Table of contents for 26 October 2023 in Chat

TRUE-LIFE As I was slowly lowered into the bath water, a dull ache in my neck made me wince. 'Everything OK?’ my support worker Tracey asked me. It was December 2022, and I was isolating with COVID. Luckily, Tracey – or one of her colleagues – was still allowed to stop by to help. You see, I was paralysed in all four limbs. Aged almost 2, I’d hit my neck on the side of my chair mid-tantrum. Mum had put me down for a nap, and when I woke up 45 minutes later, I tottered about like I was drunk. By the time she got me to hospital, I could only move my feet. Put into a neck brace, I spent eight weeks in intensive care before being diagnosed with…

Q The drugs I have to take cause my face to swell and I look about 30 years older. Do you have any suggestions? Debbie, Liverpool A You’re right that a swollen face often points to a drug side effect. However, it should always be checked to rule out rare causes, such as SVC syndrome, where a cancerous growth blocks the vein draining blood from your face, or an allergy to food, drugs or to something in contact with your skin. But constant swelling may well be a side effect, particularly of some pills for blood pressure or diabetes, steroid drugs, arthritis painkillers and hormones in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or the contraceptive pill. Treatment means changing your medication if your doctor can suggest a suitable alternative, keeping your weight…

We look at our devices for an average of five hours a day, according to price comparison site Uswitch. It’s up by two hours a day from 2020 – and that’s on top of work! You're on the loo. You… A Send a few memes to your other half B Get lost in a Chat story C Lose track of time watching online cooking videos D Get in, get out Someone asks for directions. You… A Show them on Google Maps B ‘Third on your left, round the bend, past the church and then you’re there, mate’ C Screenshot them a map and make them share their location so you can know they made it D Point in the general direction and then go about your day Mum's birthday is…

Forgive a cheat? Q My boyfriend cheated on me at a festival in the summer. I only found out a few weeks ago, after he’d been caught out by a friend of mine. After giving it a lot of thought, I decided I would give him another chance. But recently I’ve been having dreams about him cheating, and it’s getting me down. What can I do? Ruby, 23 A It’s up to you whether you forgive your partner or not, pet. But if you’re going to bed at night and dreaming about him cheating on you, then it sounds to me like you can’t forgive – and you certainly can’t forget. It might be time for you to walk away, because you’re just going to find it hard to trust…

Aries 21 March-20 April The Full Moon at the end of September helped you let go of anything that no longer excites you. Bring your attention now to fun new projects! ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May With five planets currently retrograde, including Jupiter, which is in your sign, it is time to take stock and let opportunities find you by remaining open. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Friendly and outgoing, you are always keen to find new interests and connections. This desire will be strong this week, with the Sun in airy and sociable Libra. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Sometimes you wonder if you are being a little bit oversensitive, but…

Q How can I boost my thinning hair? Rebecca Smithfield, Harrogate, Yorkshire A Hair thinning and weak strands can be signs of ageing, stress or a poor diet. Whatever the cause it can leave you self-conscious and desperately searching for easy and affordable solutions. The high street has so many effective products at affordable prices, so start by applying a growth-activating serum like The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density, £11.60, Boots, onto a dry scalp every night before bed. The peptide-enriched formula is designed to support the scalp and, over time, give you thicker, denser and fuller-looking hair. On hair wash days, follow with Umberto Giannini Grow Root Stimulating Shampoo, £8.95, Boots, which maximises the absorption of growthpromoting ingredients like caffeine, pea sprout extract and coffee seed. Finish off by swapping…

Fave snack with a cuppa? Anyone who knows me knows I’m a big fan of traditional afternoon tea, so it would have to be a nice, big slice of cake. If I had to choose one, I’d go for the classic Victoria sponge. First thing you’d buy if you won the Lotto? My partner and I have recently bought our first home and filled it with personal, creative things. Now, I’d like an outside area that looks as inviting as the inside, so I’d buy lots of lovely big plants and a garden ornament or two! Any advice you’d give your younger self? I would say, ‘Be proud of who you are. It’s OK to be different. Embrace those differences because there’s someone out there who will love you just…

Philosopher George Berkeley said ‘He who saith there is no such Thing as an honest Man, you may be sure is himself a…’ what? 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 1 Elaborate, decorative (5) 2 Football warning (6,4) 3 Mythical beast (6) 4 One who lives next door (9) 5 2019 Elton John biographical film (9) 6 Not taking sides (7) 7 Sluggish (9) 8 Aunt or uncle’s child (6) 9 Arctic tusked whale (7) 10Being untruthful (5) 11 Somerset music festival (11) 12_Warder, guardian of the Tower of London (6) 13Roman god of the sea (7) 14 Reverberation (4) 15Standing _, hearty applause (7) 16Nose opening (7) Your answer:…

STYLE TIP Use contrasting textures to layer up – ribbed knits, faux fur and smooth faux-leather work a treat. STYLE TIP Play with accessories to work darker, lighter or brighter shades of brown into your outfit. STYLE TIP A fine roll-neck is great for layering and easy to tuck into skirts to highlight the waist. STYLE TIP Neutral hues look expensive, so lean into that polished look with these chic faux-leather trousers and structured accessories.…

True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Scouring the shelves of the local library, I searched for a book that might explain what was going on with my body. It was the mid 1990s, and aged 16, I was sprouting facial hair. I had severe acne too. And I’d only had a handful of periods since they started at 14. Armed with what little information I could find, I went to my doctor. A scan showed cysts on my ovaries. ‘Do you think I could have polycystic ovarian syndrome?’ I asked. I’d read about it in one of the library books and the tests confirmed it. My GP said PCOS caused cysts to develop on my ovaries. There was no cure and it also might affect my ability to have kids. I’d always assumed…

Whoopie pies These soft cookies are sandwiched with peanutty icing for a sweet and salty combo that’s hard to resist MAKES 10 PREP 20 MINS, PLUS COOLING COOK 15 MINS ● 100g unsalted butter, softened ● 175g light muscovado sugar ● 1 medium egg ● 35g cocoa powder ● 300g plain flour ● 1tsp baking powder ● 1tsp bicarbonate of soda ● 100ml milk FOR THE FILLING: ● 200g light cream cheese ● 200g smooth peanut butter ● 2tbsp icing sugar FOR THE TOPPING: ● 150g icing sugar ● 50g cocoa powder ● White chocolate curls (optional) 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/ Gas 4. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until smooth, then beat in the egg and stir in the cocoa powder, flour,…

TRUE-LIFE Giggling with my friend Emma on the sofa, I took another sip of wine. ‘Cheers,’ I smiled, as we clinked glasses. It was September 2022, and it felt good to let my hair down. A mum of four kids then aged 4 to14, there wasn’t much time for fun these days. But now, my brood were at my sister’s for a sleepover. I’d just split with my partner of seven years, Karl, then 36, and a drink with my mate was just what the doctor ordered. ‘Let’s go into town for a dance,’ I grinned, topping up our glasses. Soon, I was dressed in my fave pink lounge set and Dr. Martens boots. ‘Not a late one mind,’ I chuckled, as we bundled into the cab. ‘Famous last words,’…

PS… Weightless Crème Blush, £2.50, Primark Give yourself a natural-looking flush with the help of this new cream blush. The perfect mix of orange with a pink undertone, this will have you looking gorgeous all year round. Simply dab the blush onto the high points of your cheeks and the bridge of your nose, then blend in with your fingertips. W7 Rapid Growth Nail Treatment, £3.95, w7makeup.co.uk Delivering all the good stuff your nails crave, this rapid growth-stimulating treatment is all you need to give you healthy and long nails. Use as a weekly treatment or as your base coat before a colour, this promises stronger and longer nails in no time! It’s also ideal for post-gel, damaged nails.…

BEHIND THE BIG CRIME TRUE-LIFE Around early 1998, young actor Danny Masterson sat the teenage cast of an upcoming sitcom down for a chat. ‘Don’t do drugs,’ he urged. That ’70s Show had just started filming and was already receiving buzz. The sitcom centred on six marijuana-smoking teenage friends living in Wisconsin from 1976 to 1979. Masterson, 22 when the show first aired, took on a big-brother role. One of the first things Danny did with them was to sit [the teens] all down and had them all make a pact that no one would do drugs because of the nature of our show, fellow cast member Debra Jo Rupp would later write in a character letter to a court judge. Debra played the sitcom’s matriarch, and her onscreen husband, Kurtwood…

Dear Jane, S itting in reception, waiting to meet you, I was shaking with nerves. The weight of my grief felt enormous, suffocating. In the space of a year I’d lost three very important people in my life. First my nan, Jean, 86, in a care home in April 2020. Just a week later, my brother Geoff, 41, died by suicide. Pandemic restrictions had still been in place, so we’d not even been able to have proper funerals to say goodbye. I was bubbled with my mum, Joy, 59, and dad Pete, 65, and working as a pharmacy technician during the COVID-19 outbreak had left me exhausted. The loneliness and grief was crushing. Then Mum fell sick with cancer, and by February 2022, I’d lost her too. I was filled…

TRUE-LIFE Sipping the last of my wine as the waiter placed the bill down, I reached for it. ‘Not a chance. I’ll get this,’ my date, Jasper, then 56, smiled. A modern woman, I liked to pay my way. But Jasper wouldn’t hear of it. ‘Thank you, I’ll get the next one,’ I grinned. It was March 2022 and we’d met a month earlier through Facebook Dating. Jasper was romantic – and a little corny – while I was a cynic at heart. A product of past relationships that ended badly. But despite our differences we bonded over our love of the outdoors. He’d ask me about work, my family, my home and I was impressed when he told me he’d previously been in the SAS. I liked that he…

Who does comedian Katherine Ryan say is her go-to person if she hears gossip? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the two-word prize answer. WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 ACROSS 11 Robert _, Raging Bull actor (2,4) 12 Three-part sporting event (9) 13 Engrave (4) 14 Snatching (8) 15 First Greek letter (5) 16 Creature (6) 17 Rushed (7) 18 Former England and Newcastle footballer (4,7) 20 Actor, _ Michelle Gellar (5) 22 Lack of bravery (9) 24 Ugly _, TV show (5) 28 Keenly (7) 29 _ Winkleman, Strictly co-host (7) 32 Giorgio _, Italian fashion designer (6) 34 The _ Mr. Ripley, film starring Matt Damon (8) 36 Giving money to (8) 37 Pictures (6) 39 Extremely big (7) 40 Friends who write letters to one another (3,4) 45 Country, capital Cairo (5) 47 Area of London famed for its maritime history (9) 48…

Wonky boob depression Q I hate my breasts – the right one is loads bigger than the left. Could I have surgery on the NHS? Becs, Huddersfield A Almost all women have slightly, or very, unequal breasts. Usually it’s just the way you are, though injury, pregnancy or breastfeeding can sometimes leave one bigger than the other. A padded bra, a sports bra that compresses your breasts or a specially made bra with extra padding on one side can help disguise the appearance. Surgery can also help, either by reducing the larger breast or boosting the smaller one with an implant. It’s not usually offered on the NHS except possibly in certain circumstances, such as there being a size difference of at least two cup sizes, you are not obese…

3 ways to… be savings savvy Find the best savings accounts with these tips. 1 Do your research Start by looking online to find the best rates on offer. But if you’re considering an instant-access account because you want freedom to deposit and withdraw money as and when you need, always check the small print. Research by Investec found 27 of the top 50 instant-access savings accounts for balances of £5,000 come with strings attached such as restrictions on how many withdrawals you can make, or rely on short-term bonuses to inflate returns. 2 Check your options If you’re happy to tie your money up for a year or longer, you may be able to get a decent rate with a fixed-rate savings account. And bear in mind that regular savings…

Lacura Daily Glow Moisturiser, £5.99, Aldi The easy way to fast-track your way to glowing skin. This daily moisturising lotion deeply hydrates as well as boosts your radiance naturally. The Body Shop Camomile Jelly One-Step Cleanser, £12, thebody shop.com Sensitive skin will drink up this jelly cleanser with extracts of camomile. Use AM and PM to gently clean, remove makeup and nourish your complexion with ease. Garnier Anti Dark Spot Night Serum 10% Pure Vitamin C, £13.99, lookfantastic.com Combat tired, lacklustre skin by using this brightening serum before bed. You’ll wake up looking refreshed, hydrated and radiant. Rimmel Thrill Seeker Glassy Gloss in Berry Glace, £8.99, Superdrug Get instantly fuller-looking and high-shine lips with this brand-new gloss. No sticky feeling, this formula glides onto lips and keeps them hydrated, plump and luscious. Morphe…

Chat winners issue 30 (27 July 2023) £1,001 CASH J Dawson, Nottingham £500 CASH C Robinson, Alderley Edge S Rowland, Rochester £250 CASH S Rowley, Newquay L Robb, Doncaster £200 CASH A Pearson, Knaresborough £100 CASH J Chapman, Selby M Harding, Bridgend W Seaman, Sandown £75 CASH P Miller, Wolverhampton £50 CASH B Edwards, Bournemouth J Probert, Rugeley K McLean, Workington B Scott, Huddersfield J Jackson, Grantham A Howells, Bargoed £40 CASH K King, Epping £30 CASH P Wilkinson, Leeds M Fisher, Birmingham £25 CASH C Crossley, Morecambe D Toynton, Bideford Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £20 CASH D Hooker, Swindon J Illinworth, Halifax S Kiely, Canterbury K Eglon, Weston-super-Mare V Cardy, Aberdeen P Padgett, Sunderland J Humphrey, Didcot S Pearce, Melksham J King, Ipswich M…