Table of contents for 30-Jan-2020 in Chat

Julie’s hubby had an unusual suggestion for celebrating their wedding anniversary… And it’s led to a new lifestyle for them both (p18)! Tracy is begging for your help to get to the bottom of the mystery around her son’s violent death (p34). And Alan’s letter to his beautiful bride Amanda will break your heart (p58). We’ve got bargain jeans to suit every body type (p12) and our store-cupboard saviours are perfect for dark evenings (p40). All your usual faves are in the mix, too. Enjoy!…

Amy Mullis, 39, had been married to pig farmer Todd for 14 years. She loved hunting, fishing and spending time outdoors with their 13-year-old son. She’d even left her job as a registered nurse so that she could spend more time on the family farm. But things weren’t as perfect as they appeared. Because the reality was that Amy was desperate to leave her husband. For five months, Amy and Todd had been sleeping in separate beds and Amy had engaged in a secret affair. She had confided in her close friends that she felt ‘trapped’ by her husband Todd, 43. They even jokingly called her POT Wife – short for ‘prisoner of Todd’. Sadly, Amy was never to make her escape from the farm... Freak accident? On 10 November…

Q Do things at naturist events ever get sexual? A Never. Of course, what goes on in your own room or tent is your own business. But there's no sexual touching in public at all. In fact, it's the quickest way to get yourself kicked out. Everyone respects each other, and no-one makes anyone else feel uncomfortable by being overly flirty. Q How do you deal with the UK weather? A Let's be honest, if it's cold and wet, you put a jacket on. It's a no-brainer. But there have been some lovely warm summer days where we've basked in the sunlight - with plenty of sun cream on our white bits, of course! Q How do you find the courage to be naked in front of other people? A…

Night loo trips are a problem Q I have to get up in the night to wee and it's making me tired at work. I thought only old men had this problem? Marcia, north London A We used to think that night-time trips to the loo were a curse of older men with enlarged prostate glands, but women are equally affected as they grow older. Sometimes, it means your kidneys are making too much urine at night because the normal mechanism which shuts them down overnight isn’t working properly. Another cause is an overactive bladder, where your bladder sends signals to your brain saying it’s full when it isn’t. If it’s a recent problem, your GP might check for a urine infection, or other causes such as diabetes. Treatment might…

HOSTAGES TAKEN On 28 September 1975, nine staff at a London Spaghetti House, were totalling up the week's takings of almost £13,000, when Franklin Davies, Wesley Dick and Anthony Munroe burst in and forced them into the basement. One of the staff escaped and alerted the police, while the rest were held hostage. The gunmen claimed to represent the Black Liberation Army and demanded safe passage to Jamaica. The police wouldn't comply, and the gunmen surrendered, releasing the hostages on 3 October. The three men were jailed for a total of 57 years. DOUBLE DEATHS Eve Stratford, a 22-year-old Playboy Bunny and model, was found dead at her east London home, her throat slashed almost a dozen times, on 18 March 1975. Six months on, Lynne Weedon, 16, was attacked…

She’s friends with his ex! Q I have a huge problem with my mother-in-law. She was devastated when my hubby divorced his ex, and still gets together with her and their children. Yet, she pays barely any attention to our daughter, who’s four. The final straw was when she treated the ex and her grandkids to a trip to New York. I think she blames me for the fact they aren’t still married. She seems to go out of her way to wind me up – and it works! What can I do to ignore her? Amy, 37 AI understand how you feel, love, but remember your mother-in-law already had a relationship with the ex and her grandchildren. She might find you unapproachable, or think you don’t want a relationship…

Dawn Barrow, 40, Tiverton, Devon Clutching the teddy that my daughter Sian had given me, I handed it over to a little boy. He needs it more than I do, I thought. See, it was March 2003 and we were in the A&E department of a makeshift 200-bed hospital in Iraq. The little boy had just undergone a double leg amputation, days after witnessing his uncle being shot. Tragedies no child should experience. But this conflict had ripped every ounce of normality from life. I was deployed to Iraq– my biggest challenge Though it was tough to witness, this was all part of the world I’d signed up for. It was 1999 when I’d decided to join the Army. I was 20, a single mother to Sian, then three. But…

Around 8% of Brits say they would discuss their money worries with social media followers, according to research by investment and financial planning group Tilney. The same number said they would chat about it with a taxi driver, and 9% said they would with a hairdresser. The most popular option was to talk about money with a partner (63%), close family (45%) or a financial adviser (39%). Did you know?  The number of self-employed women in the UK has hit an all-time high at nearly 1.7 million, however 35% of them have no savings and even those who do are not saving enough for their retirement, according to new research in the Scottish Widows Women and Retirement Report.…

Coronation Street Heartbreak for Maria Maria discovers that she had a miscarriage because she’s caught measles. When she learns that Daniel’s baby son Bertie has also had it, Maria’s fella Gary goes on the warpath after he finds out that Daniel chickened out of getting all the tot’s jabs done. EastEnders Leo falls to his death? Despite Whitney telling him to get lost, Leo’s made it clear that he’s not going anywhere, but are we about to see the back of him this week? When Leo causes a scene with Whit at The Prince Albert, Kush intervenes and in the scuffle Leo gets pushed over the bar’s balcony. Will he survive? Emmerdale Priya’s grisly discovery As Priya and Billy search for missing pooch Tip, they’re horrified to discover Graham’s body…

Q Shampoo bars seem to be all the rage, but how do I use them? Michelle Briant, 53 A Highly concentrated, shampoo bars not only help you cut down on packaging (and are brilliant for travelling light!) but will last longer than your average shampoo, as well. The way you apply them is slightly different to using a normal, liquid shampoo – either rub the bar between your hands or smooth it over your hair to create a lather, before massaging this into your hair and scalp. Bars can take longer to wash out than normal shampoo and won’t lather as much so, for that squeaky-clean feeling, you might want to lather and wash twice. Try Ethique Mintasy Solid Shampoo for Normal to Dry Hair, with real peppermint oil, £12.99,…

Kirstie Raper, 29, Hessle Beaming with pride, my daughter Avayah, then 3, clutched her newborn brother in her arms. ‘He’s my baby,’ she grinned. It was August 2018 and, despite being born three weeks early, our son Lewin was a perfect, healthy little boy. Our family felt complete. Just like me and my fiance Khyle, then 28, Avayah was obsessed with Lewin, smiling as she showed him her dolls. ‘He’s going to like football, though,’ grinned Khyle. Such a happy baby, at 2 months old Lewin gave me a big grin as I put him down in his cot. ‘Are you smiling for Mummy?’ I cooed, my heart bursting with love. Yet Lewin was a clingy baby, always wanting to be held. And one day in November 2018, he was…

Julie Watson, 57, Skegness Flicking through a leaflet for a beautiful holiday house, I found myself nodding. A converted farm building with a large kitchen, it looked like a home from home. It was May 2009 and me and my husband Kenneth, 46, were planning a weekend away to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. He’d found a gorgeous self-catering cottage in Essex. ‘Perfect!’ I beamed. Everyone looked great – confident and happy Kenneth was smiling, too. Only his was more of a cheeky grin… ‘You might change your mind when I tell you it’s a nudist resort!’ he smirked. I was speechless. Prancing around starkers wasn’t my thing. Plus my body confidence wasn’t the only thing that had plummeted after having four kids. I didn’t even really like Kenneth seeing…

Katy Baker, 22, Banbury If you take one look at me, you’ll probably think everything is fine. I appear happy and healthy. But, believe it or not, I’m not actually as well as I seem. Because behind my smiley face and positive attitude is a condition that’s affected my life since I was 10 weeks old. Born eight weeks premature, in March 1997, I had the doctors immediately concerned. After being checked over, I was given the all-clear and sent home with my parents six weeks later. But then I got a chest infection. It was so serious that I was admitted to Royal Brompton Hospital – a specialist heart and lung hospital. After multiple scans and blood tests, I was eventually diagnosed. ‘Katy has scimitar syndrome,’ they told my…

The Conservative Party chose its first female leader. Margaret Thatcher won the title on 11 February, after successfully challenging the leadership of then Prime Minister Edward Heath. Kate Winslet was born on 5 October. The British actor has won - among many awards - four Golden Globes, an Oscar for The Reader, and has been Oscar-nominated for her roles in films such as Titanic and Iris. Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody was released on 31 October. It topped the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks and sold over a million copies by the end of January 1976.…

1 Let your stepchild set the pace and allow them to define the relationship. Tell them you don’t want to replace their parent, just be a friend, then leave the ball in their court. If they show no interest, don’t panic. The circumstances that brought about the end of their parents’ relationship are most likely to be upsetting. Give them time to process the changes. 2 Allow the child to call you by whatever name they’re comfortable with and don’t expect to be called Mum or Dad. Decide on a name that works for you both. To forge a bond, you’ll need to be forthcoming. 3 Discipline should be left to the biological parents, at least at first. Focus on building a positive relationship with your stepchild. This doesn’t mean…

My mission became clear. Helping people who couldn’t help themselves had always been my passion. Now I could help women who weren’t lucky enough to be able to have kids themselves... I could become a surrogate. By February 2010, I’d split from Alfie’s dad and was back to being a single mum. I was working as a sports therapist, but there was no better time to embark on this adventure. It felt like the most natural thing in the world With the support of Mum and Sian, by then 14, I signed up to a surrogacy agency. Almost instantly, I was sent the profile of a couple, Jenni and Dale. Arranging to meet up with them, I had no idea what to expect. But as they told me about their…

Mixed bean hash SERVES 6 PREP 5 MINS COOK 35 MINS ● 2tbsp vegetable oil ● 1 onion, diced ● 2 cloves garlic, finely diced ● 1 green or red chilli, finely diced ● Salt and pepper ● 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes ● 300ml water ● 1tbsp tomato puree ● 1tsp chilli powder ● 1 x 400g can mixed beans ● 1 x 400g can kidney beans ● 1 can sweetcorn ● 300g cooked white rice ● A large handful of coriander 1 In a large saucepan, warm the oil and add the onion and garlic. Cook until soft. 2 Add the diced fresh chilli, salt, pepper, chopped tomatoes, water, tomato puree and chilli powder, and cook for around 20 mins, until the flavours come together as a…

Aries 21 March-20 April Ignite your sparkle, as love and passion are set to burn brighter than ever. Communication with a lover brings you to new heights in your relationship. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April-21 May An exciting opportunity comes knocking. You’ll be taken aback by what this new offer of employment will entail. Time to reward yourself for your hard work. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May-21 June Been dreaming about fun in the sun this summer, Gemini, but worried about the pennies? Don’t be, as a great chance to pick up a bargain comes your way. Call 0905 817 0692* for more Cancer 22 June-23 July You should try to cast your net far and wide this week in order to…

No7 Custom Blend Highlighting Drops in White Gold, £13.50, Boots Not strictly a primer, but brilliant for giving winter skin a much-needed glow. Apply after your moisturiser and just before your foundation. Rimmel London Matte Primer, £7.99, Superdrug Surprisingly light, this leaves skin velvety soft, while keeping excess oil at bay. Great for helping your foundation stay put for longer. NYX Bare With Me Radiant Perfecting Primer, £12, Asos Super soothing, thanks to hemp-derived cannabis sativa seed oil, this creates a smooth, soft-focus base for make-up.…

For backpackers seeking adventure, Australia has always been a common destination. Over the years, young travellers have flocked there to explore. But three decades ago, it was the scene of a series of mysterious disappearances. From 1989 to 1992, when travellers were going missing, police were unable to find them – or a link between the cases. But then, bodies were discovered. Seven of the missing people, aged 19 to 22. They’d been stabbed or shot, and partially buried in a forest. And slowly, the authorities began to  join the dots... Picked up while they’d been hitch-hiking along a long stretch of road between Sydney and Melbourne, the backpackers had been killed and then dumped in shallow graves in the Belanglo State Forest. One had been decapitated, another sexually assaulted.…

BOOTCUT STYLE TIP A comfortable fit that skims the thighs, highlights the waist and tends to look best worn with heels WIDE-LEG STYLE TIP A flattering option for pear shapes, these will balance the proportions of wider hips RELAXED-FIT STYLE TIP Neither wide-fit nor skinny jeans, these are the perfect in-between style SKINNY STYLE TIP Look for designs that offer extra support, like these sculpting jeggings…

In September 2019, a jury in Dubuque County found Todd Mullis guilty of murdering his wife. Sentencing is scheduled for March, but the conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. ‘We’re pleased with the jury’s verdict and thank the jurors for their service,’ Lynn Hicks, spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Justice said of the result. Mullis’ lawyer, Gerald Feuerhelm described the case as an Iowa  ‘murder mystery novel’, and said that Mullis was in ‘disbelief’ over the conviction. ‘Of course, we’re disappointed,’ Feuerhelm added, saying that he plans to file post-trial motions to challenge the jury’s decision.…

Health SOS Half of women will be carers by 46.* And two thirds of adults can expect to be unpaid carers for elderly, sick or disabled relatives in their lifetime. However, according to Carers UK, those who take on this responsibility of caring should be entitled to five to 10 days of paid care leave. World health Now in its 20th year, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust raises awareness and funds for those suffering with cervical cancer. For more information and to get involved, visit jostrust.org.uk 20th-26th January 2020: Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 1 in 6 resort to ‘sleep divorce’ New research from Emma Mattress has found that our sleeping habits (or our partner’s) could be damaging our relationship. Those who share a bed with their partner suffer from insomnia (30%)…

It is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. These ticks are most commonly found in grassy and wooded areas in southern England and the Scottish Highlands. Symptoms include a circular, red skin rash around a bite that can appear up to three months after being bitten and usually lasting several weeks. Those infected also suffer flu-like symptoms, such as headaches, aching muscles and nausea. Around 1,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in England and Wales every year.…

Portia Richmond, 27, Derby Blowing a kiss to the judges, my gorgeous little girl Amelia, three, held her hand on her hips. She was dressed in a crystal-covered red dress with a lace corset. Her fake tan gave her skin a glow under the bright lights. Make-up and hair done professionally, she looked fantastic. I’d never felt prouder of my confident toddler. It was February 2019, and she was taking part in a beauty pageant in Wigan. But it didn’t come cheap. I’d been scrimping and saving for weeks to pay for the £700 dress. By keeping my weekly food shop to the bare minimum, I’d managed to get the cost down to just £20. Buying meat in bulk from low-cost supermarkets, I froze big batches of spag bol and…

3 ways to... get something for nothing. Who can resist? 1 Grab free samples and products Check out websites dedicated to helping people get freebies, such as latestfreestuff.co.uk. You'll find a range of beauty and household product samples available, and loads of other items. Every day, 10 new offers are added but they're time limited and on a first-come, first- serve basis so you'll need to be quick! It lists free-to-enter competitions, too. 2 Enjoy free events  You can have a packed social life without spending anything if you're savvy. Keep an eye on ents24.com, which lists entertainment taking place around the UK; use the filter to find free events. And check out  eventbrite.co.uk - similarly, you can find free events by using the filter. 3 Find second-hand items online Why…

Becky Hill, 32, Bromyard Walking into the playground, a dozen sets of eyes dart from my face to my chest. ‘ET!’ a couple of the lads yelled at me. They weren’t referring to the little alien on a bicycle. For me, ET stood for something else. Enormous tits. Not kind. But, to be fair, they weren’t wrong. I’d started developing early – and by 15, I was wearing a 36DD bra. I was a size 16, too. Bigger and bustier than all the girls in my class. Always piled my plate high, had seconds. Having massive breasts meant buying unflattering clothes. A neckline too low made it look like I was trying to get attention. Really, it was the opposite – I was fed up with the stares! Though I…

Neutrogena Clear & Soothe Clay Mask, £5.99, Boots Working like a magnet, this clay-based mask draws dirt and grime out of your pores for a clearer complexion. But, thanks to the addition of calming turmeric, it won’t dry out your skin, but leave it soft and comfortable. Barry M Grape Nail Shot Nail & Cuticle Oil, £3.99, Superdrug Cold weather can wreak havoc on your nails, with thirsty cuticles leading to splitting and breaking. This oil is best applied once a day – shake to mix the oil layers, before massaging in. L’Oreal Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum, £8, Boots Banish frizz and flyaways around the hairline. Heat resistant up to 230C, apply this serum to damp hair before blow-drying or use sparingly on dry hair for touch-ups between…