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Ever been so cross or fed-up with your other half that you wished they’d just get lost? Well you won’t wish that again after you read Anita’s shocking story (p10). After her hubby went missing nearly nine years ago, she’s been left living in a mystery. Now she’s asking for your help. Also in this week’s issue, there are tons more great real-life stories, plus puzzles and loads of other fab stuff, including 20% off at Bonmarché! Have a brill week, PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Emma Cox, 31, Spalding, Lincolnshire Anxiety churned in my tummy as I smiled at the young girl, Bethany, then 11, and boy, Tommy, 13, in front of me. I’d known them for most of their lives. Had even been in the same class at school as their eldest sister. But now, in May 2009, things were on a different footing. Because I’d just started dating their dad, Thomas James Manning, then 40. Everyone called him Jimmy. And I didn’t quite know how the kids would view me. After all, I was the new woman in their dad’s life. I was already the mum of 2-year-old Cherryanne, and Caci-Mae, just 3 months, from a previous relationship. But the thought of being a stepmum was daunting. Will they accept me? There was…

Anita Wafer, 63, Wolverhampton Hearing the toaster pop, I slathered butter over the bread. ‘Breakfast’s ready, love,’ I called to my husband, Brian, then 66. Eggs sizzled in the pan as I turned over the bacon. Popping a tea bag into his favourite mug, I shouted for Brian again. ‘Thanks, pet,’ he said, shuffling into the dining room, in his slippers, his newspaper tucked underneath his arm. Putting the fry-up in front of him, I gave him a smile. ‘So what’s the plan for today?’ I said, sipping my brew as he munched away. ‘I thought I might go to the bookies,’ he mumbled, head buried in the paper. Rolling my eyes, I shook my head. Brian was nothing if not a creature of habit! It was July 2013, and…

My exotic bowel! Q I’ve had diarrhoea for weeks and a poo sample shows giardia. What is it and how did I catch it? Dee, west London A Giardia is a microscopic parasite and has a tail, which it shakes to move itself along. It attaches to the inside of your stomach and jejunum, the section of bowel just after your stomach, and produces eggs called cysts which travel out in your poo to infect someone else. Giardia can cause diarrhoea, smelly poo, a swollen belly and loss of weight. It’s uncommon in this country, though outbreaks can occur, but it’s more widespread in some countries abroad and is often the result of exotic foreign travel. Your doctor should be able to clear the parasite with a single dose of…

Lucy Payne, 37, Wells, Somerset Struggling with tummy pains, I lay down on the sofa, grateful for a few minutes’ rest. It was August 2019 and I was five months pregnant with my second. When me and my husband Steve, then 38, had had Jessie, 3, I’d felt fine. This time was different. Constant pain in the right side of my tummy, extreme exhaustion, breathlessness. ‘Aches and pains are normal,’ the midwife said. But I knew my body, and I worried that this was something more. In December, our daughter Eadie was born and we settled into life as a family of four. But six months later, the niggling pain was still there and it looked like I was still five months pregnant! I showed the doctor my bloated tummy.…

The privacy-enhanced web-browsing software Tor derives its name from what vegetable? Solve the crossword, then read down the yellow squares. The yellow shaded squares will spell out the competition answer. ACROSS 1 Top of a cooker (3) 3 Liquid used in pens (3) 5 No points (3) 6 Auction item (3) 7 Whichever (3) DOWN 1 Natural red dye (5) 2 Musical, ...Elliot (5) 4 Flying toy (4) WIN £50 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Love for hubby has gone Q I love my husband but I’m not sure I’m in love with him any more. We’ve got married a year ago, moved house and had failed attempts at having a baby via surrogacy. The stress of it has ruined the foundations of our marriage. Romance and passion have died but I just can’t hurt him by walking away. I’m honestly so confused. Jo, 34 A Oh, sweetheart, it’s only been a year, but it must have felt like a lifetime. You’ve both had so much on your plates, it’s made you lose sight of each other. Can you put the family plans on pause while you concentrate on each other for a while? You say you still love your husband – if there’s an…

Vic Frost, 38, Swanwick, Derbyshire Cradling my newborn son Daniel, everything felt perfect. It was October 2011, and me and my partner Stu, then 26, couldn’t wait to get Daniel home to meet his big brother Jak, 9. And we quickly settled into life as a family of four. Until December, when the health visitor popped by. ‘Daniel’s head is measuring small, ’ she said, and then referred us to a paediatrician. At the GP, the doctor checked Daniel over. Scans and tests followed. In January 2012, the consultant confirmed it was craniosynostosis, a rare birth defect causing the bones in his skull to join together too early. It meant there wasn’t enough space in Daniel’s skull for his brain to grow. ‘He needs life-saving surgery to make space for…

Aries 21 March-20 April Some mums will feel like they’re rushing around, putting finishing touches to exciting plans. Once things are complete, sit back and relax – you deserve it. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May It’s time to communicate better. Let your guard down, as your emotions will be respected and feelings reciprocated, resulting in a major turning point. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You may be feeling overworked, but this is only your first impression, as things are not as difficult as they seem. Take a step back and look with fresh eyes. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July The sun enters your sign on the 21st and you’re ready to shine.…

Q I have lots of events coming up this summer and I want my skin to look sunkissed. How can I fake a tan without turning orange? Veronica, Amersham A The latest self-tanning products are so good that orange streaks are a thing of the past. But how do you make your glow look natural, as if you’ve just spent a week in the Med? Well, the key is skin prep. Exfoliating your skin from top to bottom with Exfoliating Gloves, £1.50, Boots, removes dead skin cells and makes for a more even tan. Doing all your hair removal the day before will also help your tan go on beautifully. When it comes to which self-tan to choose, there are plenty of options. If you’re after speedy, a mist like…

£1.001 CASH R Muir, Belfast £1,000 CASH P Greener, Sunderland £500 CASH D Morgan, Conwy M Heathorn, Wellingborough £250 CASH H Gibson, Wellingborough £150 CASH R Snowden, Driffield £100 CASH J Perdicchia, Bath M Osborne, Bedford S Forrest, Sir Benfro V Goodwin, Milton Keynes J Cowdry, Aylesford £60 CASH S Thomas, Southall £50 CASH S Sheppard, Doncaster A Francis, Ipswich E Evans, Willenhall £30 CASH J Reeve, Norwich W Moore, Stafford M Rimmer, Wirral C Smith, Birmingham J Marr, Isle of Mull £25 CASH D Stace, Oakham S Farmer, Taunton S Khatun, Harrow D Wilding, Sandbach J Hargreaves, Rochdale C Pollitt, Sudbury D Muldoon, Galston C Wallis, Leeds R Ravenmill, Gloucester Chat PUZZLE 1 2589 Chat PUZZLE 2 ERIN Chat PUZZLE 11 9 7 1 Anyone from your town in…

I had so much fun at this fancy-dress party. Luckily, I didn’t lose my head!Sharon Pownall, Swansea My tortoise Squirt enjoys a tasty springtime lunch. You could say he’s a ‘dandy’ fella!Sharon Matthews, Swindon My grandaughter Daisy, 4, and her dog Murphy love playing together. They really are the best of friends!Gill Sproat, Newcastle upon Tyne Here’s my adorable Jack Russell puppy, proudly displaying the rosette he won for completing puppy training.Pauline Edwards, Shrewsbury My daughter Ellie, 8, wasn’t too impressed when this cow gave her a slobbery lick at the farm park!Michelle Redman, Pontypool I captured this picture of my two daughters Maisie, 22, and Emily, 25, on the morning of Emily’s wedding. It was a beautiful yet bitters weet day, as we left two empty chairs at the…

STYLE TIP Be sure to tuck in your shirt to highlight your waist and show off the button detail at the top of the STYLE TIP This midi skirt skims over the hips and is great for those who carry weight on their bottom half. Available in three lengths. STYLE TIP Look out for vertical stripes that offer a slimming effect. Keep things tonal for a streamlined look. STYLE TIP Raffia accessories add a luxe look for less, while a must-have denim jacket is guaranteed to be your most worn cover-up.…

Jurors deliberated for less than four hours before finding Redwolf Pope guilty of rape and voyeurism. But they acquitted him of kidnapping, which could have carried an 18-year prison sentence. Sitting in the dock, Pope seemed relieved when the jury foreman announced the verdict of not guilty, lifting his head and relaxing his shoulders. But he bowed his head again when found guilty of the other charges. When he appeared by video from Santa Fe County Jail for his sentencing hearing, in December 2020, he continued to insist that he’d had consensual sex with the victim and that he’d been rescuing her from an unsafe party that night. He was sentenced to four years in prison and was required to register as a sex offender. In addition, Pope’s legitimacy as…

1 Get naked The best way to ensure you’re properly protected? ‘Apply your sunscreen before putting on your clothes, says Dr Anita Sturnham, GP and skin specialist (nuriss.co.uk). ‘This will not only ensure every inch of skin is covered, but SPF needs up to 20 minutes to sink in and be at its maximum protection.’ And don’t forget your scalp. ‘The best option is to wear a hat – otherwise spritz hair partings with SPF protection, ’ advises Anita. 2 Protect your ears Hair in a ponytail to keep cool? ‘The ears are a high-risk area, especially for non-melanoma skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, ’ says Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist at the British Skin Foundation. Smear sunscreen all over ding inside. 3 Sweat the small stuff Anywhere…

Debora, 50, East Midlands Curled up in bed, my Siamese cat Honey stretched out her paws next to me. From the age of 5, I’d been obsessed with cats. And now, aged 7, in 1980, I doted on my beloved Honey. ‘You’re my best friend,’ I told her, stroking her furry head. And it was true, we did everything together. Sleeping next to each other every night... Eating breakfast and dinner... I even took her on walks in an old toy pram! One day, I decided I’d take Honey to school in my bag. ‘What’s that noise?’ Mum asked, hearing a weird meowing coming from my satchel as we drove to school. ‘Nothing,’ I grinned, hushing Honey. Somehow, Honey made it to school unnoticed, but it wasn’t long before the…

When Barnaby, 30, and Adriana, 28, first met, they instantly connected because of their shared experience. Barnaby, who was born female but transitioned to male, admits he wasn’t having much luck with dating. But when he met Adriana on Instagram two years ago, all that changed. ‘I wasn’t having very much success with dating as a trans man but then I found a beautiful woman online and she was going through her own journey,’ he explains. Adriana was born male but has transitioned to female. The singletons kept bumping into each other where they lived in Wisconsin, USA. And then, a week before Barnaby was due to move to California, he asked Adriana out. ‘She actually said yeah,’ he grins. ‘We’ve basically been inseparable since then,’ smiles Adriana. Barnaby says…

Hannah Martin, 32, Weedon, Northamptonshire Sinking into the warm bubbles, I let out a sigh. ‘I’ll get dinner started,’ said my boyfriend Hayden. I smiled at him, unable to believe my luck. It was August 2019 and I’d met Hayden, then 24, the month before, on a night out for my 30th birthday. A single mum to a 3-month-old baby and two older kids, I was excited for a drink and dance. Taking the mic, I’d belted out Proud Mary on the karaoke. And after, I got talking to Hayden. ‘You were great!’ he said. As we got to know each other, he asked questions, and listened intently to my answers. Since then, he’d swept me off my feet. Bought me flowers, ran me baths, and since I’d introduced him…

Collection Lasting Perfection Hydrating Serum Concealer, £4.99, Superdrug Lightweight, hydrating and with enough coverage for blemishes or under-eye circles. This new concealer will quickly become a must-have item in your make-up bag – and at under £5, it’s a steal! Essence Lip Care Booster Overnight Lip Mask, £2.99, justmylook.com Formulated with 10% oat milk – a fantastic ingredient for nourishing dry, chapped skin – this overnight lip mask packs a punch in terms of hydration. Say hello to soft, supple skin that feels beautifully soothed.…

As Gabby Petito, 22, packed up her converted campervan, she was excited to hit the road. It was 2 July 2021, and she and her fiancé Brian Laundrie, 23, were leaving friends and family behind for an adventure of a lifetime. Gabby told her mum Nicole and dad Joe – divorced and both remarried – she loved them. Then, as she clambered into the white van, the adventure began. Gabby and Brian had gone to school together in New York, and in March 2019, had became a couple. The following year, when Brian had moved to Florida with his parents, Gabby had moved with them. Brian asked me to marry him and I said yes! she posted to Instagram in July 2020, gushing about how every day they spent together…

HARRY RAWLINS, 96, FROM WEST LONDON, SAYS: I’m nominating my Taxi Charity volunteer Anne Parsons as my Local Hero. I became friends with Anne, then 66, in June 2019. We were on a trip to Normandy organised by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. The charity organises outings and gives support to military veterans all over the UK. Later, when COVID-19 hit, Anne formed a bubble with me during the pandemic, along with her husband. Thanks to them, I wasn’t lonely. They helped with my shopping, took me to my vaccine appointments and called in on me often. With none of my family living nearby, Anne’s support was invaluable. But her helping hand didn’t stop there... Anne became increasingly worried about me living alone, and wanted to see what she…

Jo Siebke-Dowler, 40, Lakenheath, Suffolk Sipping champagne and scoffing pizza with my mates, I loved turning 30. It was August 2011, and I had so much to look forward to. I’d just got engaged to Richard, then 33, and we’d talked about having kids. Only, even as I glugged bubbly without a care, I knew this would have to be my last big blow-out. After all, I had a wedding dress to squeeze into. So, when the celebrations were over, I joined Slimming World, hoping to slim down. At 5 ft 4½ in, 13st 11lb and a size 18, I didn’t want to be a bulging bride. I ditched junk food, began cooking from scratch, and when me and Richard wed in Jamaica in 2013, I’d slimmed to 11st 8lb…

What connects British Paralympian Kadeena Cox and presenter Jayne Middlemiss? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the three-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Bizarre (5) 4 Jon _, Game of Thrones character (4) 6 Gifts (8) 13 Language spoken in Rome (7) 14 Light strappy shoes (7) 15 Banish (5) 16 Gave money to (4) 17 Blame (6) 18 Building material (6) 20 Train track (4) 21 Does not have (5) 22 Andre _, former tennis player (6) 25 Person who stays up late (5,3) 28 Pleaded (6) 30 US state (5) 32 Boy who never grew up (5,3) 34 Citrus fruit (6) 35 Large boat (4) 38 Window shades (6) 39 Unit of weight (5) 40 Dishes (6) 43 Caribbean island nation…

Linda Stewart, 40, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire Heaving myself up from the sofa, I gasped. Clutched my growing belly as pain shot through my lower back. ‘You OK?, ’ my husband Richie, then 36, asked, concerned. Nodding, I tried to brush off the excruciating pain. It was June 2015 and I was heavily pregnant with my first child. Thinking my back pain was just a common pregnancy symptom, I tried to carry on as normal. But after I gave birth that July, I could barely move with the agony. ‘My leg is going numb, ’ I panicked to Richie just days after bringing our baby daughter home. Heading back to the hospital, I could barely walk thanks to the pain in my back and the numbness in my right leg. ‘It…

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 Celestial body 2 South-coast town 3 In a little while 4 Narrow lane DOWN 1 SandI 1960s singer 2 Theatre award 3 Cosmetics brand 4 Tear Your answer: WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 HALF & HALF Which Oscar-nominated film was adapted from a 2010 novel by Emma Donoghue? 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 Ken Nightingall achieved cult status online after…

ARROW WORD Which sovereign state is thought to have the oldest continuously used national flag in the world, having adopted their current design in 1625? Follow the arrows and write 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 F Murray Abraham won an Oscar and GoldenGlobe for his role in which film? The answer is the one missing from the grid. AIRPLANE ALIENS AMADEUS ARTHUR BATMAN BIG BRAZIL CLUE…

FILL ME IN Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the headquarters of Delta Air Lines and the Delta Flight Museum are found in which US 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 The Maori ta moko and theJapanese irezumi are forms of what? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters CAR CUE EAT FAR FEE ILL IRE NOR NOT SIR 4 letters ABLE ALSO FAFF FILM GOLF ONTO REEF 5 letters FERAL FLUNG FLUTE 6 letters BEACON CENTRE FIFTHS FORMAT RAREST UPROAR 8 letters FREQUENT WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page…

3 ways to... cut fuel costs Pay less at the pump with these clever tips 1 Do your research Make sure you search around for the best fuel prices. Consumer champion Which? found that petrol and diesel at supermarket pumps was typically a few pence cheaper per litre. And it also found fuel was cheaper in towns and cities than in rural locations. Search online for the cheapest petrol stations at petrolprices.com, which covers more than 8,000 petrol stations in the UK. 2 Travel lightly The more weight that you’re carrying in your car, the more fuel you’ll be using, so try to avoid lugging around anything in your boot that you don’t need. Also get rid of equipment such as roof and bike racks when you’re not using them…

My Skin Matters Exfoliating Facial Toner, £3.50, Sainsbury’s A mixture of 5% glycolic acid and vitamin C makes this toner a skin-brightening superhero. Apply to clean skin before bed and wake up with a more even skin tone, diminished lines and a great glow. Simple Booster Serum 10% Niacinamide Vitamin B3, £7.99, Boots Give your skin a real treat with this gentle, moisturising, sebum-regulating serum. Shake the bottle and apply a few drops to clean skin every morning and your skin will morph magically from dry and dull to smooth and bright. Arkive by Adam Reed The New Form Blow Dry Spray, £13, Boots Get red-carpet-worthy hair with this body-boosting spray from A-list hairstylist Adam Reed. With amazing root lift and hold, it also has a rhubarb-and-custard scent that smells…

CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS 14 JUNE 2022 (Three days later for postal entries) PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT HOW TO ENTER TEXT Simply text CHATC 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…