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THEIR DEATHS saved them? DIVORCE MAKEOVER
hubby, then the blubber! Freed to prey on me, now... true...and it
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Welcome to this week’s Chat... o you believe in destiny? If not, there are two
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stories in the magazine this week that might change your mind. Carolann was plagued by sinister dreams that ended up saving her life when they led to a dangerous diagnosis (p30). And Sofia logged on to Facebook and saw seven siblings in need of a home. She just knew that she was me p24). p19 If ch Elsewhere in the mag, we’ve g style (p12) and recipes for stopping puds that a a dle to make (p40) – j don’t any t Kati p19). You won’t get a lo Stay safe and w Kate Williams, Editor
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6 Let him rot – raped in my school uniform 14 Free ankle bracelet! 24 Mum of 7 – I got all my kids off Facebook! 30 My nightmare came true… and saved my life 34 I ditched the hubby, then the blubber! 40 Taste of summer 54 They toddled to their deaths
10 I’m a survivor 16 You’re the judge: Search for the crucifix killer 19 Hungry for love 20 Patient casebook: Extra special 37 Daddy’s secret 38 Mum’s the word 44 Pandemic puppies in peril 58 A letter to… My cheating ex
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Picture p How gorgeous does my mum Mary, 70, look in this Aran wool poncho that she knitted herself? It’s a piece of art and I’m so impressed by her craftsmanship and work. Joanne Campbell, Whitehead
I love this family photo. Getting everyone to smile at the same time can be tricky, though, even with this inflatable photo frame to practise with! Barbara Walker, Brigg I decided to treat my adorable puppy Ember to her first puppuccino when visiting a coffee shop the other day. She definitely enjoyed it! Beth Lodge, Mirfield
My son Amari and our brand-new dog Diesel are best buddies. Amari is obsessed with our little pup, but I’m pretty sure Diesel is loving the attention, too. Sian Salsbury, Cradley Heath
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I’m not sure that my youngest son Decker was impressed with the dinosaurs on our recent trip to the Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife & Falconry Centre in Sheffield. Lauren Preston, Renishaw
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Our darling little pup Lola was feeling the cold on a windy walk out, so my partner scooped her up and kept her warm. I think it’s safe to say she soon warmed up! Kimberley Turner, Nant-y-moel
HORRIFIC ABUSE
Childh for sa
I’m speaking out for others
He showered me with gifts but something wicked in exchange Jade Critchlow, 28, Liverpool
andering through the shoe shop, my eyes were wide. ‘Pick any pair you want,’ my dad’s friend Billy Adams, then 38, said, grinning. It was May 2005 and I was 11. Billy had just moved to the area and had met my dad at a mutual friend’s house. Since my parents had split, I only saw Dad at weekends. Billy would usually be there, too, and he’d begun showering me with gifts – new clothes, trendy trainers... My parents never had much money, so it was a real thrill to be lavished with so many treats. The next weekend, Dad told me Billy had a surprise. ‘We’re going on a trip to Southport,’ he grinned. A holiday! I’d never been away before. When we arrived, Billy took us shopping for more new clobber. Then, we checked into a hotel. Billy told Dad to head to the shops for ciggies. ‘Why don’t you run a
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bubble bath?’ he smiled to me after Dad left. The hotel bathroom was so fancy. Sinking into the hot suds felt great. But suddenly the door slid open and Billy walked in. My heart raced as he knelt by the bath, ran his hands all over my body, a smirk plastered across his face. I froze in terror. Then Billy pulled me out of the bath, led me to the bedroom. Lying naked on the double bed, I tried to push him away. It was no use. ‘It won’t hurt for long,’ he told me. Then he raped me. Crushed beneath him, I squeezed my eyes shut, tried to block out the horror. When he was finished, Billy simply left the room. When Dad came back, he saw I looked upset. ‘She’s just being weird,’ Billy laughed. I was too scared to tell Dad what had happened. Thought I’d get into trouble. When we got home from Southport, Dad introduced Mum to Billy. Soon, he was in and out of her house, too. Billy began picking me up
WORDS: KARA O’NEILL, JADE BEECROFT. PHOTOS: BELFAST NEWS & FEATURES
He had a surprise – we were going on holiday!
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after school, taking me to the cinema, bowling, or for Chinese food. ‘Tell your mum you have a boyfriend and that’s who you’re seeing,’ he insisted. Little did she know that my evenings ended with Billy pouncing on me back at his flat, me still in my school uniform. One evening, when I tried to resist, Billy threatened me with a knife. ‘If you don’t do it, I’ll kill you,’ he smirked. I knew then – I had to do what Billy wanted. In June, for my 12th birthday, he took me away to Blackpool. He checked us into the same hotel room, saying that I was his daughter. And, by now, Billy had groomed me so well, I actually believed that I loved him. He took me back to Blackpool in the summer holidays, this time bringing Mum and my little brother. For three weeks, he lavished us with gifts, took us to the Pleasure Beach. Even hired a limo to take us out for dinner one night. Mum was completely in awe. And, every night we were there, Billy raped me once
Mum had fallen asleep. During the trip, Billy introduced us to Irish priest Jeremiah McGrath. ‘This is my uncle,’ Billy told us, smiling. One night, the priest drove around an empty car park with me and Billy in the back seat. Billy was fondling me and I knew Father McGrath must have been able to see, but he never said a word. Another night, after attacking me in the hotel, Billy had to call for room service to change the bloodstained sheets. He told the maid that I’d had a nosebleed. In November 2005, Billy took me for Recently, in Blackpool. Trying to move on
Me aged 11, when it all began
hood le
wanted e
Billy Adams groomed me
another weekend away in Blackpool. He now had a holiday let there. ‘I’m just nipping out for ciggies,’ he said when we arrived. Only, next thing I knew, the police were at the door. ‘Come with us, Jade,’ one officer said to me. I was taken straight to a police station, where my aunt – mum’s brother’s partner – was waiting. She’d become suspicious of Billy and his involvement with our family. And she’d reported him to the police. ‘What do you do when you
hang out with him?’ a policewoman asked. Still half terrified, and brainwashed by Billy, I lied. ‘We just watch telly,’ I muttered, my head down. I heard the police telling my aunt that they couldn’t arrest Billy if that’s all there was to it. That’s when my aunt sat down beside me. ‘When you’re with Billy, are there willies involved?’ she asked me gently. I looked down at
the floor and nodded. Then it all came tumbling out. Billy was arrested. I was put in care. In April 2006, at Liverpool Crown Court, William Adams, then 38, pleaded guilty to five charges of rape against me. And Jeremiah McGrath, the priest who I remember hanging around in Blackpool, was charged with facilitating the abuse. It turned out that he was in a relationship with Billy and he’d come into money through gambling. He was bankrolling all the lavish treats, holidays and hotel rooms. In June 2007, Adams, then 40, was given a life sentence, to serve at least seven and a half years in jail, and put on the sex offenders register. McGrath got five years. They were locked away just before my 14th birthday, but it didn’t make me feel any better. It emerged that, before
preying on me, Adams had been jailed in Ireland for attacking an 8-year-old girl. He’d fled to England after his release, where he was then free to abuse me. I felt totally let down by the authorities. I struggled at school – and, to be honest, things since then have been really tough as I’ve tried to get over my ordeal. Still, I was attempting to move on with my life when, earlier this year, I saw Adams’ ugly mug staring at me from the pages of a newspaper. It turned out he was back in court to be sentenced for abusing a boy in Belfast in the 1980s. It wouldn’t surprise me if there are more of us out there who’ve fallen victim to his sick obsession with children. That’s why I want to speak out and tell my story. Billy Adams should never be allowed out of jail again. Some people simply don’t deserve second chances.
I saw his ugly mug staring at me from a newspaper
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£500 cash NUMBER JIG hat do you get if you multiply the number of stars on the state flags of Alaska, Ohio and Rhode Island together? Fit these numbers into the grid. One number doesn’t fit. This is the prize answer.
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3 digits
4 digits
130 245 290 415 520 559 678 812 861 937
1230 1768 1933 2153 2576 3487 5705 5721 5928 6630 7052
34678 53915 58787 76568 93050 94010
6 digits 165644 475002 598154
7 digits
WIN0
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Puzzle 1
9601 9910
3253751 7280263 9069981
5 digits 12406 13307 21420 22584 28166
8 digits 16151424 57927924 63637979 65511548
Your answer:
SPIRAL XWORD hat animal is known as huggorm in Swedish? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will spell out the one-word prize answer.
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Your answer: 8
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1 Marionette (6) 2 Netflix historical drama series (3,5) 3 _ Abbey, Jane Austen novel (10) 4 Sir Walter _, explorer (7) 5 Fast food item in a bun (9) 6 Sour, putrid (6) 7 _ robbery, blatant overcharging (8) 8 Skin decoration (6) 9 South central US state (8) 10Preposterous (6) 11 Sausage dog (9) 12 Milk and milk products (5) 13 Over there (poetic) (6) 14 Otis _, late US soul singer (7) 15 French police officer (8) 16 _ to help out, 2020 Government scheme (3,3)
THREE IN A ROW hat unit of measurement was originally named the cadil? Make three nine-letter words using all of these three-letter sections and enter them in the grid as the starter letters indicate. Then make an anagram of the letters in the yellow squares to form the answer to this question.
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ECT ETI EGU
SOM ARD IVE
LIF MES ADJ
Your answer:
TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles
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Perfect pegs On the upswing Our garden swinging seat has been used quite a lot by us and our Frenchie, Florence. The roof cover was old and split, and would have been expensive to replace. Luckily, we came up with a cheap alternative – a fitted double bed sheet. It fits well and is easily washed. Fiona Campbell, Woodhurst
I was having difficulty finding pegs large enough to secure my cushions and duvets to the washing line. That was until I bought my hubby some new trousers and utilised the hangers they came on. They worked a treat. Jackie Dusi, Arksey
Bagged and ready
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To make your own dog poobag dispenser, take a toilet roll and carefully cut a slit in the middle with a sharp knife. Then insert the bags and feed them through, ready for tearing off when needed. Daniel Partington, Kensington
Tired of all my necklaces getting tangled in the jewellery box, I decided to try hanging them on a non-slip clothes hanger. It works really well and I can see all my necklaces in one go rather than having to rummage! Kaye Richards, Worcester
Screen saver To see your laptop or tablet screen better if you’re using it outside this summer, place it in a shoebox to block the glare from the sun. Sophie Undrill, Branston
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SKIN DEEP
I’m a survi Doctors said I should be dead Jill Moss, 37 earing an almighty roar from outside my log cabin, I rushed to the window. ‘What was that?’ I shuddered, turning to my boyfriend Jason, then 48. ‘Probably just a mountain lion,’ he chuckled. ‘Just?’ I gulped. It was November 2016, and I’d just swapped city life for rural living in California, up in the mountains with Jason. After meeting through some friends, we started dating and he offered me work as a harvester on his smallholding. It was the change I needed from my hectic life working in hospitals as a phlebotomist, taking patients’ blood. My teenage daughters from a previous relationship lived with their dad, 15 miles away. I missed them terribly, but visited once a week. In the meantime, I spent my days in the sunshine, growing crops. An hour’s drive from the nearest town, I loved being out in the sticks. Even if it meant dodging the odd mountain lion, too! Only, by early 2018, me and Jason Before the fire weren’t ravaged me getting
WORDS: FIONA KINLOCH, CANDICE FERNANDEZ. PHOTOS: HOTSPOT MEDIA. JASON IS NOT HIS REAL NAME
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on so well. I’d started thinking about returning to my old life in the city. One night in June 2018, Jason had gone out for the night. I’d just started drifting off to sleep when there was a loud whooshing sound. I looked up to the skylight. Bright, orange colour ripped through the night sky. Seconds later, it changed to red. I leapt out of bed and ran to the window. ‘Oh, my god!’ I screamed. The woods that surrounded the log cabin were engulfed in flames. Within minutes, the cabin felt like a furnace. I have to get out, I thought, panicking. I ran to the front door. But, made of wood, it’d already gone up I’m still here and still smilin in flames. I could feel fiercly scorching heat the burning my body. I wailed in agony. With each passing second, the terrible fire was destroying my home. And I was trapped. Then, the cabin’s wooden walls began crashing down, one by one. I fled to the kitchen, clawing at the back door. But it wouldn’t budge. The flames were advancing, so I started smashing my head against the door, desperate to escape. Grabbing a hammer from under a shelf,
I slammed it into the glass of window in the door as hard as I could. But it didn’t smash. By now, the flames were sticking to my skin like glue. I could feel my skin melting off my body. I was in agony. I’m going to die here, I thought, ready to give up. Then I thought of my girls. I had to survive fpr them. With my hair, legs and arms on fire, I smashed at the glass in the door one last time… As the glass shattered, I hurled myself head first through the gap. My entire body was
ivor
Undergoing skin grafts was hard
Almost all of my body was burned
engulfed in flames. A human fireball, I ran barefoot through the woods as fast as I could. Hearing the cabin collapsing behind me, I didn’t look back. Minutes later, I came to a clearing and found another cabin. A man came running out. He furiously patted me down with his jacket. Next thing I knew, I was wrapped in foil in the back of an ambulance. And then, everything just went black. When I opened my eyes, it was September 2018 – three months later. I was in a hospital bed. The doctors and my mum Kimberly, then 62, hovered over me. ‘You’ve been in a coma for
three months,’ a doctor said. Slowly, I remembered the fire. But I couldn’t move or speak. I had tubes in my throat and nose. My limbs were covered in bandages. A doctor explained how 80% of my body had been burned. I had third - and fourthdegree burns from the back of my head right down to my toes. ‘You had less than 1% chance of survival,’ Mum said to me. I didn’t understand how I was still alive. Over the past three months, I’d had multiple skin grafts. Now, I needed physiotherapy to learn to walk again, even to use my hands. I was like a baby, couldn’t hold a drink to my mouth. Over the next weeks, the girls came to visit while I
worked hard to gain back my independence, step by step. But there were days when I was in so much pain that I wished I hadn’t survived at all. When the nurses changed my bandages, I couldn’t look at my charred skin. In February 2019, I managed to walk to the hospital bathroom. Confronted with my reflection for the first time, I burst into tears. My hair, eyebrows and lashes were singed, my lips burnt. The only thing that I still recognised were my blueygreen eyes. I’d lost more than 2st, looked frail and bony. Devastating. In June 2019, I was discharged from hospital and moved in with Mum, after Jason and I agreed that we would split for good. Unable to walk far, I used a wheelchair. I needed round-the-clock care and couldn’t shower or go to the toilet alone. When I finally mustered the courage to leave the house, I felt the stares. People are disgusted by
me, I thought. One day, queuing in the bank, it all got too much to bear. ‘Yes, I was in a fire and I was burned,’ I snapped at the gawping faces. My confidence obliterated, I rarely left the house. My daughters continued to visit me, and their company kept me going through the hardest of times. The cause of the fire was later ruled to be inconclusive, which meant they didn’t know how it actually started. With the final chapter in the tragedy closed, now it was time for me to move on. I couldn’t change what had happened, but I could learn to accept it. I had therapy, and more skin grafts. Little by little, I regained more independence. I dressed and washed myself, ate with a knife and fork. I learned to ignore the stares in the streets. I focused on the fact that I was a survivor. Now, I struggle to walk and still rely on Mum. But I’ve learned that real strength comes from within. My scars and burns are just skin deep. One day, I really hope I’ll feel beautiful again. There was a 99% possibility that I should’ve died. Yet here I am, still breathing, still smiling, still alive. For any other burn survivors out there, please know it does get better in the end. And you’re stronger than you’ll ever imagine.
Confronted with my reflection, I burst into tears
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£1,001 cash! hich period of history would US actor Billy Porter like to visit if he could time travel? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the two-word prize answer.
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35 Small church (6) 38 Unwanted emails (4) 41 In shackles (10) 42 Groom’s party (4) 43 Instant (9) 44 Start (9) 46 Chosen, picked (8) 49 Scare badly (7) 50 Asserted (7) 51 Actor, _ Clooney (6) 52 Glowing coals (6) 54 Had a conversation (6) 57 Earth’s satellite (4)
PHOTO: GETTY
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15
SINISTER SLAYING
Search for the There’d been two trials, but did police really have the right n a rainy night in February 1991, Neda Mae Carter, then 38, said goodbye to her mum Zella before heading out. Less than two hours later, police responded to a call that an unconscious woman had been spotted in a Brooklyn park. At the scene, police found Neda’s body lying face up near the handball courts. She’d been murdered. Neda’s naked body was badly beaten and arranged in a crucifix position. Her arms were straight out to the sides and legs crossed at the ankles. Scrapes on her knees, hip and shoulder indicated she’d been dragged some distance to the place where she was found. Medical examiners discovered she’d died due to strangulation and bluntforce trauma to the head. Detectives visited Zella at the New York boarding house where she’d lived with Neda and broke the devastating news.
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Out with a friend
Andre Hatchett Vulnerable or deadly?
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Zella was inconsolable. It turned out that Neda hadn’t been out alone that night. She told police that her daughter had been out with a friend, Andre Hatchett, then 24. He’d become acquainted with her because he visited his aunt nearly every day in the same building. Andre had recently become a dad, but still lived with his mum. He’d been diagnosed with mental
e crucifix killer man?
Witness to murder?
YOU’RE
JUDGE! indicated it was someone else, before later changing her mind and pointing out Andre. Eventually, Andre Hatchett went on trial at Kings County Supreme Court in October 1991, and denied murder A medical examiner told the court that the blows to Neda’s head had required a significant degree of force. And added that there’d been a violent struggle before Neda’s body had been dragged and arranged in the crucifix position. Her head propped against a tree trunk. Prosecutor Nicholas Fengos called Jerry Williams to the stand as his star witness. Williams testified that Andre was the man he’d seen swinging at the victim that night. The prosecution
Then, a week later, notorious New York criminal Jerry Williams was arrested on an unrelated burglary charge. He told officers he had information about Neda’s murder. He claimed he was walking in the park at night with a female friend when they heard a woman screaming. Around 40 feet away, he said they saw a man with a crutch standing over someone on the ground, but the man yelled at them to leave. But later, Williams backtracked and said he never saw a crutch. Andre Hatchett was brought back in to take part in a Kings County Supreme Court police line-up. He was identified by Williams as the man in the park. Police later summoned Williams’ friend, who was also asked to identify the suspect. She was unsure and
chose not to call the female friend as a second witness. At the end of the trial, the judge called a mistrial, declaring an inadequate legal defence was provided for Andre Hatchett.
burglary, he’d first named a different man as the attacker. It was only after that suspect provided an alibi that he pointed the finger at Andre Hatchett. This was never disclosed to Andre’s defence team. Questionable conviction Williams had also told At Andre Hatchett’s second detectives he and his friend trial, in February 1992, Jerry had smoked crack on the Williams was again sole day of the murder. Another eyewitness. When questioned fact that prosecutor by the defence, he denied that Fengos failed to tell Andre he’d received any favourable Hatchett’s lawyers. treatment relating to his own It was also discovered burglary charge in exchange that Andre Hatchett had for his testimony. sustained his leg injury Despite still pleading his during a shooting a year innocence, Andre Hatchett before Neda’s murder. was found guilty of secondHe’d also taken a bullet degree murder charges to his windpipe. and sentenced to 25 years. It called into question Meanwhile, Jerry Williams, whether he’d have the who had over 20 convictions, strength to carry out the had his case dismissed. attack or been able to But decades later, shout across the park. i So was Andre Hatchett a B brutal killer who disguised b his evil nature behind his more than 100 cases disabilities and deserved of questionable to stay behind bars? convictions... Or was he a vulnerable The Conviction man, physically incapable Review Unit (CRU) of such brutality, and uncovered files wrongly convicted? which showed that Guilty or not? on the night of Jerry Turn to find out Williams’ arrest for
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WORDS: KATIE SAATCHI. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY
disabilities and could barely read or write. He’d been working as an ice-delivery man, but had his right leg in a cast at the time and needed crutches. Neda’s mother said the pair had left the building together at 9.30pm that evening. Andre seemed to be the last man to see Neda alive. But when police questioned him, he provided an alibi and was released without charge.
Crime in Brooklyn...
Cash!
Andre: finally a free man
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
1
2
WHAT’S
3
ACQUITTED n March 2016, Andre Hatchett’s conviction was overturned after attorneys described it as a perfect storm of error and a systemic failure of the criminaljustice system. The Conviction Review Unit concluded that, following a thorough and fair review, they couldn’t support the integrity of the conviction. ‘Mr Hatchett was failed by almost every institution he came into contact with,’ said Assistant District Attorney Mark Hale. As the judge dismissed the indictment, Andre, then 50, smiled and applauded in a courtroom packed with friends and family members. ‘I’ve been to hell and
PHOTO: ALAMY
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back,’ he said, leaving the courthouse to celebrate over a steak dinner. ‘I’m so happy to be free again. I told my family I’ll be home one day, and they know I don’t lie to them,’ he added. He’d spent half his life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. After regaining his freedom, Andre began making plans to move to Pennsylvania with his sister. Sadly, during the 25 years he wrongfully spent in prison, he lost both his parents and his son. In March 2017, Andre Hatchett filed a federal wrongfulconviction lawsuit, which was settled by the city of New York for $12 million (over £8million).
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1
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WIN0 £3
5xPuzzle 5
Look closely at these two pics – there’s a difference in five squares. The five grid references (eg, 1A, 2B, 2C, 3C, 4D) are your prize answer.
Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details
PHOTO: GETTY
VERDICT?
MEAL FOR TWO
...a 20-egg omelette with toast...
Battling a big old Philly cheesesteak...
Hungry for love
...and the 7lb Alaskan breakfast, complete with bison!
I met my match munching thousands of calories… Katina DeJarnett, 30
lexing my muscles on stage, I felt small compared to the other women. It was April 2019 and I was competing in my first bodybuilding contest. I’d always had a big appetite, I loved watching TV programmes like Man v Food. But by the time I was 21, I was overweight. So, weighing 11st 8lb and just 5ft 2in, I joined a gym. Only, when I started weightlifting, I wanted to bulk up. That meant eating loads of calories that my body could turn to muscle as I worked out. A week after the contest, I saw the perfect way to scoff my way to success. The Triple King XXXL Fatburger challenge! It was an eating competition where entrants had to put away a giant burger as fast as they could. I was up against the clock, managing to polish
WORDS: MISHAAL KHAN, JOSH SAUNDERS
F
off nearly a kilo of meat in just 20 minutes. ‘Barely touched the sides,’ I laughed after. I had a great time. So after that, I set myself new food challenges, creating a YouTube channel, called Katina Eats Kilos. I found a new community online of competitive eaters and got chatting to a man called Randy Santel, 34. He was a long-standing champion eater, and I was impressed with how much he could tuck away. In July 2020, he asked me to take part in a week of food challenges. ‘Want to partner up?’ he suggested. I jumped at the chance. The next week, we hit the road together. Our first big test was an individual BBQ challenge, where we wolfed down more than 3kg of barbecued meat,
followed by a milkshake. But as I munched through my share, I struggled. ‘I feel sick,’ I groaned to Randy. But 6ft 5in Randy coasted through his pile of food, leaving me behind. With just two bites left, I called it quits. I felt awful, like I’d let down my hero. Next up, the team seafood challenge. More than 6kg of fish, prawns, seafood chowder and pizza in 90 minutes. This time, as it was a team challenge, I didn’t give up. ‘I worried you were a quitter!’ Randy teased after. We spent the next day working our way through burritos, finishing with a pizza challenge. Together, in just 45 minutes, we munched our way through a 42in by 26in pizza. Slice by slice, bite by bite,
The way to my heart is through my stomach!
we finished, winning with seconds to spare. ‘We did it!’ I said. Later, I went to Randy’s hotel room to talk and, unexpectedly, we had our first kiss. After sharing so many highs and lows, it felt natural. We’d found love over our first love. Food! Now, I still make videos, setting myself a couple of different challenges a week. When I’m not eating, I’m on a bike for 90 minutes at a time, burning the calories. Or going for long walks, lifting weights in the gym. That’s the secret to how I keep my size 4 trim figure despite eating 18,000 calories a week. And plenty of fruit and vegetables on the days when I’m not competing. In July, Randy and I moved in together and we’re so happy. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Well, it turns out that’s true for women, too!
19
Health
The first time we saw Jenson post-op...
The advice you need
Extra special My son’s rare condition had doctors scratching their heads
C WORDS: FIONA KINLOCH. PHOTOS: THE SICK CHILDREN’S TRUST
CASEBOOK
Jenson was so poorly. pass out. He was put on oxygen in a Then, in high-dependency ward. February 2018, We prayed for answers... while I was out swimming Only, things got worse. with baby Jenson, he went Jenson was struggling to floppy again. breathe, started shaking. Later, at Evelina London The doctors suspected Children’s Hospital, it was he’d contracted bronchiolitis, discovered that he had a a respiratory infection, and rare congenital heart defect put him into an induced called cor triatriatum. coma to help his It’s where a membrane body fight it off. grows around an atrium, That night, he creating an extra chamber was transferred in the heart. to Addenbrooke’s It causes the passage Hospital in of blood to be slower, Cambridge. explaining Jenson’s racing Fortunately, heart rate because the James and muscle was working harder. I were offered on-site Only one in 140,000 accommodation provided by babies born each year with The Sick Children’s Trust a congenital heart defect on’s condition to improve. Five days later, our boy was brought out of his coma. I noticed his heart rate was exceptionally fast. ‘He’s still fighting off the infection,’ his specialist reassured us. s pale, not gaining weight. He’d scream, be sick Full of beans! Our boy with his and then go limp, almost
He’d scream, be sick and go limp, almost pass out
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are diagnosed with the condition. Thankfully, we learnt that it could be fixed by an op. And several days later, Jenson was wheeled in for the fourhour surgery to remove the membrane and allow blood flow. It was a huge relief that James and I were able to stay at the Ronald McDonald house on site. And, after eight days in hospital, Jenson was allowed home. Almost immediately, he was back to normal. Now, he’s just like any other three-year-old. He enjoys riding his bike and is on par with his peers. To look at him, you wouldn’t know he’d had a rare condition. B eve
PATIENT
Abbie Harrison, 26, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire hatting with my half-sister Vicky, then 36, at her birthday party, we were interrupted by the cries of my baby son. ‘He’s not himself today,’ I explained, scooping Jenson into my arms. It was December 2017 and 3-monthold Jenson had been vomiting, was reluctant to feed. When he wasn’t any better the next day, I took him to the doctor. ‘Get him to hospital,’ she frowned. My partner James, then 26, picked us up and took us to Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon We were already worried. Then, when we arrived, Jenson went floppy in my arms. ‘Help!’ I yelled. Nurses flocked around us and whisked Jenson away. James and I were terrified – the doctors didn’t even know why
True-life
baby sister today
More info? Th ac wi ho to liis fr at
FOCUS ON… Food myths Reckon you know what’s best to eat for good health? Think again!
Don’t let it go, eat frozen!
Eat little and often 1 MYTH:
5
Constant grazing is one of the main reasons health experts think that we have an obesity problem. ‘Try to stick to three balanced meals a day, without snacks, to help keep your weight under control and give your digestion a rest,’ says GP Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones. ‘Fasting – no snacking and/or prolonging the time between your evening meal and breakfast the next day – can help blood sugar, insulin levels and other metabolic processes.’
2 MYTH: Cut carbs Carbs aren’t the reason you’re putting on the pounds
PHOTOS (MAIN PHOTO POSED BY MODEL): GETTY
Rice is nice if it’s wholegrain
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While fresh food is good for you, Kim says, ‘Frozen foods, such as fish, veg and berries, can be as nutritious as fresh, if not more so. ‘They’re often frozen soon after being harvested or caught, so nutrients are locked in immediately.’
– too much of any food causes weight gain. Just watch portion size and choose carefully. ‘There’s a huge difference between getting carbs from a white, sliced loaf versus wholegrain rice,’ says Harley Street nutritionist Kim Pearson. ‘Avoid white-flour products. They’re refined, with vital nutrients (minerals and fibre) stripped away, and
MYTH: Fat is bad l to health. um
amounts of good-quality fats, such ds,’ explains Kim. s and help lower cholesterol.
WE PAY
CASH
MYTH: Eat fresh
are broken down quickly into simple sugars in the bloodstream, contributing to energy slumps and diabetes.’
3
MYTH: Sausages cause cancer
US researchers recently rattled the nutrition world by reversing the World Health Organization’s advice about cutting back on red and processed meat because of a link to cancer. However, experts generally agree that Fancy some good fat on toast? it’s best for our health to cut back on red and processed meat, so aim for at least a couple of meat-free meals a week.
6
MYTH: Eat before 6pm
While it’s a myth that calories eaten after this time are more likely to be stored as fat, it isn’t a good idea to eat too much late in the day, although health experts aren’t exactly sure why. And recent research at Columbia University suggests that a big meal after 6pm does make you more likely to develop heart disease.
We’ll pay cash, or mention a charity of your choice, if we print your health story. Write to Your Health, Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP or phone 020 3148 6150. You can send your story or email the Doc at chathealth@futurenet.com. Always consult your pharmacist or GP before using any over-the-counter or prescription remedies, and read the packet carefully.
Turn over for more health 21
ASK
Dr Martin
Dr Martin Edwards is a family GP whose advice you can trust
Everyone tells me not to squeeze spots, but what else am I supposed to do when I want to get rid of one fast? Alicia, Crosby
Q
Acne zits are blocked skin glands which become infected and create a bead of yellow pus under your skin. It’s tempting to burst a spot by squeezing it to release the pus, but often this doesn’t much improve its appearance, and can lead to problems. You might force pus and bacteria deeper into your skin, leading to a larger spot or seeding new ones. Because squeezing tears a hole in your skin, there’s the possibility that other bugs might enter. And the risk of the spot healing with a permanent scar is much greater after squeezing. Acne remedies from your chemist or doctor can prevent spots but take a few weeks to work, and I’m afraid there’s no safe overnight fix.
A
Can specs weaken sight? Is it true that wearing glasses makes your eyesight worse, because your eyes start to depend on them? Karys, south London
Q
It’s nonsense. This theory says that by not wearing your glasses, you train the muscles that alter the shape of the lens inside your eye, forcing them to focus. But long or short sight is due to physical problems with the lens in your eye and the shape of your eyeball. Leaving off your specs can also lead to issues. By squinting or frowning as you
A
try to focus, you cause muscle tension in your forehead and around your eyes, leading to headaches and even blurrier
vision as your eye muscles become tired. Better to talk to your optician about specs or contacts that best suit you.
No substitute for sex appeal I’ve seen pheromone wipes that are claimed to make men more attractive to women. Do they work? Louis, Warrington
Q
If only life were so simple! Pheromones are chemicals released by one creature to affect the behaviour of another and you can buy them as wipes, sprays, even candles intended to increase your allure. In insects
A
and some animals, pheromones are important in mating, and can trigger sexual readiness in the female. But these animals have special nerve cells to detect pheromones and, guess what, humans don’t have those cells! Although humans do release pheromones, they probably don’t make much difference to our sexual arousal. Overall, it’s probably best to rely on your wit and charm!
My head is really banging I was woken by a terrific bang inside my head and my GP called it exploding head syndrome. Now I’m really worried! Susie, Petersfield
affect up to one in 10 of us. Usually, EHS occurs while you’re just falling asleep or waking up, and wakes you with a jolt. People often fear they’re having a stroke or a brain bleed, but there’s no pain, and no after-effects. The sensation, a sudden We’re not sure of the cause, bang or crash inside your though it could be due to garbled head, is alarming and the messages between parts of your name exploding head syndrome brain when they wake up or fall (EHS) doesn’t exactly help, but asleep at different times, and is EHS is harmless. No-one knows often triggered by stress. Proper how common it is, though it could sleep can help prevent it.
Q A 22
Want Dr Martin Edwards’ advice? Write to chat_magazine@futurenet.com. Sorry, he can’t reply personally
PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): GETTY
THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED TO SUBSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED ON AS HEALTH OR PERSONAL ADVICE. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING IT. ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PHARMACIST OR GP FOR GUIDANCE. IN AN EMERGENCY, CALL 999 AND SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IMMEDIATELY
Should I squeeze my spots?
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This week’s puzzle was compiled by Debra Stapeley, Dover, Kent
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£25 Puzzle 6
1
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2
4
DOWN 1 Donkey’s cry 2 Move carefully 3 Wicked 4 Genuine
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Your answer:
IN THE GRID hich musician is credited as the narrator on the DreamWorks movie The Road to El Dorado? Hidden in this grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally, are ten items beginning with E, one for each of the subjects given below. Find them all and the remaining letters will spell out the two-word prize answer.
W
CHAIN WORDS
SKINNY ONE
ACROSS 1 Lager 2 Lively party 3 A continent 4 Shout
WIN
statue of whom was unveiled in 2006 at the corner Puzzle 9 of Finlay Drive and Whitehall Street in Glasgow? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Thread = FIRE + B = FIBRE. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer.
A
£50
Thread Can Banners Attics
o what family of birds does the yellowhammer belong? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: VO + ID, ID +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you Puzzle 7 the prize answer.
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Baked loaf Discos
WIN0
Smell Triangular wall Din
PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY
£10
Swell Auction hammer
Catchy tune that gets lodged in the brain Force out suddenly Magical potion Run off to wed Set off Cause to become adored Your answer:
Your answer:
Jealousy Miscalculation To surpass Take advantage of
WIN0 £10
Puzzle 8
Your answer:
TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles
23
FULL HOUSE
My destiny to be their mum I looked at their beaming faces – and I just knew... Sofia Olds, 37 crolling through Facebook, I stopped on a photo someone had posted. Seven beautiful children, all with big smiles, looking back at me. They were siblings, currently in separate foster homes. And desperately needed a loving family to take care of them. It was November 2016, and with Christmas approaching, social workers were trying to get them housed all together. My heart ached, immediately sending the photo to my husband DaShoan, then 33. I think we should adopt them. They need us. For as long as I could remember, we’d both dreamt of having a big family. And we’d always said we’d prefer to adopt, keen to give children with a bad start in life a second chance. So, after serving in the Army together, in May 2004 we’d come home and signed up to adoption classes. To prepare us for our
WORDS: ASHLEIGH PAGE, LUCY LAING
S
next big step. Only, still young, we’d focused on getting our degrees. DaShoan became a maths teacher, I was a social worker. Life was hectic, so we’d put adoption on the back burner. Started saving for our dream home. Then, in March 2013, I’d discovered I was pregnant. We were both overjoyed, but I had a miscarriage early on. The pain of losing a child reignited our desire to adopt. Only, we hadn’t found the right opportunity. And when we bought our four-bedroom home with multiple family rooms, it’d started to feel empty. Now, here I was on Facebook, looking at those
children’s smiling faces. Is this the moment we finally became parents? The more I stared at the picture, the more I felt a connection to these children desperate for a loving home. It was love at first sight. ‘I feel like I’m destined to be their mum,’ I told DaShoan. ‘We should arrange to meet them,’ he agreed. So after re-taking our adoption classes, in January 2017 we travelled to a town 70 miles away to meet them. The oldest, Necia, was 12, twins Eric and Erica, 10, Zavian, 8, Dava, 7, Keyon, 5, and the youngest, Gentry, 4. They’d been removed from their first home. Had lived in four separate homes, but once a month got to see each other. The children had been told that
They filled our home with love, laughter and happiness
L-R: Gentry, Eric, Dava, Necia, Erica, Zavian and Keyon
24
DaShoan and I were just volunteers... They had no idea we were thinking of adopting them. Walking into the living room of Necia, Eric, Erica, Zavian r home, we both felt nervous. oon all, bike ing. ch fun that, the next month, we went back to see them. Still not telling them our plans. ‘Seven?! Why not try starting with just one?’ a friend gasped when I told them. ‘It just feels right,’ I explained. Thankfully, once they realised we were serious, family and
Meet our smiling seven!
DaShoan and I are busy but blessed
friends were all incredibly supportive. Donating beds and even starting a GoFundMe campaign for us so we could buy toys and furniture. In April 2017, the adoption agency finally approved us – which meant the children could start spending the night and some weekends at ours. And we
coould finally tell them w th i m ‘I knew you were g s in Er I a big It w them Nec insecu sport Erica so helpful, Zavian was vulnerable, Dava was full of energy, Keyon was kind-hearted and very close to his siblings, and Gentry was quiet but so loving. During this time, we got a glimpse into what our lives would look like. As fun and exciting as it was, it could be a logistical challenge getting everyone back to their separate homes on time. ‘I’m grateful for our Army training,’ I said. Finally, in June 2017, all the
children were ready to i tl I took six months off work and we traded our car for a van. Overnight, our lives were filled with homework, sports, tons of laundry and cooking enough meals for a small army. The children settled in well, delighted to be living together again after three years apart. Some of them had almost forgotten what it was like, so it was amazing to watch them reconnect. With time, it got much easier to juggle. Eventually, I swapped jobs and became a medical social worker, working part-time. This made it easier to run the home. But in September 2020, when all the children were enrolled in school, I went back to work full-time. DaShoan and I have to be super-organised. As any parent of a big family knows, it’s not always easy. ‘Whose turn is it for pick-up?’ I’ll call to DaShoan, as I rush to get ready
f
k i th i We have shared calendars, several diaries and we are constantly texting back and forth. A military operation! Now, Necia, 16, Eric and Erica, 14, Zavian,13, Dava, 12, Keyon, 9 and Gentry, 8, are busy with football, cross-country, soccer, weightlifting and other after-school clubs. Communication is such a huge part of our family life. But I love every minute of it, even when it’s a bit chaotic. At the weekend, we all get together and play sports – with DaShoan being a coach, football plays a huge part. I love my big family, and one thing is for sure, our once-lonely home never feels empty. The children, with their unique personalities, have filled it with so much love, laughter and happiness. We feel blessed by God to have them. But I must admit, I never expected to find the big family I craved on Facebook!
25
CRIME MAP STABBED IN THE PARK dentical twin Anne Cook, 35, was murdered by a stranger in Watford in 2000. Anne, a web designer, was terrified of walking her King Charles spaniel Elvy without her sister Susan Cutler. But after Susan moved away, Anne plucked up the courage to continue walking Elvy alone through a wooded path near her Meriden Estate home. Tragically, her worst fears materialised when Leon Paul Amos, 36, attacked her, stabbing her in the heart. Bare-chested Amos had been prowling the area for a lone woman. He was convicted of murder in 2001 and jailed for life.
I Victim: Wayne
DAD BURNT ALIVE ust after midnight on 5 December 2002, Wayne Trotter, 30, was travelling home from work. But when he got to the Farriers Way estate in Borehamwood, metres from the home he shared with his pregnant wife and child, he was doused in petrol. Set alight. Wayne hammered on p. Before collapsing, he said, ‘They threw something at me. I was e a thing.’ Locals extinguished the flames, but Wayne died after suffering 90% burns. Despite an investigation and Crimewatch appeal, his killers were never caught.
WORDS: LOUISE BATY. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY, JOHN O’REILLY/SHUTTERSTOCK, PA IMAGES
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Anne (right) with her twin
E R I H S D R O HERTF
Amos: jailed for life
MURDER SUICIDE espite being under suspicion for strangling his wife Sandra, 44, police inspector Gary Weddell was allowed out on bail. Even when he breached bail conditions, he remained free. Tragically, in January 2008, as Weddell awaited trial, the body of his mother-in-law Traute Maxfield, 70, was found at her home in Gustard
D
DEEP-FREEZE MURDER n 30 December brothers found her 1957, Anne ice-cold body in Noblett, 17, Young’s Wood, caught a bus from Whitwell. She’d Harpenden after been strangled and, a dance class. as the weather had search The student was Police been warm, police for Anne’s body later spotted near said her body had her home in Marshalls been kept in refrigerated Heath, but then vanished. storage. Anne’s killer has On 31 January 1958, two never been caught.
O
HERTFORDSHIRE’S CLAIMS TO FAME
The famous hot cross bun
St Albans is the home of the hot cross bun. Thomas Rodcliffe, a monk at St Albans Abbey, developed the recipe and called it an Alban Bun.
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley first met at sixthform college in Bushey and went on to form their successful chart-topping pop duo, Wham! in 1981.
Met policeman Weddell
Wood. She had been shot. Weddell’s own body was then found 10 miles away, at a shooting ground in Markyate. Weddell had shot Traute, a widow and retired carer, before driving to the shooting club and turning the gun on himself.
In 1909, the first modern roundabout was built in Letchworth Garden City. Letchworth’s claim to fame
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley
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£1,110 cash! W, IN00
ARROW WORD
£1 0
Puzzle 10
hat is the capital of the US state of Montana? Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer.
W
Your answer:
SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Solve the puzzle and the numbers in the highlighted squares will give you the prize puzzle answer.
WIN
£60
PHOTO: GETTY
Puzzle 11
Your answer: 28
WORDSEARCH
WIN
£50 Puzzle 12
hich of these money-related terms is also the nickname of an Agatha Christie character who co-founds Young Adventurers Ltd? The answer is the one missing from the grid.
W
BOB CROWN FARTHING FIVER FLORIN
GROAT GUINEA PENNY POUND QUID
Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles
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29
DREAMING OF DEATH
LITTLE ONE he historical Macbeth, along with many other early Scottish kings, is buried on which island? Solve the crossword, then read down the yellow squares to find the prize answer.
T
ACROSS 1 Racing driver, _ Hamilton (5) 4 Manage a business (3) 5 Actor, _ Aykroyd (3)
Under th shadow nes Was my s trying to t Carolann Bruce, 52,
DOWN 1 Nobleman (4) 2 Sticks used by wizards (5) 3 Holy person (5)
Puzzle 13 Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes. com/puzzles
0
Today: I’m healthy – and grateful
a u a s m c twisted around bolt upright. My heart raci my husband Ja stir beside me. ‘What’s the m he asked grogg ‘A bad dream I think,’ I said, a sinister dark s surrounding me. It was di icult to pinpoint, and I tried shrug it off, but som had really shaken m Rolling over, I eve managed to get bac to sleep again. It was January 20 after that, night aft the same thing hap I’d awake feeling With no change in routine, I couldn’t r understand it. After working shi
emergency nurse, I’d come home and catch up on Coronation Street. But I dreaded bedtime, and as soon as sleep set in, the black shadow loomed. What could it mean? I’d been spiritual since the tragic death of my brother Derek, 5, in a road accident when I was 4. It’d opened my mind to death, and I often felt his presence. In the years since then, I’d been open to the spiritual realm, visiting psychics for readings. Now I wondered if my disturbed sleep was a sign of something sinister. I’d dream about lying in bed and a ghastly figure creeping through the wall, clouding me in darkness. It was terrifying, I felt suffocated. After a month, I’d had enough of it. ‘I’m scared of going to sleep,’ I sobbed to my mum Ann, then 64, over a cuppa. She tried to reassure me
that it’d pass, but as the nights wore on, the visions grew more intense. Struggling to separate my nightmares from reality, I even put a lock on my bedroom door. ‘Keep a sleep diary,’ Mum suggested. It was a great idea, and writing down the horrible dreams helped me notice a pattern. The black shadow always appeared over my right shoulder, and it felt like it was trying to get my attention. ‘Pssst,’ I’d hear, hissing in my ear. By November, the darkness in my dreams had developed into a shadowy figure, like a man coming to get me. I felt confused about why this was happening, and exhausted from lack of sleep. ‘What do you want?’ I pleaded as I lay in bed, too fearful to close my eyes. The dreams were getting more complex, and when I finally drifted off, I was
Losing my hair was traumatic
Chemo took me to the brink
plunged into a vivid scene. Escorted by an angel of death, I saw myself walking down a hospital corridor. A nurse ushered me into a cubicle and said I had to look after a patient with breast cancer. ‘But I’m not a cancer nurse,’ I protested. ‘Then she’ll die,’ the nurse told me. My stomach lurched, and as I entered the cubicle, I saw myself lying there in the bed. Then I died. I woke up screaming, but suddenly the message became clear to me. This was a warning. I clutched my right breast – the side the shadow had been tormenting me from. And, in under 30 seconds, I found a lump the size of a small pea. ‘Jarrod, I think I have breast cancer!’ I said, shaking him awake. He tried to calm me down. But because of the lump and the dreams, I was convinced. The following
I saw myself walking down a hospital corridor...
morning, on 11 November 2011, I made an emergency appointment with my GP. Told it’d be a two-week wait to undergo tests, I called a private clinic and paid to have a mammogram just four days later. When the consultant insisted it was all clear, I refused to accept it. ‘I want a scan,’ I demanded. And when he did it, his face dropped. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he said. A biopsy revealed I had Grade 2 breast cancer. The tumour was feeding off my hormones and doubling in size every week. The doctor estimated that it had been growing for just under a year. When my nightmares had begun… Less than a month later, I underwent a single mastectomy and breast reconstruction, desperate to rid my body of cancer. For six months, I endured gruelling chemotherapy treatment every two weeks. It took me to the brink. My hair fell out, my
mouth was full of ulcers, my skin was covered in a rash and my body ached with pain. But the doctors were confident all the cancer cells had been obliterated. Oestrogen was fuelling my cancer, so I was put on medication to induce an early menopause. My brain felt foggy and recovery was hard. But, in time, I started to rebuild my strength. And as I came out the other side, my nightmares vanished completely. Now, I have check-ups every year, and I’ve been free from cancer for almost a decade. I know it sounds a bit strange, but I truly believe that I wouldn’t be here today without my disturbing dreams. It’s as if my subconscious was trying to warn me. My angel of death took me to hell and back. But my story serves as a reminder to listen to your body and check your boobs – it could save your life.
31
WORDS: FRANCESCA WOODSTOCK, LUCY MOSES. PHOTOS: ALEX COUSINS/SWNS
he of ss
£200 cash! FILL ME IN
N I W £100 Puzzle 14
hich singer covered Oasis’ Half the World Away for the 2015 John Lewis Christmas advert? Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer.
W
Your answer:
CIRCLE TIME hich wild shrub has the Latin name calluna vulgaris? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles to find the prize answer.
PHOTO: GETTY
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Your answer: 32
3 letters ARM ELM HAM HER HOG HOP HOT POT USE
4 letters BANG CALM FEUD LIFE RASH REEL 5 letters CURLY
DELAY ELECT MOUSE 6 letters APATHY BICKER BLEACH TROPHY
7 letters MELODIC USURPED
IN W £100 Puzzle 15
TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles
ASK
Aunty Nelly tells it how it is
Am I a bad mum?
My son’s a recluse
I’m a young mum and worry I’m not good enough. I went to a mother and toddler group but felt judged because of my age. Now my 3-year-old doesn’t get to meet other kids. I have a flat that’s a long walk from any park, and don’t drive. Everything else is expensive. How can I be a better parent? Annie, 20
Q
There’s nowt wrong with being a young mum – I was one myself – and it boils me up when folk assume that makes you a bad parent. If you’re being judged, you’re
A
My 16-year-old son spends all his time in his bedroom. He has no friends at school. He recently agreed to ‘hang out’ with a group of boys, but hated it as their idea of fun was smoking weed. We can’t talk to him. He eats his meals in silence, then disappears. When we go to bed, he’s still up, computer on. How can we help? Ana, 41
Q in the wrong group, simple-as. There are plenty more out there, so look around – search Facebook. You don’t need a bottomless bank account. Get creative and
She wants to move in My girlfriend keeps hinting she’d like to move in. She now has a drawer and a shelf at mine and keeps leaving things when she sleeps over. But I’m not ready to live with someone. I love my space. I feel she’s pushing me towards moving in, then marriage, then kids... I like her, but I’m not deeply in love. I’m not sure how to approach
Q
explore your local area, crack out the games you loved as a kid. A child has as much fun splashing in puddles as at Disneyland. I bet you’re doing a grand job. the subject. Maybe I don’t see it working out, really..? Keith, 30 Be honest, with yourself and her. If you don’t envisage a home, marriage and kids, then you’re stringing her along. I’m not blaming you here, but it’s down to good communication. She’s got comfortable, but that’s because you’ve allowed it. Drop hints, ask what she wants you to do with her stuff. Set boundaries and she’ll either follow them or decide it isn’t for her and leave. There’s your answer.
A
Look, a lot of teens spend a lot of time alone in their bedroom. But he’s not alone with the social-media community. More than likely, he’s having a great time chatting to online friends as they play their games. Wouldn’t you rather that, than have him out doing gawd knows what with those lads? Why not ask him about his gaming over dinner, get him chatting? If you’re interested, he might open up. There’s nothing wrong with checking his devices for safety reasons. But don’t judge or punish him – he’s 16!
A
I’m the fat, funny friend I’m forever joining new gyms, as I never get past the first sessions. I live with depression and anxiety, and sometimes don’t want to go out. I comfort-eat all day, order takeaways and drink every night. My friends are all body beautiful. I’m the fat, funny one. They’ve no idea I feel so low, and I want to start by improving myself. But where do I begin? Charlie, 24
Q
Well done, my love, you’ve done the hardest part by telling someone. It’s difficult hiding anxiety disorders from the world. And it’s easy to joke to try to disguise it. Now you’ve told me, talk to your GP, then family and close friends. You don’t need to give a big explanation, and it’ll feel hard at first, but you’ll feel lighter after. Concentrate on feeling better on the inside first. Once you let people in, they can help you.
A
Want Aunty Nelly’s advice? Send your problems to chat_magazine@futurenet.com
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FACEBOOK.COM/ANTONELLAUNCENSORED. INSTAGRAM.COM/ANTONELLAUNCENSORED. NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. AUNTY NELLY PHOTO: PHILIPPA GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY. PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): GETTY
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O y TTruly. r This issu weeight-loss sur to so omething eve ife as a an overweeight teenag ger was hard foor bubbly and ou utgoing Crysta al. ‘People would tell me that I wasn’t a attractive, I looked like I w was lazy, it was my faultt why I got to that sizze,’ she says. Worst of all, Crystal struggled to keeep up with her friend ds when
Crystal turned her life around
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Before her weight loss
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they went sho She could on up a few stair before getting out of breath. ‘I kind of became a littl comedian to t to offset the fact that I wa insecure abou how I looked,’ she says. As an adult a huge 30st be it w prro B ga a su u –f ree wo w ju u ‘What I don’t th h oof un u iff cch b y rre ‘I was a new m m f w right back up.’ Devastated
Crystal felt like a failure. And the mum-of-two grew depressed and insecure about what she wore, but eventually realised she was the only one with the power to change her situation. ‘I didn’t feel sexy, I didn’t feel happy. I decided, you know what? I need to change,’ she explains. ‘In my mind, I just saw the healthiest version of myself and I chased that.’ Crystal began exercising and drastically changed her eating habits. She adopted a strict keto diet – high fat and low carbs – and gradually began to see the results. ‘Keto has definitely made a major impact on my weight-loss journey, as I didn’t have to sit and count calories. When the weight started dropping off, it felt like magic, because I was actually eating. I was happy, I was full,’ she says. For the first time, she felt she had the energy to enjoy life. But after losing a total of 18st, Crystal hated the excess skin she was left
‘When the weight dropped off, it felt like magic’
gone... unting! with all over her body. ‘When you blow up a balloon and then you let the air out of it, they’re wrinkly and big. That’s kind of how I felt in my body. I see this hot girl underneath but, urgh, I have all this excess skin!’ she says. So, earlier this year, Crystal had a lowerbody lift and arm lift, and with less skin weighing her down, her self-esteem is through the roof. ‘I have become my best self, I feel like I can show a side of me that I’ve never shown before. I don’t feel like the outcast,’ she smiles. Following the surgery, she was excited to reveal her new look for the first time to her close friend Andrea. ‘The last time I saw her, she did have the excess skin and you could see that it was messing with her confidence. I think it means everything for her. It’s a way for her to start a new chapter,’ says Andrea. Andrea calls Crystal an inspiration and hopes, after all her hard work, that she realises there’s nothing
After surgery to remove loose skin
that she can’t achieve. Crystal still sets time aside to focus on her health and shares her weight-loss journey with her 10,000 Instagram followers. ‘One thing I can say is, anything that you put your mind to, you can definitely do. But know that it takes time. Just be consistent with yourself, and you can be the best person that you can be,’ she says. O Follow Crystal’s story on Instagram @crystyle817/
Crystal lost 18st – but was left with a problem…
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PHOTOS: MICHAEL ROWLEY/BARCROFT STUDIO
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OPENING UP
Daddy’s secret
It was time to come clean to my little girl Chloe Skye, 29
tanding in front of the mirror, I could barely I was a look at myself. young dad... It was summer ...but Zevaeh 2008, I was 16. became My muscles were defined, had all the parts my world my jawline sharp. of a man. And Lots of lads of my age they were working would’ve been chuffed with parts, apparently! that I had. a body like mine... Once the shock wore So I started But that was the problem. off, I did my best to introducing I wasn’t like other boys support Lynzee. my female my age for one huge reason. And just weeks before my self slowly. I’d been born male, my 18th birthday, in January Bought name was Michael. But that 2010, our beautiful daughter us matching wasn’t who I really was at Zevaeh was born. leggings and all – inside, I had long hair, Overnight, she became my sandals, just cheekbones and curves. entire world. I adored her. wore them at home. I was a woman. I had joint custody, saw ‘I love that we wear I’d tried to explain this to her as much as possible. the same leggings,’ my parents – they’d rolled Watching her grow – first Zevaeh would smile. their eyes, refused to listen. words, first steps, first day It soon became Searching for acceptance, at school – was my life’s joy. normal for Zevaeh to see a few years But there was me in women’s clothes. earlier, I’d run still something Finally, in March 2016, away from home. missing... when I was 24, Zevaeh, 6, Totally alone, I’d So, after I decided to explain things moved all the way researching to her properly. to California, as I’d hormone I was incredibly nervous. read online it was therapy, in early ‘Just be true to yourself, a safe place for 2015, I decided Zevaeh loves you no matter LGBTQ+ people. that it was time what,’ a friend reassured. But just months later, to start transitioning. But there was no real way with no money and nowhere Only, I had one reservation. of knowing how she’d react. to live, I got picked up by Zevaeh. Waiting for Zevaeh to be the police while wandering As far as she was dropped off that weekend, the streets and sent home. concerned, I was her daddy. I was a nervous wreck. Now, I’d moved in with But after hormone Hearing the car pull up a friend. And recently I’d therapy, my voice would outside, I drew a deep met Lynzee, then 16. become higher. And I wanted breath. It was time. She knew I liked boys, but to legally change my gender. Zevaeh ran into the house, we’d still ended up sleeping Wear make-up and dresses gave me a big hug. together a few times. in public. I sat her down on the sofa. And then... I wanted to start living as ‘Daddy’s got something to ‘I’m pregnant,’ she’d the woman I really was. tell you.’ I said. blurted out weeks later. But how would Zevaeh, I explained it all as simply I was stunned. then 5, feel? I was terrified as I could. As much as I felt like a she’d reject me. And there was silence as woman on the inside, I still She was all the family she took in the words...
S
WORDS: ASHLEIGH PAGE, EMMA DUNN
How would she react? I was a nervous wreck
So scared she might reject me
You should SEE US NOW 37
UNBREAKABLE BOND We have such a close relationship
Continued from previous page
Mum’s the word Z evaeh tilted her head and looked at me, puzzled. ‘Does this mean that I have two mummies now?’ she said to me, smiling. ‘I guess it does!’ I laughed, flooded with relief. I could see she was completely unfazed. Within a week, she began to call me Mummy D. Overnight, it seemed the most natural thing in the world for her. And when I told her we could get our nails done together, she giggled with excitement. Now, with Zevaeh on board, I could finally
start to transition. In June 2017, I started hormone therapy to introduce oestrogen to my body, which would alter my voice and give me the feminine curves I craved. And in July 2019, I legally changed Today, I’m so proud my gender and of Zevaeh name, choosing Chloe because it was a name relationship changed. I’d always liked. We started doing more It was so freeing to finally girly things together, like be the real me. doing our hair and painting ‘You’re so much happier our nails. now, Mummy D,’ Zevaeh But we still did all the told me as we watched things we did before, too, like cartoons one day. swimming, and going to And she was amusement right, I was – parks together. finally living At first, the way I’d I worried that always wanted, her friends at as a woman. school wouldn’t And having understand, and my little girl’s might bully her blessing meant everything for having two mums. to me. But Zevaeh reassured me As Zevaeh’s mum, our it was OK. ‘My mates think it’s cool,’ she shrugged. Instead of Father’s Day, we started celebrating Mother’s Day Two, going out for dinner. Now, me and Zevaeh, 11, spend hours posting videos on our TikTok account. We share funny videos, play pranks on each other, give an insight into our We’ve got the relationship and answer same style! questions from our 47,000 followers. I hope it raises awareness
She knows I’ll never judge her and she can come to me
Starting my journey, my girl by my side
38
of transgender parenting. These days, Zevaeh and I can talk about absolutely anything. She knows I’ll never judge her and she can always come to me with any problems. I’m so grateful that she accepts me for who I am. And I’m so proud of her. I love our close bond. Today, we still love wearing our matching clothes and shoes, and we have exactly the same style. She’s so smart and is literally my double, down to her sassy attitude and curly hair. When we’re apart, she’s constantly sending me memes and videos. I hope that I’ve shown her that you can be anyone you want to be. And, most importantly, to always be proud of who you are. Check out Chloe and Zevaeh’s TikTok account: SkyeDuo.
MONEY MATTERS
CASH
SMART We help you make savvy choices, so your hard-earned goes that bit further
ways to... stop overspending
3
Fed up of getting to the end of the month and wondering where your cash has gone? Keep your spending on track with these easy tips.
Get organised
1
The most important first step is to make a budget that covers all your essential outgoings for the month. Then see how much
is left and plan how you’ll use it. It’s a good idea to allocate some to your savings; set up a standing order to transfer a sum you can afford to put away each month into your savings on payday. And beware of payday splurges; it’s natural to want to treat yourself when your wages hit your account, but if you’re not careful you could regret it.
2
Go green, save cash Check out Wilko’s – p Liquid 500ml, Toilet Cleaner 750ml, Multi Surface Clean Spray 500ml, Dishwasher tive 5ltrr o – for £12.50, saving £2 compared to buying them all individually. holiday. Knowing you’re saving for something important to you means you may be less likely to splash out on other things. And never feel pressured to spend money you can’t afford; if a friend suggests plans that would bust your budget, why not come up with a cheaper alternative?
Sort the essentials
3
Think about how you may be overspending on bills, too. Could you save money by switching your energy supplier? Or could you cut your mobile phone bill? There are useful guides on how to do it at moneyadviceservice.org.
Think about your priorities
When it comes to saving successfully, it’s a good idea to have goals, whether you want to build a nest egg or save up for a dream
Your questions answered I’ve heard that cases of romance fraud have increased sharply during the pandemic – how common is it? K Hamilton, Newcastle Which? analysis of Action Fraud data shows romance fraud was up by 40% in April 2021, with over 7,500 reported scams and reported losses of
WORDS: REBECCA GAMBLE. PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): GETTY
Q
£73.9m, although the true figure is likely to be much higher. It’s a clever type of fraud, with scammers preying on the emotional vulnerability of the victim, building trust with them before asking for cash. Fraudsters often claim they need the money to travel to the UK to build a life together, says Which? For tips on what to look out for, visit which. co.uk.
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NO-FUSS FOOD
Simple
summer puds Spend more time in the sun, and less time in the kitchen with our quick and easy desserts!
Top tip Vary the trifle flavour to suit what you fancy – peaches and nectarines work well, too.
Strawberry trifle cake Our delicious twist on a classic trifle will have you coming back for seconds... or even thirds. SERVES 8 PREP TIME 15 MINS, PLUS SETTING COOK TIME 5 MINS
O 600ml double cream,
whipped to soft peaks O A handful each strawberries
and raspberries, to decorate O 2 large flan cases, we
used Edlers O 120g white chocolate, melted O 1 pack strawberry jelly O 150g strawberries, halved O 1x120g pot ready-made custard
40
Put one flan case on a plate to create a base. Cut out the centre of the second flan case so you are left with just the rim, stack on top of the base.
1
Pour the white chocolate inside and spread with a pastry brush, making sure the inner borders are also well covered to avoid leaking. Put in the fridge to set. Meanwhile, prepare the jelly in a jug according to pack instructions and leave it to semi-set. Put the strawberries on
2 3
the flan base and pour over the jelly. Place the cake in the fridge until the jelly is set. In a small bowl, stir half the cream into the custard and spoon over the jelly layer. Using a large spoon, dollop the remaining cream onto the custard layer and decorate with strawberries and raspberries.
4
Top tip The sorbet is nice and refreshing, however, if you want something more indulgent, ice cream will also be great!
Tropical banana split Enjoy the great taste of summer with the totally tropical dessert. SERVES 2 PREP TIME 5 MINS COOK TIME 5 MINS O 2 bananas O 30g butter O 2tbsp light brown sugar O 2 scoops of mango sorbet O 1 passionfruit
COMPILED BY: KEIRON GEORGE. PHOTOS: FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM
O A handful of pecans, toasted
Peel the bananas and slice in half lengthways. Melt the butter and sugar in a frying pan over a medium heat and pan-fry the banana until nicely caramelised. Place on a platter, to share, or split between 2 plates. Add 2 scoops of sorbet, the seeds and pulp from the passionfruit and scatter over the nuts. Drizzle over any caramel from the pan and enjoy.
1
2
Strawberry ice-cream cookie sandwich Why spend money on expensive ice cream sandwiches when you can make your own at home – and the kids will love getting involved! SERVES 10 PREP TIME 15 MINS, PLUS COOLING COOK TIME 12 MINS
2
O 175g unsalted butter
3
O 125g golden caster
Top tip Pop the sandwiches back in the freezer briefly to firm up before eating.
sugar O 1⁄2tsp vanilla extract O 2 eggs O 300g plain flour O 1tsp baking powder O 150g milk chocolate, cut into chunks O 1ltr tub of strawberry ice cream Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla extract, until light and fluffy.
1
Gradually add the eggs, flour, baking powder and chocolate chunks. Mix together to form a firm dough. Roll the dough into 20 balls and put on 2 parchmentlined baking sheets, spacing well apart. Flatten slightly and bake for 10-12 mins, until golden. Cool on the sheets for 3 mins. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Take the ice cream out of the freezer to soften for 15 mins. Scoop 10 equal balls of ice cream and sandwich between 2 cookies.
4
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’ This week s TV Our top telly picks – you’ll kick yourself if you miss them
Vera DON’T MISS
ITV Brenda Blethyn returns as DCI Vera Stanhope in two new episodes of the crime drama. The first story follows the detective and her sidekick, DS Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty), as they investigate the death of local builder Jim Tullman (Gavin Kitchen), whose body is found on the steps of a local landmark after he is beaten to death. They soon discover he’d been due to testify in court as a key witness against a promising young footballer accused of GBH. Could the crimes be connected?
Aiden and Vera are back
Grantchester ITV Rev Will Davenport (Tom Brittney) and DI Geordie Keating (Robson Green) team up once again to solve more murders as the period crime drama returns for a sixth series, which opens in 1958 and follows the pair as they investigate a death at a holiday camp.
DON’T MISS
Hard-hitting real-life drama
It’s Parky’s milestone
Stephen
WORDS: MICHAEL DARLING. PHOTOS: BBC, QUEST RED, ITV, GETTY
Parkinson at 50 BBC1 Join Sir Michael Parkinson as he marks the 50th anniversary of his chat show with a nostalgic look back at some of his most memorable interviews with the likes of Fred Astaire, Lauren Bacall, Muhammad Ali and Billy Connolly, as well as some of
42
his less successful ones, like his chaotic meeting with children’s entertainer Rod Hull and his puppet Emu. In the one-off documentary, Parky will also tell the story of how the show came about, reveal the secrets of a successful interview and share backstage stories.
Return of the sleuths
ITV A sequel to the 1999 drama The Murder of Stephen Lawrence, this three-parter follows events from 2006 onwards – 13 years after the teen’s death. Hugh Quarshie and Sharlene Whyte play Stephen’s parents, and Steve Coogan is DCI Clive Driscoll, who led the investigation.
27 August-2 September
Coming soon...
Your STARS
What’s in store in the months ahead... Sister act: The Nolans reunited
QUEST RED After last year’s cruise in the Med, the Nolans set sail again, but this time around the UK. The six-part series
sees Anne, Maureen, Coleen and Linda (far right) joined by sister Denise as they prepare to perform together for the first time in over 40 years.
I Literally Just Told You C4 Jimmy Carr hosts this fast-paced quiz show with a twist. As contestants battle it out to win a cash prize, they will need to pay close attention to everything that’s going on and rely on their memories, because they are given all the answers they need throughout the show.
Jimmy has all the answers
Let Rick be your guide
Rick Stein’s Cornwall BBC2 The series returns for a second run with the chef once again taking viewers on a voyage of discovery around the county he’s called home for 50 years. As well as championing the local food, wildlife and culture, he’ll take the occasional wild swim in the stunning landscape.
Aries
Libra
21 March-20 April
24 Sep-23 Oct
Consider what you’re looking for, as positive forces are vibrating around you. A new house, job or relationship – you can plan and manifest a new start.
You and your partner both want to make a deeper commitment. Trust what your heart is telling you – ask the question or accept the proposal presented.
O Call 0905 817 0690* for more
O Call 0905 817 0696* for more
Taurus
Scorpio
21 April-21 May
24 Oct-22 Nov
A task that needs your attention will be done with precision, and you’ll impress the right people. Arranging a special meal for a partner will go down very well.
Be open-minded and flexible – your partner has a treat planned. Go out, enjoy your time together and all the surprises your partner has for you.
O Call 0905 817 0691* for more
O Call 0905 817 0697* for more
Gemini
Sagittarius
22 May-21 June
23 Nov-21 Dec
Things have to be done properly, and a boss will see this. Especially when you question a manager whose plans don’t comply with the guidelines.
Enjoy a friend’s adventurous spirit, as their bizarre plan turns into one of the most amazing days of your life. Show your appreciation, as this wasn’t easy to achieve.
O Call 0905 817 0692* for more
O Call 0905 817 0698* for more
Cancer
Capricorn
22 June-23 July
22 Dec-20 Jan
Make every second count as you look at the different sides of a work conundrum and find the best way forward. Most of what you need to finish is in place.
Security is always your priority and you’re devoted to providing a comfortable family home. You may find a new bedding set that sets the mood for romance.
O Call 0905 817 0693* for more
O Call 0905 817 0699* for more
Leo
Aquarius
24 July-23 Aug
21 Jan-19 Feb
Are you fulfilling your five-year plan? Maybe you already have a great job, but how is your wellbeing? Clear your mind and walk in nature to find the answers.
Holiday adventure will set your mind racing and your love life will explode with passion. Make sure you’re ready for all the amazing changes this week brings.
O Call 0905 817 0694* for more
O Call 0905 817 0700* for more
Virgo
Pisces
24 Aug-23 Sep
20 Feb-20 March
Naturally sociable, you enjoy spending time with your family. Your friends will help you to see the lighter side of life and you will all be laughing in no time.
You have the ability to bridge the gap between people and show them their potential when working together. A new offer leads to advancements at work.
O Call 0905 817 0695* for more
O Call 0905 817 0701* for more
*STARLINES UPDATED EVERY THURSDAY. CALLS COST 80P PER MIN PLUS YOUR TELEPHONE COMPANY’S NETWORK ACCESS CHARGE AND LAST AROUND 4 MINS. FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. USERS MUST BE OVER 18. YOU MUST HAVE THE BILL PAYER’S PERMISSION. SP: SPOKE 0333 202 3390.
The Nolans Go Cruising
Chat astrologer Sally Morgan reads your week ahead
Ask Alexa ‘What is my horoscope today?’
SPECIAL REPORT
WORDS: KARA O’NEIL, TRACY GAYTON. PHOTOS (FAMILY PHOTO POSED BY MODELS AND PUPPY IS A LIBRARY PHOTO): GETTY
Pandemic pu Soft, floppy ears, wagging tails – a faithful pal for walks and cosy evenings snuggled up on the sofa together... It’s easy to see why some 3.2 million households in Britain have got a pet since the start of lockdown in March 2020. With many of us at home more, the demand for puppies has soared. But, as adorable as a new canine friend might be, there’s a dark side. The demand for dogs has pushed prices sky high, with the average cost of a puppy being almost £1,900. And unscrupulous sellers have been making big money, breeding dogs without much care for the health of the mother or the pups. We speak to one woman who is determined to devote her life to helping these dogs in distress... 44
‘We’ve never been busier saving dogs’ Denise Randall, 55, Newmarket, Suffolk
y heart ached, seeing the pictures of the shivering dog wrapped in a blanket. Painfully thin, his ribs were protruding from his skin and he was riddled with mites. It was 2011, and after seeing him being advertised online as a stud dog for breeding, I knew that we had to do something, It was clear from the photos he wasn’t in a good way. But nothing could have prepared me for the state he was in. As soon as the ad had been circulated on the bulldog forum I’d joined, we launched into action. Together, we managed to raise £1,000 to buy him.We arranged for a member to take him
M
Me and Lemmy, now happy and healthy
straight to Bulldog Rescue in Sussex. Thankfully, he was able to get the treatment he needed. Eventually, he was nursed back to health and found the loving home that he deserved. I named him Edward. And he inspired me to start The Edward Foundation. The Foundation is a charity that helps to rescue any bulldogs at risk of abuse and being used as a commodity. We also help families who have to give up their beloved pets for various reasons. We aim to make sure their dogs
are being rehomed sensibly and responsibly. There were so many other poor dogs, just like Edward – we couldn’t simply turn a blind eye. Sadly, though, since the lockdowns, our job has become so much harder. Some might say it’s become an impossible task to help so many dogs. For a long time, bulldogs have been a fashionable breed. But now, puppies are fetching up to £5,000 each. The profits to be made from breeding them have soared – and so have the incidents of abuse, cruelty and neglect. We have had bitches brought to us from puppy farms, made to have one litter after another, then dumped like rubbish. Some have been given DIY caesareans by breeders who don’t want to pay out for expensive vet bills. One such dog, Grace, was in a terrible state. When the vet opened her up, he found that, after her DIY caesarean, the breeder hadn’t sewn any of her muscles and inside tissue, just the top layer of skin. She had to be put back together with mesh to hold her internal organs
Since the lockdowns, our job has become so much harder
uppies in eril Wendy Kruger is Dog Behaviour and Training Specialist at Wood Green, The Animals Charity – home of Channel 4’s The Dog House.
Check thoroughly before buying a pup
Many breeds are now highly sought after
in place. Bulldogs that haven’t been properly bred may also incur very expensive medical bills, which the owners can’t always afford. Lemmy came to us with melting ulcers in his eyes and a gaping wound on one of his front legs, after being attacked by a pack of dogs
at a breeding farm. Sadly, he lost one of his eyes, but we saved his other one – though he cost us nearly £15,000 in vet bills. But he’s healthy now and living a very happy life. His foster family ended up adopting him. To do what we do, we need to raise at least £200,000 a year. Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve been busier than ever. The Edward Foundation has now successfully rescued and rehomed
around 1,600 bulldogs. It’s hard work, and sometimes I wonder if I’ve taken on too much. But if a bulldog somewhere out there needs my help, I just can’t turn my back on them. While the unscrupulous breeders remain in operation, me and my team’s work will never be done. I urge anyone who’s thinking about getting a dog to do their research thoroughly. I’ve seen what happens if you don’t – the consequences can be truly disastrous.
If a bulldog out there needs my help, I can’t turn my back
What are the Q consequences for unscrupulous breeders? The sentence for animal A cruelty has been increased from six months to five years. Lucy’s Law also came into effect last year to clamp down on puppy farming and provide more detailed legislation about breeding. What should we consider QThe when getting a dog? Kennel Club’s Find A Puppy search is great to find Assured Breeders, who are committed to responsible breeding and have been thoroughly vetted. Genuine breeders will be keen to meet you, introduce you to the mum and the litter, show you where the puppy was born, and let you visit them several times before taking a pup home. They’ll provide the relevant papers and health records, and ask you questions to ensure their puppy is going to the right home.
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£500 cash! WIN
THE BIG QUIZ
£500 Puzzle 18
he answers to all but one of these quiz questions can be found hidden in this wordsearch grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally. To help you, we’ll tell you that the answers are in alphabetical order in each section. However, one answer can’t be found in the grid. This is your prize answer.
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THE SILVER SCREEN – HOTEL In the 1986 Merchant Ivory film A Room with a View, Lucy Honeychurch and her chaperone stay in the Pensione Bertolini in which Italian city? (8) In the 2019 film Stan & Ollie the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel stood in for which famous luxury hotel on the Strand, opened in 1889? (5) In which capital city is the Park Hyatt hotel, which was the
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PHOTOS: ALAMY
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setting for the Sofia Coppola film Lost in Translation? (5) WHERE IN THE WORLD? VILLA Aston Villa Football Club is based in which English city? (10) Chedworth Roman Villa and Cirencester (formerly the Roman town of Corinium) are in which English county? (15) The Villa of the Mysteries and the House of the Tragic Poet (with its famous Cave Canem mosaic) can be found in which ill-fated ancient Italian city? (7)
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CARAVAN What was the collective name of Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog, whose fifth book in the series by Enid Blyton saw them ‘go off in a caravan’? (6,4)
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2 Where did Stan and Ollie check in?
5. Chedworth Which TV The – which county? presenter words, played Father ‘High on a Noel Furlong rocky ledge, in Father Ted, I’ll build my making his wigwam, debut in Close to the an episode water’s edge, entitled Hell, in Silent and still,’ which Ted, Dougal come from the and Jack holiday in Canadian folk song a caravan? (6,6) Land of the _? (6,5) The English group who had a 1986 hit HOLIDAY with Caravan of Love ACCOMMODATION were The _? (12) In which county is Burgh Island, whose Art Deco hotel inspired TENT On which island in the settings for Agatha Poole Harbour, Dorset, Christie’s novels And Then did Baden-Powell hold the There Were None and Evil first experimental Boy Scout Under the Sun? (5) camp in 1907, the group What is the name of staying in army tents? (8) Richard Branson’s Which Mike directed private holiday island in the the 1976 comedy film British Virgin Islands? (6) Nuts in May, in which a In which country middle-class couple go might you have camping in Dorset, and the a holiday home known classic Abigail’s Party? (5) as a dacha? (6)
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YOU LITTLE BEAUTY
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I’m having real trouble sleeping at the moment – my mind just starts whirring. What relaxing pamper products will help me nod off?
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HOLIDAY INSPIRATION
Take in the city on a bus tour
s n o s a 6 re isit... to v
London With plenty of iconic landmarks, fantastic museums and peaceful parks, there’s something for the whole family in the capital
The backdrop of London from the River Thames
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Bird’s-eye view With so many sights to see it can feel a bit overwhelming – that is, unless you’re travelling via open-top bus. Cue lots of fun for everyone as the bus navigates its way around London, taking in famous landmarks. With earphones supplied, you’ll hear the city’s history along the way, too. If there’s a particular sight you want to see, just hop on and off the service as often as you like. Passes for 24, 48 or 72 hours are available; theoriginaltour.com.
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Buckingham Palace Grenadier Guards
Eat out
The entrance to Chinatown
London’s rich multicultural mix means a world of exotic eating that’s affordable. Think Chinese in Chinatown, Korean in the West End, Turkish in Stoke Newington, Indian on Brick Lane. Top-class venues that might be too pricey for dinner offer great-value lunch menus for a set fee.
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Royal visit Let’s be honest, Buckingham Palace is impressive. Turning up at the front of the imposing facade and spotting the guards marching up and down is thrilling. Arrive at 11am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday or 10am on Sunday, and you’ll be in time to see the Changing of the Guard – a formal ceremony where two squads of soldiers switch places.
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London is packed with fantastic museums, but for a familyfriendly experience you can’t beat the Science Museum (entry is free). A short walk from South Kensington tube station, prepare yourself for games, simulators, live science shows, multi-sensory displays and activities for all ages – and parents! Or try the Victoria and Albert Museum, which includes a fashion gallery that often holds exhibitions.
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Pick a park One of the world’s greenest capitals, London has parks at its heart. Head to Regent’s Park for its rose garden, Kew Gardens for the glasshouses or Greenwich Park for unbeatable views out across the river. Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath looks down over the London Eye, Parliament and St Paul’s. Pack a picnic and enjoy the great outdoors.
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Stay at the St Ermin’s Hotel
Entry is free to the Science Museum
Stay in style As a former base for an MI6 department, St Ermin’s Hotel is a hotel with a rich history. Located in Westminster, a four-minute walk from St James’s Park tube station, the hotel is perfectly placed as a starting point for exploring the great sights the capital has to offer, including the much-loved pelicans of St James’s Park itself.
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Always check the latest travel advice before booking a trip
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WORDS: JASHODA PATEL. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY
The stunning Kew Gardens
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TRAGIC SIBLINGS
Toddling to their death Wandering off, hand in hand, these young siblings were never seen alive again t was the cutest scene – a brother and sister, just over a year apart in age, in the sweetie aisle of the local shop, choosing chocolate bars. Miracle Crook, 3, wearing pale-pink leggings and a vest top, following little brother Tony, 21 months. It was the morning of 22 May 2020, and the toddlers were at the shops with their mum Donisha Willis, 24. Just over two hours later, around 10.30am, the pair were seen on CCTV again. This time, Miracle
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and Tony were holding hands, walking down a grassy, tree-lined avenue near a block of flats in Tulsa, Oklahoma. But that’s where this sweet story ends. Because, this time, Donisha was nowhere in sight in the footage. And toddlers Miracle and Tony were never again seen alive, apparently vanishing into thin air. As soon as the alarm was raised, there were serious concerns for the children’s safety. It quickly emerged that Donisha didn’t have custody of her children, or visitation rights. But that morning, she’d broken into the flat where Miracle and Tony had been living with her sister – their aunt and legal guardian. Another relative, who was babysitting, left to fetch ttheir aunt, Mother w Donisha Willis
the midst of moving home. But, when they returned, Donisha was asleep on the sofa, the front door open. The toddlers had gone… The police arrived, but when asked the whereabouts of her children, Donisha became verbally abusive and lashed out at an officer. A huge search got underway, and Donisha Willis was arrested for child endangerment. Detectives uncovered the CCTV footage at the local shop, and of Miracle and Tony later strolling away from the flat. They were seen walking down some steps, towards a rain-swollen stream, which flowed into two major rivers. They never reappeared. Could they have gone into the water? It was a terrifying thought. The whole neighbourhood pulled together to look for them. Teams of divers, helicopters, dogs and locals all searched the area and waterways, desperate to find Miracle and Tony. Meanwhile Willis was refusing to cooperate. She even allegedly told officers her toddlers ‘don’t even matter’. Neighbours said Donisha had been acting strangely before the children
vanished. One said she was walking down the street sweating a lot, with the children not in sight. After three days, the police had exhausted all leads. ‘We are at our wits’ end trying to find these children,’ said Police Chief Wendall Franklin, likening the search to finding a needle in a haystack. He said there were only two possibilities. ‘These children are either on someone’s couch asleep, and the people that they’re with don’t know that these children are missing, or these children are dead,’ he said. He warned the youngsters ‘cannot survive alone’, as he desperately appealed for information. Then, late on Tuesday 26 May 2020, just four days after the children vanished, a body was pulled from the Arkansas River. It was a young girl. The following day, the police confirmed they’d found a second body in the stream leading to the river. It was a young boy, wearing clothes similar to the ones in which Tony was last seen. At a briefing, the police confirmed the tragic news. Heartbreakingly, DNA samples showed the bodies were those of missing
Donisha was asleep on the sofa, the toddlers had gone…
PHOTOS: TULSA POLICE DEPARTMENT, UNCREDITED/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK
o hs
toddlers Miracle and Tony Crook. Officer Franklin said, ‘It’s saddening but also, from our perspective, we’re elated we are able to bring closure. ‘It’s closure because we are able to actually locate those two and bring them home to their family.’ It was believed the toddlers had wandered through an opening in a fence. They’d gone down to the stream, where the high waters swept them away. Prosecution lawyer Steve Kunzweiler said they’d take their time, before filing any charges against Willis. ‘Our community is grieving. They were innocent lives. Our last memory of them is two kids loving on each other. And I think I’d rather the focus be on those kids and let our community grieve for them appropriately,’ he said. Yet, ultimately, the two children had been left to their own devices, aged just 3 years and 21 months. Someone had to be held responsible. The CCTV of the children heading towards the water not far from their home, with no adult supervision, was crucial to the case. The footage confirmed they’d been left alone when they drowned. A funeral and a memorial service were held for the toddlers and
Tony: little more than a baby
neighbours, friends and family mourned That summer, mother Donisha Willis was charged with two counts of seconddegree murder. She pleaded not guilty. But, in January 2021, Willis agreed to plead guilty to reduced charges. She admitted two counts of child neglect, as well as assaulting a police officer during questioning. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison. ‘Donisha and her family are completely heartbroken by the tragic deaths of
Miracle and Tony,’ said defence lawyer Corbin Brewster. Questions were raised during the case regarding Willis’ mental health and alleged drug use. There’s no doubt she’s suffering now – the pain and guilt unthinkable. It’s a sad end to the most tragic of stories. And that last, grainy CCTV footage of the toddlers together will be forever etched on many people’s memories.
The children choose sweets
CA M 1
Miracle: aged just 3
Heading to the river alone…
10.30
22/5/20 55
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FOREVER HEARTBROKEN
A letter to...
To my ex-husband, o you remember the night we first kissed? We worked together and got chatting on a night out in 1990. I was unhappily married, desperate to break free. And you helped me realise that I could. When you looked into my eyes, it was as if there was nobody else in the room. That was the moment I knew what I’d been missing. All I wanted was someone who really cared for me – doesn’t everyone? It took me a while but, as we got to know each other, I grew to trust you. With your help, I mustered the courage to leave my husband. And I made a new life, with you. But, after what I’d been through, I said we should make a pact. ‘If ever things aren’t right between us, we have to let
D
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each other go,’ I told you. You nodded, wrapped your arms around me and I felt safe. In time, we got married. We had two gorgeous kids. We were so incredibly close, we’d finish each other’s sentences. We never stopped laughing. You put me on a pedestal, full of praise and compliments. I felt so loved. Exactly like I had always wanted. But after 15 years, things began to change. I was so busy at home, raising our children, I never saw it coming, even though it was like history repeating itself. You met her at work. A new job you’d begun a few months earlier. Of course, I didn’t realise at first. All I knew was that you’d become distant, irritable. We stopped laughing together. And instead you made jokes at my expense. The way I did my hair, the
clothes I wore, the things that I said. It was as if I couldn’t do anything right for you. When I asked you what was wrong, I saw a flicker in your eyes. Guilt. It was 2004 and, with Christmas approaching, I told myself that you were just stressed. But watching you buttoning up your best shirt and dabbing on aftershave before your work night out, I noticed that you seemed different. Your eyes shone with happiness – and, deep inside me, fear twisted. And later, I did something shameful… I found myself snooping through your phone bill. I found that one number was repeated over and over. And I knew... When I dialled the number, a woman answered. I asked to speak to you, but she said you were busy. Hanging up, I sobbed. That night, you admitted
I never saw it coming, history repeating itself...
it all. You said you were no longer in love with me. You cried and vowed to stay for the kids. But I couldn’t forget the pact that we’d made. So I let you go. Watching you leave was agony. That was 15 years ago and now you’re happily married to your other woman. But my heart has never really healed. For so many years, you made me feel special, and no-one has come close since. I know it sounds strange after what you did, but I’m grateful to you – because when we met, you set me free. The truth is I don’t need anyone else now. The memories that we made together are enough. You’re still the love of my life. So, thank you.
Your ex-wife x Name withheld, 55, Glasgow
WORDS: LOUISE BATY. PHOTO (POSED BY MODEL): GETTY
My cheating ex
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