Table of contents for 18 August 2022 in Chat

Love rat stories are shocking but this week’s is really outrageous (p10). Not only did Simona’s fella set up home for a secret family, he did it using… well, you’ll see. Simona is hoping to find love again but maybe she should take a leaf out of Patricia’s book. Bored of dating, she went straight to the wedding – only without the groom… (p22). We’ve also got a ton of prizes this week (p14). Get stuck in! PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles Subscribe from just £11.75* Subscribe online at magazinesdirect.com/A11X or call 0330 333 1113 and quote code A11X *Payable every 3 months by UK Direct Debit. Offer closes 31 October 2022. **Calls charged at no more than a national landline…

Jamie Styles, 28, London I squealed as my grandad threw me up into the air, twirling me around. At just 6, I adored Anthony Rooks, then 54. Was never happier than when he’d put his favourite Caribbean music on and we’d have a boogie. The flat he shared with my nanny Shirley was like my second home. Whenever I stayed over, we always had the most fun. Saturdays were for dancing and on Sunday we’d traipse around the local market, picking flowers for Nanny. Then he’d tell me how they fell in love. ‘It was Easter Sunday and we were in a club,’ he’d begin with a smile. He was so devoted to her and their family. Whenever I was upset, he’d try his best to cheer me up. Disappearing…

Life was going well for Fedonta ‘JB’ White. A 6ft 8in star athlete at just 18 years old, he had graduated from high school a year early. The young sportsman was planning to play basketball for the University of New Mexico of Santa Fe County. So when he went to a house party in August 2020, just days from moving away and joining his new team, he must have been looking forward to celebrating. But the party turned out to be anything but fun. There, JB and another party guest Estevan Montoya, then 16, became locked in an altercation which ended in bloodshed. JB’s. As the two argued, a chase took place, with JB in pursuit of Estevan. Only Estevan pulled out a gun and shot JB in the chest,…

Why do I bleed after running? Q After a long run, there’s blood in my wee. My doctor checked and told me it’s normal, but how can that be? Claudia, Newham A Sounds like exercise-induced haematuria, blood in your wee after strenuous exercise. It’s fairly common and is generally harmless, although you’re right to check with your doctor to rule out other causes. When you’re exercising very hard your body reduces blood flow to your kidneys in order to send more blood and oxygen to your muscles. This deprives your kidneys of blood and temporarily damages them, making them liable to leak red blood cells into your urine. In contact sports, where you’re bashing into people, bladder or kidney injury can also be to blame. The blood might take up…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p5. There’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Connor McGuire, Cleethorpes, NE Lincs ACROSS 1 Less warm 2 Capable 3 Roman attire 4 Burn/scorch DOWN 1 Feline creatures 2 Woodwind instrument 3 - - - - Korbut/ex-gymnast 4 King Shakespeare play WIN 5x £20 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS The Juncaceae family of plants are normally referred to by what English name? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: AC + RE, RE +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer. WIN 3x…

He chooses gaming over me Q My partner is constantly playing games online with his friends. They have a WhatsApp group and chat from morning until night. We have no conversation or time together because he is constantly looking at his phone – it’s like I’m on my own in our house. We have a child, so I don’t really want to break my family up, but I cannot stand feeling lonely any more. Amber, 25 A Oh love, it’s time to know your worth. It’s not a big ask to want meaningful time together in a relationship. Given the amount of time your man’s spending gaming and talking to friends, this is obviously going to make you feel resentful. Spell out exactly how this makes you feel. If he’s…

Jessica Gagen, 26, Liverpool Sitting in the drama classroom as everyone got into pairs, I frantically looked for a partner. Odd one out again, I sighed. ‘Right, Jess, you’re with me,’ my drama teacher smiled. It was the same old story. I was 12, and ever since I’d started secondary school the year before, in 2007, I’d been left out and picked on. I was tall for my age, with bright coppery hair, glasses and braces, and the other kids relentlessly made fun of my appearance. Things had been fine in primary school, but now, in high school, I found myself struggling to make friends. I tried not to let it get to me, but sometimes the nasty comments stuck. They would call me ugly, and say I’d never find…

Aries 21 March-20 April Watching your favourite telly shows will bring light relief, so you can concentrate on what you’re hoping to achieve, as the Sun moves into Mars’ orbit. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You finally get the challenge you’ve been looking for. Meeting someone who thinks the same way is a new experience for you – and one you will enjoy. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Your partner might have a different view about a house move or business venture. Stand your ground, as they will agree when you highlight the facts. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July An optimum outcome is likely if the pressure is on while the Moon…

LETTER of the week! Q How can I keep my blonde coloured hair looking its best? Evelyn Ross, Hounslow A They say blondes have more fun, but it requires a little extra love to help keep your golden locks looking healthy and fresh. The colouring process can strip the hair of oils and leave it more prone to breakage, but a shampoo like Bleach London Reincarnation Shampoo, £10, bleachlondon.com, uses the hair-loving ingredient creatine to nurse your strands back to their healthiest selves. It’s also worth investing in a pre-wash treatment such as Revolution Haircare Blonde Plex 3 Bond Restore Treatment, £15, lookfantastic.com. It contains a blend of conditioning ingredients to restore a silky swish to your locks and neutralises yellow tones leaving your colour bright. To prolong that fresh-out-of-the-salon…

Spot the difference! My 4-year-old daughter Kitty does an impressive Elton John impersonation. Andrea Evans, Ruthin It’s a shame my mum Angela, 57, gets seasick easily, because she certainly looks the part here as a member of the RNLI lifeboat crew! Claire Codling, Halifax While on holiday on the Isle of Wight, my doggy Ozzy was excited to celebrate his first birthday! Kate Davis, Havant Never again! We convinced our daughter Fleur, 6, to join us on the log flume at Paulton Park in Hampshire, but she wasn’t a fan of the splash landing! Donna Gray, Cleveland I visited Dartmouth for an arts festival, where I was able to grab a photo of my husband Mike with Captain SE Oakley, the new CO of Dartmouth Royal Naval College. How smart…

After a day of deliberating, the jury returned to the courtroom and announced they found Montoya guilty of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, unlawful possession of a handgun by a minor, and negligent use of a deadly weapon. Before his sentence was read out, Montoya apologised to JB’s family. ‘I wish things could have been different. But no matter what I say, no matter what I do, I realise I cannot change what happened that night.’ However, the family urged District Judge T Glenn Ellington to give their loved one’s killer the maximum sentence. And on 22 June 2022, that was exactly what he did when he handed 18-year-old Montoya a life sentence, with a minimum of 30 years in prison before he can apply for parole. Because he was…

1 Go hot and cold For backache, physio Tim Allardyce advises alternating between heat and ice on the painful area. ‘Keep switching every five minutes until the pain stops,’ he says. Cold treatments numb the area, heat relaxes it. Pop a wheat bag in the microwave for no longer than 1-2 minutes and press against the sore spot (make sure it’s not too hot), or wrap a bag of frozen peas in a towel and hold it against the area. 2 Say yes to sex! Sex can be more effective than painkillers. More than half of migraine sufferers say their symptoms improve after getting frisky, while one in five experience complete relief afterwards, found neurologists from the University of Münster. 3 Make a spicy brew Drinking ginger and turmeric tea…

Mary Newlands, 37, Kirkcaldy The tears spilled down my cheeks as I listened to the voice of Ronan Keating singing If Tomorrow Never Comes. One of Mum’s – Eileen McClean – favourite songs. Mum had always liked Irish singers and we’d chosen it to play at her cremation service. As I listened to Ronan’s voice, my mind went back to my childhood, remembering Christmas in 1997 when I was 12 and Mum had bought a computer racing game – Gran Turismo – for the four of us kids. Only she became addicted to it, not us! I smiled at the memory, shifted in the chapel seat at Kirkcaldy Crematorium in November 2020, as the minister read out what Mum’s six grandchildren had written about her. Sewed on all the badges…

By then I was in Year 9 and at 14, I swapped glasses for contacts and no longer needed braces. I made a small group of friends, who nicknamed me ‘Ginge’, which annoyed me at first, but I soon embraced it, finally feeling like I belonged. ‘I want to try modelling,’ I told my mum and dad. We started looking into agencies, found one in Manchester that seemed legitimate – and they snapped me up. Before I knew it, I was off on photo shoots. Posing in front of the camera, I finally felt proud of my looks. I tried to keep my double life quiet at school, but before long classmates spotted my pics online. No hiding in the background any more. Balancing modelling with school work, I achieved…

Full English frittata This no-fuss fry-up features all the usual suspects, with minimal clean-up required. Red sauce or brown? SERVES 6 PREP TIME 25 MINS COOK TIME 20 MINS • 1tbsp sunflower oil • 6 good-quality pork sausages • 6 rashers streaky bacon • 6 portobello mushrooms • 1 large onion, cut into thin wedges • 3 tomatoes, halved horizontally • 10 medium free-range eggs • 125ml milk • Pinch of hot paprika or cayenne 1 Heat the oven to 190C/Gas 5. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the sausages and cook for 10-12 mins until golden. Remove to a plate, then add the bacon and mushrooms to the pan. Cook for a few mins each side to brown. Set aside with the sausages. Finally, fry the…

Jennifer Bradshaw, 28, Bradford Clutching the piece of paper in my hand, I whooped with delight. ‘I did it!’ I smiled, grateful for my new-found freedom. It was February 2014 and I’d just passed my driving test. Soon, I got my first car – a second-hand silver Vauxhall Corsa. It made life so much easier, as I drove to work as a nursery nurse instead of taking the bus. Went out with friends, giving them a lift if they needed one. A confident driver, I never had any issues. Years passed and driving became second nature. No serious accidents or fender benders. Then, in the summer of 2020, I started getting headaches, which progressively got worse. I was scared, worried something was wrong. But at the docs, the GP told…

Barry M Buff & Balm Coconut Cream Crush, £4.99, Superdrug Pucker up and say hello to your new favourite lip balm. This lovely coconut-scented balm uses coffee granules to buff away at the lips to reveal a soft and hydrated pout. It also gives off an oh-so-subtle pink tint, making it the perfect lip gloss alternative. So…? Seychelle Sands Body Mist, £3.99, Boots Like stepping out onto an exotic beach, this body mist delights the senses with a vanilla base before meeting with a fruity cocktail of peach, pineapple and melon. It is the perfect addition to your summer handbag.…

It was a crisp autumn day when Karla Van Dusen phoned her mother for the last time. Karla, 49, told her mum that she was on the road in Tampa, Florida. She was driving her Jeep Cherokee behind her husband Richard, 58, who was at the wheel of the couple’s 1971 red Chevrolet Cheyenne pickup truck. Richard had been in the process of selling the vintage truck. He’d listed it for sale in the local paper for $13,700. Now, on the phone, Karla told her mum that Richard had a potential buyer. From the sounds of it, the sale was going ahead. Great news. The Van Dusens led busy lives. They were loving parents. Richard would organise family picnics and loved working on cars. Karla was a fun mum who…

VICTORIA STEVEN, 39, FROM GLASGOW, SAYS: Our Mary’s Meals supporter Ellison Hudson is a real local hero. Great-grandmother Ellison, 84, from Bridge of Allan, started supporting Mary’s Meals after coming across the charity feeding children at a school in Malawi, where she was visiting her daughter. Feeling inspired, she wanted to raise money for Mary’s Meals herself. In 2018 she cycled from Helensburgh to Dunbar over six days, raising £1,353. Then, in May this year, she got back on her saddle to pedal 84 miles for her 84th birthday. She managed it within a week, despite suffering from a stroke two years ago. So far, the challenge has raised over £870! She hopes to raise enough to feed 100 children. With Mary’s Meals, it costs just £15.90 to feed one…

The last strawberry Don’t throw away strawberry tops. Add some cucumber slices and fresh mint, then steep overnight in a jug of water. Strain and add ice cubes before serving for a refreshing summer drink. Maggie Cobbett, Ripon, North Yorkshire Manicured Getting shellac or gel nails can get expensive. When they start to grow out, I add colourful dots of polish at the base. Not only does this jazz up your nails, but it gives them an extra week of wear, too! Stacey Elliott, Sherwood, Nottingham Egg-cellent suggestion I keep my nail varnish on a tray, but have just realised that if I stand them in an egg box with the lid shut, they stay upright perfectly. Jean Heard, Littlehampton, West Sussex £25 For every photo tip that we print…

What is British actor Lennie James’ most treasured possession? Solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the three-word prize answer. Across 11 Stilton or cheddar, for example (6) 12 Inventor, _ Graham Bell (9) 13 Precious jewel (4) 14 Capital of Hungary (8) 15 Illumination (5) 16 Itchy skin ailment (6) 17 Japanese warrior (7) 18 Butterfly larva (11) 20 Well-dressed (5) 22 Very painful (9) 24 Tropical fruit (5) 28 Gather together (7) 29 Small purple flowers (7) 32 Soft wool also called mohair (6) 34 Fixer of cars (8) 36 On time (8) 37 Dodges (6) 39 Outdoor green spaces (7) 40 Gets to (7) 45 Percussion instruments (5) 47 Paused (9) 48 Parent’s brother (5) 51 Book about the March sisters (6,5) 53…

Jordan Foster, 31, The Wirral Lacing up my trainers, I set off on my fourth run of the week. It was late 2017 and I’d always been super-active, often running marathons and racking up 50 miles each week. I watched what I ate and carefully measured my food. But while on the outside I seemed the epitome of health and fitness, something wasn’t right. Having been on birth control for almost 10 years, I’d recently stopped taking it. Wanted to try non-hormonal options. Only, after a few months, I still wasn’t having periods – a condition known as amenorrhea. I knew it could take a while for my body to adjust, so I wasn’t too worried. But my partner at the time was a physiotherapist. ‘It’s not normal you’re not…

There’s nothing like a good book on a summer’s day, so we thought we’d recommend our top summer reads for you to get stuck into while soaking up the rays… Why not let us know what book currently has you hooked? To get in touch, see page 5. The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty Senior features writer Fran says: ‘I love any Liane Moriarty book but The Husband’s Secret is my all-time favourite. It follows three women whose lives intertwine when one finds a letter from her husband with the instruction to only open it in the event of his death. Of course, she opens it anyway. Rumour has it the 2013 book is now set to be turned into a film starring Blake Lively, so read it before it…

FILL ME IN Which Biblical figure defeated the Midianite army at night after equipping his soldiers with trumpets and torches hidden in jugs? 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 Kim Kardashian’s pet Rocky and Khloe’s pet Bernard were both what breed of dog? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters EAR EAT EWE THE TOW YET YEW YOB YOU 4 letters DREW EAST MYTH SCAB STAY STYE 5 letters CRUSH ENDOW EXACT RACED 6 letters TEDIUM THATCH TICKET TURTLE 7 letters ELASTIC ENCRYPT WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn…

CODE CRACKER The Who musician Pete Townshend’s guitar hero is Bruce Welch, a member of which band? To find out, solve the puzzle… fill in the grid. Each letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number from 1 to 26. When you’ve completed the grid, the shaded squares will spell out the one-word prize answer. We’ve given you five letters to start off. WIN 2x £250 Puzzle 16 Your answer: WORD JUMBLE Used as a capital by Charles V, which city in Spain is known as ‘the Imperial City’? Unscramble each group of letters to discover six Spanish municipalities. Now fit them across the grid and you’ll spell out the answer to the question. 1 REAGAN ACT 2 SAD COLA 3 VALIANCE 4 BLANC AERO 5 CAB DOOR…

3 ways to… FLOG YOUR PHONE Got an old handset to sell? Here’s how to nab the best deal 1 Search the sites There are loads of websites offering to buy old mobile handsets, like mazumamobile.com, musicmagpie.co.uk and envirofone.com. Or if you’d rather shop around, check comparison sites such as compareandrecycle.co.uk to see how much you could get from a range of companies. Prices quoted will vary by model and condition, and between firms, too. We found quotes from £34 to £65 for an Apple iPhone 7 128GB in good condition. Once you’ve accepted a quote you’ll usually be sent an envelope to send your handset in. 2 Do your research When you’re comparing quotes don’t just go on price. Research the firms too, as reviews vary enormously, and always…

Skin Proud Icicle Cooling Eye Serum Stick, £14.99, Boots If the sun and heat make your eyes tired, then you need to try this hero eye stick. It offers an instant cooling sensation to soothe the eyes, while cica extract and hyaluronic acid plump and refresh the encircling skin. Fade Out Pure Glow Brightening Day Cream, £11.50, fadeout.com Are you ready to glow? This light day cream brightens the skin by using Vitamin C from a freshly squeezed pink pomelo. It brightens dark spots and reduces puffiness to the leave the complexion radiant and fresh. Kristin Ess Soft Shine Beach Wave Spray, £12, Boots Make this spray an extra step in your hair routine. It is designed to be applied to dry hair and after styling to offer an impressive…

Chat PUZZLES 33 CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS 30 AUGUST 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.…