Table of contents for 27-Dec-2018 in Chat

When getting to know her new fella Benn, Katie learnt something pretty surprising... And she’s not complaining (p24)! Suzanne was in a world of grief until a stranger reached out with a message from her late son (p10). And was the tragic death of Imette part of a chilling conspiracy against one man (p14)? Plus, goodbye turkey sarnies... We’ve delicious new ideas for your festive leftovers (p27). And check out some bargains that’ll make your New Year do look proper posh (p32)!…

Save your socks  Keep safety pins by the washing machine and use them to pin the toes of your socks together. No more odd or missing socks! Gillian Jackson, Todmorden Handy tip  Use a pair of gloves instead of a blind cleaner. They're easy to use and can be thrown in the wash after. You can finish off with a wipe of the windowsill too. Sarah Beckett, Newton-le-willows Magic idea!  When my daughter lost a tooth, I put craft glitter on some pennies before putting them under her pillow. She thinks they're magical coins from the tooth fairy! Claire Delve, Pilton What it says on the tin  I always label leftover tins of paint with the room they were used in. If I need to do any touch-ups at a…

GUILTY On 3 June 2009, Darryl Littlejohn, 44, was found guilty of first-degree murder. A month later, Judge Abraham G Gerges sentenced him to life with no parole. ‘I hope that the conclusion of these proceedings today will provide you with some small measure of solace,’ he told Imette’s relatives. Vowing to appeal the sentence, defence lawyer Joyce David said, ‘I think it’s good that the family feels they have some closure, but I think they have been sold a false bill of goods and the wrong man got convicted.’ An appeal failed in 2013, and Littlejohn is still behind bars.…

Sexercising?!  Q I want to get fit in the new year. If I have lots of energetic sex, is that exercise? Mandi, Sydenham A Energetic sex can raise your heart rate, make you sweaty and breathless and, therefore, fulfill the requirements for a cardio workout. But you'd have to keep hard at it without flagging for at least 15 minutes, five days a week. Maybe don't throw out the running shoes just yet! Sore spot…  Q There's a spot on my vagina lip that hurts when I try to have sex. Ailsa, Arbroath A It could be a graze that you've got during sex, an accidental scratch, inflammation due to allergy or thrush, an infected cyst or a sexual infection, such as herpes, warts or syphilis. Treatment will depend on…

Katie Marriner, 25, south London Pulling off my black dress, I flung it across the room in total despair. What am I going to wear? I panicked, looking at the time. It was March 2016 and I was supposed to be meeting a guy for a date in an hour. In a panic, I was nowhere near ready. Benn, 23, had been charming me with his quirky sense of humour and his love of cats for weeks on Tinder. So, when he’d suggested going for pizza, it had seemed like a good idea. But I’d never met anyone via a dating app and now my nerves had got the better of me. I’m sorry, I just can’t do this, I typed to him in a text. Half an hour later,…

In June 2015, during an RE class, I hid my phone under the desk and drafted a message to Mum. Line after line, I poured out everything I couldn’t say in person. Coming out as gay was just the beginning. I want to be a girl, I typed. Clicking send, I felt my stomach flutter. The secret’s out. Minutes later, my screen flashed with a message. I’ve always known, I was just waiting for you to tell me, Mum X I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. ‘Whatever you need to do, I’ll be here for you,’ she promised. And that summer, I went out dressed as my true self for the first time. I nervously stepped out of my front door with fair hair extensions…

If you pledged to spend less and save more in 2019 – then keep your good intentions on track with these tips… 1. Get SMART  Don't make your New resolutions vague. You might want to ‘save more money' but have a plan of how to do it or it might never happen. Make sure your goals are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-sensitive and you'll have more chance of success. 2. Be practical Work out what barriers could prevent you achieving your goals and find a way to overcome them. Are you tempted to spend when there's extra cash in your account? Then set up a standing order to put money into your savings account on pay day. Or do you go shopping in your lunch hour? Then go…

Lesley Corfield, 47, Wakefield Back in October 2013, I thought I’d give online bingo a try so I joined Chat Mag Bingo – and I loved it! Winner popped up on my screen! It soon became my bit of ‘me time’ and I loved the Double Bubble slot game. Sometimes, I’d chat to the other players in the chatroom. There’s such a community feel! Then, one day in October last year, I’d just got in from work and, after a quick shower, I got into my pyjamas, then snuggled down on the sofa in front of the TV. My partner Chris, 51, and I work long shifts. He’s a chef, I’m a care worker, so it’s good to get time to relax. I logged into Chat Mag Bingo and played…

Warned so many times Dancing around the kitchen, my daughter Natasha, 18, swung her hips and swished her dark-brown locks. Her sister Scarlett, 3, shrieked with laughter as Tasha spun her round. Watching my girls twirling across the kitchen, singing to Little Mix, my heart swelled. We’d always been a really close-knit family – me, my hubby Stephen, 42, the girls and son Thomas, 16. Scarlett was the baby of the family, doted on by us all. Thomas was the sensitive one, and Tasha had always been centre of attention, popular and flamboyant and voted prom queen in 2014, aged 16. But, like most teenagers, Tasha had her issues. Recently, she really hadn’t been herself. ‘I’m fed up with being this big, Mum,’ she moaned one day in January 2016.…

It's a long way down, but my grandson Justin has nerves of steel! Here he is bungee jumping in New Zealand for the charity Missing People. I'm so proud of him! Jayne Wile, Anglesey Here I am with my husband on our first date, when we were 19. We've just celebrated our golden wedding anniversary this March! A Sharrocks, Bolton My lovely Nannan Marion and Grandad Fred were married for 65 wonderful years. Grandad sadly passed away in January, aged 89. This picture reminds me of how much they loved each other. David Arnold, Barnsley Five generations of girls in my family! From left to right, my mum Liesa, 47, sister Koren, 26, great gran Kath, 95, 3-day-old niece Elira and nan Trish, 67. Michaela Ditchburn, Blyth Here's my 16-month-old…

Suzanne Davis, 40, Stockton-On-Tees Looking out the window with a cuppa, I watched my sons Liam, 17, and Elliott, 12, playing football in the garden. ‘Goal!’ Elliott cheered loudly, as the ball went soaring past Liam. I suspected he’d let his little brother score on purpose... Typical Liam – he doted on Elliott, who had Down’s syndrome, as well as my other children Amy, 16, Erin, 7, Lewis, 2, and 4-month-old Evie. I was so proud of my eldest. He was turning into such a good young man. Then, on 19 June 2013, Amy and Elliott were at school while Liam was at home with me, Lewis and Evie, as he’d just finished college for the summer. At lunchtime, he came downstairs rubbing his temples. ‘I’ve just sneezed six times…

Rebecca Beesley, 41, Tonbridge Sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor after assembly, I watched all the other children file out around me… Then I heard the whispers. ‘Why isn’t Rebecca moving?’ one girl asked. I choked back a sob. It was winter 1987 and, for weeks, I’d had shooting pains in my hips, which I’d been told were growing pains. Now, I couldn’t even move a muscle for the agony. I was taken to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton and admitted to the Paediatric Unit for X-rays and scans. Me and my mum Pari waited for results – but they didn’t solve the mystery. The doctor did have one theory, though. Talking over my head to Mum, he asked, ‘Is she having some trouble at school? We can’t…

Leftover turkey croquettes Makes 16 Prep: 15 mins plus chilling Cook: 15 mins Cost per serving: 14p •7 300g mashed potato •7 250g cooked turkey •7 150g leftover stuffing •7 2tbsp fresh parsley •7 2tbsp plain flour •7 1 large egg •7 75g dried white breadcrumbs •7 Sunflower oil •7 4tbsp cranberry sauce 1 In a large bowl, combine the potato, turkey, stuffing and parsley. Season with salt and black pepper. 2 Shape into 16 croquettes, then cover and chill for 30 mins. 3 Put the flour, egg and breadcrumbs in 3 separate bowls. 4 Dip each croquette in the flour, then the egg and finally the breadcrumbs. 5 Pour 1cm depth of oil into a large non-stick frying pan and set it over a medium heat until hot. 6…

Embossed decanter, £20, lustre-effect champagne flutes, £20 for set of four, lustre-effect champagne saucers, £24 for set of four, embossed champagne saucers, £12 for set of two, gold-effect martini glasses, £16 for set of two. embossed high-ball glasses, £16 for set of four, embossed short tumblers, £14 for set of four, champagne bucket, £12, tealight holder, £10 for set of three, Geo diamond bauble, £4, encrusted beaded bauble, £5, paper beaded garland, £6, Firefly lit letters, £12 each, all Next.…

Tracy Gow, 38 Relaxing in front of the telly with my son Liam, 17, my phone flashed with a message. Clicking on it, I cringed. Stewart. Again. Shall we go for a drive? I politely refused…for the umpteenth time. I’d met Stewart, 35, in July 2016, when he was doing some gardening for a neighbour. After getting hold of my number, he began bombarding me with messages. He seemed nice enough, but I was happily single, content at home with Liam, and our dogs, Caesar and Poppy. By September, the garden was complete – but Stewart’s texts continued. I wondered if it was time to change tack. Maybe if I agreed to an evening out, he’d see there was no spark. I’m not interested in a relationship, but happy to…

A big win of £1,500 on the day I joined! Paula Lawson, 53, Hartlepool Flicking through Chat in June, I saw an offer for Chat Mag Bingo. If I spent £10, I'd receive 200 free tickets to play different bingo games. I hadn't played online before, but I decided to give it a go. I went downstairs to where my husband Barry, 55, was making dinner. Settling on the sofa, I typed the web address into my phone. After exploring the site, I chose the Sapphire 90-ball link game at 8pm, and bought 18 tickets at 25p each. Then I watched as the numbers popped out. It was so easy! The numbers dabbed off automatically. The first line had a winner, then the second -and suddenly,…

Coronation Street Tim’s got terrible news for Sal… After she was dumped by Dev, Gina had set her sights on Tim. It seemed that she finally got what she wanted last week when they ended up in bed together! Fearing he actually slept with his sister-in-law, Tim is prepared to confess to Sally when he visits her in jail on Christmas Day… Elsewhere, Jenny tells Johnny she knows about his affair with Liz so he’s forced to sack Liz, which may lead to dramatic consequences... Emmerdale Wedding joy or pain for Marlon..? Surprises have a habit of not going to plan and Jessie is beginning to think her secret nuptials to Marlon are cursed when Marlon goes missing on the eve of his big day! After getting drunk in The…

Across the city, champagne bottles popped as revellers celebrated New Year’s Eve. But within a matter of hours, the jubilation would turn to tragedy for one couple’s family and friends. And the New York borough of Queens would see its first murder of 2018. As fireworks lit up the sky across the city in beautiful, multicoloured displays, inside the Maracas Nightclub, another type of fireworks were kicking off. Vinny Loknath, 46, and his wife Stacy Singh, 26, had gathered there to see in the New Year with friends and family. But instead, their dance floor passions had spilled over into an explosive argument. Fuelled by cocaine and booze, Vinny started a fight with Stacy. Eyewitnesses said the couple argued constantly after the clock struck midnight. As the fracas erupted, staff…

Seasonal shift  Q I'm working a night shift on Christmas Eve. Is there a safe herbal stimulant to keep me going the next day? Courtney, Leamington Spa A Herbal preparations such as caffeine, ephedra, yohimbe and ginseng can act as stimulants but won't make up for missed sleep. They can have side-effects, too, including palpitations, raised blood pressure and hallucinations. Best to avoid alcohol, have a stiff coffee and try to rest! Booze promise…  Q Every year, I resolve to cut down on alcohol but it doesn't work. Can pills help? Steph, Douglas A Drugs can help if you're severely dependent on alcohol. Finding support might be a better first step. Ask your GP or see nhs.uk/ live-well/alcohol-support . Tell friends and family of your resolution, cut back gradually and…

Kairah Kelly, 18, Middlesbrough Pulling on my school blazer, I glanced in the mirror. Dark trousers, sturdy black shoes, short hair. I looked like any other 11-year-old schoolboy. But a familiar feeling stirred inside me. One that I’d had since I was 4 years old. Something’s not right... While other lads my age ran around the football pitch, I preferred to chat with the girls. Maybe I just don’t like  sport? I thought, trying to make sense of it. But I knew it was deeper than that. I’d hang out with the girls at lunch, help them with their make-up. ‘This looks great,’ I’d smile, smoothing a new shade of lipstick onto my pal’s lips. My hand desperate to put a quick slick of the pretty pink colour on my…

Aries 21 March - 20 April Talking to the right people, especially those you worked with before, might boost your chances of promotion. Likely nothing will happen until next year - but take the initiative now and it’ll reap rewards… 7 Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May You and a pal get close at a party and talk about all the things that might have been, or should have been, and so on… Yes, the past is past - but the future can be different, if you both want it to be… 7 Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June Everybody wants a favour, both at work and at home. Say yes to one and you’ll risk upsetting another…

QI’d love to wear a bold lipstick, but I’m worried it’s too tricky to master. Do you have any top tips? Kim Amies, 56 A Prep is key to statement lippy, so buff lips first with a sugar scrub and add extra moisture with a balm. Use a little concealer to create a neutral base, then try a liquid lipstick – the targeted applicator will give a more precise finish. If the shape isn’t sharp enough or you have any mishaps, tidy the edges with a lip liner or concealer on a cotton bud. Q Too many late nights have taken their toll on my skin and I’ve started to break out. Does charcoal skincare live up to the hype? Louise Bridges, 27 A Charcoal has become a skincare hero…

Tatiane Lima, 32, North London Adding a £300 pair of designer heels to my online basket, I felt a huge rush of excitement. Then a tiny niggle of guilt in my tummy. I can always return them, I told myself. And – click – the gorgeous shoes were mine. It was spring 2017, and whether online or on the high street, I adored shopping. It all started when I moved from my native Brazil to study English in London in October 2009. I remembered being amazed at how much cheaper goods were in the UK compared to my homeland. I hadn’t been in the country long, when I met Polish student Chris, 26. We fell in love and married in September 2011. I came home from work to find Chris…

Woof! Hello there... Waking up in my new home, I was a little nervous. It smelled different to my old one. When I nosed around the kitchen, my brothers and sisters were nowhere to be seen, either. I missed them, but I had Mr Bear for company. He’s brown and squishy, and makes a nice, satisfying squeaky noise when I chew him. The humans don’t seem quite as keen on the sound as I am – but I love it. Woof woof! I liked my volunteer puppy walkers Tina, 53, and Andy, 57, right away. Tina always has treats. Yummy, crunchy bites for every time I do something good. Like when I sit or walk nicely beside her on my lead. ‘You’re one of the smartest pups I’ve ever met,’…