Table of contents for 03 February 2022 in Chat

Hero of the week has to be Marion (p30). She’s 102 and puts me to shame – and not just because of her taste in fashion! We hope her story inspires you to step into some pink snakeskin Lycra and get out there. Everybody needs good neighbours – and Allison certainly had a great one! (p10) Grace says the COVID lockdowns turned her into a bimbo – find out why she couldn’t be happier about it (p37). We’ve got 20-minute meals (p42) and great style you can pick up with your groceries, from just a tenner (p12). Plus the prize puzzles you love. Stay safe and well this week. Subscribe for just £11.75* Subscribe online at magazinesdirect.com/A11X or call 0330 333 1113 and quote code A11X** *£11.75 payable every 3…

F&F at TESCO All sizes 6-22 STYLE TIP Wear this set together or separately for multiple looks. NUTMEG at MORRISONS All sizes 8-22 STYLE TIP Team with a black roll-neck jumper, opaque tights and boots. TU at SAINSBURY’S All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP Size up if you want to wear with chunky jumpers underneath. GEORGE at ASDA All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP Button to the top to ensure the collar sits perfectly.…

In November 2021, the jury found Darian Bashir, then 25, guilty of first-degree murder. He was also convicted of tampering with evidence for fleeing the scene after the shooting and hiding his licence plates. Prosecution lawyer Raúl Torrez expressed outrage on behalf of Jackson Weller’s family at the accusations made by the defence team suggesting he’d made racist comments towards Bashir. ‘I think it was disgraceful to try and sully the reputation and the memory of this young man,’ Raúl Torrez said. ‘Thankfully, the jury saw through this shameful attempt to play the race card, and returned a verdict of murder,’ he added. It wasn’t Bashir’s first encounter with the law. In 2017, he was charged with reportedly shooting and seriously injuring another man at pub closing time. The case…

Karen Johnson, 48, Mayland, Essex Watching with amazement, I clapped as our oldest resident, Marion Watson, then 100, showed us her skills. Sitting on the floor, she lifted her legs and whipped them around her head. ‘You’re putting us to shame!’ I laughed. It was December 2019 and Marion had moved into Down Hall care home in Bradwell-on-Sea, where I was manager, four months earlier. She’d been poorly when she arrived, and spent her 100th birthday in bed. But since getting involved in our exercise classes, she’d brought a new energy to the place. And herself! ‘I was a gymnast and dancer as a girl,’ she smiled. She told us how she’d travelled the world in her teens, performing in dance competitions. Soon, Marion was keen to do more than…

Dogs causing a rift Q I have problems with my neighbours because of how many dogs I have. I had three, and then took on two more after a friend could no longer look after them. Then a neighbour died and I offered to have his Yorkshire terrier. Unfortunately, they don’t all get on so there’s a lot of barking. I can’t give them up as they’ve already had traumatic lives. But I’m worried the RSPCA will be called and they’ll be taken away. Patricia, 59 A It sounds like you’re struggling, flower. You’ve a big heart, but you can’t keep taking in waifs and strays – for the sake of your neighbours, the dogs and your own sanity! Instead of worrying that your neighbours will do it, get in…

Grace Taylor, 29, Horsham Sitting on the sofa, a multipack of chocolate bars for company, all I wanted to do was burst into tears. Now what? I thought miserably, my manager’s words going round in my head. It was March 2020 and he’d called me into his office that morning. I’d been project manager for a telecoms company for almost two years. Thought we were having our weekly catch-up. But the look on his face told me otherwise. ‘I’m sorry, Grace, but because of COVID-19 we’re making you redundant,’ he’d said gravely. I gasped in shock, struggled to take it all in. Like everyone else, I had a mortgage and bills to pay. The pandemic had only just begun. How was I going to find another job? I shovelled more…

A Northumbria Police spokesperson says, ‘Shortly before 10.30pm on 17 September, police received a report that three males had been taunting members of the public as they walked through the underpass connecting Exhibition Park to Brandling Park. The males then assaulted five separate people in unprovoked attacks, with some requiring hospital treatment. Detectives have carried out a range of CCTV enquiries and spoken to witnesses but are now appealing to the public and have released the description of two males they believe were in the area. It’s thought the males might hold information which can assist. Both males are average height, slim build, with dark short hair and were wearing dark jeans. One was wearing a dark T-shirt and the other a dark hoody. The males, or anyone who knows…

Flower Beauty Light Illusion Foundation, £12.99, Superdrug A great coverage foundation doesn’t have to feel thick and cakey on the skin, this lightweight formula blurs pores, keeps skin luminous and conceals imperfections without feeling like you’re wearing a mask. Revolution Skincare Vitamin C Glow Seven Day Skin Plan Ampoules, £9.99, Boots When your skin is feeling dull, embark on a seven-day glow-up with these antioxidant ampoules. Packed with vitamin C, skin will be transformed within a week. Ps… Ultra Define Skinny Mascara, £4, Primark If you struggle with applying mascara to short lashes without smudging it all over then try this one! The teeny, tiny wand makes it so easy to be precise and enables you to reach every lash, even the very corners, without a smudge in sight. Sanctuary…

My wife Mata and I had a fantastic day out when we were on holiday in Poland. Our children Emilia, 4, and Sean, 2, could run for miles in the hills and trees, they absolutely loved it. James Richardson, Great Leighs Callum and Florence the Frenchie catching some zzzs! Fiona Campbell, Woodhurst I bought a little ‘pawsonalised’ treat bag for Wiggles to take with us on walkies. Isn’t it fab!? Krissie Cope, Manchester My 2-year-old daughter Esther likes to measure herself under the hat on the door. She does it quite a few times a day and doesn’t understand why she isn’t growing faster! Karen Seville, Birkenhead I got to meet a lot of alpacas at the Chilli Bean Cafe, but it’s safe to say this one stole my heart…

Ed Sheeran’s brother is most proud of him for winning what? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Take weapons from (6) 12 French phrase meaning, ‘Have a good journey’ (3,6) 13 Gave money to (4) 14 Enormous (8) 15 _ DeGeneres, talk-show host (5) 16 Drawing tool (6) 17 Jumper (7) 18 In addition (11) 20 Shout applause (5) 22 Grows in number (9) 24 Stage remark (5) 28 Non-professional (7) 29 Collisions (7) 32 Common black and white bird (6) 34 Valuable hoard (8) 36 Second-rate, average (8) 37 Tacked (6) 39 Harrison Ford’s character in Star Wars (3,4) 40 Laurence _, late actor (7) 45 Timepiece (5) 47 The start (9) 48 Chubby (5)…

Help! My coil has gone missing Q I have a contraceptive coil, but now I can’t feel the threads. What’s happened to it? Jana, north London A Your coil or intrauterine device (IUD) sits inside your womb to prevent pregnancy. Threads attached to the IUD reach through your cervix into your vagina, though some doctors cut the threads off when they put the coil in. If you do have threads, it’s wise to check them, with a finger inside your vagina, every month. If the threads are getting longer it could mean the coil is coming out. Threads that have vanished could mean that your IUD has come out, or the threads have gone inside your womb, or rarely that the IUD has worked its way into your pelvis. Use…

Marion says, ‘Before I came to Down Hall, I was advised to slow down. I’d been taken to Broomfield Hospital, suffering a lot of pain in my side. After three days, I was told I could go home if I could climb the stairs – which I wasn’t able to do. That’s what brought me here, and I was upset at leaving my home. I needn’t have worried, though – Karen and the staff are lovely, and my health and energy have improved. I’d always wanted to meet Mr Motivator and used to watch him on TV in the mornings. I loved his energy, and doing all the exercises. On my 102nd birthday, I had to close my eyes as I went into the lounge, where everyone started singing. I…

Surrounded by family, all sharing a home-cooked meal, Lasiyem, 40, is in her element. She is often inundated with visitors in Blora, Indonesia, where she lives with her sister. Friends, neighbours and family, all checking up on her. Keeping her company on difficult days. Because Lasiyem suffers from severe neurofibromatosis – a disorder that causes tumours to grow along the nerves, leaving her entire body, including her face, covered in non-cancerous masses. ‘My disease started when I was 6 years old. It’s been 30 years,’ she sighs heavily. It’s clear that Lasiyem is in pain. Frustrated and worn down by the weight of her hundreds of tumours. In the past, she’s undergone surgery to remove the masses – but each time, they have grown back. Some even bigger than before.…

Express pizza Hold the takeaway and save money with these speedy thin and crispy pizzas – you’ll save on calories as well. SERVES 4 PREP TIME 5 MINS COOK TIME 15 MINS • 200ml tomato passata • ½tsp sugar • Juice of ½ lemon • 1tsp dried oregano • 400g baby spinach leaves • 4 flatbreads or soft flour tortillas • 2tbsp black olives in brine, drained and sliced • 125g half-fat mature Cheddar, grated • 4 eggs 1 Heat the oven to 200C/Gas 6 and line two large baking trays with baking paper. Heat the passata in a pan with the sugar, lemon juice and oregano. Simmer for 5 mins to thicken slightly. 2 At the same time, put the spinach leaves in a bowl, cover with boiling water and leave for…

Aries 21 March-20 April You have high hopes for your new project. A born entrepreneur, your ideas can be astounding at times. More explanation is needed to reveal your ingenuity. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Exciting news arrives via email, which could change the dynamic and your direction. Make an effort where it’s needed, but don’t neglect your family’s plans. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You’re focusing on nurturing your needs instead of trying to look out for others. If a colleague is stressed, though, complete your own work first. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July When a friend suggests contacting a psychic, you’re intrigued to have your fortune read. Will your palm…

Catrice Lip Cushion Protecting Multi Balm, £3.49, justmylook.com Packed with hemp and coconut oils, this balm is a must for chapped lips, but it’s also a great multi-use product. We love smoothing it on dry cuticles, elbows and ankles for a boost. Skin Proud Everything Balm, £7.95, Boots Pop this pocketsize balm in your handbag for soft skin on-the-go. With hydrating jojoba oil, it’s perfect for fixing dry skin niggles in their tracks. Collection Multi-Use Do Everything Balm, £3.99, Superdrug When your hand cream isn’t cutting it and you’re still getting dry, sore cuticles, apply this nourishing balm to the area every night, before bed. Then, say hello to beautifully soft hands in the morning.…

CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS 15 FEBRUARY 2022 (Three days later for postal entries) PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT HOW TO ENTER TEXT Simply text CHATB 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…

Jodie Dickinson, 34, Derby Sliding into the front seat of my black Vauxhall Corsa, I felt a thrill of pleasure. It was autumn 2014 and, at 27, I’d just passed my driving test. To celebrate, my boyfriend Tyrone, then 25, had bought me a car. ‘I want you safe,’ he’d smiled, handing me the keys. I gasped in delight then leant across to kiss him. Tyrone was a mechanic. He’d have done a good job making sure the car was safe. It was all he ever wanted me to be. We’d met that summer at a mate’s house and hit it off. But I was a bit scared. I’d not long come out of a difficult relationship... ‘I understand,’ Tyrone said. ‘Let’s take it slow.’ We spent weeks getting to…

Allison King, 32 Clicking ‘like’ on a friend’s Facebook post with a heavy sigh, I was overcome with longing. Another pregnancy announcement. For as long as I could remember, I’d wanted to be a mum. As a kid, I’d been surrounded by a gaggle of dolls, and as a teenager, I’d babysit whenever I got the chance. I’d always assumed I’d get married and settle down quickly. But, in my 20s, I focused on my career as a teacher. Now, in 2012, aged 23, I’d started to wonder if it’d ever happen at all. ‘I just haven’t met the right person,’ I groaned to my neighbour Doug. ‘It never happened for me, but hopefully you’ll have more luck,’ Doug confided. I looked at him curiously. He was 20 years older…

Claire Yacoub, 27, Belfast Turning the handle on my bathroom door, I winced. It was October 2019, and my thumb and wrist had been painful for a few days. Now they hurt so much, even opening a door was difficult. ‘Maybe I’ve torn a ligament,’ I said to my husband Jeremy, then 28. I popped a couple of ibuprofen, but a few weeks later the pain was in my other hand, too. ‘What do you think?’ I asked Jeremy, who’s a paramedic. ‘Try hot and cold,’ he suggested. So for a while I swapped between holding a hot-water bottle and ice cubes against my sore hands, hoping it’d help. But every day I woke up, the pain was worse. Working as an office assistant, I could barely use my computer…

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 Irene Emerson, Grimsby, NE Lincs ACROSS 1 Cooked potato slice 2 Wander 3 Woodwind instrument 4 Toil DOWN 1 Black bird 2 Homeless person, informal 3 __ the Engine 4 Furtive glance WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS The Royal Horse Artillery of the British Army wear what kind of hat as part of their parade uniform? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: RU + SH, SH +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you…

ARROW WORD Which character from the Harry Potter universe shares their name with a character from The Winter’s Tale? 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 Molly Schuyler set the world record for consuming what foodstuff in Irving, Texas, on 25 April 2014? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BUTTER CHEESE CREAM CUSTARD EGGNOG GELATO GHEE…

FILL ME IN Which African country’s flag is red with a green, five-pointed star in the centre? 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 Which curry’s name is an anglicisation of the Urdu for ‘braise’? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters DAY DID DIG DIM MUM PAL TIC TOM TRY 4 letters ACID BALD BOIL DELI IDOL RUBY 5 letters LILAC LODGE LUCKY MUCKY 6 letters ARCADE GRUMPY LAPTOP LURKED 7 letters MEDICAL MELODIC WIN £100 Puzzle 14 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

3 ways to... protect yourself from fraud To help stay safe from scammers, the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is encouraging people to improve their online security. 1 Use strong passwords You should ideally use different passwords for all your accounts and the NCSC recommends creating passwords made up of three random words so it’s harder for scammers to hack. It says it’s particularly important to have a strong and separate password for your email. This is because if a hacker can get into your email they may be able to reset other account passwords. 2 Be double secure If you’re using a website and it offers ‘two-factor authentication’ then always opt to use it. Two-factor authentication usually involves needing to input a code that gets sent to your…

Daisy Wells, 28, Sunderland Pulling on my denim miniskirt, chunky pink trainers and favourite cherry patterned T-shirt, I was raring to go. I’d been waiting for this day for over a year! The This is Tomorrow music festival in Newcastle had been postponed in May 2020 because of COVID-19. Now, in September 2021, it was finally going ahead. ‘I can’t wait for a boogie,’ I told my boyfriend Adam, 24, and the four mates we were going with. We had weekend tickets, and planned to make up for lost time. Dancing, drinking and having fun. I was looking forward to seeing my faves Sam Fender and Dermot Kennedy. Our rented apartment was in Newcastle city centre, near the festival. ‘Let’s party,’ I laughed as we headed there arm-in-arm. The streets…

Our beloved Adelle, Not a day goes by when we don’t think about you. Your courage, your strength. The fluffy orange jacket you always wore! When you first got sick with swollen glands, headaches, an achy body, we thought it was tonsillitis. The GP prescribed antibiotics, but a week later, in March 2018, you’d got worse. ‘She needs to go to A&E,’ the GP said, and rushing to Belfast City Hospital, we prayed. Hoped it was just an infection. But blood tests showed an abnormality. ‘I’ve got leukaemia,’ you said knowingly. You knew the signs. Your best friend from school had died four months before from acute myeloid leukaemia. Surely such a tragedy couldn’t strike twice? But a specialist confirmed it. As your parents, we were terrified – you were…