Innehållsförteckning för May 2022 från Chat Specials

As the Queen gears up to celebrate her milestone Platinum Jubilee, raise a glass to Her Majesty and celebrate all things royal! We’ve got you covered – discover the Jubilee events you won’t want to miss, and find out what you need to host your very own tea party at home (pg22) And while you’re at it, emulate Lizzie’s timeless style with our high street take on some of her iconic colour-block outfits (pg34). No one brings people together like the Queen, and the patriotic Jubilee spirit often brings out the best in us. Do a good deed, like Sebbie, and spread the joy with acts of kindness (pg31). He loves helping people – so the teen started doing random acts of kindness in lockdown, and it completely spiralled. Now…

Sure enough, a day later, Darren began posting on Facebook and updated his profile to say the two of us were engaged. I knew he was just trying to get to me, and a few days later, he sent me a message. Gemma, if you are not in my life, how am I going to live? he texted. I ignored him, but he kept bombarding me, making new Facebook profiles and getting new phones so he could call and message me at all hours. In July 2020, he was jailed for four weeks when he breached his restraining order on two occasions, but as soon as he got out, he continued his reign of terror. Every single day I lived in absolute fear – glancing over my shoulder everywhere I…

We’re getting in the party mood and filling you in on everything you need to know about the Jubilee and how you can join in with the festivities. QUEEN ELIZABETH II Queen Elizabeth II was born 96 years ago on 21 April 1926. As a little girl, she never could have imagined being Queen, as her uncle Edward VIII was King. However, after he fell in love with American divorcée Wallis Simpson, he was forced to abdicate the throne in 1936 to be with her. Elizabeth’s father King George VI was forced to assume the throne and the Queen has been a well-loved member of British society ever since. Prince Philip was by her side through it all, as the two met when Elizabeth II was just 13 years old…

Family meant everything to devoted mum-of-six Amber Avalos. She’d been with her husband Andres, known as Andy, since they were both 16 years old. They had five sons and a daughter, and lived together in the tranquil area of Northwest Bradenton, Florida. The area is famed for its well kept homes and views of the flowing Manatee River. But despite the beauty on the outside, Amber was secretly battling to hold everything together behind the scenes. Andy had struggled with drink and drugs over the years. It was putting a strain on family life. Amber, 33, was a religious woman. She worked part-time at the local church with the congregation’s children. Walking away from her marriage just wasn’t an option for her. She’d even prayed with the pastor’s wife to…

We’ve got some stunning gardens right here in the UK – and according to experts at OnBuy Greenhouses, Richmond’s Kew Gardens is the most Instagrammable worldwide! Based on Instagram tags, experts came up with a list of the top 10 most photographed gardens… • Kew Gardens, England • Longwood Gardens, USA • Jardim Botânico, Brazil • Jardin Majorelle, Morocco • Brooklyn Botanic Garden, USA • Chicago Botanic Garden, USA • Desert Botanical Garden, USA • Royal Botanical Gardens Sydney, Australia • New York Botanical Gardens, USA • Missouri Botanical Gardens, USA…

Dani Meighen, 38, from Washington, Newcastle Lying in bed one morning, my eldest son William, six, jumped in for a cuddle. As I put my arms around him, my hand brushed past my left boob. What was that..? I’d felt a lump. I knew it wasn’t right. I booked an appointment to see my GP that morning. ‘It doesn’t look like anything to worry about,’ he said. ‘It could be a blocked milk duct.’ I was breastfeeding my youngest son Noah, now two. ‘I’ll send you for a scan,’ the doctor continued. ‘But I wouldn’t worry too much.’ At the appointment a couple of weeks later, the consultant didn’t seem concerned, either, but I was given a scan and had a biopsy and mammogram. It was June 2020, during the…

Nothing says summer like an ice-cold cider!…

PIGLET’S PANTRY If you’re planning a Jubilee street party, or even just a springtime picnic, and want to look like you’ve made an effort with no fuss – then look no further! Buy a box of goodies for yourself, or order for a friend. The new Hello Spring collection is perfect for getting together with mates, enjoying good food and having fun – order a box, get outside and enjoy the sunshine as you tuck into these tasty treats! Piglet’s Pantry, based in Worthing, West Sussex, is the brainchild of Jo, who quit her corporate job to fulfil her dream of running a bakery. With bakery-to-doorstep delivery across mainland UK, you’ll be the talk of the town with these deliciously zesty cakes, tear and share sausage rolls and beautiful biccies. • Prices…

When she was in Sixth Form at school, what did BBC presenter and newsreader Fiona Bruce model for? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the answer. ACROSS 11 Strong type of coffee (8) 12 Compact middle of a cabbage or lettuce (5) 13 Intense and often irrational fear (6) 14 Depend upon (4) 15 Small peach-like fruit (7) 16 Royal female, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana being the latest (8) 17 Indications displayed by a student driver (1,6) 18 Operating-theatre doctor (7) 19 Lupine animal (4) 21 Years in a golden wedding (5) 23 Nunnery (7) 24 ‘Sunshine’ state of America (7) 28 - - - The Engine, children’s story character (4) 29 Chest bone (3) 30 Sharp-witted (6) 33 Jumbled-up…

Clip for crisps! If you run out of storage clips, use a hanger to seal your food items. You can hang them in the pantry. Susan, Denby Read the small print When shopping for bigger items, I always make sure to read the price per litre on the label. This way I can really see if I’m saving money or if the sale price is just luring me in. Carole, Chester Cookie monster Every now and then, I make sure to clean my tabs on my phone. I find that my mobile works a lot quicker, so thought I would share this tip. Vicky, Essex Stand out colour I always get my keys in a muddle, so I use a bright nail polish to label the one I use the…

Zoe Bourn, 43, from Buckinghamshire Watching from the side of the stage as my husband Andrew sang, I felt a pang of pride. He’d made it through to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent, with his vocal harmony group Jack Pack. They came fourth, and even signed a record deal with Simon Cowell’s company, Syco. The next morning, we went out for breakfast with my mum Julie to celebrate – she was so proud of him, too. Nothing could wipe the smile off her face. It was bittersweet though. Because Mum had been suffering with an incurable brain tumour for the past six years. She’d been diagnosed in 2008, after suffering with neck spasms that came on suddenly. Then she started getting headaches, too. None of us were too worried…

Lisa Flemming, 38, Edinburgh Heading out with my friends, I was excited for the day ahead. It was St. Patrick’s Day in 2017 and I hadn’t been out in ages. I’d been diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 19, and recently I’d been having crippling symptoms. I had horrendous back pain and it had spread up my right arm. Sadly, just five months earlier, I’d suffered a miscarriage and my mobility hadn’t been great. My husband Euan, 40, and I were devastated, but we had to carry on for our son Cameron. However, for months, I’d barely left the house and so I was looking forward to letting my hair down. I had an amazing time, but in the days and weeks that followed, I could barely get out of…

A neighbour looked out of their front window in the quiet suburb of Arlington, Washington and took a double take at their morning view. Two young children were wandering the streets alone dressed in just their pyjamas. The neighbour rushed to scoop up the vulnerable children aged just three and five. They were looking for help for their mum Bonnie – but nothing could save her. Bonnie Delgado Black, 42, was mum to two children, a three year old son and a five year old daughter. Bonnie was a psychologist who performed contractual work for the FBI. She was loving and kind with huge empathy for others. Bonnie was days away from having her divorce finalised from estranged husband, construction worker David. It had been a difficult time. A year…

Gemma Hay, 32, Norwich Walking through the school, my friend nudged me as one of the boys strolled past. ‘You know he likes you,’ my pal said. ‘I know, everyone keeps telling me,’ I giggled. Despite going to the same school, I’d only known Darren Pountney for a few weeks and from the get-go, my friends insisted he had a thing for me. Eventually, I took the plunge and decided to give it a go. Despite the fact Darren was naturally quite shy, the two of us hit it off straight away. With dark brown hair and friendly eyes, he was just my type. We were both only 15 at the time, but we fell for each other very quickly. We understood each other – we could talk to each…

Lend this book out after reading You Just Need to Believe It – Andrea Mclean £12.99, WATERSTONES Straight from the Loose Women sofa, Andrea Mclean has released a self-help book brimming with everything you need to thrive. You Just Need to Believe It is a wellbeing toolkit filled with ten steps to ultimately get people facing their fears and thinking differently. Andrea has faced many challenges in her life such as a mental breakdown, a tricky public divorce, and a serious struggle with self-doubt. Using these life events, Andrea covers topics including breaking bad habits, the power of daily routines, and celebrating self-love to tackle life’s problems head on. Interviewing celebrities and experts in the industry only strengthens her guide. For all you need to do is believe. Fitwaffle’s Baking…

Money saving tips Nancy Collings, Money Saving Expert at Advantage Insurance has shared her top tips on how to find cheap deals in everyday places… Beauty Check out the beauty dupes in Lidl and Aldi. They are rivaling big brands like Charlotte Tilbury and Benefit from only £2.99. Check out beauty subscription boxes for huge savings, too. Pet essentials Buy everything in bulk! The prices of top animal food are sky high so go to B&M and stock up. Mix wet food with dry food to make it go even further or make your own! Holidays Think about making a holiday fund, choose to travel on Tuesdays as flights are cheaper and look to travel to France and Spain by coach. Booking.com have the best deals. Insurance Like everything, shop…

Jo Howarth is a practitioner who shows how to look after your overall wellbeing. (thehappinessclub.co.uk) Why should I wait? Q I want a baby now, but my husband says we should wait a few more years. I’m devastated but know he has a right to say when. I can’t get past how sad I feel waiting. Hayley, Norfolk A Have you explained A to your husband how important this next step is to you? And has he explained to you why it is important for him to wait? Can you agree some middle ground where both of you feel heard and listened to with respect to what you would like to happen? Once that conversation has happened then, if the decision is still to wait a while longer, there is nothing to…

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations begin on 2 June, so in true royal fashion we have decided to take a look at outfits from the palace. Queen Elizabeth II loves colour coordination, so following in her majestic footsteps, we have selected some monochrome fits you can recreate at home… Green and pink Green and pink are bold colours, but they go perfectly together Pastel yellow Yellow works well with every skin tone. Vary the shade to maximise effect. Purple Haze Blue…

Research by Asda reveals only a quarter of adults eat their five-a-day! And almost half throw veg away because they can’t think what to do with it. Asda have worked with chefs and nutritionists to create some delicious plant recipes starting from as little as 80p per portion! BLACK BEAN AND RED PEPPER SHAKSHUKA SERVES 4 YOU’LL NEED… • 2 tbsp vegetable oil• 1 large onion, diced• 2 red peppers, seeded and diced• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped• 2 heaped tsps of paprika• 1 tsp cumin• 1/2 tsp chilli powder• 2 tins of ASDA chopped tomatoes• 1 tin of ASDA black beans• 1 Pack of ASDA coriander (30g)• 50g Spinach leaves or kale, washed and roughly chopped• 30g Feta cheese, crumbled• 6 large eggs HOW TO DO IT… 1. Start by heating cooking…

Ask our doc With Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy (drfox.co.uk) Bad headaches Q I’ve recently come off my contraceptive pill and had the coil put in, but now I keep getting really bad headaches. Could it be linked? Sarah, Carlisle A Headaches are very common. It’s difficult to know if this has anything to do with your change in contraception.In natural cycles, some women do get premenstrual headaches or even migraine. Perhaps you had these before you started taking the pill? A copper IUD would not cause a headache. However, the Mirena IUS releases a small amount of progesterone every day. Around 16% of IUS users have reported headaches. It may be that the headache will settle, as many IUS side effects will lessen or disappear after…

Kerry Brooks, 37, from Milton Keynes Gently placing my pet Staffordshire bull terrier’s paws into one of my princess dresses, I gave him a pat on the head. ‘Don’t you look pretty?’ I smiled at him. George, then two, replied with a friendly lick. He never minded me dressing him up, sitting patiently while I rummaged through my costume box and pulled out all kinds of elaborate outfits. I was only six years old then – but as I grew up, my love of dogs only grew. At just 18, in 2003, I started working as a photographer, before starting my own business when I was 21. I eventually set up a studio in Milton Keynes, and people would bring along their pets. Those shoots quickly became my favourites. I…