Table of contents for 26-Jul-2018 in Chat

What would you do if your fella got someone else pregnant? Probably not what Shannon did... Read what lead to her surprising decision on p6. Three cheers for Courtney on p38, who’s mum to TWO sets of triplets! Just think of all those nappies! Another hero is Sharon on p29 who turned her darkest time into something truly inspirational. Plus we’ve top tips for a cheap night out (p33) and fab cossies to suit every size (p12). And 24 prize puzzles. What a treat!…

Daniel says, ‘Nothing prepared me for how the miscarriages would affect me. They broke me. Shutting off from Shannon, going out with mates, was my way of coping, grieving. ‘When I told Shannon I didn't love her any more, I knew, deep down, it wasn't true, but I needed space at that time, away from everything. ‘I had to own up to the one-night stand. Seeing how unhappy I made Shannon was so difficult. Knowing I caused it made me even more determined to make her smile again. ‘Without a DNA test, I won't know if I'm the father of the other child. But if I am, of course I want to be involved in their life, support them. ‘Shannon and I have been tested more than we could've imagined...now…

Tracy Taylor, 41, Kemble, Gloucestershire Dropping the last of the shopping bags in the kitchen, I called out,‘I’m home!’ I heard giggles coming from the garden… As I walked towards the back door, I could see the madness unfolding! My lads, Kelly, 16, and Rory, 11, were playing footie, while my hubby Barry, 47, and son Connor, 14, were playing catch nearby. And in the middle of it all was my youngest, Megan, 6. She was running between Barry and Rory trying to get the ball off them. A classic game of piggy in the middle! It was last June and, as I watched them, something caught my eye. Megan had stopped running and was staring and mumbling by the fence. Barry had noticed and was trying to get her…

Leanne Daniel, 40, Nuneaton, Warwickshire As the doctors delivered the news, I was gobsmacked. Twins?! I was 30. Being a single mum, expecting one baby was tough, but two..? ‘You’ll cope, and I’ll help,’ my mum Patricia, reassured me. And as the pregnancy progressed, I started to get excited. I learned I was having a boy and a girl. Then, in September 2007, when I was 31 weeks pregnant, I went for a routine scan at George Eliot Hospital. Mum was with me. ‘I’m afraid there are complications with the boy,’ the doctor said. ‘He may have a cyst on his head.’ Referred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, I had multiple scans, then was given a diagnosis at 34 weeks. The consultant explained my baby had a rare condition called encephalocele.…

1 Take charge If you're planning a night out with your friends, be the first one to suggest the venue. That way you can make sure it's not going to bust your budget. And it's always worth looking for deals on websites like groupon.co.uk  and lastminute.com 2 Bring your own The cost of alcohol can send a bill skyrocketing when you go out to a restaurant for a meal. So why not choose somewhere where they'll allow you to take your own booze? And while they may sometimes charge you a corkage fee even if you take a screw cap bottle, you'll usually spend a lot less than if you'd paid for a bottle from the wine list. 3 Come dine at mine! A night at the pub…

Courtney answers YOUR questions Q How do you find the time to give all the children the personal attention they need? Coleen Brunton, Enfield It's challenging, but we make time to take the older A ones out separately and do something special. It's easy to overlook ‘alone time', so we'll keep a close eye. Q What is the best thing about having two sets of triplets? Brita Bevis, Sleaford A Being parents to six kids can be overwhelming but we get a lot back. The kids are such fun and so loving to us and each other. Q How do you find time to keep your relationship with your husband going? Jen Morgan, Bury A It is difficult but we make sure that we take time for ourselves and have…

Coronation Street Claudia’s back on the cobbles Audrey is taken aback when her crimping rival Claudia, played again by Rula Lenska, strides back onto the cobbles and offers Maria a job! Will it be hairdryers at dawn?! Meanwhile, there’s danger for Bethany when she discovers Kayla’s true identity! And, after much soul-searching, Eva decides to leave Weatherfield… Emmerdale Emotional reunion? Feelings run high when Irene agrees to give Charity another chance with Ryan. Charity is a bundle of nerves but, although the meeting starts well, relations quickly sour when Ryan discovers she still hasn’t told her family about him. Elsewhere, Victoria and Matty grow closer. And, with Rebecca still missing, Lachlan is desperate to cover his tracks but is rattled when a suspicious Belle discovers a book belonging to Rebecca…

Grabbing another choccie biscuit from the tin, I saw Mum’s disapproving stare. ‘Go easy, love,’ she said to me. ‘That’s your third one.’ I glanced down at the spare tyre bulging over my jeans and suddenly lost my appetite. It was August 2003 – and six months earlier, I’d left home and moved into my own flat. Even after flying the nest, I still loved popping round to see my mum Joan, then 42. I missed her, even if she did nag about my weight. It was no secret I’d piled on the pounds since leaving home. I’d noticed it a few weeks earlier before going on a night out with friends. Struggling into an old size-10 pair of jeans, the waistband dug into me. I knew where I was…

Holiday must-have  I bought a chlld's cutlery set for less than £1 and used the holder on holiday. It's perfect for holding keys, cash and essentials on the beach. Sue Aldwin, Wigan Take a tumble  Pop a dry towel in the tumble dryer with a wet load of washing. I find it always helps your laundry to dry a lot quicker. Carol Adams, Halesowen Jean-ius!  When I couldn't find a suitable container for my lovely red shrub, I used an old pair of jeans! I stuffed the legs with newspaper, lined the top with a plastic bag and planted the shrub inside. The jeans sit on a chair in my garden and everyone who visits loves it. Verna Read, Rainham Perfect fit  To make sure your sandwich filling fits the…

US District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo rejected the deal, saying, ‘This court cannot accept this plea agreement.’ In August 2016, she sentenced Sharper to 220 months (over 18 years) in a federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $20,000 fine (around £15,000). The following week, he was sentenced by a Louisiana state judge to 20 years in prison stemming from three counts of rape. And in the November, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge. He’ll serve all sentences simultaneously – and on release, must register as a sex offender. Court records list nine victims nationwide – but according to Judge Milazzo, there may be as many as 16.…

Heel help Q Every morning, my right heel is painful as soon as I put it to the floor. It wears off during the day - unless I try to run. What's wrong? Brenda, Redhill A This could be plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the sinew running along the base of your foot at the point where it joins your heel. It can be the result of overdoing exercise. Recovery can take a year or more, but should be speeded up by using shoe inserts and doing stretching exercises. I look so tired… Q The dark, droopy bags under my eyes are getting worse, even though I get eight hours' sleep a night. Can I reduce them? Sally, Scunthorpe AA lack of sleep might temporarily worsen eye bags, but it doesn't…

An encephalocele, sometimes known as cranium bifidum, is a rare birth defect, affecting between one and two births in every 10,000. It happens when the neural tube (a structure in the embryo that eventually forms the brain and spinal cord) hasn't closed as it should, and part of the skull hasn't developed properly. This results in brain tissue, normally covered with a thin membrane, protruding outside the skull. In most cases, the defect is not genetic and happens for no apparent reason. But if there is a family history of a child with an encephalocele then there is an increased risk. Most encephaloceles are large enough to be noticeable and are diagnosed straight after birth. Babies with a very large encephalocele may not survive. The only treatment is surgery and…

Hasselback new potatoes Serves 5 Prep: 15 min Cook: 35 min Cost per serving: 47p 20 Cornish new potatoes 50g butter 4 cloves garlic, crushed Salt and black pepper 40g fresh Parmesan, grated For the dip 3tbsp double cream 1tbsp lemon juice 1tbsp chives, finely chopped 1 Preheat oven to 200C/Gas 6. Make several cuts along each potato but not all the way through. Put cut-side up on a baking tray. 2 Warm butter and garlic in a pan with seasoning until butter is melted. Brush mixture over potatoes and roast in the oven for 20 min. 3 Sprinkle with Parmesan, then pop back in the oven for 15 to 20 min more, until cheese has melted and potatoes are golden. 4 For the dip, mix cream with lemon juice…

QI want to avoid smudgy, panda eyes from the heat when I’m on holiday. Which eye make-up is it best to wear? Hazel Vischer, 63, Huddersfield A Waterproof mascaras are a must on holiday – they give your eyes definition, as well as upping your lash volume. If you’re willing to really splurge, though, book an appointment for lash extensions before you go. They make such a difference that you’ll be tempted to go make-up free all day. They last a good three weeks, too. Nouveau Lashes SVS Lash Extensions, available nationwide, from £55. Essence I ♥ Extreme Volume Waterproof Mascara, £2.80, Wilko. Q No matter if I’m tired or feeling fresh, I always seem to have dark circles under my eyes – how can I get rid of them?…

Donna Robertson, 47, York Flicking through the phone book, telephone in hand, I jabbed in a number. ‘Do you have a relative called Keith?’ I asked the stranger on the line. ‘No-one by that name here,’ came the reply. The next person slammed the phone down without a word. I sighed. Am I crazy? Calling everyone in the phone book with the surname Thompson in and around York was the act of a desperate woman. And I’ll admit, that’s exactly what I was. Desperate. After all, I was looking for my long-lost father. As a child, I’d been in and out of care homes. Life hadn’t been kind. Even when I settled with a lovely foster family as a teenager, I still felt like something was missing. A hole in…

Unlucky for me! Saw this in the local newsagent’s and I really couldn’t help but smile. I wonder how many men are actually fortunate enough to have a ‘man cave’? I’m lucky to get my own drawer! R Emerson, Grimsby Love yourself Ican’t understand Mia Maffia’s desire to nearly kill herself just to get a fat behind (issue 1, 3 May 2018)! Her new bum looks a weird shape anyway. It annoys me that some people have shoddy surgery in foreign countries, then expect the NHS to foot the bill to put it right. Love the body you’ve got! Linda Ainsworth, Runcorn Nature for all Grrr! I’d like to let off steam about how annoying it is to see people picking flowers in parks and woods. Recently, I saw a…

Rayne Perrywinkle was a single mum trying to make ends meet. She wanted to do everything she could to make her three beautiful daughters happy. But, with rent to be paid, plus clothes for her ever-growing girls and food to buy, Rayne was under pressure. One day in June 2013, she took her girls shopping near her home in Florida, USA. They went to a discount store, with Rayne hoping to pick up some bargains. But as Cherish, 8, and her two younger sisters chose outfits, Rayne realised she couldn’t afford it all. She stood near the checkout, working out what she’d have to tell her girls to put back. As she did, she noticed a man hovering nearby, watching. Her gut reaction was to be suspicious. She worried he…

Dear Lou, I’ve only started to come to terms with losing you. Stopped looking out the window for your return. But the day you left will be etched into my memory forever. It was a normal Saturday in November 2014. You woke up to tend to our beautiful 20-month-old, Isla. Then at midday, you went for a 30-minute run, like you did most Saturdays. ‘I’ll be back to make lunch,’ you breezed, kissing me. But after 45 minutes, you hadn’t come back. You didn’t have your phone, so I walked with Isla to find you. But there was no sign. Instinctively I knew something was wrong, Lou. You were always so keen to get back to Isla. So I called the police, gave your description. And 20 minutes later, as…

Julie Moore, 51, Deckham, Tyne and Wear Sitting around the table for Sunday lunch, I opened my mouth to speak. Already, my son Gary, 26, was rolling his eyes. ‘Go on then, Mum,’ he laughed. ‘Get it out of your system so we can tuck in.’ Gary and Brooke, my daughter-in-law, then 22, knew the drill... Grinning, I ribbed them, ‘So when are you two going to give me grandchildren?’ ‘Some day, Mum,’ Gary replied, chortling. You could say that I was keen to be a grandma! I pestered my kids in the way all parents do – a lot. Then, in June 2015, Gary and Brooke popped in for a cuppa. ‘We’re having a baby!’ they announced proudly. I pulled them both into a tight hug. ‘Well, about bloomin’…

Why do I smell? Q My husband says I've started to smell strange. Is it because I have to take five different pills every day? Evelyn, Manchester Occasionally, epilepsy A tablets, painkillers and some antidepressants can affect the way you smell. It's usually because they increase your sweating, so antiperspirants and washing should help. Or ask your GP about a change of medication. Sex and spots Q Sex makes my spots flare up! Do I have to choose between having sex and looking good? Lucy, Daventry A Luckily, you can have both! Sex shouldn't make acne spots worse, though sweating, exertion and increased blood flow to your skin during sex might make them more obvious temporarily. Cleanse your skin after sex, and ask your chemist about acne remedies.…

Sharon Donnelly, 54, Peterborough Stepping out of a steaming-hot shower, I let out a deep sigh. The hot water worked wonders on the pesky knots in my shoulders. Life’s jobs and chores taking their toll... But as I dried off, my fingers brushed over something. I froze. A hard, small bump in my left breast. With a 34AA chest, the pea-sized lump was easy to spot – poking out above my nipple. ‘Look at this,’ I shouted, rushing towards the bedroom. My husband John peered closely at my chest. ‘Doesn’t look right,’ he said. For two weeks I kept an eye on it, hoping it’d go down. When it didn’t, the GP referred me to hospital – where, in September 2015, a biopsy was taken. Just to be safe. Two…

Aries 21 March - 20 April A friendship with someone at work which got off to a rocky start is better second time around and could even lead to romance! The key is to keep it low-key, and not expect too much too soon… Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May You’re in danger of turning down something good and real as you’d rather chase a dream! Dreams are fine, but unrealistic. The alternative isn’t as glamorous, but could be better. Think carefully. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June You said you’d do it, but the nearer you get to the date, the less enthusiastic you are. Postpone it or say you don’t mind if it gets cancelled. With…

Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayon in Red Sunrise, £7.99. Statement colour with a sheer finish – what a winner. Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Color in Addiction, £8.99. Think pink with this matte-finish lacquer. No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Pillarbox Red, £10. Long-lasting hydration, teamed with a classic red colour. Perfect! Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick in 037, £5.49. Coral is a one-suits-all shade – and this has the approval of Kate Moss! Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Hawaii Smoulder, £9.99. Packed with nourishing jojoba oil, this gives lips a sizzling hot-pink colour, too. NYX Cosmetics Long Lasting Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Orange County, £7. A slick of lippy on the orange-side of coral is all you need to glam up. This glides on for a velvet-smooth finish.…

Kissing my husband Paul, then 29, on the cheek, I grabbed my bag and headed to the car. ‘See you after work!’ I called. It was January 2014 and I was 34 weeks pregnant. I couldn’t wait to meet my baby. Just a few more weeks of my bank-manager job, then she’d be here. Starting the engine, I edged off the drive and turned onto the main road. But as I pulled up to a set of traffic lights, I suddenly found myself retching. Then I vomited all over myself. Strange, I thought. I hadn’t even felt sick. Turning the car around, I went home to quickly change. ‘Must still have a touch of morning sickness,’ I said to Paul as I pulled on a clean top. But as I…