Table of contents for 28-Jan-2021 in Chat

• 42% of parents share photos of their children online*, but it’s important to be safe. ThinkUKnow, an online safety programme, says you should consider… • Who is looking? When did you last check your privacy settings? Remember anyone who can see a photo can screenshot it and could share it. • What else are you sharing? Many cameras and apps tag posts and photos with ‘metadata’ which can include location and other identifying information. This is potentially risky for any child, but poses a particular risk for vulnerable children who have been fostered or adopted. • Ownership. When you share a photo, you license the network to use and reproduce your image and grant the right to license it for use by third parties. • Your child’s digital tattoo.…

Emma Gould, 42, Brighton Hoisting myself out of the pool, I hurried to the side and grabbed my robe. I pulled down the sleeves and tightened the belt ― then scanned the room to see if anyone had spotted what I was desperate to hide. It was early 2015, and my psoriasis was worse than ever. The red, flaky skin that covered my arms and legs had always made me feel incredibly self-conscious. But now it’d spread over half of my body, my anxiety was horrendous. I first began getting a flaky scalp when I was 16. It came and went throughout my 20s. But after my daughter was born in 2010, it had got so much worse. Showing the doctor the red, itchy skin that had appeared on my…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p3 – there’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Eddie Geddes, Dundee ACROSS 1 Pimples (American)2 False God3 Fiddling Emperor4 Frighten (Scottish dialect) DOWN 1 Vigour2 Notion3 Hills4 Opening WIN 5X£25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: HALF & HALF The historic centre of which city was described in its UNESCO World Heritage Site listing as having ‘the finest collection of art nouveau buildings in Europe’? Cross out a letter in each square to get a grid filled with words. The uncrossed out letters in the shaded squares give the prize puzzle answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 7 Your answer: BRICK TRICK Copal, dammar, sandarac and…

ARROW WORD Garfield, the cartoon cat, lives in which American state? Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer. WIN £1,000 puzzle 10 Your answer: SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Solve the puzzle and the numbers in the highlighted squares will give you the prize puzzle answer. WIN £60 Puzzle 11 Your answer: WORDSEARCH The oldest constituent of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom is a 12th-century example of what everyday item? The prize answer is the one missing from the grid. BOWLCOLANDERCUPFORKGRATERKETTLEKNIFEMUGPANPLATESCALESSIEVESPOONTEAPOTWHISK WIN £50 Puzzle 12 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page…

FILL ME IN Golden chanterelle mushrooms are also often referred to by what name? Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 14 Your answer: CIRCLE TIME Charles Cotton’s Fishing House and the Viator’s Bridge are features on the course of which English river? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters COWDIPDUOEARNORSIRSOWSUEVOW 4 letters ALSOIDOLKNOWODDSSARISTIR 5 letters EARLYLUCKYWIDERWORLD 6 letters ABACUSACIDICDONKEYREMEDY 7 letters PACKAGEVERANDA WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

3 ways to... extend the life of your appliances You can help maximise how long your kitchen appliances last for by taking care of them, says eSpares’ Kirsty Quigley. Here are her top tips… 1 Wise washing To help prolong your washing machine’s life, use a washing machine cleaner once a month; this will remove limescale build ups and detergent residue from the internal parts of the machine. Also if you wash one heavy item like a towel with light items like t-shirts, your load becomes uneven which can lead to wear and tear. Always sort your laundry. 2 Take care With tumble dryers it’s important to clean lint filters after each cycle. This allows good airflow and prevents your dryer from overheating. To be safe, switch your machine off…

Marcella ITV Anna Friel returns as troubled detective Marcella in the third series of the thriller. The eight-parter focuses on her new life in Belfast where she is working undercover and has assumed a new identity in order to infiltrate an infamous crime family. But as she investigates their criminal activities, Marcella’s quest for the truth puts her and others in danger. Amanda Burton stars as the clan’s matriarch, Katherine Maguire, alongside former Shameless actor Aaron McCusker as her son Finn. Celebrity Best Home Cook BBC1 Claudia Winkleman presents a celebrity version of the show with 10 famous faces hoping to impress judges Mary Berry, Chris Bavin and Angela Hartnett. Among the stars taking part are expolitician Ed Balls, former Coronation Street actor Shobna Gulati, Strictly runner-up Karim Zeroual and…

Lee Stafford For the Love of Curls Leave in Conditioning Moisture Mist, £7.99, Boots Curly hair is on the dry side, which means more frizz, but spritz this through damp hair, twisting through your curls to smooth and nourish. It’s a great moisturiser for dry hair whatever the texture. Collection Incredibrow Microblade Tip Brow Pen, £4.99, Boots This pen creates hairlike strokes, similar to in-salon microblading, for a naturallooking, well defined brow. The precision tip can add definition where needed. Max Factor Nailfinity Gel Colour + Top Coat, £7.99 each, Superdrug This two-step duo delivers all the gloss of a gel manicure at home. With 11 shades to choose from, the colour pay-off is intense and while it doesn’t last as long as a salon gel manicure, it certainly stays…

BUTTON-UP STYLE TIP The humble shirt dress is a classic and suits all body shapes. Wear buttoned to the top or try open as a jacket over jeans. MIDI STYLE TIP A floaty midi is super versatile and can take you from day to night effortlessly. It works with trainers, boots or heels. WRAP STYLE TIP Accentuate your curves in a wrap dress. The V-neck allows room for a fuller bust while the shape highlights the waist. KNITTED STYLE TIP The perfect option for your winter wardrobe. Look for loose styles for extra comfort or ribbed knits for a streamlined fit.…

Sassy Wyatt, 29, London As they caressed the delicate corset of the ivory dress, my best friends Lauren, then 30, and Ellie, then 28, gasped. ‘This is the one!’ they both chimed. It was April 2019, and I’d been looking for my dream wedding dress for two years. My fiance Grant, then 24, and I wanted the perfect day. And, for me, that meant wearing a beautiful gown. I’d started my quest with the help of my mum Angie, then 53, and my sister, Jordan, then 18. ‘You look like a princess,’ they’d say with every dress. Not much help! I needed honesty. And 25 dresses later, I still hadn’t found the one. That’s why I’d enlisted Lauren and Ellie. I knew, like me, they’d touch every tassel, feel every…

World health Worryingly, one in four vegans are vitamin-D deficient, with many supplements not being vegan-friendly. To boost your vitamin D, reach for vitamin-D enriched mushrooms, or simply place your regular mushrooms in direct sunlight for 30 minutes!* Swap and see Are you a lover of fizzy diet drinks? Why not try naturally sugar-free Nexba instead? Unlike many other diet drinks, it doesn’t contain any artificial nasties and has just 20 calories per bottle. (£1.25, Sainsbury’s) Winter moles Skin cancer isn’t just a threat in the summer. ‘It’s during the winter months when moles can go unnoticed, as we are wrapped up in clothing and forget to check them,’ says Dr Adam Friedmann, Consultant dermatologist for Stratum Dermatology Clinics (stratumclinics.com). In fact, 41% of Brits admitted they spent more time…

A family with the same rare skin condition spanning four generations embrace their unique appearances together. When 6-year-old Samuel, from Brazil, was born with the rare skin condition piebaldism, his mother Nivianei recognised its distinctive white patches all too well. Samuel’s family have seen the same ‘special markings’ for four generations ― with his great grandfather being the first known case in the family tree. Piebaldism is a genetic condition causing severe de-pigmentation of the skin, commonly present on the forehead, body and scalp. It can cause patches of white hair, and increases the risk of sunburn and skin cancer. Despite Samuel having a grandmother, mother, uncle and cousins with piebaldism, the family only discovered its medical title two years ago. The condition looks similar to that of vitiligo, in…

Left high and dry Q After 15 years of marriage, my husband admitted he’d fallen in love with my best friend. He left the very same day. I’m devastated, as are my teenage children. Trying to be strong for them is exhausting. I’m struggling to make ends meet, as my husband was the main wage earner. Since he left, he hasn’t contacted the kids, never mind given them money. I don’t know where our next meal will come from. I feel that if he came back, it would all be OK again. What do I do? Ava, 38 A Bless you. Contact the relevant Government agencies for benefits. Instead of shielding your children, sit them down and be honest about your struggles. All of you are going through pain and…

Amanda Wallace, 39, Sheffield Trying to get my 2-week-old daughter Hannah to breastfeed, she struggled with me – and most of it came straight back up. It was August 2016, and she’d weighed a healthy 8lb 6oz when she arrived in July. She was slightly jaundiced, but nothing to worry about, the doctors had said. But at a routine appointment, Hannah looked unwell. She hadn’t gained much weight and blood tests showed Hannah’s liver wasn’t functioning properly. She was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare liver condition. ‘It’s serious. She needs surgery,’ the doctor said. I broke down, calling my husband Tom, 35. ‘Hannah needs an operation!’ I sobbed. While Tom’s parents looked after our other daughte, Mia, then 4, he Í rushed to Leeds General Infirmary to be with…

One in five homeowners admit keeping a spare key in their garden, under a doormat or flowerpot, research by Admiral found. However the insurer is warning that not only does keeping keys outside make it easier for burglars to break in, if a burglar uses a key when gaining entry to your home, you may find you’re not insured for any losses incurred. Did you know? We’re wasting a serious amount of energy when we’re making a cuppa, according to research by Utilita. On average Brits boil twice the amount of water needed each time. TOP TIP Every time you receive a windfall, such as a bonus, inheritance or contest winnings, save half.…

Aries 21 March-20 April Your endurance is strong and you’re feeling more motivated. Sticking to your exercise regime will keep you energised. Take more time for adventure. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May While looking for a new career online you could find your dream job. Apply immediately and don’t be surprised if you’re asked for an interview the same day. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Only let others lead if you’re sure they’ll follow through and complete the tasks. You’ll be admired and recognised for what you put into the world. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Your sweet nature shines. A visit to your local rescue centre will see you adopting a…

Sanctuary Spa Wellness Calming CBD Oil, £12.50, Boots There’s no better way to de-stress than a long soak, especially when the bath is spiked with a few drops of this soul-soothing oil. CBD relieves anxiety, while the aromatic blend of jasmine, patchouli and frankincense is designed to enhance your mood. Dr Teal’s Coconut Oil Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution, £7.99, Superdrug I’m a massive fan of Epsom salts. The magnesium draws out toxins to soothe swollen, puffy legs and relieve water retention. Add two cups to a warm bath and soak for at least 20 minutes to maximise the detoxifying benefits. Baylis & Harding Goodness Lemongrass & Ginger Body Wash, £4, Boots Upgrade your shower gel for this silky-smooth cleanser. Enriched with essential oils to nourish skin from top to…

Evan Brewer, 3, was a smiley tot with big brown eyes. A sweet child, his parents had separated and he lived with his mum Miranda Miller and her partner Stephen Bodine. He still regularly saw his dad Carlo Brewer – though he wasn’t happy with his son’s living arrangements. Carlo was convinced his little boy was being abused and he was fighting to get full custody. He filed a petition for a protection from abuse order to the Kansas Department for Children and Families. It highlighted an injury to Evan’s nose and contended that the tot was ‘filthy and without appropriate clothing’. He was desperate to get his son away from his ex and her new partner. After a long battle, Carlo was eventually awarded full custody of Evan in…

Julie Mehdi, 54, Old Bury, West Midlands Walking past an elderly couple sitting on a bench and feeding pigeons, my hubby squeezed my hand. ‘That’ll be us one day,’ he smiled. Five kids and 16 years of marriage later, Zafar, 44, was still a hopeless romantic… We’d met in 1986 when he was a taxi driver and I’d managed the phones. We’d married in the same year and now, in June 2000, we had Madonna, 13; Shahbaz, 12; Tasleem, 7; Jasmine, 4, and Maria, 14 months. I had my hands full but couldn’t have been happier. Days later, I was putting Maria down for an afternoon nap when Zafar trudged in after a long shift. ‘Hi, love,’ he smiled wearily, giving me a kiss and heading up to bed. While…

Natasha, 30 Staring down at the beautiful bundle in my arms, I felt so lucky. ‘She’s perfect,’ my partner Peter, then 27, cooed. It was December 2017 and our daughter Lily had just been born. We were so in love. Her sweet lips, chubby cheeks and wide green eyes were mesmerising. Snapping a picture, I shared it with family and friends on WhatsApp. Adorable, they all replied. Before Lily was born, I’d been totally against the idea of putting pictures of our baby on social media. ‘You never know who might be looking,’ Peter had agreed. But now she was here, I wanted everyone to see how gorgeous she was. When Lily was two weeks old, I started a blog and Instagram account about my parenting experiences. Over the weeks,…

What is the name of Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello’s Pomeranian? Solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the two-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Gloomy donkey created by AA Milne (6) 12 Head of a republic (9) 13 Throw dice (4) 14 Squirmed (8) 15 Himalayan nation (5) 16 Restores to zero (6) 17 Very wicked person (7) 18 Game also known as ping-pong (5,6) 20 Spanish word for goodbye (5) 22 31 October (9) 24 Fruit that grows on vines (5) 28 Sitcom written by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge (7) 29 Imaginary circle around the Earth (7) 32 Capital of Canada (6) 34 Runners (8) 36 Type of pet kept in a tank or bowl (8) 37 English county (6) 39 Place of higher education (7)…

In November 2015, Derek Medina, 33, was found guilty of second-degree murder for killing his wife Jennifer. As the verdict was announced, Jennifer’s mother Carolyn Knox broke down. Medina was also found guilty of illegally firing a weapon in a dwelling, and of child neglect, having left Jennifer’s young daughter home alone while he handed himself in to the police. Medina showed no emotion as he was led away in handcuffs. In January 2016, before the judge sentenced Medina, the court heard from Jennifer’s dad. ‘The notion that my daughter was violent or abusive is an insult to me and my family. That is a fantasy that he created,’ said Jose Alfonso. The judge handed Medina a life sentence. ‘You foretold your future. You wrote on Facebook that I am…

Unsightly veins on my hands Q I’m proud of my younglooking appearance but now I’m getting horrible, bulging veins on my hands. What can I do? Maureen, Burnham-on-Crouch A Veins on the back of hands often become more visible as you age, due to thinning of the skin covering them. Bulging veins are more likely if you’re thin, as there’s less fat under your skin to disguise them, or if you have a pale complexion as they stand out against pale skin. Another possibility is that you’re very sporty – regular exercise can thicken your veins. Try to stop smoking if you do, as this can also make the look of the veins worse. Gaining weight will help reduce their appearance if you’re underweight, and camouflage creams can disguise veins,…

BODY IN THE SNOW On Christmas Day 2010, the body of Joanna Yeates was found in the snow. The 25-year-old landscape architect, who’d been missing for eight days, had been strangled. DNA was found on her body matching Vincent Tabak, 33, who lived in the same block of flats as Joanna, in Clifton. He claimed he’d gone to stop her screaming after he tried to kiss her, but the jury didn’t believe him. He was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 20 years, for her murder. TOTS KILLED June Sheasby, 7, and her little brother Royston, 5, disappeared from Snuff Mills in 1957 after going to look at some horses. After 11 days of searching, the two children were found buried in a wood by the river, with…

What forename is shared by one of the six core characters in the High School Musical movies and one of the seven core characters in the comedy series Community? Solve the crossword, then read down the yellow squares. The yellow shaded squares will spell out the prize answer. ACROSS 1 Tennis player, _ Williams (5) 4 Primary colour (3) 5 Nickname for Dorothy (3) DOWN 1 Be different (4) 2 Character created by Enid Blyton (5) 3 A region of the USA (5) WIN £50 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Terri Shanks, 50, Worthing Stretching out on a sun lounger, I watched as my son Cameron, then 5, splashed about in the shallows of the sparkling sea. It was 2017, and the two of us were enjoying an incredible two-week trip to Barbados. ‘Can’t we stay a bit longer?’ Cameron asked, smiling, as he sank back onto the golden sand. ‘I wish!’ I told him. Only, I started to ponder. I’d taken my daughter Georgia, then 19, on far-flung trips to the Caribbean and Australia when she was little. And I wanted Cameron to see the world, too. Why not do that now? So, in July 2018, I told his school that he wouldn’t be returning that September. And I registered with the council that he’d be homeschooled. I wanted…

It didn’t come easy, but for Hannah, it was third time lucky. She lost a lot of blood in the op, but stabilised. Over the next few months, she needed a couple more surgeries for minor complications – including a twisted bowel and bile duct reconstruction. Mia was brilliant, wanting to help me in any way that she could. Even if it meant holding Hannah’s hand while I gave her medicine. After Hannah’s final op in February 2020, in which the doctors reconstructed the bile ducts, things finally started to improve. Hannah went back to nursery but, at her monthly check-ups, Tom and I still held our breath. We were just so used to bad news. But her liver function was normal, her blood tests came back clear. And for…

Baked beans shakshuka Step up your breakfast game with this delicious take on a middle eastern shakshuka. SERVES: 4 PREP TIME: 15 MINS COOK TIME: 30 MINS • 1tbsp olive oil • 1 red onion, peeled and finely sliced • 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed • 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and sliced • 1tbsp sweet smoked paprika • 400g tin cherry tomato • 415g tin Heinz Beanz • 4 large free-range eggs • Small handful of chopped parsley • 1tsp chilli flakes • Toasted flatbread, to serve 1 Pour the olive oil into a large frying pan and add the red onion and garlic. Fry for about 3 mins until they just begin to soften, then add the sliced pepper and paprika. Cook for a further 5 mins. 2…

Coming 2 America AMAZON PRIME VIDEO Eddie Murphy reprises his role as African prince Akeem in this sequel to the 1988 film Coming to America. This time Akeem and his friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall) travel to the US to find his long-lost son. The Guilty NETFLIX In this thriller set over the course of one day, Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a police officer who’s been demoted to working at an emergency call centre. When he tries to save the life of a terrified caller, he soon finds that not all is as it seems… This Way Up C4 Aisling Bea and Sharon Horgan return as sisters Aine and Shona for a second series of the comedy. As Aine considers making a go of it with her boss Richard (Tobias Menzies),…

Q I’m really self-conscious about the size of my pores – they’re so noticeable. Is there anything I can do to shrink them? Hayley Wilyman, 49, Swansea A There are approximately 20,000 pores on the face, and as we age and skin loses elasticity they can become looser and more visible. In fact, between the ages of 25 and 50 they double in size. There’s no magic cure for shrinking them but pores that are clogged with debris and oil will look bigger. Use a gentle salicylic acid face wash like CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser, £12, to gently exfoliate and de-gunk pores. A clay mask such as PS... Pink Clay Pore Refining Facial Mask, 80p, Primark, draws out excess oil so skin looks smoother and more refined. Before you apply…

PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT HOW TO ENTER TEXT Simply text CHATC followed by a space and your answer/s (spaces between answers please), full name, door number and postcode to 84988 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…

Chat winners issue 42 (15 October 2020) Anyone from your town in this week..? £1,001 CASH L Turner, Haverhill £1,000 CASH B Brown, Boston £500 CASH L Smith, Farnborough; N Ion, Whitley Bay £250 CASH K Holvey, Bristol £150 CASH L Pritchard, Kidlington £100 CASH S McDevitt, Bexley; N Hillson, Bedford; P Stones, Durham; D Rushforth, Barnsley; T Booth, Luton £60 CASH M Dudley, Liverpool £50 CASH C Claude, London; P Stones, Durham; D Rushforth, Barnsley £30 CASH E Holland, Guildford; L Redman, Nottingham; A Croft, Farnham; D Thomas, Tongwynlais; J Walkden, Chorley £25 CASH S Honap, Kings Heath; C Bonner, Ashford; N Dow, Glenrothes; C Hopwood, Morecambe; T Metcalfe, Saltburn-by-the-Sea; S Douglas, Northampton; A Lane, Dronfield; S Lawton, Teddington; S Magee, Leeds Chat PUZZLE 3 ICEMAN Chat PUZZLE 8…

Dear friend, I want you to know right now, you’re not alone. I wish my mum Maggie had known that. I remember watching her in the kitchen when I was a child. Her laughter erupting as she served up a delicious feast, while singing along to the music. But behind that grin and giggles, Mum was struggling. Just like you might be, too. She’d suffered from postnatal depression after I was born. Then, when I was at primary school, she endured periods of anxiety, times when she didn’t want to leave the house. She’d come on leaps and bounds since then. By 1996, she seemed happier than ever. We were such a close family. Me, Mum, my dad Robert, and my younger brother Carl, then 10. But then it all…