Table of contents for 29 January 2026 in Chat

Welcome to this week’s Chat… I don’t have a head for heights and though I love sunny holidays as much as the next person, it’s a struggle to get me on a plane. Not Sue (p23)… The daredevil 80-year-old loves being up in the clouds, not only flying in a plane but also wing-walking on one! She’s even planning a parachute jump next. Her friends think she’s mad, and I am inclined to agree, but mad in a good way and very impressive. Sue is proof that you are never too old to make your daft dreams come true. Have a great week,…

My jaw dropped open as I stared at the image on the screen. ‘Sorry, what did you just say?’ I whispered. ‘It’s twins,’ the sonographer told us again. ‘Good grief,’ my partner Jack, then 33, laughed. ‘We’ll have our hands full.’ It was September 2023 and we’d come to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth for our 12-week scan. With twins on both sides of the family we’d known it was a possibility yet neither of us had expected it. Back home, we got ready for double trouble. Decorated the nursery, bought two of everything. At the 20-week scan in November, we found out we were having boys, most likely non-identical. But then, another shock… ‘One of the twins has a cleft lip and palate,’ the doctor explained. That part of his…

1 Keep on moving Heard of ‘Blue Zones’? These are five places around the world where people live longer, healthier lives. Researcher Dan Buettner, who identified them, found that people in these areas had lots of things in common. One of them is incorporating movement into their daily lives. ‘Walk as much as you can during the day and engage in activities such as gardening and household chores,’ says GP Dr Angela Rai from The London General Practice. ‘Try low-intensity workouts including pilates, stretching and bodyweight exercises.’ 2 Stress less Blue Zone inhabitants have also found effective ways to manage their stress. ‘Stress causes chronic inflammation,’ says Dr Rai. This can lead to cardiovascular issues, as well as mental health disorders. ‘Have mechanisms or tools to reduce stress levels on a daily…

Watching my daughter Nevaeh, then 5, kick a ball around the garden, I knew she was in her element. ‘She’ll have a little teammate soon enough,’ I said to my husband Christopher, then 26. It was June 2021, and I was heavily pregnant with our second child. And I couldn’t wait for Nevaeh to have a sibling to play with. The following month, our little boy Roscoe was born. ‘Meet your baby brother,’ I said, placing him in her arms. Snuggling up on the sofa, the two were adorable. We quickly settled into life as a family of four. Only, a few days later, I noticed Roscoe’s skin was tinged yellow. And he was being sick with every feed. ‘Jaundice is quite normal for newborns,’ the health visitor reassured me.…

Work-life drama Q Work is a nightmare right now. I’ve got this project that keeps running into problems, and the team can’t agree on anything. I’m stuck trying to keep everyone calm, but the vibe is getting tense. I’m worried the drama will mess up the project and my relationships with the people I work with. How do I handle this? Josie, 38 A Sounds to me like you’re taking on too much, flower. It’s not on you to juggle everything alone. You need to untangle this chaos and start delegating, rather than doing other people’s work for them. You need to untangle this chaos and start delegating, rather than doing other people’s work for them. Make sure everyone is on board and on the same page to get the…

3 ways to… book a cheaper holiday Here’s how to get the best deal on your summer break. 1 Do your research Start by shopping around. Price comparison sites such as Kayak.co.uk and Travelsupermarket.com are great for getting a feel for costs. Experiment with different dates – timing can make a big difference, even during peak periods like the school summer holidays. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is often cheaper. If you’re booking a package holiday, once you’ve found a trip you like, call a few travel agents to see if you can haggle a discount. Packages can be excellent value, but it’s still worth comparing the cost with a DIY holiday, where you book flights and accommodation separately. 2 Get it right Think carefully about the board basis when deciding what…

Playful miaows echoed down the hall and I knew what was coming. Sure enough, my kittens Sushi and Tiggy tumbled into my living room, play-fighting. ‘They’re a bit feral,’ I told my new fella James, then 18. ‘So cute,’ he grinned, patting the sofa next to him. Soon, both kitties jumped up for some fuss. In January 2023 we hadn’t been dating long but I could see he was an animal lover. I adored my little tearaways. Sushi, with her white fur and black tail, was a fluffy bundle of fun. While my tabby girl Tiggy had gorgeous stripes and little white paws and loved to snuggle with me in bed. Now though, they both had to get used to sharing my affection. Me and James had met in a…

Lacura Collagen Lip Oil, £2.99, Aldi Get down to Aldi this Sunday 25th to stock up on this lip-smackingly good treat. Lips can take a beating in the cold weather, and need extra TLC to combat dry, flaky, cracked skin. This nourishing oil drizzles lips with a flattering gleam, while lavishing this delicate area with collagen, shea butter and vitamin E to plump, smooth and soften. Aveeno Kids Curling Cream, £6.49, Boots Over half of children in the UK have either wavy, curly, or coily hair texture*, so if you’re a parent or grandparent battling with curls, this leave-in cream is a godsend, detangling, softening and defining them. The gentle formula, enriched with oat extract and coconut oil, is specifically designed for children’s hair, which is three times more fragile…

1 London to St Louis For the first time ever, it will be possible to fly from the UK direct to the US city of St Louis in Missouri, home to barbecue ribs, blues music and baseball (local team the Cardinals is much-loved). Flights begin with British Airways (ba.com) from Heathrow airport this April, which still gives you time to plan your dream holiday. How about a road trip to country music capital Nashville, less than five hours’ drive away? 2 East Midlands to Agadir Whisk yourself off to the southern Moroccan coast on a sunshine and beach holiday, via a new route with Jet2 (jet2.com) that begins in June. Flying from East Midlands Airport near Nottingham in around four hours, you’ll touch down and be able to enjoy world-class…

Chat winners issue 42 (16 Oct 2025) £1,001 CASH M Dodgson, Barrow in Furness £500 CASH S Brown, Havant T Derbyshire, Northolt £250 CASH G Green, Bedworth A Alvin, St Ives £200 CASH J Jason, Watford £100 CASH A Stone, Lewes A Lockhart, Wallington V Corcoran, Stafford £75 CASH M Newall, Stornoway £50 CASH M Gal, Birmingham O Pringle, Antrim J Allinson, Bishop Auckland R Robson, Lichfield M Anderson, Sunderland P Bool, Wells £40 CASH V Goodrich, Norwich £30 CASH NE Hazell, Abingdon J Hinton, Solihull £25 CASH M Edwards, New Milton G Jacobs, Wigan Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £20 CASH L Squire, Wigston JR Bullock, Bristol S Todd, Stoke-on-Trent J Winward, Middlesbrough R Knights, Thornton-Cleveleys S Oates, Sheffield D Williams, Matlock M Daniel, Maidstone H Thwaites, Longfield L Savas, Prestwich D Walker, Basildon J Gunter, Prudhoe K Lowery, Stanley C Lake, Jarrow P Hensman, Gosport A, Fitzpatrick, Ebbw Vale ME Crutcher,…

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KNITTED VESTS STYLE TIP The perfect layering piece, wear over a crisp white shirt or a midi dress to give your lighter pieces extra warmth. CARDIGANS STYLE TIP Instead of treating the cardigan as a layer, button up and let it take centre stage. A half tuck into trousers will give shape at your waist. NECK SCARVES STYLE TIP Want to update a pre-loved knit? A knitted neckerchief will add interest to plainer styles and look so chic! FROM £10 JUMPERS STYLE TIP Stay warm and lift your spirits in pastel shades and stripes. They’ll take you effortlessly into spring when the new season arrives.…

True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Waking up, I blinked at my bedside table. Why are there two alarm clocks? I thought. I rubbed my eyes, which were itchy and painful. And my heart sank, realising exactly what this meant. I’d been diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, known as RRMS, in 2006, aged 37. A variety of symptoms, such as blurred vision, joint stiffness, muscle spasms and shaking, came and went. For the past few years, I hadn’t experienced any at all. But now, in March 2020, aged 51, I realised I must be having a flare- up. Not wanting my daughter Belle, then 27, to worry, I tried to stay calm. I went to work as an exam supervisor as usual. Tried to avoid bumping into things as I walked. ‘I’m…

Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p4. There’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Lorna Ridgway, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire WIN 5 x £20 Puzzle 6 ACROSS 1 The amount of space something covers 2 A body of traditions and knowledge 3 Flowering plant and girl’s name 4 A nipple of the mammary gland DOWN 1 Long narrow cut or opening 2 Small opening in skin covering 3 Musical solo song 4 Bird’s bed Your answer:…

Squeezing myself into the front passenger seat of my friend’s car, I reached for the seat belt. But as I pulled it across my body, it wouldn’t reach. There was too much of me. ‘Try a bit higher,’ she said gently. Breathing in, I lifted the belt, dragging it over some softer tummy rolls. Finally, she leant across and pushed the buckle down hard until it forced a click. As the belt dug into my skin uncomfortably, I laughed it off. ‘Just a tad tight,’ I giggled. But inside, I was burning with shame. Typical me. Always putting on a bubbly front, acting like my size didn’t bother me. But it did. It was 2019 and me and my pal were off for some dinner. But the belt blunder had…

Jerome Russell Root Color Wand, £7.99, Superdrug Grey roots getting you down? Use this magic wand to cleverly conceal them between salon appointments or even at-home dye jobs. Paint directly on to roots to cover greys for up to two washes. Olay Regenerist Firming Body Lotion, £14.99, Boots When it comes to antiageing, why should your face get all the fun? This body cream is powered by niacinamide to boost firmness and elasticity in two weeks. Even better, it melts in so quickly you can dress immediately. Garnier Vitamin C Wonder Tint SPF50+, £14.99, Boots The best thing you can do for your skin is wear sunscreen daily, even in winter. This formula makes application a joy, and because it’s tinted, it serves as your make-up base, facial SPF, and…

What’s the first thing you’d buy if you won the lottery? I’d spend it on travelling. My holiday wish list includes a stay at the Icehotel in Sweden, a trip to see the Northern Lights in Iceland and a drive along Route 66, the worldfamous highway in the United States. What’s your favourite smell? The scent of lavender and honeysuckle in our garden. I also adore the smell of a Sunday roast cooking in my kitchen and the scent of my favourite perfume, Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel. Do you have many hobbies? I love sewing, knitting, embroidery and quilting, but I’m also a big reader and love walking in the countryside. What do you like doing while enjoying a cuppa? Sitting in the garden with my husband Stan, 78, when…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 At what moment of her life did actor Amy Adams feel most proud? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the six-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Turn to ice (6) 12 Soft fruit (9) 13 Baby cow (4) 14 Period of 366 days (4,4) 15 Country, capital Cairo (5) 16 Grown-ups (6) 17 Sign of illness (7) 18 1968 film starring Dustin Hoffman (3,8) 20 Large sea (5) 22 Star of crime drama series Luther (5,4) 24 Precious gem (5) 28 Remote (7) 29 Church tower (7) 32 Continent (6) 34 Person with brown hair (8) 36 Group of words (8) 37 Wait around (6) 39 Chemical substance (7) 40 Bird that eats carrion (7) 45 Third month (5) 47 Instrument made of wooden bars (9) 48 Romantic appointments (5) 51 Place to buy food (11) 53 Rushes (7) 55 Capital of Cuba (6) 56…

Help! I'm losing my senses Q I’ve not been able to smell or taste for months. A scan showed sinus congestion, and I’ve been given a steroid spray, drops and told to do saline rinses. It’s been a week with no improvement – do I need to keep going? Janet, Worthing A Steroid nasal sprays and saline rinses need regular use for several weeks. Most people start to notice improvement after two to three weeks, but full recovery can take up to six to eight weeks. Keep using the spray and rinse as advised, even if progress feels slow. Your sense of smell often returns as inflammation settles, but recovery can take months. Permanent loss is rare, unless there’s severe damage. If you haven’t improved after eight weeks, or symptoms…

Reaching for a glass of water, pain shot across my abdomen. ‘Ah!’ I winced, rubbing my fresh C-section scar. It was 13 days since I’d had my third baby, Hunter. ‘You were worth the pain,’ I whispered to him as he slept beside my bed in his cot. Born five weeks early in August 2020, he’d spent 12 days in hospital. Now we were finally home, I wanted to enjoy time with him and my older kids, Lily, then 4, and Carter, 1. If only I could get out of bed! ‘I need something to take the edge off this pain,’ I muttered. I rifled through my bedside table, found a packet of ibuprofen. I’d been taking two a day since Hunter’s birth. Popping a pill out, I downed it…

Top tip If you don’t have cider, dry white wine or apple juice will work here too. Creamy pork casserole Sweet apples and sharp cider cut through the richness. SERVES 6 PREP 30 MINS COOK 3 HRS 75g smoked bacon lardons 1kg pork shoulder, cut into 3cm cubes 2 onions, finely chopped 2 sticks celery, finely chopped 3 carrots, finely chopped 1 chicken stock cube, dissolved in 200ml boiling water  500ml cider 1tbsp cider vinegar 3 apples, cored and cut into 8 wedges 1tbsp cornflour 100ml crème fraiche 2tbsp Dijon mustard Handful parsley, chopped Mashed potato, to serve 1 Heat the oven to 130C Fan. Heat a large casserole over medium heat. Fry the lardons until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Brown the pork in the…

Aries 21 March-20 April The Moon in your sign on the 25th helps you to gain clarity about an issue that’s been confusing you. New awareness of your direction will make all the difference. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Ruled by Venus, you like the finer things in life. Treat yourself this week to something which makes you feel good about yourself – you deserve it. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Quick-minded and sharp in your communications, you can decipher a message which makes no sense at first. A second look helps you understand everything. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Family is everything to you, so plan to spend some quality time…

Q How long can I keep my make-up for? Does it have an expiry date? Kathy Tallyn, 64, Bicester A Just like that forgotten pot of brandy butter at the back of the fridge, cosmetics also expire. Used past its shelf life, make-up can cause skin sensitivity, breakouts, irritation and even eye infections. Check the small open-jar symbol for how many months the product lasts once opened. Liquid products like foundation and concealer last about a year, while mascara should be replaced every three months. If yours is starting to clump and smell funky, treat yourself to Catrice Hyper Lash Mascara, £5.99, Boots. Regularly sharpening your pencils will help keep the nib fresh and clean up until the six-month mark. Need a new one? Soap & Glory Smoulder Kohl, £6.99,…