Innehållsförteckning för 24 August 2023 från Chat

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TRUE-LIFE Stepping off the train in Florence, the warm air washed over me. Hauling my rucksack on to my shoulders, I grinned at my boyfriend Mac, then 25. ‘Let's explore,’ I said, as we left the train station. It was August 2022 and, aged 26, Mac and I were interrailing around Europe. We'd met online in May 2020 and, with our mutual love of camping and travelling, we'd hit it off. We'd already moved in together, discussed marriage and kids. But first, we wanted adventure. Wandering the Italian streets, stopping in cafes for coffee, eating pizza and people-watching… A couple of days later, I noticed a painless golf-ballsized bump on the top of my right thigh, under my bum. I'd had abscesses at the bottom of my back before. ‘Must…

YOU'RE THE JUD GE! With her shiny red curls and ‘megawatt smile’, Sarah Yarborough was unforgettable. The 16-year-old was described as having a ‘magnetic’ personality. Sarah was famous around her high school for often dashing through the classroom door and sliding into her back-row seat just as the bell rang. Only, her teacher could never mark her down as late – not after Sarah flashed that winning smile. Described as a ‘magical’ person, Sarah always had a busy schedule. When she wasn't racing between lessons at Seattle's Federal Way High School, she loved to dance. She was part of the school's dance squad. Early on Saturday 14 December 1991, Sarah had a team event to attend. With curlers in her hair, she drove away from home in her dad's car…

Q My doctor says my headaches are due to grinding my teeth at night. How can I stop? Chloe, Selby A Teeth-grinding is called bruxism and can happen night or day. It's more common in people with learning difficulties or children, though they usually grow out of it by their late teens. Teeth-grinding in adults is usually due to stress or anxiety, although side effects of drugs, such as cocaine, ecstasy and some antidepressants, are rare causes. Besides damaging your teeth, bruxism can lead to headaches and muscle pain in your face, neck and shoulders and if it happens at night can disturb your (and your partner's) sleep. Treatment might mean relaxation exercises to tackle anxiety or wearing a mouth guard at night. Help yourself by not smoking, drinking excess…

Although the term ‘smartphone’ was only coined the following year, what was the name of the IBM personal organiser, released in 1994, that is widely considered the first ‘smartphone’? Solve the crossword, then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Sudden burst of light (5) 4 City, _ de Janeiro (3) 5 Small deer (3) DOWN 1 Blaze (4) 2 Oak tree seed (5) 3 _ Simpson, animated character (5) WIN 4x £20 Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Overwhelmed with grief QMy best friend has just died from cancer and it's the worst thing I've ever had to go through. At the moment, I can't sleep, I cry all the time and I just can't get my head around her not being here anymore. Do you believe we go on somewhere else after we die? I just want to know that we'll see each other again one day. Eleanor, 49 A I'm so sorry for your loss, sweetheart. No one truly knows what happens when we die, but different things bring people comfort. Whether that's through religion or spirituality. But be patient with yourself, and take it hour by hour, love. And don't be afraid to talk about her, remember her. Don't ignore all those happy memories, pet.…

3 ways to… DECLUTTER FOR CASH 1 Get selling Whether you've got a loft filled to the brim with stuff or your cupboards are groaning, it's time to have a major sort out. Do you have home gym equipment you'd planned to use but never did, kids’ toys gathering dust or bags of baby clothes? Then try selling them online on eBay or local Facebook selling groups. There's a useful guide on how to sell on eBay at themoneyedit.com. Or to shift a lot of items quickly, why not try a car boot sale? Check carboot junction.com for any near you. 2 Find forgotten treasures One benefit of decluttering is that you might find things you'd forgotten about, whether it's a box of holiday clothes in the loft or gift…

18-24 August 2023 Aries 21 March-20 April Your bold, daring nature is in evidence this week. Others may see you as demanding, but you are just making your needs known. Always be true to yourself. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You are romantic, loyal and patient. Well, until someone waves that red flag in front of you. This could happen during the coming week, so try to stay calm. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Your need for intellectual stimulation is strong, and communication is important to you. Make time to share your feelings with those closest to you. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You are nurturing and intuitive, and you may be…

Q 1 have fine, flat hair – how can I add some texture? Fran Smith, 62, York A The best place to start is with your shampoo. Hair weighed down by product will always fall flat. Charles Worthington Everyday Gentle Micellar Shampoo, £6.99, Boots, gives hair a thorough cleanse in a weightless formula that spurs on lift. If you have wavy hair, you can enhance the natural texture of your hair with salt spray. Sprayed into damp hair, Bed Head By TIGI Salty Not Sorry Texturising Salt Spray, £10, Boots, creates soft kinks with zero crunch. On dry hair, dial up the drama with Umberto Giannini Texture Boost Volumising Dry Texture Mist, £7.75, Boots. Spray through the lengths and ruffle with your fingers to add extra body. It's like a…

Got any hobbies? There's nothing better than chilling out on the sofa with the latest episode of Love Island, and my cats of course! But I also like to get out and about doing outdoor gym fitness and weightlifting, as well as gardening. What are you listening to? Right now, I'm all about pop music – I love Little Mix and Girls Aloud, with their girl-powered feel-good tunes. But I'm also partial to some Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi too. What did you do on your birthday? I like to turn up the music and get dancing! For my last one, though, I took a trip to London with my cousin, where we went to the Sea Life aquarium. I had a wonderful time admiring all the incredible creatures, especially…

WIN £200 Puzzle 2 Danish act Safri Duo had a UK hit in 2001 with a song subtitled for what percussion instrument? The number next to the clue tells you which line the answer's in. We've put a section in to start you off! There may be two Across answers in one line. Down words fill themselves in. The shaded squares spell out the prize answer. 1 Cut of pork (5,3) 3 Variety of lettuce • TV, radio, newspapers etc 5 Large black bird • Small depression in a surface 7 North African country • Metallic element 9 Computer accessory Your answer:…

TOPS STYLE TIP Perfect for elevating denim. Wear with shorts or layer a shirt over your swimsuit for a Hawaiian-inspired cover-up. TROUSERS STYLE TIP These high-waisted trousers will elongate your legs. Just tuck in a plain tee and finish with wedges for extra height. BAGS STYLE TIP Ease yourself into the trend with a tropical tote. The lightweight, roomy bag will lift your look, on and off the beach. FROM £7 DRESSES STYLE TIP An instant head-turner, a vibrant print dress needs minimal styling. Keep accessories neutral with a woven bag and tan sandals.…

True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Feeling the familiar cramping sensation, I tried not to cry in agony. It was autumn 2000 and I was 16. Like most teenagers, I dreaded my periods every month. But not because they got in the way of holidays or my social life. It was because I'd vomit or pass out with the pain. Feel run down, lethargic, nauseous and bloated. ‘Take some painkillers love,’ Mum always said. But the pills didn't touch the sides. None of my mates had symptoms like this. I couldn't understand why I did. ‘Just growing pains,’ my GP reassured me. I hoped they were right, but over the years my symptoms got worse. I became a totally different person during my time of the month. My husband of 15 years, David,…

When the sun's out, kicking back with a good book is the perfect activity when we've got five minutes of peace. We're sharing the Chat team's top summer reads to get lost in while soaking up those rays… No Plan B, by Lee Child and Andrew Child Real life editor Lianne says: ‘While I love a slushy romance I also can't resist the latest Jack Reacher thriller. This is the 27th book in the series, but you can read them in any order. Reacher is a giant, invincible exmilitary cop with a heart of gold and surprising sex appeal. In No Plan B, he witnesses a woman shoved in front of a bus. He uncovers a sinister conspiracy, and you won't be able to put it down.’ Sex Robots &…

Top tip There are many varieties of tomato. Try mixing cherry tomatoes with some large ones or yellow ones, they will look great on a serving platter. Tomato and halloumi salad This Cypriot cheese is delicious on its own, but the spice brings it to the next level! SERVES 4 PREP 5 MINS COOK 2 MINS ● 250g halloumi, sliced ● 4tbsp olive oil ● Small bunch mint, plus 1tbsp finely chopped ● ½ red chilli, finely chopped ● 1tbsp balsamic vinegar ● 2 garlic cloves, crushed ● 400g cherry tomatoes, halved 1 Mix the halloumi with 1tbsp oil, the chopped mint and the chilli. Pour the remaining oil into a jar, add vinegar and garlic, then shake to combine. 2 Heat a barbecue or griddle pan. Barbecue or grill the…

TRUE-LIFE Staring at the stopwatch on my phone, I watched the seconds turn to minutes. ‘Well, what does it say?’ my boyfriend, Jonny, then 27, asked eagerly. Nervously, I turned over the white stick and gasped. ‘Positive, I'm pregnant!’ I cried. It was January 2016 and me and Jonny, originally a neighbour of a mate, had known each other years. Love had blossomed a few months earlier. I loved his silly sense of humour, someone I could truly be myself around. Still, we hadn't planned a baby quite so soon! ‘I can't wait to be a family, though,’ Jonny grinned. As my bump bloomed, Jonny and I bounced baby names around. ‘I like Jack for a boy,’ Jonny said. ‘Or something a bit different, like Jaxon?’ I said. ‘Love it,’…

TRUE-LIFE Tying my white belt around my waist, I lined up with the others on the rubber mat. ‘Hello girls,’ our instructor said. ‘I'm Derek.’ ‘Hi, Sensei Derek,’ we all chorused back. It was summer 2003, and aged 12, I was at my first martial arts class at the club across the road from where I lived with my nan, Susan, then 42, and twin sister, Kayleigh. Later, with his hands on my hips to guide me into position, Derek flashed a smile, and asked about my home life. ‘I don't have a dad,’ I explained. ‘Just Nan.’ She'd got custody when Kayleigh and I were babies. ‘Must be tough,’ he said. As well as a martial arts instructor, Derek Hodder was the local handyman. Everyone liked him. Once a…

A peg above the rest When my tablecloth ripped, I decided to repurpose it as a waterproof peg bag – complete with a coat hanger, so it can be hung outside. Ann Jackaman, Norwich, Norfolk Power to the people My family is always bickering about whose phone charger is whose. So I just put a label on all of them, showing everyone's names clearly – no more arguments! Jodie Giblin, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan Easy squeezy If your recycling bin is always overflowing, like mine is, make sure you always squeeze down any plastic bottles before replacing the top to keep them nice and flat in the bin! Maggie Cobbett, Ripon, North Yorkshire £25 For every photo tip that we print Can-do in the loo I wanted to tidy up…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What do actor Olivia Wilde and singer LeAnn Rimes have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Fills a suitcase (5) 4 Entrance or way in (4) 6 Gifts (8) 13 Mirror (7) 14 Radioactive element (7) 15 Departs (5) 16 Badger's home (4) 17 Large lizard (6) 18 Dairy product (6) 20 Done, finished (4) 21 Toy bear (5) 22 Martial art (4,2) 25 Valuable hoard (8) 28 Young swan (6) 30 _ Starr, Beatles drummer (5) 32 Graveyard (8) 34 Unoccupied (6) 35 On a single occasion (4) 38 Planet with rings (6) 39 Heavenly being (5) 40 Commend highly (6) 43 Part of the ear (4) 44 Edible flat fish (6) 45 County in SW England (8) 48 Glow (5) 49 Intelligent (6) 51 City in Cumbria (8) 54 Select (6) 55 Backbone (5) 56 Concludes (4) 58…

I hate my stretch marks Q Since having a baby my tummy and breasts are covered in hideous stretch marks, how can I get rid? Rosie, Mansfield AStretch marks usually appear after you've put on weight quickly. This isn't just because your skin is stretched; hormones also play a part, which is why these marks are common when you're pregnant, breastfeeding or going through puberty – around 70% of girls develop some stretch marks at this time. People who take steroid drugs, including bodybuilders taking anabolic steroids, are also prone to stretch marks. Tummy and breasts are common places for marks if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, and thighs and buttocks in adolescents. The best treatment is generally time as most marks do eventually fade. Creams containing the drug retinol, chemical…

What adjective completes a Billy Connolly line from his 1985 TV special An udience With…: “[Religion is] the most ____ thing on television, except for the weather”? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Rotund = PLUM + P = PLUMP. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2x £25 Puzzle 9 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Brushing my doll's hair, my mind drifted back to its favourite subject. I wonder what he looks like? I thought. What does he like to play with? It was May 1979, I was 8 and once again daydreaming about my brother. For as long as I could remember, it'd always just been me and my mum, Janice, then 33. My dad, John Smith, had left when I was 4, and soon after, moved to Australia. Over time, Mum had heard that he'd fathered another baby. My half-brother. ‘All I know is that he's called Jason,’ she told me. When I was 15, Mum met my stepdad, Ken Brooker, who raised me as his own. We were a really happy little family. Yet my imagination ran wild, forever building up pictures of…

Nivea Q10 Power Targeted Wrinkle Filler, £13.99, Superdrug Co-enzyme Q10 helps support the skin's own production of collagen so that gradually wrinkles look softer. It also forms a hydrating film on the skin, visibly reducing fine lines in five minutes! PS… Retinol Night Cream, £5, Primark Retinol unclogs pores and revs up cell turnover to fade pigmentation and brighten the complexion. It can also make skin more sensitive to the sun so only ever apply this cream at night. Aveeno Skin Renewal Firming Lotion, £13.99, Boots No cream is going to magic away your wobbly bits, but this one definitely makes skin feel smoother and more toned. It helps to gently resurface skin so rough, bumpy patches feel silky soft. Avon Exxtravert Mascara, £11, avon.uk.com This is a versatile mascara.…

Chat winners issue 21 (25 May 2023) £1,001 CASH J Cowling, Goole £500 CASH J Cashmore, Smethwick J Wilkinson, Dewsbury £250 CASH S Olive, Lichfield G Brown, Stowmarket £200 CASH M Dodgson, Barrow-in-Furness £100 CASH H Trober, Bushey H Craigs, Bedlington A Bristow, Scunthorpe £75 CASH M James, Taunton £50 CASH D Logan, Glasgow L Mackie, Falkirk A Gordon, South Shields B Hogton, Rotherham R Roberts, Liverpool A Mann, Peterborough £40 CASH T Wilmot, Truro £30 CASH L Williams, Bideford C Stanway, Barnet £25 CASH K Lees, Llantwit Major K Parnell, StratforduponAvon £20 CASH C Jones, High Wycombe J Goodhill, Clacton-on-Sea C Haslam, Chesterfield J Barker, Chesterfield A Lewis, Swansea J Keeling, Chesterfield B Woodhouse, Sheffield B Walker, Norwich R Spike, Clacton-on-Sea E Leyden, Kilmarnock P Padgett, Sunderland S Thomas, St Austell S Johnson, Lowestoft K Warn, Hereford D Vaughan, Didcot A Harvey, Birmingham V Barnard, Shepton Mallet L Woodrow, Hitchin T Mendes, Leeds S Entwistle, Blackburn R Smithwhite, Paignton J…