Chat -julkaisun 16 November 2023 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

Some of Chat’s stories are so shocking that you can’t imagine them happening to you – or you wouldn’t want to. But some of my fave stories are the relatable ones, like Nicole’s on p23. She was feeling low and anxious, and the secret to improving her mental health was a tiny cat. Social media star Calliope doesn’t just make Nicole smile either, she also spreads joy to her hoards of TikTok fans. A lovely reminder of the power of pets! Have a great week!…

Q The area around my vagina itches constantly – what could be causing it? Lucy, Fraserburgh A Itching of your vulva, the skin around your vagina, is common and usually temporary. It’s often due to irritation of sensitive skin in the area as the result of underwear rubbing, leaks of wee on to your skin, repeated scratching, excessive washing with soap or friction during sex. Sometimes an infection, such as thrush or genital warts, is to blame, or an infestation with crab lice or threadworms. If you suffer from another skin condition, such as eczema, psoriasis or an allergy, then that could be the culprit. Other, rarer, causes can be more serious and your doctor can help pin these down. Meanwhile, try not to scratch, wear loose cotton undies, avoid…

In Cornwall, Allantide or St Allan’s Day, which is celebrated on Halloween, traditionally involved giving what edible item as a gift to friends and family? Solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Holy person (5) 4 Sharp knock (3) 6 Trim with scissors (4) 7 Stitch (3) DOWN 1 _ Girls, pop group (5) 2 Actor, _ Elba (5) 3 Bathroom fitting (3) 5 Gorilla, for example (3) WIN 4 × £20 Puzzle 10 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 60 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

My kids are at war Q My grown-up kids don’t get along at all, and barely even speak to each other – it’s been years of me being in the middle. I don’t know what caused it all, but I recently found out that I’m terminally ill and want to see them reunite before I go. They’ll need to support each other when the time comes. Please help. Agnes, 79 A Oh bless you. I’m so sorry that on top of everything else you’re also going through this with your kids. The only thing you can do is ask if they would consider reconnecting. It might be your dying wish for them to be friends again, but ask yourself this, do you really want to spend the rest of your…

3 ways to… cut food waste You’ll save cash and it’s better for the environment too. Here’s how to do it… 1 Plan ahead Writing a weekly meal plan based around food you already have in your kitchen is a sure-fire way of saving cash and avoiding food waste. Also try batch cooking – making extra portions when you’re cooking, then freezing or keeping them in the fridge for another day. That way you’ll save time and be less likely to ditch your meal plan and buy convenience food if you get home late and you’re too tired to cook. Just remember to date and label containers going into the freezer so you know what’s in them. 2 Get the apps Have you tried using Too Good to Go? It’s an app that lets you…

The Crown NETFLIX ● The much-anticipated final series of the royal drama has arrived, but don’t expect to binge it in one go because it’s being shown in two instalments, beginning with the first four episodes. The story picks up in 1997 with the death of Diana, Princess of Wales (Elizabeth Debicki) in the Paris car crash, which also killed her lover Dodi Fayed (Khalid Abdalla), and follows the rest of the Royal Family as they deal with the aftermath. Imelda Staunton once again plays Queen Elizabeth II, while Dominic West is Prince Charles and Jonathan Pryce is Prince Philip once more. The remaining six episodes are due to drop in December. DON’T MISS DON’T MISS Children in Need BBC1 ● Lenny Rush, star of the BBC1 comedy Am I…

Barry M Precision Contour Stick, £6.99, barrym.com Chisel out cheekbones in seconds with this handy two-in-one buy – one side will add definition, while the other will highlight. Dove Barrier Repair Lotion, £3.50, Boots Sensitive skin often worsens in the cold weather – this intensely nourishing body lotion helps repair damaged skin barriers, to leave limbs feeling soft and smooth. L'Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance in Sun Bathing, £11.99, Superdrug Want a red lip that really lasts? This is the answer. It’s incredibly longwearing, truly not budging all day. Pair with golden eyes for an easy party look. Aveeno Skin Relief Soothing Shampoo, £10.49, Boots Dry and flaky scalps will benefit from using a specialist shampoo. This uses soothing oatmeal extracts to ease itchiness and leave hair looking shiny. Revolution…

Dear Neal, Watching your face as you took the phone call that day, my heart was in my mouth. ‘Our offer has been accepted!’ you grinned, hanging up. ‘Yes!’ I cried, diving into your arms for a hug. It was September 2021, and after 10 years together we were buying our first home. We’d found the perfect detached house in a peaceful village. The future looked bright. Only, as I got changed in our bedroom at your parents’ house after work, you spotted something. ‘What’s that bruise?’ you said, startled by a big purple blotch on my bum. ‘Must have banged it at work,’ I shrugged. As a busy restaurant manager, it was easily done. You still insisted I should get it checked, though, and I was booked in for…

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True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Running across the field, an intense pain coursed through my back. It was 2003 and sports day at the school where I taught. ‘Just a tweak,’ I told myself, powering through. But days later I was still in pain. Could barely walk without jarring my back. Prescribed painkillers barely took the edge off. A few days later I bent down to pick something up and a huge pop sounded from my knee. ‘Look,’ I called to my partner James, then 61, as my knee ballooned. From then on my knees, feet, back, shoulders and neck were agony. I barely got out of bed the whole summer, curtains drawn. On the days I did get up, it took 30 minutes to summon the energy and strength to fight…

My fitted embroidered gown flowed beneath me as we swayed along to Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car. ‘I love you, Mrs Tatum,’ my new husband Oli, then 29, said, holding my tiny waist. It was June 2019 and after seven years together, we’d tied the knot. Now we were centre stage for our first dance. Today I wasn’t just a bride, I felt like a superstar. My hair and make-up were perfect. After months of dieting in the run-up to the wedding, my size-8 dress fit my slim 10st body like a glove. And didn’t we deserve to feel special? Because the journey to get here hadn’t been easy. As a child, I’d been diagnosed with the rare genetic condition EhlersDanlos syndrome (EDS). My body didn’t produce enough collagen to support…

Scanning another tin of beans as they whizzed along the conveyor belt, I smiled at the customer. It was late April 2022 and, aged 25, I loved my job at Aldi. Chatting to shoppers or having a giggle with my workmates. On days off, I’d be at home with my boyfriend Joe, then 25. After four years together, we’d got our own flat. Life was pretty busy, but I didn’t mind. I’d been taking it easy until recently, after a stomach operation due to a suspected hernia and long-term gastric issues. And now, after six weeks of recovering, I was back at work, raring to go. Only, stacking shelves on 9 May, I felt shocking. Woozy and dizzy, I couldn’t get my words out. Then, on the checkout, an overwhelming…

10-16 November 2023 Aries 21 March-20 April Your bright spirit is always inspiring to others. With the North Node in your sign all year, think about how you can use your talents to motivate others. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You are currently going through a period of change. As a fixed sign, this can be challenging, but trust in the process and excitement it holds. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Take a salt bath or a walk by water to cleanse your energy. This will help you prepare for the powerful Full Moon that’s entering your sign next month. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You can be a little risk averse,…

Q I’m terrible at faketanning, but my party dress is showing a lot of leg! Is there a foolproof fix? Danielle Johnson, Glasgow A Tanning can be a stressful chore, especially when most of us have hidden our legs away since the summer. We have a couple of fail-safe options that we like to rely on when we need a quick glow fix. The simplest of all is a gradual tan – you apply it as you would a body moisturiser, and it’ll build a subtle glow after a couple of uses. Our favourite is Garnier Summer Body Hydrating Gradual Tan, £12, lookfantastic.com. The formula is very forgiving – you don’t necessarily need to prep with a scrub beforehand, as it contains moisturising ingredients that smooth over any dry patches.…

BEHIND THE BIG CRIME TRUE-LIFE Laura Kempton, 23, was a vivacious young woman enjoying all the trappings her early 20s offered. When she wasn’t training hard to become a hair stylist at the local beauty school, or working at the town gift shop, she was out at one of the popular nightspots. Friends called her a ‘free spirit’ with a big personality. The aspiring model loved fashion and she’d recently had some photos taken, which hung at the local salon. On 27 September 1981, Laura hit the town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with her friend Karen. Enjoyed some drinks, danced to a live band before walking back to Laura’s first-floor flat at 1am. ‘Stay the night?’ Laura asked Karen. But Karen had an early shift so she said goodbye and headed…

Got any hobbies? I love making cards for friends and charity. I have so much stuff, I could make 10 cards a night for the next 20 years and wouldn’t make a dent in my craft stash! Your fave feel-good film? It’s an old one, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness about the missionary Gladys Aylward in China. You can’t help but be happy watching the famous last scene of the children coming up the hill. Tell us about your best mate… I’m lucky to have lots of fab friends, but my special friend is Lynn. We met over 40 years ago in Gibraltar when our husbands were in the Army and we both found out we were pregnant! She’s kind and supportive, we’ve shared tears and laughter, afternoon teas…

What do actor Natalie Portman and musician Gene Simmons have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the three-word prize answer. WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 ACROSS 1 Up to now (2,3) 4 Cipher (4) 6 Makes a commitment (8) 13 Comedian, _ Howard (7) 14 Brochure (7) 15 Small open boat (5) 16 _ Show, sitcom starring Mitchell and Webb (4) 17 Person lacking courage (6) 18 _ Downey Jr., actor (6) 20 Song of praise (4) 21 Add up (5) 22 Breathe in (6) 25 Second place finisher (6-2) 28 Small church (6) 30 Time of darkness (5) 32 Australian city (8) 34 Outdoor meal (6) 35 Halt (4) 38 _ Tower, Parisian landmark (6) 39 Fourth month (5) 40 John _, Fawlty Towers star (6) 43 Red meat (4) 44 Origin or starting point (6) 45 Plant with soothing juice (4,4) 48 Actor…

Pills to boost libido Q My low sex drive is ruining my relationship. Are there any pills that would help? Izzie, south London A number of pills and potions are being sold that claim to boost libido in women, including the active drug in Viagra, sildenafil, which increases blood flow to the pelvis and clitoris. Others contain herbal remedies, natural supplements or the drug flibanserin, an antidepressant claimed to boost sex drive through its action on chemicals in your brain. In the US, sildenafil is sold for women as Lady Era, but it’s not legally available for the women in the UK. The same goes for flibanserin (brand name Addyi). Studies of these drugs haven’t proved they’re very effective, they can have side effects and many doctors aren’t convinced. Other…

Latest lingo The Oxford English Dictionary’s word of the year 2022 was goblin mode, a slang term describing ‘unapologetically selfindulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy’ behaviour. It was first used in 2009, but gained popularity during COVID-19 lockdowns where we all entered goblin mode to cope. Seems like two words to us, but who are argue with the dictionary! Popular diction Here are the rest of the Oxford English Dictionary’s words of the last decade. 2021 vax 2019 climate emergency 2018 toxic 2017 youthquake 2016 post-truth 2015 emoji 2014 vape 2013 selfie One-shot Scraunched – a crunching sound – is the longest one-syllable word. Nyoo thanks The longest word in the English language is pneumonoultramicr oscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Word phobic The second longest word in the dictionary is hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. What does this 36 letter…

Hopalong Cassidy, the cowboy character created by novelist Clarence Mulford and who featured in 66 film adaptations, as well as radio and TV series, rode a horse by what name? Unscramble each group of letters to discover six past and present British comics. Now fit them across the grid and you’ll spell out the answer to the question. 1 BRUTES 2 EWE HOOP 3 HOP RUST 4 SPY ARK 5 A BONE 6 LARD ROW WIN £75 Puzzle 17 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 60 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Tomato and bacon risotto This Italian-inspired rice is comforting bowl food at its best. SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 30 MINS • 2tbsp light olive oil • 1 onion, sliced • 6 rashers streaky smoked bacon, chopped • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 250g risotto rice • 400g tin chopped tomatoes • 750ml-1ltr hot ham or vegetable stock • 250g cherry tomatoes, halved • Parmesan shavings, to serve 1 Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and bacon and cook for 7-10 mins over a medium heat, until the onion has softened and the bacon is crisp. Stir in the garlic and rice. Mix well to coat, then add the tinned tomatoes. Bring to the boil, then reduce to simmer, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid…

Watching the local news in late 2012, I saw a report about the horrific death of a 2-year-old boy. ‘Oh my god,’ I shuddered when the toddler’s image came up. ‘That’s BJ!’ BJ was the son of Brendan Williams, a friend I hadn’t seen in months. The tot had been violently killed while staying with his mother and her new partner Brock Powell. I’d met Brendan when I was 16 and he was 19. I’d been attracted to his kind nature and it broke my heart to hear that something so awful had happened to his little boy. I visited BJ’s grave a few weeks later to leave a card and flowers. Next day, Brendan’s brother messaged me. Bren really appreciated what you did, it read. You should visit him.…

Essence Blend & Line Eyeshadow Stick, £2.79, justmylook.com Eyeshadow pencils make creating intricate eye looks a breeze. You can swipe them directly onto your eyes, and you can easily mix a few different shades to add more depth. You can diffuse the colour with a fluffy brush, but it’s just as easily blended with your fingers. These are long-lasting and available in three shimmery colours. Satin Micro Scrunchies, £2.50 for 6, Primark Using satin or silk scrunchies will help to keep your hair healthy. The softer, smoother material won’t tug on your locks, and will stop kinks from forming, even when you’ve had it up all day. You could also use them to tie hair in a topknot while you sleep – it helps to prevent bedhead while boosting volume…

Chat winners issue 33 (17 Aug 2023) £1,001 CASH A Porter, Leicester £500 CASH S Oztoprak, Bristol L Bird, Nuneaton £250 CASH A Brownlee, Newcastle upon Tyne C Jackson, Todmorden £200 CASH G Griffiths, Port Talbot £100 CASH M Johnson, Macclesfield J Youel, Slough A Campbell, Isle of Lewis £75 CASH J Kuziw, Bradford £50 CASH L Taylor, Coventry L Lind, Reading J Meadows, Boston A Stanton, Feltham C Harrison, High Peak L Trickner, Leeds £40 CASH A Smith, Aberdeen £30 CASH B Britchford, St Albans M Fegan, Coleraine £25 CASH S Ford, Surbiton H Lawrenson, Derby Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £20 CASH J Curtis, Felixstowe K Brown, Roswell B Hupton, Norwich A Jessop, Kings Langley H Whittick, Newport C McAlynn, County Derry S Rhodes,…