Table of contents for May 2026 in Chat Specials

Welcome to the May issue of Chat Monthly. Hope you’re sitting comfortably, we’ve got another jampacked mag for you to get stuck into. You’ll find easy, tasty 5-ingredient recipes (p46) and bargain bags to update your look (p8). Plus our pick of the latest great books if you’re planning on some summer reading (p49). And, of course, a mix of the best real life stories Chat has to offer. New mum Aleshia popped a painkiller after giving birth. Next thing, her flesh was falling off in sheets (p36). Stephanie’s footiemad lad Roscoe was given a life-changing gift (p22), and Teresa pays a heartbreaking tribute to her daughter, Keia, who she waved off on prom night but never saw her alive again (p26). There are tons more true stories and all…

Squeezing myself into the front passenger seat of my friend’s car, I reached for the seat belt. But as I pulled it across my body, it wouldn’t reach. There was too much of me. ‘Try a bit higher,’ she said gently. Breathing in, I lifted the belt, dragging it over some softer tummy rolls. Finally, she leant across and pushed the buckle down hard until it forced a click. As the belt dug into my skin uncomfortably, I laughed it off. ‘Just a tad tight,’ I giggled. But inside, I was burning with shame. Typical me. Always putting on a bubbly front, acting like my size didn’t bother me. But it did. It was 2019 and me and my pal were off for some dinner. But the belt blunder had…

The sound of children laughing and playing would warm the hearts of most people. But Susan Lorincz was sick of it. Living in a duplex flat in Ocala, Florida, she shared access to a green space with other residents. The children in her neighbourhood often gathered there, playing football and running around. Making far too much noise, Susan thought. She had No trespassing signs put up, hoping the kids would find somewhere else to hang out. But the grass didn’t belong to Susan, so the children continued to play there. In January 2021, she was at the end of her tether. She called the police, reporting the children for trespassing in areas where her signs were clearly displayed. Officers discussed the issue with Susan’s neighbour Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens. AJ was…

What’s wrong with mum? Q My sister and I think our mum might be going through menopause. All we know is that she shouts, cries and won’t tell us what’s wrong. We love her, but we feel helpless and a little scared. We don’t know how to support her when she won’t let us in, and we’re worried about what’s happening to her. Marrisa, 22 A Poor mum is probably fighting her own mind, love. Menopause can be a rollercoaster. She’s not broken – just transforming. Be there for her. She needs compassion and presence. There are resources available for her, too. Reassure her that you can get through this together as a family, petal. A show-off and proud Q I have a good life. I love it, I enjoy…

Waking up, I blinked at my bedside table. Why are there two alarm clocks? I thought. I rubbed my eyes, which were itchy and painful. And my heart sank, realising exactly what this meant. I’d been diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, known as RRMS, in 2006, aged 37. A variety of symptoms, such as blurred vision, joint stiffness, muscle spasms and shaking, came and went. For the past few years, I hadn’t experienced any at all. But now, in March 2020, aged 51, I realised I must be having a flare-up. Not wanting my daughter Belle, then 27, to worry, I tried to stay calm. I went to work as an exam supervisor as usual. Tried to avoid bumping into things as I walked. ‘I’m going to be OK,’…

When Tracey first met Stephen, she was quite content with her lot. She’d given birth to her first daughter in 1986, when she was just 18, and her son followed a year later. By 1996, she was a mum of three. So when she met Stephen, almost a decade later, she thought her childbearing days were behind her. ‘He was 26 and I was 37,’ Tracey remembers. Despite the difference in age, the pair quickly fell in love. Both living in north London, they planned their future together. ‘He always wanted a big family,’ Tracey says. ‘I already had three kids, so I didn’t want any!’ But Stephen dreamed of being dad to a big brood. ‘I wanted five kids,’ Stephen says. Although Tracey agreed to try for another, the…

Tuna and pepper tart It may look like a lot of effort but it’s a doddle. SERVES 6 PREP 10 mins COOK 30 mins ● 325g puff pastry sheet● 3tbsp sun-dried tomato paste● 290g jar roasted peppers, drained and quartered● 225g tuna in oil, drained● 100g baby spinach, washed 1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan. Put a baking sheet in the oven. Unroll the pastry and put onto a greased baking tray. With a knife, mark a border 2cm in from the pastry’s edge all the way round. 2 Spread over the tomato paste and arrange the peppers, tuna and spinach on top. Drizzle over some of the tuna oil and season with black pepper. 3 Bake, directly on top of the baking sheet (this will help ensure a crisp…

Playful miaows echoed down the hall and I knew what was coming. Sure enough, my kittens Sushi and Tiggy tumbled into my living room, play-fighting. ‘They’re a bit feral,’ I told my new fella James, then 18. ‘So cute,’ he grinned, patting the sofa next to him. Soon, both kitties jumped up for some fuss. In January 2023 we hadn’t been dating long but I could see he was an animal lover. I adored my little tearaways. Sushi, with her white fur and black tail, was a fluffy bundle of fun. While my tabby girl Tiggy had gorgeous stripes and little white paws and loved to snuggle with me in bed. Now, though, they both had to get used to sharing my affection. Me and James had met in a…

Arms wrapped around one another, Dezy and Chxpo look so in love. Together for three years, they also have young children. Only, behind closed doors, things aren’t quite as rosy as they seem. Because for Dezy, a model, singer and influencer, there is only room for one partner in her life. But for her fella Chxpo, it’s a case of the more, the merrier. ‘I’m monogamous, but my boyfriend is polyamorous,’ explains Dezy. So while Dezy stays faithful to her partner, having just one love interest isn’t enough for Chxpo. The rapper and creative director likes to sleep with other women on the side. ‘People think it’s weird that he dates other girls but I don’t date other guys,’ she says. She knew Chxpo would never be a one-woman man,…

Driving along a road just outside my village, I suddenly heard a huge thudding sound. ‘Oh no,’ I groaned, as my truck ground to a halt. Another blasted pothole! It was early morning in November 2021, and I wouldn’t get to work today. A self-employed scaffolder, I’d lose money, not to mention the cost of repairing my truck. Sure enough, a quick scan revealed that my suspension springs had gone. The cause? A 3ft-wide, 6in-deep pothole. Using my own tools, I got to work filling it in myself Right in the middle of the road! I’d grown up in Northam, Devon, and been a local councillor for over a decade. Potholes were one of the biggest complaints from residents. They caused breakdowns and damage to vehicles, and were so unsightly.…

Sporting a green face and a pointy black hat, I watched with pride as my daughter delivered her lines on stage. ‘She’s brilliant!’ I whispered to the other mums sitting next to me. Charlotte, then 8, was the Wicked Witch of the West in her school’s production of The Wizard of Oz. She was born to perform. My dad, her grandad, had nicknamed her Choppy, as she never stopped talking. So full of confidence, my girl was destined for big things, I just knew it. As she got older, her loveable, bubbly personality earned her so many friends. Then, when she was 19, she fell pregnant. And suddenly her acting dreams were put on hold. It wasn’t the future I’d imagined for Charlotte. She was still so young. But she…

Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer. CLUE: Club for winged creatures (7,3). EASY CLUES ACROSS 7 Destroy (8) 9 Park officer (6) 10 Board game equipment (4) 11 Tenacious (10) 12 Gorgon (6) 14 Envy (8) 15 Head of the government (5,8) 17 Regatta event (4,4) 19 Climbing equipment (6) 21 Roughly (4,2,4) 22 Shade of red (4) 23 Tomfoolery (6) 24 Positive sign (4,4) DOWN 1 Purify (6) 2 Seep (4) 3 Move from the usual location (8) 4 Going wrong (6) 5 Taught (10) 6 Young person (8) 8 Breakfast or picnic item (4-6,3) 13 Uncertain (2,2,3,3) 15 Deep (8) 16 False appearance (8) 18 From side to side (6) 20 Token (6) 22 Species of crow…

As the hairdryer suddenly stopped, I heard a voice calling me from upstairs. ‘Mum, come up!’ my daughter Kiea shouted. ‘Coming!’ I said, taking the stairs two at a time. It was 31 July 2023 and an exciting day for Kiea, 17. She was getting ready for her high-school graduation ball, later that evening. Her sequinned red ball gown had been hanging, pride of place, in her wardrobe since she’d bought it online. And that morning, she’d been up at the crack of dawn, plucking and priming. She’d applied her fake tan, painted her nails and now she’d blow-dried her hair until it shone. As I admired how she’d styled her long brown locks, I couldn’t help but tear up at how beautiful she looked. ‘So grown up!’ I told…

Stuck shoulder Q My shoulder has gradually stopped being mobile and is really stiff, but I didn’t injure it. I’m menopausal – would HRT help? Lucy, Bristol A This sounds like a condition called frozen shoulder. The cause isn’t fully understood, but factors such as changes in hormone levels, age, genetics, previous injury or surgery can contribute to it. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be used along with other treatments. It’s important to gently move your shoulder and apply heat before exercise. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can also help reduce pain and swelling. This condition can continue for months so it’s important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and personalised plan. This may include physiotherapy or injections in the shoulder. If usual treatments don’t work, surgery or other…

Morrisons Sainsbury’s Tesco…

The Sea Stone Sisters by Eleanor Buchanan (£9.99, PB, Headline) Fans of the late historical fiction favourite Lucinda Riley will probably enjoy this gripping dual-timeline family saga filled with mystery, romance and a hint of the supernatural. In the 1930s, Iris Blackmore sets out from Scotland to distant Ceylon and Australia, determined to save her scattered family after a devastating loss. In the present day, Roz Chatton moves to London, following an uncanny connection to her past and unearthing secrets that span generations. Richly-drawn characters and vivid settings make this a captivating read. Based on a True Story by Sarah Vaughan (£16.99, HB, Simon & Schuster) A lavish 70th birthday party turns tense when famed children’s author Dame Eleanor Kingman receives an anonymous email threatening to expose a 50-year-old secret.…

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CODE CRACKER ANSWER: A GIANT MUSHROOM FILL ME IN ANSWER: DONEGAL JUMBO PUZZLE ANSWER: SHERRY TRIFLE THE BIG QUIZ ANSWER: STANLEY WORDWISE Aces, bascule, because, cable, cables, calx, case, caul, cause, cease, celeb, clause, club, clubs, clue, clues, cube, cubes, cubs, cues, excel, excels, excuse, exec, lace, laces, sauce, scab, scale, scuba. ANSWER: EXCUSABLE LINKWORDS CANDLE, SAMPLE, FINGER, HUNTER, TWISTS, CALLER, TOPPED, MODERN, BROKEN, FILLET. ANSWER: PHOENICIAN CROSSWORD ANSWER: CRICKET BAT CIRCLE TIME ANSWER: APPLES WORD JUMBLE ANSWER: WHITBY…

As my eyes opened, my bedroom filled with light and I saw my boyfriend standing before me, holding a plate. ‘What’s this?’ I beamed. ‘Breakfast in bed,’ he said. Pete, then 34, handed me the fluffy French toast with syrup, fruit and a dusting of sugar. He’d woken up first thing and bought all the ingredients. How lucky can you get? I thought, tucking in. It was 2017, and Pete and I had been dating for a year since meeting online. I was a single mum to Ollie, then 12, and Pete had swept me off my feet. He owned a company doing camper-van conversions. He was a big chap but he was a gentle giant, so kind and attentive. ‘You really are Perfect Pete,’ I said, giving him a…

Watching my daughter Nevaeh, then 5, kick a ball around the garden, I knew she was in her element. ‘She’ll have a little teammate soon enough,’ I said to my husband Christopher, then 26. It was June 2021, and I was heavily pregnant with our second child. And I couldn’t wait for Nevaeh to have a sibling to play with. The following month, our little boy Roscoe was born. ‘Meet your baby brother,’ I said, placing him in her arms. Snuggling up on the sofa, the two were adorable. We quickly settled into life as a family of four. Only, a few days later, I noticed Roscoe’s skin was tinged yellow. And he was being sick with every feed. ‘Jaundice is quite normal for newborns,’ the health visitor reassured me.…

Reaching for a glass of water, pain shot across my abdomen. ‘Ah!’ I winced, rubbing my fresh C-section scar. It was 13 days since I’d had my third baby, Hunter. ‘You were worth the pain,’ I whispered to him as he slept beside my bed in his cot. Born five weeks early in August 2020, he’d spent 12 days in hospital. Now we were finally home, I wanted to enjoy time with him and my older kids, Lily, then 4, and Carter, 1. If only I could get out of bed! ‘I need something to take the edge off this pain,’ I muttered. I riffled through my bedside table, found a packet of ibuprofen. I’d been taking two a day since Hunter’s birth. Popping a pill out, I downed it…

FROM £1.20 Pistachio perfection Almost good enough to eat… Say hello to the newest shade of the season, Essie Nail Polish in Crunch Crunch, £8.99, Superdrug. The pistachioinspired hue is pastel perfection. With a long-lasting colour payoff and an affordable price tag, we’re stocking up. Wrap party If you can’t master the DIY manicure, then try Mylee Gel Nail Wraps in Bloom Boom, £13.99, mylee.co.uk. The clever pre-painted wraps apply in minutes and last up to two weeks. Place on nails, file the excess, and you’re done! Chrome craze Chrome nails are one of the latest trends, and they couldn’t be easier to achieve at home. Stock up on Le Mini Macaron Le Glazed Nail Powder & Gel Topcoat Set, £15, Next, with a chrome powder to dust over your polish…