Table of contents for 23-Mar-2017 in Chat

Rarely have I read such a desolate, wretched, agonising real-life story. The vile Peter Hopkins has failed at every level of humanity, raping his own child before caving in his wife's skull with a claw hammer. Then this stinking, depraved soul blamed everyone but himself. I hope he's suffering enough to get even the tiniest taste of the sheer hell he inflicted on those extraordinary enough ever to have loved him. And, to his daughter Debbie, who courageously tells her story here - our hearts are with you...…

Our bubble burst – at 22, I went through the menopause Finally,I knew what it was like to be a mum You’re probably thinking or feeling one of two things. First, pity. That woman thinks those dolls are alive, poor thing. Or, second, that I’m strange. That woman thinks those dolls are alive. Weirdo. I don’t blame you. It’s not every day you see a 39-year-old woman pushing three dolls in a pram. But I’m happy. And I love my dolls – Amy, Ashley and Chloe. They’re ‘reborn’ dolls, made to look and feel like real babies. Amy was my first. I got her last April. My fiance Peter, 51, had asked me what I wanted for my birthday… ‘This,’ I said, showing him a listing on eBay. I’d been…

Serves: 6 Prep: 25 min 225g ginger nut biscuits 60g dairy-free spread, melted 2 large (or 3 small) lemons 4½tbsp cornflour 3tbsp icing sugar Fresh mint and icing sugar, to decorate 1 Line base of an 18cm loose-bottomed tin with baking parchment. 2 Put biscuits in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin, then mix with melted spread. Tip into tin and cover the base and sides, using the back of a spoon to press the crumbs firmly down. Put in fridge to cool and set. 3 Meanwhile, finely grate lemons, squeeze juice into a jug and make up to 500ml with water. Stir in cornflour until completely dissolved. 4 Tip into a pan and heat gently, stirring continuously. Simmer for 2 min, stir in icing sugar, then…

1 Cut three large potatoes, skins on, into big dice and microwave with 1tbsp water for 6-7 min (or steam for 10 min). 2 Fry one diced red onion, one crushed clove of garlic, 50g bacon lardons and 100g halved button mushrooms in 2tbsp rapeseed oil for 3-4 min, then add potatoes and continue cooking until golden. Now stir in 125g cooked meat - this is a great way to use up leftovers - either ham or chicken from the Sunday roast. Season with salt and plenty of black pepper. 3 Poach four eggs and serve over hash, sprinkled with a little finely diced parsley. Serves: 3 Cost per head: 84p…

There’s nothing like seeing your grandkids’ excited faces One Sunday evening before Christmas, I was playing Chat Mag Bingo. I’d joined a few years earlier – as a VAT manager, I travelled a lot, couldn’t often get to the local bingo with mates. Chat Mag Bingo was such a social site, and I made lots of pals in the chat rooms. I’d had some big wins, too, a couple of jackpots. That evening, I’d already won tickets to the weekly Playoff Palace game. My hubby Chris, 59, was watching TV, while I watched the game play out. One after another, my numbers came up. Then…jackpot! We both shrieked with delight. And we agreed what we’d spend it on – extra Christmas pressies for our 10 lovely grandkids! Of course, we…

1. Visitchatmagbingo.com 2. Join with promo code CHATJ12 3. Deposit £10 and play games with £35!* Offer ends 31 MAR 2017 T&Cs: *New customers only. Registration required. 18+. UK only. Valid until 31 March 2017. Minimum £10 deposit. You must accept the welcome bonus and join using promo code CHATJ12 when you deposit £10 to receive £25 welcome bonus to play. 250% welcome bonus - max £100. Welcome bonus must be wagered four times before withdrawals (including, but not limited to, any cash winnings or deposits related to the applicable bonus) from your member account. Wagering requirements apply. The welcome bonus will expire within 30 days if not used in its entirety. Cash-out restrictions apply. See full T&Cs at www.chatmagbingo.com/terms . For 24-hour support, freephone…

TATT’S SO SILLY! When convicted sex offender Matthew Ezekiel Stager was released from jail to a transitional house, he failed to show up. He wasn't on the run from the law for long, though. Wonder how they caught him so fast..? DEAD WRONG! A Canadian funeral director has spoken out about mourners taking selfies at their services, as the trend has become too popular. It's going on over here, too. In a survey, a third of mourners admitted to snapping away at a funeral, with some even posing with the coffin! CHUBBY HOG Tubby Jabba the hedgehog (above right, and left) has been put on a strict diet after he got so fat he could no longer curl into a ball. At 1.8kg (around 4lb), he was three times the…

What I loved Dr Miriam Stoppard. Saw her on the telly doing something in India - she's 79, looks about 39 and was an absolute delight. Go, girl! What hacked me off Hot yoga. Dear God! Tried it out yesterday and can't remember ever being so miserable about anything, ever… Had to have two Hobnobs to recover. What made me laugh Hearing a knockout put-down in a cafe. One old ‘friend' saying to another, ‘Haven't seen you for ages! That extra weight really suits you...' Ouch! Hope your week packs a punch!…

Dad had bludgeoned Mum with a claw hammer I didn’t dare move as my sisters got up and wandered downstairs. Dad came into the living room, refused to let us in the kitchen. Instead, he sent us straight to school with orders to go to my nan’s – his mum’s – after. Where’s Mum? I thought, sick with dread. But I didn’t dare ask. The next few weeks are a blur. I remember my uncle telling us Mum had died. ‘She fell over and hit her head,’ he explained. I remember screaming, being sedated. Dad’s family took us in, doing their best to protect us from the truth. ‘Dad’ll be away for a little while,’ we were told. At school, rumours were rife. ‘Your dad killed your mum,’ the kids…

Bad back Q When I sleep over at my parents' house, I wake up with backache, but the mattress is new. What's going on? Kayla, 26 A Any mattress is likely to cause problems if it doesn't suit you. We used to recommend firm mattresses for people with back pain, but it's trial and error to find what's right for you. You might find that a mattress topper can help. Watery eye Q My left eye is sore and watery. A specialist diagnosed ingrowing eyelashes and wants to operate, but I'm not keen! Rebecca, 61 A It's an entropion, where your eyelid has turned inwards. Often it happens with age, though injury or infection can be to blame. Lubricating ointment can help, but it could lead to permanent damage so…

She thumped me with something hard – a bottle It feels like I’m the one who’s being punished Standing behind the bar, I beamed as customers streamed in. The DJ blasted his first track and I felt the usual thrill of excitement. I loved my work. At 16, I’d started my first job – collecting glasses in a bar. From there, I’d worked my way up to manager – and I’d fallen for the doorman, Peter Edwards. Before long, we were living together. Life was good. Then, in August 2015, we decided to open a bar of our own. It was a big challenge, with long hours and hard work. But the opening night of the Kandy Klub, St Helens, had been a huge success. I was so proud.…

While I lived in Seattle, Phil lived 4,600 miles away I’d fallen in love... so I did something crazy! Scrolling through Facebook, I was drawn to a quirky article one of my friends had shared. Dwarf gets Yoda tattoo in fight for size equality, the headline read. A fan of tattoos, I loved reading about different designs, and updates from the world of ink. And, as I read the story, a huge smile spread across my face. It was about a man in Wales called Phil Luster, 32, who was born with diastrophic dysplasia – a severe form of dwarfism. At just 3ft, Phil had had a lifetime of people staring and making cruel comments. But, instead of hiding away, he’d confronted the issue by getting a famous Yoda…

It’s impossible to feel down when you see her! My partner Les Hatton, 57, squeezed my hand as the doctor spoke. ‘Your baby seems to have a cystic hygroma,’ he said. A what?! I was 12 weeks pregnant, and we were at my first scan. The doctor explained it’s an abnormal growth, made up of fluid-filled sacs. It could be treated after the baby was born. So Les and I put it to the back of our minds, focused on getting things sorted for our new arrival. We both had kids from previous relationships – my two girls, Molly, 17, and Megan, 19, and Les’ kids, Michael, 34, and Melanie, 32. They were all excited to meet the new baby. Then, at 32 weeks, doctors picked up on something. Our…

As the day approached,I realised we’d been dumped Tears sprung when I saw my gorgeous girl in her custom-made, designer, white wedding gown. ‘You’re the most beautiful bride,’ I blubbed. She’d be even more stunning once she’d had her hair done. I couldn’t wait to see her walk down the aisle. ‘I’ll have to get a new hat,’ I beamed. Only, it wasn’t my daughter’s big day I was excited about, but my gorgeous shih tzu Diva’s! She’d got engaged on Valentine’s Day 2012 to my mate Sandra’s dog Bud. I’d always spoiled Diva. Lavishing her with treats, jewellery and glitzy outfits, I’d been itching to marry her off. So I was chuffed when Sandra thought a wedding was a fab idea. ‘We could use it to raise money,’ she…

First, I won a game, then the progressive jackpot! My gorgeous, black Labrador Roxy curled up next to me as I settled on the sofa for a game of Chat Mag Bingo. ‘I think Roxy’s a bit lonely,’ I said to my hubby Graham, 47, who was playing on his games console. Sadly, we’d lost our older Labrador, Roxy’s best mate Misty, that summer. Roxy missed her, and I did, too. Still, we loved our walks out in the woods next to our house After a long, exhausting walk, Graham and I liked nothing more than settling down for the evening with the dogs, him clicking away on his controller, me enjoying a few games of Chat Mag Bingo. I’d been playing online bingo for about 10 years. I used…

1 The Humber Bridge and Hessle Foreshore In front of Humber Bridge Country Park, Hessle Foreshore is a great place to have a picnic and view the bridge. Take an exhilarating walk across the 2,200m span bridge. From April, you can listen to hidden sounds of the bridge and its surroundings, set to music! 2 The Viking Way You don't have to walk all 147 miles of this long-distance path, but you can go as far as you fancy along the first 14-mile section that starts here and passes right under the Humber Bridge and then out across the Wolds. 3 The Whalebone Thirsty? Named Hull Pub of the Year in 2015 by CAMRA, The Whalebone was built around 1800, and today boasts two house ales, Diana and Neck Oil.…

Flickering through the negatives were dark figures They were beautiful. Lived their lives brightly. And died young. The stars of the silver screen. Hollywood’s golden, silent age. Rudolph Valentino. Lupe Velez. Virginia Rappe. Now, in 2012, decades later, those stars were going to shine again. American film-maker Alex Monty Canawati wanted to tell their stories. A modern-day silent film about Hollywood’s silent past. Alex’s film would star big names. Like Tippi Hedren, famous for her work with Alfred Hitchcock, Jennifer Tilly, who’d been in Liar Liar, and Debi Mazar from Goodfellas. It would be called Return to Babylon. The film would be shot in LA, in some of the mansions owned by silent movie stars. And they’d use an original hand-cranked camera from the time. Plus original 16mm film. In…

My dad was a terrifying, violent man who ruled the house Mum’s screams tore through the darkness. ‘Please, don’t!’ she begged. Aged just 3, I froze, cowering under my bedsheets, hoping Dad wasn’t hurting her too much. My mum Susan was a loving, gentle woman who doted on me and my three sisters. But my dad Peter Hopkins was a terrifying, violent man, who ruled the house with an iron fist. He’d come home drunk after spending his wages down the bookies or the pub. ‘Keep out of his way,’ Mum’d say. But she’d take regular beatings. We learnt to ignore her black eyes, busted lips. One bathtime when I was 4, around 1968, Dad got into the tub with me. ‘Wash me,’ he ordered, putting my hand on his…

My heart broke as I saw Kye’s fingers turn black Just five days earlier, my partner Luke, then 26, and I had welcomed our daughter Layla into the world. Blissfully unaffected, my son from a previous relationship, Kye, 8, was playing with our neighbour. Later, worn out, he went to his room. At 3pm I checked on him. ‘Are you OK?’ I asked as he lay in bed. ‘I’ve got a headache,’ he said. By 6.30pm he had a temperature, so I gave him Calpol and Nurofen. When it didn’t work, I phoned NHS Direct. ‘Keep him cool,’ they advised. ‘Open the window and put him in his underwear.’ I did as they said, then Kye was sick. ‘Must be a bug,’ I thought. Thankfully, his temperature stabilised. Next morning…

She’d turned deathly pale and her lips went blue My daughter Eve, then 5, was into everything. Sporty, active and full of energy, she wouldn’t sit still for five minutes. At school, she loved running around the playground. And she was forever riding her bike around the garden. Then one day, while she was at school, I got a call at work. ‘Eve’s not feeling well,’ a teacher explained. Turned out she’d cut her finger, then passed out in the lunch queue. When I picked her up, she seemed fine. ‘She was probably just hot from standing near the radiator,’ I said to Eve’s dad. I wasn’t too worried. But months on, in late 2012, her school phoned me again. This time, Eve had grazed her hand while in the…

Super scooper   Cut through the handle section of a bleach bottle, and you'll have a handy pooperscooper for cleaning up your dog's messy business! Anita Saunders, Merthyr Tydfil Beach house I collected driftwood, shells and pebbles from the beach, and used strong glue to make a pretty frame for a plain mirror. Jackie Patrick, Hayling Island Stay together When cleaning shoes or trainers, place them in an old pillow case before you put them in the washing machine. It'll help keep them together and also stops any Velcro or laces getting tangled up. Sharon Taylor, Runcorn Healthy fro-yo   Instead of unhealthy ice cream, buy a healthy yogurt and freeze it! It's just as sweet and creamy, but contains far less calories. Rebecca Lupton, Preston Sew cool These trendy…

HOT: Tesco Finest Sweet Tomato & Bird's Eye Chilli Chutney, 300g, £1.49 Nice and thick, with a fruity flavour and just a little spicy heat, this is the perfect consistency to spread in sandwiches. HOTTER: Lidl Batts Deluxe Tomato & Chilli Chutney, 290g, 99p This has a jam-like consistency, and, if you like a fairly fiery chilli heat, is a spicy alternative to ketchup. HOTTEST: Asda Extra Special Flame Roasted Tomato And Habanero Chilli Chutney, 300g, £1.40 If you like it hot, this packs a real punch! With a smoky, onion flavour, it's great in pasta sauce. NEW   M&S Colin & Connie Wedding Cakes, £50 each Getting wed? Why not go for these quirky caterpillar cakes? Connie has a strawberry buttercream filling, while Colin's is chocolate. Available to order,…

The shop assistant refused me entry to the fitting room My tummy groaned as I handed the next customer his cheeseburger and fries. ‘Have a nice day!’ I smiled, stopping myself from drooling with hunger. I was 18 and had just started working at my local McDonald’s drive-thru. I loved my job, but it was tough resisting the delicious food all day. And I lived for my lunch breaks when I could tuck into a free meal. A perk of the job, I’d devour a large Chicken Selects meal with fries, milkshake and a McFlurry… Then just before I left at the end of my shift, I’d buy myself a burger and fries for the way home. It was no surprise when my size-24 uniform began to feel a bit…

Giving hope The Jackson family (9 February issue) are an inspiration. To lose your sight and experience such a change to your face is a huge challenge to anyone's identity. The way Dan, Susan and son Harry have responded to the condition is incredible, and they're giving hope to others through his charity. Thank you for showing us all that there's hope even in the most difficult circumstances. Abigail Canham, via e-mail No egg-stras! I heard a mum ask her littl’un if he’d like an egg sandwich. ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘but not one with grass in it.’ I think he meant cress! Karen Baker, Watford Tough customer y son Dale, 8, was finding M it rather hard to wait for us to be served when we were in a restaurant…

75 Ball Bingo is played on a bingo ticket with 24 numbers between 1 and 75. Each game , the numbers will be in a specific pattern, such as a pyramid, bench chair or triangle . Or there’ll be a total blackout. The first player to complete the winning pattern or Black out wins! How many 75 Ball Bingo rooms are there at Chat Mag Bingo ? There are five: L ounge, Speed Bingo , Bingo 20, Round the Clock, and T ake Me Out Bingo. How many jackpots are there to be won? There are two - the game jackpot, which is won every new game, and the progressive jackpot. This keeps getting higher, until it’s won within a set number of ball calls. But, in the Lounge room,…

Aries 21 March - 20 April A pang of regret hits you as you look back at where you once were. It seems nicer than where you are now. But the past always looks good from a distance, and you’re on your way to better things. Press on. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May Pay no attention if someone says you owe them from a deal now long gone. You did things by the book, and paid your fair share. If anyone’s due anything back, it should be you. Suggest that, and see what happens! Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June Beginner’s luck, or are you an experienced player who knows the game? Whichever, this week should go…

Doctors had found a tumour on her spinal cord As I came downstairs, my sister Jenna was waiting in her pyjamas. ‘You can get dressed now,’ I giggled as she ran upstairs. Jenna was two and a half years younger than me, and we were so close. Each morning, she’d see what I was wearing, then come down in the same! ‘Peas in a pod,’ my mum Christine called us. As teenagers, we shared the same group of friends and went out together most weekends. And, even though we were no longer copying each other by then, we’d often turn up to a bar wearing the same skirt or boots! Jenna trained as a primary school teacher and I worked at a travel agency. We lived around the corner from…