Table of contents for 16-Feb-2017 in Chat

IPCC Commissioner Cindy Butts says, ‘It is important we establish whether the police response to the deaths of all four men was thorough and appropriate… including whether discrimination played any part in actions and decisions. As his trial established, Port was known to the police in connection to the death of Mr Walgate. We now know that, tragically, three more young men went on to lose their lives. Our investigators are continuing to work hard to scrutinise the police response to the tragic deaths of these four young men.'…

Nesquik Strawberry, 300g, £2.03 You need to add quite a lot of this to get a decent fruit flavour, but be warned: it gets sweeter the more you add. Tastes just like strawberry ice cream! Quick Milk Magic Sipper Strawberry Flavour, five straws, 60p Just pour into a glass of milk and suck up. Not a very strong flavour, but kids will love these and it's a great way to get them to drink more milk! Crusha Strawberry Milkshake Mix, 500ml, £1.80 It's hard to beat this for an authentic strawberry flavour. Just add seven parts milk to one part syrup to turn milk a vivid pink! NEW Batchelors High Protein Pots, £1.99 This range of microwavable lunch pots is filling, warming and nutritious. Quick and easy, they come in…

Our girls had beautiful jackets with little pockets for the rings I remember the moment my life changed forever – the first time I held a chicken! My friend Sarah had rescued some hens, and I’d gone round to visit. As one of them cuddled up to me on my lap, my heart melted. ‘I didn’t know chickens were so friendly!’ I grinned. She explained that The British Hen Welfare Trust charity worked with farmers to rescue chickens at the end of their egg-laying lives, and find them loving homes. I was sold on the idea! Ky, my boyfriend, was an animal lover, too, and soon we were adopting hens of our own – Alice, Eve and Fhenton – who lived in a coop in the garden. We fell totally…

He started to complain of chest pains and dizzy spells My boyfriend Lee peered around the living-room door, looking sheepish. ‘What are you playing at?’ I giggled. It was Christmas Day 2015. Lee had just given me a shoe box before dashing out of the room. Inside was a scrap of paper. Will you marry me? it read. Next to it, a beautiful ring. ‘Yes!’ I squealed, dashing to find Lee. He was hiding in the kitchen, half-worried that I might turn him down, half-embarrassed. Lee was shy when it came to romance. But I loved him for it. I’d been in love with Lee pretty much since we met in August 2013, in a local nightclub. Back then, he’d been a soldier with the Royal Horse Artillery. After that…

We’re listening to whatever you want to share Terrific Tom I'm sure you'll agree that Tom Ray (issue 50/51, 22 December) is an inspiration to us all. Robbed of some of his features and limbs after contracting sepsis, Tom has somehow managed to find the courage to face the future with hope and joy while enduring many painful operations over the years. I wish him and his lovely family all the best for their future. Vanessa Smith, Mold his is my daughter’s Andy T Paint me do Warhol-style painting of John Lennon. She was only 16 when she made it! Angela Coulter, Belfast Weather bother When weather presenters use terms like isobars, anticyclones and precipitation, I feel like I’m listening to a science lecture rather than a forecast. Whatever…

Settling on the sofa with my laptop, I signed up to Chat Mag Bingo. A work friend had recommended it to me. I tried a few different games, before buying some tickets for one being played in Tiki Bingo. And I got a full house! I’d won £70. That night, just after dinner, I settled down for another game. And I got another full house in Tiki! This time, I’d won £85! Four days later, once my son was in bed, I bought tickets for a game in Tiki and watched as the numbers were called out. And, suddenly, I saw a huge figure flash up on my laptop screen – £2,000. I couldn’t believe my eyes – I’d won the progressive jackpot! I ran across the street to my…

SNACK-AND-TICKLE! A woman in China is suing a company that delivered an order of spicy treats in packaging that resembles condoms. She 'd hidden the embarrassing wrappers but, when her husband found them, he leapt to conclusions. Convinced she was cheating on him, he filed for divorce the next day! EYE SPY Think your social media account's private ? In a recent project, Russian photographer Egor Tsvetkov snapped shots of commuters on S t Petersburg's subway . Then, using facial recognition technology , he was able to successfully track down around 70 per cent of the strangers online . Creepy! IT’S A FUNNY OLD GAME Dorset grandfather Dickie Borthwick, 81, has played football since 1948. But he's heard his last full-time whistle, as local teams have deemed him too old…

What I loved Putting on loads of layers, pulling on my old hiking boots and multiple pairs of gloves, and trudging out in the bright, cold sunlight for a good, long walk to a cafe. Where they serve mulled wine. Heavenly! What hacked me off The dentist. He hurts like hell, charges me a fortune and then tells me off. Grrr!! And since when did flossing become a full-time job? What made me laugh Men wearing their shorts in sub-zero temperatures. Oh, stop it! Grow up and put on some clothes! Hope you enjoy a warm glow this week!…

Serves: 6 Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min 200g dark chocolate (or a mix of dark & milk, if you prefer) 150g double cream 100ml milk Optional: A splash of liqueur (amaretto or Cointreau is delicious), to taste 400g mixed berries 1 Break chocolate into a heatproof glass bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Add double cream and milk (and liqueur, if using), then allow chocolate to melt very gently. Stir frequently until you have a smooth, creamy sauce. 2 Transfer warm sauce to a fondue pot set over a low flame and serve immediately with fresh fruit for dipping. TOP TIP: If you don't have a fondue pot, then leaving the bowl over a pan…

‘Erm,it’s a bit... personal’ Morning sickness Q Every day, I wake up feeling sick. It lasts all morning, then wears off. What's wrong? Katelyn, 28 A First things first - check whether you're pregnant! If this is a recent problem, it could be a stomach bug. Or a hangover if you'd been drinking the night before. Otherwise, side effects of drugs you're taking, or anxiety are also common causes. Your doctor will check and help. Broken bone Q I had to stop running because of pain above my ankle. I haven't injured it, but an X-ray shows the bone's broken! Sara, 47 A It sounds like a stress fracture. Repeated minor damage weakens a bone, until it breaks. A sudden increase in running or walking is often to blame. Healing…

It was unlikely he’d survive until the next day We didn’t have much to cling to. Just a tiny bit of hope that our Andrew was still in there somewhere. ‘Come on,’ I’d tell him. ‘Give us a grin.’ But I wasn’t even sure he could hear me. Two months earlier, on 12 February 2012, our son Andrew, 25, had been in a car crash. His friend had been driving and came away with a few scratches. But when the car had spun off the road and hit a lamppost, Andrew had absorbed much of the impact. He’d been airlifted to Southampton General Hospital. There, doctors had bad news. ‘Andrew’s fractured his pelvis, his skull and his face,’ we were told. But even worse were his brain injuries. ‘Imagine six…

It turned out Sam had always felt like a girl inside The moment I dropped Sam, 2, off at nursery, he raced over, pulled the pink tutu from its hanger and tugged it on. ‘Bye, Mum,’ he beamed. It was the same every time I took Sam to nursery – he loved dressing in the neon ballet skirt. At home, Sam was always wearing one towel around his body as a makeshift dress, another over his head for hair. He’s just quirky, I thought. Sam was totally different to his older brothers Jack, then 6, and Callum, 5. They were boisterous, always racing around, loved footy. Sam preferred clomping around in my shoes, clipping on my earrings. When Sam was 5, his dad Paul, 43, took the boys to the…

My Spa Soothing Bath Milk with Coconut & Frangipani Flower, £3, Morrisons There's nothing like a nice bath after a long day! This indulgent bath milk is a treat for the senses. Top tip: A warm - but not hot - bath can help you sleep. Lacura Vitacell 24hr Cream De Luxe, £6.99, Aldi This intensely moisturising face cream can help slow the ageing process. Top tip: Only available for a limited time from 9 Feb, so move fast! Mandara Spa Shower Cream with Mango & Coconut, £4, Sainsbury's This luxurious-feeling shower gel smells absolutely divine! Top tip: Contains aloe vera and coconut oil to keep skin soft in the cold. Pure Hydration Hot Cloth Cleanser, £5, Waitrose Gentle exfoliation is kinder to mature and sensitive skins. Top tip: Wash…

 My hubby Tom and I relaxed on the sofa with my laptop. While I’d snoozed, Tom had watched me win! It was a weekday evening and I was playing a few games of Chat Mag Bingo, while Tom, 51, watched over my shoulder. We have three grown-up kids, aged 26, 24, 21 – and 11 grandkids. So, as you can imagine, life can get pretty hectic. Evenings are our time to relax together, enjoy each other’s company. And I’d only just discovered Chat Mag Bingo. I’d spotted an offer online for a great sign-up bonus. ‘It looks like a lot of fun,’ I’d told Tom. So I joined the website, and really loved it! Tom and I are both disabled, so being able to play from my own home was…

HOW TO CLAIM OFFER • Join chatmagbingo.com with promo code CHATJ7 • Deposit £10, receive your £25 welcome bonus! • Play with £35* *New customers only. Registration required. Minimum £10 deposit. 18+ UK only. Valid until 28 Feb 2017. You must enter the code CHATJ7 on registration and accept the welcome bonus when you deposit £10 to receive £25 bonus to play. 250% welcome bonus - max £100. Bonus must be wagered four times before withdrawals. Wager and cash out requirements apply. See full T&Cs at chatmagbingo.com For 24-hour support, freephone 0800 458 0770. Play responsibly. Gambleaware.co.uk…

The lump swelled until the scar burst open, oozing pus Agony shot through both feet as I walked. ‘It feels like my bones are breaking,’ I told the doctor. It was 2011, I was 17, and I’d just been diagnosed with cavus foot deformity, meaning I had an unusually high arch. I fell a lot, had to wear ugly flats with special insoles, and it was still painful. Luckily, a simple operation could correct it – surgeons would break and realign the bones. ‘It’s routine surgery,’ the doctor said. In January 2012, I had the 90-minute procedure on my right foot. I was home the same day, had my foot in a cast for six weeks. I’d soon recovered, and in January 2014 had my left foot done. Only, after,…

Aries 21 March - 20 April You’re letting your actions be influenced by what happened last time. It’s true, last time really wasn’t good, but you learnt from it and you know what to do now, as well as what to avoid. Press on, and have no fears. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May Is there an old saying that the best opportunities come at the most inconvenient moment? If not, there should be! You may think you’re too busy to look at what’s offered to you this week, but you really should. It’s good. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June This week is an exercise in keeping people happy. Your boss says you need to put in…

When my son Anthony Walgate announced, aged 18, that he was moving to London, my heart sank. ‘If I want to make it in Fashion, I need to be in London,’ he insisted. Anthony had always dreamed of being a famous fashion designer, sketching his first outfit aged 12. So I helped him enrol at college in the big city. He never told me he was gay, but I knew, and I watched proudly as my shy Mummy’s boy blossomed into a smiling, confident young man. By March 2014, Anthony, then 23, was studying Fashion at Middlesex Uni, where my hubby Sami, 48, and I went to see his catwalk show. I watched in awe as models strutted around in pieces Anthony had designed, cheered loudly when he came on…

It was like there were magnets pulling us together It felt so amazing to declare our love publicly Standing in the kitchen doing the dishes, I could sense him edging closer and closer. I felt my stomach tingle with excitement and my skin came out in goose pimples. ‘Jules, I’ve got something to tell you,’ Dean, 47, said. ‘What is it?’ I replied. But instead of telling me, he slipped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. Then, he leaned in and kissed me passionately on the lips. It felt so right that I just couldn’t pull away. ‘I’ve got feelings for you,’ Dean eventually said. ‘Well, I think I just gathered that,’ I joked. The truth was, I had feelings for him, too – but for years…

We cuddled him for an hour before he slipped away Six months on, I found I was pregnant again Running a hand over my tummy, I felt a tremor of excitement. It was September 2014, and I’d just found out I was pregnant. Not long before, I’d suffered a miscarriage. Me and my partner Steve, 41, had been truly devastated. Now this baby had fixed our broken hearts. But a few weeks into the pregnancy, I noticed spots of blood in my knickers. Alarmed, I went to see my doctor straightaway. ‘Try not to worry. Lots of pregnant women have spotting,’ he reassured me Soon things settled down. And Steve and I allowed ourselves to get excited about the new arrival. We discussed baby names, bought clothes, bottles and nappies……

The X-ray showed a big, white cloud covering his lungs I watched as my son Dylan, then 13, climbed higher and higher on the climbing frame. ‘Be careful!’ I called out. It was bank holiday weekend in April 2015. I’d taken him and his brother and sister, Lauren and Justin, twins then 8, to the park. I literally took my eyes off them for a few moments. When I looked back, I saw that Dylan was limping. ‘I fell on my ankle funny,’ he winced. Keen on football, he was used to bumps and scrapes. I assumed he’d just twisted his ankle so, at home, I gave him paracetamol. But that night, Dylan woke complaining he felt ill and he had a temperature and tummy ache. Next day, Dylan felt…

1 Preheat oven to 200C/Gas 4. 2 Place 8 large pork sausages and 16 peeled shallots in a roasting tin, add 1tbsp oil and turn until lightly coated, then bake for 10 min. Drain away any excess fat, turn sausages and shallots, then drizzle over 3tbsp each of soy sauce and honey. 3 Return to oven for a further 10 min, then turn sausages and shallots in sauce, sprinkle over 2tbsp flaked almonds, add 200g cherry tomatoes on the vine and cook for another 10 min, until sauce is sticky and almonds lightly golden. 4 Scatter with watercress to serve - they're delicious with creamy mashed potato! Serves: 4 Cost per head: 94p Top tip: Try different flavour sausages, such as herby Cumberland, spicy chilli, or Quorn for a veggie…

Think getting healthy means expensive gym memberships and pricey food? Fear not – there are plenty of fun, budget ways to kick-start a healthy new lifestyle for you and the kids, from drinking water like Nestlé Pure Life* to going on bike rides. The best bit is you’ll be enjoying quality time together too, so it’s a win-win. Just try these 10 easy ideas… LIVE A BETTER LIFE 1 Get more active It’s easy to think we don’t have time for activity, but we do if we make small changes such as walking the kids to school and leaving the car behind on short journeys. Setting yourself goals will help. Try a free step-tracking app for your mobile or a basic pedometer which you can get for under £10. 2…

 The story gave me shivers every time I heard it… Andrea and I were scared and ran upstairs to hide ‘You’re lucky to be alive,’ my dad Eric reminded me. I was in my teens, recovering from yet another skin-graft op. Because years before, when I was just 5, I was in a house fire. I really don’t remember a thing, but my parents Bernadette and Eric had told me all about it... It’d happened in December 1978 and Mum and Dad had recently split. Dad had moved out. Me and my sisters Andrea, 4, and Lynn, 7, stayed with Mum. It was about 6pm and we’d not long finished our dinner. Suddenly, a faulty plug in the living room had sparked. And then, before Mum even had time to…

I wanted to shout, whoop Flopping onto the sofa, I began flicking through the TV channels. My boy, 9, and two girls, 3 and 1, were all tucked up in bed. Bliss, I thought, settling on a TV show and sipping my cuppa. I loved being a mum but, with my hubby Peter, 29, being in the Navy, they can keep me pretty busy when he’s away working. I looked forward to putting my feet up of an evening. Then, during the ad break, I was reading Chat Magazine and came across a Chat Mag Bingo advert. It was offering a sign-up bonus for new members when they deposited £10. Looks fun, I thought. So, pulling out my mobile phone, I signed up to Chat Mag Bingo and started exploring…

1 Get lost Ditch the map, hop on boats, cross over endless bridges, explore winding waterways and stop off in piazzas. In Venice, you're never truly ‘lost', and you'll find hidden gems along the way. 2 Eat like kings For lunch, grab a slice of pizza on the go. Dine on the canal for the view, but discover fabulous, cheaper restaurants snuck into the side streets. 3 Travel in style Get a water taxi from the airport and enjoy the stunning views as it takes you straight to your hotel. For an unforgettable Venetian experience, enjoy a punt through the picturesque waterways during a romantic sunset gondola ride. 4 Seaside sensation Mix city with beach by heading to the Venice Lido, a short waterbus ride from the Grand Canal. Enjoy…

All were grocers or bakers of Italian descent They have never caught me and they never will, the letter began. I am not a human being, but a spirit and a demon from the hottest hell… It had been addressed to the Editor of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The Editor quickly made a decision. As well as handing the letter to the police, he’d print it in full – because the text, signed ‘the Axeman’, contained a very specific threat… At 12.15 (earthly time) on next Tuesday night, I am going to pass over New Orleans… I am very fond of jazz music, and I swear by all the devils that every person shall be spared in whose home a jazz band is in full swing… Some of your people…

He targeted young girls in Indonesia because he couldn’t in Australia THE CRIME For years, a paedophile roamed the streets of Bali looking for vulnerable children to exploit and abuse. The man lured victims back to his house with the promise of gifts. Until finally, he was stopped… THE STORY Robert Andrew Fiddes Ellis left his home in Victoria, Australia, and relocated to Bali. But Ellis, now 70, didn’t choose the Indonesian island for its tropical weather and beautiful beaches. Instead, he preyed upon poor, vulnerable children who roamed the streets. Ellis targeted young girls whose impoverished parents made them hustle for 50,000 rupiah (around £3) a day. Once he’d befriended them, Ellis would take them back to his rental property in Tabanan, central Bali. The depraved OAP would then…

As I stroked his hair, clumps of blond locks fell out When I look at how far he’s come, it brings tears to my eyes Splashing about in the bath, my son Sebastian, then 16 months, couldn’t stop giggling. Then, all of a sudden, the water started turning red. Sebastian had peed blood in the bath. Alarmed, I scooped him up. Me and my fiance Luke, 32, took him straight to A&E at Brighton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital. There, doctors explained it was just a urine infection. We were given antibiotics. A few weeks on, in September 2015, we were due to go on holiday to Spain. Except a few nights into our trip, I noticed Sebastian wasn’t himself. Whenever he needed to pee, he’d scream in agony. ‘What’s wrong, sweetie?’…