Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2023 i Chat Specials

New arrival This is my puppy Milo. Up until this year, I lived in flats so we couldn’t have any pets. Since moving to a house, a dog was the first thing on my list! Michelle, Birmingham Cat paradise My six-year-old Jess made this den a tent in the garden recently of all her favourite cuddly toys. Our cat Pip loved it – maybe the cutest reading companion around? Yvette, Wrexham Morning greetings On our morning dog walk, me and my daughter always see the same horse on our route – we’ve named him Bonnie and I think he looks forward to our visits. Sophie, Glasgow In loving memory Here’s my 23-year-old cat PK before she passed away – this was her favourite position. We miss her badly apart from her yowling…

This May, it’s World Bee Day – a day created to raise awareness of the importance of bees. Bees are facing threats including habitat loss, climate change, toxic pesticides and disease, meaning their populations are in decline. So, what better time to celebrate them? A single bee can produce one tablespoon of honey in its lifetime SAVE THE BEES If you’ve seen The Bee Movie, you’ll know that there’s a poignant message in the cute cartoon – bees are essential to sustaining life. Without bees, we would lose all the plants that bees pollinate. Considering they pollinate 70% of the crop species that feed 90% of the world, that would be completely disastrous. Our supermarkets would have half the amount of fruit and vegetables, and life as we know it…

Hearing the clippity clop of feet bursting through the living room and a flash of yellow running past my eye, Belle was here. After watching Beauty and the Beast for the first time, my daughter Holly, then just under two, was instantly hooked. And after that moment she’d make up her own little dances wearing princess dresses, singing popular Disney songs around the house – something me and my fiancé Chris, now 37, would love watching over and over. From just eight months old Holly had always been very vocal, copying animal noises and saying ‘oh hot’ whenever anybody walked through the room with a tea – if anything, she was a very easy baby. Only, after coming home from my morning shift as a nurse in June 2016, with…

OUT IN CINEMAS 12 MAY The sequel to the 2018 movie Book Club is here – and the cast are back. Four best friends, Diane, played by Diane Keaton, Vivian, played by Jane Fonda, Carol, played by Mary Steenburgen, and Sharon, played by Candice Bergen, come together to take their book club abroad. They are heading to the Italian coast for a girls trip they have never experienced before. However, their fun holiday quickly turns into a cross-country adventure – will you come along for the ride?…

Hearing the rustle of cereal and glugging of orange juice from the kitchen, I padded downstairs. ‘Hi, Mum,’ my daughter Amber said, as she grabbed a bag of crisps for her lunch. ‘Morning, darling,’ I said, giving her a kiss. As her older sisters, Bethany and Faith, put on their shoes, Amber grabbed her school bag and slung it over her shoulder. ‘See you later, love you,’ she called out, as the three of them headed out of the door. ‘Love you,’ I shouted back. Heading to the window, I gave them all a wave as they jumped into their nan’s car for a lift to school. Amber, 12, Faith, 13, and Bethany, 16, all went to the same high school, while my son Jacob, then 10, went to primary…

Sitting by my dad at our family home, I took a deep breath. ‘Dad,’ I began. ‘I’m getting married!’ His eyes widened and he fell out of his chair. ‘I’m so happy for you,’ my dad Abdul, 64, beamed. ‘This is great news!’ My mother Safia was equally over the moon – I was 41 and knew that they wanted me to settle down. I had been living in Dubai for a few years and had previously spent seven years in Bahrain, and loved it, but I was now excited to spend some quality time with my family at our home in Leeds. I met my fiancée *Sara out in Dubai and we had planned to move nearer to the family after we tied the knot. Mum and Dad were…

GOOD HAIR DAY Shake up your hair game with Batiste’s Leave-in Dry Conditioner. It’s perfect for those days when you just want to get out! Designed to soften and detangle the hair in between washes, as well as leave a smooth shine – partner with your favourite dry shampoo for the ultimate refresh. £4.59 each, available from Boots. Choose from: Original: A classic fresh scent Blush: A flirty floral scent Tropical: An exotic coconut scent Step 1: Shake for a few seconds. Step 2: Spray into hands and rub between palms. Step 3: Run your hands through your lengths and ends of hair when dry. Step 4: Revive hair! Soft, shiny and detangled. SUMMER BREEZE Unwinding on May Day and celebrating the Coronation, there’s lots to look forward to this…

Opening the beautifully decorated wooden box, I was so excited to see what was inside. ‘What’s this?’ I asked my boyfriend Kallum, 24. ‘Look inside,’ he grinned. And ripping off the box, my heart melted when I saw the contents. Pulling out a CD of the soundtrack to A Star Is Born, it was so touching – A Star Is Born was our favourite film. Placing the CD down gently next to me, my eyes went back to the box where there was also a candle which had the scent Wedding Petals. But that was Kallum, he was always so thoughtful and romantic. And in August 2020, we weren’t even celebrating anything. We had met in November 2018, when I was 23 and Kallum, 21. I had been on a…

Heading to my room and closing the door, I lay down on my bed and took a letter out of my pocket. Poring over every single word on the page, I read it over and over again. It was from my mum Tina, 32. Having had me at just 19, life had been difficult for her and so from the age of six my grandparents had taken care of me. But Mum and I still had such a close bond and we saw each other all the time. We’d go on bike rides and picnics, she taught me how to swim and we made windchimes out of shells from the beach near our home on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. It was so wholesome. We also wrote a constant…

Jeepers creepers – have the come back around already?! Flower power season is back with a bang – we are talking geometric prints, bold and boho looks. Get your groove on with Very… • Shop online by visiting: very.co.uk A waistcoat is a versatile piece of clothing – dress up with a matching trouser or wear over the top of a patterned blouse for a boho outfit. When wearing flared trousers, they will naturally elongate your legs – so make sure you don’t go too big or puffy on top! Let the flares do the talking. Clog sandals are trending – they are a summer staple, too. Don’t be afraid to rock a pair of heeled sandals with shorts like all groovy chicks would!…

Sketching flowers, pathways and trees, I knew that I had a huge task in hand. Working on an RNLI garden at last year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show alongside Project Giving Back, I had only ever expected to help with one garden, moving on after that. Only, I found myself hit with a very pleasant surprise shortly after. Being asked to design a garden in collaboration with Myeloma UK, I couldn’t say no. With the belief that gardens are a transformative space, I wanted to create something that could really paint a picture – a personal paradise. And with the founder of Project Giving Back having a personal connection with myeloma, I knew that I had to show hope and resilience in my work. It was a privilege to say the…

Walking in between people huffing and puffing, I clapped my hands together. ‘Come on, you can do it,’ I shouted, helping a woman adjust her form. ‘Just a few more reps!’ There was nothing I loved more than seeing people exceed their expectations or beat their personal bests. I’ve always been into fitness, and had a successful career as a horse riding instructor – but I felt like I needed a change, so 20 years ago I trained as a personal trainer and started working for David Lloyd Clubs. I’m so glad I did – it’s been so rewarding. My clients range from eight right through to 80 and I love proving to people that fitness is for everyone – all you need is enthusiasm. From a personal perspective I…

Spring has sprung and it’s a great time of year to eat lots of greens! With Sorted Food’s Greens Galore pack, it couldn’t be easier to rustle up healthy meals in no time! To sign up to Sorted Food’s Sidekick App for more delicious meal packs each week, please visit: sortedfood.com ROAST COURGETTE AND ROCKET GNOCCHI WITH ROAST FETA SERVES: 2 YOU WILL NEED: • 2 courgettes• 2 cloves garlic• 4 tbsp olive oil• 75g feta • 1 tsp dried oregano• 500g pre-cooked gnocchi• 30g fresh basil• 60g rocket HOW TO: 1. Preheat the oven to 220°C. Fill a kettle with water and put it on to boil – this will be for the gnocchi later. 2. Coarsely grate two courgettes into a large roasting tray. Peel two cloves of garlic,…

On the Sunday morning of October 16 2016, Maria Lutz called her mum and they chatted about everything from different corners of the globe. Maria’s mum was in Bogota, Columbia, while Maria was in Sydney, Australia, where she now lived in a single storey home with her family. Maria, 43, had grown up in Bogota and missed her family, but loved her life in the suburb of Davidson near the coast. She was married to Fernando Manrique, and they had two children, daughter Elisa, 12, and son Martin, 11, who everyone called ‘Tin’. As Maria chatted to her mum about their gardens and family, Fernando, 44, was busy tinkering in his shed. It seemed like some of the recent troubles were behind them and while Maria knew her marriage was…

FILM AND TV 1 Which Netflix original film has been dubbed their most-watched film of all time? a The Old Guard b Glass Onion c Red Notice 2 Starring Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix, which 2005 film featured the early life and career of Johnny Cash? a Rocket Man b Walk the Line c A Star is Born 3 What is the name of the fictional town where Coronation Street is set? a Walford b Holby c Weatherfield 4 Craggy Island was the fictional setting of which TV sitcom? a Father Ted b The Vicar of Dibley c Rev 5 Which actress portrayed Princess Margaret in seasons three and four of Netflix’s The Crown? a Kate Winslet b Olivia Colman c Helena Bonham Carter SHOWBIZ 6 Who was Priscilla Maria Veronica White better known as? a Priscilla Presley b CeCe Winans…

Eleph-antastic We had the most amazing experience at The Green Elephant Sanctuary in Phuket on a recent cruise around Asia – the animals are cared for in a natural setting. Linda, Nuneaton Good neighbours When my eight-year-old daughter, Isobel, decided that she wanted to organise a cake sale to raise funds for our local animal charity, my neighbour stepped in to help! She even made some of her own crafts to sell to visitors. Marina, Chipping Norton It’s a pink one! Welcome to the world Lily Mae. After three gorgeous grandsons, we finally got a pink one! Lily was born in February this year. Carole, Bristol Down to the woods Every April, my family and I visit our local woods to see the dazzling display of bluebells. It’s always a sure sign…

There’s nothing better than the smell of a BBQ on a hot summer’s day, and it’s made even sweeter when you get to spend time with family. ‘Sausage or burger?’ I yelled to my son Lee, now 21, as he splashed around in the paddling pool, soaking up the glorious sunshine. ‘Burger please,’ he replied. ‘But can Dad do it instead? He’s better with the BBQ.’ ‘OK,’ I sighed, aware that my husband Simon, now 43, was a top chef when it came to the BBQ. ‘But then you’d better make sure there’s room for me in that pool!’ ‘Yes!’ Lee exclaimed, chuffed that he’d haggled his way out of an overly charcoaled burger. Thankfully, Simon was ready and waiting on a deck chair just metres away. My Simon was…

In a piece of research by a school rewards website, girls called Ella and boys called Jacob are the most likely to do what? 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 Arm joint (5) 2 Monster who ‘changes’ at a full moon (8) 3 Spacehip flown by a aliens perhaps (6,6) 4 Filled pasta parcels (7) 5 Turkish city once called Constantinople and Byzantium (8) 6 Young sheep (4) 5 - - - Quartet, close-harmony singing hairdressers (10) 6 One of 52 in a standard pack (7,4) 7 Completely knock down, a building for instance (8) 8 Bags carried into the cabin of a plane (4,7) 9 Capital of…

The luxury cruise ship Carnival Elation seemed like the perfect place for Tamara Tucker to celebrate her 50th birthday. It boasted a variety of bars and restaurants, lively entertainment and plenty of opportunities to relax, all while being sailed across the waters to sunny climes and back. Tamara’s family had treated her and her long-term boyfriend Eric Newman to a four-day cruise from Florida down to the beautiful Bahamas and back again. It would be a well-deserved break for hardworking Tamara, who had devoted her life to helping others and very rarely spoilt herself. She was a professor of social work at Park University, where she was dedicated to looking out for those who were not able to fend for themselves. And before then, she had worked with a child…

This month ROAD TO WELLBEING May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Here are six self-care practices from Richard Holmes, Director of Wellbeing at Westfield Health, that you can do in 30 mins. Yoga at home When the day is done, focus on yoga poses that involve sitting or lying down, as well as slow breathing exercises. Walking or jogging Exposure to sunlight helps to stimulate the production of serotonin, one of the four ‘happy’ chemicals which can help to lift your flow and blood circulation. Savour a hot drink This idea is taken from the principles of hygge – a.k.a the Danish concept of cosiness. A hot drink itself can be soothing, while the quiet time can help you clear your mind and focus on the present. Writing in a…

Wading through the long grass, the smell of onions at a food stall and rifling through piles of clothes to find a bargain – it’s car boot season! Just like charity shopping has become a trending activity, car boots are the place to sell and pick up your dream items for cheap. Only, how do you know if you have an eye for a great find? Or how do you haggle? It’s time to learn the tricks of the trade… Five questions with… Real life bargain hunter and car boot lover, Olivia Batten • Follow @_livloves on Instagram to see her second hand finds for yourself! 1. How can you spot a bargain? Not everyone sets their items out neatly, so don’t be afraid to dig around in boxes to…

Pulling on my trainers, I headed out the door and started pounding the pavements. Looking at me, you wouldn’t think I’d be able to keep up with all the youngsters – but at 75, I’m fitter than I was in my 20s! I’ve always been active and done a lot of different sports over the years. But when my local David Lloyd opened two decades ago, it gave me the push I needed to increase how much exercise I was doing. Working as an accountant, it was easy to let my fitness slide and I was smoking regularly, too, which didn’t help. But hitting my 50s and with retirement looming, I knew I could and should be doing more – I had to make a change. I quit smoking two…

Horses and ponies are without doubt beautiful creatures. So, why not get up close and personal with a horsey day out? Whether you’re an experienced trekker or the closest you’ve got to a horse is on the pages of Black Beauty, there is something for everyone! Champagne Afternoon Tea and Tour, Newmarket Racecourse, Suffolk Newmarket is famous for its horse racing, so why not treat yourself to a tour of the track followed by a scrumptious Champagne tea afterwards? This month the tour takes place on Sunday 20 May, but if you’ve missed it, don’t worry – there is a set date every month. Take in the extensive memorabilia and history of The Jockey Rooms before sitting down to a delicious tea created by Head Chef Daniel Perjesi and his…

TO BE WON EACH MONTH! Enter now to win these and many more fantastic prizes Find out more comps.lifedeathprizes.com For website rules of play, go to comps.lifedeathprizes.com/rules. Terms and conditions apply, UK only HOW TO REGISTER It’s FREE to enter and it’s so easy to do. Just visit entry2.it/ldp-pd and register by hitting the Create Free Account button and then you can enter as many competitions as you like. Go on, have fun!…

Some things in life seem simply too ‘weird’ to be explained away by chance or coincidence. For these six twists of fate, you get to be the judge. Is there something spooky at greater play? THE TWINS NAMED JIM In 1979, a set of twins were reunited at age 39 and realised they had lived spookily similar lives. Both had been named James by their adoptive parents but went by the name Jim, both pursued careers in security and both grew up with dogs called Toy. If that wasn’t spooky enough, each of the twins married women named Linda, divorced, and went on to remarry women named Betty. As for their kids’ names? James Allan and James Alan. SINKING SHIP We’ve all heard of the tragic tale of the Titanic…