Table of contents for 07 July 2022 in Chat

Hero of this week has to be Rhys (p24), a cool kid who showed online trolls who’s boss. His mum Kelly’s pride in him jumps off the page – and rightly so! As well as our usual mix of real-life, true crime and more, you’ll notice some changes with our puzzles. With times being tight, we wanted to give more of you a chance to win – so there are extra prizes up for grabs. Hope you’re feeling lucky this week! PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Megan Speller, 23, Cheshunt Laughing, I lifted my hands in surrender. ‘You’ve got me, ’ I said, flopping down on the sofa. My sisters wedged themselves either side of me, pretending they were putting handcuffs on me. We loved playing cops and robbers. It was 2004 and I was 6. Molly was two-and-a-half years younger than me, and Maisie was three-and-half years younger. Our mum Donna, then 29, had met their dad Christopher James, 32, when I was 18 months old. When Molly and Maisie arrived, I adored being their big sister. My feelings for their dad were different. Even though I called Christopher Dad like my sisters did, he doted on them while he made my life hell. When I was 7, Mum’s make-up bag went missing. ‘Have you…

Can I get rid of ‘unsightly’ veins? Q I hate my varicose veins, can I get rid of them without an op? Sue, Lowestoft A Varicose veins in your legs become more common with age and around 80% of women have them by age 60. They are widened, knobbly veins that develop when valves inside the vein, which ensure a one-way flow of blood towards your heart, fail. Often you’re born with the tendency, but having babies, being overweight, doing lots of standing or damage to the vein due to a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) can also be to blame. Apart from surgery to strip away a varicose vein, treatment can be injections or laser therapy to shrink it. Try to lose weight if you’re overweight, don’t smoke and…

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 Debra Stapley, Dover, Kent ACROSS 1 Turn over 2 Assistant 3 Stumble 4 Be anxious DOWN 1 Hesitate or falter 2 Deceiver 3 Lazy 4 Hurl missile WIN 5 x £20 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS The surname of explorer Cristoforo Colombo, known as Christopher Columbus in English, means what in Italian? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: GALL + ANT, ANT +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer. WIN 3 x £50…

How to be honest with Mum Q My mum thinks that I’m working as an office manager. I’ve redecorated her house and bought her a new bathroom and sofa because she always worked three or four jobs when I was growing up. But actually I have an OnlyFan’s account, selling sexy pics and videos online. How can I tell her where the money’s really coming from? I hate lying. Tess, 25 A First up, as long as you’re doing things that you consent to and you’re happy, you crack on. It’s your body and you get to decide what to do with it. You sound like you have a lovely relationship with your mum, but know your audience. I do think you should be honest, but spare her the ins…

Teresa Seaton, 49, Barton Seagrave, Northamptonshire Opening up my brand new passport, I sighed. No one ever likes their passport picture. But mine was truly awful… ‘I hate it, ’ I said to my husband, Craig, then 55. ‘It’s not that bad, ’ he soothed, giving me a sympathetic look. Fibber! I looked terrible. Hardly surprising. After all, I weighed over 20 stone. At 5ft 6in, I looked like a barrel in my size 30 clothes. ‘Who is she?’ I thought, looking at the photo, where my cheeks were so puffed and swollen you could barely see my eyes. It was April 2018 and I hadn’t always been big. In fact, two years earlier I’d been fit and healthy. When I wasn’t running my accountancy business from home, I’d go…

Q I like the idea of batch cooking but I never seem to get around to it. Any tips? S Farris, Chelmsford A ‘The key is to get organised, ’ says Tessa Clarke, co-founder of sharing app Olio (olioex.com). ‘Dedicate time to do the cooking when you know you’ll be free, like at the weekend. And if it feels like a time commitment, remember that it’ll pay off during the week when you’ll have meals ready to be heated up. ‘One more tip – if you’re freezing meals, remember to label and date your containers.’…

1-7 July 2022 Aries 21 March-20 April While the Sun is firmly in Leo you can emit positive vibrations that change the energy around you, so stay positive at all times and it won’t go unnoticed. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Take up an offer of an evening out with an old friend. They’ll take you to a place you’ve never visited before and it will be right up your street. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Your versatile nature means you enjoy multitasking, as you can achieve so much more. With the new moon in Leo this week, it’s a great time to start new projects. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July If…

LETTER of the week! Q Do I need to buy a special hairbrush? Christina Waller, Durham A Buying the right hair brush for you is often overlooked, but can make a big difference to how your hair looks and feels. Daily brushing is essential to distribute oils and stimulate the scalp. Wet hair is more prone to breakage, but using a brush like the Tangle Teezer The Wet Detangler Hair Brush, £13, Boots, will gently loosen knots without any painful tugging. Make the Philip Kingsley Handbag Brush & Case, £15, feelunique.com, your new handbag essential for brushing on the go. Its anti-static design helps to tame flyaways, while its wide pins are kind to your hair. The Lee Stafford Curls Curl Defining Brush, £9, Superdrug, is a treat for curly…

‘Please, Mum, I need it!’ My daughter Mia, 7, loves any cuddly toys, particularly this squishy friend she found in the toy shop! Lisa Adams, Halesowen When I noticed this ‘No swimming’ sign while paddling on holiday, I couldn’t help showing off my mischievous side by posing for a pic! Wen Sharron, Swansea My partner Ricky wanted to own one of these magnificent bikes we found on holiday in Las Vegas. As impressive as they are, I’m afraid I’ll be putting my foot down! Tijhana Aitchison, Birkenhead We pay £25 for any photos that we use on Chat To Us! Here’s my daughter Evelyn, now 2 months, looking adorable a few days after her birth. She was born on Easter Sunday and was definitely the best gift! Natasha Deffley, West…

ATHLETIC STYLE TIP Create curves with frilly accents and cut-out details. Belted designs will highlight a waist and enhance your shape. APPLE STYLE TIP Look for tummycontrol technology and clever ruching to help smooth and sculpt your middle. PEAR STYLE TIP Balance proportions and draw the eye upwards with oversized ruffles and bold patterns around the bust. PETITE FROM £12.50 STYLE TIP Deep plunge necklines and high-leg cuts will lengthen your legs and torso. And don’t forget elongating stripes, too…

The jury saw through Tyrone Johnson’s lies that he’d shot Stephanie Willis and her young son Ricky in self-defence. They were unanimous in their verdict that Johnson was guilty of the first-degree premeditated murder of Ricky and the second-degree murder of Stephanie. At a sentencing hearing, Ricky’s YouTube video was played to the jury, to demonstrate the tragedy of his young life being snuffed out. Johnson’s defence team argued that he should be jailed for life, rather than sentenced to death, highlighting that he had suffered distress from his son’s suicide in 2017, along with PTSD from his time in the military. However, the jury determined that he would be sentenced to death. Afterwards, Ricky’s grandparents Amber and Robert Hewitt said they felt this was justice, with Amber saying that…

1 Nurture your gums Bleeding gums and bad breath can be a sign of gum disease. ‘All gum disease is caused by plaque which forms on the surface of the teeth every day, ’ says Dr Nigel Carter, from the Oral Health Foundation. See your dentist for regular check-ups. 2 Be a quitter It’s no news that smoking is seriously bad for your health due to the thousands of toxins, tar and nicotine in cigarettes. ‘Smoking also inhibits the repair of gum tissues, ’ says dentist Dr Deepak Aulak*. ‘More significantly, it causes an increased risk of mouth, throat and lung cancer.’ 3 Brush twice daily Your teeth need to be cleaned at least twice a day, says celebrity dentist Dr Richard Marques (wimpolestreetdental.com). ‘Bacteria builds up in your mouth…

Dee Gall, 39, Callander, Stirlingshire Watching as my two girls did flips on the trampoline as the sun shone down, I smiled. They loved being in the big garden – it was one of the main attractions that pulled us to our new house. And I loved the gorgeous views towards the hills in the Trossachs national park where I’d often go out running. Seven months earlier, in September 2020, me, my husband Rick, 39, and the girls had moved to our Victorian, threebedroom semi and we were gradually bringing it up to date and putting our own personal stamp on the place. Rewiring had been carried out by an electrician and we’d completely stripped out and redecorated the girls’ bedrooms before starting on the hallway. We’d taken up the…

‘We’ll do what we want to do, what’s best for our family’ At 3ft 2in tall, Jade is in a happy relationship with her nonbinary partner Todd, who is almost twice her height at 5ft 9in. The unlikely pair met on Facebook and got married in 2017 after a whirlwind romance. And the couple are currently expecting their second child. ‘The first thing I noticed about Todd was their long beautiful hair and I thought how cute they were, ’ Jade remembers. ‘After we met I felt like it was meant to be. I was like, “Yes, this is my person!”’ It was a fairy-tale romance, and eight months later, the couple, from Ohio, were married. Soon after, Todd came out as non-binary – and even credits that revelation with…

Spiced chicken rice This simple rice pilaf packs a lot of flavour from warming cinnamon, zesty lemon and fresh herbs SERVES 6 PREP TIME 15 MINS, PLUS MARINATION COOK TIME 15 MINS • 300g basmati rice • 400g chicken breast fillets, sliced • Zest of 1 lemon • 2tsp cinnamon • 2tbsp olive oil • 25g butter • ½tsp turmeric • 450ml chicken stock •Small bunch of mint, torn • Small bunch of chopped parsley • 75g pomegranate seeds • 40g pistachios, coarsely chopped 1 Wash the basmati rice well in a sieve until the water runs clear. Or soak in a bowl of water for 1 hr. 2 Toss the chicken pieces with the lemon zest, cinnamon and 1tbsp olive oil. Season, then leave to marinate for 1 hr,…

Kelly Hynes, 29, Hull Gripping the handle tightly, I shrieked loudly as the waltzer whirled around. The wind whipped my hair and the music pounded in my ears. When the ride came to an end, I staggered off, dizzy, with my friends at the fairground in Hull in October 2016. Later, I laughed as one of the group, Liam Fewster, then 21, tried and failed to hook a duck. ‘Hard luck, ’ I smiled, and he beamed in my direction. I’d known him through mutual friends, but that night we chatted and two months on we were dating. I was already a single mum to Maddison, 4, and I was impressed by how good Liam was with her. But when I missed a period after just a couple of months,…

Flash Matte Liquid Eyeshadow, £4.95, w7makeup.co.uk Liquid eye shadows are a lifesaver – they are easy to apply, blendable and have less fallout. Our new favourite is this double-ended design, available in five wearable shades. Swipe the matte end over your eyelid and use the metallic end near the eye’s corners and lash line to make your eyes pop. Vaseline Lip Therapy Lip Balm Tube Rosy Tinted, £1.65, Superdrug The trusty circle lip balm pot has had an upgrade to this handy tube. Its formula gives you all the moisturising and soothing benefits of the famous jelly, the rosy shade acts like a gloss to add a subtle hint of colour, and its slanted tip helps with precise application with no fingers needed.…

Dear Mum, You never let us sing your praises – whenever anyone said anything nice about you, you’d shush them with a ‘Wheesht’ and a smile. But I wish you’d let us tell you how wonderful you were. Not just as a mother – although, raising seven of us was impressive. But as a person too. You couldn’t bear the thought of children starving or living in poverty. But you didn’t just worry, you did something. You and Dad, Tommy, set up weekly coffee mornings in our local church to fundraise for vulnerable youngsters. You went into other churches, helped them do the same. When Dad passed away in July 1996, in time you moved into the Little Sisters of the Poor convent, Greenock. After church in the morning, you’d…

DAVID GYL-MURRAY, 35, FROM FALMOUTH, SAYS: When nominating a local hero, one name immediately sprang to mind. Dave Sloan, 49, is a web developer by day. But he’s so much more than that. Dave might come across as quiet, but he’s effortlessly talented and passionately driven. He puts so much time and effort into supporting his local music scene in Southsea, and never asks for anything in return. Whether he’s helping a local band record new music, or taking photos and videos of their live gig, he gives every project his all. And he does it all out of love! As a musician myself, I can’t thank Dave enough for the support he’s given me and others in the community. At a time when support for local talent and creativity…

What is David Beckham’s favourite episode of Friends? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the six-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Brave people (6) 12 Garden for rent (9) 13 Big cat (4) 14 Noel _, presenter of The Great British Bake Off (8) 15 Areas, regions (5) 16 Pencil rubber (6) 17 More frightening (7) 18 Southern English resort (11) 20 Very bad (5) 22 Straight away (9) 24 Gives out cards (5) 28 Edible crustacean (7) 29 Join up (7) 32 Turn (6) 34 Not fit to be eaten (8) 36 Actor, _ Cumberbatch (8) 37 Waited on (6) 39 Haphazard (7) 40 Unique (7) 45 Sporting sides (5) 47 Metal (9) 48 Estimate (5) 51 Squashy sweet (11) 53 Set…

Susie Cornell, 71, Chelmsford, Essex The advice you need Sitting in the doctor’s office, I hoped I’d finally get answers. It was 1974 and I’d been suffering for weeks from tingling in my fingers. ‘You’re just run down, ’ the doctor said. Prescribed medication, but it made no difference. Eventually referring me to a hospital in London, I was admitted for tests. My boyfriend Ian, then 23, visited me. Sitting on the end of my hospital bed, chatting away, he suddenly grinned. ‘Marry me, ’ he smiled. Happily accepting his proposal, I almost forgot about our surroundings! But I still didn’t know what was wrong. After two weeks, I was discharged. Told I had polyneuritis – where the nerves in the skin, muscles and organs can’t send regular signals to…

Barbara Beauchamp, 59, Wirral Standing on the front doorstep in March 2022, I got chatting to my neighbour Rachel, who’s a veterinary nurse. ‘I’m looking after the sweetest puppy, ’ she began, ‘and you’ll never guess what, she has the same name as you!’ Rachel said that the puppy was called Babs – a shortening of my name, Barbara. ‘This I have to see!’ I chuckled. Rushing over, Babs the Cockapoo greeted me with a slobbery lick. Despite being the runt of the litter, the cute girl had a huge personality. With her floppy brown ears and wagging tail, she seemed like any other pup. But I learnt that she’d not had the easiest start in life. At 8 weeks old, Babs the puppy was taken to the vets with…

FILL ME IN Which country is considered to have been the first to officially adopt Christianity as its state religion, in the 4th century? 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 2021 hit Body is often considered the first single in what genre to reach the top of the UK charts? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters AID AIR AND DID END MAD NOD NOR POD 4 letters ACHE HAND ROAR THEN TIED TOWN 5 letters DARED DECOR DROPS TODAY 6 letters DEARLY OLIVES TARGET TURNIP 7 letters DECIMAL DROPLET WIN…

3 ways to... SAVE WATER AND HELP THE PLANET If you’re on a water metre it’ll help cut your bills too. 1 Get water wise Check out GetWaterFit (getwaterfit.co.uk), an online tool designed to help you save water, energy and money. You’ll be asked questions about how much water you use, then you’ll get a personalised plan to help you reduce usage, with tips like turning off the tap when brushing your teeth. There’s other useful info too, like how you can avoid blocked pipes by binning fats and oil rather than putting them down the sink. 2 Every drop counts! Saving even small amounts of water will soon add up. For instance, keep a jug by your kitchen sink to collect any water you run when you’re waiting for…

Byoma Balancing Face Mist, £11.99, Boots Like a reset button for your skin, this calming mist will reduce redness and soothe irritation in just a few spritzes. Its formula balances the skin’s barrier while providing a hit of hydration. Use before make-up application and throughout the day. Noughty Get Set Grow Tonic, £9.99, lookfantastic.com When was the last time you gave your scalp some love? This leave-in treatment is enriched with ingredients like coffee extract to stimulate follicles, and pea extract to prolong their life cycle – for thicker, healthier hair. LOréal Paris Paradise Moonlight Noir Mascara Dark Brown, £11.99, Superdrug If you find black mascara too dramatic, try brown. This one is specially formulated to suit sensitive eyes and is infused with castor oil to nourish lashes. Pair with…

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. INTERNET Join our…