Table of contents for 23-Dec-2021 in Chat

Ho-ho-hooray, it’s another jumbo Chat! We’ve got Christmas covered with our pick of the best decs, mouth-watering turkey dinner recipes, beauty gifts, plus gripping real life. Esme reveals why this year will be extra special for her family (p82), Andrea is sharing her hubby with her best mate this Christmas (p30), and there is a story of a very chilling Boxing Day sleigh ride (p20). We also reflect on this strange year, with tales of lockdown heroes (p68) and touching reunions (p70). Plus, we’ve a seven-page 2022 stars special (p55). Have a fab Christmas!…

SKIRTS STYLE TIP Pleated skirts in shimmering shades are perfect for parties. Tuck in your top to highlight the waist. BLOUSES STYLE TIP Wear with your jeans to jazz up a casual look. STRAPPY SANDALS STYLE TIP A pair of bright strappy heels is an easy way to add a pop of colour to your look. JUMPSUITS STYLE TIP Swap your party frock for a jumpsuit. Choose flattering fabrics and add heels to elongate your figure.…

The jury found Wendell Popejoy, then 64, guilty of premeditated murder. In a pre-sentence statement, Popejoy told the court he’d been in a ‘dreamlike trance’ during the shooting, and ‘woke up in a nightmare and a panic after the gunshot’. He was jailed for life without parole. ‘It is impossible for me to imagine a more premeditated crime than what happened here,’ said prosecutor Ronald Frantz. Sheila’s devastated family hugged and cried following Popejoy’s sentencing. ‘I believe he planned this,’ said Sheila’s sister Val Flaherty. She disputed any notion that her sister was a troublemaker. ‘We will never see her smile or hear her laugh. ‘We will no longer have holidays or special occasions with her. All of this gone because of a “whim”. ‘Sheila was a wonderful person, she…

ON THE BOX 1 Match the celeb to the live TV show they stormed off this year – whether for boredom, a PR stunt or a row. 2 This South Korean show became Netflix’s most-watched series ever in September (anagram): QUASIMEGD 3 Which comedian had to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing after week three due to ill health? 4 Ant and Dec won the Best Presenter award at the NTAs for a record-breaking ___ time. 5 Which Brit hosted the much-anticipated Friends: The Reunion back in May? 6 Match The Masked Singer contestant to their 2021 costume. 7 Who was revealed as the Masked Winger in September’s Soccer Aid? A Stephen Mulhern B David Beckham C Lee Mack 8 ________ Reardon ________ and Court were crowned the winners of…

Why won’t he marry me? Q I’m 43 and have been with a man for five years. We are both divorced, but his was particularly messy and left him bankrupt. He now lives with his mum. When we got engaged I even had to buy my own ring. I’d like to get married next year, but he doesn’t seem bothered. Am I being unreasonable to want some sort of ‘end goal’? I love him, but I’m afraid of resentment building. Any advice? Nadia, 43 A Resentment building? I think we’ve passed that point already, my love. You have had to lower your standards. He could have picked up a £20 ring as it’s the thought that counts. So you need to think about your future. If you do get married,…

3 ways to... cut food waste Chucking out festive grub isn’t just a waste of money, it’s bad for the environment, too. Here’s what to do! 1 Plan your meals The key is to get organised. Make a meal plan for the festive period and write a list of what ingredients, and how much of each, you’ll need to buy. This means you’ll have all your food covered and you won’t end up buying items that just don’t get eaten. And beware of buying items ‘just in case’ – it’s often these foods we don’t eat in time, which then get wasted, says LoveFoodHateWaste (lovefoodhatewaste.com). 2 Use it all up Make the most of all those turkey leftovers! LoveFoodHateWaste advises keeping your cupboard stocked up with things such as dried…

ARIES 21 March-20 April YOUR FORTNIGHT AHEAD There is something extremely important to you and it continues to occupy your mind over the next two weeks, while the New Moon is in Capricorn. You always go out of your way to help people whenever you can. Don’t let anyone knock you off track YOUR YEAR AHEAD It’ll be an interesting year, highlighting travel for pleasure, exploring exciting places, business contracts and expansion, as well as enjoying a quality, loving relationship. Children and grandchildren are important, and their infectious energy will encourage you to lead a very active life. A message will prove to be very intriguing and show you a different direction. LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS Watch out for the happiness trend, a partner who is exciting with a constant sense…

Esme McGarrell, 36, Wakefield Fake white beards strapped to our chins, fluffy red hats on our heads, my hubby Alex and I pulled our kids close. ‘Say cheese,’ I told Eva, then 7, and Alfie, 5. Eva made the cutest elf, while Alfie was warm and cosy in his buggy. It was December last year, and we’d had a hellish year. Yet, despite everything, we were dressed up, determined to have some festive family fun before Alfie was back in hospital. See, just six months earlier, in June 2020, I’d been sitting at Leeds General Infirmary, being told that he had stage 4 neuroblastoma. A rare, aggressive childhood cancer. As the specialist explained my little boy had just a one in three chance of survival, I’d not even had Alex…

Leon, 5 months, can’t wait for his Christmas dinner with his hat on! Amy Clarkson, Great Yarmouth Here I am with my daughters Ella and Amy, and my friend Denise, jingling our bells on Christmas Eve for Santa! Fiona Geraghty, Hemel Hempstead How cute is our little Cody, all wrapped up and ready to celebrate? Tina Saunders, Crowborough This is me getting in the festive spirit at my desk. It’s a good job I work from home! Lisa Best, Crewe Check out that cheeky grin! Our little Poppy, 15-months, has been getting up to mischief with her mates, the naughty elves. Lynne Newton, Spennymoor My 2-year-old guinea pigs, Brandy and Pudding, love their matching fancy dress. Lucy Hill, Halifax £25 for any photos that we use on Picture Perfect. They…

THE BIGGIE When growing up, which two careers did actor Alicia Vikander want to do? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Mythological figure with snakes for hair (6) 12 Serial TV drama (4,5) 13 Arm bone (4) 14 Cooked too much (8) 15 Marsupial (5) 16 Money earned (6) 17 Tooth doctor (7) 18 Romantic correspondence (4,7) 20 Part of the face (5) 22 Daniel _, star of the Harry Potter films (9) 24 Normal, typical (5) 28 Express strong disapproval of (7) 29 Cheese sauce on toast (7) 32 Salad vegetable (6) 34 Hit song by ABBA (8) 36 Wizard (8) 37 Distance (6) 39 Slow and steady (7) 40 Precious stone (7) 45 Vicious…

A CHILLING FIND When Amsterdam police rushed to a murder scene last winter, they were stunned to find the victim was...Mr Frosty! They spotted the ‘body’ during a night-time patrol in the city’s Oosterpark. But approaching the scene, they found the casualty, with its carrot nose, was really a life-sized snowman. Snow joke for the red-faced officers! ELF DEFENCE Suspected car thieves in California were caught off guard when cops dressed as Father Christmas and an elf seized them outside a shopping centre. Bodycam footage showed St Nick wrestling one suspect to the ground and charging down a hill to tackle another from behind! Apparently Santa’s still deciding if they should stay on the naughty list. BAD SANTA? A masked Father Christmas caught the attention of Manchester police in December…

I’m snowy down below Q I have dandruff in my pubic hair! Is that normal, and is it OK to use dandruff shampoo there? Nikki, Rippon A Dandruff can occur anywhere you have hair, including your pubes. We now know that a yeast infection is usually to blame, and antifungal dandruff shampoo, which kills the bug responsible, should be safe to use provided your skin’s not inflamed or sore. Avoid anything which might irritate your skin in that area, such as soap, bubble bath, perfume, wipes, talc or tight clothing. Don’t spend too long in the bath or shower, and dry yourself very gently afterwards. If things don’t improve, check with your doctor to rule out other skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema. Occasionally, allergy to something in contact…

Andrea Brown, 46 Gazing into my new hubby Adrian’s deep-brown eyes, I was blissfully happy. It was January 2010, and we’d just exchanged wedding vows. Only we wouldn’t be forsaking all others... Time to start our next chapter together, I thought, butterflies fluttering in my tummy. And that meant finding a third person to join our marriage. I’d always been attracted to both men and women. I’d first married back in 1994 at 19, and my then-hubby and I explored an open relationship. It was liberating. We had three kids, but being parents didn’t stop us fulfilling our own desires. We dated women, brought them home together for a night of passion. However, over time I realised I wanted more. It wasn’t just about sex for me – I craved…

Nadine Wood, 47, Lechlade, Gloucs Watching fireworks as they burst across the TV screen, I felt a surge of excitement. It was 31 December 2019, and me and my mates Jaimie, Jennie and Annie, then 50, had gathered at Jaimie and Jennie’s house. ‘Anything special planned this year?’ Jennie grinned as Big Ben struck midnight. I laughed, raised my glass. ‘To enjoy life.’ Only, all our hopeful starts to a new decade were dashed by COVID-19 lockdown that March. As an English Language teacher, I taught classes online and face to face. I spent an hour a day walking my cockapoos Maxwell and Dexter. But, living alone, I felt at a low ebb without being able to see my mates. We cheered each other up with video chats and Zoom…

Steph O’Shea, 30, Burntwood Walking into the local takeaway, I gave the regular server a knowing nod. ‘Usual, please,’ I muttered. Kebab meat and chips for a quid. It was December 2016 and this was my staple diet. With two kids, Shenae, then 5, and Leelay, 1, my partner Aaron, 28, and I were having to live on a shoestring budget. But the cheap junk had left me 21st and, at 5ft 2in, a size 26. I’d always been bigger. When I was a kid, my mum worked in a chippy and often brought home leftovers. Then, aged 8, I had septic arthritis, a rare and lifethreatening infection, in my right knee. I was taken to hospital where the joint was drained. After, I had to learn to walk all…

Hannah Bissett, 42, Thirsk Waddling into the freshly painted nursery, I admired my hubby Stephen’s handiwork on the newly constructed cot. ‘Perfect,’ I smiled. Piles of sleepsuits were waiting for our arrival. We had a pram, a car seat. ‘We can start planning Christmas now,’ I grinned. It was late September 2009 and our first baby was due any day. My pregnancy had been relaxed, allowing me and Stephen, then 30, to get carried away in excitement. And I couldn’t wait for our first festive season as a family, decorating the house and putting up a tree. ‘We’ll buy the baby loads of presents,’ I grinned. ‘And wrap them last minute,’ Stephen laughed. One night shortly after, my waters broke and Stephen drove me to our local hospital. It’s happening!…

‘I stepped in on the front line’ Ali Harris, 51, Hertfordshire I don’t know why, but my hand flew into the air. ‘I’ll work tomorrow night,’ I volunteered. It was March 2020 and I was at a meeting at the hospital where I was a senior operating department practitioner. I usually worked in a day surgery, but COVID-19 patients were already filling ICU and there weren’t enough nurses. Reality was hitting. Run for the hills, babes, my sister jokingly texted when I told her. But, while terrified, I had the skills to help. Used to doing 20,000 steps a day assisting anaesthetists, patching people up and sending them home, it was a shock. During gruelling night shifts on ICU, I’d be glued to patients’ bedsides, clinging to their hands. With…

Four Lives BBC1 Stephen Merchant plays evil serial killer Stephen Port in this three-part drama, which tells the stories of four of the men he killed in Barking, London, and their families’ fight to get justice. Sheridan Smith stars as Sarah Sak, the mother of Port’s first victim Anthony Walgate. Bridgerton NETFLIX Fans of the Regency period drama won’t have to wait much longer for the much-anticipated second series, which this time will focus on the roguish Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and new character Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). The Crown NETFLIX The royal drama enters a new era as it returns for a fifth series with Imelda Staunton now playing the Queen. As the monarch and her family enter the 1990s, some of the events covered are the fire…

Sarah Ibbs, 44 Peering over the covers, I looked at my twin sister Beccy, then 8, in her bed beside mine. ‘Shall we peek?’ I whispered to her. ‘Yeah,’ Beccy giggled. It was the early hours of Christmas Day 1985, and we were too excited to sleep. Grinning, we sat up to check the ends of our beds. Sure enough, there were the pillow cases stuffed with Christmas socks, pyjamas and a chocolate orange Mum and Dad left us every year. Later, the house was chaos. Me and Beccy, our older sister Rachel, then 11, and younger brother Mark, then 4, roared around excitedly. We always had the very best Christmases. Beccy was five minutes older than me, and although we weren’t identical, we had the same loud laugh. We’d…

PYJAMAS STYLE TIP Look for calming colours and pair with a matching eye mask. JUMPERS STYLE TIP The bolder the better when it comes to festive knitwear. Goes with anything from jeans to PJ bottoms. SLIPPERS STYLE TIP You don’t need to lose the glam factor at home. Treat your feet to fluffy sliders that will keep you toasty and on trend. LOUNGEWEAR STYLE TIP These comfy, versatile pieces can be worn [together or mixed with your everyday wardrobe, so you can pop out for more fizz.…

As fresh snow fell on Boxing Day 2017, 59-year-old Sheila Bonge pulled out her snowblower. Trundling it over to clear the entrance to the driveway she shared with two neighbouring houses, Sheila was wrapped up warm from the bitter winter chill. Yet this innocent chore was actually at the centre of a simmering toxic neighbourhood feud. Caught in the middle Sheila had moved to the area in Michigan, US, in 2005. Her boyfriend was a long-distance lorry driver, so she mostly lived alone. In 2009, Wendell Popejoy moved next door with his girlfriend Rhonda Clark. And in 2012, Beth and Mark Meurer bought the property two doors down. The gravel driveway ran from the road, past Sheila’s, then Wendell’s, and ended at the Meurers’. Sheila was adamant that she legally…

Adele Jefferson, 41, Harrogate True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Waking up on Christmas morning, I rushed to my son’s bedside. ‘Santa’s been!’ I gasped, seeing a sack of presents. Just 11 weeks old, it was Joshua’s first Christmas. But, instead of being at home, he was in hospital, fighting for his life. Born in October 2020, Joshua and his twin Edward had been delivered at 34 weeks. Joshua weighed just 4lb, and Edward 4lb 4oz. After 18 days in Special Care, the twins were discharged, and we took them home to meet their big brother William, then aged 2. But four days later, Joshua stopped feeding. ‘Something’s wrong,’ I worried to my husband Martin, then 41. Rushing to A&E with the twins, we left William at home with Martin’s parents. But when…

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 Pat Gorman, Yate, Bristol ACROSS 1 Vein of ore 2 Bristol’s river 3 Animal doctors 4 Region DOWN 1 Molten rock 2 Directly above 3 Show affection 4 Wartime entertainment (inits) WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Sir Ben Ainslie won his first Olympic medal in which sailing event at the 1996 games? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: WI + PE, PE +... you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer. WIN…

ARROW WORD What does the word Saskana – the common name of the largest party in the Latvian Parliament – mean? 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 In the 1959 film Some Like /t Hot, what drink does Marilyn Monroe’s character Sugar Kane serve from a hot-water bottle? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ABSINTHEALECIDERGINHIGHBALLMANHATTANMEADPORTRUMSANGRIASHERRYTEQUILAVERMOUTHVODKAWINE…

FILL ME IN An international festival of comic art has taken place annually since 2013 in which English town? 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 According to the Bible, the interior walls of King Solomon’s Temple were panelled with what wood? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters DAM DOG DOT IRE LEI PIE PIT WAY WOE 4 letters ABLE ALLY BAKE CLEF KNEW LACK 5 letters EVENT FIFTY MOVIE OFTEN 6 letters GOVERN NOBODY SCARAB SKEWED 7 letters INFERNO INVADER WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page…

More drink-drivers are caught on New Year’s Day than at any other time of year. According to confused.com, at least 186 drivers were caught over the limit on New Year’s Day in 2019. Jason Wakeford, Head of Campaigns at Brake, the road-safety charity, said: ‘Drink-driving is a serious and all-too-common issue on our roads, causing devastation to families and communities throughout the year, not just the festive period. ‘The country’s current drink-drive limit gives a false impression that it is acceptable to mix alcohol and driving, which couldn’t be further from the truth. The Government must act to tackle the blight of drink driving, by implementing a zerotolerance limit, making it clear to drivers that not a drop of alcohol is safe.’…

Staring at that New Year’s Eve photo, I knew I had a big battle ahead, so I set myself an achievable target weight of 18st. I cut out processed food, avoided the local takeaway. Instead, I found healthy options I could still whip up cheaply. Porridge, baked potatoes and fruit were my new staples, and I began working out three times a week. Gradually, the weight fell away and, while it wasn’t always easy, every week I felt less breathless and in less pain. ‘I’m feeling amazing,’ I told Aaron that summer. Not only had I hit my target, I’d also overhauled my lifestyle. My waistline continued to shrink. And, by the following New Year, as the clock struck 12am, Aaron kissed a 10st 10lb woman – me! ‘I’m so…

Our faves 2021 1 Ben Miller played a brilliant but eccentric professor of criminology in which ITV drama? 2 Which BBC1 drama starring Suranne Jones was mostly set on a nuclear submarine? 3 Julie Hesmondhalgh starred in a BBC1 drama about a party prank that goes wrong. What was it called? 4 Which Sky Atlantic drama set in Philadelphia starred Kate Winslet as a detective? 5 Stephen Graham played prison officer Eric McNally in which BBC1 drama? 6 Which C4 drama starred Years & Years singer Olly Alexander? 7 Who played British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in Netflix drama The Crown? 8 BBC1’s nun drama Black Narcissus starred which late actor in one other last TV roles? 9 Which C4 thriller starred Lesley Sharp as Bristol-based Detective Inspector annah Laing?…

FROM JUST £1.99! Soap & Glory Good Hair Days Ahead Giftset, £10, Boots A gift that promises more beautiful hair and encourages some ‘me time’ is a no-brainer. This has a deep conditioning treatment and shower cap to help ingredients work harder. Clarins Lips and Lashes Bauble Make-up Gift Set, £10, John Lewis This fabulous hanging gift holds a miniature mascara and suits-all berry lipstick. Batiste Original Christmas Edition Dry Shampoo, £3.25, Boots Make 2022 the year of great hair with this iconic dry shampoo that’s received a festive makeover. Just Pink Solid Fragrance Keyring, £5, Next ’Tis the season to smell lovely. This solid perfume (a beautiful fresh and floral number FYI) can be hung on a handbag strap to top up with scent on the go. The Body…

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.…

Chat winners issue 36 (9 September 2021) £1,001 CASH M Colis, Harrow £1,000 CASH K Ellison, Wallasey £500 CASH J Keeble, Colchester; R Schurmer, Drybrook £250 CASH H Brown, London £150 CASH R Rudd, Newcastle upon Tyne £100 CAS. E Smith, Sutton-on-Sea; J Mence, Hereford; V Onens, Kings Heath; C Roberts, Waltham Cross; S Pett, Loughborough £60 CASH J Bissett, Bradford £50 CASH T Gallagher, Wallsend; M Sparks, Stockton-on-Tees; S Hinton, Eastbourne £30 CASH F Watson, Westbury; K Maddock, Runcorn; L Griffin, Chelmsford; S Wishart, Kirkcaldy; J Bundy, Plymouth £25 CASH C Cook, Wigan; J Burton, Horsham; V McCarter, Coleraine; D Sears, Wisbech; M Dignam, Manchester; J Beard, «&£ Retford; P Gear, St Albans; N Reilly, Liverpool; J Fleming, Glasgow Anyone from your town in the list this week..? Chat…