Table of contents for 21-Nov-2019 in Chat

Lisa discovered a sinister rumour about herself and got a nasty shock when she found out who had started it… (p6). After years of trying, you’ll never believe what made Tara a mummy (p34). And what happened when Sian dug up buried secrets after 22 years? (p18). Bargain hunters will love our 20% off at Peacocks (p29), and for pudding lovers, we’ve got simple but yummy pastry recipes (p42). Plus our usual prize puzzles, fashion, beauty (p28) and so much more!…

Graham says, ‘I regret that, of course I do. I was in a bad place with the relationship – it was fine in the beginning and then it just started dying. It was a way out. ‘I take full responsibility for it, she had nothing to do with it. It was all me. She didn’t do anything wrong. I should’ve been more of a husband to her and I wasn’t. ‘The one good thing that’s come out of this is that me and Lisa are still friends. I’ve got nothing to hide any more – I made a mistake by having the affair.’…

Emily Bridges, 27, Skipton As I’m A Celebrity went into another ad break, I rushed to the loo. ‘Again?’ my partner Max, 35, laughed. ‘Don’t blame me, blame the boys!’ I despaired. This pregnancy, with twins, had me running to the toilet every 10 minutes. It was November 2018 and we were having a normal Sunday evening in. Only, this loo break was different. Feeling liquid between my legs, I screamed out for Max. My waters had broken. ‘The babies are coming now!’ I yelled, panicking. I was only 27 weeks along, had only been to one birthing class. But I had no choice – I was in labour. Max dialled 999 as, on the bathroom floor, I began to push. Within minutes, our first son Dexter was born. Hearing…

It’s a bit bent! Q My right ring finger bends normally, but then won’t straighten unless I push it, when it snaps straight with a click. I’m terrified of an op. Will it get better on its own? Adaego, Cannock A Sounds like a trigger finger. A swelling, or nodule, has formed in the tendon, which connects the muscles in your forearm to your middle finger. This tendon runs along your palm, where a series of tough bands of tissue hold it down. The nodule is catching on a band, and you’re unable to straighten the finger without forcing it. The condition usually appears out of the blue, though can be due to gout, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. It might get better on its own – a finger splint can…

Jean Whittle, 90 You know the cliches about falling in love… Instant sparks, butterflies in your belly? Well, I’d never felt any of that. In fact, I’d never been in love. I dated, but I simply never met The One. And after several decades, I pretty much gave up. Focused on the things I did have – friends, family, my job and travel. I lived a good life. Who needs men, anyway? Before I knew it, I was 88 and still single. I didn’t know what all those soppy songs were on about Happy, but I was an old lady who still didn’t know what all those romantic films and soppy songs were on about. That was until March 2017. I was sitting at the bus stop in my retirement…

Julie Edwards, 31 Trying to concentrate in class, my eyelids felt really heavy. I’ll just shut them for a minute, I thought. Suddenly, I was being shaken awake by the teacher as all my classmates sniggered. It was nothing new. I was 11, and I’d been bullied for years. ‘Fatty!’ kids would sneer. I’d always struggled with my weight. Now, I weighed more than 11st. And I continued to gain weight. By 15, I was 5ft 4in and 16st 4lb – a size 24. Plus I was constantly exhausted. At night, I had vivid dreams and struggled to get up each morning. Driving, my head would drop over the steering wheel ‘Be more active,’ teachers would nag. ‘I’m too tired,’ I’d sigh. After leaving school, I fell pregnant at 18,…

Brits have failed to pick up around £228 million worth of items ordered through click and collect, according to a recent study by Barclaycard. Around 30% of those who failed to collect their order said it was because they found the process a ‘hassle' - saying it was a lot easier to ask for a refund, then reorder the same item for home delivery. Other reasons shoppers gave for leaving their items uncollected included long waiting times at their local post office and poorly staffed collection points (both 25%). Did you know?  The amount of cash parents are lending or gifting their children to help them buy a home has risen sharply, to an average of £24,100 this year, compared to £18,000 last year, according to Legal & General.…

Maui Moisture Colour Protection + Sea Minerals Heat Shield Mist, £8.99, Superdrug Especially important if you can’t live without your straighteners, this lightweight mist will help prevent damage and keep your hair colour fresher for longer. Me+ AHA Fruit Acid Booster, £7.99, Superdrug This works as a chemical exfoliant to remove dead skin cells – revealing the brighter skin underneath. Al!ve Magnesium Plus Hydrating Spray Moisturiser, £5, Sainsbury’s If, like us, you hate waiting for your moisturiser to dry before getting dressed, this lightweight spray sinks in fast. Skin feels super soft for days after use. Essence The Blush, £2.50, Wilko Available in five shades, this super silky blush has a really lovely pearly finish – perfect for perking up winter skin.…

Move in or move on? Q In six years, my boyfriend has never mentioned moving in together, but I think it’s daft that we are paying two sets of bills. He stays over, but I’ve never stayed overnight at his. He says he prefers things the way they are. I’ve been to his flat, so know he’s not keeping secrets, but it’s frustrating our relationship isn’t moving forwards. What should I do? Lesley, 31 A If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, so they say. If he’s comfortable with the situation, that’s good. But does he know you want more? Tell him your expectations, perhaps you can compromise. But if he’s never going to be ready to move forward, you’re wasting your time. Tell him you want to share your…

Discovering I had narcolepsy was life-changing. I live in Texas, USA, but in 2017, I joined Narcolepsy Support Group on Facebook. The more I researched, the more I understood my condition. There’s no cure, but I turned my health around Lack of energy, weight gain, vivid dreams, hallucinations… And, finally, I could lose the ‘lazy’ tag that had followed me around for years. ‘I’m afraid there’s no cure for narcolepsy,’ my doctor explained to me. But there were ways of managing my symptoms, turning my health around. Maybe even losing weight. Still, at 22st and a size 30, I had a long way to go. ‘It’s time to tackle this head on,’ I vowed in September 2017. I’d realised that sugary, caffeinated drinks made me slump even more once…

Apple and mincemeat strudel This is an old-school classic with a nod to the upcoming festive season. SERVES 6 PREP TIME 15 MINS COOK TIME 45 MINS • 700g Bramley apples, cored, quartered and cut into chunks • 50g light muscovado sugar • 1tsp ground cinnamon • 1tbsp lemon juice • 125g cranberry mincemeat • 270g pack (6 sheets) filo pastry • 60g butter, melted • 30g breadcrumbs • 175g icing sugar, sieved • 1-2tbsp lemon juice 1 Put the apples in a pan with the muscovado sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and 1tbsp water. Cover and heat gently for 15 mins to soften the apples. Stir in the mincemeat and leave to cool slightly. Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. 2 Place 2 sheets of the filo pastry, overlapping by…

Coronation Street Paul’s past is exposed When Bernie and Gemma find some photos of a young Paul and some other kids in Kel’s flat, Paul finally opens up to his mum and sister about how he was abused by Kel as a teenager.  Shocked to the core, Gemma urges her brother to report Kel to the police. What will Paul do? EastEnders Martin’s in for a massive shock When Ben threatened to kill Stacey a few weeks back, Martin told a lie to sabotage his marriage and keep his wife away from Walford. This week, when Martin tries to get hold of Stacey, but has no luck, he heads to the Slaters’, where a big shock awaits. Emmerdale Lydia’s worrying news After her encounter with her long-lost sister Beth last…

Janet Maiden, 56, Leyland 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, which brought back so many fun memories. ‘Nottingham 2017,’ I said to my husband John, 62. ‘What happens on tour, stays on tour,’ he grinned. It was May 2019 and for several years I’d been meeting up with a group of women I’d met on the Chat Mag Bingo site. I’d signed up five years ago now, when a friend suggested I played it. I quickly became a massive fan, especially when I started making friends in the chatrooms. In the summer of 2017, a few of the women suggested we got together for…

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Lisa Tubbs, 52, Middlesex Handing my teenage boys their coats and bags, I bundled them out of the door. ‘Time for school,’ I said, grabbing my keys. It was early 2005 and, after splitting with my husband – the boys’ dad – over 12 months earlier, life had been non-stop. Graham genuinely seemed to care... After 18 years together, it felt strange being alone, and I really missed having someone to talk to. So when I bumped into an old friend Graham Tubbs, in town that February, it felt like fate. We’d been mates as teenagers, shared the odd kiss. But we’d drifted apart, married other people. Now, we got chatting and I felt a flutter of excitement when Graham said he was single, too. Maybe my luck’s changing, I…

Julia Hagreen, 40, Huddersfield Setting piping-hot plates on the table, I shouted upstairs. ‘Dinner’s ready!’ I called, as footsteps thundered. But as me, my partner Darren, 49, and our son George, then 3, wolfed down our tea, I realised Sofia, then 5, was chewing each mouthful slowly. ‘That’s it, chew it 30 times,’ encouraged her sister Mollie, then 7. It was August 2018, and ever since Sofia had nearly choked on some cheese a few weeks earlier, they’d both been extra cautious. It had been terrifying, but Sofia had been OK. However, as she splashed in the sea on a holiday in Devon soon after, I noticed she looked very thin. Then there were times on our trip when her speech slurred or she’d throw up. ‘I’m worried,’ I told…

After just an hour of deliberation, on 31 May 2016, the jury returned a guilty verdict, and two months later, Drew Peterson was back before judge Richard Brown, who sentenced him to a further 40 years. It means that Peterson will never be released, remaining in prison until he dies. Drew Peterson will never be released from prison Afterwards, prosecutor James Glasgow – the intended victim of Peterson’s hitman plot – said in a statement that Peterson’s crime was not just about him, but about every state attorney. ‘This was not merely a threat to one prosecutor,’ Glasgow said. ‘It was an attack on our entire criminal justice system by a notorious murderer who always felt he could act outside and above the law. ‘Prosecutors across our state must have…

Now we’re in the full swing of autumn, it’s easy to blame the weather and shorter days for feeling lower than usual. However, it may be down to a vitamin D deficiency. Studies have found that low levels of vitamin D can be linked to depression. Why? It’s believed that vitamin D helps to regulate serotonin – the body’s happy hormone – in the brain. During October to March, it becomes harder for our bodies to absorb enough vitamin D from sunlight alone. It can also be tricky to get enough from foods such as oily fish or eggs, so supplementation is recommended. Try Better You DLux 3000 Vitamin D Daily Oral Spray (£8.45, betteryou.com).…

MARATHON BOMBING As runners neared the finish line of the Boston Marathon in April 2013, two bombs, hidden in backpacks, exploded. Three people were killed, at least 264 injured. Brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 26 and 19, were suspects and went on the run. Tamerlan died after a police chase. His younger brother was found guilty of 30 charges and sentenced to death in April 2015. He remains in a maximum security prison. STAR’S CRIMES EXPOSED In November 2013, at Cardiff Crown Court, rock singer Ian Watkins, 36, pleaded guilty to sickening child sex abuse charges dating back to 2007. The Lostprophets frontman admitted 13 offences. He was sentenced to 29 years, plus six years on licence. His co-defendants, mothers of children Watkins abused, also received jail terms of…

British Rose Hand Wash, £5, The Body Shop Perfect for anyone who likes a really floral, girlie scent. I love the nostalgic smell of this almost as much as I love the pink bottle. Baylis & Harding The Fuzzy Duck Ginger & Lime Hand Wash, £3, Tesco The whole family will love this fresh, zingy soap. The Little Soap Company Cleansing Lemon Zest Hand Soap, £3.50, Asda Proving eco-friendly beauty doesn’t need to cost the earth, this soap is vegan, plant based, sustainable and free from synthetic fragrances.…

3 tricks to… stop you impulse shopping!  It's all too easy to bust your budget when you hit the shops, so try these tips to help you stay on track. 1 Think about your spending Whether you've spotted a great bargain on boots or a discount on a dress you love, before you head to the till, look at the price and work out how long it will take you to earn the amount of money they cost. Once you see the item in terms of the hours you'll need to work to pay for them, you may lose that urge for a splurge. It might also help to consider the item's cost- per-use. If it's something you're unlikely to use very often, you may decide it's not really worth…

1st 12 Mini French Butter Pastries, £2.95, Waitrose This selection of mini croissants, pains au chocolat and pains aux raisins is perfect for a special breakfast. The rich, delicate pastry will leave you wondering why you waited so long to try them! 2nd 6 Pains Au Raisins, £3, M&S Filled with delicious plump sultanas and a decadent vanilla crème patisserie, these all-butter pains au raisins are a real treat that will transport you to Paris in a single bite. 3rd 6 All Butter Croissants, £2 or 2 for £3.50, Tesco  These crisp, light croissants puff up to a decent size in the oven and keep their shape well. The flaky pastry isn’t too sweet and would be delicious filled with jam or bacon and cheese!…

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In summer 1933, Derek Bentley was born in Norbury, south London. As a child, he had developmental and health problems, wasn’t able to read or write. He got into trouble for theft and was sent to a correctional school. Yet, despite having the mind of an 11-year-old, Derek grew into a tall, strong man. After being sacked as a binman for the council, he was rejected for National Service, being declared mentally unfit. His family, including older sister Iris, were supportive. But Derek found a kindred spirit in gun-loving thug Christopher Craig, a teenager with a love of American gangster movies. On the freezing cold night of 2 November 1952, what the pair did would go down in the history books for all the wrong reasons. That night, Derek, 19,…

In 1991, the film Let Him Have It highlights the injustice of Bentley's case. Epileptic and with a low mental age, Derek (Christopher Eccleston), is shown becoming friends with Christopher Craig (Paul Reynolds), and joining him in the burglary to impress him. The dramatic moment of Derek's supposed cry - ‘Let him have it' - captures the moment that sealed his fate. The trial depicts heartbreaking scenes of Derek on the stand, overwhelmed, struggling to answer questions. Lord Goddard's comments to the jury in his summing up - later used to quash the conviction in real life - are quoted word for word, delivering chilling insight into how this injustice unfolded. Harrowing final scenes show a sack being pulled over Derek's head by the executioner. Seven years after the film's…