Table of contents for 30 October 2025 in Chat

A drizzly week in October 1985. Jennifer Rush was at No 1 with The Power of Love, and we were glued to the new soap, EastEnders, on telly. Men had mullets, women had perms; we all had shoulder pads. And the first issue of Chat landed on newsagents' shelves. That means the issue you picked up today is celebrating Chat's 40th birthday! Over the decades, we've seen it all… heartbreak and betrayal, joy and pure daftness. Whether you've shared your story with us, enjoyed a copy of Chat, or even just pinched your mum's, we owe you a thank you. Now, put the kettle on and get stuck in. We've got plenty more stories to share.…

Taylor-Rae Eason, 22, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan The doorbell chimed and I rushed into the hallway to see my dad Mark, then 49, holding a bag brimming with toys. It was 2008 and, aged 5, I was so excited. ‘Thanks Dad!' I squealed, hurrying over. My little sis Chloe, then 3, trailed behind me. He and our mum Mary, then in her mid 20s, had split when Chloe was a baby. But Dad often popped in with a bag of cuddlies from the charity shop where he worked. Chloe and I would spend the weekend at his. We'd stay up chatting and laughing. It was fun going to Dad's. Until one day, aged 9, I was watching TV, while Chloe, then 6, was at the park with a friend. Dad…

YOU'RE THE JUDGE! From the outside, the Broms' house was a typical family home. A comfortable, lived-in place, with all the usual comings and goings. Churchgoers Bernard and Paulette Brom lived with their four children. They were well known in the neighbourhood in Rochester, Minnesota. A nice, neighbourly family. Only, behind the painted wooden facade of their spacious two-storey house, arguments brewed. And by 1988, the eldest Brom child, Joseph, then 19, had already left home under a cloud. He loved punk rock music, wore eyeliner, had his own unique style. His parents didn't approve. Strict rules The couple didn't want their other kids, David, 16, Diane, 13, and Ricky, 11, to follow Joe's example. So they tightened their household rules. The stricter discipline weighed heavily on ‘dependable and cheerful'…

1 Dry clothes outdoors It may be the only option in colder weather, but bringing wet clothes inside can create an abundance of mould spores, says allergens expert Max Wiseberg. ‘This provides the perfect environment for house dust mites, a common trigger for asthma and allergies. If you have to dry clothes indoors, keep the door to the rest of the house shut and the window of the drying room open.' 2 Sort out leaks Dampness and mould will affect air quality, says medical herbalist Dr Chris Etheridge*. ‘They release fungi and spores, which are bad for respiratory issues and allergies.' So fix any leaks. ‘Even if it's small, it is creating moisture, and mould loves moisture,' adds Max. Opening a window can also help. ‘When it's cold, we tend to…

Jayne Hardman, 55, Redditch, Worcestershire Hearing sniggers, I braced myself for the inevitable. ‘Oi, Concorde!' a lad yelled as I walked into class. Everyone erupted into laughter, staring and pointing. Aged 13, my large and pointed nose made me an easy target for bullies. And as I got older, I became more self-conscious of it. At 25, in October 1995, I married Martin, then 22. ‘I'd look so much better with a different nose,' I groaned, looking at our wedding pics. ‘You're beautiful as you are,' he reassured me. But that didn't stop him taking the mickey, ducking whenever I turned around. ‘Watch it,' he joked. ‘No, you watch it,' I tutted. At least now I'd grown a sense of humour about my super-sized schnozz! In August 1995, we had…

Q My hands are so dry at the moment – what can I do to help heal them? Carol Reid, Liverpool A The cold weather combined with moisture-sapping central heating can wreak havoc on your skin, and your hands often take the brunt. They're almost always exposed to the elements and the daily chores that can cause dryness, with washing up being the most common culprit. Prevention is better than cure – protect your hands by wearing gloves when cleaning and buy yourself a cosy pair to wear outside during the winter months. Changing your hand wash to a more nourishing formula like Baylis & Harding Jojoba Vanilla & Almond Oil Luxury Hand Wash, £2.25, Sainsbury's, is a simple swap that will make a big difference to the softness and…

3 ways to… save by decluttering Having a clear-out will save space and money – and help you make some, too. 1 Get cooking Start by going through your kitchen cupboards. You might find all sorts of jars or tins of food that you've forgotten about. Make a list of what's in there and see how you can incorporate the items in your next meal plan. As well as saving money on your food shop and freeing up cupboard space, you'll also cook meals you wouldn't normally make. For any items you don't want, consider giving them away on the local sharing app Olio (free to download; olioapp.com). 2 Know what you have Next up, go through the clothes in your wardrobe and drawers. Get everything out and sort through it.…

On a cold, dark evening in January 2023, police were called to a burning car at the side of the motorway. The hard shoulder of the M61, near Bolton. Inside, there were more than 30 mobile phones, £2,000 in cash, a passport belonging to a woman… and a placenta. Wrapped in a towel, in the back of the car, it meant that a baby had very recently been born. The passport belonged to Constance Marten. She and her partner Mark Gordon were known to social services. Now, they'd vanished – seemingly with a baby. Quickly, they hit the news. After a possible sighting at Harwich Port, Essex, and confirmed sightings in Colchester, 20 miles away, police went door to door, checking hotels and B&Bs. But no one had seen them.…

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Nicola Howell, 52, Leicester The smile on my partner's face said more than a thousand words. ‘Congratulations,' the doctor repeated. ‘You're having a baby.' For Stewart, then 36, and me, this was a miracle. Over 15 years earlier, before we met, Stewart, then in his early 20s, had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Before he'd started treatment he'd frozen his sperm in case he wanted kids in the future. Now, in April 2010, that time had come. Just six weeks into our IVF treatment, we'd discovered that I was pregnant at a doctor's appointment. A beautiful moment. ‘I feel so lucky,' Stewart smiled as we drove home. We were full of chatter about baby names and listing everything we needed. But there was something playing on my mind. Over the…

Kerry Blunt, 38, Wolverhampton True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Cradling my baby daughter, I sighed. ‘Please Imogen, drink the milk,' I begged as she screamed. Her twin brother Ethan was so calm. But Imogen cried day and night. She'd either refuse to feed or throw it all back up. It was September 2020, and as well as the twins, then 6 weeks, me and my husband Phillip, then 44, had Joseph, then 4. ‘She's a healthy weight,' the health visitor assured me. But I was worried. After a few months, I started giving her pureed fruits and veggies. She seemed to settle, but as weaning increased she became clingy and lethargic. In July 2021, Imogen, then 11 months, ended up in hospital after a horrendous sickness bug. She had diarrhoea and a…

Gerry Anderson, the creator of Thunderbirds, among other Supermarionation puppet series, co-directed the music video for Calling Elvis, a 1991 single by which band? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Groups of cows = HERS + D = HERDS. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2 × £25 Puzzle 9 Groups of cows Decorate Initial Locations Card game Loads cargo Components Smallest amount Organ of thought Hues Corrodes Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

LISTEN UP Yes, it's officially true. They just don't make 'em like they used to – especially when it comes to music. We were Dancing in the Street to Mick Jagger and David Bowie's classic hit and warbling loudly to Take on Me by pop trio A-ha in the car (probably a Ford Escort or a Vauxhall Cavalier). In July 1985, some of the biggest stars performed at Live Aid in Wembley Stadium. The once-in-a-lifetime concert raised an estimated £150 million for the famine in Africa and featured performances from Queen, U2, Elton John, George Michael and Phil Collins. Meanwhile, Kate Bush was Running Up that Hill, Huey Lewis was singing about The Power of Love and Madonna was getting Into the Groove. ON THE BOX Just as the lovable puppet…

When they first got together as childhood sweethearts, Katherine and Joshua hoped their love would stand the test of time. But after two decades, things turned a little stale. ‘Joshua and I have been together for 20 years, married for almost 17,' Katherine explains. The couple had four children together but, thinking their relationship had run its course, they decided to split up. It was a lot at first having three parents ‘We did divorce,' Joshua continues. Only, after, the two of them found it hard to go their separate ways. With Josslyn, 17, Elena, 12, JJ, 10, and Hannah, 7, to parent, there was a lot to stick around for. So despite being exes, the pair stayed together. ‘I still consider her my wife,' Joshua says. ‘We haven't left…

Meringue ombré cake This stunning cake adds instant wow factor. SERVES 16 PREP 1 HR, PLUS COOLING COOK 35 MINS 500g sunflower spread (not low-fat), at room temperature 500g caster sugar 500g self-raising flour 10 medium eggs Pink gel food colouring 350g jar strawberry jam FOR THE MERINGUE ICING: ● 3 large egg whites ● 250g caster sugar YOU WILL NEED: 5 × 18cm cake tins, greased and lined (if you don't have 5 tins, use 2 and bake in batches). Candles, to decorate (optional) 1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan. Put the spread, caster sugar, flour and eggs in a large mixing bowl and whisk together, using an electric mixer, until smooth. 2 Divide the mixture equally between five bowls. Leave one bowl uncoloured and add pink food…

Aries 21 March-20 April At times you struggle to stop yourself running at 100 miles an hour. With Saturn retrograding in your sign, give yourself a break and pause for a moment. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Your love of beautiful things can make you a little overindulgent. Enjoy your desires in moderation, or you'll regret having too much of a good thing. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Your mind and heart aren't in sync at the moment because of the many ideas whirring around your brain. Consider your priorities and what's important to you. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You're naturally open and receptive to others, so perhaps you can find…

Recently, I was proud to appear in the weekly feature Get the Kettle On! It was a lot of fun answering the questions and seeing myself in print. Happy birthday! Susan Quin, 59, Newtown, Powys Chat magazine is a family fave! I love reading the stories, even the sad ones, and I've been doing the puzzles for years. I swap answers with my aunt Joyce, 101, who also looks forward to her weekly Chat. Janet Robertson, 74, Lytham St Annes Chat magazine feels like a family where there's always room for one more. It's a place where everyday lives matter and readers can connect. Happy birthday Chat. Here's to more years of fun, surprises and celebrating us all. Stacy Bosco, 40, Durham For my lovely mum Elaine's birthday 20 years ago,…

TEXT Simply text CHATC 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 our Chat Comp Club…

Dear Mum, Growing up, doing the puzzles in Chat magazine with you was the best part of my week. Sat at the kitchen table, just the two of us. You with a cuppa, me with a glass of squash. Our time. You'd read the questions out, I'd guess the answers. ‘My little helper,' you would smile. You loved reading the stories, too. Some made you tearful, others made you smile. And once I was a bit older, I read them too. My favourite section? Our Spooky Stories, a regular feature then. ‘I want to tell my creepy tale,' I told you, when I was 12. Years earlier, I'd woken in the night and seen a woman's figure standing on my sister Kirsty's bed, staring at me. It had freaked me…

Jaki Burton, 40, from Kirkby-In-Ashfield What were your most memorable birthday parties as a child? I remember having little parties at home. Dancing, having fun, playing pass the parcel and musical chairs with family and some friends. We'd have a homemade buffet and there always had to be a Sara Lee chocolate gateau! Tell us about the best birthday present you've ever had… Boyzone was the first boy band I loved. I got tickets to see them in concert. One of my best and most memorable birthday presents. Like Chat, you turned 40 this month. Happy birthday! How did you celebrate your big day? I was lucky and celebrated a few times. On the evening of my actual birthday, I went for a nice meal and a celebratory glass of…

Ablend of mohair and sheep's wool, what fabric was used to make suits that became popular in mod subculture? 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 prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 2 2 Helicopter part • Fish eggs 4 River of Eastern England • Lowest or deepest point 6 Glossy fabric • Short-lived craze 8 Long thin fish • Conjuring Your answer:…

TOPS STYLE TIP Draped silhouettes bring an effortless elegance to going-out looks, even when matched with casual pieces like jeans or trousers. ACCESSORIES STYLE TIP Let your accessories do the talking with sparkling shoes and bedazzled bags that steal the show. SKIRTS STYLE TIP Pieces that shine from every angle – using sequins, embellishment and shimmering overlays – make party dressing simple. DRESSES STYLE TIP These statement frocks need little styling -just add heels and delicate jewellery.…

My teen is smelly Q My teenage daughter has been experiencing unpleasant body odour, which has made her really self-conscious. Can you suggest anything to help? Lily, Chichester A It's normal for teens to have body odour as their hormones change and they sweat more. To help manage it, encourage your daughter to shower every day, especially after sports or exercise. Using an antibacterial soap can help reduce the smell. Antiperspirants and deodorants are also useful, and wearing loose, breathable clothes (like cotton) can keep her cooler. Changing clothes after being active is important too. Some foods, like garlic and onions, can make body odour stronger, so eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water might help. If the smell doesn't get better, check with a doctor to rule…

Bully coworker Q My colleague is always really rude to me. I've tried my best to get to know him, become friends. And failing that, just be cordial. But he's a total nightmare. He snipes, he grumbles, he outright insults me, and I don't know how to get him to stop. I don't want to snitch, but right now I dread going to work. Sarah, 34 A I don't care who it is or what position they are – rudeness is never part of a job description. Take this higher. Speak to your manager and make sure they get to the bottom of this. No one should be able to make you feel uncomfortable at work, love. Shunned at the school gates Q I feel like all the mums at…

Tina Molson, 60, Grimsby The sunny yard was a blur of fur, toys and tails. ‘I love my job,' I grinned, patting the tiny terrier at my feet. Canine crazy, I'd been running In the Playhouse doggie daycare since 2018. Now I had five employees. Together, we cared for 30 dogs daily, while their owners worked. There was a section for smaller pups, like terriers and Cavapoos. Another for labradors and German shepherds. With ball pits and slides, it was a hound haven. Just like kids at school, they all formed friendships and cliques. Fascinating to watch! One morning, in May 2022, there was a new addition to the smaller dog crew. Rosie, then 6 months, was an adorable Yorkiepoo. Tiny but sassy, she had a particular love for chicken.…

Rachel Bancroft, 38, Cardiff Like a lilac flash, my daughter Casey, then 5, zoomed out of the park on her purple scooter. ‘Don't forget your helmet,' I called, hurrying behind, clutching it. But Casey was already off. It was a Sunday afternoon in March 2024. Casey had been zipping around the playground at Sevenoaks Park in Cardiff on her new scooter. I'd bought it for her birthday in November, months earlier. Now we were heading home with her brother, aged 8. I'd lived in the area all my life. The kids' school was on the same road as the park. It felt safe, familiar. And Casey knew where she was going. A good girl, she knew to stop and wait for me before crossing the road too. But then, out…

Chat winners issue 31 (31 July 2025) Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £1,001 CASH A Green, Wisbech £500 CASH A Greening, New Ash Green E Hewish, High Wycombe £250 CASH W Kirkwood, York L Barnshaw, Oldham £200 CASH A Spencer, Dunfermline £100 CASH G Middleton, Nottingham E Perryman, Ottery St Mary M Causer, Swadlincote £75 CASH L Spanton, Wallsend £50 CASH A Postlethwaite, Dagenham J Boselli, Milford Haven A Wray, Leeds J Johnstone, Preston R Knights, Thornton-Cleveleys S Grantham, Stourbridge £40 CASH C Tomlinson, Bradford £30 CASH M Lambert, Norwich A Smith, Bovey Tracey £25 CASH S Taylor, Telford J Slee, Windermere £20 CASH S Harvey Stafford L Spencer, Dereham L Tomkinson, Manchester N Howson, Middlesbrough S Jayne, Liverpool S Johnson, Littlehampton J Edwards, Meanwood M…