Table of contents for 29 February 2024 in Chat

Welcome to this week's Chat… I've never been a collector but I find it fascinating ng to hear about people who are. Like Maxine who loves My Little Pony (p23). Not only does she own hundreds of them, she shares how her passion for the colourful toys have changed her life for the better. Also this week readd about Philip, who has the beginnings of an altogether stranger collection of his own in the freezer… (p24) Have a great week, PS If you're entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Catherine Wardle, 61, Wallsend Hearing the front door swing open while I did the washing-up, I dried my hands on a tea towel. It was April 1990, and as a single mum to four boys, life was never dull. ‘It's Natty,’ I heard my neighbour call out, as I spun round to see my eldest, Nathaniel, then 11, bleeding in his arms. I gasped. Natty had a gaping hole in his forehead and some of his teeth were smashed. He was barely conscious. ‘What happened?’ I cried, holding him as we waited for an ambulance. He'd been on his cousin's quad bike, hit a pothole and flew into a concrete post. Poor Natty spent seven weeks in hospital. Had frontal lobe brain damage, short-term memory loss. Surgeons screwed a metal…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 THE BIGGIE Which film starring Marlon Brando has actor Mark Ruffalo said is his favourite? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the three-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Give to charity (6) 12 Small marrow (9) 13 Not rich (4) 14 Large Australian marsupial (8) 15 Play dishonestly (5) 16 City in Devon (6) 17 Precious stone (7) 18 School subject (11) 20 Sweet sticky substance (5) 22 Author of Matilda and The Witches (5,4) 24 Facial hair (5) 28 Maybe (7) 29 Responded (7) 32 Breathe noisily and with difficulty (6) 34 Sitcom starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb (4,4) 36 Bicker (8) 37 Mother or father (6) 39 Changed (7) 40 Section of a book (7) 45 Woodwind instrument (5) 47 Decorative objects (9) 48 Katy _, Firework singer (5) 51 Fairground ride (6,5) 53 Inspect closely (7) 55 Damon _, Blur…

Jenifer Yeo, 55, Leeds Staring at my trainers lying forlornly next to the front door, I pushed away pangs of guilt. I used to hike and run every single day. But these days I felt so anxious I couldn't get out of the front door. It was spring 2020 and I was at the peak of the menopause. Only anxiety wasn't my biggest issue. Painful sex was. It had all started a year earlier in 2019. I'd been suffering from vaginal dryness, and sex had become very painful. I could be sore for four days after. I adored my partner of three years, David. But I used every excuse I could think of to avoid having sex, it was hurting that much. My dry vagina affected other areas of my…

Philip Rhoades, 72 My parents lay on adjacent beds at the aged-care facility. ‘At least they're together,’ I thought. It was May 2016, and docs had called to tell me that my dad, Gerald, 89, didn't have long left. He'd been hospitalised after suffering from dementia for several years. Was in great physical pain. I'd travelled seven hours across Australia to be with him in Sydney. Sadly, when I arrived he was already unconscious from the morphine. But I was grateful to find staff had wheeled my mum Dorothy's bed into his room. Mum, 84, had a number of degenerative physical disorders. She clutched Dad's hand for almost 30 hours until, finally, he passed. ‘You have to let go of him now, Mum,’ I said gently. ‘I don't want to,’…

Go green, save cash Switching to energy-saving light bulbs such as LEDs can save up to £50 a year on energy bills, according to the government's Help for Households campaign. Find more information at helpforhouseholds. campaign.gov.uk. 3 ways to… steer clear of romance fraud Becoming a victim of this can be devastating. Here's what to watch out for… 1 What is it? With romance fraud, criminals target potential victims online, such as through social media platforms or dating websites and apps. They'll use a fake profile in an attempt to build a relationship with the victim, often using information they've found on social media, like if they're widowed or divorced, to target them. After gaining the victim's trust and convincing them that they're in a genuine relationship, they'll ask for money…

E.l.f. Lash XTNDR Mascara, £8, elfcosmetics.co.uk If you always end up with panda eyes, a tubing mascara could be your new lash saviour. This one wraps each eyelash in inky colour, creating dramatic length and definition without fear of flaking or smudging. Westlab Wellbeing Balance Bath Salt, £9.99, westlabsalts.co.uk As winter drags on, embrace the relaxing powers of a warm soak in the bath. Sprinkle in a handful of these magnesium-rich salts to help soothe aches and pains and ease water retention. The fragrance has been chosen carefully to help boost mood, too. St. Moriz Advanced Illuminating Gradual Tan, £9.99, Boots A bit of a tan always makes you feel good, and thanks to the added moisturisers in gradual tan, you're less likely to end up looking stripy! We love…

We pay £25 for any photos that we use on Chat To Us! Get in touch! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com POST Chat, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR Find us online at facebook.com/ChatMagazine…

Bridie Walker, 45, Doncaster R olling my eyes, I dragged my school bag into the toilet cubicle. ‘This is stupid,’ I called to my friend Anna in the cubicle next door. But I did it anyway, weeing in the paper cup. It was late 1991 and, both 13, I'd agreed to go with her to the family planning clinic. She was worried that she was pregnant. Somehow she talked me into doing a test too. ‘So I don't feel so alone,’ she'd pleaded. ‘I've just had my period,’ I sighed. Ten minutes later, Anna walked out of the clinic grinning with relief. But I felt like my legs were about to buckle. ‘I'm pregnant,’ I whispered as we wandered to the local shop. ‘You're kidding?’ Anna gasped. It was all I…

TRUE-LIFE Standing over the cooker, chatting to a reporter, Antonio Watts-Richardson, known as Blair Watts, was in his element. It was February 2022 and Watts, then 32, waxed lyrical about his small-town restaurant, Birdie's, in Spring City, Pennsylvania. Smiling for the cameras, he told the local TV station about his love of cooking. Homemade comfort food like fried chicken and cheeseburgers dripping in barbecue sauce. ‘It's love, a hug, enjoyment. Good food and good vibes that's what we stand for,’ he gushed, explaining how his grandma inspired him to become a cook. ‘I was always watching her make everything,’ he said, grinning. When Birdie's – named after his grandma – had to close shortly after, Watts began making plans for a grand reopening. Joined forces with close friend Jennifer Brown.…

Wee willy worry! Q Why is my penis so small, and would getting enlargement surgery work? Sean, Middlesborough A Every guy is are bigger than different, and some others – it doesn't usually have a great effect on sex. There's a rare condition called micropenis, which affects around one man in 7,000, where the penis doesn't grow properly due to a hormone problem, but unless your willy is very small (less than 9.3cm when stretched) that's unlikely to apply to you. Your doctor can advise but unless you do have a micropenis, surgery isn't usually necessary, or guaranteed to mean better sex. An operation to cut the ligaments holding your penis can make it look longer when floppy, but won't make much difference to its length when it's erect. Injections…

Former Made in Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo voiced a character in the 2018 film The Grinch named after what confectionery item? WIN 2 x £25 Puzzle 9 To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Horse-drawn vehicles = CARS + T = CARTS. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. Horse-drawn vehicles Plunders Neckwarmer Ignore the rules Neat and tidy Bell chimes Fill with colour Mushroom seed Jumps Holding tool Glisten Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles PHOTOS: GETTY…

Toys R Woof Does your pooch know his squeaky bone from his smelly slipper? Then you may just be on to a winner! Especially if it took him just 30 minutes to learn which one is which. Scientists at ELTE University in Budapest say if your dog only needs half an hour to learn a new toy name, then he's probably gifted. Genipups Does your dog head off to find certain toys when you ask him to? Name that ball and he goes in search of it like he's on a mission to uncover buried treasure? If your pup knows at least 15 toy names then you could have the Albert Einstein of the dog world, living, breathing, and probably farting, in your home. Genius! Top of the pups Most dogs aren't…

I want to stay home Q I'm due to go back to work after my maternity leave, although I don't want to. Problem is, my husband isn't keen on me giving up the career that I've worked hard for. He said he's happy to support us while I look for another job but isn't happy with the idea of me stopping all together. I'm thinking of just quitting without telling him. Is that bonkers? Lauren, 32 A You've just had a baby so it's normal that your priorities have changed, but you don't have to put your career on hold forever, pet. Trust me, you may well find that you'll be skipping to work by the time they start school! But if you can afford it, don't let anyone make…

TRUE_LIFE Stephanie May-Hills, 38, Billinghurst P lodding down the stairs, I called out to my partner. ‘I'm in here!’ Martin, then 25, yelled back. Following his voice into the lounge, I stopped. Martin was sitting on the sofa with my daughter, Hollie, 5, on his knee, a small box in his hand. ‘Will you marry me?’ he asked, grinning. Hugging them both, I tearfully accepted. It was December 2014, we'd met through friends three years earlier. Both single parents, we'd initially bonded over our kids. Hollie, and his two kids Scarlett, 5, and Preston, 3, got on so well. But we soon knew we wanted more than play dates the park. Much more. And now, we were making wedding plans! In October 2016, we said ‘I do’ surrounded by our…

Aries 21 March-20 April If you've been feeling confused and indecisive about a matter close to your heart, know that you will have the clarity you need by the end of the month. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Life has been unsettled for quite some time, but by taking small daily steps towards your objectives, you will soon attain the stability you desire. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Consult an expert to help you make a decision. Sometimes we need the input of other people in the know, and now is one of those moments. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Now the Sun is in your fellow sign of Pisces you feel…

Q Can collagen supplements really help me look younger? Sheila Fleming, 66, Glasgow A Collagen is a protein that makes up around 70-75% of our skin, keeping everything plump, springy and elastic. Levels start to drop from the age of 25 and by 50, we will have lost around half of our collagen – hello deep wrinkles! Supplements are a proven way to stimulate our bodies to produce more collagen so skin looks smoother. Choose type 1 hydrolysed collagen in liquid form, as it's more easily absorbed into the bloodstream than a pill. Revive Collagen Menopause Max Collagen Drink, £43.99 for 14-day supply, revivecollagen.com, is a liquid shot that boosts elasticity, with ingredients like vitamin K, folic acid and lutein to ease symptoms like hot flushes and dry skin. Kollo…

TEXT Simply text CHATB 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. INTERNET Join our Chat…

To Dr Miah, The day I limped into The Royal Marsden hospital and met you was one of the toughest of my life. My leg had been aching for months, and I'd thought I'd sprained a muscle. But physio hadn't helped, and now an MRI had found a malignant tumour. Diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that develops around the joints, I'd been referred to you, Dr Aisha Miah, a clinical oncologist. ‘You need chemotherapy,’ you said that day back in January 2017. ‘I'm not doing it,’ I told you. Still reeling from the diagnosis, I was terrified. ‘We'll make sure you have a future,’ you said I was an athletic 27-year-old, with a new job at a bank and a happy relationship with my boyfriend of…

Phil Ridler-Edwards, 52, from Portland, Dorset Do you prefer books or movies? I love watching a good romcom snuggled up on the sofa with my wife Selina and a glass of wine. When Harry Met Sally… is one of my all-time faves. What was the first album that you bought? Live in the City of Light by Simple Minds. Listening to it now brings back great memories of seeing them live, particularly on a scorching day in 1988 at Roundhay Park in Leeds. On one occasion, singer Jim Kerr shook my hand! Any nicknames? Because of our surname, some friends call both me and my brother Eddie – it always made it awkward for my mum when friends rang; she never knew who they wanted to speak to! WE PAY…

Which Chinese dynasty was in power during the rule of Alfred the Great in England? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will spell out the one-word prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 2 Your answer: 1 Squeeze-box (9) 2 Plant with orange, yellow and red flowers and edible leaves (10) 3 Soft sweet sometimes toasted (11) 4 Minor fib (5,3) 5 Flowing back, receding (6) 6 Ball game (4) 7 Shortest month (8) 8 Territory of Northern Canada (5) 9 Suffolk racecourse (9) 10Goading, provoking (8) 11 Record player (10) 12Arm joint (5) 13Waldorf salad ingredient (6) 14Small freshwater turtle (8) 15Religious sister (3) 16Ill-fated lover of Bill Sykes in Oliver Twist (5)…

All sizes 8-24 Tu at Sainsbury's STYLE TIP Play with proportions in oversized shirts and wide-leg trousers. Tuck in for extra structure. All sizes 8-22 Nutmeg at Morrisons STYLE TIP Slogan tees add a playful spin. Wear with a floaty skirt for a smart-casual look. All sizes 6-22 F&F at Tesco STYLE TIP A year-round staple, layer a fine roll-neck underneath this blazer for extra warmth. All sizes 8-24 George at Asda STYLE TIP This shirt's frilly collar gives denim a feminine spin. Double up and wear with jeans.…

WHAT'S THE VERDICT? In December 2023, members of the jury found Antonio ‘Blair’ Watts-Richardson, then 33, guilty of the first degree murder of Jennifer, then 43. He was immediately handed a mandatory life sentence by the judge. He continued to protest his innocence. ‘I didn't kill Jennifer Brown,’ Watts called to waiting reporters as he was led away from the courtroom in handcuffs. However, in reply, prosecution lawyer Ed McCann said, ‘He's been saying that from the beginning, but we just spent five days proving that he did. And, I think we proved it beyond any doubt. Frankly, I don't really think reasonable doubt was an issue.' Afterwards, Jennifer's friends and family expressed relief that justice had been served. ‘Justice was served for my niece… It will never bring her…

TRUE-LIFE Susan Blood, 44, Ellesmere Port Admiring the bride and groom stood at the altar, I dabbed away a happy tear. It was summer 2017 and we were at a friend's wedding. ‘That'll be us one day,’ my boyfriend Darren, then 38, grinned later, as we walked out of the church. ‘No way,’ I grimaced. As beautiful as I'd found my mate's ceremony, the thought of having my own big white wedding filled me with dread. ‘I'd love to marry you,’ I blurted, seeing the hurt in Darren's eyes. ‘But I could never be the centre of attention like that.' And I didn't need to explain why… Since we'd met online in April 2015, Darren knew that I was insecure. A size 20, 5ft 5in, I weighed around 20st. Hid…

NO-FUSS FOOD Coconut, cashew and apricot cookies Use up overripe bananas in these healthier bickies – great for lunchboxes. MAKES 30 PREP 15 MINS COOK 15 MINS ● 125g rolled jumbo oats ● 250g packet dried apricots, chopped ● 100g unsalted cashew nuts, chopped ● 100g blanched almonds, chopped ● 50g ground almonds ● 1tsp ground cinnamon ● 100g desiccated coconut ● 2 small very ripe bananas ● 4tbsp sunflower oil ● ½-1tsp sugar-free vanilla extract YOU WILL NEED: ● 6.5cm plain round cookie cutter, oiled 1 Heat the oven to 140C Fan/ Gas 3. Mix the oats, apricots, cashew nuts, chopped and ground almonds, cinnamon, coconut and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. 2 Mash the bananas until smooth and stir in the oil and vanilla extract. Pour into the dry…

TRUE-LIFE Piling into a photo booth with my colleagues, I rummaged in the fancy-dress box. We pulled on silly hats and sunglasses. ‘Cheese!’ I grinned. It was January 2023, and we were at a work party. I had a job as a bar supervisor at the city centre staff accommodation for a power plant. As the music boomed, I danced over to the open bar for another drink. ‘Vodka lemonade please,’ I shouted, as my work mates sang and swayed. Later, I nipped outside for a ciggie. A short bloke with a brown Mohawk was stood there vaping. He looked familiar from work, but I didn't know his name. I caught his eye and smiled as I returned inside, and he blew out a cloud of smoke and smiled back.…

Catrice Cosmetics Drunk'n Diamonds Plumping Lip Balm, £4.99 each, justmylook.com At this time of year, lips deserve a little extra TLC to avoid a dry, flaky disaster. This luminous lippy combines all the nourishing, softening care of a balm with a hint of colour and sparkling finish. It's particularly flattering for thinner lips, enriched with plumping ingredients that create a fuller appearance. Lacura ProNight Advanced Face Serum, £5.99, Aldi Set an alert on your phone to pick up this super serum when it hits shelves in a few days on 25 Feb. And don't be fooled by the light and refreshing texture – this formula packs a real punch. Powered by copper peptides and hyaluronic acid, it rejuvenates skin while you sleep so you wake up looking fresh and rested.…

Chat winners issue 46 (16 Nov 2023) £1,001 CASH B McVeigh, Bangor £500 CASH C Bennatto, Plymouth R Jackson, Gairloch £250 CASH A Tully, Beccles H Toplis, Ripley £200 CASH S MacDonald, Bolton £100 CASH R Stuttard, Tamworth D Brown, Poole L Jones, Tamworth £50 CASH L Cottrell, Solihull S Town, Barnoldswick S Shaw, Leeds L Porter, Solihull M Smith, Mansfield A Wood, Birmingham £40 CASH K Brown, St Helens £30 CASH C Connorsbeck, Keighley F Ellison, Crewe £25 CASH A Kirkham, Nottingham J Domagala, Nottingham £20 CASH G Mullan, Limavady J Bunn, Hexham M Brown, Wednesbury S Sallis, Cheltenham S Swindells, Macclesfield V Shuttleworth, Chorley S Spencer, Wolverhampton R Gardiner, Larbert E Hewish, High Wycombe V Bowden, Bristol S Lewis, Telford C Gent, Barnsley B Okines, Etchingham L Morris, Torpoint A Philip, Galashiels S Whiston, Liverpool S Morgan, Shrewsbury M Wilkes, Kidderminster D Pike, Yelverton Z Anyon, Bangor R Armitage, Heckmondwike L Foster, Leicester J Duke, Southport K Rutherford, Newmarket Anyone from…