Table of contents for 23 June 2022 in Chat

It’s funny how we meet the people who come to mean the most to us. Alisha was in her hospital bed when she connected with her partner (p30). She wasn’t looking for romance but fate had other plans for her! And when Stacey needed cheerleaders, it was strangers online who came to her aid (p58). Just a couple of the great reads in this week’s Chat – as well as all your faves. Enjoy! PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Hannah Butler, 29, Sandgate Sitting on the sofa, I bounced my 3-year-old daughter, Jessica, on my lap. ‘This is Paul, ’ I told her, introducing her to my new boyfriend. A big moment… It was March 2019 and I’d started dating Paul a month earlier. A colleague for two years at the care home where I worked, we’d grown close. I was falling for him. But Jessica came first. She was my world. Born with complex developmental needs, Jessica was being tested for autism, among other things. ‘Life can be challenging, ’ I’d warned Paul. Jessica’s condition made her non verbal, a fussy eater, and she had to wear a protective helmet as she’d hit her head against things. ‘I bet she’s wonderful, just like her mum, ’ he’d smiled.…

Heather Johnson, 40 As willowy models with toned legs up to their armpits strutted across my TV screen, I reached for another handful of crisps. I loved America’s Next Top Model, longed to be as glam and confident as the contestants on screen. ‘But I’ll never look like that, ’ I sighed. I’d felt overweight for as long as I could remember. Aged 6, my mum Carol, then 44, took me to the doctor for a health check. ‘She needs to go on a diet, ’ the doctor said. We joined a slimming group together, but nothing seemed to work. I tried calorie-counting and meal replacements, but still the pounds piled on. By 10 years old, I weighed over 14st and was wearing women’s clothing. I stood out, bigger than…

When 28-year- old Robert Durst met 19-year-old dental hygienist Kathie McCormack in 1971, he was besotted. After just two dates, the couple moved in together. Two years later, they were married. Robert was from a wealthy family. His father owned a New York estate agency business, so Kathie agreed to sign a prenuptial agreement, protecting Robert’s vast fortune in the event of their divorce. Their marriage wasn’t a happy one. In 1976, Kathie wrote in her diary that she’d had an abortion. She admitted that much of the trust had left their marriage. They bickered and fought. Simply maintained the facade of a loving couple. By 1980, they’d split. But the prenup made it difficult for Kathie. She told friends that it was unfair, and got herself a lawyer. She…

My vagina farts! Q My sex life is so embarrassing because my vagina ‘farts’. It happens when I exercise too. Surely it’s not normal? Mary, Derry A So-called vagina farts are actually common and usually mean air has entered your vagina. This is generally because you’ve lost tone in your pelvic muscles, often after giving birth. Putting something into your vagina, or changing your position, squeezes out the air with a sound just like a fart. Sex is the most common trigger, but inserting sex toys or tampons, or exercises such as yoga that involve bending and squeezing, can also be to blame. The escaping air might seem musty but it shouldn’t smell foul like a real fart – if it does, then see your doctor to rule out a…

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 Rose Janes, Monmouth WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 ACROSS 1 University teachers 2 Prayer ending 3 Green Queen God 4 Kiss (slang) Down 1 Morse code dashes 2 A sign 3 Roman Emperor 4 Aussie sausage Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Adopted in 2004, what dish is the official state cuisine of Louisiana? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: LIM + PET, PET +... you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer. WIN £ 100 Puzzle 7…

ARROW WORD WIN £1,000 Puzzle 10 A character from The Simpsons has given his name to a pedestrian bridge in Portland, Oregon. What’s his surname? 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 £60 puzzle 11 Your answer WORDSEARCH WIN £50 Puzzle 12 TE Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, adapted the title of his war memoir Seven Pillars of Wisdom from a passage in which book of the Bible?…

FILL ME IN WIN £100 Puzzle 14 In Norse mythology, Nidhogg and Fafnir are examples of what type of creature? 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 Maldive fish, widely used in Sri Lankan cuisine, is made by curing which fish’s flesh? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters ACT ASH ASS HAM HAS HAY HOW HUT TUT 4 letters BABY BAGS BASS BATH BIBS PUBS 5 letters MUSIC YACHT YAWNS YELLS 6 letters ADAPTS SQUASH SUPERB TRUTHS 7 letters HOLIDAY HUSBAND WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or…

3 ways to… GET FREE OR DISCOUNTED STUFF 1 Check online for giveaways See if you can find what you’re looking for online for free. There’s all sorts of stuff on freecycle.org – I recently picked up a garden table and chairs all local to me. You can post to say you’re looking for items, too – as well as list items you’d like to give away. And if you can’t find what you need for free, can you get it second-hand? Check out eBay and buy and sell groups on Facebook. 2 Track down the best offers If you’re buying new, make sure you get your item for the best price, so check on price comparison sites, such as Google Shopping (shopping.google.com). And you can stay up to date…

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. See page 56 for entry details. THE SILVER SCREEN – TRAINS 1 The 2007 Wes Anderson comedy drama in which three estranged brothers take a troubled train journey together across India is entitled The Darjeeling _? (7) 2 In which 1998 comedy did Gwyneth Paltrow play a woman whose life diverged into two possible paths, according to whether she caught or missed a train? (7,5) 3 The 1953…

Revlon Oil-Absorbing Volcanic Roller. £12.99, Boots We love this handy tool! It’s a lifesaver for those who need an on-the-go solution to excess shine. The oil-absorbing stone is easy to clean for lasting use. NYX Professional Makeup Vitamin E Infused Pore Filler Primer, £12, Boots Too much sun can dry out your complexion, but vitamin E can help. This nourishes your face before make-up application, and helps to reduce pore size. Q+A Oat Milk Cream Cleanser, £7.50, Holland & Barrett Oat milk in your latte? Now it’s in your skincare too – its prebiotic benefits help to treat stressed and irritated skin. This creamy cleanser melts away impurities to start your skincare routine gently. Batiste Naturally Dry Shampoo – Green Tea and Chamomile, £4.25, Superdrug This earthy scent is the…

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 63333Texts 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 you…

Every little girl dreams of dressing up, but mine was never as a princess – it was always as a superhero. I got to tick this off my bucket list when I dressed as Black Widow for a local charity walk. Shannon Workman, Birmingham Living our best life in Rhodes – with my bestie Sam. Charlotte Tyler, Bristol Loving mine and my daughter’s matching shades! Rebecca Key, Norwich Here’s our cute cockapoo Ember celebrating her 1st birthday with her own dog-friendly cupcake! She definitely enjoyed herself and had a paw-fect day. Melanie Lodge, Yorkshire My beautiful son Duggie, 5, had an incredible time when we went to the butterfly farm in Stratford-Upon-Avon. He was amazed when this beauty landed on him! Kate Windridge, Tamworth I’m not sure that my 8-month-old…

GEORGE at ASDA All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP Wear with raffia accessories or colour clash with soft pink or green. F&F at TESCO All sizes 6-22 STYLE TIP Layer with a boho embroidered top or go classic with a Breton tee. TU CLOTHING at SAINSBURY’S All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP Pair with khaki chinos or a pair of tailored shorts. NUTMEG at MORRISONS All sizes 10-22 STYLE TIP Looks like a skirt but wear with the confidence of shorts.…

In September 2021, Robert Durst, then 78, was found guilty of the murder of Susan Berman. Prosecutors said Susan had been shot at point-blank range, in an execution style killing, to prevent her from telling police what she knew about Kathie’s disappearance. They claimed that Susan helped cover up the killing of his ex-wife by providing him with a false alibi, impersonating Kathie with a phone call after she vanished in 1982. Appearing frail and in a wheelchair, Durst was sentenced to life in prison. In October 2021, Durst was then charged with the murder of Kathleen – ‘Kathie’ – McCormack Durst, almost 40 years after she disappeared. But in January 2022, Robert Durst died from natural causes, aged 78. His death meant the case surrounding Kathie could no longer…

1 Cut down on tea The tannins in tea fight with iron, so too much can prevent you absorbing iron properly. And that can lead to anaemia, warns nutritionist Judy Watson. ‘When you’re anaemic, you have too little oxygen travelling around your body, and one result can be a lack of clarity in your brain.’ Try eating more protein – meat, fish and eggs – for iron. ‘Watercress is good too. Serve it with lemon juice, for vitamin C to help the iron absorption, ’ says Judy. 2 Hydrate Drinking enough water provides the means for nutrients to travel to organs and for toxins to be removed, says nutritional therapist Dr Marilyn Glenville. ‘Becoming dehydrated can lead to symptoms including brain fog and reduced concentration.’ Aim for six to eight…

The teeth of different species of what animal have been described as a ‘clock’ for dating archaeological remains with a remarkable degree of precision? Solve the crossword, then read down the yellow squares. The yellow shaded squares will spell out the competition answer. ACROSS 1 English county (5) 4 Opposite of high (3) 5 Snake-like fish (3) DOWN 1 Boring (4) 2 A, E, I, O or U (5) 3 Ross _, comedian and actor (5) WIN £50 Puzzle 13 Your answer TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Will groom resent me? Q I always wanted to get married but my bloke said it’s outdated. Then, three months ago, he popped the question! I was thrilled, though when we discussed it he said it would be good for the kids to have more stability and he knew it was something I wanted – but he wasn’t bothered himself. I’m worried he’ll resent it in the future. Laura, 43 A Got yourself an old romantic, haven’t you, pet? But jokes aside, I wouldn’t worry too much if your fella doesn’t share the same excitement as you. Lots of men don’t ‘get’ weddings, they just show up on the day, happy enough. Consider this… He’s not that bothered about getting wed but knows it means a lot to you so…

Zoe Chowney, 51, Godalming, Surrey Lying in bed, I pulled the blue bedcover up to my chin, as my parents came in to say goodnight. Only after they turned off the light and closed the door did I release my grasp on the covers. Because underneath, I was secretly wearing my big sister Karen’s long, pink nightdress. It was 1977, I was 6, and I would occasionally raid her wardrobe for anything frilly and pink. I might have been a boy called Michael, but I didn’t feel like one. Now, as I nodded off to sleep, I silently repeated the same words as every night. Please make me a girl. I never told a soul, grew up suppressing my feelings, living with the truth alone. Then, in December 1984, Karen,…

Q I want to keep on top of my finances but don’t know where to start. Any ideas? E Painter, Kettering A The trick is to get into a habit, so why not try a daily ‘money minute’? This means spending a minute every day going through your finances. Set a reminder on your phone and pick a time of day you know you’re usually free. Then check your bank account online, or by using a mobile app, and you’ll easily keep track of whether you’re sticking to your budget – or not.…

Aries 21 March-20 April A friend or partner will offer to lend you a helping hand with some DIY you have been putting off. Show your appreciation with a takeaway meal to share. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You have more power at work when a job for a big client goes well and you’re asked to take on something bigger. Someone offers you a team leader position. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Travel is on your mind. Whether you’re planning a holiday or thinking about places to visit, it may be time to broaden your outlook. Ask a friend to travel with you. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You’re dedicated and…

Q Can you recommened any products to make me feel swimsuit confident? Lorraine Gridley, Enfield A We could all do with a helping hand towards feeling summer body ready – luckily, there are great products that can help. For a total reset, try soaking in a detox bath containing Westlab Epsom Salt, £7.99, Boots. The salts draw toxins out of the body while exfoliating to soften the skin. They also promote relaxation to help shift your mindset to holiday mode. A tan can be a real confidence booster, but you don’t have to rely on the sun to achieve a golden glow. Try applying St Tropez Gradual Tan Classic Firming Lotion, £18, Boots, daily, until you reach your desired colour. Thanks to its deeply hydrating formula, it offers an even…

Chat winners issue 12 (24 March 2022) £1,001 CASH D Orme, Derby £1,000 CASH J Golzey, Clacton-on-Sea £500 CASH N Grogan, Purley; R Neale, Leeds £250 CASH R Breakspear, Kettering £150 CASH C Denman, Runcorn £100 CASH S Whitfield, Northwich; P Fisher, Chepstow; D Hartley, Haverhill; G Petty, Shepperton; M Sole, Sandwich £60 CASH P Lodeiro, London £50 CASH A Jessop, Kings Langley; S Shannon, Prestwich; M Watson, Woodbridge £30 CASH A O’Neill, Antrim; H Aschen, Dunfermline; D Caswell, Northampton; R Artt, Dagenham; B Orzel-Silson, Manchester £25 CASH A Sutcliffe, Southport; L Lawrence, Llanelli; J Beattie, Motherwell; M Stone, Slough; C Standish, Bedford; C McKen, Birmingham; G Smith, Middlesbrough; G Smith, Milton Keynes; M McCullum, Ipswich Anyone from your town in the list this week..? Chat PUZZLE 1 564 Chat…

ANTHONY HARVEY, 36, KENT I would love to nominate my wife Cheryl, 33, as my local hero. As well as being a frontline non-clinical support worker for 14 years, she has also run eight Races for Life, raising lots of money for charity. Her first race was in 2009, after she lost her dad to cancer. Since then, she’s been determined to make a difference. This year will be her 9th Race for Life. And she hopes to smash her 10k time when she runs her 10th race next year! She raises different amounts each time. The last time she made £83 and the most came in at just over £100. I am so proud of her because she’s always thinking of others, often putting everyone else before herself. We…

What does explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes say was his worst job? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Fix (6) 12 Light greenish-blue colour (9) 13 Small mountain (4) 14 Collection of information stored on a computer (8) 15 Female relatives (5) 16 Becomes narrower (6) 17 Tomato sauce (7) 18 Clever (11) 20 Young women (5) 22 Famous person (9) 24 Youngest child of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West (5) 28 Initially (7) 29 Important task (7) 32 Superhero from Gotham City (6) 34 Became aware of (8) 36 Brutal, hurtful behaviour (8) 37 Mixture of red and yellow (6) 39 A feast (7) 40 Chewy sweets (7) 45 Light meal (5) 47 Stopped from happening…

Fran Batten, 38, Yeoville Looking in the mirror, I sighed at the angry, red marks dotted all over my forehead. At 31, I’d never suffered from any skin issues before, not even when I was a teenager. But now sore bumps left me self-conscious, feeling as though I couldn’t go out without make-up. It was November 2015, and as part of the PTA at my kids’ school, planning all the end of the year festivities had left me feeling stressed. ‘I just need to drink more water, ’ I told myself, firmly. But it didn’t help. Turning to expensive creams from luxury brands, I hoped a new skincare routine would whip my skin into shape. Only when I slathered it into my forehead and cheeks, my skin felt like it…

‘Are we nearly there yet...?’ It’s holiday time! You’ve just pulled off the driveway, all eager to get on the way. But within 15 minutes, one child needs a wee, another one is looking decidedly green and then the words to send a shiver down any parent’s spine: ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ And that’s before you’ve even tackled the traffic on the motorway – not really a flying start! The towel tango We’ve all been there. Wriggling free of a skintight soaking wet swimming cossie in full view of a packed beach. But is there any way of doing it without ending up red-faced? After decades awkwardly dancing with a towel wrapped round us, trying to preserve our modesty, only to drop it at the most embarrassing moment, we’ve…

Alisha Vernon, 22, Kilmarnock Lying in the hospital bed, I rubbed my tummy in pain, then snapped a selfie. Back in hospital, more tests, I wrote, posting the picture online. It wasn’t unusual for me. Most people used Instagram to show off their holidays or fancy nights out. Me? I shared info about my bowels. It was 2017 and I’d found out I had ulcerative colitis in April, an incurable inflammatory bowel disease causing cramps, diarrhoea, fatigue and lots more. I was always at the doctors, or plagued with pain or discomfort. I’d started sharing my journey online, and now had hundreds of followers. I liked to think my posts helped other sufferers. A few minutes later, a private message popped up. It was from one of my followers, Ryan.…

Looking in the mirror, Ravena smiles at her reflection. Her look might seem extreme to most people, her skin covered in intricate tattoos, and even her eyeballs coloured in. But to Ravena it’s just like having her hair dyed! Her transformation has been a years-long project. ‘A month before I turned 18 I got my first tattoo, ’ she explains. ‘At first Mum was worried about how I’d get a job. ‘Luckily, when I became a tattooist she was happier!’ Still, Ravena’s total transformation is shocking, however that’s fine by her. But having her eyes tattooed was a risky process, and Ravena was worried she could be left blind. ‘Having all of these tattoos truly saved my life’ Afterwards, she had no regrets. ‘When I looked at my reflection afterwards,…

The words I’d been biting back for years spilt out. ‘I’m in the wrong body, ’ I sobbed. I don’t know what reaction I was expecting. ‘I can arrange help for you, ’ she said, concerned. I sobbed with relief. I was put on the year-long waiting list to see a specialist counsellor at a gender identity clinic. In the meantime, I was finding it harder to keep the real me hidden. I started wearing tighter jeans and fancy jewellery. My wife noticed and asked, ‘Is there something you want to talk about?’ But I shook my head. Then, in January 2016, I came home to find her in tears. She’d found a letter about the clinic. ‘I’m sorry, ’ I said, honestly. Our relationship ended and now there was…

Cauliflower mac ‘n’ cheese Make this inspired combo of macaroni and cauliflower cheese extra special SERVES 4 PREP TIME 20 MINS COOK TIME 25 MINS • 150g macaroni or tubular pasta shapes • 500g cauliflower, broken into florets • 500ml milk • 40g butter • 50g plain flour • 150g Parmesan, finely grated • 2tsp wholegrain mustard • 3tbsp dried breadcrumbs • A few cherry tomatoes, halved • 8 slices pancetta • Flat leaf parsley, to garnish 1 Put the pasta into a large saucepan with the cauliflower and cook in gently boiling salted water for 10-12 mins, until the pasta is tender. 2 Meanwhile, put the milk, b utter and flour into a large saucepan (preferably non-stick) and bring to the boil, stirring constantly with a whisk to give…

Holly Jepson, 24, Manchester Smiling at the table of customers, I cleared away their plates and headed back to the kitchen. It was April 2018 and I loved my job as a waitress. But lately, working with my boyfriend Tom Fosbrook, then 29, had become a headache. He was a starter chef, and as I scraped the leftovers into the bin, I could feel his eyes on me. ‘Why were you smiling at those customers?’ snapped Tom. ‘Don’t you love me?’ ‘Sorry, ’ I said. ‘Of course I love you.’ I was barely 20 years old, and looked up to Tom, who was 10 years older than me. At first, I thought he was just overprotective. After 11 months together, I moved in with him, buzzing with excitement. Even if…

Makeup Revolution Brow Sculpt Kit, £5, Superdrug This multitasking brow kit is our new make-up bag essential. The compact design includes all the tools and products you need for shaping, setting and highlighting. It even has a mirror to help you to achieve flawless brows on the go – great value for just £5! Invisibobble Hair Tie 3-pack, £4.99, lookfantastic.com Ditch the elastic hair ties and avoid putting your strands under stress. These bobbles have a non-soak design that prevents breakages, while allowing for comfortable wear on your wrist.…