Innehållsförteckning för 8 January 2026 från Chat

After a scary trip to the doctor, Jess managed to lose a serious amount of weight and get her health back on track (p30). All good, apart from now she had a wardrobe full of clothes that no longer fit. So Jess went from shopaholic to super seller and made big money flogging her old big clothes – and that was just the start… Her story has inspired me to tackle my bulging cupboards and have a good clear-out. Why not join me? Who doesn't need the extra cash in dreary January? Have a great week,…

As my eyes opened, my bedroom filled with light and I saw my boyfriend standing before me, holding a plate. ‘What's this?’ I beamed. ‘Breakfast in bed,’ he said. Pete, then 34, handed me the fluffy French toast with syrup, fruit and a dusting of sugar. He'd woken up first thing and bought all the ingredients. How lucky can you get? I thought, tucking in. My heart and mind raced with shock and revulsion It was 2017, and Pete and I had been dating for a year since meeting online. I was a single mum to Ollie, then 12, and Pete had swept me off my feet. He owned a company doing camper-van conversions. He was a big chap but he was a gentle giant, so kind and attentive. ‘You…

What do actors Harry Connick Jr and Jason Momoa have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. ACROSS 1 Exposed and barren (5) 4 Discretion (4) 6 Absurd (8) 13 Motives (7) 14 Dried grapes (7) 15 Stop (5) 16 Greasy (4) 17 Next to (6) 18 Mystery (6) 20 Surfaced walkway (4) 21 Pinafore (5) 22 Decayed (6) 25 Perpetuity (8) 28 Muscular contractions (6) 30 Large animal (5) 32 Wealth (8) 34 Scanty (6) 35 Paper quantity (4) 38 Begrudge (6) 39 Cowboy's leggings (5) 40 Relating to society (6) 43 Podium (4) 44 Deserves (6) 45 Guardian (8) 48 Defence plea (5) 49 Bob Marley's music (6) 51 Unevenly balanced (8) 54 Lacking fresh air (6) 55 Rubbish, informally (5) 56 A continent (4) 58 _ Twist, Dickens novel (6) 60 Bleach (6) 61 Pimple (4) 65 Hoodwinked (5) 66 With difficulty (2,1,4) 67 Shipping hazard (7) 68 Nudism (8) 69…

Q I got a small burn on my hand from a firework spark. It's red and blistered. I immediately ran it under cold water and gently pat it dry, but it still hurts. What should I do? Amy, Chagford A You did the right thing by cooling the burn quickly – that's the most important first step. It was sensible to be gentle when drying it too. Next, it's best to cover it with a clean, non-stick dressing, like a sterile gauze pad or a special burn dressing. For small burns, you usually don't need to put cream underneath unless your GP advises it. Change the dressing daily and watch for signs of infection like redness, swelling or pus. Don't pop any blisters – they protect the skin underneath. You can…

1 Dial down the temperature It might be freezing outside, but having the radiators blasting at night can hinder your slumber. ‘Sleep follows your core body temperature cycle. It goes up until about 10.30pm, then it drops,’ says Dr Michael Breus, aka the Sleep Doctor. ‘The drop is a signal to release the sleep hormone melatonin, so you need the drop to make sleep happen. If it's too hot, no drop, no sleep.’ Naturally too toasty at night? Wear loose-fitting pyjamas and choose bedding made from natural fibres, such as cotton. 2 Tidy up ‘Your bedroom should be the room that you sleep in – and that really is all,’ says neuroscientist Dr Rachel Taylor. ‘Anything else that gets in the way – like mess or piles of ironing – will only…

As we walked through the hospital towards the maternity unit, my husband Rhodri, then 38, and I both grinned. ‘Not long now and we'll be a family of four,’ he beamed. It was October 2022, and I was 38 weeks pregnant with our second child. A baby brother or sister for our little girl Carys, then 2. Recent tests had revealed there could be an increased risk of complications with the birth. So I'd been booked into the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff to be induced. I felt in safe hands. Now, with Carys at home with my mum, Rhodri and I were ready to welcome our little one to the world. While he juggled a baby carrier in one hand and a hospital bag full of nappies and…

What's wrong with mum? Q My sister and I think our mum might be going through menopause. All we know is that she shouts, cries and won't tell us what's wrong. We love her, but we feel helpless and a little scared. We don't know how to support her when she won't let us in, and we're worried about what's happening to her. Marrisa, 22 A Poor mum is probably fighting her own mind, love. Menopause can be a rollercoaster. She's not broken – just transforming. Be there for her. She needs compassion and presence. There are resources available for her, too. Reassure her that you can get through this together as a family, petal. A show-off and proud Q I have a good life. I love it, I enjoy…

3 ways to… Change your money mindset Altering how you think about finances can have a positive effect. 1 Focus on you Ever feel like you're missing out on things you wish you could afford? For example, when you see a friend's photos of a lavish holiday on social media. Instead of dwelling on what you don't have, focus on your own goals so you can make clear, confident decisions about your money. Rather than thinking ‘I can't afford that,’ reframe it as ‘I'm choosing to use my budget to save towards my goal.’ Remember, while some people genuinely have more money, there are others who may be living beyond their means just to keep up appearances. 2 Never too old If you find managing your finances challenging, the good news is…

As the hairdryer suddenly stopped, I heard a voice calling me from upstairs. ‘Mum, come up!’ my daughter Kiea shouted. ‘Coming!’ I said, taking the stairs two at a time. It was 31 July 2023 and an exciting day for Kiea, 17. She was getting ready for her high-school graduation ball, later that evening. Her sequinned red ball gown had been hanging, pride of place, in her wardrobe since she'd bought it online. And that morning, she'd been up at the crack of dawn, plucking and priming. She'd applied her fake tan, painted her nails and now she'd blow-dried her hair until it shone. As I admired how she'd styled her long brown locks, I couldn't help but tear up at how beautiful she looked. ‘So grown up!’ I told…

Pantene Grow Abundant Anti-Hair Loss Scalp Serum, £20, Boots An effective treatment to help prevent hair loss by improving scalp health. Patience is key – it'll take a few weeks to see a difference. Discover Warm Neroli Eau de Parfum, £16 for 50ml, M&S The much-loved scent range has been repackaged in new luxe-looking bottles. We love the neroli scent for the warm, inviting feeling it creates – it's perfect for this time of year. No7 Good Intent Skin Sip Bouncy Eye Cream, £12.95, Boots We love the texture of this eye cream, which sinks in instantly and leaves eyes looking immediately smoother and firmer. Lee Stafford Colour Guarded Lamination Spray, £10.99, Boots Give your hair a glass-like shine with a mist of this spray, which also protects from heat…

Dear Sarah, Can you remember a time before cancer? It's difficult, isn't it? So young when it first struck in Summer 2000. Just 8 years old, after feeling a weird sensation in your left leg, doctors diagnosed you with Ewing sarcoma. A rare type of bone cancer. Chemo followed – 17 rounds of it. And surgery to remove your fibula. Then, radiotherapy. You were desperate to run around the garden with your two older sisters. But hospital rooms and medics had become your new normal. Mum, Lorena, then 38, spent all day with you, reading books together, playing games. Swapping with Dad, Norman, then 41, overnight. ‘Why me?’ you always asked. ‘Something good will come out of this one day,’ Mum promised. You weren't keen on talking about your feelings…

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Throwing my bag in the boot, I hugged my friend goodbye. It was December 2018 and I'd been staying at hers for the weekend, seeing a gig. Aged 30, I was single and, when I wasn't coaching gymnastics for work, I loved seeing pals, hitting the town, making the most of life. Now, though, driving home to my mum Peggy, then 58, and dad Gordon, 58, I felt rough. A case of the flu, I thought, as my head pounded. By the time I arrived a few hours later, I felt even worse. Mum and Dad were at work so my grandparents popped by to check on me. ‘We're taking you to hospital,’ my grandma Martha, 82, said, taking one look at me, curled up in my parents’ bed, shivering.…

When Joseph Hartsfield told his family he'd found love again following divorce, they were delighted. Joseph, a father of one, had a zest for life. An old romantic, he'd always wanted someone to love, who'd love him back. Relatives thought he'd found that in Sarah, then 46, who he met online at the end of 2021. And in February 2022, after a whirlwind romance, the couple married. Joseph's sister Jeannie hoped that Sarah would help take care of her brother. He'd had diabetes since his mid-20s and Jeannie worried about complications. But while she was caring and smart, Sarah had a complicated past… Joseph, then 45, was Sarah's fifth husband. Her first two marriages had been short-lived and she went on to have four children with her third husband. Then,…

What word can mean to lower (a sail), extinguish (a light), submerge in water and discern the location of something? To find out, solve the puzzle… Enter the answers to the clues in the grid. Every word is an anagram of its neighbours, plus or minus a letter. Read the shaded squares in number order for the prize answer. 1 Political hostility that stops short of fighting (4,3) 2 One lacking courage 3 Mass of people 4 Large black bird 5 Expression of surprise 6 Apple centre 7 Gain a point in sports 8 Compels 9 Consult together WIN 3 x £50 Puzzle 8 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles…

Whenever Carly Runkey, 25, walks into a room, she fills it with energy. Sassy and glam in her tight-fitting gown and heels, she's always had a big personality and bags of self-confidence. Amazing, considering she is only 3ft tall. Carly, from New Jersey, was born with Morquio syndrome type A. An extremely rare form of dwarfism, affecting only about one in every 200,000 births. But she refuses to let it hold her back. From walking fashion show catwalks to being a charity ambassador, Carly embraces every new opportunity. ‘My biggest motto in life: don't even try to stop me,’ she grins. And one of her greatest supporters is her older brother Ed, 29. ‘My relationship with my brother is really amazing,’ Carly says. ‘He's someone that always includes me and…

Stood in front of the mirror, I twisted and turned. No matter what pose I struck or what I sucked in, I wasn't happy with what I saw. After having my kids James and Izzie, then aged 5 and 4, my weight had ballooned to 16st, and I was size 20. As a single mum, I'd wanted the kids to see me healthy so I'd hit the gym, changed my diet and lost 3st 7lb. Now, in August 2024, I was 12st 7lb and a size 12. Only, I'd been left with loose skin on my stomach and arms. My huge G-cup breasts hadn't shrunk either. Weeks later, a friend mentioned she was having surgery in Turkey. ‘A mummy makeover,’ she smiled, telling me about her plans for an arm…

WIN £500 Puzzle 16 The answers to all but one of these quiz questions can be found hidden in this wordsearch 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 answer. COLUMBIA 1 The Canadian province of British Columbia borders which other province to the east? (7) 2 Which fort in Columbia, South Carolina, is named for a US Army general who went on to become the seventh president of the United States? (7) 3 First released in 1993 as a promotional single, Columbia is the fifth track on the debut studio album of which English Britpop group? (5) DISCOVERY 4 Founded…

PS… Scented Lip Scrub, £1.30, Primark Chapped lips? A lip scrub will help buff away the dead skin from the surface of your pout, for a smoother, softer surface. Doing this will also clear the way to help your lip balms work better. This bargain is available in five flavours, all of which leave lips kissably soft. Cheek & Lip Blush, £4, revolutionbeauty.com Add a pretty flush of colour to your cheeks and lips with this handy multitasker. The balm blends into skin beautifully, and wearing the same shade on both your lips and cheeks creates a really cohesive, stylish make-up look. It's available in a deep plum, vivid red or a perky pink.…

Coffee or tea in the morning? It's got to be a coffee – a latte specifically. The perfect way to start the day with a nice boost. It gets me set up and ready for whatever's to come. Do you have a pet? Not now, but we used to have a family dog called Timmy. He was the best companion and friendly with everyone. Who's your best friend? I don't have one best friend, but several people I can rely on. One is Emma. We've been close since college in 2008 and we've shared loads, including nights out, trips and general chats putting the world to rights. I'm also godmother to her child. What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to do something in sport, as I…

Staring at the single pink line on my pregnancy test, I wiped away a tear. Negative again. By November 2017, it was a familiar sight. Me and my husband Sherry, then 32, had been trying for a baby for three years. ‘I think we should get checked out,’ I told Sherry. In January 2018, we contacted the Care Fertility Clinic in Birmingham. After tests and scans, the consultant had news. ‘You have polycystic ovary syndrome,’ she said. A condition affecting how the ovaries work. Although pregnancy wasn't impossible for me, it meant it was much harder to conceive. They were all created as embryos on the same day We agreed to start IVF. I had more tests and scans and took hormones to get my body ready. Then in July,…

My hubby Michael, then 39, opened the front door and I felt a flutter in my tummy. ‘Another delivery?’ he teased, handing me a parcel. ‘It's just a few dresses,’ I said sheepishly, heading upstairs to try them on. It was June 2024 and I'd ordered myself four identical, baggy dresses. As much as I loved to shop, I'd bulk buy the same frock in different colours and prints. They were the only dresses I'd found anywhere that flattered my size 24 frame. At 22 stone and 5ft 5in tall, I couldn't remember the last time I'd actually been to a clothes shop and tried on something that fit. I'd always been big, but after having our three kids, Rose, then 13, Edward, 11, and Thomas, 3, I'd piled on…

Top tip Swap the sardines for tinned tuna if you prefer. Tin-tastic puttanesca bake A store cupboard pasta bake that's filling and good for you too! SERVES 4-6 PREP 15 MINS COOK 35 MINS 2tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, finely chopped 2tsp garlic paste Pinch chilli flakes, plus extra to serve 28g tin anchovy fillets 2tbsp capers 100g pitted olives, halved  Zest ½ lemon, finely grated, plus extra to serve 250g orzo pasta 2 x 400g tins cherry tomatoes 160g tin sardines, drained Small bunch basil or a few tbsp pesto (optional) 125g ball mozzarella, roughly torn 40g Parmesan, finely grated 20g fresh breadcrumbs 1 Heat the oven to 200C Fan. Heat the oil in a large ovenproof sauté pan with a lid. Add the onion and cook over…

Aries 21 March-20 April Make sure you don't leap before you look. Caution is needed with any new venture, so do your research before making any and all major changes this week. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May If you are feeling confused or indecisive, find out the facts, then make an informed choice. By blending logic with intuition you will decide the best way forward. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June The Moon in Gemini gives you the opportunity to talk over all your hopes and wishes with a friend. Start making your dream a reality this year. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July The Moon in your sign helps you organise your home…

Q My skin is so sensitive in the winter – why is that? And what can I do to help it? Maggie Golding, Sheffield ACold weather dehydrates your skin and central heating also takes all the moisture out of the air, leaving skin even more parched. And going from extreme cold to very warm rooms causes a double whammy of dehydration and sensitivity. The best thing you can do is to keep your complexion quenched. Use hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, and humectants, like glycerin and urea, which help lock the moisture in. Q+A Skin Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum, £6.95, qandaskin.com is a brilliant bargain that hydrates deep into skin cells and leaves your skin looking plump. Try a super-nourishing night cream. Cetaphil Hydrating Night Cream, £16.50, sephora.co.uk, locks in…

Chat winners issue 39 (25 Sept 2025) £1,001 CASH J Walker, Doncaster £500 CASH J Dean, Stoke-on-Trent D Rimmer, Hull £250 CASH J Fox, Birmingham J Morrice, Aberdeen £200 CASH W Ketton, Nottingham £100 CASH A Ruddick, Prudhoe A Javanbakht, Stourbridge S Sime, Warwick £75 CASH P Wells, Washington £50 CASH L Herrod, Margate P Bingham, Peacehaven Y Rowland, Hartlepool B Adams, Bristol W Lee, Birmingham C Barnett, Manchester £40 CASH B Waterhouse, Bristol £30 CASH E Hawkins, Sittingbourne R Phillips, St Helens £25 CASH L Bland, Guisborough T Conaghan, South Croydon Anyone from your town in the list this week..? £20 CASH T Johnson, Stoke-on-Trent M O'Donnell, Barking B Kierle, Bridgwater M Gray, Marlow J Yapp, Telford C Fisher, Conwy A Stordy, Ipswich S Lulham, Worthing M Allen, Wisbech R Grady, Lanark P Murden, Chelmsford M Picton, Haverfordwest J Warcup, Bridlington K Thomas, Winsford S Raybould, Cheltenham J Brett, St Leonards on Sea C Pattimore, Cwmbran D…