Innehållsförteckning för February 2022 från Chat Specials

This month we’re celebrating love and romance – and we think it’s more important than ever to raise a glass to the good things in life! When Cherry broke up with the love of her life, she never thought she’d see him again (pg14) – but after a chance meeting in the Post Office, her one true love was returned to sender! It took 28 years, but now loved-up Cherry and Clive are happier than ever, and celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary this year. Love comes in many different forms, and the bond between parents and children is a special one. Tabitha and Andrew have opened up their family to foster children in desperate need of a home (pg26) and now they have a very full house – with eight…

Cold swimming is all the rage right now. However, one woman takes it to all new depths! Elina Makinen, 27, from Finland, has over 1.1 million followers on TikTok who are intrigued by her impressive mental grit and huge smile as she leaps into freezing water. While most of us shiver just at the thought, Elina plunges into the icy water and swims for up to four minutes a day. Elina says; ‘Sometimes it is a real struggle with the pain, but there’s still always the after-swim euphoria.’ Growing up in Finland, the tax advisor is more than used to the cold weather and puts her health and happiness down to her daily swim. ‘I love getting out of my comfort zone, so every time I least feel like I want…

Smart storage The laundry basket is a great way to store recycling before taking it to the outside bin. Carol, Middlesborough Pip, pip, hooray! If you use leftover orange peel on your garden borders it will stop neighbouring cats from using the toilet on your pretty flowers. Tamara, Newport You’re oil that I need! Olive oil and sugar mixed together can make an at home lip scrub if your lips are dry and need a quick fix. It tastes really yummy, too Aimee, Sheffield. Crust me! I always put a piece of kitchen roll in the bottom of the bread bag when I buy a new loaf. Somehow it seems to keep the bread fresh for longer. Yvonne, Ipswich Pooch friendly I like to store my dog toys all in…

Lisa Nicholas, 38, Derbyshire Running around the house getting my things together, it was the usual morning school run rush. ‘Evie?’ I called out to my six-year-old. Spotting her rolling around on the floor, she didn’t even have her socks on yet. ‘It’s too hard Mummy,’ she said. ‘I’ll do it,’ I said as I crouched down next to her. Pulling on her ankle socks, I stood back up again, ready to leave. Then, crack. ‘Ouch!’ I yelled. A shooting pain radiated up the outside of my left foot. Hobbling to Evie’s bed, I sat down and hoped that the pain would stop. It felt like someone had done a slide tackle into my foot. After a few minutes, it became a little more bearable. Limping, I grabbed Evie and…

1. Highlight the centre of any room and create a stylish atmosphere with the Industrial Weaved Ceiling Light Fitting. Available with either three or four bulbs, this ceiling light features black metal cages, through which light will stream to cast designs on your ceiling and spotlight the room. This light would look particularly stylish in a dining room or kitchen, where it can illuminate a counter or dining table (£49.99). There’s also a floor lamp (£59.99) wall light (£14.99) and table lamp (£21.99). 2. With elegance and glamour packed into this compact Orla Jewel Droplet Table Lamp, your bedroom or living room will instantly feel a lot classier. Designed with a chromed stand, the Orla’s light shade is made from white, translucent fabric, softly hazing the light and creating a…

Fashionable and easy to make! HOW TO MAKE… A MOULD FOR RESIN Using this technique, your imagination is your limit for crafting bespoke resin designs. You’ll need: □ Pebeo small crystal resin kit□ Silicone moulding paste□ Gold flecks□ Superglue□ Hair sliders□ Flat stud earrings and backs Method: 1. Take equal parts of the moulding paste. If you’ve never used it before work in small quantities to begin with, as once the pastes are mixed it will set hard in around five minutes. 2. Roll the paste in your hands until the colours have mixed together and you have a light blue ball of moulding paste. 3. Press your ball of moulding paste down onto the surface and spread it out to about 2cm thick. Using the hair clip back, create…

Maici Quirke, 20, from Bristol Rading the cupboards as soon as I got home from school, I snacked on chocolate bars and crisps before collapsing onto the sofa. I had always struggled with my weight. Being bigger than my school friends, I would always compare how I looked to them. And as I did so, I became increasingly aware of my size. They were wearing petite school skirts and I was in an adult size jumper. I just wanted to look like everyone else my age – the only way I knew how to do this was through fad dieting. So, at the early age of 10, I started them in secret. Going to extreme lengths to try and lose some weight. I tried everything. Drinking slimming shakes, taking laxatives…

Are you ready to start healthy eating? WW, formerly WeightWatchers, can help with their Everyday cookbook (£14.99) Packed full of over 100 delicious recipes, you can create home-cooked dishes for the whole family, while keeping your wellbeing on track. Visit weightwatchers.com/uk. VEGGIE GUMBO SERVES 4 Okra is available in most supermarkets and helps to bulk out this spicy veggie stew. Gumbo is a popular dish in the south of the United States. YOU’LL NEED: • 30g dairy-free spread• 10g plain flour• 250g chestnut mushrooms, quartered• 2 celery stalks, finely diced• 1 large red onion, finely chopped• 1 red pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped• 1½ tablespoons Cajun seasoning• 400g tin chopped tomatoes• 700ml vegetable stock, made with 1 stock cube• 175g okra, trimmed and roughly chopped• 2 bay leaves•…

Get your taste buds tingling!…

Love hearts are such a fun print, making them perfect for any outfit. These jewellery pieces make great gifts, too. Wear big hearts for a statement, and smaller ones if you want to be subtle.…

Taylor Made: Life of an Entrepreneur, Mother and Celebrity Event Planner - Liz Taylor £19.99, WATERSTONES It’s fair to say that Liz Taylor has an amazing job! Creating luxury events for leading popstars, sports stars, actors and TV personalities. But the road to where she is now, hasn’t been easy. Liz’s autobiography talks through the trials and tribulations in her life. Such as the impact of a dominant father, three turbulent marriages, founding her company whilst raising two daughters, and the joy of becoming a grandmother. She sensitively explores the incredible highs and lows of the last 30 years. To receiving an early morning call from Kensington Palace, hearing The Duke of Cambridge’s rendition of Livin’ on a Prayer, meeting her idol, and the savvy business head that helped her steer…

Half term hacks… February means half term is looming and doing household tasks with the kids around can be hard. Psychologist Emma Hepburn shares her expert advice on how best to manage the workload in the home over the break. Plan tasks as a household While allocating tasks is a start, dividing the mental load is equally as important. Plan together, involving the kids, who is going to do each task – such as writing a shopping list. Being clear about what the management of tasks means, can create clarity and make the kids feel as if they are really helping out. Consider the division of gender roles Children learn best by observing the behaviour of their parents, so encouraging them to get involved in the housework from an early…

Tabitha Goldsmith, 39 Gathering my brood in the living room in June 2007, I looked at my hubby Andrew, then 39, and took a deep breath. ‘So…’ I started, smiling at my boys, Elijah, then eight, Emery, seven, Easton, five, and Ezra, two. ‘Mummy and Daddy have been asked to look after another little girl,’ I explained. I’d wanted to foster, even before having kids of my own. Over a decade earlier, a colleague and his wife had been looking into adoption and told me about all the thousands of little boys and girls needing homes. Their comment planted a seed. Andrew and I had married and had our three older boys first. Then talk turned to foster care. ‘I’m up for it if you are,’ Andrew had grinned. He…

Rohan Kallicharan, 47, from South West London In 2006 my mental health was at an all-time low and I was seriously unwell. Things got to breaking point and I attempted to take my own life. Being taken to Royal Manchester Infirmary, I was on the road to a long recovery. For the next few years, I spent so much time focusing on my mental health that I forgot about being physically active. I remember being at work, bending over and splitting my 40-inch waist trousers. In 2012, I finally built up the courage to go to my local gym. Weighing in at 20 stone, something needed to change. As soon as I walked into the gym and saw everyone, I instantly turned back around. They all looked so fit and…

Graphic prints Rainbows, cute slogans and colour, what more could you want? A fun must have essential for the wardrobe. A printed top creates a rockstar vibe when paired with a leather jacket. And a pastel sweater is great with jeans and casual trainers… Pick a slogan that relates to you & spread the message to others! Sweater dresses Cosy and effortless styling calls for a celebration! The sweater dress is making a return in 2022. Their silhouette can look a little square, to avoid this add a belt to cinch in your waist and add definition to your figure. Pair with boots for a super comfy look… Boots All hail the boot. Adding height to your look really can accentuate your legs, making you appear slimmer and more put together.…

Caitlin Hellyer, 20, from Plymouth Shivering outside on the school grass, me and the girls in my class waited for our first hockey lesson. One by one we were handed a wooden stick. When it was my turn, a tennis racquet was passed to me. ‘Can’t I have a hockey stick?’ I asked, confused. ‘We think you might be more comfortable with this,’ the PE teacher explained. Standing at under 4ft, I’d been diagnosed with achondroplasia dwarfism, in 2001, at just six months old. As a baby, my mum Jacqueline, now 55, and dad Leon, 49, were concerned about my growth. My cousins, who were born in the same year, were developing a lot quicker than me. As their concerns grew, they had taken me to the doctors. And my…

Ask our doc With Cheryl Lythgoe, Head Matron for Benenden Health. Neck trouble Q There’s a patch of skin at the top of my husband’s spine and above his neck which is numb to touch if scratched. Does he need it looked at? Emma, Norfolk A This one is challenging to answer with one symptom, as altered sensations can be secondary to lots of things. A GP appointment, which may require some tests, should provide answers. Nerve problems, skin issues and some diseases can cause altered sensation. I would ask your husband how he feels generally, does the altered sensation affect his daily life, does the sensation radiate anywhere, has he any pain, does he have periods of dizziness? A GP may ask him when the numbness started, what he was…

Rebecca McCann, 47, from Birmingham Flicking through the TV, I picked up my phone. Shih Tzu puppies for sale – my regular Google search. Scrolling through listings on multiple sites, I couldn’t escape one fluffy face. He had big black eyes, with the most beautiful white fur and I had seen him every single evening. You are just so cute. However, there was a problem. The little fluff ball was 160 miles away in Portsmouth. Not knowing what to do, I rang my sister Carole for advice. She always knew what to do. ‘Aren’t there any puppies that are nearer?’ she questioned. And I suppose she was right, but I just couldn’t resist his little face. ‘I guess you’re going to Portsmouth, then,’ Carole joked. After sleeping on the idea…

Strolling around a car boot sale with my wife Kathy, 34, a flash of red caught my eye. Grabbing Kathy’s hand, I made a beeline for the stall. ‘Oh God, not again,’ Kathy sighed exasperatedly, when she realised what I’d spotted. It was a quirky little garden gnome with a cheeky smile. ‘He’s perfect to add to my collection,’ I grinned, while Kathy rolled her eyes. I’d always loved gnomes, but until we moved to our home in Worcester in 2017, we’d never had a garden, so I’d never really had any of my own. So as soon as we got the keys, I let loose! Our cat, Ziggy, seemed a bit baffled by our new housemates. It very quickly became a full-on gnome invasion! I was always on the…

WHO DOESN’T CELEBRATE? Pakistan has been subject to riots in the past over the celebration of Valentine’s Day – and in 2018 the Islamabad High Court banned the holiday, claiming it a cultural import from the West and ‘against the teachings of Islam’. For the same reasons, it has also been stopped in Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran and Saudi Arabia. It’s banned in Russia, where they celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March in place of Valentine’s Day, and in India, where since their independence from the British empire they refuse to celebrate Western values and culture. Some countries are stricter than others – in Jakarta in Indonesia, for instance, Valentine’s Day is popular with companies looking to cash in, and restaurants in Tehran in Iran are often still fully booked…

Lauren Moulding, 30, from Gateshead Working for the NHS, I have been a senior radiographer for seven years. Caring for patients day in day out, and controlling huge machinery to get the results they need was my daily routine. I was managing to work my way up in the hospital sector and even though I thoroughly enjoyed my career, it could be very high stress at times. I’m a creative person and I needed something to soothe my brain. Semi-permanent makeup was something I was really interested in. After having my own eyebrows microbladed, I knew that this technique was great. I also spent hours watching videos of microblading on YouTube. That’s when, in 2018, I thought I would give it a go. After researching a little more, I found a…

Maybe you’ve moved into a house with a tatty garden, or you’ve turned into a greenfingered goddess over the pandemic? Whatever drives your desire to make a picture-perfect outdoor space, gardening expert at Stannah and presenter for BBC Morning Live, Mark Lane is here to help. We have shared Mark’s advice on getting your garden to impress the neighbours in no time… THE GRAND DESIGN Planning is the most important part of any big task. Use your imagination, put pen to paper, and get creative using Mark’s top tips… Do you have an irregular shaped space? If your answer is yes, then start planning using curves and circles – otherwise awkward corners can be lost with planting. If you’ve got a regular shaped space, then stick to squares and rectangles.…

Bringing in natural elements helps lift the tone of your space! Rustic wooden kitchen items are all the rage this season…

PALOMA It sounds like it should be spicy, but the savoury sea salt and fresh grapefruit, mixed with Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit, gives the drink a gentle finish. YOU’LL NEED… • 50ml Patron Tequila• Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit, to top up• Pink grapefruit wedge, to garnish HOW TO DO IT… Pour the tequila into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Top up with the Sparkling Pink Grapefruit Tonic. Garnish with a pink grapefruit wedge. Tip: If you can’t get hold of Sparkling Pink Grapefruit Tonic, you can also create this drink with a splash of cranberry juice and Sicilian lemonade. CHERRY BLOSSOM With the tonic’s aromatic botanicals of angostura bark, cardamom and pimento berry, this makes the tastiest, pinkest drink around! YOU’LL NEED… • 50ml Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla…

Miranda Holder, 45, from Winchester, Hampshire Shifting in the passenger seat, I set my legs up on the dashboard with a contented sigh. It was dusk on a Sunday evening in September 2012, and my husband Justin and I were on our way home from a weekend break while our kids Jack, then six, and Lily, then four, spent the weekend with their grandparents. With my hand in Justin’s lap, I dozed next to him. But neither of us knew that the brake lights of the van in front of us weren’t working properly. All of a a sudden, our Volvo smashed into the back of it. It seemed to happen in slow-motion as my airbag blew up, pushing my crossed ankles straight into the windscreen. I spent the next…

LET YOUR HAIR DOWN Mohawks, a lifetime supply of hair gel and a rainbow ponytail – why not?! MYTIME Young Carers, a charity based in Dorset, are encouraging the nation to do something wild and wacky with their hair on Friday 18 February, to support young carers. There are children as young as five caring for a parent, sibling or family member in the UK. After a successful year of fundraising last year, 2022 has to be bigger and better. Snap your funky hair creations and encourage others to get involved.• To donate visit, Just Giving – MYTIME Young Carers. TIKTOK ADVICE Social media can actually be really handy and it’s a great platform to learn something new. Philly Lay uses her TikTok account to share helpful advice and tips…