Table of contents for 23-May-2019 in Chat

Mary was just doing her job – so why was she now being accused of murdering someone she cared for? Her nightmarish story is on p10. As Sam caught sight of those piercing green eyes, all of her childhood terrors came flooding back. Now she had to make sure that monster was brought to justice (p6). And Fran shares the moment her little one dropped a bombshell, revealing, ‘I’m not a boy, Mummy’ on p48. Plus, we’ve got fashion (p12), beauty, home (p40), food and travel tips for all tastes and budgets, and there’s your usual mix of puzzles with big cash prizes – can you finish the lot?…

Mary Harraghy, 67, Magherafelt, Co Londonderry As I was pegging clothes out on the line, the phone rang. ‘Mary, we’re short-staffed,’ my boss said. ‘Can you do the night shift?’ It was September 2011 and I was a staff nurse at Maine Nursing Home, for patients with learning disabilities, in Randalstown, Co Antrim. I’d been nursing 40 years, had worked in hospitals and clinics before the care sector. It’d been tough, juggling long shifts with raising my family. But now my kids Nuala, then 27, and Gerrard, 25, were grown-up, I had a lot more flexibility. ‘Of course,’ I told my boss. It was just me and a care assistant on duty that night, doing hourly checks on each of the residents. Everything was going smoothly. Until 6am, when the…

It hurts to breathe Q Flu has left me with chest pains and my doctor's diagnosed pleurisy. Will it get better? Sheila, Runcorn A Pleurisy means inflammation of your pleura, the membrane between your lungs and ribcage. Usually, it's due to an infection - either a virus such as flu, which should get better on its own; or bacteria, which might need antibiotics. Your GP will rule out rarer causes, like a blood clot. Has partying ruined my wrist? Q Since I fell asleep on the sofa after my hen night, I haven't been able to straighten my left wrist or fingers. Can it improve? Ariana, Colchester A Sounds like Saturday-night palsy, so-called because it usually happens when you're drunk and sleep awkwardly with pressure on the radial nerve in…

Danika Doughty, 25, Deal Cosying up to my best mate Tallan, I grinned at the camera. ‘Smile!’ I said, snapping yet another selfie. Tallan and I had been BFFs for years. We’d met through friends when I was 15 and he was 14, and he’d become like a baby brother to me. He got himself into trouble sometimes, had a few too many scrapes with the law. But I always rescued him, gave him somewhere to stay. I had his back. And I trusted him to have mine, too, if I ever needed it. So when I met his mate Khyle at our local in January 2016, I agreed to give him a place to stay. ‘He can have my sofa,’ I smiled. ‘That’d be great,’ grinned Khyle. He moved…

1959: Infamous stabbing Antiguan immigrant Kelso Cochrane, 32, was walking home from hospital, where he'd been receiving treatment for a work injury, on 17 May 1959. But a short distance from his west London home, he was fatally stabbed. Two men were arrested but never charged. The case prompted accusations of institutionalised racism within the police. A plaque now marks the spot where Kelso died. 2004: Officer slain On 21 May 2004, paranoid schizophrenic Glaister Earl Butler, 48, plunged a knife into the heart of Detective Constable Michael Swindells, 44, as he walked on a canal towpath beneath Birmingham's Spaghetti Junction. Butler was charged with murder, and a trial heard he hadn't taken his medication for ‘months or even years'. He admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished…

Hang it!  If a tea towel doesn't already have a hanging tie, I use scissors to make a slit in it. Then I use embroidery thread in a matching colour and sew round the hole so it doesn't fray. Anne-Marie Hicks, Poole Hot idea! I couldn't find an inexpensive wall-mounted holder for my straightening irons. So I used a plastic toothbrush holder I picked up for £1 and glued it to the side of my dressing table. Leeanne Maginn, Coleraine Inside job  I needed more storage space so I attached an old indoor mailbox to the inside of a cupboard door. It can be used to hold crisps, carrier bags or cleaning products. Lisa Read, York In the picture  I wanted a nice picture for my girl's room. So I…

Coronation Street David’s got an admirer Things get complicated at Trim Up North when David realises Natalie has a crush on him. Nick’s worried that she will reveal that he stole Audrey’s money, so he tells his brother to keep their apprentice sweet. But what will David do when Natalie tries to kiss him? Meanwhile, Shona isn’t at all happy about her boyfriend spending so much time with Natalie, so she asks Billy to find out if David’s a smitten kitten, too. Could she be onto something? Emmerdale Maya’s arrested! After finding out about Maya’s grooming of schoolboy Jacob, David decides to keep a close eye on the teenager by having spyware installed on his laptop. So, when Jacob makes plans to run off with Maya and start a new…

Fran Norris, 37, Telford As a sweet cry rang out, my midwife wrapped my newborn baby in a towel. ‘Your body doesn’t make girls, Mrs Norris,’ she chuckled, handing me my 9lb 12oz son. Cradling him, I fell in love immediately. My husband and I already had two boys – Alex, then 4, and Aiden, 2. But I didn’t mind that we had another little lad to add to our roost. All I cared about was that he was happy and healthy. And as I stared into Anthony’s perfect round face, his hand found my little finger and gripped it. A forever bond. ‘You’re so precious,’ I whispered. I breastfed him for eight months, felt like a milk machine. He was always hungry! As he got older, he loved ‘cooking’…

Q Are there any quick makeup tips you can give me to perk up my mood? I don’t wear any at the moment (I used to), and any time I look in the mirror, I feel really drab. What easy changes can I make to lift myself up a little? Pauline Cooper, 65 A You’re not alone! We feel 10 times better about ourselves when we’re  wearing a bit of make-up. Start off with a light BB cream to give your complexion a boost. Follow by blending a rosy shade of cream blush across the tops of your cheekbones, and dab it on your lips too. The easiest way to emphasise eyebrows is to use a brow gel, which is essentially a small, less pigmented mascara. This thickens and adds…

Jasmine Self, 24 Stroking my blossoming bump, I thought about the life growing inside me. I wondered if he’d be a doctor or maybe a teacher. Would he travel the world, have kids of his own? I imagined him playing sport, reading books. The world will be his oyster, I thought. It was August last year and I was sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, my partner Rondell’s fingers wrapped around mine. ‘I’m so excited to see him,’ he grinned. I was five months pregnant and this was our first scan. Until then, I’d been looked after by a family doctor, who monitored the baby’s heartbeat, reassured us everything was going smoothly. But now we’d finally see our boy – and I couldn’t wait! As the sonographer ran the scanner…

James Barry didn’t have a mean bone in his body, according to his many friends. But in November 2016, the flame-haired pet-store worker, 21, was found in a pool of blood at the home he shared with his mum Nicola in Loxahatchee, Florida. He’d been stabbed multiple times in the neck. It was Nicola’s boyfriend Guy Hand and one of James’ friends who had found him. In a panic, Guy gave James CPR. Paramedics raced to the scene, too. But sadly, James couldn’t be saved. The pair had recently broken up His brutal death sent shock waves through the local community and left his loved ones devastated. Almost immediately, police investigating the killing identified a person of interest. James’ on-off girlfriend Melanie Eam, 20. The couple had been close, with…

Felicity Logan, 31, Galashiels Writhing sexily, I wrapped my legs around the pole. My arms ached slightly from the extra weight. But as I elegantly arched my back, I felt a little kick, and looked proudly down at my protruding bump. It was December last year, I was nine months pregnant, and still pole dancing in my sky-high heels! I can almost hear the gasps as you read this. That must be dangerous for the baby, you think. But before you judge me, let me explain... Growing up, I had zero body confidence. Avoided school swimming lessons so boys wouldn’t see me in my bathing suit. I wanted to keep working as long as my body let me But then, aged 17, me and my sister Abbi, then 21, watched…

I’m droopy! Q My breasts are so droopy, soon they'll point towards the floor! Can exercises help? Ursula, Dublin A Exercises such as push-ups to tighten the chest muscles supporting your breasts might help, but can't firm your breasts themselves. Wear a supportive, well-fitting bra, don't stoop when you sit or stand, lose weight if need be and don't smoke. Post-love chill Q Immediately after sex, I feel cold and shivery. Is something wrong? Angel, Clapham A Provided you've no other symptoms, such as palpitations or faintness, this is likely to be a normal reaction. Arousal widens blood vessels in your skin, increasing blood flow and heat loss, and can leave you feeling cold. A snuggle in bed should warm you up! Write to Dr Martin Edwards at Chat, 161…

Katerina Vasiliadis, 48 Squeezing my way down the narrow aeroplane aisle, I found my seat. ‘Finally,’ I puffed, squishing myself in. But, to my horror, as I grabbed the seatbelt, it wouldn’t fasten over my stomach. It wasn’t even close. ‘Excuse me,’ I whispered quietly to the flight attendant. ‘Please can I have a belt extender?’ I was hoping she’d handle my request discreetly. But then she bellowed down the aircraft! ‘The lady in 20D needs a belt extender!’ she called to her colleague. My sad expression spoke a thousand words... Mortified, I felt my cheeks burn hot. It was March 2017, and I was on my way from my home in Sydney to meet my sister in Melbourne. I spent the entire flight filled with absolute shame. At size-26,…

Aries 21 March - 20 April Ever been dragged to a party you didn’t want to go to, but had a good time once you got there? This week is similar. You’re not on your home ground, that’s for sure - but there’s still much to enjoy. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May What’s about to happen is so unexpected that you think there’s been some sort of mix-up and they’ve got the wrong person - but no, it’s you. Enjoy the moment, but think about the long term, too. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June There’s a ‘clean slate’ feel to this week which should put a real spring in your step. Unfinished business from the past…

Jennie Sharpe, 28, East Haddon Looking into the tiny pup’s soft-brown eyes, it was love at first sight. ‘We have to take him home,’ I grinned to my mum Kate, 52. It was November 2018, and we’d gone to check out a Rottweiler puppy. A family of animal lovers, we already had five dogs. But living on a large piece of land, with nine horses, we needed a guard dog to watch over the house. We thought a Rottweiler would do the trick. ‘We’ll take him,’ Mum beamed. Our new pup loved being picked up and carried Arriving home, the rest of our dogs raced over to meet the new arrival. Maisy the golden retriever, Blake the black Labrador, Smudge the Westie, Millie the labradoodle and Archie the champagne collie…

Pesto pitta pizza Serves: 1 Prep: 5 min Cook time: 10 min • 1 pitta bread • 1tbsp ready-made pesto • 60g grated mozzarella • 2 slices Parma ham • 6-8 cherry tomatoes • Olive oil • Side salad, to serve 1 Heat the grill. Put a pitta bread on a baking tray and grill on one side to warm it through. Turn it over and spread the pesto over, followed by most of the mozzarella. 2 Tear the Parma ham into pieces and scatter over the pitta, along with the rest of the cheese. Put the tomatoes on the tray and drizzle them and the pizza with olive oil. 3 Grill the pizza until the cheese has melted and the tomatoes are just bursting. Serve the pitta pizza with…

Quick Fix Facials Rose Gold Peel Mask, £5.29  This fancy-looking peel mask uses a cocktail of gentle acids to slough off dead skin cells. Use once a week to boost your glow. B Brightening Fruit Acid Cleanser, £6.99  Fruit acids are used in skincare to help break the bonds that hold dull, dead skin cells in place, unveiling a fresh complexion below. The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Liquid Toner, £6.99  Glycolic acid is most commonly found in sugar cane. It helps to gently exfoliate and dissolves sebum, warding off clogged pores. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, £4.25 Salicylic acid is the best gentle exfoliant for acne-prone complexions. It penetrates at a deeper level, while calming your skin as well. Lacura Glycolic Pads, £2.49  Glycolic-soaked pads like these are a…

It was the hardest decision any parent could make. But when their little girl Denise was just 8 months old, Alyssa and Steven Pladl had her adopted. It was heart-wrenching. Especially for Alyssa. The couple had been just 16 and 22 when Denise was born in January 1998. They’d tried to make it work. But, struggling to make ends meet, the reality of parenthood hit home. The Pladls simply couldn’t cope, and thought adoption was for the best. Denise was adopted by loving couple Tony and Kelly Fusco, in Dover, New York. And the Fuscos doted on their little girl. They changed her name to Katie, gave her a normal, happy childhood alongside their biological daughter. An aspiring artist, Katie was known at school for drawing amusing comic strips. She…

Sam Welch, 39, from Crawley, West Sussex Skipping happily along, my giggles echoed between the barns. Chickens squawked and flapped their wings as I chased them across the farmyard. It was summer 1985, I was 6, and my mum and I had just arrived at a smallholding in Kent. Our new home. As well as caring for the animals, there was lots of building work to be done. ‘My mate Clive can help,’ Mum’s then-boyfriend suggested to her. The moment I met Clive, then 21, I liked him. ‘Hello, sweetheart,’ he said, beaming. And while we lived in a bungalow, Clive moved into an annex next to the stables. In the evenings, Mum would snuggle up with her boyfriend. ‘I’m bored,’ I’d moan. So, looking for a little entertainment, sometimes…

GUILTY Melanie Eam was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 50 years in jail. ‘That is a lifetime and she gets to think of what she did every single day,’ the victim’s heartbroken dad James Barry Senior told reporters after the trial. James’ mum Nicola said she was relieved. ‘This will never replace James,’ she said. ‘But at least the world is a safer place because she is locked up.’ And Guy Hand, Eam’s innocent attempted fall guy, said he was thrilled she would never be able to have kids and pass on her genes.…

Nicola Whitehill, 45, Southport You never expect your life to change so rapidly overnight. But that’s exactly what happened to me when I was 24. Rolling over in bed one morning in autumn 1997, something felt odd. My hands felt tight, like I couldn’t stretch them. As I tried to swallow, I realised my mouth was as dry as sandpaper. Worried, I booked a doctor’s appointment. ‘I can’t bend my fingers,’ I told him. The GP thought it was arthritis. But blood tests came back with no trace of the joint condition. Puzzled, my GP asked if I had any other symptoms. ‘I’m more tired than usual,’ I said. I was in my 20s, studying to be a barrister and going out all the time. Not surprising I was tired.…

My disgusting selfie gave me the shock I needed. I don’t want to be that person any more, I thought. So I threw myself into my new, healthy-eating regime. Instead of starting the day with a sugar-laden coffee and giant cookie, I prepared scrambled eggs with spinach. At lunchtime, I ate grilled chicken with steamed veg. I swapped chocolates and crisps for fresh fruit snacks to kill hunger pangs between meals. In the evening, I prepared healthy fish with lots of green veg. I weighed myself every day, and was shedding pounds by the week. Soon, my size-26 trousers were baggy on me. After years of hiding, I had my confidence back! ‘You look amazing!’ Arthur told me when I put on a pair of size-18 jeans for the first…

Quit for a day and SAVE £10 MOVIE NIGHT Spare afternoon or evening? Take yourself to the local cinema and book a £10 ticket for that flick YOU really want to see. Going solo to the movies is a great way to spend some me time, without having to endure the latest family blockbuster. Quit for a week and SAVE £70 TAKE OUT A TRIAL If you’re thinking about upping your fitness after ditching the smokes, remember that for the price of a week’s worth of cigarettes, you could try a month at a gym for roughly the same price. Quit for a fortnight and SAVE £140 FASHION FIX With £140 to spend, now is the time for a treat. Take yourself off on a shopping spree to seek out…

Link Games  These are special event bingo games that bring together selected rooms, offering the chance to win an even bigger Full House. We offer two types of Link Games on Chat Mag Bingo: 1. Value and Game type Rooms with the same ticket price and the same game types get linked for one game (for example, 10p tickets and 90-ball bingo). 2. Game type Rooms of the same game type (for example, 90-ball bingo) come together for one game and the ticket price will change to one matching value for this game. You can see the Link Game symbol of two gold rings at the top of the game while you’re taking part, and in the main menu Bingo page. Super Links Games  Bingo just got more exciting... Join…

Kristie Butterfield, 31, Blackpool Celebrating 25 days without smoking cigarettes felt like a huge milestone. ‘That’s pretty good going,’ my friend Rachel said, as I showed her an app on my phone. According to the tally, I would have smoked 241 fags in that time. And I’d already saved £112.81. ‘Just think of what you’ll be able to treat yourself to!’ Rachel said, thrilled. Driving home from work that Friday, I felt super smug. Normally, I’d be sparking up a fag just to get me through the journey. But today I tapped on the steering wheel instead, listening to some music to take my mind off it. Later that night, I invited some friends over for drinks. I’d already survived three weekends without smoking. I thought I’d cracked it. But…

Irresistible Wood Fired Margherita Pizza, 510g, £5.50, Co-op  This pizza had a great ratio of toppings to base and we particularly liked the little dollops of  pesto. The sourdough base uses Nonna Rizzo’s 75-year-old recipe and boasts an authentic Neapolitan taste and texture. Finest Buffalo Mozzarella and Slow Roasted Tomato Wood Fired Pizza, 457g, £5.25, Tesco We loved the intensity of the tomatoes and the stringy, creamy texture, which results from the mozzarella shavings and balls. Extra Special Hand Stretched Buffalo Mozzarella & SunBlush Tomato Pizza, 372g, £3.59, Asda The mix of delicious SunBlush baby plum tomatoes made this pizza a real standout and for under £4, it’s a great swap from your usual takeaway.…

Dear all, Out and about, I see your pitying looks. I smile at you, but you don’t smile back. Instead, your eyes sorrowfully scan my wheelchair, gawping at my arms and legs. You know I’m different. But I wish you’d take time to chat to me, find out how I am and what I’m up to. Because if you looked beyond my disability, you’d see a person just like you. I may have cerebral palsy but I want you to know I live a happy, fulfilled life. I sing, dance, act, draw, and I do tai chi. And I sure know how to party! First, let me tell you about cerebral palsy... It’s a lifelong condition affecting my movement and coordination. My arms and legs are weak. Simple tasks you…