Innehållsförteckning för September 2023 från Chat Specials

Emilie Knight, 44, from Norwich Making a grand entrance into the living room, I steadied my hat, holding my umbrella just above the carpet. Then, sitting down in my usual seat, I turned on the TV to an all-too familiar tune. Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down… Tapping my feet and reciting the words, I stared at the screen. Julie Andrews playing the majestic and well-loved Mary Poppins was a delight. And at eight, I idolised everything about the character, film and songs. In my eyes it was all practically perfect! So much so, my grandmother made me a replica outfit so I could be the dreamy real life version of Mary herself. I had the skirt, an umbrella with a bird on the end and…

Hannah Petrakis, 39, from Cockington Glancing over at my beloved pony grazing away, I couldn’t believe he was actually ours. With his adorable dark fluffy mane and cheeky nature, Patrick was named in honour of Ireland’s day of festivities. My husband Kirk, 45, and I had originally bought him as a present for our three girls. Sophia, 17, Naomi, 11, and Amy-Rose, 10, were absolutely delighted when we brought Patrick home back in December 2019. Patrick slotted perfectly into our lives – so much so, we thought about bringing him along to our usual evenings at our local pub, The Drum Inn. People couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw Patrick at the bar ready to order a pint of Guinness – the landlords didn’t mind at all! Everyone fell…

It’s time to get your game face on! Just because the kids are back at school doesn’t mean playtime stops for you. Head to one of these fabulous sports bars and get stuck in. Maybe challenge your significant other to some boozy bowling or pair a Pornstar Martini with darts with your girlfriends. It really is time to feel young at heart… Swingers Crazy Golf, London How does boozy cocktails and a competitive round of mini golf sound? Fun, right?! And what better place to play than Swingers? With two venues across the capital, you get the choice of four enchanting courses. With Helter Skelter you must navigate a theme park, while The Lighthouse has tricks and turns to keep you occupied. Swingers claims they mop up buckets of tears…

TO BE WON EACH MONTH! Enter now to win these and many more fantastic prizes Find out more comps.lifedeathprizes.com HOW TO REGISTER It’s FREE to enter and it’s so easy to do. Just visit entry2.it/ldp-pd and register by hitting the Create Free Account button and then you can enter as many competitions as you like. Go on, have fun! For website rules of play, go to comps.lifedeathprizes.com/rules. Terms and conditions apply, UK only…

Ice ice baby The NHS recommends no more than 30g of sugar a day. But do you know how much sugar is lurking in your favourite high street iced coffee? A Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino with semi-skimmed milk has 48.5g of sugar, the Which? study found. A Caffè Nero Belgian Chocolate and Hazelnut Frappe Crème had 44.5g of sugar. Excessive consumption of sugar may lead to tooth decay, obesity and heart disease. Give it a try Give these moves a try at your desk to get your fix of exercise! Thigh press: Place your palms on the outside of your knees. Push your knees against your palms, trying to open your legs. Hand press: Press your palms in front of your chest, with your elbows to the side. Push your palms…

Ellie Keating, 28, from Bridport Entering the living room, the image of Mr. Bean was a familiar scene. Having to watch the show on repeat, it was enough to drive me insane. Yet, my two-year-old Mason wouldn’t let me watch anything else! So much so, my friend’s mum had even created a replica Mr. Bean car for Mason out of a cardboard box. Yet, that wasn’t the only thing that he loved. ‘See how far you can kick it,’ my mum Dianne said. With an orchard around the back of my grandparent’s house, he’d love to play with the fallen fruit. Then, when it came to bed, Mason would grab his snuggly sheep, Ewan, pressing his leg to start the lullaby. No matter what he was doing, Mason made my…

SIP SIP HURRAY! Fancy something a bit different to your normal brew? Well, these could be perfect for you! One of the UK’s favourite sweet brands Swizzels have collaborated with Bird & Blend to create the first ever ‘sweet flavoured’ tea. The iconic sweet brews have been released in celebration of Swizzels 95th birthday – and there are four delicious flavours that will leave you wanting more… Love Hearts, Parma Violets, Refreshers and Drumstick. Each flavour of tea contains a different variety of herbs, flowers and fruit which smell and taste just like the nation’s favourite sweets. You don’t need a sweet tooth to enjoy these – however with the Parma Violets flavour, this tea really could divide opinions! What do you think? • Swizzels Tea Gift Cube, £10, Bird & Blend…

Simon Young, 36, from Birmingham Sitting at my desk at work, my friend Jake suddenly approached me with an exciting proposition. He wanted to set me up on a blind date with his friend Tash, 25. ‘She’s perfect for you,’ he explained enthusiastically. In July 2019, we’d arranged to meet up at a dim sum restaurant. I wasn’t nervous, but I was excited to meet her – she looked gorgeous in her pictures. Tash strolled into the place with so much sass – I could tell I was going to like her. ‘Nice to meet you,’ she said confidently, giving me a hug. She was so easy to chat with and she wasn’t shy about tucking into the food. ‘I think you ate all the Thai crackers,’ I joked, gesturing…

Marian Kwei, formerly Marian Kihogo, a celebrity stylist, style icon and trendsetter… • Please follow @marian_kwei on Instagram or make sure to visit: mariankwei.com 1. Why is denim a must-have in everyone’s wardrobe? It is a must-have because it is a fundamental closet piece. It is a staple that works like how the foundation of a house works. It is a building block that both casual and dressy looks can be created around. 2. What style of jean suits which body shape best and why? Great question! Those with a more ample bust than hip figure (the apple body shape) and those with a wider hip than bust (the pear shape) should look for jeans with a wide bootleg cut. The hourglass figured woman can wear a cropped skinny jean.…

Ana Weed had a great life. Married to her husband Scott for 22 years, she was a doting mother and grandmother, and she adored her pet dogs. Ana could often be spotted walking her miniature Schnauzer pooch, Maggie May, around the neighbourhood. She was close to her tight-knit family, kind-hearted and always wanted to do the right thing. A pillar of the community, she volunteered at church and taught Bible studies to the youth group. The friendly 53-year-old got on well with most of her neighbours in the 3400 block of Mourning Drive in Spring, Texas. But her tranquil home life in the quiet, leafy suburb was blighted by one of them. Other neighbours described Hector Campos as ‘stand-offish’. He and Ana had lived next door to each other for…

Marwa Houma, 34, from Croydon Digging into my lunch at a French brasserie in Southwood, I saw a man strolling over, dressed in chef’s whites. ‘Hi there,’ he said. ‘How are you this afternoon?’ ‘Good, thank you!’ I replied, distracted by his handsome face and big muscles. ‘I’m the chef here,’ he explained. ‘I hope you’re enjoying your lunch, I just wondered if you had any plans for dinner?’ Is he asking me out? I thought. I was 27 at the time and could tell he must have been at least 10 years older than me. But I loved his outright confidence. ‘I don’t have any plans… ’ I replied. ‘I think I’ll actually be skipping dinner this evening and going to the gym instead.’ Our conversation quickly turned to…

Lorraine Lewis, 38, from Northampton Stocking up on the latest women’s magazines, sweets, chocolate bars and toiletries, the shop assistant looked at me strangely as I came to the till with my arms full. Me and my husband Lee, 37, ended up spending almost £30 a time at the hospital shop! It sure was an expensive habit, but it was something we would do every single week. Only, these items weren’t for us both to enjoy – we had a greater mission in hand. After Lee’s mum Janice, 62, had been diagnosed with lymphoma completely out of the blue in 2010, it was the first experience of cancer in our family – and the whole thing was eye-opening. Attending chemotherapy sessions with Janice throughout 2013, so that she felt like…

Jade Bowdidge, 29, from Lowestoft, Suffolk Watching the cars race around the track, I inhaled the familiar scent of diesel. At 14, I loved going to watch stock car banger racing. And every week I saw the familiar green uniforms of the St John Ambulance crew helping out injured drivers and providing a friendly presence. I’d like to do that, I always thought. It looks like fun. And at school, a classmate told me they were in the cadets. ‘Do you mean the air cadets?’ I asked. ‘No, St John,’ they replied. So, the very next week, back in 2008, I joined and quickly fell in love with the role. I was taught to polish boots, dress wounds, make slings, CPR and basic first aid. It taught communication, life skills…

SCENT-SATIONAL BUY Who doesn’t love a subtle body mist this time of year? Well, Lacura at Aldi have launched a new line of mists to add a touch of nostalgia to your beauty routine. For just £2.99, these bargain beauty buys are lightweight and long lasting, making them perfect for the season. Available in three stunning scents, these tropical mists will transport you to paradise without breaking the bank. So why not pick them up now with your weekly shop? Choose from: Twenty Eight Cuban Dreams Thirty Two Havanna Nights Sixty Four Tropical Glow Haircare heroes good hairspray is a must in everyone’s A beauty collection. But gone are the days of thinking this haircare hero is just for hold – instead, stylists are now experimenting with new hacks to…

Scuttle away! My dad recently went on a boating trip in Lanzarote and look what he found! This sneaky crab grabbed right onto him with his big claws – I’m so glad I wasn’t there to see. Tina, Denbigh How adorable! I had to stop the car while driving down a country lane to snap a pic of these curious creatures. It’s long past lambing season now, but these sheep still look so small! Darren, Croyde Camouflage cat This friendly black and white cat stopped by to say hi when I was out on an evening walk with my Poodle Pam. It’s safe to say she wasn’t a fan, but I thought the little kitty was quite cute.  Nora, Paignton Winged friend Taking my five-year-old grandson Ethan to the zoo…

Do you like to boogie? Do you like glitter, glam and flared trousers? Sounds like you’re a bit of a disco diva… And in honour of Earth, Wind and Fire’s disco hit September, what better time to celebrate the discotheque than now? So go on, put on your platform heels and get dancing! MAKE YOUR OWN! You can’t have a disco without a disco ball.  And why not try making your own? Not only is it a fun, easy craft to pass a lazy Sunday, but the end result is a glittering disco ball fit for the likes of Saturday Night Fever… What you need: • Dry Foam Sphere, £4.80, Hobbycraft • Glue Gun, £5, Hobbycraft • Mirror Mosaic Tiles, can be found in craft stores and Amazon • Screw…

Andi Halliley, 55, from Durham Scribbling my name down, I felt proud. ‘Welcome to the Army,’ the recruiter smiled, reaching out to shake my hand. It was 1985 and at just 17 years old, I’d always had a keen interest in the Military. Both my grandfathers had served during WWII, one in the Royal Artillery and the other in the RAF. It wasn’t long before I was enlisted into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, an infantry regiment and my parents were so proud. Joining the Army must have been the most masculine path I could have taken – but while I was excited about my future, I was also hiding a secret, denying who I really was… During the day, I’d be wearing combats and camouflage, but deep inside, I…

According to an internet comparison site, how much credit card debt does the average Brit keep hidden from their partner? To find out, solve the puzzle… Fit these numbers into the grid, reading across and down. One number doesn’t fit. This is the answer.\ 3 digits 118 253 289 381 463 520 634 712 735 760 793 856 937 4 digits 1296 2953 3332 4905 5761 6124 7878 8527 9873 5 digits 10664 22209 25635 33240 35662 40824 54463 68111 74126 80695 93594 6 digits 234399 426070 512877 790881 827996 7 digits 2421569 3759840 8280747 9368713 8 digits 25135121 Your answer ____________________________________________ 130+ PUZZLES in every issue PLUS £500 to be won ON SALE NOW! Number jig Answer: £712 OF CREDIT CARD DEBT…

The Wes Anderson aesthetic has become iconic in popular culture thanks to his cult classic films – and now you can recreate the look in your own home! Property experts at Savoy Stewart share their top tips to emulate the quirky and unique interior style… Please visit: savoystewart.co.uk Focus on colour For film buffs looking to replicate this aesthetic in their homes, look at incorporating candy colours, pastels and jewel tones into your home, and consider blocking colours together. Decide on a colour scheme for specific rooms. You could also style a room around a piece of bold furniture or décor that you love. Symmetry and balance Anderson is famous for his symmetrical cinematography, it’s important to incorporate balance. Find the centre of your room and create a mirror image.…

VEIN OR VAIN? With pale skin being hailed the most desirable skin complexion throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, women in pre-revolution France took one extreme step to achieve their dream look. Following in the footsteps of role model and Royal trendsetter Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, women drew on their veins much bolder and bluer with coloured lead pencils. The paler the skin, the more the veins showed through – and so by drawing them on, women hoped that their skin complexion would finally fit the current trend. For women who spent more time outside in the sun, this was an unachievable standard! GHASTLY GRIN While having the perfect pearly whites is all the rage nowadays, it was in fact the opposite in Meiji era Japan. Between 1868…