Table of contents for 23 January 2025 in Chat

I'm not one to judge (well not much…) but I don't know about this new ‘trad wife’ craze. If you haven't heard about it, read Grace's story on p34. Despite training as a teacher, she chooses to be a stay-at-home wife and mother. Nothing controversial there, but then you learn that her hubby doesn't lift a finger round the house or with their kids. And she cooks everything from scratch. And does it all in full hair, make-up and a lovely frock! I'd love to know what you make of it. Let us know! Have a great week,…

Issi Chandler, 27, Old Trafford Bopping to the beat, I clinked glasses with my pals. A night out at a jazz club was just what I needed. It was November 2022 and I'd just broken up with my boyfriend of two years and moved back to Brighton, where I'd grown up. My mates had taken me out in a bid to cheer me up. ‘I needed this!’ I yelled over the music. As the early hours approached, my mates headed home. ‘I'm going to stay out,’ I told them. There were familiar faces about and I was having fun. I carried on dancing, and less than an hour later I left the club, heading out into the freezing-cold night. Walking home along the promenade, my head felt fuzzy from a…

Keira Smith, 39, Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent I stared at my partner Shaun in shock. ‘I'm sorry, what?’ I gasped. ‘These drugs will make it too dangerous to try for a baby,’ he repeated. It was 2012 and Shaun, then 31, had been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, an agonising joint condition. He'd been prescribed pain-relief medication. But docs warned it could damage sperm and cause birth defects. Together since 2009 and planning our wedding, we dreamt of having a baby one day. ‘Let's freeze my sperm,’ Shaun suggested. Giving us the option of having IVF in the future. We paid a private clinic to freeze Shaun's sperm before he started on his meds. We got married in Jamaica in November 2013. By 2017, now ready to start a family, we were…

Popular and pretty, Karin Strom was loved for her sense of fun and good looks. A talented dancer, she was great company, a social butterfly. After she fell in love with her husband Steve, the pair married aged just 18. Both went on to get good jobs, buying a house in Woods Cross, Utah. An affluent area on the outskirts of Salt Lake City. But by 1980, when Karin was 25, cracks had started to show in their relationship. After seven years together, Karin filed for divorce. She quickly met someone new – a man named Buff. Despite this, on 5 June 1980, days after her and Steve's seventh wedding anniversary, Karin went back to the marital home. Shared a takeaway with Steve. At 12.15am, he had to leave for…

1 Clicking jaw A clicking sound that is noisy and loud when you yawn or chew is common and can be caused by joint issues. ‘It may be that you have arthritis or wear-and-tear stresses as a result of chewing and grinding, but it's not often serious – more annoying,’ says Dr Deborah Lee from doctorfox.co.uk. Massage your jaw muscles during the day and consider wearing a gum guard at night to ease grinding. 2 Popping finger joints ‘Fingers clicking or popping can be due to bubbles of oxygen or nitrogen in the finger joints,’ says Dr Lee. ‘It can also happen if a tendon is inflamed or has a small nodule on it, meaning that it can't slide smoothly over the joint.’ Avoid activities that require repetitive gripping or,…

Jessika Coker, 32 Placing a cardboard box on the table in front of me, my mum urged me to open it. ‘What is it?’ I whispered. The box started to move. Then a wet nose appeared through the top. Make that two wet noses… Followed by two waggy tails. Puppies! ‘I found them dumped outside a shop,’ my mum Heather, then 53, said. ‘Poor little things.’ For most people, this might be a strange start to the day. But I was used to receiving four-legged waifs and strays. It was November 2022 and I'd run the Juniper Wildlife Refuge in Tallahassee, Florida, for the past seven years. It all started in 2015 when I adopted a lost baby fox called Juniper. Posted videos of her playing with my dog, Malamute…

While an English term describes aristocrats as ‘blue bloods’, a common Russian and central Asian idiom refers to them as ‘bones’ of what colour? Solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Conflict (3) 3 Band from Norway (1-2) 5 Not switched on (3) 6 _ Heath, former PM (3) 7 Positive answer (3) DOWN 1 _ Harrelson, actor (5) 2 Simple boats (5) 4 Helps or assists (4) WIN 4 x £20 Puzzle 10 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Chloe Tatton, 24, Congleton, Cheshire Stepping out of bed, I plodded into the bathroom, looked at my reflection in the mirror and gasped. My eyes were pink and swollen, my neck covered in a deep rash. I looked like I'd been stung by a swarm of bees. What's more, my skin was burning and so itchy. It was April 2021 and I was 21. Desperate for a cure, I'd been doing some research Since I was a baby, I'd suffered from eczema. Patches of dry skin on my arms, my legs, hands and face. Treated it with topical steroid cream, prescribed by my doctor. But it'd never been this bad before… My GP referred me to a dermatologist. ‘It's extreme eczema,’ he told me, suggesting light therapy and some allergy…

Growing up in a leafy village on the Wirral, Merseyside, Rebecca Joynes had an idyllic childhood. She loved dancing, gymnastics and cheerleading. Her adoring parents ran a quaint little tearoom. Rebecca was the eldest of two girls, and her dad Stuart described her as a ‘perfect child in every way’. As a teen, Rebecca was quiet and shy. Kept herself to herself. But she dreamt of becoming a teacher. She gained a teaching qualification, focusing on helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and did a postgraduate degree in secondary maths teaching. In September 2018, aged 24, she landed her first job, at a school in Greater Manchester. There, she became popular with both staff and students. Received thank-you notes from pupils for helping them with maths. Outside of the classroom, she…

We pay £25 for any photos that we use on Chat To Us! Get in touch! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com POST Chat, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR Find us online at facebook.com/ChatMagazine…

ZIP TOPS STYLE TIP Beat the chill and stay stylish in an easy layer that is quick to take on and off. SHORTS STYLE TIP Whether you're a gym bunny or into outdoor training, a stylish pair of shorts keeps things breathable. TRAINERS STYLE TIP Fly-knitted styles are still on trend and provide support and breathability. Swap the laces to inject some colour! FROM £7 LEGGINGS STYLE TIP Not just for the gym, style a plain pair with a long white shirt or wear with your cosy loungewear.…

Julia Spanswick, 53, St Albans, Hertfordshire True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK My cramps intensified as I dashed down my street. But by the time I'd put my keys in the door, it was too late. I'd soiled myself. Again. Working in a bank, I wore expensive suits. Had immaculate hair and make-up. But I was falling apart. It was May 2000. Aged 29, I'd been struggling with ulcerative colitis for four years. A long-term condition, inflaming the colon and rectum and causing ulcers. I had spasms, diarrhoea, blood in my poo. If I didn't reach the loo in time, I'd mess my pants. Now planning my wedding to my fiancé Darren, my latest meds had stopped working. ‘I feel so dirty,’ I sobbed to Darren in November 2000, when a flare-up left…

Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p5. There's £20 for every one we use! This week's puzzle was compiled by Lorna Ridgway, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire WIN 5 x £20 Puzzle 6 ACROSS 1 Opposed to/against 2 To borrow something 3 An individual thing 4 Gender neutral name of Portuguese origin DOWN 1 Chemical compound 2 Not any 3 The hindmost part of an animal 4 Movement or action to enclose someone/thing Your answer:…

Sue Thompson, 52, Chester-le-Street, County Durham Reading the letter in my daughter's school bag, I sighed. Not again, I thought. It was Easter 2009, and along with all the other parents, I'd been invited to watch her class assembly. She and her friends would be singing and dancing. I should have been looking forward to it. Instead, it just filled me with dread. ‘I've got a late shift at the hospital that day,’ I told Jess, then 12. ‘OK Mum,’ she smiled. I felt a terrible pang of guilt. Because I didn't have a late shift at my nursing job at all. The real reason I didn't want to go was because I was so big. My weight had always held me back from doing things. Growing up, my dad…

Tuna sarnie stack A tasty grab-and-go meal that's great for lunch or dinner. SERVES 4 PREP 20 MINS COOK 10 MINS ● 350g new potatoes, halved ● 2tbsp black olive tapenade (optional) ● 2 large or 4 mini focaccias, halved lengthways ● 4tbsp basil pesto ● 30g rocket ● 2tbsp capers, roughly chopped ● 2 large tomatoes, sliced ● 185g tin tuna chunks in olive oil, drained, oil reserved ● 3 hard-boiled eggs, sliced 1 Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the potatoes and cook until tender. Drain, mix with the tapenade, if using, and set aside. 2 Spread the cut sides of the focaccia with pesto. Scatter over the rocket, capers, tomatoes and tuna. Drizzle with a little of the reserved tuna oil, then top with the egg…

Aries 21 March-20 April As a Fire sign, you often try to do a million things in a day. This week, take it easy. Ensure you make time to smell the flowers and count your blessings. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You have a methodical approach to life, but with the Sun moving into an Air sign on 20 January, you may feel overwhelmed. Take it a step at a time. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June It's important to recognise your capabilities. So take the time to consider what's most important to you, then take action to move towards your dreams. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July If you would like to attract…

Q Should I be using cream or powder blusher? Sophie Lambert, 69, Reading A That's entirely down to personal preference. Generally speaking, powders have better staying power, and work well on oily and combination skin types. Cream and liquid blushers are great for dry complexions, and often deliver a more natural, dewy finish. No7 Pro Artist Luxe Liquid Blushes, £14.95, Boots, are packed with colour pigment with a welcome soft-glow blurring effect. For a light and radiant flush of colour, try Revolution Beauty Jelly Blush Stick Lip & Cheek Stain, £5.99, Superdrug. If powder's your preference, swirl a large brush over E.l.f. Primer-Infused Matte Blush, £7, elfcosmetics.co.uk, and buff over the apples of the cheek. Vitamin E and jojoba seed oil keep even dry skin happy. Collection Cosmetics Velvet Cream…

TEXT Simply text CHATC 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 you don't wish to enter. INTERNET Join our Chat…

Gemma Woodworth, 44, Stoke-on-Trent Who is your celebrity crush? Hugh Jackman. He is so talented and easy on the eye. I can watch The Greatest Showman over and over again with the amazing acting and soundtrack. What's your takeaway order? We love a Chinese takeaway in our house. It's definitely a treat for us as we tuck into our noodles, spare ribs, rice and chips -carb overload! What app do you use the most? I'm always on the Vinted app, selling and buying. I love selling on my old items so they can be reused by other people. WE PAY £50 to everyone we feature on this page! Which emoji do you use the most? I use the monkey covering his eyes in nearly every message I send. I don't…

Feed the birds When cooking bacon in an air fryer, rest it on a slice of bread and the excess fat will seep in. After cooling, break the bread into pieces for a nutritious, filling food for any feathered friends in your garden this winter. Margaret Anderson, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear Gutter genius In winter, gutters can get clogged with leaves causing overflows and blockages. To prevent the leaves from settling in the gutter, fix a strip of chicken wire along the top. Jana Copley, Ruthin, Denbighshire Left on the shelf Create an ‘eat me first’ shelf in your fridge, so things that are nearing their use-by date don't get pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten. Lyn Piercey, Colchester, Essex £25 For every photo tip that we…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What do actor Diane Keaton and singer Sheryl Crow have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Expenses (5) 4 Plant with fronds (4) 6 Sections of a book (8) 13 Go forward (7) 14 Dividing between people (7) 15 Wait on (5) 16 Indian dress (4) 17 Heavenly messengers (6) 18 Qualification from a uni (6) 20 US state (4) 21 Bottle stoppers (5) 22 Petrified animal or plant (6) 25 _, Inc., 2002 animated film (8) 28 Twice as much (6) 30 Musical play (5) 32 Writer of music (8) 34 Courteous (6) 35 Percussion instrument (4) 38 Units of length (6) 39 Dish (5) 40 Frightened (6) 43 Fruit or veg baked goods (4) 44 Compels (6) 45 First (8) 48 Name (5) 49 Underground room (6) 51 Evident (8) 54 Manage or deal with…

What's this weird rash? Q Four weeks ago, I had a sore throat. Now I've got small, red, scaly, oval-shaped spots all over my body but not my face. The spots turn into plaques and get flaky. What could this be? Kate, Skegness A It sounds like guttate psoriasis, a common skin condition that can develop after an infection like a sore throat (often strep throat). It isn't contagious but can run in families. It's thought to happen when the immune system speeds up skin cell growth. Triggers include infections, dry skin, stress, certain medicines and alcohol. To confirm it, your doctor will examine your skin and may take a sample to rule out other conditions. Treatment typically includes creams, pills or light therapy. With care, guttate psoriasis often improves, so don't worry…

WIN 2 x £25 Puzzle 9 Bettina Dorfmann of Dusseldorf in Germany holds the world record for her collection of what objects, having amassed 18,500 of them? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Squares = CUES + B = CUBES. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. Squares Water vapour Tile sealant State of flux Leaving Road markers Award Sag Slither Tarts Inhales sharply Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Puppetry As a kid, did you love The Muppet Show, along with Sooty and Sweep? If so, puppetry could be right up your, ahem, Sesame Street. Start simple by making your own hand puppet, adding buttons or stickers to an old sock. Then sign up for a puppetry workshop to hone your handy skills. Soap carving Pass the soap - but only after you've indulged your creativity! A bog-standard bar will do, along with any implement from your cutlery drawer. Then let your imagination fly as you whittle away and carve your favourite cartoon character, flowers or fruit. And don't worry about washing your hands afterwards. Chess boxing Best for beefy brainboxes, this unusual pastime is half nerdy, half knuckles. You move a chess piece, then go a round in…

Why am I down in the dumps? Q I've got everything I need to have a happy life. A great partner, perfect baby, lovely parents, nice job, my own house. But I feel empty inside. I cry nearly every day but won't tell a soul because I feel ungrateful admitting that I'm unhappy. How can I start to climb out of this black hole? Bobbie, 36 A Poppet, I feel for you, I really do. It's great that you can see all of the wonderful things you have in your life. But you're allowed to feel your feelings, no matter what. I recommend making an appointment with your GP. There's no need to be in pain, alone, when help is available. Open up to your partner or your parents, too.…

3 ways to… talk about money Many people find it hard to discuss their finances with their other half. Here's how to get started 1 Make time Start by setting a time when you and your partner will be able to discuss your finances without being disturbed. Go through your finances together so you have a clear picture of your financial situation and where your money is going, then look for areas where you can cut your spending to save money. Next, discuss your financial goals, both short-term and long-term, and write a plan of what you need to do to reach them. Make sure you agree how frequently you'll have these ‘money dates’ – you might find that once a month works well to check in on your progress. 2 Compromise…

Gladiators BBC1 ● Contenders, ready! Gladiators, ready! It was one of the most-watched series of 2024 and now the revival of the 1990s sports game show is back, with more eager contenders competing against an elite team of Lycra-clad athletes and bodybuilders in a series of physically demanding games and challenges. Bradley and Barney Walsh return to host this second series of bouts and battles in games such as Duel, Powerball and the iconic Eliminator obstacle course, while all the so-called ‘Glads’ are back, including Fire (aka Strictly's Montell Douglas), Fury, Steel, Legend, Apollo and the silent and scary Viper! DON'T MISS DON'T MISS Out There ITV1 ● Martin Clunes stars in this six-part drama about county lines drug-dealing where urban gangs use the British countryside for their illegal operations.…

Gemma Yates, 41, Tameside, Greater Manchester I laughed as cheers erupted from the sofa. ‘I feel like I have three kids,’ I joked, joining my sons Harvey, then 8, and Harrison, 6, and my boyfriend Callum, then 27. It was October 2017, and they were all playing FIFA. I loved that they got on so well. I'd only been dating Callum for a few months, but we'd been mates for years. Had first hit it off in 2010, when he'd started as a security guard at the supermarket where I worked. And after our first date in July 2017, we'd gone from strength to strength. He was so fun to be around. The life and soul of every party. Now he cracked jokes with my boys and lost the game…

Chat winners issue 41 (4 Oct 2024) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £1,001 CASH J Denyer, Aldershot £500 CASH R Clarke, Oldham J Blair, Letchworth Garden City £250 CASH M Pratt, Middlesbrough D Edwards, Ellesmere Port £200 CASH N Greenwood, Halifax £100 CASH K Clouston, Dunfermline J Cowlishaw, Scarborough DC Boxer, Enfield £50 CASH P Harrison, Tadcaster S Mackay, Tunbridge Wells A Farrar, Rushden J Burton, Nottingham PJ Barnes, Nottingham M Cameron, Fort William £40 CASH K Howlett, St Ives £30 CASH S Ryan, Longfield R Winkfield, Oxford £25 CASH L Herrod, Margate S Edwards, Weston-super-Mare £20 CASH R Trimmings, Reading P Griffiths, Manchester F Millar, Northampton A King, Birmingham C Poundford, Slough PG Torsello, Spalding N Spicer, Ramsgate L Foyster, Lincoln C Rae, Durham E Harris, Burgess Hill D Edwards, Southampton PA Cross, Sheffield S Landolfi, Burnham-on-Sea B Turner, Romney Marsh H Grocott, Stone L Arkle, Altrincham B Overman, Dereham D Bedworth, Walsall AE Wiggett,…

Dear Rose, Watching you take your first steps, aged 18 months, I could already tell you had rhythm. ‘I might have a dancer after all,’ I told my mum, your nanny Joanne, then 52, in October 2019. Whenever you heard any music, you'd bounce around, swaying your hips, clapping along to the beat. Well, dancing was in your blood. As a little girl, I'd won trophies for ballroom, Latin and sequence, danced for 10 years. I'd tried my hardest to get your big sisters Chloe, then 17, Codie, 16, and Cadence, 15, to follow in my footwork, but they'd no interest, or rhythm! Then you'd come along. Shortly before your 2nd birthday in April 2020, I took you to your first class at the Kären Byron School of Dancing, where…