Table of contents for 13 July 2023 in Chat

Welcome to this week's Chat… Readers in Rotherham may already be familiar but this week we're introducing the rest of you to Ziva, 5, Britain's youngest shelf-stacker (p22). Don't worry, sending tots to work isn't the latest way to beat the cost of living crisis! Little Ziva is Tesco's biggest – and smallest! – fan so they've made her an honorary team member. Smiley Ziva would certainly cheer up my weekly slog around the aisles. What a supermarket superstar she is. Have a great week, PS If you're entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

TRUE-LIFE An icy blast hit my face as I crouched in a dark doorway, pulling the three damp coats I had on tighter around me. ‘Any spare change, please?' I whimpered as people went into the 24-hour convenience shop behind me. It was November 2018, and I was homeless again. How had my life come to this? It started when I was just 14, a teenage runaway escaping a miserable home life. The bad start I'd suffered had taken its toll and I suffered with depression, PTSD and other mental-health issues. Had no choice but to sign on to disability allowance. It was only a pittance, though. ‘Impossible to live on,' I groaned to the manager of a women's hostel who occasionally had a room for me. So I'd lived…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What do actors Jeff Goldblum and David Hasselhoff have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the six-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Opinions (5) 4 Mix of black and white (4) 6 Unmarried man (8) 13 Lauren _, radio DJ (7) 14 Dara _, host of Mock the Week (1,6) 15 Particle of sand (5) 16 Facial feature (4) 17 German city (6) 18 Part of a shirt (6) 20 An English nobleman (4) 21 Loosen a knot (5) 22 Living room (6) 25 Journalist (8) 28 Gains knowledge (6) 30 House made of ice (5) 32 Make unrecognisable (8) 34 Chess piece (6) 35 Message sent by mobile (4) 38 Restricts (6) 39 African country (5) 40 Dinner jacket (6) 43 Totals up (4) 44 Big striped cats (6) 45 Quivered, shook (8) 48 Delete (5) 49 String of prayer beads…

Standing in the fruit and veg aisle, in her pristine uniform, I watched my daughter Ziva greet shoppers in our local Tesco. ‘Do you need a basket?' she asked, with a big smile. My heart almost burst with pride. It was 2022 and this was Ziva's first ever job. A natural at customer service, it was no wonder the store had snapped her up. But unlike her colleagues, Ziva didn't have a partner or kids to provide for. No bills to pay. Or petrol money to find… But then not many 5-year-olds do! Tesco had been part of Ziva's story since day one. Literally! As me and my partner Karl, then 52, drove newborn Ziva home from the hospital, we'd popped into their Wath store. ‘Milk and bread, just a…

Wedding bells It's wedding season, and with all that romance in the air is it any wonder we all get extra hot and heavy between the sheets? Use that lovey-dovey atmosphere to get flirty round the singles table or coax your partner into a Truly, Madly, Deeply slow dance. One study found that 20% of guests hooked up at or after a wedding… Long days With the light evenings stretching ahead, summer gives us all more time to enjoy the company of others. Whether it's a candlelit dinner or a night out on the town, summer nights are the perfect time to let loose and find some romance. Wet and wild With all that sticky summer sun, we don't need an excuse to get in the water. Perhaps it's a…

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 puzzle answer. LEAGUE 1 What is the name of the fictional town in The League of Gentlemen TV series, from which, according to the sign, ‘You'll never leave'? (7,5) 2 Which number represents the number of miles in a league and the number of feet in a yard? (5) 3 ‘Sire he lives a good leauge hence. Underneath the mountain' are lyrics from a popular Christmas carol about which Bohemian king?…

Grace & Stella Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum, £9.95, amazon.co.uk We've just come across this brilliant brand, available on Amazon. The hero of the range is this hydrating serum, which leaves parched skin looking quenched and plump. Collection Filter Finish Liquid Blush Light Wand, £5.99, Boots This is very similar to a highlighter by a much dearer brand, even down to the shades and packaging. Dot onto the high points of cheeks and temples to cheat a radiant glow. Q+A Vitamin C Body Cream, £10, sephora.co.uk British skincare brand Q+A have branched into body care, utilising hardworking ingredients to treat skin issues all over. This cream is blended with Vitamin C to soften and brighten neglected limbs. Wella Dream Smooth & Nourish Oil Infused Lotion Spray, £6, Sainsbury's If your hair…

Sitting at my daughter's kitchen table, we chatted as we sipped steaming mugs of tea. It was 2016 and Zoe, then 22, lived a few doors down with her partner Jamie, 25, and their two boys, Theo, 3, and Toby, 1. We were so close that, even though we lived minutes away, Zoe always called me on the drive to her hospital shift as an assistant radiographer. Nattering about the boys, her weekend plans, the telly. Only, today, something was on her mind. ‘Will you look at this mole, Mum?' she asked, standing and pulling up her top. I squinted at the spot on her lower back, about the size of a screwdriver top. It looked a little red and scabbed. ‘Ask work to look at it,' I urged her.…

YOU'RE THE JUDGE! T he year 2020 was one of unrest in America. After the murder of a Black man, George Floyd, by a white police officer in Minneapolis that May, people took to the streets nightly, protesting and calling for justice. A man called Daniel Perry, then 33, was angry too. But for a different reason. I might have to kill a few people on my way to work, he wrote to a friend. They are rioting outside my apartment building. Tensions hung in the air, and in the past, Daniel had even posted on social media about wanting to harm Muslims and Black people. An active-duty US Army sergeant, after a tour in Afghanistan he'd started doing some work on the side as an Uber driver. And during one of…

Bowel test flight ban Q I'm due of my bowel a camera test the day before my holiday and they say I can't fly! Why? Linda, Congleton A Sounds as if you're having a colonoscopy, where the doctor passes a flexible fibre-optic scope through your anus into your bowel to see what's inside. In order to get a good view, the doctor pumps air through the scope to inflate that part of your bowel and push the bowel lining away from the tip of the scope. This leaves you with a bowel full of air, which can cause cramps and pain until it passes in the form of a few good hearty farts. Trouble is, it can take hours for all the gas to leave your bowel and if you…

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 I Emerson, Grimsby, Lincs WIN 5x £20 Puzzle 6 ACROSS 1 Creative skills 2 Positive 3 A request/ appeal 4 Appear DOWN 1 Small snakes 2 Law/regulation 3 Tall woody plant 4 Line joining two pieces of fabric Your answer: HALF & HALF In Japanese cuisine, unagi and anago are names for different types of what seafood? 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. WIN 3 x £50 Puzzle 7 Your answer: BRICK TRICK Featuring the top-five single what was the name…

In October 2006, Sotheby's in London sold a 15th-century example of what type of book for a record price of £2.14m? Solve the crossword, then read down the yellow squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Wood-cutting tool (3) 3 _ Butterfield, actor (3) 5 _ Dwarf, TV show (3) 6 Consume food (3) 7 Used to be (3) DOWN 1 Drinking tube (5) 2 Walks through water (5) 4 Singing voice (4) WIN 4 x £20 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

ASK Aunty Nelly Q I'm married but my sex drive has completely disappeared. I've been to the doctors and they don't seem to know how to help. I love my husband dearly and he's very patient and understanding but I just don't ever feel in the mood. Holly, 38 A Think back to when this started. Did something happen around that time that turned you off sex, hun? Is it a mental block caused by stress or anxiety, or a physical symptom such as vaginal dryness? Go back to your GP and ask for a hormone or blood test. If that comes back clear, look at your lifestyle, your diet, exercise and sleep. Communicate with your partner and set aside time for intimacy, flower. Sex doesn't always mean penetration. Want…

Q I've been with my boyfriend for around five years. Recently, he got a new job and has made some new friends. He's now out a lot and barely spends any time with me. He's moodier than he used to be and it's making me worried. If I talk to him about it, we just argue. Lucy, 29 A It sounds as though he's under a lot of stress and pressure. Trying to impress his new peers and keep in with his colleagues, pet. Show him that you love and support him. Ask him questions about his job, whether he's enjoying it, what kind of culture there is, if he likes his manager. Ask if you can come along on his next night out. Maybe they'll become your new mates…

3 ways to… TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT MONEY 1 Use online tools There's a wealth of help available online. If your child is 14 or over, they can sign up to Barclays LifeSkills (barclayslifeskills.com), which has loads of useful resources to help young people understand about money, tailored to different ages. For example, it has a ‘money personality quiz', designed to help someone understand how they behave with money, and there's useful information on budgeting, how credit cards work, and how to save. Meanwhile, NatWest's MoneySense (natwest.mymoneysense.com) is a free financial education programme for 5-18s, and there's support for parents too. 2 Lead by example Talk to your children about the decisions you make about money. For example, when you're at the supermarket, explain that you're comparing prices of items to get the best…

7-13 July 2023 Chat astrologer Sally Trotman reads your week ahead Aries 21 March-20 April The moon in your sign on 9 July brings a new way of looking at an old challenge. Do you need to assert yourself more in order to move forward? ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Jupiter is in your sign all year, giving you the chance to grow your finances and to attract more luck. Take time to consider which direction feels exciting to you. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Are your closest alliances out of balance? If so, reflect on what's troubling you, consider how you can change things and walk away from the rest. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more…

Q I'm going on holiday next week – which SPF should I pack? Is factor 50 best? Violet Jones, Bristol A Really, you should be wearing a highfactor SPF on your face every day of the year, rain or shine, no matter where you are in the world. This is because UV rays are still active all days of the year and can cause damage in all weather conditions. It's especially important to wear it when you're outside all day, or when you're in a hot country. It's also worth remembering that sun damage accounts for 80% of skin ageing. SPF50 offers the best level of protection, but you can get away with a 30 if you have formulas in that factor that you prefer. We wouldn't advise going any…

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 you don't wish to enter. INTERNET Join our…

CELIA ABBOTT, 40, FROM SOUTH WEST LONDON, SAYS: I'm nominating Royal Trinity Hospice volunteer Vanessa to be my local hero. Vanessa, a retired office administrator, first started volunteering for Trinity in 2019. Helping out twice a week, Vanessa turns her hand to all kinds of admin tasks, making light work of Gift Aid forms, filing, scanning, and training others. She even took part in a charity fashion shoot, appearing in Trinity's volunteering campaign on posters and social media. Not only is she thorough and careful, she's friendly, has a great sense of humour, and is well respected by the team. Nothing is ever too much trouble, whether it's sorting out tricky mail merges, or stepping away from her desk to serve refreshments at a Christmas event. Vanessa is one of…

When she won the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature, what was US author Toni Morrison's most recently published novel? The number next to the clue tells you which line the answer's in. We've put a section in to start you off! There may be two Across answers in one line. Down words fill themselves in. The shaded squares spell out the one-word prize answer. 1 Jest, joke • Hit with the foot 3 Cemetery 5 Parent • Change channels with a remote 7 Stain, fade 9 Move with a spoon • At the home of WIN £100 Puzzle 2 Your answer:…

All sizes 6-22 F&F at TESCO STYLE TIP Wear a bikini top under a strappy dress or jumpsuit instead of a bra for a flash of colour. All sizes 8-24 TU at SAINSBURY'S STYLE TIP Choose tops and dresses with pretty sleeves if you want to cover your upper arms. All sizes 8-24 GEORGE at ASDA STYLE TIP Light and airy, this dress will look great over a bandeau bikini or swimsuit. All sizes 10-22 NUTMEG at MORRISONS STYLE TIP A bright blazer works over a dress or a relaxed co-ord for an instantly smarter look.…

WHAT'S THE VERDICT? In April 2023, nearly three years after killing Garrett Foster, Daniel Perry was found guilty of murder. He was found not guilty of a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Defence lawyers asked the judge for leniency, citing Perry's lack of criminal history and presenting evidence that he has PTSD from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. But Judge Clifford Brown rejected the plea and sentenced Perry to 25 years in prison. Garrett's mother Sheila told the court, ‘After three long years, we're finally getting justice for Garrett.' She added, ‘Me and everybody who loves Garrett will fight for the rest of our lives for the things that mattered the most to him. That is racial equality, standing up against abuse of power, doing the right…

Q My daughter's 10 and wets herself when she laughs. I'm worried, I thought that happened to old ladies? Jasmine, Bognor Regis A You should check with your GP, but this sounds like giggle incontinence. It mainly affects children and young teens, especially girls, and is different from stress incontinence, which is due to weakened pelvic muscles and causes some older women to leak when they laugh or cough. Giggle incontinence isn't just a leak but often triggers the whole bladder to empty when the child laughs and seems to be due to cross-wiring of nerves to the bladder muscle. The tendency often passes in families. Try making sure that your daughter's had a wee before anything that's likely to make her laugh and reassure her that she's likely to…

1 Eat balanced meals First and foremost, don't be tempted to fill up on greasy, carb-heavy foods, such as bacon sarnies. This kind of food will put an added strain on an already queasy stomach. Instead, choose something healthy – you'll feel the difference afterwards. ‘Consuming a nutritious meal can restore depleted nutrients and stabilise your blood sugar levels, which will help avoid those hangover cravings,' explains registered nutritionist Gabi Zaromskyte*. ‘Eggs on wholegrain toast with mashed peas and greens is a great option.' 2 Sweat it out Getting sweaty is surprisingly beneficial. ‘Exercise or a sauna helps to sweat the remaining alcohol out of the system,' says Gabi. ‘Since many alcoholic drinks contain sugar, put your full glycogen stores to good use and use that energy to get an aerobic workout…

Q My husband and I have just retired. I always wanted to travel and try new hobbies but my husband just wants to sit at home watching the telly. We have a limited social life and don't really have many close friends. I feel like this time we worked hard for is being wasted. Jane, 67 A Did you both decide you were going travelling when you retired or was it just you, flower? Maybe he's unsure what to do or perhaps he's just enjoying a little rest first. It could be that you both have different ideas about travelling. Tell him where you want to go and explain how you want to do it, sweetheart.…

NO-FUSS FOOD So-simple tiramisu This speedy pudding is easy to prep ahead – great for when you have people over. SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS ● 2tbsp ground coffee ● 250g mascarpone cheese ● 1tbsp icing sugar ● 4tbsp coffee liqueur brandy  or Marsala ● 16 sponge fingers ● 2tsp cocoa powder You will need: ● 4 glasses or cups 1 Put the coffee in a cafetière, add 200ml boiling water and leave for 5 mins. 2 Meanwhile, soften the mascarpone in a bowl. Add the icing sugar and 3tbsp of the liqueur or Marsala and stir to combine. 3 Pour the coffee into a shallow dish and add 1tbsp liqueur. Soak 8 sponge fingers, 2 at a time, in the coffee. Break each finger into 2 or 3 pieces and put into 4…

If you're not feeling brave enough to wear a bright colour on your face, or even in your outfits, a bright manicure is the perfect solution. It's affordable, commitment-free and a fun way of styling out a trend. Barry M make some of the best formulas on the market, with a streakfree, easy-to-apply brush. We love this minty fresh shade, which will add interest to casual outfits and understated make-up looks. Root Perfect Light Brown Regrowth Concealer Spray, £3.20, Wilko When you're in between salon appointments or at-home dye jobs, it's handy to have a trick or two up your sleeve to disguise those pesky roots. This means you can stretch out the time between dye, which is healthier for your hair and will save you money. This affordable option…

Puzzle 3 Notch Puzzle 4 First name is Christopher Puzzle 5 1B,1D,2A,3C,3D Puzzle 6 Sent Puzzle 7 Rigel Puzzle 8 Maasai Puzzle 9 Threatening Puzzle 10 Macadamias Puzzle 12 Gnome Puzzle 13 Chain Puzzle 14 Manila Puzzle 15 Swerve Puzzle 16 Auckland Puzzle 17 Spinet Puzzle 18 Peaky Blinders WE WON! Chat winners issue 15 (13 April 2023) £1,001 CASH R Wilson, Brough £500 CASH C Dent, Kendal S Payne Jenkins, New Milton £250 CASH P Askey, Aylesbury M Ford, Chichester £200 CASH E Gale, Loughborough £100 CASH P Vallance, Westcliff-on-Sea S Jerome, Reading A Coleman, Crawley £75 CASH N Baker, London £50 CASH L Bowers, Yarm S Simmons, Doncaster B Bromley, Wigan A Cambridge, Hartlepool S Gengan, Haslemere J Dumbell, Liverpool £40 CASH H Lovegrove, Sutton-in-Ashfield £30 CASH M Bamber, Poole P Bryant, St Neots £25 CASH D Pegram, Stevenage S Rowlands, Ceredigion…