Indice dei contenuti per 03-Jan-2019 in Chat

Under arrest for the murder of her well-liked hubby, Julie told a shocking story about what was going on behind closed doors (p14). There’s an incredible reason why new mum Lilly and Andy share such a special bond (p10). And you won’t easily forget Amanda, who has transformed herself by going under the knife... and now she reckons you could do with some surgery too (p46)! Plus we’ve got even more gripping real-life reads, prize puzzles galore, fashion (p12), beauty, tips, travel and a doggy wedding! Congrats to Flossie and Boy (p24)!…

Lilly Ross, 22 Breaking the news to my husband Rudy in autumn 2015, I was so excited. ‘I’m pregnant!’ I beamed. Calen ‘Rudy’ Ross, 21, grinned, his face breaking into his gorgeous, lop-sided smile – and my heart melted. He was over the moon. Everything will be OK now, I thought. Since marrying in October 2015, Rudy had been prone to feeling down at times. When it happened, I’d gently say, ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘Nothing to worry about,’ he’d reassured me. I persuaded him to see a therapist. Talking seemed to help. And now I hoped the news of a baby would lift his spirits. Rudy bought a crib and loads of little outfits. In February 2016, we found out we were expecting a boy and Rudy was already on the…

Toilet trouble Q There's slimy mucus in my poo. Is it serious? Stella, Port Talbot A Mucus on its own doesn't generally mean much, though it can be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). But if you notice blood, or any change in your usual bowel pattern, that's a potential alarm signal and you should see your GP. Period grief! Q I have severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Before every period my breasts hurt, I'm weepy and I snap at everyone. Isn't there a cure? Lena, Preston A Around 40 per cent of women suffer some degree of PMS, triggered by hormone changes. Treatments that can work well include vitamin B6, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), taking the Pill, antidepressants and stronger hormone therapy. Talk to your GP.…

Tuna spag bol Serves 4 Prep: 5 min Cook: 12 min • 300g spaghetti • 2tbsp olive oil • 2 onions, chopped • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 400g can chopped tomatoes • 1tbsp balsamic vinegar • 2 x 200g cans tuna, drained • 400g can borlotti beans, drained • 200g frozen peas • Pinch of sugar 1 Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water for 10 min until just tender. 2 While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion and cook for 3 min, stirring, until softened. Add the garlic, tomatoes and vinegar. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 min, stirring occasionally. 3 Add the tuna, beans and peas to the…

On 11 November 2014, I rang a bell in the cancer ward of the hospital to mark my last chemo session. Wearing a sash saying Survivor, I felt proud of everything I’d been through. My body was still exhausted, limbs aching, head bald. But I was cancer-free! ‘That’s what matters,’ I told Mum. A month on, I had reconstructive surgery to rebuild my breasts – but they would never be the same again. I had no nipples, didn’t feel sexual or attractive. Of course, I was grateful to the doctors who’d saved my life. But I’d come to hate the new reflection staring back at me in the mirror. I read about women who’d had natural-looking nipple tattoos. Only, I had other ideas. I decided on something pretty, unique... The…

Want to start the New Year with a financial boost? Then try these tips to bag a bigger salary Do your prep It's essential you know your worth. Find out what others earn for similar roles in your industry - you can get an idea from job adverts. Also recruitment consultancy Reed has a Salary Checker ( reed.co.uk/average-salary ), which lets you compare pay in your industry and region. It's all about timing  Make sure your boss has time to listen to you properly, so ask for a meeting. You'll need to argue your case, so have a list of your recent achievements and examples of when you've gone the extra mile, brought in new business or supported your colleagues. Give and take  Make it clear you're committed…

1 Always find yourself taming flyaway hairs? Try spritzing some hairspray onto a toothbrush and gently brushing them down. It works a treat. L’Oréal Elnett Supreme Hold Hairspray, £3.99. 2 Never underestimate the beauty benefits of water. In winter our hydration levels can drop simply because we don’t feel as thirsty as during the warm summer months, but sipping on a bottle of the good stuff throughout the day will result in calmer skin and ward off chapped lips. 3 If you ever curl your hair, here’s a great tip that will give your features a lift. When you get to the sections framing your face, angle the curls away from your face, and ensure the first kink starts in line with your cheekbones. 4 If your lips feel dry,…

Courtney Grice, 19, Hull Looking at my outfit in the mirror, I glimpsed Harry’s lip curling in the reflection. ‘You can’t wear that, you look a state,’ he huffed. My heart sank. I wasn’t big, but my boyfriend Harry would often make nasty remarks about my weight. We’d been together since October 2016 – and, at first, he’d been a sweetheart. He didn’t have much money in his wallet, but that hadn’t stopped him spoiling me. Spontaneous camping trips, bike rides in the country, long walks in the park. But less than a year later, everything had changed. Fun days out were a distant memory, and our afternoons were now spent indoors arguing instead. Harry was insecure, jealous. So I clung to the good days, catching glimpses of the old…

Gemma Dyer, 37, Nottingham Feeling full of excitement, I came home and spilt the beans to my mum Avril. We were so close, everyone called me Mum’s shadow. Now, I sat on the sofa and babbled about my new man Lee, 23. ‘He’s got dark hair and blue eyes,’ I gushed. ‘He’s just perfect.’ ‘He sounds really great,’ Mum beamed. I lived at home with Mum, my dad Alan, 62, and sister Nadine, 27. Mum was bedridden – I was her window to the world We were a lot closer than most families. Mum had developed diabetes when she was pregnant with me – and, since then, her health had suffered. She had hypertension, thyroid issues and heart problems which unfortunately left her bedridden. I was her window to the…

Check out my son Jacob, 18 months. He loves styling his hair with the latest accessories from his tea. Jacob and his twin Aiden make me laugh every day. Lynn Maxwell, Hamilton Me and my hubby John are still rolling after 58 years together. We're really looking forward to our diamond anniversary in two years! Sylvia Dennison, Netherfield I teamed up with my daughters-in-law to raise money in the Pretty Muddy race for Cancer Research. Had so much fun - even if we did get very mucky! Tracey Johnson, Felixstowe Here's me, my sister Christine and my mum Doreen in Iceland by the active Strokkur geyser which erupts every 10 minutes! I'm on the right and we all look a little bit chilly. Nicola Morgan, Castleford My cat Sooty always…

When Julie agreed to marry Jason Harper, it wasn’t exactly a fairytale romance. From the start, she had serious doubts about their relationship. In fact, so had Jason. But hoping for a future together, the pair settled down, had three kids. Soon, things became volatile, the couple arguing over money. Julie’s endless shopping sprees... Jason’s demands for $3,000 (around £2,300) a month for bills. Where he thought she would get the money from was unclear. Julie, 42, was raising their beautiful children. She had no time for a job. She suffered from poor health, too. Still, she did what she could, using savings to help pay her way. When the money ran out, Jason, 39, erupted into rages, swearing at his wife – sometimes in front of the kids. Julie…

Lydia Williams, 21, Cardiff Buckling my seatbelt and starting the engine, my stomach flipped. ‘This doesn’t feel safe,’ I muttered. Aged 17 and on my fourth driving lesson, I realised in that moment I had to quit. Like most teens, I was finding it scary being on the roads for the first time. But it wasn’t other drivers I was scared of, it was me. I worried all the time about having a ‘Lydia moment’. For as long as I could remember, I’d been different. Distracted, unfocused…a bit of a daydreamer. These were just some of the words teachers used to describe me throughout my childhood. But according to the doctors, there was nothing wrong with me. I was just one of those kids, they said, always off in a…

Natalia Slazak, 31, High Wycombe Slamming the snooze button on my alarm, I sat up in bed, still feeling groggy. Just hours earlier, I’d arrived home after a long flight from Mexico – where I’d been on holiday with my friend Jade, 29. I felt shattered as I set about getting ready for work. As I pulled on a pair of trousers, a small purple bruise on my leg caught my eye. Then I spotted a few more. I went over to my partner, and woke him up. Suddenly, everything went black. I’d fainted ‘Look at these,’ I said, pointing. He trained his sleepy eyes on the splotches. ‘They’re just bruises,’ he grumbled. ‘Aren’t you going to be late for work?’ He was right... I finished getting ready, grabbed my…

Aries 21 March - 20 April Anything from 2018 that you haven’t finished needs to be tidied up, maybe even thrown away, by the chimes of midnight. This new year is a fresh start for you - and there’ll be no looking back. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May You want to take a love affair deeper - which will mean entering a different way of life, and may involve legal issues. Once you take such steps, they’re hard to undo. If you have doubts, say no. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June You seem to have walked into somebody else’s argument. If you’re trying to act as a peacemaker, then that shows what a good friend you…

Jenny Berrow, 53, Birmingham It was a wet morning in April 2018 when I settled down to relax. So I logged on to Chat Mag Bingo. I’d played bingo since 2010. For a while, I’d popped into my local bingo hall, loved the social aspect of it. Going out, saying hello to familiar faces. My friends and I had been sad to see the hall close, so I was thrilled to discover I could play online. And there was a great sense of camaraderie in the chatrooms too. Today, I bought 120 tickets at 1p each for Tiki Bingo from the £10 I had in my bingo account. Before I knew it, the ball calls started. Soon my screen was flashing. I won one line, then two, and then… jackpot!…

Doctor Who BBC1 In a break with tradition, the Time Lord's thrilling seasonal adventure will take place on New Year's Day as the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and companions Graham (Bradley Walsh), Ryan (Tosin Cole) and Yasmin (Mandip Gill) head home to Sheffield. But when a chilling force from across centuries of history poses a terrible threat to planet Earth, can the gang save the day? Look out for former Call the Midwife star Charlotte Ritchie who's joining in the adventure. Les Misérables BBC1 There’s a stellar cast in this non-musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s story about the battle of wills between wrongly accused convict Jean Valjean (Dominic West) and inspector Javert (David Oyelowo) set in 19th-century France. Lily Collins is Fantine with Olivia Colman as Madame…

‘Men seem to love this look – who knew?!’ Amanda Divine, 26 Studying myself in the mirror, my make-up was perfect. However, I still wasn’t happy with my reflection. My boyfriend looked on. ‘You know how much I love big bums,’ he told me. ‘What about getting implants?’ ‘In my bum? Really?’ I asked. They’re done using the same stuff that’s used to make boobs larger, and I loved the idea of having a bigger, sexier behind. It was January 2013 and, after years of feeling ugly at school, I really wanted to do everything in my power now to look smoking hot. Slapping on the make-up, wearing revealing clothes. I was determined to prove the bullies wrong, by being the sexiest of them all. So... ‘I’m going to get…

The daughter of a business executive, Roseann Quinn, was a happy child, living in New Jersey with her family. The move they’d recently made from the Bronx, New York, seemed to be a good one, setting up young Roseann for success. Graduating from college in 1966, she started working as a teacher at St Joseph’s School for the Deaf. A few years later, she flew the nest and rented a flat on the west side of Manhattan, where she lived with her cat. She was often seen curled up on a sofa in nearby bars, sipping a glass of wine and reading a novel. Her favourite bar seemed to be WM Tweeds, a boozer just across the road from her home. Living in the midst of the groovy 70s, Roseann,…

Julie Harper was found guilty of second-degree murder. In January 2016, she was sentenced to 40 years. Moving impact statements from her eldest children were read to the court. ‘I no longer have a mother. Because you killed our dad, you’re no longer Mom. I will never call you Mom again,’ one read. She apologised to her family, her kids and her in-laws, but didn’t say sorry for killing her husband. Judge Blaine Bowman said, ‘Your husband got a death sentence. Jason can’t be brought back. Your selfish actions have left your children without a mother, without a father.’…

Just can’t sleep Q I lie awake all night and I can't stand it. Should I give sleeping tablets a try? Iris, Torquay A Sleeping pills are a good short-term fix but, long-term, they stop working and can be addictive. Try going to bed only when you're tired, but get up at the same time every morning, don't sleep during the day and don't read or work in bed. Ask your GP for more advice. Seeing red Q My eyes are always bloodshot and I look as if I have a permanent hangover! What can I do? Kat, Derby A It could be you have an infection or allergy, or irritation from dust, wind or sun. Dry eyes, too much time staring at a screen or contact lens problems are…

This is a rare and serious blood disorder caused by the body's bone marrow not functioning properly. There is a failure to produce enough of all three types of blood cells: red, white and platelets. It's rare - between 100 and 150 people are diagnosed in England every year - and it's most common in children and older people. The condition can be inherited, or develop on its own at any time. Symptoms can include a low platelet count, blood failing to clot, easy bruising, nosebleeds, tiredness and repeated infections.…

I loved this house the minute I saw it - and it's ideal as it's close to Chester, which is a lovely city and where my partner Ross and I grew up,' says Gemma Godfrey, 28. ‘It's a 1970s three-bedroom property and we bought it in March 2015, after searching around for a home that was right for us. ‘When we bought it, most of the rooms just needed a bit of decorating so they felt more “us”, but the dining space was one of the first rooms that we decided to change. It just felt like a corridor and we didn't really use the space. ‘I painted the walls in Grey Reflection from the Homebase Home of Colour range, and immediately the room felt a lot lighter. I spotted…

Allyson Lynch, 31 Pouting, I struck a dramatic pose in front of the mirror. Just like the magazine models I admired so much. I was just a kid, but I loved their flamboyant clothes, their confidence. It’d be amazing to make money being snapped for a mag, I thought dreamily. By 2011, I was 24 and working as a hair stylist – but I still had model ambitions. And, as it happened, a local charity shop needed people for a charity calendar. ‘I could do it!’ I beamed to my mum Karen, then 58. ‘Go for it!’ she laughed. She remembered me posing in the mirror as a girl. My life had just been getting started, but now..? Now, smiling for the camera with hair and make-up done, I felt…

1978: Muswell Hill murderer begins spree Serial killer Dennis Nilsen started his murder spree on 30 December 1978. He lured his first victim - Stephen Holmes, 14 - to his home in Melrose Avenue, before strangling him with a tie, then drowning him in a bucket of water. Nilsen hid the body under the floor. The former soldier was later convicted of six murders and two attempted murders in 1983. He died this May. 2003: Drive-by shooting Cousins Charlene Ellis, 18, and Letisha Shakespeare, 17, were shot dead in a drive-by killing in Birmingham, early on 2 January 2003. A car pulled up and alleged members of the Burger Bar Boys gang opened fire at a group leaving a party.  Their target was allegedly another gang member. Four men were…

Lacura Beautifying Daily Balm, £2.29 Yes, this bears more than a striking resemblance to Clarins’ cult Beauty Flash Balm, and we’re not saying it’s as good, but it is designed to work in much the same way. Smooth on before make-up to smooth and nourish skin, or layer on a thicker dose and wear as a face mask for 10 minutes. The possibilities are (almost) endless. Primark PS… Air Brush Body Foundation in Honey, £3 Bought the LBD of your dreams for the party season but not sure if you dare to bare? Grab Primark’s PS… Air Brush Body Foundation. Smooth it onto arms, legs, décolletage… It gives you a subtle winter glow that doesn’t involve self-tanning panic, blurs away anything you’d rather ignore and washes off in the shower…

Coronation Street Love dilemmas all round… As Weatherfield welcomes in the New Year, many are evaluating relationships… Carla and Peter find themselves together in the snooker hall and their chemistry is still so alive. As they play a game, where stakes are high, will they admit they have feelings for one another? Things aren’t easy lovewise for Emma either, as she’s battling Gemma for Chesney’s attentions and her efforts surprise them both! EastEnders Wedding hell in the Square As New Year arrives in Walford, it’s time for Mel and Ray to get wed. But Mel has more than marriage in mind for her deceitful groom. As she puts the final pieces of her revenge plan into place, she’s hit by a disturbing realisation about the situation. Hunter suspects things aren’t…

Care in a cup On behalf of myself and other cancer patients, I give heartfelt thanks to all who organised and donated to Macmillan's Coffee Morning fundraisers throughout the country on 28 September. I was diagnosed with womb cancer in March 2016 and learnt I'd have a better life without treatment because of my general health. It's two and a half years along the line and my Macmillan nurse, doctors and care team have been amazing. Friends and neighbours at my sheltered housing complex raised £616 and I'm so proud of them. Hilary John, Hull Sign of the times? When I was a child there was an unwritten rule that if a grown-up was standing on public transport, then you offered them your seat. It was called manners . Now,…

The tragic story of Roseann's death was the inspiration for author Judith Rossner's best-selling novel Looking for Mr Goodbar . In 1977, the book was turned into a movie. Diane Keaton played Theresa Dunn, a character very similar to Roseann. Tuesday Weld, William Atherton and Richard Gere also starred. The film follows the life of Theresa, an Irish-American teacher of deaf children who frequents bars and has sex with random men, dabbles with different drugs and drifts between brief relationships. Unfortunately, Theresa's life meets a bitter end. On New Year's Eve, she meets ex-convict Gary , a character based on John Wilson, and when they return to the apartment, a misunderstanding about his sexuality turns nasty . Gary attacks, rapes and stabs Theresa repeatedly, leaving her…