Table of contents for 30-Jan-2018 in Chat

I was a wreck. I had no idea what he was capable of Climbing into the driving seat, I pulled the car door shut. Home time, I thought. It was July 2007, I’d just finished work as an optical assistant and couldn’t wait to get home to my three kids Rhiannon, then 19, Seth, 16, and Jake, 13. I’d been divorced a year, and was still getting used to being a single mum. Suddenly, someone rapped on my window. Startled, I looked up. A man in his 20s was staring at me, holding a rose. Maybe he needs directions, I thought. Only, he had something else in mind. ‘Will you go out with me?’ he said. He was a complete stranger, I’d never seen him before. ‘No,’ I replied, stunned.…

At some point, it’s a conversation most couples have had… ‘Do you want to have children one day?’ I asked my boyfriend Liam Johnson, 20. ‘Absolutely,’ he smiled. ‘I’d love to be a dad.’ Thrilled, it was the answer I’d been hoping for. Liam and I had been together a few months, after meeting through friends. We had such a strong connection. I knew he was the man I was destined to be with. But unlike other couples, we faced a mountain of challenges if we were to become parents. See, Liam and I are both transgender. From a young age, I knew I was different. I wanted to be like a girl and wear pretty dresses. But when I looked in the mirror, a little boy stared back at…

Sensitive ears QI have hypersensitive hearing, and ordinary sounds like traffic are painful. I'm becoming a recluse! Wilhelmina, 58 A You have a condition called hyperacusis. Usually there's no obvious cause, though nerve damage, depression or migraine can all be to blame. Treatments include counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy. Bloody stools Q My poos have turned black and stick to the side of the toilet pan. I feel fine, is it safe to ignore? Barbara, 69 A See your GP at once, as this could mean you're bleeding from the upper part of your bowel. By the time the blood reaches the other end, it's been altered to form black, tarry or sticky poo. There could be a harmless cause, but it's important to rule out bowel cancer. Hernia concern…

Atta boy! All with careful supervision of course... As he put the last tile in place, I looked at the workman’s handiwork. ‘Liam finished,’ he told me. ‘Good boy,’ I said, as I gave him a hug. My little boy Liam was only 2 years old but he was handier around then house than most men. He’d learnt from his dad, Liam Sr, 39, who already made his money from tiling. Like father, like son! From the age of 18 months he’s had a fascination with tools. We’d bought him a set of plastic ones for Christmas but he seemed more interested in the real deal. Just as well... When Liam was born, we’d bought a new house and it needed a lot of work done to it. Liam Sr…

Then in walked Louis Theroux from the BBC... We’ve all been there. Heartbroken over a silly boy. I’d thought it was love back in June 2016. We’d been together for eight months, he was my soulmate. Or so I thought... Out of the blue, he ended it. By text! I’m just not ready for commitment, he wrote. I was devastated. Felt alone and unattractive. My parents Heather, 56, and Paul, 54, dried my tears. ‘You’re beautiful,’ they’d say. Moving on, I started working as a dental receptionist. But I couldn’t seem to stop scrutinising my 8st, size-8 body. As a girl, I’d been a gymnast, so had an athletic figure. Yet with my confidence at rock bottom, I couldn’t see it. So I cut out carbs, replaced meals and exercised.…

Twirling in front of the mirror, I admired the ivory, satin number. ‘I love it!’ I gushed. It was only the third wedding dress I’d tried, but I knew it was the one. ‘It’s beautiful,’ my mum Yvonne, 64, beamed. It was May 2016, and I was due to marry my fiance Michael, 45, last June. We’d started planning as soon as he’d popped the question in November 2015. We wanted it to be perfect. We found a beautiful venue with a gorgeous 13th-century barn in its grounds. When the big day arrived, every detail was organised down to a T. Little did I know! My dad Phil, 63, would walk me down the aisle with my son Mason, 5, who has Down’s syndrome. Mason didn’t really understand what the…

Being thousands of miles away, I felt so helpless When my son Patrick broke his good news, I beamed from ear to ear. ‘I’ve been offered a new job,’ he said. It was October 2016 and Patrick, then 23, had already landed a job after completing a Masters degree in Business at Birmingham University. But now he’d been offered his dream career in IT. Only... ‘It’s in California,’ he said. I was so proud and happy for him, but secretly my heart sank a little. We’d always been close. Patrick loved his family, and was caring, bright and ambitious. Everything a mum wants for her son. I so wanted him to be happy. ‘Go for it,’ I said. So that October I joined Patrick as he jetted off to start…

I didn’t dare tell, was terrified of what he would do Squeezing my Auntie Margaret tight, I gave her a kiss… ‘Goodbye,’ I said. ‘And thank you.’ Then I headed off for a new life with my mum and stepdad Thomas Gray. I was 10 years old and had lived with Auntie Margaret, my mum’s aunt, since I was 5. I wasn’t really sure why, just knew Mum had struggled to cope with both me and my brother Charles, who’d been 12 months old at the time. It had been hard for me at first. Confusing. Why do I have to live elsewhere when my baby brother can stay at home with Mum? But Auntie Margaret had showered me with love and kindness. So I’d been happy. Only, when Charles…

Ella winced in pain as I held her hand. My brave girl… She’d been ill since she was born four years previously but only diagnosed when she was 3½. Catching colds, viruses and never quite thriving as she should, we’d taken her for tests. ‘She has a rare genetic disorder,’ said doctors, diagnosing severe immunodeficiency, meaning she had no immune system. Ella’s condition meant a simple cold could prove deadly. ‘She’ll need a bone-marrow transplant if she’s going to survive,’ they’d added. Terrifying. Finding an exact match wasn’t going to be easy. Ideally, a healthy sibling would be a donor. Me and my partner Damien, now 45, had had another baby – our son Sam – just six months previously. But Sam had been ill like Ella – with chronic…

The only way to remove it was to open my scalp Stepping off the coach, the heat hit me. ‘This was worth the nine-hour drive,’ I smiled to my husband Joe, then 37. It was May 2014 and we’d just arrived in Disneyland Paris with our kids Morgan, 8, and Millie, 7. We wasted no time in hitting the rides. By the evening, we were exhausted and had an early night. But, suddenly, I woke up with my left leg shaking. Then my whole body was jolting. ‘What on earth..?’ I stuttered. I nudged Joe awake. But just as quickly as it started, it stopped. ‘Must’ve been a spasm,’ I said, shrugging it off. I put it down to the long journey the day before. The rest of the holiday…

As I reversed my mum’s Honda Jazz out of her driveway, I sighed. It was 10am, and I was already shattered. It was November 2016 and I was 14 weeks pregnant with my third child. That morning me, my partner James, 28, my 8-year-old son Tyler and our 10-month-old boy James Jr, had gone to visit my mum Sandra and dad James, who lived nearby. They’d been a bit under the weather, so I’d popped round to see if they needed any chores doing. ‘Can you just move my car off the drive?’ Mum’d asked. So I’d nipped out, was just parking up on the road outside Mum’s, when… BANG! A Vauxhall Corsa bumped into the back of Mum’s car. It wasn’t a huge smash, but enough to whip my…

Serves: 12 Prep: 20 mins Cook: 30 mins Cost per serving: 28p 3 medium eggs 200g soft brown sugar 150g self-raising flour 50g cocoa 100ml rapeseed oil 50g dried cranberries 25g milk chocolate chips (optional) 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4 and line a 22cm square tin. 2 Whisk the eggs and soft brown sugar together until the mixture is pale and creamy. 3 Sieve the self-raising flour and cocoa together and gently whisk into the eggs, then whisk in the rapeseed oil. 4 Pour the mixture into the prepared tin. Scatter over the dried cranberries and chocolate chips (if using). Bake for 25-30 mins, then cool slightly before turning out of the tin. Cut the brownie into 12 individual pieces.…

It’s been amazing to share the win with my family For the past five years, I’ve enjoyed playing Chat Mag Bingo. I’ve always loved bingo and I’ve found that playing online is just as much fun, especially as many of my friends play, too. I run my own business looking after holiday cottages and, of an evening after a busy day, it’s nice to relax and have a few games of bingo. It was a late evening on 2 August and I’d decided to have a quick game of bingo before bedtime I pre-bought some tickets for Sapphire, which is a 90-ball bingo game and spent £2 on tickets for the next few games. Playing online, you don’t have to sit and watch the numbers being called as they are…

Serves: 6 Prep: 15 mins Cook: 3hrs Cost per serving: 97p 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/ Gas 4. Put 1.2kg pork shoulder in a roasting tin, rub in 1tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 30 min, reduce oven to fan 140C, brush over 6tbsp BBQ sauce and cook for 2½hrs. Cover with foil and rest for 30 min, then pull apart using two forks. Stir in 4tbsp BBQ sauce. 2 Heat 1tbsp oil in a pan and fry 1 chopped onion for 10 min. Add 2tsp gravy granules and 150ml boiling water and stir over a low heat until thick. Remove from heat, stir in 3tbsp BBQ sauce and keep warm. 3 To make the slaw, combine ½ shredded red cabbage, 1 shredded carrot, 2 sliced…

1 Shop until you drop With two huge shopping malls - Chapelfield and Castle Mall - packed with every high-street shop you can name, you're never far from a little retail therapy in Norwich. For vintage buys, head to the lanes or browse the stalls at the colourful outdoor market. 2 Act like a king Looming over the city is Norwich's very own castle, built by the Normans as a royal residence over 900 years ago. Take a guided tour up to the battlements for gorgeous views, or, if you're feeling brave, check out the dungeon. 3 Get into art Not only did the city's Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts feature in the hit film Avengers: Age of Ultron , it houses the art collection of the…

Aries 21 March - 20 April Some things are easier than you think - especially in relationships, when often all you need is to be honest about how you feel. What happens this week is sexy, unexpected and actually rather wonderful! Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May The door to the past is open, and it’s tempting to go through it. Emotion gets the better of good sense - but, however you look at it, it’s a step back when you must go forwards. You’ve got better things to do! Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June When you hear about new jobs, bonus and promotion prospects, you’d normally jump at the chance if a pay rise was offered.…

Now I was a mum, I was determined to make him pay Then, just days later, I was contacted by the police. ‘More evidence has emerged against Thomas Gray,’ they explained. ‘Would you give another statement?’ It turned out another lady had come forward. Another woman whose life had been left in tatters, like mine. Then, my brother Charles admitted that Gray had sexually and physically abused him too. Charles had been in rehab for drugs and alcohol. Now I knew why. My heart broke into pieces. Poor love had been molested between the ages of 3 and 5. It was hard going over it all again with the police – but now I was a mum myself, I was more determined than ever to make Gray pay for what…

Robert Reagan’s claim that he acted in self-defence didn’t wash with the jury, who found him guilty of the second-degree murder of TV star Loredana Nesci. Last September, he was sentenced to 16 years to life in jail. After sentencing, Loredana’s family spoke out. ‘The news of her death destroyed our life and we will never be the same,’ said her father John Nesci. Her brother Robert said of Reagan, ‘I hope Loredana’s spirit haunts you the rest of your days as you spend time in prison reflecting how you violently extinguished her life.’…

Sainsbury's 9 Coloured Dim Sum With Ginger Soy Dip, 210g, £2.85 This colourful set contains prawn beetroot shumai, vegetable chive gyoza and prawn turmeric hacao and is served with a ginger soy dip. A perfect starter or lunch. ASDA Extra Special 12 Steamed Dim Sum Selection, 280g, £3.50 These aromatic dumplings include handmade gyoza in chicken, soy and ginger; mushroom, and garlic prawn flavours, with a punchy soy and ginger dip. Delicious! Morrisons A Taste Of China Steamed Dim Sum Selection, 180g, £2.50 A beautiful selection of prawn-and-mushroom dumplings, vegetable siu mai, and prawn hacao. Mild in heat, but interesting flavours. Perfect for newbies! NEW Weight Watchers from Heinz Balance range, £2.79, Asda  These healthy, frozen meals are all under 500 cals. Our fave is this tasty meatball penne dish.…

Wonderful lady Linda Trepanier (21 December 2017 issue) is amazing. She's taken on the care of two wonderful boys - Matthew and Marshall - who have Pfeiffer syndrome, a condition causing the bones in their skulls to fuse prematurely, leaving them with large foreheads and sunken eyes. I've a feeling they'll get the best out of life with Linda taking care of them. Louise Cooper, Torrington That really sucks! My wife asked me if I wanted a ballpoint pen, a boiled sweet and 50p all for free. I replied that I would indeed, and my wife said, ‘Well, vacuum under the settee, then!’ Neil Harrison, Edinburgh Video nasty Big Internet companies do take down certain posts, so how does a bomb-making video slip through? Surely the large companies can afford…

Shea Moisture Smooth & Tame Shampoo, £10.99, Boots Too heavy for fine hair, but this works wonders on thick, frizzy tresses. Free from sulphate, it doesn't lather much, but you only need a little for squeaky clean hair. HASK Monoi Coconut Oil Nourishing Conditioner, £6.99, Superdrug Apply generously to shampooed hair, then leave for 1-2 minutes, before rinsing, to allow all the nourishing coconut goodness to penetrate your locks. Style Freedom Hair Detox Kit, £7.99, Superdrug This clever two-part system first detoxifies, using green tea and citrus, then nourishes for stronger, shinier hair. Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Zero Break Reconstructor, £7, Morrisons Shake to mix the cream and oil, then spritz onto damp hair. If your hair is damaged or over-processed, you'll see a real difference.…

Running down the garden towards my mum, I squealed with excitement. ‘Bill Brookman asked me out!’ I whooped. ‘Well, we’ll have to ask your father before you agree to anything,’ Mum Clare, 54, replied, watering the plants. My happiness quickly fizzled. It was 1978, and I was 16. I’d known Bill, then 21, for a few years. He was a friend of my brother’s and I had a bit of a crush on him. As a spotty teen in specs, I couldn’t believe he was interested in me. Bill had made my day by asking me out the following Saturday night. But my dad was a strict Catholic. And, as expected, he wouldn’t allow me out on the date. I didn’t protest or beg. Trying to change his mind was…

You just need to opt-in to this promotion and download the link to the app . You must wager £5 on any game on the app between 26-31 January to earn a prize draw entry to win a Bo x Bonanza. We’re app-solutely bursting with cash prizes – there’s £5,000 up for grabs. 18+. UK only Opt-in required. W agering requirements apply . Max one prize draw entry . T&Cs apply.…

I struggled, just couldn’t imagine life without her Me and my mum Diane were two peas in a pod. While my older brother Nathan and dad Michael were reserved, we were total extroverts. Outgoing, confident, loud! Growing up, I could tell Mum anything. She was my best friend. She loved watching me play cricket, proud I was sporty. Mum struggled with her weight, you see. She had a busy job as an HR consultant and no time to exercise. At 50 she had a hip replacement but then a crack appeared in the other hip. She knew her weight wasn’t helping – so she managed to lose 10st in 12 months. We were so proud. But in August 2011 we noticed Mum was holding one side awkwardly. ‘It’s nothing,’ she…

Standing at the urinal in the pub loos, I winced as I tried to spend a penny. For weeks, I’d been experiencing extreme soreness in my ‘gentleman’s area’. ‘Are you OK, mate?’ one of my friends asked when I returned to the bar. ‘You look a bit upset.’ Upset didn’t come close. A trip to the gents felt like a blowtorching of the todger! And, as humiliating as it was, I couldn’t ignore it any longer. So, in February 2007, I went to see my doctor. ‘I have a problem in my lower region,’ I gulped to my female GP. My cheeks burned when she asked to see. ‘It’s not very impressive,’ I blurted out. I meant to say ‘pleasant’, but I felt so awkward, I was a bumbling mess.…

THE CRIME On 20 October 2012, Prince McLeod Rams died while in the care of his father Joaquin Shadow Rams. Prince's mum insisted her ex had killed their son, but Joaquin claimed the boy had suffered a seizure. So was Rams wrongly accused of his son's tragic death, or was he a cold-blooded, calculating child-killer? The toddler arrived at hospital – naked, wet and cold THE STORY With his curly hair and cheeky smile, Prince McLeod Rams was a beautiful little boy. Sadly, though, he hadn’t had the easiest start in life. Two weeks after Prince was born, his mum Hera McLeod and dad Joaquin Shadow Rams split up. Hera, an intelligence analyst, left the fiance she’d met online, taking baby Prince with her. She won custody in court, but…