Table of contents for 27-Jun-2019 in Chat

Once a cheat, always a cheat, right? Kirsten used to think that but something life-changing happened to make her forgive her wandering fella (p6). There was a time when Charlotte went to dangerous extremes to be thin. Could she avoid swapping one addiction for another (p36)? And we love Nora and Eileen on p24. Their heart-warming story shows you’re never too old to need your bestie. Plus you’ll find loads more gripping real-life stories, your fave prize puzzles, bargain fashion (p12), beauty (p39), recipes (p52), tips, health and even more! Have a fab week!…

Mike says, ‘The prospect of staying with one person for the rest of my life all got a bit too much, with the baby and everything. I do feel guilty. The woman was an old friend. I was speaking to her for about four weeks before I slept with her. ‘I felt so much guilt and shame at sneaking around. I had to prove that Kirsten can trust me again. I know we have a future - I think we've moved on and this can all be put to bed now. We're past it.'…

Both Eric Bikubi and Magalie Bamu were found guilty of Kristy Bamu’s murder. Sentencing the couple to life in prison, Judge David Paget said, ‘The intention was to rid Kristy Bamu of witchcraft. To do that, both of you brutalised and physically abused him, until eventually he died.’ In a statement, Kristy’s father Pierre said, ‘I feel betrayed. To know that Kristy’s own sister Magalie did nothing to save him makes the pain that much worse.’ After the sentencing, Scotland Yard revealed it had investigated 83 cases involving abuse resulting from ritualistic or faith-based beliefs over the 10 years leading up to Kristy’s death.…

Crazy party trick! Q My mate can blow up a balloon through his ear! How is it possible? Morag, Dunfermline A He has a hole in his eardrum! This means he can use his Eustachian tube, which connects his middle ear to the back of his throat, to blow air out of his ear. It's a great party trick, but a perforated eardrum can affect hearing, and he should see his GP if he hasn't already. Lines on my nails QI have a horizontal ridge across each fingernail. Will they go? Aileen, Dublin A Sounds like Beau's lines. A bout of illness caused your nails temporarily to grow more slowly, leaving a ridge, which will gradually grow out. Any fairly severe illness can cause them, including surgery or a fever.…

Dish the dirt on rat? Q My partner and I recently separated because he cheated on me with his ex. He’s now begging me to give him a second chance. There’s absolutely no way that’ll happen – and he’s already seeing someone else! Do I tell his new woman that he’s trying to get me back? Kelly, 39 A No. No, no, NO! Walk away. He’s an ex for a very good reason, so leave him where he belongs – far behind you. Let this rat be someone else’s problem, and don’t start causing trouble because it’ll look like you’re bothered. Say thanks but no thanks to his offer, get rid of him and think yourself lucky! Plagued by three exes! Q Last night my ex- boyfriend turned up at…

Critically ill, in a coma Amy Wilkinson, 39 Twirling in her princess dress and butterfly wings, my daughter Mia, then 4, beamed. Running to her little brother Max, 1, she stroked his face. ‘What can we dress up as now?’ their big sister Ellie, 6, asked, prancing around in her leopard costume. It was October 2017, and I loved it when my kids played happily together. Adorable! Mia has always had an infectious grin. From the moment me and my husband Pete, 41, laid eyes on her when she was born in January 2013, we were besotted. Only, as she played that day, she suddenly pulled a face. ‘Mummy, my belly is sore,’ Mia said. ‘Have some rest, my love,’ I said, lifting her onto the sofa. But later that…

Aries 21 March - 20 April A flare-up at work seems likely, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea just to swallow your anger and walk away from it, but if you can’t do that, then think about damage limitation. Keep the situation contained. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May Want isn’t the same thing as need, and although there’s something you want so badly you feel that your life would be incomplete without it, you don’t need it. Resist the urge and save your money. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June We all have things at home we put up with, like radios that need a thump to work properly. This week you finally get round to…

Coronation Street Robert’s double life! After reuniting with Michelle and popping the question, Robert has learnt his recently dumped secret lover Vicky is pregnant. So he’s now leading a double life trying to keep both women happy. As he spins Michelle lie after lie so he can sneak off to see Vicky, Ryan smells a rat and confronts Robert. Meanwhile, after being mugged, Yasmeen realises she’s being followed. Emmerdale Billy’s gun siege terror! Max plans a robbery, which is foiled by the police after a tip-off from Billy. Later, Jessie, Marlon and April get home to find a fuming Max flashing a gun and looking for Billy, who’s at a village football match with Ellis. When the brothers turn up at the house, Billy finds himself staring down the barrel…

Super simple chicken curry Serves: 4 Prep time: 5 min Cook time: 30 min • Low-calorie cooking spray • 1 large onion, sliced • 450g chicken breast (skin and visible fat removed), diced • 3 garlic cloves, crushed • 400ml water • 3tbsp curry powder • 1tbsp ground turmeric • 1tbsp tomato puree • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper To serve (optional): • Samosas • Cooked rice 1 Spray a large frying pan with some low-calorie cooking spray and place over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2 min until softened slightly, then add the diced chicken to the pan and cook for 5 min until browned. 2 Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 1 min, then add all the other ingredients.…

Dear reader, Grief can rip your life apart in a split second. One minute, I was on top of the world with my new husband Andy. The next moment, our newlywed bliss was destroyed. It was May 2003, and I was riding behind Andy, 38, on our motorbike. We’d only got married three months earlier, and loved planning our future. We wanted a loud and busy life. A house full of babies! But then… Sheer horror. We were in an awful crash. I was rushed to hospital, treated for serious injuries. And then devastating news… Andy hadn’t made it. I was bereft. ‘My future’s been ripped away,’ I sobbed to my parents after Andy’s funeral. I couldn’t bear to sleep in our bed without him. Instead, I moved into the…

Shelf life My fridge door had too many plastic shelves, so I reused one in my cupboards to store my tinned food. It slides out and now it's much easier to get to those awkward items at the back. Connor McGuire, Cleethorpes Flower power  To keep the children entertained in the garden, get some old plant pots, tie them together with string and have the kids paint them like their favourite cartoon character. Then sow seeds in the head. They'll be itching to see their plants grow. Tracey Boulton, Staffordshire Pint sized! When I mislaid the plug for my sink, I discovered the lid from a milk bottle fitted perfectly. Problem solved! Rebecca Oliver, Hitchin Chew over A super way to get chewing gum out of hair is to work…

Sex is painful QI get heartburn during and after sex. What can I do? Ashley, Kilburn A Heartburn means stomach acid is leaking into your gullet, triggered by pressure on your stomach during sex. Try propping yourself more upright, or positions with you on top. Don't have sex right after a meal, don't smoke, and ask your chemist for a heartburn remedy. Boobs too big! QI hate my huge breasts. Do firming creams and herbal pills to shrink them work? Donna, Hucknall A No. Pills either won't work, or contain potentially dangerous drugs such as diuretics (water pills). Creams can only moisturise. Lose weight if you're overweight, and wear a good support bra. Surgery is effective, but can leave scars, though liposuction might work with less scarring.…

We haven’t changed much, have we? ! Nora Boardman, 91, Stafford Waiting in line at the ice-cream stand, I mused over the options. ‘Well, what flavour should I get?’ I asked my best mate Eileen, then 8. ‘Got to be vanilla and sprinkles,’ she grinned. I rolled my eyes. ‘That’s what you always get,’ I giggled. But I knew it was her fave, so I ordered her one anyway, and got myself a strawberry cone. Strolling back to the beach, we happily licked our ices. It was summer 1939, and I loved days like this. The sun was scorching and we’d spent all morning building sandcastles and running in and out of the waves. And, as we perched on the steps at Blackpool beach, we made a promise to each…

A bone scan had revealed there was no blood circulating past midway down Mia’s forearms and calves. ‘We’ll have to amputate her arms and legs,’ a doctor said. Devastating. For the next few days, Mia drifted in and out of sleep. We knew she was still our beloved girl. ‘Do you know how much I love you?’ she sleepily asked her daddy. ‘Probably a lot,’ he smiled. ‘All the way around the world,’ she beamed. But amid the smiles, Pete and I were heartbroken. In turmoil. How on earth will we tell her she’s about to lose her arms and legs? Our little girl who loved swimming and gymnastics, painting and drawing... But soon I’d no choice but to explain it to her. ‘Your hands and feet are really sick…

You could slash hundreds off your bill if you fit a black box to your car, according to recent research... 1 The details  Taking out a telematics insurance policy - known as black box insurance - can save motorists an average of £482 per year on premiums, according to comparethe market.com. In most cases, this involves fitting a black box to your car to monitor your driving. It means motorists can prove to their insurer how safely they drive - particularly beneficial for young people who often face sky-high premiums. 2 Pros and cons  The study found the top reason for motorists not getting one was not wanting to share data about their driving, and some feared they'd be considered bad drivers and premiums would increase. Visit comparethe market.com/car-insurance/ telematics for…

Calypso Clear Protection Spray SPF 30, £4, Wilko Non-greasy so you can get dressed straight away, this is great for full-body application and on-the-go touch-ups. Soltan Protect & Moisturise Suncare Lotion SPF 30, £4, Boots With the highest UVA star rating to prevent premature ageing, as well as UVB protection to stop you from burning, this is brilliant for the whole family. Bondi Sands Aloe Vera After Sun SPF30, £6.99, Superdrug A must-try for sore, dry skin – this has all the benefits of a soothing after sun with the added benefit of SPF 30 protection.…

Nana,s got spirit... My little boy Lucas, 3, and I recently went to stay with my parents. We’re currently teaching him his alphabet and I could hear him playing downstairs with my mum Jo, picking out letters and talking about each one. He bounded up the stairs, shouting, ‘Mummy, I’ve been doing alphabet with Nana!’ When I looked round, these were the letters my mum had unintentionally picked out for him! I laughed, ‘Well, they are Nana’s favourite letters, especially served with ice!’ Natalie Ahmed, Nottingham Parking promise I love this sign at a church on Hayling Island. I wonder if you would encounter the wrath of God if you ignored it! Celia Salter, Hampshire Logging off Someone asked me recently, do we spend too much time on the computer?…

Neil Smith, 49, Watford There was a time I was just like other boys my age. Playing cricket with friends, a keen Scout. But, as I reached 14, my classmates seemed to be growing up without me. Voices deepened, spots sprouted, then face fuzz, and they grew a few inches taller. I remained fresh-faced, with a high-pitched voice. Worried, I visited my GP. ‘You’re just a late bloomer. It’ll happen soon,’ he said. So I waited. But, as the weeks turned into months, I still wasn’t changing. Soon, the difference between me and my pals was becoming more apparent. My confidence was knocked. I felt awkward and out of place. Doctors insisted that I was a late bloomer Making excuses to miss parties, I became a recluse. I spent all…

Camilla De Camargo, 31, Kingston upon Thames Standing in the queue for the cinema, I fidgeted impatiently. ‘Fancy a bit of this?’ my friend Adriana asked, sparking up a fag. At just 15, I’d never smoked cigarettes before. But I’d always been intrigued, and with half an hour to kill before the film started, I decided to give it a go. Inhaling the thick, warm cigarette smoke for the very first time, I felt myself go lightheaded. But it didn’t stop me going back for more. ‘Can I have another drag?’ I asked before Adriana stubbed out the ciggie. At home that night, I found myself looking around the house for a fag to steal. My parents, Annice, then 53, and Pedro, 50, had smoked cigs for as long as…

1953: House of bodies On 25 June 1953, John Christie, 54, was sentenced to death by hanging for murdering his wife Ethel, and hiding her body under the floorboards. He'd pleaded insanity, but was convicted by a jury. And, while only tried for his wife's murder, he'd committed at least seven more. When he'd moved out of his home, 10 Rillington Place, the landlord found bodies under the floor, in his garden and in an alcove. Christie's crumbling Notting Hill terrace was torn down and the whole street rebuilt in the 1970s as Bartle Close and Andrews Square. 2016: Dying in mother's arms On 21 June 2016, talented footballer Matthew Kitandwe, 18, was ambushed and stabbed to death in Battersea, south London. His mother heard screaming and tried…

1 Mavala Nail Colour Cream in Vibrant Turquoise, £5.20, John Lewis If you can’t go for a bold nail in sandal season, then when can you? Perfectly punchy, this bright turquoise shade will be making itself at home on my toes all summer long. 2 Nivea Body Soufflé Cherry Blossom & Jojoba Oil, £7.99, Boots Fruity and floral, not only does this nourishing moisturiser leaves my skin feeling deliciously soft, it smells so good I can skip my perfume! 3 Nspa Sacred Spa Indulgent Bath Salts with Rose Petals, £4, Asda A real treat with a purse-friendly price tag, these scented salts are a most relaxing end to a long day.…

The grand country estate of Raynham Hall in Norfolk has belonged to the Townshend family for nearly 400 years. But since the 18th century, this picturesque stately home has seemingly been troubled with an otherworldly presence. In 1713, Viscount Charles Townshend of Raynham Hall finally married the love of his life Lady Dorothy Walpole, sister of the future Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole. The couple had fallen in love years earlier but had been refused consent to marry. So he’d married Elizabeth, the daughter of Baron Pelham of Laughton, but was widowed in 1711 and he and Dorothy were now free to wed. Yet the domestic bliss wouldn’t last. According to legend, in 1725, Lord Townshend discovered Dorothy had once been the mistress of Lord Wharton, a notorious ladies’ man…