Table of contents for 7 November 2024 in Chat

Welcome to this week's Chat… Ever catch yourself thinking, ‘I'm too old for that’? I'm 41 and I know I do. Well, not any more. I've been inspired by Barbara who shares her story with us this week on p30. You'd never know it to look at her but she's an amazing 90 years young and still getting stuck into new hobbies. The latest is drumming – she only had her first lesson last year! Now she's out gigging, dressed in her leather jacket, a couple of times a week. Barbara, Chat says you rock! Have a great week,…

Putting down the popcorn, I asked my daughter Shanice to pass the remote control. ‘Uncle Craig will be here soon,’ I told the kids. ‘Yay,’ Shanice beamed. It was November 2019 and my family and I were having a telly night. Shanice, then 14, idolised her uncle Craig, then 28. Sure enough, when my brother arrived, he and Shanice were soon messing about, laughing together. ‘My number-one niece,’ he said affectionately. Craig and I shared the same dad, but I didn't live with him when we were growing up. It was only when I had Shanice, aged 19, that we got close. Her dad Denzil, then 43, worked away a lot, so Craig and my mum Karon, 54, helped out loads. With Shanice and my other kids, Libby, then 10,…

Globi, a cartoon character sometimes called Switzerland's Mickey Mouse, is a bright blue example of what type of animal? Make three nine-letter words using all of these three-letter sections and enter them in the grid as the starter letters indicate. Then make an anagram of the letters in the shaded squares to form the answer to this question. LOT RIS DIS OPI CTS AUT TER BAR TRI Your answer: WIN 5 x £20 Puzzle 3 TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

DRESSES STYLE TIP Pair your plain chocolate brown dress with cream boots or a coat for a stylish, coordinated look. TOPS STYLE TIP When it comes to tonal dressing, look for leather, ruched and satin textures to really elevate your outfit. ACCESSORIES STYLE TIP Belts are a huge trend this season. Wear over a dress to cinch in your waist or add to trousers to elevate your workwear. FROM £8 TROUSERS STYLE TIP A chic way to wear brown is to break it up with blues and burgundy. Style your trousers with a denim shirt or knitwear.…

True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Skipping around the playground with my friend, I held out both my hands. Tapped one palm against the other, signing the word ‘happy’. My friend smiled and signed it back. Aged 5, it was 2004 and I was at primary school. I'd been born profoundly deaf, due to a condition called connexin 26. It was genetic but no one else in my family had it. At 10 months old, I'd started learning British Sign Language (BSL). A deaf teacher came to my house, taught me and my parents. Before my first birthday, I could sign for milk and food. By the time I went to primary school, BSL was my main form of communication. There was a deaf unit at the school and the other kids were…

Rodolfo Lussnigg, the Austrian hotelier and owner of Hotel Simón, is credited with coining what geographical term in the 1920s to encourage tourism in the area? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Ancient Scottish tribe = PITS + C = PICTS. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2 x £25 Puzzle 9 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Mum-in-law is so bossy Q My mother-in-law keeps getting way too involved in our life – and it is driving me mad! I love her, but she's constantly telling my hubby and me what to do, where to move to, what jobs to apply for. I try to bite my tongue and ignore it, but it just seems to be getting worse. How do I gently remind her that it's our life? Rachel, 35 A It sounds like your mother-in-law is pushing limits, which can be really frustrating, flower. I reckon she just wants the best for you both and doesn't understand when she's crossing the line. You need to set boundaries. Discuss it with your hubby, make sure you're both on the same page and that you both understand…

3 ways to… stop the scammers Stay one step ahead of fraudsters with these tips… 1 Beware deepfakes Consumer group Which? is urging people to beware of the increased risks from fraudsters using AI to make their scams more believable. Examples include deepfakes, which use AI to create fake videos, such as those apparently of a celeb backing a scam investment, in an attempt to lure in victims. Some deepfakes are hard to identify, but there are methods you can use, including looking out for low-quality lip-syncing and unnatural facial expressions. Also, check where the video comes from – if it wasn't posted by an official account, you should be suspicious. Find more tips on how to spot these videos at which.co.uk. 2 Be on guard With students back at university, Calvin…

My heart was in my mouth as I tiptoed out the door with my new fella, then 21. ‘Shhh,’ I whispered. But nothing could get past my little sis Joy, 9. ‘Mum! They're going without me,’ she cried from the top of the stairs. ‘Josie, don't forget Joy,’ my mum Joan, 43, called. Sighing, I grabbed Joy's coat from the peg. We were soon driving off to the seaside, Joy sitting on the back seat, an excited grin spread across her face. It was September 1972 and, 11 years younger than me, Joy was my shadow. That didn't change when the following year, me and my boyfriend married and started a family. By 1979, I had two sons and a daughter and Joy was a doting auntie. Despite a brief…

Floral Street Wonderland Peony Hand Cream, £12, floralstreet.com The blend of peonies, berries and cedarwood notes gives this cream a luxurious aroma that lingers on the skin while keeping hands soft and silky smooth. It's made with natural ingredients and is veganfriendly too. SOS Night Cream, £5.50, sosserum.co.uk Your skin regenerates and repairs while you sleep so using a hard-working night cream like this one is a great way to boost your complexion. It's full of botanical ingredients and vitamins to keep winter damage at bay. BPerfect Scorched Luxe Powder Blush, £14.95, bperfectcosmetics.co.uk This powder blush is available in 10 pretty shades and each one will add warmth that stays put all day without any fade. Use a large brush to swirl the longlasting colour over your cheeks. Body Stories…

Art and soul We save and reuse empty plastic cheese snack pots as paint trays. The different compartments hold paints and water and can be easily washed and reused whenever you or your kids want to do some painting. Connor McGuire, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire Walk the line After washing trainers, I hang plastic carrier bags upside down on the washing line and put one trainer inside each bag. Hanging like that, they dry much quicker. Cheryl Harvey, Gillingham, Kent Plastic fantastic I wash out old margarine tubs and use them for storing food in the fridge and freezer. As they're rectangular they save space, plus you can write on them in pen and you're doing your bit for the planet. Donna Flint, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire £25 For every photo tip that we…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 In 2014, actor Kevin Costner sent a heartfelt tribute to the British Armed Forces, thanking them for serving ‘unflinchingly to protect’ what? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Definitely (6) 12 Wanderer (9) 13 Noisy quarrels (4) 14 Jewellery item (8) 15 Label or emblem (5) 16 Not a single person (6) 17 Word with the same meaning (7) 18 Working together (11) 20 Gold or copper, for example (5) 22 Emphasise or reinforce (9) 24 African country (5) 28 Tolerant (7) 29 Concept (7) 32 Sculpted figure (6) 34 Switchboard worker (8) 36 Illnesses (8) 37 Painter (6) 39 _ Ferrera, star of Ugly Betty (7) 40 Confused, puzzled (7) 45 Acquire knowledge (5) 47 Echoed (9) 48 Dairy product (5) 51 Upkeep (11) 53 Jumper (7) 55 Structure for crossing a river (6) 56 Coil…

Head lice invasion Q We can't get rid of head lice in our family. I have two children and we've had the problem on and off for three years. What can we do? Sophia, Isleworth A Head lice can be frustrating, especially when they keep coming back. Besides regular combing and using lice shampoo, check all family members and treat everyone at the same time. Wash all your bedding, hats and clothes in hot water to get rid of lice and eggs. Also vacuum carpets, furniture and car seats. You could even use hair straighteners – from root to tip – to kill any leftover lice or eggs. Then use a lice-prevention spray on hair and bedding to help keep the lice away. And make sure your kids know not…

Guiding the huddle of tourists, I reeled off all the info I'd learnt. ‘This site dates back to the 18th century,’ I explained. It was 2008 and I was working as a living history interpreter in Armagh. As much as I loved my job, I missed creativity. But it wasn't until after me and my husband Conall, then 30, had our daughter in February 2009 that I had a brainwave. ‘I'm going to start my own business,’ I decided. Combining my two passions, acting and history, I launched Time Steps Living History. Created a Facebook page, offered my services as a character tour guide in museums, schools and historic sites. Even promoted myself for charity and company events. It was a gamble. ‘Will people really pay me to dress up…

Coming home after a rehearsal with the local choir, I cautiously told my parents what the conductor had advised me. ‘He told me I've got a special voice and should have private lessons,’ I said. But without hesitation, my dad piped up. ‘No, no! A waste of money!’ he replied. And that was that. Dream squashed! I was just 14 and had recently joined the Odeon Girls’ Choir in High Wycombe, Bucks, near where I lived. I loved singing. The teacher had noticed my voice, but at home Dad was strict, Mum too, and there were rules. Reading the Bible for one, no make-up or perfume. Singing and music was a definite no – even when the headteacher called Dad and told him I was good enough to get a…

My rumbling tummy broke the sad silence in the room. ‘I'll get us some food,’ I whispered. It was February 1995 and, aged 56, my mum Doreen had been battling breast cancer for four years. It wasn't looking good. Hospice nurses had called early that morning to say she didn't have long left. Me, my five younger siblings and our dad had rallied round. Wanted to be with her in her final moments. Spent hours reminiscing, talking about happy memories. Now it was 4pm and none of us had eaten all day. There'd been tears and laughter, but it was time for practicalities. I nipped out, returned with takeaway chicken and chips for everyone. ‘I'm sorry, she's gone,’ my dad said. Devastated, I slumped down on my chair. Couldn't believe…

What's your all-time favourite biscuit? All I can say is if a packet of caramel digestives gets opened, there isn't going to be any left in the packet! They're just too moreish. Do you have any interesting hobbies? I love looking around historic buildings and ruins. I drag my partner to lots of castles, and he's even agreed to have our wedding in a castle next year. Tell us about your pets, if you have any… Unfortunately, I don't currently have any pets. I've always had a soft spot for cats (if you can't tell by the mug), but after my last fur baby passed away I never got another as my lifestyle is so hectic at the moment. What was the last good deed someone did for you? With…

A denosis is the technical term for any disease or inflammation of what type of tissue? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will spell out the one-word prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 2 Your answer: 1 Brother of Sherlock Holmes (7) 2 Forbidden, banned (5) 3 Creature able to eat meat and plants (8) 4 Language created in 1887 by L.L. Zamenhof (9) 5 Church keyboard instrument (5) 6 Active at night (9) 7 Citrus fruit (5) 8 Infant's bedroom (7) 9 One of the War of the Roses houses (4) 10Small blue and orange bird seen near rivers (10) 11 Filled pasta squares (7) 12Code word for the letter I (5) 13Marzipan ingredient (6) 14Tibetan spiritual leader (5,4) 15Fear of open spaces (11) 16Mythical sunken island (8)…

Have you ever had a dream that you couldn't quite reach? When Trish and I married in January 2020, we couldn't wait to start a family. But it seemed like everything was against us. Aged 24, I'd gone through an early menopause, making it impossible for me to conceive. And although Trish longed to carry our baby, we needed help. We scoured the internet for a sperm donor. Found our perfect fella. Every month, he'd pop over to our house and lock himself in the loo. ‘Do you think he's finished yet?’ I'd giggle to Trish, as the minutes ticked by. Afterwards, he'd hand us the little sample pot, and we'd run upstairs to the bedroom. Laughing as we used a sterile syringe to try and impregnate Trish. After all…

When the emergency services operator answered the call, a frantic voice yelled that he needed paramedics. ‘I'm doing CPR,’ shouted Eric ‘Scott’ Sills. ‘I don't have a pulse and she's cold.’ It was the early morning of 13 November 2016. Scott told the emergency services he'd found his wife slumped at the foot of the staircase at their home in San Clemente, California. Paramedics arrived in minutes. But Susann Sills, 45, was already dead. A tragic accidental fall. It appeared Susann's shoe had come off on the stairs. And Scott said she must have tripped on it in the middle of the night. A pan was next to her, which the family explained she'd often carry if she was feeling sick. An empty bottle of pain medication, which Susann used…

Q I'm worried I might be developing dementia, like my mum. Lately, I've been forgetting where I put things, simple words or why I walked into a room. I'm losing confidence and even thinking of quitting my job. Eva, Hartlepool A Many people worry about dementia when it could just be trouble focusing. For example, it's normal to forget where we've placed things but still recall important details. Stress, anxiety, lack of sleep or a busy lifestyle could be affecting your focus. Hormonal changes like perimenopause, thyroid issues, vitamin deficiencies or anaemia can also affect memory. Dementia-related memory loss usually involves forgetting recent events, getting lost in familiar places, struggling with tasks or changes in mood or personality. It's a good idea to see your GP, who can run simple…

My boy Harry was sat on the living room floor, intently lining up his stuffed animal toys in a perfectly neat row. I watched with concern. Harry, 18 months, hadn't met any of his milestones. He wasn't walking or saying ‘Mama’. ‘Good boy,’ I said now, wrapping him in my arms. But he pushed me away, like always when I tried to scoop him up for a cuddle. And when I put him in his high chair, he'd rock back and forth. ‘Something isn't right,’ I thought. Finally, at 19 months old, Harry took his first steps, wobbling across the living room but he still hadn't said a word. So in July 2012, I booked in to see our GP. ‘Harry has glue ear. It's affecting his hearing,’ the doctor…

A village built near Mellieha in Malta as a set for which 1980 film is now a visitor attraction dedicated to its titular cartoon character? Unscramble each group of letters to discover six animated TV shows. Now fit them across the grid and you'll spell out the answer to the question. 1 GP PIP APE 2 NO OUTCAST 3 UPSET RED 4 MN BREN 5 DYLAN HERO 6 SHE BERTH Your answer: WIN £75 Puzzle 17 TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Top tip Korean ingredient kimchi is fermented veg – and good for your gut. Find it in the supermarket. Miso-glazed salmon fried rice Spicy kimchi brings bucketloads of flavour to this speedy dinner for two. SERVES 2 PREP 10 MINS COOK 12 MINS ● 2tbsp oil ● 2 skinless salmon fillets, each cut into 3 pieces ● 3tbsp miso or teriyaki cooking sauce ● 200g kimchi, drained and roughly chopped, plus 2tbsp of the drained liquid ● 200g pack stir-fry vegetables, roughly chopped ● 250g cooked rice pouch ● To serve (optional): Finely chopped spring onions, soy sauce and extra kimchi 1 or a large pan, over a high Heat 1tbsp of the oil in a wok, heat. Cook the salmon for 3-4 mins, turning regularly until golden on all sides…

1-7 November 2024 Aries 21 March-20 April Mars, planet of action, is currently in your fellow Water sign of Leo, giving you courage to follow your dreams. Decide on your direction and commit to it. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May With the Sun now in your opposite sign, you may feel inner tension around recent decisions. Stick to your plan and know that everything is unfolding with divine timing. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Have you been lacking in energy lately? If so, practise being present and trying not to engage in mental table tennis over certain choices you need to make. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You are always thinking of…

Q My hair looks much thinner than before – what's the cause? Can I do anything to get it looking full again? Cheryl Clarke, Chichester A Lots of factors can leave hair looking fine and lacklustre – everything from diet and sun damage to over-styling and menopause can all affect the fullness of strands, and it's an issue that many of us face as we get older. If the thinning is extreme, speak to your doctor, as it could be a sign of a bigger issue. If it's looking a little lacklustre and fine, you can bring back some bounce with these styling tricks. Try switching your usual shampoo for a volumising product like OGX Biotin & Collagen Shampoo, £7.49, Boots, which contains a mix of hair-healing ingredients to smooth,…

Make Up Gallery Glow The Distance Highlighter, £1.50, Poundland Brighten up a dull complexion with this creamy highlighter. Dot a little over your blusher to add a subtle hint of gleam to skin, and the shea butter and jojoba oil-rich formula will keep your skin looking and feeling radiant. W7 Hydrogel Under Eye Patches, £3.95, w7makeup.co.uk The skin under your eyes is much more delicate than the rest of your face and can become dry and irritated easily. Keep this area nourished and silky soft with these hyaluronic acidinfused patches. Apply below your eyes for a few minutes to hydrate and reboot.…

EDITOR'S WARNING Little Malachi Lawson, 4, had an infectious smile, and wouldn't let anyone be sad in his presence. Always finding a way to cheer people up. He lived with mum Alicia Lawson and her wife Shatika. He adored Paw Patrol, loved pretending to be one of the characters. Malachi was non-verbal, on the autism spectrum. His cheerful, innocent demeanour saw him loved by everyone he met. But on 1 August 2019, the unimaginable happened. Malachi went missing. Alicia, then 25, made a desperate call to emergency services, telling the operator her son had been standing on the front doorstep to their Baltimore home. She'd turned her back for just a second. Malachi was gone. A search and rescue operation with police and FBI agents was launched. Posters of Malachi,…

Chat winners issue 32 (2 August 2024) £1,001 CASH M Spencer, Accrington £500 CASH Y Morley, Nottingham D Rudling, Hassocks £250 CASH J Stewart, Newton Aycliffe J Lee, Halesowen £200 CASH K Fuller, Par £100 CASH H McGarry, Prescot J Darlington, Sandy T Evans, Wrexham K Brown, Newry £50 CASH K Priddis, Peterborough K Brown, Newry T Ellis, Lowestoft D Bytheway, Hereford B Aylott, Thetford J Castellano, Salisbury £40 CASH E Jackson, Congleton £30 CASH K Hall, Sheffield S Cook, Paignton £25 CASH S Hooper, Taunton C Houghton, Great Yarmouth Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £20 CASH J Howlett, St Ives S McGowan, Glasgow P Hill, Middlesbrough P De Jonge, Jarrow P Brett, Bury K Gledhill, Huddersfield G Easton, Henley-in-Arden D Hoskins, Crewkerne J Simmonds, Cirencester W O'Donnell, Peterhead D Ging, Basingstoke W Nam, Chippenham T McCarthy, Stevenage A Gidman, Stoke-on-Trent L Grimley, Boldon Colliery E Hall, Redcar J Thomas, Oldbury A Craig, Ballymena A…

Dear Marcie, Life for you certainly hasn't been easy. As far back as you can remember, it's been a battle. A thug for a father, he beat your mum regularly. You were so scared. Then came the night, when you were 3, that everything changed. Huddling in a bedroom with your brother Nick, 6, and sisters Lieselle, 10, and Kim, 2, you heard shouts and screams from downstairs. Then Uncle Alan came up to see you. ‘You're safe now,’ he said. ‘I'm going away for a long time and I love you.’ Dad was dead. Uncle Alan went to prison for killing him. He'd stabbed him. Afterwards, you and your siblings bounced between foster homes. Some were better than others. One foster carer was cruel, tried to force-feed you, punished…