Chat 30-Dec-2021

After the big build-up, Christmas is finally just around the corner. Are you looking forward to it as much as Michelle (p24)? She only started celebrating in her 20s, but she’s making up for lost time! Vaiva shares how her post-Christmas gym habit brought her more than she bargained for (p37) and Lorraine’s brave Boxing Day bombshell brought an abuser to justice (p44). We’ve got tasty ideas for your festive leftovers (p40), sparkly party looks as we head for New Year (p12) and bargain barware if you’re hosting at home (p29). Plus the prize puzzles you love. Whatever you’re up to enjoy! COVER PHOTOS: GETTY, SHUTTERSTOCK, SHOWSHOOTS…

£25 for any photos that we use on Picture Perfect. They must not have been sent to any other publication and you must include written permission from a child’s parent/s or guardian/s. Post to Picture Perfect, Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, or email chat_magazine@futurenet.com Unfortunately, we can’t return photos without a SAE. And please don’t forget to include your full address and a contact number.…

Jodie Webster, 41, Northampton Seeing my new boyfriend Gary, then 32, check himself out in the rear-view mirror, I chuckled. ‘You’re so vain!’ I teased as we got out of the car and headed to the pub. It was September 2019 and we’d been dating a few weeks, after Gary spotted me doing some gardening at the front of my flat. He’d told me I was gorgeous and now I was already smitten. Gary had dreamy hazel eyes, a buff figure and never had a hair out of place. ‘You’re lucky to have me,’ he grinned as we ordered drinks. I was never really sure if he was joking when he said these things. Trouble was, I didn’t have much self-confidence. I’d been in an abusive relationship in the past and never felt good enough. Maybe he’s…

NUMBER JIG How many medals has Great Britain won in total at the three Olympics that it has hosted? Fit these numbers into the grid. One number doesn’t fit. This is the prize answer. 3 digits 104 189 230 234 437 472 498 668 871 940 978 4 digits 1297 1710 2619 2690 5127 5681 6541 8042 8247 9671 5 digits 10667 22613 29848 31906 38299 50147 51391 52966 66005 73177 76195 90005 6 digits 109335 127072 187729 502320 519227 679193 903021 7 digits 7119057 7242031 7729510 8 digits 73991754 WIN £250 Puzzle 1 Your answer: PIECEWORD Although he had to immediately sell the business to pay for the initial printing costs, the Daily Telegraph newspaper was founded by a former army officer with what surname? The number next to the clue tells you which line the answer’s in. There may be two Across answers in one line. Down words fill themselves in. The shaded squares spell out the prize answer. ACROSS 2 Very large shop 4 Cunning, deceitful • The Simpsons twins _ and Patty 6 Reference list at the back of a book • Aged 8 Green vegetable which…

Feel the heat If you have to dry clothes indoors during the winter months, try draping them down the back of the radiators instead of over the front, so that you don’t block off the heat. Carol Gasan, Tiverton Picking up the pieces When tidying up, I could see that a jigsaw box had been torn and the pieces were spilling out. So I cut out the picture from the front of the box, punched a hole in it and attached it to a hessian bag. Then I placed the jigsaw pieces inside the bag. Sorted! Bailey McGuire, Cleethorpes Festive and thrifty Don’t waste out-ofdate potpourri – just add essential oils to it and dry out some orange slices. It smells lovely and adds colour for the Christmas season. Stacy Chapman, Kingswinford Easy cheesy When my old milk separates into…

Charlotte Grady, 51 Walking through the shopping centre, I saw the kids’ toys displayed in the windows. I loved treating my grandkids, and there was no better time than Christmas. Nearly the big day, I thought, feeling merry. Christmas 2020 was just days away. All I had to do was pick up some last-minute gifts. A beautiful doll for one of my grandkids, some more toys, aftershaves, and baking dishes for my family. I lived with my hubby Timothy, then 57, our son Steve, 31, and his wife Amy, 41. Each year, our whole family took turns to host a huge Christmas Day feast. This year, it was my turn. ‘Everyone’s coming over in the morning,’ I told Timothy on Christmas Eve. Our daughter and two grandchildren, Steve and Amy with her grandkids and friends of the family. There…