Innehållsförteckning för June 2024 från Chat Specials

Summer is just around the corner. It’s so close! Maybe you’re jetting off for a sun-soaked break this month or making the most of the British sunshine. Summer evokes so many wonderful memories. The sights, the smells and fun adventures, there’s so much to look forward to. From dressing for a place in the sun (pg14), getting the garden ready for a BBQ (pg32), strawberry picking (pg40) to spending the day at the circus (pg10). For Sue (pg58), June marks the start of grand adventures. Most of us have a bucket list of destinations to tick off one day – but for Sue, she wanted to visit them all. From the glorious white sand of the Caribbean to bubbling geysers in South America, nothing was off limits. Even though she…

Follow it Solve the puzzle to spell out a term related to the picture. The arrows show you where to put your answers. The answer is spelled in the yellow squares. Your answer Riddle me this Put your brain to the test and solve this tricky riddle. What is a five letter word which becomes shorter with two letters added onto it? Your answer _____________________________ Answers on page 60. Cross it Solve the puzzle to find a word. Fit the words back in the grid, and the letters in the highlighted squares spell out the answer. We’ve put in one word to help. 3 letters ACE DOC DOG ELM PEN PUP SUE 4 letters BIRO DAWN DRAB GUST LOFT SPAM 5 letters AGREE CYNIC GLINT SINUS 6 letters AFRAID DAMSON INCITE…

Kelly Rogers, 46, from Swansea Twisting the corkscrew into a bottle of wine, I heard the satisfying pop before filling up a large glass. Taking a sip, I sighed. I really needed that, I thought to myself, savouring the taste. It had been a long, hard week – and a weekend glass or three of vino with a cheeky takeaway was my little way of treating myself. Scoffing down a lamb saag from the local Indian, with plenty of poppadoms, naan breads and a portion of chips, I was in my element – and over the course of a Saturday night, I’d easily find myself getting through a bottle or two of wine. And with the hangover on Sunday came bacon butties and greasy fry-ups, too. Before I knew it,…

Known as the ‘life of the party’ by her friends, Pebbles LaDime Doe wasn’t afraid to show her true colours. Although, it took years of bravery to become her true self. From a young age, Pebbles always felt she was born into the wrong body. So once she finished high school in her quiet hometown of Allendale, South Carolina, she kickstarted her transitioning journey. She branched out into wearing skirts, getting her nails done and clipping in hair extensions. And when word spread across the 8,000 people who lived in suburban Allendale, everyone accepted Pebbles. Finally, she felt able to come out of her shell. She came out of her shell And with her transition came a sense of sexual freedom for Pebbles, too. Openly dating men and posting about…

Emma Brand is a highly experienced BACP registered counsellor who specialises in supporting adults with anxiety, depression and bereavement. She also works with the LGBTQIA+ community. See: elbcounsellingservices.com Should I just close the door on him? Q After making our divorcefinal, I’ve realised that I’m actually more in love with my ex-hubby than ever before. How do I get out of this sticky situation? It’s cost me a fortune! Gina, Dudley A Going through a big life change, including a divorce, can have a significant financial and emotional impact. It can bring up a lot of emotions. The process of divorce can also bring up feelings of loss and grief for what the relationship could have been, which is completely understandable. It can make us reflect on past relationships, too. It…

Try these with cream cheese and honey!…

Lydia Prior, 31, from Hemel Hempstead Heading to the parked sleeper bus, I had a four-hour journey ahead of me. Having spent the majority of the year travelling with my partner Dan, 33, this was nothing new. We’d travelled to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and South East Asia. And on Sunday 20 August last year, we were heading from Ho Chi Minh City to Mũi Né in Vietnam. It was the first bus we’d taken in Vietnam, and it was a sleeper bus – meaning that there were individual bays all separated by curtains. Taking our seats, I spent the first two hours editing videos for my YouTube channel. With my laptop and filming equipment in my handbag, the rest of our belongings were in the belly of…

You don’t need to splurge on makeup staples with this budget collection! £5 AND UNDER Meet the newest line-up from Boots’ own-brand, Natural Collection.Back on shelves nationwide, they’ve launched over 100 new beauty products for just £5 and under. With a selection of all your must-have beauty favourites, you can cover all bases with this range. Plus, the collection is vegan and fully recyclable, making it an affordable and eco-friendly choice. We love their lipsticks (£2.50) which are smooth and creamy, as well as their skin tints (£5) – available in 20 shades, they are perfect for a light and dewy complexion. Despite purse strings tightening, you won’t have to compromise. Dupe alert! Give bath and shower time an elegant twist with Treaclemoon’s new Rouge Love Story Shower and Bath…

Natalee King, 33 Scrolling through Facebook back in 2011, an unfamiliar face stood out to me. Wow, he’s so attractive, I thought to myself. So, I asked my friend who took the snap to introduce us. At the time I was living and working on Yokota Air Base – a US military base in Japan – where I worked in vehicle operations for the Air Force. The guy in the photo also worked on the base – like lots of my friends. And finally, being introduced in a bar, it wasn’t long until I was completely infatuated. John, then 19, was a tall country boy with bright blue eyes and from our first meeting, we were inseparable. One of my favourite memories of ours is when we did karaoke on…

FILM AND TV 1 Which British TV presenter became the host of For the Love of Dogs in April this year after Paul O’Grady’s passing? a Kate Garraway b Cat Deeley c Alison Hammond 2 Which actor has not played the character of Sherlock Holmes before? a Martin Freeman b Robert Downey Jr. c Benedict Cumberbatch 3 Which British home renovation show does Kirstie Allsopp co-host withPhil Spencer? a Homes Under The Hammer b Location, Location, Location c DIY SOS 4 ‘Nobody puts Baby in a corner’ is a famous line from which 1980s classic film? a Dirty Dancing b The Breakfast Club c Heathers 5 In the 2024 Netflix series Scoop, which Royal Family member is seen being grilled during an all-telling BBC Newsnight interview? a Kate Middleton b Princess Eugenie c Prince Andrew SHOWBIZ 6 Which British star, formerly…

Living the life After having a pint by the pool, my son Martin fell asleep on the inflatable lounger. Little did he know that he’d been caught on camera!  Rebecca, Wincanton All smiles This is the life! Relaxing in our villa’s hot tub on holiday with my daughter. It’s safe to say we’re considering a move abroad.  Linda, Gloucester Yummy in my tummy Summer is the best time for food! An omelette is the perfect light dinner on a warm evening. Paula, Leicester Escape to the country I love this pic of a pretty harbour from when I went to see my family in South Devon. I need to visit more often! Denise, Cardiff Work of art These paintings I spotted on my recent trip to Barcelona were absolutely beautiful.…

Miles for far less I’ve saved loads of money getting around London by just attaching my railcard to my Oyster card! All I had to do was go and ask the staff to do it at my tube station. Paula, Enfield Seeing double To keep warm on camping trips, lay on top of one duvet, then cover up with another blanket on top. This keeps you twice as warm. Ruth, Camborne Battery saver To save your phone dying in hot weather, put your phone on aeroplane mode and store it inside your cool bag. It’ll stop your phone from overheating. Jenna, Reigate Warm and toasty Keep hold of the lint from the tumble dryer for your next camping trip. Wrapped in a toilet roll tube, lint is the perfect campfire…

Under a Summer Skye - Sue Moorcroft £8.99, WATERSTONES Lose yourself on the stunning Isle of Skye this summer with Sunday Times best-selling author Sue Moorcroft’s first book in the Skye Sisters trilogy. A chance encounter is about to change everything for Thea Wynter – the moment she arrived on the Isle of Skye, life changed. Running from a succession of wrong turns, she’s looking for blue sea, endless skies, mountains that make the heart soar – and peace. Her days are spent working in the glorious clifftop garden at Rothach Hall as the head gardener, and her evenings in the cosy village pub. But an encounter with a stranger from the mainland brings an unexpected turn – even on Skye, life can catch up with you… ‘The perfect escapist read that…

Gather the family and tuck into these hearty meals created by Great British chefs in partnership with Heinz. Using a variety of Heinz’s new chopped tomatoes, passata bases and tomato purées, these recipes are sure to go down a hit… CURRIED EGG AND TOMATO FRITTATA WITH PANEER YOU’LL NEED: • 3 tbsps of vegetable oil• 225g of paneer, cut into 3cm cubes• 1 red onion, finely sliced into half moons• 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced• 20g of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped• 1 red chilli, de-seeded and finely sliced• 2 tsps flaked sea salt• 100g of kale, washed and roughly chopped• 150g of Heinz curry tomato base• 6 eggs• 1 bunch of fresh coriander, leaves and stalks roughly chopped HOW TO… 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C fan. Heat a…

Beth Krum, 52, from Southampton Strolling through the home section of Next, I wasn’t just shopping for my own house. Perusing through the vase and bedding sets, instead, I was collecting inspiration. And spotting a white rope laundry basket, I immediately fell in love with its sophisticated look. I could make that, I thought. Whipping out my tape measure, I started measuring the basket. As other customers milled around, I got a few odd looks. But little did they know that I was hatching a crafty, master plan. In my head, I divided all my measurements by 12 – after all, I was going to make an exact replica of the basket, just 12 times smaller. Heading back home, I got to work in my garden studio. ‘What are you…

Harriet Elsdon, 34, from Brentwood, Essex My shoulders sagged with relief when my husband Nick finally burst through the front door. ‘At last!’ I cried, bending over as another wave of pain coursed through my bump. It was July 2022, and by the time I’d got hold of Nick, now 31, I’d been in labour for hours. He’d been working as a gas engineer nearby with no phone signal. ‘She’s 12 weeks early,’ I cried to him, starting to panic At that moment my mum Kaye, now 70, arrived. ‘Go!’ she shouted, holding the little hands of our sons Lincoln, then four, and Logan, two, on the driveway as I clambered in the car. ‘I’ll be home soon,’ I promised the boys. But as Nick raced to Broomfield Hospital, I…

Tammy Marx, 56, from Colyton Looking at the bride and groom stood in front of me, I was ready to ask them the dreaded question. ‘Do you both pledge to be together forever?’ I asked, clearly. However, instead of smiles and cheers, there was silence. I think I’m going to take that as a yes, I quickly presumed. ‘I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride,’ I ushered to the couple. And thankfully, right on cue, they had a smooch. Well, sort of. You see, I wasn’t actually a marriage celebrant. And the couple stood in front of me weren’t your conventional newlyweds at all. You could say it was a pony matrimony instead. The groom Bert wasn’t able to fit in a suit – he…

Corinne Houlston, 38, from Romford, London Bouncing up and down, huffing and puffing, the summer holidays were in full force – which meant it was the perfect day for the trampoline park. And that was something that my daughter Sophia, then 10, couldn’t get enough of. On top of going to the park, going swimming, playing with her friends and practising her best flips on the trampoline, Sophia was very outgoing and bubbly, always looking for some action to fill her day. Something that my partner Lee, now 39, and sons Tyler, 20, and Richie, 12, knew all too well. Yet, coming home from a day spent in the sun in July 2020, Sophia had something to say. ‘Mum, my foot is really hurting,’ she moaned. ‘Come here, let me…

Match this top with denim shorts and sandals for a chic yet casual outfit!…

Living the American Dream, Amy Leann Hall had no reason not to be proud of her three kids. Attending Beggs High School, in Oklahoma, Kayson Toliver, 18, and Kloee Toliver, 16, had plenty of aspirations. Not forgetting Amy’s 14-year-old daughter, too. Playing back for his school’s football team, Kayson had plans to major in architecture and he wanted to volunteer as a firefighter in his spare time. And when Kayson wasn’t running around on the pitch, he was either fishing or swimming. Kloee wanted to be a gynaecologist, but also took pride in her appearance. Always getting her nails done, she loved her makeup and shopping – not to mention her grandmother’s cooking, too. However, despite their aspirations, life at home was hard for them all. Especially for Amy. Going…

FEEL THE EUPHORIA… What would you bring on a summer picnic – pink lemonade and blueberry cookies? Yes, please.But what if you could combine these tasty flavours with chocolate and ice cream – now we’re talking! Magnum have released a brand-new duo just in time for summer, Euphoria Pink Lemonade and Chill Blueberry Vegan Cookie. Euphoria has a tangy lemon ice cream with a raspberry sorbet middle and popping candy, too. And Chill has a biscuit and vanilla ice cream with a blueberry core – berry-licious. Grab one and experience bliss. But you may want to hide the rest in the freezer… • Available in three multipack, £3.99, six mini multipack, £4.50, and single, £2.20, from all major supermarkets A REGAL ROUTE AROUND THE COAST Grab your walking boots as you can…