Table of contents for 20 July 2023 in Chat

Welcome to this week’s Chat… The grannies out there will know that there’s not a lot they wouldn’t do for their grandkids. But Cecile went one step further than most (p44). She doesn’t just spoil her granddaughter Uma with sweeties and cuddles. She gave birth to her too - at the age of 61! All because her son and his hubby needed a surrogate to make their family dreams come true. Uma’s such a sweetie too. Have a great week, PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

TRUE-LIFE A s the glug of red wine hit our glasses, I smiled at my husband. ‘Here’s to the weekend,’ I sighed to Darren, then 44. Just as I was taking my first sip, our youngest daughter Lyla, then 16, poked her head around the living room door. ‘I’m off out,’ she grinned. ‘Have fun,’ Darren called. It was March 2022, and while I was looking forward to a night in after a long week, Lyla couldn’t wait to go out with Danielle, her mate from college. I wanted her to enjoy herself, but as a mother to three girls I worried constantly about them. Even my older two, Sarah, then 24, and Laura, 22. I was always reminding them to check in. ‘Time for bed,’ I told Darren with…

What term is used to describe a railway vehicle, drawn by the main locomotive, that carries supplementary fuel and water? Make three nine-letter words using all of these three-letter sections and enter them in the grid as the starter letters indicate. Then make an anagram of the letters in the yellow squares to form the answer to this question. ACH DEL NEG TED UTE DAN PAR LEG ION WIN 5x £20 Puzzle 3 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

CAMISOLES STYLE TIP For an easy-to-wear casual outfit, layer a cami under a lightweight cardigan or denim jacket. WRAP OVER STYLE TIP Wrap tops are incredibly flattering and versatile, as they cinch at the waist and accentuate your curves in the right places. BARDOT STYLE STYLE TIP The key to pulling off a Bardot top is finding the right fit. It should fit snugly around your bust to stay in place. FRILL SLEEVES FROM JUST £2 STYLE TIP To create a balanced look, team a frill-sleeved tee with streamlined bottoms, such as slim-fit cropped jeans or trousers.…

WHAT’S THE VERDICT? Michael Keetley was convicted of two counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder. More than 12 years after the attack on a defenceless group of friends, the 52-year-old was jailed for life for each of the six counts he faced, with no possibility of parole. ‘This has been a very long road and a very difficult case,’ Judge Christopher Sabella said while announcing the sentence. ‘What it shows to the victims in this case is that justice is not always swift, but justice is eventually served.’ Paz Quezada, the mum of murdered brothers Juan and Sergio Guitron, addressed Keetley directly during the sentencing hearing, telling him that he ‘took half of my life’ and ‘destroyed my heart’. ‘My sons were the only thing I had,’…

Q I’ve lost a tampon and I’m terrified it’s gone inside me but I feel silly asking a doctor. Millie, Bromley A I’ve found and removed many a stuck tampon, it happens and there’s no need to feel embarrassed. It can’t stray inside your body but lodges at the top of your vagina, maybe because you forget it’s there and push another tampon in, have sex with it still inside or simply forget to remove it. Wash your hands, push your fingers in gently and try to find the tampon or its string. If no joy, your GP or sexual health clinic should be able to remove it but don’t delay as there’s the risk of infection, including a rare but serious infection called toxic shock syndrome. See a doctor…

1 Prioritise showering Drying off in your costume might seem like a good idea, but you could be putting yourself at risk of a urinary tract infection (UTI). ‘This occurs when bacteria travel up the urethra into the bladder,’ says Boots pharmacist Bina Mehta, causing pain when urinating and an urge to go to the loo. ‘Thrush can also be triggered by chlorine,’ adds Bina. Both will spoil a holiday, so shower before and after swimming, and remove wet swimwear quickly. Drink water to flush potential bacteria out of your system, too. Developed symptoms? A pharmacist can advise, although you may need a course of antibiotics. 2 Be prepared If you get lumps and bumps on your skin after a soak it may be folliculitis - inflammation, around hair follicles caused…

My libido has vanished Q I do want a sex life, but I’m just not attracted to my partner, or even anyone on the telly. A I don’t know what to do or who to talk to about it. I don’t want to hurt my partner by telling him I have no desire for him, or do anything that will hurt my beautiful children. Any advice? Sophie, 31 Alt’s normal to go through patches like this. Sexual desire can come in waves, flower. Many things can cause this - stress, anxiety, hormones or physical problems. Be open and honest with your partner and tell him how you’re feeling. Explain that you have no desire whatsoever and that it’s nothing to do with him, pet. And remember that intimacy doesn’t start…

3 Ways to… IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT SCORE 1 Why it matters When you apply to borrow money, such as a mortgage or loan, the lender will check your credit report and it will be a factor in whether or not they decide to lend to you. It can also have a bearing on how much they’ll lend you, and the interest rate they’ll charge. Your credit reports are compiled by credit reference agencies (the three main ones are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) and contain information such as a list of your credit accounts and whether you’ve made repayments on time and in full, as well as details such as your current and previous addresses. 2 Get it right Your first step should be to check all of your credit reports -find out…

Aries 21 March-20 April You need to make decisions now with clarity. So be sure you know exactly what you want, then imagine what it would look like, and take action towards this today. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Do you greet life with a positive expectation, or are you a bit pessimistic? It’s time to expect the best and to create more abundance by focusing on gratitude. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June As the New Moon in your sign approaches, reflect on what is working best in your life right now. Then try to build on that over the next few months. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July This is a week…

Q What’s the best way to apply bronzer? Whenever I give it a go I just end up looking muddy. Charlotte Taylor, Ipswich A There are three main culprits for grubby-looking bronzer - choosing the wrong formula, using a shade that’s too dark and not getting the placement right. For a really natural finish, cream bronzer is the best choice, and blends out more easily than powder if you make a mistake. E.I.f. Putty Bronzer, £6, Boots, is great for bronzer beginners. It has a gel-like texture that makes it a doddle to apply and build, but dries down into a matte, powdery finish that lasts through the day. As for shade, don’t go any darker than two shades deeper than your natural skin tone. If it’s too much of…

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…

Dear Mum, Watching you quietly crocheting when I was growing up, I thought you looked ridiculous. Like an old lady, I’d think, as you sat on the sofa with your glass of cider, whipping up granny squares. Yet, whenever I teased you, you’d just smile. ‘Come on, it’s time you gave it a go,’ you said one day in summer 2020 when I was 17. By then, I was studying art for one of my A-Levels. I’d been going through a tough time too. Exam pressure was getting to me, and I’d also recently lost a close friend. You were patient, even when I was a hormonal, stressed-out teenager. So I agreed, picking up my own crochet hook. Looping the yarn, I was surprised how simple the stitches were. Before…

What did actor Joel Dommett serve his wife Hannah after a cooking incident? 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 11 Former Bond actor, _ Brosnan (6) 12 Deceitful, not genuine (9) 13 Not closed (4) 14 2000 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio (3,5) 15 Currency of India (5) 16 Fashionable (6) 17 Insurance payment (7) 18 Songbird (11) 20 Grown-up (5) 22 Cooked chicken leg (9) 24 Weasel-like creature (5) 28 Relinquish (7) 29 Stretchy (7) 32 Royal son (6) 34 Passage (8) 36 Female child (8) 37 Five cent coin (6) 39 Gives up work (7) 40 Pig’s foot (7) 45 Tough metal (5) 47 Device for measuring atmospheric pressure (9) 48 Value…

Tightening my laces, I gulped and started putting one foot in front of the other. Just keep going, I told myself. It was 9am on a Saturday morning in April 2019, and while I’d recently joined Caerphilly Runners, I was far from a natural. My dad and stepmum loved pounding the pavements, but I’d even struggled with the Couch to 5k app. ‘Group running might help,’ Dad suggested. So I’d started jogging with the Caerphilly beginners, and now was trying the local Parkrun. After six weeks of grit and determination, I finally ran 5k without stopping. ‘I’ve even stopped hating it,’ I joked to the group. They were so friendly, and when an old Achilles injury returned in February 2020, one, Richard, then 41, suggested cycling. ‘Mum’s selling a bike,’…

Bring the giggles Everything is funny to you! Whenever someone pops a Gif in a group chat you give it a token laughing face. Even if it’s not funny. You don't want to hurt our dad’s feelings - he worked hard figuring out how to send that Meme. Be careful though, people might stop taking You seriously. Cheer squad You’re always the firs to celebrate others' successes, even the little wins like when your sister managed to leave the house on time for the first time, well, ever. Just make sure to be there when things go wrong too. Eyes to the sky Does everyone annoy you? You probably use sarcasm to shield you from life’s disappointments, say ‘ugh’ a lot in real life, and bring the sass with a…

Q My parents detest my boyfriend, and they haven’t even met him. They make horrible comments and say they will never accept him. I have to lie about where I’m going when I go to meet him, and I am sick of it. I haven’t had the heart to tell him. I don’t want it to spoil our relationship, as we get on so well Angie, 27 A It seems strange that they have such an opinion on someone they’ve never met. Have they heard gossip about him? Sit them down and ask why I they refuse to meet him. Perhaps they know something you don’t. But at the end of the day, he’s your partner, sweetheart. You’re the one who chooses who to be with, not them.…

Samantha Marshall, 21, Rhymney Hot tears stung my eyes as I stormed down the college corridor, ignoring my chattering classmates. ‘Are you OK?’ a voice behind me said. ‘That argument looked pretty heated.’ I slowed down, then turned around. It was December 2020. I’d just started college and was meeting all sorts of people. Some right characters, like the person I’d just had a tiff with in the corridor. Calming down, I finally took a good look at the boy who’d stopped me. Wow! With thick dark hair and dazzling eyes, he was gorgeous! ‘I’m Lewis,’ he said, offering his hand. ‘Lewis Deabreu.’ As we chatted, he told me he’d got two As in his A-Levels, one A*. Brains and brawn? Lewis really was the whole package! We quickly became…

£1.40 per serving Sweet potato curry Creamy and spicy, this veggie curry tastes even better the day after it’s cooked, so make a bigger batch and have lunch sorted tomorrow! SERVES 4 PREP 30 MINS COOK 40 MINS • 2tbsp sunflower oil • 1tbsp black mustard seeds • red chillies, chopped • 2 onions, sliced • 1tbsp garam masala • 500g tomatoes, quartered • 75g desiccated coconut • 800g sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks • 600ml natural yogurt • 100g spinach • Zest and juice of 1 lime, plus wedges to serve • ½ cucumber, grated • Small bunch of coriander, chopped, plus extra to serve (optional) • Rice and/or naan bread, to serve (optional) 1 Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Fry the…

Need to freshen up your skin, fast? This quick-fix mask is perfect before a big event, as part of your Sunday-night facial routine or whenever your skin is feeling a bit dull and lacklustre. It’s powered by a hard-working pair of ingredients -vitamin C to brighten up your complexion, and glycolic acid to exfoliate away dead skin cells. Together, they create a nice smooth base for make-up. Frustrated by forehead sheen? This mattifying day cream is a smart buy for anyone with oily or combination skin. It works to reduce oil levels in the skin at the same time as hydrating your complexion, so you get all the pros of a moisturiser without the shiny cons. It contains aloe vera too, making for a soothing skin treat.…

COLLEEN LONG, 55, FROM SURREY, SAYS: I’m nominating Jenni Juniper as my local hero. Jenni, 53, is putting her passion for animals to excellent use as a trustee of Charity Buddy and operations manager for PetRehomer. Charity Buddy offers free business support to animal charities. And through PetRehomer, Jenni works tirelessly to help rehomers find new, suitable, forever homes for their pets. When people can no longer care for a pet, it can be a daunting and emotional situation. Jenni is determined to give them peace of mind, helping them to safely move their pets to loving new owners. By enabling pets to move from one home directly to the next, Jenni and the PetRehomer team hope to stem the flow of family pets going to rescue centres. Jenni, you’re…

Mohammed Arif is credited with introducing what style of food to Britain? 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. 1 Glasses (10) 2 Season (6) 3 Filled pasta squares (7) 4 Recipe component (10) 5 Australian island state (8) 6 Counting frame (6) 7 El_, Central American republic (8) 8 Sportsjudge (7) 9 Tea flavoured with bergamot (4,4) 10 Child’s toy on a string (2-2) 11 Large sea (5) 12 Palaeolithic human (11) 13 Pop and Ma_, characters in The Darling Buds of May (6) 14 Bird noted for its melodious nocturnal song (11) 15 (Of the tide) recede (3) 16 Ziggy Stardust creator, David _ (5) WIN £100…

As my sons, Callum, then 19 and Jamie, 16, gazed out at the New York skyline from the top of the Empire State Building, I felt full of joy. ‘Mum, this is brilliant,’ Jamie, or Jay as he was better known, grinned. It was February 2020 and me and my partner Jem, then 44, had taken my two boys to the Big Apple. We were having the trip of a lifetime. ‘Can we come back?’ Jay asked me. ‘Of course,’ I laughed. ‘But you might not want your mum tagging along with you next time.’ Towering over me, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. ‘I’ll always want you around, Mum,’ he reassured me. I was so proud of both my boys. Me and their dad, Gavin, had got divorced…

YOU’RE THE JUDGE! As the purple ice cream truck wove through the streets with its jangly music tinkling, excited kids would come running. Ice cream man Michael Keetley had served countless frozen treats to happy customers from his colourful van. He was well known around the neighbourhoods of southern Hillsborough County, Florida. But in January 2010, two masked robbers raided Michael’s van, shooting him five times before making off with just $12. The 39-year-old was rushed to hospital with terrible injuries to his right leg and hand. Although he survived, Michael was left permanently disabled, with metal rods in his bones. He had to give up the job he loved. Lost his health and his livelihood. Months later, in November 2010, when Michael ate Thanksgiving dinner with his family, his…

Help! I'm leaking Q I’m going through the menopause and my breasts have started to leak milk! Is that normal? Jan, Ventnor Alt can be, although you should check it out. Your breasts make milk when they’re ‘switched on’ by the hormone prolactin. Other hormones, such as oestrogen and progesterone, help to ‘switch off’ milk. Levels of all these hormones, particularly oestrogen, fluctuate hugely during your menopause and this can trigger your breasts to produce a little milk, particularly if you have been pregnant or have breastfed in the past. It’s normal and should soon stop but your GP might suggest having a blood test to rule out other causes, such as a raised prolactin level which could point to a drug side effect, infection, brain tumour or other problem.…

Q My mouth constantly feels like it’s burning, but my doctor and dentist can’t find anything wrong. Tess, Runcorn A Could be burning mouth syndrome (BMS). It probably affects around one person in 50 and is more common in women. Besides a burning sensation you might experience mouth numbness, tingling or a bitter taste, either constantly or just sometimes. Your GP and dentist can rule out causes, such as thrush infection, diabetes, vitamin deficiency or dentures that don’t fit properly, but often there’s no obvious cause for BMS. Pain nerves from your mouth are simply oversensitive. Stress, depression or hormone changes after your menopause can also be triggers. Treatment might mean drugs to calm your overactive pain nerves and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help deal with symptoms.…

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 Michele Mcguire, Cleethorpes, NE Lincs WIN 5 × £20 Puzzle 6 ACROSS 1 Applaud 2 Few and far between 3 Performs 4 Finest/ greatest DOWN 1 Crustacean 2 Cord to tie a shoe 3 Creative skills 4 Nuisance Your answer: CHAIN WORDS What is the technical term for the apparatus used to lower a lifeboat on a ship? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: SO + LO, LO +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer.…

STYLE STATEMENT COLOUR POP BUDGET BOX…

Q I have everything you could want in life. A partner, beautiful child, house, loving parents and a good job. I But I feel so empty. I’ve lost joy in everything. I cry most days, but I’m afraid to tell anyone about it because I feel so ungrateful. What can I do to get out of this black hole I’m stuck in? Kelly, 36 A Oh, sweetheart. You won’t be the only one feeling like this. Consult with your GP to rule out anything - mind and body - that could be causing this. It’s important that we rule out depression or anxiety so you can get the right help. Try to take care of yourself, petal. Set yourself some goals, look at what used to bring you joy and try…

Sam Stokes, 36, Hampshire Bearning, my husband Garrick took my hand in his as we sat knee-to-knee on the sofa. ‘Let’s go for it,’ he said decisively. I nodded, my eyes sparkling with happiness. We were going to start a family! It was summer 2019 and we were due some good luck. See, I’d been diagnosed with thyroid cancer in September 2014. With just a sore throat and feeling run down, I’d thought they’d mixed up my results to begin with. Was still in shock as I had surgery to remove my thyroid and was then put on medication. One tablet a day for the rest of my life. Struggling, I ended up in hospital because of a calcium deficiency and even shot up four dress sizes. But now I…

The Body Shop Peptalk Lipstick Bullet Refill in Your Terms, £11, The Body Shop A beauty buy that’s good for the planet, this lipstick slots into a refillable case (sold separately for £5) that can be reused, rather than thrown away. It’s available in 20 shades, but this punchy orange is our favourite. Weleda Skin Food Ultra-Light Dry Oil, £15.95, Holland & Barrett If you hate the feeling of thick body moisturiser, then this is for you. It’s a dry oil that you shake to combine before spritzing on. It’s supernourishing and absorbs quickly, so you’re not left with greasy limbs. Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Body Wash, £7.50, sephora.co.uk Sunshine can really dehydrate skin during the summer months, and hot showers will only make matters worse. This body wash is just…

Puzzle 3 Videos Puzzle 4 Play video games Puzzle 5 1A,1D,2D,4A,4D Puzzle 6 Lies Puzzle 7 Parrot Puzzle 8 Leah Williamson Puzzle 3 Showjumping Puzzle 10 Dolomites Puzzle 12 Garibaldi Puzzle 13 Islay Puzzle 14 Horace Puzzle 15 Sledge Puzzle 16 Moby-Dick Puzzle 17 Comedy Puzzle 18 Watergate WE WON! Chat winners issue 16 (20 Apr 2023) £1,001 CASH V Coates, Chorley £500 CASH J Cox, Walsall E Farrant, Bournemouth £250 CASH J Postlethwaite, Southminster S Swindells, Macclesfield £200 CASH J Saunders, Herne Bay £100 CASH D Lowry, Stanford-le-Hope A Williams, Ammanford K Bramley, Towcester £75 CASH T Twell, Market Rasen £50 CASH N Liversidge, Stevenage A Gibbons, London J Hunt, Watford I Forman, Caister-on-Sea C Walford, Newcastle K O’Leary, Nottingham £40 CASH M Gray, Marlow £30 CASH N Sanderson, Northwich…