Table of contents for 24-Oct-2019 in Chat

Here are my two boys, rescue springer Buster, 2, and cockalier Doodles, 3. They really are the best of friends. Nicola Partridge, Lordswood I was so happy my best friend Barbara completed her cancer treatment and all went well. We've been friends for 55 years and are in our 60s. Janet Dandy, Burnley My daughter Sadie, 7, loves reptiles. She's autistic and has a tough time relating to people, but she'll happily spend all the time in the world with her pet snake Doris. Kellie Colson, Hull My partner Sam and I, both 21, just bought our first home! We've been saving for ages and really scrimped to make this happen. Getting the keys was so exciting. Rachael Fairclough, Glasgow Trying to read my favourite magazine, but this cutie, called…

Natasha Daley, 29, Southport Gagging from the stench of the toilets, I took in the broken windows and filthy floors. ‘It was once the hub of the community,’ the estate agent explained. Now, in August 2018, the run-down pub in Southport was derelict. ‘But it’s got potential,’ I said, to my partner Alex, 33, grinning. He’d been encouraging me to open a pub for months. My heart thumping, I stumbled to the CCTV monitor I loved cooking wholesome grub, had always worked in restaurants and pubs. But since our son Harrison, then 2, had arrived, I’d been doing office work and hated it. ‘We’ll help out,’ my dad Jason, 47, promised, and my mum Christine, 44, nodded. So, excited, we took it on. We spent weeks scrubbing, decorating, scouring websites…

In October 2016, judges found Veronica Panarello guilty of murder and concealing a body. ‘It’s your fault, I’ll kill you with my hands,’ Veronica yelled at Andrea Stival through sobs, as the verdict was read out. She was jailed for 30 years. Husband Davide has since divorced Veronica Prosecutor Marco Rota called Veronica an ‘egocentric, manipulative liar’. ‘There is no satisfaction with the sentence, [only] the knowledge of having done our duty,’ he added. Husband Davide Stival has since divorced Veronica and is now suing his estranged wife for €2million – around £1.8million. ‘He lost his son, his wife and his job. His life is destroyed,’ Davide’s lawyer Daniele Scrofani told the Press. ‘Davide has mixed emotions about the sentence. On one hand, he is glad the murderer of his…

Got a health niggle you’ve been ignoring? Research from contact lens expert Acuvue has found many of us put off making medical appointments. Almost half of us are delaying a visit to the optician, believing it’s easier to live with a visual impairment than sort it, and 44% of over 45-year-olds admit to putting off an eye test they’re currently due. In fact, a quarter of us believe we’ve now left a visit to the GP for so long, we feel too embarrassed to go! Other reasons for not booking in? Around 18% of us believe the problem is small enough that we can ignore it, 14% of us think we can wait until a problem gets more serious, and 11% are worried the problem may be the sign of…

NANNY MURDERED Yolande Waddington, 17 (right), was found strangled, naked in a ditch in Beenham, Berkshire, in October 1966. She'd recently moved to the village to work as a nanny, and had last been seen at a local pub on the Friday evening. Over 45 years on, in July 2012, David Burgess, 64, was jailed for life for Yolande's murder, after advances in DNA linked his blood to the scene. Burgess had been jailed for life in 1967 for killing 9-year-olds Jeanette Wigmore and Jacqueline Williams in the same village. MOORS MURDERERS JAILED Lovers Ian Brady, then 28, and Myra Hindley, then 23 (both shown right) were jailed for life in May 1966. Between July 1963 and October 1965, Keith Bennett, 12, Pauline Reade, 16, Edward Evans, 17, Lesley…

1 Foreplay doesn’t have to be in person. Sext your partner during the day, telling them what you want to do to them and you can’t wait to see them later. You could even tell them you’re not wearing any underwear. They’ll be thinking about you all day, I guarantee it! 2 Most couples stick to one or two favourite positions in bed, but it doesn’t have to be this way. So many variations can result in better orgasms for you both, without either of you needing to be a contortionist. 3 Sex doesn’t always have to be in the bedroom. Try the kitchen, shower, sofa – or, dare I say it, the back seat of the car? Alfresco sex can be really exciting – just make sure you do…

Back home, I soon got used to Mum’s cooked dinners again. I did miss the buzz of the Army. But, soon, I didn’t have time to dwell on the past. A month after I’d returned from the barracks, I found out I was pregnant. Mum and Dad were absolutely thrilled for me – a new challenge to conquer. And in May 2014, my beautiful daughter Poppy was born. ‘You’ll be strong like your mumma,’ I told her. The first few years of motherhood flew by, and my second daughter Beau-Lily was born in 2017. I drifted from jobs in care homes, factories and shops. I’d do anything to provide for my kids. It was a world away from being on the battlefield But I still wanted a career, something for…

Lynne Pearson, 53 Sipping my glass of wine, I grinned at my best pal Clare. ‘God, I’ve missed you,’ I said to her. It was July 2018 and, almost every summer since Clare Craft, then 51, had moved to Benidorm, I’d flown over for a holiday. We’d been close since we met in Sixth Form in 1985. No-one could make me laugh like Clare. We shared a love of music and dancing and would often end up in a karaoke bar, crooning along to our fave Dionne Warwick classic, That’s What Friends Are For. Afterwards, we’d end up giggling in a heap. Nothing could come between us. In summer 2000, I’d moved to Tenerife, got a job as a primary schoolteacher. Two years later, Clare and her husband Peter moved…

Revlon So Fierce! Mascara, £8.99, Boots This is a great everyday mascara. It doesn’t add too much volume, but still gives definition to my lashes. It’s also smudge- and flake-proof – which is perfect for someone like me who constantly touches their eyes. Avon True Lash Genius Mascara, £9, Avon I only use this for special occasions as it’s rather dramatic. It adds volume, length and – the best bit – it doesn’t feel as heavy as some of the ones I’ve tried before. Collection Colour Lash Mascara, in Blue, £1.99, Superdrug For something a little different on my eyes, I like to add a pop of colour on my lashes. And my current fave is this one in blue.…

Leanne Cockayne, 40, Tiverton Sitting in Isolation, a drip snaking from my arm, I felt nothing but terror. ‘I don’t want to die,’ I whimpered, staring at the medication bags hanging from the IV stand. I didn’t know what they were – whether they’d make me sick, make my blonde hair fall out. But they were the only chance I had to see my daughter Darcy, then 2, grow up. It was March 2016, and I was having my first course of chemotherapy at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. I’d been diagnosed with leukaemia six weeks earlier. ‘Cancer,’ I’d laughed, unable to believe it. ‘Are you kidding?’ I’d been having tests for nearly two years by then, ever since Darcy was born in January 2014. I suffered from Crohn’s,…

Jacket, £18, sizes 8-18, Primark Skirt, £29.99, sizes xs-xl, Zara Bag, £17.99, Mango Boots, £32.99, New Look STYLE TIP Update a feminine skirt with chunky biker boots Top, £9.99, sizes xs-xl, H&M Skirt, £22, sizes 8-22, M&Co Boots, £39.99, H&M Earrings, £15.99, Mango STYLE TIP A high-neck top is perfect for layering Blazer, £25; dress, £39, both sizes 10-32; shoes, £35, and bag, £79, all JD Williams Dress, £18, sizes 8-20, Matalan Bag, £16, boohoo.com Shoes, £25, Dorothy Perkins Hair clips, £5.99, Stradivarius STYLE TIP Clash different animal prints for a premium look Blazer, £29.99, sizes xs-l, Bershka T-shirt, £6.50, sizes 6-24, M&S Trousers, £25.99, sizes 6-16, Zara Trainers, £24, Topshop STYLE TIP Switch trainers to strappy heels for evening…

Danielle Bailey, 21, Otley I watched, mesmerised, as my mum Lindsey, then 27, carefully brushed soft pink powder on her cheeks. With two quick, effortless strokes, her face had a beautiful, rosy shine. ‘You look glowing,’ I beamed in awe. ‘I’ll show you how one day,’ Mum smiled. It was 2007, I was 9, and Mum always told me that, even though I was different, I could do everything other girls did – from walking up stairs, to tying my shoelaces. Even putting my own hair up in a bun. The fact I had no hands, or legs from the knees down wasn’t going to stop me… I don’t remember getting sick. But aged 4, in 2002, I’d almost died from meningitis. Doctors had no choice but to amputate my…

Have braids ruined my hair growth? Q I have hideous bald patches, and a dermatologist has diagnosed traction alopecia. She just says stop wearing my hair in braids, but surely there’s treatment? Jennifer, West Bromwich A Tight ponytails or buns can lead to hair loss around the sides of your scalp, and tight braids can cause bald patches between the braids. A few weeks or months of constant traction (pulling) damages the skin follicles which grow hairs, and a permanent bald patch results. Treatment means switching to a looser hairstyle and stopping chemical treatments such as relaxers, which often make alopecia worse. The hair-growth lotion minoxidil, or steroid creams or injections, can sometimes help. Cosmetic sprays to disguise the bald patches, wigs or hair-transplant surgery are other options. My tummy…

Laura Worsley, 35, Kenilworth, Warwickshire Bursting with excitement, my mind flashed to pram shopping, decorating the nursery... ‘We’ll have to pick a theme,’ I babbled to my partner Dave, then 36, while clutching the positive pregnancy test. It was late 2008 and we hadn’t been trying long, after a year of dating. But, at just over six weeks, I suffered crippling stomach pains. Then bleeding. At hospital, the doctors confirmed that I’d miscarried our baby. Devastated as I was, I managed to stay positive. It’ll happen, I told myself. After recovering, Dave and I tried again, and I fell pregnant quickly. But around six weeks, history repeated itself. Within hours, excruciating pain gripped my stomach For a second time, Dave and I dealt with the heartbreak, picked ourselves up. But…

3 to ways ... luxe your life for less 1 Fine foods Would you love to enjoy a fancy meal at a swanky restaurant, but assume it's out of your price range? Then you may be pleasantly surprised. You can get great deals at many top-class restaurants, including some with Michelin stars, if you hunt online - the deals are usually for set menus  and sometimes you'll get a cocktail or a glass of fizz thrown in, too. Check out bookatable.co.uk, which lists loads of brilliant offers. Bon appetit! 2 Travel in style Make the start of your holiday that bit more relaxing by booking into an airport lounge before your flight. Some credit cards let their customers get in for free - for example, the American Express Preferred Rewards…

CORRIE Farewell, Sinead As Sinead’s life ebbs away, there’s drama when she finds out Daniel had a moment with Bethany. Just what she needs on her deathbed! After Tracy pours oil on troubled waters, the couple make peace. Later, after saying her goodbyes, a weak and frail Sinead passes away with her husband and son Bertie by her side. EMMERDALE Cain rumbles Moira and Nate! The red mist descends for Cain when he finds out about Moira and Nate’s affair. Unaware that he knows about their fling, Moira and Nate join him on a fishing trip, but once he’s got them onboard, he confronts the illicit lovers. As the men fight, there’s an explosion and Moira becomes trapped underwater… HOLLYOAKS It’s Tony’s dad Edward! Joe McGann, best known for ITV…

Q What skincare ingredient, that won’t break the bank, do I need to help fix my dry skin? Jean Cullen, 59 A You need hyaluronic acid. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds! This water-retaining molecule holds 1,000 times its weight and is great at giving parched skin a much-needed drink. Introduce this powerhouse ingredient into your routine morning and  evening. It comes in many forms, from cleansers and facial washes to serums and moisturisers. Our fave? Serums! Apply to  cleansed skin and leave to soak in for five minutes before applying your favourite moisturiser. Nip+Fab Dragon’s Blood Fix Plumping Serum, £19.95; Revolution Skincare Lightweight Hydrating Gel Cream, £7.99 Got a beauty question? Send your problems to chat_magazine@ti-media.com TOP TIP Make eyes appear wider and enhance the colour…

Catherine Furness, 44, Leeds Taking off my work shoes and putting on my slippers, I sighed with relief. Home sweet home, I thought. It was February 2019, and there was nothing better than getting back from my supermarket job and getting cosy. Settling on the sofa, it was lovely to have time to relax. I’ll play a quick game of bingo, I thought. I usually played online once a week or so, but I’d been so busy recently that I hadn’t played in a while. Opening the app on my phone, I deposited some money in my account. I spent £1.80 on 10 tickets on a Superlinks game in the Diamond room, a 90-ball game like the ones I used to play in the bingo halls with my sister when…

Veronica Panarello appeared to be as angelic as she looked. A woman who adored her two young sons, cherished their life in south-east Sicily. Her husband Davide Stival once described her as the perfect mother. But on 29 November 2014, Veronica walked into Santa Croce Camerina police station in Sicily and reported her son Loris, 8, missing. The distraught mother, then 25, said she’d dropped him at school that day, but he hadn’t returned home. ‘He’s been abducted!’ she cried desperately. A frantic search was launched, as Veronica waited desperately for news. Truck-driver Davide was away due to his work, but was contacted by the police. However, worse news was yet to come. Mere hours later, a hunter discovered the lifeless body of a little boy in the bushes near…

Tanya Cross-Walton, 40, Bishop’s Cleeve While the other tots at the mother and baby group were sitting up and beginning to crawl, I couldn’t help but compare my Amelia-Rose to them. My girl was 1, as they were, but nowhere near reaching the same milestones as them. ‘She’s just a late bloomer,’ said her GP. But, as her peers started walking, she could just about pull herself up to standing. I knew something wasn’t right so I fought for a second opinion, deciding to go private in November 2015. New doctors ran tests and observed her. When she stood, her feet turned in and, after a few seconds, it was as if her legs just gave way. ‘It looks like spastic paraplegia,’ the doctor told us. But they weren’t sure.…

Booming lonely Name Boomer Age 9 Boomer arrived at the RSPCA more than a year ago, after his owner died. He felt lost and alone, and found everything scary at first, but soon blossomed. He's a real gent, who loves to play. He needs someone who has experience of nervous dogs. • Contact RSPCA Blackberry Farm Animal Centre, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire on 0300 123 0752. Not-so-little piggy… Name Penelope Age 6 Penelope is a large pig with an even larger character! She only has one ear, because she was picked on by other pigs before she was rescued, as she tried to defend her babies. Her five piglets have since found homes, leaving poor Penelope alone. She needs an owner with a smallholding and experience in keeping pigs. • Contact RSPCA…

Secrets on her phone Q I caught my wife sexting a bloke on an online fantasy game. I threatened him physically – and, on reflection, I shouldn’t have behaved like that. But it’s destroying my life and health, worrying about this. How do I handle it? Bill, 32 A Regardless of whether anything physical went on or not, this is cheating. If you have to hide something on your phone, you’re doing something wrong. I’m glad you recognise you acted wrongly in aggressively confronting the other man – your problem’s with your wife, not him. She’s getting pleasure out of these racy texts, so you need to ask her why she feels the need to look for that pleasure with someone other than you. Then you and she need to…

Jasmin Adams, 25, Wakefield Sitting cross-legged on the floor, I listened intently to my dad Gordon, as he reeled off tales of his time in the Army. My imagination darted to the front line, back to the barracks. I could almost hear the gunfire, the comrades encouraging one another… And then I was back in my living room, a 6-year-old girl listening to her dad’s war stories. Dad had been in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, looking after all of the Army equipment. He’d served in Iraq. And I was fascinated. By the time I was 15, most of my pals knew what they wanted to do for a career. ‘Beauty therapist,’ one beamed. ‘A vet,’ said another. There were wannabe writers, teachers, lawyers... I still wasn’t sure, myself,…

French shallot, Toulouse sausage and borlotti bean stew SERVES 4 PREP 15 MINS COOK 30 MINS • 2tbsp olive oil • 12 shallots, peeled and left whole • 8 Toulouse sausages or spicy/Lincolnshire sausages • 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced • 2 cloves garlic, cut into slivers • 400g can tomatoes • 400g borlotti beans, drained • 500ml chicken stock • Bay leaf • 100ml red wine • Sea salt and black pepper • 150g shredded Savoy cabbage • 1tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley 1 Heat the olive oil in a heavy-based saute pan or saucepan, then add the shallots and sausages and saute for 4-5 minutes, browning them all over. 2 Add the carrot and saute for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add…

Aries 21 March-20 April Time to spread your wings. If you get a chance - or better still, an invitation - to go somewhere new, take it. The experience could open doors to long-term prospects. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May You’re seeing the problems rather than the rewards, and that’s putting you off. But the form-filling isn’t there to make life difficult; it’s just a safety procedure. Have no fears. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Ever cancelled a trip to the dentist because you couldn’t face it? This week is a bit like that. But the longer you leave it, the worse it will get - and dealing with it isn’t so bad. • Call 0905 817 0692*…

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser, £12 Loved by beauty editors across the globe, this two-in-one cleanser and exfoliator removes all dirt without disrupting the skin’s protective barrier. Sanctuary Spa Body Butter, £11 Dry skin, be gone! The new-formula body moisturiser melts into the skin. It’s packed with luxe shea and cocoa butter, and sweet almond and macadamia nut oils. Nivea Biodegradable Cleansing Wipes, £3.29 Made with 100% renewable plant fibres, these soft skincare wipes are enriched with organic argan oil and aloe vera, so they’re gentle on sensitive skin. Garnier Moisture Bomb Night-Time Face Tissue Mask, £2.99 Skin looking a little tired? Pop on this sheet mask for 15 minutes; it’s bursting with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, mineral-concentrated deep-sea water and calming cornflower.…

Teresa Furley, 38, Aylesbury One afternoon in June 2019, having a cuppa, I logged online to enjoy a few games of Bingo. That’s a big jackpot, I thought, eyeing the Bingo Lounge Progressive Jackpot, which was over £12,000. I’d joined Chat Mag Bingo in October 2011, playing on a laptop, and now, playing on my phone was as much fun! So, I bought a bundle of 10p tickets for the next game. I had a busy day ahead, so left the game to play out. That was another great thing – you could advance-buy tickets, and the game would automatically be dabbed off. Any winnings would be added to your balance. But I didn’t expect to log back in later to see that I’d won that big jackpot! My balance…