Innehållsförteckning för 6 February 2025 från Chat

My heart was in my mouth reading William's mum Gemma's story (p24) about her boy's terrifying battle with life-threatening sepsis that saw him lose large parts of both legs plus nine fingers. It's hard to believe he was in such a dire state when you read about his amazing charity walks and see his photo posing with his impressive collection of prosthetic legs! He's living life to the full and has raised a whopping £10,000 for the hospital that saved his life. What a superstar!…

Ranem Elkhalidi, 26, Wirral, Merseyside Tucking my son into bed, I pulled his fluffy blue blanket over him. 'Can you read the animal book again, Mummy?' Ibrahim, then 6, grinned, snuggling his head against me. 'You bet,' I smiled. It was October 2022 and Ibrahim asked for the same book every night. I didn't mind. I loved our bedtime snuggles. Ibrahim was a loving boy. He liked school, had a talent for numbers. Popular, he loved playing football too, supported Liverpool like his friends. Me and his dad Hamzah had moved to Manchester from Saudi Arabia. Soon after, I'd given birth to Ibrahim, in March 2016. Hamzah studied computer science and I qualified as a chef. But as my career began to flourish, Hamzah resented my independence. He was older,…

On a roll I wanted to make these boring vases more exciting, so I decorated them with offcuts from a roll of frosted window film. As it's a static cling, rather than adhesive, it will be easy to remove if I want to change them. Sue Aldwin, Haydock, St Helens Going bananas Don't worry if the kiwi fruit that you buy are hard in texture. Put them next to some bananas and they'll be soft and juicy in no time. Janet Carney, Preston, Lancashire Lost no more My uncle was always misplacing his blue badge so I got a clear plastic wallet, punched a hole and threaded some string through it. Then I fixed a sticky-back hook inside a kitchen door to give the blue badge a home. Susan Williams,…

WIN £1,001 Puzzle 4 What do actors Colin Firth and Viggo Mortensen have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Vampire slayer played by Sarah Michelle Gellar (5) 4 Amphibian (4) 6 Farm vehicles (8) 13 _ Henry, former footballer (7) 14 Interrupt (7) 15 Unkind or unpleasant (5) 16 Hearing organs (4) 17 Neckwear item (6) 18 School class (6) 20 Cudgel (4) 21 Item of furniture (5) 22 Former Bond actor, _ Brosnan (6) 25 Asian country (8) 28 Nearer (6) 30 Part of a jacket (5) 32 Island nation formerly known as Ceylon (3,5) 34 Attractive (6) 35 Singer whose hits include Thank You (4) 38 Large spoons (6) 39 Type of syrup (5) 40 _ Biles, Olympic gymnast (6) 43 Long thin fish (4) 44 Rock band, _ Chiefs (6) 45 Views (8) 48 Type…

His snoring scares me Q My husband's snoring has got so bad that he now stops breathing and then gasps. He's grouchy in the morning and falls asleep in the middle of the day. What can we do? Susan, Lyme Regis A It sounds like your husband may have sleep apnoea. Symptoms include loud snoring, stopping and starting breathing during sleep and feeling sleepy during the daytime. This condition can cause health issues if not treated, so encourage your husband to get checked out by his GP. They may suggest a sleep study to monitor his breathing at night. In the meantime, there are some easy changes he can try, including sleeping on his side instead of his back, losing weight if he needs to, limiting alcohol and avoiding sleeping…

An Ishihara test and an HRR test are common methods to diagnose whether a person is what? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Musical manuscript = SORE + C = SCORE. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer. WIN 2 x £25 Puzzle 9 Musical manuscript Knight's tournament Charisma Stockpile Arrogant Comedy Deep black Flavourless Sand particle Ancient letters Ties tightly Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Scrounging sis Q My mum passed away, and suddenly my sister's crawled out of the woodwork. She's been estranged for 20 years, only popped back up last year asking for money, then vanished again. Now she's playing the caring daughter for our dad. He's already talking about splitting the inheritance 50/50 with her, and I'm fuming. I was the one here, looking after our parents. I know that Mum wouldn't want this. Lizzy, 52 A I'm so sorry for your loss. It's hard enough without family drama in the mix. Have an open conversation with your dad. Express calmly what you're feeling and what you believe your mum would've wanted. Stay composed as this will help your voice be heard, pet. You have every right to feel frustrated. Forgetful and panicking Q I'm finding…

3 ways to… check your credit Finding out what's in your credit reports is important. Here's how to get started… 1 Why it matters Credit reports are like your financial CV. They contain details about credit accounts you've held and whether or not you've kept up with repayments, your current and previous addresses and any financial connections you may have with other people, such as someone you share a joint account with. If you apply for credit, the lender will consider what's in your credit report when deciding whether to approve your application. There are three main credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. They each hold a credit report on you, so you should check all of them. Aim to check your credit reports regularly, at least once a year,…

Terri-Anne Russell, 32, Newport As I tucked into a juicy steak, drenched in homemade peppercorn sauce, I felt like I'd hit the jackpot. 'Delicious,' I said to my boyfriend Joshua, then 29. It was March 2020 and we'd met a month earlier on Snapchat. Not only was he handsome and great with my three kids, but he was a good chef too. Within four months he'd moved in. He had no kids of his own, but took so well to family life. Making lunch boxes and buying sweets for Kya, 8, and Kayla, 7. My youngest, Kaiden, 3, called him 'Daddy Joshua'. So when I found I was pregnant in December 2021, I couldn't wait to tell him. 'I already know you'll be a great dad,' I said, giving him…

Anyone from your town in the list this week..? Chat winners issue 43 (24 Oct 2024) £1,001 CASH C Armstrong, Crawley £500 CASH L Mulligan, Enniskillen I Nwosu, London £250 CASH J Barnes, Faringdon J Brolls, Dumfries £200 CASH V Green, Blandford Forum £100 CASH P Herrod, Bishop's Stortford K Pugh, Harlow C McDonald, Ascot £50 CASH Mrs Wilcox, Richmond R Humphreys, Powys D Bromley, Ludlow M Batchelor, London L Harris, Swindon L Bewley, Devizes £40 CASH J Lucy, Stevenage £30 CASH S McCann, Bootle S Padmore, Hove £25 CASH S Hopkins, Swansea G Ward, Peterborough £20 CASH C Harrison, High Peak J Davies, Filey H Palmer, Stockport E Aston-Rhodes, Bude A Yeoman, London L Appleton, Oldham A Hawes, Folkestone P Millington, Bedford LC Gammon, Ilfracombe S Marsh, Sunderland S…

Tracey Roberts, 57, Liverpool Pretty ringlets framed my girl's face as she flashed a cheeky grin at the camera. 'Like butter wouldn't melt,' I laughed. It was June 2001, and Jade, nearly 7, had just made her first holy communion. My little angel. With just two years between her and her sister Dannii, then 4, it made a change from the bickering! The girls were so close, and doted on their baby brother Jack when he was born two years later. But as Jade got older she retreated into herself. Me and her dad split and by the time she was 13, Jade was struggling with anxiety. I worried about her bottling everything up, not even talking to her sister. So I arranged private counselling sessions, which she had for…

YOU'RE THE JUDGE! Michael Morton had everything he could want. A beautiful wife, Christine, 31, and a happy 3-year-old son, Eric. In August 1986, there were no two people he'd rather spend his 32nd birthday with. They went out to a restaurant near their home in Austin, Texas. But Michael's birthday wasn't the only celebration. A few weeks earlier, Eric had undergone heart surgery. Now, with their little boy recovering well, Michael and Christine were looking forward to the future. The evening was perfect. Only, the morning after the meal, Michael wasn't in the best mood. Before he set off to work as a supermarket manager, he wrote Christine a note. Stuck it to a mirror in the bathroom. In it, he expressed his disappointment. Because Christine had turned down…

Gemma Stevens, 34, Worthing, West Sussex Introducing my new fella Jolyon, then 31, to Grandma Enid, then 87, she winked. 'He's nice,' she whispered. It was December 2022 and we'd only been dating for a few weeks. But Grandma's approval meant everything to me. She liked him so much, she even used their first meeting as an excuse to get her wedding photos out. 'I love your dress, Grandma,' I smiled. I'd seen snaps of her in the cream, knee-length, roll-neck gown before. Me and my twin sister Stella were always getting her albums out as kids. But though it was from 1958, it looked more elegant and timeless than ever. 'It's designer, I got it from Bond Street in London,' Grandma said proudly. She explained how normally she'd never…

Many Arctic animals, including polar bears and walruses, accumulate so much vitamin A in which part of their body that eating it would be fatal for a human? Solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the prize puzzle answer. ACROSS 1 Type of herb (5) 4 The night before (3) 6 Food shop (4) 7 Distant, remote (3) DOWN 1 Flying creatures (5) 2 Ledge (5) 3 Spike _, film director (3) 5 By way of (3) WIN 4 x £20 Puzzle 10 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Living with your ex-husband might sound like most people's worst nightmare. But for Megan, it made perfect sense. When she married Tyler in January 2020 and went on to have their daughter Ryann she had no idea the marriage would end in just a few years. By September 2023, the couple had divorced and Megan met her new partner Michael soon after. In September 2024, Megan and Michael had a son, Juniper. But they struggled with finances and the logistics of Ryann seeing her dad Tyler regularly. So Michael came up with the idea of them all living together. It'd save them money and Ryann would have her mum and dad living under the same roof. At first, everyone was against the idea. But when things didn't improve financially, Megan…

Q I'm looking for a new perfume – can you recommend options under £20? Joanna Livingston, Maidstone, Kent LETTER of the week! A The reality is that your favourite perfume might now set you back nearly £100, but there is a new breed of scents that won't break the bank and promises to smell just as good. One of our favourite brands for affordable fragrances is Marks & Spencer, and its newest launch is worth trying. Discover Warm Fig Eau de Toilette, £10, M&S, is bursting with juicy fig and decadent cassis, balanced with a hint of spice – it's the perfect winter perfume. Or maybe you'll prefer Zara Black Amber Eau de Toilette, £16, zara.com, which teams vanilla, amber and white musk to create a warming yet elegant scent.…

Lynda Strong, 50, from Cwmbran What piece of advice would you give your younger self? To not worry so much because when I was younger I was a terrible worrier, which stopped me doing things. You can't change things by worrying, so chill out! How did you celebrate your last birthday? I turned the big 5-0 in April and had a surprise party put on for me by my aunt and uncle at their house. It was wonderful, with just close family and my partner, and I was spoilt with cards and gifts, plus a gorgeous spread and a beautiful birthday cake. What's the first thing you'd buy if you won the lottery? After I'd made sure all family and friends were taken care of, I'd treat myself to a…

What word completes the title of a 1649 book by poet John Milton, The _ of Kings and Magistrates? 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 one-word prize answer. 1 Incentive 3 Employ • Lawn-cutting machine 5 Corrode • Soft drink 7 Potato, for example • The Murders in the _ Morgue, short story 9 Piffle WIN £100 Puzzle 2 Your answer:…

FROM £12 STYLE TIP Faux-leather trousers are a great base for a textured outfit. Mix with fluffy knits or sheepskin and padded bags. STYLE TIP Gilets add warmth and definition to any long-sleeved dress. Alternatively, try styling them with a Breton or wide-sleeved chiffon blouse. STYLE TIP A bomber-style jacket keeps faux fur casual and contemporary. Elevate your jeans or dress it up with flowing satin and patent leather accessories. STYLE TIP Whipstitch trims are a major winter trend. Layer this vest over a denim shirt with jeans for a cool double-denim look.…

Chloe Rollins, 38, Croydon, south London Racing up the pitch, mud covering my legs, sweat running down my face, I couldn't have been happier. Growing up, I'd been the sportiest girl on the block, and now, in 2009, aged 22, I was playing rugby for the Harlequins Ladies team in the Women's Championship. I'd joined while studying sports science at the University of Roehampton. Loved training and playing several times a week. A bonus was being able to eat whatever I wanted. I was very strict about my diet, but it meant I could indulge in the occasional sweet treat without worry. At 5ft 8in, I could guzzle chocolate and cake every day without going over 10st. After finishing uni, I trained as a PE teacher. Qualified and got a…

All for £2.39 per person Pork and black bean stir-fry Quick and delicious, you'll have this on the table in no time! SERVES 4 PREP 15 MINS COOK 10 MINS ● 225g pork medallions ● 1tbsp vegetable oil ● 2 green peppers, finely sliced ● 3 spring onions, finely sliced ● 100g black bean sauce ● 2tbsp rice wine vinegar ● 300g ready-to-wok noodles ● 1 red chilli, finely sliced (optional) ● 25g toasted cashews (optional) ● Coriander, to garnish (optional) 1 Put the pork medallions between 2 sheets of baking paper and bash with a rolling pin until around ½cm thick. 2 Heat the oil in a large frying pan until hot. Add the pork, peppers and spring onion. Stir-fry for 4-5 mins, or until the pork is cooked through. 3 Mix…

Aries 21 March-20 April It's important to distance yourself from negativity of any kind this week. Try imagining that you have an invisible cloak of protection around you at difficult times. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May It's time to let go of what is not bringing you joy. Make a commitment to release anything that is disturbing your inner peace and make sure this your priority. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June You are more in touch with the truth about a certain matter now. So listen to the insights you're receiving and find some alternative ways to walk your talk. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July With Mars back in your sign you…

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