Table of contents for 3 April 2025 in Chat

Welcome to this week's Chat… I love my local pool. Not when the alarm goes off before 6am! But after I've pulled on my cossie, I never regret starting my day with a swim. So Jane's story (p24) chimed with me. At 94, she swims almost every day – just like me. Unlike me, she has a hefty load of medals to show for it! Jane is sharing the news about Better's adult swimming classes – and now so am I. Big or small, young or not, fast or slow, the pool is for everyone. Give it a try! Have a great week,…

As Kert's eyes locked with mine, he just smirked and closed the door. No, no, no! Kert hadn't come to save me at all, he was guarding the door. He'd known what Jordan was doing to me in the toilet and he'd just let it happen. Just as evil as his brother. After, as Jordan led me back to the party, he hissed, ‘Don't say a word.’ Wiping away tears, I wanted to tell Torrey. But how could I? It would ruin Georgina's birthday. And I was afraid of Jordan. Kert too. So I said nothing. Forced a smile when Mum came to collect me. Back home, sore where Jordan had hurt me, I wept in my room. Hopefully we won't see them again, I thought. But weeks later, Mum…

What do actor Sir Sean Connery and former prime minister Sir Tony Blair have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 Across 1 Cereal grain (5) 4 Tops of jars (4) 6 Cricket tournament (3,5) 13 Country, capital Dublin (7) 14 Not as big (7) 15 Situated inside (5) 16 Swine (4) 17 District (6) 18 Steering devices (6) 20 Rodents (4) 21 Mary _, TV chef (5) 22 Aviator, _ Earhart (6) 25 Jewellery item (8) 28 Widespread (6) 30 The perfect example (5) 32 Sailor's dance (8) 34 Insist on having (6) 35 Particle of matter (4) 38 Made a noise like a snake (6) 39 Smell (5) 40 Moves to music (6) 43 Ascend (4) 44 Proposal put to a meeting (6) 45 Missile thrown in winter (8) 48 Throw out (5) 49 Qualification from…

Q I have dry, itchy, burning skin on my vulva with a red rash, and it's sore during sex. Could the chocolateflavoured lubricant be causing it, or maybe my soap or toilet wipes? Mia, Bridgend A This sounds like vulvar dermatitis, but it's important to see a doctor to rule out other conditions, such as psoriasis or lichen planus. Treatment will depend on the cause. If it's vulvar eczema, emollient creams or steroid ointments will soothe the area. If it's an allergy, avoiding the trigger should help. Some common irritants include soaps, wipes and scented products, so I would take all of these out of your hygiene routine. Instead, wash once a day with lukewarm water and a gentle soap substitute, like Epaderm. And wear cotton underwear and loose clothes.…

Learn the secrets of your features Chin chin Those with square, broader jaws are matter-of-fact, instinctive and make good bosses, but can be strong-willed and stubborn. A softer jaw tends to mean someone is more understanding. Who nose best? Having a long nose and chin means you're approachable and like to help others. Anyone with a round face and long nose is wonderful to work with. Pucker up Fuller, pouty lips show someone is generous in relationships. A tighter lip means they can give too much and may also be a bit closed off, but they're sensitive and devoted. And yes – big mouths are chatty! While small mouths indicate a quiet sincerity. Just browsing Eyebrows reflect ambition and how you tackle challenges. Thick eyebrows suggest high energy, someone who…

The smell of shepherd's pie wafted through the air. My tummy rumbling, I picked up my checked oven gloves and leant forward to open the oven door. Only, as I bent over, my black and white Border collie Brian, then 2, stuck his nose right where it was least welcome. ‘Brian!’ I said, standing upright with a jolt. He'd stuck his snout right up my bum! ‘I don't know what's got into him,’ I tutted to my husband Dave, then 69, as I plated up. ‘He never used to do this.’ Every time I turned around, Brian was there trying to get a good old sniff of my undercarriage. I put it down to the problems I'd been having ‘down there’. It was May 2023, and at 51, I was…

Breaking point The morning of 8 February 2002 started off like any other for Brenda Heist, 42. After getting her son and daughter, then 12 and 8, ready, she dropped them off at school in Lititz, Pennsylvania. But she never came to collect them later. She'd vanished without a trace. Years passed and everyone wondered what had happened to her. Had she been kidnapped? Had someone hurt her, hidden her body? After a police investigation, Brenda was declared legally dead in 2010. But while her family grieved, three years later, in 2013, a woman walked into a police station in Florida. Claimed her name was Brenda Heist. Said she'd been working as a cleaner in Florida for more than a decade. Had been living under different aliases. She was just out…

The sun was beating down as I watched my boyfriend, Connor, then 24, build sandcastles with my kids. ‘You're great with them,’ I smiled to him. And I meant it. A family beach day was one of my favourite things. And having Connor here just added to it. It was July 2019, and we'd recently reconnected through friends after first meeting as teens. A bad boy back then, Connor was always getting himself into fights. He'd got his life together though, was now working as a scaffolder. Things were going great between us. He adored my kids, then aged 1, 3 and 6, and doted on me as well. Helped me cook the dinner, did the washing up and tidying… Only, three months into our relationship, Connor started getting annoyed…

Revolution Skin Magic Makeup Melt Soothing Cleansing Balm, £10, revolutionbeauty.com This rich, velvety balm-to-oil cleanser effortlessly melts away makeup, dirt and grime from your face. Use it every day to deeply clean, nourish and refresh skin. Discover Bloomin’ Lovely Eau de Toilette, £12, M&S The latest fragrance offering from M&S is this fresh, fruity and floral perfume that combines the notes of lily, rose and orange blossom to create a gorgeous, affordable scent. & Other Stories Arabesque Wood Body Scrub, £14, stories.com Use this gritty body scrub to buff away dead skin. With its relaxing aromas of moss, ginger and amber, this is an absolute treat to use. W7 Bubble Base Foaming Primer, £5.50, w7makeup.co.uk Designed to help create the perfect base for makeup, this foaming cleanser is packed with…

Dear Mark, Thinking back to the moment we met, it's obvious it was meant to be. After all, you weren't even planning to be there that Thursday evening in August 2024. At the Over 50s Night Out event, organised by Age UK Norwich. But a friend had offered you a ticket at the last minute. And I was on a night out with my mates, Michelle and Linda. We'd giggled as we'd got ready before heading to the event. ‘It's on from 6-10pm!’ we'd laughed. An early night at least. The idea of not feeling the oldest, surrounded by a bunch of 20-somethings, was appealing. I just wanted to have a bit of fun with my pals. Certainly wasn't on the lookout for love. Hadn't exactly been lucky in that…

Gazing at my reflection, I groaned at my dark circles and crazy hair. It was September 2022 and while I loved my nursing job at a veterinary hospital, night shifts left me shattered. I hardly saw my husband Michael, then 29, and our daughter Emily, 7. Also, I'd just been sick. Probably a tummy bug. ‘Unless…’ I thought. Opening the bathroom cabinet, I rooted for the unopened pregnancy test. I'd kept it from the previous year when we'd tried for another baby. Only, we'd given up after three months. ‘I'm happy to be a one and done girl,’ I'd told Michael. We'd been going through a rough time. Arguing loads, even talking about splitting up. Now, I took the pregnancy test to rule it out. Minutes later, in shock, sent…

Chat‘s content director Tanya met Rylee to find out if the truth really is written all over her face. • Rylee says my oval face means that I'm a warm, welcoming person. A flattering start. • My plump, rosy cheeks show I like to connect with people and bring them together. I'm sociable and trustworthy, but also financially successful. Ka-ching! • Ears that lie close to my head make me a good listener and hard working. Rylee gently tugged my ears, testing their flexibility. Both are firm, so I'm spiritually and physically strong. • Forget concealing your crow's feet. Lines curving up are your joy lines. Something to smile about! Lines that turn down are grief lines, the longer and deeper they are, the more heavy the sorrow. I have…

He's got a sugar mama Q I've just found out my boyfriend has a so-called ‘suger mama’. A rich older woman who gives him cash in return for a romantic connection. We're not just talking a little spending money. She's funding our rent, his designer clothes and more. When I talk about it, he laughs and says he's not sleeping with her so it's not cheating. I can't deny that I'm benefiting from this arrangement, but it feels so dirty. Sophie, 34 A This isn't about the sugar mama, it's about trust, flower. Is this something he's always done or has it started since you've been together? He might not be sleeping with her but it certainly feels like a kind of infidelity to me. He needs to stop laughing…

3 ways to… teach your kids about money These tips will help you share good financial habits with your children… 1 Be open ‘By having open conversations with children about money, including how to save, budget and spend within your means, you can help them understand the importance of managing it sensibly,’ says Olly Cheng, financial planning director at Rathbones Group. Showing them real-life examples can really help with this, such as explaining to them what costs you need to budget for each month. And when you're making a bigger spending decision like booking a holiday, explain all the factors you weigh up when deciding which holiday to book and how you find the best deal. Also get them involved in some day-to-day spending decisions. You could go to the supermarket together and…

LETTER of the week! Q How can I help my manicure last longer? Amanda Bolton, Chelmsford A The secret behind making your manicure last isn't about the nail polish, it's about prep products and dedicated aftercare. Whether you've gone to a salon for a gel mani or done a DIY job, it's vital to invest in good quality nail care. If you're painting your nails yourself then a good base and top coat is essential. We love Sally Hansen Double Duty Base & Top Coat, £8, Sainsbury's, as it works as both. Apply a thin layer before adding colour and seal everything in with a last layer for your top coat. The formula is designed to protect nails and cuticles, while locking in colour and adding a salon-quality shine. After…

When Patrick O'Hara received a letter from the NHS in November 2023 about a home visit, there was no reason for the 71-year-old to question it. After all, as a retired environmental analyst who'd worked with asbestos, he was used to having frequent health checks. The letter, from the Community Associated Nursing Team, was soon followed up with another, this time offering a Covid booster vaccine. Someone would pay him a visit between 9am and 1pm on 22 January 2024. And they did. When Patrick opened the door, he was confronted with a man wearing a black beanie hat, tinted glasses and a face mask. He introduced himself as community nurse Raj Patel, showed an ID card. Patrick invited him into the home he shared in Newcastle with Wai King…

What's your favourite type of cake? A tasty slice of Madeira. It reminds me of Friday market-day visits to a cafe in town with my mum in the 1950s. She always had a cuppa with hers and I had a hot blackcurrant drink served in a tall glass, which made me feel so grown up. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? I have a dear cousin Patrick who lives in the north of Norway. He has a cabin in the mountains by a lake with the most amazing views of the Northern Lights. I would love to sit on the porch and watch them with him and his family. Which is your favourite season? I was born in April and associate it with happy…

High up in the sky, the cold breeze whipped through my hair. Huddled up with a group of friends, we all grinned. ‘Say cheese,’ someone shouted, snapping a pic. It was July 2010 and, aged 5, I was celebrating my friend Georgina's birthday. We'd come to Blackpool Tower for a party. We'd giggled on the ground floor as we'd stepped into the lift. It had whizzed us right up to the top of the tower. So exciting. Peering down at the beach and buzzing pier, way below us, I beamed. ‘This is the most fun party ever,’ I told Georgina, then 4. A family friend, Georgina's mum Torrey, then 48, had known my mum Samantha, then 28, for years. Our families had recently started spending more time together. And I…

Sitting in the GP's surgery, the doc shone a light into my eyes. ‘I'm sure it's just tiredness,’ I reasoned. It was April 2003 and I'd been suffering from double vision and headaches. My son Jake was 4 months old and I'd recently returned to my marketing job. Juggling everything was exhausting, so I'd put it down to that. ‘Let's send you for an MRI just to check,’ the doctor suggested. Weeks later, I sat in a consultant's office… ‘There are white spots on your brain,’ the doc told me bluntly. ‘You have MS.’ Multiple sclerosis. A chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. I was always fit and healthy, even in pregnancy. ‘It doesn't seem to be affecting you a lot, so try to forget about it…

When Sally's little girl, Steffni, was born, she was like any other baby. She learnt to sit unaided, began crawling and even took her first teeny tiny steps. There was no sign anything was wrong. But as Steffni grew into a toddler, her mum noticed things starting to change. ‘My mother didn't realise anything until I was around 2,’ she explains. ‘I was constantly falling down when I was walking and I wasn't catching myself, so she ended up contacting the doctor.’ What followed would change their lives forever. Diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which causes progressive muscle weakness that worsens over time. Usually affecting males, Steffni's diagnosis was extremely rare. ‘Like, one in 50 million!’ she says. Heartbreakingly, Sally was told that her daughter was unlikely to live…

Walking to the school bus on 10 June 1991, Jaycee Dugard, 11, didn't think anything of the car pulling up alongside her. Probably someone just wanting directions… But seconds later, Jaycee let out a scream. She was being bundled into the back seat of the car. The doors slammed shut, the car sped off and Jaycee was gone. A huge search was launched for the schoolgirl. The local community in South Lake Tahoe, California, rallied round her family. ‘As long as Jaycee is alive, there's hope,’ her mum Terry Probyn insisted. Year after year passed, and still there was no sign of Jaycee. Then, almost two decades later, a breakthrough… On 27 August 2009, Jaycee's family were given the news they'd been praying for. She'd been found. Had been held captive by convicted…

Top tip If you don't have cabbage, swap for another leafy green, like kale. Bean stew This quick and simple veggie main packs a flavour punch. SERVES 6 PREP 15 mins COOK 25 mins ● 1tbsp olive oil ● 2 onions, chopped ● 1 chilli, deseeded and chopped ● 2 garlic cloves, crushed ● 500g carrots ● 400g tin chopped tomatoes ● 500ml vegetable stock ● 1 Savoy cabbage, shredded ● 400g tin cannellini beans ● Handful fresh basil leaves ● Crusty bread, to serve 1 Heat the olive oil in a large pan and fry the onions for a few mins to soften. 2 Add the chilli and garlic, and cook for 2 mins. 3 Add the carrots, tomatoes, stock and cabbage along with the beans and 2tbsp basil leaves.…

Aries 21 March-20 April The New Moon in Aries at the end of March helps you set goals for the rest of the year. Enjoy this new beginning by embracing change and thinking big. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Mix up your routine! Try a different route to work, or pick up an old creative hobby again. By making a simple, small change you'll soon feel more energised. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Do more of what you love. Review the resolutions you made at the start of 2025. Are you heading towards your most important goals or do you need to refocus? ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July With Mars moving forward…

Catrice Cosmetics Calligraph Pro 24H Matte Liner Waterproof, £3.49, justmylook.com If you're after a slick cat's eye then look no further. Featuring an ultra-long-lasting formula along with a precision brush tip to ensure effortless application, this creates sharp, clean lines with absolute ease. The pigmented jet-black formula promises zero smudges or fade for 24 hours thanks to the waterproof staying power. Collection Cosmetics Incredibrow Laminating Brow Glue, £3.99, collectioncosmetics.com Keep unruly brows in shape all day with this new brow glue. The clear, quickdrying formula locks in both colour and shape for up to 24 hours and looks completely natural. Use the brush end of the applicator to shape your hair and then comb through the formula to lock everything in place.…

Chat winners issue 1 (3 Jan 2025) £1,001 CASH L Gordon, Sutton Coldfield £500 CASH B Jee, Sheffield R Feathers, Swansea £250 CASH G Hayes, Blackburn D Mumuney, Bristol £200 CASH S Sargant, Crowborough £100 CASH J Haigh, Oxford J Gregory, Brierley Hill C Moreno, Coventry £50 CASH P Gorman, Bristol E Jacques, Selby K Bower, Driffield V Van Der Hoeven, Weybridge P Seaton, Plymouth M Lane, Daventry £40 CASH B Shaw, Stalybridge £30 CASH KE Stoner, Plymouth N Turner, Cheadle £25 CASH J Ferguson, Kenilworth J Dunstan, Mansfield £20 CASH F Hawkes, Antrim D Harper, Newcastle upon Tyne N Seary, Southampton J Atterbury, Milton Keynes C Staff, Rushden P Tomley, Market Rasen J Humphrey, Didcot M Murray, Ipswich ID Rooke, Poole D Duggan, Manchester L Parkes, Manchester M Robins, Derby K Oxberry, Faversham P Rogers, London L Dodd, Cleethorpes M Waller, Epping M Taylor, King's Lynn J Hall, Stockton-on-Tees T Fenwick, Louth J Painter, Shrewsbury Y Sutton, Manchester D Owens, Weston-Super-Mare J…