Indholdsfortegnelse for 24-Aug-2017 i Chat

ONLY ONE? I’M STARVING! This baby cedar waxwing looks ready for a whole beakful of berries! The enthusiastic youngster tried to fly too soon, and took a tumble out of its nest – but that clearly didn’t put the little songbird off its food! For more funny photos and videos of cute critters, go to the website www.lifedeathprizes.com and search ‘Animals’. CELEBRITY SPIN Puzzle 1 £50 Do you know which celebrity we’ve put in a twist? Here’s a clue to help: This songstress is proud of her Barbadian roots, and has sung about finding love ‘in a hopeless place’. Take a look at the picture on the right and see if you can work out who it is. Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details. www.lifedeathprizes.com/win CASH for…

I couldn’t face celebrating our birthday. Instead, in August 2015, we held Henry’s funeral. Over 800 people turned out for the service, and us siblings carried his Tottenham Hotspur FC coffin into church. It was hard for any of us to believe he was really gone, but Mum’s illness meant she couldn’t take it in. We told her again and again that Henry had been killed. She would look very sad and nod, but then later she’d forget. ‘Where’s Henry?’ she’d ask. ‘He never comes to see me any more.’ Henry’s death had caused so much pain. The men who’d killed him should pay for their crime. So we were pleased to learn that they’d been rearrested – Docherty for murder and Early for manslaughter. The Crown Prosecution Service were…

Sweet treat Makes: 4 Prep: 10 min + standing time Cook: 6 min 75g unsalted butter, melted 2 medium eggs 50g caster sugar 75g ground almonds 75g self-raising flour 3tbsp elderflower cordial 6tbsp raspberry jam 15g toasted flaked almonds Icing sugar, to dust Fresh raspberries, to serve 1 Beat melted butter with eggs and sugar. Fold in ground almonds, flour and 2tbsp of cordial. 2 Mix jam with last tbsp of cordial and spoon into bottom of 4 x 300ml microwave-proof mugs, then divide half cake mixture between them. Add another ½tbsp of jam to each, then top with rest of cake mixture. Scatter over almonds. 3 Put 2 mugs in microwave and cook on full power (800w) for 3 min until risen and firm to touch. Repeat to cook…

My girl had contributed in finding a cure for the condition… It was a very unexpected, but incredible surprise – my boyfriend Matt, now 32, and I had found out we were having a baby! We’d only been seeing each other a few months, but we couldn’t have been happier. Then at 18 weeks, I lost my mucus plug, which blocks the opening of the cervix to prevent bacteria entering the uterus. At the William Harvey Hospital, scans showed my baby’s heart beating healthily. But then at 28 weeks in February 2013, I suffered stomach cramps. At the hospital, a nurse said I was in premature labour. Losing my plug had caused an infection, so they’d have to deliver my baby right away! Before I knew it, Alexia Sky was…

Playing in the park, something wasn’t right. I felt different from other kids. They held hands with adults or were pushed on the swing. I didn’t have that. Then aged 5, my ‘home’ from birth was the huge Oaklands Children’s Home in Droitwich. Then, when I was 7, I was taken into a big, scary room. ‘Do you want a new home?’ a man said. Petrified, I nodded. Soon my name changed, and I was whisked away by two strangers. Irene and George Weston, then in their 30s, were now my foster parents. I’d never been hugged or kissed before. Now I was showered with affection. It felt so alien that I froze whenever Irene hugged me, but she was an amazing parent. Only, I kept wondering who my real…

LETTER of the week Rest in peace, John Jenny’s story (22 June issue) is tragic. It’s bad enough her son was murdered, but to learn his body parts had been removed without consent was shocking. Jenny said she’d have agreed had she been asked, but it was done without her knowledge. It was 23 years till John could rest in peace. My heart goes out to her. Sali Thomas, Dinbych Source sense All hospitals should buy local produce. It’d boost local economy, and patients would benefit from better meals during their stay. It’s no joke that most hospital food’s awful. Schools would benefit from buying locally, too! Ginette Hughes, Broxbourne Come again?! Perhaps my elderly auntie’s hearing isn’t quite what it used to be..? Telling her about the music-streaming app…

6 reasons to visit... 1 Hadrian’s Wall Built back in AD122, the line of the wall is 73 miles long – but walking a mile or two over a couple of hours will probably give you a good enough flavour! Check out the fascinating, still-visible fort at Housesteads, and take the walk from Steel Rigg car park to Sycamore Gap, to see the tree made famous in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. 2 Fabulous castles Enjoy the mile-long coastal stroll from Craster Harbour to the ruins of Dunstanburgh. Explore magnificent Bamburgh Castle or head inland to quirky 12th-century Chillingham Castle, complete with torture chamber and (reportedly) resident ghosts… 3 Wallington Hall The house is a delight, but don’t miss the hidden walled garden – it’s an absolute gem! 4 Cragside…

Maybe I could help others who’d had contact… Lots of kids have an over-active imagination. But there was nothing make-believe about the day I saw my first UFO. Aged just 5, I was playing on farmland near my home, when I saw the weird-looking vessel land nearby. Curious, I quietly crawled over on my hands and knees to get a better look. Maybe I snapped a twig, or maybe the extraterrestrials had extra-strong hearing… Because, the next thing I remember is a scalyskinned, reptilian being, with black holes for a nose and a small mouth hauling me towards his craft. The creature was only about 5ft tall, but very strong. Inside, I was laid on a bed surrounded by consoles, coloured lights and little figures moving around. Utterly terrifying. Then,…

The lift hadn’t been inspected for seven years W atching my mum Joan, 64, playing with my kids, I couldn’t have been happier. It was nearing the end of summer 2013, and we’d just spent the weekend at her home in Herne Bay, Kent. She’d been a perfect mum to me and my brothers Simon, 43, and Aston, 32. Now she was a brilliant grandmother to my four kids, and an amazing great-grandmother. I was a single parent, but Mum was a star. She’d take the kids out for the weekend, buy their school uniforms and always spoil them rotten. ‘We’ll be back to see you soon,’ I said as I kissed her goodbye that day. She’d moved from London to Kent 18 years previously to be closer to her…

17-23 August 2017 Aries 21 March - 20 April You often find a quick or thrifty way of doing something if you’re short of time or cash. But sometimes it pays to do things the full-price way, with a guarantee just in case… And this is one of those times. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May You’re given a chance to show what you can do. That’s great, but have you done anything like this before, or did you just say you wanted to? Don’t be so eager that you leap in and fall on your face. Take little steps! • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June When a friend shows no sign of repaying a debt,…

THE BIGGIE Phwoar – it’s a whopper! Enjoy your puzzling When Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke told her dad she wanted to be an actor, he said she’d only need to learn one line. What was it? Solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares for the six-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Old flour factory driven by the breeze (8) 12 Big sea (5) 13 Over there (6) 14 Weaving machine (4) 15 Canadian police officer (7) 16 Water by means of canals and ditches (8) 17 Sovereign (7) 18 Wild pig (7) 19 Land measure (4) 21 Vine fruit (5) 23 Leg-joint protector (7) 24 Immediate (7) 28 On the house (4) 29 ‘Black gold’ drilled from the ground (3) 30 Chum (6) 33 The cost of…

For the first time, I got to flaunt my new figure in a bikini! Spooning the sweet, hot apple crumble into my mouth, it melted on my tongue. This was my favourite time of day...dessert time! I always had room for pud. I had a big appetite, and an even bigger waistline. Aged 20, I weighed 15st 7lb, too big for my 5ft 6in height. As a kid, I’d gobbled the same portion sizes as my two older brothers. Throughout my 20s, I’d have hefty portions, then scoff a dessert as well. But with my ballooning bod, it was hard to find clothes. So my pals wore the latest trends, while I was in shapeless clothes. I looked like a frumpy old woman, but I was too lazy to change…

"TALKING POINT" The world’s attitude towards gender is changing My 5-year-old son Riley-Prince is just like any other lad his age. He loves football, getting dirty and having fun with his mates. But he does have one interest that differs from most other little lads... He’s really into Disney princesses. I’ve been a massive Disney fan for years. And, after Riley was born in December 2011, I shared all my favourites – like Sleeping Beauty and Toy Story – with him. Ever since he was just a few months old, he’s loved my cuddly Princess Aurora toy. Age 3, when he started nursery, Riley always made a beeline for the dressing-up box. Sometimes he’d be Buzz Lightyear, other times he’d dress up as a princess. ‘I’ll start calling you Riley-Princess!’…

The buoyant bosom I’d dreamed of never materialised Many teenage girls don’t like their bodies. I hated mine. Well, my boobs, to be precise. ‘I’m just so flat-chested,’ I’d cry to Mum, Michelle, 55. Puberty hit, but, still only an A-cup, while my friends filled out their swimsuits, I hardly even needed a bra. It got me down so much, I’d been begging for a boob job for as long as I could remember. Finally, when I was 17, Mum agreed to let me have the op. I had a consultation with a highly recommended surgeon. Surgery came at a price – but I’d have paid anything to feel happy in my own skin. So I took out a loan and paid £4,300 for silicone implants. On the day of…

THE BIG QUIZ Puzzle 18 £ 500 The answers to all these general knowledge questions – except one – are in the grid in various directions. To be this week’s Chat Big Quiz champion, work out which answer is missing. This is your prize answer. Answers are in alphabetical order in each section. THE SILVER SCREEN – STEVE 1 Who took time away from presenting QI to take the role of the Master of Laketown in The Hobbit movies? (7, 3) 2 Which Hollywood star links the movies The Great Escape, The Thomas Crown Affair and Papillon? (5, 7) 3 Which Hollywood superstar directed the movies Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark and ET the Extra Terrestrial between 1975 and 1982? (6, 9) WHERE IN…

Ziggy was so far along the pipe, Tim could only hear him… It was 29 May this year, and we’d had been a fun family night out. My hubby Tim, 39, and I had taken our kids Ollie, 10, Dan, 9, Will, 6, and Ted, 1, to Scarborough to treat ourselves to some fish and chips by the seaside. We were on our way home at 9pm, when I got a call from my father-in-law, who lived on our family farm. ‘Bad news,’ he said. ‘Ziggy’s disappeared down a pipe and we can’t get him out!’ Tim’s parents had decided to take the dogs – our 10-year-old Patterdale terrier Ziggy and their two Airedales – out for a walk while we were at the beach. Following his nose, Ziggy had…

THE CRIME Debi Whitlock was murdered in her home and her body was defiled by her killer. Who would want to kill this innocent woman? Her mother fought for nine long years to find out. Soon, a year had passed with no arrests, no leads... THE STORY The crime scene was as baffling as it was brutal. In March 1988, mumof- one Debi Whitlock, 32, was found dead in the hallway of her home in Modesto, California. Her husband Harold had returned from a stag do in the early hours to find his wife had been repeatedly stabbed, her throat slashed Later, investigators would discover she’d also been raped – after she’d died. A blood-covered knife, taken from Debi’s kitchen, was found near her body. Yet there was no sign…

FROM £7.95 Andrew Barton Full-On Volume Brush, £9, Asda It might look a bit scary, but this works wonders when it comes to creating bouncy, big curls! Top tip: Use near the roots for extra volume. Label.m Detangling Paddle Brush, £9.99, myhairandbeauty.co.uk Thanks to the vented back, hot air can travel through the brush while blow-drying for results that are super-sleek. Top tip: Hold the nozzle of the hairdryer down to help smooth locks. Kent Brushes Small Natural Bristle Radial Brush, £7.99, Boots A must-have for short hair, this makes achieving a frizz-free blow-dry at home a doddle. Top tip: Natural bristles are gentle on the hair. Au naturel The Vintage Cosmetic Company Paddle Brush, £7.95, feelunique.com Bet you’ve never seen a brush as pretty as this one! The wide,…

Even though we were the same age, I looked up to Henry Planning our 48th birthday party with my twin Henry, I laughed. ‘How did we get this old?’ I said. ‘You just wait until you’re a grandma!’ he joked back. Henry was a dad of two and already had three grandkids. My two children didn’t have any of their own yet. Where had the time gone? It felt like only yesterday that me and Henry were kids ourselves, out causing mischief with our four brothers, Thomas, Elmore, Raphael and Ricky, and sister Mary. Yet, here we were, pushing 50. Even though we were the same age, I looked up to Henry. A joker, he was also incredibly caring. He’d been a youth worker for more than 20 years. I’d…

Ask our Doc Don’t be shy – Chat’s Dr Martin Edwards is a family GP who’s seen it all before… Hot flushes Q In the least bit of heat, my face and head sweat and I feel faint. My GP blames the menopause – but I still have periods! Julie, 48 A You may be approaching menopause and having hormone fluctuations. Your doctor can rule out other possibilities such as a thyroid problem, infection or anxiety. Treatment depends on the cause, but might amount to just keeping cool! Numb worries Q My toes went numb and now my fingertips have, too. What’s happening? Ellen, 47 A It could be peripheral neuropathy, which is a form of nerve damage. Possible causes are drug side effects, diabetes, vitamin deficiency or an inherited…

FROM ONLY 40p Sainsbury’s Diced Peach In Strawberry Jelly, 120g, 40p Great flavour, but this lost points as the jelly is really sloppy, even eaten straight from the fridge. For us, proper jelly has a firmer texture – but others may prefer it runny. Dole Pineapple In Raspberry Flavour Jelly, 123g, 50p Though both the jelly and the fruit taste as they should separately, together they have a sort of cherryalmond flavour that you’ll either like or hate. We liked it! Tesco Orange Flavour Jelly With Mandarin Pieces, 4 x 120g, £1.50 Plenty of whole mandarin segments in a jelly with a really good set made this our favourite. It’s a taste of childhood to enjoy any time you like – and this multi-pack makes it the best value, too.…

Apart from me going to my job, he didn’t like me going out at all I was having a drink in Wetherspoons in Merthyr when Nathan Turner swept me off my feet. ‘I love you,’ he said, grabbing me. ‘It’s love at first sight! You’ll be the girl I marry.’ We had mates in common, so we were already friends on Facebook. But this was the first time we’d met each other in person. And Nathan was every bit as good-looking as his picture. Charming, too. I’d been single for a while, since splitting up with my son’s dad. I wasn’t really looking for love, but Nathan made me feel so special. From that first night, things moved quickly – and, before I knew it, he’d moved in. My mum…

Delighted, we chatted about how to spend the money… As I clicked ‘spin’ on the screen, I heard the kettle boil behind me. Turning around, I made myself a cuppa. Then, Ding-ding-ding-dingding… erupted from my laptop. I saw that five diamonds were lined up – I’d won! I’d been playing Diamond Bonanza slots on Chat Mag Bingo and won the progressive jackpot – on a 25p spin! I’d won a huge £4,384! It was my biggest-ever win. Me and my wife Sharon, 54, own a women’s boutique and, after a long day, Sharon had gone for an early night. I raced upstairs. ‘Sharon!’ I cried going upstairs. ‘I’ve won thousands on the slots!’ Sharon listened as I recounted my win, laughing. Delighted, we sat in the kitchen chatting about Words:…

We learnt the disease is likened to childhood Alzheimer’s I smiled as I watched my two beautiful children. ‘I love you to the moon and stars and back again,’ my daughter Georgia, 5, told her big brother Sam, 10. Sam looked back, blank, but I knew the love was mutual. They had an amazing bond. Me and my husband Laurence, 42, had Sam, our first child, in August 2007. ‘He’s perfect,’ I grinned. We spent the next few years like any other family – walks in the park, going on holiday, playdates with friends. But when Sam was 3, we noticed things weren’t right. Normally bubbly and chatty, he changed. ‘He’s not talking as much as other kids any more,’ I fretted. ‘It’s a phase,’ Laurence said. Then we spotted…

Meal Deal 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4. 2 Peel a sweet potato, chop into small pieces, then fry gently in a saucepan with 1tbsp olive oil, a chopped onion, a crushed garlic clove and 150ml water until tender. 3 Peel another two sweet potatoes and cut into slices around 5mm thick. 4 Mash cooked sweet-potato mixture to a smooth, creamy consistency, then season to taste with salt and pepper. 5 Cut a courgette into slices roughly 5mm thick, then grease a baking dish with 1tbsp olive oil, and layer with sweet potato and courgette slices. Season with salt and pepper, and top with sweet-potato mixture. 6 Sprinkle with leaves from 3 sprigs fresh thyme and most of 150g grated pecorino cheese (saving a little to garnish). 7 Sprinkle with…

There was a nagging feeling in the back of my mind Staring down at my precious baby Lucy, I was amazed how much love I felt for her. ‘I can’t believe she’s finally here,’ I whispered to my fiance Pete, who looked almost as dazed as I was. Having Pete beside me had made things better, but I still felt traumatised by it all. ‘We’re just lucky to have her,’ Pete, 37, whispered back. ‘And you were amazing.’ I’d read about difficult births and had prepared myself for the worst, but nothing could have prepared us for what had actually happened. At 37 weeks pregnant, I’d been repeatedly induced at hospital, but nothing had worked. Lucy was facing the wrong way and they’d tried to turn her around. It had…

ZOOMED IN! Puzzle 20 £100 We’ve got up close and personal to a fruity superfood that’s a popular ingredient in muffins and on pancakes. If you can make out what it is, that’s your prize answer. Your answer: WHAT'S ON TELLY? Puzzle 21 4x £30 As you can see, our television’s gone on the blink and we can’t make out what programme’s being screened… If the show looks familiar to you, then that’s your prize answer Your answer: WHAT'S WRONG? Puzzle 22 £100 We’re sure you recognise this show featuring Torquay hoteliers Basil Fawlty and his long-suffering wife Sybil. But something about this still from the hugely popular 70s sitcom isn’t as it should be. If you know which item doesn’t belong, that’s your prize answer. Your answer: HOW MANY Puzzle 23 £100 Can…

How to enter TEXT Simply text CHATA followed by a space and your answer/s (spaces between answers please) full name, door number and postcode to 85010 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 Time Inc. (UK) Ltd and Chat. If you don’t want to receive these, please end your text with TINOINFO. 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…

SCARY POPPINS A Scottish family is appealing for a new live-in nanny after five have quit because their home is apparently haunted! Reports of strange noises throughout the house, moving furniture and glasses shattering might keep wannabes at bay, even with the promise of a £50K salary. Who you gonna call..? SINGH SIGN SAGA Jel Singh Nagra, a Tyneside convenience-store owner, got into trouble with supermarket giants Sainsbury’s for calling his shop Singhsbury’s. So he changed the name…to Morrisinghs! ‘It is a bit of fun and banter. We’re British. This is us,’ Mr Nagra said. And Morrison’s agrees, wishing him well. Nice one! DOG-GONE! At the annual hot-dog eating contest in Coney Island, New York, super-scoffer Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut beat his own record, devouring 72 dogs in just 10 minutes,…