Table of contents for November 26, 2015 in Chat

I was sitting on the sofa when someone sneaked up behind me. Two small hands snaked around my throat. And squeezed. Gasping for breath, I flailed hopelessly around. Someone was strangling me, squeezing the life out of me. And I knew who it was… My 7-year-old son Jason. It felt like he was trying to kill me. Everything started to go black when a carer wrenched my son off me. Shaking, I stared at Jason in fear. ‘Why did you do that?’ I croaked. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Sorry, Mum, I won’t do it again.’ But it wasn’t the first time Jason had lashed out for no reason. He’d punch and kick his big sister Michelle, then 12. He’d been expelled from school for attacking teachers and other kids.…

What I loved Catching up with the DIY SOS: Homes For Veterans special. I blubbed like a baby. Blew my nose then blubbed some more. 'Nuf said! What hacked me off Deciding I rather like my last year's Xmas sweater… Does it make me a bit bah humbug if I stick with it and not buy another? Is there an Xmas sweater etiquette I need to know? When did life get quite so complicated?? What made me laugh A sneak preview of next week's big FAT issue of Chat! It's got everything - and then some! Don't miss it! Hope you don't have a FAT week! (Ho, ho, ho…)…

Rotated testicle Q I suffered a twisted testicle two years ago, but it righted itself without treatment. I was supposed to go back for an op, but never bothered. Is it safe to ignore? Alex, 18 A When your testicle rotates inside your scrotum, its blood vessels twist, cutting off the blood supply, and the testicle could die. If it's happened once, it could happen again - unless you have an op to fix your testicles in place. See your doctor.…

Dis-like! Social media makes break-ups harder. After four years together, my partner decided he wanted to split up. He quickly updated his status on Facebook to In a new relationship . That really hurt me. I was still at home crying into my pillow while he was letting the whole world know that he'd moved on. However I will survive the break up and move on. It just takes time. Name and address supplied Brave beauty It’s sad that some people have been so cruel to Sophia Walker, the young girl with a facial genetic condition ( Theres more to me than a tumour! , 24 September issue). Everybody who’s made Sophia feel bad about herself should be ashamed. Ignorance is no excuse for the hurtful remarks…

In the middle of a crowded hotel restaurant, my partner Peter dropped to one knee, holding out a sparkling ring. ‘Will you marry me?’ he smiled. It was Valentine’s Day last year, and I’d had a sneaking suspicion he was about to propose. But I was still chuffed to bits. ‘Yes,’ I beamed. Peter, 58, and I had been together three years, and my three kids, aged 15, 13 and 9, thought he was great. That night, we celebrated, staying over at the hotel. Setting the date for this October, we got swept up in planning our wedding – big church ceremony, reception for 60 guests… Honeymoon in Vegas, followed by a Caribbean cruise. Bliss! My days were always busy, being a mum-of-three, and were now even busier with all…

Coronation Street Bitter revenge! The ‘revengeporn’ storyline reaches a climax when Steph finds out Jamie’s blackmailing Luke over her saucy photos and tells her ex to do his worst. Plus Tracy starts to get jealous when Robert supports Leanne over Simon. Emmerdale Wedding off..? Bernice spends the night before her wedding in Andy’s arms… But will she still marry Lawrence? Plus Chas’ terror that she’s being stalked leads to tragedy when she hears a noise downstairs in the Woolpack, gets a knife and stabs Diane! Hollyoaks Blast from the past… Cindy finds an old voice message on her mobile from Dr S’Avage. She confides in Lindsey that the message reveals that a woman is behind the murders and admits that she’s going to go to the police……

Cuddling my girlfriend Emily and our newborn son Kai, I’d never felt happier in my life. We’d both dreamt of a big family and, with Emily’s two – Lewis, then 5, and Ruby, 4, from a previous relationship – we were well on our way. So I popped the question. ‘Will you marry me?’ I asked. Emily, then 22, grinned. ‘Yes,’ she laughed. Being a mum and dad came first, so we’d still not planned our wedding when Emily fell pregnant two years later. We were all thrilled – especially when we found out it was a girl. Two of each! Only, at 26 weeks pregnant, Emily noticed she had an ulcer on her tongue. ‘I just need some antibiotics,’ she said, unfazed. But it kept getting bigger. And then…

Two letters changed everything – X and Y. I was a boy. But, deep down, didn’t I already know that? Well, if I’m honest, I was confused! It was October 2013. I’d been having back problems because my bones weren’t as dense as they should be. Doctors suspected it was a hormone imbalance, so I’d had a chromosome test. The results showed I had an X and a Y chromosome. ‘I’m a boy?’ I asked quietly. ‘You can’t take chromosome tests in isolation,’ the doctor said. ‘I’m a boy,’ I repeated. Only, this time, it wasn’t a question. I’d been a boy once before. When I was a newborn in 1988. Except, it hadn’t been quite that clear. Born with a rare condition called cloacal exstrophy, it meant while I…

Little petal What a beautiful bridesmaid my daughter Mia, 1, was for her Uncle Steve's wedding! Lisa Adams, Halesowen Tippy toes Here’s my lovely 2-year-old daughter Evelyn, practising her very best ballerina moves. Vicki Cox, York Splashing time! First thing my 3-year-old daughter Pixie did when she got her new wellies? Find a puddle to jump in, of course! Francesca Mowles, Felixstowe Big gulp Caught in the act! My son Joey, 2, helping himself to Mummy's drink! Vicky Payne, Cheltenham Mealson wheels! ‘Mum, this shopping trip’s taking too long!’ My son Liam, 2, couldn’t wait until we got home before tucking in… Katrina Smith, Corby Happy chappie Look at that cheeky grin - I can already tell my 2-month-old son Roman is going to be a fun one! Samantha Kena,…

Stretchmarks Q I'm getting stretchmarks but I'm not pregnant or overweight! Why? Jess, 16 A Puberty! Stretchmarks aren't simply the result of stretching due to weight gain - hormone surges can be a cause, too. They should fade - in the meantime, moisturise regularly. Itchy bits Q I've been itchy down below with a white cheesy discharge for two weeks. I've used cream, but it doesn't work. Jane, 22 A This does sound like thrush, a yeast infection, but you might not clear it with cream around the outside. Ask for vaginal cream with a long nozzle to insert into your vagina, pessaries to put inside, or tablets. If they don't do the trick, see your sexual health clinic. Meet the plastic surgeon who had a special plan... See…

Batchelors Creamy Cheese Cupa Pasta To Go, 80p Easy to make, this turns into pasta and sauce in just two min. Not the biggest portion, but it still makes a 7/10 satisfying, light lunch. Dolmio PastaVita Carbonara, £1.50 Whack both sauce and pasta into the microwave for 90 sec, mix and tuck in! Thick sauce with a strong bacon flavour and perfectly 8/ cooked pasta. Mug Shot Macaroni Cheese, 80p This makes a mega mugful! Just add boiling water, stir and leave for 5 min for pasta to soften and the sauce to get creamy. NEW BelVita Breakfast Soft Bakes, £2.79, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Tesco Just one of these makes a tasty, filling breakfast. Choose from Golden Grain, Chocolate Chips or Red Berries.…

Serves: 12 Prep Time: 20 min + chilling A little butter 300g marshmallows, chopped small, plus extra for decoration 1tsp vanilla extract 100g unsalted butter, cubed 150g rice crispies Dr. Oetker Pink Easy Swirl Cupcake Icing 1 Grease 2 six-hole silicone muffin tins with a little butter. 2 Place marshmallows, vanilla extract and butter into a saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring with a hand whisk until marshmallows have melted. 3 Tip rice crispies into a large bowl, then pour over and mix in melted marshmallows until completely coated. 4 Spoon into prepared muffin tins, pressing with back of a spoon to pack them down. 5 Chill in fridge for about an hour until set. 6 Remove cakes, and decorate with a swirl of cupcake icing and a marshmallow.…

As I pushed my 6-month-old baby Maison on the swings, he let out a squeal of delight. His smile and his giggle were infectious. ‘Look at him go!’ my husband Martyn, 24, smiled, watching us. Maison had been a much-longed-for baby… We’d suffered a miscarriage before he was conceived and, after his arrival, things weren’t easy. Maison had suffered with colic and reflux, and we couldn’t seem to breastfeed. But now, things felt easier. Maison was a happy, contented little boy who loved people. Martyn and I had got him into a good routine and each night one of us would bath him and the other would put him to bed. It was such a special time. A few weeks later, on 6 March 2013, Maison turned 7 months old.…

How I lost it! At 18st 3½lb and a dress size-24, I was hugely overweight due to being content - and suffering with PCOS. My consultant said having it made it harder to lose weight - so that was my ex cuse! I'd tried all the latest diets and failed, and when I did manage to lose some weight, I'd feel deprived, so I'd gain it all back - and more! But I knew I had to do something about my weight when I was at a waterpark on holiday in Tenerife. A bloke grabbed hold of me and laughed to his girlfriend that he'd harpooned a beached whale. I was mortified - but, as cruel as it was, I knew he was right. So, in January 2012, I joined…

‘I have heard you had some dream or vision which led to the postmortem examination,’ the lawyer asked, barely able to hide his smirk. All eyes in the courtroom were fixed on the witness stand. She sat there looking prim in her bonnet and high-collared blouse. ‘It was no dream,’ Mary corrected him. ‘She came back and told me that he was mad that she didn’t have no meat cooked for supper.’ That was her story. And Mary Jane Heaster was sticking to it. No matter how far-fetched it seemed. It was June 1897. Six months earlier, Mary’s daughter Zona had died suddenly. Now, a man was standing trial for her murder. Incredibly, the case rested on testimony from Zona’s ghost. Mary hadn’t been pleased when, in October 1896, her…

Sick o’clock Q Once a week, regular as clockwork, I spend all day vomiting. Then I'm back to normal! Why? Joyce, 75 A Could be cyclic vomiting syndrome, which is common in children but we've realised it happens in adults, too. No-one's sure of the cause, though migraine, stress, food triggers or infections can be to blame. Your GP may suggest tests to rule out stomach problems. Painful knees Q My knees have been agony for years. I've tried painkillers but nothing works. Could acupuncture help? Pat, 74 A Acupuncture can help to relieve pain, and is worth a try for many long-term painful conditions - though there's not much evidence that it actually offers a cure. It's available on the NHS in some areas, often through local pain clinics…

There’s nothing wrong with being different. That’s what I tell my son Jake, 9. Doctors had warned he could be born with Down’s syndrome – they’d picked up on something at my 12-week scan. I’d been offered a termination, but had refused. Although I wasn’t with Jake’s dad, I wanted my baby more than anything. When he was born in September 2006, my heart leapt. ‘He looks different,’ I said. Doctors confirmed he didn’t have Down’s syndrome. But his head was tiny. Then, when I counted his fingers… ‘He’s only got four on each hand,’ I gasped. My baby didn’t have any thumbs. Doctors did tests. ‘He’s got Nager syndrome,’ one told me. It’s a rare condition affecting the development of the face, ears, hands and arms. Doctors believed it…

I was only 11 when I was diagnosed with the chronic bowel condition Crohn’s disease. I’d been suffering badly from constipation, diarrhoea and horrible stomach cramps for a few months before my mum Karen took me to the doctor’s. After a few tests, I was told I had the illness, which is caused by inflammation in the digestive system. It was horrible to know I had a lifelong condition so young, but I had no option other than to get on with things. ‘I promise I won’t let it affect your life,’ Mum vowed. For years, my symptoms were well-controlled. First, by steroids and a carefully managed diet. From the age of 12, I had to go to hospital every eight weeks to have an infusion of medicine through an…

With my two littl’uns tucked up in bed, I set to work on my dinner… Special-fried rice and BBQ sauce from my local chippy. After polishing off the mountain of food, I spent the rest of the evening picking at sweets. Yet it never seemed to make me feel better… A few days later, I was crying in my room, wondering what on earth was wrong with me. ‘You need to go to the doctor,’ my partner said gently. He was right. I owed it to him and my gorgeous kids Faith, then 3, and 2-year-old Lucas. So, in August 2009, I took myself off to my GP and explained how I was feeling. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, prescribed medication. Thankfully it helped, yet it didn’t stop…

EastEnders Ronnie arrested for murder!  All thanks to sister Roxy… Carl White’s murder comes back to haunt Ronnie this week when the cops turn up to arrest her. And, worse still, it’s her sister Roxy who went to the police and betrayed her for killing the villainous thug back on New Year’s Day 2014. The police-visit couldn’t come at a worse time – right in the middle of the family lunch Sharon’s organised to help reunite the Mitchells. Some hope! Roxy and Sharon come to blows, then Phil kicks Roxy out… And hits the bottle, causing more problems for Sharon, Billy and Jay. Later in the week, Sharon puts aside her own troubles and surprises Linda with a 90s-themed hen party at The Vic. But Linda sees through the brave…

Winter can bring health challenges but there are ways to prepare for the colder weather and help to keep loved ones well. If you’re the main carer for an elderly person or anyone with a long-term health condition, make sure they get a flu jab. Talk to your pharmacist or your GP about this. As you stock up on food for Christmas, don’t forget to update your medicine cabinet and get prescription medicines before Christmas Eve. If you have a health query, talk to your pharmacist or visit nhs.uk. Treating colds and flu Although the symptoms are similar – with sneezing, a sore throat and a cough – flu is much worse than a cold. The symptoms come on more quickly and are more severe. They also include a fever,…

Scorpio 24 Oct - 22 Nov Someone you used to be close to is making life complicated again - in a nice sort of way. It’s clear that you’re both still interested in each other, but you’ve moved on over the years, and getting back together would be difficult. But since when did your heart ever listen to an excuse like that? Perhaps it’s time to try again. Call 0905 817 0697* for more Sagittarius 23 Nov - 21 Dec A new job is on offer, and you can have it if you want it. It’s all a bit loose and unstructured, but that’s exactly what you like about it - until you say yes and find you’re expected to make firm commitments on what and when. Maybe it’s not…

1 Heat 1tbsp oil in a deep-sided frying pan and fry a chopped red onion until soft, then add 2 crushed cloves of garlic and fry for 1 min more. 2 Stir in 2tbsp balti curry paste and gently fry for 1 min. 3 Stir in 400g can chopped tomatoes, 150ml vegetable stock (made with a cube) and 410g drained can of green lentils. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10 min. 4 Stir in 380g drained can of leaf spinach and gently heat through. 5 Remove from the heat, and then stir in a handful of roughly chopped, fresh coriander to serve. Serves: 4 Cost per head: 60p LIFE! DEATH! PRIZES! For more foodie bargains, visit www.lifedeathprizes.com and click on ‘best buys’…

You can’t beat good old egg and chips. When I was a kid, it was my favourite – plain and simple! ‘Egg and chips, please,’ I’d tell my mum Margo at dinnertime. ‘You had that last night,’ she’d say, frustrated. But I was stubborn and Mum would give in. As time went on, though, I struggled to eat anything else. If Mum tried to tempt me with chicken nuggets or bangers and mash, I’d gag. ‘I can’t eat it!’ I’d cry, retching. ‘You’re just being silly,’ Mum would scold. Eggs, chips and bread were the only foods that could tickle my tastebuds, though. For breakfast, I’d devour ‘dippy egg and soldiers’. Then I’d have egg sandwiches for my packed lunch. Of course, dinner was my favourite – fried egg and…