Table of contents for 31-Dec-2020 in Chat

NUMBER JIG According to the CIA World Factbook, what is the total area of Mozambique in kilometres squared? Fit these numbers into the grid. One number doesn’t fit. This is the prize answer. 3 digits 102 104 368 688 774 785 840 900 901 910 4 digits 1172 1183 6186 6788 8790 9000 9001 9101 9534 9932 5 digits 12264 14413 17647 28391 31115 38110 42439 48394 64986 69932 90007 90091 6 digits 131390 246729 378696 558433 799380 906567 907012 999831 7 digits 1707259 1709728 6733353 8 digits 44418570 WIN £250 Puzzle 2 Your answer: SPIRAL XWORD What nickname is shared by F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen, darts player Gerwyn Price and endurance athlete Wim Hof? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of…

World health Worryingly, one in three women admit that they would have surgery due to an insecurity. Almost half of UK females say they hate their stomach, while 40% say that they would like to get rid of their wrinkles, and 36% dislike their thighs.** Swap and see Swap your regular toothpaste for these Brushd Toothpaste Tablets and reduce your carbon footprint. Made to ensure no compromise to your oral health, your teeth will still feel clean and fresh. Just chew one and then brush your teeth as normal. (£4.99 for 62 tablets, brushd.co.uk) Cycle to work No longer working from home? Cycling to work is not only good for the environment, your wallet and your waistline, but new research by the National Institute for Health Research has revealed that…

Lisa Murray-Lang, 44 Pulling himself up on the bar stool made from bottle tops and lollypop sticks, my hamster Spud turned to me with what looked like a little grin. ‘Last orders in the Rodents Return?’ I chuckled, as he wiggled his little stub of a tail excitedly. Climbing back down, he sniffed around the bar, before scurrying on his pink paws to his next adventure. And he certainly had plenty to choose from. Over the last few months, since my work as a pet sitter had dried up because of COVID-19, I’d been keeping busy. And making sure my beloved pet hamster Spud was entertained, too. Using cardboard, a printer, old bits and bobs and plenty of glue, I’d made him different places to hang out. First, I made…

Elaine Watson, 47, Wigton Stopping in front of a sign in the busy restaurant, I pretended to read it while I tried to catch my breath. Smiling to the owner, I tried to hide my panting. But I felt exhausted. I could feel my chest tighten with the effort of walking down endless corridors. It was February 2019, and I was inspecting a restaurant as part of my job as an environmental health officer. Only, thanks to my 25st frame, I was struggling. Embarrassed, I tried everything I could to hide it. But I needed to stop every few minutes to catch my breath. Somehow, I always managed to get through my appointments but I knew my weight was taking its toll on my body. For years now, I’d been…

Unsupportive parents Q I live with my parents and go to university - and I have plans to become a biochemist. My parents don’t understand this and think it’s just silly nonsense. They’re saying that I need to start paying my way. I have a part-time job, but once I’ve paid for travel and food, I don’t have anything left. I don’t want to leave uni, but I don’t know if I can afford to stay for much longer. Elsa, 22 A You’re 22 - it’s time to get your own place! There are benefits available to help you top up your income, but it’s time to move out. Can you try a house share? Don’t leave uni, because that’s your future you’re working towards. Tell your parents you don’t…

Steph Walker, 29, Whitley Bay Jolting up out of bed, my heart was pounding. It was just a dream, I reassured myself shakily. It was September 2005, and I’d been having vivid dreams about being pregnant for weeks. I was only 14, so the idea of having a baby terrified me. I pushed the dream to the back of my mind. But just a few days later, I tried to think back to my last period. Was it last month, or the month before..? It was then I realised that maybe my dreams were telling me something. That night, I went to my parents Jude, then 44, and Alan, 56. ‘I think I might be pregnant,’ I blurted out. My heart sank as both of their faces dropped. Shocked, Mum…

Katrina Pidden, 39 Waking up to a kiss on my forehead, I smiled. It was June 2018, and I’d met Mitchell Liversedge, then 23, three months earlier, through friends. He was 13 years younger than me, blond, blue-eyed and handsome – a catch. He showered me with compliments and every other weekend he was round at mine. He made me feel special. But come July, things changed. If I didn’t answer the phone in time, he grew impatient. Why aren’t you picking up? Who are you with? he’d message me. Sorry, I fell asleep, I’d reply. Mitch would always apologise, explained he’d been cheated on in the past. When a male friend sent a text, Mitch flipped – though it was completely innocent. ‘You’re being ridiculous,’ I sighed. And a…

Farmologie Unfragranced Moisturiser, £3.49, Boots This formula makes a great daily hydrator and a lovely base under make-up, which is suitable for even the most sensitive skin. Restore Scented Candle, £7.50, marksandspencer.com The uplifting blend of geranium, eucalyptus and lavender makes this candle the perfect addition to a cosy evening in. Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Tangerine, £3.99, lookfantastic.com The perfect shade for brightening up dull days, this bright orange paint lasts well on nails and doesn’t chip as soon as it’s applied! Sanctuary Spa Youth Boosting Body Butter, £12.50, lookfantastic.com This thick, velvety moisturiser smells amazing and soaks into dry skin, leaving limbs soft and supple.…

Bright, fun-loving and adventurous, Ciara Glennon lived life to the full. Born to Irish parents, she’d moved to Perth, Australia, with her family as a child. She’d worked hard at school, learning Japanese and going on to study Law at university. In 1997, Ciara took a year off from her job at a law firm to travel overseas, before returning to her family home. Two weeks later, on 14 March, Ciara, 27, celebrated St Patrick’s Day with colleagues at the Continental Hotel in Claremont, an upmarket Perth suburb. She was in high spirits about her sister Denise’s wedding the following week and left before midnight - but never made it home. When her parents Denis and Una found her bed hadn’t been slept in, they were worried. It was Denise’s…

THE BIGGIE What connects actor Mark Hamill and R&B singer Macy Gray? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Underneath (5) 4 Cry or howl (4) 6 Prickly creature (8) 13 Films or books that are the second in a series (7) 14 Taste (7) 15 Tag (5) 16 Use one’s eyes (4) 17 Required (6) 18 2019 film, _ Women (6) 20 Wet weather (4) 21 Add up (5) 22 Worn away (6) 25 Going too fast (8) 28 Part of a drum kit (6) 30 Tom Cruise’s ex-wife, actor _ Holmes (5) 32 Large snake (8) 34 Chess piece (6) 35 Leg joint (4) 38 Orange root vegetable (6) 39 Ballroom dance (5) 40 Shackles…

In October 2007, Lisa Montgomery was found guilty of federal kidnapping resulting in death. The jury unanimously recommended the death sentence and she was sent to Death Row. Zeb Stinnett, heartbroken husband of her victim, was left to care for his beloved baby daughter Victoria Jo, who survived against the odds. In October 2020, 13 years after she was convicted of Bobbie Jo’s murder, the US Justice Department announced that Lisa Montgomery would be executed by lethal injection – on a date still to be confirmed. In a statement, Montgomery’s attorney said that her client deserved to live because she is mentally ill and had suffered childhood abuse. She said, ‘Lisa Montgomery has long accepted full responsibility for her crime, and she will never leave prison. Montgomery would be executed…

Weak bladder when I sleep My New Year’s resolution is simply a dry night – I’m 36 and still sometimes wet the bed! Ellie, Crawley A Perhaps around three per cent of healthy women wet the bed at times and may feel too embarrassed to discuss it, but there’s lots your GP can offer to help. Causes may include an over-active bladder, injury or blockage, nerve damage, drug side-effects or kidneys that keep making urine at night, instead of partially shutting down as they should. Repeated urine infections, diabetes or excessively deep sleep are other possibilities. Depending on the cause, your GP may suggest bladder training exercises, antibiotics for infection, pills to relax your bladder or desmopressin – a drug that partially shuts down your kidneys overnight. Try not to…

COUPLE KILLED Elderly married couple of 40 years Terry and Vera Martin were brutally murdered during a burglary in Faversham on 21 January 2006. Terry, 72, and Vera, 78, were set upon by ‘callous, spineless and wicked’ Brett Clifton. As the couple lay dying, Clifton ransacked the property, before stealing their car and driving off. Clifton pleaded not guilty but was convicted of murder and jailed for life, with a minimum term of 30 years. RECORD-BREAKING HEIST Britain’s biggest robbery took place on 22 February 2006 at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge. Taking 14 staff hostage, a gang stole £53 million belonging to the Bank of England. Stuart Royle, 59; Lee Rusha, 35; Jetmir Bucpapa, 26; Emir Hysenaj, 28; Roger Coutts, 30 (all above); plus Paul Allen, 28; Lee Murray,…

Which forename of a prominent Game of Thrones character means ‘noble one’ in Sanskrit? Solve the crossword, then read down the yellow squares. The yellow shaded squares will spell out the prize answer. ACROSS 1 Fireman _, kids’ TV show (3) 3 Limb (3) 5 Beam of light (3) 6 Place for drinking (3) 7 Colour or shade (3) DOWN 1 Actor, _ Jessica Parker (5) 2 Perhaps (5) 4 Singer, _ J Blige (4) WIN £50 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

One is a glamorous 20-year-old woman and the other a wealthy man in his 60s. But this happy couple say that money has nothing to do with their love for each other - despite what online trolls have to say. Adrienne met 63-year-old Shafik on a business trip in Salt Lake City, Utah. They clicked straight away - and have now dated for over a year. ‘When you meet somebody and it feels like a soulmate, you connect. To me, age is just a number,’ Shafik says. ‘We honestly care about and love each other’ Adrienne adds, ‘We are together through sickness and health.’ This is despite the fact that Adrienne is younger than four of Shafik’s six children. While Shafik is 14 years older than his girlfriend’s mum and…

In 2008, when I was 17, me and Daniel moved out of my parents’ house to a three-bed around the corner. ‘Come out clubbing with us,’ my friends would say every weekend. I was still a teenager, but I had responsibilities. ‘I can’t,’ I’d say, telling them Daniel was my priority now. I had to focus on the future. So when I was 19, I started a college course in Art and Design. I got the bus to Newcastle every day, while Mum and Dad helped out with Daniel. Waiting at the bus station one day, someone caught my eye. He’s good looking, I thought, eyeing up a guy in his 20s with dark-brown hair. I didn’t go on many dates - Daniel was the only man in my life.…

A quarter of Brits had a shopping voucher that expired during lockdown when many shops and businesses were forced to shut, new data from Which? reveals. Almost half said their voucher was automatically extended by the retailer and 15% said they had to request an extension. But 36% didn’t get a voucher extension, and lost an average value of £30 each. Did you know? Two in five Brits say that they’re now more likely to save for a rainy day emergency fund than before the pandemic, First Direct’s latest Money Wellness Index found. TOP TIP Sell everything that doesn’t bring you joy. Declutter the things in your home that you don’t need.…

Aries 21 March-20 April Your emotions are running high, you’re spending time with your partner and planning ahead. A delay could see you running late, so leave plenty of time. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Always wanting your home to look beautiful, clearing out the cupboards is a must. You’ll find something you’d forgotten about. Clear one room at a time. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June The person who has won your heart is making their feelings known, and you’ll see their shyness melt away as they confess how they feel. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Your kind and nurturing qualities form deep bonds with those you love. The children around you…

Nanogen Thickening Treatment Shampoo For Women, £7.95, lookfantastic.com Fine hair often falls flat to the scalp and can look a little lacklustre, but this fortified shampoo works by boosting the volume of your hair from root to tip. The result? A bouncy, full-bodied bouffant. Batiste Dry Shampoo & Volume, £3.50, Boots Oily roots can make fine hair look really thin, so between washes use this volume-enhancing dry shampoo to add body, while refreshing your locks. You’ll see a huge difference after a couple of sprays. Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Densifying Conditioner, £9.99, Boots This amazing conditioner is formulated with ingredients like biotin and keratin, which transforms thin hair without weighing it down, for fuller, thicker and healthier locks.…

TEXT Simply text CHATC 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…

Dear Mum, You were always front seat at all of my shows. No matter what commitments you had, you never missed one. As a child, I’d act, sing and dance on stage, even performed in an amateur production of The Lion King. Your proud face beaming up melted any nerves I had. We loved shopping and would chat about my future ambitions - including being successful in a beauty pageant - as we tried on dresses in the changing rooms. At home, you’d cook up a storm in the kitchen and I hoped that I could be as good as you one day. Iseyinwa Iloghalu - the queen of our family. You were always there, no matter what Then, in September 2014, when I was 20, you sat me and…

Jenny Oakes, 39, Birmingham Stifling a giggle, my mum sat as still as she possibly could. It was 2005 and we were in the middle of my exam for a Beauty Therapy course. My mum Jacqueline, then 43, had bravely volunteered as my model. But as my hands shook with nerves, my fingers fumbled on the eyelash glue and, suddenly, it shot out quicker than I’d expected. And Mum’s eyelashes stuck together! “Don’t say anything,’ I hissed, sorting the mess out. “OK!’ she mouthed. Mum never let me down. I passed the exam and, just a few years later, I opened my own salon. “I’m so proud of you!’ she said to me, chuffed. She was even more delighted when she became a grandma to my kids and my sister…

Bending down to scoop up my 18-month-old daughter Lottie for a hug, I let out an agonised yelp. ‘I can’t even pick up my own baby!’ I sobbed to my husband Tom, then 34. It was August 2018 and my aching joints had highlighted yet another seemingly simple task that I just couldn’t do. It was back in 1995, aged 11, when I was diagnosed with arthritis. Juvenile arthritis, like mine, is an autoimmune or autoinflammatory disease. The cause isn’t certain. I was put on medication to manage the constant shooting pains. But I suffered severe side effects of fatigue, sickness and hair thinning. Over time, my condition got worse, taking over my whole body. My knees inflated to the size of melons. And my swollen feet forced me to…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on page 3 – there’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Ann Walker, Leeds ACROSS 1. Liner, boat 2. Walking speed 3. ….the Engine - kids TV’ show 4. Camping shelter DOWN 1. Rotisserie 2. Possess 3. Image 4. Well shaped WIN 5 x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Which named day of the Roman calendar fell just before the halfway point of each month? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: VO + CAL, CAL +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize…

ARROW WORD Which Greek island is the northernmost of the Cyclades archipelago? 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 answer. WIN £60 Puzzle 11 Your answer: WORDSEARCH In which of these pastimes might you make use of an O’Shaughnessy? The prize answer is the one missing from the grid. ART BAKING CHESS COOKERY CYCLING FISHING GAMING GYM HIKES MUSIC READING SEWING SPANISH SPORT YOGA WIN £50 Puzzle 12…

Which element was first identified by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt in 1751 and named for a mischievous spirit of Germanic folk tales? 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 What was the name of the Pet Shop Boys’ last UK No 1 single, released in 1988? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles to find the prize answer. 3 letters ASHBARCARCOGEATEVEOFFYAMYESYOU 4 letters CLANEWERHOOKLOGONEXTOPALSOFA 5 letters CELLOLLAMAMUSIC 6 letters CHERRYGATEAUHOSTELMELODYSLALOMWOBBLY 8 letters AIRPORTS WIN £100 Puzzle15 Your answer: FILL ME IN TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

3 ways to... save on your mobile bills If you’re looking for a new mobile phone deal then it’s essential you don’t waste any of your hard-earned cash. Uswitch’s tech and deals expert, Catherine Hiley, explains how you can cut the cost. 1 Data allowance ‘Research by Uswitch found on average mobile phone users had nearly 5gb of data left over at the end of each month,’ says Catherine. ‘So it’s crucial to know what you actually need as there’s no point paying for a large data allowance if you’re not going to make full use of it. To get an idea of how much you need each month, visit uswitch.com/mobiles/ mobile-data-calculator.’ 2 Consider options ‘If your phone contract is coming to an end and you’re happy with your existing…

Vigil BBC1 In this gripping six-part thriller, Suranne Jones stars as DCI Amy Silva, who investigates when the disappearance of a fishing boat and a death on a submarine leads to the police clashing with the Navy and the security services. Intergalactic SKY ONE Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson stars in this eight-part sci-fi drama that follows a group of convicts who are being transported to prison in the far reaches of outer-space when they decide to make a bid for freedom. This is England’s Thomas Turgoose also stars. Don’t Look Up NETFLIX Former EastEnders actor Himesh Patel stars alongside Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio in this sci-fi comedy that follows a pair of astronomers as they try to warn the world about a giant asteroid that is hurtling towards Earth… Twist…

Q My skin is very red, especially around my cheeks. How can I fix it? Laurie Cunningham, 63, Dorset A It sounds like you may be suffering from rosacea, a skin condition that affects the face and causes redness and a stinging sensation. If it’s severe, visit your GP, but there are things you can do at home. A soothing cleanser that won’t aggravate the condition like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, £9.50, Boots, will be your go-to, while an anti-redness moisturiser like La Roche- Posay Rosaliac UV Riche Anti-Redness Moisturiser, £17.50, Boots, will help calm the irritation. For make-up, use a green colour corrector like Indeed Labs Nanoblur Colour Corrector in Green, £16.99, Superdrug. A concealer such as Vichy Dermablend SOS Corrector Concealer Stick, £15, Boots, will even out your…

£1,001 CASH B Peabody, Stratford-upon-Avon £1,000 CASH I Emerson, Peterborough £500 CASH A Morbi, Sevenoaks; T Murtagh, Mitcham £250 CASH B Phillips, Southampton £150 CASH J Harvey, Sheffield £100 CASH D Phillips, Maltby; H Capper, Newcastle; M Drevets, Midlothian; P Grinsdale, York; M Harding, Heckington £60 CASH S Gilbert, Sandy £50 CASH R Aubrey, Hatfield; D Roberts, Hayle; E Evans, Dyfed £30 CASH C Parfitt, Bristol; L Pended, Edgware; J Maddran, Salford; D Page, Midlothian; T Jefford, Braintree £25 CASH P Fisher, Gwent; B Baxendell, Bedale; J White, Bradford; J Kirby-Harris, High Wycombe; J Lewis, Birkenhead; M Gee, London; G Drinkhill, Abergele; M Sandhu, Streatham; T Riley, Wigan Anyone from your town in this week..? Chat PUZZLE 2 89267 Chat PUZZLE 8 GAL GADOT Chat PUZZLE 11 199 • All…