Table of contents for 20-May-2021 in Chat

How much did the tooth fairy bring when you were a kid? I felt lucky to pocket 50p, whereas five-year-old Amaya (p19) woke up to £50 under her pillow! What she did with it shows what a special girl she is. Another big-hearted lady is Charlotte, who adopted her pooch Bumble knowing that he didn’t have long (p24). Now she’s making his doggy dreams come true. And Christine’s act of kindness – and forgiveness – will have you asking if you could ever do the same (p6). You’ll find all your faves like puzzles, fashion (p12), food (p40), health (p20) and loads more. Stay safe and well this week.…

STYLE TIP A versatile frock will have all your summertime style needs covered. Wear with a cropped jacket that highlights the waist. STYLE TIP Transform a satin skirt for daytime wear by pairing it with an oversized sweatshirt and chunky trainers. STYLE TIP Step out in style in leg-lengthening wide-leg trousers. Swap out trainers for heels, for a dressier feel. STYLE TIP Allow this statement knit to take centre stage by teaming it with a classic white shirt and blue jeans.…

Jason Williford was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Kathy Taft, first-degree rape and non-felonious breaking and entering. The jury of six men and six women deliberated for more than five hours, before reaching its verdict that he had intended to attack and kill Kathy. Williford sat with his head bowed as Superior Court Judge Paul Gessner read aloud the verdicts, before turning to tell his parents, sister and grandmother that he loved them. Outside the court, Kathy’s family said that they agreed with the verdict. ‘Using all the excuses that they tried to give for this demon didn’t work and I think he got exactly what he deserved,’ said Kathy’s daughter Jessica Gorall. ‘This will never bring back Mom, but at least now I just feel like I…

Think before you rest ‘The advice is no longer bed rest for a bad back,’ says physio Neil Velleman. ‘Generally the advice used to be to lie down and rest until the pain went. But now we like to keep people moving – in the right way.’ There are guidelines about the best exercises to perform, so talk to your physio or GP for advice about your specific problem. And stretch Research in the UK and US has found that stretching muscles in yoga can ease symptoms of arthritis around joints, and help lift depression linked to the condition. ‘Yoga works by building strength, improving flexibility, and reducing joint and muscle pain,’ says yoga teacher Cheryl MacDonald (yogabellies.co.uk). If you have back problems, talk to your GP for advice before…

Legendary physicist and author of A Brief History of Time, the late Stephen Hawking, was born in Oxford in January 1942. Oxford University is the world’s second-oldest university, dating back to 1096 – and only knocked off the top spot by the University of Bologn a, which opened eight years earlier. Sir Roger Bannister completed the first ever under-four-minute mile – at the Iffley Road track in Oxford – clocking 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds. The record is now held by Hicham El Guerrouj, who ran it in 3:43:13.…

Navigating the world of online dating isn’t easy for anyone. But model Bri Scalesse, 26, found it tougher than most. You see, Bri was in a car accident, aged 6, which left her paralysed from the waist down. She has used a wheelchair ever since. As she looked for love, all most men saw was her chair – or they would ask intrusive questions about her sex life. Bri says, ‘You get people who say strange things, and ask really forward questions. ‘Sometimes they’ll use the chair as part of a pick-up line, and will say “What happened? Why are you like this? Is this forever?” before even saying “Hey, what’s up”.’ For a while, Bri hid her disability on social media, hoping that would help to match her with…

Fuss-free salmon with tarragon hollandaise The easiest, and most delicious, way to cook a large piece of fish. SERVES 8 PREP TIME 10 MINS COOK TIME 20 MINS • 50g butter • 1kg boneless salmon side • 2 lemons • 200ml dry vermouth (such as Noilly Prat, Martini) • 300ml vegetable stock • 200g jar ready-made hollandaise sauce • 200ml carton half-fat creme fraiche • 1 small bunch tarragon, chopped • Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon 1 Heat oven to 200°C/ Gas 6. Line a roasting tin with a sheet of foil. Rub some butter on the foil. Lay the salmon on the foil, skin-side down. Season, then sprinkle with juice of 1 lemon. 2 Pour over the dry vermouth and veg stock. Dot with the…

Aries 21 March-20 April Focus is on family life and building connections where relationships are concerned. Change is coming, and you want to move forward with a clear path. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You may try to recreate the cuisine of another country. Enjoy! You are an amazing cook, as you have a deep interest in flavour, spices and eating well. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Thinking of starting a new health kick or an exercise regime? Book in to see a fitness coach who will help you to stay on track and increase your energy levels. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July To achieve as much as possible in the most…

What connects Jarvis Cocker and David Beckham? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the six-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Spin (5) 4 Late actor, _ Wayne (4) 6 Spring flower (8) 13 Went around a planet (7) 14 Let out of prison (7) 15 Church tower (5) 16 Gloomy (4) 17 Renowned (6) 18 Chaotic failure (6) 20 Notified, informed (4) 21 Blusher (5) 22 Citrus fruit (6) 25 Without fear (8) 28 Payment method (6) 30 Banish (5) 32 Joni _, Canadian singer-songwriter (8) 34 Disney film, _ and the Beast (6) 35 Come to a halt (4) 38 Athlete (6) 39 Game of Thrones actor, _ Dinklage (5) 40 Protector or benefactor (6) 43 Young woman (4) 44 Extraterrestrial beings…

Samantha Field, 33, Stevenage Holding up a tiny tooth, my daughter Amaya, then 5, gave me a gappy grin. ‘Do you think the tooth fairy will come?’ she asked. It was February 2021 and Amaya had had two teeth out at the dentist. They’d been causing her some pain. As predicted, the next morning, Amaya awoke to find money under her pillow. Only, instead of the usual £1, it was a wad of cash! See, as an only child and grandchild, Amaya was always being treated – by grandparents, aunts and uncles, plus her dad who I’d split from. And after her bravery at the dentist, they couldn’t help but top up her loot. ‘Fifty pounds!’ Amaya gasped, counting the notes. Amaya was a very grateful and sweet little girl.…

Something wrong with his semen? Q My boyfriend’s semen has a yellow tinge. Is that normal? Clara, London A It could be. Normal semen is grey-white in colour, becoming clear after a few minutes if it’s left to stand, but this does vary from one man to another. Food or medicines can have an effect, for example turmeric, or some vitamin supplements, can cause a green or yellow tinge. The antibiotic metronidazole can turn semen yellow-brown and anything containing lots of colouring – sweets, drinks, even beetroot – can affect semen colour. If the yellow tinge is normal for him, or if it comes and goes over a couple of days, it’s probably safe to ignore, but if it persists, he should check with his doctor to rule out rarer…

ARROW WORD Impressionist painters were often criticised for having a ‘mania’ for which colour, often using the ‘manganese’ shade of it in their paintings? 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. WIN £1,000 Puzzle 10 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 Which UK Prime Minister was widely referred to as the ‘Grand Old Man’? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ATTLEE BLAIR BROWN CAMERON CHURCHILL EDEN…

FILL ME IN The Italia and Sfalassà viaducts, the two highest bridges in Italy, are both found in which region? 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: WIN £100 Puzzle 14 CIRCLE TIME Which city topped The Economist Intelligence Unit’s list of the most liveable cities in 2018-19? Fit the words into the grid, read the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters APE MOO NIL NOR OIL PAR SKY TAP THE YOU 4 letters DELI DILL EDIT KIWI OPEN TYPE VINE 5 letters FUNGI PULSE PURSE 6 letters ALTARS EMPLOY PERMIT PUFFIN RANGER VIDEOS 8 letters LONESOME Your answer: WIN £100 Puzzle 15 TO ENTER Turn to page…

3 way to… Keep your jewellery safe Whether it’s a new treasure or a family heirloom, make sure your jewellery’s protected, says Aviva. 1 Check you’re covered ‘Many insurers require items over a certain value to be listed separately on home contents policies if they are above a ‘single item limit’, typically between £1,000 and £2,000,’ says Sarah Applegate, Head of Risk for Aviva General Insurance. ‘Some insurers may also put a total limit on valuables. So it’s essential you check your policy to make sure you have enough cover in place.’ 2 Know the value ‘It’s also important to consider how items can fluctuate in value. ‘The price of gold is particularly high at the moment compared with recent years, so items that were under a single item limit…

Maybelline Sky High Mascara, £9.99 The flexi brush head gets to the very root of the lashes, and draws the fibre formula up beyond the tips to create the most startling length and volume we’ve seen from a mascara. Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color, £5.79, amazon.co.uk Achieve salon shine at home with this cosseting colourant enriched with five natural, vegan-friendly oils. Colour-boost technology means your shade stays vibrant for longer. Collection Lasting Perfection Glow Foundation, £6.49, Superdrug If you love the bestselling matte version, this will be your go-to base for spring and beyond. It gives the same full coverage with a flattering and youthful gleam. St. Moriz Colour Correcting Tanning Mousse, £9.99, Boots We rate the original and St. Moriz has gone one better by adding special hues that neutralise…

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Christine Temlett, 75, Plymouth With a mischievous smile, my brother Sam rubbed his stubbly cheek against mine. ‘Ouch, get off,’ I giggled. It was summer 1956, I was 10 and playing snakes and ladders with my older brothers. Sam, then 24, loved teasing me. My other brother Tim, then 22, had a temper. Was often moody. ‘I’m not playing,’ he snapped, throwing the board. ‘Only because Christine’s winning,’ Sam laughed as Tim stormed off. Still, it was good having them around. Especially because my dad Jack, then 48, worked 12-hour shifts in a clay quarry. And since my mum Ruby, then 52, had suffered a stroke years earlier, she was mostly bedridden. I’d sit by her, read to her and we would listen to Cliff Richard and Elvis on the…

Harriet Stuckey, 27, Bridgewater Shoving another crisp into my mouth, I frowned. I had blood on my hands… ‘Won’t be a minute,’ I said to my flatmate, popping to the loo. But, peering into the mirror, I gasped. It was suddenly clear where it had come from. My mouth was filled with blistering, bleeding ulcers. Over the next few days they got worse. It hurt to talk and I felt exhausted, too. ‘I’m probably just rundown,’ I said to my boss at the life insurance company where I worked. I was travelling around Australia and had just celebrated my 23rd birthday by climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I was sure I’d feel better. But I didn’t. In fact, I felt worse. My mouth was so sore, I could barely eat,…

It should’ve been a fresh start for Kathy Taft. A popular mum-of-four and grandmother-of-five, Kathy had worked in education for years. Now, in March 2010, aged 62, she’d just had a facelift and was recovering at her partner’s house in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her other half was away, so her sister Dina was keeping her company. They watched movies and ate ice cream, before Dina helped Kathy into bed around 9pm, and then fell asleep on the sofa. Around 3am, Dina woke to strange noises. ‘Who is in this house?’ she called. Getting up, she noticed the front door was unlocked. After checking outside, she locked it, assuming they were safe. Dina went to her sister’s room, pushing the door ajar, but leaving the light off. It was six hours…

Melissa Rose, 21, Chorley Stepping on the plane, I couldn’t wait for my holiday to Italy. It was June 2019 and my first trip away with my boyfriend Ed, then 19. Only, for a few weeks, I’d been having toilet troubles. Back and forth to the loo, stomach cramps, sickness. ‘I’ll be fine,’ I told my parents before leaving for the airport. ‘Be careful,’ my mum Louise, then 53, warned. See, she knew all too well how I was feeling. So did my dad, Howard, 57. Dad suffered with irritable bowel syndrome and Mum had Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory gut condition. When I’d got symptoms, I’d tried not to worry. Surely not me, as well? I was on a placement for my Veterinary Science degree, dreamt of being a vet.…

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 Sophia Turner, Bournemouth, Dorset ACROSS 1 Street 2 Unwrap 3 Eye inflammation 4 Throw DOWN 1 Oxide coating 2 Discovered 3 Battle of 255BC 4 Carries out WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer HALF & HALF What is formed in the process known as speleogenesis? 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 £100 Puzzle 7 Your answer BRICK TRICK What is the name of the parrot that was named Official Spokesbird for Conservation by the…

FIRST EDITION MURDER Oxford bookseller Adrian Greenwood, 42, was brutally stabbed to death as his killer tried to steal a rare first edition of children’s book The Wind in the Willows. In April 2016, Michael Danaher, 50, attacked the well-known historian and book dealer. Danaher, intent on stealing the edition worth around £50,000, knifed his defenceless victim 16 times. Michael Danaher was arrested that October and jailed for life with a minimum term of 34 years. TOO SMART FOR PRISON? A medical student avoided prison despite a knife attack on her lover, after a judge said she was too intelligent to serve time. The judge was criticised after saying he wouldn’t jail Lavinia Woodward, 24, because it would ‘prevent this extraordinarily able young lady from following her desire to enter…

Plants in the brassica genus, such as cabbage and broccoli, can be referred to with what term, derived from the Latin for ‘stalk’? Solve the crossword, then read down the yellow squares. The shaded squares will spell out the prize answer. ACROSS 1 Sealed tin (3) 3 Ancient (3) 5 Scottish folk hero, _ Roy (3) 6 Was in front (3) 7 ‘Long time, no _’ (3) DOWN 1 Thor actor, _ Hemsworth (5) 2 High-born (5) 4 Extinct bird (4) WIN £50 Puzzle 6 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Not ready for kids Q I’m graduating from uni soon, and my fiancé is desperate to have a baby, while I want to start my career, get married and see the world before having a family. All his friends have babies, which doesn’t help. His face lights up around them and he’s amazing with children, but I’m just not ready. I feel guilty and selfish because it’s what he really wants. He’s incredibly understanding and doesn’t push the issue, but whenever anyone asks about kids, he looks disappointed. Any advice? Shannon, 24 A You two aren’t on the same page, are you, pet? Have a chat with him. Tell him you love babies, too, but you aren’t yet ready for a littl’un. Having a baby changes everything, so tell him…

Q I’m house-hunting and an estate agent has asked if I have an ‘agreement in principle’. What is that? S Smith, York A An agreement in principle, also known as a mortgage in principle or decision in principle, is a statement from a lender to say how much they would lend you ‘in principle’, based on the details you’ve provided. And having one may mean a buyer takes you more seriously if you make an offer. But it’s important to note that an agreement in principle isn’t a mortgage offer or official confirmation that you have a mortgage. To get that you’ll need to go through the full application process.…

Whitstable Pearl ACORN TV The picturesque town of Whitstable on the Kent coast is the setting for this six-part crime drama which stars After Life’s Kerry Godliman. She plays restaurant owner Pearl Nolan, who turns amateur sleuth and suspects foul play when she discovers the body of a family friend… Loki DISNEY+ Tom Hiddleston reprises his role as Loki, aka the God of Mischief, in this new Marvel series which follows the events of Avengers: Endgame and sees our hero stepping out of the shadow of his brother, Thor. Owen Wilson and Richard E Grant also star. Professor T ITV Set against the stunning backdrop of Cambridge, this six-part crime drama stars former Death in Paradise actor Ben Miller as criminologist and tortured genius Professor Jasper Tempest. Enola Holmes’ Frances…

Q+A Grapefruit Cleansing Balm, £9, qandaskin.com Made from a nourishing blend of fruit and vegetable oils, cocoa butter and natural squalane, not only will this cleanser blast through make-up, it’s got great green credentials too – 100% natural, vegan-friendly and recyclable. Lush Ultrabland Facial Cleanser, £9, uk.lush.com Look at the online reviews to see how good this is. Those with acne, eczema and psoriasis say it gives a deep cleanse without irritation, leaving only soft, healthy-looking skin behind. Almond oil and honey give a buttery-soft texture. The Body Shop Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, £11 The gentle, non-irritating balm melts into skin, removing all traces of make-up and is suitable for contact-lens wearers Massage a small amount into skin and remove with a muslin cloth. TOP TIP Apply a little hand cream…

Chat winners issue 07 (18 February) £1001 CASH E Wilkin, Norwich £1000 CASH E Townson, Beckenham £500 CASH M Clarkson, Whitby; D Furness, Northolt £250 CASH A Akujee, Manchester £150 CASH G Norris, Northampton £100 CASH J Ellis, Cardiff; G Spenton, Wisbech; W Netto, Bristol; B Leonard, Chester; S Peel, Colwyn Bay £60 CASH S Haigh, Doncaster £50 CASH J Gavin, Birmingham; J Fieki, Dagenham; C Timmins, Newent £30 CASH W Edgar, Omagh; S Edwards, Rugeley; I Williams, Walsall; F Scott, Torquay; A Emsden, Coventry £25 CASH J Edmunds, Mold; B Evennett, London; J Kilvert, Southampton; Y Hinchcliffe, Huddersfield; A Hope, Walsall; M Currall, Workington; M Wilkinson, Grimsby; D Munro, Melrose; P Wallace, Ballyclare Chat PUZZLE 2 REBUS Chat PUZZLE 11 839 Chat PUZZLE 16 PALEOLITHIC ERA ● All contributions…

My Donny, I’ll never forget cuddling you for the first time. It was September 2003, and your dad Phillip, then 29, and I had talked about adopting for years. Your dad grew up in a children’s home, you see. You were just 2, and oh, so cute. Sadly, though, you’d suffered neglect in those first years. We didn’t know what you’d been through, but your development was delayed. You didn’t crawl, walk or talk. And with no other children, I had no one to compare your milestones against. We were patient, hopeful, cheered you on. At home, we taught you Makaton sign language, helping you communicate with us. By September 2006, aged 5, you were still non-verbal and doctors diagnosed you with global development delay and ADHD. Suspected you could…