Innehållsförteckning för June 2021 från Chat Specials

In life, we all have many obstacles and challenges to overcome. Things aren’t always easy, but sometimes, that’s half the fun. William knows all about life’s challenges (pg53). Having developed a stammer from a young age, he’s faced bullying and setbacks his entire life. However, determined to live a positive life, he never gives up and today, he’s a champion ‘stambassador’. After years of weight gain, Tanya had reached an all-time low (pg24). When the school run left her breathless, she knew it was time for a change. So, setting herself a challenge, she ditched the bulge and is loving life as a result! When life was running short, Anne had one final wish (pg19). Wanting the ride of her life, a group of bikers rallied behind her to give…

Faye Cesear, 30, from Northampton Scrolling through my phone, a notification popped up from Plenty of Fish to tell me I had a new match. I wonder what he’s like, I thought, opening the app. It was a guy named Damion Duffin, 30, and he was really good looking – just my type. When I’d first seen his profile a few hours earlier, I was instantly attracted to him. He was a good looking bloke, so I was pretty chuffed when the two of us matched up. And then, to my delight, just moments later, I received a charming message from him. You’re stunning, he wrote. I felt my cheeks blush as I read the message. Typing back a response, it wasn’t long before the pair of us were deep…

Karen Tyson, Cumbria Walking through our local area, we came across a vegan cake sale. Taking a closer look at the stall, they were raising money for the charity Cats Protection. ‘Wow,’ my son Joss, then eight, beamed, taking a look at the delicious display. We’d recently adopted our very own cat Margherita from a local rescue centre, and so we were all passionate about the welfare of our wonderful feline friends. Only eight, Joss didn’t really understand much about charities. He knew about the local rescue centre where we’d adopted Margherita and the amazing work they do, but that was about it. However, that night, when we arrived home, he started watching YouTube videos all about Cats Protection – that along with funny videos of cats causing mischief. Within…

Rachael Turner, 46, from Balham, London Sat on my mum’s bedside, I clutched her hand and tried to make her smile. ‘Is there anything you’ve ever really wanted to do, Mum?’ I asked. ‘I’d love to ride on one of those Hells Angels bikes,’ she replied, dreamily. I chuckled at her in surprise. My innocent 83-year-old mum, Anne Turner, had never even sat on a motorbike before! Anne was granted her dying wish But with her life flashing before her eyes, I suppose she had nothing holding her back. In summer 2019, Mum had been diagnosed with lung cancer. She endured chemotherapy and radiotherapy, before a second cancerous tumour had been found on her bowel. ‘It’s terminal,’ the doctors said, breaking the news. I moved into Mum’s house with my…

The Father Anthony Hopkins delivers a ground-breaking performance in the new movie The Father. The story follows a man, Anthony, who navigates the shifting corridors of his deteriorating mind. He refuses any help offered from his daughter, Anne, who is played by Olivia Colman. Anthony desperately attempts to make sense of his changing circumstances. But as time goes on, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality. His mental state isn’t as it once was. In cinemas from 11 June. Watch the trailer online now!…

Celine Dion, 31, Tamworth, Staffordshire Clutching hold of the microphone, I got ready to sing my favourite karaoke number. The familiar sound of the flute intro filling the room, I must have sung My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion hundreds of times in the past. And as I built up to the big high note, I took a few deep breaths. Here it comes... ‘YOU’RE...HERE...!’ But unlike my hero Celine, my performance fell flat. Although I loved a bit of karaoke, I was certainly no singer. It didn’t help that lots of my friends watching were all professional singers themselves. Many of them worked on the West End and would have nailed the big finish. But not me. I might not have been pitch perfect, but I certainly…

Mood changes Q I think the pill is making me have terrible mood swings. Should I just put up with feeling this way or do I need to see my GP? Linda, Rotherham A I’m so sorry to hear you feel like this. There are several ways of trying to help your mood. It’s often the progesterone in the pill that is associated with mood symptoms, so you could try switching to a different pill. Alternatively, your doctor may advise you to run pill packs together and miss out on the 7-day break. This helps to get rid of the monthly rise and fall in your hormone levels. You could also try a different estrogen-containing method, such as the patch, or the vaginal ring. Alternatively, perhaps try a non-hormonal method such…

FILM AND TV 1 What was the first feature-length animated movie ever released? a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs b Pinocchio c Fantasia 2 In The Matrix, what colour pill does Neo take? a Blue b Green c Red 3 What pop vocal group performs at the wedding in Bridesmaids? a Wilson Phillips b Steps c Abba 4 Who played Queen Elizabeth II in series 3 and 4 of The Crown? a Claire Foy b Olivia Colman c Gillian Anderson 5 The first episode of Downton Abbey begins on the same day as which real historic event? a Outbreak of WW1 b Sinking of the Titanic c Death of Queen Victoria 6 Three of Jim Carrey’s blockbusters—The Mask, Dumb and Dumber and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective—were all released in…

Confident quacker This adorable little duck came so close to me that I managed to give it a stroke! Angie, Colchester Furry generous I came across this broccoli with an adorable note on it which read; Guinea pig food. Mark, Plymouth Ripples and rocks I came across such a gorgeous spot in a cave in Stourhead. Dawn, Yeovil Sea breeze Me and my friends are never disappointed when we go for a hike in Devon. Tracy, Carlisle Peekaboo! My boyfriend thinks he’s never too old for a game of Hide and Seek. Lori, Durham We all scream for ice cream! Me my were delighted at the size of these huge portions. Claire, Bridgewater Sizzling hot My family makes the best Greek BBQs. I love this time of year! Patricia, Middlesbrough…

However, almost immediately after he moved in, things began to change between us. Damion was quite controlling and wanted to be with me at all hours of the day. I’d always been quite an independent woman, so it was suffocating me. ‘We don’t need to be joined at the hip,’ I tried to tell him. ‘I just love spending time with you,’ he’d smile. Maybe he was trying to be flattering and a good boyfriend, but I wanted time to myself. Even just a couple of hours. ‘I’m off to see my friends,’ I explained as I quickly headed for the front door. ‘I’ll join you,’ he insisted, grabbing his coat. It was exhausting and my friends were starting to become concerned about it, too. ‘It’s getting a bit weird…

Box of secrets Buy a tissue box holder, but save money on buying tissue boxes to fill it with. Instead, just slot a toilet roll inside. Courtney, Birmingham Salon standard Add a small amount of nail varnish remover to nail varnish which has become too thick or clumpy. It makes it as good as new again! Pippa, Southend-on-Sea Seamless trick Cut strips out of your old tights, width-wise, to create an endless supply of hairbands! Carol, Oxford The drawer of doom Keep batteries together in a little bag so you can find them easily – rather than letting them loose in that big drawer of random things. Kiara, Isle of Wight The plant doctor I couldn t understand why my plant was slowly dying. But then I bought this plant…

Tanya Rawlings, 43, from Plymouth Huffing and puffing as I made my way up the stairs, I paused at the top to catch my breath. ‘Time for school,’ I shouted across to my son Rylee, now eight. ‘OK Mum,’ he replied, rubbing his eyes. But as I got him dressed in his uniform, I was feeling worryingly out of breath. I suffered with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – a lung condition that means I often have difficulty when it comes to breathing. But that wasn’t my only problem when it came to my health. I’d been piling on the weight for years, making my condition deteriorate even further. When I split with my ex-partner in 2017, my eating habits hit an all-time low. Rushing around after Rylee and my…

The Gardener’s Wife by Jane Allison AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON.CO.UK , £14.71 Emma Holt has been happily married, for many years, to the gardener of the local Quaker school, in a small rural Yorkshire town. Headmaster Philip Manners, on the other hand, has been unhappily married to the Bishop’s daughter for equally as long. When Philip comes across Emma in the school library, he is immediately intrigued by her. Philip struggles with his conscience: is he really falling in love with another man’s wife? When all eligible men are called up to fight on the frontline, Emma and Philip find themselves unavoidably tangled up in each other’s lives. Emma begins to feel increasingly torn between her loyalty for her husband and the passion she’s been missing for so…

Laura Williamson , 39, from Bristol Taking a deep breath in, I smelled the tropical aromas of a freshly run bath floating down the hallway followed by the roar of a football crowd. Bristol City must be playing again, I thought to myself. ‘Enjoying yourself?’ I called out to my husband, Luke, 36. ‘Definitely,’ he replied. After a long nine-hour shift on his feet working as a security guard for the Ministry of Defence, he’d wind down and watch the footie. ‘Sure you don’t need your back scrubbed?’ I teased. ‘Door’s locked,’ he laughed. He made sure there was no way for me or any of our four rascals, Lia, 12, Evie, seven, Ava, six and two-year-old Jacob to come and disturb him in his 90 minutes of peace. I…

One million steps Diabetes UK is inviting you to take part in their biggest walking challenge yet. Between 1 July to 30 September, people all around the UK are daring themselves to take around 10,000 steps a day over three months, with an aim on one million steps! But if you’re not feeling up for the full one million, why not try half a million instead? Get fit while raising funds to change the lives of everyone living with or at risk of diabetes. Register for free at diabetes.org.uk What women need Wild Earth has compacted everything a woman needs into a tiny, daily tablet. The targeted nutrition contains the things which support the female body, including vitamin B6 which regulates hormonal activity, Iron to support healthy red blood cells,…

EXTREME IRONING Let’s face it, ironing is dull. But for the thrill seekers amongst us, there is one way you can liven up your weekly load. The extreme sport of extreme ironing sees adrenaline junkies take their ironing boards to some crazy locations, with some taking part while skydiving, skiing and even under the ice sheet of a frozen lake! CHESS BOXING Two sports we thought we’d never see combined, but chess boxing has proven popular across the world. The hybrid sport sees players compete in alternating rounds of chess and boxing in both a physically and mentally draining game of two disciplines. The sport has proven particularly popular in Germany, India, Russia and here in the UK. CHEESE ROLLING Not one for the faint hearted, the rules of cheese…

Ahoy there! My cat, Marmalade, still hasn’t found her sea legs yet. Lynn, Exeter Smitten kittens Susan and Wilbur have been mates since they were tiny and now seem very in love. Tracey, Derry Wagging to go My little doggy ZuZu always looks like she’s ready for walkies. Cath, Burnley Hair free, carefree Meet our bald guinea pig, Sausage. She’s such a little squeaker. Terri, Edinburgh THAT’S SO BRITISH ACCEPTING A CUP OF TEA, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE IN A MASSIVE HURRY. MISTAKING BRIGHTNESS FOR WARMTH, OUTSIDE. BEING SHOCKED WHEN SOMEONE ACTUALLY TELLS YOU HOW THEY ARE, AFTER ASKING THEM HOW THEY ARE.…

What is an outfit without an accessory? A bag, a pair of earrings and – nowadays – a mask, all help to create those stylish finishing touches.  Award-winning personal stylist Lisa Talbot (www.lisatalbot. co.uk) shares her must-have accessories of the summer... MASKS Facemasks aren t going anywhere anytime soon – so why not have some fun with them? Think of masks like a scarf and use them to add colour, texture and print to your outfit. You can find stylish masks in every highstreet store. Mask, £12, Oliver Bonas STATEMENT JEWELLERY Make a statement with your jewellery and inject a little bit of drama into your outfit. Go for gold or silver and be bold! Gold ring, £39.95, seolgold.com TOTE BAGS For us carry everything around, canvas tote bags are…

When Tina Adovasio disappeared from her home, all suspicion fell on her husband Eddy Coello. Their marriage had been plagued with violence. Tina’s body was eventually found and it was clear she’d met a brutal end. But Eddy was an ex-police officer and lies easily tripped off his tongue. He’d got away with so much in the past. So would anyone believe he’d commit murder? Incredibly, it would take Tina’s own words to prove his guilt, despite the fact she was already long dead. Eddy, 41, and Tina had a marriage that certainly wasn’t perfect and it was destined to end in disaster one way or another. Eddy’s aggressive ways started even before he met Tina. He’d been a NYPD officer for four years until violence ended his career. His…

You’re Wrong About It’s all too easy to make an instant judgement of someone in the public eye based on little to no information. We’re all guilty of it. Famous women are at the top of the hit list when it comes to these unfair opinions. Mike Hobbes and Sarah Marshall delve into the past and go behind the headlines of some of the most infamous tabloid stories in recent history. They discuss the scandals of Monica Lewinsky and Anna Nicole Smith. There is even a focus within the series on Princess Diana. Mike and Sarah investigate her childhood, marriage and death. There’s no doubt that you’ll be shocked by some of their discoveries. Available on Apple Podcasts.…

Nina Evans Williams, 54, from Anglesey Steadying my hand, the final details on the cake a customer had ordered were always vital for making it look perfect. Ding dong! ‘For goodness sake,’ I said to my husband, Mike, 60. Running down the hallway, my apron was covered in flour. Back in 2013, I’d left my job working as a custody detention officer to live a quieter and sweeter life. I set up my own cake making company. Mike retired from his role as a police officer two years ago and joined in on the fun. We create our masterpieces in a purpose-built cabin in our garden. Making cakes for all occasions, like birthdays and weddings, we take pride in every one we bake. They’re usually giant and grand, taking us…

FLOWER POWER Created by gardeners for everyone who enjoys their outdoor space, the Flower & Garden Shows are the ultimate weekend of inspiration, flowers and plants. Famous for bringing together numerous plantsmen and nurseries from across the UK, the shows’ fun events and shopping experiences celebrate the very best of gardening, home and lifestyle. Discover a huge range of luxury garden products and enjoy the Festival of Food and Drink. From some of the UK’s finest wines and spirits to homemade pies, cakes, cheeses and pastries. Visit the Norfolk Garden Show 16 – 18th July 2021, the Newbury Garden Show 31st July – 1st August 2021 and the Newark Garden Show 3rd – 5th September 2021. • For all the latest information and to book tickets, visit www.aztecgardenshow.co.uk A DAY…

Daunting changes Q Recently, I’ve noticed my confidence is low. My boyfriend points out when my clothes aren’t right, or when my cooking is bad. He says my friends are a bad influence. I’m starting to question everything. Paula, Birmingham A It can be really difficult when those we love seem overly critical of us. Being honest about how his comments make you feel is a good place to start. The next time that he makes a hurtful remark or criticism, tell him calmly that it hurts your feelings. Ask him to pause and think about what he is saying before he starts criticising you. Remember, you can’t change another person, and so if he is unwilling to stop undermining your confidence, you may want to tell him that you…

Lynne Donnelly, 65, Cambridgeshire. Putting my sunglasses on, I tried my best to cover ‘Can up. see it now?’ I you asked my husband, Mick, back in December 2015. ‘Not at all,’ he reassured me. That morning, on holiday with some friends in North Wales, I’d woken up with red, puffy patches around my eyes. No idea what had caused it, I tried my best to hide behind some big sunglasses. ‘Maybe it was something I ate?’ I said to Mick, bemused by my skin’s reaction. And luckily, after a few days, it soon cleared up. But in April 2016, it was back with a vengeance. This time my entire face had swelled up! ‘This isn’t normal is it?’ I said, turning to Mick, now 64. ‘My throat feels funny,…

I’ve always struggled with my speech and voice. As a baby, my first words were severely delayed and speech therapists believed I would never have a full vocabulary. Thankfully, as the years passed, my voice and speech progressed, but I suffered from a severe stammer. For 10 years, I had to take an afternoon out of school every week to attend intense therapy to improve my dialect. Growing up, I hated the way I spoke and I was badly bullied at school as a result. ‘Well, why can’t you say your own name?’ kids would taunt. ‘Why can’t you speak properly?’ Some of the comments were particularly nasty, but sadly, I just got used to it. With the help of therapy, my stammer did improve a little bit, but by…

The WW Bakes cookbook is available to purchase at ww.com/uk/shop (£9.95) and is packed with recipes for sweet and savoury cakes, traybakes, muffins, biscuits and bread. It’s guaranteed to get you baking, without spoiling your healthy routine! STRAWBERRY AND PEAR PUDDINGS MAKES 8 YOU’LL NEED... • Calorie controlled cooking spray • 375ml skimmed milk • 3 eggs • 2 egg whites • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 8 x 35g slices white bread • 100g low-calorie strawberry jam • 2 x 415g tins pear halves in juice, drained, patted dry on kitchen paper and thickly sliced • 250g strawberries, hulled and thickly sliced • 1 teaspoon icing sugar, to decorate HOW TO DO IT… 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas mark 4. Mist 8 x 250ml ramekins or…