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When Kimmy’s beloved Chihuahua Fifi passed away, she wasn’t ready to say goodbye. What she did next is pretty unusual…it involved putting Fifi in the freezer (p10)! Karaoke queen Katrina was stabbed after she performed – what she didn’t know was that this violent attack would spur her on to change her life forever (p37). And new mum Asher’s lovely letter to her great gran shows the true meaning of girl power (p58). There’s chilling true crime, woolly winter warmers (p12) new family fave recipes (p40) and loads more. 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 Subscribe from just £10.99* Subscribe online at magazinesdirect.com/26BW or call 0330 333 1113 and quote code 26BW** *Payable every 3…

Wendy Andrew, from the Scottish Pet Bereavement Counselling Service, says, ‘The loss of a companion animal is heartbreaking. But there’ll always be those who don’t understand the impact of pet bereavement. When it comes to memorialising a beloved pet, what feels right to one person may not feel right to another. With taxidermy, it may bring great comfort to some to have their beloved companion immortalised and on display within their home. For others, it may feel a touch macabre and uncomfortable, even distasteful. The thought of the taxidermy process might also be traumatising for some and, while they think it may bring comfort, it may leave them stuck in their grief, unable to move forwards. It could also be upsetting if the result doesn’t reflect the essence or personality…

Ruth Lunsford tucked her granddaughter Jessica, 9, safely in bed on 23 February 2005. Warm and snuggled, Jessica cuddled the purple dolphin toy that her daddy Mark had won her at the fair. Mark had been a single dad since Jessica was 1, after he and Jessica’s mum Angela had divorced. Mark and his daughter lived with his parents in Homosassa, Florida. But when Mark returned from his girlfriend’s at 6am the next morning to get ready for work, he heard his daughter’s alarm. Jessica was usually up and getting ready for school, but when he went into her room, he found her bed empty. The clothes she’d laid out for school hadn’t been touched. None of her shoes were gone, but her dolphin toy was. Jessica was a daddy’s…

Bethany Dawson, 22, London Sitting in the classroom, I tried to pay attention to the teacher. If only this pain would get lost, I thought, pressing my hand to my back. It was late 2012, and aged 13, I’d recently had a benign tumour removed from my lower back. The op had gone well, but now I struggled with pain that came in waves. ‘It’s probably nerve damage,’ my surgeon said, telling me it might ease off in time. But months later, I was still suffering. And now the pain had spread from my lower back to my hips, knees and legs. The doctor still said it was nerve damage. Six years passed like this and, deep down, I was sure there was something more serious going on. At home,…

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 Ann Johnson, Runcorn, Cheshire ACROSS 1 Side shoot 2 Of long ago 3 Oasis singer 4 Type of soil DOWN 1 Working together, in _ 2 Bar game 3 Waste product 4 Depend WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Koumpounophobia is the fear of what type of object? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: BA + BY, BY +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 7 Your…

ARROW WORD Which is the only large moon in the solar system that orbits its planet in the opposite direction to the planet’s rotation? 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 £1,000 puzzle 10 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 ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) has its headquarters in which city? BANGKOK BEIJING DELHI DHAKA HANOI JAKARTA KARACHI LAHORE MANILA MUMBAI RIYADH SHANGHAI TAIPEI TEHRAN TOKYO…

Bored in the bedroom Q I’ve been with my hubby for 10 years. From the start, he hasn’t made any noise whatsoever during sex. I’ve mentioned it in the past and he says he doesn’t know why, and it’s something he’s never done with anyone. The older I get, the more boring it feels. Like I’m forcing him into something he doesn’t want to do. Is this normal? Karina, 41 AI think what you’re trying to say is you want to spice things up. There’s nothing wrong with that, but just because he isn’t vocal, it doesn’t mean he isn’t enjoying it. If you force him, he’ll end up faking it, and no one wants that. Look at ways of making things more interesting instead of concentrating on his lack of…

Katrina Harte, 58, Newcastle Turning the key in the ignition, I revved the engine on my scarletred motorbike. Beautiful! I thought, hearing it roar. The bike had been just a frame when I’d bought it. I’d spent months rebuilding it from scratch, adding the engine, configuring the brakes and all the mechanisms. ‘And now you’re perfect,’ I grinned, wiping the oil from my hands. Getting down and dirty with an engine was my favourite thing to do. An escape. As a kid, I never fitted in. I hated being pushed to play football and had no interest in Action Man toys. But I had a fascination with electrical things. Engineering ran in the family, and I loved taking things apart and putting them back together to see how they worked.…

Potato, leek and crème fraiche chicken Wholesome, hearty comfort food doesn’t get much better than this creamy chicken bake SERVES 4 PREP TIME: 10 MINS COOK TIME: 40 MINS • 3tbsp olive oil • 2tbsp wholegrain mustard • 350g new potatoes,big ones halved • 4 skin-on chicken breasts • 2 large leeks • 1tbsp plain flour • 50ml chicken stock • 200g crème fraiche • 2tbsp fresh chopped parsley • Steamed greens, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 200C/Gas 6. Heat 2tbsp oil and the wholegrain mustard in an ovenproof dish. Mix together and, once hot, add the potatoes and toss to coat. Cook for around 20 mins. 2 Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and cook the chicken for 5 mins on each side until…

Aries 21 March-20 April Mercury moving into Saturn makes you the mediator, giving you a chance to change your mind about a long-held belief. It’s a step towards success. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You might feel there aren’t enough hours in the day and someone will want to talk about a subject you know well. A surprise delivery will be amusing. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June It’s a good time to think about your career and if it’s what you really want. You could find a job that is less pressured, doing something you thoroughly enjoy. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Remember that when…

If your child or grandchild is selfharming, it’s hard to know what to do... • Don’t blame yourself, and stay calm. • Encourage them to open up – even if they’d rather talk via text message. • Try to listen rather than asking a lot of questions so they feel judged. Make sure they know it’s OK to be honest with you and that you care about them. • Ask them what they would find helpful. • Speak to your GP about a referral (to children and young people’s mental-health services). • Contact the free NSPCC helpline for support and advice on 0808 800 5000, or visit nspcc.org.uk.…

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Frappe, £5.50, Superdrug This creamy, long-lasting eye pencil is perfect for defining your lash line and creating a smokey eye. We love this shade in particular as the subtle brown colour doesn’t look harsh on mature eyes. OPI Nail Lacquer in Pink on Canvas, £13.90, justmylook.com Don’t neglect your feet this winter. Instead, keep them looking pretty with this cute, pink shade of polish perfect for applying to toenails. It’s worth spending that bit more when the chipresistant formula will stay looking fab for weeks. Rimmel Wonder’Extension Mascara, £9.99, Boots Achieving long, fluttery lashes is easy with this lashextending mascara. The spiked wand grabs on to every lash, leaving them lifted, curled and defined. Super Facialist Hexapeptide-9 Anti-Ageing Skin Cleansing Milk, £9, Boots Squeaky-clean skin…

SCARVES STYLE TIP Scarves are a great way to inject colour and patterns to any outfit and are a must-have for your winter wardrobe. FUR-LINED BOOTS STYLE TIP Chunky boots are the hero shoe of the season. Wear with textured fabrics such as wool or denim to balance the heavy style. HATS STYLE TIP A cute bobble or beanie hat will keep your head warm in style and no one will know if you’re hair day! GLOVES FROM £2.50 STYLE TIP These Totes gloves have smart-touch technology, meaning you can use your phone while…

John Couey was found guilty of murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and burglary in the abduction of Jessica Lunsford. During sentencing, Judge Ric Howard reduced the courtroom to tears as he discussed how the girl died slowly as her oxygen ran out. An expert said she could’ve been alive five minutes before losing consciousness. ‘He caused a slow, suffering, conscious death. Her only source of comfort during this horrific experience was her purple dolphin,’ the judge said. Mark Lunsford pleaded for Couey to die for his crime and spoke of his memories of his daughter. ‘I can remember when she was about 1 year old and would give me kisses and hugs and steal the raisins from my cereal. From bumps to bruises, from BandAids to bicycles, she was a tomboy…

1 Make time for exercise Fed up with feeling lethargic? You’re not alone. Each day, the average Brit spends two hours and 56 minutes feeling drained.* Going for a walk or getting active in some other way is an easy way to stop this. That’s because exercise is one of the body’s best stimulators as it triggers energising feel-good chemicals. Walking, swimming, cycling or even doing moderate housework for 20 minutes three times a week can make a difference, helping to reduce fatigue by 65% and increase energy by 20%.** 2 Sleep more Enough sleep – seven to eight hours – is vital for physical and mental alertness. ‘Go to bed and get up at roughly the same time each day and wind down properly – no screens for an…

Karen Balloqui, 39, from west London Showing me her phone, a huge smile spread across my daughter Chloe’s face. ‘Look, Mum,’ Chloe, then 8, beamed, flashing her latest TikTok video. In it, she’s trying on different hats. But the video is speeded up, so it looks as though she’s changing them all in a nanosecond. ‘Which one looks best?’ she asks her followers, swapping a pink beanie for a purple one. At the end, Chloe appears without a hat, her long, shiny red hair tumbling past her shoulders. ‘Brilliant!’ I grinned, knowing how proud she was of her hair. Well, she’d already lost it twice during her life-long cancer battle. Both times, it’d thinned, fallen out in chunks before we eventually shaved it. Chloe was only 18 months when she…

Veryan Greenwood, 62, Ditchling Scrolling through the app, I sighed. Nothing. It’d been six months since I’d signed up to Our Time, a dating site for the over-50s. So far, I’d had one disastrous dinner date and was on the verge of cancelling my subscription. One more look, I told myself in March 2020. Then I read a message from a man called Philip. He was handsome, yet he said he was 75. Sorry, you’re a little old for me, I replied. Yet he persisted. I’m an artist and young at heart, he wrote. He said his dad was still going strong at 102! Liking his banter, we exchanged messages before Philip gave me his email address – and when I read it, I was stunned. Philip Dunn! A renowned…

Desperate for a break, after the sentencing I flew to Turkey. Surrounded by beautiful views, I found some peace. Turkey became my happy place, and I visited often. Then, in 2006, sitting in a hotel bar watching the evening entertainment, a drag queen called Miss Bella Berserk came on. I admired her glam look – she oozed charisma. ‘Fancy a turn?’ Bella quipped I froze. Then... ‘Yes, actually!’ I snapped. After all, I loved performing – and, swept up in the moment, it looked fun. Freeing. The next day, I headed to the local market and bought a glitzy top and skirt. And that night, Bella took me backstage to do my hair and make-up. ‘You sure about this?’ Bella asked, applying my lippy. Grinning, I nodded. Confidence pulsed through…

Exams, social media, a worldwide pandemic… Teenagers today are facing evergrowing pressures. Yet, while parents battle to shield their kids from outside dangers, harm is being done closer to home than we often realise. Shockingly, one in five young women aged 16 to 24 have intentionally cut, burnt or poisoned themselves.* This figure has more than trebled in the last 20 years. And, according to a BBC investigation, hospital admissions of 9 to 12-year-olds because of selfinjury has doubled in six years. Chat looks at what can be done to help these young people more… ‘It felt like cutting helped me cope’ Harriet Knock, 23, North Devon Arriving home from school, I ignored my rumbling tummy as I told my mum Sarah what a great day I’d had. It was…

Radox Feel Relaxed Bath Soak, £1.20, Boots Prepare for a restful night’s sleep with a warm bath before bed. This lavender scented bath soak fills the tub with bubbles and the relaxing fragrance will encourage you to drift off in no time. Retreat Cedarwood Candle, £3, Primark Lighting a scented candle is a great way to wind down after a stressful day. This Primark one smells warm and woody and is so affordable – stock up now for a candle-lit winter. Leighton Denny Rebirth Hand Cream, £4.99, leightondenny.com This sumptuous hand cream is fantastic for hydrating dry skin and cuticles overnight. When you jump into bed, massage it in and you’ll wake up to the softest hands ever. It’s ultra-rich but not greasy!…

The 2021 movie Silk Road was written and directed by Tiller Russell. Although Russell had access to entries on Ulbricht’s laptop – used as evidence in court – Ulbricht was never consulted. Jimmi Simpson plays Chris Tarbell, the real-life FBI agent who led the investigation. But Rick Bowden (portrayed by Jason Clarke) is a fictional detective who plays cat and mouse with Ulbricht (Nick Robinson). Bowden is based on a mix of real-life investigators. Tiller stretches the truth, but is the first to admit it… This story is true. Except for what we made up or changed, opening credits read.…

Simon Deaton, 44, Chesterfield Bacon sizzled in the pan as I sat with a mate at the kitchen table, planning a day mountain biking. ‘Coffee?’ my girlfriend Nicole, then 34, smiled, putting down a plate of fresh butties. ‘She’s a diamond,’ my mate grinned. He was right. Nicole and I had met online in April 2014. At nearly 37, I’d almost given up hope of finding The One, settling down and having kids. But when we got chatting, things felt different. Nicole, a mum to two teenagers, was easy to talk to, made me laugh. And when we went for dinner a week later, we just clicked. Nicole was a natural beauty, up for a laugh. Independent, she ran a transport company. I was an amateur racing driver and worked…

Kimmy Walker-Harris, 40, Alford, Lincolnshire Trotting into the garden, my tiny Chihuahua Fifi howled into the air. Then she skipped back inside for breakfast. ‘You’re funny,’ I laughed. Fifi, then 13, had been the first dog me and my partner Stuart, then 45, had got together. Our pocket pooch with the mega personality. And as we’d added to our brood, Fifi was always top dog. By now, in July 2020, we had 10 canine pals. Fifi, her granddaughter Polly, five Pomeranians, a chow chow, a pug and a Border collie. But despite Fifi’s size, she ruled the roost. She’d bark at the others if they misbehaved. Even rounded up my three horses. ‘Good girl, Fi,’ I’d grin as she led them into their paddocks. But now, watching her scoff her…

Who is US actor Zendaya’s favourite Shakespeare character? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. Across 11 Green, for example (6) 12 Costing a lot (9) 13 Cooker (4) 14 Fine soft fabric (8) 15 Ancient language (5) 16 Bring in from overseas (6) 17 Percussion instruments (7) 18 See 36 Across 20 Natural ability (5) 22 Moral standard (9) 24 Spotless (5) 28 Imitator (7) 29 Welsh city (7) 32 Spud (6) 34 Glowing or shining (8) 36/18 Actor who starred in BBC series Sherlock (8,11) 37 Ways of getting to a place (6) 39 Tomato puree (7) 40 Office gadget (7) 45 Go in (5) 47 School subject (9) 48 Prepared (5) 51 See-through (11) 53 Visualise (7)…

One kidney a worry? Q A scan has shown that I only have one kidney! Is that dangerous? Jan, Accrington A Around one in 1,000 of us are born with one kidney instead of the usual two, though many may never know it. A single kidney will often enlarge and do the work of two, filtering waste and excess fluid from your body, and never cause any problems. But a single kidney is under extra strain and might sometimes start to leak protein, increase your blood pressure, or (rarely) fail altogether. Healthy exercise is fine, although it’s probably best to avoid rough contact sports as your enlarged kidney could be more vulnerable to damage from knocks. Reduce strain on your kidney by avoiding excess salt and protein. Your doctor will…

PARK AMBUSH Heather Tell, 17, was attacked in Kettlebrook Linear Park, Tamworth, in August 2000. Heather was stripped, her underwear shoved in her mouth, and strangled with her shoelace. Her body was discovered in nearby bushes the next morning. Coach driver Michael Chidgey, then 46, was arrested after a relative raised suspicions about him. He’d previously served time for attempted rape, and his DNA matched the crime scene. He was jailed for life for Heather’s murder. WORKER RAGE In a row over holiday pay, Newcastle-under-Lyme restaurant worker Wai Lim Fong, 21, stabbed his boss, Ray Mo, 57, in March 2004. He stabbed Ray in the back and slashed his throat three times before emptying a food waste bin over him. It emerged he’d tried to buy a carving knife hours…

FILL ME IN Orléans in France is twinned with which UK city? 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 14 Your answer CIRCLE TIME What animal is an acronym used for a format of poker, involving a round of each of five different game variants? Fit the words into the grid, then read the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters CAB LOB OAK OIL OLD PAD REV VIA YES 4 letters BOYS ECHO GLAD HAND NIGH UGLY 5 letters BLEED DOLLY NYLON VALVE 6 letters ARMOUR ASHORE AWAKEN GROOVY 7 letters BALLOON CALYPSO WIN £100 puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details…

3 ways to... clean up your finances You can save time and cash with these handy organisational tips. 1 Get yourself sorted Clear out your cupboards and drawers and get rid of anything you don’t need; you could try making some cash by selling unwanted items online such as on local Facebook selling groups or eBay. Then organise your drawers and cupboards and ensure everything has its place. This way, you’ll know exactly what you own so you’ll save time if you’re looking for something and you’ll avoid making a repeat purchase of something you already have. Go through your paperwork and file away important documents and dispose of anything you don’t need any more, but shred first if it contains personal information. 2 Right on time It’s essential to…

Harriet’s mum Sarah Knock, 61, says, ‘Alarm bells first rang when Harriet started secondary school. She became withdrawn. Often told me she didn’t want to go in at all. Her relationship with food started to change. It became a battle, willing her to eat but witnessing, her clothes becoming looser, her face looking thinner. When I found out that she was self-harming, I was distraught. I didn’t know what to say at first, but I knew she was depressed and needed help. I locked away the knives, scissors – anything sharp. But she bought a craft knife from a local shop. I took her to a dietician, contacted children’s mental-health services. I eventually took her out of school for a time as she wasn’t coping. A young man living locally…

HOW TO ENTER TEXT Simply text CHATD 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.…