Table of contents for 17-Nov-2016 in Chat

I couldn’t let them get away with what they’d done Meeting up with my friend was great – I hadn’t seen her in years. And, when the conversation turned to families, she asked me about my mum and dad. ‘They’re not as nice as you think they are,’ I told her. She looked at me in surprise, seemed confused. Before I knew what was happening, I was blurting it all out to her… ‘Dad raped me, and Mum knew about it,’ I confessed. After years of bottling it up, it all came tumbling from me. She was horrified. ‘You have to go to the police,’ she said to me encouragingly. The more I thought about it, the more I knew that she was right. I couldn’t let my mum and…

Co-Op Deli Filler Cheese & Onion,200g, £1.35 With a fairly sharp mayo, Cheddar and red Leicester, this is really thick. We'd eat just as it is with salad for a satisfying lunch. Tesco Cheese & Onion Sandwich Filler, 270g, £1.35 Lovely mellow flavour, thanks to plenty of grated Cheddar, red Leicester, onion and chives. It makes a tasty filling for a jacket spud. Sainsbury's Cheese & Onion Deli Filler, 230g, £1.35 Lots of red Leicester and Cheddar, with a creamy sauce and crispy onion. No need to butter the bread, just load with this. NEW   Co-op Blueberry Waffle & Maple Pudding, £2.49 Blueberry compote, mini waffles soaked in maple syrup custard and topped with demerara sugar. Yum!…

Walking from one room to another left me out of puff By Abigail Findley, 37, from Amersham Everything was going smoothly. I was expecting my second baby, and couldn’t wait to meet her. My husband Matt, 40, and I already had our son Freddie, then 18 months. But, in the weeks leading up to delivery, I felt a bit breathless. I put it down to being heavily pregnant but, days after giving birth to Grace in February 2011, it was worse, and I was having chest pains. I was too weak and out of breath even to climb the stairs. ‘This isn’t right,’ I told Matt. I phoned my doctor, who dismissed it as post-delivery anxiety. Only, I’d not been feeling anxious at all. Soon, even walking from one room…

I was delighted to win the title two years running! I’m working to change small-minded opinions By Rachael Bailey, 36, from Bridgend Growing up as Patrick, I had a large family, three brothers and two sisters. But as my brothers kicked a football, I’d rather bake cakes with my mum, or play with my sisters’ toys. I’d always felt different. Reaching my teens, I wanted to wear pretty dresses, not trousers and shirts. My family suspected I was gay, but that wasn’t true. Sure, I fancied men, but I pictured myself with them as a woman. At 17, I started dressing as a girl and adored the feel of slipping my feet into heels and applying make-up. ‘I’m pretty,’ I’d smile at myself in the mirror. Sadly, my family struggled…

Collection Extreme Bold 24 Hour Felt Tip Calligraphy Liner, £2.99, Boots Bold, black liner packed full of pigment that won't smudge. Top tip: Felt tip liners are far speedier to apply than gels. MUA Eye Define Felt Liner, £2, Superdrug Makes it easy to create a sharp, straight line, even for eyeliner newbies! Top tip: Stay as close to your lashline as possible for a natural look. Rimmel London ScandalEyes Precision Micro Eyeliner, £5.49, Boots The ultra-fine nib is perfect for creating a precise flick in seconds. Top tip: Use an eyeshadow base on your lids for extra staying power. Bourjois Liner Feutre Slim Felt-Tip Eyeliner, £6.99, Superdrug Great for taking you from day to night, this liner stays put for 24 hours. Top tip: Tidy it up with a…

I hated the way I looked. I’d hide my rolls of fat under baggy clothes I dropped the empty crisp packets into the bin, one by one. ‘Three…four…five…six!’ I slowly counted. A wave of guilt washed over me. I’d just wolfed down six bags of crisps in one go. Shamefully, it wasn’t even a one-off. I’d scoff cakes, crisps and chocolate all day long. It explained my bulging waistline and bingo wings. At 18st 7lb, I wore a huge size-22. But I hadn’t always been big... After having my kids, Kelly, now 31, Jade, 27, Jamie, 25, and Tianna, 13, I’d struggled to keep off the weight. Then three years ago, in 2013, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, following a partial knee-replacement op. It’s a long-term condition causing pain all…

1 Take the Thrill Walk Embrace the height on this walkway across the cliff face below the Birg cable car station. At 8,783ft, it takes some bottle to go to the edge of the glass-and-steel grill projecting viewing platform, and there's even an optional ‘wire cage' section if you dare! 2 Clamber down the Via Ferrata Meaning ‘iron way', it takes you downwards, secured to fixed cables and ladders, through steep woods and across the cliff face, to the pretty hamlet of Gimmelwald. Return to Murren by cable car or footpath. 3 Spectacular views Murren faces the Eiger, Monch and   Jungfrau, so book a room with a balcony at the Hotel Eiger. 4 Bond World 007 The revolving restaurant on top of the Schilthorn was the setting for Blofeld's…

If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it. It was November 2014, and I’d gone into the bedroom to find my husband Marc taking off his shoes. Then, before my eyes, the top of his foot split open! The wound was just an inch long, but his foot was covered in blood. Back in June 2013, doctors told Marc that he had a form of type 2 diabetes. Undiagnosed for 10 years, it’d caused health problems with his eyesight and teeth. Even though Marc controlled his condition with insulin, he’d got an ulcer on his left foot. And now it’d exploded! At Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, doctors said the ulcer was infected and the infection could spread to his vital organs. ‘We’ve no choice but to…

She had a wicked sense of humour, loved cracking jokes I was sitting with a cup of tea, about to turn the telly on, when my mobile went off. I fumbled around in my handbag to find it. It was a text from my daughter, Natalie Bailie, 45 at the time. Hi Mum, I’ve just been to the doctor. I’ve got breast and lung cancer. It’s terminal. But don’t worry about me. There are lots of treatments available, she wrote. I dropped my phone in shock. It was typical of Natalie to be so matter of fact. But nothing prepares you for hearing that your child has cancer. Natalie was a mum of three – Hannah, now 26, Joseph, 24, and Isaac, 15. It was so unfair. I couldn’t help…

What I loved A curry night with my army of mesmerising nieces. They're all truly glorious, gobby and gorgeous! Must be in their genes... What hacked me off Popping into Marks and Spencer for some tomatoes and coming home with a pair of boots. (But they are just perfect! And I really, really need them… No, not the tomatoes, you idiots!) What made me laugh A mate saying that a 4:30am deluge made her get up to check the damp patches. Oo-er, missus! Hope you're not in for a wet weekend!…

Suddenly, I felt it – that rush of motherly love! Sitting on the sofa, I was rubbing my bump and sobbing… I’d had so many hopes and dreams for my unborn baby. Now, after a scan at 25 weeks, it felt like they’d all been dashed. ‘Your baby’s head is measuring very large and his eyes are too far apart. He’s going to have serious problems,’ the doctor told me and my husband Mark, now 49. It could be a brain abnormality, or a condition like dwarfism. I’d told someone I considered a friend, hoping for reassurance. But she said, ‘Let’s hope for dwarfism and then at least he can join the circus.’ So cruel! I spent my pregnancy terrified. So different to when I’d carried my eldest Ellie, four…

Nut allergy? QI get a tickly cough whenever I eat peanuts. Am I allergic? Stella, 33 A Coughing with wheezing, sneezing or an itchy or swollen throat could suggest an allergy, which your doctor should check. A dry cough alone probably means peanut dust has irritated your throat. Avoid dry-roasted types and eat slowly, with a glass of water. Finger bumps QI've noticed small, hard swellings on either side of my end finger joints, and they're a bit painful. Is it serious? Roberta, 68 A Sounds like Heberden's nodes, bony swellings that are common as we age, and are a sign of osteoarthritis. They're harmless but, if the pain worsens, exercises, injections, painkillers or surgery can help. Runny nose Q My nose runs constantly, but just from one side. Surely…

I felt so angry, fibroids were robbing me of everything I loved in my life My tummy immediately shrank. It feels like the best decision I ever made By Beryl-Christiana Romain, 50, from Barking Flicking through the wedding magazine, I couldn’t believe how many gorgeous dresses there were. Decisions, decisions, I smiled. I’d just got engaged to my boyfriend Michael. We weren’t planning the wedding for a couple of years but, like any bride-to-be, I was bursting with excitement. After the wedding, we’d get started on having a family. The whole future looked bright. There was just one thing hanging over me… ‘I just want rid of this tummy,’ I frowned to Michael. Back in 2001, I’d felt hard lumps in my tummy one day when I was in the…

1 Preheat oven to 190C/Gas 5. 2 Place six large pork sausages on a baking tray and bake for 20 min until cooked through and golden-brown. Set aside. 3 Cut a peeled red onion into wedges and make up 500ml vegetable stock using a cube. 4 Heat a glug of oil in a large saucepan and fry onion for 2-3 min, then stir in 100g rinsed and drained pearl barley, ½tsp dried oregano, a pinch of chilli powder and 400ml of stock. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 10 min, adding more stock if it becomes a little dry. 5 Meanwhile, cut three carrots into thick, diagonal slices, and roughly dice a red pepper. Add to pan along with a 400g tin of chopped tomatoes, and 150ml…

There was nowhere near me offering good wigs... My long, dark locks were my best feature. I loved experimenting with styles, and I looked after my hair using the best products. In the past, hairdressers had even used me as a model. And friends always admired my mane. But, one day in May 2014, I was combing conditioner through my hair in the shower when I noticed I’d shed more strands than usual. ‘Everyone moults a bit,’ my pal said when I confided in her. But, putting my hair up a few days on, I touched what felt like bare scalp. Using two mirrors, I saw a bald patch the size of a 20p piece at the back of my head. In tears, I showed my partner Stephen, 42.…

Aries 21 March - 20 April This is an exceptional week, where everything you attempt will go well. It’s like turning the key in a lock; you can almost feel everything clicking into place. If it doesn’t, you’re turning the key the wrong way! Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May Think of a pen that’s rolled under a sofa. If you can only just reach it with your fingertips, you’ll probably push it further away. Strangely, that applies to love affairs, too. The answer is the same in both cases: get closer. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June Lots of wheeling and dealing over the next few days. The flow of fortune changes at the weekend, so till…

I’d listen, frozen with fear, as his footsteps approached As other kids ran out of nursery into their mum’s arms, I shuffled out miserably. ‘Hurry up, Julie,’ my mum Veronica huffed, annoyed. I was only 4, and loved nursery. But not because of the toys, and games and colouring... I just hated being at home. Mum and my dad Frederick weren’t exactly loving parents. They’d never cuddle me, or read me bedtime stories. If I tried to sit on Mum’s lap, she’d push me away. ‘There’s some liquorice in the cupboard,’ she’d say, bribing me to leave her alone. Then, when I was 5, things at home got worse. One night, I was asleep in my bed when I awoke to Dad pulling at my arm. He unzipped his trousers…

I stayed by her bedside, talking and singing lullabies By Georgina Hummel, 23, from Worthing My little girl Crystal, 2 months, couldn’t stop giggling. ‘One step, two step…tickle you under there!’ I sang, tickling her arms. Her precious little laugh melted my heart. Aged 18, I was a single mum. I’d split from Crystal’s dad shortly after she was born. Now it was just the two of us – me and my gorgeous girl. Then, when Crystal was 3 months, I met Jerome Edwards, 26, through friends. He seemed like a sweet, friendly guy, so when he asked to take me out for a drink, I agreed. My friend babysat Crystal, but I worried all evening. ‘She’ll be fine,’ Jerome reassured me. He seemed so kind and caring. We became…

You don’t need a cervical smear test if you’re a virgin Cervical cancer is mostly caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. But it's not the only cause, so, even if you're a virgin, you need regular smear tests. Stillbirth support There are more than 3,600 stillbirths every year in the UK. Eleven babies are stillborn every day, making it 15 times more common than cot death. Grieving parents looking for advice and support can find it at www.uk-sands.org Surprising stats According to a survey by Lloyds Pharmacy, 22 per cent of women who are on the contraceptive Pill have missed taking one after failing to collect their repeat prescription in time. Lloyds recommends taking the last pill missed – even if it means taking two in…

Serves: 8 Prep: 30 min Cook: 10 min 100g unsalted butter 100g dark chocolate 2 large eggs, separated 100g caster sugar Pinch of salt 100g plain flour 284ml double cream 100g milk chocolate Packet white chocolate buttons 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4 and grease and base line two 20cm sandwich tins. 2 Over a low heat, melt butter and dark chocolate in a saucepan. 3 In a bowl, beat egg whites with ½tsp caster sugar and a pinch of salt until they form peaks. In another bowl, beat egg yolks with remaining sugar until pale, then fold in flour. Stir in chocolate mixture, and fold in egg whites. 4 Divide mixture between tins and bake for about 10 min until set. Allow to cool in tins. 5 For…

Irene had a wicked sense of humour, and she seemed familiar... I still can’t believe what a coincidence it was being paired with her By Laura Hunter, 46, Aberdeen Growing up, I adored my grandparents. Granda would regale us with stories from his time as a regimental sergeant major of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, infantry regiment of the British Army, and Grandma was always teaching us something new. Sadly, in my late 20s, I lost them both. As time passed, I thought more about volunteering with vulnerable people, like the elderly. ‘I wouldn’t have wanted Grandma and Granda feeling lonely,’ I explained to my parents Maureen, now 70, and Douglas, 71. They thought it was a great idea. Then, in December last year I saw an advert on Facebook…

My baby’s brain was starved of oxygen for a long time As doctors pulled out my baby daughter, I expected to hear a little cry to mark her arrival into the world. But she didn’t make a peep. All I heard was the frantic shuffle of feet as the doctors moved quickly, barking orders at each other. ‘Why isn’t she crying?’ I asked, dazed. ‘It’ll be OK,’ croaked my husband Martin, 44. But he looked equally terrified as he gripped my hand. Then a nurse explained that baby Willow’s heart had stopped, and the doctors were frantically trying to resuscitate her. Meanwhile, I’d suddenly started haemorrhaging. Confused, I couldn’t understand it – my pregnancy had gone so well. No problems had shown up on any scans. I’d arrived at Gloucester…

The two became friends... and then bitter rivals THE CRIME On 9 August 1993, black-metal musician Oystein Aarseth, also known as Euronymous, was stabbed 23 times in the head, neck and back, at his flat in Oslo, Norway. Was his murder the result of a bitter musical power struggle? THE STORY Born on 22 March 1968, music-mad youngster Oystein Aarseth was described as a ‘quiet type’ with ‘strange friends’. For Oystein was into black and death metal, extreme types of music with Satanic lyrics… In 1983, the Oslo teen and a fellow musician, Jorn Stubberud – known as Necrobutcher – bonded over a shared love of British band Motorhead. The next year, the two formed the group Mayhem. Oystein was just 16, and later adopted the demonic name Euronymous. In…