Table of contents for 31-Jan-2019 in Chat

All Laura wanted was to become a mummy but her quest for a baby put her own life in grave danger (p10). When single mum Gabbrielle was struggling to make ends meet she decided to take on a pretty controversial job (p24). And Megan never liked her mum’s partner Michael but she had no idea what a creep he really was until it was too late (p6). There’s loads more real-life stories, as well as prizes up for grabs, a classic cake to bake (p44), beauty tips (p37), floral fashion (p12) and more. Put your feet up and enjoy!…

Berry good To easily remove strawberry stalks, insert a stiff drinking straw into the stalk-free end, push it upwards, and - hey presto! - it'll pop up and out. Magic! Kellyann Martin, Morley Hang it all Attach colourful pegs to a coathanger with twine - then simply hang from a coat hook and use to hold all your favourite woolly hats! Tina Williams, Beaufort Spider ban To keep spiders out of the house, add a few drops of peppermint oil to water and spray it around doors, windows and skirting boards. Hilda Robson, Chester Shoe-in! My son often put his shoes on the wrong feet after PE. So I drew two halves of a circle on his name stickers and told him to line them up before putting on his…

A woman in her prime, Suzanne Blanch fell in love with charming university professor Jacques Viguier. It was an affair that charted a course into lasting romance… The couple tied the knot in August 1988 and had three children – Clemence and twins Guillaume and Nicolas. Suzanne went on to become a dance teacher, choreographing cabaret shows in the French town where they lived. Jacques – a Hitchcock film fan – continued lecturing and enjoyed lively lessons with his students. He often discussed the idea of a perfect murder with them, stirring up popular debates. But in 1995, Suzanne made a shocking discovery. She wasn’t the only one to have fallen for her husband’s charms. Over the years, he’d cheated on her multiple times, making lovers of some of his…

Hearing things QI have whistling in my right ear. What is it? Tam, Bury St Edmunds A Having noises in your ear is called tinnitus and it often sounds like ringing, whistling, roaring or hissing. There are several possible causes, but tinnitus in just one ear rings alarm bells as it could point to an ear problem or a growth on the nerve to your ear. You should see your doctor. Ankle issues QI have weak ankles, which keep twisting. But now my left ankle lets me down all the time. What can I do? Max, Dumbarton A Could be a chronic sprain, where repeated twists leave the ligaments permanently weakened. Walking then becomes very tricky. The right shoes and strengthening exercises from a physio, should be able to help.…

Stacey Allen, 35, Paisley Watching my partner, Neil, 35, cradle our newborn son, my heart felt like it would explode with joy. ‘A daddy at last,’ I whispered. Neil was grinning from ear to ear. Proudly rocking baby Jack from side to side. It was December 2015, and we’d waited a long time for this special moment. Not long after getting together in May 2010, we’d decided we wanted a baby. I had two older children from previous relationships, Rachel and Declan. But Neil, already a brilliant father figure to my two, was desperate to be a dad himself. I’d soon fallen pregnant, but then, sadly, I’d suffered an early miscarriage. We were both devastated. We’d tried again straight away, but it wasn’t until March 2015 that I’d fallen pregnant…

2016: MILLY KILLER CONFESSES On 27 January 2016, Levi Bellfield finally admitted abducting, raping and killing Milly Dowler, 13. Bellfield, 47, was already serving a life sentence for her murder after a jury convicted him. He'd also been found guilty of the murders of Amelie Delagrange, 22, and Marsha McDonnell, 19. Milly was snatched on her way home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in 2002. Her body was found 25 miles away. 1989: BUNDY EXECUTED Notorious American serial killer Ted Bundy was executed by electric chair on 24 January 1989. He had confessed to killing 30 women, but the  true number is unknown and is believed to be even higher. Hundreds of revellers celebrated outside the Florida jail by cheering, dancing and setting off fireworks as Bundy was put to…

Laura Wright, 24, Plymouth Grabbing the kids’ schoolbags, I pulled on my coat and rushed them out the front door. ‘Right, let’s catch this bus!’ I said to Braydon, 6, and Kiera, 4, walking briskly down the street. My morning routine was always hectic. It was March 2015 and I was recently single. It was tough raising two children on my own, but I really loved being a mum. Our bus pulled up at the stop just moments later. Stepping aboard, I locked eyes with the driver. ‘Good morning!’ he said smiling. ‘I’m Steve.’ ‘I’m Laura,’ I blushed. ‘Do you get the bus often,’ he asked me. ‘Would you mind if I added you on Facebook?’ Bald and much older than me, Steve certainly wasn’t my usual type. But something…

Bourjois Eye Catching Extreme Volume Mascara, £10.99, Superdrug The full brush catches every lash for a subtle swipe of inky black. Maybelline Snapscara, £7.99  This literally does not clump. We love the glossy lash effect, too. Essence I Need a Miracle Mascara, £3.50, Wilko A volumising, strengthening formula that also tints lashes so they look more intense even after you’ve removed it. L’Oréal Paris Unlimited Mascara, £10.99  Use the brush in the angled position to coat smaller lashes in the corner and straight to add lift to the upper lash line. Rimmel Scandaleyes Wow Wings Mascara, £6.99  The curved tip of the brush creates a flattering flared-out lash look that lifts the eye.…

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Opening my eyes, I scanned the hospital room, confused and in pain. Then I remembered why this would all be worthwhile. It was January 2017 – and after years of failed diets, I’d gone for a gastric sleeve. The surgery, while extreme, was my last resort. Paving the way for us to start a family... Big my entire life, I’d even been taunted by strangers in the street. ‘Elephant! Rhino!’ they’d shout out. I hated myself even more after my marriage of two years had imploded. Then, in October 2010, I met Steve, 29, online. For the first time in years, I was happy. So much so, we started trying for a baby. But there was a snag... At 22 stone and suffering with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), I went…

NOT GUILTY In March 2010, 10 years after his wife mysteriously vanished, Jacques Viguier was cleared of her murder for a second time. Olivier Durandet and Suzanne’s sisters were absent as the verdict was announced. Jacques’ lawyer, Eric Dupond-Moretti, said, ‘No-one can now suggest his guilt. It is not a victory for the defence. It’s a victory for justice.’ Jacques made a statement, too. ‘I have just experienced 10 years of horror,’ he told the courtroom. He later went on to write about his decade-long battle to clear his name. But what of Suzanne, who has never been found? Is she still alive? That mystery, it seems, still remains unsolved.…

Sleep sex!? QI awoke to find my boyfriend making love to me and stopped him. Next day he didn't remember and said he must have done it in his sleep... Lucy, Bromley A Sexsomnia is a rare form of sleepwalking where a person performs sexual acts while asleep. Your boyfriend should get a good night's sleep, avoid drugs or alcohol, especially before bed, and control or stress. If it keeps happening, he should see his doctor. Sore clitoris Q After sex, my clitoris hurts! Am I damaging it? Amber, Derby A The clitoris is a delicate organ which swells and is more sensitive during arousal. A little bruising is common after vigorous sex and doesn't usually mean permanent damage. But gentler sex, with lube, might make you more comfortable the…

Monique Kelley, 28 Loading up the car, I was anxious to start the three-hour journey to visit family with my son Kamden, 5. But a nagging feeling made my stomach churn. Ever since I was a little girl, I’d had a horrible premonition. ‘I’ll die in a car accident when I’m 27,’ I told all who’d listen. Most of the time, I laughed about my odd feeling. But in January 2018, that sense of dread was stronger than ever. Just weeks earlier, my brother Kevin had died after being knocked off his motorbike. Gone at just 25, we’d been left reeling. ‘Do you know what to do if we have an accident and Mama’s hurt?’ I asked Kamden. ‘No,’ he replied. I showed him how to unlock my phone screen…

Aries 21 March - 20 April A week where anything seems possible. If what you’re planning needs money, getting a loan will be easy. If it needs legal permission, that’s simple too. If you just need some help, friends will happily step in. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May Long-term projects are taking ages, so you decide to skip a few stages to save time. You’ll fill in those missing details later, you think - but actually, they’re an essential part of what you’re trying to do. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June Are you adding a few details to the story you’re telling, just to make a good impression on someone? You don’t mean any…

Nina Price, 40, Brecon As my mum Diana pulled on her coat, my chest ached. I was just 6 years old, loved my mum so much. ‘See you later, my little shadow,’ she smiled, blowing me a kiss. Mum worked nights at a crisp factory, was a sales advisor by day. A single mum, she worked hard to provide for me and my brother Adrian, then 7. It’d been just the three of us for a very long time. Mum crammed our childhoods with love Though I was used to staying with my grandparents while Mum worked, it was never easy saying goodbye. When she was home, I followed her around, imitating her laugh and voice. Breathing her in. We didn’t have a lot of cash, but Mum treated us…

Classic Victoria sponge cake  Serves 10 Prep: 20 min Cook: 25 min •● 175g unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra to grease •● 175g golden caster sugar •● 3 eggs, beaten •● 3 drops vanilla extract •● 175g self-raising flour •● ½tsp baking powder •● 1-2tbsp milk, to loosen (if necessary) FOR THE FILLING: •● 225g unsalted butter •● 450g icing sugar, plus extra for dusting •● ½tsp vanilla extract •● ½ jar raspberry jam 1 Pre-heat the oven to 170C/ Gas 3. Grease 2 x 20cm round loose-based cake tins and line with baking parchment. 2 Use an electric hand whisk to beat the butter and caster sugar together until pale and fluffy. Whisk in the eggs a little at a time. If they curdle, add 1tbsp of…

Michaela Davert, 20 Taking a final look in the mirror, I opened the front door and stepped outside. It was September 2014 and the first day back at school. It meant back to early mornings and homework. But this year, I had a secret weapon to help me through the day. ‘Come on, Chloe!’ I called over my shoulder. My gorgeous golden retriever-Labrador mix service dog padded over. Wherever I went, Chloe came, too! As I reached the school gates, heads turned. I knew not all of those sets of eyes were admiring Chloe. A handful were staring at me. Born with rare osteogenesis imperfecta, my bones lacked protein to keep them strong. It meant I was a lot smaller than other 16-year-old girls. Only 2ft 6in, in fact. My…

Joanne McLaren wasn’t sure about her daughter’s new boyfriend. It was July 2016, and Molly, 22, from Cobham, Kent, had recently met Joshua Stimpson, 25, on the dating app Tinder. Told Joshua was bipolar, Joanne felt apprehensive about meeting him. But when she did, that November, she’d felt relieved her girl’s new man seemed ‘normal’, if a little cold. Molly, on the other hand, was loved for her warmth and ‘heart of gold’. Close to her mum, and dad Doug, Molly had lots of friends, and enjoyed going to festivals. She was a sensitive girl, though, had battled bulimia and anxiety. Her recovery had inspired her to study Sports Health at the University of Kent. She dreamed of helping others with eating disorders, and started a blog on positivity, writing,…

Busy with friends and school, life was a blur of deadlines and nights out. Like most other 17-year-olds, I was determined to have a good time. Living at home with my mum, I felt bad about leaving her alone. So when she got a boyfriend, I was pleased. But not for long. After Michael moved in, in November 2014, Mum seemed happy – but soon, I couldn’t say the same. A local DJ, Michael worked all night and slept all day. Known as Bear to his mates, he strutted around like he owned the place. ‘Get out of my chair!’ he’d bark. Or tell me off for changing the TV channel. ‘He’s just horrible,’ I groaned to my best mate Jamie. ‘Try and avoid him,’ he just shrugged. So I…

Laura's solicitor, Jennifer Shipley of Irwin Mitchell LLP, says, ‘Through our work, we often see the devastating consequences that families can be left to face because of sepsis. Awareness of the signs and early detection are key to beating it. Laura's injuries are life changing and she continues to struggle on a day-to-day basis, both psychologically and physically. It is our priority to get her the rehabilitation she needs to enable her to cope as best she can in what are very difficult circumstances for her.'…

Baby boy Q My newborn baby boy sometimes gets an erection when his nappy's off! Is that normal? Jaye, Canterbury A It's quite normal, though might become less common once hormones from your bloodstream disappear from his body soon after birth. Often it's a sign that a wee is imminent! Very rarely, an erection lasting more than a couple of hours can mean a blood disorder and should be checked. 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.…

Gabbrielle Aberasturi, 45 Checking my bank balance, I let out a groan. It looked like it’d be another tough month where I’d struggle to make ends meet. ‘Sorry, we have to cut back on things,’ I told my three children, Mauvorneen, 15, Ireland, 13, and Gideon, 12, later that evening. ‘It’s OK, Mum, we understand,’ Mauvorneen replied kindly. I used to lurch from onepanicked month to the next But it wasn’t OK. I felt guilty, not providing for my kids. After years spent scraping by, I had to make a change. Working towards a better future, I set my sights on a career in political sociology, and enrolled at uni full time. A single mum, it meant giving up my job. With help from financial aid and selling my things…

Arriving at the clinic, I looked around at patients doing their exercises, all in various stages of recovery. A couple of years, the doctor had said. I could do a lot in that time. I pictured myself standing on my feet again, walking on the beach... But with my core muscles and legs useless, and arm movement limited, I had to learn how to do everything again. Brushing my hair, getting dressed… I also had a catheter and needed help washing. I had to have round-the-clock care, and the reality of going home to Kamden hit me hard. ‘How will I cope?’ I said. ‘Never give up,’ one therapist encouraged. I set myself small tasks and tackled them one at a time. But learning to lift myself out of my…

You can swerve some common scams when buying a second-hand motor… 1 Who is selling it? Buying from a dealership gives customers stronger rights, and dodgy dealers may try to avoid their legal responsibilities by posing as private sellers. To uncover this, call about ‘the car you're selling'. If it's a dealership, they will need to ask which car you mean. 2 Too good to be true Some fraudsters advertise a car at a great price, saying they need to sell it fast as they're moving house. But it doesn't belong to them. They've just hired it - if you give them a deposit, you'll never see that money again. Ask to see its V5 registration document and paperwork with its registration number. 3 Check it out Mileage counters can…

Q Is there an easy way to keep on top of dyeing my hair? It’s such a laborious process and I don’t want to pay to go to the salon. Sarah Smith, 50 A Unless you want to embrace your natural hue (or you’re one of those lucky people who hasn’t got a single speck of silver) then colouring your hair is an inevitable part of the ageing process. However, with a good root concealer you can blend regrowth to save money at the salon and extend the time between your dye jobs. Sprays are great when you’re in a hurry – just pull the hair taut then mist over your parting. If you have more time and just a sprinkling of grey, use a powder or touch-up stick for…

Winterwatch BBC2 Gillian Burke, Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan pitch up in the Cairngorms National Park to observe how animals, such as red squirrels, pine martens and golden eagles, get through the coldest months of the year. It's also the new home for all the Watches so we'll get to see how the wildlife lives throughout the year and witness how the landscape changes with the seasons. Vicky Pattison: The Break Up TLC Vicky was set to marry John Noble and they were filming a series about preparing for the big day. But John was pictured with other women and the pair split. This follows Vicky from the wedding being called off, to looking for her own home and heading to Portugal for a break. Camping Sky Atlantic Two years…

Waitrose Victoria Sponge, £5.19 An impressively chunky sponge cake with a lovely vanilla flavour and great texture. We found the buttercream a little too sweet on this one. M&S Victoria Sandwich, £2.80 A good classic Victoria sandwich with a tasty, moist sponge, quality jam and sweet buttercream. The texture was a little more dense than we’d have liked, which was our only criticism. Morrisons Fresh Cream Sponge Cake, £2 Different to a classic Victoria sponge but delicious! The angel-cake texture with fresh whipped cream and jam made this a joy to eat. It has a homemade feel too.…

Spending unwisely? I'm beginning to wonder just what kind of society we live in. In Africa, children are starving to death, while here in the UK, we are encouraged to spend as much as possible on our pampered pets. I was shocked when I saw a bottle of canine ketchup on sale at a local supermarket. At £2.99 for 300ml, it's more than three times the human equivalent. And no matter how much I love my dog Jack, I couldn't bring myself to buy it. My friend had no qualms about putting it in her trolley for her dog, though. I wonder if she'll put that much in the Red Cross envelope when it comes through her door? Ilze Skujina, Capel Bangor Big influence Sometimes, adults seem to forget how…