Table of contents for 23-Aug-2018 in Chat

What woman hasn’t had issues with their body? On p29 you’ll read how Laura overcame two very big problems with hers… Talking of big – don’t miss poor Trevor the sausage dog, who almost became a banger (p46)! Also, Natasha and Torz bonded over their broken hearts (p56). Their weepy story is one that all mums are going to understand. Plus there’s plenty for bargain lovers, too. Supermarket fashion on p12 and beauty treats which are all under a tenner on p34. And test your wits against our 24 prize puzzles. Good luck!…

I kept a vigil by her bedside, held her tiny hand... Alison Faulkner, 46, Angmering, West Sussex Watching the toddlers waddling around the room, a lump formed in my throat. Desperately struggling to hold back tears, I made small talk with the other mums. It was December 2008, and I was at a 1st birthday party. My daughter, Gracie, also 1, was sitting in her pushchair. But unlike the other curious little boys and girls, Gracie wasn’t having fun. As she started to wail, overwhelmed by the bright lights and noise, I made my excuses and left. Gracie didn’t do any of the things other children at her age did. She suffered with complex disabilities, including hypotonic cerebral palsy – severe brain damage – which caused physical and developmental delays.…

Light work! Fill an empty coffee jar with a string of battery-operated lights and decorate with fake flowers. Then wrap a pretty ribbon around the top - and you have a light for indoor and outside use! Tina Williams, Blaenau Gwent No toe tangles! I love wearing fishnet tights under ripped jeans. So, to stop my toes getting stuck when I'm putting on my jeans, I wear a pair of trainer socks under the tights, then pull the socks out through one of the holes in the fishnets to take off the socks. Anna Heslop, Fife Box clever Put all your crushed cardboard, paper and leaflets into an empty cereal or soap box. It'll take up less room while you're collecting your recycling, and won't take up as much space…

Stubbed toe Q I stubbed my toe three weeks ago and it still hurts! Could an X-ray tell if it's broken? Fran, Slough A It probably wouldn't make much difference. A stubbed toe can be painful for weeks. Even if it's broken, it should heal by itself and the treatment is the same - to strap it to the neighbouring toe. But do see your doctor if it's deformed, bleeding or unbearably painful. Will I get ill, too? Q My friend has come down with shingles. Could I catch it? Pam, Ipswich A Shingles rash is caused by the chickenpox virus, which can lie dormant for decades before reappearing as shingles. So you could catch chickenpox (if you haven't had it) from your friend, but not shingles. If in your…

Mr Kipling Flamingo Slices, £1  A trendy take on the traditional angel slice – and really almost too pretty to eat! Maltesers Buttons, 66p Try this fun new way to enjoy the moreish malty puffs. McVitie’s Lemon and Lime Jaffa Cakes, 99p This much-loved treat gets a zesty twist! The jury’s still out on whether they’re a cake or a biscuit, though... Unicorn Smarties, £1  A marvellous millennial makeover for the classic multicoloured favourite.…

Aries 21 March - 20 April You get permission to go ahead with a project just as you realise it’s not relevant and, in a few years, you may wonder why you bothered. Do you press on just to say you did it, or let it go? Your choice. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May After tough times, your family are seeing your point of view. You could have managed on your own if you’d had to, but it’s nice to know you’ve got their approval. Having some support makes you feel better. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June You’re changing your mind for a second time. If you’re smart, you can make it look like the other…

1 Before you remove your nail polish, massage cuticle oil around the edges of your nail first. This will stop bright colours from staining. 2 Layer your skincare from lightest to heaviest – start with toner and serum, before building up to oil, moisturiser and SPF cream. 3 A couple of drops of contact lens solution or saline are all you need to revive a dried-out mascara. 4 Instead of drying your hair by rubbing with a towel or using a hairdryer, instead use an old, clean unwanted cotton T-shirt to blot up the moisture. The softer fibres, coupled with less rubbing, will help reduce any frizz.…

Annette Dawson, 52, Barnstaple, Devon As I finished watching Beauty and the Beast for the fifth time, I was already thinking about the next Disney flick I’d see. Ever since I was a young child, I’d been obsessed with Disney films. I loved the magic and enchanting stories and all the characters. Luckily for me, my husband Loki, 31, doesn’t mind me binge-watching all the films. I think he secretly loves it! But, in all my 52 years, I’d never had the chance to visit Disneyland – and it was something I’d always wanted to do. I’m a big kid, really, that’s what my four children tell me anyway. In March 2011, my daughter Jade had popped round to see me for lunch. ‘Mum, I really think that you would…

Eight Go Rallying – The Road to Saigon BBC2 This adventure documentary series follows four famous pairs on an epic rally through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam in a fleet of classic cars. They include Martin and Shirlie Kemp, Noel Edmonds and his wife Liz, chef Andi Oliver and her daughter Miquita Oliver, plus good mates Tinchy Stryder and Rizzle Kicks' Jordan Stephens. They'll be competing against each other, while journeying through jungle tracks, paddy fields and treacherous mountains. Who Do You Think You Are? BBC1 Paralympian Jonnie Peacock finds out his great-great grandfather died from the poison anthrax! He also discovers who he has to thank for his sporting success and solves a long-held family mystery… Masters Of Lego C4 The construction competition for teams of Lego builders aged 9…

It looked like he’d been blown up with a bicycle pump Fran Jennings, 49, Lymm, Cheshire Sitting down for breakfast with my daughter Jessica, 25, I nursed a steaming mug of tea. It was January this year – and, as we chatted about this and that, I waited for a little figure to waddle over. Usually, our 4-year-old dachshund Trevor would be snapping at our heels for some scraps. But, just then, Jessica cried, ‘Mum, what’s wrong with Trevor?!’ I glanced over at his bed to look at him. And, instead of our slim, little sausage dog, there was a huge, bloated blob! Gone was Trevor’s slim body and face. He was triple the size that he’d been the night before! It really looked like somebody had stuck a bicycle…

Torz David says, ‘Losing Dylan was like losing a part of myself. My husband and I couldn't wait to be parents - we'd been excited since the first pregnancy test, bought all the toys and essentials for a newborn, but we never imagined he wouldn't be able to play with them. It wasn't long until I was pregnant again. Though we were parents to Dylan, we craved a baby to care for and to watch grow up. At first, it was fine - but, with each week that passed, I felt more worried. What if something went wrong? No-one understood until I met the girls at Sands...and Natasha. They helped me through and we can celebrate and cry together. No-one understands quite like a rainbow mum, and I'm so thankful…

You’ll sometimes look at me, knowing who I am Dear John, After a whirlwind romance that had seen us married in just three weeks in 1974, you and I were birds of a feather. Funny, loving, you brought out the very best in me. And with a second baby on the way, life was good. But in September 1978, two weeks before I was due to give birth, a call from the hospital sent me rushing there. ‘What’s happened?’ I cried, arriving at your bedside. It turned out you’d collapsed in the middle of the path. Doctors reckoned it’d been an epileptic fit. Your eyes fluttered when you recognised me, though words failed you. But John, things were never the same after that. You suffered terrible mood changes. One minute,…

Kathryn lay on the ground dying That spring morning, 12 February 2008, was like any other for therapist Kathryn Faughey. Her job as a psychologist was tough, but she loved it. She’d set up a clinic in New York’s Manhattan and now lived across the road. As successful in love as she was in life, she shared that home with her adoring husband of 25 years, Walter. But, as Kathryn left the office that evening, she came face to face with a man. Before she had a chance to react, he came at her, a flash of metal in his hand. In the next few minutes Kathryn was stabbed in the chest, slashed with a meat cleaver and hit over the head with a mallet. As she lay dying on…

I was so shocked – there’d been no warnings... Jodie Mitchell Hyslop, 38, Balloch Curled on the sofa, I settled in for one of my daughter Harper’s shows. Our usually uneventful living room was now her stage! And her audience? Me and Dad, my husband John, 40. We clapped as she sang along to her favourite Justin Timberlake songs. Harper was always full of life – but in February 2016, when she was 5 years old, something seemed wrong. Coughing and spluttering, she looked exhausted. I took her to the GP several times, but he always said the same – that it was a virus. But her cough got worse, she stopped eating, had no energy and lost weight. One day, on a walk, she asked to rest. We’d hardly…

Sex allergy? Q Am I allergic to sex? I can't stop sneezing during it, and my nose is stuffy afterwards. Ellie, Edinburgh A During sex, you release hormones which increase blood flow and sensitivity in your clitoris and vagina by widening tiny blood vessels. But the hormones can affect the lining of your nose in the same way, leading to stuffiness and sneezing. A steroid nasal spray might help. Wee lump Q There's a lump at the point where I wee. It's sore during sex and sometimes bleeds. I'm scared it's cancer. Mildred, Coventry A Check with your GP, but it sounds like a caruncle. The skin lining inside your urethra, the tube through which you pee, has sagged and pokes out. It's not cancer and isn't dangerous. A small…

Laura Deubel, 37, Palm Bay, Florida, USA Heaving myself off the sofa and onto my feet, I sloped off to the kitchen for my third helping of Rice Krispies. Buzzing off the sugar I’d heaped on top, I whizzed around the house, tidying and popping on a load of washing. An hour later, I came crashing down and had to stop for a snooze. Another typical day... It was May 2005, and I was a single mum to my 5-year-old son, Zachary. His dad – my fiance – had died suddenly. Heartbroken, I turned to my trusted companions for comfort... The kitchen cupboard, the fridge, the snack drawer. Gradually, the pounds crept on. Still, I had Zachary to think of and ploughed my energy into being the best mum. I…

Jackie Greenwood, 47, Rochdale As a teaching assistant, the last few days before the holidays are always very hectic – but we get there in the end! At home, I’ve two teenage lads of my own to look after. We live in Rochdale with my husband Kevin, 45. During term time, it’s hard to get a break but, if I do, I often play Chat Mag Bingo. I joined in June 2013, and I love that I can play on my computer. I enjoy the chatrooms as I’ve made so many friends in there. You don’t have to spend a lot – there are games for 1p! So, on 20 December last year, it was like any other end to the holidays – waving the kids off, I smiled at…

Janey Hames, 66, Leicester Late 1967 Growing up with my sister Suky was always so much fun. Despite her being four years older, we got on well. In our teens, like in this picture, we grew closer. By the time we were in our 20s, we were best friends. Hand in hand, we’d dance the night away, maybe smooch a handsome stranger. Only, behind the facade of bravado, Suky and I weren’t as happy as we seemed. Suky’s baby Luke had died from a brain aneurysm at just five months old. Her heart was broken. And now, both of us with failed marriages, we were lost. But through it all, we were each other’s rock. In time, with thanks to Bible Hall Church, we toned down our party lifestyle. Summer…

Coronation Street Audrey’s ultimatum! After much emotional wrangling, Audrey falls under con artist Lewis’ spell and dupes Gail into believing she’s on a cruise so she can meet up with Lewis. But Gail catches them sharing a romantic meal and, knowing Lewis can’t be trusted, she tells her mum it’s her or Lewis! Who is Audrey going to pick? Emmerdale IS PRIYA IN DANGER..? Since Rebecca’s disappearance, her serial-killer nephew Lachlan has been in a panic about being found out. He’s delighted when Belle suggests the pair moves in together - that’s until Priya puts another spanner in the works by saying she’s hired a dog patrol for the glamping site. Worried someone will find out the truth, Lachlan sneaks into the cabin where he held Rebecca to erase evidence,…

There were three police cars and an ambulance outside Courtney Walton, 22, Rainham, Essex Looking up at my dad Rodney, as he splodged purple paint all over a sheet of paper, I giggled away. As a kid, it was always so much fun with Dad. He’d split from my mum when I was 3, but I’d spend weekends at his house. We’d paint, go to theme parks, or crab fishing. It was always an adventure with Dad. Dad loved to cook, especially my favourite spaghetti bolognese. But every Sunday, we’d go to my nan Carol’s house for lunch. Dad was really close to Nan, so when she died of breast cancer in November 2006, he was heartbroken. ‘Sorry love,’ he said when I caught him crying. I wrapped my arms…

The jury found David Tarloff guilty of first-degree murder, assault and attempted robbery. Before sentencing Tarloff, Justice Edwin McLaughlin said, ‘Sometimes, at sentencing, I can be angry, I can be pointed at times, I can even be articulate and creative. ‘This is such a tragedy I have none of that in me.’ Tarloff was jailed for life without parole, the maximum allowed, and the sentence suggested by the prosecutors and Kathryn’s family. Six years after her death, her family finally had justice.…

We'll pay cash, or mention a charity of your choice, if we print your health story. Write to Your Health, Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP or phone 020 3148 6150. You can send your story or e-mail the Doc at chathealth@ti-media.com Always consult your pharmacist or GP before using any over-the-counter or prescription remedies, and read the packet carefully. A study reveals that one night of binge drinking can potentially cause permanent damage to your sleep The human heart creates enough pressure to squirt blood 30ft into the air…

Surgeons removed his eye, teeth, and a piece of his skull Mandy Hunt, 58, north London I sighed as I heard my husband, Danny, 48, tell our granddaughter, Madison, 3, about his time in the Army. ‘That’s why my chest is all dented,’ I heard him say. ‘A tank hit me!’ Madison stared, wide-eyed. I looked over at my daughter, Gemma, 24, and we laughed. I’d been married to Danny for nearly 30 years and I must have heard the same story a hundred times or more. He’d told our four kids, Gemma, 24, Daniel, 20, Stephen, 14, and Jamie, 12, the same tale. But now they’d stopped believing him, he’d moved on to the grandkids. Of course, it wasn’t true… Danny’s chest was concave because he’d contracted tuberculosis in…

Golden carrot cake Serves 10 Prep: 20 min Cook 60 min Cost per serving: 47p For the cake 150g golden granulated sugar 150ml sunflower oil 3 large eggs 150g self-raising flour 1tsp baking powder 1tsp cinnamon Large pinch nutmeg 250g carrots, peeled and coarsely grated 50g walnut pieces 50g raisins 1 medium orange, zested For icing and decoration 110g icing sugar (plus extra for dusting) 1½tbsp orange juice 25g walnut pieces 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/ Gas 4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk sugar and oil together, then beat in eggs. Sift over flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg, then lightly fold in with a metal spoon until smooth. Stir in carrots, walnuts, raisins and orange zest. 2 Pour mixture into a cake tin and bake on the…

Jackie won her £1,000 Full House playing a Link Game. A Link Game is a special-event Bingo game that brings together selected rooms, offering the chance to win an even bigger Full House. We offer two types of Link Games on Chat Mag Bingo, one with all the rooms of the same value and game type, eg, 10p tickets and 90-ball bingo or when rooms of one type such as the value rooms come together for one game and will change to one ticket price. You can see the Link Game symbol of two gold rings at the top of the game while you’re taking part, and in the main menu Bingo page.…

Natalie Howes, 22, Kingswinford, West Midlands Finishing my white wine, I smiled at my boyfriend, then 21. ‘Another one, please!’ I asked the barman serving us. It was June 2014 and me, my fella, and his friend were on a night out in my hometown of Weymouth. We were moving from bar to bar having a right laugh. I was 18, had my own place, worked as a waitress and loved going out at the weekend. But later, as I showed off my best dance moves, I realised how hot and stuffy the bar felt. ‘Let’s step outside for a breather,’ I shouted out over the blaring music. ‘I’m too hot from dancing!’ Stepping into the fresh air, I reached into my bag for my cigarette papers and tobacco. No!…