Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2023 i Chat Specials

Anna Meek, 36, from Abertillery, South Wales Giving my pooch one final groom, I swept the brush along his back and looked him up and down. ‘You’re show ready,’ I smiled at my American Bulldog Hustler as he wagged his tail. I loved the dog show scene – it was a lovely atmosphere, full of like-minded people who were obsessed with woofers! ‘Hey, Anna,’ a voice said, and I spun around. ‘Hi Jason,’ I smiled back. Jason and I met back in 2017 through mutual friends. He ran a breeding kennels and was also an apprentice judge, so we often bumped into each other at shows. He was always very friendly and knowledgeable about dogs, so I picked his brains for advice – I admired him. We chit chatted before…

Kaye Donovan, 41, from Derby Watching the front door swing shut, I couldn’t help but feel left out. My husband Dan, 44, was a seasoned cyclist – it had been his passion for years. From cycling with local clubs to taking our mongrel Tara out for rides with him, he was always getting on his bike. Only, I had never gone cycling with him before… Am I missing out? I thought to myself. And so a seed was planted as I imagined myself pushing the pedals forward… ‘Why not give it a go?’ Dan said. ‘Just try it out and see how you feel.’ The next morning as I walked into work, I signed up for a road bike through my employer’s Bike2Work scheme. And by April 2016, I was…

As the evenings get darker, why not brighten up the night by following a trail of glittering lights through some of the UK’s most picturesque locations? Bound to thrill visitors of any age, we’ve found the best trails across the country to dazzle you and spread some early festive cheer, too! Illuminate at Hestercombe Gardens, Taunton Get ready to be transported onto a magical journey of colour, light and sound at Hestercombe Gardens in Taunton for a display which will delight your eyes. Gape at the tall trees in the Landscape Garden as they come to life at night with spotlights. Then, you’ll be drawn past the dynamic fountains in the Pear Pond and through a ‘Christmas tree’ grove, too, leading you to the main feature of the light trail…

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Seeing the world was something Tess Richey had always dreamed about and she was determined to make it happen one day. At 22 years old, she was the youngest of five daughters from North Bay, Ontario. At 19, she moved to Toronto and after completing a flight attendant course at college, she started applying for jobs at different airlines. In the meantime, she juggled several jobs, including one at a coffee bar. Fuelled by her desire to travel, she also started studying Italian, hoping to land an au pair role in Italy. At 5ft 2in, Tess was petite, but she was determined. On 24 November 2017, Tess spent the afternoon with her sister Rachel, who lived in Toronto. Tess had just broken up with her boyfriend and Rachel did her…

100 YEARS OF WONDER! One of the most anticipated events of winter is back! And what’s more, Disney on Ice is celebrating 100 years of history. Disney On Ice Presents 100 Years of Wonder will be skating into Birmingham, Nottingham, Exeter, Sheffield, Newcastle, Manchester and London from 1 November. For the first time Mirabel from Encanto will be visiting the UK, alongside all your favourite characters. Mickey is joined by his friends to find his favourite memory ever. From sailing with Moana and celebrating friendship with Woody and Buzz, you’ll find a million reasons to grin. Dust off your mouse ears and book now! • Tickets start at £26.50, visit: disneyonice.com I’M FONDUE OF YOU As November draws in and the pub gardens close, what could be better than staying in for a cheese and wine…

Say cheese! Here’s my daughter Lily posing in front of the Eden Project in Cornwall. We had a lovely day strolling through the different domes and looking at all the plants was my favourite part. Amanda, Brighton Roasty toasty Nothing beats a good Sunday roast and this one my hubby Dan ordered was massive. Just look at the size of that Yorkshire pud! Hopefully the green beans make up for all the carbs though… Hannah, Liverpool Sweet treats I treated myself to a pastry and a coffee when out in town. I couldn’t resist picking them up after seeing the delicious bakes behind the counter. So yum! Josie, Bath Donkey love I’ve always loved donkeys ever since I was little and visiting this guy at the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon,…

We all know the familiar tune of Antiques Roadshow, making our bets at how much a painting, medal collection or set of stamps is worth – but what if you’re sitting on a fortune? You could become David Dickinson. With a keen eye and knowing your way around the bric-à-brac section, make some wonga today! Antony Charman, antiques expert and founder of Vintage Cash Cow is here to show you the ropes… SET THE TABLE When buying crockery, there are several tests and observations you can make to check for potential damage without having in-depth knowledge. Here are seven steps you can take… Step one: Carefully examine the crockery for any visible cracks, chips, or repairs. Hold the piece at different angles to catch any imperfections that might not be immediately…

Kym Vincenti, 61, from Southend Leaving the house at 8am, heading to the beach was the first thing on my agenda. With the tide out, I’d stretch my legs for half a mile, with absolutely no one in sight – just the occasional seagull. Which could only mean one thing for me… Digging deep, opening my diaphragm and singing at the top of my voice! ‘So, pass it on, spread it around, before you know it, it’s all over town,’ I sang into the sound of the waves. With no dog walkers in sight, it was the perfect place to practise my vocal exercises – it also meant that there was no judgement, just me and my lyrics. Something I realised was meant for me during lockdown. After me and…

Dress to impress this season. Whether you want to invest in a warm coat that will last year on year or snuggle up in a bright knit that will transform your look from drab to fab – Damart’s new autumn/winter collection has everything to help you look and feel your very best. • To shop please visit: damart.co.uk When making a bigger purchase on a winter coat, think about cost per wear – will you really get use out of it? We think it’s a yes! GET COSY  Kickback, relax and make sure your tootsies are extra snuggly with Damart’s slipper collection… BIRKENSTOCK DUPE!…

Hide and seek page 3 Answer: page 38 Spot it page 16 Number jig page 30 Answer: £148 PER ROLL Spiral crossword page 47 Answer: NOTHING HAPPENED Movie links page16 Answer: Tobey Maguire – BROTHERS – Jake Gyllenhaal – DONNIE DARKO – Drew Barrymore – CHARLIE’S ANGELS – Cameron Diaz – THE HOLIDAY – Jack Black Cross it page 24 Answer: TARGETS Number fit page 28 Answer:573 Brick trick page 28 Answer: LASVEGAS Code cracker page 47 Answer: A BIT OF A PAUNCH…

FILM AND TV 1 What flavour of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans does Albus Dumbledore eat at the end of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone? a Vomit b Earwax c Grass 2 The new Wonka film is out next month – who plays the Oompa Loompa? a Hugh Grant b Colin Firth c Orlando Bloom 3 What pop group performs at the wedding in the film Bridesmaids? a Ace of Base b Roxette c Wilson Phillips 4 Which EastEnders icon recently returned to Albert Square? a Cindy Beale b Grant Mitchell c Little Mo 5 Which two Emmerdale characters are married in real life? a Debbie Dingle and David Metcalfe (Charley Webb and Matthew Wolfenden) b Eric Pollard and Sandra Flaherty (Chris Chittell and Joanne Mitchell) c Paddy Kirk and Brenda Walker (Dominic…

Trotting about I feel so lucky to live in such a green area. Here’s a photo I took while out on my daily dog walk. It’s not every day you get to see a herd of horses grazing so close to your house. Jacqueline, Muddiford Golden boy My kitty Dexter absolutely loves to sunbathe – he laps it up while he can! He’s already naturally golden but he looks like he’s glowing when he’s in the sunshine. Anthea, Cheshire Caught on camera! I was messing about with the camera settings on my phone and accidentally took this snap of my cat Bluey. I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw his distorted head! Fiona, Manchester Cuddle time! My pup Jazz absolutely loves to be snuggled, picked up and spoiled. She’s truly my little…

Dan Swales, 39, from the West Midlands As our four children looked up at us, their faces quizzical, I grasped my partner’s hand. ‘We’ve got something to tell you…’ I began. Back in December 2016, my partner Vicky and I had been together for two years. We both had children from previous relationships – I had Ben, then 11, Faye, nine, and Eva, six, and Vicky had Hallie, then four. With Vicky and I living with Hallie near Birmingham, where I worked as an RAF medic, we went back up to North Yorkshire to see my kids whenever we could. And now, we’d gathered everyone together to tell them some exciting news. ‘In May next year, you’re going to be big siblings!’ Vicky beamed. Vicky and I were having a…

Movie links Name the films in which these stars appeared together to link Tobey Maguire with Jack Black Spot it Can you spot the five differences in the two pictures below? Answers on page 60. Cross it Solve the puzzle to find a word. Fit the words back in the grid and the letters in the highlighted squares spell out the answer. We’ve put in one word to help. 3 letters EVE OWL PEA PEG SOP YAK 4 letters ACME AKIN FLAW TEAK THAT 5 letters BOSSY LOCUM SALVO SNACK WEEPY 6 letters CRISPY MOPPET SICKLE SLOUGH SYSTEM 7 letters AIRPLAY EPITHET INSIGHT PELICAN QUALITY STAMINA 8 letters AUTUMNAL OUTSTRIP SEMOLINA SKELETON Your answer Answer on page 60. Number fit Fill in the number grid. Your answer is the number that doesn’t…

Whitney Pepper, 32 Heading down for breakfast, my mouth was watering. Tucking into a stack of pancakes, I loved anything sweet to start my day. And by the time I’d finished my last bite, I was already thinking about my next meal. Since childhood, my life had revolved around food. It was the first thing I thought about when I woke up and the last thing I thought about before bed. Waffles, pancakes or doughnuts for breakfast and greasy fried food at lunch, I couldn’t get enough. But naturally this didn’t do my waistline any good and the older I got, the bigger I became. Suffering with back pain, I had attempted dieting in the past, but always reverted to my old ways. Whenever I was feeling low, I returned…

Vics Lane, 21, from Kent Putting a pad in my bag, I was ready for puberty. ‘I’ve just got mine,’ a friend said. ‘Me, too,’ said another. Not me, though. I always had a pad on hand to give to a friend, yet I never needed one for myself. ‘Have you not started yet, Vics?’ friends asked. I experienced the rest of teenage puberty, but my period never came. By the time I was 17, my friends and I would talk about why I hadn’t started. ‘She’s lucky,’ some of my friends said. I wasn’t worried about it for a long time – I saw it as a blessing. I was seeing my friends in pain every month, moaning. ‘I was a late bloomer, too, Vics,’ my mum Juliet told…

TREND ALERT Glazed doughnut nails are still big for autumn – get the look with Leighton Denny, giving your nails a shimmery, multidimensional twist when they catch the light.• £12.50 each, leightondenny.com WINTER MUST-HAVE Keep dry skin and lips at bay with the brand-new launch from E45 – Dry Lip & Skin Balm, £6.99, available from Boots and Superdrug. Skincare hacks We might be wrapping up warm as the weather gets colder – but did you know that some of your skincare tools and products might actually work better in chillier temperatures? A beauty fridge is handy to keep in your room, to save you popping up and down to the kitchen to grab your lotions and potions. But do you know what to keep in it? Don’t worry, the…

Throughout history there have been some slip-ups and flops which are laughable and a little ironic. With Guy Fawkes leading the way, here are some of our notable favourites… CAUGHT RED-HANDED The reason that we celebrate Bonfire Night is all because of the failing of Guy Fawkes himself. But how exactly did Guy Fawkes mess up such a plan on 5 November 1605? In an attempt to blow up Parliament, Guy set up gunpowder in the cellars. However, telling allies his plot in a letter, an anon tip led others to find him at midnight. With a fuse, a small lamp, a box of matches and 36 poorly-hidden barrels of gunpowder, he was then arrested and taken to The King. Imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he was hanged,…