Table of contents for 10 October 2024 in Chat

An all-biscuit diet sounds quite nice, doesn’t it? But when you read Becky’s story (p24) you’ll change your mind. Struck with a mystery illness, all she could stomach for months on end was digestives and rich teas – and not even chocolate ones! After finally getting a diagnosis and some treatment, Becky is on the mend and enjoying a more varied diet. Amazingly, she still fancies the odd biscuit. Well, those Hobnobs are hard to resist… Have a great week,…

TRUE-LIFE Excited Saga Forsgren Elneborg was looking forward to becoming a mum. In April 2023, the 20-year-old was seven months pregnant with a baby boy. She’d been preparing for his arrival for months. Had set up a crib and bought tiny baby clothes and trainers for her son. She’d even picked out the name Esaiah. Saga posted pregnancy updates on Snapchat and sent her friends and family ultrasound scans and photos of her bump. She was counting down the days until her little one arrived. Saga had been with her boyfriend Amin, then 21, for two years. Had introduced him to her mum Malisa Elneborg, who lived on and off in her daughter’s apartment so she could help out during the pregnancy. Amin didn’t share her excitement about their upcoming…

Q My mother is 76 and has suddenly become increasingly breathless. She smoked heavily since she was 15, but gave up seven years ago. The GP apparently told her she’s asthmatic. She has an inhaler, but it’s not helping – could it be something more? Denise, Cumbernauld A While asthma is possible, the fact that an inhaler isn’t helping might mean something more serious is going on. Conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, are common in long-term smokers and can cause serious breathing problems. Heart failure could also be causing her breathlessness. She should ask her GP for tests such as a lung function test, a chest X-ray or a referral to a specialist. A diagnosis early on will help manage her symptoms.…

As my mum Terry, then 56, put the kettle on, I headed to the biscuit tin. ‘Fancy a Hobnob?’ I asked. Silly question! They were the best ones to dunk. We sat down with our cuppas and biccies, only stopping our chatter for a nibble. A normal scene for most families. But something so simple was special to me. See, at the age of 14, I’d got dangerously thin, obsessively counting calories. I was diagnosed with anorexia and spent a year in hospital, recovering. During those dark times, I could never have imagined casually polishing off a packet of Hobnobs with my mum. But, with her support, I’d overcome my food issues, got my weight back up to 8st 1lb. A healthy weight for my 5ft 3in frame. And now,…

The garden was a flurry of noise, dust and men with shovels. It was April 2021 and I flicked on the kettle to make a cuppa for the workmen busy laying our new patio. ‘What do you think of Pink Shorts?’ my dad Matt, then 54, asked, joining me. He nodded in the direction of Craig, one of the workers. ‘Dad!’ I groaned, laughing. He was trying to set me up! Living at home with Dad and my mum Pet, then 48, I enjoyed my paralegal job and hanging out with my sisters Lucy, then 23, and Becky, 21, who lived at home too. I loved being single. Only, after taking out the teas for the team and getting a closer look at Craig, then 28, I had to reconsider.…

Mean Girl ‘On Wednesdays we wear pink’ isn’t the only rule Mean Girls actress Lindsay Lohan has to abide by. In 2007, she served just 84 minutes of imprisonment after pleading guilty to misdemeanour cocaine use and driving under the influence. In 2010 she served a further 14 days for missing court-ordered alcohol education classes and in 2011 she was given 35 days’ house arrest after the theft of a necklace. These days, LiLo is lying low and obeying the law. Shoulda stayed home alone Macaulay Culkin, then 24, was a long way from home when he posed for his bleary eyed mugshot at Oklahoma County jail in 2004. He was arrested for possession of marijuana and two controlled substances, admitted his guilt and received a one-year deferred sentence on…

WIN £500 Puzzle 18 The answers to all but one of these quiz questions can be found hidden in this wordsearch grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally. To help you, we’ll tell you that the answers are in alphabetical order in each section. However, one answer can’t be found in the grid. This is your prize answer. HAN 1 What is the name of Han Solo’s loyal Wookie companion in the Star Wars films? (9) 2 Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo, also appeared with Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard in George Lucas’ 1974 coming-of-age film American _? (8) 3 Star Wars hero Han Solo shares his name with a Chinese species of which type of extinct arthropod, found as fossils worldwide, whose name means ‘three lobes’? (9) LUKE…

Urtekram Camomile Shampoo, £6.49, Superdrug This organic camomile shampoo will bring shine and depth to blonde strands that look a little brassy or dull. The gentle formula will also nourish your scalp and hair. Naturally Radiant 2-in-1 Moisturiser & Serum, £8.99, Superdrug Give your complexion double the hydration with this serummoisturiser combo. It’s packed full of niacinamide and fruit extracts to leave your skin glowy and supple. Carmex Minis, £5.99 for pack of 3, carmex.co.uk Whether you go for cupcake, tropical or wild berry, these handy little squeezy lip balms smell absolutely delicious. They also have the added benefit of SPF15 for those rare sunny days. Lottie London Soft Grunge Palette, £5.95, lottie.london The mix of matte and shimmery tones in this versatile eyeshadow palette has everything you need to…

BEHIND THE BIG CRIME TRUE-LIFE Danielle Carr-Gomm was excited. It was October 2016 and she was on her way to a retreat with alternative healer Hongchi Xiao, at a beautiful English manor house. It was Danielle’s type 1 diabetes and lifelong fear of needles that had led her to seek the help of Xiao. A man she believed could cure her condition, which required daily insulin injections. Nothing was too ‘out there’ for the 71-year-old grandmother from Lewes, East Sussex. Not even the bizarre paida lajin therapy offered by Xiao, which he claimed could cure all sorts of health problems – including diabetes – by being slapped by him. Danielle first went to one of Xiao’s retreats in July 2016, in Bulgaria. She’d listened to him preaching how paida lajin could…

Eric Morecambe plays ‘all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order’ in a famous sketch featuring a piece by which composer? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will spell out the one-word prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 2 Your answer: 1 Relating to France (6) 2 Dinner jacket sash (10) 3 River running through Vienna and Budapest (6) 4 Infinite time (8) 5 Pull sharply (4) 6 Leg joint (4) 7 Famous physicist (8) 8 Most badly behaved (10) 9 Bicycle for two (6) 10Study of weather and climate (11) 11 Showing signs of tiredness (7) 12Board used to access a ship (9) 13Large marsupial (8) 14Normal, customary (8) 15Colour of the rainbow (6) 16Undomesticated (4)…

QUILTED BAGS STYLE TIP Make a statement with a quilted bag that will dress up a casual outfit, especially a jeans and slogan sweatshirt look. SCARVES STYLE TIP Not only will a scarf keep you warm, it will also inject some colour or a print into your outfit. BELTS STYLE TIP A belt is a great way to cinch in your waist when wearing floaty dresses or a bulky coat or blazer. FROM £5.99 HEELED BOOTS STYLE TIP Heeled boots are an autumn wardrobe must-have. Wear them with a knitted dress or leather trousers and a blazer.…

True-life TIENT CASEBOOK My eyes heavy, I rocked back and forth. Silently begging my newborn to nod off. It was August 2009 and Katy was 3 weeks old. I’d barely slept a wink since she’d arrived. With Zara, then 19 months, and Jude, 7, to look after, the long nights were taking their toll. Their dad Mark, then 46, was back at work following paternity leave. My days were spent juggling school runs, toddler tantrums and nappy changes. By night, I was desperate to crawl into bed. But Katy wouldn’t stop crying, refused to be held by anyone but me. The nights were endless. I could feel the walls closing in. One day, as Katy screamed from colic, I heard a little voice in my head. Was it Katy? It…

Totally no messing My little granddaughter loves to play with kinetic sand and other messy stuff, so I covered the table with cling film before she started. All the mess was on the cling film, and it was easy to just roll it up after and throw it away. Rosemary Atherton, Rossendale, Lancs Better be-leaf it! You can keep your iceberg lettuce tasting fresh and crispy for longer by covering it in some aluminium foil. Sally Entwistle, Blackburn, Lancashire Grow your own I place my gardengrown courgettes inside plastic bottles with the base removed before they’re ready for harvesting. It prevents slugs and snails from having their fill and getting there first! Jenny Stowell, Camborne, Cornwall £25 For every photo tip that we print Recycled bin After disposing of our…

Online dating fakers Q After my wife sadly died, I’ve finally plucked up the courage to sign up for online dating. However, a lot of the women I see on the websites are using really old photos. It’s put me off, as I don’t want to build a relationship on a lie. What are they hiding? I want to find someone genuine, but don’t know where to start. Please help! Harry, 70 A I’m sorry for your loss, my love. Good on you for getting back out there! Don’t be too hard on these women. Getting older comes for us all and I’d guess they aren’t feeling overly confident with how they look now. Some of these snaps could be from yesterday, but with all the filters we have now,…

4-10 October 2024 *STARLINES UPDATED EVERY THURSDAY. CALLS COST 80P PER MIN PLUS YOUR TELEPHONE COMPANY’S NETWORK ACCESS CHARGE AND LAST AROUND 4 MINS. FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. USERS MUST BE OVER 18. YOU MUST HAVE THE BILL PAYER’S PERMISSION. SP: SPOKE 0333 202 3390. PHOTO: ELIZABETH KEATES. SALLYTROTMAN.COM Aries 21 March-20 April The Full Moon in your sign at the end of last month gave you the confidence to begin something new and exciting. Keep going with this idea and stick with it! ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May While you are a patient and determined person, sometimes changing course is the only option. If you feel there is a lack of flow, try another direction. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini…

Q I’m looking for a new foundation for the colder months. Are there any new formulas I should try? Tina Hewson, Bournemouth A It’s a good idea to swap your foundation as autumn sets in. Your barely-there BB creams and tinted moisturisers work as brilliant breathable bases during the summer, but in the autumn you might want something with better coverage and staying power. Swap to a long-lasting foundation that will keep your face looking fresh all day. Maybelline Super Stay Matte Foundation, £12.99, Boots, is brilliantly affordable, has a flattering radiant finish and will stay put for hours without feeling heavy or cakey on your skin. Max Factor Miracle Pure Serum Foundation, £16, Sainsbury’s, is a skincare and make-up hybrid. The niacinamide in the formula will improve your skin…

What piece of advice would you give your younger self? I’ve got such a sweet tooth. I’d tell myself that all those cakes, biscuits, sweets and chocolate will catch up with me one day! How did you celebrate your last birthday? I spent the day with family. We went for afternoon tea at Bettys Cafe Tearooms in Northallerton, and then bowling in the evening – sadly, I didn’t win! What’s the first thing you’d buy if you ever won the lottery? I would buy first class tickets for me and my family to have a holiday in Australia. I lived there for two years and I’d love for my partner and daughter to experience it. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I think it…

Sipping my morning coffee, my office phone rang. ‘How’s it going, Leah?’ Jon asked. ‘Not too shabby,’ I replied. Like always, Jon chuckled. It was December 2019, and I was working for a furniture delivery company in Cheshire. Jon, then 35, worked in a sister office over 200 miles away in Norfolk. For the past four years, whenever there was a delivery hiccup, I’d deal with him on the phone. It’d always been purely professional but recently our chats had turned flirty. I loved Jon’s Norfolk accent, thought he was funny. Despite not even knowing what he looked like, I fancied him rotten. Later that month, I was at my work Christmas do when Jon popped up on Facebook. Nice to put a face to the name, his message read.…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 If actor Austin Butler could only listen to one Elvis Presley song for the rest of his life, what would it be? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares for the three-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Shriek (6) 12 Capital of Scotland (9) 13 Comedian, _ Stirling (4) 14 Royal, regal (8) 15 Educate (5) 16 Root vegetable (6) 17 Film, _ of the Lost Ark (7) 18 Going to sleep for the winter (11) 20 Fourth month (5) 22 Oceanic bird (9) 24 Large stringed instrument (5) 28/60 Director of Pulp Fiction (7,9) 29 Army officer (7) 32 Continent (6) 34 Long race (8) 36 Minus (8) 37 Give up work (6) 39 Pupil (7) 40 Ballroom dance (7) 45 Disney film about a deer (5) 47 Band fronted by Thom Yorke (9) 48 Journal (5) 51 Poet who wrote The Bell…

1 Have a cold shower Advocates claim it not only bolsters the immune system, but also improves circulation. Just make sure the shower head is clean, warns Gene Stone, author of The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick*. Millions of mycobacteria, which can cause lung disease, are found in shower heads. 2 Rest up Feeling on the cusp of illness? Don’t underestimate the power of the pillow. ‘If you sleep less than six hours a night, you’re four times more likely to go down with the sniffles than those getting seven hours of sleep,’ warns Sammy Margo, author of The Good Sleep Guide**. Set a regular bedtime and avoid all electronic devices for at least 45 minutes before you hit the sack. 3 Keep calm Under stress, your body can only deal with…

Krak (or Crac) des Chevaliers, a hilltop fortress, is a UNESCO World Heritage site found in which country? Solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Code of dots and dashes (5) 4 Black sticky substance (3) 5 Ventilate (3) DOWN 1 Legend (4) 2 Relating to the countryside (5) 3 Actor in a crowd scene (5) WIN 4 x £20 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Jessica Alves has spent years on a quest for the perfect body. ‘Growing up, since I was a child, I have always had a very feminine soul,’ she explains. ‘So throughout the years, in order to match my appearance to my soul, I have had a lot of aesthetic and plastic surgeries.’ From facelifts to lips, boobs to bums, Jessica has had it all. ‘I have had a lot of body and aesthetic modifications,’ Jessica admits. But not everybody likes the way she looks, with strangers casting judgement about her appearance, both online and in person. ‘The reaction that I get is just people looking and staring, simply because I don’t follow a natural beauty standard,’ she says. But she explains that the look she has created is ‘intentionally not…

Autumnal chicken casserole The sweetness of the pears and cider works with the smoked bacon. SERVES 4 PREP 20 MINS COOK 1HR 15 MINS ● 2tbsp olive oil ● 2 pears, cored and cut into wedges ● 1 onion, cut into thin wedges ● 2 sticks of celery, sliced ● 6-8 rashers smoked streaky bacon ● 6-8 skinless chicken thighs ● 500ml cider ● 1tbsp wholegrain mustard ● 1 chicken stock cube ● 2tbsp creme fraiche ● 1tbsp chopped chives ● Rice or mashed potato, to serve 1 Heat half of the oil in an ovenproof casserole and cook the pears gently for 3-4 mins until just golden. Remove from the pan and set aside. 2 Add the remaining oil and cook the onion and celery for 10 mins, until they…

TRUE-LIFE Sitting on the floor, my son Jack, then 8, looked up from his Lego. ‘This is Mummy’s friend,’ I told him. ‘Nice to meet you,’ Ashley, then 31, said, as my boy smiled back. I’d felt nervous about introducing Jack to the new man in my life. But before long, the two of them had their heads together building a tower. It was autumn 2014, and I’d been seeing Ashley for around three months. We’d matched on a dating app but it turned out that we went to the same gym. ‘I don’t know how I missed you there,’ I’d teased. After all, Ashley was gorgeous, with rippling biceps. But despite his strength, he was a sweetheart, whisking me out for romantic meals and now happily playing with Jack.…

Biovene Hyaluronic Eye Filler Treatment, £2, Poundland The skin under your eyes is much more delicate than the rest of your face and is more prone to dryness and irritation. Use your ring finger to gently tap this eye cream on the area morning and night, and the deeply hydrating formula will soften and brighten. W7 Sweet Dreams Overnight Cherry Lip Mask, £4.50, w7makeup.co.uk This cherry-flavoured mask will nurse chapped lips back to health while you sleep. Slather the balm over your mouth before bed and the hard-working mix of jojoba, macadamia and olive oils will repair and replenish.…

3 ways to… save on car cover Are you overpaying for breakdown assistance? Here’s how to get it for less… 1 Get it straight First, check whether you already have breakdown cover in place – for example, some packaged bank accounts include it. If so, ensure that it offers the cover you need. But if you don’t already have it, it’s time to shop around for the best deal – don’t just let your existing policy auto-renew. Once you’ve found the best price for the cover you need, try haggling with your current provider to see if they’ll match or beat it. 2 Know your needs Before you start, you’ll need to decide which type of breakdown cover you want. Personal breakdown cover will cover you as a driver, rather than a…

Chat winners issue 28 (11 July 2024) £1,001 CASH L Wood, Birmingham £500 CASH L Carmichael, Hull D Metcalf, Ashington £250 CASH C Raymond, Hastings M Clayton, Croydon £200 CASH J Fuller, Norwich £100 CASH R Simms, Dudley D Webb, Bedworth P Hicks, Southampton £50 CASH W Cauwberghs, Livingston M Fridlington, Thornton-Cleveleys C Chambers, Chislehurst K Hargate, Worksop S Holmes, Stourbridge S Dutton, High Wycombe £40 CASH J King, Leigh-on-Sea £30 CASH S McMullan, Coleraine P Gordon, Limavady £25 CASH P Whitworth, Preston C Clare, Chorley Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £20 CASH M Dunton, Manchester D Ward, Peterborough E Aston-Rhodes, Bude K Blears, Sandbach H Thwaites, Longfield S Hinton, Eastbourne N Leadbeater, Bradford N London, Yeovil V Worton, Coatbridge M Bamber, Poole D Andrews, Birmingham…

Dear Alanna and team, Hearing that my son John, then 9, had cancer was probably the worst moment of my life. It all happened so quickly. One morning, in August 2020, he refused his breakfast, complaining of a sore tummy. Within hours, he was screaming in pain. My husband James, then 41, rushed him to the urgent care unit at Hemel Hempstead Hospital. And, three days later, a consultant broke the news. ‘John has Burkitt lymphoma,’ he said. ‘Cancer of the lymphatic system.’ Heart racing, I tried to take it in. ‘The treatment will be hard,’ he said. ‘But give me six months and he’ll end up outliving us all.’ That gave us comfort but telling John was horrid. ‘It’s cancer but not a serious kind,’ James explained. The chemo…