Table of contents for 14 March 2024 in Chat

Which is the largest of the 88 modern constellations recognised by the International Astronomical Union? 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 Small, Asian deer with tusks (7) 2 Fairground spun sugar (10) 3 Uncastrated male horse (8) 4 Gas used in advertising signs (4) 5 Equine sound (5) 6 Mouth organ (9) 7 Ancient citadel of Athens (9) 8 Former coin worth 12 old pence (8) 9 The Milky Way, for example (6) 10The Christmas season (8) 11 _ Avenue, Eddy Grant hit (8) 12 Mediterranean island whose capital is Ajaccio (7) 13 Descend a rockface via a rope (6) 14 Ointment, salve (6) 15 XIX in Roman numerals (8) 16 Fall asleep (3,3) Your answer:…

Breastfeeding bother Q My baby, and lots of my friends’ babies, don’t feed properly due to tongue-tie. Why is it so common now? Marielle, Cheltenham A Tongue-tie means that the flap of skin between the underside of a baby’s tongue and the bottom of their mouth is too short. As a result the baby might not be able to push out their tongue far enough, which can lead to problems when breastfeeding -the baby doesn’t get enough milk, and you might suffer sore or cracked nipples. If it isn’t treated, tongue-tie usually clears by itself, though it might occasionally cause speech problems later. Treatment is a small op to snip the skin flap. The op has become more common in recent years but most doctors don’t think that an increase…

England and Leicester rugby player Ollie HassellCollins is notable for what colourful decoration while playing, first adopted to help him stop a nervous habit? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Move aside = SHUT + N = SHUNT. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2 × £25 Puzzle 9 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

3 Ways to… get that job Give yourself the best shot at getting your next interview with these tips. 1 Practice makes perfect ‘Interviews tend to have a pretty similar format – you go in, shake hands (if it’s in person), introduce yourself, answer questions and ask your own,’ explains Victoria McLean, CEO of career consultancy City CV (citycv.com). ‘Practising beforehand will help calm your nerves and boost your confidence. Ask a friend or family member to act as the interviewer and ask them for feedback. Your questions answered Q How much is a standard TV licence fee set to increase by this year? E. Young, Birmingham A The annual cost of a colour TV licence will rise to £169.50 on 1 April 2024, up from £159. And the black…

The Oscars ITV1 & ITVX ● Jonathan Ross hosts the ultimate Oscars party as UK viewers get to see the world’s glitziest awards show on ITV1 for the first time in almost 20 years. He’ll be joined by a panel of stars and special guests as he brings us all the action from the 96th Academy Awards, where Barbie, Oppenheimer, Maestro, Poor Things, Killers of the Flower Moon, American Fiction and The Holdovers dominate the nominations. Over on ITVX, Ross King reports from the red carpet at LA’s Dolby Theatre. It’s on late, so you can watch the highlights on ITV1 or stream the ceremony on ITVX the next day. DON’T MISS DON’T MISS Comic Relief BBC1 ● It’s that time again when people around the UK do all kinds…

What’s better, a beach holiday or city break? I do like a holiday abroad but if I’m somewhere where the sand is unbearably hot, my feet go pink and swollen. So I’d choose a city break for the sake of my poor feet not looking like two pieces of gammon from the pub! Your favourite dessert? Currently I’d go for a caramel apple Betty, as I’m on a diet where I only eat foods with people’s names. For breakfast today I had eggs Benedict and for lunch I had a quiche Lorraine! Where’s your favourite place to read Chat? I always bring a copy of Chat when I go for a country walk in Aberdare, where I can sit and relax with a view. If I’m reading at home, I have…

The international maritime signal flag for the letter P, aka the Blue Peter, has what shape in white on a blue background? 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 green squares to form the answer to this question. DST QUA IES NAT YAR LLY LIT ICK  URA Your answer: WIN 5 × £20 Puzzle 3 TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

BOMBER STYLE TIP Elevate this casual, boxy jacket by layering it over a simple plain T-shirt and tailored trousers for a modern twist. DENIM STYLE TIP Opt for an oversized style for a relaxed, effortlessly cool vibe. Pair with leggings and trainers for comfy everyday attire. BLAZERS STYLE TIP Master the art of the smart-casual look by combining a well-fitted blazer with a pair of on-trend, wide-leg trousers. FROM £25 BIKER STYLE TIP Wear this wardrobe classic with a midi or maxi skirt and chunky ankle boots for a sophisticated, yet edgy ensemble.…

YOU’RE THE JUDGE! They were soulmates who shared a passion for travel and adventure. But more than anything, Stephen Reid and his wife Dsjwende – known as Wendy – loved helping other people. The couple first met and fell in love in Washington DC in the early 1980s, when Wendy, a star basketball player from Benin, West Africa, relocated to the US. After marrying and having two children, they’d dedicated themselves to humanitarian work. Stephen led agencies distributing US government aid. Wendy worked with refugees. Over the years, the couple lived all over the world, from Niger to Haiti, helping vulnerable communities. After finally retiring in 2019, they moved back to Stephen’s home city of Concord, New Hampshire. Enjoyed reconnecting with family and friends. Arranging parties, playing tennis, watching football…

Q I’ve suffered back pain for years and now it wakes me at night. I’m afraid my doctor will just say it’s my weight. Could it be anything serious? Stacey, London A Lying down often brings relief from back pain but occasionally makes matters worse, particularly if you have disc degeneration where the jelly-filled cushions between the bones of your spine become damaged and worn. An old or saggy mattress or pillow is often to blame so it’s worth forking out for a replacement. You should see your GP too, though – losing weight might be important but isn’t the only treatment, and back exercises can help. And, very rarely, back pain that wakes you at night can be what doctors call a ‘red flag’ for something serious, such as…

Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p4. There’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Lorna Ridgway, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire WIN 5 × £20 Puzzle 6 ACROSS 1 Mountain range in Europe 2 In a short time 3 Mint sweet or a small car 4 To be anxious, or vegetable/meat dish DOWN 1 Venomous reptiles from Africa 2 To rob or seize 3 One of the ends of a magnet 4 Tiny crystals of ice that fall to the earth Your answer:…

Scared of his anger Q I’m really confused about my four-month relationship with this man. At first he made me feel valued but it turns out he has an angry streak. His temper is never directed at me but it rears its head when he’s driving or discussing work or politics. I told him I didn’t like this side of him and he promised me that he would change. But he still expresses his anger, particularly about work, which is making our conversations difficult. Is it time for me to move on and find someone less volatile? Ella, 25 A I think in four months you’ve seen enough of his personality to know that it isn’t something you want in a partner, love. He might swear to change but if…

TRUE-LIFE Walking into the staff meeting on my first day, I was 10 minutes late. But I wasn’t flustered, more excited, as my eyes darted around the room. Looking for the handsome face I’d spotted on my mate’s Facebook page. Please be here, I thought, my heart racing. It was July 2017, I was 16, and spending the summer working as a counsellor at Christian camp. I’d been going there since I was little. This year was my first time overseeing the younger kids. And an old camp pal had let slip that her brother Wayne, then 17, was a counsellor this year too. I’d never met him, but he looked so cute on Facebook. Thankfully, his was the first face I spotted. Handsome, with a sweet smile, just like…

8-14 March 2024 Aries 21 March-20 April Mercury moves into your sign on 11 March giving you a directness in your communication. Put it to use, keep your cool and practise being assertive! ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May There’s a lot going on behind the scenes. As a deep thinker and observer you like to think before you act, so take your time before making decisions. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June While you can find yourself overthinking an issue, now is a good moment to give a certain situation more thought. If in doubt, wait until you have clarity. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Your sensitive nature’s a gift to others, but…

Q I’m looking for a new cleanser – are there any decent options under £10? Sharon Baker, Bromley, Kent A Cleansers are a key product in your beauty routine, and the good news is that they’re affordable. For those who like a simple cleansing product, Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, £10, Ocado, will impress you. Coming in a jumbo bottle, it works to dissolve even the most stubborn of make-up, including eye products. Sweep over your face as your first cleansing step. Another great cleanser is BYOMA Creamy Jelly Cleanser, £9.99, Boots, which deeply cleans your face without drying out. It also replenishes lost moisture. One of the best cleansing formulas you can invest in is a cleansing balm. Beauty Bay Chamomile + Oat Lipid Cleansing Balm, £10, beautybay.com, is packed…

CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment, £11, lookfantastic.com Helping to protect and hydrate the skin barrier, this rich ointment comes to the aid of any dry or chapped skin on your body. Use it from head to toe for instant hydration. E.l.f Cosmetics Camo Hydrating CC Cream, £15, elfcosmetics.co.uk The iconic colourneutralising foundation has had a revamp and now comes in this hydrating formula. It’s available in 30 shades, so there’s a match for every skin tone. Q+A Ceramide Shower Cream, £8, qandaskin.com Designed specifically to be used on wet skin, this sweet almond and pistachioscented shower cream works to both moisturise and deeply clean your body. Bondi Sands Be Bronze, £12.99, lookfantastic.com Simply add a couple of drops of this brand new bronzing serum to your daily moisturiser to quickly give you…

Chat winners issue 48/49 (7 Dec 2023) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £1,001 CASH L Smalley, Chorley £500 CASH K Richardson, Peterborough £250 CASH J Ryan, St Austell P Smedley, Hartlepool £200 CASH L Buick, Tillicoultry £100 CASH G Newton, Gateshead C MacDonald, Inverness L Tarr, Ebbw Vale £50 CASH K Wolf, Nottingham M Tosh, Barrow-in-Furness M Lynch, Hartlepool V Martin, Leeds D Marshall, Chelmsford G Coates, Leyland £40 CASH BM Rotherforth, Leeds £30 CASH L Bull, Halifax L Jones, Grimsby £25 CASH J Warman, Cranleigh P Tuersley, London £20 CASH E Ruddick, Prudhoe A Hope, Walsall J Pitson, Northampton H Lea-Brammer, Stoke-on-Trent I Smith, Middlesbrough M Cooke, Southend-on-Sea K Wilkinson, Colne J Currie, Cardiff B Kane, Birmingham S Witchell, Caine P Bowles, Thetford L West,…

Jo Arlo, Until you were born, I didn’t know someone could feel so much love and fear at the same time. You arrived early, weighing 940g. Just 2lb. ‘I can’t believe that’s our baby,’ I whispered to your daddy, Lewis, then 30. In shock, we crowded round your incubator at Queen Alexandra Hospital. It was August 2022, and when my contractions had started at 25 weeks, docs tried to stall my labour using drugs. But after five days, my waters broke. Forty minutes later you were born and whisked to neonatal intensive care. I was rushed to surgery for a retained placenta and lost two-and-a-half litres of blood. But miraculously, we both survived. And I was taken to see you, just several hours old. You had on a yellow hat,…

Raking around the kitchen, I clutched my sore throat. ‘We’ve got no painkillers,’ I said. ‘You OK, Mam?’ my daughter Nikki asked. ‘Yes pet,’ I smiled. ‘Just going to Nana’s to get some medicine.’ ‘I’ll come,’ she grinned. I chuckled. It was the evening of 7 October 1992, and Nikki Allan, 7, was my second oldest of four girls, and my little shadow. Followed me everywhere with her toothy grin. We lived in Wear Garth on Sunderland’s Garths estate. I was a single mum and didn’t have much, but we were happy. My dad Dickie and stepmam Jenny only lived two floors up. ‘Popping to Nana’s,’ I shouted to my eldest, Stacey, then 9, sitting with my youngest two, then 3 and 1. Outside, the air was icy and Nikki…

What joke would comedian Omid Djalili tell if asked to do so in a corporate interview? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 ACROSS 11 Mist (6) 12 Foretold (9) 13 Pledge (4) 14 More fashionable (8) 15 Aquatic mammal (5) 16 Character played by Millie Bobby Brown in Stranger Things (6) 17 Undertakes a challenging task (7) 18 Type of spiced cake (11) 20 Desert haven (5) 22 Part of the week (9) 24 Smell (5) 28 Decoration for food (7) 29 Be worthy of (7) 32 Steps (6) 34 First (8) 36 Medical institution (8) 37 Simple boats (6) 39 Fruit of the palm tree (7) 40 Trivial _, board game (7) 45 Smiles broadly (5) 47 Exactly the same (9) 48 Tiny (5) 51 The natural world (11) 53 Pools of water (7) 55 Grew crops…

True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Pushing the steaming mug of tea away, I fought the urge to vomit. ‘You all right, love?’ my partner Adam, then 35, asked. ‘Fine,’ I fibbed. It was March 2023, and I’d recently found out I was pregnant. Already parents to our daughter Maisie, then 4, me and Adam were delighted. But at four weeks gone, I was already struggling with lower backache, cramps and sickness. I’d had terrible morning sickness with Maise, too. Assumed it was normal. Only, a week later, in early April, I went to the loo and saw blood spotting. Panic set in. A quick Google search revealed light spotting was normal in early pregnancy. But the bleeding got worse. Worried, I rang 111. Was advised to go to urgent care. Only, doctors…

Spicy pork ragu The fiery tomato sauce adds plenty of flavour without the long cooking time. SERVES 4 PREP 5 MINS COOK 25 MINS ● 2tbsp oil ● 450g lean pork mince ● 1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped  ● 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and chopped ● 1 onion, finely chopped ● 500g jar spicy tomato pasta sauce ● 1tsp smoked paprika ● Few basil leaves, to garnish  (optional) ● Rice, pasta or mashed potatoes to serve 1 Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook until browned, turning frequently and breaking up any clumps. 2 Add the peppers and onion and fry for 5 mins until soft. If there is a lot of excess oil, carefully drain and…

Sipping my coffee in the kitchen, I heard my husband Miles, then 45, call from our bedroom across the hall. ‘Who’s that shouting outside?’ he groaned. It was 9.30am on a Sunday morning in August 2022. I loved relaxing Sundays, and on this one Miles was enjoying a lie-in, while I made us a fry-up. My daughter, then 14, was asleep in her room. Sure enough, I could hear a woman’s voice coming from the front of our block of flats. She sounded drunk. I frowned. We’d moved into our two-bedroom, ground-floor flat seven years earlier. I was good mates with a few neighbours, including Debbie, who lived nearby. We’d sit and chat in her front garden. Most of the neighbours looked out for each other. Stop to chat, pass…

PS… Sweet Liquid Blusher, £3.50, Primark The year’s make-up trend is all about ditching your old powder formulas and embracing liquid versions, and this new blusher is such a bargain. Coming in two flattering shades, the buildable colour blends easily and packs a pigment punch. Dot some of the formula on to cheeks and blend in with your fingers for a gorgeous flush of blush. H&M Nail Polish in shade The Grass is Greener, £3.99, H&M This stunning pastel green nail varnish is ideal for the spring months. Just one coat of this affordable polish provides a rich, high-gloss finish that will last for days. The stunning green shade will look so good with other pastel colours, especially blush pinks. For just under £4, we are sold!…

BEHIND THE BIG CRIME TRUE-LIFE Flames lapped at the timber roof of a remote cabin, set back in the woods by a quiet rural road. Neighbours gathered to watch, aghast, as firefighters tackled the blaze. When it was out, James Phelps’ home was nothing but charred rubble. Yet nobody was sad to see it razed to the ground. It had been home to untold horrors. And the inferno in October 2021 marked the end of months of gruesome discoveries that attracted unprecedented attention to the quiet road in Dallas County, Missouri. ‘We have seen a lot of increased traffic driving by going to the property. ‘What is usually 20 or 30 cars has been 200 or 300 cars driving by,’ said local Katie Heflin. So, what had happened at the cabin…