Table of contents for 1 February 2024 in Chat

Welcome to this week's Chat… What do you call a man with four wives? Lucky? Greedy? Tired? Or just Jerome, whose story we're sharing this week (p34). He married Jasmine and three more women have since joined their family. Jerome's got opinions that raised a few eyebrows here in the Chat office – but his wives say they are happy and sharing a hubby works for them. Is it something you could do? Let us know. Have a great week, PS If you're entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles help@magazinesdirect.com.…

All sizes 8-24 TU at SAINSBURY’S STYLE TIP A versatile striped jumper can be layered over a crisp white shirt for a polished look that’s great for day to night. Shoes, £11 All sizes 8-22 NUTMEG at MORRISONS STYLE TIP Head to your local Morrisons for colourful, cosy loungewear that you can mix and match with your existing wardrobe. All sizes 8-24 GEORGE at ASDA STYLE TIP Shackets are perfect for in-between weather. Try a longer-length style that can be worn with both dresses and jeans. All sizes 6-22 F&F at TESCO STYLE TIP Add effortless style to your look with a pair of cargo trousers. Team with a fitted top and trainers for a laid-back vibe.…

YOU'RE THE JUDGE! When Shanti Cooper, then 34, met David Tronnes, 45, on a dating site in 2013, things moved quickly. Within months, David had moved 1,700 miles from Minnesota to live with Shanti in Orlando, Florida. Shanti was a single mum to a young son. Both she and David were going through divorces. Yet, while Shanti ran a successful financial software company from her home, David was unemployed. He claimed to be wealthy, though. Telling Shanti he'd recently inherited between $4 million and $6 million from his father. Only, it wasn't long before Shanti noticed that she was stuck paying a lot of the bills. David claimed to be a millionaire, yet didn't even chip in for the food shop, and refused to pay more than a third of…

Toilet troubles Q My poos have become runny over the past few weeks – what could be going on? Marina, Farnborough A We're all familiar with stomach bugs or temporary bowel upsets that make us dash to the loo for a few days, but a change in your poo habits that lasts longer than two or three weeks should be checked. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common cause, though sometimes other bowel conditions, such as coeliac disease or bowel inflammation, can be to blame. But any change – what doctors call a 'change in bowel habit' – is also an alarm signal for possible cancer, particularly if you're over 40 and your poos have become looser or more frequent. Blood in your poo, or black tarry poo, is…

TRUE-LIFE Ally Shaw, 33, Shilbottle, Northumberland Watching my daughter toddle across the living room, I frowned. It was October 2021 and Nala, then 2, still didn't seem to walk like other kids her age. 'She's dragging her feet,' I worried to her dad, Jake, then 28. Tilting his head, he watched with concern as Nala shuffled along. 'Let's make another appointment with the GP,' he said. We'd been back and forth for months. Since Nala could crawl we'd been worried about the positioning of her feet. My mother's instinct was telling me something was wrong They rested at odd angles. We were told time and time again that she'd grow out of it but I couldn't help but fret. She was just like any other happy little toddler, loved playing…

LITTLE ONE Although there is some controversy over the exact number of times it has been used, what is the most common regnal name for popes? Solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Politician, _ Rees-Mogg (5) 4 Guerrilla, _ Guevara (3) 5 Industrious insect (3) DOWN 1 Comedian, _ Whitehall (4) 2 Scrub, wash (5) 3 Sailing vessels (5) WIN 4 x £20 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Is he with me or his ex? Q My partner and I have a 2-year-old and he also has two kids with his ex. When we had a rough patch a few months ago, he moved out and in with his parents. Or so I thought! His ex has been messaging me, saying he's with her and I need to stop trying to split them up. But he's telling me we're back together. I need to get to the bottom of it. Kelly, 37 A fibbing fella Get rid. End it now! That goes for you, and for your 's so-called ex, too. He's lying to both of you and you both deserve better. Why not try to build a friendship with his ex, for the sake of your kids?…

3 ways to… SAVE ON HOME INSURANCE Don't shell out over the odds to protect your home. Here's how to reduce what you pay… 1 Get the basics right Letting your cover auto-renew could be a costly mistake. Shop around instead for quotes from price comparison sites and also insurers that aren't on comparison sites, such as Direct Line. And get organised – the cheapest time to get quotes is 21 days ahead of your renewal date, according to research by moneysavingexpert.com. Also, if you need buildings and contents insurance, it's often cheaper to take out a combined policy. 2 Know what you need Make sure you get the right amount of cover. If you overestimate the value of your contents, you could be paying more than you need, while underestimating…

Chat winners issue 42 (19 Oct 2023) P Robinson, Warminster £100 CASH A Serdet, Chichester R Whitehouse, Rowley Regis K Bullen, Uttoxeter £75 CASH G Rodgers, Isle of Man £50 CASH M Hutton, Coleraine B Norris, Langport D Sandbrook, Swansea R Maddocks, Tamworth A Ward, Coventry J Goudy, Ipswich £40 CASH M Martin, Hastings £30 CASH B Miller, Gosport J Williams, Failsworth £25 CASH M Cullen, Weymouth I Starbuck, Sheffield Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £20 CASH M Donerty, Broxburn BM Lambert, Nottingham C Acar, Lowestoft L Wade, Paignton D Johnson, Wadebridge V Dowden, Bristol S Shurvinton, Crewkerne S Roberts, Leicester V Hayes, Barnet J Coop, Harrogate H Spencer, Leeds R Leppard, Edenbridge G Bartholomew, Heathfield T Pardon, Norwich M Brown, Ilkeston J Glass, Hunstanton T Dowdeswell, Blackpool P Blanchard, Petersfield N Suddaby, Cleethorpes N Weatherhead, Newbury E Spicer, Bromley S Hall, Towcester S Harrop, Hull P Edison-Franklin, Sleaford PUZZLE 1 318 chat PUZZLE 2 GUANO chat PUZZLE…

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Lynnette Williams, 62, Telford The front door swung open and in dashed my daughter Georgia. 'Slow down!' I chuckled. It was 2011, and Georgia, then 15, was energetic. Our youngest, she was close to her older sister Scarlett, then 20. Scarlett loved dancing, but Georgia was always on the go outdoors. Running, tennis, canoeing, climbing – and her main passion, Air Cadets. She'd joined at 13, when her dad Steve suggested it. Steve was a murder squad detective with West Mercia Police, and his colleague was a supervisor for the Cadets. 'You'll love it,' he'd said to Georgia. He was right. From camping to shooting competitions, Georgia threw herself into it all. And today, she'd come home from school buzzing. 'We're building a plane!' she squealed. 'A plane?' I cried,…

What does actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt take with him everywhere he goes? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the three-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Dark blue dye (6) 12 _ Ronaldo, Portuguese footballer (9) 13 Den (4) 14 _ Beckham, fashion designer and singer (8) 15 Male monarchs (5) 16 Harm (6) 17 Star sign (7) 18 Rules of the road (7,4) 20 Baked loaf (5) 22 Actor who played the title role in Batman Forever (3,6) 24 First Greek letter (5) 28 Duplicating (7) 29 Restricted (7) 32 Select (6) 34 Turning (8) 36 Untroubled (8) 37 Mistakes (6) 39 Alters (7) 40 Pete _, former tennis player (7) 45 Parent's brother (5) 47 Vitally important (9) 48 Italian city (5) 51 Home of the UK parliament (11) 53 Very wicked person (7) 55 George _, author of 1984 (6) 56 City in Cornwall (5) 58 Short humorous…

WHAT'S THE VERDICT? A jury found David Tronnes, 55, guilty of the firstdegree murder of Shanti Cooper-Tronnes, 39. He was sentenced to life in prison. 'We all thought we knew David Tronnes… what we knew was a facade. He was living a total lie,' a friend of Tronnes told reporters afterwards. Speaking in court before the sentencing, Shanti's ex spoke about how they tried for years to have a child, and were about to give up when she fell pregnant with their son in 2009. 'He got his brains, his compassion and his outlook on life from his mother,' he said of their son, calling Tronnes 'evil'. 'When this parasite came into our lives, he took something from us. What he took is not replaceable.' Shanti's son stood with his father…

1 Weak grip There are several fairly common causes of a weak grip, such as fatigue, lack of sleep or if you're not eating enough. 'However, there could be other, more serious reasons,' says Dr Chun Tang, a GP at Pall Mall Medical*. 'These include anaemia, which causes a general feeling of weakness, or atrial fibrillation, which is when the heart beats irregularly and faster than normal.' If you suspect you may be suffering with either, speak to your GP. 2 Tingling Waking up with pins and needles or even total numbness in your hands? This happens because your sleeping position has cut off the blood supply to the nerves in your hands. Normal sensation returns when you relieve the pressure. 'Too much alcohol depletes vitamins, which can also result in a…

Riddle me this 1 I have keys, but no locks. I have space, but no room. You can enter… but you can't go outside. What am I? 2 What has a bottom at the top? 3 It belongs to you but everyone uses it. What is it? 4 Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world? 5 What travels all the way around the world, but stays in the corner? Riddle me this answers 1. A keyboard 2. Legs 3. Your name 4. Mount Everest 5. A stamp Killer question A woman shoots her husband. Next, she holds him under water for over five minutes. Finally, she hangs him. Only, five minutes later, they both go out for dinner together. How is this possible? Answer: She's a photographer Mad maths 1 If…

Jasmine was everything Jerome wanted in a woman. Well, almost… She whipped up dinner, kept the house spick and span – not to mention they had a good sex life. There was always just something missing. Another woman. Or three more women, to be precise. Because Jerome, from Springville, Alabama, is a self-confessed philanderer. Jerome was still at school when he realised he was a serial cheater. Hurting girls from a young age and having several, very short-lived relationships. 'I had multiple partners,' says Jerome. 'I never felt like one female could amount to everything I wanted. 'She could cook and clean, but she couldn't have sex. Or she can cook, clean and have sex, but she didn't know how to be there financially. 'I had to have a new…

TRUE-LIFE Licking my lips as the scent of creamy carbonara sauce filled the air, my tummy rumbled appreciatively. It was August 2022, me and my partner Olivia, then 49, had gone out for dinner with some pals. 'You look happy,' Olivia smiled as we sat down. I laughed. 'Because we're going on holiday tomorrow!' We were off for a few days camping with my son from a previous relationship, Mason, then 15. I couldn't wait. Working two jobs as a teacher and counsellor meant life could be stressful. A trip away was just what I needed. Sinking into my chair I tried to relax and enjoy my pasta, but a pain began throbbing away at my temples. 'You alright, love?' Olivia asked, as the waiter cleared away our plates, mine…

26 Jan-1 Feb 2024 Aries 21 March-20 April When you believe in yourself, others will too. Work on your self-esteem to do what makes you feel good about yourself, then watch the rest unfold. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May With Jupiter galloping forward in your sign again, you'll find momentum is growing and your focus sharpening. You're a force to be reckoned with now. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Decision-making may be stressful as your analytical mind tries to find the best way forward. Jot down some ideas and the right choice will become clear. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July There's been a positive shift recently, which will continue. By taking time…

Q How can I save money in my skincare routine? Karen Moore, Edinburgh A The key to being savvy with your skincare spending is to know where it's worth splashing out, and where to rein it in. Two items that aren't worth the splurge are cleanser and moisturiser. Cleanser is only on your skin for a moment before rinsing, and moisturiser's purpose is simply to seal in moisture, rather than do anything clever. As long as you get the textures right for your skin type and needs, you're on to a good thing. Simple Replenishing Cream Cleanser, £8, Boots, and Barry M Fresh Face Skin Hydrating Moisturiser, £8.99, barrym.com, are both real crowd-pleasers that won't break the bank. What you should spend on is on your serum, as this has…

Dear Mum, W here do I begin? There's so much to catch you up on since the day we said goodbye in that hospital room… I always did tell you everything, not just my mum but my best friend. Remember the day I moved out of home in August 2020? I'd fallen in love with Ollie, then 26, and we were setting up home but leaving you was hard. 'But he's the one,' I confided. You were the voice in my ear cheering me on 'Don't mess this up, Lizzie!' you teased. But just two months later, you turned up on my doorstep late one evening. 'I've got cancer,' you said. You'd had tests after suffering back pain and acid reflux and were stunned when docs found a tumour on…

Paul Edwards, 57, from Sheffield What was your last binge watch? We've just finished watching all eight seasons of Game of Thrones again. It's much more enjoyable to watch in one go than waiting months between seasons. Plus my partner loved seeing Jon Snow every evening! Which celeb would you invite for a cuppa? It would have to be the late, great Terry Hall of The Specials. He was a massive influence on my life from the age of 14, with his incredible voice and lyrics, not to mention his cracking sense of humour. What tune never gets old? I adore the song One Love by Bob Marley, I can listen to it on repeat for hours. Bob has been an influence on me in my later years, and this…

Holding my newborn, Zeydn, on my shoulder, I patted her back and her little ribs made a strange popping sound. 'It's like someone cracking their knuckles,' I said to my husband, Anthony, then 27. It was February 2015, and I had four kids from two previous relationships, Zach, then 9, Zoey, 6, Zander, 5, and Zavier, 4. So I knew when something wasn't right. Zeydn, 9 weeks, was a much fussier baby than her siblings had been. She wasn't using her right arm much, either. I was worried. So, after dropping the others at school, I took Zeydn to hospital. After an X-ray, the paediatrician seemed cold. 'We ordered the wrong X-ray, we need to do another one,' he explained. 'OK, but she's due a feed soon,' I said, feeling…

Kim Bradshaw, 40, Preston True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Waking up after a night out clubbing, my ears were ringing. Great night, though, I thought. It was summer 2008, I was 24, and I enjoyed a night out dancing with my mates. The hangovers after were par for the course. Just like this constant humming noise. It would last hours, sometimes days, before disappearing altogether. When the house was quiet, it was unbearable. Not just annoying, but almost painful. I assumed it was something everyone suffered from, so I didn't go to the doctor's. It went on for years. Going to a gig, or any event with a large noisy crowd, could set it off. Then, in April 2018, I got a new job working in the audiology industry, in a marketing…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p4. There's £20 for every one we use! This week's puzzle was compiled by Linda MacDonald, Selby WIN 5 x £20 Puzzle 6 ACROSS 1 Noisy 2 Indian city 3 Study for exams 4 Seaweed DOWN 1 To be without 2 Giant 3 Russian mountain range 4 Wet, moist Your answer: CHAIN WORDS Thestias, a planet at least twice the size of Jupiter, orbits which star? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: INF + USE, USE +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer. WIN 3 x £50 Puzzle 7 Your answer: IN THE GRID…

ARROW WORD WIN £500 Puzzle 10 James Gordon Bennett Park is the highest natural point on which 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. Your answer: SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each 3 × 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 2 x £30 Puzzle 11 Your answer: WORDSEARCH WIN £40 Puzzle 12 What animal did actor Kristen Bell's boyfriend bring to her 31st birthday party? The answer is the one missing from the grid. EMU FLAMINGO LEMUR LEOPARD LION LLAMA MACAW MARMOSET MEERKAT MONKEY PANDA PENGUIN SLOTH SNAKE TIGER Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for…

FILL ME IN WIN £100 Puzzle 14 Which US state has the smallest state legislature, with just 49 senators, who are not officially associated with a party affiliation? 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: CIRCLE TIME Prisoners captured at the Battle of Talas in 751 AD have been credited with bringing techniques for making what to the Middle East and Europe? Fit the words in the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles. 3 letters OWE OWL PAN PEP PET POD ROD ROE ROT 4 letters APED CHAP CLAN CLAP RICE RIPE 5 letters DREAD DRONE DROOP DWELT 6 letters LABOUR LARDER LOLLOP LOOTED 7 letters PRODDED…

NO-FUSS FOOD Top tip Cut the broccoli into smaller pieces if needed. For extra speed, use a pack of ready-prepared butternut squash. Squash and greens tart Ideal to prep ahead, this is great for lunchboxes or a light dinner SERVES 6-8 PREP 20 MINS COOK 35-40 MINS ● Half a large butternut squash (about 450g), peeled, deseeded and cut into bite-size pieces ● 250g pack broccoli florets, leek and cabbage, or a similar mix of veg ● 320g pack ready-rolled chilled puff pastry (we use Jus-Rol) ● Few sprigs thyme or 1tsp dried thyme ● 100g blue cheese Extra: ● Large knob butter 1 Melt the butter in a large frying pan, add the squash, cover and cook for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, microwave the pack of veg for 3 mins. Tip…

Kaitlyn Bustin, 19, Stourbridge S taring at the monitor, I held my breath until… 'There we are,' the sonographer smiled, her wand on my tummy. 'You're about 13 weeks along.' My teeny baby wriggled on the screen and joy flooded through me. But I was scared too. It was March 2022 and at 18, I hadn't planned on being a mum yet and the baby's dad hadn't wanted to be involved. I hadn't even told my mum Tracey, then 53, my dad Kieran, 44, or my little brother Alfie, then 17. The scan proved to me how much I loved and wanted this baby. But I still couldn't find the nerve to admit that I was pregnant. So I kept my secret. Even when we travelled to Egypt that April…

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