Table of contents for 23-Jan-2020 in Chat

Her son only nipped out to the chippy – now Helen is having to raise thousands of pounds to bring him home (p10). Miranda’s parents feared they’d never get justice for her murder, until a shock confession two decades later (p54). After watching his mum suffer for years, Harry was given the same diagnosis. But he found a fabulous way to cope (p18). There’s loads more real life, your fave prize puzzles and more – including easy biscuit recipes (p42) and fashion (p12). Get that kettle on!…

Harry Watson, 22, West Molesey, Surrey Swishing my frock, I struck a pose in the living room. My mum Tracy giggled as I strutted about in her 80s dresses. I was 12, loved to make Mum laugh. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 25, she was often in pain, used a wheelchair. We were told her condition was hereditary. I worried that I’d face the same fate. That’s why I cherished those carefree moments, dressing up and laughing. After leaving school, they got few and far between. I found work as a barista in a coffee shop. I enjoyed it, made plenty of friends. But life was routine. Work nine to five, dinner with mates, or TV with Mum. Then, one night in February 2017, a group of pals and I…

Health SOS Almost 20 per cent of workers in the UK said that they don’t have time to see a medical professional about their mental health.* Swap and see Eating healthily needn’t mean you have to miss out on your favourite dinners. At just 344 calories, WW Creamy Mac & Cheese (£2, Morrisons), is around 200 calories less than your average macaroni cheese. Brits can spend £4k a year on a personal trainer Thinking about getting the help of a personal trainer? It might cost more than you think. The average PT in the UK costs £38.30 per session, almost £4,000 per year (based on two sessions per week). It’s almost the same price as a month’s gym membership, at around £40. Londoners spend the most, forking out around £53.36…

PALACE BREAK-IN On the night of 9 July 1982, the Queen awoke in Buckingham Palace to find Michael Fagan, 31, on the end of her bed. After Her Majesty raised the alarm, a footman was able to detain the ‘visitor' until the police arrived. Fagan was not charged with trespass as it was then a civil offence, rather than a criminal one. However,  he was charged with stealing a bottle of wine, though was later acquitted. He claimed to have done the Royals a favour by highlighting the Palace's security flaws. BOMB AT DOWNING STREET A letter bomb went off inside the Prime Minister's Downing Street residence on 30 November 1982. While Margaret Thatcher was in her study at Number 10, a padded envelope was delivered. Her office manager, responsible…

Victoria, 39 Typing in my name, age, and a few other details, I clicked Sign up. It was February 2009 and I’d just created an online dating profile – only, it wasn’t what it seemed. A happily single mother to my two boys Ryan, 9, and Alex, 4, I wasn’t looking for love. One of my single pals had asked me to have a look at her dating profile. Make sure she gave a good impression. So, after a quick once-over, I planned to log out and forget all about it. Only, next morning, I had a message waiting for me. Hello, how are you? The man’s name was Michael. He was attractive, had a good job, seemed nice enough. So, curiosity getting the better of me, I replied. After…

3 ways  to… ditch plastic, saving money – and the environment, too! 1 Be prepared when you hit the shops Being organised is key. Keep a reusable shopping bag in your handbag, so you don't have to pay for a plastic one. The fabric ones that fold up into pouches are really handy. Take a reusable bottle filled with water with you when you go out, and if you run out, check out the Refill app (refill.org.uk), which lists places you can fill up your bottle for free. Plus, you can save on coffee, too, by taking your own cup. For example, Pret a Manger offers 50p off if you bring your own. 2 Simple changes make a difference If you often reach for cling film or sandwich bags for…

Dear Andrew, Filing into the classroom on our first day of secondary school, we were paired off by the teacher. ‘You can sit next to Andrew,’ our form tutor smiled. As I slid onto the chair next to you, I could hear everyone giggling. We were the only boy-girl pairing in the class. How embarrassing! Clearly, from the look on your face, you weren’t a fan, either. You didn’t say a word to me, didn’t even smile. In fact, you jabbed me with your pencil! For the next year, we sat next to each other in awkward silence. But it wasn’t that I disliked you. I actually thought you were kind of cute. Just 11, I didn’t say anything. But it was fun to sneak peeks at you, daydream when…

Helen Womack, 51, Preston Up here, Mum!’ a little voice shouted. I looked up, spotted my eldest son Ryan, then 8, halfway up the huge oak tree in my mum’s garden. ‘Get down, now!’ I said in a panic. My little daredevil... ‘That boy was born to be outside,’ my mum Tina, 73, laughed. It was true. Ryan hated school. He was smart, just not academic. And he could never sit still. So it was no surprise when, at 16, he told us he was leaving school to train as a tree surgeon. ‘The police are here. Ryan’s had an accident’ A few years later, he set up his own company. Me and his dad Tony, 51, were really proud. Ryan was close to his sister Anna, 20, and like…

On 15 November 2019, the jury announced it had reached its verdicts, after lengthy deliberation. Tiffany Li was found not guilty of Keith Green’s murder and conspiring to kill and dispose of his body in 2016. She wept in court as the verdict was read out. In the case of Kaveh Bayat, the judge declared a mistrial, as jurors could not agree on a verdict, and in December it was decided he would not be retried. Murder charges against Olivier Adella were dropped. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said he respected the jury’s decision to acquit Tiffany Li, adding they had put their ‘heart and soul’ into the case. Li’s lawyer Geoffrey Carr said the verdict had no links to her wealth. ‘It had nothing to do with money, it had…

Booze to boost eyes? Q When I drink alcohol, I swear my eyesight becomes clearer! My husband says that this is nonsense – but is it possible? Lindsay, Bishop’s Stortford A It’s certainly possible, and even quite common, shortly after you’ve taken a drink – though it’s a temporary effect. It probably happens because alcohol in your bloodstream enters your eye and alters the density of the fluid and jelly inside, helping the lens inside your eye to focus more effectively. But alcohol isn’t the best answer – a few more drinks might lead to blurred or double vision, as your eye muscles become affected. Excess alcohol can permanently weaken your eyesight through damage to liver, nerves or blood vessels, vitamin deficiency or causing your eyes to dry out. Check…

Lucy Mitchell, 34, Maidstone As confetti rained down on the happy couple, I beamed at my best friend Connie, then 26. It was August 2017 and she’d just married the man of her dreams. A perfect day. I’d known Connie since we’d been student nurses. And though there was no way I’d have missed hers, I usually avoided weddings. See, chummy nuptials meant photographs. Hundreds of them. And I didn’t want to be in any. Receiving the invite for Connie’s wedding threw me into a panic. At 22st and a size 24, I knew I’d feel ridiculous squeezing myself into a posh frock. I hid in the toilet, butI couldn’t stay there all day For years, I’d refused most invitations to socialise. That way, I never had to deal with…

A scheme to fund free-to-use ATMs in parts of the UK with poor access to cash has seen more than 100 applications in its first month. Consumers and community groups can make a  request to operator Link for free-to-use cash machines in their area. Factors such as a lack of nearby free ATMs and a safe location being found are considered. See link.co.uk/consumers for more information . Did you know? More than half of Brits in relationships have a savings fund strictly for themselves, according to investment firm AJ Bell. It found 18% of women keep their savings secret, compared with 14% of men.…

Coronation Street Has Fiz killed Jade? Fiz’s troubles continue when Hope goes missing and she confronts Jade about her daughter’s disappearance. As things get heated, Fiz ends up whacking Jade over the head with a chopping board! Will Jade be okay, or is Fiz now facing a murder charge? EastEnders Sharon discovers the truth! Ever since Keanu disappeared on Christmas Day, Sharon’s been worried that Phil’s had him murdered, but this week she discovers the truth when Linda drunkenly lets slip that he’s still alive. What will Sharon do in the light of this bombshell? Emmerdale Who kills Graham? When Graham is murdered by one of his many enemies it marks the beginning of a big whodunit in the Dales. The drama unfolds as the same day is played out…

Q How do I apply blusher without it looking over the top and cakey? Karen Malin, 60 A Blusher is a great way to enhance and awaken your complexion. If you’re finding your blusher isn’t sitting well, opt for cream or gel formulas like Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blusher, £6.99, or Rimmel Blush Jellies, £7.99. Warm the product up between your fingers and  dab on the apples of your cheeks for a light sheen.  If you have an oily complexion, powder will be more suited to you. We love Kiko Pop Revolution Blush To Go, £9.99. It comes in a stick format, making it easy to apply on the move. Got a beauty question? Send your problems to chat_magazine@ti-media.com TOP TIP Tired of your lipstick smearing or fading throughout…

Maybelline Tattoo Liner Liquid Ink, £9.99 Smudge-resistant, sweat-resistant and flake-resistant, with a fine tip that seamlessly glides along the lash line without any skips or drags, allowing you to create your desired finish. Rimmel Wonder Ink Ultimate 24hr Waterproof Liner, £6.99 Ultra-black, long-wearing and foolproof application. Sound like the perfect eyeliner? We think so! Plus, it delivers a super pigmented finish. Revlon ColorStay Exactify, £8.99 This provides a pro-level finish due to the small and shapely angled wheel. Simply roll the satin-matte black formula over your eyelid and voila, you’re finished.…

Natalie Freeman, 29, Rochdale Sipping my drink, I turned to face the man who’d just tapped me on the shoulder. ‘Craig?’ I gasped. Silly question. I’d recognise that grin anywhere. It was late 2014, and I was at the pub with friends – didn’t expect to be bumping into my ex. Craig and I had gone out together when I was 16 and he was 21. He was a charmer, even if he was missing a front tooth! But I soon realised Craig also had a nasty temper. ‘I never liked him,’ my sister Emma, then 14, said to me when Craig and I split three years later. Now, here he was again. As we chatted over beers at the bar, a familiar spark was reignited. ‘It’s always been you,’…

Born into a powerful and wealthy family from China, Tiffany Li was not short of cash. But inside her mansion in affluent Hillsborough, California, catastrophe was brewing. And there was nothing money could do to stop it. In October 2015, Tiffany’s boyfriend Keith Green had discovered she was having an affair with his pal Kaveh Bayat. Tiffany had complained to friends that Keith was more interested in money than their children. The couple had gone through a bitter break-up, with their two daughters, 2 and 4, caught in the middle of the angst. Keith had moved out, Tiffany moved Kaveh in. Then, Tiffany falsely accused her ex-boyfriend of stealing her Range Rover. But through the rows and accusations, the couple had to make custody arrangements for their girls. So, at…

Tracy McAndrew, 44, Middleton It all started when I was diagnosed with meningitis aged 6. For two weeks, doctors kept me in isolation while they treated the infection. I fought it off, went back to school, but then the cold sores appeared. Almost overnight, my face blistered and cracked. ‘It hurts,’ I complained to my mum Jean, fighting the urge to scratch. ‘It’ll heal on its own,’ she soothed. But as soon as one had vanished, another appeared. Around my mouth, on my chin, even inside my nose. It was agony. So we tried every remedy we could. Mum cleaned out the chemist’s shelves, lathered me in creams. When they didn’t work, I was dragged back to the GP. ‘The worst case I’ve ever seen,’ he said to Mum. Sometimes…

Rebecca Patterson, 38, Nottingham Reclining in the chair, my eyes flicked from one side of the room to the other as the dentist poked around in my mouth. ‘I’m going to refer you for a biopsy,’ he said. It was 2015, and I’d had the same white patch on my tongue for five years. I was pretty unfazed by it, to be honest. It didn’t hurt and you could barely see it. And when the biopsy returned a diagnosis of oral thrush, I still wasn’t worried. Then I noticed two new lumps on my tongue I was prescribed medication and the mark soon disappeared. Sorted. Only, the ghostly patch, around two millimetres, returned a month later. And this time, I decided to leave it, hoping it would sort itself out.…

Bolted out of the blue Q After 20 years together, I came home from work to find my husband had packed up and left me. His number is no longer in service, my mother-in-law told me not to try to contact him, and when I went to his workplace, I was removed from the premises. I don’t know what I’ve done or what’s happened. What can I do? Joanne, 47 A I can’t imagine your heartbreak. Your ex may be embarrassed to face you, and your mother-in-law may not have a rational explanation for his behaviour, either. It’s awful feeling such loss and shock, especially when there was no arguing in the build-up. Surround yourself with friends and family, keep your chin up and your dignity intact, but don’t feel…

The next morning, with my stomach somersaulting, I walked into the local gym. ‘I’d like to join,’ I told the receptionist, who gave me some forms to fill in and showed me around. The gym had a women-only area with frosted glass walls. Perfect for hiding away, I thought. Looking at the slender gym bunnies pounding the treadmills, I wondered if I could ever be like them. So, I started spending half an hour running on the treadmill three or four nights a week. Back at Slimming World, I planned my meals for the week and batch-cooked food at weekends. That way, I wouldn’t be tempted to eat rubbish after work. Posting photos of my healthy curries and chilli con carne on Instagram, I was spurred on by the encouragement…

Gluten-free chocolate biscuits  These biscuits have no added sugar, either! MAKES 15 PREP 10 MINS, PLUS CHILLING COOK 12 MINS ● 1 egg ● 50g ground almonds ● 100g gluten-free flour ● 2tbsp double cream ● 75g unsalted butter ● 1tsp vanilla extract ● 75g dark chocolate, melted and cooled ● 50g chopped roasted hazelnuts ● 45g desiccated coconut 1 Using an electric mixer, beat together the egg and ground almonds. Add the remaining ingredients except for the coconut and continue to beat until combined. Chill for 20 mins. 2 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Roll the chilled biscuit mixture into 15 balls. Roll each ball in the desiccated coconut and chill again until firm, around 10 mins. 3 Bake for 10-12 mins, until the biscuits are cooked and…

Aries 21 March-20 April Time for a tipple and a boogie - it’s serious fun with friends this week. An invitation to an event is not to be missed, so have your acceptance ready. ● Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May Do some fancy footwork in your job - but don’t tread on anyone else’s toes. A conversation will highlight someone’s feelings for you, so give honest answers. ● Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Fun and excitement will land in your lap this week without warning. Time to immerse yourself a little more deeply in playfulness with a loved one or partner. ● Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July Check your facts and figures, as a miscalculation…

Revolution 12.5% Vitamin C Serum, £10 For ultra glowy, smooth skin, you need this super serum. Either use alone or add a couple of drops to your fave moisturiser, and say hello to a clearer, brighter complexion. Lacura Facial Cream, £4.99 Skin feeling a little meh? Start using this nourishing cream day and night. It’s packed with hydrating ingredients such as sea algae to leave your skin more supple and plump. Revlon Ultra HD Vinyl Lip Polish, £8.99 Add a pop of colour to your lips for the winter. Our fave shade? Birthday Suit, a creamy light pink hue that doesn’t budge all day. MasqueBAR Naturals Green Tea Sheet Mask, £4.99 Make this sheet mask your weekly go-to for banishing dry, dull skin. Pop on for 30 minutes and let…

For 20 years, the family of 18-year-old Miranda Fenner desperately hoped for answers. Ever since the nightmare began on the evening of 15 November 1998. Police were called to a video rental store in Laurel, Montana, where Miranda was working. A report had come in from a passing motorist that a young woman had been seen crawling on her hands and knees – and covered in blood. Who would want to kill this high-school graduate? Arriving shortly after, officers discovered beloved Miranda. She’d been left for dead. Multiple stab wounds plastered her mutilated body, her throat slashed. She’d managed to crawl from the back of the shop to the front. And, somehow, the teenager survived for 90 agonising minutes. But after being rushed to hospital, she succumbed to her injuries.…