Table of contents for 6 November 2025 in Chat

Boo! It’s Halloween week and we’ve been loving the pics and tips you’ve been sending in. Check them out on Chat To Us! (p4) and Just Genius (p9). We’re also bringing you some fab monster munchies to make with the kids (p40) and a spooky sign to stick in your window if you’re joining in with the fun (p47). But surely no one reading this will love Halloween more than Vicki (p38), who’s such a fan, she threw a wedding to die for… Have a great week!…

Pumpkins lined the pavements, illuminating the streets with flickering candlelight. Monsters and ghouls were prowling the neighbourhood, but as I gripped my little boy’s hand, he looked up at me, beaming. ‘I’m not scared, Mum,’ said Aven, then 6. It was 31 October 2023, and, dressed as Darth Vader and clutching his bright blue lightsaber, Aven was in his element. We went from door to door, trick-or-treating, until his bucket was brimming with sweets. ‘Let’s get you to Grandma’s,’ I said around 8pm. As a single mum, working as a waitress, my grandma Maria, then 70, often looked after Aven for me. And tonight I had a rare night off, so Aven was having a sleepover while I visited a mate. ‘See you in the morning,’ I said, giving him…

Resting a pink babygrow on my bump, I smiled. It was July 2024 and I was nearly 37 weeks pregnant with a baby girl. I can’t wait to meet you, I thought. My son Teddy, then 7, was excited too. Only, days later, our dog Ruby, 14, died. Heartbroken, I was crying in the kitchen when I felt a contraction. Me and my partner Hugh, then 34, phoned the maternity unit at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. ‘It’s probably Braxton Hicks,’ a midwife reassured us. ‘It doesn’t mean that you’re in labour.’ But the sensations kept coming and a couple of days later, it felt like my waters broke. When I called the hospital they suggested that I’d wet myself. The next day, I was still leaking liquid and the baby wasn’t…

Whether he was dressing up in a tutu to play the tooth fairy, or spending time with his wife of two decades and six kids, Dr James Craig seemed fun and affectionate. James, then 45, ran a successful dental practice in Aurora, Colorado, and was often filming new promotional videos. And friends said he was the best advert for his business, with his charismatic smile. His home life seemed to be thriving too. His wife Angela Craig, then 43, was described as a supermum by friends. Devoted to their kids, aged from 8 to 23, she was busy, but looked after herself. Always on her exercise bike, doing yoga or Pilates. After 23 years of marriage, the couple seemed as close as ever, even sharing a joint Facebook account. And…

1 Hot sweats Night sweats can happen during the menopause, when oestrogen levels decline. The body needs to be cool for good-quality sleep so, if we overheat, we’ll wake. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help by correcting the hormone deficiency. You should notice an improvement in sweating within a few weeks. Speak to your GP about whether it’s right for you. Plus, sleep in light cotton nightwear and swap a duvet for a few sheets. 2 Needing a wee Waking frequently to wee is caused by factors including age, hormone changes and too much fluid before bed, explains intimate health expert Stephanie Taylor. You can retrain your bladder over several weeks by gradually setting your alarm later by an hour each night. Keep going until you reach your desired wake-up time. 3 Raging thirst…

1 How do you spend your evening? A Fixating on my verdigris B Hanging out with my aunts C With my nose in a book D Making sure the house is spick and span 2 What’s your favourite spooky song? A Ding Dong the Witch is Dead by Judy Garland B I Put a Spell on You by Sylvia Black C Hedwig’s Theme D Anything by B*Witched 3 Pick your favourite animal: A Flying monkeys B My trusty black cat C Otters – they’re so clever D Men turned into mice! 4 Describe yourself in two words: A Defiant and green B Half-human, half-witch C Muggle-born and loyal D Benevolent and moral 5 If someone does something wrong, what do you do? A Scatter poppy pollen over them, sending them to sleep B Consult The Discovery of Magic C Tell on them D Wiggle my nose and see…

Sitting in a trendy bar and sipping on cocktails, Sinead and her pal look like any other old friends enjoying a girly catch-up. But despite having waistlength hair and a pink sparkly frock, her best friend Glen is not one of the girls. ‘I go by he/him,’ Glen says. The 32-year-old from Donegal, Ireland, was registered male at birth and has always identified as male. And when he and Sinead met a decade ago, he looked very different. ‘He had a shaved head, like a mohawk,’ Sinead remembers. But although the pair made an instant connection, Glen was holding back. ‘He seemed really shy,’ Sinead says. ‘Probably because he wasn’t himself. It was like he knew it wasn’t him… it was someone else.’ The truth was, Glen had spent years…

The front door opened with a creek, and a long, white, slender bone poked through the crack. ‘Eek!’ I screamed, jumping backwards as a full-sized skeleton appeared in the doorway. ‘Happy Halloween!’ my dad John, then 50, chuckled from the hall. It was October 1978 and I was just 4, but even then I knew my dad was obsessed with Halloween. Pumpkin carving, trick-ortreating, parties… for us the spookiest time of year was the most fun. We named our new skeleton Maynard. Popped a jumper on him and placed him in the porch to spook visitors. We’d decorate the windows with cardboard cutouts of black cats and witches. Even made gravestones for the garden. And I loved hearing tales of Dad’s Halloween adventures when he was a kid. A full-sized…

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 answer. KING EDWARD 1 First produced by American manufacturer Swisher in the 1920s, the King Edward was once the world’s bestselling type of what? (5) 2 King Edward I of England was given which epithet due to his height? (10) 3 What was the name of the brother of King Edward V, who as siblings were known as the Princes in the Tower? (7) CHARLOTTE 4 Singer Charlotte Church has a voice…

Tu at Sainsbury's Sizes from 6-26 STYLE TIP Embrace jewel tones in shades of burgundy, olive and gold – luxury looks without the price tag. George at Asda Sizes from 6-24 STYLE TIP The western trend is having its moment. Play around with fringe and suede to try it out. Nutmeg at Morrisons Sizes from 8-22 STYLE TIP Mix animal prints with cosy knits to add instant depth and interest to your wardrobe. F&F at Tesco Sizes from 6-22 STYLE TIP Go for pale denim, soft pinks and warm tans to lift your look on grey days.…

Lesley Jones, 57, Watford, Hertfordshire True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Yawning, I reached for my alarm clock and pressed snooze. I felt exhausted and as I tried to Open my eyes, my right eye stayed closed. For the next half hour, getting ready for my recruitment job I struggled to lift my eyelid. It was March 2002, and I’d been tired a lot lately. And over the next few days, my right eye became so droopy it looked like I was half-asleep. Desperate, I resorted to using a tiny piece of sticky tape on my eyelid to help keep it open. I was terrified though. My GP didn’t have a clue what was wrong, but referred me to a neurologist. Following months of tests, including an MRI, I was diagnosed with myasthenia…

Am I a wicked stepmother? Q I love my partner to bits, but his three daughters are running me ragged. They’re constantly demanding things, always wanting attention, and it feels like I can’t do anything right. Me and him are arguing about it all the time, and it’s really straining our relationship. I didn’t expect this when we got together… I thought it would be about us! Vicky, 39 A Stepfamilies can be like stepping on Lego barefoot – painful and unexpected! It doesn’t sound like you were quite ready for the full package, love. But communication is key. Explain to your partner that you need some more support. Make sure you’re both on the same page. Blended families are beautiful, but it takes teamwork, communication and boundaries. I need closure to…

Sweetie treats tray bake Pile on the sweets and spookiness for a frighteningly easy Halloween bake. SERVES 12 PREP 10 MINS COOK 40 MINS, PLUS COOLING 225g baking spread 225g golden caster sugar 4 medium eggs 225g self-raising flour  1tsp baking powder 4tbsp raspberry jam 213g jar marshmallow spread 1tbsp colour pop sprinkles 160g packet jelly snakes 8-12 liquorice sweets Handful Smarties 12 fruit lollies YOU WILL NEED: ● 23x28cm shallow tray bake tin, greased and lined 1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan. Using an electric mixer, beat together the baking spread, sugar, eggs, flour and baking powder for 2 mins, until soft and smooth. 2 Spoon the mixture into the tin and spread level. Dollop on the jam at intervals over the sponge mix. Bake for 35-40 mins, until…

Aries 21 March-20 April It’s time for you to share your unique talents with those close to you because someone will notice you and make you an offer that could be life-changing. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May It’s wise to wait before making any major decisions. In the lead-up to the Full Moon in your sign, on 5 November. Reflect on what’s most important to you. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You are being guided in your romantic life right now. Make sure you notice any recurring physical feelings as these are prompts you should pay attention to. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Receiving can be hard for you because you are…

Chat winners issue 32 (7 August 2025) £1.001 CASH S Simpson, Peterlee £500 CASH M Richards, Coleford A Grayland, Ely £250 CASH S Evans, Powys A Stevens, Devon £200 CASH C Bretherick, Halifax £100 CASH SL Smith, Horncastle NJ Hardy, Garforth S Hancock, Hatfield £75 CASH E Falvi, Hartlepool £50 CASH M Paddock, Telford C Williams, Ivybridge A McIntyre, Tenby J Towers, Washington P Johnson, Dunstable S Favish, Great Yarmouth £40 CASH B Pittdendrigh, Tyldesley £30 CASH A Whitehouse, Gravesend R Cross, Neston £25 CASH P Thomas, Diss C James, Maesteg Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £20 CASH J Draper, Swadlincote S Todd, Stoke-on-Trent J List, Peterborough JR Humphreys, Telford M Lampka, Taunton S Tiernan, Scarborough H Taylor, Burton-on-Trent D Chesters, Nottingham J Simmons, Milton Keynes…

Who’s your best pal? Sam, 47, has been my best friend for 35 years. She’s always been there for me, especially after my marriage ended in 2017. We have a laugh and a moan together and put the world to rights. What’s your go-to outfit for autumn? I’m a very warm person, so on sunny autumn days I’m usually in a T-shirt. If I’m a little chilly, I turn to a hoodie to keep me cosy. I also have several Halloween-themed tops! Are you a coffee or a tea person? I’m not a fan of tea. I’m a total coffee person. I don’t sleep well so I need coffee to kick-start my day. What was the last good film you watched? I’m a massive Disney fan, particularly the classics. My favourite…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What is one thing that actor and comedian Aziz Ansari does not know and wants to learn? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Toboggan (6) 12 Advancement (9) 13 Stringed instrument (4) 14 Conman (8) 15 Kirsten _, actor (5) 16 Get smaller (6) 17 _ of the Lost Ark, 1981 film (7) 18 Measure of warmth (11) 20 Fourth month (5) 22 Journalists (9) 24 Baby bird (5) 28 Edible crustacean (7) 29 Soaks up (7) 32 Not making any sound (6) 34 _ Holmes, detective (8) 36 Mended, fixed (8) 37 Intensely dislike (6) 39 Abbreviate (7) 40 Observes (7) 45 Piece of academic writing (5) 47 Spring vegetable (9) 48 Backbone (5) 51 2022 film starring Brad Pitt as an assassin (6,5) 53 Singer whose hits include Umbrella (7) 55 Man engaged to…

Weight-loss worry Q I’m 58 and have always been on the heavier side, but recently I’ve started losing weight without trying. At first I was happy to fit into my clothes better, but now people keep asking if I’m using skinny jabs, which I’m not. Should I be worried? Jessica, Canterbury A Losing weight without trying, especially if it’s sudden, can be a sign that something’s not quite right and it’s important to get it checked. It could be caused by things like diabetes, thyroid problems, digestive issues, infections or even cancer. Mental health and stress can also play a role. At 58, even if you feel well, unplanned weight loss is a red flag that should be looked into. If there is something serious going on, catching it early…

Holding the remote control, I tried to act casual as my housemate Adam, then 19, sat down beside me. It was November 2009 and, aged 21, I’d just moved into a houseshare at university. Adam was gorgeous. A retired professional ice hockey player for the Belfast Giants, he was tall, with broad shoulders and deep brown eyes. Did I! ‘Fancy watching a film?’ he’d said to me earlier that day. Now there was no denying the chemistry between us. And as we snuggled up to watch a romcom and I plucked up the courage to lean in for a kiss, sparks flew. Three months later, we moved into a house of our own. Just the two of us. But with my part-time job at a pizzeria and Adam looking for…

Q I’ve got pigmentation from the summer – is there anything I can do to get rid of it? Paula Cook, Liverpool A Post-summer pigmentation is your skin’s way of telling you you’ve had too much fun in the sun – and probably not enough SPF. It’s caused by a malfunction in our cells, where they become damaged by UV rays and create more pigment than the skin needs. Exfoliating will help to soften the appearance of dark spots by removing the no-longer-needed cells on the very top of the skin’s surface. Nivea 630 Luminous Skin Glow Daily Liquid Exfoliant, £16.99, Boots, helps to even skin tone while also refining pores. Vitamin C is the gold standard for reducing pigmentation, fading existing marks and preventing new ones. Try Modern Chemistry…

3 ways to… sneakily spend less Here’s how to trick yourself into stopping the splurges. 1 Find your focus If you want to save money, be clear about your goals. These could be short-term goals, like saving for a holiday, or long-term ones, like saving for a house deposit. It can be a good idea to have pictures of your goals where you’ll see them often – like on your fridge door, in your wallet or even on your phone screensaver – to remind you about what you’re putting your money aside for. By focusing on your plans for your cash, it should be easier to stay on track and resist those impulse splurges that will take you further away from achieving your goals. 2 Calculate the cost It can be easy to…

Climbing on my dad Kevin’s back, he galloped into the bathroom on his hands and knees. My mum Denise, 32, was soaking in the bath. ‘Yeehaw!’ Dad, then 30, shouted, making Mum jump in shock, sloshing water over the side. ‘You two,’ she sighed, rolling her eyes. Dad and I giggled. It was early February 1990 and, aged 5, I was a daddy’s girl. We’d watch Top of the Pops together, singing along to Madonna. Every morning, I loved riding on the back of his motorbike to school. ‘Is that your dad?’ other kids asked, impressed. I’d nod proudly. A former miner, Dad worked hard. On 18 February, he and Mum went out for the night, leaving me and my brother Ben, 5 months, with our regular babysitter. I drifted…

Dear Arron, Squished on the sofa with my parents in front of the TV, one evening in 2012, we fancied watching something different. ‘Everyone’s raving about this new police show,’ Mum said, grabbing the remote. Line of Duty. But it wasn’t the twistyturny detective plot that got me hooked. ‘He’s gorgeous,’ I swooned at Steve Arnott, a main character. Otherwise known as the actor Martin Compston. Dark-haired and handsome, brooding detective Steve was just my type. Shame my actual love life wasn’t up to much. ‘I feel like I’m going to be single forever,’ I moaned to Mum. In March 2021, I gave a dating app a go. Swiping through profiles, one stopped me in my tracks. It was yours, Arron. Seeing your dark hair and rugged beard in your…