Chatの 2 March 2023 の目次

Welcome to this week's Chat… What do you keep in the back of your wardrobe? Maybe it's jeans you're hoping to squeeze back into, some broken kids’ toys or perhaps, like me, you don't dare look. Well, if you took a peek through Jessica's clothes, you'd find something surprising — a human heart (p34). Don't worry, it's hers! I won't spoil why she keeps it there, but it's a truly inspirational reason and a fascinating read. Have a great week. PS If you're entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

TRUE-LIFE As I knocked cheerfully on my mum Karen's door, the smell of steak made my stomach rumble. ‘We're in for a treat,’ I told my Jack Russell, Scrappy. It was mid 2006, and Mum and I were so close. In many ways, we were making up for lost time. I'd spent most of my childhood in care, you see. Postnatal depression and mental-health issues had left Mum unable to look after me until I was 15. I never blamed her. ‘And I'll be the best mum I can from now on,’ she promised when I moved back in. She was, too. We built an incredible bond, and at around 17 I got my own place nearby. Was round every Friday for tea. ‘Steak tonight, Mum beamed, beckoning us in.…

BLAZER STYLE TIP These smart styles have slightly padded shoulders, great for balancing out a pear-shaped figure. LONGER LENGTH STYLE TIP Wear over jeans and a basic white shirt —elegant options to make your wardrobe staples look classic and classy. BIKER STYLE TIP Soft fabrics and pretty colours make this classic design perfect for wearing over a printed midi-dress. QUILTED FROM £16 STYLE TIP Swap your heavy winter coat for one of these lightly padded jackets — layer over a jumper for extra warmth.…

Counting back on my fingers, I worried. It was 1997, I was 19, in my first year of uni, and my period was six weeks late. ‘I'm sure it'll be OK,’ I told my boyfriend. I'd always been irregular. A few days later, my period arrived and I didn't think much of it. Until six weeks went by without another. After blood tests and scans of my ovaries, my GP said I had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Where the ovaries become enlarged and can contain fluid-filled sacs that surround the eggs. ‘It'll be hard for you to have kids,’ she told me. Stunned and confused, I'd never heard of PCOS. So when my GP said it'd be hard to conceive I thought that meant I couldn't have kids at all.…

Which actor's earliest credited screen role was as the Virgin Mary in a biblical parody film, released under the title The Divine Mr. J and later as The Thorn? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Food flavourings = HERS + B = HERBS. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2 x £25 Puzzle 9 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

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As lockdown stretched on, I started spending more time online. Found some trans girls on TikTok, started speaking to them about their transition. Gradually something clicked into place. Maybe I wasn't gay or a drag queen? Maybe I was actually… a woman? I started growing my hair longer and instead of the dramatic drag make-up, I softened my eyeliner, chose a natural lippy. By October 2020, I was feeling confident. This was me. Alter spending hours plucking up courage, one night. I went downstairs. Dad was on the sofa, Mum already in bed. ‘Are you OK?’ Dad asked, seeing my tears. ‘I want to start living as a girl,’ I blurted out. ‘Have you thought about this?’ he asked. I nodded. ‘If there's anything I can do to help you,…

Dear Lucy, When I saw your name flash on my phone in 2021, I thought that it was just another fleeting text. We'd been mates ever since primary school. In the same class, we quickly became firm friends and as we grew we loved to go shopping together on the weekends and giggle the night away at sleepovers. And when we became mums it was lovely to meet up for lunch. I thought we would be close like that always. Then you got into a new relationship. And our bond loosened. Long chats and girly nights became short texts, every few months. I thought that was what I was about to read that day in 2021. But opening your message, my heart lurched. I know I need to leave him,…

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What is actor Blake Lively's favourite dessert? 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 LargeItalianisland6) Softfruit9 IslandintheHebrides(4) Hellish8 Inthelead5) Frenchport6 Finds7 Chance11 Frightening5 Germanshepherds9 Suitofcards5) Englishcity7 Icecreamflavour7) Takeforgranted6) Keepup8 Ominous8 Toothcovering6 1998hitsinglebyCher (7) Fixes7 Cutleryitem5 Punctuationmark9 Bondfictional spy (5) CharactercreatedbyBeatrixPotter (5,6) Getfaster52) Animatedfilm 42 Dogwithshortlegs(5) Sliverofwood8) Footballinglegendfrom25Down (4) Typeofnut9) Themiddle6 DOWN Gesture6 Singerwhoplayed HannahMontana55) Youngswans7 Eternally9 Eight-sided9 SupermodelMoss (4) Obstruct6 Tomatosauce7 Pairoffilmsstarring UmaThurman44) Messy6 Gavemoneyto4) Bottlestopper4 Eleventhmonth8 SouthAmericancountry6) Offeronesservices(9) Pointedto9…

My bed hurts my back Q I've bought a new extra-firm mattress, thinking it would ease my backache, but the pain's worse! What's going on? Karen, Dover A You're right that we used to think a firm or hard mattress was best for back pain, but it doesn't work for everyone. Back pain has several possible causes, and affects people of different ages, shapes and sizes, so one solution doesn't fit all. Most sufferers find a mediumto-firm mattress most comfortable but some prefer a much softer, or even very firm, mattress. Finding what's right for you involves trial and error, so try before you buy. And don't be in a hurry, it takes time to get used to a new mattress and some manufacturers allow you to try one for…

1 Protein for breakfast ‘Eating protein first thing helps you to feel fuller for longer, as protein takes longer to digest than carbs. It also reduces levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin and boosts levels of PYY, a protein that tells you when you are full,’ explains Dr Michael Mosley, creator of the 5:2 diet and The Fast 800 lifestyle plan. Opt for eggs, salmon or peanut butter. 2 Drink water before eating As well as boosting your metabolism, drinking water before you eat can help reduce your calorie intake by 75 cals per meal*. It also fills you up more and, of course, it's good for your overall health to stay hydrated. 3 Try mindfulness ‘Next time you're feeling positive about your body, remain with that thought. Perhaps you've…

TRUE-LIFE Holding my newborn son in my arms, his blue eyes locked with my own. He was perfect. Those squishy pink arms, that little button nose. It was August 1999, and I'd just become a mum for the first time to Ryan. A magical moment. But it was also tinged with sadness. ‘How could anyone abandon their baby?’ I asked my husband. Because that's what had happened to me. I barely remembered my own childhood. My mum had walked out when I was just 2. Dad did his best to bring me up, but he struggled. I was passed around family members. Had no sense of belonging. No family holidays, photographs, happy memories or in-jokes. Aged 17, I moved into a youth hostel. Staff there helped me make contact with…

Standing under hot lights, I fluffed my hair. Posed as the photographer snapped picture after picture. It was 2013 and at just 15 years old, I was dipping my toe into modelling. Helping out at the local college so photography students could take snaps of me for their portfolios. ‘Smile!’ one student said. Grinning, I knew I'd found something I wanted to do. A teeny size 4, I touted myself as a model to local businesses and clothing brands. Bagging free clothes in exchange for my time. A dream job! I even started competing in beauty pageants and won a few titles. But while I plastered on a smile for the camera, inside I felt terrible. Insecure, fretting about my weight. I was tiny but convinced that if I put…

3 ways to… CHEAPER CAR INSURANCE Policy up for renewal? Get the best deal with our tips… 1 Avoid autorenewal Don't let your policy autorenew. Instead, get quotes on comparison sites, as well as from insurers that aren't included on those sites, like Direct Line. If you have more than one car in your household, check if it's cheaper to get them all insured on one policy – known as ‘multicar insurance’. Looking ahead can pay off, too: Go.Compare found that its customers saved over 55% on average by buying their car insurance 27 days before their renewal date, compared with those renewing on the day.* 2 Cut your risk Another way to save is to limit the number of miles you drive each year – fewer miles mean you're a…

24 Feb-2 March 2023 Aries 21 March-20 April You're focused, but your partner can't make up their mind about something. Try to understand your differences, reassure and help them. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May The full moon is in your fellow Earth sign Virgo, putting you in a very sociable mood. You'll find that your positivity rubs off on others around you. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You need to give someone the benefit of the doubt while your ruling planet's in Pisces. A takeaway will make your family feel appreciated. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July It's a great week for high hopes. You'll soon be forging ahead with a fresh start…

Q Does whitening toothpaste really make a difference? Wendy Jackson, Brighton A The key to finding a good-quality whitening toothpaste, one that actually works, is all about checking the ingredients list. Look out for fluoride and hydrogen peroxide, which are proven ingredients needed to whiten your teeth. Fluoride works to strengthen tooth enamel and support oral health, while hydrogen peroxide dissolves stains and whitens teeth. Spotlight Oral Care Toothpaste for Whitening Teeth, £9.50, Boots, contains hydrogen peroxide and when used twice daily will help to remove stains and maintain a vibrant smile. Another great product for oral health is Waken Whitening Mouthwash Peppermint, £6, Boots, which contains sodium fluoride and is proven to brighten teeth in just two weeks. If you're after an instant fix without the wait, then try wearing…

TRACEY HORNER, 57, FROM SURREY, SAYS: I'm nominating passionate cyclists Gary and Michelle Nicol as my local heroes. Gary, 50, and Michelle, 49, have been great supporters of Care International's Lendwithcare initiative, which provides support and loans to small business owners in low-income countries. They first became involved with the charity back in 2014, when they took part in a 500km cycle challenge from Vietnam to Cambodia. At the end of the trip, they got the chance to meet some of the people who had received loans from Lendwithcare. From then on, the pair were committed to helping as many people via Lendwithcare as they could, through donations and loans as well as by doing sponsored walks, runs and five overseas cycle challenges. So far, they've lent money to over…

YOU'RE THE JUDGE! Standing at the prison gates, a young Monique Olivier felt a tingle of nerves and excitement. It was 1987, and Michel Fourniret, her jailbird pen pal, was about to be released. They'd already exchanged hundreds of letters after he'd put an advert in a weekly Catholic magazine. In their exchanges he had shared his deepest, darkest fantasies. The carpenter was obsessed with virginity, and was serving time for sexual assault. And emerging from jail to Monique's arms, Fourniret was no changed man… That December, Monique stopped to ask directions from Isabelle Laville, 17, who was walking home from school in Auxerre, France. Isabelle climbed into the van to help. But then Monique stopped for a ‘hitch-hiker’. Fourniret. Isabelle was then raped and killed, her body thrown down…

Q Two weeks before my period I get sharp pains in the side of my pelvis. Is something wrong? Ellie, Blackpool A Sounds like ovulation pain. Two weeks before your period is when you ovulate, meaning one of your ovaries releases an egg. You have two ovaries, right and left, low in your abdomen, and that's where you feel the pain. Why it should hurt we're not sure – it could be an effect of hormones released by your ovary, or simply irritation as the egg is released. It doesn't mean anything is wrong and a hot water bottle, paracetamol and anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen, should help. An alternative is to take an oral contraceptive pill, which works by preventing ovulation and should stop the pain completely.…

Liverpool cool! Wind machines at the ready! Following Sam Ryder's second-place showstopper last year, the UK is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. Dig out your sequins, practise those key changes and prepare for a massive dose of cheese with a side of glitter. The free Eurovision village at Pier Head on Merseyside will be open to everybody, and while the Grand Final will be at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena on 13 May, screening parties will be held countrywide. Hope for health This September, UK cancer patients will be granted early access to cancer vaccines, which aim to encourage the immune system to attack harmful cells. It's hoped the trial will deliver 10,000 therapies to patients by 2030, with a lab in Cambridge and headquarters in London.…

Long-distance disappointment Q I've been in a long-distance relationship for four years. We see each other verv regularly but we still haven't had sex and he's a virgin. We've done everything but sex and any time I approach it in person he gets shy. I can tell he's not ready and I feel bad for even trying. He says his shyness comes from not liking his body, but what can I do? Mel, 19 A Not everyone is ready for sex just because they're in a relationship. And long-distance relationships require another layer of thought and communication, sweetheart. They're a lot of hard work, as you know. It'II happen when he's ready – and putting pressure on him won't help one bit. Ghosted after sexts Q I started chatting to a…

Creeping into the bathroom, I closed the door silently then dived into my mum's make-up. I rubbed some foundation into my cheeks, started painting on eyeshadow. As I looked in the mirror, I smiled as I saw someone else gazing back at me. Someone who wasn't me. My whole life, I'd felt different to my classmates. While the other boys climbed trees and played with dinosaurs, I preferred princesses and Barbie dolls. I hung around with the girls at break, sat on my own when the boys were allowed in early for lunch. My performance suffered in PE, and I was so upset, my teachers moved me from the boys’ football pitch to the girls’ netball court. Uncomfortable, unhappy. A round peg in a very square hole. I hated waking…

Top tip Orzo is a thin, rice-shaped pasta – a great way to bulk out soups and stews. Creamy mushroom orzo Nourishing and comforting, you wouldn't know it's dairy free. SERVES 2 PREP 15 MINS, PLUS SOAKING COOK 35 MINS 1 Melt 35g of the spread in a medium saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring often, for 12-15 mins until the onions are translucent but not brown. Add a splash of water if they catch. 2 Add the orzo, bay leaves and half the thyme to the onions and stir for 2 mins. Mix together the milk and the stock, then gradually add one ladle at a time to the orzo,…

Sitting on the sofa, cuppa in hand, I pulled out my mobile phone. I checked emails and fired off quick replies to texts, before opening Instagram. I loved to scroll, looking at photos of nature, and posts teaching about mindfulness. I shared snaps too, of my hikes and family life as a single mum to Rosie, 2. I'd built up quite a following of over 6k. But logging in today, I was surprised to see I had a direct message from a uni friend, Jess Cairnes, then 35. That's a blast from the past, I thought. It was March 2021, and I hadn't seen her for years. Meeting at uni through friends, we knew each other to say hi to but weren't overly close. But we worked at the same…

Q&A Vitamin C Eye Cream, £8, Sainsbury's Pop on a little bit of this brightening eye cream in the mornings to perk up tired eyes. The vitamin C-enriched formula helps to depuff bags and mask dark circles. Revolution Beauty IRL Filter Longwear Foundation, £9.99, revolution beauty.com A foundation that really does it all? Long-lasting, buildable coverage, matt finish and hydrating ingredients. Yes please! It also comes in 30 different shades. Garnier Glowing Lengths Pineapple Hair Drink, £9.99, Boots If you're after a high-shine finish and silky smooth strands, this treatment is worth investing in. Use after shampooing and rinse out for incredible results. Truyu by QVS Blending Brush Duo, £6, Sainsbury's Create gorgeous eyeshadow looks with this nifty brush set. The bargain duo will help you to buff and blend all…

Horror. Pure unadulterated horror. That's what officers found when they attended an emergency call to a quiet Florida neighbourhood one Monday night in August 2016. An out-of-control teenager had gone on a rampage. Described as abnormally strong, he'd already stabbed married couple John Stevens, 59, and Michelle Mishcon, 53, to death. Left blood spilt in the garage and down the drive. Now, as officers arrived, they found Austin Harrouff on top of John's body. Chewing his face off. A hellish scene straight out of the most gruesome horror film. When a Taser didn't faze the 19-year-old college boy, officers piled in. It took four of them and a trained police dog to wrestle him into handcuffs. As they did, Harrouff spat out a chunk of human flesh. According to one…