Table of contents for 27-Oct-2016 in Chat

Without her make-up, she looked vulnerable and small She’d smuggled a gun into Spain – though it wasn’t clear where she’d got it from. Then she’d broken into Dad’s villa and waited for him there. She knew that he would come eventually. Two days later, he’d arrived. Dad went inside and found Kukucova there in the hallway. Maria went to wait in the car... But then Kukucova shot three times, hitting Dad twice in the head, once in the shoulder. She didn’t even deny it. Instead, she claimed she’d acted in self-defence. According to her, she’d been at the villa collecting her clothes and was surprised when Dad showed up. There’d been a struggle and the gun went off, she said. The Spanish court saw through her lies, and she…

GUILTY! Chasity Boyd was found guilty of first-degree murder, along with Neil Edgar. Both were given life sentences for murder, and will be eligible for parole in 20 years. The judge also gave them each a 32-month sentence for abusing two of the family’s other adopted children. Christy Edgar, who’d already pleaded guilty to murder, received the same sentences and is also eligible for parole after 20 years. In 2012, Neil Edgar appealed his conviction for murder – and lost.…

We were grappling and fighting but I was giving as good as I got! With one last set of weights left to do, I allowed myself a quick breather and a satisfied smile. ‘You’re doing great, there, Win,’ said my trainer, as he walked past the bench. I was a regular down at my local gym and knew everyone. Four times a week, I did a full hour’s workout and absolutely loved it. It was funny, really, because I’d never done any sport when I was younger. But, when I reached 75, I had problems with my back, and my physio suggested I try doing some exercise. And, after joining the gym, I really got the bug. It wasn’t just the fitness aspect I liked. I loved meeting people and…

Rebecca has to be careful– but she never stops smiling Lying back in the bathtub full of hot water, I sighed. It was my second bath that day. And I soaked for at least 30 minutes each time. But not because I enjoyed it. I had to do it to relieve my hard, dry, flaky skin. See, I was born with a rare skin condition called ichthyosis. It means my skin cells reproduce 14 times faster than the average person. It results in the build-up of rough, thick, scaly skin that falls off in bulk. It’s caused by a faulty gene and there’s no known cure. So I’d faced a lifetime of lotions, oils, creams and exfoliation. Taking long, hot baths made the skin easier to scrub off. Living with…

Kerry's eyes darkened, pure rage filled his face My heart leapt and butterflies fluttered as the car pulled up outside. It was October 2014 and Kerry Williams, then 42, was picking me up for our first date. Kerry was a regular at the pub where I worked. He’d pop in after work and we’d get chatting. Kerry was friendly, cheeky. It’d taken him a while to pluck up the courage to ask me out, but our date was worth the wait! Kerry opened doors for me, paid for dinner, gave me a lift home and kissed me goodnight. The perfect gent, I thought. We were both smitten and soon head over heels in love. We met each other’s families, friends, and everyone was so happy for us... By February last…

Child of Chat My daughter Aaiva is just 2, but already showing signs of intelligence and taste. Like her mum and all Chat readers! Kelly Christie, Stalybridge Mammal magic When my son Abrey, 3, asked for a raccoon for his birthday, I'd no idea where to get one. So I turned him into one instead! Gemma Davies, Gloucester For my dad… Lauren's dad, my partner Daryl, turned 33 while working away. But Lauren had this message for him. Natalie Hammond, Wigan…

He was in a bin bag that was just about to be crushed! Knocking on my friend’s front door, I couldn’t wait for a catch-up. ‘Come in!’ Julie, 50, said.‘I’ve put the kettle on.’ Julie was a real animal lover, and her pet tortoises were her pride and joy. ‘How are they doing?’ I asked, crouching down to their tank to get a closer look. ‘They’re fine,’ she said. ‘Apart from Arthur, as usual.’ I couldn’t help but laugh. Arthur had lived with Julie for years, but his behaviour had always been a cause for concern. ‘He’s a bully,’ she said. ‘All the others are perfectly happy to live together, but Arthur wants to be the boss.’ I watched as Arthur barged into his siblings and pushed their food bowls…

1 Some 486 miles of coastline Ripe for exploring, hire a car to make the most of the sea views from Larnaca and Limassol on the southern coast to Famagusta on the east coast and Paphos on the west. When you're there, take a stroll or hire a bike to get up close and personal with the seaside. 2 A peaceful break Not far from its rowdier cousin Ayia Napa, Protaras on the east coast has secluded sandy bays, rugged cliffs and brilliant-blue seas. For a walk with a view, the coastal walkway that links central Protaras with Pernera is dotted with little ‘secret' cafes, an idyllic setting to catch the sunrise or sunset. 3 Brilliant beaches Cyprus has some of the cleanest beaches in Europe, many with Blue-Flag status,…

Aries 21 March - 20 April Last week was all about taking chances while you had them, and you probably got away with it. This week, you need to be slower, and to check all the rules before you do anything that might cause you problems later. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May When something is described as having ‘potential’, it means it may not seem like much, but with a bit of time and effort, it could be a real success. What you’re looking at now is like that, so if you want to give it a go, do so. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June There are some arguments you can’t win, and you’re in one…

What I loved Picking blackberries. (And not just from the supermarket shelves…). They're an absolute favourite for me and there's little I wouldn't do for a warm dollop of homemade apple and blackberry crumble... Oooh, I've gone all lightheaded thinking about it! What hacked me off New boots. Can't get enough. What made me laugh The uproar about Quality Street dropping the toffee deluxe in favour of a honeycomb crunch. Yikes! Why didn't they ask me?? I'd have said drop the orange cream, or maybe the green triangle… Hope your week is totally sweet!…

Bryan was poorly, but seemed happy in himself His bed's still made up for him – with his favourite book... As I picked up the phone, hearing his voice put a smile on my face. My boy Bryan-Andrew, 3, was bright and funny – he made everyone he met feel happy. He was staying with my mum Debbie, 51, as he’d been diagnosed with mumps. I’d just brought my premature youngest son Ivan, 4 months, from the hospital and I couldn't risk him getting it, too. ‘How are you feeling, baby?’ I asked Bryan-Andrew. ‘My neck hurts and I miss you,’ he said. ‘You’ll be home before you know it,’ I told him. I missed him terribly, too. It was a wrench being away from him when he was poorly.…

Doctors said the only option is to amputate Zahra's right foot Parents will do anything for their children, and I’m no different with my daughter Zahra, 3. Before she was born, a scan showed that the fibula in her calf bone was missing from her right leg. And, when she arrived in October 2013, she had what looked like a dislocated hip. As she grew, her right leg seemed shorter than the other – and, over time, the difference became more obvious. ‘We need to get her looked at,’ my husband Zulfiqar, 31, agreed in June 2014, when Zahra was 8 months old. But what we were told came as a shock. ‘Zahra has proximal femoral focal deficiency,’ the doctor said. We’d never heard of it, but they explained it…

Go Ahead! Forest Fruit Yogurt Breaks, £1.96 for 5 packs of 2 Very crisp biscuits, 73cal per slice. Not much fruit filling, so the flavour is not as intense as in some of its competitors. Sainsbury's Forest Fruit Slices With Yogurt Flavoured Topping, £1.40 for 6 packs of 2 These crisp biscuits are 76cal per slice, with fruit pieces in the middle and a yogurt-flavoured coating. A tasty, mid-morning snack! Special K Black Forest Gateau Biscuit Moments, £1.92 for 5 packs of 2 An authentic chocolate-and-cherry flavour, and only 95cal a pack! Topped with a vanilla-flavoured drizzle, they're delicious. NEW Napolina No Added Sugar sauces, 500g, £1.70 each Five silky-smooth sauces: Tomato & Hidden Veg, Sauce for Meatballs, Bolognese and Red and White Lasagne.…

Makes: 12 Prep Time: 20 minCook Time: 25 min 100g butter 110g light muscovado sugar60g black treacle60g golden syrup175g plain flourPinch of salt 2tsp ground ginger1 large egg, beaten150ml milk 1tsp bicarbonate of soda Topping 150g cream cheese2tsp icing sugar2-3 drops green food colouring100g sweet popcorn30g white fondant icing2-3 drops yellow food colouringStrawberry squeezy syrup 1 Preheat oven to 190C/ Gas 5 and put 12 cupcake cases into a muffin tin. 2 Melt butter, sugar, black treacle and golden syrup in a saucepan. Cool slightly. 3 Sift flour, salt and ginger into a bowl. Stir in melted mixture and egg. Heat milk until lukewarm, add bicarb of soda and stir into mixture. 4 Spoon between cases and bake for 22-25 min. 5 Mix cream cheese and icing sugar with green…

Sounds crazy, but I already loved Lee and knew that we were meant to be together Talk about in at the deep end – we’d only been dating three weeks, and I’d already met my new bloke’s mum, dad, two brothers, two sisters and Nan. Not because he was Mr Keen. But because he had cancer. Me and Lee Westcott, 26 at the time, had met through the Tinder dating app. The minute I saw Lee’s profile, I was smitten! He was rugged and beardy. Just my type! Our first date was at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth in December 2013. It went so well, we arranged another two days later at the zoo. ‘What’s your favourite animal?’ Lee asked. ‘All of them!’ I answered without hesitation. Turns out…

Essence 2in1 Matte Lipstick & Liner in More is More, £2.50, Wilko Use the narrow nib as a lip liner, or all over your pout for a precise, bold finish. Top tip: Draw on your cupid's bow and the middle of your lower lip first to provide a guide. Boutique Lipstick in Plum Luck, £7, Sainsbury's One application is great for everyday use, and it's easy to build for a night out. Top tip: Team with a smoky eye for a full-on Halloween look. Barry M Matte Lip Paint in Heartbreaker, £4.99, Boots Gives lips a flawless matte finish that won't flake or crack. Top tip: Keep your lips in good condition by using a balm with SPF. Avon True Colour Lipstick in Perfect Red, £7.50, avonuk.com Contains…

Do I wish I could have more..? Of course! There’s one thing that’s guaranteed to make most young lads run a mile – talk of babies! So when I met Kev, then 23, through friends when I was 16, I didn’t dare tell him the truth – that I was desperate to be a mum. Yes, I was young. But having babies was all I’d ever wanted. Me and Kev got serious, but we hadn’t really talked about the future, when, after eight months… ‘I’m pregnant!’ I gasped. We were both surprised, but delighted. Sadly, though, I lost the baby at 10 weeks. Heartbroken, it just made me yearn to be a mum even more. And, eight months on, my dream came true when I fell pregnant again. I loved…

After a long day, I love to put my feet up and play some bingo I'll be sure to send my kids some extra Christmas pressies! Surfing the Internet, doing a bit of online shopping, I spotted an ad for Chat Mag Bingo. The amazing winners’ stories caught my eye, so I signed up. That looks like fun! I thought. I’d never played online bingo before, so I was really surprised how much fun it was. I loved trying out all the bingo rooms, the excitement of watching the numbers come up, edging you closer to a line or full house. That was a couple of years ago now, and I’ve had some little wins since then. Now, during the day, I help out my hubby Robert, 53, in his…

It was just a tiny speck – nothing to worry about. That’s what I thought about the little mole above my left ankle. It was so small, I’d never paid any attention to it. Until 2014, when I noticed it looked a bit bigger – the size of a pea. Probably just where I’ve grown a bit, I reasoned. A busy mum to Lacey, now 2, I soon forgot all about it. I’ve got quite a lot of freckles, so I wasn’t worried. But, as time went on, the mole grew even bigger. It was raised, too, and looked a bit darker in places. ‘I should probably get it checked out,’ I told my partner Kerry, 34. I knew changing moles could be a sign of skin cancer. But I…

THE CRIME When sisters Britny Haarup and Ashley Key disappeared, leaving two babies unsupervised, their family worried they'd been kidnapped. But blood at the scene pointed to an even more sinister fate… THE STORY They were young mums, sisters, family… Britny Haarup, 19, and Ashley Key, 22, were close. Ashley had previously fallen in with the wrong crowd, but was determined to turn her life around. And Britny was there to support her. So Ashley was staying on her younger sister’s sofa as she started to make positive changes to her life. She had a 4-year-old daughter she doted on, and Britny was a brilliant mum to her own two girls. But in July 2012, when Britny’s fiance Matt Meyers arrived at her home in Edgerton, Missouri, around 4pm after…

CRACK SHOT GRANNY!  n 1936, a fairground worker told 16-year-old I Ria van Dijk from Tilburg, Holland, she was a good shot. Ever since, Ria's documented her impressive, winning shooting each year. Now, 80 years on, at 96, Ria's still bang on target! POSTAL PICTIONARY?  ost an address? Draw the postman a map! This envelope, L with the scribbled location of a farm in Buoardalur, West Iceland, had a red dot marking the spot, and was addressed for the attention of an Icelandic/Danish couple and three kids and a lot of sheep! Incredibly, it arrived! AB-DUCK-TED!  n 2011, the Troianos family from I New York had a rubber duck, Gale, snatched from their garden. The thief shared a Facebook page of Gale visiting Thailand, Germany, Switzerland and beyond. Bizarrely, the…

If she didn't get her own way, she'd throw a tantrum He was meant to text me when he got to Marbella... It wasn’t for me to complain about Dad’s new girlfriend. Especially if she made him happy. And when I’d first met Mayka Kukucova, I’d liked her. Glam, young, fun…she knew what she wanted. Now, though, enough was enough. I felt she was taking Dad for a ride. Mayka was 26. And my dad Andy Bush was 48…going on 18! ‘No good story ever starts with someone having a glass of water,’ he always said with a cheeky wink. Dad loved having a laugh. And sunshine and good times. He’d even got himself a villa in Marbella, Spain. My parents had split when I was 1. Since then, Dad…

Box fresh  There are such pretty tissue boxes available these days. Why not turn one into a unique vase? Just place a small jar inside and fill with water and fresh flowers. Doreen Wardle, Bristol Frozen denier Keep tights in the freezer. They'll be less likely to ladder, so will last longer. And no more hot legs, either. Which Rod Stewart might be sorry about! Becky Hawkwell, Chester-le-Street Splatter-free!  Each time I opened drink cartons, liquid splashed out. Now I peel back the plastic tab with pliers. Louise Moore, Douglas You’re booked!  Fasten a few beads onto a length of cord with glue and use as a bookmark. Your homemade bookmarks will also make great gifts. Barbara Fulton, Penzance Slip slops If you're worried that you might slip getting in…

Facial hair I suffer from a lot of Q coarse, black, facial hair. Could it mean a hormone imbalance? Kayleigh, 32 A Not if you have regular periods, as a hormone problem would almost certainly affect them, too. More likely your skin cells are more sensitive to the sex hormone testosterone. Try bleaching, shaving or electrolysis, or ask your GP about the skin cream Eflornithine. Failing thyroid Blood tests show Q that my thyroid gland might be failing. What can I do to boost it? Maggie, 55 A It can take years before a failing thyroid gland finally causes symptoms, including tiredness and weight gain. Unless there's a rare cause, such as drug side-effects or an odd diet, there's not much you can do, but your blood tests will show…

They saw non-believers as the enemy, stockpiled guns… The doctor shot the officer again to make sure he was dead Philippe Neniere was a well-respected man. Born in France, he trained there and became a doctor. Then, in the 1980s, he and his life partner Agnis Jardel relocated to South Africa. By 1998, they were living in a farmhouse near Sutherland, 170 miles from Cape Town. Philippe was working as a hospital superintendent. Agnis told neighbours she’d previously worked in advertising. Though, now, the couple wanted to drop out of the rat race, get away from the city. Initially, they were sociable towards their new community. But, by 2009, the couple were in thrall to an American-based school of enlightenment and believed in the ‘third eye’. They started greeting…

1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4, and peel, deseed and slice a medium pumpkin into 8 slices. 2 In a hob-and-ovenproof casserole dish, fry 2 chopped cloves of garlic and a finely chopped onion in a glug of oil for 2-3 min. 3 Add pumpkin, 2 x 400ml tins of coconut milk, 1tsp chilli flakes, 1tsp coriander seeds, a stick of lemon grass, 1tbsp grated ginger and the juice of ½ lime. Mix, cover and bake for 20 min or until tender. 4 Sprinkle with a thinly sliced red chilli, the zest of a lime and a handful of roughly chopped fresh coriander to serve. Serves: 2 Cost per head: £1.92 LIFE!DEATH!PRIZES! For more foodie bargains, visit www.lifedeathprizes.com and click on ‘best buys’…

Honesty is best… There are many sad stories in Chat. But does anyone else worry about how the parents talk to their kids about death? They say things like, ‘Mummy has gone to sleep and isn't coming back'. It's better to be honest and say, ‘Mummy has died, we're sad, and it's OK to cry'. Saying someone's gone to sleep forever might give a child a complex about bedtime. What do other readers think? Charlene Rathgeb, Toronto Size matters Why does the size of clothes vary from shop to shop? In some shops, I’m a 10, in others a 12, and even 14 in some. It makes shopping hard. Surely it wouldn’t be hard to have standard measurements in shops for each dress size. Maria Connelly, Bellshill Honest John My…

I sought comfort in fast food, chips and biscuits Squeezing through the front door, I couldn’t wait for dinner. ‘What shall we have tonight?’ I asked my hubby Michael, then 48. ‘Shall we treat ourselves to a takeaway?’ Michael asked. ‘Go on, then,’ I grinned. Twenty minutes later, I was delighted when the doorbell rang and the smell of hot chicken curry wafted through the house. Michael and I loved sitting in front of the telly with our favourite ready-meals and family-sized bars of chocolate. We’d met when I was just 15 and got married three years later. I’d been a slim size-12 when we’d tied the knot but, after having our kids Janine, now 31, and Graham, 27, I’d gone up four dress sizes. Still, Michael and I were…

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My stomach was in knots when I received a text... It all happened so quickly. One minute I was driving through the countryside on my motorbike. Next, everything went black... Aged 24, I was an RAF Regiment Gunner. I’d been on my way to work. Rounding a corner on my bike, I saw a string of traffic behind a tractor pulling a trailer. I’m going to be late, I fretted, deciding to overtake. I passed the cars. But as I neared the tractor it started turning, sending me flying. I ended up under the wheels of the 18-tonne trailer. My chest was crushed. Then, darkness… Next thing I remember is waking up in Intensive Care at West Suffolk Hospital. Doctors rushed around as I drifted in and out of consciousness.…