Table of contents for 04 August 2022 in Chat

We can’t get enough of birth stories, and Dimitty’s is a real shocker. She was certain she wasn’t pregnant and had negative tests to prove it. Then she got out of the shower, holding her newborn (p10). Talk about making a splash! Elsewhere, we’re packed with the usual mix of real-life reads, chilling true crime, food, fashion and fun. Oh, and congrats to newly-weds Mabel and Percy! We wish you happy futures filled with belly rubs and squeaky toys… (p30) Have a great week. PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Natalie Mallette, 38, Aberdeen Hearing the rattle of the letterbox, I raced to the front door and scooped up the bundle on the doormat. Rifled through the junk mail until I found the letter I’d been waiting for. Ripping it open, I began to read, until I felt a little hand pull at my sleeve. ‘What’s that?’ my daughter Christina, then 4, piped up. ‘It’s from Mummy’s special friend, ’ I smiled. It was 2007 and I’d been writing to Norman Duncan for a few months, after a mutual friend suggested it. His nickname was Nozzie, he was then 28, and his words scrawled on the paper told me how much he was looking forward to meeting me. I was 21 and a single mum, so it was nice to…

Dimitty Bonnett, 29 Grimacing as I turned over in bed, I positioned the pillow between my knees. My hip was painful and the soft bulk of the pillow was the only thing which eased the discomfort. I told my sisters, Alysia, then 32, and Oakleigh, then 26, about my reliance on the pillow. Both of them were exercise physiologists. They winked at me and said, ‘You’re pregnant.’ ‘No way, ’ I shook my head firmly. But they persisted, and, in the end, I took a pregnancy test just to shut them up. ‘There, ’ I said, waving the negative result at them. I knew what being pregnant felt like, as I was already mum to Nate, then 5, and 3-year-old Darci. OK, I wasn’t skinny, probably a size 18, but…

Britany and Armando Barron were childhood sweethearts. Married since they were teenagers, the couple shared three children. But as the years passed, their relationship was on shaky ground. In September 2020, Armando, then 30, found text messages on his 31-year-old wife’s phone. Between his wife and her colleague Jonathan Amerault, then 25, who was so handsome that he was nicknamed ‘Abercrombie’, after the hunky models who worked at the clothes shop. Armando saw red, using Britany’s phone to send Jonathan a message, luring him to a nearby park. Leaving their kids with their grandparents next door, Armando and Britany went to the meeting point. On the way, Armando taunted his wife, reading out the flirtatious texts she’d exchanged with Jonathan. Hitting her as he came to the end of each…

Painful legs keep me awake Q Agonising leg cramps keep waking me up at night, what can I do to stop them? Val, Bolsover A Night cramps occur when a muscle, usually in your calf, goes into spasm. Although they affect around one-third of over-60s, we don’t fully understand why they happen. Your GP can check for causes, such as a chemical imbalance in your blood, a side effect of drugs you’re taking, liver or thyroid gland problems or nerve disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, but often there’s no obvious cause. Treatment often means trial and error and might involve keeping your feet warmer or cooler at night, lifting the bedclothes off your feet with a kind of cage, raising the foot of the bed or improving muscle tone in…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p5. There’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Joan Squires, Plymouth ACROSS 1 Ship workers 2 Bees’ home 3 Fencing sword 4 To provide for oneself DOWN 1 One who cooks professionally 2 Ready to eat 3 Flat, smooth 4 Unwanted plan WIN 5x £20 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Before Charles Darwin came up with his famous evolution theory, he proposed a theory of how which marine feature was formed? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: HA + RE, RE +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes give…

ARROW WORD Bože pravde – God of Justice – is the national anthem of which country? 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 2x £500 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 answer. WIN 2x £30 Puzzle 11 Your answer: WORDSEARCH Le Suquet is the name for the historic centre of which city? The answer is the one missing from the grid. AMIENS ANGERS CAEN CALAIS CANNES DIJON LILLE LYON NANTES NICE PARIS REIMS RENNES ROUEN…

Sex life is fizzling out Q My boyfriend used to kiss me all the time but recently he’s stopped. We also used to have sex every day and now it’s once or twice a week and that’s only if I initiate it. I asked him why and he said he’s just tired and that we’re together all the time. I know he still loves me but I’m worried. Dana, 25 A Relationships are a roller coaster, and it’s all about being there for each other through the lows as well as the highs. It’s normal for sex lives to change as relationships develop. You won’t find too many long-married folk still swinging from the chandeliers! Sit your man down, ask if there’s anything else going on. Is he stressed, for…

Amy Smith, 36, Horley, Surrey Sitting on the floor, I watched as my son Theo, then 2, played with his toys. With my newborn daughter Leah fast asleep, I relished spending time playing with him. Only, as I tried to get up from the floor, I couldn’t. I was 5ft 5in and over 17st, and my bulk was just too much for me to move easily. ‘Help!’ I called to my husband Andrew, then 35. Striding over and seizing my hands, he hauled me up. ‘This is getting ridiculous, ’ I sighed. It was January 2018 and, at 33, I’d always been overweight. Often the biggest in my class, by 18 I was a size 16. But it never bothered me. Only, my size began to seriously affect my health.…

Aries 21 March-20 April Be proud of the home improvements you’ve made. When someone in your family asks for advice you‘ll love stepping in. Good news comes your way. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May The Sun enters Virgo and, being down to earth, this comes in handy when asked a question. Say what’s on your mind; they’ll appreciate your honesty. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Getting recognition for your contributions will be gratifying. People appreciate your dignified tone and knowledge because you treat everyone with respect. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer Start making plans for the future while Uranus is moving into retrograde. You might think about a holiday or buying a house. This is…

Q I keep seeing beauty products with fruity ingredients – are they good for your skin? Eliza, Dorset A There’s something so inviting about fruits –perhaps it’s their bright colours or their zingy scents. We often discuss the benefits of eating fruit, but they also contain hard-working ingredients that your skin will love. Grapefruit contains powerful antioxidants that protect the skin against aggressors, such as pollution, to promote your healthiest complexion. Get your fix from Q+A Grapefruit Cleansing Balm, £9, Sainsbury’s. And Skin Proud Fruit Smoothie, £14.99, Boots, has that fruity vibe, too. Acids taken from the likes of blueberries will gently remove dead skin cells to smooth out the skin’s surface. Vitamin C is the powerhouse ingredient for brightening skin. BeautyPro Brightening Vitamin C 10% Daily Serum, £8.99, lookfantastic.com,…

Noughty The Booster Decolletage Serum, £14.95, noughty.com The décolletage area is where skincare meets body care, so treating it as both is a must. Specially formulated for this, the serum uses water shamrock extract to help tighten and tone. Babyliss Rose Blush Thermal Brush, £11.50, beautybay.com Fine hair doesn’t mean you can’t achieve volume. Using a round brush is a great way to smooth the hair while taking it to new heights at the roots. It’s a bonus that this one is super lightweight and easy to hold. Sanctuary Spa Signature Collection Body Moisture Spray, £6.40, Boots This comforting spray turns your body-care routine into a selfcare ritual. A few sprays will nourish your skin with jojoba and sweet almond oil, while its soothing scent of jasmine and vanilla helps…

As Beau Rothwell, 28, contemplated the future of his marriage of four years to his wife Jennifer, then aged 28, he tried to think practically. Making a list of pros and cons, in July 2019, to figure out what to do. The positive reasons he listed for leaving her included a ‘better sex life’, a ‘fresh start’ and the hope of ‘more respect’. But there were reasons to stay, too – such as ‘have to move’, ‘half my money and assets’ and ‘disappointment from my family’. Beau clearly wasn’t a happy man at all – a situation made even more evident by the fact that he was having an affair. But soon, Jennifer – a chemical engineer – was pregnant, and Beau wasn’t smiling about it. Looking for help, Jennifer…

TEXT Simply text CHATD followed by a space and your answer/s (spaces between answers please) full name, door number and postcode to 63333 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 18 (5 May 2022) £1,001 CASH H Sanderson, Sheffield £1,000 CASH E Padley, Barnsley £500 CASH T Lighten-Duncan, Worthing M Lewis, Luton £250 CASH R Edwards, Congleton £150 CASH J Scott, Huddersfield £100 CASH S Conroy, Shetland C Swatton, Ipswich J Edwards, Broadstone W Minchin, Birmingham L Halsey, Leighton Buzzard £60 CASH Y Grice, Sheffield £50 CASH N Beris, Liverpool E Duncan, Peterhead M Cook, Corby £30 CASH P Walker, Manchester D Marriott, Ludlow K Buchan, Arbroath D Roberts, Oldham C Smith, Birmingham £25 CASH A Thompson, York E Roberts, Holywell G Cunningham, Brandon P Coppin, Sawbridgeworth J Richards, Dartford P Phillips, Solihull J Jones, Hungerford R Emery, St Albans W Lee, Birmingham Chat PUZZLE 1 299833 Chat PUZZLE 2 BOBCAT Chat PUZZLE 11 6 9 7…

We pay £25 for any photos that we use on chat To Us! Me and my best mate Dave can never resist picking up a copy of our favourite mag for the journey whenever we get the train from Chester to Liverpool! Rachel Williams, Chester Meet Eevee, she’s nine weeks old and a total sweetheart. She loves sitting in the wash basket and stealing my hairbands! Louise Clapp, Bristol Finally on our ‘family-moon’ after getting married in 2020, our 3-year-old daughter, Isabella, was so excited for her first time on a plane! Samantha Jukes, Wolverhampton You might think I’m strutting my stuff in fabulous Las Vegas, but I’m actually in Blackpool. I did have a cheeky gamble in the arcades as well! Melwen Powe, Swansea Our two-year-old twins Maximus (left)…

SHIRT DRESS STYLE TIP A shirt dress is ideal for hot days. Just add an oversized tote bag for an extra chic touch. PUFF SLEEVE STYLE TIP Puff sleeves can come up quite short, so invest in some chunky arm candy (think big bangles!) to balance them out. WRAP STAR STYLE TIP It’s a figure-flattering style that looks great in all lengths. Team with simple accessories and jewellery. MAXI LENGTH STYLE TIP Whatever your height, don’t be afraid of a maxi style – check out petite lines if you are under 5ft.…

In May 2022, the jury deliberated, taking less than two hours to come to a decision. They found Armando Barron, 32, guilty of 13 charges, including the kidnap and murder of Jonathan Amerault, and beating his wife, Britany. As the verdict was read out, Jonathan’s mother, Justine, broke down in court. Days later, as Barron was sentenced, Judge Elizabeth Leonard addressed him. ‘The depravity of your actions and single-handedly causing the immense suffering and death of Jonathan Amerault show an extreme indifference to human life, ’ she said. ‘Your actions were brutal. They were absolutely horrific. They were selfish, and they were completely senseless, ’ she continued. Justine also addressed the court in a victim impact statement, describing her son – her only child – as having a ‘compassionate heart’…

Meera Naran, 38, from Leicester Quietly peeking around the bedroom door, I smiled to see my two young sons, fast asleep, curled up together in bed. Neel was Dev’s big bro, but Dev was the one who took the role of protector. Just three days after Neel was born in September 2008, he’d been diagnosed with brain damage and epilepsy, due to a rare condition. The doctors weren’t sure how long he’d live, what milestones he’d reach. They told us he’d be deaf, blind, unable to speak. So my husband and I lived each day as if it were Neel’s last. We loved our son unconditionally, refused to give up on him. And when Neel was 13 months old, in October 2009, our son Dev was born with no complications.…

Julie Goodall, 60, Halifax Clipping on my dog’s lead, I set off towards the park. ‘Big day, Mabel, hope you’re excited!’ I said, to snuffles in reply. It was 2019 and Mabel the pug and I were at a huge meet-up for pugs and their owners in West Yorkshire. It was a great way to meet new people and socialise our fur babies, and I was really looking forward to it. Seeing the group standing in the middle of the grass as little pugs ran around, sniffing and playing, we headed straight over. Stopping to say hello to each person and pug on our way. But one in particular caught my eye. And Mabel’s. Pulling on her lead, she started sniffing a handsome pug. Soon he was doing the same.…

Breaking up with someone is never easy, so when Kayla’s ex-boyfriend asked her to meet up for a chat, she didn’t have the heart to turn him down. She had broken up with him just over a month before, in September 2017, after almost a year of being together. ‘When we met up, he was holding a bunch of flowers and two cards, ’ Kayla recalls. ‘One of the cards said that we could get back together when I was ready.’ However, a reunion was not something that Kayla wanted. ‘I said that I wasn’t there to get back together, which made him furious, ’ Kayla says. ‘He threw the flowers and cards at the back of my head and told me to get out.’ But once Kayla got back…

Walking into my first meeting in January 2019, I wasn’t sure where I found the nerve. But this was the support I needed. I was determined to switch my life around. Explaining my goals to the group, I saw nodding heads and friendly smiles and knew I wasn’t alone. And within three months I lost 2st. I had more energy, was able to run around after the kids and never felt like I was depriving myself. For the first time, I was able to start exercising. Starting with home workouts, I began by doing gentle exercise for 20 minutes a day, but before long I was working out for two hours a day. Then, in 2020, when Theo started school, a mum of one of his classmates started running a…

Light onion, tomato and basil tartlets These quick and simple tartlets make a great addition to any picnic. MAKES 6 TARTLETS PREP TIME 10 MINS COOK TIME 15 MINS • 375g ready-rolled puff pastry sheet • 1 medium egg, beaten • 2 x 140g Primula Light Cheese ‘n’ Onion • 200g cherry tomatoes, cut into halves and quarters • Fresh basil leaves, to serve 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/ Gas 6. 2 Cut pastry into six squares and arrange on a baking tray lined with baking paper. 3 Score a 1cm border around the edge of each square, taking care not to cut all the way through. Brush the border of each square with beaten egg to give a golden glaze when baked. 4 Bake for 15-20 mins until…

Wet n wild Brow-Sessive Brow Shaping Pencil £2.99, lookfantastic.com Thicker, fuller-looking and defined brows are just two steps away with this handy dualended pencil with built-in spoolie brush. Brush your eyebrows upwards to shape and groom, and then simply use the softly pigmented pencil to define and fill in any gaps. Makeup Revolution Superdewy Liquid Bronze, £5, lookfantastic.com Liquid bronzers are easier to blend than powder, so they’re great for achieving a naturally sculpted look. Apply the creamy formula to the contours of cheeks and to your temples for sunkissed radiance.…

Dear Seonaid, The first time I ever met you, my family was in the depths of despair. Yet your kind words began to heal me and made me feel I was not alone in the battle that we faced. My partner Miks, then 32, had first shown symptoms when he’d had trouble finding words. ‘I feel weird,’ he said. He couldn’t describe it any other way. We’d moved to Aviemore in February 2009 from our home in Latvia. Miks was a snowboarding instructor, climbed the Cairngorms on his days off and trained for triathlons. He doted on our daughter, Keita, then 5. But at work one day, he began to speak gibberish – his bewildered colleagues thought he was drunk. He wasn’t. Tests in November 2018 showed that he had…

As a child, what did British actor Paterson Joseph want to be when he grew up? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the two-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Scottish city (6) 12 Exactly alike (9) 13 Feel sore (4) 14 Eye specialist (8) 15 Big cat (5) 16 Olympic throwing event (6) 17 Curl of hair (7) 18 Made shorter (11) 20 Irritate (5) 22 Large reptile (9) 24 Be sick (5) 28 King Arthur’s court (7) 29 Floated gently around (7) 32 Canadian province, Nova _ (6) 34 Cast out (8) 36 Brown sugar (8) 37 Torn (6) 39 Type of herb (7) 40 Umpire (7) 45 Microbes (5) 47 Very unhappy (9) 48 Long piece of academic writing (5) 51…

Clare Webster, 45, Manton, Rutland True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Sweating in the gym, I enjoyed pushing myself. It was May 2018 and as a busy mum, I loved getting in as much exercise as I could. But as I jumped into the air, I came down hard. My left ankle rolled under me and I felt it crack. Pain flooded my foot and I knew I’d done some serious damage. Within minutes, it was discoloured and swollen. ‘I need to see the doctor, ’ I groaned. Keeping my foot iced and elevated, I snagged an appointment for the following week. But I struggled to keep up with my son, then 2, and I could barely put any weight on my foot. Was confined to the sofa with a bag of frozen…

FILL ME IN Diori Hamani International Airport serves which African capital city? 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 Which underground station on the District line has the shortest name? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters EAT HEN HIP IMP NEE NEW NOD NOT OUT 4 letters BASH BLIP LATE NEST SHOE TENT 5 letters EQUAL EQUIP TULIP YODEL 6 letters ACTUAL ADJOIN ASLEEP TROWEL 7 letters NAUGHTY NOURISH WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

3 ways to... talk to your partner about money Chatting about shared finances is often stressful. Here are some tips on how to start the conversation… 1 Make time to tackle it Many of us are feeling the squeeze right now, which makes it vital for you and your partner to work together to tackle your finances. Arrange a time when you can go through things in detail – and commit to doing this regularly. Look at where your money is going and discuss ways to cut back. Talk about future goals, too, and the steps you’ll need to take to achieve them. 2 Ban the blame game Talking about money can bring out strong emotions, so make sure you listen to each other and avoid the blame game. Remind…

Thirteen Lives PRIME VIDEO • When a football team became trapped in Thailand’s Tham Luang cave after heavy rainfall in 2018, the eyes of the world watched as rescuers battled to save the young boys and their coach from the maze of flooded and incredibly narrow tunnels. This one-off drama tells the story of how some of the world’s most skilled divers teamed up with Thai forces and 10,000 volunteers to attempt a rescue like no other. Colin Farrell, Viggo Mortensen and Joel Edgerton play members of the diving team who risk their lives to rescue the boys. DON’T MISS DON’T MISS Irma Vep SKY ATLANTIC • Based on a 1996 film of the same name, this eight-part series stars Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, who’s best known for starring in…