Table of contents for 15-Oct-2020 in Chat

Did you know only 34% of women are likely to visit their GP if they consistently feel bloated?* It’s worrying because bloating is one of the main symptoms of ovarian cancer, and instead of seeking a professional opinion, women are more likely to opt for other treatments. These include changing their diet, such as including probiotic yogurt (50%), googling their symptoms (43%), and taking over-the-counter medications (22%). Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include feeling full, stomach pain, and needing to pass urine more frequently. Ovarian cancer is especially difficult to detect as the symptoms can be put down to other health problems, such as IBS. In fact, only 20% of cases are diagnosed in the early stages. While your symptoms are unlikely to be caused by a serious problem, if they…

Can’t stand my brother’s new girlfriend Q Before my brother met his girlfriend, I saw him loads. We went for drives, watched movies and now it’s all about her. I hate her. He still asks me to go places, but I say no because she’s always there. I want a bit of sibling time. Is that too much to ask? What do I do? Kim, 23 A This doesn’t need to be a problem. If you miss him, tell him. Ask him for some sibling time – why not suggest a trip to the cinema together. If he says that he’s bringing her along, too, say you’d like it if it was just the two of you. But don’t ‘hate’ her; accept that your bro is in love. Just be honest,…

Returning home a few days later, I contacted our local Slimming World group. By now, our health was at risk, and I was more determined than ever. So the very next day, Trev and I were on our way to our first meeting. Deep down, I was anxious. But I put on a brave face for Trev. He needed my support, and I knew I needed to lose weight, too. At our first weigh-in, I trembled as I stood on the scales – 17st 12½lb. Then Trev’s turn – he tipped the scales at 25st 5lb. It was time to change our ways. With the help of the consultant, we overhauled our diet. We replaced butter and oil with low-calorie cooking spray, binned the readymade sauces in jars. I set…

In 2018, Gabriel Parker seemed just like any other 15-year-old boy. He lived in Kentucky with his mother Mary Garrison Minyard, a journalist for the local newspaper, and his stepdad Justin Minyard. The redhead, often named ‘Gabe’, was a student at Marshall County High School, where he played the tuba in the school band. At the weekend, he enjoyed fishing trips with his grandparents. He was described by those who knew him as ‘quiet’ and ‘a really good kid’. But after returning from the Christmas break in early 2018, Parker’s demeanour changed. Teachers claimed he became snappy, anxious and seemed low in mood. But not even those possible telltale signs could have prepared the pupils and staff of Marshall County High School for what was about to unfold. On the…

To my daughter Maddie, Holding you for the first time in October 2013, I utterly adored you. My first girl. I vowed I wouldn’t treat you any different to your brothers Jack, then 4, and William, 2. And as you grew up, I always reminded you that you could be whoever you wanted. But often when I read you stories, I was struck by the pictures. See, the children in the illustrations were nothing like you. Fair-skinned, with straight blonde hair, while you were mixed heritage, with gorgeous curly locks. I told you that you were different, that it was OK. ‘Not all girls look like Goldilocks,’ I said. Then, this March, we went into lockdown and I tried to find alternative ways to keep you and the boys entertained.…

The titular creature of British author Dick King-Smith’s The Water Horse is a type of water spirit more commonly known as what? The number next to the clue tells you which line the answer’s in. We’ve put a section in to start you off! There may be two Across answers in one line. Down words fill themselves in. The shaded squares spell out the prize puzzle answer. WIN £150 Puzzle 3 1 Rubbish • Pavement edge 3 Vex, upset 5 _ Luthor, Superman’s nemesis • _ Nevis, Scottish mountain 7 Business partner 9 Singing voice • Crimson _, 1995 action drama film Your answer:…

I need an op to pin my ears back Q I hate my ears, they’ve always stuck out. Could I have them fixed on the NHS? Patti, Ellesmere Port A Up to two per cent of us are born with sticking-out ears, often inherited from a parent. Under the skin is a flap of cartilage (gristle) which gives your ear its shape. Prominent ears mean that this cartilage hasn’t developed properly in the womb. Up to about six months of age, it’s often possible to bend the cartilage back into shape with special ear splints, but after that, surgery is the only option if you can’t stand the appearance. It’s a simple op, usually under a local anaesthetic, to make a small cut behind the ear, remove some skin and…

TERROR PLOT UNCOVERED Former BA engineer and jihadist Rajib Karim, 31, from Newcastle, plotted to blow up a plane, using information from his work. He got 30 years in March 2011, and the judge said his plans were ‘about as grave as could be imagined’. He was found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism. He had contacted a radical al-Qaeda preacher based in Yemen to ask if he could fight overseas, but the preacher persuaded Karim to continue his work at BA and find a way to plant a bomb. Police decrypted 300 messages, uncovering the plot. HOSPITAL POISONINGS During June and July 2011, nurse Victorino Chua tampered with saline bags while working at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, causing fatal insulin overdoses in his victims. At his trial in 2013,…

CATCHING DOCTOR DEATH Working as a trusted family GP in Hyde, Manchester, Harold Shipman’s evil crimes went undetected for decades. Between 1975 and 1998, he preyed on mostly older patients by giving them fatal doses of diamorphine – pain relief usually given to cancer patients. He was caught after the death of Kathleen Grundy, 81, in June 1998. Previously fit and well, the last person she’d seen was Shipman. He recorded her sudden death as old age, but it was subsequently discovered that he’d forged her will. The suspicious circumstances of her death, and mounting concerns about the unusually high mortality rates in Shipman’s practice, prompted the exhumation of Kathleen’s body and the discovery of traces of diamorphine. Shipman tried to claim she was an addict, but police discovered a fatal…

3 ways to… protect your home this autumn As we head into the darker months we typically see a rise in burglaries, says Gareth Hemming from Aviva. It’s essential to take action. 1 The basics Burglars are opportunists and look for easy access, such as an open door or window. Thefts can take just a few seconds and can even happen while you’re in your home, so keep doors and windows shut and locked wherever possible. Use timers or leave a few lights on if you’re going out and won’t be back before dark. It’s also a good idea to leave a radio on to give the impression that someone is home. And keep your valuables out of sight and away from windows. 2 Take extra steps Installing a burglar…

Worzel Gummidge BBC1 If you enjoyed the reboot of the series about a talking scarecrow at Christmas, there’s another special on the way. This time, Worzel (Mackenzie Crook) and his friends Susan and John get embroiled in an adventure to help old ship’s figurehead Saucy Nancy (Shirley Henderson) get back to sea. Mank NETFLIX Gary Oldman heads an all-star cast in this upcoming drama set in 1930s Hollywood. He plays scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J Mankiewicz, who faces a race against time to finish the screenplay for film classic Citizen Kane. Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Charles Dance and Tuppence Middleton also star. Black, British and Funny C4 Stand-up comedian Mo Gilligan looks at the history of the Black British comedy circuit in this one-off. As well as…

Plaiting my daughter’s long, brown hair, I reminded myself to cherish moments like these. Life as a single mum wasn’t always easy. But all too soon, Sienna, 14, would be grown up and leaving home. I knew one day I’d look back fondly on memories like this. ‘Beautiful!’ I smiled as Sienna admired her plaits in the mirror. It was September 2018 and we were having a cosy night in. Films, popcorn and face masks – all the essentials for girls’ night. ‘Can we watch Mean Girls?’ Sienna asked as I got into my pyjamas. But before I could reply, I heard screams from outside. My heart raced as I dashed to my bedroom window. I’d half-expected to witness a mugging, or worse, on the street below. Instead, I spotted…

What links British actor Rakhee Thakrar and US rapper Ja Rule? 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 1 The Transporter actor, _ Statham (5) 4 Ready to be eaten (4) 6 Existing in large amounts (8) 13 Study of past events (7) 14 Male chicken that crows (7) 15 Jeremy _, Die Hard: With a Vengeance actor (5) 16 Be in front (4) 17 Create a new machine or process (6) 18 Breathe with difficulty (6) 20 Feeling Good singer, _ Simone (4) 21 Christina Aguilera hit, _ in a Bottle (5) 22 Ran away to get married (6) 25 Common, everyday (8) 28 Mild and soothing (6) 30 Livin’ La Vida Loca singer,…

Dancing around the living room, I tried to hit the high notes on Beyoncé’s latest track as my friends fell about laughing. It was February 2018 and we had no cares in the world. But then I heard my aunt Michelle, 55, call out to me. ‘What’s that on your leg, Abbie?’ she asked. Stopping in my tracks, I twisted round to take a look. And almost immediately, I found the lump. I don’t know…’ I mused. ‘But there’s definitely something there.’ Running my hand across my right thigh, I could feel a lump in my leg. I tried not to worry. But for the rest of the evening, I couldn’t stop poking at it. ‘Let’s get it checked out, just in case,’ my mum Louise, 47, eventually said. And…

With my eyes squeezed shut, I waited for this special moment. Then I heard footsteps walking towards me. ‘Open your eyes,’ my mum Alison, then 57, said. I did and found her twirling dress and smart matching around in a purple floral jacket and hat. Mum was glowing. ‘You look beautiful!’ I said, snapping a photo. It was May 2012 and I was getting married the following August. And today we’d finally settled on the second most important outfit for my big day – the mother-of-the-bride’s dress! It was Mum who’d introduced me to my hubby-to-be Matt, then 25, in early 2011. She worked with his uncle and heard that Matt was looking for a room-mate. And after I moved in, our relationship blossomed. Mum and my dad Chris, then…

Finishing the last slice of pizza… ‘Fancy some ice cream?’ I smiled to my boyfriend, Trev, then 19. ‘Always,’ he grinned. It was November 1995, and Trev was visiting me at uni in Luton, before joining the Royal Air Force. A meal at a pizza place, we were both in our element. I’d always loved food but I’d also always battled weight problems. At 14, in 1989, I’d been diagnosed with polycystic ovaries and told the extra weight I carried around my tum could be a symptom. I should’ve tried to lose a few pounds then but avoided the scales like the plague. By the time I was 17 and in sixth form, I was wearing a size-16. And, though I hid in tent-like T-shirts, that’s when Trev, then 18,…

Chicken Pasta Bake This hearty and wholesome bake is great for all the family. SERVES: 4 PREP TIME: 5 MINS COOK TIME: 35 MINS • 3 mixed peppers, chopped• 1 aubergine, chopped• 1 courgette, chopped• 2tbsp garlic oil• 2 chicken breasts, cut into chunks• 300g penne pasta• 2 x 340g tomato and basil pasta sauce• Handful of basil, torn• 125g mozzarella, torn 1 Heat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Toss the peppers, aubergine, courgette and chicken breasts in the garlic oil and tip into a roasting tin. Roast for around 20 mins, until just cooked and lightly charred. 2 Boil the pasta for 8 mins, until just cooked. Drain and return to the pan, then stir through the roasted vegetables, chicken, pasta sauce and basil. 3 Season, stir, then tip…

Aries 21 March-20 April You’re focused, which is helping bring plans alive. You like others to see your approach, but behind the facade you’re making life-changing plans. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Get your words to the right ears. You have important things to say to your partner, about a career or your family life, but it always gets delayed. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You need help sorting through your emotions, call a friend. There may be confusion about what’s really expected of you in your relationship. Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You’ve put everyone around you at ease. Kindness shines through and compassion encourages you to volunteer at a local animal shelter. Call…

Q How can I get whiter teeth and a great smile? Kathryn Little, 56, Coventry A Teeth-whitening products are quite restricted in the UK, as overuse can lead to damage to the enamel of your teeth. Try a toothpaste like Colgate Max White Ultimate Catalyst Whitening Toothpaste, £20, boots.com. It’s gentle yet effective at removing coffee, tea and red wine stains. Be careful not to over-brush with a manual toothbrush, too, as this can cause gum recession. Use an electric toothbrush, like Oral B Vitality Plus White & Clean Electric Toothbrush, £39.99, which will be far gentler on gums. A tooth-friendly, alcohol-free mouthwash, like Waken Spearmint Mouthwash, £8, boots.com, is also good to keep bacteria from building up. If you’d love to have a smile with fuller lips, but hate…

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(16 July 2020) £1,001 CASH M Bevan, Welshpool. £1,000 CASH K Jaques, Wickford. £500 CASH L Goodson, Sandy; J Collins, Sutton Coldfield. £250 CASH J Rawlinson, Wrexham. £150 CASH T Braisby, Barnsley. £100 CASH M Bonner, Doncaster; C Pritchard, Consett; W Park, Kirkwall; G Jones, Wrexham; J Sykes, Chesterfield. £60 CASH S Fethney, Manchester. £50 CASH J Morris, Saltcoats; Z Fazi, Lincoln; P Kearney, Corby. £30 CASH B Hunter, Morecambe; B Grant, Crook; G Bassett, Birmingham; I Sinclair, Inverclyde; K Saccone, Enfield. £25 CASH C Seabrook, Ellesmere Port; P White, Hull; C Ramsden, Upminster; M Morton, Retford; L Forsyth, Midlothian; L Dale, Shrewsbury; H Parsons, Dewsbury; M Williams, Newport; Y Pickford, Grimsby.…