Table of contents for 17-Mar-2016 in Chat

GUILTY! The judge found Carol Ann Coronado, 32, to be sane at the time of the murders and she was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances. Coronado was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. She wept as the outcome was read out. The judge said the court believed she needed treatment, which she could receive in prison. ‘She lost her mind,’ Rudy said outside court. ‘I haven’t actually said, “I forgive her” but I have told her I do understand the mental state. ‘She lost her mind. It tears me apart because it’s my little girls that I lost. ‘I lost my whole family, my three little girls, and Carol. She didn’t mean to do that. I strongly believe that.’…

I felt an electric shock rip through my body and I was flung onto the floor It took hours of surgery to remove the deadly bugs beneath my skin It was going to be a special weekend, and I couldn’t wait. My husband David and I had been married for 14 years, and, to celebrate our wedding anniversary, we’d booked a meal at a fancy restaurant. Normally, we went paintballing for our anniversary, so it made a lovely change to get dressed up! But before the glamour, I’d housework to do... Our younger daughter Susie, 17, was away for the weekend and David was upstairs, finishing off some paperwork. It was the ideal time to have a good clean. I got the vacuum out and decided to pull the sofa…

He started saying his hips and back hurt when he walked Call it mother’s instinct but I knew something wasn’t right… My son Finley, then 18 months, struggled to do things other tots could. While they were running around, up to mischief, Finley still couldn’t walk. I was a single mum and he was my first baby. ‘Come on, little man,’ I’d say, encouraging him to take his first steps. By 2, he’d finally found his feet. ‘He’s just a late learner,’ my mum Jen, 44, reassured me. But Finley was slow at reaching his other physical milestones, too. So in 2013, when he was 3, I took him to see our GP. They couldn’t find anything wrong with him, though. Over time, Finley was constantly falling over and he’d…

Get real! Social media is a lie. We've all been there. You take a good photo, crop it to perfection, choose the ideal filter. Then you ‘Share'. After that, you get wrapped up in watching how many ‘Likes' you get. And it can be a real blow to your ego if it doesn't climb as high as you'd hoped. But there are so many things in life that matter more than the number of times people ‘Like' your photo. Elle Webber, Little Neston WE PAY CASH Make a donation After reading Naomi Clayson’s story (A stranger saved my girls life, 28 Jan issue), I decided to put my name forward as a bone-marrow donor. I’m already a registered blood donor and had been meaning to look into doing the same…

We realised we must’ve passed each other on the ward We like to think Stan and Marilyn brought us together Weeks, months, years had passed in a blur of bright, white hospital corridors. My husband Stan, 73, had been battling leukaemia since 2007, and I’d grown used to the clinical smells, endless chemo, meetings with doctors. By January 2015, the cancer was terminal and I spent more time on the cancer ward at Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Bangor than home. I also cared for our son Matthew, 8, who is autistic and was undergoing tests for ADHD. Stressed, exhausted, I’d spot family members of other cancer patients on the ward. They look as tired as me, I thought. All struggling to cope, watching someone they love die. I felt a…

Daniel could live alone, cycle, hike, travel…He was an inspiration Our baby Ruben was 6 weeks old when I noticed a problem with his eyes. They flickered and rolled. His dad Robert, 44, and I were concerned, but doctors couldn’t find anything wrong during Ruben’s eight-week development check. But, by 12 weeks, it was clear his eyes weren’t focusing at all, and he was transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Months of hell followed. Test after test, an MRI, endless scans, several general anaesthetics. Cancer was ruled out. Such a relief! But specialists confirmed Ruben had underdeveloped retinas. After a day at the hospital, I’d go home and look online for the various scary-sounding syndromes for which the doctors were checking. I’d imagine worse-case scenarios, torture myself. Tests came back negative,…

He had bruises on his legs, but we assumed they were from football Every mum thinks that their child is perfect. But mine really was… Jordan was a joy when he was born in May 1992. Always smiling, he grew up to be a bright, thoughtful lad. By the time he was 13, he was big brother to Ellis, 6, and thought nothing of giving me or his dad Dave a big hug. ‘Love you,’ he told me every day. A natural sportsman, he excelled at football and cricket. Both Sunderland and Newcastle United Academies were already fighting over him. And he and Ellis were inseparable. He was forever colouring with her, helping her with homework. ‘How did we get so lucky?’ Dave and I would often say. In February…

What I loved My big new telly! And, more specifically, the very cute bloke who fitted it… Nuff said! What hacked me off The cost of getting nearly anywhere! Train fares? Outrageous! Parking? Unbelievable! Thank heavens for cheap(ish) flights… What made me laugh A survey that said more than 20 per cent of us had cooked for guests and given them food poisoning! Shocking!!! (And, yes, you're right…it's not funny! Well, maybe just a little bit…) Hope your week doesn't leave a nasty taste!…

I felt hands crawling up under my My Little Pony nightie CALL THAT JUSTICE?! • A little girl, abused by a trusted relative. • He denied it; she had to give evidence in court. • He was jailed but will be out in under two years. At first, I thought I was having funny dreams. Whenever I stayed over at my aunt and uncle’s house, I’d wake up panicked, with flashes of terrible nightmares in my mind... Someone in bed beside me, their hands touching me. I didn’t understand it. I was 7 and I loved visiting my aunt and uncle. Mum would take us on the bus, and I’d be excited to see Uncle Gerry. With his smiley face and beer belly, he was always making me giggle. Then,…

I started doing photo shoots for magazines Something I’d done a million times. Something I did every day. But when I crossed the road that day in February 2012, it changed my life forever. It happened so quickly. I was on my way to meet pals, when I stepped into the road. A car swerved and crashed into me on my left side. Pain shot through me, and the world went black. When I woke up, I was in Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, covered in wires. I’d been out for four months… I had brain injuries, memory loss, plus severe damage to my spinal cord, pelvis and neck. My mum Pam, 48, looked so worried. ‘It’s unlikely you’ll ever walk again,’ a doctor told me. I was only 17, with…

Face scrub Nspa Fresh Apple Zesty Lime Face Scrub, £3, Asda Cleanses well while buffing away dead skin cells to reveal brighter skin. Top tip: Massage in using a gentle, circular motion. Sanctuary Spa Cleanse Radiance Exfoliator, £10, www.sanctuary. com You only need a little of this at a time for great results and glowing skin! Top tip: Use on damp skin for best results. St Ives Naturally Clear Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub, £3.99, Superdrug Clears pores without being too harsh. Top tip: Opt for products best suited to your skin type. Simple Kind To Skin Smoothing Facial Scrub, £3.39, Boots Designed for sensitive skin, this is gentle enough for anyone to use. Top tip: Only use twice a week to avoid damaging the delicate skin…

The pair were due to go swimming together Jane Longhurst, a 31-year-old special-needs teacher, was also passionate about music. Talented Jane played the violin and viola, and belonged to an orchestra, and she’d been with her boyfriend Malcolm for four years. ‘We were going to spend the rest of our lives together,’ he later said. ‘We were having a lot of fun. We were in a great relationship.’ But when Malcolm came back to the flat he shared with Jane on 14 March 2003, she wasn’t there. Concerned, Malcolm phoned Jane’s mum Liz. The teacher seemed to have just disappeared… Five agonising weeks later, after a passing motorist saw a fire on Wiggonholt Common, near Pulborough, West Sussex, Jane’s charred remains were found. Police soon arrested Graham Coutts, Jane’s best…

I didn't want to call the police – I didn't think anyone would believe me It was September 2011, and my husband Peter had planned a week away in Malaga. Sun, sea and sand…bliss! But boarding the flight, I twisted my back going up the steps. I took some painkillers, but getting up to go to the toilet, I felt pain shoot through me. Like a bolt of lightning was going down my leg. Agonising. By the time we landed, I was in so much pain, I could barely walk. A doctor came out to our apartment, checked me over and gave me a couple of injections in my spine. ‘It looks like a slipped disc,’ she told me. But the next day, I was in more pain, so the…

Looking forward to motherhood, I ate for two – and then some! Dishing out a bowl of cabbage soup, the stench turned my stomach. I’d been on the cabbage-soup diet a fortnight. My taste buds were crying out for mercy. Yuk! ‘You’re the queen of fad diets!’ my mate Lindsay chuckled. She was right. I was forever ‘on a diet’. As a kid, I’d tucked into double helpings, snacked on crisps or chocolate. Weight had crept on and, at 5ft 1in tall, I didn’t carry the excess blubber well. I was shaped like a barrel. ‘You’ve a pretty face,’ Mum would say. If only you lost weight, I’d hear. Ballooning to a size-18 by 16, I’d suffer cruel taunts from bullies. I’d try to ignore them but, deep down, I…

With so much cashback on offer there’s no reason not to join – you’ll love it! By Vaishali McMillan, 30 Six years ago, I read about Quidco on a money-saving website and decided to sign up for it straightaway. It’s introduced a lot of great services over the years, especially one that lets you get cashback on your grocery shopping. I’ve made over £800, which is a real help with day-to-day items, as well as some little luxuries. Recently, I treated myself to a mini-break to Prague with my cashback! Shop in the stores you love and earn loads of cashback at the same time By Sally Barlow, 33 When I first heard about Quidco, it seemed such a good idea. I’m a big online shopper and cashback would certainly…

Pisces 20 Feb - 20 March Your voice often isn’t heard - but you see what others can’t, so speak up for what’s right. Don’t be put off by people who say they know better or are acting in your best interests. They don’t, and they’re not. Call 0905 817 0701* for more Aries 21 March - 20 April You’re toying with the idea of rekindling an old romance. But it was long ago, you’ve both moved on, and there’s distance between you. It could be fun, but in the long run it’s likely more trouble than it’s worth. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May This is one of those times where you discover that getting what you want is easier than you thought,…

1 Year-round sunshine In the depths of our winter, the mercury touches 20C. If you like it really hot, it can hit over 35C from May to September! 2 Go for a camel ride…at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. After a four-wheel-drive thriller over the dunes, swap the motor for the view from top of a swaying camel! You can also stay on for dinner, with a puff or two on a shisha pipe! 3 Visit the world's tallest building At 828m high, look down at the world from the outdoor observation deck of the Burj Khalifa. Back at ground level, don't miss the Dubai Fountain with sprays that dance to music! It looks best after dark - so don't forget to take your camera! 4 Have a drink at…

BARKING BEARS! How sweet are Potato, Sweetcorn and Bean? But they’re not pandas, they’re dogs! Owner Meng Jiang has made her chows famous online by dying them. It’s all here in black and white... A LOST CAUSE... Transport For London revealed that among the 300,000 lost items it collected last year were a prosthetic leg and an urn full of ashes. We don’t know what’s more shocking - that they were misplaced in the first place, or that their owners haven’t noticed they’re missing. HAPPY ENDING... ‘Surprise! I’m alive!’ That’s what Noela Rukundo said when she gatecrashed her own funeral! Mourners were stunned, but none more so than her husband, who was sure Noela was dead, having paid hitmen to see her off. Instead, they let her go, and he’s…

A gorgeous display of diamond engagement rings sparkled up at me. ‘Wow!’ I gasped. ‘I want you to have the best,’ my boyfriend Zac Evans, 19, grinned. It was December 2014 and Zac and I had been together for three years. Childhood sweethearts, we’d met at school and, although we were still young, we knew we wanted to spend our lives together. After proposing, Zac had taken me to a jewellery shop in town. We picked out a gorgeous white-gold diamond ring for me, and Zac picked a platinum band for him. ‘Men don’t wear engagement rings,’ I giggled. But Zac just kissed me. ‘I want everyone to know I’m marrying you,’ he smiled. Zac had started his own painting-and-decorating business, and was saving up, so we had our fingers…

Big chill Q I'm always cold! I keep asking for the heating to be turned up at work and at home I pile on the layers. Is something wrong? Helen, 38 A If this is a recent change, then your doctor can check for rare causes such as anaemia, diabetes or an underactive thyroid. Otherwise, chances are this is simply how you are. Don't smoke, make sure you're not underweight, exercise regularly and wrap up! Hair tugging Q I can’t stop pulling out my hair and feel anxious if I don’t do it. At first it makes me feel better, then I just feel guilty – and now I have a bald patch. Alice, 21 A It's called trichotillomania, the urge to pull out hair. Sometimes it's the result of…

Asda Yeast Extract, 240g, £1.88 If you like it strong - this has a big kick! With a huge, savoury burst, a little goes a long way. You have been warned! Marmite, 125g, £1.65 Love it or hate it, this is the one that all others aspire to be. The flavour is intense, but it doesn't overpower. However it's almost twice the price of own-brands. Morrisons Yeast Extract, 240g, £1.84 Well here's a turn-up! Our Marmite-loving testers adored this. It spread easily and had a fantastic balance of flavours. At this price, it's our winner! NEW Cadbury Creme Egg Mini Cones, £2 for eight Mini cones, filled with vanilla ice cream, with a pool of gooey yolk in the centre. What's not to like?…

Serves: 6Prep: 15 minCook: 40 min 150g unsalted butter -at room temperature150g caster sugar3 medium eggs1 lemon1 x 114g pot gooseberry fool100g fruit muesli25g ground almonds75g self-raising flourIcing:75g icing sugar1 lemon1 loaf tin 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4 and line base and sides of a loaf tin with baking paper. 2 Beat butter with caster sugar until fluffy, then beat in eggs one at a time. 3 Finely grate and juice 1 lemon and stir into mixture along with gooseberry fool. Then mix in muesli, ground almonds and flour. 4 Spoon mixture into tin and bake for 35-40 min. It won't rise much so check it's cooked by inserting a wooden skewer into the cake. If it comes out clean it's ready. If not, return to oven for 5…

1 Heat 1tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan and fry 6 Quorn sausages for 2-3 min until lightly golden. Remove from pan and set aside to cool, then slice diagonally into 5 pieces. 2 Fry 2 thinly sliced onions and 2 crushed cloves of garlic in another tbsp oil until soft, then add 1 red and 1 green deseeded, diced peppers and continue frying for 2-3 min. 3 Stir in 100g sweetcorn, 1 tbsp smoked paprika and 2tsp mild chilli powder and cook for a few more min before adding 100ml apple juice. 4 Pour in a 400g tin chopped tomatoes, a 400g tin of cannellini beans, 150ml vegetable stock and the reserved sausages. Season to taste with salt and pepper, cover and simmer for another 10 min.…

What are ISAs? Put simply, ISAs are tax-free or tax-efficient accounts for your savings or investments. There are two types of ISA... One for cash savings and another you can use for investing. You can put up to £15,240 each tax year into either type of ISA or split the allowed amount between both. How does an ISA differ from my current account? Did you know that when you use a current account, you give 20 per cent of the interest earned straight to the tax man? Yes, it's true. Use an ISA and you get to keep all the profits! Where does Quidco come in? Quidco partners with over 4,300 retailers to help you earn cashback rewards every time you shop. That includes when you open new bank accounts,…

I lived for each scan. And, as my baby grew, so did our excitement… I was sick of people asking the same question… ‘When are you and Richard going to have a littl’un?’ friends asked. They meant well, but their words stung. If I only I knew! I wanted to scream. Richard, 39, and I had tied the knot in April 2003. We’d started trying for a baby straightaway. But a few years on, I still wasn’t pregnant. We’d had fertility tests, but doctors couldn’t work out what was wrong. ‘I just want a baby!’ I’d sob to Richard, heartbroken. By now, all of our friends were having children. I was thrilled for them, but my heart ached when I held a baby, breathed in their scent. We looked into…

I've had 25 operations to laser cancerous cells away Whenever I need to leave the house, I have to make some lengthy preparations first. I need to cover my body completely, wear a long jacket and thick gloves, plus hide my face with a hat. It might seem extreme – especially as I live in sunny California – but sunlight can damage my skin so badly that it could give me aggressive skin cancer. I was born with a rare condition that affects only 2,000 people in the world. It’s called xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). It’s a genetic defect that means my skin can’t repair damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. As a result, my body is completely covered in dark freckles. I was only 2 when the freckles began to…

ZOOMED IN! We’ve got up close and personal to a well-known household item. But what is it? If you can make out what it is, that's your prize answer. WHAT'S WRONG? All fans of Lady and the Tramp will know this is the classic cartoon’s happy ending… But something about this still from the animated movie isn't as it should be. If you know what doesn't belong, that's your prize answer. WHAT'S ON TELLY?  As you can see, our TV’s gone on the blink and we can’t make out what programme is being screened… If the show looks familiar to you, that's your prize answer! HOW MANY? Can you guess the number of Duplo bricks in the jar? If so, that's your prize answer.…