Table of contents for 26-May-2016 in Chat

I don't regret the money I spent or the time out That’s when I felt that emotion for the second time. Relief. I’d enjoyed the last 18 months so much, I’d realised I wasn’t ready to give up on life. Not yet. This was a second chance. And I was relieved to have one. ‘Any idea how long I have?’ I asked the doctor. ‘Your guess is as good as mine,’ she admitted. That was in 2007. Nine years on, I’m still here. Not ready to pop my clogs yet. The cancer is there inside me. But it still hasn’t grown or changed in all this time. But that’s not to say it won’t. I’m a realist. I understand that the cancer could fight back at any time. It’s a…

‘Erm, it’sa bit...personal’ Nail ridge Q I was in hospital with a chest infection. I'm better now, but since then I've had a ridge across all my fingernails. Maryanne, 41 A They're called Beau's lines. They appear after a serious illness, which temporarily slows nail growth, and leaves a ridge across the width of fingernails. The lines will gradually move towards the tip of your finger, and should grow out. Pregnancy jabs Q I'm pregnant, but I've booked an Asian holiday. Is it safe to have my travel jabs? Rachael, 28 A As a rule, doctors avoid many jabs when you're pregnant, and it might be best to rethink your plans. Most are probably safe, but vaccines containing live virus such as typhoid and yellow fever are best avoided, as…

When I arrived, Emma was on all fours in the hall Clutching a cushion from the sofa, I held it in front of my face. ‘Ewww! Turn it off,’ I squealed to my partner Steven, 28. He’d just turned the telly over to the show One Born Every Minute. Squeamish, I didn’t enjoy a single second! When I’d had my son Logan three years earlier, I’d had a Caesarean. So I’d never experienced labour. Now, my best friend Emma Thomson, 23, was heavily pregnant with her second baby. We’d been mates since school and she’d asked me to be her birthing partner. As I’d never been in labour, she thought it’d be a good experience for me. ‘I won’t watch,’ I’d told her. ‘But I’ll be there to hold your…

1 Mix 2tbsp olive oil, 2tbsp balsamic vinegar and 1 crushed clove of garlic with salt and pepper. 2 Trim stalks off four large flat mushrooms. Put half oil and vinegar dressing in a dish, add mushrooms, and then pour remaining dressing over top. Cover and leave to marinate for 1 hour, moving them around once or twice to make sure they're completely coated. 3 When ready to cook, heat grill, put mushrooms on a shallow baking tray, gill side down, and cook for 5 min, then turn and cook other side for 2 min. 4 Meanwhile, put 85g watercress into a bowl, cover with boiling water, leave for 1 min to wilt, then drain on kitchen roll. 5 Slice 100g Gorgonzola cheese into four, fill cooked mushrooms with watercress,…

Picturing a group of firemen having to cut me out of the bath, I shuddered ‘ Enjoy!’ beamed my grandad Allan, handing over a chocolate bar. After school, I’d always get a treat. Then, back home, I’d squeeze salad cream onto a sandwich, wolfing down the stodgy snack before eating my dinner. Inevitably, my waistline expanded. At 14 and 6ft tall, I was self-conscious about being bigger than other girls. I secretly cringed as my pals plucked size-10s off the rack, while I’d have to find a size-16. Embarrassed, I began avoiding shopping, and never told anyone how I felt. Not even my parents. My mum Trish was slim, but my dad Allan, then 41, was chubby. I must’ve taken after him. At 17, my world was rocked when Mum…

I'd prepared to dance solo, but ended up with a blowup doll! It all started during the Second World War, when I was 10… I was fascinated watching my Aunty Mary dance with troops in Worcester at a social evening in a dance hall. Her hair was done, she’d make-up on and she was doing the jitterbug. It was wonderful. ‘Give it a go,’ she said after. So I joined a local dance academy, and I loved it! The music was upbeat, it was great exercise and really sociable. By the time I was in my late teens, I’d progressed to Latin and ballroom dancing, too. And later, in 1959, I met John Wood, then 25, at a dance class. Not only did my fancy footwork snare him as a…

One more to go, then I won again! I’d only been a member of Chat Mag Bingo for a couple of months, when I had my first win, £2,000. I loved the site – it was fun and so simple to use. My hubby Craig and I were saving for a deposit for a new house, so my winnings went into the pot. Recently, after work, Craig was watching telly, and I was playing 90-ball bingo in Sapphire. I saw there was a link game coming up so I bought tickets and watched the game get underway. One by one, my numbers were dabbed off automatically, until I only had one more to go – then, on screen… WINNER! I’d got the full house – £1,000! Three weeks after my…

I'd twang the guitar strings and Cooper would copy me The minute I saw him, my heart melted. ‘What a cutie!’ I beamed, stroking his feathers. Cooper was a 6-month-old cockerel, jokingly named after the rock legend Alice Cooper. He’d been left at the Second Chance Animal Rescue Centre last October. His owner had thought he was a hen. But when he’d started cock-a-doodle-ing, she’d decided he wasn’t for her. Poor fella. I run the rescue centre’s local charity shop and, after meeting Cooper, I was determined to find him a home. ‘Leave him with me,’ I smiled. At my place, Cooper quickly settled in. And I soon noticed he wasn’t like other birds… He didn’t like being cooped up, so I let him have free run of the house.…

I'd sworn myself off men, butTaffy was kind, funny and gentle The day before the service, he forgot how to sign his name It was bank-holiday Monday and I’d gone into town to run an errand, then found myself wandering aimlessly around the shops. In the pound shop, I saw a familiar face coming towards me. ‘Christine! What a lovely surprise,’ Taffy Sharlotte, 59, smiled. I’d gone to school with his sister and we’d worked at the same clothes factory for a while, but I’d not seen him in years. ‘Why have me and you never got together?’ he asked after we’d been chatting for a few minutes. He used to joke like this when we worked together. Back then, I’d answer it was because he was married, but I…

What I loved Rhubarb! In pies, crumbles, tarts, whatever! I love it eyewateringly sour with a sprinkle of cinnamon and maybe a spoonful of pistachios for added crunch. Gimme!! What hacked me off Cher turning 70 this month. Yup, you heard right. Seventy! That can't be right, surely?! What made me laugh Spotting a little van with Toenail Clipping Service livery and taking down the phone number… Arghh! What's happening to me! Hope you're a top-to-toe beauty this week!…

With a ring on my finger, Iain seemed more controlling When most men looked at me, it wasn’t my dark eyes or my smile they noticed. It was my wheelchair. That was if they even noticed me at all. I’d been paralysed from the chest down at the age of 18, due to a rare autoimmune condition called acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis. I lived with my parents, went to college. I had a carer but, apart from that, I was like any other woman my age. But by 31, I’d never had a serious relationship. I feared no man would ever see past my chair to get to know the real me. Then, I met Iain Paton. An old friend of a friend, we got chatting in a bar. Just a…

Colleen Harris, 73, was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. The judge said, ‘In all my years as a practising trial attorney, and my six years as a judge, I have seen very few acts more selfish or self-centred than that in this case.’ The jury took under two hours to decide. Bob’s daughter Pam Stirling added, ‘I wish the jury could have heard how wonderful he was. I think justice served will be a good start for our family to recover from this tragedy.’…

His hair was scorched, his skin dropping off in chunks I’ll never forget my brother John’s shrill screams… It was a sunny autumn afternoon in November 2003. Aged 23, and the eldest of 10 kids, I was babysitting some of my siblings while my parents Andra, then 43, and Allan, 51, took the others out. I was helping my brother Luke, 9, with his homework, and had my own daughter Elizabeth, 10 months, on my lap. John, 4, and Joanna, 7, were in the garden shed, building forts from some hay bales we had. Suddenly Joanna raced in. ‘The shed’s on fire, she shrieked. ‘John’s trapped!’ What?! I sprinted outside. ‘Where is he?’ I cried. Putting Elizabeth down on the grass, I ran towards the burning wooden building. But the…

My arms and legs tingled. Then my tongue went numb… I’d just got into work when the feeling started suddenly. My head felt heavy and I thought I was going to pass out. A recruitment consultant, I worked in a busy office. ‘You OK?’ a colleague asked. The whole room then spun. I grabbed the door, then I started falling onto a chair. Colleagues helped me, but I couldn’t make out their faces. And suddenly, I was on the floor. ‘An ambulance is on its way,’ I heard someone shout. Next my arms and legs started tingling. My tongue went numb. Paramedics arrived and checked my blood pressure. ‘Everything seems fine,’ one said. ‘But I can’t feel my legs,’ I cried, terrified. They took me to The Royal London Hospital,…

I only ever take off my costumes to shower or sleep Bright colours, huge hats, outrageous outfits… I suppose you could say my wardrobe’s a bit on the wild side! But I’m not talking about designer gear... I mean fancy-dress costumes! It all started because of another passion of mine – fundraising for charities. I’ve taken part in lots of sponsored runs and half-marathons. And my general assistant job at Tesco also gave me opportunities to raise money through its events. Many, of course, involved getting dressed up in fun outfits. Christmas, Easter, whatever the occasion, I was always the first into the costume box! ‘It’s time I did some more fundraising,’ I told myself last December. I decided to raise money for diabetes and the British Heart Foundation, as…

Cross to bear A pharmacist from Dublin was jailed for battering a devout, 81-year-old Catholic woman to death on Christmas Day 2008. The murderer used a crucifix the elderly victim had bought her as a present, leaving the OAP with eight broken ribs. Inky end In a drunken rage, a jealous student in Hull killed his lover by stabbing her with a pen at a university hall of residence, jabbing her 90 times in the head, throat and mouth with the ballpoint. He then tried to cover up the crime by forging a note and cleaning up the scene. Hardly just desserts... In 1980, an inmate killed a Florida prison guard with a spoon, as he was being escorted to the showers. The prisoner sharpened the spoon before stabbing the…

We’ve teamed up with Lyncroft to offer Chat readers the chance to get their hands on one of these gorgeous silver-plated cupcake charm bracelets absolutely free*. For your free bracelet, just complete the coupon and send with a 74p stamped, self-addressed envelope, to the address given below. And we’ve put together four sets of detachable charms that turn your cute cupcake charm bracelet into a complete must-have! There’s a set of five Cherry Cupcakes, six Born to Shop, six Beach Babe and six Adorable Dogs charms – all at only £5 per set. The complete collection costs just £20 – and if you order it all, we will send you a mystery jewellery gift – absolutely free! HOW TO CLAIM YOUR FREE BRACELET  *Complete the coupon and send, together with…

It was time to start enjoying living… After 18 months, I'd never felt better! Relief. That’s a strange emotion to feel when a doctor tells you that you’re dying. But that’s exactly how I felt… I’d never grow old, and I knew from caring for my mum Beulah, how unkind old age could be. So now I wouldn’t have to worry about that, or most importantly, being lonely. I was 41 and single. And happy that way. No partner. No kids. But it didn’t matter now that I’d found out I was dying. Four years earlier, I’d had breast cancer. I’d had chemo, radiotherapy, a full mastectomy, and my lymph nodes cut out. I’d had a hysterectomy, too. Just in case the cancer had spread. After that, I’d gone on…

Tesco Chocolate Fudge Cake, 450g, £1.50 Heat through in the microwave for a few minutes, and this pud is ready to eat. Serving six, the sponge is light, and the sauce glossy, thick and sticky. Simply Delicious Hot Chocolate Fudge Pudding Cake, £3, Morrisons The thick layer of sauce melts when heated, but stays on top! Good flavour, but the deep sponge means it needs a big jug of hot custard. Asda Hot Chocolate Fudge Cake, 450g, £1.25 Super-light sponge with a great flavour, and the hot chocolate sauce melts into a big, rich, puddle. As an indulgent treat, what's not to like? NEW Iceland 10 Mini Chicken Satay Kebabs, 250g, £2 Part of a range of summer meats, these are perfect for the BBQ - or, if rain stops…

The bag was fitted and, straightaway, I felt a million times better We haven’t known each other long, but Sally’s probably the best friend I’ve ever had. I owe her my life. I’d been feeling tired all the time. Washed out. And the pain in my stomach… Well, I’d never known anything like it. Gnawing and sore, it’d been that way for six months. Then, in January 2014, I’d been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. It meant my bowel was inflamed, causing havoc with my digestive system. Doctors couldn’t say why I’d got it, but they told me it’s an autoimmune condition. For the next year, I tried countless drugs, but nothing worked. ‘The only option is surgery,’ the doctor told me in June last year, explaining that it’d happen in…

Smart Beauty Express Colour, £6.99, Superdrug Apply to towel-dried hair and leave for 3-30 minutes, depending on how deep you want the colour! It lasts for up to four washes. Top tip: A great, longer-term option. L'Oreal Magic Retouch Instant Root Concealer Spray, £8.99, Superdrug Spray along your roots for a quick colour fix until your next shampoo. Top tip: Be careful when you apply this not to get any on your scalp. John Frieda Root Blur Colour Blending Concealer, £14.99, Boots This dual palette lets you customise your shade! Top tip: Dye your hair less often. Age Beautiful Root Touch-Up Temporary Haircolour, £9.98, sallyexpress.com This one's sweat, water and stain-resistant - what more could you want? Top tip: Use between dyes.…

Serves: 12 Prep: 15 min Cook: 25-30 min 4 large eggs 120g caster sugar ½tsp ground cinnamon Zest of ½ small orange 190g ground almonds 24 frozen raspberries (don't defrost) 1 Pink Lady apple, unpeeled, cored and sliced thinly 1tsp apricot jam to glaze 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4, and grease and base line a 20cm square loose-bottomed tin. 2 Separate egg yolks from whites. Place yolks into one bowl and, in a separate bowl, whisk three whites to soft peaks, reserving last egg white for glaze. 3 To yolks, whisk in sugar, cinnamon and orange zest, then stir in ground almonds. The mixture will be quite stiff. 4 Fold in egg whites, then spoon mixture into baking tray. Press raspberries into mixture, lay apple slices on top, and…

I was shocked to find brain cancer is the biggest cancer killer of under-40s Though I put on a brave face, I was utterly terrified. ‘So, it’ll come back – and, next time, it could be malignant?’ I asked. ‘Yes,’ the doctor nodded slowly. ‘How long?’ I asked. ‘Some point in the next five years,’ he replied. I tried to hold it together for my partner Stewart, 39, and our kids Sonny, 8, Harvey, 5, and twins Francesca and Annabel, 3. Only a week before, in July last year, I’d been diagnosed with a grade-two astrocytoma brain tumour. I hadn’t spotted the symptoms – tiredness and headaches. But what mum of four doesn’t feel tired and get headaches? Then, one night, I’d had a massive seizure in bed. Raced to…

Un-lived in, but not unloved Your feature on ghost towns (7 April issue) was very informative - I'd no idea there were completely abandoned places like this. It was especially sad reading about Oradour-sur-Glane, the village in France where more than 650 people were murdered by German soldiers in one morning. It's hard to fathom that kind of cruelty. But the story of St Elijah Church and how it was untouched by the radiation explosion at Chernobyl made me feel there is still good in the world. Mairin Ni Lowndes, Geashill Grave mistake..? I’m a teacher, and one of my Year 1 children told me recently that the reason he’d been absent the previous Friday was because he’d been to a funeral. ‘And my Daddy was a polar bear,’ he…

As a nurse, I work busy shifts, so I enjoy a few games of Chat Mag Bingo when I have some me time. I'd joined two years earlier, had a few wins, too - £20 or £30. One evening, my partner Darren, 48, was watching TV so, after a few games in Tiki, I bought a 10p ticket for a linked bingo game. And got the full house, won £1,000! We treated our grown-up kids and granddaughters. And I bought myself a cordless vacuum cleaner! I have so much fun playing Chat Mag Bingo!…

Taurus 21 April - 21 May Something you’ve wanted to do for a long time is available now, but only for a few days. If you wait any longer, something else will come along and you’ll lose your chance. Live for the moment; ignore the cost, and just do it. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June You’ve been digging into the past, searching for the truth, and you’ve found the answers you wanted. Will what you now know make a difference? Yes. With your worries resolved, the future will seem much brighter. Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June - 23 July Most of the time, you can keep your temper, but right now, your anger is there for all to see.…