Table of contents for 29 September 2022 in Chat

If you’re feeling rushed off your feet, spare a thought for Megan. Already a mum of two, she tried for one more baby and fell pregnant with quints! I just loved reading about her bonkers, busy life (p34). Another person with their hands full is the medic who pulled out Kayla’s enormous 3st cyst… (p10) Wait till you see the pics! Have a great week! PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Julie Emms, 53, Leicester Fiddling with my phone, I scrolled through the faces on the dating app. Was I really doing this? It’d been three lonely years since my husband Dale had died of sepsis at just 46. After 20 years happily married, I was lost. I had my two daughters and four gorgeous grandkids. But I was only 49. Wanted a man in my life again. So in May 2019, I took the plunge and messaged one of the blokes online. His name was Dennis. We arranged to meet and talked into the night. He made me laugh, gave me compliments. ‘I want to spend every day with you,’ Dennis, then 47, smiled. I felt the same way, so he moved in days later. Dennis cooked me spaghetti carbonara,…

Kayla Pittman, 34 Tickling the gorgeous puppy on the sofa, I reached out further when he rolled over to have his tummy scratched. I was dog-sitting for a friend in May 2018 and loved looking after his boxer called Bella. But as I stretched out my arm I over-balanced and toppled off the sofa, bashing my stomach on the coffee table. Pain shot through me and I lay on the floor in agony. So painful, I couldn’t get myself up again. I managed to reach for my mobile to call my mum, Debbie, then 56, to come and help me. ‘I can’t stand up,’ I told her. She insisted on taking me to hospital. ‘But I already know what they’ll say,’ I said. Lose weight. I was 5ft 5in and…

Is this sex toy safe? Q I’d like to try a clitoris pump for better orgasms, but are they safe to use? Macie, Hereford A When you’re sexually aroused your clitoris fills with blood and expands, becoming more sensitive. A clitoris pump aims to increase this effect by drawing in more blood. One end fits around your clitoris and a pump – either electric or manual where you squeeze a rubber ball – creates a vacuum. Larger devices, called vulva pumps, fit around your entire vulva, the area around your vagina. Some women find using a pump before sex heightens their orgasms but others find no difference, or that it leaves them feeling numb. Serious harm isn’t likely but overdoing the pump might leave your clitoris inflamed, sore or bruised…

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 Barrie Walker, Leeds ACROSS 1 Journey 2 Indian dress 3 Stratford’s river 4 Lease DOWN 1 Russian ruler 2 Dance party 3 Press clothes 4 Liquid measure WIN 5x £20 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Canadian singer Shawn Mendes has the name of which of his albums tattooed on his right arm? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: UN + CLE, CLE +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer. WIN 3x £50 Puzzle…

ARROW WORD The inhabitants of which country are informally known as Catrachos? 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 2x £500 Puzzle 10 Your answer: SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each 3 × 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 2x £30 Puzzle 11 Your answer: WORDSEARCH Satoshi Kon’s anime film Paprika is often considered a major influence on which of these sci-fi blockbusters? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ALIEN ARRIVAL AVATAR BRAZIL DUNE GRAVITY HER INCEPTION LIFE LOOPER MOON…

CAT COMFORT Brother and sister pair Jasper and Willow beat hundreds of entries to be announced as this year’s joint winners of National Cat of the Year 2022, after winning the Outstanding Rescue Cat category. The cats, who spend their days comforting patients, families and staff members at St Peter & St James Hospice in Haywards Heath, Sussex, were adopted from Cats Protection in 2018. Hospice front of house manager, Jackie Manville, pictured here with colleague Jo Crosta, said, ‘Jasper and Willow have had a hugely positive effect on everyday life here and are valued members of the team. They spend a lot of time with patients, and their families and friends, bringing comfort to those at the end of life and those who are grieving.’ FLUFFY FRIEND There might…

Next morning, I swapped my usual bowl of porridge for an exante chocolate shake. With the country in lockdown, it meant all temptation was taken away. Restaurants were closed, and I wasn’t meeting with friends for coffee and cake. I could focus on my diet. It was hard at first. There were times when I craved roast dinners with mounds of mashed potato. Lockdown meant all temptation was taken away But I was determined. And, whenever I spoke to Stephen and the boys, I never mentioned my rumbling tum. Or the fact that my clothes were getting loose. In the first 12 weeks, I lost 33lb. Luckily, the shops were open again so I could go and buy some new trousers. ‘Size 16!’ I gasped, pulling them on in the…

Get lippy for less It’s Dr Lipp’s 18th birthday this month and to celebrate you can get 18% off its 100% natural skincare balms, including this Superfood Tint three pack (three by 8ml), perfect for glowy rosy lips, cheeks and glossy lids. It was £18 and is now £14.76. Just use offer code bday18 at the checkout at drlipp.com until 30 September 2022. Offer only applies to orders over £10. Free UK delivery for orders over £25. Subject to availability. Offer correct at time of going to press.…

Aries 21 March-20 April Others respect you for maintaining ethical standards as the moon moves towards your sign. One friend may be attracted to you. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May This week brings renewed energy and vigour. You’ll be at your most assertive. A family member has a complicated life, but you’re there to offer a shoulder. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Love is in the air, so make plans for a date soon. Ride this wave straight into the arms of your heart’s desire and you‘ll feel like a million dollars. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Aim high and think big while Venus is under Jupiter’s influence. Make an effort with…

Q After summer, my skin gets so dry. Are there any products to solve this? Francesca Thorne, York A During the summer months your skin goes through a lot – harsher UV rays, sticky sun cream and dehydrating sweat. Look to include hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid in your post-summer beauty routine. The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser, £9.99, lookfantastic.com, packs a generous dose, leaving skin feeling soft and gently soothed after cleansing. Like a refreshing pint of water for your face, Bondi Sands Thirsty Skin Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £8.99, lookfantastic.com, offers a cooling effect after cleansing, soothing dry skin to reveal a plump and firm complexion. A renowned French beauty staple, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Nourishing Moisturiser, £13, Boots, is a brilliant fuss-free moisturiser – it deeply nourishes without clogging…

Chat PUZZLES 39 CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS 11 OCTOBER 2022 (Three days later for postal entries) PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT HOW TO ENTER 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.…

Dear Shahra, You’ve always been my rock, haven’t you? We were married in 2003, and by 2017 you were 40 and a brilliant mum to our Yusuf, 12, Zayd, 11, and five-year-old Ihsaan. But I was out of work and, as we sank into the red, I became depressed and hit 18st. ‘I need to lose weight,’ I sighed. ‘We’ll do it together,’ you said with a smile. You cooked healthy meals and I dragged the bike out of the shed. By September, I’d lost 2st and found a new job in project management. I thought our money headaches were over. A few days later, I hopped on my bike but, within minutes, I clipped the kerb and hit the pavement headfirst. I saw you running out of the house,…

FROM £5.50 ANKLE HEELS STYLE TIP If you find heels uncomfortable, these are a great alternative CHUNKY FLATS STYLE TIP Try contrasting with a floaty frock or skirt for a style twist. LACE-UP STYLE TIP The hiking look just got chic. You can team these with skinny jeans. KNEE-HIGH STYLE TIP From cowboy to chunky, statement stompers look great with a cosy coat.…

In April 2022 Anthony Todt was found guilty. Just seven hours after the closing arguments were given, the jury found Todt guilty on four counts of first-degree murder, for the death of his wife and children, as well as being guilty to the count of cruelty to animals in the death of the family dog. Todt held his head in his hands as Circuit Judge, Keith A. Carsten said, ‘A jury has unanimously determined after listening to the evidence that you, Anthony John Todt, are a destroyer of worlds. ‘The jury has unanimously determined that you murdered each of them with premeditation.’ For each of the murders Todt was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of ever getting parole. The judge added, ‘Not one of those lives was…

1 Cherries ‘Cherries help to remove the smell of methyl mercaptan, one of the gases responsible for bad breath released by bacteria in your mouth,’ says dental surgeon Dr Guy Barwell. Just don’t eat too many, as they contain a lot of sugar! ‘Lettuce works the same way if you want something sugar-free,’ he explains. 2 Apples These are high in malic acid, which encourages more saliva production to keep your mouth hydrated and fresh. ‘Green apples are good, but don’t choose sweet varieties (such as Gala) as the extra sugar feeds the bacteria,’ says Dr Uchenna Okoye, cosmetic dentist at London Smiling Dental Group. 3 Probiotic yogurt Probiotic yogurt is not only great for your gut bacteria, but for your mouth microbiome too. ‘Research has shown how the bacteria…

Caroline Mousdale, 54, Waterlooville Throwing my arms around my son Bradley, I didn’t want to let go. ‘Mum, I’m only an hour away from home!’ he groaned. ‘But I’ll miss you so much,’ I said, with a lump in my throat. Bradley, 18, was my only child. And, now, September 2015, he’d left home, moving 50 miles away to study business studies at Kingston University. I was so proud of my boy, but I was dreading going home without him. I tore myself away eventually with a promise that Bradley would call me later – and made the hour-long drive home. Turning the key in the lock, my house felt quieter than ever. Bradley’s dad and I had split up when Bradley was just 10 months old. Ever since then,…

BARGAIN BUY PRETTY POT CUTE CHARACTER…

FILL ME IN Which city claims to have the longest-running Santa Claus parade in the USA, holding its 134th edition in 2021? 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 The Dutch ossenworst, the Ethiopian kitfo and the American ‘tiger meat’ are all dishes involving which food served raw? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the shaded circles. 3 letters EBB ELF FAR OAF OAR OAT OWN PAR TAT 4 letters ABET NEWT RENT RIOT ROTA WOLF 5 letters DONOR FLAIR FLOUR RARER 6 letters BEARER BECOME BOILER BURGER 7 letters FLAPPED FLOODED WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER…

3 ways to… HELP SAVE ON HEATING BILLS With energy costs sky high, do what you can to cut your costs. 1 Don’t let the warmth out Draught-proofing windows and doors could save you around £45 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust*. And if you have an open fireplace, draught-proofing your chimney when you’re not using it could save around £65 a year*. Plus draught-free homes are comfortable at lower temperatures, so you might be able to turn down your thermostat, saving even more on bills. 2 Improve radiator heat If you’ve got bulky furniture, like a sofa, right in front of your radiator heat won’t be able to spread effectively. Even pulling the sofa forwards by a few inches will help. Also, if you have a radiator…

Fish curry This spiced dish tastes lusciously rich but it’s deceptively light SERVES 4 PREP 20 MINS COOK 30 MINS • 1 onion, roughly chopped • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed • 60g fresh coconut pieces • 1 red chilli, seeds removed • 1tsp black peppercorns • 1tbsp oil • 1tsp black mustard seeds • 2 curry leaves, plus extra, to serve • 1tsp turmeric powder • 1 tomato, deseeded and chopped • 200ml vegetable or fish stock • 250ml reduced-fat coconut milk • 325g cod or other white fish, cut into chunks • Good squeeze of lime juice • Rice, to serve 1 In a blender, whizz the onion, garlic, coconut, chilli and peppercorns to a smooth paste and set aside. 2 Heat the oil in a wide,…

Amy Armstrong, 39, Hornchurch Turning the key in the door, I was glad to be home. After a long night working at a local pub, I couldn’t wait to put my feet up. It was February 2020 and my fiance Steve, then 41, and I were working all hours, saving for our wedding in eight months’ time. Steve was a handyman doing maintenance work by day, and a DJ by night. While I worked in two pubs, and had recently become a 1:1 Diet consultant, after losing 4st for our big day. With five jobs between us, we’d pulled together enough for the wedding of our dreams, with all our loved ones around us. But when the pandemic hit, our plans were scuppered. Not only did it mean we had…

BETH NICHOLSON, 39, MANCHESTER, SAYS: Alex Bak from London is an Olio food waste hero. NHS worker Alex, 39, is responsible for distributing leftover food from local businesses to those who need it in her local neighbourhood in east London. She became a food waste hero 21 months ago, after seeing how much food was wasted by cafes and supermarkets. Discovering the Olio app, she decided to volunteer, wanting to make a difference in her community. Balancing volunteering with her day job, Alex heads out as a food waste hero three times per week. She finds out which businesses have leftover food, and delivers a whopping 100 portions a week. With millions of people across the country now struggling to put food on the table, people like Alex are needed…

Nifty knitter Instead of marking your knitting patterns, put them in a plastic pocket and use a washable whiteboard pen. You can clean it off and reuse when you want to make another size! Vicky Featherstonehaugh, Dalkeith, Midlothian Sparkling shoes When I wanted to wear silver shoes for just one night, I decided to buy self-adhesive silver rhinestone ribbon and glued it to an old pair of shoes. They got loads of compliments! Vivienne Campbell, Tower Hamlets, London Not just for nails! I always use nail varnish remover when I need to get scuffs off my patent shoes. It works a treat! Sian Salsbury, Sandwell, West Midlands £25 For every photo tip that we print Shopping saviour On a warm day, use your picnic cool bag to put frozen and…

What is US actor Maya Hawke’s go-to coffee order? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. Across 11 Trouble (6) 12 Entertainment (9) 13 Thoroughfare (4) 14 Taking for granted (8) 15 Number in a trio (5) 16 At the bottom level (6) 17 Pupil (7) 18 School subject (11) 20 Singer, _ Richard (5) 22 Encircles (9) 24 Be of the same opinion (5) 28 Film’s baddie (7) 29 Error (7) 32 Female parent (6) 34 As a rule (8) 36 Salary (8) 37 Degrees in a right angle (6) 39 Joint business owner (7) 40 Existing (7) 45 Park seat (5) 47 Greengrocer item (9) 48 Modify (5) 51 Vague ideas (11) 53 Becomes aware of (7)…

The advice you need Bunmi Aboaba, 58, south London Driving home from work as a dental surgeon, I told myself I wouldn’t stop at the shop. I’d been so good all day, watching what I ate. ‘I don’t need any snacks,’ I said aloud, firmly. Only, within 10 minutes I was standing in line clutching a tub of vanilla ice cream, a packet of digestives and a family bag of crisps. Back home, I flicked the telly on and made my way through the entire stash. Hiding the wrappers from my two sons, at the bottom of the bin, I felt guilty. Weak. For as long as I could remember, I’d had a difficult relationship with food. Often home alone after school, I’d heat up the soup and scoff the…

Ashling Armstrong, 22, Belfast Pulling on my long coat, I buttoned it up and looked in the mirror. Outside the sun was shining. But my coat stayed on whatever the weather. The crop tops and shorts I used to live in were a distant memory. Now, all that mattered was that every inch of my body was covered. Because underneath my coat, I was hiding a secret. It was March 2021, and three months earlier, I’d noticed a few small red spots on my chest. At first, I thought it might be acne. But two weeks later, there were tons of the spots, all over my body. Only place that had escaped was my face. My GP diagnosed me with guttate psoriasis. ‘What the hell is that?’ I asked, stunned.…

Running never get old Known as the ‘Turbaned Tornado’, British Sikh Fauja Singh is the oldest person to complete the London Marathon. He was 101 years old when he ran the event in 2012. The now-retired 111 year old reached his London Marathon personal best in 2003, in six hours and two minutes. ‘I don’t want to fall ill, which is why I keep my body moving,’ said Singh, when asked about his passion for fitness. The course of true love For most runners, tying the knot means lacing up their trainers, but for Laura Harvey and Paul Elliott, it getting married during the race. involved getting married during the race. At St Katharine Docks, the halfway point, the couple exchanged vows before completing the remaining 13 miles. Luckily, Laura…

The flag of the Canadian state of Saskatchewan features what kind of flower against a green and yellow background? Solve the crossword, then read down the yellow squares. The yellow shaded squares will spell out the competition answer. ACROSS 1 Without hair (4) 5 Gossip Girl star, _ Lively (5) 7 American artist, _ Warhol (4) DOWN 2 In the style of (1,2) 3 Bond film, No Time to _ (3) 4 Swedish band (4) 6 Lock opener (3) WIN 3x £20 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Why won’t he marry me? Q I’ve been with my partner for nine years, we have a house together and are trying for a baby. When we first met I asked if he wanted to be married one day and he said yes then. Now, he insists he never wants to get married. I love him and don’t want to end it, but how do I get past this? Chloe, 33 A Sounds to me that you’re already as good as married. I reckon that your fella feels the same way about this. Perhaps he just doesn’t see how getting married will change things or doesn’t want to spend the money. See if you can come to a compromise. Do you really want to walk away over a bit of…

Lindsey Hilsum, 65, Greenhithe At the doctor’s, I peered at the diet plan. It was 1967, I was 10, and my mum Shirley was concerned about my weight. We were living in America for my dad Henry’s work, and fast food was everywhere. My waistline showed it. ‘You’re doing well,’ Mum said, as I measured out a portion of rice later. After a few months, I’d lost 1st. But, returning to the UK aged 11, I was still the chubby one at school. By the time I left school at 17, I was a size 14-16, though my 5ft 1in frame made me look bigger. ‘I’m going on a diet,’ I announced to Mum and Dad, but I cut too many calories. In a few months, I’d lost 4½st. I…

Pacifica Strawberry Peach Body Lotion, £12, cult beauty.com Uplift your mood with this fruity nourishing body lotion. While its aroma blends strawberry and peach to inspire happiness from tip to toe, its sunflower oil moisturises and the arnica soothes. Percy & Reed Hold It Right There! Define & Hold Finishing Cream, £14, feelunique.com A finishing cream will tame your flyaways, define curls or keep an up-do locked in place. This formula is easy to work with and adds shine without leaving hair greasy. ORLY Crystal Healing Breathable Nail Polish, £13.50, orlybeauty.co.uk Switch up your staple nude nails with this shimmering shade. One coat will create an iridescent sheen, and two will pack on the pigment and leave your nails looking like little pearls. Ciaté London Bronzing Glow Shimmering Lip Oil,…

It was too late by the time Sheila O’Leary picked up the phone in September 2019 to call for help after her son Ezra stopped breathing. Hours earlier, at 4am, the 18-month-old had been nursing when he started struggling for air, his breaths becoming shallow. Although that was something that had never happened to him before, the 39-year-old and her husband Ryan, 33, decided to go to bed. By the time they woke up, Ezra’s little body was unresponsive and he was cold to the touch. Panicking, Ryan leapt into action trying to resuscitate his son, while his wife called 911. The emergency services rushed to the couple’s home in Lee County, Florida. But nothing could have prepared them for the horror that awaited them. When medics arrived, they were…

Chat winners issue 26 (30 June 2022) £1,001 CASH L Horne, Crewe £1,000 CASH T Warner, Leighton Buzzard £500 CASH M Evans, Ellesmere Port P McNamara, Coulsdon £250 CASH M MacFarlane, Morden £150 CASH S Howieson, Leeds £100 CASH R Walsh, Wrexham M Vaughan, Powys K Francis, Colchester B Reilly, Doncaster K Coldicott, Walsall £60 CASH CJ Lumbard, Belper £50 CASH D Brown, Belfast C Gibbs, Shoreham-by-Sea V Backhouse, Burton-on-Trent £30 CASH J Astle, Chester N Smith, Faringdon M Welsh, Newcastle-upon-Tyne S Watford, Newark B Houghton, Atherton £25 CASH V Fulford, Walsall P Manning, Dawlish J Durose, Heanor J Game, Louth S Gledhill, Skelmanthorpe G Rippon, Stoke-on-Trent C Taylor, Ossett E Clarke, Bolton T Manning, Sheffield Anyone from your town in the list this week..?…