Table of contents for September 3, 2015 in Chat

He was a grown man of 32, with stubble on his chin. But when I looked at my son Simon, I still saw a freckle-faced, grubby-kneed toddler. I always would. And, no matter how big he got, I’d never stop doing what I could to help him out. 'I’ve lost my job,’ he said, clutching his mug of tea in December 2013. 'Toni and I are going to get kicked out of our house.’ Toni Adams, 27, was Simon’s partner, part of the family. She was out of work and, now my boy had lost his factory job, there was only one thing for it. 'You’ll both move in here,’ I insisted. 'It’ll be nice to see more of you.’ Simon’s face broke out into a grin. 'Are you sure,…

Gazing outside, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the new window cleaner with his dark hair, fit body and gorgeous smile. So, being the bubbly, friendly sort, I went out to chat, and found out his name was Daniel. When he came for his money a few days later, we discovered we were both on Internet dating site, Plenty of Fish. When I logged on next, Daniel, 30, had messaged me. So I invited him over for dinner while my four kids were at their dad’s. Talking over a bottle of wine the conversation soon turned to relationships and sex. 'When I split with my ex, my mates challenged me to have sex with 100 women in a year,’ he confessed. 'I managed 86.’ 'Impressive,’ I laughed. 'I had sex…

Holding your breath stops hiccups There’s no scientific evidence to prove this. Most hiccups stop after a short period anyway. Some doctors believe it’s just sheer coincidence that hiccups stop when you hold your breath – which explains why it works for some but not others. Winning website It’s thought that asthma attacks kill three people a day in the UK – including, recently, Apprentice star Stuart Baggs. For advice, go to www.asthma.org.uk Swap & See Swap eating out for eating in! Research suggests you’re likely to consume more calories, sugar and salt when you eat out. Eating at home enables you to control your calorie intake and include more nutritious ingredients.…

Morrisons Beef & Onion Gravy Mix, 50p Just empty the packet into a jug, add boiling water and whisk for lump-free gravy. A good beef and onion flavour. Bisto Chef's Specials Rich Beef Gravy With Cracked Black Pepper, 85p Add boiling water for thick gravy in seconds. With a strong peppery kick, we'd use it to make a tasty shepherds pie or to simply pour over steak. Schwartz Roast Beef Gravy Mix, 80p Needs to be mixed and heated in a pan, but it takes just a few minutes - and the result is smooth, rich and tasty. It'll do your Sunday roast proud. NEW  Sweet Freedom Choc Shot, £3.50, most supermarkets Stir this liquid chocolate into hot milk for an instant hot choc, or drizzle over ice cream and…

Walking into the living room, I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. My fella Bob, 52, was snuggled up on the couch watching a Disney film. 'You big softie!’ I teased. Although he had six grown-up children, my man was a real kid at heart. He couldn’t get enough of cartoons. I wasn’t mad about them myself, but I found his interest endearing. Bob and I met through friends in December 2012. He was a real character and so easy to talk to. We quickly became an item, and he moved into my place after three weeks! A whirlwind romance, sure. But it worked. And a year on, while on holiday in Mexico, he proposed. A couple of months later, we were having a night in when Bob was nagging…

I reckon that I should get myself a sign for my car. Mums taxi service, it’d say! Because I’m always ferrying my kids about – my 12-year-old daughter to horse-riding lessons, my son, 22, out and about, my 4-year-old grandson to the park… And don’t forget the school run! Of course, I love them all dearly and I’m more than happy to help. But, earlier this year, things got even madder! It was the school hols and my hubby Andy, 44, and I had just got a puppy, Duke. He was a cute, 6-month old ginger Irish terrier. We’d wanted another dog after our treasured 13-year-old Airedale terrier Timmy passed away from old age. We found a local breeder who had a litter of five gorgeous pups. Andy and I…

Emmerdale Funeral bombshell Pollard tells a devastated Diane that, as she left Val to die, she’s no right to be at her funeral. Plus Aaron worries that Andy’s getting a lot closer to the truth about Katie’s death than he realises. EastEnders Ashes to ashes! Mick, Tina and Shirley track Aunt Babe to Ramsgate when Stan’s ashes go missing. Plus Shabnam and Kush are struggling to come to terms with the death of their baby and Shabnam says she’s moving back to Pakistan. Hollyoaks Oh, baby! Peri gives birth in the classroom, but will she be able to hand her baby over to the Browns for adoption as she’d planned? Plus Ste has proposed to Sinead, and when Harry confronts him about it, they end up kissing!…

Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Leave-in Conditioner, £4.99, Superdrug Detangles and nourishes locks without weighing them down. Top tip: Coconut oil works wonders on hair! John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Miracle Leave In Conditioner, £6.29, Boots Adds moisture and works really well on naturally curly hair. Top tip: Opt for a product that protects against heat if you straighten your hair. Toni & Guy Prep Leave In Conditioner, £6.99, Tesco A luxury product that reduces frizz and protects against humidity. Top tip: Cream formulas are more nourishing than spray. Tresemme Platinum Strength Stay Soft Leave In Treatment, £5.78, Boots Makes hair look healthier and feel softer. Top tip: In a rush? Use this instead of your regular conditioner.…

If you'd like help with a problem, write to: Ingrid, Chat, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU, or e-mail ask-ingrid@timeinc.com Sorry, Ingrid cannot reply personally. You love each other – opening up is natural. Should I reveal my nightmare? Q It's taken me years to feel secure in a loving relationship after I was raped at 20 on holiday abroad. I've never talked about it, but I'd like to be honest with my partner after a year together. Should I tell him or will it change things? SE, 34 A Honesty's a massive must in a relationship, while secrets can be a killer. So yes, do confide in him if you finally feel comfortable with revealing the truth. But first talk to an expert at Rape Crisis…

Like most busy working mums, I never seem to have enough time in the day. If I’m not working, then I’m looking after the family. That’s my partner Martin, and our 10-month-old daughter Charlotte. I’ve always been big on online shopping. But, when my sister recommended Quidco to me, it sounded too good to be true. Free cash? I couldn’t get my head around it. Still, in 2009, I decided to give it a go and, once I’d got into the swing of going through Quidco before buying things, I was away! Most of my best purchases have been on everyday things. When I upgraded my phone, I got a whopping £120. I even managed to get £50 cashback for buying landlord insurance through them. But I’ve also found that…

1 Boil 800g cubed Desiree potatoes in a large pan of boiling water 6 min. Drain and set aside. 2 Meanwhile heat 1tbsp oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and fry a large chopped onion and 2 crushed garlic cloves for 5 min until soft. 3 Increase heat, add 390g extra- lean beef mince and fry 5 min until beginning to brown. Remove from pan and set aside. 4 Heat 1tbsp oil, add cubed potatoes and 2tbsp roughly chopped rosemary and fry 5 min until beginning to colour. Return beef mince, season and cook for a further 5 min. 5 Serve topped with a poached egg and roasted cherry tomatoes. Serves: 4 Cost per head: £1.09…

Flaky tat Q Earlier this year, I had a coloured tattoo all down my left side. Recently, I was sunbathing, and it turned red, flaky and itchy... Katya, 25 A You have an allergy to coloured tattoo dye. Sometimes the allergy is photosensitive, meaning it needs sunlight to trigger it. It should settle, provided you cover up, and apply a mild steroid cream from the chemist. Needle nightmare Q I'm taking tablets for blood pressure, and my doctor says it's important to have regular blood tests. But I really can't stand needles! Cyn, 51 A Needle phobia affects up to one in 10 of us. Some sufferers can't even think about needles without becoming faint or panicky. Breathing and relaxation exercises can help. Slow healer Q I broke my arm…

They say the best things come in twos. And to me, my identical twin sons Ben and Richard, 25, are proof of that. Growing up, they did everything together. Football, fishing, bike rides… Wherever one went, the other was never far behind. So when Ben started dating Kayleigh, 26, in November 2011, I knew it wouldn’t be long before Richard met someone special, too. Two years later, I got my wish when he met Annabel, 25. The four of them would go out on double dates and have family meals at my place. Then, last October, Richard and Annabel had some news… 'We’re having a baby,’ they beamed. I was so happy for them, couldn’t wait to have a grandchild to fuss over. Annabel’s due date was 19 June. 'So…

Serves: 16 Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min 200g butter, very soft, plus extra for greasing 200g caster sugar 4 eggs 1tsp vanilla extract 1½tsp baking powder 200g self-raising flour 250g blueberries, plus extra to decorate For the icing 25g butter, very soft 250g light cream cheese, at room temperature 75g icing sugar, sifted Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4. Grease and line a 20.5cm x 30cm tin with non-stick baking paper. 2 Cream butter and sugar together in a bowl and add eggs one at a time, then vanilla extract, beating until combined. Sift and fold in baking powder and flour, then stir through blueberries. 3 Spoon mixture into tin and bake for 30 min until risen and golden. Leave to cool…

There are still a few days of the summer holidays to enjoy, so you’ll want to make the most of the sunny ones by enjoying time with the kids outdoors. If your children are running around or if it’s hot, you’ll need to encourage them to drink more water to replace what they’re losing. Keeping hydrated is essential for all of us, but we need to keep on top of what our kids are drinking to make sure they’re getting the recommended six to eight glasses of water a day* to keep their bodies working well. We all know it can be a battle to get kids to choose water over other drinks, but it’s worth the effort. Water is one of the most natural, healthy things they can have.…

How I lost it! My husband Jim and I were visiting friends in Spain in 2011. I'd bought a couple of dresses for the trip , but was horrified that they were a size-20! My friends looked cool and slim, while I, weighing 14st 13½lb, just felt big and miserable . Looking at my holiday photos, I knew I had to do something. So, that October, I plucked up the courage to walk through the doors of my local Scottish Slimmers class - and it's the best thing I've ever done! Even when I fell pregnant with my little boy Harry in March 2012, I still managed to lose or maintain. I was back in class in February 2013, and lost steadily until I reached my target last Christmas. I…

Virgo 24 Aug - 23 Sep You know how much better it feels when you take off your jacket, kick off your shoes and generally loosen up? This week is like that. It’s hard to say exactly what’s different, but that pressure for everything to be perfect is no longer there. You can afford to sit back a bit and take a broader view. • Call 0905 817 0695* for more Libra 24 Sep - 23 Oct If you’re standing waist-deep in the sea and a big wave comes along, it can sweep you off your feet. If you’re ready for it, it’s fun - but if you’re not, it’s a little scary, and sometimes dangerous. What happens this week will sweep you off your feet, too. If you’re ready…

On a recent trip to a safari park, I knew that some animals like to monkey around! So, I kept my windows firmly shut. After passing some lions lazing around, I relaxed. Then I spotted a big herd of zebras up ahead. One was standing alone, near the path, so I parked the car to get a look. Incredibly, he wandered straight over. Excited, I wound down the window. Next thing I knew, the beautiful beast had popped his entire head in to say hello! And, as you can see, I just couldn't resist snapping a ‘zelfie'! Malte Woestefeld, 24, Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany Excited, I wound down the window…

Walking down the school corridor, I tensed, knowing what was coming. 'Look! It’s Homer Simpson,’ a bully yelled at me. Hurrying away, I hid under a stairway and cried. At 13, I was 16st 7lb, a size-20. I’d been chubby since I was little. But my weight was now out of control. I’d turned to food to help me cope with bullying and the loss of my grandparents. When home from school, I’d chomp through six packets of crisps, ice cream and still have room for double helpings of chicken and potatoes. My parents realised I was eating too much but weren’t always around to stop me and didn’t want to hurt my feelings. Some nights, we’d eat a takeaway. I could never refuse. I loved eating, but I hated…

What I loved Discovering it's not just me that hates kale. I don't care how good it's meant to be for me; it's vile! And it's time we kale-loathers came out and said so… What hacked me off Having to call a locksmith cos I locked myself in this week! Doh! What made me laugh I was driving behind a delivery truck that was loaded with scrummy sweet treats. Then I spotted written on the back of it, No doughnuts are stored overnight in this van… Genius! I hope there's some icing on your cake this week!…

Before Not so long ago, mum of two, Jadeen Chapman, 32, from Shrewsbury, was a size-18. ‘Over the years, I've lost 5st, but I still see myself as big! I hate my chunky thighs, and don't know what suits me any more. I spend my life in scruffy clothes because it's easy, but I'd love a smart new look, even if it's just for one day!' BE OUR FASHION  MODEL! Are you stuck in a clothes rut? Do you find yourself wearing the same sort of outfit every day? Have you forgotten what glamorous looks and feels like? Then we want you! Along with a hair and make-up transformation by a top make-up artist, you'll also get to model the very latest fashion must-haves on a Chat fashion shoot! We…

Libido worries Q I'm trying to boost my sex drive. I've read that fish and chocolate can help, but what else should I be eating? Marie, 37 A There's no real evidence that food will boost your sex drive. More important is to keep fit and deal with anything that might be lowering your libido, such as stress, depression or side effects of drugs, including antidepressants. Dark stools Q My poo has turned jet black. I feel fine otherwise - does it mean anything's wrong? Lizette, 56 A Some drugs can turn your poo black, including iron tablets and some indigestion remedies. But another, possibly serious, cause is bleeding from your stomach. By the time the blood reaches the other end, it's been altered by your bowel and looks black.…

Geek chic My youngest daughter Olivia, 2, looks smart in her big sister's glasses! Louise Brannigan, Wallasey, Merseyside Favourite toy Spikey the dragon has been my 4-year-old son George’s best pal since he was 2 – he won’t go to bed without him! Kerry Ann Dawson, Portsmouth Soggy bottom? My passion is baking, so I’m thrilled that my son Travis, 2, seems just as keen. We both devoured this sticky toffee pudding! Dannii Priestman, Huntingdon Happy gal! With her snazzy new dress, my beautiful 11-month-old daughter Grace is all ready to attend her first wedding! Claire Phillips, Sheffield MY CUTE BABY PIC Maybe chewing on a rubber duck gives you better balance… My 7-month-old son Riyad sitting up in the bath for the first time. Felicity Yassen, Fife Spa day…

Rosy the golden Labrador is 6. She likes sausages. And she loves her family – Lisa and her husband Sandy, both 56, and their sons Michael, 18, and Sean, 15. Living in Ullapool, on the shores of Loch Broom in the Scottish Highlands, Rosy also enjoys exploring the rolling hills. And she likes sitting on top of them, looking down at the loch below as it flows gently into the vast Atlantic Ocean beyond. Safe to say, Rosy’s a happy dog. Just don’t ask her to go near the water. She hates it! 'It’s alright, girl,’ Lisa told her that morning. 'The boys’ll look after you.’ It was a bright, sunny day in June this year. Michael and Sean’d decided to go for a swim in the loch. And they…

Leaving the warmth of the youth club, I shivered as I stepped into the chilly night. It was December 2012 and I was 15. My GCSEs were looming, but to relax, I played pool a couple of nights a week with friends. A few others left with me but, heading in different directions, we soon parted company. It was only 8.30pm, but the streets were deserted. Except for one lad just ahead of me. I don’t know why, but something about him gave me the creeps. In a rush to get back, I overtook him. As I did, he grabbed me from behind and pressed something cold and sharp into my neck. 'Do what I say or I’ll stab you,’ he hissed. Terror flooded my body as he shoved me…

DAY 1: FLY A KITE  Basic kites are quite inexpensive, but you could get the kids to make their own from a brown paper bag. Just cut off the bottom of the bag, decorate it with a funny face, attach some crepe-paper streamers at the bottom and a length of string at the top, and head out to the park! DAY 2: GET SKIPPING  Skipping is not only fun but it also improves fitness and coordination. Want some inspiration to make it even more fun? Check out skip-hop.co.uk for rhymes and games. DAY 3: EASY ROUNDERS  Mark out a rough circle with four markers. Form two teams: one batting, one fielding. The bowler bowls, and if the batter hits the ball he runs round the markers to score a rounder (or…

Swap...3tbsp garlic dip with tortilla chips…255 cal For…3tbsp salsa with carrot sticks…65 cal Diet bites Lunch box Greggs Tuna Crunch Pasta, £2.25 Check out the new low-cal range at Greggs. It includes this mix of pasta, sweetcorn, peppers and tuna - all for 283 cal! Body blast Davina 7 Minute Fit: Part Two, £17.48, www. qvcuk.com Ten workouts that tone wobbly bits, burn fat and improve overall fitness in just 420 seconds! Including six bonus 7-minute workouts... £50  What worked for you? I'll pay a full-fat £50 if I use your weight-loss story. Write to me, enclosing before and after pictures at: Losing It, Chat, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU, or e-mail me: christine.parsons@timeinc.com Not all diets, products or fitness regimes may…

If you’re looking for more from your holiday than sun-worshipping, this small island is big on history. Where to stay? We flew from London Gatwick to Malta International Airport, and stayed at The Marina Hotel Corinthia Beach Resort in St George’s Bay, St Julian’s. It has a heated indoor pool, five outdoor pools, restaurants and a day spa. Our room overlooked the sea, and it was lovely to step out onto the balcony and gaze at the Mediterranean waters. There’s a lovely beach about five minutes’ walk away, and the restaurants and bars are within strolling distance, too. What to do? We headed straight to Valletta, Malta’s stunning capital. For many years, Malta was home to the Knights of St John, who successfully fought off the Ottoman Empire in the…

When I think about my parents Victor and Elsie, it’s always both together. One never pops into my thoughts without the other. But that’s how they were all their lives – inseparable. They’d met at a local dance in Sheffield as teenagers and had fallen in love. Mum was only 19 when they married in March 1954. For a while, Dad was a gunman in the Yorkshire & Lancashire Regiment. Then he worked in telecommunications, before becoming a plasterer. Mum worked hard, too, at her job as an inspector in the local cutlery factories. When they weren’t working, they doted on me and my sister Susan, who was four years older than me. Family was really important to them. So when Susan and I left home and had kids of…