Table of contents for 25 August 2022 in Chat

Loads of us are hooked on true crime, but how many could do forensic psychiatrist Dr Sohom Das’ job, delving into the minds of criminals (p44)? He’s opened his case file to share some crimes he’s worked on. And as we like to bring you a bit of everything, we’ve also got Leila the Morris dancer, (p30), who is jumping for joy after losing over 7st, and Amanda, whose love story is… enlightening (p34)! Plus tons more. Have a fab week. PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Deborah Hinkley, 41 Waddling out of the classroom, I followed my friends to the canteen. It was July 1999, and I’d soon be finishing my computer course at college, along with my classmates. But, unlike them, I was 18 and eight months pregnant. Soon another group of friends joined us. Among them was Curtis McKenzie, then 24. He always had a friendly smile for me. ‘Not long now,’ he said, nodding at my bump. ‘Can’t wait!’ I said. In August, I gave birth to my daughter Laura. I loved being a mum. Sadly, I split from her dad when she was 1. Living in a flat on my own, I kept in touch with college mates, including Curtis. We began dating and he moved in with me when I moved…

Cat Cattinson, 31 Stomping around the house in my dad’s boots, I pulled at my mum’s trouser leg. ‘Can I be a boy when I grow up?’ I asked. It was 1996 and, aged 5, I didn’t feel like other girls I knew. I liked to dress up in my dad’s clothes, pretend to be Peter Pan or Robin Hood. ‘No, little girls can’t be boys,’ Mum laughed. But something just didn’t feel right. By the time I was 13, in 2004, we had the internet on our family computer. I found a forum full of people who’d transitioned from female to male. ‘It is possible,’ I gasped. I learned about gender dysphoria, where a person’s gender identity feels mismatched from their birth sex. Basically, how they feel inside doesn’t…

Headache nightmare Q I have to take painkillers every day for headaches, but my GP says I should just stop. Surely that’s not right? Polly, Horncastle A Sounds as if your doctor suspects medication overuse headache (MOH), where regularly taking painkillers actually makes headaches worse by making pain nerves more sensitive and lowering your pain threshold. MOH is likely if you’re taking painkillers for a headache on at least 15 days every month, or using migraine tablets or powerful painkillers on 10 or more days per month. It’s usually best to stop taking the painkillers all at once, rather than gradually cutting down, and to accept that your headaches will get worse, possibly for a few weeks. If they haven’t improved after this, see your GP. Muscle relaxant drugs and…

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 Roger Gomm, Woking, Surrey ACROSS 1 Stumble 2 Went by horse 3 Large primates 4 Marshland fuel DOWN 1 Ensnare 2 Thick cord 3 Inspirational thought 4 Person or creature that is a nuisance WIN 5x £20 Puzzle 6 Your answer: HALF & HALF Fuller’s earth, named for its use in wool-making but also used for cleaning and decontaminating in a variety of modern contexts, is a type of what? 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.…

ARROW WORD Of all the naturally occurring elements of the periodic table that are solid at room temperature, which is the softest? Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer. WIN 2 x £500 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 2 x £30 Puzzle 11 Your answer: WORDSEARCH Janet Cooke is, to date, the only person to have returned which award? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BAFTA BOOKER BRIT EMMY GRAMMY…

• MORRIS DANCING The earliest reference to Morris dancing dates it to 1448! Probably originating in a courtly setting, it soon became viewed as a dance for the lower classes. It’s particularly associated with New Year and the spring time, to symbolise death and rebirth. • CABER TOSSING This sport originated in the 16th century. Competitors at the Highland Games aim to throw the caber – the Gaelic name for a larch pole – so that it turns end over end. The caber weighs 79kg and is 19ft 6in tall. • CHEESE ROLLING Competitors chase a 9lb Double Gloucester cheese down Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire every May. The idea is to catch the cheese, but the first over the line at the end claims it as the prize. Spectators must…

It was only my dad who could make me accept the truth. ‘You need to go to hospital,’ he pleaded. ‘But I’m really worried about you,’ I blurted. ‘Hey, I get a free MOT and I’m helping you,’ he winked. So in May 2013 we were admitted to Leicester General Hospital. Dad was wheeled off at 8.30am and four hours crawled by. ‘Dad’s not even ill,’ I fretted. ‘And he’s having an organ removed for me!’ Mum and Luke tried to distract me. But my eyes were glued to the clock. Finally, a surgeon appeared. Dad’s op was a success. Now it was my turn to go under the knife. ‘Is my dad alright?’ I babbled desperately. ‘Yes,’ said a theatre nurse kindly as I slipped under. For three hours…

Save 50% on these Tisserand aromatherapy roller-ball kits from Beauty Naturals, created with 100% natural pure essential oils to help you reclaim that ‘me’ moment. Including Time To Travel, Time To Unwind, Find Your Calm, Find Your Motivation, Time For Meditation and Time To Recharge. NOW £7.50, WAS £15, until 31 August 2022 at beautynaturals.com/chatoffer or call 0116 318 3773. Subject to availability. UK only. P&P £1.50, free P&P on orders of £15 or more. Offer correct at time of going to press.…

Aries 21 March-20 April If you’re searching for something you’ve lost, it will turn up in an unexpected place. Someone from the past will invite you out – you will love catching up! • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Spending your hard-earned cash will be rewarding when a fun shopping trip leads you to a big purchase that you cannot do without during Venus in Virgo. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June A decision might need to be made this week, and you will likely find a more rational perspective when you make the right choice with your investments. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Close friends and family are checking up on you and…

Q What make-up should I wear on a beach holiday? Simone Ward, Bexley A change in climate makes holidays the perfect time to switch up your make-up. The hot weather and humidity call for a lighter make-up look than you typically wear at home. L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect BB Cream SPF 50, £11.99, Boots, is perfect for your summer base. It is super-lightweight and hydrating, whilst at the same time providing just the right coverage to conceal imperfections. It’s a bonus that it offers sun protection, making it perfect for day and night wear. PIXI Tint Fix, £12, Marks & Spencer, is a clever multi-tasker, that’s available in four blushing hues. Pop it in your beach bag and sweep over lips, eyes and cheeks to lift and flush your complexion.…

Chat winners issue 21 (26 May 2022) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £1,001 CASH S Clark, Bourne £1,000 CASH D Hull, Newburn £500 CASH K McIntyre, Didcot B Heads, Blyth £250 CASH M Johnson, Macduff £150 CASH J Criscuolo, Epsom £100 CASH M Staff, Boston N Munro, Forres D Lewis, Taunton P Wood, Cottingham K Cox, Hereford £60 CASH A Maples, Lincoln £50 CASH I Fox, Garforth S Spalding, Coventry S Merrett, Coulsdon £30 CASH P Williamson, Barrow-in-Furness T West, Peterborough R Roberts, Liverpool L Wade, Paignton J Tasker, Sudbury £25 CASH S Beach, Mablethorpe M McLaren, Glastonbury V McGrath, Liverpool G Brundell, Halstead S Parton, Stoke-on-Trent A McDonald, Bridlington L Lewis, Market Drayton J Harrison, Birmingham M Chell, Newcastle Chat PUZZLE 1 47160 Chat PUZZLE…

STYLE TIP This versatile tee goes with everything. Team with a pair of wide-leg jeans and trainers for a chic, pulled-together weekend look. STYLE TIP You don’t have to wear stripes to be part of the trend – instead, a large tote bag will do the trick. This one has 5* reviews. STYLE TIP Dress up your denim with a multi-coloured top. Wear buttoned up and tucked into your shorts, or as a cover-up over a vest. STYLE TIP A shirt dress is a wardrobe staple you can wear all year round. Mixed vertical and horizontal stripes add a modern, slimming effect.…

Donna Horwitz was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of her exhusband Lanny in 2011. It was her second trial in four years, after her original conviction for first-degree murder was quashed on appeal in 2016, along with her life sentence. This time she was sentenced to 32 years, reduced to 26 years to account for the six years she’d already spent behind bars. Her son Radley Horwitz said that he was tired of his mother and her defence team trying to pin the murder on him at both trials. ‘Everybody knows that I didn’t do it, from the first time, from the gunshot residue test that morning,’ he said. But he admitted feeling empathy for Donna. ‘Nobody walks out of court happy,’ he said, adding that he did…

Danielle Bartley-Mould, 41, Harrogate The rain was pelting down as I drove up the motorway. It was November 2014, and I’d just dropped off my son Ethan, then 7, at school, along with two of my foster kids, and was now on my way to a meeting. I’d been a single mum ever since Ethan was born, but that hadn’t stopped me fostering 28 children. I liked a busy life, believed that I should help others wherever possible. Now, the windscreen wipers clicked back and forth as I checked my mirror and manoeuvred into the right-hand lane to overtake a lorry. But suddenly, in front of me, there was a huge pool of water on the road. No chance of avoiding it. The tyres hit the water and I felt…

A bronze sculpture of what by Arturo Di Modica stands at the northern end of Bowling Green, New York City? Solve the crossword, then read down the yellow squares. The yellow squares will spell out the competition answer. ACROSS 1 Cry loudly (3) 3 Assist (3) 5 Owned by us (3) 6 Fossil fuel (3) 7 Dirty _, EastEnders character (3) DOWN 1 Tell off (5) 2 Nobleman (5) 4 Herb often served with fish (4) WIN 3 x £20 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

FILL ME IN Brocciu and casgiu merzu are notable cheeses produced in which part of Europe? 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 In 1775, after a revolt against her rule in its vicinity, what did Catherine the Great rename the Yaik river? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters EMU ERA EWE EYE LEA LIE OVA RYE SEE WOE 4 letters CLAW DUNE LONE LULL RULE URGE YELL 5 letters EATEN RURAL VITAL 6 letters EMERGE RECEDE RESCUE REVISE ROTATE UNWELL 8 letters WRECKAGE WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER…

3 ways to… Cut your broadband bill When you use the internet every day, it pays to find the cheapest deals going. 1 Suss out switching When your broadband contract ends, or if you’re already out of contract, see if you can save by switching broadband provider. It’s not always a faff to do – Which? found that six in 10 people who’d recently switched said the process had been easy. For a guide on how to do it, go to which.co.uk. 2 Ask for a deal If you’re happy with your provider, try haggling with them. Research online to compare rival deals for similar packages and note down the prices, as well as any extras on offer. Then call your current provider and ask whether they can match or…

Smoky veggie chilli tacos These make a great meat-free twist on a classic SERVES 2 PREP TIME 10 MINS COOK TIME 25 MINS • Low-cal oil spray • 2 red onions, chopped • 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 350g veggie mince (we used Quorn) • 1tsp smoked paprika • 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes • 125ml vegetable stock • 420g tin mixed beans, rinsed and drained • 350g chopped frozen mixed vegetables • 8 taco shells • Reduced fat Cheddar, to serve 1 Heat a large shallow pan over a medium heat and spritz with low-cal oil spray. Add the onions, chilli and garlic, then cook for 5 mins to soften. 2 Add the veggie mince, smoked paprika, tomatoes and stock,…

Essence Cool Collagen Plumping Lipstick, £2.75, justmylook.com Want fuller-looking lips? This creamy lipstick swipes on like butter, whilst its impressive formula plumps up your pout. Vegan collagen smooths fine lines and its hyaluronic acid hydrates to keep the application looking fresh. Available in four flattering shades. MONDAY Haircare Moisture Conditioner, £5, Boots Restore stressed and dry hair to its healthiest state with this nourishing conditioner. Its coconut oil and hydrolyzed rice protein strengthen strands and prevent fallout, whilst the Vitamin E and shea butter nourish locks from the root to the tip.…

It was 9.30am on a Sunday morning in August 2019 when 32-year-old Joshua Burgess casually walked into his local police station and told officers he wanted to turn himself in. Assuming it was a petty crime, they asked for his name so that they could search the system for his arrest warrant. ‘You’re not going to find my name,’ Burgess said. ‘I just killed someone.’ And it was more horrific than they could have ever imagined… Joshua Burgess was the father of a 15-year-old girl named Zaria. She lived with her mum, but she’d been to stay with her dad for the weekend. He lived in a little green house in Monroe, North Carolina. But although they lived apart, Zaria attended school locally. She was part of the cheerleading squad,…

PAUL EDWARDS, 56, FROM NORFOLK, SAYS: During the first lockdown in 2020, Kara Websdale started doing live DJ streaming on social media, whilst on furlough from her job at a garden centre. Going by the name of DJ sugarKane, Kara, 25, specialised in reggae, ska and Northern soul music. She did the live DJ streams to bring positive vibes and uplift during the pandemic. Lining up her next record, Kara would sing, dance and read out comments from her viewers. She also used her DJing to raise money for the NHS, while it was overwhelmed by COVID. Kara continued to do her DJ sets throughout the lockdowns, keeping us entertained at home. Her enthusiasm and love of music was contagious – a joy to watch during those anxious times. She…

What connects actors Jude Law and Brad Pitt? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Take in water (5) 4 Touch with the lips (4) 6 2008 film about vampires (8) 13 Hobby (7) 14 State of a country’s finances (7) 15 Molar or incisor, say (5) 16 Sound made by a pig (4) 17 Fluid (6) 18 Correct, fitting (6) 20 Cain’s brother (4) 21 Clamour (5) 22 Recently (6) 25 Recognise and name (8) 28 Places to live (6) 30 Proportion (5) 32 Large marsupial (8) 34 Looked at (6) 35 Type of golf club (4) 38 Venerate, worship (6) 39 Device for telling time (5) 40 Turned over and over (6) 43 Blaze (4)…

The advice you need Justine Mower, 48, Saxmundham, Suffolk Sitting at the dinner table, I raised the fork to my lips. As I finished the last mouthful, my stomach cramped. Rushed off immediately upstairs to the loo. Part of my daily routine, my family were used to it. It was 1990 and, at 16, I was constantly suffering from diarrhoea and chronic cramping. I could barely finish a meal without rushing to the toilet. My parents put it down to genes as my family had a history of bad bowels. But I took myself to the GP to be sure. ‘You’re just worried about your GCSEs,’ he said. By the time I was 20, it had calmed down and when I fell pregnant I barely suffered at all. But after…

The shadow this tree casts is so atmospheric – the perfect reminder of a lovely walk with my husband Andy when we were walking near Grassington (Yorkshire Dales) in January of this year. Fiona Richardson, 62, Keighley I captured this beautiful scene on a trip to the Lake District in March of this year. The view from Brockhole Visitor Centre at Windermere is stunning. Sylvia Ellis, 75, Stourbridge This picture was taken last August in the grounds of Chester Cathedral. It was a lovely time to go after lockdown and COVID. I went with my partner Marc, and we sat outside admiring how lovely the cathedral and garden looked, thinking now nice it was to have a little break together. Louise Mann, 51, Ipswich I love this photograph that I…

Leila Battison, 36, Hastings Bells tinkling, sticks waving, I tried hard to keep up with the other dancers as they twirled around. Mimicking their manoeuvres, I put one foot in, put the other forward and then attempted a hop and a skip. It was October 2009 and I was hoofing it up at my first-ever Morris dancing class. Studying for a PhD at uni in Oxford, I’d been invited along by another student. It was one of the strangest things I’d ever tried! But after that first session, I was hooked! I joined up, fixed some bells on my trousers below my kneecaps and learnt how to clack my stick against my partner and wave my hankie in time to the beat. I was 15st, but I was reasonably fit.…

Why is he hiding me? Q Me and my boyfriend had a massive row after I posted a picture of us online. I don’t understand why he was so upset. I know he’s not cheating, so I don’t know what his problem is. He only ever posts pics of his cars, and it makes me feel hidden. How do I get him to stop demanding I delete our pics? Helen, 21 A You say you’re sure he’s faithful, so maybe he just doesn’t want his mug plastered all over the net? Some people are just private – easy to forget in a world where we update our platforms every time we sneeze. Just because he doesn’t want to post you online, it doesn’t mean he loves you any less. Forget…

Q I can never find my loyalty cards when I need them. Is there an easy way to have them to hand? J Moston, Sandbach A Try the free app Stocard (stocardapp.com); just scan the barcode on each loyalty card with your phone’s camera or enter the customer number manually. The app will create a digital copy on your phone, which can be scanned whenever you’re in store. You can also add rewards cards to the Apple Wallet app (from the App Store), and with Google Wallet (from Google Play).…

House of The Dragon SKY ATLANTIC • Game of Thrones fans will love this prequel to George RR Martin’s epic fantasy drama that ran for eight series from 2011 to 2019. Based on the author’s novel Fire & Blood, the 10-parter is set 200 years before the original series and tells the story of House Targaryen and the conflict within the Targaryen family dynasty. The cast includes The Suspicions of Mr Whicher star Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen, while former Doctor Who actor Matt Smith plays his brother Prince Daemon Targaryen. Notting Hill’s Rhys Ifans also stars. DON’T MISS DON’T MISS Welcome to Wrexham DISNEY+ • The story of two Hollywood actors buying a struggling Welsh football club sounds like a plot of a movie, but that’s exactly what…

NYX Professional Makeup Thick It. Stick It! Brow Mascara, £11 Boots Great for fuller-looking eyebrows, the spoolie brush shapes brows and applies a natural tint in hair-like strokes to fill in any gaps. It is smudge-proof and flake-free, so brows stay tidy all day long. Leighton Denny Hydra-Flex Nail Serum, £14, Marks & Spencer Are your nails brittle? Try this hydrating nail serum. It contains a blend of biotin and Vitamin E to condition the nail and restore some flexibility. Q+A Vitamin A.C.E. Warming Gel Mask, £9, Holland & Barrett Like a breakfast bowl for your skin, this face mask feeds your complexion with a juicy blend of acai, cherries and strawberries. Antioxidantrich, it leaves skin radiant. Hawaiian Tropic Island Bliss Body Mist, £10, Superdrug Is there anything better than…

PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT HOW TO ENTER TEXT Simply text CHATC 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…

To Sally, Cancer can be so lonely, it can feel at times like you’re fighting all alone. It certainly did to me, and I had no idea that someone else so similar to me was about to fight the same battle – and that soon we’d be the best of friends. In October 2019, I’d been taken to hospital with lower tummy pain. Suspecting appendicitis, doctors sent me for scans… ‘We’ve found a mass on your kidney,’ I was told. Cancer. I’d been a nurse for over 40 years, and immediately went on autopilot. ‘We’re going to remove your kidney,’ the doctor said. I’d barely had time to take it in when, in November, I was back in hospital for surgery to remove my kidney and a thrombectomy to remove…