Table of contents for 10-Mar-2016 in Chat

GUILTY! Jurors found George Tiaffay, 43, guilty of murder, burglary, robbery and conspiracy charges, after hiring a hitman to kill his wife. Shauna’s sister said, ‘George is a controller, a manipulator. And I think the worst hell for him would be staying in prison the rest of his life and not being able to control anything.’ He was sentenced to 81 years plus life in prison without the possibility of parole. In January 2016, Noel ‘Greyhound’ Stevens, 40, was sentenced to 42 years to life for bludgeoning Shauna to death.…

I'd sneak out to meet him in the middle of the night, still in my PJs. My parents had no idea… As a mother myself, I was sickened. The twisted memories tormented me It started with an innocent question in an Internet chatroom: Age, sex, location? a man asked. It was August 2003, and chatrooms were popular, so it didn’t seem odd that a bloke was striking up a conversation. Christine, 15, Hampshire, I typed back. We got chatting. His name was Andy, he was a radio DJ from Portsmouth, and when I said I liked music, he offered to mix me a CD of my fave songs. Great, thanks! I replied. Andy sounded cool, exciting, So, a week later, I nervously met him in a local car park after…

I tried using belts to hold it in, but nothing worked Once, I was as fit as a fiddle. A gardener for 20 years, I kept trim. Divorced in 2001, I hadn’t thought about romance in years. After retiring at 60, I kept busy. Then, in February 2012, I was having a routine blood test and told my GP that I’d trouble passing a number two. I hoped it’d be nothing serious as the GP sent me for tests, just to be sure. ‘There’s an 8cm tumour in your large intestine,’ the doctor said. Cancer. I’d barely time for the news to sink in. Six weeks later, a surgeon at Leicester Royal Infirmary operated to remove a 1ft section of my bowel, along with the tumour. Next, I had chemotherapy…

1 Preheat oven to 200C/ Gas 6. 2 In a large frying pan, heat a glug of oil, add two finely chopped red peppers, a finely chopped red onion and a finely chopped courgette, and cook for 5 min. 3 Drain a 400g tin of red kidney beans and a 400g tin of chickpeas, and add to pan with 1tsp each of chilli powder and basil. Cook for 5 min. 4 Sieve 400g tin chopped tomatoes, keeping juice for sauce. Off heat, mix tomato and 200g garlic and herb soft cheese to veg. 5 Divide between eight tortilla wraps, and fold them into square parcels. Put into an ovenproof dish. 6 Put tomato juice in a saucepan, add 3tsp lemon juice, a vegetable stock cube, 100ml water and 1tsp tomato…

No covers I admire Lauren Foster ( I won t hide! – 28 Jan issue). Why should she have to cover up the birthmark on her face? People shouldn’t be so quick to judge her or her parents. I’m so glad she’s decided not to cover it unless she’s going somewhere special. If she’s happy to go out without make-up, that’s her decision, and others shouldn’t judge her for how she looks. I wish her the best of luck in the future. June Channon, Falmouth Smile! Who says us oldies aren’t good with technology? We took our first selfie on a recent holiday in Spain, and I think it turned out pretty well! Sylvia Foster, Bridlington Photo of the week Here are my adorable French bulldogs, looking very much like…

My best earning so far was £100, for Broadband with O2 Refer a friend and you’ll earn £2.50 per member once they’ve earned £5 cashback! When somebody told me about Quidco a few years ago, I thought that it sounded like a great idea. Discovering that I could get cashback for doing my everyday shopping? Well, I say, ‘Yes, please!’ So, back in 2007, I signed up. It did take me a little while to get used to it, but, once I was familiar with the site, I found that it really changed the way I shop. Quidco’s been absolutely great, because you get to shop in all your favourite places, while looking at the other stores that Quidco works with. These days, I use Quidco for pretty much everything…

Before I knew it, I was toppling to the bottom of the stairs It was nearly 3pm and I was about to pick up my son Harry, 5, from school. ‘Chop chop,’ I told my daughter Emma, then 3. I was 33 weeks pregnant with a baby boy, but there was no time to put my feet up. My husband Ben, 33, was at work as a teacher, so I was juggling the school run. Running downstairs in a hurry, I suddenly lost my footing. Before I knew it, I was toppling to the bottom, whacking my head as I went. The next thing I remember is Emma hovering over me with the telephone. ‘We must phone 999, Mummy,’ she said. But she couldn’t get the 9 button to work.…

ZOOMED IN! We’ve got up close and personal to a well-known household item. But what is it? If you can make out what it is, that's your prize answer. WHAT'S WRONG? This poor chap, played by Matt Damon in The Martian , has been left inadvertantly on Mars by his fellow astronauts… But something about this still from the movie isn't as it should be. If you know which item doesn't belong, that's your prize answer. WHAT'S ON TELLY? As you can see, our TV’s gone on the blink and we can’t make out what programme’s being screened… If the show looks familiar to you, that's your prize answer! HOW MANY? Can you guess the number of marshmallows in the jar? If so, that's your prize answer.…

What I loved A good night's sleep. It didn't used to be so hard to achieve but oh, the bliss of it! Any secret tips I should know?? What hacked me off People being mean and nasty on Facebook. Just stop that! It's rude and unnecessary. Desist, please. Thank you! What made me laugh Talking with a newly-slimmed-down mate about 100-calorie treats. That's just nine crisps! Or 52 grapes. Or THREE cucumbers. Blimey! (Already looking forward to my 17 peanuts later…) Does counting burn calories?? Hope so! Hope you're truly satisfied this week!…

He wasn’t moving, his arms and legs were sprawled at odd angles With the kids tucked up in bed, I had some washing to fold away. ‘Good night,’ I whispered. It was 9 January this year and we’d been in our new home nearly a year. I’d been thrilled when we’d moved into the newly refurbished, second-floor maisonette in southeast London. Just me and my three children Aaliyah-Amina, 3, Destiny, 2, and Joshua, 1. But that night, I couldn’t get Joshua and Aaliyah to sleep. Minutes after saying goodnight, I found Joshua climbing up onto the windowsill and jumping onto his bed. Kids! ‘Bedtime – now!’ I yelled, tucking them in again. Hoping they’d drift off soon, I made sure the window was closed and went back to my chores.…

I noticed something on the radiator… It was long, and had a bubble-like consistency In March last year, the council moved me and my children Jaycee, 15, Paige, 12, Jessica, 9, and Billy-Jay, 2, into a new three-bed terraced home. It took us no time at all to get settled in. But, four months on, Paige seemed agitated. ‘What is it?’ I asked her. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing when she explained that she’d been watching telly in her room when she’d spotted a snake slither in. ‘It was sticking its tongue in and out, and it was long,’ Paige said. To me, it sounded like it had been ready to strike, which was just terrifying. ‘It was really scary, Mummy,’ she added. Worried, I checked in all…

Sore soles Q The bottom of my left heel hurts as soon as I get out of bed, then eases off during the day. Will it get better? Clara, 43 A Sounds like plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the sinew in the sole of your foot. It can appear out of the blue. Usually the pain settles after a few months. Meanwhile, shoe inserts, stretches, painkillers and physiotherapy can help. Bleeding problems Q I suddenly developed purple bruises and nosebleeds and now I've been diagnosed with ITP. Is there a cure? Ali, 36 AITP, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, means that your body's immune system is destroying your blood platelets, blood cells that help your blood to clot. Usually, ITP can be controlled, though not cured, by drugs such as steroids or an…

Sainsbury's Lentil & Bacon Soup, 50p A good bacon flavour, this well-seasoned soup has a rough texture that makes it very filling. Baxters Favourites Lentil & Bacon, £1.15 This has a mild bacon flavour, so the lentils' earthiness comes through in a smooth, but thick soup. Serve with lots of croutons for a bit of crunch. Heinz Lentil & Bacon Soup, 95p As well as a great, meaty flavour, this thick soup also contains lots of chunky vegetables. A filling meal in itself, but even better with a hunk of bread! NEW The Collective Morello Cherry With A Splash Of Kirsch Yogurt, £2.39, Tesco, Asda, Nisa, Sainsbury's If you like Black Forest gateau, you'll love this. It's here until the end of March, so be quick!…

Vass was a 17st, 6ft 2in steroid-taking bodybuilder On 15 January 2010, Jane Clough wrote these haunting words in her diary… I m worried Jonnys going to do something stupid, like try to find me…I don t believe he will just sit back and let a jury find him guilty. Hes not going to let them send him to prison, and I can t help thinking he will get his revenge on me. Three years earlier, she’d met Jonathan Vass, an ambulance technician, at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Jane was a young A&E nurse, Vass a 17st, 6ft 2in, steroid-taking bodybuilder who was living a sinister double life. He’d told Jane he was getting a divorce, yet, whenever he said he was visiting his two kids or working a night shift,…

I asked them to take him away – then I sat in the bath and cried It was a knee-jerk reaction. From ignorance, maybe. I don t want a baby with Downs syndrome. Not that the doctors could say for sure. So I decided not to worry. ‘You don’t think we might be burying our heads in the sand?’ my fiance, Chris, 25, asked. ‘Nope,’ I replied. ‘I’m not stressing about something that won’t happen.’ It was August 2014. I’d fallen pregnant in December 2013 and already had three kids from a previous relationship, Tyrese, 16, Kelsey, 10, and Theo, 6. Everything went well, until the 12-week scan. There was too much fluid around the baby. ‘It can be a sign of heart or chromosome problems,’ the doctor explained. ‘How…

Meet Reagan, a gorgeous golden Labradoodle and a toddler’s best mate! Reagan’s owner Sandi Swiridoff, a nurse from Oregon, USA, noticed the connection between her pup and her daughter’s little foster son a year ago. ‘He and Reagan bonded immediately, and have been the best of friends ever since,’ she says. Reagan would stand watch at the door during the little lad’s naps, waiting for him to wake up for playtime. Inspired, Sandi began to dress them alike, and upload the cute snaps to Reagan’s Instagram – which has over 78,000 followers. Poser Reagan is always happy to get dressed up – and to woof down the treats that he gets afterwards, of course! To protect her foster grandchild’s privacy, Sandi finds creative ways to take each photo without revealing…

4 pears, peeled, cored and thickly sliced 1tbsp lemon juice 60g dried cranberries 1tsp cinnamon 85g caster sugar Topping: 170g plain flour 60g rolled oats Pinch of salt 150g butter 85g caster sugar 1 Preheat oven to 190C/ Gas 5. 2 As you prepare pears, toss in lemon juice to prevent browning. 3 Mix pears, dried cranberries, cinnamon and caster sugar and tip into a shallow, ovenproof dish. 4 In a bowl, mix flour with oats and salt. Rub in butter until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs, and then stir in sugar. 5 Scatter crumble mixture over fruit in a thick, even blanket and then bake for 30-40 min until browned and bubbling. Serve hot or warm.…

Their eyes hurt – they'd never seen sunlight before… Nothing much happened in 12th-century Woolpit. By day, the men of the tiny Suffolk village worked the fields. By night, they prayed for a good harvest. That was village life in England during the 1150s… Until, one day, workers in the fields around the village came across two children – a boy and a girl – each with green-tinged skin and green eyes. And speaking a language the workers had never heard before. The children seemed oddly dazed. Not knowing what else to do, villagers took them to see a local knight, Sir Richard de Calne. Educated and well-travelled, perhaps he’d understand the children. But he couldn’t. Concerned, he called for food for the pair, but they refused almost everything –…

For a while it looked like she was beating this wicked disease ‘Here’s Sister Carrot!’ said my daughter Samantha, greeting my youngest, Victoria. ‘Put some more eggs on, Mum.’ It was a typical Saturday morning at the home I shared with my husband Clynt, with both my girls piling round for brekkie. All grown up, Sam, 25, was a beauty therapist, with a partner and a son, Austin. Vix, 23, worked in accounts for a car-auction company and lived with her boyfriend. I was proud of them both, making their way in the world. But some things never changed. Like how Sam would call Vix ‘Sister Carrot’ because of her long, red locks. Or how they never missed breakfast every Saturday at what they called ‘Mum’s Cafe’. Even better was…

It seemed 14-year-old Millie had simply vanished THE CRIME On 5 November 1999, 14-year-old student Millie Arfmann stepped off the school bus and was never seen again. Her lifeless body was found three days later in a ditch nearby. THE STORY Zetta Camille Arfmann, known as Millie, was a shy, gentle girl, who lived with her sister Heidi, 20, and her sister’s husband Floyd Bledsoe, 23, in a mobile home near Oskaloosa, Kansas. On Friday 5 November 1999, Millie was meant to be going to a retreat at her Baptist church. That afternoon, at about 4.20pm, she’d got off the school bus, as she’d done so many times since moving in with her sister a few months earlier. But Millie never made it to the retreat. Instead, it seemed she’d…

HAIR-RAISING FEAT It took 15 years to grow, plus two hours, three cans of hairspray and one jar of gel to sculpt. Now Kazuhiro Watanabe, from Tokyo, has scooped a Guinness World Record for the tallest mohican, at 44.68in. That’s one bonkers barnet! BRIGHTER BREKKIE! When it comes to bigger and better, the US has it sussed. How can these rainbow bagels not brighten up your day? And, if you need extra oomph, there’s confetti cream cheese with hundreds and thousands! ‘YOU’RE DEAD!’ In Sydney, Australia, police were alerted after reports of a woman screaming, furniture being thrown and a man yelling, ‘I’m going to kill you, you’re dead!’ They found a distraught man – no wife, no girlfriend – who sheepishly admitted he’d been rampaging around and screaming, after…

Putting the kettle on, I settled down on the sofa and phoned my mum Alison, 49. ‘Hello, love, what have you been up to?’ her cheery voice answered. I’d recently moved from my hometown Swindon to Swansea with my kids. It’d been tough leaving my friends and family behind, especially Mum. But I’d wanted to have a fresh start with my littl’uns Shania, 10, and Brandon, 6. Mum and I remained as close as ever, though. And whenever I could, I’d call her for a catch-up. We loved a good natter, could talk for hours. She doted on my other siblings, too – Tanya, 30, Kylie, 26, Kiaron, 24, Melissa, 22, Jasmine, 19, Shannon, 18, and Cameron, 12. ‘You kids are my world,’ she’d tell us. And although there were…

I’d just got out of the shower and was getting dressed, when I noticed I was already starting to sweat. ‘This is ridiculous,’ I sighed, applying more antiperspirant to my armpits. Botox injections in my armpits might help... Recently, I couldn’t seem to stop sweating. And most of the time, it was for no reason at all. Even in cold weather, my whole body was clammy. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me,’ I said to my mum Wendy, 54. It was summer 2006 and, at 21, I put it down to hormones and my busy lifestyle. But as the years went by, my sweating got worse. ‘Are you OK?’ friends would ask, noticing sweat dripping from my brow. I was humiliated, paranoid that I smelled or that I’d sweat…

I'd been seeing spots for months, was tired and dizzy Walking around the supermarket with my mum Susan, 53, I stood staring at the shelves of canned foods. I’d had a terrible headache all day and an almost sinus-type pain behind my eyes. Suddenly, it was like the lights going out, a sheet of black falling over my eyes… ‘Mum! I can’t see!’ I said, starting to panic. Mum put her arm around me, managed to calm me down. Thankfully, a few minutes later, my vision was back. I’d been seeing black spots for months, was tired, dizzy and suffering headaches most days. I’d been to and from the doctor. ‘It’s migraines,’ he’d said. I’d believed him, but the disturbances to my sight had become terrifying. ‘This can’t go on,’…

Talking about our fantasies,I revealed I’d love to get even messier Signing up to dating app Tinder, I was dubious. ‘It’s fun!’ encouraged my mate Lisa, 42. A single mum-of-two, I wasn’t planning to rush falling in love again. Yet, in October 2014, once the kids were in bed, I flicked through the profiles. A handsome chap called Josh Parry, 27, caught my eye. An ex-soldier, he’d bulging muscles and a winning smile. Only one thing to do… Swipe right! The app works so that if both people ‘swipe right’, you’re matched. Josh and I clicked, and, two weeks on, we met up. We became an item and, when my kids stayed with their dads, Josh visited. With a fun sense of humour, he made me feel like a giddy…

OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Shampoo, £6.99, Superdrug Helps give curly locks less frizz! Top tip: Washing your hair too often can dry it out. Aim for two or three times a week. Lee Stafford CoCo LoCo CoConut Balm, £6.99, Boots Smooth over your finished style to tame flyaways and add shine! Top tip: Use sparingly on fine hair. Yes to Coconut Ultra Moisture Conditioner, £6, ASOS Made from 97 per cent natural ingredients, this helps perk up damaged hair. Top tip: Use on roots, too, to help keep your scalp healthy. 7th Heaven Coconut Protein Rescue Masque, £1, Asda Gives tired locks a shot of moisture. Top tip: Use once a week for best results.…

Och, what a view! 1 Stay somewhere unusual Sure, it's nice to book into a traditional hotel, but what about a lighthouse instead? The Rua Reidh Lighthouse, near Gairloch, perched at the entrance to Loch Ewe, has the most breathtaking views. Not to mention the wildlife - whales, dolphins, basking sharks, otters, seals, sea eagles… On a private road accessible to booked guests only, it's pure bliss. 2 Pick up a paddle Why not give canoeing or kayaking a go? Whether you just fancy messing about with the kids or exploring the sea lochs, you'll have a real splash! 3 Discover one of Scotland's best-kept secrets Scotland's very own Route 66, the North Coast 500 - along the Highlands' rugged coastline - is a must. From ancient castles to the…

Pisces 20 Feb - 20 March Do you remember, as a kid, being taken somewhere you didn’t want to go, but enjoying it when you got there? That happens in later life, too. Don’t fear the future because it’s not the same as the past. It’s better - so welcome it! Call 0905 817 0701* for more Aries 21 March - 20 April Better to let an IOU go than argue with a mate about money. Especially as you won’t see this particular friend again for a while. If you part on such a sour note, you may lose more than you stand to gain. Let the debt go. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May Onwards and upwards, they say - but how about…

She's a one-dog recycling machine, cleaning up the streets Most dogs really love playing fetch. Chasing after a tennis ball or a stick. Not mine! My boxer Paris, 9, prefers sniffing out rubbish. And, incredibly, Paris is a keen green, too – always making sure she recycles her trash! It started when Paris was a pup. I was walking her with her brother Neyo and they both raced off, disappeared under some brambly hedges. But while Neyo ran back carrying a stick, Paris had a yogurt pot with her! ‘What’ve you got that for?’ I laughed. Yet she wouldn’t let me wrestle it from her. As she got older, Paris showed little interest in toys or Neyo’s sticks, much preferring a plastic bottle or cola can. Sadly, Neyo passed away…