Table of contents for 24 March 2022 in Chat

KNITS STYLE TIP Transition into the new season with a statement knit. Wear something plain on your bottom half to balance this bold look. TOPS STYLE TIP Blouson sleeves are flattering if you’re conscious of your upper arms, while ruffles add a feminine touch. Team with jeans. SKIRTS STYLE TIP These versatile designs will become your best fashion friend. Add trainers and a white T-shirt for a casual take. DRESSES STYLE TIP The timeless midi dress will see you through the seasons. Pair them with ankle boots until it’s warm enough for sandals.…

GUILTY On 20 September 2021, a jury of seven women and five men took just over three hours to reach a guilty verdict for Elsa Segura. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release for the crime of aiding and abetting premeditated first-degree murder. And was also found guilty of aiding and abetting attempted premeditated first-degree murder, aiding and abetting kidnapping, and aiding and abetting first-degree murder while committing kidnapping. Monique’s mother, Wanda Williams Baugh, read out an impact statement in court. ‘She actually could have been a hero, she could have warned Monique,’ she said. She emphasised the huge role that Segura played in the death of her daughter. That her phone call was the only reason Monique was in place for Berry and Davis…

Lynda Chapman, 67, Manchester Holding my newborn son against my chest, I was hit with a wave of emotion. He was so tiny, so precious. And as he looked up at me with innocent eyes, I began to sob. How could anyone leave their child? I thought. And not for the first time… It was September 1971, and I’d just given birth to my firstborn, James. My husband Keith, now 69, had held my hand as I’d pushed our son into the world. But there was one person I longed to have by my side. My mum. It’d been two years since I’d last seen her. Since she’d vanished. Me and my mum, Isabella Skelton, had always been close. I was her only daughter. If I fell and cut my…

With a big smile and upbeat personality, Katrina, 41, says she feels beautiful. But sadly, that’s not how the rest of the world sees her. She has two health conditions, lipoedema and lymphoedema, that have dramatically affected the size of her legs. ‘That’s what people just see, but I’ll just be like, no, look up here, look at this face, she’s beautiful,’ she smiles. ‘Let me tell you about me. I am Katrina, and there’s more to me than just these legs,’ she adds. Katrina, who loves swimming and having her photo taken, has had the health issue since she was a child. Lymphoedema is a condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissues. Lipoedema is an abnormal build-up of fat in your legs and sometimes arms. Only, doctors didn’t…

Clotted cream and cherry scone cake A giant scone that looks like a cake – what could be nicer? SERVES 8 PREP TIME 15 MINS PLUS COOLING AND CHILLING COOK TIME 20 MINS • 250g self-raising flour • ½tsp baking powder • 50g butter, chilled and cut into cubes • 50g golden caster sugar • 100g dried cherries • 150ml buttermilk, plus extra for brushing • 425g can cherries in syrup, drained • 227g tub clotted cream • Caster sugar, for dusting 1 Heat the oven to 220C/Gas 7. Grease an 18cm loose-based cake tin and line the base with baking paper. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Rub in the butter until it’s the texture of fine breadcrumbs. 2 Stir in the caster sugar and…

18-24 March 2022 Aries 21 March-20 April Working through your networking contacts will put you in a great position when someone offers you the chance to move. A relative phones with news. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You may have some intense dreams as Mercury, the planet of intellect, moves into your sign. Keep a notebook by your bed as dreams can be revealing. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Considering trading in your car for a new, greener version? If so, research its mileage and running costs, then you can work out if it’s the right option for you. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Mercury is in Taurus, which will make you…

LETTER of the week! Q I need a new affordable mascara. There’s so much choice out there, I don’t know where to start! Sandra, Upminster, London A Finding the best mascara for you is all about picking the right wand shape for your lash type. If you have straight, long lashes, pick one that will curl them up, like Maybelline Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara, £10.99, Boots. The curved, C-shaped brush helps push the lashes up, giving them real lift without having to use a lash curler. If yours are short, look for a lengthening option. We really like No7 Lash Extender Fiber Mascara, £14.95, Boots. The formula has tiny fibres in it, which cling to your lashes and help build up extra length and volume – it’s genius! A great…

PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT TEXT Simply text CHATA followed by a space and your answer/s (spaces between answers please) full name, door number and postcode to 63333 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 my patients, Working as an assistant nurse practitioner in an IVF clinic, I know what you’re thinking when you walk through our doors. You’re anxious, nervous, excited. The thing you want so much is just out of reach But you’re scared, too. And how do I know? Because in 2016, I was in your shoes. ‘I want to start a family,’ my wife Kirsty, then 31, told me as we honeymooned at Walt Disney World in Florida. I’d always dreamt of becoming a mum, knew we’d make brilliant parents. I threw my arms around her, delighted. ‘Where do we even start?’ I asked. As a same-sex couple, we faced many obstacles. IVF wasn’t available on the NHS, and it cost around £5,000 per go. In December 2016, we contacted…

LUCY SELF, 36, FROM LONDON, SAYS: Since retiring, Anne has thrown herself into volunteering and sharing her fantastic cooking skills with our community in northeast London. She’s been volunteering in the kitchens at FoodCycle Islington for five years now, whipping up tasty three-course meals for up to 30-40 people at a time. Many of our guests are at risk of food poverty or social isolation, so Anne’s delicious cooking is a real lifeline. Anne is a great leader, and happily lets our younger volunteers in on her top baking hints and tips. As we rely on donations, we never know what food we’re going to be working with each day, but Anne can turn any ingredient into something delicious. Anne always has a massive smile on her face, and she…

What connects actors Clint Eastwood and Sandra Bullock? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the three-word prize answer. Across 1 Picture (5) 4 Canine, hunts in packs (4) 6 Mighty or potent (8) 13 Very strong emotion (7) 14 Nearest (7) 15 Chambers (5) 16 Uncommon (4) 17 Speculative idea (6) 18 Rush forward in attack (6) 20 Wartime partner (4) 21 Alternative (5) 22 More than one (6) 25 Categorise (8) 28 Very sad (6) 30 Is aware of (5) 32 Concerned with finance (8) 34 Decayed (6) 35 Noise made by 4 Across (4) 38 Knot of hair (6) 39 Release, unfasten (5) 40 Groups of singers (6) 43 Female servant (4) 44 Ketchup ingredient (6) 45 Typical specimens (8)…

Diana Evans, 61, Blackwood, Caerphilly Settling down on the sofa, with the kids in bed, I opened my book. My feet tucked up under me, I tried to get lost in it. Only, something felt wrong. As I scanned the left page, the text on the right seemed to disappear, replaced with a giant W. As though someone had scribbled in the book in black felt-tip pen. ‘Something’s not right,’ I told my optician on the phone the next day, in 1990. I explained the worrying image and he agreed to see me straight away. Afterwards, he referred me to a specialist. ‘You have juvenile macular degeneration,’ the specialist told me weeks later. A condition that caused blurred or reduced vision and could get worse. ‘There are two types, wet…

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 Richard Emerson, Grimsby, NE Lincs ACROSS 1 Above 2 Travel on a bike 3 Minor setback 4 Groups of items DOWN 1 Spheres 2 Disgusting 3 Amend 4 Agents WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: HALF & HALF The game known as checkers in the USA and draughts in the UK is usually called what in Germany? Cross out a letter in each square to get a grid filled with words. The uncrossed out letters in the shaded squares give the prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 7 Your answer: BRICK TRICK Penjing is…

FILL ME IN The Ithaca Farmers Market in New York state holds a curling championship in December each year, using which vegetable as the curling stones? 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 14 Your answer: CIRCLE TIME The Greek soup Magiritsa is made with what meat? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters CUE CUT LEA LEE LEI LOO SEE SHE SKI UNI 4 letters ELSE FLEA GOOD NULL THIN TURF URGE 5 letters ANGER CAMEO TRUST 6 letters EDIBLE HORSES LILIES NEGATE TRAGIC URGENT 8 letters DYNAMITE WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn…

3 ways to… learn skills for free You don’t need to shell out if you want to learn something new. Here are some ideas: 1 Resolve to make do and mend If your clothes need mending, whether you’ve ripped a pocket or need to replace a zip in a pair of trousers and you don’t know how to do it, then help is at hand. You’ll find lots of tips at loveyourclothes.org.uk/care-repair. And if you have problems with an appliance, check out the guides at espares.co.uk/advice, where you’ll find details on things like how to change an oven bulb and how to replace wonky dishwasher basket wheels. Just make sure you follow the safety advice on the site and if you don’t feel confident, do consult a pro. 2 Unleash…

Stacey, 32, from Wales As she tore open the pink sparkly wrapping paper, my daughter’s eyes lit up. ‘A dolly!’ she squealed excitedly. ‘Is that what you wanted?’ I asked. She looked at me sadly. ‘I really just wanted Daddy,’ she said. My heart pounded. ‘He’ll be home soon,’ I said soothingly to her. And I crossed my fingers, hoping that he wouldn’t let us down. It was January 2017, and it was my daughter Kayleigh’s 5th birthday. Her dad should’ve been there with us. But he was in prison. I first met Luke Roberts, then 21, in 2010. Our eyes had locked across a dance floor. ‘You’re gorgeous,’ he’d said with a cheeky smile. We’d started dating. But after a few weeks, Luke had made a confession. ‘I’ve been…

Clairol Colour Gloss Up, £8.99, Superdrug Fancy trying a new look? This tinted conditioner will overhaul your hair colour, without the commitment. Available in nine vibrant shades, it will breathe new life into your locks. Revolution Revolutionary Eau De Toilette, £10, revolutionbeauty.com Switching to a lighter, floral perfume will get you set for spring in no time. This looks like a posh designer buy, and has notes of sweet vanilla and patchouli. Botanics Clarifying Gel Moisturiser, £6.49, Boots If you suffer with spots, swap to a lighter moisturiser, as yours could be clogging up your pores. This gel is specially formulated to hydrate skin while keeping blemishes at bay. NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Concealer Serum, £11, Boots A clever two-in-one buy, this concealer hides dark circles, redness and…

Alexandra Sinyavskaya, 31 With his kind eyes and friendly smile, I clocked my customer Antonio, then 46, the minute that he walked through the door. ‘Anything else, sir?’ I blushed, placing the steaming coffee cup down on the table beside him. ‘That’s it, thanks,’ he beamed back. It was May 2014 and I was working in a local coffee shop, just a short walk from the uni where I was studying for my Fine Arts degree. Antonio was always popping in for coffee. And, despite the fact he was at least a few decades older than me, something about him made me hot under the collar. His gorgeous bright-white hair, his distinguished lived-in looks. Mind you, I’d always preferred older guys. My first boyfriend, when I was 16, had been…

On 31 December 2019, 28-year-old estate agent Monique Baugh climbed into her car. It was just an average working day as she set off for a house viewing 11 miles from her home. After a 15-minute drive, she arrived at around 3pm. Parking in the driveway, she let herself into the empty house and waited for the prospective owner. Then there was a knock at the door. But when Monique opened it, it wasn’t the woman who had rung to arrange the viewing. Instead, she was confronted by two men, who bundled her into the back of a van. Her hands were tied, and the van sped off. She’d been lured to a fake viewing, then kidnapped. But who would want to do this to her? And why? As they…

Her bits are fused Q My little girl is 18 months old and her vagina won’t open because the labia are stuck together. Is this normal? Krissy, Sandbach A This is called labial fusion, meaning her inner vaginal lips become fused together, and happens in around 3% of girls at this age. It’s partly because she’s too young to make the hormone oestrogen, which lubricates the vagina after puberty and keeps it supple, so her inner lips are prone to sticking together. Sometimes fusion can be the result of a mild infection or an injury – including, in some cultures, female genital mutilation (FGM), which is illegal in the UK. Because a lack of oestrogen is partly to blame, one treatment is oestrogen cream, though many doctors think that’s unnecessary…

Sue Neill, 52, Chichester, West Sussex Five years ago, in January 2017, I woke up in a hospital bed, living a nightmare. You might remember my story in Chat last September. I’d got a cut in my mouth at the dentist, which had got infected. Three weeks later, I’d woken up to discover all my limbs amputated. Due to sepsis, I’d also lost part of my lips, nose and tongue, even my front teeth. My husband Dean, then 51, and our five kids, Chris, then 31, Stacey, 26, Connor, 20, Chloe, 17, and Kalee, 4, had barely left my bedside. So I’d fought, and survived. Finally, in March 2018, I’d come home. But a year in and out of hospital was a struggle. I had two reconstructive surgeries on my…

ARROW WORD Which is the largest moon in our Solar System? 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 Back in 1978, a chemistry magazine called Chem 13 News printed an April Fool’s joke by Ken Woolner, claiming which measurement unit was named after an 18th-century French scientist? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ACRE FOOT FURLONG…

I can’t help her Q My daughter is 22, lives with me, and has borderline personality disorder. She doesn’t work and refuses help for her mental-health issues. She will never help around the house, no matter how much I ask. It’s disrespectful. Please help me get through to her! Becks, 47 A If she hasn’t sought medical advice, how do we know that she has BPD? Has she been diagnosed? What are her symptoms? If she has been formally diagnosed, get online and try to understand the condition. Chances are, that’s what is behind some of the behaviour you find disrespectful. Focus on encouraging her to get help, first of all. Try to be patient. And don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. He won’t move out! Q How…

Bethany Moore, 27, Heathfield, East Sussex Pulling back my curtains before school, I peered out at the blue sky and sunshine. Another hot day. My worst nightmare. Because hating your body is so much easier in winter. Covering up under layers and big coats. But in summer, there’s nowhere to hide. Everywhere I looked were pretty, confident girls. Not me, though. Puberty had arrived and I felt like it’d given me lumps and bumps in all the wrong places. And I hated it. Even though friends and family gave me compliments. When I looked in the mirror I just didn’t see what they did. Yuck! I’d think at the sight of my naked body during my morning shower. ‘But you look great!’ my friends insisted, confused, when I told them…

Q My family wants to get a dog, but I’m worried about damage to my lovely home. How bad can it be? F Riggs, Southport A MoneySuperMarket found the average cost of damage caused by dogs each year in the UK is £147 per animal. The study found that labradoodles caused the most damage, costing an average of £192 each in annual repairs, followed by golden retrievers at £165 and German shepherds at £163. Carpets were the most damaged household items (22%), followed by sofas or rugs (19%) and chairs (16%). MoneySuperMarket’s Dave Merrick says, ‘We recommend that you check your home insurance policy to ensure you are covered for any accidental damage caused by your pets.’…

Barry M Nail Whitener, £3.99, Boots If you paint your nails in bright colours, you may notice some staining or discolouration. This clever base coat uses lemon and lime tree extract to brighten nails, leaving them looking healthy. It’s the perfect base coat under bold manicures – paint on one coat, then apply colour. PS… Cosmic Connection Metallic Lipstick in Moon Dreamer, £2, Primark A metallic lip shade mightsound scary, but just think of it as lipstick with a shimmery finish. This is a pretty coral tone that will add a hint of sparkle to your day. Wear with gold eyeshadow and lashings of mascara for the perfect evening look.…

Parkland, a leafy, affluent city an hour from Miami, had a reputation for being a safe place to live. But friends, family and neighbours were worried about Nikolas Cruz. The first time his mum Lynda called the police about him, he was just 10. His dad Roger had died a couple of years earlier, and the single mum struggled with the fights between Nikolas and his younger brother. By the time he was 18, dozens of complaints had been made about Nikolas. Neighbours, teachers and social workers alerted the police after he threw a rock at some kids and shot a chicken with a BB gun. And things only got worse when Lynda died in November 2017. On Valentine’s Day 2018, Nikolas, then 19, got a taxi to his former…