Table of contents for 16 March 2023 in Chat

Welcome to this week’s Chat… Mother’s Day is coming up, and we’re packed with treats for mums. We’ve easy bakes and floral fashion for the perfect gifts. And our stories celebrate some amazing women, like Sarah, who stepped into a motherly role for a special little girl (p10), and Ruth, whose fierce mother’s love saw her through the darkest time (p6). Enjoy the day, whether you’re the one being spoilt, you’re surprising your own mum or simply remembering her.…

Hearing the sound of the letter box, I dashed to the door as an envelope dropped on to the mat. ‘I wonder who he is?’ I said to my daughter, then 2. It was 1994, and after two years as a single mum, I’d finally put myself out there. Popped an ad in the Lonely Hearts section of my local newspaper. Now I had a reply! Perhaps he’ll be kind, or funny, I thought. Dear Ruth, I’d love to get to know you, his letter read. My heart sank when I saw he was in his 30s. Just 19, I wasn’t keen on that idea. Still, he seemed sweet. He signed off as Simon Thomas, said he hoped I’d write back. Scribbling my reply, I asked him about himself. For…

What does sports presenter Gabby Logan say is her guiltiest pleasure? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the two-word prize answer. WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 ACROSS FormerBritishgoldcoin(6) Largespider9 Pile4 Dinosaurfilm 8 Publictransportvehicle5) Frightened6 Greatvictory7 Rightaway11 CapitalofFrance5) Placeoflearning9) Smallamountoffood(5) Typeofdog7) Vampire7 Sculptedfigure6 Apest8 Itemoffurniture8) Assistanttoaband(6) ColinIrish actor (7) Sneaky7 Takesabreak5) Owningup9 Feelssore5 Olderrelative11 Victors7 Signofthezodiac(6) Eventforcowboys5) Layback8 Winslet actor4 Listensecretly9 Largeflowersoftenwhite (6) DOWN Eighthmonth6 Strange10 Citrusfruit7 CapitalofSweden9) Mostattractive9 Fashionicon Wintour (4) Scorched6 Yellowfruits7 Unluckynumber8 Relatives6 Femalehorse4 Closingwordofaprayer (4) Commoneveryday8) AbbeyEnglish model…

Surgery made sex a pain Q My husband had a circumcision last year and ever since his operation I’ve found sex quite painful. Why is that? Ella, Garstang A Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin, for cultural or medical reasons. This uncovers the glans, the end of his penis that lies under the foreskin. As a result, the glans becomes more sensitive and tender for a few weeks, until it forms a protective layer of dead skin. Some men then find that this dead skin makes their penis less sensitive during sex, and compensate by becoming more vigorous, and pushing harder. Chances are, your husband doesn’t even realise he’s doing this, but it can leave you feeling sore. Suggest trying different positions, have gentler sex and use plenty of lube.…

1 Mindfulness to manage anxiety Reduce stress hormones by taking time out every day, says meditation coach Derek Aidoo (withutraining.com). ‘Mindfully make a cup of tea. Take a deep breath, take in your surroundings, then close your eyes for 30-60 seconds while noticing your breathing.’ Derek adds, ‘Prepare your drink slowly, to the rhythm of your breathing. Acknowledge any sounds or smells around you, then let them pass. Once you’ve made your drink, return to the moment.’ 2 Salt water for a throat infection This cheap remedy is surprisingly effective. ‘Help clear bacterial throat infections by gargling with salt dissolved in warm water,’ says Alison Cullen, nutritional practitioner for A.Vogel. ‘This works by pulling bacteria and congested mucus from the throat lining -just don’t make the water too hot, and…

A mainstay in little girls' toy boxes, Barbie has been inspiring the next generation for decades. To celebrate her 64th birthday on 9 March, dubbed National Barbie Day, here are some plastic fantastic facts… A doll's life From journalist to vet, Barbie has had some memorable occupations. In fact she’s had over 200 of them! Heading to space as an astronaut four years before the first man on the moon, plus breaking glass ceilings with her job as a surgeon and even becoming a candidate for US president, she really is the original girl boss. Movie star Even in 2023, Barbie is looking forward to a big year. With Margot Robbie portraying her on the big screen and Ryan Gosling as her Ken, we can’t wait to see what they…

DON’T FORGET Mother’s Day, Sunday 19 March Espresso caramel bars Inspired by a classic millionaire’s shortbread, the added shot of coffee brings a new taste that works so well with the caramel. MAKES 12 PREP 30 MINS COOK 45 MINS You will need: 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/ Gas 4. Mix the butter and sugar together until pale and creamy. Add the flour and mix until combined. 2 Tip the mixture on to a work surface lined with baking paper. Knead the mixture together to make a smooth ball. Gently roll out to the size of the tin. Lift up the paper and flip the shortbread into the tin, pressing well into the edges. Prick the base all…

Kate Butcher, 41, Downham Market Approaching the checkout, I rubbed my pregnancy bump. ‘You sure it’s not two?!’ the cashier grinned. It was February 2020 and I was only 11 weeks along, yet people constantly asked if it was twins. Sigh! I already had two children, Shay, then 11, and Danica, 6, from a previous relationship. I’d had similar comments when pregnant with Danica. Everyone remarking on the size of my growing tum. ‘It’s rude,’ I bristled to my partner Ashley, then 26. Ashley and I were both local Scout leaders. We’d been mates for eight months until he’d made a move over a drink in June 2019. Things moved quickly, and while Ashley was 11 years younger, it felt right. We’d talked about kids ccearly on. Ashley wanted two,…

Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Lift & Curl Mascara, £10.99, Boots This multitasking mascara will push up your lashes without the need for curlers, and will add impressive volume with just one swipe. Skin Proud Proud Pods 100% Squalane Ampoules, £14.95, beautybay.com These handy little pods are a great way of moisturising skin while you’re away. Twist the cap for a one-dose application of nourishing squalane. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Shampoo, £11.99, Boots Repair damaged hair with this impressive new shampoo, which works just as well as its expensive counterpart. It strengthens hair bonds for healthierlooking locks. Botanics Hydrating Micellar Water, £6.99, Boots Some cleansers leave skin feeling tight or dry but this one doesn’t because it’s blended with hydrating hyaluronic acid. Skin feels clean comfortable. Max Factor…

Happy Mother's Day We pay £25 for any photos that we use Chat To Us! Get in touch! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com POST Chat, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London, W2 6JR Find us online at facebook.com/ChatMagazine…

Sitting at the kitchen table opposite my mum Ruth, then 35, I wanted some answers. ‘Why don’t they want to see me too?’ I asked, confused. I was 15, and Mum had split from my dad months earlier. Now my younger siblings had to attend a court hearing to decide on the right arrangements for our family. Only, my name wasn’t even on the documents. ‘It’s time I told you something,’ Mum said, a worried look on her face. I braced myself. She pulled a newspaper article up on her phone. Reading over her shoulder, words like twisted and depraved leapt out at me. Perverted brothers Simon and Graham Laskey had been jailed for life in 1999. They were serial rapists who drugged women. Then it dawned on me. Mum…

STYLE TIP This spring-ready ensemble is so easy to style. Wear coordinating items together or mix and match to create multiple looks. STYLE TIP Empire-line dresses are flattering for pear shapes or for those who carry more weight around their bottom half. STYLE TIP Look for embellishments that make items look more expensive than the price tag. This jumper features pearl detailing. STYLE TIP Tailored trousers, often reserved for smarter looks, are equally good dressed down. Team with a simple tee and trainers.…

YOU’RE THE JUDGE! Monday morning rush hour in Tokyo, and commuters piled on to busy subway trains. It was shortly before 8am on 20 March 1995, and passengers crammed in tight. Most heading to offices or business meetings. Only, as the trains thundered under the city, terror was unfolding. In five carriages, mysterious packages emitted noxious fumes. Commuters started to cough and struggle for breath as the poisonous gas swept through the underground tunnels. Some convulsing in their seats. Panic erupted. Chaos. Blaring sirens tore through the normal hubbub of the city. Speeding to subway stations, where tents were set up outside. Mobile clinics where emergency workers could tend to thousands of injured passengers. Desperately trying to resuscitate the worst affected. Rescue teams descended into the stations wearing protective suits.…

Q My doctor says my sore eyes are caused by mites living in my eyelashes. That’s horrible! Marie, Totnes A These tiny mites come with age - by the age of 60, around 85% of us have them living in our lashes, and they’re a dead cert once you’re over 70. They're microscopic creatures called Demodex mites, too small to see with the naked eye, which live on your eyelids inside oil-making glands or deep inside the pores from which eyelashes grow. They feed on dead skin or skin oil and usually you don’t know they’re there but, occasionally, they can cause soreness and infection of your eyelids. Your doctor can prescribe eye drops or ointment to control the mites, and antibiotic treatment to fight infection.…

Stephen Hawking collaborated with which musician to launch Asteroid Day? Hidden in this grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally, are 10 items beginning with B, one for each of the subjects given below. Find them all and the remaining letters will spell out the two-word prize answer. Area behind a house Explosion Small hound Place where one sleeps Two-wheeled vehicle Attempt to deceive Apparatus for heating water Long pillow Not lasting long Light blow WIN 3 × £50 Puzzle 8 Your answer:…

TRUE-LIFE Flinging open the back door, I reached for the shoebox on the decking outside. ‘Just what I need,’ I smiled, pulling out my steel-toecap boots. It was November 2014 and where I lived in rural Australia, raging flood waters were threatening people’s homes. As a 20-year-old volunteer for the local fire service, I’d offered to help sandbag any properties in danger. That’s why I needed my trusty boots. Only, as I turned to go back inside, I felt a sharp sting on my left forearm. ‘Ouch,’ I cried. Looking down, I spotted a black spider crawling over my skin. Little pest, I thought, brushing it off. I wasn’t scared - I saw creepy-crawlies every day. But seconds later, my arm started to pulse with pain. I started feeling sick.…

Peeling back the layers of PPE apron, gloves, mask, face shield, goggles -I breathed a sigh of relief. Another stressful day was over. Time to go home, have a shower, put my feet up and crack open a bottle. It was January 2021 and for the past year, I’d been working as a mental-health professional in A&E during the pandemic. As well as the challenging 12-hour shifts, I saw patients who were lonely, vulnerable, feeling trapped at home. Did my best, but all of us on the front line were struggling, stressed, emotional. Constantly being gifted cake, chocolates and biscuits by well-meaning members of the public, being sent free food from local restaurants. We appreciated it. But it was difficult to resist, plus we needed the fuel. At home, zapped…

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 puzzle answer. THE SEARCHERS 1 What name is given to the leisure activity involving the use of GPS to identify and find containers deposited all over the world? (10) 2 Who starred in westerns The Searchers, True Grit and Stagecoach? (4,5) 3 Which word completes the title of a 1988 Robin Williams film, whose soundtrack featured Sugar and Spice by the Searchers, Good Morning _? (7) SHANE 4 Which Australian international cricketer,…

Dear Tommy, A few seconds. That’s all it took for our lives to change forever. One slip on an icy pavement as we left the pub one night in December 2011. We’d been together six years by then, after meeting on a night out with friends. Walking to the next pub, you lost your footing, toppling to the ground. ‘Stop being daft, Tommy,’ I’d laughed. You were always playing practical jokes. But you weren’t moving, your face already bruised. Panicking, a friend dialled 999 and you were rushed to A&E, where you slipped in and out of consciousness. Seeing you vomiting and slurring your words, I knew it was serious. You were transferred to The Walton Centre, a specialist neurology hospital. ‘Tommy has a haematoma,’ surgeons said. They needed to…

True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Rubbing the back of my neck, I felt raised skin. Hidden by my hairline, it was so sore and itchy Maybe my jewellery’s the problem? I thought. It was September 2020 and though I usually didn’t have trouble with my skin, I knew some earrings would irritate me. Presuming my necklace was made out of the same metal, I unclasped it and put it back into my jewellery box. Only, the rash didn’t go away. In fact it started spreading, until I had a full ring of red, hot, flaky skin around my neck. Feeing self-conscious, I turned to high-necked tops and jumpers to cover the ring. But soon the scaly rash was spreading up my face and surrounding my mouth. Embarrassed at the prospect of spending…

Carrying my little girl into the doctor’s in January 2009, I was worried. Summer was 14 months old and for most of her life me and her dad, Ekrem, then 29, had been back and forth, taking her to the GP and specialists. It’d started with temperatures and rashes at six months. Soon she had high blood pressure and a lump appeared on her left side. Docs put it down to infections. Even when she was seen by five doctors in 36 hours. But now, as I carried her into the surgery, I was convinced that she was desperately sick. I wasn’t wrong. We saw a doctor who listened to us, and Summer had scans. My mind jumped to the worst-case scenario A few days later we went back for…

Is period sex safe? Q I’ve been seeing my girlfriend for a month or so and the sex is amazing. But the other night, she said she wanted to do it while she was on her period. I’m a bit squeamish and not sure if it’s even safe to do this. But I want to make her happy and don’t want her to dump me. Any advice? Dylan, 21 A Sex during menstruation is safe, pet, if potentially messy! But the problem is that you don’t seem keen. What happens in the bedroom should be fun for both partners. If you’d rather wait till her period is over, I’m sure she will understand. There’s fun to be had without penetration - use your imaginations. If you go for it, take…

3 ways to… SAVE ON YOUR BREAKDOWN COVER Breaking down is painful - but so is paying over the odds for cover. Check you’re getting the best deal with these tips… 1 Don't double up Check if you already have cover in place - for instance, if you’ve recently bought a new car, it may include breakdown cover for the first year. Some packaged bank accounts include breakdown cover, too. 2 Know your level There are different levels of cover out there. For example, you may want cover in case your car won’t start at home, or within a certain distance of it. Or you may want ‘onward travel’, which will help you get to your destination if you break down. The policy may provide overnight accommodation, public transport tickets or a…

10-16 March 2023 Aries 21 March-20 April Release any cares as the sun enters your sign. Show you’ve considered all options, and be confident and honest about the changes you’ve made. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Spending a little of your hard-earned cash will be rewarding when it’s on something you cannot do without - but be cautious when asked to lend money. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You have greater potential than you realise. Take that chance, and remember not everyone has a multitasking brain. Let destiny take its course and you’ll be glad. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You might be immersed in a project as action planet Mars moves…

Q My neck is looking really crepey. What can I do to help it? Lea Niven, Stockport A It’s easy to forget that your neck and cleavage are an extension of the skin on your face. Really, we should be taking our skincare routine across that whole area. If you haven’t been doing that, there are some fixes to help improve skin elasticity and bring the bounce back. A dedicated serum will work wonders. We’ve been impressed by Planet Spa Heavenly Hydration Neck & Chest Serum, £4, avon.uk.com. It’s incredibly hydrating, thanks to the olive oil, and skin looks instantly smoother and softer. You can use your day cream to boost hydration, which will help skin look plumper, but there are some specially formulated options designed as a targeted treatment…

It was just like any other day for Oscar Flores. The local-authority worker had been sent out to pick up some rubbish on a rural road in western Texas. An area known for illegal fly-tipping. People would dump sacks and boxes that were overflowing with rubbish. Oscar and his colleagues would clear it up. That afternoon, in November 2020, Oscar spotted a heap of rubbish bags beside the road. Just the usual stuff, he assumed. Only, two of the sacks were unusually heavy. When Oscar looked inside, he spotted something strange spilling out. Long, thin hair. A necklace. Body parts… Utterly horrifying. Oscar and his colleagues immediately notified the police. Investigators then rushed to the scene. Examining the bags, they confirmed that they contained the dismembered remains of a young…