Table of contents for 23 February 2023 in Chat

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All sizes 8-24 TU at SAINSBURY’S STYLE TIP Swap your padded winter coat for this unlined, lighter-weight style. All sizes 10-22 NUTMEG at MORRISONS STYLE TIP Wear this dress with tights and boots, then with sandals when the temperature rises. All sizes 6-22 F&F at TESCO STYLE TIP These classic camel trousers are great value and can be dressed up or down. All sizes 8-24 GEORGE at ASDA STYLE TIP This V-neck wrap dress will flatter a top-heavy figure. Add a belt to accentuate your waist.…

Alison Winterburn, 61 Wilmslow True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Walking out of my front door, I looked up and down the street. ‘Left and then left again,’ I mumbled, remembering my husband’s directions to the corner shop. Managing to locate it, I smiled. Opened the shop door and found my favourite newspaper. ‘That’ll be £1, love,’ the man behind the counter smiled. My mouth hanging open, I handed over the change. I couldn’t remember prices hiking up so much. I thought it’d be pennies! See, two years before, in 2013, Ray and I were meant to be setting off on holiday A week away during the school hols of my job teaching psychology But instead of leaping out of bed, excited, I struggled to wake up. My words and sentences coming out…

Andi Rickard, 54, Wellington, Somerset P ushing a rusty old lawnmower across the grass, sweat poured off me. ‘That’s it,’I huffed to my hubby Simon. ‘I give up.’ It was 2009, I was living in rural Somerset and locked in a weekly wrestle with the garden. It was so overgrown, even a strimmer couldn’t battle through the weeds. It was exhausting, and it didn’t help that I was unfit. I’d piled on a few stone since having my three girls, Felicity, then 5, and twins Tabatha and Molly, 3, and now weighed 13st 7lb. I suffered from scoliosis too, and heavy lifting could leave my back in agony. That evening, Simon scrolled on his computer. ‘Why don’t we try one of these?’ he chuckled, gesturing to a picture of a scythe…

Streaky sweet Senior writer Ashleigh says: ‘I love sweet and salty together. So fried chicken or bacon along with maple syrup on huge, fluffy, American-style pancakes is always my go-to. For brunch or for Pancake Day! A load of crepe Features writer Veronique says: ‘I love Nutella or Biscoff spread on a warm crepe. Add a chopped banana and it definitely cancels out all the chocolate!’ Crust me, it works! Real Life content director Tanya says: ,‘While I love chocolate, I’m not big on desserts. So I like to transform my pancake into a pizza, topped with grated cheese, pepperoni and mushrooms. A sort of pan-izza!’ More the batter Senior writer Mishaal says: ‘I love a savoury pancake, filled with spinach, garlicky mushrooms and loads of cheese… followed by a…

Neighbours at war Q When I moved into my new flat, I propped open the communal door to move some furniture in. A neighbour walked up to me and started yelling about it. I tried to explain but he stormed off. He’s since tried to say hello to me but I’ve ignored him. Now he thinks I’m the rude one! How can I resolve this? Chloe, 46 A This is six of one and half a dozen of the other, flower. He might have been having a bad day that he wrongly took out on you, but when he tried to make amends later on, you ignored him. This all seems very childish. Take him over a slice of cake and introduce yourself and I’m sure both of you will…

Pork chops with veggie pasta Sneaking veg into pasta sauce is a great way to give it a healthy boost. SERVES 4 PREP 15 MINS COOK 20 MINS 4 pork chops 6 large sage leaves 2tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, finely chopped 1 carrot, finely chopped 1 stick celery, finely chopped 1 yellow pepper, finely chopped 3tbsp sun-dried tomato paste 4tbsp sliced black olives, chopped 200g small pasta shapes 1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/ Gas 6. Put the pork chops in a roasting tray. Scatter over the sage leaves and drizzle with half the oil. Season and roast for 20 mins, or until cooked through, then set aside to rest. 2 Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Cook the onion, carrot,…

TRUE-LIFE Walking into the kitchen, I gave my little brother Dylan a squeeze. ‘Right on time!’ I smiled. It was a Sunday afternoon in December 2019, and we were having our weekly dinner at our mum Tina’s house. We’d always been close. Now grown up with kids of our own, we’d never go a day without a phone call or text. Dylan, 26, watched my daughter’s pageants, coached my son’s sports team. He often brought his son Bailer, then 2, over for visits too. ‘Mitch not with you today?’ Mum asked. ‘Not today,’ he answered, pulling out a chair. Mitchell Shumpert was Dylan’s housemate, and his best friend since school. Earlier that year, Dylan and his girlfriend Kayla had decided to live apart. After staying with Mum for a while,…

STEVE ROBSON, FROM RICHMOND, WEST LONDON, SAYS: My local hero has the arts very close to her heart. In 2017, Cheryl Robson, from Richmond upon Thames, began a campaign with the hopes of commissioning and erecting a statue to honour local literary icon Virginia Woolf. For five years, she tirelessly fundraised to reach a target of £50,000, as part of the Aurora Metro Arts and Media charity. Cheryl wanted the statue to show the world a happier side of the famous author, and in November 2022, the masterpiece was finally unveiled. I The life-sized bronze statue of Virginia Woolf sitting on a bench along the riverside near Richmond Park is certainly a fitting tribute to one of the most iconic women ever to live in Richmond. Heart of Britain Celebrating…

What connects actor Kelsey Grammer and rapper Nicki Minaj? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. Win £1, 001 puzzle 4 ACROSS Actedboldly5 Babygoats4 Vows8 Community7 Folktalecharacterwhoencountered 40 thieves (3,4) Chosenpath5 Encourage4 Punctual24 Sewingutensil6 Rotatequickly4 Fourthmonth5 Typeoftree6) Performedsurgery8 Method6 Parentsbrother (5) Remaining44 Demonstrated6 Redmeat4 Possibility6 Jargon5 Flavours6 Typeofgolfclub(4) Industrialprotest6 Veryhot8 Tiny5 Entitlements6 Australiananimal8 Carryon6 Starsign5 Enquires4 Getholdof6) Flatfish6 AdventurerGrylls (4) Middaymeal5 Stylishandgraceful7) Stretchy7 Terrible8 Signofthingstocome (4) Conceals5 DOWN Debate10 Acknowledge9 Eatingplan4 Itemsthatunlockdoors(4) Fromcornertooppositecorner(8) Harvest4 Wonderful10 Noise5 Scandinaviancountry6 Sourly8 Warm-bloodedanimal6 Onewhomovesthroughwater (7) Musicalensemble9 CapitalofNorthernIreland(7) Connect6 Bejealousof4) Notions8 Goingfromonesideto another (8) Disappear9 Tranquillity5 Solarevent7 Seizing6 Mixedwithaspoon(7) Meditativeexercise4 Thrived10 Builds10 Endoftheline(8) Esteemed9 Drivingpower8 Verysoftfabric6) Cookedinhotwater(6) Understrain5 SouthAmericancountry4) Enthusiastic4 Curse4 Your answer:…

Can I boost my boobs? Ql’ve always been unhappy with my small breasts. I’ve seen ads for vacuum pumps to increase breast size without surgery. Do they really work? Maxine, Hull A There’s a bewildering variety of these devices, from cheap hand pumps to computer-controlled systems. The theory is that applying a vacuum to stretch your breast stimulates more breast tissue to grow. Manufacturers claim you can increase by a couple of cup sizes, but although many women are happy with the results, they’re by no means guaranteed. Side effects can include bruising, skin irritation and problems keeping the vacuum seal intact. Some women haven’t found much size boost, and any increase often seems to be temporary. Think carefully before parting with your money.…

Q Immediately after sex my partner feels tired and achy, as if he had bad flu. What’s wrong? Rowanna, Castle Douglas A Chances are this is part of post-sex blues, which is common in both women and men, where hormone changes after orgasm trigger temporary tiredness and depression. But another possibility is that your partner has post-orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS). This is rare - we didn’t even know it existed until 20 years ago - and seems most common in men. As soon as he ejaculates the man might feel feverish, tired and achy with a stuffy nose and itchy eyes, just like a bout of flu. Symptoms might last for days. No one’s sure why it happens, but one theory is that the man has developed an allergy to…

TRUE-LIFE Slouching down in the seat of my car, I peered across the road at a terraced house. Craned my neck to look along the street and check if anyone was coming. I’d been staking the place out for hours. Suddenly, a man emerged. Bingo, I thought, snapping a few photographs of him. Proof. I’d caught him in action. And he had no idea. But I wasn’t staking out gangsters or criminals. I’d been hired by a worried wife to catch her love-rat hubby. And it wasn’t the first time. Catching cheating partners hasn’t always been my job. Until 2019, I’d spent the whole of my working life in charities. First supporting adults with learning disabilities then, later, helping the elderly at Age UK. My work was rewarding, especially seeing…

truly chat! Raising children can be tough. The whirlwind of nappies and sleepless nights can make the baby years feel like forever. But having family close by makes a big difference. And when things got tough for mum-of-three Lisa, she knew Janelle had her back… and boob! ‘I’ve been with my husband Jay since I was 16,’ Lisa says. ‘We have three beautiful children, London, 5, Cian, 3, and Callum, 4 months.’ ‘I know Lisa through my husband Josh,’ Janelle says. ‘She’s actually married to his identical twin brother, and we instantly hit it off.’ Janelle has four children, Ava, 9, Lilly, 5, JJ, 3, and Georgia, 1, and the two busy families live a few doors down from each other. ‘We had our babies in synch, back to back…

TRUE-LIFE C licking her seat belt in place, Mum turned around and beamed at me. ‘It’ll be one big adventure,’ she said. ‘The sun’s always shining down there.’ I stared glumly out the window of the packed car, crammed tight with all our possessions. I wasn’t convinced. It was September 2002 and my childhood had always been a little chaotic. We’d already moved away from our home in the Wirral up to Scotland before returning a few years later. And now, just days before I started secondary school, Mum had decided we were going to Bournemouth with her partner. She boxed up our belongings and had me in the car before I even knew what was happening. I was devastated to leave my friends behind. When we arrived at the…

L ibby stopped still in the street and looked up at me, hopefully. ‘Carry me, Mummy?’ she asked. She was five but never wanted to walk anywhere. She’d always been the same. Thought she was a little lazy bones at first. But a few days later she spent a whole day hopping round on one leg. ‘My knee’s hurting,’ Libby insisted. ‘We’re going to A&E,’ her dad said. I was sure they’d give her the all-clear. But when he rang from Pontefract Hospital, he sounded worried. ‘They’re keeping her in,’ he said. They wanted to run tests. She was transferred to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield and we took it in turns staying overnight with Libby and our toddler at home. A week later, the specialist dropped a bombshell. Our little…

TRUE-LIFE At 24, Helen Hargan appeared to have the world at her feet. She was engaged to her fiance, Carlos Gutierrez, and would soon be moving into a new home. Her mum Pam - a successful businesswoman - had offered to buy her a house. Lucky girl. For now though, Helen was living with her mum and her sister Megan, 34, in McLean, Virginia. But around 11.30am on 14 July 2017, Helen called Carlos, crying hysterically. She said something horrific had happened. Carlos lived more than 1,000 miles away in Dallas, Texas. There wasn’t much he could do from there. But when he could no longer reach Helen by phone, he alerted emergency services. When the cops arrived at the Hargan family home they discovered a gruesome scene. A dead…

Q get terrible pain on the side of my face and the hospital has diagnosed atypical facial pain. What’s that? Libby, Kidderminster Atypical facial pain (AFP) is pain in your face that no one can find a cause for. Often it’s an aching, burning, cramping or throbbing sensation on one side that might be constant or worsened by triggers such as heat, cold, tiredness or stress. It’s most common in women in their 40s and 50s. One theory is that it’s a form of neuralgia, or nerve pain. After ruling out other causes of face pain, such as injury, problems with your teeth or jaw, sinus infection or migraine, doctors might recommend antidepressants or epilepsy drugs, which reduce faulty impulses in pain-carrying nerves. I Psychological treatment such as cognitive behavioural…

BAD CLIENT Once, a man got in touch, telling me his fiancée had ended their relationship and he wanted the engagement ring back. He sent me photos of her and information, but something didn’t add up. My gut feeling warned me to be careful. I avoided him, telling him I was too busy. A week later, the police contacted me, after finding my details on his phone. The man had been plotting to kill his ex, and the police wanted me to give a statement. It was chilling, but I was glad I’d trusted my instincts. UNPAID DEBT One of my first cases involved a woman owed £10,000 by a couple she’d worked with, but they said they couldn’t afford it. She was convinced they could, and believed they were…

F eeling the familiar churning in my tummy, I scraped back my chair. I’d already sussed out where the toilet was in the restaurant. ‘Back in a minute,’ I said to my friends. I walked quickly to the toilet… and was sick. In July 2015, I’d paid £5,000 to have a gastric band fitted. Before the op, I’d been 18st. I’d turned to comfort eating as a long-term relationship soured. And my job as a health support worker on shift patterns had led to fast food and takeaways. When my relationship ended at Easter 2005, I weighed 13st. But my bad habits didn’t change, and no diet worked. A gastric band was the only solution I could think of. And it had worked so well at first. Lost 4st after a…

Y ’ou’re supposed to feel bloated and a bit rubbish after a hen party, right? Well, when I got back from my mate’s Liverpool weekend do in April 2019,I felt rotten. ‘I just haven’t eaten enough fruit or veg,’ I said. I’d spent a few days overindulging on booze and junk food. Hadn’t been to the loo for a few days, either. Still, it was the first time I’d been away from my baby, Bobby, then 4 months, and I was just glad to be back with him and my daughter Nieve, 4. So I took a few laxatives, hoped it would clear me out. Only, it didn’t. A week later I was feeling so uncomfortable I visited the doc. ‘Your body is still recovering from pregnancy and labour,’ she…

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17-23 February 2023 Aries 21 March-20 April As Venus enters your sign, making a friend feel truly wanted is your mission, as you exude warmth and closeness. Your attention will show them you care. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Invest in the power of language. Communication is very important and could lead to exciting experiences. This is your chance to make things happen. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Your naturally warm and loving nature will attract people. Open up, speak your truth and your feelings will shine through. A child may seek your advice. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July With this week’s waxing moon in Pisces, you might meet someone who really…

Q Can you suggest a cheaper alternative to a gel manicure? Amanda Harris, Bolton A We love everything about a salon gel mani, except the price tag. Luckily, it’s easy and affordable to replicate at home. Even if you’re a nail novice, these high-street buys promise to give you salon-worthy results, without any stress. Start by filing your nails to your desired length and shape with a file. Then, taking Essie Nail Care Strong Start Base Coat, £8.99, Boots, pop on a thin layer to naked nails and leave to dry. The formula works to repair weak and damaged nails. Follow with your favourite colour. Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint, £3.99, Boots, has a gel-like finish and is super long-lasting. Plus, it’s a total bargain! The secret to…

Chat winners issue 45 (10 Nov 2022) £1,001 CASH J Roach, Sleaford £500 CASH G Mack, Merthyr Tydfil D Brammer, Stoke-on-Trent G Whotton, Grantham £250 CASH D Rimmer, Hull Mrs Dyer, Teignmouth £200 CASH G M McKean, Chester £100 CASH H Wood, Canvey Island C MacKay Kilmarnock M Waldie, Blackpool £75 CASH E Crabtree, Fleetwood £50 CASH A Beveridge, Midlothian C Trippick, Havant H Heighton-Harpur, Limavady C Milton, Bideford S Johnson, Swadlincote S Mears, Ripley £40 CASH M D Holding, Brockenhurst £30 CASH D Shorting, Hereford M Renouf, Bournemouth Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £25 CASH M Pringle, Newcastleupon-Tyne B Lodge, Warrington £20 CASH J Rogers, London S Morris, Bristol J Robinson, Durham E Kirk, Consett R Summerton, St Leonards-on-Sea L O’Connor, Ilkeston M Jones, Westbury…