Innehållsförteckning för July 2022 från Chat Specials

Deanna Haynes, 29 Hand in hand with my big sister, we headed to the shops on the hunt for the perfect dress. The daddy-daughter dance was coming up and I wanted to look perfect. ‘I remember mine,’ my sister Kimmy smiled. Just seven-years-old, I idolised my big sister. Eight years between us, I thought she was so cool. And she always had time to take me shopping. Finding the perfect white dress, I couldn’t wait for our dad to see it. It was February 1997, and as I slipped on the dress, I looked myself over in the mirror. Walking down the stairs, he stood at the bottom in a handsome suit. ‘You look beautiful,’ my dad Robert, now 60, beamed. I felt it, too. Dad and I were so…

Dusty rose, blush and peach are safer shades for a subtle look. Grab attention on the streets by teaming pink with cobalt blue Storage mishaps We all know the pain of buying a new outfit and trying to successfully ram it into our wardrobe. But there might be a few more storage mistakes we are making. Online-Bedrooms.co.uk have pulled together common mistakes that fashion loving Brits are making in terms of storage… Hanging everything The most common mistake people make is hanging all of their clothes. Ideally you should have hanging space as well as shelves. To maximise the space you have, you should be folding thick clothes such as jumpers and jeans. The wrong hangers It may come as a surprise, but you could be using the wrong hangers…

It was a crime scene that proved something evil had happened in an apartment in El Reno, Oklahoma. Summer Rust, 25, had been brutally strangled and her four young children were dead. Their small, lifeless bodies had been heartlessly stacked in the bath of their family home. Devoted mum, Summer, had unwittingly triggered the slayings when she told her boyfriend Joshua Durcho their relationship was over, just the day before. Unknown to Joshua, 29, as he stared into the eyes of his victims, Summer’s surviving family would eventually save his life. It would be an extraordinary act of compassion in the face of horror. Summer had three daughters, twins Kirsten and Autumn, seven, and Evynn, three and a son, Teagin, four – all from previous lovers. Summer was popular and…

I live my life in a world of pure imagination… Nick Franklin, 43, from Cheshire Pushing the VHS into the slot, I fast forward to my favourite scene. Launching myself onto the sofa, I grabbed a selection of sweets and gobbled them down as I pressed play. A familiar jingle started. ‘Come with me…’ Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, a seven-year-olds dream. Seeing Willy Wonka, played by Gene Wilder, strut through his chocolate factory in a purple number, I was in love. The magic alongside the colourful and fantastical set designs blew my little brain – I couldn’t get enough. The Goonies and Labyrinth had my heart, too. My dad would take me to see theatre shows and pantomimes growing up. Although the musicals would be amazing, the set design…

The sun is shining and you see a white blur flutter by or you’re in the garden and a whole range of butterflies are feeding on your buddleia in bloom. Well make sure to keep count – here’s why… The Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count is taking place from 15 July – 7 August this year. During that time all you need to do is spend just 15 minutes in a sunny spot outside and count the number of butterflies that you see. Over 150,000 counts were submitted last year and although this sounds like a lot, the number of butterflies are decreasing year on year in the UK. Your submission could make the world of difference to the conservation team, tackling vital research into a larger global issues. The…

We all love getting out in the sun – but pesky allergies and critters are ready and waiting to turn our summer of fun into a summer of snivels, rashes and blisters. Make sure you don’t get caught out – Dr Ross Perry, from skin clinic chain Cosmedics, shares his advice on how to tackle common summer ailments. HEAT RASH For all the sun worshippers out there, summer is the best time of year.But for the pale-skinned, fair-haired portion of the population, the sun can feel downright hazardous. ‘The best option, if you know you are sun sensitive, is to try and avoid the sun with clothing as well as plenty of sunblock,’ says Dr Perry. ‘If you develop a heat rash, often antihistamines can be helpful, as well as…

Chatting to my mum Jean, we had the same discussion we had every time. ‘Why don’t you get an iPad?’ I said. ‘At least then we’ll be able to see each other when we talk.’ ‘No, I don’t know how to use all that techy stuff,’ she said. I sighed. I was fighting a losing battle. I could barely convince her to keep the old mobile brick I got her charged up, never mind something more fancy. But now we were in the middle of a pandemic, keeping in touch was more important to me than ever. I lived in Château-Thierry, about an hour outside of Paris, France, and I had done for the past 30 years. Mum still lived back home in England, in a FirstPort independent living property…

Patrick, a resident of Dallas in Texas, has been sent for therapy sessions because of his sexist attitude. Who is Patrick? To find out, enter the answers to the clues in the grid. Every word is an anagram of its neighbours, plus or minus a letter. Read the shaded squares in number order for the answer. Your answer 1 Item counted by dieter 2 Prophesising priest 3 Not cloudy 4 Intricately knotted fabric 5 Pub sale 6 Trade 7 Woodland opening 8 Swing down free 9 Had a quick peep Answer: GORILLA…

Jam-tastic If there is a jar you can’t open, run the lid under hot water for 30 seconds. Jenny, Brighton What rubbish! Put paper at the bottom of your bin to avoid little leaks. Harriet, Padstow Soapy surprise Add washing up liquid to a bowl of vinegar and leave it uncovered to banish fruit flies. Isla, Truro Sink-sational To unclog drains, sprinkle baking soda down them, then run the hot water tap. Rachel, Skegness Forget-me-not If you don’t want to leave something behind, put your car keys with it. Amy, Essex Whiffy walker If your shoes are smelly, pop a dry tea bag inside to absorb the strong smell. Liv, St Austell Tactical type Running the sticky part of a Post-It note along your keyboard will help to remove grime.…

Jo Howarth is an advanced hypnotherapist and also a mindfulness practitioner. She works alongside schools, individuals and businesses, teaching them to look after their mental health and emotional wellbeing. (thehappinessclub.co.uk) Traumatic birth Q After the traumatic birth of my baby, I just can’t bond with him. I just have flashbacks to the labour.How will I ever stop feeling this way? Julie, Cardiff A Please know that it won’t last forever. When we experience any kind of trauma our subconscious mind will do everything it can to protect us and prevent us from experiencing that trauma again, hence the flashbacks. It sounds bizarre but by sending you the flashbacks your mind is actually trying to keep you safe. Next time one occurs, can you do your best to simply say thank you…

Ruby Thresher, 18, from Bristol Dear Mum, Coming home from school, I knew where to find you. Opening the gate to the garden, you smiled whilst waving your muddy fingers in the air. You just loved nature – flowers were your favourite. Do you remember when you begged Dad to buy you a potting shed for the garden? Your wish was his command, and the wooden structure took pride of place on the lawn. You even went to a flower arranging group with your best friend, Emma, once a week. Being my silly teenage brothers, Louis, Owain, and Rhys would tease you for going. You were the youngest person in the group! The smell of home-grown sweet peas lingered in the kitchen and Dad nicknamed you his ‘little sweet pea’.…

It’s wedding season! With bells ringing, the most difficult decision is choosing your outfit. These suggestions will help to relieve that stress, so go and get a pen – send off your RSVP! Midi dresses are a great transition piece for the day and late into the evening Don’t forget to check the weather – you wouldn’t want wind to surprise the wedding party!…

Tracey Winter, 48, Tunbridge Wells, Kent Slathering butter and mayonnaise on four slices of white bread, I put the knife down on the chopping board and went to the fridge. Taking out a massive slab of Pilgrim’s Choice cheddar from the packet, I cut it into thick slices. Then I layered them up on two slices of the bread with a liberal sprinkling of pepper, before sticking the other two slices on top to make ginormous sandwiches. Putting the two mega sarnies on a plate, I called my husband Mark, 52. ‘Your snack’s ready, love,’ I said. Coming downstairs, he sat at the table and wolfed them down. ‘Thanks,’ he grinned. Mark eats 13lb of cheese in his sandwiches every week – and although not to everyone’s taste, he thinks…

British shallots are grown across 370 acres of light, sandy soils in Eastern England. As well as being rich in vitamins, they are a wonderfully versatile ingredient and can help you create some taste sensations in the kitchen! For more inspiration visit: ukshallot.com CHANNA CHAAT SERVES 4-6 YOU’LL NEED… FOR THE CHAAT • 4 potatoes, peeled and chopped into small cubes• 2 cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed• 2 tbsps olive oil• Salt and pepper, to taste• 1 tsp Garam Masala• ½ tsp red chilli powder• 1 large tomato, diced• 80g pomegranate seeds • 4 echalion shallots, peeled, halved and thinly sliced• Juice of 1/2 lemon• 100g plain yoghurt• Tamarind sauce, optional• Handful of coriander leaves FOR THE TACOS • 1 bunch of coriander• 1 green chilli• Juice of 1/2 lemon• ½…

Ask our doc With Cheryl Lythgoe, Head Matron for Benenden Health. Terrible tanning Q I like to use sunbeds leading up to my holidays, to start my tan off. Should I be worried about skin cancer? Georgia, Oxford AThe thought of going on holiday looking tanned is alluring.However, using sunbeds unfortunately isn’t a safe way of achieving this look. Sunbeds give out ultraviolet rays which increase the risk of you developing skin cancer at some point. Many sunbeds can give out greater, and more concentrated doses of UV rays than the midday tropical sun. We also must consider that we’re static on the sunbed and many users don’t use any sun protection, but rather tan accelerators when using them. The risks can also be magnified by various factors – your…

An official in Singapore has been charged with corruption after exaggerating the number of what taken with him on official overseas visits? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will spell out the answer. 1 Canal taxi (7) 2 Magician’s nonsense word (11) 3 Sydney’s land down under (9) 4 Top man in the Church of England (10) 5 Sleeper’s cushion (6) 6 Cowboy movie (7) 7 Entertainment spot for the late evening and early hours (9) 8 Capital of Northern Ireland (7) 9 Great victory or old car and motorbike company (7) 10 Playground game involving jumping along a chalked grid (9) 11 Personal speakers for your ears (10) 12 Painting of you by you (4-8)…

Perfect for BBQ season!…

THE ISABELLA STEWART GARDENER MUSEUM ROBBERY One of the most famous cases of unsolved heists is the robbery of over $500 million worth of precious artwork. In 1990, two men dressed as policemen entered the museum and took 13 famous paintings. To this day, no one knows who the robbers were or where the paintings have been hidden. It’s the largest theft of private property ever! Empty frames currently hang in the museum waiting for the artwork to return. And a $5 million reward is still being offered for any information surrounding the theft. How bizarre! It’s a mystery! BELFAST BANK ROBBERY The largest bank robbery in all of Europe happened in December 2004 in Belfast. Groups of men dressed as police officers held two bank officials’ familIes hostage, until…

BEACH BAGS Room for all your beach essentials!…

BUZZ OFF! When Faye Whitley, Jake Powell and their adorable sausage dog Leo were on holiday in Cornwall in 2018, they stumbled across a sleepy little bumblebee. The poor critter was exhuasted – and with no flowers nearby, he was in dangerous need of a sugar fix. Faye and Jake went on the hunt for sugar and water, and after a few sips, the happy bumblebee flitted away to pollinate another day. Their experience inspired Faye and Jake to create Beevive – the original bee revival kit. We all know how important it is to save the bees, who are sadly in decline. This bee-rilliant keyring provides an emergency solution to revive tired bees, so they can carry on helping the plant world thrive and making delicious honey. Now, Faye…

Leah Evans, 35, from Carmarthenshire Unpacking the last of our belongings, we’d not long arrived home. My partner Arwel, 35, and I, had spent a week soaking up the sun on the most wonderful holiday in Tenerife. ‘Back to normal,’ I sighed. Only, over the next few weeks, I started to feel strange. I was exhausted. I wonder…I thought. Popping to the shops on Valentine’s Day 2019, I purchased a pregnancy test. ‘Fingers crossed,’ Arwel smiled. From the moment we met, we knew we wanted a family. And to our excitement, two clear lines appeared. I was pregnant! We were so happy, and the start of my pregnancy was perfectly normal. Other than a bit of morning sickness, I was absolutely glowing. Only, at my 20-week scan, the sonographer noticed…

The Retreat – Sarah Pearse £14.99, WATERSTONES If you’re wanting a crime novel to sink your teeth into, then this is the perfect fit. Devon – the ultimate relaxation destination. And with an ecowellness retreat opening on an island nearby, people are queuing to get their well-deserved spa fix. But the island, known locally as Reaper’s Rock, was once the playground of a serial killer. And when a young woman’s body is found on the rocks below the yoga pavilion, it seems to be the scene of a tragic fall. As following days reveal more and more deaths, it seems the island’s history is repeating itself and no one is safe… ‘The Retreat recalls the one-by-one-by-one nerve shredding of Agatha Christie at her darkest.’ – A.J.Finn, author of The Woman…

Becky Farran, 30, from Blackpool Handing my grandad a cup of tea, he smiled. ‘Thanks, love,’ he said, gratefully. ‘You’re welcome,’ I replied. We’d always been a tight-knit family – me, my mum Michelle, 54, my dad Mark, 55, my brother Daniel, 28, and my grandparents, Bob, 77, and Katherine, 69. But five years ago, just two years into his retirement, Grandad was sadly diagnosed with vascular dementia. He was only in his early 70s. I was living in France, and I hadn’t seen him as regularly as I’d have liked – so I hadn’t noticed the deterioration. But when I saw him, changes in him were stark. He was forgetting simple words, like ‘vegetable’, and he would get lost easily. It was tough, and I had my own problems,…

Rachel Leather, 42, from Aberdare, South Wales Hearing my partner Carl come in from work, I felt butterflies in my tummy. ‘Can you sit down?’ I said. ‘We need to talk.’ Heading into the living room, he looked nervous as he sat on the sofa. Pacing up and down, working up courage, I took a deep breath. ‘Can we get a parrot?’ I said. A look of utter relief washed over Carl’s face. ‘Oh my God,’ he said. ‘I thought you were leaving me!’ We both burst out laughing. I’d been so frightened Carl, 43, would say no, I’d worked myself into a right state. But by the time I asked him, it was a fait accompli. We already had a menagerie at home – with two dogs, nine puppies…