Table of contents for 03-Nov-2016 in Chat

High on the hog, it’s Instagram star Sir Hodge Huffington the Cricket Slayer – aka Huff. But tooth be told, despite his posh name, cute Huff’s a rescue hog. Here he is, looking keen to say ‘fangs a lot’ to his adoptive mum, student Carolyn! Now see an adorable hog and his BFFs! Go to www. lifedeathprizes/hedgehog-and-dachshund-best-friends…

I slowly began to heal, physicallyand emotionally Thankfully, my vocal cords were unaffected by the shooting but, with my jaw wired shut, I couldn’t talk, let alone sing! Still, I refused to stay quiet. Recovering in hospital, my aunt visited, bringing me a notebook. I started writing songs about my survival. Two weeks on, I was discharged. Back at my flat, I had to clean my own blood off the walls and I spotted one of Kenny’s rifles. In total, 16 guns had been left behind. Sickening. I was called back and forth to court until, in November 2010, Kenneth Fiaui accepted a plea bargain. The attempted murder charge was dropped. He admitted assault with a firearm causing serious bodily harm, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer causing serious…

GUILTY  he jury found Alice T Crimmins guilty not of murder, but of the lesser charge of manslaughter. But two months later, the conviction was overturned. A second trial in 1971 ended with Crimmins convicted of Eddie Jnr’s murder and Missy’s manslaughter. Two years later, both convictions were reversed again. In 1975, the manslaughter conviction was reinstated, and she was jailed once again – only to be paroled in 1977. After this, Alice Crimmins disappeared from public view.…

Fuel 10K Golden   Syrup Protioats, 60g, £1.10 Very sweet, but not much of a golden-syrup flavour. The protein boost should keep you going until lunchtime. Oomf! Skinny Oats Instant Porridge Golden Syrup Flavour, 50g, £1.30 Though this is syrup-flavoured, it's not overly sweet. It's a fairly rough-textured porridge - so, if you prefer yours smoother, leave it for an extra minute or two for the oats to soften a little more. Quaker Oats Oat So Simple Golden Syrup, 57g, £1 Very lumpy to start with but, after a good stir, it was a perfect consistency. A well-flavoured, satisfying pot of porridge. NEW   Whitworths Mix ‘n' Bake, £1.78, Asda Two mixes to add flavour and texture to your bakes. There's Choc Salted Caramel and Dark Choc Cherry, both with…

Mum was in a lot of pain but didn’t want to worry me Dad stayed by her side, lost without his soulmate By Rebecca Dickinson, 25, from Radford, Coventry Tossing and turning, I knew I was having a nightmare, but it all felt so real. Eventually, I woke up screaming. ‘What’s the matter?’ my boyfriend Richard, then 25, said. ‘I had the most horrible dream that Mum had hurt her head,’ I sobbed. ‘Don’t worry, babe, it wasn’t real,’ he replied. He hugged me tightly and I started to feel better. Rich went downstairs, but as I got up to follow him, I spotted my phone at the side of the bed, lit up with a missed call. When I looked at the screen, there were actually 10 missed calls…

Bomb Rose & Pink Pepper Hand Treatment, £4.50, www. bombcosmetics. co.uk Packed full of essential oils to keep your hands smooth. Top tip: Hands can show signs of ageing - so take care of them! Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Visibly Renew Elasti-boost Hand Cream, £5.75, Boots This also helps to boost collagen and prevent age spots. Top tip: Protect your hands with SPF all year round. Tesco Conditioning Hand & Nail Cream, £1, Tesco This not only works wonders on your mitts, it'll help keep your nails healthy, too. Top tip: Keep by the side of your bed so you always remember to use it! Woods of Windsor Lavender Nourishing Hand Cream, £9.99, www.woodsof  windsor.co.uk Hydrates well with a comforting lavender scent. Top…

We said a prayer and sprinkled the boy with holy water By Russ Hodgson, 45, from Windsor The child cowered in the corner of the kitchen. Then, slowly, he turned to face me. His eyes were rolled back in his head, only the whites showing. It was like a scene from 1970s horror flick The Exorcist. Only, this was real life… It was 2013, and my team of paranormal investigators had been called to a London flat by worried mum Shelly. Her 6-year-old son Jamie had become withdrawn, and wasn’t eating or sleeping. Then Shelly and Jamie’s dad Robert had heard Jamie talking to someone in his room. Concerned, they’d put a baby monitor by his bed. That’s when they heard a sinister child’s voice goading Jamie to stay awake……

We’d have an extra-fabulous family hol to Gran Canaria By Joanne Dalton, 34, from Manchester It was only earlier this year that I was smiling out from the pages of Chat Magazine flashing my big cheque! I’d just won the Full House playing 90-ball Bejeweled Bingo, winning a massive £1,000 jackpot. I’d been pottering around doing my laundry as the game played out. One by one, my numbers had come up – until the last one I needed flashed on screen. Number 87! My partner Chris, 33, who’d been cooking tea, was chuffed to bits – me, too! We’d put my winnings towards our annual summer holiday to Gran Canaria. The kids, aged 9 and 12, couldn’t wait and neither could Chris and I. I’d joined Chat Mag Bingo a…

I scrubbed the kitchen with bleach, binned all the food By Caroline Bagshaw, 29, from Nuneaton Navigating my way around the kitchen, I was making packed lunches for my boys Jayson, 5, and Joshua, 2. ‘We’ll be off soon,’ I called to the boys, who were in the next room. It was August this year and we’d planned a day out with their pals. As I went to break off a banana from the bunch, I noticed something small tumble out. A spider! Freezing, I bottled up a scream as I didn’t want to panic the boys. All I could do was stare at it... Motionless, its hideous legs were squashed up against its body, making it look around the same size as a 50p piece. I gathered the courage…

Gianni told her that the rape meant she’d been dishonoured THE STORY Norma Esparza had worked hard all her life. She was born in El Taray, a tiny village in the swelteringly hot southern part of Mexico. A village where there were no paved streets, no running water…and no opportunities. But, when Norma was 5, she’d moved with her mum to the USA. And, while her mum struggled to make ends meet with cleaning and factory jobs, Norma read, studied, applied herself. It paid off. She won a scholarship to the Phillips Exeter Academy, a boarding school in New Hampshire. And, from there, she was accepted to study a degree at Pomona College in California. On 25 March 1995, Norma was in her second year there. She was 20 years…

KNIT, KNIT – WHO’S THERE..? The Three Little Pigs didn't think of this one! Workers supporting asylum seekers spent three weeks crocheting 300sq m of material to cover art installation Our Pink House, in Finland. The project was devised by New York-based artist Olek who described it as ‘a symbol of hope'. CAT-HAM COMMON London group Glimpse, which aims to use creativity for good, set up its first project - the Citizens Advertising Takeover Service (CATS) - to create the purr-fect daily commute. Using a crowdfunding website, it raised £23,000 to replace ads with pictures of mogs at Clapham Common tube station! STRESS BALLS Why should it only be men who get to play with their balls? Spanish company Imaginarte collaborated with special-effects engineer Raul Rodriguez Romeo to create a…

I was forced to listen to things no parent should ever have to hear We’re trying to rebuild our lives but Laura still has nightmares By Sarah, 45, from Tyne and Wear My husband Michael, 45, sounded strange on the phone. Upset, shocked, angry. ‘You need to get here right now,’ he said. I knew something was very wrong, and demanded he tell me what it was. ‘I can’t tell you on the phone,’ he said, his voice breaking. When I arrived, Michael was clutching a bundle of printouts, face pale, hands shaking. ‘They’re Facebook messages,’ he told me. My heart pounded as Michael explained he’d stumbled across them accidentally – they’d been left open on the computer. A man named James William Watson, 66, had been sending our daughter…

Nellie couldn't wait to come into the world... By Shelley Burroughs, 30, Billingshurst Waking in agony, I let out a yelp. At 35 weeks pregnant with my second child, I was fit to burst. It was July this year, and I was staying at my parents’ house with my daughter Nancy, 2, as they’d had a barbecue that day. I’d had twinges throughout the day, but it didn’t feel like labour was about to start. After all, I’d done this before. Wearily glancing at my phone now, I saw it was almost midnight. In pain, but not concerned, I tried to get back to sleep. Until I heard a loud pop! ‘Oh, my God,’ I muttered, clambering out of bed. ‘My waters have broken!’ Clutching my belly, I rushed into…

Blind spot Q I seem to have a small blind spot in one eye. It doesn't hurt. Will it get better? Yvette, 41 A If you're also seeing flashing lights, this might suggest a tear in the retina at the back of your eye. A blocked blood vessel, migraine, rarely even multiple sclerosis or a brain tumour are other possibilities, so you should see your doctor. Scaly skin Q I hate the autumn! I have red, scaly patches of psoriasis and they're always worse at this time of year. Why? Vikki, 39 A Stress can trigger psoriasis, so maybe autumn just gets you down! It could be lack of sunlight, or the effects of central heating, coldness and damp. Ask your doctor about stronger treatment. Wheeze concerns Q Every time…

At over 28st, a doc told Dai he might not get to see the kids grow up By Michelle Harris, 42, from Llanederyn Popping the cork on a bottle of champagne, I grinned at my hubby Dai, 46. ‘Cheers!’ I said, as we clinked glasses. We’d four kids – Jonathan, 23, Caine, 20, Trystan, 18, and Rhiannon, 10 – and it was rare for us to have a night to ourselves. So we’d booked a fancy hotel in Cardiff city centre. We laughed and drank for about another hour before tiredness got the better of us. Our room was lovely, with a big, comfy bed that we fell into, going straight to sleep. A few hours later, I woke up needing the loo. But, when I fumbled through the dark…

1 Cook 200g Maris Piper potatoes in salted boiling water until tender, drain and mash. 2 Season mash with salt and pepper, then mix in 75g plain flour and knead for a couple of min. 3 Split dough in half then roll each into a sausage shape. Cut dough into 2cm pieces and, using back of a fork, press gently into each. 4 Bring a pan of salted water to the boil. 5 For sauce, fry a finely chopped onion and 3 crushed cloves of garlic in 1tbsp olive oil over a low heat until soft, add a tin of tomatoes and season with a little salt and pepper. Stir in a handful of chopped basil. 6 Cook gnocchi in boiling water until they rise to surface, then drain. Mix…

Postcode pricing I drive up north to visit relatives and friends quite often and I usually fill up at supermarkets. However, I've noticed a big difference in their petrol prices. It doesn't seem fair that fuel is more expensive just because you live in a certain region. Will food costs increase as well? I think supermarkets should charge the same for all their products, no matter where their customers live. Jeena Sumner, north London Life for life I’m fully behind Stephanie Davis’ campaign to keep the men who murdered her mum behind bars (Don’t Free Mum’s Killers, 8 Sept issue). How is it a life sentence when the person is eligible for parole years later? I willingly signed her petition. Jenna Burton, Corwen Cheers! At a parents’ evening, I glanced…

1 Las Ramblas  The pretty tree-lined pedestrian mall boasts bustling shops and eateries. After dark, it's a hub of popular bars and nightclubs. 2 Barceloneta beach  The city's coastline includes 4.5km of sandy beaches, and Barceloneta is just 20 minutes' walk from the city centre. Warning: it's illegal for men and women to be topless/ wear bikini tops in the city centre. So cover up when leaving the beach or face a hefty €500 fine! 3 FC Barcelona Camp Nou  Footy fans can't fail to enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of this impressive stadium. Matches are played throughout much of the year, so book ahead for any during your stay. 4 La Boqueria food market  Just off Las Ramblas, the grand iron entrance leads to a flurry of noisy sellers plying…

Two years after they vanished, a letter arrived One minute Jane, 9, Arnna, 7, and Grant, 4, were playing in the sand. The next minute, they weren’t. They’d vanished. It was January 1966 in Adelaide, Australia. The three siblings lived with their parents Nancy and Jim a short bus ride from the city’s Glenelg beach. That morning, the kids wanted to play there. Like they had many times. So Nancy gave them change for the bus, made them promise to be home for lunch. ‘Two o’clock sharp,’ she said. But 2pm came and went. At 7.30pm, Jim Beaumont called the police. An appeal for information was launched immediately, and witnesses claimed to have seen the children playing at Glenelg beach… With a man described as tall, athletic-looking, with tanned skin…

He’d dismiss my opinions and pick fights over silly things My mouth was filled with pieces of shattered teeth By Courtney Weaver, 30, from Seattle, USA While chatting to my friend one day, she asked me how my love life was going. ‘Well, there are no dateable guys!’ I declared. At 19, I’d recently relocated from Seattle to California to pursue my singing career. It was going well, I’d had regular gigs. But three years on, I was still single. ‘Kenny, a friend of mine, is visiting. I’ll introduce you,’ she smiled. That afternoon, I met Kenneth Fiaui, then 34, and fancied him instantly. As I wasn’t performing that night, I offered to show him around town. I quickly fell for clever and charming Kenny, and he clearly felt our…

Megan had been hit by a car, which had struck her head She had her skull put back together – like a jigsaw puzzle! By Lesley Thomson, 34, from Aberdeen My phone trilled, and the name of my girl Megan’s friend flashed on the screen. Call it a mother’s instinct, but panic shot straight through me. Something’s wrong, I thought. It was 7.10pm on 29 January this year, and Megan, 15, had gone out with her mates only half an hour earlier. ‘Please, can you answer it?’ I asked my mum Linda, 60, my voice shaky. Mum’s face went pale as she spoke to Megan’s friend. Then… ‘Megan’s been hit by a car,’ she told me. We had to get to the hospital. Now! My stomach churned, my blood ran…

I needed an operation but I’d lost too much weight Icouldn’t seem to keep anything down. No matter what I ate, within minutes, I’d throw it back up again. ‘Probably just a tummy bug,’ I said to my partner Alex, 26. But weeks on, in 2014, I still wasn’t feeling any better. I was starting to lose weight and had stomach cramps, too. I was referred for tests at Darent Valley Hospital. Scans revealed ovarian cysts. ‘You’ll need an operation to drain them,’ a doctor said. So that September, I had the surgery. When I was discharged, I caught a glimpse of my medical notes. I saw Wilkie’s syndrome written beside my name. ‘What on earth’s that?’ I asked Alex. Back at home, we researched it online. I read that…

Prep: 10 min Cook: 35 min 225g digestive biscuits, crushed 55g plain flour 1tsp baking powder ¼tsp salt 6tbsp butter 55g sugar 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 1tsp vanilla extract 100ml milk 60g chocolate chips 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4 and grease and flour a 20cm-square cake tin. 2 Mix biscuit crumbs with flour, baking powder and salt. 3 In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy and light, then beat in egg, egg yolk and vanilla. 4 Add a third of flour mixture along with half the milk and beat again, then add another third of flour and remaining milk. Beat again, and then add rest of flour and chocolate chips. 5 Spoon batter into tin, level and bake for 35 min…

She’d knocked on the door to ask the kids out to play Colleen had been looking after Buster for an ex By Sarah Nelson, 34, from Halifax, West Yorkshire ‘Stay safe and have fun!’ I told my daughter Leah, 7. Leah stays in Bradford with her father Sam Carter, 35, most weekends. Sam’s a great dad, but I still worry while she’s out of my sight. On Friday 22 April this year, I finished work as a driver for the nonemergency Patient Transport Service. Around 7.50pm, my youngest, Tillie, 3, was playing, as I watched TV. Suddenly, Sam rang, flustered. ‘Don’t panic…’ he began. ‘What’s wrong?’ I said. ‘Leah’s been attacked by a dog. It got her face!’ he shouted. My stomach lurched. Sam said he was going with Leah…

We’d all heard the rustle of her skirt at night By Celeste Crawford Collins, 19, from London ’m in the bath!’ I shouted. ‘ I I’d just finished running it, but the second I climbed in, someone was tugging the bathroom door handle. It was probably my brothers or sisters. We loved winding each other up. It was autumn 2012, and I was 15. Years earlier, when I was 3, we’d left London and moved to rural Co Wicklow in Ireland. A musician and composer, Dad had fallen in love with the area when he’d worked there. So we’d moved into an old farmhouse. Us kids loved playing hide-and-seek during summer, and huddling together in winter telling ghost stories as the wind howled. Now, though, I wasn’t in the mood…

To celebrate my win, we treated the kids to a day out at the zoo A SURPRISE WHOPPER £8,505 WIN!   And now I’m getting a new kitchen! By Claire Taylor, 35, from Exeter Curling up next to my partner Martin, 36, on the sofa, we settled in for the evening. ‘I fancy a few games of bingo,’ I said, as he watched the footy. With our three kids – aged 6, 3 and 2 – in bed, evenings were our chance to relax together. So I bought a few tickets for a game on Chat Mag Bingo. I’d joined several years earlier, after a friend raved about it. ‘It’s such fun!’ she’d beamed. I enjoyed playing all the different bingo and slot games and chatting to other players in…

Who had come to surprise me at the hotel but Graham! By Lyn Carr, 44, from Chester-le-Street The butterflies in my tummy started up again. And not just because I was on a TV show! It was December 2014 and I’d been a contestant on Deal Or No Deal for 10 days. But the reason my heart had started to race was that fellow contestant Graham Whipp had just picked my box. When filming the show, you stay on every episode until you’re selected to compete for cash. It can mean weeks in a hotel near the studios. I’d got friendly with lots of the contestants there, but I was attracted to Graham. While we were both single, I never knew if he felt the same. Now Graham had been…

Aries 21 March - 20 April Your way’s right and you know it, but can you convince everyone else? It looks like the only way to prove it is to go against the rules, do it your way, succeed, and then say you told them so. Although this is a risky strategy. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May When offered a plate of biscuits, do you take the chocolate one as it’s your favourite, or a plain one so you don’t appear greedy? You face a similar choice with future job options. Don’t be modest - just go for the one you want! Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June You’ve finally got the hang of a process or…

Doctors thought I’d had the condition since birth By Natasha Walters, 45, from Colchester, Essex We all have one body part we’d love to change. For me, it was my double chin. Years ago, I noticed it was on the big side. ‘I hate it,’ I moaned to my husband Terry, 44. After having my son George in November 2000, my chin looked bigger, but I put it down to post-pregnancy weight. It’s fatty tissue, I told myself. But no matter how hard I tried to lose weight, my chin wouldn’t budge. After my son Charlie was born in October 2005, it ballooned more. With Terry’s support, in 2006 I went to meet with a plastic surgeon. ‘It doesn’t look like fatty tissue,’ he said. He told me to see…