Table of contents for 16 June 2022 in Chat

We know how much our readers love their pets, and the team here feel exactly the same. So, this week, we asked the amazing animal psychic, Lizzy, what was going on in our animals’ furry (and, in one case, scaly!) little heads (p24). Some of the things Lizzy revealed about my pooch Daphne were uncanny. We hope you enjoy meeting our pets and getting stuck into the rest of the mag, which is filled with all the stuff you love. Have a great week! PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Bianca Innes, 47 Hearing my phone ping, I glanced at the screen. Smiled when I saw a familiar name pop up. Hey, B! How’re you doing? my friend Mathew, then 36, had typed. Firing off a quick response, we spent a few minutes nattering. I’d met Mathew in 2009 after accidentally adding the wrong person on Facebook. While looking for an old friend, I’d ended up making a new one. Friendly and easy to talk to, we’d just clicked. And within months we’d become firm friends. He had the biggest heart, was always there for me. Even making the six-hour drive from his sheep farm in New South Wales, here in Australia, to my home in Brisbane, when I was pregnant, needed company. But despite all his amazing qualities, Mathew…

Nobody could deny that Elizabeth Holmes had the potential. As a child, she ‘invented’ her own time machine, with reams of notes and drawings. Announced to relatives that she’d be a billionaire one day. Her dedicated work ethic stuck from an early age and she often studied late into the night. Elizabeth studied Chemical Engineering at California’s prestigious Stanford University, one of the world’s top colleges. In 2003, while still at uni, Elizabeth founded medical company Theranos, with the aim of making blood testing for illnesses more convenient and affordable. It was inspired by her lifelong fear of needles, she said, as the revolutionary technology would use a single pin prick to the finger, rather than the usual needle in the arm. In March 2004, she dropped out of Stanford…

Traumatised by my own toilet habits Q My poos are always really stinky! It’s embarrassing, but could it mean that something’s wrong? Stella, Ormskirk A Particularly smelly poos are usually the result of eating spicy food, garlic, or vegetables such as broccoli or cabbage. A course of antibiotics can also be to blame, as they kill some of the harmless bacteria in the bowel that aid digestion, resulting in runny, smelly stools. Occasionally, consistently smelly poos can have other causes, particularly if they’re bulky or pale, or if you have pains or are losing weight, in which case you should check with your doctor. Your bowel may not be absorbing food properly due to bowel inflammation, lactose intolerance, chronic pancreatitis, where your pancreas is inflamed, or coeliac disease where your…

Pico and Lola Cats owned by Content Commissioner Fiona Both cats were sweet natured and playful. But I got the impression that Lola was very protective over Pico and that Pico was easily spooked. Though I also saw them bickering like siblings! I saw a wolf, and as they are protective, it feels as though Lola has been guarded before. And I saw an older presence with Pico, and the number five came through to me with Lola, which signifies confidence. With both cats, I saw greens and blues, which represent resurrection and growth – a new beginning when they went to live with Fiona. Fiona says: ‘It’s interesting Lizzy saw an older person with Pico – that might be his first carer? As for Lola, the RSPCA had to…

FILL ME IN Which steam engine features on the front cover of the Blur album, Modern Life is Rubbish? 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 Which modern city stands on the site of the ancient city of Carthage? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters HAM HAS HOT HUE ODE OPT SAT THE TOO TOY 4 letters AFAR ATOM AUNT IRON SAYS SETT SHUT 5 letters HENCE PROXY TASKS 6 letters REPORT SMOOTH SPONGE STATIC TUTORS TYPIST 8 letters MINUTELY WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56…

3 ways to... CUT THE COST OF YOUR HOME INSURANCE Don’t pay over the odds when you’re protecting your home with these tips. 1 Shop around Never let your home insurance auto-renew – always shop around to see what deals you can get elsewhere. Get quotes from price comparison sites and also check insurers that you won’t find on comparison sites, such as Direct Line, too. And remember to read the small print carefully to make sure you’re getting the cover you need. 2 Other ways to save If you take out a combined buildings and contents insurance policy, it may work out cheaper than buying two separate policies but check to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Also, it’s usually cheaper to pay for home insurance policies annually rather than…

She’s old enough for a bus pass, but this is one OAP who is not ready for knitting and slippers just yet. Instead, Californian Greta Pontarelli, 71, is spending her golden years performing amazing pole dancing moves that prove age really is just a number. In her younger days, Greta was a keen gymnast. But it wasn’t until 2010, when she was 59 years old, that she took up pole dancing in a bid to stave off osteoporosis – a condition that weakens the bones, making them more fragile and prone to breaks. ‘It runs in my family, so I wanted to do something to strengthen my bones, ’ Greta explains. ‘It was either weight lifting or lifting my body. I looked at videos of pole dancing on YouTube and…

Lacura Gua Shah, £3.99, Aldi Turn your skincare routine into a moment of mindfulness with this must-have beauty tool, available in two colours – Jade and Rose. Apply any face serum and massage using the tool, moving with the contours of your face for a lifted look. We love putting ours in the fridge before use for an extra soothing effect. Dr Paw Paw Shea Butter Balm, £3.95, Boots We love a multitasker, and Dr Paw Paw is a best seller for good reason. Formulated with papaya, aloe vera and olive oil, this balm is suitable for all parts of the body from lips and cuticles, to dry skin and frizzy hair. With added benefits such as relieving burns and insect bites, this magic bottle is a summer must-have.…

Dear Dad, Even now, over a year on, I still can’t believe you’re gone. After all, you were always there for me, my older siblings, Naomi, now 36, and Adam, now 33, and our mum, Christine, now 64. I can still remember us curling up for you to read me my favourite Rosie and Jim books. Mostly, though, I remember your love of the outdoors. A policeman who retired at 52 and then worked for the council, inspecting pathways, you were always out walking or on your motorbike with Mum. You tried to instil your love of football and golf into me, but I preferred running and cycling. Thankfully, Adam was more willing and he’d go with you to the driving range. When I got together with John, now 34,…

You’ve heard of a cat on a hot tin roof, but what about the doll’s house roof? Cats really do sleep anywhere! Esther Newton, Retford Harrison, 5 months, had a good read of Chat to keep him occupied while I washed his bottles! Laura McPherson, Edinburgh My beautiful daughter Melina surprised me with a fabulous birthday gift – a trip to Venice. Here we are soaking up the wonderful scenery! Lynda Guiney, Dublin My daughter Rosie, 8, was excited to meet Darth Vader. Lightsabers at the ready! Jo Hoskin, Carterton Didn’t I chuckle when my hunky fella Dave nicked my Chat magazine for a cheeky read while on our hols to the Dead Sea in Israel. Luckily, he floated so it didn’t get wet! Shirley Adam, Guernsey Best of friends!…

SHERBET LEMON STYLE TIP This light sunny hue looks great paired with whites so try adding some white jeans or a blazer for extra polish. PARMA VIOLET STYLE TIP For a bold colour clash, try teaming lilac with green. Introduce the colour with your accessories to ease yourself in. ORANGE CRUSH STYLE TIP Orange flatters every skin tone and is super versatile. Team with creams in the summer and swap for earthy tones come winter. MINT GREEN FROM £4 STYLE TIP If you’re worried about pastel hues washing you out, wear the colour away from your face such as on a pair of trousers or an accessory.…

In January 2022, after more than 50 hours of deliberation, over seven days, Elizabeth Holmes was found guilty on three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. However, she was found not guilty of all charges involving defrauding patients. She showed no emotion as she faced the prospect of 20 years in jail. In March, Ramesh ‘Sunny’ Balwani had his day in court, facing the same charges. The prosecution presented the same evidence. With texts and emails, plenty of evidence to show Balwani and Holmes had been co-conspirators. Balwani had been in charge of the labs, the finances, was as heavily involved as Holmes. His defence reminded the court how Holmes had been the founder and CEO, running Theranos for years before he’d appeared…

1 Watermelon The name says it all! Watermelons make an excellent hydrating food, plus they’re rich in vitamins A, B6 and C, as well as being a source of antioxidants. Together, these help boost your immune system, produce the ‘happy’ hormone serotonin, and protect you from heart disease, cancer and other diseases. ‘Watermelon works well in savoury salads, partnered with meats such as duck, and cheeses such as feta, ’ says Healthspan’s Head of Nutrition, Rob Hobson. 2 Yogurt Yogurts make great snacks, breakfasts or can be added to savoury dishes in place of cream, ’ says Rob. ‘Not only do they add fluid, but they’re a rich source of calcium for healthy bones and vitamin B12 for red-cell production and the conversion of food into energy.’ 3 Celery ‘Celery…

ARROW WORD A statue of novelist Mary Ann Evans, better known as George Eliot, stands in the centre of which English town? 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 The samurai class was officially abolished in Japan during the reign of a British monarch with what name? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ALFREDANNECANUTECHARLESEDWARDELIZABETHGEORGEHAROLDHENRYJAMESJOHNMARYRICHARDVICTORIAWILLIAM WIN £50…

Aries 21 March-20 April This week’s planetary alignments uncover news of a wedding, engagement or a renewing of the vows. It may signal the start of your new clothing style. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May A quick catch-up with a friend after work this week will become a fun night out. As Mars enters your sign, your friend confesses something fantastic. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Reunite with someone from the past, especially if it’s a school friend who has contacted you via social media. If you live close, why not arrange to meet up? • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You may need to nip out to replace a broken item. To…

St. Tropez Tan Optimiser Body Moisturiser, £10, lookfantastic.com When opting for a fake tan this summer, using the right moisturiser is essential to keep it looking natural. This moisturiser hydrates dry areas and can be used before and in between applications. 17. Perfecting Finish Translucent Powder, £3.50, Boots Using translucent powder will help avoid a makeup meltdown this summer. This offers the perfect solution to take away shine without dulling your summer glow. Makeup Revolution Lip Contour Kit, £6, lookfantastic.com This handy duo is our new makeup bag essential. Use the lip pencil on the outline of your lips and the matte gloss in the centre. Blend where the two meet to achieve fuller-looking lips. Available in six wearable shades. Q+A Super Greens Facial Oil, £8, Holland & Barrett We…

DIANNE HARVEY, FROM WALSALL, SAYS: My partner Mark, 56, is certainly a Local Hero. As a nurse at Walsall Manor Hospital, he’s been caring for our community for over 33 years now. But that’s not all, because Mark takes his compassionate nature beyond work. Known as Walsall’s ‘running ambassador’, Mark has run charity marathons on all six continents, and taken gifts from Walsall to over 100 mayors around the world. He even climbed the highest mountain in Iran, where he raised a Walsall FC flag! Working hard to raise the profile of the town, Mark has raised vital funds for community services, including a free smoke-alarm campaign. As well as all this, he’s organised litter picks and canal dredging, to make his local area nicer for everyone. He’s been featured…

Sounds good If I’m in the garden, I place my portable speaker into a clean garden pot or bin. It prevents it from getting damaged by wind or rain, and amplifies the sound. Anna Draycott, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire Easy freezy When freezing mince, put it in a freezer bag and press flat. When you are ready to use it from the freezer, it then defrosts much faster. Julia Kiss, Hartlepool, County Durham Washing whizz When washing a duvet cover, close all the poppers or buttons so the rest of your washing doesn’t get tangled up inside. Sally Entwistle, Blackburn, Lancashire Funky garden friend My hedgehog garden ornament was looking a bit shabby so I painted it with acrylic paints and varnish, and added googly eyes. Hey presto – Harry the…

What connects actors Kirsten Dunst and Leonardo DiCaprio? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Bruce Willis film, The _ Element (5) 4 Badger’s home (4) 6 Guitar pick (8) 13 Small planet (7) 14 Left out (7) 15 Fruit that produces oil (5) 16 Noisy (4) 17 Annual pay (6) 18 Disclose (6) 20 Defrost (4) 21 Scoundrel (5) 22 Postage labels (6) 25 Physical exertion (8) 28 Drawing tool (6) 30 Painter’s stand (5) 32 Periodical publication (8) 34 Complete (6) 35 Plant with fronds (4) 38 Fiction books (6) 39 Beneath (5) 40 Paper hankie (6) 43 Lots (4) 44 Towed (6) 45 Least heavy (8) 48 Chuckle (5) 49 One-sixtieth of a minute…

Briony Grassie, 40, York True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Kicking off my heels, my feet were in agony. It was September 2018 and I’d spent the day at a wedding with my husband Leo, then 40. Hobbling, I could barely put one foot in front of the other. Helping me into bed, Leo frowned. ‘Hopefully you’ll be OK tomorrow, ’ he said. For months, I’d been plagued with pain in my arms, feet and neck. One day, I’d be fine, then the next, I’d be unable to move my arm. After numerous visits to my GP didn’t reveal any answers, I tried to cope as best I could. Changing my pillows and avoiding doing anything too strenuous. Only, the morning after the wedding, I was still in excruciating pain. ‘Help!’ I squealed…

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 Mark Attwood, Basingstoke, Hampshire ACROSS 1 Loose gown 2 Six cricket bowls 3 Fruit 4 Finishes DOWN 1 Twisted yarn 2 Used to bake 3 Part of necklace 4 Makes mistakes WIN 5x £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: HALF & HALF What animal is known as ‘luwak’ in Indonesian? 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 mathematical term derives from an Arabic term meaning ‘bone-setting’? To find…

As Mum stared at my drawings, the colour drained from her face. ‘Has he really been doing those things to you?’ she whispered as she wrapped her arms around me. ‘Yes, ’ I nodded, gulping back my sobs. Mum marched off to find Totty, clutching my drawings. When she returned, her eyes were red raw. Totty claimed not to remember any of the abuse, saying it must have happened when he was drunk. He even said he’d got into bed with me by accident, thinking I was Mum. Mum took me to the GP, showed her my pictures. The police were called and officers came to the house. ‘You’ll have to tell the court what happened, ’ one said after we’d shown them my drawings. He claimed not to remember,…

I was discharged from hospital while I waited for scans on my kidney. Put on beta blockers and started on a cardiac rehabilitation programme. Doctors couldn’t say why I’d suffered a SCAD. Over-exerting myself with exercise when it was already under pressure from excess weight hadn’t helped. I sobbed at how close I’d come to leaving my baby girl without a mum. Regaining strength, I learnt to walk with tiny Olivia, not yet 2, holding my hand as she tottered alongside me. By November 2016, I was feeling stronger. But at my cardio check-up, doctors realised I’d never had a follow-up appointment for my kidney. I’d survived – now I needed to look after my body After an ultrasound scan, I was hit with more devastating news. ‘It’s cancer, ’…

Top tip These scones are great eaten as they are, or with butter or MAKES 8 PREP TIME 20 MINS COOK TIME 25-30 MINS • 225g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting • ½tsp salt • 1tsp English mustard powder • ½tsp cayenne pepper Cheesy courgette scones Get the baking just right and these scones rise to be deep and proud, with a lovely moist crumb • 75g chilled unsalted butter, coarsely grated • 1 medium courgette, coarsely grated • 50g mature Cheddar, coarsely grated, plus 25g extra for sprinkling • 100ml buttermilk, plus extra for glazing • 1tsp caraway seeds 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Line a baking sheet with baking paper. Combine the flour, salt, mustard powder and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Add the…

We’re rowing over romps Q I have been on and off with my partner for 20 years now. We’re currently seeing each other again but he says he wants to be more adventurous in the bedroom. I’m not interested, and at first he seemed to accept it but now he keeps trying his luck. After a row about it, he got quite nasty. I feel so guilty, please help! Vanessa, 42 A Here’s the thing to remember. Sex is meant to be fun, for both of you! It can be a giggle to try something new. Normally I’d say why not explore and see what tickles your fancy? What worries me is him getting nasty. Please never do anything that makes you uncomfortable, sweetheart. You say you’re on and off…

Q Every summer my hair gets so fried in the sun. How can I protect it? Mary Taylor, Hampshire LETTER of the week! A UV rays are harmful and can leave your hair brittle and discoloured. Just like you wouldn’t step out without applying sunscreen on your skin during sun exposure, you shouldn’t leave your locks unprotected. Protecting the scalp is often overlooked but is essential for ensuring your healthiest summer hair. We recommend applying Malibu SPF30 Scalp Protector, £3.99, Superdrug, to your parting as a non-greasy way to avoid burning. From the root right to the ends, we love Beauty Works After Sun UV Spray, £12.99, lookfantastic.com, a perfect beachbag essential, which offers a lightweight, invisible layer of sun protection on wet or dry hair. Heat styling could be…

Picking up the phone, Ruth Neave’s hands shook as she dialled 999 to report that her son Rikki, then 6, hadn’t come home after school. It was November 1994, and a day like any other. Rikki had tucked into Weetabix before heading off to Welland County Primary School. But he’d never arrived, and now he’d vanished. Rikki was ‘loving and caring’, adored his sisters. But growing up on the Welland Estate in Peterborough, Rikki hadn’t had a happy home life. He’d been abused and neglected by his mother Ruth, who’d used him as a drug runner and ‘punch bag’. Reports said she would ‘hit him so hard that she’d knock him to the floor’. She’d grabbed him around his throat, pushing him against a wall and lifting him up ‘to…

CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS 28 JUNE 2022 (Three days later for postal entries) 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…

Chat winners issue 11 (17 March 2022) £1,001 CASH E De Peya, London £1,000 CASH C Wicks, Flintshire £500 CASH K Jacques, Wickford K Garrett, Croydon £250 CASH L Grubert, Hayes £150 CASH P Grinstead, Frome £100 CASH J Thomas, Llanelli M Ho, London A Hartshorne, Crediton P Richardson, Barnsley T Bell, Crowborough £60 CASH S Savin, Kidlington £50 CASH D Walker, Saltburn-by-the-Sea W Powling, Cheltenham T Davies, Camberley £30 CASH A Dancy, Cleethorpes G Beecham, Ipswich A Stewart, Achnasheen J Lee, Halesowen B Eckersley, Ashton-under-Lyne £25 CASH A Longhurst, Sherborne J Shelton, Chesterfield R Armstrong, Morpeth J Brett, Hull K Williams, Bristol N Skeet, Worthing A Edmondson, Preston P Woolgar, Newark J Bryan, Tamworth chat PUZZLE 1 231 PUZZLE 2 DIME PUZZLE 11 1 2 8 Anyone from your…