Table of contents for 01 September 2022 in Chat

Brace yourself for a very modern love story. Ayse fell for a man online – then married him over Zoom, even though they’d never met. What could go wrong..? You’ll find out (p10). We also meet Cory, who has spent $100,000 and had multiple procedures in his obsessive bid to look like a child’s toy (p34). Strange world, huh?! Have a fab week. PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Karen O’Reilly, 46, Darwen, Lancashire Hooked up to a ventilator, the figure in the hospital bed was a sorry sight. ‘Oh Susan,’ I choked, sitting beside my big sister, then 44. It was August 2017, and after being told that she’d been trapped in a house fire, I’d rushed to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. She’d suffered so badly from smoke inhalation that doctors had placed her in an induced coma. They weren’t sure that she’d survive. I didn’t want to believe it. And as the hours passed with me at her bedside, my mind went back to the many happy memories we’d shared. Susan was the eldest of us four siblings, two years older than me. We were always getting up to mischief. Pillow fights in the bedroom,…

Ayse Reeves, 26, Lancaster Whispering softly into the phone, I tried to make as little noise as possible. Past midnight, my mum and dad had gone to bed ages ago. But I had something worth staying up for… It was August 2020, and Darrin, then 23, and I had met online just a few weeks earlier. Stuck at home in lockdown with only my parents for company, I’d logged on looking for someone to chat to. What I found was love. We clicked instantly. Your name sounds exotic. Where’re you from? he’d typed. Don’t get too excited, just the UK, I pinged back. With a silly sense of humour that matched mine, it felt as though I’d known him forever. Only he was in Detroit, USA, and I lived in…

After waving goodbye to her husband when he’d dropped her at work in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Maureen Anderson dug in her bag for her keys. It was 7 July 2011 and, as the personal assistant to the investment firm’s wealthy owner Richard Oland, 69, Maureen was usually the first to arrive. Yet, today, she found the office already open. Heading up the stairs, Maureen noticed that the internal door, which was usually locked, was ajar. Then she was hit by the most vile smell. Walking further into the office, the air conditioning blasting, she set down the tray of coffees. It was then she saw it. A pair of legs jutting out from underneath her boss’ desk, a pool of blood spreading around them. In shock, she ran…

I hate my warts Q My GP says the horrible brown warty growths on my back are harmless, but surely they should be removed? Sylvie, Pontefract A You’re right to check with your doctor but these could be seborrheic keratoses, very common skin growths which often appear from your 40s onwards. No one’s sure why they appear, or why some people have dozens and others none at all, but they start as flat brown areas of skin which gradually become hard, lumpy and warty. They can pop up anywhere but usually on your trunk, and often along skin creases. They’re harmless and won’t turn cancerous, though occasionally one might itch, or catch on clothing and bleed. There’s usually no need for treatment unless one keeps bleeding, and if you want…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p5. There’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Stephanie Rees, Swansea, Wales ACROSS 1 Wound mark 2 Hollow space 3 God of love 4 Insect-repellent ingredient DOWN 1 Garden building 2 Centre of apple 3 Healing plant 4 Relax WIN 5 × £20 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Which 2007 single’s supposed ‘curse’ saw storms and heavy rainfall hit the UK when it reached the top of the charts? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: PA + ST, ST +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to…

Ghosted by a married man Q I met a man online and fell in love, but recently I discovered that he’s married. I confronted him, and he has completely cut me off. I can’t stop crying. He won’t respond to any emails I send, and I don’t know what else to do as I don’t know where he lives and have never had a phone number for him. I’m devastated. Please help. Alice, 33 A You have a good cry, petal – but they should be tears of anger not of sadness. This absolute rotter lied to you, cheated on his wife and has now vanished without a trace. In fact the person you fell for probably didn’t exist at all. How dare someone treat you like that? You’re worth…

Soap & Glory The Real Zing Body Serum, £9.99, Boots This moisturising serum treats thirsty limbs to a refreshing drink of lemon, lime and neroli. Its velvety texture glides seamlessly over the skin, while citrus acids remove dead skin cells. Botanics Natural Bristle Body Brush, £6.50, Boots Body brushing lifts dead skin cells, increases blood circulation and drains the body of toxins. In other words, it’s a body-care hero. Use this brush on wet or dry skin – its long handle makes brushing easy and ensures all areas are covered. Noughty The Savior Rescue Foot Scrub, £7.50, lovenoughty.co.uk Put your best foot forward with this nourishing foot scrub. Fine granules gently buff away dead skin and a softening blend of shea butter and argan oil leaves feet nice and smooth.…

PUFF SLEEVES STYLE TIP Add a fun, fashionable twist with voluminous sleeves. They’re a style saviour if you’re conscious of your upper arms. RUFFLE STYLE TIP Consider the placement of ruffles when buying a feminine blouse. They make the bust appear bigger when worn across the chest. SATIN STYLE TIP Instantly elevate your outfit with a silky top. The ideal design to take you from day to evening, they look great tucked into jeans. PLISSE STYLE TIP For a luxe look that doesn’t sacrifice comfort, team this lightweight, crinkled top with matching trousers in the same fabric. FROM £12.50…

Lasting 37 days and involving 42 witnesses, the court heard how the father and son’s relationship had been tense. It was exacerbated by money worries and a history of verbal abuse, mixed with Richard allegedly cheating on Dennis’ mother. Despite a plea of ‘not guilty’, blood spots on his blazer and being the last person to see his father alive led the jury to find him guilty of seconddegree murder. He was given an automatic life sentence. But in October 2016, the appeals court overturned the conviction, ruling the judge did not instruct the jury properly, and Dennis was released on bail. Two years later, after the supreme court decided not to hear appeals, in October 2018, Dennis entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ in his retrial. But the jury…

1 Eat like you’re i n the Med A Mediterranean diet of fruit and veg, oily fish, olive oil and nuts is rich in omega-3 fatty acids thought to help prevent or delay Alzheimer’s. Even red wine is said to promote fatty acids in the blood. But keep your drinking down to six medium glasses of wine a week. Any more can increase blood pressure and make you overweight – both major risk factors for dementia. 2 Look for the f-word A diet that’s rich in flavonoids – found in dark chocolate, green tea and most fruit and veg – can protect cognitive function as we age. Flavonoids are antioxidants, which clean up dangerous molecules and protect cells as we get older. In general, the darker the fruit or vegetable,…

Pamela McCloud, 55, Bozeat, Northamptonshire Wandering past the fridge on my way back to the living room, I stopped. ‘Just a little snack,’ I mumbled to myself, pulling the door open. Pushing past the butter and veg, my hands hovered over my son’s sausage rolls. Grabbing one from the packet of six, I headed back to the sofa, munching on my snack before I’d even sat down. Flicking stray flakes of pastry from my lap, I wondered what to make for dinner that night. I knew I had some partridge left in the fridge and decided to roast it with some delicious veg, alongside some potatoes. When I was growing up, my mum had taught me the importance of home cooking. We never ordered takeaway or ate fried food. Just…

Zoey Green, 37, Chesterfield Jolting up in bed as my alarm beeped, I rubbed my eyes. It was 6.30am and I had a busy morning ahead. There were no less than 17 hungry mouths to feed! With my husband Tom, 35, already hard at work, I hopped out of bed. Walked down to the kitchen and wrenched open the back door. ‘Time to go out!’ I called to my 10 beloved dogs. My Shar Pei, Buddy, 8, ambled out into the garden followed by his nine younger dachshund ‘sisters’, Rosie, 3, Daisy, Fern, Flora and Willow, all 2, Clover, Gypsy and Mae, all 1, and Eden, 10 months. In a flurry of fur and wet noses, they scampered outside and sniffed the morning air. It was June of this year,…

Wherever Cory goes, he’s sure to turn a few heads. With his striking looks, it’s not hard to see why. But it’s not just Cory’s face that draws attention. The entrepreneur and influencer has spent thousands on his dream body, including creating his very own Kardashian-style rear end! ‘I’ve had liposuction, butt injections, lip filler, cheekbone and jawline filler and of course Botox,’ Cory explains. ‘I’m a walking Ken doll with a Kardashian booty!’ Cory got his first Brazilian butt lift, or BBL, in 2020. During the surgery doctors took fat from elsewhere in his body and put it back into his bottom to make it appear more rounded. And Cory’s obsession with his looks doesn’t stop at surgery. A huge fashionista, Cory has a wardrobe bursting with designer labels,…

Banned from getting behind the wheel for five years and ordered to do an alcohol treatment programme, I kept my word. I cried through AA meetings, wondering if things would ever change. Mum came to stay. ‘I’m broken, I don’t know what to do,’ I told her. ‘You aren’t alone,’ she said. She was right. I found support and love from everyone around me. My best friend, my landlady, people at church. I threw myself into recovery, one day at a time. Even volunteered at drug and alcohol addiction clinics. One morning in December 2012, as Mum prepared to return home to Wales, she fell to the floor. ‘Mum!’ I called, thinking she’d tripped on something. But racing over, I realised it was far worse. Gasping for air, colour drained…

Get amazingly soft, scented hands for less with 50% off Beauty of Bath Hand Cream (30ml), WAS £5.95, NOW £2.95. Bursting with natural extracts including shea butter, it will deeply moisturise and delicately scent your skin. The range includes Vanilla Baies Rouges, Cashmere Musk Noir and Violet Jasminium Ginger. Offer available until 4 September 2022 at beautynaturals.com/chatoffer or call 0116 3183773. Subject to availability. UK only. P&P £1.50, free P&P on orders of £15 or more. Offer correct at time of going to press.…

Aries 21 March-20 April Remove what no longer serves you to create space for the new! Surround yourself with people who allow you to develop and use your mind to evolve. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May A surprise is coming; a friend from the past is coming back into your life. Laugh, reminisce and make plans to visit each other. Luck is coming your way. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You need time off to relax. Let your partner do the running around, put your feet up and catch up on things you haven’t had time for. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Persist and get things done, following a task through to…

Q What’s the best way to fix my sun-damaged hair? Abigale Bates, Norwich A Your hair can go through a lot during the summer. UV rays damage strands, and heat and humidity remove moisture, leaving locks dry and brittle. Luckily, there are some great products around. Start by restoring moisture to the hair using a thirst-quenching hair treatment like the Aussie Deep Moisture Hair Mask, Vegan Hair Treatment, £9.99, Boots. Massage into crispy ends and let the three types of natural oils treat hair to the hydration hit it needs. After washing, the Rhyme & Reason Plant Protein Damage Repair Serum, £8.99, Boots, is great for restoring your hair’s natural balance and works to strengthen strands and prevent breakages while creating the healthiest environment for it to grow. It is…

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.…

TAYMAR PHILLIPS, 59, FROM DROITWITCH, SAYS: Our activities coordinator Kate Lockwood is definitely a local hero. Kate, 32, works with us at Westmead Residential Care Home in Droitwich, run by the non-profit Sanctuary Care. When it came to keeping residents happy and busy during lockdown, she rose to the challenge. Using her incredible creativity and imagination, she organised a range of events for the residents, including a rock-themed ‘Glastonmead’ music festival, complete with a bar and live music, and a stay-at-home ‘day at the races’, encouraging residents to dress up for the occasion. She even brought the beach to the care home, with sand, fruity drinks and paddling pools. She always goes the extra mile for individual residents too, taking note of their interests and passions. In recognition of her…

Who does actor Mackenzie Crook say would play him in a film about his life? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the two-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 The _, 1999 film starring 24 Across (6) 12 Popular pizza topping (9) 13 First man (4) 14 Alluring (8) 15 African country (5) 16 Frozen spike (6) 17 Thick, sweet syrup (7) 18 1982 sci-fi film starring Harrison Ford (5,6) 20 The matter at hand (5) 22 Right-hand side of a ship, when facing forward on it (9) 24 Actor, _ Reeves (5) 28 Young dogs (7) 29 Grazed (7) 32 Dinner jacket (6) 34 Common edible fish (8) 36 South-east Asian country (8) 37 Use one’s ears (6) 39 Tall thin tower, part…

Katie Andrews, 40, Kent Holding the pregnancy test in my hand, I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. Another negative result. It was 2014 and I’d been trying for a baby with my partner Kevin, then 40, for over two years. ‘Why isn’t it happening for us?’ I sobbed. I’d come off the pill two years earlier, and though I knew it could take a while for my periods to return to normal, I hadn’t expected it would take this long. Each time it didn’t happen, I felt heartbroken. But I was determined to become a mum. ‘I think it’s time to see a fertility doctor,’ I said to Kevin, later that year. So we booked an appointment and waited to be seen. After a series of tests…

Don’t be dirty! Keeping track of dirty clothes is almost impossible on holiday. So pack a pop-up washing basket or carrier bags to help separate dirty clothes from clean. Fresh new do Dry, broken or discoloured locks are never a good look! So, after a dip in the pool or sea, apply leave-in conditioner or sun-protection spray. Bags of memories While you’re in the airport queue for check-in, take a photo of all your luggage. It could prove invaluable if it goes astray, as you can just show or email photos to travel companies or airport staff. Name game Why is it everyone seems to have the exact same beach inflatable, bucket and spade or sun hat when you go away? To save any arguments, just take an indelible marker…

FILL ME IN The rock band Aerosmith formed in which 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 Pachadi is the southern Indian name for dishes conventionally called what in northern India and the UK? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded 3 letters DID END ERA MAT SAC SAD SEA SIN SIT 4 letters NEST SAGA SNUG SURE ULNA USED 5 letters CYNIC DICED DUETS SEALS 6 letters TAINTS TENNIS THUMBS UNLESS 7 letters DANGERS DRESSES WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

3 Ways to… find cheaper car insurance Running a car is super expensive, so it’s important to find the best deal for your insurance. Here’s how… 1 Do your homework Under rules that came into force in January, car (and home) insurers can’t charge existing customers who are renewing their policies more than new customers. But this doesn’t mean your renewal quote will be the best deal available. Get quotes from price comparison sites, and also check insurers who aren’t on them, such as Direct Line. Bear in mind the cheapest policy isn’t always best – it’s important to make sure you have the right level of cover too. Once you’ve found the best price for the cover you need, ask your current insurer to match or beat the quote.…

Spicy roast squash salad A fresh and filling vibrant salad is perfect for summer evenings. SERVES 4 PREP TIME 20 MINS COOK TIME 30 MINS • 600g squash, peeled and cut into wedges • 1tbsp light olive oil • ½tsp ground cumin • ½tsp ground paprika • 1-2 red chillies, finely sliced • 150g green beans, halved • 1tbsp red wine vinegar • 3tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 1 shallot, chopped • 100g baby spinach leaves • Handful pitted black olives, chopped • 100g goat’s cheese or sheep’s milk feta (see tip) 1 Heat the oven to 220C/Gas 7. Spread out the squash in a roasting tin, drizzle with the light olive oil and sprinkle over the cumin and paprika. Roast for 30 mins or until tender, turning halfway…

Tamara Ward, 37, Middle Barton, Oxfordshire Looking down at my newborn nephew Dominic as he slept, I gave my sister Natalia a grin. ‘He’s perfect,’ I beamed, so excited to welcome the new addition to our family. Me and Natalia had been close as kids. Now, we were both married mums of three; that hadn’t changed. I loved that our family had grown so much. When Dominic was born and Natalia asked me to be his godmother, it cemented our special bond. I knew I’d always look out for him. But I didn’t know then just how much he’d need it. When he was a baby, Dominic started suffering from seizures. Then, at 18 months in 2018, he was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome. When my…

Essence Soft & Precise Lip Pencil, £1, justmylook.com There are many reasons to outline your lips. It makes your pout fuller and stops lipstick bleed, making smudged lips one less thing to worry about. This lip pencil glides on like butter without tugging at the skin. And at such a pocket-friendly price, you can fill up your make-up bag with multiple shades. Lacura Illuminating Tanning Drops, £4.99, Aldi Although summer is coming to an end (sigh), your tan doesn’t have to as well. These tanning drops will keep the sun-kissed glow going all year round. Add a couple of drops to your favourite moisturiser and the gentle ingredients will develop to leave a naturallooking tan.…

When Karissa Fretwell found out she was pregnant, she should have been happy. After she had lost her father in 2007, at the age of 14, her life had hit a downward spiral. She’d turned to drink and drugs. But Karissa worked hard to turn things around. Her teachers nurtured her, she finished school and decided to help other troubled teens. Dreamed of becoming a teacher herself. She enrolled at university, took various jobs at fast-food restaurants to get by. Started working at a sandwich shop in Oregon, USA, as a delivery driver. Almost every day, the same man called, asking for Karissa to deliver his lunch to a nearby steel factory. Michael Wolfe was in his 40s, more than twice her age. But he had taken a shine to…