Innehållsförteckning för January 2025 från Chat Specials

Hello 2025! Didn’t last year just fly by?! Christmas might be over for another year, but don’t let those January blues get hold of you. We’re all about positivity here at Chat – January is a time for fresh starts and new beginnings, and we can’t wait to embrace everything the new year has to offer. And taking life by the horns is something Gwen knows all about (p16). She might be a nonagenarian, but that’s not going to stop her seeking out death-defying thrills wherever she goes. I think we could all do with taking a leaf out of Gwen’s book! Seizing the moment is something Karen and Myles have done, too (p42). Feeling uninspired and like something was missing from their lives, the couple decided to take a…

Victoria Ling, 44, from Essex Swiping through single men on my phone screen, a quick scan of their bio was enough to give me a really good sense of whether or not they were the one for me. Living with my parents Rosie, now 80, and Jack, 79, in spring 2017, I’d been single for a while and being 36, I was at an age where I was looking for someone to settle down with, hoping to fall in love and have a family. I don’t think I’m a good fit for him, I thought to myself, moving on from a man called Chris. After reading the description of the type of women that he was looking for, I certainly didn’t suit his preference in body type, so I carried…

Do you need a wardrobe refresh? Tu at Sainsbury’s has you covered! Available in sizes 8 to 26, there’s affordable and inclusive fashion for all. • To bag a bargain, shop in store, at Argos or via: tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk 50 shades of grey Scan your Nectar card to rack up points! Mocha mode Black is back Pop of colour…

Salty skillet! After cooking, pour coarse salt into a warm cast-iron skillet and scrub it with a cloth. Rinse with water and dry. The salt removes residue without damaging the seasoning that is on the pan. Roxy, Shropshire A foam Ferrari! Use shaving cream to clean your car seats. Spray the seats with a water bottle, then slowly work in the shaving foam. Remove any excess with a clean sponge or towel and leave to dry. It removes stains effortlessly. Emily, Padstow Sweet storage Mount the lids of jars under shelves and screw the jars on and off to store small items like nails or craft supplies. Linda, Devon Every day’s a school day To easily remove stains from your clothes, rub white chalk onto the mark before washing. Let the…

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson £9.99, BLACKWELL’S The stunning stretch of the Highlands, haggis, tartan and an angry Scotsman – Key MacKay is in Scotland. After the passing of her father, Key is left to discover the world, and all its monsters, on her own. She doesn’t want to repeat her father’s mistakes, but she doesn’t quite know how to navigate Scotland by herself. She’s looking for answers. That’s until Lachlan Greer comes along. He’s a man with many secrets. But the couple are drawn to one another. Key is a bonnie lass with captivating eyes – how can he let her slip away? But it seems that Key’s life on land is a problem. And when Key discovers her father’s past, she too is swept into a…

A survey by an online retailer has found that after tea bags, loo roll and chocolate, the next most popular home comfort Brits take on a foreign holiday is what? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will then spell out an answer. 1 Stripy beast (5) 2 USA’s most northerly state (6) 3 Country’s head diplomat in a foreign country (10) 4 Dense and wet tropical wooded area, in Brazil for instance (4, 6) 5 Astronomer’s instrument (9) 6 Make ashamed, redden (9) 7 Person with whom you might practise boxing (8,7) 8 90-degree corner (5,5) 9 Item to which mascara is applied (7) 10 Valuable family item passed down the generations (8) 11 Nausea suffered by pregnant women (7, 8) 12…

Hilary Anderton, 70, from Lancashire Heading into my kitchen and opening a cupboard, I reached up to pull down a bag of sugar and a bag of flour. What else do I need? I thought, pulling out my KitchenAid mixer. One evening, in October 2023, I’d decided to bake a Victoria sponge – I loved baking, and I’d often whip up a cake for my neighbour who cut my grass, as a little thank you. But as I went to plug the mixer in, I noticed the green light flashing on my Hoover battery. I’d bought a lightweight stick Hoover the year before. At my age, my big old vacuum cleaner was a bit of a palaver to drag round, and with a dog and two cats I liked to…

January is all about saving those pennies – but there’s no need to fret. You can still look and feel your best with these budget salon alternatives from Superdrug.  For £15 and under, nobody will know the difference… Nailed it! Achieve a professional mani at home with ARDELL’s brand-new gel strips. Simply place the semi-cured varnish strips on your nail bed, file them into shape and cure with the ARDELL LED Lamp in less than 45 seconds. USB powered so can be used on the go! TAME AND TINT Pluck your brows into perfect shape then swipe this brow tint onto your natural hairs for the desired colour. It’s waterproof and lasts up to four weeks! A QUICK REFRESH  Tone your locks in the shower by adding these drops into…

Go nuts! I just had to snap a pic of these coconuts in my local Aldi. Their screaming faces look like something straight out of Dr Who! Tina, Wolverhampton Did I disturb you? While taking my Cockapoo Teddy out for a walk, I came across this beautiful herd of deer. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The white stag is certainly the main character. Dorothy, Hartland Larger than life They say that robins appear when loved ones are near – so I definitely took this as a sign. I don’t think my hubby will be able to do that with our shears. Nicole, Lancaster Start drinking I don’t really think that this is a motto my hubby and brother-in-law should live by – but who am I to stop them? Julie, Lincolnshire…

Gwendolen Ackrill, 92, from Stone, Dartford Looking down at the ground as I soared over the Mediterranean Sea, life was pure bliss. The views were absolutely phenomenal and the ride was brilliant, too. Only, I didn’t have the comfort of an airplane seat or flight attendants smiling at me. In fact, I wasn’t inside an aircraft at all. I was paragliding while on holiday in Turkey. An hour before I’d been sunbathing on the beach! ‘Do you really want to do that at your age?’ my daughter Susan asked. But she couldn’t stop me. When I reached 80, my family thought that after a lifetime of being active and seeking out adrenaline adventures, I’d finally calm down. However, that certainly wasn’t the case at all. At school, I loved doing…

Nikki Ellerington, 45, from Hull Engrossed in the TV, I couldn’t believe what I was watching. Lifting weights, the strongmen on the screen were incredible. Watching World’s Strongest Man with my dad John, now 70, since I was around five, it was somewhat of a guilty pleasure. Yet, fitness, endurance and strength were something that I knew would become my life. A keen swimmer and runner, I’d take part in cross-country as a teen before moving on to marathon distances as I entered adulthood. Joining the Royal Navy, I ran for England competitively and coached children in contact sports over the years, too. Something that my kids Callum, 21, Lena, 20, Darcey, 17, and Neal, 14, all loved to get involved in. In late 2017, even though I hadn’t played…

Louise Lee, 51, from Highgate, London Grabbing the black bins and heading outside, I heard a loud bark behind me. ‘If Gigi is worried about being on her own then she can come and sit with me,’ I insisted to my neighbour, after noticing her fluffy Shih Tzu yapping on the balcony. Having a natural affinity for pooches, especially loving Shih Tzus, the idea of dog-sitting was something that came naturally. Despite having a range of dogs growing up, even having a scar on my chin after chasing my nana’s dog Chippy down the stairs, me and my husband Thomas, 49, hadn’t taken the leap to have our own just yet. Although, it was certainly a constant thought. And working for the Blue Cross for 15 years at the time,…

SPEEDY SUPPER If you want to shift those pesky pounds without sacrificing delicious dinners, reach for Speedy High Protein. Designed by nutrition coach Fraser Reynolds, each dish is low calorie and ready in under 30 minutes. • Speedy High Protein by Fraser Reynolds, £22, available from Waterstones BANGERS AND MASH PIE 593 calories | 34g protein | 67g carbs | 21g fat YOU’LL NEED: • 900g potatoes, peeled and chopped• 10-12 sprays of light cooking oil• 8 reduced fat pork sausages• 3 red onions, sliced • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped• 300ml beef stock • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce• 4 tbsp onion gravy granules• 1 tbsp dried herbes de Provence• 2 tbsp light soft cheese• 1 tbsp light butter• 80g light Cheddar, grated • Salt and pepper TO SERVE: •…

Karen Davies, 56 Letting out an enormous sigh, watching the sunset meant that I could finally relax. In that moment, my hubby Myles and I had no worries at all. We didn’t have the stress of our corporate jobs looming over us – nor the mess of our Isle of Man home renovations. Celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary together in 2015, we’d swapped the rat race for New Zealand instead. It was pure bliss – especially as we had hired a motorhome to hit the open road and explore together. As a kid, I’d always loved family holidays in our caravan. Myles and I had bought a motorhome in the past, too. Only, we reluctantly sold it so that our busy England lifestyle could take priority. Freedom had to take…

Carla George, from Banbury Booting up my laptop, I tapped out my password into the bar. I had just plonked down at my desk in my home office, ready to start a day of remote work in my role as a criminology field researcher. As soon as I clocked in that morning, on 12 September 2023, my phone started ringing. ‘Hello, Carla speaking,’ I began, launching into my first client call of the day. Only, as I was on the call, a huge bang echoed from upstairs, startling me and echoing throughout the entire house. What the hell is that? I thought, feeling a little shaken. I lived in a quiet, residential area, the occasional noise of aeroplanes whirring overhead on their way back to Heathrow was the only small…

FRESH AS A DAISY Even though the January blues may be in full force, there’s no need to feel glum. As the National Garden Scheme’s Snowdrop and flower gardens are open! With snowy white scenes, plan a day out to remember. As you arrive at your nearest NGS location, your entry price will support nursing charities across the UK. After walking around the garden to get some inspo for your own green haven, it’s time for a cuppa. With yummy bakes and soups on offer, warm yourself up from the inside out. Before you leave, you could even pick up a plant for your own garden, too. Wrap up warm and enter January in full bloom – you’ll feel fresh as a daisy. • To find a garden near you, please…

Erin Gibson, 45, from London Dishing up a mouthwatering Sunday roast, I placed a plate of chicken, veg, roasties and gravy in front of my daughter Morgan. ‘I can’t eat that,’ she said. ‘You’re not on another diet, are you?’ I sighed. ‘You’re perfect as you are.’ Morgan had been on and off diets for years, her weight constantly yo-yoing. She’d lose weight, but then put it back on when she went back to eating normally – the cycle continued. On the larger side as a child, I knew she’d grow out of her puppy fat. But starting secondary school, some of the kids picked on her – calling her nasty names, it got so bad that I had to move her to a new school. She thrived there, but…

Eliza Fletcher was a force to be reckoned with. Lovingly known as Liza by her friends and family, the 34-year-old seized every opportunity in life. Playing soccer for the University of Memphis, she kept up her sporty side as she graduated with a degree in education from Baylor University and eventually became a kindergarten teacher. You might even say Liza was a born athlete. From childhood teams to college competitions and even running marathons as she got older, she loved nothing more than a morning jog with her friends. It seemed like her energy and zest for life had no limits. An unwavering Christian, faith was also important to Liza – in fact, she and her husband Richard met at Second Presbyterian Church, and in time became parents to two…

Natasha Page is an experienced psychotherapist, business coach, counsellor, writer and founder of My Little Therapy Box. She is an accredited member of the BACP and is passionate about mental health and supporting others. To find out more, please visit: natashapagemsc.com and bacp.co.uk He’s making himself ill Q My son is workinghimself silly. I’ve never seen him so ill. Although he is doing well in his role, he’s ruining the rest of his life. I want to help him, but I don’t know how. Help me please! Kathleen, Gloucester A It’s heart-wrenching to see a loved one working themselves to the point of exhaustion. And your concern for your son’s wellbeing is entirely valid and natural. It sounds like it may be helpful to have a supportive, non-judgemental conversation with…

This convenient Marmite is back – and here to stay!…

As the saying goes ‘no pain, no gain’ – start the year as you mean to go on. Motivate yourself by sweating in style. There’s no reason why you can’t look, and feel, the part… Coordinate your sports athleisure for a put together look!…

Kelly Spampinato, 32, from Bristol Ready to put a load in the washing machine, I bundled the dirty clothes inside the drum. And luckily I had my handy helper, picking up the odd socks at my feet. ‘Thank you,’ I cooed to my daughter Millie, then one. Even though she was little, she loved to help around the house. The same could be said for my eldest Hollie, now 11, and son Oscar, seven, too. I needed all the help that I could get, juggling three children as a single parent. I’d give Millie a wet wipe so she could swipe the table and she’d sweep up grime from the floor with her own brush. Only, I kept all my adult cleaning products away from her. ‘Mummy does this bit,…