Table of contents for 06 January 2022 in Chat

Between them, Fred and Rose West raped, tortured and killed girls and young women, burying many at 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester. Fred died by suicide while awaiting trial for 12 murders in 1995. Rose was convicted of 10 murders and given a whole-life term. But experts believe the 12 bodies found are the ‘tip of the iceberg’. In May 2021, police excavated the basement of the Clean Plate Cafe in Gloucester, looking for the remains of Mary Bastholm, 15. Mary vanished from a bus stop in January 1968, and it’s believed she was offered a lift by Fred West in a van – several months before Janice’s encounter. Mary was a waitress at the cafe, where Fred was a regular and reportedly did renovations. Private investigators filming ITV documentary Fred…

Becky Motton, 29, Southsea, Essex Storming down the stairs, I went straight to the kitchen and grabbed a bin liner. ‘It’s got to go,’ I told my daughter Brooke, then aged 9, who looked at me wide-eyed. Flinging open the cupboard, I grabbed packs of cakes, biscuits, crisps and chocolate bars and chucked them in the bag. Then I emptied the litre bottles of fizzy drinks down the sink. ‘Mummy, you’re nuts!’ gasped Brooke as I tied up the bag and put it out. But I knew exactly what I was doing. It was February 2021 and, after years of being overweight and hating my body, I’d had enough. I’d always suffered from mental-health problems – low self-esteem, depression. And when my partner died in March 2014, I’d turned to…

In August 2020, the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA, was in chaos. Three months earlier, in May, George Floyd, 46, a black man from the neighbouring state of Minnesota, had been murdered by white police officer Derek Chauvin. As a result, support for the social and political movement Black Lives Matter was gathering pace. And on 23 August, it reached Kenosha when black man Jacob Blake, then 29, was shot seven times in the back and side by white officer Rusten Sheskey. Blake was left paralysed from the waist down. While he was in hospital, protesters took to the streets to express their disgust. There were rallies, marches, property damage, arson attacks and clashes with the police. Local officials declared a state of emergency. One of those among the crowd…

Ellie Kishore, 40, Ascot, Berks True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Opening presents around the tree with my husband Simon, then 46, and our daughters Evie, then 5, and Emilie, 3, I was overcome by fatigue. I flopped on the sofa. It was December 2019 and I’d been feeling ill for two weeks. Was full of cold. Christmas just wasn’t the same. And things got worse. After blood tests in January 2020, I was sent straight to Frimley Park Hospital. My iron levels were so low, I needed an urgent transfusion. Doctors also found I had an enlarged spleen. ‘It could be a sign of leukaemia,’ one said. Terrifying. I was prescribed iron tablets and sent home while I had tests. A bone-marrow biopsy that February revealed something even worse. ‘You have Waldenstrom’s…

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 Michele Mcguire, Cleethorpes, NE Lincs ACROSS 1 Bravery 2 Lake in North America 3 Breed of cat with no tail 4 How to kill a dragon DOWN 1 Jewels 2 Russian mountain range 3 __ Turner, singer 4 Hot, alluring WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Historically, the French idiom coiffer Sainte-Catherine, used of women who turn 25 before they marry, is translated as to don what item of St Catherine’s clothing? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: PUN + DIT,…

It’s Gavlar! Gavin & Stacey actor Mathew Horne was born in Nottingham in September 1978. ‘Going back to Nottingham always feels like I’m going back home,’ he has said. Robin Hood allegedly robbed from the rich to give to the poor… Nobody really knows if it’s all just a myth, but you can’t go to Nottinghamshire without stumbling across one of the many Robin Hood landmarks. HP sauce may be named after the Houses of Parliament, but the original recipe for bacon’s best mate – good ol’ brown sauce – was developed by Frederick Gibson Garton, a grocer from Nottingham.…

PD Elvis and PC Colin Nash, London/Suffolk He’s only 2, but Labrador Elvis’ nose has helped to take numerous knives off the streets and identified victims being used to transport drugs across police and county boundaries. But his nose has also got him into some trouble – he devoured someone’s Nando’s takeaway! PD Nala and PC Sean Foster, Northamptonshire In 2016, police dog Nala, a German shepherd, was struck around the face with a crowbar when responding to a burglary, but still managed to track two missing suspects who were hiding under a caravan. In 2020, Nala spent two hours searching gardens for a burglar and found the suspect hiding. Just before her retirement in April 2021, she caught and held a man as he attempted to flee, despite him…

Nothing I did seemed to help Josh find happiness. But then, one day in May 2021, I was at my job as a customer services clerk when my mobile buzzed with a message from Josh. Mum, this is really uncomfortable, he said. I just wanted to tell you that I’m transgender. I sat at my desk, stunned. I’d always known he was unhappy about something, but I hadn’t expected this. Taking a deep breath, I typed a message back. I just want you to be happy. Let’s chat tonight, I replied. Josh needed me, and I couldn’t let him down. I was still worried, but I was mostly relieved. He was finally opening up, and things were starting to make sense. Back home, I sat with him on the sofa.…

Cheese, Marmite and sesame twists Love it or hate it, super-savoury Marmite is here to stay – and it certainly takes this classic party snack to the next level. MAKES 32 PREP TIME: 10 MINS COOK TIME: 15 MINS • 3tsp Marmite • 500g block puff pastry • 150g grated Cheddar • 1 egg, beaten • 2tbsp black sesame seeds 1 Preheat the oven to 220C/Gas 7. Heat the Marmite in the microwave for 15 sec, until it’s a runny consistency. 2 Roll out the pastry to the thickness of a £1 coin to make a large rectangle. Spread the Marmite over half the pastry, and scatter the cheese on top. Fold over the other half of the pastry. Roll the filled pastry out again to make a large rectangle.…

Aries 21 March-20 April Some friends don’t fancy going out, but you have others who are up for some fun. It’s a good time for business and to meet new people on internet forums. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Venus in retrograde helps you see that, right now, it’s too complicated to move forward with a relationship – unless you both make big changes in your lives. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June The finer details of your ideas absorb you as you tie it all up. Speaking to others will lead to collaboration on a project you’d no idea would be successful. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Receiving appreciation will be rewarding,…

HOW TO ENTER TEXT Simply text CHATB 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.…

ZIP COLLAR STYLE TIP A zip collar adds a sporty spin. Leave open for a flattering V-neckline or zip for warmth. HOODIE STYLE TIP Knit fabrics and pastel hues make for a luxe take on the classic hoodie. Add matching bottoms to lounge in. FUNNEL NECK STYLE TIP A roll-neck without the bulk, these will keep you snug and stylish. Layer under a dress or wear with jeans. SWEATER STYLE TIP Whether a statement slogan or a print, offset the casual aesthetic and team with a pleated midi skirt.…

Kyle Rittenhouse, then 18, was shaking as the verdict was read out in November 2021. But the jury cleared him of all five charges, including the reckless homicide of Joseph Rosenbaum, and intentional homicide of Anthony Huber. The fact he had killed two men and injured another was never in doubt, but the jury believed he only used his semiautomatic weapon because he feared for his life. It had taken them four days to reach their verdict. Outside court, cars drove past tooting their horns, drivers shouting ‘Free Kyle’ from their windows. But others were distraught. One woman collapsed sobbing on the court steps. Protesters gathered outside and told reporters that if Kyle Rittenhouse had been black, he would’ve been shot on the spot. Leaving court, Kyle Rittenhouse said, ‘The…

Nicky Hutchinson, 50, Hatherleigh, Devon Standing beside me as we looked in the mirror, my daughter Erin, then 17, nodded. ‘That’s definitely the wig for you,’ she smiled as I smoothed down the brown strands. We’d always loved our mum-and-daughter shopping trips, only this time it was a little different. It was October 2019 and I’d begun treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. I’d found a lump on my neck just a month before. Tests at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital revealed it had already spread to my bone marrow and kidneys. Doctors said I’d die within months without treatment. My husband Ian, then 50, Erin and her brother Luke, 9, had been devastated. The intensive chemotherapy made me weak and groggy. I had to step back…

ARROW WORD What cosmetic is also (unrelatedly) the name of a city and province in Algeria? 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 £1,000 puzzle 10 Your answer: SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each 3x3 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 £60 puzzle 11 Your answer: WORDSEARCH Which of these 15 words connects a 1981 album by Kraftwerk and a 2018 album by Janelle Monae? The answer is the one missing from the grid. WIN £50 puzzle 12 BOOK CHAIR COMPUTER DESK DRAWERS ENVELOPE KEYBOARD…

FILL ME IN Which city is host to New Zealand’s largest cargo port? 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 Leona Lewis sang I See You, the theme song to which blockbuster film, released in 2009? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters ANT ARC ARM ASK BET BRA IMP NUT TUT 4 letters EVER LOFT LOST OBOE SHOE SPAN 5 letters EXIST MIMIC TACIT YACHT 6 letters PACKET PALACE PHOBIA PROFIT 7 letters ABILITY TIMPANI WIN £100 puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

3 way to... teach your kids about money Start the New Year with a plan to help your child develop their money skills 1 Lead by example There are activities you can do when you’re out and about to help boost your child’s money skills, says MoneyHelper. For example, when you’re food shopping, take your children and make money-related decisions out loud, such as why you chose the shop-brand cereal over the better-known brand. And compare prices of items out loud or ask them to tell you the different prices of products. 2 Show them the whole picture If you pay by card, rather than cash, don’t forget to show your child that this is part of your money management as well. Show your child your current account balance before…

Debbie Maddox, 53, Warrington, Cheshire Standing at the bar, I spotted someone familiar waving me over. ‘Goodness, how many years has it been?’ I smiled to Stephen Doherty, then 39. It was the end of 2003, and Stephen and I first met when I was 18 – a lifetime ago now. Stephen was well known around town as a charmer, a ladies’ man. He’d moved to Australia soon after we’d first met, so our friendship had never really taken off. Catching up now, I learnt Stephen had married, divorced, had two young children and moved back to the UK. A lot had changed for me, too, now I was going through a separation, with a 4-year-old son in tow. ‘It’s lovely to see you,’ I smiled. ‘A real surprise.’ We…

Batiste Overnight Deep Cleanse, £4.25, Superdrug This supercharged version of ordinary dry shampoo, with a slumberinducing scent, gets to work absorbing oil while you snooze. Inecto Nourishing Avocado Hair Mask, £3, Morrisons Whether you’re in need of pre-party shine or repair the morning after, this ultra-quenching mask has your back. Glow Banana Peel and Polish, £5, Boots Got a last-minute do? This 10-minute facial treatment boasts lactic acid – found in pricier products – to slough away dead skin cells for brighter skin pronto. Revlon Ultra HD Snap Nail Polish in Birthday Suit/Red and Real/Berry Blissed, £7.99, Superdrug One of the fastest-drying polishes out there, a real one-coat wonder. The easy-to-hold brush means less smudging, too. Got a beauty question? Send your problems to chat_magazine@futurenet.com…

Chat winners issue 38 (23 September 2021) £1,001 CASH J Dixon, Warwick £1,000 CASH J Blair, Falkirk £500 CASH S Russell, Great Yarmouth; V Johnson, Warwick £250 CASH L Wragg, Glossop £150 CASH G Sims, Erith £100 CASH M Daly, Leicester; N Leebetter, Nottingham; V Smailes, Sutton-in-Ashfield £60 CASH C Domaille, Cardiff £50 CASH M Darrah, Great Yarmouth; P Barker, Leicester; Mrs Stafford, Grantham £30 CASH N/V £25 CASH J Duke, Looe; L Fleming, Middlesbrough; R Lock, Warwick; L Gee, Leicester; V Stobbs, Grantham; P Knight, Milton Keynes; J Hart, Coventry; J Adshead, Stockport; C Salmon, Westcliff-on-Sea chat PUZZLE 1 1129 chat PUZZLE 2 GHOST chat PUZZLE 11 457 Anyone from your town in the list this week..? ● All contributions to Chat must be original, not copies or duplicated…

Janice Collins, 70, Bristol Buttoning up my coat, I popped my head around the livingroom door. ‘See you later,’ I smiled to my mum and dad. ‘Take care,’ Mum warned as I slammed the front door shut. Like most parents, they worried. But I was 16, and used to having freedom. Growing up in Pill, a Somerset village, in the 1960s, my friends and I were always hitch-hiking or catching buses alone. It was 1968, before mobile phones and Uber cabs, and everything felt safe. After the four-mile bus journey, I spent the evening at my friend’s house playing Motown records, before wandering through the fading light back to the bus stop. It was 9pm, and the bus was due. Some 10 minutes later, though, there was still no sign.…

THE BIGGIE Which TV show is British actor Adjoa Andoh’s guiltiest pleasure? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the two-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Distant, far-off (6) 12 Put right (9) 13 Child’s toy, hula _ (4) 14 Very hot (8) 15 Portion of cake (5) 16 Not singular (6) 17 Serious (7) 18 Suggested (11) 20 Fact (5) 22 General belief (9) 24 _ Cranston, Breaking Bad actor (5) 28 Manages or deals with (7) 29 Adult (5-2) 32 Vera actor, _ Blethyn (6) 34 Fantastic (8) 36 Unknown person (8) 37 Appeared to be (6) 39 European country (7) 40 Went red (7) 45 Fury (5) 47 Portrayal (9) 48 Exchange (5) 51 Process of growing (11) 53 Part of…

Catherine McDermott, 30, Liverpool Squeezing into my sparkly black dress, I groaned. ‘I don’t know why we bother,’ I grumbled to my sisters Steph and Jen. ‘Here comes the New Year Grinch again!’ Steph laughed. It was 31 December 2013 and, for the umpteenth year in a row, I was being dragged out by my sisters and mates to celebrate. It was no secret I’d always hated New Year’s Eve. The queues, the cold, the pressure to have fun. Such a hassle. The false hope that next year would be ‘the best year yet’. Urgh! Even after my daughter Ava came along in August 2011, I only tolerated it all for my mates. I’d leave Ava with my mum, while we traipsed between expensive bars and rammed nightclubs. Then, in…

I don’t ejaculate Q My new year’s resolution is to ejaculate when I orgasm. Why doesn’t it happen? Brian, Banstead A The medical term for an orgasm without ejaculating semen is anejaculation, or more commonly, a dry orgasm. Stress, anxiety, injury to your spine, surgery or damage to your pelvis, infections, nerve problems such as multiple sclerosis or the side effects of drugs, such as antidepressants, can all cause anejaculation and you should check with your doctor. If you’re happy with your dry orgasms, there’s no need for treatment, but if you do want to change things, treatment depends on the cause and is likely to mean sexual therapy. If you are trying to father a child, a doctor can trigger ejaculation by vibration stimulation to your penis or electrical…

TEENAGER MURDERED On 30 October 1983, Paul Hutchinson, 25, abducted 16-year-old Colette Aram as she walked to her boyfriend’s house in Keyworth. He bundled her into a stolen car, raped and strangled her, then dumped her body in a field. The case was finally solved 25 years on, in June 2008, when Hutchinson’s son was detained on a driving matter. His DNA was a familial match to samples taken at the time. Paul Hutchinson admitted murder and, in January 2010, was jailed for life, to serve at least 25 years. He died by suicide in prison 10 months later. A FINAL ARGUMENT Reuben Valentine was jailed for life, to serve at least 16 years, for stabbing Jason Spencer, 17, to death in March 2007. Also 17, Valentine was described by…

Kelly Walker, 37, Broughton, Flintshire My police radio crackled into action as reports of a man armed with a knife came through. ‘Come on,’ I said to my partner Bart. ‘Let’s go!’ Ever the pro, Bart dashed over to our police car and we sped to the scene of the crime. Like the high-octane action from any cop drama. Except this was real life …and my partner wasn’t a bloke. He was a dog. I’d joined the Police Force in 2006, and transferred to the Police Dog Unit in 2017. It wasn’t a surprise move. As a little girl I’d always dreamt of being a dog handler. ‘Probably because we never let you have a dog growing up,’ my mum Lynda, then 62, joked. And when I got Bart, my…

I’m feeding her kids Q My friend is a single mum and doesn’t have much. I always help her out with childcare and give her clothes for the kids and bits from my freezer when she’s struggling. I’ve even paid for school trips. But my husband’s getting annoyed as I cook for her and the kids a couple of times a week. How can I make him understand? Anna, 36 A First of all, aren’t you a lovely friend? I reckon what’s really upsetting your husband is that he feels he’s missing out on family time. And maybe he has a point? As wonderful as it is to look after a mate and her kids, it’s important to have boundaries, so you have time for your lot. By no means…

Kayleigh Baker, 32, Norwich Craning my head to look at the ultrasound screen, I held my breath. Please be a boy, I thought, peering at the tiny image of my 20-weekold unborn baby. It was April 2009, and I was itching to find out my baby’s sex. I know all mums are meant to say that they don’t mind having a girl or boy as long as the baby is healthy. And, of course, I felt the same. But, deep down, I loved the idea of having a son. Finally, the sonographer broke the news I’d been longing for. ‘It’s a little boy!’ she announced with a smile. ‘I can’t wait to meet him,’ I replied, crying happy tears. I imagined muddy football boots and toy cars all over the…

Q I am considering putting my pet into ‘doggy day care’ when I start a new job, how much does it cost? A Spedding, Lavenham A A study by Admiral Pet Insurance into how much doggy day care costs across 10 UK cities has calculated the annual bill is £3,456, based on using doggy day care three days a week. This breaks down to £288 per month. But it varied widely by location – from £19.33 on average in Newcastle for a full day’s care to £45 per day on average in London. So do your research into how much it costs near you. And if you want to proceed, visit your chosen doggy day care before booking to check its insured and that you’re happy with what it offers.…

THE BIG QUIZ 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 answer. See page 56 for entry details. THE SILVER SCREEN – LORDS 1 The 1963 film Lord of the Flies was based on the classic novel of the same name by William _? (7) 2 Who directed and starred in a 1996 film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, in which Richard Briers played Polonius? (7,7) 3 Aardman animator Peter Lord directed the 2012 animated film The Pirates! In an Adventure…

The Body Shop Indian Night Jasmine Fragrance Mist, £8.50 Many body mists lean on the sweet side, but this heady mix of jasmine and sandalwood is sensual and perfect for after dark. Yardley London English Honeysuckle Body Mist, £6, Boots The fragrance equivalent of a glass of OJ, this fresh citrus blend – balanced with heliotrope and honeysuckle – will perk you up on a dull winter’s morning. So...? Unique Peony Blush Body Mist, £5.99, Boots This collection of 13 clever mists can be veiled over each other for a bespoke blend without breaking the bank. I love this cocktail of raspberry, peony and white musk. TOP TIP Apply under-eye concealer in an upside-down triangle shape for a lifting effect.…

My lovely nurses, It feels strange, writing this when I still don’t know your names. That day in July 2021, when I came under your care at Stepping Hill Hospital had been so ordinary. I’d spent a sunny afternoon playing with my kids Jacon, then 16, Ruby, 13, Kylan, 10, Joel, 8, and Kieran, 7. We’d ordered McDonald’s for tea, then I’d settled on the sofa with my partner Lee, 33, and flicked the telly on. Only, suddenly, I’d fallen to the floor shaking. The room had gone black. I woke up 12 days later in Intensive Care. ‘I need to go home,’ I gasped desperately. My mum Samantha, then 50, calmed me down. ‘You’ve been ill,’ she said. I had no memory of what had happened. Then I eyed…