Table of contents for October 1, 2015 in Chat

I squeezed my arms tighter around Dave’s waist. Feeling me pull closer, he twisted the throttle and the motorbike sped down the road. 'Whoop!’ I cried. Such a rush. The wind rushed past as we whizzed through the countryside. It was November 2011 and I’d met David Hateley, then 53, in a local biker pub. I didn’t think he was my type. Charming, handsome. But too clean-cut, I’d thought. Still, I jumped at the chance when he offered to take me out on his bike. And when he turned up in his leathers... Phwoar! Turned out he was the rough-and-ready type I fancied. We went out on his bike a few times after that, me riding pillion. I loved every moment. Then, in May 2012, I was calling a taxi…

Weak voice Q My voice has changed. It starts out OK, then fades after a few minutes' speaking. Why? Clara, 33 A Often, it's tension in the muscles around your vocal cords, perhaps caused by stress. Repeated shouting or over-using your voice can be a cause - as can, more rarely, inflammation or lumps on your cords. Ask your doctor about a referral to a specialist. Crunched bones Q I fell on my bottom last month. It's agony, and an X-ray shows one of the bones in my back has collapsed. What can I do? Val, 66 A You've crunched one of your vertebrae. It's called a compression fracture, and can be extremely painful, though it usually gets better after a few weeks' rest and painkillers. Your GP might suggest…

POST Chat, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU EMAIL chat_magazine @timeinc.com FACEBOOK On Facebook at www.facebook.com/  ChatMagazine We pay £25 for each letter published, and a fiver for each Facebook thought, £25 if we use your Facebook photo on here. • All contributions to Chat must be original, not copies or duplicated to other editors. Subject to these conditions, payment as set out above will be paid for all rights in each letter printed. The Editor reserves the right to shorten or modify any letter or material submitted. Time Inc. (UK) Ltd reserves the right to reuse any submission sent to Letters, Tips, Kids, and Chat to us! columns of Chat magazine, in any format or medium. We regret we cannot answer letters.…

Cool in the shades… My 16-month-old son Tyler-Jack is so skilled at taking selfies, he can do it with sunnies on! Kelly Rees, Cardiff Just one look! Mum, I ve just woken up! Only 7 days old, and my daughter Abigail is making it quite clear she’s not keen on the camera! Amanda Turner, Norwich Sweet siblings I love this picture of my beautiful children Lukas, 5, and Mina, 2. Nicola Smith, Stoke-on-Trent Little chef Here's my very own would-be Jamie Oliver, mixing up the mash for tea. Lovely jubbly! Cheryl Griffiths, via email Shop till you drop..? My worn-out daughter Amber, 2, took a nap on her nappies in the trolley. Jackie Wilson, Basingstoke MY CUTE BABY PIC Two little stars! Living up to her nautical name, my 11-month-old…

If you'd like help with a problem, write to: Ingrid, Chat, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU, or e-mail ask-ingrid@timeinc.com Sorry, Ingrid cannot reply personally. This bloke should not be left in charge of your wee ones. Is fella still doing dope? Q My boyfriend was a doper, but gave up when he moved in with me and my 10-month-old twins. I was proud and, with him around, I got work doing night shifts. Lately, though, I've smelt dope on him when I get home next day. He swears it's not him but his mates who have been round. Should I believe him? Anita, 27 A Have you never heard of passive smoking? Come on. If he's hanging round in a fug of cannabis fumes, he'll feel…

Max’s trial reaches a climax and those who know the truth about Lucy’s murder are desperate to get him off the hook. But is he about to be convicted of a crime he didn’t commit? Lauren is at breaking point, not sure whether to speak up for her dad or stick to the agreed plan… Whatever Lauren decides, tensions run high in court and residents are shocked by the drama that unfolds. Meanwhile Carol’s struggling to hold it together and Sonia backs up Robbie’s suggestion that she should move to Milton Keynes with him. Plus, it’s a year since Linda’s attack and Mick struggles watching Dean carry on as normal. So it’s a nice surprise when Linda returns home from sunny Spain, insisting she’s OK and ready to throw herself…

When somebody told me about Quidco a few years ago, I thought that it sounded like a great idea. Discovering that I could get cashback for doing my everyday shopping? Well, I say, 'Yes, please!’ So, back in 2007, I signed up. It did take me a little while to get used to it, but, once I was familiar with the site, I found that it really changed the way I shop. Quidco’s been absolutely great, because you get to shop in all your favourite shops, while looking at the other stores that Quidco works with. These days, I use Quidco for pretty much everything – clothing from ASOS, hotel rooms, travel insurance… And I just can’t praise the service enough. My best earning so far was £100 after taking…

How I lost it! I've always had issues with my weight and, in 2008, I tried a diet of three meal replacements a day to try and shift the pounds. I lost 6st 7lb in six months, but with terrible repercussions - at only 23, I suffered with hair loss and dizziness. After coming off the diet, I gained 8st 7lb! I tried various other diets to try and lose the weight, but nothing worked for me . Then, last June, when I weighed 15st 3lb and was a dress size-18/20 , I signed up with Slimming World. By making lots of small changes to the way I cook, shop and eat, I started losing weight. Now I've lost almost 5st, I weigh 10st 6½lb , am a dress size-10/12,…

I’ve enjoyed several lovely holidays in the past two and a half years – soaking up the sun by the sea. Bliss! And it’s all down to my wins at Chat Mag Bingo! In fact, you might remember seeing me in Chat back in 2012 – smiling out of the pages, holding up my big cheques! Back then, I’d won £408, £3,032 and £6,769 in progressive jackpots playing Round The Clock bingo. That was a total of £10,209 within six weeks of joining! I’d used my winnings to whisk my mum and my two best mates Sam and Amy away on a two-week holiday to Bulgaria. Sam and Amy are fab. More than friends, they’re actually my carers, too. Since I was little, I’ve suffered with reflex syncope, which means…

Libra 24 Sep - 23 Oct If you expect a door to be closed, and it is, you’ll think no more about it. But if you expect it to be open, and it isn’t, you’ll run right into it and get hurt. Maybe your expectations were too high, or perhaps it’s simply the wrong door. But, actually, this little setback might well be a blessing in disguise. • Call 0905 817 0696 for more Scorpio 24 Oct - 22 Nov You’re at that stage where you know exactly what you want, but it costs a lot of money. And you’re wondering whether you dare spend that much! You tell yourself that it’s a necessary investment for your future - but is that really so? Try before you buy, if you…

THE CRIME Talented sportsman Christopher Lane had a promising baseball career ahead of him. When he was shot dead while out running, nobody could understand why he was targeted. Was it possible that, for his killers, it was all just a bit of fun..? THE STORY Australian Christopher Lane developed a passion for baseball at a young age. And he was good, too. As he got older, he wanted to travel to America, to play among the best in the world. So, when he was granted a scholarship to East Central University in Oklahoma, he was thrilled. Christopher quickly settled into life – though it was 9,000 miles away from his family, back home in Melbourne. And, in 2009, he met Sarah Harper at a party. Sarah was herself a…

THE STORY SO FAR... Socialite and self-made millionaire Gigi Jordan checked into a luxury hotel with her autistic son Jude Michael Mirra. Hours later, she was discovered in her suite ‘babbling incoherently' after trying to kill herself, while Jude lay dead beside her. Was it a bungled murder-suicide or something more sinister? The case… A MERCY KILLING? Belgian-born Gigi Jordan had wealth beyond imagination. President of several New York-based pharmaceutical companies working on treatments for cancer, she’d also made a lot of money investing in property. She was estimated to be worth a staggering £65million. But money had not been able to buy her happiness. Gigi had been married to Raymond Mirra, the pharmaceutical executive with whom she’d made her fortune, but they’d divorced in 2001. Gigi then married Emil…

My son Jacob gurgled happily as I snapped away with my camera phone. It was July 2013, and he was just 8 weeks old. 'What a little poser!’ my partner Richard, 30, laughed. But something in the snaps caught my eye… 'Why does Jacob have a white spot in his eye in all the photos?’ I asked, confused. His right eye had a pale glow covering the whole of his pupil. 'It’s probably just the flash,’ Richard reasoned, and we soon forgot about it. But then friends and family began pointing out the glow in photos, too. To put my mind at rest, I did some research online. Alarmingly, one word kept cropping up. Cancer. Reading on, I learnt that an eye glow in photos could indicate retinoblastoma – a…

Tesco Vanilla Tray Bake, £5 There are no marked squares, so you can nab yourself as small - or large - a slice as you like. Very light sponge - and we love the dolly-mixture topping! Morrisons Sweetie-Topped Party Cake, £5 This feeds 15 - and there's a jelly sweet on top of each and every square. The best bit? The delicious butter-cream icing! Sainsbury's Sweetie Tray Bake, £5 Delicious sponge cake, tasty, thick icing and a generous scattering of sweeties. A tasty way to mark any celebration! NEW  Yorkshire Provender Chicken & Butternut Soup with Lentil & Cumin, £2.49, Co-op, Tesco, Budgens, Nisa New in store for autumn, this gently spiced soup is filling and a half-pot serving is just 162 cal.…

Serves: 12 Prep: 20 min + standing Cook: 1hr 500g dried apricots, chopped 200g light brown sugar 300ml Earl Grey tea, coldButter, for greasing 1 egg, beaten 2-3 drops lemon extract 300g plain flour 2tsp baking powder 1 Place apricots, sugar and tea in a bowl, mix well, cover and leave to stand in a cool place for about 3hr, until apricots have plumped up a bit. 2 Preheat oven to 170C/ Gas 3 and grease and line a 900g loaf tin. 3 Mix egg with lemon extract and stir into soaked fruit and tea. 4 Sift flour and baking powder over fruit, then mix in well. Spoon into tin, smooth top and bake for 1hr until risen, lightly golden, and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.…

Snuggling under the duvet in July this year, I cosied up to my hubby Darrin, 35. My eyes getting heavy, I soon began drifting off. But suddenly something tickly brushed my leg. Probably just a creepy-crawly, I thought, batting it away with my hand. Seconds later, a searing pain shot through my calf. 'Owww,’ I yelped, throwing the sheets off me. 'What’s wrong?’ Darrin yawned. Peering down at my leg, I spotted a red lump forming on my left calf. 'I’ve been bitten,’ I winced. Darrin inspected the wound. 'That looks like a spider bite,’ he said. He’d kept spiders as pets through the years, so he knew what he was talking about. Yet we weren’t too worried. We were in Northern Ireland, not the Aussie Outback! Turning the bedroom…

Emmerdale Who shot Robert? Villagers reel from Robert being shot, with suspicions running high and plenty of suspects. Lawrence, Andy, Chrissie, Paddy Lachlan and Aaron are in the frame - and Andy and Chrissie are arrested. Coronation Street Living in Hope! Every parent’s worst nightmare comes true for Fiz when she and Tyrone are told that Hope is suffering from a cancer called neuroblastoma and will have to undergo chemotherapy. Plus the Platts try to focus on the future… Hollyoaks Caught short! Ste and Harry are caught by Tony in the loos at a gay club, while Ziggy is dancing with clubbers, not realising he’s at a gay bar! Plus Cindy finds Gloved Hand’s locker while at the hospital with Holly, who’s taken drugs.…

For as long as I could remember, I always felt a little different. There was something that wasn’t quite 'right’. I wanted to please my family – to be the best son and grandson I could be. Yet, though I was a lad called Jonathan, I was interested in 'feminine’ things. 'That’s not the right thing for boys,’ my family gently told me when I played with a lipstick. So, growing up, I threw myself into footy practice – I wanted acceptance, to be normal. In my teens, I was popular at school and with girls. I had a few girlfriends and we’d kiss but I felt numb about doing anything else. At 16, I left school and worked for a local newspaper before joining a local radio station. I…

Swap… 25g serving of traditional Horlicks with semi-skimmed milk… 188 cal For… 32g serving of Horlicks Light in hot water… 118 cal SAVES 70 CAL! Diet bites Skinny lamb WeightWatchers Lamb Koftas with Giant Couscous, £2.59, Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury's A limited-edition, Moroccan-style dish with just 344 cal. Get it while stocks last or miss out! Green & pleasant! B Fresh juice blends, £2, Asda Four healthy salad drinks that are full of goodness and low in calories. We like #greenwarrior: apple, cucumber, spinach, kale, lime and ginger, 60 cal; and #rockthebeets - beetroot, apple, spinach and lemon, 70 cal. £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…

It was coming up to midnight on 24 July this year, and I was watching telly when I heard the whirr of propellers outside. My hubby Steven, 55, son Sean, 23, and friend Wayne Dodd, 43, were using a new roller and raking the garden using an external light, when they’d seen a police helicopter. Then I heard a commotion out front, so opened the door. Four police officers were walking towards me, behind them five police cars, several armed-response officers, even a dog unit! 'Is anyone in your garden?’ an officer asked. 'Do you mind if we have a look?’ 'By all means!’ I replied. 'What are you doing?’ one of the officers asked. 'Gardening…’ said Wayne. Once they realised that’s all they were doing, they left. Next morning,…

1 Soak 225g dried chickpeas overnight in water. Next day, drain them, put them in a food processor with 1tbsp tahini, 1tsp salt, 1tsp baking powder, 1tsp cumin seeds, 1tsp ground coriander, ½tsp cayenne pepper, 1 crushed clove of garlic, 50g roughly chopped watercress and the juice of ½ lemon. Whiz until very finely chopped. 2 Set mixture aside for a couple of hours, so the flavours can combine. 3 Preheat oven to 220C/ Gas 6 and put a roasting tin in the oven to heat. With a wet hand, shape mixture into 16 balls, then flatten slightly into patties. 4 Add 2tbsp oil to the roasting tin, return to oven for 2 min, then add falafels, tossing to coat in hot oil. Bake 20 min, turning once until crisp…

Shopping bags bursting, I squeezed onto the bus. 'Here you go, love,’ urged a young lad, giving up his seat. My cheeks flushed bright red. 'Erm, thanks,’ I replied. Not again! My swollen stomach was hidden beneath a pair of size-12 maternity jeans. It was easy to see why he thought I was expecting. Only, I wasn’t pregnant. I hadn’t been for over a year! Since my youngest daughter, Isla, arrived in October 2013, I’d looked like I was smuggling a beachball under my top. After having my first three, Colby, 10, Tamzin, 9, and Reegon, 6, from a previous relationship, my body had quickly snapped back to a size-8/10. Fit and active, I’d kept trim at kick-boxing classes. Each time I’d had a Caesarean, as Colby and Tamzin were…

Heading to a local gym, I’d butterflies in my tummy. It was October 2005, and I was heading to my first-ever pole-fitness lesson. I’d read about the classes in the newspaper and was looking for a new way to get fit. Why not give it a go? I thought. You see, I’d always been a gym bunny, exercising at least three times a week, and I had trained as an aerobics instructor, too. But I wanted a new challenge. 'Come on in,’ the instructor smiled when I arrived at my first lesson. In truth, the class was tougher than I’d expected… I had to use my core strength to scale the pole and do some basic moves. But… 'That was fantastic,’ I said afterwards, feeling exhilarated. The following day, I…

Letter of the week Pricey products As a family member was undergoing tests for coeliac disease, I decided to look into buying gluten-free food. I was shocked at how expensive it is - nearly £3 for a load of bread or packet of pasta. If you have children who are gluten intolerant, you must struggle to feed them! I don't see the justification for these high prices. Maria Connelly, Bellshill Never too late Good for Doreen and George – they’re living proof that you’re never too old to get married (My new hubbys 103, 13 August issue). It’s given this 45-year-old singleton renewed hope. Though I’d rather not have to wait quite as long as they did to tie the knot. I want to be young(ish) enough to have a…

Arriving for a blind date, my heart raced as I searched the pub, my nerves on edge. Then, I spotted a handsome chap with a mop of wavy, ginger hair and dreamy brown eyes. It was March 1967 and, with a cheeky grin, Robert Finlay, then 20, stole my heart. We bonded over a love of Elvis, and had lots in common. I was tickled to learn we weighed the same – 9st 4lb. 'You skinny beggar!’ I laughed. Smitten, we got married a year later and had our daughter, Nicola, in August 1970. Next came Cheryl, in December 1972. I adored motherhood. But it took its toll on my 5ft 2in frame, and I ballooned up to a size-18/20. Tucking into stodgy chips and pasties, I convinced myself I’d…

Little blue outfits, Moses basket, pram... The nursery was fit to burst! 'Everyone’s so generous,’ I beamed. It was January this year and my partner Jonathan Blenkinsop, 31, and I were expecting a little boy. We’d named him Seb. It’d been a surprise. I had two kids, Sadie, 12, and Kori, 9, from a previous relationship and we’d not been trying. But we couldn’t wait! Only, one day at 29 weeks pregnant, I was out with my mate Reagan, 25, when I started getting pains. 'It’s just Braxton Hicks,’ I shrugged. False labour pains – preparing my body for the real thing! But she told me she could see my tummy contracting. 'I’m taking you to the hospital,’ she said. At the University Hospital of North Tees, I thought I’d…

If you want a holiday with plenty of varied things to see and do, then check out this beautiful county… Where to stay? We hopped on a train from London, and less than two hours later, we’d arrived at Lichfield Trent Valley station. A quick 15-minute taxi ride took us to our sprawling hotel. Hoar Cross Hall Spa Hotel is as luxurious as it comes. The Grade II listed stately home is decked out with a day spa complete with swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms and much, much more. What to do? We spent some relaxing time in the spa and enjoyed an OxyGeneo Facial. Basically, it blitzes fine-lines and wrinkles and makes your skin silky smooth. Feeling relaxed and positively glowing, we decided to explore the area. There’s heaps…

Cider With Rosie, BBC1 The channel's latest classic drama is a coming-of-age story set in the Cotswolds during and straight after WWI. It follows young Lol (Archie Cox, above with Ruby Ashbourne Serkis as Rosie) as he grows from boy to man. A starry cast includes Samantha Morton, June Whitfield and Annette Crosbie. The Kennedys, BBC1 New 1970s-set, six-part comedy about the Kennedy family, who are desperately keen to climb the social ladder as they move into Stevenage - then a brand-new town in Hertfordshire. They're soon organising an Opportunity Knocks-style talent show and hosting their estate's first-ever dinner party. Katherine Parkinson and Dan Skinner star… Million Pound Properties C4 Is your house worth £1million? It's not such a silly question, as an estimated 500,000 home owners in Britain are…

NSPA Raspberry Daily Refresh Shower Scrub, £3, Asda For its Tickled Pink campaign, Asda will donate 20p to Breast Cancer Care for each scrub sold. OSIS+ Soft Glam Plumping Shine Mousse, £8, Schwarzkopf Professional Salons Available for just £8 (normally £10.75) the price includes an optional £1 donation to the Pink Ribbon Foundation. Donate £2 and you get a travel-size Strong Glossy Holdspray! Stila Positively Pink Set, £13, www.qvcuk. com Visit the website on 7 October to get this set - £10.40 from each sale will go to Breast Cancer Care. Pink out Loud! Sculpting Brush, £7.25, www. lookfantastic. com Get fab hair and support CoppaFeel as 55p from each brush sold will go to the charity. Limited Edition Invisibobble,…

The phone call came completely out of the blue. 'Congratulations! You’ve won a holiday.’ I was speechless for a second. But it was true. I’d won a prize draw on Chat Mag Bingo. A fabulous, all-inclusive week for two on the Greek island of Kos. Amazing! And it wasn’t my first Chat Mag Bingo win either. Back in 2011, I’d hit the jackpot and won a massive £8,566! Me and my mum Elizabeth Coney, 69, have always loved a bit of bingo. Mum sometimes went to the bingo hall. But as a busy mum – and a foster parent with my hubby David, 58 – I often didn’t have time. Which is why playing online was so great. Mum and I had a pact. We’d always share our winnings. So…

I remember her like it was yesterday… Bobo. I was obsessed with dolls, and she was my favourite. A present from my grandparents, she had dark eyes and dark hair. Though she took pride of place in my heart, my parents treated me to countless other dollies. 'Let’s have a dolls’ tea party,’ I’d always say to Mum excitedly. Even after I’d grown up, moved out, married my sweetheart David, and had my children, my love of dolls never waned. I’d kept a few from childhood, and I even had some collectable dolls, which were put away for safekeeping. But, for a while, my biological brood was my priority. And when they’d grown up, my 20 grandkids took over! Then, in late 2010, I was flicking through a magazine when…