Chat -julkaisun 11 July 2024 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

Welcome to this week's Chat… Is there anything in your life that you secretly fancy having a go at but think you'd never be able to do? Maybe Crystal's story will strike a chord. She used to drive past her local pole fitness studio and scoff at the idea of her 23st bod being capable of making the moves and dangling upside down (p24). She'd struggled with her weight since she was a kid and didn't dream that'd change. But, well, the pics of her now speak for themselves! Have a great week, PS If you're entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Karen Stilwell, 65 Huddled under a cosy blanket with my little sister Linda, I held a finger to my lips. 'Shh!' I hissed, as she stifled a giggle. 'Linda, back in your own bed,' our mum Jean scolded, marching into our room. We collapsed in hysterics. It was June 1965, I was 7 and Linda was 5. We were inseparable, even at bedtime. With our brother Gary, then 6, we were the three musketeers. All for one and one for all. Months earlier, in March 1965, we'd embarked on an adventure. Packing our things and boarding a ship from drizzly Southampton with Mum and our dad Brian, we were thrilled to be Ten Pound Poms. Emigrating under the Australian government's Assisted Passage Scheme, which offered £10 fares. The journey was…

Cosy in her cot, cute as a button in her tiny pink 'Daddy's Princess' onesie, Samiah Crater looked just like any other new addition to a family. Innocent. Loved. A beautiful little being her parents would die for. But tragically for baby Samiah, this wasn't going to be the case. In February 2020, the local police in Johnson City, Tennessee, were called out to a report of an 'unresponsive' child. That child was Samiah, then 19 months old, and living with her mum, Sapora Walton, 19, and dad, Jeremiah Crater, 21. At the flat, police were met with a heartbreaking scene. Samiah wasn't just 'unresponsive', she was dead. And she was skeletal. Weighing just 12lb, the size of an average 3-month-old. Speaking about how the little girl was found, Johnson…

1 Switch your protein Aim to get your protein fix from beans, eggs, fish, poultry and tofu, and eat no more than three portions of red meat a week. 'There's evidence that eating lots of red meat, such as beef, lamb, pork and goat, is linked to an increased risk of developing bowel cancer,' says Claire Coughlan, clinical lead at Bowel Cancer UK*. 2 Check your meat If you cut just one thing out of your diet, make it processed meat. That means anything preserved by smoking, curing, salting or preservatives. 'Almost 13% of bowel cancer cases in 2015 were linked to eating processed meat – for example, bacon, ham and sausages,' says Claire. 3 Eat more fibre We should have 30g of fibre a day, but most of us only…

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 Nikki Richardson, Withyham, East Sussex WIN 5 x £20 Puzzle 6 ACROSS 1 A major constituent of beaches and riverbeds 2 Round chocolate biscuit with cream filling 3 Obscene, crude 4 UK petrol stations DOWN 1 The undersurface of a foot 2 A Greek god of war 3 Newly received information 4 Extinct, large flightless bird…

FAMOUS FUNNIES 'A good rule to remember for life is that when it comes to plastic surgery and sushi, never be attracted by a bargain.' Graham Norton 'I'm not offended by blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb, and I also know that I'm not blonde.' Dolly Parton 'Two monkeys were getting into the bath. One said, 'Oo, oo, oo, aah, aah, aah.' The other replied, 'Well, put some cold in it then.' Harry Hill 'I've got a boyfriend at the moment. Sometimes he's there and sometimes he's not. I prefer it when he's not. Sex is a lot quicker.' Sarah Millican ONE-LINE WONDERS My therapist says I have a preoccupation for revenge. We'll see about that… I was wondering why the Frisbee kept getting bigger and bigger, then it…

Emma O'Grady, 43, Sheffield Practising my breathing, I was a bundle of excitement as a familiar face popped round the curtain. 'Surprise!' grinned my sister-in-law. It was May 2010 and I was in hospital, in the early stages of labour. My husband Jason, then 30, beside me. His sis was 20 weeks pregnant, and seeing her made me feel more at ease. She was there for a scan, had just found out she was having a girl. Our son Shay was born later that day. And back home, Jason's sister was on hand to help. That October, her daughter Evie Mae was born. 'They're adorable,' I cooed, snapping pics of the cousins' first meeting. She lived just 10 doors down, on the same street. We saw each other every day,…

3 ways to… save on mobile bills while travelling Going abroad? Don't get stung for using your phone… 1 Check charges It's crucial that you find out how much it will cost to use your phone when you're abroad before you set off as this can vary widely by provider and destination. In some cases, it won't cost you any more than using it at home – for example, some providers offer free EU roaming, while others charge a daily fee to access your usual calls, texts and data. And be sure to check any 'fair usage policy' your provider has because if you go above it you could face hefty fees. If you're travelling further afield, the cost of using your phone can rocket. You may be able to buy a…

Field of sin Kandice Barber, 37, lay seductively on a bed surrounded by sex toys and took a photo of herself, before sending the saucy snap to her lover. But the mother-of-three wasn't flirting with another adult. The recipient of the photo was a 15-year-old pupil at the school where she worked as a supply teacher. She'd added the pupil on Snapchat after spotting him at a school sports day, bombarding him with flirty messages, grooming him before having sex with him in a field in October 2018. She then told the teen to delete all her messages and block her on Snapchat in a bid to cover her tracks. She had spotted the pupil at a school sports day Barber, from Buckinghamshire, was caught out after her pictures were…

Not only does this little tin of Vaseline look stylish, but it's also scented with gorgeous tropical vanilla and coconut aromas. The classic 100% triple-purified petroleum jelly comes to the aid of chapped and sore lips, providing soothing and nourishing relief. Pop in your bag for a summer-scented lip treat! If you heat style your hair, you need this great-value brush. The clever vented design allows airflow to reach your hair while using it and ensures that you get the best styling results. Use to blow-dry your locks with ease, or just as an everyday hairbrush, to keep your strands smooth, detangled and beautifully volumised.…

BEHIND THE BIG CRIME TRUE-LIFE They were both pregnant, expecting baby girls, due weeks apart. It was little wonder that Darlene Haynes, 23, and Julie Corey, 39, became such close friends. The two neighbours spent hours chatting, getting excited about their new arrivals and talking about baby names. Julie chose Ailda. Darlene liked Sheila Marie. Darlene was estranged from her baby's father Roberto Rodriguez. Their relationship had ended when she'd reported him to the police for assault, and obtained a restraining order. So it was nice that she'd grown close to Julie, who was known locally to be friendly and kind, cooking for her neighbours. Along with her partner Alex, 31, she ran errands for Darlene and went with her to appointments. They'd even lived with her for a spell. It…

Chat winners issue 15 (11 April 2024) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £1,001 CASH I Smith, Middlesbrough £500 CASH C Mohamed, Campbeltown P Wilkinson, Houghton le Spring £250 CASH B Bishop, Nottingham M Latham, Deeside £200 CASH M Mills, Hereford £100 CASH J Reeve, Newcastle upon Tyne S Lewis, Northwich L Saunders, Moreton-in-Marsh £50 CASH M Mair, Cumnock R Tilley, Harpenden A Hill, Nuneaton M Fretwell, Mansfield S Lambert, Grantham S Delvin, Swansea £40 CASH N Duce, Petersfield £30 CASH S Clinton, Hemel Hempstead S Emerson, Bristol £25 CASH P Askey, Aylesbury S Homer, Wolverhampton £20 CASH A Pidgley, Poole D Barnes, Great Yarmouth D Robinson, Warwick G Guffick, York J Duncan, Bathgate J Lambe, London C Crouch, Halifax C Lewis, Swansea B Day, Braintree L…

We pay £25 for any photos that we use on Chat To Us! My son Ellis knows exactly what to put in his trolley first! None other than his favourite mag! Sarah Lancaster, Bolton My son's two dogs, Max and Benny, just love lounging outside on sunny days. Janet Dandy, Burnley We adopted our beautiful crested gecko, Star, a year ago and couldn't resist a photo shoot. Claire Fisher, Pontypridd Get in touch! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com POST Chat, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR Find us online at facebook.com/ChatMagazine My mum and dad are celebrating 60 years of marriage this year and they get on better than ever! Esther Newton, Retford Here I am in Iceland recently where I was lucky enough to see the Northern Lights. I've been going to Iceland for…

TRUE-LIFE After Mum reported Linda missing, it took four hours for police officers to arrive. By then, she was hysterical and Gary and I were clinging to each other, sobbing. But the cops, who smelt of booze, batted away our concerns. 'She's probably run away,' one officer said. 'Or she could have fallen off the pier?' another added. We put our faith in them, told ourselves the police would find her. She'd turn up on the doorstep, any minute, telling us she'd got lost. We hoped and prayed. But hours ticked by. Then days, weeks. Mum was frantic, but week after desperate week, there was no trace of my little sister. At night, I'd wake up, dreaming she had slipped in beside me. 'Linda?' I'd whisper into the darkness. We…

TRUE-LIFE Kim Munslow, 39, Flint Taking a break at work, I spotted a video message on my phone from my husband Nathan. Clicking play, I saw our 9-month-old baby boy Lucas filmed standing up, clinging to the edge of the sofa, the first time he'd ever done that. Well done, I typed back, bursting with pride. I'd just gone back to work, doing night shifts as a carer in a nursing home, while Nathan, then 36, looked after Lucas. I was already five months pregnant with our second. Having two kids so close together was daunting, but I loved that Lucas would have a sibling near his age. Two days on, in May 2019, Nathan called me at work. Lucas was screaming in the background. 'He's burning up, Kim,' Nathan…

Kiri Weston, 32, Swadlincote, Derbyshire True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Rubbing the palms of my hands together, I frowned. 'It's so itchy,' I complained to my partner Liam, then 29. It was June 2018 and I'd developed little red bumps on my hands. They'd come up out of nowhere and were getting worse. My doctor diagnosed psoriasis, a condition that caused flaky, itchy skin. I was prescribed non-steroid and steroid creams, but nothing helped. In November, I was referred to a dermatologist. By then, I was expecting my second child. 'It's not safe to receive treatment while pregnant,' the dermatologist said. I sighed – by now my rash had spread to my feet. Got so bad, I'd lost some of my toe- and fingernails. Wore plasters to hide them, covered my hands…

What do singer Ariana Grande and actor America Ferrera have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the six-word prize answer. WIN £1,001 Puzzle 5 ACROSS 1 Artist's stand (5) 4 Part of a hospital (4) 6 Law-breaker (8) 13 Joint business owner (7) 14 Worry (7) 15 Closes (5) 16 Tenant's payment (4) 17 At a higher volume (6) 18 Human being (6) 20 Organs of sight (4) 21 Rotates (5) 22 Thomas _, US inventor (6) 25 Class or division of things (8) 28 Casual garment (1-5) 30 Parent's brother (5) 32 Not together (8) 34 Using one's teeth (6) 35 Trial (4) 38 Less difficult (6) 39 Place to sit (5) 40 Kitchen gadget (6) 43 Part of a camera (4) 44 Underground drains (6) 45 Part of the weekend (8) 48 Greets enthusiastically (5) 49 Cleaning cloth (6) 51 Activate (6,2) 54 Edible flat…

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Her hubby comes between us Q I've been friends with a woman for about 30 years. We'd meet up when her husband was at work. Now he's retired and at home all the time, and not happy about our friendship because I'm a bloke. I don't get to see her much now, and I miss my mate. Tim, 57 A Thirty years is such a long time to be friends with somebody. Don't throw that away, hun. Tell her you know things have changed but you want to stay friends. Offer up times you're free to grab coffee or lunch. Can you make friends with her man, to show him you're not a threat? I understand if you're not keen – he doesn't sound very nice! Worried for our housemate…

The creamy formula glides and blends seamlessly into the skin. Use this subtle gold highlighter all over your face to give yourself a wonderful golden glow. This SPF 50 face cream is ideal if you have an oily or problematic complexion, as it won't clog your pores. The ultralightweight fluid regulates sebum production, reduces spots and protects the skin. Want to remove your make-up without drying out your skin? Introduce this nourishing micellar water into your daily routine to gently cleanse, hydrate and plump it up. Packed with nourishing coconut oils, this shower and shave mousse is a must-have this summer. Working to prevent dryness and add radiance, this is so worth trying. Like a plaster for spots, simply apply one of these patches, infused with niacinamide, on your blemish…

This week we meet… Paula Davies, 43, from Dorset What was your dream job while growing up? I had a few! I wanted to be a chef because I loved food and thought I could make myself delicious meals all the time. I wanted to be a firefighter for a while, but soon discovered I was too short at 5ft. I became a deputy head teacher, which was my dream job when I was 8, but I like to think I've acted as a chef and firefighter in my 20 years of teaching anyway. What was the last thing that made you laugh? Talking about a placenta with my pregnant hairdresser at my last appointment. No one ever told me you almost have to 'give birth' to the placenta after…

How many words long was the first televised Christmas Day speech by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957? Fit these numbers into the grid. One number doesn't fit. This is the prize answer. 3 digits 121 148 153 327 339 348 434 452 480 829 897 4 digits 1706 2283 2883 3331 4326 4845 4916 5309 6284 7175 7342 8239 8374 5 digits 21039 28478 29844 30409 35682 43947 48254 55696 73016 73082 85978 6 digits 267975 401641 412048 7 digits 4953337 5596135 6768799 8 digits 37142940 43786574 68393049 99264115 WIN £200 Puzzle 1…

STYLE TIP Ensure you have a great-fitting strapless bra or one with convertible straps, so bra straps are concealed. STYLE TIP This perfect day-to-night holiday outfit takes you effortlessly from beach to bar. STYLE TIP The textured short-sleeved shirt is designed to be oversized, so it will double up as a great swimwear cover-up. WIDE FIT STYLE TIP Pair this vibrant ensemble with neutral accessories to let the bold print take centre stage.…

Bloody nose woes Q My 12-year-old daughter keeps having nosebleeds that are tricky to stop. What should I do? Kelly, Brecon A Frequent nosebleeds in a 12-year-old can be concerning. Firstly, keep your daughter hydrated as dry nasal passages can trigger nosebleeds. Use a humidifier at home, especially during dry weather, and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly inside the nostrils to keep them moist. Encourage your daughter not to pick her nose and avoid blowing it forcefully. If the nosebleeds persist, consult your GP to rule out underlying issues like sinus problems, allergies or bloodclotting disorders. They may recommend nasal sprays or nasal cream, or cauterisation if necessary to seal off the affected blood vessels. Can I make him last longer? Q My boyfriend ejaculates almost as soon as…

Crystal Rudd, 29, Fleet, Lincolnshire Balancing on a chair I'd dragged over from the kitchen table, I reached towards the cupboard door. Suddenly a loud alarm rang out and my mum Laura, then 42, appeared in the kitchen. 'I was hungry,' I said, as she sighed. Age 10, I'd become so obsessed with snacking that Mum had put an alarm on the food cupboard. Whenever I opened it, the sound would blare out. But I still couldn't resist, desperate for crisps. For years, I'd been stuffing packets down the sides of chairs, scoffing them when no one was looking. No wonder Mum was so worried. Now, I was much bigger than other girls at school. By the time I was 14, I was wearing a uniform in a women's size…

Originally applied by Jerry Mahlman to the findings of a 1999 scientific paper, what term describes graphs that demonstrate the abrupt upturn in global temperatures through the 20th century? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Hacks down = COPS + H = CHOPS. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2 x £25 Puzzle 9 TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

The common ornamental plants known as pelargoniums derive their name from the Greek word for what bird? Solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Stinging insects (5) 4 Primary colour (3) 6 Pull along the ground (4) 7 Pan used for stir-frying (3) DOWN 1 Tiger _, golfer (5) 2 Drinking tube (5) 3 Miserable (3) 5 Sense of self (3) WIN 4 x £20 Puzzle 13 TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

As a child, just like lots of little girls, Danni dreamed of one day getting married. But for her, there was no man in shining armour to meet her down the aisle – she dreamed of marrying herself. 'I just always thought the wedding was about the woman anyway,' she smiles. 'Why can't I love myself? Why can't I celebrate myself? I'm not hurting anybody,' she says. As an adult, Danni embarked on what she called a self-love journey. She spent a few years in therapy, gave up drinking and stopped having sex. 'I spent a lot of quality time with myself, even took myself on dates, learning what I liked,' she says. She'd always liked the idea of marrying herself but, following the COVID-19 pandemic, her dream started to…

Top tip If you're short on time, skip the topping and simply decorate with Rolos. Rolo cheesecake The classic choc-caramel combo makes this pud a real showstopper. SERVES 10 PREP 20 MINS, PLUS CHILLING COOK 10 MINS • 50g butter, melted • 200g chocolate digestive biscuits, finely crushed For the filling: • 300g milk chocolate, broken up • 100g Bournville dark chocolate, broken into chunks • 250ml double cream • 2×250g tubs mascarpone, at room temperature • 6tbsp thick caramel sauce For the topping: • 170g dark chocolate • 55ml double cream • Rolos, chopped and a few left whole, to decorate You will need: • 23cm springform cake tin 1 Pour the melted butter into a large bowl and stir through the biscuit to coat. Press into the base…

5-11 July 2024 Aries 21 March-20 April It's time to focus more on your health and wellbeing. A fire sign, it can be difficult for you to slow down, but that's exactly what you need to do for a few days. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May At times you need to bear in mind that making progress is more important than getting everything perfectly right. Slow and steady growth is favoured. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June With Jupiter in your sign, the sky's the limit. If you were guaranteed success in any venture, what would you do? It's time to think big and explore new opportunities. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July The…

QI'd really like to prolong my salon pedicure – how can I do this at home? Lisa Barton, Witham, Essex A The best way to do this is by continuing to give your feet some TLC. Start by applying an intensive foot cream like Scholl Hydration Boost Foot Cream for Dry Skin, £6.99, Boots, which when used daily, instantly replenishes moisture for softer, smoother feet. For optimum results, smother feet in a generous helping, put on a pair of socks and let the formula work its magic overnight. Another great way to lengthen the life of your pedicure is to massage in cuticle oil a few times a week. Palette London Cuticle Oil, £8, palettelondon.com, is packed with nourishing ingredients like vitamin E and tea tree oil, to keep your…

TEXT Simply text CHATA 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…