Table of contents for 09-May-2019 in Chat

When Janine discovered her bloke was a no-good cheat, she never would have suspected who he was at it with (p10). Find out the reason Meghan feels strangely grateful to the cancer that threatened to kill her (p56). And how did her parents’ bitter split leave a little girl being framed for a brutal murder (p14)? As well as incredible true stories, there’s fashion tips to help you rise to any occasion (p12), beauty treats (p42) and home buys (p26) and pages of puzzles to keep your mind sharp and maybe even boost your bank balance. Be lucky this week!…

Janine Marshall, 28, Jedburgh As the warm water drizzled over my locks, I could feel myself starting to unwind and relax. ‘Temperature OK?’ my hairdresser Helen asked. ‘Perfect,’ I said, relishing an hour’s ‘me time’ in summer 2017. Luckily, Helen only lived downstairs in our block of flats. So, every two months, I’d take my boys – Hunter, 3, and Garrett, 9 months – with me and pop down for a chop. Helen welcomed me as soon as we’d moved into the flats in February 2016. Our flat didn’t have a garden, but hers did. She’d invited me, my partner Daniel, 25, and the kids round to hers for barbecues. It was really lovely having a mate downstairs. Someone who enjoyed a natter – and I felt I could confide…

By Rabia Abdul-Hakim, 46, Stratford-upon-Avon The earliest memory I have of something being wrong with my eyes was when I was 9. Itchy, watery, they felt unbearable. Living in the Cayman Islands, there weren’t many eye doctors. When I finally saw one, she shrugged off my symptoms. ‘You just need glasses,’ she said, sending me away with an ugly pair of specs. Glasses didn’t help. My vision was still blurry and my eyes still ached. Aged 15, I had another check-up. Still, they gave me a new glasses prescription. After a while, I stopped wearing them, tried getting on with life as normal. But by 1998, now married and living in Houston, Texas, my eyesight got much worse. As I watched TV one day, the screen suddenly blurred. At first,…

Sex is ruined Q I've lost feeling in my nipples and it's spoiling sex. What's wrong? Danuta, Nunhead A This can happen after breast surgery or injury, wearing a bra that's too tight, or after your nipples have become toughened by breastfeeding. More rarely, vitamin deficiency, diseases such as diabetes or drug side effects can be to blame. Try moisturising, and wear a properly fitted bra. Sticky stools! Q My hubby's poo sticks to the pan and won't flush. Is there something wrong? Maureen, Epsom A Jet black, sticky poos could mean an internal bleed and he should see a doctor right away. Sticky poos of a normal colour are more likely to mean he's eating too much fat. Maybe gently suggest a lower-fat diet!…

Croque Monsieur Serves: 4 Prep: 5 min Cook: 10 min • 50g butter • 50g plain flour • 300ml milk • 8 slices of bread • 4 slices of ham • 4 slices of Cheddar 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. In a small pan, melt the butter, then add the flour and milk and heat the mixture gently, stirring until thickened. 2 Lay 4 slices of bread on a baking tray and spread with the sauce. Top each with a slice of ham, a slice of Cheddar and a grind of black pepper, then place the other slices of bread on top. 3 Bake in the oven for about 10 min, until the cheese has melted and the bread is toasted. Cut in half to serve. TOP TIP…

1 Westlab Cleanse Bathing Salts, £6.99, lookfantastic. com Contains a blend of Epsom salt and Himalayan salt, which is known for its detoxing properties, and seaweed for cleansing the body. 2 Simple Kind To Skin Protecting Light Moisturiser, £1.99 for 50ml, Superdrug Perfect for an overnight bag and using 62% less plastic packaging than usual. It also protects your skin with SPF15. 3 Eylure C-Lash Naturals Lashes, £5.25, Boots These lashes have a flexible and invisible  sticky band that’s easy on and easy off, and have been specifically developed for lash replacement for those who may have suffered from cancer or alopecia.…

Coronation Street Welcome back, Norris! Mary got a shock last week when Emily’s niece Freda announced Norris was putting No.3 up for sale. This week, the man himself returns and reveals he’s engaged to Freda and wants out of his marriage of convenience to Mary! Norris disappeared from our screens in 2017 when actor Malcolm Hebden had a series of major heart attacks. Welcome back, Malcolm - and Norris! Emmerdale What happened on the big night out? Remember when a group of villagers went to a Hotten nightclub a few weeks ago? This week, special flashback episodes reveal how the evening panned out after a fire alarm went off… In the confusion outside, Victoria struggled to find her friends, a tipsy Rhona got chatting to a handsome stranger, and Priya,…

HULL 1 With such a range of attractions, choosing is hard! Its countryside is filled with grand houses galore, while its mega-attraction The Deep aquarium is a vast underwater world of over 3,000 creatures, plus an evening restaurant. WHITSTABLE 2 This small seaside port on the north Kent coast is famed  for its oysters – giving it the name the Pearl of Kent. It has a unique atmosphere and wide appeal. CANTERBURY 3 With its Roman history, punting and good shops, Canterbury is perfect for a weekend away.…

It was a truly awful thing for a little girl to discover – the lifeless body of her mum face down in a bath filled with blood-tinged water. Above the bath, a cupboard door had almost been pulled from its hinges. When Shele Danishefsky Covlin’s daughter, then 9, found her mother dead in the bathroom of their luxury Manhattan apartment on New Year’s Eve 2009, the panicked girl called her dad Rod Covlin, 38, who lived nearby. Professional backgammon player Rod and millionaire finance executive Shele, 47, were estranged after 11 years of marriage and two children – the couple also had a son, then 2. But Rod lived in an apartment across the hallway – and still had a key to the family home. Rod alerted the police, told…

Going white Q A tuft of white has grown in my brunette hair. Why? Kath, Batley A It's called poliosis. Some people are born with it, or it can appear as part of other problems, such as inflammation or thyroid gland problems. Often there's no obvious cause. Once your GP rules out serious causes, just flaunt it or dye it! Painful nail QI suffered agony from an ingrowing toenail. Can I stop it returning? Rosalinda, Hastings A You cut the corner of your nail too close, so the nail edge dug into your skin. Soak your foot in warm water every day, then insert strips of cotton wool to hold the skin away from the nail until it grows out. Cut the nail straight across, not in at the corners.…

Laurie Jade Woodruff, 30, Chesterfield With my glossy lips and black, spidery lashes, I knew that I looked good. Grinning, I strutted out of the toilets at school. ‘Slag!’ a girl yelled down the corridor. I smirked. She’s just jealous, I thought. It was 2005, I was 16, and used to being bullied constantly at school. Why? Well, I was pretty. Clever, too. But there was another reason besides. You see, ever since I’d lost my virginity when I was 12, I’d been obsessed with sex. And for the past year, I’d found work that earned more than the usual Saturday jobs people my age had. I was a lap dancer, dancing for men for £300 an evening. I loved the sexual feeling it gave me, lapped up the attention…

Carleigh Hager, 27 Swaying back and forth, I felt my vision blur and my words slur. How much had I had to drink?! It was around 2am in March 2015, and I’d overdone it at a friend’s party. ‘Looks like you need a rest,’ a kind voice said. I looked up at a man as big as a mountain. About 6ft 7in tall, his name was Ryan and he’d been the centre of attention all night. Everyone gravitated towards his funny chat and charm. I let him help me to the sofa and lay a blanket over me. ‘Sweet dreams,’ he said. What a gentleman,  I thought as I drifted off to sleep. Weeks later, I found the courage to message him on Facebook, and soon we were dating. Sweet…

2014: Basement murder On 8 May 2014, Mohammed Islam, 29, and Murshed Miah, 38, both from Kent, were found guilty of murdering a grandmother. Harjit Chaggar's decomposing body was found in a bin bag in a shop  basement 12 days after she went missing in September 2013. The motive was unknown but, as some of Harjit's things were missing, the CPS said it was probably a robbery. 1978: Racist attack Bangladeshi textile worker Altab Ali, 25, was stabbed in the neck on 4 May 1978 in a racially motivated assault. He died from his injuries. One of the three teenagers behind the attack said ‘no reason at all', when an officer asked why they'd targeted Altab. The murder led to a 7,000-strong demonstration through London against racial…

Irina Zureiqi, 46, Ashford, Kent Walking through the town centre with my friend in January, a bitter chill ran through me. ‘Fancy a McDonald’s?’ my friend asked. ‘Sure, let’s warm up,’ I nodded. It was freezing, at almost -8 degrees. Nearing the entrance, my eyes halted on a homeless man. Leaning in the doorway, he was ghostly pale and shivering. Barely able to hold himself up. ‘You OK?’ I asked. ‘Fine,’ he croaked, weakly. Hesitantly, I turned and went inside. Not long after, the man came in and lay down at a nearby table to ours. I tried to listen to my friend, but my attention drifted to the homeless man. ‘Sorry, mind if I speak to him?’ I asked her. She nodded, and I approached. ‘Can I sit with…

Alex James No 1 Cheddar 200g, £2.99, Ocado This Cheddar had the best texture. It’s a versatile crowd pleaser and makes for excellent sandwiches. It’s strong enough to be paired with pickle and not be overwhelmed. Irresistible Wyke Farms Somerset Extra Mature Cheddar 320g, £2.30, Co-op Matured for up to 12 months, this has a strong nutty flavour we really enjoyed. It’s been made from a secret Clothier family recipe for generations. Extra Mature Cornish Quartz Cheese 300g, £4.00, Waitrose We enjoyed the firm texture of this Cheddar and it left us wanting more! It’s made with 100% Cornish pasteurised cow’s milk and is matured for 20 months.…

Kristie Butterfield, 31, Blackpool Drumming my fingers on the steering wheel, I glanced at my watch, then out the window. It was 6:45am on my first day of not smoking, and I was on my way to work. Normally, I’d light up the second my key turned in the ignition. But after vowing to quit, I felt determined to say goodbye to my disgusting habit. I was 14 when I started. Thought I looked cool. Quickly addicted, I puffed through 15 cigarettes a day. Almost 20 years later, I’m sick of wasting money and worried about the health impact. I’ve tried to stop dozens of times. A few years ago I even quit for two years, but all it took was a night out for me to fall off the…

Ann Tilling, 58, Louth Half asleep, I woke to the sound of my mobile ringing. ‘Hello?’ I said. ‘Mum, it’s me,’ came my daughter Kayleigh’s voice. I sat bolt upright. It was1am in the morning on 15 August 2018. The day before her due date. Immediately, I knew what she was going to say… ‘I’m in labour!’ she said. We’d agreed that she’d call me straightaway. ‘I’m on my way!’ I said. Hanging up, I hopped straight out of bed and jumped into action. Kayleigh, 30, and her husband Rob, 31, would be waiting for his dad Nigel to come and watch their two other children Leo, 5, and Hermione, 2. But I knew they’d be itching to get to the hospital. Thankfully, I only lived around the corner and,…

Jurors took two days to decide that Rod Covlin had strangled his estranged wife Shele, making it look as if she’d fallen and drowned in the bath – unanimously deciding the circumstantial case had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. As the verdict was read, Covlin looked at his defence team in disbelief, while Shele’s devastated family tearfully embraced. ‘The wheels of justice turn very slowly, and we always had confidence that, ultimately, this day would come,’ Shele’s brother-in-law Marc Karstaedt said, speaking for the family. ‘Finally, after nine years, we have justice for our beloved Shele.’ Covlin’s lawyer said that he would appeal the verdict, as Rod Covlin was sentenced to 25 years to life.…

Newborn worry Q There's milk coming from my baby's nipples, but she's only 5 weeks old! Is something wrong? Hannah, Hoylake A It's ‘witch's milk,' so called because some used to believe that witches stole it to feed their familiar spirits! In fact, it's simply your baby's breasts responding to your hormones, which she encountered in your womb. It's normal, and should stop by the time she's two months old. Write to Dr Martin Edwards at Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. Or e-mail chathealth@ti-media.com Sorry, he can’t reply personally.…

BWS is a congenital overgrowth disorder that can affect any part of the body. But with only one in every 13,700 births being affected worldwide, it's a very rare genetic condition. Usually, a child born with BWS will have an enlarged tongue, which affects breathing, feeding and speech. Many children born with this condition also suffer from an opening in the wall of their stomach (an omphalocele), which allows their internal organs to protrude through the belly button.…

Jo Bennett Tronc, 37 My GP looked curiously at my belly as I lifted up my top. ‘It just won’t shrink,’ I told him in July 2016. Suffering with an overactive thyroid, I was used to bloating. But this was something else! He agreed to investigate. ‘I’ll do a pregnancy test first, to be safe,’ he said. I agreed but wanted to laugh. I couldn’t possibly be pregnant, not after last time… Back in 2005, when I was pregnant with my son Hayden, now aged 10, I’d had a horrendous experience. Suffering with pre-eclampsia – a condition characterised by high blood pressure – meant I had a complicated birth. Hayden had to be delivered by emergency Caesarean. But the biggest problem was the epidural had failed. Meaning I’d felt every…

Aries 21 March - 20 April You know how things ought to be, and if they’re not, then they jolly well should be! Yes, but that’s not how they are. You’re in danger of getting yourself into a legal row, and maybe even breaking the law! Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May Is it worth hanging on to something that’s out of date? If it works, it’s useful, and you like it, then yes. But if you’re only keeping it because you think it’ll go up in value, the chances are that it won’t. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June You and someone you work with have become very fond of each other, which is nice. But taking…

If you've heard of people bagging big prizes and you want a slice of the action, here's what you need to do… 1 Put the time in There's never any guarantee you will win but the more competitions you enter, the greater your chances so putting some effort in could pay off. There are some brilliant forums online where members post details of comps, such as the ‘Competitions Time' forum on moneysavingexpert.com. You'll find a huge range of competitions and loads of useful tips too. Work methodically through the competitions so you don't miss any you would love to enter. 2 Be organised  To enter competitions more quickly, keep a document on your computer with details like your name and address so you can just copy and paste instead of…

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturiser, £5.69, Boots Packed with cocoa butter and vitamin E, this moisturiser is the perfect way to keep your skin healthy and give it a natural-looking glow thanks to the hint of self-tanner. It gradually builds over daily use and leaves you with a sun-kissed glow all year round. Dr Organic Aloe Vera Micellar Cleansing Water, £5.99, Holland & Barrett Perfect for all skin types, Dr Organic’s new aloe vera cleansing water contains soothing ingredients that are kind to skin without upsetting the natural balance and removing essential moisture. Burt’s Bees Overnight Intensive Lip Treatment £6.99, M&S This overnight treatment contains nourishing jojoba oil to soothe and condition lips while you sleep! Just like you’d leave a cream on your face overnight,…

Chernobyl SKY ATLANTIC This five-part drama tells the story of the catastrophic explosion at a nuclear plant in the former USSR in 1986. As well as exploring how and why it happened, it looks at the men and women caught up in the disaster and how Soviet bureaucracy thwarted attempts to minimise the immediate spread of lethal radiation… Emily Watson, Jessie Buckley and Jared Harris star. Taskmaster DAVE The eighth series returns with more bonkers challenges from tyrant Taskmaster Greg Davies. This time, the panel includes comedian Iain Stirling, stand-up comic Lou Sanders, The Chase’s Paul Sinha, Joe Thomas from The Inbetweeners, and Sian Gibson from Peter Kay’s Car Share. Royals on the Frontline YESTERDAY This three-part documentary explores the experiences of the royal family during their military years from…

Meghan Koziel, 29 October 2015 Today’s the big day! I’m wearing my strapless, embellished dress, and surrounded by my nearest and dearest. The best day of my life. But, as I pose in front of the camera with my new husband John, 25, behind my smile there’s sadness and worry. Two weeks ago I was told I had stage-2 breast cancer. ‘But I’m only 26! How’s that possible?’ I asked my doctor, devastated. I’ve always been carefree and happy – until recently. When John proposed in November 2014, after we’d bought our first home together, I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to start wedding planning. Then last July I found a lump on my right breast, and went for tests. With a wedding to organise I’ve kept myself busy.…

In November 2015, Spotlight hit US cinemas to critical acclaim, soon picking up a haul of awards. It grossed $98.3 million (around £7.5 million)  worldwide, before winning Oscars for Best Picture, along with Best Original Screenplay. The film follows Liev Schreiber as Marty Baron, as well as Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, John Slattery , Mark Ruffalo and Brian d'Arcy James as members of the Spotlight team. And, while the story seems so far-fetched it could easily be a work of fiction, the film's narrative is very close to the truth.…