Table of contents for 27 January 2022 in Chat

Kerry’s business is the proper dog’s doodahs (p30). Check out those pretty pups! I’m jealous – if I tried to get my beagle into a ball gown, it’d be a shredded pile of taffeta in mere minutes! Don’t forget to send us your fun pet pics. We pay for every one we publish! Elsewhere in Chat, you’ll discover why Effy was deemed a human health hazard (p37) and the miracle that united Cordelia and her stepsister (p10). We’ve got bakes worthy of Mary Berry that are a cinch to make (p40), a guide to the jeans that will actually suit you (p12), and bright bits to add colour to your kitchen (p29). Stay safe and well this week. GET IN TOUCH! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com FACEBOOK facebook.com/ChatMagazine POST Chat, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace,…

WIDE LEG STYLE TIP Skimming over thighs and highlighting your waist, this style is seriously flattering. Try colourful versions, too. MOM STYLE TIP These slimming trews sit looser on the leg, before drawing the eye inwards at the ankle. Tuck in a T-shirt and add trainers. BOOTCUT STYLE TIP Do you dare to flare? This curve-hugging denim accentuates your figure. Wear with heeled ankle boots for extra height. SKINNY FROM £7 STYLE TIP This tight-fitting design never goes out of style. Wear with a floaty top to balance out the look.…

On 22 February 2018, Superior Court Justice Ann Murray found Philip Scott Fournier, then 57, guilty of first-degree murder. She sentenced him to 45 years in prison. Joyce McLain’s mum Pamela sat in the front row behind prosecutors during the hearing and smiled with relief after the verdict. Fournier’s conviction brought to an end nearly four decades of waiting for justice for her beloved daughter. ‘It took 37 and a half years and you’ll never see a happier mother than this one is right here, right now, today,’ she said on the steps of the court. But Joyce’s uncle, Daniel Hale, said Fournier’s conviction was never going to bring Joyce back. ‘I feel bad for his family. His mother? I mean, my God,’ he added. The judge found the motive…

Caroline Palmer, 27, Catherington, Hampshire I was a nervous wreck that day, bringing my first boyfriend home to meet my parents. ‘Dad, this is George,’ I said shakily. It was May 2010, and me and George, then 15, had met at school. I fancied him like mad so I hoped my dad Nick, then 50, wouldn’t torture him with questions or demand to know his intentions for me! ‘You into football, lad?’ he asked instead. ‘I’m a Chelsea fan,’ George grinned to him. ‘That’s a no then,’ said Dad – a Man City supporter – ribbing him. Me, my mum Vanessa, then 48, and older sisters Rachel, then 21, and Lorraine, 23, just watched the pair of them bantering away. From that day on, George was part of the family.…

Sipping cocktails in the garden with her mum, Emily Green is determined to enjoy her 20s. ‘Live in the moment,’ she says, raising her glass. It’s a brave and mature declaration from the 22-year-old, because she’s known since she was 16 that life wasn’t always going to be easy for her. ‘I was born without pretty much all of my vagina,’ she says. Emily has Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH), which affects one in 5,000 women. ‘It means I was born without a uterus and a fully formed vagina. I’ve got both ovaries, which hopefully are healthy, but I won’t be able to find that out for a few years yet. ‘When I found out, it was really tough, I was just so humiliated and embarrassed by it. ‘I didn’t want people…

Looking at the kids’ downcast faces as they pulled up my size 24 jeans and tied my laces, something hit me. I can’t keep doing this to them, I realised. Vowing they’d never see me in this state again, I started researching. Diets hadn’t worked before, so maybe I needed something drastic. ‘I’m going to have gastric-sleeve surgery,’ I told Mum in January 2019. I explained that, during the hour-long keyhole op, a surgeon would remove part of my stomach, leaving it much smaller. So I couldn’t eat as much. I found that Irmet Hospital in Turkey would do the procedure, and started saving my pennies. I had an enlarged liver due to my size, so was put on a very low-calorie, low-carb and low-fat diet for two weeks, designed…

Caramel swirl loaf cake Gorgeously sweet and sticky, this cake looks amazing and tastes great too. SERVES 12 PREP TIME 15 MINS COOK TIME 45-50 MINS • 175g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing • 175g golden caster sugar • 3 large eggs • Grated zest of 1 lemon • Few drops vanilla extract • 125g self-raising flour • 100g ground almonds • 1-2tbsp milk • ½ x 397g can Nestlé Caramel For the frosting: • 250g full-fat soft cheese • 80g soft light brown sugar • Toasted pecans, to decorate 1 Grease a 900g loaf tin and line with a strip of baking paper overhanging at each end. Using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add the eggs, beating well between each…

Aries 21 March-20 April A new friendship is coming your way. It feels fated, as if you were destined to meet. Their charming wit will keep you amused for hours and they bring an invitation. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May An unusual idea is making you smile. It’s a long-lost family tradition which needs updating, but it’ll be adopted by your family and enjoyed every spring. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Take time to snuggle up on the sofa with your pet. This will relax you as well as lower your blood pressure. Animals have such healing benefits and endless love. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July With your close family ties, keep…

Q How can I disguise my greys without going to the salon and spending a fortune on a colourist appointment? Tabitha, Reading A Keeping greys under control without going to the salon is easy with some nifty products and a little know-how! Home-highlighting kits are more advanced than ever and are great for extending the time between visits to your colourist. We like L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect by Excellence Layered-Tone Flattering Crème Colour, £7.99, Boots. It gives natural-looking colour in a range of shades and, strategically placed where you need it, conceals greys and makes any grown-out colour less obvious. Try applying it with a small tinting brush in ‘babylights’ – superfine highlights that add sparkle. This technique gives a sun-kissed look to hair and disguises pesky greys by reducing…

Always call 999 if you’re worried about a child’s immediate safety. Common signs of abuse include: unexplained changes in behaviour or personality, becoming withdrawn, anxious or uncharacteristically aggressive, lacking social skills, poor relationship with a parent, knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for age, running away or going missing, wearing clothes that cover their body. Contact the NSPCC free on 0808 800 5000, email help@nspcc.org.uk or visit nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe. Children can contact Childline free on 0800 1111.…

Chat winners issue 42 (21 October 2021) £1,001 CASH R Westwood, Lewes £1,000 CASH V Corkey, Armagh £500 CASH P Smith, Harrogate; P Wilkinson, Houghton-le-Spring £250 CASH D Featherstone, Swanage £150 CASH A Wakeham, Sutton £100 CASH L Pilkington, Leeds; J Sharman, Leicester; A Bird, Highbridge; C Hindle, Birmingham; A McIntyre, Tenby £60 CASH B McCarthy, Chester £50 CASH P Clark, Newport; Y Bishop, Kidlington; T Ohara, Carmarthen £30 CASH P Smith, Isle of Man; C Hartley, Bradford; J Hemsley, Swadlincote; I Howman, Wymondham; M Sugden, Bishop Auckland £25 CASH J Dicerbo, Nuneaton; L Moss, Solihull; S Flemons, Rushden; J Goldie, Dumfries; S Flaherty, Merthyr Tydfil; J Ellam, Colne; S Northend, Middlesbrough; S Hinton, Margate; A Woolley, Leicester Chat PUZZLE 1 234 Chat PUZZLE 2 SLEIGH Chat PUZZLE 12 756…

My lovely daughter Sue celebrated her birthday recently and her friend invited her for a night out with Ant and Dec… Patricia Cordon, Cheltenham Our horse, Blue, is the most gentle creature we’ve ever known. We love being close to him and he doesn’t mind all those cuddles and kisses from my daughter Catrin. Ceri Collier, Dinbych Our garden fence is the perfect place for our hide-and-seek-loving 3-year-old, Kitti. Andrea Evans, Rhuthun My golden retriever Charlie was not impressed with having to wear his new bath robe after he got soaking wet, following a walk. The look of shame on his face! Laura Smith, Finedon I’m already counting down the days until spring comes round again. Yvonne Karusseit, Melbourne Having a snow day is always a bonus when you’re little,…

THE BIGGIE What connects royal sportswoman Zara Tindall and Spice Girl Mel B? To find out, solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Goes first (5) 4 Select (4) 6 Tube (8) 13 Bunch of flowers (7) 14 Somebody else (7) 15 Holy person (5) 16 Water from clouds (4) 17 Grief (6) 18 George _, author (6) 20 Slender (4) 21 Short moral story (5) 22 Consent to receive (6) 25 Taking away (8) 28 Animals (6) 30 Be alive (5) 32 Funny drawings (8) 34 Rebellion (6) 35 Couch (4) 38 Finishing (6) 39 Bury (5) 40 Short high-pitched cry (6) 43 Mark as correct (4) 44 Waterways (6) 45 Clapping (8) 48 Unit of volume (5) 49…

Do I really need to be ‘safe’? Q I’m 52 and going through my menopause but my GP wants me to keep using contraception. Surely there’s no need? Diane, Rugby A Your chances of getting pregnant are very low, but not zero, and GPs recommend if you have your menopause after 50 you should still use contraception until you’ve had no periods for a year. If you’re younger and your periods stop before 50, you should keep using it for another two years. If you don’t have menopause until 55, pregnancy is very unlikely and you probably don’t need contraception. Your options change when you’re older – the increased risk of blood clots means your GP probably won’t give you the combined pill, say, but as your fertility is lower…

Legen-dairy! From Shirley Ballas to John Barrowman, Chat loves a cheesy celeb. And with her catchphrase ‘I’m the GC, babes’ none fits the category quite like Gemma Collins. A self-confessed diva, Gemma’s meltdowns on Celebrity Big Brother got a little, er, grating... It’s Cheddar on the dance floor… A mozzarella-fest makes a wedding, and nothing beats 80s power ballads or an ABBA/Steps mash-up. But then the Grease Megamix comes on and you’re on the dance floor in time to croon, ‘Met a boy, cute as can be…’ Macarena follows and you still know the moves, but by Puppy Love you know it’s time to pack up the cheese and go. Cracker with that? Sometimes you can’t get feta than a good cheesy joke, but this one’s so bad we really…

FILL ME IN What is the name of the southernmost active volcano on Earth, located on Antarctica’s Ross Island? 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 £100 puzzle 14 Your answer: CIRCLE TIME The tombs of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal are located in which Indian city? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters ARE DOT EFT EWE FAT INN TAD TIC TOE YES 4 letters EARN EATS LYNX PLAY POEM RUNG YETI 5 letters DEFER DELTA GRUMP 6 letters EXPIRE FEISTY GADGET TENNIS UPLOAD URGENT 8 letters MAGNETIC WIN £100 puzzle 15 Your answer: TO…

3 ways to...change your money mindset Financial psychologist Kim Stephenson has worked with Mortgage Advice Bureau to give his tips on how to improve how you feel about your dosh. 1 What matters to you most? ‘Lots of negative emotions associated with money, like embarrassment, shame and guilt, can come from pressure we put on ourselves to keep up with the Joneses. But rather than competing to try to impress others, consider what matters to you most and be grateful for what you already have,’ advises Kim. ‘You may find jotting down a few things a day that you’re grateful for – whether that’s the weather or a text from a friend – gives you something positive to focus on, rather than the negatives.’ 2 Deal better with stress ‘The…

Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken 5-in-1 Concealer, £9.99, Boots Exhausted? Fight the effects of fatigue and conceal even the darkest circles with this brightening, creamy concealer. It’s great for all skin types and basically a great night’s sleep in a bottle. O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Overnight Intensive Hand Cream, £9.99, Boots The cold, windy weather of winter can take its toll on your hands, leaving them cracked and dry, but use this hand cream before bed and you’ll wake up with fully restored skin by morning. Pure Ultimate Cleanse Rose Cleansing Balm, £12, M&S For unbeatably clean skin, use this ultra-rich cleansing balm. It breaks down make-up in a flash, plus it has a lovely, light rose scent and leaves skin clean, refreshed and hydrated. Essence Volumising Collagen Lip Balm, £2.45, justmylook.com…

Mary Reading, 54, Liskeard Just hours into my shift, my phone rang. I sighed. Just as I feared, it was the school. No doubt asking me to pick up my son Alex, 12. ‘What’s he done now?’ I groaned, waiting to hear how he’d damaged something or been cheeky. My Alex was a handful, that’s for sure. Bringing him up with three other sons, a stepson and stepdaughter was hard. But I was his mum, I loved him just the same. And despite Alex’s wayward nature, he had a heart of gold. Would play for hours with his stepsister. When he was diagnosed with ADHD, everything made sense. We all accepted Alex the way he was. When he left school, he drifted in and out of jobs, never really settling…

Cordelia Morgan, 22, Minster Snuggled up together on the sofa, I turned up the volume ready to watch Friends. ‘You’re going to love this,’ I told my sister Emily, then 11. Emily smiled. ‘Pass the popcorn.’ The theme tune played out and Emily threaded her arm through mine. A sister, at last! Of course, I loved my little bro Elliott, then 14, but growing up, I always dreamt of having a sister. So when my dad Robert had started dating Emily’s mum Rachel, a year before, in summer 2016, I’d been elated. I was a bit older, at 19, but we’d bonded immediately. I loved introducing her to new bands and telly shows, chatting about music and make-up. Only, while I adored Emily from the off, we were all worried…

Lacing up her trainers, Joyce McLain, 16, bounded outside and did her lastminute stretches. It was a beautiful evening in August 1980 and, after swimming in a nearby lake with her friends, she’d decided to wind down with a run. It was 7.10pm when Joyce ran out to local fields for a few laps. ‘See you later,’ she called to her mum Pamela, sitting on the front step. Watching her race off down the street in her pink, blue and white matching running shorts and top, Pamela smiled. She was so proud of her daughter. A hard-working student and cheerleader at Schenck High School, in East Millinocket, Maine, USA, Joyce was talented. Played saxophone in her school band and composed her own songs. She’d just passed her driving test, had…

Gina Mayolin, 48, Sheffield The advice you need Holding my newborn, Lola, I couldn’t believe just how alert she was. Blinking up at me, taking in the world. It was May 2017 and my pregnancy had been straightforward, so though the labour was long, my partner Marc, then 44, and I weren’t worried at our baby’s newborn screening. But... ‘Lola didn’t pass the hearing test,’ the nurse said. She reassured us it was likely fluid in her ears from birth, which would clear. Only, after a few visits from midwives and to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, our baby still couldn’t hear. And when she was a month old, shocking news... ‘She’ll be fitted with her hearing aids in a couple of weeks,’ the audiologist said. I was stunned. It hadn’t crossed…

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 Debra Stapley, Dover, Kent ACROSS 1 Harasses constantly 2 Light fawn colour 3 Sudden desire 4 Small mistake DOWN 1 Amphibian 2 Dully painful 3 Firm hold 4 Japanese wrestling WIN 5x £25 puzzle 6 Your answer: HALF & HALF The Chapter House in Westminster Abbey features the oldest example in Britain of what object, dating to around 1050 AD? Cross out a letter in each square to get a grid filled with words. The uncrossedout letters in the shaded squares give the prize answer. WIN £100 puzzle 7 Your answer: BRICK TRICK Hydroxyapatite…

Got the birthday blues Q I am about to be 65, which I’m really dreading. My husband wants to arrange a big party, but I don’t want everyone to know how old I am! I still feel young inside, even though I’m about to be officially a pensioner, and I don’t want the celebration to rub salt into the wound. I feel scared and old… please help me, Nelly! Vanessa, 64 A Now listen, age is a privilege denied to many! You should feel happy and proud, especially with all that’s happened over the last two years, that you’re still here and have loved ones who want to celebrate that. So many didn’t make it through the pandemic. Let go of any embarrassment you might have over your age – growing…

Effy Murphy, 37, Youghal, Ireland Sitting on the end of my bed, wrapped in a towel, I called my kids Aisling, then 13, Cian, 9, and Ollie, 3, into my room. ‘Can you give me a hand?’ I asked. Nodding, they grabbed underwear and socks from my drawers, a T-shirt and jeans from my wardrobe. Hauling the shirt over my head and yanking the jeans up, my kids dressed me. Breathless, I sank back down as Cian slid my socks on to my feet. Utterly mortifying. It was September 2017 and the fact was, at 22st and a size 24, I simply couldn’t dress myself. Worse still, the kids were used to this routine. They also knew I couldn’t run around with them, play at the park or take long…

Beauty writer Emma North shares her favourites Catrice Cheek Lover Oil-Infused Blush in Hibiscus, £4.99, justmylook.com Not all powder blushes look dusty on the skin – this oil-infused formula glides onto cheeks leaving them hydrated with a flush of natural-looking colour. We suggest applying it with a fluffy brush for best results. Makeup Revolution Super Dewy Liquid Blush in You Had Me At First Blush, £5, lookfantastic.com This water-light, liquid blush offers buildable pigment so you can control how much colour you want. Plus, the hydrating formula is great for dabbing on with fingertips and won’t settle into fine lines. Sleek Makeup Face Form Blush in Issa Mood, £4.99, Boots This super-flattering shade is the perfect peach/pink combination. It’s incredibly pigmented and a little goes a long way, so start…

How much did lockdown help Arthur’s killers’ cruelty go unnoticed? With schools shut, families behind closed doors and care workers stretched, did the early-warning system collapse? Serious child harm cases reported by local authorities rose by around 20%. Yet referrals to social-care departments fell by a fifth at the start of the pandemic. Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said, ‘There’s no doubt lockdown was such a shock to the whole nation it weakened the system of support, but actually in Arthur’s case he did have a number of professionals around him, he did have home visits.’ Extended family took photos of bruises, but social workers who saw Arthur two months before his death found ‘no safeguarding concerns’. An urgent review will examine why Solihull safeguarding agencies failed to spot…

PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT HOW TO ENTER TEXT Simply text CHATA 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…