Table of contents for 29-Sep-2016 in Chat

I was only 8 but I had a strong feeling I was adopted As I was growing up, Mum and Dad were loving. I never wanted for anything and their generosity knew no bounds in that they were foster carers, too. But the older I got, the more I became convinced that, biologically, I wasn’t theirs. I looked nothing like them, and they were quite elderly compared to my friends’ parents. ‘Am I adopted?’ I’d ask my mum Gulfin all the time. ‘Of course not,’ she told me. I didn’t believe her. I was only 8 years old but I had a strong feeling. So I kept asking and asking. Finally... ‘Yes you’re adopted,’ Mum said. It was a lot to take in at that young age. Despite that, I…

The airport gave our sky-high idea the go-ahead! Moments before, we’d been ringing in the New Year… Then, suddenly, my partner Billy, 50, dropped to one knee. ‘Will you marry me?’ he grinned. It took a few seconds for the question to sink in! Then… ‘Yes!’ I beamed, flying happily into his arms. Launching into planning mode, we agreed on one thing – it had to be something totally different. We’d both been married before, so didn’t fancy a big ‘do’ – just something special for the two of us. Billy and I had been together nearly two years after meeting online. On our first date, we’d bonded over our love of flying. I worked as cabin crew, while Billy was in the Royal Navy Reserves, and had done many…

Cadbury Time Out Wafer, 7 x 21.2g, £1 There are 111 calories in each one but, despite having an excellent chocolate coating, the very light wafer makes them far too quick to eat! Tunnock's Caramel Wafer Biscuits, 4 x 30g, £1 Compared with the others, these are huge! They have 134 calories each and we loved their sweet caramel/ vanilla flavour. Nestle Drifter, 8 x 19.7g, £1.40 The small size means these are just 99 cals each - ideal if you're watching your weight. But our fave, thanks to their satisfying chewiness. NEW Cathedral City Spreadable, £1.49 A tasty cheese made with extra mature Cheddar that's ideal for sarnies.…

I was depressed and thinking about ending it all… I used to love swimming. Splashing about in our local pool with my brother and sisters was the only time we were together as a family. But that all changed when I turned 10 and Roger Canton came into my life. He was my mum’s boyfriend and they’d met when he was her driving instructor. Chubby, with glasses and a beard, he seemed nice at first. One day, he suggested the whole family could go swimming at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre, in our home town of Wrexham. We had a lovely time gliding through the water and afterwards Roger would buy us chocolate bars from the vending machine. Soon, we were going swimming every week. Roger bought me a yellow swimsuit,…

1 Place 1tbsp each of sunflower and pumpkin seeds into a food processor and whizz until roughly ground. Add a clove of garlic and 2tbsp olive oil and whizz again. 2 Drain and rinse a can of Batchelors Marrowfat Bigga Peas. Reserve a spoonful for garnish and tip the rest into processor, along with 25g fresh basil leaves and juice and zest of a lemon and whizz to a chunky paste. Thin with a little water if necessary, then season to taste with salt and pepper. 3 Cook 150g spaghetti following packet instructions, drain. Pour pea pesto and reserved peas into pan and heat through, then add spaghetti and mix well. 4 Pinch 20g of goat's cheese into little pieces and scatter over pasta with a few basil leaves to…

Yes To Coconut Dry Skin Ultra Hydrating Creme Cleanser, £6.99, ASOS A rich, creamy formula that leaves skin soft. Top tip: Natural products are better for sensitive skin. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser, £7.99, Boots This freshens skins and gives it a hydration-boost. Top tip: Cleanser is much better for your skin than makeup wipes. Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Cleansing Oil, £7, Ocado Dissolves make-up easily and feels like a luxury product on a budget. Top tip: Don't worry - it won't leave oily skin feeling greasy. Clean & Clear Deep Action Cream Wash, £3.25, Superdrug Ideal if you suffer from spots. Top tip: Use a cleanser morning and night to help keep zits at bay.…

I was faced with six men.(Or rather, six pairs of legs and six willies!) There was no way I was doing it. Appearing on TV, completely naked? Fat chance! It was early this year and I’d been contacted by television producers. They were filming a new show for Channel 4, in which participants had to strip off to meet potential dates. I’d recently appeared on E4’s Tattoo Fixers, when I’d had a script tattoo on my ribs transformed into a pretty moth. The producers had seen me on it and thought I’d be a good contestant on the new show Naked Attraction. When I told my friends, they were surprised I’d turned it down. ‘You’re not exactly shy,’ one said. ‘We’ve all seen you naked!’ There was no denying that.…

1 Hire a bike Every year, 12-15,000 bikes are pulled out of the canals! But don't let that put you off. There are plenty of places to hire bikes, and cycling is a great way of getting around and seeing the sights. 2 Hit the waterways See Amsterdam's 165 canals from an open-top or covered guided boat tour - or, if you've got the energy (and good map-reading skills!), go it alone in one of the quirky, clog-shaped pedalos! 3 Immerse yourself in history It's an emotionally harrowing experience, but you must visit Anne Frank House, situated on Prinsengracht. Now a museum, it teaches visitors about the family's ordeal, and reveals the secret annexe where they were hidden. 4 Get cultural The beautiful Rijksmuseum is home to a wealth of…

The condition causes progressive damage to brain cells In August, I walked upSnowdon in his memory Icouldn’t believe it. Louis Tomlinson, the hottest member of my favourite boy band One Direction was going on the pitch to play for his local football team, Doncaster Rovers. But it wasn’t local to me. In fact, it was 130 miles away! ‘I’d love to go,’ I sighed to my dad David, 54. ‘I’ll take you,’ he replied. I hugged him. My dad was the rock of our family. His life hadn’t been easy. At 21, not long after meeting my mum Deborah, his father had taken his own life. He’d lost his brother the same way two years on. Then, when I was 9, my little brother Alex, 7, died from leukaemia.…

His months of laziness nearly cost us our home Opening the front door, I couldn’t wait to tuck into the dinner my partner Karl Hughes, then 30, had prepared. I’d just finished a shift as a nursery nurse and hadn’t stopped all day. I was starving. But Karl hadn’t even so much as opened a tin of baked beans! Instead, he was lying on the sofa playing his Xbox. He’d lost his job a few months before. Now he spent every day lying around the house. ‘You could’ve at least made me a sandwich,’ I raged, annoyed. As usual, everything was left to me to sort – feeding and putting our kids Joshua, then 9, Alexander, 4, and Jessica, 2, to bed. I was fuming, but I knew that Karl…

Mole misery Q I'm fed up with having moles all over me. Can I get rid of them? Joan, 77 A Protect them from the sun to reduce the risk of cancer, and see your GP if any change or have recently appeared. I'm afraid there's no way to be rid of moles without cosmetic surgery. If they're still appearing, they may not be moles but harmless age spots, skin tags or warts. Smelly breath Q I'm worried in case my breath smells, and I daren't kiss anyone. I've seen breath testers advertised. Do they work? Shereen, 22 A Halitosis-detecting devices test for the sulphide chemicals that usually cause bad breath. They can generally tell you if your breath is whiffy, or reassure you that all's well. But if you…

Serves: 12 Prep: 15 min Cook: 25 min 225g plain flour ½tsp salt 4tbsp cocoa powder 2tsp baking powder ½tsp bicarbonate of soda 150g caster sugar 1 large egg 250ml milk 1tsp vanilla extract 90g butter, melted 410g can black cherry filling 300g medium fat soft cheese 30g icing sugar Chocolate flake, to decorate 1 Preheat oven to 190C/Gas 5 and put 12 paper muffin cases into a muffin tin. 2 Sift flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into a mixing bowl. Stir in sugar. 3 In a jug, beat egg, milk and vanilla extract together, then stir in melted butter. Pour into dry ingredients, add half can of fruit filling and stir until just combined - do not beat. 4 Spoon mixture between muffin cases,…

Suddenly his body went limp, his eyes flickered When my partner Tim and I moved into our new house in September last year, we couldn’t have been happier. The neighbours were friendly, there was a community feel and our kids Courtney, 7, and Daniel, 5, loved it. ‘Can I ride my bike outside, Mum?’ Daniel always asked. It was his favourite thing to do! ‘Stay where I can see you,’ I’d tell him. But I knew others looked out for the kids, too... A few houses along, on the corner of our street, were Malcolm Dalton and his wife Lesley. We’d always stop for a chat when we saw each other. They’d grown-up children and young grandkids – one of which went to school with Daniel. I knew they’d lost…

Keep it tidy I think it's so important to take pride in where you live. I remember my grandmother scrubbing her front steps regularly - something you rarely see anyone doing nowadays. But we can still do little things, like picking up litter or putting our bins away. If we all helped on a small level, it'd encourage others. Making a cleaner (and nicer) world starts on our own streets! Lindsay Matthew, Heywood Have courage Really sympathise with Geraldine Burton (We hear you!, 11 August issue). When I was pregnant, I, too, was scared and had friends telling me about their ‘labours from hell’. But both my labours were the best experiences of my life. Elaine Bamber, Ipswich That’s life While my daughter was doing her English homework, she had…

I'm 100 next June, but I've no plans to slow down For as long as I can remember, I’ve been athletic. At school, I loved netball and swimming. After, I always kept fit. Then, 50 years ago, my hubby Jacob and I moved to a new area where I didn’t know many people. Far from shy, I got chatting to another local woman. ‘There’s a local exercise class on a Monday,’ she said. ‘Why don’t you come along?’ Why not? I thought. Signing up, I had a blast. Not only did it keep me trim, but it was a great way to make friends. Donning colourful leotards, we stretched in time to the music – which was supplied by a piano player in those days! Before long, our teacher retired…

The worst aspect ofRoman's condition is people staring When my son Roman arrived in April 2014, he was pink, like a perfect little cherub. Then, at 4 months, dry patches appeared on his chubby cheeks. At first, I didn’t worry. Our eldest, Lily-Mae, now 4, had had similar patches at 9 months. They’d inherited atopic eczema from their dad, my partner Brett Hogan, 26, who’d had it as a kid. In mild cases, the skin is dry and flaky. But, if the condition is severe, the skin never heals and remains raw, needing regular treatment with soothing creams. There’s no cure, but it sometimes clears up by itself. ‘He’ll grow out of it,’ Brett said. The GP prescribed the same cream that’d cleared Lily-Mae’s problem. But soon Roman’s neck, arms…

Aries 21 March - 20 April Winning the battle you’re in is going to be tough - and nobody would blame you for backing out. But if you know you’re right and you think you can prove it, you have nothing to fear - and everything to play for. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May Your mates are pushing you forward, but your family pulls you back. But when all is said and done, it’s your life you’re living, not theirs, so do what you want, not what others want you to do. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June You don’t want to make a commitment until you’re sure the other person will do the same - but…

GUILTY! The jury at the second trial found Michael Dunn, 47, guilty on all counts, including the first-degree murder of Jordan and the attempted second-degree murder of his three friends. Judge Russell Healey gave the maximum possible sentence of life in prison without parole plus 90 years. ‘Mr Dunn, your life is effectively over,’ he said. At Dunn’s sentencing, Jordan’s mother Lucia McBath told the court she forgave her son’s killer. ‘For years to come, I will be forced to celebrate my son’s birthday without his presence...’ she said. ‘I forgive you for taking my son’s life. I choose to release the seeds of bitterness and anger... I choose to walk in the freedom of knowing God’s justice has been served.’ • This June, Dunn’s lawyers requested a new trial…

At 12 weeks, I suffered crippling pains I get orders from all over the world Cradling my stomach, I leaned back on the sofa and smiled. I’ve never felt happier, I thought. It was September 2014 and, a few days earlier, I’d found out I was pregnant. Even though I was 23, and my relationship with the baby’s dad was new, I couldn’t wait to be a mum. ‘You’ll be safe in there,’ I whispered, patting my tum. ‘I’ll look after you.’ Only, in the October, at 12 weeks pregnant, I suffered crippling pains in my shoulder, shooting down through my body. It was agony. Worried, I Googled my symptoms. Ectopic pregnancy, flashed up. ‘No!’ I gasped. Panicking, I went to Tameside Hospital for a scan. ‘I can see…

I was at work when suddenly my left side went numb Aged 18, I spoke to my GP about contraception. I wasn’t ready to be a mum yet and I wanted to take precautions. ‘Try the contraceptive injection,’ she suggested. She explained they were given every 12 weeks, and contained progestogen, which thickens the mucus in the cervix and stops sperm reaching an egg. I agreed to try it. But after a few months, I started putting on a bit of weight. I knew it was one of the possible side-effects. ‘The injections aren’t for me,’ I told my mum Karen, 46. So last October, after six months of injections, I returned to my GP. She suggested the combined oral contraceptive Pill, which contains artificial versions of the female hormones…

Despite friends begging her to end it, she loved him Richard Crafts, from Connecticut, was a cold, secretive man. Despite a privileged upbringing, he’d struggled to bond with other kids at school and had been suspended for antisocial behaviour. He later joined the military, following in his disciplinarian father’s footsteps, serving in Asia. After leaving the service, he became a pilot. And in 1969, he met 22-year-old Danish flight attendant Helle Nielsen. She was 11 years younger and he talked to her of his military service. After telling his stories, he’d sometimes wake up screaming. Helle wanted to comfort him – but every time she got emotionally close, Richard pulled away. They fought often but, despite friends begging her to end it, she loved him. In November 1975, Richard married…

Nicola was hiding behindAlison – so didn't show on scans! They say two’s company, three’s a crowd. But that’s fine, because me and my sisters – Alison and Nicola – are identical triplets! Before we were born, our parents Dorina and Gerry, both now 59, were told to expect twins. It was only after Alison and I had arrived that doctors realised there had been a third baby in there, too! Nicola had been hiding behind Alison in the womb and hadn’t shown up on the scans. We were all born weighing under 4lb, and had to spend time in the Special Care Baby Unit. Mum said the bond between us was super-close even then. When she and Dad could take Nicola then Alison home, apparently I was inconsolable. ‘They…

Is the secret they guard the identity of Jesus' children? It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you do. Everything ends in death. That seems to be the message of the relief carving on the Shepherd’s Monument in the grounds of Shugborough Hall, Staffordshire. The monument has stood in the grounds of the stately home since the 1700s. Carved into its grey stone are four figures – a woman and three shepherds. All around are the rolling, green hills in sunshine that you might expect to see in Paradise. But the shepherds are looking at a tomb. Two are pointing at it. And just beneath the relief, there are 10 letters etched into the stone –10 letters that form a code: DOUOSVAVVM. With the first and last letters slightly…