Table of contents for 31-Mar-2016 in Chat

Back in 2012, when I was pregnant with our first child Alice, my hubby Tom, 31, said he’d read about people eating the placenta after the baby is born. ‘It’s full of nutrients, seems a waste to chuck it away,’ he said. It sounded a bit grim, but as I read more, I saw the benefits. After Alice was born at Leighton Hospital, Tom asked the midwife if he could have the placenta. ‘I don’t see why not,’ she said. So she packed it up for us. Thing is… Tom hadn’t decided what he wanted to do with it. It sat in our fridge for days, until my best pal Cat was over at ours to meet Alice for the first time. ‘I’m going to blend the placenta and drink…

Wine withdrawal Q I've drunk a bottle of wine a day for years, but now I want to stop. Will I have withdrawal symptoms? Sarah, 75 A A bottle of wine contains around nine alcohol units, so that's 63 units a week - the recommended maximum is 14. You might escape withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, shakes and poor sleep, but if they do occur, ask your GP for medication or specialist help. Cancer scare Q There's a tangerine-sized lump on the side of my face, below my ear. It's been growing for months and I'm scared it's cancer. Tara, 53 A Could be a growth in your parotid gland - one of the glands that makes saliva - called an adenoma. This isn't cancer but could turn cancerous, so…

Tesco Chocolate Flavoured Milk, 1 litre, £1.20 If you want a chocolate hit but prefer a lighter drink, this is for you. Best icy cold. Morrisons Chocolate Flavoured Fresh Milk, 1 litre, £1 Tastes like real choc! Pour over your breakfast cereal, or use it to make bread-and-butter pud. Asda Cowbelle Shudda Chocolate Milkshake, 471ml, 59p Thick, rich, creamy and a deep-choc flavour - so delicious, we could drink a whole bottle on our own. Share? We don't think so! NEW Goldfish Brand Chinese Curry Sauce, £2.40, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's Mix with water for a smooth, velvety sauce, then add your fave meat and veg for a tasty Chinese curry.…

Huntley had approached Holly's father to express his sympathy He'd been previously investigated for nine sex offences The horrific murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both 10, shocked the nation and triggered a police revolution. The public had tuned in to the emotional press conferences held by the families of the missing girls, who’d tearfully begged for their daughters’ safe return. The girls’ idol, David Beckham, had even made a televised appeal. Best friends Holly and Jessica had been at a family barbecue at Holly’s house on 4 August 2002. They’d posed for a picture, smiling away in matching Manchester United shirts, dark trousers and trainers. Later, at 8.30pm, Holly’s parents went to check on the girls, who they thought were upstairs, playing. Only, they weren’t. On hearing they…

Catwoman In February 1998, Kathleen Marshall's decomposing body was found in her vet's clinic in Australia. She had more than 50 stab wounds to her face, head, arms, chest and abdomen. Kathleen, dubbed Catwoman by the media, was president of the Cat Protection Society of Queensland. Andrew Fitzherbert was the prime suspect, due to ‘five drops of blood' at the scene. Fitzherbert didn't have a direct link to Kathleen, but he was friends with Virginia Houston - a rival to Kathleen at the Cat Protection Society. At trial in 1999, he was the first Australian man to be convicted of murder based solely on DNA evidence. No murder weapon was found, there were no witnesses, and he had no motive. Released on parole after 14 years, he's still trying to…

Winged crusader Texan Kevin Butler was a massive fan of basketball player Larry Bird. He'd even named his cockatoo after him. When Kevin's home was broken into and he was murdered, loyal Bird tried to fight off the intruders, but was sadly killed in the process. One of the perpetrators, Daniel Torres, denied any involvement, but was convicted when DNA recovered from Bird's beak conclusively linked to him. Torres received a life prison sentence. Doggy DNA In 1998, officers discovered the bodies of Raquel Rivera, 20, Jay Johnson, 22, and their pitbull-Labrador cross Chief, after a break-in at their Seattle home. The two accused, Ken Leuluaialii and George Tuilefano, were convicted on landmark evidence - their clothing bore DNA matching Chief's. The prosecutor said, ‘The irony will be that the…

The Ripper Squad had questionedSutcliffe For five years, a savage, merciless killer had terrorised Y orkshire. Dubbed the Yorkshire Ripper, he’d first struck in October 1975. By November 1980, the murdered, mutilated bodies of 13 women – 11 prostitutes and two students – had been found across Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Halifax and Huddersfield. Felled with a hammer blow from behind, stabbed, and sexually assaulted as they la y dying. Seven further victims survived violent attac ks. But despite police building a profile of the killer , he remained at large . Lorry driver P eter Sutc liffe was one of many interviewed by Ripper Squad detectives . Then, at 10.30pm on 2 January 1981, two Sheffield police officers spotted a man and a well-known prostitute parked up near the city’s…

Essence Lipliner in Cute Pink, £1, Wilko Lovely soft pencil that's full of pigment. Top tip: Make sure your liner is sharp before you use it. Barry M Lip Liner in Shade 2 Dark Pink, £2.99, Superdrug The velvety texture makes it easy to be precise. Top tip: Start by drawing an X-shape on your cupid's bow to work as a marker. MUA Intense Colour Lip Liner in Pink Me Up, £1, Superdrug Gives a strong colour and comes with a handy sharpener - not bad for a quid! Top tip: Apply more pressure for an intense line. Rimmel London Exaggerate Lip Liner in You're All Mine, £3.99, Boots The wider nib makes this easy to use, and it winds up, so no need to sharpen. Top tip: Fill in…

Bracken had been staring at us with sad, guilty eyes the whole time… Me and my husband Iain, 57, have always been dog lovers. We’ve owned pooches on and off for 20 years. Three years ago, we decided to get a golden retriever. The pair of us loved the gentle nature of the breed. We named ours Willow. Two years on, we got another mutt – Bracken. Iain and I loved to watch our two dogs run around the garden, and take them for walks in the countryside near our home. On 6 January, Iain was on the Internet downstairs and I was having a long soak in the bath, reading a book. We had plans for a leisurely lunch, then a trip into town for a spot of shopping.…

What I loved Discovering that a big, fat teaspoonful of crunchy peanut butter stirred into porridge is, well…just try it! (And, cos I'm just a bit weird, add a sprinkle of black pepper. Double yum!) What hacked me off Finally being persuaded that I probably don't ever need to buy another pair of shoes… What made me laugh Seeing your hilarious comments on www.lifedeathprizes.com's Facebook page. You're loving all the brilliant posts on the site. Dogs just don’t want to bath and 7 things you know when you have cats are getting lots of ‘Likes' and ‘Shares'. Hope everyone likes you this week!…

We broke our hearts crying together. It'd be such a big fight The sun was beating down, and clear water stretched as far as my partner Richard and I could see. We both smiled, watching our daughter Erin, 5, running along the beach. It was a lovely scene. But I noticed something wasn’t right… ‘Erin’s dragging her right leg,’ I said to Richard, 50. It was May 2012, and we were on holiday in Cape Verde, in the African Caribbean. Erin, now 9, was fine in herself, but there was definitely something up with her leg. ‘My knee hurts sometimes,’ she told us. Back home in Preston, we visited the GP, who couldn’t find anything wrong. On our next visit, he said it was flat feet. But my instincts told…

Luckily she had no signs of brain damage Cradling my newborn baby Darcey, I couldn’t get her to feed. She was only 2 days old and she’d been irritable all day. She’d been making odd, grunting noises, too. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong,’ I said to my partner David, 27. I phoned my midwife, and she came to see Darcey. ‘I’m sure she’s fine, but let’s get her to hospital to be sure,’ she said. I wasn’t worried – it didn’t sound serious. But within 10 minutes of arriving at West Suffolk Hospital, Darcey stopped breathing. ‘My baby!’ I screamed. Doctors resuscitated her and she was transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for tests. ‘It’s bacterial meningitis,’ a consultant finally confirmed. An infection in the membranes around the brain and spinal cord.…

DIY colour telly In 1962, Sweden's only TV channel pulled a prank by announcing that B&W televisions could be turned to colour. All viewers needed was a pair of nylon tights. A ‘technical expert' explained that placing tights over TV sets would cause the light to bend and project the image in colour. Thousands fell for the hoax, rushing around their homes to find hosiery to fit over their telly sets. Swiss spaghetti trees In April 1957, Panorama reported on a spaghetti harvest in Switzerland. Thanks to a mild winter, they said Swiss farmers had a bumper pasta crop. They showed farmers pulling the stuff from trees. Spaghetti was a novelty in British kitchens back then. And many viewers got in touch to find out how they could grow a…

DNA is taken from human cells Chat CRIME FACTS The US has 76 per cent of the world’s total serial killers. And England has 28 per cent of Europe’s. Today, the TV schedules are filled with crime dramas showing white-coated forensic experts searching for DNA evidence. We know a blood stain or single hair found at a crime scene can identify the perpetrator. Everyone’s now known to have a unique DNA code, even identical twins. Yet, 30 years ago, the idea we’d be able to pinpoint an individual from a trace of sweat or blood was implausible. Who cracked the code? On 10 September 1984, a geneticist at the University of Leicester, Professor Alec Jeffreys, was running tests to trace genes in family groups. He’d hit on a fragment of…

DNA from the poo on Stroud's shoes was an exact match CHAT CRIME FACTS • Up to 55 per cent of suspects confess during interrogation. • As of 30 June 2015, 56 prisoners in England and Wales were serving whole-life tariffs. On 14 September 2000, a gruesome discovery was made inside a barn in Lakeville, Indiana. Three construction workers – Wayne Shumaker, 58, Corby Myers, 30, and Lynn Ganger, 54 – were found executed. Their hands had been tied behind their backs, and they’d been shot in the head. The men had been building a hayloft at the home of a family called Sears. Police concluded the workers must’ve stumbled across a burglary. Several men and a teenage girl, Charity Lynn Payne, 18, were arrested in connection with the brutal…

Deadly ambition… Former soldier Colin Ireland had lost his job, was searching for a purpose in life. So in 1993, he decided to become a serial killer. Ireland decided what he saw as the ‘casual affair’ lifestyle led by some of London’s gay community made them easy targets. That March, Ireland packed ropes and handcuffs in a rucksack. Posing as a homosexual in a gay pub in Fulham, he went back to theatre director Peter Walker’s London flat. Once there, Ireland tortured and killed Peter. Two days on, he tipped off The Sun , and police found Peter’s naked body tied to his bed with leather belts. In May, Ireland returned to the Fulham pub for his second victim. Six days later, he went back for a third. Ireland had…

1 Cook 300g wholewheat penne pasta in boiling water for 11-13 min until tender, then drain. 2 Meanwhile, heat 1tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan and fry 200g diced, smoked back bacon for 2 min, then add 3 sliced leeks and 1 sliced red pepper, and fry for 3-4 min more. 3 Add 50g roughly chopped walnuts, 200ml half-fat creme fraiche, zest and juice of a lemon, 100g spinach and 100ml water and heat until spinach wilts. 4 Stir in pasta and heat through for 1-2 min. Serves: 4 Cost per head: £1.31 LIFE! DEATH! PRIZES! For more foodie bargains, visit www.lifedeathprizes.com and click on ‘best buys’…

The only thing I could find to fit was a size-32 pair of jeans Sitting in the doctor’s surgery, I couldn’t believe I’d let it get this far… ‘I’d recommend a gastric bypass,’ he was saying. But, at 27st and wearing a size-32, I’d have to lose some weight before I could have the operation. Growing up, I didn’t pay much attention to my weight. I wore a size-16 and was happy with my looks. But, moving in with my bloke Lee, 42, we started enjoying Chinese takeaways in front of the telly. The pounds began to pile on me, while Lee stayed slim. In April 1992, I found out I was pregnant with my first child Hayley. ‘Eating for two!’ I’d say cheerily, patting my bulging belly. I just…

Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min 3 Pink Lady applesJuice of 1 lemon250g plain flour1tsp baking powder2tbsp cinnamon 4 eggs, separated300g ricotta190ml milk 2tsp butter100g low-fat plain yogurt,to serve2 tbsp honey, to serve 1 Heat a griddle pan on a high heat. Meanwhile, halve and core apples. Cut into wedges and cover in lemon juice. Place onto griddle and cook until griddle-marked and softened slightly. 2 Sieve flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a large mixing bowl. Add egg yolks and ricotta, and stir in milk. 3 In another bowl, whisk egg whites to soft peaks, then fold into ricotta mixture. 4 Heat a non\stick frying pan on a medium/high heat and add butter. Ladle 2tbsp of mix into pan and cook until golden-brown on one side, then flip and…

Roll with it Every time my washing machine or fridge-freezer breaks down, I've found it almost impossible to get at the appliance without damaging the floor. It's worse with white goods like ovens or fridges, which are built so tightly into kitchen units, they're impossible to pull out! It would be so helpful if manufacturers of these heavy items added wheels. That way, it would be easy to shift them for repair, removal or simply cleaning… Are there any Chat readers out there with tips regarding this problem? Maria Connelly, Bellshill You win some, you lose some… After a couple of months of monetary bad luck, including some large, unexpected bills, I was thrilled to find I’d won £70 on the Lottery. Not a fortune, I know, but it cheered…

Aries 21 March - 20 April Life not going anywhere? That’s because the planetary brakes have been on. This week they’re off, so you’ll have no choice but to move forwards! So, gentle on the gas, both hands on the wheel and don’t bump into anything... Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May When you were little, did you get told not to eat too much ice cream at once in case you got ill? Did that stop you? Probably not. The same thing applies in a love affair. You want it all at once, but take it slowly to avoid heartache. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June If you ask a favour early in the week, the response…

I wanted Mandy to experience the joy she'd given to me Mandy cut the cord and cradled her daughter for the first time Parents would do anything for their kids. But my daughter Mandy, 32, has always been there for me, too. Having her at 19, it felt like we grew up together. More like best friends than mother and daughter. When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November 2009, Mandy and my hubby, her stepdad Tom, 61, were the first to know. ‘I’m here for you,’ Mandy assured me. Thankfully, taking medication halted my symptoms. Soon, it was Mandy going through a rough time. She and her hubby Jamie Stephens, 42, had been trying to conceive for a while. After marrying in July 2013, they sought fertility advice.…

I thought Tony would be a fab dad. But I was wrong. He barely changed a nappy Anthony Le-Surf was easy to fall for. He ticked all the boxes! Handsome, kind, caring… He was a great dad to his two young boys from a previous relationship. ‘I’ve always wanted a little girl,’ he admitted. Big softie. It was 2001, and a mate’d introduced me to Tony, about 30, when they’d visited the bar where I worked. After a whirlwind romance, we got our own place in Hayes, Middlesex. Fast-forward to March 2003. Tony’s dream came true when I had our daughter Kayleigh. ‘She’s perfect,’ I gushed. I thought Tony would be a fab dad. But I was wrong. He barely changed a nappy, left all the night feeds to me.…

I felt warm liquid running down my face… It was my blood As my mates and I clinked our glasses of fizz, I made a toast. ‘Here’s to a good night,’ I beamed. ‘Cheers!’ my pals Tiff, Sophie and Jordan sang in unison. It was 3 April last year – Good Friday – and we were celebrating one of the girls’ birthdays. I’m a chef, and I’d been so busy with work, I was looking forward to a night out with the girls. We started with a few drinks in a local bar. Then, later on, we headed to our favourite nightclub, Perdu, where we clattered onto the dance floor in our heels and boogied away. By 1am, my feet were aching. ‘Time to go home,’ I smiled, feeling exhausted.…

Those few romantic days became nothing more than a fond memory To think it took nearly two decades to be reunited.Sheer luck! Iwasn’t looking to meet anyone. In fact, I was really far too busy with work to be thinking about men. Aged 18, I was doing a hairdressing apprenticeship at a local salon in Surrey. Then, one day in 1981, I bumped into a tall, dark-haired man on my lunch break. ‘Alright, gorgeous,’ he winked. ‘Where are the best pubs around here?’ I told him a few good spots. ‘So when are you taking me out?’ he grinned. How cheeky can you get?! But I couldn’t resist his charm. His name was Charlie and he was 29. I liked the idea of a more mature man, so I agreed…

1912 Bite the bullet Gun barrels leave identifying grooves on spent bullets - a key discovery in reliable evidence-gathering. 1960s Voice recordings as evidence Voiceprints are first used in investigations and as evidence, from answer-phone messages and tape recordings. 1967 National data collection The FBI establishes the National Crime Information Centre - a computerised national filing system on wanted people, stolen vehicles, weapons, etc. 1984 DNA matching A massive breakthrough comes with the development of DNAfingerprinting techniques by Sir Alec Jeffreys. Three years later, Jeffreys develops the first DNA profile. 1995 UK DNA database The UK National Criminal Intelligence DNA Database is established to store profiles of men and women convicted of crimes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 2007 Footwear Intelligence Technology Britain develops an online footwear coding and…

Nilsen kept the bodies for months By October 1981, job-centre worker Dennis Nilsen had got really good at killing. And getting away with it. His murder spree began in the winter of 1978. Within three years, he’d butchered around 12 men in his house, 195 Melrose Avenue, northwest London. He preyed on young, homeless, gay men and rent boys whom he didn’t think would be missed, luring them to his home with the promise of food or alcohol. After strangling and drowning his victims, he’d keep their bodies in his home for months. He later admitted having sex with the corpses, talking to them, watching telly lying beside them. When the smell got too much, he’d chop them up and burn them on a bonfire in his back garden. On…

1 McDonald’s is the local hangout if you’re a teenager. Or the Odeon. (We know how to live!) 2 Light Water Valley! Growing up, we all thought this was the best theme park in the country. Who needs Alton Towers when you've got The Ultimate, The Rat and those awesome skateboards?! 3 We have a love/hate relationship with The Valley Gardens. It’s 4 Bettys Tea Room Yes, of course we it - we're super-proud be the afternoon tea capital of Britain But visit the one in centre of town? Are you crazy? It's rammed full of tourists! great in summer, chav central at night. (Although we call chavs ‘scallies’.) 5 And getting drunk in The Valley Gardens in your teens is a rite of passage. So is snogging a squaddie…

A sneeze could take a layer of skin off her tongue Another contraction hit, moments after the last. Panting through the pain, I let the 999 operator’s words sink in. ‘You’re not going to make it to the hospital,’ she said. Paramedics were on their way. Panicking, my hubby Andy, 42, laid down towels, got hot water. Everything was happening so fast – I’d had a long labour with our eldest, Emily, then 3. Minutes after two paramedics dashed in, I gave birth to Isla on the bathroom floor. Relief! Only, as I cradled her, I saw something was terribly wrong. Her skin was red-raw, blistering, bleeding. In some places, she had no skin at all. ‘They look like burns,’ I gasped, worried. Poor Isla was screaming incessantly, too. She…

1 Whizz up the CN Tower Super-fast lifts whisk you to the observation platform of the 553m (1,814ft) tall CN Tower in just 58 seconds! Explore the glass floor or - if you're brave - take the hands-free, open-air Edge Walk 116 storeys up! 2 Shoe envy Footwear fanciers must visit the Bata Shoe Museum. It's a unique experience, with hundreds of pairs of historical shoes as well as 20th-century celeb ones to lust over. 3 Ice-hockey history Visit the Hockey Hall of Fame. Along with the largest collection of ice-hockey memorabilia in the world, see how you measure up by going one-on-one against life-size, animated versions of today's greatest goalies and shooters. 4 Marvel at Niagara Falls It's well worth the 1½-hr road trip to get up close and…

Did it work? She looks a bit unsure, but we can safely say that my 6-month-old daughter Mia has mastered her first selfie! Lisa Adams, Halesowen Crumbs! My daughter Arabella, 1, thought the bread we brought to the park was too tasty for the ducks. So she ate it all herself! Samantha Bateman, Grimsby Nightynight! Aww! My sweet 3-year-old son Josh getting ready for bed like a good boy, without complaint! Melanie Boyle, North Shields…

For the first time, I feel beautiful. No hair? Don't care! It started when I was 7. As I brushed my hair, hundreds of strands floated to the floor. After that, my locks began falling out thick and fast. Before I knew it, I was completely bald. My mum Pat took me to a specialist. ‘It’s alopecia,’ we were told. A type of hair loss thought to be triggered by stress. ‘It’s unlikely your hair will grow back,’ the specialist said. I was distraught. I knew what’d caused it, too… I was being bullied at school. The other kids picked on me for being quiet, called me cruel names. It’d made me really anxious. And now they’d tease me even more. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll still look pretty,’ Mum promised me.…

SUPER SAVER… Some say cheapskate, some say genius! Teenager Jordon Cox, once nicknamed the ‘Coupon Kid’ for his money-saving skills, found it was cheaper for him to travel from Sheffield to his home in Shenfield, Essex, flying by budget airline – via Berlin! It cost him almost £8 less than the train equivalent… A CUT ABOVE! At 105, Anthony Mancinelli, from New York, is the world’s oldest barber. Incredibly, he still works five days a week and, as for his birthday plans this year..? ‘Come to work!’ he quipped. He’s clearly still at the cutting edge! DIALHARD Exasperated Surrey mum Louise Voss spent so long listening to a Coldplay song on loop while on hold to a phone company’s customer services, she penned a 3,700-word play about the ‘torture’ as…