Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2025 i Chat Specials

April Special Welcome to the April issue of Chat Monthly! We’ve got another whopper for you, stuffed with bargain fashion, tasty recipes, fab home buys and top beauty and book picks. Not forgetting our fun puzzles and incredible real-life reads. You’ll find broody Silvia, who whips up babies in her kitchen oven (p52). There’s brave Sarah, whose home security camera caught her man doing something truly vile (p6). And Jessica, who invested in creating her dream body – only to have it put at risk due to a pesky bumble bee (p32). And that’s just the start. Have a great month!…

4 OUTFITS UNDER £50 Total outfit cost £48 Top tip Wide-leg styles look smarter than cuffed joggers. THE TRACKSUIT A wardrobe must-have, comfy co-ords are the ultimate choice for chic, easy weekend wear. Perfect for everything from lunch dates to strolls, a cream tracksuit strikes the perfect balance between comfort and style. Pair with trainers and opt for tonal accessories to elevate the look, for a luxe, polished appeal. Total outfit cost £47.98 Top tip Add a clutch bag to take this look from day to night. THE STRIPED SHIRT This timeless design is a versatile staple in any wardrobe. The classic long sleeves work effortlessly with everything from skirts to relaxed denim, offering endless styling possibilities. Dress it up with stylish mules, or roll up the sleeves and wear…

On 26 October 2021, Cindy Schulz-Juedes was found guilty of murdering her husband Kenneth Juedes 15 years earlier. In June 2022, Marathon County Circuit Judge Michael Moran sentenced her to life in prison without parole. Moran described her actions as ‘callous and unfeeling’. Incredibly, Ken’s mum, Margaret Juedes, then 103, was finally able to witness justice served for her son. Schulz-Juedes was imprisoned in Taycheedah Correctional Institution, where she maintained her innocence. Determined to clear her name, she even started to appeal her conviction. Juedes was found unresponsive in her cell. Efforts to revive her proved unsuccessful and she was declared dead. Suspicion immediately fell on her cellmate Taylor Sanchez, then 27, who was serving a two-year sentence for a battery conviction. It’s alleged Sanchez had stopped taking her medication and was…

Tracey Davis, 57, Derbyshire The back door to my car opened and my son’s friend Neeson slid across the back seat. ‘Morning! All ready for college?’ I asked. Neeson smiled and nodded. Then got his phone out to play a game. Typical teen. It was 2017 and he and his family lived on the next road to ours in Derbyshire. He was the same age as my son Oliver, then 18. They’d been pals since they were small. From reception class, I’d given Neeson lifts to and from school most days. Both he and Oliver had autism and that had brought them closer together. I was glad they had each other. And now, in their teens, they were at college together. I’d collect Neeson every morning and drop him and…

ALL UNDER £15 Complexion perfection A green-tinted primer will balance out any redness in your skin to leave your face looking fresh and clear – with or without make-up. B. Enhance Colour Corrector, £14.99, Superdrug, will instantly perk up your face. Plumped lips There’s nothing worse than dry, chapped lips. Their delicate skin can be left damaged by the cold season, so now’s the time to nurse them back to health for spring. Use a replenishing mask, such as PS Pro Lip Treatment and Mask, £3.50, Primark, once or twice a week. Shimmery touch A cheerful nail colour like Mavala Nail Color in Sedona, £6.40, lookfantastic.com, is perfect for spring. The formula will keep your nails shiny and chip-free for days. Animal magic Hair accessories can glam up your look…

We got to feed a capybara at the amazing Wild Discovery at Ribby Hall Village. Their capybara experience is an incredible thing to do. This was mine and my fiancé Pete’s birthday present to each other. Elysia Benn, Barrow-in-Furness Even the breathtaking views of the Welsh countryside on our canal-boat holiday couldn’t distract the in-laws Kathy and Llew from their favourite mag! Diana Roberts, Purton Douglas, the 1-year-old cockapoo, prefers to wear his frisbee than play with it! Sally Leigh, Manchester My 5-year-old grandson Teddy is loving life. He’s always smiling and making us laugh. Here he is after a bath with Gelli Baff, which turns into goo in the water. He insisted on putting his face in it, too, and as you can see, loved making a mess! Tracy…

Katie Underhill, 26, Warwick Pottering about our bedroom, I noticed my partner Dean across the room, fidgeting and nervous. We’d been out for a meal and, 26 weeks pregnant, we were back home getting ready for bed. Suddenly, Dean, then 22, was down on one knee, presenting me with a gorgeous silver ring, with a solitaire diamond. ‘Marry me?’ he asked. I beamed, my hands flying to my bump. ‘Yes!’ I said, thrilled. ‘We’ll have our own little ring bearer page, too.’ Such a special moment. But our future was more uncertain than it looked. It was March 2019, and a month earlier, we’d found out that our unborn son was seriously ill. A ‘shadow’ had been detected on the scan, and further tests revealed serious heart problems. The valves…

Meet Nelly, the agony aunt with the advice you need He doesn’t fancy me Q I’ve been happily married for a year, but since I’ve fallen pregnant, my husband doesn’t seem interested. I’m starting to think he might fancy his workmate, a girl who is half his age. I feel fat and unattractive. Do you think there’s hope? Cara, 37 A Stop being so hard on yourself – hormones are no joke and pregnancy emotions can make you feel insecure. Have you even spoken to your hubby about all this? He could think everything is fine! Be open and honest with him, sweetheart. You’re going through a big change, but marriage is a team. Do it together. And congrats on your pregnancy. Best of luck, hun. They’re noisy and don’t…

Herby stuffed roast lamb Easy to prepare and carve, this juicy leg of lamb will go down a treat. SERVES 6 PREP 20 MINS COOK 45 MINS ● 1.5kg leg of lamb, boned and rolled● 50g baby spinach, shredded● ½ bunch each parsley and mint, chopped● 3 garlic cloves, chopped● Zest and juice 1 lemon● 1tbsp olive oil● 1tbsp cornflour● 1tsp redcurrant jelly 1 Heat oven to 200C Fan/Gas 7. Unrolllamb and season, reserving the string. 2 Mix the spinach, herbs, garlic, lemon zest and juice. Press into the lamb, then re-roll and secure with string. Put the joint in a roasting tin, skin side up, drizzle with oil and season again. Roast for 20 mins, then reduce heat to 160C Fan/Gas 4 for 30 mins for medium or 45…

Spring was in the air in March 1989 as Mark Kilroy, then 21, packed his bag ready for a trip to Mexico. For Mark and his mates, it was a much-needed break. A student at the University of Texas, Mark planned to let loose before his final exams. He wanted to be a doctor. His proud mum Helen and dad James couldn’t wait to see their boy graduate. Tall and handsome, Mark was gifted with brains and sporting prowess, talented at baseball, basketball and golf. Then, there was his dazzling smile – he was never short of attention. Matamoros, a popular party spot, was just over the Mexican border from his home in Santa Fe, Texas. The trip was spent in a blur of bars, nightclubs and partying. In the…

Sarah Jones, 39, Aberdare Flour covered my kitchen, the sweet smell of sugar filling the air. I stepped back and admired my latest creation, a sticky jam-filled sponge cake, as my boyfriend Dan, then 34, sidled up beside me. ‘Looks delicious,’ he said. And with a cheeky squeeze of my bum, I knew exactly what he was after. It was October 2021 and we’d been dating for four months, after meeting on a dating site. I’d just come out of a 19-year relationship, wasn’t looking for anything serious. But Dan and I bonded over our love of indie music, both had two kids. Taking things slow, we met once a week for lunch. After two months, we became intimate. ‘Let’s be a couple,’ Dan said. Now, things between us were…

Glenda McGinty, 44, Strabane, Co Tyrone Shifting in the hard seat, I tried to find a comfy position. Squashed in, I wriggled around. My back sore, my tummy rubbing against the steering wheel. But it was where I’d be for the next 12 hours. In my job as a bus driver, I’d travel the same route in Strabane, picking up familiar faces, sharing a friendly smile with them. What they didn’t know was that it was just a brave face. Really, I couldn’t wait to get home where I lived alone. I’d draw the curtains, hide away and do the only thing that numbed the pain. It was 2006, and although I’d been a bus driver for five years, I hadn’t always had to squeeze myself into that seat. In…

After carefully trimming the hedge, Kenneth Juedes, 58, set to work on mowing the Alawn for his elderly mum Margaret, then 88. It was 29 August 2006, a scorching hot day in Wisconsin, USA. Ken was devoted to his mum, regularly checked in on her. At 4.30pm, he kissed her goodbye, before heading back to the four-bed house he shared with his wife Cindy, then 51. Their home, Dill Creek Farm, was set in 30 acres of beautiful farmland. Ken had done well for himself. He was a pharmacist and farmer, and co-owned a car-racing and camping ground called Monster Hall Raceway. After divorcing his first wife in 1998, with whom he shared four children, he’d met Cindy. The couple married in Las Vegas in November 2004. Ken and Cindy…

Paris Hilton American heiress and socialite Paris has had a few brushes with the law – from traffic offences to the possession of cocaine – but when it came to her mugshots, the star, 44, always looked glamorous. Wayne Rooney After sleeping pills and alcohol left him ‘disorientated’, former footballer Wayne, 39, found himself in trouble with the American police on public intoxication and swearing charges. His arrest prompted one fan to joke, ‘Rooney acting like a class Brit abroad,’ while others cruelly likened his mugshot to Shrek. Justin Bieber Singer Justin, 31, looked chipper when arrested in Miami for driving under the influence, driving with an expired licence and resisting arrest in a non-violent manner. Not exactly something to smile about, Biebs! Khloé Kardashian In a now infamous reality TV…

Meet Dr Dallas, the GP who’s here to help My hearing is muffled Q For the past month I’ve been unable to hear properly out of one ear. It’s not painful, but everything sounds muffled. What could be causing this? Sam, Colchester A This could be due to a build-up of earwax. Try over-the-counter treatments first, such as olive oil, almond oil or sodium bicarbonate drops to soften the wax. Warm the drops to room temperature and put a few into the affected ear. Then lie with that ear facing the ceiling to let the drops soak in. This process can be repeated two to three times a day for three to seven days. If drops don’t work, you may need to clean your ear (known as ear irrigation). Speak…

Little Jailyn Candelario pulled herself up in her playpen and looked around the room, but couldn’t see her mother Kristel anywhere. The little girl, 16 months old, with big brown eyes, started to whimper, hoping her mummy would appear and scoop her up. She was hungry, thirsty, needed her nappy changed. Jailyn’s whimpers turned into a wail of desperation, but Mummy didn’t appear. Then, 10 days later, on 16 June 2023, a sun-kissed Kristel wheeled her suitcase up the garden path and put her key in the front door of her Ohio home. Entering the house, she was met with deathly silence. Walking over to Jailyn’s playpen, Kristel, a substitute teacher, found her daughter motionless, surrounded by her own waste. Kristel reached for her phone and dialled 911. ‘Please, I…

Same Time Next Week by Milly Johnson (£16.99, HB, Simon & Schuster) If you love a community book based on friendship, this one’s for you. Every Tuesday, a group of women meet in the back of Ray’s Diner for a cup of tea and to chat – and it’s here that they might find the answers they’re all looking for. Will Astrid be persuaded to take on a fantastic opportunity, can Erin get past the guilt she feels about a traumatic loss, and is it time for carer Amanda to put herself first? Warm and wise, Milly has done it again with her healing words. A hug of a book. Dirty Money by Charlotte Philby (£16.99, HB, John Murray) Making the change from reporter to private detective, Ramona delves head…

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Grabbing an egg from the box, Ren holds it carefully, gives it a gentle tap, then drops the contents into a bowl. ‘And not a single shell,’ she announces triumphantly. ‘Usually I have Timmy help me with the messy stuff,’ she adds, grinning. And messy it is, especially for Ren, who was born without hands or elbows. ‘There are things I can and can’t do, but most things I can do, just in my own way,’ she says, smiling. ‘I’m OK with having no arms, but it is kind of annoying sometimes. I think being little I was chilled with it, but then there were phases where I was like, “Man, I really hate having no hands, this sucks.”’ Luckily, she learnt to be independent from a young age, which…