Table of contents for November 12, 2015 in Chat

As soon as I saw his little, lost face appear in the playground, I ran over. My older brother Andrew had always been incredibly shy and had learning difficulties, so I couldn’t help but mother him. ‘It’s OK,’ I said, grabbing his hand. ‘You can play with me and my friends.’ It wasn’t just at school Andrew struggled. Mum, Kathleen, dedicated her life to protecting him, and I helped as much as I could. ‘Once I’m gone, promise you’ll always look after your brother,’ Mum would often say. ‘Of course,’ I’d tell her every time. As Andrew got older, he became more and more introverted. While other teenage lads his age were going out to parties or meeting girls, Andrew would hide away in his bedroom and watch TV. Then,…

Look at my bulging belly. It’s hard to imagine I once modelled skimpy lingerie for a living. In my prime, I weighed 7st 7lb, and kept my size-8 figure trim with regular workouts. ‘Wait until you hit 40,’ my mum Helen, 66, used to warn playfully. I’d laugh it off. The dreaded middle-age spread could affect your body, I knew that. I’d just never imagined it’d change this much! In 2004, I was struck down with glandular fever and pneumonia. Recovering took it out of me. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a painful condition which caused stiffness and tenderness in my muscles and joints. I tried to get on with life, but some days my fibromyalgia was so bad, I couldn’t get out of bed. Then, come 2012, my bowel…

Are you stuck in a clothes rut? Do you find yourself wearing the same sort of outfit every day? Have you forgotten what glamorous looks and feels like? Then we want you! Along with a hair and make-up transformation by a top make-up artist, you'll also get to model the very latest fashion must-haves on a Chat fashion shoot! We will, of course, pay your travel expenses and, if needs be, put you up in London overnight. We want to hear from you! Just send two recent photos of yourself - one full-length, plus a head and shoulders shot, and tell us a little about yourself, including your age, height and dress size. Don't forget to include your name and address. By e-mail: chatmakeovers@timeinc.com By post: Chat Makeovers,…

After going part-time at my vet job a couple of months ago, I decided it was time to get myself another dog. I’d be around more and I knew my shar pei/Staffy cross Ally would like a pal. Working in the Rosemount Veterinary Centre in West Byfleet, I spent a lot of time nursing rescue pups back to health. There are so many of them out there who need a loving home. Researching online, I found the charity Safe Rescue. They adopt dogs in need of homes from Romania and bring them over to the UK. Browsing their website, I saw an ad – and immediately I knew that pooch was the one for me. ‘Adorable!’ I exclaimed, as I looked at pictures of a 4-month-old Jack Russell/collie cross. This…

Chopping up a chilli, my mouth watered. I was making spicy enchiladas for me and my husband Glenn, 61. When we tucked in, they certainly had a kick! Later that night, I felt a burning sensation in my chest. ‘Those chillies have given me heartburn,’ I said to Glenn. I took a few antacid tablets. But a week later, in October last year, the pain lingered. So I looked up my symptoms. And one word popped up… Cancer. I read that persistent heartburn can be a sign of oesophageal cancer. It mainly affects men over 65 who are heavy drinkers and smokers. I didn’t drink or smoke. But to put my mind at ease, I went to my GP. ‘It’s just acid reflux,’ the doctor said. She prescribed anti-reflux tablets…

Dirty money When a divorcee started getting flu-like symptoms after handling alimony cheques from her ex-hubby, she grew suspicious - especially as the cheques had brown smears on them... Tests showed ‘substances that contained proteins and active biological materials'. They'd been smeared with poo! The ex was charged with sending hazardous materials through the US Mail. What a stinker! Let it go A man in Japan posted on a message board that his marriage had come to a chilly end - all because he didn't like the Disney film Frozen . His wife was obsessed with the animated super-hit, and couldn't accept that her hubby didn't feel the same. She allegedly told him, ‘If you can't understand what makes this movie great, there's something wrong with you…

Serves: 4-6 Prep: 20 min Cook: 25 min 100g butter, softened 100g caster sugar 100g self-raising flour 50g cocoa powder, sieved 2 medium-sized eggs, beaten 425g can prunes, drained 25g muscovado sugar 170g can evaporated milk Icing sugar, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4. 2 Put butter, caster sugar and self-raising flour in a bowl with 25g sieved cocoa powder and eggs. Mix well until all ingredients are combined. 3 Stone and mash prunes, and add to mixture. Combine thoroughly. Pour mixture into a 1 litre ovenproof dish, and smooth top. 4 Whisk remaining cocoa powder and sugar into evaporated milk. Pour over pudding mixture and bake for 30-35 min, until firm on top. 5 Serve warm, dusted with icing sugar.…

It started with a gentle tap on the shoulder. ‘Have you got the time?’ the stranger asked. His name was Dusty. It was May 1984, I was 18 and, after a difficult childhood, I thought he was my saviour. Within eight months, we’d got our own flat. Only Dusty didn’t like me going out, told me what to wear. I fell pregnant and we got engaged, but there were rumours he was cheating. And when I confronted him… Thump! ‘How dare you question me?’ From then I’d get a slap for attitude, strangled for disobeying. Daniel was born in November 1985. One night shortly after, Dusty pinned me down, raped me. ‘You deserve this,’ he jeered. ‘Slag.’ I wanted to leave but he threatened to take Daniel. I told the…

How I lost it! In 2003 my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's. I took over the family home and helped Mum look after him. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2006, Dad died in 2010 , and, 16 months later, Mum also died unexpectedly. I began to eat for comfort, and the pounds started piling on. I was almost 13st, and a dress size-18, when I went to see my GP about my breathing problems. After hospital tests, it turned out that I had a condition called sarcoidosis and I had to mak e some lifestyle changes. So in April 2014, I joined LighterLife and swapped regular food with four nutritious Foodpacks a day. I didn't have to worry about cooking, and in the weekly group session, I could focus…

1 Preheat oven 200C/Gas 6, and line a baking tray with foil. 2 Cut 2 large red peppers in half through stalk, keeping stalk intact; remove seeds. Place on tray, season with a little olive oil. 3 Drain 410g can of meatballs, and 290g can sliced mushrooms. Mix meatballs and mushrooms with ½ 390g can Eazy onions and divide between peppers, then sprinkle with a little dried oregano. 4 Slice 60g mozzarella and lay over meatballs; season with salt and pepper, drizzle with oil, and then bake 20 min, until filling is hot and bubbling and the pepper is tender. 5 Serve with potato wedges and mayonnaise. Serves: 2 Cost per serving: £1.41 LIFE! DEATH! PRIZES! For more quick and easy bargain recipes, visit www.lifedeathprizes.com/ fashion-food-and-beauty…

A friend had found him two days after he’d been brutally killed. Steven Varley and Michael Gath had been arrested and charged with my brother’s murder. I was physically sick. They’d stolen from Andrew, scared him, humiliated him. And now they’d killed him. ‘If only he’d let me look after him,’ I wept. ‘Andrew would still be here now.’ Consumed with grief, I struggled to get through each day. Andrew wasn’t just my brother – he’d been the only member of my family I had left. I felt so alone in the world. I barely slept at night, haunted by how Andrew must have suffered. I thought back to the promise I made Mum all those years earlier, and wept. To protect my brother. But he’d died a terrible, fearful…

Tingly hand Pins and needles in Q my left hand and fingers wake me every night. What's going on? Ursula, 39 Sounds like carpal tunnel A syndrome caused by pressure on a nerve in your wrist. Injury, arthritis or pregnancy might be to blame. A night-time wrist splint should help, otherwise a steroid injection or an op will fix it. Hair loss I gave birth to my Q second baby six months ago, but my hair is still coming out. Will it grow back? Roxy, 27 A Normally, you lose about 100 hairs per day. Hormone changes after childbirth can increase this number, but it's usually temporary. You should have a full head of hair again in a few months! Spinning around QI was struck down with vomiting and vertigo,…

Hair to stay! I can empathise with Ms LC ( Ingrid , issue 38), as I, too, have lots of body hair and have tried all sorts of ways of removing it. But I rebel against the ‘bald body' look that's so popular - it's totally unnatural. We're meant to have some body hair, and my husband has never complained about mine. So, don't despair - there's someone out there for all of us, body hair and all! Jennifer Castle, Bridlington In support After reading Natasha Wilson’s story (My 5st tots not greedy, issue 39), I’ll not be so quick to judge parents of overweight children. Her poor son Ollie has Prader-Willi syndrome, which causes an overwhelming desire to eat, along with other health problems. It must be…

Triple prize I'm so proud of my amazing daughter Emilie, 6, who was honoured with three awards for young carers. Laura Allen, Pontypridd Birthday Princess We pushed the boat out for our daughter Juliette Rose's 1st birthday and sent out royal invitations! Richard Kilroy, Florida Don’t blink! I reckon my 21-month-old Shelby has the edge in this staring contest between her and the goat! Stacy Gibson, Kidderminster Short back and snooze ‘Gosh, it’s exhausting having to keep up with the latest hairstyles,’ says my 5-year-old son, Alfie! Rebecca Lammas, Birmingham Tomboy! Maybe I’m just biased, but I think my baby son has the look of a young Tom Jones! Mrs Branston, Cuffley MY CUTE BABY PIC When shopping with mum and dad, our 8-month-old son Zachary likes to take the…

I’d built up my own farm, grown and harvested crops. Now I was busy trading my produce. Then a message popped up: Can anybody send me a bushel? a stranger wrote. A bushel was a basket of crops. I can! I replied. Our farms were virtual ones on the game FarmVille. The message had come from Rod Ferrell, 52, in Kansas, USA. Thank you! Will you marry me? Rod wrote back. I laughed out loud. Yes! I wrote, playing along. Flicking through his photos, he looked kind, genuine, with a lovely smile. We were soon chatting online, then in video calls, telling each other about our lives. I’d been a widow for five years and my kids, Paul, 44, Michaela, 43, had long flown the nest. I hadn’t been looking…

Coronation Street Grave mistake! Kylie’s not happy about dancing on Callum’s grave at Gail’s garage party - and even less happy when David tells people that she’s back on drugs. Plus Tracy’s furious when she catches Ken getting cosy with Nessa. Emmerdale Driven mad! Andy and Robert have a row which culminates in a dramatic drive and they both end up crashing… Will they survive? Meanwhile, Aaron’s in court and pleads not guilty to attempting to murder Robert. Hollyoaks Bobby Robbie! Holly panics that the video of Robbie declaring his love for her is on Dr S’Avage’s laptop, so Robbie puts on Jason’s police uniform to get hold of the computer. Plus Ste turns up at Harry’s 18th, and Grace wants some answers from Charlie.…

Brrr, winter is coming – and with it all the usual bugs and sniffles. But with a few precautions, you can help keep yourself and your family hale and hearty, so you can enjoy the best the season has to offer. Get the flu jab Flu is grim for anyone who gets it, so find out if you’re eligible for a free flu vaccination. You’re entitled to this if you are pregnant, have a long-term health condition, are aged 65 and over, or if you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person. Mums-to-be and those with long-term health conditions are more likely to develop complications if they get flu, so it’s especially important to take advantage of the free jab. It’s horrible when our kids get sick…

Swap… a jam doughnut…250 cal For…a crumpet with jam…95 cal SAVES 155 CAL! Diet bites Comfort food Weight Watchers Lincolnshire Sausages & Mash, £2.53, Morrisons, Asda Herby sausages in a rich onion gravy with creamy mash - and just 356 cal. Low-cal tipple Eisberg Sauvignon Blanc, £3.49, Co-Op Made like wine, but with the alcohol - and calories - removed. This refreshing drink has just 28 cal per 125ml glass. £50 What worked for you? I'll pay a full-fat £50 if I use your weight-loss story. Write to me, enclosing before and after pictures at: Losing It, Chat, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU, or e-mail me: christine.parsons@timeinc.com…

Scorpio 24 Oct - 22 Nov As every teenager knows, forgiveness is easier to obtain than permission. In other words, eat the cake first, then ask if you can have some. You seem to be doing something along similar lines this week. If you’re a teenager, it’ll probably be OK, but if you’re old enough to know better, it may not. Watch your step. Call 0905 817 0697* for more Sagittarius 23 Nov - 21 Dec One of the key ingredients for success is that you should enjoy what you’re doing. Sagittarians get bored if they do the same thing for too long and, although you’re in a good position, there are signs that you’re starting to get just a little bit restless. Is it perhaps time to look for…

Tucking into one of Mum’s home-made meat pies, I knew not to waste a morsel. Food was a luxury when I was a girl, and you were grateful for what you got. And, with six brothers, I soon learned to be quick! I’d always loved Mum’s hearty meals. But all that butter, pastry and fat took its toll. By the time I left school at 14, I was already bigger than most girls of my age. That soon changed when I took my first job on a nearby farm, though. Up at the crack of dawn milking cows, then delivering the milk to nearby villages, my puppy fat soon dropped off. At 23, I worked first in a shop, then St Helen Hospital – and, six years later, I met…

Share and share alike Last year, it was revealed that Australian identical twins Anna and Lucy DeCinque were dating the same bloke - mechanic Ben Byrne. And the threesome shared the same bed… Twin-tastic! Twins Darlene and Diane Nettemeier married Mark and Craig Sanders in a double wedding. They now live in adjoining houses in Texas, while Diane and Craig also have identical twin sons. Here comes the…mother-in-law! Last year, mum and daughter Susan Scott-Williams, 51, and Kim Milhano, 28, got married in a double wedding ceremony in Bristol. This MADD and their husbands even enjoyed their first dance together!…

NOT GUILTY! The jury returned its verdict within an hour. Henriette Caillaux never denied her crime, but was acquitted on the grounds that she had committed un crime passionnel , having fallen victim to ‘uncontrollable womanly passions’. She went free. The case did no harm to Joseph Caillaux’s political career, and he went on to hold several posts in government. After her acquittal, Henriette mostly kept out of the public eye. She died in 1943.…

Loo dash Q Breakfast goes straight through me! As soon as I have my tea I rush off for a poo! Kate, 29 A This doesn't mean your breakfast has rushed through your bowel! It's your gastrocolic reflex, when a hot drink triggers your lower bowel to empty. Be thankful, how would we keep regular without it? Enlarged clitoris My clitoris becomes Q huge when I'm aroused, is this normal? Stacey, 23 Your clitoris is the A equivalent of a penis, and swells with blood during arousal, like a man's erection. It's bigger in some women, though if it's so big that it constantly sticks out, or is growing, see your GP to rule out rare hormone or chromosome problems. Body shocker! See the man addicted to eating bricks. Go…

Sainsbury's Taste the Difference 12 Outdoor Bred Pork Ultimate Chipolatas, 375g, £2.80 A firm, really well-seasoned banger with a nice, solid texture and thin skins. Quick to cook, too. Tesco Finest Outdoor Bred 12 British Pork Cumberland Chipolatas, 375g, £3 These have a soft texture, and, with the addition of pepper, they have a little kick of heat, too. Lidl Deluxe 10 Pork Chipolatas, 375g, £1.75 There are only 10 in this pack, so they're a bit bigger than the rest - and our fave, thanks to their strong pork flavour, firm texture and thin skins. NEW Ben & Jerry's Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream 500ml £4.99 Just for autumn, this limited-edition ice cream has sweet, cinnamon-spiced pumpkin with a fantastic cookie swirl!…

Me and my partner Peter Seabourne, 45, were thrilled to discover we were expecting our first child. We loved shopping for baby clothes, toys, a pram… ‘I can’t wait for our new arrival,’ Peter beamed excitedly. But, at 14 weeks, after a blood test, doctors had news. ‘You’ve a high risk of having a baby with Down’s syndrome,’ a consultant confirmed. The genetic condition caused by having an extra chromosome…it meant our baby could have severe learning difficulties. I was offered a diagnostic test – but what was the point? It wouldn’t change a thing. ‘I’ll love our baby no matter what,’ I told Peter. ‘Whatever will be will be,’ he agreed. So we turned down the test, and continued with the pregnancy. We had friends who had children with…

THE COLB‘S Who can forget the alien abduction from Dynasty spin-off The Colbys ? Fallon Carrington Colby stepped aboard a shimmering spaceship, greeted by what looked like a tall man in a leotard... NEIGHBOURS Soaps’ golden couple Madge and Harold were torn apart when Madge died from pancreatic cancer, with Harold by her side. Sniff! Want to see Fallon abducted, Madge’s final moments or Dirty Den get done in? Go to www.lifedeathprizes.com  and search ‘memorable soap exits’. CORONATION STREET Who could forget psychopath Richard Hillman? Gail’s evil fiance yelled, ‘This is it! I love you!’ as he plunged the Platts into a canal. Thankfully, everyone but the killer survived. When transsexual Hayley Cropper’s losing battle with cancer led her to take…

If you're feeling unwell, don't wait until you need the doctor - your local pharmacist has all the know-how and products to help you. Here's expert advice on how to stock up.. 1 First of all, throw out any out-of-date medicines. 2 Restock with over-the-counter medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen to relieve symptoms of common winter ailments. 3 Add in basics, such as antiseptic wipes, plasters, an antiseptic cream, sterile gauze dressings, sticky tape, a digital thermometer and an eye wash and bath. 4 Check you have a good supply of any regular prescription medicines. Do the same for any older relatives you look after. 5 Make sure your medicine cabinet is locked securely away from your kids. For more information and advice, visit www.nhs.uk/staywell…

In the middle of a crowded restaurant, my partner Peter dropped to one knee, holding out a sparkling ring. ‘Will you marry me?’ he smiled. It was Valentine’s Day last year, and I’d had a sneaking suspicion he was about to propose. But I was still chuffed to bits. ‘Yes,’ I beamed. Peter, 58, and I had been together three years, and my three kids, aged 15, 13 and 9, thought he was great. That night, we celebrated, staying over at the hotel. Setting the date for October this year, we got swept up in planning our wedding – big church ceremony, reception for 60 guests…Honeymoon in Vegas, followed by a Caribbean cruise. Bliss! My days were always busy being a mum-of-three, and were now even busier with all the…

THE CRIME A disturbing post had appeared on Facebook: I'm taking full responsibility for these murders. Rest in peace my little family. Love Daddio xoxo . It seemed to have been placed by Randy Janzen. But had he really killed his wife, daughter and sister? And why? Laurel often mentioned their despair at their daughter's illness THE STOR‘ Randy Janzen was a doting dad to 19-year-old Emily. She was talented and smart, with dreams of being an opera singer. Emily was the light of Randy and his wife Laurel’s lives. In photos, she could be seen smiling away – even though she often felt lousy. Because Emily’s life had been plagued by horrendous migraines ever since primary school. Recently, the agony had become excruciating. Her constant migraines…