Table of contents for 25 April 2024 in Chat

Welcome to this week's Chat… Check out the amazing animals in this week's issue. Rachel didn't think she could ever be a mum so she was oblivious to the fact that she was pregnant. But someone else knew – her clever Frenchie Max (p10)! And bride Emma was joined down the aisle by two beautiful flower girls – donkeys Bo Peep and Pixie (p23). Both stories made me smile – hope they do the same for you. Have a great week, PS If you're entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Janessa Shannon, 13, loved being out and about in nature with her family. The fun-loving teen – known as Nessa – adored cats and horses. Wanted to be a vet. She spent time fishing, and despite not being the best dancer, she liked to dance. Sang, too — had a crush on Bruno Mars. Loved playing MineCraft and hanging out with her three sisters. She went back and forth between her parents’ houses. Attended school near her father Nahshon Shannon's home in Riverview, Florida. Spent weekends with her mother Michelle Mosley. But, like most teens, Nessa had a mischievous streak. Started sneaking out after her parents went to bed. She always came home, though. Only, when Nessa snuck out again in the early hours of Saturday 1 July 2017, Michelle…

1 Look after your heart What's good for your heart is good for your brain, says Kensa Morgan, Admiral nurse at Dementia UK. ‘Raised cholesterol and high blood pressure damages our cardiovascular system, which in turn affects our brains.’ Keeping cholesterol between 50 and 60mg/dL can reduce the risk. People with levels higher than 80mg/dL have a 27% increased chance of developing dementia within six years, a study by Monash University in Australia revealed. Not sure of your cholesterol readings? Speak to your pharmacist about a finger-prick test. 2 Start moving As a result of it boosting blood supply and reducing the chance of heart disease, regular exercise can lower the risk of developing dementia by about 28% and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease specifically by 45%, according to the…

Ngozi Onwuchekwa, 46, Chichester I scrunched up my face and shook my head as my husband James, then 45, pointed out a coffee table. ‘The edges are too sharp,’ I said, walking over to a round table. ‘We'll need a gate for the stairs, too,’ James said. It was 2019 and we'd just moved into our dream family home. Though I wasn't pregnant, we were planning on trying for a baby soon. I had so many adorable nieces and nephews. It'd always been my dream to have kids, and I'd pictured holding my baby, watching them grow. After marrying in 2014, James and I waited until we were financially stable. Now, with our beautiful three-bedroom home, we were ready to start a family. It was in walking distance to the…

Originally built as a World War Two ‘shadow factory’, the Pyms Lane site has also been the main factory for Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars and is situated in which town? Solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 War and _, classic novel (5) 4 For every (3) 5 Female sheep (3) DOWN 1 Religious leader (4) 2 Concur (5) 3 Made a mistake (5) WIN 4 x £20 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

I don't fancy my fella Q I've been with my partner for a really long time and we have kids together but, lately, our sex life has become non-existent. I thought it was because of early menopause but I've realised that I'm just not attracted to him any more. I don't know how to talk to him about it without hurting him. I'm scared of making a big mistake, and worried about being alone. Shelley, 49 A Rather than definitively deciding that you don't fancy him any more, have you tried to kick-start the intimacy in the relationship? It doesn't always mean sex – it could be holding hands, date nights, a nice meal. It's all too easy to get bogged down by life, so try to have a laugh together. Remember,…

Go green, save cash Many of us don't recycle items we use up in the bathroom, so if that's you – take action! If you don't have floor space for a separate bin, why not put the items you want to recycle in a tote bag hanging on a hook on your bathroom door? Find more tips at hubbub.org.uk. 3 ways to… SAVE ON TRAVEL INSURANCE Booked a holiday? Sort your insurance asap – here's how to avoid overpaying… 1 Don't delay It's important to get travel insurance in place as soon as you book your holiday – as well as offering protection when you're away, travel insurance is designed to cover you if you're unexpectedly forced to cancel your trip (although the cover will vary by policy). But before buying…

THE BIG QUIZ WIN £500 Puzzle 18 The answers to all but one of these quiz questions can be found hidden in this wordsearch grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally. To help you, we'll tell you that the answers are in alphabetical order in each section. However, one answer can't be found in the grid. This is your prize answer. LENGTH 1 What was the surname of 19th-century US essayist Ralph Waldo, who said, ‘It is not the length of life, but the depth of life’? (7) 2 What name is given to the ancient unit of length, equivalent to 4 inches, now mainly used to measure the height of horses? (4) 3 Which unit of length features in a 1967 song by The Who, a 1988 hit…

BEHIND THE BIG CRIME TRUE-LIFE With his violin tucked under his arm, Elijah McClain, 23, popped out from the clinic where he worked as a massage therapist. And, just like he did on his lunch break most days, he walked into the pet shop next door. Pulling his violin out of its case, he started playing to the cats and kittens in their enclosures. It was August 2019, and Elijah had told colleagues that he thought the sound of him playing calmed the animals down. The eldest of six, he'd been brought up by his mum Sheneen, who encouraged him to make something of himself. Elijah had worked hard, taught himself to play the violin and guitar. Went to college, qualified as a masseur aged 18. Now he was saving up,…

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All sizes 8-24 GEORGE at ASDA STYLE TIP A quilted jacket is the perfect spring layer and smart enough to wear over dresses or jeans. All sizes 8-22 NUTMEG at MORRISONS STYLE TIP Casual sweats and tees make for a great weekend look. Wear your sweater casually around the shoulders. All sizes 8-24 TU at SAINSBURY'S STYLE TIP A great spring statement trouser –dress up with pointy heels and a black blazer. F&F at TESCO All sizes 6-22 STYLE TIP Wear doubled up as a co-ord with the matching skirt (left) or a pair of wide-leg jeans.…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p4. There's £20 for every one we use! This week's puzzle was compiled by Roger Gomm, Woking, Surrey WIN 5 × £20 Puzzle 6 ACROSS 1 Poultry 2 Bovine work animals 3 Stretched car 4 Pack away DOWN 1 Vacations 2 Way out 3 Captain of the Nautilus 4 Frozen water vapour Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Mount Kosciuszko, the highest mainland peak in Australia, stands in a mountain range with what name, shared by a river that has its source on the mountain's slopes? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: CHE + AP, AP +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes…

After a rubbish day at work, you want… A A relaxing massage. Really hits the spot! B A rant about your day. Let it all out! C A giant box of chocs to cheer you up. D To discover that your partner has folded the laundry and cleaned the loo. E To snuggle up on the sofa with your partner and watch a cheesy film. Your ideal romantic night in involves… A Being in the bedroom. 'Nuff said! B Having a deep chat about your feelings. C Trying on some new sexy undies that your partner bought you. D Tucking into a delicious home-cooked dinner together. E Playing a board game, hopefully one that doesn't end in a row! You feel most appreciated by your other half when… A You hold hands and snog like a couple of…

TRUE-LIFE Emma Lynn Dowd, 44 Winding wool around the knitting needle, I relaxed into my grandma's armchair. It was the mid 1980s and I was 6. The clickity clack of knitting was so comforting. ‘Jason, you should be out on your bike,’ my grandad boomed from the doorway. But I hated how rough the other boys played. Stunts on their bike, scraped knees and bruises. I hated basketball, fishing and noisy arcade games too. Happier knitting, playing with dolls. That year, Dad took me to the barber to cut off my brown shoulder length hair. I was devastated. I never fitted in – by 15, the boys thought I was weird. ‘Stop acting like a chick,’ one said when I huddled in a corner of the changing room after PE.…

Rachel Bailey, 31 Gazing out of our porthole at the crashing waves, I winced. This cruise should have been a dream holiday, but I was in agony. ‘They're so painful,’ I sighed, cradling my sore, swollen boobs. It was December 2017, and I was away with my husband Alexander, then 22, and his family. We'd been together for five years and had just had our second child, Aria, then 12 months. The seven-day cruise was a well-needed break, with my mum and stepfather back home looking after Aria and her older brother Troy, 2. And I was well prepared. I'd been weaning Aria off breast milk before the trip, and my mum was giving her formula. Planned to use my breast pump to get rid of whatever my body produced…

Aries 21 March-20 April Mercury and Venus in your sign bring extra energy, motivation and passion. Singles, look out for a new love. This could be what you've been waiting for! ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May The Sun in your sign helps create more of what you need in your career and financial life. Plan carefully and look at how you can achieve long-term success. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Make time to still your busy mind and relax for a few minutes each day. This will calm your nervous system and help you gain clarity around a certain issue. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July If you're unsure which direction to go,…

Q I want to try some brighter lipstick, but I've always worn nudes. Any tips on experimenting? Karen Williams, Leeds A It can be nerve racking to try something new, especially if you've been wearing the same make-up for years. To find a bright lip that becomes a new everyday essential, you need to think about your skin tone. Let's start with classic red lippy. If you have a deep complexion, then choose an intense berry red. Medium skin tones, meanwhile, suit orange-toned reds and blue-toned reds look best if you're pale. Pinks more your thing? Opt for bright fuchsia if you have a deep skin tone, coral pinks for medium and powdery pastel shades for light. Whichever shade you choose, take time to prep your lips with a scrub…

Solutions to Chat issue 13 (28 March 2024) Puzzle 2 Doyen Puzzle 3 Stamps Puzzle 4 Just shut up and listen Puzzle 5 2B,2C,2D,3D,4C Puzzle 6 Mane Puzzle 7 Crater Puzzle 8 Bobby Brazier Puzzle 9 Screwdriver Puzzle 10 Greendale Puzzle 13 Xenon Puzzle 14 Anatolia Puzzle 15 Jelly Puzzle 16 Lewis Hamilton Puzzle 17 Agouti Puzzle 18 Peter Kay WE WON! Chat winners issue 4 (25 Jan 2024) £1,001 CASH J Ingham, Cemaes Bay £500 CASH E Sullivan, Bingley M Fowler, Poole £250 CASH W Kirkwood, York D Michael, Barnsley £200 CASH M Davies, Burgess Hill £100 CASH H Maguire, Preston C Biggs, Rushden N Smith, Hamilton £50 CASH S Bradshaw, Wisbech A Cox, Stockton- on-Tees G Green, Lancaster I Hawkins, London N Barton, Gloucester J Jenkins, Swansea £40 CASH A Fletcher, Sheffield £30 CASH J Zapater, Birmingham S Hales, Colchester £25 CASH…

This week we meet… Maggie Cobbett, 76, from Ripon Favourite place you've visited? Having travelled in Europe, North Africa, the Far East and the USA, it's so hard to choose. But I had a fantastic time in New Orleans – the traditional jazz, Mardi Gras parades and incredible Cajun and Creole food made it a trip to remember. What's the best job you've ever had? I loved working as a film and TV extra, on programmes like Emmerdale, Heartbeat, The Royal and A Touch of Frost. I even self-published a book about my experiences. Before that, I taught French, German and English as a foreign language both at home and abroad, and even did a stint as an interpreter and tour guide. Tell us about your hobbies These days, my…

Tray and display After finishing a tray of shortbread biscuits, I realised the packaging would make a great drawer organiser for my make-up! Elizabeth Shimmin, Douglas, Isle of Man £25 For every photo tip that we print Spice up your life To remind myself what spices I have in the cupboard, I made a list to stick up next to it. I have the list on my phone too, to stop me from buying any that I don't need. Angela Power, Penrith, Cumbria Socks away! Don't throw away your holey old socks, they can be used as hands-on dusting mitts! Luke Ithurralde, Darlington, County Durham Toy story Once I've washed my dog's stinky toys, I peg up a towel like a hammock in the airing cupboard and place them inside…

THE BIGGIE If Strictly winner and TV presenter Hamza Yassin was prime minister, what subject would he let students take for GCSE and A-Levels? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the three-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Gloomy donkey created by A. A. Milne (6) 12 Part of the day (9) 13 Engrave (4) 14 Dark red vegetable (8) 15 Manufactures (5) 16 Breakfast food (6) 17 Stays (7) 18 Vanished (11) 20 Photo book (5) 22 Type of nut (9) 24 Make fun of (5) 28 Pillow (7) 29 Tranquillised (7) 32 _ Clarke, Game of Thrones star (6) 34 Carry on (8) 36 Capital of Finland (8) 37 Safe to eat (6) 39 Flawless (7) 40 Small glass balls (7) 45 Offal (5) 47 Highly valued (9) 48 Christmas song (5) 51 US state (11) 53 Closest (7) 55 Prophet (6) 56 New _, Indian capital…

Help! I'm not sleeping Q Recently, I've been having trouble sleeping. I don't want to take tablets – what are natural ways to improve sleep quality? Kelly, York A Having a regular sleep routine, both during the week and on weekends, is essential to good health. Calming practices, such as deep breathing or 10 minutes of meditation before bedtime, can work wonders. Optimise your sleep environment – think quiet, dark rooms without electronics – and avoid caffeine after midday and heavy meals late in the evening. Late-night exposure to blue light from our devices can disrupt our circadian rhythm – the body clock that regulates our sleep/ wake cycle – but morning sunlight can help reset it. Still not sleeping? Speak to your GP to check if any underlying issues…

Emma Jarman Revell, 35, Broome Walking through the lush green meadow, I knew it was the one. ‘It's perfect,’ I said to my fiancé Tristan, then 32. It was September 2020 and we were venue hunting. Tristan had proposed during a trip to Las Vegas the previous December. With delays caused by the pandemic, we'd got off to a slow start. But after initially considering an intimate ceremony in Italy or Spain, we'd decided to throw a big bash for family and friends. And now, walking around Rookery Meadow in Suffolk, 30 mins from our home, I was sure we'd found the place. ‘Can we bring our dogs?’ I asked Gemma, the venue owner. ‘Of course!’ she said. Tristan and I are big animal lovers, and we wanted our pooches,…

ARROW WORD WIN £500 Puzzle 10 Which English city claims to have the oldest continuously printed newspaper with Berrow's _ Journal, founded in 1690? 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. 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 WIN £40 Puzzle 12 The Mexican city of Paracho de Verduzco hosts an annual festival of music named for which instrument? The answer is the one missing from the grid.…

FILL ME IN WIN £100 Puzzle 14 What name connects Ronnie Barker's last sitcom role and a character portrayed by Henry Travers in a 1946 classic movie? 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. Your answer: CIRCLE TIME Eintracht Frankfurt, PAOK and Benfica are all European men's football teams with nicknames based on what animal? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters COD CUE DOG DUD DUE ROD ROE SUE SUD 4 letters ACHE AGED APSE SALE SEAL SOLO 5 letters EASES EASED EVENS EVILS 6 letters GUARDS GUIDES QUACKS QUARTS Your answer: 7 letters DISUSED DWINDLE WIN £100 Puzzle 15 TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

NO-FUSS FOOD Top tip You can use any beans you like, and if you can't get chipotle paste, add a pinch of chilli powder instead. Mexican chicken pasta bake Up your mac ’n’ cheese game with this tasty twist on an old fave. SERVES 4-6 PREP 5 MINS COOK 30 MINS ● 250g macaroni ● 3tbsp olive oil ● 300g chicken breasts, cut into small chunks ● 1 red onion, finely chopped ● 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced ● 2 red, orange or yellow peppers, chopped ● 1tbsp smoked paprika ● 70g tomato purée ● 1-2tsp chipotle paste ● 400g tin chopped tomatoes ● 400g tin black beans, rinsed and drained ● 150g mature Cheddar, grated To serve: ● Soured cream ● Pickled jalapeños, sliced 1 Heat the oven to 180C…

TRUE-LIFE Trish Hinde, 36, Manchester Holding my breath, I pressed myself against the floral wallpaper as I shuffled along the landing. Wished my blue and white Care Bear pyjamas would make me invisible. Nearly there, I thought, slowly edging past Dad's bedroom door. It was a cold morning in 1993, I was 6, and noiselessly heading to the kitchen for breakfast before school. Only then Dad's voice boomed out. ‘Trisha, come in here,’ he called. Cold dread landed in the pit of my stomach, but with Dad's foul temper, it was best to do as he said. I creaked open the door and trudged into his room. Dad was sprawled completely naked in the middle of the double bed. He patted the sheet beside him, eyes boring into mine. ‘Take…

Dear Ryia, When I talk about my gold medal, people tend to assume I mean a shiny metal disc hanging around my neck. But my biggest win is much more special. Because it's you, Ryia. I always wanted to be a mummy. Yet after taking up judo at 6, I had a career goal too. Winning an Olympic medal. As a teen I trained up to four times a week, became National Champion aged 13, and by 20 I was doing judo full-time. Winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games fuelled my desire to get to the Olympics. In 2016, I represented Great Britain at the Rio Olympics. I was disappointed to walk away without winning anything, so I focused my efforts on Tokyo 2020. ‘My final chance,’ I…