Table of contents for 11 April 2024 in Chat

You may have noticed that we have a soft spot for pet stories here at Chat. And rescue pets have an extra special place in our hearts. My dog Daphne moved in with us when her last family could no longer care for her. Three years on, she’s my greatest joy, even if she did need an emergency bath after rolling in fox poo on this morning’s walk… So I loved reading about Lauren’s pooch Cosmo (p23) and his happy ending. I’d also love to hear about your rescue pets and what they mean to you – please get in touch at the address on p4. Have a great week,…

TRUE-LIFE Splashing in the pool, I watched my brother Lewis, then 9, shoot out of the flume, followed by our older sister Lauren, then 12. ‘I want a turn,’ I grinned, scrabbling to join the queue. It was summer 2007 – I was 6 and our mum Kelly, then 29, had taken us to Trecco Bay Holiday Park in Wales. Our dad left when I was a baby, and it was tough for Mum bringing us up alone. But she filled our early childhoods with fun. We looked forward to our hols at Trecco Bay. After a day in the pool, we’d pile back to our caravan for fish and chips. But those happy family times felt a lifetime away as Lewis entered his teens. He started skipping school, staying…

£25 For every photo tip that we print Make-up magic Did you know, you can turn your regular micellar water into a foaming cleanser? Just pour some onto a cotton pad, and blow on the other side. Amazing! Angie Revell, Hornsea, East Yorkshire Scrunch time When cooking and using baking paper, stop it rolling up by scrunching it in your hands first. Sandra Bradley, Worcester, Worcestershire Good as new If you accidentally spill bleach on your bath mat, just use a felt-tip pen to disguise the stain! Rachel Howlett, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire Wax wonder Instead of throwing away my wax melt leftovers, I combined them to make this interesting candle! Anna Heslop, Dunfermline, Fife Nonslip tip To stop your chopping board slipping, simply wrap an elastic band around it before use.…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 If actor Toni Collette could tell her younger self one thing, what would it be? To find out, solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Underground room (6) 12 Person who goes into space (9) 13 Place to swim (4) 14 Edible crustaceans (8) 15 Incident (5) 16 Continent (6) 17 Soothe (7) 18 Focus (11) 20 Flavour (5) 22 Settle (9) 24 African country (5) 28 Not common (7) 29 Complain (7) 32 Simple bracelet (6) 34 Very bad (8) 36 _ Thatcher, former PM (8) 37 Disappear (6) 39 Group singing activity (7) 40 Advantage (7) 45 Country whose capital is Rome (5) 47 Ronnie _, champion snooker player (9) 48 Star sign for March-April (5) 51 Condition of extreme cold (11) 53 Moorland flowering plant (7) 55 Stringed musical instrument (6) 56 Country of the Taj Mahal (5) 58…

It's hello from me! I’m so excited to be joining Chat as your new doctor. If you have any questions about your health and wellbeing, I’d love to hear from you via chat_magazine@futurenet.com. I'm so dizzy Q When I get up or tilt my head to the left, I feel really light headed. I’m 50, generally healthy and have normal blood pressure. Is it just ageing? Ali, Cannock A Dizziness is common, with possible causes ranging from heart-related issues to hormonal changes, nutritional imbalances, neurological factors and middle ear conditions. So no, it’s not just you getting old! See your GP for an examination. They’ll want to ask questions about your medical history and if you have other symptoms, such as hearing loss, tinnitus or vomiting. They’ll also conduct tests, including…

1 Hoarse voice A hoarse voice is usually triggered by voice strain, laryngitis, a cold or cough, or is symptomatic of acid reflux or benign vocal cord nodules. However, it can indicate laryngeal, throat or stomach cancer. If after three weeks you’re still hoarse, have a sore throat, lump, or problems swallowing, see your GP. 2 Frequent infections These may signify blood cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma). ‘As many people with blood cancer have low levels of white blood cells, which fight infections, they may get persistent, recurrent or severe infections,’ says Gemma Trout, specialist nurse at Blood Cancer UK*. 3 Night sweats The British Menopause Society found around 70% of menopausal women get these but, occasionally, night sweats can also suggest blood cancer. ‘Some people with lymphoma have drenching night sweats,…

Prodding my breasts as I stood under the shower, I checked for any changes, bumps and lumps. I’d had harmless cysts before so I checked often, just to be sure. And this time I thought I felt something in my left boob. Out of the shower, I lay on the bed, arm above my head. I pressed down, having a proper poke around. ‘There’s a huge lump,’ I told my partner Kieran, then 20, that evening in May 2019. ‘It’s the size of a golf ball.’ But I wasn’t too worried, thinking it’d be another benign cyst. Only this time the GP referred me to the breast clinic for a biopsy. I was stunned when docs said it was cancer. A lumpectomy confirming stage 2, grade 3 breast cancer. I…

3 ways to… SPEND LESS ON SHOPPING See if you can slash what you shell out on items you buy with these tips… 1 Can you get it free? Whatever you’re looking to buy, see if you can get it for free first. For example, you might spot some kids’ toys being offered for free on your local Facebook selling group, while on freecycle.org you might find such things as a sofa, a chest of drawers or even a garden shed! It’s worth checking the ‘freebies’ section of gumtree.com*, too. If you can’t find what you need for free, can you buy it second hand? 2 Find the best price If you do need to buy new, make sure you don’t pay a penny more than you need to. Use price comparison sites such…

Sanctuary Spa Lily & Rose Ultra Rich Shower Oil, £9.50, Boots Picking hydrating body products for your shower means you can get away with skipping moisturiser. This rich oil smells heavenly, blending a mix of floral notes. Simple Age Resisting Night Cream, £5.95, Superdrug This hardworking night cream combines healing Vitamin E with green tea, probiotics and shea butter. The result is a plump, perky complexion – plus, it’s suitable for sensitive skin. Makeup Revolution Skin Silk Serum Foundation, £10.99, revolutionbeauty.com An incredibly lightweight foundation that hydrates, this leaves skin looking instantly radiant. It’s available in 20 blendable shades, so you’ll be sure to find your perfect colour match. Nivea Sun UV Face Derma Skin Clear SPF50+, £14.50, Boots If you have spot-prone skin, you’ll love this super-light sunscreen, which…

Chat winners issue 2 (11 Jan 2024) £1,001 CASH J Rose, Swindon £500 CASH L Martin, Portsmouth A Mysiuk, Doncaster £250 CASH L Spencer, Dereham G Moffat, Preston £200 CASH J Windridge, Birmingham £100 CASH A Johnson, Clacton-on-Sea K Foster, Kettering R Jones, Cwmbran £50 CASH L Hulme, Manchester R Kelly, Malton D Delves, Bodmin J Staples, Thetford R Sutherland, Edinburgh T Lewis, Plymouth £40 CASH V Gardner, Nantwich £30 CASH M Brogan, Nottingham S Berry, Manchester £25 CASH S Rock, Walsall Anyone from your town in the list this week..? R Grady, Lanark £20 CASH N Bowen, Kingswinford C Matlock, Normanton M Simmons, Derby E Fields, Lincoln S Barraclough, Leeds D Wilson, Hatfield C Honfi, Addlestone C Pearson, Thirsk J Smith, Cwmbran E Davies, Llandysul M Price, Hereford B…

We pay £25 for any photos that we use on Chat To Us! Get in touch! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com POST Chat, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR Find us online at facebook.com/ChatMagazine…

TRUE-LIFE Catching sight of a man across the bar, I grabbed my friend’s arm. ‘I think that’s him,’ I hissed. ‘The guy I’ve been speaking to on Tinder!’ As the lad turned, I saw his kind eyes and bright smile. It was him. It was October 2016 and, aged 19, I’d been chatting to Paul, also 19, on the dating site for a couple of weeks. He’d asked me out, but I’d made excuses, feeling shy. Just like now. But he must’ve spotted me too because he came over. ‘I thought it was you,’ he smiled. ‘Can I sit down?’ All night, he chatted to me and my friends before walking me two miles home. He came in for a cup of tea before leaving. The perfect gent. I woke…

TRUE-LIFE YOU’RE THE JUDGE! In October 2021, postal worker Devan Schreiner was not a happy woman. She’d gone through a bitter split with her ex-boyfriend and fellow postie Jason Schaefer, 33. The former couple shared custody of their son, then 5. Only, Jason was now dating Devan’s 19-year-old sister. To make matters worse, Devan had been fired after ‘an incident’ between the warring exes at work. She’d had to get a new job for the post office in the neighbouring city of Loveland, in Colorado. Devan ranted about Jason to friends and her boyfriend Andrew James Ritchie, known as AJ, then 34. In the heat of the moment, furious with her ex, she’d even joked, ‘I swear I just want to kill him.’ And… ‘Party in the woods, bring your…

Q My nipples often go hard. Why is this and should I be worried? Natalia, Salford Quays A Firstly, rest assured, this is totally normal. Nipples can be quite responsive to both physical and emotional triggers. Friction from your clothes can sometimes stimulate the nipple’s nerves and provoke a reflexive response. Emotions such as stress, anxiety and excitement can lead to involuntary nipple erections too. No need to stress, though! However, if you notice persistent or concerning changes in nipple appearance or sensation, see your GP.…

Which actor initially enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts to learn how to do make-up, while working in his sister’s beauty parlour? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Ties tightly = BINS + D = BINDS. 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…

Dithering about moving Q My husband and I are looking to move house because our current home is no longer big enough for us and our two kids. However, we can only afford a bigger house if we move miles away and I’m worried that will upset our kids as they’ll have to move schools. Also, my husband and I would have to spend a lot of time commuting to work. How do I make the best choice? Viv, 43 A This is a toughie, pet – and you need to weigh up all the pros and cons. So why don’t you both sit down and write a list? Moving is such a big decision but if it’s the best thing for you and your family then it’ll be worth it…

5-11 April 2024 Aries 21 March-20 April The Sun in your sign brings the spotlight to your self-esteem. You may be asked to believe in yourself enough to help others make significant life changes. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May With the Sun in a fire sign, it won’t take much to get you motivated. Find new ways of approaching your work and hobbies to bring fresh energy and a new outlook. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Although you can multitask, you’ll be asked to focus on a project close to your heart. Give it your all, as this will lead you to some fantastic new opportunities. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July A…

Q My hair looks so flat at the moment! What can I do to boost volume? Phoebe Faulkner, Slough A If your hair’s lost its oomph, there could be a few potential culprits. The first area to treat is your scalp – it’s so important for the overall health and look of your hair. If you use a lot of styling products daily, there could be a build-up on your scalp, leaving hair looking lank. Every three or so washes, use a deep-cleaning shampoo, such as Monday Haircare Clarify Shampoo, £5, Boots, to wash it all away. If you have curly or damaged hair, don’t use it too frequently, as it can be drying. Avoid overusing rich masks – they can weigh strands down. Instead, use lightweight moisturisers, such as…

What’s your favourite dinner? It would have to be a good oldfashioned roast. Lamb with all the trimmings, Yorkshire puds, mint sauce and lashings of gravy. You just can’t beat it! Dogs or cats? While I do like cats, I love dogs, especially Staffies. I have adopted three over the years. Sadly, we recently lost our Staffie Max, 10, who you can see pictured on my mug – he was such a lovely boy! Tell us about your best mate I met my best friend Wendy over 20 years ago. We were both sat in a pub, being ignored by our respective boyfriends – charming! The relationships didn’t last, but thankfully our friendship has. Any hidden talents? I’m a bit rustier than I used to be, but I can speak fluent Norwegian.…

Soyuz, the 1960s Russian spaceflight programme, translates into English as what? 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 Your answer: 1 Kettledrums (7) 2 Dyspepsia (11) 3 Years from 2000 to 2009 (9) 4 Spring or autumn, e.g. (6) 5 Midday (4) 6 Day care for preschool children (7) 7 Most junior (8) 8 Small edible citrus fruit (9) 9 French actor and former footballer, _ Cantona (4) 10 Mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland (10) 11 Small brown UK garden bird (7) 12 Part of a three-piece suit (9) 13 1997 Kate Winslet film (7) 14 Famous Italian lover (8) 15 Singing voice (4) 16 Fertile spot in a desert (5)…

BOHO TIERED STYLE TIP Disguise tummies and hips with pretty tiers that skim across your body effortlessly. SHIRT DRESSES STYLE TIP A perfect mid-season dress that looks stylish worn with ankle boots and a cross-body bag. PUFF SLEEVE STYLE TIP An easy style to dress up and down. Team with trainers, ballet flats or heels. BELTED MINI STYLE TIP Balance a short hem with long sleeves. These frocks look great worn with western boots. FROM £16…

True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK I leant toward the mirror to scrutinise my face before school. Couldn’t resist picking at the flaky skin on my forehead. ‘Stop scratching,’ my mum Lin, then 35, said. But it was impossible. It was 2000, I was 15, and the skin around my eyes had recently become flaky and red. ‘It’s itchy,’ I groaned. Embarrassing, too. In lessons, I shrank into my seat every time a thick, white flake of skin came away from my scalp. ‘It’s psoriasis,’ the doctor explained. Prescribed me steroid cream to reduce the itch, and a special shampoo. ‘It runs in the family,’ my dad Steve, then 36, said. Despite my skin, I passed my GCSEs – but psoriasis became my annoying sidekick. Stuck with me into my 20s. Then, in…

TRUE-LIFE Peering at my reflection, I wiggled my nose and ran my finger down the bridge. ‘It’s what makes you special,’ my mum said, spotting me examining my face again. I smiled at her in the mirror, believing what she said was true. She and my dad were always telling me I was beautiful. Even when I didn’t feel it. I was born with a cleft nose, meaning my nose was split in two. As well as a scar down my nose and lip, I had trouble breathing. I spent my early years in and out of hospital. By September 2010, when I was 11, I’d had three ops on my nose to close the gap and reduce scarring. I was about to start secondary school and thought I was…

Chocolate egg tart This pretty pud is so simple to make and looks impressive SERVES 12 PREP 15 MINS, PLUS CHILLING COOK 5 MINS For the base: ● 190g digestive biscuits, finely crushed ● 170g unsalted butter, warm and melted ● ½tsp mixed spice For the filling and decoration: ● 250ml double cream ● 350g dark chocolate, finely chopped ● 100g chocolate mini eggs You will need: ● 23cm loose-bottomed baking tin, greased 1 Firstly, make the base. In a large bowl, mix the digestive biscuits with two-thirds of the melted butter, and the mixed spice. Press the mixture into the base and sides of the cake tin, using the back of a spoon until it’s around 4mm thick. Put into the fridge to cool while you make the filling.…

TRUE-LIFE As I dumped shopping bags on the kitchen counter, the house was filled with the sounds of squabbling. ‘Give it,’ my teenage daughter Alice shouted at her siblings. It was February 2020. Walking into the living room, I saw my kids tussling over the remote. ‘I’ll take that,’ I said. Sinking onto the sofa, I found an old episode of Pointless, put my feet up. Within minutes, my brood had snuggled up next to me. ‘Good choice, Mum,’ Alice said. I smiled. Despite the squabbles, we were blessed to be a close family. Something I reminded myself the following month, when the country was in the grip of COVID-19. Locked down together, we made the best of it. Some folk weren’t as lucky, so I contacted an online support…

Catrice Cosmetics Shine Bomb Lip Lacquer in About Last Night, £3.49, justmylook.com Opting for glossy colours over mattes can help lips look fuller. This liquid lipstick has a highshine finish that’s impressively long-wearing, lasting up to eight hours. It’s available in seven shades, including nude and berry tones, but we especially love this bright cherry red. It’s a real statement maker. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Concentrated Unscented Hand Cream (Limited Edition), £4.15, amazon.co.uk It’s hard to beat some of the original beauty classics. We love this hardworking hand cream, just as much as we did after first trying it years – if not decades – ago. Hands feel immediately softer, soothed and smooth. This spring it has a fun limited-edition packaging, for a fresh new feel.…

BEHIND THE BIG CRIME TRUE-LIFE The Howard sisters were beloved and well known in their part of sunny St Petersburg in Florida. With an unbreakable bond, the girls weren’t just sisters. Despite a 15-year age gap, Charee Nichole, 39, and Sherry Lynn, 54, were best friends. Their aunt Debborah Howard said the sisters were inseparable. ‘Like two peas in a pod,’ she said. When the sisters lost their parents, they turned to each other. Charee became Sherry’s confidante. ‘These girls were like twins. You didn’t see one without the other,’ said Michael Hobbs, their brother. When Sherry developed heart problems, Charee dropped everything and moved back in with her sister to take care of her. They were the perfect support system as they both pursued busy careers. Sherry was a popular…