Table of contents for 22 June 2023 in Chat

Married in borrowed clothes, teenage mum Maryelen was told she’d ruined her life (p30). But 30 years on, she renewed her vows to Billy, dressed in a gorgeous white gown, celebrating their love for each other and their kids, including the 52 foster children they’d given homes to over the years. Her lovely story shows that not all heroes wear capes. Some of them wear a stunning white dress… even if it does take three decades to get there. Have a great week,…

Popping on the kettle, I stood in my parents’ kitchen, thinking of all our happy memories there. If these walls could talk, I thought, smiling. There was the table where I’d revised for my O levels. The kitchen that my mum Irma always kept spotless. Mum and my dad Alan had bought our family bungalow back in 1993 when I was 12. Now I was 32 with a little girl of my own, Louise, then 4, who was creating memories too, riding her scooter around the garden and colouring in at the dinner table. Living down the road, we were always nipping by for a cuppa and bickies. Especially after Dad died in 1996, aged 71, and I’d worried about Mum rattling around the place all alone. She’d met someone…

Elliot Stone, George Atkinson and Eckhard Baum were pioneering businessmen in the commercial rental of what items? Make three nine-letter words using all of these three-letter sections and enter them in the grid as the starter letters indicate. Then make an anagram of the letters in the yellow squares to form the answer to this question. VEL OME IDA TRE TES SWI LED VAL KIL WIN 5 × £20 Puzzle 3 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

SUNDRESS STYLE TIP These dresses are holiday heroes – great for the beach, ideal for sightseeing or just add heels for a night out. PLAYSUIT STYLE TIP Fun and flirty, all-in-ones are a great way to show off your tanned legs and are ideal if you want some extra coverage on the beach. SARONG STYLE TIP So versatile and flattering, wear loose around the hips or tie tightly at the waist to cover your tummy area. KAFTAN STYLE TIP Throw one of these semi-sheer designs over your bikini and add wedges and a cocktail for the perfect pool party look! FROM £4…

True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Bending over to wrap a towel around my wet hair, I felt a sudden twinge in my lower back. ‘Owww,’ I cried, struggling to straighten. It was 2014 and I worked long shifts at my local supermarket. On my feet for most of the day. Constantly bending over. A few months earlier, I’d slipped while shutting the freezer, and fallen on my backside. Was initially fine, but over time the back pain crept in. It hurt when I bent over, when I was standing still. Kept me up at night, too. I would have done anything to take the pain away Then, in 2016, my GP referred me for an MRI. The results showed what I’d suspected -I was getting old. ‘It’s to be expected,’ my GP…

BUDGET BUY SUMMER SHADES HANDY HOLDER…

I'm rubbish at everything Q I really wish I had a focus or a hobby, but I’m just not good at anything. Everything I’ve tried, I’ve failed. The only thing I enjoy doing is watching TV. I feel like I just exist, but I really want to live. I don’t know what to do. Hollie, 35 A Not everyone has a hobby, my love! In fact, a lot of people have cupboards full of discarded tennis racquets and baking equipment after starting a hobby then swiftly giving it up! Why not accept yourself as you are? You love TV – and that’s OK! And if you really want something else to focus your time on, why don’t you blog about your fave shows? Set up a social media account and…

3 ways to… TRACK DOWN LOST CASH From savings accounts to pension funds, is there a pot of cash out there with your name on it? 1 Find accounts The free mylostaccount.org.uk service can help you trace lost personal accounts if you’re unsure of which bank or building society holds the account, including instances where the bank or building society has since closed or merged. You can also use the service to trace NS&I investments. You start by completing an application form. This information is then passed to the institutions that may be holding the lost account. They’ll then tell you whether any account they hold matches the details you submitted online. You’ll find more info on the website. 2 Trace pensions If you think you’ve lost a pension, there are steps you…

Aries 21 March-20 April Now is a good time to mentally and physically detox. Make a commitment to focus on the positives and try adjusting your diet to improve your wellbeing. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Love may be on your mind, as you are a romantic at heart. So, ask for what you need and expect the best that life and love have to offer! • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June The full moon is in your sign on 18 June, bringing a positive new energy. Accept the things you can’t change and make changes where you can. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Stay focused on what is most important to you…

Q I have red bumps on my arms and I really don’t like wearing sleeveless tops – can anything help? Sandra Owen, Abergavenny A Those red bumps are known as keratosis pilaris, a build-up of keratin on the skin, which results in lots of small red spots that can appear on the arms, legs and bottom. It’s one of the most common body issues, but people are often self-conscious about it. Luckily, there’s many ways you can reduce its appearance. Start off with an exfoliating body wash like Frank Body Everyday A Clearing Body Wash, £9.95, Boots, which is packed with salicylic acid and vitamins C and B to help buff away dead skin cells while not stripping the skin of vital moisture. Follow with Revolution Skincare 8% Lactic Acid…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What does comedian Mo Gilligan do to relax at weekends? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Small wave (6) 12 Abode or home (9) 13 Speak to God (4) 14 Stay With Me singer (3,5) 15 South American animal (5) 16 Dried grape (6) 17 Gin and vermouth cocktail (7) 18 Eternal life (11) 20 Country, capital Cairo (5) 22 Vanish (9) 24 Adversary (5) 28 Condiment often put on chips (7) 29 Enchanted (7) 32 Withstand (6) 34 Difficulties (8) 36 Shakespeare play, The _ of Venice (8) 37 Chore or task (6) 39 Three-pointed spear (7) 40 Digestive organ (7) 45 Start (5) 47 Oceanic bird (9) 48 English county (5) 51 Artist’s best work (11) 53 Serious (7) 55 German city (6) 56 Group of eight (5) 58 Sightseers (8) 59 Metal (4) 60 Disease of the lungs…

Help! I give off sparks Q Why does my body make so much static electricity? I’m always giving people shocks when I touch them! Rhianna, Wigan A Your body doesn’t generate static electricity but builds up a charge through rubbing against objects, in the same way that a balloon becomes charged if you rub it with a cloth. A static charge might cause your hair to stick out or a faint tingling sensation on your skin. Touching an object that’s connected to earth, such as a car handle or another person, releases the charge with a slight pain, a crack and a tiny spark. If you experience this more than anyone else it could be the clothes you wear - avoid wool and synthetic fibres, which collect more charge, and…

1 Know your UVs UVA penetrates deeply into the skin, and can cause premature ageing. UVB affects the skin’s top layer and is associated with sunburn. Both can be harmful, so use a sunscreen that blocks the two of them. Known as broadspectrum, aim for one with a high SPF (which protects against UVB) and a 4+ star UVA protection rating. You can also follow the shadow rule - on sunny days, if your shadow is shorter than your height UV rays are stronger, so cover up. 2 Check use-by dates Generally, if stored in a cool dark place, previously opened sunscreen can be used for six to 12 months, as long as it smells OK. If it’s never been opened, it can last for up to three years. ‘Keep an…

TRUE-LIFE Tickling my newborn baby girl’s feet on her changing mat, I watched her wiggle her arms in delight. But something definitely wasn’t right. Her lower half stayed stiff, unmoving. ‘Mummy, why can’t Freya move her legs?’ her big sister Olivia, then 6, asked. Forcing a smile, I reassured Olivia. ‘She was just born a bit different,’ I said. But the truth was, I had no idea what was wrong with Freya. It was September 2017 and she was only a few days old. The moment Freya had been placed in my arms I’d noticed she wasn’t as squirmy as Olivia had been. Only her upper half moved. Me and my partner Michael, then 27, raised our concerns with the doc. We were referred to an orthopaedic consultant and sent…

TRUE-LIFE Cradling my newborn, I marvelled at her soft skin and tiny fingers and toes. ‘She’s perfect,’ my boyfriend Billy said, reading my mind. It was November 1984. Our daughter Hayley was thriving, despite being born four weeks premature. Like most new parents, me and Billy were besotted. But unlike most, me and Billy were only 15. With the world against us. ‘You’re too young,’ our family had insisted. Yet we were in love, and determined to prove them all wrong. With a twinkle in his eye and a cheeky smile, Billy had made my stomach flip the moment I saw him. We’d hung around town together, bonded over our troubled childhoods. Billy had been in and out of care, and my homelife wasn’t easy either. Then, I fell pregnant.…

Q I keep crying or getting angry over the littlest things. I get jealous really easily and I can’t stand to look in the mirror. My self-esteem is on the floor and I struggle to go out. I’m worried about my future, as I see myself going nowhere, with no partner and no kids. I used to be so bubbly and carefree, but I’ve completely changed. Elle, 22 A You’re so young, sweetheart. There’s buckets of time for you to meet a partner and have a family. Stop worrying about what other people are doing and concentrate on you, petal. Consider seeing your doctor about this change in personality, too. Get to the bottom of why you feel so sad, pet. I’m wishing you all the best.…

Veggie tacos with coriander yogurt A great week-night dinner, this uses beans instead of meat, making it much cheaper too! SERVES 4 PREP 20 MINS COOK 40 MINS ● 1tbsp olive oil ● 1 medium white onion, finely chopped ● 1 green pepper, finely sliced ● 1 red pepper, finely sliced ● 1 garlic clove, crushed ● ½ red chilli, finely chopped ● 2tbsp smoked paprika ● ½tsp hot cayenne pepper ● 2tbsp soft dark brown sugar ● 400g tin chopped tomatoes, drained ● 2 × 400g tins black beans, drained ● Juice of 1 lime ● 8 taco shells ● 1 large green chilli, finely sliced ● 1 small red onion, finely sliced ● ½ small bunch coriander, torn For the coriander yogurt: ● 150g natural yogurt ● Zest and juice of…

TRUE-LIFE Stumbling out of the pub at 11pm, there was only one thing for it. ‘Pizza?’ I said to my boyfriend Lee, then 21. A gooey, cheesy treat was my answer to everything. If I was celebrating? Pizza. If I had a bad day? Pizza. And just one slice was never enough. But who cared? It was December 2008, and Lee and I were busy enjoying our early 20s. We’d met at Morrisons where we both worked. Lee never once mentioned my size. Weighing 14st and a size 18, I carried my weight on my hips and boobs. Curves in the right places. But all that was about to change… ‘I’m pregnant,’ I told Lee after work one day. We’d only been together a few months. Yet Lee stuck by…

Essence Thick & Wow Fixing Brow Mascara, £3.50, Wilko If your brows are looking a little sparse, cheat your way to a solution with this brand-new brow mascara. Simply use the wand to brush up hairs for a volumised look that stays in place. W7 Peachy Clean Makeup Remover & Cleansing Balm, £4.95, amazon.co.uk Affordable cleansing balms are a rarity – because of the ingredients used in the formulas, they tend to cost more. But we think this bargain buy is just as good as luxe alternatives. Use it to remove make-up and deeply clean your face each day for smoother, fresher skin.…

BEHIND THE BIG CRIME TRUE-LIFE When Rowan Baxter and Hannah Clarke first met, they seemed like an ideal match. Both were fitness fanatics, attractive with bright smiles that reached their eyes. Hannah was only 19, Rowan, 30. Despite the age gap, he swept her into an intense relationship. They married in 2012 and decided to open a gym together in Brisbane. They had three children, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey, who all inherited their parents’ good looks. Smiling out of picture-perfect family snaps. But the photos didn’t tell the whole story. After four years together, Rowan changed as quickly as ‘flicking a switch’, Hannah’s family would later say. As he became more controlling, he’d slowly isolated Hannah from her family. Decided who she could see, speak to, what to wear. He told…

RICHARD SHACKLEFORD, FROM POWYS, SAYS: I’m nominating our fantastic and inspirational fundraiser Chloe Hanna as my local hero. Chloe, 24, is not only passionate about raising funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, she has inspired others to run for the charity too. Fundraising in memory of her Nanna who died of MND, it is a cause very close to Chloe’s heart. In April 2023, Chloe ran her second London Marathon to raise money for the MND Association. But it’s not just marathons - she has other great fundraising ideas too, like selling bags of reindeer food to raise money at Christmas time. Always a ray of sunshine, she puts so much effort into all her activities, and her fab social media posts. With the help of Chloe and the…

A statue of Fungie the dolphin can be found in which Irish town? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will spell out the one-word prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 2 1 Name of a book, play, song or poem (5) 2 Small white alpine flower of the daisy family (9) 3 Period of leave from work (10) 4 Clothes to be washed (7) 5 Sailing boat for pleasure, cruising or racing (5) 6 Type of Indian cooking (8) 7 Take no notice of (6) 8 Large bird of prey (5) 9 Lend an _, listen to (3) 10Public vote (10) 11 Australian nut (9) 12_ and Barbuda, Caribbean island country (7) 13Britain’s only venomous snake (5) 14Person given something (9) 15Enticement (10) 16_ and crosses, game (7) Your answer:…

TRUE-LIFE Ariel Hadsell, 30 Silence finally fell across the table as my kids tucked into the feast in front of them. ‘Delicious, as usual,’ I told my best friend, Monte, diving into the mac and cheese myself. It was March 2019, and I’d known Monte, then 28, and his hubby, Mario, 29, a year. We’d hit it off at my cousin Ashley’s party. Now my hubby, Richard, then 27, and three kids, Destiny, then 7, Eli, 6 and Melanie, 8 months, would go to their place for dinner most weeks. I loved the pair of them to bits, so did the kids. During one dinner, Monte and Mario confided in me about their struggles. ‘We met in church,’ Monte smiled, his hand resting on his hubby’s. Only, they’d been shunned…

YOU’RE THE JUDGE! He was a platinum-selling rapper, one of America’s fastestrising stars. Born Jahseh Onfroy, but now everyone called him XXXTentacion – or X for short. He’d first launched his music career when he was a teenager in 2014, posting songs online. Soon hit the mainstream, with his ‘rage-filled’ work tackling issues like mental illness, prejudice and death. Critics described his music as ‘raw, unfiltered and deeply real’. ‘I’m different,’ X insisted in one interview. ‘The whole goal is that you live and then you die…' On stage, he’d whip off his T-shirt to reveal rippling muscles and tatts. As he hollered into the mic, the crowd roared. Yet, off stage, he was no angel. By 2018 he was awaiting trial on witness-tampering and harassment charges, stemming from an…

Q My doctor says the lumps around my vagina are varicosities and will go now that I’ve had my baby, but can’t I treat them? Lukrecha, Hounslow A Vulval varicosities are varicose veins on your vulva, the area around your vagina. They usually appear when you're pregnant, and affect around one in five mums-to-be, but most disappear within a couple of months of giving birth and there’s often no need for any treatment. Hormone changes during pregnancy, which cause your veins to widen, and increased blood flow to your pelvis and vein blockage due to your enlarging womb are the likely causes. Apart from bulging, knotty, blue or purple veins around your vulva there are usually no symptoms except maybe a slight ache. If they won’t go on their own,…

Clicking open my Twitter app as I tucked into my lunch,I opened a new message. Why are you still alive? The cruel words were like a punch to the stomach. ‘Why are people so mean?’ I croaked, tears trickling. It was June 2018 and, aged 28, I’d been receiving messages like this for years. I’d always struggled to make friends, so when I’d left school I’d joined some online fan groups to get involved with chats, make some pals. Sharing positive messages does me good When I’d outgrown certain pop stars years later and quietly unfollowed them, everyone noticed. Nasty messages flooded in from superfans who were in reality just trolls. You deserve to die… You should be raped… All because my music taste had changed. Horrified, I hid in…

'Who wants to watch CBeebies?' Translation: I can’t squat on your floor playing Barbie Tea Party for a second longer. 'Wow, really? Is that a fact?' Translation: I literally have no clue what you’ve just said. But I’m not going to look like a dinosaur by getting you to explain it. 'What about these ones?' Translation: Of course you chose the most expensive trainers in the shop. And they don’t look any better/ nicer than the cheaper ones I’m looking at. 'Don't get me anything for Father's Day' Translation: All I want is an all-day sesh in the pub with my mates, and not to be woken before noon the next day. 'Don't tell your mother' Translation: Oops. I didn’t think there was that much swearing in Deadpool. Isn’t it…

Q When I moved into my house 10 years ago, I got friendly with my neighbour. She’s now in her 80s, her family live far away and they don’t see each other much. At first I felt sorry for her and would invite her round for dinner or take her to the shops. But now she’s completely reliant on me and gets narky when I’m busy. Please help! Anne, 56 A I can see both sides. This lady thinks of you as a long-term friend and you’ve helped her in the past. But there is only so much you can do. Is there another neighbour or friend who could take some of the slack? Or could you speak to her family and explain that she needs support? It’s good to…

Cupping my breasts in front of my bedroom mirror, I imagined how I’d look without them. ‘They’re rubbish boobs anyway,’ I sighed. Prodding and poking them with a scowl. It was 2011, and I was only 18, but while my mates all had nice, perky pairs that spilled out over low-cut tops, mine felt saggy. The worst thing was, while my right breast had grown to a voluptuous double D, the left had stopped at a C cup. Uneven breasts weren’t uncommon, or even a health risk. But nothing seemed to fit right, and while I made do with a double-D-cup bra, I didn’t wear anything low-cut or too revealing. ‘At least they won’t be around forever,’ I muttered to myself. One day, I’d have them replaced with a lovely…

WIN £500 Puzzle 18 The answers to all but one of these quiz questions can be found hidden in this wordsearch grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally. To help you, we’ll tell you that the answers are in alphabetical order in each section. However, one answer can’t be found in the grid. This is your prize puzzle answer. WILLIAM 1 How many British monarchs have been named William? (4) 2 What was the name of the wife of King William III of England, who ruled jointly with him between 1689 and her death in 1694? (4) 3 Which William, known for his acting career, became the oldest person to fly into space in 2021, at the age of 90? (7) HENRY 4 Which British children’s TV animation featured…

Kiko Beauty Roar 2-in-1 Creamy Stylo & Universal Lip Liner, £10.99, kikocosmetics.com This clever new product combines a radiant lipstick with a colourless liner that creates a barrier to keep your lip colour looking its best. Bioré UV Aqua Rich Water Essence Sunscreen SPF30, £14.99, Superdrug Promising to absorb instantly, this new oil-free sunscreen sits perfectly under your make-up and keeps skin healthy and hydrated. The Body Shop Seaweed Oil-Control Overnight Mask, £12, thebodyshop.com Ideal for combination and oily skin, this overnight mask works to control excess oil while you snooze. You’ll wake up to skin that’s balanced and mattified. Barry M Diamond Luxe Eye & Highlighter Palette, £12.99, barrym.com Everything you need to create endless make-up looks is in this palette. Featuring six everyday eyeshadows and three shimmery highlighters. Garnier Ultimate…

Chat winners issue 12 (23 March 2023) £1,001 CASH P Barrow, Bedford £500 CASH M Allen, Kendal L Grubert, Hayes £250 CASH A Glancey, Blackburn J Hood, Swindon £200 CASH D McLeod, Morpeth £100 CASH A Pake, Dundee K Wilkinson, Richmond K Meyrick, Coventry £75 CASH V Henderson, Derby £50 CASH C Stephenson, York E Edwards, Oxford A Williams-Munn, Colchester S Wishart, Kirkcaldy M Priddis, Peterborough M Pottinger, Reading £40 CASH Y Davies, Tipton £30 CASH J Moore, Dorset R Pearce, Lee-on-the-Solent £25 CASH P Webb, Didcot B Moore, Martock Anyone from your town in the list this week…? £20 CASH D Fleck, Newcastle upon Tyne S Bates, Skegness P Stanton, Stafford A Cornish, Shefford P Brennan, Wellingborough G Dennington, Great Yarmouth C Booth, Boston M Burton, Exeter L Brown,…

Dear Dad, As I gazed through the chippy window, my eyes were fixed on the lady wrapping portions of fish in newspaper. Do you ever think about me? I wondered. I was 12, it was 1954 and my mum Amy and dad Jack, both in their late 50s, had always been open about adopting me as a baby. My birth mum lived locally, worked in the chip shop. But you, my birth dad, were a mystery. In 1960, aged 17, I married my husband Tony, then 20. Our daughter Lee arrived in 1961, followed by our son Mark Anthony in 1962. Around that time, aged 19, I was introduced to my birth mum properly. ‘Your father was a Belgian fisherman,’ she told me. Said you’d been lodging in Plymouth, where…