Innehållsförteckning för March 2021 från Chat Specials

With spring just around the corner, we have so much to look forward to. This month, as we share with you some adorable spring creatures (pg61), cracking eggs (pg44) and lighter clothes (pg34), we hope you’re hopeful for all that is to come. Kayte (pg18) knows how important it is to stay positive. After being advised to terminate her pregnancy, her and her husband decided against it. Against all the odds, her little one survived and two-and-a-half years on, he’s thriving at home. And he’s not the only baby loving life this month. When Deborah (pg45) fell pregnant, she was determined to maintain her active lifestyle. As a couple, her and her boyfriend have always loved to hike, and when Lara came along, that wasn’t going to change. With extra…

Terry Keen, 74, from Surrey Pedalling as fast as I could, I was making my way from Berwick Upon Tweed to Cornwall for Anchor Hanover – England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing for older people. I was carrying a 90th birthday card for the Queen for the residents to sign. As an ex-personal trainer, helping people stay active has always been my passion. I do love a glass of red! Whilst I wouldn’t call myself a fitness fanatic – as I love a bottle of red and a good meal – I definitely like to stay fit. After the cycling event, I was top of the list when it came to anything fitness related with Anchor Hanover. So, when they asked me to get involved with their partnership…

Jenny Kole Smith, 39 Sitting on the couch, my partner Kendyl, 34, was getting rather impatient. ‘Are you going to take a pregnancy test?’ he asked me excitedly. ‘Yes, I’ll do it soon,’ I told him, trying to relax. ‘Do it now?’ he begged. We’d been together for just over a year, and we’d been trying for a baby for about three months. I already had two children from a previous marriage, Jaycee, 16 and Alex, 12. As we stared down at the pregnancy test, we were optimistic, but well aware we hadn’t been trying for long. ‘What does that mean?’ Kendyl asked as two sharp lines appeared. ‘It means I’m pregnant,’ I smiled up at him. We couldn’t believe it had happened. ‘Everything looks healthy,’ the nurse told us…

Happy days Pick yourself up with these five fantastic energy boosters from energydots.com Think positively Meditating, counting your blessings, talking to a friend, or even dancing to your favourite song is a good way to make yourself feel more positive. Simple, positive, lifestyle changes could make a big difference. Buttery coffee Coffee is the perfect pick me up. But, add a tablespoon of butter or coconut oil for a long-lasting energy boost without a sugar crash by slowing the absorption of the caffeine. Try turmeric Research has shown that this wonder spice can lower fatigue and stress levels while maximise your immune system. Maximum results are found if it is taken with black pepper to increase absorption. Skip breakfast There is growing evidence to support that having no breakfast at…

The Cheer Up Luv Podcast Eliza, the host of this podcast, talks with artists, activists, creatives and listeners about their own stories and experiences of sexual harassment. This podcast aims to challenge stigmas and myths front on to change the sexism that has been normalised in our day to day lives. For example, many of us will have experienced the ‘cheer up luv’ being called to us when we dare to not smile during all hours of the day! Eliza is fighting to give women a chance to reclaim their voices on subjects that are often hushed and thought of as too taboo. New episodes are released most Thursdays and are available on Spotify and Apple.…

Emily Powell, 30, from Devon Exploring the wonders of Devon, I was mesmerised by the stunning landscape. ‘The light is beautiful,’ I said to my husband Jack, 30. We were only on a little getaway to visit the area, but after falling in love with it, we packed our bags and moved there permanently. We got ourselves a wonderful four-storey fisherman’s cottage, which overlooks the harbour, and it was magnificent. Watching the fishermen bring in their daily catch, it was the perfect spot to inspire my art. I’ve been painting since I was a little girl, but when my dad passed away when I was just seven-years-old, it became my escape – a way to deal with my grief. As the years passed, painting became my greatest love. As an…

Bennett Opie is one of the oldest, private family-owned food companies in the UK and is based in Sittingbourne, Kent. For over a century, Bennett Opie Limited have created a wide range of cocktail products, speciality pickles, chutneys, olives, ginger, luxury fruits, sauces and compotes – all perfect for creating amazing dishes with! GINGER CHICKEN UDON SERVES 4 YOU’LL NEED... • 250g udon noodles • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 cloves garlic, crushed • 400g chicken breast, diced • 250g packet of prepared stir-fry vegetable • 2 pieces Opies Stem Ginger in Syrup, drained and cut into small pieces • 3 tbsp soy sauce • 100ml hot vegetable stock HOW TO DO IT… 1. In a large pan of boiling water, cook noodles for about 5 minutes until al…

Ask our doc With Cheryl Lythgoe, Head Matron for Benenden Health. Up in the night Q I’m in my early 50s and get up several times in the night for a wee. Is that normal? Janet, Greater Manchester A Nocturia is the medical term for night-time weeing, and there can be some anatomical differences as to why men and women need to go for a wee during the night. For women there can be many reasons including the menopause, a weakening of the pelvic floor (which may cause a prolapse of the pelvic organs) or childbirth. I would suggest popping to see your GP who will check for any signs of infection in your urine and have a chat around some of the other causes that could be affecting you.…

Never too early I eat ice creams all year round, if it’s sunny out. Monique, Bournemouth Long way down Walking in the Brecon Beacons with my besties. Megan, Worcester Action snap We all got very wet feet soon after this pic. Immy, Monmouth Choccy cheers Me and my girlfriends found the most gorgeous hot chocolates on our walk. Sandra, Bristol Dig in Lasagne isn’t the quickest thing to make, but they’re always worth the wait. Chloe, St Albans Sunday strolls My favourite day of the week is Sunday when I go for a nice long walk with my mum. Sophia, Marlborough Cold one The perfect pint by a serene river. Tina, Exeter Pretty in pink Birthday celebrations for my little princess, Arabella. Vicky, South Gloucestershire Holiday blues I wish I…

Red Nose Day returns on Friday 19 March, and it’s more important than ever to have fun and raise money to support people living incredibly tough lives. As Covid-19 continues to affect people all over the world, there’s never been a better time to make a difference, no matter how big or small. This year, Red Nose Day is proud to present its most stylish and sustainable limited-edition product range to date, available in Sainsbury’s and on TKMaxx.com, with noses, pins, T-shirts, aprons, tote bags and much more. The new and improved red noses are 100% plastic free and plant-based, and there are 10 fantastically fun woodland characters to find. For more information, go to comicrelief.com/rednoseday…

Dawn Jenks, 53, Coven, Staffordshire Harry was a blessing from the moment he was born. I’d been expecting twins when I was pregnant, but miscarried one baby at 15-weeks. After, I’d bled continually and I was terrified the same fate would happen to Harry. So, when we welcomed him into the world, weighing 7lb 7oz, I knew he’d always be my baby boy. The midwife called him a ‘gift from God’, and she was right. Me and my husband Nigel, 52, already had two older children, Spencer, then eight, and Lydia, then five. Harry truly was a gift from God Harry was the sweetest little brother to them. At two-years-old, he had a lazy eye and needed glasses. He toddled around adorably, looking like the Milky Bar kid. As soon…

Kayte Ray, 31, from Elkton Maryland, USA Grinning from ear to ear, I was completely over the moon when I found out I was pregnant again. Me and my husband Matt Ray, 32, were lucky enough to be childhood sweethearts. Meeting in high school, we’d been together since the day we sat down and ate lunch together while he was 16 and I was just 14. There’s nothing more sweet than young love, we fell head over heels for each other. We grew up together, supporting and encouraging each other to work towards our dream jobs. I trained to be a psychologist, and Matt a graphic designer. In 2013 he popped the question on top of Natty Boh, a famous tower in Baltimore. ‘Yes, of course I’ll marry you Matt!’…

1 . SIGNATURE SCENT If you, like us, love nothing more than striking a match and making your home glow with candles dotted around the house, then why not try making your own? It’ll allow you to personalise your scents and designs, and add a homemade touch to your house. They also make fabulous, thoughtful gifts for friends and family. Keep your favourite old candle containers, collect pretty jars and pots to fill with your own wax. Buying wicks and wax doesn’t have to be expensive. Beeswax is great to use as it’s natural and holds your chosen scent well. To add scents to your candle just use your favourite essential oils. You can also purchase candle dye if you so desire. Here’s a step-by-step guide, from Hobbycraft, on how…

Last Letter from Your Lover Netflix are adapting Jojo Moyles’ 2011 novel Last Letter from Your Lover – which will be available to watch on the 21st March. If you’re not familiar with the story line, it goes a little bit like this; a journalist called Ellie, played by Felicity Jones, who’s living in London when she discovers a series of letters revealing a star-crossed affair from back in the 1960s. She is drawn into the story of the romantic affair between Jennifer, played by Shailene Woodley, and Anthony, played by Callum Turner, and becomes determined to hunt down the conclusion of their love story.…

Deborah MacDonald, 34, Glasgow As I stared up at the looming Himalayas that surrounded us I felt a sense of achievement like no other – we had ticked another trek off our bucket list. My boyfriend Scott, 35, and I loved to hike and after meeting during a snowboarding holiday in 2016, we’d quickly discovered we had a lot in common. We both enjoyed the sense of achievement after reaching a summit or completing a trail and soon began to plan our next adventure together. Everest base camp had always been at the top of our list and in 2017 we finally made it. It was exhausting and the altitude made things even harder. But it only spurred us on to hike even more. A few months after we returned…

Lauren Couchman, 30, Nottingham Hands on my hips, I stopped still in a bid to try and catch my breath. But huffing and puffing, I knew something wasn’t quite right. Aged 20, and home from university for the summer, I’d decided to go for a run. Only, before I’d even made it to the end of the road, I felt as though I couldn’t breathe. This can’t be normal , I thought to myself. Wheezing my way to the front door, I finally admitted defeat. And this wasn’t the first time. For the last year or so, even the smallest task could leave me struggling to catch my breath. Walking up a flight of stairs, walking to and from my lectures, it all left me feeling very wheezy. I thought…

TIPS FROM A PRO! Whether it’s out of choice, budget or lockdown, more of us are box dying our hair than ever before. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as hairdressers make it seem and can leave us feeling stressed with more dye up the walls than anywhere else. Thankfully, to avoid any hair dramas, leading colourist and founder of The Hair Boss, Lisa Sheperd, is here with her top tips for dying your hair at home. HOW TO PICK A ‘SAFE’ SHADE. WHAT DO THE NUMBERS AND LETTERS MEAN ON AT-HOME COLOURANT BOXES? Most people get this so wrong – which is why they end up in a colour disaster. To keep it simple, we work mainly from base one being black to 10 being the lightest blonde. It’s usually…

The police couldn’t tell us much more. ‘What did she do that night?’ I wept to Nigel. For 10 months, she’d been hiding a secret – she killed our boy. I felt so angry, so betrayed and hurt by it all. Days later, I was reading the local paper when I saw a story on Megan. She was denying the charges of her impending court case. And… she was pregnant with another man’s child! Our boy hadn’t even been buried a year, and she’d already moved on. We were devastated for Harry. In July last year, Megan Wagstaff, 21, finally faced her fate in Warwick Crown Court. She changed her plea to guilty and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years and was banned from driving for six years and three months.…

Vienna Zoo has recently welcomed three Emperor tamarin monkeys – all of whom sport little moustaches, despite being just the size of a thimble! The Emperor tamarin is a species famous for its white moustache, and allegedly got its name owing to its resemblance to the last German Emperor, Wilhelm II. The triplets are the first offspring of their parents, Tamaya and Purple, and according to zookeepers, they are settling in well. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck, Zoo director at the 270-year-old zoo, said; ‘Our Emperor tamarins Tamaya and Purple have had triplets. ‘The hallmark of this clawed monkey species is its long, white moustache, which both females and males carry – and the bearded look is already well visible for these three little ones.’ The triplets are the first Emperor tamarins to…

Carving the joint of beef, Guy Hand was preparing a delicious pot roast for his partner Nicola Barry, her son James, and his friend Jeff. Guy was a butcher by trade, so everyone was really excited for the meal. Afterwards, Guy cleaned up the sharp, white-ended butcher’s knife and placed it in the drawer with his other prized possessions. He had made up his mind When the family went to bed, the two young boys stayed up to discuss James’ relationship with girlfriend, Melanie Eam. The pair had been together for over two years, but James admitted that it was not a very strong relationship. He’d tried breaking up with her multiple times, but she would simply just cry, and he would take her back. James told Jeff that he…

Give it a glow Wrap fairy lights around picture frames to highlight them in the evenings. Sophie, Aberystwyth Zest it up Clean wooden chopping boards by rubbing salt into them with a slice of lemon. Savannah, Bath Old and new Keep old broken garden lights, remove from their steaks, and use as decorations. Monique, Liverpool In the bag Clean the limescale of your shower head by filling a small bag with vinegar and tying the bag around the showerhead – leave it for an hour, then wipe off. Sandra, Redditch Basket case Prevent bathroom clutter by keeping all your toiletry products in a nice basket. Emily, Glasgow Totally bananas If you wrap a small amount of cling film around your banana tops they last longer. Tina, Exeter Teatime Keep tea…

The Mother’s Day Club, by Rosie Hendry AVAILABLE FOR £7.99 FROM WATERSTONES Set in Norfolk, 1939, the small community of Great Plumstead open their homes to the evacuees from London. Expecting to care for children, they’re hit with a surprise when a train full of expectant mothers pulls into the station. Sisters Prue and Thea welcome the mothers with open arms, while others fear their peaceful community will be disrupted. But all pregnant Marianne seeks is a fresh start for herself and her unborn child. Though she knows that is only possible as long as her new neighbours don’t discover the truth about her situation. The women of Great Plumstead, old and new are fighting their own battles on the home front. Can the community come together in a time…

WELCOME TO THE WORLD ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s giraffe herd welcomed a giant six-foot-tall new arrival in December – on what was dubbed ‘the day of hope’ by staff at the UK’s largest zoo. The female calf was born as the same time as the first Covid-19 vaccine was given to 90-year-old Margaret Keenan, during the early hours of Tuesday 8 December 2020. In recognition of the poignant moment, the infant has been named Margaret. ZSL and its zoos have launched a fundraising appeal amid the pandemic at zsl.org/donate WILD CAT An endangered female Amur tiger is the latest arrival at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire. Valentina arrived at the 140-acre wildlife park from Hodonin Zoo, Czech Republic in December as a companion for the wildlife park’s male tiger Bagai. Animal Collection…

He wants the dog Q After I split up with my husband, I took our dog. Without kids, he’s like a baby to me. But now my ex says he wants time with the dog like a custody agreement! I’m sure he’s doing it to hurt me. Louise, Shropshire A Pets can be a great comfort in times of change. It may be that your ex-husband has insisted on spending time with the dog knowing that you will find this difficult. However, if that is the agreed arrangement, whatever his motives, the best thing is to go along with it. Circumstances change and looking after a dog is a big responsibility – so if he has simply done this out of spite, there is a chance after a while, he…

Glenda Simmons, 56 Taking a seat at the table, I quickly tucked into my canteen lunch. ‘Is that nice?’ I asked my granddaughter, Tiara, now 15. ‘Lovely, thanks Granny,’ she smiled at me. Living in Georgia, Atlanta, I would regularly go for lunch at her school. When she was a junior, she would run up to me and give me a huge hug. As she got older, she didn’t do that as much, but we still enjoyed our weekly lunch date. Or at least, that’s what I thought, until one day, that all came crashing down. ‘Granny, I don’t think you should come for lunch today,’ she told me quietly down the phone. ‘I don’t want to get in a row with the other kids.’ ‘What do you mean, Sweetheart?’…

FILM AND TV 1 Who is the new female coach on ITV’s The Voice Series 10? a Anne-Marie b Ellie Goulding c Dua Lipa 2 Which movie was the UK’s biggest-selling home title of 2020? a Joker b Jumanji: The Next Level c Frozen 2 3 Which previous companion returned to help the Doctor in the New Year’s Day 2021 episode of Doctor Who? a Rose Tyler b River Song c Jack Harkness 4 What is the name of the main character in Disney Pixar’s Soul? a Mo Gardner b Joe Gardner c Poe Gardner 5 Experts of what profession compete to be crowned winner in the BBC show Pooch Perfect? a Dog groomers b Dog trainers c Dog walkers 6 What is the name of the new Disney+ channel…