Table of contents for 28 August 2025 in Chat

Cats can get a bad rap, with some folks thinking they’re snooty, disloyal and solitary, only using us humans for food. The moggy lovers among us know that’s a load of nonsense. Cats can be as soppy and loving as any pooch, and each one has its own special purrsonality. This week, three women share the love for their four-legged friends. Laura, Sally and Joanne have all nominated their pet pusses for the Cats Protection National Cat Awards, and for very good reasons (p30). Good luck to Void, Callie and Panzer! Fingers (and paws!) crossed that you bring home the prize. Have a great week, PS If you’re entering the puzzles online, this is the link to use: comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Maddie Benson, 23, Aldershot, Hampshire Folding baby clothes into neat little piles, I couldn’t believe how small they were. Or the fact that I was due to give birth in just a month’s time! Already a proud mummy to Alex, then 2, I never expected to have any more after splitting with his dad. But when I met Liam, it changed everything. A plasterer, he was funny and outgoing and he adored Alex. He’d even started calling me his wife. We’d both been delighted when I’d fallen pregnant within months. Now, in December 2023, with Alex in bed and Liam, then 29, out with mates, I was getting bits ready for our new arrival. But just then, my phone pinged with a video from a friend. Clicking on it, I…

Sweet spot Just in case I lose my purse or have it stolen, I always keep a bit of cash in an old sweet tin in my bag. Denise Turner-Marsh, Castleford, West Yorkshire See the light To protect my solar lights outside and help them last longer, I put cling film over the top to stop rain damage. Lucy Hodson, Hoylake, Wirral Fancy a grew? My husband Tom had the idea of placing used tea bags at the bottom of pots or hanging baskets, then planting flowers or veg on top. When watered, the moist teabags provide feed for roots. Our plants look great! Priscilla Sear, Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk £25 For every photo tip that we print Bottle it During hot, dry weather, my marigolds struggled without a constant supply of…

With her radiant smile, little Joshlin Smith, 6, always looked so happy at school. She quickly made friends with her classmates after starting her first year, loved playing with pals at breaktime. So it was difficult to imagine that life was far from perfect at home. Growing up in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa, Joshlin’s house was little more than a tin shack. The corrugated iron structure was dilapidated, with just one window, and it was surrounded by rubbish. Joshlin lived in an informal settlement with her mum Kelly, her mum’s boyfriend Jacquen, her big bro and her little sis. Daily struggle But even clean water was a luxury. Joshlin’s brother was often seen collecting water from an outside tap near to the ramshackle home. And Joshlin would…

1 Know your nutrients Staples like pulses (beans, lentils etc) and whole grains (oats, brown rice, wholegrain pasta and bread) are affordable and nutritious ways to meet the recommended 25% protein and 25% complex carbohydrates on your dinner plate, says dietician Aleks Jagiello from doctify.com. ‘A supermarket’s own label will usually be the cheapest.’ 2 Plan ahead Pre-packaged meals and takeaways are often more expensive and less nutritious than food you’ve cooked from scratch, says Aleks. ‘Boost your cooking skills with online recipes or a community cooking workshop and start batch-cooking tasty soups, stews and curries that you can pop in the freezer to save time and money. One-pot slow-cooker recipes also reduce prep time and washing-up.’ 3 Use your freezer Out of season, frozen produce is a good option, explains…

Daisy Linssen, 36, Haslemere, Surrey Bouncing my baby boy on my lap, he giggled and gurgled in delight. Only, as I glanced around the room, I couldn’t help but feel worried. It was August 2021, and I’d taken Ralph, then 6 months, to a mum and baby group. While all the other tots had fresh faces and rosy cheeks, Ralph’s skin looked yellow and pale in comparison. ‘Am I being paranoid?’ I fretted to my hubby Doug, then 32, when I got home. ‘Let’s take him to the doctor,’ he said, wanting to put my mind at rest. The GP agreed. ‘It looks like jaundice,’ he said, referring us for tests. It’s common in newborns, but Ralph was older. ‘There may be a problem with his liver,’ the doctor said.…

Saucy dreams about my mate Q I’ve been friends with a guy I work with for about six years. We’re both married and we’ve always been just mates. But lately, I keep having raunchy dreams about him. It makes me feel really weird after and I can’t tell if there’s anything more to it. I don’t even fancy the bloke! But should I stop being friends with him? Gina, 34 A Calm down, pet! Dreams are not reality. Your brain simply makes things up when you’re asleep. After all, if you dream that all your teeth fall out, they’re still there when you brush ’em in the morning! Don’t end your friendship over this, especially as it’s platonic. It’s fine to take some distance to reset your brain. But it’s…

3 ways to… avoid pension scams Falling for a pension scam could mean losing your life savings in a moment. Make sure it doesn’t happen to you. 1 Be on the alert Beware of any unsolicited approaches you may have about your pension. Cold calling about pensions is banned so you shouldn’t be contacted by any company about your pension, unless you’ve asked them to contact you. Other red flags include if a firm doesn’t allow you to call them back, or where the contact details you’re given, or on their website, are only mobile phone numbers or a PO box address, warns MoneyHelper. Also, be wary of offers of ‘free pension reviews’ and high-pressure sales tactics – the scammers may try to pressure you with ‘time-limited offers’ or even send…

Siân Morgan, 39, Cardiff Smoothing pink gloop on my cheeks, my hair in rollers, I grinned at my daughter Keely, 12, who was sporting an identical look. ‘Our skin will be so soft after these face masks, Mum, and wait until we unwrap our curls tomorrow morning,’ she giggled. Back in her room, we snuggled on her bed and switched on her favourite TV show, The Vampire Diaries. Then someone knocked on the door. ‘Looks like a fun, girly evening,’ a nurse smiled, checking the tubes and monitors around Keely’s bed. It was July 2020 and we were in hospital. Two weeks earlier, Keely had fallen ill with agonising stomach aches. Hospital tests had revealed kidney failure. Docs had linked it to her low birth weight, as she’d been only…

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We pay £25 for any photos that we use on Chat To Us! Happy birthday to us! Chat magazine is turning 40 in October and we want to hear from YOU! Do you have pics of yourself reading Chat over the years? Even waaaay back in the 1980s? Send them in! Tell us why you love Chat so much. Or maybe a Chat story or comp prize changed your life? If Chat means something to you, we want to hear it! Get in touch! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com POST Chat, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR Find us online at facebook.com/ChatMagazine…

Nic Orrell, 44, Bury, Greater Manchester From the racks of baby clothes, I picked out a matching set of rompers. One pink, one blue. ‘Perfect,’ I said to my son Declan, then 19. It was May 2019 and he and his partner Alex, 19, were expecting twins. With them already living with me and my husband Andre, then 40, we’d soon have a house full. I couldn’t wait! ‘You’ll need an extra pair of hands,’ I’d told Declan, insisting they stay with us for as long as they needed. The more time for cuddles with my first grandbabies, the better! After raising Declan and his siblings, I knew how tough those early days could be. Now, out shopping, I couldn’t resist spoiling my unborn grandbabies. ‘They’ll want for nothing with…

Jo Arnold, 51, Mitcham, south London Waddling down the supermarket aisle, I tripped over a crate. ‘Oops,’ I said, checking if anyone saw. Luckily no one had – sparing my blushes. It was September 2014 and I’d worked at the supermarket for the past year as a supervisor. But for the past couple of weeks, I’d been bumping into things. Later that day, a colleague stopped me. ‘Are you OK?’ she asked. ‘You’re walking funny.’ Was I? Back home, I opened up to my husband Darren, then 44. ‘See what the doctor says,’ he suggested. My GP referred me to a neurologist, who noticed I couldn’t feel certain points in my legs and feet. In January 2015, an MRI revealed compression of the vertebrae in my neck. True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK…

In Filipino cuisine, ginataan is a term used to describe a variety of dishes prepared using what ingredient? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Large amount = BATH + C = BATCH. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2 × £25 Puzzle 9 Large amount Rodent Go over again Dorset town Small bodies of water Leap Vessels Aroma Loudness Elegance Military vehicles Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Looking in the mirror is something that has been difficult for Hannah over the years. From an early age, she knew she was different. ‘I’ve got a condition known as Hay-Wells syndrome,’ Hannah explains. The rare genetic condition, also called ectodermal dysplasia, comes with an array of medical issues for sufferers. ‘It affects the skin, the teeth, our ears, respiratory system and a lot of things,’ she adds. But there’s one thing people notice more than anything else. ‘It affects the hair,’ Hannah says, pointing to her bald head. Something that makes her stand out from the crowd. When Hannah was born, four weeks early, her parents Wendy and Richard were told their daughter’s diagnosis meant she’d be in hospital a lot. ‘I’ve had about 10 surgeries,’ Hannah explains. ‘I’ve…

Gemma Knowles, 39, Liverpool Loading the boxes on to the supermarket conveyor belt, the shop assistant raised an eyebrow. ‘Big fan?’ she laughed, scanning through six boxes of honey nut cornflakes. I grinned. ‘Blame the baby,’ I giggled, patting my bump. It was January 2018 and I was six months pregnant with my first child. And my cravings had well and truly set in. I couldn’t get enough of the sweet, sugary cereal. I’d demolish six bowls of the stuff with full-fat milk every day. ‘It’s got loads of added vitamins,’ I reasoned to my hubby Nicholas, then 28. Before falling pregnant I’d been a svelte size 12. And even though I knew I’d put on a bit of baby weight, I wasn’t worried. After all, it was normal. And…

Chat winners issue 22 (29 May 2025) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £1,001 CASH N Wilkes, Walsall £500 CASH S Wright, North Walsham J Copsey, Sudbury £250 CASH S Winter, Cumbria V Whitmore, Newquay £200 CASH E Anderson, Colchester £100 CASH J Wilkinson, Preston B Draper, Ripley T Herring, London £75 CASH A Pake, Dundee £50 CASH N Bassett, Cheltenham R Verrycke, Liverpool D Cunningham, Harlow I Clark, Barnsley I Taylor, Plymouth L Partyn, Malpas £40 CASH K Peckett, Hull £30 CASH K Oxberry, Faversham L Robinson, Westcliff-on-Sea £25 CASH J Maslin, Deal A Hancock, Herne Bay £20 CASH S Hall, Cheddar M Zehtabi, Bristol C Holden, Redhill J Fordyce, Wimborne EA Anderson, Newton Stewart K Rogan, Chester-le-Street C Oxford, Bolton Y Trotman, Honiton T Harvey,…

Rachel Mee, 34, from Nottingham When making a cuppa, what comes first, tea or milk? Make sure you have a large cup and always put the tea bag in first. Let it sit for five minutes to make sure it’s brewed correctly. Whilst waiting, I try and get my squats in! Then add your milk and enjoy. It’s amazing how many problems a cuppa can fix but it has to be brewed right. What would you like to be reincarnated as? A giraffe. Not only are they adorable, but they’re also a long-legged creature. Being 6ft 3in myself, I’m not sure I’d want to be reincarnated without long legs. The neck might take a bit of getting used to though! What was the first concert you went to? Atomic Kitten,…

Taken from Psalm 72, ‘a mari usque ad mare’ (meaning ‘from sea to sea’) is the national motto of which country? 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 to the prize question. DSL ORR AST AUT LAN RON ECT IDE INC Your answer: WIN 5x £20 Puzzle 3 TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

EARRINGS STYLE TIP Make a statement with these standout earrings – each pair is lightweight enough to wear comfortably all day. BELTS STYLE TIP Wear a belt with a loose-fitting sundress to add texture to your outfit and cinch in your middle for a more defined silhouette. SANDALS STYLE TIP Easy to wear, these woven shoes will complement a range of outfits from linen co-ords to boho maxi dresses and jeans. FROM £ 2.50 BAGS STYLE TIP The ultimate summer staple! Available in various sizes, these versatile designs can be used every day, not just on holidays.…

Infection worries Q My husband is 50 and keeps getting urine infections, even though he’s never had them before. He won’t go to the doctor. Should I be worried? Dawn, Richmond A Yes, it’s unusual for men to suddenly start getting urine infections. It could be a sign of something else, like an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, diabetes, or even prostate or bladder cancer. Infections can also be caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can affect the urinary tract. If he has other symptoms, like blood in his urine, weight loss or pain, it’s even more important to get checked. Try talking to him calmly, explaining your worries. Suggest a routine check-up to make it feel less daunting. If he still refuses, speak to your own GP for advice…

Incredible Cat shortlist Doctor fluff Laura Welch, 27, Staines, Surrey Sprinting across the living room, my cat Void, then 1, started pawing my leg. ‘What do you want?’ I laughed as he looked up at me with his big lime-green eyes. But before I had the chance to grab him a treat from the kitchen, the room started to spin. Then a familiar dizzy feeling struck. Crawling to the sofa, I managed to phone my mum Jenny, then 49, asking her to come, before falling unconscious. For years, I’d been suffering from epilepsy and cardiac episodes. Feeling dizzy and then passing out, all due to a heart condition. Thankfully this time, in the summer of 2022, I’d managed to call for help. ‘It’s like Void is warning me,’ I told…

52p per serving Pitta hot dogs with mustard mayo Fire up the grill for an easy bargain barbecue! SERVES 4 PREP 20 MINS COOK 10 MINS 1tbsp vegetable oil 2 onions, sliced 8 hot dogs 4tbsp mayonnaise 4tsp American mustard  ¼ red cabbage, shredded 2 carrots, grated or spiralised 2tbsp salad cream (or use mayonnaise) 1tbsp cider vinegar 4 pittas, toasted Salad to serve (optional) Add the onions and fry for 10 mins until lightly browned. Light/heat the barbecue or heat a griddle pan over a medium heat. Mix together the mayo and mustard and set aside. PER SERVING: 556 CALS, 23g FAT, 7g SAT FAT, 68g CARBS Top tip Swap the hot dogs for thin sausages or cooking chorizo for a smoky twist. Tray-bake chicken and chips A spicy…

Aries 21 March-20 April With Saturn, Neptune and Chiron all in your sign, you can now suss out the best opportunities by listening to your inner wisdom and making long-term plans. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Try to gain perspective by taking a break from it all. Even a change of scenery for a day will help you to make an important decision with greater clarity. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Other people are naturally drawn to you thanks to your youthful approach to life. Remember to keep your expectations positive around an important goal. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July The Moon in Cancer early this week helps you make a key…

Q My skin’s so dry – what can I do to make it feel smooth and soft again? Rose Irving, 63, Glasgow A Lots of us will experience dry skin by the tail end of summer, whether that shows up as scratchy patches, a lacklustre complexion or skin that feels tight. Make sure you’re drinking enough water and wash with lukewarm water, as hot water strips the skin, then look at the first step in your routine – cleansing. Sub out foaming formulas for something more creamy and moisturising like Good Intent Glow Grind Cleansing Balm, £12.95, Boots. Look for moisturisers and serums with ingredients that draw moisture into the skin and support the skin barrier, like glycerin, ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Bubble Cosmic Silk Hydrating Milky Toner, £16,…

Dear Paul, When we were kids, we’d play together in the street. As older teens and in our early 20s, we’d bump into each other in bars, have a boogie and a catch-up. We always got on, but I never thought you’d be more than the friendly local lad whose parents lived near mine. But when we got back in touch over Facebook in March 2013, in our 30s, something had changed. We’d both grown up, had broken relationships and kids of our own. Sparks flew. And we fell in love. In many ways, we were opposites. Me a worrier, you always looking for the upside of life. But it made us a great match, and those early years as a blended family were so happy. Then, in February 2020,…