Table of contents for 4 July 2024 in Chat

Welcome to this week's Chat… Tissues at the ready when you turn to Alice's story this week (p30). She lost her beloved hubby John and their daughter Beth in the space of a week. Consumed by grief, she felt no one understood her pain. And then she met someone who did… Her love stories make you believe in happy endings, no matter how hard life gets. For true crime fans, later in the issue, there's the strange case of a husband and father who was living under a false identity for 30 years… Have a great week, PS If you're entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Helen, 43, Cambridgeshire Silently creeping onto the landing, me and my little sister peeped through the banisters. From the top of the stairs, we could see a tall man hugging our mum. 'Who's that?' Angela, then 8, asked. 'Must be Mum's new boyfriend,' I whispered. Our dad wasn't around but Mum did her best with Angela and me, then 10. Me and my sis were close, loved dressing the same. I liked life with just us girls but now I wondered if that would change. Soon after, the man moved in with us. Glen was 18, a decade younger than Mum and he took an instant dislike to me and Angela. Followed us around, barking orders. 'I want your room spotless,' he'd shout. Every day, we'd clean our shared room,…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What does singer Nick Jonas say is his best piece of dating advice? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Not big (6) 12 Say sorry (9) 13 Yours and mine (4) 14 _ of the Dog, film starring Benedict Cumberbatch (3,5) 15 Makes money (5) 16 Take place (6) 17 Bird with a colourful tail (7) 18 Great work of art (11) 20 Time of darkness (5) 22 Wrong (9) 24 Give lessons (5) 28 Journals (7) 29 Large Berkshire town (7) 32 Sudden (6) 34 Greeted (8) 36 Portrait by Leonardo da Vinci (4,4) 37 Pantry (6) 39 Tire out (7) 40 Travel to work (7) 45 Furious (5) 47 Eight-sided (9) 48 Hugh _, Notting Hill actor (5) 51 Vanished (11) 53 Small change (7) 55 Breaded prawns (6) 56 Ancient artefact (5) 58 Jewellery item…

I am so smelly Q I smell of BO all the time – what's wrong with me? Callie, Swindon A Body odour happens when bacteria and sweat mix on your skin. It can change because of hormones, what you eat, infections, medicines or health issues like diabetes. Try washing with antibacterial soap every day and using deodorant. Changing your diet might also help. If you still smell bad, visit your GP. They can check if there's a health issue causing the smell and suggest ways to fix it, including prescribing clinical-strength deodorants, which are stronger than ones you can buy over the counter. I broke his penis Q I was rubbing my partner's penis and it was like the skin tore – there was so much blood. He won't go…

TRUE-LIFE Meya Fowler, 36 Perched on the edge of the bathtub, I didn't know if I felt more excited or scared. In three minutes' time, I'd find out if I was expecting a baby… It was May 2022 and I'd been here once already. Back in December, I was newly married to Callan, then 32, and thrilled to be pregnant. But at my 12-week scan, we were crushed to be told that I'd miscarried. Both heartbroken about the baby we'd loved and lost, we'd nervously agreed to try again. And now, my period was late. When the time was up, I turned over the plastic wand to discover our fate. Two lines. Pregnant! As I screamed with joy, in burst Callan to give me a hug. The nerves were still…

What name was coined in 1914 by Henry Tate to describe variants of chess in which the normal rules have been adapted in some way? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters DAM DAY ELF ELK ELM OAF OAR OLD RAM 4 letters AFAR AURA REAL REAM ROAM TEAK 5 letters MARRY MOANS MOSSY MOVES 6 letters FETTER FLEECE FLEXES FLUFFY 7 letters DIAGRAM DIVIDER WIN £100 Puzzle 15 TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

MONEY MATTERS 3 ways to… protect your home Take these steps to cut the risk of being broken into when you're on holiday. 1 Know before you go Try to make your house look like it's occupied while you're away. Could a trusted neighbour collect your post? If you're taking your car, you could ask them to park on your drive, too. If you don't have someone who can take in your post, consider using the Royal Mail Keepsafe service that will hold your mail while you're away and deliver once you're back (royalmail.com). Consider using timer sockets that can schedule lights to come on in the evening. And remember to cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries before you go and don't order anything online that may arrive when you're away.…

Wimbledon BBC1, BBC2 ● It's time for two weeks of tennis at the world's most prestigious Grand Slam tournament where Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Czechia's Markéta Vondrousová will be the defending champions in the men's and women's singles. Meanwhile, Sir Andy Murray is set to team up with his brother Jamie to play doubles in what could be his last ever appearance at the championships. Clare Balding and Isa Guha present the daily action, while the commentary team includes Pat Cash, Andrew Castle, Annabel Croft and John Lloyd, and expert analysis comes from tennis legends including John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova. DON'T MISS DON'T MISS Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F NETFLIX ● It's 30 years since Eddie Murphy played fast-talking cop Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop III, but now…

Nutriburst TrueRadiance, £7.99, Asda Supplements are a great way to support any serums and creams you use. This blend of grape seed, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C helps ramp up the body's collagen production so skin looks more radiant and feels more elastic. Copper and biotin are added to feed healthy hair, skin and nails too. Ted Baker Peony & Camellia Body Mist, £4 50ml, Boots Body mists are perfect for summer and we've fallen in love with this soft floral fragrance made with bright bergamot, peony and camellia. Try a spritz after your evening shower or keep in your handbag to freshen up on the go. The Inkey List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm, £11, Boots Summer can wreak havoc on your lips. If yours are dry, slather them in…

TEXT Simply text CHATD 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 Chat…

I couldn't have been prouder of my wonderful granddaughter Danielle on her wedding day with her lovely husband Lloyd. We lost her grandad six years ago and they married on what would have been his 90th birthday. Annie Davies, Warrington My 10-year-old daughter Louisa had an 'oinking' good time visiting piglets at Little Owl Farm Park in Worcestershire. They're her fave animal! Helen Cooper, Kidderminster Say hello to Bobby, my granddaughter's whippet, proudly showing off his ID badge on his first day as official 'pat dog' on university campus. Sheila Beeby, Ormskirk We pay £25 for any photos that we use on Chat To Us! Here's my amazing granddaughter Eva, 6, ready for her first dance show. Margaret Thomson, Edinburgh Despite being 14, my golden retriever Olly thinks he's still a puppy. His funny…

Agnes Bordas, 36, Dungannon, Co Tyrone Watching my daughter Sara, then 3, playing in the park, I beamed with happiness. It was July 2020 and my little girl was my pride and joy. So friendly and happy, she was always putting smiles on strangers' faces. 'Oops, watch out for that bench!' I shouted. But it was too late, Sara had bumped into it. 'Another ouchie,' I soothed, rubbing her knee. I'd noticed she'd been a little clumsy lately. Unbalanced. As her friends were finding their feet, running and jumping, Sara was growing accident-prone and uncoordinated. Had started to walk with a wide gait. Almost as if she was tipsy. 'She's always bumping into things,' I said to her dad, my partner Claudio, then 43. But we weren't too worried. Only,…

It was a tiny device, no bigger than a postage stamp. Yet the digital memory card handed to police in the city of Anchorage, Alaska, on 30 September 2019 contained unimaginable horrors. Labelled Homicide at Midtown Marriott, the SD card stored 39 photos and 12 videos. The gruesome footage showed Kathleen Henry, 30, being beaten and strangled to death in a hotel room. As Kathleen fought for her life, her attacker wasn't visible on the grainy footage. But he could be heard loud and clear, sadistically, almost cheerfully, narrating his despicable actions to an imaginary audience. Speaking in a distinctive South African accent, the man taunted Kathleen for being slow to die. 'In my movies, everybody always dies,' he said. 'What are my followers going to think of me? People…

1 Ease dryness Being dehydrated can make dryness worse. Avoid drinking too many caffeinated drinks and alcohol. 'Vaginal lubricants and specially designed moisturisers will offer a temporary solution for vulval and vaginal dryness, while oestrogen replacement or laser treatment may be more effective long-term,' says gynaecologist Tania Adib. 2 Practice safe sex Despite a YouGov poll reporting that women over 50 think their risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is 'next to nothing', you're at risk at any age. Before you embark on a new sexual relationship, go for a full STI screening and recommend that your partner does too. Visit nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health for more information. 3 Fight infections Oestrogen plays a vital role in the health of the lower genital tract, including the bladder, says Tania, and when it drops…

JUST FOR FUN Carol Carol singing has long been a popular Christmas tradition, but the name Carol, which means celebration of song, has fallen out of favour. It was one of the most popular names in 1954 yet failed to even register on the list of babies' names registered in 2022. A pity we think, and we're sure the brilliant and brainy orderman agrees. Beverley The name means beaver stream or meadow, and in the mid 1960s it was one of the top 50 girls' names in England and Wales. By the 1980s, though, it had fallen out of fashion and these days you'd surely be hard-pressed to find a little Bev running around in the playground. In 2022, just three baby girls were given the name. Wonder what super-talented…

Stuck with my ex Q I broke up with my girlfriend a few months ago. We'd been together for a while and we have a lot of common friends. I still want to see these friends but I have no interest in maintaining any contact with my ex. I feel stuck – what can I do? Penny, 31 A This is going to be a tricky one to navigate, but reach out to your friends one-on-one and explain the situation and your feelings to them. Don't ask them to choose between you and your ex – that's not fair. Just explain that you might not be at every social gathering from now on. As time passes, you might find it easier to be friendly with your ex, hun. Scared to…

In January this year, a dog walker in a Newham park, London, made an upsetting discovery. A newborn baby, little more than an hour old, alone with just a towel and a shopping bag to protect her from the sub-zero temperatures. As police appealed for her parents to come forward, without success, the nation asked themselves how anyone could abandon a baby. By June they were asking how anyone could abandon three. Police revealed that the tot, who was given the name Elsa, had two biological siblings, who had also both been abandoned in the same east London area. Her brother, Harry, found in September 2017, and sister Roman, found in February 2019 have both been adopted, while Elsa is now in foster care. Cases like this are thankfully rare,…

Aries 21 March-20 April The Moon in Aries on 28 June gives you the confidence to progress an idea you've been pondering for some time. Follow your passion for this venture. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May On 30 June, the Moon makes its return, helping you take a practical approach to a financial situation that's troubling you. Trust in the direction you know is right. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June The Moon in Gemini in early July guides you to make new connections and also reach out to old friends. Check in on someone who's been on your mind of late. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Your intuition is strong and now, more…

Q How can I get my legs ready for shorts weather? Andrea Harper, 48, Barnsley A It can be daunting getting your legs out for the first time when the sun comes out. First things first, shift rough patches with a good scrub. You can use Botanics Body Brush, £6.50, Boots, on dry skin before you get in the shower to slough dead skin, get your circulation pumping and shift the toxins that make cellulite look worse. Applying moisturiser every day will make the biggest difference. Nivea Body Q10 Multi Power 7in1 Firming + Even Oil, £9.29, Boots, has toning benefits so your wobbly bits don't feel quite so wobbly. A tan makes legs look more streamlined, so apply Dove Summer Revived Gradual Tanning Mousse, £12, Boots, every few days…

Anyone from your town in the list this week..? Chat winners issue 14 (4 April 2024) £1,001 CASH P Galassini, Penzance £500 CASH C Clatworthy, Bridgwater D Chaplin, Birmingham £250 CASH M Oxley, Sheffield L Davis, Bexhill-on-Sea £200 CASH A Heffron, Stockton-on-Tees £100 CASH P Outen, Hull M Williams, Ross-on-Wye M Martin, Craigavon £50 CASH M Vukovic, Sutton Coldfield P Baltrop, Waltham Cross S Clyma, Fareham R Hooper, Liverpool M Aldridge, Tiverton L Harris, Swindon £40 CASH C Tyrer, Redditch £30 CASH N Greaves, Macclesfield H McKernan, London £25 CASH L Duff, Reading P Butterfield, Bridgwater £20 CASH I Petrie, Wolverhampton A Heffernan, Elgin T Haylor, Freshwater T Narramore, Chippenham G Owens, Mold N Greaves, Macclesfield M Staines, Stowmarket S Fallon, Gillingham I Smith, Maldon C Buttigieg-Hall, Christchurch L Martin,…

This week we meet… Cassie Tahiraj, 36, from Manchester Who would be your dream celebrity dinner guest? I'm totally football mad, so it would have to be David Beckham. We could spend the whole evening chatting about our favourite team and players! When on holiday do you prefer relaxing on a beach or going on an adventure? When I'm on holiday it's my time to relax and unwind, so it's always the beach for me. I love getting a nice tan and taking a dip in the sea to cool off when it gets too hot. What are you known for in your family? I'm known for being crazy about football. If I'm not playing it, I'm watching it, and if I'm not watching it, I'm talking about it! What was…

In botany, sori and synangia are clusters of structures that produce what bodies? 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 1 Dog shelter (6) 2 Scottish Eurovision winner (4) 3 Wet weather equipment (8) 4 American mammal covered with bony plates (9) 5 The _ of Delphi, prophetic Greek priestess (6) 6 Of the period between 1901 and 1910 (9) 7 Deadly _, poisonous plant also known as belladonna (10) 8 Teach (7) 9 Stretchy (7) 10 Navigational aid (7) 11 Arthur Miller play Death of a _ (8) 12 Large cemetery (10) 13 Musical stressing of the off-beat as in jazz (11) 14 Midday…

CARGO STYLE TIP Always cool when worn with a crisp white shirt, or offset these masculine pants with softer, more feminine tops. LINEN JOGGERS STYLE TIP Cool and comfortable, this luxe loungewear looks great with a motif sweatshirt or soft knitted tee. CHINOS STYLE TIP Roll up the hems to show off some ankle and wear with loafers, trainers or strappy heels. FROM £9.99 PALAZZO STYLE TIP Tuck in a matching shirt to make a co-ord set or style over a swimsuit at the beach.…

Alice Palmer, 70, Liverpool Stood outside the pub, it was all I could do not to turn and run. In April 1997, I was 43, a newly divorced mum of three. My sisters Tina, then 36, and Fiona, 35, had encouraged me out on a blind date. 'You only live once,' Tina had said. 'Make the most of it,' Fiona chimed in. They'd shoved me out the door, and I'd made it to the pub to meet this John. I took a deep breath, walked in and… wow. John, then 38, was tall, with gorgeous grey eyes. 'You must be Alice,' he said, with a cheeky grin. I learned that he had a sense of humour, too. At the end of the night, he leaned against a smart blue Land…

NO-FUSS FOOD Asparagus, chicken and noodle soup Jazz up leftover roast chicken with this light, summery broth SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 10 MINS ● 1ltr chicken stock ● 25g ginger, peeled and finely sliced ● 1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped ● 2tbsp hoisin sauce ● 1tbsp fish sauce ● 8 asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 3cm lengths ● 200g medium egg noodles, cooked ● 300g cold roast chicken, shredded ● Juice 1 lime ● Small bunch coriander leaves ● Sesame oil, to serve ● 2 limes, halved, to serve 1 Pour the chicken stock into a large saucepan, add the ginger, chilli, hoisin sauce and fish sauce and simmer over a low heat for 3 mins. 2 Add the asparagus and cook for a further 2 mins.…

Alana, 27 Standing in a friend's living room as music blared, my date's face contorted in rage. We were in a new relationship and we'd gone to my friend's party. Then, after too much to drink, he'd kicked off. Now, we were having a blazing row in front of everyone. At first, I wanted the ground to swallow me up. But as my date became more angry, I started to feel scared too. Suddenly, his mate Jake, then 28, pulled him away. 'Calm down,' he said, then turned to me. 'You OK?' Jake frowned. 'I am now,' I said. My hero. I didn't know Jake well before that but, that night, we spent hours dancing, my bad date long gone. 'Thank you,' I smiled. 'For protecting me.' It was June…

Super Facialist Vegan Collagen Rejuvenating Gel Cleanser, £10, superfacialist.co.uk Cleansing is perhaps the most important step of any skincare regime. In summer, cleansing foams and gels feel light and refreshing. This one's enriched with red algae extract and hyaluronic acid to replenish moisture as it cleans. Hair Proud Deep Bond Bond Repairing Leave in Mist, £11.95, iamproud.com Hair dye and high temperatures from heat styling can weaken and break the bonds in the hair shaft, which will lead to split ends, frizz and dullness. This hair-healing treatment repairs those bonds from the inside-out so frazzled hair feels stronger and softer to the touch.…

BEHIND THE BIG CRIME TRUE-LIFE It was 1988 when William Woods and Matthew Keirans worked together on a hotdog cart. One day, William, then 19, discovered his wallet had been stolen. He questioned Matthew, then 22, then threatened him with his fist, so he handed the wallet back over. The matter was resolved. Or so it seemed… Because three decades later, in 2019, things began to unravel. By now, William was homeless in Los Angeles. He'd discovered someone had opened bank accounts under his name. Taking out loans totalling more than $200,000. Walking into a bank branch, he said he wanted to close the accounts. William handed over his ID, his social security details matching those on file in the bank. But when asked a series of security questions, he struggled…