g caster sugar 3 eggs 1tbsp icing sugar, plus extra for dusting 300ml double cream 1 × 420g tinned strawberries in syrup, drained You will need: 1 × 20cm cake tin, greased and base lined 1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/ Gas 6. Beat the flour, butter, sugar and eggs in a bowl with an electric mixer until well combined. Scrape into the prepared tin and smooth. Bake for 25 mins or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. 2 Cool the cake in the tin, then turn out and cut in half widthways, using a serrated knife. Meanwhile, sift…

Walking around Tesco, I picked up a box of fish fingers and whizzed off to the next aisle. ‘Can we get some biscuits?’ my daughter Dorothy, then 4, asked. Glancing at her brother Kit, 2, sitting in the trolley, I knew we only had minutes to complete the weekly food shop before he kicked off. Desperate to avoid a tantrum, I gave in. ‘Go on then,’ I said, grabbing a packet of chocolate digestives. It was December 2022, and as my husband Scott, 38, and I made our way through the checkout, I paid with my debit card and popped it back in my chunky green purse. While I bundled the kids into the car, Scott loaded bags into the boot. Pulling into our driveway at the end of a…

Body Proud Bright Boost Body Cleanser, £10.95, iamproud.com Get your limbs ready for summer with this exfoliating body wash. Packed with acids and caffeine, the non-drying formula invigorates and energises. L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara, £12.99, Boots Providing lashes with a dramatic lifted effect, this mascara is infused with ceramides to help condition and strengthen them. E.I.f. Putty Blush in Tahiti, £6, elfcosmetics.co.uk Coming in six stunning, wearable summer shades, this cream blusher is ideal for warmer weather. The pigmented colour is easily blendable to give you a subtle flush. for sandal season! Sleek Makeup i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette Level Up, £8.99, lookfantastic.com A smorgasbord of shimmer and matte shades, this bargain eyeshadow palette has 12 everyday shadows. Mix and match the hues for day-to-night wear. The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser,…

TRUE-LIFE BEHIND THE BIG CRIME Unpacking her clothes, Talia Ray looked round her campus bedroom. She’d worked hard to get to elite arts college Sarah Lawrence, just outside New York City. Now, in 2010, the start of her second year, she’d found a lovely big dormitory for her and seven college friends. Slonim Woods 9 had a room each, plus a large living room, and was right in the middle of campus. The perfect place to invite her 50-year-old dad to stay Talia had spent her first year boasting about her father, Lawrence Ray. How he worked for the secret services, knew powerful people. Made him sound like James Bond. Thing was, he was just coming out of jail for investment fraud. But he was innocent, Talia claimed, stitched up…

Every last drop When I reach the end of a tube of moisturiser, I cut it in half and scoop the remaining product into a small jar or slide the top half of the tube back over the bottom to keep it fresh. Ena Chambers, Boston, Lincolnshire Can do I keep a separate, clearly labelled watering can for weedkiller to avoid accidentally getting any weedkiller on my nice plants. Katie Gooding, Tidworth, Wiltshire Sticky situation I wanted to remove the tatty label from my garden waste bin. By simply warming it with a hairdryer, it peeled away quickly and easily! Carolyn Watson, Boston, Lincolnshire Got me gripped To keep my curtains tidy, I found two pretty hair grips to hold them in place. Janice Kimmins, Diss, Norfolk £25 For every…

Comedian Phil Wang would like to be remembered as the man who solved what? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the two-word prize answer. ACROSS Drawingtool6 Lackofknowledge9) Dutylist4 Doesnotfolloworders(8) Fictionalpenguin5 Setofclothes6) Burialservice7 Eagertowin11) Opponent5 Nextto9 Ediblecrustaceans5 Havepowerover7) Madeanangrynoise(7) Relatingtothesea(6) filmstarringMattDamon(8) Artists8 Poisonoussnakes6 Typeoflettuce7) Diseaseassociatedwithchildhood(7) Herdofsheep5) Lonelinesssolitude9) Strolls5 Scheduledmeeting11 Femaledeity7 Frozenspike6 Unevencoarse5) Educating8 Missing4 Demandingsituation9 Metallicelement6 DOWN Faith6 Financialexpert10 Branchofmaths7) TitleoftheUSpresident’s wife (5,4) TVseriesstarringJohnThaw (9) Film 4 Makecertain6 Downpayment7 Morebeautiful8 Refusetowork6) Belongingtome4) Pressclothes4 Oppositeofpositive8) Blackandwhiteanimal(6) Officersofthelaw(9) Fellapart9…

Sun makes me sneeze Q Bright sunlight starts me sneezing uncontrollably! Am I allergic to the sun? Sam, Redcar A Sounds like photic sneeze reflex, which affects about one in five of us. Doctors love giving diseases odd names whose initials spell daft things so this is also known as autosomal dominant compelling helioophthalmic outburst syndrome or - wait for it - ACHOO! It’s passed down in families and is usually mild though can cause problems, for example if you suffer severe sneezing while driving. Sufferers find that sudden exposure to bright light triggers uncontrollable sneezing and no one’s really sure what’s going on, though an allergy isn’t to blame. More likely it’s due to cross-wiring between nerves in your eye and nose. There’s no real treatment but guard against sudden…

Snaking his arms around my hips, my boyfriend, Samir, pulled me close, making my tummy flutter. You look beautiful, he said, kissing me as I tied my red apron behind my back. It was 2012 and a size 18 at 18, I’d never had much confidence with boys. Yet that’d changed when I’d met Samir while we were working at McDonald’s. His kind compliments brought a happy flush to my cheeks as we flipped burgers and scooped fries into paper bags. Eating was a habit and junk food was like a crutch We'd been friends for over a year before we’d got together. And now… l' ve never been Happier, I smiled. We got married in March 2013. A small celebration with close family and friends, but I was thrilled…

Struggling to cope Q I feel like I can’t cope with my baby. She wakes every three hours at night. I feel so guilty but I’m exhausted and paranoid something bad will happen to her. My parents and friends live far away and my partner works long hours. I don’t have the confidence to go to mother and baby classes and feel like the baby will just cry. Emily, 29 A Listen here. You’re not alone. Many, many new parents go through this. What you see on Instagram, with smiley mums and newborns, is not reality. The more time you spend with other new parents, the more you’ll realise that what you’re feeling is totally normal. Please don’t isolate yourself, petal. Your baby will cry at home or in a…

Ambulance sirens drowned out my scream as I lay on a stretcher, another flash of pain squeezing across my bump. It s too early, I sobbed, holding on to my husband Jamie, then 27, as the contraction subsided. It was August 2021, and I was only 23 weeks gone. With polycystic ovaries and an underactive thyroid, my pregnancy was deemed high risk, but scans until now had been perfect. Yet, like it or not, our baby was on her way Three hours after arriving at East Surrey Hospital, I pushed Amaya-Rae into the world and watched doctors whisk her to neonatal intensive care (NICU). ‘She was so little,’ I panicked, as Jamie rubbed my back. Just llb 4oz. I felt frozen as we waited for news. ‘A birth before 24…

Chat winners issue 8 (23 Feb 2023) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? chat PUZZLE 1 499 chat PUZZLE 11 9 5 5 chat PUZZLE 12 ROBERTS •Any material submitted to Chat must be original, not copies or duplicated to other editors. Upon submitting material you warrant that you own or have the right to licence the material to Future pic for publication. Chat reserves the right to shorten, edit or modify any material that is submitted. In consideration for a worldwide, royalty-free licence…

LIZ BLUNT, 52, FROM FLEET, SAYS: For my local hero, I’m nominating Margo Martin from Poole, Dorset. Not just a fabulous granny, Margo, 80, is a volunteer for Young Lives vs Cancer, formally CLIC Sargent. She is passionate about raising funds and has put her all into finding trusts, local community groups and even a school to support our charity. Margo doesn’t just stop at fundraising either - she has given talks, organised gifts for children being treated in hospital and helped with collection tins. She also organises fundraising events, and is always thinking of new ways to get the community involved. Margo’s passion for raising money and awareness for young people with cancer is truly inspirational. Margo, without the help of people like you, we wouldn’t be able to…

TRUE-LIFE Yawning, I scooped up the Lego scattered across the room by the gaggle of toddlers racing around. ‘Tidy up time,’ I shouted over the noise of their little feet thudding on the wooden floor. Thankfully their freshfaced parents piled in from the snowy mountains outside, and after putting on wellies and zipping up coats, I gratefully waved the kids goodbye. ‘I’m ready for bed already,’ I sighed to my boyfriend James, crawling under the covers when I got home. It was April 2017, and I’d been a nursery nurse at a French ski resort for seven months. I’d met James there, and we spent days off skiing and enjoying the nightlife. Only now I was constantly exhausted. Looking alter kids all day was hard, but I was only 19.…

Q My dentist says my sore mouth is caused by thrush. Now I daren't kiss my husband! May, Fort William A Thrush is a yeast infection which can affect your vagina and, sometimes, your mouth. Oral thrush, as it’s called when it affects the mouth, usually affects older people with false teeth, or babies. In younger adults it can be a side effect of steroid asthma inhalers orlong-term antibiotics, or a sign of a disease such as diabetes, so needs to be checked. But there’s no need to worry about kissing, oral thrush isn’t contagious. If your dentist hasn’t treated you then mouth gel from your chemist should do the trick. To stop it coming back, regularly clean your teeth thoroughly (and your dentures if you wear them), have regular…

TRUE-LIFE Squirting a cup full of bright blue slushie, I popped in a paper straw. ‘Here you go, love,’ I grinned at my young customer. Standing on his tiptoes, he peered into my snack van, pitched in the middle of a bustling festival. Feasted his eyes on the hot dogs, chips and burgers. ‘Burger too please!’ he said as a queue formed behind him. As the music bounced around the field, I flipped his burger onto the grill… Then I woke up. It was early 2021 and running a burger van at festivals was something that was only in my dreams. In real life, I was tired and stressed in my banking job. I began my career in 2006, shortly after having my kids, Darcie, then 2, and James, 6…

MONEY MATTERS 3 Ways to… USE LESS WATER It can save you cash and it’s better for the environment too. Here’s how to do it… 1 Reduce shower time 1 Cutting the amount of time you spend in the shower will reduce the amount of water going down the drain as well as saving you money on the energy used to heat the water. According to Energy Saving Trust, keeping your shower time to just four minutes could save a typical household* £95 a year on their bills plus an extra £60 on their water bill, if metered. You can buy shower timers to help you keep track, or you could just set an alarm on your phone. Alternatively, why not look online for a song you like that lasts four…

19-25 May 2023 Aries 21 March-20 April The moon has just been in your sign, helping you realise what you really want. Now take the lead. Others will follow in time, so embrace the challenge. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Thanks to the moon in Taurus, you’ll find the courage to stand your ground on an important matter. Be clear about your boundaries and don’t waiver. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June As the sun moves into Gemini on 20 May, this ushers in a new beginning for you. Your energy will increase over the next few days, opening new doors. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July This week, take time out to reflect…

Q How can I get my feet ready for summer? Amanda Harris, Clayton, West Sussex A Getting sandal-ready feet doesn’t have to mean an expensive trip to the salon, you can easily and affordably replicate a pedicure at home. Start with a pair of hard-working pedicure socks like Superdrug Coconut Oil Foot Pampering Sock Pack, £1.99, Superdrug. After 20 minutes of soaking, the hard skin on your soles will be ready to be buffed and filed. To do this, take PS… Pedicure Set, £6, Primark, which has three interchangeable heads to buff, file and smooth your feet until excess skin has been removed. Smother your soles in moisture every day too - Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Nourishing Foot Cream, £5.99, Boots will keep your feet looking great and ready LETTER of…

Dear Karen, When you called me in May 2021, and asked me the question, I didn’t know what to say. ‘Could you foster a dog for us?’ you posed. You worked at Dogs Trust, matching homeless pooches with foster homes. I'd recently signed up to foster a dog. But now you were asking if I’d take in Harley, and I hesitated. 'I'll send you a picture,’ you said. A gorgeous, chocolatebrown Staffordshire bull terrier, he was a proper cutie. But he reminded me of my beloved Staffy, Roxy She'd passed a few months earlier and I was still grieving. Was I ready for another dog? Then you said something that made my mind up for me. ‘Harley is terminally ill,’ you told me. The poor pup had cancer. Usually, a…