Chat 16 June 2022

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 COVER PHOTOS (MAIN POSED BY MODEL): GETTY, FUTURE STUDIOS…

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! Percy the dog shared a special moment with a horse…

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 on national radio and TV for his efforts,…

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 was single. And living on a huge farm was isolating, so he’d…

NUMBER JIG How many days had Joe Biden been alive at the time of his inauguration as President of the United States, including the day of his birth and of the inauguration? Fit these numbers into the grid. One number doesn’t fit. This is the prize answer. 3 digits 102 191 271 401 509 518 536 551 758 831 4 digits 1038 1151 2846 2913 3405 5059 5146 6079 8331 9900 5 digits 18018 28146 28552 32919 45646 55803 69211 70904 75225 78923 90001 92030 98100 6 digits 122856 154906 351385 380218 693828 734477 934010 7 digits 3488110 8567267 9281220 8 digits 10415687 WIN £250 Puzzle 1 Your answer: PIECEWORD In VLT, the name of a telescope facility in the Atacama Desert, what does the L stand for? The number next to the clue tells you which line the answer’s in. We’ve put a section in to start. There may be two Across answers in one line. The shaded squares spell out the prize answer. 2 Fattening 4 Kind, sort• Hoard, store 6 Possessor• We Bought a _, 2012 Matt Damon comedy 8 Fizzy drink WIN £150 Puzzle 2 Your answer: TAKE…

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 hedgehog has become Lucy the ladybird! Dorothy Thornton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Smells, be…