Table of contents for 11-Apr-2019 in Chat

Courtney’s mum thought she’d married a good man but walked in on every mother’s worst nightmare (p6). Victoria had never struggled when it came to romance but now all that’s changed. She explains why on p10. And Rachel got bored of waiting for Cupid to strike so she went ahead and did something incredible all on her own (p34). Meet adorable little Dolly and her farmyard friends (p24), get stuck into your favourite prize puzzles and check out our fabulous plus-size fashion special (p12). We’re celebrating Easter too, with delicious chocolate bakes (p26) and cute decorations (p27). Enjoy!…

In the UK, one in 20 children have been sexually abused and three quarters of them don't tell anyone. More than eight out of 10 children who are sexually abused know their abuser. If you think a child's in immediate danger, contact the police on 999. The charity NSPCC has trained counsellors to assess info you give them and take action if necessary. See nspcc.org.uk or call free on 0808 800 5000. Children looking for counselling and support can contact Childline on 0800 1111 - send a message on its website at childline.org.uk or post a message to its boards.…

GUILTY In just two hours, Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe delivered her guilty verdict. She said, ‘The State has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. This court finds that the accused staged the suicide and had the direct intention to kill.’ The judge said Jason Rohde ‘staged’ Susan’s death as a ‘play’ and had roped in various ‘actors’ and ‘extras’ to tell a story of suicide. She added that the Spier hotel was the crime scene of a ‘love triangle’, which was formed months before Susan’s murder. Jason Rohde was also found guilty on a charge of defeating the ends of justice. This February, Rohde was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He plans to appeal his conviction and sentence.…

Hip fixing Q My hip needs a resurfacing op - what's that? Kelly, Sheffield AA full hip replacement means removing and replacing your entire hip joint. Resurfacing means removing less bone, simply replacing the surfaces of the ball-and-socket joint, usually with metal. It can lead to a more fully working hip. Cleaning out ears Q My GP says my dizziness is due to earwax, but I thought that just made you deaf? Ellen, Lambeth A Wax can cause deafness, but by pressing on your eardrum or against the skin inside your ear, it might less commonly lead to high-pitched noises inside your ear (tinnitus), pain, itching or vertigo, a form of dizziness where everything seems to spin. Your doctor will arrange to remove your wax. Scared of surgery Q I've…

Coffee chocolate roll  Serves: 6 Prep: 30 min Cook: 25 min • 3 medium eggs • 100g caster sugar • 2tbsp coffee powder dissolved in 1tbsp boiling water • 60g self-raising flour • 50g ground almonds • 1tbsp cocoa powder, to dust • 40g whole blanched almonds • 1tbsp caster sugar • Pinch of sea salt • 250g mascarpone • 3tbsp amaretto (optional) • 3tbsp icing sugar • 300ml double cream • 3tbsp drinking chocolate • 30g dark chocolate, grated 1 Heat the oven to 180C/ Gas 4. Line a 20 x 30cm Swiss roll tin with baking paper. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sugar for 3 min until thick, doubled in volume and the mixture leaves a ribbon-like trail on the surface. Fold in coffee mixture, flour…

Aries 21 March - 20 April Your approach to any new task is to get stuck in, give it your best, and learn as you go. But in some cases it can be better to watch. Right now you’re in a bit of a minefield at work, so tread carefully. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May You get a chance to live your dream, even if only for a day, so you take it. It may not be quite the way you imagined it, though, and it may require a bit of input from you to make it work; but it’ll be worth doing. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June Negotiations about pay and position seem likely. As…

1 Gently does it My skin reacts to anything and everything. When it does, I moisturise with Cetraben Cream, £4.99, Lloyds Pharmacy until it calms down. It’s my go-to remedy. 2 Aromatherapy believer I can’t go to bed without adding a drop of an essential oil blend on my pulse points. Give lavender a go to help you drop off to sleep. Tisserand Lavender Pure Essential Oil, £8.25. 3 Brow cheat  Neaten up your brows with soap! Use an old toothbrush rubbed across a clear soap bar and brush through your brows to thicken and set in place.…

Jessica Tulip, 22, Consett, County Durham I scanned the profile photo of the guy who’d been sending me flirty messages on Facebook. Rugged and stocky, with dark-brown hair and blue eyes, Bernard was manly and good-looking. We had mutual friends – so, when he invited me out for a drink days later, in January 2016, I agreed. Bernard told me that he was 29, a painter and decorator. I could see from the tattoos on his hands that he was a bit of a bad boy. He admitted that he’d spent time in prison. ‘I’ve really calmed down now,’ he promised. I found out later, through friends, that he’d been violent towards an ex. He told me how ashamed he was, that he wasn’t that person any more. I could…

Watching as my girlfriend Hannah dressed for our dinner date, I was in awe. She perfected her make-up and clipped in her earrings with practised ease. And when she was happy with her appearance, she gave me a little spin. ‘How do I look?’ she asked. The dress hung perfectly, the make-up highlighted her best features. ‘Stunning,’ I said, eyeing her up and down. Walking to the car, I took in her every movement. She was beyond glamorous, a true stunner. So it was no surprise other men stared. My friends would wink and nudge, ‘How’ve you pulled this one?’ they’d laugh. ‘I’m just lucky, I guess,’ I’d shrug. I loved my girlfriends – but I wanted to be them But behind that facade, I was actually pretty jealous. Not…

What’s that blood? QI take the Pill and sometimes bleed a little between periods - does it matter? Becca, Faversham A This is breakthrough bleeding and is common in the first few months of taking a new Pill, but usually settles. If not, your GP will rule out other causes, such as a polyp or erosion on your cervix, or a bowel problem interfering with the Pill's absorption. Granny pants? Q Since I've worn skimpy thongs for my boyfriend, sex has been painful! How is that possible? Hope, Penzance A Thongs can rub against your clitoris, causing it to become inflamed, or irritate your vagina lips, leading to painful sex. Some women have even blamed them for piles, skintags, thrush and urine infections. Time for bigger undies! Write to Dr…

Leigh Thorpe, 28, Norwich Pouring me another glass of wine, my sister Abbie, 22, gave our mum Gail, 49, a sideways glance. We were having a pub lunch in August 2017, and talk had turned to my wedding. ‘When are you going to try on dresses?’ Abbie needled. ‘You’ve been engaged two years now.’ I rolled my eyes. The truth was, it was complicated! They weren’t ugly dresses – the problem was me! When my fella Craig, 42, popped the question in August 2015, I was absolutely thrilled. We had a daughter together, – Orla, who’s 6. But first of all, I’d something I needed to sort out. My weight. In the first year after having Orla, I’d gained 5st snacking on junk food. Tipping the scales at 16st 2lb…

2015: Parachute murder bid On 5 April 2015, former Army sergeant Emile Cilliers tried to kill his wife Victoria by tampering with her parachute during a jump at Netheravon Airfield near Salisbury, Wiltshire. She suffered near-fatal injuries. He'd also sabotaged a gas valve at their home in another bid to kill her. In June 2018, at  Winchester Crown Court, Cilliers was found guilty of two charges of attempted murder and ‘damaging a gas fitting recklessly endangering life'. He was sentenced to life, to serve a minimum of 18 years. 1988: Cold-case killing German backpacker Inga Maria Hauser, 18, arrived in Larne, Northern Ireland, on 6 April 1988. That was the last time she was seen alive. Her lifeless body was found two weeks later in a remote part…

Rachel answers YOUR questions Q What will you tell your baby as she gets older? Kayleigh Reeves, Reading A I don't know exactly, but I plan to be honest with her about where she came from. If, when she turns 18, she wants to meet her biological father, I will be supportive of her decision. Q Are you still hoping to meet The One and potentially have more children? Stephanie Ng, Musselburgh A I would love to meet someone and have more children, but they would have to be someone special for me to let them into Evelyn's life. My little girl will always come first. Q Do you ever feel sad that you don’t have a partner to share the joys of her milestones? Sophie Witter, London A No,…

Polina Zinchenko, 23 As I watched Viktor perform his routine entirely on his hands, I couldn’t help but gasp in wonder. He was so strong, able to support his whole weight on just his arms – even his wheelchair, too! You see, Viktor wasn’t like any other circus performer I’d ever seen. As we’d got to know each other over the past year, he’d told me a little about his life. He’d been born in Russia with shrivelled legs, and had them amputated above the knee as a baby. ‘Prosthetic legs were too expensive,’ Viktor explained. ‘I learned to do everything with my hands.’ Then, age 4, Viktor had seen an advert on telly for the circus. ‘I knew instantly it was my destiny,’ he said. From that moment on,…

Fighting my drooping eyelids, I listened as my stepdad John, 20, read my bedtime story. He was snuggled beside me, under my duvet, holding my hand. ‘Goodnight, love,’ he smiled to me. ‘Night, Daddy,’ I mumbled, falling asleep. Content. Aged just 4, I lived with my mum and her partner of six months, John. I didn’t know my real dad, but John treated me like his own. Cuddled up on the sofa watching cartoons with me, or pushing me on the swings at the park, John seemed to enjoy being my father figure. And I became a real daddy’s girl. I trusted him completely. When Mum and John married in November 2004, I adored being a bridesmaid. I felt happy and secure in our family unit. John – ‘Dad’ –…

Sunshine glistening across the vineyards had given way to passing clouds that warm, July evening at a luxury wine estate in Cape Town. But storm clouds were brewing in more ways than one when property mogul Jason Rohde, then 47, arrived for a business conference accompanied by his wife Susan. It appeared that Rohde was a family man, happily married with three children. He said his wife had taken her own life But, it turned out, the high-powered CEO was leading a double life. His affair with an estate agent had been discovered five months earlier – when Susan, 47, found a Valentine’s card that his mistress had secretly put in his luggage. Jason ended his adulterous relationship – then quickly, secretly, rekindled it. While attending marriage- counselling sessions with…

Tossing and turning in bed, I was struggling to fall asleep. Usually it was my baby bump keeping me up. But this time, I had a burning sensation in my throat and chest. ‘Great, now I’ve got heartburn,’ I groaned. It was November 2015 and I was 31 weeks pregnant. Desperate to sleep, I’d tried all the usual remedies. Heartburn relief, paracetamol... But nothing worked. By the morning, the heartburn was even worse. Is this normal? I messaged a couple of friends who were also pregnant. Absolutely. It’s nothing to worry about, they chimed. Good to know. But, for reassurance, I had an appointment booked in with my midwife. After all, my pregnancy had been plain sailing so far. Checking me over, the midwife began taking my blood pressure. As…

Stroking my blossoming bump as I walked into the Maternity ward, my nerves rattled. It was August 2017, and I was expecting my second child. My daughter Nancie-Mai had been born in January 2017. But the pregnancy and delivery hadn’t been easy. The placenta had been low-lying, which means near or covering the cervix. It blocks the baby from coming out, making the birth difficult. Heavy bleeding’s likely. And sometimes, if the cervix is completely covered, a Caesarean’s the only option. That’s what happened with Nancie-Mai. There’d been so much blood. Luckily, she’d been born healthy, if a little small, at seven weeks premature – weighing 3lb 7oz. But, of course, she was worth the trauma. Now, at my scan at Medway Maritime Hospital, I dreaded going through that again.…

Back home, I vented to Craig. ‘If I have to get married looking like a lump, I’m not getting married at all,’ I declared. ‘You’re beautiful to me, whatever you weigh,’ he assured me. Determined, days later, I rejoined Slimming World. The sales assistant didn’t recognise me! Stepping on the scales, I gritted my teeth. I was 17st 10lb. ‘I’m getting married in just over a year,’ I panicked. ‘What if I’ve left it too late?’ ‘You’ve done it before and you can do it again,’ the group leader soothed encouragingly. Swapping my favourite pies, chips and chocolate for healthy jacket potatoes, grilled meats, salad, vegetables and fruit, I soon noticed the weight start coming off. Within two months, I’d lost 2st. But as 2018 dawned, I still had a…

You've probably heard about people being mis-sold PPI - payment protection insurance - and getting compensation. But if you think you were mis-sold it, did you know the deadline to make a claim is 29 August? Did you have it? PPI was usually sold with products like loans, credit cards and mortgages. Check your paperwork or contact your provider to see if you had it. For more details, visit fca.org.uk/ppi/how-to-check Taking action If you had PPI and are unhappy with how it was sold, you can complain. You can often do it online, or you can complain directly to your PPI provider. For more info, visit fca.org.uk/ ppi/how-to-complain Don't pay Claims management companies will offer to help you, but you don't need to use them. They typically charge hefty…

Nspa Pure Body Wash for Sensitive Skin, £3, Asda If your skin reacts to heavily perfumed shower gels, turn your attention to nspa’s Pure range of bath products. This one in particular is made with sensitive skin types in mind. It’s made without even the merest hint of soap or colourants, and promises to be as mild as water. Barry M Under the Sea Nail Paint in Oyster Beach, £3.99, Superdrug Everyone loves a classic shade of nude polish on their nails, so how about upping the ante and adding an iridescent sheen? We love this shell-like shade of peach. Add one coat and top with a clear gloss for a subtle tone, or layer it up for a stronger look. YourGoodSkin Blemish Clearing Rapid Rescue Treatment, £8, Boots This…

Bingo Lounge Make a Bingo Pattern! This exciting game isn’t just about dabbing the numbers that are called, but recreating a game pattern to win! It has a buzzing community, with a chance to win huge cash prizes from a single 10p ticket. Sit back and join the fun in the 75-ball Bingo Lounge room. Loungin’ Around Super Jackpots up for grabs every day in Bingo Lounge! At 2pm to 3pm, and 7pm to 8pm, there’s 10 games every day with a £2,000 Super Jackpot to be won on up to 49 ball calls. That’s incredible! Play from 10p a ticket.…

Coronation Street Carla’s downward spiral Following the tragedy at Underworld, things are taking their toll on Carla. When she gets a nasty text, her dad Johnny fears it will push her over the edge. When Peter then finds her wandering around in bare feet, he realises Carla isn’t well and takes her to the medical centre. As Toyah tries to help, Carla thinks it’s a trap. Meanwhile, Sally’s not impressed when Tim makes light of his recent heart attack. Emmerdale Rhona’s unhappy birthday It’s Rhona’s birthday but things don’t get off to a good start when her reaction to Pete’s gifts leave him feeling hurt and angry At work, when a distressed Kim turns up at the vets begging for help with a sick horse, Rhona heads off to the…

Zoomed in We’ve got up close and personal to this object, which you will usually find filled with milk. If you can make out what it is, 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! What’s wrong? There’s something about this still from 2008 film The House Bunny starring Anna Faris that’s not quite right. If you know which item doesn't belong, that's your prize answer. Face to face Which two celebrities make up this face? One is an actor and one is the lead singer of Duran Duran. Know them? If so then that's your prize answer.…

Stephanie George, 26, Warrington Matthew and I met on our first day of nursery. At 3, we were inseparable. By secondary school, the games stopped, but our friendship didn’t. And other feelings started to grow. We shared our first kiss – a quick peck behind the school sheds. He was my first love. But in 2008, aged 16, our romance came to an abrupt halt. As I joined the Army, we agreed on a clean break – but we stayed best friends, chatting over the phone. In 2014, I moved to Chester with the Army, and me and Matthew, 21, saw each other more often – just as friends. By then, I had a baby girl, Erica. Her dad wasn’t on the scene, but Matthew became close to her. By…

Jessica Patel’s body was found at her Middlesbrough home last May. She’d been injected with insulin before being strangled and suffocated with a Tesco bag. The house had been ransacked and her mobile had been dropped outside. Far from a burglary, this was premeditated murder. And husband Mitesh’s alibi wore thin when his gay love affair was discovered. Patel was sentenced to life for murder, to serve 30 years. How did the police nail him? 1 THE OTHER MEN Married for nine years, the Patels were both successful pharmacists. But Mitesh, 37, had a secret. He was gay – and it turned out Jessica,  34, knew. She wanted to have kids, but for years, she suffered in silence while Mitesh used the dating app Grindr to meet men. He even…