Table of contents for 22-Nov-2018 in Chat

This week, Daniella knew that there was something wrong with her little boy Zayn, and it’s a good job that she pushed to get some answers (p33). And, when Rachel was diagnosed with a rare condition, she stumbled across a really strange self-help remedy (p20). Meanwhile, Melanie was about to save her partner’s life until he said something that made her change her mind (p48). As well as the gripping real-life reads, there are prize puzzles, tips, fashion (p12), food and more, and there’s an extra treat on p60 – 20% off at fab fashion brand Curvissa. Have a great week!…

David Biro, 17, was found guilty of all charges and given three life sentences. The judge said, ‘He wanted to kill, apparently, to achieve some sort of infamy from that killing – some sort of notoriety.’ In 1994, a court ruled against Biro’s murder appeal and his life sentence was upheld. He later admitted committing the despicable crimes for the ‘thrill of it’. He told friends that he just ‘wanted to see what it would feel like to shoot someone’. He’d plotted the murders for weeks and chose Richard and Nancy because their home was directly opposite the police station. It seems the teenager wanted to brag about what he’d done under the noses of the police.…

Worm worry! I was horrified to Q see a tiny worm wriggling inside my vagina lip. Where has it come from? Jenny, Newcastle Chances are it's a A threadworm. They usually live in your anus and come out at night to lay their eggs, causing an itchy bottom, and can also travel to your vagina. Ask your chemist for medication and treat all the family - children are often the source! Self-control sex Q My boyfriend always pulls out before he ejaculates. My GP says it's not reliable as a method of birth control, but I don't see how I could get pregnant. Delia, Antrim A The withdrawal method takes a lot of self-control from your partner. Also, men may leak a little semen before they ejaculate. Discuss contraceptive options…

Laura Patterson, 22 Running around the green, I tapped my friend Paul on the shoulder. ‘Tag, you’re it!’ I laughed, dashing off. It was summer 2001, and I was playing with Paul by the flats we lived in. All us kids knew each other on the block. After an hour, Paul went inside to check what time his tea was. As I waited by the entrance, I noticed a man on the landing. Balding with some tufts of hair at the back and sides, he was holding a camera. I was 5, outgoing, adventurous – and living in such a friendly area, I started chatting. ‘What are you doing?’ I asked him curiously. ‘I’m taking pictures of graffiti,’ he smirked. I sat on the cold, hard floor, weeping in terror…

The Christmas Chronicles NETFLIX Kurt Russell stars as Santa in this one-off drama that follows siblings Teddy and Kate who decide to prove Mr Claus is real by catching him on camera. But when they cause Santa's sleigh to crash-land in Chicago, the brother and sister find themselves going on an unexpected and magical journey with him to help get his usual Christmas Eve plans back on track… Casualty BBC1 A familiar face turns up in the ED when former EastEnders’ star Shaheen Jafargholi joins the cast. The 21-year-old takes on the role of student nurse Marty, who’s not short of a few cheeky winks and clever one-liners. But can he impress? Dynasties BBC1 As Sir David Attenborough’s series continues, a colony of emperor penguins must work together to survive…

‘I can't put into words how grateful I was when Mel agreed to be my donor. Finding she was a match was like winning the Lottery. But over the next few months, our relationship deteriorated. I was ill, wasn't able to work, so a lot of the finances, the children, our home, was left to Mel to sort out. ‘It piled the stress on us and we had pointless rows. I was the first one to express my doubts. Did I really want to go through something like this with someone when there's so much bad feeling between us? It was the toughest decision. ‘Now I'm back to square one. I'm trying to think positively but I'm not holding out hope. I've just got to take every day as it…

Dear Dad, Known as Freddy to your Army mates, to me and my big sister Margaret you were just Dad. We couldn’t have asked for a better one. From running around in the garden, to our hilarious camping trips, you were so much fun. You were the strongest man I’d ever known, too – taught me the value of hard work, leading by example. You’d left school at 14, but made a success of yourself as a Sales Director. It wasn’t just your charm that got you there. Encouraging me to join the Navy at 17, you said, ‘Best apprenticeship you’ll ever get.’ You were right. I travelled the world, climbing the ranks. You’d fought in the Second World War and I felt proud to follow in your footsteps. You…

My mum Maureen and dad James brought Oktoberfest to their home, costumes and all! Don't they look fab? Zoe Henderson, Gosport My family emigrated to Australia for a few years in the 1970s, returning to the UK in 1974. In August 2018, I finally went back. Here I am with my school friend Alison, who I hadn't seen since I left 44 years ago! Karen Yarnold, Worcester I recently went to a Gilbert O'Sullivan concert and reminisced about the time I went with my mum in the 1970s. I even got a photo with him and a signed CD. He sang all the favourites and received a standing ovation. Linda Lesbirel, Bournemouth My daughter Lucie, 7, and her best friend forever, our not-so-little puppy Alfie. Getting him was the best…

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Aimee Roberts, 25, Bristol When I’d become pregnant in the spring of 2017, I prayed my little one wouldn’t quite follow in the family footsteps. My mum Julie, 53, and I had both been born with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). It meant we’d had holes in our hearts, and had both needed surgery. Now we were healthy, but the ops had been dangerous. At my 20-week scan I prayed for good news. But… ‘It looks like he has a hole in his heart,’ the sonographer confirmed. Hope fading, I didn’t dare ask my burning question… ‘Will he be OK?’ my partner Alex, 25, said instead. I wanted to cuddle my baby. What if I never got the chance? Our baby had a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a small hole separating…

Cheryl Montague, 59, Epsom We all have favourite me-time moments, and one of mine is settling down to a spot of bingo. And that’s exactly how my evening began in February 2018 after I finished some chores and cooked tea for my daughter Ellie, 25 and me. ‘It’s bingo time!’ I chirped, perching in front of my computer in the lounge. ‘You love your bingo, don’t you?’ Ellie laughed from across the room. Ever since signing up in September 2006, I’d loved the chatrooms and the comfort of playing bingo in my own home. So, as I logged into my account that Sunday night, I decided to play my bingo tickets for Play Off Palace. I’d won some free ones playing Session Bingo in the week, and the Play Off…

Daniella Chowdhury, 38, Croydon Cradling my newborn, Zayn, in my arms, I took in every line, every curve, every inch of his beautiful face. ‘What’s this?’ I asked a nurse, pointing at a pea-sized lump under his right ear. We were taken into another room, where Zayn was examined. ‘Probably just a cyst,’ a doctor said. ‘Don’t worry.’ Zayn was sent for an ultrasound at three days old, and an MRI at three weeks. But by the time he was a month old, the growth was almond-sized. ‘It’s probably a birthmark under the skin which should disappear by his first birthday,’ a consultant told us in February 2016. So, as months passed and the lump continued to grow, my husband Anwar, 36, and I tried not to worry. Zayn was…

Aries 21 March - 20 April Nothing like a guilty pleasure, is there? You have a chance to do something you used to love and it’s hard to resist. Is it good? Of course. Do you care what people think? No, because you won’t tell them! 7 Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May How long do you wait for a bus before you decide it isn’t coming and start walking? Similarly, you’ve reached your limit with a problem at work. Clearly, it won’t change - so either put up with it or leave. 7 Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June Were you too quick to judge someone? They may take a bit longer to make up their mind…

Motivated by her daughter, who ‘didn’t like her curls because none of her favourite princesses had curly hair’, presenter Rochelle Humes has made the decision to go back to her curly roots. She said, ‘With the help of Dream Curls, my hair is back in shape after years of straightening. I love my curls more than ever and so does my daughter because we’re hair twins.’ If it leaves your hair like Rochelle’s, we’re buying it in bulk! John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Daily Styling Spray, £5.99 You’d be forgiven for thinking Jessica Alba’s skincare would be out of your budget, but she’s a huge fan of Weleda. Jessica admits she uses the calendula face cream when her ‘skin is dry in the winter’, relying on its natural ingredients…

Carrot cake porridge Serves 2 Prep: 5 min Cook: 10 min Cost per serving: 66p • 60g jumbo rolled porridge oats • 150ml milk • 200ml water • 1 medium-sized carrot, peeled and finely grated • ½tsp cinnamon • ½tsp ground ginger • 1tbsp raisins • 1 baby carrot, sliced in half • Handful of toasted chopped walnuts • 1tsp honey • Dusting of cinnamon 1 Place the oats, milk, water, grated carrot, cinnamon, ground ginger and raisins in a medium-sized pan over a medium heat, bring to the boil and then reduce the temperature to a low heat. 2 Stir regularly and continue cooking for around 10-12 min, until the mixture is thick and creamy. 3 Pour the porridge into a bowl and decorate with the baby carrot halves,…

Coronation Street SALLY ON TRIAL… At her trial, Sally’s sure she’ll walk free… But her hopes fade when Duncan claims he fell for Sal and was coerced into defrauding the council. Desperate to help, Sophie finds a way of giving her mum an alibi, but has to buy time, so tells Sally to make out she’s ill to delay the trial. But Sally’s unable to make herself sick - so her new cellmate Abi comes up with a cunning plan… Emmerdale CAN A SURPRISE MEAL HELP? Ever since the death of baby Grace - Chas and Paddy have dealt with their grief differently. So, instead of bringing them closer, the tragedy has caused them to drift apart. When Paddy confides in Marlon about the growing distance between him and Chas,…

Stirring pots and pans on the hob this 28 January, I felt someone behind me. ‘Smells good, Mum!’ my son Jonathan, then 12, said, hungrily. He was supposed to be helping me to make pasta but, instead, he just wanted to taste everything. He hovered about when I turned on the oven to cook some chicken to go with it. ‘Haven’t you got some homework to do?’ I teased. ‘I’m hungry!’ he cried. As I laughed, with my back turned from the cooker, a horrible smell suddenly filled my nostrils. Smoke! Turning back to the hob, I thought some water from the pasta must’ve bubbled on to one of the rings. Except, I gasped at the sight of my cooker. Instead of its usual stainless steel finish, it was bright-orange.…

As I picked up the phone, my heart soared – it was my son! Sitting on the sofa, I was ready for a good catch-up, but then Ben, 25,dropped a bombshell. ‘Mum,’ he said. ‘I’m quitting uni. I’m going to be a rock star!’ My heart sank. Ben was at Canterbury, studying Media and Music Production as a mature student. He’d worked so hard to get there... ‘Please don’t drop out,’ I urged. ‘So few people make it big in music.’ ‘You’ll see, Mum,’ he chirped. ‘I’ll make loads of money and look after you.’ I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised. Music had always been Ben’s big love. I’d introduced him to everything, from classical to pop, when he was a kid. I’ll never forget the way his face…

A Saturday night in April 1990, and Nancy and Richard Langert had just returned from Nancy’s father’s birthday party to their home in Winnetka, Illinois. The birthday wasn’t the only thing the happily married couple had to celebrate. Back in January, Nancy, 25, had announced that she was expecting their first child telling friends, ‘we have everything going for us, this is going to be our year.’ Instead, the young couple fell victim to a brutal crime that shocked the peaceful community to its core. The police could find no real motive For, on that Saturday night, an armed intruder had broken into their townhouse and was lying in wait. Handcuffing Richard, 28, he then shot him in the back of the head with a .357 Magnum revolver, and then…

Mouth won’t shut Three times now, Q my mouth has jammed open and I've had to go to Casualty to free it. What's wrong? Miah, Nottingham A It sounds as if you dislocated your jaw joint. This can happen to anyone, but if it keeps happening the ligaments around the joint may have weakened. Exercises can help, otherwise you may need surgery. Talk to your GP. Sore toe Q My big toe's hurt for years and now I can hardly move it. Can it be treated? Carwen, Abergavenny A This is probably hallux rigidus, where your big toe joint hurts and stiffens, often as a result of injury or arthritis. Shoe inserts or cortisone injections can help, but a cure might mean an op to permanently fuse or replace the…

Desperate for Zayn to have the potentially life-saving treatment, Anwar and I knew we would have to find the money for private treatment. It was a lot of money. But we were willing to do anything to save our boy. Our families kindly loaned us some money just to hold the date of the surgery, while we launched a fundraising appeal for the bulk of the cost. We opened a crowdfunding page and posted Zayn’s story on social media. Incredibly, within just a week, we’d raised £53,000 to pay for the treatment. I’m not ashamed to admit I sobbed, overwhelmed by the generosity of the public. That Christmas, everything felt like a miracle We travelled to Amsterdam, where Zayn had surgery to remove the tumour on 20 November 2017. During…

It's more important than ever to conserve H2O - and these gadgets will help you do it! 1 Cut the excess Reduce your water use with the Waterpebble (£9.99, boastyle.com ), a gadget that monitors the length of your shower. Or just set a timer on your phone as a reminder - but don't take it in with you! Alternatively, use the water-saving Mira Nectar Eco Single Spray Showerhead (£35, mirashowers.co.uk ), but be aware that it's recommended for mixer showers only, not electric ones. 2 Grab freebies Get free water-saving devices, such as Save-A-Flush bags (worth £2), to reduce the water needed per flush, and tap inserts (worth £5), to regulate flow. Visit savewatersavemoney.co.uk  or ask your water company. 3 Every…

1 Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm, £1.65, has been reformulated to melt into lips, leaving them soft, smooth and protected from the elements. 2 Sanex Dermo Natural Dry Skin Shower Cream, £1.80, Morrisons, uses naturally nourishing ingredients, so it’s perfect for anyone who suffers from dry skin. 3 Dr Organic Shea Butter Skin Lotion, £8.29, Holland & Barrett, is non-greasy and absorbs quickly. Slather it on after showering and it will keep skin hydrated all day long.…

Moma Coconut and Chia Porridge, 60g, Sainsbury’s This vegan porridge pot is made using coconut milk powder, which gives a creamy texture and nutty flavour. Quaker Oat So Simple Original, 50g, Tesco A classic porridge with no added flavourings at all – porridge purists, this one’s for you! Perkier Golden Syrup Porridge, 60g, Sainsbury’s The golden syrup used to sweeten this hearty preprepared porridge will satisfy your sweet tooth without being too high in either calories or sugar.…

Melanie Wood, 45 Throwing my hands in the air, I stomped my feet to the sounds of a heavy-metal band. It was April 2013 and I was at a Goth weekend festival. As I spun round, I bumped into a man in a top hat and suit, dark make-up on his eyes, purple lips. ‘Hello!’ I said, as we began dancing together. ‘I’m Jay,’ he grinned. Outgoing, gorgeous, he ticked every box. For the rest of the weekend, we got close. I told him about my boys, 11 and 8. He confided in me about his past, his divorce. Even though we lived 150 miles apart, it didn’t stop us seeing each other. Back and forth every few weeks, I fell for Jay. Three months in, I noticed a scar…

Victoria Haddon, 52, Norwich My heart flipped as I looked down at the basket full of tiny balls of wriggling fur. It was March 2013, and I was visiting a litter of newborn beagle puppies. My husband James, 48, and our kids Ellie, 15, Max, 13, and Freddy, 10, were dog mad, just like me. And we reckoned it was high time our 5-year-old beagle, Reggie had a little friend. So when I’d heard from a friend about a litter of pups she’d seen, one with an injured leg, I’d come along to meet him myself. The tiniest puppy was hopping, one of his front legs tucked up in front of him. ‘He was born without bones in his front left leg,’ the breeder explained to us. The poor little…

Plus-size retailer Curvissa has partnered with Chat to offer readers an exclusive 20% discount online from 15 November until midnight 22 November 2018, at Curvissa.co.uk. Curvissa is a specialist retailer of plus-size fashion which caters for women who are sizes 14-32. The brand offers feelgood, high-quality products in a range of styles, from wide-fit shoes to all types of plus-size clothing, across an exclusive range of brands such as Sheego, Bonprix, Coast, Heine and Studio 8. To redeem your 20% discount, enter the code PPYP at the Curvissa online checkout at curvissa.co.uk . GREAT VALUE ACROSS A RANGE OF SIZES Curvissa T&Cs: The offer code is for single use only and cannot be used in conjunction with other offer codes. The offer code used must be valid…

It was summer 1995, and Caroline Byrne was living the dream. Working as a model in Sydney, Australia, the 24-year old was living with her boyfriend of three years, chauffeur and former gym instructor Gordon Wood, 35. Caroline remained close to her dad Tony, and brother Peter, who lived nearby. She was a hard worker, conscientious. So it was out of character when she didn’t turn up to work on 7 June 1995, and didn’t come home that evening, either. At midnight, Gordon Wood was allegedly spotted by fishermen on a Sydney cliff top called The Gap – frantically calling out for Caroline. Caroline’s white Suzuki was found parked in a nearby lane. In the early hours of 8 June, Gordon called Caroline’s dad and brother, and the three men…

The 2009 film True Crime: A Model Daughter - The Killing of Caroline Byrne stars Cariba Heine as Caroline , David Lyons as Gordon Wood and Garry McDonald as Caroline's father Tony Byrne. Documenting the story up until Gordon W ood's 2008 conviction for murder , it portrays him as a controlling-bully-turned-ruthless-killer. In the film, Caroline's dad tirelessly fights for answers about his daughter's death, just as he did in real life . But, while the film finishes with Caroline's family believing justice has been served over her death, it turns out real life has provided a twist no-one could have predicted. Within three years of the movie's release, Gordon Wood's conviction was quashed and he was a free man.…