Table of contents for 04-Nov-2021 in Chat

Three boys later, and years of cowboy, pirate and soldier fancy dress, we were so excited to finally have a girl...and this is the costume she chose! Margrit Forrester, Bushbury It’s never too early to enjoy a little dress- up. I love this photo of our son in his pumpkin onesie for his first Halloween! Clare Tedstone, Willingham Everyone enjoys celebrating Halloween in our house, even our 2-year-old miniature dachshund, ‘Bat Boy’ Buddy! Way too cute to be scary though, wouldn’t you agree? Lacey Davies, Blaenavon My 3-year-old guinea pig Spice was definitely interested in my pumpkin ornament – maybe because she is a similar colour! Heather Sutcliffe, Mytholmroyd I love Halloween and thought I’d have a go at some spooky make-up, although don’t count on any conversation from me.…

What connects US actors Hilary Swank and Mickey Rourke? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Place to stay (5) 4 Duplicate (4) 6 Writer of music (8) 13 Long-necked animal (7) 14 Substitute (7) 15 Japanese assassin (5) 16 Animal den (4) 17 Sags (6) 18 Series of eight notes (6) 20 Measure of alcohol (4) 21 More secure (5) 22 Except if (6) 25 Point out (8) 28 Every time (6) 30 Move to music (5) 32 Comfortable seat (8) 34 Occurring once a year (6) 35 Garden building (4) 38 Deliver from harm (6) 39 An apology (5) 40 City in Massachusetts (6) 43 Public garden (4) 44 Dog house (6) 45 Pest (8)…

Should I be worried? Q I’ve had bad chest pains and my doctor’s diagnosed inflamed ribs. Is that serious? Sylvie, Callander A It sounds like costochondritis, where the front part of your ribs, which are made of cartilage, rather than bone, become inflamed. Usually it’s your second, third or fourth ribs, towards the top of your ribcage, often on your left side. Although costochondritis is harmless, the pain can be quite severe, and people sometimes imagine it’s a heart attack. The inflamed ribs might be tender to press and the pain’s likely to be worse when you move, cough or sneeze. Usually, there’s no obvious cause but sometimes a strain or injury, or rarely an infection, can be to blame. Treatment is generally anti-inflammatory painkillers while the inflammation settles by…

DEADLY BBQ A family barbecue in the Waterside area of Derry, in July 2006, ended in bloodshed when a gang of youths attacked dad-of-one Paul McCauley, 29, and his two friends. The Catholic civil servant was left in a coma. In 2009, Daryl Proctor – 15 at the time of the attack – was sentenced to 13 years for GBH with intent. In June 2015, after nine years in a vegetative state, Paul died. In 2018, in the first case of its kind, Proctor – by then called Piper John McClements and aged 28 – was convicted of murder. He was sentenced to at least three years. Accomplice Matthew Brian Gillon, then 31, was sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter. TWISTED LOVE In 1990, Hazel Stewart, then 27, and Colin…

FILL ME IN WIN £100 Puzzle 14 Actors Nicole Kidman and Bette Midler were both born in which American state? 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. Your answer: CIRCLE TIME Raymond Cusick is credited with designing the appearance of what TV icon? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles to find the answer. 3 letters BAR BUN BUS CAR DUE EAT FAR USE WAR WOE 4 letters ACNE ACTS FIBS LIDO PLUS RING SWIM 5 letters CELLO HAIKU USURP 6 letters BEFORE COBWEB FORMAL RAREST UNIQUE UPHOLD 8 letters GASWORKS WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56…

CODE CRACKER WIN £500 Puzzle 16 What does DJ Sara Cox say is her guiltiest pleasure? To find out, solve the puzzle... Fill in the grid. Each letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number from 1 to 26. When you’ve completed the grid, the shaded squares will spell out the three-word prize answer. We’ve given you five letters to start off. Your answer: WORD JUMBLE The Cadre Noir in France, the Spanische Hofreitschule in Austria and the Hollandsche Manege in the Netherlands instruct students in what skill? Unscramble each group of letters to discover six horse-related words. Now fit them across the grid and you’ll spell out the answer to the question. 1. HERO HOSES 2. RED LIB 3. ADDLES 4. RUST RIP 5. EARNS SH 6.…

3 Ways to... save energy this autumn As we head into the colder months, we’ve got tips from Energy Saving Trust on how to cut how much you use. 1 Tackle those draughty spots Unless your home is very new, you’ll almost certainly lose some heat through draughts. Installing draught-proofing measures such as fitting foam strips, plastic seals or brushes around doors and windows, could save you around £25 a year on your energy bills and 105kg of carbon dioxide (CO2), plus £18 a year if you have a chimney and fit it with draught excluder.* Ensuring your home is properly insulated can reduce the amount of heat your home loses, too. For more information, visit energysavingtrust.org.uk. 2 Turn it down Your thermostat should ideally be set to the lowest…

Doctor Who RRC1 The Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and Yaz (Mandip Gill) have been exploring the universe together in the TARDIS, in this all-action galaxy- spanning new series, that will also see an additional traveller. John Bishop plays Dan Lewis, a quick and kind Liverpudlian who joins them in the TARDIS. Also in this six-part series, look out for Jacob Anderson (Gome of Thrones, Broadchurch) as mysterious recurring character Vinder, joining forces with the Doctor, Yaz and Dan as they all face some amazing adventures. Finch APPLE TV+ Tom Hanks plays a robotics engineer who’s one of the few survivors of an apocalyptic event in this emotional sci-fi drama. Now living in an underground bunker with his dog, Goodyear, he creates a robot (Caleb Landry Jones) to watch over his companion…

Sandra Fearon, 69, Bideford, Devon As the curtain opened and the puppet show began, I couldn’t stop laughing. ‘So funny,’ I giggled with my two brothers, then 6 and 3. It was 1961, and I was 9. My dad Patrick, then 32, was the theatre’s stage manager, and my family lived a comfortable life. One of the first in the area to get a TV. My mum Gwendoline, then 26, was beautiful, and Dad was besotted. But that summer, I awoke to find Dad crying – Mum was nowhere to be seen. She’d died suddenly from a heart attack. Unable to cope, Dad began drinking heavily, so me and my brothers went to live with our grandparents. Yet, too old to look after us, three years later they sent us…

QI keep getting so many blackheads on my nose, how do I get rid of them and keep them from coming back? Alice Randell, 55, Inverurie A Blackheads around the nose are actually very common, even for mature skin, and are caused by clogged pores after a build up of sebum. The best way to combat these is to incorporate a chemical exfoliant such as salicylic acid into your skincare routine that will reach into the pores and dissolve the blackheads. One of the easiest ways to do this is by sweeping a toner like Pixi Clarity Tonic, £10, cultbeauty. co.uk, over the skin after you’ve cleansed and before any serums or moisturisers. Alternatively, swap your normal cleanser for one containing this hero ingredient. We love The Inkey List Salicylic…

Chat winners issue 31 (5 August 2021) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £1001 CASH M Drinkwater, Blackburn £1000 CASH C Maxwell, Langholm £500 CASH N Dykes, Sunderland; E Stone, Saltburn-by-the-Sea £250 CASH J Cox, Birmingham £150 CASH D Welsh, Loughborough £100 CASH S Hartnell, Southampton; E Kirk, Consett; R Saunders, Cheltenham; T Phillips, Torquay; J Buckle, Southampton £60 CASH D Wood, Wednesbury £50 CASH K Nafi, Ashford; J Eckersley, Bolton; R Temple, Blyth £30 CASH A Harrison, Birmingham; C Willmoth, Leeds; P Herrod, Bishop’s Stortford; J Baughan, Birmingham; N Eden, Par £25 CASH V Langley, Bolton; H Noglik, Warwick; J Repton, Camberley; M Turner, Bridgwater; G Wilcox, Sleaford; M Wilkes, Kidderminster; J Egan, Newcastle; A Scott, Winchester; K Antrobus, Billingham Chat PUZZLE 1 7919 Chat PUZZLE…

Lucy Lear, 24, from Devon Seeing my boyfriend’s face drain of colour as I broke the news, my heart sank. ‘You’re joking,’ Dale, then 19, gulped. It was April 2015, and I’d been shocked, too, when the doctor told me I was 12 weeks pregnant. At just 17, I’d put my bulging belly down to lactose intolerance. But with my mum Lyn, then 37, promising to be a hands-on gran, I’d started imagining me and Dale with a little one. ‘I’d love us to be a family,’ I begged, besotted. A week later, seeing our baby during my first scan, Dale seemed to come round.. ‘That’s my baby,’ he gushed, beaming. When Grace arrived in November 2015, I was devoted to her. ‘No matter what, you come first,’ I whispered,…

Julia Tinetti, 32 Stacking glasses on the bar, I looked up to see the new barmaid walk past. It was spring 2013 and it was her first shift in the local pub where I worked, but I quickly spotted the blue and red flag tattooed on her arm. ‘Hey, nice tatt, I’m from the Dominican Republic, too!’ I grinned. ‘I’m Cassandra,’ she said to me, smiling back. We got chatting and Cassandra explained that, while she was born in the Dominican Republic, she was adopted. ‘Me, too!’ I gasped, ‘My adoptive mum Mary moved me here when I was a few weeks old. We quickly bonded over our similar backgrounds. It turned that out Cassandra was 25, a year older than me. We had loads more in common as well,…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p3. There’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Lorna Ridgway, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire ACROSS 1 Narrow opening 2 Circuit court 3 Islands at mouth of Galway Bay 4 Repair DOWN 1 Line where fabric joined together 2 Stringed instrument 3 Also called Persia 4 To be inclined WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: HALF & HALF What does the name of Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba in Mecca, translate as into English? Cross out a letter in each square to get a grid filled with words. The uncrossed-out letters in the shaded squares give the prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 7 Your…

Forced to hide away Q I’m a white man in a two-year relationship with an Indian guy. He’s not out to all the family. We live together but when his relatives turn up, I have to hide. I’m happy to meet his family but he stops me. He has no intention of coming out soon as he worries about being disowned. I can’t live in the closet, but I love him very much. What should I do? Brendan, 33 A This is incredibly sad. Your boyfriend believes his family won’t accept his sexuality and is afraid of rejection. It’s up to him if he wants to tell them, and you can’t force it. Focus on your future as a couple and what you’ve got. This isn’t about his culture, and…

Christine Constantine, 27, Liverpool Walking into the church, I felt the atmosphere tense up. The old building was beautifully decorated with flowers for my niece’s christening. But it was me who everyone was staring at. ‘You look anorexic,’ one friend remarked bluntly. It was September 2018, and, for five years, a mystery illness had caused my weight to plummet. I tried to cover my bony frame in baggy clothes. Jumpers, tracksuits. Today, wearing a maxi dress which had to be pinned in at the sides to fit, I could see the horror on everyone’s faces. It had first started in summer 2013, after eating at a pub for my mum Marie’s 42nd birthday. That night, I began vomiting violently, developed an excruciating pain in my stomach. ‘Probably food poisoning,’ I…

Q With the limit on contactless payments going up to £100, how can I keep my bank card safe? J Stringer, Portsmouth A From 15 October, the spending limit on contactless cards jumps up from £45 to £100. That makes it quicker and easier to pay for more purchases. It also means thieves could spend more on stolen cards. But crooks can’t go completely wild - you have to enter your PIN after five contactless transactions, or after spending £300 in total across several contactless payments. If you are worried that someone might scan your card by holding a reader next to your bag, keep cards in a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) blocking wallet. Also, if you bank online, set up notifications each time your card is used.…

Emma and AJ Get to Work W Emma Willis and Strictly star AJ Odudu help deserving families get their business back on track following lockdown. The four-parter will see them helping out at an adventure hostel, launching a pop-up shop and even sheep shearing! One & Six Zeros C4 There’s £1,000,000 up for grabs in this upcoming quiz show hosted by Dara Ó Briain. Teams of three players will start with the jackpot, but if they answer a question incorrectly they lose a zero off the prize fund – which could quickly go from £1,000,000 to £100! Gino and Family’s Italian Adventure ITV Gino D’Acampo explores the food and culture of southern Italy, with his wife Jessica and their three kids, Luciano, Rocca and Mia, in this seven-part series. Along…

This summer, the inquiry into five children’s homes run by south London’s Lambeth Council found a ‘culture of cover-up’ allowed more than 700 young victims to be drugged, tortured and sexually assaulted from the 1960s to the 1990s. The Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse report found that staff treated children like they were worthless, allowing paedophiles to infiltrate children’s homes and foster care. Shirley Oaks was singled out as a ‘brutal’ place ‘where violence and sexual assault were allowed to flourish’. Allegations of abuse were made against 177 staff members, involving 529 former residents. Lambeth Council has made an unreserved apology and paid £71.5 million in compensation to victims, with individual payments of up to £125,000.…

Essence Bronze Your Way 3 Colour Bronzer Palette, £4.99, justmylook.com Keep your summer glow with this affordable palette that rivals higher- end alternatives. Swirl a brush across all three shades or apply individually across cheekbones. Vaseline Dry Hands Rescue Hand Cream, £3.99, lookfantastic.com You don’t have to choose between clean or comfortable hands this winter as this antibacterial cream combines the two. It’s great for popping in your handbag for on-the-go hydration. Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in Cherry, £5.99, burtsbees.co.uk It’s never too early to pop on a festive red lip, and this moisturising, glossy and super-pigmented formula will see you all the way through to Christmas. Dove Pro-Age Body Butter, £6.29, lookfantastic.com Say goodbye to crepey skin with a body butter that hydrates and targets signs of ageing. We…

The Dalton house was a happy one. Dad Jason was a good husband to Carole and father to his two kids. A helpful neighbour, he was content with his job as an insurance loss adjuster in Kalamazoo, Michigan, US. In February 2016, he’d just started moonlighting as an Uber driver to earn extra cash to take his family to Disney World. Carole noticed he seemed a little down. ‘I’m just tired,’ he promised. The extra hours driving were taking their toll. On 20 February, Jason, then 45, kissed Carole, their son,15, and daughter, 10,goodbye. And while they went out, he walked the family’s German shepherd Mia, before going to a gun shop with his mate. Nothing unusual. Guns were Jason’s hobby, he was a regular customer. He was smiling and…

STYLE TIP Opt for a thin-knit roll-neck in a neutral tone that you can layer underneath for added warmth. STYLE TIP Elevate your knitted dress for evening wear by pairing with on-trend mules and chic gold jewellery. STYLE TIP Add a belt to cinch in your waist and create definition on loose-fitting frocks for a flattering silhouette. STYLE TIP Transform your favourite dress for autumn by layering a sweater vest on top and choosing knee-high boots. WE WANT YOU! WE'RE LOOKING FOR WOMEN JUST LIKE YOU TO APPEAR IN OUR MAGAZINES. EVERYONE'S WELCOME, SO APPLY TODAY!. Go to goodtoknow.co.uk/REAL to find out more details…

WHAT’S THE VERDICT? It took just 46 minutes for the jury to convict Ronald O’Bryan of murdering his son, and of attempting to murder four other children. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection. Dubbed the Candy Man by inmates, O’Bryan continued to protest his innocence. An appeal in 1979 was denied. The judges said that not only did O’Bryan kill his son for money, but also intended to commit other murders by intentionally distributing four additional poisoned tubes of Pixy Stix to other children. In March 1984, after having a last meal of well-done steak and Boston cream pie, O’Bryan was executed using a then-new lethal cocktail of drugs, deemed more humane than electrocution or cyanide gas. Far kinder than the agonising death he’d subjected his own son…

Don’t ignore the problem Hearing loss affects one in five UK adults. If you regularly turn up the TV or struggle to follow conversations, you could have an issue. ‘You may ask people to repeat what they say, find your family complaining that you don’t listen, or feel that other people mumble,’ says Franki Oliver, audiology adviser at RNID. Take the RNID’s free online hearing check at rnid.org.uk. Stay healthy The ear relies on a good blood supply to function well, which could be reduced by obesity, so it’s important to have a healthy BMI. And also check any meds you’re on. Certain medicines can cause damage to the inner ear, resulting in hearing loss, balance problems or tinnitus. If you are in a noisy job, your employer is obliged…

Nicole Fergesen, 32 Groaning, I rolled over in bed as the alarm bleeped away. I opened my eyes to see my husband Marcus, then 32, jumping out of bed with a huge grin on his face. ‘Morning, sleepyhead, it’s a beautiful day,’ he beamed, throwing on his gym gear and heading out of the door. Smiling, I drifted back to sleep. It was January 2019, and Marcus had the same relentless energy and enthusiasm for life he’d had when I’d met him at college 12 years earlier. At 4am every morning, without so much as a yawn, he’d be up for a workout. Home in time to help make breakfast for our kids – Scarlett, then 5, Levi, 4, and Eloise, 2. Afterwards, he’d head off to his job in…

Deep in Austin, Texas, a court assembles, and couple Logan and Daley South take their thrones. But this is no ordinary community gathering. Because Logan and Daley are King and Queen of the Vampire Court. And their loyal subjects? Around 60 self-professed vampires. Yet this isn’t the only different thing about this fanged power couple. They’re also in a polyamorous relationship – having more than one partner, with the consent of all partners involved – and have been since they were introduced by a friend in 2010. ‘We both had our vampiric awakenings around the age of 15,’ says Daley. ‘I started to realise I needed an outside source of human energy to stay healthy. ‘It was when I began feeling that emptiness and that thirst that I really started…

Ready to give up, I was lucky that nobody else was. ‘This feeding tube could change your life,’ Mum and Ryan told me, pleading me to accept it. Finally, in February 2019, I begrudgingly gave in, knowing I’d die if I didn’t. Afterwards, I felt uglier than ever. But, as my body absorbed nutrients, my weight stabilised. I was allowed home a couple of weeks later and, for the first time in six years, I began to feel stronger. Could I get my life back? When I was out, people called me ‘the girl with the tube’, but I pushed their remarks aside. The tube was a lifeline. ‘It saved me,’ I told Mum and Ryan. In the September, I was fitted with a more permanent feeding tube in my…

Scary squash lasagne Lasagne is a wonderfully warming dish that’s perfect for a chilly October evening. This delicious veggie version is bright, colourful and certainly worth the effort. SERVE 6 PREP TIME 25 MINS COOK TIME 1 HR 15 MINS • 2 butternut squash, peeled and cubed (reserve a few rounds for decoration) • 2tbsp olive oil • 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes • 1 bunch of basil, chopped For the bechamel sauce: • 100g butter • 100g plain flour • 750ml whole milk • 400g spinach, washed and chopped • 200g finely grated parmesan • 2x 250g packs ricotta • 2 free-range eggs • 500g pack fresh lasagne sheets • 50g finely grated parmesan, for topping You will need: • 25x30cm baking dish 1 Heat oven to 220C/Gas…

Aries 21 March-20 April You’re feeling romantic, fun and creative, which reinforces a need to embrace life. This is a huge time professionally, so be adventurous. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May A friend invites you to a new exercise class, it’s not something you’ve tried but you’ll enjoy it. Relaxation has health benefits and will be a calming influence. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You’re going to find yourself on a mission for a bargain. An idea might be appealing, so do something unique. Also, start planning that next break. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July With the full moon in Pisces, consider planning ahead. This will make things much easier when a…

Beauty writer Emma North shares her favourite eyebrow gels Rimmel Wonder’Full Brow Gel, £5.99, lookfantastic.com Keep unruly brows in place with this brilliant brow gel. The clear, long- lasting formula keeps brows looking brushed-up and fluffy for hours. Catrice 48-Hour Power Stay Brow Gel, £4.99, justmylook.com As it’s packed with pigment, achieving thicker and fuller brows is so easy when using this brow gel. With three colour options available, you’re bound to find one that suits. Max Factor Brow Revival Densifying Brow Mascara, £9.99, lookfantastic.com If your brows have become sparse or you’ve been too pluckhappy, then rejoice as your brow saviour is here. This brow gel actually combs on fibres for thicker, bushier brows in seconds. TOP TIP Keep nail polish in the fridge and it will last a…

HOW TO ENTER TEXT Simply text CHATC 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.…