Innehållsförteckning för 10-Sep-2020 från Chat

Laura McLean, 33, Glossop Gently shaking my husband Dale, 35, awake, I told him that I had to go to the hospital. ‘Is it time?’ he asked me excitedly. ‘No, it’s not the baby, it’s me,’ I sighed. It was July 2019 and I was 38 weeks pregnant. But ever since my maternity leave had started one week earlier, I’d been in constant pain. At first, my GP thought it was a urine infection. Then she’d noticed my blood pressure had been steadily rising, too. Yet when she’d referred me to my local triage unit, scans raised no red flags. ‘Everything seems normal,’ nurses said. My blood pressure came back worryingly high But then I’d started to get excruciating back pains. So bad, they made me sick and short of…

Basil El-Titi, 40, London Surrounded by brochures, my fiancée Urszula was deep in thought. ‘These are nice!’ she said, showing me a photo of a bouquet of white roses. ‘Perfect!’ I agreed. It was early 2018 and me and Ula, then 38, were planning our wedding. She was in her element, choosing colour schemes, rings, guest lists. And I loved to see her relishing each moment. I wanted her to have anything she desired. I’d met Ula in 2013 when we worked at a department store in London. She was confident, straight-talking. I think that’s what I liked so much about her. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go and get it. We moved in together. In 2014, Ula developed a persistent cough. Doctors assured us it…

Fuente García, near the town of Frías de Albarracín, is the source of which river? Solve the crossword, then read down the yellow squares. The yellow shaded squares will spell out the competition answer. ACROSS 1 Jack _, former Home Secretary (5) 4 Bond film, The Man With The Golden _ (3) 5 Actor’s signal (3) DOWN 1 Wise person (4) 2 Cattle farm (5) 3 Its capital is Cardiff (5) WIN £50 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

No more love Q My wife is wonderful but the love has gone. I was ready to leave, we discussed it – then came the blow that she had cancer. My leaving her has now been shelved. I’ll help and support her and our kids, but I don’t want to be with her any more. But how can I leave, now she has the big C? Friends will think I’m a big C. I want to carry on with life. What do I do? ‘Selfish’, 54 A What awful circumstances. It’s OK to no longer want to be in the marriage, and it sounds like there was no fall-out. Why not live in the same house, separately? Or leave, but visit daily to check in on her? Life is short. Love…

After a month of wallowing in self-pity, I decided enough was enough. Thinking back to how much I’d loved exercising, I wondered if I could give it another go. So I tentatively booked myself a session with a personal trainer once a week. At first, even trying to get in 10,000 steps a day felt impossible, never mind hour-long sessions with my trainer at the gym. But slowly, as the weeks went on, I felt a little more comfortable. Could go that little bit further. That’s when I turned my attention to what I was fuelling my body with. ‘There’s no point doing all this hard work if I’m eating rubbish,’ I told my mum. So instead of heading to the frozen-food aisle in the supermarket, I filled my trolley…

What term is used to describe a red cloud-like area of electrical discharge that can be observed above thunderclouds? 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 prize puzzle answer. 1 Citrus fruit (6) 2 Elated (8) 3 _ Jane, American frontierswoman (8) 4 Not as old (7) 5 Ask politely (7) 6 _ Never Dies, 1997 Bond film (8) 7 Clothes cupboard (8) 8 NE African country (5) 9 Men’s outfitter (6) 10 Rash, careless (8) 11 Food fish (6) 12 Roman god of the sea (7) 13 Unpredictable (7) 14 Applauded (7) 15 Heart of _, Joseph Conrad novel (8) 16 Wizard of Oz character (9) WIN £150 Puzzle 3 Your…

In June 2020, Smiljana Srnec was finally found guilty of murdering her sister Jasmina. During the lengthy court case, it was submitted that Srnec, 45, had once confessed to police. She’d admitted she’d been jealous of her younger sister. ‘She had everything, I had nothing. They gave her everything and nothing to me,’ she was said to have told police during an informal interview. She claimed her sister was treated better than her by their parents and she resented her for it. ‘I killed her! Beat her to death!’ she is alleged to have said to police in an interview. The court heard how she admitted grabbing the first thing she could find in a rage, a wooden beam. Then she apparently hit her little sister in the middle of the…

World health According to the British Heart Foundation, more than half of UK adults increased their screen time during lockdown at the expense of exercise, with surfing the internet and social media being the top activity (55%). The government recommends you should be exercising for at least 20 to 30 minutes a day. Swap and see Vitamins don’t need to leave a bad taste in your mouth! Try these gummies from Nutriburst, available in five different varieties, including vitamin C and vitamin D, all with a delicious fruity flavour (from £19.99, nutriburstvitamins.com). Pandemic pamper power Come on, own up, did you trim your own hair or perfect a pedicure during lockdown? According to a recent survey, the shutdown of salons not only turned many of us into DIY beauticians, it…

CHRISTMAS MURDER Landscape architect Joanna Yeates went missing on 17 December 2010, after a night out in Bristol. Her body was found on Christmas morning. In January 2011, Joanna’s neighbour Vincent Tabak, 32, was arrested. In May 2011, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder. However, in the October he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 20 years. MANHUNT FOR MOAT Days after being released from prison on 1 July 2010, Raoul Moat went to his ex Samantha Stobbart’s parents’ home in Gateshead. There, he shot her and her boyfriend Chris Brown. Chris died; Samantha, 22, survived with serious injuries. While on the run, Moat also shot a police officer. On 9 July, police cornered him in a park.…

Ratched NETFLIX Set in 1947, this prequel to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest sees Sarah Paulson heading a stellar cast as a younger Nurse Mildred Ratched (played by Louise Fletcher in the 1975 film) before she evolved into a sadistic tyrant in a psychiatric facility. Utopia AMAZON PRIME VIDEO Sasha Lane and Rainn Wilson star in this remake of the 2013 C4 series about a group of young adults who come into possession of a potentially world-altering graphic novel. But, as they discover that the conspiracy theories it contains may be real, they’re forced into the dangerous position of trying to save the world. This Is Going To Hurt BBC2 Ben Whishaw leads in this darkly comic drama based on Adam Kay’s bestseller. Junior doctor Adam struggles with 97-hour…

Q My nails are brittle and dry and they break so easily. How can I make them stronger? Sam Landgrebe, 58, Cheshire A Brittle nails can be caused by dietary deficiencies so do check your vitamin intake. Products to invest in include a nail treatment like OPI Nail Envy Treatment, £19.50. Apply it as a base coat and nails will be nourished by the wheat protein and calcium, leaving them strong and healthy. Adding colour on top can protect your nails from further damage. We love Sensationail Nailtural Colour Polish in Peaceful Peony, £6.99, Boots, as its vegan formula is gentle enough to wear every day. A hydrating balm is great to apply before bed to keep nails moisturised. We love No7 Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Care, £6.99, Boots. Getting…

£1,001 CASH E Senior, Durham £1,000 CASH S Best, Feltham £500 CASH C Brimble, Bristol; V Harwood, Sidcup £250 CASH E Kirk, Consett £150 CASH R Grey, Cheltenham £100 CASH B Hale, Lincoln; L Cooper, Worcester; A Ray, St Neots; L Higgins, Gloucester; D Thomas, Cardiff £60 CASH M Hockley, Peterborough £50 CASH A Braud, Birmingham; S Ahmed, Macclesfield; L Rose, Bedford £30 CASH M Stephenson, Peterlee; M Hinds, King’s Lynn; D Shields, Isle of Lewis; H Howard, Boston; C Swatton, Ipswich £25 CASH K Coe, London; C Ramsdale, Wigan; S Honap, Birmingham; Z Hart, Whitby; D Starkie, Southport; D Ison, Corby; J Handley, Caldicot; K Baker, Lincoln; L Beare, Peterborough Anyone from your town in the list this week..? All contributions to Chat must be original, not copies or…

What is US actor and rapper Awkwafina’s go-to coffee order? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the prize answer. ACROSS 11 Prefer (6) 12 Exactly the same (9) 13 Character from The Simpsons (4) 14 Place where the sick and injured are treated (8) 15 Keen (5) 16 Jason _, character played by Matt Damon (6) 17 State in the southern US (7) 18 Benedict _, Sherlock actor (11) 20 Sudden uncontrollable fear (5) 22 Not permanent (9) 24 Bob _, singer, musician and Nobel Prize winner (5) 28 Loss of memory (7) 29 Female siblings (7) 32 Device for taking photographs (6) 34 Football match that is not played at home (4,4) 36 See 38 Down 37 Repeats the same words…

How can I ensure a baby girl? Q I’ve had three boys and I’m desperate for a girl! Is there a way to improve my chances that really works? Ann-Marie, Donegal A Modern medical techniques can almost guarantee a boy or girl by separating male and female sperm before inseminating you artificially, or using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to implant embryos of one sex into your womb. But these are only performed for medical reasons. People have tried DIY techniques for centuries – Aristotle advised in the 3rd century BC that sex when the wind is in the north would boost your chances of a boy! Modern suggestions might sound more scientific, but don’t seem to carry any greater chance of success, be it timing when in your cycle to…

This stylish bracelet is yours free, simply by sending an 88p-stamped, self-addressed envelope with the completed coupon printed below. Team your bracelet with the matching gold-plated jewellery, including this stunning 32in double-string beaded necklace for only £7, or a faux-amber pendant on a 17in gold-plated snake chain for £6. Matching beaded drops and gold-plated stud earrings at just £5 for both pairs, complete the collection. The full set costs just £18, and if you order it all, we’ll enclose another jewellery gift – absolutely free! How to claim your free bracelet Complete the coupon and send together with a 88p-stamped self-addressed envelope and any payment to: LMS, Dept CHAT43, PO Box 998, Aylesbury HP22 9LE All applications must be received by Friday 16 October 2020. Please allow 14 days for…

Kirsten Aisbett, 30 Sitting on the sofa, I couldn’t stop crying. It was September 2016 and my husband Greg and I had just split up. After seven years together, two of them married, it was over. My marriage was in tatters. And my heart along with it. I’d first met Greg back in 2009, when we were 19. Young and in love, we spent almost all our time together. As a teenager, I was a keen swimmer and would head to the pool three or four times a week. But after meeting Greg, I started going less and less. We’d spend our nights cuddled up on the sofa. ‘Fancy a takeaway?’ one of us would suggest. Of course, the answer was always yes. And soon, my weight started creeping up.…

Crispy salmon fishcakes These fishcakes are perfect as a starter, or serve with steamed veg for a quick main meal. SERVES 4 PREP TIME 10 MINS COOK TIME 10 MINS • 180g pack hot smoked salmon fillets, flaked• 400g ready-made mashed potato• 3 spring onions, chopped• 2tbsp chopped fresh parsley• Finely grated zest ½ lemon• 3tbsp polenta• 30g mixed seeds• 3tbsp sunflower oil• Tartare sauce, to serve 1 Mix together the flaked salmon, mash, spring onions, parsley and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper and shape the mixture into 12 small fish cakes. 2 Mix the polenta and seeds together on a large plate. Press both sides and edges of each fishcake into the mixture to coat. 3 Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the fishcakes and cook…

Aries 21 March-20 April Your life is a whirlwind, but you need to unwind. Part of your life is moving in the right direction – maybe your career. It’s time your talents were recognised. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Enjoy yourself with friends and family. The more love and laughter you send out, the more your friends love your humour and know they can depend on you. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June What do you want from a relationship? Think before you jump in, or the waves could be too shallow for your intelligent mind. Look for the qualities you admire. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Why not pursue something outside your…

The answers to all but one of these quiz questions can be found hidden in this grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally. To help you, we’ll tell you that the answers are in alphabetical order in each section. However, one answer can’t be found in the grid. This is your prize puzzle answer. THE SILVER SCREEN – STEAMBOAT 1 The Maggie, a 1954 comedy set aboard a Clyde ‘puffer’ steamboat, was produced by which West London studios, known for black comedies? (6) 2 Which famous cartoon character made his debut in the 1931 short animation Steamboat Willie? (6,5) 3 Which 1951 musical film, set on the paddle steamer Cotton Blossom, featured the song Ol’ Man River? (4,4) WHERE IN THE WORLD? FERRY 4 Which river completes the title of…

TEXT Simply text CHATD followed by a space and your answer/s (spaces between answers please) full name, door number and postcode to 84988 Texts cost 50p plus standard network charge (maximum 160 characters per text). When you enter by text, you may in future get SMS marketing messages from Future plc and Chat. If you want to receive these, please end your text with OPTIN. Texting tips INTERNET Join our Chat Comp Club now and enter your puzzle answers directly online at our website address comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles Existing puzzlesandprizes members may need to re-register, just click on the ‘Join now’ button once you are on the website. PHONE Simply call 0906 470 7003 For every call to our competition Lucky Line, we’ll donate 10p to The…