Table of contents for 04-Aug-2016 in Chat

The bear was a wild animal, just eating its dinner… It was July 2008, and I was working by a stream close to my Californian ranch. I had no inkling that I was being watched… My mastiff Deke and wolfhound RK, both 4, were sleeping nearby. But then I looked up from my work and saw it. A black bear. Black bear sightings where I live are common. Bear attacks are rare. It was crouched in the bed of the stream, muscles bunched, ready to spring. The moment we made eye contact, it charged. I turned away instinctively but, within seconds, it rammed into me full force. It clamped its jaws around my face, grabbing my ears, biting my nose, eyes, mouth. The next thing I knew, I was curled…

The team puts on a dazzling routine wherever they go Motorbikes have been in my family since I was a young girl. My dad Keith, now 70, is something of a bike nut, always fixing up and restoring some kind of beautiful machine. When we were kids, he even got a little scrambler motocross bike for me, my brother Steven, 37, and my sister Clare, 40, to share. The roar of the engine, the wind in my hair… Exhilarating! So much so, the three of us all now have motorcycle licences. And, every year, we have a family day out to the Motorcycle Live show at Birmingham’s NEC Arena. Then, in 2013, they added more child-friendly elements. ‘Let’s take the kids,’ I said to my dad. Immediately hooked, Bethany,…

Sainsbury's Triple Chocolate Sundae, 140g, £1 A smooth dessert that's not over-sweet, this creamy treat has a very grown-up taste that should more than satisfy any craving for chocolate! Lidl Milbona Swirly Chocolate Sundae, 140g, 75p This tastes just like a cup of cocoa - but thicker and cold! It's a delicious, really satisfying pud. Morrisons Signature Chocolate Decadence, 152g, £1.50 This tastes naughty - but that didn't stop us scoffing the lot! Smooth mousse, crunchy honeycomb, rich chocolate flavour - lush! NEW UniqueItalia Courgetti Nests, £2, Sainsbury’s Spiralised courgettes now come dried. Use them as a vegetable replacement for spaghetti or noodles.…

Serves: 8 Prep: 20 min Cook: 35-40 min 150g raspberries 150g blueberries 5tbsp elderflower cordial 150g butter, softened 150g caster sugar 3 large free-range eggs, lightly beaten 150g plain flour 2tsp baking powder Zest of 1 lemon 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4, and grease and line a 20cm cake tin. (Do not use a spring-form or loose-bottomed tin that may leak!). 2 Place berries in a single layer in prepared tin, spoon over 2tbsp elderflower cordial. 3 Beat together butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time, beating well. Sieve flour and baking powder into mix and fold in with remaining elderflower cordial and lemon zest. 4 Spoon mixture evenly over fruit and bake for 35-40 min until golden and sponge bounces back when lightly touched.…

 ‘You’re not marrying him!’ I knew I'd do anything for Karl – and he would for me my dad Ian joked when I introduced him to my new boyfriend Karl Ferris. We’d gone to primary school together, but it wasn’t until a mate’s 18th birthday in 2002 that we really got chatting. Karl made me laugh – and even better, he had a car! ‘You can take me shopping,’ I told him cheekily. We were both huge football fans – only, as die-hard Liverpool supporters, Dad wasn’t impressed that Karl was an Everton fan. Still, he won Dad over! Karl was a brilliant support when I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, the following year. When I had a flare-up, my stomach hurt unbearably. In December 2006,…

CRIME QUACK-DOWN!  charity rubber-duck race caused waves in A Gloucestershire as it broke a bylaw that bans the River Windrush’s use for fundraising. Shortly after 100 of the bath buddies were released into the river at Bourton-on-the-Water, police poured cold water on proceedings! BEECH SHOES?  erman company nat-2 has G unveiled the world's first vegan wooden sneakers. Made from 90 per cent sustainable wood, free from animal products and with outsoles made from real rubber, they could prove popular with splinter groups! SHUT YER CAKEHOLE!  hen a Reddit subscriber moved into his W girlfriend's apartment, her roommate prepared a bittersweet surprise - a cake iced with Nobody even likes you. Let's hope they gateau-ver their differences… BOW TAKES THE LEAD  oughborough couple John and Pauline L Robinson love to walk…

I absolutely adored my dad Melvyn Hargreaves. Growing up, he was always there with a smile, joke or witty comment. He was hard-working and would help anyone out. Taught me and my three brothers good values, too… ‘If you want your pocket money, you’ll have to find it,’ he’d say, hiding it around the house. I realised later that he was teaching us to work for our money. Dad was the caretaker at a graveyard, and our house was in the middle of the land. It could’ve been scary, but my youngest brother Steven and I loved playing hide and seek out there. Dad played tricks on us, too. My brothers shared a bedroom and they had a toy skeleton they kept on the mantelpiece. Each morning it’d moved positions…

Agonising itch Q My legs itch and I constantly have to scratch them. Help! Lucy, 21 A It could be a skin condition, such as cholinergic urticaria - a form of nettle rash - or eczema. Other possibilities include dry or infected skin, a scratching habit or simply the result of excessively hot baths or showers. If antihistamines and moisturisers don't help, see your doctor. Poo problem Q Sometimes there's slimy stuff like snot in my poo, is it serious? Meg, 30 A Mucus is quite common, though usually harmless, and often points to IBS - irritable bowel syndrome. It's safe to ignore unless you notice other symptoms such as pain, bleeding or a change in your usual pattern of bowel movements. Joint pain Q I'm double-jointed - I can…

Keith andI were numb with grief.Our precious boy – gone The owner used cheaper powder containing peanuts  Tragic Our son Paul had been a much longed-for baby... My husband Keith and I had been married for seven years before Paul came along, and we doted on him. He loved his sleep – and food! Only when Paul was 7, my sister, Barbara, now 81, visited. ‘Choose whatever choccie you want,’ she’d told Paul on the way home from the park. ‘My treat.’ Grabbing a Snickers bar, he’d taken one bite when… ‘My lips tingle,’ Paul said. In seconds, his tongue started to swell and hives appeared. We rushed him to Sheffield’s Children’s Hospital, where he was given antihistamine and diagnosed as being allergic to peanuts. After, we’d check labels…

Doctors warned that carrying three babies was risky… Sitting in the lounge watching telly, I pulled on a pair of sunglasses. It was January last year, and I’d suffered blinding headaches for weeks. I’d been feeling nauseous, too. But what with looking after my 2-year-old daughter Indiana and being at college full-time to pursue my dream of being a children’s nurse, I’d no time to be ill. ‘I bet you’re pregnant,’ my mum Dawn, 42, teased. But I was on the Pill. Still, I did a test, just in case. And, reading the result… ‘It’s positive,’ I told my partner. He was as surprised as I was! That explained my symptoms. Still in shock, I rang the local midwife. ‘You need to book in for an early scan,’ she said.…

Colab Sheer + Invisible Active Dry Shampoo, £3.99, Superdrug This one's a great all-rounder and protects hair from sun damage and city pollution. Top tip: Keep one in your gym bag for fresh hair on the go! Aussie Festival Fresh Dry Shampoo, £4.49, Superdrug Dry shampoo is a festival must-have, and this leaves hair smelling amazing! Top tip: Use dry shampoo to add oomph to flat, limp locks. Bagsy Hair Wonder Dry Shampoo, £5, www.feelunique.com We're completely in love with this pretty, handbag-sized bottle! Top tip: Be careful not to use too much product as this can build up around the hairline. Batiste Dry Shampoo in Marrakech, £3.29, Boots The gorgeous, aromatic scent will make you feel like you're on holiday! Top tip: Brush it out well to…

She messed up, didn't do the solo routine we'd practised Dancing away, my daughter Kirsty, 8, lost her balance, tripped and fell over her own feet. ‘Never mind, try again,’ I smiled. It was January 2012, and Kirsty had just taken up freestyle disco dancing after spotting a flyer at school. Only she was terrible at it! She’d got no sense of balance, no co-ordination. ‘Maybe dancing isn’t for her,’ I said to my partner Dominic, 34. But Kirsty enjoyed it, so I happily paid for lessons, took her to competitions. And, that summer, everything just clicked. Suddenly she was nailing every move, gracefully dancing across the floor. And when she competed, in the September, I watched proudly as Kirsty won the first-place trophy. My little girl was a dancing…

1 Be a bookworm In Obidos - the ‘Literary Town' - they love books! The grocery store contains crates stacked with tomes, and a former convent is now the chic Literary Man Hotel - and home to more than 35,000 books. If your stay ends before your book does, you have the option to buy what you've borrowed. 2 Try the local tipple… Ginja is made by infusing ginja berries (sour cherries) in alcohol. Drunk as shots, it's served in a cup made from chocolate! 3 Visit a monastery Work began on the vast Batalha Monastery - a UNESCO World Heritage site - back in the 14th century, and continued for more than 100 years. Look out for the elaborate joint tomb of King John I of Portugal and his…

The passenger pointed to a place in thePyrenees He'd vanished, no trace of him could be found Today, it’s one of the biggest airports in the world. Last year, 75 million passengers passed through it. Tokyo Haneda Airport has changed a lot since it opened in 1931. Back then, it offered domestic flights, and flights to Korea and northeast China. But by the 1950s, the first flights had started arriving at Haneda from Europe. And on board one of those European flights was the passenger from Taured. It was July 1954. Flights had been landing all morning from Europe. And then a passenger presented a passport issued in Taured. He was smartly dressed, a businessman with a neatly trimmed beard, and he looked to be of European descent. The…

Abigail still has a wicked sense of humour, never complains As the plane took off, I looked out the window to see the ground drifting further away. We were heading on a family holiday to Turkey. ‘Can I go in the pool as soon as we get there, Mum?’ my daughter Abigail, 6, asked me. ‘You best put your swimsuit on first!’ I joked. Landing, we got straight into the holiday spirit. Abigail and my eldest, Oliver, 10, loved every second. We spent lazy days at the beach, eating ice creams and building sandcastles. Then one night, we sat down for dinner at a restaurant and I noticed Abigail wasn’t eating. ‘What’s the matter?’ I asked her. ‘I feel poorly,’ she sobbed. We went back to the hotel, where I…

He launched a foulmouthed rant at Dad, because the dogs were barking. Then he shoved Dad in the chest. Dad had pushed him back before walking away. But Watts ran up behind Dad, punched him in the shoulder and sent him flying face-first into the gutter, shattering his glasses. We sobbed hearing the gory details… ‘He was 72, vulnerable…’ I said. As Dad was on the pavement, the thug rained a flurry of kicks and punches on his neck and head, leaving him unconscious in a puddle with horrible facial injuries. Dad’s friend contacted the police and Dad was taken to hospital. He’d died of severe head injuries two days later. ‘It’s so senseless,’ I raged. Watts claimed he couldn’t remember the attack, but admitted manslaughter. The judge said Watts…

GUILTY! Riley Spitler, then 17, was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20-40 years in prison. He was also given two two-year sentences for two counts of felony possession of firearms and a two-to-four-year sentence for marijuana possession. ‘What happened to your brother was a tragedy,’ the judge told him. ‘Everything I have heard about your brother was he was a Grade A, great kid. ‘It’s not just the Spitler family who’s a victim here,’ the judge added. ‘The whole community is a victim.’…

I'd sink shots, pints of beer and sugary alcopops Covering myself with a towel, I tried my best to keep myself hidden while changing for PE. I was 14 years old, 5ft 6in, and around a size-16 – bigger than my friends, who were into boys, make-up and fashion. I was far too self-conscious for all that. But I loved my food… ‘What’s for tea?’ I’d ask my mum Claudia, now 64, most nights. She was a good cook and I’d happily munch through hearty portions of her home-made shepherd’s pie, pasta and sausage-and-mash dinners. We never had takeaways, but I was a shocker for snacking – and crisps were my downfall. Still, I was happy and, thankfully, I didn’t get too many rude comments about my weight at school.…

My surgeonDr Salloum was fantastic at putting me at ease Pregnant with my second child, everything was going smoothly. Until, at seven weeks, I had some light spotting. ‘It’s nothing to worry about,’ my doctor reassured me. And, sure enough, the bleeding stopped. Soon, I found out I was having a boy. ‘I can’t wait,’ I beamed to my husband David, 47. Then my 22-week scan showed there was a problem with my placenta, and I was sent for extra scans. Meanwhile, I did some research online and read about a condition called placenta percreta. It’s the abnormally firm and deep attachment of the placenta to the uterine wall. I read about women bleeding to death during labour... But, they didn’t know they had placenta percreta until they were in…

I had my EpiPen on me – but I'd never used it I was on a Girl Guide camp in America, in August 2012, when I had my first-ever peanut butter and jelly sandwich. After a couple of mouthfuls, my tongue started tingling and I struggled to breathe . I was hospitalised and given antihistamines which helped. ‘We need to get you tested for allergies,' my mum Marianne , now 51, said. I was allergic to peanuts and dust and given an EpiPen. I checked labels carefully, told restaurants, and I hadn't had a reaction for ages… Only, in January 2014, my friend and I got a curry from Juniper Spice restaurant in Easingwold. ‘I'm allergic to peanuts,' I told staff , before ordering a korma, which they said was…

1 Preheat oven to 220C/Gas 7. 2 Cut 2 green peppers in half lengthways, leaving the stems intact. Discard seeds, then rub peppers inside and out with olive oil. Season well and place on a foil-lined baking tray, and bake for 10 min. 3 Remove from oven and line each pepper half with four slices of chorizo. Crack an egg into each pepper. Return to the oven for 8-10 min until whites are set but yolks are still runny. 4 Mix 1tsp rose harissa paste into 2tbsp natural yogurt and dollop on top of eggs, then sprinkle with a few fresh coriander leaves to serve. Serves: 2 Cost per head: £1.65 LIFE!DEATH!PRIZES! For more foodie bargains, visit www.lifedeathprizes.com and click on ‘best buys’…

Declan had momentarily died, but myCPR had brought him back to life Bouncing my grandson Declan, then 20 months, on my knee, he didn’t giggle like he usually did. ‘What’s up, little monkey?’ I asked. ‘He’s not feeling very well,’ my daughter Darille, 25, said. She explained she’d put her little boy down for a nap earlier, but he’d woken with a temperature. ‘Nothing a bit of Calpol won’t sort out,’ I reassured her. Darille needed to go out and do some shopping, so I agreed to watch Declan for her. My husband Steven, 49, and son Connor, 22, were both out. Which meant Declan and I had the place to ourselves. ‘Come and have a cuddle with Nanny,’ I said, cradling him. As I put on his favourite film,…

The boys said they'd killed her because they wanted to steal her bike THE STORY On 27 July back in 1998, police received a call about a missing 11-year-old girl, Ryan Harris. Ryan and her five siblings had been staying with their mum’s friend in Englewood, Chicago. Ryan had been playing outside on her bike. When she didn’t return later that night, the police were called. Friends, family and neighbours combed the streets for the little girl. The following day, her body was found in bushes on an abandoned lot. Ryan was on her back, her top and bra pulled above her breasts. Her lime green shorts were hanging around one ankle. Her knickers had been stuffed in her mouth and folded leaves pushed up her nostrils. Blood was splattered…

Leo 24 July - 23 Aug You’re seeing one aspect of your personal life as the proverbial millstone round your neck - something to weigh you down. But look at it another way. Could it also be a foundation stone on which to build a better future? Call 0905 817 0694* for more Virgo 24 Aug - 23 Sep If you want something done properly, as the saying goes, do it yourself - and that’s what you’ll be doing. What annoys you is that a friend you trusted has let you down, and everything’s now out in the open for all to see. Call 0905 817 0695* for more Libra 24 Sep - 23 Oct Sometimes the best way to go forwards is to go back a bit first. That…