Innehållsförteckning för November 2021 från Chat Specials

It’s the month of hot chocolates, fireworks and toasted marshmallows. As we prepare for the busy season ahead, November is a good opportunity to unwind and spend quality time with those you love. Whether it’s a cheese night at home (pg22) or an afternoon tea treat (pg40), we have you covered this month. As well as lots of exciting lifestyle, we have plenty of gripping and inspiring real life for you to get through. After years of weight gain, Stephanie knew it was time for change (pg36). Losing over 11st in 13 months, there was one thing she was desperate to do. Find out how she celebrated her wedding anniversary now she’s a slinky size 10. After a devastating diagnosis, Beverly was determined to make the most of the time…

Walking through the tunnel at Loch Lomond Sea Life Centre I looked up at the rays and turtles gliding above my head. ‘Fancy the gift shop?’ my twin brother, Stuart, 39, questioned. Me and my husband, Steve, 42 and our boys, Ashton, nine and James, six, were visiting my brother in Helensburgh. We hadn’t seen him in so long due to Covid. We knew the aquarium would be the perfect place to treat the boys. Ashton returned cuddling a dolphin and James followed, clutching a turtle. I was feeling upset as our special family get together was soon coming to an end. We were due to drive back to Yorkshire in time for my job in HR the next morning. We all decided to take a walk along Helensburgh pier to…

Under the Whispering Door - TJ Klune £16.99, WATERSTONES When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own sparsely attended funeral, Wallace is outraged. Not believing that he is in fact dead, Wallace tries to deny it. But there’s not much he can do other than accept an offer from Hugo, the owner of a most peculiar tea shop, to help him cross over. Wallace learns to accept the truth, yet even in death, he refuses to abandon his life – even though he spent all of it correcting colleagues and hectoring employees. He’d never had time for frivolities like fun and friends, not until he shares tea with Hugo and begins to talk to the customers of his little tea shop. Wallace begins to wonder if he was…

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT CHEESEBOARD With Hero Hirsh, head of retail for the UK’s oldest cheese monger Paxton & Whitfield (paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk) What’s the perfect balance between cheese, chutney and crackers? My formula for creating the perfect cheeseboard is ‘less is more’. You can create an appealing board with just three delicious, different cheeses, and then add some crackers and a chutney to accompany them. Bigger cuts of cheese store better than lots of small cuts. A hard cheese, a blue, a soft cheese and a piece of cheese that is slightly different or surprising is all that you need to create an appealing cheeseboard. You don’t want to overload the palette. How should you choose your cheeses? I’d think about creating a cheeseboard that offers different styles, textures and…

Little luxe touches will make your decor look expensive It’s all in the attention to detail! Less is more - pick one or two statement pieces…

Watching my beloved twin girls, Ella and Mya, 11, prance around on the stage to roars of laughter, my heart swelled with pride. Both of them had always been drama queens, and they lit up the stage while they were up there. I might have been biased, but in their school production of Pirates of the Curry Bean, they were shining stars. ‘Has that shilling come out yet?’ said Mya in character as Scuttle. ‘No,’ said Ella, as Slack. ‘I’ve waited and waited, but there’s still no change!’ The audience burst out laughing as Ella grinned. Their comedy timing was impeccable, I loved every minute of it. ‘They’re brilliant aren’t they?’ I whispered to my partner Shaun Goodwin, 50. Back at home, both girls were still on a high. But…

Minty fresh! Make sure you’ve always got minty fresh breath, even when you’re on the go, with the new Colgate Total Mouth Spray. It gives you antibacterial mouth protection while you’re out and about, as well as freshening your breath – so no need to skip the garlic bread at lunchtime! This one-of-a-kind mouth spray is an easy-to-use, rinse-free alternative to regular mouthwash. It’s perfect to pop in your handbag or keep at work. Just spray and go for that just-brushed feeling all day long! • RRP £5, available from Boots Menopause nightmare According to new research from the Online Menopause Centre, the UK’s first online menopause clinic, millions of menopausal women are potentially being left untreated. The report showed that 78% of those questioned said they did not take…

Stepping into my wonderful class of special needs adults, I took a deep breath in as I treasured the moment of pride. Showing those with disabilities what they can achieve if they put their minds to it and that they should not be defined by their differences is the best thing I feel I can do with my life. It was 2008 and I had just started my dream job as a teacher for adults with learning difficulties. I couldn’t believe how far I’d come despite the incredibly difficult two years I’d just battled through. Raising my kids alone, I’m a single mum who had also battled cancer but my love for them is what pulled me through. I had my first son, Malik in 1997, he’s now 24, and…

FEEL GOOD CLOTHING Meet Kanula, the feel-good brand that helps save a turtle with every single garment. This sustainable clothing brand features fun and vibrant designs, inspired by the colourful abstract designs of the Greek landscape. Inclusive for all, Kanula makes organic, unisex clothing for all. Including men, women and children. Kanula aims to make a real impact on sea turtle welfare by donating 8% of every purchase directly to Sea Turtle Conservancy – one of the world’s longest running sea turtle conservations. That means that with every article of clothing you buy, you have a real impact on saving these creatures. By ensuring that no plastic materials are used in production, Kanula is doing its part to reduce ocean pollution and ensure sea turtle welfare. If you love sea…

Hanging around My family took me to Bristol zoo to celebrate my birthday. We had a great time saying hi to all the animals and taking goofy photos! Ava, Sutton Kitchen success I made my first lasagne and just had to take a photo. I must admit it was really tasty and I will definitely be making it again – it was so yummy! Gemma, Seaton. Firework frenzy! Bonfire night is my favourite day of the year! Fern, Leicester Fluttery friend I came across this moth which seemed to like my company! Yasmine, Crawley. Dig in! Nothing better than a takeaway with friends to finish off a hectic week. Keira, Essex Totally smitten My boyfriend and my cat are inseparable. Meghan, Brighton Cloud nine I captured this beautiful sunset pic…

Jumping into the shower I let the water run down my face whilst I lathered shower gel in my hands. I felt something hard, roughly the size of a 5p, above the nipple on my left breast. I quickly finished my normal shower routine, rushing out of the bathroom to grab my phone. I booked an appointment with my GP. I had just turned 28 and was terrified at the thought of having cancer. They took a biopsy and I waited anxiously for the results, but they showed the lump to be of no concern, it was benign. ‘Harmless lumps can sometimes form during the menstrual cycle, so there is certainly no need to fret,’ the GP confirmed. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted. Life was pretty…

Trying to juggle lots of balls at the same time, and more importantly keep them all in the air, can cause huge amounts of stress – and if you don’t do anything about it, that can lead to full-on burnout. But what’s the best way to beat the stress? We chat to three inspirational female entrepreneurs about how they keep all their plates spinning, and deal with the resulting stress… • Rhiannon Bates, 33, from Leeds, Yorkshire • Job: Founder of Garnet PR • Stress buster: Horse riding I’m used to being busy all the time – I worked as a PR and celebrity manager at global charities and attractions, such as ZSL London Zoo. When I moved from London to be with my partner in Yorkshire in 2019, I…

What is World Numbat Day? Numbats are the emblem of Western Australia and the 6 November is a day to celebrate the region’s unique creature and encourage action to the conservation of the species. Numbats are shy and elusive creatures that eat ants. They hide within Western Australia’s burrows and forests, but their populations have diminished greatly over the years. With less than 1000 numbats left on the planet, these mammals have been listed as an endangered species. The small, furry creature is under threat from habitat loss and introduced predators like foxes and eagles. While there may not be very much we can do about the foxes and eagles who hunt them, there is something we can do about their habitat loss. Australia’s increasing number of deadly forest fires…

They don’t include him Q My son is autistic and when I take him to family events, he’s basically ignored. Everyone focuses on the outgoing kids. How can I get them to include mine – when he struggles to be social? Sarah, Manchester A For an autistic child, large gatherings can be stressful and overwhelming, as they often prefer a one-toone situation. Perhaps you could ask a family member before the gathering if they would be willing to sit in a quiet corner with your son for some of the time? As your son may struggle with small talk, it can be helpful to explain to your family that speaking about specific topics can be easier for him. Perhaps your son has a particular interest that he is focused on?…

Standing at the school gates, I waited for my daughters to make their way out of the classroom. ‘How was your day?’ I asked Grace and Megan, keen to hear all about what they’d been up to. ‘It was good thanks, Dad,’ Grace smiled. It was 2017, and picking the girls up from school was something I did most days. But with my vision worse than ever, I was beginning to wonder how much longer I would be able to do it. Suffering with a degenerative eye condition called rod-cone dystrophy, I had limited vision. And while I could still safely take my girls to school for now, I knew there would soon be a time where I couldn’t. I’d had the condition since birth, but it only became apparent…

As I sat peacefully in my neighbour’s hot tub in July last year, I listened to the distant chorus of birds as the sun was setting. But, there was one bird that was chirruping right in my ear. ‘Bath time?’ I questioned Jack the starling, who was sitting right on my shoulder. Cupping my hands together, I filled them with water. Jack hopped right in, splashing water all over my face. Responding with a tweet, tweet, he seemed to be happy. Flapping his wings together he darted off into a nearby tree. Jack had come to live with us that March, just after lockdown was announced. ‘Mum, look what I’ve found in my bedroom,’ my daughter, Caitlin, 15, squealed, rushing into the kitchen holding a box that day. I could…

Basic PJ tops are great items to mix ‘n’ match Robes are a winter essential! They make a per fect gift too…

I was just three years old when I took my first steps in my ballet slippers, back in 1924. Learning how to pirouette, point my toes, plie and sauté, I quickly discovered a big passion for performing. Over the next few years I learnt tap, modern and demicharacter – telling a story through ballet. Travelling the country, I entered competitions, and my winner’s trophies soon started multiplying. Then, in the 1940s in my late teens, I visited an ice rink with some friends. Translating my dancing skills onto the ice, I caught the attention of a talent scout. ‘Will you be in our touring skating show?’ he asked. I performed all over the world ‘Yes!’ I gasped, excited to think I could turn my passion into a career. Over the…

Colourful scarves finish off a winter outfit perfectly! Longline coats give a great business casual look Chunky boots are a winter staple - don’t forget thick socks!…

Slamming the front door behind me, I kicked off my shoes and let out a big sigh of relief. Heading into the living room, I sank onto the sofa. I was completely exhausted from a long, tiring week of work. I knew marketing was going to be a stressful industry, but I wasn’t prepared for it to be this bad. I found it so toxic and draining. My 30th birthday was coming up, and I felt I needed to make a change to my life. Browsing the internet one day, I came across a volunteer programme made for professionals like me. It was based in Peru, and the aim was to help the Andean communities there set up their own local businesses. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for me.…

Ask our doc With Cheryl Lythgoe, Head Matron for Benenden Health. He’s so anxious Q My husband has bad social anxiety but won’t seek professional help. What can I do? Kelly, Leeds A Social anxiety can be debilitating for both the sufferer and anyone who’s close to them. I would suggest not asking your husband ‘why’ he is feeling like this but, instead, asking ‘how’ he is feeling and potentially, how you can support him. Whilst anxiety can appear irrational from the outside, it is important to accept his feelings and work through them. Distraction techniques can sometimes be helpful so if he is becoming increasingly anxious on the way to, or at, an event, maybe try to encourage him to talk about his favourite hobby. Also, the old adage…

We all know how important it is to stay fit and healthy, but the same old gym routine or running route can get boring after a while. Why not try spicing up your exercise regime? Give some of these fun and exciting workouts a go! ICE SKATING If Dancing on Ice ignited a newfound love for ice skating, then why not make skating a part of your workout, too? Alex Murphy, Dancing on Ice professional skater and last year’s winner, says you don’t necessarily need an ice rink to give skating a try… ‘Exercise doesn’t have to be about getting a sweat on,’ she says. ‘I’ve been ice skating since I was just two years old, and I was taught by my mother who trains athletes in the US, and…

Dubbed ‘the queen of gluten-free’ by Nigella Lawson, Becky Excell is the UK’s bestselling gluten-free author Becky’s second cookbook How To Bake Anything Gluten Free is out now. Becky’s fanbase is huge thanks to her recipes, tips, tricks and advice for how to unlock all the things that you could never ordinarily eat on a gluten-free diet. CHOCOLATE COURGETTE CAKE MAKES 12 YOU’LL NEED: • 150g superfine caster sugar•150g light brown sugar•3 large eggs•80g yoghurt•1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)•240ml vegetable oil, plus extra for greasing•350 – 400g grated courgette (about 2 medium courgettes)•240g gluten-free plain all-purpose flour•½ tsp xanthan gum•60g unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted•2 tsp bicarbonate of soda or baking soda•½ tsp gluten-free baking powder•150g dark chocolate chips (optional) FOR THE BUTTERCREAM: • 220g dark chocolate, broken into pieces•500g butter,…

GRAVITY DEFYING GRAVEYARDS In certain parts of the world, it’s tradition to hang coffins from cliffs. In the mountains of China’s Sichuan Province there are still hundreds of ancient wooden coffins hanging eerily from a cliff face. Creepy, right? Some experts believe that the dead inside them could have been placed there thousands of years ago. Some argue they are here to be closer to the gods, others say it is to keep the bodies from wild animals and natural elements such as flooding which would rot the corpses quicker. OSCAR WORTHY PERFORMANCES Mourning a loved one is an incredibly hard and painful process. In some countries, professional mourners are asked to deliver a eulogy and help comfort the family of the deceased. Originating mainly from Egyptian, Chinese and other…