Table of contents for BEST OF 3 2020 in Chat Specials

Megan Taylor, 24, Kingston Upon Thames Bounding into the room, Rowley the black lab was a bundle of energy. ‘He’s gorgeous,’ I beamed, giving him some fuss. But before we had time to get properly acquainted, Rowley was off, grabbing hold of the office door stop and parading around the room with it. ‘He’s certainly full of character,’ I chuckled. And as I sat with my grandparents and a trainer, they all seemed to agree. I was meeting Rowley to find out if he could be my assistance dog. He was lovely and his cheeky personality soon won me over. At just 15-years-old I’d sustained a serious head injury after collapsing due to an undiagnosed heart condition. It meant I’d been left with permanent damage to my hearing, vision and…

Life is what you bake it The flour bags always make a mess so I put my flour in glass jars and labelled the lids self-raising and plain. Audrey, York Birthday girl I always keep my birthday cards and cut them up to use as tags on presents! Saves money and is more personal. Elena, Shropshire Spice up your life I keep old jam jars and fill them with spices. Never let anything go to waste. Joanne, Newcastle Shopaholic A lint roller is great for quickly collecting crumbs and dust from inside your handbag. Yvonne, Northern Ireland Get creative! I use a plant pot to hold my pens because it’s much bigger and cheaper. This one is from IKEA. Keira, South Gloucestershire Health is wealth To add more vegetables to…

Wendy Hempseed, 45, Calderwood, Scotland Taking a look around all the different dogs, there was one in particular that had caught our attention. An 11-week-old white Maltese pup – ready for a new, loving home. Myself and the kids, Emily, 18 and Harry, 14, had done a lot of persuading to convince my husband John, 49, to agree to getting a dog. But the second he laid his eyes on little Rudi, it was truly love at first sight. Bringing him home, we all adored him. Always fighting for his attention, it was a competition for who loved him most. Rudi loved having cuddles and being able to sleep up on the bed. Then, on Friday 31 January, Harry came home from school and grabbed Rudi’s lead. ‘Going to take…

Freshen up your wardrobe with monochrome shades and bright pops of colour at Debenhams. From easy-breezy dresses and the accessories to match, to stylish skirts and versatile tops – Debenhams summer women’s range has it all. A one-stop shop – our favourite kind of shopping! Break the rules Don’t wear black with blue, don’t mix metallics – we’ve all heard of the fashion myths, and now it’s time we let them go. Rules are made to be broken! It’s time to debunk the most common styling myths… 1. MYTH: YOUR ACCESSORIES NEED TO MATCH Let’s be real – who actually matches their bags and shoes? Mismatch your accessories for a playful and practical look. 2. MYTH: YOU CAN’T WEAR DOUBLE DENIM Wrong – double denim is ‘90s chic! Try pairing…

Memorable experience One of the most popular tourist attractions in the country is Up at The O2. And now, with stricter health and safety measures in place, you can get a more intimate and memorable experience than ever before. Since reopening on 4 July, Up at The O2 has dropped its capacity from 30 people to 10. And whilst this may make the waiting list slightly longer, once you’re up there, you’ll get a view that’s exclusive and breathtaking. Located on the top of the world’s number one entertainment venue, this is the perfect opportunity for visitors to reunite with family and friends for a 90-minute outdoor climb. Enjoy a fun day out whilst experiencing panoramic views of the capital. • www.theo2.co.uk Larger than life A fearsome new collection of…

Sue Maughan, 50, Radlett Staring nervously at the monitor, I waited for good news. After falling pregnant in December 2006, my husband Alistair, now 56, and I had found out we were expecting a little boy, and just wanted him to be healthy. Just then... ‘I’m so sorry, but it looks like your baby has a cleft palate,’ the sonographer said. It was a split in the roof of the mouth caused by tissue not fusing properly in the womb. There was nothing doctors could do until our baby was born, so we were sent home. ‘He’ll be OK, won’t he?’ I asked, tears in my eyes. ‘Of course,’Alistair replied. A few weeks later, a 3D scan revealed that our boy only had a split in his lip – not…

Daphne Neville, 82, Stroud, Glos. Strolling through the garden, it was another frosty November morning. But with my furry pet otter draped around my neck, I barely noticed the chill. From afar, it might have looked like I had a fur stole over my shoulders, but this cosy scarf was certainly alive and kicking! Rudi was my tenth pet otter and he was an affectionate little thing. ‘Thanks Rudi,’ I chuckled, as he gave me a kiss on the ear. I loved my otters and had done so since the 80’s. Back then, my friend Ian came to visit the converted mill that I lived in with my husband Martin and our four daughters. As we walked along the river running through ancient woodland in our garden in rural Gloucestershire,…

Teresa Townsley, 38, Edinburgh I stood at the bottom of the stairs, peering up. ‘Do you want cream in your hot chocolate?’ I called up. ‘Yes please Mummy!’ my little girl Miley, six, shouted back. I squirted cream onto the steaming hot mugs of cocoa and carried them upstairs, where Miley and I were having a chilled Friday night watching films in bed. It was so lovely to sit back and relax after a long week of being a full-time mum. It was November 2018 in Edinburgh, so snuggling under a blanket was bliss. My partner at the time, John*, 41, was fast asleep in front of the TV downstairs. ‘I’m hungry! How long until the food arrives?’ Miley moaned. ‘Not long darling!’ I said, trying to distract her by…

Colin Butcher, 60, Surrey Scouring the countryside in West Sussex, I was looking for a cat aptly named Houdini. ‘Where is she?’ I said, looking to my six-year-old cocker spaniel, Molly. Her head to the ground, it didn’t take long for Molly to pick up on the cat’s scent and start re-tracing it’s steps. ‘Good girl,’ I said, handing her a treat for her efforts as we continued to make our way through the fields. We’d only been searching for an hour or so, but I knew it wouldn’t take long for Molly to find this runaway. In fact, Molly was a bit of an expert when it came to finding missing cats. Catching them was her job and she loved it. Since 2016, she’d been helping me in my…

Stress Now, it’s more important than ever to take care of our health – and that includes our mental health, too. Nuffield Health’s Dr Phil Hammond shares his top tips for managing stress and being kind to your mind… Learn new skills Learning new skills provides you with purpose, confidence and improves self-esteem. It’s a great way to keep your mind active. Connect Find ways to connect each day with others and socialise. Be active Get creative with exercise and move your body! Healthy body, healthy mind. Notice Take time each day to be present. What can you hear, see, feel, smell? Give back Doing good does you good. Perform random acts of kindness!…

Emma Sharpe, 32, Huddersfield Flicking through the pages of the baby name book, my eyes lit up. ‘How about the name Aston?’ I quizzed. ‘I love it!’ beamed my partner Adrian, 36. It was June 2017, we’d recently found out we were pregnant, and had found out the sex of our baby at an early scan – a boy. Adrian and I were over the moon about it. My pregnancy ticked by normally, until… ‘Look at the size of me,’ I said, staring at myself in the mirror and rubbing my bump. At four months along, I already looked ready to pop! ‘Maybe it’s twins,’Adrian teased. ‘Wouldn’t that be fun?’ At my 20-week scan, we didn’t find another baby, but the sonographer squinted at the screen, zoomed in on Aston’s…

What does the gut do? By using your five senses, you can tune in to your gut. SOUND: The rumbles and groans generated in your abdomen are caused by the propulsion of gas and fluid through different regions of the gut. The fluid is a mixture of food, drink and digestive juices, and the gas may either be swallowed air, or carbon dioxide generated by the combination of acid and alkaline digestive juices in the stomach. These noises are more obvious when you are hungry or nervous. SIGHT: Faeces can differ in colour, but black and tarry stools can indicate bleeding in the small intestine or stomach, while pale stools accompanied by dark urine could indicate gall stones. FEEL: Abdominal pains are most likely due to spasm, but if persistent,…

Brooke was executed d d d on t e of t e r It began as an illicit affair between a married boss and his beautiful young employee at work. They’d glance at each other across the office and steal kisses when no one was looking their way. Shawn Smoot was successful and Brooke Morris was ambitious. They made a passionate match. At the start it was a bit of fun but things became more serious when Shawn found himself head over heels with his mistress and his wife uncovered his infidelity. As Shawn’s marriage fell apart, the lovers had the chance to be together, except Brooke was ready to move on... But Shawn decided that their affair wasn’t over until he said so. Shawn Smoot, 44, owned the Allstate…

You might think you’ve heard your fair share of unusual pet names, but how many of these terms of affection from around the world are you familiar with? MIJN POEPIE – LITTLE POO If you called someone this in the UK, you might not get the reaction you were hoping for. But in the Netherlands, calling someone a ‘little poo’ is a very common term to express affection to either your children or your partner. So, as you tuck your kids in at night, you can tell them ‘goodnight my little poo’. MICROBINO MIO – LITTLE ONE You might think it has something to do with science, but this Italian pet name actually means ‘little one’ or ‘tiny thing’. We’re sure it sounds far more romantic said in Italian, than…

An enormous Great Dane, named Freddy, has officially been crowned the world’s tallest dog. The Guinness World Record holder, who lives with his owner Claire Stoneman in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, measures in at a whopping 1.035m (3ft 4.75in). Standing on his hind legs, the gigantic pooch is 7ft 6in tall and towers over Claire who is 5ft 4in. But as a puppy, Freddy was the runt of the litter and Claire had no idea he would ever grow to be as tall as he is. Now eight years old, the Great Dane weighs around 15 stone and eats a kilogram of minced beef every day. The gentle giant also lives with his sister, Fleur, who came from the same litter and between them, the pair have a taste for sofas.…

Danielle Richmond, 27, Lossiemouth Slumping down into one of the pub chairs, I was absolutely knackered. It had been a heck of a shift – hours on my feet, dealing with drunks. Not to mention the abuse I’d put up with that night. After a guy had drunkenly come stumbling to the bar, I refused to serve him, but naturally, he wasn’t going to leave quietly. ‘What did you say, Fatty?!’ he yelled, grabbing the attention of all the other punters and bar staff. I tried to find the words to get him to sling his hook, but instead, I stood there frozen – my cheeks burning with embarrassment. ‘Time for you to go now,’ my fellow barmaid said, jumping to my rescue. I was humiliated, but as he walked…

Kerry White, 40, St Leonards Lowering my body into the warm water, I breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Won’t be long now,’ the midwife smiled. It was 21 September 2008, and I was having a water birth at Poole Hospital, my husband Rod, now 50, by my side. We were expecting a little boy, and throughout my pregnancy, all the scans had shown he was fine. With my daughter Georgia, then three, at home, we knew we were about to be a family of four, and we couldn’t wait. But a few hours later, when our son Mason was born, weighing 7lb 4oz, the midwife passed him to me with a worried look. Looking down, Mason’s right leg looked like a piece of raw steak – there was no skin…

Jenny Ford, 56, St Albans Nestled safely in my arms, my perfect little baby stared back at me. A new mum, I was overwhelmed with love for this tiny human. As I looked into her big brown eyes, I saw her future – her first steps, first words, first day of school, and even her wedding day. Little did I know, in just a few months, that future would be ripped away, my heart broken. In October 1991, my husband Greg and I had welcomed Catriona at St Alban’s Hospital. Over time, Catriona grew into a happy baby. She was always smiling and giggling, bringing so much joy into our lives. Greg was a doting dad, always on hand to sing her favourite song – Old MacDonald Had a Farm…

Coves Haven HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND True to its name, Holy Island was the birthplace of Christianity in England. Many cross the tidal causeway to visit the majestic monastery founded in the 17th century. However, few know about the glorious beach on the side of the island. Said to be where the monks would retreat to commune with the ocean and cleanse themselves in the waves. With golden sand, this beach is backed by high sand dunes and steep cliffs which provide  shelter from the wind. For those looking to relax on a quiet, soft beach up north, then this is the place for you. Soak in the history as you lounge back on the glistening sand. Uig Bay ISLE OF LEWIS, OUTER HEBRIDES Legendary beaches come in their masses on…

Dorothy Dearsley, 80, Brighton It’s always nice when some good luck comes your way, but sometimes, things are a little too good to be true. And at my ripe old age, I’m rather proud of the fact that I’m still able to sniff out lies from the truth. In May this year, a letter arrived for me in the post from someone I didn’t recognise. I wonder what this is? I thought, ripping it open. It was a letter from the Health Lottery UK. You are one of 200 lucky winners sharing a £65 million prize in the biggest ever non-ticket lottery in the country, it read. Participants were randomly selected from the NHS database. The letter looked official, had the company’s name printed at the top, and an address…

Lockdown runner I ran a half marathon in lockdown and my best friend bought me a surprise medal! Lucie, Somerset Happy birthday! The most delicious cake for my brother’s birthday. Dig in! Naomi, Lancaster Cheers! Ice-cream in blue skies, there’s nothing better! Bonnie, Bristol Glamping To keep the kids entertained, we set up a tent in the back garden and let them sleep in it! Angela, Essex Best friends Ivy and Bella having cuddles! Stacey, Portishead Beach walks Dreaming of my next holiday abroad! Sandra, Devon Anniversary date My husband cooked up this delicious fish dish for our 10th anniversary at home! Dionne, Birmingham Bookworm Safe to say I got sunburnt reading on the harbour! Louise, Saltford Kebab for two Is there anything better than chips and halloumi in a…

FILM AND TV 1 Who plays Eve Polastri in the BBC series Killing Eve? a Harriett Walter b Sandra Oh c Emily Blunt 2 The third installment of which time travelling movie is due out this year? a Back to the Future b Bill and Ted c Time Bandits 3 Which beloved series starring Olivia Colman is set to come back at the end of 2020 for a fourth series? a The Crown b Peep Show c Broadchurch 4 Which reality TV series will be celebrating its sweet 16th birthday on 4 September? a The Apprentice b I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here c The X Factor 5 Which of these actresses turned down the role of Plumette in the 2017 film Beauty and the Beast? a Beyoncé…

PEACE AND QUIET Now more than ever, us Brits love a good staycation. But after months of isolation, many of us still want to maintain that social distance. So,, leading holiday rental marketplace Snaptrip.com has revealed the UK’s most secluded destinations for those looking to holiday in remote areas. According to travel experts at Snaptrip.com, Aberdeenshire is the most remote place in the UK, followed by the Highlands. Benefitting from few main roads, the top five locations are also limited in commercial developments such as shopping centres, making them the perfect destination for a peaceful getaway. THE TOP FIVE MOST REMOTE AREAS IN THE UK ARE: 1. Strathdon, Aberdeenshire 2. Invergarry, the Highlands 3. Sibton, Suffolk 4. Tavistock, West Devon 5. East Meon, East Hampshire EXQUISITE ILLUSTRATIONS Thinking back to our…