Table of contents for 31-Oct-2019 in Chat

Michelle’s story will break any mum’s heart. Now she has a message that she’s desperate for you to hear (p10). Karina’s hubby would do anything for her. Sounds like a dream marriage – so why was she so desperate to change (p37)? And on her deathbed, one young woman uttered the words that could lead the police to her killer (p16). Also this week we’ve got Halloween tricks to please your little monsters (p30), big prize puzzles and a roundup of the best winter boots (p12). And that’s just the start!…

Johannes Kana, 22, was found guilty of the rape and murder of Anene Booysen. As Judge Patricia Goliath handed down his sentence, Anene’s relatives sobbed. He didn’t show any remorse for his crimes Judge Goliath said the ‘barbaric attack  gave the court an idea of the type of person Kana is’ and that he ‘did not show any remorse for the crimes he committed’. Kana, who’d shown no emotion during the four-week trial, was sentenced to two life sentences without parole. Just before his sentencing, Kana declared his innocence. ‘I know I’m not guilty of killing Anene,’ he said. Jonathan Davids has never faced trial for offences against Anene and believes that she named him in the hospital because she had seen him at the pub that night and believed…

According to PureGym, we’re experiencing a bout of ‘gym fear’. Around half of us who don’t currently visit the gym feel scared about the idea of going, with key blockers being the worry of looking stupid in front of others, feeling self-conscious about fitness levels, and having to ask for help. In fact, 25% of those asked would rather be in the same room as a spider, have an injection, or stand on top of a skyscraper than be inside a gym! But why are we so scared? ‘Where we might be able to hide some of our vulnerabilities in the workplace, our weaknesses are on full display in the gym, inciting intense feelings of vulnerability, of self-doubt, of fear,’ explains sociologist Dr Margee Kerr. However, there are steps you…

PAPERBOY KILLED On 19 September 1978, Carl Bridgewater, 13 (right), was shot dead as he delivered a newspaper to Yew Tree Farm, near Stourbridge, West Midlands. The police believed he'd disturbed burglars while the owners were out. A gang, dubbed The Bridgewater Four, were convicted of the killing. One died in jail, but the others were freed in 1997, as detectives had fabricated evidence. There was much speculation that convicted killer Bert Spencer was involved, but he denied it and has never been charged. Carl's murder is still unsolved. GRAVE ROBBERS STRIKE two men slipped into a cemetery by Lake Geneva, Switzerland, one night in March 1978, and dug up the coffin of actor Sir Charlie Chaplin (left), who'd died on Christmas Day 1977, aged 88. Roman Wardas, 24, and…

1 Dress smartly. Even if it’s a physical or outdoor job, or all the staff wear jeans, turn up to the interview in smart, clean, ironed clothing. Don’t wear T-shirts with slogans or anything ripped, and make sure your outfit fits well, is comfortable and won’t make you fidget. 2 Maintain eye contact, show interest in what they’re saying, but never interrupt the interviewer. Sit up straight and stay alert, and don’t be afraid to take notes with you. It’s good to ask questions, as it shows initiative, and that you’re genuinely interested in the company. 3 A little bit of research goes a long way. If you know someone who works at the firm, pick their brain, or search the Internet. It looks good if you have some knowledge…

Watching my hubby Ian, scooping up empty foil containers, I felt guilty. ‘It’s all right, love, I’ve got it,’ he smiled to me. I nodded sheepishly as Ian, then 45, wandered into the kitchen to bin them before doing the washing-up. My husband was a godsend. Nothing was too much trouble, whether it was the dusting, laundry or tidying our little home. His kind, loving nature was why I’d fallen for him back in 2009. We’d married in July 2015 and, exchanging vows, I’d meant every word. For better or worse. In sickness and in health. But two and a half years on, Ian was bearing the brunt of those promises. When he’d married me, I’d been a 5ft 8in, a curvy size-14 and 16st. Even then, I’d been bigger…

The number of homes bought through the Government's Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme in England rose by 9% to nearly 52,500 in the year to April, the latest figures show. In London, some 6,115 properties were bought using the scheme, a jump of 30% year on year. Under the scheme, the Government lends you up  to 20% of the cost of your newly built home (up to 40% in London). You'll need a 5% cash deposit, and a mortgage to make up the rest. See helptobuy.gov.uk. Report Facebook scam adverts Facebook has launched a tool to enable you to report any ads you suspect are a scam. Just click the three dots in the top-right corner of an ad on the social media site. Select ‘Report ad', then click…

Coronation Street Gemma gives birth! Chesney wants to make a go of it with Gemma, but when his first attempt to romance her goes awry, he takes her for a day out in Llandudno where they decide to go up in a cable car. Once up in the air, Ches proposes to her just as she goes into labour! Will they make it back safely to terra firma before the pair’s quads arrive? Emmerdale Mandy and Vinny on trial! Desperate to pay back casino boss Terry, Mandy and Vinny try to hack into Lydia’s bank account, but when they are caught they face an interrogation from the rest of the Dingles and Mandy is forced to explain why she’s in dire need of some cash. When Terry later comes knocking,…

Q What foundation works well for older skin and won’t feel heavy or drying? Caroline Long, 51 AYou’ll want something that’s lightweight, moisturising and with a medium coverage. Step  away from thick matte formulas. Why? Because as we age, our skin’s production of sebum tends to slow down, so our face dries out more quickly. You’ll want foundations that offer radiant finishes. NYX Born to Glow! Naturally Radiant Foundation, £10; L’Oréal True Match, £9.99, both Boots; Revolution Conceal & Hydrate, £9, Superdrug. Got a beauty question? Send your problems to chat_magazine@ti-media.com TOP TIP To stop eye shadow from creasing, use an eye primer or pressed powder before applying any colour.…

Scanning my wardrobe for something comfortable to wear to my job as a cashier at a nearby petrol station, I smiled. I’d spotted a green T-shirt with ‘Tiki Monkeys’ on the front and seeing it brought back so many fun memories. ‘Nottingham 2017,’ I smiled to my husband John, 62. ‘What happens on tour, stays on tour,’ he grinned, giving me a kiss before leaving for work. It was May 2019 and for several years I’d been meeting up with a group of about 20 women I’d met on the Chat Mag Bingo site. I’d signed up five years ago now, when a friend suggested I tried playing on Chat Mag Bingo. I quickly became a massive fan, especially when I started making friends in the chatrooms. My bingo buddies…

Watching my lot race around the garden, I winced. ‘Careful!’ I laughed, in spite of myself, as the boys rugby tackled each other. It was August 1998, and I was already a mum of seven. He opened up now and then, but I could tell he was down My partner Andrew and I hadn’t planned on having so many, but Tammy, then 10; David, 8; Stephen, 6; Kirsty, 5; Leon, 4; James, 2, and Kevin, 1, came along one after another. There was never a moment of peace, yet ours was a house full of fun. Then, in December 2006, Andrew, 44, died of a heart attack. I was devastated. But I muddled on through the grief and, as the children reached adulthood, we grew closer than ever. By 2016,…

Fed up with my red, sore skin… Q I’ve had red, itchy skin due to eczema since I was a child – will I ever grow out of it? Kat, Weybridge A There are lots of causes of eczema, including contact with chemicals or plant sap, sensitivity to sunlight, allergy, or a tendency you’ve inherited or were born with. But most people with eczema have a form called atopic eczema, usually caused by an allergy to lots of different substances. Itchy, inflamed, red skin may appear particularly on the insides of elbows and knees, face and hands, and may crack, bleed or become infected. Usually, you do grow out of it – often after childhood but almost always by around age 30. Meanwhile, treatment means controlling symptoms by avoiding known…

Tissue ghosts YOU NEED: HOW TO: 1 Roughly cut the tissue paper or sheet into squares – any size you like. 2 Place two squares on a flat surface, one on top of the other, so all eight points are showing, with a cotton ball in the middle. 3 Wrap the tissue round the cotton ball to make a ghostly head. Balled-up paper also works. 4 Tie string around the neck of your ghost. Draw a spooky face with the felt tip. 5 Several tissue ghosts can be attached by string, or individual ghosts can be hung from doors. Petrifying pizzas WHAT YOU NEED: HOW TO: 1 Remove pizzas from packaging and create monster faces or creepy critters using the toppings. 2 Olives…

Drying myself off, I decided it was time for drastic action. So, after years of doing nothing but eat, I joined my local Slimming World group. Walking in to my first weigh-in was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But I found myself surrounded by women just like me. Some at the beginning of their journey, some in the middle and some already at their target weight. But they’d all been where I was, knew exactly how I felt. ‘You can do this,’ one grinned, encouragingly. I threw away all the takeaway menus And the support I got from the other women in my group was incredible. Feelings of shame and embarrassment were replaced with ambition and accomplishment. They shared recipes for high-protein meals, tips on living a healthier lifestyle.…

Halloween berry cupcakes  Simple-to-make cakes that have a huge impact! SERVES 12 PREP 20 MINS COOK 16 MINS • 120g butter at room temp • 120g sugar • 2 eggs, at room temp • 120g self-raising flour • 250g icing sugar • Orange food colouring, a black gel icing tube, liquorice laces, strawberry laces, • 6 blackberries, 6 raspberries, 6 blueberries 1 Heat oven to 170C/ Gas 3 and line a muffin tin with cake cases. 2 In a bowl beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. 3 Gently fold in the flour until it’s all combined and the mixture drops from the spoon. 4 Divide the mixture between the cake cases and bake in the oven for 16-18 minutes…

Aries 21 March-20 April Big problem at work? Never mind, you think - there’s a sneaky way round it. But last time the short cut didn’t work all that well, did it? So just do it the hard way. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Every argument reaches a point where you get yourself deeper in than you intended. Stay on familiar ground, if you can, and don’t say anything you can’t prove. • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June What you want is almost within reach. Then it isn’t. And then it is. On, off, on… The time’s not quite right. Just give it a few more weeks, and all will be well. • Call 0905 817 0692* for more…

e.l.f. Supermask, £12, elfcosmetics.co.uk This soothing treatment face mask is like a warm, comforting hug for your skin. Infused with lavender and cocoa butter, it helps combat redness. OGX Damage Remedy + Coconut Miracle Oil Hair Mask, £7.99, amazon.co.uk Not only does this smell amazing (think vanilla and coconut), but it’s pretty good for your hair. Leave on for three to five minutes. Eos Watermint Lip Balm, £6.50, Tesco As the winter months are nearly here, dry, cracked lips are inevitable. Keep them smooth and supple with this hydrating minty organic lip balm. Collection Eyes Uncovered Just Nude Palette, £4.99, Boots With oh-so-wearable shades of golds, pinks and bronze, these super-pigmented, blendable formulas are perfect for everyone.…

Scrolling through Facebook, my heart sank. Looks fun! I thought, clicking ‘like’ on silly selfies in nightclub loos, pics of pals in beer gardens. I used to post things like that, too. Before I met Paul, 27... It was May 2014 and I couldn’t believe how much had changed in the few months since me and Paul had got together. To begin with, he’d been thoughtful and protective. Even taken on my little boy, just 6 weeks old. My mum had been worried. ‘He’s not right for you,’ she warned me. Yes, Paul was a few years older, a bit rough and ready. He thought that I’d slept with the doctor ‘But he looks after me,’ I told Mum. Now I realised she’d been right. What I’d thought was kindness…

On 2 February 2013, Anene Booysen was due home by 1am. She was at a local pub just 10 minutes’ walk from her home in Bredasdorp, near Cape Town, South Africa, so her foster mother, Corlia Olivier, 40, had said she could stay out late. The venue was a hotspot for local youngsters. Yet Anene, 17, never made it home. At 5am the next day, as a security guard arrived for work at a local building site, he found her, beaten and mutilated, her intestines spilling out. She was conscious, but in agony. Near death. The emergency services were called. And when neighbours knocked to tell Corlia that a young woman had been found brutally injured, she raced to the scene. The moment she saw the teenager’s trainers sticking out…

Stepping out of the car, I could feel my blood boiling. My mum Trisha, then 47, and I had been rowing. What about? I really couldn’t tell you. Some silly comment or look, probably, as we’d driven home from school. But it was enough to get me riled up. So much so that I’d just poured a tray of milkshakes over her as we pulled into the driveway. While poor Mum went inside to clean herself up, I felt my anger dissolve. ‘I’m so sorry!’ I cried later on. ‘I don’t know where that came from.’ But, truthfully, this wasn’t my first angry outburst. Ever since I was around 6, my moods had been extreme. I’d become furious over the slightest thing. As a teen, I was popular, top of…

Waving her hand so her fresh set of diamante acrylic nails flickered in the light, my daughter Polly beamed. ‘They look amazing!’ she shrieked, wiggling each of her fingers. We’d been preparing for this day since last Christmas Handing over a wad of cash to the beautician, I loved seeing my girl happy. It was 17 July 2019, two days before the biggest event on Polly’s calendar. Her school prom. ‘What shall I do with my hair?’ she pondered in the mirror. You might think Polly was a teenager, about to finish secondary school. But, in fact, she was just 10. And she’d been looking forward to her primary-school prom for months. Years, even! Though it’s usually a secondary-school tradition, junior proms are popping up everywhere. My eldest daughter Beth,…

Will he ever change? QI’ve kicked my husband out for cheating again. I’m in a constant battle with my head versus my heart and keep taking him back because I love him. This time, he called his fancy woman during a family event. He shows no remorse, and I’m determined to stick to my guns this time. But should I throw away 30 years of marriage? Gill, 55 A It doesn’t sound as if your husband is very sorry for what he’s done – it seems that he saw an opportunity and took it. Some people are simply serial cheats, I’m afraid. But you’ve allowed him to behave like this by continually taking him back afterwards. It’s now time for you to put your foot down – and not to…

3 ways to… earn money from your love of pets Are you an animal lover? You could see cash come rolling in by looking after them. Here's how… 1 Get walking You could bag big money by dog-walking. Advertise locally or sign up with a website like rover.com that puts prospective walkers in touch with people who need  their dogs walked (although you'll pay commission on your earnings to the site if you take that route). The amount you can earn varies but you can typically get about £10-20 per hour walk so the money can quickly add up, especially if you get some regular clients. Plus it's great exercise too! 2 Become a sitter If you prefer to stay indoors, you can still make  cash by visiting people's pets in…

Watching the happy couple float around the room in each other’s arms warmed my heart. I love a wedding, I thought. As the second verse of their first dance kicked in, guests swept on to the floor, with their other halves. I pulled my hubby Scott, then 28, over to join them, swishing my long gown. It was June 2018 and we were at the Assembly Rooms for my cousin’s wedding. The rest of the evening was joyous. A proper family knees-up. ‘Time to get back to the kids,’ I yawned to Scott just after 11pm. Our little ones – Jayden, 7, and Tommy, 2 – were at home with a babysitter. Leaving Scott inside chatting, I grabbed my bag and made for the door. The street outside was buzzing…

Burt’s Bees Hand Cream with Shea Butter, £6.99, Boots Nourish and relieve dry, dehydrated hands instantly with this hand cream. No7 Beautiful Skin Nourishing Hand & Nail Cream, £9, Boots This non-greasy hand cream keeps not only your hands but also your nails healthy and moisturised. Vaseline Healthy Hands Stronger Nails Hand Cream, £3.99, Superdrug Say goodbye to chapped hands; this moisturising cream promises to banish dry patches.…

Dear others who know, To look at me, you wouldn’t realise. If you flicked through our family photos, saw the smiling faces of me, my husband and our two boys, you’d never guess. But so many of you reading this will know my pain. Because you’ve lived it too. Liberty Rose might not be in our family photos, but she was my first baby. Me and my husband Alessandro had been aching to meet her as my bump bloomed and we prepared to become a family. We’d watched Liberty grow on scans, relished hearing the soft thump of her heart beating from inside me. It had been a textbook pregnancy. Only, as we’d left our final midwife appointment, at 36 weeks, I’d suddenly felt uneasy. She’d checked me over, told…