Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i Chat Specials

Have you got that holiday feeling? We have at Chat. We can’t wait to experience everything that July has to offer. From picking nature’s fruitful offerings to turn into glorious treats at home (pg10), packing beach bag essentials (pg44) and giving your home a taste of Italy (pg32), it’s a time like no other! And time is something that Helen (pg26) doesn’t want to take for granted. Hoping to travel the whole of the UK with her family in tow, she doesn’t mind if her funds run low. She just wants to be able to live life to the fullest – especially after a shocking diagnosis means that the future isn’t certain. And making life an adventure is something Adam (pg30) wants to achieve in memory of his fiancée, Annie.…

Leonie Waldock, 24, from Chatham Walking into my local cafe, the man stood behind the counter had caught my eye. Meeting Nuno, 28, in the summer of 2021, I thought that he seemed lovely. We already knew each other through friends, and he was cheeky and charming. Bumping into each other a few more times, we started talking more on social media. And by November, we had progressed from a few flirty messages to meeting in person. While our relationship was not official yet, he introduced me to his family. I felt myself falling head over heels. ‘I think I’ve met the right person,’ I’d told my mum Ali, 49. Nuno was so caring. He would wake up early to make me breakfast and start my car before I went…

Rosemary Stokes, 73, from Birmingham Adjusting my red and white uniform, the clock was ticking closer to lunchtime. And at 11.45am it was finally go time. Watching as the dinner hall filled with the chatter of school children, I couldn’t help but smile. I loved my job. ‘Morning Rose,’ a child grinned from the other side of the counter. ‘May I please have the lasagne?’ And scooping them up a portion, alongside a pile of vegetables and pink sprinkle cake – yes, we still do that – I watched the kids fill their bellies with a warming, nutritious home cooked lunch. I’d always insisted the children called me by my first name. And when they’d cleared off back to the classroom, I had a strong sense of pride. The same…

Helen Wright, 40, from South Staffordshire Giving the last camping peg a final hit, it was a surprise that we’d managed to secure the tent without having a bicker. Exploring the great outdoors was something that me and my hubby Chris, now 39, loved to do. Chris couldn’t keep still – so we made sure to fill our weekends. Anything from going out for food, cinema trips to drinking and dressing up with our friends. Not only that, but we managed to get quite the reputation. We’d be the first ones on the dance floor – having a boogie. We were just a young couple who truly made the most out of life. Which was heightened when we had our son Oliver, now nine. Going on holidays together, we had…

Mina Alali, 26 Pulling up outside our local pumpkin patch in October last year, I turned to my boyfriend Alex with a huge smile on my face. I’d spotted something that made me very happy. ‘They have a petting zoo here,’ I grinned, excitedly. ‘Right up your street,’ Alex, 26, laughed in reply. My whole life, I’d had a real passion for animals. And at our home in Sacramento, California, Alex and I already had our pet pig Merlin, lizard Muffy and three rats. Call me Dr. Dolittle, I never turned down the opportunity to snuggle with some cute critters. And I couldn’t wait to see the petting zoo. Only walking in, it was absolutely horrifying. The zoo was in total chaos. The animals were in distress and unruly kids…

Hayley Jennings, 46, from Redhill, Surrey Boiling the kettle, I poured two fresh cuppas. One for me, and one for my husband Vince, 52. ‘Here you go,’ I said, passing over his brew. Then I started making dinner, put on a laundry load and wiped the kitchen surfaces. For me, it was just another day of completing all our usual household chores. All while Vince relaxed on the sofa, glued to the telly. But he wasn’t being lazy, lounging around. Vince physically couldn’t help me. He was paralysed. Yet for us, it never used to be this way. Working as a scaffolder, Vince always used to be active. Only in August 2018, he took his bike to work. He couldn’t help me anymore On the way home, he was involved…

LUXE FOR LESS Ted Baker Illuminating Dry Body Oil with Shimmer, £10, Boots For a true dose of luxury, this new illuminating body oil is truly divine. Nourishing and infused with macadamia oil, it will leave the skin glowing with a shimmer. In a decadent rose and orchid scent, this is a summer delight. PS… Wild Azalea Perfume, £6, Primark Said to be the ‘perfect’ dupe for Gucci’s Flora, Wild Azalea is a great floral scent for summer. Fun and fresh, it will truly brighten up your day. Lacura Silk Scrunchies, £4.99, Aldi You can’t beat a silk hair scrunchie. However, they can be costly – setting you back £30! Well, Lacura at Aldi are back with another amazing dupe. For less than a fiver, these scrunchies are gentle, durable…

Una Cooper, 64, from West Hallam, Derbyshire Picking up my phone after I’d finished my swim, I knew what I was going to find. I made it, my boyfriend David, now 62, messaged, attaching a photo of him at Gatwick Airport. With a pint in hand, he was happy as Larry. However, even though he’d booked an £18 flight to Shannon, Ireland, he had no plans to catch the plane. The only thing he needed was his handy Wetherspoon checklist and a cold beer. As David had a mission in mind – an idea that started almost five years ago. Walking down the high street of wherever we had decided to travel, there was one thing that David repeated. ‘I’ve been to that pub,’ he’d point at the local ‘Spoons.…

Muddy mayhem My son’s car got stuck in the mud on a recent camping trip – so much for British summertime! Clare, Dorset Birthday bash My dad and uncle were clearly impressed with this cake I made for my mum’s 50th birthday. It went down a treat. Leah, Chepstow It’s tini time! I went for a girly catch-up with my friend, which of course involved espresso martinis. They’re our favourite drink. Emily, Cornwall Lavender haze How gorgeous are these lavender fields in Radstock? Definitely worth a visit – I picked some up to take home, too. Ann, Bath Tucking in There’s nothing I love more than a good, weekend brunch – to me, avocado and halloumi are a match made in heaven. Kate, Sidmouth Family reunion It was lovely to catch up with the extended…

Somehow, I found the strength to get to the office. My back was in so much pain, I could barely walk. ‘We need to call the police now,’ my manager said. I knew I couldn’t look back. Nuno was arrested that same day and taken into custody. I can’t remember what I said to the police, but I was still terrified he would come after me. But the worst part of all was telling Mum. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ she burst into tears. I’d saved pictures of all his attacks on my iCloud, and with Mum by my side as I showed the police, it must have been horrible for her to see. ‘I thought he would come after you,’ I told her. ‘I just wanted to protect you.’…

Georgina Sturmer is a counsellor and member of BACP. She helps women to understand what is holding them back from being happier and more confident, making them resilient in their life and relationships. Please visit: georginasturmer.co.uk No kissing allowed! Q My mother-in-law insists on kissing my newborn baby. I’ve told her to stop but she won’t listen. How can I get through to her? Becca, Loughborough A Having a baby is a time of change and transformation for all our relationships. This means navigating and balancing a new set of needs, demands and decisions, too. In this case, it sounds like you have made your choice clear to your mother-in-law, and she is refusing to adhere to your requests. Can you enlist the help of someone else to ensure that…

Brothers Festival Apple Cider is the official cider of Glastonbury Festival again this year!…

SWEET EATS Celebrate summer with these tasty desserts from Bake Off finalist Sandro Farmhouse – who’s on a mission to share his love of baking in this indulgent and uplifting book of yummy bakes. • Good Vibes Baking: Bakes to Make Your Soul Shine and Your Taste Buds Sing by Sandro Farmhouse, £20, Waterstones • Follow Sandro on Instagram: @sandrofarmhouse RAINBOW CRÊPE CAKE YOU’LL NEED: FOR THE CRÊPES: • 230g plain flour• 25g sugar• Pinch of salt• 2 eggs• 1 egg yolk• 550ml whole milk• 50g unsalted butter, melted• Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet gel food colouring• Vegetable oil, for frying TO ASSEMBLE: • 600ml double cream• 100g icing sugar• Fresh fruit of your choice HOW TO… 1. Add the flour, sugar and salt to a bowl and make a well…

Paulette Earl, 38, from Leeds Hauling yet another family sized pack of Coke into the car, anyone would have thought we were having a party. The same could have been said if anyone was to look at our recycling by the end of the week. As there must have been at least 50 tins of bright red full-fat Coke amongst our household waste. Only, I couldn’t stand the stuff. Our eldest Harry, now 14, and twins Charlotte and William, both 13, weren’t keen on fizzy drinks either. There was another culprit. As sitting spread out on the sofa, sipping away, was my partner Bryn, now 48. A sight I had been used to seeing ever since we met at work over 17 years ago, before we had the kids. Even…

1. Hiking It’s easy to forget that something as simple as walking can have amazing benefits. With every step along your hike, you’ll be engaging and strengthening the major muscle groups including the quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteal muscles. Hiking also helps to strengthen the core and back muscles, too, especially when hiking on rough terrain or a steep incline. So if you’re looking to improve the strength in your legs, take to your nearest nature reserve for a hike in the great outdoors. Or you could try upping the incline on the treadmill at your local gym. TOP TIP: Struggling with mobility? Pre-plan your hiking route so you can choose a flat surface with benches along the way, or find accessible pathways, too. 2. Skipping Often disregarded as a children’s…

Spiral crossword The Russian reality TV programme Zavod offers contestants the chance to win a job working where? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will then spell out the two-word answer. 1 European castle (7) 2 USA spelt out in full (6,6,2,7) 3 Top man in the Church f England (10) 4 School science subject (7) 5 According to the old saying ‘Beauty is only - - -’ (4,4) 6 Sneak thief who steals items from the clothes you’re wearing (4,6) 7 Words of gratitude (5,3) 8 Portable rain shield (8) 9 Ocean that surrounds Madeira, Azores and Bermuda (8) 10 Country’s major city (7) 11 Proverbially, this broke the camel’s back (4,5) 12 Flour making building powered by blown sails (8) Your answer…

Try and opt for linen fabrics to stay cool in the summer sun Big trend alert: expect leopard print to be huge this season…

It’s crunch time… To keep your veggies crunchy, attach a spoon or fork alongside your vegetables and place in your fridge drawer. You’ll find that they last a lot longer and won’t go soft or mushy. Tallulah, London Packed lunch If you’ve going an all inclusive holiday, bring a tub in your case. You can stash buffet food away to eat when you’re out for the day. Maddie, York Bug off Burning coffee granules keeps flies and mosquitoes away during hotter months. The smell will deter them. Place in your hotel room or on a patio table. Susanne, Devon Soak up that sweat To avoid a sweaty head when wearing a hat, place a panty liner on the inside rim. This will soak up any sweat and will also avoid makeup…

The Bookshop Ladies by Faith Hogan £20, WATERSTONES Even in death, new secrets can come to light. And this is the story of a widow in search of answers, after her dead husband makes a very shocking confession to her. Joy Blackwood has no idea why her art dealer husband would leave a valuable painting to a stranger living on the west coast of Ireland. But she is determined to find out, and heads to meet the mysterious person in question. Meeting the stranger – a woman called Robyn Tessier – in the small town of Ballycove, she’s nothing like Joy was expecting her to be. Robyn is shy and head over heels in love with Kian. She also runs a chaotic and unprofitable bookshop – she’s in desperate need…

Sharron Wilkinson, 52, from Huddersfield Peeling open the envelope, I eagerly unfolded the mystery letter inside. Scrawled in elegant handwriting, the letter detailed how the writer’s day had been and even divulged a little about their hobbies. There was a watercolour painting of a natural landscape inside, too. I wonder what this person looks like. From a stranger’s handwriting, I could always sense their individual personalities. After reading letters from volunteer writers across the UK, they all had one trait in common. Kindness. Watching the news in March 2020, when the pandemic hit, reports that care homes weren’t accepting visitors played on TV. While I didn’t have any relatives living in a care home, I was heartbroken that so many elderly people were unable to see their friends and family.…

FILM AND TV 1 In EastEnders this April, characters Jay and Honey ran the London Marathon 2024 to raise awareness of what? a Brain tumours b Breast cancer c Bowel cancer 2 Which film franchise holds the Guinness World Record title for the most false feet used by a costume department? a Harry Potter b Indiana Jones c The Lord of the Rings 3 What is the name of Miranda Hart’s best friend in her hit sitcom Miranda? a Tilly b Stevie c Amanda 4 George Clooney appeared in which 1988 horror comedy? a Return of the Killer Leeks b Return of the Killer Tomatoes c Return of the Killer Pumpkins 5 Which iconic Beyoncé hit does Liza Minnelli sing in Sex and the City 2? a Run The World (Girls) b If I were A Boy c Single Ladies SHOWBIZ 6 The…