Innehållsförteckning för April 2022 från Chat Specials

Taking just a little bit of time each week to focus on ourselves can make the world of difference to our mental health. As our calendars begin to fill up with spring and summer plans, it’s important that we all take a bit of time out for self-care. This month, we’re helping you to glow and showcase the best version of yourself. Celebrity fashion expert Miranda Holder is here with her tops tips on dressing like a goddess (pg22). From colours to confidence, a few changes can transform your look. Angela (pg18) knows all too well the importance of ‘me time’. With a love of running, she won’t let cancer stop her. Taking time to get outdoors, her self-care keeps her going for her boys. ‘Me time’ looks different for…

Caryn ‘CJ’ Bryce, 33, from Midlothian, Scotland Sitting on the sofa, looking down at my hands, I bit my lip nervously. ‘I’m fine, really,’ I said. ‘I just want to be by myself.’ I looked up, and two police officers fixed me with a steely gaze. ‘I promise,’ I said, struggling to look them in the eye. ‘I really won’t hurt myself again.’ I finally managed to usher them out of my flat, and as I shut the door, I breathed a sigh of relief. They’d been sent to check on me after I’d tried to take my own life. Not once, but twice. In one day. After being sent home from hospital for the second time, doctors wanted to double check I wasn’t going to try again. They shouldn’t…

It might not be traditionally adorable, in the cute and fluffy sense – but this baby aardvark definitely has the aar factor! The new arrival at Chester Zoo, nicknamed Dobby thanks to his resemblance to the much-loved Harry Potter character, was born back in January weighing just 1kg. The photos of the little one, whose sex is yet to be determined, cuddling up to its mum Oni, eight, are enough to melt even the coldest of hearts. The new baby is the first ever aardvark to be born at Chester Zoo in the charity’s 90-year history. The ant-eater, which is native to sub-Saharan Africa, was born with droopy ears, completely hairless, wrinkly and with giant claws. Dave White, team manager at the zoo, said: ‘As soon as we spotted the new baby next to…

Did you know? Air fryers are brilliant. I recently discovered you can even do hard boiled eggs in them. Place the whole egg in for eight minutes at 200c and then peel them. Jade, Norfolk Once you pop! The lid of a Pringles tub fits on glass pots you get with cheesecake desserts. Stacey, Cheshire Stay away To stop your cat jumping up on the furniture, put a layer of foil across the surface. The texture will feel funny on your cat’s paws and they will learn to avoid it! Lilly, Southampton Keep it together Serving dishes also make great room organisers. I keep loose change and jewellery in mine. Penny, Swansea. Spill the beans Mix coffee granules with washing up liquid to make a sink unblocker. Place the mixture…

Chris Holmes, 30, from Oxfordshire. Hearing the zip of a bag, I knew what was coming. ‘Be good for your mum,’ my dad David, 56, whispered pulling me and my brother Michael, now 32, in for a hug. Mum, Elke, 54, stood by the open door wiping a single tear from her cheek. This moment was always a sad one, but something we had got used to as a family. Serving in the military meant that Dad had to go away for long periods of time, and we weren’t always sure when we would see him again. Surprise visits, and months on end of waiting, just had to do. Despite all this, we still managed to have a great family relationship. That was until things took a turn for the…

Orange, blue, pink, and yellow are big colours this season Pair prints with coordinating colours for a luscious spring style Have you heard? There’s nothing worse than eating a Greggs sausage roll and getting a ton of flaky pastry all over your clean white Primark hoodie! What if the pastry retailer and well-loved fashion brand paired for a wacky collaboration? Well they have! Primark have released a new line of unisex fashion items with all things business in the front and pastry in the back. Sporting the Greggs logo and the iconic white, yellow, and blue colour trio, you can now quite literally wear what you eat. • Prices from £7, in Primark stores now…

Northumbrian chef Chris Baber has a huge social media following and celebrities rave about his recipes. His debut cookbook, Easy, is on sale 7 April, and is filled with 96 simple, delicious home-cooking recipes. There truly is a dish for every occasion! BEAN CHILLI LOADED WEDGES SERVES 4-6 My loaded wedges make veg the star of the show. Bang them in the middle of the table and let everyone dive in. Pick and choose any toppings you like. The more the merrier for me! I love the contrast of creamy avo and soured cream against the rich spicy chilli, and for some extra indulgence, don’t hold back when you pile on the cheese. YOU’LL NEED… • 6 sweet potatoes, skin on, cut into thick wedges• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil•…

Afrantic 911 call was made to Las Vegas police on June 28, 2011. ‘My son has a gunshot wound to the head,’ cried Linda Cooney. When police arrived, Linda’s son Kevin, 30, was barely alive. He was rushed to hospital, and despite life changing injuries, he pulled through. Linda, 63, was questioned at the scene. It had only been her and Kevin in the house – who had shot him? ‘I don’t know,’ she insisted. However, Linda was no stranger to shootings. 20 years earlier, Kevin’s dad, Linda’s ex-husband had been shot dead with the very same gun… Linda had been an aspiring socialite when she’d moved to Palm Beach and met popular attorney Jim Cooney at a party. They married and had two sons, Kevin and Christopher, but the…

Playsuits are shorter versions of jumpsuits that are great for summer. Jumpsuits come in a wide range of prints making a spring statement! Hands on tailoring… Do you have an outfit that you love, but doesn’t quite fit you properly? The Seam is here to help! Created by Layla Sargent, who was inspired by her nan teaching her the importance of repairing and not replacing clothing items. Layla came up with a tailoring revolution for everyone! The Seam allows you to access a community of skilled experts across the UK, who will fix and alter your well-loved clothing pieces, giving them a new lease of life. Currently there are 700 makers ready to sew, tape, and measure your items. Plus, if you think you have what it takes, you can…

One Good Thing, Alexandra Potter £14.99, WATERSTONES – OUT 28 APRIL, PRE-ORDER NOW This heart-warming and utterly relatable alternative love story from Alexandra Potter will have you laughing and crying. In life, nothing is certain – something Liv Brooks is discovering with painful clarity. In a moment of madness, newly divorced Liv swaps her dream London life for the sweeping hills of the Yorkshire Dales. Feeling lonely, Liv adopts old dog Harry. On their daily walks around the chocolate-box village, they meet lonely old Valentine, scared and shy Stanley and angry teen Maya. Slowly but surely, things for all of them start to change, and Liv soon realises that all you need is one good thing to turn your life around. The latest tale in a long line of romantic…

This month Plant lover… At this time of year, with warmer temperatures, your indoor plants will need a little more TLC. James Folger, founder of thestem.co.uk, has shared his tips on how to look after your plants best this spring. Less sunlight You may have moved all of your plants next to the window to capture the gentler winter sun, but they will need a little more light now. Placing them next to a window again is a good shout! Time to get wet! Spring is when your plants will want to get to a more frequent watering schedule. Check the moisture of the soil before you water in spring, wait until the top few inches of the soil are dry before hydrating them. Repotting A plant will need repotting…

Jo Howarth is an advanced therapist and mindfulness practitioner. She works with individuals, groups, schools and businesses, teaching them to look after their mental health and emotional wellbeing. (thehappinessclub.co.uk) Worst nightmare Q My friend has asked me to be maid of honour at her wedding and I’m dreading it. I don’t want the stress of arranging a hen party, and I certainly don’t want to wear a bridesmaid dress – I’m 45! Carly, Leeds A Have you talked to your friend about how you feel? Communication really is key here, otherwise you risk simply creating resentment inside yourself. Explain to your friend how much you love her and how honoured you are to be asked, but that, if you are to accept, you will need some help to organise the…

It was a vow that Jason Cochran, 37, and his new wife Kelly, 34, made on their wedding night. A perverse pact that would start their married life with a worrying tone and ultimately, define both their fates. Jason and Kelly promised each other that if either one of them was unfaithful during the course of their marriage, they would kill the lover. Did they believe they’d go through with their horrific promise at the time? Only Jason and Kelly know that for sure – and one of them is now dead. In 2014, over a decade into their married life, the couple were living in Iron River, Michigan. Jason was struggling with health issues, and it didn’t help that his marriage was in crisis. Kelly was sleeping with a…

VAN GOGH: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE Have you ever dreamt of stepping into a painting, and seeing all the colours and details up close? Now you can! Experience Van Gogh’s famous paintings like never before at the 20,000 square foot light and sound spectacular, with two story, 360-degree projections of the Dutch artist’s best-loved works. Prepare for a starry night on the awe-inspiring digital journey, where you’ll explore Van Gogh’s life, work and secrets. The exhibition take around 60 to 75 minutes and is taking place at a secret location in Bristol from Monday 11 April, so keep an eye on the website for more details. Van Go and get your tickets now! • Tickets from £14 • Visit vangoghexpo.com or @vangogh.experience on Instagram CROWNING GLORY Royal residence Windsor Castle has…

Mike Cunningham, 69, from Cockermouth, Cumbria Sitting in the doctor’s office, I knew it was something serious. ‘Mike, I think we need to try you on insulin,’ he said. I sighed. I’d been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2007, and I knew it had been getting worse. I took it really seriously. My younger sister Angie had passed away a couple of years before my diagnosis – she’d first been diagnosed with gestational diabetes when she was pregnant with her first child. After he was born, it cleared up, but she got it again with her second child, and this time it didn’t go away. It got worse and she soon became insulin-dependent. Angie got a cut on her foot while she was out walking in the Lake District,…

Get 2 Olay Retinol Max products for £50. Online only. Skin perfect Perfect your skincare routine with Olay’s Retinol24Max range. £39.99 each, available from Boots. • Prices from £6, available from Boots STEP 1 Double cleanse skin to remove impurities like dirt, oil and makeup that can reduce effectiveness of your treatments. STEP 2 Treat areas of concern with uniquely designed formulas, such as eye creams that are developed for delicate skin around the eyes. Try Retinol24Max Night Eye Cream. STEP 3 Choose the Retinol24Max Night Hydrating Moisturiser or Serum and massage or pat the product into the skin. Make sure to repeat this step every evening. STEP 4 When you wake up, moisturise every morning and don’t forget your SPF! CATWALK LOOKS With bright reds and dark nudes spotted…

Sally*, 47, from West Sussex As my phone started ringing, I quickly snatched it up with a soppy smile. ‘Hi, Sally,’ a voice said at the end of the line. It was Gary Price, a bloke I’d met on the dating website Plenty of Fish. Since we’d matched in June last year, we’d been chatting nonstop, and now we’d progressed to phone calls. It was still early days, but I had a good feeling about Gary. I was a single mum to 10-yearold twins, Grace* and Luke*, after splitting with their dad when they were five. Since then, I’d had one long-term relationship, but Grace had never liked him and she was pleased when we split. I’d been single for seven months, and I was ready to meet someone. Gary…

Angela Field, 46, from Windsor Huffing and puffing as I put one foot in front of the other, the finish line was in my sight. Come on Angela, just keep pushing, I thought to myself. You’re on the home straight now. As I finally crossed the line, 26.2 miles after I’d started, a feeling of exhilaration, pride and also utter exhaustion overwhelmed me. ‘I did it!’ I squealed, as my husband Elliot, then 39, came running up to me. It was April 2013, and I’d just finished the London Marathon. I’d always been very active, running and going to the gym regularly, but completing a marathon had always been a dream. I’d wanted to do it before I turned 40, in November 2014. I couldn’t believe I’d achieved it. It…

Lisa Jackson, 38, South Normanton Sneaking up behind me, my boyfriend Chris, then 41, put his hands over my eyes. It was Christmas Day 2019 and we’d agreed to make each other gifts that year. ‘When you open your eyes, there’s a letter on the sofa. Can you read it out loud?’ he asked. And this year, I want to make you… he’d signed off his letter. ‘My wife,’ he grinned, suddenly down on one knee, holding a beautiful ring. ‘I thought you were going to make me a wine rack!’ I giggled. Of course, I was overjoyed, and accepted his proposal. We’d been together for almost three years. I was so excited to be his wife. We’d been planning a stunning sun-drenched wedding in Cyprus. Only, Covid-19 struck and…

Make a better place Why not pledge to always pick up some litter when you are out walking? It can be quite saddening once you start to notice just how much trash is around, and it can begin to feel like an overwhelming task to clean it all up. Try to pick up the waste with love and care for the Earth, knowing that you are making a difference even by picking up just one piece of litter each time you go out. It’s also exceptionally infectious. Once you make a start, you’ll notice that family members, especially children, want to get involved. Just imagine if everyone else did the exact same. Walk gently When you’re out walking in woodlands or other natural environments, try walking softly and quietly. The…

STRESSFUL SNOOZING Some of our worst nightmares include drowning, being murdered or a zombie apocalypse – but actually, their meaning isn’t always quite as catastrophic as they seem. Leading dream expert Theresa Cheung has partnered with bed retailer, Happy Beds, to debunk our most common nightmares, reveal what they really mean and share top tips on how to have a peaceful, stress-free slumber. Dreams, and nightmares, can happen at any time during sleep – but we have our most vivid dreams during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, when our brains are most active. Some experts even say we dream at least four to six times a night. ‘Every single dream is unique and unusual,’ says Theresa. ‘There is no such thing as a ‘usual’ nightmare, even ones with commonly reported…

Upgrade your brekkie and feel good…

HOW BIZARRE?! Everyone loves enjoy a family board game evening, right? Well 13 April is National Scrabble Day! The man who invented the spelling game, Alfred Mosher Butts, was born on this day over 120 years ago. The board game is still a well-loved classic played all over the world today. So, brush off your tiles, shake the bag, and put your thinking cap on, this about to get serious! Let’s hope the Scrabble God’s are in your favour and you can win by spelling the highest scoring word in the game – oxyphenbutazone! HOME OF WONDER Calling all collectors! Turn your home into a museum with Dunelm’s captivating homeware collection. Collaborating with London’s landmark National History Museum, the range brings prehistoric dinosaurs, long lost insects, and the glorious solar…