Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2025 i Chat Specials

Welcome to the March issue of Chat Monthly, with a brandnew look! You’ll notice a fresh design and fab new features and faces – a big welcome to agony aunt Nelly (p24) and Dr Dallas (p30)! All your faves are here too, including fun puzzles, tasty recipes (p40), quality fashion (p8), bargain beauty (p44) and top home buys (p34). Plus pages of real-life reads, like Georgy, who makes money from her fuller figure (p22), and Emma and Lucy’s journey to becoming mums (p10). Plus if true crime’s your thing, there are some chilling cases to delve into. So what are you waiting for? Get stuck in!…

Emma Spencer, 35, Benfleet, Essex Watching my fiancée inject a needle into her leg, I flinched on her behalf. ‘You’re so brave,’ I told Lucy, then 27. It was December 2022, and this was what starting a family looked like for us. I’d popped the question two months before, but we’d decided we wanted to start a family before the wedding. Despite working as a paramedic, I’d always been terrible with pain, so I felt daunted by the idea of birth. ‘I’ll do it,’ Lucy had said. Now, she was taking the fertility drugs, hormones and pain in her stride. It’d been a rough ride. After finding a sperm donor at a clinic in Brighton, we’d tried two rounds of intrauterine insemination, where the donor sperm is placed directly in…

Overstaying his welcome Q My friend’s getting his kitchen and bathroom done and has asked to stay with me and my family. I’m happy for him to stay for a week while the essential works are done, but he wants to stay for a month! I tried to explain it would be disruptive for us, but he didn’t get it. What can I do? Phillipa, 34 A You must be a lovely friend or he wouldn’t have asked to stay. But there’s a fine line between a good friend and a pushover. Talk to him again – and this time be blunt. Discuss logistics, housework, privacy, even financial contributions. As I say, you’re a good pal – and the best friendships are honest. Good luck. Scared to hurt new love Q…

Katie Stevens, 51, from Slaley, Northumberland True-life PATIENT CASEBOOK Opening my eyes, I glanced around my bedroom and breathed a sigh of relief. I’d survived another night. It might sound dramatic but, since having my first epileptic seizure 20 years before, I went to bed afraid I wouldn’t wake up. It was March 2016, and I’d lived with epilepsy ever since I’d collapsed on the platform at Birmingham New Street train station. Back then, I was just 23. I had a good job and my own flat. I was shocked when tests showed I had epilepsy. I was put on medication to control the condition. But they were so strong that I couldn’t become pregnant while I was taking them. I could no longer either drive or drink alcohol. I…

Thick & fast Enhancing your eyebrows can take years off your overall look. If your brows are naturally sparse or you’ve over-plucked in the past, adding some extra depth can instantly bring back definition and structure. Use a fine pencil like Revolution Precise Brow Pencil, £4, lookfantastic.com, to lightly draw short lines in the same direction as your natural hair. For something even easier, try sweeping over a gel tint like Milk Makeup Kush High Roll Brow Tint, £24, Boots, which has a tubing technique to envelop and thicken each hair with colour to create the illusion of more volume that will last all day. Brush up Fluffed-up brows have been hugely popular over the past few years and the bigger and well-groomed shape can give your face a youthful…

CODE CRACKER Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker describes his first time listening to songs by which artist as ‘a mind-blowing experience’? To find out, solve the puzzle… Fill in the grid. Each letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number from 1 to 26. When you’ve completed the grid, the shaded squares will spell out the two-word answer. We’ve given you four letters to start off. Your answer WORD JUMBLE In which Ed Sheeran song does he express a hope that Irish musician Damien Rice is proud of him? Unscramble each group of letters to discover six songs by Ed Sheeran. Now fit them across the grid and you’ll spell out the answer to the question. 1 ELI MOVE VEG 2 FORGET AWL  3 AHEM ETTA  4 LEST ALICE 5…

CODE CRACKER ANSWER: LEONARD COHEN FILL ME IN ANSWER: CORIANDER JUMBO PUZZLE ANSWER: CONFERENCE PEAR THE BIG QUIZ ANSWER: PUMPKINS WORDWISE Beech, beer, bide, bier, birched, birdie, bred, brede, breech, breed, bride, cede, cere, cered, cheer, chide, cider, cred, creed, cried, deer, dice, dicer, dicier, dire, eider, heed, heir, herb, herd, here, hide, hied, hire, hired, iced, icier, rebec, rebid, reed, rice, riced, ride  ANSWER: HERBICIDE LINKWORDS PEOPLE, STONES, REPEAT, FRIEND, LETTER, POCKET, WASHED, MATTER, POTATO, RUBBER ANSWER: CATHEDRALS CROSSWORD ANSWER: DETERGENT CIRCLE TIME ANSWER: RUST WORD JUMBLE ANSWER: ERASER…

Karen Ashmore, 56, Manchester After pegging T-shirts onto the washing line in my garden, I turned my attention to the wheelie bins by the back gate. ‘You two are a bit scruffy,’ I sniffed. It was late May 2024 and, with the sun finally shining, I wanted my garden looking spick and span. Ready for my 10 grandkids to come and play. Grabbing a brush, I filled a bucket with disinfectant and water and leant right into the bins, giving them a thorough scrub. By the time I’d finished, they were gleaming. Only, I was covered in dirt and grime! Later, after a shower, I climbed into clean pyjamas. Then got on with my usual night-time routine, checking my bedroom for cobwebs and creepy crawlies. I flapped the duvet, and…

On a hot and sunny afternoon, a group of teenagers were busy exploring Alki Beach in Seattle, Washington. It was 19 June 2020. The teens were having fun with an online trend called ‘randonauting’. Using a phone app, they’d generated random map coordinates, which had directed them to the beach. As part of the game, they were supposed to film a video at their random location. Spotting a suitcase perched on rocks at the shoreline, they went to take a closer look. Joking that the suitcase might contain money or even treasure, they started filming. But what started off as innocent fun soon took a much darker turn. They later uploaded the footage to TikTok… The video showed a girl scrambling across the rocks. Inching closer to the suitcase, she…

Shira Javaid, 51 The sound of bass boomed from my son’s bedroom. My mum Jai, 74, looked at me, half laughing, half rolling her eyes. ‘It’s OK, I’ll go,’ I told her. I made my way upstairs and tapped on Sachin’s door. ‘Too loud?’ he asked and I nodded, sitting on his bed. He turned the dial down, carried on packing his clothes into a huge suitcase. ‘I’m going to miss you,’ I told him. ‘Me too,’ he replied, giving me a big squeeze. It was September 2022 and I’d been a single mum to Sachin, 18, and his sister Aimee, 16, since 2006. Until Sachin was 8, we’d lived in London. Then, in 2012, we’d moved to New York to be with my mum. The kids loved their grandma,…

Can I still enjoy a drink? Q I’m 45 – why can’t I handle booze like in my 20s and 30s? Jenna, Swanage A As we age, our bodies respond to alcohol differently. Our liver’s ability to break it down slows, prolonging its impact, while medications can interact with it, amplifying side effects. Also, our body composition changes, with more fat and less muscle, leading to higher blood alcohol concentrations. Women also metabolise alcohol slower than men, and hormonal changes can make it hit us even harder. Moderation is key. Drink plenty of water before, during and after drinking, space out drinks, and pick lower-alcohol alternatives. Back agony Q I’m 54 and have been struggling with persistent back pain recently, especially after long periods of sitting or standing. Any advice?…

B&M Chic monochrome Go for a simple black scheme, softened with creams and browns, for a luxe look Ikea Modern neutrals Make a palette of beige and white pop with plenty of wooden accents…

Cheat’s chicken biryani So quick and simple, this tasty curry is not only cheaper but healthier too SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 50 MINS ● 1tbsp olive oil● 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs● 2 onions, cut into wedges● 150g ready-made biryani sauce or other curry sauce● 150g basmati rice● Handful of coriander, chopped● Poppadoms, to serve 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan. In a wide ovenproof pan or casserole, heat the oil, then season the chicken and brown on both sides. Transfer to a plate. Add the onion and fry gently for a couple of mins to colour slightly. 2 Put the chicken back in the pan with the biryani sauce, rice and 4tbsp water. 3 Stir to combine, bring to a simmer, then cover and cook in…

Serena Ashington, 32, Walsall, West Midlands One moment the sun was peeping over the horizon, the next it was high in the clear blue sky, making the waves below shimmer. And I was watching it all from the top deck of a luxury cruise ship. How was this my life? It was August 2021 and I had just set sail on my first 12-week contract on the ship, working as an on-board nurse. It was an exciting time in more ways than one. After years of yo-yo dieting, I’d managed to lose 2st on the keto diet. At 11st 7lb, I was finally happy with my body, and the size-12 bikinis I’d packed in my suitcase proved it. For the next three months I’d be helping holidaymakers as the cruise…

Rebecca Moss, 37, Stretford, Greater Manchester As I walked into the bar and made eye contact with a tall, dark and handsome stranger, I giggled with relief. ‘You look exactly like your photo!’ I grinned. ‘You too!’ he laughed. It was December 2016 and I’d met Tom on a dating app. Now it was our first date and I wasn’t disappointed. As well as handsome, Tom, 33, was funny and kind. He had a job at a recycling plant, worked weekends for a charity supporting young people with autism. A nice bloke and gorgeous, I thought. Thankfully, he was just as keen on me and from then on we were inseparable. In time we bought a house together and did it up. And in November 2022 we started trying for…

UP TO SIZE 32 TRENCH COATS A timeless piece for a reason, this flattering belted design will cinch in the waist for a gorgeous hourglass silhouette. The perfect transitional jacket when a light layer is required. your shape or size, these classics are timeless RELAXED TAILORING No longer just for the office, relaxed tailored trousers are a staple. Dress down with trainers, loafers or ballet pumps and cosy knits. It can be worth getting these altered if you’re petite. LIGHTWEIGHT KNITS Light enough to be worn under jackets, draped over shoulders or tied around your waist. Larger busts can undo the top buttons of a cardigan to create a flattering V-neckline. MIDI DRESSES A midi dress with sleeves is the ultimate throw-on-and-go staple, helping you to create a fuss-free outfit that…

Michael Dudley, 64, was convicted of murdering his tenants Austin Wenner, 27, and Jessica Lewis, 35. The victims’ families cried quietly as the jury’s verdicts were read out at the end of the trial, in December 2022. Dudley was later jailed for 46 years and eight months. ‘Michael Dudley made the choice to kill, dismember and dispose of my son and Jessica’s bodies, changing our lives forever,’ said Austin’s grieving mum Charleen Kriens. ‘He deserves to spend the rest of his life without freedom – without free will. Please keep our communities, our family, our friends, our children and our pets safe from Michael Dudley.’ Jessica’s aunt Gina Jaschke called Dudley ‘a master manipulator’ and said she was grateful to the authorities who worked on the case against him. ‘I knew in…

Georgy Thomson, 31, Rossendale, Lancashire With a hot, deep-fried king prawn between my teeth, I chomped down, closing my eyes in pleasure. Looking at the spread of foil cartons in front of me, I salivated at the thought of what to go for next. It was June 2023 and I’d ordered a Chinese takeaway to soak up the booze from the night before. But unlike previous hungover gorges, when I’d slob on the sofa in PJs, stuffing my face, this time I’d gone to the effort of slapping on some make-up, doing my hair and throwing on bright clothes. Made sure the lighting was just right. Because I was filming myself enjoying a feast of spring rolls, special fried rice and beef chow mein for my social media followers. I’d…

1 Reduce salt intake Salt may make food taste better, but you can have too much of a good thing. ‘Because of its sodium content, eating too much salt is linked to high blood pressure,’ says Ruth Goss, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation. ‘Limiting the amount you sprinkle on food can help, but the majority of salt we eat is in food products we buy, so cut down on processed meats, soups and sauces, ready meals and takeaways.’ 2 Stop smoking If you’re a smoker, it can be hard to give up, but it will do you the world of good. ‘Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, including lowering your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases,’ says Ruth. ‘Smoking…

Rachel Quail, 36, Darwen Scrolling through another dating app, I groaned. ‘This is pointless,’ I muttered, chucking my phone aside. It was April 2023 and I was feeling fed up with being single. Most of the men on dating apps only seemed to be after one thing. A busy mum to my 16-year-old daughter, I wanted a relationship. I’d dated someone for a bit after splitting from my daughter’s dad when she was 13. But now I was on my own again, looking for love. ‘It’s slim pickings,’ I confided to friends. I was lonely, but my family and mates picked me up. We’d go out drinking and dancing, having a good time. On Good Friday, my mum, then 57, invited me out to the local boozer, with her partner,…

When Patricia Townsend welcomed her newborn Bridget into the world, her life was changed forever. It was 26 June, and Patricia had given birth to her last child. Her only girl. She grew into a sweet kid, then a caring young woman. ‘Any time she saw an elderly person, she’d say hello. She could never pass a newborn child without saying hello. She was always giving people gifts,’ remembered her aunt Clara. ‘She was a beautiful person who loved life and loved people,’ said Patricia. So it was no surprise that, aged 18, Bridget had set her heart on becoming a nurse, and eagerly waited to find out if she’d got a place on a training course. On 14 January 2001, she dropped by the video rental store where her…

The Blackbirds of St Giles by Lila Cain (£18.99, HB, Simon & Schuster) It’s 1782, and having escaped a life of slavery on a Jamaican sugar plantation, Daniel’s military success fighting for the British in the American War of Independence assures him and his young sister Pearl freedom in England. But it’s a false promise. Poverty and life as outcasts awaits them in London’s St Giles, the dark alleyways of which are controlled by despot Elias and his henchmen. Can Daniel and his fellow Blackbirds, as they are known, defeat Elias and win back the freedom he was guaranteed? This captivating story of a little-known period in history is genuinely heart-stirring. Grandparenting by Terri Apter (£14.99, PB, Duckworth Books) Few moments in life are more joyful than the arrival of…

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Danielle Carr-Gomm was excited. It was October 2016 and she was on her way to a retreat with alternative healer Hongchi Xiao, at a beautiful English manor house. It was Danielle’s type 1 diabetes and lifelong fear of needles that had led her to seek Xiao’s help. A man she believed could cure her condition, which required daily insulin injections. Nothing was too ‘out there’ for the 71-year-old grandmother from Lewes, East Sussex. Not even the bizarre paida lajin therapy offered by Xiao, which he claimed could cure all sorts of health problems – including diabetes – by being slapped by him. Danielle first went to one of Xiao’s retreats in July 2016, in Bulgaria. She’d listened to him preaching how paida lajin could take away her diabetes. Her heart…