Innehållsförteckning för BEST OF 2 2020 från Chat Specials

With all of us spending more time at home lately, we’ve packed this issue of Chat full of fun ideas on how to keep yourselves busy. It’s the perfect time for spring cleaning, so we’ve got a spread of charming items to fill your home with and brighten up your space (pg38). And if you’re wanting to get outdoors, what better place than your own garden? We’ve got a whole range of garden activities to remind you of nature’s simple pleasures (pg14). When we meet someone new, we all want the support of our friends and family. Kiera (pg28) faced a lot of judgement over the man she chose, but she and her new bloke have managed to sway everyone’s opinion – you’ll never guess how! Reading is one of…

Rachel Wardley, founder of Tallulah Rose Flower School (tallulahroseflowers.com), shows you how to make a beautiful flower crown to make you feel gorgeous in your garden! YOU’LL NEED... • Sharp scissors • Stem tape • Floristry wire in different thicknesses (ideally approx. 22, 24 and 26 gauge) • Ribbon • Fresh flowers and foliage in various sizes (Rachel used large and small roses, anemone, stock, carnation, wax flower, ornithogalum and fern) HOW TO DO IT… 1. Create a base for your crown by attaching two wires together to make one long piece, wrapping it entirely in stem tape by gently stretching the tape to stick to itself. Spin the wire between your fingers while gradually moving downwards. Don’t worry if the tape snaps, just continue with more. Bend each end…

Around 268,000 people in the UK today are living with or beyond a diagnosis of bowel cancer, a disease that is often treatable if diagnosed early enough. This April during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the charity Bowel Cancer UK want to shine a light on all the amazing people in your life who have supported you. They want everyone who supports you to join #teambowelcancer – your family, your best friend, your work colleagues, your surgeon, your pet, your oncologist, your neighbour, your Clinical Nurse Specialist, and of course, the charity dedicated to everyone affected by bowl cancer. This April, Bowel Cancer UK want you to #tagyourteam – take a photo with them or tell us who they are and tag @bowelcanceruk in your photo when you share it on…

Gemma Ashdown, 35, Tonbridge In the beginning, I never even wanted to meet the man I ended up marrying! As a single mum at 31, men were off the menu, and all my focus was on my four-year-old daughter Emily. But in May 2015, I couldn’t help dipping my toe in Tinder. Not that I had any plans on meeting anyone – it was just something to keep me entertained. But soon enough, a man called Jonathan was messaging me – and he wouldn’t stop! My cousin Chelsea was round one night when he texted, asking again if we could meet up. Leaving him hanging, I nipped to the loo. But when I returned, Chelsea had something to tell me. ‘He’s coming round!’ she chimed. She’d text him my address!…

The twisted plan was to kidnap a girl then pretend to rescue her. Kyle Dube wanted to be hailed as a hero in his community but his plot went horribly wrong… Kyle, 20, lived in Maine, United States, and was a dad to a four year old daughter. Kyle worked for an agency that cared for people with disabilities. And, he had a girlfriend – but he was distracted by a crush on a local teenager. Nichole Cable, 15, was studying at high school. She lived at home with her mum Kristine Wiley, stepdad Jason and her three younger sisters. Popular Nichole thought that Kyle was just a friend, and he had been round a few times to see her. But his intentions were far from friendly. Kyle had an…

To Keep You Safe by Kate Bradley EBOOK, AUDIO AND PAPERBACK – £8.99 When ex-soldier-turned-teacher, Jenni, sees a man trying to abduct vulnerable 15-year-old, Destiny, from school, she intervenes. With no one taking her story seriously, Jenni does the only thing she feels she can to keep Destiny safe; she takes her. But what if what Jenni saw wasn’t the truth at all? What if the truth is much darker than either of them care to admit? Nothing is as it seems in this novel. There are twists galore, and the reader is left to wonder just how reliable Jenni and Destiny are. This ‘fast-paced thriller’ is a ‘clever, chilling and compelling debut’ about truth, lies and cover-ups. The thrilling new voice in suspense writing, Kate Bradley, invites you to…

Jess Clewes, 24, Cheshire Answering the door, my dad, Michael, came bustling in to get out of the heavy British rainstorm. Only, I soon realised he wasn’t alone. Carried in his arms, was a tiny duckling. ‘It was chirping at my door,’ he said to me. ‘He’s only a couple days old and there was no mum in sight.’ Revealing the tiny ball of yellow and brown fluff, I knew I had to help. Afterall, I’d been around animals my whole life. Growing up, my dad worked as a gamekeeper and we had incubators in the kitchen, where we kept ducks, pheasants and geese eggs. Together, we hand-reared them, before releasing them in local ponds when they were able to look after themselves. He was chirping at Dad’s door So,…

WHAT IS EPILEPSY? Epilepsy is a common condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures. Seizures are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. It’s often a lifelong condition, but can sometimes get slowly better over time. HOW CAN I HELP IF SOMEONE IS HAVING A SEIZURE? 1. Stay calm and ensure the person is in a safe place with space. 2. Note the time the seizure starts and stay with them. Speak quietly and calmly. 3. Cushion their head with something soft. If a seizure doesn’t stop after five minutes, call for an ambulance. 4. After the seizure has stopped, gently put them in the recovery position and check that their breathing has returned to normal. 5. Stay with them until they…

Ask our doc Intimate health specialist, Dr Shirin Lakhani, of Elite Aesthetics. Period pains Q My teenage daughter suffers with terrible period pains. What can she do to help cope with them? Rose, Birmingham A Unfortunately, many women suffer from period pains, or dysmenorrhea. It’s a normal part of the menstrual cycle. This pain is usually menstrual cramps which cause discomfort in the lower abdomen. You may also have other symptoms, such as lower back pain, nausea, diarrhoea, and headaches, which often start two weeks before your period starts. The pain varies from one period to the next and it can be treated with over the counter painkillers – ibuprofen or aspirin has been shown to work better than paracetamol, but you must not take Ibuprofen if you have asthma…

Louise Davies, 60, Gloucestershire Back in September 2015, my beloved cat Daisy suddenly went missing. I searched everywhere, and in a desperate bid to bring her back home, I wrote a post on Facebook. Please help me fi nd Daisy, she’s a grey Bengal, I wrote. Only, no one replied and as the days went by, I dreaded the worst. Thankfully, after eight days, Daisy turned up at the house and everything was fine, but it was the worst eight days of my life. No one helped me and I felt entirely alone. So, I decided to do something about it and started helping people find their missing cats and animals on Facebook. I would share as many posts as I could and try and locate owners when ones were…

Marika Smith, 36, Essex Grabbing the dog lead, I signalled to my beloved Jack Russell-Pug, Tiny. ‘Mummy’s going to take you out,’ I smiled, hooking the lead onto her collar. At five months pregnant, I wanted to give her all the attention I could before the latest addition joined our perfect family. Me and my husband, Ben, 44, had picked Tiny up six years ago when our neighbour’s dog had given birth to puppies. We absolutely adored Tiny and she was very much our first child. Letting her sleep in our bed and giving her constant cuddles and kisses, she lived a life of luxury. But with a sibling on the way, the attention would soon be split, so I wanted to make the most of my time with her.…

Tap dance I learnt that if you tap the 57 on the glass bottle of Heinz ketchup, the sauce will come out easier! No more shaking and using a knife to scrape it. Izzy, Windsor Heat it up I add a splash of water to my leftover meal before I microwave it. It keeps the moisture and stops it from drying out when reheating! Polly, Clacton on Sea Nacho cheese I always use a grater to slice a block of cheese, instead of a knife. It’s perfect to get an even slice and much easier. Orelia, Plymouth Bath time When you’re washing out the bath, use cold water instead of hot water. Cold water will stop the bubbles from frothing. Mona, Leeds Golden locks I always spray my hair clips…

Biggest secret Q There’s a chance that my three-year-old daughter isn’t my husband’s. I’m ashamed to say I had a one night stand and although the chances are small, our girl might not be his. If I tell him, it will destroy everything. Can I stay quiet? He adores her. Jill, Birmingham A Secrets have the potential to damage a relationship and, if you are holding something back from your husband, over time it can come between you and eat away at your marriage. A simple DNA test will obviously be able to confirm whether or not your daughter is also your husband’s. However, this feels like quite a big deal to set in motion. Whilst telling him the truth will be a very difficult conversation, it will mean that…

Kiera Galvin, 27, Cork, Ireland Scouring the shops for bikinis, I picked out a handful to try on. I was so excited to finally be going on holiday and wanted to make sure my poolside wardrobe was up to scratch. Besides, I couldn’t wear the same bikini twice! I’d been dying to get my boyfriend Anthony, then 23, on holiday, and after five years together, in 2012, he finally agreed to go on one. ‘OK,’ he sighed. ‘Just book the holiday. But I’m not going anywhere busy!’ ‘Thank you!’ I beamed, clicking the book button before he had a chance to change his mind. But I knew why Anthony wasn’t so keen to go. His problem wasn’t spending time with me – we were always spending time together. He was…

Happy Mum Happy Baby After the release of her bestselling book Happy Mum Happy Baby, mum-of-three Giovanna Fletcher, continues its success in her podcast of the same name. Gi discusses the highs and lows of parenting with other prominent parents including the Duchess of Cambridge, who appeared on the show in February of this year. Other stars include Davina McCall, Emma Willis and fellow podcast presenters’, Chris and Rosie Ramsey. Gi was so overwhelmed with the response she received from her book when it was released in 2017, that she wanted to continue to explore the adventures into motherhood. In a collection of friendly and comforting conversations, they confirm that no one is a perfect parent and instead, we are all simply doing our best. The podcast is essential for…

Anyone who has worn an ill-fitting bra knows the pain and discomfort it can cause. If your cups are wrinkling or your bra hikes up when you lift your arms – you’re wearing the wrong size. From backache to breast pain – it is so important to keep your melons comfortable and healthy. A simple solution to the problem, is to know your measurements and purchase a bra that fits properly. Many stores offer free, professional bra fitting services – which are fab! However, if you’d feel more comfortable measuring yourself, bust out the measuring tape and follow these steps... STEP 1: BAND SIZE Wearing a non-padded bra, measure around your waist, directly under your bust. The tape should be level and snug. Round this the nearest whole number in…

Looking to refresh your bedroom or revamp your living room? A mural wall is the perfect quick and easy way to liven up a space. And it doesn’t have to be expensive, either. Transform any room with a made-to-measure wall mural wallpaper from Wallsauce.com! With prices starting at £29 per m² , and beautiful designs to choose from – you can’t go wrong. All murals are custom printed onto a range of high-quality materials. Simply choose your favourite design, enter your dimensions and pick your mural material.…

Bedtime barneys Considered a sleep divorce? According to new research, you’re not alone, with more than half of Brits having considered it, and one fifth of Brits admitting to arguing over the temperature of their bedroom. The study by E.ON looked into the role heating plays in sleeping spats and teamed up with sleep behaviour and environment expert James Wilson, aka The Sleep Geek, to provide five top tips on how to heat your home and keep it at the optimum temperature for the perfect sleep. 1. Heating the room to between 16°C and 18°C is best. Young children may require a slightly warmer temperature, so investing in smart radiator thermostats to manage different rooms could be beneficial. 2. Most boilers will need replacing after a decade or so, but…

CHOOSE WISELY When we can, we all like to treat ourselves every now and then. And whether it’s one item or a collection of things, we need to know we’re spending our money wisely. So, here are a selection of products that we think are worth the splurge. ILLAMASQUA CONCEALER, £17, CULT BEAUTY Cover blemishes and problem areas to create beautiful skin that feels smooth and looks flawless. Tested under the harsh lights of film sets, this concealer is guaranteed to keep your secrets and let you take center stage. Providing a highly pigmented coverage, this concealer is best applied with a small blending brush. ICONIC LONDON BROW SILK, £20, NEXT Big, bushy brows are all the rage right now. Hot off the runway, we’re all craving that fluffy effect.…

On a bright Sunday afternoon in June 2008, 11-year-old Skyla Whitaker and her 13-year-old best friend Taylor Paschal-Placker were walking down a rural dirt track near Weleetka, Oklahoma. They’d taken the route together many times before and that day, they were heading to a riverbank to collect pebbles and shells. But they never arrived. Their bullet ridden bodies were found by the side of the road. The community was shocked to the core by the deaths of two young innocent girls. Skyla was an adventurer, who went most places barefoot and adored animals so much that she wanted to be a vet. Taylor also loved nature and wanted to be a forensic scientist like the ones she’d seen on the TV. However, their dreams came to an end when they…

We’d still have our good days, when we’d go for rides on my bike and she’d wrap her arms around me… In those moments, I could almost forget the abuse. But not for long. Tracy would cut up my clothes in a temper, pin me up against the wall and dig her nails into me. All I had to do was be a few minutes late home from work in the evening to send her into a rage. One time, she swung the vacuum cleaner at me like a golf club. Another time she bolted towards me, a hammer in her grip… I knew it all had to stop In December that year, I’d arranged to go into London with some of the lads from work. Big mistake. In a…

According to research by gardening app Candide, 96% of people feel happier when spending time in their garden, which is a great reason why they created Garden Day! On Sunday 10 May, Garden Day is calling on households across the UK to celebrate any area in their home where they have plants, whether it’s indoors or outdoors. You’re encouraged to pop on a flower crown and celebrate in your home, virtually with friends and family by video call, or by live streaming or posting on social media. Garden Day is all about remembering the happiness effect of gardens. It can lower the heart rate, calm brain activity, and make people feel more connected to the world. Thirteen time RHS Gold medallist Chris Beardshaw says: ‘What better way to spend a…

Stephen Aldworth, 33, Poole Crawling into bed, I tried to be as quiet as possible. It was the middle of the night, and I’d just spent ages sat on the loo. I didn’t want to wake my husband, but it was no use. ‘You OK?’ Daniel, 36, asked. ‘It’s happened again,’ I said. Back in September 2017, I’d been suffering with painful stomach cramps. I’d been finding it hard to use the loo, and lately, I’d found blood in the toilet. ‘You need to see a doctor,’ Daniel said, half asleep. I knew he was right, but, being stubborn, I put it off. It’s probably nothing, I thought. But the bleeding continued, and when I read up, I discovered it could be a sign of bowel cancer. Alarms bells ringing,…

Rachel Pighills, 33, Pershore Rushing to the toilet to be sick, I just about made it. For weeks, I hadn’t been able to keep anything down and my weight had suddenly plummeted. I was absolutely exhausted and I didn’t know what was happening. On top of work and being a mum to my 12-year-old daughter, I was also planning my wedding. It could be stress , I thought to myself, trying to make sense of it. After all, I did have a lot going on at the time. But over the next two months, I was hospitalised three times. And then, I was diagnosed with Addison’s disease, a rare disorder of the adrenal glands. ‘It was caused by problems with your immune system,’ the doctor told me. It didn’t make…

Wonder Woman 1984 Fast forward to the 1980s, as Wonder Woman’s next big screen adventure finds her facing an all-new foe – The Cheetah. While the first standalone film was set in the World War I-era, this one follows Diana into a brighter, extremely technicolour modern era, where she will face off against both Cheetah and Maxwell Lord. She’ll also somehow reunite with Steve Trevor. Dubbed ‘mindblowing’ by Patty Jenkins, this is a must watch. All the hype does beg the question, do the producers have a few more surprises up their sleeves or another twist that will leave us reeling? You’ll have to wait and see! RELEASE DATE: 5 JUNE 2020…

Becky Green, 32, from Farington, Lancashire Dropping my son Grant, 10, off to school one morning in November, I hurried home to care for my little girl Jessica, seven.. Jessica was recovering from a urinary tract infection and she was feeling sorry for herself. Usually she’d be dancing all around the house, cheerleading or going to Brownies. On this day, she just wanted to settle on the sofa. ‘Pop something on the iPad and lay down to rest,’ I said, tucking her under a blanket. Jessica was always glued to her screen, obsessed with watching YouTube videos. What child isn’t? Usually, I’d sigh and tell her to play with her toys. But looking at her poorly little face, I felt relieved that watching videos on her iPad could bring her…

James Read, 33, Woking Placing her leg across my lap, my fiancée Sarah looked at me. ‘Please?’ she begged, nudging me for a massage. ‘It’s been hurting all day.’ It was 2015, and Sarah, then 28, had been getting shooting pains in her left leg, which she blamed on her long commute to work. We’d been together for 10 years – she was my best friend and soulmate, so I didn’t hesitate to give her leg a good rub when she needed it. A few months later, that April, Sarah and I got married. Travelling to the Maldives for our honeymoon, Sarah’s leg was still giving her trouble. Arriving home, she decided to see a physiotherapist. Thinking it might be caused by a spinal problem, he referred her to Nuffield…

Ashley Davies, 29, Brae, Shetland Nursing a pint with my old man in our local country pub, I wasn’t having the most exciting Saturday night ever. But living in the Shetlands, there was never much to do. The most exciting thing to happen up here comes around January and March, when the islands are turned into a real Viking extravaganza called Up Helly Aa. It’s always great fun and hundreds of islanders and tourists come together and join in on the festivities. There’s torch-lit parades, marches and of course lots of booze and laughter thrown in. It’s all because of the Shetlands’ history. Once a Viking stronghold, our little collection of islands still like to celebrate its heritage and there’s often no escaping the horn-hatted heathens. My dad, Allan, 46,…

There are 8.7 million species on planet earth, and we can’t possibly know them all! Here’s seven of the strangest creatures that you probably haven’t heard of… GERENUK The Gerenuk is a long-necked antelope found in the Horn of Africa and the drier parts of East Africa. The name ‘gerenuk’ is a Somali word which means ‘giraffe-necked’ and refers to its disproportionately long and skinny neck. This animal stands on its two hind legs to eat, and never has to drink water because – like giraffes – the plants they eat contain enough. AYE-AYE One of the coolest animals there is. This long-fingered Madagascan lemur uniquely forages for grubs by gnawing a hole in a hollow tree trunk and using his elongated middle finger to extract it out. The rare…