Table of contents for 11-Feb-2016 in Chat

I wondered if he'd ever thought of me over the years, if he knew the harm he'd done The DNA had been reexamined using new technology. ‘This time, we’ve found a match,’ the officer explained to me. My heart raced. I had to give a video statement about my ordeal. The next day, the officer called me again. The man who’d raped me had finally been arrested. After 28 years. She told me his name and age. Shaking, I repeated it. ‘Steven Hearl, 63,’ I said. The words tasted disgusting in my mouth. But I was happy for one thing. The name was new to me. I hadn’t known my attacker. Hearl had been in the area that day by chance. He was a burglar and was casing a number…

Before I had time to think, I was on the landing floor with my legs in the air! More than a week past my due date, I was ready to pop. ‘This baby’s taking his time,’ I laughed to my mum Hilary, 62. It was last 15 November and I was eager to meet my new arrival. A single parent, Mum was staying, in case of emergency… ‘What if it’s tomorrow?’ she said. ‘No chance,’ I said, convinced. You see, 16 November was already the birthday of my daughters Iris, 8, and Eada, 2. When Eada had been born on Iris’ sixth birthday in 2013, it’d been a surprise! ‘It doesn’t happen very often,’ a doctor told me. The girls loved having joint parties. Their sister Ailsa, 4, liked to…

Grace Cole Personalised Boutique Bath & Shower Gel, £8 (normally £6), www. gracecole.co.uk For just £2, you can add a name, icon and message to this indulgent treat. Thumbs Up Designer Nail Wraps in Candy Heart, £7.99, www. thumbsupnails. co.uk Give your nails a makeover with these easy-to-use wraps - perfect for date night! Love Spell Massage Bar, £5.95, Lush This soothing massage bar contains softening cocoa butter for a real pampering session! Emma Bridgewater Live Well Look Well Love & Flowers Body Wash, £10, Marks & Spencer A gorgeous-smelling shower gel that leaves skin feeling silky soft.…

He reached into his back pocket… Then he pointed a handgun right in my face Springing from behind the counter, I locked the doors and dialled 999 Wednesday 21 October last year started like any other day for me. After spending a few hours hanging out at home, it was time for me to head to my place of work, the Friary Fish Bar in Fairwater Green, near Cardiff. My colleague Abi and I spent the afternoon wrapping up fish-and-chips and chatting away to our regular customers. At around 6pm, a bloke walked into the chippy. He looked dishevelled, appeared drunk. Here we go, I thought to myself. We were used to the odd person coming in who’d had a few too many. We’d have a bit of banter, or…

He started to lock me in the house when he went out ‘for my own safety’ The warning signs were all there. But Mark Pelz, 41, was so charming and confident, I couldn’t see them. We met through mutual friends on Facebook in January 2013. Fifteen years my senior, he wasn’t my usual type. At 6ft, he was a bodybuilder with bulging biceps and muscles. As we got chatting, I saw a softer side to Mark, so I decided to give him a chance. When he took me for a drink a few nights later, we had a laugh. Later in the evening, I bumped into an old friend. He gave me a kiss on the cheek to say hello. ‘Who was that?’ Mark spat. I thought it was strange…

I’d just popped to see him on his patch and he went down on one knee! Three tiny things stood between me and a cosy night in. Three round, copper pennies. ‘How could I be short just 3p?’ I cried. It was December 2013. I needed £2 for my electricity meter, but could only cobble together £1.97. Living alone, there was no way I wanted to be in the dark, without the telly for company. My plan was to ask the man in the corner shop if he’d lend me 3p. It was utterly embarrassing, but he’d helped me before… But, just before I got there, a man stepped out in front of me from a doorway. ‘You couldn’t help me out with a quid towards a room for the…

I had an MRI scan and, within hours, there was terrible news Lacing up my footy boots, a pain ripped across my belly. Something definitely felt wrong. ‘Can you have a look at my tummy?’ I asked a team-mate who was a physiotherapist. I’d always been sporty. As well as footy, I played hockey, netball and badminton. It kept me fit and trim. Yet, I’d always had a bit of a pot belly. I wore a lot of baggy tops, felt self-conscious in a bikini and was always sucking in my tummy to hide it. Its just my natural body shape, I told myself. Only, over the summer, it’d started to swell even more. By October 2014, it’d become so painful that when my team-mate gently examined my stomach… ‘Ouch!’…

Makes: 12 Prep: 25 min Cook: 20 min 125g unsaltedbutter, softened125g caster sugar2 eggs125g self-raising flour, sifted2tbsp milk 1tsp vanilla extract Cake Decor Choco Writers,in White and Milk 2 tubes Cake Decor TwoColour Stripes Frosting,in Strawberry & VanillaPack of heart sprinkles 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4 and put paper cake cases into a 12-hole tin. 2 Beat butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, add eggs one at a time, then flour. Mix well, then add milk and vanilla extract and mix again. 3 Divide mixture between paper cases and bake in the oven for 18-20 min. Remove and allow to cool on a wire rack. 4 Prepare Choco Writers in boiling water (follow pack instructions), snip nozzles, draw heart-shapes on greaseproof paper and leave to set.…

Aquarius 21 Jan - 19 Feb It’s just like old times - except now you’re friends rather than rivals. With all differences resolved, and neither of you wanting to spend any more time going over old ground, you’re free to move on. • Call 0905 817 0700* for more Pisces 20 Feb - 20 March Whenever you get a stroke of luck, you’re supposed to put it to good use, thinking about the long-term benefits, and so on. But sometimes that misses the point. Luck has an instantaneous quality, so go ahead and celebrate. • Call 0905 817 0701* for more Aries 21 March - 20 April Are you making any progress with your long-term plans, or have you just parked them on the horizon, so they never get any…

Sometimes I wondered what our lives would be like if Dad was around He was a rubbish dad. When I was a kid, he only ever made me unhappy. And, trust me, I’m not saying anything here that I haven’t already said to his face. It’d been up to 17 years since I’d last had anything to do with him. That’s the way I’d wanted it. But, suddenly, there he was. Mal Caudwell. He’d popped up on Facebook. In the ‘People you may know’ section. We must’ve had some mutual friends. ‘Oh, God,’ I sighed. ‘It’s been a long time…’ I must’ve been 9 when he left. My brother two years younger. We got home from school one day to find Mum crying in the kitchen. ‘He’s gone,’ she said.…

Wendy had no idea it'd be the last thing she'd ever do THE CRIME On a warm summer's day, mum and grandma Wendy Boudrea, 59, was in her local supermarket's ice-cream aisle when an attacker grabbed her from behind and slit her throat, letting the blood - and life - drain out of her… MacCalister had been hospitalised in psychiatric facilities THE STORY The day was just like any other for loving grandmother-of-nine Wendy Boudreau. The 59-year-old had lived in the same house in Saco, Maine, with her husband Jeffrey, for more than 30 years, and they’d raised their four children there. Wendy, often described as a ‘mother hen’, was an active and admired member of her community, and she loved to entertain her brood of grandchildren. On 19 August…

What I loved Having the family over for a cava and curry night. And that microwaveable rice - it's sheer bloomin' genius! (Didn't know I was such a good cook!!) What hacked me off Well, saddened me to be honest. I read that a quarter of primary-school kids couldn't identify a robin. But I bet they'd know a Minion if they saw one… What made me laugh Hearing someone say that whoever coined the phrase ‘as quiet as a mouse' has never stepped on one… Hope you tread carefully this week!…

They could prolong, not save, my life.I had an expiry date – like yogurts! At first, I wasn’t too worried. I mean, sorry to be crude, but we all get bunged up sometimes, don’t we? But by October 2014, I’d not done a number two for a month. I was doubled over with pain. My stomach was so bloated, I looked six months pregnant! ‘What’s going on?’ I yelped to my hubby Warren, 44. Desperate, I visited my GP, who prescribed laxatives. Still, I didn’t pass anything. Then, one morning, I had to dash for the loo. Only, I gagged, as vomit poured out of my mouth. A porridge-like, horrible, greeny-brown gunk. Disgusting. Back and forth to my GP, I had several ultrasound scans but nothing showed up. Eight months…

Cold cure? Q My friend said that putting onion slices in my socks at night would cure a cold. Next day, the slices were brown and she said they'd absorbed poisons from my body. Had they? Mandy, 41 A They turned brown as they'd been in your socks! Old wives' tales say onions cure colds and flu because of their antiviral chemicals, or because they draw toxins out of your skin. But there's no scientific evidence. Pesky splinter Q How should you deal with a splinter? My husband says leave it - but I'm afraid that it'll become infected. Gill, 53 A Wash with soap and water, then try to pull the splinter out with tweezers. If you can't shift it, chances are that it'll work its own way out…

Branston Beef Ravioli, 90p The flavour is short on beef, heavy on tomato! But there's plenty of pasta, and it's a filling meal for one. Heinz Beef Ravioli, £1.05 The beef is stuffed inside nice big squares of pasta, and there's loads of tomato soup-cum-ketchup flavour sauce. Tesco Beef Ravioli, 50p There's minced beef inside the fat pasta parcels, and lots more in the tasty tomato sauce - all of which makes this our favourite! NEW Hartley's Fruit In Jelly, 50p, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Asda The single-serving pots come in six flavours, including apple in blackcurrant jelly, mango in mango and peach in strawberry.…

I booked trips, hotels, gigs – no expense spared The fountains outside our hotel shot jets of water up into the air. Grinning, we took in the spectacular view. A perfect replica of the Eiffel Tower, scorching sunshine, the neon lights of the Las Vegas strip surrounded by desert. ‘We’re in Vegas!’ I cheered to my wife Sue, 57. We were at the beginning of our holiday of a lifetime. All thanks to Chat Mag Bingo! Because I’d won a staggering £102,945 playing on the Wonderland slots! It all started on a normal day at 5.30pm. I’d arrived home from my job as a team leader for an electronics company. Sue was working a shift as a nurse at the local hospital. So I made us a roast chicken dinner,…

1 Heat 3tbsp vegetable oil in a wok and fry a chopped chicken breast for 4-5 min until cooked and juices run clear. 2 Add 2 chopped spring onions and cook until translucent. 3 Add 500g cooked rice, 60g diced ham and 60g cooked prawns and fry for 2 min. Stir in 1tbsp light soy sauce, 2tbsp cooked peas and fry for another 2 min. 4 Beat 3 eggs with pinch of salt. Make two ‘wells' in the rice, exposing the bottom of wok. Drizzle a little oil into the wok and pour egg into both wells. 5 Turn up heat and let egg set before mixing in rice. Season to taste and fry for 2 min more. Serves: 3 Cost per head: £1 LIFE! DEATH! PRIZES! For more foodie…

It’s great for everything – clothes, toiletries, you name it! I live with my husband Sebastian, and our daughter Emma, 9, but it was my dad who recommended Quidco to me back in 2007. We both love Internet shopping, and I’m partial to a good bargain! So, that October, I signed up. In the first year, I found it tricky remembering to go through Quidco when I was buying things online. But soon, it became second nature to me. The great thing about Quidco is that it doesn’t bombard you with messages or bug you to do anything. You’re shopping with Quidco because you’re already looking to buy something. And it always delivers, whether it’s allowing you to shop through your favourite stores, or introducing you to new websites. My…

1 You can get there by coach. Think coach holidays are just for OAPs? Think again! From long- to short-haul adventures, all you need to do is hop on board, sit back, and enjoy the view. They're great if you're on a budget, as escorted tours often include most activities, food and accommodation. So you only have to save for souvenirs. No worrying about parking or petrol, either! 2 Stunning countryside. Me and my friend Louise, 48, were excited to explore the area, roughly following the course of the River Thames as it flows from Oxfordshire in the west to London in the east. 3 The history. We enjoyed some super excursions... For example, a tour of Hampton Court with the wonderful Siobhan - who was dressed in authentic Tudor…

Coffee mates My husband and I still love to go out together - only, now that we're pensioners, our drinking days, as we knew them, are over. But life isn't so different after all. We've just replaced pubs with coffee bars. We have a ‘local', where we're regulars. Sometimes we try different ‘brews' - like cappuccino instead of latte. Or we throw caution to the wind and go on a ‘coffee crawl' - although we can end up a bit excited from all the caffeine! Linda Johnson, Bridlington Big business I imagine most people would be critical of how Mysti Mountains makes her living (I squash for dosh! 24 December issue), but I like her professional approach. She’s upfront about it and, if she makes her clients happy, why not?…

When we got home, we were married in front of our five children and grandkids Shutting my case into the car boot, my partner Ron smiled. ‘We’re going on a surprise holiday,’ he beamed. ‘I’ve packed your case myself. Happy Valentine’s!’ We’d been together almost a year and this was our first Valentine’s Day. I’d had no idea he was planning anything! Well, we weren’t exactly teenagers. Both of us had been married twice before and had five kids between us. But then Ron was an incurable romantic. He opened doors, bought me flowers. And now, he was taking me on a mystery getaway... But, as we drove into the car park at Liverpool airport, I froze. ‘I hate flying, Ron,’ I stuttered. His face fell. ‘It’s all booked, I’ve…

A CLOSE SHAVE Aptly named Mike Wolfe from Idaho is a furry fella who’s turned his natural talents into art. He has his back fuzz sculpted into various seasonal designs – such as the East-Hair Bunny for April! – to be pictured for a calendar. Or, as he calls it, his CalendHair… GRAND DESIGNS… That’s what we call art house! Decorator Robert Burns’ Brighton council house rivals the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, with his copies of their famous works. Puts our magnolia emulsion to shame… FAREWELL MY LOVELY Thai bride-to-be Nan Thippharat was devastated when her fiance suddenly died of a heart attack. So she decided to hold their wedding at his funeral, an event as moving as it is strange… IT’S BANANAS! A mugger who gulped down a…

He threw me to the ground, pulled my cardigan around my face so I couldn't see For nearly 30 years, a pair of my knickers had been in a box on a shelf in a police-station storeroom. The last time I’d worn them was on 26 June 1987. When I was a 16-year-old girl. And a young 16 at that. I didn’t know much about the world, bodies…men. I’d spent the day in town with my friends. We’d sipped cola in cafes, giggled about the boys at school and talked about our plans. ‘I want to be a nurse,’ I’d confided. They told me I’d make a great nurse. ‘Thanks,’ I’d blushed. Then, at 6pm, I’d said goodbye and got the train home. I lived with my parents on the…

The worst was the spare bedroom. There was dog poo everywhere Flicking through the photo album, I smiled as I came across old pictures of my Aunt Laura and Uncle Ernest dressed in uniform. Both served during the Second World War, and our family had heard many stories about their time helping our country. Laura was a poppy-seller until she was 98, and wore her gold, British Legion pin with pride. But then, in 2007, we were in for a shock. We saw in the Normanton local paper that Uncle Ernie had died. We called Laura but couldn’t get through. We sent cards, but didn’t hear anything. In 2013, we received another big blow to our family. My mum Zilpha became very ill with cancer. All my time went into…

After two operations, Amy had gained four inches in height! As my daughter Amy, then 6, slouched at the dinner table, I sighed. ‘Sit up,’ I told her. She was always hunched and her cardigan hung awkwardly from her frame. I didn’t think it was anything serious – just bad posture. But one night, my mum Judy, 62, was helping me bathe Amy and her sister Molly, then 8. ‘Amy’s got a lump at the top of her spine,’ she said, concerned. I checked and I could feel a small bump under her skin. I’d never noticed it and Amy hadn’t complained of any pain. Still, I took her to see our GP. He referred her to James Cook University Hospital for an X-ray. ‘She’s got a cyst at the…

Read between the lines At first glance, this looks like something you'd send to an evil ex. But look more closely to read the heart-melting message. Great if you want to tease your Valentine. £3, www.zazzle.co.uk Unconditional love? What is it with blokes never replacing the loo roll? This card also doubles up as a handy hint for your significant other - and it's not that passive-aggressive, so you should avoid a Valentine's Day row… £3.16, from Etsy store JulieAnnArt Mirror, mirror… Let the King of self-love tell it like it is to your crush. (Although, if you really want to get into Kanye's frame of mind, you could just send it to yourself!) £2.99, www.scribbler.com Say it how it is Do you specialise in playing…

The doorbell went, and there was Mark, beaming that winning smile The moment The Only Way Is Essex burst onto our screens in 2010, I was hooked. An Essex girl born and bred, I loved keeping up with their antics. I instantly liked the young stud Mark Wright, 29, and his big, inviting smile. He’s proper reem, as they’d say on TOWIE! It was great to watch him on I m A Celebrity… in 2011. So endearing and down-to-earth, I was glued to the screen, and cast dozens of votes for him. ‘Mark was robbed!’ I said, when he lost out on King of the Jungle to McFly’s Dougie Poynter. ‘It’s only TV, love,’ my hubby, Brian, 52, said. But I was crushed again when Mark came fourth on Strictly…

From cards and flowers to days out, Quidco can earn you money on the most romantic day of the year… • Buying chocolates as a gift? Simply visit Quidco.com/chat and search by category or retailer. Thorntons, Hotel Chocolat, Cadbury's, M&S... Quidco works with them all! • When you've found a deal, visit the retailer via Quidco's link and purchase as normal. • Quidco then does the rest. First your order is tracked and, once confirmed, your cashback will be paid into your account. It's that simple! • With over 4,300 retailers to choose from, you're sure to find a deal with your name on it. You can even earn on top of sale discounts.…

The swelling could’ve spread to my throat, stopped me breathing It was time for a change. In September 2014, I was about to start college, studying Photography and Media. I wanted to create a good first impression and I was getting bored of my natural, mousey locks. ‘New start, new do,’ I told my mum Anna, 55. I’d dyed my hair at home by myself when I was 15. But I’d forgotten to do a patch test first. When itchy bumps appeared on my scalp after, I was terrified. But they went down after a couple of hours. So I thought I’d probably just mixed the dye up wrong. This time, I booked in at my local salon. ‘I want to go chocolate-brown,’ I told the stylist. Discussing my hair…