Table of contents for 01-Mar-2018 in Chat

Has this little otter been left Home Alone ?! He certainly does a good impression of Macaulay Culkin’s character Kevin. But don’t worry! The cute critter’s family were swimming nearby in their Singapore river home. Last year, the family successfully raised a clutch of six cubs – let’s hope they don’t run into the same problems as Kevin’s clan! You can see loads of amazing videos featuring all creatures great and small by visiting lifedeathprizes.com  and searching ‘animal world'.…

He claimed he’d acted in self defence, and hadn’t meant to kill Jerry. Utter rubbish! Finally, last November, Ralph Goldie, 40, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow. He pleaded not guilty to my brother’s murder. I went to the trial, determined to face him. I felt angry that the brute couldn’t even look at me. The court heard that Jerry and Goldie had gone to a mate’s flat that night, after having a few drinks. Jerry’s friend had heard something falling down the stairwell, outside the flat. And, when he checked, he saw Jerry at the bottom and Goldie near the top. He had no idea what had happened. But then Goldie had attacked him, too. Utterly despicable. After the brutal attack, Goldie had left, locking Jerry’s injured friend…

In our house, she’s the boss – makes her wishes known! Settling onto the bed for my first scan, you’d think I’d be used to it. After all, I was a mum of five already. I’d been there, done that, got the brood of kids to prove it! But in 2007, three months gone with baby number six, I was just as excited as every other time. Here we go! I thought, looking at the screen as the sonographer squirted cold jelly onto my tum. But when the picture flashed up, I gasped. I looked at my hubby Danny, now 53. Had he noticed too? ‘Is something wrong?’ I said. Our baby’s head was huge. ‘Not to worry,’ the sonographer replied. They told us they’d monitor it throughout my pregnancy.…

A probation report said he had a ‘troubled’ life... Excited, I packed all my things into boxes. ‘I’ll miss you,’ my mum Melanie, 44, said to me with a sigh. It was May 2016, and I’d just got my own flat. ‘I’m not going far,’ I smiled. At 20, I’d been working hard as a sales assistant. I’d miss mum, too, but she was happy for me, helping me to decorate my new place. I loved my independence, working hard, having fun – and often had mates staying over. One night in July 2017, a few of us went to a pub quiz. At 11pm, my friend dropped me home. I ran up the stairs, turned on the kitchen light and waved from the window to let her know everything…

FROM ONLY £1 Mavala Cuticle Oil, £12.50, John Lewis Taking good care of your cuticles will really help your nails and stop them from breaking. Massage in once or twice a day to see the condition of your nails improve. Glass nail file, £2.50, Kiko During colder months, your nails are naturally more brittle, so it's important to be gentle. Glass nail files have a very fine surface that will seal the edge to stop breakage. 7th Heaven Strengthen Nail & Cuticle Finger Masques, £1, Wilko Great for nails damaged by gels or falsies. These nourishing pockets give a much-needed moisture boost to help them recover. Natures Alchemist Multi-Tasking Hand Therapy, £4.49, Superdrug Made from vegan-friendly ingredients, this uses avocado oil and agave extract to soften and smooth your hands…

 Every morning, it’s the same drama in my house. Breakfast, get washed, teeth and hair brushed. She’s finally learnt to be a happy, brave horse My kids Abigail, 7, and Kyle, 5, help the best they can. Even my husband Steven, 36, mucks in, too. You could say it’s like a petting zoo. Well, with two sheep, three goats, six pigs and horses, 13 guinea pigs and dozens of rabbits, it is! I’d grown up around animals, especially horses. My mum Gail, now 62, had always loved riding them. So I was determined to let my kids have the same great experience. Abigail was 2 months old when she was sat on a horse. Her first word was ‘sit’! And she looked so cute in the saddle. Like Kyle, she…

Choking advice I read ‘Killed by a midnight snack' (25 Jan issue) with great sadness. We should all learn what to do in case we're choking while help is not to hand. Make a fist with one hand and put the thumb side between your bellybutton and rib cage. Place your other hand on top and push. This will put pressure on the bottom of the diaphragm, compressing the lungs and forcing the remaining air to push up and dislodge the food. Leona Hexman, Trefnant WE PAY CASH Apology flowers In the queue at a florist’s, a man told me he was buying a nice plant for his wife as they’d had a row. I thought it was lovely – until he added, ‘I was going to buy her roses…

They say that everyone has got a passion in life… Well, I’m really lucky as I have two! The first is music – even as a little one, I loved belting out a good tune. I was in the school choir, singing Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson songs. A proper little showstopper, I sang in every school show or assembly that I could. ‘I want to be famous!’ I’d say. Then, aged 10, I discovered taekwondo and instantly fell in love with the Korean martial art. Juggling taekwondo with singing was easy. I loved and excelled in both. With support from my mum Chhaya and dad Pravin, both 44, I was soon performing at all sorts of events. In 2014, I sang in front of a few thousand people at…

It was 11pm, and my son Jack, 13, was still playing on his Xbox. ‘Time for bed,’ I told him. ‘Leave me alone!’ he snapped. I frowned. What had happened to my sweet boy? It was July 2011 and he’d become so difficult lately, flying into a rage at the slightest little thing. His twin sister Lucy was usually the cheeky one – Jack was always so quiet and loving. ‘What’s wrong?’ I asked. Jack suddenly punched the computer screen. It cracked and he flinched in pain, running up to his room. I was stunned. It was like a dark cloud had come over my boy. As the months went on, his outbursts became more terrifying and unpredictable. Once, he punched a wall at school. ‘That’s not my Jack,’ I…

LUCKY DUCK! Peg the duck lost his leg after it was chewed off by a turtle. But, thanks to students at an Arkansas high school, it now has its freedom back. The clever scholars used a 3D printer, apparently trying 30 times before they got it right. With its prosthetic leg, Peg now waddles around very happily! A WEE BARGAIN A new Ikea ad in a Swedish magazine asks female customers to test their pee on the page. If a woman can prove she's pregnant, she gets a discount for the cot advertised. They say Peeing on this ad may change your life. Don't try it with Chat ... BLESS Y..OOPS! A man ended up in a Leicester hospital with a ruptured throat…

Sentencing Goldie, Judge Lord Arthurson said, ‘Whatever actually occasioned your attacks upon these two men, one being a murderous attack, in the early hours of 14 January 2017, remains unclear, even after the trial. In any event, the jury duly convicted you. Nothing I can say or do today will comfort or compensate Mr Paradine's family for the loss they have sustained through his death, and it may well be that no sentence I can impose can ever be regarded as a sufficient punishment from their perspective.'…

Judge Dayalin Chetty found Christopher Panayiotou guilty of murdering Jayde. Panayiotou was cleared of conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm and defeating the ends of justice. Hitman Sinethemba Nemembe was convicted of murder and robbery, and Zolani Sibeko found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. Panayiotou and Nemembe were given life sentences, and Sibeko was jailed for 15 years. Luthando Siyoni has had his immunity withdrawn and will face trial. Meanwhile, Jayde’s family issued a statement to say they can finally begin to grieve for her.…

Lumpy pit  Q I've found a lump in my armpit but it doesn't hurt. Is it OK to wait and see if it goes away? Tara, 52 A Armpit lumps are common and they're often harmless skin cysts, fragments of breast tissue, fatty lumps or boils. But we take them seriously because another possibility is an enlarged lymph gland, sometimes due to infection, and breast cancer can also be a cause. See your doctor. Cold cure? Q Whenever I catch a cold, my mum tells me to eat raw garlic! Does it really help? Yvette, 36 A Garlic is able to fight some bacteria and viruses in the laboratory, and studies have suggested that people taking it might catch fewer colds, but not everyone's convinced. Side-effects can include smells and…

FROM ONLY £3.40 Asda Crispy Aromatic Shredded Duck, 225g (serves 2 as starter), £3.40 Hats off to this one for convenience - simply microwave the ready-shredded meat for a few minutes and serve. Great if you're short on time - a very easy little starter. Sainsbury's Crispy Half Peking Duck, 800g (serves 2 as main), £9 The duck wasn't as juicy as we'd have liked, but there's lots of meat for your money. The sauce could've been thicker, but bonus points for the spring onion and cucumber in the pack. Aldi Appleby's Crispy Aromatic Half Duck With Pancakes, 570g (serves 2 as main), £4.99 This definitely wins on value! Generous portion of succulent meat, with a perfectly sweet and sticky hoisin sauce and pancakes, all for a bargain fiver. NEW…

Walking home from the corner shop, I was armed with family-sized bags of crisps, massive chocolate bars and sweets. All set for another evening on the sofa! It was June 2014 and this was part of a daily routine for me and my wife Kerri, 35. After putting the kids – Alex, then 7, and Wynter, 3 – to bed, we’d polish off a takeaway. Then I’d pop to the shops and stock up on treats, all to be devoured that night in front of the telly. The next weekend, I took Wynter to a soft-play area and watched his face fall when he asked me to play. There was no way I could run around with him without losing my breath. Or getting stuck down a slide. Then, one…

Serves: 2 Prep: 10 mins Cook: 5 mins Cost per serving: 89p £1 Meal Deal 1 In a bowl, crush 200g cooked frozen peas roughly with a fork, then crumble in 200g feta cheese and mix together. 2 Fold in 1tsp chopped chilli, 1tsp chopped coriander and 1tsp Cajun spice mix into the pea-and-cheese mixture. 3 Place 2 medium tortilla wraps side by side and divide the pea-and-feta mix between them (setting aside a little mixture for garnish). 4 Spread the mixture out evenly across the 2 wraps and then top with 2 more tortilla wraps, ensuring that the mixture can't leak out. 5 Heat a large griddle pan until it's medium-hot and add a dash of vegetable oil. Place 1 wrap in the pan and cook until lines appear.…

Milk tash The one thing my daughter Lilly, 7, loves more than her milky drink before bed is giving herself a milk moustache! Makes me giggle every time. Heather Sutcliffe, Hebden Bridge Double trouble Here are my gorgeous daughters Nellie, 2, and Abbie, 2 months, in their coordinating outfits! These girls are the light of my life. Cassie Hardy, Rhuthun Sweet tooth  My 11-month-old daughter Harper loves eating all the goodies! Amanda Ocquaye, Liverpool…

Aries 21 March - 20 April How strict are the rules you play by? What you’re offered this week is attractive, but it’s a bit close to the line. Nothing illegal, of course, but if the thought of getting involved worries you, then walk away… Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May A friendship has reached the tricky point where you have to decide if you want it to go further. If you do, you have to accept the consequences, whatever they may be. Talk it through together beforehand. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June On game shows, if the winner takes the money and doesn’t try for the big prize, they’re usually shown the prize to see what…

Opening the front door, I was greeted with a friendly smile. ‘Alright, Sis?’ my brother Jerry, then 37, grinned. It was late 2007 and Jerry had dropped by out the blue. ‘Come in, I’ll pop the kettle on,’ I beamed, thrilled to see him. Single, I lived on my own and Jerry lived miles away in Cambuslang, near Glasgow. He often came to see me for an impromptu cuppa and catch-up, though. ‘Just checking you’re OK,’ he’d say to me. Five years older than me, Jerry had always been a protective big brother. Growing up we’d been two peas in a pod. And, even as adults, we remained close. But life had been tough for Jerry over the years. He’d lost his beloved wife Amanda in January 2002 to cervical…

Looking in the mirror, I screwed my nose up at my thicker middle. In the past few months, I’d piled on 2st. I was only 17, in my prime. So off I went to the GP. ‘I can’t shift it,’ I told my doctor. ‘It could be down to the contraceptive injection,’ she explained. I’d been on the jab for about a year. One injection every three months, it had seemed really easy. But, I wasn’t happy with this weight gain. ‘Have you considered using the implant?’ my GP asked. It was a small, thin piece of plastic, which would be inserted under the skin at the top of my arm. It’d work for five years. And weight gain wasn’t so much of a worry. So I agreed. Two weeks…

My mouth dropped wide open. ‘Twins? Are you sure?’ I gasped. ‘Yes, there are definitely two babies in there,’ the midwife said. I was 12 weeks pregnant and the scan had revealed a surprise. Me and my partner Craig Watson, 37, already had four kids – Abbey, then 16, Reece, 12, Kira, 6, and Libby, 4. Our wish for a big family had certainly come true! We were still taking it in as the midwife frowned. ‘One of the babies is very small,’ she said. ‘Unfortunately it may not survive.’ We were heartbroken. But, somehow, over the coming months, the little twin clung on. Then in August 2014, at 38 weeks, I had a Caesarean. Caleb arrived weighing a healthy 7lb. But his sister Skye was 4lb 5oz. ‘She looks…

Makes: 6 x 450g jars Prep: 1 hour Cook: 1½ hours Cost: 70p (a jar) Sweet treat 1 Peel 1kg pink grapefruit, then shred the peel finely. Halve the fruit and squeeze out juice, reserving the pips. Put juice into a preserving pan or large saucepan with the shredded peel. 2 Chop the pulp roughly and tightly tie in muslin with the pips. Put into the saucepan with 1ltr water. 3 Bring the pan to the boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 mins. Remove lid and simmer for a further 20 mins to reduce liquid by a third. Remove the muslin bag, squeezing with a spoon to keep as much liquid as possible in the pan. 4 Add 1.5kg preserving sugar and stir over a low heat until…

As the train pulled out of the station, my heart ached. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I thought, sighing. And it was true. It was 2010 – and, aged 19, I’d just visited my girlfriend Rachel Walker, 18. We’d met at college and had only just started dating when we both headed to different universities. Determined to make it work, I spent weekends on the train, travelling from my uni in Loughborough, to see Rachel in Lincoln. She was worth it, though. Funny, beautiful, with long, blonde hair. I’d fallen for her quickly. ‘Let’s go travelling,’ Rachel suggested after we graduated in summer 2014. So, that September, we jetted off to Europe for two months. Next was Hong Kong, then Australia. We didn’t talk about the future. Lived for…

THE CRIME On 24 February 1999, Peyton Tuthill was robbed and raped in her own home by Donta Page, a predator with previous convictions. She was just seconds away from escaping when he viciously stabbed her to death with a kitchen knife. A rough childhood was no excuse for what he did THE STORY On a quiet road in Denver, Colorado, is the Stout Street Foundation. It’s a rehab facility for those battling alcohol and drug addictions. And it’s where Donta Page was released on parole after serving time in jail for armed robbery. The 23st 12lb, 6ft 3in criminal was supposed to be under close supervision from authorities as part of the conditions of his early release. But it soon became clear the supervision wasn’t enough. Peyton Tuthill lived…