Table of contents for 15-Apr-2021 in Chat

I bet everyone reading this has something that makes them feel self-conscious. So we loved Ren’s fab attitude to her 4ft 4in long legs. She stands out from the crowd – and is proud of it (p34). Aryana grew up feeling different too, and is sharing how she came to celebrate that fact (p58). Jessica is another inspiration. What happened to her is truly every woman’s nightmare but she refuses to let the events of one terrible night define her (p6). There’s so much more in this packed issue, including food, fashion and all your fave puzzles. Stay safe and well his week.…

F&F at TESCO All sizes 6-22 STYLE TIP Super comfortable and versatile, a midi dress is flattering for all body types. TU at SAINSBURY’S All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP This designer- inspired denim skirt nips in the waist and skims the thighs for a winning look. NUTMEG at MORRISONS All sizes 8-22 STYLE TIP Reinvent your spring wardrobe by swapping jeans for khaki trousers. Opt for an elasticated waist for all-day comfort. GEORGE at ASDA All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP Elevate your loungewear with a trendy tie-dye set and pair with your favourite trainers.…

In November 2012, Sizwe Mankazana was acquitted of culpable homicide and all other charges. Magistrate Vivian Hawkins said, ‘There is no evidence whatsoever that the accused operated his vehicle recklessly and negligently, or while under the influence of alcohol.’ She even described the fatal crash as a ‘freak accident’. South Africa has one of the world’s worst road safety records. At the time, there were, on average, 42 deaths every day across the country. But while the verdict came as a relief to Sizwe, he said he wouldn’t be celebrating. ‘I am thankful that the trial has come to an end,’ he said. ‘But, most of all, I am thankful that everyone who loved “Zeni” now knows the true circumstances surrounding her death.’ He said he’d ‘lost someone I loved…

Health hack Do you make your bed as soon as you get up? Don’t! Let it air for 30 minutes. This will reduce the prevalence of dust mites – they love warm beds! – and allergies to them.** Swap and see Support your body through menopause by swapping your cuppa for Take a Pause Green Tea & Herbal Blend. Ingredients such as ginseng and valerian bring relief to symptoms such as poor sleep and anxiety. If you suffer with hot flushes, pour over ice. Each tea bag can be used twice. (£6.00 for 15 bags, hotteamama.com) Quit smoking for good ‘After just 20 minutes of quitting cigarettes, your heart rate will return to a normal level. One year after stopping, your lungs will begin to repair and your risk of…

SUPER ABSORBENT FLORAL FRESH CARPET CLEANER…

He’s so lazy Q My partner and I have a 4-month-old baby. He never gets up at night with her and doesn’t chip in with the bills. I’m covering everything from my maternity pay because he reckons he’s saving up for a holiday. But he manages to find money to spend on himself. I don’t know if I want to be with him anymore. Can you help? Aimee, 27 A What exactly is he giving to the relationship? You’ve got one baby, you don’t need two. Your fella needs to support his family, never mind a holiday! If he’s not willing to prioritise you and the bub, then tell him to pack his bags and show him the door. Ask yourself, would you even notice he was gone?! My grandson…

Alida Dreyer, 28 Pounding up the stairs, I crept into my room and closed my door. Zipping open my school bag, I pulled out a multipack of crisps and two chocolate bars. Then I stuffed them underneath my mattress. Ready to gorge on later. It was April 2008 and, aged 15, that was my after-school routine. Spending my pocket money on treats from the local shop. Mum had no idea about my nightly picnics, sitting on my bed. But there was one clue... I was already size 16-18, and weighed around 17st. My uniform had to be specially made. I didn’t have many mates. Girls would make fun of me behind my back. Boys pretended they fancied me for a dare. ‘As if I’d want to go out with you,’…

Sausage and spinach frittata The unlikely, but enticing partnership of sausages and spinach makes this dish stand out from the crowd. SERVES 4 PREP TIME 5 MINS COOK TIME 30 MINS •6 sausages, cut into bite-sized chunks •1 red onion, cut into wedges • Handful of cherry tomatoes • 1tbsp olive oil • 100g spinach • 6 eggs, beaten 1 Heat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Put the sausage chunks, red onion and cherry tomatoes in the base of either an ovenproof pan or a small ovenproof dish and drizzle with the olive oil. Cook for 10-15 mins, until almost cooked through and the onion is slightly crisp. 2 Turn the oven down to 180C/Gas 4 and scatter over the spinach. Pour in the beaten egg and return the dish…

Aries 21 March-20 April You want to catch up on some home decorating and DIY. Consult your partner before you choose the wrong colours for the bedroom, though. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Thinking about returning to work and making it safe for social distancing will take a weight off your mind. It’s good to feel secure, so plan the things you enjoy. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You’re looking at new IT equipment. Do your research and, if possible, ask someone in person or online to help you with the fine-tuning and set-up. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July If your relationship isn’t working the way you’d imagined, it may be time…

TEXT Simply text CHATB followed by a space and your answer/s (spaces between answers please) full name, door number and postcode to 84988 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. INTERNET Join our…

Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy some good, old- fashioned fun. We had a great ride on an open-top tram along the promenade in Blackpool at the end of last year. Managed to get the Blackpool Tower in the shot! Adrian Grove, Lytham St Annes How photogenic is our cocker spaniel Buddy? Here he is posing in his favourite field. Sadly, he passed away in December 2020, but he brought us so much love and joy. Thank you Bud! Kara Crompton, Leyland Here is my border terrier Eddie, modelling my lockdown knitting project – the Gryffindor scarf. Although I’m biased, I still maintain that he makes a very cute ‘Hairy Potter’. Caroline Palin, St Helens Like my apron suggests, I was ‘King of the Barbecue’ cooking food for everyone at my…

Who was Halle Berry’s acting role model as a child? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the prize answer. ACROSS 11 US state made up of several islands (6) 12 Central American country (9) 13 Gas used to make signs (4) 14 Period of very warm weather (8) 15 Essential (5) 16 Small and delicate (6) 17 _ Lincoln, US president (7) 18 Late actor who played James Bond (4,7) 20 Yell (5) 22 Received from someone who has died (9) 24 Rough sketch (5) 28 Coloured wax pencils used for drawing (7) 29 David _, former UK prime minister (7) 32 Piece of jewellery (6) 34 Very strong metal (8) 36 Scottish royal residence (8) 37 Cares for an ill person…

Clare Tawell, 39, Lidlington, Bedfordshire Clutching my husband Miles’ hand, I listened to the doctor. ‘Your daughter has severe hearing loss. She’ll need hearing aids,’ he said, then measured up 3-week-old Matilda’s ears. After, I burst into tears. ‘This isn’t fair,’ I sobbed. ‘We’ll figure it out,’ Miles, then 35, promised. Born by caesarean in February 2016, Matilda had failed her initial hearing test. Medics hoped it was just fluid build-up. But at the Audiology unit, we discovered it was permanent, irreversible, caused by a genetic mutation Miles and I both carried. For the next few weeks, I cried every day, worried for Matilda’s future. Will she get bullied? Ever get a job? At 6 weeks, Matilda had pink glittery hearing aids fitted. But while I was ecstatic Matilda could…

Does blood in my semen mean I have cancer? Q When I ejaculated recently I saw blood in my semen. I’m terrified it might be cancer. Glen, Stockton-on-Tees A Blood in your semen – haematospermia – is alarming to see but it’s common and usually harmless. Often there’s no obvious cause and most likely a tiny blood vessel has burst or leaked. There’s no reason it should happen again, and it’s no more significant than a nosebleed. But you should see your GP to rule out causes such as cysts or infection in the glands that produce semen, a sexually transmitted infection or a problem with your blood’s ability to clot. Recent surgery to that area or very high blood pressure are other possibilities, but cancer is much less likely.…

SUPERGRASS RELEASED A former leader of an Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) unit in north Belfast, who’d admitted five murders, had his sentence slashed after helping police. Gary Haggarty had confessed to killing Sean McParland, father-of-six Eamon Fox, 44, and Gary Convie, 24, and fatally shooting Sean McDermott, 37, all in 1994, and beating John Harbinson to death in 1997. He also admitted five attempted murders – some against police – 23 counts of conspiracy to murder and directing terrorism. But in 1,015 police interviews, Haggarty provided information on 55 murders and 20 attempted murders, and his 35-year jail term was reduced to 10 years. In 2018, he was released into witness protection. SAVAGE ASSAULT Three men left their friend in a coma after attacking him in a south Belfast flat.…

Virginia Johnson, 38 With a sorrowful shake of the doctor’s head, I felt my dreams fade. ‘It’s not good news,’ he said to me and my husband Victor. It was October 2013 and a scan had revealed that I’d suffered a dangerous ectopic pregnancy, meaning the embryo was growing outside my womb. A termination was the only way to spare my life. Victor, then 41, and I had both had our hearts set on parenthood since we met in 2003. ‘I want as many as five,’ I joked back then. He chuckled, said no way. Plus I’d had my right fallopian tube removed as a teenager, due to polycystic ovary syndrome, making it difficult for me to conceive. It’d taken years of disappointment before a test finally turned out positive.…

Easily reaching up, Ren, 29, grabs some food packets from the very top of the kitchen cupboard. ‘Mum can’t reach there,’ she grins. ‘But it’s not a problem for me.’ Handing her mum, Kelly, the food, it’s clear, at 6ft 9in, Ren towers over her. But it’s her seemingly endless legs that have everyone talking. Ren’s pins measure an amazing 134cm – almost the height of a 4ft 4in person. In fact, Ren, whose full name is Rentsenkhorloo, believes she has the longest legs in the world, but has no interest in entering the Guinness Book of World Records. For her, it’s all about celebrating her long limbs. Ren, originally from Mongolia, says, ‘When I was little, I felt so bad because of my height. ‘Some people made me feel…

Right there, in the nightclub loo cubicle, I decided that enough was enough. ‘I want a gastric bypass,’ I told my doctor the next day. After agreeing to a weight-loss plan, I was put on a waiting list. I started an online nutrition course, putting my newfound knowledge into practice. Eggs and bacon for breakfast, salad or a wholemeal sandwich for lunch. No takeaways or sugary treats. Playing with the kids I looked after in my job as a nanny, my tummy ached with hunger. But their little faces reminded me how much I had to lose. By my surgery in March 2017, I’d lost 6st. During the one hour procedure, the surgeons removed 80% of my stomach. It meant I could only eat small amounts of soft food –…

The BAFTA Film Awards BBC1 This year’s awards ceremony will be broadcast from London’s Royal Albert Hall, but there won’t be any stars on the red carpet or a live audience, as the winners will be accepting their awards remotely. In the Best Film category, The Mauritanian, Nomadland and The Father are among the nominations, while Frances McDormand, Alfre Woodward and Vanessa Kirby are nominated in the Leading Actress category and Sir Anthony Hopkins, Mads Mikkelsen and the late Chadwick Boseman are up for the Leading Actor gong. Too Close ITV Emily Watson stars as forensic psychiatrist Dr Emma Robertson, who’s assigned to work with Connie Mortensen (Denise Gough), a woman accused of a heinous crime but who claims she can’t remember a thing. As this gripping psychological thriller unfolds,…

Dr Paw Paw Overnight Lip Mask, £8.95, drpawpaw.com If you prefer unscented, unflavoured lip balms, try this. The thick balm feels so softening and nourishing on dry or sore lips. It’s multipurpose, so use a dab on dry cuticles, as well. L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Weightless Nourishing Shampoo, £4.99, Superdrug Dry hair will love the moisture boost this shampoo provides. It gets to work on straw-like ends, leaving you with soft, silky hair that shines. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Cica-Repair Hand Mask, £2.99, Boots Rescue dry hands with these moisturising gloves. Simply pop them on during an evening in front of the telly! Skinny Dip Beauty Pineapple Nail Files, £2, Primark If you’re holding onto that well-loved, past-its-best file, it’s time to buy some new ones. There’s no need to…

Chat winners issue 2 (14 January 2021) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £1,001 CASH T Shaw, Leeds £1,000 CASH D Christian, Sutton-in-Ashfield £500 CASH L Noonan, Darren; V Anderson, Cambridge £250 CASH M Staff, Boston £150 CASH D Anson, Halstead £100 CASH J Welch, Cinderford; J Linton, Swindon; E Widdop, Skegness; P Noble, Fraserburgh; E Bairstow, Bournemouth £60 CASH J James, Eastleigh £50 CASH D Carter, Coventry; M Abnett, Rochester; E Jeffery, Basildon £30 CASH S Simpson, Hexham; A Wakelin, Coventry; D Hanmer, Wakefield; G Law, Leeds; C Gowen, Northampton £25 CASH R Crudgington, Bilston; P Morrison, Huddersfield; S Kowitz, London; A Donaldson, Ayr; K Coe, Chelmsford; T Page, Ammanford; S Cooper, Leicester; J Craig, Falkirk; A Jakeman, Banbury PUZZLE 11 521 PUZZLE 14 JERICHO PUZZLE…

Jessica Mabbott, 28, north Devon Flopping on the sofa with my little girl, 2, in my arms, I was so glad to have finished work. ‘Bedtime soon,’ I smiled, stroking her hair. It was 21 May 2019 and my friend had been looking after my daughter while I was working my shift as a cleaner. I was totally exhausted. That night, I couldn’t wait to watch some TV and have a soak in the bath. Hours later, my daughter was sound asleep as I turned on the taps and poured in some suds. It was past 11 by now. The only sounds were the odd passing car on the residential street outside my terraced house. ‘Bliss!’ I whispered as I dropped into the tub. Only, minutes later, I heard a…

Sarah Brown, 34, Deal Reaching for my buzzing phone, a message from an unfamiliar name made me raise an eyebrow. Please don’t think I’m weird, it began, but I’d like to get to know you. It was February 2010, and after scanning his Facebook profile, I could vaguely remember the mystery man. I’d met Jeff, then 29, a few months earlier on a night out. He had dark locks, was handsome and had the most luscious eyelashes. But there’d been no time for boys on our girls’ night. So we never exchanged numbers, and I didn’t think I’d see him again. Yet now, four months later, he’d found me online. ‘He must really like you,’ my girlfriends giggled when I told them. I was wary, but flattered to be on…

On the evening of 10 June 2010, the atmosphere in Johannesburg was electric. Tens of thousands of voices filled the Orlando Stadium and nearby streets. Multicoloured flags flew, and the sounds of vuvuzelas could be heard for miles. It was the launch of the football World Cup, and the first time a concert had taken place the day before the opening ceremony. But then, this was no ordinary World Cup. From 1964 to 1992, South Africa had been banned from taking part in the World Cup and the Olympics. Its policy of apartheid – a system of racial segregation – made it unfit for such global, inclusive events. Then, in the early 90s, democracy took the place of segregation, and Nelson Mandela was elected South Africa’s first black president. Mandela,…

Leah Forster, 48, Northallerton Laughing, I tried to grab the pram from my husband Andrew, then 44. ‘Hey, it’s my turn to push,’ I teased. It was May 2014 and we were both jostling over my adorable new nephew. Only, Andrew stopped laughing, looked puzzled. ‘What’s wrong with your arm?’ he said. Looking down, my left arm was hanging limply. ‘Just the cold,’ I shrugged. But a few weeks on, in my job at a school, I couldn’t hang the kids’ displays. My arm couldn’t hold the weight of the paper. Weird. My GP sent me to a neurologist. That October, a consultant did tests. And that December... ‘You have Parkinson’s,’ he said. Why me? I thought. It didn’t run in my family, I was only 42 and I assumed…

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 Barrie Walker, Leeds ACROSS 1 Small glass container 2 Land measure 3 Cut of pork 4 Finishes DOWN 1 Valley 2 Symbol 3 Very dry 4 Part of the eye WIN 5 x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS The original name for Disney’s Goofy in his 1932 debut was a ‘Dawg’ described as what? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: HAP + PEN, PEN +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer. WIN…

ARROW WORD Oseille is a French term for which salad vegetable? 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 3 x 3 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 currencies is the stage name of a South African singer who performed at the 2010 World Cup? The answer is the one missing. BAHT DINAR DOLLAR ESCUDO EURO FRANC KRONE LIRA PESO POUND RAND RIAL RUBLE RUPEE SHEKEL…

FILL ME IN The confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers is found in the suburbs of which city? 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 £ 1,00 Puzzle 14 Your answer: CIRCLE TIME In the Space Trilogy novels by C S Lewis, Perelandra is the name used for which planet visited by Elwin Ransom? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters BAR EEL ELM EMU END FUN NUN PUN RUN 4 letters EVEN FETA IRON OXEN SEWN WIFE 5 letters ANNOY NOISY ROYAL YOUNG 6 letters CAMPER CASINO NUTMEG VERIFY 7 letters BOILERS DYNASTY WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your…

3 ways to... Have confidence job hunting Some 44% of Brits don’t feel confident when searching and applying for jobs, according to research by Indeed. Here’s how to give yourself a boost… 1 Keep talking ‘Job hunting can be a tough process and has the potential to stir up challenging emotions, fears and limiting beliefs that can keep you up at night; this can become stressful and manifest itself in you losing motivation to keep going,’ says Renata Graver from employment charity Shaw Trust, who is working with Indeed as its confidence ambassador. ‘Instead of internalising these feelings, try talking things through with someone. The key is to avoid becoming isolated.’ 2 Have an open mind ‘No matter how long you’ve been looking for a new job, staying open-minded will…

Beauty writer Emma North shares her favourite eyeshadow sticks E.l.f Mintmelt No Budge Eyeshadow Stick in Melt With Me, £5, Superdrug For easy application that blends effortlessly, a stick is perfect. This beautiful, slightly shimmering brown shade is perfect for creating a smoky look or adding definition to the outer corner of the eyes. Soap & Glory Lid Stuff Eyeshadow Stick in Grey All Day and Putting On The Glitz, £7, Boots The double-ended shadow stick is great for an all-in-one look. Use the light, silver-grey on the lid and put the deeper grey into the crease for a super-easy evening look. The Body Shop Eye Colour Stick in Siberian Quartz, £8, thebodyshop.com Create a shimmering, metallic look with this gorgeous plum-coloured stick. The highly pigmented formula stays put without…

● The Watts had financial difficulties, filing for bankruptcy in 2015. So Shanann became the main breadwinner, often leaving Chris at home with the kids during business trips. ● Watts’ polygraph test lasted seven hours and he didn’t just fail it – he bombed, scoring minus 18. ● Writing to Cheryln Cadle, who contacted him for her book Letters from Christopher, Watts confessed to slipping Shanann an opiate painkiller before the murders, hoping to cause a miscarriage. ● In his letters, Watts admitted Bella fought back after watching him murder her sister, shouting, ‘Daddy, no!’ before being smothered. ● He claims he smothered the girls before returning to his room and strangling Shanann. Only, the girls ‘woke back up’ and Bella wandered into the room, so he had to do…