Table of contents for 07-Apr-2016 in Chat

Louie giggled when he touched the dogs' velvety wrinkles My now hubby Neil, 35, and I have a lot of dogs… My mate Lynn, 41, from Liverpool, breeds pugs and, in October 2009, we got a black 9-week-old pug named Goose. Visiting Lynn again in May 2010, I met a litter of fawn pugs…and simply had to take Maisie, 9 weeks old. Then, as a wedding present that October, Lynn gave us Sassy, then 6, who’d needed rehoming. ‘Enough now!’ Neil grinned, and I agreed. But my mum Elaine, 59, also got pugs – Ana, now 4, and Bee, 3. What can I say? My family love pugs! I even set up an Instagram account, called it ‘pugsnkisses84’, though I didn’t post much. Then, in May 2014, I fell pregnant.…

Bumpy wrist Q I had a ganglion on my wrist, but it went away. It's back, so should I return to my GP? Steph, 31 A Up to you! A ganglion is a lump caused by a cyst around a tendon. It's harmless and may disappear on its own if you hit or squeeze it hard. If it's troublesome, it can be injected or surgically removed, though might still come back. Leaky worries Q I leak urine, I have to change three times a day and wake with wet sheets every morning. I can't afford pads and my doctor can't help… Liz, 94 A See your GP again and explain how this affects you. It's a common problem which can be helped by pelvic exercises and drugs, depending on the…

Co-Op Truly Irresistible Chicken And Ham Hock Pie, 400g, £3.79 This is like cottage pie but with chicken and ham! We liked the mustard mash on top and the meat in a creamy sauce. Asda Chosen By You Pub Classics Chicken & Smoked Pulled Ham Pies, 2 x 402g, £2.28 Two pies, each more than big enough to satisfy any appetite. The pastry puffs up well and hides a tasty filling. Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Chicken & Ham Shortcrust Pastry Pie, 600g, £3 This would easily cut into four. It has melt-in-the-mouth shortcrust pastry and a delicious, creamy filling. NEW Yeo Valley Bio Live, £2 for pack of four Pots of thick, organic fruit yogurt with no added refined sugar. The tempting flavours include Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Rhubarb, Mango, Peach…

Timeless Truth Eye Rejuvenating Bio Cellulose Eye Mask, £3.70, ttmasks.co.uk Works to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Top tip: Take care of the skin under your eyes. Eye Treat Spa by Masque Bar Dark Circle Reducer Minimizing Patches, £9.99 for 5, Boots These contain vitamins to banish dark circles and even out skintone. Top tip: Great for hiding a hangover! DHC Revitalizing Moisture Strips for Eyes, £7.95 for 6, www. escentual. com Gives delicate skin under your eyes a big boost of moisture for a fresher face. Top tip: Foundation lasts longer on more moisturised skin. Anatomicals Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up Under Eye Patches, £6 for 3, ASOS Enriched with moisturiser and collagen to get rid of puffiness! Top tip:…

I dressed up… and people thought I was the real thing! Looking in the mirror, Susan Boyle stared back at me. ‘You’re the spitting image,’ a mate laughed. It was Halloween 2009, and I’d dressed up as the Scottish songstress after her Britains Got Talent audition propelled her to worldwide fame. Well, I had the right figure for it! I’d been slim as a kid, 10st as a teen. But in my early 20s I’d enjoyed boozy nights out and often knocked back 15 vodka and full-fat colas. On the way home, I’d scoff kebab and chips, next day it’d be hangover-curing toast and pizza. At 25, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), so I piled on even more weight. I’d try fad diets, lose 20lb, before piling…

The quiet, ordinary life of Gloria Ramirez was over. Pronounced dead at 8.50pm on Friday 19 February 1994, her two kids and fiance would have to carry on without her. At just 31, she’d died of late-stage cervical cancer. Just 35 minutes before, she’d been admitted into A&E at Riverside General Hospital, near Los Angeles. Earlier that evening, her heartbeat had become irregular, she’d had difficulty breathing, was confused, upset. Drugs to regulate her heartbeat failed. Gloria needed the defibrillator. Staff at the hospital had defibrillated countless patients. But there was something different about Gloria. Her body was covered in an iridescent, oily sheen. And she was giving off a fruity, garlicky odour when she breathed. The attending nurse, Susan Kane, drew a blood sample from Gloria’s arm. ‘Who popped…

What I loved Finding twenty euros stuffed in an old handbag! Magnifique! That's a couple of glasses of fizz at least... What hacked me off A trip to the dentist. Why do I always come out feeling like I've been told off? (Oh yeah, 'cos I usually have been...) What made me laugh Three mates all sweating over significant birthdays this year. You know, the ones that end in a nought. If ever there was a pointless anxiety, it's over age! It just takes the wisdom of a lot of years to know it... Hope you're celebrating something this week!…

I had so much I needed to buy – baby clothes, a car seat, toys, dummies, bottles. ‘I can’t wait to be a mum,’ I said to my fiance Pete, 28. I was 18 weeks pregnant with our first baby – a boy. Beyond excited, it was all we talked about. Two weeks later, in May 2012, we went for a scan at Scunthorpe General Hospital – but our smiles faded when a consultant came to speak to us… ‘Something’s wrong, isn’t it?’ I asked nervously. He explained our baby was suffering from a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). ‘It means the diaphragm hasn’t developed properly,’ he said. It was causing our baby’s abdominal organs to protrude. ‘I’m afraid it’s unlikely he’ll survive,’ he warned us. We were offered a termination,…

A few of her friends thought Hannah was putting it on As my daughter Hannah, then 2, played happily with her toys, she heaved suddenly. ‘Not again,’ I sighed. Before I could react, Hannah was sick all over the carpet. It’s not unusual for littl’uns to throw up after an upset tummy. But Hannah had been born with vacterl association, a disorder affecting many body systems, and would vomit several times a day. The condition also caused her right arm to be shorter than her left, she had a deformed thumb and index finger, and she’d also been born with a hole in her heart. Plus the condition caused kidney and bowel problems, so I put her sickness down to that. But as Hannah got older, the vomiting got worse.…

Arriving home from school, my son Daniel looked happy. ‘How was school today?’ I asked. ‘Kids were picking on me because of my port,’ he said, matter-of-factly. ‘But I told them I’m like Iron Man and they stopped.’ I was so proud of my little boy. He’d had a lot to deal with… You see, his ‘port’ was a portacath – a metal device that went into the artery near the heart – so antibiotics and steroids could easily be administered… My hubby Nick, 33, and I had been told our little lad had cystic fibrosis when I was 20 weeks pregnant with him. We’d been nervous, but Daniel had taken everything in his stride from day one. He did daily physio to help clear his lungs and he went…

We all love gathering around the table to share a meal together. It’s when we catch up with each other as a family and enjoy swapping stories or sharing a joke. It’s also a great time to teach the kids about healthy eating and drinking habits, reminding them about the importance of having their five fruit and vegetables a day, and drinking water. Water is one of the most natural drinks children can have and it hydrates without giving them extra calories. It’s also vital in helping the body carry out many of its essential functions, such as carrying nutrients around the body, getting rid of waste products, as well as regulating our temperature.** Six to eight glasses of fluid*** a day are recommended, but kids often forget to drink.…

1 Centres of learning You can't go far in Cambridge without stumbling across one of its 31 beautiful colleges. Kings, Christ's and Trinity are all must-sees. You can take a look around most of them for free and even stay in some, outside of term time, for a real student experience. 2 Take pole position Go punting on the River Cam. You can either sit back and enjoy the views as part of a tour group, or hire your own punt if you're feeling brave! 3 Listen to the music Visit King's College Chapel and listen to one of the daily choral services. The Gothic building is truly stunning and the choir (which is made up of current students) is amazing. 4 Get on your bike! With 52 per cent…

You can even earn cashback by referring friends to Quidco When I upgraded my phone, I got £120 back! 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, I decided to give it a go and, once I’d got myself 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.…

‘l’m afraid.` That’s what she’d said. And I couldn’t get the words out of my head. I was afraid, too. Afraid of seeing her in pain. Of seeing her die. My daughter Foteini was only 6 – too young for this. ‘You have nothing to be afraid about,’ I said. I so wished that were true. But what else could I say? ‘Tomorrow, it’s the operation,’ I explained. ‘Daddy and I will be here, waiting, when you wake up. And so will Sofia.’ Foteini’s eyes lit up. ‘Can me and Sofia sing you one of the songs we learned at school?’ she asked. ‘You can sing me anything you like,’ I said, hugging her. My twin girls Foteini and Sofia were always singing – songs they’d done at school or…

At the kitchen table, Dad was poring over the papers, picking out the horses he reckoned were winners. ‘It’s never going to make you a millionaire!’ I teased. ‘You never know, though, pet,’ he laughed. My dad Steve Phillips, 54, was an odd-job man and gardener. He was well-liked locally, stopping to talk to anyone when he went off on walks with his beloved Staffie Beaut. As well as betting on the horses, Dad loved to fish, and was a regular down his local. But, above all else, he was a family man. There were six of us kids – me, Ashley, 25, Barry, 23, Luke, 21, Craig, 19, Chloe, 16. There was also my mum Tina’s daughter Shannon, 11, from another relationship. Mum and Dad had split in 2003,…

Gradually, Mum lost her confidence. It was so sad to see Letting myself in through my mum Jackie’s back door, I flicked on the kettle and took off my coat. ‘Only me, Mum!’ I called. ‘I’ll make you a cup of tea.’ ‘Oh, I’ve already got one,’ Mum replied from the living room. ‘Sharon’s made it.’ Just the mention of that woman’s name made me bristle. And, when I popped my head into the living room, I spotted Sharon Doherty reclining in an armchair, her mouth full of biscuits. ‘Oh, you’re here again,’ I said, forcing a smile. It wasn’t that I particularly disliked Mum’s friend – she was very friendly and bubbly. But she seemed to be taking over completely. These days, every time I called at Mum’s house,…

1 People ask where you come from and you're never really sure whether to say southeast London or Kent. 2 You've been told countless times that David Bowie created his alter-ego Ziggy Stardust when he lived in Beckenham and drank in the Three Tuns. Floral tributes were placed there after his death. 3 All your sausages came from the local Kennedy's butchers in the High Street. 4 Girls all shopped for their clothes in Clobber. 5 The News Shopper contained all the news you ever needed to read. 6 It really bugged you that if you ever wanted to go ice-skating, your parents had to give you a lift to Streatham. 7 There was huge excitement when The Glades shopping centre first opened its doors in…

I was reliant on others. I couldn't even wipe away my own tears In 1998, the Spice Girls were the biggest band in the world. And, at 9 years old, I was their number-one fan. So, on 7 March that year, when I was given my pocket money, I couldn’t wait to get to the shops to buy a Spice Girls lolly. See, I was collecting the stickers that came with them. But I never made it to the shops… As I went to cross the road, I was hit by a car. The last thing I remember was flying into the air. When I came round, I was in a hospital, my anxious parents Ritva and Jukka by my side. I’d a tube down my throat, hooking me to…

Star singalong Yes! I agree with Max Nottingham that we should bring back the pub singalong ( We hear you , 18 Feb issue). For years, I was a piano player at a local pub. In 1991, I won the Russ Conway Award for Bristol's Pub Pianist of the Year - here I am, receiving it, with Mr Conway on the keys. He did a great version of Side Saddle for the crowd! I still tinkle the ivories for my own enjoyment, but miss those fun days where everyone joined in! Gwenn Caswell, Bristol Brave woman can’t even begin to imagine the I excruciating pain Layla Skalli endured ( I wanted to die , 18 Feb issue). It’s amazing that she survived, considering the…

Friends left flowers, wrote notes in the sand… I loved watching my eldest daughter Caitlin, 15, blossom into a stunning young woman with a heart of gold. A typical teenage girl, it was all about hair extensions, false eyelashes and selfies! She was bright, too, and a doting big sis to my youngest Jessica, 12. Her stepdad Ashley and I were so proud. This 16 January was a wintry Saturday – cold, windy, dreary. Jessica went to her dad’s, I went shopping, while Caitlin was with mates. At 5.35pm, Caitlin phoned my mobile. ‘We’re getting the train to the coast,’ she said. ‘Won’t be long. Love you.’ I wasn’t worried. It was a short train journey and, besides, Caitlin was mature, careful and I trusted her. I went for a…

Aries 21 March - 20 April When you first get the news, you’re shocked. Then you realise it’s not as bad as you thought. Later, you see certain advantages you hadn’t noticed. And, if you’re prepared to negotiate a little, you can even make a profit out of it! Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May Recent weeks have seen a surge of good fortune, but that’s drawing to an end now. It doesn’t mean everything’s going to go wrong, just that making things happen will be easier this week than next. Use your chance while you can. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June Ever wondered how a busy waiter can keep track of every order, get meals to…

You may recognise me from a previous issue of Chat magazine. It was only last year that I was smiling from the pages, holding my first, big £1,250 cheque. But you might not recognise my gorgeous pooch Duke, though. Because he’s got a whole lot bigger since then! Duke was just a cute little puppy when I won that first jackpot on the 90-ball bingo in Cloud on a1p ticket. My hubby Andy, 44, and I had recently bought him from a local breeder. Although it was Duke who’d picked us in the end, gazing up at us with big, puppy-dog eyes. Our daughter, 12, son, 23, and grandson, 4, were soon smitten, too. But Duke kept us very busy! We had to get up three times a night when…

1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4 and bake 1kg whole Maris Piper potatoes for 50 min. 2 Chop 1 onion and 2 cloves garlic. Heat 2tbsp oil and cook for 1-2 min. 3 Chop ½ red and ½ green pepper, ½ courgette and ½ aubergine. Add to pan and cook for 2 min. Add 4 skinned, chopped tomatoes, 2tbsp tomato puree and 1tsp dried thyme. Cook for 5-8 min and remove from heat. 4 Scoop flesh from potatoes, mash and beat in 90g garlic-and-herb soft cheese, 2 egg yolks, 20g grated Parmesan, 350g plain flour and seasoning to form a dough - you may not need all the flour. Roll into a sausage shape, and cut into 2.5cm gnocchi. 5 Drop batches of 6-7 gnocchi into a pan of salted,…

BUMPER ’N’ GRIND German motorist Erik Roschetsky was left fuming when a couple had sex on his motor, costing him over £2,000 to repair the damage. He’s offered a £790 reward to find the pair - they must’ve been quite bonkers… SILLY BURGER Londoner Simon Smith, 33, recently relished the chance to change his name via deed poll...to Bacon Double Cheeseburger! ‘A name is the least important part of your personality,’ says Mr Cheeseburger. CUT ABOVE! To celebrate International Sword Swallowers Day, daredevil Johnny Strange tackled a 2ft number! To prepare, he apparently ate a portion of his gran’s lasagne to stretch his tum, allowing just enough room for the blade. He’s one sharp dude! DOGGY STYLE In the Far East, some pooch lovers like far-out style! The ‘cube cut’…