Table of contents for 04-Mar-2021 in Chat

Jessica’s mum, Pauline Chambless, 68, said, ‘It’s hard for me to believe he has done this. It’s difficult to wrap my mind around his reasoning. If I could ask him one question, it would be, “Why?” Did he justify it by telling himself he was just helping us? He had no right to do what he did to me. And he’s denied Jessica the chance to have a normal daughter-father relationship. But I have the daughter I prayed for for 16 years and I’m thoroughly blessed to have her.’…

Q Can anyone talk to spirits? A I believe everyone is born with the ability to connect with spirits and angels in some capacity. In the same way that someone may be good at drawing or baking, my gift is that I was born more ‘spiritually awake’ than others. Through my workshops, I hope to teach others how to communicate themselves. Q So do you get ‘messages’ all the time? A When I was younger, I didn’t know how to ‘turn off’ messages from spirits and angels, which was exhausting! I’ve since learnt how to make myself invisible to them, through the power of my mind, until I’m ready to communicate with them once again. Q What’s the best and worst thing about being psychic? A Reading someone’s future has…

How to beat bingo wings? Q Lockdown has made my bingo wings much worse! How can I get rid of them? Shaz, Castleford A Bingo wings refer to the sagging loose skin and fat that droops down from your upper arms when you raise them – the name comes from bingo players shaking their arms in the air! They’re usually due to loss of skin and muscle tone with age, together with weight gain, particularly if you’re naturally more prone to accumulating fat in this area. They can also be the result of losing a lot of weight very quickly, which leaves folds of saggy skin. If you’re overweight, then losing weight is the best solution. Exercises such as push-ups and dips, to strengthen the triceps muscles at the back…

• First you need to gather support for a campaign or Bill. Petition site change.org is a great way of building momentum and bringing issues to the attention of lawmakers and MPs. • An MP can then bring your Bill before the House of Commons for a first reading. • During eight steps, the Bill is debated in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, who consult experts and agree amendments. • It’s then voted on, before finally receiving royal assent from the Queen.…

ARROW WORD In two novels by Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov, Misha is the titular example of what type of animal? 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 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Copán and Río Plátano Biosphere are located in which country of the Americas? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BELIZE BOLIVIA BRAZIL CANADA…

My selfie-mad daughter Q My daughter is constantly posting selfies on social media. She ruined my birthday dinner as she was taking pictures of herself and uploading them all evening. It all feels staged as we have to take photos with the right light or background. She’s making me miserable and I think she has a problem. What do you think? Cathy, 49 A Oh pet, I know how you feel. But the truth is, it’s the world we live in now. Taking selfies is a way of life for kids and adults alike! Next time, try taking her to one side and telling her it’s lovely but she can’t carry on like this. Suggest taking photos at the start and end of the meal, so you can all enjoy…

Karla Nall, 25, Wallingford Bent in half, I stuck my head in the freezer and rummaged through the icy shelves. Mmm, pizza, I thought, pulling out the oven-ready box, along with some nuggets and chips. After cooking up the feast, I piled two plates high and carried them to my bedroom, where me and my boyfriend, Rowan, then 21, tucked in. It was June 2016, and as we lived with my parents, this was our daily routine. When I got home from my sales-assistant job, they’d already had their tea. Rowan and I had been together eight months. But we’d known each other since school, and soon settled into a comfortable pattern. For breakfast and lunch I ate pastries from Greggs. In the evening, if it wasn’t a freezer feast,…

Aries 21 March-20 April If you’ve started a new relationship, talking about deeper connections will bring you closer. Share your dreams: you’re heading in the same direction. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Empower yourself with positive thinking. You’re more productive when you’re enjoying yourself, small tasks are completed in the blink of an eye. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Do you feel the odds are against you? If so, don’t gamble with finances or your emotions. Seek advice from those in the know, then things will progress. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Time for introspection and perhaps indecision about money matters will lead to a new perspective. When friends ask for help,…

L’Oréal Paris Botanicals Argan and Safflower Nourishing Shampoo, £7.99, Boots A good-quality shampoo will do wonders. This high-street option is hydrating and leaves your hair smelling lovely. It won’t weigh fine hair down, either. Revlon Kiss Plumping Lip Créme in Nude Honey, £6.99, Superdrug This tingly feeling gloss enhances your pout for really plumped up lips and the colour is such a beautifully glamorous nude, perfect for day or night. Lily Lolo Mineral Blusher in Ooh La La, £9, feelunique.com Matte blusher is particularly flattering on mature skin, because shimmer can enhance lines. We love this shade for a subtle flush of colour. Essence Hello, Good Stuff! Face Primer, £3.79, justmylook.com Natural hemp seed oil and aloe vera extract give the skin an extra layer of moisture for a long- lasting…

Dear Tony, It was 1.30am when my ringing phone wrenched me from sleep. I didn’t want to disturb our son Oliver, then 7, who, missing you, had crawled into our bed every night since you’d gone on your Spanish golfing holiday. So I took my phone into the bathroom. A solictor, you’d gone away with some pals. We’d have gone, too, but it was June 2004, and our eldest, Anthony, then 15, was taking his GCSEs. You’d only called the night before, chatting about the glorious view from your room. But, now, the unusual early-morning call from one of your colleagues triggered panic in me. ‘Tracey…’ he started. I didn’t need to hear the rest. ‘He’s dead, isn’t he?’ I blurted. I just knew. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he said. I…

Claire Stone, 39, St Helens Taking a slow, deep breath and tuning my mind, I summoned my guardian angel. And, just like that, she appeared – a shimmering, human female form with fluttering wings. Next, I called for the spirit guides of the 50 people sitting around me in my rented yoga studio. It was 2019, and I was hosting one of my angel communication workshops. Each of my clients had come to me because they wanted to develop their own psychic intuition. ‘Give us a sign you are here with us,’ we all chant. My students each ask their angel to show them some personally-chosen sign, such as a feather, over the course of the next week. It’s all in a day’s work for me. I was only 7…

Georgie Monigatti, 25, Littleport The advice you need Pointing at the ultrasound image on screen, I brought my daughter Elsie, then 3, closer and broke the news. ‘You’re going to have a baby brother!’ I smiled. It was September 2019 and my husband Sean, then 29, and I were just as excited as Elsie to discover we were expecting a boy. But behind the smiles, I was suffering from pre-eclampsia. Most likely due to problems with the placenta, it caused high blood pressure and kidney problems, as well as pain under my ribs and headaches. For the rest of my pregnancy, I had check-ups every two weeks. Then, in December, at 35 weeks pregnant, I had a caesarean. The operation lasted just minutes. ‘Is he OK?’ I panicked behind the…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address left – there’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Ann Walker, Leeds ACROSS 1 Agreement 2 Land measure 3 Spring flower 4 Soap bubbles DOWN 1 Platform 2 Pale beige 3 Very dry 4 Not as much WIN 5 x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS One of the three small bones of the middle ear, the incus is so-called for its resemblance to what item? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: SW + IG, IG +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize…

Pretty pendant This stunning silver-plated crystal heart pendant with a 17in chain is yours for free, simply by sending an 88p stamped, self-addressed envelope with the completed coupon printed below. Team your necklace with matching faux pearl and silver-plated jewellery: a 22in faux pearl rope for £5; a three-row faux pearl 18in necklace for £6, a silver-plated Prince of Wales bracelet for £3 and heart earrings and silver-plated studs for £6 for both pairs. The full set costs just £20 and if you order it all, we’ll enclose another jewellery gift – absolutely free! How to claim your free bracelet Complete the coupon and send together with a stamped, self-addressed envelope and any payment to: LMS, Dept CHAT46 PO Box 998, Aylesbury HP22 9LE All applications must be received by…

Feeling riled up, in January 2020, I roped a friend into joining Slimming World with me. Sitting in the car beforehand, we scoffed brownies. ‘This is the last bad thing we’re eating!’ I said. Wiping the crumbs from my chops, I walked into the meeting excited but scared. Standing on the scales, I felt sick as I read the number: 21st ½lb. That same day I stocked up on fruit, veggies and fresh groceries. With our cupboards bursting, we had no excuse for a takeaway. And Rowan was willing to try my new recipes and support me when I slipped. I created an Instagram account to document my weight loss, too. Now we cook fakeaways from scratch Hoped it would help when I needed encouragement or to be held accountable.…

The minimum age to play the National Lottery is set to be raised from 16 years old to 18 years old from October, in order to ‘protect young people from gambling- related harm’, the Government has announced. And under the plans, which were revealed as we went to press, online sales to 16- and 17-year-olds are due to be stopped beforehand, in April. Did you know? Some 8% of victims of online shopping scams have withheld their experience from friends and family, HSBC UK found. Men are most likely to keep quiet about being scammed. TOP TIP Set specific financial goals. Use dates, not just words, to describe what you want to accomplish.…

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Black Cherry, £3.99, Boots A deep-plum shade is always flattering for a manicure and this one gives incredible shine. The applicator brush is slender enough to be precise, but use a basecoat beforehand to avoid staining your nails. Rimmel Super Gel Nail Polish in Grape Sorbet, £6.99, feelunique.com A rose-pink shade never goes out of style and I always recommend this varnish to friends for a beautiful everyday shade. It lasts well without chipping and doesn’t dry out in the bottle. Essie Nail Colour in Bikini So Teeny, £7.99, Boots A cornflower blue that is perfect for spring, this polish is sure to get you ready for the brighter season. The subtle turquoise glitter gives an extra touch of glam when it…

THE BIGGIE What type of dog is British actor Emily Mortimer’s dog, Snowy? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the two-word prize answer. Across 11 Long journey (6) 12 Stubborn (9) 13 Cried (4) 14 David _, Peep Show actor (8) 15 Angry (5) 16 Bird of prey (6) 17/58 Actor who plays Margaret Thatcher in The Crown (7,8) 18 2018 film starring Bradley Cooper and 23 Down (1, 4, 2, 4) 20 Material used for roof tiles (5) 22 South American country (9) 24 Youngest child of Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West (5) 28 Argument (7) 29 Quiet and inactive (7) 32 Of practical benefit (6) 34 Place to buy souvenirs (4,4) 36 3D image made of light (8) 37…

Thomas Junta was found guilty of a slightly ‘lesser’ conviction: involuntary manslaughter. The jury rejected the more serious charge of voluntary manslaughter, concluding that, while Junta was not acting in self defence, he hadn’t intended to kill Michael, either. Junta was jailed for six to 10 years, double the state’s guidelines for his crime. Judge Charles Grabau called the sentence ‘lenient and most generous’ given the ‘aggravating factors’ – especially as the fatal beating had taken place at a youth hockey game, witnessed by both the men’s sons. Junta showed little reaction as the verdict was read out, although his family sobbed and hugged. Michael’s father, Augustine ‘Gus’ Costin, told reporters he’d passed Junta in the courthouse corridor as both men waited for the verdict. ‘I told him, “I don’t…

World health Introducing ‘brygge’, the British version of the Danish concept ‘hygge’, a sense of cosiness and wellness. For Brits cosying up while it’s chilly, watching a boxset or film (39%), putting the heating or fire on (28%) and baking cakes (24%) top the list for the ‘perfect brygge day’.* Swap and see If you’ve recently adopted a plant-based diet but are struggling to find tasty dairy-free yogurts, try the new Plant range from The Collective. Greek-style but made from oats, coconut and rice, they’re available in four flavours, including Fudge and Raspberry. (£2.20 for 400g tub, Sainsbury’s) Beat heartburn We’ve all experienced heartburn at some point, whether it’s a burning sensation in the chest or upper belly after eating, or an acidic taste following a burp. However, for the…

BABES IN THE WOOD In 1986, 9-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway disappeared. The next day, their bodies were found half a mile from home, in Wild Park, Brighton. They’d been strangled and sexually assaulted. Russell Bishop was arrested but cleared following a trial in 1987. Within three years, he’d tried to kill another girl in Brighton. But in 2018, thanks to a breakthrough in DNA testing, Bishop was finally convicted of killing Nicola and Karen. TRUNK MURDER Police found the body of 41-year-old prostitute Violet Kaye in a trunk at a house near Brighton Station in July 1934. The trunk was being used as a coffee table but the smell of decomposition was unmistakable. Violet’s boyfriend Tony Mancini was charged with murder but found not guilty. On his deathbed…

FILL ME IN Operation Urgent Fury was a US-led military invasion of which country in 1983? 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 puzzle answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 14 Your answer: CIRCLE TIME The French wine regions of Sancerre, Chinon and Muscadet are all found close to the banks of which river? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters EEL EGO END LAD LAP LEA SAC SAD USE 4 letters ACID FLEA HOWL OVAL TREE WIFE 5 letters ALARM CAMEO DROOP NUDGE 6 letters EXCESS EXHORT EXPOSE VACUUM 7 letters ABANDON SAMPLED WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to…

3 ways to... save money on breakdown cover Looking for breakdown cover? Check out these tips to see if you can cut how much it costs you… 1 Find deals ‘Never let your breakdown cover autorenew, always shop around,’ says MoneySupermarket’s Dave Merrick. ‘Also, having multiple vehicles on your policy is likely to increase the price, but it may be cheaper than taking out separate policies for each car – so always check. Ensure you don’t already have the cover you need via your car insurance or packaged bank account, if you have one,’ he adds. 2 Don’t overpay ‘Think carefully about the type and level of breakdown cover you might require; local cover is often the cheapest and most basic level available, and will almost certainly cost less than…

Roasted vegetable and lentil filo parcel A great dish for using up veg in the fridge – mix and match whatever you’ve got… SERVES: 6 PREP TIME: 15 MINS COOK TIME: 1 HR 5 MINS • 2 peppers, deseeded and chopped • 2 medium sweet potatoes, diced • 1 red onion, finely chopped • 2 courgettes, roughly chopped • 2tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing • 200g mushrooms, roughly chopped • 250g pack ready-to-eat puy lentils • Small handful fresh parsley, chopped • 5 sheets filo pastry 1 Heat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Put the peppers, sweet potatoes, red onion and courgettes in a large roasting tin. Toss with the oil and season well then roast in the oven for 15 mins, turning occasionally. 2 Add the mushrooms…

The Celebrity Circle C4 Kaye Adams and Nadia Sawalha are among the famous faces taking part in the show, where residents of an apartment block compete through a social media platform called The Circle. Invincible AMAZON PRIME VIDEO Sandra Oh and Mark Hamill are among the voice cast of this adult animation which follows 17-year-old Mark, whose father is the world’s most powerful superhero. But, as the teen develops powers of his own, he realises his dad might not be as heroic as he thought. The Great Celebrity Bake Off C4 James McAvoy is among the new batch who will enter the tent to impress Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with their baking. Other celebs include Nadine Coyle, David Baddiel and Tom Allen. The Ipcress File ITV Len Deighton’s 1962…

Q I know we shouldn’t be using face wipes for environmental reasons, but how can I take my make-up off without them? Heather Manly, 68, Perthshire A Face wipes are not only bad for the environment (they end up in landfill and clog drains, so never flush them down the loo, even if they are biodegradable), they’re not great for your skin, either. They’re full of ingredients that strip your skin’s natural oils. Instead, use a balm cleanser like Soap & Glory Glow Your Mind Nourishing Cleansing Balm, £10, Boots, to break down daily grime, before rinsing off with a flannel. If your skin’s on the dull side, try Superfacialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil, £12, Boots, the added vitamin C will put the glow back into your skin.…

TEXT Simply text CHATD 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 winners issue 47 (19 November 2020) £1,001 CASH G Western, Skegness £1,000 CASH I Davidson, Billericay £500 CASH P Grimstead, Frome; G Smith, Hayle £250 CASH J Spokes, Hull £150 CASH C Ramsey, Brandon £100 CASH D Brook, Lancing; G Foster, Cambridge; C Jones, Halifax; J Mullins, Hayes; G Hutton, Sudbury £60 CASH C MacLeod, Lairg £50 CASH J Oakley, Loughborough; M Mulloy, Rochester; L Fleming, East Kilbridge £30 CASH L Swann, Walsall; E Underwood, Walsall; H Hylands, Larne; E Bradley, Invergordon; C Shaw, Stevenson £25 CASH R Hall, Cambridge; D Bird, Shipley; V Savage, Tewkesbury; S McConaghy, Ballymena; H Barton, Alford; P Hicks, Southampton; S Birds, Matlock; B Tromans, Brierley Hill; P Rutter, London Anyone from your town in the list this week..? Chat PUZZLE 3 NARNIA Chat…