Table of contents for 17 April 2025 in Chat

Bunnies and eggs and choccy, oh my! In Chat this week, we’re celebrating Easter. I love this time of year – as well as too much chocolate, brighter mornings and £1 daffs in the supermarket, there’s the four-day bank holiday. What’s not to love? So get stuck into fab spring pics and tips, fun Easter decs and games (p31/p28) and our pick of the best eggs and buns the supermarkets have to offer (p25). Plus our usual mix of shocking real-life stories, of course. Have a great week,…

Pulling the soft, snuggly hood over my head, I felt so cosy and warm. It was November 2022 and me and my boyfriend Steven, then 48, were out shopping. I always felt the cold. So as soon as I spotted the oversized hoodie blanket, called a snoodie, at the market place, I couldn’t resist trying it on. Black with a white sherpa lining, it was like being wrapped up in a cloud. ‘This is so cuddly,’ I said to Steven, beaming. ‘I’ll get it for you,’ he said. He was sweet like that. In our three years together, he’d always made me feel special, like buying me this new snoodie. It wasn’t about the cost -it was a bargain at just £10. It was the thought that mattered. Back home,…

What do actors Cameron Diaz and Dame Penelope Wilton 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 Go by bike (5) 4 Long audible breath (4) 6 Sentiments (8) 13 Popular, esteemed (7) 14 Persecute (7) 15 Not dead (5) 16 Broth (4) 17 Mistakes (6) 18 Agree to (6) 20 Just or impartial (4) 21 Property tax (5) 22 Astonished (6) 25 Made longer (8) 28 Principles (6) 30 Painter’s stand (5) 32 Tooth professionals (8) 34 Missing (6) 35 Leg joint (4) 38 Ogled (6) 39 Electronic message (5) 40 Withstand (6) 43 Naming word (4) 44 Modest (6) 45 Very bad (8) 48 Attempted (5) 49 Invent (6) 51 United Arab _, Middle Eastern country (8) 54 Government assembly (6) 55 Chronometer (5) 56 Cab (4) 58 Pops (6) 60 Filaments (6) 61 Warmth (4) 65 Beside (5) 66 Exterior (7) 67 Distended…

Pain in the neck Q I slept funny and my neck is now so painful to move that I can’t turn it straight. Will this go away? Ellen, Cardiff A You’ve likely got a ‘wry’ neck (torticollis) – a muscle spasm caused by sleeping in an awkward position. It’s uncomfortable but usually not serious. Try using a warm compress or have a hot shower to relax the muscles, and take pain relief, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, if needed. Slowly turn your head in pain-free directions, but don’t force it. Avoid staying in one position for too long and keep your shoulders relaxed. Most people feel better in one to three days, though stiffness can linger a bit longer. If the pain is severe, lasts more than a week or comes with…

1 Sing like no one's listening Whether you join a choir or belt out a tune in your car, singing can lower stress, boost immunity and lung function, improve mental health and help you cope with physical and emotional pain, thanks to the release of endorphins. And the best bit? You don’t have to be good to reap the rewards. ‘Tap into the music of your past, a time that evokes fun, then crank up the volume and sing along,’ says life coach Anna Williamson*. 2 Head outdoors Kids have got it right. ‘They love nothing more than jumping on a scooter and whizzing down a hill,’ says Anna. ‘It’s carefree, fun and full of joy.’ Anna recommends heading outside, whether you get on your bike, go for a walk or just soak…

Sometimes in life, we’re told to expect the unexpected. When I found out I was pregnant in 1998, I was still at university. But, aged 20, I quickly got my head around the idea of becoming a mum. My first scan at 12 weeks revealed a healthy heartbeat. And at 31 weeks, I had a scan to reveal the gender. I couldn’t wait to find out if I was having a boy or a girl. Only, at the hospital, there was a bigger surprise in store. ‘It’s twins,’ the doctor said. I gasped. I was already in my third trimester! But the doctor wasn’t finished. ‘We need to talk about Baby B,’ she said. Her voice was serious as she explained I was expecting two girls. Baby A was growing…

One moment, I was sitting in the classroom at college. Next thing, I was flat on the ground. Worried faces hovered over me. ‘What happened?’ I asked. ‘You fainted,’ my tutor replied, kneeling beside me. She said I’d been unconscious for two minutes. All I could remember was feeling dizzy, then waking up on the floor. My mum Jill, then 44, came to collect me. Back home, I flopped on the sofa. Our dog Pebbles, a working cocker spaniel, snuggled up. ‘You’re the best nurse,’ I smiled, ruffling her floppy ears. It was autumn 2021. Aged 17, it was my dream to work as a dog trainer. Determined, I’d been studying hard on my animal management college course. But lately, I’d not been feeling myself. Pins and needles, dizzy spells,…

Top tip For a speedier option, use a tin of caramel instead of making your own. Billionaire's shortbread A classic combo made even better with honeycomb and choc buttons. SERVES 12 PREP 20 MINS, PLUS CHILLING COOK 30 MINS ● 150g unsalted butter, softened ● 225g plain flour ● 250g golden caster sugar ● 175g salted butter ● 100g golden syrup ● 397g can condensed milk ● 1tsp vanilla extract ● 200g dark chocolate, broken into chunks ● 200g milk chocolate, broken into chunks ● 1 Crunchie bar, chopped, to decorate ● Handful chocolate buttons, to decorate You will need: ● 23 × 33cm baking tray, greased 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan. Whizz the unsalted butter, flour and 75g of the sugar until just combined. Put the mixture into…

Balloons filled the front room, presents were scattered across the kitchen table. It was July 2023 my daughter Laionie’s 18th birthday. As she bounded down the stairs, me and her dad David, then 40, brothers Deon, 19, and Brandon, 15, and her little sister Charlotte, 5, all burst into song. ‘Happy birthday, love!’ I said, wrapping her in a hug. My little girl was all grown up. ‘Doesn’t seem two minutes since you were Charlotte’s age,’ I said. Now Laionie had a proper job as a compliance officer at an insurance company, dreamt of travelling the world in a camper van. She had her whole life ahead of her. We celebrated with lunch at an Italian restaurant, and I bought her a pearl necklace. The next day, Laionie came home…

W7 Love Pop Lip & Cheek Tint, £6, w7makeup.co.uk Use this lightweight lip and cheek tint to add a pop of natural-looking colour to your face. Effortlessly blending into the skin, this bargain buy is a must-have for make-up lovers. Bioré UV Aqua Invisible Face Mist SPF50, £17.99, Superdrug SPF is essential for everyday use and this lightweight mist makes wearing it a breeze. Simply spray over make-up for hydrating and comfortable all-day protection. Beauty Bay Prebiotic Cleansing Whip, £12, beautybay.com This cleanser supports the skin barrier to balance and boost your natural defences, leaving your face softer, clearer and refreshed. It removes heavy make-up, too! Collection Cosmetics Lasting Perfection Ultra Cover Concealer, £4.99, Boots Coming in an impressive 27 shades, this longlasting concealer delivers ultra-full coverage while remaining lightweight and breathable. It’s…

We didn’t realise you’d end up being our forever home when we moved in more than 60 years ago. I was 22 and at university, and my wife Brenda, then 20, and I couldn’t afford a place of our own. Not on my student grant and Brenda’s pay from her role as a school science technician. Renting a room in a house share was as much as we could stretch to. Moving in on our wedding day, in August 1962, we quickly settled. And for those first few years, we shared you with three other tenants. A busy house, but a fun one. But soon after our daughter Ailith was born in December 1967, our landlady announced she was selling up. ‘I don’t want to leave,’ Brenda said. I was…

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Watching my sons kick a football about, I took a sip from my drink. It was November 2020 and we were still under social distancing rules thanks to the pandemic. But I stayed in contact with my oldest son Billy, then 23, through regular park meet-ups, phone calls and texts. He’d moved out a while before and these gatherings meant me, Billy, my husband Steve, 51, and youngest son Henry, 16, could still spend quality time together. Arty, with a keen eye for fashion, Billy was always switching up his look. He’d been a punk in his teens, still sported an 80s-style mullet. A fun-loving, creative lad in his 20s but still a mummy’s boy too. ‘When are you dropping my prezzies round, Mum?’ Billy practically begged. I had to…

Q I have a lump on the outer lip of my labia. It’s full of pus and so painful. I can barely sit down, but I’m too embarrassed to go to the doctor. What can I do? Melanie, Cumbria A This type of pusfilled swelling, or boil, is often caused by clogged hair follicles or sweat glands. Apply a warm compress to the area a few times a day, which can help it drain naturally and ease the pain. Make sure to wear loose, comfortable clothes to avoid further irritation. Keeping the area clean and dry is important, but avoid harsh soaps or scrubbing. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help with the discomfort. It’s best not to squeeze or pop the boil, as that can make things worse. If…

Oh balls! Think you’ve got skills? Take a look at our designer, Paul M, who managed to throw and catch 17 Maltesers right into his gob in one minute. Now that’s talent! Sadly, he was nowhere near the current world record, where two skilful chocoholics managed to catch a staggering 76! Keep practising, Paul… Record setter? If you’ve ever tried to pick up a Mini Egg using chopsticks, then you probably have too much time on your hands. But you may have also noticed how hard it is. It’ll leave your brain truly scrambled, but our features director, Cher, managed to move 17 mini eggs in one minute. True skills that can’t be egg-nored. Your certificate is in the post, Cher! Cracking up Our art director, Paul B, reckoned he…

Obsessed with her ex Q My girlfriend has a secret Instagram account specifically to stalk her ex. She says it’s just out of curiosity, and she wants to know what he’s up to since they broke up, but I think it seems really weird. If she was happy with me, it wouldn’t matter what her ex was up to, surely? I’m really not sure what to do about this. Erin, 24 A She’s fixated on her ex without him knowing. It’s strange. Why does she need to know what he’s doing? Unless they have kids together or are still figuring out joint finances, he should be gone, love. He’s an old flame that should’ve been snuffed out a while ago. I think you need to look at the partner you’re…

3 ways to… learn for free Want to boost your knowledge without having to fork out? Here’s how to do it without the price tag 1 Creative courses Fancy learning to play an instrument? There’s free help online. For example, if you want to get started on the guitar, check out Andy Guitar on YouTube. Or if you’ve always wanted to write a novel but don’t know where to start, check out Tim Clare's free podcast Couch to 80k, an eight-week fiction-writing course over 48 episodes (timclarepoet.co.uk/couchto80kwritingbootcamp). If you want to boost your hair and beauty skills, you’ll find handy tutorials on YouTube – including on how to cut your own hair, if you’re brave enough! 2 Back to school At OpenLearn, the home of free learning from the Open University (open.edu/openlearn),…

Q I always neglect moisturising my body. How can I make it a habit? Helen Smithfield, Devon A Our bodies are often neglected and left without seeing a moisturiser for months on end. If you’re guilty of this, then trying to make the effort to change is all about making the process quicker and easier, so you don’t avoid doing it. Stock up on some hard-working body products that are going to make the process easier, such as an in-shower product like Sanex Expert Skin Health Therapy Oil, £4.50, Boots, which is a rich body oil. Formulated to soothe itchy skin and relieve dryness, this keeps skin hydrated for up to 12 hours and can be applied in the shower after your body wash, saving you precious time. Another great…

Driving along a quiet country road on 10 September 1996, a man named Bobby spotted an abandoned bright red Toyota lying on its side, the engine running. He knew straight away who it belonged to. Sally Snowden McKay, then 75, owned a grand, lakefront mansion nearby called Snowden House, which dated back to 1919. In fact, it’d been her father Robert who had first established the small, quiet community of Horseshoe Lake, Arkansas, a generation before. Sally was known in the area for her kindness. A high-spirited and happy woman, willing and ready to help anyone. Worried for her welfare, Bobby stopped at a nearby boat shop and called on the help of its owner, Levi. The men quickly drove to Sally’s home to find her nephew’s car backed up…

Do you have any secret (or not so secret) talents? Yes, I’ve always loved art, from colouring-in books as a child, to painting landscapes and abstract scenes with acrylics. For a few years, I’ve also been making and selling resin coasters, key rings, bookmarks and pots. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be? Florence in Italy, to see great artists’ work, such as Titian and da Vinci paintings at the Uffizi and Michelangelo’s sculpture David in the Accademia. Seen any good films lately? I particularly like psychological thrillers and recently watched Alone, an American film released in 2020 starring Jules Willcox as a young woman trying to escape a psychopath. I also like science fiction disaster movies such as Independence Day, but nothing beats a good comedy…

The Fujita scale is used to measure the intensity of what natural phenomenon? The number next to the clue tells you which line the answer’s in. We’ve put a section in to start you off! There may be two Across answers in one line. Down words fill themselves in. The shaded squares spell out the one-word prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 2 1 Glasgow native, say • Ceremonial splendour 3 Steadfastness 5 Number of biblical Commandments • Attempt 7 Commit to doing something 9 Thing or unit • Average, standard Your answer:…

MARY JANES STYLE TIP These retro flats have made a huge comeback. With their signature strap, they’ll add a dose of nostalgic charm to your look. BALLET PUMPS STYLE TIP Easy to wear, these wardrobe staples go with anything, making them a go-to option for any daytime outfit. LOAFERS STYLE TIP Team with a blazer or a casual button-down shirt tucked into high-waisted trousers for a polished yet relaxed vibe. SLINGBACKS STYLE TIP Get the designer look for less with these buckled eyelet-embellished flats. They’re both statementmaking and practical. FROM JUST £5…

Choc-tastic THE POSH ONE M&S Collection Extra Thick Pistachio and Milk Chocolate Egg, 485g, £20 A wonderfully nutty egg with a layer of creamy pistachio truffle and chopped roasted pistachios. FULL OF FUN FLAVOURS Specially Selected Milk Ripple Egg with Honeycomb & Pretzel, 170g, £4.99, Aldi The sweetness of the honeycomb and saltiness from the pretzel are a match made in heaven, and the price tag is a bonus too! MILKING IT Tesco Finest Dark Milk Chocolate Hollow Egg, 228g, £12, Tesco A delicious combo of creamy milk and dark chocolate – trust us, you don’t want to miss out on this one! ON THE DARK SIDE Exceptional Orange & Ginger Dark Chocolate Egg, 200g, £9.98, Asda A great dark chocolate egg laced with pieces of crystallised ginger and candied…

WARM WELCOME CUTE CHARACTER EGG-HUNT READY…

When 62-year-old Mitch and his wife Chela, 40, take their family to do the weekly shop, they get more than a few looks. Because with 10 children in tow, dressed in coordinating outfits, it’s hard not to miss the larger-than-life family. ‘People think our family is a cult,’ jokes mum Chela. ‘Even the doctors when we were having the last child in hospital asked, “Are you guys a cult?”’ adds Mitch. The couple’s ‘fun, loving’ family consists of twin daughters Orial and Chena, 16, along with daughters Chelece, 15, Chala, 13, Chanay, 8, Chalay, 6, Chandelle, 4, and Asriel, 2. Plus there are the couple’s two boys, Orien, 12, and Orisen, 10. Mitch explains that he first met Chela at work. ‘I was singing in a restaurant and she requested…

Three balls of energy rushed past me into the garden. ‘Howdy, partner!’ my daughter Jessie shouted, racing around outside with her older brothers. It was March 2024 and Jessie, then 3, Max, 7, and Jack, 11, were pretending to be cowboys. With two boisterous sons, I’d dreamt of pretty princess dresses and dolly tea parties when Jessie was born. She looked the part, with her beautiful blonde ringlets. But my little Goldilocks was more interested in playing footy with her bros. Wrestling, dinosaurs and playing cowboys. And just like them, she was always covered in mud or scraping her knees. Typical kids. But one day in April 2024, during a family holiday in Wales, Jessie complained that her ankle hurt. ‘Maybe she fell over and didn’t tell us,’ I said…

Aries 21 March-20 April With the Sun and Neptune both in Aries, there may be conflict between your heart and head. Dare to dream, but also be realistic about what you can achieve. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You may find this week a little tough, but use your powers of persuasion and perseverance to achieve what’s most important to you in terms of stability. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Chatty and engaging, you have many friends. But be sure you are on the same page as someone close to you, otherwise this could lead to difficulties. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You can be shy, but in the right company you’re…

AOC Skincare Caffeine Eye Cream, £1.99, B&M Our eyes tend to reveal how we’re feeling on the inside, so if you’re exhausted it’ll likely show. This caffeine-packed eye cream is a lifesaver for those mornings when you need to fake the eight hours of sleep you didn’t get. Like a big slurp of coffee for your skin, this formula energises, brightens and hydrates in equal measure, so apply liberally to give your skin a proper wake-up call. PS… Pro Exfoliating Scalp Serum, £4, Primark Want to reset your scalp? Then try this pre-wash treatment, which gently buffs away product build-up, excess oils and dry flakes to reveal a smooth and healthy scalp. The formul contains glycolic acid and wheat protein, which lightly exfoliates without irritating and is soothing, too. Use…

Chat winners issue 3 (16 January 2025) £1,001 CASH S Winn, Taunton £500 CASH H Lloyd, Dereham A Hassell, Mansfield £250 CASH W Grant, Doncaster K Martindale, Blackpool £200 CASH J Moore, Sutton-in-Ashfield £100 CASH J Dockray, Carnforth K Madden, Hull M Cottrell, Bristol £75 CASH J Wakefield, King’s Lynn £50 CASH J Panfili-Tinker, Abertillery B Mason, Tamworth P Linfield, Worthing K Chandler, Welling R Franks, Exmouth G VanGeffen, Kettering £40 CASH J A Ellis, Liversedge £30 CASH S Rosenbach, Stoke-on-Trent P Philp, Tintagel £25 CASH J Williams, Nottingham J Whyte, Bolton Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £20 CASH J Boyle, Glasgow V Rawlings, Bristol T Woolfenden, Bideford P Tuersley, London T Kray, London J Bowen, Rotherham J Skinner, Yeovil S Pike, Norwich E Crutcher, Bournemouth…