Table of contents for 26 January 2023 in Chat

Welcome to this week's Chat… Cutie of the week goes to comeback kid Ivy (p37). The joy in the photos of her first day of school is properly contagious and had us all beaming right back at her. No wonder her mum Gemma was in happy tears. Whereas when Emma saw the school photos her girls brought home, she roared with laughter (p22). I bet you will too! Have a fab week. PS If you're entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Gazing down over the rooftops and trees from the window of my new maisonette, I felt so content. ‘I'm going to like it here,’ I said to my daughter Emily, then 26. It was June 2015 and I'd just moved in. Eight months earlier, I'd been rushed to hospital in agony with a perforated bowel. I'd emerged from a coma to find out I'd had sepsis and peritonitis. My four children had been told to prepare for the worst. Yet I'd clung on to life. Fitted with a stoma in my tummy, now I was happy to be making a new start. The neighbours were friendly. I was right about my prediction, and five happy years passed in my flat. But one morning, when I walked into the building, I…

All sizes 8-24 GEORGE at ASDA STYLE TIP The self-tie waist helps cinch you in, or swap for a black leather belt for a cool contrast. All sizes 6-22 F&F at TESCO STYLE TIP Figure-hugging skinny jeans are the perfect companion to your oversized sweaters, helping to balance proportions. All sizes 8-24 TU at SAINSBURY'S STYLE TIP Team with tights and over-theknee boots fora sixties spiN. All sizes 10-22 NUTMEG at MORRISONS STYLE TIP This boxy shacket is the perfect layering tool over fine knits and tees, taking you straight through to spring.…

Help! I feel so hot Q I'm going through my menopause and hot flushes are ruining my life. How can I stop them? Beth, Wimbledon A Most women experience menopausal flushes, although these vary from a mild blush every few weeks to severe flushing and sweating several times an hour. Usually flushes will stop after a couple of years, although a few women can have them for 10 years or more and we don't fully understand why. Help yourself by wearing layers that you can take off and put on as necessary during the day; avoid triggers such as cigarettes, alcohol and spicy food; carry a small electric fan and try to shift a few pounds if you're overweight. Some women swear by supplements and vitamin E, although most people…

1 Soothe dryness Being dehydrated can make vaginal dryness significantly worse, so avoid drinking a lot of caffeinated drinks, such as tea and coffee, as well as alcohol. ‘Vaginal lubricants and specially designed moisturisers will offer a temporary solution for vulva and vaginal dryness, while oestrogen replacement or laser treatment may be more effective long-term,’ says consultant gynaecologist Tania Adib. 2 Do your exercises ‘Kegel exercises can help firm you up,’ says Tania. Try to tighten and release your pelvic floor muscles on a regular basis. But if you still feel looseness is an issue, speak to your gynaecologist about treatments to tone up your vaginal walls. 3 Ease irritation Avoid perfumed or scented soaps, as this can irritate the skin. Instead, clean your intimate area with either just water or…

For most teenagers, the morning after a big night out is spent nursing a sore head and tucking into a greasy fry-up. But when Mari-Jade, then 19, woke up after a night out with her friends, she had much more than a hungry hangover to deal with. I'd had a great evening with my mates, but the next day I woke up with tingly legs,’ Mari-Jade says. ‘Half an hour later I got into my ex-partner's car and when I went to pull the seat forwards, the left side of my face dropped and I wet myself. I started screaming that I couldn't move my legs, not even my toes.’ Mari-Jade's friends called an ambulance and she was rushed to hospital. Medics asked if she'd done any drugs or been…

Top tip Stirring the sauce releases the starch from the pasta, making it naturally creamier. One-pot puttanesca With only one pan to wash up at the end of the meal, this quick and flavoursome pasta is sure to become a firm favourite SERVES 2 PREP 5 MINS COOK 15 MINS YOU'LL ALSO NEED 1 Heat a large pot with a drizzle of olive oil over a medium heat. Once hot, add onion, 1tsp sugar and a pinch of salt and cook for 3-5 mins or until softened. 2 Add 500ml boiling water to the onion and stir in the stock cube. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and add linguine, tomatoes, garlic, capers, olives and…

TRUE-LIFE Catching up with friends at the local pub, I was surprised by an interruption. ‘This is for you, from the gentleman over there,’ said one of the bar staff, before handing me a glass of wine as she gestured to a man perched by the bar. I had a giggle with the girls, before taking a peek at my secret admirer. Older than I imagined, but I didn't think too much of it. I'd dated older men in the past, always found them more mature, interesting. Then, heading to the bar when it was my round, I noticed he was still there. ‘I'm Don,’ he smiled. ‘I'm Chelsea. Thanks for the drink,’ I said. Don insisted on buying me another, before putting his number into my phone. ‘Give me…

#6 Vitamin C Toner, £3, Poundland Poundland's #6 range is impressively affordable, and features hard-working ingredients. This toner is blended with vitamin C, as well as glycolic acid and aloe vera, to help brighten dull skin. My Skin Matters Intensive Dry Skin Hand Cream, £1.75, Sainsbury's Have dry, cracking hands? Use a hand cream daily to help soothe your skin – prevention is better than cure. This deliciously scented option uses cocoa butter and can be picked up with your weekly shop.…

To Hannah, When our family decided to foster a child, we knew we'd be in for a roller-coaster ride, yet the support you gave us made us all feel at ease. As a mum to four healthy, happy kids, I'd always fancied giving something back. Fostering seemed like a natural fit. My husband Peter agreed and our kids loved the idea. So, in 2016,I did some research. Found a lovely foster agency who understood what we wanted. They immediately spelled out our responsibilities. To provide a stable home for children who needed it. ‘How would you cope with difficult behaviour?’ our first social worker asked. ‘Or a child with additional needs?’ Reality set in. And the agency made sure everyone in the family was on board. At times, it felt…

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Zest is best To clean your toilet without using nasty chemicals, sprinkle the top of a grapefruit with salt and scrub it around the bowl. It leaves a great smell, and is good for the environment, too! Geena Cooper, Finsbury Park, London Sticky tricks My son was going to play his favourite game but the cards were sticky and difficult to shuffle, so I dusted them with some baby powder, which made them like new and easy to shuffle and deal. Elaine Ingleton, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire Stew wish youthought ofthis… After making a batch of stewed apples, I freeze portions in washed-out yogurt pots. They are the ideal size for apple sauce with a meal. Mave Bayliss, Ludlow, Shropshire A must for dust If you're tired of tricky-to-clean grease and dust…

YOU'RE THE JUDGE! When the police arrived at the house in Florida, on 18 October 2019, the scene they walked in on was a gruesome one. Matthew Trussler was lying in a pool of blood, his body stabbed multiple times – his girlfriend Melissa Turner was similarly stained in red. It was Melissa herself who had called the police, telling the operator that she had found her fiance's cold, bloody body on their back patio and had tried desperately to revive him. She had no idea what had happened to him. Matthew had moved to Florida from Massachusetts a couple of years previously and, after getting together with Melissa, they'd bought their house in Hillsborough County in December 2018 and got engaged. They posted pictures of themselves online, their arms…

Q My GP tells me the white blobs on my fingernails are leukonychia and wants blood tests. Are they serious? Mary, Batley A Leukonychia sounds fancy, but simply means white nails on some, or even all, of your fingers and toes. You might notice white spots or streaks, or sometimes the whole nail appears white, and some people are actually born with totally white nails, which passes down in families. But when occasional spots or blobs appear on just a few nails, that's usually the result of damage or injury. It doesn't mean anything is wrong and treatment simply means protecting your nails until the marks grow out. More rarely, developing large spots or completely white nails can be a sign of something serious, such as liver, kidney or heart…

What connects actors Rob Lowe and Millie Bobby Brown? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five word prize answer. WIN £1,001 Puzzle 5 ACROSS 1Mark author (5) 4Cougar4 6Agreeablenice(8) 13Creepy-crawlies7 14Chuckled7 15Largesea5) 16Fibbed4 17Demandfirmly6) 18Sculptedfigure6) 20Martialart4) 21Wrinkled5 22Punctual6 25Recollections8 28Notasstrong(6) 30Japanesepoem5) 32Pardoned8 34Callson6) 35Flyhigh4) 38Risegoup (6) 39Tennisplayer_ Federer (5) 40Bravepeople6) 43Welshnationalemblem(4) 44Courteous6 45Mostfortunate8) 48Propertytax5) 49Morequickly6) 51Casual8 54Henry Man of Steel actor (6) 55Cowboyevent5) 56Dutchcheese4) 58Pops6 60Typeofcake(6) 61Reflectedsound4) 65Groupofstarscalled theHunter5 66FromBeijingfor example (7) 67Flesh-eatingfish7) 68Calamity8 69Reveredperson4) 70Unhappy5 DOWN 1Athleticsevent6,4) 2Dutchcapital9) 3Bodypart4) 4Sendaletter(4) 5Increaseinnumber(8) 7Titledwoman4) 8Punctuationmark10) 9Vigilant5 10Christmasdecoration6) 11Pest8 12Pursued6 19Performsurgery7) 23Toxic9 24Dawn7 26 filmstarring 37Down6 27Jealousy4 29Birdsofprey(8) 31Humanoidrobots8) 33Musicalensemble9) 34Imprecise5 36Placetoseeart (7) 37Robert actor (2,4) 41Englishcounty7) 42Religiousimage4) 46Helpers10 47Elaborateextravagant(10) 50Putatrisk(8) 52Treatments9 53Brow8 55Fix6 57Overseas6 59Pours5 62Feelsore4) 63Iridescentgem4) 64Pakistanlanguage4) Your answer: TO ENTER…

MICHELLE SEARLE, 56, FROM BARNET, SAYS: Karen Goodman, from north London, is our fab local hero. Karen, 58, started volunteering as a reading helper for Coram Beanstalk in 2014. While searching for local volunteering opportunities, she wanted to find something that she could fit around her son's school schedule, as well as helping out her mum. When she discovered Coram Beanstalk, she loved the idea of supporting children in the local community. The charity sends reading volunteers into schools to work one-to-one with children who struggle with reading, helping them develop their skills and encouraging them to read for pleasure. In 2019, Karen became Coram Beanstalk's Volunteer Champion for Barnet Now, she helps to support our other reading helper volunteers, answering any questions they may have and holding meetups. Thanks…

Waving at me from across the school play ground, the chaplain smiled. ‘Would you like a lift home after school?’ asked Father Francis Derriman, then 29. It was 1967, and all the girls thought that Father Derriman was quite cool. For a priest! He collected comics and listened to Bob Dylan. And getting a lift home definitely sounded better than waiting for the bus. ‘Yes, please,’ I said. Born into a Catholic family, I was brought up going to Mass and, now 14, I attended an all-girls’ school. I introduced Father Derriman to my parents. ‘What a lovely priest,’ my mum Gloria said, my dad Huubert agreed. My parents asked Father Derriman round for dinner. When he invited me and some mates to a concert, I was excited. My parents…

Sitting around the table with friends, I leant forward. Barely able to hear the person next to me, I gave up and sat back. With my friends talking, the clinking of glasses and the clattering of cutlery from the restaurant around me, I just couldn't make out the conversation. Frustrated, I sat quietly. My hearing had been getting progressively worse for at least a decade. But I was intent on ignoring it. ‘Mum, the telly's way too loud!’ my kids shouted whenever they walked into the living room. Only, I still couldn't hear what was being said. But I was in denial. Hearing loss seemed like something only frail, old people suffered from. I didn't want to admit that I was struggling and I couldn't bear the thought of needing…

Strolling through his cat flap, our ginger moggy tucked into his tea. ‘Busy day, Ziggy?’ I laughed. When my husband Kevin and I rescued Ziggy in May 2019, we fell in love with his outgoing character. He was totally bonkers. Every day, he'd head out – then neighbours would text me with pictures of Ziggy sitting on their sofas, like he owned the place. Sorry! I'd reply, but no one minded. Ziggy just loved making new friends. Sometimes he'd even follow my daughters Megan, 11, and Chloe, 7, on their short walk to school. One day in October 2019, Chloe burst through the front door. ‘You'll never guess who turned up in PE today,’ she said. Ziggy! He'd found his way into the gym and joined Chloe's lesson. From then…

Hubby's so boring QI'm a very social person, but my husband spends his time gardening, reading or listening to the radio. When I suggest heading out with friends he just tells me to go alone. The time we spend together is so boring. How can I make him come out with me? Lexi, 63 A You can't make him do anything, love. Are you bothered that he's not coming to things you enjoy, or that you're not going out as hubby and wife? If it's the latter, try setting aside a day in the week where you can spend time together as a couple. But if wanting to stay in all the time is new behaviour for him, there may be a bigger issue, like a mental health problem. Communication…

3 Ways to… SMASH YOUR 2023 MONEY RESOLUTIONS Looking to change the way you manage your finances? These expert tips will keep you on track 1 Set a realistic target When you're making money resolutions, be as specific as possible about what you want to achieve and plan how to get there. So instead of a general aim to ‘spend less and save more’, go through your finances with a fine-tooth comb, work out where you can save and what is a realistic amount. That way you'll have a monthly goal and be able to track your progress. 2 Focus on the end result Think about the reasons why you're setting your money resolution. If you're saving for something specific, like a house deposit, keep a picture of your dream house…

20-26 January 2023 Aries 21 March-20 April Try to keep your emotions in check. Enjoy a walk with a friend to clear your head, so you can think more rationally about decisions you need to make. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Security and protection are key concepts in family matters. A holiday is on the cards when everyone can agree on a destination, and a group deal saves money. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Your workload is immense, with deadlines and huge projects. Make some time for yourself and your family, and be thankful for the ones you love. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Everyone is different and it's important to accept…

Q My hair keeps snapping and breaking – are there any fixes you can recommend? Simone Mallon, Slough A Breakage can be caused by a few factors, but the most common causes are colouring, bleaching and heat styling. You can't ‘heal’ split ends – the only way to get rid of them is to cut them off, so the best thing you can do is to book a haircut and ask your stylist to trim the broken ends. Hair-bonding treatments will help strengthen hair and prevent breakage. Olaplex is the gold standard, but a cheaper alternative is The INKEY List PCA Bond Repair Hair Treatment, £12.99, Boots, which is incredibly effective – hair feels stronger after just one use. Always use a heat protector before picking up your hairdryer or…

Skin Proud Daily Saviour, £14.95, asos.com This is a brilliant, fuss-free moisturiser that's blended withsuper-hydrators including glycerin, avocado oil and squalane. It's the perfect everyday day cream. Sanctuary Spa Ultra Rich Wet Skin Moisture Miracle, £10.50, Sainsbury's If you hate waiting for body creams tosink in, try this. You apply it in the shower, on wet skin, just after turning the water off. It'll sink in by the time you get dressed. Barry M Double Dimension Double-Ended Shadow & Liner, £5.99, barrym.com This clever little multitasker is all you need for endless eyeshadow looks. One side is a liquid eyeshadow, while the other is a coordinating liner. It's available in four pretty shades. Garnier Micellar Purifying Jelly Water, £6.99, Boots Garnier's regular micellar water is a true staple in our…

He was a former surfing champion, handsome and charming. She was a powerful real-estate mogul, running a business worth close to $80 million. It'd be hard to argue that Brad and Andra Sachs didn't have an enviable life. Their two oldest sons, Myles and Ashton, were away at college, while they lived a comfortable life at home with their younger kids, Alexis, Lana and Landon. But behind the front door of their $2.5 million six-bedroom home in California's exclusive Orange County, things were harder than they appeared. Years earlier, Brad and Andra had gone through a bitter divorce, following the tragic death by drowning of their daughter Sabrina. But, in time, they'd reconciled, though they'd never remarried. Next, Brad was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Parkinson's disease. Andra planned…

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