Índex per 3 October 2024 a Chat

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True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Opening my eyes, I glanced around my bedroom and breathed a sigh of relief. I’d survived another night. It might sound dramatic but, since having my first epileptic seizure 20 years before, I went to bed afraid I wouldn’t wake up. It was March 2016, and I’d lived with epilepsy ever since I’d collapsed on the platform at Birmingham New Street train station. Back then, I was just 23. I had a good job and my own flat. I was shocked when tests showed I had epilepsy. I was put on medication to control the condition. But they were so strong that I couldn’t become pregnant while I was taking them. I could no longer either drive or drink alcohol. I did my best to get on…

WARNING EDITOR’S After pegging T-shirts on to the washing line in my garden, I turned my attention to the wheelie bins by the back gate. ‘You two are a bit scruffy,’ I sniffed. It was late May 2024 and, with the sun finally shining, I wanted my garden looking spick and span. Ready for my 10 grandkids to come and play. Grabbing a brush, I filled a bucket with disinfectant and water and leant right into the bins, giving them a thorough scrub. By the time I’d finished, they were gleaming. Only, I was covered in dirt and grime! Later, after a shower, I climbed into clean pyjamas. Then got on with my usual night-time routine, checking my bedroom for cobwebs and creepy crawlies. Flapped the duvet, I smoothed my…

Whenever I see a rainbow, I’m reminded of the colours in my life – each has a spiritual representation. Red for anger, blue for peace, yellow for happiness… From bright moments to dark times, I’ve been through them all. When I think back to my childhood, all I see is black. It was 1971, and at just 8, I was groomed and abused by a neighbour. Closing my eyes, I gasped for breath as he raped me in the woods, then I passed out. Next thing I knew, I was sitting high up in a tree above, gazing down – like I’d been lifted out of my body. ‘Never mind what’s going on down there,’ a voice said. ‘Let’s watch the birds and the trees.’ I turned to see the…

truly Chat! As Marley puts her feet up and relaxes, a man whips round her house cleaning until it’s spick and span. Occasionally, he pauses to tell her she’s beautiful. But if you think Marley, 30, will be paying her cleaner for his services, you’d be wrong. In fact, he is paying her to allow him to scrub her house and shower her with compliments. That’s because Marley, known as Mistress Marley to her clients, has an unusual occupation. ‘I make six figures a year telling men what to do,’ she reveals. Marley, 30, started her job giving men orders six years ago after leaving college. ‘I took a corporate job but I wasn’t making any money from it, I was having a lot of anxiety,’ she explains. Sparked by…

Oaty jumbo fish fingers A grown-up twist on a classic – and it’s better for you! SERVES 4 PREP 15 MINS COOK 25 MINS ● 500g salmon, cut into 4 fingers ● 4tbsp oats ● ¼tsp dried oregano ● 4tbsp sesame seeds ● Juice 1 lemon, plus ½ lemon, cut into wedges ● 2tbsp rapeseed oil ● 2 courgettes, trimmed and cut into sticks ● 1 garlic clove, crushed ● 200g cherry tomatoes 1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/ Gas 6. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Season the fish. 2 Combine the oats, oregano and sesame seeds in a shallow bowl. Pour the lemon juice into another shallow bowl. Dip the fish in the lemon juice and then the oats, turning to coat. 3 Put the fish…

TRUE-LIFE As I turned the corner towards my local shop, I saw a figure leaning against a wall. Handsome with black hair, olive skin, deep brown eyes… The most gorgeous man I’d ever seen! ‘Have you got a cigarette?’ I asked cheekily, as I passed. ‘Of course,’ he replied, flashing me a smile. Lighting up, he introduced himself as Essie, short for Esmaeil. ‘Where are you from?’ I asked, noticing his accent. ‘Iran,’ he replied. It was July 2001 and I was not long out of a relationship. I hadn’t been looking for love – I’d only popped out for a pint of milk! But somehow, me and Essie went from chatting on that street corner to being head over heels. I soon learnt he wasn’t just gorgeous but kind…

Microfleece Hair Turban, £4, Primark You should avoid drying your hair with bath towels – the looped texture can cause friction which can lead to damage and frizz. Instead, try this quick-drying hair turban, made from super-soft microfleece which absorbs water quickly and leads to a smoother look post-styling. Essence Hydra Kiss Lip Oil, £2.99, justmylook.com Lip oils are back with a bang. They deeply nourish chapped lips – ideal for this time of year – and provide a subtle pop of colour. You don’t have to opt for the expensive designer formulas to tap into the trend. This bargain is infused with vitamin E, jojoba oil and hyaluronic acid and is available in three wearable shades.…

BEHIND THE BIG CRIME TRUE-LIFE When Patricia Townsend welcomed her newborn Bridget into the world, her life was changed forever. It was 26 June, and Patricia had given birth to her last child. Her only girl. She grew into a sweet kid, then a caring young woman. ‘Any time she saw an elderly person she’d say hello. She could never pass a newborn child without saying hello. She was always giving people gifts,’ remembered her aunt Clara. ‘She was a beautiful person who loved life and loved people,’ said Patricia. So it was no surprise that, aged 18, Bridget had set her heart on becoming a nurse, and eagerly waited to find out if she’d got a place on a training course. On 14 January 2001, she dropped by the video…

What’s your favourite way to unwind on a Sunday afternoon? Lying in a warm bubble bath, a couple of scented candles on the windowsill and listening to my favourite music while doing puzzles in my magazine. What was your dream job when you were growing up? I always wanted to work in a shoe shop, I loved the different fashions. It wasn’t to be, I became an administrator for quality in education. I still love all types of shoes. If you could be any person for a day, who would you choose and why? Dame Prue Leith. To walk around on The Great British Bake Off with the charming Paul Hollywood, taste all the fantastic dishes and chat with the contestants to get new ideas. Not forgetting to have a…

Save face When finished with your sheet face mask, pour the unused product from the sachet into a travel pot and you have another week’s worth of the good stuff! Cath Christie, Warrington, Cheshire Plant life I found this miniature jug at the back of the cupboard when having a clear-out. I decided to re-use it as a tiny planter for tiny alpines, adding a bit of gravel. I think it looks great. And it’s easy to look after too! Connor McGuire, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire Don't lose it Struggling to find the end of your Sellotape and always breaking nails in the process? Use a small portion of curling ribbon to mark it and you’ll find it every time. Caroline BrothertonRatcliffe, Ipswich, Suffolk £25 For every photo tip that we print…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What do actors Andrew Garfield and Jeff Bridges have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the sixword prize answer. ACROSS 1 _ Gerwig, film director (5) 4 Sunrise (4) 6 At this very moment (5,3) 13 Accompaniment to lightning (7) 14 Displaying (7) 15 Sweeping utensil (5) 16 Home and _, TV soap (4) 17 Advertising motto (6) 18 George _, author of 1984 (6) 20 Facial feature (4) 21 Intoxicated (5) 22 Mixture of red and yellow (6) 25 Limb of an octopus (8) 28 Belched (6) 30 Precise (5) 32 Wuthering Heights singer (4,4) 34 Women getting married (6) 35 Winged creature (4) 38 Very dirty (6) 39 Light purple (5) 40 Sir Isaac _, scientist (6) 43 Lower limbs (4) 44 Hugh _, actor who starred in House (6) 45 Army personnel (8) 48 Provide food for…

Noisy joints Q I have clicking knees and ankles when I get out of bed. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s really loud! What’s happening? Abbie, Solihull A This is usually nothing to worry about. This noise often comes from tendons and ligaments moving or gas bubbles popping in the joint fluid. It can also be due to cartilage wear and tear as you age. Menopause can affect joint health due to hormonal changes, making clicking sounds and stiffness more noticeable. Eating a balanced diet with calcium (milk, cheese, dairy foods), vitamin D (fortified foods, egg yolks) and omega-3 fatty acids (oily fish, nuts and seeds) can help your joints. Staying hydrated and exercising regularly also keeps joints flexible and lubricated. If you develop pain, swelling or constant stiffness, see your…

1 Garlic Garlic reduces cholesterol production in the liver and discourages hardening and furring-up of the arteries, explains registered nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer. ‘Garlic also dilates arteries to lower blood pressure and improve circulation.’ Try a couple of cloves in cooking or, better still, try aged garlic (black garlic). This helps to reduce soft plaque in coronary arteries in people who are at high risk of heart disease. 2 Tea Pop the kettle on. ‘Tea is a rich source of beneficial antioxidant polyphenols that protect your heart and boost circulation,’ says Dr Brewer. ‘The results from 22 studies show that people who drink at least three cups of tea a day are 27% less likely to experience a heart attack than those who do not.’ 3 Blueberries These contain the highest level of anthocyanins (the plant pigments…

Twice the spice Two are certainly not becoming one with this model. Victoria Beckham’s likeness at the now closed Louis Tussauds House of Wax in Great Yarmouth ended up looking more like old spice than Posh Spice! Palid as a rock When Dwayne Johnson – aka The Rock – saw his waxwork at The Musée Grévin in Paris last year, he agreed the muscly model had his bulging biceps and tattoos. Yet the figure had a totally different skin tone. So different, in fact, that he revealed his team would be speaking to the museum about altering the pale skin – which they did. What a melt A world with two Ryan Reynolds in it sounds pretty perfect – and that’s what Madame Tussauds in New Orleans created with their waxwork of…

3 ways to… curb impulse shopping Find it hard to resist the urge to splurge? Try out these helpful tips… 1 Take time out If you’re browsing online and something catches your eye that you want to buy (but hadn’t planned to get), why not tell yourself that you can get it – just not yet. You could set rules on how long you’ll need to delay making a purchase for, depending on the value of the item. You might decide that waiting 24 hours works for low-value items or a month for more expensive things. You may find you’re less likely to want to buy the item once you’ve had time to reconsider. 2 Think it through Consider what triggers your impulse spending so you can work out ways to combat it.…

Weleda Deodorant Stick in Eucalyptus & Peppermint, £8.95, weleda.co.uk This deodorant smells incredible, thanks to the blend of eucalyptus and peppermint notes. It’s made using natural antibacterial ingredients including sage oil to keep your pits smelling fresh for up to 24 hours. Only Curls Curl Refresh Spray, £17, onlycurls.com Keep curls, coils and waves looking springy with this handy spray. Spritz it generously on to hair a few days after washing to instantly improve definition and bounce. Revolution Superfix Misting Spray, £10.99, Superdrug Lock in your make-up look in a matter of seconds with this handy setting spray. It also provides a matte finish, which is ideal if you’re prone to oiliness. Naturally Radiant Gentle Cleanser, £8.99, Superdrug Superdrug has recently reformulated and expanded its Naturally Radiant range, and we’re huge fans…

Chat winners issue 27 (4 July 2024) £1,001 CASH D Miles, Monmouth £500 CASH L Thornhill, Whitstable J O’Higgins, Winsford £250 CASH S Codd, Stowmarket J Tynan, Altrincham £200 CASH S Haigh, Doncaster £100 CASH K Ovey, Barnstaple P Phillips, Solihull S Wharton, Rossendale £50 CASH V Albin, Darwen B Watmough, Clevedon L Beard, Redruth SM Delaney, Bradford R Midgley, York P Scully, Carnforth £40 CASH P Kershaw, Liverpool £30 CASH B Cordle, Solihull T Dunn, Ardrossan £25 CASH J Holden, Burnley S Garland, Cardiff £20 CASH S Wright, Bath Anyone from your town in the list this week..? S Diddams, Peterborough E Mesquitta, Birmingham K Jones, Worcester D Collins, Weston-super-Mare A George, Carmarthen M Romanov, Lewes C Youngman, Woodbridge J Leech, Liskeard K Weedon, Romsey E Cobee, Southampton S…

TRUE-LIFE As I took the spaghetti off the hob, my boyfriend Lyndon, then 20, came up behind me, wrapped his arms around my waist. ‘What’s cooking, good looking?’ he said, nuzzling my neck. It was 2007 and we’d met at a local pub, where he was a doorman. Tall, tanned and cheeky, an ex-professional boxer – he was so big and strong and I fancied him like mad. Things had moved quickly between us. Just a few months on, he’d moved in and I was swept up in our romantic whirlwind. Lyndon made me feel so appreciated. Like now, as he complimented the spag bol I’d made and told me how beautiful I was. I’d fallen head over heels for him. After a year together, I fell pregnant, and Lyndon…

Pumpkins lined the street as my little boy dragged me from door to door, swinging a bucket of sweets. ‘One more house, Mum!’ he said, looking up at me in his Ghostbuster costume. It was October 2022 and Billy, then 3, had just added Halloween to the list of things he loved. Obsessed with superheroes and the band Queen, my boy was full of life. Billy and his big sister Maddie, then 5, were my world. It’d taken a round of IVF each for my husband Jamie, then 36, and I to have them. Now, as I watched them, I thanked my lucky stars. But, as early 2023 began, we were back and forth to the GP with Billy. He had tummy aches, headaches and sickness that wouldn’t pass. Yet…

EDITOR’S WARNING When journalist Kim Wall, 30, received a message from an eccentric submariner in August 2017, it contained an invitation she couldn’t resist. Peter Madsen, then 46, was the creator of the self-built submarine U3 Nautilus. The Danish inventor called himself ‘Rocket Madsen’ and had ambitions to launch a rocket into space. Kim had travelled the world from her home in Sweden, making a name for herself as a journalist. She’d been chasing an interview with Peter Madsen for months, so when she was invited to board the sub, the prospect was as exciting as it was terrifying. Kim was planning to relocate to Beijing, China, with her boyfriend Ole Stobbe Nielsen. This would be her last interview before the move. Skipping her own goingaway party, she agreed to…

Q I noticed a rash on my back that was sore when I scratched it. It has now developed into little blisters and follows my rib cage on one side of my body. Help! Florence, Bury A It sounds lik by the same virus have shingles, caused e you that causes chickenpox. Shingles itself isn’t contagious, but the virus can spread to someone who hasn’t had chickenpox or the vaccine if they touch the rash fluid. They’ll get chickenpox, not shingles. You’re contagious until the last blister scabs over. To avoid infection, don’t scratch. Keep the area clean, dry and covered, and use cool, wet cloths for pain. Over-thecounter pain relievers like ibuprofen can also help. See a doctor within three days as they can give you a correct diagnosis…

The Fairy Flag, an heirloom of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, is held at Dunvegan Castle on which island? Solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Joe _, EastEnders actor (5) 4 Whichever (3) 6 Use a keyboard (4) 7 Father _, sitcom (3) DOWN 1 Glide on ice (5) 2 Become adjusted (5) 3 Dried grass (3) 5 Originally called (3) WIN 4 × £20 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

?Honeymoon phase is over Q My partner and I got married last year and had an amazing honeymoon, which my mother-in-law promised to pay for. She made a big deal about doing it, since my parents paid for the wedding. So we booked the trip on our credit card. We really expected her to pay us back but now it’s awkward because she still hasn’t. The credit card payments are stressing us out. I’m just too embarrassed to bring it up. Dot, 37 A It’s always awkward when money and family mix, pet. But it’s totally fair to bring this up – gently. Just say you want to check in as you’ve started receiving bank statements. You and your husband should support each other. Good luck, my love. Be brave!…

27 Sept-3 Oct 2024 Aries 21 March-20 April The Autumn Equinox guides you to look at what you need to embrace, as well as what you need to release. Letting go makes space for the new. It’s time to be bold. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Stepping out onto a more unconventional path can be scary, but it will bring rewards beyond your wildest dreams. Seize the moment and be brave. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Your youthful spirit and sense of fun uplift and inspire those around you. This week, try to make time to spend with friends who really need your support. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Mars, currently in…

Q My skin looks dull and feels parched. How can I improve it? Gabrielle Reid, Norwich A It’s common for our complexions to struggle with the change in seasons – it sounds like your skin is dehydrated and it could be suffering from the transition from summer sun to autumnal chill. Dehydration isn’t the same as dryness – it means your skin is lacking in water, whereas dryness means you need richer moisturisers. Avoid moisture-sapping ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid for a week or two, to help your complexion recalibrate. Drinking more water and using hydrating ingredients will help, leaving your complexion looking plump, bouncy and glowing. Hyaluronic acid serums draw moisture into your skin. We love The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £9, lookfantastic.com, which is fuss-free and…