Table of contents for 24 April 2025 in Chat

Welcome to this week’s Chat… We love to hear from our readers, but we don’t often hear from their families. But recently we got a lovely note from Beverly in Devon, who told us about her mum Sylvia, a big Chat fan. Beverly wanted to say a big thank you to her mum for everything she does – and what better place to do so than her fave mag! So, Sylvia, thank you from Beverly – and thank you from all of us for being a loyal reader. I have a sneaky feeling you’ll like this issue more than most! Have a great week,…

Toni Van Langenberg, 44, London Nodding my head along to the R&B track, my boyfriend Darren pulled me towards him. ‘I’ve never loved anyone like I love you,’ he smiled. It was November 2023 and we’d only been together for a few weeks. But I was smitten. Darren had completely changed my life. He’d come along at the right time when I’d not been feeling myself. I’d become a bit of a recluse. I didn’t go out much, rarely saw friends. That had all changed since meeting Darren, then 37, through a friend. ‘You’re my soulmate,’ he said now, as we kissed. By December, we were already talking marriage. Darren made me feel special. He seemed perfect. Well, almost. He had a few ‘quirks’ that I didn’t really understand. Like…

Which 1999 Fun Lovin’ Criminals compilation completes the name of ___ pudica, the sensitive plant, whose leaves droop when touched? Make three nine-letter words using all of these three-letter sections and enter them in the grid as the starter letters indicate. Then make an anagram of the letters in the shaded squares to form the answer. DED MOR ALI MIS VOC OUS GUI GLA STS Your answer: WIN 5 × £20 Puzzle 3 TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Sizes from 8-24 Tu at Sainsbury’s STYLE TIP Comfy basics are a must-have. Try switching joggers for lightweight wide-leg trousers as the weather warms up. Sizes from 6-22 F&F at Tesco STYLE TIP Opt for earthy tones for instant sophistication. Fabrics with a slight sheen have a luxe feel and can be dressed up or down. Sizes from 8-24 George at Asda STYLE TIP Build a wardrobe of layering pieces to effortlessly see you through the change in season. Gilets are a big trend this spring. Sizes from 8-22 Nutmeg at Morrisons STYLE TIP Invest in classic prints such as leopard and stripes. They can be styled together for a bold look, or teamed with neutrals.…

Bethany Wood, 33, Rye, East Sussex True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Slicing through the water, I reached the other side of the swimming pool. Aged 10, I loved swimming. Enjoyed dancing and other sports too. In fact, my parents encouraged me to do as much exercise as possible. You see, aged 2, I’d been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). The condition causes a build-up of mucus in the body’s tubes and passageways. It’s harmful to the lungs and digestive system. Docs had warned my parents that I would be lucky to live to adulthood. But despite the devastating prognosis, my parents were positive. Encouraged me to live a normal life. I had daily physio on my lungs and medication, and regularly used a nebuliser. Often I felt wheezy, had a sore tummy…

Phoebe Rowe, 22, the Midlands Sitting by the pool in my check bikini, I felt the sun beating down. But instead of relaxing and topping up my tan, I was curled up in a ball. ‘My stomach’s hurting again,’ I said to my partner Ryan, then 25. ‘Let’s get you some painkillers,’ he suggested. It was 15 September 2024 and we were on a week-long holiday in Tenerife. It was meant to be a carefree break, sipping cocktails, indulging at the all-inclusive buffet… But today was the fifth day I’d woken up with stomach pains. I figured it was just a urine infection. And after getting some painkillers, I tried to forget about it. We were due to fly home in two days’ time. I just wanted to enjoy the…

Housed in the former Brooker Hall, the Museum of Creativity can be found in which British resort? Solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Beatles song, A _ Day’s Night (4) 5 Someone Like You singer (5) 7 High cards (4) DOWN 2 Hatchet (3) 3 Female deer (3) 4 Spanish sparkling wine (4) 6 US city, _ Angeles (3) WIN 4 × £20 Puzzle 10 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

As Maddie plaits her daughter’s shoulder-length blonde hair, Everly, 3, sits at her mum’s dressing table and giggles. ‘She’s my little girl and we’re super close,’ says Maddie. The bond between them is clear to see. And with such a small age gap, it’s no wonder the two of them are so close. ‘I was 13 when I got pregnant,’ Maddie explains. Not something she’d ever envisaged. ‘I had always looked down on teen mums, if I’m being completely honest,’ she admits. But having given birth to Everly at the tender age of 14, she now thinks differently. ‘I think that was just from a lack of knowing what it would be like,’ she says. ‘When I actually got pregnant I was so scared for the reaction,’ says Maddie. And…

WIN £500 Puzzle 16 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 puzzle answer. HAMMER 1 Hammer to Fall by Queen was featured in which 1986 film, starring Christopher Lambert and Sir Sean Connery? (10) 2 Which composer known for his Planets suite, taught music at St Paul’s Girls School and wrote Hammersmith, for a military band or orchestra, in 1930? (5) 3 What’s the first name of rapper MC Hammer, he shares with a type of knife and a former UK prime minister? (7)…

Abandoned buildings, derelict sites, boarded up warehouses… James Fenton and his friends loved nothing more than searching empty, neglected properties. Urban explorers, they often stumbled across mysterious places and items. And on 27 September 2020, they did just that. Looking around an abandoned warehouse in Glenrothes, Fife, they were messing about taking photos. But what was supposed to be a fun day took a turn as James walked into a cupboard and something caught his eye. Bones. At first he thought they must belong to an animal. But as he edged closer and kicked away a box, he realised what he was looking at. A human skeleton. Terrified, the group called the police. And an investigation was launched to find out who the bones belonged to. The remains, badly decomposed,…

Dear Bean, The day you nonchalantly strolled through the front door was the day you won my heart. It was November 2019, and as the manager of the Sue Ryder charity shop in Taunton, I’d seen all sorts of things brought in to be donated. But a cat had never shown up on our doorstep. Until now… You were a looker, with soft, glossy tortoiseshell fur and bright, green eyes. ‘Hello you,’ I said, giving your head a rub. You meowed a noisy greeting back. I could tell you had an owner – you were well-fed! I arrived to open up the shop and you were waiting ‘Where did she come from?’ a customer asked as you strutted around. ‘No idea,’ I replied. That afternoon, you had a cat nap…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What do actors Daniel Craig and George Clooney have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the fiveword prize answer. Across 1 Former footballer, _ Beckham (5) 4 One who inherits (4) 6 Body part (8) 13 Without interruption or pause (7) 14 Goes on a journey (7) 15 Personnel (5) 16 Compass point (4) 17 Mystery (6) 18 Principles (6) 20 Gave money to (4) 21 Wear away (5) 22 From New Delhi, for example (6) 25 Quarrel (8) 28 Gentle, kind (6) 30 Device for telling time (5) 32 Online identity (8) 34 Metallic element (6) 35 To hold a party (4) 38 Occurring once a year (6) 39 Margins (5) 40 Place to park…

I’ve got itchy bits! Q I’m 50 and have sore, itchy white patches on my vulva that are growing. My skin feels fragile in some areas and thickened in others. I also have red and purple blisters, and sex has become painful. Please help! Shauna, Brecon A It sounds as though you have a skin condition called lichen sclerosus. It’s more common after menopause due to lower oestrogen levels and can cause discomfort, cracking and pain during sex. Even though it’s not an infection or contagious, it needs treatment to prevent scarring and complications. A doctor can confirm the diagnosis and prescribe steroid creams to reduce inflammation. Keeping the area moisturised and avoiding irritants like perfumed soaps can help. Don’t ignore this – long-term, lichen sclerosus can increase the risk…

Blind Willie Johnson used a penknife, Duane Allman a glass Coricidin medicine bottle and Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett a Zippo lighter to achieve what musical technique often featured in the blues? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Plaster moulds = CATS + S = CASTS. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2× £25 Puzzle 9 Plaster moulds Bare or empty Grace and elegance Currents Dairy product Monsters Discovered Unspoken Podium Chairs Twist or wrench Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Feeding your neighbour’s cat while they’re on holiday, you find their diary. Do you… a) Put it back where you found it b) Don’t read it, but tell your neighbour to find a better hiding spot next time c) Read the whole thing cover to cover, twice Your best friend has just bought a horrible new dress for a date. Do you… a) Suggest she wear something else that you know she looks amazing in b) Tell the truth and risk hurting her feelings c) Keep schtum and let her look awful You see a man get out of his posh car and walk off, then notice he’s dropped a £50 note. Do you… a) Chase him down to give it back b) Donate it to charity c) Pocket the…

India Atkinson, 25, Belfast As the school bell rang, I felt panicked and scared. Children all around me excitedly scurried to the playground. But I hated break time. It was 2007 and, aged 7, I was bullied relentlessly. All because of my little hand. See, I’d been born with a congenital condition called symbrachydactyly. It meant my left arm ended in a fist, and I had ‘nubs’ instead of fingers. Ever since I could remember, I’d known I was different. My mum Tracey, then 29, and dad Darren, 30, always made me feel loved. ‘You can do anything,’ Dad told me over and over again. Helped me find ways to do anything I’d set my mind to, like tying my hair in a ponytail or eating with a knife and…

Classic pasta bake The combo of tomato and cheese sauce will always go down a treat. SERVES 6 PREP 20 MINS COOK 40 MINS ● 4tbsp olive oil ● 1 celery stick, diced ● 1 yellow and 1 orange pepper, diced ● 1 courgette, diced ● 250g cherry tomatoes, quartered ● 250g pasta shells ● 50g butter ● 50g plain flour ● 200ml semi-skimmed milk ● 200ml hot vegetable stock ● 100g spinach ● Small handful basil, chopped 1 Heat 1tbsp of the olive oil in a pan over a medium heat. Gently cook the celery, peppers and courgette for 10-12 mins, until just tender. Add the tomatoes and simmer for 5 mins. 2 Heat the oven to 160C Fan. Meanwhile cook the pasta according to the pack instructions. Drain and…

Aries 21 March-20 April With Mercury moving direct in your sign, you have the courage you need to start a difficult conversation with someone close to you. Be bold and brave. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May The Sun moves into your sign on 20 April, giving you the energy to start something new. Perhaps begin a hobby or develop one of your creative talents. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June With Jupiter still moving through your sign, you may feel more expansive and ready to start making new friends. Romance may be on the cards for single Geminis. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July If you’re getting frustrated with a certain person or situation,…

Q How do you prevent lipstick bleeding and smudging? Andrea Harper, 67, Barnsley A A flawless, feather-free finish is all in the prep. Buff lips with Lanolips Lip Scrub, £8.99, lanolips.co.uk, to remove flaky bits. You could also use a damp flannel to gently massage lips smooth, then restore moisture with lip balm. Let it soak in for a couple of minutes then pat down with a tissue to remove excess. To stop bleeding or feathering, apply lip liner. You can use a nude or invisible pencil like No7 Stay Perfect Anti Feathering Lip Pencil, £9.95, Boots, or match it to your lip colour. Essence 8h Matte Comfort Lipliner, £1.79, justmylook.com, comes in eight shades. Trace around the edge then colour in the whole lip to boost your lipstick’s staying…

TEXT Simply text CHATD 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…

Sheila Hayden, 64, from Manchester If you could only eat one thing what would it be? I could eat Galaxy chocolate forever and the huge bars don’t last long enough, let alone the little ones! It’s my go-to food when reading Chat or watching a film. What’s the nicest compliment you’ve ever received? I’m flattered when friends and colleagues tell me I’m trusted and honest. Although some folk do say that I’m too honest for my own good sometimes! Are you a night owl or an early bird? Definitely a morning person – my disco days are well and truly over. I’m awake at 4am and in bed by 9pm, sometimes earlier. I even like an afternoon nap when I’m off work. The thought of going out in the evening…

Native to Europe and up to 20cm long, Limax cinereoniger is the largest land species of what type of animal? 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 prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 2 Your answer: 1 Sudden source of wealth or luck (7) 2 Fruit (5) 3 Formal learning (9) 4 The _, Tchaikovsky Christmas ballet (10) 5 Walker (7) 6 _ Bear, comic strip character (6) 7 Culinary herb (8) 8 Serviette (6) 9 Not artificial (7) 10 Capital of Portugal (6) 11 US space organisation (4) 12 American mammal with scaly plates (9) 13 Egg dish (8) 14 Parisian tower (6) 15 Biblical character raised from the dead (7) 16…

Alice Ballinger, 44, Malton, North Yorkshire Lowering my aching body into the chair, I took a moment to catch my breath, then reeled off a long list of grumbles to the doctor. Hip and back pain, trouble walking, breathlessness… It was September 2010 and he repeated the same thing he’d been telling me for the past couple of years. ‘You must lose weight,’ he frowned. I just nodded. Aged 29, at 22st 4lb, 5ft 3in and a size 26, I knew I was dangerously obese. But it hadn’t always been this way. Earlier in my 20s, a muscular size 16 and weighing 16st, I’d been proud of my strong physique. I kept fit by swimming and hiking. But while climbing Snowdon in March 2007, I’d fallen and hurt my right…

YOU’RE THE JUDGE! Married since 1998, Angela Gilpin and her husband Rodney had two sons together. But their marriage hit a rocky patch, and by 2008, they’d separated. Angela had met David Hosier in a bar. A US Navy veteran and former firefighter, he lived in the same apartment complex as Angela, in Jefferson City, Missouri. One thing led to another, and a love affair between them began. But it was short lived. Before long, Angela made the decision that she was going to try and make things work with her husband. She and Rodney got back together. By August 2009, it seemed like their marriage was back on track. Apart from one thing. Angela was having trouble giving her ex-lover David the brush-off. With him still living in the…

1 Eat right It might be simple to grab a breakfast bar or put some bread in the toaster, but a breakfast that’s rich in both carbohydrates and protein should help you feel more alert quickly, says sleep expert Dr Deborah Lee, working alongside Bed Factory Direct. A cheese omelette or porridge topped with banana could work wonders. 2 Get moving A quick boogie to the radio or an early morning yoga stretch can help beat grogginess. ‘There aren’t many people who wake up in the morning and get excited by the thought of exercise,’ says Dr Lee. ‘However, research has shown a 30-minute workout will help you wake up a lot quicker. Even just a speed walk around the block should help tired eyes.’ 3 Never lie in While hitting the…

Catherine Canning, 60, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire Swirling around the dance floor, our feet moved in perfect synchronicity. It was the summer of 2017, and me and my husband John, then 57, had been ballroom dancing together since 1986. We had our son Stephen five years later, but were soon strutting our stuff again. Whether it was the foxtrot, samba or quickstep, we never missed a beat. And now, waltzing our way around the local school hall, we were in our element. As we came to our final sequence, John spun me round to applause from onlookers. Only, despite his broad smile, John was red faced and breathless. ‘Are you OK?’ I frowned, leading him to a nearby chair. ‘These stupid old lungs,’ he wheezed. A routine medical test in…

She stole my wedding dress! Q I found the perfect wedding dress. It was stunning, magical, the one. I put it on hold but the next day, my sister, who’s also engaged, went to the same shop and bought it for herself. When I confronted her, she said, ‘You didn’t own it yet.’ I’m furious and want revenge! Penny, 31 A I am shocked! Your sister is the real villain here. This is a crime against sisterhood. Sabotaging her wedding might be tempting, but take the high road, pet. Go back to the bridal shop and ask for something even better. And at her wedding, tell everyone you picked her dress for her. Revenge is best served elegantly. Betrayed by my dog Q I rescued my dog and gave him…

3 Ways to… boost your mortgage chances Here’s how to get yourself into great shape before you apply… 1 Get it right When you apply for a mortgage, the lender will check your credit report, which is like your financial CV and contains information including about credit accounts you’ve held and whether or not you’ve kept up with repayments. There are three credit reference agencies, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, and each holds a report on you. So check them all and get any errors corrected – do what you can to improve your credit score too. Find out how at moneysavingexpert.com. 2 Slash spending You’ll usually need to show a lender your bank statements when applying for a mortgage, so you’ll want them to see how well you can manage your money.…

Debbie Goodlet, 62 I always knew my boy would make a good dad. James, then 16, was the eldest of three, along with Steve, 13, and Sarah, 2, and he doted on his little sis. So when he got his first girlfriend, in 1998, I was excited to meet her. I imagined one day having a daughter-in-law, maybe some grand-babies. ‘Her name’s Emily,’ James said, telling me they’d met through mutual friends. ‘I really like her, Mum,’ he added. But after meeting Emily for the first time, I wasn’t sure. At 14, she was still young, and I figured the relationship wouldn’t last. ‘Mother’s instinct,’ I said to James’ dad Albert, then 37. No longer together, we were good friends. Whenever Emily came over, she was demanding. James would run…

Anyone from your town in the list this week..? Chat winners issue 4 (23 Jan 2025) £1,001 CASH G Smith, Hayle £500 CASH R Freeman, Gretna P Wilkinson, Stafford £250 CASH P Cleaver, Rugby C Rombaut, Westcliff-on-Sea £200 CASH Y Dixon, Newcastle upon Tyne £100 CASH D MacLagan, Kingussie C Forsyth, Darwen G Vallance, Tavistock £75 CASH S Cater, Wigan £50 CASH W Watson, Market Rasen D Weston, Guildford A Wilson, Clacton-on-Sea S Penn, Swanley A Howells, Bargoed S Davies, Leominster £40 CASH C Hutchinson, Blackburn £30 CASH A Knowles, St Helens S Fenna, Wallasey £25 CASH C Michael, Chertsey S Hughes, Tamworth £20 CASH C Frost, Sutton-on-Sea J Swaby, Wickford GD Wake, Birmingham C Wells, Wrenthorpe A Kellett, Keighley A Matlock, Normanton E Cooper, Winchester K Tse, York J…