Table of contents for August 6, 2015 in Chat

When I first met John Barron back in 2007, I hadn’t expected we’d fall in love… To start with, at 26, he was 16 years younger than me – and I wasn’t in the market for a toyboy. But, after his sister introduced us, we quickly became friends. 'Do you fancy going out some time?’ John had asked. 'Why not?’ I’d said. We started spending lots of time together – could chat about anything and everything. He’d play computer games with my son David, then 19, too. 'Why don’t you move in?’ I’d suggested after a couple of months dating. And, before long, we talked about marriage. I’d already been down that route before, but I loved John. Neither of us noticed the age gap. In July 2008, we married…

What I loved Reading about Bardsey Island, a one-and-a-half-mile dollop of loveliness off north Wales. The newly appointed warden will share it with the ghosts of 20,000 saints that legend says are buried there. Spooky! What hacked me off Spotting festive stars and decorations being stacked on shelves in a certain bargain store in the high street… And too many Christmas conversations going on in the office. Too soon, guys - stop it! What made me laugh A mate saying, ‘I went to a really emotional wedding at the weekend… Even the cake was in tiers…' Hope you enjoy a slice of life this week!…

THE STORY SO FAR... When an Austrian student spotted Armin Meiwes' sick Internet ad for someone who wanted to be slaughtered and then eaten, he immediately alerted police. But, in December 2002, when officers raided Meiwes' home, they made a grisly discovery. He had 15lb of human flesh stashed under a pizza box in his freezer, and a video of him killing the victim, Bernd Brandes. But was it murder? Or was his victim a willing participant? The case… SICK APPETITE From the age of 8, Armin Meiwes, 42, had fantasised about killing and eating someone. He’d started having these feelings after his father and two brothers walked out of the family home. Meiwes dreamt about eating his classmates and Sandy, the blond boy hero of the 60s TV series,…

After pregnancy Q Shrinking boobs  and six months of breastfeeding, my boobs have shrunk! Will they grow back? Sherill, 26 Pregnancy and breastfeeding A hormones enlarge your breasts. Afterwards, they shrink again, but whether you're left with bigger breasts, smaller or the same size as before, is the luck of the draw! The only treatment would be cosmetic surgery. Oral sex QI gave my boyfriend oral sex and now I have a sore throat. Why? Tash, 30 A Infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea might be passed this way, though don't usually cause a sore throat. Occasionally, other bacteria such as streptococci, which can cause sore throats, might lurk on the penis. Check with your GP. Now...all you need to know about your fella's tackle! See www.lifedeathprizes.com  and…

Fun in the sun! Here are my little Minions - Max, 4, and Jacob, 2 - larking around at the pool on a recent holiday. Karen Morland, Mold Kitchen capers Ruby, 5, loves cooking with me, but as you can see, my girl’s not best pleased about the smell of the cheese sauce! Stephanie Cullum, Chatham MY CUTE BABY PIC Doesn’t my lovely little lad Lorenz look like one cool dude in his new shades?! Sarah Slawycz, Whitefield School’s out! Let the summer holidays begin! My 5-year-old son Leon is completely overjoyed to have finished school for the year. Elizabeth Williams, Llanelli Say cheese! Get a load of my gorgeous 4-year-old daughter Abby with her signature grin - she's always so happy! Gilly Hollands, Broxbourne Don’t believe me just watch!…

What could be more amazing than saving someone’s life? That’s what I’ve always thought. When live organ donation was made legal in 2006, I was eager to sign up. But with six kids to look after, life was hectic. Then, in September 2012, when they’d all moved out, I took action. 'I’d like to donate a kidney,’ I told them. I knew it was possible to live with just one. But I stumbled on a big, fat problem. My weight. To qualify as a donor, you had to be healthy. Before then, I’d never thought about my size. Admittedly, I’d piled on a bit since having the kids. And my size-22 clothes were a bit snug… Surely I m not that big, though, I thought, in denial. But when I…

1 Find it - simply identify the product that you want to buy by browsing as normal at major online retailers. 2 Paste it - copy and paste the product's web link into the Beat My Price website and challenge it to ‘Beat My Price'. The Beat My Price team will then try and find you a lower price than the one that you've found by up to 12 per cent (delivery costs included). 3 Beat it - if your price can be beaten, a personalised discount will be e-mailed to you, saving you the hassle of scouring the web in search of the best price. You'll then have a limited time* to take up the exclusive price. *3 out of 4 times, we find a better price than the…

I joined Quidco in 2007 after a colleague recommended it to me. 'It’s like an extra search engine you have to go through to shop online,’ they said. It seemed like a no-brainer to me. And, as soon as I started using Quidco, I saw the benefits. I’ve booked holidays through Quidco, and received around three per cent cashback. The extra cash has been useful spending money for my holidays! It’s fantastic for insurance, too. My car insurance was my best cashback bonus. I got a huge £50 for it. Home insurance pays out well, too. No matter what I need to buy, I’ll always go through Quidco now. I spend a lot on toiletries, so it’s great for that. All I have to do is search for shops like…

Maybe her life’s not all she’s cracking it up to be? Q Through Facebook, I met an old school friend who lives not far from me. Now I can't get away from her. Two of her kids have made friends with mine. She's always dropping them off to play and stays ages, crowing nonstop about how brilliant they are and how her partner's loaded. How do I break things off with her? Mair, 32 ABoasting's sometimes a sign of insecurity. Maybe her life's not all she's cracking it up to be? Never been round hers? Nah, don't start now. Just always be busy when she calls round - ‘Sorry, got to finish this housework' or ‘Got to ring Granny'. The kids will learn a handy life lesson - how to…

How I lost it! I tried lots of different ways to lose weight but nothing work ed. Then, in November 2008, I gave birth to my daughter Mollie. I soon found myself getting very tired and out of breath when she wanted to play . At over 17½st, I knew I had to lose weight, so I could be there for Mollie. A friend recommended NSC, so I made an appointment and, in June 2012, I was weighed, given a diet plan, and I also took an appetite suppressant... Within just two weeks, I lost around 1st! I couldn 't believe it, and after a month, I started to feel lik e myself again. After 17 months, I was 5st lighter and now I weigh 12st 8lb . I feel…

Leo 24 July - 23 Aug Isn’t it nice when you find that there’s still one biscuit at the bottom of the tin? You think there won’t be one, but you check, just in case…and there it is. Which proves that happy endings are always possible, even when you’ve almost given up hope. This week is like that. • Call 0905 817 0694* for more Virgo 24 Aug - 23 Sep Should you say what you think, or keep quiet? Will it cause more trouble? One thing’s clear, and that is that you’re over-thinking all of this. Everything will come out in the next couple of weeks anyway, and the end result will be good for you, so there’s simply no need to worry, is there? • Call 0905 817…

Everything had been organised really well. I was pregnant with my second baby, and me and my bloke Matthew Coughlan, 31, had decided on a home birth, with a midwife and a birthing pool It was all good to go – but some things never go to plan. On 19 May this year, eight days overdue, I woke up from a nap to find my waters had broken. 'The baby’s coming,’ I shouted to Matthew. Thankfully, he’d just got back from his job as a digital marketing manager, so he called my midwife and put the phone on loudspeaker. Grabbing towels, he eased them under me as I lay on the carpet. 'I can see the head,’ he announced soon after, as the midwife guided him through what to do.…

We've teamed up with Snapfish to offer Chat readers an amazing 8in x 11in Portrait Soft Custom Cover Summer Photo Book absolutely FREE*! Capture and share your memories, or why not get inspired and create your own personal recipe book full of flavour and memories? The Soft Custom Cover Photo Book would normally retail for £17.99, and with its light and flexible cover is ideal for carrying in your backpack or handbag. If you want, you can also customise the cover with your own photos, too. What you need to do So to get your FREE* Photo Book, simply go to www.snapfish.co.uk/chatphotobook • Fill out the form on the landing page. • You must use this url: www.snapfish.co.uk/ chatphotobook • Your unique credit will be applied automatically at the…

Moby. Lauryn Hill. Aloe Blacc. There was no way she’d miss any of these musical acts… So where was Theresa DeKeyzer? It was June 2014. The Electric Forest music festival had just kicked off in Rothbury, Michigan. Theresa, 22, loved music and dancing. And she’d forked out the equivalent of nearly £200 for a ticket to the four-day event. But she never showed up. Her family were out of their minds. Not only was she a no-show at the festival, no-one had seen Theresa for a fortnight. She’d been missing since 16 June. In the days since, police had spoken to her friends and family, who’d heard nothing from her. It was possible she’d run away. Everyone said she was a free spirit. And she’d had a hard time dealing…

Gazing into my camera, ready to snap a pic for my 116,000 Instagram followers, I pull a frown. Well, you would, too, if you were balancing a slice of pizza on your head. Only it’s not real – you can’t scoff this tasty treat! It’s actually made from wool, created using crocheting techniques. I started my barmy project in April last year. I’d moved from Perth to Melbourne to start a new job a burger bar, but I didn’t have many pals. So I spent a lot of my free time sitting in the house, doing crochet. I’d learned how to do it from a YouTube tutorial. Bored one afternoon, I started making a large hat in the shape of a burger. I’d been working on different hats for a…

Life was all go. I worked hard during the week as a manager for the Royal Mail. Weekends were family time. Walks with my wife of 10 years, Janine, 31, games in the woods with our daughter Amy, 10. Or I’d take Amy mudlarking by the River Thames. Searching in the squelching slime for lost treasures. So much fun! Only in December last year, I had the sniffles. Got the dreaded man flu, I moaned to all my Facebook mates. By Christmas Day, I felt so rotten, I couldn’t get out of bed. 'I’m sorry, love,’ I told Amy. I slept through Boxing Day, too. That evening, I woke up, dragged myself up to go to see Janine. But at the top of the stairs I tumbled over. 'What’s wrong?’…

Head bump Q I banged my head last year and there's still a lump under the scar. My GP says it's just bone but surely it's not normal Mary, 38 Sounds like a periosteal A reaction. Periosteum is a membrane lining the outside of your bones. Any damage stimulates the periosteum to form new bone, leaving a hard lump. It's harmless, but if it keeps growing, you should see your doctor to rule out the rare possibility of cancer. Gout doubts QI suffered a red, swollen big toe and my doctor diagnosed gout. Eek - I thought it was only boozy old men who got that?! Sylve, 63 A If you have a high level of uric acid in your blood, it can lead to a painful build-up of crystals…

Melasma Also known as chloasma, this condition is common in adults and causes brown or greyish pigmentation to develop, mainly on the face. It’s very common in pregnant women and can run in families. There’s no cure, but various creams and balms can also help improve the appearance of the skin. Surprising STATS According to new research by Setlers, nearly 50 per cent of women suffer trapped wind and bloating on holiday. And more than 50 per cent will avoid wearing swimwear if experiencing bloating or trapped wind. WE TRIED & LIKED Cranberry Ultra by Nature's Plus £10.99 for 90 capsules. Cranberry extract is believed to help stop the spread of cystitis. So if you’re prone to urinary-tract infections, just one of these capsules a day could help prevent flare-ups.…

Tesco Taramasalata, 200g, £1 Soft and creamy and with a strong fish flavour, this rich dip is traditionally served with warm pitta bread. And why not - it's delicious! Morrisons Greek Style Taramasalata, 200g, 99p With a lovely, salty flavour and plenty of fishiness, try serving this with crunchy carrot and celery sticks as a dip. The Co-Op Loved by Us Smoked Taramasalata Dip, 170g, £1.09 An intense flavour that's not a million miles from smoked salmon - but for a fraction of the price. Load on to buttered toast! McVities Breakfast Fruit & Oat Bakes, £1.99 High in fibre and low in saturated fats, these are for eating on the go. Porridge Oats & Apple or Porridge Oats & Blueberries.…

The reminder letter from the dentist flopped onto my doormat. Anxiety rising, I binned it. I wasn’t just jittery about the dreaded drill… When I was 7, my mum Sheila, then 32, had been diagnosed with throat cancer after a routine appointment. So young, all I knew was that she’d needed her teeth removed. Then, two years later, my mum was dead. Devastating. I blamed her loss on the dentist. So, growing up, I hated going… At 17, I’d needed crowns on my two upper front teeth. Squirming in my chair, I loathed every moment of treatment. After that, the mere thought of the dentist made me sweat. So, I avoided it. When reminders came, I’d chuck them out. But I didn’t tell anyone about my fear. Over the years,…

Mum,’ she’d suggested. She knew I used to love going down to the local bingo hall. But I’d never played online. A few games in, I was really enjoying myself. Plus, I could buy myself tickets for the 90 Ball Bingo in Tiki for just 1p each! I’d play after a shift at the care home where I work. I’d plonk myself on the sofa for a few games on my laptop most evenings. Last December, I’d bought some 1p tickets to play in Tiki. My hubby Jeff was next to me, engrossed in the telly. One by one, I watched the numbers come up. Suddenly, I only needed one. And a moment later… 'Jeff…’ I cried. 'I’ve won!’ I’d got a full house and won £1,013! Jeff, Amy and…

My daughter Jessica took one look at the gleaming pink trike in our garage and gasped. 'Is that for me?’ she beamed. 'A present from your new baby sister,’ I said, patting my tummy. I was due to give birth any day. And so my husband Leigh and I had bought Jessica, 6, the trike to make sure she was kept occupied while I was in hospital. 'I love it, Mummy! she said. We made a trip to the cycle shop for some new pink pedals, and Jessica rode her trike along the promenade. Back home, I had a bath and felt the first twinges of labour. 'Time to go to the hospital,’ I told Leigh. My parents came to look after Jessica and we made our way to hospital.…

Q When my relationship with my now-ex ended, he shocked me by climbing up a ladder to my flat and coming in through the window, drunk, while I was asleep in bed. I wasn't scared - it was typical of him - and we had great sex. But everyone I've told is horrified, saying it was like a burglary and I should report him. Really? Was I wrong? Name withheld, 37 A This guy's a nutter. He could've broken his neck - probably serve him right, too! He invaded your privacy and you laughed it off? What if you hadn't consented to sex - he might have pressured you. Let him stay an ex. Lock your windows at night and pick a fella who's actually grown up.…

Swap…a jam doughnut… 250 cal For…an iced bun…120 cal Diet biets Travel scales Mini Body Scales, £17.95, www. prezzybox.com Find out your weight anywhere, anytime, with an itsy-bitzy scale. The sleek design is even slim enough to fit into your gym bag, and can hold up to 23st in one weigh-in. Sweet treats Tasty Little Numbers Picked 'n' Mixed Selection Multi-Cubes, £3.99, Boots A box of five 100-calorie treats! Choose from Chocolate-Dusted Blueberries, Milk Chocolate-Coated Peanuts, Chocolate-Coated Coffee Beans, and Naturally Flavoured Jelly Beans. £50 What worked for you? I'll pay a full-fat £50 if I use your weight-loss story. Write to me, enclosing before and after pictures at: Losing It, Chat, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU, or e-mail me:…

Settling down on the sofa with some French toast, cream cheese and pickled onions, my tummy rumbled… 'Mmmm, my favourite,’ I said, licking my lips. I switched on the telly and my Labradors Lexi and Nancy settled down at my feet. I’d had them both since they were pups. I lived alone, but the three of us were like a little family. I just couldn’t imagine life without them. Within minutes, I felt Lexi nuzzle my feet before falling asleep. Getting comfy, too, I began devouring my toast before moving onto the pickled onions. I loved how tangy and crunchy they were. But as I munched away, one got caught in my throat. Coughing and spluttering, I quickly fished into my mouth to try and get the onion out. But…

1 Preheat oven to 190C/ Gas 5. Roll out a 500g pack of ready-made pastry onto a floured board, and use to line a deep pie dish. 2 Lay greaseproof paper in dish and weigh it down with baking beans, then blind bake the pastry for 10 min. 3 Meanwhile, gently fry 500g sliced onions and 1tsp chopped thyme leaves in 3tbsp oil, until soft and tinged brown. 4 Season with salt and pepper, then tip into pastry case. 5 Beat 2 eggs with 200ml milk and 75g grated Cheddar cheese. Add to onions, then sprinkle a further 75g grated Cheddar on top, and bake for 30-40 min, until golden-brown. Serves: 4 Cost per head: 84p…

Sniffle worries My 5-month-old Q is always sniffling. My doctor says nothing's wrong, but I'm not sure. Should I be worried? Nicoletta, 31 Some babies are snuffly A until their nasal air passages enlarge, after six months or so. She might find feeding difficult, so feed little and often and ask your chemist for saline nose drops, or try a nasal aspirator to suck out the snot. See your GP if she's struggling to breathe.…

Just 26 hours after he was born, my baby Harry passed away in my arms. I’d suffered a massive bleed during labour, and had an emergency Caesarean. 'The umbilical cord had torn,’ the doctor explained afterwards. The umbilical cord carries blood, nutrients and oxygen to the baby. When it ruptured, Harry suffered massive blood loss. My husband Jamie Brown, 32, and I were distraught. We cherished every moment, and took prints of his little hands and feet. After he died, we were inconsolable. 'Harry’s gone to live with the angels,’ we told his big brother William, then 2. But I was full of questions. Why did this happen? Could it have been prevented? Six weeks later, we saw our consultant and he explained I’d suffered a rare condition called vasa…

Quietly spoken, keen, and with great references. When Joanne Jordan applied for the secretarial job at our family firm, she seemed perfect. Living in the next village to us, we already knew of her. So, instead of a formal interview, we had a relaxed chat in our home. 'The job’s 16 hours a week,’ I explained. 'That’ll fit around my family perfectly,’ she replied. Although it was only a part-time position, it was crucial to the smooth running of our business. The Old Mill had been in my husband Robin’s family since the 1930s. Now we hired out the old corn mill for weddings and lived in the house next door. It was a small business, with Robin working as Head Chef, me front of house and five other employees…

Strawberry and coconut ice lollies Serves: 8 Prep: 20 min (plus freezing) 400g strawberries, washed and hulled 3tbsp icing sugar, sieved 400g coconut-flavour Greek yoghurt 1 Puree half strawberries with all icing sugar in a food processor. Sieve to remove seeds. 2 In a large jug, mix strawberry puree with coconut yogurt and use to fill eight lolly moulds (not quite to the top). 3 Slice remaining strawberries and divide between the moulds, pushing them down carefully so evenly distributed. 4 Push in lolly sticks and freeze for at least 4hr, or until frozen solid. • For another sweet treat, see www.lifedeathprizes.com and search ‘Eton mess'.…

Blistex Daily Lip Conditioner, £2.59, Superdrug Nourishes lips with olive and grape-seed oils. Top tip: Leave on overnight for an extra treat. Soleil Suncare High SPF Protection Lip Stick, £3, Tesco Delivers protection that's great for holidays. Top tip: Reapply regularly to avoid burning your pout. HURRAW! Sun Protection Balm, £3.99, www.mypure.co.uk A creamy formula with really good staying power. Top tip: Try to opt for products that contain natural ingredients. Carmex Jasmine Green Tea Moisturising Lip Balm, £2.69, Superdrug A quality product you can rely on in a fun new flavour. Top tip: You can wear this one all year round to avoid chapped and dry lips.…

QI've met a foreign student who I'm mad about. He's so different to any man I've known. We've become close and I'm devastated he's going home soon when his course finishes. Should I suggest I visit him overseas one day? I'm very shy and don't want to scare him away. FG, 20 A Bless you, honey, you've no reason to fear friendship! Swap contact details with him and drop him a pally e-mail after he's gone. Best not to build up your hopes that he's the Love Of Your Life, but friendship's enduring, so don't let that go. Just be yourself, he already likes you!…

Generations of the Native American Shawnee tribe have passed through the dense woodland and canyons that make up Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. But could the forest – also known as Garden of the Gods – be keeping a terrifying secret? The Shawnee understood the land, but not the things that happened there. For hundreds of years, they told tales of strange visitors, of animals unlike any they’d seen, even of monsters. When the European settlers came, they saw the same eerie sights. To them, it seemed the land was cursed. But perhaps the most frightening story of all comes from a town called Enfield in Southern Illinois. With a population then of no more than 625 people, it sits on the edge of the sweeping, 1,100km Shawnee National…