Table of contents for 25 January 2024 in Chat

Welcome to this week Chat… After a painful divorce, Maria happily settled down with her new man but thought another trip down the aisle wasn't on the cards (p30). But when she heard her ex-hubby was remarrying, she wasn't about to be outdone. What happened next isn't what you're expecting! But as Maria says, she made the most important commitment of her life that day – to herself. Have a read of her story and ask if you'd ever do the same. Have a great week,…

Curling into a ball, I pulled my duvet around myself in bed, my tummy heavy with dread. Will he visit me tonight? I wondered. Then came a knock, a face around the door. ‘Ready for bed?’ Gary asked me. It was 1981, I was 10, and Mum, Helen, had split from Dad four years earlier. Now Mum, then 34, was dating Gary, then 27, after meeting him at a community volunteering programme. He'd stay over, or Mum would take me and my sister Elizabeth, then 13, and twin brother Wayne over to his. Wherever we were, Gary never missed saying goodnight to us. Perching on our beds before tucking us in, giving us a peck on the cheek. The last few night-time visits had been different. Gary had slipped his…

What do rapper Eminem and drag queen RuPaul have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 ACROSS 1 Walks through water (5) 4 Ribbon (4) 6 Disadvantage (8) 13 Small edible fish (7) 14 Determine the size of (7) 15 Evade (5) 16 Be quiet and sullen (4) 17 Broad street (6) 18 University qualification (6) 20 Mix of red and white (4) 21 Garden border (5) 22 Lavatory (6) 25 Impediment (8) 28 Multiply by three (6) 30 Oily fruit (5) 32 Pig's feet (8) 34 Crustacean (6) 35 Flat circular object (4) 38 Medical professional (6) 39 French word for goodbye (5) 40 Royal residence (6) 43 Baby carriage (4) 44 Modest (6) 45 Female child (8) 48 Bird of prey (5) 49 Empty within (6) 51 Video tape (8) 54 Country in the Americas (6) 55 Catwalk star…

True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK As I stood at the kitchen sink, a wave of dizziness washed over me. Closing my eyes, I gritted my teeth, willing the feeling to be over. ‘You all right, love?’ my husband Andy, then 49, asked. ‘Fine,’ I lied. Last thing I wanted was to worry him. He was always looking out for me these days. It was spring 2018 and I felt permanently ill. For years I'd suffered with bladder issues, fatigue, migraines, tinnitus and tingling sensations in my head. Now it seemed I could add vertigo to the list. Sometimes it was so bad, I could barely stand. Over the years, I'd been passed from doctor to doctor. Nobody knew what was wrong. Most thought I had inner-ear issues or migraines, and I was…

Q After a hot bath I come out in itchy little red spots, even if I don't use soap! Am I allergic to water? Karyn, Swansea A It's not possible to be allergic to water, which is a good thing as it makes up 70% of our bodies. You're right to suspect allergy to soap or bath bubbles but as you're not using any, this sounds like prickly heat. This happens when your sweat glands are suddenly switched on, but the sweat can't escape due to steamy humid conditions or clothing that traps sweat. A tropical holiday is a common trigger but a hot bath can be another, resulting in small red itchy spots on your scalp and body. Best treatment is a cooler bath, and hot baths are best…

Lonnie Johnson developed an innovative new design for what object while working for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the 1980s, going on to make millions of dollars from it? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Oscillate = SING + W = SWING. 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…

Try to be rainbow bright Just because it's grey outside doesn't mean you have to be. So-called dopamine dressing is a big trend where folk wear their most colourful clothes to cheer themselves up, and we think it's a bright idea. Whether it's a quirky jumper making you stand out from the crowd or a jazzy coat, a splash of colour will help you brush off that January gloom. Let us eat cake Trying to fit into your pre-Chrimbo jeans? No wonder you're feeling glum on a diet of lettuce leaves. Go on, get your oven gloves and whisk and bake a big, sugary cake. Not only is baking a great activity for mindfulness, you'll share the joy with those around you when you offer them a slice. Those jeans…

Bored in the bedroom Q I've been with my boyfriend for 11 years and we have a boring sex life, but every time I ask him to try new things he just refuses. I've tried starting small with a bit of dirty talk but he shuts it down completely. I feel like we're too young to be giving up on experimenting. But I feel silly asking again. Marni, 30 A It's not unusual to experience sexual boredom after so long in a relationship, sweetheart. Even when life is perfect, sex can suffer. Go back to basics – hand  holding, massages, little touches – before progressing to talking about your fantasies and trying new positions. It probably won't happen overnight, pet. But you might have fun along the way! I want to…

WIN £500 Puzzle 18 The answers to all but one of these quiz questions can be found hidden in this wordsearch grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally. To help you, we'll tell you that the answers are in alphabetical order in each section. However, one answer can't be found in the grid. This is your prize answer. RAINBOW 1 Who directed and starred in the 1996 film Rainbow, and starred in the 1986 film Mona Lisa and the 1980 film The Long Good Friday? (3,7) 2 The Rainbow Guides take girls from what age (the same age at which a child can start infant school in England and Wales)? (4) 3 Which mischievous elf of Irish legend is said to hide their pot of gold at the end…

E45 Rich Hand Cream, £5, Tesco If you have dry hands, try this ultra-nourishing cream. It's blended with evening primrose oil and will hydrate your hands for up to 24 hours, so you won't have to keep re-applying. Pantene Molecular Bond Repair Treatment, £10, Boots This treatment will overhaul damaged hair from the inside, leaving it stronger in just three minutes. Use once a week instead of your usual conditioner. Simple Restorative Rich Cream, £8.99, Boots You might need a richer day cream in the winter months as the weather combined with central heating can dry out your skin. This is a brilliant buy, which leaves skin feeling soft and soothed. Do It All Blush Stick, £8.99, H&M Using multitasking make-up is a good way to get more bang for…

It was 2008 when little Amber Gibson, then 3, and her brother Connor, 5, arrived at their new home in Larkhall, Lanarkshire. Welcomed by their loving foster parents Craig and Carol Niven. In their short years, the siblings had experienced abuse and violence within their troubled birth family. ‘We are safe now,’ Connor told his little sister. And for a while they were. Especially after the Nivens were granted permanent care of them a few years later. Only, sadly, as the pair reached their teens, their relationship grew ‘turbulent’. In 2019, Amber, then 14, moved into a nearby children's care unit. And in 2020, when he turned 18, Connor moved into a homeless hostel. Despite it all, Amber was ‘the most giving, loving, supportive and admirable’ girl who loved art…

Dear Geoff It's been a tough few years hasn't it? I'll never forget the terror I felt in March 2019 finding you on the lounge floor. ‘Geoff,’ I cried, but you didn't react. Your mouth drooping, it was obvious to me you'd had a stroke. But you were an active 48-year-old, a regular gym-goer. Didn't smoke, only drank occasionally. ‘Girls, call an ambulance!’ I screamed upstairs to our daughters Georgie, then 17, and Paige, 22. As paramedics loaded you into an ambulance, I climbed in behind. ‘Call your brother. Meet us at the hospital,’ I told the girls. Sirens blaring, we sped to Broomfield Hospital where you were whisked to resus. I paced the waiting room until a doctor came in. ‘Geoff's in a critical condition,’ he said. He gave…

YOU'RE THE JUDGE Bikes piled up outside as Lycraclad cyclists streamed into the heaving cafe. The Meteor, in Austin, Texas, was a favourite haunt for cyclists. That day, in autumn 2021, best friends Kaitlin Armstrong and Nicole Mertz sat sipping their drinks. Kaitlin had been in an on-again-off-again relationship with professional cyclist Colin Strickland for three years. Now they'd split up. So when Anna Moriah Wilson – known as Mo to friends – walked into the cafe, Kaitlin was seething. She'd heard rumours about Mo and Colin's close friendship. Nicole noticed Kaitlin become ‘visibly angry’. ‘What would you do if Colin started dating someone else?’ she asked. ‘I'd kill her,’Kaitlin snapped back. It wasn't long before Kaitlin, a yoga instructor, and Colin got back together again. Yet Kaitlin discovered her…

Magical magnets? Q I have arthritis and I've seen adverts for pain-killing magnets – could they help me? Houda, Nuneaton A Cells in your body do respond to magnetic fields in laboratory experiments, and magnetic painkilling devices are popular as jewellery to wear against the painful part, or built into pillows or mattress covers. But doctors still aren't convinced that magnetic treatment can make any real difference to symptoms such as pain. One form, transcranial magnetic stimulation, which uses magnets to stimulate brain cells, might help conditions such as severe migraine, but studies on magnets for other types of pain haven't shown a convincing effect. Magnets are generally safe if you do want to give them a try, though it's important to keep them away from children who might swallow…

Albert Einstein had a job in the patent office in which city while working on his doctorate and first scientific papers? Solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Clean (5) 4 Strong beer (3) 6 Risotto grain (4) 7 Chicken (3) DOWN 1 An apology (5) 2 Hit song by S Club 7 (5) 3 Hive dweller (3) 5 Bruce _, martial artist (3) WIN 4x £20 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Juggling the demands of two kids under the age of 2 can be tricky. But mum Tori and dad Syven know that teamwork and routine keep everyone fed and happy. While Tori gives their 1-month-old daughter Wynter her morning bottle, Syven spoonfeeds Prophet, 1, his pureed baby food. There is just one thing that makes them different from most other families around the breakfast table. ‘My husband gave birth to our children,’ says Tori. Syven was assigned female at birth and started his transition at a young age. ‘My transition journey was easy because I knew,’ Syven says. ‘I knew what I was when I was very young, about 5 or 6. ‘But it's hard because of the stuff that you have to deal with when you're going through your…

Cheat's chicken biryani So quick and simple, this tasty curry is not only cheaper but healthier too SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 50 MINS ● 1tbsp olive oil ● 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs ● 2 onions, cut into wedges ● 150g ready-made biryani sauce or other curry sauce ● 150g basmati rice ● Handful of coriander, chopped ● Poppadoms, to serve 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/ Gas 4. In a wide ovenproof pan or casserole, heat the oil, then season the chicken and brown on both sides. Transfer to a plate. Add the onion and fry gently for a couple of mins to colour slightly. 2 Put the chicken back in the pan with the biryani sauce, rice and 4tbsp water. 3 Stir to combine, bring to a simmer, then cover and…

19-25 January 2024 Aries 21 March-20 April The Full Moon in fellow fire sign Leo this month helps you get creative! Take up a new hobby or revisit something you love to help you relax and unwind. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Now that Jupiter, planet of luck and expansion, is moving direct in your sign you'll feel like you're back in the flow. Embrace the positive energy coming! ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You're being blessed with a number of ideas and new inspirations. Take action on these and plan how to move forward in whatever way you can. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Have you been feeling sluggish since the…

Q What is an affordable bath and shower range to treat a friend to? Sharon Williams, Oxford A January is the perfect time for some pampering. Even better, you're likely to get some bargains shopping in the sales. Sanctuary is our go-to brand for beauty gifts – the formulas are luxurious, smell gorgeous and are prettily packaged. Sanctuary Spa Your Mini Moment Gift Set, £11.50, amazon.co.uk has a trio of body products plus a bath puff, all wrapped up in a nice box. We're also huge fans of the Apothecary range at M&S, which has beautifully scented products for skin, hair and body. We love that you can buy eco-friendly refills of their shower gels, hand washes and shampoos. Apothecary Calm Bath Oil, £9.50, M&S, would make a great gift.…

Chat winners issue 41 (12 Oct 2023) £1,001 CASH E Trudgeon, Chippenham £500 CASH M Price, Hereford G Napier, Bishop's Stortford £250 CASH T Spicer, Hornchurch Mr Bucks, Aberdeen £200 CASH T Francis, Swansea £100 CASH M Dodgson, Barrow-in-Furness L Tennant, Knaresborough P Webb, Southampton £75 CASH J Bailey, London £50 CASH R Sinclair, Shetland R Harrison, Stoke-on-Trent A Smith, Aberdeen D Wilson, Morecambe T Dyer, Chester C Smith, Belfast £40 CASH H Washbourne, Poole £30 CASH W Malone, Otley Y Thornton, Harlow £25 CASH G Mercer, Bolton N Pugh, Watchet £20 CASH J Foster, Newcastle upon Tyne M Madge, Uxbridge K Devon, Leiston G Ferries, Morpeth M Pebworth, Sherborne M Elshaw, Harlech E Fowden, Barnsley B Woodhouse, Sheffield J Williams, Shrewsbury S McEvoy, Middlesbrough F Hobbs, Lee-on-the-Solent J King, Ipswich J Norfolk, Knottingley T Purvis, Loughborough M Lloyd, Porth S Boote, Bolton P Fuller, London S Williams, St Asaph G Lockwood, Sheffield C Davies, Powys A Robinson, Larne J Parnaby, Grantham S Coleman, Canterbury K Marson, King's Lynn Anyone from your town in the list this week..? Chat PUZZLE1 75278 Chat PUZZLE 11 641 Chat…

Favourite childhood memory? All the birthday cakes my mum used to make for me. They were nowhere near as fancy as the ones you see now, but they were just as special to me. What's your TV guilty pleasure? Hallmark Christmas films! The cheesier the better. And I've lost count of how many times I've watched When Harry Met Sally! What's your go-to takeaway? A lovely Chinese. I have sweet and sour chicken with fried rice. And seaweed! Never forget the seaweed! Any advice foryour younger self? Get involved in a sport. I wish I was interested in fitness now, and I think that's because I never did anything when I was a kid. Also, buy second hand. We've got some amazing furniture for our house that cost less than…

What was the name of the ship on board which explorer Ernest Shackleton died in 1922? The number next to the clue tells you which line the answer's in. We've put a section in to start you off! There may be two Across answers in one line. Down words fill themselves in. The shaded squares spell out the one-word prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 2 2 Amount of easily available cash or assets 4 Lion's lair • Embalmed body 6 Extended sleep (3-2) • Moose 3 Large and luxurious car Your answer:…

STYLE TIP Create interesting layered looks by mixing with knits, silk and velvety fabrics. STYLE TIP Wear with a jacket that sits just below your waist to accentuate the silhouette of the trousers. STYLE TIP Undo a few buttons and layer with a Breton or thin roll-neck during the colder months. STYLE TIP Button up your shirt and tuck into high-waisted jeans or wear open as a shacket.…

In November 2023, Kaitlin Armstrong, 35, was found guilty of first-degree murder. She was jailed for 90 years. Under Texas law, she'll be eligible for parole after serving 30 years. She was also fined $10,000 [£7,900]. In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mo's brother Matt said, ‘My sister had her life taken from her for no reason at all.’ Mo came from a family of athletes. Her parents Eric and Karen Wilson had been on the US ski team. And, after competing in alpine skiing, Mo had focused on cycling. She'd recently quit her job to race professionally, after getting a string of high-profile wins under her belt. She was described as being ‘exceptional in every way’. Her star was rising before her life was brutally cut short. Speaking…

TRUE-LIFE My shoulders sagged with relief when my husband Nick, then 30, finally burst through the front door. ‘At last!’ I cried, bending over as another pain coursed through my bump. It was July 2022, and by the time I'd got hold of Nick, I'd been in labour for hours. He'd been working as a gas engineer nearby with no phone signal. ‘She's 12 weeks early,’ I cried, panicking. At that moment, my mum Kay, then 69, arrived. ‘Go,’ she shouted, holding the little hands of our sons Lincoln, then 4, and Logan, 2, on the driveway as I got in the car. ‘I'll be home soon,’ I promised the boys. But as Nick raced to Broomfield Hospital, I wondered if that was true. And if I'd be bringing their…

3 ways to… STAY SAFE FROM NUISANCE CALLERS Things you can do to stop unsolicited marketing calls. 1 Get on the list Firstly, register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), this lets you opt out of receiving unsolicited marketing calls to your landline or mobile. It's free to register; you can do it at tpsonline.org.uk or by calling 0345 070 0707. Marketing companies use this register to identify people who have said that they do not want to receive marketing calls. But it won't stop all calls, for example firms may still call you if you've previously given them permission to. To stop these calls, contact the firm and ask them not to call you for marketing purposes. 2 Report it If you still get unwanted marketing calls after you've been registered…

John and Lisa's Food Trip Down Under ITV1 ● Australian chef John Torode returns to his homeland with his wife and fellow cook Lisa Faulkner to show her where his passion for food and cooking began. In this five-part series, they travel 500 miles along the coast of Western Australia. It's the food that's attracted the couple to the region, so on their road trip they meet local chefs, winemakers and food fanatics and sample some of the delicious food on offer. They also take in breathtaking landscapes and witness its wildlife, including stingrays, dolphins and kangaroos. In the first episode, they encounter cute marsupials called quokkas. DON'T MISS Sexy Beast PARAMOUNT+ ● James McArdle and Emun Elliott are gangster pals Gal Dove and Don Logan, who were played by…

Swiping through my dating app, I caught sight of a silver-haired fella in a naval uniform. Member of the Royal Australian Navy, Fred's profile read. It was May 2018 and, following a break-up, I was single and ready to mingle. What do you do when you're not at sea? I messaged Fred playfully. I'm an artist, he replied. After chatting, it wasn't long before we met to have dinner together. I spotted Fred, 54, across the restaurant straight away. Tall, well-built, with a good head of grey hair, he was a real silver fox. Nervous energy bubbled away inside me. But, almost immediately, he set me at ease. ‘You look amazing,’ he beamed, pulling out my chair. The perfect gent. Charming, handsome, he listened when I spoke. Rare for a man,…