Table of contents for 18-Feb-2021 in Chat

GEORGE at ASDA All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP Step out in style in high-waisted, wide-leg trousers which highlight your waist and elongate your legs. TU at SAINSBURY’S All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP Make a stylish impression over Zoom with a statement printed blouse – it will look great paired with jeans too. F&F at TESCO All sizes 6-22 STYLE TIP A cross between a shirt and a jacket, the trendy shacket is the perfect layering piece for transitioning into spring. NUTMEG at MORRISONS All sizes 8-22 STYLE TIP A flattering midi dress will see you through all year round. A v-neck style is perfect for larger busts and a busy print disguises any lumps and bumps. WE WANT YOU! WE’RE LOOKING FOR WOMEN JUST LIKE YOU TO APPEAR IN OUR…

Home health Feeling gloomy? A recent survey discovered that making home adjustments can help. During lockdown, decorating (51%), buying new home furnishings (45%), and making changes to home lighting (38%) were top of the list for boosting moods.* Swap and see Don’t have time to make a healthy meal from scratch? Resist calorific microwave meals and try a Jimmy Joy Plenny Pot instead. Available in three different flavours, not only will they provide you with 26 essential vitamins and minerals, each plant-based meal also contains 20g protein – and they’re low in sugar! (£19.30 for six meals, jimmyjoy.com) Start scraping your tongue! Do you forget about your tongue when it comes to oral hygiene? Believe it or not, your tongue is a fundamental part of keeping your mouth healthy. It’s…

It’s one of those things we know we should do, like flossing or eating our five a day. But – confession time – how many of us fully intend to check our boobs for signs of cancer, only never quite get round to it? One in seven women in the UK will develop breast cancer. Yet 47% of women in the UK do not check their breasts regularly, and a staggering one in 10 of us has never checked. That’s despite the fact that early diagnosis can be the difference between life and death. The charity Breast Cancer Now is making a plea to women to make checking their boobs a ‘habit of a lifetime’. So what should you be looking for? Chat speaks to two women who know… ‘I…

ARROW WORD The xiuhpōhualli and the tōnalpōhualli were two Aztec forms of what? 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 3x3 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 Inspired by the life of model Anna Nicole Smith, Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Anna Nicole is an example of what type of work? The prize answer is missing from the grid. BALLET BOOK COMIC DANCE FILM MIME OPERA PAINTING PHOTO PLAY POEM SCULPTURE…

FILL ME IN What is the only province or territory of Canada to be named after a woman? 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 In August 2020, the city of Kyle, Texas, renamed a street after what foodstuff, only to be forced to rescind the decision a week later? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the shaded circles for the prize answer. 3 letters AIR ALL CAN EWE JAM LAP LOT TAN TAP 4 letters AJAR DATA FAWN OPAL STOP WHAT 5 letters NEWTS RODEO TASTE YARDS 6 letters POTATO PSALMS REFUND RUSTIC 7 letters LAWYERS MODESTY WIN 100…

3 ways to… avoid romance scams If you’re looking for love online, make sure you don’t fall victim to a fraudster, warns Action Fraud. 1 What are they? Romance fraud occurs when you think you’ve met the perfect partner through an online dating website or app, but the other person is really a criminal using a fake profile to form a ‘relationship’ with you in order to gain your trust. Their end goal is to get their victim’s money or to get enough personal information to steal their identity. Research last year found the average victim lost over £10,000. 2 The signs There are some red flags that may help you spot scammers. Do they ask you lots of personal questions but not seem interested in telling you much about…

Vegetable chow mein Put the phone down! This veggie chow mein can be on the table in just 10 mins! SERVES: 4 PREP TIME: 5 MINS COOK TIME: 5 MINS • 2tbsp vegetable oil • 125g packet oyster mushrooms, sliced • 1 carrot, peeled and sliced • 1 red pepper, de-seeded and sliced • 125g packet tenderstem broccoli, cut into pieces • 1tbsp soy sauce • 1tbsp rice vinegar • 300g ready-to-use medium egg noodles • 1-2tbsp oyster sauce • 1 lime, to serve 1 Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan. Add the veg and cook for 2-3 mins. 2 Pour in the soy sauce, vinegar and oyster sauce. Add the noodles to the pan and heat through. Serve immediately with some lime squeezed over the…

The Offenders BBC1 This six-part comedy follows seven strangers from different walks of life, forced together on a community payback scheme in Bristol. The all-star cast includes former Poldark star Eleanor Tomlinson and Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Christopher Walken. Patrick Kielty: My Nation, Its Border and Me BBC1 To mark 100 years since the creation of Northern Ireland, this one-off documentary will follow the comedian as he explores the region’s complex history and meets people whose stories of key moments intersect with those of his own family. Deutschland 89 MORE4 Jonas Nay returns as East German agent Martin Rauch in the third instalment of the drama set in 1980s Germany. This time the action takes place in 1989, just after the fall of the Berlin Wall, as Stasi agents attempt to…

Q Can you recommend any palm oil-free or sustainable palm oil make-up products please? Debra Stapley, 50, Dover A Palm oil is a vegetable oil derived from the fruit of oil palms, used in food, fuel, cleaners and beauty products. But it is devastating the planet, causing major deforestation, threatening wildlife and releasing greenhouse gas emissions. So we applaud the brands who opt for sustainable palm oil or shun it altogether. Most lipsticks contain palm oil, but Lush Lipstick, £10, uk.lush.com, is creamy, comfortable and free from palm oil. Beautiful Me is dedicated to avoiding palm oil in its products, and has some beautiful make-up, including Lip Gloss, £9.50, hollandandbarrett.com. Essence’s new Hello Good Stuff range contains at least 90% natural ingredients and supports sustainable palm oil. We love the…

THE BIGGIE What is at the top of actor Natalie Portman’s bucket list? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Party decoration filled with sweets (6) 12 Not sure (9) 13 Midwestern US state (4) 14 Made a rough drawing (8) 15 Suggest, hint (5) 16 French port (6) 17 Pubs (7) 18 Flavour of cordial (11) 20 City in Yorkshire (5) 22 Snack often eaten at picnics (6,3) 24 Amy _, Arrival actor (5) 28 Will _, star of 47 Across (7) 29 The Wire actor, _ West (7) 32 Floor covering (6) 34 Online computer network (8) 36 What Tiger Woods might use? (4,4) 37 Item that is posted (6) 39 Song from the Caribbean…

It took the jury less than two hours to reach a decision. In April 2015, Colleen Harris, 73, was found guilty of the first-degree murder of her third husband, Robert ‘Bob’ Harris. As the verdict was read out, she put her hand over her face and began to cry. In June 2015, the judge spoke before sentencing Harris, saying that the evidence against her was ‘overwhelming’. ‘In all my years as a practising trial attorney, and my six years as a judge, I have seen very few acts more selfish or self-centred than that in this case.’ He sentenced Harris to 50 years to life behind bars, meaning she would be at least 120 before she would ever be considered for parole, so would die behind bars. Two of Bob’s…

Coughs and reflux Q I’ve had a cough for months and my GP says that it’s due to stomach acid. How can this be?Sue, south London A A long-term cough should always be checked but this sounds like reflux, where stomach acid leaks into your gullet and up to your throat. Often, reflux causes heartburn or other indigestion pain, but sometimes the only symptom is a cough, the result of acid irritating your throat. You might notice a sore throat or hoarse voice, too. Symptoms are often worse at night, when acid is more likely to escape from your stomach because you’re lying flat, and first thing in the morning. Your doctor might suggest acid-suppressing pills but help yourself by not eating large meals, especially late at night, and avoiding…

What to look and feel for ● A change to the skin, such as puckering or dimpling● Any kind of unusual liquid (discharge) coming from either nipple● A rash or crusting around the nipple● A change to the nipple, for example, it becomes pulled in (inverted)● A lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit – you might feel the lump but not see it● A change in the colour of the breast – for example, the breast may look red or inflamed● Changes in the size or shape of the breast● On its own, pain in your breasts is not usually a sign of breast cancer. But look out for pain that’s there all or most of the time. If you find anything unusual, arrange an appointment…

Keely Jukes, 37, Northumberland As my 13-year old Westie Lola plodded along behind me, I smiled to her. ‘Nearly home,’ I said apologetically, leading her towards our front door. It was early 2020, and my old girl Lola didn’t have the energy she’d once possessed. I’d had her since she was a pup, after my parents bought her for me as a Christmas gift. Always well behaved, she loved playing with her collection of sheep toys and having cuddles. Over the years, I’d thrown my special girl themed parties to celebrate her birthday. Paw Patrol, Toy Story...she’d even had a bouncy castle at her 10th birthday back in 2017. My friends’ kids loved it, and even Lola enjoyed having a little bounce. But now, aged 13, her legs tired easily.…

They won’t forgive love-rat hubby Q My husband admitted he’d had an aff air. He met her through work and it lasted a few months. We’ve been married 10 years and have two kids. He said he’s sorry, and the affair’s over, so I’ve agreed to give him a chance. I’m hurt, but I love him and we’re having counselling. But my friends say I shouldn’t forgive him. So now I have to cope with pals who refuse to speak to him. What can I do?Beth, 42 A Listen here, petal, I understand where they’re coming from – they want the best for you, but the last thing you need is extra pressure. Tell them you opened up to them, and now need their support. He’s done wrong by you,…

Leah Punch, 29, Cork Resting a hand on my swollen belly, I groaned. I hadn’t felt right for weeks, knew something was wrong. Only, back and forth to the hospital, doctors couldn’t work it out. Then, in October 2013, one doctor thought he’d sussed it. ‘You might have a hernia,’ he said, referring me for a scan at the hospital. Made sense, my stomach was protruding. Deep down, I knew my weight wasn’t helping. Since I was a tot, I’d just loved my grub. By my early teens, I was around 15st. And now, aged 22, I was 16st – and I was only 5ft tall. Sent for an ultrasound, I lay back on the hospital couch. ‘There’s something here,’ the nurse said. And that’s when she dropped a bombshell.…

If you’re sitting down, reading this in your fluffy slippers, with a nice hot cuppa, it’s probably quite hard to imagine living completely off-grid, in the middle of nowhere. Growing your own food, homeschooling your children, making your own herbal medicines... Well, for the Smyth family, it’s a reality. Husband and wife Kip and Carrie made the decision to up sticks and move with their seven children to the Ozarks, in Missouri, US. Kip, who grew up in Los Angeles, was working as a shop manager, and hated the consumer culture that came with it. So he and Carrie researched the best place to relocate their family to pursue a sustainable way of life. Seven years ago, they bought the land which would make their dream become a reality. ‘No…

Maybelline Superstay Activewear 30H Foundation, £10.99 Ideal for oily and combination skin, or if your foundation slips by lunchtime, this mattefinish base delivers great coverage in a light formula. Hairburst Scalp Stimulating Massage Brush, £7.99, hairburst.com Beautiful hair demands a healthy scalp. Use this brush to lather up your shampoo as the silicone bristles gently exfoliate your scalp. The massaging action stimulates circulation to promote healthy hair growth. Venus Extra Smooth Sensitive Rose Gold, £12.99 Razors can irritate reactive skin, so Venus has come up with a lubricating gel that sits around the blades to reduce friction for a smooth and comfortable shave. And best of all, it’s super pretty! L’Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths Wonder Water, £9.99 This has been around in the US for a while now, with one…

Laura Hottel, 47 The excitable smile on the young lad’s face said it all. ‘Thank you so much,’ Martin, then 15, beamed as we wrapped up for the day. It was August 2012 and a typical Sunday afternoon at the church youth group where my husband Jay, then 52, and I volunteered. My son from a previous relationship, Andrew, then 11, usually came, too. Making pizzas, playing games, sing-a-longs. Martin had just joined, and looked as though he’d never had fun like it. He mentioned that he had an identical twin, Victor, so we told him to bring him along, too. ‘Tell you what, we’ll give you both a lift,’ Jay smiled. For the next few weeks, we collected the twins and brought them with us to youth group. Like…

When Robert ‘Bob’ Harris brought his girlfriend Colleen home to his children, he was totally enraptured by the woman. They’d met at a camp during their school years and now, decades on in 1990, they’d reconnected. But Bob’s son Andy had deep concerns about his father’s romantic reunion. Colleen had been married twice already. Her first ended in divorce. Her second left her a widow. Her husband had been killed…and Colleen had been accused of murdering him! In 1986, Colleen had stood trial for 46-year-old James Batten’s murder. She’d been acquitted of the crime. Bob felt sure that the court had reached the right verdict. He told his family Colleen had lived a ‘hard life’ but he ‘loved her and wanted to marry her’. She deserved a chance, surely? The…

Anna Sunderland, 39, Peterborough The advice you need Prodding my wobbly bits as I examined my body, I sighed. It was early2017, and at 5ft 5in, I weighed over 13st. Since the birth of my son a couple of years earlier, my weight had crept up. Raising my daughters, then 12, 10 and 6, alongside a baby, I barely found time for myself. Dealing with the breakdown of my second marriage, too, I was consumed with anxiety. Desperate to take control of just one aspect of my life, I decided to focus on my weight. I wanted a ‘quick fix’ to lose the pounds. So, that January,I started a crash diet. Drank shakes, consuming no more than 600 calories a day. Almost immediately, I felt weak and sick. ‘Mummy’s not…

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 Jacquie Simpson, Worthing, West Sussex ACROSS 1 Practice boxing2 Corona3 Greek god of love4 Squirrel’s nest DOWN 1 Garden hut2 Young salmon under 2 years3 Cosmetic plant4 Cheek colour WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Which ship arrived at the town of Baiona on 1 March 1493, bringing the news back to Spain of Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the Americas? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: QUO + ITS, ITS +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join…

LURED TO HER DEATH In 2009, 17-year-old Ashleigh Hall was found dead in a ditch in Sedgefield. She’d gone out to meet a boy she’d been speaking to online. Only, the ‘teenage boy’ was actually serial sex offender Peter Chapman, 33, who’d used a fake photo to lure her. Ashleigh got into Chapman’s car believing he was the boy’s dad. But he kidnapped, raped and murdered her. In 2010, Chapman was jailed for life, to serve at least 35 years, after admitting what he’d done. CANNIBAL STRANGLER Julie Paterson, 32, met David Harker, 24, in a club in April 1998, then went back to his flat in Darlington. There, Harker took Julie’s tights and strangled her. After abusing her body, he boasted that he ate parts of her flesh with…

The Babri Masjid, destroyed in 1992, was a mosque in Ayodhya, India, said to be situated at the birthplace of which Hindu deity? Solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to spell out the prize answer. ACROSS 1 _ Pine, Star Trek actor (5) 4 Month between April and June (3) 5 Crazy (3) DOWN 1 Used to tidy hair (4) 2 Have a similar sound (5) 3 _ Toksvig, QI host WIN 50 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Louise Unsworth, 22, Burnley Twirling across the living room in a sparkly dress, my mum Leanne turned to face us. ‘So, what do you think?’ she grinned, shaking her shoulders at me and my sister Paige, then 18. ‘You look fab,’ I whistled. It was May 2018, and Mum, then 39, had always been young at heart. ‘It’s a role reversal,’ I laughed, looking down at my pyjamas. I was curled up on the sofa for a box-set binge, while Mum was dressed up to the nines for a Friday night on the town! She was much more of a party animal than me. Holidaying in Ibiza, she loved to socialise and dance. But she was devoted to her family, too. Mum lived in the next street to me. She…

Three in 10 Brits never look at their credit score, while 26% are unaware of what factors contribute towards it, research from Experian found. The research was commissioned to launch Experian Boost, a free service that gives people the opportunity to increase their credit score by sharing information about their regular spending. Visit experian.co.uk. Did you know? A quarter of adults admit being distracted at work – for an average of 28 minutes a day – due to thinking about how to manage their money, research by Paragon Bank reveals. TOP TIP Putting your cash towards experiences instead of pricey material object is better value for money.…

Aries 21 March-20 April Fate and fortune is turning in your favour now and everything is going as you wished. People are kind and a new job offer will be just what you’re hoping for. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Self-assured, you’re moving up the ladder within your work life. You’re being noticed for your efforts and success. Make the most of new opportunities. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Try activities that’ll help you relax, like yoga or reading. Your opinions could provoke an argument at work, so unwind in the evenings by chatting with friends. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Caring and timid, try not to let others walk all over…

Avon Adapt Hydra Rescue Mist, £7, avon.uk.com Specially formulated for menopausal skin, the hero ingredient is tiliacora, a plant found in South Asia, which increases moisture, boosts firmness and cools the skin. Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray, £8.50, Boots If you’re looking for instant refreshment, this is a winner. The floaty-light mist has soothing properties, making it a calming choice for sensitive, itchy or sunburnt skin. Caudalie Beauty Elixir, £12, John Lewis & Partners This bottle has reached cult status thanks to its ability to deliver baby-soft skin. Rose extract tightens pores, while grapes hydrate and illuminate. Use to set your make-up and top-up moisture throughout the day. TOP TIP Apply Vaseline to pulse points before spraying your perfume to make the scent last longer.…

TEXT Simply text CHATB 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 you don’t wish to enter. INTERNET Join our Chat Comp Club…

Chat winners issue 45 (5 November 2020) £1,001 CASH E Cadwallader, Scunthorpe £1000 CASH D Brown, Chigwell £500 CASH D MacHado, London; S Sherlock, Nottingham £250 CASH L Jacklin, Rotherham £150 CASH P Phillips, Pontypridd £100 CASH E Wells, Workington; M Pardue, Billericay; A Brownlee, Newcastle upon Tyne; J Kempster, Leicester; L Paggett, Telford £60 CASH M Marsh, Bristol £50 CASH L Barnshaw, Oldham; M Ritchie, Preston; M Drakeley, Alfreton £30 CASH S Green, Northerallerton; V Wittridge, Dorchester; M Burns, Glasgow; R Francis, Thetford; S Bird, Peterborough £25 CASH J Ferguson, Ware; D Harbour, Pulborough; E Ellis, Brierley Hill; M Owen, Llanelli; G Sutcliffe, Chesterfield; I Gibbons, Ormskirk; T Powis, Stourbridge; A Saunders, Gosport; I Hunter, County Durham Anyone from your town in the list this week…?…

I’ll never forget the day I decided what I wanted to do with my life. Even now, almost 30 years later, I still think about it. When I was 6, I saw a photo of Helen Sharman – the first British astronaut – in a book about space. ‘Wow,’ I gasped in total awe. The first woman ever to go into space, too. She was totally, pardon the pun, out of this world! And I knew in that moment that I wanted a career in space. In year 7, I had an announcement for my Physics teacher... ‘I want to work in NASA’s Mission Control,’ I told him. Not something he often heard coming out of the mouths of little girls from Surbiton. When I was 6, I knew I…