Innehållsförteckning för 02-Sep-2021 från Chat

I decided to treat my adorable puppy Ember to her first puppuccino when visiting a coffee shop the other day. She definitely enjoyed it! Beth Lodge, Mirfield My son Amari and our brand-new dog Diesel are best buddies. Amari is obsessed with our little pup, but I’m pretty sure Diesel is loving the attention, too. Sian Salsbury, Cradley Heath How gorgeous does my mum Mary, 70, look in this Aran wool poncho that she knitted herself? It’s a piece of art and I’m so impressed by her craftsmanship and work. Joanne Campbell, Whitehead I love this family photo. Getting everyone to smile at the same time can be tricky, though, even with this inflatable photo frame to practise with! Barbara Walker, Brigg I’m not sure that my youngest son Decker…

On the upswing Our garden swinging seat has been used quite a lot by us and our Frenchie, Florence. The roof cover was old and split, and would have been expensive to replace. Luckily, we came up with a cheap alternative – a fitted double bed sheet. It fits well and is easily washed. Fiona Campbell, Woodhurst No more necklace nonsense Tired of all my necklaces getting tangled in the jewellery box, I decided to try hanging them on a non-slip clothes hanger. It works really well and I can see all my necklaces in one go rather than having to rummage! Kaye Richards, Worcester Screen saver To see your laptop or tablet screen better if you’re using it outside this summer, place it in a shoebox to block the…

Which period of history would US actor Billy Porter like to visit if he could time travel? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the two-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Prince _, the Queen’s late husband (6) 12 Unbiased (9) 13 Jump (4) 14 Benchmark (8) 15 Big cat with stripes (5) 16 Calls on (6) 17 Determine the size of (7) 18 Disbelieving (11) 20 Weak and delicate (5) 22 Pestering (9) 24 Theatre guide (5) 28 Spectacles (7) 29 Accompaniment to lightning (7) 32 American state (6) 34 David Beckham’s wife (8) 36 Barbecue fuel (8) 37 Railway vehicles (6) 39 Favours (7) 40 Maybe (7) 45 Group of students (5) 47 Ninth month (9) 48 Garden ornament (5) 51 Big…

Should I squeeze my spots? Q Everyone tells me not to squeeze spots, but what else am I supposed to do when I want to get rid of one fast? Alicia, Crosby A Acne zits are blocked skin glands which become infected and create a bead of yellow pus under your skin. It’s tempting to burst a spot by squeezing it to release the pus, but often this doesn’t much improve its appearance, and can lead to problems. You might force pus and bacteria deeper into your skin, leading to a larger spot or seeding new ones. Because squeezing tears a hole in your skin, there’s the possibility that other bugs might enter. And the risk of the spot healing with a permanent scar is much greater after squeezing. Acne…

DAD BURNT ALIVE Just after midnight on 5 December 2002, Wayne Trotter, 30, was travelling home from work. But when he got to the Farriers Way estate in Borehamwood, metres from the home he shared with his pregnant wife and child, he was doused in petrol. Set alight. Wayne hammered on neighbours’ doors for help. Before collapsing, he said, ‘They threw something at me. I was blinded and could not see a thing.’ Locals extinguished the flames, but Wayne died after suffering 90% burns. Despite an investigation and Crimewatch appeal, his killers were never caught. STABBED IN THE PARK Identical twin Anne Cook, 35, was murdered by a stranger in Watford in 2000. Anne, a web designer, was terrified of walking her King Charles spaniel Elvy without her sister Susan…

FILL ME IN Which singer covered Oasis’ Half the World Away for the 2015 John Lewis Christmas advert? Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 14 Your answer: CIRCLE TIME Which wild shrub has the Latin name calluna vulgaris? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles to find the prize answer. 3 letters ARM ELM HAM HER HOG HOP HOT POT USE 4 letters BANG CALM FEUD LIFE RASH REEL 5 letters CURLY DELAY ELECT MOUSE 6 letters APATHY BICKER BLEACH TROPHY 7 letters MELODIC USURPED WIN £100 Puzzle 15 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details…

3 ways to… stop overspending Fed up of getting to the end of the month and wondering where your cash has gone? Keep your spending on track with these easy tips. 1 Get organised The most important first step is to make a budget that covers all your essential outgoings for the month. Then see how much is left and plan how you’ll use it. It’s a good idea to allocate some to your savings; set up a standing order to transfer a sum you can afford to put away each month into your savings on payday. And beware of payday splurges; it’s natural to want to treat yourself when your wages hit your account, but if you’re not careful you could regret it. 2 Think about your priorities When…

Denise Randall, 55, Newmarket, Suffolk Soft, floppy ears, wagging tails – a faithful pal for walks and cosy evenings snuggled up on the sofa together... It’s easy to see why some 3.2 million households in Britain have got a pet since the start of lockdown in March 2020. With many of us at home more, the demand for puppies has soared. But, as adorable as a new canine friend might be, there’s a dark side. The demand for dogs has pushed prices sky high, with the average cost of a puppy being almost £1,900. And unscrupulous sellers have been making big money, breeding dogs without much care for the health of the mother or the pups. We speak to one woman who is determined to devote her life to helping…

Q I’m having real trouble sleeping at the moment – my mind just starts whirring. What relaxing pamper products will help me nod off? A There’s nothing more frustrating than lying in bed checking the clock every five minutes. A bath about an hour before bed is the easiest way to encourage a smooth drop off. The dip in temperature your body experiences is a signal that tells us we’re supposed to go to sleep. Sprinkle Dove Relaxing Care Bath Salts, £6.99, Boots, to up the sleepy ante with calming lavender and chamomile. Spend a few minutes massaging your skin from top to toe with Sleepy Body Lotion, £9, lush.com, a hydrating moisturiser with calming jasmine, lavender and ylang ylang. The act of kneading your skin before bed will also…

Chat winners issue 22 (3 June 2021) £1,001 CASH V Fieldhouse, High Wycombe £1,000 CASH K Gledhill, Huddersfield £500 CASH J Hughes, Northolt; R Dayan, Birmingham £250 CASH T Bradley, Hinckley £150 CASH J Sparkes, Littleborough £100 CASH E Winter, Bognor Regis; N Geldard, Grimsby; R Temple, Blyth; E Gomm, Loughton; J Maben, Stockport £60 CASH M McNally, Newcastle £50 CASH M Harwood, Bath; G Green, Waltham Cross; V Rumbles, Kendal £30 CASH A McSweeney, Newton Aycliffe; D McAleece, Dalkeith; G Matthews, Ely; J Fucchi, Hatfield; M Dodwell, Grantham £25 CASH J Easom, Leicester; D Cramb, Falkirk; K Merryweather, Oldbury; S Simmons, Ipswich; K Hall, Southsea; H Bowen, Rotherham; J Phelps, Hungerford; G French, Franklin; K Evans, Hastings chat PUZZLE 1 100 chat PUZZLE 2 STRANGE chat PUZZLE 11 878 Anyone from…

Jade Critchlow, 28, Liverpool Wandering through the shoe shop, my eyes were wide. ‘Pick any pair you want,’ my dad’s friend Billy Adams, then 38, said, grinning. It was May 2005 and I was 11. Billy had just moved to the area and had met my dad at a mutual friend’s house. Since my parents had split, I only saw Dad at weekends. Billy would usually be there, too, and he’d begun showering me with gifts – new clothes, trendy trainers... My parents never had much money, so it was a real thrill to be lavished with so many treats. The next weekend, Dad told me Billy had a surprise. ‘We’re going on a trip to Southport,’ he grinned. A holiday! I’d never been away before. When we arrived, Billy…

Jill Moss, 37 Hearing an almighty roar from outside my log cabin, I rushed to the window. ‘What was that?’ I shuddered, turning to my boyfriend Jason, then 48. ‘Probably just a mountain lion,’ he chuckled. ‘Just?’ I gulped. It was November 2016, and I’d just swapped city life for rural living in California, up in the mountains with Jason. After meeting through some friends, we started dating and he offered me work as a harvester on his smallholding. It was the change I needed from my hectic life working in hospitals as a phlebotomist, taking patients’ blood. My teenage daughters from a previous relationship lived with their dad, 15 miles away. I missed them terribly, but visited once a week. In the meantime, I spent my days in the…

On a rainy night in February 1991, Neda Mae Carter, then 38, said goodbye to her mum Zella before heading out. Less than two hours later, police responded to a call that an unconscious woman had been spotted in a Brooklyn park. At the scene, police found Neda’s body lying face up near the handball courts. She’d been murdered. Neda’s naked body was badly beaten and arranged in a crucifix position. Her arms were straight out to the sides and legs crossed at the ankles. Scrapes on her knees, hip and shoulder indicated she’d been dragged some distance to the place where she was found. Medical examiners discovered she’d died due to strangulation and bluntforce trauma to the head. Detectives visited Zella at the New York boarding house where she’d…

Abbie Harrison, 26, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Chatting with my half-sister Vicky, then 36, at her birthday party, we were interrupted by the cries of my baby son. ‘He’s not himself today,’ I explained, scooping Jenson into my arms. It was December 2017 and 3-monthold Jenson had been vomiting, was reluctant to feed. When he wasn’t any better the next day, I took him to the doctor. ‘Get him to hospital,’ she frowned. My partner James, then 26, picked us up and took us to Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon We were already worried. Then, when we arrived, Jenson went floppy in my arms. ‘Help!’ I yelled. Nurses flocked around us and whisked Jenson away. James and I were terrified – the doctors didn’t even know why Jenson was so poorly. He was put…

OVER TO YOU Can you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p3. There’s £20 for every one we use! This week’s puzzle was compiled by Debra Stapeley, Dover, Kent ACROSS 1 Lager 2 Lively party 3 A continent 4 Shout DOWN 1 Donkey’s cry 2 Move carefully 3 Wicked 4 Genuine WIN 5 X £25 Puzzle 6 Your answer: CHAIN WORDS To what family of birds does the yellowhammer belong? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: VO + ID, ID +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you the prize answer. WIN £100 Puzzle 7 Your answer: IN THE GRID Which musician is…

ARROW WORD What is the capital of the US state of Montana? Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer. WIN £1,000 Puzzle 10 Your answer: SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Solve the puzzle and the numbers in the highlighted squares will give you the prize puzzle answer. WIN £60 Puzzle 11 Your answer: WORDSEARCH Which of these money-related terms is also the nickname of an Agatha Christie character who co-founds Young Adventurers Ltd? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BOB CROWN FARTHING FIVER FLORIN GROAT GUINEA PENNY POUND QUID SHILLING SOVEREIGN…

Am I a bad mum? Q I’m a young mum and worry I’m not good enough. I went to a mother and toddler group but felt judged because of my age. Now my 3-year-old doesn’t get to meet other kids. I have a flat that’s a long walk from any park, and don’t drive. Everything else is expensive. How can I be a better parent? Annie, 20 A There’s nowt wrong with being a young mum – I was one myself – and it boils me up when folk assume that makes you a bad parent. If you’re being judged, you’re in the wrong group, simple-as. There are plenty more out there, so look around – search Facebook. You don’t need a bottomless bank account. Get creative and explore your…

Q What are the consequences for unscrupulous breeders? A The sentence for animal cruelty has been increased from six months to five years. Lucy’s Law also came into effect last year to clamp down on puppy farming and provide more detailed legislation about breeding. Q What should we consider when getting a dog? A The Kennel Club’s Find A Puppy search is great to find Assured Breeders, who are committed to responsible breeding and have been thoroughly vetted. Genuine breeders will be keen to meet you, introduce you to the mum and the litter, show you where the puppy was born, and let you visit them several times before taking a pup home. They’ll provide the relevant papers and health records, and ask you questions to ensure their puppy is…

It was the cutest scene – a brother and sister, just over a year apart in age, in the sweetie aisle of the local shop, choosing chocolate bars. Miracle Crook, 3, wearing pale-pink leggings and a vest top, following little brother Tony, 21 months. It was the morning of 22 May 2020, and the toddlers were at the shops with their mum Donisha Willis, 24. Just over two hours later, around 10.30am, the pair were seen on CCTV again. This time, Miracle and Tony were holding hands, walking down a grassy, tree-lined avenue near a block of flats in Tulsa, Oklahoma. But that’s where this sweet story ends. Because, this time, Donisha was nowhere in sight in the footage. And toddlers Miracle and Tony were never again seen alive, apparently…

TU at SAINSBURY’S All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP Team backless mules with cropped jeans to show them off. GEORGE at ASDA All sizes 8-24 STYLE TIP Add strappy sandals and a classic blazer for a dress to impress. F&F at TESCO All sizes 6-22 STYLE TIP Elasticated waists are comfortable and stylish. Make sure you tuck in a top to avoid bulk at your middle. NUTMEG at MORRISONS All sizes 8-22 STYLE TIP A belted jacket highlights your waist to give more shape. Wear over a midi dress.…

In March 2016, Andre Hatchett’s conviction was overturned after attorneys described it as a perfect storm of error and a systemic failure of the criminaljustice system. The Conviction Review Unit concluded that, following a thorough and fair review, they couldn’t support the integrity of the conviction. ‘Mr Hatchett was failed by almost every institution he came into contact with,’ said Assistant District Attorney Mark Hale. As the judge dismissed the indictment, Andre, then 50, smiled and applauded in a courtroom packed with friends and family members. ‘I’ve been to hell and back,’ he said, leaving the courthouse to celebrate over a steak dinner. ‘I’m so happy to be free again. I told my family I’ll be home one day, and they know I don’t lie to them,’ he added. He’d…

1 MYTH: Eat little and often Constant grazing is one of the main reasons health experts think that we have an obesity problem. ‘Try to stick to three balanced meals a day, without snacks, to help keep your weight under control and give your digestion a rest,’ says GP Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones. ‘Fasting – no snacking and/or prolonging the time between your evening meal and breakfast the next day – can help blood sugar, insulin levels and other metabolic processes.’ 2 MYTH: Cut carbs Carbs aren’t the reason you’re putting on the pounds – too much of any food causes weight gain. Just watch portion size and choose carefully. ‘There’s a huge difference between getting carbs from a white, sliced loaf versus wholegrain rice,’ says Harley Street nutritionist Kim Pearson…

Zevaeh tilted her head and looked at me, puzzled. ‘Does this mean that I have two mummies now?’ she said to me, smiling. ‘I guess it does!’ I laughed, flooded with relief. I could see she was completely unfazed. Within a week, she began to call me Mummy D. Overnight, it seemed the most natural thing in the world for her. And when I told her we could get our nails done together, she giggled with excitement. Now, with Zevaeh on board, I could finally start to transition. In June 2017, I started hormone therapy to introduce oestrogen to my body, which would alter my voice and give me the feminine curves I craved. And in July 2019, I legally changed my gender and name, choosing Chloe because it was…

Top tip Vary the trifle flavour to suit what you fancy – peaches and nectarines work well, too. Strawberry trifle cake Our delicious twist on a classic trifle will have you coming back for seconds... or even thirds. SERVES 8 PREP TIME 15 MINS, PLUS SETTING COOK TIME 5 MINS • 2 large flan cases, we used Edlers • 120g white chocolate, melted • 1 pack strawberry jelly • 150g strawberries, halved • 1x120g pot ready-made custard  • 600ml double cream, whipped to soft peaks • A handful each strawberries and raspberries, to decorate 1 Put one flan case on a plate to create a base. Cut out the centre of the second flan case so you are left with just the rim, stack on top of the base. 2…

Aries 21 March-20 April Consider what you’re looking for, as positive forces are vibrating around you. A new house, job or relationship – you can plan and manifest a new start. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May A task that needs your attention will be done with precision, and you’ll impress the right people. Arranging a special meal for a partner will go down very well. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Things have to be done properly, and a boss will see this. Especially when you question a manager whose plans don’t comply with the guidelines. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Make every second count as you look at the different sides of…

Lee Stafford Scalp Love Anti Hair Loss Thickening Leave In Tonic, £11.99, Boots Made with caffeine and ginger, this 3-in-1 treatment soothes scalps, delivers immediate oomph and helps thicken hair over time. Umberto Giannini Grow Scrub, £9.25, Boots Treat your scalp as you would your complexion. The scalp needs exfoliation, and increased blood flow to the follicles encourages hair growth. Massage this into the head before shampooing. Head & Shoulders Deep Cleanse Itchy Scalp Shampoo, £5.99, Superdrug Heat, humidity and sweat can make your dandruff flare up. This flake-fighting shampoo is enriched with peppermint, which soothes a hot scalp.…

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