Table of contents for 04-Feb-2021 in Chat

Do you believe in destiny? It certainly seems like fate had plans for Cristina and her ex boyfriend (p10). After their break-up, she did everything she could to move on – but they reconnected in a way she never could have guessed. True love found a way for Donna and her hubby Mark, too (p37). By teaming up, they achieved something amazing together. We’ve got lots more gripping stories for you this week, all the puzzles you love and more – including some delicious Nutella recipes (p40). That choccy cheesecake has my name all over it…! Stay safe and well this week.…

STYLE TIP This belted shirt dress defines your waist so play around with layering and add a roll-neck juniper underneath for winter. STYLE TIP On the lookout for jeans and a nice top? Bag this burgundy number with flattering puff sleeves and pair with wide-leg denim. STYLE TIP Play with textures and team a faux-leather skirt with a chunky knit in tonal colours. Toughen up the look with biker boots. STYLE TIP Leather-look trousers don’t need to be scary. Try a relaxed fit with a straight leg that skims thighs for comfort and style.…

World health Are nightmares stopping you from getting a good night’s sleep? You’re not alone. A recent study revealed an increase in Brits googling the meaning of bad dreams, with a 50% increase in researching the meaning of teeth falling out, which is usually a sign of psychological stress.* Swap and see Dairy-free? Why not swap your normal milk alternative for Califia Farms Oat Drink. It’s vegan friendly, soy-free, and made with no added sugar. And with added calcium and vitamin D, it will help support your body’s bone and muscle health. (£2, Sainsbury’s) Feng shui your space Director at property company Good Move, Nima Ghasri, has some top tips for bringing positive energy to your home... 1 Come on in The entrance to your home represents how energy comes…

‘My bubbly, outgoing girl was gone’ Corinne Burns, 42, Gateshead Watching my daughter Mackenzie, then 6, eating her breakfast, I had never seen her look so low. It was 2012 and, while she’d once been a bubbly and outgoing little girl, she was now distant and would often cry before school, begging me not to take her. When I noticed her bedsheets were wet, I really started to worry. What’s wrong, poppet?’ I kept asking. I didn’t understand her behaviour until she told me that she was being bullied at school. I went straight to the school in the hope of finding a solution, but Mackenzie was still being bullied months later – by then, life had become intolerable for her. I moved her to a different school. Her self-esteem…

Q What has been your strangest request so far? A Some pets have fantasies about things that we think are extremely mundane. One man simply wanted to watch me smoke and paid me handsomely. Another asked to pay off my bills. Well, I wasn’t about to sav no! Q Have you ever bumped into your pets in awkward places? A I’m sure I’ve probably walked past tonnes of men in the supermarket. I do sometimes catch people giving me a second glance – but, honestly, I’ve met with so many clients, and I’m not very good with faces, so I never recognise them. It’s probably for the best. Imagine bumping into them in the cheese aisle! Q Why have you continued to be a dominatrix? A It has allowed me…

Examining a snap we’d taken the night before, I saw how big I’d got. I looked huge, dominating the photo in a billowing green maxi dress. ‘As soon as we get home, we’ll make some changes,’ I promised. And I stuck to my word. Looking into weight-loss groups, I decided to join our local Slimming World group. ‘We’ll do it together,’ I promised Mark. The plan was I’d go to the group every week and learn all about the food, and I’d weigh Mark at home. Standing on the scales in October 2015, I was horrified to learn I weighed 18st 31b. At 5ft 6in, I was morbidly obese. And at 17st 11b, Mark wasn’t far behind me. ‘We’ll get you back into your leathers!’ I promised him. I studied…

Homebuyers are waiting an average of 115 days from starting a mortgage application through to completing the purchase of their property, according to data from Trussle. The mortgage broker’s research found those in the East Midlands have the longest average wait at 166 days, while buyers in the South East face the shortest average wait of 96 days. Did you know? Some 27% of Brits have suffered a drop in household income since the start of the pandemic, a Royal London study reveals. Self-employed workers saw a 63% decrease in earnings over the same period. TOP TIP Create a financial calendar for important money to-dos in the same way you would a doctor’s visit.…

Aries 21 March-20 April You’re getting on well with a new admirer, you have the same interests and attitude to life. Independent and free-spirited, are you ready for a commitment? • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Wise and dignified, you’ll be moved by news on TV or online. Your sensitive nature connects with the coverage and you decide to raise money for a good cause. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Reveal your deepest feelings, tell the object of your desire how much you care for them. You don’t need to be afraid, and may find they feel the same way. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You’re incredibly responsible and dedicated, always caring for…

CeraVe SA Renewing Foot Cream, £8.50, lookfantastic.com Give dry feet some TLC by using a salicylic acid-based cream to speed up the natural exfoliation process. It keeps dead skin from building up, for soft, sandal-worthy feet all year round. Flexitol Intense Overnight Foot Cream, £6.99, Boots If hard calluses start to appear on your feet, apply this cream every night before bed to get rid. The formula contains 30% urea to treat and prevent rough patches of skin. Ameliorate Intensive Foot Therapy, £15, lookfantastic.com If your feet tend to smell a bit iffy by the end of the day, try using this lotion first thing. It will exfoliate for smoother skin but it also contains a deodorising ingredient to help keep toes fresh. TOP TIP Mascara on your bottom lashes…

Chat winners issue 43 (22 October 2020) £1,001 CASH K Boone, Stratford £, 1000 CASH M Newton, Telford £500 CASH M Mackie, Aberdeen; C Gates, Cobham £250 CASH G Kaye, Edinburgh £150 CASH L Gee, Coventry £100 CASH D Cruickshank, Galashiels; I Alisop, Downham Market; M Goodhew, Chard; S Campbell, Liverpool; A Hawkins, Stanford-le-Hope £60 CASH A Bibey, Barnsley £50 CASH D Armishaw, Cannock; J Champ, Stoke-on-Trent; D Sabin, Bridgnorth £30 CASH H Fountain, Kettering; C Baker, Coventry; B Jarvis, Birmingham; A Botterill, Biaby; M Botwood, Ystrad Meurig £25 CASH S MacDonald, Manchester; G Edwards, Dronfield; D Meadows, Leiston; K Graham, Gateshead; R Sinclair, Bury St. Edmunds; M Faulkner, Clacton-on-Sea; J Edwards, Liverpool; P Bates, Mitcham; P Kenny, Bolton Anyone from your town in the list this week…? Chat PUZZLE…

Which UK Prime Minister was British actor Helena Bonham Carter’s great-grandfather? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the three-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Informal word for a police officer (6) 12 See 18 Across 13 First man (4) 14 Large body of water north of Turkey (5,3) 15 Equestrian animal (5) 16 Pictures (6) 17 Gromit’s owner (7) 18/12 Actor who played the Ninth Doctor in Doctor Who (11,9) 20 Slumbered (5) 22 Item for carrying documents (9) 24 Garden ornament (5) 28 Pikachu, for example (7) 29 Running after (7) 32 Entertained (6) 34 Shiny or reflective (8) 36 Foolish talk (8) 37 Unusual thing (6) 39 Scent (7) 40 29 February (4,3) 45 Court case (5) 47 Statement, declaration (9)…

Though not of the original charge... In May 2018, a jury deliberated for four days before finding Claud ‘Tex’ McIver not guilty of malice murder, which meant he intended to kill his wife. Instead, McIver was convicted of felony murder, a killing that happens during another crime – in McIver’s case, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. That meant the jury found he intentionally shot his wife, and that led to her death. Before McIver was sentenced, he spoke about the support he’d had from people he knew and from strangers. And he professed his love for Diane. ‘The luckiest day of my life was when Diane chose me,’ he said, reading from notes. The trial judge Robert McBurney sentenced McIver, then 75, to life in prison with the possibility…

Ear leakage Q There’s a horrible discharge coming from my ear. What’s wrong? Mandy, Haywards Heath A An occasional greasy yellow or brown discharge could be the normal process of earwax escaping, which happens constantly – though you don’t generally notice it. A sticky discharge with pain or itching could suggest otitis externa, which is an infection of the skin inside your ear. Pus or a cloudy discharge could mean an infection behind your eardrum that has caused your eardrum to burst. Blood suggests damage inside your ear, and anything accidentally left inside, such as a fragment of tissue or cotton wool, might become infected and produce a smelly discharge. A very smelly discharge could point to a cholesteatoma, an abnormal lump of skin that forms behind your eardrum. Don’t…

Q What issues can be a trigger for mental-health problems in children? A Friendship issues, especially for pupils when they first start at secondary school and are establishing new friendships. Exam stress, especially in the lead-up to important exams like GCSEs, and issues relating to conflict at home can be common, too – especially if parents are arguing or are in the process of splitting up Issues around body image are also quite common. Q Has there been an increase in any issues? A There’s been an increase in issues related to social media. I’ve seen problems arising from who is or isn’t invited to WhatsApp groups. Social media can also be rife with bullying. Q ls there a bigger demand for your services now? A There’s definitely been an…

ARROW WORD Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek starred in a 2018 remake of which 1974 Steve McQueen film? 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 Donoghue v Stevenson was a landmark court case in the UK on the subject of duty of care that was prompted by a woman finding a dead snail in her ginger beer in a cafe in…

FILL ME IN Habib Bourguiba was the first president of which country that gained independence from France in 1956? 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 13 Your answer: CIRCLE TIME The Shaluf Stele, a stone monument currently in the Louvre in Paris, was set up by Persian king Darius the Great to commemorate his construction in Egypt of what? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters BOW BUS ELM HAM NOW RAM ROB ROE SEA 4 letters АКСH BARN BREW CREW ECHO EXAM 5 letters EMBED MADAM NASTY WALKS 6 letters ACROSS ANCHOR ANYWAY AVENUE 7 letters…

3 ways to... talk to your partner about money If you want to discuss your finances with your other half but don’t know where to start, here’s how to do it, says the Money Advice Service. 1 Get prepared The first step is to plan when you’re going to have the conversation. Tell your partner you’d like to have a chat about money and arrange a time that suits you both. It might be helpful to be at home with useful paperwork to hand when you do this, although going for a walk may be easier for some. Think about what you want to say beforehand and practice saying it out loud too. 2 Stay on track When you’re having your chat, you may feel emotional but it’s important to stay…

TEST KITCHEN UK Crunchy choc-and-nut sundaes Indulge in this delicious sundae drizzled in Nutella! SERVES: 6 READY IN: 30 MINS • 3 brownies, cubed • 6 Ferrero Rocher chocolates • 2tbsp hazelnuts, toasted and chopped • 12 chocolate wafers • 4tbsp Nutella • 2tbsp double cream • 500ml vanilla ice cream 1 Divide the brownie cubes between the bases of six serving glasses. Pop a Ferrero Rocher in the centre of each, then sprinkle over half the hazelnuts. Crush 6 chocolate wafers to sprinkle over. 2 Meanwhile, spoon the Nutella and cream into a bowl, and microwave for 15 secs at a time, until melted and well combined. 3 To serve, top each sundae with a generous spoonful of the vanilla ice cream, then drizzle over some of the Nutella…

Family Fortunes ITV Gino D’Acampo will return to host a second series of ITV’s revival of the classic game show, which sees two families go head-to-head as they try to guess the most popular answers to a series of survey-based questions. Dunblane: 25 Years ITV Marking the 25th anniversary of the Dunblane Primary School tragedy in 1996, this documentary follows Lorraine Kelly, who reported on the massacre for GMTV, as she revisits the Scottish town to talk to survivors and families of the victims. Secrets of the Krays BRITBOX This three-part documentary follows the rise and fall of infamous British gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray, examining key moments in the lives of the twins, from their tough upbringing in east London to their eventual demise at the end of the…

Q My neck is starting to show my age with wrinkles, sagging skin and sun damage. What can I do about it? Audrey Stone, 62, Halifax A We tend to forget our neck and chest when applying skincare/SPF and the skin is generally thinner in this area, making it more susceptible to damage and wrinkles. You should start by taking your normal skincare all the way down to your chest, that include cleanser, serums or moisturisers and sun protection. It’s worth including a cream specifically designed to tighten that area too. Try Prai Ageless Throat & Decolletage Cream, £25, Boots, to firm the skin. A more affordable option is Restore Neck & Décolleté Cream, £16, M&S, which helps nourish and tone. Want minimal fuss? Try Vichy Neovadiol Phytosculpt Neck and…

Stephen Cooper, 34 Clutching my rucksack, I jumped into the back of the car. ‘Get your seatbelt on, kiddo,’ my mum, then 26, smiled as her boyfriend Paul pulled out of the drive. It was the summer of 1994 and I was 8 years old. We were off on holiday to a caravan park in Carmarthenshire, Wales, with Mum and Paul’s friend John Powell, 20. I couldn’t wait – two nights away, having fun. Later, after we arrived, Mum and Paul decided to head out for a drink at the nearby pub. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he behaves himself,’ John joked about me as Mum put on her coat. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind staying here?’ Mum asked again. ‘Go and have fun,’ John insisted. I was heading…

In 2016, after more than 10 years of marriage, Diane and Claud ‘Tex’ McIver seemed like a steady, solid couple. A partner at a law firm, Tex, as he was known, was successful. As was Diane – she was a president of a big property and management company, where she’d worked for 43 years. The couple had an apartment in Atlanta, USA, and a farm in Putnam County, enjoying spending days on the golf course and doing charity work. They lived a good life and were seemingly happy. On 25 September 2016, a close friend of Diane’s, Dani Jo Carter, was driving the couple’s Ford Expedition people carrier. The trio were returning from a weekend at the McIvers’ farm. Diane was in the front, next to Dani, and Tex was…

Khilna Shah, 35, London Pouring tea into my cup, I ogled the delicious afternoon treats in front of me. Selecting one, I shot my friend a look. “Well, I am eating for two!’ I chuckled. It was January 2018 and I was 36 weeks pregnant. So far, everything had gone swimmingly. All my scans showed things were well. My pregnancy almost felt too good to be true. Only, that night, I began to feel nauseous. I hurried to the toilet, where I suffered heavy vomiting and diarrhoea. ‘It must be something I ate,’ I said to my husband Rupen, then 32. With nothing left to come up, I returned to bed. Only, when I woke up, I was surrounded by wires and doctors. ‘Everything is going to be OK,’ Rupen…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address left – there’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Claire Reeves March, Cambs ACROSS 1 Winter flakes 2 _ Actually, 2003 film 3 Notion 4 Benefit DOWN 1 Trip and slide 2 Point of intersection 3 Up and beyond 4 No strength WIN 5X 25 £Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS What term is used for a rectangular subdivision of a flag, often featuring another flag in its entirety, such as on the Australian flag? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: TOU + CH, CH +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused…

The disappearance of April Fabb, 13, remains one of Nofolk’s biggest-ever search operations. On 8 April 1969, April cycled from her home in Metton to visit her sister, but never arrived there. A huge search found April’s bike in a field. It had been thrown over a 6ft bank on the country lane where the teen had been riding. To date, officers have visited 400 houses, conducted hundreds of interviews, and taken nearly 2,000 statements – but her disappearance remains a mystery. ABUSE OF POWER In August 2013, former Norfolk science teacher Mervyn Rush, then 68, was finally convicted of child sex offences that had taken place in the 1970s. Rush was arrested in 1999 for multiple offences against children, but vanished before his court appearance. After more than a…

Madam Storm, 36, London Gazing around the dimly lit room, I felt myself gasp. ‘This is incredible,’ I breathed. Everywhere I looked, there was something new. Leather whips, chains, restraints, costumes... It was like nothing I’d seen before. It was 2009 and I was studying Psychology at university. At 5ft 11in, I’d always felt different. Teased at school for my height, my curves. Society had made me feel that women should not draw attention to themselves. But I had an inner confidence. And as I got older, I started discovering my sexuality and the power that came with it. One day I was talking with a friend when she told me that she and her sister were building a dungeon. ‘Oh really?’ I said, nodding as she mentioned the word…

She doesn’t have the talent Q My husband and I are in showbusiness, and although we’ve been able to make a living, we know how hard it can be. But now our 17-year-old daughter wants to follow in our footsteps and we’re trying to discourage her. She’s just not that good. We know that she won’t get anywhere as she hasn’t got the talent and it’s not enough for her to hang on to our coat tails. When we suggest it might not be the right thing for her, she says we followed our hearts, so why can’t she? Is there any way that we can make her change her mind about this? Cleo, 47 A I don’t know exactly what it is that you do, but are there any…

Donna Simpson, 49, Stamford Bridge, North Yorkshire Waiting for my new boyfriend to pull up on his motorbike, I felt giddy with excitement. “You’re early,’ I grinned as Mark, then 39, kissed me on the cheek. It was 2010 and my fella was a leather-clad biker who loved whisking me off for rides to the coast. A divorced single mum to Ainsley, then 14, and Jade, 11, I was having more fun with Mark than I’d had in years. “Let’s go to Whitby,’ Mark said as I fastened my helmet. I wrapped my arms around his waist and off we went, zooming down the A-roads. Arriving at Whitby Bay, we headed straight to the chippy. “Make mine a large portion,’ I grinned, my tummy rumbling away. I was a trim…

Barry M Feature Length Mascara, £4.99, feelunique.com The tiny wand is so easy to use and gets right to the root of even the shortest lashes. It doesn’t clump either so you can really build up extra volume when you want a touch more glam. Stila Convertible Colour in Petunia, £16, lookfantastic.com Cream blush is your winter go-to product for healthy-looking skin. It’s so hydrating and blends effortlessly. Apply to cheeks and lips for a hydrating, peachy-pink flush. Veet Easy-Grip Face Wax Strips for Sensitive Skin, £6.55, Boots DIY beauty doesn’t mean a bodge job. Try removing unwanted facial hair with these cheap-as-chips wax strips; they grab every hair and come off cleanly. So be sure to stock up. Nails INC Vitamin E Cuticle Oil Pen, £14, lookfantastic.com This pen…