Table of contents for 19-Jan-2017 in Chat

GUILTY! In March 2012, Dharun Ravi was found guilty of 15 criminal acts, including bias intimidation, invasion of privacy, tampering with evidence and other charges. He was sentenced to 30 days in prison, three years’ probation, 300 hours community service and a $10,000 fine (around £8,000) which would go towards groups supporting bias crime victims. However, in 2015, some of New Jersey’s rules about bias intimidation changed, so Ravi’s convictions were overturned. In a new trial, he agreed to plead guilty to one count of attempted invasion of privacy in return for the other charges against him being dropped.…

Nothing could prepare me for hearing those words As I lay down for the ultrasound scan, I crossed my fingers. After two boys, I was desperately hoping for a girl – although I didn’t want to jinx anything, so I kept it to myself. ‘It looks like you’ve got a healthy little lady growing in there,’ the sonographer announced with a smile. ‘That’s amazing!’ I shrieked. I was so excited. As soon as the scan was finished, I rushed out to the shops and splashed out on all the girly things I’d had to resist when I was pregnant with Declan, then 4, and Dylan, then 6. The rest of my pregnancy seemed to fly by and, before I knew it, I was at 31 weeks. Me and my partner…

Sometimes the pain was so bad, I’d have to go to hospital Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare condition that runs in my family. My gran had it, my mum Catherine, 56, has it… ‘You might have it, too,’ Mum told me when I was little. Early on, I learnt FAP is a condition causing hundreds of small growths called polyps to grow in the large bowel. If these aren’t treated, they can develop into cancer. Aged 7, I started needing the toilet a lot and had sore, rectal pain. I underwent genetic testing to see if I had the condition. And results revealed I did. After that, every year I’d have my colon examined to check on the polyps in my bowel. Then, aged 19, doctors decided to…

 Paul was perfect. If Paul wanted kids, I couldn’t give him any. Not any more We’d met online. He was kind, funny, thoughtful. And the pics he’d posted of himself working out topless didn’t hurt, either! We’d met up and I had felt such strong chemistry. There was just one problem. Paul was five years younger than me, and had no kids. And if he wanted them, I couldn’t give him any. Not any more. When I was 25 I’d already had three kids, Emma, Sophie and Thomas, with my then partner. Thinking my family was complete, I’d been sterilised. Nine years on, our relationship ended. Now I’d met Paul... It was still early days, but I was falling for him. I had to say something before we were both…

We soon decided what we’d spend the money on... Flopping down on the sofa next to my partner Andrew, 45, I turned my attention to the TV. ‘What are you watching?’ I asked. A fishing programme… Not really my cup of tea! Our son, 8, and daughter, 6, were in bed, so I decided to enjoy a few games on Chat Mag Bingo. I’d only recently joined after friends raved about it. There were so many games and the chatrooms were full of players having a laugh with each other. Plus, the site was easy to use. So, that night, I bought tickets for a game of Sapphire Bingo. After a few games, I bought some 10p tickets for the next game of 90-ball bingo in Sapphire. It was just…

What I loved My comfy, snugly bedsocks! Pink and fluffy, I don't care how unsexy they are, they're definitely staying! (Mid-life crisis? Not me!) What hacked me off Yup, that mid-life crisis… I was going to change the world! Is there still time? P'raps I'll think about it over a large glass of red… What made me laugh A man goes to the doctor with a carrot up his nose and a parsnip in his ear. The doctor says, ‘Clearly, you're not eating properly..!' I promise that's the last of the cracker jokes! Hope your week is a feast of fun!…

Coming round from the surgery, I immediately felt better Half-asleep, I padded downstairs to open the door to the back garden. My dogs Vincent and Vivian shot outside. It was only 6am, but my two hounds never let me have a lie-in, even on a Saturday. It was still dark as I waited for the dogs to come back in. But then I heard a screeching noise. Going over to the dogs, I saw they’d cornered a raccoon, which are common where I live. ‘Shoo!’ I shouted. But both dogs pounced on the animal. I went to grab their collars to pull them away, but the raccoon lashed out, scratching me. Next thing, its jaw clamped down on my right arm. The bite felt like an electric bolt running through…

Others saw what had happened and started to laugh… Walking past a bowl of cake mix in the kitchen, I just had to stick my finger in. ‘Mmm!’ I giggled cheekily, as a chef shook his head. As a catering assistant, I was surrounded by food and could never resist having a little taste. It did mean that my uniform of loose-fitting chef trousers and top weren’t quite as baggy any more! As long as I could remember, I’d been a big girl. Always last to be picked in sports and everybody’s fat friend. But if I couldn’t be the skinny one, then I’d be the funny one. So I was the class clown, making everyone laugh. When I was 17, I’d had my son Ben, and the weight increased…

Morrisons Instant Latte, £1.24 A good, strong flavour complete with a frothy head, but the thin consistency made this taste like milky instant, rather than a baristastyle latte. Asda Cafe Instant Latte, £1.30 Easy to mix, and the frothy head lasted a long time. This had a good balance of coffee flavour and creamy milk - just add sugar to your taste. Sainsbury's Instant Latte Coffee, £1.30 Rich and creamy with a hint of caramel/ vanilla flavour, this is just as tasty as one made at the local coffee shop. Plus, this box of 10 works out at just 13p a cup! NEW   Cadbury Crunchie Friday Feeling Cake, £5.99 Honeycomb-flavoured sponge filled with honeycomb-flavoured cream - and topped with chocolate and Crunchie pieces. What's not to love?…

I saw myself runningdown a beach, Pammie-style… Chucking another bikini top into my already bursting suitcase, I stole a last glance at the poster of Pamela Anderson in her Baywatch swimsuit on my bedroom wall. Soon, that’ll be me, I thought. Well, minus two very important things… Age 15, I was leaving Glasgow to spend some time with my aunt Julie, who lived in California. I pictured myself running down the golden, sandy beach, Pammie-style. I loved her glam look – long, blonde hair, tanned skin and pouty lips. But, most of all, I envied her curves. A flat-chested A cup, I knew I’d never fill out that red swimsuit like she did. Touching down Stateside, I pinched myself. I’m really here! I loved my Californian adventure and, in the…

I suffered terrible nightmares about Nick, would wake screaming Pulling my favourite board game out of the cupboard, I couldn’t wait to play. ‘Time for Mouse Trap,’ I beamed excitedly. I was 7 and my mum was out. She’d hired a babysitter to watch me. A friend of Mum’s – a girl in her late teens. I loved hanging out with her. She watched Disney films with me, and played games. Then, one evening when she babysat, she had a man with her. ‘This is my boyfriend Nick,’ she explained. Nicholas Tilley, then 19, was tall and spotty. ‘Alright, kid,’ he said, ruffling my hair. He seemed nice enough. And Mum didn’t mind him being there with my babysitter. Later that night, I went upstairs to use the toilet before…

Nivea Nourishing Care Hand Cream, £2.99, Boots Slather this on morning and night to nourish chapped hands and stop them from splitting. Top tip: Keep by your bed to remind you. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, £3.69, Holland & Barrett Heals flaky lips, while the added peppermint leaves them tingling. Top tip: Balms that contain petroleum will dry out lips. Aveeno Daily Moisturising After-Shower-Mist, £7.50, Boots Great quick-fix if you're short on time! Spray on to towel-dried skin to stay soft for up to 48 hours. Top tip: Fast-absorbing formulas are perfect for mornings. E45 Moisturising Lotion, £7.35, Superdrug You can't go wrong with E45! Works on adults and kids to soothe dry skin. Top tip: Bigger bottles tend to be better value.…

Lynea has seen over 28,000 felines pass through her doors When Lynea Lattanzio was a little girl, she begged her mum for a cat, but was never allowed one. Now, at age 67, she has 1,100 of them – so many that she’s had to surrender her whole house to her furry friends and move herself into a caravan! Sounds bonkers. But big-hearted Lynea just can’t bear to see a cat without a roof over its head. So, 24 years ago, she founded Cat House on the Kings, a no-cage, no-kill shelter for cats in California. When she went to adopt her first cat, Lynea was heartbroken to learn that many of the animals would be destroyed if there weren’t homes for them to go to. That day, she left…

I’d never dreamt I could win that big, and now I had! Every Sunday, my sister Kelly, 37, and I would leave our hubbies looking after the kids, put our glad rags on and hit the bingo in the city. We had a right laugh! But it was a long way to travel and, over the years, we stopped. ‘I play online bingo instead now,’ Kelly told me one day. ‘It’s great fun, and I’ve already had a few wins,’ she grinned. ‘You should try it.’ So I did. And it was fun! The chatrooms were full of players talking about life as the games played. ‘This is really sociable, just like the bingo hall,’ I joked to Kelly. Plus, it was convenient playing from my own home. My favourite…

1 Food and drink Book in for a lunchtime treat at Michelin-starred restaurant - The Walnut Tree Inn. In the afternoon, tour The Sugar Loaf vineyards, and taste the award-winning wines! 2 Find a great place to stay The Angel Hotel's surrounded by mountains and beautiful scenery. It's a great base for exploring the area and beaches on the South Wales Coast. 3 Go to a festival Abergavenny hosts Wales' best-loved and biggest food festival, celebrating food from across the country. Taste your way around over 200 fine-food stands and watch demonstrations from a whole host of well-known chefs. 4 Discover the Brecon Beacons This is an area of outstanding beauty. For breathtaking views, visit Pen y Fan at 2,906 feet, the highest mountain in South Wales. 5 Roam around…

The cows were soon muscling in on the photo Heaving another bucket of water into the cow trough, I wiped a muddy glove across my brow. ‘Phew,’ I puffed, exhausted. One of the nearby cows came over and nuzzled my shoulder. ‘But I’d do anything to keep you happy,’ I cooed, patting her. It was another day at Caenhill Countryside Centre, and as usual I was helping to look after the many rescued animals that lived there. I’d been volunteering at the centre every weekend for over two years, and loved it. The work was tough, especially as during the day I was a marketing manager for a hotel, but the animals always kept me going. A non-profit organisation, the farm began thanks to Chris and Helie Franklin, who had…

An autopsy revealed Evangelina’s injuries didn’t match up How could a mother allow her children to be treated like this? THE STORY On 20 December 2014, police received a call from a mother. Her 2-year-old had stopped breathing and was unresponsive. They raced to the home in Seaside, Oregon, USA, but little Evangelina Wing was already dead. Her mother Dorothy Wing, then 24, and her boyfriend Randy Roden, 26, claimed the little girl had fallen off the toilet a few days before. But Wing’s other children – two boys aged 3 and 5 – also had injuries. The boys were taken to hospital and, in the following days, Wing and Roden were arrested. Police didn’t believe the couple’s story about Evangelina falling. They suspected foul play. But what had been…

SOUNDS A LITTLE FISHY! Less than one per cent of the UK population are born with an extra hole where their ear cartilage connects to the face. The visible holes are hereditary and, while the cause is unknown, biologists argue it could be an ‘evolutionary remnant of fish gills.’ Better than having fish fingers, though ?! HOORAY FOR GRANS’ GRUB! When Jamal Hinton, 17 , from Arizona, got a random text from ‘Grandma', checking he'd be at Thanksgiving dinner, he was thrilled. Only it turned out she wasn't his grandma! After the confusion was cleared up, being someone's cheeky grandson, he ask ed her, Can I still get a plate ? Her response? Of course you…

An officer explained Scott was knocked unconscious by a bouncer It seemed Stuart Humphreys had lashed out for no good reason Scott was dead. Septicaemia. Blood-poisoning. The feeding tube which was in his stomach had perforated, and the resulting infection had spread quickly. Doctors had done everything they could, but they couldn’t save my son. Though he was gone, and I’d never get to hold his hand or see him smile again, that wasn’t going to stop me from fighting for justice. Scott was just 26 when he died in January 2012. But in a way, his life had been stolen away three years earlier, in 2009. Back then, he’d had everything to look forward to. He worked hard as a scaffolder, went to the gym, played pool with his…

Serves: 12 Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min 2 Earl Grey tea bags 150g plain flour 25g cornflour 60g caster sugar 120g salted butter at room temperature ½tsp vanilla essence 1 Preheat oven to 190C/ Gas 5, and lightly grease a baking tray. 2 Cut open tea bags and empty into a mixing bowl, then add flours and sugar and mix well. 3 Cut butter into small chunks, add to mix with vanilla essence, and then mix together well. 4 Roll mixture into a log shape, about 13cm long, wrap in cling film and put in fridge to chill for 30 min. 5 Unwrap foil, slice into 12 rounds and place, spaced apart, on baking sheet. 6 Put them on a lightly greased baking tray and bake for about 10…

‘Erm,it’s a bit... personal’ Jelly legs Q My legs keep turning to jelly. It feels odd to walk or even touch them. My GP says it's stress, but I'm terrified it's MS. Charlotte, 26 A Sounds more like anxiety.MS (multiple sclerosis) can cause many symptoms including attacks of leg weakness, but weak, shaky or rubbery legs that feel odd to touch are also a common stress symptom. Ask your doctor about CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). Neck pain Q I did a somersault with my children, and felt my neck twinge. Now it hurts, and I'm worried I've done some damage. Deb, 41 A If there's severe, constant pain, pain and tingling down one or both arms, or this doesn't recover in a couple of weeks, see your GP. But it's…

Spray away   Instead of carrying and dropping all your cleaning products while doing the housework, use a supermarket wine carrier to get them from room to room. Patricia Cordon, Cheltenham Pasta pot   An empty Pringles tube is ideal for storing your spaghetti! Abbie Cairns, Colchester Water saving   Don't throw out the cold contents of a used hot water bottle, use it to top up your plants! Helen Baldwin, Leeds Lose the limescale Put a large seashell in the bottom of your kettle and the limescale will stick to it, making the nasty stuff easier to remove. Colleen Brunton, Enfield Better baking When baking with the kids, put the sprinkles into a bun tin. It makes it easier for little ones to pick them up and see what…

1 Preheat oven to 160C/ Gas 3, and lightly grease a baking tray. 2 Cut 500g of broccoli into florets, and steam 5-10 min until tender. Leave to cool. 3 In a bowl, measure out 100g grated Cheddar (or any hard cheese), add 3 eggs, a chopped bunch of spring onions, and three crushed cloves of garlic. Add broccoli, and mash well, using a wooden spoon or potato masher for a rough texture, or an electric stick blender for a finer mix. 4 Add 200g gluten-free oats, stir well, and season with plenty of salt and pepper. 5 For accurate portion control, use an ice-cream scoop, flattening each ball of mixture into a cake before placing on baking tray. 6 Bake for about 20 min until piping hot. Top tip:…

Never too late Julie Higgs' story Mum let Dad rape me (17 November issue) was shocking and so upsetting. It just goes to show that it doesn't matter how many years have passed; if someone sexually abused you when you were a child, even if it was a close relative, it's never too late to go to the police and get justice. Nessa Smith, Llanferres Fed up When my grandson came to visit me recently, I asked him how his day at school had been. I had to laugh when he put his hands on hips, let out a sigh and said ‘I am done, I quit.’ He’s only 6 years old! Gloria Merrifield, Barry Breast bet I was pleased to learn that breast screening will…

A good-looking man who loved his nan… I was sold! Tucking into a Chinese with my friend Alice, we turned on the TV dating show Take Me Out. ‘You should apply for this,’ Alice said. As a single mum to Grace, 10, and Olivia, 7, I didn’t find much time to date. It can’t do any harm, I thought, filling in the application forms online, never dreaming I’d be selected for the show. But, two months later, I got a phone call inviting me to a screen test! I thought it was a friend messing about, but an e-mail confirmed it was a Take Me Out crew member. ‘What shall I do?’ I asked my mum Janet, 58. ‘It’ll be an experience!’ she laughed. ‘You deserve to have some fun.’…

Because of my skin, I’ve been able to help others Skipping home from school, I was so happy. Soon I’d see my dad Giuseppe, 46, in his hometown, Milazzo, Sicily. He and my mum Jackie, now 58, split when I was 3, but I’d see him as much as possible. A typical Italian, dark-haired, charismatic, fun and loving, my dad meant the world to me. But, arriving home with my best friend Robyn, my mum was sitting in the living room. She looked so sad. ‘What’s wrong?’ I asked. ‘It’s your dad,’ Mum said. I could hardly breathe as she explained that my beautiful dad, so full of life, had died in a motorbike accident. Just 13, my world stopped. At the end of August 2004, my brother Marco and…

Mercy’s exhumed body was in perfect condition When she died, her father contacted the undertaker, put an obituary notice in the local paper. Miss Mercy Lena Brown, who has been suffering consumption, died Sunday morning. Grief wasn’t new to George Brown. Before losing his daughter Mercy, he’d lost his wife Mary Eliza and oldest daughter Mary Olive. Soon, he’d lose his son Edwin. It was 1892 in Exeter, a farming community in Rhode Island. Mary Eliza had been dead 10 years, also from consumption. What we call tuberculosis. She’d had the symptoms and, like other victims, coughed blood. Mary Olive had died from it a year later, aged just 20. Now, with Mercy dead at 19, George must have wanted to care for Edwin, who’d also been diagnosed with the…

Aries 21 March - 20 April You’re offered a way out of a tricky situation. Should you take it? Depends on how desperate you are. The way out comes at a price, and the big problem will resolve itself in a couple of weeks anyway. Probably best to wait. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May You’re living the dream this week - but as with all dreams, it’s not quite real. Somewhere in this, there’s a big dollop of make-believe; it’s fun while it lasts, but don’t go thinking that life can always be this way. It can’t. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June If you’re walking along a muddy path, you go slowly in case you slip.…

I was too scared to sleep in case Kade had a seizure He loves the local aquarium– the fish relax him As my son Kade, then 4 months, rolled around on the changing mat, I tickled his belly. Babbling away to himself, he was as cute as a button. But soon I noticed he kept drawing his legs in and frowning. And over the next few days, in July 2014, he became grisly. ‘What’s wrong, little man?’ I asked, concerned. Our GP said it was probably reflux. But Kade wasn’t improving. His whole body would stiffen and his face would appear blank. It’d only last a few seconds, but I knew something wasn’t right. My other son Bayden, then 18 months, had been completely different at Kade’s age. Soon Kade…