Table of contents for 16-May-2019 in Chat

They say identical twins share a special bond. That’s certainly true for Beth and Ollie who are closer than ever despite one big change (p31). What happened to Jill on her five-minute walk home will chill you to the core (p60). And check out our super glam Aunty Nelly (p46)! She slimmed down after a health scare and has straight-talking advice for everyone who wants to do the same. There’s more pages of real-life stories, plus fashion (p12), beauty (p40), recipes, home ideas (p26) and more – not forgetting your fave prize puzzles. Enjoy!…

Throwing a nappy in the bin, I smiled at my baby girl. ‘There. All better now,’ I cooed to Georgia, 2. But I was worried. See, for just over a year, Georgia’s number twos hadn’t been right. I had to change her up to five times a day. ‘It’s probably just toddler diarrhoea,’ my partner Allen, 35, suggested. There were no other symptoms, so I tried not to dwell on it. But in October 2017, I noticed red splodges on Georgia’s arms and legs. Clusters of red dots, firm to touch. Where have they come from? Taking Georgia to the GP, I thought it was just a rash. He said he suspected a skin condition, would refer me to a dermatologist. Only, we’d have to wait months for an appointment.…

2012: Arson plot kills kids On 11 May 2012, emergency services were called to a house fire in Derby. What awaited them was horrific. Five children had died in the blaze with a sixth child dying in hospital two days later. Mick Philpott, 56, the children's father, had lit the fire. He was found guilty of manslaughter, along with his wife Mairead and friend Paul Mosley. Philpott was jailed for life. Mairead and Mosley were each given 17-year sentences. The trial heard Philpott had plotted the fire to frame his ex-mistress Lisa Willis, who he was fighting for custody of their kids. The victims were Jade, 10, John, 8, Jack, 8, Jesse, 6, Jayden, 5, and Mairead's son Duwayne, 13. 1948: Tot snatched from ward June Anne Devaney…

Bev Roberts, 47, Liverpool Any mum knows leaving the house with a baby is no mean feat. It takes ages to wiggle those chubby little legs into their padded baby sleepsuit, wrapping them up warm in a hat and blanket, before getting them and a huge bag of baby stuff out the door. Even just for a quick trip to the shops! And once you’re outside, every passer-by stops to catch a glimpse of the cute baby. It was exactly the same for me when my littl’un Chloee arrived in autumn 2017. Only, when strangers took a closer peek, they’d frown, confused. Because my baby was made of plastic. A year before I became Mum to Chloee, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The pain, coupled with the fact that my…

1 Cetraben Daily Cleansing Cream, £4.99, Boots I normally love a foaming wash that leaves my skin feeling super-clean, but my dried-out complexion is craving hydration. Great for holiday packing as this cleanser can double as a moisturiser too. 2 CBD Night Cream, £14.99, Holland & Barrett Don’t be put off by it’s controversial ingredient list (CBD comes from the cannabis plant), this is the nighttime therapy your skin needs. Slather on before bed and wake up to softer, brighter skin. 3 Nspa Beauty Rituals Anti-Pollution Daily Defence Day Cream SPF30, £7, Asda  Shielding skin from not just the sun thanks to SPF30, this protects from blue-light damage too, caused by regular contact with our phones.…

This week, I want to talk about a B-I-G subject! Truth is, I used to be morbidly obese, weighing 22st 7lb, and I had asthma. I was working from home and practically living in my bedroom. I avoided going downstairs more than once a day. In November 2017, I suffered my worst asthma attack yet. Rushed to Royal Preston Hospital, the Intensive Care team were standing by. I recovered – but before I was discharged, I asked the doc what meds I’d need next. ‘There’s nothing more we can do,’ he replied bluntly. ‘Are you saying I’m going to die?’ I asked. ‘It’s up to you,’ he said. He’d slapped sense into me. Just 42, I had no quality of life. I’d been eating a Mediterranean diet, kidding myself it…

As Zachary Tener took the witness stand, tears welled up in his eyes. It was June last year, and the last time he’d seen his mother, Rae Meichelle Tener, 36, she had been making him a grilled cheese sandwich. Fourteen years ago. Then, after attending a neighbour’s party, Rae had simply vanished. ‘Worst night of my life,’ Zachary sobbed. He’d been just 13 years old at the time. Now 27, he was the first witness at his mum’s murder trial – even though her body had never been found. And the man on trial was Mark Barrow, the neighbour whose party they’d gone to that fateful night all those years ago... Back in August 2004, Rae was living with her son in a trailer park in West Palm Beach, Florida.…

Overly cautious? I fell and hurt my Q wrist. The X-ray's fine, but I still have to wear a cast. Why? Carolyn, Whitehaven Your doctor may suspect A a fracture of the scaphoid bone, which doesn't always show up at first on X-ray. It's important to treat it to avoid possible pain and arthritis later. A second X-ray, after about 10 days, should confirm. Runny nose and smelly breath When I catch a cold, Q my breath stinks! What's happening? Meg, Ancaster Almost any illness can A cause pongy breath, partly due to neglecting teeth-cleaning. Another possibility is a long-term tonsil infection that flares up when you have a cold, and your GP might suggest antibiotics or even surgery. New allergy Q My GP says my itchy, scaly scalp is…

Fran Stephens, Head of Midwifery at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, said, ‘We concluded an extensive review of the care received by Charlotte Pennells in July 2018 and met with her to discuss our findings. It would not be appropriate to go into detail about her specific case, but I would like to provide absolute assurance that our maternity teams are focused upon sepsis recognition, treatment and prevention, in line with recent national guidance. This is also a top priority for the Trust as a whole.'…

Go soft I put my hair through its paces, colouring and styling it. So to fix my dry ends, once a month I put olive oil on my hair for 45 minutes or so, then wash off. It feels so much softer afterwards! Debb Hunt, Nottingham Fresh idea I sprinkle some corn starch over the fanned out pages of old books that I've picked up at car boot sales or second-hand shops. If you leave it for a few days, they smell as good as new. Eleri Webber, Little Neston Box clever I find the cardboard wine carriers that come free from many local supermarkets a great way to carry cleaning products. Plus, they are a neat way to store away under the sink! Denise Jones, Southport Crafty!  My daughter…

Ollie Black, 25, Wakefield Knees grazed and covered in mud, I raced towards the goal, dribbling the football. ‘Yes!’ I cried as I whacked the ball into the net and whipped off my shirt in celebration. I high-fived my twin sister, Beth, 13, and we made our way across the playing field towards our mum, Joanne, 37. But as I got closer, I noticed Mum looked alarmed. ‘Rachel, put your shirt back on,’ she cried, looking at my bare chest. ‘All the others have their tops off,’ I shrugged. ‘Yes, but the others are boys,’ Mum said. Reluctantly, I pulled my shirt back over my head, then sulked in silence on the car journey home. Why should I be treated differently just because I’m a girl? Beth was a tomboy,…

Aries 21 March - 20 April A sweet moment for you and someone you see daily. But soon you won’t be seeing much of each other, since you’ll both be moving on - so this isn’t a new romance, more likely a fond farewell. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May You need to take a decision about an episode from the past. You’re still very emotional about it, but the longer you leave it the worse it will get. Once you’ve done it, you’ll feel as if a weight’s been lifted. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June You know how you’re always eager to get things done, only to find there was an easier, cheaper way? This week’s…

Coronation Street Will Carla get help? Carla’s still missing and there are posters all over Weatherfield appealing for information about her whereabouts. As the Connors frantically try track her down, Roy feels awful for kicking her out of the flat, but that’s exactly where he finds her when he returns from Portsmouth. When she rambles on about how Rana is still alive and Kate’s lying about her being dead, Roy begs her to go to hospital, but she refuses and starts asking after her late brother Aidan! Can Roy convince Carla to get help, or will he be forced to take matters into his own hands? Emmerdale Lisa reveals her sad secret As an excited Belle prepares a welcome home party for her parents Zak and Lisa, she’s blissfully unaware…

It was a typical Friday night. After a tough week at work, Jill Meagher, 29, and her colleagues at ABC Radio Melbourne were heading out to the pub. It was 21 September 2012, when the team headed to trendy Brunswick. Perfect for Jill. She and her husband Tom lived just a five-minute walk away. Originally from County Louth in Ireland, they’d been in Australia for three years. Jill loved it, was planning on raising a family there. It was around 1.30am when she waved goodbye and set off on the 700m walk home to her apartment. Jill never made it. At 2am, Tom went out into the dark streets to look for her, calling his wife’s phone non-stop. No answer. By 4am, panicking, he reported Jill missing. Police officers launched…

Sitting at the table, I scooped a forkful of spaghetti Bolognese into my mouth. ‘This is yummy,’ I beamed. My mum nodded. ‘Thanks for inviting us, Anthony,’ she smiled. Anthony Gorringe, then 49, worked in our local supermarket. He was always friendly, chatting away as he helped us with our weekly shop. Packing our shopping or carrying bags to the car. When he invited us round for dinner in October 2009, Mum was pleased. We didn’t have many people we could rely on, so it was nice to make a new friend. As we finished our food, Mum stood up to clear the plates. But Anthony was having none of it. ‘Put your feet up,’ he told Mum, ushering her into the sitting room. ‘Lisa will help me wash up,…

GUILTY In June 2018, Mark Barrow, 57, was found guilty of murdering Rae Meichelle Tener and hiding her body. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Rae’s mother Mary left the courtroom devastated that her daughter’s body had never been found. ‘If he was a man, he would let me know where she is,’ she said. ‘I have no body, no grave.’ The judge said his heart went out to Rae’s family, while Barrow’s defence said that he would file a motion for a new trial or an appeal.…

Sex for PMS? Q Can sex cure period pains? Since I started a new relationship, mine have vanished! Lucia, Hemel Hempstead A Sexual arousal causes your body to release endorphins (natural painkillers), and hormones that increase blood supply to your womb and help it relax. Combined with the feel-good factor of a new relationship, this could knock period pains for six! Bottom bumps QI have lumps near my anus. My doctor says they are tags and there's no treatment. Can't I get rid of them? Paula, Swanley A Tags are common and harmless, though they can cause irritation. A doctor can snip them off, though often this isn't available on the NHS. Try moisturiser, avoid constipation and clean carefully after a poo. Write to Dr Martin Edwards at Chat, 161…

Christina, 36 Scribbling down the caller’s details, I put down the phone. ‘Grab your coat,’ I shouted to my husband Michael. ‘We’ve a squirrel emergency!’ Sound nuts? Well, Michael and I volunteered as wildlife rehabilitators – caring for ill, injured or orphaned squirrels at home before releasing them back into the wild. It was March 2016, and we’d been called to a 10th-floor flat where a cheeky squirrel had made a nest on a man’s bed after her own had been destroyed by nearby building work. Amongst the twigs and leaves were two tiny pink, hairless baby squirrels. ‘Adorable!’ I cooed to Michael. The mother squirrel wouldn’t take them, so it fell to me and Michael to care for them. Sadly, one had a bad fever and passed away after…

Carol Nelson, 62, Doncaster Dropping my shopping bags on the kitchen table, I fell into the welcoming cushions of my sofa. It was last November and, after a busy day spent running errands, I was looking forward to a hot drink and a chance to unwind. ‘Fancy a little David Bowie?’ my husband David, 62, suggested, before picking an album to play. Sounds like the perfect soundtrack to a little bingo, I thought. I grabbed the laptop and logged into Chat Mag Bingo. It’s my little treat in the evening – a chance to have a little fun. I’ll pop in and out of the chatrooms, chipping into conversations about the weather or a new game on the website. I used to go to the bingo halls with my mum…

The words that had been circling in my brain for years were finally out in the open. But had I risked my closeness with Beth by blurting them out? No chance! She just smiled and gave me a hug. ‘Be one, then,’ she answered, simply. She said she’d suspected for a while. So, with Beth’s support, I decided to call myself Ollie. I told my friends and they started referring to me as Ollie, too. Mum struggled, though. She’d still call me Rachel, refer to me as her daughter. I didn’t push it. The last thing I wanted to do was upset Mum. When I turned 18, in June 2011, I legally changed my name and went to see my doctor about having hormone-replacement therapy. I was put on a…

We all know recycling is better for the environment but did you know it can boost your bank balance, too? 1 Clear your clobber If you take unwanted clothes by any brand into any H&M store, you will receive a £5 voucher towards your next purchase of £25 or more, thanks to its Garment Collecting programme. For more info, visit 2.hm.com. And with M&S and Oxfam's ‘Shwopping' scheme, when you buy an item at M&S, you can drop off unwanted clothing of any brand and get 50 points on your Sparks Card. You can ‘Shwop' in Oxfam stores, too - donate an item of M&S clothing in your ‘Shwopping', and Oxfam will give you a £5 M&S clothing and home voucher to spend in store. For more info, visit, marksandspencer.…

Celeb secrets Jess Wright Former TOWIE star Jess Wright loves a night out, but there’s one essential skincare step she never goes without. ‘I never go to bed with my make-up on. Even in my most drunken state, I always cleanse before bed. I’ll use a face wipe first and then properly rinse with Dr Organic Organic Aloe Vera Creamy Face Wash, £6.99, Holland & Barrett. It leaves my skin feeling soft.’ Victoria Beckham As we know from her ‘Posh’ nickname, Victoria Beckham is a fan of the finer things in life. So we couldn’t have been more surprised to see her take to Instagram to rave about a bargain shampoo. Created by hairdresser to the stars Josh Wood, his Radiating Shampoo for Fine Brunette Hair, £10, Boots, refreshes your…

Rebecca, 28, Birmingham To me, his name made him sound just like a movie star. He was called James Washington Clinton. But, actually, James was an old friend of mine. We’d met 17 years earlier, when I was 10. Grew up with the same mates. But when I stumbled across him on Facebook in April last year, it had been two years since I’d seen James. So I pinged him a message. Fancy meeting up? That’d be nice, James, 30, replied. I worked mornings as a cleaner, so we met in a local park a few afternoons later. Sitting on a bench, we had a good catch-up. His dark, brooding temper was starting to scare me ‘I broke up with someone a couple of months ago,’ I told him. ‘And…