Table of contents for 26-Mar-2020 in Chat

In a French expression denoting a wild exaggeration, what is claimed to have once blocked the port of Marseille? 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 prize puzzle answer. WIN £150 Puzzle 2 1 Fortress (6) 2 Age at which you can vote in England (8) 3 Small in width (6) 4 Ballroom dance (5) 5 Reanimated corpse (6) 6 Secretly listen in (9) 7 Celebrity photographers (9) 8 Sixth colour of the rainbow (6) 9 Edible bulb (5) 10 City in southern Italy (6) 11 Packed lunch item (8) 12 Good-looking (8) 13 Penguin species (7) 14 Water from clouds (9) 15 Five-armed marine creature (8) 16 Prisoner restraint items (9) Your…

ALL UNDER £40 BIKER STYLE TIP Keep your look casual by pairing with a maxi dress and trainers DENIM STYLE TIP Denim jackets never go out of style. Mix and match different tones for a modern look BOMBER STYLE TIP Dress up your bomber jacket with a midi skirt and block heels TRENCH COATS STYLE TIP Accentuate your waist with a chic trench coat…

Joseph Maldonado-Passage, 56, was found guilty of trying to get his rival Carole Baskin murdered twice. He was convicted of two counts of murder for-hire, eight counts of violating the Lacey Act for falsifying wildlife records, and nine counts of violating the Endangered Species Act. In January this year, he was sentenced to 22 years in jail. In a statement, Carole said: ‘I feel a sense of peace and closure because justice has been served.’ Maldonado-Passage said: ‘I still maintain my innocence and [am] looking forward, in the upcoming days, to my attorneys filing my appeal and moving on to the next step in this nightmare.’…

Can’t start your day without a piping-hot cup of coffee, or two..?  Your genes may be the reason! According to a recent study conducted by researchers from Edinburgh, Trieste and the Netherlands, our caffeine addiction may be written in our DNA. Looking at populations of people living in villages in Italy, researchers examined markers in DNA and identified a gene called PDSS2, which could affect caffeine metabolism. They then compared 1,200 people in Italy with 1,731 people in the Netherlands on their coffee habits and found that people with higher levels of PDSS2 reported drinking less coffee. The theory is that people with higher levels of this gene metabolise the caffeine slower, so need less coffee to get their ‘hit’. *…

There was blood in my urine Q I noticed blood in my wee, but it was just once. Is it safe to ignore? Helen, Redhill A You should see your GP simply because blood in your wee is an important possible sign of bladder cancer, particularly if you’re over 45, and it can often be easily treated if it’s spotted early. Less serious possibilities include a urine infection, more likely if you’ve experienced burning, stinging or the need to rush to the loo more often, or even that it isn’t blood at all – drugs such as some antibiotics, or even eating coloured sweets or beetroot can turn your urine bright red! Kidney stones, or kidney or bladder injury, can also be to blame. Some people have kidneys that leak blood…

3 ways to… talk to your kids about cash Getting your children to understand money is crucial, and you can help at every age. Here are some tips on getting started from the Yorkshire Building Society. 1 By seven years old Children should know the difference between wants and needs; it can help them understand why they can’t have everything. Ask your child to point out things at home that are ‘needs’ and things that are ‘wants’. Discuss the importance of budgeting to ensure all the ‘needs’ are paid for. 2 By 11 years old Children should be able to create and understand a basic budget. You can help them by having a chat about holidays and asking them how they think you make decisions about where to go and what to do.…

TEST KITCHEN UK Top tip If you don’t have harissa paste, add heat with crushed chillies. Spicy chickpeas on naan bread This super-quick meal is much more satisfying than a can of baked beans, and twice as tasty. SERVES 2 PREP TIME 5 MINS COOK TIME 10 MINS ● 227g can chopped tomatoes● Pinch of fennel seeds● 1tsp harissa paste● 400g can chickpeas in water, drained● Small handful fresh coriander, chopped, with a few leaves reserved for garnish● 2 mini naan breads, toasted● 2tbsp low-fat natural yogurt● ½ red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped 1 Place the canned tomatoes in a pan with the fennel seeds, harissa paste and drained chickpeas. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 5 mins, stirring occasionally. 2 Stir in half the chopped coriander…

Aries 21 March-20 April You’re not going to be tied down this week. Take a mini break or go to a place that interests you, and enjoy a different cultural scene with someone close. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You may not notice someone wanting to gain your affection, Taurus. Love is shining for you now, so come down from your cloud and join in the real fun. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Remember as a child when you saw a shooting star and made a wish? Well, this is your week to see all your dreams come true. Set your sights higher than ever! ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Love is…

Chat winners issue 52 (26 December 2019) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £1,001 CASH H Westbrook, London £1,000 CASH T Heathcote, Durham £500 CASH A Hislop, Bury St Edmunds; D Bartlett, Dagenham £250 CASH S Carr, Cardiff £150 CASH S Smith, Bolton £100 CASH R Dolan, Bingley; A Dow, Perth; M Taylor, Preston; J Swainson, Salford; P Walters, Peterborough £60 CASH P England, Grays £50 CASH S Crossley, Barthorpe; P Whalley, Manchester; M Robinson, Nottingham £30 CASH P Stephens, Newquay; K McMath, Lowthertown; H Smith, Plymouth; P McColgan, Ballymoney; B Sharratt, Oldbury £25 CASH S Long, Shildon; C DeAsha, Liverpool; T Branney, Whitehaven; F Allison, Kirkby Stephen; Mr Douglas, Isle of Lewis; S Russell, Pontefract; C Keeling, Cheadle; V Grange, Wallington; F Cross, Rugby PUZZLE 1…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 5 Halle Berry’s first name was taken from what type of Cleveland landmark? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 11 Two-piece swimsuit (6) 12 Prepare an ambush (3,2,4) 13 Corrosive substance (4) 14 State of confusion and chaos (8) 15 Navigation aid (5) 16 Jumped (6) 17 Make ready (7) 18 Actress with 21 Oscar nominations to date (5,6) 20 Pursue (5) 22 Southern US state, capital Nashville (9) 24 Facial hair (5) 28 Superhero played by Robert Downey Jr (4,3) 29 Rules over (7) 32 Greek goddess of wisdom (6) 34 Baby frogs (8) 36 Put off, delay (8) 37 __ Hemingway, writer (6) 39 Predict in advance (7) 40 Chemical substance (7) 45…

Zoe Pearce, 27, Billingham, Teesside Sitting on my sofa, I noticed my friend’s eyes fixed on my legs. ‘They look like Plasticine sausages,’ she blurted. I don’t think she meant it to be cruel. She was just making an observation. An accurate one at that. See, at 13, my tummy was rounder and legs chunkier than any of the girls in my class. But from that day on, I became more conscious of the size of my legs, always hid them away. Wore long, loose skirts or baggy trousers. On holiday, I always covered up, never posed for pictures. And I reasoned my legs were so large because I was overweight. A size 22 on top and a 24 in my legs, I didn’t like the way I looked. Felt…

Blaming the kids for your grey hair has long been a light-hearted joke, but a recent study looking at the negative affects that a ‘fight or flight’ response has on the body, found that they could in fact be to blame! Chemicals released during this stress response – specifically norepinephrine – causes pigment-producing stem cells to activate early, using up the hair’s reserves of colour. And as we all know, colour can’t be rejuvenated, so once it’s gone, it’s gone! Stress isn’t the only factor though; our genes and diet also play a role. In a 2018 study where mice were given a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet, they experienced artery inflammation and also started going grey and losing their hair.***…

Q Do you ever wear a disguise? A No, never! I actually have very bright hair and often wear bright clothes. People aren’t expecting to be investigated by a private detective, so I don’t have to go incognito. You don’t have to be physically fit, either – there are no big chases involved! Q What’s your most interesting case been? A I was tasked with tracking down the co-author of a book that was written decades ago. It was recently turned into a TV show and my client wanted to know why they’d not received any royalties. It took weeks to put together as the writer had no internet trail. I managed to track them through their niece. I got the info and the client got their money! Q Can…

The Trainline has launched a new feature in its app called SplitSave that could reduce the cost of your train tickets. It finds customers clever combinations of tickets on 64% of routes nationwide that can save them money by ‘splitting’ their trip into multiple legs. Customers don’t necessarily need to change trains, they just have to show different tickets along their journey. For more info, t&cs and to download the app, visit thetrainline.com SAVING OF THE WEEK FOOD OFFER Pick up a free takeaway with Just Eat if you’re a new member of TopCashback. Sign up and get 100%, up to £15, back on your Just Eat order via TopCashback.co.uk/justeat-2020-tcb/ Valid until 28 June.…

Samara Davis, 20, Portsmouth Try as I might, I just couldn’t focus on the exam paper in front of me. I was sitting my GCSEs – the pathway to A levels, then uni. I had to do well. But all I could think about was the pain I was in. I was 16 and suffered heavy and painful periods. Every month, I’d be bed-bound. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Nothing the doctors gave me helped. ‘Why me?’ I’d cry to my mum, Sharon, 54. Though I’d always been academic, I fell behind with my studies. And here I was now, wondering how I’d get through the next hour. In the end, it was a miracle I scraped five GCSEs. Then, that summer, I collapsed at home. Scans showed…

Rena Ramani, 42, north London True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK As the shower water splashed my back, I let out a little yelp. Though it wasn’t scalding hot, my skin was prickling. And, even as I dried and dressed, the sensation didn’t let up. ‘Is there something on my back?’ I asked Mum. Moving my hair, her fingers touched a patch on the base of my neck. It felt particularly sore and Mum said it was red. ‘It’s probably heat rash,’ she soothed. ‘It’ll go in a few days.’ Only, a few weeks passed and the rash spread. Covering my back and torso, even stretching down my arms and legs. It was August 1990 and, aged 12, I was confused about what was happening to my skin. Concerned that it was spreading,…

40% of people say they google symptoms and self-medicate rather than seeking a doctor when they’re unwell. But more than 40% say that checking the internet increases their anxiety about seeing a doctor.**** WE PAY CASH We’ll pay cash, or mention a charity of your choice, if we print your health story. Write to Your Health, Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP or phone 020 3148 6150. You can send your story or email the Doc at chathealth@ti-media.com. Always consult your pharmacist or GP before using any over-the-counter or prescription remedies, and read the packet carefully.…

BANKER FOUND DEAD Carol Wardell’s body was found dumped in a lay-by on 12 September 1994. Her husband Gordon was discovered bound and gagged and wearing just his underpants at their home in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. The Woolwich Building Society where Carol worked had been robbed of £14,000 and Gordon claimed he’d been ambushed by a gang of men in clown masks. But despite his seemingly solid alibi, Gordon Wardell had in fact strangled his wife to death. He was found guilty of murder and jailed for life. LOUGHINISLAND MASSACRE Six men were killed when gunmen opened fire in a pub in Loughinisland, Co Down, on 18 June 1994. The shooters burst into the packed Heights Bar and shot 11 men before fleeing. The bar was busy because the Republic of…

We’ve stopped having sex Q I’ve been with my boyfriend for a year. It’s near perfect but four months in, we stopped having sex. My sex drive’s really high, it’s all I think about. I’ve tried talking about it but he changes the subject or blames work stress. I care about him and feel he’s the one I could marry and have children with. Apparently, he feels the same and wants to live together. I’d consider it if we were intimate, but need him to know it’s a huge issue. Mary, 38 A Most people actually need to have sex to have kids! If there’s no intimacy, what are you doing that makes you a close, loving couple? To be honest, I’m not sure how far this relationship will go. Face it…

Logging back online later, we were overwhelmed. There were so many messages. Congratulations! You go, girl! Everyone was so lovely! That afternoon, we took the boys to the swimming pool as wife and wife, both wearing tankinis. I was feeling nervous, protective. Then Toby bounded over to introduce a new friend. ‘These are my two mums, my Mummy and my Eema,’ he gushed proudly. And at that moment, I knew for sure we were going to be just fine. Sarah received a warm welcome from friends, family, and the school that she taught at. We binned all of the men’s clothing and replaced it with floral dresses and miniskirts. We could share a wardrobe, both of us fitting into a size 10-12! In October 2018, Sarah had the breast-augmentation surgery, boosting…

Drivers will find it easier to get parking fines cancelled if they’ve made a simple error keying in their registration when paying for parking. Under the British Parking Association’s revised code of practice for parking on private land, operators must show leniency when one number or letter is typed wrong, or where the registration has been keyed in the wrong order, if they appeal a penalty. Did you know? House prices in the UK have more than trebled since the turn of the millennium, new research by Halifax reveals. At the end of 1999, the average house price was £91,199. However, by November 2019, that figure was £279,997. TOP TIP Log into your online bank account once a month to make sure you’re not shelling out on direct debits you…

Coronation Street Will Gemma get help? After the health visitor pays a visit to No.5, it becomes clear that Gemma’s far from OK when she works herself into a state, bursts into tears and brands herself an unfit mum. Realising her daughter isn’t well, Bernie offers to move in to lend a hand, but only if Gemma sees a doctor. Will she get help? EastEnders Can Ian keep his secret hidden? Having learnt that Phil caused the boat disaster, Sharon blames him for Denny’s death, and goes ballistic when he turns up on the day of her son’s funeral. When Ian destroys footage that shows he’s to blame for the drowning, he thinks he’s got the upper hand over Dotty – but has he? Emmerdale What’s up with Victoria? Victoria…

Q How do I get rid of dark circles under my eyes? Julia Gornall, 57 A It’s not just about getting your eight hours of sleep a night – from sun exposure to pollution, there are a number of factors that can contribute to dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. Often, dehydration is the main cause; the skin around your eyes is very thin and when you’re dehydrated you retain more water, which can make your face and eye area look puffy. So, it’s important to target the area directly. CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, £12, Boots, is designed to give your skin a burst of hydration thanks to hyaluronic acid (this means your skin won’t be dry and concealer won’t get into the creases, either). You could also try…

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